Hurricanes switch goalies for Game 3, starting Kochetkov over Andersen against Panthers

Hurricanes switch goalies for Game 3, starting Kochetkov over Andersen against Panthers

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes switched goalies for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals, starting Pyotr Kochetkov in net against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. Kochetkov played the third period of Game 2, stopping four of the five shots he faced in Carolina's 5-0 loss. The Hurricanes were outscored 10-2 in the first two games of the series, with Frederik Andersen giving up nine goals on just 36 shots. "Just change the vibe a little bit," Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour said. "I don't blame Freddie on any of the goals that went in. Obviously, save percentage is not great, if you look at that. We do need some saves, but I can't blame him on any. All the goals have been great shots or plays by them." Kochetkov has started just over half of Carolina's games over the last two seasons, going a combined 50-29-7 with a 2.48 goals-against average and .903 save percentage. The Hurricanes took him with a second-round pick in the 2019 draft and he made his NHL debut for the club late in the 2021-22 season. Saturday's game against Florida is his 10th playoff appearance and fourth postseason start. "He's a kid that we've had in there all year," Brind'Amour said. "And he played well for us, so that's why." Kochetkov went 2-0-0 in two previous starts against Florida, both in the regular season. He had a 45-save shutout against the Panthers on Feb. 22, 2024, and stopped 25 of 26 shots in a 3-1 win in Sunrise on Jan. 2. He entered Saturday 1-0 in this year's playoffs in three appearances, with a 2.57 GAA and .891 save percentage. ___ AP NHL playoffs:https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cupandhttps://apnews.com/hub/nhl

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Hurricanes switch goalies for Game 3, starting Kochetkov over Andersen against Panthers

Hurricanes switch goalies for Game 3, starting Kochetkov over Andersen against Panthers SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes switche...

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Wood hits 2-run HR, Irvin works 8 3-hit innings as the Nationals beat the Giants 3-0

Wood hits 2-run HR, Irvin works 8 3-hit innings as the Nationals beat the Giants 3-0

WASHINGTON (AP) —James Wood hit a two-run homerin the first inning and Jake Irvin pitched eight innings of three-hit ball as the Washington Nationals beat the San Francisco Giants 3-0 on Saturday. Irvin (4-1) struck out seven and walked two in a 96-pitch effort as Washington bounced back followinga 4-0 loss to the Giants on Fridayand won for the seventh time in nine games. Amed Rosario doubled with one out in the first and Wood followed with a 390-foot shot to right for his 13th homer of the season. Keibert Ruiz added two hits for Washington. With runners on first and third in the seventh, Robert Hassell III hit a slow comebacker and Tristan Beck's only play was to first as Luis Garcia, Jr. scored Washington's third run. Jorge Lopez pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save withDaylen Lile making a diving catchin right to end it. San Francisco's Kyle Harrison (0-1), filling the rotation spot of the injured Justin Verlander, gave up two runs on five hits over four innings in his first start of the season. Tyler Fitzgerald had two of San Francisco's three hits. The Giants have lost three of their last five games. Irvin retired nine straight before yielding a two-out walk to Mike Yastrzemski in the eighth. The 28-yeaer-old right-hander then ended his outing by striking out Heliot Ramos. Key moment The first two Giants reached against Irvin in the fourth, but he coaxed a double-play grounder by Matt Chapman and struck out Willy Adames. Key stat In his last six games, Wood is hitting .400 (10 for 25) with a double, two homers, two stolen bases, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored. Up next San Francisco LHP Robbie Ray (6-0, 2.67 ERA) opposes Washington RHP Michael Soroka (1-2, 5.95 ERA) in the series finale. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Wood hits 2-run HR, Irvin works 8 3-hit innings as the Nationals beat the Giants 3-0

Wood hits 2-run HR, Irvin works 8 3-hit innings as the Nationals beat the Giants 3-0 WASHINGTON (AP) —James Wood hit a two-run homerin the f...

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AC Milan supporters organize protests after disappointing season

AC Milan supporters organize protests after disappointing season

MILAN (AP) — Thousands ofAC Milansupporters protested outside the club headquarters on Saturday as the Rossoneri wrapped up a season in which they failed to qualify for Europe and lost to Bologna in theItalian Cup final. "Singer, Cardinale, Furlani, Ibra, Moncada: everyone leave, free Milan from this agony," read a banner held by fans. They named the team's key management members and owners. Inside the San Siro later for Milan's final Serie A match against last-placed Monza, there were more protests. Fans on the upper level at one end positioned themselves to form the words, "Go home." Milan began the season as a potential title contender but was in ninth place, 22 points behind champion Napoli. The seven-time European champion was eliminated by Feyenoord in the Champions League playoffs in February. Meanwhile, city rival Inter Milan will play Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final next Saturday. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

AC Milan supporters organize protests after disappointing season

AC Milan supporters organize protests after disappointing season MILAN (AP) — Thousands ofAC Milansupporters protested outside the club head...

