Klingberg, Khudobin key Stars
John Klingberg scored on the Stars’ first shot, Anton Khudobin stopped all 25 the Golden Knights put on net and the third-seeded Stars beat the top-seeded Knights 1-0 on Sunday night in a hard-hitting, defensive Game 1 of the Western Conference final in Edmonton, Alberta.
Khudobin had his first NHL playoff shutout in the Stars’ first 1-0 playoff win in regulation since 2000.
In true lockdown Stars fashion, the game had almost double the amount of total hits (96) than shots on goal (50). Two days after each team won a Game 7 in the second round to move on, the Stars had more jump from the drop of the puck and carried that to a series lead.
■ Lightning captain Steven Stamkos will not be available for the team’s Eastern Conference final against the Islanders. Ther series starts Monday. Stamkos has yet to play in the playoffs as he rehabs from an undisclosed lower-body injury. The 30year-old center recorded 29 goals and 37 assists but hasn’t played since Feb. 25 and underwent core muscle surgery March 2.
Auto racing: AlphaTauri driver Pierre Gasly claimed an unlikely victory at the Italian Grand Prix after a thrilling race which saw three-time defending F1 world champ and current points leader Lewis Hamilton given a 10-second penalty. Gasly, 24, finished 0.415 seconds ahead of McLaren driver Carlos Sainz for his first career series win. Hamilton appeared on course for a comfortable victory from pole position but he was given the stop-go penalty for entering the pit lane when closed. The Mercedes driver finished seventh.
Colleges: Tom Jernstedt, a member of the Naismith Hall of Fame for his contributions to college basketball and the NCAA Tournament, died during the weekend. He was 75. Nicknamed “Father of the Final Four,” Jernstedt has been credited with transforming the NCAA Tournament into the billion-dollar March Madness it has become today. A former back-up QB at Oregon, Jernstedt worked his first Final Four in 1973 and helped push the growth of the NCAA Tournament from 25 teams to the 68 and increase the event’s TV contract from just over $1 million to more than $10 billion when he left in 2011. He served as president of USA Basketball and was a member of the College Football Selection committee.
Cycling: Primoz Roglic seized yellow jersey after Stage 9 of the Tour de France. Tadej Pogacar won the 95mile mountain stage..
NFL: The Titans agreed to terms with three-time Pro Bowl LB Jadeveon Clowney on a one-year contract worth up to $15 million, ESPN reported. The No. 1 overall pick of 2014, Clowney, 27, spent last season with the Seahawks. ... The Buccaneers signed free agent QB Josh Rosen to their practice squad, according to reports. Rosen, 23, was released by the Dolphins on Friday.