The Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabers in Game 7 of their second round series, hoping to pick up another thrilling, upset victory.

Before puck drop, the Habs announced they would be making a lineup modification, replacing fourth-line forward Joe Veleno with rookie Oliver Kapanen, who made his series debut.

It was another exciting matchup, and the Habs managed to emerge with a 3–2 victory, qualifying for the Eastern Conference Finals in the process.

Let’s look at the highlights!

veteran effect

The Canadiens got off to a great start, culminating in Philippe Danault’s first goal of the playoffs. The veteran took advantage of an excellent forecheck from Josh Anderson, not to mention a very smart pass from defenseman Caden Guhle.

At that point in the game, high-danger scoring chances were already 3–0 in favor of the Habs, and it should be noted that when the team scored first in Game 7 their score was 12–2.

Philippe Denault gave us the lead by scoring early. #GoHabsGo 1-0 lead.

Great work by Josh Anderson on the forecheck. pic.twitter.com/J7YNSsGK5k

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 18 May 2026

important goals

Depth players continued to play a key role in the game, as evidenced by Zachary Bolduc’s third goal of the playoffs. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki provided excellent assists in the game.

Considering that he had an up and down regular season, Bolduc’s increase in effort and results throughout the playoffs is more than admirable.

He is still a very young player and has a long career ahead of him. Enjoying a relatively successful playoff run will go a long way in instilling a certain amount of confidence.

Zachary Bolduc gives #GoHabsGo 2-0 lead!!!! pic.twitter.com/5RZRLvucwi

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

classic adversity

One thing that is crystal clear when analyzing the Canadiens is that they have the potential to be a world-class team.

They also put together some of the worst hockey you’ll ever see, as it happened for much of the second period.

The Sabers took advantage when Jordan Greenway, with the help of several of his friends, found a way to beat Dobbs, who was creating havoc in front of the Sabers crease.

Same game, different scene! 👀 #game7 #Stanley Cup https://t.co/8DFxUckEk9 pic.twitter.com/NtsKIDdBRH

– NHL (@NHL) 19 May 2026

best referee on earth

The Sabers decided to restart Dobbs, and like the referees in most of these playoff games, the referees failed to do their job.

This was truly a terrible job done by experienced officers who should know better.

And this is clearly a recurring issue that has been plaguing the league.

Dobbs gets crushed (again, this is happening a lot in these playoffs).

No penalty. Absolutely.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/rnSi615H0q

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

Given that the refs decided to game manage, which is exactly what no one wants to see, the Sabers got the advantage of not killing a penalty.

Soon after, Rasmus Dahlin leveled the game.

A moment for defense personnel‼️#LetsGoFellows pic.twitter.com/Jl8payY2Bp

– Buffalo Sabers (@BuffaloSabres) 19 May 2026

need a hero

The final 10 minutes of the third period will go a long way in determining whether the Canadiens can truly rise to the occasion, as they have done so many times in the regular season, or whether they will showcase their lack of experience by blowing another lead in an elimination game.

The Habs played timidly for most of the second and third periods, which led to a lot of time in the defensive zone.

You could argue that he had no trace of murderous tendencies.

The good news is that they had a chance to win the game with just one more shot, as the teams were tied 2-2 in overtime.

Alex Newhook, one of the most important players for the Canadiens in the playoffs, played the hero, scoring with just a few minutes remaining in overtime.

Alex Newhook!!!!

The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Conference Finals!!!! #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/USlIPc5p3Z

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 May 2026

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Tonight, thousands of horse racing fans will gather at Laurel Park Race Track to see which competitor will win the second leg of the 2026 Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes. This year’s field features only three competitors from this year’s Kentucky Derby, and none of them are race winner Golden Tempo.

So, who will win the 2026 “Run for the Black-Eyed Susan”? Our goal is to help your betting decisions with our rankings of the 14 competitors in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes and some good win, place and show options.

14.Robusta (30-1)

Doug O’Neill-trained colt Robusta is one of only three horses competing in the Kentucky Derby, which will also take to the track at Laurel Park on Saturday. However, he is one of the biggest long shots in this year’s race due to his recent form.

Before running in the Derby, Robusta finished seventh at Santa Anita ahead of the competition he faced in Kentucky. He then finished 14th among 19 horses at Churchill Downs. It would be surprising for Robusta to reach the top three.

13. Bull by the Horns (30-1)

The colt Bull By The Horns, owned by Peachtree Stable and Mark Corrado, has had an up-and-down career in his first five races. While he placed first at Florida in his second race in November, he came seventh in the Fourth of Youth in February and finished well behind many Derby horses.

Although he won the 2026 Rushway in March, he has struggled on fast dirt tracks, as he will this weekend.

12. Crupper (30-1)

After a sixth-place finish to start his career, the Robert Zoellner-trained colt Crupper is on the rise. He has won two of his last three races, including a win at Bathhouse Raw last month. However, the three-year-old is entering the Preakness Stakes as a major underdog due to the weak competition he has met so far.

11. Gold Crown (30-1)

Three-year-old Corona de Oro has been a solid but unspectacular horse in his first five races. In March, the Dallas Stewart-trained colt earned his first career win. However, last month, he finished behind fellow Preakness competitor The Hell We Did at the 2026 Lexington.

Since The Hell We Did is a sleeper pick on Saturday, De Oro is a possible choice for a show bet in the race.

10. Talkin’ (20-1)

After winning on his debut in August last year, the Danny Gargan-trained colt Talkin has fallen short since then. Which also includes finishing ninth at the 2025 Remsen in December. He got a chance to face Derby and Stakes level competition in his last two starts and peaked with a third-place finish in the Blue Grass last month. That’s why Talkin’ is a big underdog on Saturday.

9. Great White (15-1)

The John Ennis-trained colt Great White has been all over the map in his first four races. The three-year-old won his debut match in December and the John Battaglia Memorial in February. However, White finished fifth in his other two races, including the Blue Grass in April.

This unpredictability is the main reason why he remained a weak player on Saturday. Furthermore, despite being an impressive specimen, losing his composure minutes before entering the post at Kentucky adds to that unpredictable reputation. White has the size and talent, but seems too risky.

8. Napoleon Solo (8-1)

After starting his career with consecutive wins including the October 2025 Champagne, Gold Square horse Napoleon Solo has not looked good since. In February, he faced tough competition at the Fountain of Youth and finished fifth. Then last month, he went head-to-head again in the Preakness and Derby-level contests and again came in fifth.

Solo gave bookmakers no reason to think he could be an option for a spot or a show, let alone a long-shot option to win.

7.Oceli (6-1)

Ouseley, a horse trained by D. Whitworth Beckman, received a chance at the 2026 Kentucky Derby after several horses, including Right to Party, were eliminated from the race. Although Ouseley had six championships on his resume, he had no wins to his name.

