After James Harden recorded his seventh triple-double since joining the Brooklyn Nets in a 124-113 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, his teammate Kyrie Irving didn't bat an eyelash.

"We have to implement the phrase 'get used to it,'" Irving said with a smile.

It didn't faze Irving that -- according to Elias Sports Bureau research -- Harden became the first player to record 30 points, 15 assists and at least 10 rebounds with zero turnovers since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78. Harden finished with 14 rebounds on the night.

"When James is being James," Irving said, "it makes our job a lot easier. And so we got to get used to somebody special like that, things like that in terms of breaking records. So, I can't wait to be right alongside of him, my name in Nets history -- and all the guys on our team where we're just breaking records as a team, and then individually we're stacking up with some of the best to ever play."

Seven triple-doubles is also the most in a season by a Nets player since Jason Kidd had 12 in 2007-08, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

After he committed six turnovers in the Nets' loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Harden vowed to be more careful handling the basketball.

"If I'm the point guard," Harden said Monday, "and my teammates and coaching staff is giving me the responsibility to handle the basketball, I have to do a really good job with my passes, making them precise and not just giving away points."

After going on a 10-0 run down the stretch Monday night, the Spurs were able to force overtime on a buzzer-beater from Dejounte Murray.

The Nets were up by double digits with just under four minutes remaining in regulation before they allowed the Spurs to get going. Harden said he was pleased with how the Nets refocused in overtime.

"We hear all the talk about us not being a very good defensive team," Harden said. "We're picking that up, and we're finding ways to get better."

The Nets have one game remaining before the All-Star break -- against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. It will also be the first time Harden faces off against his former team.

"We're excited to play basketball, go back to where James had a great career," Irving said. "Looking forward to the experience, looking forward to having fun. It's going to be highly competitive, a lot of great players, no animosity on the court: Just greatness on display."

Irving added: "Everybody at home, enjoy the game, there will be no tension and no s--- -talking going on, on the court or about James in my presence or anybody else's presence. So we're coming to Houston, to enjoy the game of basketball and play it at a high level on behalf of James and the rest of the guys, because we know it's a special night regardless."

On Saturday, following a disappointing loss at the San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson told reporters he felt like his team was close to what it wanted to be. The Pelicans had just played two tough road games with losses to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Spurs, but he thought things could turn around soon.

"I feel like we're almost there," Williamson said. "I really feel like we're almost there. There's that final few things we need to figure out, but we're almost there."

Consider Monday night's effort a step in the right direction.

Behind Williamson's charge in the third quarter, the Pelicans toppled the team with the best record in the league, holding on late to defeat the visiting Utah Jazz 129-124.

The Pelicans lead by 17 early in the fourth quarter but watched the Jazz cut it all the way down to a single point in the final minute, before escaping with the victory after a pair of stops on Utah's final three possessions. Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy joked that his team didn't hang on to the lead as much as it was able to build it up high enough to where Utah couldn't come back.

The Jazz (27-8) came into the game with a plus-161 point differential in the third quarter this season, which was 70 points better than any other team. But the Pelicans (15-19) outscored them in the third by 16 points -- the worst third-quarter differential of the season for Utah.

"Tonight, we wanted to come out strong in the third," Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball said. "That was one of the focal points from the coaching staff. This game, Utah has been blowing people out in that third quarter, so that was one of the focuses. Z kind of led the charge in the third for us."

Williamson scored 15 of his 26 points in the third as the Pelicans built their lead.

"My mindset was whatever I can do to get my teammates energy, that's what I'll do," Williamson said. "In the third quarter, after the first two quarters of me reading their defense, I really got a feel for it and I was on the attack."

Attacking the basket was the Pelicans' focus throughout the night. They finished with 74 points in the paint, the most any team has scored in the paint in regulation against the Jazz in the past 25 seasons, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

"It's crazy that we got to the basket so much with a defensive player like Rudy Gobert, where he's at the rim all night, every single night," Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram said of Utah's All-Star center. "But we made it happen."

Scoring so much in the paint meant the Pelicans didn't have to rely on 3-point attempts. New Orleans went 7-for-11 from 3-point range, and the 11 attempts were the fewest in a game by any winning team over the past four seasons, according to data from ESPN Stats & Info. Coupled with Utah's 43 attempts from deep, the game had the largest differential between two teams for 3-point attempts this season.

