Happy Friday
The three Cs stole the show last night — the Canadiens, Cubs and Clippers. The summer sports craze rages on with the College World Series, Tour de France, Euro 2020 and more playoff action on the way this weekend. First, it’s a historic moment for Canada as the Stanley Cup drought could finally be over…
Letter Rip!
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NHL PLAYOFFS
Can(ada) You Believe It?
Photo: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images
Canadiens Earn Trip to Stanley Cup Finals on Arturri Lehkonen’s OT Winner (3-2, OT)
Canada, can you believe it?! After 28 years, the Montreal Canadiens are heading back to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Habs won Game 6 (3-2, OT) against the Golden Knights on a stunning fast-break goal by Arturri Lehkonen off a beautiful pass from Phillip Danault. It was the third overtime game in six series games, four of which were decided by one goal. Montreal goaltender Carey Price (37 saves) was brilliant once again, and the Canadiens are going back to the promised land to try and end Canada’s Stanley Cup drought. The last Canadien team to win the Cup was Montreal in 1993.
Montreal’s Magic Run
Forgive us if you’ve heard it by now, but the Canadiens were the 16th and final team to secure their spot in the NHL Playoffs, finishing with just 59 points in the regular season. They took down the Maple Leafs in seven games before sweeping the Jets and breaking down the Golden Knights in six. They’re 12-5 in the playoffs despite a goal differential of just +6 over their opponents (43-37).
Next up? The winner of the Islanders-Lightning series for a shot at the title.
Watch: Canadiens Advance to Stanley Cup Finals on Lehkonen’s OT Winner
Tonight’s Schedule
Gm 7: Islanders at Lightning (8:00 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
CBS Sports: Habs Nip Knights to Return to First Stanley Cup Final Since 1993
SportsNet: Golden Knights Caught in Canadiens’ Destiny as Latest Playoff Run Ends
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MLB
No-No, Chicago!
Photo: Daniel Shirey / Getty Images
Cubs Throw Combined No-Hitter With 4 Arms After Zach Davies Goes 6 Innings
No sticky stuff? No problem for the Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies tossed a combined no-hitter Thursday night against the Dodgers (4-0) in a four-arm onslaught. Zach Davies went six untouchable innings before the relief trio of Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel went 7-8-9 to complete the no-no. It was the 17th no-hitter in franchise history, but the first combined for the club. And despite the MLB’s best efforts to bring pitching back to reality, the year of the pitcher finds a way to continue.
MLB No-Hitter This Season
The Cubs’ pitching clinic marked the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season. That’s already tied for the modern era record for most no-nos in a single season, and it’s not even July. The MLB has seen seven no-hitters in four previous seasons (1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015). The only season that saw eight no-hitters was before the modern era (1884).
The Cubs’ Cannons
Zach Davies: 6 IP, 4 Ks, 5 BB
Ryan Tepera: 1 IP, 0 Ks, 1 BB
Andrew Chafin: 1 IP, 0 Ks, 1 BB
Craig Kimbrel: 1 IP, 3 Ks, 1 BB
Watch: Cubs Throw Combined No-Hitter Against Dodgers
MLB Quick-Hitters
Astros Streak Hits 11: The Houston Astros hung 12 runs on the Tigers (12-3) to win their 11th straight game on Thursday. They’re 20-4 in the month of June.
Guerrero Jr. Retakes HR Lead: Blue Jays’ star Vlad Guerrero Jr. smashed his 24th home run of the season in a shutout win against the Orioles (9-0) and retook the lead in the HR race from Shohei Ohtani (23).
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NBA PLAYOFFS
Don’t Count Out the Clippers
Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
L.A. Clippers Win Game 3 (106-92) After Facing 3rd 2-0 Series Deficit of NBA Playoffs
Where have we seen this movie before? The L.A. Clippers fell behind 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals, just like each of the two series before. And once again, they won Game 3 to stop the bleeding as they attempt to mount another comeback. Paul George (27 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists) was the star of Game 3, but the Clippers’ defense shut down the Suns in Chris Paul’s return. Both Paul and Devin Booker went 0-for-9 from the floor in the first quarter. Phoenix climbed back before halftime, but the Clippers cruised in the second half. It’s 2-1, and the Clippers have life.
