I Dig Sports
CONCORD, N.C. For first time Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown winner Jonathan Allegrucci, todays victory was a coronation a decade in the making. Allegrucci was one of the original eight factory stock showdown exhibition race competitors.
The veteran driver powered his Ford Cobra Jet to the winners circle when he outran 2024 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world champion Mark Pawuk, Tony Scott Jr. and Raymond Nash in the final quad of the American Rebel Light NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway.
This is unreal. Its a dream come true, said Allegrucci. I dont know what to say. Its been 10 years. Weve been trying this since 2015. We were one of the first eight in Gainesville in 2015 and we havent forgotten about it since then.
Allegrucci entered race day as the No. 4 qualifier and in a 17-car field the unique four-wide format provided a rare opportunity for the first round to essentially equate to a bye run. His Ford Cobra Jet posted a strong 7.863 second, 176.35 mph run beside Rouven Dawson.
In the second round today Allegrucci was first to the stripe in his quad. He outran Scott, Dawson and James Betz. He jumped off the starting line and by mid-track he was out in front with a strong 7.706 seconds at 178.54 mph to advance to the third round.
Throughout race day each quad became more stacked with tough competitors.
We knew in qualifying and as race day went on that it was just going to get harder. We saw guys getting better, said Allegrucci. After the first round and second round you saw everybody step up their game and I was glad I wasnt in the other quad, because them boys were getting after it. I knew we had to run them to beat them. And we got it done and it was perfect.
For the second time on race day Allegrucci outran Scott to advance but it was a close race at the finish line. Scott was nearly perfect with a .004 reaction time and a solid 7.792 second pass beside Allegruccis .046 reaction time and quicker 7.721 second run. The pair moved on to the final quad eliminating Anthony Berge and Doug Hamp.
The final featured Pawuk, Scott, and Nash, and Allegrucci was looking to beat Scott for the third time on race day. When all four factory stock cars took off from the starting line Allegrucci spotted that Pawuk and Scott had a slight advantage but he quickly tracked them down and by half-track he was rolling to the win.
It was a stacked quad, said Allegrucci. We wanted to do this four-wide three years ago, we didnt have the car ready, and Vegas wasnt in the deck of cards for us. I loved it. I love the bulbs up. It was exciting. There was more to do on the starting line. It was a challenge. It was new. I really, really enjoyed it.
In the post-race winners circle as crew members and competitors congratulated the veteran driver Allegrucci was at a loss for words.
Its just surreal. I dont have many enemies in the class, said Allegrucci. Theyre all friends and we are competitive, but we race with our friends, and we congratulate each other, and we root for each other, and we all give it our all.
CONCORD, N.C. J.R. Gray finished off a standout weekend at zMAX Dragway with the victory in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series on Sunday, defeating a final-round quad that included Billy Banaka, Alex Laughlin and Mike Janis as part of the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
The Charlotte event marked the third of 10 races during the 2025 season in the category and this weekends race was powered by Culp Lumber.
It was Gray who was in control from start to finish in his Al-Anabi Performance Camaro, finishing the weekend with a strong run of 5.656-second at 255.73 mph in the finals. It was the best run of the day for Gray, who lived in the 5.60s during eliminations.
He won his opening quad with a stellar 5.667 at 256.65 and was even better a round later, winning the second-round quad with a pass of 5.659 at 256.31. That set up a thrilling final round, but Gray delivered an .025 reaction time and quickly chased down Banaka to pick up the victory.
It is Grays first Congruity NHRA Pro Mod win of the season and the second in his career, as he also vaulted to second in the points standings. Gray also qualified No. 1 on the strength of a 5.680 at 254.76 and simply got better during each round of eliminations on Sunday.
Weve been cutting good lights all day long and we were just going up to do the same thing again in the final round, Gray said. Im happy with the light and happy with the performance. This team, these guys have made this thing a bullet.
Banaka finished as the runner-up with his run of 5.705 at 249.26, with Laughlin taking third.
SONOMA, Calif. Reigning TA Champion Paul Menard earned his second win of the season in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli, leading every lap of a close and competitive race at Sonoma Raceway.
Menard was challenged fervently by three-time TA Champion Chris Dyson, who was anxious for redemption after a crash in Sebring kept him out of the seat for Round 2 at Road Atlanta.
However, despite Dysons valiant efforts, Menard took the checkered flag with a narrow 0.291-second margin of victory. Menard (No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang) took the green flag from the first position after a washed-out qualifying session led to the grid being set by practice speeds. Starting the race side-by-side with Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang), Menard pulled out to the lead smoothly, but Dyson remained tight on his tail. Behind them, third-place starter Adam Andretti (No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro) and fourth-place starter Brent Crews (No. 2 Weaver Concepts/Mobil 1 Dodge Challenger) battled for position.
Crews was able to complete the pass on Andretti on lap 16, but Andretti reclaimed the spot two laps later. That same lap, Menard began to face lapped traffic, and his 2.5-second advantage over Dyson dwindled to just three-tenths of a second, beginning a game of cat and mouse for the lead.
At the same time, fifth-place starter Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro) began to stalk Crews, and he completed the pass on the 2023 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion on lap 23.
Following the pass, Crews piloted his Dodge Challenger down pit road so that his team could address a flat tire. David Pintaric (No. 57 Kryderacing Ford Mustang) moved into the fifth position after starting at the rear of the field for missing the driver meeting, advancing from 18th overall.
Unfortunately, Pintarics progress came to an abrupt stop when he and Andretti came together in Turn 10, resulting in a spectacular crash into the tire barrier. While both drivers walked away safely, their day was done and their cars were severely damaged.
The crash brought out a full-course yellow on lap 28, leading to a five-lap shootout when racing resumed on lap 35. Menard led the field to the green, but Dyson was all over his rear bumper. On lap 37, Dyson pulled side-by-side with Menard, but was unable to complete the pass.
Over the remaining three laps, the two had an exciting battle to the finish, with Menard edging out Dyson by less than three-tenths of a second. Menard and Dyson were followed across the finish line by Drissi, Crews and Amy Ruman (No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette).
It was a battle, said Menard in GYM WEED Winners Circle. We set the pace early. The track wasnt completely dry, so for the first couple of laps, we kind of tiptoed. After five laps in, we started pushing pretty hard and I felt like we had a good pace. However, we started getting loose throughout the run and Chris [Dyson] started closing up. I made a couple of mistakes with hitting the curbs. The curbs were still wet, so when I hit them, I blew a couple of corners. Chris closed up and then we played cat and mouse with traffic. That caution helped us. We were better on short runs, while Chris was better on long runs. We faced a lot of adversity this morning with 3GT Racing. The guys battled. They came in at seven oclock and had troubles with the truck, and then we had some engine issues that Tony and the boys fixed up. We led every lap and won the race. It was a great points day, and now Im looking forward to Laguna Seca. Ive never been there, so we have 20 minutes of practice to figure it out.
TA Cups first combination event with the National Championship was an exciting one, with multiple lead changes and hard racing action. Michelle Nagai (No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro) started first in class, followed by Jim Guthrie (No. 62 Guthries Garage/CEI Ford Mustang) and Ken Sutherland (No. 85 Kallberg Racing Dodge Challenger). Before the conclusion of the first lap, Guthrie went over the slick track curbing, losing control, bumping into Chris Evans in the No. 92 Central Welding Supply/Pinnacle Alloys Ford Mustang and dropping to the rear of the field.
Nagai had dominant speed, pulling several seconds ahead of now second-place Sutherland. She led the first 22 laps of the race, but she got into trouble in lapped traffic, making contact with an SGT car and heavily damaging her front end, which took her out of contention. Sutherland took over the lead on lap 23, by which point Guthrie had worked his way back through the field and into second. When the caution came out on lap 28, Sutherland led Guthrie, Evans, Ken Thwaits (No. 9 Franklin Road Chevrolet Camaro) and John Moore (No. 27 JM Environmental Ford Mustang) across the stripe.
There was a shuffle of cars when racing went back to green, and suddenly it was Guthrie who emerged with the lead. The TA Cup entrants battled hard as the final laps ticked down, with Guthrie taking the checkered flag, followed by Thwaits and Sutherland for the podium spots. Moore was scored fourth and Evans finished fifth.
TA Cups first combination event with the National Championship was an exciting one, with multiple lead changes and hard racing action. Michelle Nagai (No. 72 Nagai Racing/Berkeley Jet Drive Chevrolet Camaro) started first in class, followed by Jim Guthrie (No. 62 Guthries Garage/CEI Ford Mustang) and Ken Sutherland (No. 85 Kallberg Racing Dodge Challenger). Before the conclusion of the first lap, Guthrie went over the slick track curbing, losing control, bumping into Chris Evans in the No. 92 Central Welding Supply/Pinnacle Alloys Ford Mustang and dropping to the rear of the field.
