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Deadspin | Leafs’ OT victory snaps Avs’ 17-game home win streak

Deadspin | Leafs’ OT victory snaps Avs’ 17-game home win streak

Jan 12, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Troy Stecher (28) and Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) battle for the puck in the second period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

William Nylander scored at 3:59 of overtime and the Toronto Maple Leafs ended Colorado’s 17-game home winning streak with a 4-3 win in Denver on Monday night.

It was the first home loss for Colorado since Oct. 23. The Avalanche remain unbeaten at home in regulation (17-0-3) but missed out on a chance to tie the franchise record for consecutive home victories.

Nylander skated down the right side, took a pass from Oliver Ekman-Larsson and sent a shot through the pads of Trent Miner (27 saves).

Nylander also had an assist, while Bobby McMann, Auston Matthews and Easton Cowan scored goals and Joseph Wall made 31 saves for Toronto, which is 8-0-2 in its last 10 games. Matthews added an assist and Ekman-Larsson had two assists.

Maple Leafs forward Nicholas Robertson left the game after taking a shot off the inside of his left knee in the first period. He did not return.

Cale Makar and Martin Necas had a goal and an assist each, Brock Nelson also scored for Colorado and Nathan MacKinnon had three assists to take the NHL scoring lead with 81 points.

Toronto got on the board first when Cowan’s pass to the front of the net hit Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns’ right skate and slipped by Miner at 11:15 of the first period.

Makar tied it when he got a pass through the slot from Necas and beat Woll with a wrister at 16:12 of the first. Nelson gave the Avalanche the lead 1:41 later when he scored on a one-timer from MacKinnon five seconds into a power play.

McMann evened it up 2:12 into the second when he raced into the Colorado end ahead of two Colorado players and beat Miner with a wrister.

Matthews put the Maple Leafs back in front when he skated into the Colorado zone and wristed a shot over Miner’s left shoulder at 10:24 of the third. It was his 22nd goal of the season and seventh in six January games.

The Avalanche responded a few minutes later when MacKinnon sent a pass to the front of the net where Necas tipped it just inside the right post at 12:55.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Cubs’ Justin Steele (elbow) sidelined late in Tommy John recovery  Apr 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) delivers against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images   Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele has been shut down in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday.  Steele, who last pitched for Chicago on April 7, 2025, was trending towards a return in late May or early June, but has now stopped throwing as he deals with a left elbow flexor strain.  He’ll be re-evaluated in another month. It’s not entirely clear how much longer that could delay Steele’s return for a Cubs pitching staff that’s already without right-hander Cade Horton due to Tommy John surgery.   This Tommy John surgery was the second of Steele’s career. Now 30, he previously had the same procedure done when he was a prospect in Chicago’s farm system.  Steele has been consistently effective for the Cubs when available. The 2023 All-Star who finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting that season has a 32-22 record and a 3.30 career ERA over 102 appearances (91 starts).  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Cubs #Justin #Steele #elbow #sidelined #late #Tommy #John #recoveryApr 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) delivers against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele has been shut down in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday.

Steele, who last pitched for Chicago on April 7, 2025, was trending towards a return in late May or early June, but has now stopped throwing as he deals with a left elbow flexor strain.


He’ll be re-evaluated in another month. It’s not entirely clear how much longer that could delay Steele’s return for a Cubs pitching staff that’s already without right-hander Cade Horton due to Tommy John surgery.

This Tommy John surgery was the second of Steele’s career. Now 30, he previously had the same procedure done when he was a prospect in Chicago’s farm system.

Steele has been consistently effective for the Cubs when available. The 2023 All-Star who finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting that season has a 32-22 record and a 3.30 career ERA over 102 appearances (91 starts).


