NHL, Hopkins-Dawson 2, NLL

Question: What day is it? 

You say:  SPORTS-DAY!!!..(instead of Saturday) 

&

Saturday night, is now: SPORTS-NIGHT!!!....got it?

#DIDJAKNOW

There were two NHL playoff games on, the NBA playoffs have begun, the NLL wrapped up their regular season and there was an HBO boxing card. (I barely noticed but I spent most of the day on my ass in front of the television and had no human contact)  -- To do: Get out of the house and say hello to someone.

NHL

In game 1 - The New York Rangers hosted the Washington Capitals in game one of the the eastern conference semi-finals. The first period was scoreless and both teams had some chances. The Caps forward Alex Semin took a selfish
retaliation penalty to quell a powerplay and we had some 4-on-4 hockey momentarily.

Rangers forward Artem Anisimov circles behind the Caps net and wraps in the first goal of the game. This game was actually quite boring for the first half, I caught myself dozing off briefly and woke up to see a Washington player get hauled down on a one-on-one charge to the net, I initially thought there maybe a penatly shot awarded because the Rangers defenceman dove and took the feet out from under the caps player and made no contact with the puck. But no call and no penalty. But the Capitals get it back on a 3-on-2 break as Jason Chimera chips in a saucer pass from Brooks Laich with 3.5 seconds to go in the period and we have a 1-1 tie after two periods of play.

The speedy Rangers rookie Chris Kreider drives home a slapshot from the top of the circle to restore the Rangers lead. Then mere moment later, Brad Richards makes a nifty individual play from the corner and walks his way to the goal and slips a shot through the five hold of Caps goalie Brayden Holtby.

The score would end up 3-1 Rangers and they take a 1-0 series lead.

The Capitals hit four posts but this was a boring hockey game. There were very few shots on net: Rangers 14 - Capitlal 18. I wonder if any series will live up to some of the first round match-ups like Rangers - Ottawa and Philly - Pitt.

NLL

John Grant Jr had 2 goals and 4 assists in a 16-13 loss to Minnesota. 

With six points Grant Jr now holds the NLL single season points record with 116, surpassing John Tavares who has 115 in 2001.

Boxing

Why is Bernard Hopkins still fighting?

Because at 47 he still held the WBC light heavyweight belt. But no longerer he lost a 12 round unanimous decision to Chad Dawson. Fans may remember that Dawson had fought six months prior but the fight was called after Dawson threw Hopkins down to the mat landing akwardly on his shoulder Hopkins could only fight with one arm, and referee Pat Russel put a stop to the fight and awarded Dawson the technical ko. Hopkins' team protested the ruling and was later awarded his belt back.

Bringing fight fans a rematch.

The fight itself resembled MMA at points but that is the kind of fight Hopkins likes. The heavy underdog, hopkins didn't do too much with his hands, aside from a lot clutching and grabbimg. Hopkins head did the most damage. In the fourth, Hopkins ducked some solid punches and as he was swinging back up for a counter shot, Hopkins clashed his head with Dawson's splitting his brow open. The referee immediately signaled it an accidental and the fight continued. 

Hopkins 47 and holding a 52-6-2 record is still a brawler and has still never been knocked out. He now lost his belt, there is no-one else to fight. He should retire but its up to him. Hopkins denied a post fight interview. 

Dawson in his post fight speech, gave respect to Hopkins calling him a future hall of famer but was quick to call him out as a dirty fighter, and suggested the head butt on purpose. Altogether he showed respect but with frustration. Dawson won the fight and it was clear he's happy to never see Hopkins again.

Will the fans see Hopkins again? I am almost sure. It is sad, almost nobody retires anymore.

Dawson was the unanimous decision, landing more punches and controlling the fight. Hopkins landed some shots but wasn't as busy as Dawson. Hopkins elected to clutch and grab and keep Dawson close. 

Veteran referee Eddie Cotton likely got the biggest workout, having to continually duck in and split the fighter from the cluthching and grabbing. 

As I say the fight looked like MMA with boxing gloves. Late in the fight Hopkins appeared to fly tackle Dawson and both fighters ended up on the canvas in the middle of the ring.

