Eric Staal nets 400th goal, and why stop there?Eric Staal nets 400th goal, and why stop there?
The Minnesota center is showing exactly zero signs of slowing down in his 15th NHL campaign.
Day: November 4, 2018
Sabres, high-powered offense visit RangersSabres, high-powered offense visit Rangers
Thanks to the NHL’s schedulemaker, the Buffalo Sabres won’t have much time to revel in their biggest offensive outburst in almost a decade. The Sabres play the second game of a back-to-back set Sunday night, when they visit the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The Sabres throttled
Peter Uihlein chases destiny amongst winners at Shriners Hospitals for Children OpenPeter Uihlein chases destiny amongst winners at Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
LAS VEGAS – It wasn’t supposed to take this long for Peter Uihlein to hold his first 54-hole lead on the PGA TOUR. Heck, it wasn’t supposed to take this long for him to be a regular on the PGA TOUR. But for the third straight day he finds himself in at least a share of the lead at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open chasing a win that many had expected would come earlier. Uihlein is a former world No. 1 amateur who grew up in and around the game of golf with his father Wally being the CEO of the Acushnet Company (comprises Titleist, Footjoy, Pinnacle and Scotty Cameron brands). He won the U.S. Amateur in 2010 and the predictions of a long and storied successful TOUR career came thick and fast. But it didn’t pan out that way and some eight years later the now 29-year-old sleeps on the brink of his big moment. Instead of earning his way on the PGA TOUR as a youngster Uihlein battled first through Europe’s secondary Challenge Tour before moving on to the European Tour. A win at the 2013 Madeira Islands Open secured a place there but he always envisaged a crack at his home TOUR. It wasn’t until a handful of starts in the 2016-17 season earned him enough non-member points to play the Web.com Tour finals that his chance would be realized. Uihlein won the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship and graduated. Last season he finished 64th in the FedExCup with three fifth place finishes his best efforts. Now he has his best look at a win but he must do so while surrounded by players who have already tasted PGA TOUR success and as such may face less nerves on Sunday. “This is all a step in the right direction of where I want to get to. If I want to become a top player in the world, win tournaments, this is what you got to do,â€� Uihlein said. “You have got to get yourself in contention in the final group on Sunday. I’m looking forward to it and should be a lot of the fun.â€� Tied with Uihlein at the top is Bryson DeChambeau who is already a four-time winner including three wins in 2018. DeChambeau backed up his win at The Memorial Tournament with victory in the opening two FedExCup Playoff events. As such he has huge confidence he can make it career win No. 5 at TPC Summerlin. “Knowing that if I can just stay in it and keep executing great shots every single time, I’m going to be tough to beat. That’s just the way it is,â€� DeChambeau said. “I’m striking it really well right now, and I think people know it. Next in line is Lucas Glover, starting one back. His resume has three wins on it, one of which is the 2009 U.S. Open. While he hasn’t won on TOUR since the Wells Fargo Championship in 2011 Glover was third at TPC Summerlin just two years ago having held the 54-hole lead. “I like it here. You got to drive it pretty good and you got to hit your numbers,â€� Glover said. “If I’m striking my irons well I tend to do that. Par-5s are all draw tee shots if you choose, and that’s good for me. Just one of those courses that feel good when I drive up every day, so it’s good.â€� Tied in fourth place and just two back are defending champion Patrick Cantlay and Robert Streb. Cantlay is buoyed by his efforts 12 months ago while Streb won The RSM Classic in 2015 and as such also holds experience to pull from. “It’s great to be around a place that you have good memories from. I think that’s a big thing out here,â€� Cantlay said. “Also knowing where to hit it, where to miss it, and where your ball is going to be no matter what shot you hit. That’s important. And I feel comfortable around here. Looking forward to tomorrow.â€� Rounding out the top six on the leaderboard is Cameron Champ. Last week’s winner at the Sanderson Farms Championship is just three off the pace. That experience, where he lost a four-shot cushion before storming home to win by as many, has him primed for the chase. “To be able to do what I did down the stretch … just the experience alone for me will help,â€� Champ said. “It was the first time in that situation for me, and the same thing this week (trying to back up a win). “I’m trying to just blur everything out and just focus on this event. Feel like I’ve done that well the first three days, and tomorrow just go for it.â€� One thing is clear given the talent up top. If Uihlein does prevail he certainly will have earned it.
DeChambeau, Uihlein share lead in Las VegasDeChambeau, Uihlein share lead in Las Vegas
Bryson DeChambeau birdied four of the last six holes Saturday for a share of the lead with Peter Uihlein in the Shriners Hospitals For Children Open.
