In a nutshell:
Update as of 1:30 PM
The NHL and NBA have elected to cancel their slate of games today (Thursday) due to the racial injustice south of the border.
The status of Friday’s games is still being determined.
Meanwhile, the NBA has announced tonight’s games have been cancelled.
The League Vice President said they are hopeful to begin to play again tomorrow or Saturday.
A meeting will be held with players, team governors, and NBA brass to discuss the next steps.
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NHL:
Nazem Kadri scored the game-winner for the Colorado Avalanche skating to a wild 6-4 victory against the Dallas Stars.
Rookie blueliner Cale Makar posted three assists for the Avs who now trail Dallas 2-1 in the Western Conference semi-final series.
Elsewhere, the Philadelphia Flyers needed overtime to shake off the New York Islanders 4-3.
Philadelphia scored three first period goals before coughing up the lead in the third period.
Series is tied 1-1.
Nikita Kucherov was all over the ice for the Tampa Bay Lightning recording a four-point effort in a 7-1 drubbing over the Boston Bruins.
Tampa scored four times in the second period chasing Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak out of the net.
The Lightning lead the Eastern Conference semi-final series 2-1.
Tonight, the Vancouver Canucks return to the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights in Edmonton.
The Western Conference Semi-Final Series is tied at 1-1.
Puck drop is at 6:45 Pacific Time.
You can listen to the game on Country 97 FM.
NBA:
In a watershed moment, all three NBA playoff games Wednesday were postponed in protest over the shooting of 29-year-old man Jacob Blake who was shot in the back by police several times on Sunday in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
The Milwaukee Bucks who were slated to tip off against the Orlando Magic were the first team to not play in response to the shooting.
Bucks players issued a statement later in the day stating their disgust with state government, lawmakers and police.
The Milwaukee Bucks statement: pic.twitter.com/F7XOPs4NqE
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) August 26, 2020
A Board of Governors meeting is being held by the NBA later today to discuss what the next course of action is for the remainder of the playoffs.
League officials will also be holding a peaceful protest in Orlando against the killing of unarmed black men and women at the hands of police.
MLB:
Rowdy Tellez hit a pair of home runs to give the Toronto Blue Jays a commanding 9-1 win over the Boston Red Sox in Buffalo.
The Jays leapfrog to 15-14 on the season.
In addition, four MLB games including the Brewers game in Milwaukee against the Cincinnati Reds was postponed in response to the Jacob Blake shooting.
THE SOCIAL MEDIA HUB:
The Milwaukee Bucks have boycotted Game 5 of their First Round series vs. the Orlando Magic this afternoon.
The team provided the following statement: pic.twitter.com/ul5rMlitlS
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) August 26, 2020
“Everyone needs to look in the mirror and say ‘How can I be a better human being to my fellow men and women every day of our lives.”
–@Bruter24 pic.twitter.com/MYzpbT0N6V— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) August 27, 2020
Nathan MacKinnon is elite❣️#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/D0qDwFakID
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 27, 2020
PHILTHY. #AnytimeAnywhere | #NYIvsPHI pic.twitter.com/DbGnwbHByp
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 26, 2020
The way these two work… ? pic.twitter.com/NPXn6Ud9hH
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) August 27, 2020
“I was proud of the way the guys responded.” The #Canucks exemplified their resiliency in the game 2 victory over Vegas. pic.twitter.com/2wDbymTeQV
— Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks) August 26, 2020
That’s ✌️ for Tellez ? pic.twitter.com/QMdmKY04lB
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 26, 2020