Elias Says...
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NBA
CAVS FALL TO 0-2, MAKE HISTORY
Cleveland, coming off a 66-16 season, fell to 0-2 with their loss to Toronto on Monday. None of the other 15 teams to win 65 or more games in a season started the next season with consecutive losses.
Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors
AN IGNOMINIOUS RECORD FOR BOBCATS
The Celtics held the Bobcats to 59 points on Wednesday, which was the fewest points that any team has scored in its first game of a season in the era of the shot clock.
Boston Celtics, Charlotte Bobcats
POPOVICH: THE GREAT OPENER
The Spurs defeated the Hornets on Wednesday, improving Gregg Popovich's record in season openers to 12-1, the best in NBA history among men who have coach at least 10 openers.
New Orleans Hornets, San Antonio Spurs
A MEMORABLE DEBUT FOR FLYNN
Jonny Flynn scored 18 points on Wednesday, the most by any player who came to the NBA from Syracuse in his NBA debut. The previous record, 12 points, was set by Carmelo Anthony in 2003.
New Jersey Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves
GRIZZLIES STILL IN HIBERNATION
With a loss to Detroit on Wednesday the Grizzlies have lost their last nine season openers, setting an NBA record. Atlanta set the previous record from 1999-2006.
Detroit Pistons, Memphis Grizzlies
IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF KNICKS-HEAT GAME
The Heat, who defeated the Knicks on Wednesday, 115-93, have scored at least 115 points in each of their last four games against New York, after having done so only once in their previous 56 games against the Knicks.
MAGIC NUMBER: 120
Orlando defeated Philadelphia on Wednesday, 120-106. It was the most points Orlando has ever scored in a season opener and it was the most against Philadelphia since the 76ers lost to the Spurs in the 1976 lid-lifter, 121-118.
Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic
MAGIC NUMBER FOR HAWKS: 120
Atlanta scored 120 points in its first game, a 120-109 win over Indiana. That was the most points for the Hawks in a season-starter since 1986 (131-111 vs. New Jersey) and the most against Indiana since 1977 (131-120 vs. the Lakers).
NHL
CROSBY CELEBRATES AN ANNIVERSARY IN STYLE
Sidney Crosby scored three goals to lead the Penguins to an easy 6-1 win over the Canadiens. It was the third regular-season hat trick of Crosby's NHL career and it came three years to the day after his first three-goal game in the NHL, on October 28, 2006 in Philadelphia. Crosby's other hat trick in regular-season play was against the Devils in November 2008.
Montreal Canadiens, Pittsburgh Penguins
ANDERSON TIES NHL RECORD
Colorado's Craig Anderson won his 10th game of the season on Wednesday, tying the NHL record for most wins by a goaltender in the month of October, a mark set by Manny Legace with the Red Wings in 2005. Anderson has one shootout win this month; Legace did not win any in the newfangled fashion in 2005.
Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche
MARLEAU REACHES DOUBLE DIGITS IN GOALS
Patrick Marleau scored his 10th goal on Wednesday in the Sharks' 13th game of the season. That's three games faster than any other player in San Jose history has gotten to double digits. Owen Nolan did it in 16 games in 1999.
Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks
MOULSON CANADIAN IN NEW YORK
Matt Moulson scored his team-high sixth goal of the season to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead just 55 seconds into their 3-1 win over the Rangers. The last time the Islanders scored in the first minute and beat the Rangers was on October 19, 1985, when Mike Bossy scored 28 seconds into an eventual 5-4 Isles win at Nassau Coliseum.
New York Rangers, New York Islanders
KENNEDY CAN TELL THE GRANDKIDS ABOUT THIS ONE
Tim Kennedy scored the first goal of his NHL career and it turned out to be the game-winner for the Sabres against Martin Brodeur and the Devils in Newark. Kennedy is the seventh player whose first regular-season NHL goal was a game-winner versus New Jersey's future Hall-of-Famer and he's the second to do so this season. Rangers defenseman Matt Gilroy did it on October 5.
