BUFFALO, N.Y. -- San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic has broken the NHL shot-blocking record, surpassing the mark set by Mark Giordano.

Vlasic's third blocked shot Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres was No. 2,165 for his career.

"That's a lot of blocked shots," he said. "It's pretty cool. I take pride in playing good defensively."

Giordano blocked 2,164 shots while playing for Calgary, Seattle and Toronto from 2006 through last season. He won the Norris Trophy as the league's top defenseman in 2019.

The NHL started tracking blocked shots during the 2005-06 season.

Vlasic made his debut with San Jose the following season. The 37-year-old Canadian has spent his entire career with the Sharks, never shying away from one of the most painful parts of the game.

"When it's your turn to block, you block it," he said. "I'll step in front of any puck I need to to make sure it doesn't get to the goalie."

.

Fred Couples said Brooks Koepka wants to return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf.

"I talk to Brooks Koepka all the time," Couples told Seattle's KJR 93.3 FM on Monday. "I love Brooks Koepka, and I'm not going to say anything extra except I talk to him all the time.

"... He wants to come back. I will say that: I believe he really wants to come back and play the Tour."

Koepka, 34, has captured five major titles, including back-to-back U.S. Open victories in 2017 and 2018 and three PGA Championships (2018, 2019, 2023). He bolted the PGA Tour for LIV's inaugural season in 2022 for a contract worth more than $100 million through 2025.

He is scheduled to play in LIV Golf Hong Kong beginning Friday.

Details as to how players would return to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf have yet to be worked out. The PGA Tour on Feb. 22 said it had a "constructive working session" at the White House with President Donald Trump and LIV Golf chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan on efforts to resolve the schism that exists between the two professional golf bodies.

"There are a lot of guys that are going to be pushed out," said the 65-year-old Couples, who still competes on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. "... I don't know how you get an elevated event with 72 or 77 people and bring seven superstars in. What do you tell those other seven? Bye-bye?"

The PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund announced they had reached a framework agreement to form an alliance on June 6, 2023. That deal expired at the end of 2023, but the sides continued to negotiate a potential deal over the past two years.

Couples, 65, has not been shy about sharing his thoughts on the upstart circuit. In December 2023, he notably took issue with Jon Rahm's decision to join LIV Golf for a reported $400 million.

"$100 million doesn't get it. $200 million doesn't get it. $300 million doesn't get it. But for $400 million, it's a great product and it's a great show? My ass," Couples said on Sirius XM. "Tell me the next guy, whether it's Tony Finau, 'I'm going for free, boys. I love this Tour. I don't like the PGA Tour anymore.' No one's gonna do that."

Field Level Media contributed to this report.

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby hopes veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers plays in Las Vegas in 2025, he said on his podcast.

"I think with all the doubt and negativity around Rodgers, he's going to have a big year, and I hope it's in our town," Crosby said on an episode of "The Rush Podcast" released Tuesday. "... That would be legendary."

The Raiders are in the market for a quarterback after going 4-13 in 2014 with Gardner Minshew, Aidan O'Connell and Desmond Ridder, who started one game.

First-year general manager John Spytek has said the Raiders would explore every avenue to find a new signal-caller.

Las Vegas showed interest in Matthew Stafford before the 37-year-old agreed to a restructured deal last week with the Los Angeles Rams. And sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter the Raiders will look into veteran options such as Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson.

Rodgers, 41, is set to be a free agent after the New York Jets announced last month that they would be moving on from the quarterback after two seasons. The New York Giants already have interest in the four-time MVP.

Rodgers' time with the Jets was frustrating. He suffered a torn Achilles in his first season and his return to the field in 2024 didn't live up to high expectations.

The Jets finished 5-12 last season, with Rodgers throwing for 3,897 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was 25th in QBR, 30th in completion percentage and 28th in yards per attempt among qualified passers.

CHICAGO -- Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu said he has a fracture in the back of his left shoulder and will need four to six months to recover after he has surgery Wednesday morning.

An MRI revealed a fracture that was at least a year old, according to Dosunmu. He acknowledged feeling discomfort in his shoulder for an extended period but had been able to play through it in the past.

