Krejci, Smith lead Bruins past Detroit
NHL: David Krejci and Reilly Smith both scored in regulation and again in the shootout as the Boston Bruins beat the host Detroit Red Wings 3-2 Wednesday night.
The Bruins outshot Detroit 35-18 in regulation, and Jimmy Howard made three key saves in overtime — the last to stop Torey Krug at point-blank range. Howard, though, couldn’t stop Krejci and Smith in the shootout, while neither Gustav Nyquist or Andrej Nestrasil could get their shots on net.
Nyquist tied the score at 2:56 of the third period, snapping a wrist shot past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask to end Detroit’s streak of nine scoreless power plays. Tomas Tatar also scored for the Red Wings.
Boston had two great chances in the final minute of regulation, but Howard made a pad save on Dougie Hamilton, then knocked away Simon Gagne’s attempt to put in the rebound.
• Flames edge Blackhawks: Jonas Hiller made 49 saves and Mikael Backlund scored at 4:35 of overtime, lifting Calgary to a 2-1 road victory over Chicago.
The Blackhawks controlled the action for much of the night, enjoying a whopping 50-18 advantage in shots on goal. But Hiller was outstanding and Backlund used a wrist shot to beat Corey Crawford on his glove side for his first goal of the season.
• Coyotes beat Oilers: Mikkel Boedker scored two of this three goals goal in the third period and added an assist, helping Arizona outlast Edmonton 7-4 in Glendale, Arizona.
Boedker scored in the first period and gave Arizona a two-goal lead midway through the third. He added an empty-net goal for his first career hat trick, giving him five goals in three games.
• Kings extend Muzzin: Defenseman Jake Muzzin has agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings.
Muzzin’s new deal keeps him with the Kings through the 2019-20 season. Los Angeles signed Muzzin as a free agent in January 2010 after he went undrafted in 2009, and he has evolved into a solid NHL defenseman over the past two seasons.
• 2016 All Star game in Nashville: A person with knowledge of the decision says the NHL has picked Nashville to host the 2016 All Star game.
The NHL has scheduled a news conference for Friday morning in Nashville where Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to make the formal announcement.
Garber criticizes Klinsmann comments
SOCCER: Major League Commissioner Don Garber has criticized U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann for saying some players’ careers were damaged by returning to the league.
Klinsmann said Monday that decisions by Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley to play in MLS rather than for European clubs make it “very difficult for them to keep the same level that they experienced at the places where they were.”
Garber held a conference call with reporters Wednesday to say Klinsmann’s remarks are “incredibly damaging to our league” and “personally infuriating.” Garber says Klinsmann’s comments “send the wrong message” to players.
• U.S. wins opening qualifier: Abby Wambach scored in the 55th minute to help the United States beat Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 on Wednesday night in their opening Women’s World Cup qualifying game in Kansas City, Missouri.
Wambach scored on a header off Alex Morgan’s cross for her record-extending 169th international goal. Hope Solo also pushed her U.S. shutout record to 74.
• Kinnear leaves Dynamo: Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear will leave the team at season’s end to coach the San Jose Earthquakes.
Kinnear led the Dynamo to a 152-116-107 record in all competitions with two MLS Cup championships during nine seasons with the team. They made the playoffs seven times and won four conference titles while he was at the helm.
Dynamo president Chris Canetti says: “It’s sad and difficult to see Dominic departing … we’ve had a great run together, and he’s played a vital role in who we are as a club.”
The Earthquakes fired Mark Watson on Wednesday and say assistant Ian Russell will serve as interim coach for the last two games this season.
Kaymer beats Watson in Grand Slam playoff
GOLF: U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer won the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in a playoff over Masters champion Bubba Watson after a wild day in Bermuda.
Kaymer twice lost a three-shot lead in the final round of the 36-hole exhibition for the year’s major champions. Watson took a two-shot lead on the par-3 16th when he made birdie and Kaymer made bogey. Kaymer answered with a two-shot swing with a birdie on the par-5 17th as Watson took bogey.
Both made par on the 18th. Kaymer had a 71 and Watson a 69. Kaymer made birdie on the first playoff hole to win.
• McDowell, Dubuisson open with wins: Defending champion Graeme McDowell and Victor Dubuisson began the World Match Play Championship with comfortable wins, three weeks after teaming up as one of Europe’s top pairings in the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Ash, England.
Patrick Reed, the U.S. team’s top points scorer in Gleneagles, opened with a 2-and-1 loss to Jonas Blixt.