DISTAFF turf MILE

Churchill Downs, eighth race. Grade 2. Purse: $200,000. One mile, turf, fillies and mares. Post: 2:59 p.m.

LOWDOWN: Marketing Mix came off a five-month layoff to win her first start this year on turf at Keeneland in handy fashion. It was her third win in a row and fourth in her last five starts, including the Mrs. Revere over this course last November. She looks set for a big 4-year-old campaign.

TV: NBC Sports Network, HRTV, NYRA Channel 71

HUMANA DISTAFF

Churchill Downs, ninth race. Grade 1. Purse: $300,000. Seven furlongs, fillies and mares. Post: 3:49 p.m.

LOWDOWN: Switch is a two-time Grade 1 winner at the distance, and she finished second twice going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs, in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint the last two years. After five straight races in which she finished a narrowly beaten second or third, Switch switches riders from Joel Rosario to Mike Smith.

TV: NBC Sports Network, HRTV, NYRA Channel 71

TURF CLASSIC

Churchill Downs, 10th race. Grade 1. Purse: $500,000. 1 ¹/ miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up. Post: 4:44 p.m.

LOWDOWN: Turbo Compressor made his first start on turf last out at Gulfstream Park and led all the way to score by 5¹/ lengths. He has other speed to contend with here, notably Get Stormy, but that should just make his price more appetizing.

TV: NBC, HRTV, NYRA Channel 71

LAST WEEK: At Belmont, To Honor and Serve won the Westchester paying $3.20, 2.10 (no show betting); at Hollywood, Unusual Heatwave won the Snow Chief paying $7.40, $3.60, $2.80; at Churchill, Hierro won the Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial paying $12, $4.60, $3.20.

ed.fountaine@nypost.com

HRTV, Churchill Downs, NBC Sports Network, NYRA Channel, Joel Rosario, turf, NBC

Nypost.com

Knicks coach Mike Woodson downplayed the possibility of Amar’e Stoudemire being on a fast track to play in Game 4 against the Heat on Sunday with a bandaged left hand.

Stoudemire has not been allowed to do any basketball activity since Tuesday’s surgery as his hand heals from his bout with a fire-extinguisher’s glass case on Monday. Stoudemire did not attend yesterday’s morning shootaround and watched last night’s 87-70 Game 3 loss to the Heat from the bench wearing a sling on his left arm.

Stoudemire said he was still shooting to play Sunday but the Knicks have him listed as doubtful and the club has extremely low expectations of him returning at all in the first round series against the Heat.

Anthony J. Causi

Amar'e Stoudemire.

“I know there’s been talk, but it’s going to be the doctor’s decision there,’’ Woodson said. “He just had his hand worked on. They haven’t said anything about him playing Sunday.’’

Stoudemire called his chances “great,’’ but added he “wasn’t totally sure.’’ Stoudemire also promised he wouldn’t miss a game after injuring his back March 24 and wound up sitting out 13 straight contests.

* It was a great 24 hours for Heat president Pat Riley, who was on the floor for Wednesday night’s Bruce Springsteen show in Newark and then watched Miami clock his former team last night.

Riley, who coached the Knicks from 1991-95, is a noted Springsteen fanatic.

* Tyson Chandler received a congratulatory phone call Wednesday from former coach Mike D’Antoni for winning the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“We had a good conversation,’’ Chandler said.

Chandler and D’Antoni likely will team up in the London Olympics as the Knicks center has become a favorite to be named to Team USA. D’Antoni was in Las Vegas last week meeting with Team USA’s coaching staff.“It’s such a great honor,’’ Chandler said. “It was definitely my two biggest goals after wanting to chase another ring. It’s all I wanted my entire career is to win.’’ I’ve never been stat-driven. A lot of times I fell under the radar but it didn’t bother me as long as I felt true to myself.’’

Chandler is the first Knicks player to win the defensive award. The Knicks had not won a single postseason award since John Starks took Sixth Man of the Year in 1995-96.

Chandler is the first Knicks player to win the defensive award. The Knicks had not won a single postseason award since John Starks took Sixth Man of the Year in 1995-96.

