It's Wednesday

It's Wednesday. Here's what's happening....

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Today is May 1st, the 121st day of 2013. There are 244 days left in the year.

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Bickell's OT goal gives Blackhawks win in Game 1.

Steen's shorthanded goal lifts Blues past Kings in OT.

Ducks beat Red Wings in playoff opener.

Visit the official league website, http://www.nhl.com/.

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Today's Birthdays: TV personality Paul Teutul Sr. (American Chopper) is 64; Dann Florek (Capt. John Cragen on Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU) is 62; singer-actor Tim McGraw (Friday Night Lights) is 46.

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Tampa, FL. --The Tampa Bay Lightning have agreed to terms with defenseman Nikita Nesterov on a three-year, entry-level contract today, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced.

Read the rest here.

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Christopher Columbus convinced Queen Isabella to fund an expedition to the West Indies on this date in 1486.

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Wenatchee, WA. -- The Wenatchee Wild continue the West Division finals this coming weekend in Fairbanks at 11:35pm EDT on Friday and Saturday, May 3rd and 4th. Catch all the action on kpq.com or FastHockey.com.

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May is National Chocolate Custard Month, Barbecue Month, Clean Air Month, Get Caught Reading Month, Mental Health Month, Hamburger Month, Salsa Month, Bike Month, Motorcycle Awareness Month, Women's Health Care Month, Older Americans Month, National Smile Month, National Egg Month, National Salad Month, National Strawberry Month.

