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Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily: Hurricanes go up 3-0 on the Islanders
Published in
Hockey
Thursday, 02 May 2019 04:56
Uh-oh, could we be seeing a second-round sweep? After taking care of Barry Trotz's old team in the first round in seven games, the Carolina Hurricanes are now up 3-0 on his current team, the New York Islanders.
Here's a recap of last night's action (check out replays of every playoff game on ESPN+) and what to watch for tonight, in today's edition of ESPN Stanley Cup Playoffs Daily:
Jump ahead: Last night's games | Three stars
Play of the night | Today's games | Social post of the day
About last night ...
Game 3: Carolina Hurricanes 5, New York Islanders 2 (Hurricanes lead the series 3-0). Oh, how quickly it has soured for the Islanders. We knew they'd have a hard time generating offense this postseason, but this series has been a particular struggle. It's rare to climb out of an 0-3 deficit (though in this year's wacky playoffs, who would rule out anything?). Only four teams in NHL history have done it; the most recent was the 2014 Kings. Carolina, once again, put on a show for the home crowd, with an especially big third-period goal from captain Justin Williams. It proved to be the winner.
Game 4: Dallas Stars 4, St. Louis Blues 2 (series is tied 2-2). The Blues would strike first, but the Stars would control so many aspects, playing a more physically dominating game and capitalizing on turnovers. Blues rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington has been ultra-composed since inheriting the No. 1 job, and he started the night off excellently. But then, for the first time in his NHL career, we saw him lose his cool with a pair of dumb penalties. The Stars' decision to mix up the top two lines paid off, as four different players scored goals.
0:40
Dickinson, Spezza net 1st-period goals to put Stars in front
Jason Dickinson lunges for a rebound and puts it in the back of the net to tie the game, then Jason Spezza scores a power-play goal to make it 2-1 Stars.
Three stars
1. Curtis McElhinney, G, Carolina Hurricanes
At 35 years and 343 days old, he became the oldest goaltender to make his first career postseason start. He made it count, turning away 28 of 30 shots.
2. Justin Williams, RW, Carolina Hurricanes
Yeah, yeah, he's Mr. Game 7. But maybe he's just Mr. Clutch. His go-ahead goal midway through the third period was the by-product of perfect positioning and a killer finish.
.@JustinWilliams gives the @NHLCanes a 3-2 lead. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/NzxuUQZFOo
- NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) May 2, 2019
3. Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars
Seguin took to his new line assignment with Mats Zuccarello and Jason Dickinson by dishing out two assists on Wednesday night. He has also established a career high for playoff points (nine).
Play of the night
One of the plays that earned McElhinney our first star of the night:
Curtis McElhinney this is a seeeeeerious skate save pic.twitter.com/L9Ngd2xc2m
- Yahoo Sports NHL (@YahooSportsNHL) May 2, 2019
Dud of the night
Blues rookie goaltender Jordan Binnington unraveling at the end of the second period.
First, Binnington retaliates after a jab from Stars captain Jamie Benn. Both players would receive two-minute penalties (Binnington's was for roughing).
This is the Benn-Binnington incident. pic.twitter.com/McTqBQGNzY
- Matthew DeFranks (@MDeFranks) May 2, 2019
Then, on his way off the ice, Binnington took a swipe at Dallas goalie Ben Bishop near the bench.
Overhead (and only) angle shown by NBCSN of the Binnington chop on Bishop: pic.twitter.com/yr7pQyUuzS
- Alex Prewitt (@alex_prewitt) May 2, 2019
That meant the Stars had to begin the third on a penalty kill. It's the rare goalie-on-goalie slash, and it's not cool.
On the schedule
Boston Bruins at Columbus Blue Jackets, Game 4, 7:30 p.m. ET (Jackets lead the series 2-1)
The Blue Jackets are rewriting their postseason narrative this spring. Perhaps no one more so than goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who is having a dynamite playoff run. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner had been 5-14 in the playoffs, with a goals-against average of 3.49 and a save percentage of .891. This postseason? He's 6-1, with a 1.88 GAA and .937 save percentage. Columbus has all the hallmarks of a John Tortorella-coached team, clogging lanes and blocking shots -- and the Bruins' stars are getting frustrated. David Pastrnak, Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron have combined for just one goal so far. And now Marchand (who had done a good job this season of rewriting his narrative as a pest ... until this series) is on notice after some unsportsmanlike play.