Nagai had dominant speed, pulling several seconds ahead of now second-place Sutherland. She led the first 22 laps of the race, but she got into trouble in lapped traffic, making contact with an SGT car and heavily damaging her front end, which took her out of contention. Sutherland took over the lead on lap 23, by which point Guthrie had worked his way back through the field and into second. When the caution came out on lap 28, Sutherland led Guthrie, Evans, Ken Thwaits (No. 9 Franklin Road Chevrolet Camaro) and John Moore (No. 27 JM Environmental Ford Mustang) across the stripe.
There was a shuffle of cars when racing went back to green, and suddenly it was Guthrie who emerged with the lead. The TA Cup entrants battled hard as the final laps ticked down, with Guthrie taking the checkered flag, followed by Thwaits and Sutherland for the podium spots. Moore was scored fourth and Evans finished fifth.
As the only SGT competitor in the National Championship, Joshua Carlson easily piloted his No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd./TC Fab Ford Mustang to the victory, keeping the car clean and battling it out with TA Cup cars for much of the event. When he crossed the finish line, he scored his third-straight win of the season.
In the Western Championship, Rudy Revak (No. 7 XYNGULAR Pontiac Grand Prix) battled JD Koos No. 12 Nicole Douglas Design Porsche GT3 Cup 991.1. Revak had the speed advantage, but his win was sealed when Koos tangled with a TA Cup competitor, sustaining heavy damage, which forced him to retire. Meanwhile, Revak completed the duration of the race, crossing the finish line to take the race victory.
As the only SGT competitor in the National Championship, Joshua Carlson easily piloted his No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd./TC Fab Ford Mustang to the victory, keeping the car clean and battling it out with TA Cup cars for much of the event. When he crossed the finish line, he scored his third-straight win of the season.
In the Western Championship, Rudy Revak (No. 7 XYNGULAR Pontiac Grand Prix) battled JD Koos No. 12 Nicole Douglas Design Porsche GT3 Cup 991.1. Revak had the speed advantage, but his win was sealed when Koos tangled with a TA Cup competitor, sustaining heavy damage, which forced him to retire. Meanwhile, Revak completed the duration of the race, crossing the finish line to take the race victory.
CONCORD, N.C. Shawn Langdon won the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history on Sunday at zMAX Dragway, defeating Tony Stewart, Justin Ashley and reigning world champion Antron Brown in the final quad at the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
Austin Prock (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the fifth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
In the championship round, Langdon powered to a run of 3.714 seconds at 330.63 mph in his 11,000-horsepower Future Energy Solutions dragster to hold off Ashley at the finish line. Langdon, who remained in the points lead, won for the second time this season for Kalitta Motorsports and 21st time in his career, picking a special milestone victory in the process.
The legendary Don Garlits, who won the first Top Fuel race at the 1963 NHRA Winternationals, was at the top end to hand the special 1,000th Top Fuel race trophy to Langdon, who was sure to take in the memorable and historic moment. The former Top Fuel world champion has been stellar to open 2025, advancing to three finals in the first five races and he had a spectacular car this weekend.
He qualified second with a 3.665 running 300-mph to the eighth-mile and then won both quads to advance to the final round. Langdon was the only driver to reach 3.71 on Sunday and the reward was a significant one in his standout career.
To be honest with you, coming into the weekend I was asked about racing in the 1,000th event and all that, and I just thought Id treat it like any other event. That way, any situation, everythings the same because you just treat everything the same. But Im not going to lie, rolling around the corner, and I see Big Daddy there, there was this realization of what transpired and obviously its a great feeling, Langdon said. Its something that I know years down the road Ill be very proud of that.
Honestly, the competition so tough, really, so its not like you really get any easy rounds. In the final. with Tony, hes been having a great year, and then obviously, Antron, the champ, and Justin Ashley, the best leaver of the class, hands down. So, when Im in that situation, its like I got to step it up, and I the problem was I went the other way, except I felt like I tried a little too hard. But the about being part of great team is they carry you when you miss the tree a little bit.
Ashley finished as the runner-up for the first time this season, while Stewart, who won the four-wide race in Las Vegas, stayed second in points.
Funny Cars Austin Prock continued to dominate the four-wide ranks, sweeping both in April after a massive run of 3.870 at 332.92 in the final round in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to defeat Ron Capps, Matt Hagan and Alexis DeJoria. Prock has won the four-wide race in both Top Fuel and now Funny Car at zMAX Dragway, showcasing last years championship form the past two events.
Prock won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday and was on another level on Sunday, going low in each round and winning the first two quads. He quickly chased down defending event winner Hagan and Capps in the finals, as his 3.870 was easily the quickest run in eliminations. Its the second straight win for Prock, who moved into the points lead, and the 14th in his young career.
Dating back to last season, Prock now has 10 Funny Car wins over the last 25 races, an impressive feat in the loaded category.
Its a great day. Anytime youre holding one of these Wallys, its a great day, Prock said. The Prock Rocket bailed me out there in the finals. I had my worst light of the weekend, so its just great to be driving this Cornwall Chevrolet SS, especially that round there. We had a lot of difficult scenarios with this race car, but my dad and brother and Nate Hildahl and the whole Cornwell Tools team did their homework all week and got the thing dialed in and made a killer run there in the final. That was a jaw dropper.
It was awesome to see [Rick Hendrick] down there at the top end. That was the last thing I expected and when I saw him, I just lit up. That was a pretty cool celebration down there with him, and then got a photo with him and the Wally and then got another one with Don Garlits. I mean, what a day. Those are pictures you dream of and to do them back-to-back within a few minutes of each other, that was really special.
Capps finished as the runner-up for the second time this season.
Dallas Glenn was nearly perfect in the Pro Stock final round and he needed every bit of his incredible .002 reaction time, holding off Greg Anderson and picking up his second straight victory with a run of 6.495 at 212.69 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. Anderson went a blistering 6.472 at 212.13 in the finals, but Glenn had enough to hold off the reigning champion and pick up the 200th victory for KB Titan Racing.
Its also the third victory this season for Glenn and the 16th in his career, as he and Anderson continue to hold a firm advantage over everyone else in the Pro Stock category. The duo has won the last six races in the category, with each claiming three, and both were the dominant cars on Sunday as well. Glenn went a stout 6.481 in the opening round, won his quad in both rounds and treated fans to a thrilling duel in the championship round to claim a milestone victory for his team.
I did my job the best I could but the car did its job, too, Glenn said. Its still the engine guys and crew chiefs that did a fantastic job all day. We got back from Las Vegas and they tore all the engines apart and didnt finish until this Thursday at 9 p.m. They worked every day. Thats the reason why we run well.
I just get to sit in car and try to do the best I can. In four-wide races, you dont have to be best until final and then you can throw the kitchen sink at it, and thats what we did. When I left I thought I might have red-lighted but Im glad I didnt. I know Greg [Anderson] really wanted to win with [NASCAR team owner] Rick Hendrick here but Im happy to be the 200th winner for the KB Titan team. That shows just how special this team is.
Glenn also moved into the points lead over Anderson, who reached the final round for the fourth time in 2025.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Matt Smith had the last laugh of the weekend, getting his first victory of the season on his Denso Auto Parts Buell with a run of 6.736 at 202.91 to hold off the likes of Gaige Herrera, Richard Gadson and Steve Johnson. Herrera was the No. 1 qualifier and Gadson won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, but it was the veteran and six-time world champion who prevailed in the end at his home track.
He left the starting line first with a strong .014 reaction time and then had the quickest run in the quad, holding off Gadsons 6.738 and Herreras 6.747 to win for the 42nd time in his career. Smith ran well on Saturday and that carried over to eliminations, where the longtime standout was on his game over all three rounds.
This has been a long weekend. We had a lot of gremlins in our pits, Smith said. This morning, we cranked my bike up and it started squeaking. We have another engine called Old Faithful, so we put in a new engine and it went smoothly after that.
Hats off to my team. I cant say enough about my crew guys. Everyone helps but its a lot of work to run four bikes with three mechanics. I do the fuel maps and clutches and I also get to ride, but its a lot of work. Im on the positive side now. I had 41 wins and 41 runner-up finishes. Now, Im 42 and 41 so at least Im on the positive side now.
Gadson finished as the runner-up, while Smith moved into the points lead over Herrera.
