Update on the latest sports
APNHL-PLAYOFFS
Two series get started, one continues
UNDATED (AP) — The Capitals host Game 2 tonight, after a 3-2 overtime victory over the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.
The Capitals goaltending situation remains uncertain. They weathered the loss of starting goaltender Vitek Vanecek to a lower-body injury Saturday night, with backup Craig Anderson making 21 saves for the victory. Anderson, who turns 40 on Friday, had not played a postseason game since 2017 and saw action in just four regular-season games for Washington.
Elsewhere, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Nashville Predators begin their Stanley Cup playoff series in Raleigh tonight. The Hurricanes won the Central Division for their first division crown since winning the Cup in 2006.
In other NHL news:
—The St. Louis Blues will be without leading scorer David Perron for Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against top-seeded Colorado on Monday due to the NHL’s virus protocols. St. Louis will again have forward Vladimir Tarasenko, who was sidelined the last six games of the regular season with a lower-body injury. Perron appeared on the league’s “players unavailable due to COVID protocol” list starting Saturday.
—Vancouver Canucks forward Jake Virtanen has been accused in a lawsuit of sexually assaulting a woman four years ago. The suit was filed last week in British Columbia and alleges Virtanen took the unidentified woman to a hotel in West Vancouver and assaulted her as she repeatedly said no and pleaded with him to stop. The allegations have not been tested in court and a defense statement has not been filed. On May 1, the Canucks placed the 24-year-old player on leave. The team said then it was pursuing an independent investigation.
MLB-NEWS
Dodgers sign Pujols; Yanks’ Stanton to IL
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Albert Pujols has signed a major league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 41-year-old slugger is moving 30 miles north to extend his remarkable career with the defending World Series champions after leaving the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols was unceremoniously cut by the Angels earlier this month in an abrupt end to his largely unsuccessful 10-year, $240 million tenure with the Orange County club.
In other MLB news:
—The New York Mets have placed outfielder Michael Conforto and second baseman Jeff McNeil on the 10-day injured list with hamstring injuries. Conforto strained his right hamstring and McNeil strained his left hamstring in Sunday’s 7-1 loss at Tampa Bay. Mets manager Luis Rojas says the team is “taking a week to week approach” with the two players.
— New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left quad strain. Stanton missed all three games in their weekend series at Baltimore. Stanton is hitting .282 with nine homers and 24 RBIs in 33 games this season. He is 3 for 25 since homering in three consecutive games May 4-6.
—The Houston Astros will allow maximum attendance starting May 25. The Boston Red Sox announced earlier Monday that they will fill Fenway Park to capacity as of May 29, making them one of the first teams in major league baseball to play to a full house. The Texas Rangers played to 100% capacity for opening day, and the Atlanta Braves on May 7 were the first MLB team to go to full capacity full-time.
NBA-PLAY-IN FIELD
LeBron vs. Steph: A play-in game will be a superstar tussle
UNDATED (AP) — The matchups for the NBA’s new play-in tournament are set.
It starts Tuesday with the Eastern Conference: No. 10 Charlotte at No. 9 Indiana and No. 8 Washington at No. 7 Boston.
And things shift to the West on Wednesday: No. 10 San Antonio at No. 9 Memphis and No. 8 Golden State at the seventh-seeded Los Angeles Lakers.
LeBron James and Stephen Curry have squared off four times for championships, when Warriors vs. Cleveland was an annual NBA Finals matchup. They’ll square off Wednesday for a different prize — the No. 7 seed in the West.
NBA NEWS
Broadcaster Marv Albert retiring after NBA East finals
NEW YORK (AP) — Marv Albert is retiring after the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals, ending a broadcasting career spanning nearly 60 years.
Albert will call the series for TNT. He has been with Turner Sports for 22 years, 19 as an NBA play-by-play announcer.
Albert, known for his signature “Yes!” call, turns 80 next month. He has covered everything from football and boxing to hockey, baseball and tennis. But he is linked most to basketball, having called 13 NBA Finals and 25 All-Star Games for NBC and Turner, along with the Dream Team’s romp to the gold medal in the 1992 Olympics.
