Eljif Elmas will be looking for a new club in the summer and have expressed interest in Aston Villa And Sunderland.

Napoli signed the 26-year-old on loan from RB Leipzig in the summer. Partenopei had the option to buy him permanently €17 million, having seen him perform well in the ongoing campaign.

The midfielder has played 32 times in Serie A, playing in the middle of the park during injury crises. He has also performed out wide and in attacking midfield, scoring a total of four goals.

sports witness Have covered interest from Manchester United over the past few months. Although it has not started, it is certain that Napoli will not exercise their option to buy.

tutomercatoweb There have now been reports of interest from Aston Villa and Sunderland.

Initial contact is being made

The report makes it clear that Napoli CEO Aurelio De Laurentiis has no intention of exercising his option to buy. Elmas is not part of Leipzig’s plans and this will leave him looking for a new club.

Sunderland and Aston Villa have made moves for him in recent times.

The player is keen to play Champions League football, leaving the Black Cats as an option he is not attracted to.

This makes Aston Villa a more likely option. As a result, Unai Emery’s side will increase their efforts by already making inquiries for him.

Aston Villa are smart to move forward

Elmas is a classic market opportunity and a very useful player to add to the team. He can play in a variety of positions, often contributes to goals and has a clean fitness record.

This is why Aston Villa would be smart to make a move, Emery is no stranger to having versatile players in the squad.

He is only 26 years old and is unlikely to be worth much. While his Leipzig contract expires in 2028, he is not part of their plans and around €17 million could prove enough to sign him.

Aston Villa should be alert to the situation, Elmas’ technical ability may also attract Emery.

Aston Villa Barcelona could be beaten to the signing of Eze Abedi this summer, with the Catalans not interested in moving the player at the current asking price.

Sport reports it is ‘highly unlikely’ Abede and Barcelona will cross paths again due to interest from the likes of Aston Villa.

clear path to aston villa

The newspaper reports that Eze Abeda is not a priority for Barcelona’s sporting management this summer. They are exploring other options including retaining Marcus Rashford.

A recent report from Diario de Seville Indicated that Newcastle and Aston Villa are both interested in the 24-year-old.

Betis are prepared to sell to the highest bidder to ensure a significant profit on the player. And the emergence of the Premier League pair has made Barcelona’s chances of a move less likely.

Had it been financially advantageous they would have considered a deal which would have valued them at around €30m. Since they own 20% of his rights, this means he will cost them around €24 million.

But his price tag could be high, so Barcelona would love to see him sold at that high price and cut out of it. Betis value the winger at around €40m. Barcelona have also not ruled out the possibility of selling their 20% stake to Betis just to bring in money. This is something he has done before as well.

What will Aston Villa pay?

Either way, the Catalan giants have no intention of competing with Aston Villa or anyone else for Aze Abeda this summer.

The La Liga champions, at least at the moment, are shying away from any potential deal and are instead waiting to see what happens and how much they can make from it.

The question is whether Aston Villa will pay closer to €40m. Given their tight financial situation in recent years, even with Champions League football, it is difficult to see that happening this summer.

The Tampa Bay Lightning forced their Eastern Conference First Round series into a seventh game with a 1-0 overtime win over the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 at the Bell Center on Friday night.

The Atlantic Division rivals were held scoreless through more than 69 minutes of action before Gage Goncalves hit a loose puck past Jacob Dobbs for the game’s only goal. Brandon Hagel crossed a checker at the right point and fed Dominic James in the bottom right circle. James threw the puck on net, where Goncalves got a shot at it.

Dobbs got a slice of the shot, but Goncalves got to the loose puck and put it into the net at 9:03 for the win.

The goals came after each goaltender made game-saving stops in OT. Seconds after Lightning star Nikita Kucherov was called for tripping 5:30 into overtime, Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy blocked Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkovsky’s one-timer from the right circle. The Lightning killed off the remaining penalties, and Kucherov almost won it by coming out of the box, getting the puck in the Montreal zone and forcing Dobbs to make a spectacular stop to keep the game scoreless.

Vasilevskiy, who allowed a soft goal in Montreal’s 3–2 win in Game 5 that proved to be the winner, bounced back with a flawless, 30-save effort. Dobbs finished with 32 saves as the teams played their fourth overtime game and sixth one-goal game in the series that has become a classic.

The series returns to Benchmark International Arena in Tampa for Game 7 on Sunday. But playing at home may not be to Bolt’s advantage; The home team has lost four out of six matches in this series.

To say that the scoreless first period was played at a fast pace would be an understatement. With the Lightning in “win or go home” mode and the Canadiens eager to end the series in front of their home fans, both teams were excited. The Canadiens had 26 hits in the opening 20 minutes; The Lightning, not known as a physical team, had 15.

Cole Caufield, Montreal’s 51-goal scorer during the regular season, almost opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game; He beat Vasilevskiy but hit the post. That happened when Tampa Bay’s Yanni Gourde picked up a foul play from Dobbs and took a shot to the back of the net, but couldn’t connect on the wraparound, causing the puck to slip through the crease.

Vasilevskiy faced tougher chances as the period progressed, robbing Jake Evans from close range twice and denying Ivan Demidov from the right circle on a 2-on-1.

The Canadiens got their first power play of the game when Jake Guentzel was called for an unnecessary high-sticking penalty with 11 seconds remaining, but nothing was generated.

The pace was a little less frenetic in the second period, but the result was the same – no goals. This was largely due to some late heroics from Vasilevskiy, who lived up to his status as a Vezina Trophy finalist – especially after Charles-Edouard was called for slashing at 16:54. He denied Caufield again from 20 feet, then robbed Demidov from the right circle after a perfect setup and denied him again on the rebound.

The Canadiens continued to control the game after the power play ended and Vasilevskiy kept the game scoreless for 40 minutes on a last-second effort by Philippe Denault.

Montreal controlled the first five minutes of the third period, but the game changed after Montreal defenseman Caden Guhle was called for slashing Guentzel at 5:11 to break up a solo scoring chance. Tampa Bay did not score but applied a lot of pressure and dominated the game for most of the rest of the period.

The Lightning got a late power-play opportunity when Demidov was called for goaltender interference with 3:17 left after fouling Vasilevsky.

Tampa Bay controlled the puck for almost the entire power play, but couldn’t get past Dobbs, who made big saves on Kucherov, Radish and the point, then denied Brandon Hagel’s tip-in attempt shortly after the penalty ended.

Tampa Bay finished regulation with a 28–27 edge in shots on goal and an 81–58 differential in attempts.

Key takeaways after the Lightning survive by defeating the Canadiens 1-0 in Game 6

Vasilevsky stepped forward

The Lightning were swept in Game 5, but were even at 2–2 before Vasilevskiy was defeated by a blocked shot 99 out of 100. He more than atoned for it in Game 6, earning the 70th playoff win and eighth shutout of his career.

The “Big Cat” was everywhere, leaving Montreal shooters (and team executives) shaking their heads.

“He was excellent tonight,” D’Astas told Scripps Sports. “Because of them we’re going back to Tampa. It was fun to see.”

Hegel said having Vasilevskiy in goal allows him and his teammates to play with more freedom.

“You can go out and play your game and not have to worry about what’s behind you,” he said. “It seemed as if Vasi would never allow another goal.”

Goncalves an unlikely hero

On a team with stars like Kucherov, Vasilevskiy and Hegel, it’s easy to lose sight of players like Goncalves, who is a bottom-six forward and does a lot of attacking work. He was scoreless in the series before getting an assist in Game 5 and had not scored a goal since March 17.

But he missed the game-winner by tipping defenseman Caden Guhle and refused to leave the game after Dobbs blocked his first-time attempt.

“I talked to him before the game about what he needs to do in this game, be where he needs to be,” Cooper said. “It was only fair that such a goal was needed to win. It was a brilliant game by both teams.”

win or go home, take 2

The Lightning probably could have flown home even without the plane – such is the feeling of a season-saving overtime win. But as Cooper said, “We haven’t won anything yet.”

Both teams have had success in Game 7. The Lightning have won seven of 10, including four of five played at home. This is their first Game 7 since the first round in 2022, when they defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1.

Montreal is 15-9 in Game 7s, including a 7-6 mark on the road. The Canadiens’ last Game 7 came when they defeated Toronto 3–1 in the second round in 2021. Ironically, Corey Perry scored the game-winning goal – the same Corey Perry who would be trying to help the Lightning end his former team’s season.

Hegel said, “These are the moments you live for.”

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

Aston Villa Has been regularly mentioned as a suitor for Lazio’s Mario Gila in recent weeks. Their task is now becoming complicated, as AC Milan are pushing for a deal.

last month, sports witness Covered TuttoSport’s claims about Villans’ interest in the defender.

It didn’t end there as Gila’s agent Alejandro Caamaño spoke About your client last week. He clarified that no club has approached him yet, but he is open to offers.

It was the biggest sign yet that the defender’s time at Lazio is drawing to a close. His contract expires in 2027 and there is no renewal.

