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Entering his 16th year in the pro Counter-Strike scene, Nikola “NiKo” Kovac has been one of the most prolific players that fans have seen over the years. He has established his dominance in the game and has been hailed as the legendary player that many fans have loved to watch dominate the game on the big stage. At the age of 28, the Bosnian star has been one of the reputable players in the Counter-Strike franchise – being one of the few players who have gone through playing the first generation Counter-Strike, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and now CS2. NiKo has shined bright in all three games, showing how great he has been over the decades. But despite all of those great feats at an individual level, NiKo has been eluded from winning a single Major in the game – in all games. Sure, there’s a lot of great games played by the star, but that has all led to zero Major championships, and not being able to win a single massive tournament at the top of the Counter-Strike scene is not a good look at his legacy. NiKo and the Chase for Majors NiKo isn’t a winless star. He is known for being able to carry a lot of powerhouse teams to success – winning 13 S-Tier tournaments with the likes of G2 Esports and FaZe Clan. At this point, one can say that the Bosnian star is really a great player in his own right. But not being able to win the most prestigious of all tournaments in Counter-Strike is really a tough break – even for the so-called best rifler in the game. After all these years, NiKo has not managed to get a single Major to himself, and now that he’s at the helm with Team Falcons, the star believes that he can still come up with a win and finally end that nightmarish drought that has haunted his legendary Counter-Strike career for years. “I consider myself one of the best riflers in the game, but still there are some things that I need to achieve in order to consider myself even higher. So, yeah it's all about the work and the results eventually.” said NiKo about his chase for greatness in the game. “We obviously know that success is going to take time – it just requires time – but we have a clear goal and a clear plan. And obviously the better results and the sooner they come, the better it is; but our goal is to reach our full potential by the end of the season for the Austin Major that is happening in May.” NiKo and the Falcons Team Falcons, unfortunately, hasn’t enjoyed all the rainbows and sunshine to start 2025. For what it is worth, it has been a roller coaster one so far – but there’s at least potential in their chances of winning. NiKo’s initial outing hasn’t been fun – losing out at the 9th-16th place in the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025. That’s not a good finish for a team that has the best rifler in CS history. They did improve in the later runs – finishing second in PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 after they finished in 13th-16th place in IEM Katowice 2025. There are high expectations when you have the best player in the game, and this new project with the Falcons could well be the chance for NiKo to come up with a promising chance to win his first Major in a very long while.

The historic GR8 Chase by Alex Ovechkin has finally ended, and it seems that the NHL has quieted down – not until another buzz about who would be able to beat the new record set by the Washington Capitals star has started going around the league. So far, most analysts and even players claim that Toronto Maple Leafs captain and star Auston Matthews might be able to pull it off. Records are made to be broken, and it took a long time for Ovechkin to chase down the legendary Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most career goals in the NHL, and at the age of 39, he did manage to score 895 goals and showed the world that chasing a long-standing record isn’t impossible. To be fair, LeBron James did break the NBA’s long-standing record of most points scored in February 2023 – then later set 40,000 points in the next year. There’s indeed a lot of records that are meant to be broken – and many people seem to think that Matthews is also capable of pulling off that same feat as well. The thing is – there is indeed a lot to expect considering how it is hard to score a goal in the NHL, let alone score a total of 896 goals by the end of one’s career. A Long Way to Go Well, Matthews does have a case to beat that record. Sure, Sidney Crosby (622 goals), Steven Stamkos (579 goals), an Evgeni Malkin (513 goals) do have better numbers as of the time of writing, but they are already past their prime and are unlikely to make a chase for the top of the scoring list. Matthews, on the other hand, has a total of 398 goals in 623 career games. He is 497 shy of Ovechkin’s mark, and he would at least need 778 more games to score 896 goals based on his current goals-per-game pace. In a season perspective, that’s about nine more seasons. Luckily, Matthews is just 27, and considering that Ovechkin reached it at the age of 39, the Maple Leafs star will be 36 when he breaks the record – and still has three more years to add to the tally. That is a long way to go, yes, but Matthews himself definitely deserves to be in the conversation with the way he’s playing. “I mean, this guy just broke the record. I’m so far away from that, and I don’t think that should be a focus on