Sports
Ducks visit Oilers seeking first series victory in 9 years
Apr 26, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks celebrate a goal during the second period against the Edmonton Oilers in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images The Anaheim Ducks are one victory away from winning their first Stanley Cup playoff series in nine years.
Finishing off the two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers, especially on the road, won’t come easily.
The Ducks own a 3-1 edge in the best-of-seven first-round series heading into Game 5 on Tuesday night.
Anaheim has won three in a row after blowing a late lead and dropping the series opener 4-3 on April 20.
The Ducks answered back with a 6-4 win last Wednesday and a 7-4 victory Friday. Overtime was needed Sunday before the Ducks came away with a 4-3 victory.
“We’re up 3-1, and every game has been a toss-up,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “Hanging in there and finding different ways, different guys against an excellent hockey team. We’re in a position now to look ahead and only think of one game.”
Quenneville is well aware that the Oilers have made a habit of coming back during the playoffs in recent years. They lost the first two games of their first-round series against the Los Angeles Kings last season before winning four straight.
Two years ago, Edmonton came back from 2-1 series deficits in the second and third rounds and then dropped the first three games of the Stanley Cup Final against the Florida Panthers before forcing a Game 7.
“We’re in a hole, no doubt about it,” Oilers star Connor McDavid said. “We have to find a way to get a win at home.”
McDavid, who led the NHL with 138 points during the regular season, hasn’t been as dangerous since tweaking his right ankle in Game 2. He did manage to produce two points in each of the past two games after going scoreless in the first two, however.
“We’re all doing the best we can out there,” McDavid said. “We’re all working and trying to get it done.”
The Oilers may have to get it done without their biggest star. McDavid is a game-time decision for Tuesday night as he continues to deal with the ankle injury. Fellow center Jason Dickinson, who missed Games 2 and 3 with a lower-body injury before returning for Game 4, is also a game-time decision.
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch likely will start Tristan Jarry in goal for the second straight game.
Jarry started Game 4 in place of Connor Ingram, who surrendered 14 goals on 93 shots in the first three games of the series (.849).
Jarry made 34 saves in his first postseason start since a 4-3 loss to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round on May 15, 2022, when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“Tristan played really well,” Knoblauch said. “Two of the goals, one went off our defenseman’s stick and the other was an unfortunate bounce that went off a skate. He made some big saves, and that’s what we wanted from him, a solid performance, and he played well. “
On the other side, Lukas Dostal played his best game of the series, making 24 saves. He used the blade of his right skate to turn away McDavid after he got behind the defense in the final minutes of regulation.
“He’s the rock of our team,” Ducks forward Cutter Gauthier said of Dostal. “It doesn’t really surprise me how well he performs in high-pressure situations like that.”
The Ducks will also look to stay hot on the power play, which is 6-for-12 in the series.
“Our execution has been excellent,” Anaheim defenseman Jackson LaCombe said. “Similar to our 5-on-5 play, we’ve been working more and recovering more pucks, being in better spots for each other and being more available. That’s leading to more time and success, too.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Kimi Antonelli on Miami GP pole; race moved up due to forecast
Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli during Miami Grand Prix qualifications at the Miami International Autodrome on May 2, 2026. Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli earned his third consecutive pole by edging Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during Saturday’s session ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Antonelli, who leads the drivers’ standings, posted a time of 1 minute, 27.798 seconds that held up even though the 19-year-old Italian was unable to improve upon the time on his final lap at the Miami International Autodrome. Verstappen threatened but ultimately finished a little more than a tenth of a second behind.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris will start fourth for McLaren, followed by Antonelli’s teammate George Russell.
With Sunday’s forecast calling for heavy thunderstorms and rain, Formula 1 moved the start of the race up three hours from 4 p.m. ET to 1 p.m. following discussions with the FIA.
“This decision has been taken to ensure the least amount of disruption to the race, and to ensure the maximum possible window to complete the Grand Prix in the best conditions and to prioritize the safety of drivers, fans, teams and staff,” read a statement by the FIA, Formula 1 and the Miami Grand Prix.
Even with the new start time, weather could prove to be a significant factor in the 57-lap race. According to F1 rules, a race can have a maximum active run time of two hours, and Sunday’s race could see multiple start and stops.
The Miami GP follows a lengthy break in the schedule with races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia canceled due to the war in the Middle East. It also saw several teams introduce significant upgrades as they continue to adjust to the 2026 regulations.
Verstappen qualified and finished fifth in Saturday’s Sprint and has shown increasing pace throughout the week.
“I think over those last few weeks the team has been pushing flat-out to try and bring upgrades to the car, and making me feel more comfortable with a lot of things in the car,” Verstappen said.
“It really pays off. I feel more in control of the car again, then I can push a bit more, then the upgrades are working. To be on the front row is way better than I expected heading into the weekend.”
Verstappen said his first priority is to get off to a good start on Sunday, hopefully before weather impacts the race.
“We’ll try to have a look at that, for sure, and see what the weather will do tomorrow, but I’m already very happy with where we are,” Verstappen said. “From here there’s like light at the end of the tunnel, and we can just push on and try to close the gap further.”
He’ll have to find a way past Antonelli, who rebounded from a poor start and a time penalty during the Sprint to earn the pole for Sunday’s race.
“I’m super happy with the recovery,” Antonelli said. “This weekend has obviously been a little bit more difficult for us, but we’re keeping all this together and we’re maximizing the performance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Browns OT Dawand Jones agrees to reworked deal
Sep 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) lies on the field after being injured against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones agreed to a restructured deal for the 2026 season, NFL Network reported Saturday.
Jones’ deal was lowered to $1.5 million base pay with $1.145 million of it being guaranteed. He played in just three games last season due to a season-ending LCL tear in his right knee.
Jones, 24, was due to receive $3.674 million in 2026 after hitting an NFL escalator by playing in over 35% of his team’s offensive snaps in two of his first three seasons. Jones qualified via the Proven Performance Escalator, which pertains to fourth-year salary for players on rookie contracts who weren’t selected in the first round.
Jones initially signed a four-year, $4.63 million rookie contract after being a fourth-round pick in 2023 out of Ohio State.
But each of his three NFL seasons have ended with an injury and Jones has played in just 24 games with 20 starts.
He started nine games as a rookie before sustaining a season-ending MCL tear in his right knee. In 2024, he played in 10 games before a fractured left fibula ended his season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves RF Ronald Acuna Jr. leaves Rockies game with hamstring tightness
May 1, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. left Saturday’s game at the Colorado Rockies with left hamstring tightness.
Acuna grabbed at his hamstring and pulled up when attempting to run out a grounder he hit in the second inning in Denver. He limped off the field under his own power after being examined by the team’s medical staff.
The 2023 National League MVP, Acuna entered the day hitting .248 with two homers and nine RBIs in 33 games. He led off the game with a single and scored when Drake Baldwin followed with a home run.
Acuna was replaced in right field by Eli White, who is hitting .186 with two homers and seven RBIs in 19 games.
–Field Level Media
Kimi Antonelli on Miami GP pole; race moved up due to forecast
SNL opens with another Pete Hegseth press conference