AC Milan are now pushing for his signature and this is a warning to Aston Villa.

individual agreements in place

journalist transfer market Danielle Longo tweeted about the 25-year-old, who was missed by Lazio in their 3-3 draw against Udinese on Monday.

The Rossoneri have now made new contact for Gila and have agreed a draft deal on personal terms. This is pushing the deal forward, with the club now seeking permission from Redbird ownership before moving forward.

Currently, Lazio wants €25m for the defender. It may take some time for Milan to initiate contact with the Roman club but it is believed that an agreement is quite possible.

It remains to be seen whether Aston Villa uses that time to progress. But Gazzetta dello Sport – via LalaziosononoiClaim Milan are unlikely to go ahead €25 million in a deal.

While that limit may also attract suitors, Lazio CEO Claudio Lotito is unlikely to make a transfer easy.

Our View: Lotito holds the key

Historically, Lotito has been a very tough negotiator in the marketplace. Notoriously, he has caused problems for Lazio players and their agents in the past, often turning them away from staying in Italy and moving abroad.

This is why Aston Villa can never be ruled out as a destination for the defender. Furthermore, Lazio’s financial situation is not very good and they have no choice but to approve the sale.

Italian clubs may not have as much financial power as the Villans and this could sway things in Unai Emery’s favour.

The Tampa Bay Lightning provided a stern test on Sunday night, coming back from two goals down to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at the Bell Center and even their Eastern Conference First Round series at two-up.

Brandon Hagel’s second goal of the game with 4:53 remaining in regulation capped the comeback. Hagel was battling for position in front of Montreal goaltender Jacob Dobbs when Nikita Kucherov fired the puck on net from the right board near the top of the circle.

The shot hit him and hit the net, giving the Lightning their first lead of the night.

Hegel tied the game at 2-2 at 1:40 of the third period, winning inside position in front of the net and converting a cross-crease pass from Kucherov into a power-play goal.

Jake Guentzel’s goal in the final minute of the second period put Tampa Bay on the board, after which Montreal took a 2–0 lead on goals by Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 16 saves for his 69th career playoff win. Dobbs stopped 17 shots.

Teams get two days off before Game 5 at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday night. The Lightning will try to win consecutive playoff games for the first time since the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, when they lost the first two games to the New York Rangers before winning the next four.

The Lightning had an early chance to take the lead when Montreal was called for fouling just 2:04 after an early face-off. They controlled the puck in the offensive zone for most of the two minutes, but Dobbs blocked a rocket from Darren Raddish and Canadiens defenseman Caden Guhle got his stick on Braden Point’s open shot from the slot.

Montreal did not get a shot on goal until Caufield tested Vasilevskiy at 6:20. But after Bolt took consecutive penalties, the Canadiens got six shots in a span of 3:48 – Max Crozier was called for high-sticking at 7:22 and Yanni Gourde was called for cross-checking at 9:10. Vasilevskiy was up to the challenge, blocking a shot by Game 3 hero Lane Hutson and denying Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkowski on a rebound.

The final nine minutes of the period contained hit penalties by the Canadiens (who finished the period with a 23–10 lead), but few testing shots on either goaltender. Montreal finished the period with a 9–6 lead in shots on goal, but the Lightning held them to just three at 5-on-5 and none at all in the final 8:04 of the period.

The first half of the second period was much the same. Tampa Bay did nothing on the early power play after Josh Anderson was sent off for boarding 41 seconds into the period and neither team produced much offense.

But the game changed shortly after intermission when the Canadiens finally opened the scoring.

Bolduc took a pass at the Tampa Bay blue line and cut to the net, with Reddish trying to stop him. As Bolduc approached the net, Vasilevskiy made a poke-check, but it hit the Canadiens forward and bounced into the net at 10:06, giving Montreal a 1–0 lead.

Guentzel took a bad slashing penalty at 12:24 for hitting Dobbs after a save, and the Canadiens took advantage of it at 13:29 thanks to smart play from their top line. Nick Suzuki controlled the puck in the left corner and Caufield, a 51-goal scorer during the regular season, went to the front of the net before deflecting a perfect pass past the helpless Vasilevskiy for the 2-0 lead.

But the Lightning appeared to get a jolt of energy when Crozier, playing his first game of the series, leveled Slafkowski at center ice with a brutal but clean hit just before the 18-minute mark.

Guentzel then responded with a power-play goal to put the Lightning on the board with 54 seconds remaining. With the teams playing 4-on-4, he moved the puck around the net, passed it to JJ Moser at the right point, raced in front of the net and converted a sensational pass by Moser for his first goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

The Lightning didn’t produce much on the power play in the first two periods, but they were nearly flawless after Oliver Kapanen was called for high-sticking 51 seconds into the third. Tampa Bay worked the puck around the offensive zone before a Kucherov-to-Hagel combination tied the game.

Kucherov’s play on the winning goal surprised the Canadians. He caught a quick glimpse of Hegel heading to the front of the net and fired the puck on the goal, where he caught a piece of Hegel and headed it into the net for the win.

Key Takeaways After Lightning Even Series By Beating Canadiens 3-2

Hegel continues to score

Lightning has scored 11 goals in this series. Hegel has six of them, as his pair in the third period evened the best-of-7 series. Needless to say, Hegel leads all NHL players in postseason goals – no one else has more than four.

He also helped the Bolts make some history.

Hagel promoted the 10th multi-goal comeback playoff win in Lightning history, and their fourth on the road. It was his first appearance since defeating the New York Rangers 3–2 in Game 3 of the 2022 Eastern Finals. It was also the fourth consecutive comeback win in this series; Montreal and Tampa Bay are the first set of teams to combine to start a series with four consecutive wins since the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets played five such games in the 2019 Western Conference First Round.

Crozier’s hit might have changed the series

The Lightning looked like they were headed home in an attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive one-upmanship in the Stanley Cup playoffs when Caufield’s goal gave the Canadiens their first two-goal lead of the series. The Bell Center crowd was roaring, the Canadians were flying and Bolt looked a little surprised.

Then Crozier, who hadn’t played for the Lightning in the postseason since 2024, stepped up — literally.

The 26-year-old, who played 35 games for Tampa Bay this season, finishing with a goal and 10 points, caught Slafkowski near the red line as he received a pass and flattened him with a clean but devastating hit.

The Canadian barked at Crozier but did not attempt to retaliate for the attack, which caused a fire under the lightning. The jolt of energy was palpable, and became more intense after Guentzel’s goal made the score 2–1 less than 90 seconds later.

“He makes a big play and comes back to the bench,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said on the Scripps Sports postgame show.

the resident comes again

The Lightning trust Vasilevskiy to deliver when it matters most. he did the same in game 4

The “Big Cat” did not face many shots – Montreal attempted 48 but managed only 18. Following the Lightning playoff loss he improved to 16–0 with 16 saves in his last 16 games.

His biggest stop may have been the one he made on Ivan Demidov over the middle, though Montreal’s star rookie found a dead spot in defensive coverage and was alone in the slot.

This was a game the Lightning had to win – and Vasilevskiy made sure they did.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Washington Capitals (43-30-9) finished the 2025-26 season on a high note. They got their fourth straight win by defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-30-12) 2-1 on Tuesday.

More importantly, this could be the final NHL game for Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals captain received a final ovation from the crowd at Nationwide Arena.

It’s a full circle moment for Ovechkin, who made his debut against Columbus in October 2005. The 40-year-old recorded an assist in the Capitals’ win in the season series (4-0-0) against the Blue Jackets.

“We try to win,” Ovechkin said. “We’re trying to finish the season on a good note and I hope this isn’t my last game. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll see.”

The first goal came early in the middle frame when Boone Jenner scored for Columbus. However, Anthony Beauvillier responded with the tying goal in the same period.

Then, in the third, Jacob Chykrun came up with the game-winner on the power play. Clay Stevenson was also strong in net, making 27 saves.

The season has already ended, with the Capitals sitting in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with 95 points.

capitals analysis

All eyes were once again on Ovechkin as he suited up for the Capitals for possibly the last time. Although he is still undecided, the 40-year-old received plenty of cheers from the crowd in Columbus.

Many Capitals fans traveled as far as Ohio to see The Great 8 once again. As on Sunday, many in the stands chanted “one more year” and “Ovi”.

Ovechkin looked impressive on the ice as he recorded a secondary assist on Chirkrun’s goal. He led the team with four shots, 12 attempts and two hits during 18:24 ice time.

Winning Tuesday’s game was no longer necessary, so many players got a chance to shine. Stevenson started in net and looked strong, stopping 27 of 28 shots.

The Capitals finally responded, after Jenner scored 27 seconds into the middle frame. Trevor van Riemsdyk found Beauvillier on a breakaway as he beat Jett Greaves to make the score 1–1.

In the third, the Capitals played a key power play, as Ovechkin once again made his presence felt. He allowed Chirkrun to get a shot past Greaves for the go-ahead goal. The 28-year-old finished the season with 26 goals, the most among NHL defencemen.

