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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Schneider strong in goal as Canucks stay alive with win

NHL: Cory Schneider made 43 saves and stopped Dustin Brown’s penalty shot in his first career playoff victory, Daniel Sedin sparked Vancouver’s power play in his return from injury, and the top-seeded Canucks avoided an embarrassing first-round sweep with a 3-1 victory over host Los Angeles in Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Kevin Bieksa scored the go-ahead goal, and Alex Edler and captain Henrik Sedin scored the first two power-play goals of the series for the Canucks, who emphatically avoided becoming the first Presidents’ Trophy-winning team in the post-expansion era to get swept out of the first round.

Game 5 is Sunday in Vancouver.

• Penguins erupt for 10-3 win: Pushed to the brink of a sweep, Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal pushed back with a vengeance, helping the visiting Penguins score nine goals in the first two periods in a 10-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in their opening-round playoff series.

Staal had a hat trick, Malkin scored his first two goals of the series and Crosby added one to help the Penguins cut the series deficit to 3-1.

Senators even series: Kyle Turris scored at 2:42 of overtime to give the host Ottawa Senators a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers, tying the Eastern Conference series at a game apiece.

Coyotes’ Torres suspended: The NHL suspended Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres indefinitely for knocking Chicago’s Marian Hossa out of the game – and maybe the playoffs – with a shoulder blow to the head.

Hossa won’t play in Game 4 tonight with the Coyotes leading the series 2-1.

NBA: Kenyon Martin helped beat his old team with a tip-in and blocked shot in the final half-minute, leading the visiting Los Angeles Clippers past the Denver Nuggets 104-98 for their 13th win in 15 games.

Martin tipped in Chris Paul’s missed jumper with 27 seconds left and the game tied at 96, then blocked Ty Lawson at the other end with 20 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Paul made two free throws with 18.3 seconds left to make it a four-point game.

Earlier, it was announced that Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler needs surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip and is done for the season.

Gasol, Bynum lead Lakers: Andrew Bynum had 31 points and nine rebounds, Pau Gasol recorded a triple-double and the Los Angeles Lakers rebounded from their worst loss of the season by beating the undermanned Golden State Warriors 99-87 at Oakland, Calif.

Gasol finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Kobe Bryant missed his seventh straight game with a bruised left shin a nightafter a 112-91 home loss to San Antonio.

Celtics clinch division tie: Paul Pierce had 29 points and a career-high 14 assists and the Boston Celtics clinched at least a tie for the Atlantic Division title as they held off a late charge by the visiting Orlando Magic.

Jazz rout Blazers: Devin Harris had 27 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers, and the Utah Jazz continued to jockey for a playoff spot with a 112-91 victory at Portland.

Wesley Matthews had 21 points for the Blazers.

Toledo banned from postseason

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: The Toledo men’s basketball team will be banned from next year’s postseason because of past academic problems after the NCAA denied the school’s appeal.

The ban stems from several years of below-standard scores on the NCAA’s Academic Performance Rate that a year ago cost Toledo three scholarships.