Goodbye Blackhawks, hello playoff record
Chris Chelios was on the ice for his 248th playoff game Saturday, breaking the NHL record set by Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy.
“I never really kept track of the individual things I’ve done. I’ve always been prouder of the team accomplishments,” Chelios said. “My kids and family think it’s pretty cool.”
Chelios, 46, is making his 23rd postseason appearance, extending his own mark. Since Chelios, a Chicago native, was traded by the Blackhawks in 1999, he has played in 85 playoff games, while the Hawks have played in five.
Before Detroit’s victory over Nashville on Saturday, some of Chelios’ teammates were giving him a hard time about breaking Roy’s milestone.
“When you play until you’re 60, what do you expect?” teammate Darren McCarty joked.
— AP
American women on top of hockey world
The United States won its second women’s world hockey championship Saturday, upsetting Canada 4-3 behind two goals from Natalie Darwitz (center in photo) in Harbin, China.
Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter also scored for the U.S., which had lost to Canada in nine of the last 10 finals. The Americans won the title in 2005.
The U.S. defeated Canada 4-2 in a playoff-round game Thursday to set up the rematch.
“For us, that was the first time we’d beat Canada in a long time on Thursday night,” said Darwitz, the U.S. captain. “To finally get it off our backs and say, ‘We can do this now, let’s believe,’ I think was a big factor in the tournament.”
Canada had a two-man advantage for 49 seconds late in the third period, but failed to capitalize. U.S. goalie Jessie Vetter made several big stops to preserve the lead.
“It hurts every time you watch them celebrate,” Canadian captain Hayley Wickenheiser said. “We beat ourselves.”
— AP
It’s a Dream: Olajuwon gets statue in Houston
The Houston Rockets unveiled a bronze monument honoring Hakeem Olajuwon before Friday’s game against the Phoenix Suns.
Olajuwon, 45, nicknamed “The Dream,” retired after the 2001-02 season as the NBA’s No. 1 all-time shot blocker with 3,830. The 12-time All-Star was the MVP in 1994 and led the Rockets to their only two championships, in ’94 and ’95.
The 12-foot-high rectangular sculpture stands in front of the main entrance to the Toyota Center.
“I’m sincerely grateful,” said Olajuwon, who was selected to the Hall of Fame last week. “This is the highest honor any player can receive in any city.”
— AP