With secondary assistance, Ovechkin finished his 21st season with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games. This marked the first time since 2017–18 that The Great 8 appeared in all 82 games.

capitals report card

Team: B+

The Capitals went on to finish the season with four consecutive wins. If the team was not troubled by injuries and inconsistencies, they could have reached the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin: A

Ovechkin made quite an impact in his swan song. He finished the 2025–26 season with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists).

Clay Stevenson: A

Stevenson had a solid effort stopping 27 of 28 shots against Columbus. The 27-year-old got the start over Logan Thompson and the injured Charlie Lindgren.

Anthony Beauvillier: A

Beauvillier fueled the Capitals’ offense with the game-tying goal in the second period. He finished the season with a season-high 15 points.

Jacob Chykrun:A

Chicrun recorded the game-winner to help the team finish strong. He finished with 26 goals, the most among NHL blueliners this season.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

In a moment of hope for Vancouver Canucks fans, Max Sasson gave the team a second period lead, but it did not last. The Canucks ultimately lost 2–1 to the Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Arena, with Cole Smith scoring the winner midway through the third. The Canucks also came up empty late on the power play due to the goalie being pulled.

Vegas extended its winning streak to four games and remains unbeaten under new coach John Tortorella. ESPN’s recap noted that the win also completed a three-game season sweep of the Canucks, something most fans would like to forget.

Despite the result, it was not a complete walkover. The game was on edge, spaced out and didn’t look very clean in any way. When a team is struggling, these are the nights where a mistake, a fumble, or a lost puck in the neutral zone can ruin the game. And that’s pretty much what happened here with the Canucks.

game flow

At 12:50 of the second period, Sasson finally broke through for the Canucks, beating Carter Hart with a wrist shot over the glove for his 13th goal of the season. It felt like the Canucks earned something for sticking with the slower, tighter game.

However, less than three minutes later, Braden McNabb answered for Vegas with a shot through traffic, and before the Canucks could really regain the lead, everything was reset.

Then the Golden Knights took the lead. Smith scored with 12:13 left in the third minute after a neutral-zone takeaway and a pass from Nick Dowd put him in high position.

The Golden Knights’ defense did the rest, including killing penalties in the final two minutes. The Canucks got the chances you wanted late, with Rasmus Andersen called for interference and Nikita Tolopilo pulling the extra attacker, but the push never ended.

the statue that stands out

A number is more important than anything else in this game. The Golden Knights held the Canucks to just 11 shots. This is the fewest shots allowed in its short franchise history.

In comparison, Tolopillo made 26 saves at the other end. That contradiction speaks volumes.

The Canucks got enough goals to go around, but they didn’t generate enough aggression to generate pressure.

For the Canucks, it felt familiar in the worst way. There was effort, there was a brief lead, and there was even a real chance to force overtime late. But the attack remained weak.

The Canucks head to Los Angeles for the start of a three-game road trip, while the Golden Knights head to Seattle with a little more life than a week ago.

The Vegas Golden Knights extended their lead with a 2-1 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday night, their fourth straight win. They also remained undefeated under new head coach John Tortorella.

Even this late in the season, the so-called “coaching bump” is proving to be very real in Las Vegas. Since Tortorella took over behind the bench, the Golden Knights have looked much better and it’s clearly paying off.

However, tonight didn’t start off well. The Golden Knights took control of the game early and outshot Vancouver in the first period, but the Canucks struck first.

Midway through the second period, Max Sasson fired a pass past goaltender Carter Hart to give Vancouver a 1–0 lead. It’s a goal Hart will likely want to get back to, especially with the playoffs approaching and his role looking like the No. 1 goalie for the team moving forward.

Shortly after Sasson’s goal, Braden McNabb scored his fifth goal of the season to tie the game. While Tomas Hertl did not record a point in the game, his net-front presence was large, providing an ideal screen that made Vancouver goaltender Nikita Tolopillo difficult to see.

The second period ended quietly, and the third followed a similar script. But midway through the final frame, Cole Smith made the breakthrough. His go-ahead goal gave Vegas a 2–1 lead, and was ultimately the game-winner.

The Golden Knights pressed defensively, allowing a total of 10 shots on goal, the fewest ever allowed in franchise history, surpassing the previous mark of 14.

Vegas now continues its four-game road trip with a stop in Seattle against the Kraken before finishing up in Colorado. Now the question is, can they make it five straight?

It’s also worth noting that with this win, the Golden Knights are now tied for first place in the Pacific Division with the Edmonton Oilers, further solidifying their late-season push. We’ll see if a fifth division title is on the way with only four games left in the regular season.

Cooper Krigbaum is a beat reporter covering the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNut. He also told about Cooper Krigbaum

Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth are among the clubs pursuing the transfer of AS Monaco goalkeeper Yannis Benchouch.

The 19-year-old joined Monaco’s academy on a free transfer in July 2021 after a stint with Trelissac FC Jugend.

He was initially part of the Monaco U17 side and, a year later, joined their U19 team. Since 2023, the stopper has been representing Monaco U21, but is yet to make his first-team debut.

Despite this, he has attracted the attention of Aston Villa, Bournemouth and other clubs.

Two months ago, Sports Witness broadcast news That Andoni Ierola’s side failed to sign him in the winter market. The Cherries are not giving up and face a battle with the Villans.

Last year, Benchouch performed brilliantly for Morocco at the U20 AFCON as they lost to South Africa in the final in May. He impressed again at the U20 World Cup, a tournament which they won by defeating Argentina in the final.

The stopper’s development saw him make his debut for Morocco U23s in the last international break.

Aston Villa and Bournemouth keen

Africa Foot Now there is a report giving the latest from Unai Emery on the transfer interest of AFC Bournemouth and other clubs in Yannis Benchouche.

The AS Monaco youngster faces a ‘fierce fight’ as his contract expires in June and he has refused to sign an extension.

After showing interest, Aston Villa made concrete transfer action to bring him to Villa Park in the summer.

The Villains have submitted an official offer that includes a five-year contract worth €850k per year.

Emery’s side are also offering a substantial sell-on percentage to the Ligue 1 side. This is a ‘goodwill gesture’ to prevent any possible legal dispute over the training fees and to conclude the deal ‘amicably’.

This was probably done to get ahead of competition from Bournemouth, Al-Gharafa SC and other clubs.

The Cherries could return with a new offer after a failed attempt in January while the Qatari side try to lure Morocco. Modena, Inter Milan, Monza and unnamed clubs from Spain, Belgium, France and the Netherlands are also interested.

Our opinion: Aston Villa could have the transfer edge

It seems that Yannis Benchouche is well aware that several clubs are chasing him, including Aston Villa and AFC Bournemouth.

At the moment, he is in no rush and wants to make a final decision at the end of the season after evaluating all the options. The stopper wants to prioritize the sporting aspect.

This means Aston Villa will have to show him a path to the first team over the next few years, possibly with cup appearances along the way. Given that Villa is likely to change the goalkeeper position, they could sell a project.

🇩🇪 Kosta Nedeljkovic | ‘Bitter turn of events’ as player returns to Aston Villahttps://t.co/boS56uL7pN #avfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 2 April 2026

It was a strange night for the Vegas Golden Knights and Calgary Flames, not because of the result, but because of how it all unfolded.

During the second intermission, the game was delayed for an unusual reason: a problem with the ice surface. Both captains, Mark Stone and Mikael Backlund, made several trips to the bench to observe conditions and talk to the referee.

Arena staff worked to fix the problem, while in-game entertainment continued while remaining consistent with the Las Vegas atmosphere. The delay lasted 26 minutes and disrupted the flow of an already back-and-forth game.

Despite this, the Golden Knights remained perfect under head coach John Tortorella, and continued the momentum late in the season, going 34–26–16 and defeating the Flames 6–3.

Calgary opened the scoring with Morgan Frost scoring her 19th goal of the season. Frost had time and space and defeated Carter Hart cleanly. Hart finished the game with an .864 save percentage and 3.00 goals-against average.

The Golden Knights responded and Mitch Marner deflected Shea Theodore’s shot to tie the game at 1–1.

Less than three minutes later, Blake Coleman restored Calgary’s lead. After Theodore pinch hit, the Flames went on a two-on-one and Coleman beat Hart’s blocking side.

However, Marner struck again, scoring his second of the night and 22nd of the season, with a neat passing sequence to Jack Eichel and Rasmus Andersen.

Before the second period ended, Coleman scored his second goal of the game for Calgary. But once again, the Golden Knights found a response. Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 35th goal of the season on the power play. He is now eighth, surpassing the franchise record of 43 set by William Carlson in 2017–18.

After two unexpected periods and long delays, the third belonged to the Golden Knights. Brett Howden gave the Golden Knights their first lead by scoring on a rush and beating Dustin Wolf.

Shortly after, Wolf misplayed the puck behind his own net and Ivan Barbashev took advantage to extend the lead to 5–3. Marner later sealed it, earning a hat trick and leading the Golden Knights over the Flames.

Head coach John Tortorella is now 2-0-0 with the Golden Knights and is looking to get the team back on track.

The Golden Knights will look to continue their winning ways against the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night as they begin a four-game road trip.