More plaudits are on the way, as Chandler probably will be named to one of the three All-NBA teams.

Chandler said he’s all but over the flu that nearly knocked him out of Game 1.

“I feel a lot better,’’ Chandler said. “I feel like myself now. Being home helps in the comfort of my own bed. Game 1, I was nothing. I was just barely walking. Game 2, I felt a lot better. I still didn’t feel myself, but a lot better. Nobody’s 100 percent now but I’m close to 100 as I’m going to be.’’

marc.berman@nypost.com

Knicks, Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, the Heat, Bruce Springsteen

Nypost.com

Miami Heat forward Chris Bosh returned to New York hours after his wife gave birth and was preparing to play in Game 3 of his team’s Eastern Conference first-round series against the Knicks on Thursday night.

Bosh left the team shortly after it arrived in New York on Wednesday night, taking a private plane back to Miami after getting word that his wife was in labor. His son (the couple’s first child) was born at 3 a.m. Thursday, said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.

“A great moment for their family,” Spoelstra said.

Bosh’s plane touched down in the New York area around 4:30 p.m. Thursday and he was expected to arrive at Madison Square Garden before the 7 p.m. tipoff.

Getty Images for Mercedes-Benz F

Chris Bosh and wife Adrienne during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in September.

“He’s very excited,” Spoelstra said. “While he may not be fully rested, he has an incredible amount of excitement right now.”

Bosh’s wife posted a photo of him holding his newborn son to a social media account early Thursday. Wednesday, Bosh said he did not expect that the birth to be imminent.

“From a Dream, To a Thought, To Reality, To being in our Arms,” Adrienne Bosh posted on Twitter a few hours after giving birth.

Many of Bosh’s teammates can relate to what he’s going through, juggling family responsibility with the demands of the playoffs. Shane Battier’s wife delivered a girl last season while Memphis, Battier’s former team, was facing San Antonio in the postseason. Mike Miller’s wife gave birth during last season’s Heat playoff run, and LeBron James’ now-fiancee Savannah Brinson delivered their second child during Cleveland’s appearance in the 2007 Finals.

James and Dwyane Wade said they expected Bosh to be back for the game.

“It can be physically draining because you don’t get much sleep while you’re going through that whole process,” James said. “But as far as mentally draining, I think the best way to deal with it is make sure the family’s OK, make sure his wife of course is OK, and this is a great way to get away from it, to come back here and play the game of basketball.”

Bosh averaged 15 points and 5 rebounds in the first two games of the series, which Miami led 2-0 heading into Thursday night.

Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, Miami, Adrienne Bosh, Mercedes-Benz, Eastern Conference, Spoelstra, LeBron James, New York, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, Savannah Brinson

Nypost.com

Blaise Scerbo thinks about his jog across Jack Kaiser Field often. The Xaverian right-hander, overlooked as one of the team’s best pitchers at the start of the season, had a chance to close out the CHSAA Class AA championship game.

“Coming in from bullpen through right field was real nice,” Scerbo said. “It was a really good feeling.”

The big, 6-foot-4 hurler pitched a scoreless 2-1/3 innings of relief to seal a 7-1 win for the Clippers. That game and his total body of work in the postseason was Scerbo’s coming out party. Now, he is Xaverian’s ace and Wednesday he committed to pitch at Seton Hall of the Big East.

Lauren Marsh

Xaverian pitcher (22) Blaise Scerbo committed Wednesday to Seton Hall.

“Blaise has been very dependable,” Clippers coach Lou Piccola said. “He’s the one that you rely on – every time he goes out there, you’re gonna be in the game. He throws strikes. He’s got tremendous control. He doesn’t hurt himself.”

Scerbo faced a setback this season: a bout with sore arm. He made his return last week – back in his old relief role – and will start his first game of the season next week. The control specialist wasn’t worried. He had the same issue his sophomore year and he blamed the preseason cold weather for causing it. Then, Scerbo rested it for a few weeks and he was fine.

