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Michigan State football – focused on pass rush – reportedly adds transfer Cam Williams
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Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad suspended 2 games for elbowing Brandon Hagel
The first-round playoff series between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning has had no shortage of physicality.
On Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety made yet another ruling in regard to a play that occurred during the series.
Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for two games for elbowing Tampa's Brandon Hagel during Game 4 on Monday night.
Florida’s Aaron Ekblad has been suspended for two games for elbowing Tampa Bay’s Brandon Hagel. https://t.co/X3QeNt39Va
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 29, 2025
There was no penalty called on the play, which led to Tampa Head Coach Jon Cooper having a heated interaction with one of the officials on the ice.
"One, two, three, four," Cooper yelled while pointing to each of the four officials on the ice. "There's four of you. Holy f---!"
Hagel has since been ruled out of Game 5.
"He's not playing tomorrow," Cooper said Tuesday. "And you know why."
The big, controversial hits have been a trend in this series.
In Game 2, Hagel caught Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov with a high check during the third period that cost him a one-game suspension.
Barkov did not return following the hit, but was fine for Game 3 two nights later.
During that Game 3, Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk was essentially sent off for good, receiving a five-minute major in the final minutes of the game, after hitting Tampa's Jake Guentzel at center ice.
The difference between the hits and supplemental discipline is that Guentzel had just touched the puck while Barkov never had it, the Department of Player Safety takes that into account.
As the series has progressed, both head coaches, Tampa's Jon Cooper and Florida's Paul Maurice, have been asked about the hits.
At first, the coaches had a cheeky back-and-fourth as Cooper repeated a Maurice quote about Florida players only hitting guys with the puck.
Now, as the series has progressed, it seems the time for lightheartedness is over, based off an interaction Cooper had with a media member after Game 4.
"I think it's getting tiresome answering questions about a hit every single game," Cooper said. "I'll ask you, you asked me the question, why are you asking me the question? Do you have anything to say about it? If anybody in here has something, stand up and let me know."
When the room remained silent, Cooper said, "Alright, let's move on."
As for Maurice, he did address the Ekblad hit when asked about it postgame, but didn't have much to say about it.
"I think I want to be consistent with what I've said on Hagel," Maurice said. "I saw it. I've seen it before, saw it last year. And then we'll all coach, the players will play, the refs will make the calls, and the league will do with it what they will. I don't want to use this platform to start making my case on this. Everybody's got a job to do. I'll stay in my lane."
That lane will take Maurice and the Panthers back up to Tampa for Game 5 on Wednesday night.
A win means Florida will advance to the second round for the fourth consecutive postseason.
A loss means the Panthers will host Tampa in Game 6 on Friday.
Stay tuned.
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Revisiting Mike Sullivan's Milestone Wins With Penguins
Mike Sullivan is the winningest coach in Pittsburgh Penguins history, finishing his ten-year tenure behind the bench with a 409-255-89 record in 753 games. Those totals don't include his postseason numbers, which are 44-38 in 82 games, including two Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017.
Of course, when you have a roster with three bona fide Hall of Famers like Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marc-Andre Fleury, the wins tend to come a little easier. However, thanks to his longevity, Sullivan was able to not only break Dan Bylsma's win record but also become the only Pittsburgh head coach to collect 300 and 400 wins.
Here is a look back at all his milestone victories leading the black and gold.
Win #1 - Nov. 19, 2015 vs. Colorado Avalanche (4-3)
Sullivan won his first game as Penguins head coach when they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 4-3 at CONSOL Energy Center. In the game, Ian Cole had two helpers, while Crosby, Malkin, Chris Kunitz, and David Perron had goals. Fleury made 28 saves for the win.
Win #100 - Dec. 16, 2017 at Arizona Coyotes (4-2)
Carter Rowney opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal, and Crosby secured Sullivan's 100th win with the Penguins with an empty net goal. Meanwhile, Malkin had a goal and an assist with Olli Määttä chipping in another lamp lighter. Matt Murray earned the win between the pipes.
Win #200 - Jan. 7, 2020 at Vegas Golden Knights (4-3)
Dominik Kahun had a goal and an assist while Kris Letang had two helpers to help Sullivan secure win #200 versus the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-3, at T-Mobile Arena. Pittsburgh also got goals from Patrick Hörnqvist and Brandon Tanev, while Tristan Jarry made 31 saves. At the other end, Fleury had 12 saves in the loss.
Win #253 - Oct. 16, 2021 vs. Chicago Blackhawks (5-2)
Sullivan became the franchise win leader with his 253rd victory on Oct. 16, 2021, against the Chicago Blackhawks. In the 2021-22 home opener, the Penguins erupted for four first-period goals en route to a 5-2 win at PPG Paints Arena.
Inside the Numbers: Mike Sullivan's Decade As Penguins Head CoachOn April 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they mutually parted ways with head coach Mike Sullivan. As the winningest coach in franchise history, it's a monumental day for the organization, which will begin its search for a new leader for the first time since 2015.
Pittsburgh got goals from Brock McGinn, Drew O'Connor, Teddy Blueger, Danton Heinen, and Jason Zucker. Both McGinn and O'Connor had two points, while Jarry made 18 saves in the win. Interestingly, Fleury took the loss for the Blackhawks, giving up four goals in just 11:25 before being pulled.
Win #300 - Oct. 20, 2022 vs. Los Angeles Kings (6-1)
Jeff Petry scored a goal and had two helpers to help the Penguins defeat the Los Angeles Kings at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 20, 2022, to get Sullivan his 300th win. In the highest-scoring milestone victory of his coaching career, Pittsburgh also got goals from Jeff Carter, Jake Guentzel, Ryan Poehling, Rickard Rakell, and Jan Rutta. Once again, Jarry earned the win, making 39 saves.
Win #400 - Mar. 9, 2025 vs. Minnesota Wild (3-1)
In one of the final matchups between the Penguins and their former goalie Fleury, now with the Minnesota Wild, Pittsburgh won 3-1 thanks to Crosby's two goals, giving Sullivan his 400th win as head coach. Of course, Malkin had the other Penguins goal as Jarry led the way with 29 saves.
Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. exits Orioles game with apparent injury
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. exited Tuesday's game against the Orioles with an apparent injury.
With the Yankees already up 4-0, Chisholm took a first-pitch cut and fouled off a ball from starter Kyle Gibson. Chisholm looked uncomfortable and took a few steps out of the batter's box. He straightened his back and favored his side. He spoke to the trainers but Chisholm continued the at-bat and two pitches later, lined a double down the right field line. Chisholm slid into third base with a double (and an error on the right field), third base coach Luis Rojas immediately signaled to the dugout that the infielder needed to come out.
Oswald Peraza replaced Chisholm at third base and eventually came in to score on an Anthony Volpe double.
The Yankees later announced Chisholm left with "right flank discomfort."
This story is still developing...
Jazz appeared to hurt something on this swing. He tripled but then left the game pic.twitter.com/C1iDokA7Q5
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) April 29, 2025
Political Tensions Between Canada And U.S. Won't Affect Rivalry Between Sabres, Maple Leafs Fans
In the wake of Canada's federal election on Monday, there is going to be continued speculation about the relationship between Canadians and Americans. However, one thing is pretty clear -- the tensions between political leaders is unlikely to affect the time-honored, stress-tested connection between Buffalo hockey fans and their Canadian counterparts.
The truth is, for as long as the Sabres have been around -- and well before it -- there have been scores of Buffalonians and Western New Yorkers who've loved hockey. And if Toronto Maple Leafs tickets weren't so exorbitant , we'd be seeing many Buffalonian traveling to Toronto to see the Buffalo Sabres play, the same way many Torontonians and Southern Ontario residents make the trip to Buffalo when the Maple Leafs play there. And nothing that happens politically is going to change that.
The Leafs consistently bring out hundreds, if not thousands of their fans to games no matter where they play. It's a result of being an Original Six team, it's a result of a team being from Canada's largest city, and it's a result of the tribal pride people have in the Blue & White. And having the ability to take a brief ride down the Queen Elizabeth Way to convene with their fellow Leafs supporters is a luxury Leafs fans aren't going to give up anytime soon.
Even with the punishing current exchange rate for the American dollar, Canadian Leafs fans can rest assured ticket prices for Leafs/Sabres games in Buffalo are far cheaper than they are for games in Toronto. And so you're going to continue to see Torontonians at the rink in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. It makes financial sense for Leafs fans to travel for an hour or so, and let's face it -- those trips are one of the ways Leafs fans deepen their bond with one another. (And the way Toronto traffic has devolved, it can take you an hour to travel from one part of the city to another, so the journey to Buffalo might wind up being about as long as it is between Point A and Point B in Toronto.)
Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of ChangeThe Buffalo Sabres, at their season-ending press availability, were all singing from the same hymn book, and the song was Bruce Hornsby’s “Gonna Be Some Changes Made”. The questions that will be utmost in the minds of a frustrated fanbase will be what kind of changes, and in the end, will those changes have the desired effect of ending the club’s 14-year playoff drought.
But really, sharing an appreciation for the sport of hockey will always bond together people from countries around the world. And that's one of the reasons why the connection between Torontonians and Buffalonians is so strong. We're linked by geography and weather patterns, and a history that has included a terrific rivalry between our NHL teams. That's why Toronto has its share of Buffalo Bills fans, and that's why Buffalo has its share of Toronto Blue Jays fans. We're all going to root for one another to some degree, and that's always going to stay the same, no matter what obstacles are put before us.
So if you've got any anxieties about the connection between Canadians and Americans in the Buffalo/Toronto region, lay them to rest. We're all good friends here, we all appreciate the best sport there is, and it's going to stay that way for as long as there are pucks and sticks to go around.
Giants' comeback habit stalls vs. Padres' bullpen buzzsaw in series-opening loss
Giants' comeback habit stalls vs. Padres' bullpen buzzsaw in series-opening loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN DIEGO — LaMonte Wade Jr. reached out across the plate and made solid contact with a slider that would have been ball three, lining it down the left field line. As two Giants started racing home, San Diego Padres catcher Elias Diaz dropped his head and smacked the dirt with his fist. For San Francisco, it was a familiar scene.
They have frustrated one opponent after another through the season’s first month, seemingly always clawing back in the late innings. By advanced metrics and the eye test, they have been as clutch as any team in baseball, but the first look at a division rival reminded them that it won’t always be easy.
The only bullpen better than San Francisco’s is San Diego’s, and while the Giants did threaten when right-hander Nick Pivetta initially exited the game, they went down in order in the final three innings, striking out four times. There would be no comeback Tuesday night, just a 7-4 loss to the Padres.
“They just attack well, put pressure on us as a hitter and get in a pitcher’s count,” shortstop Willy Adames said. “I feel like we tried to battle today. It just didn’t end up our way. We didn’t give up until the last out, but we’re not going to come back every time, unfortunately.”
Adames got the Giants on the board with a solo shot in the fourth, his second of the season, but by that point, the Giants already trailed by three runs. It was an uncharacteristic night for Logan Webb, although against the Padres recently, he has had to get used to this.
The Padres have Webb’s number at the moment, and the nine hits they sprayed across the field felt familiar. He has given up 36 hits in his last four starts against the Padres, many of them at low exit velocities. That was the case on Tuesday.
“I definitely think it’s something that they’re trying to do. I know that going into it,” Webb said. “I watched every at-bat against these guys and it was the same thing they did to me last year. Some stuff in there is kind of unacceptable — the two-out walk to the guy in the first inning was pretty bad, but I thought I did what I wanted to do for the most part. Balls kept finding grass and holes. It’s kind of the way it goes, that’s baseball. That’s why it’s a great game, that’s why it’s a s—-y game.”
Webb lasted just five innings in his first look at an NL West rival, but the Giants got within a run in the sixth on Wade’s double, the latest sign of life for a hitter who has had a rough April. Adames, who had his best all-around night at the plate as a Giant, started the inning with a double, and it seemed the Giants would do what they do.
Comebacks have become the norm, but after Wade got to Jeremiah Estrada — who entered with a 1.32 ERA — the Giants went down quietly. Left-hander Adrian Morejon lowered his ERA to 1.84 in the seventh. Jason Adam and Robert Suarez are both under 1.00, and they got the final six outs.
The Giants have had the late-game advantage all year long, but that might not be the case when they face the Padres or the Los Angeles Dodgers. They’ll need to play better across nine innings, and they trailed all night in front of 47,345, the second-largest crowd in Petco Park history.
