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Canucks Takeaways: Stronger effort still results in loss to Kings

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Out of the National Hockey League playoff race for months, the Vancouver Canucks continue to be formidable “spoilers.”

On Thursday, they spoiled the Nashville Predators’ wild-card chances by losing 4-1 to the Los Angeles Kings. Impacting the race at the top of the Pacific Division, the Canucks hurt the Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks by losing twice in nine days to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Before that, the Canucks dealt a setback to the San Jose Sharks by losing to the Kings, and the Winnipeg Jets by losing to the St. Louis Blues.

At the most critical stage of the NHL playoffs races, the Canucks have lost nine out of 10 games in regulation and the only game they won hurt no none — because it was irrelevant to the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche.

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The Canucks haven’t exactly fulfilled the spoiler role they envisioned for themselves. They are 7-30-5 since peaking at two games under .500 on Dec. 20.

It’s not for lack of trying.

At the embryonic stage of their rebuild, the Canucks just aren’t good enough. They played a far better game Thursday in their three-goal loss against the Kings than they did in their 11-shot, one-goal loss to the Knights on Tuesday.

The Canucks pressed the Kings for stretches, and especially in the second period, generated offensive-zone time with their forecheck, put 25 pucks on Los Angeles goalie Anton Forsberg, outhit their heavy opponents 21-19 and out-attempted them 57-50.

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But the Canucks haven’t the talent to outscore their mistakes, and haven’t the experience to prevent them. Marcus Pettersson scored the only Vancouver goal on a shot-pass that caromed in off Los Angeles defenceman Brian Dumoulin.

A step ahead of Linus Karlsson, Adrian Kempe was open in the Vancouver slot to open scoring, Joel Armia made it 2-1 for Los Angeles with an unscreened wrist shot from the high slot after a turnover by Jake DeBrusk, before Kempe and Trevor Moore scored on deflections.

The victory moved the Kings back into the Western Conference’s final wild-card spot, one point ahead of Nashville, three ahead of Winnipeg and four up on San Jose. 

Among their four games remaining, the Kings get to play the Canucks for the third time in less than three weeks in Vancouver’s final home game on Tuesday.

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In the meantime, the Canucks will visit the Sharks and Ducks in back-to-back road games starting Saturday.

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With a 7:39 pm puck drop, and overwhelming evidence about which way the game was going, referees Kelly Sutherland and Brandon Schrader worked a power-play free contest. There were a few things they could have called (see item below) besides offsetting minors to Elias Pettersson (Junior) and Jeff Malott, but at least the game ended in less than 2 ½ hours. 

Easily the most positive aspect of the Canucks’ game was the growing confidence rookie defenceman Zeev Buium exhibited in the offensive zone. The 20-year-old was a one-on-one handful for Kings checkers, using his edges and tight turns to spin away with the puck and create space for himself. He could have drawn a couple of penalties, especially in the second period when Kempe got his stick between Buium’s legs and knocked him down as the Canuck was sidestepping him inside the Los Angeles blue line. Sutherland spent the next television timeout explaining his non-call to Vancouver coach Adam Foote.

Buium’s forays still generally lack endings — sharp passes or superior scoring chances — but his willingness and ability to challenge players with the puck is an excellent sign for  someone who will be expected to drive the Canucks’ attack a couple of seasons from now.

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Sportsnet’s cameras caught veteran defenceman Filip Hronek, iPad in hand, apparently upbraiding his young defence partner at the Canuck bench after Artemi Panarin easily split the defenders to force a strong save from Tolopilo early in the second period. Whatever the discussion was about, we can confirm that Buium, like half of Vancouver’s young lineup, still has a lot to learn about defending at the NHL level.

On a night when the Kings clobbered the Canucks in the faceoff circle and top Vancouver centre Elias Pettersson went 4-14, it’s easy to see why second-year centre Aatu Raty’s short-term NHL future is connected to the dots.

Although he was 7-10 in L.A., the 23-year-old is fourth in the NHL with a 61.3 per cent win rate on faceoffs among players who have taken at least 300 draws. The three guys ahead of him, Claude Giroux, J.T. Miller and Jonathan Toews, have combined for 3,423 NHL games. Raty has played 110.

Despite his limitations offensively and defensive misreads at times, Raty is already being relied on late in games to win the Canucks the puck. Raty also leads the current Canucks with 159 hits. So, he’s big (6-2, 205 pounds), physical and wins a lot of faceoffs. Players have built careers with less.

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Adam Foote to reporters in Los Angeles: “The second period was probably one of our best second periods of the last 30 games. We were great on the forecheck and spent more time in their zone than they did in our zone, and we just had two guys go to the same spot in our end (on Kempe’s goal that made it 3-1) and then they got one. So it was hard to come back.”

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IPL 2026 | ‘I don’t need to answer critics’: Riyan Parag’s blunt take after Rajasthan Royals loss | Cricket News

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IPL 2026 | 'I don't need to answer critics': Riyan Parag's blunt take after Rajasthan Royals loss
Riyan Parag (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: Coming into the match after being fined 25% of his match fee and handed one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct – for using a vape inside the dressing room – Riyan Parag ensured he put the controversy behind him when he walked out to bat against Delhi Capitals.The Rajasthan Royals captain looked in ominous touch, smashing a superb half-century. He appeared set for a well-deserved hundred but fell just short, scoring a brilliant 90 off 50 balls, including eight fours and five sixes, to power his side to 225/6 in 20 overs.However, despite the strong total, Delhi Capitals snapped their three-match losing streak with a commanding seven-wicket win.Parag, after the match, made it clear that outside criticism does not bother him, but his primary responsibility is to deliver results for the team.“I don’t think I need to answer any critics or anyone talking about it. But at the end of the day, my job is to get two points. So my score and my innings don’t really matter if we lose the game,” Parag said after the match.A blistering 110-run opening stand between KL Rahul (75 off 40) and Pathum Nissanka (62 off 33) laid the perfect foundation for a record 226-run chase, which was calmly finished by Tristan Stubbs (18*) and Ashutosh Sharma (25*) with five balls to spare.“I think it was a good score. I thought 200 was a par score here. It was going to slow down a bit, but I think we could have bowled way better in the middle overs, not let them get away a little too much. And then a lot of boundaries in one single over and that repeated. So I felt we missed the trick with that, but no harm with the decision we made,” Parag said.Parag had earlier been fined 25% of his match fee and handed a demerit point after he was caught vaping inside the dressing room during his side’s match against Punjab Kings.He admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Amit Sharma.Parag was found to have breached Article 2.21 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to “conduct that brings the game into disrepute.” The incident occurred during the second innings when he was seen using a vape inside the dressing room.

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Shane McClanahan helps Rays blank hapless Giants

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MLB: San Francisco Giants at Tampa Bay RaysMay 1, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) throws a pitch during the first inning against San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images

Shane McClanahan crafted his second straight scoreless start, Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero homered, and the Tampa Bay Rays opened a six-game homestand with a 3-0 win over the struggling San Francisco Giants on Friday night at St. Petersburg, Fla.

In a season-longest six inning, the left-handed McClanahan (3-2) allowed five hits, struck out five and did not issue a walk. He pitched five scoreless against the Minnesota Twins in his previous outing,

McClanahan was aided by two double plays to end his final two innings.

Diaz slugged a solo home run in the second, but the designated hitter left the game for a pinch hitter in the seventh. Caminero added a massive solo in the fourth.

Taylor Walls was 2-for-3 with a double, run and stolen base, though the Rays were outhit 6-5 by the visitors.

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Giants starting pitcher Robbie Ray (2-4) allowed just four hits in 6 1/3 innings, but three runs came across. He struck out five without a walk.

Luis Arraez doubled for the club’s only extra-base hit as they lost their fourth straight game and were shutout for a majors-high seventh time.

Leading off the bottom of the second and facing a 2-0 offering from Ray, Diaz belted his fifth homer to right on Ray’s four-seam fastball, taking it the other way an estimated 364 feet.

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The Giants failed to muster much against McClanahan through the first time through the order, but overaggressive baserunning by Arraez trying to turn his double into a triple led to right field Jake Fraley and shortstop combining to toss out the three-time batting champ at third base.

Just as Diaz did two frames prior, Caminero opened the fourth with a 432-foot rocket to left on another four-seamer from Ray for a 2-0 lead.

After Walls doubled to lead off the sixth and stole third, Chandler Simpson lifted a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 advantage.

Over the seventh and eighth inning, respectively, Tampa Bay relievers Ian Seymour and Cole Sulser kept the Giants off the board.

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Closer Bryan Baker pitched a perfect ninth with a strikeout for his eighth save in 10 chances for the staff’s second shutout.

–Field Level Media

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Cubs edge D-backs to pull within half-game of first

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MLB: Arizona Diamondbacks at Chicago CubsMay 1, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) high fives the fans after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Michael Busch had two hits, including a two-run single, and the Chicago Cubs used two three-run innings to hold off the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 6-5 on Friday in the first game of a weekend series.

Busch triggered a three-run first with a bases-loaded single, then the Cubs added three more in the fourth off Diamondbacks starter off Zac Gallen (1-2) for their third win in four games and ninth straight home win. They have won 13 of 16 to pull within a half-game of the Cincinnati Reds for first in the NL Central.

Cubs starter Colin Rea (4-1) gave up two runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings. He fanned six with no walks. Jacob Webb pitched the final two innings for his first save, the sixth Cub reliever to record a save this season.

Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas had a career-high four hits to raise his batting average to a major league-leading .404. Geraldo Perdomo cracked a three-run homer to cap a four-run sixth and pull the D-backs within 6-5, but they managed just one baserunner over the final three innings.

Vargas singled in the first to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 24 games. His 27-game streak dating to last September ranks as the longest in the majors since Trea Turner’s 27-game run in 2022.

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Per Elias, Vargas’ season-opening streakstands as the longest in the majors since the Detroit Tigers’ Ron LeFlore hit in 30 straight in 1976. His 27-game streak ranks second in Arizona history behind Luis Gonzalez (30, 1999).

