Sports
Mercedes' George Russell wins F1 opener in Australia
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) is introduced before the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images George Russell led a 1-2 finish for Mercedes on Sunday, winning the season-opening Australian Grand Prix after holding off a challenge from the Ferrari team.
Starting from the pole position at Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne, Russell quickly was passed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who jumped from fourth to first into Turn 1. The two alternated in the lead for the first 11 laps, with Leclerc’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton, pushing the leaders.
When the virtual safety car was activated due to a problem with the car of Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, the Ferrari cars stayed on the track while the Mercedes cars went to the pit lane.
It was a strategy that didn’t pay off.
Leclerc had to pit on lap 25 and Hamilton on lap 28 for tire changes, giving Russell back the lead and allowing Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli to take second. And that’s just how the race ended, with Leclerc finishing third and Hamilton fourth.
Antonelli finished 2.9 seconds behind Russell, with Leclerc another 12.5 seconds back.
Defending Formula One season champion Lando Norris finished fourth and Max Verstappen fifth. Oscar Piastri, Norris’ McLaren teammate, crashed on the reconnoitering laps 35 minutes before the start and didn’t race.
“I’m feeling incredible. It was a hell of a fight at the beginning. We knew it was going to be challenging,” Russell said.
“I got on the grid, saw my battery level had nothing in the tank, made a bad start and then obviously some really tight battles with Charles, so I was really glad to cross the finish line.”
As F1 transitioned to new car regulations this season, Leclerc said the race gave him a chance to learn more about his car.
“We were quite strong in the race, which was a positive given that our expectations yesterday were not that high. I had a good start and learned a lot on those opening laps,” he said. “There are lots of things to manage at the same time … and I’m happy with how I handled the situation from inside the car. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the pace to hold onto first place later on.
“We’ve got to be on it in terms of development and push to the maximum to reduce the gap. We have gained a lot of insight in these days. We will take that knowledge with us and work on making a step forward for China.”
The Chinese Grand Prix will be held next Sunday at the Shanghai International Circuit.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Knights dominate Blackhawks behind efforts from Pavel Dorofeyev, Adin Hill
Mar 14, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates with right wing Mark Stone (61) after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Pavel Dorofeyev scored two goals and had an assist, and Adin Hill made 21 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Vegas Golden Knights moved into first place in the Pacific Division with a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
It was the second straight game of two goals and three points for Dorofeyev. Mark Stone and Mitch Marner each had two assists, and Rasmus Andersson and Keegan Kolesar also scored goals for Vegas, which leapfrogged Anaheim, a 2-0 loser at Ottawa earlier Saturday, into the top spot in the Pacific Division.
It was the 12th career shutout for Hill as the Golden Knights improved to 10-2-1 all-time against Chicago at T-Mobile Arena.
Spencer Knight finished with 28 saves for the Blackhawks, who had a four-game road point streak (2-0-2) snapped.
Vegas scored three times on four shots in the span of 3:27 midway through the first period to take a 3-0 lead.
Dorofeyev started the scoring with a power-play goal at the 8:33 mark, roofing a one-timer from the middle of the right circle past Knight’s glove side.
Andersson made it 2-0 with his 12th goal, a career high. Noah Hanifin picked up the primary assist, zipping a pass from the left corner to Andersson alone in the right circle, where he snapped a wrist shot inside the right post.
Kolesar, stationed in front of the crease, followed 25 seconds later, deflecting Jeremy Lauzon’s shot from the left point over Knight’s left pad.
Vegas increased the lead to 4-0 midway through the second period on another power-play goal by Dorofeyev, who swept in a rebound of a Stone shot into a wide-open right side of the net for his 34th goal this season.
Chicago appeared to get on the board 37 seconds into the third period on a long slap shot by Artyom Levshunov from the right point. But Vegas successfully challenged that the score came after a missed stoppage on a hand pass from Ryan Greene to Connor Bedard.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Bobby McMann collects 3 points in delayed debut, Kraken beat Canucks
Mar 14, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans (41) stick checks Vancouver Canucks forward Drew O’Connor (18) in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images Bobby McMann scored twice and had an assist in his debut for his new team as the Seattle Kraken snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory against the host Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.
