Sports
Ducks look to regroup against Golden Knights in Game 4
May 8, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) hits Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (14) while playing for the puck during the third period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images The Anaheim Ducks were taught big lessons last outing.
Now the Ducks must show how quickly they can put them to good use when they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday for Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series.
The Golden Knights claimed a thorough 6-2 victory on Friday to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The game was an example of a veteran squad showing its savvy and elevating its play against a young squad.
“We’re still learning, still got things like that we’ve got to be better at doing because we know they’re going to respond,” Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “They’re an experienced team. … Win or lose, we have to play our best game the next game.”
Anaheim controlled the tempo of the first two games with its team speed. On Friday, though, the Golden Knights opened the scoring just over a minute into the clash, doubled the lead midway through the opening frame with a short-handed marker and never relinquished control.
“It wasn’t a great start,” Anaheim forward Alex Killorn said. “They score in the first five minutes and then they get a PK goal. … It’s tough to win a game when you put yourself in spots like that.”
Another issue for the Ducks is their flickering power play. After a 50 percent success rate against Edmonton (8-for-16) in the opening round, the Ducks have been blanked on their 11 chances against Vegas.
That is just part of finding their form.
“They played well, but I don’t think we brought our best,” Killorn said. “They’re a great team, we just have to have a little bit of a better start and effort throughout the game.”
Coach Joel Quenneville said on Saturday that goalie Lukas Dostal will open in net. Dostal, who has started every game this postseason, was pulled after the first period in Game 3.
The Golden Knights definitely took their game to another level, but they’re well aware how easily momentum could be regained by the Ducks.
The onus will be on Vegas not to be complacent.
“Not all problems are solved because you win a game,” said Golden Knights coach John Tortorella. “You’ve got to keep on trying to get better. I just thought we entered the series (Friday) playing our game a little bit more than we have, but we’re going to have to keep improving.”
Tortorella had no update on Saturday regarding the status of captain Mark Stone, who left Friday’s game near the end of the first period.
“I’m not going to give you any updates on injuries, so you might as well stop asking that question,” Tortorella said.
Fortunately for Vegas, Mitch Marner delivered his first career playoff hat trick which put him atop the league’s postseason scoring list with 13 points (six goals, seven assists).
“I try to always be an energizer guy, a guy that goes out there and brings a lot of passion and energy to games,” Marner said. “Obviously, I always want the puck on my tape. I want to try to make the plays.”
With or without Stone, the Golden Knights could still use more contributors. For example, Tomas Hertl has not scored a goal in 29 games. He last lit the lamp on March 4 for his 24th of the year.
“There’s some areas that we still need to be more consistent at,” Tortorella said. “There’s a few players we’re hoping get going also. … We know it’s Game 4, and as the series ratchets up into these later games, the momentum swings, and it’s more desperate hockey. So, we’re just going to get ready to play and try to play the right way.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Andrew Putnam wins 9-hole playoff for final U.S. Open spot from Oregon
May 3, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Andrew Putnam watches his tee shot on the second hole during the final round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images PGA Tour veteran Andrew Putnam took the concept of “Golf’s Longest Day” to a new extreme.
After playing 36 holes at Emerald Valley Golf Club for U.S. Open final qualifying Monday in Creswell, Ore., Putnam and Spencer Tibbits were tied for second on the leaderboard. The problem was that only two spots were available from Oregon, requiring a 2-for-1 playoff.
Putnam and Tibbits played six more holes late Monday and couldn’t break their deadlock. They returned to the course Tuesday morning, and Putnam finally claimed victory on the ninth hole.
Putnam, a 37-year-old from Tacoma, Wash., will play his second major championship this year after appearing in none of the majors in 2025. He tied for 55th last month at the PGA Championship. Putnam last appeared in the U.S. Open in 2023, when he tied for 43rd.
His only victory on tour came in 2018 at the Barracuda Championship.
Greyson Leach shot 4-under-par 140 over 36 holes for medalist honors at Emerald Valley. Putnam and Tibbits tied at 3-under 141, with Tibbits squandering an advantage by following an opening 66 with a second-round 75.
Emerald Valley was one of 10 final qualifying sites across the U.S. and Canada on Monday. They were also contested in Toronto (near this week’s RBC Canadian Open), at two locations in Ohio, one in California and several courses around the East Coast.
The U.S. Open will be contested June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.
Here is the final list of players to qualify Monday (three other qualifiers were previously held):
–Ball Ground, Ga.: Chris Kirk, Jake Peacock, Keith Mitchell, Robbie Higgins, Chase Kyes (a)
–Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.: Giuseppe Puebla (a), Ben Silverman, Ryder Cowan (a), Miles Russell (a)
–Purchase, N.Y.: Kevin Roy, Max Greyserman, Benjamin James (a), James Nicholas
–Gastonia, N.C.: Jackson Ormond (a), Carl Yuan, Jackson Van Paris, Brandon Wu, Cole Hammer
–Rockville, Md.: Jackson Suber, Ben Kohles, Logan Reilly (a), Jake Sollon
–Springfield, Ohio: Neal Shipley, Zac Blair, Dylan Wu, Billy Horschel, Nick Hardy
–Westerville, Ohio: Davis Thompson, J.B. Holmes, Vaughn Harber (a), Arni Sveinsson (a)
–Toronto: Emiliano Grillo, Alejandro Tosti, Marcelo Rozo, William Mouw, John Parry, Max McGreevy
–Sacramento, Calif.: Taylor Montgomery, Eric Lee (a), Matthew Robles (a), Marek Fleming (a)
–Creswell, Ore.: Greyson Leach, Andrew Putnam
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Brewers signing OF prospect Luis Lara to 7-year, $31M deal
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Luis Lara adjusts his cap during spring training workouts Monday, February 16, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. The Milwaukee Brewers are in agreement with outfield prospect Luis Lara on a seven-year, $31 million extension, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.
The contract with the 21-year-old Venezuelan begins this season and includes three club options, potentially taking the deal through 2035.
The extension could max out at $78 million if Lara reaches all the incentives, a source told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Lara is ranked No. 5 among Milwaukee’s prospects and No. 91 among all major league clubs by MLB Pipeline.
He is batting .338/.447/.500 with seven homers, 27 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 56 games this season at Double-A Nashville.
The Brewers have signed similar long-term deals with up-and-coming prospects before, including outfielder Jackson Chourio in December 2023 and current minor league shortstop Cooper Pratt in April.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defender Chris Richards returns to USMNT practice
June 8, 2026; Irvine, California, U.S.; Chris Richards of the U.S. signs an autograph for a fan during training. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Defender Chris Richards is back on the field with the United States Men’s National Team on Monday and appears to be on track for the World Cup opener against Paraguay this week.
“We will see … first time with the team,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said Monday. “Nearly everyone ready to be selected for the game.”
Richards sustained an ankle injury last month and is viewed as a vital defender in the center of the backline.
Miles Robinson and Mark McKenzie filled in for Richards on Saturday in the final World Cup tuneup against Germany in Chicago.
At Monday’s practice in Irvine, Calif., Tyler Adams was not on the field. He worked in the gym for load management purposes, Pochettino said.
Richards, 26, suffered a pair of torn ligaments in his left ankle on May 17 as his Crystal Palace team played Brentford in a Premier League match. He did complete the match but limped off the field and has not competed since.
–Field Level Media
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