The fight was entertaining. The knockout of the night came in the heavyweight bout before. Where the former Michigan State University football lineman is still being considered a raw boxer because he got in to the sport late and has only been boxing professionally for four years but has an impressive 24-0-1, 18 KO's record.

So and so HBO wise guy didn't give much credit to Mitchell. I felt Mitchell earned more respect. It was a nice knockout. Mitchell revealed the heavyweight division is unique in that one good punch can end the fight. Mitchell survived a couple haymakers from Witherspoon early. Mitchell rocked Witherspoon in the third round with a shot on the chin, Witherspoon would get back to his feet but Mitchell woould rock him with a combination sending the fighter to the ropes, the referee Randi Neuman would step in and stop the fight.

Mitchell is now the NABO heavyweight champ. The title was previously vaccant.

Rangers win game seven

New York vs. Ottawa -- I lost five dollars to my father on this one. In my heart I knew the Sens were in tough on the road in New York but being the last Canadian contender I bet with my heart.

Nationally speaking, Sweden was well represented in this game. Daniel Alfredsson, the games third star who  blasted home Ottawa's only goal.

 Henrick Lundqvist was the games first star stopping 26 shots. The youngster Eric Karlsson tried hard but came up short only registering one point all-series. He is still my bet for the Norris trophy.



New York win 2-1

It was a spirited back and forth game in which the Senators threw everything at the Rangers but in the end came up short.

Fast forward to the final five minutes the Senators had many chances but they couldn't get a strong shot. Zac Smith had a chance all alone out front but fanned on the pass that came across the crease.

Ottawa spent a lot of time in the Rangers end but the New York did a great job protecting their net and not letting Ottawa get any quality shots through.

29-27 were the shot in favour of the Rangers who also blocked a lot of Ottawa's chances.

A big problem for Ottawa was turnovers. This led to a lot of odd man breaks and both Rangers goals.

Phillip Kuba had a horrible game for the Senators, who was reckless in his own end turning over the puck in frony of the net  and taking a stupid cross checking penalty there as well.  I would of had Matt Carkner in the line-up instead of him.

Ottawa couldn't hit the net or the broad side of a barn. Many of their chances from the point were off target.

Alfredsson looked like Ottawa's best player and I don't see him retiring.

For the Rangers they had two unlikely goal scorers. Defencemen  Mark Stall and Dan Girardi both got their first goal of the playoffs.

Ottawa vs New York

Ottawa vs New York

Rangers rally and force game 7

Ottawa go up 1-0 early on the power play. Neil and Smith set the screen in front of Lundqvist and Gonchar rips a shot from the point that the Ranger goalie can't see.

The goal is credited to Neil, whom the puck deflected in off his skate.

Neil and Prust square off in a dandy.

Ottawa get undisciplined and a little 4-on-4 before the Rangers go on the PP and tie the game.

Derek Stepan gets his first of the series on the door step and ties the game 1-1

Ottawa newcomer Jakob Silfverberg then takes a roughing call sending the Rangers back on the power play.

Ottawa go down 2 men as Nick Foligno takes a roughing the goalie penalty.

New York score on the 5-on-3 power play. Mike Richards blasts one under Craig Anderson.

A dandy play and a nice save -- the Senators break in with numbers and a beautiful pass across the slot from Foligno to Spezza who sends it back in front of the net for Alfredsson who can't put it over Lundqvist.

Ranger keep rolling, as Chris Kreider scores one with 42 seconds left in the period.

Chris Neil looks like he tries to kick the puck in with 39 seconds to go. They review the goal and the call stands. But it was little too late as the Rangers hang on to win 3-2.

The best move of the game was Brandon Prust fighting Neil. That turned the momentum towards the Rangers and the Sens were rattled.

Game seven is back in New York on Thursday

Crosby and Pens out

Why did I take poor Sidney Crosby with my first pick in the hockey pool?

The guy has barely played any hockey this regular season and when he did come back he got in mixup and was out with another injury. Some pundits suggest he should of just sat out the entire year. Others who I agree with, say he needed to come back sometime, it my as well be now.