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NBC Sports ready to capture Liverpool's celebration of Premier League title

NBC Sports ready to capture Liverpool's celebration of Premier League title

Rebecca Lowe expects to be in the happiest place on earth on Sunday afternoon. Lowe and NBC's Premier League studio crew will be at Anfield for the final day of the season as Liverpool gets to lift the championship trophy after facing Crystal Palace. It is Liverpool's second Premier League title but the first it will be able to celebrate in front of a sold out crowd. Liverpool won the championship in 2020, but the joy was muted as it celebrated in front of only a couple hundred fans due to COVID-19 crowd controls. "I think Anfield might be the happiest spot to be maybe anywhere in the world," Lowe said earlier this week. "This is a moment for a generation. I know there are going to be men and women in their 30s and 40s who've never seen Liverpool lift the top flight of English football, and that is why this Sunday is so special for these fans." Liverpool has had the title wrapped up since late April, making the final match day of the season mostly meaningless after the championship went down to the final minute the past couple years. Even with the three relegation spots decided, the only drama remaining is which clubs will get the final three auto qualifying spots for the Champions League. Manchester City, Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are separated by just three points. Even the Crystal Palace supporters making the trip to Liverpool are going to be in a celebratory mood after it won the FA Cup last Saturday for the first time with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City. Lowe, who grew up rooting for Crystal Palace, was in London last week for the FA Cup final. Liverpool was not considered among the Premier League championship favorites going into the season. Arne Slot came in as manager after Juergen Klopp resigned after being at the club over eight years and leading them to the title in 2020. "If anybody back in August would have picked Liverpool to win the league, they would have been laughed out of town," said Lowe, who has hosted NBC's coverage since it started carrying the Premier League in 2013. "Arne walks into this massive club, succeeding a massive figure and character and then pretty much walks his way to the Premier League trophy. I think it's been a combination of excellent coaching, a very good squad that he inherited and very few injuries." NBC Sports wraps up its 12th season by showing all 10 "Championship Sunday" matches beginning at 11 a.m. EDT. NBC has the Liverpool match while USA Network, CNBC, SYFY, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock will also have other matchups. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

NBC Sports ready to capture Liverpool's celebration of Premier League title

NBC Sports ready to capture Liverpool's celebration of Premier League title Rebecca Lowe expects to be in the happiest place on earth on...

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Walker’s clutch hits help Cardinals overcome fielding gaffes in 6-5 win over Arizona

Walker's clutch hits help Cardinals overcome fielding gaffes in 6-5 win over Arizona

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jordan Walker had two hits and drove in three runs, rebounding from a critical fielding gaffe with an RBI single that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 6-5 win Saturday over the Arizona Diamondbacks. After his failed sliding attempt to catch Josh Naylor's two-run triple in the eighth allowed Arizona to rally into the lead, Walker delivered the winning run with an RBI single off Justin Martinez (1-2) in the bottom half of the inning. The Diamondbacks lost their fourth straight game. St. Louis has won 15 of 19. Geraldo Perdomo and Eugenio Suárez raced around to tie the game 4-4 when Naylor's line drive bounced in front of Walker and rolled to the wall. Naylor then scored when Grichuk's pop-up fell in shallow center for a double. Ryan Helsley (2-0) was credited with the win for a scoreless ninth. He struck out Suárez with runners on second and third to end the game. Matthew Liberatore allowed six hits and one run, on Grichuk's leadoff home run in the fifth. Liberatore struck out six Diamondbacks and didn't walk anyone, a hallmark of his strong start to 2025. Arizona starter Merrill Kelly gave up four runs on six hits while striking out five. His only walk preceded Walker's two-dun double that ended his outing with no outs in the seventh. Key moment Making his first appearance after missing three weeks because of right shoulder inflammation, Martinez gave up Nolan Arenado's RBI groundout to tie it before Walker's two-out single. Key stat After earning a spot in the Cardinals rotation during spring training, the 25-year-old lefty Liberatore has allowed two runs or less in eight straight starts, giving up 11 runs in 47 innings over that stretch. Up next Arizona RHP Brandon Pfaadt (7-3, 3.81 ERA), who entered the weekend as the major league wins leader, takes on St. Louis RHP Sonny Gray (5-1, 4.02) in the series finale Sunday. ___ AP MLB:https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Walker’s clutch hits help Cardinals overcome fielding gaffes in 6-5 win over Arizona

Walker's clutch hits help Cardinals overcome fielding gaffes in 6-5 win over Arizona ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jordan Walker had two hits and dro...

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