ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Dallas Stars surged into the Olympic break on a six-game winning streak. The Minnesota Wild won their last five games to finish 8-1-1 before the NHL ‘s three-week schedule pause.

Both teams have maintained top-five records in the league for much of the season — and they’ve constantly been trying to catch the rival Colorado Avalanche.

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Such has been the predicament in the powerful Central Division, where the NHL’s siloed playoff format would pit the Stars against the Wild in the first round if the standings were to stay this way. The Avalanche would then be favored to face the winner in the divisional bracket, likely bouncing two of the top five teams in the league from the postseason by the second round.

“It’s a fun division to be a part of,” Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson said, “because every game really matters.”

The Avalanche went 37-9-9 for an NHL-leading 83 points before the break, a sparkling record that has actually lost some luster from earlier this winter. They led the division by 12 points on Jan. 11, but the Wild (34-14-10) with 78 points and Stars (34-14-9) with 77 points have narrowed their gaps.

Colorado came out of the break with a game at Utah on Wednesday, when Dallas hosted Seattle. Minnesota had an extra day before playing at, conveniently, Colorado on Thursday.

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“They become a little bit more human now and are losing a few games, so if we win tomorrow and get on a little run we might be able to catch up some ground to them,” Gustavsson said after practice on Wednesday.

Colorado and Dallas play three more times. The Stars won the first matchup with the Avalanche in a shootout. Dallas and Minnesota meet twice more, having split their first two games. The Avalanche and the Wild play two more times after splitting their first two matchups, with the Wild’s win coming in a shootout.

“We pretty much have to sweep them, and we’ve got to greatly outplay them to take that spot,” Stars center Matt Duchene said. “So could it be done? Yes. Will it be done? Probably not, to be honest, but that’s OK. It feels like in our division we’ve got go through the gauntlet every year, and we’re ready for that.”

The Avalanche had four players competing in the Olympic gold medal game in Italy on Sunday, alongside three from the Wild and two from the Stars. The three teams combined sent 23 players to the Winter Games, making the final stretch all the more intriguing. Not only will each club need to recreate the momentum it had prior to the break, but the Olympians — particularly the Americans and Canadians — must be reintegrated after not getting the time off that most of their NHL peers had.

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The Stars are expecting to miss leading scorer Mikko Rantanen for multiple weeks after he suffered a lower-body injury with Finland in the Olympics.

“My experience with these streaks is that when you have a big break like this, it kind of interrupts the rhythm,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said.

But that doesn’t mean he’s expecting a fade, considering his team’s recent performance.

“There was a very clear visual of what our players felt they were doing better and we as coaches felt we were doing better in those five or six games than we had prior,” Gulutzan said, “and I that hasn’t left us.”

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With defensemen Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber and forward Matt Boldy winning gold medals for the U.S. and then heading to the White House during their whirlwind celebratory return, the Wild will have three key players who’ve been on the go the whole time. But they’re young — and the experience ought to help them come playoff time, coach John Hynes said.

“When you get in those environments of high-stakes games, really it’s like three Game 7s because you have a quarterfinal, and then you have a semifinal, and then you have a medal game, and they’re all one and done,” Hynes said, as he broke down the benefits: “The preparation, understanding of how to play in those situations with that type of pressure and fanfare and knowing that one mistake could cost the game.”

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AP Sports Writer Stephen Hawkins in Dallas contributed to this report.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

United States players, including Brady Tkachuk (7) of the United States, celebrate after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)

Welcome to the Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.

GOLDEN GOAL – Jack Hughes’ overtime goal gave Team USA a 2-1 win over Canada and its first Olympic gold since 1980. The clincher came on the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice.” Continue reading …

ALL EYES ON – Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win over Canada averaged 20.7 million viewers, making it the most-watched sporting event in U.S. history before 9 a.m. ET, NBC Sports said. The broadcast peaked at 26 million viewers. Continue reading … 

PRESIDENTIAL SWAP – President Donald Trump donned the U.S. men’s hockey gold medal during a playful Oval Office moment with Matthew Tkachuk on Tuesday. “I’m not giving it back,” Trump joked. Continue reading …

Brady Tkachuk (7) of Team United States and Matthew Tkachuk (19) of Team United States celebrate after their game against Team Canada during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)

AMERICAN PRIDE – The Tkachuk brothers spoke to Fox News after delivering the first U.S. men’s hockey gold since 1980. Brady Tkachuk said sharing it with Matthew Tkachuk and his teammates was something he “wouldn’t change for the world.“Continue reading … 