myself,” Matthews said about being the next to beat the scoring record. “I mean, it should be on Ovi, and rightfully so. It should be on Ovi, and what he’s been able to accomplish in his career, and obviously this record being one of them.” Other Factors to Consider While it is entirely plausible for Matthews to beat the NHL scoring record, there are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to his scoring. One begins at how many goals will Ovechkin have when he retires – considering that he’s still playing at an impressive pace and is bringing a high level of play, the Capitals forward will likely last for two more seasons and may even be daring enough to be the first to reach 1,000 goals. If that happens, then the numbers will be bigger for Matthews to chase, and let’s not forget that health is a concern for Matthews – and if he will be playing for more games with the Maple Leafs as well. For now, the focus for Matthews is to bring his game to a high level and keep the pressure on the Eastern Conference as he seeks to come up with a winning pace with Toronto heading into the playoffs. The scoring talk will have its time, soon.

The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement has finally been successful in ousting VGW from operating in the state. The Delaware DGE actually issued a cease and desist order in 2023, with no result until this month. But it was only during legal proceedings conducted last August of 2024 that VGW was made aware that the C&D order was sent. Now, as of the 2nd of April, Delaware residents can no longer access and play on the sites, which include Chumba, Global Poker, and Luckyland. After years of scrutiny and regulatory ambiguity, the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement has officially forced Virtual Gaming Worlds (VGW) to cease operations in the state. The agency announced in a press release that VGW's sweepstakes-based gaming platforms - including Luckyland Slots, Chumba Casino, and Global Poker - are considered illegal online casinos under Delaware law. Effective April 2, residents of Delaware are no longer permitted to access or play on any VGW-operated sites. The decision marks the culmination of a prolonged investigation and legal tug-of-war, though the timeline behind the enforcement reveals a more complex story than the press release suggests. A cease and desist long ignored While the DDGE's statement gave the impression of recent enforcement, VGW was first issued a cease and desist order more than two years ago. According to prior confirmation from the DDGE, the regulatory agency initially sent the cease and desist on the 23rd of February, 2023. However, VGW did not acknowledge or act on the order until August of 2024, when it came to light during an unrelated legal proceeding. This delay in enforcement - over a year between the issuance of the notice and VGW's formal recognition of it - has raised questions about communication and compliance practices between the operator and regulatory bodies. The DDGE did not disclose the reason for the enforcement delay in its latest announcement. VGW has long maintained a strong presence in Delaware, both operationally and legally. The company's own terms and conditions mandate that all legal disputes be handled through the US District Court for the District of Delaware, making the state a focal point for ongoing and past litigation against the operator. Numerous lawsuits have been filed in Delaware targeting VGW's business model, which operates using a sweepstakes system rather than traditional online casino mechanics. Critics argue that the distinction is largely semantic and that VGW's games function as de facto online gambling, skirting the regulatory frameworks in place in many states. VGW's patchwork US presence VGW has now officially withdrawn from Delaware, joining a list of states that includes Idaho, Connecticut, Montana, Michigan, Washington, and Nevada. Despite these exits, VGW remains active in several other jurisdictions, even as competitors adopt a more conservative stance on state-by-state legality. For instance, some sweepstakes gaming companies have exited all states where online casinos are legalized and regulated - including Pennsylvania and New Jersey - opting to avoid regulatory complications altogether. A group of such operators have also recently exited New York, citing increased regulatory pressure. Yet VGW has opted to pursue its own course. Unlike many of its competitors, it has not joined the Social and Promotional Games Association or SPGA, a trade group aiming to promote transparency and establish voluntary compliance standards for sweepstakes and promotional gaming operators. VGW's absence from the SPGA demonstrates its unique, and at times contentious, position in the evolving online gaming landscape in the US. The company has already updated its platform terms and conditions to reflect the Delaware ban, preventing users with Delaware IP addresses or account affiliations from accessing their products. It remains unclear whether VGW will face further legal consequences for its extended period of non-compliance or whether additional states will follow Delaware's lead in formally challenging the legality of its operations. The DDGE's enforcement action sends a clear message to online gaming operators that Delaware is prepared to take firm action against platforms operating outside of its regulatory framework.

Residents from Texas have been accused by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas of running an unlawful gambling enterprise that has made over $22 million in proceeds. According to federal officers, these residents conspired to operate illegal game rooms as well as conspiring to disguise and conceal the money they made from these operations by making fraudulent transactions. The bust is considered one of the biggest in southern Texas' history. In one of the biggest law enforcement operations ever conducted in the Southern District of Texas, federal authorities have shut down a major illegal gambling ring allegedly operating in the Houston area. The sweeping crackdown, known as Operation Double Down, resulted in the seizure of more than $16 million in cash, firearms, luxury items, and property (including 100 Rolex watches) and the arrest of numerous individuals. Over a dozen residents accused As stated by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, the operation targeted more than a dozen Houston-area residents accused of running illicit game rooms that generated over $22 million in illegal proceeds. The group also allegedly engaged in money laundering activities in an effort to conceal the origin of their illegal earnings. At the center of the case is Nizar Ali of Richmond, Texas, who, along with 14 others, is accused of conspiring to operate unlicensed gambling facilities and conducting fraudulent financial transactions to disguise the source of the profits. Authorities allege the network used numerous locations across Houston and surrounding communities, including sites with names like Yellow Building and El Portal, to run their operations. In a statement on Thursday, US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei called the takedown 'one of the largest ever law enforcement operations in the Southern District of Texas,' emphasizing the scale and scope of the investigation. Other residents charged in connection with the operation include: Naeem Ali and Amer Khan, both from Richmond Ishan Dhuka and Sahil Karovalia, both from Rosenberg Sarfarez Maredia and Shoaib Maredia of Sugar Land Yolanda Figueroa, from Pasadena Viviana Alvarado, from LaPorte Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, Precela Solis, Maria Delarosa, Claudia Calderon, and Lucia Hernandez, all from Houston Two other suspects - Sayed Ali from Richmond and Stephanie Huerta from Houston - remain fugitives. Arrest warrants have been issued for both. The enormity of the assets seized The April 2 operation involved over 700 law enforcement officers from a total of 18 different agencies, executing 45 search warrants and 40 seizure warrants. Among the items recovered were $5 million worth of vehicles and property, over $4.5 million in cash, more than 2,000 slot machines, eight firearms, and assets worth $6.5 million seized from various financial institutions. The seizure even included 100 Rolex watches. In addition to the primary defendants, authorities also detained 31 individuals living in the country illegally on a range of immigration and firearms-related charges. Accused faces more charges, including conspiracy The group now faces an array of federal charges, including conspiracy, interstate travel for racketeering, conspiracy with relation to money laundering, and operating an illegal gambling business. Each of the three charges carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, while the money laundering charge could lead to up to 20 years behind bars. Furthermore, Nizar Ali faces an additional 32 counts of federal program bribery for reportedly paying over $500,000 in bribes to an undercover officer in a bid to protect the illegal game rooms from law enforcement interference. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years per count. The Justice Department praised the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local agencies involved in the operation, marking the bust as a significant victory against organized illegal gambling and associated financial crimes in the region.

