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Deadspin | Flames’ Arsenii Sergeev shines in NHL debut; Kings get 2nd wild card Apr 16, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (40) makes a save against Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images Arsenii Sergeev made 27 saves, several of the spectacular variety, in his NHL debut to backstop the host Calgary Flames to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in the teams’ final game of the regular season. Morgan Frost, defenseman Zayne Parekh and Joel Farabee scored and defenseman Zach Whitecloud added two assists for the Flames (34-39-9, 77 points), who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Quinton Byfield got the lone goal for the Kings (35-27-20, 90 points), who captured the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference and will play the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche in the first round starting Sunday. Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots in Los Angeles’ first regulation loss in April. Parekh broke a 1-1 tie 6:08 into the third period when he ripped a shot past Forsberg from the left circle after controlling the puck and skating in that part of the ice for a few seconds. Farabee added an empty-net tally with 40 seconds left for his 20th goal. Byfield tied it at 1-all 6:43 into the second period when he converted a goal-mouth pass from Trevor Moore. Byfield has four goals and five points in his last three games and has scored in six consecutive road contests. Frost had given Calgary a 1-0 lead 1:22 earlier with a power-play goal when he tipped in a pass from Matvei Gridin. The Kings had a 10-2 shots advantage in a scoreless first period. The Flames’ Adam Klapka hit the crossbar with less than 30 seconds left in the opening period. It was the last career regular-season game for Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar. Before the season he announced that his 20th season would be his last. The Calgary fans gave him a standing ovation during a play stoppage in the middle of the first period. After the game each member of the Flames lined up to shake Kopitar’s hand. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Flames #Arsenii #Sergeev #shines #NHL #debut #Kings #2nd #wild #card

Deadspin | Flames’ Arsenii Sergeev shines in NHL debut; Kings get 2nd wild card
Deadspin | Flames’ Arsenii Sergeev shines in NHL debut; Kings get 2nd wild card Apr 16, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (40) makes a save against Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images Arsenii Sergeev made 27 saves, several of the spectacular variety, in his NHL debut to backstop the host Calgary Flames to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in the teams’ final game of the regular season. Morgan Frost, defenseman Zayne Parekh and Joel Farabee scored and defenseman Zach Whitecloud added two assists for the Flames (34-39-9, 77 points), who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Quinton Byfield got the lone goal for the Kings (35-27-20, 90 points), who captured the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference and will play the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche in the first round starting Sunday. Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots in Los Angeles’ first regulation loss in April. Parekh broke a 1-1 tie 6:08 into the third period when he ripped a shot past Forsberg from the left circle after controlling the puck and skating in that part of the ice for a few seconds. Farabee added an empty-net tally with 40 seconds left for his 20th goal. Byfield tied it at 1-all 6:43 into the second period when he converted a goal-mouth pass from Trevor Moore. Byfield has four goals and five points in his last three games and has scored in six consecutive road contests. Frost had given Calgary a 1-0 lead 1:22 earlier with a power-play goal when he tipped in a pass from Matvei Gridin. The Kings had a 10-2 shots advantage in a scoreless first period. The Flames’ Adam Klapka hit the crossbar with less than 30 seconds left in the opening period. It was the last career regular-season game for Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar. Before the season he announced that his 20th season would be his last. The Calgary fans gave him a standing ovation during a play stoppage in the middle of the first period. After the game each member of the Flames lined up to shake Kopitar’s hand. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Flames #Arsenii #Sergeev #shines #NHL #debut #Kings #2nd #wild #cardApr 16, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (40) makes a save against Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Arsenii Sergeev made 27 saves, several of the spectacular variety, in his NHL debut to backstop the host Calgary Flames to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in the teams’ final game of the regular season.

Morgan Frost, defenseman Zayne Parekh and Joel Farabee scored and defenseman Zach Whitecloud added two assists for the Flames (34-39-9, 77 points), who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

Quinton Byfield got the lone goal for the Kings (35-27-20, 90 points), who captured the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference and will play the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche in the first round starting Sunday. Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots in Los Angeles’ first regulation loss in April.

