Ottawa Charge coach Carla MacLeod is taking an indefinite leave as she continues to receive treat...

Ottawa Charge coach Carla MacLeod is taking an indefinite leave as she continues to receive treatment in her battle with breast cancer, the team announced on Monday.“She remains in good spirits and is focused on her health and recovery,” the team said. “The entire organization fully supports Carla. And her family asks that her privacy be respected.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charge-czech-republic-macleod-cancer-756ce7874d2b51e0a68ae37afeb76a83">MacLeod first revealed</a> being diagnosed with cancer a week into the PWHL season in late November. Despite traveling to her native Alberta to receive treatments, she previously missed only one Charge game and continued her duties as coach of Czechia’s national women’s hockey team.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>At 13-11-1 (including a PWHL-leading seven OT wins), the Charge have five games left and sit fifth in a tightly contested race for the league’s fourth and final playoff berth.MacLeod was so intent on coaching, she scheduled radiation treatments to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with her being behind Czechia’s bench at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. Czechia finished third in Pool A play before being knocked out by Pool B champion Sweden in the quarterfinals.Upon arriving at the Milan Cortina Games, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/czechia-womens-hockey-macleod-cancer-1cf625b52322741d7e24ec4426b3cfd1">the ever-upbeat MacLeod</a> said cancer wasn’t going to alter her approach in coaching the Czechs at a second consecutive Olympics.“At the end of the day, I’m in an industry that’s about playing hockey. That’s a pretty good gig. And I’ve had it my whole life,” MacLeod said. “I’m pretty lucky.”The 43-year-old MacLeod is from Spruce Grove, Alberta, and won two Olympic gold medals as a defender on Canada’s national team.Assistant coach Haley Irwin takes over as interim head coach during MacLeod’s absence.___AP women’s hockey: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey">https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey</a>

TORONTO, CANADA - FEBRUARY 1: Head coach Carla MacLeod of the Ottawa Charge looks on after the game against the Toronto Sceptres at Coca-Cola Coliseum on February 1, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

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LISBON, Portugal (AP) — After Arsenal’s first consecutive losses this season — taking trophies ou...

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — After Arsenal’s first consecutive losses this season — taking trophies out of play — coach Mikel Arteta wants his players to turn the pain of their last two results into gain.Arteta has been drumming into his players to embrace their defeats in the FA Cup quarterfinals and English League Cup final and remember they’re still contending in the Premier League and Champions League.Their immediate focus was the Champions League quarterfinal first leg at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, and fighting off outside noise about yet another late-season swoon.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“What you have to be is clear,” he said on Monday. “Instead of panic understand if that happens why it happened, and bring clarity. And when you analyse that and you accept that you will be better. That’s it, and that’s the thing that we have to do.“Have some perspective on how difficult it is. Feel that pain, feel that emotion, and use it to be better and to improve. There are a few things that we have discussed internally, and I’m very convinced that tomorrow we’re going to see that.“I know what it means to them and I know how much they want it. Now is the moment to show it, and we have to do it tomorrow at the highest level. We are hungrier than ever, very excited and very, very motivated.”Arteta welcomed good news regarding the availability of defender Gabriel Magalhães, midfielder Declan Rice and forward Leandro Trossard for the match against Sporting.They were among 10 Arsenal players who missed games for their national team over the international break because of various issues.Arteta also said Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber did not travel to Portugal but was hoping they will be fit to face Bournemouth on Saturday in the Premier League. Arsenal has a nine-point lead over Manchester City.The coach said he asked striker Viktor Gyökeres for some insight on his former club Sporting.Gyökeres is making his first return to the club that turned him into a globally renowned striker.“Of course I did (ask him for insights), just to understand the dynamic, the culture here, and to have more information about them that we can use in our favour,” Arteta said. “They have a lot of qualities, what they’re doing is remarkable, and the record that they have at home is just incredible.”Arteta said he felt Gyökeres was “very excited” about his return to play Sporting.“He’s full of gratitude for his time here,” Arteta said. "(You can tell from) the way he talks about the club, the players, the staff, everybody around the club. The experience that he had in Sporting was such an important part of his journey.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta arrives for a press conference at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon, Portugal. Picture date: Monday April 6, 2026.

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NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets will retire Carlos Beltrán’s No. 15 and he will enter the team’...

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets will retire Carlos Beltrán’s No. 15 and he will enter the team’s hall of fame before their home game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 19.Beltrán will become the ninth player in franchise history to have his number retired. Previously, Tom Seaver (41), Mike Piazza (31), Jerry Koosman (36), Keith Hernandez (17), Willie Mays (24), Dwight Gooden (16), Darryl Strawberry (18) and David Wright (5) had their numbers retired.The Mets also have retired the numbers of former managers Gil Hodges (14) and Casey Stengel (37) and all major league teams have retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Mets outfielder Tyrone Taylor, who currently wears No. 15, will change his number to 28.Beltrán was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/beltran-jones-hall-of-fame-3f92e2209b80f655bffedfe4d3173e8e">elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame</a> earlier this year. He announced he would wear a Mets cap on his plaque. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be on July 26.<a href="https://apnews.com/beltran-need-to-be-best-friend-to-mets-gm-as-manager-90d47d8affcb47cdad3378ed0fa546fb">Beltrán was hired as the New York Mets’ manager</a> on Nov. 1, 2019, then <a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-mets-mlb-sports-general-rob-manfred-new-york-yankees-1313021d901cb1a96c0ea9be68809ebc">fired on Jan. 16, 2020</a>, without having managed a game. New York announced its decision three days after he was the only Astros player mentioned by name in a report by Major League Baseball regarding the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-general-new-england-patriots-rob-manfred-tx-state-wire-mlb-9520259b685a7f071709efcacdcb83b6">team’s illicit use of electronics to steal signs</a> during Houston’s run to the 2017 World Series championship — his final season.He was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-carlos-beltran-new-york-yankees-houston-astros-c2d1e3e11bbff3c23df395b2eda3530f">hired by the Mets as a special assistant to the general manager</a> in February 2023. He continues to work as a special assistant to president of baseball operations David Stearns.Mets owners Steve and Alex Cohen released a statement on Monday praising Beltrán as “one of the greatest offensive players in team history, combining power and speed with elite defense.”Beltrán said having his number retired and entering the team’s hall of fame is “the highest possible tribute, and I truly feel blessed. The Mets hold a special place in my heart. This summer will be incredibly meaningful, from my induction into the baseball Hall of Fame to this Mets hall of fame honor, with the cherry on top being my number retirement. I’m deeply grateful.”___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 04: Carlos Beltran talks to the media after being introduced as manager of the New York Mets during a press conference at Citi Field on November 4, 2019 in New York City.