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Corkum Named Head Coach of 2013 U.S. Under-18 Select Team Univ. of Maine Coach to Lead Team at Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey announced today that Bob Corkum (Salisbury, Mass.), interim head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Maine, has been named head coach for the U.S. Under-18 Select Team that will compete in the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. Corkum served as an assistant coach for the 2012 U.S. Under-18 Select Team and was the head coach for the 2011 U.S. Under-17 Select Team that won the Five Nations Tournament with a perfect 4-0-0-0 record in Ann Arbor, Mich. Corkum, who played college hockey at Maine (1985-89), returned to his alma mater in August of 2008 as its associate head men's ice hockey coach. Prior to that, he was associate head coach of the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs of the Eastern Junior Hockey League from 2006-08. He helped the Junior Monarchs capture the Tier III Junior A national championship in both 2007 and 2008. The Monarchs were also co-EJHL regular-season champions in 2008, and finished as EJHL regular-season and playoff champions in 2007. Corkum was drafted by the National Hockey League’s Buffalo Sabres in 1986 and went on to play 720 games in the NHL for seven teams across 12 seasons. He finished his professional career with 97 goals and 103 assists for 200 points and appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals with the New Jersey Devils in 2001. NBC Sports Network to Televise Men's World Championship Team USA Games Also Streamed Live Through NBC Sports Live Extra via "TV Everywhere" COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - NBC Sports Network will carry the 2013 International Ice Hockey Federation Men's World Championship that begins Friday (May 3) in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden. The network will televise all U.S. games live or delayed. In addition, all U.S. games will be streamed live throughNBC Sports Live Extra via “TV Everywhere,” the media industry’s effort to make quality content available to authenticated customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. A full schedule can be found below.  The tournament, which runs through May 19, features a collection of the best players in the world from 16 nations. Team USA opens play Saturday (May 4) against Austria. In addition to all Team USA preliminary round games, NBC Sports Network will televise all four quarterfinal games live. Coverage plans related to the semifinals and bronze and gold-medal games will be announced at a later date. Veteran Paul Romanuk will be in Helsinki to handle play-by-play duties for all games in the preliminary round, while Shane Hnidy will serve as analyst.   NBC Sports Network will produce pre-game, intermission and post-game coverage from the network’s new, state-of-the-art International Broadcast Center located in Stamford, Conn., with Russ Thaler and Anson Carter providing analysis. NBC Sports Network Broadcast Schedule • 2013 IIHF Men's World ChampionshipMay 3-19 • Helsinki, Finland & Stockholm, Sweden (broadcast schedule subject to change) Date Game Broadcast Information (All times ET) Sat., May 4 USA vs. Austria Live TV/Stream, 5:15 a.m. Sun., May 5 USA vs. Latvia Delay on TV/1:15 a.m. on May 6 Live Stream at 1:15 p.m. Tues., May 7 USA vs. Russia Live TV/Stream, 1:15 p.m. Wed., May 8 USA vs. Finland Live TV/Stream, 1:15 p.m. Sat., May 11 USA vs. France Live TV/Stream, 5:15 a.m. Sun., May 12 USA vs. Germany Delay on TV, 10:30 a.m. Live Stream, 9:15 a.m. Tues., May 14 USA vs. Slovakia Live TV/Stream, 5:15 a.m. Thurs., May 16 Quarterfinals Live TV at: 6:00 a.m. 8:45 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Note: U.S. game will be streamed live Sat., May 18 Semifinals TBD Sun., May 19 Bronze-Medal Game TBD Gold-Medal Game TBD NOTES: Joe Sacco, head coach of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, was named head coach of the 2013 U.S. National Men's Team. Tim Army, Danton Cole and Phil Housley will serve as assistant coaches ... For an up-to-date list of players named to the 2013 U.S. Men's National Team, click here ... The 2013 U.S. Men's National Team is under the direction of the U.S. Men's National Team Advisory Group, led by Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. Other members include NHL general managers Stan Bowman(Chicago), Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia), Dean Lombardi (Los Angeles), David Poile (Nashville), Ray Shero(Pittsburgh) and Dale Tallon (Florida) and NHL scouts Brian Burke (Anaheim) and Don Waddell (Pittsburgh) ... USA Hockey's international council, chaired by Tony Rossi, vice president of USA Hockey, has oversight responsibilities for all U.S. national teams. ************************************************ William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) had his first Wild West Show on this date in 1883. ************************************************ Hall: 'It’s time for us to take a big step this year'. Brink inks deal with defending champs. Visit the league's official website at cfl.ca. ************************************************ Elton John says that he and Madonna have made up with each other. [That sounds like good news until you realize that it now increases the chances that there will be a duet album.] ************************************************ Tampa, FL. — Though the prior week's trade of a first round pick for 4-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis remained the team's boldest move, the Tampa Bay Bucs added six diverse players to a rebuilding roster during the 2013 NFL draft. Read the rest here. ************************************************ All we ever talk about is how much it costs to throw a wedding party. But what about how much it costs to attend a wedding? That's pretty expensive, too, right? A new American Express survey found the average wedding guest will spend, on average, $539 this year. That includes the price of a new outfit, travel, and gift for the couple. ************************************************ Kansas City, MO. -- A bad vibe hit the Rays' side Tuesday night when they didn't put away James Shields when they had the chance. Once Shields limited the damage in