GOLD STANDARD – President Donald Trump said during his State of the Union address that Connor Hellebuyck will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom after backstopping Team USA to Olympic gold. The goaltender stopped 41 shots in the overtime victory over Canada. Continue reading …

SHINING MOMENT – The U.S. women rallied from a late deficit to beat Canada 2-1 in overtime and reclaim Olympic gold. Megan Keller’s winner secured the Americans’ first gold medal since 2018. Continue reading …

PODIUM FINISH – Eileen Gu capped her 2026 Winter Olympics with a gold medal in the women’s freeski halfpipe for Team China. The victory marked her second consecutive Olympic title in the event. Continue reading …

NATIONAL CHOICE – U.S. Vice President JD Vance commented on Eileen Gu competing for China, saying her status is for Olympic officials to decide. He added that he supports athletes who choose to represent the United States. Continue reading …

Gold medalist China’s Eileen Gu poses with her medals after winning the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.  (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

FROM FOX SPORTS – Rumors are already swirling at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Day 1 takeaways range from C.J. Stroud chatter to potential trade shakeups and draft strategy shifts. Continue reading …

FROM OUTKICK – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushed back on suggestions the Bears are moving to Indiana, saying the team privately clarified its statement was not a relocation commitment, OutKick’s Armando Salguero reported. Pritzker said Illinois is awaiting further clarification from the franchise. Continue reading …

WATCH NOW – FOX Sports’ “First Things First” debates whether the San Antonio Spurs are NBA title favorites and reacts to Chris Paul taking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Luka Doncic. Watch here …

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PSG held on despite a late Jordan Teze goal, after Marquinhos and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in quick succesion to seal the tie for French champions, as Mamadou Coulibaly was sent off for Monaco.

MATCH REPORT: PSG 2-2 (5-4 agg) Monaco

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You may have noticed that more and more tour pros are wielding broomstick putters these days. But this equipment trend isn’t just helping golf’s elite players sink clutch putts. These super long putters can also help players like you develop a smooth, reliable stroke.

According to GOLF Top 100 Alumni Scott Munroe, the broomstick putter is more than just a reliable gamer — it’s also an effective training aid. The reason it’s such a powerful tool, Munroe says, is that it eliminates the hands from the stroke.

“What it does is it gets you rocking your shoulders, taking your hands out [of the movement],” Munroe said. “It’s a great way to calibrate your distances and get used to seeing the ball rolling perfectly.” 

The key is the extended shaft. Because broomstick putters have a higher rotation point on the body, they naturally encourage you to move the putter with your larger muscles — rather than the small, twitchy muscles in your hands and wrists. This results in a more pendulum-like stroke that’s consistent and far less susceptible to nerves.

Tuck your elbows to mimic that broomstick feel

Don’t have access to a broomstick putter? Don’t worry. Munroe says there’s an easy way to recreate the feel and effect of a broomstick putter:

Step 1. Set your hands: Place your hands on the club with your fingers underneath the grip.

Step 2. Create a pentagon: Raise the putter out in front of you. This should cause your arms to form a pentagon. 

Step 3. Tuck your elbows: Pull your elbows in so they are touching your torso.

Now, place the putter back down on the ground and get set up like you’re going to hit a putt. Starting with rehearsal swings, begin moving the club back and through, focusing on using your larger muscles.

“What you’re doing is recreating the long putter,” he said. “From this position, all you do is rock your shoulders. That’s going to help you putt really well.”

Once you feel comfortable with this pendulum-like motion, you can start incorporating a ball into your practice. Pay attention to how the ball rolls as you use Munroe’s drill. If you’re doing it right and using those bigger muscles, the ball should roll end-over-end every time.

Even if you’ve never considered adding one to your bag, practicing with a broomstick putter — or mimicking it with Munroe’s elbow drill — could be the key to unlocking better mechanics and getting your putts rolling true, especially under pressure.

Short Game Gains Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror

 
It’s here and it’s perfect!
The Signature Stainless Steel Putting Mirror is our newest addition to the SGG family. We heard your feedback on the mirrors of the golf world, kept the good, improved the bad, and this mirror was born. Made of high strength stainless steel, this mirror won’t bend or warp just from being used the way some plastic mirrors do. That means your mirror will last longer and gives you picture perfect clarity (no weird distortion!) when you look down at the ball. It has an included ruler for measuring stance and setup, and the ruler doubles as a shoulder alignment mirror when you flip it over. Genius! It’s double sided for even longer use, so you’re getting TWO mirrors for the price of one- plus it comes with adhesive silicone protection strips to keep your putter from scratching the surface without affecting the roll of the ball. With slots in key points to make your own tee gates, you can work on setup, path, eye line, start line, and more at one single station. Indoor Practice? No problem. Use the included marbles for start line work in the off-season. Your golf practice just got way more effective!
A few SGG putting mirror features:

