Sports
Hurricanes' Brandon Bussi hands Rangers another home blanking
Feb 5, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi (32) makes a save against New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (8) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Rookie Brandon Bussi made 16 saves in a successful homecoming as the visiting Carolina Hurricanes extended their points streak to 10 games with a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers Thursday night in the final game before the Olympic break.
Andrei Svechnikov scored early as Hurricanes improved to 8-0-2 in their past 10 and earned their second shutout win on the Rangers’ home ice this season.
A Long Island, N.Y., native, Bussi won his seventh straight game and improved to 23-3-1 since joining the Hurricanes as a waiver claim from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5.
Bussi was rarely tested, but he delivered a left pad save on J.T. Miller midway through the second period and denied Will Cuylle on a partial breakaway six minutes into the third to highlight his second career shutout.
The Hurricanes had plenty of chances to turn the contest into a blowout, but New York goalie Jonathan Quick made a season-high 41 saves. Carolina finished its latest victory with 86 shot attempts and improved to 7-1-0 in its past eight games against the Rangers.
Jordan Staal added an empty-net tally in the final minute for the Hurricanes, who earned their third shutout of the season.
A day after trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings as part of their retooling attempt, the Rangers dropped their fourth straight. New York fell to 6-15-4 at home and was blanked for the seventh time in front of its frustrated fans, who were heard chanting for GM Chris Drury to be fired on a few occasions.
Svechnikov scored the only goal Bussi needed 6:26 into the contest thanks to defensive pressure by teammate Mark Jankowski deep in the offensive zone.
Jankowski forced New York defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov into the giveaway in the right circle. The puck went to Svechnikov, who walked into the slot unimpeded and sent a shot from between the circles past Quick’s left arm.
–Field Level Media
Sports
ATP roundup: Luca Nardi upsets fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli
Aug 13, 2025; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Luca Nardi (ITA) returns a shot against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) during the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Italian Luca Nardi blasted 17 winners as he downed countryman and ATP No. 20 Flavio Cobolli, 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday at Montpellier.
Nardi was one of five winners on Thursday to finalize the quarterfinal matchups of the France-based event. Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the No. 8 player in the world and the top-seeded player at the event, emerged from a battle with Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (3), and will next face France’s Arthur Fils, a 7-6 (4), 7-5 winner over fellow Frenchman Ugo Blanchet.
The Netherlands’ Tallon Griekspoor — the No. 4 seed — took down Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta 6-4, 6-4, while the lone American competing on the day, eighth-seeded Aleksandar Kovacevic, dropped a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 decision to France’s Titouan Droguet. Droguet will face Griekspoor in the quarters.
Davis Cup Qualifiers
Great Britain’s Jack Draper and Cameron Norrie grabbed matching straight-set wins in Davis Cup qualifying in Oslo, Norway, giving their side a 2-0 lead over host Norway in the best-of-five competition.
The 13 winners in the first round of qualifiers will advance to the second round, set for late September.
Draper downed Viktor Durasovic 6-2, 6-2 while finishing 4-for-4 on break point opportunities. Draper, ranked No. 13 in the world, won 88% of first serve points, as opposed to Durasovic’s 53%. Norrie defeated Nicolai Budkov Kjaer 6-4, 6-4, on the strength of three break point saves.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lakers' Luka Doncic exits due to sore left leg
Feb 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks on in the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Lakers guard Luka Doncic departed Los Angeles’ Thursday game against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers in the second quarter because of left leg soreness.
The injury occurred with just under four minutes remaining in the first half during a Lakers possession. Doncic remained in the game before departing with 3:03 left in the half. The team officially ruled him out for the rest of the game late in the third quarter.
In 16 minutes of play against the 76ers, Doncic compiled 10 points, four rebounds and two assists, plus five turnovers, including one on the play when he was injured.
Doncic, who has missed eight games this season, entered with an NBA-best average of 33.4 points per game to go along with 7.9 rebounds and 8.7 assists over his first 41 contests.
The Lakers were playing their first game at home in more than two weeks after completing a 5-3 road trip.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Matthew Stafford's MVP, return announcement highlights NFL Honors
Jan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) walks on field before the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images Matthew Stafford played it coy minutes before the NFL Honors event kicked off Thursday night by saying he still had to figure out if he would return for an 18th season.
Less than two hours later, Stafford was narrowly named NFL Most Valuable Player and was on the stage in San Francisco, surrounded by his four daughters.
It was time to reveal the secret he was keeping as he addressed his daughters.
