Midday Recap - The Brawl Heard Across Canada

@joshmcconnell

You had to figure after Ryan White and Guillaume Latendresse took double-minors after the final horn on Friday that Sunday's Game 3 between the Montreal Canadiens and the Ottawa Senators was going to be a wild and potentially violent affair.

After 9 game misconducts, 232 penalty minutes, and 7 goals later, we're seeing just how wild this all-Canada series can be.

Ottawa won the game 6-1 to build a 2-1 series lead over the Canadiens, but what will be remembered most is the 3rd period, when tensions grew and was unleashed just after Kyle Turris made the score 4-1 with 13 minutes left to play.  All ten on the ice dropped gloves and threw punches, earning 5 minute fighting majors plus game misconducts for those who droppped after the initial combatants.  By the time the midway mark of the 3rd Period came around, both benches were bare, as you see above, with only 5 skaters per team remaining after the 5 out on the ice (not including goaltenders).

Shortly after the game, fans took to Twitter as many complained about the tactics produced by the Canadiens, but also the timeout taken by the Ottawa Senators with about 15 seconds left in the game.

IN OTHER HOCKEY PLAYOFF NEWS
For the first 70 minutes of the New York Islanders series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, they looked like they didn't belong in the field of 16, getting completely outplayed on all levels.  Then something clicked.  The Islanders started playing well, allowing them to win their 2nd game to tie the series.  Then in Game 3, bouncing back from a 4-2 deficit, the Islanders would force overtime.  But Sidney Crosby would have the last laugh, drawing a penalty that would lead to the game-winning Power Play Goal.

Out west, Jason Zucker helped the Minnesota Wild climb back into the series with their 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks.  And despite sitting Roberto Luongo for Cory Schneider, the Vancouver Canucks find themselves in a 3-0 series hole after losing 5-2 to the San Jose Sharks.  Schneider looked uncomfortable, allowing all 5 goals on 28 shots before being pulled for Luongo.

NBA QUARTERS
David West scored 20 as the Indiana Pacers took advantage of a good 2nd and 3rd Quarter to beat the New York Knicks 102-95.  The Knicks shot 43% from the field, including an icy 10/28 from Carmelo Anthony, who led the Knicks with 28 points.  Raymond Felton scored 18.  Meanwhile, Oklahoma City squeezed through for the 1-0 lead after their 93-91 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.  The two Kevins led the Barrons in scoring, as Durant scored 35 and Martin scored 25.

METS SPLIT AGAINST THE BRAVES
After Saturday's rain-out, the Mets were hoping to continue the momentum they carried to victory on Friday.  With John Niese on the mound, was looking possible for the sweep.  But the sweep was not meant to be, as the Braves plated 5 in the 3rd, chasing Niese out in the bottom 5th, and the Mets fell 9-4.  David Wright continued hitting well, hitting a 2-run home run in the 4th inning that helped comped two of the runs given up in the half-inning prior.  With the win, the Braves and Mets split the rain-shortened series, which the postponed game will be made up on June 18th at 1:10p.m. as a part of a split doubleheader.

The Mets are off today as they await an interleague visit by the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field.