Henrik Zetterberg had two goals and two assists, leading the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in a preseason game Saturday night. Mikael Samuelsson had a goal and three assists for the Red Wings (3-1-0). Sidney Crosby had two assists for the Penguins (1-1-2). The matchup completed a home-and-home series on consecutive nights between teams that will not play in the…
Alexander Semin broke a tie early in the second period, lifting the Washington Capitals to a 2-1 preseason victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. Semin broke free near the Tampa Bay net and redirected a pass from Nicklas Backstrom past goalie Johan Holmqvist at the 1:41 mark. Washington left wing David Steckel opened the scoring 7:46 into the game, deflecting John Erskine’s…
The Oakland Raiders released veteran wide receiver Travis Taylor on Saturday, ending a brief relationship with the former first-round draft pick. Taylor, who signed with the Raiders on May 22 after spending two seasons in Minnesota, played in just one game for Oakland this season and did not have a catch.
Any Given Saturday delivered an expected win at Belmont Park, while a few surprises popped up in the Super Derby and the MassCap. After a tangled start, Any Given Saturday powered on for a 2 1/2 -length victory over Tasteyville in the $154,200 Brooklyn Handicap on Saturday, and looks to be one of the top contenders for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in five weeks.
Polesitter Travis Kvapil broke away from a tight pack with four laps to go and held on Saturday night to win the Smith’s Las Vegas 350, while former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve was 21st in his Craftsman Truck Series debut.
Finland’s Mika Kallio won the 250cc race at the Grand Prix of Japan on Sunday, denying polesitter Shuhei Aoyama a victory on home soil. Kallio, riding a KTM, raced to his first victory of the season, beating Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso of Italy by 4.893 seconds in the 23-lap race on the three-mile Motegi circuit.
Hand-held noisemakers were the promotional giveaway Saturday at Dolphin Stadium, which allowed the many transplanted New Yorkers in the stands to create quite a din for their first-place Mets. Buoyed by the support, the Mets strengthened their hold on the NL East by beating the Florida Marlins 7-2. “It’s a great feeling when you go on the road and have so many fans pulling for you,” Mets slugger…
Barry Bonds insists he holds no ill will toward the Giants. A day after they announced he wouldn’t be back next season, Bonds said his 15 years in San Francisco were the best of his life and that he’s ready to move on to another team. “I can walk out of here with my head high and I’m very proud,” Bonds said Saturday.
The Philadelphia Phillies now have Superman and the Tooth Fairy on their side — as if the New York Mets didn’t have enough to worry about. The annual end-of-year hazing, when rookies have to wear silly costumes in the clubhouse, had a bit more jocularity than usual Friday night after the Phillies beat the Washington Nationals 6-3.