Cooper Krigbaum is a beat reporter covering the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNut. He also told about Cooper Krigbaum

谈论勇敢的努力。由于防守组已经耗尽，参议员队今晚又失去了一名防守球员，泰勒·克莱文(Tyler Kleven)在第一场比赛中因上半身受伤而提前离开。在三连败的情况下，参议员队在0-1落后的情况下迎战炙手可热的布法罗军刀队，最终以4-1获胜。让我们深入了解细节。

蓝线蓝调

在这一点上这绝对是荒谬的。桑德森、查伯特、詹森和吉尔伯特等人已经出局。今晚，泰勒·克莱文 (Tyler Kleven) 在第一场比赛一开始就打出高杆后离开。他只打了不到两分钟就没有回来。请记住，克莱文的上场时间非常长，在今晚的过去五场比赛中，他场均上场时间略低于 26 分钟。

克莱文也是他们今晚阵容中唯一的左投后卫，这使得他们有五名右投后卫参加余下的比赛。其中包括卡梅伦·克罗蒂（Cameron Crotty）本赛季与参议员队的第一场比赛。 Crotty 在 13 分 37 秒的冰场时间里表现出色。不过，毫无疑问，参议员们迫切需要克莱文和桑德森尽快回归。

出色的团队防守

军刀队场均进球超过 3.4 个，在 NHL 中排名第七。尽管后端出现了上述种种伤病，森斯队还是只让军刀队只进了一球。他们也只丢了22次投篮，第三节只丢了7次投篮。莱纳斯·乌尔马克(Linus Ullmark)在对阵黑豹队的一场艰难比赛中，在第一节丢掉五个进球后被淘汰，今晚的表现非常出色。乔丹·斯彭斯也值得称赞。今晚他打了不到31分钟。前锋们也提供了很大的帮助，在黑豹队那场糟糕的比赛之后，他们优先考虑了冰面的防守。

迪伦·科森斯的盛大之夜

在所有前锋中，科曾斯无疑是最出色的。他在第二节末打入扳平比分的进球，这是他本赛季的第 26 粒进球。他最终打出了全场最高的六次出手，并增加了四次安打。当然，这一切都是针对他的老东家的。也许这就是科曾斯所需要的。进入今晚，他在过去的12场比赛中只打进2球，拿下3分。

丹尼在渥太华出生和长大，至今仍居住在这座城市。他遵循…有关丹尼·麦克洛斯基的更多信息

談勇敢的努力。由於防守組已經耗盡，參議員隊今晚又失去了一名防守球員，泰勒·克萊文(Tyler Kleven)在第一場比賽中因上半身受傷而提前離開。在三連敗的情況下，參議員隊在0-1落後的情況下迎戰炙手可熱的布法羅軍刀隊，最終以4-1獲勝。讓我們深入了解細節。

藍線藍調

在這一點上這絕對是荒謬的。桑德森、查伯特、詹森和吉爾伯特等人已經出局。今晚，泰勒克萊文 (Tyler Kleven) 在第一場比賽一開始就打出高桿後離開。他只打了不到兩分鐘就沒有回來。請記住，克萊文的上場時間非常長，在今晚的過去五場比賽中，他場均上場時間略低於 26 分鐘。

克萊文也是他們今晚陣容中唯一的左投後衛，這使得他們有五名右投後衛參加剩餘的比賽。其中包括卡梅倫·克羅蒂（Cameron Crotty）本賽季與參議員隊的第一場比賽。 Crotty 在 13 分 37 秒的冰場時間裡表現出色。不過，毫無疑問，參議員們迫切需要克萊文和桑德森盡快回歸。

出色的團隊防守

軍刀隊場均進球超過 3.4 個，在 NHL 中排名第七。儘管後端出現了上述種種傷病，森斯隊還是只讓軍刀隊只進了一球。他們也只丟了22次投籃，第三節只丟了7次投籃。萊納斯·烏爾馬克(Linus Ullmark)在對陣黑豹隊的一場艱難比賽中，在第一節丟掉五個進球後被淘汰，今晚的表現非常出色。喬丹·斯彭斯也值得稱讚。今晚他打了不到31分鐘。前鋒們也提供了很大的幫助，在黑豹隊那場糟糕的比賽之後，他們優先考慮了冰面的防守。

迪倫科森斯的盛大之夜

在所有前鋒中，科曾斯無疑是最出色的。他在第二節末打入扳平比分的進球，這是他本賽季的第 26 粒進球。他最終打出了全場最高的六次出手，並增加了四次安打。當然，這一切都是針對他的老東家的。也許這就是科曾斯所需要的。進入今晚，他在過去的12場比賽中只打進2球，拿下3分。

丹尼在渥太華出生長大，至今仍居住在這座城市。他遵循…有關丹尼·麥克洛斯基的更多信息

华盛顿首都队 (38-28-9) 回到主场并成功保住了季后赛的希望。周二，他们在对手费城飞人队 (37-25-12) 的比赛中打入 6 个进球，以 6-4 获胜。

对于汤姆·威尔逊来说，这是一个特别的夜晚，他正在参加职业生涯第 900 场 NHL 比赛。替补队长贡献了两个进球，其中包括最后时刻的空网进球。

“我认为我们团队的伟大之处在于每个人都在贡献力量，”威尔逊说。

亚历克斯·奥维奇金（Alex Ovechkin）也创造了历史，他职业生涯中已经有 20 个赛季打进 30 球。这位40岁的球员还以两个进球结束了当晚的比赛。

“显然，这是一场巨大的比赛，”奥韦奇金说。 “你可以看到每个人都在同一立场上。每个人都立即定下了基调。

第二节费城队2-0领先，最终将比分追成2-2平。然而，首都队以雅各布·奇克伦（Jakob Chychrun）和瑞安·莱昂纳德（Ryan Leoanard）的连续强力进球作为回应。

皮埃尔-吕克·杜布瓦也度过了一个重要的夜晚，他送出了三次助攻。他甚至帮助实现了两个强力进球。

接下来，首都队将在周四晚上访问新泽西州，进行一场前往纽瓦克的快速客场之旅。

资本分析

首都队的领导人很早就定下了基调，奥维奇金和威尔逊展示了他们的身体素质。紧接着，两人便同时进攻。

首先，威尔逊在开局时将首都队放在了第一位。这位31岁的球员打进了他本赛季的第26个进球，结束了个人五场比赛的进球荒。

几分钟后，奥维奇金冲到前场，掩护了马特·罗伊的传球，将比分改写为2-0。这是他本赛季的第 30 个进球，这位 40 岁的球员在他 21 年的职业生涯中已经有 20 个赛季打入 30 球。奥维奇金唯一没有进球 30 的赛季是因新冠疫情而缩短的 2020-21 赛季。

第二节初期，费城队将势头转向有利。特拉维斯·桑德海姆和卡尔·格伦德斯特罗姆在 4 分 36 秒内连续进球，将比分追成 2-2。

然而，首都队很快就在强力进攻中做出了回应，奇伦（Chychrun）在丹·弗拉达尔（Dan Vladar）面前射出了一记一次性投篮。这位蓝线球员恰好在他 28 岁生日那天进球，他本赛季的 24 粒进球领先所有 NHL 防守队员。

随后，首都队再次占据人力优势，伦纳德打进了他本赛季的第16个进球。杜波依斯助攻两粒强力进球，华盛顿队以 4-2 领先。

第三节，凭借克里斯蒂安·德沃夏克和丹佛·巴基的进球，费城继续将比分差距缩小到一分。然而，奥维契金的回应是埋葬了他当晚的第二次得分和今年的第 31 次得分。

洛根·汤普森在比赛最后时刻也挺身而出，24次射门，20次扑救。比赛最后时刻，威尔逊以 5-4 领先，投进一记单打，以两记进球结束了这个特殊的夜晚。

首都成绩单

团队：A-

尽管飞人队试图重整旗鼓，但首都队仍取得了三连胜。他们的进攻和身体素质贯穿整个晚上。

亚历克斯·奥维奇金：A+

奥维契金打入两球，赛季进球数达到 31 球。这位40岁的球员在过去三场比赛中打入五球，在过去七场比赛中打进七球。

汤姆·威尔逊：A+

威尔逊在职业生涯第 900 场比赛中取得了两个进球。这位31岁的球员现在有26个进球，是球队中第二多的。

皮埃尔-吕克·杜布瓦：A

杜布瓦当晚送出三次助攻。这位 27 岁的球员为威尔逊的两记强力进球以及空门得分提供了帮助。

首都权力游戏：A

当晚，凭借奇克伦和伦纳德的进球，球队3投2中。首都队现在连续三场比赛都有强力进球，过去五场比赛中有四场都有进球。

哈里·利奇曼 (Harry Lichtman) 是一位屡获殊荣的记者，为《Sportsnaut》报道华盛顿首都队。他还为网站做出贡献…更多关于 Harry Lichtman

