NHL:
In the NHL playoffs, Tampa Bay skated by the Rangers 6-5 in overtime. The Lightning leads the series 2-1.
The Boston Bruins have elevated Don Sweeney to general manager. Sweeney has spent the past six seasons as the assistant general manager and takes over for Peter Chiarelli, who was fired last month after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years and four years after a Stanley Cup championship.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, who haven't made the playoffs in a decade, are making a big bet on the man they hope will help them end that streak. The Leafs have hired highly respected NHL coach Mike Babcock, who has coached Detroit the past 10 years. Babcock signed an eight-year, $50 million dollar deal that makes him the highest-paid coach in the NHL.
NBA:
In the NBA playoffs, Cleveland bested Atlanta 97-89, giving the Cavs a 1-0 series lead.
MLB:
In baseball, in the American League, Texas edged Boston 2-1, Houston won against Oakland 6-1, Seattle doubled up Baltimore 4-2, the Angels topped Toronto 4-3, and it was Cleveland over the White Sox 4-3.
In interleague play, Washington slid past the Yankees 3-2, Detroit beat Milwaukee 5-2, Atlanta edged Tampa Bay 2-1, Minnesota defeated Pittsburgh 4-3 in 13 innings, and it was Kansas City over Cincinnati 7-1.
In the National League, St. Louis shut out the Mets 9-0, Arizona beat Miami 6-1, Philadelphia doubled up Colorado 4-2, the Cubs edged San Diego 3-2, and it was San Francisco over the Dodgers 4-0.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker says the owners of the Pawtucket Red Sox have not approached him amid negotiations with Rhode Island over the team's wish to build stadium in downtown Providence. The team has said that if it doesn't get the land along the Providence River and a deal with Rhode Island, it will look to move to another state.
Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Yankees with a sprained right knee. He was injured during the Yankees' 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Washington Nationals Tuesday night. Ellsbury, New York's leadoff hitter, is hitting a team-high .327.
In another baseball note, ex-Texas manager Ron Washington is back in the big leagues. The Oakland Athletics hired him as an instructor. The Athletics lead the majors in errors.
NFL:
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says it's his responsibility to hear directly from New England quarterback Tom Brady in his appeal of his four-game suspension in the deflated footballs case. Goodell says he has not had time to study a request from the players' union that he recuse himself from the appeal because he has been focused on the spring owners meetings.
The New York Jets' quarterback competition appears over before it even got started. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey says Geno Smith is the team's starter "right now," and the Jets expect it to be that way heading into the season opener in September.
Giants starting left tackle Will Beatty is going to be sidelined up to six months after tearing a pectoral muscle, a person with knowledge of the injury has told The Associated Press.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team plans to not discuss the injury until today.
The source said Beatty was injured lifting weights on Tuesday.
Car Racing:
The Indianapolis 500 is scheduled for this Sunday.
Speedway Motorsports Executive Chairman Bruton Smith and two-time Sprint Cup champion Terry Labonte top the newest group of five headed to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
NASCAR drivers Curtis Turner and Bobby Isaac and modified series champion Jerry Cook completed the hall's seventh class announced Wednesday.
Tennis:
The International Tennis Hall of Fame museum has unveiled its new look after a three-year, $3 million renovation. The 60-year-old museum in Newport, Rhode Island, reopened yesterday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
NCAA:
Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari has signed a one-year contract extension through 2022 that will pay him a total of $54 million over the length of the contract. It replaces the $52.5 million, seven-year agreement he signed last June.
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