The NHL regular season came to an end on Sunday, with the Anaheim Ducks beating other divisional leaders the Colorado Avalanche 3-2 in overtime to complete their best campaign in franchise history.
Among other results on the final day, New Jersey beat Eastern Conference leaders the Boston Bruins in what may well have been the last game in Devils colors for veteran goaltender Martin Brodeur, the Detroit Red Wings tuned up for the playoffs with a win against the sliding St Louis Blues and the Ottawa Senators showed what might have been by downing the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Penguins.
Anaheim’s Nick Bonino scored 1 minute, 33 seconds into overtime to give the Western Conference-leading Ducks a fitting climax to the regular season ahead of a first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars.
Patrick Maroon and Saku Koivu scored 3:13 apart to tie the game early in the third period for the Ducks, who used the game to honor Teemu Selanne, who plans to retire after the season. The 43-year-old Finnish Flash got standing ovations on every shift in the third period in Anaheim, his home for 15 of his 21 NHL seasons.
Brad Malone and Stefan Elliott scored for the Avalanche, who play the Minnesota Wild in the first round of the playoffs.
New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur made 16 saves in the Devils’ 3-2 win over a second-string Boston.
Defenseman Marek Zidlicky scored twice and Travis Zajac had a goal for the Devils, who have now missed the playoffs two straight seasons.
Loui Eriksson scored for Boston, who rested eight starters in preparation for the playoffs, including Zdeno Chara and No. 1 goalie Tuukka Rask.
New Jersey’s Jaromir Jagr had two assists, giving him 1,050 and moving him past Gordie Howe for eighth on the NHL career list.
Detroit’s backup goalie Petr Mrazek kept injury-riddled St Louis down heading into the playoffs with his second career shutout, giving the Red Wings a 3-0 win.
Justin Abdelkader scored twice and Riley Sheahan added a goal for the Red Wings, who earned the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference and face the Boston Bruins in the playoffs.
Ottawa ended their frustrating season with a fifth consecutive win, beating Pittsburgh 3-2 after a shootout.
Jason Spezza and Kyle Turris scored in the tiebreaker for the Senators, while Turris and Mark Stone netted in regulation for Ottawa, who miss the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Jussi Jokinen and Lee Stempniak scored for the Penguins, who rested captain Sidney Crosby and several others ahead of the playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Tampa Bay Lightning wrapped up home-ice advantage for their first-round playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens by edging the Washington Capitals 1-0 after a shootout.
Matthew Carle scored the only goal in the tiebreaker. The victory clinched second place in the Atlantic Division for Tampa Bay.
The Nashville Predators finished their season on a high by beating the playoff-bound Minnesota Wild 7-3, with Craig Smith having two goals and two assists.
The Phoenix Coyotes had the satisfaction of at least ending a seven-game skid in their last game, beating the Dallas Stars 2-1, with Dave Moss scoring the late winner.
Carolina’s Eric Staal scored twice in regulation and had the only goal in the shootout to lead the Hurricanes to a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Vancouver beat the Calgary Flames 5-1 in a game of little significance overshadowed by a heavy hit on the Canucks’ Daniel Sedin, who was taken to hospital, while aggressor Paul Byron was ejected.
New York’s Brock Nelson scored with 3:44 left in regulation to force overtime and then netted the decisive shootout goal to give the Islanders a 4-3 win over the hapless Buffalo Sabres.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely