Sports
Valeri Nichushkin a 'possibility' to return for Avalanche vs. Devils
Dec 22, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) reacts after his goal in the second period against the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images The Colorado Avalanche have stumbled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, but they may get a key player back when they host the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night.
Winger Valeri Nichushkin practiced with the team Tuesday and could return, though coach Jared Bednar would not fully commit to writing his number on one of Colorado’s lines.
“He is a possibility for (Wednesday),” Bednar said after practice. “He’s one of the top players in the league, so getting him back — when we get him back — will be helpful.”
Nichushkin has been a force when he plays, but he hasn’t been available much this season. He was out until mid-November, missing his team’s first 17 games while serving a suspension. He returned to pile up 11 goals and six assists in 21 games but has not played since Dec. 31 due to a lower-body injury.
Colorado has missed his offense, especially in the two games played since the break. The Avalanche scored just one goal in each loss at Nashville and St. Louis, further hampering their efforts to climb above the wild-card fray in the Western Conference.
Even though he has missed 38 games this season, Nichushkin is tied for fifth among players currently on the team with his 11 goals. Colorado is paced by reigning Most Valuable Player Nathan MacKinnon with 87 points (21 goals and a league-best 66 assists).
Cale Makar (22 goals, 42 assists) leads all NHL defensemen in goals and points, Martin Necas also owns 64 points (20 goals, 44 assists) and Artturi Lehkonen’s 34 points (23 goals, 11 assists) is fourth in scoring for Colorado.
Wednesday will be the first home game for the Avalanche since Feb. 2 and kicks off a six-game, 12-day homestand.
They face a New Jersey team coming off a 5-0 win at Nashville, which continues the Devils’ trend of up-and-down play. New Jersey has not won or lost consecutive games since the end of January and stand third in the Metropolitan Division.
New Jersey is led by Jack Hughes (26 goals, 42 assists) and Jesper Bratt (17 goals, 51 assists). Hughes competed in the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament for the United States while Bratt played for Sweden.
Nico Hischier (24 goals, 22 assists) is the only other Devils player who has reached 20 goals this season.
Hughes didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice after playing in all four games for the United States in the tournament. With Wednesday being the only game in a span of seven days, it gave him a chance to rest.
Goaltender Nico Daws would probably prefer playing more after recording his first NHL shutout in Sunday’s win over the Predators. The 24-year-old Daws has been impressive in his NHL appearances this season — posting a 2-0-0 record with an 0.84 goals-against average and a .986 save percentage.
In 49 total games over the past three seasons, he sits 21-22-1 with a 3.00 GAA and .897 save percentage.
“He was unreal,” Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton said of Daws’ play Sunday. “We gave up some chances, some looks, and they were playing hard. We just capitalized on some chances.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
Jerry Kelly drives on hole No. 4 during the Kaulig Companies PGA Championship Final Round, July 12, 2026, at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. With a 2-under par third round, Jerry Kelly tied Cameron Percy atop the leaderboard of the ISPS Handa Senior Open in Perth, Scotland on Saturday.
For Kelly, it was his second straight round of 2-under par 68 en route to being at 8-under 202 through three rounds. Meanwhile, Percy had his roughest afternoon of the week with a 1-over 71. The Australian started the event red hot with a 7-under 63.
Peter Baker (67, 5-under 205) and South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68, 4-under) resided in third and fourth place, respectively. Pat Perez (67), South African Ernie Els (71) and Austria’s Markus Brier are all tied for fifth at three-under par.
Despite his position, Kelly, 59, remains focused on the round ahead of him.
“Yeah, we scoreboard watch, but it’s still Saturday,” he said. “So, there’s no real emotions going on for that scoreboard. Just want to position yourself for tomorrow and you want to get the job done tomorrow and that’s the key.”
Nevertheless, he recognized how meaningful it would be to win a Senior Open Championship.
“Yeah, that would be one of the most special things at this stage of my career. Like any player, I might treasure that above all else.”
Tim Petrovic was the round leader, shooting a 4-under that vaulted him 46 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 16th place.
Clark Dennis had a strong showing, as well. His 67 shot him up 21 spots to a tie for eighth place.
Charles Schwab Cup leader Stewart Cink (70) is tied for 31st at 3-over 213.
–Field Level Media
Sports
With 318th homer, Royals' Salvador Perez sets club mark
Jul 25, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) receives receives congratulations from teammates after he hits a home run in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Salvador Perez, who hit the first home run of his career at Comerica Park in Detroit in 2011, set the Kansas City Royals’ all-time record with No. 318 on Saturday at the same venue.
In the Royals’ 3-2 win over the Tigers, Perez tied the game at 2 in the seventh inning with a 401-foot solo shot to left off right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan.
Perez’s blast broke a tie with Hall of Famer George Brett, who hit 317 homers for Kansas City from 1973-93. Like Brett, Perez has played his entire career with the Royals since debuting in 2011.
The 36-year-old is batting .210 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 98 games this season. He is a nine-time All-Star and a five-time Gold Glove catcher.
In 1,805 games with Kansas City, Perez has hit .261 with 748 runs and 1,060 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rangers place 3B Josh Jung (calf) on 10-day IL
Jul 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) follows through on his single against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-Imagn Images The American League West-leading Texas Rangers placed starting third baseman Josh Jung on the 10-day injured list on Saturday — retroactive to Wednesday — with a left calf strain.
In a corresponding move, the Rangers recalled infielder Josh Smith from Triple-A Round Rock before Saturday’s home game against the second-place Seattle Mariners.
Jung, 28, exited Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after three innings with a left calf issue and has not played since. In 92 games this season, the 2023 All-Star is hitting .294 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. He is eligible to return to the active roster on Aug. 1.
Texas’ first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2019 MLB Draft, Jung has hit .264 with 58 home runs and 196 RBIs in 417 games with the Rangers.
Smith, 28, is in his third stint with the Rangers this season, batting .230 with one run and eight RBIs in 40 games. The versatile five-year veteran has played five positions in 2026, mainly seeing time at second base (34 games/30 starts).
In 496 games with Texas since being acquired from the New York Yankees in 2021, Smith has hit .236 with 32 homers and 136 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Jerry Kelly ties Cameron Percy atop Senior Open leaderboard
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