A Sports Filled Weekend Ahead

The second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown is upon us with Saturday’s 141st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. As a popular Maryland bumper sticker used to say: Hi Ho Pimlico!

Nyquist, winner of the Kentucky Derby, is the favorite for Saturday’s race, which has a post time of 6:45 p.m. ET on NBC. For true aficionados, the 92nd Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for fillies runs on Friday, with a post time of 4:50 p.m.

Not a big fan of the ponies? Relax. Plunk your heiner in the recliner and enjoy playoff hockey and basketball.

The Pittsburgh Penguins put their 2-1 series lead on the line against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night at 8 p.m. on NBC Sports Network. Game 5 is Sunday night at 8 p.m., also on NBC Sports Network, as the NHL Eastern Conference finals moves back to Pittsburgh.

In the Western Conference finals, the St. Louis Blues will look to even the series with the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night. The puck drops at 7:15 p.m. on NBC and the Sharks smell blood in the water after their 3-0 win on Thursday night to go ahead 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Your NBA go-to game is the Golden State Warriors-Oklahoma City Thunder matchup in OKC on Sunday night at 8 p.m. on TNT. After the Game 1 upset by the Thunder, the Warriors roared back to even the affair at a game apiece, but don’t discount the Thunder and Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

If you can stand lopsided beatings, try the Cleveland Cavaliers-Toronto Raptors matchup on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m on ESPN. The Cavs lead the series 2-0 and are 10-0 in the playoffs.

As always, watch responsibly. Remember, you’re a role model.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman