One Win Away From the Stanley Cup Finals, B's Take Game 5, 3-1

One minute and nine seconds into the tilt, the Tampa Bay Lightning lit the lamp. Simon Gagne was fed on a one-timer by Steve Stamkos that he slipped by Boston goalie Tim Thomas and through the legs of defender Johnny Boychuk.

The Bruins tied it up 7 shots later--which took them almost 25 minutes of hockey--with an absolute laser off the stick of Nathan Horton. The B's only managed 19 shots on the entire night, but scored 3 times to take Game 5, 3-1.

Brad Marchand took a pass from Patrice Bergeron that skimmed just in front of Mike Smith, and tossed it top shelf to take the lead, 2-1. With under a minute to go, Rich Peverley broke out down the ice to lock the game up with an empty-net goal.

Tim Thomas, brilliant again with 33 saves on the night, made one of the best saves of the entire season. The puck was launched off of Steve Downie's stick with about 11 minutes to go in the third period, but just in the nick of time, Thomas reached out with his stick as the puck dinged off of the left pipe and slapped it out of the fray.

The Bruins took Game 5 in front of 17,500 at the TD Garden, and are one win away from their first Stanley Cup finals berth since 1990. The Vancouver Canucks are also a win away from the Finals, and will host the San Jose Sharks tonight for Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals will be from the St. Pete Times Forum Wednesday night.

Go B's.

Sox Fall to the Tribe - Again

(AP Photo: Mark Duncan)

Clay Buchholz and Justin Masterson matched up beautifully Monday night both going at least 7 innings, but neither of them factored in the decision. Daniel Bard came on in relief in the bottom of the 8th at Progressive Field in Cleveland, only to give up a double to Michael Brantley for the game-tying run, followed by another double off the bat of the white-hot Asdrubal Cabrera to slam the door, 3-2.

The Red Sox have won 7 of their last 9, and were leading for most of this game thanks to a solo home run hit by Carl Crawford in the fifth, his second of the year.

Buchholz took the mound tonight, giving up 4 hits and two earned runs over 7 and 1/3 innings and receiving his second straight no decision. Masterson's line was eerily similar, going 7 and 2/3 innings.

First pitch was at 8:10pm, an hour later than scheduled due to some passing showers over the ballpark, but once it was underway, the game took less than 3 hours.

Adrian Gonzalez continued his tear with a single tonight in a 1-3 performance including a walk, putting his batting average to .342. Kevin Youkilis' hit streak was snapped at 10 games tonight, going 0-3.

Scary moment in the top of the 8th when Dustin Pedroia, attempting to round 2nd base turned his left ankle, and had to exit the game. He was reluctant to put pressure down on the ankle, which he has had problems with in the past, including last season when he missed most of the final three months of the season. No word yet on the severity of the injury.

With the loss, Bard falls to 1-4 on the season and gets his second blown save. Since 2009, Bard only has 4 other losses, and is looking to figure out how to get back on the right track as quickly as possible. Bobby Jenks, similarly terrible this year, threw a 26-pitch bullpen session, and is looking to get his first action in a rehab start in the coming week.

Sox take on the Indians tomorrow night at 7:10pm from Progressive Field. With the win tonight, Cleveland moves to 30-15 on the year, and 8-2 against the AL East thus far.

Classic

Everyone loves dogs. Not everyone loves when they do that hyper move that involves them doing the NFL Combine shuttle run across your living room, but all that aside, dogs are awesome.

Did this dog deserve what was coming to him? Probably, but he was unharmed, so there's no reason for worry.

Bruins Played 20 Minutes of Hockey

Last night’s Dunkin Donuts ‘Play for the Boston Bruins’ sweepstakes was ill-timed, as the bruins dropped Game 4 to even the series...wait, what? Oh, those were the real Bruins who played? Even the 2nd and 3rd periods?

Ah, well, one way or the other, the Lightning evened the Eastern Conference Finals at 2 games apiece by winning Game Four 5-3, with the next game coming Monday night in Boston.

Bergeron chalked up two goals, both on turnovers from the Lightning, with Ryder adding the other goal. The Lightning stormed back to score three in the second period, two of which came within two minutes of each other, both scored by Teddy Purcell. The Bolts would tack on one more, and then an empty net goal with under a minute to go, sealing the victory.

Like I said in the last post, this series is definitely going 7 games. It has to, these teams are just too damn good.

It's God-Given

For all you kids out there who want to be big major league stars, just listen to Domingo. He teaches the basic fundamentals of hitting for average in a few very easy steps. Inside pitches, outside pitches and bunting. Classic.

"It's hitting for average, you can't put it in my wheelhouse, I hit a bomb!"

I think the best part about this video, and the numerous other videos he's made, is that he's clearly a nasty ballplayer. When he explains hitting a home run, it gets even better. Fundamentals, all day, hahaha.

Big Day for Boston

Bruins are in the first period of Game 4, leading the Lightning in the series 2 game to 1, and the Sox are turning back the clocks tonight against the Cubs, sporting uniforms from 1918.

Just so everyone knows, I will not be covering the Rapture. I was considering a live blog, but its just not in the cards.

BRUINS SCORE, PATRICE BERGERON, 1-0 BRUINS, LET'S GOOOOOOO

If the Bruins take this game, I think they'll easily sit atop the Eastern Conference in a few days, awaiting the Canucks (or

2-0 BRUINS, THEY STRIKE AGAIN. GOOOOOAAAAAAAAL. Chris Kelly poke checks the puck back into the Bruins offensive zone, picked up by Michael Ryder, who takes it down short side and

AGAIN! PATRICE BERGERON WITH THE UNASSISTED GOAL OFF THE TURNOVER! SHORTHANDED GOAL, 3-0 BRUINS!

In case anyone is wondering, I'm watching the Bruins game while attempting to write this post, and the Bruins are just going off right now. As I was saying, Ryder took the puck down, went to pass and it deflected off a stick and floated into the back of the net.

As for that last goal, Bergeron just straight up mugged the puck from Stamkos and lit the lap through Roloson's 5-hole. I'm going to continue to watch the game, and if you're reading, do the same.

Go B's. Go Sox.

"Macho Man' Randy Savage Dead at 58

No more flying elbows off the turnbuckles. No more Slim Jim commercials. No more Hulk Hogan beatdowns.

Macho Man Randy Savage died in a car accident yesterday afternoon at the age of 58. The wrestling community would not be what it is today without this man. In 1999, he defeated Bulls superstar Dennis Rodman in the ring, he won 4 heavyweight WCW titles and is a recognized face and name even to those who do not appreciate professional wrestling.

Savage played four years of minor league baseball before becoming a wrestler in 1985, and was son to a father who completed 6.033 sit-ups in four hours.

What Macho Man did for wrestling will never be forgotten, and neither will his performances in the ring. Rest in peace, Randy.