Sports
Sabres, Habs knotted at a game apiece as series heads north
May 8, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Montréal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) clears the puck as Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) defends during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images The Buffalo Sabres know they have to be much better with the puck Sunday night as their second-round series shifts north to Montreal for Game 3, all square at one game apiece with the Canadiens.
The Sabres played a heavy game against Montreal in Game 2 Friday night, but it was to no avail as the Canadiens blew out the Atlantic Division champs 5-1.
Buffalo dished out 44 hits on the red-white-and-blue-clad Habs, who returned just 18. Mattias Samuelsson recorded a game-high 10, while Tage Thompson had six.
Montreal’s Juraj Slafkovsky said most of the 44 were a little late.
“I feel like all of their hits happen after the plays,” the top-line winger said. “Especially me, I mean, I made a play, and then, three seconds after, I got hit. … Sometimes, you’ve got to take a hit to make a play.”
Thompson played badly in the loss: He gridded at minus-4 and turned the puck over by simply falling to the ice, leading to Alexandre Carrier’s third-period goal that made the 4-1 lead insurmountable.
“I just wasn’t executing,” said Thompson. “I think everything I touched turned into disaster tonight. So, tough one. I’ve got to be better.”
Added Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff: “Three or four of the goals were just the result bad puck play. You just can’t beat yourself.”
Coach Martin St. Louis and his Habs trek back home to Quebec with all the momentum after wresting home-ice advantage from the Sabres after their 109-point season, second only to the Carolina Hurricanes’ 113 in a standout showing by the Eastern Conference.
Alex Newhook and Mike Matheson tallied within the first five minutes of Game 2, scoring less than three minutes apart as Buffalo’s defense and goaltender Alex Lyon collapsed. Newhook added another early in the second.
It was the start the Habs needed to even the series and carry momentum home after an exhausting first-round win over the Tampa Bay Lightning in seven games.
Goalie Jakub Dobes, outstanding in stopping 181 of 196 shots (.923 save percentage) against the Lightning, denied 28 of 29 against the Sabres on Friday.
The Czech goaltender said the whole squad was inspired by an “unbelievable” pregame speech by St. Louis but would not reveal its nature.
However, second-line center Jake Evans spilled the beans.
“He just said it’s going to be a war out there and we’ve got to play like it,” Evans told Sportsnet. “I don’t know if it was meant to be more physical, but we were all just (mentally) dialed in from the start.”
Montreal countered by holding a blocked-shot edge, 18-11, with defensemen Noah Dobson and Matheson posting nearly half of them with five and three, respectively.
Matheson’s tally was the game-winning one, but the 2012 first-round draft pick of the Florida Panthers (23rd overall) said Dobes was typically instrumental.
“He brings a lot of energy to our team,” said Matheson, a Pointe-Claire, Que., native who has one goal, one assist and 12 penalty minutes in nine playoff matches this postseason. “He kind of exudes a lot of swagger into our lineup.”
The Sabres’ Sam Carrick, out with an arm injury after fighting New York Islanders captain Anders Lee on March 31, is “on the cusp,” according to Ruff, of slotting back in following a return to practice Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bears signing free agent WR Scotty Miller
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Scotty Miller (13) runs with the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Josh Newton (28) during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images The Chicago Bears are signing free agent wide receiver Scotty Miller, his representatives confirmed Saturday to ESPN.
Financial terms for the 28-year-old veteran were not disclosed by agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey.
Miller caught nine passes for 62 yards and no touchdowns in 13 games (no starts) for Pittsburgh last season.
He has 99 catches for 1,216 yards and six TDs in 93 games (nine starts) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-22), Atlanta Falcons (2023) and Steelers (2024-25).
The Buccaneers drafted Miller in the sixth round in 2019, and he helped them win a Super Bowl the next season.
The Bears’ wide receiver depth chart includes Rome Odunze and 2026 third-round draft pick Zavion Thomas.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Minnesota United put strong form up against Austin FC
Apr 25, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota United FC forward Kelvin Yeboah (9) dribbles during the first half against Los Angeles Football Club at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images After losing just once in their previous seven MLS matches, Minnesota United will play host to Austin FC at Saint Paul, Minn., on Sunday.