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eye line alignment
shoulder alignment
swing path
distance from ball
width of stance
ball position
center contact
starting the ball online

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Arthur Fils, Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev (Getty Images)

Dubai: The lines are blurring for today’s top tennis pros, chalk markings smudging the clean cuts of the fashion world.Arthur Fils, the 21-year-old ranked No. 34 on the ATP Tour, was recently signed by luxury fashion house Balenciaga. The talented Frenchman, who pulled out of the Dubai Duty Free tennis tournament with a strained hip, spends up to 15 minutes in front of his wardrobe deciding what to wear for dinner.“I take this, this and this and the mix always works. I’m pretty simple. I don’t go with crazy things,” he told TOI in an exclusive chat about his choices, which aren’t very different from what he does on the court. “Tennis is much more open now. More new brands are coming into the sport, we’re also signing with luxury brands. We are invited to a lot of events and there’s much more media now.”In the Carlos Alcaraz–Jannik Sinner era, forehands meet fashion collaborations, global luxury powerhouses walk alongside sports brands expanding into athleisure. The game’s new icons are not just chasing trophies; they are setting the tone for a generation that treats tennis as a vibe and lifestyle as much as grind and legacy.If the Roger Federer–Rafael Nadal–Novak Djokovic years were defined by sculpted perfection, the Alcaraz–Sinner era is about expression.Alexander Bublik, the second seed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, points to age. He is 16 years younger than Federer and more than a decade younger than Nadal and Djokovic. Bublik, 28, ranked No. 10, was already on Tour when Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 24, emerged.“For me it was about looking up to them,” Bublik said of the golden generation. “We’re not friends; we are not going to be friends. With Carlos and Jannik it is a friendly relationship. Carlos is a funny guy, very, very loud. He wears crazy gear and Jannik is more style and elegance, an ice-cold approach on the court.”Bublik, who noted that these were much cooler times, as against the result-oriented stretch of the game’s golden era, said that back home in Kazakhstan or Russia, he even had movie offers.Andrey Rublev, whose unruly mop mirrors his temperament, calls it “a generational thing”.“Each generation had to contend with something,” he said. “Before Roger and Rafa, it was Sampras and Agassi; before that it was McEnroe and Borg. That was a different time, with no social media. They were doing many more things outside the court. In the time of Roger and Rafa, social media started and tennis also became more professional. Players were more kind of locked down, super professional.”“Now there’s a new generation, like the TikTok generation, so it’s just different,” the 28-year-old Russian said.Fils, for his part, admires the unapologetically expressive style of Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton.“There’s a lot of character in Lewis Hamilton’s style. When he goes anywhere, everyone looks at him because of what he’s wearing; it looks great on him. I like fashion and now I can wear a lot of cool stuff that I really like. So every time I’m going out to dinner or whatever, I try to put on something cool.”In a sport once defined by whites and restraint, self-expression is no longer a sideshow; it is part of the main event. The new generation is as comfortable fronting fashion campaigns as it is trading blows from the baseline, unafraid to let personality sit alongside performance.For the likes of Fils and his peers, style is not a distraction but a declaration. The forehand still does the talking, but increasingly, so does the fit.

New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun Shanaka, centre, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo)

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: New Zealand kept their T20 World Cup campaign alive with a commanding 61-run win over Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, a result shaped by composure under pressure with the bat, clinical precision with the ball, and an atmosphere driven relentlessly by Sri Lankan fans who refused to drift away even as the contest slipped beyond their team.Long after the outcome appeared inevitable, the stands remained full, the drums kept beating and the trumpets echoed through the Colombo night. Every boundary was still applauded, every piece of good fielding acknowledged. Wins or losses have never defined Sri Lankan fandom, and even as their World Cup campaign came to an end, the loyalty did not waver. Covering a Sri Lanka match is rarely just about cricket. It feels like a festival, and on this night, the celebration continued despite the pain.

Santner, McConchie turn the innings

Earlier, put in to bat on a surface that offered grip and variable bounce, the visitors began with intent. Finn Allen counterpunched sharply against Dilshan Madushanka, taking on the movement with instinctive aggression. But as quickly as the tempo rose, it dipped. Allen’s dismissal triggered a brief wobble, Tim Seifert followed soon after, and Sri Lanka sensed an opening.Rachin Ravindra brought fluency through the middle overs, rotating strike and finding the occasional boundary, but the introduction of spin shifted the balance decisively. Maheesh Theekshana, operating with subtle changes of pace and trajectory, strangled New Zealand’s scoring options. Ravindra fell attempting a cut hit too flat, Mark Chapman was undone by turn and bounce, and Daryl Mitchell was beaten by skid rather than spin. From a position of comfort at 75 for 2, New Zealand slid to 84 for 6 in the space of nine deliveries.It was here that Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie stepped in to rescue the innings. The approach was uncomplicated and clear-headed. Survival came first. Boundaries were not chased, singles were valued and dot balls were absorbed without panic. McConchie, playing his first major role of the tournament, broke a 33-ball boundary drought late in the 16th over with a crisp strike through the infield. The release was immediate. Santner followed by reading length early and targeting the shorter leg side boundary with authority. The momentum swing was sudden and decisive. Santner went after Theekshana, who had been Sri Lanka’s most economical bowler until then, muscling slog sweeps and punishing full tosses. McConchie matched him stroke for stroke, using clever bat angles and strong bottom-hand hits to exploit gaps behind square.What had begun as a recovery turned into a late surge. In the final four overs, the seventh-wicket pair plundered 70 runs, transforming New Zealand’s total from fragile to formidable. Santner’s 47 from 26 balls anchored the charge, while McConchie’s unbeaten 31 ensured there was no late collapse. Together, they added 84 in 47 deliveries and lifted New Zealand to a competitive 168 for 7.

Henry sets up the defence

In reply, Sri Lanka’s chase never truly found its feet and was disrupted from the first ball. Matt Henry bowled Pathum Nissanka with a delivery that jagged back to hit middle stump. It was a classic seam bowler’s dismissal and a psychological blow that stunned a full house.Henry followed it up with a wicket maiden and then struck again with the first ball of his second over, removing Charith Asalanka. Two overs, two wickets and just three runs conceded summed up his impact. Sri Lanka limped to 20 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, their lowest such total in the tournament, and the uphill climb became steeper with every over.The squeeze never eased. Lockie Ferguson’s pace added urgency without sacrificing control, while Santner and Ish Sodhi closed down scoring options from either end. The fielding mirrored the bowling intensity, with sharp catching and athletic work inside the ring ensuring Sri Lanka were forced to take risks rather than accumulate.The decisive blow came through Rachin Ravindra, whose left-arm spin turned pressure into collapse. Varying his pace and width cleverly, Ravindra lured batters out of their crease and allowed Tim Seifert to shine behind the stumps. Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake were both stumped, beaten by flight, drift and turn. Ravindra struck again when Dasun Shanaka top-edged a cut, and completed his four-wicket haul by dismissing Dushan Hemantha. His figures of 4 for 27 reflected not just wickets, but an ability to sense panic and exploit it ruthlessly.Kamindu Mendis offered brief resistance, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals. Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell ensured chances were taken, Santner chipped in to close out the innings and Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 107.For New Zealand, the victory does more than end Sri Lanka’s campaign. It keeps their own semifinal hopes alive in a tightly contested Super Eight phase. Their blueprint is now clear. Strike early with the new ball, suffocate through the middle overs and trust the depth in their batting to recover from adversity.For Sri Lanka, the tournament ends with disappointment, but also with a reminder of what remains unbreakable. Even as the final wickets fell, the crowd stayed. The band played on, the trumpets rang out and the applause continued. The result belonged to New Zealand, but the night, as always in Colombo, belonged to the fans.Brief Scores New Zealand: 168/7 in 20 overs (Mitchell Santner 47, Cole McConchie 31 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 3/30, Dushmantha Chameera 3/38)Sri Lanka: 107/8 in 20 overs (Kamindu Mendis 31; Rachin Ravindra 4/27, Matt Henry 2/14)

The 2026 NFL Combine runs from February 26 through March 1, and we’ll have you covered with both up-to-date and historical coverage.

Here’s a look at previous bench press results for former players from schools in the West.

You may also be interested in the historical vertical jump marks and 40-yard dash times.

The bench press is one of the first drills that participants typically go through at the NFL Combine.

In addition to testing a prospect’s strength, it gives scouts an indication of their cardio fitness and endurance.

These attributes measure a player’s ability to withstand the rigors of NFL weight-lifting and fitness programs.

The bench press weight is standardized at 225 pounds, consisting of four 45-pound metal plates and a 45-pound bar, subject to the following NFL rules:

The average NFL prospect has little trouble benching 225 pounds, but the exercise becomes much more difficult with increasing reps.

