NEW YORK (AP) — Adrian Kempe scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season and the Los Angeles Kings held off the New York Islanders 3-2 on Friday night.
Trevor Moore and Anze Kopitar also scored for the Kings and Darcy Kuemper stopped 21 of the 23 shots he faced.
Emil Heineman scored twice for the Islanders, and Ilya Sorokin made 24 saves. Bo Horvat added two assists.
Kempe scored on a wrist shot with 1:32 remaining in the first period to put the Kings up 3-0. Kempe now has five goals and four assists in his last six games.
After the game, the Islanders stayed on the ice and shook hands with Kings captain Kopitar, who is playing in his 20th and final season in the NHL.
Ducks captain Radko Gudas has been suspended for five games for his knee-to-knee hit on Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews during the second period of Thursday’s game. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major penalty for kneeing and given a game misconduct. Matthews left the game and did not return.
On Friday, the Leafs announced that Matthews sustained a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion. Though he will be re-evaluated in two weeks, he will miss the rest of the 2025-26 season.
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) leaves the ice after being ejected from the game for a hit on Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (not pictured) during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
This hit comes just weeks after Gudas’ hit on Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby during the 2026 Winter Olympics, which resulted in a Grade 2 MCL sprain for Crosby. While Gudas’ hit on Crosby was fair and legal, his hit on Matthews was anything but.
This is the fifth time that Gudas has been suspended by the NHL and his first time since 2019, when he was suspended two games for high sticking the Tampa Bay Lightning's Nikita Kucherov.
Gudas has had two longer suspensions in his NHL career. He was suspended 10 games in 2017 for slashing the Winnipeg Jets’ Mathieu Perreault across the neck and suspended six games in 2016 for a late, high hit on the Boston Bruins’ Austin Czarnik.
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) gets set for a face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
A phone hearing between Gudas and the NHL Department Player of Safety was held on Friday. Phone hearings carry a maximum suspension of five games, whereas an in-person hearing would have allowed for a longer suspension.
Trade deadline acquisition John Carlson has been targeting Saturday versus the Ottawa Senators or Sunday versus the Montréal Canadiens for his Ducks debut. With Gudas out, Drew Helleson will likely remain in the lineup and Ian Moore, who lined up as a winger in Thursday’s game, will also likely return to the blue line for this weekend’s pair of games.
It didn't look good when Auston Matthews clutched at his knee immediately after absorbing a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas during the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks Thursday, March 12. We now know that will mark Matthews' last minutes on the ice this season.
The Maple Leafs announced Friday, March 13 that Matthews will miss the rest of the 2025-26 NHL season after he suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear and quad contusion on the hit that will seemingly soon result in a suspension for Gudas, who was set to have a disciplinary hearing with the league Friday.
Toronto said Matthews will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, and the team will give another update then.
Radko Gudas has been ejected from the game for kneeing and Auston Matthews has gone to the dressing room. pic.twitter.com/wTiR9t7Tzw
Matthews, 28, had gotten the puck alone in front of the net Thursday when a hard-charging Gudas, 35, drove right through the American star, with Gudas' left leg taking out Matthews' left. Matthews immediately clutched at his leg and needed assistance to get off the ice. Gudas was assessed a 5-minute major for kneeing and a 10-minute game misconduct, ending his night.
It's a brutal end to what's been a trying NHL season for 2016's top pick. He finishes with 27 goals and 53 points, both career lows, and the Maple Leafs will almost certainly miss the playoffs for the first time in his 10-year tenure.
The former MVP and three-time goal-scoring champ did experience great success at the Milano Cortina Olympics, captaining Team USA to the gold medal in men's hockey – its first since 1980. But his return to NHL play saw the Leafs drop eight consecutive games before Thursday night. That win, however, is overshadowed by the loss of the Leafs captain.
Following their most recent regulation setback, the shorthanded Detroit Red Wings know they must do a better job of taking advantage of the offensive opportunities they get.
Playing without top centers Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp, who both suffered lower-body injuries, has dampened their offensive attack, which already ranks near the bottom of the NHL in five-on-five scoring.