The Penguins did very well this regular season without Crosby for the most part. Finishing 4th with 108 points. The Crosby we saw this playoffs was not the best he could be, the fact we noticed him more in the penalty box than in front of the net.

In the post game, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette calls Claude Giroux the best player in the world. (Really going at Crosby, here.) But he is wrong.

Crosby is still the best player in the world, coming back from injury though he wasn't the same. Will Crosby ever be the same is a different question...

The rivalry was awesome. Both coaches Dan Bylsma and Laviolette --their teams included have a genuine hate-on for each other.

Both were spending a lot of time yipping and going after each other, just like the players were after a whistle the whole series.

Balysma said he couldn't wish the Flyers any luck further in the playoffs.

The game has ended and only one team moves on. I love a tournament and hockey is tough and emotional and it maybe one of the best.

Claude Giroux was the best player of the series. He leads the playoffs with 14points, 6g's-8a.

So my chances on winning the hockey pool are low. I took Crosby first pick and it was a big mistake... because the Flyers won and they were better.

NHL PLAYOFFS

Los Angeles vs. Vancouver

The Kings come back and tie things up late in the third and send the game to overtime. Dan Hamhuis is trapped at the blueline and coughs up the puck. Jarret Stoll races in and puts one short side top shelf to knock the Canucks out of the playoffs

Boston vs Washington

Tyler Seguin scores the overtime winner for the Bruins and forces a game seven.

Philly vs Pitt

Claude Giroux snipes 32 seconds into the game, by going short side on Marc-Andre Fleury.

Hartnell dives in the crease and jams the puck into the back of the net for 2 goal lead

Does Fleury need glasses? He lets in a weak wrister by Erik Gustafsson from just inside the blueline and Philly are flying high with a 3-0 lead.

Evgeny Malkin gets the Pens on the board with a powerplay tally. Under 40 seconds later the Flyers get their 3 goal lead back as Daniel Briere puts one in on the doorstep for his fifth of the series.

Malkin is stripped with the empty net by Braydon Schenn who slides one into the empty net and the Flyers win 5-1 and move onto the next round.

NHL, UFC, NLL Lacrosse...lot's of sports!

Its a busy Saturday night in the sports world.

NHL

Chicago beat Phoenix tonight and stay alive

Phoenix and Chicago tied 1-1. They go into overtime and Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews gets the game winner to send the series back to Chicago for game 6.

Phx lead series 3-2

Sens go up 3-2 in their series

The Ottawa Senators have been leading the New York Rangers for most of the game and then Spezza seals it with an empty net goal with under a minute to go.

Sens lead the series at 3-2 and they go back home for game six

Blues beat out the Sharks

St. Louis were up 2-1 and scored an empy netter with under a minute to go. The Blues join Nashville as the only teams to advance from the first round.

Capitals beat Bruins

Braden Holtby holds his own and the Captials defeat the Bruins in a a close one and take a 3-2 series lead.

The action was back an forth and after a scorless first period, Washington score two but Boston rally back with under 3 minutes to play they score back to back goals and tie the game.

Washington outscored Boston 2-1 in the third. Holtby made 31 saves.

Panthers reverse their fate

After loosing 3-0 in game 4, the Panthers take a 3-2 series lead as the shutout New Jersey 3-0.

Suspension - Raffi Torres handed 25 game suspension. The most severe suspension in NHL playoff history.

NLL

Regular season wraps up this weekend with three games on the slate.

The Rochester Kinghthawks take on the Buffalo Bandits --has the Self brothers squaring off. Scott is defensive specialist and leads the the Bandits with 73 looseballs. Brad is a transition threat for the Knighthawks with 23 pts and 71 looseballs in 14 games. --Fans can catch the action on CBS 7:30 PM

The Self's aren't the only Peterborough bro's battling it out tonight.

Shawn Evans's and Calgary take on his older brother Scott with Edmonton. The NLL's version of the "battle of Alberta" tonight. Shawn leads Calgary with 73 points. Older brother Scott has 22 goals in 11 games with Edmonton. -- The game airs on Sportsnet West 10:00 PM

UFC

Jon Jones vs Rashad Evans (Main Event)

Jon "Bones" Jones defended his UFC light-heavyweight title vs. former champ Rashad Evans. Jones delivered more blows and some lunging elbows that set the tone of the fight and Evans goes the distance but couldn't do anything but dodge and swing at the bigger Jones, who defends his belt for the fourth time and remains the undisputed champ.

