Sports
More drama expected as Jets, Stars clash in Game 1
May 3, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars right wing Mikko Rantanen (96) and center Tyler Seguin (91) and center Wyatt Johnston (53) celebrates the game tying goal goal scored by Rantanen against the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in game seven of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images After a couple days to soak in their stunning-yet-similar comebacks in the first-round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s back to business for the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars on Wednesday night.
That’s when the Jets are scheduled to host the Stars in Game 1 of their best-of-seven, second-round series.
Winnipeg survived its opening-round matchup against the St. Louis Blues with a dramatic rally in Game 7 on Sunday.
The Jets trailed 3-1 before scoring two goals in the final two minutes of regulation with goalie Connor Hellebuyck pulled for the extra skater, including the tying goal with three seconds left. They won 4-3 late in the second overtime.
“These games are special,” Winnipeg forward Nikolaj Ehlers said. “You don’t get these very often. To be able to come back in the third period like we did and battle our (butts) off in overtime, yeah, it’s really special and we did it as a group. So we want to carry that forward.”
A day earlier, the Stars trailed the Colorado Avalanche 2-0 with 12 minutes remaining, but Mikko Rantanen scored two straight goals to tie it against his former team. Wyatt Johnston put Dallas ahead with 3:56 left and Rantanen sealed the 4-2 win to complete the hat trick on an empty-net goal with three seconds remaining.
Looking ahead, much of the attention will be on the injury lists for both teams.
Winnipeg played the final two games against the Blues without top-line center Mark Scheifele, who sustained an undisclosed injury in the first period of Game 5.
Scheifele was second on the Jets in goals (39) and points (87) during the regular season.
The best defenseman on the Jets, Josh Morrissey (upper body), was injured in the first period of Game 7 and did not return.
Scheifele and Morrissey attended Tuesday’s optional practice but wore non-contact jerseys. Another player who was injured in Game 7, defenseman Logan Stanley (undisclosed), also wore a non-contact jersey.
Morrissey and Stanley left the ice before the official start of practice, but Scheifele remained. All three are considered game-time decisions, Jets coach Scott Arniel said.
The Stars will likely get forward Jason Robertson (lower body) back against Winnipeg, but defenseman Miro Heiskanen (knee) will remain out of the lineup.
Robertson and Heiskanen each skated during an optional practice Monday and again on Tuesday in Dallas, but Heiskanen did not participate in any drills with the top three pairings, while Robertson was on a line with Mason Marchment and Johnston.
Both missed the entire first-round series against the Avalanche.
Robertson led Dallas in goals (35) and was second in points (80) during the regular season, while Heiskanen is considered the team’s best defenseman.
“It would be really nice to get our full team together,” said forward Matt Duchene, who led Dallas with 82 points in 82 regular-season games. “At the same time, we’re not counting the hours until we get those guys back. We know we can do it with what we have. We just showed that.”
The Stars also are expected to be without fourth-line wing Colin Blackwell, who sustained an undisclosed injury in Game 7.
Jake Oettinger will continue to start in goal for Dallas. He is 6-4-1 in his career against the Jets with a 2.57 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.
He will be opposed by Hellebuyck, who is 14-10-5 in his career against Dallas with a 2.45 GAA and .922 save percentage.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Yankees option RHP Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A
May 5, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Elmer Rodriguez (71) pitches against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Yankees optioned right-hander Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre on Monday.
Rodriguez, 22, was recalled Sunday before the second game of a split doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers to fill the designated 27th roster spot. He did not pitch in the game.
After making his major league debut April 29, Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 4.76 ERA over 17 innings across four starts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
St. Louis City sign D Jaziel Orozco to contract extension
Mar 1, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; St. Louis CITY SC defender Jaziel Orozco (99) controls the ball against the San Diego FC during the second half at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Abe Arredondo-Imagn Images St. Louis City SC signed defender Jaziel Orozco to a contract extension through the 2028-29 MLS season.
The deal announced Monday with the 22-year-old Mexico native includes an option for 2029-30.
Orozco has recorded one goal in 17 appearances for St. Louis since signing with the club in 2025. He appeared in four matches for Real Salt Lake in 2022.
“Jazi has put in consistent performances this season and it is clear he has a good understanding of what is being asked of him tactically,” sporting director Corey Wray said. “Over the last six months, he has shown qualities that we value with his tactical flexibility and versatility both in and out of possession. We are excited to keep him at the club for years to come and help him continue developing as a player.”
St. Louis will return from the FIFA World Cup break on Wednesday night against the host Los Angeles Galaxy.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Commish: SEC conversations 'real' about split from NCAA
Jul 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images SEC commissioner Greg Sankey kicked off conference media days in Tampa on Monday with a clarification for anyone doubting the seriousness of internal conversations about splitting from the NCAA.
“So they’re real. People have talked about that,” Sankey said. “They’ve opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different. I do not believe that is a leverage point. I think that’s just honest communication.
“I would prefer that stay in a meeting room or on a videoconference, not be part of the D1.ticker the next morning, but I don’t control all of that. What I think is important is those comments represent a high level of frustration with the circumstance in which we find ourselves. We have regulated ourselves more progressively than other colleagues by choice, across our league. We’ve had different academic eligibility restrictions in the past. So we have different transfer restrictions in the past. Some of what you hear comes out of a culture that we can regulate ourselves.”
Sankey said the NCAA must function “in a healthy manner” or risk simmering frustrations becoming more significant.
As the top official in one of the most consistently successful sports conferences, Sankey openly shared the SEC is at odds with portions of the NCAA membership on several matters. Those include possibly discontinuing conference championship games — Sankey wants the SEC to keep the league title game — the size of the College Football Playoff and how other leagues handle scheduling.
“We had what I’ll call an unsatisfactory conversation with members of the College Football Playoff staff and some of their advisers in Destin,” Sankey said of the challenging nine-game SEC schedule compared to less-challenging paths to the playoff for some peers. “That’s rehashing from a couple months ago, that’s not a secret. That’s a reminder of that process needing to continually improve.
“My confidence is that people will act with integrity. I do think we have questions about the understanding of the strength and rigor associated with competing in the Southeastern Conference.”
Legislative discussions are part of Sankey’s new reality, with visits to Capitol Hill and video calls to maintain a voice at the table around the Protect College Sports Act.
Introduced with support from former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and others with direct or indirect college sports ties, the bipartisan bill drew immediate opposition from the SEC and Big Ten in June before Congressional hearings were held.
Among the passionate pleas from Sankey on behalf of the SEC to Congress are national standards for eligibility and transfer limits, expectations for student-athlete health and safety, supporting educational opportunities, providing scholarship protections and overseeing agent activity. Provisions to the proposed bill remain under discussion, and Sankey believes the current framework of the legislative measure is far from perfect.
“We support the effort behind the Protect College Sports Act. However, we believe changes to the act are necessary to make it most effective,” he said. “If Congress is going to act, and again I believe it should for the reasons identified, we have one opportunity to get this legislation right. If Congress passes a bill and it’s signed into law, we won’t be returning to DC in a year or two asking and receiving help to correct the gaps that exist. That’s why it’s important that these commonsense areas be addressed now before the bill becomes law.”
–Field Level Media
Yankees option RHP Elmer Rodriguez to Triple-A
St. Louis City sign D Jaziel Orozco to contract extension
