BOSTON (AP) - The Boston Bruins blew out the Vancouver Canucks
8-1 last night to pull within two games to one in the Stanley Cup
finals. Mark Recchi (REHK'-ee) scored twice and Michael Ryder added
a goal and two assists while the Bruins were scoring four times in
both the second and third periods. Tim Thomas stopped 40 shots and
was perfect until Jannik (YAN'-ihk) Hansen scored with 6:07
remaining.
BOSTON (AP) - Boston Bruins forward Nathan Horton was taken off
the ice on a stretcher, strapped to a backboard, after a
frightening collision with Canucks defenseman Aaron Rome. Horton
had just passed the puck at the Vancouver blue line when Rome left
his feet to deliver a hard shoulder check to Horton's upper chest
and head. The team announced that Horton was transported to
Massachusetts General Hospital and was moving his arms and legs.
UNDATED (AP) - The 2004 Bowl Championship Series championship is
now vacant after Southern California was stripped of the crown
yesterday. The BCS waited to make a decision on the championship
until USC appealed the NCAA sanctions, which included a two-year
ban from postseason play and a loss of 30 scholarships over three
seasons. The NCAA ruled that star tailback Reggie Bush received
improper extra benefits during those seasons and was ineligible
when he played.
ROME, N.Y. (AP) - The agent for Plaxico Burress (PLEK'-sih-koh
BUR'-ihs) says the wide receiver hopes to return to the NFL again
after serving 20 months in jail for illegally carrying and firing a
gun at a Manhattan nightclub. Burress was released three months
early for good behavior.
NEW YORK (AP) - UCLA pitcher Gerrit (GEHR'-iht) Cole is property
of the Pittsburgh Pirates after being taken as the first overall
pick of the major league draft yesterday. Cole was just 6-8 with a
3.31 ERA, but has what many consider the best pure stuff in the
draft. Seattle chose Virginia junior lefty Danny Hultzen with the
second selection, and UCLA hurler Trevor Bauer went third overall
to Arizona.