Jenson Brooksby delivered a promising victory at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship on Sunday, beating and stunning 2023 champion Frances Tiafoe. The promising 24-year-old has pulled off a superb tournament run after starting out as a wild card in the qualifying rounds before clawing his path to the top of the game. Now, his efforts have bore fruit, and he has gone from being the world no. 507 all the way to being placed as the new world no. 172. It’s not much, sure, but at his age, the pace can be really deceiving considering that the current world no. 1 is only a 23-year-old, and even the 2022 world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz was 19 when he reached the summit of the ATP Tour. Considering that Brooksby has battled through injuries and suspension, this is a massive win – a hint at something great among American youngsters in the game. Brooksby is now the third-lowest ranked champion in the history of the ATP Tour since 1990. He persevered, and now he is reaping the results of his hard work – and he’s definitely getting started with the way he is playing right now. A Huge Run by Brooksby Brooksby defeated Tiafoe in straight sets in the final, 6-4 and 6-2. He made short work of the higher-seeded star and proved that he is ready to play with the big boys with an impressive victory. So far, one can say that he deserves all the praise that he’s getting right now, and he could definitely build a winning pace out of that. "It was one of my biggest goals ever since I have been a professional tennis player. It means a lot to have my first one. It's probably the best week of my life,” said Brooksby after the win. "I've had a lot of different life adversity, whether it's on the court or off the court. So I think it makes these situations ... like, I still get nervous about them and somewhat tense for sure, but it gives you a different perspective once you've had to face other difficult things in life. Brooksby loves to win, sure. And that has translated well to his game so far considering that he’s found himself in tough positions over the years, and being able to get a second chance at his tennis career is really quite the achievement – something that not all players get most of the time. Coming Back It can be remembered that Brooksby’s career has been derailed with a lot of disruptions. Back in October 2023, the American was handed an 18-month suspension after three successive “whereabouts failures” in a 12-month span. However, that sentence was reduced to just 13 months after making an appeal. He also suffered injuries during and after the suspension, and Brooksby only managed to come back into the game this year – making his season debut at the Australian Open before dropping the first round to fellow American Taylor Fritz. "I'm just someone who hates to lose and loves to win in general - obviously tennis being most important, but even in other games, and that's just how I'm wired as a person,” Brooksby added. “I just really love winning, so that transfers over into when I'm in tough positions and maybe you should lose in those situations, that I'm able to at least find a way out of it." Now moving 335 spots up in the rankings, fans can only expect things to get better for Brooksby, who is definitely making the most of his chances now more than ever.

This season has been a phenomenal start for Mikey Varas and the San Diego FC – who have only lost once in the season and is one of the top teams in the blazing Western Conference, which says a lot about the expectations for the club. But on top of all that, Varas is earning buzz for his coaching schemes – tied to the recent success of the team so far. Varas, who formerly served as an assistant in the USMNT and FC Dallas, is scoring big wins and getting impressive returns with his club early in the season. Being the head coach of an expansion team comes with a lot of big expectations, and it is also rare for a new team to be one of the contender teams right off the bat. Thanks to those points, Varas is starting to stir up COTY talks between analysts, experts, and even fellow coaches. At this point, one can say that there’s indeed more to expect from Varas and San Diego moving forward, considering that it is just seven games into the campaign. But the hype is there – and it remains real at this point. Shattering Expectations If you told a San Diego fan that they would be one of the top teams in the Western Conference to begin their first seven games of the season, no one would even blink an eye. The preseason expectations were quite low for the team – as with any other expansion club that has come and joined the MLS since then. And yet, Varas is coaching them well that they are finding ways to win big against tough opponents. To begin its season, Varas and San Diego cruised past four of the last five champions in the league. They defeated LA Galaxy in a 2-0 clean sheet for their season debut, and they even wrought havoc in a massive clash with LAFC for a 3-2 win. The latest? A 3-0 clean sheet once more, this time against the Seattle Sounders. But for Varas, this is just them scratching the surface – the tip of the iceberg. “The fact of the matter is, we're not even close to as good as we can be, because I don't think we've put together more than 50 minutes, 55 minutes of our complete highest level without a bit of a drop,” said head coach Mikey Varas. “When we get there, I think we're going to be quite a special team.” Impressing Expansion If we are going to look at all the expansion teams – San Diego is not doing something that an expansion team should do. They are sitting second in the Western Conference and currently boast the fourth-best record in the league in just seven games. This group has just been together for about two months and a half, and yet they are playing so well that you would not think of them as an expansion team to begin with. Expansion teams haven’t really done well in their inaugural season. Since 1969 across the big four leagues, a total of 37 expansion teams have ended up as cannon fodder for established teams – finishing with a losing record, save for the Vegas Golden Knights – who managed to steer its path to winning the NHL’s Western Conference and pushing to the Stanley Cup Final. Who knows, maybe San Diego can also impress in its first season as an expansion team – make it to the playoffs, and score a trip to the final. Should that happen – expect Varas to get the credit he’s due as one of the best coaches in the game.

The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement has just issued a cease and desist order against VGW Luckyland, Inc. for operating an illegal online gaming platform. The officials from Delaware reportedly found that VGW Luckyland had misrepresented its offerings as promotional sweepstakes when, in fact, it enabled players to purchase coins for its casino games. The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement, in coordination with the Delaware State Lottery, has issued a cease-and-desist order against VGW Luckyland, Inc., an affiliate of VGW Holdings Ltd. from Australia, following an extensive investigation into illegal online gambling activity targeting Delaware residents. The DGE determined that VGW Luckyland had been misrepresenting its services as promotional sweepstakes while, in reality, offering casino-style games that allowed players to purchase virtual coins and win real-money prizes. This practice, the investigation concluded, constitutes illegal online gaming under Delaware law. Effective on the 2nd of April, 2025, residents of Delaware are no longer permitted to access or participate in any of VGW Luckyland's online gaming platforms. According to state officials, the operation violated multiple legal frameworks, including the Delaware Penal Code, the Delaware Constitution, and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. This case demonstrates the growing concern over unlicensed online gaming platforms posing as legal sweepstakes, said a spokesperson for the Delaware Lottery. Such operations are not only illegal but pose significant risks to consumers. Public safety and consumer protection at risk Delaware officials are raising red flags over the broader implications of unauthorized and unregulated gaming platforms. According to the DGE, these operations are particularly dangerous as they often lack basic consumer protection measures. Players engaging with such websites may face issues like difficulty withdrawing funds, lack of customer support, and susceptibility to cybercrime. Unregulated gaming sites present a wide range of dangers, including identity theft, fraud, and the exposure of sensitive personal and financial information, the DGE emphasized in a public statement. Without oversight, these platforms are a prime target for cybercriminals. The DGE further warned that some illegal gaming sites go as far as mimicking the branding of legitimate Delaware casinos. These deceptive tactics include the use of similar-sounding names, matching color schemes and logos, and even registering lookalike URLs. Such mimicry can easily mislead consumers into thinking they are playing on a secure, regulated platform. Economic impact and public awareness In addition to putting consumers at risk, illegal gaming platforms rob the state of substantial tax revenue. Regulated gaming operations contribute to Delaware's economy, funding public services and ensuring a safe, monitored environment for players. Unlicensed operators, by contrast, sidestep these responsibilities while exploiting local players. Officials are urging Delaware residents to remain vigilant and only participate in online gaming through authorized channels. Just because a website or app is easily accessible does not mean it is legal. Residents are advised to verify the legitimacy of gaming platforms through the official Delaware Lottery website at https://www.delottery.com. About the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement The Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement was established under House Bill Number 310 during the 145th General Assembly. Operating under the supervision of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Safety, the DGE holds exclusive jurisdiction over criminal gaming offenses occurring within licensed video lottery facilities and those relating to the operations of the Delaware Lottery. The Division plays a key role in maintaining public trust by investigating the background and qualifications of gaming license applicants, enforcing gaming laws, and supporting the Delaware Lottery in regulating lottery and gaming activities. This enforcement action reaffirms Delaware's commitment to legal, responsible, and transparent gaming practices, the DGE concluded. Their top priority is to protect residents and maintain the integrity of the state's gaming environment.

