The statement from the Broward County Aviation Department says the airport is ready to accommodate the high volume of passengers during the holiday period that runs Thursday through May 30.

The department said it anticipates an average of 59,000 passengers a day during the seven-day travel period. Aviation Department officials expect the busiest travel days to be Thursday and Friday.

Spokesman Gregory Meyer says the airport averaged the same number of passengers last Memorial weekend.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Rollergirl and The Fabulous Sports Babe share their thoughts on a story involving a snow cone vendor who did this in a stall at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, as well as a local tiger that needed surgery to remove a massive hairball, Jimmy Buffett opening up a new restaurant, Slash’s obsession with Angry Birds, and more! Click below to listen!

Well, comedian Steve Melia did just that, and he’s written a book about his adventures titled “162: The Almost Epic Journey Of A Yankees Superfan”. Listen as he tells The Fabulous Sports Babe how and why it started, what he jokingly called the journey, what analogy he used for his friend that quit less than halfway through, and more!!

#1 Chicago vs # 7 Detroit

Game 1– Wed, May 15, Detroit 1, Chicago 4

Game 2– Sat, May 18, Detroit 4, Chicago 1

Game 3– Mon, May 20, Chicago 1, Detroit 3

Game 4– Thu, May 23, Chicago at Detroit- 8 PM ET

Game 5– Sat , May 25, Detroit at Chicago- 8 PM ET

Game 6– Mon, May 27, Chicago at Detroit-Time TBD

Game 7– Wed, May 29, Detroit at Chicago -Time TBD

#5 Los Angeles vs #6 San Jose

Game 1– Tue, May 14, San Jose 0, Los Angeles 2

Game 2– Thu, May 16, San Jose 3, Los Angeles 4

Game 3– Sat, May 18, Los Angeles 1, San Jose 2

Game 4– Tue, May 21, Los Angeles 1, San Jose 2

Game 5– Thu, May 23, San Jose at Los Angeles- 10:30 PM ET

Game 6– Sun, May 26, Los Angeles at San Jose- Time TBD

Game 7– Tue, May 28, San Jose at Los Angeles- Time TBD

Eastern Conference

#1 Pittsburgh vs # 7 Ottawa

Game 1– Tue, May 14, Ottawa 1, Pittsburgh 4

Game 2– Fri, May 17, Ottawa 3, Pittsburgh 4

Game 3– Sun, May 19, Pittsburgh 1, Ottawa 2

Game 4– Wed, May 22, Pittsburgh 7, Ottawa 3

Game 5– Fri, May 24, Ottawa at Pittsburgh- 7:30 PM ET

Game 6– Sun, May 26, Pittsburgh at Ottawa- Time TBD

Game 7– Tue, May 28, Ottawa at Pittsburgh- Time TBD

#4 Boston vs # 6 NY Rangers

Game 1– Thu, May 16, NY Rangers 2, Boston 3

Game 2– Sun, May 19, NY Rangers 2, Boston 5

Game 3– Tue, May 21, Boston 2, NY Rangers 1

Game 4– Thu, May 23, Boston at NY Rangers- 7 PM ET

Game 5– Sat, May 25, NY Rangers at Boston- 5:30 PM ET

Game 6– Mon, May 27, Boston at NY Rangers- Time TBD

Game 7– Wed, May 29, NY Rangers at Boston- Time TBD

#2 San Antonio vs #5 Memphis

Game 1 — Sun, May 19, Memphis 83, San Antonio 105

Game 2 — Tue, May 21, Memphis 89, San Antonio 93 (OT)

Game 3 — Sat, May 25, San Antonio at Memphis 9 PM ET

Game 4 — Mon, May 27, San Antonio at Memphis 9 PM ET

Game 5 – Wed, May 29, Memphis at San Antonio- Time TBD

Game 6*– Fri, May 31, San Antonio at Memphis- Time TBD

Game 7*– Sun, June 2, Memphis at San Antonio- Time TBD

Eastern Conference

#1 Miami vs. #3 Indiana

Game 1 — Wed, May 22, Indiana 102, Miami 103 (OT)

Game 2 — Fri, May 24, Indiana at Miami 8:30 PM ET

Game 3 — Sun, May 26, Miami at Indiana 8:30 PM ET

Game 4 — Tue, May 28, Miami at Indiana 8:30 PM ET

Game 5*– Thu, May 30, Indiana at Miami- Time TBD

Game 6*– Sat, June 1, Miami at Indiana- Time TBD

Game 7*– Mon, June 3, Indiana at Miami- Time TBD

By Christian S. Kohl

With the Heat set to square off against the Pacers, the question on the mind of every fan is what, if anything, can manage to topple LeBron and his quest for a second title? As the feats, and really the legend of LeBron James grows ever larger, he has begun to transcend the game itself, much to the dismay of many fans. Consequently, is he, or Commissioner David Stern, the greatest villain currently in the NBA?

>>Watch More Sports Verdict Episodes Here

LeBron began truly ruffling the feathers of fans when he began his seemingly endless shopping trip of where best to take his talents. While his approach was undeniably abrasive, he has quieted any critics and answered all questions about his ability to perform at the highest level. In fact, he has done so to such a great extent, it is the sheer raw ability of James which not only irks rival fans, but has grown his legend into that of the Boogeyman. LeBron James is the looming figure every team must now overcome to have any hope of winning a ring. But let’s be honest. Of all outspoken and obnoxious figures in sports, James wouldn’t even make the top 10, and even if the irritating or even villainous aspects of his persona were magnified tenfold, every rival fan would donate a kidney to get him to sign with their organization. He has become so good that opposing fans simply have to vilify him.

In the debate between these two, in my mind there is no contest. David Stern is more a villain in the NBA than James could ever be. In the first place, the very job description of any Commissioner is to serve as the lightning rod for all league controversies – the common enemy fans, writers and owners alike can point to as the source of all blame. The longer one holds that post, the more demonized the Commissioner will become. David Stern has acted as NBA Commissioner since 1984, which is at least 20 years more than he needed to be the most evil figure in basketball even had he done everything right.

James also offers a tradeoff, which Stern cannot. Whether you love or hate LeBron, he still provides thrilling moments in the game, clutch shots, huge dunks, and a highlight reel that could run for an hour by the time his career ends. He brings unrivaled excitement and elevates the stakes of every contest. Stern can do no such thing. He is simply the Chief Suit of the NBA.

Worst of all, Stern’s actions of late simply terrify fans. His bungling of the Chris Paul trade, his sanctions against the Spurs, and his decision with the Kings leaves fans afraid his overreaching influence threatens the very integrity of the game they love. LeBron James is a superstar player who annually represents the possibility of ending the season of your favorite team. The series of controversial and erratic acts of Stern leaves fans frightened of the prospect that he may destroy basketball itself. There can be nothing so villainous or haunting as that notion. In a head-to-head comparison of the most reviled figure in the NBA, Stern wins by a landslide.

Christian S. Kohl is a sports contributor for CBS Local Digital Media.

Check back for scores, game recaps, player news and more.

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However, even if Hibbert had been on the court it likely wouldn’t have made any difference in the final outcome of the game.

That was the message TNT NBA analyst Charles Barkley had for people after the game and it was echoed Thursday morning by NBA champion Bruce Bowen on ESPN Radio. The basic message was simple, Hibbert doesn’t have the speed or athleticism to get there to stop LeBron from getting to the basket.

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra designed arguably the perfect play for LeBron and the Heat executed the play to perfection. Right before LeBron flashed to the top of the key to get the ball, Chris Bosh began to move slightly to the outside to draw his defender away from the basket.

Indiana had to respect Bosh’s ability to either hit a mid-range jump shot or flash to the basket for a pass from LeBron. That’s why Bosh’s defender moved out from the basket.

However, the two parts that made the play work were LeBron’s speed to the basket and Pacers forward Paul George overcommitting to one side allowing LeBron to go right past him to the basket.

Still, some said having Hibbert on the floor would have altered LeBron’s plan going to the basket. But, Indiana head coach Frank Vogel played the odds the way the season has broken down for the Pacers against the Heat.

During the regular season, when Hibbert was on the court, Miami hit approximately 50 percent of its shots in the paint versus just 40 percent when Hibbert was off the court. Plus, in the mid-range area, Miami struggled much more with Hibbert off the court, 27 percent, than when he was on the court, 47 percent.

In Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Indiana gave Miami everything they could handle and the Heat allowed the Pacers to stay in the game with horrendous free throw shooting. Still, in the end when it counted most, the Heat and Coach Spoelstra simply outexecuted Indiana.

It’s a great start to a series that will test Miami’s ability to not only win the Eastern Conference, but also how the Heat can match up against the likely Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs.

Game 2 is set for Friday night at the AmericanAirlines Arena.

MIAMI (AP) — LeBron James caught the inbounds pass, changed direction and immediately attacked the rim.

There was no one in his way.

There was no stopping him, either.

James made a layup as time expired in overtime, capping a 30-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist effort as the Miami Heat found a way to outlast the Indiana Pacers 103-102 in a wildly back-and-forth Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night. There were 18 ties and 17 lead changes, the last two of those coming in the final 2.2 seconds.

“Two teams fought hard,” James said. “We were able to make one more play.”

If this is how this series is going to go, then get ready for a classic between teams that absolutely wanted to face the other with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.

Paul George saved the Pacers at the end of regulation with a 32-footer with 0.7 seconds left, and then made three free throws with 2.2 ticks left in overtime to give Indiana a one-point lead. George pumped his fist gently after the third free throw, then extended his index finger skyward as the teams retreated to their benches to get ready for the final play.

He just left James too much time, and the Pacers left their best shot-blocking option on the bench. Roy Hibbert wasn’t on the floor for the final play, and without a 7-foot-2 barrier to contest him, James made the winner look easy.

“Two great teams just throwing punch for punch,” Indiana coach Frank Vogel said. “Our spirit is very high, very confident. We know we can play with this basketball team.”

Vogel said he left Hibbert off the floor for the final play out of concern of what defending champion Miami would do with Chris Bosh in that scenario. Afterward, he acknowledged he might have different thinking next time.

“I would say we would probably have him in next time,” Vogel said.

Game 2 is Friday night in Miami.

Officials reviewed James’ play at the end, though it was clear he beat the clock, and the Pacers walked slowly toward their locker room, lamenting one that got away — by no fault of George’s.

“Gut-wrenching,” Hibbert said.

George was fouled by Dwyane Wade on the play where the Pacers had to think they had stolen the series opener. Referee Jason Phillips said Wade hit George, and the Pacers’ star made all three free throws for the 16th lead change of the night.

The final lead change came moments later.

“Welcome to the Eastern Conference finals,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Back and forth the whole way.”

Wade scored 19 points, Bosh had 17 and Chris Andersen had 16 on 7-for-7 shooting for Miami.

George scored 27 for the Pacers, who got 26 from David West and 19 from Hibbert. The Pacers have won only two series in NBA franchise history after dropping a Game 1.

“It just felt like everything was in our favor,” George said.

The final few seconds of regulation were stunning, with Ray Allen — the sixth-best free-throw shooter in NBA history — missing one that proved big, and George making a miracle happen.

Trailing by two with 17.7 seconds left, the Pacers had to foul Allen, who surely would have been their last choice. But he missed one of the two free throws, and it remained a one-possession game. Indiana brought the ball into the frontcourt, called time, and then seemed to have nothing really working as the final seconds of regulation ticked away.

So George simply made something happen.

From 32 feet — from the newly applied Eastern Conference finals sticker on the side of the court, technically — George connected with 0.7 seconds left, tying the game and giving Indiana life.

Allen didn’t get much of a desperation shot off at the end of regulation, and to overtime the teams went.

“It took an overtime to get it done,” Spoelstra said. “Glad to get that one.”

The Pacers kept landing the first punches in the extra session. George made a pair of free throws to open the OT, and Andersen tied it with a pair of his own. Hibbert scored from close range, and Wade answered with an easy one after a runout for the 16th tie of the night.

George was far from done. He went past James, got into the lane, tossed up a shot after contact and started what became a three-point play that put the Pacers up 99-96. Miami had three chances at the tie — a desperation 3-pointer by Shane Battier as the shot clock was expiring, then a 3-point try by Bosh and another 3 attempt by Battier.

All missed.

But Bosh grabbed the rebound of the last Battier shot that bounced off the rim in that sequence, scored while being fouled by George with 49.7 seconds left, calmly swished the free throw and the teams were — what else? — tied again at 99-all.

James scored on a drive with 10.8 seconds left in the overtime, and George answered with the three free throws. With Hibbert on the bench, Indiana had one plan for James on the last play.

“We wanted LeBron to shoot a jumper right there,” George said.

He was just better.

And after 3 hours, 18 minutes, it was over.

“We’re excited about the win,” James said. “But we have to get better going into Game 2.”

NOTES: Celebrities in attendance included Jimmy Buffett and Anna Kournikova. … James picked up two first-quarter fouls for just the ninth time in 125 career playoff games. … West’s 18 first-half points were his most before halftime since March 24, 2011, when he had 20 through two quarters against Utah. … From the not-often-seen department, a lane violation against the Pacers that led to James getting a second (and successful) chance on a missed free throw, and a 5-second call against Wade, both of those coming in the first half.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Tuesday’s top seed for Cleveland marks the second time in three years that the team has won the lottery; point guard Kyrie Irving was their top selection in 2011.

Although the Orlando Magic entered the lottery with the best chances of securing the top pick, they ended up with the second pick.

The rest of the NBA lottery order held to form for the most part with the Charlotte Bobcats dropping from two to four.

As the NBA lottery has been set, the following list below is the complete order for the 2013 NBA Draft:

First Round:

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto)
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz
15. Milwaukee Bucks
16. Boston Celtics
17. Atlanta Hawks
18. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston via Brooklyn)
19. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Los Angeles)
20. Chicago Bulls
21. Utah Jazz (from Golden State via Brooklyn)
22. Brooklyn Nets
23. Indiana Pacers
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Clippers
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Memphis via Houston)
27. Denver Nuggets
28. San Antonio Spurs
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
30. Phoenix Suns (from Miami via L.A. and Cleveland)

Second Round:

31. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Orlando)
32. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Charlotte)
33. Cleveland Cavaliers
34. Houston Rockets (from Phoenix)
35. Philadelphia 76ers (from New Orleans)
36. Sacramento Kings
37. Detroit Pistons
38. Washington Wizards
39. Portland Trail Blazers (from Minnesota via Boston & Cleveland)
40. Portland Trail Blazers
41. Memphis Grizzlies (from Toronto)
42. Philadelphia 76ers
43. Milwaukee Bucks
44. Dallas Mavericks (pick may be conveyed to Lakers)
45. Portland Trail Blazers (from Boston)
46. Utah Jazz
47. Atlanta Hawks
48. Los Angeles Lakers (pick may be conveyed to Dallas)
49. Chicago Bulls
50. Atlanta Hawks (from Houston)
51. Orlando Magic (from Golden State via Denver & New York)
52. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Brooklyn)
53. Indiana Pacers
54. Washington Wizards (from New York)
55. Memphis Grizzlies
56. Detroit Pistons (from Clippers)
57. Phoenix Suns (from Denver via. Lakers)
58. San Antonio Spurs
59. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Oklahoma City)
60. Memphis Grizzlies (from Miami)

But given their recent track record in close-out games, the Rangers may have a few more days left in their playoff lives.

The Bruins may be up 3-0 in the series, but have struggled to close things out under head coach Claude Julien. Just last series they let a pair of potential clinchers get away after jumping out to a 3-1 series lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and needed a miracle comeback in the final 10 minutes of Game 7 to get to the Eastern Semis.

Read: Bruins-Rangers Game 4 Preview

Then of course, there is that 2010 collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers, when the Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead.

But the 2013 Boston Bruins aren’t living in the past. They’re focused on the task at hand.

“I think we live in the moment. You learn from the past and you live in the moment, but you don’t live in the past,” head coach Claude Julien said on Wednesday. “Right now, we’re living in the moment and I like where our team is right now; the attitude and the approach.”

“We’re not looking at it the way other people are going to look at it and try to find reasons to give New York some hope,” the coach continued. “We’re not even going there. We’re looking at the present right now, and the present is getting prepared to play a real good game (in Game 4).”

CBS New York: Rangers Focusing On First Step

The Bruins have held a 3-0 advantage 18 times in their storied history, winning all but that 2010 series against Philadelphia. Boston is 13-5 in Game 4′s when going for the sweep, and they won’t be changing much as they look to accomplish that Thursday night.

“Same as always; we’re going to have to come out hard, get up early and get some momentum going,” said forward Shawn Thornton, whose fourth line scored both of Boston’s goals in Tuesday’s Game 3 win. “We have to play the full game; it’s not over until we finish it off. They’re going to give us their best and we’re going to have to be ready for that.”

Closing out the Rangers Thursday night would give the Bruins some much-needed rest before the Eastern Conference Finals, but they aren’t thinking about any potential rest. All they’re looking at is putting together a winning effort in the next game on the schedule.

Read: Seidenberg Says ‘There’s A Chance’ He Returns In Game 4

“(Rest) would be nice but we know and we’ve learned as a team that the last one is the hardest in past years, even the last series,” said forward David Krejci. “We’ve got to get ready for tomorrow and play it just like a Game 1.”

“It’s only been three games, and these last couple – (Game 3) could have went either way,” said Thornton. “We still have some work to do; the last one is always the toughest one.”

Tune in to every Bruins playoff game on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins. Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes before every game!

Not only is Mickie James a TNA wrestler and the former two-time TNA Women’s Knockout Champion, but she’s also a country singer! You can follow Mickie @MickieJames and join her legions (400,000 strong) of twitter followers.

Mickie is close to Magnus, who is of course, best-known on the Kirk & Dinger Show as “Kirk’s Man-crush.” She gives us an honest look at the world of female wrestling…proving yourself in a man’s world and staying sexy while doing so.

Howard has held top-seeded Chicago to only one goal in two straight games, lifting seventh-seeded Detroit to a 2-1 series lead. He was the star of the end-to-end, high-paced Game 3 the Red Wings won 4-1 on Monday night, when he became their first goalie to face at least 40 shots without giving up more than a goal in the playoffs since Greg Stefan did it 1987.

“That was probably the fastest playoff game I’ve ever been a part of,” Howard said. “I expect it just to get faster Thursday night. They’re going to step it up. We need to come even harder.”

Detroit will host Game 4 on Thursday night, shooting for a surprising win that would put Chicago on the brink of elimination.

Howard’s glove, pads and mindset give the Red Wings a shot to win every time they put on sweaters with winged wheels. Since Detroit trailed second-seeded Anaheim 3-2 in the first round, Howard has won four of five games and is averaging two goals against and 34-plus saves.

“You have to have a good goalie to go anywhere in the playoffs and we have it,” Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.

The Blackhawks seem confident they also have a netminder good enough to finish their season as strong as it started. Lately though, Corey Crawford has been shaky – or at least he hasn’t been able to overcome enough of his teammates’ mistakes in front of him.

Crawford won five of his first six games in the playoffs, shutting out Minnesota once and allowing a total of eight goals during his strong start. But he has given up a combined seven goals over the last two games after allowing one goal in the first period of the series opener.

When Chicago began its season-opening run of 24 games with at least a point backup goalie Ray Emery was 10-0 during the NHL record-breaking stretch while Crawford was injured. Emery finished the regular season 17-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average, leaving his last outing early because of a lower-body injury nearly a month ago at Edmonton.

Is Emery an option for Game 4?

“We’re not talking about that right now,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Monday night. And the next day, he was succinct when asked to assess how Crawford has played the past few games.

“He’s been fine,” Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks probably don’t want to put more pressure on Crawford, but they were likely looking for more than him being “fine” in his third postseason as their No. 1 goalie.

Chicago couldn’t afford to keep Antti Niemi after he was the franchise’s backstop when it hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2010 and he beat out Marty Turco for the job the next season.

Crawford has been an impressive 82-40-18 the last three regular seasons, but a lackluster 10-11 in the playoffs. The Montreal native sounds as if he’s ready to bounce back to help the team respond well enough to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the 2011-12 season.

“We haven’t had a lot of adversity this year,” Crawford said. “We just have to dig deep and battle.”

The Red Wings, meanwhile, barely made the playoffs and they leaned on Howard a lot because their team was challenged offensively because of injuries and the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom.

Howard had to play in 42 of 48 games during the lockout-shortened season because he didn’t have a healthy, or capable, backup for much of the season. He was 21-13-7 and tied for the league lead with five shutouts, leading to him getting a $31.8 million, six-year contract to keep him off the market as a free agent this summer.

Like Crawford, Howard has been really good during the regular season – for four seasons as a No. 1 goalie – and average in the playoffs with a .500 record going into Game 4.

In a town where the goalie is in the spotlight, win or lose, Zetterberg said Howard has the perfect temperament for the job.

“Nothing really bothers him,” Zetterberg said. “If he lets in a goal, he just flushes it and moves on.”

Copyright 2013 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis also scored for Pittsburgh, and Tomas Vokoun made 30 saves. Down 2-1 after the first period, the Penguins scored twice in a 40-second span early in the second and added four goals in the first 10 minutes in the third.

Milan Michalek, Kyle Turris and Daniel Alfredsson scored for Ottawa. Senators goalie Craig Anderson was benched after Pittsburgh’s sixth goal, and Robin Lehner finished the game.

Game 5 is Friday night in Pittsburgh.

The Senators, coming off a double-overtime victory Sunday night in Game 3, opened the scoring on Michalek’s short-handed goal at 2:29 of the first period. With defenseman Sergei Gonchar in the penalty box, Alfredsson fed the puck up the middle to a streaking Michalek, who broke through the defense and beat Vokoun low on the glove side for Ottawa’s second short-handed goal of the series.

It was the Senators’ first lead of the series. It wouldn’t last.

Neal tied it with 5:04 left in the period, picking up the loose puck in the slot and putting it in the back of the net. Turris put Ottawa back in front off a rebound with 3:45 left in the first.

Pittsburgh tied it early in the second when Kunitz got behind the defense and went in alone to beat Anderson. Less than a minute later, Anderson gave up a rebound on Kris Letang’s shot that landed on the tape of Iginla’s stick to make it 3-2.

Neal started the third-period flurry with a power-play goal at 1:59. Dupuis added a short-handed goal at 8:07, Crosby followed at 8:39, and Iginla scored on a power play at 9:53.

Alfredsson finished the scoring with a late power-play goal for his 100th career playoff point.

RELATED LINKS:
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(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Authorities believe that the perpetrator, 53-year-old Frances Terry Evans, did so to avoid compliance with an order from Pasco County officials to give the animals up by Tuesday.

Hernando County Sheriff’s Office were called to the scene after being asked by a Pasco County Code Enforcement Official to investigate the U-Haul, which was parked at a local Publix. According to a press release issued by police, when deputies arrived, they found the U-Haul, and “could hear animals in obvious distress inside [it].”

The temperature of the interior of the vehicle was described as “extremely hot,” and the animals were trapped inside of what police referred to in the release as “plastic containers (similar to Tupperware containers).”

In all, officials with Hernando County Animal Service found 50 cats and three dogs on board – the vast majority of them in need of urgent veterinary assistance due to their deteriorating states.

The animals were taken to a facility with Hernando County Animal Services for further care, after Pasco County Code Enforcement officials refused to take them.

Responding police speculated as to the motive behind Evans’ actions.

The release stated, “The Pasco Code Enforcement Officials identified the driver and owner … [and] believed she took the animals to the Publix parking lot in an effort to hide them, as she was court ordered to turn them over to Pasco County officials by [May 21].”

Evans was charged with 53 counts of animal abandonment and fined $500 per count – $26,500 in all. A warrant for 53 counts of animal cruelty has also been obtained, the report noted.

They have outclassed the New York Rangers all over the ice in surging to a 3-0 lead in a series that could be over Thursday.

If the Bruins start firing on all cylinders, the Rangers will have little hope of even forcing a Game 5 let alone entertaining thoughts of matching the greatest comeback in sports.

