NHL:
Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final is Saturday night in Nashville in what amounts to a last stand for the Predators. They were routed 4-1 on Wednesday night by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Standout goalie Pekka Rinne looked very average against the defending Stanley Cup champions. Pittsburgh scored three goals 3:18 apart in the third period and Rinne was yanked. The Penguins lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen will forgo his final year of college eligibility with the intention of signing a National Hockey League contract, the school announced Wednesday. Petersen was a fifth-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL draft (129th overall). The Sabres now have 30 days to sign Petersen before he's eligible to become a rookie free agent and sign with another team. One of five finalists for the Mike Richter Award as college hockey's top goalie, Petersen led the Irish to the school's third Frozen Four appearance, finishing the season with a 23-12-5, 2.22 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and six shutouts. He closed his Notre Dame career with 90 consecutive starts, the fourth-longest streak in NCAA history, and had a career save percentage of .924, goals-against average of 2.30, 55 wins, and 11 shutouts in 110 games.
NBA:
The NBA Finals begin tonight with the same high-powered squads. But this faceoff between the Cavaliers and the Warriors will feature the addition of Kevin Durant, who left Oklahoma City for Oakland in hopes for a chance to win a championship. The Warriors seek to avenge last year's collapse. LeBron James will have the opportunity to add a fourth title in his chase of Michael Jordan's six.
The NBA's best player has been shaken by an off-court incident on the eve of the NBA Finals. Police are investigating vandalism at LeBron James' house in Los Angeles. Someone spray-painted racial slurs on the home's gate. A police spokeswoman says a property manager has indicated the incident may have been captured on surveillance video. James is in Oakland for Thursday night's face-off between the Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors.
MLB:
Pablo Sandoval hit a tiebreaking single in Boston's four-run sixth inning and Drew Pomeranz struck out eight in his second straight win, helping the Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 last night. Sandoval went 3 for 4 in his first game since he was activated from the disabled list Tuesday after being sidelined by a sprained right knee.
The Red Sox visit Baltimore for a four-game series that runs through Sunday. The contentious rivalry between the L East foes ramped up this season when Manny Machado's aggressive slide into Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia in late April led to dangerous inside pitches, harsh words and a warning from MLB officials to stop the feuding.
Adam Jones homered and drove in five runs, Chris Davis added a two-run shot and the Baltimore Orioles beat Masahiro Tanaka and the New York Yankees 10-4 last night. Baltimore took two of three from the AL East leaders after coming in with a seven-game losing streak. The Yankees have lost 11 straight series in Baltimore.
Eric Thames hit his first home run in three weeks, Keon Broxton also went deep against an ineffective Jacob deGrom, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the New York Mets 7-1 last night for just their third win in 10 games. Released by the Mets following a 50-game minor league drug suspension in 2009, Junior Guerra defeated New York for the first time.
Even Mr. Met is frustrated with the team's disappointing start. New York's beloved mascot flashed his "middle" finger at a fan during last night's 7-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, and the team says the employee won't work in the costume again. A person tweeted video of the incident, which soon went viral online, and the club quickly issued a statement.
Justin Bour hit two home runs, increasing his season total to 15, and the Miami Marlins completed their first series sweep of the season by beating woeful Philadelphia 10-2 before a sparse crowd yesterday. The Phillies are off to their worst start since 1961. They went 6-22 in May. That's their fewest wins in a month since June 1997.
PGA:
Tiger Woods is to be arraigned July 5 in a Palm Beach County, Florida, court on a DUI charge. Police in Jupiter have released video of Woods' DUI arrest. The video was recorded by a dash-cam. Officers on patrol early Monday noticed a Mercedes pulled to the side of the road with the engine running, the brake lights on and a right turn signal blinking and both tires on the left side of the car flat. A breath test registered a blood alcohol level of 0.00 percent. Woods later said his condition was caused by prescription medications.