Rory MacDonald vs Che Mills - (co Main-Event)

Alternate headline - "MacDonald mauls Mills and gets the TKO".

What a bright future the Canadian welterweight has ahead of him. He takes Mills down on the ground early, where he controlled the fight.

MacDonald drilled Mills with some punches from a side triangle. Mills was cut bad and had big goose egg under his right eye.

MacDonald gets the easy tko early in the 2nd round

Michael McDonald vs Miguel Torres

McDonald is the 2nd youngest fighters in the UFC and he is one of the best up and comers in the game.

McDonald scores the KO with an upper cut, Torres didn't know what hit him.

Ben Rothwell vs Brendan Schaub

Schuab lands a strong elbow but Rothwell counters from the cage and KO's Schaub with a left hook.

Schaub wanted a toe-to-toe fight and Schaub looks reckless in having it out that way.

Mark Hominick vs Eddie Yagin

Hominick has a a tough first 2 rounds. He gets rocked by a couple Yagin haymakers. Hominick is coming off a tough loss where he got tko'ed by in just seven seconds.

Hominick shows heart and keeps the fight going. He tags Yagin over and over again with sharp jabs, doing some major damage late in the fight. Yagin's face is a bloody mess. But the attack from Hominick was too late, the judges had scored the first two rounds in favour of Yagin.

Hominick neeglected any opportunity to attack the torso of Yagin with kicks instead sticking to the jab.

The fight goes to the cards and Yagin with the decision.

The judges favour Yagin with the split decision

Mark Bocek vs John Alessi

Bocek the Canadian gets a unanimous decision

Prelims are on FOX TV

The fight of the night so far is:

Matt Brown vs Stephen Thompson.

At different points both fighters look like they have the fight won.

Thompson lands some good strikes and kicks late in the 2nd round but Brown was able to fend off the attack.

Thompson couldn't defend the take down.

Brown gets the ground and pound going and does some brutal damage. Cutting Thompson on the brow with an elbow.

With 30 seconds to go Brown again with the ground and pound, gets Thompson locked into a lateral triangle hold leaving Brown with an free arm to drill Thompson's face.

Thompson eats punches as the clock runs out and this one goes the distance. Both fighters were exhausted.

Brown with the unanimous decision.

Heavyweight fight featuring up-and-comer Tavis Browne

Travis Browne and Griggs.

Browne lands a flying knee and gets his man on the ground. The fight is over quick, Browne slips on a arm-triangle and puts Griggs to sleep with a choke hold.

Humber golf coach wins top award

Humber golf coach wins the CCAA Coaching Excellence Award - click here for more

I couldn't sleep until the cows came home

Hockey is life

Spending all this time at the the bar and live tweeting about the NHL has led me to forget about a lot of things.

Like my enthusiasm for my construction job. At least most the guys at work can talk sports, lke Luigi, Santos, Bill and Basil. I will miss those guys.

This morning, I was forced to quit. Maybe I was fired. So what.

I fell asleep in an unfinished basement, behind the furnace and the boss was the first one to find me and wake me up.

I was ready to quit that job anyways and and become a poet.

With all the playoff excitement and the overtime games make it hard to get to bed early.

I'm not made for construction work.

I was always looking at the clock all day anyways, I Couldn't wait to leave.

NHL Playoffs

Ottawa and the NY Rangers go to overtime tied at two and then Kyle Turris takes a drop pass in the slot and top-shelves a wrister.

Maybe Mike Richter would of had that one. Confusingly enough, Lundqvist has a scanty 1-and-7 overtime playoff record.

But credit Turris, his shot had eyes for the top corner, whistling past Lundquist's glove hand. The series is tied 2-2.

-The Sens maybe the underdogs but they may have the Rangers number. Remember they outbeat the Rangers 3-1 in their regular season series.

I hope the Pittsburgh Penguins left some goals in their stick for game five as they fended off elimination with a 10-3 victory over the Flyers.

Jordan Stall had a hat-trick - I got him in the hockey pool.

-Flyers lead the series 3-1.

Vancouver were on the brink of elimination and surely I have many Canucks and Penguins guys on my hokey pool squad.

To the action and while shorthanded, Dustin Brown gets dragged down on a breakaway.

The play is whistled down for a penatly shot.

Cory Schnieder stones Brown and saves Vancouver's man advantage and only moments later, Henrik Sedin buries his first of the playoffs.

-Vancouver win 3-1.

Have these playoffs been the most vicious you can remember or is the media being guilty of hyping this stuff up?

Humber Triple Athlete

Multi-sport athlete runs away with handful of top honours - click here for more

The NHL playoffs preview

Later on today the NHL playoff schedule will be released but we already know the first round match-ups.

As my neighbour Reggie put it, "this is the most wonderful time of the year." I couldn't agree more.

Eastern Conference:

#1 NY Rangers vs #8 Ottawa

- The Rangers blanked the Senators five nothing in their final game of the regular season but Ottawa won the season series 3-1.

-Henrik Lundqvist could be the difference maker in net for the Rangers.

#2 Boston vs #7 Washington

-Washington win the season series 3-1.

-Boston are the defending champs but its rare that an NHL team can repeat.

#3 Florida vs #6 New Jersey

- Season series was tied 2-2.

-The Devils are on a six game win-streak.

#4 Pittsburgh vs #5 Philadelphia

Philly won the season series 4-2 but the Pens have Sidney Crosby back.

Western Conference:

#1 Vancouver #8 Los Angeles

- season series was tied 2-2

-Vancouver are 8-1-1 in last 10 games.

#2 St. Louis vs #7 San Jose

- St. Louis won the season series 4-0

-

#3 Phoenix vs #6 Chicago

- Phoenix won the season series 3-1

-The Coyotes have been hot coming down the stretch.

#4 Nashville vs #5 Detroit

- season series was tied 3-3

-Nashville look ready to make a playoff run.

Humber Lacrosse Club

Lacrosse club at Humber doesn't stick - click here for more

Sports night!

The NCAA Madness winds down tonight.

Kentucky#1 are the favourite over Kansas#2. The game in on at 9PM tonight on TSN.

I have to go with Kentucky. They are the heavy favourites and they have skill and size that is tough to match.

Should be a more entertaining game then last year when UCONN defeated the underbulldogs of Baylor who put together the lowest socring 51-43 UCONN vicotry, the lowest scoring final since they invented the 3-point line.

How about... the NLL Lacrosse.

The Toronto Rock pull out a huge 15- win over Buffalo who haven't been able to get it together this year. Garrett Billings sets Rock single game scoring record with 15 point, 4 goals and 11 A's.

John Tavares had 4G's and 1A for the last place Bandits. The Rock(6-6) are one game back of Philly for 1st place in the East.

Colorado sneak in 16-12 afternoon win in Rochester. John Grant jr back in Rochester for the first time since being traded to Colorado and he puts in 11 points, getting the hat-trick and adding 11A's. Not too bad, eh. His Lakers teammate and Colorado captain Gavin Prout had 9 points (2G-7A).

Cory Vitarelli gets 3 goals and 2A's and tied a season high 8 loose balls.

Vitarelli is far behind the league leader and faceoff specialist in loose balls, Geoff Snider has 190. But every loose ball Vitarelli grabs seems to be on the door step. Vitarelli battles his way through traffic for juicy rebounds. He's like a vacuum cleaner on the crease and the way he can pull in a pass cutting through the middle with a defender drapped on him is admirable.

The Lakers should be in good shape this summer.

The Junior camps are underway and I look forward to being home this summer and covering the Lakers.

This one is free!

Here is a poem from my first book, My dog is an animal.

Early Morning Flashing

Up early,

Let the dog out,

The front door

To do his business

I have no energy

To put him on his leash

I only watch,

Standing in the doorway.

Across the street,

A car flashes

Its headlights

I wave at the dog

To come back in

I am stark naked

And the car

Keeps flashing its lights.