The Clipper Comebacks
No team in NBA history had ever overcome multiple 0-2 series deficits in one postseason until the Clippers did it in Rounds 1 and 2. Everyone assumed the West Finals would be a different story, especially with Chris Paul’s return in Game 3 and no Kawhi Leonard for L.A. A total of 433 NBA playoff series have started 2-0, and only 6.9 percent of trailing teams have come back to win. Somehow, Clippers’ coach Tyronn Lue has an eye-popping 4-2 record (.667 win pct.) when trailing 0-2 in the playoffs.
Clippers 2021 Playoff Record
In Games 1-2: 0-6
In Games 3-7: 9-1
Watch: Clippers-Suns Game 3 Highlights
Tonight’s Schedule
ECF Gm 2: Hawks at Bucks (8:30 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
FOX Sports: Top Moments From Suns-Clippers Game 3
B/R: Paul George Powers Clippers to Game 3 Win Over Suns in Chris Paul’s Return
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
️ CWS: #2 Texas Advances to Semifinals
The No. 2 seed in the College Baseball World Series is moving on to the semis after a 6-2 win over Virginia on Thursday. The Longhorns face Mississippi State tonight for a shot at the title against the winner of Vanderbilt-NC State.
️ LPGA: Salas Leads LPGA Championship After 1
Lizette Salas shot a 5-under 67 on Thursday to lead Round 1 of the LPGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club. The 31-year-old California native played a bogey-free round and holds a one-stroke lead. Her last LPGA Tour victory came in 2014.
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THE STORYLINES
The Biggest Questions for Team USA
Group play at the Tokyo Olympics is set to tip off on July 25, just three days after the NBA playoffs are scheduled to end. Despite the tight window, a number of players who are still at it have committed to Team USA’s 12-man roster for the international tournament. (Bleacher Report)
NCAA Changing Stance on NIL Laws
The NCAA appears headed toward a temporary solution regarding college athletes’ ability to make money from their name, image and likeness that will involve schools in states with NIL laws to follow them, and those without to set their own policies. (USA Today)
Where Have All the Cutouts Gone?
There were few, if any, fans in NFL stadiums last season. Taking their place were thousands of cardboard cutouts representing fans, former players, celebrities, and even pets. As the league returns to business as usual, what happened to them all? (The Ringer)
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THE HEADLINES (EXTENDED)
Pacers Hire Rick Carlisle as Next Head Coach With 4-Year, $29 Million Contract
(CBS Sports)
UEFA Abolishes Away Goal Aggregate Tiebreaker Rule in Club Competitions
(ESPN)
WNBA Players Still Heated Over Nneka Ogwumike Snub From Olympic Roster
(Yahoo! Sports)
NHL Expansion Team Seattle Kraken Name Dave Hakstol as First Head Coach in Franchise History
(Bleacher Report)
Bears WR Marquise Goodwin to Compete in Long Jump Olympic Trials Today
(NBC Sports)
Dallas Mavericks Expected to Hire Jason Kidd as Next Head Coach
(NBA.com)
Tennessee’s Keon Johnson Breaks NBA Draft Combine Vertical Jump Record
(SI)
NFL to Allow Throwback/Alternate Helmets Beginning in 2022 Season
(NFL.com)
Steelers Cut Veteran Lineman David DeCastro, Sign Former Pro Bowler Trai Turner
(CBS Sports)
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WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
NBA Playoffs
ECF Gm 2: Hawks at Bucks (Fri. 8:30 pm)
WCF Gm 4: Suns at Clippers (Sat. 9:00 pm)
ECF Gm 3: Bucks at Hawks (Sun. 8:30 pm)
NHL Playoffs
Gm 7: Islanders at Lightning (Fri. 8:00 pm)
Euro 2020 (Knockout Stage)
Wales vs. Denmark (Sat. Noon)
Italy vs. Austria (Sat. 3:00 pm)
Netherlands vs. Czech Republic (Sun. Noon)
Belgium vs. Portugal (Sun. 3:00 pm)
MLB
Yankees-Red Sox Series
Cubs-Dodgers Series
Athletics-Giants Series
Phillies-Mets Series
College World Series
NC State vs. Vanderbilt (Fri. 2:00 pm)
Miss. State vs. Texas (Fri. 7:00 pm)
Saturday Games TBD
Tour de France
Begins Saturday (Jun. 26)
NASCAR
Pocono Raceway (Sat. 3:00 pm)
LPGA Tour
LPGA Championship (All Weekend)
*All Times Eastern
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