Sports
Amid tight East playoff race, Isles face rebuilding Blackhawks
Mar 22, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Bo Horvat (14) skates with the puck against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The NHL playoffs don’t officially begin until April 18.
But the playoffs are unofficially well underway for the New York Islanders and the seven other teams vying for the final few postseason spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Islanders will try to maintain their playoff spot Tuesday night when they host the Chicago Blackhawks in the teams’ final clash of the season.
Both squads were off Monday after playing at home Sunday night, when the Islanders earned a pivotal 1-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Blackhawks fell to the Nashville Predators 3-2.
Ilya Sorokin stopped all 26 shots he faced as he made Bo Horvat’s goal 1:25 into the first period stand up for the Islanders (40-26-5, 85 points), who climbed past the idle Detroit Red Wings into the second and final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.
The Islanders also tied the Blue Jackets for third in the Metropolitan Division, though Columbus has a game in hand. Both teams are one point behind the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 earlier Sunday.
The Islanders, Blue Jackets, Red Wings and Penguins are all vying for playoff spots with the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators. The Canadiens are third in the Atlantic while the Bruins lead the wild-card race and the Senators were four points out of a playoff spot entering their game Monday night against the New York Rangers.
All seven teams are scheduled to play Tuesday night.
The Islanders, who made the playoffs with late-season pushes in 2023 and 2024, are a respectable 6-5-0 since March 1.
“The entire rest of the year, it’s going to be high-pressure games — high-stakes scenarios,” Horvat said. “And we’ve been there and done that before and we’ve got to continue to keep doing it.”
The Blackhawks (26-31-13, 65 points) are on pace to miss the playoffs for the sixth straight season and the eighth time in nine years. But Tuesday presents another opportunity to potentially impact the playoff race as Chicago will play its ninth straight game against a contender.
The Blackhawks are 3-2-3 in their last eight games. They held a pair of one-goal leads Sunday against Nashville, and Connor Bedard scored his team-leading 29th goal.
But the Predators moved into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference after Steven Stamkos tied the game at 9:43 of the third and Filip Forsberg scored an unassisted goal off a turnover 65 seconds into overtime.
With Sunday’s loss, the Blackhawks fell to 7-13 in games decided after regulation. The Penguins, Los Angeles Kings (17 overtime or shootout losses) and Vegas Golden Knights (14) are the only teams with more defeats in overtime or the shootout.
“Overtimes are so much — you get three guys on the ice, you get a little bit of systematic stuff, but to say you have all this (it) comes down to guys making plays,” Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill said. “If our overtimes have been better, our record would be much better.”
–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
Sports
Montreal signs Team Italy captain Nadia Mattivi
Feb 9, 2026; Milan, Italy; Nadia Mattivi of Italy celebrates after the match against Japan in women’s ice hockey group B play during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images The Montreal Victoire signed Italian national team captain Nadia Mattivi to her first PWHL contract.
The 25-year-old defender played at Boston University before launching her pro career in Sweden, where she was the league’s Defender of the Year in 2024-25.
Mattivi tallied two assists in five games for the host country at last month’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, advancing to the quarterfinals.
“Nadia is coming off an excellent season in Sweden and also performed very well at Milano-Cortina, and we are happy to have her join our team,” said Victoire general manager Daniele Sauvageau, who was also the GM of the Italian team.
Also on Monday, the Victoire placed captain Marie-Philip Poulin on long-term injured reserve. The 34-year-old Canadian center has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since March 15 and is eligible to return to the lineup on April 5.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Buccaneers LB Lavonte David retires after 14 seasons
Jan 3, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) warms up before the game against the Carolina Panthers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David announced his retirement Tuesday after spending his entire 14-year career with the franchise.
David, 36, was a 12-time team captain and Super Bowl LV champion who tied Derrick Brooks’ team record with 1,714 career tackles.
“It’s time,” David told Sports Illustrated. “I’ve been playing football since I was 6 years old. Thirty years straight of football. I never missed a year. A lot of time, man. When it’s time, when you know, you know. I always wanted to be a guy who wanted to retire on my own terms. Right now is the perfect opportunity for that. I give glory to God for me to be able to play football for this long.
“For me, man, 14 years (in the NFL) is enough. I’m comfortable with my decision. I’m satisfied with my career. When I first got into the league, I never, never, ever in a million years expected to play 14 years at a high level for the same organization. And it’s something that doesn’t come around often. I think it’s time that I hang it up and let the next generation of players come in and take over the game.”
David is also the Bucs’ all-time leader in tackles for loss (177), forced fumbles (33) and fumble recoveries (21) and ranks third in games played and started (215).
“For the past 14 seasons, Lavonte David has personified what it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. He was a selfless leader both on and off the field, playing with passion and a genuine love for the game. He leaves a legacy as a Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest players in franchise history, setting a standard that will continue to impact our organization for years to come,” said a statement from the Glazer family, owners of the Buccaneers. “Today, we celebrate Lavonte’s legendary career as one of the most accomplished players of his era and thank him for the many memorable moments he provided our fans. Beyond the statistics and accolades, he will be remembered throughout Tampa Bay for his humble demeanor and strong commitment to our community. We wish him well on his journey after football and look forward to honoring his Hall of Fame-worthy achievements in the near future.”
David recorded 114 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries while starting all 17 games last season. It was his 12th season with triple-digit tackles.
“Lavonte’s mark on our franchise could never be overstated,” Bucs general manager Jason Licht said. “For the entirety of his 14-year career, Lavonte set the standard for professionalism, leadership, and consistency. He embodies everything that it means to be a Tampa Bay Buccaneer and he is undoubtedly one of the best players to ever put on this uniform. His contributions to our franchise, to his teammates and to this community will leave an impact far beyond his playing years.”
An All-Pro selection in 2013 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2015, David tallied 42.5 sacks and 14 interceptions since being selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Nebraska.
“Before I came to the Buccaneers, I always had immense respect for Lavonte as a special football player,” said Bucs head coach Todd Bowles. “Having had the fortune to coach him for the last seven seasons, I have also experienced the special person and leader he is. He has been the heart and soul of our defense and a Super Bowl champion on the way to being an eventual Hall of Famer. There isn’t anyone more respected by his teammates, and that respect extends to his peers and opposing coaches throughout the league. I, as well as everyone in this organization, will miss him tremendously.”
–Field Level Media
Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. lands historic shoe deal
Montreal signs Team Italy captain Nadia Mattivi
