Detroit takes lead over Colorado
DENVER, May 22 (UPI) -- Detroit defenseman Fredrik Olausson scored his first playoff goal in more than 10 years at 12:44 of overtime as the Red Wings reclaimed home-ice advantage in the Western Conference finals with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche Wednesday night.
Just two nights after Colorado used an overtime win to earn a split of the first two games in Detroit, the Red Wings returned the favor.
Detroit had most of the scoring chances in the extra period and ended the game on its eighth shot. Olausson got a pass from Steve Yzerman at the Avalanche blue line, moved to the top of the slot and fired a slap shot that appeared to dip before beating goaltender Patrick Roy to the glove side.
It was the first postseason goal since Game One of the 1992 Smythe Division semifinals for Olausson, who was mobbed by teammates.
The top-seeded Red Wings ended up with a 42-21 advantage in shots but needed a fluke goal by ice-cold Luc Robitaille early in the third period to forge a 1-1 tie.
Game Four is Saturday afternoon in Denver.
Woods seeks 4th straight Memorial win
DUBLIN, Ohio, May 22 (UPI) -- Tiger Woods is shooting for still another record.
Woods can tie the PGA Tour record for consecutive wins in a single tournament when tries for No. 4 at the Memorial, a $4.5 million event that begins Thursday at the Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Woods' domination of the event has progressed from a two-stroke win in 1999 to five shots in 2000 to a whopping seven-shot triumph last year. A triumph this weekend would tie Walter Hagen, who won the PGA Championship from 1924 to 1927 and Gene Sarazen, who took the Miami Open in 1926 and from 1928 to 1930.
A winner of 31 PGA events, Woods already has won more than $3 million this year with victories at the Bay Hill Invitational and The Masters.
U.S. back in action in World tourney
DUSSELDORF, Germany, May 22 (UPI) -- The United States resumes competition Thursday in the ATP World Cup claycourt tennis event, taking on Sweden.
Competing in the Red Group, the U.S. is 1-1, as in all the other three teams in that group. Argentina takes ion France in the other game.
In Blue Group action Wednesday, Britain and Russia recorded their first wins. Britain claimed a 2-1 victory over Germany and Russia beat Spain by the same score.
Leafs coach return uncertain
TORONTO, May 22 (UPI) -- Toronto Maple Leafs Coach Pat Quinn is being treated for an irregular heartbeat and likely will miss the next two games of the Eastern Conference finals, it was announced Wednesday.
The team disclosed that Quinn remains under observation at Toronto General Hospital after undergoing a series of tests. His condition is expected to be controlled by medication, Maple Leafs President Ken Dryden said.
It is "very unlikely" Quinn will be behind the bench for Thursday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, who lead the best-of-seven series, two games to one.
If Quinn cannot return, assistant Rick Ley will run the team for the second straight contest. Ley was behind the bench for Tuesday's 2-1 overtime loss at the Air Canada Centre that returned home-ice advantage to Carolina.
Following Thursday's contest, the series shifts back to Raleigh on Saturday for Game Five.
Mighty Ducks name Babcock coach
ANAHEIM, Calif., May 22 (UPI) -- The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim promoted from within on Wednesday, naming Mike Babcock as the new coach of the struggling franchise.
Babcock has coached the team's top minor league affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey League, the last two seasons.
Earlier this month, the Ducks elevated Coach Bryan Murray to the position of senior vice president and general manager. In his new position, Murray relinquished his coaching duties and began a search for the Ducks' sixth coach in their nine-year history. He decided on the 39-year-old Babcock, who posted a 74-59-20-7 record at Cincinnati and led the team to the playoffs in each of his two seasons.
Seles advances in first Madrid test
MADRID, May 22 (UPI) -- Top seed Monica Seles of the United States advanced Wednesday but two other seeded players fell in the second round of the $170,000 Madrid Open claycourt tennis tournament.
Seles, who had a bye in the first round, moved into the quarterfinals with a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Spain's Marta Marrero.
American Chanda Rubin had the biggest upset of the
day, posting a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) victory over Spain's Arantxa Sanchez Vicario.
Four seeded players lost in the first round on Tuesday.
Koch defends title in Corning Classic
CORNING, N.Y., May 22 (UPI) -- Carin Koch opens defense of her Corning Classic title Thursday, hoping her husband Stefan will again be her good luck charm.
With Stefan carrying her bags for the first time in more than a year, Koch broke through for her first and only LPGA title. She recorded a four-round total of 18-under par 270, defeating fellow Swede Maria Hjorth and Mhairi McKay by two strokes.
Among those trying to dethrone Koch are five players in the top 20, including leading-money winner Rosie Jones, who captured consecutive titles here in 1996 and 1997
