Bodycam footage of Tiger Woods’ DUI arrest in Jupiter Island, Florida, last Friday showed the 15-time major winner saying he was “hoping to” play in this year’s Masters.
As Woods was sitting in a police vehicle, an officer was talking golf with him, mentioning a putter Woods said he won “14 majors” with.
Then, the officer asked Woods if he planned on playing in the Masters, and he responded, “Hoping to.”
Tiger Woods was arrested on a DUI charge after a crash in Florida March 27, 2026.(Martin County Sheriff’s Office/AP)
Someone associated with Woods walked up to the group talking and added, “Depends on y’all.”
Woods won’t be playing at Augusta National Golf Club next week for the first major of the season, which Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley confirmed earlier this week after the rollover crash and arrest of the five-time green jacket winner.
“Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament fully support Tiger Woods as he focuses on his well-being,” Ridley said in a statement. “Although Tiger will not be joining us in person next week, his presence will be felt here in Augusta.”
There was a chance Woods was trying to play in the Masters, and he clearly had that mindset before his crash.
Woods put out a statement, announcing he is stepping away from golf to “seek treatment” after his DUI arrest, which resulted in charges of driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a blood alcohol level (BAL) test after law enforcement said his vehicle collided with another while he drove impaired.
Woods released the statement after entering a plea of not guilty, waiving his right to an arraignment and demanding a trial with a jury Tuesday.
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“I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today,” Woods said in a statement posted on social media.
Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links Golf Club after a match against the Los Angeles Golf Club at SoFi Center March 24, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.(Adam Glanzman/TGL/TGL Golf via Getty Images)
“I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery.
“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”
Woods was found with prescription opioids in his pocket, which the bodycam footage showed. Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reported observing several signs of impairment after the crash. They noted Woods was “sweating profusely,” his movements appeared “lethargic and slow” and his eyes were “bloodshot and glassy” and “extremely dilated” after he removed his sunglasses.
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Deputies conducted field sobriety tests with Woods as he sat on the bumper of a car, and one deputy had her finger in the air as Woods, while hiccupping, tried to follow with his eyes.
This arrest marked Woods’ second DUI arrest within the last decade. In 2017, he was taken into custody, also in Jupiter Island, after taking prescription drugs and falling asleep behind the wheel of a running car at 3 a.m.
Tiger Woods plays his shot from the 18th tee during the continuation of the first round of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club April 12, 2024, in Augusta, Ga.(Warren Little/Getty Images)
Woods was also involved in a 2021 rollover crash that resulted in serious leg injuries and emergency surgeries, which is what he was alluding to during the field sobriety tests.
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Woods also signed up for the U.S. Senior Open, according to The Golf League teammate Kevin Kisner, which is scheduled for early July.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik, Paulina Dedaj and Julia Bonavita contributed to this report.
LAS VEGAS — Shortly after the Vegas Golden Knights put the wraps on their first practice under John Tortorella, the rink at City National Arena turned into something far more meaningful than a workspace.
It became a reunion hall. A reminder. A quiet, emotional tribute to the bonds this sport builds and never breaks.
Instead of heading to his dressing room, Rasmus Andersson headed to the opposite corner of the rink, toward a familiar handful of Calgary Flames staffers and players standing along the glass. He left the ice, sat down on an equipment box in full gear, still sweating, still catching his breath, and couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.
Former teammates, equipment staff, trainers, friends who’d watched him grow from an 18‑year‑old kid into a 29‑year‑old leader.
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They emerged from the Flames dressing room, spotted him, and broke into smiles that said everything. Andersson stood to hug each of them, laughed with them, held onto them a little longer than usual.
“It’s friends for life, it’s family,” he said afterward.
“I grew up there. I spent 10 years growing up with them. You spend more time with them than your own family sometimes.”
Fifteen feet away, another reunion unfolded.
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Jack Eichel, Keegan Kolesar and a handful of Golden Knights players stepped off the ice when they spotted Zach Whitecloud — their former teammate who was traded to Calgary in the Andersson deal — waiting for them with the same grin, the same warmth, the same open‑armed welcome.
Two reunions. Two players who were clearly beloved.
And for a few minutes, their Pacific Division rivalry paused. The standings didn’t matter. The playoff race didn’t matter. The new jerseys didn’t matter.
