It's Friday

It's Friday. Here's what's happening....

************************************************

Today is April 15th, the 105th day of 2011. There are 260 days left in the year.

************************************************

 

 

 

Canadiens stun Bruins in opener.

Sabres blank Flyers to grab series lead.

Pavelski's OT goal gives Sharks game 1 win.

Here's the First Round playoff schedule.

************************************************

Todays Birthdays: Actor/musician Roy Clark is 78; columnist and author Heloise (real name Poncé Kiah Marchelle Heloise Cruse Evans) is 60; actress Emma Thompson (Last Chance Harvey, Love Actually, Harry Potter movies) is 52; actor Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tannen in the Back to the Future trilogy) is 52; Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is 44; actor Seth Rogen (Knocked Up, Zack and Miri Make a Porno) is 29; actress Emma Watson (Harry Potter movies) is 21.

************************************************

USHL Clark Cup Playoffs – First Round

Eastern Conference

Indiana Ice (#3) vs. Waterloo Black Hawks (#6)

Game 1: Thursday, April 14th  – Waterloo 0 @ Indiana 5

Game 2: Friday, April 15th, 7:05 PM – Waterloo @ Indiana

Game 3: Sunday, April 17th, 3:05 PM – Waterloo @ Indiana**

All games played at the Pepsi Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana



Team USA (#4) vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (#5)

Game 1: Friday, April 15th, 7:00 PM – Muskegon @ Team USA

Game 2: Saturday, April 16th, 7:00 PM – Muskegon @ Team USA

Game 3: Sunday, April 17th, 3:00 PM – Muskegon @ Team USA**

All games played at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in Ann Arbor, Michigan



Western Conference

Sioux Falls Stampede (#3) vs. Sioux City Musketeers (#6)

Game 1: Wednesday, April 13th, 7:05 PM – Sioux City 1 @ Sioux Falls 5

Game 2: Thursday, April 14th – Sioux City  4@ Sioux Falls 3 (OT)

Game 3: Sunday, April 17th, 6:05 PM – Sioux City @ Sioux Falls**

All games played at the Sioux Falls Arena in Sioux Falls, South Dakota



Fargo Force (#4) vs. Lincoln Stars (#5)

Game 1: Friday, April 15th, 7:35 PM – Lincoln @ Fargo

Game 2: Saturday, April 16th, 7:05 PM – Lincoln @ Fargo

Game 3: Sunday, April 17th, 5:05 PM – Lincoln @ Fargo**

All games played at the Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota


** if necessary

(all times reflect local start time)

************************************************

This year your taxes aren't due until Monday, April 18. Today (April 15) is Emancipation Day in Washington D.C., when the district celebrates the freedom of the slaves. It's a local holiday, but the law says tax day may not fall on a weekend, or a holiday.


************************************************

U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team Edges Switzerland, 2-1,
in Opening Game of 2011 IIHF World Men's U18 Championship

Boucher Nets Game-Winning Goal; Gibson Stops 30 Shots

CRIMMITSCHAU, Germany – Reid Boucher (Grand Ledge, Mich.) netted the game-winning goal and John Gibson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) made 30 saves, as the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team edged Switzerland, 2-1, here tonight in its opening game of the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men's U18 Championship.

"Tonight we found a way to win a very difficult game," said Ron Rolston, head coach of the U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team. "Every game we play will be a battle, so getting three points tonight was a good start."

Team USA opened the scoring early in the first period when Zac Larraza (Scottsdale, Ariz.) skated down the left side and backhanded a pass to Dan Carlson (Corcoran, Minn.). Spinning to avoid the defender, Carlson ripped a shot on goal that was blocked away by Swiss goaltender Luca Boltshauser. Ryan Haggerty (Stamford, Conn.) then found the rebound and knocked the puck in to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.

Switzerland responded 1:11 into the second period when a second attempt shot beat Gibson to tie the score.

Entering the third stanza knotted at one goal each, Team USA struck when J.T. Miller (East Palestine, Ohio) passed the puck to Boucher from behind the net. Boucher then one-timed the feed for the eventual game-winner. Robbie Russo (Westmont, Ill.) also collected an assist on the play. Despite Switzerland pulling its netminder in an attempt to tie the game, the U.S. held on for the 2-1 victory.

The U.S. Men's National Under-18 Team will next face Slovakia tomorrow (April 15) at 3:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. EDT), at Crimmitschau Arena. The game will be streamed live on FASTHockey.com.

NOTES: John Gibson was named Team USA's Player of the Game ... With an assist tonight, Robbie Russo tied National Team Development Program alum, Cam Fowler (Farmington Hills, Mich./2007-09) for tenth in all-time career points by a defenseman ... For the complete U.S. roster, click here ... For live scoring updates, follow @USAHockeyScores and #U18WMC on Twitter ... All U.S. games will be streamed live on USAHockey.FASTHockey.com ... More information about the 2011 IIHF World Men's U18 Championship can be found here ... For additional coverage, visit USA Hockey's National Team Development Program Facebook page ... The U.S. National Under-17 and Under-18 Teams train with The Hockey IntelliGym, a revolutionary new software program released on October 1, 2010 that trains hockey sense. To learn more, visit USAHockeyIntelliGym.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

SUI 0 - 1 - 0 - 1
USA 1 - 0 - 1 - 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, USA, Haggerty (Carlson, Larraza), 3:18. Penalties: USA, Boyd (hooking), 4:55; USA, Reid (charging), 9:58; USA, Biggs (roughing), 14:51; SUI, Hachler (roughing), 14:51; SUI, Bertschy (hooking), 18:43.