Nevertheless, to the surprise of many the colt finished third at Kentucky. After that, Occelli’s showing can’t be doubted and should be considered a rock-solid show choice again this weekend.

6. Pretty Boy Mia (15-1)

Jeremiah Englehart-trained horse Pretty Boy Mia is an intriguing underdog for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. Although he finished fourth at Aqueduct in February, he has been strong in his other three races this year. Which also includes consecutive wins in their last two.

The big question is whether his success is based on his athletic talent or the competition he has faced so far in his career.

5. Incredibolt (5-1)

The colt Incredibolt, trained by Riley Mott, has had a checkered career. That’s why he was last in the betting odds for the Kentucky Derby after finishing sixth in the G3 Face off in January. However, he turned heads by winning the Virginia Derby in March, leading some to wonder if he might perform better than expected in the Derby.

He did not do so and finished sixth. However, oddsmakers still rate the colt highly, and he is viewed as one of the favorites in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

4. Chip Honcho (5-1)

At the end of 2025, the Steve Asmussen-trained colt Chip Honcho was looking like a potential contender for this year’s Triple Crown. However, in 2026, he surprisingly struggled in three of his races. While there he finished second in the 2026 Risen Star in February, came fourth in the Lecomte in January, and came fifth in the high-level competition in the Louisiana Derby in March.

However, being trained by a two-time Preakness winner is a major reason why Honcho is a secret choice to win in the Preakness. Also making him a strong position pick.

3. The Hell We Did (15-1)

Todd Fincher-trained colt The Hell We Did is an interesting option to consider for riskier punters. Although he has had intermittent difficulties leading the way in races, he has looked very good in his first four races, with two second-place finishes and two first-place finishes. He is a legitimate choice to secure a surprise win on Saturday, and should be considered for all Place and Show bets.

2. Iron Honor (9-2)

Elite trainer Chad Brown has a horse in Saturday’s race, and he is the current favorite Iron Honor. Honor looked very good in his first two races as he took consecutive first-place finishes to start his career. However, at the Wood Memorial in April, he surprisingly finished seventh. But many people believe that they are given tough competition in the beginning itself and are thrown out of the game.

Honor is the safest bet to win, place or perform in the 2026 Preakness Stakes.

1. Taj Mahal (5-1)

Brittany Russell-trained colt Taj Mahal enters the 2026 Preakness Stakes as the top selection for good reason. While the three-year-old only has three races on his resume, he has still performed excellently. 2026 Federico Tesio won all three, including.

Palace is a strong spot or show bet on a Saturday night, especially under the guidance of one of the game’s top coaches. However, we’re going a little further and picking him to win the stakes.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Montreal Canadiens were in Buffalo on Friday night, hoping to tie the series with the Sabers before returning to Quebec.

It was one of the Habs’ best games of the playoffs, an impressive effort resulting in a comfortable 5–1 win.

The Sabers allowed more hits than the Canadiens, but it was a case of the home team chasing for most of the game.

In every metric that mattered, the Canadiens were the better team.

Let’s look at the highlights!

he is a boy

The Habs needed a strong start, a rare thing when examining their season, to avoid suffering another loss against a suffocating opponent.

Newfoundlander Alex Newhook scored his second goal of the playoffs less than two minutes into the first period, with assists from Caden Guhle and Lane Hutson. The latter, in particular, enjoyed an absolutely fantastic outing on Friday night.

Quick aim!

Alex Newhook tipped in a Guhle pass to make it 1-0. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/Kju6PiXdEC

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 8 May 2026

Second

The Canadiens didn’t rest on their laurels and doubled their lead moments later when Mike Matheson’s excellent point shot found the back of the net.

All things considered, this was easily Montreal’s best time in the playoffs. They were effective at 5v5, as shown by their 7–0 advantage in high-danger scoring chances.

This might even be Montreal’s best time this season.

Make it 2-0!

Mike Matheson extended with a precise shot from the point #GoHabsGo lead! pic.twitter.com/tataTgmqIw

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 8 May 2026

Enlist you Newfoundlanders and follow me!

Newhook was not satisfied with his only goal.

He scored his third goal of the playoffs early in the second period, through a brilliant pass from veteran Jake Evans.

Given that Montreal’s first line has struggled to generate anything resembling the offense it did in the regular season, it must be said that Montreal’s depth players have done a great job of helping the Habs overcome a very difficult situation.

We also have to give full marks to Noah Dobson on this play, as he took a big hit to start the rush.

I am a boy!

Alex Newhook makes it 3-0 #GoHabsGo With his second goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/3OMQpD1Nmz

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 9 May 2026

dolly dagger

The Sabers ended Dobbs’ shutout bid, leading to Zach Benson taunting the Canadiens netminder in what can only be described as a desperate attempt to throw him off his game.

But Dobbs lives for that type of thing.

Benson adopted only Greece.

Dobbs was born in this.

Molded by.

He lives to chirp, and chirps to live.

It’s surprising, Or notBenson’s whizzing effort did little more than boost the Habs’ effort, not to mention a great goal by defenseman Alexandre Carrier to put his team up 4–1.

(editor’s Note:The tweet below erroneously mentions “Logan Thompson”. In fact, it was Sabers forward Tage Thompson.)

Alex Carrier makes it 4-1 #GoHabsGo After Logan Thompson’s fall.

All Canadians in this. pic.twitter.com/b31wIilax1

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 9 May 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Sunday facing the Sabers at the Bell Center for Game 3. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens were in Florida on Sunday facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of their first-round series.

Juraj Slafkowski played hero for the Habs, scoring three goals to win 4–3 and take a 1–0 series lead.

Let’s look at the highlights!

veteran presence

Even though the Canadiens have one of the youngest teams in the league, it was a veteran player who carried the ball. 31-year-old Josh Anderson scored after great work on the forecheck by defenseman Alexandre Carrier to force a turnover.

Josh Anderson made the score 1-0 #GoHabsGo!

Great work by Alexandre Carrier on the forecheck. pic.twitter.com/fawCq7DZE9

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 April 2026

To add to Anderson’s praise, he was one of the few players who started the game with a lot of energy and consistently offered an honest effort in every innings.

Referee Charles-Edouard d’Estous is reviewing this hit by Josh Anderson. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/5M9UbxK2jD

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 April 2026

lost focus

The Canadiens appeared to take a 2–0 lead, but Anderson’s second goal of the game was disallowed when he was found to have bounced the shot high off the stick.

This shifted the momentum to Tampa Bay’s corner, with the home team taking a 2–1 lead on goals by Darren Raddish and Brandon Hagel less than a minute into the second period.

2 goals in 29 seconds and Hagel gives Tampa the lead 🤯🫨 pic.twitter.com/IfUKMGlfPT

– Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) 19 April 2026

power in sports

One of the few advantages heading into the series was Montreal’s ability to generate a lot of powerplay goals with very few opportunities, making Juraj Slafkowski’s powerplay goal in the second period more important than most late-period markers. Rookie Ivan Demidov provided excellent assists in the game.

