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Jermod McCoy finally hears his name called in the NFL Draft Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy’s long wait is over.Considered a top-15 talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, medical concerns over a knee injury suffered ahead of the season saw the talented cornerback slide out of the first round, and then out of the second day entirely. When the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft began McCoy was still available, and some were wondering if his slide would continue.The Las Vegas Raiders put an end to that, moving up one spot at the start of the fourth round to make McCoy their newest cornerback.Again, based on the film McCoy put down during the 2024 season at Tennessee, he is one of the top players in this class. Take this example, an interception against Alabama in the end zone:I love everything about this play. One of McCoy’s strengths, in my viewing, is his patience in press coverage situations. He does not panic when a receiver tries to stress his leverage, but rather he waits … and then strikes. That is exactly what he does here, timing his jam to perfection before getting his eyes to the football.Here is another example, which comes on a 4th-and-2 situation against Florida. McCoy is aligned at the bottom of the screen:He is giving the wide receiver this slant route, and again he does not panic when the receiver cuts inside of him. That’s when he gets his jam on the WR, gets his eyes to the quarterback, and then gets his hand to the football.Another slant route with McCoy aligned at the bottom of the screen:Again, no panic here. The receiver gets him to open up to the sideline when McCoy’s outside leverage is threatened, but he stays calm, gets to the receiver’s hip, and closes on the throw for another pass breakup.Take note of the ball skills on this interception against Vanderbilt:It is plays like this that made McCoy one of the top-graded players on any board.Now, the medical concerns are serious. Between the ACL surgery that ended his 2025 season before it began, to the recent reports that he might need a second surgery to repair a “bone plug” that was put into his knee, there is a risk here for the Raiders.But to get him at the top of the fourth round? That is tremendous value for Las Vegas. And with the Raiders going through a rebuild, the organization can take its time with McCoy, and even make 2026 a redshirt season for him so he can get back to 100%.Because as far as talent goes? He’s one of the best in the class. #Jermod #McCoy #finally #hears #called #NFL #Draft

Jermod McCoy finally hears his name called in the NFL Draft

Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy’s long wait is over.

Considered a top-15 talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, medical concerns over a knee injury suffered ahead of the season saw the talented cornerback slide out of the first round, and then out of the second day entirely. When the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft began McCoy was still available, and some were wondering if his slide would continue.

The Las Vegas Raiders put an end to that, moving up one spot at the start of the fourth round to make McCoy their newest cornerback.

Again, based on the film McCoy put down during the 2024 season at Tennessee, he is one of the top players in this class. Take this example, an interception against Alabama in the end zone:

I love everything about this play. One of McCoy’s strengths, in my viewing, is his patience in press coverage situations. He does not panic when a receiver tries to stress his leverage, but rather he waits … and then strikes. That is exactly what he does here, timing his jam to perfection before getting his eyes to the football.

Here is another example, which comes on a 4th-and-2 situation against Florida. McCoy is aligned at the bottom of the screen:

He is giving the wide receiver this slant route, and again he does not panic when the receiver cuts inside of him. That’s when he gets his jam on the WR, gets his eyes to the quarterback, and then gets his hand to the football.

Another slant route with McCoy aligned at the bottom of the screen:

Again, no panic here. The receiver gets him to open up to the sideline when McCoy’s outside leverage is threatened, but he stays calm, gets to the receiver’s hip, and closes on the throw for another pass breakup.

Take note of the ball skills on this interception against Vanderbilt:

It is plays like this that made McCoy one of the top-graded players on any board.

Now, the medical concerns are serious. Between the ACL surgery that ended his 2025 season before it began, to the recent reports that he might need a second surgery to repair a “bone plug” that was put into his knee, there is a risk here for the Raiders.

But to get him at the top of the fourth round? That is tremendous value for Las Vegas. And with the Raiders going through a rebuild, the organization can take its time with McCoy, and even make 2026 a redshirt season for him so he can get back to 100%.

Because as far as talent goes? He’s one of the best in the class.

#Jermod #McCoy #finally #hears #called #NFL #Draft

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Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy’s long wait is over.

Considered a top-15 talent in the 2026 NFL Draft, medical concerns over a knee injury suffered ahead of the season saw the talented cornerback slide out of the first round, and then out of the second day entirely. When the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft began McCoy was still available, and some were wondering if his slide would continue.

The Las Vegas Raiders put an end to that, moving up one spot at the start of the fourth round to make McCoy their newest cornerback.

Again, based on the film McCoy put down during the 2024 season at Tennessee, he is one of the top players in this class. Take this example, an interception against Alabama in the end zone:

I love everything about this play. One of McCoy’s strengths, in my viewing, is his patience in press coverage situations. He does not panic when a receiver tries to stress his leverage, but rather he waits … and then strikes. That is exactly what he does here, timing his jam to perfection before getting his eyes to the football.

Here is another example, which comes on a 4th-and-2 situation against Florida. McCoy is aligned at the bottom of the screen:

He is giving the wide receiver this slant route, and again he does not panic when the receiver cuts inside of him. That’s when he gets his jam on the WR, gets his eyes to the quarterback, and then gets his hand to the football.

Another slant route with McCoy aligned at the bottom of the screen:

Again, no panic here. The receiver gets him to open up to the sideline when McCoy’s outside leverage is threatened, but he stays calm, gets to the receiver’s hip, and closes on the throw for another pass breakup.

Take note of the ball skills on this interception against Vanderbilt:

It is plays like this that made McCoy one of the top-graded players on any board.

Now, the medical concerns are serious. Between the ACL surgery that ended his 2025 season before it began, to the recent reports that he might need a second surgery to repair a “bone plug” that was put into his knee, there is a risk here for the Raiders.

But to get him at the top of the fourth round? That is tremendous value for Las Vegas. And with the Raiders going through a rebuild, the organization can take its time with McCoy, and even make 2026 a redshirt season for him so he can get back to 100%.

Because as far as talent goes? He’s one of the best in the class.

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#Jermod #McCoy #finally #hears #called #NFL #Draft

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BWF approves 3×15 scoring system; badminton to adopt new format from 2027 <div id="content-body-70905677" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) long-discussed move from the 3×21 rally-point format to a 3×15 scoring system was approved by its members at the 87th BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark. The change will come into effect on January 4, 2027.</p><p>Matches will continue to follow the best-of-three-games format, but each game will now be played to 15 points instead of 21.</p><p>“We are building a sport that speaks to the next generation, while continuing to invest in the long-term future of our players,” said BWF president Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul.</p><p>At 14-14, a player or pair will need to establish a two-point advantage to seal the game.</p><p>The proposed format had already been tested in 2025 at selected Grade 3 tournaments, the National Championships and the BWF World Junior Championships.</p><p>Earlier this year, in February, the BWF Council formally placed the proposal for voting, citing data which it believed showed that the revised format struck the right balance between the demands of the sport and the entertainment value for spectators.</p><p>The governing body said the new scoring structure was intended to ease the physical load on players, reduce the likelihood of injuries and provide more time for recovery.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 25, 2026</p></div> #BWF #approves #3×15 #scoring #system #badminton #adopt #format

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Deadspin | Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers bid to halt slide in clash vs. Pirates <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28767048.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28767048.jpg" alt="MLB: Milwaukee Brewers at Miami Marlins" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski as they look to snap a three-game skid when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Misiorowski (1-2, 3.04 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Mitch Keller (2-1, 2.79).</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Paul Skenes and two relievers combined on a one-hitter to pace the Pirates to a 6-0 victory in the series opener Friday. Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, took a perfect game into seventh inning before allowing a two-out single to Jake Bauers.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Konnor Griffin celebrated his 20th birthday with his first career homer, two singles and three RBIs as Pittsburgh snapped an eight-game losing streak to Milwaukee.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Misiorowski struck out nine in five innings his last time out but took the loss in a 5-3 defeat at Miami on Sunday. He allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits with three walks. </p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Misiorowski has 42 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings this season, and opponents are batting just .177 against him. He is 2-0 with an 0.75 ERA in two career starts against the Pirates, allowing just one run in 12 innings with 16 strikeouts.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>The Brewers, missing much of their power with Jackson Chourio, Andrew Vaughn and Christian Yelich all injured, have just one homer in their last nine games. Milwaukee lost 5-4 on Thursday at Detroit, which started Tarik Skubal before the Brewers faced a Cy Young winner, Skenes, in consecutive games.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>“The two guys were really, really top notch, especially when you’ve got a decimated lineup,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. “We’ve got three of our top hitters out. You take three hitters out of any lineup and face those guys, it’ll be tough.”</p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>Milwaukee is playing an NL Central rival for the first time this season. Each team in the division is above .500. Pittsburgh has not lost back-to-back games since falling in the first two games of the season.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>“The division is strong,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said after Friday’s win. “Teams are playing really well, and again, we have to continue to do what we do. Come show up every day and compete like that regardless of what happens. We’ll enjoy this one for a little bit tonight, but we’ve got to get ready for tomorrow.”</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Keller is coming off a solid outing, allowing two runs on five hits in seven innings of a 6-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. He has allowed nine runs in 29 innings in his five starts this season, but five runs came in a four-inning outing in a 5-4 loss to Washington on April 14. </p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Keller has struggled against the Brewers over his career, going 1-7 with a 5.31 ERA in 12 starts against them. He was 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA last season in three starts vs. Milwaukee, allowing nine runs on 20 hits in 16 1/3 innings.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales had an RBI single Friday to extend his hitting streak to five games, batting .421 (8-for-19) over that span. </p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Teammate Spencer Horwitz also had an RBI single in the series opener. In 16 career games vs. Milwaukee, he is hitting .311 with five doubles, a homer and seven RBIs.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Jacob #Misiorowski #Brewers #bid #halt #slide #clash #Pirates

