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United States rallies past Canada in 4 Nations Face-Off

NHL: 4 Nations Face Off-USA vs CanadaFeb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Dylan Larkin (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against Team Canada in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Dylan Larkin’s second-period goal held up as the game-winner as the United States beat Canada 3-1 on Saturday in an emotional 4 Nations Face-Off clash in Montreal.

Jake Guentzel scored twice and Larkin also recorded an assist for the Americans in a comeback victory that featured a textbook defensive effort. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 25 saves.

The U.S. has won its first two games in the round-robin portion of the tournament and punched its ticket to the final, which will be held on Thursday in Boston.

Connor McDavid scored for Canada, which opened the tournament with an overtime victory against Sweden. Goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 20 shots.

Canada, Finland and Sweden are all tied in the standings with two points apiece. Team USA has six points.

Any questions about what this game meant to both sides were answered with a trio of fights in the first nine seconds of action. Canada’s Brandon Hagel fought Matthew Tkachuk at the drop of the puck, American Brady Tkachuk dropped the gloves with Sam Bennett on the ensuing faceoff and J.T. Miller of the U.S. and Colton Parayko also squared off.

McDavid opened the scoring at the 5:31 mark of the frenetic affair, lifting a backhanded shot into the back of the net to complete a deke on a breakaway.

Guentzel evened the score just under five minutes later when he fired a shot through Binnington’s legs from the left wing, a goal that clearly frustrated the Canadian netminder.

Larkin put the Americans ahead at 13:33 of the second period. Taking advantage of a Team Canada turnover at the offensive blue line, Larkin was sprung on an odd-man rush. He wisely elected to shoot from his off wing and cashed in on the opportunity.

Guentzel added an empty-net goal with 79 seconds remaining in regulation to round out the scoring.

The victory may have come at a high price for Team USA. Matthew Tkachuk played only two shifts in the third period — and none in the final 12:36 of the frame due to an apparent injury. He took the ice testing the issue during television timeouts.

–Field Level Media

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Right-handers for Giants, Brewers out to cap successful July with win

Jul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA;  San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp (65) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images

A pair of young right-handers attempting to complete an unbeaten month of July will go head-to-head Tuesday night when Logan Henderson and the Milwaukee Brewers take on Landen Roupp and the host San Francisco Giants in the continuation of a three-game series.

The Giants opened the set with a 3-0 victory Monday, getting brilliant pitching from Tyler Mahle and a two-run homer from Grant McCray.

Roupp (7-8, 3.93 ERA) will attempt to successfully follow in Mahle’s footsteps as he looks to continue the form that led to a fast start this season before a two-month slump.

The 27-year-old began the season 5-1 through the end of April, but then started 11 consecutive losses, seven of which went on his record, in May and June.

The third-year major-leaguer has regained his winning form in July, however, going 2-0 with wins against the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. He took a no-decision against the Kansas City Royals in a 5-4 win last Wednesday. He has allowed just three runs and nine hits in 21 innings.

Roupp’s earlier skid reached its greatest depth when he suffered through his worst outing of the season in a 16-2 loss at Milwaukee on June 1, charged with eight runs in four innings. The loss ran his career record against the Brewers to 0-2 with a 7.16 ERA in five games, including three starts.

Jackson Chourio’s two-run double and Brice Turang’s two-RBI triple, hit consecutively, were the big blows against Roupp in the earlier head-to-head in Milwaukee.

Henderson (4-1, 3.05) has had a similar month. Like Roupp, he is 2-0 with a no-decision in July. The Brewers have won all three Henderson starts, games against the St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Marlins and New York Mets.

In just his second major-league season, the 24-year-old Henderson went winless in his first three starts in 2026 before going unbeaten in his past five. He has allowed just six runs and 11 hits in 15 1/3 innings in July.

His July starts followed almost a six-week layoff due to back soreness. But he watched closely, especially the games of hard-throwing staff ace Jacob Misiorowski, who clearly inspires him.

“It never gets old, and he’s taking it up a notch every start,” Henderson told reporters recently. “I feel privileged to have a front-row seat every game.”

Henderson never has faced the Giants.

One player Henderson definitely won’t see will be Giants slugger Casey Schmitt, who strained his right knee rounding first base after a hit in the second inning of the opener and had to be removed from the game.

The Giants announced after the game that Schmitt, whose hit raised his average to .271, would undergo an MRI on Tuesday.

San Francisco manager Tony Vitello said after the game that he feared Schmitt could miss “significant” time.

“He’s a little bummed out. He loves to play every day,” Vitello told reporters after the win. “Scary moment for him. He was really struggling just to move around. Heart’s got to go out to him and you hope for the best.”

– Field Level Media

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French legend Zinedine Zidane to coach national team

Jul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE;  Zinedine Zidane during the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games along the Seine River. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn ImagesJul 26, 2024; Paris, FRANCE; Zinedine Zidane during the Opening Ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games along the Seine River. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-Imagn Images

Zinedine Zidane, who led France to the 1998 World Cup championship, has been named the next coach of the French men’s national team.

He replaces Didier Deschamps, 57, who had been at the helm since 2012. Deschamps said in January 2025 that he intended to retire at the end of the 2026 World Cup, in which France lost 6-4 to England in the third-place match.

The deal with Zidane, announced Tuesday, is for four years, and he officially will begin his job on Aug. 1. His staff is expected to be revealed in September.

Zidane, 54, entered coaching after his playing days, and his Real Madrid teams won three consecutive Champions Leagues finals (2016-18) and two LaLiga titles.

He resigned from his job in Madrid five years ago and has not coached since, long projected as the successor to Deschamps.

“For me it’s a continuity, a dream,” Zidane said. “I had some offers during the five years I was away to take charge of a club but I turned them all down for the France team. It was the only thing I wanted to do.”

And Zidane said he is ready to get to work.

“I have so many emotions, I am ready for the challenge,” he said. “That’s what motivates me.

“Today I have the opportunity to be in charge of this team and I will give everything so that this team can win.”

Zidane will make his coaching debut with the national team on Sept. 25, when he leads France against Turkey in their first match of this UEFA Nations League schedule.

–Field Level Media

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Luca Van Assche beats Alexander Blockx in Portugal for first title

Jul 31, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Luca Van Assche (FRA) hits a forehand against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesJul 31, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Luca Van Assche (FRA) hits a forehand against Andrey Rublev (not pictured) on day five of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Luca Van Assche of France secured his first ATP title when he posted a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Belgium’s Alexander Blockx on Sunday in the Estoril Open final in Portugal.

Van Assche, 22, converted 8 of 13 break points and overcame eight double faults to win in two hours and 24 minutes on the clay surface. He is the ATP’s 10th first-time winner this year.

Blockx, 21, had seven aces and seven double faults while playing in his first title match. He rallied from a 3-0 hole in the third set to tie it 5-5 before Van Assche closed it out by winning two straight games.

The championship match was the first between players born in 2004 or later.

–Field Level Media

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