NHL-SCHEDULE
Rangers poised to take command
NEW YORK (AP) β The New York Rangers streak into Madison Square Garden tonight with a chance to put a stranglehold on the NHL Eastern Conference finals. The Rangers host the Canadiens in Game 3 after winning the first two games of the series in Montreal. New York has won five in a row and another win would put the Rangers on the verge of their first Stanley Cup finals appearance since 1994.
If Montreal is going to get back in the series, the Canadiens are going to have to do it without top goalie Carey Price, who’s been lost with a knee injury. The goaltending chores fall on Dustin Tokarski, who will be playing in just his 12th NHL game.
NBA-SCHEDULE
NBA is dark until Saturday
UNDATED (AP) β The NBA conference finals are off until Saturday when Miami hosts Indiana. That Eastern Conference final series is tied at a game each.
The Pacers are still awaiting word on the availability of guard Paul George, who suffered a concussion in Game 2.
The Spurs have looked dominant in with 17- and 35-point wins over the Thunder in the Western Conference finals. That series resumes with Game 3 in Oklahoma City on Sunday.
MLB-SCHEDULE
Shooting for No. 8
UNDATED (AP) β A couple of pitchers have a chance to become the first eight-game winner in the majors on the Thursday major league schedule.
Toronto’s Mark Buehrle (BUR’-lee) gets the first crack at it. He’ll go to the mound at Boston this afternoon sporting a 7-1 record and 2.11 ERA.
If Buehrle can’t get it done, then the Dodgers’ Zach Greinke (GREHN’-kee) will get a shot at being the first to eight wins. He goes into tonight’s game against the Mets with a 7-1 mark and 2.03 ERA.
LA’s Yasiel Puig (yah-SEEL’ pweeg) is on a tear, hitting safely in 18 of his last 19 games, batting .408 with seven homers and 23 RBIs during that stretch.
The Chicago White Sox welcome Chris Sale (sayl) back to their starting rotation when they open up a home series against the Yankees. The two-time All-Star has been on the disabled list since April 22 with a flexor strain in his left arm. Sale was 3-0 with a 2.30 ERA in four starts before the injury.
AL Central leading Detroit is back home trying to end a three-game losing streak. The Tigers host Texas and Yu Darvish in the opener.
Thirteen games dot the major league schedule today and tonight.
NASCAR-COCA COLA 600
Qualifying for the 600 tonight
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) β Qualifying for NASCAR’s longest race of the season is scheduled tonight at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 600-mile Coca Cola 600 is set for Sunday night. Keep an eye on Kevin Harvick and Jimmie Johnson this weekend.
Harvick has won the race two of the last three years, including last year. He’s one of only two two-time winners this season.
Johnson has six Charlotte victories including a run of five wins in a six-race stretch from 2003 to 2005.
GOLF-COLONIAL
Colonial boasts new No. 1
FT. WORTH, Texas (AP) β Adam Scott will compete as the world’s new No. 1 golfer when he tees it up in today’s opening round of the Colonial. The Australian took over the top spot from the injured Tiger Woods, who had been No. 1 for 60 straight weeks.
Scott will play the first two rounds with two-time champ Zach Johnson and Jimmy Wallker, who’s the only three-time winner on tour this year and is ranked No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings.
GOLF-SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Perry tries to extend streak
BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) β Kenny Perry will try to keep alive his streak of Champion Tour majors when he competes in the opening round of the Senior PGA Championship. Perry is coming off a one-shot win in the Regions Traditions last week. Last year, he captured the Senior Players Championship and U.S. Senior Open in consecutive starts. Perry was a runner up at the Senior PGA Championship last year.
Among those vying to bring an end to the Perry domination will be Bernhard Langer (LAHN’-gur), who’s already won twice this year. Tom Watson and Colin Montgomerie will be playing in Langer’s group.
LPGA-AIRBUS LPGA CLASSIC
Battle for No. 1
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) β The No. 1 ranking in the world will be part of the motivation in the Airbus LPGA Classic which opens today. Top-ranked Inbee Park holds the top spot and is in the field after taking last week off. Stacy Lewis couldn’t take advantage of Park’s absence to end her over one year reign as No. 1 but gets another crack at it.
Park is winless in eight starts this year, while Lewis has a win among her eight top-10 finishes.
NFL-SENATE-REDSKINS
Senators back ban of Redskins
WASHINGTON (AP) β Forty-nine Democratic senators have written NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying it’s time to change the name of the Washington Redskins. They say racism and bigotry do not belong in professional sports.
The senators’ letter never actually mentions the word “Redskins.” But it says the team name is nothing short of a racial slur.
Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has long refused to change the team’s name.
