Judge backs NHL over players in suit

The federal judge overseeing the NHL concussion case has denied class-action status for the former players suing the league over head injuries.

U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson issued her 46-page order, the first significant victory for the league in a lawsuit that was filed almost five years ago.

Nelson wrote that “widespread differences” in state laws about medical monitoring, which the retired players are seeking, would “present significant case management difficulties.”

The players sought to create one group of all living former NHL players and one group of all retired players diagnosed with a neurological disease, disorder or condition. Had they succeeded, more than 5,000 former players would have been allowed to join the case.

The Vegas Golden Knights have agreed to terms with goalie MarcAndre Fleury on a three-year contract extension worth an average of $7 million a year.

The Dallas Stars re-signed forward Devin Shore to a $4.6 million, two-year contract.

NBA: Lakers guard Lonzo Ball is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery Tuesday on his left knee. General manager Rob Pelinka said Ball will be fully healthy for training camp.

WNBA: Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins scored 25 points apiece for the host Washington Mystics in an 88-72 win over the Chicago Sky . ... Tiffany Hayes had 16 points for the visiting Atlanta Dream in their 98-74 victory over the Indiana Fever . ... Courtney Williams had 25 points, including Connecticut’s final six, to help the host Sun win 91-87 over the Phoenix Mercury . ... Kayla McBride had 24 points to help the visiting Las Vegas Aces to an 85-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx.

NASCAR: In Sparta, Ky., defending champion Martin Truex Jr. turned a lap at 188.890 mph to win the pole for Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kentucky Speedway . ... Christopher Bell passed Justin Allgaier with 17 laps remaining and held off Daniel Hemric to win the 300-mile Xfinity Series race in Sparta.