Sports
Canadiens, Red Wings vie for playoff position in clash
Mar 17, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) reacts after scoring the game winning goal in overtime against the Boston Bruins at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images The Eastern Conference playoff picture changes on a daily basis. The contenders for most of the playoff spots are tightly-bunched, making every remaining game important.
The Montreal-Detroit matchup Thursday night can certainly be classified as pivotal. The Canadiens will venture into Detroit with 84 points, while the Red Wings have 82. Detroit could pull even with Montreal in the Atlantic Division via a regulation victory, though the Canadiens have a game in hand.
The Canadiens (37-20-10) collected a 3-2 overtime victory against Boston on Tuesday, as Cole Caufield scored his 40th goal of the season with 22 seconds remaining in overtime.
“This was a pretty important game for us as a team,” Caulfield said. “At the end of the day, it’s a big two points. Obviously a hell of a job by our team to get it done. Obviously (scoring 40) is pretty special, but it says a lot about where our team is headed.”
Nick Suzuki set up Caulfield, who became Montreal’s first 40-goal scorer since Vincent Damphousse in 1993-94.
“I was just trying to work the puck around the offensive zone,” Suzuki said. “I pulled up (got the puck) to Cole. He made a nice play going to the net. It’s what (Caufield) does. Forty is just a start for him probably. It’s a special night for Cole and a huge two points for our team. He’s the OT guy. I try to find him in good spots. I thought we wore them down as the game went on.”
The first two meetings between the Canadiens and Red Wings this season have produced lopsided results. Montreal spoiled Detroit’s season opener with a 5-1 victory on Oct. 9. Detroit won the rematch on Canadian soil, 4-0, as John Gibson recorded a 27-save shutout on Jan. 10. The game on Thursday will decide the season series.
The Red Wings (37-23-8) snapped a three-game losing streak Monday with a 5-2 victory over Calgary that began a four-game homestand. Patrick Kane broke out of a scoring slump with two goals. Kane had notched just two goals since Jan. 10.
“We all want to be known as big-game players,” Kane said. “If you have the right mindset and attitude coming into it that you’re going to play confident, going to get the job done, more often than not you play with a little bit of an edge and kind of put together a better showing individually and team-wise too. We all want to be good this time of year.”
The offensive boost is needed for a team missing centers Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp due to lower-body injuries.
“We got some really strong performances from some guys that elevated their games and we’re going to continue to need that to have success,” coach Todd McLellan said. “It was good to see some of the old Kaner, J.T. (Compher) and (Alex DeBrincat) and a few others get rewarded for their elevated play.”
The five-goal output on Monday was the most by the Red Wings since a 5-1 victory over Winnipeg on Jan. 24.
–Field Level Media
Sports
French superstar Antoine Griezmann joins Orlando City
[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 15, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann (7) reacts during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Cole-Reuters via Imagn Images Orlando City SC completed the long-anticipated signing of Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old French attacker is signed from July 2026 through the 2027-28 season with an option for 2028-29. Financial terms were not disclosed.
“Bringing Antoine to Orlando is a landmark moment not only for our club, but for our city, our supporters and for Major League Soccer,” team owner and chairman Mark Wilf said. “He is one of the most gifted, accomplished and influential players of his generation, and his decision to choose Orlando City reflects the mission and culture of our club. Our focus is on consistently building a championship-caliber roster every year, and adding a world-class player like Antoine reinforces that commitment and our belief in what the Club can achieve.”
Griezmann will join the Lions as a designated player when the MLS secondary transfer window opens in July, pending medical clearance and receipt of his international paperwork.
“I am very excited to begin this next chapter of my career with Orlando City,” Griezmann said. “From my first conversations with the Club, I could feel a strong ambition and a clear vision for the future, and that really spoke to me. I look forward to making Orlando my new home, meeting the supporters, feeling the energy at Inter&Co Stadium, and giving everything I have to help the team achieve great things.”
Griezmann has recorded 13 goals and four assists across all competitions with the La Liga side this season.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner spent 10 seasons at Atletico Madrid, where he is the club’s all-time leader with 211 goals across all competitions from 2014-19 and 2021-26. He was the La Liga Player of the Year in 2015-16 and placed third in the Ballon d’Or voting in 2016 and 2018.
“Antoine is a complete footballer–creative, intelligent, clinical–and he is a proven winner on the biggest stages of the game,” Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira said. “Beyond his talent, he brings leadership, a relentless drive and a championship mentality that will elevate everyone around him. This is a statement signing for our club and ownership group, and we are thrilled to welcome Antoine and his family to Orlando.”
Griezmann has tallied 298 goals and 132 assists across 792 professional appearances in Spain. He had 44 goals in 137 caps for France before retiring from international competition in 2024.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kylian Mbappe: Knee is 100%, 'false things were said'
Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid’s game against Sevilla in Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, on Dec. 20, 2025 .
French striker Kylian Mbappe disputed reports about the severity of the left knee sprain that has limited his availability of late for Real Madrid.
“My knee is fine. It’s getting better,” he said at a promotional event in France on Monday. “It’s going quite well, and I know there’s been a lot of speculation about it and some false things have been said.
“It’s the life of a top athlete, and we’re used to people saying things without verifying them or having any basis in fact.”
Mbappe, 27, came off the bench in Real Madrid’s two most recent matches: Sunday’s 3-2 La Liga defeat of Atletico Madrid and a 2-1 win at Manchester City on March 17 in the second leg of a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match.
His last appearance before that, and his most recent start, was on Feb. 21. In 24 La Liga matches this season, Mbappe has 23 goals and four assists.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is on the roster for France’s upcoming friendlies in the United States against Brazil (March 26) and Colombia (March 29).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Falcons add veteran Trevor Siemian to QB room
Jan 7, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New York Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian (14) throws the ball against the New England Patriots during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images The Atlanta Falcons are signing veteran quarterback Trevor Siemian, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
Siemian, 34, adds depth behind newcomer Tua Tagovailoa and 2024 first-round pick Michael Penix Jr.
Terms weren’t disclosed for Siemian, who last appeared in an NFL regular-season game in 2023 with the New York Jets. He spent most of the 2024 and 2025 campaigns on the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad.
Siemian is 15-18 as a starter, completing 58.5% of his passes for 7,751 yards, 44 touchdowns and 32 interceptions in 40 games with the Denver Broncos (2015-17), Jets (2019, 2023), New Orleans Saints (2021) and Chicago Bears (2022). He has rushed for 251 yards and two scores.
The Broncos drafted Siemian in the seventh round in 2015.
–Field Level Media
French superstar Antoine Griezmann joins Orlando City
Kylian Mbappe: Knee is 100%, 'false things were said'