Minnesota United (6-3-2, 20 points) are in the midst of a 5-1-1 stretch since March 22, with their only blemish a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC on April 25. The success has come despite limited involvement from midfielder James Rodriguez.
Colombia’s national team captain is signed with the Loons through June 30, ahead of the upcoming World Cup, and has an option through December. But he has zero goal involvements in just four appearances and 103 minutes.
“We’ve had a couple different unforeseen circumstances that have made him unavailable for selection, and then there’s obviously the team performance,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles told SiriusXM on Friday. “It’s difficult to change a winning team, and we’ve been really consistent with the lineup selection and leaned on a smaller group of guys for some heavy minutes.”
Austin FC (3-4-4, 13 points) have won their last two matches following an 0-5-3 stretch across all competitions. The road has not been kind to the Verde, who are 0-3-2 away from home this season.
“I think we’re in a moment where we’ve played good away games, but we haven’t gotten the win yet, and I think we have to have a complete performance against (Minnesota) in order (to) get a good result,” Austin coach Nico Estevez said.
Austin welcomed back striker Brandon Vazquez during last week’s 2-0 win over St. Louis City, marking his first action since an ACL tear on July 8, 2025.
“When a player has been a long time recovering from an injury like Brandon, (given) his personality as a player inside the locker room and how loved he is, it’s always going to create a positive impact,” Estevez said.
Austin will be without Jayden Nelson (inflammation) on Sunday. Robert Taylor (knee) is day-to-day and will be reevaluated ahead of Sunday’s contest after missing Austin’s last three matches.
Kelvin Yeboah scored a brace for Minnesota in a come-from-behind 3-2 road win against the Columbus Crew last weekend, bringing his team-high goal total to seven. Myrto Uzuni leads Austin with four goals.
Austin’s last road win in MLS play came on Sept. 7, 2025 against Sporting Kansas City, although they did earn a 2-1 victory at Minnesota in U.S. Open Cup play 10 days later.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dynamo carry positive momentum into showdown at LAFC
Feb 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo FC forward Guilherme (20) and Los Angeles FC midfielder Stephen Eustaquio (46) battle for the ball during the second half at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The Houston Dynamo have recovered from a slow start and look to win for the fourth time in five MLS matches when they visit Los Angeles FC on Sunday night.
Houston has recorded three 1-0 victories during the stretch and has allowed two goals during the span, which began after it was walloped 6-2 by the host Colorado Rapids on April 11.
The Dynamo (5-5-0, 15 points) were a vastly different team in the rematch in Houston on May 2, allowing just two shots on target in the one-goal victory as Jonathan Bond recorded his third shutout of the season.
“Last game, I felt that was our best performance,” Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said. “The technical side, the group defense, the tactical side. … I thought it was a step in the right direction to get closer to what we’re going to be.”
Lawrence Ennali scored his third goal of the season in the 72nd minute. He ripped a right-footed blast from well beyond the box into the upper portion of the net.
“Never scored a goal like that before,” Ennali said. “I hope there are many more to come.”
Guilherme, a midfielder, leads Houston with five goals.
Los Angeles FC (6-2-3, 21 points) defeated the Dynamo 2-0 in Houston on Feb. 28 with Mark Delgado scoring in the 56th minute and Stephen Eustaquio tacking on another in the 82nd minute. The Dynamo finished the match with just nine players as Antonio Carlos drew a red card in the second minute of first-half stoppage time and Agustin Bouzat was shown red in the 76th minute.
LAFC was outscored 4-0 by host Toluca FC on Wednesday to fall by a 5-2 aggregate score and be eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
The match on Wednesday was scoreless until Toluca scored four second-half goals.
“We played eight (Champions Cup) games and we were excellent until the second half,” LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos said. “So in the whole competition we played one bad really half and it was the second half. …
“We can learn a lot from this. We’ve got to be strong because Sunday we play again.”
Los Angeles will be without star forward Denis Bouanga, who was suspended for the match due to yellow-card accumulation. Bouanga leads LAFC with five goals.
LAFC scored two late goals to gain a 2-2 draw with host San Diego FC on May 2. Bouanga scored in the 82nd minute and Ryan Hollingshead scored the equalizer in the 14th and final minute of second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
Wordle today: Answer, hints for May 10, 2026
Bears signing free agent WR Scotty Miller
