Sports
Status of Dan Vladar in doubt as Flyers look to finish off Penguins
Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save as Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) looks for a rebound during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers are soaring through their first-round playoff series, but the status of goaltender Dan Vladar is unclear heading into Saturday’s Game 4 against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins.
Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 after notching a pair of wins in Pittsburgh followed by a 5-2 home victory Wednesday. Vladar made 27 saves in Game 3 but injured his right arm during a chaotic sequence in front of the net in the third period.
He rested both Thursday and Friday and is listed as a game-time decision as he hopes to take the ice for the potential series clincher on Saturday.
“It’s another maintenance day for him,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said Friday. “Two days off is going to help him. That’s basically it for him. We’ll see how he is (Saturday).”
After a strong regular season, Vladar has a .946 save percentage in this series, including a shutout in Game 2. If he cannot play Saturday, Samuel Ersson will make his postseason debut.
“I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game,” said Ersson, who has not played since April 14.
Of course, it will help either goaltender if the Flyers continue to receive scoring production from up and down their lineup. The team had five different goal scorers in Game 3, including four players who registered their first career playoff tally.
Trevor Zegras and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which has won six straight games dating back to the regular season. The Flyers will try to ride the momentum of their home crowd to their first series victory since 2020.
“That was the craziest building I’ve ever played in,” defenseman Nick Seeler said of the Game 3 atmosphere. “The fans were fantastic.”
Part of the chaotic atmosphere was a product of a penalty-filled second period in which the teams combined for 17 penalties. Penguins coach Dan Muse was not happy about how the officials handled the physicality in that period, but his squad doesn’t have time to dwell on their recent losses.
“We have to win a hockey game,” Muse said. “So, we’ll have a practice (Friday) and get ready for that game and then go into that game and we need to win a game. That’s entirely where the focus is right now.”
Evgeni Malkin and Erik Karlsson scored in Game 3 for Pittsburgh, which has dropped six straight contests, going back to the regular season. Malkin has two goals in this series, although that’s as many as his teammates have combined.
“Now we’re going to see what we’re really made of,” Karlsson said. “Now it’s do-or-die. The toughest game to win is that fourth one, so hopefully we can start by winning one.”
Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the final four games. It hasn’t happened in more than a decade – the Los Angeles Kings turned the trick against the San Jose Sharks in 2014 — and the Penguins have never accomplished it.
“There’s not much room for error when you’re in this position. That’s reality,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “But the fact is, we’ve got to win a game. That’s got to be our focus. You can’t grab three on Saturday. You’ve got to win one.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Evander's hat trick, late PK boost Cincinnati over Fire
May 2, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; FC Cincinnati midfielder Evander (10) scores a goal during the first half against the Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images Evander converted a penalty kick seven minutes into second-half stoppage time to secure a hat trick and lift FC Cincinnati to a 3-2 road win over the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Evander collected a brace in the first half and then added his third goal for the late winner. A yellow card was issued to Chicago’s Dje D’Avilla for a foul in the box on Pavel Bucha, leading to the deciding penalty kick.
The winning goal came six minutes after Chicago striker Hugo Cuypers missed his own chance to complete a hat trick with a penalty-kick strike. Goalkeeper Roman Celentano (eight saves) made a huge save to deny Cuypers and preserve the 2-2 score.
FC Cincinnati (4-4-3, 15 points) won despite playing with only 10 men for most of the second half. Defender Kyle Smith was issued a straight red card in the 56th minute for an accidental kick to the face of the Fire’s Robin Lod.
Cincinnati is unbeaten in its last five (2-0-3) matches, including a 3-3 draw with the Fire two weeks prior.
The victory was Cincinnati’s first win in six road matches this season (1-3-2). FC Cincinnati are 5-0-1 in their last six trips to Chicago.
The Fire (5-3-2, 17 points) have held leads in all three of their losses this season. Saturday’s defeat ended a five-match (4-0-1) unbeaten streak for the home side.
After going scoreless in his first six regular-season matches, Evander now has five goals in his last four matches.
Cuypers has 10 goals in seven league matches this season, scoring at least once in every appearance. Cuypers’ three straight matches with multiple goals ties the second-longest brace streak in MLS history.
The forward started early Saturday, as Cuypers converted a shot that deflected off Smith and into the net in the 16th minute.
Shaky defending also aided in Evander’s equalizer in the 24th minute. During a scramble in front of the Fire’s net, Chicago center back Mbekezeli Mbokazi made a poor touch on a clearance attempt that put the ball right at Evander’s feet for the finish.
Cuypers completed the brace four minutes later, but Evander provided another quick response in the 31st minute.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Royals' Maikel Garcia's sacrifice fly beats Mariners in 10th
May 2, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia (11) hits an RBI-sacrifice fly against the Seattle Mariners during the tenth inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Maikel Garcia’s sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the 10th inning as the Kansas City Royals rallied to defeat the host Seattle Mariners 3-2 Saturday night.
Automatic runner Michael Massey stole third base in the top of the 10th and scored an out later as Garcia flew out to center field off Cooper Criswell (1-1).
Royals reliever Matt Strahm (1-0) got the victory and Lucas Erceg retired the side in order in the 10th to earn his ninth save of the season.
The Royals tied it at 2-2 in the ninth off Mariners closer Andres Munoz. Salvador Perez lined a leadoff single to right and was replaced by pinch runner Lane Thomas, who advanced to second on a balk. With one out, Jac Caglianone lined a single to left-center, with the ball bouncing between the legs of outfielder Julio Rodriguez and rolling all the way to the wall, allowing Thomas to score and Caglianone to take third.
Seattle starter Emerson Hancock didn’t get a decision despite striking out a career-high 14 batters on the night the Mariners retired former ace Randy Johnson’s jersey No. 51.
Hancock went seven innings and allowed one run on six hits. The right-hander didn’t walk a batter and eclipsed his previous best of nine strikeouts set March 29 against Cleveland in his first start of the season.
Kansas City right-hander Seth Lugo also put up a quality start. Lugo pitched six innings and gave up two runs on seven hits, with two walks and six strikeouts.
The Mariners took the lead in the first inning as, with one out, Rodriguez hit a ground-rule double to right-center and Josh Naylor followed by lining a run-scoring single to center.
The Royals tied it in the third as Kyle Isbel doubled to right with one out and Garcia doubled to left.
The Mariners broke a 1-all tie in the fifth inning. With one out, No. 9 hitter Leo Rivas lined a single to right field, J.P. Crawford grounded a single to left and Rodriguez reached on an infield single up the middle to load the bases.
Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. made a diving stop on Rodriguez’s hit but had trouble getting the ball out of his mitt and was unable to get a forceout at second. With Naylor at the plate, Lugo threw a breaking pitch in the dirt that got away from catcher Carter Jensen, allowing Rivas to score standing up. Lugo struck out Naylor before walking Randy Arozarena to reload the bases. Cole Young worked the count to 2-2 before Lugo threw a slider that was way outside. Arozarena apparently thought it was ball four and was picked off first base to end the inning.
Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh was a late scratch due to undisclosed reasons.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angels walk off Mets in 10th, halt 7-game skid
May 2, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels second baseman Vaughn Grissom (5) forces out New York Mets designated hitter Juan Soto (22) at second base in the sixth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Oswald Peraza hit an RBI single with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the New York Mets on Saturday night in Anaheim, Calif.
Pereza, who finished with three hits, lined an 0-2 curveball from New York reliever Austin Warren (0-1) into the gap in left-center to easily drive in automatic runner Adam Frazier from third base.
Jo Adell went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, Mike Trout had two hits and a walk and Vaughn Grissom drove in two runs for Los Angeles, which won for just the second time in 13 games. Ryan Zeferjahn (2-1) threw two innings of hitless relief.
Austin Slater doubled among his two hits and scored and Mark Vientos doubled and scored for New York, which lost for the 18th time in its last 22 games. Rookie starter Nolan McLean left after four innings, the shortest start of his major league career, after allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six on 78 pitches.
Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning with three consecutive two-out singles by Nolan Schanuel, Jorge Soler and Adell, the final one a single to right that drove in Schanuel. Slater threw out Soler attempting to advance to third for the final out, and replays showed Soler was tagged out before Schanuel crossed home plate, but the Mets didn’t challenge the play.
New York tied it in the third on an RBI single by Bo Bichette, driving in Slater, who had doubled down the left field line.
The Angels took a 3-1 lead in the fourth on a two-run single by Grissom with two outs. The Mets rallied to tie it in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Andy Ibanez and an RBI single by Tyrone Taylor, then loaded the bases with one out. Replacing starter Reid Detmers, Sam Bachman escaped the jam by getting Bichette on a force play at the plate and striking out Juan Soto.
Detmers gave up three runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, with eight strikeouts and no walks.
–Field Level Media
Evander's hat trick, late PK boost Cincinnati over Fire
Royals' Maikel Garcia's sacrifice fly beats Mariners in 10th
