The Boston Bruins advanced to the second round of playoffs for the first time since 1999, brushing aside the Montreal Canadiens 4-1 on Wednesday to sweep their best-of-seven series.
Former Canadien Michael Ryder scored twice to help the top-seeded Bruins end a stretch of five straight playoff series defeats — three of them at the hands of the Canadiens.
“It’s definitely a good feeling to beat your old team here in Montreal and make it the last one,” Ryder, a free agent signing by Boston, told reporters. “I kind of actually forgot about what happened last year. I’m a Bruin now and it’s a lot of fun.”
Tim Thomas had 26 saves in the triumph while David Krejci and Philip Kessel completed the scoring for Boston to clinch the 4-0 series victory.
FLAMES 6, BLACKHAWKS 4
At Calgary, Alberta, Eric Nystrom scored off a rebound with 6:56 remaining as Calgary to bear Chicago and even the best-of-seven series 2-2.
Nystrom also had two assists, Olli Jokinen scored the first two goals of his playoff career, Jarome Iginla completed a two-goal game with an empty-netter, and Adrian Aucoin added a goal for the Flames, 4-2 winners Monday night at home after dropping the first two games in Chicago.
Patrick Kane, Kris Versteeg, Cam Barker and Samuel Pahlsson scored for Chicago.
Game 5 is tomorrow night in Chicago.
RANGERS 2, CAPITALS 1
In New York, Henrik Lundqvist made 38 saves as the New York Rangers put the favored Washington Capitals on the brink of elimination from the playoffs with a 2-1 victory.
Lundqvist, who had a 1-0 win in Game 2, was on top of his game all night as the Capitals controlled play from the second period to the end — outshooting New York 39-21. But it’s the Rangers who hold a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Paul Mara staked the Rangers to the lead with 6:05 left in the first period, scoring just the second goal against Simeon Varlamov, the Russian rookie who has stopped 75 of 78 shots since taking over for Jose Theodore after New York’s 4-3 win in Game 1.
Chris Drury added his first goal of the series for the seventh-seeded Rangers.
Varlamov got Washington back into the series with a 4-0 win on Monday but now the Capitals — the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference — could be out of the playoffs today when they host Game 5.
Alex Ovechkin scored for Washington early in the third period.
The pressure was already on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso before their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League raised further questions about his future. Arsenal remain perfect in this season’s competition and three points clear at the top of the standings after a 3-0 win against Club Brugge, while defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were held 0-0 at Athletic Bilbao. The clash between Madrid and City was the standout game of the round amid reports this week that Alonso had lost control of the locker room. Speculation over his position is likely to intensify after the latest
‘HIGH STANDARD’: The Thunder are on track for a Finals-Cup double after they scored 22 three-pointers in equaling the best 25-game start to a season in NBA history The Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday bagged a 16th straight victory, thrashing the Phoenix Suns 138-89 to romp into an NBA Cup semi-final clash with the San Antonio Spurs, who stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 132-119. NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 28 points to lead the reigning NBA champions Thunder, who improved to 24-1 to equal the best 25-game start to a season in league history. They dominated from start to finish to book their place in the final four of the in-season tournament in Las Vegas, where they are tomorrow to take on the Spurs. The New York Knicks and
TOP OF THE TABLE: Evann Guessand put the visitors ahead early in the game and Flavius Daniliuc equalized before Youri Tielemans got the winner in the second half Aston Villa on Thursday extended their winning streak to eight games in all competitions with a 2-1 victory against Basel in the UEFA Europa League to secure at least a playoff spot. Villa were tied with Olympique Lyonnais, who beat Go Ahead Eagles 2-1, and Midtjylland, 1-0 winners over Genk, atop the standings of the second-tier European competition on 15 points with five wins from six games. They have bounced back from a poor start to the season and are third in the Premier League, including a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Saturday. At St Jakob-Park in Basel, summer signing Evann Guessand
Tony Jefferson intercepted a Jalen Hurts pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Chargers a 22-19 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday in an NFL thriller between playoff contenders. Justin Herbert, playing a week after surgery on his broken left (non-throwing) hand, withstood a career-high seven sacks to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers. Cameron Dicker kicked five field goals, including the 54-yard game winner in overtime. The Chargers defenders forced Hurts to throw four interceptions and surrender a fumble for a career-worst five turnovers as the Eagles fell to 8-5 with a third
RSS