MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens signed forward Oliver Kapanen to a three-year, entry-level contract on Saturday.Kapanen had 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists) in 51 games playing for KalPa Kuopio in the Liiga in Finland this past season.
The 20-year-old centre added 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 13 playoff games to be in a five-way tie atop the leaderboard in points and ranking second in goals.Kapanen also represented Finland at this year’s world hockey championship, where he led his team with six goals in eight games.
He ranked fifth among all players in goals, tied with four others.Kapanen was a second-round selection (64th overall) by the Canadiens in the 2021 draft.This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 15, 2024.The Canadian Press
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Elly De La Cruz scored all the way from second base on an errant pickoff attempt in the Cincinnati Reds’ 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
After De La Cruz walked and stole second with two outs in the third, Milwaukee’s Colin Rea attempted to pick him off but threw the ball into shallow center field. Rea’s throw went to the right of shortstop Willy Adames, got between the legs of De La Cruz and rolled into shallow center field.
Rather than advancing just one base on the error, De La Cruz didn’t hesitate as third base coach J.R. House waved him home.
“I saw the ball and I said, ‘I’ve got to go home. I’ve got to go to the plate,’” De La Cruz said.
His left hand slid across the plate safely ahead of catcher William Contreras’ tag, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead. They eventually would lead 3-0 before the Brewers rallied.
“That was just one of those plays you just never see,” Reds manager David Bell said. “A lot of it’s the speed, there’s no question. But also just the instincts, the desire to be able to not only get on base, but as soon as he gets on base, it’s about scoring a run, and those kinds of things happen.”
Rea blamed himself afterward.
