Sports
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets blank Devils for 6th win in row
Feb 3, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a save as New Jersey Devils left wing Paul Cotter (47) looks for the puck during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images Elvis Merzlikins made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season and Mathieu Olivier scored two goals in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 3-0 win over the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in Newark, N.J.
The Blue Jackets extended their season-high winning streak to six games. Columbus is 10-1-0 in its past 11 games and has won five straight away games after completing a 3-0-0 road trip on Tuesday.
Merzlikins earn his 12th career shutout while improving to 11-8-1 on the season. After some early struggles, Merzlikins has played better during the Jackets’ hot streak, splitting starts with Jet Greaves.
Olivier’s two goals and Dante Fabbro’s go-ahead goal all came during a commanding third period for the Blue Jackets, who outshot New Jersey 13-7 in the final frame.
Jacob Markstrom stopped 23 of 25 shots for the Devils, who are 1-4-0 in their past five games.
Nico Hischier and Arseny Gritsyuk each hit the post in the third period as New Jersey took its sixth shutout loss. The Devils have scored only 142 times this season, tied for the third-fewest goals of any team in the NHL.
A would-be goal from the Blue Jackets’ Danton Heinen 5:10 into the first period was nullified after the Devils made a successful goalie-interference challenge. That was as close as either team came to scoring over the first 45 minutes, in part due to solid goaltending at both ends.
Columbus finally broke the deadlock 5:24 into the third period, as Fabbro’s shot from outside the circle beat a screened Markstrom. Fabbro was making his return to the lineup after a foot laceration kept him out of the previous six games.
Olivier extended the lead at the 12:05 mark as the Jackets took advantage of a sloppy New Jersey line change. Cole Sillinger’s pass found a wide-open Olivier, who converted a slick backhanded shot.
Markstrom was pulled with just under five minutes remaining in the third period, but it was the Blue Jackets who took advantage while down 6-on-5. At the 16:00 minute mark, Dougie Hamilton slashed Olivier when the Jackets forward was approaching the empty net, and Olivier was awarded an automatic goal.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bucks waive Cam Thomas to convert Pete Nance's contract
Suns guard Jalen Green (4) drives against Bucks forward Pete Nance (35) during a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on March 21, 2026. The Milwaukee Bucks converted forward Pete Nance’s two-way contract to a fully guaranteed deal.
The Bucks waived guard Cam Thomas in a corresponding move prior to their game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday. Thomas, 24, signed with the team as a free agent on Feb. 8 and averaged 10.7 points in 18 games off the bench with Milwaukee.
As for Nance, he was elated with the notion of receiving a new deal. The contract made him available to play in the team’s final 11 games this season and runs through the 2026-27 campaign.
“To be able to be in this spot is just awesome,” Nance said after the Bucks’ shootaround, per the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “Obviously I’m super thankful for the Bucks for giving me the opportunity. I think it’s just a testament to growth and the work that I’ve done and the experience that I’ve had over the years.”
Nance, 26, is averaging 4.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 12.1 minutes in 37 games off the bench this season.
Thomas was benched after playing just three minutes against the Atlanta Hawks on March 14. He was held out of consecutive games on March 15 and 17 due to what was listed as a coach’s decision before returning to the court against the Utah Jazz last Thursday.
“There are things we don’t need to talk about,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said, per the newspaper. “That’s not anybody’s business. Like I said before, that’s where as a coach you have to make decisions on what’s best for the team at that time. People don’t understand that. They start talking about other stuff. And, that’s not for anyone to know.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Buccaneers, LB Lavonte David schedule news conference
Jan 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Veteran Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David is scheduled to hold a news conference on Tuesday afternoon at the team facility.
The Buccaneers did not divulge an official reason for the conference, however speculation is strong that David will announce his retirement from the NFL.
David, 36, is a free agent after spending his entire 14-year career with Tampa Bay.
He recorded 114 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries while starting all 17 games last season. It was his 12th season with triple-digit tackles.
An All-Pro selection in 2013 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2015, David has 1,716 tackles, 42.5 sacks, 14 interceptions, 33 forced fumbles and 21 fumble recoveries in 215 games (all starts).
David was selected by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Nebraska.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mikaela Shiffrin on cusp of season World Cup title
Feb 18, 2026; Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy; Gold medalist Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States celebrates during the medal ceremony for the women’s slalom during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-Imagn Images Mikaela Shiffrin will ski Wednesday for the season World Cup overall title.
Heading into the giant slalom, the final race of the season, Shiffrin has an 85-point lead over Emma Aicher of Germany.
Shiffrin won her ninth slalom in 10 World Cup starts this season on Tuesday, earning 100 points. She increased her overall lead on Aicher, who finished third to grab 60 points.
To take the title, Aicher must win the race — a discipline in which she never has finished higher than fourth — and hope that Shiffrin finishes worse than 15th.
Shiffrin, 31, is striving to win her sixth overall World Cup title, which would tie her with Annemarie Moser-Proll. The Austrian won five season titles from 1971-75 and the final one in 1979.
The 2026 Olympic champion in the slalom, Shiffrin won the World Cup title in consecutive years from 2017-19 and again in 2022 and 2023.
With her slalom win on Tuesday, Shiffrin earned her 110th career victory on the World Cup circuit, extending her lead over Ingemar Stenmark of Sweden, who won 86 before his retirement in 1989.
–Field Level Media
Wordle today: Answer, hints for March 25, 2026
Hurdle hints and answers for March 25, 2026
