Hockey

Doug Cifu got into an exchange with a Toronto fan who compared hits by Panthers players to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Cifu later referred to the fan as a "51st state anti semite loser."

The Lightning kept it close throughout, but Florida takes the home-ice advantage away from Tampa as their first-round NHL series head south to Sunrise for Games 3 and 4.

Tampa Bay loses Game 1 as Florida's Matthew Tkachuk nets two power-play goals in his first action after a two-month injury absence. Game 2 of the series is back at Amalie Arena on Thursday.

For five years, the Eastern Conference road to the Stanley Cup Final has meant Interstate 75. Florida is at Tampa Bay in Game 1 of the first round on Tuesday, with one of the rivals looking to keep that run going.

Games 1 and 2 will be at Amalie Arena for this Sunshine State rematch. The Lightning also announced details on watch parties for road games, plaza viewing parties for home games and more fan experiences.

Yanni Gourde, part of Tampa's 2020 and 2021 title teams, and Oliver Bjorkstrand add valuable depth. But it was costly: Seattle gets first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, a second-rounder this year and Mikey Eyssimont.

The Tampa Bay Lightning are the hottest team in the NHL. They've won eight games in a row sandwiched around the 4 Nations Face-Off and last lost on Feb. 1. They have not been defeated in regulation since January.

Jeff Vinik says new owners Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz will maintain the team's winning legacy for "generations." Vinik will still run the show for three years and remain an active minority owner after that.

Known as "johnny Hockey," the Columbus Blue Jackets' forward and his brother were cycling in their home state of New Jersey. Officials said the driver was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.

The national team formed in 2019 with 11 players. In 2022, the Puerto Rican Ice Hockey Association had 200 registered members. Today it has 500.

On Sunday, thousands of fans turned out as Fort Lauderdale hosted the Championship Celebration to toast the Florida Panthers' first-ever Stanley Cup victory. Players and staff rode in open top buses down A1A and then put on a lively, rain-soaked rally at Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Jon Cooper, who is from British Colombia, will lead Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics in Milan and the Four Nations Face-Off in February, a prep tournament of sorts for the Olympics.