Sports
East's best, worst meet as Capitals take on Sabres
Jan 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals center Dylan Strome (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the New York Rangers in the first period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images The Buffalo Sabres return home from a trip out west and face a tough test against the Eastern Conference-leading Washington Capitals on Monday night.
Washington has 55 points, 22 ahead of last-place Buffalo, which went 1-2-1 on its trip and has lost three straight (0-2-1) after winning three in row.
The Capitals are 5-2-1 in their past eight games after a 7-4 win against the visiting New York Rangers on Saturday.
Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists and Alex Ovechkin, Andrew Mangiapane and Tom Wilson each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Jakob Chychrun and Martin Fehervary both had two assists and Logan Thompson made 29 saves.
“It just shows how good of a lineup we have top to bottom,” said Connor McMichael, one of seven goal scorers Saturday. “We don’t have one or two guys carrying the load. It’s been guys on the back end, on the fourth line, first line, whatever is. It’s been huge. It’s a credit to them and why we’re winning so many games.”
Washington’s defense is chipping in, too, totaling 20 goals through 39 games this season after netting 20 in all of 2023-24.
And then there’s Ovechkin, who enters Monday 23 goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL record of 894. Ovechkin has scored in four of five games since returning from a fractured left fibula that caused him to miss 16 games. He has 19 goals in 23 games this season.
“To be honest with you, I feel every game better,” Ovechkin said. “Touches, skating-wise. I’ll take it and we’ll move on.”
Goalie Charlie Lindgren is expected to start and will look to stop a distressing streak for he and Thompson. In each of the last two games a puck misplay by a Capitals goalie has led to an opponent’s first-period goal.
Buffalo closed out its road trip with a 3-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday. Jason Zucker scored in his fourth consecutive game and James Reimer made 30 saves in his first start since Dec. 21.
“I think we care,” Reimer said. “I think we’ve got character in this room. Maybe sometimes the execution isn’t there, but I like a lot about this group and unfortunately sometimes you don’t have your best.”
Zucker’s power-play goal came with 2:18 left to play.
“We pushed,” captain Rasmus Dahlin said of the late success. “Every time we don’t think, we just play with instincts. And, I mean, the compete. The compete is the main thing. Win battles, keep it simple, win battles again. Pucks to the net. That’s the stuff that works and we have to understand that’s what we have to do.”
Zucker’s goal was his 15th this season, surpassing the season total he reached in 69 games with Arizona and Nashville last season.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will likely be in the net when Buffalo opens a five-game stretch that features only one road game, a short trip to Ottawa.
Washington has been solid on the road, going 13-6-0. Buffalo is 7-10-3 at home.
Wilson scored twice and Strome had the game-winning tally when the Capitals beat the Sabres 4-2 on Dec. 14 in Washington.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Twins ace Joe Ryan leaves after nine pitches Sunday
Apr 6, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Joe Ryan (41) delivers a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins removed right-hander Joe Ryan after just nine pitches due to right elbow soreness during Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Ryan fanned leadoff man Yohendrick Pinango on three pitches, then walked Kazuma Okamoto. After Ryan’s full-count fastball to Okamoto finished above the zone, he waved for manager Derek Shelton and trainer Nick Paparesta to come out to the mound.
After a brief conversation, Ryan headed to the dugout.
The Twins’ Opening Day starter was making his eighth start of the season. While he carried a 2-3 record and 3.76 ERA into Sunday’s game, he owned a 1.043 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings.
Ryan dealt with lower back issues during spring training, which included the need for an MRI exam, but did not miss any turns this season.
Minnesota already has three starting pitchers on the injured list: Pablo Lopez (elbow), David Festa (shoulder) and Mick Abel (elbow). Lopez tore his ACL during spring training and underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.
Abel posted a 1-2 record and a 3.98 ERA in four appearances (three starts) before being shelved in mid-April, but he’s expected back relatively soon.
