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Predators stumble into Minnesota after shutout loss

NHL: Nashville Predators at Winnipeg JetsDec 30, 2024; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) skates after the puck against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-Imagn Images

If their first matchup is any indication, the second meeting of the season between the Minnesota Wild and Nashville Predators could come down to a fortunate bounce here or a well-placed deflection there.

Minnesota earned a 3-2 overtime win the first time it faced Nashville, on Nov. 30. The Wild will try to find a way to escape with another home-ice victory when the teams meet on Tuesday evening in Saint Paul, Minn.

A month ago, the Wild scored first before the Predators responded with two goals. Minnesota pulled level in the second period, and captain Jared Spurgeon delivered the winner one minute into overtime.

Minnesota coach John Hynes wants to see his team focus on fundamentals in its final game of the calendar year. Hynes was less than happy after the Wild fell 3-1 at home against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday night in their most recent game.

“When we’re playing a detailed, smart game, you give yourself the best chance to win,” Hynes said. “We want to pride ourselves on being smart. We want that as a competitive advantage to our team.”

Nobody on the Wild seemed irked by Hynes’ comments. If anything, the players agreed.

“We have to get on the forecheck,” forward Mats Zuccarello said. “We also have to make plays. We’ve got to make the plays that need to be made.

“Sometimes, it’s chip-ins. Sometimes, it’s weak-side ‘D’ joining. Sometimes, it’s carrying the puck in, creating like that. Sometimes, we don’t make those plays when we have to.”

Nashville also is eager to show improvement. The Predators will play on short rest against the Wild after they lost 3-0 on the road against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday night.

It was the second loss in a row for Nashville, which is 4-7-1 in 12 games since the last time it faced Minnesota.

The Predators hope the addition of forward Vinnie Hinostroza can help. He made his NHL season debut Monday and did not record a point in 11:27 of ice time.

The 30-year-old veteran has appeared in 375 career NHL games, and Nashville is his sixth team. He led the American Hockey League with 33 points and 22 points through 26 games when the Predators promoted him over the weekend.

“It feels great,” Hinostroza said. “The guys here are great. (I experienced) that in training camp, so it’s easier to walk in the locker room when you know all the guys are approachable and nice to be around.”

The Wild will turn to either Filip Gustavsson or Marc-Andre Fleury in net. Gustavsson is 16-6-3 with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .923 save percentage after stopping 34 of 36 shots vs. the Senators. Fleury is 6-3-1 with a 2.81 GAA and an .898 save percentage.

Nashville could give the start to backup Justus Annunen one night after No. 1 goalie Juuse Saros yielded three goals on 28 shots against Winnipeg.

Annunen is 8-5-0 with a 2.83 GAA and an .894 save percentage this season, 2-1-0 with a 1.80 GAA and a .941 save percentage since he was acquired by Nashville from Colorado in a Nov. 30 trade. The 24-year-old from Finland has faced Minnesota once in his career, earning a win for the Avalanche last season by stopping 44 of 46 shots.

–Field Level Media

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Minnesota United blank Timbers for 3rd straight win

MLS: Portland Timbers at Minnesota UnitedApr 18, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota United FC forward Kelvin Yeboah (9) shoots the ball as Portland Timbers defender Finn Surman (20) and defender Brandon Bye (5) defend during the first half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

Tomas Chancalay had a goal and an assist as the Minnesota United won their third match in a row with Saturday night’s 2-0 victory against the Portland Timbers at Saint Paul, Minn.

Kelvin Yeboah scored the other goal, making it three matches in a row that he has a goal for the Loons (4-2-2, 14 points). Minnesota goalkeeper Drake Callender made two saves for the clean sheet.

Yeboah has half of his team’s 10 goals in MLS play. He’s the team’s only player with more than one goal.

James Pantemis made five saves for Portland (2-5-1, 7 points), which fell to 0-4-0 in road matches.

Chancalay scored his first goal of the season in the 16th minute off Jefferson Diaz’s assist.

Yeboah’s goal in the 60th minute capped a fastbreak with a short-range shot after Chancalay provided the final pass. Chancalay has four assists this year.

Portland has surrendered two or more goals in each of its last three road matches.

The Timbers began a busy stretch that includes several road assignments with a largely solid game despite failing to score. They held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks and a 55%-45% possession advantage, but Minnesota outshot the visitors 17-12, including 7-2 on shots on target.

The teams played to a 1-1 draw last August in the same stadium.

Portland stays on the road next Saturday, visiting San Diego FC. Minnesota plays twice next week, visiting FC Dallas on Wednesday before hosting LAFC on Saturday.

–Field Level Media

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Troy Johnston's clutch double leads Rockies' comeback win over Dodgers

MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado RockiesApr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) is congratulated by designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) after a two-run home run during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Troy Johnston hit a go-ahead two-run double in the sixth inning and the Colorado Rockies held on for a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night in Denver.

Johnston had three of Colorado’s seven hits as the Rockies won for only the second time in nine games.

Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing homered for the Dodgers, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Shohei Ohtani was 1-for-4 to extend his on-base streak to 50 games.

Brennan Bernardino (2-0) delivered 1 1/3 no-hit innings in relief, and Victor Vodnik pitched the ninth for his third save.

Will Klein (1-1) allowed hits to each of the first three batters he faced in the sixth, including Johnston’s game-winning double.

The first two Dodgers reached in the eighth against Jaden Hill and they loaded the bases with two outs before Hill retired Max Muncy on a groundout to second base.

Colorado starter Ryan Feltner went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

Los Angeles starter Emmet Sheehan gave up two runs on four hits in five innings, with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Dodgers led 2-0 two pitches into the game. After Ohtani hit the first pitch into play and reached on an error by Johnston, Tucker drove the first pitch he saw into the second deck in right for his third home run with the Dodgers.

TJ Rumfield’s RBI single made it 2-1 in the bottom of the first.

Rushing’s solo homer with one out in the second restored the two-run lead.

Kyle Karros’ sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning made it 3-2, scoring Johnston, who had singled, stolen second and moved to third on a groundout.

The Dodgers threatened when Freddie Freeman tripled with one out in the visitor’s half of the sixth. But Karros at third dove to stop Teoscar Hernandez’s grounder down the line, retiring him at first. Bernardino replaced Feltner and struck out Muncy to end the threat.

The Dodgers threatened with a pair of two-out singles in the ninth before Tucker’s flyout to left ended the game. Los Angeles was hitless in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, stranding eight in the narrow loss

–Field Level Media

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Flyers emerge with win over Penguins in opening tussle of playoff series

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Philadelphia Flyers at Pittsburgh PenguinsApr 18, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Cam York (8) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) in front of Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) during the first period against in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Porter Martone scored a timely goal late for the Philadelphia Flyers, who skated away with a 3-2 road victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-seven, first-round playoff series on Saturday night.

Travis Sanheim and Jamie Drysdale also scored for Philadelphia. Trevor Zegras, Denver Barkey, Rasmus Ristolainen, Christian Dvorak and Travis Konecny registered assists.

Dan Vladar stopped 15 shots for the Flyers, none bigger than a point-blank stop on Anthony Mantha in the closing seconds to preserve the win.

Evgeni Malkin scored his 68th postseason goal for the Penguins and assisted on Bryan Rust’s goal. Tommy Novak, Rickard Rakell and Erik Karlsson earned assists.

Stuart Skinner faced 20 shots and made 17 saves.

The postseason renewal of the Battle of Pennsylvania was exactly that for the two teams ending lengthy playoff droughts. It was a physical affair that featured just 26 shots on goal and 59 hits through the first two periods. That favored the Flyers, who finished the season fourth in the league in hits.

Martone, the 19-year-old who joined Philadelphia from Michigan State on March 31, scored what appeared to be an insurance goal with 2:37 left that gave the Flyers a 3-1 lead. That prompted Pittsburgh to pull Skinner for a sixth attacker.

A tussle between Penguins star Sidney Crosby and Sanheim sent both to the penalty box with 1:09 left, and Rust made it a one-goal game from the high slot eight seconds later.

Drysdale gave Philadelphia the lead midway through the second. Zegras skated behind the net and found the defenseman in the faceoff circle. Denver Barkey also assisted on the goal and further helped by screening Skinner.

Less than seven minutes later, Malkin provided the equalizer as the Penguins applied pressure in the attack zone. Vladar stopped Rakell but allowed a long rebound to his right that Novak tapped to the 39-year-old, who scored from the faceoff circle with 4:09 left in the period.

Sanheim reclaimed the lead for Philadelphia at the midway point of the third.

Pittsburgh’s 17 shots on goal were its fewest in a postseason game since the Penguins mustered just 12 in Game 5 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Nashville Predators.

–Field Level Media

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