華盛頓首都隊 (38-28-9) 回到主場並成功保住了季後賽的希望。週二，他們在對手費城飛人隊 (37-25-12) 的比賽中打進 6 球，以 6-4 獲勝。

對於湯姆威爾森來說，這是一個特別的夜晚，他正在參加職業生涯第 900 場 NHL 比賽。替補隊長貢獻了兩個進球，其中包括最後時刻的空網進球。

「我認為我們團隊的偉大之處在於每個人都在貢獻力量，」威爾森說。

亞歷克斯·奧維奇金（Alex Ovechkin）也創造了歷史，他職業生涯中已經有 20 個賽季打進 30 球。這位40歲的球員還以兩個進球結束了當晚的比賽。

「顯然，這是一場巨大的比賽，」奧韋奇金說。 「你可以看到每個人都在同一立場上。每個人都立即定下了基調。

第二節費城隊以2-0領先，最終將比數追成2-2平手。然而，首都隊以雅各布·奇克倫（Jakob Chychrun）和瑞安·萊昂納德（Ryan Leoanard）的連續強力進球作為回應。

皮埃爾-呂克·杜布瓦也度過了一個重要的夜晚，他送出了三次助攻。他甚至幫助實現了兩個強力進球。

接下來，首都隊將在周四晚上訪問新澤西州，進行前往紐瓦克的快速客場之旅。

資本分析

首都隊的領導人很早就定下了基調，奧維奇金和威爾遜展示了他們的身體素質。緊接著，兩人便同時進攻。

首先，威爾森在開局時將首都隊放在了第一位。這位31歲的球員打進了他本賽季的第26個進球，結束了個人五場比賽的進球荒。

幾分鐘後，奧維奇金衝到前場，掩護了馬特·羅伊的傳球，將比分改寫為2-0。這是他本賽季的第 30 個進球，這位 40 歲的球員在他 21 年的職業生涯中已經有 20 個賽季打進 30 球。奧維奇金唯一沒有進球 30 的賽季是因新冠疫情而縮短的 2020-21 賽季。

第二節初期，費城隊將勢頭轉向有利。特拉維斯·桑德海姆和卡爾·格倫德斯特羅姆在 4 分 36 秒內連續進球，將比分追成 2-2。

然而，首都隊很快就在強力進攻中做出了回應，奇倫（Chychrun）在丹·弗拉達爾（Dan Vladar）面前射出了一記一次性投籃。這位藍線球員恰好在他 28 歲生日那天進球，他本賽季的 24 粒進球領先所有 NHL 防守隊員。

隨後，首都隊再次佔據人力優勢，倫納德打進了他本賽季的第16個進球。杜波依斯助攻兩顆強力進球，華盛頓以 4-2 領先。

第三節，憑藉克里斯蒂安·德沃夏克和丹佛·巴基的進球，費城繼續將比分差距縮小到一分。然而，奧維契金的回應是埋葬了他當晚的第二次得分和今年的第 31 次得分。

洛根·湯普森在比賽最後時刻也挺身而出，24次射門，20次撲救。比賽最後時刻，威爾森以 5-4 領先，投進一記單打，以兩記進球結束了這個特殊的夜晚。

首都成績單

團隊：A-

儘管飛人隊試圖重整旗鼓，但首都隊仍取得了三連勝。他們的進攻和身體素質貫穿整個晚上。

亞歷克斯·奧維奇金：A+

奧維契金打進兩球，賽季進球數達到 31 球。這位40歲的球員在過去三場比賽中打進五球，在過去七場比賽中打進七球。

湯姆威爾森：A+

威爾森在職業生涯第 900 場比賽中取得了兩個進球。這位31歲的球員現在有26個進球，是球隊中第二多的。

皮埃爾-呂克·杜布瓦：A

杜布瓦當晚送出三次助攻。這位 27 歲的球員為威爾遜的兩記強力進球以及空門得分提供了幫助。

首都權力遊戲：A

當晚，憑藉奇克倫和倫納德的進球，球隊3投2中。首都隊現在連續三場比賽都有強力進球，過去五場比賽中有四場都有進球。

哈里·利奇曼 (Harry Lichtman) 是一位屢獲殊榮的記者，為《Sportsnaut》報道華盛頓首都隊。他還為網站做出貢獻…更多關於 Harry Lichtman

Despite letting a two-goal lead slip away early, the New Jersey Devils battled adversity to defeat the Nashville Predators 4-2 on Thursday night.

The Devils initially opened the scoring with goals awarded to Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, but were later credited with the goals again to Bratt (for the first goal) and Nico Hischier, respectively.

The Predators bounced back in the second period with goals from Reed Schaefer and Steven Stamkos.

Hischier added another run late in the third period, a deflection off a shot from Hughes restoring New Jersey’s lead. Timo Meyer converted an empty netter in the last minute of the game to seal the victory.

Jacob Markstrom started in goal for New Jersey after consecutive games sitting on the bench behind Jake Allen. With the win, Markstrom moved to 22–16–1 on the year.

Justus Anunen played between the pipes, going 8-10-2 on the year in the loss.

Arseniy Gritsyuk was out of the lineup for the Devils after suffering an injury at the end of their previous game against the Dallas Stars. Evgeny Dadonov took his place on New Jersey’s third line.

first period

The Devils came out of the gate outscoring the Predators 4–0 in the first five minutes of the game.

Enunen held strong in the early parts of the game and Nashville took the lead late in the contest. However, Markstrom and the Devils were able to hold off the attacks through the middle and end of the period.

That defensive resilience opened the door for New Jersey to take the lead before the end of the opening frame.

The Connor Brown-Hughes-Bratt line continued to be productive, Hughes fired a shot which Bratt deflected past Anunen for his 19th goal of the campaign. The first goal was scored in 1:58 minutes.

After 20 minutes the Devils led 1-0 and had a 9-6 advantage in shots.

second period

Once again, the Devils dominated the first few minutes of the period and outscored the Predators 6–1 over the opening 5:30.

The Devils used that momentum to double the lead at the 10:47 mark, with Hischier tipping a sharp-angle shot by Bratt into the top shelf.

However, that two-goal lead was short-lived, as the Predators responded by immediately scoring two goals in the next four minutes.

In the first, Nashville took advantage of a poor turnover by the Devils defense, allowing Schaefer to solo on Markstrom to cut the lead in half with 8:51 to go in the second.

Just 1:51 later, veteran Stamkos converted on back-to-back defensive zone giveaways from Simon Nemec and Hughes, tying the game just before the end of the period.

After 40 minutes, the Predators had tied the Devils 2–2, despite trailing 10–6 in the second frame and 19–12 after two.

third period

The third period was much more even than the previous two, with the Predators and Devils trading chances in the first ten minutes.

Nashville picked up its first and only power play of the game 3:27 into the period, but the best chance with the man-advantage went to Hischier, who could not find a way past Annunen on a rush chance.

However, the successful kill gave the Devils a second wind, tilting the ice back in their favor. Nashville took two penalties later in the third and New Jersey’s pressure finally increased.

Hischier scored his second goal of the night and 26th of the season, on a Hughes shot on the power play with 5:53 minutes left.

The Devils defense closed things out late with a 3–2 lead, limiting the Predators to just two shots in the final five minutes of the game.

Meyer put away the game with an empty net goal in the final 33 seconds, scoring his 21st goal of the season to give New Jersey a 4–2 victory.

The Devils battled adversity late in the second period and ultimately earned their fifth win in six games. Not only that, but star center Hughes extended his point streak to seven games with two assists, bringing his total points in that span to 14.

New Jersey will conclude its road trip on Saturday night when it faces division rival, the Carolina Hurricanes.

With 76 points and 11 games to play, the Devils will need a miracle to reach the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. But if they keep scoring points like this, they might be able to stay in the race for a little while longer.

The Devils are ten points behind the Ottawa Senators for the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

James Birley is an emerging sports commentator and journalist with extensive experience covering football and hockey. Recently graduated… More about James Birley

In a game that the Senators could not afford to lose, they managed a 2–1 win over the New York Rangers. However, along the way, they lost two more defenders, including Thomas Chabot. Let’s get into the details.

The senators’ defense became even weaker

It’s time for a very fun recap. On March 7, Jake Sanderson was injured and has not yet returned. After two games, Nick Jensen was injured and was lost for the remainder of the season. Dennis Gilbert suffered an injury in the Senators’ last game, which will keep him out for some time. Tonight, Thomas Chabot left the game at the end of the first period after taking a crosscheck by JT Miller to the wrist area. Later, Lassie Thomson left the game in the second game due to injury.

The Senators played the second half of the game with only four defensemen. Their only left shot was D-man Tyler Kleven. It was Kleven who had to kill a full two minutes of penalties in the third period tonight due to injuries, as well as Jubb in the box.

As far as who’s name will be called next, the obvious answer is Carter Yakemchuk. He has had a great rookie season in the AHL with 10 goals and 36 points in 50 games. Of course, he shoots right-handed. The left shot D-man who will likely be the next call up is Jorian Donovan. Wouldn’t you know it, he’s hurt right now.