TALLADEGA, Ala. Austin Cindrics dramatic last-lap pass provided exactly the sort of Talladega Superspeedway thrill that NASCAR fans have come to expect at the sports biggest track, earning the 2022 Daytona 500 winner Cindric and Team Penske their first trophy of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Cindrics No. 2 Team Penske Ford pulled ahead of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing driver Ryan Preeces No. 60 Ford by the length of a front hood to claim a .022-second victory in Sundays Jack Links 500 the two Ford Mustangs exchanged the lead five times in the final six laps and ultimately finished side-by-side holding off a pair of hard-charging Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet teammates just behind in Kyle Larson and William Byron.
Im just so proud of this team from the [pit] cycles to the fast cars to the fuel-only stops, said the 26-year old Cindric, whose team with 17 laps remaining turned in the fastest final pit stop putting him back out front and able to contend for the win in a race that featured 67 lead changes among 23 drivers.
It definitely wasnt easy, Cindric said of holding off the Hendrick teammates for the checkered flag. I give a lot of credit, Kyle [Larson] did a lot to take care of me, pushing me at the right times in the tri-oval and as mad as I was at him after Atlanta [race], I feel like were good now. That was great and having a photo-finish at Talladega and get in the Playoffs in front of this amazing crowd, beautiful day in Alabama.
As thrilling as the win was Cindric, it was a heartbreaking runner-up for the 34-year-old Preece, who came a literal split-second away from his first NASCAR Cup Series victory.
Im happy, but as a racer, you want to win, right, Preece said. Coming through the tri-oval I felt like, all right, were all sticking together and nobody was leaving me.
Its not easy, he conceded. I felt like this was the most aggressive Ive raced on a superspeedway and really pushing the issues because youve got to figure out whos gonna have that fast car and obviously, it was all Fords today. The right holes opened at the right times but ultimately, just 22-hundreths short.
The Hendrick teammates Larson and Byron acknowledged lapped traffic in front of the lead pack, looming just beyond the finish line, certainly created an extra consideration. Yet the third place showing for Larson, who won Stage 1 and led three laps on the day, was a career best effort at Talladega. It was a major move forward personally on the large drafting tracks such as Talladega, Daytona and Atlanta where the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion and 31-race winner has yet to earn a trophy.
I wanted to take it, but just felt like the gap was too big, said Larson, who ran directly behind Cindric in the closing laps, adding. I was just second row inside and just going to do everything I could to try and advance our lane and maybe open it up so maybe then I could get to the outside, but we were all pushing so equally that it kept the lanes kind of jammed up.
I needed something else to kinda happen, maybe them to get blocking each other or something, but still a great day. A stage win, P3 in the second stage and P3 in the final, so great points day and best career finish on a superspeedway so happy with the performance in the Hendricks.com Chevy.
Cindric is the 10th different winner in the last 10 Talladega races a record streak at the iconic 2.66-mile high-banked track. Yet Sundays race was relatively calm compared to some previous editions at the high-action drafting track. It marked the fourth time a Talladega race had only four caution flags two of which were scheduled stage caution breaks.
As encouraging as Cindric and Preeces runs were it was an gut-wrenching afternoon for their teammates, Ryan Blaney (Penske) and Brad Keselowski (RFK Racing).
The two former champions and past multi-time Talladega winners were collected in an accident on lap 43 during a pit stop cycle before the first Stage break. Keselowski and Chevys Kyle Busch collided on track as Keselowski was moving toward pit road their contact collected Blaney spinning him out as well.
The owner-driver of the No. 6 Ford, Keselowski, who was already mired in a disappointing early season, finished 38th and is now ranked 32nd in the championship standings.
It was just a stack of guys trying to come to pit road as fast as they could and we were kind of the ham in the sandwich that got squeezed, said Keselowski, who leads all active drivers with six Talladega wins. I waved down the backstretch to let everybody know I was gonna pit and I came off of four and everybody was so tight behind me that I didnt even have a chance to turn left. I hate that it ruined not just our day, but several other peoples day. I dont think I could do anything different.
Blaney, who drives the No. 12 Penske Racing Ford was scored as 39th, or last in the field. It marked his fourth DNF in the 10-race season and the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion is now ranked ninth in the standings.
Another DNF it just sucks, Blaney said. Just when we were kind of getting our momentum and didnt even get to race today. Well just move on to Texas.
