The Blue Jackets had a commanding 3-1 lead at that point. How did that make Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan feel? MORE: NHL playoffs: Scores, schedules and news “I thought it had been our best start to the series,” he said. “It was hands-down our best first period. The score didn’t indicate that, but we really liked a lot of the first period.” Really? That helps explain how the defending Stanley Cup champions outlasted the Blue Jackets 5-4 in an overtime victory to take a 3-0 lead series....

Pittsburgh (42-27-12) has one more opportunity Saturday in its regular-season finale against the NHL-worst Sabres (23-50-8). The simplest way it can get in is to beat Buffalo. If Pittsburgh loses in regulation or manages just a point, then it will need help from the Bruins or the Senators. MORE: Standings | Scoreboard | Bad news, Bruins Pittsburgh surrendered goals to Jonn Tavares and Michael Grabner in the third period Friday after playing to a 1-1 tie over the first 40 minutes....

Smith, the No. 2 inside linebacker in the country, the No. 30 overall player in 247Sports’ Composite rankings and the top player in the state of Virginia, made his decision during a Monday announcement ceremony. MORE: Penn State 2018 lookahead With Smith’s commitment, Penn State now boasts the No. 14 overall class in the country and third-best Big Ten class, behind only Michigan and Ohio State. He is the Nittany Lions’ highest-ranked player according to 247Sports, and their third top-100 player....

Texas took over the division lead Tuesday by beating the Astros for a second consecutive night. This time, Mitch Moreland delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Drew Stubbs and secure a 6-5 victory. MORE: Every team’s worst September collapse | Astros-Rangers helps argument for radical realignment Eight games below .500 on May 3, the Rangers are 77-67 and half a game up on the Astros entering their game against Houston on Wednesday....

The win moved the Cubs six games back in the National League Central and one game behind the Pirates — who lost to the Dodgers — for the NL’s top wild-card spot. MORE: The 10 worst designated hitters of all time | Maddon blasts ‘vigilante,’ ‘insane’ Cards after Rizzo plunked | Full standings Castro was a perfect 3 for 3 against St. Louis. He’s batting .356 in 33 games since being switched from full-time shortstop to semiregular second baseman....

All states must draft new legislative district maps to reflect any demographic changes documented in the results of the once-a-decade U.S. Census. But the process is often slowed by partisan conflicts because how a district border is drawn can potentially give one party a better chance of emerging victorious in an election. Pennsylvania’s primary election is scheduled to take place on May 17, but the state’s top election official, Acting Secretary of State Veronica Degraffenreid, is asking for a final map well in advance....

Pennsylvania Rep. Michael Regan plans to introduce a bill that will rename the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge over the Susquehanna River the Joseph V. Paterno Memorial Bridge. MORE: SN coach rankings | Top 25 | Bowl Projections The bill hasn’t been introduced yet, but a letter was sent out seeking cosponsors in the project. Paterno’s name has been stripped from buildings, trophies, honors and jobs in light of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal....

“(A) late helmet-to-helmet hit against a defenseless player in which Beckham left his feet prior to contact to spring forward and upward into his opponent, lowered his helmet and initiated forcible contact with his helmet, and forcibly struck the defenseless player’s head. “This ‘blindside block’ was particularly flagrant because Beckham, with a 10-yard running start, had an unobstructed path to his opponent, the position of the opponent was not impacted by any other player, and the contact with the head/neck was avoidable....

The rotund Boston Red Sox designated hitter manned the driveway at a New Hampshire Dunkin’ Donuts Tuesday as part of a promotion to raise money for childrens hospitals in the New England area. The 230-pounder also slung coffee and took plenty of photos with fans who stopped through the store. MORE: Yoan Moncada to make minor league debut | Chewbacca throws out first pitch at Red Sox game | 5 predictions for 2015 Red Sox “This is awesome,” one patron told Manchester, N....

Crump shared the two-minute clip on his page late Wednesday, adding that it showed racism is a “worldwide pandemic.” The video has since amassed around 60,000 views and has been circulated widely. “WOW. Now we can’t even wear a WATCH while Black without ’looking suspicious’?! This is the DEFINITION of racial profiling!” Crump wrote alongside the video. “This video shows that racism is a WORLDWIDE PANDEMIC, and we need a cure for it NOW!...

The Minneapolis-based attorney representing the officers’ case raised discrimination charges against Ramsey County in complaints filed to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, which obtained a copy of complaints, eight correctional officers of color employed by the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center said they were prohibited from interacting with Chauvin when he was taken into custody on May 29. One complaint reportedly recounted a supervisor at the detention center telling an officer that they posed a potential “liability” due to the nature of Chauvin’s charges....

The 21-year-old has previously worked with Saints boss Claude Puel in France and will provide added competition between the sticks. Puel: Saints go to Wembley to win Hassen arrives at St Mary’s having made 50 senior appearances for Nice and boasts France international experience at every youth level from U16s up to the U21 set-up. He is looking forward to taking on a new challenge in England and settling into new surroundings....

Guardiola: Aguero asked for restaurant talks West Brom released a statement on Friday confirming that a deal had been agreed with their Premier League rivals and Stoke have now finalised the transfer. Berahino has long-since been a transfer target for Mark Hughes and the Stoke boss finally has his man, with the 23-year-old signing a five-and-a-half-year deal at the bet365 Stadium. Stoke chief executive Tony Scholes told the club’s official website: “It’s no secret that we have been looking to bring Saido to the club for a long time and to suggest that we are pleased to have finally concluded the deal is an understatement....

The 26-year-old, who has been capped 16 times by his country, has agreed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the struggling Premier League club. Zlatan: I conquered England in three months! Narsingh will wear the number 28 shirt and is the first signing made by Paul Clement since he took over as head coach on January 3. Speaking to the club’s official website, Narsingh said: “I’ve looked at the Premier League for two or three years now, and Swansea always play good football....

John Kneuer was named administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration in May 2006 by President Bush. Kneuer will resign this month to pursue new opportunities, agency spokesman Todd Sedmak said Friday. Kneuer’s resignation as the president’s top telecommunications adviser comes amid considerable concern on Capitol Hill over the manner in which the government is handling the conversion by television broadcasters from analog to digital broadcasting. On Feb. 18, 2009, tens of millions of televisions that are not equipped to receive digital signals will no longer be able to receive programming....

But that would all change if the fence goes up. The massive structure would interrupt range patterns and cut off access to many species’ food and water sources. And the animals can’t simply go around the fence, which will extend well past their territories. “We can’t just shrink down the amount of available habitat and expect everything to be OK,” says Heather Zichal, who works on environmental issues for Sen....

In the ensuing months Mourinho laid down an almighty challenge to the attacker, asking him to prove his worth to the club without the benefit of game time. But his recent re-emergence in the United first team has seen him flourish and on Thursday against Zorya Luhansk it was his moment of magic which eased the Reds’ path through to the Europa League knockout phase on their way to a 2-0 win....