“You are unbelievable cheerleaders for me and I appreciate it,” Stafford said to the girls. “I am so happy to have you at the games on the sideline with me and I can’t wait for you to cheer me on next year when we’re out there kicking ass.”
Stafford then looked toward the audience as Rams coach Sean McVay jumped out of his chair in celebration.
“I will see you guys next year,” said Stafford, “and hopefully I’m not at this event and we’re getting ready for another game (Super Bowl LXI) at SoFi.”
Stafford edged New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in the MVP balloting and was the biggest winner at the annual awards showcase that leads up to Sunday’s Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
Defensive end Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns was the unanimous Defensive Player of the Year after his record 23-sack season.
Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots was named Coach of the Year after guiding the club to a 14-3 regular-season record and a Super Bowl berth in his first season with the team.
Washington Commanders veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey was named Comeback Player of the Year.
Carolina Panthers receiver Tetairoa McMillan won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger took Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Guard Joe Thuney of the Chicago Bears won the inaugural Protector of the Year award.
Stafford received 24 of 50 first-place MVP votes and 366 total points to beat out Maye, who had 23 and 361, respectively. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the 2024 MVP, received two first-place votes and Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had one.
Allen was third in the balloting with 91 points. McCaffrey (71) was fourth and Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (49) was fifth.
It marks the first time Stafford has won the award in 17 NFL seasons, the first 12 with the Detroit Lions and the last five with the Rams.
Stafford, who turns 38 on Saturday, hadn’t previously committed to return for 2026.
Stafford led the NFL with 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2025 despite playing through back issues. He didn’t miss a game and was intercepted eight times in 597 attempts.
The big disappointment was the Rams falling to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game.
“This team was really special and it didn’t end the way we wanted it to but I will never forget it,” Stafford said.
To the surprise of nobody, Garrett was a runaway winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award. His record-breaking season allowed him to win the top defensive player honor for the second time in the past three seasons.
“It doesn’t start with me,” Garrett said. “It starts with great teammates, a great organization, great coaches and I’m thankful for every one of my teammates who got me up here. It’s not possible without them and their blood, their sweat, their tears.”
The other finalists were defensive end Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans, linebacker Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson of the Detroit Lions and defensive end Micah Parsons of the Green Bay Packers.
Vrabel earned the top coach honor over a stellar group of finalists that included Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars), Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears), Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks) and Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco).
“It’s an honor to be recognized amongst the great coaches of our league,” Vrabel said in a video. “Ultimately, my name will go on this award, but this award belongs to a building and a staff and ultimately it belongs to the men in the locker room who believed even when they couldn’t see it.”
Wagner earned the Man of the Year award for his charitable work, specifically his work toward helping identify signs of a stroke. His mother died in 2009 from complications of a stroke.
“She is and will forever be my rock,” Wagner said. “She’s the reason why I’m standing here. She’s a person that had confidence in me when I didn’t even have confidence in myself.”
McCaffrey was limited to four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries. He was injury free in 2025 and rushed for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns and caught 102 passes for 924 yards and seven scores.
“This is huge honor,” McCaffrey said. “Anytime you have to come back from injuries it’s extremely tough physically, emotionally and mentally.”
The other comeback candidates were Hutchison, Lawrence, New England Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.
Smith-Njigba wasn’t in attendance with his focus on Sunday’s game. He led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards while catching 119 passes, including 10 for scores, in his third season with the Seahawks.
The others finalists were Maye, McCaffrey, Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua and Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.
McMillan had a strong rookie season with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and seven touchdowns. He was the No. 8 overall pick out of Arizona.
Scheswinger racked up 156 tackles — sixth most in the NFL — and had 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. He was a second-round draft pick out of UCLA.
The Protector the Year was a first-time award. Buffalo Bills star left tackle Dion Dawkins pushed hard to get it added to the list of accolades. Thuney took the honor in his first season with Chicago and 10th NFL campaign overall.
“I’m not a one-man operation,” Thuney said. “… I really appreciate all the former O-linemen who played in this league, the unsung heroes of the past who laid the foundation for those of us to play the game we love.”
NFL Honors award winners
Most Valuable Player
–Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Offensive Player of the Year
–Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle
Defensive Player of the Year
–Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland
Offensive Rookie of the Year
–Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina
Defensive Rookie of the Year
–Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland
Comeback Player of the Year
–Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco
Coach of the Year
–Mike Vrabel, New England
Assistant Coach of the Year
–Josh McDaniels, New England
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
–Bobby Wagner, LB, Washington
–Field Level Media
ATP roundup: Luca Nardi upsets fellow Italian Flavio Cobolli
How to watch Patriots vs. Seahawks in the NFL online for free