With his fourth place finish, Byron continues to lead the championship standings, now 32 points ahead of his teammate Larson. Joe Gibbs Racings Denny Hamlin, who had been second in points going into Talladega is now ranked third, 53 behind Byron.
NEWARK, N.J. -- Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said he was "frustrated" when no penalty was given to New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier after injuring goaltender Frederik Andersen in Game 4 on Sunday afternoon.
Andersen left the game after a collision with Meier in his crease with 15:41 left in the second period. Hurricanes backup Pyotr Kochetkov made 14 saves after entering the game, leading Carolina to a 5-2 win and a commanding 3-1 lead in this Eastern Conference first-round series.
Meier drove hard to the net in anticipation of a pass by teammate Ondrej Palat. With Carolina winger Andrei Svechnikov defending him, Meier turned his body in anticipation of the puck and his hip connected with Andersen's upper body. The Carolina goalie fell to the ice and did not return to the game.
Brind'Amour offered no update on Andersen's status, saying the goaltender will be evaluated in Raleigh on Monday.
There was no penalty called at the time of the collision. After play stopped, the on-ice officials announced a major penalty against Meier, but after reviewing the play they opted not to penalize him.
The Hurricanes led 3-1 when Andersen was injured. Meier cut the lead to 3-2 at 7:34 of the second, beating Kochetkov for his first goal of the playoffs.
Brind'Amour said he was surprised his team received no power-play benefit from Andersen's injury.
"I guess the best way I would think it is that if [the puck] goes in, it's 100 percent goalie interference. So there was clearly contact. You're not really supposed to go in there. It may be a little bump, but he's a big guy, he could stop," the coach said. "We do feel like we try to protect the goalie quite a bit in this league, for the goalie interference stuff [where] nobody knows what's going on. That was the frustrating part."
Carolina captain Jordan Staal was also surprised there was no penalty on Meier.
"Yeah, obviously we don't want to see our starting goaltender go down, and we'd obviously like more of a call. They had an opportunity to look it over in slow motion. I haven't seen it yet, but I guess they thought there was enough of a hook to run over goalie, which we don't love, but it is what it is," he said.
Svechnikov, who had a hat trick in the Hurricanes win, said he didn't remember pushing or hooking Meier before the collision with Andersen.
Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said he "wasn't expecting much" in terms of a penalty for Meier on the play.
"I mean, anytime they're going to look at it, you're concerned, but from my perspective, it looked like it's pretty incidental. They told me [that] looking at it was just confirming what they thought on the ice, which is that it was not worthy of a penalty," Keefe said. "The rules being what they are gives the officials the opportunity to take a look, which they should take advantage of. They did and clearly they thought there was nothing there."
Staal said one of the keys to Carolina's eventual victory was not overreacting to Meier's play or the referees' decision.
"In the past, we've gotten caught up in refs and being frustrated and losing our cool. I thought tonight the guys did a much better job of just accepting tough calls," he said. "It is part of the game, and you see it every night, and you see it all over the league. It's a fast game. It's their human nature. You want to just keep moving forward. I thought tonight we did a good job."
Game 5 is in Raleigh on Tuesday. Carolina is looking to advance to the second round for the fifth straight season under Brind'Amour. One key reason for its lead over the Devils: a penalty kill that has gone 12-for-12 against the New Jersey power play. Andersen is a big reason for that, saving all 13 shots he has faced while short-handed.
MONTREAL -- Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis was at a loss for words in describing the message he wants to convey to his club after its 5-2 loss in Game 4 of its first-round playoff series with the Washington Capitals.
One thing was very clear, however: his dissatisfaction with the officiating throughout Sunday's game, which left the Canadiens in a 3-1 hole with Game 5 on Wednesday in Washington.
"I'll be careful with my words, but it's hard to watch some of these calls," St. Louis said. "Tonight, the mandate was about embellishing. Kent [Hughes, Montreal's general manager] talks with the supervisor each game day. We are told the things they want to clean up. Embellishment was one of them."
Rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes also did not mince words about the work of referees Dan O'Rourke and Frederick L'Ecuyer.
"I don't want to point fingers," Dobes said. "I never, ever do that. As a hockey player, I've never ever done it. I don't want to be specific about who could be better. I just hope we don't get these referees in Washington, that's it. I'm not going to point fingers."
