Bettman expresses ‘sincere regret’ to Beach in a meeting

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman talked to Kyle Beach on Saturday about what the league can do to better protect its players after the former first-round pick said he was sexually assaulted by an assistant coach in 2010 and his allegations were largely ignored by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Susan Loggans, an attorney representing Beach in a lawsuit against the team, said Bettman expressed his “sincere regret” over what Beach had experienced. He also offered the NHL’s help with psychological services and anything else that the league had available.

Beach also met with Donald Fehr, the leader of the NHL Players’ Assn., in a separate videoconference call.

Seven members of the San Jose Sharks and coach Bob Boughner

were placed in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol, delaying the start of their game against the Winnipeg Jets.

Forwards Andrew Cogliano, Jonathan Dahlen and Matt Nieto,

defensemen Erik Karlsson, Jake Middleton, Radim Simek and Marc-Edouard Vlasic, along with Boughner were sidelined.

Chiefs’ Mathieu apologizes for tweet

Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu apologized for a tweet calling his team’s supporters “one of the most toxic fan bases in all of sports” amid a disappointing 3-4 start for the two-time defendsecond ing AFC champions.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (ankle), wide receiver Kenny Golladay (knee), linebackers Lorenzo Carter (ankle) and Carter Coughlin (ankle) and safety Nate Ebner (ankle) will miss Monday night’s game . ... The New York Jets were optimistic about quarterback Zach Wilson’s sprained knee, choosing to not place him on injured reserve . ... The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without tight end Eric Ebron (hamstring) and outside linebacker Melvin Ingram (groin injury) on Sunday.

Taylor Pendrith shot a sixunder 65 for a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Glover Teixeira stopped Jan Blachowicz by submission in the round at UFC 267, with the 42-year-old Brazilian veteran claiming Blachowicz’s light-heavyweight belt in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, and becoming the oldest first-time champion in UFC history . ... Radzhab Butaev claimed the WBA welterweight boxing title with a ninth-round TKO of Jamal James in Las Vegas.

Noah Gragson won in two overtimes at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway to make the winner-take-all Xfinity finale; Zane Smith raced his way into the Truck Series championship finale with a victory, his first this season, in overtime . ... Alexis DeJoria topped funny car qualifying in the Dodge/SRT NHRA Nationals in Las Vegas while Brittany Force was No. 1 in top fue.l

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant

was fined $25,000 by the NBA for forcefully throwing the ball into the stands on Friday.

Taylor Fritz will play Marin Cilic in the final of the St. Petersburg Open after beating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 5-7, 6-1, 6-3. Cilic earned a 6-3, 6-3 win over Botic Van de Zandschulp . ... Simona Halep reached a WTA final for the 12th straight season after routing Marta Kostyuk 6-0, 6-1 and setting up a title match against Anett Kontaveit at the Transylvania Open.

Nathan Chen ran away with Skate Canada, finishing with 307.18 points in Vancouver.

China’s Sui Wenjing and Han Cong won the pairs title; Russia’s Kamila Valieva, 15, won the women’s free skate; Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier won in ice

dancing.