UNDATED (AP) β Alex Galchenyuk (gahl-CHEHN’-yuk) scored at 3:40 of overtime and Carey Price stopped 29 shots as the Montreal Canadiens beat Ottawa 3-2 to take a two-games-to-none lead in the Stanley Cup first-round series. And third-period goals by Nicklas Backstrom and Jason Chimera (chih-MEHR’-uh) lilfted Washington past the New York Islanders 4-3, tying that series at a game apiece. Both series continue on Sunday.
UNDATED (AP) β The Nashville Predators set team playoff records for most goals and largest margin of victory. Craig Wilson had two goals and an assist as the Predators hammered Chicago 6-2 to even the Western Conference first-round series at a game apiece. Vancouver and Calgary are tied at one game all after Eddie Lack stopped 22 shots in the Canucks’ 4-1 triumph over the Flames.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) β Troy Merritt matched the course scoring record with a 10-under 61 to take a four-shot lead over Matt Kuchar and John Merrick at the midway point in the PGA’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head. Merritt tied David Frost’s tournament mark set in 1994 and topped the leaderboard at 12-under 130, a stroke off the 36-hole event record shared by Jack Nicklaus and Phil Mickelson. The record-tying round came after Masters champ Jordan Spieth fired a 62.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (AP) β Matt Kenseth has won the pole for Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Bristol as he seeks his fourth career victory at the track. Kenseth turned a lap at 128.632 mph in qualifying for his first pole of the season and 13th of his career. Brad Keselowski qualified second, followed by Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) β Iowa State says coach Fred Hoiberg has undergone open-heart surgery to replace the aortic valve. His doctor said the operation was a success, adding that “Hoiberg is in recovery and doing very well himself.” He just completed his fifth season at Iowa State, leading the Cyclones to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and back-to-back Big 12 tournament titles.
