Last Update on May 24, 2013 07:50 GMT

NHL PLAYOFFS

UNDATED (AP) -- The Chicago Blackhawks had a wonderful regular season, finishing first overall after setting an NHL record by going their first 24 games without a regulation loss. None of that will mean much if they don't win their next three games.

The top-seeded Blackhawks trail No. 7 Detroit 3-1 in the Western Conference semifinals after Jimmy Howard turned back 28 shots in the Red Wings' 2-0 win over Chicago. Howard made half of his saves in the first period, but Corey Crawford was just as stingy until Jakub Kindl (YAH'-kuhb KIN'-dul) beat him midway through the game.

Howard needed to stop just six shots in the third period despite facing two power plays, one coming with 4:43 remaining and Detroit clinging to a 1-0 lead.

Daniel Cleary iced the victory by scoring into an empty net with 39 seconds remaining.

The Red Wings can advance to the conference finals by winning Saturday in Chicago, where the Blackhawks will try to end their season-worst three-game losing streak.

There was also a shutout in Los Angeles as Jonathan Quick handled 24 shots to lead the Kings past San Jose 3-0. The Kings own a three-games-to-two lead in the Western Conference semifinals following Quick's sixth shutout since the last year's playoffs.

Neither team scored until Anze Kopitar (AHN'-zhay KOH'-pih-tahr) beat Antti Niemi (AN'-tee nee-EH'-mee) with 1:52 left in the second period. Sergei Voynov added an early third-period tally before Jeff Carter poked in an empty-netter.

Niemi made 26 saves for the Sharks, who host Game 6 on Saturday.

The Boston Bruins were unable to complete a four-game sweep of the Rangers in the Eastern Conference finals.

New York is still alive after Chris Kreider (KRY'-dur) scored at 7:03 of overtime to lift the Blueshirts past the Bruins 4-3. The Rangers erased 2-0 and 3-2 deficits before Kreider notched his first goal of the postseason.

The Bruins were looking pretty good after Nathan Horton and Torey Krug (kroog) scored 3:02 apart to give them a two-goal lead at the 7:49 mark of the second period. Derek Stepan (STEP'-ahn) eventually tied it 75 seconds into the third period and set up Brian Boyle's goal with 10 minutes left in regulation.

Henrik Lundqvist turned back 37 shots for the Rangers, who head to Boston for Game 5 on Saturday.

HOCKEY-AVS/ROY

DENVER (AP) -- It's back to the future for the Colorado Avalanche.

The club has hired former Avs goaltender Patrick Roy (wah) as head coach and vice president of hockey operations. He'll work in the front office alongside Joe Sakic (SAK'-ihk), who was recently promoted to executive vice president of hockey operations.

The Avalanche won two Stanley Cup titles with the duo on the ice and the organization is hoping they can help turn around a downtrodden team.

Roy becomes the sixth coach in Avalanche history and the 14th in franchise history. The team began in the WHA as the Quebec Nordiques in 1972 and joined the NHL seven years later.

Roy has spent the last eight seasons as coach and general manager of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, winning the 2006 Memorial Cup. He is also a part owner of the QMJHL franchise.

OLYMPICS

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Mike Krzyzewski (shuh-SHEF'-skee) took some time to think about it and his decision is he will be back to the coach U.S. men's national team, including the 2016 Olympics. The longtime Duke coach calls being the U.S. coach the "ultimate honor."

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo (koh-LAN'-jeh-loh), speaking by teleconference, said the job is "a perfect fit" for Krzyzewski.

Krzyzewski took over as coach as USA Basketball began its national-team program in 2005. Since then, Krzyzewski has led the U.S. men's team to Olympic gold medals in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012. He also led the Americans to the gold at the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The team record under Coach-K is 62-1.

NBA-ALL LEAGUE

NEW YORK (AP) -- Miami's LeBron James was a unanimous pick for the All-NBA team. James received all 119 votes for the first team from a panel of sports writer and broadcasters throughout the U.S. and Canada. Kobe Bryant of the Lakers is also a first-teamer, marking his record-tying 11th first-team selection. Joining James and Bryant on the first team are Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, San Antonio center Tim Duncan and Clippers guard Chris Paul.

Bryant tied Utah Hall of Famer Karl Malone with his 11th first-team nod.

NBA scoring leader Carmelo Anthony led the second team, joined by guards Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker, center Marc Gasol (gah-SOHL') and forward Blake Griffin.

The third team was Houston's James Harden, Miami's Dwyane (dwayn) Wade, Lakers center Dwight Howard and forwards Paul George of Indiana and David Lee of Golden State.