Stellar defensive play

The four remaining defensemen deserve all the credit in the world. Here they are by numbers:

• spence: 1 assist, 4 shots, 2 blocked shots, 26:44 time on ice
• cleven: 6 shots, 2 hits, 24:01 time on ice
• when: 2 blocked shots, 23:15 of time on ice
• mat fire: 5 blocked shots, 2 hits, 18:19 time on ice

Of course, the forwards also deserve a lot of credit, as the entire team supported such strong defensive play. Best position of the night? The Senators only gave up 9 shots.

additional comments

In general, Igor Shesterkin is a great goalkeeper. Against senators? He became the top Dominic Hasek! Coming into tonight, he was 6-1-2 with a .938 SV% and two shutouts. Tonight, he was the only reason the Rangers stayed in this game, saving 31 of the 33 shots he faced, including a number of tight saves. Warren Foegele with the Kings this season: 7 goals in 47 games. Foegele with the Senators: 5 goals in 9 games. What a wonderful contribution that has been. Now, the Senators must head straight to Detroit to play their biggest game of the year while remaining shorthanded. no pressure!

Danny was born and raised in Ottawa and still lives in that city. He has followed… more about Danny McCloskey

Talk about an impressive performance. The Senators controlled tonight’s game against the Maple Leafs from start to finish. There was a short burst of energy from the Leafs to end the second and start the third, but other than that, it was all Senators. For the third consecutive time this season, he managed to score five goals against the Leafs. The last two have been 5-2 wins. Let’s get into the details.

READ MORE: Checking out Senators’ top prospect Carter Yakemchuk

shot dominance by senators

The Senators won the shot battle in all three periods tonight. The first period was the closest at 9-6. There was no competition in the next two periods. The Senators outscored the Maple Leafs 19–5 in the second and 15–3 in the third. Add it all up and the final shot count was 43 for the Sens, 14 for the Leafs.

It wasn’t just the number of shots, the Sens dominated the Leafs the entire game. Ridley Gregg had a goal called back due to a high stick. The Sens had another finish in net that was ruled out for Tim Stützle’s goalie interference penalty. Michael Amadio hit a post, Brady Tkachuk missed a partially empty net high, the list goes on. The Sens also seemed to be strategic with their shots – three times he hit Leafs goaltender Josef Woll straight in the head.

Claude Giroux’s big game

After the Senators beat the Ducks 2-0 last weekend, I mentioned that Giroux was out cold. He then picked up an assist the next night against the Sharks, followed by another assist against the Capitals in the next game. After being held off the scoresheet in the last game, Giroux was able to end his 13 game goalless drought tonight.

It’s clear that Giroux’s usage is decreasing as the year goes on. He has averaged only 13:55 per game in the month of March. However, he still has the smarts and competitive edge to make a difference. Tonight, to lead the way with goals, he had seven shots, two hits, added two takeaways and won 75% of his faceoffs.

additional comments

The only two Senators to score multiple points tonight were both defensemen – Tyler Kleven and Jordan Spence, who each had two assists. How about Warren Foegele with his third goal and fourth point in the last four games. Talk about how to fit in well with their new team. Michael Amadio is a very hard-working, strong defensive player. As far as his weaknesses go, he doesn’t have the best finish. They missed some great chances tonight but managed to score a big one in the third half to make the score 4-2. Next up for the Sens is a road game against the Rangers on Monday.

Danny was born and raised in Ottawa and still lives in that city. He has followed… more about Danny McCloskey

The Washington Capitals (35-27-8) have now won two in a row. They didn’t need much scoring to get the job done as they defeated the New Jersey Devils (35-32-2) 2-1 on Friday night.

The game was a goaltending duel between Logan Thompson and Jake Allen. In the end, Thompson was victorious.

The Olympic silver medalist made 30 saves on 31 shots. Thompson nearly recorded a shutout, but still recorded his 23rd win in the end.

“I don’t really care about it,” Thompson said of not getting the shutout. “They won’t remember me for the shutout. That wasn’t on my mind. I just wanted to win.”

Ryan Leonard and Aliaksi Protas scored two goals each for the Capitals on the night. Cole Hutson also contributed in his second NHL game.

The Capitals have kept their playoff hopes alive with seven extra points from four matches. However, if they are to be able to do so they will have to win and get some help.

Next, the Capitals conclude their four-game homestand with a Sunday matinee matchup against Colorado.

capitals analysis

Capitals were looking very strong in the initial stages. Leonard and Hutson were two skaters who made a difference.

As soon as he got the puck, Leonard came off the bench and made a sharp shot on Allen to make the score 1-0. The 21-year-old now has goals in five of his last eight games.

Additionally, Leonard made history as the first Capitals rookie since Alex Ovechkin to reach the 15-goal mark.

Hutson made his second NHL start and has continued to make his presence felt. The 19-year-old created many chances and was solid defensively. She even had a physical relationship with Olympic gold medalist Jack Hughes.

Ultimately, the Capitals’ MVP on Friday night was Thompson. The 29-year-old made several key saves, including on the front door and with his glove.

Allen also came out for New Jersey and made 26 saves against the Capitals’ offense. However, after leaving the ice, Aliaksi Protas recorded an empty-netter to make it 2–0.

Thompson’s shutout effort ended when Jesper Bratt scored with less than a minute remaining. Nonetheless, the Capitals netminder stepped up with 18 saves in the final period.

capitals report card

Team: B

The Capitals were stronger defensively than offensively on Friday night. However, they did enough to win their second consecutive game.

Logan Thompson: A+

Thompson was the true MVP that night with 30 saves. The 29-year-old now has 23 wins on the season.

Ryan Leonard: A

Leonard recorded the game-winning goal in the opening period. The 21-year-old is now the first Capitals rookie since Alex Ovechkin to score 15 goals.

Cole Hutson: A

Hutson created many chances and was strong defensively. The newbie continues to show poise and confidence.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

John Fury has made a candid assessment of his son Tyson Fury’s chances in a potential trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk.

John, once known as Tyson’s most vocal supporter, has changed his stance after consecutive losses to the Ukrainian champion. Instead of confidence, he now expresses concern about his son’s physical condition and long-term safety in the ring.

According to John, the issue is no longer one of strategy or desire. He believes Tyson Fury is at his peak, and a third fight with Usyk would likely end the same way.

John Fury calls Deontay Wilder fight a turning point

John Fury believes the decline started long before Tyson Fury faced Oleksandr Usyk.

He pointed to the trilogy against Deontay Wilder as the moment that made a lasting impact on the former heavyweight champion.

John said in an interview with Playbook Boxing, “Tyson has been gone since the Deontay Wilder fight; he finished him off.”

He explained that the physical punishment he took from those fights, including several defeats, sapped Tyson’s stamina over time.

“Wilder has absolutely destroyed him. He’s taken a lot out of Tyson.”

While those fights helped build Tyson Fury’s legacy, John now sees them as the beginning of the end.

“The legs are not there” in the fights of Oleksandr Usyk.

John Fury’s biggest concern focuses on Tyson Fury’s movement.

For years, Fury’s footwork and agility gave him an edge over other legends. But in both fights against Oleksandr Usyk, that edge faded as the bout progressed.

John said that Tyson struggled to maintain his pace in the middle rounds.

“There are no two-step attacks, no nothing, no angles… the legs aren’t there.”

He said that Tyson “faded quickly” after six or seven rounds, making it difficult to keep up with Usyk’s pressure.

John also noted the difference between the two fighters.

While Usyk has continued to build momentum late in the fight, he believes Tyson is moving in the opposite direction.

Tyson Fury’s Corner and safety concerns

John Fury also criticized Tyson Fury’s current team, raising concerns about decision making in the corner.

He described the camp as full of “yes-sayers” who are unwilling to make tough decisions during the fight.

According to John, it creates a dangerous situation if Tyson gets into trouble in the ring.

“If he gets into trouble with them in his corner, he could die or end up with brain damage… because when your legs are gone, you need someone to save you.”

He suggested that egos within the team may prevent them from fighting back when needed.

John Fury ruled on possible trilogy fight

John Fury doesn’t expect any different results if Tyson Fury faces Oleksandr Usyk again.

They believe that the issues are physical and cannot be fixed through adjustments in training or tactics.

“nothing gonna change.”

John said that Tyson’s preparation has also changed, citing weight fluctuations as a sign that he can no longer handle the same level of training.

In his view, the gap between the two fighters is increasing, making the third fight increasingly difficult for Tyson Fury.

With Oleksandr Usyk continuing to perform at a high level, John Fury’s warning is clear. A trilogy fight could still generate interest, but based on his assessment, Tyson Fury will enter the ring with a loss he may not be able to recover from.

The Washington Capitals (34-27-8) got a much-needed win at home on Wednesday night. They looked strong on the ice in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators (34-24-9).

Wednesday’s game marked the debut of Capitals defenseman Cole Hutson. He made quite an impact as he skated well and recorded an empty-net goal late on.

Alex Ovechkin also made more history when he scored the Capitals’ first goal of the night. The Great 8 tied Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in NHL history.

After this, Tom Wilson scored an own goal to give the Capitals a 2-0 lead in the middle frame. Logan Thompson also had an impressive performance in the net.