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MADRID (AP) — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane practiced on Monday and is expected to be availabl...

MADRID (AP) — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane practiced on Monday and is expected to be available against Real Madrid in their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.Kane missed the win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday because of a minor ankle issue sustained in training with England last week.He took part in training in Munich before the club traveled to the Spanish capital for Tuesday’s match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said he will wait until gameday to decide whether to use Kane.“It was important that he did a lot of training today,” Kompany said. “I don’t think he’s lost his rhythm. We’ll wait until tomorrow and then decide ... We have a great squad and are ready for the two legs.”Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior praised Kane.“He is a goal-scorer. He is a great player,” Vinícius said. “But Bayern is a great team and has many players who switch positions and make it difficult for us. Whoever plays it will be tough.”Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich said Kane was “massively important” for the team.“He’s not just a finisher. He’s an absolute leader, a role model. He has a special mindset for an attacking player,” Kimmich said. “If he plays, his leadership qualities will be important.”Bayern eliminated Atalanta in the last 16, while Madrid got past Manchester City.“We’ve prepared for Real and we’ve seen what they did against Man City,” Kompany said. “It’s perhaps the toughest away game you can play, but we want to win.”Madrid and Bayern are meeting in the knockout stage for the sixth time in the past 14 seasons. Madrid has won four of the two-leg matchups with Bayern since the 2011-12 season; once in the quarterfinals and three times in the semifinals, most recently in 2024. Bayern won in the 2012 semifinals after a penalty shootout.“Bayern is an unbelievable team,” Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said. “We have a lot of respect for them. They’re having an exceptional season. Bayern has been the most consistent side in Europe this season. They’re fearless, aggressive, very focused defensively, with an unbelievable striker in Harry Kane.”Bayern is unbeaten in its last 13 games in all competitions with 11 wins, while Madrid is coming off a 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday that hurt its La Liga title hopes.“We don’t think about not winning the tie and there is only one possible scenario, which is to beat Bayern and get through the tie,” Arbeloa said. “It’s the only thing we want and the only thing we believe in.”Arbeloa also downplayed criticism of Kylian Mbappé, who has been questioned by some in Madrid recently. Mbappé is coming off a controversial knee injury that reduced his playing time with the Spanish club.“Mbappé knows perfectly well what Real Madrid is,” Arbeloa said. “We’ve all seen images of Kylian Mbappé wearing the Real Madrid jersey, dreaming of becoming a Real Madrid player. What he has done to come here wasn’t easy.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

München, Germany - March 21: Harry Kane of Bayern Muenchen looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Union Berlin at Allianz Arena on March 21, 2026 in München, Germany.

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MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior praised Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for publicl...

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior praised Barcelona star Lamine Yamal for publicly condemning anti-Muslim chants in a recent match, saying players need to stick together in the fight against discrimination.Vinícius spoke Monday, less than a week after Yamal criticized the chants by Spanish fans in Spain’s friendly against Egypt last Tuesday. Yamal, who is Muslim, said the chants were disrespectful and intolerable.Vinícius, a Brazil international, has been often subjected to racist taunts while playing in Europe and is vocal about the fight against racism. He said “it’s always complicated” to talk about the subject but “these things happen a lot.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“Hopefully we can continue with this fight,” he said. “It’s important that Lamine speaks about it. It could help others. We are famous, we have money, we can balance these things better, but the poor people and the Blacks who are everywhere, they surely struggle more than we do. So we have to stick together, those who have a stronger voice, the players …”In a Champions League match last month in Lisbon, Vinícius accused Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a monkey after the Brazil forward celebrated in front of the home fans when he scored for Madrid. Benfica fans insulted Vinícius from the stands.“I’m not saying that Spain or Germany or Portugal are racist countries, but there are racists in these countries, and in Brazil and other countries as well,” Vinícius said. “But if we keep fighting together, I think future players and people in general won’t have to go through this again.”Vinícius spoke on the eve of the first leg between Madrid and Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 26: (L-R) Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona, Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid v FC Barcelona at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2025 in Madrid Spain

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NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — After coming oh so close to winning at Shadow Creek last year, Laure...

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. (AP) — After coming oh so close to winning at Shadow Creek last year, Lauren Coughlin made sure victory was never truly in doubt Sunday in the Aramco Championship.She rolled to a five-shot win over Nelly Korda and the rest of the star-studded field for her first win in two years.Coughlin shot an even-par 72 for a 7-under total, earning the 33-year-old from Virginia $600,000. She won her third LPGA Tour title and first in the United States, after winning in Canada and Scotland in 2024.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I think it just means more because after 2024 and not winning is hard,” Coughlin said. “I didn’t get it done earlier in the year last year when I had a couple chances and that really bothered me. I was like, ‘What if I don’t ever get to do it again? What if that’s the best golf I every played in 2024?’ Those thoughts were hard not to think last year.”Korda was runner-up yet again after shooting a 75 and finishing at 2 under. She made her one birdie on the par-5 18th, avoiding going without one in a round for the first time since the first day of The ANNIKA last November in the Tampa Bay area.This was her third consecutive second-place finish after opening her season by winning in Orlando, Florida, moving Korda up a spot to No. 1 in the world ranking.“I’m just going to stick to what I’m doing,” Korda said. “I’m really happy with the way that my game is trending, and sometimes when you work too hard and you exhaust yourself, you can go the other way.”Leona Maguire (71) also finished at 2 under, and the only other player with an under-par score was Miyu Yamashita (74) at 1 under.Korda wasn’t the only tough competitor for Coughlin to overcome. The $4 million prize money in the event <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lpga-tour-golf-saudi-let-vegas-shadow-creek-0420fd3653c4072a73bced5783bec7bc?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">organized by Golf Saudi</a> and co-sanctioned by the LPGA and Ladies European Tour drew 38 of the top 40 players. It’s the first such event in the United States, and more appear to be coming to North America.Players compared this tournament to a major because Shadow Creek because birdies were so difficult to come by. Only four players wound up under par for the tournament.Coughlin, the former two-time Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year at Virginia, showed why she feels comfortable at Shadow Creek, even though the format for this year's tournament switched from match to stroke play. She made the final pairing last year before a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lpga-tour-match-play-coughlin-sagstrom-bc5ac4f0f5b2cb0f3e726ca0651d7d2c?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">1-up loss to Madelene Sagstrom</a>.“It left a sour taste in my mouth,” Coughlin said. “Second is a good consolation, but winning is really fun.”Her comfort was evident all four days around the 6,765-yard tract that makes players pay dearly for putting the ball in poor locations. Coughlin was in a three-way tie for the lead after the first round and never relinquished that position as others fell off.She came close to turning the tournament into a laugher at times Friday and Saturday, but going into the final round, Coughlin enjoyed just a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/lpga-tour-aramco-shadow-creek-vegas-39c5c3cc2dfc3ca5af832a6a02028428?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">two-shot margin over Korda</a>, the 2024 LPGA Tour Player of the Year. Korda ended the third round with back-to-back birdies and an apparent message she wasn't going anywhere.But then the final round began, and it became clear fairly quickly which direction the tournament was heading. Coughlin began to pull away and all but ensured at the eighth green she would be the one to place her hands on the trophy.Coughlin rolled in a downhill right-to-left 45-footer for birdie on the par 3. Korda then preceded to three-putt, including missing a 2-footer for par.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Lauren Coughlin drains a long birdie and her lead now sits at 6 strokes 😳 <a href="https://t.co/ecPbcHpLVc">pic.twitter.com/ecPbcHpLVc</a>— LPGA (@LPGA) <a href="https://twitter.com/LPGA/status/2040913050555785701?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Suddenly, Coughlin was at 9 under and Korda at 3 under — and the rest of the round all but a formality. Korda got within four shots when Coughlin opened the back nine by bogeying the 10th and 12th holes, but Korda did the same on Nos. 13 and 15 to again make it a six-shot difference.“Not even just bogeys, but you can make a lot of big numbers out there,” Coughlin said. “So I was sticking to my game plan and trying to focus on staying in my routine as much as I could and make as many pars as I possibly could.”___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

LAS VEGAS, NV - APRIL 05: LPGA golfer Lauren Coughlin poses with the trophy and Titleist golf ball after winning the Aramco Championship on April 5, 2026, at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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MONTREAL (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens wrapped up their second straight playoff spot Sunday when ...

MONTREAL (AP) — The Montreal Canadiens wrapped up their second straight playoff spot Sunday when Detroit fell 5-4 to Minnesota, making them the first Canadian team to secure a postseason berth.Last season, Montreal took the final spot in the Eastern Conference before falling to Washington in five games in the first round.Montreal dropped a 3-0 decision to New Jersey at home Sunday night. The Canadiens are third in the Atlantic Division, even in points with second-place Buffalo and five ahead of Boston.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>___AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 4: Montréal Canadiens players celebrate on the ice after defeating the New Jersey Devils in a shootout at Prudential Center on April 4, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.

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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — J.J. Spaun came up with two big shots at the end of a long, wet Sunday, one le...