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West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur boosted their survival hopes with crucial wins in the Premier League on Saturday, though only the former climbed out of immediate danger.

West Ham took a significant step towards safety with a 2-1 win over Everton at home, with substitute Callum Wilson scoring the winner in the second minute of added time to keep the Hammers out of the relegation zone. Tottenham, meanwhile, beat already relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 to hand Roberto De Zerbi his first victory as coach, but remained in the bottom three.

After a drab first half at the London Stadium, West Ham found a breakthrough when Jordan Pickford’s save from Taty Castellanos led to a brief VAR check and the resulting corner, from which Tomas Soucek headed home in the 51st minute.

The Hammers held on to their lead until Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired in an equaliser in the 88th minute, but Wilson struck deep into stoppage time to hand the hosts a precious victory.

West Ham remained 17th with 36 points from 34 games, two points above 18th-placed Tottenham. Everton is 11th with 47 points, three behind Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth.

ALSO READ: In Sirukalathur, football is replacing drift with direction

Tottenham’s first Premier League win of 2026 was not enough to lift it out of the relegation zone. Its 1-0 victory over Wolves kept it two points behind West Ham in the standings.

Elsewhere, Liverpool moved up to fourth on goal difference after a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. The defending champion went above Aston Villa, which lost 1-0 to Fulham.

Arsenal was due to play Newcastle United later on Saturday with the chance to return to the top of the table ahead of Manchester City.

City, meanwhile, was in FA Cup semifinal action against second-tier Southampton at Wembley Stadium.

( With added inputs from AP)

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Tottenham #ends #wait #Premier #League #win #West #Ham #strikes #late #Everton">Tottenham ends wait for first Premier League win of 2026 as West Ham strikes late against Everton West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur boosted their survival hopes with crucial wins in the Premier League on Saturday, though only the former climbed out of immediate danger.West Ham took a significant step towards safety with a 2-1 win over Everton at home, with substitute Callum Wilson scoring the winner in the second minute of added time to keep the Hammers out of the relegation zone. Tottenham, meanwhile, beat already relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 to hand Roberto De Zerbi his first victory as coach, but remained in the bottom three.After a drab first half at the London Stadium, West Ham found a breakthrough when Jordan Pickford’s save from Taty Castellanos led to a brief VAR check and the resulting corner, from which Tomas Soucek headed home in the 51st minute.The Hammers held on to their lead until Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired in an equaliser in the 88th minute, but Wilson struck deep into stoppage time to hand the hosts a precious victory.West Ham remained 17th with 36 points from 34 games, two points above 18th-placed Tottenham. Everton is 11th with 47 points, three behind Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth.ALSO READ: In Sirukalathur, football is replacing drift with directionTottenham’s first Premier League win of 2026 was not enough to lift it out of the relegation zone. Its 1-0 victory over Wolves kept it two points behind West Ham in the standings.Elsewhere, Liverpool moved up to fourth on goal difference after a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. The defending champion went above Aston Villa, which lost 1-0 to Fulham.Arsenal was due to play Newcastle United later on Saturday with the chance to return to the top of the table ahead of Manchester City.City, meanwhile, was in FA Cup semifinal action against second-tier Southampton at Wembley Stadium.( With added inputs from AP)Published on Apr 25, 2026 #Tottenham #ends #wait #Premier #League #win #West #Ham #strikes #late #Everton

In Sirukalathur, football is replacing drift with direction

Tottenham’s first Premier League win of 2026 was not enough to lift it out of the relegation zone. Its 1-0 victory over Wolves kept it two points behind West Ham in the standings.

