JLB ELECTRIC THURSDAY EYE-OPENER
The NHL’s Eastern Conference finalists are set. Derek Stepan scored 11:24 in overtime to lift the New York Rangers past Washington 2-1 last night in Game 7 of their series. New York, which had the NHL’s best record this season, will face Tampa Bay for a spot in the Stanley Cup final. The series begins Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
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There won’t be any NHL playoff hockey tonight — but that doesn’t mean no NHLers will be playing today. Canada faces Belarus in the quarter-finals of the world hockey championship (at 10:15 am Eastern). The Canadians were first in Group A after going undefeated in round-robin play for the top seed in the tournament, while Belarus finished fourth in Group B.
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Steph Curry turned in another dominant performance for the Golden State Warriors last night. Curry scored 18 points with a career-playoff high six steals to go with seven rebounds and five assists as Golden State rolled past the Memphis Grizzlies 98-78. The Warriors lead that series 3-2 . Also, Atlanta topped Washington 82-81 for a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinals.
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Basketball playoff action continues tonight. LeBron James leads the Cleveland Cavaliers into Chicago to take on the Bulls in Game 6 of their series. Cleveland leads the series 3-2. Later, the Houston Rockets visit the Los Angeles Clippers. L-A has a 3-2 advantage in the series.
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Drew Hutchison takes the mound this evening as the Toronto Blue Jays begin a series in Houston against the Astros. Hutchison is a perfect 3-and-0. Houston counters with Roberto Hernandez, who is 1-and-3 record. Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez struggled last night in a 6-1 loss to the Orioles in Baltimore.
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Dominic Oduro’s late goal was enough to secure the Impact’s passage to the Amway Canadian Championship yesterday tournament’s final as Montreal downed Toronto F-C on aggregate. Also, Gershon Koffie scored in the 87th minute as the Vancouver Whitecaps drew FC Edmonton 1-1 in the first leg of their semifinal.
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