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — J.J. Spaun came up with two big shots at the end of a long, wet Sunday, one leading to birdie and the other for eagle that carried him to a 5-under 67 and a one-shot victory in the Valero Texas Open for his first title since the U.S. Open last summer.Spaun won for the second time at the TPC San Antonio, with one big difference. His victory four years ago got him into the Masters. Now he is the U.S. Open champion who already had his spot at Augusta National secured. But this was an important win.He had yet to finish in the top 20 in seven starts this year — his best was a tie for 24th in The Players Championship — and now the 35-year-old Californian has a validating win in tough conditions as he heads into the first major of the year.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“It’s just — this game is so crazy,” Spaun said. “I haven’t been feeling at the form I wanted to be based on last season, and just trying to take each day as it comes, and accepting what I have."“There’s just so much that comes with winning big events like that, a U.S. Open or any other major," he said. "I put a lot of pressure on me to start the year, a lot of expectations. I went into the last few weeks starting at the Players trying to be freed up, and put less pressure on myself, and it’s been trying. But sticking to that mantra has really helped me.”Robert MacIntyre, who had led for so much of the tournament, completed 12 holes Sunday morning in the storm-delayed tournament for an even-par 72 to stay ahead by one shot going into the final round. The groups didn't change for the final round in a bid to finish amid more rain — but no lightning that caused any delays.Spaun was in the mix with a dozen other players when he hit his <a href="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2040891511328416225">tee shot to 3 feet on the par-3 16th</a> for birdie, and <a href="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2040894909452812347">then drove the green on the 306-yard 17th hole to 10 feet for eagle</a>.He finished with a par to set the target at 17-under 271, finishing about an hour before MacIntyre and the final group. He was on the range when MacIntyre, three shots behind with two to play, drove the 17th and holed an eagle putt just outside 15 feet to get within one shot.But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.His birdie putt to force a playoff was short all the way. MacIntyre closed with a 70 to share second place with Matt Wallace (68) and Michael Kim (69).He won for the third time on the PGA Tour, two of them at the Texas Open.Ludvig Aberg had his third straight top 10 — including The Players Championship where he gave up the lead on the back nine — going into the Masters. He closed with a 70 and tied for fifth with Andrew Putnam, who needed birdie on the 18th to force a playoff and hit wedge into a back bunker, making bogey for a 70.___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - APRIL 05: J.J. Spaun of the United States poses with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the final round of the Valero Texas Open 2026 at TPC San Antonio on April 05, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.

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CHICAGO (AP) — Davis Martin tossed six innings of four-hit ball to lead the Chicago White Sox pas...

CHICAGO (AP) — Davis Martin tossed six innings of four-hit ball to lead the Chicago White Sox past Toronto 3-0 on Sunday for their first three-game sweep of the Blue Jays in 10 years.Miguel Vargas had an RBI triple, and Lenyn Sosa and Austin Hays each drove in a run as the White Sox opened 3-0 at home for the first time since 2004. Luisangel Acuña got two hits for Chicago (4-5), which last swept the Blue Jays in April 2016 at Toronto.Martin (2-0) struck out six and walked two in his second consecutive sharp start. Chris Murphy, Chicago's third reliever, worked around a walk in the ninth for his first save this season and the second of his career.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ernie Clement had two of Toronto's six hits as the AL champion Blue Jays (4-5) dropped their fourth straight game and were shut out for the first time this season.Eric Lauer (1-1) pitched the first two innings for Toronto, yielding two runs and three hits while walking three. Three relievers followed.Tanner Murray made his major-league debut at shortstop for the White Sox after getting called up from Triple-A. Murray ranged to his left to snare Addison Barger's grounder up the middle with the bases loaded in the third, then threw out Barger at first to end the threat.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
TANNER MURRAY 🤯 <a href="https://t.co/MsKQStoG5t">pic.twitter.com/MsKQStoG5t</a>— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) <a href="https://twitter.com/whitesox/status/2040870718401835285?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Toronto catcher Brandon Valenzuela singled in the first at-bat of his big league debut. He was called up Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo after Alejandro Kirk got injured.The White Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first. Chase Meidroth scored when Vargas' sinking liner skipped past center fielder Daulton Varsho for a triple.Sosa's run-scoring double in the third made it 2-0. Hays singled home a run in the fourth.Up nextBlue Jays: RHP Max Scherzer (1-0, 1.50 ERA) faces Dodgers LHP Justin Wrobleski (0-0, 6.75) on Monday in Toronto.White Sox: RHP Erick Fedde (0-1, 5.40) starts Monday at home against Baltimore.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 5: Eric Lauer #56 of the Toronto Blue Jays is replaced during the third inning against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on April 5, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois.

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PHOENIX (AP) — It’s mission accomplished for UCLA.  Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and the rest of...

PHOENIX (AP) — It’s mission accomplished for UCLA.Gabriela Jaquez, Lauren Betts and the rest of the UCLA seniors secured the first NCAA women’s basketball national championship in school history — a goal that was set after losing in the first Final Four last season.Jaquez scored 21 points, Betts added 16 and UCLA routed South Carolina 79-51 Sunday in the title game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“I knew we were going to do it. Coming to UCLA we all set out for a goal, and I imagined this moment,” Jaquez said. “I imagined it so many times, and I am just so, so proud. ... Crying a lot, the confetti, all of the fans being here to support us, my family being here, it just means everything. Celebrating with this group, like ... I’m so happy.”The near-record lopsided victory completed the Bruins’ journey through this year’s <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">March Madness</a>. The Bruins ran through their opponents this season with their only loss coming in November, to Texas in a Thanksgiving tournament.“It’s immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “It’s beyond my wildest dreams.”UCLA (37-1) was led by Betts and her fellow seniors and graduate students, like Jaquez — who played all four years with the Bruins. She also had 10 rebounds and five assists in front of her brother Jaime, who plays for the Miami Heat and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/heat-jaime-jaquez-sister-gabriela-ucla-march-madness-902c097217345015e72b6566f3e7d181">flew in to attend</a> the game to watch his alma mater win.The group that coach Close put together through a combination of high school commitments and transfer portal players capped off their stellar careers with a championship, scoring all the points in the title game.“Connectivity. Attention to detail. You know I looked them in the eyes before in the locker room, before the game, and I said, ‘I’m so proud to be able to say this,” Close said. “Because all year we’ve been saying the talent is our floor, but our character will determine our ceiling.’”The title is UCLA’s first since winning the 1978 AIAW championship, which was the postseason tournament for women’s basketball before the NCAA took over in 1982.The championship game loss was the second straight for the Gamecocks, who won the title in 2024. Dawn Staley and her Gamecocks (36-4) will be favored to return to the game’s biggest stage with a talented group of expected returnees, led by Joyce Edwards and Agot Makeer.Like their <a href="https://apnews.com/article/march-madness-ucla-texas-965e552b6f30ba07a9eee033d8bb2746">51-44</a> semifinal win over Texas, the Bruins were locked in defensively, anchored by Betts. She finished with 11 rebounds and exited the game with 3:45 left, giving Close a huge hug. The 6-foot-7 senior earned Most Outstanding Player honors of the Final Four.Offensively, the Bruins had a much easier time than in the semifinal game that saw the team score only 20 points in the first half. The Bruins surpassed that total in the opening 10 minutes against South Carolina. Kiki’s Rice 3-pointer just before the first-quarter buzzer made it 21-10 as the Bruins got off to a strong start and South Carolina struggled with 17% shooting, it’s poorest quarter of the season.The Bruins extended the lead to 15 points in the second quarter by clogging up the paint on defense and working the ball inside on offense for a 36-23 lead at the half.UCLA put the game away in the third quarter, opening the period with a 12-3 run. Jaquez had five points during the spurt. South Carolina never threatened again as the Bruins outscored them 25-9 in the period.“We just didn’t have it today. We tried, but we just didn’t have it today,” Staley said. “They were the better team.”South Carolina avoided the most lopsided loss in championship history of 33 points, set in 2013 when UConn defeated Louisville. The Gamecocks also surpassed the title game record low of 44 points by Louisiana Tech in 1987 against Tennessee.The Gamecocks were trying to cement their name as the premiere program in the sport with a fourth championship and third in the past five seasons. It just wasn’t meant to be Sunday as they had their worst shooting game of the season against a talented UCLA team.“This is not the ending we wanted, but we got here. No one thought we would, and we did it,” said Tessa Johnson, who led South Carolina with 14 points.Makeer added 11 for the Gamecocks.“The score speaks for itself.” said Gamecocks senior Raven Johnson, who played in five Final Fours in her career.Close has been at UCLA for 15 seasons, but her connections go deeper with the school as she was mentored by the legendary Bruins men’s coach John Wooden, who won 10 national championships at the school.Their bond began when she was 22 years old and he was 83. She shares the same first name with one of his great-granddaughters. Close visited Wooden bi-weekly, adopting his “Pyramid of Success” and focus on character and its paid off with her team.___AP March Madness bracket: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket">https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket</a> and coverage: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness">https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness</a>

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - APRIL 05: Members of the UCLA Bruins pose with the trophy after their victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the National Championship of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

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AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler arrived at Augusta National on Su...

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Two-time Masters champion Scottie Scheffler arrived at Augusta National on Sunday, and he brought the whole family with him. All four of them.Scheffler, who tends to keep his golf separate from his home life, had not shared any information since <a href="https://apnews.com/article/scottie-scheffler-houston-open-masters-8d2e0ffe4977089c0c6ee520ee5a79f4">withdrawing from the Houston Open two weeks ago</a> because of the impending birth of his second child. He said wife Meredith gave birth to a boy on March 27. They named him Remy."We just liked it," Scheffler said about the name. His first son, Bennett, was born in 2024 before the PGA Championship. "We didn't have very many good boy names, to be honest with you."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>There he was, in a stroller Meredith was pushing under the famous oak tree by the clubhouse, 9 days old and already at his first Masters.It added to the sights rarely seen anywhere else on the Sunday before a major. That holds true with so much about the Masters.Defending champion Rory McIlroy has been at the club all weekend, watching the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/maria-jose-marin-augusta-l-womens-amateur-asterisk-talley-b71bc7576bfdd79aa4fd1f6e5cfd35e3">Augusta National Women's Amateur</a> on Saturday and handing out trophies to a group of boys in the annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on Sunday.McIlroy has talked about how much he looked forward to returning as the Masters champion and enjoying all the perks that go with it. He was in his green jacket during the Drive, Chip and Putt, and posed with Maria Jose Marin, the ANWA winner and first Colombian to join the roll call of Augusta National winners.Then he headed out to the golf course with his father, Gerry, and Augusta member Jimmy Dunne. Next up is the Masters Club dinner Tuesday and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/rory-mcilroy-masters-champion-dinner-menu-f9d15abc48fdac5495c12efb6eb71cbf">the elaborate menu</a> he has put together."It is the most exclusive dinner club in all of sport, and I think we should all feel very fortunate that we are there," he told Golf Channel after his part in the trophy presentation Sunday. "But we're there because of the hard work and the good play that we've been able to produce."He also mentioned two players who won't be at the dinner — Tiger Woods, arrested and briefly jailed for suspicion of driving under the influence during a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiger-woods-crash-bodycam-video-president-5d9f2443ef415040a45e7f0a7e4f4baa">March 27 car crash</a>, and Phil Mickelson, who is tending to a personal health matter at home."Unfortunately, there will be a couple of guys that won't be in that room, which is a shame, but I want to make sure that they're acknowledged as well,” McIlroy said. "They've been two of the greatest champions that the Masters has ever seen. But it's going to be a really cool night. I can't wait. I hope everyone enjoys the dinner and enjoys everything that I've selected."Bryson DeChambeau also was at Augusta National on Saturday for the end of the ANWA, consoling Asterisk Talley after the 17-year-old hit two shots into Rae's Creek for a quadruple-bogey 7 on the par-3 12th hole that cost her a chance to win.DeChambeau grew up about 45 minutes away from where Talley lives in the central valley of California. They know each other well."Obviously, I've had difficult moments in my career, and if there's anything I can do to support her, that's what I'm here for. That's why I'm here to support," DeChambeau told reporters Saturday.He teed off Sunday by himself after the DC&amp;P was over, walking to slap hands and pose for photos with kids and spectators some 100 yards down the right side of the tee. "I've got to go play," he told them before running to catch up with his caddie. There are exceptions for running at Augusta National.Also there was Gary Player, the three-time Masters champion who will be hitting the honorary tee shot on Thursday. The Black Night was on the putting green as the Boys 7-9 division was preparing for its putting competition on the 18th green.There was 8-year-old Landyn Kelly from Henderson, Nevada, rapping 40-foot putts toward the hole with 90-year-old Player watching with amazement."What a touch! What a touch he has, man!" Player exclaimed.Scheffler took this Sunday to play with Blake Smith, his longtime manager, who had never played Augusta National. Scheffler and McIlroy are fighting some history this week. Adam Scott in 2013 is the last player to win the Masters after having three weeks off."I've been practicing," Scheffler said. "I've been able to do a good amount at home."___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 15: Scottie Scheffler of the United States on the ninth hole during THE PLAYERS Championship on March 15, 2026 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl.

