Canada hold off US for 1st Sevens title

‘It’s awesome’

Canada’s rugby team members and support staff pose with their trophy after victory against the US team in the cup final of the Singapore Rugby Sevens tournament in Singapore on April 16. (AFP)

SINGAPORE, April 16, (AFP): Canada beat the United States 26-19 to win their maiden World Series Sevens title on Sunday and cap a day of extraordinary upsets that culminated in the first ever all-American final.

The Canadians regained their composure after squandering a 19-0 lead as their North American neighbours levelled the final at 19-19 to score the winning try through Lucas Hammond less than two minutes from the end, denying the US their second tournament success after winning at London in 2015. Matt Mullins (right), of Canada is tackled by Perry Baker of the US during the cup final of the Singapore Rugby Sevens tournament in Singapore on

April 16. (AFP) playoff victory since 2013.

Senators 4, Bruins 3, OT In Ottawa, Ontario, Dion Phaneuf scored at 1:59 of overtime and Ottawa rallied for a victory over Boston.

The Senators rallied from a 3-1 deficit with a two-goal third period to force overtime. The Eastern Conference series is tied 1-1 and Game 3 is Monday night in Boston.

Clarke MacArthur, Chris Wideman and Derick Brassard also scored for the Senators and Craig Anderson made 26 saves.

Drew Stafford, Tim Schaller and Patrice Bergeron scored for the Bruins. Tuukka Rask stopped 25 shots.

The Senators started the overtime with the man advantage as the Bruins took a delay of game penalty with 12.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

Trailing 3-1 to start the third, the Senators scored twice in a span of 2:20 to tie the game.

Predators 5, Blackhawks 0 In Chicago, Pekka Rinne made 30 saves in his second straight shutout and picked up two assists, helping Nashville pound Chicago for a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series.

Ryan Johansen had a goal and two assists as Nashville added a dominant performance to its taut 1-0 victory in Game 1 on Thursday.

Chicago coach Joel Quenneville

John Gibson #36 of the Anaheim Ducks blocks a shot on goal during the second period of Game Two of the Western Conference First Round against the Calgary Flames during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center on April

15, in Anaheim, California. (AFP)

shuffled his lineup, inserting rookie Vinnie Hinostroza and Dennis Rasmussen and benching veteran Jordin Tootoo and John Hayden. But it was more of the same for the Blackhawks, who once again looked out of sync against the Predators’ active defense.

Ryan Ellis, Harry Zolnierczyk, Colton Sissons and Kevin Fiala each scored their first career playoff goal.

Game 3 is Monday night in Nashville.

Ducks 3, Flames 2 In Anaheim, California, Ryan Getzlaf scored the tiebreaking power-play goal with 4:46 to play on a bizarre deflection off Lance Bouma’s skate, and Anaheim took a 2-0 lead in their firstround playoff series.

Getzlaf’s attempted pass across the high slot banked off Bouma’s foot and somehow arched through the air and past Calgary’s Brian Elliott for the Anaheim captain’s second goal of the series.

Jakob Silfverberg and Rickard Rakell scored first-period goals and John Gibson made 35 saves in the Ducks’ 29th consecutive victory over the Flames at Honda Center since April 25, 2006, extending the longest such streak in NHL history.

Mikael Backlund scored a shorthanded goal and Sean Monahan had a power-play goal for the Flames.

Game 3 is Monday in Calgary.

Jonathan Toews #19 of the Chicago Blackhawks and Calle Jarnkrok #19 of the Nashville Predators battle for the puck after a faceoff in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the United Center on April 15, in Chicago, Illinois. The Predators

defeated the Blackhawks 5-0. (AFP)