NFL NEWS
Packers sign QB
UNDATED (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have signed Kurt Benkert in their latest attempt to add quarterback depth while MVP Aaron Rodgers’ future with the team remains unclear.
Green Bay has signed both Benkert and former Jacksonville Jaguars starting quarterback Blake Bortles over the past week. Rodgers and 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love had been the only quarterbacks on the Packers’ roster.
The 25-year-old Benkert has never appeared in an NFL regular-season game.
Green Bay is facing an uncertain quarterback situation after ESPN reported hours before the draft that Rodgers doesn’t want to return to the team.
In other NFL news:
— The Philadelphia Eagles and four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Ryan Kerrigan have agreed on a one-year contract. The 32-year-old Kerrigan played 10 seasons in Washington and is the franchise’s all-time leader with 95 1/2 sacks. Kerrigan had 5 1/2 sacks last season for the NFC East champions but played a career-low 38 percent of the snaps.
— The Denver Broncos have hired Kelly Kleine as executive director of football operations and special adviser to the general manager. She is believed to be the highest-ranking female scouting executive ever with an NFL team. Kleine spent the last nine seasons working with Broncos first-year GM George Paton with the Minnesota Vikings. Kleine most recently served as the Vikings’ manager of player personnel/college scout from 2019 to 2020.
— The Indianapolis Colts’ career sacks leader, Robert Mathis, will be inducted into the Colts Ring of Honor later this year. The ceremony will take place at halftime of its Nov. 28 game against Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Mathis was supposed to become the 17th honoree last season but the induction was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
—The Jacksonville Jaguars signed sixth-round draft pick Jalen Camp on Monday and waived third-year running back Ryquell Armstead. Armstead spent all of last season on the COVID-19 list. He was hospitalized twice and dealt with respiratory issues. The team expected him to make a full recovery. Armstead became expendable after the emergence of running back James Robinson in 2020. Under the NFL’s rookie slotting system, Camp’s four-year deal is worth about $3.64 million.
OHIO STATE-TEAM DOCTOR
Dozens more men sue Ohio State over doc’s sexual misconduct
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Dozens more men are suing Ohio State over the university’s failure to stop sexual abuse and misconduct decades ago by team doctor Richard Strauss. They echo claims filed previously by over 400 men, many of whom allege they were groped during medical exams. The newest claims were filed in federal court ahead of Monday, which marked two years since OSU released a law firm report that concluded university employees knew of concerns about Strauss but didn’t stop him. Strauss died in 2005. The school has publicly apologized and promised a “monetary resolution” for survivors. It already reached nearly $47 million in settlements for 185 plaintiffs.
COLLEGE CORRUPTION-BOWEN LAWSUIT
Zion’s name surfaces in court documents for Bowen lawsuit
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Zion Williamson’s name has surfaced in court documents that are part of a lawsuit filed against Adidas by another player who was at the center of the federal investigation into college basketball and never got the opportunity to play in college.
According to the documents, an employee of the apparel maker allegedly funneled money through his company to Williamson’s family while the New Orleans Pelicans star and former Duke All-American was in high school. The lawsuit was filed by Brian Bowen II, who initially signed with Louisville and then later with South Carolina. Bowen became entangled in the federal corruption investigation into the sport when his father accepted payments for his son to play for Louisville.
BELMONT-BAFFERT BAN
New York suspends Bob Baffert pending Kentucky Derby probe
UNDATED (AP) — Bob Baffert has been temporarily suspended from entering horses at New York racetracks pending an investigation of the failed drug test by Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.
Baffert’s ban in New York includes races at Belmont Park with the Belmont Stakes being run on June 5. The New York Racing Association made the announcement Monday. Baffert had not committed to entering any horses in the third leg of the Triple Crown but had many in consideration for other races on Belmont Stakes day. Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for the steroid betamethasone in post-race testing and faces disqualification unless a second test comes back negative. Medina Spirit finished third in the Preakness on Saturday.