San Jose Sharks at Colorado Avalanche, Game 4, 10 p.m. ET (Sharks lead the series 2-1)
The Sharks got their mojo back in Game 3, thanks to a hat trick from Logan Couture and some nifty playmaking by new dad Gustav Nyquist, who is having a whirlwind week. Now San Jose may be getting reinforcements. Captain Joe Pavelski is skating again (after FaceTiming the team after their critical road win). Colorado started strong in Game 3 but then fell apart in what might have been one of their worst performances of the postseason. Avs coach Jared Bednar lamented his team's miscues, which included "some bonehead decisions with the puck." The Avalanche are a young team, and their style is conducive to mistakes.
Social post of the day
A good boy and his favorite Bread:
Quotable
"Just a bunch of grown men being donkeys." -- Jamie Benn on the skirmishes at the end of the second period of the Stars-Blues game.
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Pregnant Lincicome preparing to shut down season, will skip USWO
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 01 May 2019 13:14
DALY CITY, Calif. – Brittany Lincicome fans should enjoy watching “Bam Bam” while they can at this week’s LPGA Mediheal Championship.
She is a little more than five months pregnant and getting ready to shut down her season to prepare for the birth of her first child later this year.
She won’t be playing in next month’s U.S. Women’s Open and plans to make the Pure Silk Championship at Kingsmill in three weeks her last appearance of the season. She’s expecting a girl on Sept. 1.
Why no U.S. Women’s Open?
“Just talking to Gerina [Piller] and Stacy [Lewis], they both said they made it to about six months and that was enough, that was the perfect time,” Lincicome said. “I feel wonderful, physically, right now. I’ve not been sick, not been tired, feeling great, but some shots are starting to go to the right, when I come out of them. It’s getting more frustrating now. I feel like I should be an athlete and compete at the highest level, and I just can’t do what I feel like I should do.”
Lincicome feels her body changing and what that is beginning to do to her swing.
“I’ve just started feeling the pregnancy the last couple weeks,” Lincicome said. “I’m starting to feel her move around a little bit, which is cool.”
Lincicome has one of the best caddies on tour, Missy Pederson. What is she going to do while Lincicome is away? Pederson will take up a temporary job with another major champion. She’ll make her first start with Angela Stanford at the U.S. Women’s Open.
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Hmong-American Khang making inspired run at Solheim Cup spot
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 01 May 2019 15:08
Megan Khang isn’t getting ahead of herself, but she knows her surge up the U.S. Solheim Cup standings is a source of pride among the Hmong-American population.
She’s the first Hmong-American to play the LPGA, and she knows what it would mean if she made the American team that goes to Scotland to meet the Europeans in September.
“I’m just trying to play well, and I know if I do that, everything else will take care of itself,” Khang said. “But it would be a great honor to make that team.”
With her tie for fifth last weekend at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open, Khang climbed to sixth on the U.S. Solheim Cup point standings. The top eight at the conclusion of the CP Women’s Open in late August will qualify for the team. There’s a long way to go, with 13 more events before qualifying ends, three of them majors, but she has put herself in good position before the summer run of big events. She’s in the field at this week’s LPGA Mediheal Championship.
Khang’s parents, Lee and Nou, were children when they escaped Laos with family as communist death squads hunted Hmong for aiding Americans in the Vietnam War. After spending months in Thai refugee camps, Khang’s parents finally made their way to the United States, where their families rebuilt their lives.
Lee, Meghan’s father, didn’t know what golf was when he arrived in the United States as an 8-year-old. He didn’t start playing the game until he was 32, but he taught himself, learning mostly from scouring Golf Digest and later watching YouTube videos. He’s the only coach Megan has ever known.
“Megan is definitely a role model for young Hmong boys and girls,” Lee said. “I’m so driven to make her the best player she can be, that I have to stand back sometimes to see the big picture and appreciate what she’s doing.”
Megan, a fourth-year LPGA member, knows the impact her name makes on a leaderboard.
“It would mean the world to me, to inspire children in some way, even if it’s one child,” Khang said.
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Furtney, Shepherd team up to win Women's Amateur Four-Ball
Published in
Golf
Wednesday, 01 May 2019 15:40
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Megan Furtney and Erica Shepherd atoned for a semifinal loss a year ago by winning the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball on Wednesday with a strong start and a steady finish at Timuquana Country Club.
Furtney and Shepherd, high school seniors who plan to play for Duke next year, made their fourth birdie on the par-5 seventh hole to build a 3-up lead, and lost only one hole the rest of the way for a 2-and-1 victory over Jillian Bourdage and Casey Weidenfeld.
