Caster Semenya, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the women’s 800-meter race, blasted the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over a new policy to ensure fairness for females competing at the highest level of sports.

Semenya, who has disorders of sex development (DSD), has testosterone levels higher than a typical female range and has launched legal challenges in order to compete in the women’s category. Semenya said she expected more from IOC President Kirsty Coventry.

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Caster Semenya (RSA) runs during a heat of the women’s 5000m during the World Athletics Championships Oregon 22 at Hayward Field on July 20, 2022. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

“Personally, for her as a leader, she’s an African, I’m sure she understands how, you know, we as Africans, we are coming from, as a global South, you know, you cannot control genetics,” Semenya said Thursday. “For me personally, for her being a woman coming from Africa, knowing how, you know, African women or women in the global South are affected by that.”

The IOC said it would employ genetic testing to verify the biological sex of competitors in women’s events. The IOC said that eligibility for events in the women’s category is “now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one-time SRY gene screening.”

“Evidence‑based and expert‑informed, the policy – applicable for the LA28 Olympic Games onwards – protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” according to the organization.

“Obviously if you say the science, because we talk about science here, if the science is clear, show us who decided and don’t dress that as a lie because it’s a lie and we know because we’ve seen it so if we were to answer or confront Kirsty that’s how we gonna respond and we’ll respond strong as we are because it affects women,” Semenya said.

AMERICAN OLYMPIAN, WHO IDENTIFIES AS TRANSGENDER NONBINARY, SLAMS IOC’S NEW POLICY TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS

Caster Semenya (RSA) wins the women’s 800m in an African record 1:54.25 during the Meeting de Paris in an IAAF Diamond League meet at Stade Charlety on June 30, 2018.  (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)

Semenya won Olympic gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Games but is banned from competing in certain international meets like the Olympics and world championships since she refused to follow the rules and take medication to reduce her hormone levels.

“For me personally, I’ll say the voice is not heard because you taking it as a tick box, you ticking a box so you can go clarify or say yes we’ve consulted,” she said. “For me, it’s you ticking the box.”

The IOC said it came to the decision to implement the policy after consulting with a panel of experts, with the goal of providing equal opportunity for women in sport.

“The policy was developed on the basis that it is universally accepted that providing for a female category is necessary to allow both males and females equal access to elite sport,” the IOC said in an announcement.

“It was guided by the IOC’s modern goals relating to equality (equal opportunities for female athletes in finals, on podiums and in championships); enhancing Olympic value (featuring both women’s and men’s finals in every sport); and visibility and inspiration (celebrating female athletes on the Olympic podium to inspire and represent women and girls worldwide).”

Coventry suggested that the continued enabling of males in women’s sports is “not safe” in the announcement.

South Africa’s Caster Semenya competes in the women’s 3000m final during the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Athletics Grand Prix at the Greenpoint Athletics Stadium in Cape Town on March 23, 2022.  (RODGER BOSCH/AFP via Getty Images)

“As a former athlete, I passionately believe in the rights of all Olympians to take part in fair competition. The policy that we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts. At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” she said.

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“So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

ATLANTA — Saturday was hardly the first time anyone has seen a hydration break at a soccer match, but it did mark something different, insofar as the match was inside a climate-controlled dome, far from the hot and humid temperatures that generally trigger breaks at the club level.

Welcome to the 2026 World Cup, or at least a preview of it, where a game of two halves will inch closer to one of four quarters. The hydration break will be mandated in all games, regardless of conditions, midway through each half this summer. Not so coincidentally, FIFA will allow broadcasters to show commercials during the breaks.

The hydration breaks were implemented for Saturday’s 5-2 USMNT loss to Belgium, and will be for Tuesday’s match against Portugal as well, to replicate conditions for this summer.

Fans inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium were left wanting when the action stopped Saturday, booing in the 23rd minute. Some left for the concourse.

Tactically, it adds a different element too, as coaches have what is a de facto timeout to work with.

“To be honest, I don’t like it,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “I don’t like it because I think you cut the rhythm of the game. And I think after 20 minutes, like, OK, I understand when you play in an open stadium, maybe yes. We need to care about the health of the player.

“But in this type of stadium where it’s 21, 22, 23 degrees [celsius] and I think it’s perfect weather to play, pffft. … But that is the new rule that we need to accept.”