Elsewhere, Liverpool moved up to fourth on goal difference after a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. The defending champion went above Aston Villa, which lost 1-0 to Fulham.

Arsenal was due to play Newcastle United later on Saturday with the chance to return to the top of the table ahead of Manchester City.

City, meanwhile, was in FA Cup semifinal action against second-tier Southampton at Wembley Stadium.

( With added inputs from AP)

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Tottenham #ends #wait #Premier #League #win #West #Ham #strikes #late #Everton">Tottenham ends wait for first Premier League win of 2026 as West Ham strikes late against Everton

West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur boosted their survival hopes with crucial wins in the Premier League on Saturday, though only the former climbed out of immediate danger.

West Ham took a significant step towards safety with a 2-1 win over Everton at home, with substitute Callum Wilson scoring the winner in the second minute of added time to keep the Hammers out of the relegation zone. Tottenham, meanwhile, beat already relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 to hand Roberto De Zerbi his first victory as coach, but remained in the bottom three.

After a drab first half at the London Stadium, West Ham found a breakthrough when Jordan Pickford’s save from Taty Castellanos led to a brief VAR check and the resulting corner, from which Tomas Soucek headed home in the 51st minute.

The Hammers held on to their lead until Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired in an equaliser in the 88th minute, but Wilson struck deep into stoppage time to hand the hosts a precious victory.

West Ham remained 17th with 36 points from 34 games, two points above 18th-placed Tottenham. Everton is 11th with 47 points, three behind Brighton & Hove Albion in sixth.

ALSO READ: In Sirukalathur, football is replacing drift with direction

Tottenham’s first Premier League win of 2026 was not enough to lift it out of the relegation zone. Its 1-0 victory over Wolves kept it two points behind West Ham in the standings.

Elsewhere, Liverpool moved up to fourth on goal difference after a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. The defending champion went above Aston Villa, which lost 1-0 to Fulham.

Arsenal was due to play Newcastle United later on Saturday with the chance to return to the top of the table ahead of Manchester City.

City, meanwhile, was in FA Cup semifinal action against second-tier Southampton at Wembley Stadium.

( With added inputs from AP)

