Sports: Wings Win Final Season Opener at the Joe, 5-1

The Red Wings beat Ottawa 5-1 last night in the final home opener at Joe Louis Arena.  The Wings are leaving the venue they have called home since 1979.  Mike Green scored three times for his first hat trick and Darren Helm had two goals.  Detroit's Petr Mrazek made 13 of his 31 saves in the second period to keep a relatively comfortable cushion.  The Red Wings were penalized for their fourth fight in five games.   The Wings travel to New York to play the Rangers on Wednesday night.

Pistons

The Pistons beat the Bucks 102-78 last night in an exhibition matchup at the Palace of Auburn Hills.  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 23 points and hit six 3-pointers.  He also had five rebounds, five assists and two steals.   Rookie Henry Ellenson scored 14 points, five rebounds and hit all three of his 3-pointers in 23 minutes.  Andre Drummond had 12 points and 13 boards in 18 minutes.  Detroit (3-2) hosts Toronto on Wednesday in its preseason finale.  The regular season opens a week from Thursday in Toronto.

Monday Night Football

The Arizona Cardinals beat the visiting New York Jets, 28-3.   Quarterback Carson Palmer returned after missing one game with a concussion, but he left with a strained hamstring in the fourth quarter.   David Johnson rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns for Arizona.

Thursday Night Football

The Packers host the Bears this Thursday night.

MLB

The Indians have a three-games-to-none lead in the ALCS after their bullpen tossed 8 1/3 innings in a 4-2 victory at Toronto.  The Indians went through six relievers once starter Trevor Bauer had to leave the game due to a cut on the pinkie finger of his pitching hand.   He got the cut last week repairing a drone.   Mike Napoli hit a solo homer and an RBI double to knock in the first two Cleveland runs.  Jason Kipnis broke a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the sixth.  The Tribe sends ace Cory Kluber to the mound today in Toronto with a chance to clinch a World Series berth.

The Dodgers host the Cubs tonight in game three of the NLCS, with the series tied 1-1.  Jake Arrieta will pitch for Chicago.

College Football

WMU is #20 in the AP and USA Today Polls.   That means if the season ended today, Western would be bowl-eligible.  They are, after all, one of eleven undefeated teams in the nation.  But, the season doesn’t end today.   WMU has five games left, starting this Saturday at home versus EMU.

I have two tickets right now to Saturday’s game…..3:30 kickoff…

Of the games left, Eastern Michigan and Ball State have winning overall records.   Kent State and Buffalo have just three wins between them.   If WMU can win the next two, they could be playing for an undefeated season in their final and toughest MAC Conference game.  Toledo is 5-1 overall and in second place.

This Saturday, #3 Michigan is back in action.  The Wolverines had last weekend off and now host Illinois.  Broadcast time is 2:30pm on 104.9 the Edge.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh says he watched Ohio State's win last weekend at Wisconsin, but wouldn't say what he focused on. Harbaugh says he was watching the game as a fan.

MSU is on the road at Maryland this Saturday night. 6pm on WBCK.

Catch the Mark Dantonio show Thursday at 7pm on WBCK.

NASCAR

It’s down to 8 drivers in the race for Nascar’s Sprint Cup….This Sunday …2pm at Talladega Superspeedway.

Golf

Golfers will compete for a $7 million dollar purse at the CIMB Classic this weekend at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.   Justin Thomas is the defending champ.

High School Football Week 9

Climax Scotts is ranked second in the state in Division 8 in the latest AP Football rankings.

8-0 Climax-Scotts will host 3-5 New Buffalo this Friday.

Harper Creek (7-1) at Whitehall

Loy Norrix at Battle Creek Central (2-6)

Lakeview (5-2) at Gull Lake (2-6).  The Spartans clinched a playoff spot last Friday.

Pennfield at Olivet.  Pennfield is 4-4.  Olivet is 5-3.

Portland at Marshall (4-4)

Three Oaks River Valley at Bellevue

Bronson at St. Joseph  Lake Michigan Catholic

Schoolcraft at Delton

Galesburg-Augusta at Marcellus

Pewamo-Westphalia at Hastings

Dansville at Maple Valley

Litchfield at Tekonsha

Saturday High School Football

Lawrence at St. Philip

Lions Football

The Lions are 3-3 and have won two straight games with Matt Prater making the winning kick and a defensive back following up with an interception on the ensuing possession.  The Lions will host Kirk Cousins and the Redskins this Sunday at Ford Field.