When Williamson was scoring in the third quarter, the Pelicans stayed with him, and he even went directly at Gobert on a few occasions.

"It means he's fearless," Ingram said of the 20-year-old Williamson. "Knowing that [Gobert is] a two-time Defensive Player of the Year or just a really, really, really good defensive player, he's just fearless. He knows the angles of the shot. He knows what to do when he goes into the game. He's not going to waver for anybody. He's going to keep going and keep going until he gets to where he wants to get to."

The Pelicans have wins over Utah, Milwaukee and the Phoenix Suns this season, along with a 24-point comeback to fell the Boston Celtics. But New Orleans also has suffered losses to the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves, teams at the bottom of the standings in their respective conferences.

For a team Williamson thinks is "almost there," Van Gundy said the Pelicans are talented enough to beat anybody in the league but that they make too many mistakes and haven't been consistent enough on defense to string together wins the way they want to.

Williamson agreed.

"For us to take it to the next level, we have to continue it for the next few games," he said. "We gotta be consistent with it."

The connection between Major League Soccer and South America continues to grow by leaps and bounds. MLS has has consistently sent its scouts to the continent, notably Argentina, where they have found good deals. Players like Mauro Diaz, once seen as a big prospect at River Plate, spent the best five years of his career at FC Dallas. And although Miguel Almiron is Paraguayan, he was plucked from Argentine football when Atlanta United FC signed him from Lanus in 2017 before letting him join Newcastle United for $29 million two years later.

Now another MLS upstart is hoping to continue that trend of importing talent from South America. Austin FC will make its debut this season and has put together a roster with notable talent from the region. Then again, Claudio Reyna, Austin FC's sporting director and one of the first truly great players produced by the United States, is the son of an Argentine player, Miguel, who played professionally with Los Andes. So perhaps the link up is natural.

- MLS pushes back opening day to April 7
- Stream MLS matches on ESPN+ (U.S. only)

Reyna most recently looked to Argentina in landing a marquee player. Midfielder Tomas Pochettino, who signed as a Designated Player last month, will be a key cog to the Texas club's debut campaign. Unlike more slightly-built players from Argentina who have thrived in MLS at the No. 10 position, the 25-year-old is bigger, stronger and more dynamic, and may well start off playing a little deeper. His outstanding asset is the power and precision in his right boot; he can spray long diagonal balls from deep and emerge in the penalty area to test the opposing goalkeeper himself too.

After coming through the ranks at Boca Juniors, Pochettino had to move to the provinces, to Talleres de Cordoba, to get some game time. So well has he done over the past two years that he was reportedly on the radar of a number of big Brazilian clubs and the fact that he has chosen to head to the United States is testament to the rising financial power and sporting credibility of MLS.

Pochettino should find a welcoming South American environment in Austin. Uruguay's Diego Fagundez and MLS SuperDraft No. 1 pick Daniel Pereira, who moved to the U.S. after his parents sought asylum from Venezuela, will be among his new teammates.

Austin FC manager Josh Wolff, a longtime MLS player and assistant coach, will lean on his newly formed South American contingent in hopes of reproducing the type of success that Atlanta had when it debuted in 2017. In addition to the three players above, Austin also have tapped into a pipeline from Parguayan side Club Guarani.

Jhohan Romana, 22, is a Colombian centre-back who is strong, quick and uncomplicated; Rodney Redes, 20, is a barrel-chested wide midfielder; while great things have been expected from 26-year-old Cecilio Dominguez, a subtle and skillful wide striker. Dominguez's career has also taken spells in Mexico and Argentina without him yet hitting the heights of which he seems capable, but perhaps the connection with fellow Designated Player signee Pochettino will be the key and ensure a stable partnership.

Those three players were part of a Guarani side that punched magnificently above their weight last season to reach the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, having fought through three qualifying rounds and eliminated the mighty Corinthians of Brazil along the way. They also put up a strong domestic showing -- finishing fifth in the Clausura, then losing in the playoff final on penalties to eventual champions Olimpia.

Austin may mirror Atlanta's initial success, or stumble out the blocks like Inter Miami CF -- another club that has signed young South American talent with mixed results -- but it's clear that Reyna and his staff laying the foundation for an eventful debut campaign.

