The Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild can all secure their places in the 2026 NHL playoffs during Thursday’s 14-game schedule.
The Sabres are aiming to end the longest post-season drought in league history at 14 years.
A victory against the Ottawa Senators would guarantee their progression to the knockout stages.
Their Canadian opponents remain locked in a tense battle for a wild-card position alongside the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers.
Hurricanes and Wild seek progression
Over in the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes face a straightforward objective to extend their campaign.
A victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets will be sufficient for the Raleigh-based outfit to punch their playoff ticket.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild require just a single point from their home fixture against the Vancouver Canucks.
Taking the match to overtime or a shootout will ensure the Western Conference contenders advance.
Regular season reaches climax
Just two weeks remain before the regular season officially concludes on 16 April.
Despite all 32 teams having fewer than ten games left to play, only two franchises have mathematically confirmed their playoff participation.
Thursday’s extensive slate of fixtures could drastically alter the post-season landscape as the race for the Stanley Cup intensifies.
Blues and Maori All Blacks lock Cameron Suafoa has retired from rugby at the age of 27 after revealing his cancer has spread and is now terminal.
The Auckland-born forward initially stepped away from the sport in 2024 to undergo treatment before returning to action with North Harbour in the National Provincial Championship.
However, the second row received a subsequent diagnosis confirming the disease had progressed.
Facing a new battle
In a video released by his Super Rugby Pacific franchise on social media, the New Zealand Sarcoma Foundation ambassador confirmed he will begin chemotherapy in the coming days.
I was told the unfortunate news that my cancer has spread, and it was terminal now.
He added that while his playing career is officially over, he is preparing to face a very different and difficult personal challenge.
This team definitely holds a special place in my heart. I was born and raised in Auckland, and was lucky enough to play for the Blues and be here for a few years.
A proud representative career
During his time with the Auckland-based franchise, the highly regarded forward made 31 appearances in the southern hemisphere’s premier club competition.
His impressive domestic form was rewarded with international recognition when he represented the Maori All Blacks against Ireland in Hamilton in June 2022.
World number four Iga Swiatek has appointed Francisco Roig as her new coach ahead of the clay-court season following a split from Wim Fissette.
The four-time French Open champion has recently been training with the Spanish coach at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Manacor.
Roig brings immense elite-level experience, having been a core member of Nadal’s backroom team for 16 of his 22 Grand Slam victories.
A natural fit for the clay courts
The 24-year-old is seeking to rediscover her dominant form following a turbulent period of results that culminated in an opening-round exit at the Miami Open.
Despite previous tournament success alongside Fissette, the Polish star felt her tactical development had stalled under his guidance.
Swiatek’s heavy top-spin technique and aggressive movement on the dirt surface are heavily inspired by her idol Nadal, making his former mentor an ideal tactical match.
I know there are many questions, but l’ll let you know what’s next at the right time.
Iga Swiatek
She added that she was taking time to process the experience and properly prepare for a new chapter in her career.
Raducanu continues solo approach
The new appointment comes just months after Roig was dismissed by Emma Raducanu following a second-round exit at the Australian Open in January.
The former US Open champion ended their six-month partnership amid fundamental disagreements over her playing style and attempted tweaks to her forehand.
I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit.
Emma Raducanu
The British player stated that her natural instincts on the court had been temporarily lost during a period of frequent personnel changes.
She currently remains without a full-time coach and intends to rely on a wider range of voices in the short term to avoid the pressure of public scrutiny.
Outrage has sparked online after a video emerged showing Iraqi football fans being confronted and harassed at a Dallas airport ahead of their 2026 World Cup playoff victory over Bolivia.
The viral footage depicts an individual throwing a banner to the ground and shouting aggressively at the travelling supporters.
He can be heard telling the group not to come to America while threatening to call immigration authorities.
The incident occurred as the supporters transited through Texas to Mexico for their decisive qualification fixture.
Hosting rights questioned
The airport altercation has prompted widespread condemnation across social media platforms.