With under two minutes to play in the second period, Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin appeared to make contact with the head of Canadiens center Jake Evans as he entered the offensive zone. Ovechkin was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for interference on the play. While Cole Caufield scored Montreal's second power-play goal on the ensuing penalty, it was not nearly enough for Dobes.
"I seriously don't understand why it happened," Dobes said. "I feel like the game was pretty much over when Ovi [Ovechkin] took a hit on Jake. I think it was at least [worth] a suspension for a game, but I guess not.
"I don't have answers for you guys. I have to watch it again, but it's just unfortunate because you don't want to see one of our better players skating around the ice concussed. It was just a weird game today, I guess."
Though Evans didn't finish the game, the same could not be said for Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier. He took a hard hit up high from Capitals forward Tom Wilson in the third period, causing the 28-year-old to fall against the boards.
As Carrier slowly skated across the ice toward the Canadiens' bench, the Capitals' Brandon Duhaime took advantage of a bouncing puck that eluded Montreal's Mike Matheson and Dobes to tie the score at 2-all.
"I was ready for the first shot," Dobes said. "I don't even know what happened. I feel like it hit Cole [Caufield] and bounced over my pad or something like that. It's whatever, hockey, I guess.
"I felt like it's going to be a whistle because they were in their defensive zone and far away, but I guess I don't really know the rules. I feel like it should have been a whistle. It was kind of a scary hit, but I guess the rules don't apply for everyone in this league. I have no idea."
It marked the second time Carrier was forced to leave the game for Montreal during Game 4. He had narrowly evaded a hit from Ovechkin along the far end of the Canadiens' bench in the first period. Nevertheless, the near-collision left Carrier shaken up. He went back to the locker room, but returned to the ice for the start of the second period.
St. Louis had no further update on Carrier's status after the game.
"He's a warrior," St. Louis said. "He's consistent. You know exactly what you are going to get. It's hard to see him go out on a play like that."
Despite their frustration and injury woes, both Dobes and St. Louis are turning their sights to a pivotal Game 5. With Montreal one loss from elimination, there is no margin for error.
"We've got to win at least one in Washington, right?" Dobes said. "That's how we qualify for the next round. I feel like it's an opportunity. From my point of view, I don't take it as a negative, it's an experience. We'll learn from it. We have so many young players. The more games we get, the sooner the better for us. I'm excited for a trip to Washington."
"It's a resilient group," St. Louis said. "We know we have to win a game in Washington. We're going to do that and extend the series. We have a really confident group. We're going to continue."
EDMONTON, Alberta -- Leon Draisaitl scored on a power play at 18:18 of overtime and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 on Sunday night in Game 4 to tie the first-round playoff series.
After assisting on Edmonton's first three goals, Draisaitl beat goalie Darcy Kuemper after the puck found him on the right side off a scramble. The Oilers got the power play when defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov tripped Connor McDavid.
Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard tied it with 29 seconds left and goalie Calvin Pickard off for an extra attacker, beating Kuemper with a straightaway slap shot from near the blue line.
Bouchard had his second straight two-goal game, also pulling the Oilers within one at 7:51 of the third with a shot that deflected in off the Kings defenseman Drew Doughty's skate. Bouchard had the go-ahead goal Friday night in Edmonton's 7-4 home victory.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The Kings haven't won a playoff series since beating the New York Rangers tin 2014 to win the Stanley Cup.
Corey Perry also scored for Edmonton, and Pickard stopped 38 shots.
Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala scored for the Kings, and Kuemper made 44 saves -- 17 in overtime.
Fiala made it 3-1 on a breakaway at 7:32 of the second.
Moore opened the scoring with 9:25 left in the first. He foiled a hard-around along the right boards, got the puck back from Phillip Danault, skated toward the goal and beat Pickard with a wrist shot.
Foegele gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead on determined rush at 1:31 of the second period. Perry got one back for Edmonton on a power play at 4:11, batting the puck out of the air just below the crossbar and swatting it in as it fell.
MLS announced it is aware of a reported violation of the league's Non-Discrimination Policy that occurred in Sunday's match between Minnesota United FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, and will "immediately begin a thorough review of the matter."
The incident appeared to take place in the 95th minute of Sunday's match, which the Whitecaps won 3-1. The league's broadcast feed showed a verbal altercation between Minnesota's Joseph Rosales and Vancouver's Emmanuel Sabbi, with Sabbi's teammate, Sebastian Berhalter joining in and gesturing at Rosales.
