Chicago’s Keith suspended for Game 4 of West finals Chicago’s Keith suspended for Game 4 of West finals ADVERTISING LOS ANGELES — If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to end the Los Angeles Kings’ perfect postseason on home ice in
Chicago’s Keith suspended for Game 4 of West finals
LOS ANGELES — If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to end the Los Angeles Kings’ perfect postseason on home ice in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, they’ll have to do it without their top defenseman.
Duncan Keith will sit out Thursday under a one-game suspension for high-sticking Los Angeles’ Jeff Carter. Keith hit Carter with a one-handed blow in the second period of the Kings’ 3-1 victory in Game 3, opening a 20-stitch gash on the star forward’s face and cracking three of his teeth.
Chicago has a 2-1 series lead and could take control with a win in Game 4, but the uncertainty of Keith’s fate hung over both teams’ practices Wednesday. Keith is enormously important to the powerful Blackhawks, easily leading the club in ice time and ranking third in playoff scoring with 10 points.
Sheldon Brookbank, the likely candidate to take Keith’s place in the Blackhawks’ lineup, hasn’t played in the postseason.
Hope Solo back with women’s soccer national team
CHICAGO — Star goalkeeper Hope Solo is back with the national team.
Solo was one of 23 players chosen by coach Tom Sermanni on Wednesday to prepare for two games against South Korea. Solo has been out since having left wrist surgery in March.
Solo, who has 135 international appearances, will be available for both matches, her first time back with the U.S. women since February. The Americans will play South Korea on June 15 in Foxborough, Mass., and five days later in Harrison, N.J.
Sermanni chose 18 of the 21 players who trained in Canada for a week leading up to a 3-0 victory against the host country last Sunday in Toronto. He also added Solo, midfielder Megan Rapinoe, who will have completed her season with Lyon, France; midfielder Yael Averbuch (Goteborg in Sweden); and defender Meghan Klingenberg (Tyreso in Sweden).
Among the veterans on the squad are forwards Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan, midfielders Carli Lloyd and Heather O’Reilly, and defenders Christie Rampone, Rachel Buehler and Becky Sauerbrunn.
Steelers QB Roethlisberger undergoes knee surgery
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger underwent what coach Mike Tomlin called “minor” surgery on Wednesday to deal with lingering discomfort in his right knee.
The 31-year-old Roethlisberger, who will miss next week’s minicamp, is expected to return when Pittsburgh opens training camp in July.
“This surgery will have no long-term effects on his health,” Tomlin said.
The surgery is the second one on Roethlisberger’s right knee during his nine-year career. He missed four games in 2005 after having a similar procedure but came back to lead the Steelers to their fifth Super Bowl title.
Roethlisberger had been a full participant during organized team activities but was concerned enough about the knee that he brought it to the team’s attention. Advisers suggested he have the surgery now to give him a clean bill of health when the season begins.
Bergeron scores in second OT to give Bruins 3-0 East finals lead
BOSTON — Patrice Bergeron scored 15:19 into the second overtime to lead the Boston Bruins to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins and a 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals on Wednesday night.
The victory gave Boston a commanding edge in the best-of-seven series and a chance to advance to the Stanley Cup finals in Game 4 on Friday night at home.
Tuukka Rask stopped 39 shots for the Bruins.
Tomas Vokoun made 52 saves for the Penguins one game after he was yanked from the net after giving up three quick goals in the first period.
David Krejci also scored for Boston.
Chris Kunitz scored Pittsburgh’s only goal.
Vogel: Shaw will likely land an NBA head coaching job
INDIANAPOLIS — Pacers coach Frank Vogel is already resigned to making one change next season: Finding a replacement for associate coach Brian Shaw.
Less than 48 hours after being ousted by Miami in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, Vogel told reporters he’d like to keep as many faces around from this year’s team as possible. He is virtually certain Shaw will get a head coaching job this summer.
“I’m not really sure how they try to replace him,” Vogel said Wednesday. “But I do have the anticipation that we will have to replace him and if we don’t, then there are some poor decisions being made out there because I believe he’ll be one of the great coaches in this league.”
Speculation is running rampant that Shaw could soon be hired as head coach of the Nets or Clippers. Shaw also has been rumored to be in the mix in Detroit and Philadelphia.
Hopkins to bring IBF belt to Brooklyn, meet Murat
NEW YORK — Bernard Hopkins will defend his IBF light heavyweight championship against Karo Murat next month.
The fight, scheduled for July 13 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn and announced Wednesday in Manhattan, will be Hopkins’ first since winning the title from Tavoris Cloud in March.
It will also mark the first time Murat, 29, will fight in North America.
Hopkins has a career record of 53-6-2 with 32 knockouts. Murat is 25-1-1.
Chargers sign first-round pick Fluker to four-year deal
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Chargers have signed first-round draft pick D.J. Fluker to a four-year contract.
Fluker, a right tackle from Alabama, is the last of six Chargers draft picks to sign.
Fluker was the 11th pick overall in the draft.
He was a three-year starter at right tackle for the Crimson Tide and played on the last two national championship teams.
From wire sources
