Sports
Skidding Penguins focus on defense as upbeat Ducks visit
Dec 18, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (right) talks with center Lars Eller (20) at the bench against the Minnesota Wild during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to avoid matching their longest losing streak under coach Mike Sullivan when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.
The Penguins have dropped six in a row, getting outscored 27-13 in the process.
Sullivan, who’s in his 10th season with Pittsburgh, said there’s an assortment of factors leading to the downturn, but it begins with the decisions the Penguins are making with the puck.
“We put ourselves and our teammates in very difficult spots,” Sullivan said. “The first step in becoming a solid team defensively is managing the puck appropriately. Otherwise, you’re inviting easy offense.”
Indeed, Pittsburgh has allowed at least four goals in each of the past seven games and nine times in 11 contests this season.
“We’re giving up too much,” Pittsburgh forward Sidney Crosby said. “Can’t win consistently when you give up the quality of chances or the amount of goals that we’re giving up. We have to find a way to limit our mistakes. If we’re going to make them, they can’t be big ones.”
Sullivan said the Penguins need to start thinking defense first.
“We’re going to defend our way out of this,” he said. “We’re not going to score our way out of this. That’s what we’re trying to work at. For me, it starts with a mindset. It starts with an attitude. Your intentions need to be in the right place. When they are, now we have a chance to be better defensively.”
The Ducks enter the final game of their four-game road trip feeling confident after beating the New York Islanders 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Anaheim received another outstanding effort from goalie Lukas Dostal, who made 40 saves against the Islanders, the second time he has hit that mark this season.
He has also allowed two goals or fewer in four straight starts.
“He was terrific,” Anaheim coach Greg Cronin said. “We knew that they shot the puck a lot going into it. There’s certain teams in the league that have a certain style of hockey that invites a lot of shots. Lukas did a great job, and I thought we did a good job of blocking shots, too.”
One area that’s improving for the Ducks as the season unfolds is their power play.
They started the season 0-for-20 with the man-advantage and were 2-for-26 heading into Tuesday’s game. Anaheim then scored its first two goals on the power play before finishing 2-for-3 to improve to 13.8 percent this season.
“I think we’re just supporting each other (on the power play),” said Troy Terry, who scored the second power play goal – against New York. “Even when it goes off the rails a little bit, just knowing that you’ve got three or four on the battle, knowing where your releases are.”
Terry referred to the centering pass made by Mason McTavish that resulted in his goal and the tip-in goal by Leo Carlsson off a shot from Frank Vatrano that resulted in the other power-play tally.
“Loosened up the grip a little bit and gave us a little more confidence around the net,” Terry said.
Terry’s goal on Tuesday was the 100th of his career and extended his point streak to eight games (five goals, three assists).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Phillies snap 10-game skid with extra-inning defeat of Braves
Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis Garcia (53) runs to third on an RBI triple against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Bryce Harper’s bases-loaded single in the 10th inning drove in two runs and sparked the visiting Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-5 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday to end their 10-game losing streak.
After Tyler Kinley (3-1) started the inning with a walk and left-hander Jose Suarez walked the first batter he faced, Harper, who was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, lined a sinker into left to drive in automatic runner Garrett Stubbs and Trea Turner. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-run single to widen the lead and help the Phillies win their first game since April 13.
Brady Keller (1-0) retired all four batters he faced, and Kyle Backhus pitched the 10th, allowing one run on two hits.
Philadelphia right-hander Zack Wheeler made his first appearance since August 15 of last year after missing time due to undergoing surgery to treat thoracic outlet syndrome. He pitched five innings and allowed two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out six. He left after throwing 84 pitches.
Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder pitched seven innings, matching his season high, and allowed three runs on six hits and one walk, striking out two.
The Phillies scored a run in the first inning when Harper walked with two outs and scored when Adolis Garcia lined a ball to left field that Mike Yastrzemski missed on a dive for an RBI triple.
Philadelphia scored another run in the fourth inning when Bryson Stott smacked a triple off the right-field brick wall to score Brandon Marsh.
Atlanta tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Michael Harris II hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly and Austin Riley followed with an RBI double, knocking in the 500th run of his career.
The Phillies regained the lead in the fifth. Rafael Marchan singled and came around to score on Harper’s infield single which snapped Philadelphia’s 0-for-18 drought with runners in scoring position against the Braves this season.
