Thursday Sports: Not Canada’s Night
Photo: Boston Bruins
STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS (Round 1)
BRUINS 4 LEAFS 2
(Bruins lead series 2-1)
TORONTO (AP) — Brad Marchand broke a tie midway through the third period and the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 on Wednesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
After Todd Bertuzzi tied it for Toronto with 8:35 left, Marchard put the Bruins back in front 28 second later. He took a pass from Danton Heinen and ripped a shot past goalie Ilya Samsonov’s ear. Marchand capped the scoring with an empty-netter and also had an assist.
Jake DeBrusk and Trent Frederic also scored for Boston, and Jeremy Swayman made 28 saves. Swayman made 35 saves in Boston’s 5-1 victory in Game 1, then gave way to Linus Ullmark in Toronto’s 3-2 victory in Game 2.
GOLDEN KNIGHTS 3, STARS 1
(Golden Knights lead series 2-0)
DALLAS (AP) — Noah Hanifin broke a tie with an unassisted goal late in the second period and Stanley Cup champion Vegas beat top-seeded Dallas to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.
Hanifin was one of the three trade-deadline acquisitions for the Knights, the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
Jonathan Marchessault scored his second goal of the series, and his franchise-record 36th in the postseason while appearing in all 90 of Vegas’ playoff games.
Jack Eichel assisted on Marchessault’s goal and added an empty-netter. Logan Thompson had 20 saves in his second career playoff start.
Game 3 is Saturday night in Las Vegas.
KINGS 5, OILERS 4, OT
(Series tied 1-1)
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Anze Kopitar fired a wrist shot past Stuart Skinner’s glove and into the top corner on a breakaway to give Los Angeles a victory over Edmonton in Game 2 of the first-round playoff series.
Kopitar picked up the puck near the Edmonton blue line, moved in on Talbot and shot from the slot as Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse dove to try to block the shot.
Los Angeles rebounded from a 7-4 loss Monday night in the opener to send the series to Los Angeles tied 1-1. Game 3 is Friday night.
MELFORT, SK – Aidyn Hutchinson banged home the winner at the 4:48 mark of the second overtime, and the Melfort Mustangs moved to within one victory of the Canterra Seeds Cup with a 4-3 triumph in Game 3 Wednesday.
The Mustangs have a 3-0 series lead and can complete the sweep Thursday night at Northern Lights Palace.
(SJHL.ca)
MLB
Alec Marsh and four relievers combined for a six-hitter as the Kansas City Royals beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2. Salvador Perez each had two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which bounced back from a loss in the series opener on Monday to win two straight. Jays starter Yariel Rodríguez gave up three runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out two and walked two.
NBA
BOSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro had 24 points and 14 assists, hitting six of Miami’s franchise playoff-record 23 3-pointers, to lead the Heat to a 111-101 upset victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night and tie their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 points and Oklahoma City beat New Orleans 124-92 to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round Western Conference playoff series.
NFL
DETROIT (AP) — Jayden Daniels handled the media with the same poise and command he displays in the pocket. Asked a few times about speculation that he doesn’t want to play for Washington and whether he prefers going to another team, Daniels understandably took a diplomatic approach one day before the NFL draft. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner from LSU is expected to be one of the top three players selected Thursday night. After USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes to Chicago first overall, Daniels is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 2 pick, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
(Canadian Press)
