SUNDAY SPORTS PAGE: GOLDEN KNIGHTS STRIKE FIRST
Photo: Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights scored three unanswered goals in the third period en route to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Florida Panthers in the opening game of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday night. Shea Theodore had a goal and assist in the effort. Jonathan Marchessault, Mark Stone, Zach Whitehead and Reilly Smith also scored for Vegas. Jack Eichel chipped in with two assists. Anthony Duclair and Eric Steal scored for Florida. Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night.
The Western Hockey League champion Seattle Thunderbirds will play the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Quebec Remparts tonight in the Memorial Cup championship final in Kamloops, B-C. The Remparts beat the T-Birds 3-1 last Monday in preliminary round action. The Remparts are looking to win their third Memorial Cup, and first since 2006, while the T-Birds are in the Memorial Cup final for the first time.
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Canada and the United States will play for gold Sunday night in the World Para Hockey Championship in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Canada advanced to the title game by defeating Czechia 5-0 on Saturday night in one semifinal, while the defending champion U-S knocked off China 10-2 in the other semifinal.
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Connor Bedard of North Vancouver made Canadian Hockey League history Saturday by winning the CHL Top Prospect, Top Scorer and Player of the Year awards. Bedard, expected to be selected first in the NHL entry draft later this month, had 143 points in 57 regular-season games for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. Olen Zellweger of the Kamloops Blazers took home Defenceman of the Year honours, while Nathan Darveau of the Victoriaville Tigres claimed Goaltender of the Year.
Vladimir Guerrero Junior hit a go-ahead RBI double in the 9th inning on Saturday, leading the visiting Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Mets 2-1. The clutch hit came three pitches after Jays manager John Schneider was ejected for arguing balls and strikes. The Jays can sweep their three-game series against the Mets with a win on Sunday.
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The Buffalo Bandits crushed the Colorado Mammoth 13-4 on Saturday to win the best-of-three National Lacrosse League championship series in 3 games. It was the Bandits’ first title since 2008 and fifth in franchise history. The Bandits swept the Toronto Rock in the Eastern Conference final series, while the Mammoth beat the Calgary Roughnecks 2-1 in the Western Conference final series.
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Khalid Ahmad made an instant impact in his return as his 17-point double-double led the Niagara River Lions (1-3) to a 116-74 win over the Saskatchewan Rattlers (1-1) on Saturday night. The reigning CEBL MVP played in his first game of the season after finishing up his overseas commitments, andh hit the ground running. Ahmad ended the night with a near triple-double, tallying 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
Meanwhile after a pair of road losses to start the season, an intense finish at Langley Events Centre saw the Vancouver Bandits earn their first win of the season with an 84-81 victory over the Calgary Surge on Saturday night (June 3).
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The Miami Heat will be trying to make amends for a 104-93 loss in Game 1 of the NBA Finals when they play the Nuggets in Denver, Colorado tonight. The Heat made NBA history by shooting only 2 free throws in Game 1. It was the fewest free throw attempts ever by a team in a playoff game. Game 3 is in Miami on Wednesday.
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A goal in the 89th minute by Kervin Arriaga of the Minnesota United F-C forced Toronto F-C to settle for a 1-1 road tie in Major League Soccer action Saturday. Lorenzo Insigne scored for Toronto. Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Union won their fourth straight game by beating visiting C-F Montreal 3-0, while Ryan Gauld scored in the 88th minute to give the host Vancouver Whitecaps a 1-1 tie with Sporting Kansas City.
(CP, CEBL Comms)
