Sports
Predators, ahead of potential trade-off, return to face Avs
Feb 8, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) skates with the puck against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images The Nashville Predators host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday in both teams’ first game since a two-week break, but the clubs are looking at the final two months of the season in vastly different ways.
The Predators started the season with high hopes for the postseason after signing several veterans, including two-time Stanley Cup winner Steven Stamkos, over the summer. However, instead of contending in the Western Conference, the Predators are 18 points behind the Vancouver Canucks for the conference’s final wild-card spot.
Nashville general manager Barry Trotz told The Tennessean on Friday that he already has made calls to teams to discuss deals that would return draft picks and prospects ahead of the NHL’s March 7 trade deadline.
Before the NHL regular season was paused for the 4 Nations Face-Off, Nashville won its last game, a 6-4 triumph over the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Feb. 8. However, the Predators lost six straight before that to bury them in the standings.
“The season just unraveled on us, and we couldn’t get it back on the rails,” Trotz told the Nashville newspaper.
The start of the unofficial second half of the season also did not get off to a great start for the Predators, who announced Friday that defenseman Adam Wilsby would miss the rest of the season with an upper-body injury. The team put the Swedish rookie and first-year forward Zachary L’Heureux on injured reserve. L’Heureux, who also has an upper-body ailment, is considered week-to-week.
Despite the Predators’ struggles this season, the team still had several representatives playing during the midseason event. Forward Filip Forsberg, who leads the team with 53 points, played in all three of Sweden’s games, as did forward Gustav Nyquist, who scored a goal for the national team.
Nashville goalie Juuse Saros, whose 23 losses lead the NHL, played in two games for Finland. He registered a 3.96 goals-against average and an .870 save percentage.
Colorado returns to the ice in possession of the first Western Conference wild-card spot with 68 points. The Avalanche stand just two points back of the Minnesota Wild for third place in the Central Division.
A trio of Avalanche skaters played key roles for 4 Nations winner Canada. Nathan McKinnon, whose 66 assists and 87 points lead the NHL, scored a tournament-best four goals in Canada’s four games. Defensemen Cale Makar and Devin Toews also helped the Canadians win the Thursday finale.
Makar’s lone assist in the tournament came on Connor McDavid’s golden goal in overtime.
While the trio were busy over the past two weeks, many of their teammates got a chance to rest and recharge over the break. Coach Jared Bednar held practices Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and he told Colorado Hockey Now that he was especially pleased with the Friday session because of the enthusiasm the players showed.
Prior to the tournament, the Avalanche won four out of their last five games. McKinnon scored a goal and registered three assists while Makar added two goals and an assist in Colorado’s 5-4 road win over the Edmonton Oilers on Feb. 7.
“So it’s a good sign coming into this week, and hopefully we continue to play with that energy and enthusiasm here going to Nashville,” Bednar said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Carson Hocevar delights fans with pole-winning run for Brickyard 400
NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar (77) reacts after winning the pole position Saturday, July 25, 2026, during qualifying for the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. SPEEDWAY, Ind.-Standing on pit wall as Denny Hamlin completed his qualifying lap at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Carson Hocevar raised his arms in exultation and turned to hug Spire Motorsports teammate Daniel Suarez.
Hocevar knew at that moment that Saturday’s time trials at the historic 2.5-mile oval would not be a repeat of Michigan in June, when Hamlin, as the final qualifier, knocked Hocevar off the provisional pole at the 23-year-old’s home track.
In fact, after earning his second Busch Light Pole Award of the season and the third of his career, Hocevar will lead the field to green in Sunday’s Brickyard 400 (2 p.m. ET on TNT, IMS Radio Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“I got out of the car, and they were cheering,” Hocevar said of the crowd in the grandstands near the Yard of Bricks start/finish line. “I don’t know if they were cheering for me or because I beat Denny (who qualified fifth at 185.835 mph).
“Denny stole one from me at Michigan. That’s my home track, but this is my favorite track. I love Indy.”
With a pole-winning lap at 186.598 mph in the No. 77 Chevrolet, Hocevar edged Suarez (186.382 mph) for the top starting spot by 0.056 seconds. The session was a triumph for Spire Motorsports and owner Jeff Dickerson, an Indianapolis native.
With Michael McDowell qualifying sixth at 185.762 mph, Spire put all three of its cars within the first three rows of the grid.
“It felt really good,” Hocevar said of his blistering lap. “Michael McDowell went out early and gave me the confidence that the car was going to be able stick with him putting up a good lap.
“I felt really comfortable. I love this place. … You race differently if you’re comfortable and confident here. I’ve been confident since the first lap I’ve been here.”
Toyota driver Tyler Reddick posted the third fastest lap at 186.077 mph and will start next to Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs (185.966 mph). Naval Base Coronado winner Corey Heim claimed the seventh starting spot, followed by Alex Bowman, AJ Allmendinger and Kyle Larson.
The top 10 featured six Chevrolets and four Toyotas. Ryan Blaney, competing against Todd Gilliland for the $1-million In-Season Challenge prize, drove the fastest Ford (185.197 mph) to a 13th-place starting spot. Gilliland qualified 36th at 182.460 mph.
Blaney will make his 400th career Cup Series start on Sunday.
Defending race winner Bubba Wallace (183.861 mph) earned the 29th grid position.
Suarez was ahead of Hocevar’s pace early in his lap but lost time through the final two corners.
“I felt like I left a little bit out there,” Suarez said. “A little mistake in corner 3, but I’m very proud of my team.”
–Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service
Sports
Jackson Koivun (61) leads 3M Open by 3 entering final round
Jul 25, 2026; Blaine, Minnesota, USA; Jackson Koivun tracks his tee shot on hole 8 during the third round of the 3M Open golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images PGA Tour newcomer Jackson Koivun fired a 10-under-par 61 on the way to taking the third-round lead at the 3M Open on Saturday at Blaine, Minn.
Koivun, in his just third tournament as a professional, holds a three-shot lead on Ben Kohles and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo going to Sunday’s final round at TPC Twin Cities.
Koivun, who announced last month that he would forgo his senior collegiate season at Auburn to turn pro, finished on a tear with two eagles on the backside that allowed him to play the final 10 holes in 9-under. That contributed to a tournament-record 28 on the backside, rolling in a 14-foot eagle putt on the last hole.
Koivun’s bogey-free round included an eagle 3 on No. 12.
Grillo and Kohles also were without bogeys on the way to posting 65s. Grillo eagled No. 18 shortly after Koivun accomplished that. Kohles, the first-round leader, had three birdies on both sides.
Michael Brennan (63) and Chandler Phillips (66) are tied for fourth place at 16 under.
Michael Kim, fresh off Friday’s 59, was unable to maintain the momentum, shooting 70 and joining Denny McCarthy (64) and Billy Horschel (65) at 15 under. Kim had only one birdie until No. 16 on Saturday.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had his best round of the tournament with 64 to move to 14 under, holding a share of first place when he left the final green. Competing in the tournament for the first time, he posted an 8 under score on the backside, highlighted by an eagle with a chip from the greenside rough on the par-4 16th.
Davis Thompson and Ireland’s Seamus Power were early finishers with 63s, also among those at 14 under before other golfers got rolling. Brian Harman (66) is at 14 under as well.
Defending champion Kurt Kitayama shot 66 to move to 10 under.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ryan Preece returning to RFK Racing in 2027
May 3, 2026; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Roush Fenway Keselowski driver Ryan Preece (60) is introduced before the start of the 2026 Wurth 400 cup race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Ryan Preece will remain behind the wheel of RFK Racing’s No. 60 Ford during the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Team co-owner Brad Keselowski confirmed the decision Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, saying RFK exercised an option in Preece’s multiyear contract several months ago.
“We’re going to continue to keep him as a part of the family for a while,” Keselowski said.
Preece joined RFK Racing in 2025 after spending two seasons with Stewart-Haas Racing. He narrowly missed the playoffs in his first year with the team but had his best Cup campaign, earning three top-five finishes and finishing 18th in the final standings.
The 35-year-old Connecticut native is again 18th in points entering Sunday’s Brickyard 400. He has four top-10 finishes through the first 21 races of the season as he continues pursuing his first career Cup Series playoff berth.
Preece has made 243 Cup Series starts over nine seasons, earning two poles and 33 top-10 finishes. He is still looking for his first points-paying win at NASCAR’s top level.
–Field Level Media
Carson Hocevar delights fans with pole-winning run for Brickyard 400
Jackson Koivun (61) leads 3M Open by 3 entering final round
