Bruins eliminate Rangers in Game 5 with 3-1 victory

The Bruins will play the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference final.

The Bruins set up the third-round date by beating the Rangers in Game 5 at TD Garden on Saturday, 3-1. Gregory Campbell finished the Rangers with an empty-net goal with 50.4 seconds left.

The Bruins, down 1-0 after 20 minutes, scored the only two goals of the second period. They started their rally with a power-play goal by Torey Krug at 3:48. Mats Zuccarello was in the box for hooking.

Brad Marchand made the key play by driving over the offensive blue line and pulling up, which opened space at the point. Marchand connected with Tyler Seguin, who saw Krug rolling over the boards. After Krug took the pass, the rookie rifled a one-timer over Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist’s left shoulder to tie the score at 1-1. It was Krug’s fourth goal of the playoffs, who became the first rookie defenseman to score four goals in his first five playoffs games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Bruins pulled ahead on a fourth-line goal. Daniel Paille picked off a Roman Hamrlik clearing pass to start the attack. Campbell finished the play by driving to the net and burying the puck at 13:41. Campbell’s goal capped heavy second-period pressure by the Bruins.

“It was a man’s game,’’ Campbell told NBC Sports Network after the game. “The Rangers play hard. It will be good to get some rest for the next round.’’

The Rangers scored the only goal of the first period. After a whistle at 9:45, David Krejci tangled with Carl Hagelin. Krejci was whistled for cross-checking. Hagelin evaded a penalty.

During the power play, Brian Boyle set up in front of Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask. With the 6-foot-7-inch Boyle screening Rask, defenseman Dan Girardi ripped a one-timer past the goalie at 10:39 to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Rask didn’t appear to see Girardi’s release.

Milan Lucic had the Bruins’ best scoring chance in the first. After taking a pass from Krejci, Lucic snapped an uncontested shot from the slot. Lundqvist gloved Lucic’s shot at 13:27.

Shawn Thornton and Derek Dorsett fought at 6:49. Dorsett was having words with Paille when Thornton stepped in. The two continued to throw after the fight was over, which netted them both unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

The Eastern Conference final will open at Pittsburgh. The Penguins are the top seed in the conference and dispatched the Ottawa Senators Friday night in five games.

The Penguins present a stark contrast to the way the Rangers play. Pittsburgh is the highest-scoring team in hockey, led by arguably the game’s best two players, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Highlights and Analysis: Champions League Final, Bayern Munich 2, Dortmund 1

Arjen Robben scored a heart-stopping 89th-minute winner to earn Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 win over German rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday after a thrilling Champions League final at London's Wembley Stadium.

With extra time beckoning, Robben collected a back-heel from Franck Ribery, eluded the challenge of Mats Hummels and rolled a delicate shot past Roman Weidenfeller to give Bayern their fifth European crown.

It was a moment of long-awaited deliverance for both Bayern and Robben, after defeats for the Bavarians in the final of the competition in 2010 and again in 2012, when they lost a cruel penalty shoot-out to Chelsea on home soil.

Robben had set Bayern on the way to victory after an hour of the first all-German final when he teed up Mario Mandzukic for the opener, only for Ilkay Gundogan to equalise from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.

Victory made Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes only the fourth manager to win the trophy with two different clubs, after a 1998 triumph with Real Madrid, as he prepares to step aside for incoming successor Pep Guardiola.

Having already claimed the German title, Bayern will now look to complete an unprecedented treble by beating Stuttgart in the German Cup final next weekend.

There was no second title for 1997 winners Dortmund, but Jurgen Klopp's side more than played their part on a night of gripping drama in front of 86,298 fans at the home of English football.

The player who had generated the most column inches in the weeks leading up to the game was in the stands for kick-off; a hamstring injury having denied Mario Goetze a farewell appearance for Dortmund before his 37 million euros (£31.7 million, $47.8 million) move to Bayern.

His transfer was the latest show of strength from a side who romped to the Bundesliga title by a record-breaking 25 -point margin, but Bayern were left looking like the underdogs as Dortmund flew out of the blocks.

Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to save from Robert Lewandowski, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Marco Reus and Sven Bender, before Bayern finally came to life when Weidenfeller tipped a Mandzukic header onto the bar.

Javi Martinez sent a header onto the roof of the net from the resulting corner, but the best chances of the first half both fell to Robben.