While they could get veteran David Perron back at some point next week, they must make do with the players currently available when they face the powerful Dallas Stars on Saturday evening.
Forward Alex DeBrincat, who leads the Red Wings with 33 goals scored, believes that the club is going to remain confident despite the absence of several players.
"I think we played well enough to win, we've got to bury on our chances," DeBrincat said afterward.
"I think we're confident in what we do," he continued. "These are two tough matchups, and we kind of gave away the Florida game at the end of the game. But, two good teams and another one on Saturday. So, we've got to come ready to play right from puck drop, and hopefully get some two points."
Right now, the Red Wings occupy the first Wild Card Spot in the Eastern Conference, with the Boston Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets hot on their trail.
They know they can't afford to give away points as they did against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday evening, and it begins with bearing down and not letting chances slip away.
"We just have to get guys to the net, bear down in front and put some in the net," DeBrincat said. "Obviously, they have a world-class goalie over there, but we've got to find a way to put it in."
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Kurtis Patterson is playing the best cricket of his life at the moment, with his title-winning purple patch coinciding with Marnus Labuschagne’s worrying red-ball slump.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 12: Kai-Wei Teng #17 of the Houston Astros throws a bullpen during spring training workouts at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on February 12, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (7-9-3) travel to Jupiter, FL to face the St. Louis Cardinals (10-8-1) in Grapefruit League play.
RHP Kai-Wei Teng gets his first start of the Spring for Houston, opposed by RHP Kyle Leahy of St. Louis.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, March 13, 5:05 p.m. CST
Location: Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, Jupiter, FL
J. Wetherholt – 2B Victor Scott – CF N. Velazquez – DH Pedro Pages – C M. Koperniak – RF Blaze Jordan – 1B R. Mendoza – 3B Jeremy Rivas – SS C. Ledbetter – LF
Former Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen and his two children, Ty and Faith, are feeling the NHL's embrace following his wife Hannah's death after a lengthy battle with cancer.
News of Hannah Larsen's passing was revealed publicly by former Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, who passed along his condolences to his one-time assistant in Columbus and the Larsen family March 12 during an appearance as an ESPN studio analyst. Larsen has battled cancer twice himself, and Hannah played a key role in supporting him each time.
The Blue Jackets, the team Larsen spent almost a decade working for as a coach, issued a statement March 13 through social media offering the club's "deepest condolences" and "warmest thoughts."
During his time with the Blue Jackets, Larsen coached the team's AHL affiliate as assistant and head coach when it was located in Springfield, Massachusetts, before joining former coach Brad Richards' staff in 2014-15. Tortorella kept him on staff for six seasons before leaving the Blue Jackets under mutual terms that paved the way for Larsen to replace him as head coach.
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) March 13, 2026
Larsen spent two difficult seasons running the bench in Columbus amid a spate of injuries that led to his firing at the end of the 2022-23 season.
Larsen and his family stayed in the Columbus area, and the former NHL coach took a year off from his professional career to work with his son Ty's youth team.
Deepest condolences go out to Brad Larsen and his family following the passing of his wife Hannah. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Larsen family and all of those who knew and loved Hannah.
He was hired by the Calgary Flames on June 11, 2024, to restart his career as an NHL assistant, but took an indefinite leave of absence Dec. 8, 2024, to rejoin his family and care for his wife after her condition worsened.
After news of Hannah Larsen's passing was disclosed, condolences from many in hockey were posted on social media, including former Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent, who worked closely with Larsen as an assistant and replaced him for the 2023-24 season.
Yesterday, we received the terribly sad news of the passing of Hannah, wife of my friend Brad Larsen, after a long battle. My heart is broken for Brad, their two children, and all of Hannah’s family. Sending them all my love and deepest condolences.
Vincent is now in his second season as head coach for the Montreal Canadiens' AHL affiliate, Laval Rocket.
"Yesterday, we received the terribly sad news of the passing of Hannah, wife of my friend Brad Larsen, after a long battle," he said. "My heart is broken for Brad, their two children, and all of Hannah’s family. Sending them all my love and deepest condolences."
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Juan Mejia #47 of the Dominican Republic reacts to getting out of the fifth inning against Venezuelaat loanDepot park on March 11, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a long and exhilarating group stage, the 2026 World Baseball Classic has seen itself narrowed from 20 teams to eight.
Brazil, Czechia, Nicaragua, and Panama—all having finished at the bottom of their respective pools—have been relegated. These four teams will need to re-qualify for the main tournament in 2029. Meanwhile, the United States, Canada, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, Japan, Korea, Italy, and Puerto Rico have all advanced to the knockout stage.
These eight remaining teams will play single elimination games tonight and tomorrow as the field is further cleared down to the last two teams standing for March 17th’s championship bout in Miami, Florida.
Game No. 1: Korea (대한민국) at Dominican Republic (República Dominicana)
Venue: loanDepot Park — Miami, Florida, USA
One of three Pool C teams to finish group play with a 2-2 record, Korea knocked out Australia and Chinese Taipei by way of tiebreakers and an incredibly exciting match-up against Samurai Japan. Now Korea is fighting for their first top four World Baseball Classic result since they took home the silver medal in 2009.
Korea will be led tonight by starting pitcher and former MLB star Hyun-jin Ryu. Ryu will be making his second start of the tournament. The 39-year-old lefty worked three innings of one run baseball—off a solo home run—against Chinese Taipei and struck out three batters during the group round.
One of just three 4-0 teams represents a sturdy wall against Korea’s aspirations. The team from the Dominican Republic is absolutely stacked with current and former big league talent on their roster and coaching staff. Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, and Fernando Tatis Jr have been excellent at the plate, backed up by strong pitching that includes current Rockies reliever Juan Mejia and former Rockies reliever Carlos Estévez.
Making the start for the Dominican Republic is 2024 Philadelphia Phillies All-Star Cristopher Sánchez. The left-handed starter wasn’t his sharpest his last time out against Nicaragua, giving up three earned runs on six hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings. He did, however, strike out four batters in the first inning to escape a bases loaded jam.
First Pitch: 4:30 PM MDT
TV: FS2
Radio: MLB Audio; Sirius XM
Lineups:
LHP Hyun-jin Ryu vs LHP Cristopher Sánchez
Game No. 2: United States at Canada
Venue: Daikin Park — Houston, Texas, USA
It may sound unlikely, but the powerhouse United States team enters the knockout stage as one of the more controversial teams in this year’s tournament. Despite being one of the most talented rosters on paper, Mark DeRosa’s squad has been accused of not taking the World Baseball Classic seriously this year. From not being aware they were on the verge of elimination, to the manager not knowing who was in his own bullpen, to Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh refusing to shake the hand of MLB teammate and Team Mexico outfielder Randy Arozarena’s hand, the Americans have been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
Thanks to a commanding win by undefeated Italy over Mexico, the United States made it to the knockout stage and will be led on the mound by San Francisco Giants righty Logan Webb. Webb pitched a near-flawless four innings during the group stage against Brazil. He struck out six batters and his only blemish was a single hit—a solo home run off the bat of Lucas Ramirez.
USA’s opponent tonight will be Team Canada, who have made the knockout stage for the first time in the history of the World Baseball Classic as the surprise top seed of Pool A. Even though they’re the top seed, Canada remains the underdog. The squad from America’s hat hasn’t defeated the squad from Canada’s pants since the 2006 tournament. They might have some extra motivation as they seek to avenge Team Canada’s loss in the 2026 Olympic hockey finals.
Arizona Diamondbacks righty Michael Soroka will take the mound for the Maples. He pitched three innings of one run baseball against Colombia his last time out with two strikeouts.
A natural hat trick from Raphael Lavoie powered the Henderson Silver Knights to a wild 7–6 overtime victory over the Tucson Roadrunners on Wednesday night at Tucson Arena.
Lavoie delivered the decisive moment just 90 seconds into overtime, completing his hat trick and capping one of the most chaotic games of the season for Henderson. The forward’s three-goal performance headlined a back-and-forth contest that featured 13 total goals and multiple momentum swings.
The Silver Knights are now winners of 7 of their last 10 contests.
A Chaotic Opening Period
Henderson struck first when Lavoie opened the scoring at 3:14 of the first period to give the Silver Knights an early 1–0 lead.
The Roadrunners quickly flipped the script.
In a stunning stretch that lasted less than two minutes, Tucson rattled off four consecutive goals to seize control of the game. Austin Poganski started the surge before Scott Perunovich, Cameron Hebig, and Ty Tullio followed in rapid succession to build a 4–1 Roadrunners lead.
Henderson began to claw its way back midway through the period when defenseman Jaycob Megna cut the deficit to 4–2 at the 8:11 mark.
Tucson regained breathing room late in the frame when Julian Lutz found the back of the net with 3:30 remaining, sending the Roadrunners into the intermission ahead 5–2.
Silver Knights Rally in the Second
Henderson wasted no time reigniting the comeback.
Just 11 seconds into the second period, Lavoie scored his second goal of the night off a setup from Tanner Laczynski, cutting the lead to 5–3. The assist marked the 100th of Laczynski’s American Hockey League career.
Momentum continued to swing toward Henderson midway through the period. Matyas Sapovaliv converted on the power play to bring the Silver Knights within one.
Moments later, rookie forward Trevor Connelly completed the rally by tying the game 5–5.
The Roadrunners briefly regained the lead when Poganski netted his second goal of the night less than a minute later, restoring Tucson’s advantage at 6–5.
But the Silver Knights refused to go away.
With just 45 seconds remaining in regulation, Connelly struck again, finishing a play set up by Alex Holtz and Kai Uchacz to force overtime.
Lavoie Finishes the Job
Overtime lasted only a minute and a half.
Lavoie completed the hat trick with the game-winning goal 90 seconds into the extra period, sealing a dramatic 7–6 victory and completing Henderson’s comeback effort.
The Silver Knights will continue their road trip north of the border with a pair of games against the Abbotsford Canucks before concluding the trip against the Calgary Wranglers.
Saturday, March 14 — at Abbotsford Canucks (7 p.m.)
Sunday, March 15 — at Abbotsford Canucks (4 p.m.)
Tuesday, March 17 — at Calgary Wranglers (7 p.m.)
Fans can follow the Silver Knights throughout the road trip by tuning in on 1230 The Game or streaming the broadcast on FloHockey.
Lakers forward LeBron James, soaring to the hoop for a layup past Bulls guard Josh Giddey, finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the win Thursday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Almost three hours later, the play was fresh in coach JJ Redick’s mind. How the Lakers started their win over the Chicago Bulls felt like the blueprint for success.
The Lakers ran a movement set on the opening play Thursday, and using a screen from Deandre Ayton, Luka Doncic found LeBron James in the corner. Ayton rolled toward the basket. James then made the extra pass. Austin Reaves splashed a three.
Working in perfect unison, the Lakers showed every component they spent the season searching for: Doncic powering the offense, Reaves finishing it, Ayton’s motor and, at the center, James’ selflessness.
With one month left of the regular season, James is prepared to continue sacrificing for the Lakers if it means they can get closer to contending in a crowded Western Conference playoff race.
"I know what I'm capable of still doing as an individual," James said after he scored 18 points to go with seven rebounds and seven assists against the Bulls in his first game back from a three-game absence. "But what's important for this team, I'm able to adapt to what's important for this team. And that's the only thing that matters. And the win is the only thing that matters.”
The Lakers (41-25) have won seven of their last eight games, climbing from sixth in the West to third before Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. game against Denver (41-26) at Crypto.com Arena. The critical conference game will decide the head-to-head tiebreaker between the teams that are separated by half a game in the standings.
During the week since their last loss to the Nuggets on March 5, the Lakers have reasserted themselves into the postseason conversation despite not having James. He injured his elbow and hip late in the Denver loss on a hard fall. But the Lakers didn’t appear to miss the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
They started this five-game homestand with three convincing wins without James, including two of their most significant of the season. Consecutive wins over New York and Minnesota, teams with records above .600, made the Lakers look like they were peaking at the right time.
