The Sportsletter - Counterstrike ⚡️

BY JEFF YODER

JUN. 21, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

The Stanley Cup Finals went from sweep alert to counterstrike in a crucial Game 3 swing. Plus, the Warriors celebrated with parade day in the Bay and the College World Series is down to six. 

Letter Rip!

STANLEY CUP FINALS 🏆

Game 3: Lightning Counterstrike

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Lightning Shred Avs in Crucial Game 3 (6-2); COL Leads Series (2-1)

Just when it looked like the Stanley Cup Finals was all Avs, the Lightning launched a counterstrike in Game 3. Tampa Bay lit the lamp six times from the stick of six different skaters, and they got a bounce-back performance from goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (37 saves). The Lightning poured in four of their goals in a second-period blitz. Home ice has been kind thus far in the Finals with home teams now 3-0. That bodes well for Tampa in Game 4, and hockey fans can rejoice with a now-competitive Cup Finals. It’s 2-1 in favor of the Avs, but the Bolts came back to life.

Fun Fact: There hasn’t been a sweep in the Stanley Cup Finals since 1988, and that streak is still alive after Monday night.

Watch: Lightning Counterstrike in Game 3 (6-2)

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule

Gm 4: Avalanche at Lightning (Wed. 8:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

NHL: Avs Pull Darcy Kuemper in Game 3 After Allowing 5 Goals

ESPN: Was Game 3 A Turning Point for Stanley Cup Finals? How It Impacts Rest of Series

NBA

Parade Day in the Bay

Photo: Patrick T. Fallon / Getty Images

Top Quotes & Moments From Parade Day as Warriors Celebrate 4th Championship

It had been three years since the Bay Area held a championship parade, but they didn’t forget how to celebrate. The Warriors returned home from Boston and took to the streets Monday in downtown San Francisco to salute the fans and showcase the new hardware. Plenty of memorable moments, speeches and champagne filled the streets. Draymond Green had a lot to say, but Steph Curry’s signature “Night Night” mic drop might’ve taken the cake. Here are some of the best quotes from the day:

"I told y'all, don't let us win a f---ing championship, and clearly, nobody could stop it." — Draymond Green

Pool parties all summer long.” — Jordan Poole

“I’m not crying, you’re crying.” — Klay Thompson

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Best Moments From Golden State Warriors NBA Championship Parade

SB Nation: Warriors’ Parade Was Just 1.5 Miles, But Draymond Green’s Mouth Ran a Whole Marathon

CWS

The Omaha Check-In

Photo: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

#14 Auburn Shocks #2 Stanford While Ole Miss Underdog Story Continues at College World Series

The College World Series is heating up this week in Omaha, and two teams from the final eight are already eliminated. No. 14 Auburn took out No. 2 Stanford (6-2), eliminating the top-ranked team at the World Series. A few hours later, Ole Miss continued their magic run with a win over Arkansas (13-5). Only six teams are still alive — three from each bracket — with more elimination games on the way today.

Ranked Teams Ruined: It was Notre Dame who shocked No. 1 Tennessee in the Super Regional, and now only two ranked teams remain — #14 Auburn and #5 Texas A&M — after #2 Stanford was sent packing.

Bracket 1

#5 Texas A&M (1 Loss)

Notre Dame (1 Loss)

Oklahoma (0 Losses)

#9 Texas (Eliminated)

Bracket 2

#14 Auburn (1 Loss)

Arkansas (1 Loss)

Ole Miss (0 Losses)

#2 Stanford (Eliminated)

Today’s Schedule

#5 Texas A&M vs. Notre Dame (2:00 pm ET)

#14 Auburn vs. Arkansas (7:00 pm ET)

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Auburn Overcomes Illness, History to Oust Stanford

NCAA: The Numbers Behind Ole Miss’ Magical Run That Has the Rebels One Win Away From College World Series

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🌊 SWIMMING: Ledecky Wins Record 17th Title

U.S. swimming star Katie Ledecky captured the 1,500-meter freestyle title Monday at the World Swimming Championships in Budapest.

⚾️ MLB: Arcia’s Walk-Off Boosts Braves

After their historic winning streak came to an end over the weekend, the Braves bounced back on Monday with a walk-off single from Orlando Arcia to beat the Giants (2-1).

THE STORYLINES

⛳️ Scottie Scheffler’s Bag

After finishing runner-up at the U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler’s $1.56 million prize gave him the PGA Tour record for money earned in a single season. He’s now banked nearly $13 million, and it’s only June. (CBS Sports)

🏈 NFL Expansion Cities

The National Football League has established itself as America's sport and one of the most popular leagues in the world. The reality is that one day, the NFL will get bigger too. Here are 8 cities that could land a franchise in the future. (Bleacher Report)

⚽️ The Countdown to Qatar

The past three weeks were perhaps the most important the USMNT has shared during this World Cup cycle. Not necessarily from an on-field standpoint, but certainly off the field. (ESPN)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Kyrie Irving May Test Free Agency With Nets Contract at Impasse (Bleacher Report)
• FINA to Restrict Participation of Transgender Athletes in Elite Swimming (SI)
• LIV Golf Series to Apply for OWGR Points Consideration (ESPN)
• Longtime Bears Reporter John ‘Moon’ Mullin Dies at Age 74 (Yahoo! Sports)
• Houston Baptist Basketball Standout Darius Lee Killed in New York Shooting (USA Today)
• No. 1 RB in 2023 Class Rueben Owens Commits to Louisville (CBS Sports)
• Brittney Griner’s Wife Says Schedule Call Unable to Connect Due to Unstaffed Embassy (The Athletic)

Support The Sportsletter Team

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Product Manager: Matthew Cahill

Lead Designer: Joe Stella

Technical Lead: Kevin Lonergan

Did Someone Forward You This Email? Subscribe Here
Feedback? Contact Our Editor: Jeff@TheSportsletter.com
Not Loving The Letter? Unsubscribe
Follow us on Social Media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Copyright © 2022 The Sportsletter
717 Market Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103