THURSDAY EYE-OPENER
Phil Kessel scored his ninth and 10th goals of the season, and the Toronto Maple Leafs erupted for four goals during a nine-minute stretch to chase Vezina Trophy-winner Tuukka Rask out and rout the Boston Bruins 6-1. The win moves Toronto ahead of Boston in the Atlantic Division. Jonathan Bernier made 25 saves.
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The projected first overall pick in next year’s N-H-L draft is out for at least five weeks with a broken hand. Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters fractured a metacarpal in his right hand during a fight in an Ontario Hockey League game. The 17-year-old leads the O-H-L in points and has drawn comparisons to Sidney Crosby.
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The Toronto Blue Jays have begun their off-season dealings. The Jays traded Anthony Gose to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for second base prospect Devon Travis. The 23-year-old Travis was recently ranked by Baseball America as the Number-1 prospect in the Tigers’ organization.
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Clayton Kershaw has his third National League Cy Young Award. The Dodgers lefty was voted unanimously after throwing a no-hitter and leading the league in wins and ERA. In the American League, Cleveland Indians starter Corey Kluber edged Seattle ace Felix Hernandez for his first Cy Young Award.
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Reggie Jackson had 28 points and eight assists, and Anthony Morrow scored 28 to lift the injury-riddled Oklahoma City Thunder to a 109-94 victory over the Boston Celtics. It was the second win in six games for the Thunder, who are missing stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Canadian Kelly Olynyk had 14 points for Boston.
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Four-time Indianapolis 500 winner A-J Foyt is in stable condition at a Houston hospital following triple-bypass heart surgery. A team spokesman says Foyt is expected to remain hospitalized through next Monday. The 79-year-old was admitted on Friday after complaining of intermittent chest pains.
(Canadian Press)