Right now, he says he feels great and Xaverian has been playing excellent, too. The Clippers didn’t miss a beat without him on the mound. Frank Kaplan, John Pena, Brian Rosa and Tommy Anselmo have held down the fort nicely. Scerbo, who plays travel ball with the New York Grays, is excited about the postseason.

“We’re undefeated,” he said. “We want to keep it that way.”

Scerbo didn’t pitch much as a freshman or sophomore. But he got the opportunity last year and ran with it, especially in the postseason where he became a star.

“Last year was really nice that I got into the rotation and the coaches trusted me more for the playoffs and championship game,” he said.

Scerbo is bigger and stronger than ever with his fastball hitting 86 mph to go along with his nasty breaking stuff and pinpoint control. He’s excited about going to Seton Hall, which he chose over Fairleigh Dickinson, but first there’s the business of trying to repeat.

Piccola fully expects him to be the go-to guy on the mound once again come playoff time – just like he was in 2011.

“He just finished everything,” the coach said of last year, “especially in the final game.”

mraimondi@nypost.com

Blaise Scerbo, Seton Hall, Seton Hall, Clippers, CHSAA Class AA championship, Xaverian, Xaverian, Scerbo, Frank Kaplan, The Clippers, Lou Piccola

Nypost.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Bodemeister has been made the early 4-1 favorite for the Kentucky Derby, with Union Rags the second choice in a full field of 20 horses.

Trained by three-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, Bodemeister drew the No. 6 post on Wednesday. Six horses have won from that position, the last being Sea Hero in 1993.

Bodemeister is the stronger of Baffert’s two horses, having won the Arkansas Derby by 9 1-2 lengths in the most dominating performance among the Derby prep races. His other, Liaison, landed in the No. 20 spot for Saturday’s race.

It’s the third time the Hall of Fame trainer has had the early Derby favorite. The first two times didn’t work out.

POST POSITIONS, ODDS

Lookin At Lucky drew the dreaded inside post in 2010 and finished sixth. In 2001, Point Given was the heavy favorite and wound up fifth. He went on to win the Preakness and Belmont stakes, the final two legs of the Triple Crown.

Union Rags drew the No. 4 post and was listed at 9-2 on the morning line set by Churchill Downs oddsmaker Mike Battaglia. He is trained by Michael Matz, who won the Derby in 2006 with Barbaro only to have the colt stunningly break down after the start of the Preakness.

Gemologist was the third choice at 6-1 and drew the No. 15 post. The undefeated colt is one of two trained by Todd Pletcher, who won his first Derby in 2010 with Super Saver. The other, El Padrino, will be in the next stall toward the outside as one of two 20-1 shots.

Blue Grass winner Dullahan was the 8-1 fourth choice. He got the No. 5 post, drawing the loudest cheers from his connections.

The No. 1 and No. 14 posts remained open until there were just two spots left in the starting gate, leaving the connections of speedy Hansen and Daddy Long Legs in suspense. UAE Derby winner Daddy Long Legs got the inside stall, while 10-1 shot Hansen dodged a bullet and landed the No. 14 slot.

Hansen and Daddy Long Legs have the most graded stakes earnings in the field. Hansen leads the list with more than $1.5 million, while Daddy Long Legs has $1.2 million.

Optimizer is the record 45th Derby starter for trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a four-time winner of the race. The colt will break from the No. 2 post and is one of five 50-1 shots. He got into the field when Mark Valeski was withdrawn from consideration Tuesday.

The 21st horse on the earnings list is My Adonis, an also eligible who would need a defection before 9 a.m. Friday, when Derby wagering opens, to get into the 1¼-mile race.

If all 20 horses start, the $2,219,600 purse would be the richest since 2005, when the Derby first became a guaranteed $2 million event. The winner earns $1,459,600. Post time is 6:24 p.m.

