Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia ó Sami Salo scored on a 3-on-1 rush with 1:13 left, and Vancouver beat Chicago 5-3 on Thursday in the series opener after blowing a three-goal lead in the third period.
Patrick Kane scored twice for Chicago, and David Bolland tied it with 5:29 left.
Ryan Johnson scored into an empty net with 15.5 seconds left to wrap up the victory.
* GLENDALE, Ariz. ó The president of the Phoenix Coyotes denied a report that the NHL has taken control of the cash-strapped hockey club.
* GREENBURGH, N.Y. ó Rangers coach John Tortorella says he embarrassed the organization by throwing a water bottle into the crowd at Washington and being suspended during the first-round playoff series.
NFL
NEW ORLEANS ó The Saints and the state of Louisiana have announced a partnership that will continue the club’s commitment to the state through 2025 and create a new Sports Development District.
Gov. Bobby Jindal said that, compared to the current deal with the Saints, the new deal will save the state more than $280 million over the next 17 years.
* ENGLEWOOD, Colo. ó Denver’s crowded backfield became a bit clearer with the release of Selvin Young.
* SEATTLE ó The Seahawks and linebacker Leroy Hill agreed on a multiyear deal.
* FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó The Patriots obtained tight end Alex Smith from Tampa Bay Buccaneers for an undisclosed pick in next year’s draft.
* CINCINNATI ó The Bengals have signed kicker Shayne Graham to a one-year contract
* SAN DIEGO ó Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips will go to trial on charges that he attacked his girlfriend in 2005. He must stand trial on eight felony charges for two alleged assaults.
Phillips could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. He already is serving a 10-year sentence for hitting three teenagers with his car in Los Angeles.
COLLEGE HOOPS
INDIANAPOLIS ó College players will have to decide more quickly whether they plan to stay in the NBA draft.
A new rule approved by the NCAA’s Board of Directors requires early entrants to withdraw from the draft by May 8. Current rules allow players to make that decision by June 15.
The change will take effect this fall. It’s a compromise to an ACC proposal that would have required players to pull out by mid-April.COLLEGE FOOTBALLTAMPA, Fla. ó North Carolina officials say they’re no longer offering a scholarship to a Tampa-area high school senior facing felony charges.
UNC spokesman Kevin Best put out a statement saying the Armwood High School star had been released from his national letter of intent.
The Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office reports that 18-year-old Angelo Omega Hadley and his two older brothers were arrested Wednesday and charged with grand theft and burglary for a February incident. Hadley was charged April 5 with lewd and lascivious battery involving a 14-year-old girl but was later released on $15,000 bail.
Jail records show Hadley was being held on $5,000 bail for the new charges.
* NEW YORK ó Heisman Trophy winners Tim Brown and Gino Torretta, along with two-time All-American Chris Spielman, are among the 16 players to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Others selected were: Penn State’s Curt Warner; New Mexico State’s Pervis Atkins; Arizona’s Chuck Cecil; Auburn’s Ed Dyas; West Virginia’s Major Harris; BYU’s Gordon Hudson; Alabama’s Woodrow Lowe; Stanford’s Ken Margerum; Texas’ Steve McMichael; Iowa’s Larry Station; Georgia Tech’s Pat Swilling; and Nebraska’s Grant Wistrom.
* PITTSBURGH ó Senior wide receiver T.J. Porter and senior defensive lineman Tommie Duhart have left Pitt’s football team and plan to transfer.
GOLF
GIRONA, Spain ó Still serving a six-month PGA Tour suspension, John Daly made his 2009 debut on the European Tour with a 70 in the first round of the Spanish Open to trail Soren Hansen by seven strokes.
Daly sported a slimmed down look and a new swing, but knew he was going to be rusty.
“I hit it pretty good but didn’t make a lot of putts,” he said.
Daly said his coach advised him to avoid setting any goals for this year.
“Just let it happen and try and work on the things,” he said. “If I keep doing it and doing it, something good will happen.”
SWINE FLU
MONTGOMERY, Ala. ó The swine flu epidemic has forced the cancellation or postponement of events across the country, affecting everything from prep contests in Texas and Alabama to a college baseball road trip in Delaware.
The University of Delaware canceled a baseball series at North Carolina-Wilmington after 10 probable cases of the virus were identified among Delaware students, including one team member.
RACING
INDIANAPOLIS ó The Indy Racing League has suspended driver Sean Guthrie and his father, car owner Jim Guthrie, for disregarding directions by officials during a Firestone Indy Lights race last week in Kansas.
The driver was cited for failing to slow down under the yellow and failing to follow the direction of safety personnel.
* INDIANAPOLIS ó Actor Josh Duhamel has a new role for himself in May: pace car driver for the Indianapolis 500.
TRACK
KINGSTON, Jamaica ó Usain Bolt dropped out of a weekend track meet after being lightly injured in a car crash.
Bolt hurt his left foot Wednesday when he stepped on thorns as he got out of the wrecked BMW, according to a statement from his agent.
TENNIS
ROME ó Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic advanced to the Rome Masters quarterfinals with straight-sets wins.