Fitting James, Reaves and Doncic on the court together this season hasn’t been seamless. The Lakers are 12-7 in games the three play together. They’re 22-9 in games with only Reaves and Doncic.
Doncic, who scored 51 points Thursday, leads the NBA in scoring at 32.9 points per game and, despite a calf injury that sidelined him for more than a month, Reaves is in the midst of a career season with 23.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. James, averaging 21.4 points and seven assists, has a career-low usage rate.
Lakers forward LeBron James, top, hangs onto the rim as he dunks the ball over three Bulls defenders. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
While James was sidelined over the last week, he and Redick further discussed the approach necessary for the team to continue its recent success when he returned.
“He understands how important it is for Luka and AR to have time on the ball,” Redick said. “The realistic thing is that when they're on the court together, that's going to take away time on the ball from him.”
James didn’t take a shot in the first quarter against the Bulls. He didn’t score his first points until 54 seconds left in the second quarter. But he had three assists in the first half before he and Doncic combined for 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the third quarter. James was a perfect five for five from the field during the third quarter, then Reaves took over in the fourth, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the final quarter to eclipse 5,000 points for his career.
The trio was plus-25 together on the court against the Bulls, tied with Doncic, Reaves and Rui Hachimura for the best plus-minus rating of any three-man combination in the game.
“He’s one of the smartest guys to ever play the game of basketball,” Reaves said of James. “So his ability to adapt and to figure out what the game needs is second to none. … When you’ve got a player of that stature who’s willing to play the way the game needs him to play, it just shows how selfless he is.”
The Lakers needed all of James’ versatility with backup big men Jaxson Hayes (back soreness) and Maxi Kleber (lumber back strain) sidelined. Hayes got imaging on his back Thursday, but Redick did not have the results before the game. Redick expects Kleber to “be out for a little bit” after a previous back injury flared up again. Guard Marcus Smart, who missed Thursday’s game because of a hip injury that was lingering for several games, could return Saturday, Redick said.
James recognized he would have to set more screens, be more active on the glass and roll toward the basket more with the shorthanded frontcourt. Smart’s tenacity was a key ingredient to the defensive effort that locked down the Knicks and Timberwolves, and James, revered by coaches and teammates for his defensive communication, stepped up to anchor the defense too.
He and Doncic each had one block against the Bulls and combined for five of the Lakers’ nine steals.
“Greatness fits in with anything,” Ayton said. “That's LeBron James.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 25: Malachi Smith #13 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs reacts after a made basket during the first half against the Connecticut Huskies in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at T-Mobile Arena on March 25, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another NBA jersey is going up on the Gonzaga Bulldogs’ wall, as former guard Malachi Smith is signing a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
Smith averaged 14.4 points on 52 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent from three-point range, 5.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League team.
That now marks 34 players from the Pacific Northwest college basketball program who have played in the NBA. 13 of those are competing in the NBA right now.
Smith started his collegiate career with the Wright State Raiders from 2018-19, transferred to the Chattanooga Mocs from 2020-22, before making his way to Spokane, Washington, for his final season of eligibility. He was named the West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 before going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Since then, he’s had stops with the G League’s Rip City Remix, Wisconsin Herd, Memphis Hustle, and Long Island Nets over the last three years.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
Mar 13, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho (5) hit a three run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Twins 1 Blue Jays 6
A win.
Cody Ponce had troubles finding the strike zone, but he didn’t give up a run. He gave up 4 walks and 2 hits, with 2 strikeouts. He came out of the game with 2 out in the second inning and then came back in to get the first out of the third inning. His ERA is 1.13 this spring, though he was very lucky today to have no runs against.
Others:
Michael Plassmeyer: Got the last out of the second.
Mar 7, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images
Location: Publix Field at Joker Merchant Field, Lakeland, FL
How to Listen: KDKA-FM 93.7
The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the road today against the Detroit Tigers looking to grab a win in the Grapefruit League.
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