Sports
Chiefs beat Ravens in AFC Championship, advance to fourth Super Bowl in five years – TSN
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BALTIMORE (AP) — Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were at their magnificent best in the first half, and Kansas City’s defense delivered another masterpiece against Lamar Jackson and Baltimore, helping the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years with a 17-10 victory in the AFC championship game Sunday.
Kelce caught 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, and now the big question at next month’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas is whether his girlfriend Taylor Swift will be able to make it there in the middle of her tour. The pop star was on hand again Sunday, and the 34-year-old Kelce was at his best.
“The Chiefs are still the Chiefs,” said Kelce, who broke Jerry Rice’s career record for receptions in the postseason. “And believe it — you’ve got to fight for your right to party! Believe it, baby, we’re going to Las Vegas.”
Kansas City (14-6) will face either San Francisco or Detroit on Feb. 11, and a win would make the Chiefs the first team to win it all in back-to-back seasons since the New England Patriots 19 years ago.
Swift’s presence has turned the Chiefs into even more of a glamour team than they already were, but it’s been more of a blue-collar performance on the field this season. Aside from Kelce, Mahomes hasn’t had the receiving playmakers he’s enjoyed in years past.
Instead, the defense has been a big part of why Kansas City won the AFC West and eventually prevailed in two straight road playoff games against Buffalo and Baltimore to win the conference.
“It’s been a heck of a year. We’ve been underdogs the last few games,” Mahomes said. “We never feel like underdogs. We’ve got a lot of guys on this team that know how to win. When the playoffs get around, they’re here to make it happen. And now we’re in the Super Bowl. The job’s not done.”
The Chiefs led 17-7 at halftime, and Justin Tucker‘s 43-yard field goal with 2:34 to play was the only scoring of the second half. Baltimore kicked deep after that, and on third-and-9, Mahomes connected with Marquez Valdes-Scantling — one of his most-maligned receivers — on a 32-yard pass that sealed the game.
Mahomes went 30 of 39 for 241 yards and a touchdown.
Jackson could win his second MVP after leading Baltimore to the league’s best record and point differential during the regular season, but the Ravens allowed touchdowns on the first two Kansas City possessions and appeared a bit panicky at times after that.
Baltimore (14-5) made undisciplined mistakes all game, while Kansas City looked the part of the team making its sixth straight appearance in the conference title game.
With the Ravens down by 10 in the third quarter, rookie Zay Flowers caught a 54-yard pass to the Kansas City 10 — then was flagged for taunting after the play. Moments later, he fumbled near the goal line and the Ravens ended up with no points.
That was one of several frustrating moments for Baltimore fans, whose city was hosting an AFC championship game for the first time since January 1971, when the Colts beat the Oakland Raiders.
Jackson went 20 of 37 for 272 yards and a touchdown, but Baltimore never really exploited its perceived advantage on the ground. Jackson raced under one of his own tipped passes in the first half for a 13-yard reception, but he also turned the ball over twice, including a forced pass into heavy coverage that was picked off in the end zone with 6:45 left in the game.
Jackson fell to 2-4 as a starter in the postseason despite having been the top seed in the AFC twice. He made a few sensational individual plays, but the Ravens had trouble moving the ball otherwise.
Mahomes, meanwhile, competed his first 11 pass attempts, and although the Ravens largely shut Kansas City down after that, the damage was done on a rainy day in Baltimore.
There was some chippy behavior before the game, which included Ravens defensive back Arthur Maulet and a group of Kansas City players having to be separated.
Then the Chiefs forced a three-and-out on the game’s first drive and went 86 yards for th e opening touchdown. Kelce caught a 13-yard pass from Mahomes over the middle on fourth-and-2. Then the star tight end beat All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton for a 19-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
Jackson answered in his own spectacular way. He broke free for a 21-yard run when Baltimore went for it on fourth-and-1 from its 34. Then the star quarterback ducked out of a near-sack by Leo Chenal, retreated a bit farther back and threw a 30-yard scoring strike to Flowers, who celebrated with teammates by doing the “swag surf” dance that Swift and Chiefs fans did at a recent game.
Kansas City was unbothered. Mahomes drove his team 75 yards in 9:02 — with the help of an acrobatic diving catch by Kelce on one third down toss — and Isiah Pacheco capped the 16-play march with a 2-yard touchdown run.
The Chiefs actually missed chances to extend their lead. A sack by Charles Omenihu forced a fumble by Jackson that gave Kansas City the ball at the Baltimore 33. But Kelce was marked just short on a third down catch, and Pacheco was stopped on the ensuing fourth down at the 13.
After a couple of personal fouls on Baltimore helped Kansas City cross midfield late in the half, the Chiefs were flagged for back-to-back holding calls, the second of which wiped out a 33-yard screen pass to Rashee Rice for what would have been a touchdown.
A 9-yard pass to Kelce put Kansas City in position for Harrison Butker’s 52-yard field goal that made it 17-7.
INJURIES
Omenihu left with a knee injury, and star defensive tackle Chris Jones was shaken up in the fourth quarter for the Chiefs.
UP NEXT
Chiefs: Kansas City could face a rematch with a Detroit team it lost to 21-20 in the season opener. The Chiefs have not faced the 49ers this season.
