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Deadspin | Surging Canadiens chase second win in a week vs. Hurricanes

Deadspin | Surging Canadiens chase second win in a week vs. Hurricanes

Mar 28, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) celebrates the goal of center Alex Newhook (15) as Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) skates by during the second period Gat Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens will look to extend their winning streak to five games when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.

The Canadiens (41-21-10, 92 points) are coming off a 4-1 victory against the Nashville Predators on Saturday to improve to 8-3-0 in their past 11 games.

Ivan Demidov opened the scoring in the first period, and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen joined Cole Caufield and Alex Newhook in tallying in the second to break the contest open.

Getting offense from others beyond the line of Caufield (team-leading 45 goals), captain Nick Suzuki (team-leading 64 assists and 88 points) and Juraj Slafkovsky is a boost for a Montreal squad that has leaned heavily on its top trio.

“Winning teams, you need some scoring aside from your first line,” Newhook said. “I think we know we’re capable of providing a pretty solid secondary scoring second line there, and I think we hold ourselves to that standard as well. Nice to see some results tonight but got to keep moving forward here.”

Newhook’s goal was his second in the past four games.

Demidov and Kapanen have each scored twice in the past three contests, with their other goals coming in the Canadiens’ 5-2 win against the Hurricanes on Tuesday in Montreal. The Canadiens trailed 2-0 by the seven-minute mark of that game before scoring five unanswered goals.

“We talked about having a good start (against Nashville) and not really worrying about the game as much as worry about the first five, six minutes of the game,” said goalie Jacob Fowler, who is expected to give way to Jakub Dobes on Sunday. “I loved our start. I thought it carried us through the whole night.”

The Hurricanes (46-20-6, 98 points), meanwhile, will look to avenge Tuesday’s loss, their lone setback over their past five games (4-1-0).

Carolina bounced back from that defeat with a 5-2 victory against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Trailing 1-0 after the first period, the Hurricanes scored five unanswered goals before the Devils added another late score.

“Really good 60 minutes, honestly,” goaltender Brandon Bussi said. “I think when we’re playing that tight in the neutral zone, in the offensive zone, just staying on them, making it hard for them to have time and space, we have a lot of success. It was great to kind of see that for the majority of the game.”

They’ve also had a lot of success on the power play of late. They tallied on their lone man advantage against New Jersey, making it five straight games with at least one power-play goal. They’re 7-for-15 over that stretch, a 46.7 percent success rate.

“You do want to have a plan when you get out there, but at the same time, you’re going to see different scenarios all the time, and it’s about being creative,” forward Nikolaj Ehlers said. “When you get the puck to the net, create some chaos, get the rebound, that’s when they’re out of place. It’s been going pretty well for our power play.”

Ehlers delivered the power-play tally to reach 60 points on the season for the fifth time in his NHL career.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Surging #Canadiens #chase #win #week #Hurricanes

#LeBron #James #Warriors #suddenly #doesnt #sound #crazy">LeBron James to the Warriors suddenly doesn’t sound so crazy  LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 07: LeBron James speaks with Stephen Curry following a basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena on February 07, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) Getty Images  #LeBron #James #Warriors #suddenly #doesnt #sound #crazy

Jack Draper became the second leading British player to withdraw from Wimbledon as the former US Open semi-finalist followed Emma Raducanu out of the tournament.

Draper has suffered a recurrence of an arm injury and will not be able to face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz on Centre Court on Tuesday.

It is the latest fitness setback for the former world number four, who has played only a handful of tournaments this year.

Coached by former Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, the 24-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Eastbourne last week in his first tournament since April.

ALSO READ:With Carlos Alcaraz absent, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar impresses on Wimbledon debut

“There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon,” Draper said.

Former US Open champion Raducanu pulled out late on Sunday after scans showed she had suffered a stress fracture in her right leg.

The 23-year-old, seeded 30th, was due to start her campaign on Monday against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.

Published on Jun 29, 2026

#Jack #Draper #withdraws #Wimbledon #arm #injury">Jack Draper withdraws from Wimbledon with arm injury  Jack Draper became the second leading British player to withdraw from Wimbledon as the former US Open semi-finalist followed Emma Raducanu out of the tournament.Draper has suffered a recurrence of an arm injury and will not be able to face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz on Centre Court on Tuesday.It is the latest fitness setback for the former world number four, who has played only a handful of tournaments this year.Coached by former Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, the 24-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Eastbourne last week in his first tournament since April.ALSO READ:With Carlos Alcaraz absent, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar impresses on Wimbledon debut“There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon,” Draper said.Former US Open champion Raducanu pulled out late on Sunday after scans showed she had suffered a stress fracture in her right leg.The 23-year-old, seeded 30th, was due to start her campaign on Monday against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.Published on Jun 29, 2026  #Jack #Draper #withdraws #Wimbledon #arm #injury

With Carlos Alcaraz absent, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar impresses on Wimbledon debut

“There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon,” Draper said.

Former US Open champion Raducanu pulled out late on Sunday after scans showed she had suffered a stress fracture in her right leg.

The 23-year-old, seeded 30th, was due to start her campaign on Monday against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.

Published on Jun 29, 2026

#Jack #Draper #withdraws #Wimbledon #arm #injury">Jack Draper withdraws from Wimbledon with arm injury

Jack Draper became the second leading British player to withdraw from Wimbledon as the former US Open semi-finalist followed Emma Raducanu out of the tournament.

Draper has suffered a recurrence of an arm injury and will not be able to face American sixth seed Taylor Fritz on Centre Court on Tuesday.

It is the latest fitness setback for the former world number four, who has played only a handful of tournaments this year.

Coached by former Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, the 24-year-old reached the semi-finals of the Wimbledon warm-up event at Eastbourne last week in his first tournament since April.

ALSO READ:With Carlos Alcaraz absent, Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar impresses on Wimbledon debut

“There have been a lot of painful moments in the last 12 months but this one is definitely the absolute worst as there is no greater honour for a British player than playing at Wimbledon,” Draper said.

Former US Open champion Raducanu pulled out late on Sunday after scans showed she had suffered a stress fracture in her right leg.

The 23-year-old, seeded 30th, was due to start her campaign on Monday against Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic.

Published on Jun 29, 2026

#Jack #Draper #withdraws #Wimbledon #arm #injury
Deadspin | Japan hope to slay Brazil without star player in World Cup knockouts   June 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; Brazil’s Rayan reacts.  Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images    In a friendly in Tokyo last October, Brazil surrendered a two-goal halftime lead and watched Japan pull ahead for an eventual 3-2 victory.  Rayan, a 19-year-old forward, was not part of Brazil’s team that day, so perhaps he can be forgiven for admitting he doesn’t know much about the Japanese squad.  “I don’t know who their best player is,” Rayan said when a Japanese reporter asked him. “I’d have to watch the video to be able to tell you. We know that Japan is a very strong team and we have to work hard to give it our all and beat them.”  The Selecao will be on alert when they come face to face with the Samurai Blue in the round of 32 on Monday afternoon in Houston.  Options Rayan could have considered in his answer included Takefusa Kubo, a forward nicknamed “the Japanese Messi,” or perhaps Ayase Ueda, a Feyenoord striker with 18 goals for his national team. But Kubo hasn’t played since suffering a meniscus tear in Japan’s opener against the Netherlands, and Sunday he was ruled out for the Brazil clash.  Ueda and Daichi Kamada are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece in the group stage — and Ueda had the go-ahead goal in that 3-2 upset back in October.  Japan are nevertheless the clear underdogs going into this match. They finished second to Netherlands in Group F with a win over overmatched Tunisia and two draws. They don’t have the history that Brazil can boast, but Japan have qualified for the knockouts at three straight World Cups and four of the past five, though never advancing past the round of 16.   “Brazil are always a leading team. They have a very good chance of winning,” coach Hajime Moriyasu said Sunday. “Some people will say Japan are underdogs. We will play with that in mind. We will respect the opponents, but like last year (in the friendly win) we weren’t given a chance to win. This possibility to win — we can change history.”  After opening with a draw against Morocco, Brazil rang up 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland to win Group C. Vinicius Junior (four) and Matheus Cunha (three) have combined to score all of Brazil’s goals thus far, with Bruno Guimaraes earning assists on three.  They’ve made up for the absence of Neymar, who was not ready at the onset of the tournament as he rehabbed a calf injury suffered May 17 while playing for his club. Neymar made his first showing of the tournament Wednesday by subbing on for the last 15 minutes against Scotland.  For what it’s worth, Neymar scored his first goal for the Selecao against Japan in a FIFA Confederations Cup match in 2013, and in a friendly the following year the ex-wunderkind poured in four goals.  The Brazil faithful hope coach Carlo Ancelotti has the team on course for its record sixth World Cup win and first since 2002.  “We’re not perfect. We can improve. For example, our pace on the ball. We can be quicker,” Ancelotti said after the Scotland match. “But I’m pleased because the team has improved a lot since the first match. Now it’s a knockout competition. We need to show real grit.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Japan #hope #slay #Brazil #star #player #World #Cup #knockouts June 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; Brazil’s Rayan reacts. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

In a friendly in Tokyo last October, Brazil surrendered a two-goal halftime lead and watched Japan pull ahead for an eventual 3-2 victory.

Rayan, a 19-year-old forward, was not part of Brazil’s team that day, so perhaps he can be forgiven for admitting he doesn’t know much about the Japanese squad.

“I don’t know who their best player is,” Rayan said when a Japanese reporter asked him. “I’d have to watch the video to be able to tell you. We know that Japan is a very strong team and we have to work hard to give it our all and beat them.”

The Selecao will be on alert when they come face to face with the Samurai Blue in the round of 32 on Monday afternoon in Houston.

Options Rayan could have considered in his answer included Takefusa Kubo, a forward nicknamed “the Japanese Messi,” or perhaps Ayase Ueda, a Feyenoord striker with 18 goals for his national team. But Kubo hasn’t played since suffering a meniscus tear in Japan’s opener against the Netherlands, and Sunday he was ruled out for the Brazil clash.

Ueda and Daichi Kamada are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece in the group stage — and Ueda had the go-ahead goal in that 3-2 upset back in October.


Japan are nevertheless the clear underdogs going into this match. They finished second to Netherlands in Group F with a win over overmatched Tunisia and two draws. They don’t have the history that Brazil can boast, but Japan have qualified for the knockouts at three straight World Cups and four of the past five, though never advancing past the round of 16.

“Brazil are always a leading team. They have a very good chance of winning,” coach Hajime Moriyasu said Sunday. “Some people will say Japan are underdogs. We will play with that in mind. We will respect the opponents, but like last year (in the friendly win) we weren’t given a chance to win. This possibility to win — we can change history.”

After opening with a draw against Morocco, Brazil rang up 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland to win Group C. Vinicius Junior (four) and Matheus Cunha (three) have combined to score all of Brazil’s goals thus far, with Bruno Guimaraes earning assists on three.

They’ve made up for the absence of Neymar, who was not ready at the onset of the tournament as he rehabbed a calf injury suffered May 17 while playing for his club. Neymar made his first showing of the tournament Wednesday by subbing on for the last 15 minutes against Scotland.

For what it’s worth, Neymar scored his first goal for the Selecao against Japan in a FIFA Confederations Cup match in 2013, and in a friendly the following year the ex-wunderkind poured in four goals.

The Brazil faithful hope coach Carlo Ancelotti has the team on course for its record sixth World Cup win and first since 2002.

“We’re not perfect. We can improve. For example, our pace on the ball. We can be quicker,” Ancelotti said after the Scotland match. “But I’m pleased because the team has improved a lot since the first match. Now it’s a knockout competition. We need to show real grit.”


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Japan #hope #slay #Brazil #star #player #World #Cup #knockouts">Deadspin | Japan hope to slay Brazil without star player in World Cup knockouts   June 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.; Brazil’s Rayan reacts.  Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images    In a friendly in Tokyo last October, Brazil surrendered a two-goal halftime lead and watched Japan pull ahead for an eventual 3-2 victory.  Rayan, a 19-year-old forward, was not part of Brazil’s team that day, so perhaps he can be forgiven for admitting he doesn’t know much about the Japanese squad.  “I don’t know who their best player is,” Rayan said when a Japanese reporter asked him. “I’d have to watch the video to be able to tell you. We know that Japan is a very strong team and we have to work hard to give it our all and beat them.”  The Selecao will be on alert when they come face to face with the Samurai Blue in the round of 32 on Monday afternoon in Houston.  Options Rayan could have considered in his answer included Takefusa Kubo, a forward nicknamed “the Japanese Messi,” or perhaps Ayase Ueda, a Feyenoord striker with 18 goals for his national team. But Kubo hasn’t played since suffering a meniscus tear in Japan’s opener against the Netherlands, and Sunday he was ruled out for the Brazil clash.  Ueda and Daichi Kamada are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece in the group stage — and Ueda had the go-ahead goal in that 3-2 upset back in October.  Japan are nevertheless the clear underdogs going into this match. They finished second to Netherlands in Group F with a win over overmatched Tunisia and two draws. They don’t have the history that Brazil can boast, but Japan have qualified for the knockouts at three straight World Cups and four of the past five, though never advancing past the round of 16.   “Brazil are always a leading team. They have a very good chance of winning,” coach Hajime Moriyasu said Sunday. “Some people will say Japan are underdogs. We will play with that in mind. We will respect the opponents, but like last year (in the friendly win) we weren’t given a chance to win. This possibility to win — we can change history.”  After opening with a draw against Morocco, Brazil rang up 3-0 wins over Haiti and Scotland to win Group C. Vinicius Junior (four) and Matheus Cunha (three) have combined to score all of Brazil’s goals thus far, with Bruno Guimaraes earning assists on three.  They’ve made up for the absence of Neymar, who was not ready at the onset of the tournament as he rehabbed a calf injury suffered May 17 while playing for his club. Neymar made his first showing of the tournament Wednesday by subbing on for the last 15 minutes against Scotland.  For what it’s worth, Neymar scored his first goal for the Selecao against Japan in a FIFA Confederations Cup match in 2013, and in a friendly the following year the ex-wunderkind poured in four goals.  The Brazil faithful hope coach Carlo Ancelotti has the team on course for its record sixth World Cup win and first since 2002.  “We’re not perfect. We can improve. For example, our pace on the ball. We can be quicker,” Ancelotti said after the Scotland match. “But I’m pleased because the team has improved a lot since the first match. Now it’s a knockout competition. We need to show real grit.”  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Japan #hope #slay #Brazil #star #player #World #Cup #knockouts

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