Jets Earn Game-7 Win Over Predators
The Winnipeg Jets' "whiteout" did not work on their home ice in a Game-6 loss, but it did travel with them to Nashville for Thursday's Game 7. The Jets stunned the defending Western Conference Champion Nashville Predators on Thursday night with a 5-1 Game-7 win on the road. Tyler Myers and Paul Stastny got the scoring started with goals just 2:06 apart in the first period, as they never trailed in this decisive game. Stastny added another goal and an assist on the night, while Mark Scheifele scored twice in the big win for a team that was swept in their previous two playoff appearances. Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor had two assists apiece, all to support Connor Hellebuyck, who made 36 saves between the pipes. The Jets finished just three points behind the Predators in the regular season President's Trophy race, but took three of four games at Bridgestone Arena in their second-round series. P.K. Subban scored the lone goal on the power play for the Predators, as they become the ninth President's Trophy winner in 10 years not to win the Stanley Cup. Pekka Rinne did not help their chances, as he was pulled for the third time in the series after giving up two goals on just seven shots early on. The Jets will have home-ice advantage in the Western Conference Finals, as they will host Game 1 of the series against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.
Martinez, Red Sox Stop Yankees to Avoid Sweep
The New York Yankees nearly pulled off another improbable victory at home, in the rain on Thursday night, but the Boston Red Sox were able to fight off their rivals to avoid a sweep. J.D. Martinez had the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, as the Red Sox snapped the Yankees' nine-game win streak with a 5-4 win at Yankee Stadium. Dellin Betances surrendered the long ball just one inning after the Yankees had rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game with a four-run seventh. The loss for New York is just their second in the past 19 games, as the Red Sox pulled back into a tie for first place in the AL East. The two teams have now split their six games this season, with 13 more still to go, but none until June 29th, which will once again be in New York. Hanley Ramriez drove in three runs for the Red Sox, who knocked around C.C. Sabathia early on, which was before a 55-minute rain delay. After the Red Sox took the lead back, Joe Kelly threw a scoreless inning to improve to 2-0 for Boston. Craig Kimbrel did the same in the ninth to shut things down, just one night after giving up a lead in the eighth inning. Betances suffered his second loss of the season for the Yankees, who will stay home this weekend to host the Oakland Athletics. The Red Sox move on north of the border to visit the tough Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set.
Ohtani, Upton, Kinsler Power Angels at Home
Two familiar power sources led the charge for the Los Angeles Angels in their series opener on Thursday night, as they cruised on their home field. Shohei Ohtani hit his fifth home run of the season in the Angels' 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to open their weekend series. Justin Upton stayed hot with a long ball, which was his third straight game with a homer, as he leads the majors with 13 RBI in the month of May. Ian Kinsler also had three hits, including a homer, while Kole Calhoun had the official tiebreaking hit in the sixth inning. The Angels held a lead before the Twins rallied for four in the sixth to tie things up on the road. But Anaheim wasted little time taking the lead right back and for good, as they have now won seven of their past nine games, while also snapping the Twins' five-game winning streak. Garrett Richards was solid for the Angels up until the big sixth inning for Minnesota, while Andrelton Simmons also added at the plate with three hits. Brian Dozier had the big blow for the Twins with a three-run blast, and Max Kepler followed with a long ball in the very next at-bat. The latter of those homers came off of Jose Alvarez, who survived long enough to improve to 2-0 on the season for the Angels. These two teams still have three more games this weekend, including on Friday night.
The Winnipeg Jets' "whiteout" did not work on their home ice in a Game-6 loss, but it did travel with them to Nashville for Thursday's Game 7. The Jets stunned the defending Western Conference Champion Nashville Predators on Thursday night with a 5-1 Game-7 win on the road. Tyler Myers and Paul Stastny got the scoring started with goals just 2:06 apart in the first period, as they never trailed in this decisive game. Stastny added another goal and an assist on the night, while Mark Scheifele scored twice in the big win for a team that was swept in their previous two playoff appearances. Blake Wheeler and Kyle Connor had two assists apiece, all to support Connor Hellebuyck, who made 36 saves between the pipes. The Jets finished just three points behind the Predators in the regular season President's Trophy race, but took three of four games at Bridgestone Arena in their second-round series. P.K. Subban scored the lone goal on the power play for the Predators, as they become the ninth President's Trophy winner in 10 years not to win the Stanley Cup. Pekka Rinne did not help their chances, as he was pulled for the third time in the series after giving up two goals on just seven shots early on. The Jets will have home-ice advantage in the Western Conference Finals, as they will host Game 1 of the series against the Las Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night.
Martinez, Red Sox Stop Yankees to Avoid Sweep
The New York Yankees nearly pulled off another improbable victory at home, in the rain on Thursday night, but the Boston Red Sox were able to fight off their rivals to avoid a sweep. J.D. Martinez had the go-ahead home run in the eighth inning, as the Red Sox snapped the Yankees' nine-game win streak with a 5-4 win at Yankee Stadium. Dellin Betances surrendered the long ball just one inning after the Yankees had rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game with a four-run seventh. The loss for New York is just their second in the past 19 games, as the Red Sox pulled back into a tie for first place in the AL East. The two teams have now split their six games this season, with 13 more still to go, but none until June 29th, which will once again be in New York. Hanley Ramriez drove in three runs for the Red Sox, who knocked around C.C. Sabathia early on, which was before a 55-minute rain delay. After the Red Sox took the lead back, Joe Kelly threw a scoreless inning to improve to 2-0 for Boston. Craig Kimbrel did the same in the ninth to shut things down, just one night after giving up a lead in the eighth inning. Betances suffered his second loss of the season for the Yankees, who will stay home this weekend to host the Oakland Athletics. The Red Sox move on north of the border to visit the tough Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set.
Ohtani, Upton, Kinsler Power Angels at Home
Two familiar power sources led the charge for the Los Angeles Angels in their series opener on Thursday night, as they cruised on their home field. Shohei Ohtani hit his fifth home run of the season in the Angels' 7-4 win over the Minnesota Twins to open their weekend series. Justin Upton stayed hot with a long ball, which was his third straight game with a homer, as he leads the majors with 13 RBI in the month of May. Ian Kinsler also had three hits, including a homer, while Kole Calhoun had the official tiebreaking hit in the sixth inning. The Angels held a lead before the Twins rallied for four in the sixth to tie things up on the road. But Anaheim wasted little time taking the lead right back and for good, as they have now won seven of their past nine games, while also snapping the Twins' five-game winning streak. Garrett Richards was solid for the Angels up until the big sixth inning for Minnesota, while Andrelton Simmons also added at the plate with three hits. Brian Dozier had the big blow for the Twins with a three-run blast, and Max Kepler followed with a long ball in the very next at-bat. The latter of those homers came off of Jose Alvarez, who survived long enough to improve to 2-0 on the season for the Angels. These two teams still have three more games this weekend, including on Friday night.
