NHL
The 2-time defending champion Tampa Bay Lightning fell for the 2nd straight game. The New York Rangers beat the Lightning 3-2 on Friday night and are just 2 wins away from reaching the Stanley Cup Finals for the 1st time in 8 years. K’Andre Miller and Kaapo Kakko scored in the first period, Mika Zibanejad scored in the third period, Adam Fox and Chris Kreider each had 2 assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 29 shots for New York. Nikita Kucherov and Nicholas Paul scored for Tampa and and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 25 saves. The series moves to Tampa for Game 3 on Sunday.
Gotta See It: TAKE A BOW, IGOR! 😱 Igor Shesterkin absolutely robbed Steven Stamkos of a game-tying goal with just 37 seconds left to go. Presented by @Charmin | #EnjoyTheGo pic.twitter.com/QuxiRd4rKh — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 4, 2022
Saturday Playoff game : Colorado Avalanche at Edmonton Oilers (Game 3) (COL 2 – EDM 0) – 8:00pm EST (TNT)
MLB
New York Yankees Gerrit Cole delivered a PERFECT game into the 7th-inning just one night after his teammate Jameson Taillon lost his perfect bid in the 8th-inning. Aaron Judge had a home run and 4 hits on “Aaron Judge bobble-head night” at the stadium. The Yankees wiped the floor with with the Detroit Tigers shutting them out 13-0 on Friday night.
A verdict has been reached. pic.twitter.com/JoguAeMHDC — New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 3, 2022
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Tyler Anderson extended his scoreless streak to 26-innings and became the 1st National League pitcher with 7 wins as the Dodgers beat the New York Mets 6-1 on Friday night.
Dodgers win 6-1. Tyler Anderson now leads the Majors with seven wins. Homers from Cody Bellinger, Zach McKinstry and Chris Taylor helped out. — Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) June 4, 2022
The Houston Astros and star Yordan Alvarez reached an agreement on a 6-year extension worth $115 million, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. 24-year-old Alvarez’s new deal keeps him under contract through the 2028 season, covers all 3 years of arbitration and his first 3 years of free agency.
Slugger Yordan Álvarez and the Houston Astros are in agreement on a six-year, $115 million contract extension, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN. Contract kicks in next season. Biggest contract ever for a DH and $26M/year for 3 FA years. And Astros lock up a great hitter. — Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) June 3, 2022
NBA
Kenny Atkinson, Golden State Warriors assistant has become the front-runner to take the Charlotte Hornets vacant head-coaching position. Atkinson is lined up for his 3rd interview with the Hornets that is said will involve owner, Michael Jordan and team management.
Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson has emerged as a front-runner for Charlotte’s head coaching job and will meet again next week with Hornets officials, this time including owner Michael Jordan, sources tell me and @sam_amick. Story at @TheAthletic: https://t.co/uZlhfZCbG4 — Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 3, 2022
The New York Knicks are finishing up a deal to name 49-year-old Rick Brunson as assistant coach. Brunson played 9-years in the NBA, which included parts of 3 seasons with New York.
The Knicks are finalizing a contract with Rick Brunson to become an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau’s staff, SNY has learned: https://t.co/jHkE5u7MnH — Ian Begley (@IanBegley) June 2, 2022
Next NBA Finals game – Boston Celtics at Golden State Warriors (Game 2) (BOS 1 – GS 0) – Sunday June 5th, 8:00pm EST (ABC)
Women’s College World Series
Game 5 on Friday saw UCLA beat Northwestern 6-1 and survived elimination. UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo came out on fire, pitched a full 7-innings only giving up 5 hits and nailing down 10 strike outs. Megan pitched out of a jam in the bottom of the 5th-inning going down in the count 3-0 with bases loaded against Northwestern star hitter, Rachel Lewis. She came back with a stunning 3 strikes in a row, striking out Lewis to retire the side. Faraimo then comes up to the plate in the 6th and smashes a solo shot over the left field wall. Northwestern was eliminated from the WCWS with the loss, marking the end of a fantastic career for Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, Danielle Williams, and Big Ten Player of the Year, Lewis.
Megan Faraimo extends the lead for @UCLASoftball with a solo homer‼️ pic.twitter.com/wfoXdvajKy — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 4, 2022
Game 6 led way to the Arizona with a 3-1 victory over Oregon State. Devyn Netz started on the mound for Arizona, lasting 5 innings with just 1 run allowed before they handed the ball over to their leader, Hannah Bowen. Bowen did not allow a single hit in the last 2 innings and secured the victory. Oregon State was eliminated from the tournament with the loss, ending the career of their only senior, Mariah Mazon.
Saturday WCWS games : Game 7 – Texas vs Oklahoma – 3:00pm EST (ABC), Game 8 – Florida vs Oklahoma State – 7:00pm EST (ESPN)