Ravens: Baltimore knows it can win a lot of games with Jackson and his talented supporting cast, but getting past the Chiefs seems like an especially daunting task now.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
Sports
Winnipeg Jets Trade Rutger McGroarty to Pittsburgh Penguins in Exchange for Brayden Yager
Sports
Penguins Acquire Rutger McGroarty from Jets in Exchange for Brayden Yager
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In a significant NHL trade, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired promising forward Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Brayden Yager on Thursday. The deal involves two highly regarded young talents, each selected in the first round of recent NHL Drafts, and marks a key move for both franchises as they look to shape their futures.
McGroarty, a 20-year-old forward, was a standout at the University of Michigan, where he was ninth among NCAA players with 52 points (16 goals, 36 assists) during his sophomore season. His impressive performance extended beyond college hockey as he captained Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing nine points (five goals, four assists) in the tournament.
Originally selected by the Jets with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, McGroarty was considered one of Winnipeg’s top forward prospects. His combination of skill, leadership, and competitiveness made him a coveted asset, which ultimately led to the Penguins’ decision to pursue the trade.
“We had a difficult decision to make with this trade because we hold Brayden Yager in such high regard as a person and prospect,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said. “After much consideration, we decided that the opportunity to add Rutger McGroarty was ultimately in the best interest of the Penguins. He possesses the combination of ability, leadership, and competitiveness that the Penguins need to achieve our goals in the short and long run. We look forward to welcoming Rutger and his family to the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins.”
The Jets, in turn, receive Brayden Yager, a 19-year-old forward who was picked by the Penguins at No. 14 in the 2023 NHL Draft. Yager had an outstanding season with Moose Jaw in the Western Hockey League, tallying 95 points (35 goals, 60 assists) in 57 games. He also represented Canada at the 2024 World Junior Championship, where he recorded five points (two goals, three assists) in five games.
Yager had recently signed a three-year, entry-level contract with Pittsburgh on July 24 and was expected to compete for a spot on the NHL roster this season. Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza had praised Yager’s growth and potential prior to the trade, noting, “I would never want to limit a young player’s ability to make the team. So he controls that in terms of how he shows up and how he plays. But we saw great growth as far as his ability to play tough matchups.”
For both McGroarty and Yager, the trade represents a fresh start and a new opportunity to make an impact at the NHL level. As the Penguins and Jets continue to build their rosters, these young talents will be key pieces in their respective teams’ strategies for success.
Sports
Patrik Laine Trade: A Risky Bet That Could Pay Off Big for the Canadiens
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In 2016, debates raged over whether Auston Matthews or Patrik Laine should be selected first overall in that year’s NHL draft. Matthews was the presumed favorite, but Laine made a late push with standout performances in international tournaments and Finland’s top league. Despite the fierce debates, Matthews was eventually drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs, while Laine went second to the Winnipeg Jets.
Fast forward to today, and there’s no longer any debate between the two: Matthews is a three-time Rocket Richard Trophy winner, NHL MVP, and captain of the Leafs, while Laine is on his third team after a recent trade to the Montreal Canadiens. Injuries, including a broken clavicle and shoulder surgery, and time spent in the NHL’s Player Assistance Program have hampered Laine’s career in recent years. He scored just six goals in 18 games during the 2023-24 season, raising questions about his ability to remain an elite goal scorer.
However, when healthy, Laine remains a dangerous sniper. From the 2021-22 season through 2022-23, he managed 48 goals in 111 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and his 1.37 goals per 60 minutes of ice time were comparable to players like Kyle Connor, Elias Pettersson, and Aleksander Barkov. Over his three seasons in Columbus, Laine scored at a 0.38 goals per game pace, ranking 43rd in the league.
Given his elite goal-scoring potential, the Canadiens are banking on Laine rediscovering his form. Laine expressed excitement about the move to Montreal, stating that he’s mentally and physically in a better place after addressing his mental health and rehabbing his shoulder.
At 26 years old, Laine is still relatively young, and the Canadiens are taking a calculated gamble by acquiring him. Montreal’s front office had the cap space to absorb his $8.7 million annual average salary, and they received a second-round pick from Columbus in the deal. For Montreal, adding a player of Laine’s offensive caliber is a clear bet on a potential payoff.
If Laine can stay healthy and motivated, he could provide a significant boost to a Montreal offense that ranked 26th in goals per game last season. His presence could take some of the scoring pressure off Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, and Juraj Slafkovsky, adding depth and versatility to the Canadiens’ attack, both at even strength and on the power play.
To land Laine, the Canadiens had to part with young defenseman Jordan Harris, a player with solid two-way capabilities. Harris, who averaged 17:28 minutes of ice time in 56 games last season, now joins a Blue Jackets team looking to solidify their defense. Montreal’s decision to move Harris reflects the team’s depth at the blue line, with a crop of young defenders such as Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and David Reinbacher showing promise.
For Montreal, Laine’s offensive upside makes this trade an exciting possibility. While there are concerns about his inconsistency and defensive effort, his ability to score goals is undeniable. Laine has shown he can be a game-changer, and if he can regain his form, the Canadiens could have a major asset on their hands.
From Columbus’s perspective, the addition of Harris strengthens their defense and clears cap space to continue rebuilding. The Blue Jackets will also benefit from the second-round pick Montreal sent as part of the deal, adding another asset to their draft arsenal.
The Patrik Laine trade is a bold move that comes with risks for both teams. However, if Laine can get back to being the elite scorer he was early in his career, Montreal could look back on this deal as a defining moment in their rebuild. For Columbus, the opportunity to move on from Laine and gain future assets presents a new direction. Time will tell if this gamble pays off for the Canadiens, but one thing is certain: Laine’s next chapter in Montreal will be closely watched.
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