Ottawa scored late in the comeback attempt. However, the Capitals sealed it with two empty-netters from Aleksi Protas and Hutson.

Capitals got two points as they now have 76 points in the season. They are currently six points behind Boston and Detroit, who hold the two wild card spots in the East.

Next, the Capitals continue their four-game homestand by hosting New Jersey on Friday night.

capitals analysis

All eyes were on Hutson as he made his NHL debut for the Capitals. The 19-year-old was paired with Matt Roy for Wednesday’s home game.

It proved to be an impressive debut for Hutson, as he looked more comfortable as the game progressed. The rookie skated well, took good care of the puck and found his teammates at the tape.

Then, after Ottawa’s goaltender drew a late power play, Hutson recorded his first NHL goal on an empty-netter. He finished the game with one tally and three shots during 16:24 of ice time.

The Capitals outshot Ottawa 16–7 in the middle frame and the game remained scoreless. That is, Ovechkin came out of his mini-slump.

The 40-year-old redirected Rasmus Sandin’s feed past Linus Ullmark to put the Capitals up 1-0. It was Ovechkin’s 25th goal of the season and career goal No. 922.

More importantly, The Great 8 made more history as he tied Gordie Howe for the most 25-goal seasons in NHL history. Ovechkin is also one point away from 1,000 combined regular season and playoff goals.

After this, Wilson reached the bottom of the circle and made a shot on Ullmark to make the score 2-0. The 31-year-old was also very physical as he helped his team by being aggressive on the forecheck.

Wilson’s Team Canada teammate Thompson was also dominant between the pipes. He stopped 34 of 35 shots and shut out Brady Tkachuk and Ottawa most of the time.

Despite still trailing 2–0, the Senators came up with six strikeouts as Tim Stützle finished Thompson’s shutout night. However, Capitals sealed it with two empty-netters from Protas and Hutson.

capitals report card

Team: A-

One of the team’s strongest performances in recent times. The Capitals have kept their playoff hopes alive for now.

Cole Hutson: A

Hutson’s NHL debut was impressive. The 19-year-old skated well and finished with a goal and three shots during 16:24 of ice time.

Alex Ovechkin: A

Ovechkin recovered from the slump to record goal No. 922. The 40-year-old continues to make history as many question whether this is his last season.

Tom Wilson: A

Wilson contributed to the Capitals’ victory with Ovechkin scoring 25 goals on the season. The 31-year-old also showed his trademark physicality against Ottawa when needed.

Logan Thompson: A

Thompson took a big step in net with 34 saves. The netminder made several acrobatic saves to stop Ottawa’s attack.

Martin Fehrvary: B+

Fehrweri did his part to defend Thompson by bailing him out. He finished the game with six of the Capitals’ 21 blocks.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Florida Panthers 5-2 in what was a spectacular Tuesday night at Rogers Arena.

Elias Pettersson scored twice, including the 200th goal of his NHL career, and Marco Rossi added a goal and two assists. Brock Boeser had three assists and Kevin Lankinen stopped 21 shots.

Pettersson had gone 20 games without a goal before scoring twice on the power play and Lankinen got his first win in 10 starts.

The Canucks have now won two of their last three, which might not sound that good, but after the stretch this team has endured, it makes sense.

I’ve watched enough Canucks hockey to know when a game starts to feel fragile, even when the scoreboard looks safe. Vancouver came out with a real jump, yet there was the same familiar tension after Matthew Tkachuk tied the game in the first period.

Against a team like Florida, these are the moments that usually turn into trouble. This time, he did not do so.

game flow

At 3:49 of the first, Pettersson opened the scoring on a one-timer from the right circle following Rossi’s cross-ice pass. Tkachuk replied at 11:41 when an awkward bounce from Carter Verhaeghe left him alone in front.

Peterson struck again on the power play at 13:40, with a shot that bounced off two Panthers defensemen for goal No. 200. Rossi then took a 3–1 lead late when Boeser won a puck battle and fed him a pass in front. There was some bite in that first period.

Then came the tension. Sam Bennett made it 3-2 in the second, and it looked like the Panthers were hanging on long enough to flip the script. Instead, Aatu Ratie restored the two-goal lead after a failed clearing pass, and later Drew O’Connor finished another chance from just above the crease.

As NHL.com noted, three of Vancouver’s goals came when skaters were left open in front of the Florida net, and Panthers coach Paul Morris acknowledged that these breakdowns were unusual for his club.

A better night, but not a clean slate

The Associated Press reported that Lankinen was playing his 200th NHL game, while Panthers defenseman Seth Jones returned after missing 26 games.

Reuters found that Sergei Bobrovsky was making his 800th NHL appearance, but the milestone night belonged to the Canucks.

Pettersson’s last goal came on January 13, making it his longest drought in the NHL. He said he’s trying to simplify and shoot more, and you can see that in the way he attacks his look instead of overthinking about it.

Boeser also supported this, saying that a confident Peterson would have to let that shot go. For Vancouver, it means more than a nice night in March. This changes the feel of the room a bit.

The reality is that this win doesn’t fix the season. I’m not pretending otherwise. Still, for Canucks fans who have waited a while to see Pettersson look dangerous again and for the team to actually finish their chances, it may have seemed worth holding out for a few days.

The Panthers visit Edmonton next, and the Canucks stay at home to face Tampa Bay on Thursday.

The Senators capped off a great weekend today with a 7-4 win over the San Jose Sharks. Talk about a completely different type of game than yesterday where the Sens were able to defeat the Anaheim Ducks 2-0. Today, they had to come from behind three separate times and fell behind in the third as the teams scored a combined 11 goals. Let’s get into the details.

Zetterlund’s strong performance

Two things may be true. On one hand, it’s disappointing that Zetterlund has primarily been a fourth-line player for the Senators. On the other hand, it shows how deep the senators are. Today, Zetterlund and the fourth line came up big, with Zetterlund scoring one goal, assisting on another, and recording five hits. His linemate Warren Foegele also scored a goal and an assist. They are players who have primarily been middle six players before arriving in Ottawa. It is a luxury to have them as the Senators’ fourth line wingers.

batherson stays warm

This is the strangest two-goal game of Batherson’s career. The first was on a pass that Sharks D-man Mario Ferraro put into his own net. The second hit Batherson’s shoulder as the shot looked to go wide. He finished as the game winner. This gives Batherson 27 goals, one of the highest goals of his career in 2023-24. In their last eight matches, Batherson has scored two goals four times.

additional comments

A quick note on the Sharks – they seem to have a lot of players with 70s jersey numbers. How often will you see this kind of offensive play where Stützle is kept off the scoresheet? He had a breakaway chance at the end of the second minute but could not beat Laurent Brossoit. Here are the other senators who scored double digits today: Brady Tkachuk, Artem Jubb and Michael Amadio. The Senators gave up 13 first period shots. Then again, they’ve only given up 10 over the last two periods combined. Next up for the Sens is a road game against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday.

Danny was born and raised in Ottawa and still lives in that city. He has followed… more about Danny McCloskey

Pascal Gros has admitted that Brighton’s biggest problem this season has been an inability to find consistency, as he has also issued a strong defense of head coach Fabian Herzeler amid growing frustration from supporters.

Sky Germany has had an interview with the 34-year-old today. He discussed various topics regarding Brighton after returning to the club in the January transfer window.

veteran moved back to the south coast in the winter window after an 18-month stint with Borussia Dortmund.

He has since integrated himself back into the Seagulls’ starting line up and has made 10 Premier League appearances and scoring one goal.

He has become a stalwart player of the club since his first stint in the 2017–2024 season, playing a key role in the club’s rise to prominence, including their first European qualification.

Brighton’s inconsistency exposed

He returns with Brighton sitting at the other end of the table in 14th^th Ranked on 37 points. It has been an inconsistent campaign for them this season, with nine wins, ten draws and ten losses in 29 games so far. And it is this discrepancy that he insists must be corrected.

“I feel very comfortable – both personally and professionally,” He said.

“The league is very fun. Every game is a big challenge. We are a team that can achieve something against anyone, but we can also have problems against anyone.

“These are things we need to improve on. We have a team with a lot of experience, but also a lot of young players. It’s also a big challenge, but it’s also a lot of fun.”

Pressure increases on Fabian Herzeler

Brighton’s inconsistency this season has put pressure on manager Fabian Herzeler as they drop to 14^th On the table.

The team has been struggling since November and has slipped to fifth place after only one win in 13 matches.

Growing impatience among fans led to riots during home games and calls for Herzeler’s dismissal. However, Gros has offered his support to the 33-year-old coach.

“He’s very dedicated. We work on a lot of details here. He tries to make the team better as well as individual players every day.” He added.

“It’s not that easy. We have a lot of young players from different countries who need different things. But we still have to manage it as a team. It’s definitely a challenge here, but he’s doing a very, very good job.”

“You can see the thought he puts into it every day and how he tries to make us better. Even for him – he’s been here a while now – the league is a big challenge. And it’s incredibly fun.”

Defining further fixtures for Brighton

With a tough home clash against Liverpool following the trip to Sunderland, the coming weeks could define Brighton’s season, and how long patience lasts around the Amex.