Naturally, more reps tend to improve draft stock, especially for offensive and defensive linemen, but the NFL has a baseline for different players by their position on the gridiron.

The best mark by a player from the region is held by Oregon State’s Stephen Paea with 49 reps in 2011. He is also recognized as the all-time Combine record-holder.

(Justin Ernest logged 51 reps in 1999, but the NFL changed equipment in 2006, and some Combine performances before then are looked upon in a different light.)

The second-best Pac-12 performer is Stanford’s Harrison Phillips with 42 reps in 2018. Oregon’s Igor Olshansky (2004) and Washington’s Vita Vea (2018) are tied for third and fourth with 41 reps.

Below we’ve compiled the bench press reps for every SuperWest player that has participated in the NFL Combine since 2000, along with their position, school, and the year they participated, in a searchable, sortable table.

Since the Combine wasn’t held in 2021 due to the pandemic, we’ve included the team pr0-day drill results for that year instead.

During her previous campaign, Tempted was defeated while sent off as favourite in a second-up Group 1 over 1400 metres, but her trainer Ciaron Maher is certain history won’t repeat itself now.

Entering this Saturday’s $750,000 Surround Stakes at Randwick, the Street Boss daughter arrives three weeks after a convincing win against her rivals in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m).

Tempted produced a similarly powerful victory first-up in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) last spring, just two weeks before placing third to colts Beiwacht and Wodeton in the Golden Rose, with Maher much more pleased with proceedings this preparation.

“We were two weeks into the Group 1 last prep, up from the 1200 to 1400,” Maher said.

“She ran near her peak first-up over 12, so it’s hard to run back to your peak in two weeks after a peak run fresh up.

That’s why we wanted the extra week and at the 1400, especially in fillies’ race, she should be fine.”

The Surround Stakes sees Tempted as the $1.50 top pick, with Apocalyptic at $4.50 and Ole Dancer at $8, both having taken out Group 1 races at 1600m.

The Godolphin filly managed to finish ahead of all but Ka Ying Rising when contesting The Everest and earned third in the Golden Slipper 12 months ago, yet lacks elite success, a milestone Maher expects her to reach.

“She is an emerging horse that just seems to get better, or will get better,” Maher said of the filly who has had 10 starts for five, two seconds and two thirds.

“I don’t think anyone’s too concerned there, but it would be nice if it happens this prep.”

Maher awaits Tempted’s display in the Surround Stakes before plotting further, potentially heading to the William Reid Stakes on March 21 in Melbourne or resting for the T J Smith Stakes over Randwick on April 4.

Visit betting sites to find racing odds for the Surround Stakes.

Real Madrid fans displayed anti-racism banners before kick-off as Vinicius Junior met Benfica again.

Vinicius started for Real eight days after the first leg of the Champions League play-off round tie in Lisbon, during which the Brazilian alleged he was racially abused by Gianluca Prestianni – something the Benfica player denied.

Real fans held up banners with messages of support for Vinicius – who had scored the only goal in Lisbon – before kick-off at the Santiago Bernabeu.

And as the players took to the field, two forceful messages – “No to racism” and “Respect” – were read out.

UEFA had imposed a provisional sanction on Prestianni on Monday, ruling him out of the tie, although the Argentinian winger had travelled to Madrid as part of the Benfica squad.

Benfica had appealed against the decision to ban Prestianni, but UEFA dismissed the Portuguese club’s case on Wednesday afternoon.

“Mr Gianluca Prestianni remains provisionally suspended for the next UEFA club competition match for which he would otherwise be eligible,” a UEFA statement read.

UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary investigator (EDI) following the first leg and made a swift decision.

UEFA said on Monday the imposition of a provisional suspension was “without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UEFA disciplinary bodies”.

The Brazilian left the field and refused to return, resulting in a stoppage in play that lasted 10 minutes of last Tuesday’s first leg.

It came after Vinicius had given his team the lead with a wonderful individual strike, curling the ball home from a tight angle five minutes into the second half.

After celebrating in front of the home fans, he became suddenly and visibly upset about something said to him and immediately informed the referee, who stopped the match.

Benfica boss Jose Mourinho, who was roundly criticised for his comments about the incident after the game, did not conduct the usual pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

Mourinho appeared to intimate after the first leg that the winger had brought any abuse upon himself with his celebration and said that “a stadium where Vinicius plays, something happens, always”.

Anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out responded by accusing Mourinho of “gaslighting”.

Mourinho was expected to watch the second leg from the stands after being sent off in Lisbon for angrily shouting towards referee Francois Letexier.