The Bruins could afford to relax Wednesday, and many of them did, as the team held an optional practice at Madison Square Garden — the site of Boston’s 2-1 comeback win a night earlier that pushed the Rangers within one loss of elimination.

HARTNETT: RICHARDS REDUCED TO PASSENGER ROLE

New York also got back on the ice at its suburban practice facility, and it was clear the sting of Tuesday night’s disheartening defeat lingered.

The Rangers are just over one week removed from back-to-back shutouts by Henrik Lundqvist in Games 6 and 7 against the Washington Capitals in the first round, but those good times feel a whole lot longer ago now.

Any kind of comeback now starts with Game 4 in New York. Three teams have recovered from an 0-3 hole to win an NHL series.

“We’re not looking at odds or anything like that,” Rangers captain Ryan Callahan said. “We’re looking at one game at home, and we’ll try to bring this thing back to Boston. That’s the only way we can look at it, to try to win one game in our building.”

The Bruins want to cut this short and not give the Rangers any reason to believe. New York trailed Washington 2-0 in the opening round and then 3-2 before advancing.

There is history hanging over Boston, including a blown 3-0 lead to Philadelphia in a series loss in 2010 and a squandered 3-1 edge in this year’s first round to Toronto before the Bruins rallied to win Game 7.

“You learn from the past, but you live in the moment. You don’t live in the past,” Bruins coach Claude Julien said. “I like where our team is right now. We’re certainly not looking at it the way other people will look at it — trying to find reasons to give New York some hope, saying ‘These guys have done this, these guys have had trouble doing this.’

“We’re certainly not even going there.”

Rangers forwards Darroll Powe and Arron Asham were on that Philadelphia team that stunned the Bruins with an epic comeback in 2010.

CBS BOSTON: BRUINS’ SEIDENBERG COULD RETURN

While several players said Wednesday they believe this series can still be won, the mantra was the same as it has been all season — following the words of coach John Tortorella that the focus must be completely on the next game.

“Obviously, we can’t win four games (Thursday) night. We have to focus on just the task at hand, which is coming out strong on our first shift,” said Powe, who is currently sidelined by injury. “We go shift by shift, we just chip away. You’ve got to try to win every shift. That’s how we’re going to get back in the series.”

The Rangers had been 3-0 at home in the playoffs and had won nine straight at Madison Square Garden, dating to the regular season.

Tuesday’s loss was their first in regulation in which they led going into the third period since February 2010.

A fluke goal with 3:31 remaining by fourth-liner Daniel Paille, who put in a puck Lundqvist never saw, made the disappointment that much greater. Boston defenseman Johnny Boychuk scored his fourth goal of the postseason earlier in the third with a shot that might have clipped forward Shawn Thornton — Paille’s bruising linemate along with Gregory Campbell.

That was enough to give the Bruins their second one-goal win of the series.

Paille had a goal and assist in Game 3 for his first points of the series. Thornton assisted on both goals, to get himself on the score sheet for the first time against the Rangers, and Campbell had an assist on the game-winner to go along with a goal he scored in Game 2.

“Hopefully it keeps going,” Thornton said of the production from the line that was put together during the 2010-11 season. “We’re trying to get back out there so we’ve got to give it everything we have. I have said it a million times, I am very fortunate to play with those two guys. They are extremely good hockey players and they would probably be on better lines than the fourth line on other teams.”

The Rangers would be happy to get offense from anywhere. After busting out in a 5-0 win in Game 7 against the Capitals, New York has been held to five total goals in three games against goalie Tuukka Rask and the rest of the Bruins.

New York seemed to lack the required energy and urgency to take advantage in Game 4. The Rangers have also failed to capitalize on an injured Boston defense that is using three rookies with success.

“I like our team,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “We’ve got good people. We need to have more people playing more minutes, consistently. We’ll be ready to play. I hope we get to another level of desperation. That’s not just running around all over the place, it’s about winning those battles at key times.”

While injured Bruins defensemen Dennis Seidenberg and Wade Redden continue to practice and move closer to returning, the Rangers are dealing with the loss of defenseman Anton Stralman, who got hurt when he was checked hard Tuesday night by Milan Lucic and left the game in the second period.

“Losing Stralsy is a big blow,” said Tortorella. “He puts himself in a situation there where he’s trying to make a play and gets hurt. He’s done that really through the playoffs here.”

His status for Game 4 is questionable at best. If he sits out, the Rangers could turn to Roman Hamrlik or Matt Gilroy. Marc Staal doesn’t appear ready to play because of an eye injury.

“To a defense that I think is lacking a little depth right now, it hurts us,” Tortorella said of Stralman’s injury. “We’re down 0-3. There’s no sense of feeling pressure. Players that get to play … grab a hold of it and let it happen.”

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• (AUDIO) Rich Herrera’s Rays Report: May 23rd

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

And if Quick needed any extra motivation to stop the Sharks again in the pivotal Game 5 on Thursday night, TJ Galiardi provided it.

Galiardi accused the Conn Smythe Trophy-winning goalie of exaggerating contact with opposing players Wednesday, claiming Quick attempts to draw undeserved penalties.

“What kind of bugs me about him, I don’t know if I should say it, but a little embellishment every now and then,” Galiardi said after the Sharks’ workout in San Jose. “You skate by and you don’t even touch him, or you barely even touch him, and he’s throwing his hands in the air. So that’s one of those things. It’s playoffs. Everyone is trying to draw a penalty. Whatever.”

Galiardi apparently was displeased by Quick’s reaction to an encounter during the Sharks’ 2-1 victory in Game 4 on Tuesday night, with Quick fruitlessly arguing for an interference call after Galiardi made contact with him. Galiardi’s comments added even more spice to this lively series heading back to Staples Center, where the Kings have won 12 straight games since March.

“The thing is, with video, something we like to say around here is, `Ball don’t lie,’” Galiardi said. “It’s an old basketball term, but when you watch the video, the video doesn’t lie. So I’m skating by and I barely touch him, and he’s throwing his hands in the air. It’s kind of one of those things. He looks bad on video, not me.”

Galiardi has never scored a playoff goal in his five-year NHL career, so he’s hardly the most likely candidate to challenge Quick’s postseason sportsmanship. Quick wasn’t in the Kings’ dressing room after practice at their training complex Wednesday.

The Los Angeles goalie turned in one of the most dominant playoff performances in recent hockey history for the Kings last year before following it up with another stellar postseason effort this spring. After holding St. Louis to 10 goals in the six-game first round, Quick has allowed just seven goals in four games against San Jose, stopping 122 of 129 shots in an otherwise frequently one-sided series.

Quick clearly hasn’t the problem during the Kings’ difficult defense, which now includes as many playoff losses as they took during the entire 2012 postseason. After consecutive 2-1 losses in San Jose, the Kings clearly haven’t backed up their star goalie’s efforts with consistent goal-scoring from their stars or contributions from all four lines, the offensive hallmarks of last season’s surge to the franchise’s first title.

“Recently, we all haven’t done the necessary things to score goals in the playoffs,” said first-line right wing Justin Williams, who has two goals in the postseason. “It’s pure broken record is all it is. Scorers have got to score. If they don’t score, they’ve got to create more offense. We’ve been outplayed so far, top line to top line, I feel in this series. We’re a proud bunch, but it’s still 2-2. We’re still in a good spot.”

Los Angeles has scored just one goal apiece in five of its 10 playoff games, and the Kings have managed just two even-strength goals in the last three games against San Jose. The Kings’ putative top line is struggling mightily: Captain Dustin Brown has just two goals – both on power plays – in the playoffs, and leading scorer Anze Kopitar has just one goal while getting outplayed by San Jose’s Joe Thornton.

“There’s a fine line between desperation and panic, and I’m thinking the guys we have in here will be a desperate group,” said Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi, a two-time Stanley Cup winner. “But we’re not going to do anything out of the ordinary or try to do it ourselves. … We were down 2-0 in the St. Louis series. I know it’s not as easy as everyone thinks it was last year, being up 3-0 in every series, but we have a good mentality in here, and we’re trying to stay upbeat and confident, and realize our best 60 minutes are ahead of us.”

