WEDNESDAY SPORTS: THAT’S THAT

NHL

• Chandler Stephenson’s goal at 1:24 of the third period snapped a 1-1 tie and lifted the Vegas Golden Knights to a tense 3-1 win over the visiting Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday. The Oilers, who had won 16 consecutive games and were trying to tie the NHL record of 17 wins in a row set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins, suffered their first loss since December 19th. Connor McDavid scored for the Oilers.
• Elias Lindholm scored two power-play goals in his first game with Vancouver and J-T Miller had the winning goal in the Canucks’ 3-2 road victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canucks increased their point streak to 12 games. Meanwhile, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky each scored twice and the visiting Montreal Canadiens beat the Washington Capitals 5-2, despite Alex Ovechkin recording his 10th goal of the season and 832nd of his career.
• Andrei Kuzmenko scored in his Calgary debut, Nazem Kadri had three assists and the visiting Flames beat the Boston Bruins 4-1. Jonathan Huberdeau had a goal and two assists for the Flames. Meanwhile, Tristan Jarry stopped 24 shots for his NHL-leading sixth shutout and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the visiting Winnipeg Jets 3-0. The Jets have lost four straight.

WHL

MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Atley Calvert scored three times in the first period and added an assist in the second as the Moose Jaw Warriors defeated the visiting Edmonton Oil Kings 5-2 in Western Hockey League action on Tuesday night.

Jagger Firkus and Martin Rysavy also scored for the Warriors (31-16-0-2), who were outshot 31-28 at Moose Jaw Events Centre. Lynden Lakovic chipped in with two assists.

Blake Fiddler and Roan Woodward scored for the Oil Kings (16-29-2-1), who trailed 3-0 after the first period and 4-2 heading into the third.

Elsewhere in the WHL on Tuesday night:

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BLADES 3 HURRICANES 1

SASKATOON, Sask. — Fraser Minten had a goal and assist as the Saskatoon Blades edged the visiting Lethbridge Hurricanes 3-1.

Misha Volotovski and Easton Armstrong also scored for the East Division-leading Blades (37-9-2-3), who outshot the Hurricanes 36-17.

Will Sharpe scored for the Hurricanes (24-21-3-0), who trailed 1-0 after the first period and 3-1 heading into the third.

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BRONCOS 4 REBELS 3

SWIFT CURRENT, Sask. — Conor Geekie scored three goals, including the winner in the third period, as the Swift Current Broncos edged the visiting Red Deer Rebels 4-3.

Peyton Kettles also scored for the Broncos (25-18-4-2), who led 2-0 after the first period and 3-2 heading into the third.

Kalan Lind, Ollie Josephson and Kai Uchacz scored for the Rebels (27-16-1-6), who outshot the Broncos 36-27.

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TIGERS 5 PATS 2

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Andrew Basha and Oasiz Wiesblatt each scored twice as the Medicine Hat Tigers defeated the visiting Regina Pats 5-2.

Gavin McKenna also scored for the Tigers (30-16-3-1), who led 2-1 after the first period and 4-1 heading into the third.

Corban Almen and Sam Oremba scored for the Pats (18-26-4-2), who were outshot 20-19.

POKE CHECKS: Half of the team’s in this week’s Canadian Hockey League Top 10 rankings are in the WHL. The Saskatoon Blades are ranked No. 1 overall. The Portland Winterhawks are No. 6, followed by the Prince George Cougars at No. 7, Everett Silvertips at No. 9 and Moose Jaw Warriors at No. 10.

CFL

It’s shaping up to be a difficult off-season for the Toronto Argonauts.

On Tuesday, Argos running back A.J. Ouellette, special-teams dynamo Javon Leake, cornerback Jamal Peters and defensive lineman Brandon Barlow all agreed in principle to contracts with other CFL teams. This sets up a scenario where all four will be free to sign their respective deals when CFL free agency opens at noon ET next Tuesday.

According to CFL sources, Ouellette has reached an agreement with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Leake’s contract is with the Edmonton Elks while both Peters and Barlow have deals with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The sources all spoke on the condition of anonymity as free-agent contracts can’t be signed until after the free-agent period begins.

On Monday, Toronto agreed to release veteran linebacker Adarius Pickett after he agreed in principle to a one-year deal worth $170,000 with Ottawa. The Redblacks formally announced Tuesday the signing of Pickett, the East Division’s top defensive player last year.

All four players helped Toronto (16-2) post the CFL’s top regular-season record last season. The 16 wins were an Argos club record and tied the single-season league mark for victories.

SUPER BOWL

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Chiefs are underdogs heading into the Super Bowl against San Francisco, a situation they have rarely experienced in the six years that Patrick Mahomes has been their starting quarterback. But it turns out they kind of like it. They no longer have to manufacture a chip on their shoulder, instead relishing the opportunity to prove naysayers wrong. That was the case when they beat Buffalo in the divisional round, and again when they beat Baltimore in the AFC title game. On Sunday in Las Vegas, they will try to become the sixth team since 2000 to win the Super Bowl as underdogs in their last three games.

NBA

• Kyrie Irving scored 36 points in a dazzling return to Brooklyn exactly one year after he was traded to Dallas, leading the Mavericks to a 119-107 victory over the Nets. Luka Doncic (LOO’-kuh DON’-chitch) had 35 points, 18 rebounds and nine assists for the Mavs. Mikal Bridges scored 28 points and Royce O’Neal had 18 for the short-handed Nets.
• Pascal Siakam relied on his scoring punch, T-J McConnell added the energy and the Indiana Pacers’ defence turned up the pressure in the second half. Siakam finished with 29 points and teamed up with McConnell to score 17 during a third-quarter rally that propelled the Pacers past the Houston Rockets 132-129.

MLB

Jake Diekman and the New York Mets finalized a four-million-dollar, one-year contract that includes a club option. New York holds a four-million-dollar option for 2025 that becomes guaranteed if the left-handed reliever pitches in at least 58 games this season. The 37-year-old Diekman went 0-and-2 in 63 relief appearances for the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays last season.

(Canadian Press)