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia was not as critical.

“I like that because it is an opportunity for us coaches to speak with the team, to speak about strategy, the plan,” Garcia said. “We play as we know with our 4-3-3 and it was a good decision. So it was possible to speak with the team with these breaks. So it was very good. Interesting for me.”

The U.S. and Belgium both wore light-colored kits Saturday, creating a clash that was a problem for fans, TV viewers and players alike.

While no U.S. players went as far as blaming their performance on the kits, it was widely acknowledged to be an issue.

“That’s not an excuse at all because both teams deal with that, but that just was a bit strange,” Christian Pulisic said. “It was very different. I didn’t know until we took off our warmups prematch, whatever shirts, and then saw it. Everyone’s been shocked.”

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors made history in the first and second quarters of their 139-87 Sunday rout of the Orlando Magic and they didn’t really know or care about it as it happened.

Orlando led by as many as seven points but then the Raptors reeled off a 31-0 run, holding the Magic scoreless for seven minutes and 48 seconds in a span that stretched from the first to the second quarter. That 31-0 stretch was the largest unanswered scoring run by a team in the 30 seasons that the NBA has tracked play-by-play data.

Scottie Barnes, playing out of his natural position as a power forward and acting as Toronto’s point guard, had his 28th double-double of the season with 23 points and a career-high 15 assists. He was instrumental in the dominant 7:48 span but said he was just feeling the flow of the moment.

“I didn’t know that that was even happening,” said Barnes. “I just know we were all just super locked in, just trying to keep causing turnovers and keep playing as hard as we can on defence that it just helped the lead grow for us.”

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The previous record for longest scoring run was when the Dallas Mavericks reeled off a 30-0 span against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 2, 2023. AJ Lawson of Brampton, Ont., currently on a two-way contract, shuttling between Toronto and the G League’s Raptors 905, played in Dallas’s 30-0 and Toronto’s 31-0 run.

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Backup centre Sandro Mamukelashvili added 19 off the bench. His first substitution helped kick-start Toronto’s historic run and he finished with a game-high plus-47 defensive rating.

“I think it was so fun playing that you just don’t realize anything like (the run). You just keep going,” said Mamukelashvili. “I feel like everybody enjoyed it.

“We were so physical. We were trying to like, trap and hit and just to do some stuff we usually do during practices. So it was just a really fun game.”

It was a critical win for a Raptors team trying to skip the play-in tournament with eight games left in their regular season.

Toronto (42-32) was fifth in the Eastern Conference, half a game up on the Atlanta Hawks (42-33), who held the final playoff spot after Sunday’s games. Orlando (39-35) was eighth in the conference, holding the second play-in spot 2 1/2 games behind the Raptors.

“I know we need every game,” said Barnes. “So then we are pretty constantly checking (the standings).

“We know we need every game, and every game we’ve got to bring it.”

The Raptors are guaranteed to play at least one game once the regular season is over thanks to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 127-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. That eliminated Milwaukee from the post-season and ensured that Toronto would reach either the play-in tournament or the playoffs.

Mamukelashvili said he’d be lying if he said he doesn’t check the standings.

“I think everybody goes home and checks it. We’re right there,” he said. “We fought throughout the whole year to get ourselves in a good position. We slipped up, we came back.

“Now everything’s so stacked, the margin of error is so small, and I feel like you’ve got to be aware of it.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 29, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

TORONTO – Scottie Barnes had his 28th double-double of the season as the Toronto Raptors routed the Orlando Magic 139-87 on Sunday.

Barnes had 23 points and a career-high 15 assists as Toronto (42-32) earned a crucial win in the Eastern Conference standings.

Jamal Shead also had a double-double for the Raptors with 12 points and 10 assists. RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 24 points and Sandro Mamukelashvili came off the bench for 19.

Brandon Ingram (heal), Immanuel Quickley (right foot plantar fasciitis) and Collin Murray-Boyles (lower back spasms) all sat out the game for Toronto.

Desmond Bane led Orlando (39-35) with 17 points and Jalen Suggs added 13 in a flat effort from the visitors.

