Sunday Roundup

It's another abbreviated version of the Johnny Blog, until the main blogging computer is back from the shop.

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Defenseman Justin Faulk scored twice, including the game-winner with 28 seconds left in overtime, as the U.S. Men's National Team defeated Kazakhstan, 3-2, in preliminary-round play this afternoon at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship at Hartwell Arena in Helsinki, Finland. The U.S. Men's National team, now 2-2-1-0(W, OTW, L, OTL) play Finland at 9:15am EDT on NBCSN.

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The Portland Winterhawks have pushed the WHL Championship to a seventh and deciding game, with a 3-2 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings at the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. Oliver Gabriel scored his second goal of the game with just 2:39 left in the third period to lift the Winterhawks to the win.

The Edmonton, AB, product, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Sunday, fired a wrist shot that handcuffed Oil Kings’ netminder Laurent Brossoit for his fifth goal of the playoffs as the Hawks manage to stay alive in the series.

The best-of-seven series, tied three games apiece, heads back to Edmonton, AB, for the seventh and deciding game tonight at 9pm EDT, with the winner capturing the Ed Chynoweth Cup and heading to Shawinigan to compete in the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament.

Joe Morrow also scored while Cam Reid chipped in a pair of assists for the Winterhawks, who played their final home game of the 2011-12 season in front of 10,947 fans at the Rose Garden.
Michael St. Croix – with the game-opening tally – and Stephane Legault scored for the Oil Kings, who were held scoreless on a pair of power play chances in the game.

Mac Carruth turned aside 30 of 32 shots he faced to backstop the Hawks to the win. It was the 33rd career win for Carruth. Brossoit stopped 42 of 45 shots he faced in a losing cause for the Oil Kings.

The winner of Sunday’s Game 7 will join the host Shawinigan Cataractes, the OHL Champion London Knights and the QMJHL Champion and defending Memorial Cup champ Saint John Sea Dogs in the 2012 Memorial Cup.

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The New York Rangers closed out the Washington Capitals 2-1 in game seven of their Eastern Conference semis last night. Brad Richards and Michael Del Zotto staked the Blueshirts to a 2-0 lead midway through the third period. Washington answered 38 seconds after Del Zotto's goal with a red-lighter from Roman Hamrlik but could get no closer. The Rangers next meet New Jersey for the Eastern Conference title starting Monday at 8:00pm EDT on NBCSN.

The Western Conference Final opens tonight as the Phoenix Coyotes host the Los Angeles Kings, 8:00pm EDT on NBCSN.

Western Conference Finals (Phoenix Coyotes vs. Los Angeles Kings):

Sunday, May 13th Los Angeles at Phoenix 8:00pm EDT NBCSN
Tuesday, May 15th Los Angeles at Phoenix 9:00pm EDT NBCSN
Thursday, May 17th Phoenix at Los Angeles 9:00pm EDT NBCSN
Sunday, May 20th Phoenix at Los Angeles 3:00pm EDT NBC
*Tuesday, May 22nd Los Angeles at Phoenix 9:00pm EDT NBCSN
*Thursday, May 24th Phoenix at Los Angeles 9:00pm EDT
*Saturday, May 26th Los Angeles at Phoenix 8:00pm EDT Network TBD

Eastern Conference Finals(New York Rangers vs. New Jersey Devils):

Monday, May 14th New Jersey at New York 8:00pm EDT NBCSN
Wednesday, May 16th New Jersey at New York 8:00pm NBCSN
Saturday, May 19th New York at New Jersey 1:00pm EDT NBC
Monday, May 21st New York at New Jersey 8:00pm EDT NBCSN
*Wednesday, May 23rd New Jersey at New York 8:00pm NBCSN
*Friday, May 25th New York at New Jersey 8:00pm NBCSN
*Sunday, May 27th New Jersey at New York 8:00pm EDT NBCSN

* -- If necessary

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Stephon Williams made 37 saves as the Waterloo Black Hawks went on the road to win Game One of the best-of-five USHL Clark Cup Final, 2-1 at Green Bay. Waterloo got on the scoreboard early as former Gamblers defenseman Mitch Witek fired a shot from the point that deflected past Green Bay netminder Ryan McKay just 1:47 into the contest. It was the third goal of the playoffs for Witek and the fifth straight playoff game that Waterloo has scored the first goal.

There would be no scoring for nearly the next 40 minutes of play as both Williams and McKay were strong throughout the contest. The Black Hawks would jump ahead by two goals when Mark Naclerio buried a feed from Taylor Cammarata just 25 seconds into the third period. Green Bay would not lie down however as Kyle Novak put his team on the board with just over five minutes to play in regulation and cut the lead in half. It would be all the closer they would get as Williams and the Black Hawks put the finishing touches on the Game One victory.

The 37 saves by Williams equaled his playoff high while McKay made 24 saves in the loss. Both teams finished the game 0-for-3 on the power play.

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Hi everybody. Have a great Sunday!

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The Tampa Bay Rays fell a game behind Baltimore in the A.L. East last night, losing to the Orioles 5-3. Sloppy defense did the Rays in, as they committed five errors in the game, 3 in the second inning alone, their first five error game since April 15th, 2001.

Adam Jones was 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs for the O's, with Bill Hall's homer in the eighth providing the insurance run that clinched the win. Brandon Guyer hit a second inning homer for the Rays.

Brian Matusz picked up the win, he's now 2-4. Matt Moore took the loss to slip to 1-3. The save went to Jim Johnson, his 11th of the season.

Baltimore hosts Tampa Bay today, 1:35pm EDT.

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The San Francisco Giants won on the road, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-2. Matt Cain was stellar, allowing 1 run on 3 hits with 8 strikeouts in 6 innings, while going 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBIs. The win squared Cain's record at 2-2. Trevor Cahill took the loss, he's now 2-4. The Giants' win snapped a nine-game losing skid against the D-Backs. The two teams meets again today, 4:10pm EDT in Phoenix.

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that they have signed import receiver Dwayne Jarrett, import defensive back Jalil Johnson and non-import defensive back Dominic Noel to contracts. Financial details were not released.

Jarrett (6’4 – 219) was a second round pick (45th overall) by the Carolina Panthers in the 2007 NFL Draft. The New Jersey native remained with the Panthers through the 2009 season, and also appeared in the first three games of the 2010 campaign during his time in Carolina. Over the course of his time in the NFL, the 25-year old appeared in 32 games while making three starts and recorded 35 receptions for 428 yards and one touchdown.

One of the most decorated receivers in USC history, Jarrett was a three year starter and two-time consensus All-American for the Trojans. During his time in Southern California, Jarrett played in 38 games and finished his collegiate career with receiving totals of 216 receptions for 3,128 yards and 41 touchdowns. While forgoing his senior collegiate season to enter the NFL Draft in 2007, Jarrett still remains the Pac-12’s all-time record holder with 41 receiving touchdowns.

Johnson (5’10 – 181) joins the Riders after originally signing as an undrafted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2011 season. The 23-year old played his freshman season at Mississippi Delta Community College where he tallied 27 tackles,18 pass break ups and two interceptions prior to transferring to Jackson State University. During his tenure with the Tigers, Johnson finished with career totals of 59 tackles, 18 pass break ups, three fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 21 games played.

Noel (5’10 – 175) joins the Riders after completing an outstanding career at Laval playing for the Rouge et Or. The 24-year old defensive back was named a CIS All-Canadian in 2011 while also being named a defensive All-Star in the RSEQ conference. The native of Sorel, Quebec played in 30 games during his career at Laval, playing in three Vanier Cup championships and capturing two.


• The Saskatchewan Roughriders also announced they have released the following players.
Import LB – Maurice Lloyd
Import LB – Kye Stewart
Import LB – Darnell Bing
Non Import WR – Kolten Solomon

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After months of frustration, Jimmie Johnson gave Rick Hendrick his 200th Sprint Cup Series victory last night, running away from the rest of the field on a green-white-checkered restart that took the Bojangles' Southern 500 one lap past its scheduled distance.

On Saturday night at Darlington Raceway, Johnson ended his own winless streak of 16 races, a drought of relative epic proportions for the five-time champion. The victory was Johnson's 56th, breaking a tie with Rusty Wallace for eighth on the all-time list.

Denny Hamlin ran second, followed by Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.

On Friday, some late race chaos, including a nudge from Joey Logano that sent then-leader Elliott Sadler into the wall with five laps left, sent the VFW Sport Clips 200 Nationwide Series event at Darlington Raceway into a green-white-checkered finish. Logano then pulled away for the win, his second straight Nationwide series win and third of the season. Hamlin, who complained of an engine problem during the final two laps, finished .256 seconds behind Logano in the runner-up position. Brad Keselowski ran third, followed by Sam Hornish Jr. and rookie Austin Dillon, as the race went four laps past its scheduled distance of 147 laps.

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That's all for today. Happy Mother's Day everyone. See you again tomorrow.