Ducks’ Gibson earns shutout in NHL debut
NHL: Anaheim goalie John Gibson had a memorable NHL debut, shutting out the Vancouver Canucks in the visiting Ducks’ 3-0 triumph Monday night.
Gibson made 18 saves to become the youngest netminder (20 years, 297 days) to record a shutout in his debut since 1985.
Anaheim increased its lead atop the Pacific Division to three points ahead of San Jose with three games remaining. The Ducks host the Sharks on Wednesday and can clinch the division with a victory.
The loss ended the Canucks’ playoff hopes.
• Wild close in on playoff berth: Charlie Coyle scored in the second period and Ilya Bryzgalov made 24 saves as the visiting Minnesota Wild defeated the Winnipeg Jets 1-0.
The Wild closed in on a playoff berth. Minnesota would need to lose its final three games with Phoenix winning four straight for the Wild to miss the playoffs.
• Flames blank Devils: Karri Ramo made 31 saves to record his second NHL shutout as the Calgary Flames topped the New Jersey Devils 1-0 in Newark, N.J. New Jersey’s loss allowed the New York Rangers to clinch a playoff berth.
• Yzerman, Lightning sign extension: The Tampa Bay Lightning signed vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2018-19 season. Yzerman is completing his fourth season in Tampa Bay.
Auburn hires Person as assistant coach
College basketball: Former Auburn All-American and NBA player Chuck Person is returning to the school as an assistant coach.
New coach Bruce Pearl announced the hiring of the Tigers’ leading career scorer.
Person, 49, was an assistant coach with five NBA teams from 2000-13 and had been coaching in South Korea.
• Stollings new Minnesota women’s coach: Minnesota hired Marlene Stollings from VCU as the replacement for women’s basketball coach Pam Borton.
Rain washes out Masters practice
Miscellany: The first day of the Masters didn’t last very long. Storms moved into the area just two hours after the gates opened at Augusta National for the first full day of practice.
Players had to get off the golf course. Fans made a steady stream for the exit. A few hours later, the club said the forecast for even heavier rain meant the course would be off limits the rest of the day.
• Johnson leads NBAPA search: Sacramento mayor and former NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson will lead a search committee to find a new executive director for the NBA Players Association. The union has been seeking a replacement for Billy Hunter since ousting him in February 2013.
• Missouri suspends receiver: Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been suspended indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules. Coach Gary Pinkel announced the suspension roughly three months after the standout receiver was arrested along with two men after police in his hometown of Springfield found a pound of marijuana in their car. No criminal charges have been filed in that case.