Predators in playoff chase

DETROIT — The Nashville Predators’ spring thaw shows no signs of stopping, and their on-heat ice in recent weeks has taken them from a forgettable season to the top half of the Central Division and in line for a spot in the NHL playoffs. Their latest rout of the Detroit Red Wings was their ninth win in the past 10 games, and Viktor Arvidsson found a way to make it personally special by scoring three times to lead the surging Predators in a 7-1 win over the Red Wings late Thursday night. “It’s probably up there for birthdays,” said Arvidsson, who posted the third hat trick of his NHL career on the day he turned 28. Juuse Saros made 25 saves for the Predators (22-18-1), who started this 10-game run with a 4-3 shootout win at Dallas on March 21. Among the nine victories are four against Detroit, including another 7-1 blowout on March 25 in Nashville. The Predators have won 11 of 13 since losing six of seven in early March. On Thursday, Arvidsson and Nick Cousins scored early and late in the second period to make it 3-1, but the Predators were just getting warmed up. Mikael Granlund scored, Arvidsson had two straight goals — one on a penalty shot — and Yakov Trenin added a goal in the third period. Arvidsson, who set a single-season franchise record with 34 goals two years ago, entered the game with just five goals in 39 games this season. He was held out of Tuesday’s 3-2 shootout win at Detroit with an upper-body injury. “He expects himself to score,” coach John Hynes said. “Hopefully this springboards him into further success.” Detroit’s Darren Helm notched the game’s first goal early in the second period, but the lead didn’t last long because Arvidsson had his first 40 seconds later. The Predators host reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay on Saturday night. “We’ve got 15 games to go, and we’ve got to keep the pedal down,” Nashville center Erik Haula said. “It’s a tight race.”

BASKETBALL

› COLUMBIA, S.C. — University of South Carolina men’s basketball coach

Frank Martin has received a two-year contract extension through the 2024-25 season. The school’s board of trustees approved the deal Friday. The move ends more than a month of questions about Martin’s future since the Gamecocks finished a season in which they went 6-15 overall and 4-11 in the Southeastern Conference and missed the NCAA tournament again. South Carolina hasn’t made the 68-team bracket since a Final Four run in 2017 under Martin, who is 153-131 overall and 70-88 in conference play in nine seasons leading the Gamecocks. Although his contract was extended, Martin did not receive a raise — he’s set to make $3.2 million next season — and the university will not owe him a buyout if he’s dismissed in the final two years of the deal. Martin also won’t owe the school if he leaves for another job during that time. Martin will make $3.3 million in the final three years of the contract. Athletic director Ray Tanner said he did a very thorough review of Martin’s leadership of the program, met with school president Robert Caslen and “recommended a two-year extension for Coach Martin, which was approved.” Tanner said he took into consideration the fact the effects of the pandemic on this past season, when the Gamecocks played just twice between Dec. 5 and Jan. 16 due to coronavirus-related stoppages. In January, Martin tested positive for COVID-19 for the second time; the first time was last May.

› OXFORD, Miss. — Former Georgia starter Tye Fagan is transferring to another SEC program. Ole Miss announced Friday that Fagan was joining the Rebels after three seasons at Georgia, where he appeared in all but one of a possible 90 games. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound guard from Logtown, Georgia, averaged 9.2 points per game for the Bulldogs this past season, when he shot a team-high 58.7% from the field. “Tye had some great games in the SEC this season, including 19 (points) versus the Rebels,” Ole Miss coach Kermit Davis said in a team release. “We have known Tye and his family for years and know he fits our program in every facet on and off the court!” This past season did not count against student-athletes’ eligibility due to a blanket waiver issued by the NCAA amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and so Fagan has two years of eligibility remaining. Ole Miss added center Nysier Brooks, a graduate transfer from the University of Miami, earlier in the week.