MLB-SCHEDULE

UNDATED (AP) -- It was like old times for manager Terry Francona as he sat in a Fenway Park dugout and watched his team dismantle the opposition. This time, he was doing it in the visiting dugout.

The former Red Sox skipper was a winner in his return to Boston as Drew Stubbs and Mark Reynolds each drove in three runs to lead Cleveland's 12-3 assault on the Bosox. Francona received a standing ovation after the first inning during a video tribute on the center-field scoreboard, 20 months after he was fired by the Red Sox.

Every Cleveland starting batter had a hit and all except Jason Kipnis scored. Carlos Santana reached base five times with a single and four walks. The Indians also scored the last eight runs to turn it into a laugher.

Zach McAllister allowed three runs and five innings as the Indians improved to 22-9 in their last 31 games.

Cleveland's lead in the AL Central remains a half-game over Detroit after the Tigers came back from a 6-3 deficit to beat Minnesota 7-6. Prince Fielder singled home the tiebreaking run in the bottom of the eighth after hitting an RBI single in the Tigers' three-run seventh.

Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer in the first inning and now leads the league with 55 RBIs and a .391 batting average.

Elsewhere in the majors, Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles as the Bucs doubled up the Chicago Cubs 4-2. Starling Marte singled and scored in each of the first two innings to help the Pirates win for the 11th time in 13 games.

Homers by Mike Trout, Albert Pujols (POO'-hohlz) and Mark Trumbo powered the Los Angeles Angels past the Royals 5-4 at Kansas City. Winning pitcher Joe Blanton entered the game 0-7 before limiting the Royals to two runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Edwin Encarnacion (ehn-kahr-nah-see-ohn) belted his fifth career grand slam and J.P. Arencibia (ar-ehn-SEE'-bee-uh) added a two-run blast and four RBIs in Toronto's 12-6 pounding of Baltimore. Orioles starter Kevin Gausman was roughed up in his major league debut, surrendering four runs and seven hits in five innings.

MLB-NEWS

UNDATED (AP) -- The Philadelphia Phillies have placed second baseman Chase Utley on the 15-day disabled list with a strained oblique that could keep the five-time All-Star out for four weeks.

Phils general manager Ruben Amaro says the team is being cautious with the injury so it doesn't remain an issue throughout the season.

Utley is batting .272 with seven homers and 25 RBIs. Freddy Galvis has replaced him in the starting lineup.

Also in the majors, injured New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira could soon start playing in minor league games. The All-Star has been out since injuring his right wrist in early March while with the U.S. team preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Teixeira has been taking part in simulated games this week at the Yankees' minor league complex.

The Blue Jays are promoting left-hander Sean Nolin to make his major league debut Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles. The sixth-round pick in the 2010 draft is 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in three games for Double-A New Hampshire this year after going 10-0 with a 2.04 earned run average in 20 games in "A" ball last season.

Seattle has sent slumping catcher Jesus Montero to Triple-A Tacoma to work on his hitting. Montero is batting .208 with three homers and nine RBIs while splitting time with Kelly Shoppach (SHAHP'-ak).

NASCAR-COCA-COLA 600 QUALIFYING

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Denny Hamlin has never won a Sprint Cup race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but he's put himself in good position to do it this weekend.

Hamlin broke the track record in winning the pole for Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, recording a lap of 195.624 mph. He was one of eight drivers to top the previous record of 193.708 set last October by Greg Biffle.

Hamlin will start alongside Kurt Busch on the front row, followed by Matt Kenseth, Mark Martin and Clint Bowyer.

It is Hamlin's 14th career pole.

NFL-GIANTS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Fullback Henry Hynoski of the New York Giants will have surgery Friday after hurting his left knee in the team's organized training activity. The three-year veteran was hurt on the second play from scrimmage during a drill on Wednesday.

The Giants say a doctor examined Hynoski and found two injuries. He'll need surgery to repair the medical collateral ligament and a chip fracture.

NFL-BUCS

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Second-round draft choice Johnthan Banks, who was the 43rd overall pick, has agreed to a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Banks won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back in 2012. He finished his college career with 16 interceptions, including three he returned for touchdowns.

LPGA-BAHAMAS

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) -- An overnight storm dropped nearly a foot of water on the Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, causing the first round to be delayed. The event, which will begin Friday as a 12-hole round, will use holes that are not under water from the worst flooding in about 20 years. Officials hope the rest of the course will drain in time for an 18-hole Sunday. Otherwise, it would be three rounds of 12 holes for the 144-player field.

This is a new event on the LPGA Tour.