REALTY ONE THURSDAY EYE-OPENER
The Notre Dame Hounds’ visit to the SJHL championship series for the first time since 1988 may be a short one. The Melfort Mustangs recorded a 4-1 home win over Notre Dame Wednesday in Melfort to assume a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Canalta Cup. The Mustangs can complete sweep Thursday night in Wilcox in Game 4.
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Kris Russell scored with 29.6 seconds left in regulation as Calgary stormed back with a pair of third period goals to squeeze past Vancouver 2-1 to open their best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series. Flames goalie Jonas Hiller made 29 saves in the win.
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Brian Flynn scored the tie-breaker as Montreal skated past Ottawa 4-3 in a wild opening game of their first-round series. The Habs played half the game without star defenceman P.K. Subban, who received a game misconduct after slashing Ottawa rookie Mark Stone in the wrist midway through the second period.
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In Nashville, Duncan Keith scored at 7:49 of double overtime to give Chicago a 4-3 triumph over the Predators in Game One of their series. And, Brock Nelson scored twice as the New York Islanders beat Washington 4-1 to kick off their Eastern Conference battle. Game Two in all four opening night series go Friday night.
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The other four first-round NHL playoff series begin tonight, including Winnipeg at Anaheim. This is the Winnipeg’s first playoff berth since 1996 and the franchise’s first post-season trip since moving north from Atlanta. Pittsburgh opens in New York against the Rangers, Detroit is at Tampa Bay and Minnesota plays in St. Louis.
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Jose Bautista and rookies Devon Travis and Dalton Pompey blasted home runs as the Toronto Blue banged out 13 hits in a 12-7 win over Tampa Bay at Rogers Centre. Toronto starter Mark Buehrle gave up a pair of homers, but still managed to collect his 201st career win.
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The Air Canada Centre crowd cheered as time ticked down on the Toronto Raptors’ best regular season in franchise history. Kyle Lowry scored 26 points to give the Raptors a 92-87 victory over Charlotte and a franchise-best 49 victories on the season. Toronto will face Washington in their playoff opener on Saturday.
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Former New England tight end Aaron Hernandez has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd and sentenced to life in prison. He was also found guilty on weapons charges connected with Lloyd’s death. Hernandez was accused of killing Lloyd in June 2013. Lloyd was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee at the time.