Furtney is from South Elgin, Illinois, and Shepherd from Greenwood, Indiana.
''I've said it before and I'll say it a hundred more times. We know each other's game so well and we're so good about communicating with each other on the golf course,'' Furtney said. ''I think we're one of the few teams out here who didn't use caddies this week. I like to say that we kind of caddie for each other in a sense. We kind of know what kind of shots each other, like what we're capable. So kind of being able to talk those through and have a lot of options open is really important for us as a team.''
Shepherd won the 2017 U.S. Girls Junior and tied for 23rd in the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Furtney recovered from losing the tip of her pinky finger in a freak accident in 2017.
Bourdage and Weidenfeld are high school teammates in Pembroke Pines, Florida.
In the morning semifinals, Furtney and Shepherd beat Amari Avery and Alexa Pano 4 and 3, and Bourdage and Weidenfeld topped Sadie Englemann and Rachel Heck in 20 holes.
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Tiger Woods will visit the White House on Monday to attend a ceremony hosted by President Trump, according to published reports.
Trump and Woods have played multiple rounds together in South Florida, and Trump tweeted last month that he spoke with Woods and intended to award him the Presidential Medal of Freedom after his stirring victory at the Masters. That ceremony is expected to be held later this year.
Woods would be the fourth golfer to receive the highest civilian honor, joining Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Charlie Sifford.
Woods is not planning to play next week at the AT&T Byron Nelson outside Dallas. The PGA Championship is held the following week at Bethpage Black.
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One week after first tour win, Campillo shares lead in China
Published in
Golf
Thursday, 02 May 2019 03:54
SHENZHEN, China – Spaniard Jorge Campillo began his bid for back-to-back European Tour titles by shooting 7-under 65 to share the lead with two other players after the first round of the Volvo China Open on Thursday.
Four days after winning the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco for his first victory on tour, Campillo made five birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free round at the Genzon Golf Club.
David Lipsky, a winner this season at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and Tapio Pulkkanen also shot 65s.
The trio is a stroke clear of 2015 winner Wu Ashun, another Chinese player in Jin Daxing, and John Catlin.
With Li Haotong a shot further back on 5 under, China has three players in the top seven.
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Barcelona midfielder Arthur Melo's house was robbed and his brother was threatened with a knife on Wednesday during the Champions League win against Liverpool, sources have confirmed to ESPN FC.
Two thieves broke into Arthur's house in the Pedralbes neighbourhood of the Catalan city through a window and left with several items, including watches and objects which were easy to carry.
While they were still in the house, Arthur's brother, Paulo Henrique, arrived back from watching Barca beat Liverpool 3-0 at Camp Nou. When confronted by him, the robbers threatened him with a knife and were able to constrain him and an assistant who had also been in the property.
Once the duo had left, Arthur was contacted by his brother and told what had happened. The Brazil international raised the issue with Barcelona's security staff, who in turn contacted the police.
The police arrived at the scene later on Wednesday night and an official report was filed on Thursday.
It's not the first time a Barca player's home has been targeted in recent years. Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba, Philippe Coutinho and Kevin Prince Boateng have all suffered break-ins since 2018.
Robbers broke into Pique's house while he was attending his partner Shakira's concert in the city last summer. Coutinho, Alba and Boateng were all targeted while Barcelona matches were being played.
Arthur joined Barca from Gremio last July and has been an ever-present in Ernesto Valverde's side in his first season in Spain. However, he was the surprise omission from the team against Liverpool, with Arturo Vidal preferred over him.
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Messi hits out at fans for 'ugly' Coutinho whistles
Published in
Soccer
Wednesday, 01 May 2019 16:59
Lionel Messi criticised Barcelona fans for jeering Philippe Coutinho when he was taken off in the second half of Wednesday's 3-0 Champions League win against Liverpool at Camp Nou.
Messi struck twice in the second half, bringing up 600 Barca goals in the process, to leave his side in a commanding position heading into next week's semifinal second leg at Anfield.
But Barca's win was tainted by the treatment former Liverpool playmaker Coutinho received when he was replaced by Nelson Semedo just before the hour mark. The club's record signing endured a difficult night against his ex-teammates but Messi didn't believe his performance was deserving of the whistles aimed at him by his own fans.