Ryan, who made his major league debut in 2021, has fashioned a 48-39 record and a 3.79 ERA in 123 appearances (122 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cherie DeVaux Makes History with Kentucky Derby Win at Churchill Downs
Cherie DeVaux made history on Saturday by becoming the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. However, with a horde of media surrounding her at her backside stable Sunday morning, she was quick to give the credit to jockey Jose Ortiz.
“It’s almost as if he could script it,” she said.
With an entry that’s known for being a closer, DeVaux said she did not mind Golden Tempo drawing an outside post. He got the 19th gate in the draw, but after scratches, he moved into the 16th. While a ways away from the rail, it helped the colt avoid much of the bumping between horses at the start as they work to get inside position.
DeVaux said she’s not one to give her riders many instructions before a race. She kept it simple: “Don’t overthink it. If you can get out, just get a clear path and make a run.”
Mission accomplished, even if the horse doesn’t quite live up to his name.
“Golden Tempo doesn’t really give Jose any help by just falling back so far,” she added.
While the early front-runners posted blazing quarter times, Golden Tempo ran last in the field for the first three-quarters of a mile. However, as the speed faded, Ortiz had an easy route to the outside, and down the final stretch, he chased down Renegade, the bettors’ second choice, to win by a neck.
Another issue that may have been in Golden Tempo’s favor was not having to load into the gate a second time. That’s something several horses had to do after racing officials scratched Great White at the last minute for dumping jockey Alex Achard and falling over backward while being led to the gate.
“It was a rough trip, everybody was all over the place,” said Luis Saez, who rode seventh-place finisher Commandment. “He ran pretty well and made a nice move, but it was just a tough race.”
Commandment, one of two Derby horses trained by Brad Cox, was the co-second choice in the morning line. At post time, he ended up being the fourth choice at 6-1. Cox’s other horse, Further Ado, ended up the slight favorite over Renegade, with both breaking at 5-1.
Renegade was the morning-line favorite, despite drawing the inside post – a position that had not produced a winner in 40 years. However, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt and Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose’s brother, did everything they could to make some history of their own.
“He got a little roughed and got pushed out of his position,” Pletcher said. “But he kept on going and made his run. He just didn’t get there today.”
With the Kentucky Derby having the largest field of any U.S. thoroughbred race, longshots often find their way to the winner’s circle. Since 2019, the lowest payout for a $2 win ticket was Sovereignty last year, and his bettors still won $17.96.
One of the other big surprises Saturday was the bettors’ interest in So Happy. While he and jockey Mike Smith won the Santa Anita Derby, the colt was given morning line odds of 15-1. That was due primarily to his being sired by Runhappy, who was an excellent sprinter.
Bettors made him the third choice at 5-1.
So Happy stayed among the front pack for the first mile but faded down the stretch to finish ninth.
“He just did too much early on, and we went too fast,” Smith said.
Sports
Wild D Jonas Brodin out for Game 1, F Joel Eriksson Ek also ailing
Apr 7, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Tyler Johnson (90) moves the puck away from Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) and center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) during the second period at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin didn’t travel with the team to Denver and will miss Sunday night’s playoff series opener against the Colorado Avalanche.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek is listed as questionable to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference second-round series.
Brodin, 32, sustained a lower-body injury during Game 5 of Minnesota’s first-round series against the Dallas Stars. He was hurt while blocking a shot by Dallas’ Mikko Rantanen during the second period.
Brodin missed the clinching Game 6 victory on Thursday. He had one assist in the series.
In the regular season, Brodin had four goals and 18 points in 62 games.
Eriksson Ek was hurt in Game 6 when his right leg smacked into the wall. He didn’t practice on Saturday.
Minnesota coach John Hynes was debating what to do about Ek’s spot with his status unclear.
“I’m kind of going through that a little bit right now,” Hynes said. “So, now you kind of go down that decision-making process of what would we do if he’s not ready.”
Ek, 29, had three goals and five points in the Dallas series. In the regular season, he had 19 goals and 51 points in 70 games.
–Field Level Media
Twins ace Joe Ryan leaves after nine pitches Sunday
Netflix Has Emma Stone's New Rated-R Sci-Fi Movie, It'll Turn You Inside Out
