Sports
Ducks try to gain on Flames in Western wild-card race
Jan 28, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Anaheim Ducks forward Mason McTavish (23) is congratulated by teammates on the bench after scoring a goal during the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images The Anaheim Ducks have put themselves in position to play meaningful games in the season’s second half and possibly join the hunt for a playoff spot.
They can take another step toward that goal when they go for a season-high fourth straight win Thursday night in Calgary against the Flames.
Anaheim entered Wednesday seven points behind the Flames for the final wild-card spot from the Western Conference.
The Ducks, who have not made the postseason since 2018, are still last in the NHL in scoring at 2.54 goals a game. But they’ve combined for 16 during their three-game winning streak.
“We’re getting quality chances, and they’re going in,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “I said earlier in the year, when scorers get chances, and they’re snake-bitten earlier, eventually it’s going to turn.”
Mason McTavish has been the hottest player for Anaheim, registering six goals and an assist in his previous four games.
“It’s just kind of been going in for me recently,” said McTavish, who turns 22 on Thursday. “It’s good getting those bounces, so hopefully I’ve just got to keep it up. I feel like guys are looking for me a lot, and it’s a good run so far.”
Cronin said McTavish’s success has been a result of him skating harder and faster.
“Because he’s skating, he’s winning a lot of loose-puck battles,” Cronin said. “He’s got good instincts, so when we do come up with pucks, he’s putting himself in good shooting areas as well.”
McTavish hasn’t been alone in his contributions.
Troy Terry is also riding a four-game point streak (one goal, four assists), and linemates Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano each have four points in the past four games.
“At times, we’ve had three or four guys at a time that have been confident,” Strome said. “But I think right now, you’re seeing 10 to 12 guys every night with the forward group feeling really confident with the puck and making really good plays.”
The Flames have allowed the Ducks to creep within seven points by losing their past two games, most recently a 3-1 defeat against the Washington Capitals on Tuesday to open a three-game homestand.
“There’s a reason they’re at the top of the standings,” Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson said of Washington. “They find ways to win. It’s a great learning experience for us to just create a little bit more.”
Calgary has scored just three total goals in its past two losses. Those came on the heels of a three-game winning streak in which the Flames combined for 13 goals.
“We just have to find a way to put some in the back of the net,” Calgary coach Ryan Huska said. “That’s been a bit of a challenge for us, for sure. I know we have guys that are capable of doing that.”
Huska said the Flames are also perfectly comfortable playing in tight, low-scoring games.
“We’re not going to score a ton of goals, that’s the way we are,” he said. “But having said that, you have to find a way to bear down and bury when you get your chances.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stars run win streak to 8 with OT defeat of Predators
Feb 28, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) stops a shot by Nashville Predators right wing Jonathan Marchessault (81) during the first period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Jason Robertson’s goal 1:47 into overtime capped a comeback and gave the host Dallas Stars a 3-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday night.
Wyatt Johnston had a goal and an assist and Nathan Bastian also scored for the Stars, who trailed 2-0 with less than four minutes left in the second period. Jake Oettinger stopped 25 shots.
It was Dallas’ eighth win in a row.
Michael Bunting and Steven Stamkos scored the goals for the Predators, who are 1-1-2 in their last four. Luke Evangelista had two assists and Juuse Saros made 22 saves.
Robertson converted a cross-crease pass from defenseman Miro Heiskanen for the OT winner.
Bastian tied the game at 2 5:31 into the third period. He controlled and deposited the rebound of a shot by defenseman Thomas Harley.
Johnston’s power-play goal with 3:42 remaining in the second period put Dallas on the board and made it 2-1. He put in a cross-crease pass from Jamie Benn. It was Johnston’s 20th power-play marker of the season. He has 32 goals overall.
The Predators took a 2-0 lead in the first period with goals 1:09 apart.
Bunting opened the scoring with a power-play goal with 5:34 left in the opening period when he whipped in a shot from the left circle.
Stamkos started the rush on his goal by stealing the puck from Benn along the boards just outside the Dallas blue line. After taking a pass from Evangelista, Stamkos fired in his 30th goal from the inside edge of the right circle with 4:25 remaining in the first. It’s the 10th time in his career that Stamkos has reached the 30-goal mark.
Saros made a spectacular save on Johnston with a little less than nine minutes left in the opening period. Johnston took a pass cutting in off the right wing and skated across the top of the crease. But Saros used his right pad and stick to deny Johnston’s shot.
Nashville defenseman Adam Wilsby left early in the second period with a lower-body injury.
The Stars’ Roope Hintz missed his second consecutive game due to an illness.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Crew earn draw vs. Sporting KC on late goal
Feb 28, 2026; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Shapi Suleymanov (93) controls the ball during the first half against the Columbus Crew at Children’s Mercy Park. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images Diego Rossi scored in the 82nd minute Saturday night, allowing the visiting Columbus Crew to salvage a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City.
Rossi took advantage of a failed clearance by defender Wyatt Meyer, who tried to head a crossing pass out of danger but instead deflected the ball right to Rossi. Given time to settle the ball and fire, Rossi wired a dart by goalie John Pulskamp and into the left corner for his second goal in as many matches.
Wassou Abou Ali also tallied for the second straight game for the Crew (0-1-1, 1 point). Dejan Joveljic registered a brace for Kansas City (0-1-1, 1 point), giving it a 2-1 lead in the 72nd minute when he gathered in a loose ball in the box and threaded a shot through a defender’s legs that rolled into the left corner.
Joveljic brought his team level in the 48th minute, finishing a beautiful counterattack. Jacob Davis fed him directly in front of the net and Joveljic toed a shot that goalie Patrick Schulte (two saves) had no chance to stop.
After a slow start, Columbus finished the match with slight advantages of 10-8 in shots and 5-4 in shots on frame. The Crew possessed the ball 52.5% of the time and attempted 16 crosses, 11 more than Kansas City.
Both teams opened the season last weekend with road losses. Columbus gave up a late goal to fall 3-2 against Portland and Kansas City experienced a lapse just before halftime, giving up two quick goals in a 3-0 defeat against San Jose.
Kansas City had the run of play for most of the first half-hour before Pulskamp made a shocking mistake in the 33rd minute. He tried to play the ball off the ground and offered up a nonchalant pass that Abou Ali was able to intercept, giving him an easy right-footed kick into an open net.
That play aside, Pulskamp (three saves) might have been the difference in enabling Kansas City to at least earn a draw. Columbus generated enough quality chances to log 3 1/2 expected goals, according to the league’s statistical service.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Henri Veesaar, No. 18 North Carolina hold off Virginia Tech
Feb 28, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels center Henri Veesaar (13) and Virginia Tech Hokies forward Amani Hansberry (13) fight for the ball in the first half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Henri Veesaar matched his career high with 26 points as No. 18 North Carolina pulled away from Virginia Tech in the second half for an 89-82 victory on Saturday night in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Seth Trimble put up 20 points as the Tar Heels (23-6, 11-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) won for the fourth time in their last five games without top scorer and rebounder Caleb Wilson, a star freshman who is out with a broken left hand.
Reserves Jonathan Powell and Zayden High added 15 and 12 points, respectively, as the North Carolina bench outscored its counterparts from Virginia Tech 32-13.
The Tar Heels shot 55.8% from the floor (29 of 52) as they remained perfect at home, marking the first season they’ve won their first 17 home games since the Dean E. Smith Center opened 40 years ago.
Veesaar also pulled down seven rebounds to help North Carolina to a 34-22 edge on the boards and an 11-2 margin on second-chance points.
Neo Avdalas supplied 19 points and five assists for Virginia Tech (18-11, 7-9), which came up short of gaining its third Quad 1 victory in its pursuit of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Tobi Lawal and Ben Hammond scored 16 points apiece and Amani Hansberry provided 11 points in 19 minutes before fouling out for the Hokies, who have not won at North Carolina since 2007.
After a 3-pointer by Virginia Tech’s Jaden Schutt tied it 57-57 with 13:51 left, North Carolina took the lead for good with a seven-point run.
Veesaar triggered it with a two-handed slam off an alley-oop feed from Powell, who followed with a 3-pointer. Trimble finished off the burst, spinning free off his dribble for a driving layup that made it 64-57.
A 3-pointer by Veesaar with 6:22 left gave North Carolina a 76-65 lead, which matched its largest of the game.
In the first half, the teams traded nine-point runs and finished a fast-paced period tied 44-44.
The Tar Heels’ run came midway through the half and was fueled by reserves including Kyan Evans, who drilled a 3-pointer to cap the burst and give North Carolina a 21-16 lead.
Powell later made a triple to give the Tar Heels the biggest lead of the half at 30-22.
But the Hokies answered with a 9-0 spurt triggered by a 3-pointer from Schutt.
–Field Level Media
Stars run win streak to 8 with OT defeat of Predators
Crew earn draw vs. Sporting KC on late goal