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Tottenham #ends #wait #Premier #League #win #West #Ham #strikes #late #Everton
Deadspin | Dan Vladar good to go for Flyers in Game 4; Penguins turn to Arturs Silovs Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save as Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) looks for a rebound during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers are soaring through their first-round playoff series thanks to Dan Vladar, who has been confirmed to start Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 after notching a pair of wins in Pittsburgh followed by a 5-2 home victory Wednesday. Vladar made 27 saves in Game 3, but injured his right arm during a chaotic sequence in front of the net in the third period. While Vladar, 28, finished Game 3 without further incident, he did not practice on Thursday and the team had Friday off before he participated in Saturday’s morning skate. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed on Saturday morning that Vladar will start Game 4. After a strong regular season, Vladar has a .946 save percentage in this series that includes a 27-save shutout in Game 2. If Vladar had been unable to play on Saturday, then fourth-year veteran Samuel Ersson was set to make his postseason debut. “I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game,” said Ersson, who has not played since April 14. Of course, it will help if the Flyers continue to receive scoring production from up and down their lineup. The team had five goal-scorers in Game 3, including four who registered their first career playoff tally. Trevor Zegras and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which has won six straight games dating back to the regular season. The Flyers will try to ride the momentum of their home crowd to their first series victory since 2020. “That was the craziest building I’ve ever played in,” defenseman Nick Seeler said of the Game 3 atmosphere. “The fans were fantastic.” Part of the chaotic atmosphere was a product of a penalty-filled second period in which the teams combined for 17 penalties. Penguins coach Dan Muse was not happy about how the officials handled the physicality in that period, but his squad doesn’t have time to dwell on their recent losses. “We have to win a hockey game,” Muse said. “So, we’ll have a practice (Friday) and get ready for that game and then go into that game and we need to win a game. That’s entirely where the focus is right now.” Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Erik Karlsson scored in Game 3 for Pittsburgh, which has dropped six straight contests going back to the regular season. Malkin has two goals in this series, which equals the rest of his teammates combined. “Now we’re going to see what we’re really made of,” Karlsson said. “Now it’s do-or-die. The toughest game to win is that fourth one, so hopefully we can start by winning one.” Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the final four games. It hasn’t happened in more than a decade — the Los Angeles Kings turned the trick against the San Jose Sharks in 2014 — and the Penguins have never accomplished it. “There’s not much room for error when you’re in this position. That’s reality,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “But the fact is, we’ve got to win a game. That’s got to be our focus. You can’t grab three on Saturday. You’ve got to win one.” The Penguins are making a goaltending change, with Arturs Silovs getting the nod over Stuart Skinner. “Both guys have played very well for us all year,” Muse said of Silovs and Skinner. “You go through the entire regular season, both guys have won big games. We have a lot of confidence in both guys. Decision isn’t based on Stu’s play; I thought Stu’s played really well this series. “We lost three games and so (we) decided that we made some changes there in the lineup.” Skinner, who started the first three games, has a 3.08 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in the series. Silovs, 25, posted a 19-12-8 record with two shutouts and a 3.07 GAA and .888 save percentage in 39 games (38 starts) this season. Two seasons ago with the Vancouver Canucks, Silovs went 5-5 in 10 playoff starts with a 2.91 GAA and .898 save percentage. “I think you’ve seen in his day to day, just his preparation, he’s a competitor, whether it’s in practice or in games,” Muse said. “You can say that obviously with both guys, but I think it’s a good thing and it’s a benefit to us, is you’ve got both guys that have been in a lot of big games, with Arty just going back to playoffs, Olympics, World Championships. He’s a young guy, but he has had a lot of big moments that he’s been in, and he’s attacked those big moments.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dan #Vladar #good #Flyers #Game #Penguins #turn #Arturs #SilovsApr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save as Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) looks for a rebound during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Flyers are soaring through their first-round playoff series thanks to Dan Vladar, who has been confirmed to start Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 after notching a pair of wins in Pittsburgh followed by a 5-2 home victory Wednesday. Vladar made 27 saves in Game 3, but injured his right arm during a chaotic sequence in front of the net in the third period.

While Vladar, 28, finished Game 3 without further incident, he did not practice on Thursday and the team had Friday off before he participated in Saturday’s morning skate. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed on Saturday morning that Vladar will start Game 4.

After a strong regular season, Vladar has a .946 save percentage in this series that includes a 27-save shutout in Game 2. If Vladar had been unable to play on Saturday, then fourth-year veteran Samuel Ersson was set to make his postseason debut.

“I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game,” said Ersson, who has not played since April 14.

Of course, it will help if the Flyers continue to receive scoring production from up and down their lineup. The team had five goal-scorers in Game 3, including four who registered their first career playoff tally.

Trevor Zegras and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which has won six straight games dating back to the regular season. The Flyers will try to ride the momentum of their home crowd to their first series victory since 2020.

“That was the craziest building I’ve ever played in,” defenseman Nick Seeler said of the Game 3 atmosphere. “The fans were fantastic.”

Part of the chaotic atmosphere was a product of a penalty-filled second period in which the teams combined for 17 penalties. Penguins coach Dan Muse was not happy about how the officials handled the physicality in that period, but his squad doesn’t have time to dwell on their recent losses.

“We have to win a hockey game,” Muse said. “So, we’ll have a practice (Friday) and get ready for that game and then go into that game and we need to win a game. That’s entirely where the focus is right now.”


Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Erik Karlsson scored in Game 3 for Pittsburgh, which has dropped six straight contests going back to the regular season. Malkin has two goals in this series, which equals the rest of his teammates combined.

“Now we’re going to see what we’re really made of,” Karlsson said. “Now it’s do-or-die. The toughest game to win is that fourth one, so hopefully we can start by winning one.”

Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the final four games. It hasn’t happened in more than a decade — the Los Angeles Kings turned the trick against the San Jose Sharks in 2014 — and the Penguins have never accomplished it.

