Blackhawks win in 2OT, pull even in series

HOCKEY: Antoine Vermette scored at 5:37 of the second overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-4 on Saturday night in Chicago to tie the NHL Western Conference finals at two games apiece.

Vermette, left out of the lineup for Chicago’s 2-1 loss in Game 3 on Thursday night, was stopped on his first try in front, but stayed with the rebound and shot it over Frederik Andersen for his second goal of playoffs. He then skated over to the corner and was mobbed by his teammates as the season-high crowd of 22,404 cheered wildly.

Game 5 is Monday night in Anaheim.

Brandon Saad had a goal and two assists for Chicago, which has won all four of its overtime playoff games this year. Captain Jonathan Toews had a goal and an assist, Patrick Kane scored for the second straight game, and Corey Crawford finished with 47 saves – helping the Blackhawks stay alive when the Ducks had a big push in the first extra session.

Ryan Kesler, Corey Perry and Matt Beleskey scored in a 37-second stretch in the third for Anaheim, and Andersen had 35 saves. Emerson Etem also scored.

Anaheim outshot Chicago 17-5 in the first overtime, forcing Crawford to make several clutch stops. The Blackhawks also had a prime opportunity when Andrew Shaw shot it off the crossbar on a power play, and Patrick Sharp was stopped by Andersen on a breakaway.

The three goals in 37 seconds were the second-fastest three playoff goals scored by one team in NHL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Toronto scored three times in 23 seconds against the Atlanta Flames on April 12, 1979, with Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville assisting on the final goal in that stretch for the Maple Leafs.

• Oshawa beats Rimouski in Memorial Cup: Hunter Smith broke a tie at 9:24 of the third period and the Oshawa Generals beat the Rimouski Oceanic 4-3 in Quebec City in the Memorial Cup opener for both teams.

Oshawa will face Quebec today and Rimouski and Kelowna square off on Monday.

Curry propels Warriors to 3-0 lead in series

NBA: Stephen Curry scored 40 points and the Golden State Warriors made it look easy, beating the Houston Rockets 115-80 in Houston to take a 3-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

The Warriors won the first two games by just five points combined. There would be no such drama in this one, with Curry leading them to a 26-point advantage in the second quarter.

Now the baby-faced MVP has Golden State just one victory away from its first trip to the NBA Finals since 1975. Game 4 is Monday night in Houston.

Curry was unstoppable, making seven 3-pointers to break the NBA record for most 3s in the playoffs in a season with 64.

MVP runner-up James Harden finished with 17 points behind 10-of-11 free-throw shooting, but made just 3 of 16 shots as the Rockets dropped three straight for the first time all season. Dwight Howard, who played despite a knee injury suffered in Game 1, had 14 points and 14 rebounds.

• Korver’s season ends: Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver is done for the playoffs because of an ankle injury, another blow to a team already trailing Cleveland 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals. He has a severe high right ankle sprain, and a foot and ankle specialist will determine the course of treatment.

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving played one-on-one while wearing a brace on his left knee, but remains questionable for today’s Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Na takes Colonial lead into final round

Golf: Kevin Na regained sole possession of the lead with a late birdie at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, taking a one-stroke advantage over Ian Poulter into the final round.

Na shot a 1-under 69 to reach 11-under 199 at a very damp Hogan’s Alley.

Poulter had a 68. He dropped out of a share of the lead after starting the back nine with a four-putt double bogey. But he was again tied with Na after making a 32-foot birdie putt at No. 15.

Charley Hoffman was third at 9 under after a 66.

• Montgomerie in control: Defending champion Colin Montgomerie shot a 2-under 70 on The Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort to take a three-shot lead in the Senior PGA Championship in French Lick, Indiana.

Bernhard Langer was second after a 68. Scott Verplank, Esteban Toledo and Brian Henninger were tied for third at 1 under.

• Byeong, Molinari share lead in England: South Korea’s Byeong Hun An shot a 5-under 67 for a share of the third-round lead with Italy’s Francesco Molinari in the BMW PGA Championship in Virginia Water, England.

Byeong birdied the final two holes to reach 14 under on Wentworth’s West Course. Molinari had a 68.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee was in third at 12 under after a 68.

Rambo leads Terps to men’s lacrosse final

Lacrosse: Sophomore attacker Matt Rambo had four goals and two assists to help Maryland edge Johns Hopkins 12-11 in the NCAA lacrosse semifinal in Philadelphia.

Rambo snapped a 10-10 tie when he scored on a spin move with 9:59 left. He added another goal with 7:24 to play for the Terrapins (15-3), who will meet Denver (16-2) in Monday’s title game.

Wesley Berg scored his third goal 1:57 into overtime, lifting Denver past Notre Dame 11-10 in the other semifinal.

DeGale wins super middleweight title

Miscellany: James DeGale became the first British fighter to win an Olympic gold medal and a professional world title, unanimously outpointing Andre Dirrell at Boston University’s Agganis Arena to take the vacant International Boxing Federation super middleweight title.

• Teen dies after dream comes true: Hospital officials say Jacksonville, Florida, teenager Khameyea Jennings, 18, who went to her high school prom with Jaguars defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks earlier this month, has died of liver cancer.

Marks drove Jennings to her prom in his Lamborghini.

Dreams Come True had approached the Jaguars about the prom invitation, and Marks said he jumped at the chance to make a difference in Jennings’ life.

• Contador reclaims Giro lead: Alberto Contador outclassed his rivals on a tough individual time trial in Valdobbiadene, Italy, to reclaim the overall lead of cycling’s Giro d’Italia after the 14th stage, which was won by Vasil Kiryienka of Belarus.

• Tomac sweeps 450 class motos: Eli Tomac swept the 450 Class motos in the Glen Helen National in San Bernardino, California, for his second straight dominating Lucas Oil Pro Motocross victory.