Update on the latest sports
APNHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE
Killorn, Kucherov pace Lightning’s 6-2 rout of Panthers
UNDATED (AP) — Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and Tampa Bay rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers 6-2. The win gave the Lightning a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup.
The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate rivals to the brink of elimination by scoring three first-period goals, then building their advantage to 5-1 when Killorn beat goalie Sergei Bobrovsky twice in a span of 94 seconds to break the game open.
Nikita Kucherov (KOO’-cheh-rahv) had a goal and three assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skee) stopped 39 of 41 shots for the Lightning.
NHL-NEWS
Tavares has concussion, knee injury; likely to miss series
UNDATED (AP) — Toronto captain John Tavares is probably going to miss the rest of the Maple Leafs’ first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens after sustaining a concussion and a knee injury in Game 1.
General manager Kyle Dubas said Saturday that there is no structural damage to the head, neck or spine after the center took an accidental knee to the face from Canadiens forward Corey Perry. Dubas indicated the knee issue is expected to keep Tavares out of the lineup at least two weeks.
The best-of-seven series runs through May 31. Tavares’ availability for the rest of the postseason is uncertain if the Maple Leafs advance.
In other NHL news:
— Carolina forward Jordan Staal has been fined $5,000 for what the NHL called a dangerous trip on Nashville’s Luke Kunin (KUH’-nihn). The fine is the maximum allowed under the labor agreement. It was announced hours after Nashville beat Carolina 5-4 in double overtime to pull within 2-1 of the Hurricanes in their first-round series. Staal’s penalty put the Predators on a 5-on-3. Nashville converted by scoring its lone power-play goal of the series.
NBA PLAYOFFS-VIRUS RULES
NBA tells head coaches they can go without masks in games
UNDATED (AP) — Just in time for the playoffs, the NBA told its head coaches Saturday they may work without masks during games if they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Miami’s Erik Spoelstra (SPOHL’-struh) and Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer quickly took advantage of the new guidance. Both ditched their masks for Game 1 of their series that started Saturday afternoon.
A memo from the league obtained by The Associated Press says assistant coaches and players will still be required to wear masks in the bench area. Head coaches may choose to go without masks after pre-game introductions until halftime, then again after halftime until the game concludes. Head coaches will have to wear masks during halftime, during warmups and shootaround before the start of the third quarter and postgame. If opposing coaches choose to meet briefly on the court after a game, masks are encouraged.
Coaches will still need to participate in the NBA’s testing regimens.
Meanwhile, the NBA is going to see its largest crowds of the season during the playoffs.
Miami announced Saturday that, starting with Game 3 of its series against Milwaukee on Thursday, it has increased capacity to 17,000 fans — basically double what it was planning to have for the start of the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics said they are increasing attendance limits for Game 3 of their series against Brooklyn on Friday, and that for Game 4 on May 30 they will be near full capacity. Atlanta also said it would have “near-full fan capacity” for its home playoff games.
New York plans on welcoming up to 15,000 fans for its playoff games at Madison Square Garden against Atlanta, and Utah is prepared to host 13,000 fans to start its series against Memphis.
MLB-NEWS
Pirates’ Cahill lands on 10-day IL with left side discomfort
UNDATED (AP) — Pittsburgh right-hander Trevor Cahill was placed on the 10-day injured list with left side discomfort. Pirates manager Derek Shelton says Cahill “hadn’t seen a ton of improvement” since suffering the injury in Wednesday’s start against St. Louis. Cahill left the game against the Cardinals in the second inning. Shelton says no decision has been made on who will fill Cahill’s next scheduled start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. The 33-year-old Cahill is in his first season with the Pirates. Right-hander Kyle Crick was activated off the 10-day IL. Crick returns from a right triceps injury.
In other MLB news:
— A milestone was reached in Major League Baseball during the San Diego Padres’ 16-1 blowout over Seattle on Friday night. When Mariners backup catcher José Godoy made his big league debut he became the 20,000th player in MLB history. The 26-year-old from Venezuela signed with St. Louis in 2011 and joined the Seattle system last winter. He grounded out and walked in his two plate appearances.
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
Co-leaders on the course
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Co-leaders Phil Mickelson and Louis Oosthuizen (OOST’-hay-zehn) have begun the third round at the PGA Championship amid changing winds.
The two began the round tied at 5-under par, one shot ahead of Brooks Koepka (KEHP’-kuh) and two in front of four others, including Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (hih-DEH’-kee maht-soo-YAH’-mah).
Players earlier in the day faced lighter winds at the Kiawah (KEE’-uh-wah) Island Ocean Course.
Mickelson is seeking his second PGA and sixth major championship. At 50, he would also become the oldest to win a major.
F1-MONACO GP
Ferrari’s Leclerc takes pole for Monaco GP, Verstappen 2nd
MONACO (AP) — Charles Leclerc has won the first pole for Ferrari since 2019 despite crashing with 18 seconds remaining to end qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Leclerc held the top spot at his home track until his Ferrari grazed a barrier to break a suspension piece. He then hopped a curb and crashed into another barrier to bring the qualifying session to an abrupt end.