Not only did the Habs tie the game in the final minutes of that period, but they also installed one of their most important team-wide offensive weapons in the process.

What a goal from Schlaff, what a pass from Demidov! 💎 pic.twitter.com/ok817KtmAM

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 19 April 2026

Second

Slafkowski thought the scoring was so good that he scored it twice, his second goal of the game also coming on the power play. This gave the Canadiens a 3-2 lead with a little more than 15 minutes remaining in the third period.

It was a good reminder that the Canadiens will need their veteran and young players running in the same direction if they are to have success in the NHL playoffs.

Juraj Slafkowski delivers another powerplay #GoHabsGo 3-2 lead!! pic.twitter.com/yWdTRfoXOZ

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 20 April 2026

first overall hat trick

The Lightning tied the game in the third period, forcing overtime, a situation that would normally favor the Habs as they are dominant in 3v3 scenarios.

However, this is the playoffs, and overtime is played at 5v5, reducing Montreal’s advantage.

Luckily for head coach Martin Saint-Louis, who used the perfect timeout moments beforehand, Slafkowski completed his hat trick, securing a 1–0 series lead for the Habs in the process.

Hat trick hero!

Juraj Slafkowski won the game #GoHabsGo With his third goal.

Great job by MSL with the timeouts! pic.twitter.com/ZT5fYUwmDE

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 20 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of their first-round series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

On Friday night in Las Vegas, former WWE and AEW star Jake Hager made his successful debut in the strange world of professional slap fighting.

The man once known as Jack Swagger in World Wrestling Entertainment has proven over the past decade that he is much more than just a pro wrestler. Before joining WWE, he was an accomplished two-sport athlete in Oklahoma. Playing football and wrestling for powerhouse universities.

He had an 11-year run in the top promotion in pro wrestling, winning numerous titles, including a two-month reign as WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Following his release in 2017, he did not take his talents to any other wrestling company. Instead, he began cage fighting and amassed a 3-0 record in MMA’s No. 2 promotion, Bellator.

Jake Hager Power Slap Record: 1-0

Two years later, he returned to the industry under his real name, Jake Hager, which made him a celebrity by signing with All Elite Wrestling. Served as a key member of The Inner Circle and Jericho Appreciation Society during his five-year tenure. However, as of 2017, he eventually left wrestling to try a new sport: slap fighting.

On Friday at Power Slap 19, Hager made his sporting and promotional debut when he faced fellow heavyweight Devin Jenkins. Recognizing that Hager could attract the brand’s attention due to his wrestling history, Power Slap gave him a winnable fight after Jenkins had lost his previous two bouts in the promotion.

Although it took three rounds, Hager showed that he is a slap fish out of water and was able to score a TKO victory in his power slap debut (highlights from the victory can be found above). Now, Hager is a successful athlete in not one, not two, not three, but four combat sports.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

President Trump offered a hearty congratulations to Rory McIlroy on Sunday after the Irish golfer defended his title and made consecutive wins at the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National.

McIlroy became the fourth player in history to win consecutive green jackets, joining golf immortals Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.

Trump praised the two-time defending champion for maintaining composure under intense pressure during the final round, which featured some spectacular shots around Amen Corner and quite a dramatic finish.

Trump wrote on his Truth social media platform, “Congratulations to Rory McIlroy on another great championship, The Masters! He performed tremendously well under extreme pressure, something very few people would even think possible.”

“With each year, Rory becomes more and more of a legend!”

Highlighting the exceptional quality of today’s professional golfers, the President said he looks forward to seeing McIlroy compete at Doral in two weeks for the PGA Tour Cadillac Championship.

Congratulations, Rory McIlroy! 🏆 https://t.co/HeGiIJkI0x pic.twitter.com/YD6wjkQXTq

– White House (@whitehouse) 12 April 2026

Trump praises Rory McIlroy’s historic comeback win at Augusta

McIlroy finished with a 71 in the final round and won by one shot at 12-under par, giving him a dominant week leading after every round.

Still, it was not without drama. Rory saw his 6-stroke lead after his record-setting two-round pace completely evaporated on Saturday. And he had to hold off a hard-charging Scottie Scheffler, who drove his birdie putt on 17 about a half-inch to the right, which might have forced a playoff.

McIlroy’s repeat victory comes a year after completing the career Grand Slam with his first Masters title.

The president also posted a photo of Rory and his father out for a round of golf at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida.

Trump’s message is another sign that McIlroy is getting international attention for his incredible success. The golf phenom will look to continue his quest for a true calendar-year Grand Slam at the 2026 PGA Championship, which begins on May 14.

No golfer has won the modern golf Grand Slam (all four professional majors) in one calendar year. In 1930, amateur legend Bobby Jones achieved what is universally recognized as golf’s only true calendar-year Grand Slam. He won four major championships of his era.

In 2000, Woods won the US Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Championship (three majors in one year). He then won the 2001 Masters and held all four major titles simultaneously in two calendar years.

But this is not the technical definition of a Grand Slam, and it famously became known as the “Tiger Slam”.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, stories and content you may have missed on Saturday.

montreal canadiens news

Cole Caufield played a key role in Montreal’s 4–3 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils, however, he did not score a goal. The elite sniper recorded two assists, helping the Habs earn their eighth consecutive win. With the win the team also reached the 100-point mark. [Canadiens Highlights: 100-Point Season Secured In Exciting Win]

While most of the attention in the race for the Calder Trophy has focused on Beckett Seneca or Matthew Schaeffer, it’s worth pointing out that Ivan Demidov is the first rookie to reach the 60-point mark.

Ivan Demidov is the first NHL rookie to reach 60 points this season pic.twitter.com/ZhEqsCpnNr

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 5 April 2026

Bryce Pickford has every chance of scoring a goal. Well, to be more precise, he does a lot in between scoring goals at an impressive rate, but he is not that flashy.

BUZZER BEATER Bryce Pickford!!! 🚨🐅@CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/5XUxXzvXi8

– Medicine Hat Tigers (@tigershockey) 5 April 2026

It was relatively surprising to see veteran Samuel Montembeault serve as Montreal’s backup on Saturday, although it should be noted that Jacob Fowler is expected to start the second leg of back-to-back games on Sunday, which explains why Montembeault dressed.

tonight’s training

tonight’s lineup#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/CFVEle7wRY

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) 4 April 2026

It’s fair to say that many NHL stars have Montreal as their ideal backup plan. Of course, it would be better if hubs became their ideal destination, but this is a situation that still needs a little work. Thankfully, since Kent Hughes and company took over, Montreal has slowly but surely become a city that star skaters want to play in.