the first, he settled into a nice rhythm that saw him post six scoreless frames and retire the last 13 batters he faced en route to his second win of the season in an 8-2 Royals victory Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium. Read the rest here. ************************************************ A Florida burglar was busted after he stopped to play with a toy helicopter and snack on a salad in a home. ************************************************ Phoenix, AZ. -- Positive thinking resulted in power for Pablo Sandoval, whose titanic two-run homer erased a ninth-inning deficit Tuesday night and propelled the Giants to a dramatic 2-1 triumph over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Read the rest here. ************************************************ Season Premiere: Mythbusters (9p ET Discovery) The team celebrates the show's 10th anniversary by re-testing the JATO Rocket Car, which was the first myth they tested, and they plan to lay the myth to rest once and for all with more rocket power, more gadgets and a large rolling bunker. ************************************************ This is my egg! ************************************************ You're reading the Johnny Blog. Almost as much fun as watching the NHL playoffs, isn't it? ************************************************ Today in Elvis History 1956 - The Elvis Presley album "Heartbreak Hotel" and his single "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You," were released. 1962 - Upon returning to California, from Hawaii, Elvis Presley resumed filming "Girls! Girls! Girls!" on Stage 5 at the Paramount Studios. 1967 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu were married in Las Vegas. They were together until 1973. 1987 - A U.S. federal court ruled that a British retailer could not sell unlicensed Elvis Presley merchandise. 2001 - Lisa Marie Presley sold her waterfront mansion in Clearwater, FL, to Kirstie Alley. 2003 - Lisa Marie Presley was a guest and performer on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." ************************************************ IMAX has revealed plans to enter the home theater market with IMAX Private Theatre, which is exactly what it sounds like. But before you get carried away with your fantasies, keep in mind that only serious -- and seriously wealthy -- movie lovers need apply. According to one report, the price tag falls somewhere between $1 million and $2 million. ************************************************ Today in Beatles History: 1963 - The Beatles hired Tony Barrow as their press agent. 1966 - The Beatles played for their last paying audience in the U.K. The event was the New Musical Express Poll Winner's Party. Actor Clint Walker presented the Beatles with their award. 1968 - At London's Royal Albert Hall, Paul McCartney and John Lennon attended Bill Haley's concert. 1970 - George Harrison and Bob Dylan recorded together. They played the Beatles' "Yesterday," Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues," and "Da Doo Ron Ron." 1999 - An exhibition of Paul McCartney's paintings opened in Seigen, Germany. One of the works was a portrait of David Bowie. 2012 - The documentary "George Harrison: Living In The Material World" was released. 2012 - The soundtrack "Early Takes Volume 1: Music From The Martin Scorsese Picture Living In The Material World" was released. ************************************************ NUMBER FOR THE DAY - 350: Feet per second, the speed at which pain travels through the body. ************************************************ Today in Sports History: 1883 - In Philadelphia, the first National League game was played since 1876.  1884 - Moses Walker became the first black player in major league baseball. 1901 - The Detroit Tigers committed 12 errors against the Chicago White Sox. 1901 - Herb McFarland hit the first grand slam in the American League. 1920 - Babe Ruth hit his first home run as a New York Yankee. It was his 50th career home run. 1920 - The Brooklyn Dodgers and the Boston Braves tied after a 26-inning game. 1922 - Charlie Robertson (Chicago White Sox) pitched a perfect no-hit, no-run game against the Detroit Tigers. The Sox won 3-0. Another perfect game did not come along until 46 years later. 1926 - Satchel Page made his pitching debut in the Negro Southern League. 1951 - Mickey Mantle hit his first home run. 1951 - Minnie Minoso became the first black player to play for the Chicago White Sox. 1962 - Bo Belinsky pitched a no-hitter in only his fourth start. 1969 - Leonard Tose bought the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles for $16,155,000. 1986 - Bill Elliot set a stock car speed record when he went 212.229 mile per hour. 1991 - Nolan Ryan (Texas Rangers) pitched his 7th no-hitter. 1992 - The Los Angeles Dodgers postponed three games due to riots due to the Rodney King case. 1992 - Rickey Henderson stole his 1,000th base. ************************************************ The National Railroad Passenger Corp. (Amtrak) went into service on this date in 1971. It was established by the U.S. Congress to run the nation's intercity railroads. ************************************************ Coming Up: Tonight -- MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Kansas City Royals 8:10pm EDT MLB -- San Francisco Giants at Arizona Diamondbacks 9:40pm EDT Thursday -- MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Kansas City Royals 2:10pm EDT Friday -- MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Colorado Rockies 8:40pm EDT MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 10:15pm EDT NAHL Playoff Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild at Fairbanks Ice Dogs 11:30pm EDT Saturday -- Nascar Nationwide Series -- Aaron's 312 at Talladega Super Speedway 3:00pm EDT MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Colorado Rockies 8:10pm EDT MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 9:05pm EDT NAHL Playoff Hockey -- Wenatchee Wild at Fairbanks Ice Dogs 11:30pm EDT Sunday -- Nascar Sprint Cup Series -- Aaron's 499 at Talladega Super Speedway 1:00pm EDT MLB -- Tampa Bay Rays at Colorado Rockies 4:10pm EDT MLB -- San Francisco Giants vs Los Angeles Dodgers 8:00pm EDT ************************************************ That's all for today. Thanks for stopping by, see you tomorrow!