Flyers' Porter Martone makes most of hockey's unique pipeline timing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.This doesn't happen in any other sport.But in hockey, a player can appear in an NCAA game and then an NHL playoff game less than a month apart. And the Philadelphia Flyers sure are glad it works that way, because Porter Martone is already shining under the bright lights.Martone was a star at Michigan State, which wrapped up its season not long ago.Now, he's already a star for the Flyers, scoring a goal during their win over the Pittsburgh Penguins to open the playoffs on Saturday night.This was nasty from Porter Martone.pic.twitter.com/6u90hYB6Nn Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) April 19, 2026MORE:Kirill Kaprizov broke a Wayne Gretzky NHL record"College hockey is wild because Martone was playing at Michigan State three weeks ago, now he's scoring in the Stanley Cup Playoffs," wrote The Athletic's Chris Vannini on X.The Flyers had made Martone a first-round pick, No. 6 overall, in the 2025 NHL Draft. But players don't have to sign right away.That allowed Martone to play a final season with the Spartans before coming to the professional ranks.His stock only grew with how impressive he was in the 2025-26 college hockey season, and the Flyers knew they wanted him when he was done.So as soon as MSU concluded its campaign, the Flyers gave Martone his contract and he came to the NHL.He scored four goals with six assists in nine games to close out the regular season, and now he's already on the playoff scoresheet.It has to feel like a bit of a whirlwind for Martone, but what a start to his NHL career -- he hasn't wasted any time showing what he can do.More NHL news:Maple Leafs' president brought AI trade pitches to deadline meetingsAlex Ovechkin reveals his retirement plansA Brady Tkachuk trade warning is in playOffseason trade still might be coming for SabresConnor McDavid makes 100-year hockey history with Wayne Gretzky

SportsLine's model reveals its Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs Game 1 picks

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was clearly upset with himself, swinging his bat in anger as he made his way back to the dressing room.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was downhearted after the defeat by Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final (Thomas COEX)Diego Simeone tried to convey hope but his body language spoke for itself.The Argentine coach left Seville crumpled, wounded, by his team's Copa del Rey final defeat on Saturday by Real Sociedad, decided by the cruelty of penalties.Simeone led Atletico to the Spanish cup back in 2013, an eternity ago, and winning it again would have been the perfect springboard to send the club flying into the Champions League semi-finals clash with Arsenal.Atletico have never won that trophy and they had real belief they could do it this year, belief which was badly dented this weekend.The last time they won silverware of any kind was La Liga in 2021, with Luis Suarez leading the charge in attack.Winning the Copa would have ensured French star Antoine Griezmann could depart with a trophy under his arm, and end the club's drought.During the Simeone era, the club have started to escape the nickname they had -- El Pupas, the jinxed one -- given to them after they lost the 1974 European Cup final against Bayern.Simeone said his team could pick themselves back up from the defeat, 4-3 in the shoot-out after the gripping 2-2 draw, with Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez missing from the spot for the Rojiblancos."The way we competed makes me calm," said the coach, but it will take effort to get his players in the right place mentally to take on Arsenal, with the first leg in the Spanish capital on April 29."I'm not thinking about Arsenal, what happens today hurts me a lot. We needed to win and we couldn't win," said Simeone."The fans don't need messages (from me), what they need is to win."Over 30,000 Atletico fans travelled down to Seville and left downhearted.Simeone had pledged the team were "ready" to win the Champions League after they eliminated Barcelona earlier in the week but they failed the litmus test against La Real."We still have the Champions League, we have a beautiful tie ahead of us," said Atletico midfielder Marcos Llorente, trying to raise spirits."We have to thank everyone, above all those who came to Seville, we're really hurting for them. We have to lift our heads up."- 'Now the good part' -Llorente said the team could not wallow in defeat."When you lose, you have another competition coming quickly," he continued."There's no time to think about things. This is really tough for us, but we have to get up -- now comes the good part."In the immediate aftermath of the shoot-out, decided by two saves by Real Sociedad stopper Unai Marrero and Pablo Marin's winning spot kick, Koke wiped away tears before issuing a similar message.The veteran midfielder is one of the wisest heads at Atletico and he told his team-mates to focus on what lies ahead."We tried everything, we left our souls out there and it wasn't to be," said the 34-year-old."That's life... it hurts, and we have to continue."Atletico are a club that have bounced back from many blows to keep on moving forwards, including defeats by rivals Real Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals.The Copa final loss stings but pales in contrast to those bitter blows.At least with Real Madrid eliminated, if Atletico can recover to find a way past Arsenal, that cannot happen a third time.rbs/bsp

Pace great Dale Steyn on Sunday reckoned the victory over Chennai Super Kings could be a "turning point" for Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Inter Milan Could Confirm Scudetto Status Next Weekend As Italian Media Underline Chivu & Mourinho ComparisonsInter Milan could be crowned Serie A champions as early as next Sunday, and Gazzetta dello Sport are no longer holding back in placing Cristian Chivu among the most elite coaches in the clubs history.According to Gazzetta, via FCInterNews, if Inter win at Torino and their rivals fail to do the same, the 21st Scudetto will be confirmed with four games to spare.Napoli remain 12 points behind with five games remaining.And, after yesterdays result, have effectively conceded the title race.Indeed, the Gazzetta verdict is unambiguous.In his first full experience on a professional bench, Cristian Chivu has not just won the league. He has dominated it beyond all reasonable doubt. Overcoming general scepticism toward the coaching newcomer.Chivu Joins Mourinho In Elite Group Of First-Season Inter Scudetto WinnersThe comparison with Jos Mourinho is unavoidable, and Gazzetta confront it directly.Mourinho won the Scudetto with Inter in his debut season in 2008/09.However, the outlet are careful to note the context.Those were more comfortable years, the Calciopoli storm had swept away Juventus. And the man of the Treble had inherited a squad already capable of finishing ahead of the main rival, Roma, for two consecutive seasons.Furthermore, Gazzetta note the historical rarity of what Chivu is achieving.When Inter confirm the title, he joins a very select group of coaches to win the Scudetto on their debut season.Virginio Fossati in 1909-10, Nino Resegotti in 1919-20, Alfredo Foni in 1952-53 and Gianni Invernizzi in 1970-71.Roberto Mancini holds the Italian record of celebrating the title with five games to spare, a mark Chivu cannot match this season.However, clinching with four rounds remaining would place him in outstanding historical company.Therefore, what once seemed improbable, a debut-season title for an inexperienced coach inheriting a squad scarred by Champions League final humiliation, is now days away from becoming reality.

Blessing Muzarabani was handed a two-year ban from the league, insisting that he had not signed any formal contract before choosing to join Kolkata Knight Riders.

Pep Guardiola has a habit of describing games as a final. A game billed as a title decider has a finality for one of the participants, he thinks. If we lose, its over, he said. Although, of course, some people thought the title was all over quite some time ago.Arsenals lead was nine points a week ago. It could be wiped out by Wednesday evening. Manchester City have been the pursuers Arsenal could not shake off; or did not, anyway. Guardiola has caught them in the run-in before and has long spied the opportunity to do so again. Months ago, because we dropped points in moments where we thought we would not, I saw the calendar and said when Arsenal come at home it can be the chance if we are not 20 points behind, he said. Six points is not a short distance but we have the chance to do it.The momentum, too. In one respect, anyway. Arsenal are actually in better form in the Premier League, with four wins in their last five games, compared to Citys one victory in three. But in all competitions City have beaten Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea by an aggregate score of 9-0 in their last three matches. Arsenal have a lone win and just three goals in five. The sense is that City are peaking when it matters. Guardiola is relishing a chance that it seemed would elude City. Its good to be in that position, to learn for all of us, to learn for the future, for next season. Im glad to be there, he said.Famously, Guardiola and Mikel Arteta are two intense individuals, but the older manager seems more relaxed. In part, that is because his past deeds allow him to be. Winning a seventh Premier League title would not be his finest achievement. No, the greatest has [been] done, said a man whose multitude of trophies mean there is plenty of competition for that tag. There is no doubt, though, that if Arteta can make Arsenal champions for the first time since 2004, it would represent his crowning glory. Guardiola believes that long wait could be advantage to Arsenal. We cannot fight against these 22 years without winning the Premier League, so they have something that is unique, said Guardiola.It also confers more pressure on Arsenal. City have looked more comfortable dealing with it of late. Perhaps Guardiola has succeeded in giving his team the right mindset. Certainly they have grasped opportunities; they were drawing 0-0 at half-time against both Arsenal and Chelsea, and goalless a few minutes before the interval against Liverpool, and were emphatic winners in each. Perhaps Guardiolas experience has helped. Or maybe the weather, given that he joked the sun was a reason why they invariably excel in April, whereas Arsenal have looked drained by their season-long exploits. Maybe Guardiola is better than Arteta at lightening the load on his players. All the managers, if they could buy confidence in a supermarket, they will buy it, he said. Guardiola has plenty of purchases on the pitch but, when he outwitted Arteta in the Carabao Cup final, a player who cost nothing proved decisive. Nico OReilly, a scorer twice at Wembley, came off at Stamford Bridge with a hamstring issue. The bad news for Arsenal is that he has been passed fit to face them again.Guardiola adopted quite an attacking approach at Wembley, a rather more defensive one when City drew 1-1 at the Emirates Stadium in September. Arteta has been negative in each of the last two seasons at the Etihad, drawing 0-0 in March 2024 and 2-2 six months later when, reduced to 10 men after Leandro Trossards first-half red card, his side almost held out. A third draw would suit them.Guardiola insisted the title race would be over if Arsenal won at the Etihad and is expecting Arteta to do something different (PA Wire)If the accusation is that Arsenal have become too predictable, Guardiolas understanding of his former assistant means he expects a little change. I know Mikel a little, they are going to adjust something and we have to be prepared, he added.City may be in the unfamiliar position of being the neutrals choice though, amid the accusations Arsenal have become dull, Guardiola claimed that, unlike many, he enjoys watching them; at the least, he may have enjoyed their 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth. It made Arsenal look less relentless, less remorseless than recent champions, Guardiolas City included. His six Premier League titles have come with 100, 98, 86, 93, 89 and 91 points respectively. Now, even if they finish off the season with seven straight wins, the most they can get is 85.Of course the points of the season is much, much lower comparing the seasons [competing] with Jurgen [Klopp] at Liverpool, added Guardiola. Because maybe both we are not good or maybe the contenders has been better. Even if he beats Arsenal, he can see further points escaping his grasp. Our calendar, especially, its terrible, he said. And yet, at the end of it, is the renewed chance it will bring his seventh Premier League. And perhaps his final one.

Ayush Mhatre will undergo scans on Monday once the team reaches Mumbai ahead of their clash against arch-rivals Mumbai Indians.

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Luis Campos has held a meeting with the representatives of Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli. Transfer Talk has the latest.