“There’s not much room for error when you’re in this position. That’s reality,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “But the fact is, we’ve got to win a game. That’s got to be our focus. You can’t grab three on Saturday. You’ve got to win one.”

The Penguins are making a goaltending change, with Arturs Silovs getting the nod over Stuart Skinner.

“Both guys have played very well for us all year,” Muse said of Silovs and Skinner. “You go through the entire regular season, both guys have won big games. We have a lot of confidence in both guys. Decision isn’t based on Stu’s play; I thought Stu’s played really well this series.

“We lost three games and so (we) decided that we made some changes there in the lineup.”

Skinner, who started the first three games, has a 3.08 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in the series.

Silovs, 25, posted a 19-12-8 record with two shutouts and a 3.07 GAA and .888 save percentage in 39 games (38 starts) this season. Two seasons ago with the Vancouver Canucks, Silovs went 5-5 in 10 playoff starts with a 2.91 GAA and .898 save percentage.

“I think you’ve seen in his day to day, just his preparation, he’s a competitor, whether it’s in practice or in games,” Muse said. “You can say that obviously with both guys, but I think it’s a good thing and it’s a benefit to us, is you’ve got both guys that have been in a lot of big games, with Arty just going back to playoffs, Olympics, World Championships. He’s a young guy, but he has had a lot of big moments that he’s been in, and he’s attacked those big moments.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Dan #Vladar #good #Flyers #Game #Penguins #turn #Arturs #Silovs">Deadspin | Dan Vladar good to go for Flyers in Game 4; Penguins turn to Arturs Silovs Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) makes a save as Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Anthony Mantha (39) looks for a rebound during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers are soaring through their first-round playoff series thanks to Dan Vladar, who has been confirmed to start Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Philadelphia leads the best-of-seven series 3-0 after notching a pair of wins in Pittsburgh followed by a 5-2 home victory Wednesday. Vladar made 27 saves in Game 3, but injured his right arm during a chaotic sequence in front of the net in the third period. While Vladar, 28, finished Game 3 without further incident, he did not practice on Thursday and the team had Friday off before he participated in Saturday’s morning skate. Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet confirmed on Saturday morning that Vladar will start Game 4. After a strong regular season, Vladar has a .946 save percentage in this series that includes a 27-save shutout in Game 2. If Vladar had been unable to play on Saturday, then fourth-year veteran Samuel Ersson was set to make his postseason debut. “I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game,” said Ersson, who has not played since April 14. Of course, it will help if the Flyers continue to receive scoring production from up and down their lineup. The team had five goal-scorers in Game 3, including four who registered their first career playoff tally. Trevor Zegras and Noah Cates each had a goal and an assist for Philadelphia, which has won six straight games dating back to the regular season. The Flyers will try to ride the momentum of their home crowd to their first series victory since 2020. “That was the craziest building I’ve ever played in,” defenseman Nick Seeler said of the Game 3 atmosphere. “The fans were fantastic.” Part of the chaotic atmosphere was a product of a penalty-filled second period in which the teams combined for 17 penalties. Penguins coach Dan Muse was not happy about how the officials handled the physicality in that period, but his squad doesn’t have time to dwell on their recent losses. “We have to win a hockey game,” Muse said. “So, we’ll have a practice (Friday) and get ready for that game and then go into that game and we need to win a game. That’s entirely where the focus is right now.” Evgeni Malkin and defenseman Erik Karlsson scored in Game 3 for Pittsburgh, which has dropped six straight contests going back to the regular season. Malkin has two goals in this series, which equals the rest of his teammates combined. “Now we’re going to see what we’re really made of,” Karlsson said. “Now it’s do-or-die. The toughest game to win is that fourth one, so hopefully we can start by winning one.” Only four teams in NHL history have come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win the final four games. It hasn’t happened in more than a decade — the Los Angeles Kings turned the trick against the San Jose Sharks in 2014 — and the Penguins have never accomplished it. “There’s not much room for error when you’re in this position. That’s reality,” Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby said. “But the fact is, we’ve got to win a game. That’s got to be our focus. You can’t grab three on Saturday. You’ve got to win one.” The Penguins are making a goaltending change, with Arturs Silovs getting the nod over Stuart Skinner. “Both guys have played very well for us all year,” Muse said of Silovs and Skinner. “You go through the entire regular season, both guys have won big games. We have a lot of confidence in both guys. Decision isn’t based on Stu’s play; I thought Stu’s played really well this series. “We lost three games and so (we) decided that we made some changes there in the lineup.” Skinner, who started the first three games, has a 3.08 goals-against average and .873 save percentage in the series. Silovs, 25, posted a 19-12-8 record with two shutouts and a 3.07 GAA and .888 save percentage in 39 games (38 starts) this season. Two seasons ago with the Vancouver Canucks, Silovs went 5-5 in 10 playoff starts with a 2.91 GAA and .898 save percentage. “I think you’ve seen in his day to day, just his preparation, he’s a competitor, whether it’s in practice or in games,” Muse said. “You can say that obviously with both guys, but I think it’s a good thing and it’s a benefit to us, is you’ve got both guys that have been in a lot of big games, with Arty just going back to playoffs, Olympics, World Championships. He’s a young guy, but he has had a lot of big moments that he’s been in, and he’s attacked those big moments.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Dan #Vladar #good #Flyers #Game #Penguins #turn #Arturs #Silovs