Kentucky Derby, Arkansas Derby, Daddy Long Legs, Bob Baffert, Union Rags, LOUISVILLE, Ky., Derby, Bodemeister online

Nypost.com

Best Bet: Strength’s Victory (8th)

FIRST: mile; trot; $4000; cond

3 Rose Run Ivan

(MMerton)

1-1-4

3-1

1 Big Z Fortune

(JMarohnJr)

1-1-6

5-2

5 Gotta Luv It

(GMerton)

1-2-1

9-2

2 Sweet Lucifer

(MForte)

5-4-4

10-1

4 Billboard King

(RKrikorian)

2-3-1

8-1

6 Thirty Trips

(KSwitzerJr)

2-2-3

7-2

7 Chrome Finish

(WParkerJr)

5-2-8

4-1

SECOND: mile; pace; $2500; cond

2 Mr Deuce

(CStratton)

3-7-5

5-2

6 Fulla Love

(NClegg)

2-7-2

3-1

7 Barry Blue Chip

(WParkerJr)

x-x-x

5-1

1 PrincessBabyElla

(JTaggrtJr)

8-x-x

10-1

3 Lukes Dotty

(JMoeykens)

5-6-8

8-1

4 Chloe Seelster

(JMarohnJr)

3-9-9

7-2

5 Ability To Attack

(BRusso)

8-8-7

12-1

8 ComeGetchSme

(MKmelmn)

6-4-8

4-1

THIRD: mile; pace; $4000; cl($2000)

5 Smarty Merit

(MForte)

7-4-7

3-1

8 MichaelCHanver

(WPrkerJr)

5-6-5

9-2

1 Lucky Acquisition

(MMerton)

8-3-3

5-2

2 Bj Pacifica

(JTaggartJr)

5-3-8

4-1

3 Hi HopesCruiser

(SMcaleese)

5-6-8

6-1

4 Kennairnsmilenwve

(GAnnlr)

3-6-6

7-2

6 Up Front J S

(CWashington)

7-8-8

12-1

7 Gallant Guy N

(CStratton)

7-6-4

10-1

FOURTH: mile; trot; $2000; cond

6 Mister LuckyVec

(WParkrJr)

2-3-5

5-2

1 Ms Fushsia

(KDIBenedetto)

7-7-4

7-2

3 Danger Hall

(KSwitzerJr)

4-2-5

4-1

2 Bonair

(JJuckas)

4-6-5

8-1

4 Victory Hall

(JTaggartJr)

8-5-5

10-1

5 Leaves and Twigs

(JClouser)

7-4-5

12-1

7 Dynamic Preacher

(RHarp)

7-6-6

9-2

8 Hunting Lodge

(MForte)

2-8-8

3-1

FIFTH: mile; trot; $5100; cond

7 WindsunPride

(KDIBenedett)

2-5-2

6-1

4 Iroquouindinmgc

(ASchwrtz)

1-2-1

12-1

3 Income De Vie

(JMarohnJr)

1-7-5

3-1

1 Sin To Win

(WParkerJr)

5-4-3

5-2

2 Rose Run Kevin

(JTaggartJr)

3-3-5

4-1

5 Doner Dream

(GMerton)

3-3-1

10-1

6 Imallottocatch

(MForte)

4-3-1

9-2

8 My Cool Breeze

(MMerton)

3-8-1

7-2

SIXTH: mile; pace; $2000; cond

2 Betting Molin

(CStratton)

1-5-4

7-2

6 Simple Lease

(JTaggartJr)

7-7-6

5-2

7 FoxValleySosa

(KDIBendett)

5-5-6

3-1

1 Mr Manhattan

(JOney)

3-7-3

9-2

3 Deceived By Trust

(MForte)

5-8-7

6-1

4 Coracamm

(WParkerJr)

7-5-5

10-1

5 JD S Tycoon

(KSwitzerJr)

7-6-7

12-1

8 Logans Dragon

(JPrimeau)

4-3-2

4-1

SEVENTH: mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

5 Mr Socks

(GMerton)

1-4-4

4-1

2 Sandri Hanover

(JMarohnJr)

1-2-8

9-2

6 Eagle Mcnair

(KDIBenedetto)

2-2-2

3-1

1 Fifth Street

(MMerton)

6-5-1

7-2

3 Ok Cognac

(JTaggartJr)

2-5-6

10-1

4 Scarlet Champion

(MForte)

