JLB ELECTRIC WEDNESDAY EYE-OPENER

NHL:  The Montreal Canadiens will know their second-round playoff opponent tonight. Tampa Bay hosts Detroit in the seventh and deciding game of their first-round Eastern Conference series. The Red Wings will be without defenceman Niklas Kronwall. He was suspended by the league for charging Tampa’s Nikita Kucherov in Game 6.

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WHL:  Adin Hill made 41 saves and Oliver Bjorkstrand had two goals and two assists as the Portland Winterhawks downed the Kelowna Rockets 7-3 on Tuesday in Western Hockey League playoff action.

The Winterhawks now lead the best-of-seven Western Conference final 2-1. Game 4 goes Wednesday in Portland.

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Adam Tambellini scored twice – including 3:07 into overtime – as the Hitmen slipped past Brandon 2-1 in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final.

Brendan Burke turned away 33-of-34 shots for Calgary, which still trails the best-of-seven series 2-1.  The Hitmen will try and tie the series when they host Game 4 on Wednesday.

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NBA:  Tim Duncan scored 12 of his 21 points in the second half, and DeAndre Jordan was called for basket interference with 4-point-3 seconds left as the San Antonio Spurs moved to the brink of Round 2 with a 111-107 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 5. Game 6 is Thursday in San Antonio.

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James Harden scored 28 points and Dwight Howard had 18 points and 19 rebounds as the Houston Rockets beat the Dallas Mavericks 103-94 to advance to the second round. Houston only needed five games to eliminate the Mavs. They will face the winner of the Clippers-Spurs series.

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MLB: The Toronto Blue Jays have snapped their four-game losing skid. Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson each hit home runs and Kevin Pillar had three hits to lead Toronto to an 11-8 win over the Boston Red Sox. Marco Estrada got the win after pitching three hitless frames in relief. Brett Cecil got the save.

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George Springer homered and drove in five runs, Evan Gattis added a two-run shot and the streaking Houston Astros routed the San Diego Padres 14-3. The A-L West leaders have won five straight and nine of 10.

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Angels manager Mike Scioscia believes Josh Hamilton was “wrong” not to express remorse to his teammates and missed a key chance before departing Los Angeles to thank them for their support throughout his ordeal. Speaking publicly for the first time since the left fielder’s trade to Texas was finalized, Scioscia said the lack of an apology was “disturbing.”

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PGA:  Masters champion Jordan Spieth has affirmed his commitment to play in the Byron Nelson Championship, the hometown tournament where he tied for 16th as a 16-year-old amateur five years ago. Tournament officials said Spieth, along with former Byron Nelson champions Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner, were among the latest nine commitments to play next month.

(CP)