On the half hour, Thomas Mueller's pass sent him clean through on goal, but the angle was prohibitive for a left- footed player and Weidenfeller rushed out swiftly to make a sprawling save.

The Dutchman found himself with only the goalkeeper to beat again moments before half-time when the ball fell kindly for him in a tussle with Hummels, but Weidenfeller stood up bravely and blocked with his face.

In between, Neuer produced a superb last-ditch block to thwart Lewandowski, who had deftly rolled Jerome Boateng from a Reus pass, as the play passed from one end to the other at breathless speed.

It looked as if another major final was set to pass Robben by, but on the hour he atoned for his earlier misses by creating the opening goal.

 
Ribery rolled a pass towards the byline and Robben evaded the offside trap by a matter of inches before nudging the ball beyond Weidenfeller and crossing for Mandzukic to hook the ball home from a yard.

Dortmund might have been forgiven for feeling deflated given their first-half exertions, but instead they drew level.

Dante was penalised for an untidy high foul on Reus inside the area and Gundogan steered his penalty into the bottom-right corner to send the hordes of yellow-shirted fans behind Neuer's goal leaping from their seats.

Moments later, Dortmund were indebted to a breathtaking piece of defending from Neven Subotic, who slid in to hook Mueller's goal-bound shot off the line as Robben closed in for a tap-in.

But Bayern continued to push, Weidenfeller repelling fierce strikes from David Alaba and Bastian Schweinsteiger, before Robben tiptoed through the Dortmund defence to score a famous late winner.

Gurunath Meiyappan arrested by Mumbai Police for betting

Gurunath Meiyappan, a top official of the Chennai Super Kings franchise and son-in-law of the BCCI president N Srinivasan, has been formally arrested by Mumbai Police on charges of cheating, forgery and fraud. The development, late on Friday night, is the most serious setback to the IPL in its six-year history and has serious implications for the BCCI as well given the names involved.

As of early Saturday morning there was no news of an emergency BCCI meeting but it is expected that events will move fast through the day, to discuss the issue of leadership - though Srinivasan insisted he would not step down - and also Chennai Super Kings' participation in the IPL final on Sunday.

Gurunath had been summoned to Mumbai for questioning over betting and links to bookies and flew in on Friday evening.

"We have interrogated Mr Gurunath after he arrived here at the crime branch headquarters," Himanshu Roy, the joint commissioner of Mumbai Police, said. "We have gone through questioning with him in detail and after due deliberation, we have arrived at the conclusion there is evidence of involvement in offence we are investigating and therefore he has been placed under arrest. He will be produced in court within 24 hours as per law."

Reports suggest Gurunath's interrogation in Mumbai will continue through Friday night, and he will also be confronted with Virender "Vindoo" Dara Singh, the actor arrested earlier this week for alleged contact with bookies. Police investigations suggested that Vindoo and Gurunath were in frequent telephonic contact. Vindoo was also seen in the CSK box at IPL matches.

Gurunath's lawyer PS Raman said: "We are exploring all legal possibilities. We are waiting for the remand report before reading the charges against him."

Srinivasan had not commented in public since the reports first emerged on Wednesday that his son-in-law was linked to the IPL scandal, but after the arrest he maintained he would not resign as BCCI president. "I have done nothing wrong," he told NDTV. "I am not resigning, the board is largely supportive of me."

Gurunath's connection to Super Kings was the subject of dispute through the day. He was the public face of the franchise, his Twitter handle said he was the "team principal", he was seen as Super Kings' representative at auctions and at IPL owners' meetings. Yet on Friday evening India Cements, the owners of the franchise and of which Srinivasan is the managing director, said Gurunath was only an honorary member of the team management.

The implications of Gurunath's arrest involve both Super Kings, who have qualified for the final to be played on May 26, and Srinivasan.

His arrest brings into question Super Kings' participation in the final - under IPL rules, the BCCI-IPL can terminate a franchise agreement "with immediate effect if: c) The Franchise, any Franchise Group Company and/ or any owner acts in any way which has a material adverse effect upon the reputation or standing of the League, BCCI-IPL, BCCI, the Franchise, the team (or any other team in the League) and/ or the game of cricket."

More importantly, and with wider implication, Srinivasan's position within the BCCI is likely to be under serious threat - not only because Meiyappan happens to be his son-in-law but because Srinivasan heads India Cements, who are owners of the Super Kings. The conflict of interest that arises from Srinivasan's dual position as BCCI president and de facto owner of an IPL franchise now has a serious immediate implication: he will, as board president, have to oversee any disciplinary action against either Gurunath or the franchise. 

Ind vs WI: Munaf in as India elect to bowl against West Indies

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to bowl against West Indies in the third and final Test of the series at Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica.

India made one change to the playing XI that drew the second Test in Barbados last Sunday.

Munaf Patel returns from a lingering elbow injury and replaces fellow seamer Abhimanyu Mithun.

West Indies made two changes, with batsmen Lendl Simmons and Ramnaresh Sarwan losing their places due to poor form.

Kieran Powell, a 21-year-old left-hander from Nevis, comes in for Simmons at the top of the order, while Edwards, a right-hander from Barbados, takes Sarwan's spot.

The Indians, who are ranked the top Test side in the world, lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test by 63 runs inside four days at Sabina Park in Jamaica. They also had the better part of the rain-hit second Test in Barbados which finished in a draw.

Out of form young batsmen seem to be India's only concern as they aim to sign off their Caribbean sojourn on a high by clinching the final Test.

The West Indies bowling in this series so far has been extremely testing, especially the pace. They've made the Indian batsman wince at the prospect of facing the new ball and have steadfastly maintained that short-pitched bowling is the correct way to cause any disorder in the Indian camp.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Abhinav Mukund, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma.

West Indies: Darren Sammy (Capt.), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh, Devendra Bishoo, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Fidel Edwards, Kirk Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Marlon Samuels.

Danbury boxer Rodriguez set for July 15 bout in New York City

KERHONKSON, N.Y. -- The Catskill Mountains sure are beautiful this time of year, but Delvin Rodriguez didn't drive all the way up here to admire the scenic views.

Rodriguez, a 31-year-old boxer who was born in the Dominican Republic, grew up in Danbury and sharpened his skills at the Hat City Boxing Club, is here for one reason -- to work.

And work.

And work some more.

Rodriguez's next bout will be a 10-round, junior-middleweight battle against Pawel Wolak on July 15 at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City. The fight will be the main event on ESPN's Friday Night Fights.

And Rodriguez, a one-time welterweight world-title contender, knows he'll be ready when the bell rings. He has spent the last month living and training at a secluded camp in the Catskills, a good two hours away from Danbury, to prepare for this fight.

The cabin that serves as Rodriguez's training facility is equipped with all the necessities to train a fighter -- a boxing ring, a timer, various punching bags and a few other tools of the trade.

The determination it takes to win, well, Rodriguez has supplied that himself.

"I have nothing to think about but boxing, all day, every day," Rodriguez said as he sat on the cabin's front porch following a sparring match. "It's a great get-away for the fight, great preparation."

And it's anything but a vacation.

"It's non-stop," he said. "I get up at 5 in the morning, do my running, some exercise and shadow boxing. And rest, of course. Rest is maybe even more important than training. You have to let your body recuperate. So I rest, and then in the afternoon I come in and I train and do the boxing part. And when I am resting and sitting in the house, I'm watching his fights and just thinking about the fight.

"That's the tough part about boxing, it's the training and the discipline you have to have," Rodriguez continued. "Half of my year, I'm in camp. I go back home for a couple months and come right back to camp. This is like my second home, really. It's definitely tough. I have a 9-year-old and, of course, he wants to be doing stuff with me.

"There are days here where you get up and you don't want to be here," added Rodriguez, who also does work for ESPN Deportes. "That's when you have to breathe hard and think about the fight and say `Hey, it's going to pay off after.'"

And Rodriguez will have an old friend in his corner for this fight, as Fernely Feliz -- another Dominican-born fighter who trained at Danbury's Hat City Boxing Club back in the day -- is Rodriguez's trainer.

I play for India and not for captains, says Yuvraj

KOLKATA: Rubbishing rumours that he refused to play under the leadership of co-player Suresh Raina, Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh Wednesday said he plays for India and not for captains of the cricket team.

"The question is totally baseless. I was badly ill. I have started training. It is totally baseless that I have denied playing under Suresh Raina. I play for India and my team, and not for any captain," said said Yuvraj while addressing a programme of 'Emotional Atyachaar - Season 3' here.

After he was dropped from the West Indies tour on medical grounds, there has been a buzz that Yuvraj has refused to play under the leadership of Raina who is junior to him in terms of experience and years of international cricket.

