Jordan Staal netted his second goal of the night at the 6:32 mark of the third period, giving the Carolina Hurricanes the lead they needed to defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday evening. The victory evens the championship series at two games apiece, with Game 5 scheduled for Thursday night in Carolina.
Nikolaj Ehlers contributed an empty-net goal along with two assists for Carolina, while Jackson Blake recorded one goal and one assist. Logan Stankoven also found the back of the net for the Hurricanes. Goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped 18 shots in the winning effort.
For Vegas, Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden each scored goals, with Carter Hart making 23 saves between the pipes.
Court officials supervising the NFL’s $1 billion concussion settlement have banned five law firms from processing additional claims after discovering fraudulent practices. The firms allegedly directed clients to doctors who would diagnose Parkinson’s disease regardless of whether symptoms were present. According to a report filed this week in federal court in Philadelphia, these five firms handled cases for 98 former players seeking Parkinson’s disease payouts from the settlement. Dozens of approved claims totaled $95 million, with attorneys collecting approximately $20 million in fees.
A Wake County Superior Court judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by 31 former N.C. State male athletes who accused the school’s former sports medicine director of sexual abuse disguised as treatment and harassment. Judge Bryan Collins dismissed the claims against Robert M. Murphy Jr. and several N.C. State athletics officials on Tuesday, citing procedural issues including an expired statute of limitations for claims dating to 2013. Durham attorney Kerry Sutton, who represents the athletes, announced plans to appeal the decision.
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes recently took an unexpected detour during his off day that helped lift his spirits during a challenging stretch. The reigning NL Cy Young winner was driving through Pittsburgh when he spotted kids at a Little League practice and decided to stop. The 24-year-old spent two hours playing catch and signing autographs, reconnecting with baseball’s fundamental joy. This impromptu visit came as Skenes struggles through a winless streak in his last five starts, including a recent 12-2 defeat to Los Angeles where the Dodgers scored 10 runs after his departure. Skenes says he’s concentrating on his process and expects improved results, describing his time with the young players as a valuable reminder of what drew him to baseball originally.
FIFA World Cup festivities in Mexico are colliding with broader social unrest as the capital city prepares to welcome international visitors for opening ceremonies. The tournament arrives while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum navigates delicate political challenges. Analysts suggest a successful event would boost the president’s standing, but celebrations have faced increasing protests and criticism that the government prioritizes international guests over the nation’s urgent domestic problems.
Law enforcement agencies view drones as potential weapons of mass destruction rather than mere nuisances, leading to a zero-tolerance policy for the aircraft during World Cup matches. The affordable availability of drones and their destructive use in conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have heightened security concerns. Experts warn that terrorists could purchase a drone for several hundred dollars, attach explosives, and target crowded venues like stadiums. Consequently, no drones will be permitted over any of the 78 World Cup matches across 11 U.S. cities.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal took a straightforward approach to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final despite Carolina’s series deficit. The 20-year veteran’s game-deciding goal on Tuesday night, however, was far from ordinary. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the third period, Staal’s sprawling backhand shot while airborne with 13:29 remaining beat Vegas goalie Carter Hart for his second goal of the game, securing the 5-3 victory. The series now stands even at 2-2 as teams return to Carolina on Thursday.
Lionel Messi demonstrated his readiness for his sixth World Cup appearance by playing 20 minutes and converting a penalty kick in Argentina’s 3-0 triumph over Iceland. After dealing with muscle fatigue and a minor left hamstring strain since May 24, Messi entered the match in the 70th minute and scored from the penalty spot following a foul on Lautaro Martínez. Argentina, pursuing its fourth World Cup championship, will face Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City to begin tournament play. Messi holds the record as Argentina’s leading scorer with 117 international goals.
The Cincinnati Bengals have restructured franchise quarterback Joe Burrow’s contract, according to a source familiar with the transaction who spoke to The Associated Press anonymously since the team hasn’t made an official announcement. The restructured agreement, initially reported by ESPN and NFL Network, creates approximately $10 million in salary cap relief by distributing portions of his base salary across the contract’s final three years from 2027 through 2029. Burrow signed a five-year, $275-million extension in 2023. Cincinnati needed additional cap space following their acquisition of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants before the NFL draft and his subsequent one-year, $28-million extension.