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MADRID (AP) — New coach, same struggle for Sevilla.  Sevilla lost 1-0 at last-placed Oviedo on Su...

MADRID (AP) — New coach, same struggle for Sevilla.Sevilla lost 1-0 at last-placed Oviedo on Sunday to stay just two points above the relegation zone in the Spanish league.It dropped to 17th with the loss which saw the debut of coach Luis García Plaza, who replaced Argentine coach Matías Almeyda before the international break.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It was the third straight defeat for Sevilla, and its eighth match without a win in nine league rounds. The club was in 15th place when Almeyda was fired.Federico Viñas scored in the 32nd minute for Oviedo, which has won two of its last three league matches to keep alive its hopes of not returning to the second division. Oviedo has 24 points, seven points behind Sevilla.Sevilla played a man down from the 39th as defender Tanguy Nianzou was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul.<h3>Boost for Getafe</h3>Getafe boosted its chances of playing in Europe next season after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home for its sixth win in its last eight league matches.Luis Vázquez scored in the 14th and Martín Satriano sealed the victory in the 90th to keep Getafe in eighth place with 41 points, level with seventh-placed Real Sociedad and three points ahead of ninth-placed Espanyol.Under one scenario, Spain could end up with as many as 10 places in European competitions next season, depending on how Spanish teams finish this season in Europe.Getafe’s only setbacks recently were 1-0 losses to Sevilla at home and to Atletico Madrid away.Athletic, meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games in all competitions and has only one victory — 2-1 against Real Betis in the league before the international break — in its last six games.One of its losses came in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal against Basque Country rival Real Sociedad last month.Athletic dropped to 10th.<h3>Celta wins</h3>Celta came from behind to beat Valencia 3-2 on the road.The victory ended Celta’s three-game winless streak in the league and left the club in sixth place. The top four are guaranteed Champions League spots with the fifth team also set to qualify. Betis, currently sitting fifth, drew 0-0 with Espanyol at home on Saturday.Ilaix Moriba, Fer López and Williot Swedberg scored for Celta in the second half after Guido Rodríguez had put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute. Rodríguez scored Valencia’s second goal in second-half stoppage time.Valencia, which dropped to 13th place, had won four of its last six league games.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

SEVILLE, SPAIN - MARCH 21: Federico Gattoni, Nemanja Gudelj and Andres Castrin of Sevilla FC react after the team's defeat in the LaLiga EA Sports match between Sevilla FC and Valencia CF at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on March 21, 2026 in Seville, Spain.

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PARIS (AP) — Lyon’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League were further dented on...

PARIS (AP) — Lyon’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League were further dented on Sunday after a 0-0 draw at Angers in Ligue 1, extending its winless run in all competitions to nine matches.Looking for a first win since mid-February, Paulo Fonseca’s players were devoid of ideas in a match that offered few chances for both teams.Lyon has a tough schedule ahead with matches against leader Paris Saint-Germain and second-placed Lens in its remaining six Ligue 1 games. The seven-time champions are currently fifth, two points behind third-placed Lille.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The top three in France qualify directly for the Champions League while the fourth-placed team enters the playoffs.On Friday, defending champion PSG increased its lead over Lens to four points by beating Toulouse 3-1.Lens endured an off night on Saturday and was well beaten by northern rival Lille 3-0.__AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Angers' Dutch midfielder #8 Branco Van den Boomen (L) fights for the ball with Lyon's Ukrainian forward #77 Roman Yaremchuk (R) during the French L1 football match between SCO Angers and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Stade Raymond-Kopa in Angers on April 5, 2026.

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BERLIN (AP) — More goalkeeping heroics from Bosnia-Herzegovina’s World Cup qualification star Nik...

