Sports briefs

HOCKEY

Cup viewership way up

Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals Wednesday night was watched by an estimated average of 8.28 million viewers on NBC, the most for an NHL game in 36 years - when an estimated 8.29 million watched Game 3 of the Bruins-Flyers series in 1974. The viewership total was 43 percent higher than Game 6 last year, and 4 percent higher than Game 7. An average of 4.7 percent of U.S. households watched the game, making it the highest-rated NHL game since that same 1974 Bruins-Flyers Finals, when Game 6 of that series averaged a 7.6 rating. In Chicago, 32.8 percent of all homes and 50 percent of those with a TV in use were watching Game 6. In Philadelphia the figures were 26.8 and 38.

Lightning hires Boucher

Guy Boucher was hired as the coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, taking over a team that hasn't made it beyond the opening round of the NHL playoffs since winning the franchise's only Stanley Cup six years ago. The former coach of the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs agreed to a contract after turning down a chance to coach the Columbus Blue Jackets.

GOLF

Westwood leads with 63

Lee Westwood took advantage of no wind and a rain-softened course to shoot a 7-under 63 that gave him a one-stroke lead in the suspended first round of the St. Jude Classic in Memphis. Casey Wittenberg shot a 64 and Padraig Harrington had a 65. Thunderstorms stopped play. - APLOCAL COLLEGES

Farmingdale picks Mollot

Sachem East graduate Katie Mollot has been named women's lacrosse coach at Farmingdale State, athletic director Mike Harrington announced. Mollot, whose father, Steve, is the boys high school lacrosse coach at Patchogue-Medford, spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Colgate. Mollot replaced four-year coach Carrie Bolduc, who left to pursue other opportunities.