New Jersey Devils, Buffalo Sabres
RICHARDS FINDS LIFE OUTSIDE FLORIDA
Brad Richards scored the first two goals for the Stars in their overtime win against the Maple Leafs in Dallas on Wednesday night. It was the 14th two-goal game of Richards' nine-year NHL career and his first since he was he was traded to the Stars by the Lightning in February 2008. In fact, this was only the second time that Richards scored two goals in a regular-season game outside the state of Florida. Ten of his 13 two-goal games for the Lightning were scored in Tampa, and two were in road games against the Florida Panthers. Richards' only previous two-goal game outside the Sunshine State was on January 18, 2007 at New Jersey.
Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars
BRIAN ELLIOTT: MORE RELIEF WINS THIS SEASON THAN BRAD LIDGE
Brian Elliott came off the bench to begin the second period in goal for Ottawa, replacing starter Pascal Leclaire, who left due to illness, and he picked up a 4-3 win over the Panthers by making 26 saves over the last two periods. It was only the second relief win by a Senators goaltender over the last five seasons. The other one was by Alex Auld on February 14 last season at Minnesota, in relief of Elliott.
Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators
BLUES MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR SHOTS
The Blues posted a 5-2 win over the Hurricanes in Raleigh even though Carolina outshot St. Louis, 36-18. Excluding shootout victories, it was the first time that the Blues won a game in which they were outshot by a two-to-one margin or better since Jan. 20, 2007, when Manny Legace shut out the Sharks, 1-0, despite San Jose outfiring St. Louis 31-13.
Carolina Hurricanes, St. Louis Blues
MLB
SECOND-BEST PITCHING PERFORMANCE IN A WORLD SERIES GAME?
Obviously no one can best Don Larsen's perfect game, but Cliff Lee is in the discussion for the second-best pitched game in the World Series. Lee became only the second pitcher in World Series history to throw a complete-game victory in which he had double-digit strikeouts and did not allow a walk. The other pitcher to do it: the Pirates' Deacon Phillippe, in Game One of the 1903 World Series, the first Series matching the champions of the National and American Leagues, as Pittsburgh won, 7-3, in Boston.
Lee, of course, stopped the Yankees on Wednesday night, striking out 10, walking none and not allowing an earned run. And while "earned runs" were not compiled back in 1903, Phillippe would have allowed two earned runs by today's standards in his series-opening win.
New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
LEE GETS SECOND ENTRY IN "YANKEE STADIUM FIRSTS"
Lee, who also won the first regular-season game at Yankee Stadium, is the second player to be the first regular-season and World Series winning pitcher at one venue. Christy Mathewson won both at the Polo Grounds for the 1911 New York Giants.
New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
LEE DOES WHAT ONLY ONE PITCHER DID DURING REGULAR SEASON
Alex Rodriguez struck out three times against Lee on Wednesday, after he struck out three times against the same pitcher in only one game during the regular season, versus Cole Hamels on May 24.
New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies
UTLEY PUTS ON A SHOW IN GAME 1
Miscellaneous information on Chase Utley's performance in Game 1 of the World Series: - Only one other left-handed batter has hit two home runs in a World Series Game off one left-handed pitcher: Babe Ruth did it against the Cardinals' Bill Sherdel in 1928. One other player did it earlier in a postseason: Jim Thome against Andy Pettitte in 1998. - Only four players have had a multiple-homer game off CC Sabathia, all in the regular-season: Jim Thome (2008), David Ross (2006), Ichiro (2005) and Adam Piatt (2003). - On Wednesday, Utley hit the first World Series homer at the new Yankee Stadium; last year Utley hit the first World Series homer at Tropicana Field. Only two other players have hit the first World Series homer at two stadiums: who else but "Home Run" Baker (Polo Grounds and Shibe Park, both in 1911) and Larry Gardner (Fenway Park in 1912, Ebbets Field in 1916).
New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies