Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 11 May 2017
Senators back in conference finals for 1st time in 10 years

VIN A. CHERWOO more scoring chances,
AP Sports Writer but the Senators were ag-
NEW YORK (AP) — Erik Karls- gressive on defense while
son and the Senators have blocking nine shots in the
goals this season beyond opening period — and 20
the Eastern Conference fi- for the game. Whatever
nals. got past the defense was
Still, Ottawa planned to stopped by Anderson.
enjoy the achievement “I thought the players have
for a night before getting shown again, character,”
back to work. After all, it’s Ottawa coach Guy Bouch-
been a while. er said. “We didn’t have
Karlsson had a goal and an two good games here and
assist to help the Senators so I think the players re-
reached the third round of loaded emotionally, men-
the playoffs for the first time tally and physically real
in a decade by eliminat- well for home and then we
ing the New York Rangers wanted to do the same
4-2 in Game 6 on Tuesday for this game. ... The play-
night. ers were extremely poised.
“We have a long way to They looked really rested
go here,” Karlsson said. Ottawa Senators’ Mike Hoffman (68) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the and had a lot of energy.”
“We’re going to enjoy this first period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series against the New Mike Hoffman put Ottawa
for a little bit and again, York Rangers, Tuesday, May 9, 2017, in New York in front 4:27 into the game
get back to work as soon Associated Press when he deflected a shot
as tomorrow.” from Karlsson past Henrik
Ottawa will face either the closing minutes. That Karlsson said. “And the this series, it’s as simple as Lundqvist for his fourth of
Pittsburgh or Washington in included Game 2, in which fourth, we had Pageau.” them making one more the playoffs. It came on
its first trip to the third round Jean-Gabriel Pageau After their successful ral- play defensively or one the Senators’ second shot
since going to the Stan- scored twice in the final 3 lies against New York in more play offensively,” on goal of the game and
ley Cup Final in 2007. The 1/2 minutes of regulation, Ottawa, the Senators had Rangers coach Alain Vi- marked the first time Otta-
Penguins and Capitals will and then won it with his to hold off the desper- gneault said. “We were wa scored first in the series.
play Game 7 of their series fourth of the game in the ate Rangers near the end in all of those games, we Mark Stone doubled the
Wednesday night. second extra period. of Game 6. Chris Kreider didn’t make the defensive lead with 5:16 left in the first
After outlasting Boston in six The Rangers tied the se- scored early in the third play when we needed to with his fourth of postsea-
games during a first-round ries with two dominant 4-1 period to make it 3-2, but and we didn’t make the of- son.
series featuring four OT fin- wins at Madison Square the Senators held firm from fensive play to bury them. Mika Zibanejad got the
ishes, the resilient Senators Garden, but the Senators there. Craig Anderson fin- You have to give them a Rangers on the score-
outworked the Rangers returned home and won ished with 37 saves, and lot of credit. They played board with about 6 1/2
at Madison Square Gar- Game 5 in overtime to take Pageau clinched the series well and they deserved to minutes left in the second,
den. Ottawa won all three the lead and then finished with an empty-netter with win.” but Karlsson beat Lundqvist
games at home — each off the Rangers in New York. 6.2 seconds left for his sev- Ottawa led 2-0 after 20 on the blocker side with
by one goal — including “Over the course of the enth goal of the postsea- minutes despite being out- 4:07 remaining in the peri-
two that went to overtime series, we were the better son. shot 13-10. New York had od to restore the Senators’
after the Senators tied it in team for three games,” “The four games we lost in three power plays and two-goal lead.q

Gaviria sprints to 2nd Giro

d’Italia victory on 5th stage

at the end of the undulat- moment when Luka Piber- “It was amazing to see so
ing 159-kilometer (99-mile) nik thought he had won many people on the road
route from Pedara to Mes- the stage and raised his sides for Vincenzo Nibali,”
sina, the hometown of 2013 hands in celebration as he Jungels said.
and 2016 Giro winner, Vin- crossed the line, “They were very excited. I
cenzo Nibali. forgetting there was an- will try to keep the Maglia
Mareczko came back from other 6.2K lap. Rosa (leader’s pink jersey)
a long way out, storming Jungels, of Luxembourg, at least until Sunday.”
down the left side of the maintained his six-second Thursday’s sixth stage sees
Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria crosses the finish line to win the road to pip Irish rider Sam advantage over Welsh- the Giro move to mainland
fifth stage of the Giro d’Italia, Tour of Italy cycling race, from Bennett, who finished third. man Geraint Thomas. Italy with a 217-kilometer
Pedara to Messina, Italy, on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. “I’m happy with these Fellow Briton Adam Yates (135-mile) route from Reg-
Associated Press
two victories. My legs re- remained four seconds fur- gio Calabria to Terme Lu-
MESSINA, Sicily (AP) — Co- Quick-Step teammate Bob sponded as I wanted,” the ther back, with most of the igiane.
lombia’s Fernando Gaviria Jungels remained in the 22-year-old Gaviria said. overall favorites. The Giro ends on May 28
won a bunch sprint at the overall lead. “This win isn’t only mine, it The crowds were out in with a 28-kilometer (17.4
end of the fifth stage of the Gaviria, who won his first belongs to all the people force along the route and mile) individual time tri-
Giro d’Italia on Wednesday ever Grand Tour stage on who support me, to my especially in Messina, ea- al from Monza’s Formu-
to claim his second victory Sunday in Sardinia, edged family who are here.” ger to show their support la One track to Milan’s
of this year’s race, while out Italy’s Jakub Mareczko There was an incredible for Nibali. cathedral.q