First up is a trip to Sunderland this weekend, before they take on Liverpool at home on March 21^{scheduled tribe}. The Seagulls in particular do not have a good record against the latter.

They have lost their last three matches, including a 3-0 defeat in the FA Cup last month. Meanwhile, their only Premier League encounter with Sunderland was a 0–0 defeat earlier this season.

But despite two consecutive defeats at the Stadium of Light, the Black Cats have one of the strongest home records in the league this season. This might give hope to Brighton.

GM Brad Treliving saved most of his work for the last moments of trade deadline day, making his second deal just below the buzzer at 3 p.m. ET. Pending unrestricted free agent Scott Lawton is headed to the Los Angeles Kings.

Like the earlier Bobby McMann deal, the Leafs did not secure a first-round pick for Laughton (nor were they expected to). They will settle for a conditional third-rounder from the Kings. If LA makes the playoffs this season it becomes a second-round pick. They are currently three points off the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Treliving had to give up Toronto’s 2027 first-round pick plus prospect Nikita Grebenkin when they acquired Laughton from the Philadelphia Flyers at last year’s trade deadline. This is clearly a huge net loss for Treliving. They traded a first-rounder and a good prospect for a third-round pick (or second at best). A big L for the tree.

Laughton spent one calendar year with his hometown team and recorded 10 goals and 16 points in 63 games. Was it worth the decline in draft position for Toronto? Not so much.

What does Scott Lawton bring to the LA Kings?

The reliable bottom-six forward brings experienced leadership and secondary scoring (at times) to the Kings. He also has a high hockey IQ and a serious, physical edge to his game.

This isn’t exactly the kind of move many were expecting from the Kings at the deadline, as the team was in desperate need of scoring. Laughton probably won’t bring them that.

The Kings have lost two offensive players in the last few weeks. Kevin Fiala is out for the season due to a fractured foot suffered during a game with Switzerland during the Olympics. Andrei Kuzmenko was lost for the foreseeable future after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus. The Kings lineup has yielded 32 goals. Then again, that’s not coming from Laughton.

They made their big move last month by acquiring Artemi Panarin from the NY Rangers. But it won’t be enough to save the Kings’ offense after the latest injuries, which ranks 29th in the NHL in goals per game.

As far as the Leafs are concerned, their final tally at the trade deadline is as follows:

Out: Nick Roy, Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton

IN: 2027 (or ’28) first rounder, 2027 second rounder, 2026 fourth rounder, 2026 fifth rounder + conditional third rounder

Boston Celtics guard Peyton Pritchard continues to prove that he is one of the most underrated shotmakers in the NBA, as he sank a buzzer-beater before halftime against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday.

Jaylen Brown drove hard into the lane to take the last shot, but was met by multiple defenders. With the game clock expiring, he threw the ball to Pritchard, who beat Luka Doncic and buried it. stepback three-pointer Logo’s pass gave the Celtics a nine-point lead at the break, 59–50.

Peyton Pritchard again 😱

Pritchard beat the buzzer beater in the second quarter to give the Celtics a two-point lead over the Lakers heading into halftime ☘️

pic.twitter.com/FBzvQndpWO

– ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026

Pritchard has a knack for making buzzer-beaters, so it’s no surprise he hit it. Remember his two half-court heaves in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks? Doncic probably does.

Many thought Boston would abandon the season, as Jayson Tatum was out with an Achilles injury and roster changes. But with the leadership of Brown, Pritchard and Derrick White, the Celtics have been a surprising threat in the Eastern Conference.

The 28-year-old Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has gotten even better with his scoring, entering his game against the Lakers with a career-best 17.4 points average. The extra resources he has received in Tatum’s absence have increased his confidence in his game.

At the time of writing, the Celtics are leading the Lakers by double digits in the fourth quarter.

Pritchard had 19 points, including five three-pointers, four rebounds and six assists off the bench.

Boston is looking for its third consecutive win.

Tottenham Hotspur are eyeing Palmeiras striker Flaco Lopez as he continues to perform well for the Brazilian club.

This is according to journalist Diego Firmino. He told that Tottenham has this player on their radar before the summer transfer window.

According to their information, Palmeiras are expecting an offer of €40-45m for the 25-year-old after the World Cup. It is unclear whether the move will come from Tottenham or elsewhere.

According to Firmino they are not the only Premier League team to show interest. He further added that Fulham and West Ham are also aware of him.

Fulham and West Ham

It’s something that Sports Witness covered last year. In August, reports said Fulham were looking at López as a possible successor to Rodrigo Muniz.

His interest moved forward again in December when West Ham were also brought into the mix. Despite both sides targeting strikers to strengthen their squads, neither side ended up making a move in the January transfer window.

Now, according to Firmino, Tottenham are also showing interest. Any summer move will be postponed until they have secured their Premier League status.

Given that this is far from the case, and they have an interim manager in Igor Tudor, Lopez is probably just another name on the list.

atlético madrid competition for tottenham

The striker has impressed for Palmeiras since joining in 2022 on a €9.5m deal. Since then he has scored 62 goals and 18 assists in 189 games for the club. This was followed by 22 goals and five assists in 599 appearances for CA Lanús.

The Premier League trio aren’t the only team interested, as Firmino says Atletico Madrid are also monitoring the Argentine.

They have a deep and active relationship with Argentina, with seven Albiceleste players in their current squad and also Diego Simeone on the touchline.

If he ever makes a concrete move it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him provide competition to Fulham, West Ham and Tottenham.

The Denver Nuggets needed a response after a tough loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night.

He presented one emphatically. On Friday night, the Nuggets destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers 157-103.

Nikola Jokic led the way and produced his best performance since returning from injury. He finished the night with 32 points on 10 of 15 shooting. He was also 3-of-4 from three-point range.

“We played really well. Everybody stepped up, everybody played with a lot of energy,” Jokic said. “The defense was playing at a high level. We were making shots. We had a good start, in fact, it was a perfect game for us.”

Nuggets bounce back with huge win over Trail Blazers

The Nuggets’ 157 points are the most points scored by any team this season. From a franchise perspective, this is the seventh-highest score in franchise history. The 54-point margin of victory is also the second largest in franchise history.

“We were creating open looks. The ball was going in, that’s when you feel confident,” Jokic added. “We were there playing for each other.”

The entire Nuggets roster had a stellar performance, with seven players finishing the night in double figures. Jamal Murray was lethal from deep, scoring 6 of 12 on three-point attempts. He would finish the night with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists. Julian Strother, who was placed in the starting lineup, continued his hot streak with 19 points on 9-of-16 shooting. Whenever Strother was on the court, the Nuggets were an amazing +48.

The Nuggets will conclude their short road trip by visiting the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks started the second half of the season with a road win, an environment they have been quite comfortable in this year. As of Friday, the Hawks were 17-15 on the road.

It’s home games where they lag (10-16 record), and that was the case in their 128-97 loss to the Miami Heat. The Hawks took a flat approach to start the game, while the Heat were clicking on both sides of the ball.

It was the second quarter where the Hawks came alive, and with a run started by Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum, they saw a 15-point deficit disappear.

“We played with better pace,” McCallum said. “We came out and ran. I think in the first quarter, we got our sea legs back and we didn’t come out and run. Didn’t get a chance to get stops.

“In the second quarter, we came out and ran. Corey got a dunk and a transition three. Got some rim pressure, got some kick out three eyes out. I think that was the difference.”

The Hawks trailed 57-51 at halftime and with little momentum. Unfortunately, they went back to their old habits and the Heat never looked back in the second half, taking a 34-point lead in the fourth quarter.

“They went into the zone to start the fourth quarter and I think that changed the game,” McCollum said. “They took advantage of some turnovers and missed shots. I don’t think we did enough to win. [Tyler] Hero got down. He’s got a lot more freedom, a lot more space in his pick and roll, and a lot more space in his pull-ups. I think a lot of guys hurt us tonight, and I think we didn’t deserve to win this game.”

The Heat had 72 points in the paint to the Hawks’ 38. They were defeated 58-46. Plus, they got 20 points off their turnovers. The only thing that went good for the Hawks in this game was that they shot 42% from the three-point line, but that was still not enough to win.

“I think when we follow the game plan, and we come out and execute the game plan, that’s when we play our best. I don’t think we did a good job of executing the game plan tonight,” Jalen Johnson said.

The Hawks were coming up by one, but they didn’t use it as an excuse for the loss.

“I would have liked to have gone to bed before 3 a.m. last night, but they beat us to it,” McCallum said. “It’s the same. They came out, they played better than us. They started well. They got points in transition, they got threes, they got rim pressure. Tonight they did what they wanted. So back-to-back or not, they did enough to win, and we didn’t do enough.”

The Hawks have four consecutive games to correct their mistakes for their home woes this season, and they are coming against opponents who haven’t had the best performances this year.

Johnson said, “The opportunities are in front of us. We just have to go out there and get it. We got another chance to regroup on Sunday, and tomorrow we got a chance to watch film and get better.”