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Whitecloud admitted the moment hit him harder than he expected.
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“It’s a lot of emotions, but I think the main emotion is just sadness,” said Whitecloud, who won a Stanley Cup with Vegas.
“Those are guys I went to war with. A lot of ups, a lot of big downs, a lot of tough times, a lot of good times. It’s sad seeing those guys because it reminds you of the times you had. But you’re also grateful that you had them.”
He didn’t expect the outpouring of love. But he understood it.
“You don’t expect anything, but guys who treat people how they want to be treated — those guys go a long way in this game,” said Whitecloud.
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“People don’t forget. When you’re done playing, the No. 1 thing you want to be remembered for is not the hockey player, it’s the person.”
He learned that from Alex Pietrangelo, from Mark Stone, from Nic Hague and Nic Holden, “All guys who lead by example.”
For Andersson, the reunion was overwhelming in its own way.
He admitted he spent the first few minutes of practice distracted, sneaking glances at his old teammates watching along the glass.
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“I saw Depo (equipment manager Mark DePasquale) in the corner and I kind of focused on them a little too much at the start of practice, so I missed a couple easy passes,” he laughed, following his first practice under Tortorella.
“As soon as practice was over, I wanted to skate over and say hi to all of them.”
Wednesday night, he took the entire Flames team and staff out for dinner. And he paid.
Because that’s what family does.
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Thursday’s game also included all the feels, as a video tribute to Whitecloud prompted a stirring standing ovation that touched his soul, as he circled to acknowledge the crowd by tapping his heart.
“It goes to show you how much both those players meant to their teams while they were with them,” said Ryan Huska.
“They have a lot of good friends on both sides, and they spent a lot of time with each other’s organizations. It goes to the character that both the players have.”
Noah Hanifin, who knows both players well, summed it up perfectly.
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“The bond we have with the guys over there is special,” said Hanifin, now reunited with Andersson as his defensive partner.
“Equipment guys, trainers, players, that’ll never go away, even when I’m done with hockey.
“Whitey is the man. Unbelievable competitor, great human being, a leader. Soft‑spoken but a winner. Those relationships never go away.”
The love-in all served as a reminder that the game ends, but the relationships don’t. That the jersey changes, but the person doesn’t. That the wins fade, but the memories don’t.
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Andersson admitted he was nervous about his first game against a team and a franchise that did so much for him and his family.
“It’ll go forever,” said Andersson, who had a nifty assist in a 6-3 Vegas win that included a 25-minute delay to repair ice damaged when the Zamboni lifted up a logo from under the ice in the second intermission.
“It will always be that special bond.”
Whitecloud said it just as well:
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“Everyone’s going to see Zach the human being, how you treated the rink staff, the security guys, the gate guy,” he said of legacy.
“That’s what lasts.”
Whitecloud’s reputation in Vegas is so stellar, the marquee outside the rinkside Beerhaus read simply, “Welcome back Whitecloud.”
On a random Wednesday in Vegas, two reunions broke out at once.
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And for everyone watching, it was impossible not to feel something.
Marvel Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 4 AFL game between Western Bulldogs and
Essendon Bombers. The game kicks off at 7:20 pm with Western Bulldogs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Western Bulldogs vs.
Essendon Bombers
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Well rested and appearing near peak condition, this side enters the clash with confidence and a clear game plan. Their ability to control possession and apply sustained pressure has been a standout feature, while their defensive setup has limited opposition scoring opportunities. The challenge will be maintaining intensity across four quarters against a determined opponent. Expect a structured and disciplined approach, with key contributors likely to play decisive roles. This match shapes as another opportunity to reinforce their standing and continue building a strong early-season platform.
McDonald Jones Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 5 NRL game between Newcastle Knights and
Canberra Raiders. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Canberra Raiders heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Newcastle Knights vs.
Canberra Raiders
game and give you our free tips and bets.
Following a high-scoring encounter last week, this side will look to tighten its defence while maintaining attacking fluency. Their ability to create opportunities is clear, but consistency across both halves will be crucial. Their opponents will aim to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities. Expect an entertaining contest, with momentum likely to shift throughout. Execution under pressure and defensive discipline will be key factors in determining the outcome.
Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders Teams
Knights team: 1. Fletcher Hunt 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Jacob Saifiti 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Trey Mooney 11. Dylan Lucas 12. Jermaine McEwen 13. Mathew Croker 14. Harrison Graham 15. Tyson Frizell 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Thomas Cant 18. Tyson Gamble 19. Wilson De Courcey 20. Cody Hopwood 21. Francis Manuleleua 22. James Schiller
Raiders team: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Simi Sasagi 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Noah Martin 13. Corey Horsburgh 14. Jayden Brailey 15. Zac Hosking 16. Ata Mariota 17. Morgan Smithies 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Matthew Timoko 20. Owen Pattie 21. Jed Stuart 22. Daine Laurie
She’d been asked for her thoughts after finishing as the only player to go bogey free through two rounds at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur — but her response could’ve also worked for a couple other questions. Her play overall at Champions Retreat, where she topped the leaderboard? Pretty cool. Her mindset heading into Saturday’s final round at the tournament’s namesake? Pretty cool.
And all that’s, well, pretty cool.
Below is a look at the leaderboard, a record set, surprising players who missed the cut, highlights, quotes and schedule for Friday and Saturday.
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Augusta National Women’s Amateur Round 2 leaderboard (and a record set)
Talley, after shooting a six-under 66 during Wednesday’s first round, fired a 67 during Thursday’s second round, and she leads by one shot over Meja Ortengren and Maria Jose Marin.
Talley, a 17-year-old who’s committed to Stanford University, birdied her first three holes, parred the next 10, birdied 14 and 15 and parred out from there. Combining her play on Wednesday and at last year’s ANWA — where she finished runner-up — Talley has gone bogey free for a tournament-record 48 straight holes.
3 surprising players who missed the cut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur
–Megha Ganne: Last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur winner shot rounds of 77 and 74.
–Eila Galitsky: The world’s eighth-ranked amateur shot 74 and 70.
–Rianne Malixi: The 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur winner shot rounds of 73 and 71.
Highlights of the day
Below are a few, courtesy of the ANWA X feed:
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A new record!
Make it 48 consecutive bogey-free holes for Asterisk Talley at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur as she finishes her second round at -11.#ANWAgolfpic.twitter.com/fPSiYIWNDb
— Augusta National Women’s Amateur (@anwagolf) April 2, 2026
Quotes of the day
“That’s pretty cool.”
–Talley, when asked about going without a bogey over the first two rounds
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“No fights, no fights.”
–Ortengren, when asked if she got into any when she revealed she’s also played hockey
“It has been my best friend, which I don’t say usually.”
–Marin, on her putter
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Quote from Bailey Shoemaker
Below, Bailey Shoemaker talks with GOLF’s Claire Rogers after her pre-shot routine on Wednesday went viral.
Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder clash in a heavyweight showdown at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, with DAZN offering multiple ways to watch including a subscription that includes the PPV at no extra cost
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This weekend, boxing titans Derek Chisora and Deontay Wilder will face off in London. The heavyweight clash is set for Saturday (April 4) at the O2 Arena in the capital, and fans can order the fight here.
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The bout will be the 50th professional fight for both ‘Del Boy’ and ‘The Bronze Bomber’, and it could potentially be the last, as rumours suggest Chisora may retire post-fight. The London-born boxer has had a distinguished career, having faced off against big names such as Tyson Fury, David Haye, and Vitali Klitschko.
Chisora enters the ring on the back of three consecutive victories and boasts a record of 36-13 (23 KOs), while Wilder stands at 44-4-1 (43 KOs). The former WBC champion has lost four of his last six bouts, including two stoppage defeats to Fury in Las Vegas.
Ahead of the showdown, Chisora stated that he will remain friends with Wilder regardless of the outcome on Saturday. Speaking to The Ring, he said: “It’s all love, but when that bell goes off, I need to get to him.
“If I give him space, it’ll be a long night for me. I have to get to him and smash him up.”.
Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, with live coverage commencing at 7pm. The main event’s ringwalks are expected to begin at around 10.25pm.
How to watch Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder for free
The Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder fight is being broadcast live and exclusively on DAZN, which offers several ways to watch the bout. Firstly, the PPV is included at no extra cost for fans who subscribe to DAZN’s Ultimate Tier.