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The Raptors are guaranteed to play at least one game once the regular season is over thanks to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 127-95 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday. That eliminated Milwaukee from the post-season and ensured that Toronto would reach either the play-in tournament or the playoffs.

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TAKEAWAYS

Magic: Trailing by as many as 56 points, a lot went wrong for Orlando in a game where a win would have considerably helped their seeding hopes. Most notably, the Magic bench was outscored 58-32 and Toronto had 39 fast-break points to Orlando’s seven.

Raptors: Barnes is playing some of the best basketball of his career. Not only did he set a new personal best for assists in a game, but Sunday’s lopsided victory was his fourth consecutive game with 10 or more assists. Barnes also had three steals in the game, giving him 102 on the season and 109 blocks. He’s the first player in the NBA to have more than 100 steals and blocks this season.

KEY MOMENT

The Magic led by seven points early in the first quarter, but then the Raptors closed the period on a 31-0 run, holding Orlando scoreless for the final 5:30 of the first and first 2:18 of the second. Toronto led 70-43 at halftime.

KEY STAT

That 31-0 stretch was the largest unanswered scoring run by a team in the 30 seasons that the NBA has tracked play-by-play data. The previous record was the Dallas Mavericks’ 30-0 run against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 2, 2023.

UP NEXT

Magic: Host the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Raptors: Visit the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Tuesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Match 29, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

The Vegas Golden Knights only have eight games remaining in the 2025-26 season, but decided to make the stunning move to fire and replace their head coach.

Vegas announced on Sunday that they relieved Bruce Cassidy as head coach and replaced him with John Tortorella.

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Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres, March 3, 2026, in Buffalo, New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)

“We thank Bruce Cassidy for his dedication to our hockey club and community over the past four seasons,” Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a news release. “Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas. Bruce will forever be remembered with the utmost regard by our organization for what was accomplished here. With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club.

“With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL. His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face. We look forward to welcoming John to Vegas.”

John Tortorella, Philadelphia Flyers head coach, arrives for a news conference at the NHL hockey team’s arena on May 12, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)

BLUE JAYS STARS CAUGHT SITTING IN WRONG SEATS AT MAPLE LEAFS GAME IN HILARIOUS MOMENT

The Golden Knights fell to the Washington Capitals, 5-4, on Saturday in a shootout. It marked the team’s third straight loss and sixth defeat in their last seven games.

Vegas is 32-26-16 this season and in third place in the Pacific Division. If the season ended Sunday, the team would be in the playoffs and have a series against the Edmonton Oilers in the first round.

Tortorella was not coaching in the NHL this season. He spent time as an assistant for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. The Americans took home the gold medal.

Washington Capitals players celebrate as Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) skates off the ice after failing to score during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

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He is 770-648-37 as head coach. He won a Stanley Cup title with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2004.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Max Verstappen snatched the torch from Lewis Hamilton and became one of the most unstoppable Formula 1 drivers in the sport from 2021 to 2024.

The 2025 and 2026 seasons have been a struggle for the Red Bull racer. He finished second to McLaren’s Lando Norris in the drivers’ standings last season, ending his streak of world championships, and has yet to finish in the top five this year.

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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka in central Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)

After finishing eighth in the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen suggested he was contemplating retirement at the age of 28.

“Privately I’m very happy,” Verstappen told the BBC. “You also wait for 24 races. This time it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”

He made clear he was suggesting that 2026 could be his final season.

“I want to be here to have fun and have a great time and enjoy myself. At the moment that’s not really the case,” he said. “Of course I do enjoy certain aspects. I enjoy working with my team. It’s like a second family. But once I sit in the car it’s not the most enjoyable unfortunately. I’m trying. I keep telling myself every day to try and enjoy it. It’s just very hard.”

ISRAELI RACING STAR ‘NERVOUS’ AS FAMILY DEALS WITH IRAN’S RETALIATORY STRIKES, EXPRESSES HOPE FOR REGION

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, right, of the Netherlands and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy talk during the drivers parade ahead of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka in central Japan, Sunday, March 29, 2026.  (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Part of the struggles for Verstappen has been trying to get acclimated to the regulation changes.

“I can easily accept to be in P7 or P8 where I am,” he said. “Because I also know that you can’t be dominating or be first or second or whatever, fighting for a podium every time. I’m very realistic in that and I’ve been there before. I’ve not only been winning in F1.