The Kings figure they’re due to break out of their offensive skid, but Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter also is contemplating line switches to create more offense, shuffling the mix in practice Wednesday. Los Angeles has spent much of the series barely surviving against San Jose’s forecheck and high-volume offense, frequently pinned in its own end for long stretches of all four games, particularly in the opening period.

“We’ve got to come out and have a great start,” Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr said. “That’s where it all needs to be focused for us. Just come out and have a good start, play the way we know we can right off the bat, and go from there.”

The Sharks are radiating confidence with two straight wins following Los Angeles’ late heist of Game 2 with two power-play goals in the waning seconds. San Jose is two wins away from its third conference finals appearance in four years, but only if the Sharks manage to crack the Kings’ formidable advantage at Staples Center.

“They’re a great team. They’re the champs,” Thornton said. “They’ve been good on home ice all year, but we feel like our game is getting better and better, and each series keeps getting better. I don’t know if there’s an advantage or not. It’s just we’ve got to go into L.A. now and win one.”

While the Kings’ sellout crowds can be tough, the Sharks are confident they can pick up right where they left off with a few minutes to go in Game 2 before Los Angeles’ electric comeback.

“They stick around,” San Jose defenseman Dan Boyle said of the Kings. “That’s why going after that second and third goal is really important. It’s one of those teams where sitting on a one-goal lead is probably not going to cut it. We need to do a better job of scoring the next one, and the next one after that.”

AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in San Jose, Calif., contributed to this report.

1.Dennis Green
Cuddly, adorable Dennis Green
He looks like a big cub…till he’s mean
After a Chicago Bears game
He was hard to tame
His post-game tirade wasn’t clean

2.John McEnroe
McNasty is what they called McEnroe
A temper, we knew, at a moment could blow
One day on the court
His fuse grew short
And he let the cuss-words flow!

3.Jim Mora
He grew up as an Eagle Scout who never lied
At the end of the game he was on the losing side
Losing the game
Filled him with shame
“Playoffs” made him famous nationwide

4.John Tortorella
A Tampa Bay fave named Tortorella
A hockey coach who’s a passionate fella
If his players did bad on the ice
Surly answers would have to suffice
Or he’d punch you till you sang A Capella*

5.Chris Berman
A first at the four-letter network
He certainly didn’t seem like a jerk
But one day he went crazy
Because someone was lazy
Belittling interns is a job perk

6.Ryan Leaf
A first-rounder on the West Coast
Of his passing skills, many did boast
But he couldn’t play
Drugs got in the way
And now his brain is just toast

7.Hal McRae
A Skipper by the name of Hal
Revered by his players as a pal
But reporters, watch out!
He might scream and shout
And use a few words that are foul

8.Mike Gundy
There once was a coach named Mike Gundy
Who must have had a knot in his undies
He bought a car that was sporty
Because he’s a man, and he’s 40
But now he looks just like Al Bundy

9.Bobby Knight
There was a mean son of a bitch named Knight
A guy always looking for a fight
He choked kids and threw chairs
He’d toss your grandma down stairs
No wonder his teams always played tight

10.Jim Shoenfeld
Here was an ornery, young coach named Shoenfeld
He was pissed because his team hadn’t gelled
So after the Bruins lead got big
He called a ref a fat pig
And no Stanley Cup was held

*Please note, this line was just used for the sake of the rhyme. John Tortorella has never punched a reporter, though certainly he’s wanted to, at times.

You can listen to us go through the countdown and hear the meltdowns!

An MRI revealed the tear, the Daily News reported. The team previously announced Anthony would have the shoulder examined.

Anthony first hurt his shoulder on April 14 against the Indiana Pacers. Now it seems he played the entire Knicks playoff run — 12 games — with a partial tear.

SIMS: SHOULDER WOES MORE THAN WARNING SIGN

“It was bothering me since it happened,” Anthony said Monday. “To be able to play with that and get through the pain, it just came a point where you just try not to think about it. That’s where I was at mentally.”

He aggravated the injury in the first round against Boston. After the Celtics series, a banged-up Anthony said his arm “just kind of popped in and out a little bit.”

The team is “hopeful” that Anthony won’t need surgery, telling the NBA’s scoring champ to take it easy “for the next three to four weeks” until he can be reevaluated, the Daily News reported.

New York was eliminated Saturday by the Pacers.

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In addition to the damage, the woman – 23-year-old Natasha Myers – left a note explaining her actions during the April 17 vandalism incident.

“”Hey I keyed your car,” the note stated, according to the Tampa Bay Times. “You didn’t stop for pedestrians as is law. Since [there was] no cop to enforce a ticket, this should cover the cost of your fine. Have a good day.”

Myers caused an estimated $1,240.13 in damage, the Times additionally learned.

The note added, “P.S. Don’t be a d—.”

The owner of the car, 63-year-old Debra Streets, went to a local Publix after finding the damage and called 911. Deputies with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office arrived soon after, and after watching the store’s surveillance footage, were reportedly able to identify Myers as the culprit.

Streets denied the allegations on the note regarding yielding to pedestrians.

Myers was subsequently arrested and remanded to the Land O’Lakes jail. As of Wednesday, she was still there in lieu of a $5,000 bail, the paper reported, and is facing a criminal mischief charge.

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that a grand jury in Pensacola indicted Charles Kokesh Tuesday on three counts, including violating the Endangered Species Act and making a false statement.

Officials say Kokesh legally imported a sport-hunted African elephant trophy mount from Namibia, but then illegally sold the two tusks, from New Mexico, to a buyer in Florida for $8,100. Authorities say Kokesh then falsely described that sale to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a shipment to an appraiser in anticipation of a donation to a nonprofit entity.

African elephants are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The 17-year-old tiger named Ty underwent the procedure Wednesday at a veterinary center in the Tampa Bay area community of Clearwater. Doctors said in a statement that they safely removed the 4-pound obstruction from Ty’s stomach.

The tiger, which is cared for by Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation in Seminole, was brought to veterinarians after not eating for nearly two weeks. Doctors said they detected the hairball using a scope with a camera.

Vernon Yates, whose nonprofit group regularly assists law enforcement agencies with seized animals, says he’s thankful the hairball was removed and Ty is doing fine.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Click below as Rollergirl tells us about Plaxico Burress’s new line of luxury socks, a typo on Kevin Durant’s back tattoo, which NFL coach will be in the pace car at the Indy 500, who Lil’ Wayne signed to a record deal, what kind of catalogue Target unveiled, and more!

Gregg tells the Babe that Sergio can apologize all he wants, but the comment is out there and it can’t be taken back. He even says that like Fuzzy Zoeller back in 1997, these comments will probably follow Garcia around for a long time. Click below to listen to the whole interview!

TORONTO (AP) — Jose Bautista homered twice and drove in the winning run with a 10th-inning single, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday.

Bautista went 4 for 4 with a walk and four RBIs. Three other players had one hit, but that was it for Toronto’s offense.

Facing Cesar Ramos (1-1), Colby Rasmus reached on an infield single to begin the 10th. Rasmus moved to second on Emilio Bonifacio’s sacrifice, then took third on Munenori Kawasaki’s grounder. Pinch hitter Mark DeRosa walked and Kyle Farnsworth came on to face Bautista, who singled into shallow right for the Blue Jays’ first game-ending hit of the season.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

Click here for the boxscore.

You think YOU’RE busy? Hulk Hogan is busy! He told us on the air he’s not really wrestling these days, maybe an occasional shove with bad intention. No, these days it’s Hulk taking on more of the story lines and direction for his stable of sports entertainers like Sting and Magnus. Brooke Hogan is a lightning rod in her own right and having her involved will no doubt move the needle. Hulk’s also got Hogan’s Beach firing on all cylinders right there on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Things got off to a less than stellar start after a bad critic’s review or two, but I’m guessing it’s good to go now by all the cars and activity. He’s got a surf shop at Clearwater Beach and other oars in the business waters, to be sure.