Anze Kopitar reveals where else he’s thinking about playing besides L.A.:

“Probably Montreal. I enjoy the city, I enjoy playing there. If I had to pick (another team), it’d probably be the Canadiens.” pic.twitter.com/3YhWQIPMi0

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 April 2026

Sportsknot Network

If the New Jersey Devils had made the playoffs this season, the series against the Montreal Canadiens could have been really fun. Alas, there were no playoff chances this year, nor a win against Montreal on Saturday night. [New Jersey Devils]

The Washington Capitals have kept their playoff hopes alive for now. He scored six goals against the red-hot Buffalo Sabers en route to a 6–2 home win on Saturday. [Washington Capitals]

As Barry Trotz’s retirement approaches, the Nashville Predators’ search for a new general manager is intensifying. Now, a new rumor has surfaced – their victim is being linked to the Carolina Hurricanes. [Carolina Hurricanes]

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Deontay Wilder won by split decision over Dereck Chisora ​​at The O2 Arena on April 4, 2026. The judges scored the 12-round heavyweight bout 115–111 and 115–113 for Wilder, while one judge scored it 115–112 for Chisora.

The fight included heavy exchanges and a knockdown in the eighth round, when Wilder dropped Chisora ​​with a clean combination. After the bout, Wilder said he withdrew during the latter rounds after seeing signs of damage on his opponent. His comments after the fight immediately became a topic of discussion, including a reference to how the final round played out.

Deontay Wilder explains decision to take pressure off

Wilder said in an interview that he noticed the swelling and changes seen in Chisora ​​during the fight and adjusted his approach.

“I was telling him in the ring because I saw his eyes get puffy and his temples start to droop a little bit. I said, ‘Brother, you’ve got to live for your kids. I don’t want to hurt you anymore.’ I started enjoying there because I saw that my brother was starting to get hurt.”

He said he decided not to press for a stop after seeing those signs.

“I took care of Derek tonight. I didn’t want to stress him too much as I looked at his temple. Veins were starting to pop out of his head. I wanted him to live for his kids. It’s time for us to take care of each other.”

The comments marked a change from Wilder’s previous career image, which focused on knockout power and aggressive finishes.

Dereck Chisora ​​absorbs punishment, hints at retirement

Chisora ​​remained active throughout the fight despite taking heavy shots. He recovered after being knocked down in the eighth round and continued to advance until the final bell.

After the fight, Chisora ​​spoke about his position and future in the sport. He said he was feeling tired and suggested he was nearing the end of his career.

The British heavyweight has faced many top fighters over the years and recently entered the bout on a winning streak. This loss adds another result to a long career that has included several high-profile fights.

Fight results and reactions follow the final bell

Wilder’s victory improved his record and kept him active in the heavyweight division. During the fight, he threw cleaner, more effective punches, while Chisora ​​relied on pressure and volume.

After the bout, Wilder also approached Anthony Joshua at ringside and called for a future fight.

“Let’s do this,” Wilder said.

Wilder’s comments about stopping the fight prompted strong reactions from fans and observers. Some focused on the sportsmanship shown in the latter rounds, while others discussed the scoring and overall performance.

The result has returned Wilder to the list of greats as he continues his career.

Dogley Wilberforce is a boxing writer for SportsNaught, covering fight news, fighter reactions and major bouts in the sport… More about Dogley Wilberforce

The Montreal Canadiens host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night in a game with significant playoff implications.

It was a tough match, but in the end the Canadiens emerged with a 2–1 victory.

With the win, first-year netminder Jacob Dobbs recorded his 24th win of the season, officially surpassing Patrick Roy’s win total in his rookie season, doing so in 11 fewer games.

An impressive feat, all things considered.

Let’s look at the highlights!

first and best

Jayden Struble made his mark by scoring his first goal of the year, not to mention his first goal since November 26, 2024. Suffice it to say, it’s a stretch.

It must be said that both Lane Hutson and Zachary Bolduc did a great job helping him, with the former keeping the game alive in the offensive zone on two occasions and eventually finding an open teammate.

Jayden Struble scores his first goal of the season #GoHabsGo 1-0 lead!

Assists Bolduc and Hutson. pic.twitter.com/oQzcdWnKjH

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 26 March 2026

Dobbs holds the fort

It was a relatively slow-paced game, although it should be noted that the Blue Jackets held a 9–2 edge in high-danger scoring opportunities during 40 minutes of play.

Dobbs did a great job of shutting down the Jackets when they were carrying the bulk of the momentum, including a pair of breakaways in the second period.

He’s not always technically the best goaltender in the league, but he has an uncanny way of scoring important wins for the Habs, and that’s all that matters at this point in the season.

A big save from Jacob Dobbs keeps the game tied at 1-1. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/VGPgnLjecg

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 March 2026

welcome back, zach

With the game tied 1–1, the Canadiens got some much-needed offensive support from the bottom six when Zachary Bolduc scored his first goal since December 23 and his 11th of the season.

It has been difficult to create secondary and tertiary offense in Montreal, making this another important target for a player who has struggled to find the back of the net in 2026.

It was easily one of Bolduc’s best performances of the season, as he would foul Blue Jackets defenseman Damon Severson midway through the third period.

Zachary Bolduc scores his first goal since December 23rd!

Great work by Mike Matheson and Jake Evans to set up the play. #GoHabsGo Are ahead 2-1. pic.twitter.com/vVJMEnunn3

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 March 2026

last section

The Montreal Canadiens are back in action on Saturday facing the Predators in Nashville, with puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Montreal Canadiens hosted the high-flying Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, aiming to secure two very important points in the race to qualify for the playoffs.

It was far from a perfect game, as shown by the fact that rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs had to make over 40 saves, but in the end, Montreal was able to pull out a crucial 5–2 victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

Nap first, hockey later

The Canadiens had a very bad start.

Or, to be more accurate, they failed to perform as the Hurricanes immediately jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

However, we’ve become accustomed to hubs requiring a certain amount of adversity before waking up, which is exactly what happened on Tuesday night.

Rookie Oliver Kapanen got the Habs on the board midway through the first period by scoring his 21st goal of the season.

A redirect from Kapanen keeps us on board!

A Kapanen redirect gets us on board!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/8MIDiy773m

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) 24 March 2026

you know who

Mister Saturday Night is somewhat of a misnomer. Yes, it’s true that Cole Caufield loves to score on Saturday nights, but he also enjoys scoring on days ending with ‘y’.

Caufield scored his 44th goal of the year early in the second period to tie the game, with the usual suspects, Juraj Slafkowski and Nick Suzuki getting their names on the scoresheet via assists in the game.

Tie, courtesy of Cole Caufield!

Tie game, courtesy of Cole Coffield!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/mCLMqy0Zvz

– Montreal Canadiens (@CanadiensMTL) 25 March 2026

It appeared that Caufield had scored his 45th goal of the season moments later, but it turned out that the puck had deflected off Slafkowski before going in.

