The Tampa Bay Lightning weathered an early storm and completed the first National Hockey League playoff sweep in team history on Thursday with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.
Defenseman Dan Boyle scored a power-play goal and Brad Richards snapped a tie for his second consecutive game-winner as the Lightning wrapped up the four-games-to-none win in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Facing just the fourth four-game sweep in their storied history, the Canadiens came out hard and took a 1-0 lead 5:46 into the game on Niklas Sundstrom's goal. But Boyle, whose turnover helped create the deficit, redeemed himself midway through the second period.
Two nights after breaking the hearts of a sellout crowd at the Bell Centre, Richards struck again. Taking a feed from Dmitry Afanasenkov low in the left faceoff circle, he put a backhander past goaltender Jose Theodore with 2:46 left in the second, giving Tampa Bay a 2-1 lead.
Fredrik Modin ended Montreal's hopes with an empty-netter and Nikolai Khabibulin made 27 saves for the Lightning, who advanced to the finals for the first time.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely