Sports
Blue Jackets blast Kraken, extend point streak to 12 games
Mar 21, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins (90) makes a stick save against the Seattle Kraken during the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images Cole Sillinger had a goal and two assists and Zach Werenski had three helpers as the Columbus Blue Jackets defeated the visiting Seattle Kraken 5-2 on Saturday.
Mathieu Olivier had a goal and an assist and Danton Heinen, Damon Severson and Kent Johnson also scored for Columbus (37-21-11, 85 points), which won its fourth in a row and extended its point streak to 12 games (8-0-4). Goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 15 saves.
Kaapo Kakko had a goal and an assist and Vince Dunn also tallied for Seattle (31-29-9, 71 points), which lost its third straight. Joey Daccord stopped 23 of 27 shots.
The Blue Jackets outshot Seattle 13-7 in the first period while taking a 3-1 lead.
Heinen opened the scoring at 2:48 as his wrist shot from between the top of the faceoff circles deflected off Kraken forward Jacob Melanson and over Daccord’s shoulder.
Severson made it 2-0 at 8:58 on a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that found its way inside the far post. Daccord claimed he was obstructed, but the Kraken did not challenge the goal.
Olivier extended the advantage at 15:16 after Sillinger’s pass to the top of the crease from the left wing went off Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren’s stick. Olivier located the loose puck, spun and slid it inside the right post.
The Kraken responded on Dunn’s blistering slap shot from the top of the left circle at 16:17 after taking a pass from Kakko in the right-wing corner.
Seattle pulled within a goal on the power play at 8:31 of the second as Kakko beat Merzlikins with a sharp-angled wrister from low on the right wing.
The Blue Jackets responded quickly with a 3-on-2 rush at 9:33. Conor Garland drove the puck to the goal line on the left wing before sending a backhand pass to Johnson for a snap shot from just outside the top right of the crease.
Sillinger clinched the victory with an empty-netter at 17:34 of the third.
Kraken forward Jared McCann, the franchise’s career scoring leader, was a late scratch after suffering a lower-body injury in pregame warmups.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kylian Mbappe: Knee is 100%, 'false things were said'
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid’s game against Sevilla in Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, on Dec. 20, 2025 .
French striker Kylian Mbappe disputed reports about the severity of the left knee sprain that has limited his availability of late for Real Madrid.
“My knee is fine. It’s getting better,” he said at a promotional event in France on Monday. “It’s going quite well, and I know there’s been a lot of speculation about it and some false things have been said.
“It’s the life of a top athlete, and we’re used to people saying things without verifying them or having any basis in fact.”
Mbappe, 27, came off the bench in Real Madrid’s two most recent matches: Sunday’s 3-2 La Liga defeat of Atletico Madrid and a 2-1 win at Manchester City on March 17 in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match.
His last appearance before that, and his most recent start, was on Feb. 21. In 24 La Liga matches this season, Mbappe has 23 goals and four assists.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is on the roster for France’s upcoming friendlies in the United States against Brazil (March 26) and Colombia (March 29).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Falcons add veteran Trevor Siemian to QB room
Jan 7, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian (14) throws the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images The Atlanta Falcons are signing veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
Siemian, 34, adds depth behind newcomer Tua Tagovailoa and 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.
Terms weren’t disclosed for Siemian, who last appeared in an NFL regular-season game in 2023 with the New York Jets. He spent most of the 2024 and 2025 campaigns on the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad.
Siemian is 15-18 as a starter, completing 58.5% of his passes for 7,751 yards, 44 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in 40 games with the Denver Broncos (2015-17), Jets (2019, 2023), New Orleans Saints (2021) and Chicago Bears (2022). He has rushed for 251 yards and two scores.
The Broncos drafted Siemian in the seventh round in 2015.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. lands historic shoe deal
Feb 25, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Darius Acuff Jr. (5) drives to the basket as Texas A&M Aggies guard Pop Isaacs (2) defends during the second half at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 99-84. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images Arkansas All-American Darius Acuff Jr. has a deal with Reebok to become the first NCAA men’s athlete to land a signature shoe from a major U.S. brand while still in college.
Reebok head of basketball Jide Osifeso confirmed the historic agreement with ESPN on Tuesday.
A 19-year-old freshman for the Razorbacks, Acuff was named the 2025-26 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year after becoming the first player to lead the league in points and assists per game since LSU legend Pete Maravich in 1969-70.
After winning the SEC tournament, Arkansas has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed. The Razorbacks (28-8) face West Region No. 1 seed Arizona (34-2) on Thursday night in San Jose, Calif.
The 6-foot-3 Acuff is averaging 23.3 points, 6.5 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 35 games (all starts) this season while shooting 44.6% from 3-point range.
The Detroit native is projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Acuff becomes the first men’s basketball player to receive a signature shoe with Reebok since John Wall, according to ESPN.
–Field Level Media
Kylian Mbappe: Knee is 100%, 'false things were said'
Falcons add veteran Trevor Siemian to QB room