Second Period - Scoring: 2, SUI, Simion (unassisted), 1:11. Penalties: USA, Grimaldi (hooking), 4:22; USA, Larraza (tripping), 7:30; USA, Miller (charging), 12:40, SUI, Bench (too-many-men), 14:17; SUI, Schmutz (hooking), 16:59; SUI, Guerra (high-sticking), 17:47; USA, Miller (slashing), 18:26; SUI, Andrighetto (slashing), 19:58.

Third Period - Scoring: 3, USA, Boucher (Miller, Russo), 5:09. Penalties: SUI, Bertschy (interference), 3:09; SUI, Kreis (high-sticking), 10:25.

Shots by Period
1 2 3 Total
SUI 11 13 6 30
USA 16 7 23 46

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
SUI, Boltshauser, 59:29 16/15 7/7 23/22 46/44
USA, Gibson, 60:00 11/11 13/12 6/6 30/29

Power Play: SUI 0-6; USA 0-7
Penalties: SUI 8-16; USA 7-14

Team USA 2011 IIHF World Men's Under-18 Championship Schedule
April 14-24 • Crimmitschau, Germany

Date Opponent
Time (Local/EDT)

Live Webcast
Sat., April 9 Canada (exhibition)* L, 1-2
Mon., April 11 Finland (exhibition)* W, 4-2
Thu., April 14 Switzerland W, 2-1
Fri., April 15 Slovakia 3:30 p.m./9:30 a.m. FASTHockey.com
Sun., April 17 Russia 7:30 p.m./1:30 p.m. FASTHockey.com
Tue., April 19 Germany 7:30 p.m./1:30 p.m. FASTHockey.com
Thu., April 21 Quarterfinals TBD
Sat., April 23 Semifinals TBD
Sun., April 24 Bronze-Medal Game 2:30 p.m./8:30 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game 6:30 p.m./12:30 p.m.
*Exhibition games played in Dresden, Germany

************************************************


A group of researchers in Sweden say organ donations would go up if the cost of a person's funeral were picked up in exchange for an organ. The organ donor would receive around $5,000, which could only be used for funeral expenses when they pass on.

************************************************

 

Reason to smile following Bomber workout.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

Visit the leagues' official website, http://www.cfl.ca/.

************************************************

               

Jimmy stacks blocks.

************************************************

In China, a man was caught driving two amusement bumper cars down a busy road, one hand on each steering wheel. The man was given a warning.

************************************************

Today in Elvis History:

1957 - Elvis Presley visited the estate he just bought.

1969 - Elvis Presley signed a contract for his appearance at the Las Vegas International Hotel in August.

************************************************

All My Children and One Life to Live have been canceled. Combined they've aired 20,000+ episodes.


************************************************

ST. PETERSBURG -- Johnny Damon's walk-off homer in the 10th capped Tampa Bay's second comeback of the game on Thursday night, giving the Rays a 4-3 win over the Twins with a crowd of 10,042 watching at Tropicana Field.

By winning the first game of the four-game series, the Rays claimed their third consecutive game, moving to 4-8 on the season while notching their first victory in six tries at home.

Read the rest here.

************************************************

In theaters this weekend - Rio (G); Scream 4 (R); The Conspirator (PG-13).

************************************************

SAN FRANCISCO --  The San Francisco Giants, 6-6 and 4 games behind Colorado in the N.L. West, were off last night. They begin a three-game series at Arizona tonight. First pitch is set for 9:40pm EDT.

************************************************

Playboy has chosen the University of Colorado-Boulder as its Top Party School for 2011.

************************************************

Today in Beatles History:

1927 - Author Albert Goldman was born. He wrote a John Lennon biography and the liner notes for Professor Longhair.

1971 - The Beatles won an Oscar for Best Film Music (Original Song Score) for "Let It Be."

************************************************

The first American school for the deaf was opened in Hartford, Connecticut on this date in 1817.

************************************************      

Today in Sports History:

1947 - Jackie Robinson played his first major league baseball game for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Previously he had only appeared in exhibition games.

1972 - The major league baseball season began following a players strike.

1976 - Yankee Stadium II opened.

1989 - In Sheffield, England, 96 people died at Hillsborough stadium during a semifinal soccer match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Most of the victims were crushed when a barrier collapsed on an overcrowded pen behind one of the goals.

2000 - Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles) became the 24th major league player to reach 3,000 hits.

2002 - HSN began airing "The NHL Show" featuring Phil Esposito.

************************************************

On this date in 1865,  U.S. President Abraham Lincoln died from injuries inflicted by John Wilkes Booth. (Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?)

************************************************

Coming Up: 

Tonight --

NHL Playoff Hockey -- Tampa Bay Lightning at Pittsburgh Penguins 7:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 7:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks 9:40pm EDT

Saturday --

Nascar Nationwide Series -- Aaron's 312 at Talledega 3:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 4:10pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks 8:10pm EDT

Sunday --

Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Aaron's 499 at Talledega 1:00pm EDT

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays vs Minnesota Twins 1:40pm EDT

Indy Car -- Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach 3:30pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks 4:10pm EDT

************************************************

That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow.