Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy has won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top netminder for the second time following a stellar 39-win season.
The 31-year-old secured 17 first-place votes from the league’s general managers to comfortably claim the prestigious positional award.
He appeared on 28 of a possible 32 ballots, finishing significantly ahead of finalists Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins stopper Jeremy Swayman.
Chasing historic goaltending milestones
The two-time Stanley Cup champion led the NHL with 39 victories across 58 starts during the regular campaign.
He is now just the sixth goaltender in league history to register nine separate 30-win seasons.
This active streak of nine consecutive 30-win campaigns places the Lightning star second only to Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur, who achieved the feat 12 times.
Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson and Colorado Avalanche netminder Scott Wedgewood also received two first-place votes each to finish just outside the top three.
Guiding Tampa Bay to the postseason
The elite shot-stopper finished the year with a 39-15-4 record, posting a 2.31 goals-against average alongside a .912 save percentage.
His commanding performances, which included two shutouts, were instrumental in helping the Florida franchise secure their ninth successive playoff berth.
In a unique presentation orchestrated by the league, the veteran was surprised with the physical trophy by local police and a K-9 unit outside Benchmark International Arena.
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland will eventually sign for Real Madrid, according to Borussia Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke.
The Norwegian forward has been the subject of intense transfer speculation following bold promises made by Real Madrid presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme.
Riquelme has pledged to bring the prolific goalscorer to the Bernabeu if he is successful in Sunday’s election.
Dortmund chief predicts Spanish move
Watzke, who previously oversaw the striker’s development in Germany, believes a move to the Spanish capital is a certainty.
However, the Dortmund executive dismissed the possibility of an immediate departure from the Etihad Stadium.
“I know very well what he thinks, and I can say that he certainly admires Real Madrid and would like to play for them in the future, but next season he will continue playing for Manchester City.”
Hans-Joachim Watzke
Watzke added that the former Bundesliga star will likely make the switch in two or three years.
Manchester City threaten legal action
The Premier League champions have fiercely rejected the Spanish reports, insisting there is no contractual clause enabling such a transfer.
City released a firm statement condemning the claims and confirming they are considering legal action regarding the unauthorised use of their player’s image.
The Manchester club maintain that the stories are completely unfounded and there is absolutely no chance of the transfer happening.
Representatives dismiss election promises
The player’s agent, Rafaela Pimenta, and his father, Alfie, have also publicly dismissed the ongoing election rumours.
They released a joint statement describing the Madrid-based claims as entertaining but entirely untrue.
Despite the strong denials from the English club and the player’s camp, Riquelme remains adamant about his transfer strategy.
The presidential candidate insists that formal negotiations will commence immediately if he secures a victory at the ballot box.
Former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has been appointed as the new head coach of Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava.
The move marks the first senior managerial position for the African football icon, following several assistant roles across Europe and the Middle East.
He replaces departing boss Vladimir Weiss, who stepped down this summer after a successful five-year tenure in the dugout.
Slovan Bratislava recently secured their eighth consecutive domestic league title, earning them a place in the upcoming Champions League qualifying rounds.
A wealth of elite experience
The midfield powerhouse enjoyed a glittering playing career, winning three Premier League titles and the FA Cup during an eight-year stay at the Etihad Stadium.
Before his dominant spell in England, the highly decorated player claimed La Liga and Champions League honours with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Following his retirement in 2019, the 41-year-old embarked on a coaching career that began as an assistant at Olimpik Donetsk and Akhmat Grozny.
He later spent a season working within Tottenham Hotspur’s academy setup before taking up coaching positions at Standard Liege and with the Saudi Arabia national team.
Champions League ambitions
Taking charge of the Slovakian heavyweights represents a significant opportunity, with immediate expectations to guide the club through European qualification.
The domestic title winners participated in the newly expanded Champions League league phase during the 2024-25 season, finishing 35th out of 36 teams.
Reports suggest the new manager is keen to bring in former Celtic and Swansea City coach Darren O’Dea as his assistant.
Toure follows his older brother Kolo into front-line management, after the former Arsenal defender’s brief stint in charge of Wigan Athletic.
The Bulls recovered from an 18-point deficit to defeat Glasgow Warriors 22-21 in the United Rugby Championship semi-final at Murrayfield.
