Sports
Gloves off or Game On? USA vs. Canada Rematch Promises Fireworks
The first time Team USA and Canada squared off at the 4 Nations Face-Off, chaos was off the charts with a trio of fights in the first nine seconds.
What will these clubs do for an encore in the championship final in Boston on Thursday?
Anybody tuning in expecting players to drop the mitts the first two times the puck is dropped and on a third occasion in the aftermath may be disappointed.
Even so, expect some bad blood.
While the trio of American combatants in those fights, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller, admitted their goal was to send a message, Brandon Hagel, the Canadian who scrapped with Matthew Tkachuk, added fuel by stating he and his teammates are “out there playing for the flag, not the cameras.”
Even if that homage to the Slap Shot era worked for the Americans en route to their 3-1 victory over Canada in the round-robin portion of the tournament, it is hard to imagine the script will be the same.
That said, the passion and intensity will be even higher with so much at stake. When meeting each other in best-on-best tournaments for the title, Canada swept the best-of-three 1991 Canada Cup final, as well as Olympic gold medal finals in 2002 and 2010. The lone victory for the U.S. came at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey in a best-of-three series that went the distance.
So, be in your seat when the game begins, just in case.
There are a few other essentials to cover.
What does the injury bug say?
Speaking of the mayhem tandem of Tkuchuks, Matthew did not play the final round-robin clash after sitting out the final 12-plus minutes against Canada. Meanwhile, Brady was hurt in the first period of the game against Sweden and eventually left the clash.
Everyone is saying they will play, which would surprise nobody, but how effective they will be at less-than-100 percent will be worth watching.
The U.S. will be without defenseman Charlie McAvoy, with Jake Sanderson slated to suit up in his spot, while Auston Matthews also missed the Sweden game, and Vincent Trocheck appeared to suffer a wrist injury.
Binnington’s shot at redemption
Canada’s biggest question mark going into the tournament was goaltending and Jordan Binnington has done little to dispel that belief, even while winning two of three games.
In both those victories, Binnington surrendered a couple of dubious goals against. He also was admittedly disappointed with the two goals he surrendered to the U.S.
The decision to play only Binnington in the tournament is Monday morning quarterback fodder, but that is the route chosen, and the time is at hand for him to reward that belief.
The U.S. has a decided advantage with the game’s best goalie right now, Connor Hellebuyck, who will play in the biggest game of his career.
In a one-game showdown, Binnington—who, unlike his counterpart, has won a Stanley Cup—is staring at a golden chance to be a difference maker.
Which team controls the tempo?
The U.S. beat Canada in the round-robin match with an old-school, beat-them-in-the-alley mindset. And we are not just talking about the fights.
The way the Americans forechecked eventually wore down Canada’s squad, creating turnovers and plenty of bruises. Not that we expect to see an all-out track meet and an endless stream of scoring chances Thursday, but this is the key: Will Canada adapt and mitigate the U.S. attack with speed and skill? If not, the U.S. can impose its will.
Sports
WTA roundup: Anna Bondar goes overtime, reaches Hamburg final
May 25, 2026; Paris, France; Anna Bondar of Hungary reacts during her first round match against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine on day two at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images No. 4 seed Anna Bondar of Hungary outlasted Elina Avanesyan of Armenia 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-6 (2) in a three-hour, 29-minute match on Saturday to advance to the final of the MSC Hamburg Ladies Open in Germany.
Bondar will face fifth-seeded Tamara Korpatsch of Germany, who advanced in her semifinal match when Mayar Sherif of Egypt retired in the second set with an injury. Bondar reached the final at Hamburg for the second consecutive year.
Bondar was down 5-3 in the opening set against Avanesyan before rallying then taking the final four points of the tiebreaker for the set. Bondar also lost serve to fall behind 2-0 in the deciding set then won the first five points of the tiebreaker to advance.
Korpatsch dominated the opening set 6-1 then went up 2-0 in the second set before Sherif was forced to bow out. Sherif was coming off her first title in four years at the Iasi Open in Romania.
Prague Open
Lilli Tagger of Austria pulled off an upset of No. 2 seed Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic and earned her way into the final with a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 7-6 (4) semifinal victory.
Both semifinalists from the Czech Republic fell in their home country with No. 5 seed Tereza Valentova losing 7-6 (4), 6-3 to No. 8 seed Daria Snigur of Ukraine.
After losing the opening set, Tagger rallied by breaking Krejcikova’s serve to go up 4-2 in the second set. She broke serve again in the fourth game of the final set then won the final three points in the tiebreaker to win the match.
Snigur and Valentova each broke serve twice in the opening set before Snigur won the final four points of the tiebreaker. Snigur then broke Valentova’s serve twice in the second set, including once to take a 5-3 lead before serving for the match.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) celebrates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Nick Loftin hit a go-ahead homer in the ninth, Salvador Perez set the franchise home run record, and the visiting Kansas City Royals squeaked by the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, on Saturday.
Perez’s seventh-inning blast was his 318th career homer, surpassing Hall of Famer George Brett on the franchise’s all-time list. It was also Perez’s 31st homer against the Tigers.
Vinnie Pasquantino had three hits and scored a run for Kansas City.
Hao-Yu Lee drove in both Tigers runs with a double and solo homer. The Tigers had a three-game winning streak snapped.
Detroit starter Casey Mize gave up one run and three hits in six innings. Royals starter Michael Wacha lasted seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits.
Loftin gave the Royals the lead with one out in the ninth, pulling an 0-2 pitch from Jacob Waguespack (0-1) over the left field wall.
Riley Greene led off the bottom of the inning with a single off Daniel Lynch IV (4-2). Alex Lange then replaced him and struck out Lee. Zach McKinstry moved Greene to third with a single. Lange then struck out Matt Vierling and induced pinch-hitter Spencer Torkelson to end the game, allowing Lange to notch his 10th save.
The Royals took the lead in the second as Pasquantino led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice and reached third on a Mize wild pitch. He scored on Michael Massey’s sacrifice fly.
Detroit tied it in the bottom of the second. Greene banged a double off the left field wall and scored on Lee’s opposite-field double.
With one out in the fourth, Lee took advantage of a hanging changeup and clobbered it over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Perez smashed his historic homer off Kyle Finnegan, pulling a hanging slider over the left field wall for an estimated 401 feet.
Perez couldn’t deliver again in the eighth with runners on the corners and two out as he grounded into a fielder’s choice.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City SC sign homegrown D Bernardo Rhein
Nov 24, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; The Orlando City logo is seen prior to a match against Atlanta United in a 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinal match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Orlando City SC signed homegrown defender Bernardo Rhein to a first-team contract through the 2027-28 season.
The deal includes team options for the 2028-29 and 2029-30 campaigns.
“Bernardo has earned this opportunity through his dedication, consistency and the progress he’s shown at every stage of our development pathway,” said Orlando City general manager Ricardo Moreira.
“Having started in futsal, Bernardo brings flair and intensity to our backline. From the Academy to OCB and now the First Team, he has embraced every challenge and continued to grow as a player and as a person. This signing reflects our commitment to developing talent from within, and we’re excited to support Bernardo as he takes the next step in his career with the Club.”
The 18-year-old made his MLS debut on April 22, 2026, against Charlotte FC. He becomes the 19th Orlando City Academy product to advance through the full development pathway.
–Field Level Media
WTA roundup: Anna Bondar goes overtime, reaches Hamburg final
Salvador Perez sets KC franchise HR record in win over Tigers
