Capitals to host Game 1 of second round Thursday
The series-opening game of the Stanley Cup Eastern Conference semifinals between the Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena in Washington. Game 1 will be televised on NBC Sports Network. A complete second round schedule will be announced later. The series will be the 11th between the Capitals and the Penguins in the playoffs, the most in franchise history. Washington will host Game1, Game 2 and, if necessary, games 5 and 7. A limited number of Capitals individual game tickets for all four possible home games are available by calling 800-745-3000 or by going to WashingtonCaps.com. — No. 1 overall pick in Thursday night’s draft, ESPN reported. The Browns also own the No. 4 overall pick. ... Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski announced on Instagram that he will return next season, ending speculation he might retire. ESPN reported that Gronkowski, 28, and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, met with Patriots coach Bill Belichick and that the team will not trade the five-time Pro Bowler this season. ... The Rams picked up their fifth-year contract options for 2019 on RB Todd Gurley, the league’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, and two-time Pro Bowl CB Marcus Peters.
The Sabres signed F Victor Olofsson to a two-year contract after he led the Swedish Hockey League with 27 goals last season. Olofsson, 22, was selected by the Sabres in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL draft.
Mohamed Salah had two goals and two assists in leading host Liverpool to a 5-2 win over his former club Roma in the first leg of a Champions League semifinal. Salah scored in the 36th minute and doubled the lead in the 45th. He produced crosses for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to score almost identical goals in the 56th and 61st minutes. Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain suffered what manager Jurgen Klopp called a “really bad” leg injury in the victory and may miss the rest of the season.
Fourth-seeded David Goffin of Belgium saved a match point to beat Marcel Granollers of Spain 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 in the second round of the Barcelona Open.