2-5-1

6-1

7 Crazy Character

(NClegg)

4-4-4

5-2

8 Borilla

(KSwitzerJr)

3-4-2

12-1

EIGHTH: mile; trot; $4000; cond

1 StrengthsVictory

(WPrkerJr)

6-1-2

5-2

5 S F Sure Thing

(RHarp)

3-7-7

4-1

3 My Buddy Chimo

(JGilmour)

4-6-4

3-1

2 MotownDremgrl

(KSwtzerJr)

5-8-8

12-1

4 Auro Hanover

(GMerton)

4-3-7

9-2

6 Colin Power

(CStratton)

10-5-7

10-1

7 Xtreme Talent

(JTaggartJr)

7-8-4

5-1

NINTH: mile; pace; $2500; cond

4 I Deal Vic

(MMerton)

3-6-6

5-2

5 Rustikana

(GDeckerJr)

7-x-x

3-1

1 Getaway Gold

(GMerton)

8-7-7

6-1

2 TwontrmpHnver

(KSwtzerJr)

7-3-6

4-1

3 Art Alliance

(CStratton)

4-x-x

9-2

6 Swash Hanover

(JTaggartJr)

x-x-x

4-1

7 Zip It Lock It

(CWashington)

7-x-x

12-1

8 Future Rock Star

(RVinci)

x-x-x

10-1

TENTH: mile; pace; $4000; cl($2300)

1 Get Out of Tune

(MMerton)

3-5-1

5-2

5 See You Smile

(GMerton)

1-8-2

7-2

2 Knucklehead

(WParkerJr)

5-4-1

3-1

3 Ogs Bowchitski P

(BNelson)

2-3-1

4-1

4 Four Brass Starz

(MForte)

7-3-5

9-2

6 Foomanchu

(DdMiller)

2-2-6

8-1

7 Cheyenne Ryan

(KSwitzerJr)

5-5-2

10-1

8 Yacht King

(JTaggartJr)

6-6-2

12-1

ELEVENTH: mile; pace; $2700; cond

5 Caseys Cam

(WParkerJr)

1-5-4

9-2

6 Hockey Mom

(MForte)

1-3-4

3-2

2 Shop it to Me

(KSwitzerJr)

5-5-4

7-2

1 High Street

(JTaggartJr)

3-4-5

6-1

3 Pacific Escape

(GMerton)

7-7-6

12-1

4 Unending Love

(SMcaleese)

3-3-3

5-2

7 Prince Radiant

(JMarohnJr)

4-1-5

10-1

8 Countescape

(JMarohn)

3-8-8

4-1

TWELFTH: mile; pace; $2000; cond

5 In Ethans Honor

(KSwitzerJr)

7-4-6

5-2

3 Our Cam Killean

(CStratton)

8-4-2

3-1

4 Indys Z Tam

(DdMiller)

7-5-5

9-2

1 Artristocracy

(MSpano)

8-8-7

12-1

2 Mayo Zin

(BRusso)

7-6-6

10-1

6 MorWinningWys

(GDeckerJr)

6-6-3

8-1

7 Davids Road

(MForte)

4-4-5

7-2

8 FourStarzzzzLou

(JMarohnJr)

4-3-7

4-1

pace, pace

Nypost.com

The final regular-season weekend provided some thrilling, interesting results.

Newcomers was the headliner, coming back from a set down to defeat New Utrecht in the Seward Park tournament championship game. Previously unranked, the Lions, who also beat Hunter College HS in the semifinals, debut this week at No. 9 – perfect timing for Wednesday’s seeding meeting.

Academy of American Studies, which shares a school building with Newcomers, defeated Bryant in the Grover Cleveland final, a rematch of last year’s PSAL city final won by Bryant. The Eagles have all but locked up the top seed heading into the playoffs.

Denis Gostev

Newcomers debuts at No. 9 after winning the Seward Park tournament Sunday.

For more on both of those teams and everyone else, take a look below:

1. Academy of American Studies (10-0) (Last week: 1)

The setter-outside hitter combination of brothers Michal Kasza and Piotr Kasza can be unstoppable at times and that was the case Saturday in the Grover Cleveland tournament. Academy of American Studies got revenge on Bryant in a rematch of last year’s PSAL city championship match.