BERLIN (AP) — More goalkeeping heroics from Bosnia-Herzegovina’s World Cup qualification star Nikola Vasilj meant St. Pauli held on for a 1-1 draw with Union Berlin on Sunday as it struggles to avoid relegation from the Bundesliga.In his first game since his saves helped see the Bosnian team past Italy in the World Cup qualifying playoffs, Vasilj faced eight shots on target and stood out with a double save, though it came after he’d given the ball away. The only one that went in was a towering header from Union striker Andrej Ilic at a corner.St. Pauli had earlier taken the lead when Mathias Pereira Lage delivered a fierce long-distance volley to open the scoring, and created little after that.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>St. Pauli held on for the final three minutes with 10 men after its Australian captain Jackson Irvine was sent off for two yellow cards in the space of eight minutes, both for late tackles.Even a point for St. Pauli was bad news for Wolfsburg, which is on course for an historic first relegation from the Bundesliga after losing 6-3 to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. A fixture in the Bundesliga since 1997, Wolfsburg is now four points adrift of any chance of safety.The bottom two teams, Wolfsburg and Heidenheim, are relegated directly to the second division. The team in 16th, currently St. Pauli, goes into a two-leg playoff against the third-place team from the second tier.Union stays 10th.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Nikola Vasilj (FC St. Pauli) celebrate during matchday 28 1.Bundesliga: Union Berlin and St. Pauli at Stadion An der Alten Försterei, Berlin, Germany on April 05 2026.

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DRESDEN, Germany (AP) — Police in the German city of Dresden have opened more than a dozen invest...

DRESDEN, Germany (AP) — Police in the German city of Dresden have opened more than a dozen investigations into offenses, including causing “dangerous bodily harm” after large-scale disorder involving fans at a soccer game.Dozens of fans of Dynamo Dresden ran across the field toward supporters of Hertha Berlin during Saturday’s second-division game before being chased back by police. Dresden fans then burned a Hertha fan flag.The game was resumed after an interruption of nearly 20 minutes and Hertha won 1-0.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Police said in a statement late Saturday that they were investigating offenses including dangerous bodily harm, breach of the peace and property damage. Police did not immediately confirm any injuries or arrests.Dynamo Dresden finance director Stephan Zimmermann offered an apology to “all uninvolved people who were caught up in these unnecessary acts” and said the club had met with police.“Our home games are known for a unique atmosphere. Pictures like we saw this evening are not acceptable and cause massive damage not only to our club but to soccer as a whole in Germany,” Zimmermann said in a statement.“We and many other clubs have spent recent months advocating for fans’ interests and a safe stadium experience, and scenes like this are a heavy blow.”___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

04 April 2026, Dresde;: The match between Dynamo Dresden and Hertha Berlin in the second division of the Bundesliga had tense moments when fans of both clubs threw fireworks at each other and invaded the pitch, prompting police intervention and the suspension of the match for about 20 minutes. Photo: Sebastian Kahnert/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTICE: The DFL / DFB rules prohibit any use of photographs in the form of image sequences and/or quasi video

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Sebastian Berhalter and Thomas Müller scored stoppage-time goa...

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Sebastian Berhalter and Thomas Müller scored stoppage-time goals, Edier Ocampo also scored a goal, and the Vancouver Whitecaps beat the Portland Timbers 3-2 on Saturday night.Yohei Takaoka had two saves and an assist — his first career goal contribution in MLS — for the Whitecaps (4-1-1).Juan Mosquera made his season debut and had a goal and an assist for the Timbers (1-3-2), and David Da Costa also scored a goal.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Müller converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-2 in the first minute of stoppage time and Berhalter capped the scoring with a shot from the top of the box about four minutes later.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
BERHALTER TAKES US HOME 🤯<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VANvPOR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VANvPOR</a> | 🏔️ 3 - 2 🪵 <a href="https://t.co/wc7mwbcVE9">pic.twitter.com/wc7mwbcVE9</a>— Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhitecapsFC/status/2040651706896093532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Ocampo opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Takaoka played a long arcing ball-ahead to Ocampo, who avoided goalkeeper James Pantemis — who had charged off his line — and rolled a shot from the edge of the penalty area inside the back post and into a wide-open net.Mosquera slammed home a volley from outside the area off a clearance attempt to tie it 1-1 in the 36th minute and fed Da Costo for a first-touch finish from point-blank range give the Timbers a 2-1 lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time.Pantemis finished with six saves.The Whitecaps had 61% possession and outshot Portland 21-9, 9-4 on target.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - APRIL 04: Sebastian Berhalter #16 of the Vancouver Whitecaps reacts during the match against Portland Timbers at BC Place on April 04, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Bouanga scored three goals, his fifth career hat trick in MLS, and Son H...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Denis Bouanga scored three goals, his fifth career hat trick in MLS, and Son Heung-min had four assists to help Los Angeles FC beat Orlando City 6-0 on Saturday night.Sergi Palencia and Tyler Boyd each added a goal for LAFC (6-0-1). Hugo Lloris had six saves.Orlando City (1-5-0) — which also conceded a hat trick to Sam Surridge last time out in a 5-0 loss to Nashville and lost 5-0 at New York City FC on March 7 — set the franchise record for largest margin of defeat in a regular-season game.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Son’s cross was redirected into the net by Orlando defender David Brekalo to give LAFC a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute.Bouanga added goals — all off assists by Son — in the 20th, 23rd and 28th minutes.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Hat-trick in 30 minutes? Nothing is off the table for Denis Bouanga. 🤷‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/HQTapnoX53">pic.twitter.com/HQTapnoX53</a>— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLS/status/2040620119290753259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2026</a>
</blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>Son fed Sergi Palencia for his first goal of the season made it 5-0 in the 39th and Boyd capped the scoring in the 70th minute with his first MLS goal since July 13, 2024 for Nashville.Maxime Crépeau stopped two shots for Orlando.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 07: Denis Bouanga #99 of the Los Angeles FC during play against the FC Dallas in the second half during at BMO Stadium on March 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

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Bouanga's 5th career hat trick helps LAFC beat Orlando City

Debinha and Michelle Cooper scored goals and the Kansas City Current snapped a three-game losing ...