After experiencing discomfort during a Feb. 20 game against the Knicks, Dosunmu missed the next three games. He returned to play 23 minutes Friday night against the Raptors, but said he felt a different pain than usual during the game.

"I don't remember where it started at, but I do remember having it," Dosunmu said before the Bulls' game Tuesday against the Cavs. "My shoulder goes numb and [would pop] out in the back. I do remember that numerous times, but I can't tell you the exact date.

"It was something that I played on and I think I could have continued to play on, but I don't know for what reason."

Dosunmu, 25, will be undergoing surgery for the first time and expects to be ready for the start of training camp next season, which will be the final year on a three-year, $21 million contract.

He played 46 games this season and averaged 12.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds -- all career highs.

"I'm proud overall of the whole season, going out there, battling injuries and continuing to fight," Dosunmu said. "The last game, just trying to give it all I had, help the team get a win. [I] pretty much knew it would probably be my last game of the season. Just knew how I felt out there.

"I'm excited to knock this surgery out and attack rehab."

Diego Simeone said Real Madrid's failure to add a third goal in their 2-1 Champions League win over Atlético Madrid on Tuesday "left the door open" for his team to turn the last 16 tie around in the second leg.

Rodrygo put Real ahead after just four minutes in the derby at the Santiago Bernabéu, before Julián Álvarez equalized, and Brahim Díaz put the hosts back in front.

However Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior were unable to combine to convert a late third for Real -- in a game which saw visitors Atlético dominate for long periods -- ahead of the second leg at the Metropolitano on March 12.

"We ended up competing well," Atlético coach Simeone said in his post-match news conference. "There was just that risk at the end, when they won the ball, with Mbappé and Vinícius to finish it off. The hope, that it wasn't a goal, leaves the door open for what comes next."

"If it was difficult today, imagine how difficult it will be on Wednesday," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "But we have a small advantage. It will be difficult [at the Metropolitano]. Not much will change."

Simeone admitted that a 2-1 defeat for his side "isn't a good result," but said his players "competed well" and would need a "huge effort" in front of their home fans.

Defender José María Giménez went a step further, saying Vinícius had been "totally superior."

Real and Vinícius are both competing for trophies on multiple fronts, as they battle for the LaLiga title -- Vinícius currently enjoying a two-point lead -- and a place in the Champions League quarterfinals, while both are also still in the Copa del Rey.

Ancelotti defended the performances of star forwards Mbappé and Vinicius, who both had quiet nights in front of goal, and couldn't score late on.

"Playing against Atlético's defence isn't straightforward," Ancelotti said. "[Mbappé and Vinicius] didn't have many chances. They had one at the end where they could have done better, but they worked hard, and they fought. They didn't show the quality they have, but they have the return leg to do that."

"[Atlético] surprised us a bit today," goalscorer Rodrygo told Movistar. "Usually against them, we're always on the attack, and today they had more of the ball at times. We had to defend, but then we did well in the second half with Brahim's goal."

Díaz celebrated his winning goal by first jumping into the Bernabéu crowd -- for which he received a yellow card -- and then shouting angrily in the direction of Simeone.

A day earlier, the Atlético coach had said he did not expect Díaz to start at the Bernabéu, predicting he thought Luka Modric would play instead.

Mikel Arteta has suggested Arsenal want trophies and not records after they made Champions League history by thrashing PSV Eindhoven 7-1 at Philips Stadion.

Tuesday's round-of-16, first leg clash was the biggest knockout away win ever in the competition after goals from Jurriën Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard and Martin Ødegaard put the Gunners 5-1 up after 48 minutes.

Ødegaard netted again before Riccardo Calafiori added a seventh to inflict the joint-biggest defeat in PSV's 112-year history.

Asked whether his team had just secured another landmark moment, Arteta said: "It's very significant but it's just to put yourself in a really strong position to go through to the next round.

"That's it; that's the reality. To put landmarks, we have to really make it to a very different level. But obviously, this team has done a lot that hasn't been done in many, many years or in the history of the club. Which means a lot, but that's not what we want."

