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A14 sports
Monday 24 april 2023
Avalanche lean on stars to reclaim

control of series

Referee Thomas Taylor counts out Ryan Garcia, who was
knocked down by Gervonta Davis in a lightweight boxing
bout Saturday, April 22, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Associated Press
Garcia ready to get back to

work after suffering first loss

By W.G. RAMIREZ
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Ryan Garcia has already put the
first loss of his career in the rearview mirror.
After being stopped in the seventh round by a vicious
liver shot from Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) on Sat-
Colorado Avalanche left wing J.T. Compher, second from left, celebrates his goal against the urday night that was billed as the year’s best fight to
Seattle Kraken with Devon Toews (7), Andrew Cogliano (11) and Cale Makar (8) during the first date, Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) said he was disappointed
period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Saturday, April 22, 2023,
in Seattle. and sad. But he planned on getting right back in the
Associated Press gym and returning whenever he can.
“I’m already looking past it,” Garcia told The Associ-
By TIM BOOTH and an assist, and Mikko job,” Bednar said. ated Press of losing the lightweight bout. “You know,
AP Sports Writer Rantanen had three points, MacKinnon’s two-goal it’s all good. Lost today, but ready to get back into it
SEATTLE (AP) — It’s taken including the tiebreaking performance gave him 10 whenever I can, which is in like three months. So from
only three games for Na- goal early in the third peri- career playoff games with that, get right back into it.”
than MacKinnon to declare od and an empty-net goal multiple goals, and just Easier said than done, since Garcia will have to tem-
this the toughest first-round in the final minutes to clinch the second player in Ava- porarily wear the tag of someone who appeared to
series of his career. the victory. lanche/Nordiques history get right out of the fight by taking a knee after Davis’
Colorado’s star made it “For us, everybody wants to reach that benchmark. wicked left-handed dart to his body.
look pretty easy with his to elevate their games and It also re-established order It was a shot that solidified Davis as one of the sport’s
two goals in Game 3 as the want to play their roles the in the series. Seattle was pound-for-pound best fighters, and sent Garcia back
Avalanche reclaimed con- right way and help each the better team through down boxing’s ladder.
trol of their opening playoff other out,” Makar said. Game 1 and the first period Though one of the hardest things for a fighter to over-
series. The big game from Colo- of Game 2. But in the past come is accepting he’s no longer undefeated, Garcia
“This is definitely the hard- rado’s three stars came as four periods, the defend- walked out of the back of T-Mobile Arena surrounded
est first round I’ve been in,” uncertainty surfaced about ing champs have been by his team with nearly the same air of confidence
MacKinnon said. “I think Valeri Nichushkin and when the clear better squad in with which he entered.
sometimes the last few he may play again in this part because of the trio Next stop for the 24-year-old: 140 pounds.
years we’ve been a top series. Nichushkin is away of MacKinnon, Makar and Garcia, who had his chance to make a bid for a title
seed and we’ve not gotten from the team for personal Rantanen stepping for- shot with a victory over Davis, shook his head in agree-
easy teams by any means, reasons, Colorado coach ward. ment when suggested he’d likely have to work his way
but I think this Seattle team Jared Bednar announced Slowing them down has to back through a bevy of fighters before earning a shot
is a 100-point team and after Saturday’s victory. be a priority for Seattle if at a championship belt, but said he is ready to tackle
they’re really good, and Nichushkin was tied for it wants to send the series the junior welterweight division.
we’re gonna have to con- fourth on Colorado’s roster back to Denver at 2-2. One thought is Shakur Stevenson (20-0), who by tak-
tinue to do our best to beat with 17 goals in the regular “There’s always gonna ing a step up in class would prove his worth before
them.” season and his goal in the be swings in momentum. fighting in significant championship bouts. Though Ste-
MacKinnon was the best second period of Game 2 Sometimes you just gotta venson has carved his way through most of his oppo-
offensive player on the pulled the Avalanche even play (defense),” Seattle nents, both could help one another’s career, as Gar-
ice in Game 3 as the Ava- after Seattle jumped to a forward Jared McCann cia could be a legitimate contender for the 2016 Rio
lanche beat Seattle 6-4 to 2-0 lead in the opening pe- said. “I know it’s boring. Not Olympics silver medalist.
take a 2-1 lead in the best- riod. everybody wants to hear Garcia could also turn toward George Kambosos,
of-seven series. Game 4 is Bednar said Sunday there that, but especially when who would also have to move up a class.
Monday night and a victo- is no timeline for when you’re out against guys like Teófimo López and Josh Taylor are both at 140 and
ry by Colorado would give Nichushkin may return. His MacKinnon and Makar, are scheduled to meet on June 10. The loser of that
it a chance to wrap up the absence is just another ob- guys who can fly up the fight would also be hungry for a bounce-back fight
series at home on Wednes- stacle for the Avs to deal ice, so you got to stay in that could be an attractive draw for Garcia.
day. with in a season filled with front of them. You gotta just Any of the aforementioned boxers would bring a hefty
But MacKinnon wasn’t the them. get chips on them. Make it payday and plenty of attention.
only Colorado star to show “We’ve had to rely on our hard for them to get in the Whomever Garcia faces next remains a mystery, as
up in a big way in Game top guys even more and zone. I feel like we can do he wouldn’t divulge who he has his sights set on for his
3. Cale Makar had a goal they’ve done an amazing a better job of that.”q next bout.q