Michael Leighton continued his unbeaten run since he took over as the Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltender to help his side to a 6-0 thrashing of the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL’s Eastern Conference finals on Sunday.
The Flyers, who only made the playoffs on the final day of the regular season and rallied from a 3-0 series deficit in the last round against Boston, maintained their momentum with six different goal scorers and 28 saves from Leighton.
Leighton took over as starting goaltender after Brian Boucher was injured in the fifth game of the series against Boston, and he is now 3-0 in the post-season. Philadelphia lead the best-of-seven series 1-0.
“It was a huge win in Boston [on Saturday] and we really came out flying in this game,” Leighton told reporters. “We know they’re going to come back and try to put pucks at the net and they’re going to come at us a little harder.”
The Flyers bombarded Montreal goaltender Jaroslav Halak, who had been instrumental in leading the Canadiens to two seven-game victories over the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins, from the outset with Braydon Coburn scoring early in the first. James van Riemsdyk, Danny Briere and Simon Gagne all scored in the second, forcing Halak to be replaced by Carey Price. Halak had allowed all four goals on 14 shots.
Scott Hartnell and Claude Giroux then both scored in the third to complete the rout, with the Flyers looking to continue their momentum into the second game at home today.
In San Jose, California, Antti Niemi made 44 saves to help the Chicago Blackhawks to a 2-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks in the first game of the Western Conference finals.
Niemi gave up a first period goal to Jason Demers then held out the top-seeded Sharks to allow the Blackhawks to take control of the game and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Patrick Sharp tied the game in the second period and Dustin Byfuglien scored the game-winner with six minutes, 45 seconds remaining to give the visiting Blackhawks the victory.
Evgeni Nabokov made 38 saves for San Jose.
“I don’t know why we keep answering questions about [Niemi’s ability to play],” Sharp told reporters. “There are no questions on our side.”
Kawhi Leonard on Sunday scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds and made four steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers in a lopsided 115-96 victory at Minnesota. The 34-year-old forward, a two-time NBA champion, matched the second-best road scoring effort of his career as the Clippers improved to 25-27. “Just being aggressive. My teammates trust me,” Leonard said. “Every moment when I touch the ball — assist, shooting the basketball or getting a rebound — I’m just trying to help the team win.” Leonard made three steals in a row at the start of the contest. “Just wanted to come out early in the
Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the cohosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the World Cup yesterday in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, for their second win in Group B. The 2014 champions piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9. The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a 50 in T20 World Cups. Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century. It has been
FLOP TO CONQUEROR: It was sweet vindication for Sam Darnold, who played for four NFL teams before his debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate win The Seattle Seahawks on Sunday coasted to Super Bowl glory, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize. Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy. “It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” Darnold said. The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display and kicker Jason Myers’
ADVANTAGE ATLETICO: Well off the pace in La Liga, the Copa del Rey represents Atletico Madrid’s best chance of silverware this season Atletico Madrid on Thursday hammered Copa del Rey holders Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their semi-final. After an Eric Garcia own-goal sent Diego Simeone’s side ahead early on, Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman and Julian Alvarez struck to give Atletico a landslide lead by halftime. Barca defender Garcia was sent off in the final stages, with Atletico maintaining their significant advantage on the record 32-time winners, which they take into the second leg at the Camp Nou on March 3. Both sides missed good chances in the second half, with Barca’s Pau Cubarsi having a goal disallowed before Garcia was sent off
RSS