Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin is expected to miss the next four to six weeks after sustaining a fractured left fibula, the team announced Thursday. The injury pauses Ovechkin's pursuit of Wayne Gretzky's all-time NHL goals record. On Tuesday, the Capitals had said Ovechkin would be week-to-week with what was then described as a lower-body injury. He was expected to meet with team physicians Wednesday before getting a more complete diagnosis. The 39-year-old superstar left winger left the team's 6-2 win Monday against the Utah Hockey Club after colliding with Utah forward Jack McBain . With 14:30 remaining in the third period, Ovechkin and McBain turned toward a loose puck before their left knees connected with each other. Ovechkin dropped to the ice where he was on his hands and knee. He tried to balance himself to get up but remained on the ice for a few more seconds. Editor's Picks Countdown to 894: The Alex Ovechkin goal-scoring tracker 2d ESPN staff NHL Future Power Rankings: Predicting best, worst teams for the next three seasons 2d Ryan S. Clark, +2 More Grading our preseason bold predictions for every NHL team: What we nailed, what we missed 8h Greg Wyshynski A Capitals athletic trainer came onto the ice and helped escort Ovechkin, who appeared to have all his weight on his right leg, back to the bench. Once Ovechkin was on the bench, he could be seen limping before taking a seat. He eventually went to the athletic trainers' room to receive treatment. While the collision appeared to be an accident, it led to Capitals forward Tom Wilson challenging and then fighting McBain later in the period. Ovechkin's injury not only suspends his pursuit of Gretzky's record, but it also comes amid the Capitals' strong start that could still see them reach the playoffs for a consecutive season. Ovechkin, who has 868 career goals, is 24 goals shy of tying Gretzky's record and was on pace for what would have been a new career high of 68 goals in a single season. Prior to the injury, Ovechkin scored twice against Utah for his 14th and 15th goals of the season. It's the most goals he has scored through his first 18 games, and he continues to lead the NHL in goals for the first time since January 2022. His two-goal game against Utah also marked his 17th multi-goal road game, which is 17 more than any other player in NHL history. Entering Thursday, the Capitals (13-4-1) were second in the Metropolitan Division and were a point behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place. If the initial four- to six-week timeline holds, the earliest Ovechkin could return would be Dec. 20 against the Hurricanes.Rocket scientist’s cast-iron pan threatens to topple Le Creusetgame mode 。

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A Jasper County judge has overruled a news reporter's request to dismiss a Joplin police officer's petition that would prevent the city from disclosing the officer's identity. The officer, referred to in the case as John Doe, seeks a restraining order against city disclosure of his name. Judge David Mouton heard motions in the case Thursday in Jasper County Circuit Court at Joplin. He entered a ruling on those Friday. An attorney for the officer, Sean P. McCauley, of Kansas City, contended in court Thursday that a section of the Missouri Open Records law allows the injunction because the officer and/or his family could be in danger if their identities were known. McCauley cited a section of the Sunshine Law that states: “If any portion of a record or document of a law enforcement officer or agency, other than an arrest report, which would otherwise be open, contains information that is reasonably likely to pose a clear and present danger to the safety of any victim, witness, undercover officer, or other person ... that portion of the record shall be closed and shall be redacted from any record made available pursuant to this chapter.” The attorney representing those seeking release of the name, Bernard J. Rhodes, also of Kansas City, said, “If it’s really so dangerous, why hasn’t the city taken action” to protect the officer? There were social media comments in the past against the officer, but those are no longer posted. Because those do not continue, the officer has no cause of action under the Sunshine Law, Rhodes contended. The shooting occurred March 26, 2022, in Baxter Springs, Kansas, involving the death of a 2-year old. Joplin police and other agencies were called to assist Baxter Springs police in a standoff with Eli Crawford. Crawford fatally shot his wife that day during a domestic dispute and was holding their 2-year-old daughter in his trailer while he fired at officers to keep them from arresting him. Law enforcers reported that they tried to get the man to surrender or stop firing, and they finally decided to authorize a Joplin SWAT team officer to shoot Crawford if he had a clear shot. Authorities said later that the officer believed he could see the father in a window of the trailer and fired, but instead hit the young girl, Clesslynn Crawford. Shortly after that, a muffled shot was heard inside the trailer, and Eli Crawford was found to have committed suicide. Investigators then found the body of the girl, who was the victim of the officer's shot. Grandparents of the toddler filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Kansas. The city of Joplin paid a settlement to them of $1.4 million through the city's insurer. The other law enforcement agencies paid the rest. In October 2023, a Kansas City public radio news reporter, Sam Zeff, filed an open records request with the city of Joplin for reports about the girl's shooting. Before those were disclosed, the officer filed the lawsuit seeking a court order that would allow the city to redact his name. According to the court documents, city officials had told the officer they would have to release his name under the Sunshine Law unless there was a court order prohibiting the release. John Doe's petition seeking a court order is still pending in the court.

