Sports
NHL Midseason Shockers: Surprising Teams Dominate Conference Standings
Nov 15, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) in the first period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images With the NHL season on the verge of its midway point, there are plenty of surprising stories to relish. A fair share of shockingly disappointing tales also—especially for the New York state squads—but let us put those to the side for now.
Maybe the most surprising squads are those atop the conference standings.
If anybody predicted on the eve of the season that after Jan. 4 the top four clubs in the Western Conference would be the Vegas Golden Knights, Winnipeg Jets, Minnesota Wild and Los Angeles Kings, they would have been given more than just sideways glances.
That would have gone double if anybody said the Eastern Conference would have a one-two punch of the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs.
But the success of those squads to this point is well-earned.
Dec 27, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) controls the puck against the San Jose Sharks in the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images The Golden Knights have been a top-notch club since the beginning of their existence, but with how they faded last season and were bumped from the playoffs with barely a whimper, this did not appear in the cards but is happening thanks to a dominating season by Jack Eichel and a healthy Mark Stone.
Winnipeg has proven to be more than just goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, with Gabriel Vilardi’s breakout season adding to a team that has Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele leading the attack.
Of the Western clubs, the biggest surprise may be the Wild, who have overcome a constant wave of injuries, which has even hit their top player and a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate, Kirill Kaprizov.
The Kings have been a playoff team for the past few years and bounced by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoff in three consecutive seasons but are rolling with a goaltending tandem of Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich thanks to a balanced lineup.
Speaking of teams that have been to the playoffs with great regularity but enjoy far too little success, the Maple Leafs are riding high despite their own surprising goaltending from Joseph Woll and the oft-injured Anthony Stolarz. Bizarre is the record with the 10-5-0 record they managed during the two stints without Auston Matthews. Maybe their fans who are clamoring to see Mitch Marner traded away should reconsider that theory.
Nov 18, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) warms up before a game against the against the Utah Hockey Club at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images Which brings us to the last team among this group of what some would say are overachievers: the Capitals. Most figured this season would be all about Alex Ovechkin’s chase for Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record and little else, with the likely scenario that Ovechkin would net thirty-something goals and be in a position to break the mark next season.
Apparently reports of Ovechkin’s demise had been exaggerated. Despite missing more than a month due to a broken leg, Ovechkin has already scored 19 goals in 23 games. He has netted nine goals in his last seven games and four in five outings since returning from injury, leaving him 23 shy of breaking Gretzky’s mark of 894.
Ovechkin’s prowess is a front-burner story, but is overshadowing how impressive the Capitals have been as a whole. They boast the league’s second most prolific attack with a balanced lineup, and that is not the biggest key.
Defensively, the Capitals are sixth in the league and their penalty kill is fourth. Frankly, goaltender Logan Thompson was undeservedly snubbed while being left off Canada’s team for the 4 Nations Face-Off, but Washington’s ability to keep the puck out of the net is also a byproduct of a team commitment to defending.
For his ability to keep Ovechkin’s offensive push a key part of the game plan while maintaining strong defensive play, coach Spencer Carbery deserves far more credit than he is receiving.
Sports
Cherie DeVaux Makes History with Kentucky Derby Win at Churchill Downs
Cherie DeVaux made history on Saturday by becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. However, with a horde of media surrounding her at her backside stable Sunday morning, she was quick to give the credit to jockey Jose Ortiz.
“It’s almost as if he could script it,” she said.
With an entry that’s known for being a closer, DeVaux said she did not mind Golden Tempo drawing an outside post. He got the 19th gate in the draw, but after scratches, he moved into the 16th. While a ways away from the rail, it helped the colt avoid much of the bumping between horses at the start as they work to get inside position.
DeVaux said she’s not one to give her riders many instructions before a race. She kept it simple: “Don’t overthink it. If you can get out, just get a clear path and make a run.”
Mission accomplished, even if the horse doesn’t quite live up to his name.
“Golden Tempo doesn’t really give Jose any help by just falling back so far,” she added.
While the early front-runners posted blazing quarter times, Golden Tempo ran last in the field for the first three-quarters of a mile. However, as the speed faded, Ortiz had an easy route to the outside, and down the final stretch, he chased down Renegade, the bettors’ second choice, to win by a neck.