Referee Drew Fischer then appeared to invoke the MLS protocol for violations of the league's Non-Discrimination Policy, speaking with the managers and captains of both teams. Rosales wasn't sanctioned by Fischer, hinting that Fischer was unable to corroborate what was said, and by whom. Play was ultimately allowed to continue.
Tempers continued to run high after the final whistle, however, with verbal altercations taking place. The Minnesota Star-Tribune reported that Rosales shoved a Vancouver player as they headed down the tunnel.
In addition to MLS, Minnesota United also issued a statement, with the club acknowledging that one of its players is alleged to have violated the league's non-discrimination policy.
"Minnesota United is aware of an on-field incident involving one of our players and an allegation of a violation of the League's Non-Discrimination policy," the statement read. "Harassment or discriminatory behavior has no place in our sport, and we condemn all forms of harassment or discrimination. We are in close communication with Major League Soccer and will refrain from making any further comments as the League reviews the matter."
MLS has periodically dealt with issues of players directing discriminatory slurs at opponents. In November of 2023, MLS suspended Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner three games for directing a slur at then-New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood. In April of that year, then-New York Red Bulls forward Dante Vanzeir was suspended six games for a racial slur directed at then-San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ebobisse.
As a means of trying to eliminate such incidents, MLS, in conjunction with advocacy group Black Players For Change and the MLS Players Association, developed a training program that was rolled out prior to the 2024 season. The program's aim is to make all players, especially those from abroad, aware of what verbal phrases are unacceptable and will be punished.
Every individual on the technical side of a team -- players, coaches, support staff -- are required to take part.
Commanders, D.C. reach deal for stadium at RFK
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Commanders are going home. The organization agreed to a deal with the District of Columbia to build a stadium at the site where the team had its greatest success, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Washington struck a deal to play where RFK Stadium -- the team's home from 1961 to 1996 -- still stands. An announcement is expected Monday morning.
Terms of the deal have not been announced, though multiple outlets reported earlier this month that the cost would exceed $3 billion.
Commanders owner Josh Harris has said he would like to open a new stadium in 2030. Washington has a contract with Maryland to play at Northwest Stadium until early in the 2027 season but can continue playing there until a new stadium is built.
Washington mayor Muriel Bowser's plan has long included a stadium, housing, parking facility, hotels and retail space on the 174-acre site, and she has indicated she wants to include a recreational facility.
Bowser has said often she'd like to attract more big-time events such as the Super Bowl or a Final Four, in addition to major concerts.
The D.C. Council must approve any taxpayer money that is used for the project; the group has been split on the topic in the past.
"My position has been that there should not be public dollars -- the D.C. treasury should not be paying toward a stadium," D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) told the Washington Post earlier this month. He told the newspaper that he had been briefed by the mayor on details about a potential deal nearly two weeks ago.
The agreement completes a yearslong search by the organization that gained serious momentum once Harris purchased the Commanders from Dan Snyder. Harris, who grew up in Maryland, made it clear on the day he bought the team in July 2023 how much going to games at RFK Stadium meant to him.
Bowser told ESPN in December that "there were a lot of objections raised to the previous ownership and the direction they took the team."
The momentum further surged once Congress included a provision in a continuing resolution bill in December, giving the city control of the land for the next 99 years. Without that allowance, the Commanders would not have reached an agreement with the city.
Harris and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell lobbied lawmakers on Capitol Hill to pass legislation to allow for the transfer of land. It was signed into law by former President Joe Biden in early January.
At the time, one team source said there was a "75% chance" the Commanders would build a stadium at the RFK site.
The Commanders had considered staying in Landover, Maryland, and building on the site of their current stadium. Virginia had been in contention, but over the past year, it ceased to be a strong option. The team has practiced in Ashburn, Virginia, since 1992; the Commanders' once-antiquated building is in the second year of a three-year upgrade -- renovating the locker room and creating more space for a players' lounge and meeting rooms, among other areas. Their draft war room was used for the first time this past weekend.
RFK has remained a favorite spot for longtime fans, and not just because it's more centrally located. The organization played in five Super Bowls and won three while playing at RFK -- from 1982 to 1991 -- fueling an emotional attachment among the fan base. Harris has talked often about what it meant to him and a number of his co-owners.
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