A Minecraft user and YouTuber referred to as Bubbaflubba has re-imagined and re-created the Las Vegas Strip in glorious detail, digitally creating the world-famous block's exteriors on a scale of 1:1. He has documented over eight years of painstaking work on the Strip on his YouTube channel, yet strangely enough, one of the casino's names is mispronounced, giving the impression that he has never been there himself. A mystery YouTuber known only as Bubbaflubba has taken digital artistry to a new level, stunning fans by re-creating the iconic Las Vegas Strip - block by block - within the world of Minecraft. Yet, a curious misstep in a recent video has sparked questions about whether the creator has ever actually visited the city he's become famous for digitally replicating. A stunning recreation witnessed by thousands For the past eight years, Bubbaflubba has meticulously built an astonishing 1:1 scale version of the Strip inside Minecraft, a game known more for its pixelated charm than its architectural accuracy. With more than 82,000 subscribers on YouTube, Bubbaflubba has steadily grown a following by showcasing the results of thousands of hours spent replicating the neon-lit mecca of gambling and entertainment. A recently shared image - posted to Reddit - reveals the jaw-dropping level of detail in his work. The photo shows the Strip from the Flamingo heading south toward Mandalay Bay, capturing the essence of Las Vegas in Minecraft's signature blocky aesthetic. Las Vegas through the eyes of Minecraft Far from being a casual build, this project reflects a level of precision that few Minecraft creators achieve. "I've spent thousands of hours trying to create every small detail from the real-life Las Vegas into this world," explains Bubbaflubba in one video, noting that Allegiant Stadium alone took more than 100 hours to research and build. Fans and followers have called him a part of an elite class of Minecraft creators - digital architects who turn a sandbox game into an artistic playground. While the builds are visually impressive, they're also feats of math, design, and spatial awareness. From the Bellagio fountains to the towering facade of Luxor, Bubbaflubba's Las Vegas Strip is more than an homage - it's a digital labor of love. A faux pas with a deeper meaning? But despite his evident dedication, Bubbaflubba made an unexpected blunder in his latest video that left many viewers scratching their heads. While reconstructing Harrah's Hotel & Casino, the YouTuber referred to it as being on the 'North Strip' - a mislabeling, as the property is actually located in the center of the Strip. Even more jarring was his pronunciation of the casino's name as 'ha-RAHZ,' rather than the locally known 'HAIR-uhz.' The missteps, though minor, have led fans to speculate: has Bubbaflubba ever set foot in Las Vegas? Adding to the intrigue is the fact that Bubbaflubba has remained completely anonymous. He shares no personal background, face, or voice beyond his YouTube content. His Reddit profile is equally mysterious, offering no additional details about his real-life identity. The mystery deepens: who is Bubbaflubba? Though he appears to be a solo artist on camera, fan discussions on Reddit and YouTube suggest Bubbaflubba may work with a small team - possibly up to 16 collaborators - on larger builds. He's also been credited with digital recreations of other famous landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, the Taj Mahal, and the Florence Cathedral. Still, it's the Vegas build that has brought him the most attention - and perhaps, the most scrutiny. Some followers are now wondering if his quest to re-create Las Vegas is more about digital mastery than personal passion. But regardless of whether he's walked the Strip or not, there's no denying the scale and artistry of what Bubbaflubba has accomplished. While some fans remain hopeful for a downloadable map or server access, there' been no official word yet on whether the virtual Las Vegas will be made public.