Defeat brings more heartbreak for the Scottish outfit, who were hoping to preserve their hopes of silverware after exiting the Champions Cup at the quarter-final stage.
The South African visitors will now contest their fourth Grand Final on 20 June against either Leinster or the Stormers.
Steyn double puts Glasgow in control
Handre Pollard initially gave the away side a penalty lead before being sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.
The table-toppers capitalised immediately when Kyle Rowe found Kyle Steyn to cross the whitewash.
Moments later, Sione Tuipulotu provided a brilliant offload for the Glasgow captain to score his second try in almost the exact same spot.
Things went from bad to worse for the Pretoria-based franchise when a rolling maul resulted in a penalty try for the hosts.
Ruan Nortje was subsequently sent to the sin-bin in the aftermath of the collapse.
Bulls stage dramatic fightback
The visitors urgently needed a response and finally broke through right before the interval.
Johan Grobbelaar touched down following a powerful push at the line, cutting the half-time deficit to 21-10.
Momentum shifted drastically early in the second period when Warriors lock Scott Cummings was yellow-carded for repeated infringements.
Embrose Papier immediately took advantage of the extra space to skip over for a crucial second try.
The turnaround was completed shortly after as Cameron Hanekom broke the defensive line to set up Francois Klopper under the posts.
That score capped a run of 19 unanswered points, putting the two-time runners-up into a narrow lead they would never relinquish.
Frustration for Smith
Despite Pollard missing three consecutive penalties in the closing stages, the hosts failed to generate any attacking momentum from late scrums.
Head coach Franco Smith admitted his side gave away too much ground defensively during the second-half collapse.
I’m obviously disappointed with the result.
Bulls did very well in the second half. For now, disappointed – not with the effort or how we played, just the result.
We gave too many yards in defence and that’s most disappointing. I know this group, we can deliver a better defensive performance.
Haas teammates Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman engaged in an expletive-laden radio exchange after repeatedly impeding each other during Friday practice for the Monaco Grand Prix.
The narrow streets of Monte Carlo are notoriously difficult to navigate when multiple cars are attempting flying laps.
Traffic management proved to be an insurmountable issue for the American outfit during the weekend’s opening sessions.
Ocon fumes at track blockages
The 21-year-old Briton found himself inadvertently blocking his teammate on multiple occasions while pushing for consecutive quick laps.
Despite driving for the same garage, the older Frenchman did not hold back when broadcasting his anger to the pit wall.
“He doesn’t have to f*** my laps twice as well, you know, on the fast laps,” the Evreux native complained to his race engineer.
Bearman responds to aggressive overtake
The 29-year-old then aggressively overtook his younger counterpart approaching the tight Anthony Noghes corner.
However, the furious reaction was far from one-sided after the abrasive track manoeuvre disrupted the British driver’s rhythm.
“What an idiot, man. That was so stupid from Esteban,” Bearman fired back over his own communications channel.
Championship disparity adds to tension
The on-track squabble highlights a growing pressure within the Haas camp amid contrasting fortunes in the 2026 campaign.
The rookie currently sits ninth in the drivers’ standings with 18 points, keeping him firmly in the midfield fight.
Conversely, his more experienced stablemate languishes down in 16th place, having secured just a single point so far this season.
Antonelli secures pole on unforgiving circuit
Beyond the inter-team drama, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli mastered the 3.337-kilometre track to claim pole position for Sunday’s race.
Securing the front of the grid is traditionally crucial in the Principality, where the sheer width of modern machinery makes overtaking almost impossible.
The historic street circuit remains a beloved but heavily scrutinised staple of the calendar, featuring on every schedule since the inaugural world championship in 1950.
Jockey Ronan Whelan has steered Aidan O’Brien’s Christmas Day to a thrilling victory in the 2026 Epsom Derby under challenging weather conditions at Epsom Downs.
Royal attendance despite dismal weather
The prestigious 1.5-mile flat race took place under testing conditions, with heavy rain severely altering the complexion of the historic Surrey circuit.
Despite the shocking weather, King Charles and Queen Camilla were among the spectators witnessing the pinnacle of the British flat racing season.
Maltese Cross secured a commendable second-place finish, while James J. Braddock crossed the line in third.
