(As of 12:01AM)
NHL: (Sixth games in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarter-finals)
Toronto 3 Boston 1
(Series tied 3-3 with the seventh and deciding game Wednesday (4:30PM) in Boston. The winner will play the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference semi-finals)
Washington 6 Columbus 3
(Capitals win 4-2 and advance to the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington has played Pittsburgh 10 times in the playoffs, including second-round losses in each of the past two seasons (six games in 2016, seven games in 2017). The Capitals have lost nine of the 10 series, including the past seven)
The Western Conference semi-finals feature Nashville against Winnipeg (the top two teams in the Central Division) and Vegas vs. San Jose (the first and third place teams in the Pacific).
###
There are just three NHL head coaching vacancies (New York Rangers, Dallas, and Carolina) after the Calgary Flames hired Bill Peters as their bench boss.
Peters stepped down last week as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes.
The 51-year-old Peters failed to make the playoffs in any of his four seasons with the Hurricanes.
###
The Minnesota Wild are in search of a new general manager.
The Wild have informed Chuck Fletcher his contract will not be renewed after nine seasons on the job.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Everett 8 Tri-City 4
(Silvertips lead the Western Conference Final 2-1 with game four Thursday in Tri-City. Americans goalie Patrick Dea allowed eight goals on just 26 shots before he was hooked midway through the third period. Everett is 5-0 on the road in the playoffs)
###
The scene has shifted to Lethbridge for the WHL Eastern Conference Final.
The Hurricanes host the Swift Current Broncos tonight and Wednesday with Swift Current ahead 2-0, winning both games by a goal.
Lethbridge sniper Brad Morrison of Prince George has one assist in the two games.
Morrison leads the WHL playoff scoring race with 30 points (12G, 18A) in 12 post-season games.
Michael Rasmussen and Morgan Geekie of Tri-City are second and third respectively with 29 and 26 points, although Geekie leads in goals with 16.
DOYLE CUP JUNIOR HOCKEY:
The Wenatchee Wild will host the Spruce Grove Saints on Friday to open the best-of-seven Doyle Cup.
The Wild qualified by winning the BCHL Fred Page Cup 4-1 over the Prince George Spruce Kings, while Spruce Grove advanced after capturing the AJHL title four games to one over the Okotoks Oilers.
Wenatchee is 11-0 at home in the playoffs, outscoring the opposition 51-18.
The Doyle Cup winner will qualify for the RBC National Junior ‘A’ Championship May 12th to 20th in Chilliwack.
SWEEP OF FIRST TWO GAMES
GAME ONE – April 27th in Wenatchee
GAME TWO – April 28th in Wenatchee
GAME THREE – May 1st in Spruce Grove
GAME FOUR – May 2nd in Spruce Grove
*GAME FIVE – May 4th in Spruce Grove
*GAME SIX – May 5th in Spruce Grove
*GAME SEVEN – May 6th in Spruce Grove
*IF NECESSARY
SPLIT FIRST TWO GAMES
GAME ONE – April 27th in Wenatchee
GAME TWO – April 28th in Wenatchee
GAME THREE – April 29th in Wenatchee
GAME FOUR – May 2nd in Spruce Grove
*GAME FIVE – May 3rd in Spruce Grove
*GAME SIX – May 5th in Spruce Grove
*GAME SEVEN – May 6th in Spruce Grove
*IF NECESSARY
FRED PAGE CUP RESULTS:
GAME ONE = Friday, April 13th @ Wenatchee (Wenatchee wins 4-0)
GAME TWO = Saturday, April 14th @ Wenatchee (Wenatchee wins 4-2)
GAME THREE = Monday, April 16th @ RMCA (Wenatchee wins 4-3 in 2OT)
GAME FOUR = Tuesday, April 17th @ RMCA (Prince George wins 4-2)
GAME FIVE = Thursday, April 19th @ Wenatchee (Wenatchee wins 3-0)
NBA: (Two games in the best-of-seven Conference quarter-finals)
Utah 113 Oklahoma City 93
(Jazz lead 3-1 with game five Wednesday in Oklahoma City)
Houston 119 Minnesota 100
(Rockets lead 3-1 with game five Wednesday in Houston)
###
There are three NBA playoff games tonight: Milwaukee at Boston (4PM), Miami at Philadelphia (5PM), and San Antonio at Golden State (7:30PM).
The Bucks and Celtics are tied 2-2, the 76’ers lead the Heat 3-1 and the Warriors enjoy a 3-1 lead over the Spurs.
The Toronto Raptors host the Washington Wizards Wednesday (4PM). The series is tied 2-2 with the home team winning each game.
MLB:
The top two teams in the AL East meet tonight in Toronto as the 13-8 Blue Jays face the 17-4 Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox have the best record in the Majors and enjoy a four-game lead over the Jays.
It’s the start of a six-game home-stand for Toronto.
LACROSSE:
The Prince George Senior Lacrosse regular season will run a couple of months starting with a game Thursday night at 8 in Quesnel between the host Crossfire and the RPR Mechanical/J.R. Construction Bandits.
Five teams are in the League, down one from last year, as Northland Nissan Assault dropped out.
JUDO:
The Prince George, Northern Capital, and Hart Judo Clubs racked up nine gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze for a combined total of 35 medals at the PG Judo tournament that was held at Duchess Park.
TRAMPOLINE:
Anna MacDonald of Prince George finished with a bronze in one Level five, 17+ event and fifth in another at the Canada Cup Trampoline championships in Montreal.
Rhiana Palfy of PG came fifth in her Level 5 division.
GYMNASTICS:
Kailey Spencer was the only Prince George gymnast to finish first overall at the Christy Fraser Memorial Invitational in Langley.
Abi Popovic of PG received the Christy Fraser Memorial Award.