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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 18 May 2019
Bruins sweep Hurricanes to reach Stanley Cup Final

By JOEDY McCREARY in every game while Caro-
AP Sports Writer lina failed to score on its last
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Bos- 13 chances with the man
ton’s top line kept finding advantage.
ways to score, especially So it was no surprise that
on the power play. With a Boston took control with its
chance to clinch another best-in-the-playoffs power-
series, Tuukka Rask was per- play unit.
fect — again. Eighteen seconds into a
Rask posted his seventh ca- minor on the Hurricanes for
reer playoff shutout, and having too many men on
the Bruins swept the Caro- the ice, Pastrnak finished
lina Hurricanes out of the off a slick give-and-go with
Eastern Conference final, Marchand, getting past
winning 4-0 on Thursday Calvin de Haan and slip-
night to reach their third ping the puck into an open
Stanley Cup Final in nine net at 4:46 of the second.
years. “Everything’s going OK,
“Everyone in the room then we get into that spe-
wanted to be at their best,” cialty area where that’s
forward Brad Marchand obviously a huge advan-
said, “and everyone was at Boston Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask (40), of Finland, defends the goal against the Carolina Hurricanes tage for them,” coach Rod
their best tonight.” during the second period in Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Eastern Conference finals in Brind’Amour said. “And
Rask made 24 saves in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 16, 2019. they made us pay.”
his second straight series- Associated Press With Greg McKegg in the
clinching shutout. Patrice ize we have a lot of work to coach Bruce Cassidy de- you’ve got to go home.” box for goaltender inter-
Bergeron scored two goals, do.” clined to elaborate on the Carolina got this far by ference, the Bruins scored
David Pastrnak had a goal On its longest postseason nature of Chara’s injury, sweeping the New York Is- on another give-and-go
and two assists and March- win streak since reeling off he did say he’s expected landers in Round 2. Not that involving Pastrnak, who set
and added an empty-nett- nine straight in 1972, Bos- back for the start of the the extra rest time helped up Bergeron’s goal with
er. Both Bergeron and Pas- ton earned a break before Cup final. the Hurricanes, or anyone 1:26 left in the second.
trnak scored on second- taking on the West winner. Curtis McElhinney made 19 else in these playoffs: No Rask — who blanked Co-
period power plays. San Jose leads its series with saves for the Hurricanes, team that swept its oppo- lumbus 3-0 in the decisive
The Bruins won their seventh St. Louis 2-1 heading into whose first playoff appear- nent has won its next series. sixth game of the previous
straight postseason game Game 4 Friday night. ance since 2009 ended After outscoring them 17-5 series — didn’t even face
— their longest playoff win- The Bruins won this one precisely the same way in four games, Boston no a shot on goal for roughly
ning streak in nearly half a without captain Zdeno their previous postseason doubt wants to halt that the first half of the third, and
century — to return to the Chara, who was scratched trip did — by being swept trend — especially with the only seven for the entire
Cup final after winning in with an unspecified injury in the East final. sport’s biggest prize on the period.
2011 and losing to Chicago and is day to day, ending a “Listen, the tank’s been line. “Tuukka’s been very con-
two years later. run of 98 consecutive play- low for a long time,” cap- Special teams drove this sistent,” Cassidy said. “Usu-
“It’s so difficult to advance off games for the hulking tain Justin Williams said. “It’s series, with the Bruins scor- ally, if you’re going to get
in the playoffs, let alone 42-year-old veteran that been running on adrena- ing seven power-play goals on a roll, your goaltender’s
make it to the final,” said dated to 2011. line and sheer will. It’s al- in the four games while the going to have to win a
Rask, the backup to Conn Chara joined his team- ways tough to swallow Hurricanes had five during game for you somewhere
Smythe Trophy winner Tim mates on the ice for the when the season ends, just their entire 15-game post- along the way or steal one
Thomas in 2011. “We need post-series handshake line abruptly like that. It’s like season run. Boston had at for you. ... He can’t have a
to really enjoy this but real- with Carolina, and while you’re cut real quick. And least one power-play goal bad night.”q

At Preakness, they’re playing ‘musical chairs’ with jockeys

By DAVID GINSBURG common,” Smith said. “Es- Maximum Security was dis-
AP Sports Writer pecially during this Triple qualified.
BALTIMORE (AP) — The Crown stuff, there’s a lot Smith chose to ride Omaha
jockey shuffle heading into of musical chairs. A lot of Beach in the Derby, but af-
the Preakness has a “musi- people picked up horses ter the race favorite was
cal chairs” feel to it. at the last minute and won scratched, Baffert opted to
Of the 13 jockeys in Satur- the Derby, won the Preak- stick with Ortiz. That didn’t
day’s race, nine who rode ness and won the Belmont, work well for anyone — Im-
in the Kentucky Derby are for that matter.” probable never really got a
aboard a different horse The top four horses that sniff of the lead under Ortiz
in the Preakness. Most no- crossed the finish line in and Smith finished 10th with
tably, Hall of Famer Mike Kentucky won’t run in the Cutting Humor.
Smith is now riding favored Preakness. Improbable is The team of Baffert and
Improbable with familiar the morning line favorite Smith produced a Triple
trainer Bob Baffert, bump- partially because he has Crown last year with Jus-
ing Irad Ortiz to Bourbon finished first or second in tify and four years ago with
War. Improbable exercises in preparation for the Preakness Stakes five of six races, the lone ex- American Pharoah, and
“It seems to be a little bit horse race, Thursday, May 16, 2019, at Pimlico Race Course in ception when he came in now trainer and jockey are
more than maybe most of Baltimore. The race is scheduled to take place Saturday, May fifth at the Derby and was together again trying to
18.
the time, but this isn’t un- Associated Press bumped up to fourth after recreate the magic. q