NHL says no evidence of allegations vs. Cole

The NHL said Saturday it found no evidence to substantiate allegations posted on social media against Lightning defenseman Ian Cole and has concluded its investigation.

The league said it was unable to make contact with the anonymous source of the Oct. 7 post in the investigation conducted by its Security and Legal departments.

The Lightning suspended Cole on Oct. 9 pending the investigation into the allegations that he sexually abused a woman when she was a minor.

The NHL said the investigation included two separate interviews with Cole as well as interviews with NHL club personnel and other individuals with potentially relevant information. It added it also included a detailed review of on-line and social media, public data, and court records and law enforcement checks.

Cole, 33, signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Lightning in July.

College football: Tennessee moved to No. 3 in The AP poll released Sunday after knocking off Alabama on Saturday. Georgia and Ohio State remained 1-2. It’s the Volunteers’ highest ranking since starting the 2005 season at No. 3. The Crimson Tide dropped three places to No. 6.

Golf: Fred Couples broke his age by three shots with the lowest round of his PGA Tour Champions career, a 12-under 60 that sent him to a six-shot victory at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C., for his first title in more than five years. Couples, 63, won for the first time on the senior tour since 2017 . ... Fourtime major champ Brooks Koepka holed his birdie putt on the third playoff hole to beat Peter Uihlein and win the LIV Golf Invitational-Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and claim his first victory on the breakaway tour.

NBA: Bucks G Pat Connaughton will miss at least three weeks with a right calf strain. The Bucks open the season Thursday against the 76ers.