Nine-year playoff drought finally ends for Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs have finally returned to the NHL playoffs after nine long years. The Leafs clinched a berth in the postseason with a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa on April 20. Goaltender James Reimer made 49 saves to help the Leafs clinch their position. The Winnipeg Jets lost earlier in the day 5-4 to the New York Islanders. Although Winnipeg can mathematically catch Toronto on points at 55, the Leafs would win the tiebreaker.

Since Toronto has 25 wins in regulation and overtime Winnipeg can reach just 24 regulation and overtime victories the Leafs would take the last playoff spot. The NHL doesn’t include shootout wins in its tiebreaking system. After the win over Ottawa, the Leafs were sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll finish there as there are still three games remaining for the team. They could finish either higher or lower in the standings, but are guaranteed to be in the top eight.

Sweet stroke has Golden State Warriors hot as curry

You don’t usually worry too much about contesting a shot beyond 25 feet.  But you do against Stephen Curry and his out-of-the-gym range.  The single threat of Curry making any shot you give him has brought the Golden State Warriors all this way.  Giving Curry a wide open three is like giving Hank Aaron a fastball right down the middle.  Ka-boom!

The Warriors put up 131 points last night in a game two win over the Denver Nuggets.  They shot an outrageous 64.6 percent from the field after dropping game one.  Offense is clearly what makes the Warriors excel and Stephen Curry is the sharp shooter it all starts with.

Defenders worry so much about Curry that there is often a wide open teammate somewhere to be found.

That was certainly the case in last night’s unbelievable shooting display.  Curry was 13-for-23 with 30 points and four of those made shots were three-pointers.  He also added 13 assists and three steals.

Klay Thompson, Jarrett Jack, and Harrison Barnes also had terrific shooting nights.  They were a combined 27-for-40 from the field and Stephen Curry deserves much of that credit.  No way does the rest of them team shoot that ridiculously efficient without Stephen Curry being on the court.

It is a natural reaction for more than one defender to go after Curry right when he picks up the ball.

49ers vs. Falcons: NFC Championship Preview and Prediction

By: Rich Bergeron

The San Francisco 49ers and Atlanta Falcons square off this Sunday at 3:00 PM EST on Fox for the NFL's NFC Championship and a ticket to the Super Bowl. Both teams are led by phenomenal young quarterbacks, and both of those young men have just one playoff win in their careers thus far. Atlanta's Matt Ryan has more overall experience, but San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick is clearly the more gifted runner of the two.
These teams never faced each other in the regular season, so there is no benchmark to look back on to help analyze how this game might go. With everything on the line in this win-or-go-home match-up, previous game scores might not matter much anyway. A better indicator could be how both teams did last week against different opponents.

Patriots vs. Ravens: AFC Championship Preview and Prediction

By: Rich Bergeron

Sunday's NFL nightcap features what promises to be an epic game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens in a cold and stormy Foxboro, Massachusetts. The game kicks off at 6:30 PM EST and will be aired on CBS. It is also a rematch of a week 3 battle that came down to the wire. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco threw for 382 yards in that game, and the Ravens won by a single point thanks to a Justin Tucker field goal that barely soared inside the right upright as time expired. The last time the Patriots met the Ravens in the playoffs, it was their field goal that won the game. This year's contest might be just as close, but don't count on it.

Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis has the most to play for in this game, and it will be up to him and his defense to decide if the team moves onto the Super Bowl. The Patriots have always been better on offense this season than they have been on defense, but that hasn't really mattered late in the season. They won 7 of their last 8 regular season games, only falling to the San Francisco 49ers by a slim 7-point margin in week 15. The Pats led the league in points scored and total yards while coming in at ninth in average points scored against and rushing yardage against. Their pass defense was much worse, ranking 29th in the league with an average of 271.4 passing yards allowed during the regular season. The Ravens were much better than the Patriots on defense throughout the year, though their offense only cracked the top 10 in one category: average points scored (24.9).

Colin Kaepernick sets single-game QB rushing record

Colin Kaepernick’s performance Saturday night was one for the ages.

During the 49ers’ Divisional Round contest against the Packers, Kaepernick set the NFL’s single-game rushing record for quarterbacks in any game.

Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Niners leading 38-24, the dynamic signal-caller had run for 179 yards, eclipsing Michael Vick’s previous mark (173).

Kaepernick also obliterated the postseason rushing yards record, formerly held by Vick (119).

Trent Williams Tried To Slap The Taste Out Of Richard Sherman’s Mouth

Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has never been one to shy away from confrontation. Whether it be Tom Brady, Jim Harbaugh, or the NFL, Sherman is not afraid to express himself.

In the waning moments of Seattle’s 24-14 win over Washington, Sherman evidently mocked the Redskins from the Seahawk side of the field.

Once the game was over, Redskins offensive lineman Trent Williams expressed his displeasure with Sherman by giving him a mighty push to the face.

Sherman smirked and eventually left the scene.

NFL Playoffs Week One Wrap Up: AFC Edition

By: Rich Bergeron

The sunken, battle-weary eyes of Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano said it all Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a 24-9 victory over the Colts in the last home game ever for Ravens' Linebacker Ray Lewis.

Pagano missed 12 games this season due to a bout with Leukemia, and he came into this game without the benefit of the coach who took the reins in his absence. Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians (who was hospitalized this morning due to an unknown illness) posted a 9-3 record in relief of the cancer-stricken head coach. Pagano inspired a huge outpouring of support and encouragement from NFL fans across the country as he fought to get back to the sidelines again. Though there wasn't the kind of storybook ending to the Colts season that Pagano was hoping for, their impressive turnaround from a 2-14 season last year to making the playoffs this year is extremely encouraging. This team should be a formidable threat in the 2013-2014 season. 