Nonetheless, the goal, which was Slafkowski’s 28th of the season, gave the Canadiens a delicate 3–2 lead heading into the second intermission. For the record, the Canadiens were outshot 26-15 in 40 minutes of play.

Habs take lead on Juraj Slafkowski’s goal pic.twitter.com/leCjB4Rkxw

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 25 March 2026

rookie effect

With pressure mounting late in the third period, rookie Ivan Demidov capitalized on his breakaway opportunity with aplomb, putting the game out of reach.

As you can see in the video below, Demidov was clearly thinking about scoring a goal before the actual breakaway, and once he made his way into the offensive zone, it was already too late for the storm.

Gives up a great goal from Ivan Demidov on a breakaway #GoHabsGo Two goal lead! pic.twitter.com/RjfmwJeET5

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 25 March 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Thursday, facing the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Bell Centre, with puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Boston Celtics have been playing well all season, and they have gotten even better over the past few weeks with the return of Jayson Tatum to the lineup. They are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and they have an opportunity to climb to No. 1 with the latest news of Cade Cunningham suffering from a bad lung.

The Detroit Pistons have been on top of the Eastern Conference all season, and Cunningham has been the engine of their success. It is uncertain how long he will be sidelined, but it could be three weeks or even six weeks. Any deadline would be after the regular season, meaning the Pistons may struggle without their star player.

The Celtics, on the other hand, have everything they need, and they are ready to make a run.

It won’t be all easy for the Celtics, as they have the league’s seventh-toughest schedule remaining. They still have matchups with the Oklahoma City Thunder and New York Knicks, and two matchups with the Atlanta Hawks, who are currently on an 11-game winning streak. The Celtics can beat these teams, but they’ll have to work for it.

Additionally, if the Celtics have the same record as the Pistons at the end of the season, they will still be the No. 2 seed because they do not have a tiebreaker. That means if the Celtics want to capture the No. 1 seed, they’ll have to stay ahead by a few games.

The Pistons are left with the 15th toughest schedule in the league, and that’s probably good news for them as they try to move forward without their star player.

It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can make a move with a few weeks left in the regular season, but there’s no doubt it can be done.

The San Antonio Spurs are on the rise again as Victor Wembanyama continues to lead the way. Wembley has become the centerpiece of this San Antonio team that is now headed to the NBA playoffs. Under Mitch Johnson, the Spurs improved to 50–18 after a 119–115 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. He keeps raising expectations with every performance. The streak reached two games. The message felt more intense. This team is no longer rebuilding. is increasing.

This moment is weighty. The Spurs have missed the postseason every year since 2019–20. Now, they are one of the biggest stories in the league. Wembanyama made that clear after the game, as shared by Spurs beat writer Jeff Garcia. “Meaning development. It’s still not enough. I want to reach at least 60 to balance out my rookie season,” he said. The words landed like a challenge. Fifty wins matter. But for Vembanyama it is only an outpost.

Victor Wembanyama demands more as Spurs hopes rise

Vembanyama is not just producing. Instead, he is setting the standard. Their focus has shifted beyond numbers to culture. Via Jeff Garcia He said, “A big thing for me is to hold everybody that works with me to that standard. I’m talking to everybody… I have to surround myself with the best people possible and hold them to that standard.” As a result, that tone has shaped the locker room.

Meanwhile, Mitch Johnson has provided structure in his first full season since Gregg Popovich moved into a front office role with the Spurs. As a result, the system looks much clearer. Roles feel defined. And belief is real.

Plus, history adds context. The Spurs last reached 60 wins in 2016–17 and finished 61–21 before losing in the conference finals. At the time, that mark felt like the standard. For some time it seemed a distant thing. However, now it seems possible again.

So far, the Spurs have already taken a big step forward. However, Vembanyama is looking ahead. If this team is already at 50 wins, what will happen when they reach their ceiling in the NBA Playoffs under the bright lights?

Recently, the Miami Heat were the center of the basketball world when center Bam Adebayo had an incredible 83-point game against the Washington Wizards, giving them the second highest scoring game in league history. The game predictably sparked discussion about how “ethical” Adebayo and the Heat’s methods were, but it was still a historic accomplishment for Miami’s longtime defensive anchor.

On Monday, the NBA announced its players of the week for the past seven days, and to no one’s surprise, Adebayo took home the honor for the Eastern Conference, as league insider Mark Stein, formerly of the Ax, reported on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic won the award for the Western Conference.

While Adebayo is a multi-time All-Star and has had good scoring nights, few could have predicted that he would be the player to challenge, let alone break, Kobe Bryant’s mark of 81 points for the second-highest scoring game in league history. Adebayo now trails only Wilt Chamberlain in scoring 100 points in a game.

Meanwhile, the Heat are looking to bounce back after their seven-game winning streak was recently snapped by the Orlando Magic. The Heat and Magic are in a race to see who can clinch the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, with Orlando currently having a slight edge in that department, and a winning streak of their own.

While Miami certainly isn’t counting on Adebayo to break records on a nightly basis, the game against Washington was a great showcase of what an elite scorer he can be when he puts his mind to it, especially when a common criticism of the star has been his lack of aggression at times throughout his career.

The Heat next take the field on Tuesday evening for an important game against the Charlotte Hornets.

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix delivered the kind of Sunday that reminds you why you started watching this sport. A 19-year-old Italian won his first Formula 1 race. Finally Lewis Hamilton stood on the podium in red. And the reigning world champion never reached the starting grid. Two races into the most comprehensive regulation overhaul in F1 history, the 2026 season already has its first star, its first feel-good story and its first real crisis.

Here are our winners and losers from the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.

Winner: Kimi Antonelli | mercedes

Nineteen years old. First Formula 1 win. The youngest Grand Prix polesitter in the history of the sport. And he did it the hard way: losing the lead to Lewis Hamilton off the line, fighting back through two aggressive Ferraris, and then completing a 56-lap race in Shanghai without a support net or any experienced teammates to hand him over.

Antonelli has been the subject of much discussion ever since Mercedes appointed him to the seat vacated by Hamilton. Hype has a way of crushing young drivers who aren’t ready for it. He looked ready. There was a scary moment late – a huge lockup at Turn 14 with four laps remaining that sent him deep into the runoff – but he kept it together, maintained the gap, and crossed the line 5.5 seconds clear of George Russell. Antonelli is the second youngest race winner in F1 history behind Max Verstappen. For American fans attending this game, remember the name. You’re going to be saying this a lot over the next decade.

Loser:McLaren

There’s no easy way to frame this. Both the cars did not start. Not one. Both.

Lando Norris never made it to the grid. Oscar Piastri, who has now failed to start a race in both rounds of 2026, was taken back to the garage before the formation lap with a separate electrical failure on each car. Two different problems, two different cars, same disastrous result.

McLaren won the Constructors’ title last year and arrived in Shanghai as one of the teams capable of making it a four-way championship battle. Right now, they have zero points in two races and a reliability crisis that should worry everyone at Woking. The 2026 power unit rules are clearly causing headaches across the paddock but no one’s headache has been that bad.

Winner: Lewis Hamilton ferrari

He is waiting for 26 races for this day. His first podium in the Ferrari red suit finally came in Shanghai, and he earned it the way you’d want the greatest driver of his generation to earn it – wheel to wheel, aggressive, lively. Hamilton led the race on the opening lap after a promising start from third on the grid. He battled with Russell for the lead, swapping positions several times, and when matters calmed down, he was in third place behind the two Mercedes drivers, who had the fastest packages on the day.

The inter-Ferrari battle with Leclerc in the final stages was the kind of racing that made people fall in love with the sport in the first place. Hamilton later said that it was one of his most enjoyable races in years. At 40, on a new team, in a new era, he still wants that. Don’t let anyone tell you that the Ferrari chapter is already over.

Losers: Max Verstappen and Red Bull

Ten laps from the end, Verstappen was running in sixth place and quietly saving something from a dirty weekend. Then the power unit died. He limped around the circuit for most of the lap before parking, and received his second retirement in two races, which is not necessarily true for a four-time world champion racing for a team with serious reliability concerns in Japan.

The bigger picture here is really worrying for Red Bull. The new Ford power unit reportedly arrives in 2026 with limited working batteries. Verstappen has been vocal about his frustration with the car’s behavior through the corners, and the gap to Mercedes in qualifying has been quite high both weekends. He’s not out of this championship conversation (he never really is), but Red Bull need answers before Suzuka, and they need them fast.

Winner: George Russell mercedes

George Russell leads the drivers’ championship by one point after Sunday’s race and defeat by his 19-year-old teammate. Think about that. Two races, two podiums, a win, a second place, a sprint win in Shanghai, and the fastest car on the grid by a clear margin.

Russell has been methodical, precise and completely professional throughout the first two weekends of the always chaotic new era. Beating Antonelli on Sunday doesn’t diminish what Russell is building here – it actually makes Mercedes’ story better. Two drivers capable of winning races, separated by one point in the standings, are teammates who will eventually have to compromise with each other. When Mercedes brought in Antonelli, Russell knew what he was signing up for. Right now, he’s handling it just fine.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1 … More about Scott Gulbransen

The Brooklyn Nets will be shorthanded for the second consecutive game when they travel to face the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. The Nets ruled Michael Porter Jr. (right ankle sprain), Deron Sharp (left thumb sprain) and Nolan Traore (rest) out for the matchup. Ziare Williams (illness) is questionable.

The Nets recently shut down breakout rookie Igor Demin for the season due to a plantar fascia injury. The lengthy injury report comes after Sharp and Williams missed Tuesday’s 138-100 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn benched veteran Terrence Mann during the game, playing recent two-way signing Chanie Johnson and trade acquisition Josh Minot in extended minutes.

These rotation changes were followed by consecutive wins over the Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies, causing the Nets to lose significant ground in the NBA’s tank race.

Nets rule out several starters for Hawks matchup after back-to-back wins

Brooklyn was tied with the Indiana Pacers for second place in the draft lottery standings and within striking distance of the first-place Sacramento Kings last week. However, the Nets rode a veteran-heavy rotation to take on the Pistons on Saturday. They then played most of their rotation against the Grizzlies, which were without their eight highest-paid players, and led the way to a win on Monday.

The pair of wins dropped Brooklyn to fourth place in the lottery standings. Jordi Fernandez’s team has one more win than the second- and third-place Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards, respectively, and two more wins than the first-place Pacers.

Despite their recent wins, the Nets control their own destiny in the draft lottery race. Brooklyn’s remaining schedule includes two matchups with the Kings, as well as meetings with the Pacers and Wizards.

A loss in those games would allow the Nets to climb into the top spot in the odds for May’s draft lottery.

The Montreal Canadiens were in Ottawa on Wednesday night, facing a Senators team looking to make the Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Moments before puck drop it was announced that Cole Caufield would be forced to leave the game due to the flu. Caufield was used sparingly in the third period of Tuesday night’s win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

As a result, Alex Texier returned to the first line, playing alongside Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkowski.

It should also be noted that rookie Jacob Fowler was given the start by the Canadiens, and he was a big part of the youth movement that led to the 3-2 win. Fowler stopped 29 of 31 shots sent his way to ensure the victory.

Let’s look at the highlights!

strong start

The Canadiens started the game on the right foot, culminating with Juraj Slafkowski’s 24th goal of the year just one minute into the first period.

It was Slafkowski’s 164th career point, the most by a Canadiens player before turning 22 in franchise history. Some may suggest that this is an easy feat since you started playing in the NHL at the age of 18, but it is quite a difficult thing to quickly learn while playing in the best hockey league on earth.

Talking about young players, rookie Ivan Demidov recorded his 50th point of the season in this sequence.

Juraj Slafkowski worked ahead of time! 🚨 #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/zCTJpkYJYR

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 11 March 2026

senators respond

Josh Anderson plays a rough-and-tumble style of hockey that is guaranteed to come with a certain amount of time spent in the sin bin, but he has made a habit of taking penalties at bad times this season, and to make matters worse, they are almost always the epitome of unnecessary ones.

There’s no doubt that the lack of consistency in umpiring makes life more difficult for a player like Andersen, but the Canadiens can’t afford to be among the most penalized teams in the league, and the fact that Andersen is a repeat offender can’t be ignored.

With that in mind, the Senators tied the game late in the first period while Anderson was in the box for roughing. This proved to be a turning point when it came to Montreal’s ability to control the flow of the game.

I immediately knew it was a good goal 🤷‍♂️#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/bZs4BtEdjl

– Ottawa Senators (@Senators) 12 March 2026

Habs fans will be quick to tell you that Tim Stützle takes dives more often than a duckling learning to hunt, but he’s a very good hockey player, and he absolutely loves playing against Montreal.

He’s also highly efficient, and doesn’t need any help from his opponents to score, but the Canadiens still gave him a hand on Wednesday with minimal defensive coverage and incredibly soft clearing attempts.

To Alexander Carrier’s credit, despite the fumble before Ottawa’s goal, it must be said that the Habs forward blitzed the zone rather than supporting his defencemen, or offering good outlet options.

Tim Stützle can’t stop, and won’t stop 🔥#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/h0zPnPgY7G

– Ottawa Senators (@Senators) 12 March 2026

Crowded Threesome

It would be hard for you to argue that Saint-Louis has made a lot of bad decisions this year, but their lack of enthusiasm for Texier is a bit odd, especially since there are several players in the lineup who don’t perform as well offensively as the Frenchman.

Texier has done everything possible to earn his ice time, including some much-needed offense while dealing with a complete lack of consistency from a usage standpoint.

On that note, Texier tied the game for the Canadiens with a very strong individual effort late in the second period.

Alex Texier has 8 goals and 11 assists in 32 games #GoHabsGoWhile he averages less than 13 minutes per game when he is not a healthy scratch. pic.twitter.com/1Cvrf5Zu2U

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 12 March 2026

cardiac children

With the game tied 2-2, the Habs displayed great speed in transition, which was the biggest advantage of having a smooth skater like Alex Newhook in the lineup.

By scoring the go-ahead goal, Demidov tied Anaheim Ducks forward Beckett Seneca for the most points by a rookie this season with 51 points.

This marked the 13th consecutive game in which the Canadiens scored at least three goals.

Great speed in transition gave Ivan Demidov his 51st point of the season.#GoHabsGo Are ahead 3-2. pic.twitter.com/VTJ1f5oK5D

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 12 March 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Saturday facing the San Jose Sharks at the Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

MIAMI – With Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo in the midst of a dominant stretch in an effort to lead his team out of the play-in tournament, his name has always been mentioned as one of the NBA’s premier defenders. Although Adebayo is reaching milestones for the Heat, Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) is an honor that has eluded him, with head coach Erik Spoelstra claiming to have won it this season.

While no one doubts Adebayo’s elite defensive ability, there is likely a belief that San Antonio Spurs superstar Victor Wambenyama is the favorite. For Spoelstra, what helps garner recognition for various league honors is winning games, as he believes is the case for Adebayo, who sees it as a “two-man race” for DPOY.

With San Antonio finishing second in the West with a 47–17 record, Wembanyama’s impact cannot be denied on both sides of the ball, especially on defense. Spoelstra believes it depends on “what flavor” one prefers, which makes the case for both defensive ‘unicorns’.

“These next six weeks, if we can really defend the same way we’ve been defending the last month, I think it’s a two-man race for Defensive Player of the Year. I think that’s the flavor you have,” Spoelstra told ClutchPoints.

Spoelstra continued, “They’ve won at an extremely high level, San Antonio, and their defense has consistently been a notch above our defense, but we’re starting to catch them in that.” “But it just depends on what flavor you like, a unicorn shot blocker that completely changes everything in the paint, or a unicorn one-through-five that no one can scheme in this league. And that performance, you know, has a real unique ability to impact the game defensively.”

Erik Spoelstra was asked about Jaime Jacquez Jr.’s 6MOY chances and if winning has an impact, he would say he should be a winner and the conversation turns to the W.

I’ll mention the same about Bam Adebayo and how it could be a two-man race for DPOY with Wembley. #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/8ORCzHkhZu

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 10 March 2026

The Heat’s Jaime Jacquez Jr. is also up for an award

Young Heat star Jaime Jaquez Jr. is another player who has improved and is primed for the award, as he has been one of the leading names for Sixth Man of the Year. However, the buzz and respect surrounding him has fluctuated, as after being the favorite in the early parts of the season, he is now behind a few names like Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reed and Houston Rockets’ Reed Shepard, via BetMGM.

Now, with Miami hitting its stride and Jaquez continuing his impressive year after a sophomore slump last season, Spoelstra believes he should win the award, and wins are also a factor to consider.

“I think he should be Sixth Man of the Year,” Spoelsta told ClutchPoints. “I think when we were around .500, no one was paying attention, I think at the beginning of the year, everyone was talking about it. And my point for the team is, all of a sudden we’re not winning at a high level, no one is paying attention to it, and other people are being cited for it. And then all of a sudden, we’re just starting to win again.”

“We’re just not winning enough right now,” Spoelstra added. “But if we keep it going, I think they’ll naturally get recognition for it.”

At any rate, it remains to be seen whether Adebayo or Jacquez will win the awards they are in the running for, but the main goal is to continue winning games, as entering Tuesday’s game against the Washington Wizards, the Heat are 36-29, in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

LOS ANGELES – After a three-game losing streak, the Los Angeles Lakers managed to get back on track with consecutive blowout wins, most recently a 128-104 win against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. During the Lakers’ loss, fans and media alike criticized him, and then started singing praises after the win, but Luka Doncic didn’t pay any attention to it.

After the Lakers’ win against the Kings, Luka Doncic talked about not thinking too far ahead and staying grounded while blocking out what outside voices have to say.

“Obviously it was two great wins. But we have to take it game by game,” Doncic said. “Obviously there’s a lot of noise outside. I try not to pay attention to that. We’ve got to go game by game and the last two games have been good.”

Doncic did his part in helping the Lakers get the narrow win. He finished with a game-high 28 points in 29 minutes while shooting 10 of 16 from the field, 4 of 8 from the 3-point line and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line. He also added five rebounds, nine assists, one steal and one blocked shot.

Earlier in the season, Doncic was a strong contender for the MVP award. Although those discussions have cooled off since then, it’s possible he finds himself back in the running depending on how the rest of the Lakers’ season goes.

Doncic currently leads the NBA in scoring with 32.6 points per game. He also averaged 7.7 rebounds, 8.6 assists and 1.4 steals while splitting 47.1 percent shooting from the field, 35.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Following the Lakers’ win against the Warriors, head coach JJ Redick spoke about his confidence in the team still being able to reach the level of competitiveness he wants them to perform on a consistent basis. After the win against the Kings, he also admitted not to get too caught up in outside noise.

“The world has fallen for us 19 times. It’s part of the nature of this cycle,” Redick said. “As I’ve talked about every game, our players have bounced back and responded well throughout the season. We’re tied for fifth and a few games into the loss column and none of these teams are coming at us. We’re just going to keep playing to win.”

The Lakers’ next chance to add to their current winning streak is on Tuesday, March 3 against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Team Canada and Team USA met in the gold medal game on Sunday morning, which was the first opportunity for Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki to enjoy success at the Winter Olympic Games.

NB Due to Olympic rights issues, you may not be able to watch the highlights in your country. If you are located in the United States, please visit the NBC Olympics Twitter account for highlights.

Hey say, can you score?

The Americans started brightly and scored their first goal of the game, a very familiar situation for many Habs fans.

Matt Boldy not only opened the scoring, he also beat both Cale Makar and Devon Toews before beating Jordan Binnington with a brilliant move. Team USA captain Auston Matthews and Minnesota Wild superstar Quinn Hughes were awarded assists in the game.

Considering the impressive talent levels of both teams, scoring the first goal of the game gave the Americans the biggest advantage, while Canada was forced to play behind the eight ball for a significant portion of the game.

Hockey🏒| Final 🇨🇦-🇺🇸 Matt Boldy gave the Americans the lead.

