It's Sunday

It's Sunday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is May 8th, the 128th day of 2011. There are 237 days left in the year.

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Preds force Game Six with win.

Role players coming up big for Sharks, Wings.

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Happy Mothers Day!!!!

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USHL Clark Cup Playoffs – First Round

Eastern Conference

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

Indiana wins series 2-0.

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

Muskegon wins series 2-0.

Western Conference

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

Sioux Falls wins series 2-1.

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

Fargo wins series 2-0.

USHL Clark Cup Playoffs – Second Round

Eastern Conference

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (#1) vs. Muskegon Lumberjacks (#5)
Cedar Rapids wins series 3-1.

Green Bay Gamblers (#2) vs. Indiana Ice (#3)
Green Bay wins series 3-0.

Western Conference

Dubuque Fighting Saints (#1) vs. Fargo Force (#4)
Dubuque wins series 3-0.

Omaha Lancers (#2) vs. Sioux Falls Stampede (#3)
Sioux Falls wins series 3-0.

USHL Clark Cup Playoffs – Eastern Conference Final
Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (#1) vs. Green Bay Gamblers (#2)
Game 1: Friday, April 29th – Green Bay 3 @ Cedar Rapids 2
Game 2: Saturday, April 30th – Green Bay 1 @ Cedar Rapids 2
Game 3: Friday, May 6th – Cedar Rapids 1 @ Green Bay 4
Game 4: Sunday, May 8th, 3:05 PM – Cedar Rapids @ Green Bay**
Game 5: Tuesday, May 10th, 7:05 PM – Green Bay @ Cedar Rapids **
** if necessary
(all times reflect local start time)

USHL Clark Cup Playoffs – Western Conference Final
Dubuque Fighting Saints (#1) vs. Sioux Falls Stampede (#3)
Game 1: Friday, April 29th– Sioux Falls 2 @ Dubuque 5
Game 2: Saturday, April 30th – Sioux Falls 1 @ Dubuque 2
Game 3: Friday, May 6th – Dubuque 2 @ Sioux Falls 3
Game 4: Sunday, May 8th, 6:05 PM – Dubuque @ Sioux Falls**
Game 5: Tuesday, May 10th, 7:00 PM – Sioux Falls @ Dubuque **
** if necessary
(all times reflect local start time)

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This is Personal History Month.


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U.S. Men's National Team Tops France, 3-2,
in Qualification Round of 2011 IIHF World Men's Championship

Kreider Scores Game-Winning Goal; Miele Sees First Action

KOSICE, Slovakia – Chris Kreider (Boxford, Mass./Boston College) scored what proved to be the game-winning goal on the power play in the second period and seven different U.S. players recorded a point, as the U.S. Men's National team topped France, 3-2, here tonight in its second qualification-round game at the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men's Championship.

"I like the way we used our speed from the start and through about 55 minutes of the game," said Scott Gordon, head coach of Team USA. "When we had that 5-on-3 advantage in the back half of the third period and didn't convert, something changed. They got some life and our guys knew from the start that France is a team that never quits. In the end I'm happy we were able to get the win and an important three points."

France opened the scoring at 5:25 of the first period with the teams playing four-on-four. Sacha Treille skated along the half wall and into the middle and fired a shot that beat U.S. goalie Ty Conklin (Anchorage, Alaska/St. Louis Blues/University of New Hampshire) on the stick side.

Team USA tied the game with less than four minutes remaining in the period. Playing four-on-four, Blake Wheeler (Robbinsdale, Minn./Atlanta Thrashers/University of Minnesota) and Derek Stepan (Hastings, Minn./New York Rangers/University of Wisconsin) rushed into the offensive zone with a two-on-one opportunity. Wheeler drew the French defender and slipped the puck to Stepan, who fired a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that sailed past Cristobal Huet inside the right post.

The U.S. took a 2-1 lead just 1:16 into the middle frame when Team USA captain Mark Stuart (Rochester, Minn./Atlanta Thrashers/Colorado College) converted on a nice feed from Chris Porter (Faribault, Minn./St. Louis Blue/University of North Dakota) from the left faceoff circle.

Just over four minutes later, the U.S. gained a two-goal lead while on the power play. Andy Miele (Grosse Pointe Woods/Phoenix Coyotes/Miami University), the 2011 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winner who made his Team USA debut tonight, fed the puck from behind the goal line to Huet's left, where Kreider connected for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

With 4:30 remaining in the final frame, France cut its deficit in half when Laurent Meunier beat a screened Conklin while on the power play. The French, however, could not pull closer.

Conklin made 20 saves for Team USA in the win, while Huet stopped 35 shots for France in the loss.

The U.S. Men's National Team will next face Switzerland on Monday (May 9), at 10:15 a.m. EDT in its final qualification-round game. The game will air live on Versus and scoring updates will be available on Twitter by following #2011WMC. For Team USA coverage from Slovakia throughout the IIHF World Men's Championship, including game blogs and postgame video, visit the U.S. Men's National Team blog.

While the U.S. has not yet clinched a spot in the tournament quarterfinals, it does control its own destiny. With a victory over Switzerland on Monday, the U.S. will advance regardless of the outcome of other games.

NOTES: Team USA went 1-for-9 on the power play, while France was 1-for-8 with the man advantage ... Paul Gaustad was named the U.S. Player of the Game ... Derek Stepan has scored in all five games, collecting six points within that span (2-4) ... With the qualification-round win, Team USA is now ranked third in Group F with seven points, below Canada (10 points) and Sweden (seven points). The top four teams in Group F advance to the quarterfinals in Bratislava ... Philadelphia Flyers' forward James van Riemsdyk (Middletown, N.J./Philadelphia Flyers/University of New Hampshire) has been added to the U.S. roster. The updated 2011 U.S. Men's National Team roster can be found here ... Team USA's media guide can be downloaded here ... The U.S. Men's National Team's fourth-place finish at the 2009 IIHF World Men's Championship was Team USA's best finish at the tournament since capturing the bronze medal in 2004 ... The 2011 U.S. Men’s National Team is under the direction of the U.S. Men’s National Team Advisory Group, including NHL general managers Brian Burke (Toronto), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero (Pittsburgh) and Dale Tallon (Florida); Atlanta Thrashers president Don Waddell; and Jim Johannson, USA Hockey's assistant executive director for hockey operations. Paul Fenton, assistant general manager of the Nashville Predators and general manager of the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals, is serving as associate general manager of the 2011 U.S. Men's National Team ... Scott Gordon is head coach for the second consecutive year after leading the 2010 U.S. Men's National Team, while Greg Cronin, Phil Housley and Barry Smith are serving as assistants ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams ... Versus will provide television coverage of the first six U.S. games at the 2011 IIHF World Men's Championship, in addition to the semifinal round and gold-medal game. For more information, visit USAHockey.com.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring By Period

USA 1- 2- 0- 3
FRA 1- 0- 1- 2

First Period - Scoring: 1, FRA, Treille (unassisted), 5:25; 2, USA, Stepan (Wheeler), 16:06. Penalties: USA, Stuart (interference), 3:52; FRA, da Costa (slashing), 3:52; FRA, da Costa (hooking), 9:52; FRA, Meunier (slashing), 12:00; USA, Smith (slashing), 12:25; FRA, Bench (too many players), 14:16; USA, Bench (too many players), 15:23; FRA, Bachet (hooking), 17:35; USA, Shattenkirk (tripping), 18:41.

Second Period - Scoring: 3, USA, Stuart (Porter, Gaustad), 1:16; 4, USA, Kreider (Miele), 5:24 (pp). Penalties: FRA, Arrossamena (hooking), 3:26; USA, Wheeler (slashing), 7:34; FRA, Romand (slashing), 9:46; USA, Shattenkirk (interference), 10:48; USA, Komisarek (roughing), 12:12; FRA, Tardif (slashing), 12:12.

Third Period - Scoring: 5, FRA, Meunier (Hecquefeuille), 15:30 (pp). Penalties: USA, Miele (high-sticking), 4:30; USA, Johnson (tripping), 10:34; FRA, Besch (tripping), 12:01; USA, Kreider (charging), 14:46; FRA, Treille (delaying the game), 16:10.