Parekh broke a 1-1 tie 6:08 into the third period when he ripped a shot past Forsberg from the left circle after controlling the puck and skating in that part of the ice for a few seconds.

Farabee added an empty-net tally with 40 seconds left for his 20th goal.


Byfield tied it at 1-all 6:43 into the second period when he converted a goal-mouth pass from Trevor Moore. Byfield has four goals and five points in his last three games and has scored in six consecutive road contests.

Frost had given Calgary a 1-0 lead 1:22 earlier with a power-play goal when he tipped in a pass from Matvei Gridin.

The Kings had a 10-2 shots advantage in a scoreless first period. The Flames’ Adam Klapka hit the crossbar with less than 30 seconds left in the opening period.

It was the last career regular-season game for Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar. Before the season he announced that his 20th season would be his last.

The Calgary fans gave him a standing ovation during a play stoppage in the middle of the first period. After the game each member of the Flames lined up to shake Kopitar’s hand.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Flames #Arsenii #Sergeev #shines #NHL #debut #Kings #2nd #wild #card

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Apr 16, 2026; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Arsenii Sergeev (40) makes a save against Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Arsenii Sergeev made 27 saves, several of the spectacular variety, in his NHL debut to backstop the host Calgary Flames to a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night in the teams’ final game of the regular season.

Morgan Frost, defenseman Zayne Parekh and Joel Farabee scored and defenseman Zach Whitecloud added two assists for the Flames (34-39-9, 77 points), who missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

Quinton Byfield got the lone goal for the Kings (35-27-20, 90 points), who captured the second wild-card playoff spot in the Western Conference and will play the NHL-best Colorado Avalanche in the first round starting Sunday. Anton Forsberg stopped 18 shots in Los Angeles’ first regulation loss in April.

Parekh broke a 1-1 tie 6:08 into the third period when he ripped a shot past Forsberg from the left circle after controlling the puck and skating in that part of the ice for a few seconds.

Farabee added an empty-net tally with 40 seconds left for his 20th goal.

Byfield tied it at 1-all 6:43 into the second period when he converted a goal-mouth pass from Trevor Moore. Byfield has four goals and five points in his last three games and has scored in six consecutive road contests.

Frost had given Calgary a 1-0 lead 1:22 earlier with a power-play goal when he tipped in a pass from Matvei Gridin.

The Kings had a 10-2 shots advantage in a scoreless first period. The Flames’ Adam Klapka hit the crossbar with less than 30 seconds left in the opening period.

It was the last career regular-season game for Los Angeles captain Anze Kopitar. Before the season he announced that his 20th season would be his last.

The Calgary fans gave him a standing ovation during a play stoppage in the middle of the first period. After the game each member of the Flames lined up to shake Kopitar’s hand.

