Day: April 17, 2017

Penguins beat Blue Jackets 5-4 in OT to take 3-0 series lead (Sports Betting News)Penguins beat Blue Jackets 5-4 in OT to take 3-0 series lead (Sports Betting News)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Jake Guentzel, center, celebrates his game-winning goal with teammates Olli Maatta, left to right, of Finland, Sidney Crosby, Conor Sheary, and Trevor Daley against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the first overtime period in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series, Sunday, April 16, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. The Penguins defeated the Blue Jackets 5-4. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

With help from Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and the defending champion Pittsburgh Penguins are on the verge of sweeping their opening playoff series against Columbus. Crosby played keep-away with three Blue Jackets players behind the net before passing the puck to a perfectly positioned Guentzel in front during overtime on Sunday night. The 22-year-old rookie capped his hat trick by slipping it past Sergei Bobrovsky at 13:10 of the extra period for a 5-4 win and a 3-0 advantage for Pittsburgh in the playoff series.

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Bulls top Celtics 106-102; Thomas plays after sister’s death (Sports Betting News)Bulls top Celtics 106-102; Thomas plays after sister’s death (Sports Betting News)

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 16: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls waited until the final night of the regular season to cement their spot in the postseason. Jimmy Butler made sure the wait for a playoff victory was a short one. Butler had 30 points and nine rebounds and the Bulls outlasted top-seeded Boston 106-102 in Game 1 on Sunday on an emotional night for grieving Celtics star Isaiah Thomas.

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Bulls top Celtics 106-102; Thomas plays after sister’s death (Sports Betting News)Bulls top Celtics 106-102; Thomas plays after sister’s death (Sports Betting News)

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 16: Jimmy Butler #21 of the Chicago Bulls shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during the Eastern Conference Quarter-finals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 16, 2017 at TD Garden in Boston, MA. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls waited until the final night of the regular season to cement their spot in the postseason. Jimmy Butler made sure the wait for a playoff victory was a short one. Butler had 30 points and nine rebounds and the Bulls outlasted top-seeded Boston 106-102 in Game 1 on Sunday on an emotional night for grieving Celtics star Isaiah Thomas.

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Day after sister’s death, Isaiah Thomas plays for Celtics (Sports Betting News)Day after sister’s death, Isaiah Thomas plays for Celtics (Sports Betting News)

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 10: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on April 10, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Isaiah Thomas took the floor to a deafening cheer for the Boston Celtics’ playoff opener against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, just a day after his sister was killed in a car accident. It was part of an emotional night for All-Star point guard who had 33-point, six assists and five rebounds in a 106-102 Game 1 loss to the Bulls. The Celtics held a pregame moment of silence for Chyna Thomas, who died early Saturday in a one-car interstate accident in their home state of Washington.

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