Shots by Period 1 2 3 Total
USA 11 14 13 38
FRA 5 5 12 22

Goaltenders (SH/SV) 1 2 3 Total
USA, Conklin, 60:00 5-4 5-5 12-11 22-20
FRA, Huet, 59:15 11-10 14-12 13-13 38-35

Power Play: USA 1-9; FRA 1-8
Penalties: USA 10-20; FRA 11-22

Referees: Eduards Odins, Peter Orszag
Linesmen: Andre Schrader, Sergei Shelyanin
Attendance: 3,101

Team USA 2011 IIHF World Men's Championship Schedule
April 29 - May 15 • Kosice & Bratislava, Slovakia

Date Opponent Location Time (Local/EDT)/
Results

Wed., April 27 Austria* Innsbruck W, 3-2
Sat., April 30 Austria^ Kosice W, 5-1
Mon., May 2 Norway^ Kosice W, 4-2
Wed., May 4 Sweden^ Kosice L, 2-6
Fri., May 6 Canada# Kosice L, 3-4 (OT/GWS)
Sat., May 7 France# Kosice W, 3-2
Mon., May 9 Switzerland# Kosice 4:15 p.m./10:15 a.m.
Wed., May 11-Thurs., May 12 Quarterfinals Bratislava TBD
Fri., May 13 Semifinals Bratislava TBD
Sun., May 15 Bronze-Medal Game Bratislava 4:00 p.m./10:00 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game Bratislava 8:30 p.m./2:30 p.m.


Arenas: Orange Arena (Bratislava); Steel Arena (Kosice)
*Pre-tournament game at Tiroler Wasserkraft Arena in Innsbruck, Austria
^Preliminary Round
#Qualification Round

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May is Revise Your Work Schedule Month.

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Riders getting set for training camp.

Upcoming Rider free agent camps.

2011 CFL Schedule is here.

Donate to the Tony Proudfoot Fund.

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

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Jimmy plays games with Mommy.

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May is Tennis Month.

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BALTIMORE --  Tampa Bay rolled out all the weapons Saturday afternoon en route to an 8-0 win over Baltimore at Camden Yards with 18,961 watching.

The Rays claimed their seventh consecutive road win -- tying a single-season club record -- while moving to 19-14 on the season. The Rays have a chance to sweep the series with a win Sunday afternoon, which would return the favor after the Orioles swept them at Tropicana Field in the first series of the season.

Evan Longoria, Ben Zobrist, and B.J. Upton were among the most prominent of the offensive weapons employed by Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Read the rest here.

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May is also National Vinegar Month.

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SAN FRANCISCO -- There were runners on first and second with no outs when Giants shortstop Mike Fontenot came to the plate Saturday night in the bottom of ninth of a tie game with the Colorado Rockies.

Not surprisingly, Fontenot got the bunt sign, and after he fouled off Franklin Morales' first pitch, he got it again. This time Paulino uncorked a wild pitch over Fontenot's head, sending Aaron Rowand to third and Freddy Sanchez to second.

The bunt sign came off, and Fontenot sent Morales' next pitch high and deep to right for a sacrifice fly, the first walk-off of any kind in his career and the Giants' second straight walk-off win, a 3-2 victory over Colorado.

Read the rest here.


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Today in Elvis History:

1965 - The Elvis Presley album "Girl Happy" hit #7 in the U.K.

1976 - The Elvis Presley single "Hurt" hit #37 in the U.K.

2005 - CBS aired the first part of the new four-hour mini-series "Elvis." The second part aired on May 11. Jonathan Rhys Meyers played the part of Elvis.

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This is Sweet Vidalia Onions Month.

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Today in Beatles History:

1970 - The Beatles album "Let it Be" was released.

1980 - Paul McCartney received the Special Award For International Achievemnet at the 25th annual Ivor Novello Awards.

1982 - The album single "The Beatle's Movie Medley" hit #12 in the U.S.

1982 - The Beatles album "Reel Music" hit #19 in the U.S.

1982 - Paul McCartney's album "Tug Of War" hit #1 in the U.K.

1989 - Paul McCartney released "My Brave Face" and "Ferry Cross the Mersey."

1998 - The album "Lennon Legend - The Very Best Of John Lennon" was certified double platinum by the BPI.

2007 - The Yoko Ono limited edition CD-single "Cambridge 1969/2007" was released.

2007 - The Beatles album "LOVE" was released on limited edition vinyl. The album was the soundtrack to the Cirque de Soleil show "LOVE".

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This is Teen CEO Month.

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Today in Sports History:

1866 - Australian Rules Football was created.

1878 - Paul Hines made baseball's first unassisted triple play.

1909 - Chief Bender (Philadelphia Athletics) hit two inside the park home runs against Boston.

1915 - H.P. Whitney's Regret became the first filly to win the Kentucky Derby.

1935 - Ernie Lombardi (Cincinnati Reds) hit four doubles on consecutive at-bats against four different Philadelphia pitchers.

1954 - Parry O'Brien became the first to toss a shot put over 60 feet. O'Brien achieved a distance of 60 feet 5 1/4 inches.

1961 - New Yorkers selected a new name for their new National League baseball franchise. They chose the Mets.

1966 - Frank Robinson (Baltimore Orioles) became the first player to hit a ball completely out of Cleveland's Memorial Stadium.

1966 - The St. Louis Cardinals played their last game at Busch Stadium. They lost to San Francisco 10-5.

1967 - Muhammad Ali was indicted for refusing induction in U.S. Army.

1970 - The New York Knicks won their first NBA title when they defeated Los Angeles in Game 7 of the Finals.

1971 - Joe Frazier defeated Muhammad Ali at New York's Madison Square Garden.

1973 - In Cincinnati, Ralph Miller, the last of the 19th century baseball players, died at the age of 100.

1984 - Kirby Puckett (Minnesota Twins) debuted with four singles.

1984 - The Soviet Union announced that they would not participate in the 1984 Summer Olympics Games in Los Angeles.

1984 - The Chicago White Sox beat the Milwaukee Brewers 7-6 in 25 innings. The game was actually completed on May 9.

1988 - Michael Jordan (Chicago Bulls) completed the first round the playoffs with 226 points in five games against Cleveland.

1993 - Lennox Lewis defended his WBC heavyweight title for the first time. He won in a unanimous 12-round decision over Tony Tucker.

1995 - Mark Messier (New York Rangers) became the third player to reach 100 playoff goals.

1999 - Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners) hit his 361st home run. The feat tied him for 45th place on the all-time home run list with Joe DiMaggio.

2000 - Mark McGwire (St. Louis) hit his 534th home run. He tied Jimmie Foxx for ninth place on the all-time home run list.

2000 - Jason and Jeremy Giambi (Oakland) became the 10th set of brothers to hit home runs in the same game.

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National Reading is Fun Week starts today.

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DARLINGTON, S.C. -- One to go.

With a convincing victory in Friday night's Royal Purple 200 at Darlington Raceway, Kyle Busch scored his fifth Nationwide Series win of the season and the 48th of his career, leaving him one behind Mark Martin for the career victory lead in the series.

Busch beat Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin to the finish line by 3.677 seconds. Elliott Sadler was third, followed by Nationwide points leader Justin Allgaier and Steve Wallace.

Read the rest here.

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Nearly three years after a NASCAR ruling denied him his first Sprint Cup victory, Regan Smith finally got the elusive win.

After staying out on old tires, Smith held off Carl Edwards to win Saturday night's Showtime Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in a dramatic green-white-checkered-flag finish.

Smith crossed the finish line .196 seconds ahead of runner-up Edwards. Moments later, tempers flared between drivers Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick and their crews in the aftermath of a wild wreck that brought out the final caution of the race.

Read the rest here.

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Today is the start of Salute to Moms 35+ Week.

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Coming Up: 

Tonight --

MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Baltimore Orioles 1:35pm EDT

MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Colorado Rockies 4:05pm EDT

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That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, be sure to tell your friends about this blog. See you tomorrow.