Arsenal had scored just twice in their last four matches as they looked blunted by the absence of attacking quartet Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli through injury.

"That's the beauty of it, nobody in this room, if I give you an envelope and say, 'can you predict what's going to happen tomorrow and who is going to score,' [nobody would say 7-1] that's the beauty of football," Arteta said.

"In football, and you do very well today, put your head down, be humble, analyse how you can improve. Because the next game is going to be completely different to this one, and nobody can write the script, unfortunately, even if we would like to."

MADRID -- Real Madrid defeated Atlético Madrid 2-1 in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg clash, giving the titleholders a narrow lead going into next week's second leg at the Metropolitano.

Rodrygo put Real ahead in the fourth minute at the Santiago Bernabéu, before Julián Álvarez levelled with a stunning effort before half-time. The visitors Atlético then appeared to take control of the game, until Brahim Díaz put Real back in front against the run of play.

Los Blancos -- who weren't always convincing over the 90 minutes -- could have added a third in added time but were twice denied by some last-ditch defending, to leave the tie open going into the return leg on March 12.

The UCL really is Rodrygo's stage

Another Champions League game, another brilliant, crucial goal scored by Rodrygo. His fourth-minute strike -- brushing off Javi Galán's challenge, stepping away from Clément Lenglet and firing past Jan Oblak -- put Real Madrid ahead, giving them an early advantage that they didn't always deserve as the game went on.

The Brazil star is so consistently good in the Champions League -- he was outstanding against Manchester City in both legs of the knockout phase playoff, too -- that he's no longer underrated. It's just that Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior still get more headlines. But Rodrygo deserves them, too.

His 25 Champions League goals for Madrid, in 61 games, put him eighth in the list of the club's all-time goal scorers in the European Cup. The seven players ahead of him are, quite literally, among the biggest names in Real Madrid's history: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Raul, Alfredo di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Paco Gento and Vinícius.

Rodrygo isn't that good, of course. But he is an exceptional player -- Jude Bellingham has said he's the most naturally talented in the squad -- who'd be a star at any other club. He's also happy to work off the ball, dropping back to help out his midfield teammates, in a way that the Real front line's other big names aren't always willing to do.

It's testament to Rodrygo's performances this season that one of the big talking points going into this campaign -- whether the Brazilian would have to drop out of the XI to make room for Mbappé -- just isn't up for debate anymore. -- Alex Kirkland

There was just as much drama on the sideline

While battle raged all around them, and rage it did, the two managers were stark studies in how to handle stress.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and his Atlético counterpart, Diego Simeone, have seen it all before as both players and coaches. The pressure, the demands from the fans, the prematch dilemmas, the mercurial madness of the 90-plus minutes.

Indeed, Ancelotti and Simeone are, with a thousand games coached in Spain between them, experienced enough to feel Teflon-tough about the heat of a cauldron like this.

But oh how differently they coped.

Both dressed in Johnny Cash black, both trying to influence things, but one of them -- Simeone -- a study in constant, frantic, frenetic motion. The other, Ancelotti, hands initially clasped behind his back as he strolled around his technical area, back sometimes turned to the fray, as if he were a happy pensioner wandering through Madrid's Retiro park on a balmy Sunday.

But to spoil Ancelotti's enjoyment of that pastoral paseo, there was a hurdy-gurdy man immediately to his right. I know we know every available piece of data for every player -- their kilometres run, intensity, heart rates, sprints, lung capacity. But do we have data as to how many kilometres El Cholo put in? I'd say that Simeone won't be far off some of his players -- and certainly far ahead of his goalkeeper Oblak.

The thing about Simeone is that, his genius achievements notwithstanding, he's full of redundant gestures. "Slow it down!" he gesticulates frantically after Rodrigo De Paul or Antoine Griezmann has already slowed an attack to a walking pace. "Get back ... GET BACK!" Simeone screams as Galan or Marcos Llorente already races to cover a galloping break by Rodrygo. Are they listening to him? Can they hear him above the industrial noise level maintained by two sets of fans who really don't like each other very much?

Which is not to say, any of this, that Ancelotti is a passive passenger. His gestures are of either horror or insistence. Eduardo Camavinga is robbed by Lenglet, and Carlo's arms are aloft. He can't believe the naivety. Madrid don't pass quickly enough or often enough to Vinicius and he's point, point, pointing -- jabbing out his insistence that the ball goes to Madrid's No. 7.

It's a sideshow, but a fun one. Two men with the world on their shoulders for 94 minutes, prisoners of the touchline and the UEFA officials sheepdogging them back inside their technical areas.

Torture I tell you, pure torture. Poor guys. You'd be heartless not to feel for them. -- Graham Hunter

Álvarez showing why Atléti fought so hard to sign him

In a game with three memorable goals, Álvarez's might just have been the best of the lot. It was more evidence -- maybe the most compelling piece yet -- of why Atlético, and in particular Simeone, were right to work so hard to sign the Argentina international last summer. He's an elite forward, capable of moments of genius like this. He's also a Simeone true believer: a humble, hard worker who fits perfectly into the team.

Álvarez has been in Madrid for only seven months, but he's already scored twice at the Bernabéu. He netted here in LaLiga last month, too. This was also his second, huge goal in just three days, having scored the winning goal against Athletic Club in the league on Saturday to see Atléti leap above Real in the title race.

It's March, and Atlético are still battling for the league title, the Champions League and the Copa del Rey. That's in part because they're boasting one of the best forwards in the world in their front line.

It's now 22 goals in all competitions this season, and seven in nine Champions League games. This was the biggest and best goal yet, and it's a goal which means Atlético go to the Metropolitano next week with a chance of eliminating Real Madrid and going through to the quarterfinals. -- Kirkland

Even at 38, even off the bench, Modric is a joy to watch

Even though he came on at 2-1 and the scoreline did not change, people will say that Luka Modric, the clever, ageless, majestic Croat "changed" the game.

Maybe so. The tempo altered; Madrid's control of the ball changed. This much is true. But watching Modric is like watching withering, tired flowers on the edge of a desert being tickled back into life by autumn rain. When Madrid's 38-year-old magician strolled onto the pitch, it was like watching Robert De Niro take control of a film. Everyone knows that "the best" just took the stage, everyone knows that he's going to stand out and do, brilliantly, what he has done forever and ever. Everyone knows that those around are going to benefit from playing off him.

Modric breathed new life through every single player in a white shirt. Instead of hoping that they were in the right place, praying that they were going to receive a good pass, they knew.

Real relaxed in a good way: good vibrations throbbed through them as if the 1967 Beach Boys had just hit the recording studio -- everyone simply started doing the simple things well, more quickly, with more confidence and more efficiency.

It's not necessarily always spectacular, but watching it is soothing. You know that a superior power is acting, you know that it was right to have faith, and you can see that the congregation believes again. Back and forward Modric trotted, faithfully giving and receiving, receiving and giving. Adding class, marking out the beat ... showing everyone, without a "tut tut" or a frown, how it should have been all along.

Modric the marvel. How lovely it was to watch him preaching his football gospel. -- Hunter

Both goalkeepers stood no chance

It's testimony to the outright extraordinary nature of the goals we saw on Tuesday that this match boasted two of the best goalkeepers in the world -- some might argue the two best -- and yet each of them was utterly helpless as the Champions League ball soared past them and into the net.

It felt like each of the goals was more remarkable than the last, and the expressions of the faces of Thibaut Courtois and Oblak went some way to emphasising that.

The first, Rodrygo's blindingly good left-footed drive to set the match alight, felt like it wouldn't be bettered. Federico Valverde laser-guided his assist into space, and then, when the Brazilian cut across two rivals to score off his left foot, the arc of the ball was just beautiful; starting outside Oblak's reach and then curving exquisitely past his outstretched right arm into the far corner. Without being fanciful, it felt like the goal was one long electric connection from Valverde to Rodrygo to the net. The pass, the finish and the net bulge were like one intertwined piece of magic.