Hulk Hogan also has all that other “stuff” swirling around his world. The reality show let us in almost a little too far, possibly helping to tear down the family he and his wife had built dutifully through the years. Their very public split was difficult to turn away from, but as they say, any pub is good pub, right? So there’s that, coupled with his son’s troubles and some lawsuits and after awhile you may not be the fun-loving Hulkster everyone sees on the TV. That’s exactly why I was wondering who we’d get this morning at 7:40 on 98.7 The Fan. Would it be a brooding, past-his-prime superstar or the confident, charismatic business man poised for another run? How cool it is for me to report it was the latter! I wish him nothing but the best, the man’s a slice of Americana! And one other thing’s for sure: whether you like him or love him: you just can’t count Hulk Hogan out. In the ring or in life!

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Photo Credit: Getty Images

Yankees Vs. The Rays
FRI – SUN | May 24-26
Tropicana Field
1 Tropicana Dr  St Petersburg, FL 33705
(727) 825-3250 | www.raysbaseball.com

3rd place Rays host a 3 game series against AL East first place team the New York Yankees. Tickets start at $19.

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Photo credit::www.sunsetsatpier60.com

Sunsets at Pier 60
Free Movies & Fun
10 Pier 60 Dr.
Clearwater Beach, Florida 33767
(727) 449-1036 | www.sunsetsatpier60.com

The Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival is a nightly sunset celebration that show free movies on Friday and Saturday nights. There are also artisans, crafters, street performers and musical entertainment plus a free movie on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday the free movie is “The Lorax”rated PG and Saturday the movie is “The Guilt Trip” which is rated PG-13. Movies start at dusk (8:19). Beach chairs are welcomed.

Related: Best Pinellas County Beaches With Lifeguards

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Credit: http://www.milb.com.

2013 Big East Baseball Tournament
TUES – SUN,  May 21-26 | Tickets: $8
Bright House Field
601 N. Old Coachman Rd | Clearwater FL   33765
www.milb.com

The championship will be Sunday, May 26 at noon, televised on ESPNU.

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Photo Credit: http://www.facebook.com/StPetePier

Farewell St. Pete Pier
FRI – MON, May 24-27
800 Second Ave. N.E.
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
www.stpetepier.com

Memorial Day Weekend is the last blast for St Petersburg Pier.
FRI – A Salsa Celebration from 7-11p
SAT -  Street Performers and live music all day
SUN – Live 60′s music with Solid Core
Monday Memorial Day: The Tempests play from 1-5p, Water Ski Shows at noon and 2:30 and FIREWORKS at 9:45

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Photo Credit: http://www.smftampa.com

Sunset Music Fest – Electronic Dance Music
SAT, May 25 | Time:  Noon to 11PM
Price: $63.09 – $121.49
Parking Lots open 11AM Price:  $15-$25
Raymond James Stadium
4201 North Dale Mabry Highway | Tampa 33607
 www.smftampa.com

Related: Best 18 & Up Night Clubs In Tampa

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Photo Credit: http://www.mytreasureisland.org

Bands on the Sand – Free Concert
SAT – SUN , May 25 – 26  Noon – 10PM
In Front of Bilmar Beach Resort
10650 Gulf Blvd. | Treasure Island 33706
www.mytreasureisland.org

Free two-day event features 12 bands plus,  arts and crafts vendors, food and beverage concessions. Fireworks on Saturday at 8:45pm. All-day parking on the beach $10 (enter at 112th Avenue & Gulf Boulevard). No pets

Related: Best Beach Party Bars & Beaches

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Photo Credit: http://www.tampamargaritafest.com

Tampa Bay Margarita Festival
SAT, May 25 | Tickets Start at $25
Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park
600 N Ashley Dr. | Downtown Tampa
www.tampamargaritafest.com

Drink fresh made Margaritas of every style and taste you can imagine while listenting to live music and watching Volleyball on Tampa’s first ever downtown urban beach volleyball court. Fireworks at 9:45PM.

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Credit: armedforcesmuseum.com

Memorial Day Family Funfest
MON, May 27, 10am – 4pm
Armed Forces Military Museum
2050 34th Way N. | Largo

Family festival includes rock wall climbing, bounce house, power bungee jumping, face painting, military dress-up, karaoke, a DJ and music. Food vendors will be on hand. Admission: Adults $10 / Youths 4 -12 $5.

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Photo Credit: facebook.com/OldsmarFreedomFest

Oldsmar Freedom Fest 2012
FRI – SUN,  May 24-26
100 State Street West | Oldsmar
http://www.facebook.com/OldsmarFreedomFest

Bike shows, food vendors, live music and a kids fun zone. Bands include Greg Billing, The Alter Eagles, The Black Honkey’s and Stormbringer. Hours: 5 to 10 pm – Friday, 10 am to 10 pm Saturday and Sunday.

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Photo Credit: http://www.brewbash.com

Venice Brew Bash
SAT,  May 25,  4 – 8PM
Miami Ave. / Downtown Venice
www.brewbash.com

Taste different craft and import brews while enjoying great music. This event is the perfect for beer aficionados, beer lovers or just the casual beer drinker. Up to 80 different brews. Price: $40 at the gate.

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(Photo credit JOSEPH EID/AFP/Getty Images)

Free Equestrian Speed Show
SAT, May 25, 2013at  6:00pm
Helen Howarth Community Park Horse Arena
6301 94th Ave. N, Pinellas Park, FL 33782

If  you horses this is the event for you. Horses and riders racing the clock with barrel & pole racing, hairpin, jackpot, Texas barrels and flags benefits the Pinellas Park Police Department Mounted Patrol Unit and their volunteer mounted unit.

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Free Floating Concert Memorial Concert
MON, May 27  from 1PM – 4:30PM
Weedon Island Preserve / Riveria Bay
1800 Weedon Drive NE / St. Petersburg 33702
(727) 224-1900

Bring your boat, beer, chairs and floats to a sandbar near the cut bridge off Weedon Island Preserve and PARTY in the water during a free floating concert. Drop anchor or wade from shore to the floating party barge concert stage. Cross Creek Blues Band and Hal Hammer Jr. will keep you rocking. Viewing is from the water only so you gotta get wet to rock with us! Pets & coolers allowed… no glass.

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Photo by Paul J. Richards/AFP/Getty Images

Bay Pines VA Annual Memorial Day Ceremony
MON, May 27 at 10AM
Bay Pines National Cemetery
10000 Bay Pines Blvd | St Petersburg, FL 33708
(727) 398-9426 | www.baypines.va.gov/BAYPINES

This is the only National Cemetery in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and the largest observance of Memorial Day with over 3,000 expected attendees. Veterans, their families and friends, and the general public are invited to attend.

Related:  Interviews With Veterans: What Memorial Day Means From A Hero’s Perspective

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DETROIT (AP) — Jimmy Howard’s cat-quick reflexes in net and easygoing nature out of it are big reasons the Detroit Red Wings are on a roll.

Howard has held top-seeded Chicago to only one goal in two straight games, lifting seventh-seeded Detroit to a 2-1 series lead. He was the star of the end-to-end, high-paced Game 3 the Red Wings won 4-1 on Monday night, when he became their first goalie to face at least 40 shots without giving up more than a goal in the playoffs since Greg Stefan did it 1987.

“That was probably the fastest playoff game I’ve ever been a part of,” Howard said. “I expect it just to get faster Thursday night. They’re going to step it up. We need to come even harder.”

Detroit will host Game 4 on Thursday night, shooting for a surprising win that would put Chicago on the brink of elimination.

Howard’s glove, pads and mindset give the Red Wings a shot to win every time they put on sweaters with winged wheels. Since Detroit trailed second-seeded Anaheim 3-2 in the first round, Howard has won four of five games and is averaging two goals against and 34-plus saves.

“You have to have a good goalie to go anywhere in the playoffs and we have it,” Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.

The Blackhawks seem confident they also have a netminder good enough to finish their season as strong as it started. Lately though, Corey Crawford has been shaky — or at least he hasn’t been able to overcome enough of his teammates’ mistakes in front of him.

Crawford won five of his first six games in the playoffs, shutting out Minnesota once and allowing a total of eight goals during his strong start. But he has given up a combined seven goals over the last two games after allowing one goal in the first period of the series opener.

