MONDAY EYE-OPENER
The Ottawa Senators still find themselves two points out of a playoff spot after falling 3-2 to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a shootout. Peter Holland scored the winner while Jonathan Bernier stopped 43 shots. The Sens have three games remaining and trail Pittsburgh and Detroit for the final post-season position.
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Carey Price made 24 saves for his league-leading 42nd victory as the Montreal Canadiens downed the Florida Panthers 4-1. Tomas Plekanec had a goal and two assists for the Canadiens. Montreal forward Max Pacioretty left the ice and did not return after falling into the end boards. There was no update on Pacioretty’s condition after the game.
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Adam Wainwright threw six sharp innings to outpitch Jon Lester, and the St. Louis Cardinals handed new Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon a 3-0 loss in the major league opener. Lester, who got a $155 million, six-year contract from Chicago during free agency, allowed three runs and eight hits in 4-and-2-thirds innings pitched.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers set a baseball record with a $270 million dollar opening-day payroll, including nearly $44 million going to players no longer on the team. The New York Yankees, whose 15-year streak as the top spender was stopped the Dodgers last year, are second at $219 million, followed by Boston at $175 million, World Series champion San Francisco at $173.2 million and Detroit at $172.8 million.
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Drew Hutchison will take the mound this afternoon as the Toronto Blue Jays open the 2015 M-L-B season. The Jays are in New York to play the Yankees. Masahiro Tanaka will counter for New York in its home opener. New acquisitions such as third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Russell Martin will make their debut for Toronto. Last night, the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the Chicago Cubs 3-0 to open the season.
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Wisconsin will try to capture its first NCAA title in 74 years tonight in the championship game against Duke. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils will be looking to give Mike Krzyzewski his fifth national championship. Duke beat Michigan State 81-61 and Wisconsin downed Kentucky 71-64 in Final Four action on Saturday.
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Rodney Hood scored 13 of his season-high 25 points in the fourth quarter and the Utah Jazz pulled away to beat the Sacramento Kings 101-95. Toronto’s Sim Bhullar dressed but didn’t play for the second time since signing a 10-day contract with the Kings last Thursday.