Jaylen Smith has wondered at times this fall where he would be had it not been for the guidance of Brian Odom. The longtime college assistant took over as North Texas’ linebackers coach in the offseason, spent months tutoring Smith and helped transform him from a role player to an anchor for UNT’s defense. “It’s a testament to coach Odom,” Smith said. “He instilled a lot of confidence in me and trusts me. He allows me to be comfortable in the game and slows it all down. He’s helped me lock in.” Brian Odom UNT is hoping Odom can replicate the success he’s enjoyed with Smith throughout its defense in its home finale Saturday against East Carolina. Mean Green coach Eric Morris promoted Odom to interim defensive coordinator after firing Matt Caponi this past weekend. UNT’s season-long struggles defensively contributed greatly to a four-game losing streak that has damaged the Mean Green’s once-promising bowl prospects. UNT (5-5) was sitting at 5-1 halfway through the season and needed just one more win to become bowl eligible. The Mean Green still need that consequential sixth win more than a month later. There are a host of factors that will determine if UNT can break through in one of its last two games. The way the Mean Green respond to Odom taking over their defense will be among the biggest. UNT is allowing 35.7 points per game. UTSA torched the Mean Green for a program-record 681 yards in a 48-27 win last week. That performance prompted Morris to make a change. “For our kids to be able to get some confidence this week, we needed a change,” Morris said. “It’s not something where you come in at the end of the year and completely change your scheme. It’s just too hard to do. Getting guys out there who are playing fast and hard for one another is important for us this week.” Morris expressed confidence that Odom will be able to help UNT’s players reach that goal in the final two weeks of the season. Taking over as a coordinator late in the season won’t be new for Odom. He served as the interim defensive coordinator at Oklahoma in 2021 and interim co-defensive coordinator at Southern Cal in 2023. Odom quickly settled in with UNT’s program and spoke in the spring about how much he was enjoying his time with the Mean Green after being in the college football spotlight at Oklahoma and USC. “It’s all about football and not everything that comes with it,” Odom said during spring practice. “This is truly about coaching and playing football.” Smith is just one of UNT’s players who has spoken highly of Odom. Senior linebacker Jordan Brown also praised Odom and the impact he has made this week. “One thing I can definitely say about him is that he won’t ever flinch,” Brown said. “He always gets after it, stays focused on the task ahead, and he’s always going to bring people with him.” Smith has been among the players along for the ride. He finished with 25 tackles while starting four games last season. The senior leads UNT in tackles (74) and quarterback hurries (10) this fall. Odom’s track record of developing players and guiding defenses on an interim basis are among the reasons Morris was confident putting him in charge of UNT’s defense the final two weeks of the regular season. “This is something that is not uncharted territory for him,” Morris said. “He’s somebody who commands a presence in front of the kids. He has great leadership skills. The kids will build off his toughness, energy and confidence. “That’s the biggest thing for me now. We’re not a confident football team. Finding a way to become one is the most important thing to me right now.” Odom found a way to bolster Smith’s confidence. The hope now is that he will do the same for UNT’s defense as a whole. “It’s been good,” Morris said of his players’ reaction. “Everything is good until you put it out there in live action. I told the guys we are not going to bring in a magic new scheme. This is something where we have to do a better job of doing our assignments, playing a more physical brand of football and attacking.”Ana Navarro to Whoopi Goldberg: We Have to 'Panic' over Trump — We Should Tell 'People to Prepare'

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