Carson Kelly had two hits for the Cubs and Alex Bergman and Dansby Swanson had RBI hits in the three-run fourth that pushed their lead to 6-1.

Jorge Barrosa had two doubles — one a bunt that kicked off the third base bag into left field — and scored twice for Arizona. Perdomo also had two hits for the D-backs, who have lost seven of 10.

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Gallen gave up six runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings, with three strikeouts and three walks.

Nico Hoerner doubled to open the three-run first and Gallen walked to load the bases. Busch hit a two-run single, then the third run scored when Kelly’s catchable pop to center fell safely.

Vargas singled in a run in the third before the Cubs knocked out Gallen in the fourth. The D-backs got within 6-5 with a four-run sixth, all scoring after Rea was replaced by Ryan Rolison with one out and one on.

Pinch-hitter Tim Tawa walked and Barrosa pushed a hard bunt down the third base line. When Bregman let it roll, the ball hit the bag and kicked into short left. Perdomo followed with a three-run homer.

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Hoerner was replaced by pinch-hitter Matt Shaw in the second inning. Hoerner was removed with a neck strain, the Cubs said.

–Field Level Media

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Scottie Scheffler to skip Truist Championship in run-up to PGA

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PGA: Cadillac Championship - First RoundApr 30, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Scottie Scheffler watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Cadillac Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Romance-Imagn Images

The field list for the Truist Championship is out and, once again, Scottie Scheffler is not on it.

The World No. 1 opted not to compete at the $20 million signature event one week before the second major of the season, the PGA Championship.

The rest of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking are in the field, announced Friday, except for eighth-ranked Russell Henley. The tournament will be played May 7-10 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

Scheffler also opted out of the Truist in 2025, when it was moved to Philadelphia Cricket Club for one year because Quail Hollow hosted the PGA Championship the following week.

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Scheffler went on to claim his third major and first PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, but that wasn’t enough to entice him to play the course again this year.

Scheffler has won just once on tour this year — at The American Express in January — but he has four other top-five finishes that include back-to-back second-place showings at the Masters and the RBC Heritage.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who’s sitting out this week’s Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral, will endeavor to win his fifth tournament at Quail Hollow. When the Truist was known as the Wells Fargo Championship, McIlroy lifted the trophy in 2010, 2015, 2021 and 2024.

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–Field Level Media

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League of Legends LoLdle answers 1395 (Saturday, May 2, 2026)

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The League of Legends LoLdle answers for May 2, 2026, are now revealed. While deciphering the puzzles of the 1395th edition may seem perplexing, most diligent fans should be able to follow the hints provided. Nonetheless, an in-depth understanding of the champions’ numerous characteristics is somewhat required.

With that said, here is the Quote puzzle in the 1395th iteration of LoLdle:

“Bear hug!”


All League of Legends LoLdle answers for the 1395th edition (May 2, 2026)

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The League of Legends LoLdle answers for May 2 are shown below:

  • Classic: Lucian
  • Quote: Annie
  • Ability: Irelia; Bonus: Passive (Ionian Fervor)
  • Emoji: Seraphine
  • Splash Art: Corki; Bonus: Default Corki

The Classic answer of May 2 LoLdle is Lucian. That said, the Quote puzzle indicates Annie, a champion who is rated amongst some of the best choices in the mid lane role meta in League of Legends.

Next, the Ability riddle has Irelia’s Passive ability, “Ionian Fervor,” while the Emojis show Seraphine’s characteristics. Lastly, it is Corki’s Default skin in the Splash Art enigma.

Read more: Which team is Diable joining? LoL prodigy seals surprise LCK trade before April 30 deadline


Previous League of Legends LoLdle answers

Zaahen is now a guessable champion! Happy LoLdles ⚔️

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Here are some of the previous League of Legends LoLdle answers:

  • LoLdle 1394 (May 1): Blitzcrank, Skarner, Diana, Vi, Qiyana
  • LoLdle 1393 (April 30): Bel’Veth, Sion, Aatrox, Kayle, Elise
  • LoLdle 1392 (April 29): Garen, Nocturne, Kayn, Ivern, Amumu
  • LoLdle 1391 (April 28): Vayne, Karthus, Kassadin, Kayn, Renata Glasc
  • LoLdle 1390 (April 27): Kalista, Swain, Quinn, Singed, Mordekaiser
  • LoLdle 1389 (April 26): Xerath, Garen, Graves, Aatrox, Nami
  • LoLdle 1388 (April 25): Alistar, Bel’Veth, Smolder, Varus, Singed
  • LoLdle 1387 (April 24): Zac, Lillia, Singed, Lucian, Syndra
  • LoLdle 1386 (April 23): Gragas, Vex, Hwei, Fiddlesticks, Sivir
  • LoLdle 1385 (April 22): Vel’Koz, Sivir, Olaf, Udyr, Master Yi
  • LoLdle 1384 (April 21): Corki, Ashe, Zed, Illaoi, Jhin
  • LoLdle 1383 (April 20): Neeko, Shaco, Zoe, Maokai, Seraphine

The answers to the 1397th entry of LoLdle will be shared on May 3, 2026.


Check out more LoL news and updates: