First Call: Ravens looking at Todd Gurley; Browns DBs getting healthy; Robert Morris rink negotiations appear dead
Steelers fans will be interested in Friday’s “First Call” as we have updates on two AFC North rivals. The Cleveland Browns are getting healthy in the secondary, and the Baltimore Ravens’ deep group of running backs may be adding another familiar name. Meanwhile, we celebrate the present and the past...
Vegas ousts top-seeded Colorado in 6 games
LAS VEGAS — Alex Pietrangelo scored his first goal of the postseason to break a tie late in the second period, and the Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 in Game 6 of their second-round series on Thursday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals. Nick Holden,...
Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon finalists for NHL MVP honors
NEW YORK — Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews and Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon have been named the finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. McDavid, considered the likely winner of the award, dominated the 2020-21 scoring race with 105 points in 56...
First Call: Steelers’ Devin Bush ‘100%’ sure he can cover Browns’ Jarvis Landry; Ray Shero’s new job; Dave Parker turns 70
Thursday’s “First Call” features a bold Devin Bush, as the Steelers linebacker talks about tough tasks in coverage. There are a few newsworthy items about some former Penn State stars. A familiar Penguins face is heading out to Minnesota to reunite with Bill Guerin. Plus, we wish a happy birthday...
Islanders finish off Bruins in 6 games
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Brock Nelson scored twice in another big second period by New York, Semyon Varlamov stopped 23 shots, and the Islanders beat the Boston Bruins 6-2 in Game 6 on Wednesday night to advance to the Stanley Cup semifinals for the second straight year. Kyle Palmieri, Trais Zajac,...
Minnesota GM Bill Guerin hires Ray Shero as senior advisor
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild hired longtime NHL general manager Ray Shero on Wednesday as a senior advisor to general manager Bill Guerin, who played for and worked under Shero with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Shero was fired last year by New Jersey, midway through his fifth season as...
Officiating takes center stage midway through NHL playoffs
Officiating has been on center stage midway through the NHL playoffs. Star forward Connor McDavid didn’t draw a single penalty when Edmonton got swept in the first round. Tampa Bay dominated a second-round series against Carolina thanks to a potent power play. And a war of words between coaches Barry...
Stone scores early in OT, Knights beat Avs 3-2 in Game 5
DENVER — Mark Stone blocked a shot on the defensive end and by the time he spun around, a pass was waiting for him with nothing but clear sailing ahead. A burst of speed — even as tired as he was — and a wrist shot later, he was being...
First Call: Minkah Fitzpatrick wanted fifth-year option for Steelers’ teammate; Gerrit Cole’s awkward Spider Tack response
Wednesday’s “First Call” features interesting comments by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on some recent front office decisions. Gerrit Cole gives a bizarre explanation about Spider Tack. Levon Kirkland sees a lot of himself in a potential NFL star linebacker. And yet another entertaining game out west between the Colorado...
Robert Morris hockey players withholding transfer announcements to show solidarity with Colonials programs, ex-teammates
With every passing day, it’s getting harder and harder to resuscitate the Robert Morris hockey programs. It’s been almost two weeks since the university abruptly eliminated the successful men’s and women’s teams. While supporters and alumni are scurrying to come up with funds to keep them alive — or plans...
Lightning eliminate Hurricanes, advance to Stanley Cup semifinals
RALEIGH, N.C. — Andrei Vasilevskiy was at his best again with the Tampa Bay Lightning in position to close out a playoff series. Throw in a couple of timely goals from Brayden Point and Ross Colton, and the reigning Stanley Cup champions are a step closer to playing for another...
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy fined $25,000 for criticizing refs
BOSTON — The NHL fined Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy $25,000 on Tuesday for his criticism of the officials after Game 4 of Boston’s second-round playoff series against the New York Islanders. The Islanders scored three power-play goals on four chances in a 5-4 victory on Monday night while being called...
Tyler Toffoli scores OT goal as Canadiens complete sweep of Jets
MONTREAL — Tyler Toffoli scored at 1:39 of overtime, lifting the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night and a four-game sweep of their second-round playoff series. Toffoli took a cross-crease pass from Cole Caufield and beat Connor Hellebuyck with a one-timer for the...
Islanders win 5-4 to take 3-2 lead in series over Bruins
BOSTON — With five minutes left and his New York Islanders bleeding away their three-goal lead, coach Barry Trotz called a timeout and told his players to breathe. “He just calmed everyone down,” said forward Josh Bailey, who had a goal and an assist in the 5-4 victory that gave...
Marchessault’s hat trick lifts Vegas to 5-1 win over Avalanche
LAS VEGAS — After the Vegas Golden Knights lost the first two games of their second-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, captain Mark Stone said no team is out of a series until it loses at home. After sweeping two in Vegas, the Golden Knights are back in business. Jonathan...
First Call: How Julio Jones trade may impact Steelers; no Selke for Sidney Crosby; curtain call for Andrew McCutchen
Monday’s “First Call” tells us how the Julio Jones trade will impact the Steelers. Andrew McCutchen is getting hot. Sidney Crosby is shut out of the Selke voting. And local product Brandon Saad is back on the score sheet in the NHL playoffs. But he was one-upped by someone on...
Tim Benz: Robert Morris hockey coaches must help players to transfer while maintaining hope programs can return
As supporters of Robert Morris ice hockey hold out hope that some sort of 11th-hour development may save the recently eliminated men’s and women’s programs, the coaches are taking on a gut-wrenching job. Men’s head coach Derek Schooley and women’s head coach Paul Colontino are tasked with dismantling their rosters,...
Canadiens rout Jets, take commanding 3-0 series leadVideo
MONTREAL — Joel Armia had two goals and an assist, Carey Price made 26 saves and the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 5-1, on Sunday night to take a 3-0 lead in their second-round playoff series. Corey Perry, Artturi Lehkonen and Nick Suzuki also scored for the Canadiens, who...
Canada grants NHL cross-border travel exemption for playoffs
The NHL received an exemption from Canadian health officials allowing cross-border travel for teams starting in the semifinal round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the league announced on Sunday. When in Canada, teams will be required to stay in a bubble and be tested daily for COVID-19, similar to the...
Mathew Barzal makes difference as Islanders even series with BruinsVideo
UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Mathew Barzal broke a tie late in the third period, and the New York Islanders beat the Boston Bruins, 4-1, on Saturday night to even the second-round playoff series at two games apiece. Kyle Palmieri, Casey Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored for New York, and Semyon...
Lightning take commanding series lead over HurricanesVideo
TAMPA, Fla. — Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos each had two goals and an assist, and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 6-4, on Saturday to open a commanding lead in their second-round playoff series. The defending Stanley Cup champions improved to 10-0 in games following a playoff...
Islanders’ new home arena on horizonVideo
NEW YORK — On a rainy morning at Belmont Park, boots are an absolute necessity to trudge through the mud at the construction site of the New York Islanders’ new arena. It’s been a slog to get to this point, but brighter days are ahead. After more than a decade...
Jets’ Mark Scheifele won’t appeal ‘excessive’ 4-game suspension
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele won’t appeal his four-game suspension for a crushing blow to the head and shoulder of Montreal’s Jake Evans. Scheifele called the NHL’s decision “excessive” but said Friday he doesn’t want to be a distraction for his team. He added that he did...
Jordan Staal scores in OT, Hurricanes beat Lightning in Game 3
TAMPA, Fla. — Jordan Staal scored on a power play at 5:57 of overtime to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night in Game 3 of the second-round series. Staal deflected Sebastien Aho’s shot with Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov serving a penalty...
Mark Madden: Mark Scheifele’s hit has polarized hockey fans, but the incident has shades of gray
Near the conclusion of Wednesday’s NHL playoff game between Montreal and Winnipeg, the Canadiens’ Jake Evans scored a game-clinching empty-net goal on a wraparound. The Jets’ Mark Scheifele chugged into Evans just after he scored and knocked him flying. Evans received on-ice medical treatment for 10 minutes, then got stretchered...
