Sports
Jets set sights on further momentum vs. streaky Stars
Jan 31, 2026; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele (55) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Florida Panthers during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images The Winnipeg Jets look to head into the upcoming Olympic break on a positive note when they face host Dallas on Monday night, while the Stars enter the matchup seeking their fifth straight victory.
Dallas forward Matt Duchene extended his goal-scoring streak to four games Saturday as the Stars edged the Utah Mammoth 3-2 on the road for their fifth win in the last six games.
“I think we’re playing better hockey now,” Duchene said after the win in Salt Lake City. “There was some stuff there that we needed to fix. … I think we’ve just got to keep with those little things and keep going.”
The win marked a continued turnaround for the Stars, who had won just three of 14 games in a 3-7-4 stretch that began before Christmas prior to this current win streak. Dallas had a 25-7-5 record prior to that slump, and coach Glen Gulutzan said recent results suggest the club is regaining its form.
“We had to get back into our game and what we did better in the first half of the year than we’ve done since the new year,” Gulutzan said. “You can see, I’m sure, a visible difference if you’re watching the games on how we’re playing the last few.
“It’s got to continue. We know that’s got to be part of the fabric of our team and I think the players see it, we all see it, so it’s got to carry on.”
Winnipeg is coming off a 2-1 road victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Saturday. The Jets scored twice in the third period for just their second third-period comeback win of the season.
“I just liked the way we competed,” said Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel when asked about his takeaway from the victory. “We stayed in it. … We did a really good job of winning our share of puck battles. Did a good job in eliminating what we gave up.”
Despite the win, Winnipeg remains nine points out of a playoff spot with only two games remaining before the Olympic break and four teams between it and the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. The Jets are hoping to build momentum as the schedule heads toward a near-month-long pause.
A lot of that could rest on the shoulders of Cole Perfetti, who tallied at Florida on Saturday. It was just his fifth goal and 16th point of the season, disappointing numbers considering the step he was hoping to take this year after scoring 18 goals and 50 points in 82 games in 2024-25.
“Yeah, it’s obviously a good feeling. Like you said, got a lot of chances there earlier in the game and wasn’t able to find it,” Perfetti said. “So, just keep going to the net, trying to generate and try to get those chances, and go to the net and get rewarded. That felt good.”
The Jets’ blue line remains depleted. Neal Pionk (lower-body injury) has returned to practice but is not expected to rejoin the lineup until after the Winter Games. Defensemen Colin Miller (knee surgery) and Haydn Fleury (upper body) also are sidelined until late February or early March.
Dallas defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin remains out with a lower-body injury but is progressing toward a return after traveling with the team on its most recent road trip.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Randy Vasquez, Padres hand Rockies 1-0 home defeat
Apr 21, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Vasquez (98) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Randy Vasquez pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits for the San Diego Padres, who squeaked out a rare 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in Denver.
It marked just the fourth time in Rockies history they lost a 1-0 game at Coors Field. The other three instances happened in 2006, with the Milwaukee Brewers last beating Colorado by that score on Aug. 1, 2006.
Vasquez (2-0) struck out five without issuing a walk. The right-hander outdueled Chase Dollander, who threw six strong innings but had a lapse of wildness in the sixth that sent the Rockies their second straight defeat.
Dollander, who came in the second after Rockies opener Jimmy Herget struck out the side in the first, allowed a one-out double to Jake Cronenworth. After Ramon Laureano struck out, Fernando Tatis hit a ground-ball single that hit off Rockies third baseman Kyle Karros to put runners at the corners.
Dollander then hit Jackson Merrill with a pitch to load the bases, and he walked Manny Machado to force home Cronenworth.
The Rockies right-hander allowed just three hits and a walk while plunking two Padres. He struck nine, tying a career high he set last Thursday in Houston.
Tatis finished 2-for-4 and was the only hitter for either team with multiple hits. The squads combined for just nine hits.
Hunter Goodman singled off Vasquez to lead off the Rockies’ fourth, but he was the last baserunner the Padres starter allowed. Vasquez retired the last 12 batters he faced, and Jason Adam pitched a perfect eighth in relief with a strikeout.
Padres closer Mason Miller, who pitched in three of the Padres’ previous four games, stayed in the bullpen Tuesday as Adrian Morejon pitched the ninth. Morejon struck out Edouard Julien and Mickey Moniak to start the inning before Goodman flied out to center, giving the left-hander his first save of the season.