Next: TBA, PSAL first round (TBA, TBA)

2. Bronx Science (9-0) (2)

Science dropped its first set in league play this week against Bronx Leadership, but that shouldn’t be cause for concern. In fact, the Wolverines should get an infusion heading into the playoffs with the return of star middle hitter Alex Barbulescu (ankle).

Next: Roosevelt (May 1, 5:30 p.m.)

3. New Utrecht (11-0) (3)

The Utes looked so dominant in the first set Sunday against Newcomers in the Seward Park tournament final. But the Lions came back and bested New Utrecht in three sets, marking the first real loss for the Brooklyn team against a team not in the top three.

Next: @ Fort Hamilton (May 1, 5:30 p.m.)

4. Cardozo (10-1) (4)

A loss to Francis Lewis in league play could hurt Cardozo in seeding, but the Judges still have a very strong résumé, including a tournament championship at their host tournament and a trip to the Francis Lewis final. No matter where it is seeded, this team will be a tough out in the postseason.

Next: @ Bayside (May 1, 5:30 p.m.)

5. Regis (8-0) (5)

The Raiders dropped a set to Iona Prep on Thursday, their first set since the first match of the league season against Cardinal Spellman. But they also beat second-place Spellman and won the CHSAA tournament Saturday, defeating Salesian in the final.

Next: @ Fordham Prep (May 3, 5:30 p.m.)

6. Brooklyn Tech (12-0) (6)

The regular season is over for Brooklyn Tech and the Engineers now wait to find out their playoff seed on Wednesday. They dropped their second set of the season to Boys & Girls on Friday, but have had plenty of tournament success and could be looking at a top-five spot.

Next: TBA, PSAL first round (TBA, TBA)

7. McKee/Staten Island Tech (10-0) (7)

It was another three-set thriller, but MSIT pulled out a second league victory over rival Susan Wagner on Thursday. The Seagulls dropped the first set, only to come back strong and complete their third straight undefeated season on top of PSAL Staten Island XIV.

Next: TBA, PSAL first round (TBA, TBA)

8. Bryant (10-0) (8)

The Owls, who reached the Cleveland tournament final Saturday, can’t just coast into the playoffs just yet. On Tuesday, the day before the seeding committee meeting, Bryant travels to second-place Grover Cleveland for a league match that will not be easy.

Next: @ Grover Cleveland (May 1, 5:30 p.m.)

9. Newcomers (6-3) (NR)

The best three-loss team in New York City knocked off New Utrecht in the Seward Park tournament final Sunday and will be riding high into the playoffs. Newcomers lost twice to No. 1 Academy of American Studies and once to Long Island City without two of its best players.

Next: Aviation (May 1, 4:30 p.m. @ Info Tech)

10. Hunter College HS (12-0) (9)

The Hitmen advanced to the Seward Park semifinals and would have won a difficult pool if not for a few points here and there against New Utrecht. The young team, made up mostly of sophomores, fell to Newcomers, bumping it down a spot in this week’s rankings.

Next: TBA, PSAL first round (TBA, TBA)

New: Newcomers (6-3)

Dropped out: Susan Wagner (7-2)

On the bubble: Midwood (7-0), Francis Lewis (8-2), Clinton (9-0), Richmond Hill (10-0), Stuyvesant (10-0), Long Island City (7-3), Cardinal Spellman (7-2), Cleveland (9-1), FDR (9-2), Washington Irving (10-2) and Seward Park (8-2)

mraimondi@nypost.com

New Utrecht, New Utrecht, New Utrecht, PSAL, PSAL, Academy of American Studies, Academy of American Studies, Grover Cleveland, Grover Cleveland, Seward Park, Seward Park, Francis Lewis, Francis Lewis, tournament championship, Seward Park tournament championship, Hunter College HS, Hunter College HS, Cardinal Spellman, TBA, TBA, Brooklyn Tech, tournament, Newcomers, Newcomers, Susan Wagner, The Eagles, Cleveland

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It all happened in less than 30 seconds. The Rangers were on the verge of tying the game and then instantly found themselves down 2-0.