Liverpool moved ever closer to securing Champions League football next season with a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, but will be hoping Mohamed Salah has not played his final game for the club.

Salah limped off in the second half at Anfield, holding his hamstring, with less than a month of his glittering career with the Reds remaining.

Two goals in five minutes just before half-time tightened the grip of Arne Slot’s men on a top-five finish.

British transfer record signing Alexander Isak scored his first goal since returning from a leg break as he turned home on the rebound after Alexis MacAllister’s initial effort was blocked.

Andy Robertson then marked one of his final appearances at Anfield with a fine finish at the end of a lethal Liverpool counter-attack after third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman had denied Palace an equaliser.

Salah went to the ground just before the hour mark, holding the back of his left leg and was given a standing ovation as he made way for Jeremie Frimpong.

Daniel Munoz reduced the Eagles’ arrears despite Liverpool appeals for a foul on Woodman 19 minutes from time.

But Florian Wirtz secured the three points deep into stoppage time with just his fifth Premier League goal since a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

ALSO READ | Fernandes hopes Portugal wins FIFA World Cup 2026 to crown Ronaldo’s international career

Victory moves Liverpool up to fourth and opens up an eight-point lead on sixth-placed Brighton with just four games of the season remaining.

Aston Villa falls against Fulham

Aston Villa missed the chance to climb to third in the Premier League on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Fulham as Marco Silva’s men kept their European dream alive.

Ryan Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time after Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins had gone close for Villa.

The result leaves Villa on 58 points, level with third-placed Manchester United having played a game extra.

Despite the disappointing result at Craven Cottage, Unai Emery’s team remain firmly on course for a place in the top five, which would guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Fulham is now 10th, level on 48 points with neighbours Chelsea and just two behind sixth-placed Brighton in the scrap for places in the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League.

The London side has not played in European competition since 2011.

The Birmingham side will now turn its attention to the first leg of its Europa League semifinal against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Premier #League #Liverpool #beats #Crystal #Palace #close #Champions #League #Aston #Villa #slips #Fulham">Premier League 2025-26: Liverpool beats Crystal Palace to close in on Champions League; Aston Villa slips up against Fulham Liverpool moved ever closer to securing Champions League football next season with a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, but will be hoping Mohamed Salah has not played his final game for the club.Salah limped off in the second half at Anfield, holding his hamstring, with less than a month of his glittering career with the Reds remaining.Two goals in five minutes just before half-time tightened the grip of Arne Slot’s men on a top-five finish.British transfer record signing Alexander Isak scored his first goal since returning from a leg break as he turned home on the rebound after Alexis MacAllister’s initial effort was blocked.Andy Robertson then marked one of his final appearances at Anfield with a fine finish at the end of a lethal Liverpool counter-attack after third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman had denied Palace an equaliser.Salah went to the ground just before the hour mark, holding the back of his left leg and was given a standing ovation as he made way for Jeremie Frimpong.Daniel Munoz reduced the Eagles’ arrears despite Liverpool appeals for a foul on Woodman 19 minutes from time.But Florian Wirtz secured the three points deep into stoppage time with just his fifth Premier League goal since a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.ALSO READ | Fernandes hopes Portugal wins FIFA World Cup 2026 to crown Ronaldo’s international careerVictory moves Liverpool up to fourth and opens up an eight-point lead on sixth-placed Brighton with just four games of the season remaining.Aston Villa falls against FulhamAston Villa missed the chance to climb to third in the Premier League on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Fulham as Marco Silva’s men kept their European dream alive.Ryan Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time after Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins had gone close for Villa.The result leaves Villa on 58 points, level with third-placed Manchester United having played a game extra.Despite the disappointing result at Craven Cottage, Unai Emery’s team remain firmly on course for a place in the top five, which would guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League.Fulham is now 10th, level on 48 points with neighbours Chelsea and just two behind sixth-placed Brighton in the scrap for places in the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League.The London side has not played in European competition since 2011.The Birmingham side will now turn its attention to the first leg of its Europa League semifinal against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.Published on Apr 25, 2026 #Premier #League #Liverpool #beats #Crystal #Palace #close #Champions #League #Aston #Villa #slips #Fulham