This £24.99 subscription includes a minimum of 12 PPV fights per year – such as Wardley vs Dubois (May 9) and Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23) – along with an additional 185 fight nights. Subscribers can choose to pay monthly or annually, with DAZN stating that the subscription could potentially save customers £320 per year compared to purchasing 12 individual PPV fights.
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Secondly, DAZN is offering a discounted bundle for the Wilder vs Chisora and Wardley vs Dubois PPVs at a price of £39.99. Lastly, the Wilder vs Chisora fight can also be purchased as a standard PPV for a one-off price of £24.99.
All quarterfinal matches will be contested on Day 5 (Friday, April 3) of the Copa Colsanitas Colsubsidio 2026 in Bogota. A new champion will be crowned following the loss of two-time defending champion Camila Osorio in the second round.
Only two seeded players have made the quarterfinals, top seed Marie Bouzkova and eighth seed Panna Udvardy. With some interesting matches set in store, here’s a look at the predictions for all the singles matches lined up on Day 5 of the Copa Colsanitas Colsubsidio:
Thanks for the submission!
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#1. Varvara Lepchenko vs Emiliana Arango
Lepchenko scored three-set wins over Lia Karatancheva and second seed Jessica Bouzas Maneiro to make the quarterfinals of the Copa Colsanitas Colsubsidio. She hadn’t won a main draw at the WTA level since October 2024 prior to her wins this week. She’s also through to her first quarterfinal since September 2018.
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Arango beat Maria Lourdes Carle and Guiomar de Reales to reach the last eight here. She now has a 3-8 record this year. This will be her first meeting against Lepchenko. The latter managed to score her biggest win in years by beating Bouzas Maneiro. However, stringing together three wins in a row, a feat she hasn’t accomplished in nearly a decade, could prove to be a tall order for her.
Winner: Emiliana Arango
#2. Jazmin Ortenzi vs Julia Riera
Julia Riera at the French Open 2025. (Source: Getty)
Qualifier Ortenzi took down two-time defending champion Camila Osorio to reach the Copa Colsanitas Colsubsidio quarterfinals, her first at the WTA level. Riera upset sixth seed Anna Blinkova in the previous round to book her spot in the last eight.
While this will be the first meeting between them on the WTA Tour, Riera won both of their previous matches, also on clay, at the ITF and Challenger levels. She will be favored to triumph once again based on her record in this rivalry.
Winner: Julia Riera
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#3. Marie Bouzkova vs Darja Semenistaja
Bouzkova won her second-round match in Bogota after her opponent, Hanne Vandewinkel, retired after losing the first set. She’s through to her first quarterfinal of the season. Semenistaja hadn’t even won a main draw match prior to this week, and she has now reached the first WTA quarterfinal of her career.
This will be the first career meeting between them. Bouzkova has a 7-8 record this season, and Semenistaja hasn’t even won that many main draw matches in her career at the WTA level thus far. The Czech player will be favored to win this duel.
Winner: Marie Bouzkova
#4. Panna Udvardy vs Katarzyna Kawa
Panna Udvardy at the US Open 2025. (Source: Getty)
Udvardy needed three sets to dispatch Maria Torres and Julieta Pareja to make the Copa Colsanitas Colsubsidio quarterfinals. She improved her record for the season to 3-3 with her run here. Competing in the main draw of a tournament for the first time this year, Kawa beat Carole Monnet and fourth seed Tatjana Maria to make the last eight here, that too without losing a set.
While they’ve never crossed paths on the main tour prior to this, Kawa won all three of their previous matches at the ITF and Challenger levels. Two of those wins were on clay as well. As such, the Pole will fancy her chances of scoring yet another win.
LOS ANGELES — The Nashville Predators defeated the Los Angeles Kings in a shootout, 5-4, on April 2, 2026 at Crpto.com Arena and The Sporting Tribune’s Jordan Teller was there to capture the following TST Images.
Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings on the ice during warm ups before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings on the ice during warm ups before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings is greeted by his family before being honored by the team before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings is greeted by his family before being honored by the team before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings is honored for his twenty years with the franchise before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings is honored for his twenty years with the franchise before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Former Los Angeles Kings player Luc Robitaille gives Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings a golden stick before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Former Los Angeles Kings player Luc Robitaille gives Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings a golden stick before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
1,308 foam pucks are dropped on the ice to honor Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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1,308 foam pucks are dropped on the ice to honor Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings before an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings dives on the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings dives on the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings handles the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Anze Kopitar #11 of the Los Angeles Kings handles the puck during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Zachary L’Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators scores a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Zachary L’Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators scores a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Zachary L’Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Zachary L’Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators celebrates after scoring a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Alex Laferriere #14 of the Los Angeles Kings and Erik Haula #56 of the Nashville Predators line up for a face off during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Alex Laferriere #14 of the Los Angeles Kings and Erik Haula #56 of the Nashville Predators line up for a face off during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Matthew Wood #71 of the Nashville Predators and Scott Laughton #21 of the Los Angeles Kings get chippy during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Matthew Wood #71 of the Nashville Predators and Scott Laughton #21 of the Los Angeles Kings get chippy during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Steven Stamkos #91, Ryan O’Reilly #90, and Zachary L’Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators celebrate a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Steven Stamkos #91, Ryan O’Reilly #90, and Zachary L’Heureux #68 of the Nashville Predators celebrate a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings on the ice after giving up a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Darcy Kuemper #35 of the Los Angeles Kings on the ice after giving up a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Reid Schaefer #49 of the Nashville Predators takes a fist to the face from Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Reid Schaefer #49 of the Nashville Predators takes a fist to the face from Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate a goal during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey throws popcorn on fans during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Los Angeles Kings mascot Bailey throws popcorn on fans during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Joel Armia #40 of the Los Angeles Kings ties the game in the third period during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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Joel Armia #40 of the Los Angeles Kings ties the game in the third period during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate the game-tying goal during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate the game-tying goal during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
A young Los Angeles Kings fan looks on during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
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A young Los Angeles Kings fan looks on during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators makes a save in the shootout against Artemi Panarin #10 of the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Juuse Saros #74 of the Nashville Predators makes a save in the shootout against Artemi Panarin #10 of the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
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Luke Evangelista #77 of the Nashville Predators scores the game-winning goal in the shootout during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
Luke Evangelista #77 of the Nashville Predators scores the game-winning goal in the shootout during an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
The Nashville Predators celebrate a shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune
The Nashville Predators celebrate a shootout win over the Los Angeles Kings during an NHL hockey game, Thursday April 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Three in the net, three tacos you get.
The game wasn’t 22 minutes old when SAP Center’s 15,000-plus burst into a thunderous roar.
Not only had the plucky home team built a 3-0 lead, but San Jose’s shooters had already met Taco Bell’s promotional quota for everyone who paid to watch the up-and-coming Sharks outskate the downtrodden Maple Leafs to redeem their ticket for a savoury snack.
Yes, on the night Toronto’s nine-year playoff streak was officially crunched, it was raining tacos in Northern California.
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What happened in The Tank Thursday night was also good for the tank in Toronto.
“They come out hot. They were buzzing. They got two goals right off the bat,” Simon Benoit said, following a 4-1 loss the wild-card-hunting Sharks.
“They have momentum. They’re fighting for that spot. So, everything is urgency for them — and for us. You know, everybody’s playing for something, even though… I think we’re eliminated, right?”
Anyone in Toronto who stayed up late for a 10:08 p.m. ET puck drop saw two franchises passing each other in the natural competitive cycle that is the NHL’s salary cap era.
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The Sharks bottomed out not so long ago and were rewarded with saviour Macklin Celebrini, not unlike the Maple Leafs pulling the plug in 2016 to scoop Auston Matthews. They’ve missed the playoffs six straight times, watching attendance and interest and talent drain away.
But today, they’ve won four in a row straight. They’re playing fast and free and find themselves playing house-money hockey with two weeks left on the calendar.
Amazing what the hope of youth can do to energize a building, to say nothing of free fast food.
“It’s a great building,” Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “Back in the day, coming in here was a tough place to play. First period was like, ‘Woah.’ I mean, you gotta get out of the first period. But they’re definitely getting that attitude back here with their team.”
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The Maple Leafs mustered merely six shots in the first period and five in the second. They were so hesitant to advance the puck and to rip it on net.
