Burfict ban his third in three years
Lightning 5, Devils 2 Saturday, at Lightning, 3, Ch. 4 Monday, at Devils, 7:30, MSG+ Wednesday, at Devils, 7:30, MSG+ Saturday, April 21 at Lightning, TBD Monday, April 23 at Devils, TBD* Wednesday, April 25 at Lighting, TBD
Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will be sidelined to start a season for the fourth year in a row, this time serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancers. The NFL rejected Burfict’s appeal without comment and upheld the full suspension on Thursday.
It’s the third time the volatile linebacker has been suspended in the past three years.
l San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster has been charged with felony domestic violence after being accused of dragging his girlfriend and punching her in the head, leaving her with a ruptured eardrum, authorities said.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney charged Foster on Thursday, when he was also arraigned in San Jose.
Foster was accompanied by teammate Richard Sherman. He did not enter a plea and was released after posting $75,000 bail.
Artemi Panarin scored 6:02 into overtime to give the Columbus Blue Jackets a 4-3 victory over the host Washington Capitals in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
l Brad Marchand, David Backes and David Krejci each scored a power-play goal in the Boston Bruins’ Game 1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
l Filip Forsberg scored twice in the third period and the Nashville Predators rallied to beat the visiting Colorado Avalanche 5-2 in Game 1 of the first-round Western Conference series.
l Evander Kane scored a pair of goals and Brent Burns scored the other as the San Jose Sharks beat the Anaheim Ducks, 3-0, in Game 1 of the first-round Western Conference series
The Liberty picked UConn guard Kia Nurse with the 10th pick and then selected Mercedes Russell, a Tennessee center, with the 22nd pick of the WNBA draft.
Mackenzie Engram, the sister of Giants tight end Evan Engram, was picked by Atlanta with the 27th pick. She is a forward from Georgia.
A’ja Wilson was the top pick by the Las Vegas Aces. The South Carolina star post player will bolster the relocated franchise’s frontcourt. The Aces moved to Las Vegas from San Antonio this past winter.