The first taste of NL West action was a disappointing one, and a refresher course on just how difficult this division is.
“Obviously they have a really good team and it’s a good matchup when you’re going to face your rivals in your division,” Adames said. “I feel like they got lucky today against Webby, who was very unlucky. They had a lot of bloopers their way. Those days are going to happen. We’re going to continue to battle until the end.
“We’re going to come tomorrow and try to get that win and even the series up, and go back home and try to sweep the Rockies, or win the series at least.”
Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss to take charge of Wallabies in July next year
Rugby Australia chief executive officer Phil Waugh says the coaching transition from Joe Schmidt to Les Kiss next year is the “best possible outcome” for the Wallabies after confirming the Queensland Reds mentor would take the national role in July next year.
Mitchell Starc narrowly misses hat-trick as reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders keep IPL dream alive
West Indies’ Sunil Narine put in a fine all-round performance to keep holders Kolkata Knight Riders alive in the IPL with a tense 14-run win over Delhi Capitals on Tuesday.
Marshall won’t renew contract of AD Christian Spears, will start search for replacement
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Les Kiss confirmed as next Wallabies coach with Joe Schmidt to stay on until 2026
- Kiss to see out Super Rugby Pacific contract with Queensland Reds
- Schmidt to remain in charge for end-of-season European tour
Joe Schmidt will remain as Wallabies coach until next mid-2026 before Less Kiss takes over, Rugby Australia has confirmed.
Schmidt was to have finished up after this year’s Rugby Championship but RA was keen for “minimal disruption to the Australian rugby ecosystem” and for Kiss to complete his Super Rugby Pacific contract with the Queensland Reds in 2026.
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Guardians place right-hander Paul Sewald on 15-day injured list with right shoulder strain
CLEVELAND — Guardians reliever Paul Sewald was placed on the 15-day injured list before Tuesday’s game against the Minnesota Twins with a right shoulder stain.
The right-hander was removed during the fifth inning of Monday night’s game against the Twins with right shoulder inflammation. Sewald retired the two batters he faced, including a strikeout of Ty France, before coming out of the game.
Sewald is 1-1 with a 6.17 ERA in 14 appearances this season. The 34-year-old struggled with injuries last season with Arizona.
Joey Cantillo was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to fill Sewald’s roster spot. Cleveland also selected the contract of right-hander Vince Velasquez from Columbus and sent down right-hander Cody Bolton.
Shane Bieber was moved to the 60-day injured list as he continues to come back from last year’s Tommy John surgery to his right elbow.
Panthers' Brad Marchand Has Powerful Message After Game 4 Win
The Florida Panthers picked up a massive win against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4. With this, the Panthers extended their series lead to 3-1 and now need only one more victory to advance to the second round.
The Panthers' win was undoubtedly well-earned, as the reigning Stanley Cup champions scored three unanswered goals late in the third to defeat the Lightning by a 4-2 final score. This included goals from Panthers defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones just 11 seconds apart with less than four minutes remaining in the contest.
The Panthers worked incredibly hard to pick up this impressive comeback win, and veteran forward Brad Marchand dove into why it was possible.
"Belief is a dangerous thing, and we had that," Marchand said. "You could feel it. I don't think that we're sitting there on the bench thinking we're going back to two-two. You know, we believe that we can make a play, and you know, you're one shot away at that time."
— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) April 29, 2025
Marchand then added:
"It's a different ballgame if it's 5-1 with two minutes left, but one-goal game, crazy things happen, and we've all went been through it. You know, teams that have gone far and had success, you learn from these moments, and you learn in the regular season. You build the belief in your structure and what you have. Doesn't mean it's going to happen go our way, but it did tonight."
This is a great message from Marchand, and one that the Panthers should keep following as the post-season continues. Instead of losing hope when they were losing, the Panthers stayed positive and secured a major win in Game 4 because of it.
Machand had a solid performance for the Panthers in this matchup, too, as he recorded the primary assist on Anton Lundell's game-opening goal. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice also shouted out Marchand's positivity and leadership following the matchup, so No. 63's presence is undoubtedly being felt.
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