SUNDAY SPORTS PAGE: CFL, USPORTS, NHL, WHL, MLB
ARGOS 28 ELKS 23
EDMONTON – The Edmonton Elks have found a lot of ways to let games slip through their fingers during their CFL-record 16-game home losing streak.
But Saturday’s 28-23 loss to the Toronto Argonauts might be most the heartbreaking of all.
The Argos did not take the lead until 27 seconds were left on the game clock at Commonwealth Stadium. A.J. Ouellette’s 25-yard scamper into the end zone on a second-down-and-nine gave the Argos (10-6) the win and kept them two games ahead of the Montreal Alouettes in the East.
The Elks got 121 yards rushing and a touchdown from Kevin Brown. Their special teams recovered two kickoff fumbles from Argo returner Jeremiah Haydel. These things should make a recipe for victory.
But not for the Elks, who fall to 4-13 on the season.
The Elks wrap up the season with a home date against the B.C. Lions on Friday. The Argos can clinch the East Division title if they go to Montreal and win next Saturday.
(CP/Photo: CFL)
LIONS 40 BLUE BOMBERS 32
VANCOUVER – A pair of pick sixes helped the B.C. Lions creep closer to a home playoff spot with a 40-32 win over the league-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday.
Halfbacks T.J. Lee and Marcus Sayles each collected interceptions and made massive runs for touchdowns in a victory that gave B.C. (11-5) sole possession of second place in the CFL’s West Division.
It was a mixed night for Lions quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who threw for 138 yards and completed 13-of-22 attempts with one touchdown. He added 18 rushing yards and was sacked three times.
There were several new faces in Winnipeg’s lineup as head coach Mike O’Shea opted to rest a number of his usual starters, including quarterback Zach Collaros.
Making his first CFL start, Dru Brown threw 325 passing yards for the Blue Bombers (14-3), connecting on 28-of-39 attempts with three touchdowns and two interceptions. The second-year QB was sacked three times.
Winnipeg kicker Marc Liegghio struggled, missing three long field-goal attempts. He was successful on a 38-yard kick.
USPORTS
HUSKIES 23 RAMS 20
A surge by the University of Regina Rams in the final minutes of the game fell just short as Saskatchewan escaped with a 23-20 victory on Saturday afternoon in a battle of Canada West’s top two teams in Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan (6-0) clinches first place in the Canada West standings with the win, while the Rams drop to 4-2 but remain in sole possession of second place in the conference.
The Rams can clinch a home playoff game with a win in either of their final two games of the season.
The Rams are back on the road next Saturday with a game at Calgary, then will finish off the regular season on Oct. 29 at home against Manitoba.
(ReginaRams.com)
NHL
Michael Stone had a goal and two assists as the Calgary Flames got a bit of revenge for last season’s N-H-L playoff ousting by Edmonton, defeating the host Oilers 4-3 on Saturday. Mikael Backlund, Nazem Kadri and Andrew Mangiapan also scored for the Flames. It was the first time since the 2009-2010 season that the Flames have won their first 2 games of the NHL regular season. Cody Ceci, Connor McDavid and Ryan McLeod scored for the Oilers.
Elsewhere:
Philadelphia 3 Vancouver 2
Toronto 3 Ottawa 2
Washington 3 Montreal 1
Florida 4 Buffalo 3
Boston 6 Arizona 3
Detroit 5 New Jersey 2
Pittsburgh 6 Tampa Bay 2
N.Y. Islanders 7 Anaheim 1
St. Louis 5 Columbus 2
Los Angeles 7 Minnesota 6
Dallas 5 Nashville 1
Chicago 5 San Jose 2
Vegas 5 Seattle 2
WHL
MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Atley Calvert scored a goal at 12:07 of the third period that stood as the winner Saturday as the Moose Jaw Warriors won their fifth game of the Western Hockey League season by edging the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes.
Eric Alarie, Ben Riche and Nathan Pilling also scored for the improving Warriors (5-3-0-0).
Anton Astashevich, Alex Thacker and Joe Arntsen replied for the Hurricanes (3-5-0-0).
Both teams had 34 shots on goal.
WINTERHAWKS 5 BLAZERS 4 (SO)
PORTLAND, ORE. – The Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers have had some epic battles over the years. Saturday was another one as the host Winterhawks won 5-4 in a shootout.
