Sports
Sputtering Flames seek better outcome against lowly Sharks
Feb 4, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames left wing Blake Coleman (20) controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images The Calgary Flames are desperate for a bounce-back performance when they return from the 4 Nations Face-Off break to host the struggling San Jose Sharks on Sunday.
The Flames, who have defied the prognosticators by remaining in the playoff mix through two-thirds of the campaign, sputtered into the break winless in three games and having managed only two victories in eight outings (2-5-1).
The swoon was extended when they surrendered a two-goal lead in the final seven minutes of regulation en route to a 3-2 overtime loss to the visiting Seattle Kraken on Feb. 8.
Calgary, which had fallen to three points out of a playoff spot before the league resumed on Saturday, is facing a make-or-break point of the season to keep any playoff hopes alive, but coach Ryan Huska wants to keep his charges from looking too closely at the big picture.
“The only message we have is for Sunday night,” Huska said. “We have a big game coming up after a long layoff, we’ve lost a few in a row at home, and we want to make sure we’re playing our best game of the year.”
The Flames will receive a much-needed boost with defenseman Kevin Bahl, who has missed eight games, and forward Connor Zary, who has been sidelined 15 games, both expected to return.
“Both the guys that were out missing for that period of time, it was a noticeable hole in our lineup,” forward Blake Coleman said. “I played with Connor a lot early in the year and felt that there was a lot of chemistry and we created a lot of offense.”
As badly as the Flames struggled heading into the break, the Sharks went through an even worse run. San Jose, which sits last in the league standings, is winless in four games and managed only one victory in 11 outings (1-9-1), with the most recent loss an 8-3 beating at the hands of the Dallas Stars on Feb. 8.
Although it is no surprise the Sharks are one of the league’s weakest squads, the organization expects to see a strong finish to the campaign.
“We’ve got 25 games to really push and be competitive,” coach Ryan Warsofsky told the San Jose Mercury News. “I thought there was, in the last couple years, (a feeling of) you just try to get through the games and get to the end of the season. We’re going to try and compete.”
As the Sharks embark on a seven-game road trip, they should have a couple of key players back from injury in forwards Alexander Wennberg and Nico Sturm.
However, as they head to a sixth consecutive season without playoffs, changes are coming before the league’s March 7 trade deadline. San Jose already dealt a pair of veterans in defenseman Cody Ceci and forward Mikael Granlund, who was leading the team with 45 points, for draft picks.
Pending unrestricted free agents Sturm and fellow forward Luke Kunin are trade candidates, as are defenseman Jan Rutta and both goaltenders, Vitek Vanecek and Alexandar Georgiev.
Despite the looming moves, the Sharks expect their youth-laden lineup to learn the commitment necessary to win.
“We’re not here to mess around,” said veteran center Tyler Toffoli. “We’ve been saying that all year. We’ve just got to get our game consistent and it starts with practice.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Course management sets up Lucas Herbert for wire-to-wire effort at LIV UK
Jul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Lucas Herbert plays a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Lucas Herbert maintained his lead through three rounds of LIV Golf United Kingdom on Saturday and will carry a three-shot advantage into the final round as he bids for a wire-to-wire victory at Rocester, England.
Herbert shot a 3-under-par 69 in the third round and is at 20 under for the tournament to maintain an advantage over Bryson DeChambeau, who was at 4 under Saturday and is at 17 under through three rounds.
“Look, I enjoy it; I enjoy being in the lead,” said Herbert, who won in May at LIV Golf Virginia. “It’s been awesome to play with Bryson the last couple days and get to play with him again tomorrow. It’s a great energy out there. Any time when you’re in the lead you get good energy. … I think maybe playing under pressure brings the best out of me.”
England’s Tyrrell Hatton (67) was alone in third place at 15 under, while Australia’s Cameron Smith (66) was alone in fourth place at 14 under. A two-way tie for fifth at 13 under included Harold Varner III (68) and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (65).
After scorching the JCB Golf and Country Club course with an 11 under in the opening round, Herbert was far more conservative in the third round when he opened with seven consecutive pars. He closed the front nine with consecutive birdies at Nos. 8 and 9.
After a bogey 5 at No. 11, Herbert closed with a pair of birdies over his last seven holes, including a birdie 3 at 18 when he put a 132-yard second shot to inside of 7 feet from the hole.
“I am going to do my best just to stick to what I’m doing, try and make as many putts as I can,” Herbert said. “I wasn’t happy with my (putting) speed out there. I was a little tentative today. That’s not going to happen tomorrow. I am going to make sure I get the ball to the hole and get a lot more chances.”
Herbert acknowledged the challenge of trying to close out the victory against a trio of proven players in DeChambeau, Hatton and Smith.
DeChambeau put himself in line for his third victory of the season, and first since March at South Africa, with five birdies and a bogey in the third round.
DeChambeau’s lone hiccup came at the par-5 10th hole when he sent his third shot just over the green and missed a 13-foot putt for par. He improved his round with a pair of birdies over the final three holes.
“I played some good golf,” said DeChambeau, who gained a stroke on Herbert during the round. “I felt like I could have had a couple things go a couple different ways, but the birdies on 16 and 17 were huge for tomorrow.”
Hatton, a fan favorite for the week while in his home country, made an early charge with three birdies over his first four holes, but the run was interrupted by a bogey 6 at No. 6. He rebounded with a pair of birdies to close his front nine then had another bogey 6 at No. 10. He was 1 over on the day at the four par-5 holes.
With windy conditions expected for the final round, Hatton knows there will be additional challenges ahead.
“It’s quite quirky out there, so it’s easy to get a little bit unlucky with some of the slopes,” Hatton said. “And you don’t really have to do too much wrong to drop shots. We’ll see how it goes. Either way, I think just focusing on my side, just trying to play another good round of golf, whatever the weather.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lionel Messi (rest) officially ruled out of MLS All-Star Game
May 17, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts against the Portland Timbers during the second half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi was one of four players officially ruled out of Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game at Charlotte, N.C., as the Argentina star continues to recover from a run to the World Cup Final.
Also on Saturday, Hugo Cuypers, Rodrigo De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi were ruled out of the All-Star Game, which will match the best of MLS against the top players from Mexico’s LIGA MX.
Cuypers earned his All-Star spot with his play for the Chicago Fire, but he was transferred to Mexico’s CF Monterrey on Thursday. De Paul, an Inter Miami midfielder, will follow Messi’s lead and bow out of Wednesday’s festivities after playing for Argentina in the World Cup.
Mbokazi, a defender from the Chicago Fire, was ruled out with a lower body injury. The South Africa native also appeared in this summer’s World Cup.
To replace the foursome, Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andres Cubas, Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme and Fire forward Philip Zinckernagel all were named All-Stars on Saturday.
Bright has guided Inter Miami to a 9-2-1 record in his 12 starts this season, while Cubas has three assists in 12 matches for the Whitecaps. Guilherme has eight goals and five assists in his first season with the Dynamo, while Zinckernagel has five goals and seven assists for the Fire.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins' Class A pitcher fails drug test, suspended 80 games
Sep 11, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a illuminated Miami Marlins logo in center field after the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies split a double header at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Miami Marlins minor league pitcher Eiver Mosquera has received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
This season with Class-A Jupiter and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins in 12 games (nine starts), the 19-year-old was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 16 walks in 38 innings.
Mosquera joined the organization in 2024 as a $150,000 international signing out of Venezuela.
–Field Level Media
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