“But at the same time when you are in P7 or P8 and you are not enjoying the whole formula behind it, it doesn’t feel natural to a racing driver,” he continued. “Of course I try to adapt to it, but it’s not nice the way you have to race. It’s really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it’s just not what I want to do.”

Maybe a break in the schedule will help clear Verstappen’s head.

Formula 1 will have a few weeks off as two races that were set for April in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled because of military operations in Iran.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands leaves during the qualifying session of the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at the Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, Japan, Saturday, March 28, 2026. (Franck Robichon/Pool Photo via AP)

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The next race is set for May 3 in Miami.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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UFC flyweight competitor Alexa Grasso delivered one of the most brutal knockouts of 2026 so far.

Grasso went up against Maycee Barber in the co-main event at UFC Seattle. The matchup was expected to be a slugfest as the two female fighters are a couple of the best in the division.

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Alexa Grasso punches Maycee Barber in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026, in Seattle. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

With about 2:30 left in the fight, Grasso connected on a few punches. She avoided Barber’s strikes and hit a quick one-two, stunning Barber and knocking her down. Grasso quickly capitalized and put Barber in a rear-naked chokehold. She was credited with a knockout victory.

Barber was completely out of it, while Grasso celebrated her 17th victory and her first since March 2023 when she defeated Valentina Shevchenko via submission. The Barber fight was Grasso’s first since May 2025 when she lost to Natalia Silva via unanimous decision.

Barber was hospitalized after the fight, though she walked out of the Octagon under her own power.

TYRELL FORTUNE WINS UFC DEBUT AFTER SCORE ERROR REVERSAL, YEARS AFTER BEING PRONOUNCED DEAD

Alexa Grasso, right, fights Maycee Barber during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

“Not our night… This is the fight game and sometimes things don’t go our way,” she wrote on her Instagram Stories. “No blame, no excuses … just lessons. We learn, we grow and we come back stronger. God is good all the time.”

UFC President Dana White praised Grasso’s performance.

“I think it is one of the greatest in sports history, let alone this year, tonight or whatever,” he said, via SB Nation. “It was incredible.”

Alexa Grasso (red gloves) hugs Maycee Barber after their fight during UFC Fight Night on March 28, 2026. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

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It’s unclear whether Grasso will get a shot at the flyweight championship soon. Shevchenko is currently the title holder with Silva listed as the top contender for her.

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Heavyweight Tyrell Fortune rose through the professional MMA ranks roughly a decade ago. It took until Saturday for him to secure his first UFC victory, though it did not come without drama.

Fourteen years after being pronounced dead during a weight cut, Fortune now also adds a UFC win to his comeback.

Fortune initially beat Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night, receiving judges scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. However, cage announcer Bruce Buffer caused confusion by reading the scores incorrectly, announcing totals that favored Fortune’s opponent.

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Tyrell Fortune reacts after a victory against Marcin Tybura of Poland in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

The error went unnoticed until Fortune had exited the octagon and headed toward the tunnel. Officials brought him back, where he was officially declared the winner.

“I was so upset with myself,” Fortune said as he evaluated his performance. “I felt I didn’t do enough. I was just upset. With two weeks’ notice, I feel like I did a good job, but I also need to come with a better performance next time.”

The former NCAA Division II wrestling champion’s path to Saturday’s victory includes a 2012 weight-cut incident that left him pronounced dead before he made a full recovery.

Tyrell Fortune prepares to face Marcin Tybura of Poland in a heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.  (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

He recalled the experience, saying it still doesn’t feel real years later. “I tried to forget about it for so long … because it seemed so far-fetched. Like, “Man. I died. Everything was over for a second, and I came back to life,'” Fortune told ESPN.

“And it really changed my perspective of life in general and how I view just living life on a day-to-day basis. When you’re in a situation like that, you really start to look at your values as a person, and you see what’s important to you, because it was all self-inflicted.”

Marcin Tybura (red gloves) fights Tyrell Fortune (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Climate Pledge Arena on March 28, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steven Bisig/Imagn Images)

“It was just after my junior-college season, and I wasn’t a big heavyweight. I averaged around 220, 230 pounds. That’s in the middle of two weight categories. International weight classes are 211 and 265 pounds. I’m at 230. I’m like, ‘I can either give up this 30 to 40 pounds, or I can cut weight and be bigger than everybody at 211.’ So that’s what led to the decision to cut weight.”

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Fortune stepped in to fight Tybura on Saturday on two weeks’ notice after an injury withdrawal.

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A busy week for the Montreal Canadiens got busier with back-to-back road games in Nashville on Saturday and in Carolina on Sunday. The Predators are playing strong hockey with only three losses in their last 10 games, but they met their match against Montreal. The Canadiens dominated in every facet, winning 4-1.

Wilde Horses 

Ivan Demidov is levelling up — and the evidence isn’t in only in goals and assists. It’s in the ability to keep plays alive and earn time on the puck. Earlier this year, Demidov wasn’t getting enough touches five-on-five. He skated for much of the night not implicated in the play.

Late last week, Demidov started to battle for the puck with greater acumen. Puck-battling is a science of how to use the body, have strong balance on skates and angle off opponents. It’s not necessarily about brawn; it’s much more than that, and Demidov is figuring it out.

Demidov is also beginning to understand that when he is in open spaces, opponents can’t take the puck from him. He doesn’t have to immediately move it to someone else or relinquish control. He can keep it practically as long as he wants and wait until the lane opens up to a teammate. He was involved in four high-quality chances in the first period alone in Saturday’s game.

A lot of this often gets described as gaining confidence, but a better word is comfort. Demidov is getting comfortable with the idea that he can win the puck and then keep the puck. When his comfort is fully developed, he will be unstoppable. It’s already happening.

In the first period against the Predators, the Canadiens dominated, but only managed a single goal on a perfectly placed shot to the far side by Demidov for his 16th of the season. Demidov is tied for the rookie scoring lead with Beckett Sennecke and Matthew Schaefer at 56 points.

The rookie class is outstanding this season. Connor Bedard won the Calder Trophy two seasons ago with 61 points. Three players could surpass that total this year. Demidov’s ceiling is far higher than 60. If Nick Suzuki isn’t the first 100-point player for the Canadiens since 1986, then it will be Demidov.

Head coach Martin St. Louis is gaining confidence in Demidov for entirely different reasons. The head coach likes what he is seeing defensively.  Demidov is committed to what the head coach describes as the “non-negotiables.” That starts with understanding that before you get to shine on offence, you have to take care of your responsibilities on defence. Demidov is looking much better in this aspect of the game as well.

Mark this down as the week that Demidov began to get even more of an idea how to be a superstar in the NHL.

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Demidov’s levelling up comes at exactly the right time for the Canadiens, who have been relying on the top line too much in the last three weeks. They needed the second line to contribute. They did in the second period as well, when Demidov won the puck with his speed on an expected icing call. That led to Alex Newhook feeding Oliver Kapanen for his 22nd of the season.

That line made the Predators look like figure skaters doing pirouettes as they counted again. Demidov rang it off the bar, got it back and fed Newhook for an easy tally. Five guys in yellow were caught watching the puck move like it was magic.

The top line also contributed. Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky is a top-three line in the NHL right now. In 12 games since being reunited, the line has 22 goals.

In the second period, the Canadiens had been dominating, but only had two goals. Until the line went to work, that is. Caufield shouldered off his check. That led to Suzuki feeding Caufield for a little three-foot pass to free him. Caufield went five-hole for his 45th of the season.

The hot streak has led to a chance for some extremely lofty milestones for Caufield and Suzuki. Caufield is mathematically set up to get 50 goals, needing five in the final 10. Suzuki had two points to move to 88 on the season. He, too, is on pace, needing 12 points in the final 10 for the century mark.

Wilde Goats 

Jacob Fowler barely had to work for his success stopping 24 of 25 shots. He had a plus .77 Goals Saved Above Expected. It was absolute dominance from Montreal. The advanced stats told the story as the Kapanen line had an 87 shot share, with the Suzuki line at a 63 shot share. On defence, the Lane Hutson-Jayden Struble pair had a 92 Expected Goals share.

It was all Montreal. No goats.

Wilde Cards

It was an unusual night for the Canadiens’ top prospects still contesting in the playoffs. All eyes were on Michael Hage and the Michigan Wolverines to see if he would continue his season, making it difficult to see him coming to the Canadiens this spring.

All eyes didn’t even see him play. Hage took a shot off his leg last week in the Ohio State contest that completed the Wolverines romp through the competition in the Big 10 conference final. The coaching staff kept it quiet that the shot left Hage unable to play in Friday night’s regional semi-final in Albany.

The Wolverines won easily over Bentley (5-1) without Hage as TJ Hughes had another strong contest. The rumour is that the Canadiens are interested in signing Hughes, however, he is 24 years old and still a collegian. It’s a long shot at that age for any player to make a successful jump from college to the pros.

The Wolverines head to their Sunday afternoon final against Minnesota-Duluth, who edged Penn State 3-1 in the second semi-final of the region. Michigan won’t say whether Hage will be available, nor how serious his injury actually is.

If Michigan beats the Bulldogs on Sunday, they advance to the Frozen Four in mid-April in Las Vegas. That means Hage couldn’t arrive until the Canadiens playoffs. If Michigan loses, then GM Kent Hughes could sign Hage as soon as Monday.

Bryce Pickford also had an unexpected night in his first game of the playoffs in the Western Hockey League. That the Medicine Hat Tigers romped 6-2 over the Regina Pats was expected. That Pickford scored a goal was also expected. It was a goal in nine straight playoff games for him

What was unexpected, however, is that he didn’t play the last five minutes of the game after getting sandwiched between players. Pickford is an absolutely vital player to the Tigers success. His head coach did offer encouraging words in suggesting the score dictated not using Pickford for the rest of the game.

It appears the Tigers are simply being careful and the injury isn’t serious. Good news on the Pickford front, but on the Hage front, Michigan is being so secretive that there is really no idea how badly he is compromised by the shot off the leg.

We’ll know better when we see the starting line up for the regional final in Albany to see if Hage is playing. It was easy to rest Hage for Bentley. They were expected to be dominated, and they were. The Minnesota-Duluth game against Michigan is a pick-em. The Bulldogs looked well organized in shutting down Gavin McKenna ending his season for the Nittany Lions.

CALGARY – Matt Coronato extended his point streak to five games with a goal and two assists as the Calgary Flames scored four times in the second period in a 7-3 NHL victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Morgan Frost also had a goal and two assists for Calgary (31-34-8). Joel Farabee, Ryan Strome, Olli Maatta, Zayne Parekh and Adam Klapka rounded out the scoring. The Flames finished 5-0-1 on their six-game homestand.

Liam Ohgren, Jake DeBrusk and Nils Hoglander scored for Vancouver (21-43-8). The last-place Canucks have lost five straight.

Getting the start for Calgary, Dustin Wolf had 31 stops to win his third straight and improve to 22-25-3.

For the Canucks, Nikita Tolopilo was beaten four times on 11 shots before getting pulled early in the second. He falls to 5-7-2. Kevin Lankinen gave up three goals on 12 shots in relief.

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The Flames entered the game as the league’s lowest-scoring team, averaging 2.47 goals per game. The seven goals ties a season-high output. Calgary also scored seven in a 7-4 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Dec. 8.

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Calgary will look to carry its momentum into a difficult six-game road trip that begins Monday against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.

TAKEAWAYS

Canucks: Vancouver is closing in on clinching last place. With 10 games to go, they are 17 points behind the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks, who are tied for second-last.

Flames: With a goal and assist, Maatta has 10 points in 12 games since joining the club at the trade deadline. That leads the team. He had one point in 22 games with Utah at the time of the trade. Parekh also had an assist for his first career multi-point game. Brennan Othmann had an assist in his Flames debut.

KEY MOMENT

Leading 3-1 early in the second, Calgary scored 11 seconds apart to blow the game open. Maatta’s goal at 4:36 ended the night for Tolopilo. The Flames went right back on the attack off the ensuing face off with Frost beating Lankinen on a backhand.

KEY STAT

Twenty-year-old Matvei Gridin had an assist to extend his point streak to five games (one goal, four assists), which is the longest by a Calgary rookie since Matthew Tkachuk had a nine-game streak in 2016-17.

UP NEXT

Canucks: Visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday.

Flames: Visit the Colorado Avalanche on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2026.

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