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Avs hope to unveil new defender in game vs. Penguins

NHL: New York Rangers at Buffalo SabresFeb 22, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; New York Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindgren (55) takes a shot on goal during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby teamed up to help Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off last month, and now the good friends from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, will be back battling each other when the Colorado Avalanche meet the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday night in Denver.

While MacKinnon and Crosby would usually draw the most interest when they’re playing in the same game, Tuesday might be different. Colorado acquired defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Jimmy Vesey from the New York Rangers since beating Minnesota on Friday night, and one or both are set to make their Avalanche debuts against Pittsburgh.

Lindgren played on the top defensive pairing for New York and will likely be on the second pairing with Colorado, behind Cale Makar and Devon Toews. The Avalanche were thin on defense, and Josh Manson’s injury tested their depth, but Lindgren’s presence shores up that potential weakness.

“That’s a big add,” coach Jared Bednar said. “The depth, getting another really strong penalty killer, the physicality around the net front and down low in your own zone to be able to help close plays out.

“He can play a lot, and I think that will help lighten the load and allow us to be able to, especially on the penalty kill, save some ice-time off of (Toews) and (Makar).”

Lindgren has just 19 points this season (two goals, 17 assists), but his defense will help Colorado’s leading scorers for the final 21 games. MacKinnon leads the NHL in scoring with 91 points (23 goals, 68 assists) and Makar is the top defenseman in scoring with 67 points (22 goals, 45 assists).

The Avalanche are solidly in the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference but are trying to catch the Wild and Dallas in the Central Division. The Penguins, however, are on pace to miss the playoffs for the third straight season.

Crosby, at age 37, leads them in scoring with 65 points (19 goals, 46 assists) and has played in 61 of Pittsburgh’s 63 games. Rickard Rakell is second with 52 points (28 goals, 24 assists), Bryan Rust (21 goals, 25 assists) is third with 46 points and Erik Karlsson (eight goals, 37 assists) is fourth with 45 points.

The Penguins will again be without winger Michael Bunting, who had an emergency appendectomy last week and is out for the near future.

Pittsburgh recalled goaltender Tristan Jarry from its AHL affiliate ahead of Tuesday’s game, and he could be in line for some work. Jarry struggled earlier this season, was placed on waivers in January and went to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after he cleared waivers.

It could be the first of many transactions this week for the Penguins ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. Players know they can be dealt to a contending team but try to block out the speculation.

“It’s a business. I’ve known that since I was 21 years old,” Kris Letang — one of three Pittsburgh players, along with Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who are 37 or older — told PittsburghHockeyNow after Sunday’s loss to Toronto. “Whatever happens, happens.”

–Field Level Media

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Tigers place 2B Gleyber Torres (oblique) on 10-day IL

Syndication: Detroit Free PressDetroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) bats a single against Texas Rangers during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 2, 2026.

The Detroit Tigers placed three-time All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left oblique strain.

Torres, 29, had progressed in recent days but continued to feel pain while swinging. He was unable to serve as a pinch hitter, leading the Tigers to put him on the IL, retroactive to Monday.

“It’s a mild left oblique strain that continues to nag him,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “Obviously, Gleyber has been getting treatment and getting looked at by doctors — and it continues to be stagnant. Hopefully, this will resolve itself within a short time period, but nowadays, I don’t know.”

In his ninth MLB season, Torres is hitting .259 with two home runs, 11 RBIs and a .716 OPS in 32 games.

“I was getting better and better, but I still feel it a little bit in that area,” Torres said. “At this point, we don’t want to push it. It’s not a really big strain, so hopefully, I can get back (on a rehab assignment) in five days — not two weeks. Let’s see what’s going to happen in the next couple of days.”

Torres is a career .264 hitter with 156 homers, 526 RBIs and a .769 OPS in 1,065 games with the New York Yankees (2018-24) and Tigers.

Third baseman Jace Jung, 25, was recalled from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. He has appeared in two games this season for Detroit, collecting one hit and one run in four at-bats.

–Field Level Media

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Tigers' Framber Valdez suspended for beaning Trevor Story

Syndication: Detroit Free PressComerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, on May 5, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan, with players and coaches from the Tigers and Red Sox on the field after a hit-by-pitch from Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez.

Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez received a six-game suspension and an undisclosed fine Wednesday for intentionally throwing at Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story on Tuesday night.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch also received a fine and a one-game suspension, which he will serve in Wednesday night’s series finale against the visiting Red Sox. Bench coach George Lombard will fill in as manager.

Both benches emptied in the fourth inning after Story got plunked by a fastball from Valdez, earning the pitcher an ejection following the worst start of his career.

Valdez allowed a career-high 10 runs (seven earned) on nine hits, including three homers, in three-plus innings, taking the loss in the 10-3 setback.

Valdez, 32, is 2-2 with a 4.57 ERA through eight starts in his first season with Detroit, which signed him to a three-year, $115 million deal in February.

A two-time All-Star with Houston (2022, 2023), Valdez is 83-54 with a 3.41 ERA in 196 career games (174 starts) with the Astros (2018-25) and Tigers.

–Field Level Media

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'Everything hurts': Michelle Wie West making first LPGA start in 3 years

PGA: Masters Tournament - Practice RoundMichelle Wie West watches a practice round of the 2025 Masters. Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

Serving as tournament host is not what’s making Michelle Wie West nervous at this week’s Mizuho Americas Open in West Caldwell, N.J.

Wie West, 36, will tee it up in an LPGA Tour event for the first time since stepping away from competition after missing the cut at the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open. She joked Wednesday that she “knew a few people” who could help her secure a spot into this week’s field, as Wie West prepares to play in next month’s U.S. Women’s Open.

After three years away from competition, Wie West was asked if the mental or physical side of the game is the most difficult to prepare for this week.

“Definitely mental. I don’t know physical. I feel pretty old right now and everything hurts. But I would say mental for sure,” Wie West said. “I get hit with moments of being nervous and I freeze up.

“To be fair, I feel like I have a lot of really good clarity on the feeling of being nervous and whatnot. But kind of getting back into the mode of playing there is really only a few things I do when I get nervous. I need to just not do them. That’s easier said than done.

“Yeah, it’s all difficult.”

A little more than a year after playing in her last LPGA Tour event, Wie West gave birth to her second child. She has spent much of the time since in various endeavors, including using events like the Mizuho Americas Open to mentor youth athletes.

The itch to compete and grow the game of golf also remains. In addition to the two upcoming events, Wie West is one of 14 women who have signed on to compete in the upcoming WTGL, the tech-infused indoor golf league co-owned by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.

“I think any platform that can give LPGA players a sounding board and opportunity to showcase their talent, personalities, I think TGL is perfect for that,” Wie West said. “I think we’re going to reach new audiences hopefully.

“With the innovation and technology, I think it’s a perfect place to showcase everyone’s talents.”

Nelly Korda is the most prominent name yet to commit to the WTGL. However, like the world’s top-ranked player, Wie West hopes the league will grow to see PGA and LPGA Tour players compete together.

“From day one I got very excited about the aspect of playing co-ed matches. I think that would be really exciting,” she said. “I think these players, LPGA players, have such amazing personalities.”

–Field Level Media

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