Shesterkin stops 30 as Rangers blank Penguins
Frank Vatrano and Artemi Panarin scored in the second period, Igor Shesterkin stopped 30 shots for his fourth shutout of the season and the New York Rangers beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-0 Thursday night.
It was Shesterkin's first shutout since Jan. 13 at San Jose.
Dryden Hunt added an empty-net goal in the final minute and Mika Zibanejad had two assists for New York, which is 6-1-1 in its last eight games — including three victories against Pittsburgh.
With Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby a late scratch with a non-COVID illness, the Penguins produced a meek attack against the Rangers, who also defeated their division rivals 5-1 at Madison Square Garden on March 25 and 3-2 in Pittsburgh on March 29.
Tristan Jarry had 21 saves for Pittsburgh, which has lost four of five and is 2-5-1 in its last eight.
The Rangers inched closer to their first playoff berth since 2017, moving six points ahead of the Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division — and homeice advantage in the first round —with 10 games remaining.
CANADIENS KNOCK OFF DEVILS, 7-4 >> Kale Clague had a goal and two assists, Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki each had a goal and an assist as a part of a three-goal first period and the Montreal Canadiens beat the New Jersey Devils 7-4.
College hockey
SHARKS PROSPECT LEADS DENVER TO TITLE GAME >> Carter Savoie scored with 14:53 gone in overtime, converting on his own rebound to lead Denver past Michigan 3-2 in the Frozen Four semifinal and into the NCAA championship game.
The Pioneers will play for the title Saturday night against the winner of the late semifinal between Minnesota and Minnesota State. It would be Denver's ninth hockey championship, tying Michigan for the most in NCAA history.
Magnus Chrona, a San Jose Sharks prospect, made 19 saves for the Pioneers, who twice went ahead in regulation, on goals from Brett Stapley and Cameron Wright. But both times Michigan tied it — on goals from Jimmy Lambert and Thomas Bordeleau, another Sharks prospect. Bordeleau's goal with 11 minutes left in regulation tied it.
NFL
HALL OF FAMER RAYFIELD WRIGHT DIES >>
Rayfield Wright, the Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle nicknamed “Big Cat” who went to five Super Bowls in his 13 NFL seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, died. He was 76.
Wright's family confirmed his death to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which said Wright had been hospitalized for several days following a severe seizure. The Cowboys also confirmed the death.
A big player for his era at 6-foot-6 and over 250 pounds, Wright settled in as the full-time starter at right tackle in 1970, when Dallas made its first Super Bowl. The Cowboys then won their first Super Bowl title in 1971, the first of six consecutive seasons Wright was a Pro Bowler. He was a three-time All-Pro.
Wright was diagnosed with early stage dementia in 2012, but had long been plagued by seizures since his retirement. He believed they were from continued blows to the head while playing football. TWO MORE BLACK COACHES ALLEGE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION >> Two Black coaches joined Brian Flores in his lawsuit alleging racist hiring practices by the NFL toward coaches and general managers.
The updated lawsuit in Manhattan federal court added coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton.
Wilks alleges he was discriminated against by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018 and Horton claims he was subjected to discriminatory treatment when he interviewed for the Tennessee Titans head coach position in January 2016.
The rewritten lawsuit from Flores also criticized the NFL for its response to the lawsuit he brought against it and its teams several weeks ago.
College basketball
GONZAGA'S TIMME TO DECLARE FOR NBA DRAFT >> Gonzaga junior forward Drew Timme announced his intention to declare for the NBA draft, but did not indicate if he would hire an agent.
Timme was the West Coast Conference player of the year this past season for the Bulldogs and a second-team AP All-America selection after averaging 18.4 points and 6.8 rebounds.
LAVIN HIRED TO COACH STRUGGLING SAN DIEGO >> Steve Lavin, the former coach at UCLA and St. John's, was hired to take over the struggling program at the University of San Diego.
Lavin, 57, replaces Sam Scholl, who was fired March 6 after the Toreros went 15-16 in a third straight losing season.
Lavin was 145-78 at UCLA in seven seasons from 1996-2003 and took the Bruins to the Sweet 16 five times and the Elite Eight once. He was 92-72 at St. John's from 2010-15, with two NCAA Tournament appearances.