Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. Blues look to finish Sharks, get back to Final at last

The team that sat dead last in the NHL when the calendar flipped to 2019 is now one win away from the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1970. That kind of turnaround sounds like a cheesy movie of the week, but it's the scenario before the St. Louis Blues after they blasted the host San Jose Sharks 5-0 Sunday afternoon to take a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals. Murray plays down his chances of playing singles at Wimbledon

Former world number one Andy Murray has all but ruled out playing singles at Wimbledon this year and said he will focus on doubles when he makes his comeback from hip-resurfacing surgery. The Scot has not played since his first-round exit from the Australian Open in January, but said last month he was finally pain-free after the operation and planning to return to the ATP tour. Raptors aim to tie Eastern Conference finals

The game of adjustments will continue Tuesday night when the host Toronto Raptors try to even the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors showed a few new wrinkles Sunday night in Game 3 when they defeated the visiting Bucks 118-112 in double-overtime. Former F1 champion Lauda dead at 70

Three-times Formula One champion Niki Lauda, regarded as one of the finest racers of all time and who later became a successful airline entrepreneur, has died at 70 after battling declining health. Austrian Lauda, who was hospitalized in January for about 10 days while suffering from influenza and had a lung transplant last August, died on Monday, his family said in a statement. Curry, Green carry Warriors to sweep of Blazers

Historic individual performances already assured, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green went after something more important to them Monday night. A rest. Ice hockey: Top women's players form union, seek North American league

Top women's hockey players from around the world have formed a union to support the creation of a viable women's professional league in North America, they said on Monday. The Professional Women's Hockey Players Association's (PWHPA) formation follows more than 200 players deciding to sit out the upcoming professional season after the Canadian Women's Hockey League said in March it was shutting down. Two more racehorses die at Southern California track: media

Two further racehorses have died since Friday at Santa Anita Park following a spate of 23 other equine deaths at the Southern California venue since December, multiple media have reported. The gelding Spectacular Music suffered a pelvis injury in a race on Sunday and was euthanized on Monday, the Los Angeles Times and other media reported, citing racetrack officials. MLB notebook: Mets' Cespedes fractures ankle at ranch

New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes suffered multiple fractures of his right ankle during a "violent fall" on Saturday, according to the Mets. The incident occurred at Cespedes' ranch in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen told reporters on Monday that Cespedes stepped in a hole. MLB roundup: Sanchez's blast caps Yanks' rally

Gary Sanchez capped a four-run top of the ninth inning with a three-run homer as the New York Yankees rallied for a 10-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. The Orioles took an early 6-1 lead, helped by home runs from Hanser Alberto (4-for-5) and Renato Nunez, but three homers sparked the New York comeback. Gleyber Torres homered twice for the Yankees and now has 10 this season, eight of which have come against Baltimore. NBA notebook: Magic accuses Lakers GM of backstabbing

The Los Angeles Lakers on Monday introduced new head coach Frank Vogel at a news conference. However, their old president made all the headlines with accusations of backstabbing by his former subordinate. Speaking on ESPN's "First Take," former Lakers team president Magic Johnson said his resignation in April was the result of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka going behind his back repeatedly to, according to Johnson, make it seem the president wasn't working hard enough.