Sports
Mammoth win home playoff debut, grab 2-1 lead over Knights
Apr 24, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Mammoth left wing Lawson Crouse (67) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images Lawson Crouse scored a pair of second-period goals as the Utah Mammoth doubled up the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 in Game 3 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Friday night in Salt Lake City.
Utah has won back-to-back games and leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Monday in Salt Lake City.
MacKenzie Weegar scored and added an assist and Dylan Guenther also tallied for the Mammoth, who became the sixth franchise that has debuted since the 1990s or later to win their first-ever home Stanley Cup playoff game.
Clayton Keller chipped in a pair of helpers and Karel Vejmelka made 30 saves.
Jack Eichel and Nic Dowd responded for the Golden Knights, while Carter Hart made eight saves.
The Golden Knights cut the deficit to 4-2 at 16:52 of the third, with Dowd snapping a shot under the blocker of Vejmelka for his second of the playoffs. But that’s as close as the visitors would get.
Crouse scored twice in a 5:42 span of the middle frame to give Utah a 4-0 lead.
The Mammoth took a 3-0 lead at 4:06 of the middle frame as Crouse redirected Nick Schmaltz’s pass over the shoulder of Hart for his third career playoff goal and first of the series.
Crouse added his second of the period at 9:48, snapping a shot blocker side past Hart from the top of the faceoff circle to give the Mammoth a four-goal lead.
Vegas got on the board at 13:20 as Eichel batted home the loose puck at the side of the net for his first of the series.
Vegas outshot Utah 13-6, but it was the Mammoth with a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Weegar opened the scoring at 13:00 of the first period, leaning into a slap shot from the top of the faceoff circle, which went off Hart’s mask and squeezed through for his second of the series.
Utah doubled its lead at 17:45 on a power play as Guenther one-timed a Logan Cooley pass up and over the shoulder of Hart for his second goal of the series.
When a best-of-seven NHL playoff series is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 holds an all-time series record of 245-124 (.664).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Streaking Quakes may be without key player at Toronto
Apr 25, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Timo Werner (11) celebrates after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the second half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images The league-leading San Jose Earthquakes may not be at full strength Saturday afternoon as they look to continue the best run in franchise history at Toronto FC.
The Earthquakes (9-1-0, 27 points) extended their club-record winning streak to eight matches in all competitions when they eliminated Minnesota United FC in the Round of 16 at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by a score of 4-2 on Tuesday. Jack Skahan, Beau Leroux and Niko Tsakiris each scored in a seven-minute stretch to rally the Quakes from a 2-1 deficit.
It wasn’t all good news for head coach Bruce Arena’s side. April’s MLS Player of the Month Timo Werner, who had played the full 90 minutes three days earlier against St. Louis, was forced off in the 34th minute with a hamstring injury and may not feature in the matinee at Toronto.
“We’re somewhat limited. It’s not like you take Timo off and the next guy can fill that void,” Arena admitted after match vs. Minnesota. “And how we manage it, it’s never perfect, and we try our best, but the part that you manage is how you work every day with the players and you give them the confidence to know that when their numbers fall, they’re ready to play.”
Toronto FC (3-3-4, 13 points) are dealing with their own injury problems in the midst of a four-match winless run.
Center-back Benjamin Kuscevic and midfielder Jose Cifuentes made for two more additions to TFC’s lengthy injury list in their 2-1 defeat to Atlanta United last Saturday. Designated players Djordje Mihailovic and Richie Laryea were among those absent. Deandre Kerr and Walker Zimmerman, who was away for the birth of his daughter, are slated to return.
“I feel like we just have to put our heads down and work and the guys who are available have to step up,” head coach Robin Fraser said on Thursday.
The fixture will mark the two teams’ first encounter in more than three years. Four of their last five clashes have ended in draws, dating back to August of 2018.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jack Adams Award finalists: Jon Cooper, Dan Muse, Lindy Ruff
Jan 24, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff coaches against the New York Islanders during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Pittsburgh’s Dan Muse and Buffalo’s Lindy Ruff are the three finalists for the 2026 Jack Adams Award, the league announced Friday.
The award, which is presented annually to the top coach in the NHL as voted on by the National Broadcasters’ Association, will be announced at a later date.
Cooper, 58, guided the Lightning to a 50-26-6 record this season and a ninth consecutive playoff appearance.
A two-time Stanley Cup champion, Cooper has been a finalist for this award on two occasions (2013-14, 2018-19) — however he has yet to win it.
Muse, 43, succeeded in his first season as head coach of the Penguins, leading the club to a second-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins posted a 41-25-16 record (98 points), which represented an 18-point increase from the previous season.
Ruff, 66, helped the Sabres halt a 14-year playoff drought by guiding the club to a first-place finish in the Atlantic Division with a 50-23-9 record. He previously won the Jack Adams Award in 2005-06, during his first stint with the Sabres.
Spencer Carbery of the Washington Capitals won the award last season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cowboys sign 1st-rounder Caleb Downs, five other picks
Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs is selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the number eleven pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Dallas Cowboys signed six of their seven picks from the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, including first-round selection Caleb Downs to his four-year rookie deal.
Downs, the 11th overall pick of the draft, will receive $28.95 million in fully guaranteed money that includes a $17.5 million signing bonus. The deal also includes a fifth-year team option.
The Cowboys traded up one spot with the Miami Dolphins to acquire Downs, a safety. Dallas has yet to sign its other first-round pick, edge rusher Malachi Lawrence, who was selected with the 23rd overall pick.
Downs, a two-time consensus All-American, was named the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State and took home the Jim Thorpe Award and Lott Trophy.
His career totals include 164 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, six interceptions and three forced fumbles in 44 games for Alabama (2023) and Ohio State (2024-25).
In addition to Downs, the Cowboys signed third-round linebacker Jaishawn Barham, fourth-round tackle Drew Shelton, fourth-round cornerback Devin Moore, fourth-round edge rusher LT Overton and seventh-round wide receiver Anthony Smith.
–Field Level Media
Spotify now verifies artists that are human, not AI
Prime members can get a free e-book every month with Amazon First Reads: See the May 2026 picks