Debinha and Michelle Cooper scored goals and the Kansas City Current snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over visiting Gotham FC on Saturday.Elsewhere in the National Women’s Soccer League, the North Carolina Courage and the Portland Thorns settled for a 2-2- draw; and the Seattle Reign played to a scoreless draw with the Denver Summit.Gotham’s Jaedyn Shaw started after a three-match absence due to injury. Her return paid immediate dividends in the 29th minute, when she scored to give Gotham (1-2-2) a 1-0 lead.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Two-time league MVP Temwa Chawinga started and played 41 minutes for her first appearance in 168 days and assisted on Debinha’s goal in the 39th minute to make it 1-1.The Current (2-3-0) completed the comeback in the 60th minute when Ally Sentnor collected an attempted clearance from defender Lilly Reale and played it wide to Cooper, who finished.Four first-half goals for Courage, ThornsThe Courage and Thorns each scored two first half goals at WakeMed Park in Cary, North Carolina.The Thorns (3-1-1) struck first when Reilyn Turner scored on a header in the 12th minute off a long-range pass from Jayden Perry. Turner went down immediately after scoring and was later subbed off in the 25th minute.Manaka Matsukubo equalized for the Courage (1-2-1) in the 28th minutePortland retook the lead in the 33rd, with Olivia Moultrie putting away the rebound to make it 2-1.Ashley Sanchez’s well-placed shot in the 37th minute tied the match again.Kössler comes close for DenverSeattle goalkeeper Claudia Dickey and Denver counterpart Abby Smith each recorded three saves in a scoreless draw at One Spokane Stadium.The sides combined for 31 shots and six on target. The closest call came in the 29th minute when Melissa Kössler’s shot for the Summit hit the post.Denver (1-3-1) is unbeaten in its last four matches.The Reign (3-1-1) remain tied for second in the standings and completed their three-game homestand at 2-0-1.t

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - APRIL 04: Midge Purce #23 of NJ/NY Gotham FC competes for the ball against Temwa Chawinga #6 of Kansas City Current during the NWSL match between Kansas City Current and NJ/NY Gotham FC at CPKC Stadium on April 04, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.

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NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Oliver Kapanen’s decisive goal in the shootout gave the Montreal Canadiens a ...

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Oliver Kapanen’s decisive goal in the shootout gave the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 win over the New Jersey Devils for their eighth straight win on Saturday.Kapanen scored on a wrist shot past Devils goalie Jake Allen in the fifth round of the shootout.The win gave Montreal 100 points for the first time since the 2016-17 season when it accumulated 103 points.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ivan Demidov, Lane Hutson and Jayden Struble scored for Montreal, and Jakub Dobes had 35 saves.Timo Meier, Jack Hughes and Dawson Mercer scored for New Jersey and Allen stopped 26 shots.Cole Caufield picked up two assists, but failed to notch his 50th goal for Montreal. Caufield will get another shot Sunday when these two teams face off again in Montreal. He is sitting at 49 goals.Caufield is looking to be the first Montreal Canadiens player to score 50 goals in a season in more than three decades.Montreal jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Meier tied it with just 2:15 to play.New Jersey drew within 3-2 late in the second period when Hughes connected on his 25th goal of the season and second career shorthanded goal. The Devils killed off a double-minor to close out the period.Mercer scored from Meier and Nico Hischier at 13:08 of the second period to cut the Montreal lead to 3-1.Hutson’s unassisted goal came just 1:16 after Demidov scored on the power play at 8:12.Struble’s second goal of the season and just the sixth of his career provided Montreal with a 1-0 lead late in the first period.Up nextNew Jersey is at Montreal on Sunday.___AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nhl">https://apnews.com/hub/nhl</a>

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 4: Ivan Demidov #93 of the Montréal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a shootout goal against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on April 4, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey.

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PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 19 points, and Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 ass...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tobias Harris scored 19 points, and Daniss Jenkins added 16 points and 14 assists as the Detroit Pistons beat the Philadelphia 76ers 116-93 Saturday night to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.The last time the Pistons (56-21) were the top seed in the East was in 2006-07. They have already clinched the Central Division title for the first time since 2007-08.Jalen Duren added 16 points and seven rebounds, and Ausar Thompson had 14 points for the Pistons, who have won 12 of their last 15 games.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Both Duren (illness) and Harris (left knee contusion) had been listed as questionable. The Pistons are 8-2 in the 10 games that Cade Cunningham has missed with a collapsed left lung.Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 23 points. Paul George scored 20 points, and VJ Edgecombe added 19. George has averaged 25.8 points in six games since returning from a 25-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy.The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who was ruled out with right oblique injury maintenance/illness in the second half of a back-to-back. The Sixers had won eight of their last 11.The teams went back and forth in the first half, the Pistons leading by 10 points after one quarter before the 76ers tied the game in the second. A 15-4 run to end the first half gave Detroit control, and the Pistons stretched their lead to 26 points in the second half.Up nextPistons: Visit Orlando on Monday.76ers: Start a three-game trip in San Antonio on Monday.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 23: Tobias Harris #12 of the Detroit Pistons high fives fans after the win against the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena on March 23, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.

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