The Argentina international even celebrated his first goal -- which made it 2-0 in the 75th minute following Luis Suarez's opener -- by telling the home supporters not to whistle their own players.
Ogden: Liverpool made Messi angry -- they paid the price
Barcelona player ratings: Messi a perfect '10' in big win
"We're at the defining stage of the season and we have to be more united than ever," Messi told reporters after the game. "I said that at the start of the season. It's not the time to criticise anyone.
"We have to support each other and stick together for the rest of the season. It is ugly to treat a player like that when they're taken off."
While Coutinho's Camp Nou struggles endured, it was another electric performance from Messi, 14 years to the day since he scored his first goal for the club against Albacete. His second goal was a sublime free kick from 30 yards.
He now has 12 goals in Europe this season and 48 in all competitions, with Barcelona on the verge of a first Champions League final since 2015 and with a treble in their sights. They've already won La Liga and have a Copa del Rey final to come against Valencia later this month.
However, the scoreline did flatter Barca slightly. Liverpool had their chances throughout the game, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen making three good stops and Mohamed Salah missing a great late opportunity to grab an away goal when he struck the woodwork.
"We're not used to not having the ball and we struggled a little," Messi admitted. "But that's how the game went and we had to find a way through in whatever way necessary. They didn't manage to score and that's important.
"We were better in the first half and they pressed well in the second, but they didn't have too many chances. Of course, they wanted to get a goal, an away goal is huge. We have a good advantage but we know it's not over. Anfield's a really tough place to go."
Coach Ernesto Valverde also warned that the tie is far from over. Barca were knocked out in the quarterfinals last season by Roma when, despite winning the first leg 4-1, they were beaten 3-0 at the Olimpico.
"Liverpool had some clear chances -- one off the post," Valverde said in his postgame news conference. "And there was a great save by [Ter Stegen]. They had their moments and we had to suffer at times but, in the end, we got a good result against a really strong team.
"But it's a similar result to last year. We also had a three-goal lead against Roma."
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Barcelona and Spain legend Xavi Hernandez has officially announced that he will retire from football after 21 years.
The Spanish national team veteran, who plays in Qatar for Al Sadd, confirmed in an open letter on Thursday that this will be his last season and that he will continue his career as a coach.
"It has been a privilege to play football up to age 39 and I would like to finish out the season on the top by winning the Amir Cup and reaching the next stage of the Asian Champions League.
"This is my last season as a player, but I really want to see what the future holds for me as a manager," Xavi, who joined Barca's senior side during the 1998-99 season, said in a letter.
The Barcelona academy product led the Catalan club to eight titles in La Liga as well as four Champions League trophies. His total silverware for club and country, 31 trophies, is a number only surpassed by his longtime Spain and Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta.
He spoke about his developing style as a manager, citing the influence of Johan Cruyff and La Masia and the style that Barcelona gave to the world.
"I love to see teams that take the lead on the pitch, that attacking football and that return to the essence that we all know from the days of our youth, possession of the ball," he said.
"It has been a privilege to accomplish what I have done over the past two decades. And that is why I feel that it is my duty to begin an initiative on the field and give back to football as long as I am able."
Capped 113 times for Spain, Xavi played a key role in his country's 2010 World Cup victory in addition to Spain's victories at both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. He retired from national team play in 2014.
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Atletico Madrid have been confirmed as opponents for the MLS All-Star Game in Orlando on July 31, continuing the trend of an elite European team playing against the best in Major League Soccer.
"The atmosphere in Orlando will be intense and memorable when Atletico Madrid takes on the MLS All-Stars," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said.
"Atletico joins the list of the many prominent clubs in global soccer to play in our midseason showcase, and we know the passionate supporters that make up The Wall and the rest of Orlando City Stadium will provide a distinctive home-field advantage for the MLS All-Stars."
The All-Stars lost to Juventus last season and Real Madrid the previous year, with both matches decided on penalties. The 2019 event is the 16th time an elite club has played the MLS All-Stars, with Atletico the second team from La Liga to feature.
"Atletico Madrid are proud to participate in our first Major League Soccer All-Star Game and battle the many great players of MLS," club President Enrique Cerezo said.
"The U.S. and Canada have always been important markets for our club and competing in the MLS All-Star Game is an excellent opportunity to connect with our fans in North America and reach out to new ones. It will also be a great experience to play in Orlando, which has developed into a top soccer city with incredibly passionate fans since joining MLS. This is an exciting moment."
Diego Simeone's side are second in La Liga behind champions Barcelona.
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