Robbie Fromm-Delorme, with two goals, Kyle Chyzowski and Nicholas Johnson scored for unbeaten Portland (7-0-0-0).
Matthew Seminoff, with two goals, Logan Stankoven and Caedan Bankier scored for Kamloops (3-1-0-1).
HITMEN 6 RAIDERS 1
PRINCE ALBERT, SASK. – Matteo Danis scored twice as the Calgary Hitmen defeated the host Prince Albert Raiders.
Blake Heward, Jacob Wright, Brandon Whynott and Oliver Tulk scored for Calgary (3-1-1-1).
Evan Herman scored the lone goal for Prince Albert (2-6-2-0).
REBELS 4 BRONCOS 3
SWIFT CURRENT, SASK – Kai Uchacz scored the game winner at 17:33 of the third period as unbeaten Red Deer edged Swift Current.
Matteo Fabrizi, Ollie Josephson and Jhett Larson also scored for Red Deer (6-0-0-0).
Raphael Pelletier, Caleb Wyrostok and Josh Filmon scored for Swift Current (2-5-0-0).
ROYALS 5 WHEAT KINGS 3
VICTORIA, B.C. – Carter Dereniwsky scored a goal and an assist as Victoria defeated Brandon 5-3.
Caleb Willms, Tanner Scott, Jake Poole and Alex Edwards also scored for Victoria (2-7-1-0).
Rylen Roersma, Evan Groening and Trae Johnson scored for Brandon (3-3-1-0).
THUNDERBIRDS 11 SILVERTIPS 3
EVERETT, WASH. – Lucas Ciona scored three goals and added three assists as Seattle squashed Everett 11-3.
Kyle Crnkovic had two goals for unbeaten Seattle (6-0-0-0), while singles were netted by Nico Myatovic, Jordan Gustafson, Sam Popowich, Jared Davidson, Jeremy Hanzel, Reid Schaefer and Jared Davidson.
Ben Hemmerling, Austin Roest and Ryan Hofer scored for Everett (5-2-0-0).
ICE 4 COUGARS 1
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Owen Pederson scored a goal and an assist as Winnipeg defeated Prince George.
Matthew Savoie, Evan Friesen and Ty Nash also scored for Winnipeg (7-1-0-0).
Ryker Singer scored for Prince George (3-5-0-0).
AMERICANS 4 CHIEFS 1
SPOKANE, WASH. – Ethan Ernst scored two goals and netminder Tomas Suchanek made 44 saves as the Tri-City Americans defeated the host Chiefs 4-1.
Adam Mechura and Elouann Lemonnier also scored for the Americans (3-4-0-0).
Raegan Wiles scored for the Chiefs (2-4-0-0).
MLB
J-T Realmuto became the first catcher in M-L-B playoff history to hit an inside-the-park homer as the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-3 to win their best-of-five N-L Division Series in four games. Brandon Marsh added a three-run homer. The Phillies have advanced to the N-L championship series for the first time since 2010.
Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking, two-run single with two outs in the 7th inning and the San Diego Padres rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 last night to advance to the N-L Championship Series for the first time since 1998. The Padres stunned the 111-win Dodgers with the five-run rally to win the best-of-five N-L Division Series 3 to 1. San Diego will host the Philadelphia Phillies in Games 1 and 2 of an all-wild-card N-L-C-S on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Gerrit Cole starts tonight for the New York Yankees, looking to send the A-L Division Series to a decisive Game 5 back in the Bronx. Ace Cal Quantrill pitches for Cleveland. The Guardians rallied for a dramatic 6-5 victory last night, taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. In Seattle last night, Jeremy Pena homered in the 18th inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 to advance to the A-L Championship Series for the sixth straight year. And in Philadelphia the Phillies beat the Atlanta Braves 8-3 to win their series 3 games to 1.
Jeremy Pena homered in the 18th inning, and the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 on Saturday to advance to the AL Championship Series for the sixth straight year. Pena drove a slider from Penn Murfee deep to left-center for the rookie shortstop’s first playoff homer, proving the only run in an afternoon full of dominant pitching and empty trips to the plate. The 18 innings matched the longest game in playoff history.
Spoiling Seattle’s first home playoff appearance since 2001, Houston completed a three-game sweep of the ALDS. Next up is the New York Yankees or Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday.
(CP)