Another issue that may have been in Golden Tempo’s favor was not having to load into the gate a second time. That’s something several horses had to do after racing officials scratched Great White at the last minute for dumping jockey Alex Achard and falling over backward while being led to the gate.
“It was a rough trip, everybody was all over the place,” said Luis Saez, who rode seventh-place finisher Commandment. “He ran pretty well and made a nice move, but it was just a tough race.”
Commandment, one of two Derby horses trained by Brad Cox, was the co-second choice in the morning line. At post time, he ended up being the fourth choice at 6-1. Cox’s other horse, Further Ado, ended up the slight favorite over Renegade, with both breaking at 5-1.
Renegade was the morning-line favorite, despite drawing the inside post – a position that had not produced a winner in 40 years. However, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt and Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose’s brother, did everything they could to make some history of their own.
“He got a little roughed and got pushed out of his position,” Pletcher said. “But he kept on going and made his run. He just didn’t get there today.”
With the Kentucky Derby having the largest field of any U.S. thoroughbred race, longshots often find their way to the winner’s circle. Since 2019, the lowest payout for a $2 win ticket was Sovereignty last year, and his bettors still won $17.96.
One of the other big surprises Saturday was the bettors’ interest in So Happy. While he and jockey Mike Smith won the Santa Anita Derby, the colt was given morning line odds of 15-1. That was due primarily to his being sired by Runhappy, who was an excellent sprinter.
Bettors made him the third choice at 5-1.
So Happy stayed among the front pack for the first mile but faded down the stretch to finish ninth.
“He just did too much early on, and we went too fast,” Smith said.
Sports
Wild D Jonas Brodin out for Game 1, F Joel Eriksson Ek also ailing
Apr 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Tyler Johnson (90) moves the puck away from Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) and center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) during the second period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin didn’t travel with the team to Denver and will miss Sunday night’s playoff series opener against the Colorado Avalanche.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek is listed as questionable to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference second-round series.
Brodin, 32, sustained a lower-body injury during Game 5 of Minnesota’s first-round series against the Dallas Stars. He was hurt while blocking a shot by Dallas’ Mikko Rantanen during the second period.
Brodin missed the clinching Game 6 victory on Thursday. He had one assist in the series.
In the regular season, Brodin had four goals and 18 points in 62 games.
Eriksson Ek was hurt in Game 6 when his right leg smacked into the wall. He didn’t practice on Saturday.
Minnesota coach John Hynes was debating what to do about Ek’s spot with his status unclear.
“I’m kind of going through that a little bit right now,” Hynes said. “So, now you kind of go down that decision-making process of what would we do if he’s not ready.”
Ek, 29, had three goals and five points in the Dallas series. In the regular season, he had 19 goals and 51 points in 70 games.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cameron Young holds six-shot lead after three rounds in Miami
May 2, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Cameron Young makes his par putt on the 18th hole during the third round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images Cameron Young shot 2-under-par 70 on Saturday to remain in control through three rounds of Cadillac Championship at Miami.
Young is up six strokes on a group of three golfers, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, at windy Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster Course.
Young, who’s at 15-under 201, will be looking for his second victory of the season and the third of his career on the PGA Tour during Sunday’s final round.
Scheffler shot 69 to move to second place by the time he finished the round. He’s joined in that position by South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (69) and Norway’s Kristoffer Reitan (69).
Young began the round with a bogey on the par-5 first hole but played the next 11 in 3 under.
Scheffler’s round was defined by birdies on three of the four par-5 layouts.
Matt McCarty (69), Ben Griffin (68) and Canada’s Nick Taylor (72) are at 8 under and tied for fifth place. Taylor bogeyed the final hole.
Jordan Spieth took a significant dive, shooting 75 and falling to a tie for 12th at 5 under. He was hurt by two double-bogeys — first on the par-3 fourth hole when he didn’t get into putting position until his fourth stroke and then on the 18th when his approach shot went into the water and he was forced to take a penalty.
Australia’s Adam Scott had the day’s best score with a bogey-free 6-under 66, leaving him at 3 under.
–Field Level Media
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