With under three minutes to go in the first period of the Capitals’ 3-2 Game 2 win last night, Rangers rookie Chris Kreider streaked down the ice on a breakaway and was stopped by Braden Holtby.

“We definitely had several chances to tie it up,” Kreider said. “It was a pretty back-and-forth game.”

That was exemplified when the Capitals immediately took it back down the ice, the puck ending up behind Henrik Lundqvist’s net — but just out of the trapezoid differentiating where he can and cannot touch it.

“The puck just died so I couldn’t play it,” Lundqvist said. “I was on the line so I just poked it. It was going wide after that.

“It was a misread by me. I thought the puck would come faster than it did.”

Jason Chimera took advantage, almost colliding with Lundqvist and chipping the puck the front of the net. There, as Lundqvist dove and hit Anton Stralman in the face with his stick, the puck came back to Chimera near the right post, where he slapped at it again, getting it go in off Ryan McDonagh’s skate and giving the Caps a 2-0 lead.

* Brian Boyle was back in the Rangers lineup after missing the past three games as a result of a concussion sustained on a Chris Neil hit in Game 5 of the Rangers’ series against Ottawa.

While out, the Rangers put away the Senators in seven games and took Game 1 of their series against the Capitals.

“Well, they’re 3-0 since I’ve been out, so it’s not that difficult,” Boyle joked before the game.

Last night, he played a total of 15:20, with 1:18 coming shorthanded. He lost the defensive-zone faceoff to Niklas Backstrom while on the final penalty-kill in the third period that resulted in Alex Ovechkin’s game-winning goal.

* There was no update on Brandon Dubinsky, who didn’t play last night and hasn’t played since he seemed to injure his left leg in Game 7 of the first round.

* John Tortorella was names a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given to the league’s top coach as voted on by the NHL Broadcasters Association. He joined the Blues’ Ken Hitchcock and the Senators’ Paul MacLean as finalists.

* In the first period, Rangers defenseman Stu Bickel made a bad turnover at the blueline resulting in the Capitals’ first goal, scored by Mike Knuble. After that, he got one shift the rest of the game, playing a total of 3:07.

bcyrgalis@nypost.com

Henrik Lundqvist, Lundqvist, Chris Kreider, Rangers, Rangers, Capitals, Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman, John Tortorella, Niklas Backstrom, puck

Nypost.com

MIAMI — Knicks interim coach Mike Woodson said he’s hopeful rookie Iman Shumpert can beat the timetable and be available for the start of October’s training camp, and Amar’e Stoudemire vowed he will help the Knicks rookie defensive guard with rehab.

Saturday was a sad turn of events for not just the franchise’s present but its future, with Shumpert tearing the ACL and meniscus in his left knee. He is expected to be sidelined six to eight months.

If he returns in six months, he would be coming back to the Knicks just as the preseason ends. Baron Davis hailed Shumpert yesterday as the team’s “heart and soul,’’ and he may be named to one of the NBA’s All-Defensive teams.

”Our medical staff is one of the best in the business,’’ Woodson said. “He’s a young player. With technology and all, hopefully he can beat the deadline they’re projecting and get him back early. But it’s a serious injury and it’s going to take some time.

“My advice to him is make sure he does everything from a rehab standpoint when he does come back strong and fully ready to go. Don’t try to do something you’re not capable of doing. That’s an injury that can possibly set you back a long time. But he’s young enough. He should recover nicely.’’

Stoudemire spoke with Shumpert at the team hotel yesterday after he returned from a Miami hospital.

“Iman was an intricate part to our team,’’ said Stoudemire, who underwent microfracture and retina surgery. “I told him before, I’ve been through tough injuries. It’s going to take a lot of hard work and perseverance and self-discipline in order to overcome this injury. He’s got a lot of work cut out for him. We have the same agency. We’re going to be in communication all summer. I’m going to help him with rehab.’’