But when Atléti equalised, Courtois looked beyond bemused -- he looked perplexed. That Álvarez managed to produce the power and the bend on his shot to beat the behemoth Belgian was quite something. But Courtois had to take a look behind himself, just to make sure "Did that ball really go past me?" He looked as if he were scratching his head and trying to come to terms with it for quite some time.

Ditto Oblak for the winning goal. He couldn't believe that Brahim had dribbled a couple of Atléti defenders in a space no bigger than the inside of a sardine can. The little Malagueño did that thing which Lamine Yamal loves doing: The tango, the rumba, the hip-sway -- all without actually touching the ball, all lying to rival defenders that "I'm going this way ... NO! I'm going that way now!"

It was magical, mischievous and, in due course, unstoppable. Oblak chewed a wasp, unhappy to be beaten, unhappy with his defence. Just plain, plumb unhappy.

A match with two gargantuan goalkeepers, greats of their genre -- without a single sniff of being able to do anything about the three goals. And let us all be thankful for that. -- Hunter

CHICAGO -- The overhaul of the Bears' offensive line began just over a week before the start of the NFL's free agency period. The Bears are in the process of sending a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for guard Jonah Jackson, multiple sources told ESPN.

The trade cannot be processed until the start of the new league year on March 12.

Jackson, 28, has started 61 games over five NFL seasons, which included a Pro Bowl campaign in 2021. He has predominantly played at left guard since being drafted by the Detroit Lions, where he played for new Bears coach Ben Johnson for four seasons.

Jackson, who signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the Rams in March 2024, is scheduled to make $17.5 million in salary during the 2025 season. Chicago is taking on the entirety of Jackson's salary as part of the trade, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

A shoulder injury limited Jackson to four games last season where he took snaps at left guard, center and right guard. He missed most of training camp after sustaining the injury in late July and returned for the start of the regular season before aggravating his shoulder in Week 2 and landing on injured reserve. Jackson played in one game after returning from IR and then was benched.

In his end-of-season news conference, Rams head coach Sean McVay said he really appreciated how professionally Jackson handled his 2024 season in Los Angeles.

"I really appreciate Jonah on how he handled [the situation]," McVay said in January. "A starting-level player ... there are a lot of teams that would love to have Jonah Jackson at guard. ... He put the team first in terms of just showing up, going to work and being a really good 'scout teamer.'"

Chicago's offensive line is a major area of focus this offseason with three primary starters -- left guard Teven Jenkins, center Coleman Shelton and right guard Matt Pryor -- set to hit free agency. Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times during his rookie season, which has prompted a push for the Bears to address multiple needs up front.

Last week at the NFL combine, Johnson addressed the possibility that the Bears could flip the entire interior of the offensive line in one offseason.

"Yeah, I think it's been done before, right?" Johnson said. "I mean, there are a number of teams that did that last year. The Panthers come to mind when they went out in free agency and got a couple of top guards, really changed the dynamic of their offense. You saw them clicking there in the second half of the season once they really started to gel. There's no question that you can change the dynamic of the room just like that. That particular room, it does take time for five guys to come together. Especially if you have to deal with attrition and injuries for five guys to be working on the same page."

Jackson was given permission to seek a trade last week, a source confirmed to ESPN. Prior to joining the Rams last offseason, Jackson logged 57 starts for Detroit from 2020-23.

ESPN's Sarah Barshop contributed to this story.

Memphis Grizzlies star power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week, the team announced Tuesday.

Jackson suffered the injury during the first quarter of the Grizzlies' home loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night after trying to block a shot by Dyson Daniels.

Jackson earned his second All-Star selection this season and has averaged a career-high 22.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and 1.3 steals in 59 games for the 38-23 Grizzlies.

Jackson, 25, will be a strong candidate for an All-NBA selection and possibly the second Defensive Player of the Year honor of his career if he meets the league's 65-game requirement to be eligible for major awards. Earning one of those honors would make Jackson, who will earn $23.4 million next season in the final year of his deal, eligible to sign a supermax contract extension this offseason.