DeChambeau fires up late to join lead at Shriners Hospitals for Children OpenDeChambeau fires up late to join lead at Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
LAS VEGAS — Notes and observations from the third round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open at TPC Summerlin where Bryson DeChambeau and Peter Uihlein head to Sunday tied for the lead. LEADING LIGHTS Bryson DeChambeau knew he needed to make something happen late Saturday if he was serious about winning in Las Vegas. While playing steady to be sitting two under on his round through 12 holes the four-time PGA TOUR winner was frustrated. He walked off the 12th hole having missed a five-foot birdie try and a glance at the leaderboard saw him now three shots off the lead, shots in his head he had left out there over his opening 48 holes. He figured he better shake it off and deliver. “I’ve had three three-putts and missed a numerous amounts of putts inside 10 feet (nine of them) this week,â€� he explained. “It is what it is and that’s golf. You’re not going to have everything every week. I’m always a guy trying to strive for the best, and, yeah, I’m going to get frustrated. That’s just who I am. That’s my nature. Got a little fire in me.â€� The fire worked. DeChambeau birdied four of his closing six holes to grab a share of the 54-hole lead with Peter Uihlein. Come Sunday the two former U.S. Amateur winners will play with a former U.S. Open champion in Lucas Glover in the final group. Uihlein is chasing his first PGA TOUR win. “Tomorrow will be exciting. Depending on the weather, if it’s windy could be tricky again. If not I think you can get after it. It will be a bit of a shootout,â€� Uihlein said “Definitely looking forward if. I’m excited.â€� OBSERVATIONS GLOVER GOES LOW: Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover had a chance to win the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open two years ago when he held the 54-hole lead only to fade to third. He’s hoping he can exact some revenge Sunday after producing a blistering 10-under 61 in the third round, punctuated by an eagle putt from 41 feet, six inches from the fringe on his final hole. Having started on the 10th hole with a bogey it was an incredible effort of two eagles and seven birdies that left him at 15 under, just one shot behind the leaders. He needed just 26 putts, making 155 feet, 11 inches of them – a mark that doesn’t include his above eagle try as it is classed as a chip in statistically. “Just one of those days. Holed it like a bucket. But I made it look like a bucket, which feels good, too,â€� Glover said. “I just need to do what I’ve been doing… be smart where I need to be smart and be aggressive where I can and make some putts. That’s always the key for me… putt well and confidently.â€� CANTLAY BACK NINE BLITZES: Defending champion Patrick Cantlay is not prepared to give up his title without a solid fight and if he sits close to the lead at the turn Sunday he might just have an edge. Cantlay’s 8-under 63 on Saturday rocketed him back into contention at 14 under, just two shots from the lead and tied fourth. The key to his week has been the final nine holes of TPC Summerlin where he is bogey free and 12 under compared to just two under on the front side. “There’s a couple of par-5s and the drivable 4 so it’s gettable,â€� Cantlay said of the home stretch. “I kind of botched the front side the first two days. Played much better on the front side today. Still haven’t got at 9 (par-5) any day, which is obviously not good. “Patience is always good but you still need to be aggressive. I’m going to continue that mindset tomorrow and try and get hot early and keep it going.â€� VARNER III TAKES PENALTY ON THE CHIN: Harold Varner III thought he’d be chasing his first PGA TOUR title from three shots back but a moving ball penalty pushed him four off the pace. Varner was settling in to his approach from the fairway on the 11th hole when his ball moved during his waggle process. He was looking at the target when it moved but called in an official after noticing the ball had shifted. Initially Varner believed he hadn’t grounded his club and was cleared of any wrongdoing but video replay of the incident confirmed he had and a penalty was assessed post-round leaving him with a 2-under 69 to be 12 under and four back. Varner accepted the decision after seeing the footage. “I didn’t think I grounded my club but the video showed I did,â€� Varner explained. “It is what it is. We got tomorrow and I am super excited about another opportunity.â€� SI WOO KIM ADVENTURES: Former PLAYERS Champion Si Woo Kim had quite the adventurous third round. The Korean opened with five straight birdies before a wild drive on the par-4 6th hole went out of bounds and he muffed two chips to post a quintuple bogey nine. A hole later his driver was broken yet he managed to play the final 11 holes without it in two under. “Seven birdies, no bogeys… two under… that’s golf,â€� he shrugged as he came off the 18th hole. QUOTABLES Probably would’ve gone in a thimble.Have a fun night and play a little bit better tomorrow, that’s for sure. See if we can at least post something low and see what happens.If I can just stay in it and keep executing great shots every single time… I’m going to be tough to beat. That’s just the way it is. SUPERLATIVES Low round: 10-under 61 by Lucas Glover. Two eagles, seven birdies and one bogey. Longest drive: 373 yards – Peter Malnati and Seth Reeves both on the par-5 13th. Longest putt: 45 feet, 9 inches – Lucas Glover. Toughest hole: Par-4 12th. Played to 4.189 with just four birdies, 10 bogeys and four doubles. Easiest hole: Par-5 13th. Was taken apart by the field at 4.297 with five eagles and 42 birdies. SHOT OF THE DAY CALL OF THE DAY For play-by-play coverage of the final round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, listen at PGATOUR.COM.
Predators sign Rinne to 2-year, $10M extensionPredators sign Rinne to 2-year, $10M extension
Goaltender Pekka Rinne will remain under contract with Nashville through 2020-21 after signing a two-year, $10 million extension Saturday.
Heat’s Dragic sits with lingering pain in footHeat’s Dragic sits with lingering pain in foot
Heat point guard Goran Dragic sat out Saturday’s game at Atlanta due to persistent pain in his right foot.
Cole Custer rallies to win Xfinity race in TexasCole Custer rallies to win Xfinity race in Texas
Custer passed Tyler Reddick on the last lap and ended a 30-race winless streak.
Accelerate wins Breeders’ Cup ClassicAccelerate wins Breeders’ Cup Classic
Accelerate took the lead at the top of the stretch and held off Gunnevera to win the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.
Sources: Bought-out Chandler plans to join LakersSources: Bought-out Chandler plans to join Lakers
The Lakers hope that the bought-out Tyson Chandler can give them some much-needed size and rim protection in limited minutes, as well as veteran leadership.