Matty Beniers had a goal and two assists and Jordan Eberle added three assists with McMann on the No. 1 line.
Jared McCann and Jamie Oleksiak also scored and Brandon Montour had two assists for the Kraken, who remained a point behind San Jose in the chase for the Western Conference’s second and final wild-card playoff berth. Goaltender Philipp Grubauer made 32 saves.
Evander Kane and Marco Rossi scored for the league-worst Canucks, who dropped to 7-21-5 at home this season. Nikita Tolopilo stopped 28 of 33 shots.
McMann, acquired from Toronto at the March 6 trade deadline, had to sit out three straight games while awaiting approval of his visa paperwork.
McMann broke a 1-1 tie on the power play at 19:10 of the first period. His wrist shot from just below the left faceoff dot snuck between Tolopilo’s pads and trickled over the goal line.
McMann scored his 21st goal of the season, surpassing his career high set in 2024-25, on a 3-on-2 rush at 4:14 of the third. Beniers sent the puck to Eberle on the right wing and his cross-slot pass found McMann for a tip-in at the far post to make it 4-1.
The Kraken opened the scoring at 4:12 of the first as McCann snapped a 10-game goalless drought. Montour skated the puck down the right wing and attempted a shot from the corner. Tolopilo made the save, but the rebound kicked right back to Montour, who went behind the net and spotted McCann alone in the slot for a one-timer.
Kane tied the score at 11:42 of the period on a breakaway. Kane deked Grubauer and lifted a backhander into the roof of the net.
Oleksiak tallied the lone goal of the second period at 5:06, joining the rush and taking a pass from Beniers in the high slot before beating Tolopilo with a wrist shot high to the glove side.
Beniers scored at 9:58 of the third, beating Tolopilo from the low slot after taking Eberle’s pass from behind the net.
Rossi capped the scoring at 19:40 of the third on a rebound after Grubauer stopped a breakaway.
The Kraken flew into Vancouver on Saturday morning after a snowstorm prevented them from traveling the previous day.
–Field Level Media
Sports
DeMar DeRozan, Kings continue recent surge with win over Clippers
Mar 14, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Russell Westbrook (18) attempts to steal the ball from LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second quarter at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points and Precious Achiuwa added 25 with 13 rebounds as the Sacramento Kings turned a brief stop on the road into a 118-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday at Inglewood, Calif.
Maxime Raynaud scored 23 points and Russell Westbrook added 12 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists against his former team as the Kings won for the third time in their past four games to continue emerging from their 2-20 downturn.
Sacramento’s front line of DeRozan, Achiuwa and Raynaud combined to go 32-of-40 (80%) from the floor. The Kings were playing on the road for the only time in a stretch of 10 games and are now 3-3 during the run.
Kawhi Leonard scored 31 points for the Clippers to set the franchise record with his 45th consecutive game of at least 20 points. Leonard went to the locker room in the first half with a cut over his left eye and departed for good with 9:27 remaining in the game when he rolled his left ankle.
Daruis Garland scored 25 points after missing the front end of a back-to-back Friday with injury management on a sore toe. Bennedict Mathurin scored 24 points for Los Angeles, which lost for just the second time in its last nine games.
The Clippers struggled on defense from the start, trailing 33-31 after one quarter and falling behind 68-54 at halftime. The Kings shot 66.7% from the floor in the first half, outrebounding the Clippers 24-15.
Los Angeles was held to 21 points in the third quarter as Sacramento entered the fourth with a 92-75 advantage.
The Clippers used a 20-4 run to pull within 101-98 with 5:24 left after three-point play from Mathurin. Leonard departed during the stretch with his ankle injury.
Daeqwon Plowden (15 points) and Nique Clifford (11 points) hit consecutive 3-pointers as Sacramento took a 112-102 lead with 2:37 left. DeRozan sealed the victory on three free throws for a 115-106 lead with 1:25 remaining.
The Kings finished 58.5% from the floor, while the Clippers shot 46.4%.
–Field Level Media
