This Weekend in Sports: The Stanley Cup Finals, College World Series
The official arrival of summer brings a slight lull in the sports calendar. Here's what to watch this weekend:
Friday, June 21
2013 College World Series — Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Oregon State Beavers
TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, Neb.; 3 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2
Mississippi State has yet to lose at the 2013 College World Series in Omaha. If the Bulldogs can beat Oregon State on Friday, they'll advance to the best-of-three championship series against UCLA, North Carolina or North Carolina State on Monday. If the Beavers win, the same two teams play on Saturday to determine which squad will advance.
2013 College World Series — UCLA vs. UNC or N.C. State
TD Ameritrade Park, Omaha, Neb.; 8 p.m. (ET) on ESPN2
The UCLA Bruins have used two masterful pitching performances to remain undefeated in the 2013 College World Series. They'll look to knock out the winner of Thursday night's UNC-N.C. State game on Friday and advance to the best-of-three championship series. If the Bruins lose, a rematch will happen Saturday night.
Saturday, June 22
Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers
Comerica Park, Detroit; 7:15 p.m. (ET) on Fox
The Boston Red Sox (44-30) face the Detroit Tigers (39-31) in a battle of American League division leaders. Tigers' starter Max Scherzer (10-0, 3.08) may be baseball's hottest pitcher. The Red Sox have yet to name their hurler for Saturday.
2013 NHL Playoffs: Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 — Boston Bruins at Chicago Blackhawks
United Center, Chicago; 8 p.m. (ET) on NBC
The 2013 Stanley Cup Finals shift back to Chicago with the series tied at two games apiece. Until his shaky performance in Wednesday's 6-5 overtime loss, Boston goalie Tuukka Rask had been sensational for the Bruins. Chicago Blackhawks netminder Corey Crawford will try to outperform Rask and give his team the lead in the series.
Paulie Malignaggi vs. Adrien Broner
Barclays Center, Brooklyn; 9 p.m. (ET) on Showtime
Undefeated Adrien Broner (26-0, 22 KO) takes on WBA welterweight champ Paulie Malignaggi (32-4, 7 KO) in a 12-round title bout. Notable fights on the undercard include: Johnathon Banks vs. Seth Mitchell and Sakio Bika vs. Marco Antonio Periban.
Sunday, June 23
Toyota/Save Mart 350
Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.; 3:19 p.m. (ET) on TNT
NASCAR moves west this weekend, as the 2013 Sprint Cup series drivers attempt to navigate the road course at Sonoma, Calif. Jimmie Johnson still leads Carl Edwards by 31 points and Clint Bowyer by 49 points in the championship standings. Bowyer captured this race in 2012.
Texas Rangers at St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium, St. Louis; 8:05 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
The Texas Rangers (40-32) wrap up a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals (46-26) in a battle of teams that played an epic World Series in 2011. The Rangers send Yu Darvish (7-3, 2.84) to the mound to face a Cardinals lineup anchored by outfielders Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday. Adam Wainwright (10-4, 2.37) gets the start for St. Louis.