Sports
Mitch Marner's hat trick gives Golden Knights 2-1 edge on Ducks
May 8, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) celebrates his shorthanded goal scored against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Mitch Marner posted his first career playoff hat trick in a four-point outing as the visiting Vegas Golden Knights thumped the Anaheim Ducks 6-2 on Friday to take a two-games-to-one lead in their Western Conference semifinal series.
Shea Theodore and Brett Howden both collected one goal and one assist while Brayden McNabb added a goal for Vegas. Carter Hart made 31 saves in the victory.
The Golden Knights will look to take a commanding lead in the best-of-seven series when they hit the ice for Game 4 on Sunday in Anaheim.
Beckett Sennecke and Chris Kreider scored for the Ducks. Starting goalie Lukas Dostal surrendered three goals on eight shots and was replaced after the first period. Ville Husso stopped 17 of 19 shots in relief.
After struggling to generate offense in the first two games of the series, the Golden Knights received the big start they wanted. Theodore opened the scoring 66 seconds into the clash when he joined the rush and buried an open chance from the slot.
McNabb doubled the lead with a short-handed goal at 12:13, finding the mark inside the far post from the left faceoff circle after receiving a drop pass from Marner. It was the third short-handed goal of the playoffs for Vegas.
Marner made it a 3-0 game before the opening frame was in the books. During a power-play flurry, Marner was at the side of the net and tapped home the loose puck with 4.6 seconds remaining in the period.
Marner continued the onslaught in the middle frame, notching his second of the game just before the midway point. Theodore threaded a pass as Marner went to the net, and the slick forward easily tucked a shot inside the post.
Marner completed his hat trick when his sharp-angled shot squeezed through Husso with 2:04 remaining in the second period.
Sennecke put the Ducks on the board when he shoved a loose puck over the line at 6:30 of the third period, and then Kreider made it a 5-2 game with a quick shot while parked in the low slot with 4:41 remaining.
Howden’s empty-net goal with 1:56 to go rounded out the scoring.
The victory came at a price for Vegas, however. Captain Mark Stone did not play the final two periods after appearing to injure himself while backchecking late in the opening frame.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Minnesota United put strong form up against Austin FC
Apr 25, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota United FC forward Kelvin Yeboah (9) dribbles during the first half against Los Angeles Football Club at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images After losing just once in their previous seven MLS matches, Minnesota United will play host to Austin FC at Saint Paul, Minn., on Sunday.
Minnesota United (6-3-2, 20 points) are in the midst of a 5-1-1 stretch since March 22, with their only blemish a 1-0 loss to Los Angeles FC on April 25. The success has come despite limited involvement from midfielder James Rodriguez.
Colombia’s national team captain is signed with the Loons through June 30, ahead of the upcoming World Cup, and has an option through December. But he has zero goal involvements in just four appearances and 103 minutes.
“We’ve had a couple different unforeseen circumstances that have made him unavailable for selection, and then there’s obviously the team performance,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles told SiriusXM on Friday. “It’s difficult to change a winning team, and we’ve been really consistent with the lineup selection and leaned on a smaller group of guys for some heavy minutes.”
Austin FC (3-4-4, 13 points) have won their last two matches following an 0-5-3 stretch across all competitions. The road has not been kind to the Verde, who are 0-3-2 away from home this season.
“I think we’re in a moment where we’ve played good away games, but we haven’t gotten the win yet, and I think we have to have a complete performance against (Minnesota) in order (to) get a good result,” Austin coach Nico Estevez said.
Austin welcomed back striker Brandon Vazquez during last week’s 2-0 win over St. Louis City, marking his first action since an ACL tear on July 8, 2025.
“When a player has been a long time recovering from an injury like Brandon, (given) his personality as a player inside the locker room and how loved he is, it’s always going to create a positive impact,” Estevez said.
