Sports: Red Wings Lost Opener 6-4

The Red Wings lost the season opener to the Lightning 6-4 in Tampa.   Newcomer Thomas Vanek scored two goals for the Red Wings. Frans Nielsen, signed to a $31.5 million, six-year free agent deal by Detroit, had a goal and an assist.  Danny DeKeyser scored the final Detroit goal with about two minutes left to get the Wings within a goal.  Mrazek made 30 saves for the Red Wings, many of them spectacular, but also let in a couple of soft goals in the contest.  Penalties did in the Wings as Tampa Bay went 3 for 6 on the power play.   Tyler Johnson scored a go-ahead power-play goal off a nifty pass from Steven Stamkos midway through the third period against goalie Petr Mrazek, just 5 seconds after Detroit was called for too many men on the ice.   The Wings’ Gustav Nyquist was knocked down on his way off the ice, and a player coming on the ice couldn’t see him, resulting in the penalty.   An empty netter by former Red Wing Valteri Filppula iced the 6-4win for the Lightning.   The Wings are at the Florida Panthers on Saturday night.

MLB

The Dodgers beat the Nationals 4-3 in a fifth and deciding game in Washington.   Justin Turner's two-run triple capped a four-run seventh inning sending the Dodgers to a 4-3 win over Washington in the fifth and deciding game of the NLDS. Clayton Kershaw who won Games 1 and 4 for the Dodgers got the last two outs after the Nationals put two on in the ninth inning to earn the save.  Former Tiger Max Scherzer went 6 innings for Washington.  He gave up one run and left with a 1-0 lead. The Dodgers will face Jon Lester and the Cubs in the NLCS starting Saturday at Wrigley Field.

Cleveland will face Toronto in the next round tonight at 8pm in Cleveland.

Pistons                                  

The Pistons beat Atlanta 99-94 for their first pre-season win.   Ish Smith and Tobias Harris scored 18 points each for Detroit. Detroit bounced back from a 33-19 deficit after the first quarter.    Center Andre Drummond was out sick and forward Marcus Morris sat out with mild knee tendinitis.  Detroit travels to Philadelphia on Saturday.

Thursday Night Football

Phillip Rivers threw a touchdown pass and Josh Lambo added four field goals to help San Diego top the Broncos 21-13.

College Football

Michigan State tries to break a three game losing streak on Saturday.  It’s homecoming for the Spartans, as they host Northwestern.  Broadcast time is 2pm on WBCK.

The WMU Broncos take their perfect 6-0 record to Akron this Saturday.

Michigan has a bye this week before playing at home against Illinois on Oct. 22.

Lions Football

The Lions host the L-A Rams on Sunday.  The Rams plan to give running back Todd Gurley the ball early and often. The Lions are bracing for the challenge of preventing Gurley from having a breakout game.   Broadcast time is 12 noon Sunday on WBCK.

Volleyball

KCC lost to Kalamazoo Valley, 3-1.   For the second straight day, the Lady Bruins won the second set, but dropped the other three.   They fall to 4-17 and play their next game on Tuesday at Glen Oaks Community College.

Climax-Scotts 3, Tekonsha 0.  The Panthers were led by Zenna Soule with nine kills and two aces.

Athens 3, Centreville 0.  Leading the Indians were Rachel Nobach with 15 kills and 10 digs.

Colon 3, Litchfield 0

Boys’ Soccer

8^th ranked Coldwater beat 10th-ranked Marshall 3-0 to win the Interstate Eight conference championship.  With the loss, Marshall fell to 14-3-2 on the year.

Pennfield 2,  Harper Creek 1.

Battle Creek Central hosts Sturgis in a district opener next Tuesday.

Harper Creek visits Charlotte on Tuesday in the first round of the Division 2 district tournament.

Marshall will visit Eaton Rapids on Tuesday in the first round of the district tournament.

Girls’ Golf

Marshall plays Friday and Saturday in the Division 3 State Finals at Bedford Valley Golf Club.  Harper Creek’s Sydney Leatherman and Lakeview's Haley Lesiow will compete individually at the upcoming State Finals in golf.

Boys’ Tennis

Marshall and Harper Creek will advance to team State finals in boy’s tennis.

Coldwater plays in the Boys Tennis State Finals this week in Kalamazoo.

High School Football Week 8

St. Johns at Battle Creek Central

Niles at Lakeview

Pennfield at Jackson Lumen Christi

Marshall at Harper Creek …..6:35 with Nate Adams on WBCK.

Athens at Homer

Pittsford at Bellevue

Cassopolis at Bronson

Climax-Scotts at Bay City All-Saints

Delton at Saugatuck

Martin at Galesburg-Augusta

St. Joseph at Gull Lake

Coldwater at Hastings

Maple Valley at Kent City

Olivet at Portland

Springport at Quincy

Union City at Concord

Saturday

Portland St. Patrick at St. Philip

Tekonsha at St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran

NASCAR

NASCAR heads to Kansas this weekend.   Drivers will be competing to get to next week’s Round of 8.

Golf

Scott Piercy had 12 birdies during a course-record 10-under 62 that gave him the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour's season opening Safeway Open.

Izzo Award

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last month, has been selected to receive the Dean Smith Award, given annually to an individual in college basketball who embodies the spirit and values of the late North Carolina coaching great. The U.S. Basketball Writers Association will present Izzo with the award at a Spartans' home game to be announced.