Walter Clayton Jr.’s final defensive play will definitely live in his dreams for years to come. The Florida Gators survived and came up with a huge defensive stop in the dying seconds of the championship as they forced a mishap for the Houston Cougars, with the latter failing to get a shot off as the buzzer sounded, signaling the Gators’ return to the top of the NCAA world in a 65-63 win. Gators head coach Todd Golden now becomes the second head coach in the history of the school to win a championship – with the first two being won by Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan back in 2006 and 2007. It is also the third national championship for the University of Florida and is the first time they have reached the final since 2007. The Cougars initially looked like they were going to come up with an impressive win from start to finish, but the Gators were able to capitalize on their mistakes – forcing back to back turnovers in the closing moments of the game to regain the lead and then holding on for the final possession. Confetti of blue and orange rained down the Alamodome as Gator fans celebrated in delight at another championship for the first time in 18 years. The Final Moments After leading at 8-6 in the first quarter, the Florida Gators trailed the whole game and never had another lead of their own. It wasn't until 64-63 coming off a free throw by Alijah Martin with 46.5 seconds to play that they had a lead in the game – and the timing couldn’t be more impeccable for the team. The Gators came back from a 12-point deficit and looked to close the gap in the final minute of the game. From that point, Florida never trailed again, and Houston would go on to turn the ball over in the next possession. The Gators quickly attacked and came up with a Denzel Aberdeen free throw to extend the lead to 65-63 with 19.7 seconds left in the game. That’s when Houston opted to call time out and draw up a play for the tie or for the win. The Cougars opted to go for the win, with Milos Uzan getting a good look before passing up the shot and giving it to LJ Cryer. The latter would then pass it right away like a hot potato, this time landing in the hands of Emanuel Sharp at the top of the key. Except, Sharp had nowhere to go after he didn’t throw up the shot with a Clayton Jr. closing on him. He could not touch the ball as it would then result in a traveling violation. And that led to a scramble before Alex Condon successfully dived for the ball and earned possession before the buzzer sounded – signaling a massive victory for the Gators and completing their comeback. By the Numbers No player scored more than 20 points in the game, with LJ Cryer being the closest at 19 points and six rebounds for Houston – and no other player in the Cougars’ squad reached double digits in that loss. On the other hand, Florida’s Will Richard led the scoring charge at 18 points and seven boards, while Condon tallied 12 points and seven rebounds of his own. Perhaps Clayton Jr. stole the spotlight for this win by the Gators. He finished with an all-around game of 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, but it was his huge defensive play that sealed the deal for the Gators in their victory.

Alex Ovechkin’s 895th goal of his career was the only goal scored by the Washington Capitals in their 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders, but it was still a historic finish that now set him apart from the legendary Wayne Gretzky in the all-time scoring list of the NHL. Ovechkin now stands alone at the top of the goal list of the NHL, and he is still expected to add more to that tally even with the season winding down. It was more of a harmless loss for the Capitals – who are still yet to clinch its 50th win of the season, as they remain the first seed of the Eastern Conference and is already ensured of home-ice advantage for the rest of the postseason. At this point, it cannot be denied that Ovechkin has been a great boost for the team, and there are high hopes that he can carry it to the postseason run as well. At the age of 39, Ovechkin has now become the sole leader in scoring in the NHL. It took him quite a long time – possibly his whole career, to surpass the legendary Wayne Gretzky. It has been a promising campaign for the veteran star, and it is also expected that he would be gunning for more goals as the Capitals also seek to cruise for another championship now more than ever. A Historic Night for Ovechkin Alex Ovechkin entered the second period with the hopes of breaking the scoring drought for the Capitals in this game against the Islanders. The forward scored the record-setting goal at 7:26 of the second period on a power play as he raced off a pass from Tom Wilson before pulling up a wrist shot over Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin on the blocker side from the top of the left face-off circle. Of course, the Capitals did not score any single goal after that, but it was indeed a historic night for the star as he has finally emerged as the leading scorer in the history of the NHL. Ovechkin nearly had a chance to pass Gretzky at 2:35 of the first period, but Sorokin pulled off a great save to redirect the puck. "What a day, huh?” Ovechkin said during his on-ice ceremony. “Like I always said, all the time, it's a team sport and without my boys - the whole organization, the fans, the trainers, coaches - I would never be standing here, and obviously I would never pass the 'Great One.' So, fellas, thank you very much.” Shifting Focus and Priorities After that goal by Ovechkin, nothing good followed. The Capitals failed to score and were routed all the way to the finish. Charlie Lindgren made 18 saves for Washington, who would have clinched the Metropolitan Division for good with a win. Still, the team is way ahead of the pack and is 11 points ahead of the second-place Carolina Hurricanes. “I’m frustrated about how the game went after Ovechkin’s goal, but it's not an easy scenario that our players have just gone through in the last 72 hours, having gone through the home game, flying here yesterday, the earlier start here,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “I'm not taking anything away from the New York Islanders because the game was at 12:30 and it started at 12:30 for them as well. But it's a difficult stretch for us. I thought that goal would have snowballed and was hoping it would create some momentum for our group, but that didn't happen.” Now more than ever, the focus now shifts for the team in preparation for the playoff campaign, where the Capitals are one of the heavy favorites to win it all and close out a promising campaign too. With Ovechkin’s goal chase off the table, getting healthy and locked in for the playoffs is the main priority.

As the Sam Darnold era is slated to begin in the Seattle Seahawks, there is a lot of excitement in the air as the star QB is expected to put some blazing action in his games this coming season and elevate the level of play for the Seahawks. Now more than ever, it seems that they are keen to bring bigger strides in the playoff stage as well. Darnold has been one of the most promising players in the NFL this season, and his level of play has been mostly impressive with the way the Minnesota Vikings have become a successful team to watch for most of the previous season – leading them to an impressive record and blazing through some of their games while he posted career-highs. After Seattle traded Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, it was clear that they were in the market for a new lead quarterback, and it did not take long for Darnold to join the team as they brought him in a few days after that trade, hinting at a new, bigger and inspired goal to come up with a playoff push now more than ever. Synchronizing with Darnold As the offseason training continues for the Seahawks, it seems that the focus of the team is to now come up with a different vibe for the team, especially after integrating Darnold into the lineup as the new QB1. So far, it is a good look for the team as they hope to change up their dynamic heading into the campaign. Considering how Seattle is in dire need of a promising push for a postseason berth, one can say that there’s more hope for the team as Darnold leads them to a new era. For head coach Mike Macdonald, catching up and knowing more about his new QB1 also sets expectations as to what he can hope to achieve in the coming season, and he is definitely thrilled with the way Darnold has been perceived so far. "I think it's interesting because I haven't had a relationship with Sam before a couple weeks ago, and it's been awesome so far, our conversations," Macdonald said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "It's been really cool to hear about people that have had a relationship with him in his life kind of throughout his journey, and all positive things they say about him. All the way back to his college days at USC, we have some of those folks still in our building right now. A Complete Overhaul Seattle didn’t make changes on the passing end alone. Receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are all out of the roster now and are slated to be replaced by Cooper Kupp, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and possibly some more help through the draft. On top of that, Demarcus Lawrence has also inked a deal with the team after spending 11 years with the Cowboys. Darnold has been one of the moving players so far, and signing a $37-million deal with Seattle for one year can be enough time for his coach to gauge his capabilities or even unlock his potential – if there’s even more, to unveil at this point in time. "I'm most excited about the person, the leader, the teammate, that guy that we get to work with every day. I think he's in a great spot from our conversations. I think he's energized, he's driven and just like the rest of us in the building, so he's going to fit right in," the coach added. The Seahawks have been absent from the playoff stage for two years running now, and they are willing to bet that Darnold can be the key to getting them back on track. After all, Darnold has been spectacular last season, which saw him earn 4,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and made his first Pro Bowl.