The Braves took their first lead in the sixth, scoring twice against reliever Tanner Banks on an RBI double from Ozzie Albies and a run-scoring single from Harris.
The Phillies evened the game 4-4 in the eighth against Dylan Lee. Kyle Schwarber tripled when center fielder Eli White slipped on the wet turf and allowed the ball to get past him. He scored on Harper’s sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo (leg), Anthony Edwards (knee) exit early in win over Nuggets
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) celebrates after a three-pointer during the second half against the Denver Nuggets in game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo was ruled out after injuring his lower right leg in the first quarter and was late joined on the sidelines by injured teammate Anthony Edwards in the first half of Saturday’s 112-96 victory over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their playoff series in Minneapolis.
DiVincenzo sustained the injury on a non-contact play 79 seconds into the game. He planted his foot to go toward a loose ball, and he quickly went down as he grabbed toward the back of his right leg.
The team ruled out DiVincenzo before the end of the first quarter. ESPN reported that DiVincenzo, who left the arena at halftime in a wheelchair, hasa torn right Achilles.
Edwards, a four-time All-Star, appeared to hyperextend his left knee while leaping to defend Nuggets wing Cam Johnson’s drive to the basket with 2:43 remaining in the second quarter. He landed awkwardly and grabbed his left knee. Edwards was helped to the locker room.
Minnesota ruled him out for the rest of the game just after halftime. Edwards, who had five points and three rebounds in 18 minutes, is slated to get an MRI to determine the injury’s severity.
The Timberwolves lead the best-of-seven series 3-1, with Game 5 on Monday in Denver.
DiVincenzo averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range during the regular season. He averaged 14.3 points in the first three games of the playoff series against the Nuggets.
-Field Level Media
Sports
T-wolves beat Nuggets, lose Anthony Edwards, Donte DiVincenzo to injuries
Apr 25, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Christian Braun (0) defends against Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) in the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images Ayo Dosunmu came off the bench to score a career-high 43 points on 13-for-17 shooting, and the short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away for a 112-96 win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 4 of their Western Conference quarterfinals series on Saturday night in Minneapolis.
The victory, which gave Minnesota a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, came at a cost to the Timberwolves, who lost two starters due to injury.
Anthony Edwards, a four-time All-Star and the team’s top scorer, left in the second quarter and did not return because of a left knee injury. Edwards leaped to try to block a shot and landed awkwardly on his left leg, and he quickly dropped to the court and clutched his knee.
Team officials helped Edwards to his feet and he placed his arms around their shoulders. He put little weight on his left leg as he hobbled toward the locker room.
Earlier in the first half, Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo headed toward the locker room after he injured his right leg on a non-contact play. DiVincenzo planted his foot to pursue a loose ball and fell to the hardwood, and he grabbed the back of his right leg in pain.
Early reports indicated that DiVincenzo might have ruptured his Achilles tendon on the play.
Naz Reid added 17 points off the bench for Minnesota. Julius Randle finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Rudy Gobert grabbed a game-high-tying 15 rebounds to go along with four points.
Jamal Murray scored 30 points on 10-for-25 shooting to lead Denver. Nikola Jokic finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists. However, he shot 8-for-22 from the field and missed all three of his 3-point attempts.
The series returns to Denver for Game 5 on Monday night.
Dosunmu took over in his teammates’ absence. He helped Minnesota outscore Denver 62-42 in the second half to take a commanding lead in the series.
The Nuggets led 76-74 late in the third quarter before Dosunmu helped Minnesota take charge. He made a pair of free throws as Minnesota finished the quarter on an 8-2 run to grab an 82-78 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Dosunmu continued to assert himself. He hit a driving layup and a pull-up bank shot to increase the Timberwolves’ lead to 95-82 with 7:53 to go.
Denver struggled to keep pace the rest of the way, and Jokic took exception to a layup by Jaden McDaniels with 2.1 seconds left. Jokic and Randle were ejected in the closing seconds after players from both teams shoved one another near the sidelines.
–Field Level Media
Phillies snap 10-game skid with extra-inning defeat of Braves
Timberwolves' Donte DiVincenzo (leg), Anthony Edwards (knee) exit early in win over Nuggets