Big Picture

The logistics have changed significantly due to the impact of the Auckland lockdown, and there won't be any crowds to witness the rest of the games, but the challenge remains the same for Australia: they need to win three matches in a row in Wellington if they are to take the series.

New Zealand, with a full-strength side, are playing dynamic, confident cricket although did breathe a sigh of relief at the end of a pulsating contest in Dunedin where the game was nearly snatched away from Marcus Stoinis and Daniel Sams.

Australia have identified that it is the post-powerplay, pre-death period with the ball where they have especially struggled to match New Zealand. From overs 7-16 they have conceded 11.35 and taken just three wickets, while the home side have gone for 9.02 runs per over and claimed 10 wickets.

The return to form of Martin Guptill in Dunedin ticked another box for New Zealand with most players having now made a contribution across the first two games. However, Tim Seifert has started with two low scores and Kyle Jamieson has had a tough time going for 56 in Dunedin.

Both squads had some downtime in the unusually long break between matches. The Auckland-based New Zealand players who briefly returned home had to hastily leave the city when lockdown was announced and underwent precautionary Covid-19 tests which all came back negative on Monday. New Zealand were the first international side to play behind closed doors during the pandemic, against Australia at the SCG last March, but this will be their first time since.

Form guide

(last five completed matches)

New Zealand WWLWW
Australia LLWLL

In the spotlight

Glenn Maxwell hasn't got going yet in the series with scores of 1 and 3. In the opening match he edged the swinging new ball to slip and in the second was well caught at short third man when off a top-edged reverse sweep. Where he comes in is dedicated by how many wickets Australia have lost and the ideal scenario is a base to work from but a reasonable number of overs remaining. Depending on the balance of Australia's attack it could be that his offspin is used a bit more having sent down one over in the series so far.

Trent Boult has impressed in two contrasting stages of the innings in the first two games. In Christchurch he found movement with the new ball and claimed early wickets to seal the game, then in Dunedin produced the over that gave New Zealand breathing space at the death when he went for just six in the 18th against the brutal bats of Stoinis and Sams. He has been the standout pace bowler on either side.

Team news

Jamieson's spot could come under pressure after two expensive outings although there will be a desire to show faith in him. Hamish Bennett is the other bowling option in the squad. There would seem little reason to alter the batting.

New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tim Seifert, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult

Australia coach Andrew McDonald hinted at a change or two being made although he did that before the second match and it became the same XI. There could be a chance that they strengthen the pace attack, perhaps with Andrew Tye or Jason Behrendorff, at the expense of a spinner, although both Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa were given a vote of confidence, or boost the batting and rely on more overs from the allrounders.

Australia (possible) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Josh Philippe, 3 Matthew Wade (wk), 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Daniel Sams, 8 Ashton Agar/Andrew Tye/Jason Behrendorff/D'Arcy Short, 9 Jhye Richardson, 10 Kane Richardson, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and conditions

The Cake Tin, as it is colloquially known, has the lowest run rate (8.03) of any T20I venue in New Zealand. One of the quirks is that teams don't train at the ground, instead using the Basin Reserve, so visiting sides don't have much change to assess conditions although with three games in a row there is time for Australia to get used to them. The forecast is for a cloudy but dry evening.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have only played one previous T20I at the venue in 2010
• New Zealand have a good record at the ground with eight wins from 12 matches. Last season they lost in a Super Over against India

Quotes

"The one thing we can control is our bowling. We'll look at how we use our bowling in that [middle] phase of the game. Clearly as a batting unit we're trying to be aggressive in that period of time anyway. It's more how we defend the New Zealand batters and what match-ups we use in that period of time I'd say where we get the most improvement out of our performance."
Andrew McDonald

"It's definitely different. At the end of the day think it comes down to individuals' attitudes around that and how they respond. Of course we love playing in front of crowds, but in this Covid era we need to be able to adapt and it's something we pride ourselves and hope you see a really good performance out of us still."
Gary Stead, the New Zealand coach, on going behind closed doors

English cricket will receive a "significant chunk" of a new £300m summer sports recovery package.

"There's nothing that says summer more than watching your favourite team," said Sunak.

