Associated Press
BOSTON ó Nathan Horton scored with 7:33 left in Game 7, sending the Boston Bruins to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in more than two decades with a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference finals on Friday night.
The right wing on Boston’s top line cleanly beat goalie Dwayne Roloson by deflecting a pass across the slot from David Krejci. That set off a loud celebration among Bruins fans, who have waited a long time for a trip to the finals.
Tim Thomas made 24 saves in his third career playoff shutout and second this season.
Boston will open the Stanley Cup finals in Vancouver against the Western Conference champion Canucks on Wednesday.
The Bruins won their most recent championship in 1972 and hadn’t reached the finals since 1990, when they lost to the Edmonton Oilers.
Both goalies were outstanding behind teammates playing energetic, impressive defense in a hard-hitting game without a single penalty.
With 3 seconds left and the puck in the Lightning zone, Bruins center Patrice Bergeron raised his stick while standing in the “B” symbolizing the Bruins at center ice.
TROUBLED FORCIER
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. ó Police in Grand Rapids, Mich., say a woman called them because she was concerned that former Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier was going to jump from her apartment window.
An officer was able to get Forcier to open the door and “no police action was taken.”
Police released a one-page report Friday to The Associated Press, one day after it was reported by WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids.
The police report says Forcier locked himself in a bedroom in Apartment 314 on April 22 and a woman told officers he was “leaning out a window.”
Forcier, who played two seasons at Michigan, planned to transfer to Miami but never enrolled.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
COLUMBUS, Ohio ó Ohio State has cited privacy laws in declining to provide communications to and from coach Jim Tressel and other administrators regarding the relationship between star quarterback Terrelle Pryor and his hometown mentor.
The Associated Press sought through a public records request any emails, notes or other information about the relationship between Jeannette, Pa., businessman Ted Sarniak and Pryor, who has been suspended for the first five games this fall for taking improper benefits from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SYRACUSE, N.Y. ó The Big East again brought every team to Madison Square Garden for the conference tournament in March, and Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim says that’s the right move no matter how many teams are in the league.
TCU agreed in November to join the Big East17 in basketball, with more expansion likely.
“We’re going to make a strong push as coaches to bring all 17 teams to New York,” Boeheim said. “Connecticut proved you can win five games. We’ve won four games. It’s very doable.”
NFL
NORFOLK, Va. ó An animal rights group bought NFL star Michael Vick’s former dogfighting compound on Friday and plans to turn it into a rehabilitation center for chained and penned dogs.
TRACK
ROME ó World record-holder Usain Bolt needed a late kick to win his first race in nine months, capturing the 100 meters in 9.91 seconds to edge former record-holder Asafa Powell at the Golden Gala.
Powell was timed in 9.93 and European champion Christophe Lemaitre finished third in 10.00.
As usual, Bolt got off to a slow start, but unlike his most recent races he was behind until pulling in front with his very last strides.
Bolt had not competed since he was beaten by Tyson Gay in Stockholm last August, ending the Jamaican’s two-year unbeaten streak.