"I have played under Sourav, MS Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir. I have played under so many captains. And Gautam and MS came to the team five years after I got included in the team. There has been no such thing. I play for my country and not for captains," said Yuvraj.

Yuvraj also expressed his disappointment over being all alone during the tough times of his international career.

"In these ten years of international cricket, I have learnt many things that when you are successful and you are in limelight there are many people beside you. But when there are tough times, only near and dear ones stand beside you, otherwise you are all alone," said Yuvraj when asked whether the World Cup success has matured him more as human being.

Asked if there is a tussle going on between him and Salman Khan as both of them are the most eligible bachelors of the country, Yuvraj said: "I don't know what to say on that. I think he is the most eligible because he is a rock star. First, let him get married then I will also marry."

Sania Mirza crashes out of Wimbledon

NEW DELHI: India's Sania Mirza crashed out of Wimbledon after losing to Virginie Razzano of France 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in the first round on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old Hyderabadi had met 96th-ranked Razzano only once in 2007 at Los Angeles where also she had lost to her in straight sets.

The Indian has never moved beyond the second round, reaching the stage four times. Now for Sania, the doubles, however, will be her best chance to have a crack at the title.

Ind vs WI: West Indies on top after 1st day against India

KINGSTON: Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh struck flamboyant half-centuries, yet India endured a rocky start to the first Test against West Indies on Monday.

Raina hit the top score of 82, and Harbhajan supported with 70, as the Indians, electing to bat, were dismissed for 246 in their first innings about 45 minutes after tea on an action-packed first day at Sabina Park.

Ishant Sharma then set West Indies back with the scalp of Lendl Simmons for three, as the home team reached 34 for one at stumps.

Sharma had Simmons caught at forward short leg off the inside edge, as West Indies faced a difficult 1½ hours before the close.

Raina pummelled 15 fours from 115 balls in just over 2¾ hours, and Harbhajan smote 10 fours and one six from 74 balls in just over two hours.

They propped up the innings with a seventh wicket stand of 146, after the visitors ran into trouble on 85 for six in the first 15 minutes after lunch.

The World No. 1 however, then lost their last four wickets cheaply.

Fidel Edwards, making a return to the international game after a two-year injury layoff, was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, finishing with four for 56 from 16 overs, justifying his selection ahead of Kemar Roach.

Ravi Rampaul ended with three for 59 from 18.2 overs, and leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo captured three for 75 from 11 overs.

Before lunch, India failed to justify their decision to bat, limping to 69 for four.

The Indians were rocked early on, when Murali Vijay was caught at backward point for eight slicing a drive off Rampaul, who also bowled debutant left-hander Abhinav Mukund off the inside edge for 11.

VVS Laxman joined Rahul Dravid, and stemmed the fall of wickets for close to an hour, but he was caught at slip for 12 off the first delivery from Bishoo, edging a loose drive, and leaving the visitors on 64 for three.

The rot continued when Virat Kohli, another Test newcomer, was caught behind for four, playing defensively forward to Edwards in the final over before the interval.

We can beat India, says Windies skipper Sammy

KINGSTON (Jamaica): World number one they might be but India are a depleted side right now and West Indies skipper Darren Sammy says this, along with favourable home conditions, gives his team the belief that upstaging the visitors is not that tough a task.

"It's been the pitch that suits our style...it's not where the ball would spin past the bat and better firepower (in the bowling) always has the best chance against the Indians," remarked an assured Sammy ahead of the first Test on Monday.

West Indies have four fast bowlers, including Sammy, at their command though the skipper wasn't going to tell if Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Fidel Edwards would all play.

All he would say is that the bouncy pitch should work to his team's advantage.

"We expect our batsmen to be more confident. They would have much more time and patience is required. When we chased down 250 here (in the last one-day international), we had a game plan. Unlike previous games, the ball wasn't spinning past the bat. It suited our batsmen and I expect them to be confident," he said.

"I think our batters prefer their chances against (Indian) bowlers. It is not to underestimate their bowling. It was bouncing in the last one-day game and we managed to restrict them. In Test cricket you need to have lot of runs, wickets and patience. Hopefully we would do it and come out victorious," he added.

But when it came to fielding, Sammy struck a cautionary note, mindful that his side has been dropping catches by dozens in Tests lately.

"In any cricket, there is a saying that catches win matches. We didn't do well against Pakistan and as you would've noticed, there is a lot more stress on slip-catching, bat-pad catches and those sort of things and the guys looked good," he said.

Sammy said a total of 300 should be a good enough first innings total on the hard and bouncy Sabina Park pitch.

"Against England here, two years ago, they made 300 in the first innings and lost. Australia made 250 and managed to beat us by 60 runs.

"If we can restrict them to below 300 and take a good lead, it would be good," he said.

Indeed, West Indies could have an issue in short-listing their 11 for the Test and calls to the radio networks were questioning if Sammy deserved to hold his place in the team.

"The rule, since I played Test cricket, was to understand my role as a stock bowler. Every time I play cricket, I try to fulfill the role which has been passed on to me by my team and do it to the best of my ability.

"Throughout my career, I have bowled with the same pace and more frequently than not, I have managed to do it for the West Indies."

Sammy has picked up 39 wickets from his 13 Tests and bowled his medium-pacers at a good economy rate of 2.82 runs per over. But his batting has been disappointing as only 379 runs have accrued from 22 innings at 17.23 with not a single half century to his credit.

"Playing as an all-rounder, you want to contribute and I haven't batted that well. It's a good time to start putting runs on the board."

Sammy says he sees promise in his young batters, who would bag the first three spots in the line up.

"Barath got a century in his first Test and usually if he is past his 50, he has the mental capability to go on. Young (Darren) Bravo struck form in last one-day game. His Test record is very good," he said.

"We may be short on experience but the guys are capable to do the job required."

Sammy believes the critical Jamaican crowd would inspire them to a better performance.

"We have always done well in Jamaica. The crowd here is very critical. If you are not doing well, they would let you know," he said.

"The guys have it at the back of their mind; there are constant reminders from the crowd. If you are not in good position, the crowd will be on your back."

BCCI fears Modi role in Sri Lankan Premier League

NEW DELHI: The spectre of Lalit Modi continues to haunt the Indian cricket board. According to top sources, BCCI has refused to let Indian cricketers play in the upcoming Sri Lankan Premier League because it suspects that the former IPL czar is behind the new T20 league.

BCCI believes that the Singapore-based company, Somerset Entertainment Ventures Pvt Ltd (SEV), which has the contract to conduct the tournament, has links with Modi.

"We have indications that Modi is behind the Lankan league. A lot of his men who worked in IPL are now involved in managing this league through SEV," a top BCCI official said.

BCCI sources told TOI on Sunday that Indian cricketers were earlier given the go-ahead because the Sri Lankan board had claimed it was their own event. But with the involvement of a private party which the BCCI thinks is guided by Modi, the situation is different, they said.

BCCI's move runs the risk of retaliation in kind by the Sri Lankan board, which may stop its players from playing in IPL. But such is the reaction to anything seen as connected with Modi that the board is willing to take that risk.

BCCI claims that while the Sri Lankan board was yet to approach it formally, some Indian players have already signed contracts. This, BCCI thinks, also suggests that a private body was involved in roping in players for SLCL.

Contacted by TOI, Modi denied any links with the new league. "Amazing. What will they come up with next? Imaginations do run wild in BCCI nowadays," he said.

"I really have no idea who is behind it. If there are people working in IPL and are working behind the scenes, then it must be with someone high up with BCCI's blessing. If I was to be behind a league, then it won't be just mere speculation. Everyone will know I'm behind it," Modi said.

The former IPL czar found it "amazing" that BCCI could demand that Lankan cricketers play in IPL while refusing to release its own players to the Lankan league. "This, when that country has gone out of its way to let its players play in the IPL at the cost of Lanka's tour to England. This should be a wake-up call for the rest of the world as to the true intentions of the current BCCI management. You can only bully so much then... someone will react."

Sri Lanka Cricket is reportedly hurt by BCCI's sudden move but is ready to explain the situation to the Indian board. "This tournament is approved by SLC. And Somerset is the marketing arm, having won the rights through a tender process. Nobody can say it is owned by Somerset," SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga said.

"We need to explain the matter to BCCI and whatever the concerns that they have, we need to give them an explanation. It is very important to have Indian players play in the event as they will add a lot of value and glamour to the tournament," Ranatunga added.

The SLPL will be played between July 19 and August 4 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Several foreign players including Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Shahid Afridi, Daniel Vettori, Kevin O'Brien and Herschelle Gibbs have already signed up.

The Indian players keen on playing in the league are Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Manoj Tiwary, Saurabh Tiwary, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Manish Pandey and Paul Valthaty.