Scott Wedgewood made 22 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the Colorado Avalanche beat the Seattle Kraken 2-0 in Denver on April 16 to finish the regular season with a franchise-record 121 points (55-16-11). Nick Blankenburg and Parker Kelly scored the goals, while Valeri Nichushkin added two assists. Colorado’s 55 wins are one shy of the 2021-22 club mark; the Avalanche secured the Presidents’ Trophy and will open the Western Conference first-round series at home Sunday against the Los Angeles Kings, who clinched the second wild-card spot. Colorado rested key regulars — including Nathan MacKinnon (who finished with an NHL-leading 53 goals and 127 points, winning the Rocket Richard Trophy), Martin Necas and captain Gabriel Landeskog — and dealt with absences from Nazem Kadri, Josh Manson and others. Coach Jared Bednar returned to the bench after suffering facial fractures and a corneal abrasion from a puck strike last weekend. Seattle, which missed the playoffs at 34-37-11, started Victor Ostman in his first NHL start; he stopped 33 shots in the loss.

Scott Parker has left his role as Burnley head coach by mutual consent, the Premier League club announced on April 30, 2026, eight days after relegation from the top flight was confirmed following a 1-0 defeat by Manchester City on April 22. Parker, 45, who was appointed in July 2024 after Vincent Kompany’s exit, led Burnley to automatic promotion in 2024-25 with 100 points, a long unbeaten run and a Championship-record 30 clean sheets. His side won four of 34 league games this season and conceded a league-high 68 goals, sealing a return to the Championship. The club said Parker leaves with its “respect and gratitude.” Assistant coach Mike Jackson will serve as interim manager for the final four fixtures while Burnley begin a search for a permanent successor. Media reports and bookmakers have already linked several names, including former England midfielder Steven Gerrard, to the vacancy. Parker’s managerial CV also includes promotions with Fulham and Bournemouth and a short spell at Club Brugge.

Wednesday night in Las Vegas, Brett Howden scored a short-handed goal at 5:28 of the second overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 5-4 victory over the Utah Mammoth in Game 5 of their opening-round NHL playoff series. The win puts Vegas up 3-2 in the best-of-seven and one victory from eliminating Utah. Pavel Dorofeyev delivered a hat trick, including a six-on-five equalizer with 52.7 seconds left in regulation, while Shea Theodore added a goal and an assist and Jack Eichel had two assists. Carter Hart made the key stops for Vegas (the reports list 33–34 saves). For Utah, John Marino, Lawson Crouse, Dylan Guenther and Michael Carcone scored and Clayton Keller had two assists; Karel Vejmelka finished with about 31 saves. Both teams struggled on the power play across the series (Utah 1-for-14 at one point) and the game featured heavy physicality and multiple penalties. The series shifts to Salt Lake City for Game 6 on Friday, where the Mammoth will try to force a decisive Game 7.

April 29, 2026 — David Pastrnak’s breakaway tally 9:14 into overtime lifted the visiting Boston Bruins to a 2-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round, staving off elimination and sending the series back to Boston for Game 6 on Friday. Hampus Lindholm provided the long feed that sprung Pastrnak for the winner. Elias Lindholm tied the score in the second period after Rasmus Dahlin opened the scoring on Buffalo’s power play. Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman made several key saves, including a massive stop on Alex Tuch, finishing with 25 stops; Alex Lyon stopped 27 for the Sabres. Buffalo rookie Noah Ostlund left early with a lower-body injury and coach Lindy Ruff offered no optimistic update. The victory kept the Bruins’ season alive while Buffalo still holds a 3-2 series lead and remains in position to clinch its first playoff series win since 2007.

Toronto got two welcome returns as the Blue Jays pushed a mini-revival forward in late April. Rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage made a season debut on April 29, throwing 5 1/3 shutout innings (four hits, three strikeouts, no walks) in a 3-0 win over the Boston Red Sox, leaving to a standing ovation after a 74-pitch outing. The bullpen completed a four-hitter and Louis Varland recorded his fourth save. The following day Toronto activated veteran George Springer off the 10-day injured list (fractured left big toe) and Springer delivered immediately, pinch-hitting for Yohendrick Pinango and lining an RBI single in an 8-1 rout of Boston that gave the Jays their third straight series win. To clear a roster spot the club designated Eloy Jiménez for assignment. The returns come as Toronto works through a lengthy injury list that still includes José Berríos and others, but the immediate impact has been improved run production and a bullpen that has been effective over the recent homestand.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta on April 29 blasted refereeing after his side were denied a late penalty in a 1-1 Champions League semifinal first leg at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano. Viktor Gyökeres put Arsenal ahead from the spot just before half‑time; Julián Álvarez equalised from a 56th‑minute penalty awarded after a VAR review flagged a handball by Ben White. In the 78th minute substitute Eberechi Eze appeared to be clipped by David Hancko and referee Danny Makkelie initially pointed to the spot, but overturned the decision following a pitch‑side VAR review. Arteta said the call was “unacceptable,” saying the referee watched replays “13 times” and that no clear explanation was given; UEFA said no foul had been committed. The game finished 1-1, leaving the tie to be decided in the second leg at Arsenal’s Emirates next week. Arsenal also contend with injury absences including Kai Havertz and managed squad fitness amid a close Premier League title race.