Toronto advances in NHL showdown
TORONTO, May 14 (UPI) -- Alexander Mogilny scored twice and Curtis Joseph turned away 19 shots as the Toronto Maple Leafs blanked the Ottawa Senators Tuesday night, 3-0, to advance to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1999.
While Ottawa's Todd White was serving an interference penalty midway through the second period, Mogilny attempted to connect with defenseman Bryan McCabe, who was cutting to the net from the left point, on a centering pass from the right corner.
Before the puck could reach McCabe, it hit Ottawa defenseman Sami Salo's right skate and caromed past goaltender Patrick Lalime at 11:49 to give the Maple Leafs a 1-0 lead.
Mogilny was held without a goal in the first five games of the series after netting four in the conference quarterfinals against the New York Islanders, including two in the seventh and deciding game. He scored the game-winner in Game Six to even
the series and struck again in the third period.
With a delayed penalty waiting to be called on White, defenseman Tomas Kaberle carried the puck down the right wing and into the Senators' zone. Mogilny outraced Shawn McEachern down the left side, received a cross-ice pass from Kaberle and roofed it over sprawled goaltender Patrick Lalime for a 2-0 Toronto advantage.
Flyers name Hitchcock coach
VOORHEES, N.J., May 14 (UPI) -- Ken Hitchcock was named head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday, agreeing to a four-year contract reportedly worth close to $1.5 million annually.
"This is a really proud moment for me. There is a feeling for me of coming home," said Hitchcock, who was an assistant coach with the Flyers from 1990-93.
His goal, of course, is to bring the Flyers their first Stanley Cup title since 1975.
With a payroll of $55.5 million, the Flyers were expected toreach the Stanley Cup Finals this season, but flopped in theplayoffs, scoring only two goals in losing to the OttawaSenators, four games to one, in the Eastern Conferencequarterfinals.
Now the Flyers have a high-profile coach in Hitchcock, who ledthe Dallas Stars to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship in1999 and five straight division titles.
Hitchcock, 50, replaces Bill Barber, who was fired on April 30amid player unrest after the disastrous showing against Ottawa.
Trainer: Some NY Giants on banned drug
NEW YORK, May 14 (UPI) -- The New York Giants could be one of the teams most affected when the NFL begins testing for ephedra in July, according to a report Tuesday.
Longtime Giants trainer Ronnie Barnes told the New York Daily News that he believes 75 percent -- or 40 of the 53 players on the Giants' active roster -- were using supplements containing ephedra before the NFL banned the stimulant last September.
Barnes also estimated that as many as 20 players continued to use the weight-burning, energy-boosting substance during the 2001 season since the league did not test for it.
However, the league will begin random testing for ephedra on July 1 and players will face a four-game suspension if they test positive. Many players unknowingly take ephedra products in cold and allergy medicines as well as over-the-counter herbal supplements.
Stimulants like ephedra have been linked to life-threatening conditions such as strokes, seizures and heart arrhythmia.
Venus Williams withdraws from Italian Open
ROME, May 14 (UPI) -- Top-seed Venus Williams withdrew from the $1.22 million Italikan Open Tuesday with a right wrist injury she said she suffered handling her bag.
The injury is not related to the wrist injuries Williams endured in 2000.
Seeded stars Martina Hingis and Monica Seles withdrew Sunday, one day before the event began. On Monday, 10th seed Meghann Shaughnessy was upset. And Tuesday, three more seeds were eliminated in more conventional fashion.
With Williams' withdrawal, the highest remaining seed is No. 2 Jennifer Capriati, who received a first-round bye and breezed to a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Maja Matezvic of Slovakia. It was Capriati's first win at the Italian Open since 1993.
She's followed closely by Venus Williams' sister Serena, Kim Clijsters of Belgium, Justine Henin of Belgium and defending champion Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia,
Meanwhile, Anna Kournikova, who had lost seven of her last eight matches going into the tournament, continued to advance. Scheduled to face Williams she instead got past Lilia Osterloh in three sets, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, to win for the second time in as many days to move into the third round.
The ravishing Russian has won twice in a tournament for the first time since the Mexican Open in March, another claycourt event.
Kuerten shows way at Hamburg
HAMBURG, Germany, May 14 (UPI) -- No. 2 Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil cruised to a straight-sets victory and was one of eight seeds to advance to the second round of the Tennis Masters Hamburg Tuesday.
Kuerten defeated Germany's Nicolas Kiefer, 6-4, 7-5, in the $2.33 million French Open tuneup. The champion here in 2000, Kuerten and Marcelo Rios are the only active players to have won all three Tennis Masters Series claycourt events.
Sixth-seeded Russian Marat Safin, who lost to Kuerten in the 2000 final here, cruised past Italy's Davide Sanguinetti, 6-3, 6-4. Sanguinetti has been eliminated in the first round in all three appearances here.
No. 7 Tommy Haas of Germany improved to 22-10 this year with a 6-1, 6-1 rout over counrtyman and wild card Lars Burgsmuller. Haas lost to American Andre Agassi, 6-3, 6-3 on Sunday in the final at Rome. Agassi was the ninth seed here, but withdrew Monday.
Eighth seed Thomas Johansson overcame Jonas Bjorkman, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-3 in a matchup of two of the top Swedes on the tour. In a duel between American Davis Cup members, 13th-seeded Andy Roddick posted a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 victory over Todd Martin. Roddick, playing here for the first time, leads the ATP tour with 32 wins this year.
Rodriguez officially on DL List
BOSTON, May 14 (UPI) -- The Boston Red Sox made it official Tuesday, placing superstar slugger Manny Ramirez on the 15-day disabled list.
The move was merely a formality as Ramirez is expected to miss at least a month with a fractured left index finger. Ramirez suffered the injury Saturday against the Seattle Mariners, sliding headfirst into the shin guard of catcher Dan Wilson.
X-rays revealed no surgery would be necessary but Ramirez could miss up to two months with the injury.
The 29-year-old Ramirez leads the American League with a .372 batting average and is among the leaders in slugging percentage (.673) and RBI (35). He ranks in the top five in the league in batting with runners in scoring position, homers and walks.
Compounding matters for Boston is the fact that outfielder Trot Nixon is suffering from a viral infection and opted to begin serving his four-game league suspension for flinging a bat at Tampa Bay starter Ryan Rupe.
McElwee wins first NFL officials award
HOUSTON, May 14 (UPI) -- Bob McElwee, a 26-year NFL official who has refereed three Super Bowls, Tuesday was named the winner of the first Art McNally Award.
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue created the award this year to honor the game official who exhibits exemplary professionalism, leadership and commitment to sportsmanship on and off the field.
After a career as an NFL field judge and referee from 1959-67, McNally headed the NFL's officiating department from 1968-90. He was suspervisor of officials from 1968-88, and director of officiating from 1989-90. Since 1996, he served the NFL as an assistant supervisor of officials during the season.
McElwee headed the officiating crew for Super Bowls XXII, XXVIII and XXXIV, and officiated in numerous playoff games.
McElwee is heavily involved in community service near his home in Haddonfield, N.J. He is co-founder of Renew, an inner-city non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing for the disadvantaged in Camden, N.J.