–Field Level Media

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LIV Golf CEO says the show will go on amid reports of Saudi Arabia funding uncertainty <div id="content-body-70872567" itemprop="articleBody"><p>LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil sought to quell speculation about the league’s financial future on Wednesday evening with a memo to his staff that said the 2026 season will continue as planned without interruption and “at full throttle”.</p><p>The memo, a copy of which was sent to <i>The Associated Press</i>, followed a long day of reports suggesting Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund was on the verge of cutting its financial backing of the upstart league.</p><p>The newsletter <i>Money in Sport</i> reported in February that LIV Golf already had spent $5.3 billion and was projected to surpass $6 billion by the end of the year.</p><p>“I want to be crystal clear: Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” O’Neil said. “While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass. We are heading into the heart of our 2026 schedule with the full energy of an organisation that is bigger, louder, and more influential than ever before.”</p><p>Left unclear was how long the funding would last for LIV Golf, which launched in June 2022 by paying roughly $1 billion in signing bonuses to some of the PGA Tour’s biggest names, such as Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm.</p><p>Prize money for individuals and the 13 teams was raised to $30 million this year.</p><p>Koepka since has left LIV and was allowed to rejoin the PGA Tour this year with stipulations. Patrick Reed also left LIV and is playing a European tour schedule this year. He is virtually certain to be eligible to return to the PGA Tour in 2027 through the European tour points race.</p><p>Questions about LIV’s future funding were raised as the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia revealed a new five-year investment strategy.</p><p>“The 2026-30 strategy marks a natural evolution as PIF moves from a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximising impact, raising the efficiency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence,” the PIF said in a release.</p><p>The plan was developed before the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor who loves golf and was behind LIV Golf, told the London-based <i>Financial Times</i>, “Of course, the war would add more pressure to reposition some priorities.”</p><p>LIV players at Chapultepec Golf Club for LIV Golf Mexico, which starts on Thursday, did not have answers as speculation ran rampant throughout the day.</p><p>One player said Al-Rumayyan met with players in the first week of March in Hong Kong and said funding for LIV was set through 2032. The player spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private. The player also said O’Neil arrived in Mexico City on Wednesday and was to meet with the players.</p><p>LIV Golf promoted the Mexico event on Wednesday evening on social media with the message, “Slow news day? We are ON.”</p><p>LIV has played five events this year, in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa. It celebrated an inspirational victory at its biggest event in Australia when Anthony Kim won after the American had been away for 12 years while battling drug and alcohol addiction.</p><p>DeChambeau won the last two events in playoffs, and this week tries to become the first LIV player to win three in a row. DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, missed the cut in the Masters last week.</p><p>LIV’s focus has been on a global reach, with its first U.S. tournament not scheduled until May 7-10 at Trump National in northern Virginia.</p><p>“The life of a startup movement is often defined by these moments of pressure,” O’Neil said. “We signed up for this because we believe in disrupting the status quo. We have faced headwinds since the jump, and we’ve answered every time with resilience and grace. Now, we answer by doing what we do best: putting on the most compelling show in sports.”</p><p>He ended his note to the staff by saying, “We are pioneers, and while the road isn’t always smooth, the destination is worth every mile. Let’s go out and show the world why LIV Golf is the future of the game.”</p><p>LIV is in the second year of a <i>Fox Sports</i> television deal, with the network putting it on various platforms like FS1. The opening round of the Mexico event has three hours on the <i>Fox Sports</i> app. The previous two years, its U.S. broadcast partner was the <i>CW.</i></p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 17, 2026</p></div> #LIV #Golf #CEO #show #reports #Saudi #Arabia #funding #uncertainty

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Explainer: Why English County Cricket’s new Replacement Rule is stirring debate <div id="content-body-70872418" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The 2026 English domestic season has introduced one of the most radical shifts in cricket’s playing conditions. For the first time, teams can replace players mid-match not just for injuries, but also for illness and even significant life events.</p><p>The move, trialled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is already sparking debate. Not because of the idea itself, but because of how it is being used.</p><p><b>What exactly is the new rule?</b></p><p>Traditionally, cricket has resisted full mid-match substitutions. Teams could only bring in substitute fielders, except in rare cases like concussion replacements.</p><p>That changes in 2026.</p><p>Teams can now bring in a fully participating replacement</p><p>Applies to:</p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Injury </li><li> Illness </li><li> Significant life events (birth of a child, family illness, bereavement) </li></ul><p>The replacement can bat, bowl, and field.</p><p><b>How is it different from earlier trials?</b></p><p>Other countries have experimented with substitutes, but England has gone further.</p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> No restriction on when a replacement can enter the match </li><li> Includes life events, not just injury or illness </li><li> Allows a full role replacement, not a limited substitute </li></ul><p>Compare that to Australia:</p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Only one substitute allowed </li><li> Must be made before end of Day 2 </li><li> Longer stand-down period </li></ul><p><b>What safeguards are in place?</b></p><p>To prevent misuse:</p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Medical clearance required for injury/illness replacements </li><li> Mutual agreement between county CEOs for life-event replacements </li><li> 8-day stand-down period for injured/ill players </li></ul><p>But there are gaps:</p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> No stand-down period for life events </li><li> No restriction on timing of substitution </li><li> No hard cap on competitive advantage scenarios </li></ul><p><b>What has happened so far?</b></p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Replacements used in 5 of 18 matches </li><li> Total of 9 substitutions (including concussion) </li><li> ECB expected usage in ~25% of matches </li></ul><p><b>Why are teams concerned?</b></p><p><b>1. Late-entry advantage</b></p><p>A fresh player entering deep into a four-day game can tilt the balance.</p><p><b>2. Grey areas in injury assessment</b></p><p>What counts as “unfit enough” to justify replacement?</p><p><b>3. Potential for tactical misuse</b></p><p>Even without explicit tactical substitutions, teams could exploit loopholes.</p><p><b>What happens next?</b></p><ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Trial runs through the entire 2026 season </li><li> No mid-season rollback </li><li> Review expected after initial Championship block </li></ul><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 17, 2026</p></div> #Explainer #English #County #Crickets #Replacement #Rule #stirring #debate