"I can't wait for sports grounds to be filled with fans with atmosphere again - this £300m cash boost will help make that a reality."

Details of how the cash will be distributed, how organisations can apply and timeframes, are set to be announced in the coming weeks.

This will only benefit sports in England, with a total of £57m of separate funding to be provided for the Scottish government (£29m), Welsh government (£18m) and Northern Ireland executive (£10m).

The financial boost comes after an initial £300m was made available last November for certain sports in what was called Winter Survival Package.

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) spokesperson said: "We welcome the government's intention to extend the support given to winter sports so that cricket and other summer sports are given a financial safety net and are able to bid as well.

"Playing behind closed doors for all of last season has already had a severe financial impact on cricket, and that will continue this year until full crowds are able to return."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has backed a potential UK and the Republic of Ireland bid for the 2030 World Cup. Fifa's formal bidding process to stage the tournament will be launched next year.

In an interview with The Sun, Johnson said: "We are very, very keen to bring football home in 2030. I do think it's the right place."

The paper says Sunak's Budget will set aside £2.8m to promote the UK and Ireland's official pitch to Fifa.

Johnson added that he is offering Britain's stadiums to host every game of this year's delayed European Championship.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – When he announced that he was cutting back from racing IndyCars full time this year to pursue other interests, Marco Andretti specifically mentioned sports cars as a possibility.

That prospect took a big step toward reality when the third-generation driver tested alongside cousin Jarett Andretti last week in a Le Mans Prototype 3 (LMP3) at Sebring Int’l Raceway.

Admitting he had “a lot of fun” driving a prototype for the first time in nearly a decade, Marco Andretti indicated that he and Jarett may be sharing the Ligier JS P320 in at least a couple IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship races later this season.

“Right now, they’re looking at The Glen and Road America,” Marco said. “I may jump in for another test before then, but that’s what they’re looking at. I don’t know if they’ve made a final decision on it yet, but I’m kind of letting Jarett run the reins on it. If he calls me up and I’m free, I’ll go drive.”

Jarett Andretti is already set to run the No. 18 Andretti Autosport Ligier with co-driver Tristan Herbert for the full IMSA Prototype Challenge season. They finished fourth in their debut at the Daytona International Speedway season opener on Jan. 24.

Since the Prototype Challenge is a development series open only to Silver- and Bronze-rated drivers, Marco’s Gold rating makes him ineligible to drive in that series.

Instead, they’re looking to the WeatherTech Championship, which added LMP3 as a fifth competition class this season.

Prior to last week’s test, Marco hadn’t been in a prototype since racing a Daytona Prototype in the Rolex 24 At Daytona nine years ago.

He also drove an Acura-powered Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2) for three races in 2008 and made his sole 24 Hours of Le Mans attempt in a Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1) entry in 2010.

He said he’s always adapted quickly to prototypes, and the LMP3 test was no exception.

“It’s almost about slowing myself down a little bit and driving to the limit of them,” he said. “You kind of find yourself right at the limit pretty quick in those things so I was able to be pretty quick relative to the others.

“(The LMP3 has) a little less grip from the Acura that I drove but they (LMP3s) are super underpowered, so the biggest difference from IndyCar is they’re even more of a momentum car,” the 2006 Indianapolis 500 runner-up and 2020 Indy pole sitter said. “It’s all about keeping the minimum speeds up and keeping the momentum up. That’s where I was able to find a decent chunk of my time.

“In the high-speed corners, it still takes a lot of commitment.”

Speaking of commitment, Marco said his top priority remains winning the Indy 500 – “the big one,” as he put it. It’s a life-changing accomplishment that his grandfather Mario reached in 1969 but his father Michael was unable to achieve despite numerous close calls.

Aside from that continuing desire, Marco admitted he’s enjoying his newfound freedom.

“I’m actually loving life,” he said. “I’m kind of in control of my own destiny from a racing point of view. I can still win the big one and kind of be more diverse from there. I’m at my own will, whatever I feel like driving.”

He’s already signed up for good friend Tony Stewart’s Superstar Racing Experience (SRX), a six-race, prime-time series this summer putting greats from multiple racing disciplines – including Stewart, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte and Michael Waltrip from NASCAR, Willy T. Ribbs from sports cars, and Tony Kanaan, Paul Tracy and Helio Castroneves from IndyCars – in identical high-horsepower, low-downforce cars at short tracks around the nation.

“I couldn’t say no to (Stewart) on that,” Marco said. “That’s going to be too fun.”

The SRX event at Stewart’s Eldora Speedway in Ohio conflicts with the WeatherTech Championship weekend at Watkins Glen International in late June, but Jarett Andretti told his cousin to “double duty it” since the SRX race is at night and Marco could make the short private flight between the tracks.

Jarett Andretti knows all about double duty, as his late father, John, was the first to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 in the same day back in 1994, when Jarett was a year-and-a-half old.

Marco feels added incentive to drive with Jarett, who’s five years his junior and worked his way up through the dirt-track and GT racing ranks.

In the span of a year, Jarett’s father – the versatile NASCAR, IndyCar, drag racing and 1989 Rolex 24 At Daytona winner – died after a lengthy battle with colorectal cancer and Jarett’s grandfather Aldo – Mario’s twin brother and a talented racer as well until sustaining serious injuries in the 1960s – passed away in December at age 80.

Something Jarett told Marco recently provided all the motivation the latter needed.

“It meant a lot to me when he said, ‘We’ve got to make these races happen because it’s the closest thing I’m going to get to driving with my dad,’” Marco recalled of what Jarett said. “I was humbled to hear that. It would be my pleasure to co-drive with him.”

The next IMSA Prototype Challenge race, in which Herbert and Jarett Andretti are slated to compete, is March 13 at Sebring. It also falls on Marco Andretti’s 34th birthday.

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – A fresh face has joined the promotional and management team at Selinsgrove Speedway as Selinsgrove businessman Todd Benner has joined Speedway Management Group LLC, the management team that currently manages the historic oval’s efforts.

Benner, owner of nearby Selinsgrove Ford, has been involved in local sprint car racing on a sponsorship level for over a decade and has supplied the speedway’s pace truck for some 20 years while supporting the oval with other sponsorship efforts.

At the same time, fellow local business leader Brian Scandle of NRG Controls North, who has been part of the management team since its inception in 2016, will be increasing his role at the facility.

Both Scandle and Benner plan on taking active roles in not only speedway promotion but in race night activity as well.

“I’m excited to have Todd join our team as we work to make Selinsgrove Speedway a premium race track in central PA,” Scandle said.

General Manager Steve Inch and majority partner Mike Heffner will continue their roles as lead members of the Selinsgrove management team.

Heffner, well known as a successful sprint car owner and businessman, has been the driving force in the promotion of the speedway since Speedway Management Group LLC. was formed five years ago.

“I look forward to working with both Todd and Brian,” said Heffner.

“Together, their involvement will add to the success of the speedway not only this year but into the future as well.”

His move into the role of promoter at the speedway for the new season comes naturally to the 55-year-old Benner, now a third-generation owner of Selinsgrove Ford.

“I guess racing has always been in my blood,” said Benner of his move into promoter.

“My dad (Ray) took me to the track when he owned the Selinsgrove Motors No. 63 late model driven by Paul Long in the 70’s and as I started to get more involved at Selinsgrove Ford, I wanted to have a relationship with Selinsgrove Speedway.”

Benner views his personal step up at Selinsgrove Speedway as a continuation of Selinsgrove Ford’s mission to be supportive of the community.

“Helping out in our community is what Selinsgrove Ford is all about,” Benner says.

“My passion for the track has only grown stronger. So I’m looking forward to working with all the Selinsgrove Speedway team members to continue to improve the track, to have great communication with the owners and drivers, and to have exciting racing for our growing fan base.”

Alan Kreitzer, an original member of the Selinsgrove Speedway promotional team, will now step back from active management of the speedway.

“The team of Mike Heffner, Brian Scandle and Todd Benner gives Selinsgrove a great management team moving forward,” said Kreitzer. “I am very optimistic about the future of Selinsgrove Speedway.”

“We would like to thank Alan for all of his efforts in helping with the improvements at Selinsgrove Speedway since our group took over promotional duties in 2016,” noted Heffner.

“While we started as partners, we have also become good friends and I am happy that Alan will continue to be part of our team in an advisory capacity.”

Inch, who has been involved in the operations of the speedway for more than 30 years, echoes Heffner’s thoughts.

“I’d like to thank Alan for his guidance over the last five years to keep Selinsgrove’s racing tradition alive and well,” he said.

“I look forward to Todd joining our promotional team for the track’s 75th anniversary. The Benner family is very generous in supporting community organizations and the speedway has been a beneficiary of their support for many years.”

Benner and Selinsgrove Ford will host Race Day At The Dealership coming up this Saturday from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m., offering season schedules and seat sales.

ABBOTTSTOWN, Pa. – All winter, Matt Campbell balanced the excitement of taking over the Premier Racing Team No. 21 with the weighty expectations Brian Montieth left behind.

It’s an interesting mix for the 22-year-old, whose outlook is sky high, yet somewhat daunted because he has shoes the size of an eight-time Lincoln Speedway track champion to fill.

But on Saturday, in Lincoln Speedway’s season-opening Ice Breaker, Campbell put aside all anxieties and turned in a fifth-place run to kickstart his season.

“After having a run like that, any worries, any little doubts that would have been there, are gone,” Campbell said through a smile Saturday at Lincoln Speedway.

With eight laps to go, Campbell had actually challenged eventual winner Tim Wagaman for the lead. It didn’t go as planned, though. Campbell got a little overzealous going for the top spot, swinging himself out of line when he tried setting up the go-ahead pass.

He lost his momentum and three spots in the process, but managed to hold on to fifth.

“Maybe I drove it a little aggressive in there going into [turn] one,” Campbell said, second-guessing himself before remembering why he pulled the move to begin win. “I just tried to set myself up to get a shot at the lead.”

Campbell started fourth in the 30-lap feature and powered his way to second, around Kyle Moody, with 10 laps to go. Over those next two laps, Campbell shrunk the lead in turns three and four, and with eight to go, he set himself up to pass Wagaman.

That’s when Campbell swung it in on the top too aggressively, getting sideways and clipping Moody, who drove by. Tim Glatfelter and Alan Krimes passed Campbell, too, leaving the Premier Racing Team driver backpedaling in lapped traffic.

“At this point, a feature like [Saturday], it’s about a game of patience,” Campbell said. “Maybe I got a little impatient there. I don’t know. I was just trying to set myself to make a pass and get the win. I can’t complain.”

At this stage in the year, with everything fresh and a long, nine-month season ahead, little victories are just as important as real wins.

Campbell was visibly one of the strongest machines of the 26 that competed Saturday, clocking the third-fastest lap of the feature with a lap of 13.799 seconds.

It was just one, overly-optimistic move that ended up defining Campbell’s day.

“It happens,” Campbell said. “We knew we had a good car. We ran up in the front and had a shot for [the win]. It’s not often you come out on the first night and run that good. There’s a lot of good guys that struggled all night. I can’t complain.

“We’re happy with how the car operated. It’s a pretty decent way to start the year.”

Staff from Performance Racing Industry have been crossing the country with a world-class film crew, highlighting companies inside the motorsports community. In Episode 6, Ralph Sheheen talks to the team at Steeda, fire suppression systems from SPA Technique, fuel injections, and everything to make your car perform on the street or track.

The NHL closed February with a season-low-matching four players on its COVID-19 list.

Detroit's Patrik Nemeth entered the protocol on Sunday, while Ottawa's Ryan Dzingel and Philadelphia's Travis Konecny were cleared after spending two weeks on the list.

Konecny was the final Flyers player in the protocol after the team had as many as seven on the list on Feb. 17.

Philadelphia struggled on the ice at that point, but the Flyers have rebounded as players have returned. After losing to the Boston Bruins 7-3 on Feb. 21, Philadelphia has now won three in a row, outscoring opponents 10-3.

The overall NHL numbers have stayed in single digits since Feb. 22, when there were nine players in the protocol. Overall, that's down from a season-high 59 players on the list Feb. 12.

Nemeth's addition ups the total to 129 players having spent at least one day in the protocol. The New Jersey Devils top that list with 21 players affected and spending a combined 259 days on the COVID-19 list.

Montreal and Calgary are the only NHL teams that have not had a player placed in the protocol since the season began on Jan. 13.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.