The Knicks don’t have a first-round pick this June and Shumpert will miss July’s Las Vegas Summer League again. There was no summer league last year due to the NBA lockout. Shumpert is a huge piece of the team’s future, and his summer rehab and whether he can make it to training camp will loom as one of the Knicks’ largest offseason issues.

This is about more than not having a defender for Dwyane Wade for this series. “We’re going to miss him,’’ said Carmelo Anthony, who has become his close friend. “We just want him to focus in on getting his body right and getting healthy.’’

Asked what was worse, losing Game 1 or Shumpert, Stoudemire said, “Both blows weren’t easy to take.’’

Davis said his back stiffened because of the physical play of the playoffs and trying to do too much banging through picks. Woodson said Davis was a game-time decision but Davis said, “If I wake up, I’m playing.’’ Davis sat out the last 21 minutes of Game 1 after sparkling in the first quarter with two driving dunks, his first two of the season. It’s the first time Davis’ back flared up since his late-February return.

Davis has had hamstring, knee and neck woes instead.

“It was just trying running into guys,’’ Davis said. “During the playoffs, you look for the contact and embrace that contact. I let my adrenalin get the best of me. I could’ve avoided those pick and rolls. My back wasn’t ready to withstand all the contact.’’

Davis said tonight he’ll look to play a more finesse game.

The Heat public relations staff put out a list of negative playoff statistics regarding the Knicks in their standard post-game notes that was refreshing and actually raised eyebrows from reporters used to stats reflecting mostly positive trends. The Knicks factoids were so detailed in its negativity, Stoudemire was listed as shooting under 29 percent in four straight playoff games, Anthony’s career playoff history of shooting under 50 percent in his last seven postseason games was mentioned, and so was the Knicks’ chances of tying the NBA record for most consecutive playoff losses, with a chance to go to 12 tonight and equaling Memphis’ futility — something that had never been reported. The negative list also included the 27 turnovers. tying a postseason franchise high. The Heat’s president is ex-Knicks coach Pat Riley and its PR chief is former Knicks staffer Tim Donovan.

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Nypost.com

Bill “Moose” Skowron, who was a key part of four World Series titles with the Yankees, died yesterday of congestive heart failure at 81 after a lengthy illness outside of Chicago.

The first baseman hit .282, with 211 home runs and 888 RBIs in 1,658 career games, but he was perhaps best remembered for his performance during the postseason.

Skowron hit eight home runs in 39 career World Series games. He hit a three-run shot in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ Game 7 win over the Milwaukee Braves in the 1958 World Series and also drove in the game-winning run with a 10th-inning RBI single in Game 6 of the same Series to force the final game.

“There weren’t many better guys than Moose,” Yogi Berra said of the six-time All-Star. “He was a dear friend and a great team man. A darn good ballplayer, too. I’m going to miss him.”

Among Skowron’s other playoff heroics was a seventh-inning grand slam off Roger Craig and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956. He also had a leadoff homer in the fifth inning off Vernon Law in 1960, when the Yankees overcame a four-run deficit at Pittsburgh to take a 7-4 lead only to lose 10-9.

“Moose could really hit the baseball — especially home runs to right field,” former roommate Bob Turley said. “I was glad Moose was on my team because he always wanted to win.”

Skowron won a fifth title with the Dodgers in 1963 and was an annual presence at Old-Timer’s Day in The Bronx.

“He always had positive things to say,” Derek Jeter said of his conversations with Skowron. “He would always come over and comment on how you are playing or how things will turn around. He was just always positive.”

“Moose will always be remembered as being one of the key members of the Yankees’ dynasties in the 50s and early 60s,” owner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “He was a winner in every sense of the word, and someone the Yankees family cared deeply for. Baseball lost one of its finest ambassadors, and on behalf of the entire organization, I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife, Cookie, and his entire family.”

dan.martin@nypost.com

Bill “Moose” Skowron, congestive heart failure, World Series titles, Milwaukee Braves, the Yankees, 1958 World Series, Roger Craig, Bob Turley, World Series games, Derek Jeter, Hal Steinbrenner, Brooklyn Dodgers, Yogi Berra, Skowron

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