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Deadspin | Report: Netflix close to landing NFL Honors for 2027 Feb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; A NFL shield logo at the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Netflix is finalizing a deal to stream the NFL Honors ceremony in 2027, Front Office Sports reported. The league’s annual awards event takes place during Super Bowl week and traditionally has aired on NFL Network as well as each year’s Super Bowl rights partner. Netflix is reportedly “likely” become the ceremony’s exclusive broadcast partner following a ratings report estimate of 3.7 million viewers for the February 2026 primetime broadcast on NBC. Spokespersons for Netflix and the NFL did not comment on the report. Netflix continues to expand its relationship with the league. After airing Christmas Day doubleheaders in each of the past two seasons, multiple reports have said the streaming giant has acquired three additional NFL games during the 2026 season. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Report #Netflix #close #landing #NFL #HonorsFeb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; A NFL shield logo at the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Netflix is finalizing a deal to stream the NFL Honors ceremony in 2027, Front Office Sports reported.

The league’s annual awards event takes place during Super Bowl week and traditionally has aired on NFL Network as well as each year’s Super Bowl rights partner.


Netflix is reportedly “likely” become the ceremony’s exclusive broadcast partner following a ratings report estimate of 3.7 million viewers for the February 2026 primetime broadcast on NBC.

Spokespersons for Netflix and the NFL did not comment on the report.

Netflix continues to expand its relationship with the league. After airing Christmas Day doubleheaders in each of the past two seasons, multiple reports have said the streaming giant has acquired three additional NFL games during the 2026 season.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Report #Netflix #close #landing #NFL #Honors">Deadspin | Report: Netflix close to landing NFL Honors for 2027 Feb 5, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; A NFL shield logo at the NFL Honors Red Carpet before Super Bowl LX at Palace of Fine Arts. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Netflix is finalizing a deal to stream the NFL Honors ceremony in 2027, Front Office Sports reported. The league’s annual awards event takes place during Super Bowl week and traditionally has aired on NFL Network as well as each year’s Super Bowl rights partner. Netflix is reportedly “likely” become the ceremony’s exclusive broadcast partner following a ratings report estimate of 3.7 million viewers for the February 2026 primetime broadcast on NBC. Spokespersons for Netflix and the NFL did not comment on the report. Netflix continues to expand its relationship with the league. After airing Christmas Day doubleheaders in each of the past two seasons, multiple reports have said the streaming giant has acquired three additional NFL games during the 2026 season. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Report #Netflix #close #landing #NFL #Honors

The Portland Fire’s roster doesn’t include many big-name WNBA players.

One of two expansion teams to join the league this season, their roster is headlined by strong role players like Bridget Carleton, Carle Leite, and Emily Engslter, players who have never been primary options in the WNBA, and fought tooth and nail to make it.

But on Tuesday night in Portland, as streamers inundated the stands, the roster’s relative name recognition didn’t matter.

Thanks to a Sarah Ashlee-Barker game-winning putback layup, the Fire defeated the New York Liberty 98-96, toppling a veteran squad that boasts stars like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.

Important disclaimer: the Liberty have not been healthy to begin the season; two of their most important players — Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally — are both sidelined. Still, few would have predicted that the Fire, who fell to the Chicago Sky on opening night, would come away with their first win of the season on Tuesday against.