LPGA:
The ShopRite LPGA Classic in the shadow of Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been extended through 2023. The LPGA, Wakefern Food Corp and the Eiger Marketing Group announced the five-year sponsorship extension yesterday, ahead of this year's 54-hole event at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
Furman teammates Alice Chen and Taylor Totland won the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship on Wednesday, beating former Georgia players Sammi Lee and Mary Ellen Shuman 4 and 3. Chen, from Princeton, New Jersey, and Totland, from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, won the first three holes at The Dunes and were still 3 up at the turn. Lee and Shuman took the 10th, and Chen and Totland won the 11th and 12th and halved the next three to end the match. In the morning semifinals, Chen and Totland beat 17-year-old North Carolina high school players Jennifer Chang and Gina Kim 3 and 2, and Lee and Shuman topped Kathleen Gallagher and Kendall Griffin 2 and 1.
MLS:
Xavier Kouassi scored his first MLS goal in the 86th minute and the New England Revolution tied New York City FC 2-2 last night. It was the first time this season New York City has allowed a goal in the final 15 minutes. Both goals by New England came on headers.
NFL:
Cleveland Browns rookie defensive end Myles Garrett continues to be slowed by an unspecified injury. The No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft wasn't on the field Wednesday as his teammates worked out. Garrett was with a group of other injured players, who worked with trainers on the side. Last week, Garrett described the injury "as a little nick" and said the Browns were holding him out of practice as a precaution. He also said he expected to be "full tilt" for this week's workouts. The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Garrett was slowed by an ankle injury during part of his junior season at Texas A&M.
In other NFL news:
— Tennessee backup quarterback Matt Cassel will have surgery to put a pin in his right thumb after being hurt during the Titans' offseason program. Cassel was hurt in his throwing hand Tuesday during the Titans' closed organized team activity session. Coach Mike Mularkey says Cassel will probably be out about six weeks but should be ready for training camp in late July.
— Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd remains sidelined indefinitely because of complications from surgery on his right knee last September. The 2013 first-round draft pick is still not cleared to participate but says he's still working out with an eye toward returning to action. Also, the Vikings signed their second-round pick, running back Dalvin Cook, to put their entire rookie class under contract one month after the draft.
— Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman David Parry has been sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to reduced charges stemming from a Feb. 25 incident in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 25-year-old Parry was arrested and accused of assaulting the driver of a motorized cart and then stealing and crashing the vehicle, which was being used as a taxi. Police said Parry showed signs of impairment when arrested.
-Fullback Michael Burton has signed with the Chicago Bears after being waived by the Detroit Lions. Burton played in 31 games over the past two seasons with the Lions after they drafted him in the fifth round in 2015. Chicago announced the signing Wednesday — one day after Detroit let Burton go. The Bears also waived tight end Franko House.
WNBA:
Tayler Hill scored 18 points, Elena Delle Donne scored a game-winning 3-point play with 44 seconds left, and the Washington Mystics rallied from a nine point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Connecticut Sun 78-76 yesterday. The win is Washington's third straight after a 1-2 start. Shekinna Stricklen led the Sun with 20 points.
Stock Car Racing:
Vermont's stock car racing governor says he's undeterred by a minor crash he suffered during his first race of the season at the Thunder Road speedway over the holiday weekend. Republican Governor Phil Scott was in second place as the Memorial Day Classic was nearing its end when his car had a problem with a tire, causing him to spin out. He finished 19th out of 29 drivers.
Kids Choice Sports Awards:
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is returning for a third time as host of the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports awards. He will preside over the show honoring the world's top athletes and sports moments from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. It will tape on July 13 and air three days later. Wilson has proven to be a game host in the past, whether he's dancing or getting slimed. "Kids get ready," he said Wednesday. "Three times the slime coming your way." Wilson recently became a first-time father to daughter Sienna with singer-wife Ciara.
Sports Media:
ESPN has agreed to a multiyear contract extension with Lee Corso, the 81-year-old star of "College GameDay." Corso joined ESPN in 1987 and has been part of the popular college football Saturday pregame show ever since. His head-gear game predictions, off-the-cuff analysis and signature line — "Not so fast, my friend" — have endeared him to generations of college football fans.
White Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk" Harrelson says he will retire after working 20 games next year in his 34th season in the booth. Harrelson, a colorful character known for sayings like "You Can Put It On The Board" when the White Sox hit a home run, will work primarily Sunday home games in 2018. After he finishes his TV duties, the 75-year-old Harrelson will serve as a team ambassador for the 2019 season.
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