MacKinnon has goal and 2 assists in 5-2 win over Wild as Avalanche take 2-0 lead in series
DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon scored a goal and assisted on two more as the Colorado Avalanche rolled through Minnesota’s newest netminder, Filip Gustavsson, on their way to a 5-2 win over the Wild to grab a 2-0 lead in the second-round playoff series. This featured a little more defense than in the 9-6 contest in Game 1. The 14 goals this series for the Avalanche are the most in the first two games of a playoff series since the Calgary Flames had 15 against the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. Martin Necas, Gabriel Landeskog and Nicolas Roy all scored their first goals of the series. Valeri Nichushkin added an empty-netter in the closing seconds.
Stefon Diggs’ acquittal clears path for return to the field but he could still face NFL discipline
Stefon Diggs’ acquittal in court clears a path for the four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver to return to the field. He still could face discipline from the NFL. “We have been monitoring all developments in the matter which remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Tuesday. Diggs was found not guilty Tuesday of assaulting his personal chef. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before clearing Diggs of all charges. Diggs spent last season with the New England Patriots, helping them reach the Super Bowl, where they lost to Seattle. He was released in March and remains a unsigned.
Ohtani allows his first HRs of the season to Walker and Shewmake as the Astros beat the Dodgers 2-1
HOUSTON (AP) — Shohei Ohtani allowed his first two home runs of the season to Christian Walker and Braden Shewmake, and Peter Lambert pitched seven strong innings to give the Houston Astros a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. Lambert (2-2) allowed three hits and walked four with four strikeouts in his longest outing of the season. Walker sent Ohtani’s first pitch of the second inning to the train tracks atop left field to make it 1-0. There was one out in the second when Shewmake hit a fastball from Ohtani into the seats in left field to extend the lead to 2-0.
Arsenal reaches its first Champions League final in 20 years as Saka’s goal seals win over Atletico
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal is back in the Champions League final for the first time in 20 years thanks to a late first-half goal from Bukayo Saka that secured a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid. Saka was on hand to slot in the rebound after Leandro Trossard’s shot was saved by Jan Oblak in the 45th minute to put Arsenal up 2-1 on aggregate in the semifinal. The Gunners’ stingy defense did the rest as Arsenal has now kept a clean sheet at home in all three knockout rounds. It will be only Arsenal’s second final in Europe’s premier competition, having lost the 2006 title match to Barcelona. This time it will face either defending champion Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich.
NFL and the NFL Referees Association are moving closer toward a new deal, AP source says
The NFL and its officials are moving closer toward a new agreement that avoids a work stoppage. After a lengthy stalemate, negotiations have reached a point where the NFL Referees Association is planning to have a ratification vote this week, a person with knowledge of the discussions told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the conversations are private. ESPN first reported the development. Last month, the league began the onboarding process for replacement officials because negotiations weren’t progressing. The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Referees Association is set to expire on May 31. The league and the union have been negotiating a new CBA since the summer of 2024.
Jon Rahm resolves his dispute with European tour as LIV Golf faces loss of Saudi funding
STERLING, Va. (AP) — Jon Rahm has resolved his financial dispute with the European tour, a move that potentially gives him a place to compete in 2027 and beyond with LIV Golf facing an uncertain future. Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton took questions Tuesday at LIV Golf Virginia after LIV CEO Scott O’Neil spoke to reporters about his efforts to court investors for the league. LIV Golf is losing its chief financial backer, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, at the end of the season. Both players declined to speculate on their future and noted that they remain under contract with LIV for years to come.
Coaches group supports earlier CFP finish and proposes changes to accomplish that
WACO, Texas (AP) — The American Football Coaches Association is proposing the elimination of conference championship games and other changes as part of its non-binding recommendation for the College Football Playoff to be completed by the second Monday each January. The AFCA has no authority within the NCAA or CFP governance structures. The AFCA, which has FBS coaches as part of its board and membership, publicly revealed its positions Tuesday. As for the size of the playoff field, currently 12 teams and expected to expand, the AFCA didn’t publicly endorse a certain number. It did say, however, that future playoff models should maximize the number of participants while honoring the proposed completion date.
Celtics’ Jaylen Brown fined $50,000 by the NBA for public criticism of playoff officiating
NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown $50,000 for public criticism of game officials following Boston’s first-round exit from the playoffs. The fine was announced by NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations James Jones on Tuesday evening, two days after Brown said in a livestream he hosts that game officials “clearly had an agenda” to call fouls against him for “pushing off” when he drove toward the basket while handling the ball. The Celtics were eliminated from postseason play on Saturday night when they lost 109-100 to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series.