Baltimore relied on a well-balanced attack on defense and a hometown crowd heartily cheering on the retiring 17-year-veteran Lewis, who amassed 13 tackles in his final game at home. The offense also shined thanks to the efforts of Veteran Receiver Anquan Boldin, who chalked up 145 yards and a touchdown on just 5 total catches in the game. Quarterback Joe Flacco was also at his best, completing another touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta on the way to putting up 282 yards through the air on just 12 completions.

The Colts had few bright spots in the game as Rookie Quarterback Andrew Luck (28-54, 288 yards, INT) couldn't seem to maintain any positive rhythm in the game despite connecting with Reggie Wayne for 114 total yards on nine catches.  Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 47, 52 and 26 yards, but it was all too little and too late for the Colts.

Baltimore will now travel to Denver to face a well-rested Broncos squad led by Legendary Quarterback Peyton Manning. Three weeks ago the Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17, so the Baltimore defense will have to perform much better in this rematch to come out with the win and live to see another week of football.

NFL Playoffs Week One Wrap Up: NFC Edition

By: Rich Bergeron

Despite an impressive first quarter of football executed by the Washington Redskins Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks made the right adjustments on defense and took complete control in the 4th quarter on the way to a 24-14 win. Washington QB Robert Griffin III (10-19, 84 yards, 2 TDs, 5 carries, 21 yards rushing) came into the game with a bum knee, sporting a knee brace throughout the game and leaving in the fourth quarter after stumbling to corral an errant snap. The Seahawks spent most of the game struggling to assemble scoring drives and had to overcome a fumble near the goal line just when it seemed like they were on the combeack trail. The 14-13 halftime score would hold up right until the final minutes of the game.

Seahawks Rookie Quarterback Russell Wilson (15-26, 187 yards, TD, 8 carries, 67 yards rushing) outperformed Griffin despite getting picked long after Griffin in last year's draft. Wilson also overcame 5 sacks in the game. Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch (20 carries, 132 yards, TD) catapulted his team into the lead with a 27-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks defense never let up. The Seahawks offense squandered a few key red zone opportunities, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns at crucial points in the game, but the team's defense kept Washington scoreless through the final three quarters.

Coach Pete Carroll's squad often doesn't receive the respect they deserve, and this is not the first time the team notched a surprise win. Fans may remember the play widely considered to be responsible for the end of the NFL officials lockout earlier in the season when Russell Wilson threw a hail mary "caught" by Golden Tate in the end zone to propel the team to a controversial win over the Green Bay Packers. The team might need that kind of miracle to come out of Atlanta next weekend with a victory. The Falcons started the season carrying an undefeated record into week 10 and only lost three regular season games, though all those losses were against teams that didn't make the playoffs. Still, the Falcons only lost one of those three games at home, and that defeat came in a season finale that was not really a must-win scenario. Look for the Seahawks to bow out of the playoffs next week in a blowout win for Atlanta.

Ray Lewis is retiring

It was either going to happen at the end of this season or maybe the next.

It was unavoidable.

His recent injury may have expedited the process. But time puts its stamp on everyone. Even Ray Lewis. 

In a report on the league’s website, it is being reported that Lewis announced that he was retiring during a team meeting on Wednesday.

Ray Lewis told the team today “this will be my last ride.”
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 2, 2013

“Everything I’ve done is to make another run at the Lombardi,” Lewis said Wednesday.

San Francisco Giants Face 3-1 Deficit Lose Game 4

For the second straight playoff series, the San Francisco Giants will need to win three consecutive games to keep their season alive losing Game 4 of the National League Championship Series 8-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday night.

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright made quick work of the Giants in the first getting the first three batters.

Tim Lincecum took the mound allowing the first two hitters to reach base with a single and walk. Left fielder Matt Holliday singled home center fielder Jon Jay as the Cardinals struck first. With runners on first and third, first baseman Allen Craig scored another run connecting with a sacrifice fly giving the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Lincecum limited the damage the rest of the inning continuing his struggles in the first. He yielded a Major League high 28 first inning runs.

Detroit Tigers Sweep New York Yankees in ALCS with 8-1 Victory

The Detroit Tigers are now headed to the World Series after sweeping the New York Yankees in four games in the ALCS. Thursday's win was impressive, defeating C.C. Sabathia and the Yankees 8-1 to close out the series.

Sabathia got the start for the Yankees in hopes of reviving their World Series' chances. However, the tall left-hander did not have his stuff, giving up 11 hits, six runs, and two walks in just three and two third innings.

San Francisco Giants Unable to Capitalize Losing Game 3 of the National League Championship Series

The San Francisco Giants failed to capitalize during key situations in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series losing 3-1 to the St. Louis Cardinals Wednesday night.

With two outs in the top of the first, Pablo Sandoval singled off Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse before he retired Buster Posey.

Matt Cain took the mound hitting center fielder Jon Jay to begin the bottom of the first and right fielder
Carlos Beltran grounded into a double play. Left fielder Matt Holliday grounded out ending the first. Beltran would leave the game with a knee strain getting replaced by Matt Carpenter.

Angel Pagan singled and Marco Scutaro doubled leading off the top of the third creating a scoring opportunity for the big bats. Sandoval grounded out scoring Pagan and Lohse intentionally walked Posey.

Hunter Pence grounded into an inning ending double play wasting a scoring threat for the Giants.