Comment on AL East, AL West races in rarified air so far

What better way to respond to an ugly loss than with an ugly win? Just a few days after blowing a 2-0 lead to the worst team in the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids (6-4-3) earned a better result against a better team, getting the best of the Vancouver Whitecaps (5-4-3), 1-0, to move into a four-way tie for second place in the West. The lone goal for the Rapids on a rainy Wednesday night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park came from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time thanks to Rafael Navarro, who is now a perfect 4 for 4 on penalty kicks. “It’s important for a striker to score the goals, and the group and the staff have embraced me very well,” Navarro said after scoring his seventh goal of the season.

The Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 5-3 in Game 5 of the second round of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs in Dallas on Wednesday night, May 15, 2024. Dallas leads the series 3-2, with Game 6 back at Ball Arena on Friday night. Related Articles Colorado Avalanche | Avs-Stars Game 5 Quick Hits: Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar came through when Avalanche needed it most Colorado Avalanche | Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon help Avalanche avoid elimination in Game 5 win Colorado Avalanche | Devon Toews returns to lineup, giving Avalanche huge boost for Game 5 Colorado Avalanche | Participation in the NHL’s player assistance program is up this season.

Instant reaction from the Avalanche’s 5-3 win at Dallas in Game 5 of their second-round Stanley Cup Playoffs series. 1. MacKinnon, Makar come through: What was it Michael Malone reminded us? Never underestimate the heart of a champion — even if that champion is 23 months removed from its last parade.

DALLAS — The Colorado Avalanche desperately needed a bounce, or a break, to keep its season alive. It got both. Cale Makar scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and an assist and Colorado staved off elimination Wednesday night at American Airlines Center with a 5-3 victory in Game 5 of this second-round series against the Dallas Stars.

WEEK 1 AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2:05 p.m., Sept. 8, CBS Away we go. This doesn’t have quite as much juice now that Russell Wilson is no longer in Denver, but it’s still an interesting way to start the season. The Broncos go on the road and get a first-time head coach making his debut in Seattle’s Mike Macdonald.

SAN DIEGO — Thirteen months ago, Rockies lefty Austin Gomber was lost. He had an 0-4 record and a 12.12 ERA. He made an emotional admission, saying that being the centerpiece of the 2021 trade that sent Nolan Arenado to St. Louis had gotten into his head. That Gomber is long gone. On Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park, he blanked the Padres for six innings as the Rockies rolled to an 8-0 victory, their seventh consecutive win.