L.A. Kings' Doughty out for season after surgery
Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his wrist.
The former Norris Trophy winner had surgery Monday, the team said. He is expected to be ready for training camp, but his absence damages the Kings' hopes of ending their three-year playoff drought.
Doughty was injured March 7 in a game at Boston, and he hasn't played in 16 consecutive games since March 10. The defenseman has rarely dealt with significant injury problems in a 14-year NHL career spent entirely with the Kings, but he appeared in a career-low 39 games this season.
Doughty is still the Kings' top scorer among defensemen with seven goals and 24 assists. His absence has forced the Kings to use inexperienced replacements on the blue line, and subpar defensive play has contributed to Los Angeles' lateseason slide.
The Kings (38-26-10) have lost three straight games and 10 of their last 19 heading into a game at Chicago tonight. Los Angeles is still in third place in the Pacific Division, but its lead over fourth-place Vegas has shrunk to two points, with the Golden Knights holding a game in hand.
MALKIN SUSPENDED FOR CROSSCHECK TO FACE >> Evgeni Malkin has been suspended four games without pay for cross-checking Nashville's Mark Borowiecki in the face, a significant blow to the Pittsburgh Penguins as they hope to hold on to their playoff position.
Malkin will miss upcoming games against the New York Islanders and Boston Bruins after the NHL's department of player safety announced the suspension Monday following a disciplinary hearing. In a video explaining the suspension, the league called Malkin's cross-check “retaliatory and aggressive.”
Malkin was initially given only a four-minute double-minor penalty after striking Borowiecki in the mouth with his stick at the end of the second period Sunday.
He's eligible to return April 23 versus Detroit.
The Penguins beat the Predators
in overtime to snap a four-game skid. They have lost seven of their last 10 games and are in danger of falling out of third place in the Metropolitan Division and into an Eastern Conference wild-card spot. SVECHNIKOV'S GOAL SENDS JETS PAST CANADIENS >> Evgeny Svechnikov scored a tiebreaking goal midway through the third period, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Montreal Canadiens 4-2.
NFL
EX-PLAYER, COACH BROWN DIES AT 52 >> Gary Brown, who rushed for 4,300 yards while playing on three NFL teams in the 1990s before going on to coach running backs in the pro and college ranks, has died. He was 52.
Wisconsin's athletic department and the Dallas Cowboys announced that Brown died Sunday. No cause of death was disclosed. Brown had battled cancer on multiple occasions.
Brown had coached Wisconsin's running backs last season before departing for health-related reasons. He coached the Cowboys' running backs from 2013-19.
Brown played in the NFL with the Houston Oilers (1991-95), San Diego Chargers (1997) and New York Giants (1998-99). He rushed for 1,002 yards
in 1993 and 1,063 yards in 1998. COMMANDERS RE-SIGN KICKER SLYE >> The Washington Commanders resigned kicker Joey Slye, a move designed to solidify a position that was in flux much of last season.
Slye signed a two-year deal that could be worth up to $5 million with $2 million guaranteed.
He is one of two kickers on the roster along with Brian Johnson, who was signed when Slye was sidelined by a hamstring injury.
Tennis
BUBLIK CUTS SHORT WAWRINKA'S RETURN TO TOUR >> Alexander Bublik cut short Stan Wawrinka's return to the tour, defeating the Swiss 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters in his first singles in 13 months.
Wawrinka started off confidently against the Kazakh, winning the first set with ease. He staved off three set points in the second to hold for 5-5 but appeared tired. In the decisive third, Bublik pulled ahead early and wrapped up the match in just over two hours.
Wawrnika, 37, last competed on tour in March 2021. He's had two surgeries on his left foot since then and months of difficult recovery.