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Cubs #Justin #Steele #elbow #sidelined #late #Tommy #John #recovery">Deadspin | Cubs’ Justin Steele (elbow) sidelined late in Tommy John recovery  Apr 7, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA;  Chicago Cubs pitcher Justin Steele (35) delivers against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images   Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele has been shut down in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday.  Steele, who last pitched for Chicago on April 7, 2025, was trending towards a return in late May or early June, but has now stopped throwing as he deals with a left elbow flexor strain.  He’ll be re-evaluated in another month. It’s not entirely clear how much longer that could delay Steele’s return for a Cubs pitching staff that’s already without right-hander Cade Horton due to Tommy John surgery.   This Tommy John surgery was the second of Steele’s career. Now 30, he previously had the same procedure done when he was a prospect in Chicago’s farm system.  Steele has been consistently effective for the Cubs when available. The 2023 All-Star who finished fifth in National League Cy Young Award voting that season has a 32-22 record and a 3.30 career ERA over 102 appearances (91 starts).  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Cubs #Justin #Steele #elbow #sidelined #late #Tommy #John #recovery

Mutual trust and clear communication with players is key for becoming a successful coach, Pakistan’s new Test format head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said on Wednesday.

The first assignment for the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain will be a two-Test series in Bangladesh from May 8, which will be Pakistan’s second outing in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

“The technical aspects come later. What is important is that a coach has such a relationship with his players that they understand what he wants and at the same time they are comfortable and trust him enough to sit down with him and discuss anything,” Sarfaraz said while responding to a question about his limited experience as coach.

The majority of the players named in the Test squad for Bangladesh are busy playing in the Pakistan Super League final stages, and the wicketkeeper-batter admitted it would be a challenge for even senior players to adapt to red-ball cricket after playing T20 cricket for over a month.

Sarfaraz also felt that having played with some of the players in the Test squad and having captained them, it would be a plus point to settle into his new job.

The former captain was last year named mentor and manager of the Pakistan under-19 and Shaheens (Pakistan A) squad.

He accompanied them for the Asia Cup and Youth World Cup, but on returning home, he was appointed a member of the national selection committee and later the red-ball head coach.

“I had a very good cricket career. I want to repeat the success as a coach. I have gained some experience in coaching at the domestic level and at the cricket academy, but obviously, Test cricket is very different, and I am confident that with time, the exposure will help me a lot,” he added.

He said premier batter Babar Azam’s return to form in the PSL was a good sign for the upcoming tour despite the formats being different.

“The main thing is he is back to playing technically good cricket.”

Sarfaraz said Bangladesh would offer strong competition to Pakistan in its own backyard, and his team will go there prepared for both spin and pace-oriented pitches.

Published on Apr 29, 2026

#Trust #communication #players #key #success #coach #Pakistans #Sarfaraz #Ahmed #ahead #Bangladesh #Test #series">Trust, communication with players is key for success as coach: Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed ahead of Bangladesh Test series  Mutual trust and clear communication with players is key for becoming a successful coach, Pakistan’s new Test format head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed said on Wednesday.The first assignment for the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain will be a two-Test series in Bangladesh from May 8, which will be Pakistan’s second outing in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.“The technical aspects come later. What is important is that a coach has such a relationship with his players that they understand what he wants and at the same time they are comfortable and trust him enough to sit down with him and discuss anything,” Sarfaraz said while responding to a question about his limited experience as coach.The majority of the players named in the Test squad for Bangladesh are busy playing in the Pakistan Super League final stages, and the wicketkeeper-batter admitted it would be a challenge for even senior players to adapt to red-ball cricket after playing T20 cricket for over a month.Sarfaraz also felt that having played with some of the players in the Test squad and having captained them, it would be a plus point to settle into his new job.The former captain was last year named mentor and manager of the Pakistan under-19 and Shaheens (Pakistan A) squad.He accompanied them for the Asia Cup and Youth World Cup, but on returning home, he was appointed a member of the national selection committee and later the red-ball head coach.“I had a very good cricket career. I want to repeat the success as a coach. I have gained some experience in coaching at the domestic level and at the cricket academy, but obviously, Test cricket is very different, and I am confident that with time, the exposure will help me a lot,” he added.He said premier batter Babar Azam’s return to form in the PSL was a good sign for the upcoming tour despite the formats being different.“The main thing is he is back to playing technically good cricket.”Sarfaraz said Bangladesh would offer strong competition to Pakistan in its own backyard, and his team will go there prepared for both spin and pace-oriented pitches.Published on Apr 29, 2026  #Trust #communication #players #key #success #coach #Pakistans #Sarfaraz #Ahmed #ahead #Bangladesh #Test #series

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