Colorado lost despite striking out 15 Padres. The last time San Diego won despite striking out that many times took place on July 23, 2022, when the Padres won 2-1 on the road against the New York Mets.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs' Game 2 loss
Apr 21, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) drives to the basket past San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images San Antonio star center Victor Wembanyama was concussed during Game 2 of the Spurs’ first-round playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, his coach confirmed following the contest.
“I just know he has a concussion and he’s in the protocol and we’ll obviously take the proper and appropriate steps,” San Antonio coach Mitch Johnson said. “You know, it’s tough. That protocol is the protocol, so we’ll just follow it, as everyone else does, and plan accordingly.”
Wembanyama was forced from Game 2 after hitting his face on the floor early in the second quarter. The Spurs later announced that Wembanyama had entered concussion protocol and would not return to the game before it was confirmed after the contest — a 106-103 Blazers win that leveled the series — that a concussion had been sustained.
Wembanyama hit his face on the floor at near-full speed after being knocked off his feet during a drive to the basket at the 8:57 mark of the second period, with the contact leaving him dazed enough to struggle standing up before jogging off the floor to the locker room.
San Antonio trailed 34-32 at the time, and Wembanyama had amassed five points, four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in 11:41 of court time when he was injured. The game was tied 57-57 by halftime.
The Spurs have had plenty of success without their star this season. Wembanyama missed 18 games this season with various injuries, with San Antonio going 12-6 in those games.
However, Wembanyama’s absence for Game 3 and potentially beyond would loom large in a series that suddenly swung to Portland’s advantage after the Blazers wrested away the home-court edge on Tuesday.
Wembanyama is scheduled to receive further testing on Wednesday but must remain inactive for a minimum of 24 hours and can’t resume full participation before 48 hours, per NBA concussion guidelines.
The teams won’t play again until Friday, when Game 3 will be contested in Portland.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lenyn Sosa's late clutch hit lifts Jays over skidding Angels
Apr 21, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) beats the tag of Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe (14) to score during the eighth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Pinch hitter Lenyn Sosa drilled a tiebreaking two-run double during a three-run eighth inning to propel the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night at Anaheim, Calif.
Eloy Jimenez had two RBIs and Vladimir Guerrero scored twice for the Blue Jays, who defeated the Angels for the second straight night and matched their season best of three straight wins.
Ernie Clement and Daulton Varsho had two hits apiece for Toronto. Louie Varland entered to induce a game-ending double play with the bases loaded for his first career save.
Oswald Peraza had two hits and a run for the Angels, who had just five hits overall. Los Angeles has scored just six runs during a season-worst four-game losing streak.
Clement’s one-out double inside the left field line got the decisive uprising going against Drew Pomeranz (0-2) in the eighth. Guerrero was walked intentionally and Sosa came up and ripped a 1-1 fastball off the wall in right to give Toronto a 3-1 lead.
Jimenez followed with a ground single through the right side to score Clement.
Mason Fluharty (1-0) retired the final two batters of the seventh and Tyler Rogers worked a perfect eighth for Toronto.
Struggling closer Jeff Hoffman started the ninth and created a jam. He struck out Zach Neto to start the inning before allowing Mike Trout’s single to left and plunking Jo Adell on the right hand and Jorge Soler on the left elbow to load the bases.
Yoan Moncada then pinch-hit for Peraza and hit an RBI single to right to bring the Angels within 4-2 and end Hoffman’s night. Varland entered and got Nolan Schanuel to hit his first pitch on the ground to Toronto second baseman Clement, who began to turn the decisive double play with shortstop Andres Gimenez’s throw to first narrowly beating the diving Schanuel.
Toronto starter Patrick Corbin allowed one run and two hits over five innings. He struck out three and walked two.
Los Angeles starter Jack Kochanowicz gave up one run and five hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
The Angels moved ahead in the fifth when Peraza and Schanuel hit one-out singles and Vaughn Grissom followed with a sacrifice fly to score Peraza.
Toronto had a similar frame in the sixth when Guerrero and Jesus Sanchez had consecutive one-out singles and Jimenez plated Guerrero with a sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
Randy Vasquez, Padres hand Rockies 1-0 home defeat
Victor Wembanyama sustains concussion in Spurs' Game 2 loss
