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Matt Boldy, Wild make big statement, rout Stars in series opener

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Minnesota Wild at Dallas StarsApr 18, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) gaol against there Dallas Stars in the first period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Matt Boldy had two goals and an assist for the visiting Minnesota Wild in a 6-1 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round series on Saturday.

Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, Joel Eriksson Ek scored twice, Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist, and Mats Zuccarello had three assists for the Wild, who are trying to win their first playoff series since 2015 after getting eliminated in the opening round eight times since then.

Jesper Wallstedt got the start over Filip Gustavsson and the rookie made 27 saves for Minnesota.

Jason Robertson scored and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for Dallas, which lost Game 1 of its first-round series 5-1 against the Colorado Avalanche last season before rebounding and eventually reaching to the Western Conference Finals.

Minnesota was on the first power play of the game when Zuccarello passed the puck from above the left faceoff circle to Boldy just below the goal line. He made a touch pass to Eriksson Ek cutting into the slot area and Ek scored with a one-timer from the left hash marks for a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period.

Minnesota scored 56 seconds into the second period to extend the lead to 2-0.

Kaprizov received a pass along the wall in the Dallas zone after he was left alone coming down the right side. He had room to skate just below the right faceoff dot before scoring shortside with a wrist shot for his 16th career playoff goal, tying Zach Parise for the most in franchise history.

Brock Faber shot a bouncing puck from just above the left circle that Hartman redirected into the net from in front of the crease to make it 3-0 at 3:28.

Boldy made it 4-0 at 6:30 when he tapped in a loose puck from the side of the net.

Robertson backhanded the puck into the net from in close while on a power play to cut it to 4-1 at 15:10 of the second period.

Eriksson Ek tacked on a power-play goal at 8:13 of the third period to make it 5-1, and Boldy scored into an empty net with 3:08 left for a 6-1 lead.

Game 2 is Monday in Dallas.

–Field Level Media

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Avs’ Gabriel Landeskog wins Masterton Trophy, Messier Leadership Award

May 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesMay 24, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in game three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy and the Mark Messier Leadership Award on Tuesday to become the first player in NHL history to win both awards in a career — let alone the same season.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” The Professional Hockey Writers Association awards a $2,500 grant to the Bill Masterton Scholarship Fund in the name of the award’s recipient.

The Messier Award, introduced in 2006-07, goes to the player who “exemplifies great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey.”

Landeskog, 33, missed three seasons (2022-23 through 2024-25) due to a knee injury that required multiple surgeries, including a cartilage transplant. His absence between games lasted 1,032 days before he returned to action in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.

The 2025-26 season was his first full one since he was a 30-goal scorer for the Avs in their 2021-22 Stanley Cup campaign. Landeskog tallied 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 games during this regular season to help Colorado win the Presidents’ Trophy, then added six goals and five assists in 13 postseason games.

In a 12-season NHL career spent entirely with Colorado, Landeskog has amassed 606 points (262 goals, 344 assists) in 798 games. He became the Avalanche’s captain after his rookie season, the youngest captain in league history at that time (19 years, 286 days).

Landeskog called the Messier Leadership Award “a huge honor” in comments given to NHL.com.

“Obviously it goes without saying that no leader is going to sit here and take the honor and accept the award on his own,” he said. “It’s because of my teammates that allowed me this opportunity, and even though I’m the one wearing the ‘C’ on my chest, it’s leadership by committee.

“There are plenty of guys in that locker room with ‘A’s on their jerseys or no letters on their jerseys. Guys bring so much to the table. We all lead in different ways.”

–Field Level Media

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England F Bukayo Saka (Achilles) not yet '100 percent'

Dec 10, 2022; Al Khor, Qatar; France midfielder Adrien Rabiot (14) and England midfielder Bukayo Saka (17) fight for the ball during the first half of a quarterfinal game in the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al-Bayt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn ImagesDec 10, 2022; Al Khor, Qatar; France midfielder Adrien Rabiot (14) and England midfielder Bukayo Saka (17) fight for the ball during the first half of a quarterfinal game in the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al-Bayt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images

Four years ago, at the tender age of 21, Bukayo Saka scored three goals in four World Cup matches to help England reach the quarterfinals.

But when might Saka take the field for England in this World Cup cycle?

Manager Thomas Tuchel preached patience on Tuesday as Saka, 24, continues to deal with an Achilles injury diagnosed in March while playing for Arsenal in the Premier League.

Tuchel asserted that Saka could, if necessary, compete in England’s friendly against Costa Rica on Wednesday in Orlando, but he suggested it might not be ideal considering the goal is for the electric forward to be ready for England’s Group L opener against Croatia on June 17.

“We still have to take care a little bit with Bukayo, who had an injury in the March camp and carried it through to his club campaign,” Tuchel said in a news conference.

Similar to Arsenal, England has been managing Saka’s injury by limiting his training time. He participated in Tuesday’s practice, but not Monday’s.

“He is at the moment not able to do every training session through the week and then play,” Tuchel said. “He is available for tomorrow, but he needs management to be fully, fully 100 percent — which he is not. But he is on a high level.”

Saka played on a regular basis for Arsenal, the Premier League champion, despite his injury. His last match was on May 30 when Arsenal faced Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final and lost on penalty kicks. Saka started and played through the 82nd minute.

He has not scored since May 5, when he produced the match’s lone goal when Arsenal defeated Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semifinal.

–Field Level Media

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Ticket prices for Game 4 of NBA Finals at MSG plummet 70%

Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; General view before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesJun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; General view before game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The New York Knicks still hold a 2-1 lead and home-court advantage in the NBA Finals, but ticket prices for Game 4 on Wednesday night have plummeted 70% since they lost Game 3.

With the prospect the Knicks could close out their first championship in more than a half century, the get-in price for Game 4 had reached as high as around $13,500 and was still at $8,600 on Monday. However, the price fell to $4,025 by Tuesday afternoon — although that would still be more expensive than this year’s Super Bowl, according to ticket tracking service TicketData.com.

Following the Spurs’ win in Game 3, the soonest the Knicks can now clinch the series would be Game 5 back in San Antonio. However, the get-in price to even that potential closeout game has decreased by 40% over the past three days.

The only game to see an increase is a potential Game 7, which would also take place in San Antonio. The get-in price for a potentially decisive game either way has spiked 38%, in part due to the expectation that many New York fans would then seek to travel to San Antonio.

NBA FINALS GET-IN PRICES*

Game 4 — New York: $4,025 (Down 70% past three days)

Game 5 — San Antonio: $1,438 (Down 40%)

Game 6 — New York: $10,282 (Down 8%)

Game 7 — San Antonio: $5,181 (Up 38%)

*Source: TicketData

For comparison, the past two Super Bowls had day-of-game get-in prices of $2,002 in 2025 and $3,251 this year. The average Super Bowl get-in price since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic has been $3,914, according to TicketData.

Outside of the World Cup and the Stanley Cup Final, the next-most expensive sporting event through the end of the year currently is UFC 329. The card featuring the return of Conor McGregor against Max Holloway currently has a get-in price of $1,369 and is set for July 11 in Las Vegas.

The Knicks opened the series as significant underdogs, but flipped to -140 favorites at BetMGM following their Game 1 victory. Now ahead 2-1 with up to two more games at home, New York is still the -185 favorite compared to San Antonio at +155.

–Field Level Media

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