Fernandes hopes Portugal wins FIFA World Cup 2026 to crown Ronaldo’s international career

Victory moves Liverpool up to fourth and opens up an eight-point lead on sixth-placed Brighton with just four games of the season remaining.

Aston Villa falls against Fulham

Aston Villa missed the chance to climb to third in the Premier League on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Fulham as Marco Silva’s men kept their European dream alive.

Ryan Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time after Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins had gone close for Villa.

The result leaves Villa on 58 points, level with third-placed Manchester United having played a game extra.

Despite the disappointing result at Craven Cottage, Unai Emery’s team remain firmly on course for a place in the top five, which would guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Fulham is now 10th, level on 48 points with neighbours Chelsea and just two behind sixth-placed Brighton in the scrap for places in the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League.

The London side has not played in European competition since 2011.

The Birmingham side will now turn its attention to the first leg of its Europa League semifinal against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Premier #League #Liverpool #beats #Crystal #Palace #close #Champions #League #Aston #Villa #slips #Fulham">Premier League 2025-26: Liverpool beats Crystal Palace to close in on Champions League; Aston Villa slips up against Fulham

Liverpool moved ever closer to securing Champions League football next season with a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday, but will be hoping Mohamed Salah has not played his final game for the club.

Salah limped off in the second half at Anfield, holding his hamstring, with less than a month of his glittering career with the Reds remaining.

Two goals in five minutes just before half-time tightened the grip of Arne Slot’s men on a top-five finish.

British transfer record signing Alexander Isak scored his first goal since returning from a leg break as he turned home on the rebound after Alexis MacAllister’s initial effort was blocked.

Andy Robertson then marked one of his final appearances at Anfield with a fine finish at the end of a lethal Liverpool counter-attack after third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman had denied Palace an equaliser.

Salah went to the ground just before the hour mark, holding the back of his left leg and was given a standing ovation as he made way for Jeremie Frimpong.

Daniel Munoz reduced the Eagles’ arrears despite Liverpool appeals for a foul on Woodman 19 minutes from time.

But Florian Wirtz secured the three points deep into stoppage time with just his fifth Premier League goal since a £100 million move from Bayer Leverkusen.

ALSO READ | Fernandes hopes Portugal wins FIFA World Cup 2026 to crown Ronaldo’s international career

Victory moves Liverpool up to fourth and opens up an eight-point lead on sixth-placed Brighton with just four games of the season remaining.

Aston Villa falls against Fulham

Aston Villa missed the chance to climb to third in the Premier League on Saturday, losing 1-0 at Fulham as Marco Silva’s men kept their European dream alive.

Ryan Sessegnon scored the only goal of the game shortly before half-time after Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins had gone close for Villa.

The result leaves Villa on 58 points, level with third-placed Manchester United having played a game extra.

Despite the disappointing result at Craven Cottage, Unai Emery’s team remain firmly on course for a place in the top five, which would guarantee a spot in next season’s Champions League.

Fulham is now 10th, level on 48 points with neighbours Chelsea and just two behind sixth-placed Brighton in the scrap for places in the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Conference League.

The London side has not played in European competition since 2011.

The Birmingham side will now turn its attention to the first leg of its Europa League semifinal against Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

Published on Apr 25, 2026

#Premier #League #Liverpool #beats #Crystal #Palace #close #Champions #League #Aston #Villa #slips #Fulham

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