When Chicago began its season-opening run of 24 games with at least a point backup goalie Ray Emery was 10-0 during the NHL record-breaking stretch while Crawford was injured. Emery finished the regular season 17-1 with a 1.94 goals-against average, leaving his last outing early because of a lower-body injury nearly a month ago at Edmonton.

Is Emery an option for Game 4?

“We’re not talking about that right now,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said Monday night. And the next day, he was succinct when asked to assess how Crawford has played the past few games.

“He’s been fine,” Quenneville said.

The Blackhawks probably don’t want to put more pressure on Crawford, but they were likely looking for more than him being “fine” in his third postseason as their No. 1 goalie.

Chicago couldn’t afford to keep Antti Niemi after he was the franchise’s backstop when it hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2010 and he beat out Marty Turco for the job the next season.

Crawford has been an impressive 82-40-18 the last three regular seasons, but a lackluster 10-11 in the playoffs. The Montreal native sounds as if he’s ready to bounce back to help the team respond well enough to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the 2011-12 season.

“We haven’t had a lot of adversity this year,” Crawford said. “We just have to dig deep and battle.”

The Red Wings, meanwhile, barely made the playoffs and they leaned on Howard a lot because their team was challenged offensively because of injuries and the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom.

Howard had to play in 42 of 48 games during the lockout-shortened season because he didn’t have a healthy, or capable, backup for much of the season. He was 21-13-7 and tied for the league lead with five shutouts, leading to him getting a $31.8 million, six-year contract to keep him off the market as a free agent this summer.

Like Crawford, Howard has been really good during the regular season — for four seasons as a No. 1 goalie — and average in the playoffs with a .500 record going into Game 4.

In a town where the goalie is in the spotlight, win or lose, Zetterberg said Howard has the perfect temperament for the job.

“Nothing really bothers him,” Zetterberg said. “If he lets in a goal, he just flushes it and moves on.”

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://twitter.com/larrylage

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

“I know I’m blessed to be going to the Eastern Conference finals for my fifth time,” Wade said. “But I would like a lot more in my career. It’s a good thing. We’ve been very successful in my tenure here. But I want more.”

For Wade and Udonis Haslem, this marks five East finals appearances in nine years. For LeBron James, it’s a fifth trip to this round in the past seven years, now three straight with Miami after a pair of trips to the East finals with Cleveland.

On the flip side, the Indiana Pacers haven’t been to the conference finals in years and only one player on the team has ever even played in a conference finals game. Backup center Ian Mahinmi played 71 seconds in a game in the 2011 Western Conference Finals.

Still, the Pacers have no fear when they look at the mountain that is the Miami Heat standing in their path to a bid in the NBA Finals. The Pacers won two of three meetings against the Heat this season and both teams expect the series to be physical.

For the Heat, the key will be managing the Pacers’ big men around the basket. Indiana lines up 7’2” center Roy Hibbert and 6’9” power forward David West and will want to attack Miami’s lack of bulk down low.

Last year, the Heat countered the Pacers by utilizing a smaller lineup that ended up propelling Miami to the NBA championship. The Heat will have an added weapon this year in the form of center Chris Bosh who missed much of last year’s playoff run against Indiana.

What Bosh will do is challenge Hibbert to either leave the lane and cover him on the outside, or, leave the Heat center open for jumpers on the outside. If Hibbert chooses the former, he opens up lanes for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to attack. If Hibbert stays inside, then he allows Bosh to attack with his jump shot.

Defensively, the Heat’s big challenge will be to keep West from getting going down low while also protecting the perimeter against Paul George and George Hill in check on the outside.

The Pacers’ starting lineup includes George, West, Hibbert, Hill, and guard Lance Stephenson. The Pacers will be without forward Danny Granger for the rest of the playoffs.

The Heat will counter with its traditional starting lineup of LeBron James, Udonis Haslem, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and Mario Chalmers. Miami doesn’t have anyone listed on the injury report, but Wade’s knee will be an issue for the rest of the playoffs.

If Wade is near 90 to 100 percent, the Heat may be unstoppable when it comes to the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. However, if Wade is not able to play at his normal level, Miami could be vulnerable against a young and improving Pacers squad.

The tipoff for Wednesday night’s Game 1 is expected to happen around 8:30 p.m. and can be seen either in person at the AmericanAirlines Arena or on television on TNT.

With Game 3 tied 1-1 in the third period, Boston turned to it’s fourth line — dubbed the “merlot line” — for an injection of energy. The line’s havoc had already led to Boston’s first goal — a rocket off the stick of defenseman Johnny Boychuk — and their strong forecheck and desire to cause a downtown-like traffic jam in front of the net put Boston on top for good with just 3:31 left to play.

Gregory Campbell stepped up and delivered a slapper on Henrik Lundqvist, which deflected off the netminders mask and straight up in the air. When the puck returned to the ice it danced along the line, but changed directions before crossing into the goal. It looked as though it had taken a Rangers’ bounce, as Lundqvist had no idea where the puck was.

It nearly trickled out of harm’s way.

That was until Daniel Paille rushed in and took a swing at it, sending it to the back of the net and putting Boston on top 2-1.

“I felt the pressure when we were on them and had a perfect view of it from the corner. I thought it was going to bounce in but it went the other way somehow,” Paille explained after the game. “Lundqvist didn’t know where it was and I was able to come around the net and out-battle the player with it; I think we hit at the same time and it hit off my stick and went in.”

After less-than-stellar showings in Games 1 and 2, Lundqvist was on his game Tuesday night. He was stuffing breakaway bids and turned away nearly all rebounds, so those funky goals were Boston’s best chance to put one — or two — past him.

“It was one of those nights where he was on his game and you could see the confidence he had throughout the game,” said Paille. “The goals that went in, there really wasn’t much he could do; there was a screen on one and a redirect on another. We tried to do as much as we could but it wasn’t going to be one of those where you beat him clean.”

Now Boston finds themselves one win away from returning to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in the last three seasons. But after nearly letting a 3-1 lead slip away last series to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and that 2010 collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers still in the back of their minds, the Bruins know their work is far from over.

“We’re confident going in for the series, but it’s not over. I’ve been in this situation before and seen it go the other way,” said Paille. “For us, we have to have the instinct to play as hard as we did tonight. They’re going to be a team that does not want to lose that way.”

Game 4 is Thursday night in New York.

Tune in to every Bruins playoff game on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the Boston Bruins! Pregame coverage begins 30 minutes prior to each game.

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An attorney for the neighborhood watch leader charged with fatally shooting 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is asking a judge to deny prosecutors’ request that the teen’s marijuana use be off limits.

George Zimmerman’s attorney filed a motion Monday claiming that Martin likely was under the influence of marijuana at the time of his death in February 2012. Attorney Don West says that could be relevant to a jury evaluating Martin’s actions the night he was shot.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder for shooting Martin during a confrontation at the gated community where he lived. His trial is scheduled to start next month.

Zimmerman is pleading not guilty, claiming self-defense.

Prosecutors had asked a judge to not allow Martin’s drug use or other personal matters from being used at trial.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

During a black tie dinner for the European Tour on Tuesday, a reporter asked Sergio about hanging out with Tiger Woods. Sergio joked by saying he would serve him “fried chicken.”

Tiger Woods responded on twitter:

The comment that was made wasn’t silly. It was wrong, hurtful and clearly inappropriate…

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) May 22, 2013

Sergio apologized for the comments during a press conference on Wednesday.

Click the AUDIO LINK below to hear Bacon’s comments:

Philadelphia Soul part owner Ron Jaworski said on Wednesday he was serious about his offer to former New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow to join the AFL team.

Jaworski, a former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback, reached out to Tebow a day after the Jets released him in April. Jaworski has yet to hear from Tebow, but expects to eventually.

“I love the guy,” Jaworski said. “I want him here just for his leadership.”

Tebow was brought to New York to be a dynamic addition to the offense, a complement to Mark Sanchez and a merchandising touchdown for the Jets. Instead, he attempted just eight passes for 39 yards and rushed 32 times for 102 yards — and no touchdowns.

“I know Tim’s in a funk right now,” Jaworski said. “But I think he’s got to have a career path. What’s he going to do to get back?”

It’s a path that could go through Philadelphia. The Orlando Predators have also expressed interest in Tebow.

Tebow is currently a free agent and hasn’t garnered interest from NFL teams since being cut.

Agent Jimmy Sexton did not immediately return a call for comment.

Tebow’s inaccurate passing, in addition to the relentless media attention he draws, makes him a risky acquisition for any NFL team.

The Jets acquired Tebow for a fourth-round draft pick and $1.5 million in salary, and he was expected to be a vital part of New York’s offense.

Instead, it was a miserable season for Tebow as the Jets failed to find an effective way to use him, and he didn’t impress Rex Ryan and his coaching staff enough in practice to force them to give him more playing time.

That would all change with the Soul, Jaworski said.

“You’ve got to learn to get rid of the football, quick. You’ve got to process information, quick,” he said. “If those are challenges Tim has, that’s it. If you get reps and you’re dropping back 40-45 times, with people in your face, you get better. He needs to play. He needs to be on the field.”

While it seems unlikely Tebow would accept the offer, he could be a perfect fit in the league of 50-yard fields, lanky goal posts and indoor stadiums.

“He’s a hard worker, that’s great,” he said. “But you’ve got to be on the field in live action getting that experience. I think the Arena Football League would give him that opportunity.”

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Kennedy talked about the struggles of the Rays bullpen, specifically Fernando Rodney. He said that you can’t accept blown saves when you’re behind in the division. He also said that the Rays may want to consider giving Rodney a break from the closer role and put him into a role where he can work on his mechanics and get back to normal.

Click the AUDIO LINK below to hear the entire interview:

Every day at 11:00 Justin, The Drake, and Jim Lighthall break down a topic like no one else, on Sports Radio 98.7 The Fan

Of course, we couldn’t have Derek Shelton join us without mentioning our favorite product, The Speed Hitter.  Derek also filled us in a new version of the Speed Hitter, coming soon!

Check back for scores, game recaps, player news and more.

Tune into 98.7 The Fan every weekday from 3pm to 7pm to hear Rich on the Booger and Rich Show.

Click the AUDIO LINK below to find out what’s going on:

But John Tortorella’s message isn’t going to change even though his Rangers are in an even more desperate situation than before their latest loss to the Boston Bruins.

The margin of error went from slim to none in an uncharacteristic home loss that put the Broadway Blueshirts on the brink of elimination.

New York squandered a one-goal lead in the third period and lost 2-1 on Tuesday night to fall into an 0-3 series hole. The Rangers can be ousted by the Bruins as early as Thursday in Game 4 at home.

“We’ll meet (Wednesday), practice, and we’re going to try to win a game,” Tortorella said. “That’s all you can do. Down 3-0, it’s a very tough situation, but I have full faith in our athletes. They will be ready to play another game.

“You try to win one and see where you go from there.”

After two losses in Boston, the Rangers seemed headed toward getting back into it. They had won nine straight at Madison Square Garden, dating to the final six games of the regular season, and hadn’t lost in regulation when leading after two periods in more than three years.

But defenseman Johnny Boychuk tied it 3:10 into the third and Daniel Paille scored the winner with 3:31 remaining to push the Bruins to the verge of the Eastern Conference finals.

Only three NHL teams have rallied from an 0-3 hole to advance. However, the Philadelphia Flyers did it to the Bruins in 2010.

“We haven’t talked about history at all,” Tortorella said. “We just try to go about our business.”

Bruins coach Claude Julien discussed it briefly, but only when asked about the collapse three years ago and another near one in the first round this year when Toronto nearly eliminated Boston after trailing the series 3-1.

“We can talk about it all we want, but that’s in the past,” Julien said. “We had to live with that and we still have to live with that.”

The Bruins did some rallying of their own in that one, erasing a three-goal deficit in the third period of Game 7 before winning in overtime.

“The Toronto series, I didn’t think our team was in the zone the way it is right now,” Julien said. “I anticipate — knowing my team — that we’re going to come out the same next game and certainly not be the Jekyll and Hyde team that we were in the first round.”

The Bruins shook off the 2010 collapse and swept Philadelphia in the conference semifinals the following year before going on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Rangers haven’t been swept since New Jersey did it to them in 2006 in the first round.

“You can’t look at it as you have to win four games,” said Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who stayed down on his knees for several moments after Paille’s goal. “You just have to focus on the next one. The season is on the line, so you have to leave everything out there.

“We definitely have to give everything right now, mentally and physically, and put it out there on Thursday.”

Boychuk tied it with his fourth of the playoffs after he netted just one in 44 regular-season games.

Boston thought it had grabbed the lead seconds before Paille scored when a shot deflected off the mask of Lundqvist, popped up in the air and landed on the goal line. Lundqvist couldn’t find it before Paille swooped in from behind the net and poked in the puck.

Taylor Pyatt had made it 1-0 in the second period for the Rangers, who were outscored 8-4 in two games at Boston. Lundqvist was sharp in making 32 saves. He bounced back well after allowing five goals in the Game 2 loss.

“You have to be pretty happy with the situation right now,” said Tuukka Rask, who made 23 saves for Boston. “We were really happy with our effort. I think this was our best defensive effort in a long, long time. We just have to stay calm, keep playing our style of hockey, and good things will happen.”

The Rangers again couldn’t get their power play untracked, failing in both of their chances and dropping to 0-for-10 in the series. New York has only two power-play goals in 38 opportunities during these playoffs.

Boychuk was credited with the tying goal after the puck appeared to deflect into the net off Rangers defenseman John Moore.

The game turned rougher moments later when New York forward Chris Kreider was struck under his visor by the stick of Boston’s Tyler Seguin, who was following through on a shot just inside the blue line. Seguin was then clipped in the exchange by the stick of Rangers defenseman Steve Eminger.

Shortly after, Bruins forward Patrice Bergeron had a cut over his eye that left his white jersey bloodstained. No penalties were called on any of the plays.

New York took just its second lead of the series 3:53 into the second period when Pyatt deflected in a shot by defenseman Ryan McDonagh.

Lundqvist shined in the second, making a pad stop on Seguin about 6 1/2 minutes in, stretching across to knock away a drive by rookie defenseman Torey Krug — who scored in each of the first two games of the series — and then bringing the crowd to its feet with a lunging glove snare of Gregory Campbell’s slap shot from the left circle with 8:24 remaining.

That got the Bruins even in shots (15-15) before they outshot New York 8-1 the rest of the second.

The Rangers got off to a sluggish start after losing the opening faceoff, and didn’t mount any kind of early surge fueled by the excited home crowd. New York didn’t carry the puck into the Boston end until 1:35 had elapsed.

New York got trapped in its end more and more as the game went on, and got caught there again on the winning goal.

“They just kept us in the end zone, bouncing around, and Paille beat our defenseman back to the net and scored the goal,” Tortorella said. “We just didn’t spend enough time in their end zone.”

The Rangers picked up their play and built a 6-1 edge in shots, including scoring opportunities on Rask. New York earned the first power play of the night, however it was as ineffective as it has been throughout the postseason.

The tide turned back to the Bruins’ favor just before the midway point in the period, starting with a partial breakaway after New York turned over the puck at the Boston blue line. Chris Kelly raced ahead with the puck and was stopped in tight by Lundqvist when he tried a backhanded shot.

Shawn Thornton was also denied when he came in alone on Lundqvist with 8:46 left in the period, and Jaromir Jagr couldn’t score, either, when he got a pair of whacks at the puck that the New York goalie turned aside.

The Bruins’ surge gave them an 8-7 edge in shots, but Boston finished the period trailing 11-9.

“We were down but we weren’t playing that poorly,” Bruins captain Zdeno Chara said of the team’s third-period mindset. “We needed to stay aggressive, try to tie the game. We just wanted to get pucks to the net. We did that and we were rewarded.”

NOTES: The Rangers didn’t yield a power-play chance for the second straight home game. … New York D Anton Stralman was injured in the second period and didn’t return. … Since Boston trailed 4-1 in Game 7 against Toronto, Rask has allowed five goals in four-plus games.

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(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)