The Sharks, who’d just won an emotional comeback game here less than 24 hours prior, attacked the night with abandon.
Berube noted how San Jose’s young legs blow the zone as soon as they gain possession, looking to spring breakaways and odd-man rushes. Goalie Anthony Stolarz mentioned the challenge of blind behind-the-net passes to the F3 barrelling into the slot.
Their recoveries are speedy, their O-zone attacks dynamic and energetic.
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“No doubt, they’ve been building. They got a lot of speed, a lot of skill up front. They use the width of the ice and the length very well,” John Tavares said.
“And when you when you get a player like 71 — one of the best in the game as a teenager — it’s pretty amazing how things can turn for a franchise.”
The mood around the ’26 Sharks is not so different than the vibes that percolated around the ’16 Leafs. Heck, the way things are trending, we might be saying this about the ’36 Leafs, too.
“They’re quick,” Berube said. “They got some good skill over there, and they try to extend the rink quickly.”
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The veteran Maple Leafs have struggled this season when facing opponents that lean into a high-pace attack.
“They have their routes, and they’re kind of committed to it. Every time they would dump it in, there’s always a guy waiting for it,” Stolarz said. “As soon as their D touch the puck in the defensive zone, their wingers are flying.
“They have a lot of skill, a lot of speed, a lot of youth on that team. And it’s extremely impressive how they’ve meshed and how they can find one another.”
Funny, not funny: the losing room used to say similar things about the Maple Leafs’ emerging stars.
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Unburdened, yet, by outside expectations or complicated by contract demands.
“I mean, they’ve drafted well. And they’ve progressed in that sense of they rebuilt — but it didn’t take them 10 years. They took a couple years, and then it’s been working out for them.”
• As the Maple Leafs and Sharks were asleep, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake rocked the Bay Area. No one was harmed. Some didn’t even notice.
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“I guess I’m an earthquake survivor again,” smiled ex-Shark Steven Lorentz, who has endured seven of them. “A little bit scary.”
“I’m rattled,” Jake McCabe added. “I woke up to the alert on my phone, and I was pissed that I didn’t wake up (in the middle of it). I’ve always been wanting to feel one.”
• What is the most unique thing about Celebrini?
“A kid of that age and what he’s doing, it’s right here,” Berube replied, pointing to his head. “He’s smart. He’s a very intelligent player. He goes to the Olympics to play with a guy like (Connor) McDavid and (Nathan) MacKinnon and stuff, and the coach keeps putting him out there with those guys and using him — and they want to play with him. You have to have intelligence.”
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You see that hockey sense watching the kid anticipate plays with and without the puck from up high. Go see him if he comes to your town.
As impactful as San Jose’s MVP candidate was in this one, he did not register a point, marking just the second time all season the Sharks have won without their phenom splashing the scoresheet. They improved to 2-16-3 on the season when Celebrini gets shut out.
“We did a decent job on him today,” Tavares said.
• Celebrini rightly hogs headlines for painting this town teal, but the breakout of sophomore Collin Graf is intriguing.
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The undrafted Quinnipiac University product quadrupled his rookie goal total Thursday, sniping his 20th on the season. It stood as the winner.
No, Graf won’t always convert on 18 per cent of his shots, but doing so in his first contract year is smart timing.
• Easton Cowan says he missed George Springer and Ernie Clement’s mic’d-up moment last week, as the two Blue Jays gushed over the Leafs rookie when attending a game at Scotiabank Arena. They met up in the Leafs’ room as well.
“Easton Cowan, that’s my guy,” Clement tells Springer in the clip. “He’s a grinder.”
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“Clement’s my favourite player, too, so that was pretty cool,” Cowan says. “We had a good talk and just hearing some stories from Springer too, it was awesome.”
Cowan says he appreciates Clement’s versatility and attitude.
“Can play wherever, brings good vibes, and he was really good in the post-season,” Cowan says. “Definitely super cool.”
• Meanwhile, in the OHL playoffs…
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Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue scored a beautiful Michigan goal in Game 4 of Ottawa’s first-round series versus Kingston. McCue, 20, was a seventh-round pick by Toronto in 2024.
Around 40% of clubs in England’s top four divisions of men’s football have changed their manager this season, and one in four of those teams have made more than one change.
With those stats still so high, I am sure people outside the game must be wondering about the process of appointing a manager.
In my day, I never once put on a presentation in front of a chairman or board of directors as part of any interview process.
Usually it was your management record, and your relative success with the respective budgets you’d been given, that would seal the deal.
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Today, that has all changed. Many managers and coaches, I’m told, pay to have these presentations professionally prepared for them.
Before you get to that stage, however, club owners and chairmen will rely on their sporting director and chief executive to compile a list of names.
As I’ve mentioned in previous columns about the lack of opportunities now for British managers, with so many foreign owners in our game, there are lots of foreign sporting directors too, so it is not surprising they appoint managers and coaches they know.
Also, the agents who have assisted the owners when they purchased the club, will often have a big say on who the sporting director is too.
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Players will also flow into some clubs in a similar fashion, I’m sure, and I’m afraid all of this impinges on managers and coaches from this country, who are not part of that network.
Academy coaches from the top clubs are finding a way through the system, as I am sure their contacts with clubs’ young players is part of their appeal.
It is definitely a route into management that is worth following but I am sure any ex-professionals who have followed it will have quickly been exposed to the key difference between managing at academy level and being in charge of a club’s first team.
Unlike academy football, which is about development, first-team football is about winning.
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Every week you will be judged on your result and, no matter what philosophy you employ, the fanbase and the people above you will react accordingly.
On Wednesday at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Bailey Shoemaker went viral. The ANWA’s Golf Channel broadcast showed the USC junior as she stood over her approach shot at the 8th hole at Champions Retreat and struggled to pull the trigger, starting her backswing several times but balking pre-impact.
The video played into a specific type of frustration that golfers — and golf-watchers — feel about the sport. Here, in one 75-second clip, was a perfect encapsulation of the way young golfers play slow and disrespect the game — and the way tournaments fail to rein it in. This is nothing new; recreational golf is plagued by slow play, tournament golf even more so, and pros who take a long time over the ball continually catch viewers’ ire.
Shoemaker didn’t dispute what the video showed. But she also knows there’s more to the story.
Speaking to GOLF’s Claire Rogers on site, Shoemaker explained that her struggle to take the club away traces back to an arm injury she dealt with last year that required playing through pain and numbness before she elected to have surgery. She has struggled to align communication between her brain and body since returning to competitive play.
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“I’ve been battling injury for over a year now, and so, I mean, I’ve got some things bugging me. But, I mean, when you have nerve surgery, you aren’t in control,” Shoemaker said. “Like, it doesn’t matter what my brain says or does — you think I want to do it intentionally? Of course not.”
“It was better today. And, I mean, that was the worst one yesterday, of course it went viral,” she said. “And I mean, you clearly don’t see the rest of the round. You don’t see me at home working out five hours a day, going to rehab, waking up before practice to go to rehab. You don’t see what’s behind the scenes.”
Shoemaker’s bid to make the cut fell short after a second consecutive 73; her two-round total of 146 was three shots too many. Shoemaker finished runner-up at this event in 2024 and will be disappointed not to play a competitive final round at Augusta National, although she will play there Friday during the event’s in-between day. In the meantime, she’s hoping to keep her focus on the big picture.
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“I put a lot of faith in USC and my coaches and trainers and whatnot, and I mean, they got me to here, where I am today,” she said. “I know I keep saying it, and I sound like a broken record, but like a year ago, I didn’t know if I’d be playing golf anymore. This was like, a pretty substantial injury, given it was my nerve. And I’m happy to have motor function over my hand.
“I thought I was going to like, lose my hand, basically, y’know? So that’s pretty scary to think about. So, I mean, to have control over my body is nice, for once. And just being out here playing is good.”
Rogers also asked whether Shoemaker had been affected by the attention after her first round. Of course she had — how could anyone not be? — but did her best to channel that into determination.
“If anything it was fuel. I mean, my dad has trained me right, to use that as fuel to ignite me a little bit. But I didn’t play too much mind to it. I mean, I’m happy where I am, and I’m making leaps and bounds in my health, and that’s all I really care about.”
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Shoemaker found a clear silver lining — “I’m playing Augusta National tomorrow” — even if it was a trying week.
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