The score is 1–0 to the United States in the gold medal game.@hockeycanada #MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #Hockey #olympic games #teamcanada pic.twitter.com/sxN9F7mm6Y

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) 22 February 2026

solving hellebuyck

With Canada down 1-0, he showed great performance in the pace department, forcing the United States to take back-to-back penalties, increasing time at 5-on-3 for Team Canada. However, despite controlling the game at 5v5, Canada created very few high-quality chances on the powerplay.

When Canada finally created a high-danger scoring chance, Connor Hellebuyck shut them down with ease. Without his heroic effort throughout the game, there is a very good chance that Team Canada would have found the net on multiple occasions.

It took an excellent shot by Calle Makar, not to mention a strong effort from Suzuki on the boards, which ultimately tied the game at the end of the second period.

Suzuki wasn’t given an assist on the play, although you could easily argue he deserved the assist.

Hockey – Final 🇨🇦-🇺🇸 Cale Makar 🇨🇦 ties the score at the end of the second period! It’s 1-1. ➡️@hockeycanada#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #Hockey #olympic games #teamcanada pic.twitter.com/cq4BCh9HqT

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) 22 February 2026

golden goal

Canada defeated the United States 40–26 in regulation, but as per tradition, the teams required extra time to decide which team would be victorious.

Then New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes gained additional fame in less than two minutes, securing the gold medal for Team USA.

Hockey – Final 🇨🇦-🇺🇸 Jack Hughes scores in overtime to give the United States a 2–1 victory, the first Olympic gold medal for the Americans since 1980.

Canada will have to settle for a medal.@hockeycanada#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #Hockey… pic.twitter.com/vbnaAXbd09

– Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) 22 February 2026

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

The Boston Celtics are currently preparing to begin the unofficial second half of their season, which begins on Thursday evening against the Golden State Warriors. The Celtics were represented at the NBA All-Star weekend by Jaylen Brown, who participated as part of one of the USA teams in the round robin tournament.

The Celtics have performed well beyond expectations this year, and recently, former NBA guard Lou Williams praised what Boston is able to accomplish in 2025-26 on FanDuel’s “Run It Back” show.

“I still think Boston is the most dangerous team in the East,” said Williams, formerly of Run It Back on X, on Twitter.

Co-host Chandler Parsons said, “He’s exceeded everyone’s expectations… Jaylen Brown has to be in these MVP conversations.”

In fact, most pundits expected the Celtics to be a fringe playoff team at best this year, given that the team was playing without injured superstar Jayson Tatum, and also parted ways with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis via trades over the summer that were mostly financially motivated.

However, as Parsons said, Brown is playing at a borderline MVP level for the Celtics this year, more than replicating Tatum’s production, and he’s also gotten some help from players like Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard, who have returned to form after rough starts to the year.

Hovering over all of this is the possibility of Tatum’s eventual return, which looks more than likely day-to-day at some point this season. If Tatum can look somewhat like his normal form during Boston’s upcoming playoff run, the Celtics will likely be the clear favorite to come out of the East this year.

In any case, the Celtics will next take the field against the Warriors on Thursday at 10:00 PM ET as they begin their trip to the West Coast.

Minnesota Timberwolves star shooting guard Anthony Edwards was the best of the rest in Sunday’s star-studded NBA All-Star Game tournament.

Following Edwards and Team Stars’ victory over LeBron James and Team Stripes in the NBA All-Star Game Finals, the former Georgia Bulldogs star was named NBA All-Star MVP.

ANT: 2026 @kia All-Star MVP!

He received the Kobe Bryant Trophy 🏆 pic.twitter.com/eHypNna1DN

– NBA (@NBA) 16 February 2026

In his fourth All-Star Game, Edwards scored a total of 32 points with nine rebounds, three assists and a steal and led Team Stars to defeat Team World 37–35 in the round robin.

This story is being updated.

Rome Flynn is making the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game his personal playground. For the second year in a row, the multitalented actor and musician walked off the court with the hardware, proving that his 2025 performance was no fluke. Flynn led Team Giannis to a 65-58 victory over Team Anthony on Friday night, solidifying his status as the undisputed king of the star-studded exhibition.

While the celebrity game is usually known for its viral moments and questionable jump shots, Flynn brought the legitimate game to the hardwood. He was there to surround. Flynn finished the night with a game-high 17 points, showcasing a smooth offensive performance that kept the defense on its heels. Whether he was driving to the rim or hitting a timely jumper, he served as the engine that kept Team Giannis ahead in competitive back-and-forth.

back to back!

Rome Flynn has been named NBA All-Star Celebrity Game MVP for the second consecutive year.

pic.twitter.com/3j7Sg1M6UH

– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026

Team Anthony did not go down without a fight, keeping the score within reach until the final minutes of the fourth quarter. However, the cohesion of the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led team proved to be too much to handle down the stretch. Beyond the scoring, Flynn’s defensive energy and three steals helped spark a crucial run in the second half that ultimately decided the outcome.

Repeating as MVP is a rare feat in this format, putting Flynn in an elite category of celebrity athletes who have the skill to live up to the hype. Now with two trophies under his belt, the conversation has turned to whether or not he can keep playing, whether anyone can really stop him from a three-peat. The celebrity game is Flynn’s; Everyone else is playing for second place.

North Carolina A&T mounted a miraculous comeback that ended with a game one win, clinching victory in the NBA HBCU Classic.

North Carolina A&T and Hampton, who both compete in the Coastal Athletic Association, were invited to compete in the latest edition of the NBA HBCU Classic. The date and time of the game has changed from previous editions, as the Classic usually takes place on the Saturday afternoon before All-Star Saturday night.

Trent Middleton Jr. for leadership.

North Carolina A&T gets a stop for the W.

Wild finale at the 2026 NBA HBCU Classic presented by @To! pic.twitter.com/5LebfdItHN

– NBA (@NBA) 14 February 2026

The game was still thrilling, and its ending was worthy of the huge stage the NBA gave it. As the clock expired, the Aggies were down 70 to 68. North Carolina A&T guard Trent Middleton Jr. brought the ball upfield and was able to penetrate the defense and hit an acrobatic layup that went through the basket. He was also fouled in the game, resulting in an and-one which he ultimately converted at the free-throw line.

With 4.5 seconds left, Hampton still had a chance to cruise to the win. But Jalike Gaines-Wyatt’s floater went out and the Aggies prevailed. Gaines-Wyatt and forward Xavier Long both had 17 points for Hampton, who looked like they would go on and secure the win. For the Aggies, Middleton Jr. tallied 15 points, including the game-clinching one, and Lewis Walker had 18 points, with Will Felton contributing 12 points off the bench.

With the win, North Carolina A&T has snapped a four-game losing streak and are set to face Charleston on Thursday at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Hampton was on a two-game win streak after defeating Elon and William & Mary, and will host Hofstra on Thursday at 8 p.m., with the game being televised on CBS Sports Network.