Sports
Avalanche pull off late comeback, stun Sabres in OT
Jan 2, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) celebrates his goal with center Nathan MacKinnon (29) in the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Devon Toews scored 48 seconds into overtime, and the Colorado Avalanche rallied to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 in Denver on Thursday night.
It was the second time this season Colorado overcame a big deficit to beat the Sabres. The Avalanche trailed 4-0 after one period in Buffalo on Dec. 3 and won 5-4, and Colorado was down 3-0 after one period and trailed 5-3 in the third on Thursday night.
Jonathan Drouin sent the game into overtime when he scored with 7.7 seconds left. Toews ended it when he got a breakaway and beat Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to extend the Avalanche’s winning streak to six games.
Toews also had two assists, Cale Makar scored two goals, Mikko Rantanen and Drouin each had a goal and an assist, Ross Colton provided a goal and Nathan MacKinnon had three assists for Colorado. The Avalanche prevailed despite losing goaltender Scott Wedgewood to injury.
Wedgewood was hurt 1:27 into the third period when Zach Benson was battling with Colorado’s Parker Kelly near the net and fell into Wedgewood’s right leg. The goalie went down inside his net, play continued and Benson scored moments later to give Buffalo a 4-2 lead.
Wedgewood was helped off the ice after making 14 on 18 shots. He was replaced by Mackenzie Blackwood, who turned away two of the three shots he faced.
Jason Zucker recorded his third career hat trick and also added an assist, Benson and Bowen Byram also scored, Tage Thompson had three assists and Luukkonen made 23 saves for Buffalo.
Zucker scored twice and Byram had a goal to give the Sabres a 3-0 lead midway through the second period.
Makar’s goal at 14:58 of the second made it 3-1, and Colton cut it to 3-2 just 1:05 into the third, but Benson scored 22 seconds later to restore the two-goal margin.
Rantanen’s goal at 4:17 on a power play and made it 4-3 before Zucker netted his third goal at 16:09 to complete his first hat trick of the season.
Makar scored again at 17:34 with Blackwood off for an extra skater to make it 5-4. Blackwood came off again and Drouin tied it with a slap shot at 19:52.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mexico makes Liga MX call-ups ahead of pre-World Cup camp
Nov 17, 2025; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Mexico Coach Javier Aguirre Onaindia speaks to the media ahead of his Mexican National Team match against Paraguay at the Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Jefferson-Imagn Images Mexico’s FIFA World Cup roster began to take shape Tuesday with a dozen Liga MX players invited to the camp that begins on May 6.
Manager Javier Aguirre’s crew will be joined in training later in the month by players who are based in Europe and elsewhere. His final roster for this summer’s tournament is due at the end of May.
The 12-member Liga MX contingent includes 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora of Club Tijuana, Toluca forward Alexis Vega, Club America defender Israel Reyes and five players from Chivas: goalkeeper Raul “Tala” Rangel, forward Armando Gonzalez and midfielders Brian Gutierrez, Roberto Alvardo and Luis Romo.
Also on the list are goalkeeper Carlos Acevedo of Santos Laguna, defender Jesus Gallardo of Toluca, midfielder Erik Lira of Cruz Azul and forward Memo Martinez of Pumas.
Mora is rounding into shape after missing two months with a groin injury and has a chance to become Mexico’s youngest World Cup participant, supplanting 18-year-old Manuel “Chaquetas” Rosas in 1930. Seven 17-year-olds have participated in the tournament, including Brazil’s Pele in 1958.
Mexico is co-hosting the FIFA World Cup along with the U.S. and Canada. Mexico is currently ranked No. 15 in the world, one spot ahead of the Americans.
Placed in Group A with South Africa, South Korea and the Czech Republic, Mexico opens the World Cup against South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Pistons aiming to avoid historic early exit vs. Magic
Apr 27, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) looks to pass in front of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the second half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images The Detroit Pistons need a three-game winning streak to avoid joining an infamous list. Only six top seeds in NBA history have flamed out in the first round of the playoffs to a No. 8 seed.
The Pistons trail Orlando 3-1 in their best-of-seven series after a 94-88 road loss on Monday. The series resumes in Detroit on Wednesday night.
Detroit has to regain its swagger or join the 2023 Milwaukee Bucks as the only top seed since 2012 to get knocked out this early in the postseason.
The troubling reality for the Pistons, who won 60 regular-season games, is that the Magic — with the exception of Detroit’s third-quarter outburst in Game 2 — consistently have looked like the better team.
The Magic have throttled the All-Star pick-and-roll combination of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, leaving Detroit’s offense in tatters.
“The way that we’ve been playing, that stuff’s not good enough to win games in this league,” Cunningham said. “This league’s too good, they’re a good team. They’re outrebounding us, turning me over and we haven’t hit enough shots. Our defense hasn’t caught its footing. It’s not shocking that we’re losing games playing like that.”
With Duren neutralized by counterpart Wendell Carter Jr. and Orlando’s defensive coverage, Cunningham has been left to carry the offense. He’s averaging 29.5 points in the series but shooting just 42.4% overall and 28.6% from 3-point range. Turnovers have been a bigger issue. He’s averaging 6.8 giveaways in the series and committed eight in Game 4.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating,” Cunningham said. “A lot of it was on myself; I was frustrated with my own play. Having numbers, not making plays in transition. Things like that, the things I do best, just not being able to make plays for my team. They killed us on the offensive glass, our defense didn’t hold up. All that stuff. We’re all frustrated with all that stuff. We’ve gotta fix it and come back better.”
The Pistons’ lack of 3-point shooting has come back to bite them — they’re making just 27.5 percent of their attempts in the series.
Orlando realizes that in order to complete the upset, it will have to grind out another victory against a now desperate club.
“This is a team that won 60 games,” guard Desmond Bane said. “I’m sure they will not blink an eye about being able to win three games in a row. They did it multiple times during the regular season. We are going to have to come ready to play. I’m excited about the challenge.”
Paolo Banchero (21.0 points per game) and Bane (19.0) have been the Magic’s offensive leaders in the series. Franz Wagner scored 19 points in Game 4 but left with calf tightness. His availability for Wednesday and the remainder of the series is a big question mark.
In his absence, Jamal Cain made a major impact, including a monster dunk over Duren in the second half. Cain finished with eight points and nine rebounds.
“We’ve put ourselves in position to try to get four (wins),” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “Right now, it means nothing. We have the advantage and now we’ve just got to make sure we’ve try to keep that advantage.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: WR Jauan Jennings visiting Vikings
Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) walks off the field after win against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Free-agent wide receiver Jauan Jennings is visiting the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday and Wednesday, ESPN reported.
The Vikings are looking for depth at the position behind two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison after losing Jalen Nailor in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders. Minnesota did not select a wide receiver in the NFL draft last week.
Jennings had 55 catches for 643 yards and a career-best nine touchdowns in 15 games (all starts) in 2025. Those totals came one season after he put together career-high totals in receptions (77) and receiving yards (975).
Jennings, 28, has 210 catches for 2,581 yards and 22 touchdowns in 75 career games (32 starts) since being selected by San Francisco in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Tennessee.
–Field Level Media
Mexico makes Liga MX call-ups ahead of pre-World Cup camp
Pistons aiming to avoid historic early exit vs. Magic