A tactical masterclass on the Downs
The iconic course, renowned for its steep initial ascent and the treacherous downhill sweep at Tattenham Corner, demanded extreme tactical discipline from the entire field.
The winning colt surged to the front with several furlongs remaining and stubbornly held off his rivals to seal a famous triumph.
Master trainer Aidan O’Brien was seen celebrating jubilantly as his equine prodigy confidently crossed the winning post.
Whelan reacts to effortless ride
A clearly emotional Whelan expressed utter disbelief at securing one of the most coveted prizes in world horse racing.
“They just told me to keep it simple, when he is out in front he never gets it wrong,” the victorious rider told ITV Racing.
“The horse has done it so easy, he loves the ground and it just felt so effortless for him.”
The Irishman acknowledged the monumental support from his family and racing colleagues in the immediate aftermath.
“My Mum, Dad and girlfriend are here, I can’t thank them enough, the whole team, everybody, I’ve met friends for life, it hasn’t sunk in.”
Reflecting on the decisive moment of the contest, the jockey pinpointed the famous descent as the definitive turning point.
“When we were running down the hill, I knew I had loads left,” he added.
“He just took it all on his stride. He is a credit to anyone who has anything to do with him.”
Former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi has urged the club to sign free agent Robert Lewandowski this summer to mentor young striker Benjamin Sesko.
The 37-year-old Poland international will officially become a free agent next month following his departure from Barcelona.
Despite his advancing years, Rossi believes the veteran marksman still possesses the quality to perform at the highest level.
Invaluable experience for a rising star
Rossi highlighted the profound impact such a seasoned professional could have on the development of Old Trafford’s current attacking prodigy.
“Of course, Lewandowski would be an incredible asset for the young players, providing his experience and big-game knowledge,” Rossi told Ozoon.
“With Benjamin Sesko being a young, growing player, having someone like Lewandowski on the team would only benefit him.”
The former Italian international described the potential short-term deal as a “no-brainer” with mutual benefits.
Overcoming early struggles at Old Trafford
Sesko arrived in Manchester from RB Leipzig last summer in a lucrative £73.7m transfer.
The Slovenian international initially found it difficult to shoulder the immense pressure of his hefty price tag and the responsibility of leading the line.
Early season difficulties were compounded by intense social media scrutiny, particularly after a costly penalty miss during a Carabao Cup shootout defeat to Grimsby.
He managed a disappointing return of just two goals across his first 17 appearances in all competitions.
Carrick sparks a remarkable turnaround
However, the forward’s fortunes shifted dramatically following the appointment of Michael Carrick as head coach in early January.
Under the guidance of the former United midfielder, the young striker concluded the campaign with double-digit goals, propelling his side to a top-three Premier League finish.
“He’s been fantastic, we’ve worked with him a lot in different ways over the last couple of weeks,” Carrick remarked after a crucial late winner against Fulham in February.
“He’s bright in training, he’s looked dangerous, he’s done extra.”
Adding a decorated Champions League winner to the dressing room could now provide the perfect final catalyst to elevate the promising goalscorer to the next tier of European football.
Emma Raducanu will face an unseeded qualifier in the opening round of her Queen’s Club debut, having been placed in the opposite half of the draw to world number two Elena Rybakina.
The Briton enters the London grass-court event seeking momentum after suffering a first-round exit at the French Open against Argentina’s Solana Sierra.
To prepare for the demanding grass swing, the former US Open champion has reunited with coach Andrew Richardson.
Richardson famously guided the sensational teenager to her landmark Flushing Meadows triumph in 2021.
Boulter faces tough path
Fellow British player Katie Boulter has also received a wildcard entry for the prestigious West London tournament.
The home favourite faces a challenging opening test against eighth seed Leylah Fernandez.
If successful, Boulter remains on a collision course to meet the formidable Rybakina in the third round.
The draw features significant depth across the board, with world number six Amanda Anisimova and ninth-ranked Victoria Mboko also joining the elite field.
Historic return to West London
This year marks only the second occasion the women’s HSBC Championships will be held following a 52-year absence from the WTA calendar.
German qualifier Tatjana Maria claimed the title upon the tournament’s triumphant revival in 2025.
The event serves as vital preparation for Wimbledon, effectively kicking off the British grass-court season just up the road from SW19.
Main draw singles action gets under way on June 8, culminating in the showpiece final on June 14.