Several users have called for global governing body Fifa to strip the United States of its co-hosting rights for the upcoming tournament.
Former US ambassador Luis Moreno strongly denounced the footage of his compatriots.
“They transit our country and are met with disdain, ignorance and violence,” Moreno wrote on social media.
“I don’t recognize our nation.”
Historic qualification secured
Despite the distressing scenes, the Lions of Mesopotamia went on to secure a historic triumph at the Estadio BBVA.
Aymen Hussein scored a 53rd-minute winner in a 2-1 victory to ensure the nation’s first appearance at the finals in 40 years.
The Middle Eastern side became the 48th and final team to book their place at the expanded summer tournament.
Group I challenge awaits
A demanding campaign lies ahead for the newly qualified squad.
They have been drawn into Group I alongside European heavyweights France and Norway, as well as African powerhouses Senegal.
Manager Graham Arnold praised his squad’s resilience following the landmark victory.
“Iraq has nothing to lose,” he said.
“We must go to the World Cup with a winning mentality – that’s the only way to achieve something special.”
“Sharing the pitch with players like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland is a great honour, but we will step onto the field to try to surprise the world.”
Manchester City will welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium this Saturday in a blockbuster FA Cup quarter-final clash as both sides chase major domestic silverware.
Pep Guardiola’s side enter the early afternoon kick-off aiming to keep their hopes of a remarkable domestic cup double alive.
The current Carabao Cup holders recently secured that trophy with a hard-fought victory over Arsenal at Wembley.
In contrast, the visiting Merseyside outfit are looking to bounce back immediately following a damaging Premier League defeat to Brighton.
Injury concerns for Guardiola
The hosts are currently sweating on the fitness of key defensive duo Ruben Dias and John Stones ahead of the weekend.
Dias missed the recent cup final triumph over Arsenal due to a hamstring issue and remained absent during the international break.
Stones subsequently withdrew from the England squad with a minor knock, leaving his availability for this crucial tie in serious doubt.
However, recent defensive addition Marc Guehi is eligible to feature for the home side despite playing for Crystal Palace earlier in the competition.
Attacking boost for the Reds
The visitors could welcome back talismanic forward Mohamed Salah, who recently confirmed his intention to leave the club at the end of the season.
Swedish international Alexander Isak is also returning to training, offering a significant attacking boost for a team facing a congested fixture list.
First-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker might return between the posts, though full-back Jeremie Frimpong picked up a knock while representing the Netherlands.
A defining week approaches
This quarter-final tie marks the beginning of a season-defining ten-day period for the away side.
Following their trip to Manchester, they face a daunting Champions League double-header against French champions Paris St-Germain.
With their push for a top-four league finish stuttering, progression in the FA Cup represents a vital opportunity to ensure a successful conclusion to the campaign.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has revealed the tactical adjustments he was forced to make under manager Arne Slot during his final title-winning season at Liverpool before departing for Real Madrid.
The academy graduate spent just one campaign under the Dutch head coach before deciding he needed a new challenge in Spain.
Prior to the managerial transition, the full-back had exclusively played top-flight football under Jurgen Klopp.
The defender explained that his creative output was slightly curtailed as the new coaching staff focused heavily on improving his defensive contributions.
Adapting to a new system
Speaking to the club’s website, the England international detailed the constant adaptability required to execute the new tactical plan.
“In certain games, I’ll be inside because of the way they press. Sometimes they press differently. It all varies on how they press.”
Despite operating in a less advanced attacking role, the 27-year-old acknowledged that the strategic shifts still allowed him to dictate matches.
“The manager will dissect how they press so we can outnumber the way they press.”
Demands for defensive improvement
It remains unclear whether these restrictive positional demands influenced his ultimate decision to leave his boyhood club.
However, the Liverpool boss was previously candid about demanding more solidity from his star right-back.
“When we started to work together, I emphasised also a bit on his defensive work,” Slot told TNT Sports.
“He had to keep producing the numbers in assisting goals, but if we wanted to be a team that concedes less shots, he had to improve a bit in defending.”
