NHL:
In the NHL playoffs, Chicago skated by Anaheim 3-2 in triple overtime to even the series at 1 game apiece.
A person familiar with the discussions tells The Associated Press that Mike Babcock is in contract talks with the Buffalo Sabres to potentially become their next head coach. Babcock is still under contract with Detroit, but the Red Wings have given him permission to speak with other teams. Babcock has not ruled out staying put in Detroit, and has said he wanted to make a decision on his future by Wednesday.
The Edmonton Oilers have hired Todd McLellan as their coach after a season in which they again failed to make the playoffs. McLellan appeared to be Edmonton's top choice since Peter Chiarelli became general manager this month. Todd Nelson replaced Dallas Eakins as coach in December. The Oilers have not made the playoffs since 2006.
NBA:
In the NBA playoffs, Golden State bested Houston 110-106 to give the Warriors a 1-0 series lead.
The Minnesota Timberwolves will have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft. It's the first time since 2004 the team with the worst record has won the lottery. The Los Angeles Lakers moved from the fourth spot to second, followed by Philadelphia and New York.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, Boston beat Texas 4-3, Baltimore topped Seattle 9-4, the Angels bested Toronto 3-2, Cleveland won against the White Sox 3-1, and it was Houston over Oakland 6-4.
In interleague play, Washington’s Ryan Zimmerman hit a walk off homer to beat the Yankees 8-6 in 10 innings, Minnesota bested Pittsburgh 8-5, Milwaukee trumped Detroit 8-1, Tampa Bay edged Atlanta 5-3, and it was Kansas City over Cincinnati 3-0.
In the National League, St. Louis crushed the Mets 10-2, Colorado edged Philadelphia 6-5, Arizona doubled up Miami 4-2, San Diego slid past the Cubs 4-3, and it was San Francisco over the Dodgers 2-0.
Yankees center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury is heading to the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee. Ellsbury was injured during last night's 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Nationals. The Yankees say outfielder Slade Heathcott will be called up from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre today.
NFL:
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft says he will not appeal his team's punishments in the deflated footballs scandal, only his quarterback's challenge remains. Kraft says he won't oppose the $1 million fine and loss of two draft choices the NFL penalized the team for its role in using underinflated footballs in the AFC championship game.
The NFL Players Association has asked NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to recuse himself from the appeal hearing for Tom Brady in the deflated footballs case. The union calls Goodell a "central witness in the appeal hearing," adding that he's not impartial. Brady was suspended for the first four games of the 2015 season for his role in the use of underinflated footballs in the AFC championship game.
The NFL is making extra points a bit more challenging. League owners have approved the competition committee's proposal to snap the ball from the 15-yard line on extra-point kicks. In recent seasons, kickers made more than 99 percent of the kicks with the ball snapped from the 2. That proposal also keeps the 2-point conversion at the 2 and allows the defense to return a turnover to the other end zone for the two points, similar to the college rule. The league announced the changes at the owner's meeting in San Francisco.
The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders have moved a step closer to building a new stadium near Los Angeles. A complex land deal has been finalized on a site in Carson that could become the home of a shared $1.7 billion venue. The Raiders and Chargers are planning a shared stadium if both fail to secure new stadiums in their current hometowns.
Globetrotters:
The ex-wife of Harlem Globetrotters legend Meadowlark Lemon is suing the basketball star for allegedly skimping on child support payments. The Connecticut Post reports Willie Lemon Campbell and her son, Jonathan, have filed suit in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They're seeking $250,000 that they say Lemon never paid them in child support.
NCAA:
Syracuse is bringing back the football team's famed No. 44.
The school made the announcement on Tuesday at a groundbreaking ceremony for Plaza 44, which will be constructed adjacent to the new Ensley Athletic Center. The plaza will honor the great trio of running backs who wore the number and helped make it one of the most recognizable numbers in college football — Jim Brown, Ernie Davis and Floyd Little.
Statues of Brown, Davis and Little, all of them members of the College Football Hall of Fame, will be placed in the plaza, which is expected to be completed by the start of next season.
Since 1954, 11 players have worn 44 at Syracuse, none since the number was retired in 2005 and placed on permanent display inside the Carrier Dome.
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