Bridget Carleton did everything she could to ensure it would happen. The 28-year-old was selected No. 1 overall in the expansion draft, and subsequently signed a 3-year, $3.75 million maximum contract.

Some scoffed at the size of that deal — she’d never before averaged double-figures, and while she was a strong role player for the Minnesota Lynx, she appeared to be just that: a role player.

But, in Tuesday’s win, the Fire’s Carleton vision came to fruition. The Canadian sharpshooter tallied a career-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, hitting 5 of 11 three-point attempts, while also racking up 4 steals. In her 33 minutes on the floor, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.

But the victory was far more than just Carleton’s doing.

The 22-year-old Carla Leite appears to be a rising star of her own. Leite showed flashes of potential in her rookie season on the Golden State Valkyries, but is already seeing more opportunities in Portland. She led the way with 21 points in the season opener, and followed that up with another 21-point performance on Tuesday, hitting 8 of 14 field goal attempts alongside 6 assists.

Leite’s most pivotal play came with just 27 seconds to spare, when she blew past Jonquel Jones for a clutch-time layup to tie up the ball game.

Then, it was Sarah Ashlee-Barker who quickly became a franchise hero; the second-year forward corralled Carleton’s missed three-point attempt, and beat the buzzer with the putback.

Immediately, Ashlee-Barker’s teammates piled on top of her in celebration, while the fans at Moda Center went berserk.

A Fire team that didn’t even have players just a few months ago had toppled one of the most talented squads in the WNBA.

And, the fire they played with on Tuesday night suggested it just might be the first of many big-time victories in their inaugural season.

#Portland #Fire #won #game #perfect">The Portland Fire just won their first game, and it was perfect The Portland Fire’s roster doesn’t include many big-name WNBA players.One of two expansion teams to join the league this season, their roster is headlined by strong role players like Bridget Carleton, Carle Leite, and Emily Engslter, players who have never been primary options in the WNBA, and fought tooth and nail to make it.But on Tuesday night in Portland, as streamers inundated the stands, the roster’s relative name recognition didn’t matter.Thanks to a Sarah Ashlee-Barker game-winning putback layup, the Fire defeated the New York Liberty 98-96, toppling a veteran squad that boasts stars like Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones.Important disclaimer: the Liberty have not been healthy to begin the season; two of their most important players — Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally — are both sidelined. Still, few would have predicted that the Fire, who fell to the Chicago Sky on opening night, would come away with their first win of the season on Tuesday against.Bridget Carleton did everything she could to ensure it would happen. The 28-year-old was selected No. 1 overall in the expansion draft, and subsequently signed a 3-year, .75 million maximum contract.Some scoffed at the size of that deal — she’d never before averaged double-figures, and while she was a strong role player for the Minnesota Lynx, she appeared to be just that: a role player.But, in Tuesday’s win, the Fire’s Carleton vision came to fruition. The Canadian sharpshooter tallied a career-high 26 points on 9-16 shooting, hitting 5 of 11 three-point attempts, while also racking up 4 steals. In her 33 minutes on the floor, the Fire outscored the Liberty by 12 points.But the victory was far more than just Carleton’s doing.The 22-year-old Carla Leite appears to be a rising star of her own. Leite showed flashes of potential in her rookie season on the Golden State Valkyries, but is already seeing more opportunities in Portland. She led the way with 21 points in the season opener, and followed that up with another 21-point performance on Tuesday, hitting 8 of 14 field goal attempts alongside 6 assists.Leite’s most pivotal play came with just 27 seconds to spare, when she blew past Jonquel Jones for a clutch-time layup to tie up the ball game.Then, it was Sarah Ashlee-Barker who quickly became a franchise hero; the second-year forward corralled Carleton’s missed three-point attempt, and beat the buzzer with the putback.Immediately, Ashlee-Barker’s teammates piled on top of her in celebration, while the fans at Moda Center went berserk.A Fire team that didn’t even have players just a few months ago had toppled one of the most talented squads in the WNBA.And, the fire they played with on Tuesday night suggested it just might be the first of many big-time victories in their inaugural season. #Portland #Fire #won #game #perfect

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