Mixed fortunes in the Spanish capital
Since securing his high-profile transfer to the Bernabeu, the former Anfield favourite has experienced a turbulent debut season.
Real Madrid have already undergone a managerial change following the dismissal of head coach Xabi Alonso.
The marquee signing has also struggled to cement a regular starting position and was recently dropped to the bench after arriving late for training.
Despite these early setbacks, he recently provided a crucial assist for Vinicius Jr to secure a dramatic 3-2 victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid.
Former New Zealand rugby player Shane Christie has been posthumously diagnosed with advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following his suspected suicide in August.
Coroner Ian Telford announced the findings on Thursday during a preliminary hearing into the 39-year-old’s death.
The post-mortem examination revealed severe abnormalities in brain tissue linked to repeated head impacts.
The former Crusaders and Highlanders back-rower retired from professional sport in 2018 due to ongoing concussion symptoms.
Campaigning for awareness
Prior to his passing, the ex-Maori All Black believed he was already suffering from the degenerative brain condition.
He became a vocal campaigner for greater understanding of CTE after the suspected suicide of his close friend and fellow professional Billy Guyton.
CTE can only be conclusively diagnosed after death and is known to cause severe mood swings, depression and impulsive behaviour.
Friends and family stated he explicitly wanted his diagnosis made public to raise awareness for other athletes experiencing similar neurological symptoms.
Brain bank confirmation
Pathologist Dr Clinton Turner confirmed the high-stage diagnosis after examining tissue at the University of Auckland brain bank.
Both Christie and Guyton had pledged to donate their brains to the facility to aid scientific research into contact sports.
Telford noted that while the pathology results are clear, the official cause of death will be formally determined by the ongoing coronial process.
The condition continues to cast a long shadow over contact sports, featuring prominently in discussions and lawsuits involving former rugby and American football players.
Governing body response
New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster publicly acknowledged the pathology results and the foundation’s findings.
“New Zealand Rugby acknowledges the CTE pathology results for Shane Christie confirmed by The Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank.”
“We also acknowledge and respect the role of the coroner to determine the nature of any inquiry they may hold examining the cause and circumstances of Shane’s passing.”
The administrator added that the governing body takes the issue of repeated head knocks seriously.
“We share the concerns about the potential long-term effects of repeated head knocks in rugby and support the need for ongoing research into this.”
The Caribbean island of Curacao will become the smallest nation in history to compete at a World Cup after being drawn against Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador for the 2026 tournament.
With a population of roughly 150,000, the Dutch Caribbean state is comparable in size to the English city of Cambridge.
They surpass Iceland to take the record as the most diminutive country to ever reach football’s biggest global stage.
The Blue Wave will make their debut in Group E, facing daunting opposition that includes the four-time world champions.
A unique squad composition
Despite their historic achievement, the national team features a highly unusual demographic makeup.
They are the only competing nation to qualify without a single player in their squad born within the country’s own territory.
Former Manchester United midfielder Tahith Chong is currently the only active professional player who was actually born on the island.
Situated 37 miles off the coast of Venezuela, the 171-square-mile landmass only became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010.
Record-breaking global tournament
The historic qualification arrives ahead of the largest World Cup ever staged, featuring 48 teams for the first time.
A total of 104 matches will be contested across the United States, Mexico and Canada over an unprecedented 39-day period.
Cape Verde have also secured their debut appearance, becoming the third-smallest nation to reach the finals behind Curacao and Iceland.
The global qualifying campaign concluded recently with Iraq claiming the final available spot.
Gruelling qualification process concludes
Iraq defeated Bolivia in an inter-confederation play-off in Monterrey to complete the 48-team lineup.
That decisive fixture brought an end to a marathon qualifying schedule spanning 937 days and 899 matches worldwide.
“Iraq played the most matches throughout qualifying with 21, while Bolivia, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia each featured in 20.”
A Fifa spokesperson confirmed that Iraqi forward Aymen Hussein scored the final goal of a campaign that produced 2,527 strikes globally.
The world champions will ultimately be crowned at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on 19 July.