Austin will be without Jayden Nelson (inflammation) on Sunday. Robert Taylor (knee) is day-to-day and will be reevaluated ahead of Sunday’s contest after missing Austin’s last three matches.
Kelvin Yeboah scored a brace for Minnesota in a come-from-behind 3-2 road win against the Columbus Crew last weekend, bringing his team-high goal total to seven. Myrto Uzuni leads Austin with four goals.
Austin’s last road win in MLS play came on Sept. 7, 2025 against Sporting Kansas City, although they did earn a 2-1 victory at Minnesota in U.S. Open Cup play 10 days later.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dynamo carry positive momentum into showdown at LAFC
Feb 28, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Dynamo FC forward Guilherme (20) and Los Angeles FC midfielder Stephen Eustaquio (46) battle for the ball during the second half at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images The Houston Dynamo have recovered from a slow start and look to win for the fourth time in five MLS matches when they visit Los Angeles FC on Sunday night.
Houston has recorded three 1-0 victories during the stretch and has allowed two goals during the span, which began after it was walloped 6-2 by the host Colorado Rapids on April 11.
The Dynamo (5-5-0, 15 points) were a vastly different team in the rematch in Houston on May 2, allowing just two shots on target in the one-goal victory as Jonathan Bond recorded his third shutout of the season.
“Last game, I felt that was our best performance,” Dynamo coach Ben Olsen said. “The technical side, the group defense, the tactical side. … I thought it was a step in the right direction to get closer to what we’re going to be.”
Lawrence Ennali scored his third goal of the season in the 72nd minute. He ripped a right-footed blast from well beyond the box into the upper portion of the net.
“Never scored a goal like that before,” Ennali said. “I hope there are many more to come.”
Guilherme, a midfielder, leads Houston with five goals.
Los Angeles FC (6-2-3, 21 points) defeated the Dynamo 2-0 in Houston on Feb. 28 with Mark Delgado scoring in the 56th minute and Stephen Eustaquio tacking on another in the 82nd minute. The Dynamo finished the match with just nine players as Antonio Carlos drew a red card in the second minute of first-half stoppage time and Agustin Bouzat was shown red in the 76th minute.
LAFC was outscored 4-0 by host Toluca FC on Wednesday to fall by a 5-2 aggregate score and be eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals.
The match on Wednesday was scoreless until Toluca scored four second-half goals.
“We played eight (Champions Cup) games and we were excellent until the second half,” LAFC coach Marc Dos Santos said. “So in the whole competition we played one bad really half and it was the second half. …
“We can learn a lot from this. We’ve got to be strong because Sunday we play again.”
Los Angeles will be without star forward Denis Bouanga, who was suspended for the match due to yellow-card accumulation. Bouanga leads LAFC with five goals.
LAFC scored two late goals to gain a 2-2 draw with host San Diego FC on May 2. Bouanga scored in the 82nd minute and Ryan Hollingshead scored the equalizer in the 14th and final minute of second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Astros place LHP Bennett Sousa (elbow) on injured list
Aug 19, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Bennett Sousa (62) throws a pitch against the Detroit Tigers in the eighth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The Houston Astros placed left-hander Bennett Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday and recalled right-hander Jayden Murray from Triple-A Sugar Land.
Sousa is dealing with left elbow inflammation and his IL move is retroactive to Wednesday.
Sousa, 31, has an 8.10 ERA in five relief appearances this season. He is 8-1 with a 4.54 ERA in parts of four major league seasons for three teams, including the Astros since 2023.
Murray, 29, had a 6.00 ERA in four relief appearances earlier this season and has a 3.06 ERA in 13 career games (one start) since making his major league debut last season.
The Astros also claimed outfielder Rhylan Thomas off waivers from the Seattle Mariners and optioned him to Sugar Land. Right-hander Hunter Brown (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster.
–Field Level Media
Minnesota United put strong form up against Austin FC
Dynamo carry positive momentum into showdown at LAFC
