Update on the latest sports

NHL PLAYOFFS-SCHEDULE

Killorn, Kucherov pace Lightning’s 6-2 rout of Panthers

UNDATED (AP) — Alex Killorn scored a pair of second-period goals and Tampa Bay rebounded from its first postseason loss to rout the Florida Panthers 6-2. The win gave the Lightning a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Central Division playoff matchup.

The reigning Stanley Cup champions pushed their intrastate rivals to the brink of elimination by scoring three first-period goals, then building their advantage to 5-1 when Killorn beat goalie Sergei Bobrovsky twice in a span of 94 seconds to break the game open.

Nikita Kucherov (KOO’-cheh-rahv) had a goal and three assists, while Andrei Vasilevskiy (va-sih-LEHV’-skee) stopped 39 of 41 shots for the Lightning.

In other playoff action:

— Ilya Sorokin stopped 29 shots, Oliver Wahlstrom and Ryan Pulock each had a goal and an assist and the New York Islanders beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 in Game 4 Saturday to even the first-round series. Josh Bailey and Jordan Eberle also scored for New York. Tristan Jarry had 23 saves for Pittsburgh, and drew mocking chants of “Jar-ry! Jar-ry!” from Islanders fans. Game 5 is Monday night in Pittsburgh, and Game 6 back at Nassau Coliseum on Wednesday.

NHL-NEWS

Tavares has concussion, knee injury; likely to miss series

UNDATED (AP) — Toronto captain John Tavares is probably going to miss the rest of the Maple Leafs’ first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens after sustaining a concussion and a knee injury in Game 1.

General manager Kyle Dubas said Saturday that there is no structural damage to the head, neck or spine after the center took an accidental knee to the face from Canadiens forward Corey Perry. Dubas indicated the knee issue is expected to keep Tavares out of the lineup at least two weeks.

The best-of-seven series runs through May 31. Tavares’ availability for the rest of the postseason is uncertain if the Maple Leafs advance.

In other NHL news:

— Carolina forward Jordan Staal has been fined $5,000 for what the NHL called a dangerous trip on Nashville’s Luke Kunin (KUH’-nihn). The fine is the maximum allowed under the labor agreement. It was announced hours after Nashville beat Carolina 5-4 in double overtime to pull within 2-1 of the Hurricanes in their first-round series. Staal’s penalty put the Predators on a 5-on-3. Nashville converted by scoring its lone power-play goal of the series.

HOCKEY-WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Defending champ Finland beats US 2-1 in world championship

RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Defending champion Finland beat the United States 2-1 on Saturday in their opening game in the world hockey championship.

Jason Robertson scored for the Americans, and Cal Petersen stopped 27 shots.

The U.S. will face Canada — a 2-0 loser to host Latvia on Friday — on Sunday.

NBA-PLAYOFFS-FIRST ROUND

Khris Middleton lifts Bucks past Heat in OT in Game 1

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Khris Middleton broke a tie with a jumper with 0.5 seconds left in overtime and had 27 points to help the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 109-107 Saturday in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.

Middleton was closely guarded by Duncan Robinson on the 19-footer. Miami’s Goran Dragic (GOHR’-uhn DRAH’-gich) had tied it with a corner 3-pointer with 20.6 seconds left in OT.

After Middleton’s shot, Jrue (droo) Holiday blocked a 3-point attempt from Jimmy Butler as the buzzer sounded. Game 2 is Monday night in Milwaukee.

Miami beat Milwaukee 4-1 in the second round last year and went on to reach the NBA Finals.

NBA PLAYOFFS-VIRUS RULES

NBA tells head coaches they can go without masks in games

UNDATED (AP) — Just in time for the playoffs, the NBA told its head coaches Saturday they may work without masks during games if they have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Miami’s Erik Spoelstra (SPOHL’-struh) and Milwaukee’s Mike Budenholzer quickly took advantage of the new guidance. Both ditched their masks for Game 1 of their series that started Saturday afternoon.

Assistant coaches and players will still be required to wear masks in the bench area. If opposing coaches choose to meet briefly on the court after a game, masks are encouraged.

Coaches will still need to participate in the NBA’s testing regimens.

Meanwhile, the NBA is going to see its largest crowds of the season during the playoffs. Milwaukee, Boston, New York, Atlanta and Utah all announced plans to increase crowd size.

MLB-SCHEDULE

Cole give Yanks best starters’ stretch since 1932, 7-0 win

NEW YORK (AP) — Gerrit Cole shook off rare control problems to pitch four-hit ball over seven innings and gave the Yankees their most dominant stretch of starting pitching in 89 years, leading New York over the Chicago White Sox 7-0 for a five-game winning streak.

Cole allowed four singles in seven innings, struck out seven and walked as many as three for the first time since Aug. 31.

Cole lowered his ERA to 1.81 and extended the scoreless streak by Yankees starters to 30 innings. The Yankees have four straight starts of seven shutout innings for the first time since May 11-16, 1932.

MLB-NEWS

Pirates’ Cahill lands on 10-day IL with left side discomfort

UNDATED (AP) — Pittsburgh right-hander Trevor Cahill was placed on the 10-day injured list with left side discomfort. Pirates manager Derek Shelton says Cahill “hadn’t seen a ton of improvement” since suffering the injury in Wednesday’s start against St. Louis. Cahill left the game against the Cardinals in the second inning. Shelton says no decision has been made on who will fill Cahill’s next scheduled start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. The 33-year-old Cahill is in his first season with the Pirates. Right-hander Kyle Crick was activated off the 10-day IL. Crick returns from a right triceps injury.

In other MLB news:

— Texas right-hander Kohei Arihara needs shoulder surgery and is expected to miss at least 12 weeks. Rangers general manager Chris Young says Arihara has an aneurysm in his pitching shoulder. Dr. Gregory Pearl, a vascular surgeon, is to repair the posterior circumflex humeral artery on Thursday in Dallas. Arihara has been on the 10-day injured list since May 9. and left-hander Hyeon-jong Yang has taken his place in exas rotation. Arihara threw a bullpen on May 17 but felt discomfort in the middle finger of his right hand.

— A milestone was reached in Major League Baseball during the San Diego Padres’ 16-1 blowout over Seattle on Friday night. When Mariners backup catcher José Godoy made his big league debut he became the 20,000th player in MLB history. The 26-year-old from Venezuela signed with St. Louis in 2011 and joined the Seattle system last winter. He grounded out and walked in his two plate appearances.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

Mickelson ahead by one after third round

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Phil Mickelson’s big lead has disappeared at the PGA Championship. The 50-year-old, five time major champion led by five shots after a birdie at No. 10.

However, a bogey on the 12th hole followed by a double on the 13th when he drove into the water had reduced his margin to a shot in front of Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen as they finish the third round Saturday.

Mickelson was threatening to turn this major into a runaway with his showing until his issues on the back nine. He is seeking his second PGA and sixth major championship. At 50, he would also become the oldest to win a major.

F1-MONACO GP

Ferrari’s Leclerc takes pole for Monaco GP, Verstappen 2nd

MONACO (AP) — Charles Leclerc has won the first pole for Ferrari since 2019 despite crashing with 18 seconds remaining to end qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Leclerc held the top spot at his home track until his Ferrari grazed a barrier to break a suspension piece. He then hopped a curb and crashed into another barrier to bring the qualifying session to an abrupt end.