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Stars forward Mikko Rantanen fined $5,000 for cross-checking Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov

The NHL fined Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen $5,000 on Friday for cross-checking the Minnesota Wild’s Kirill Kaprizov in Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.

Rantanen cross-checked Kaprizov early in the third period on Thursday night and was assessed a minor roughing penalty. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

It was the Stars’ second cross-checking fine of the series. Captain Jamie Benn was fined $2,604.17 on Wednesday for a check on Ryan Hartman in Game 5.

The Wild beat the Stars 5-2 in Game 6 to advance to the second round against the Colorado Avalanche.

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AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The arrival of AJ Dybantsa gives Wizards hope

For the first time in almost a half-century, the Washington Wizards could be closer to contending for an NBA title with the arrival of AJ Dybantsa. The team drafted the 6-foot-9 forward with the first pick of the 2026 NBA draft after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league in the past three years. They got the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery in May for the first time since 2010 -- when they drafted John Wall. The Wizards hope, with the arrival of Dybantsa, that they can start winning games and competing for the playoffs with a chance to win their first championship since 1978. In the past three seasons, they finished with a combined record of 50-196. “We’re definitely getting a difference maker on the basketball court. There’s no doubt about that,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. “What I would want our fans to know night one is that he is a worker. He is a passionate person who loves basketball and will continue to work and get better.”
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