The Anaheim Ducks struck for four unanswered goals in the third period to rally for a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, which extended their winning streak to six games and gave the defending Stanley Cup champions their first regulation loss of the season.

Sam Carrick scored two goals and Mason McTavish had the tie-breaking tally with 3:40 left to play as the Ducks snapped Vegas' 12-game point streak to begin its Stanley Cup title defence. The Golden Knights began the season on an 11-0-1 run and hadn't lost in regulation in a regular-season game since March 28 of last season, going 16-0-4 since that defeat prior to Sunday's setback. 

Anaheim's winning streak is the franchise's longest since an eight-game run from Oct. 31-Nov. 16, 2021. The Ducks have missed the playoffs in each of the five previous seasons.

The Knights looked to be on the way towards another win after Ivan Barbashev scored in the first period and Jack Eichel did so in the second to build a 2-0 lead entering the final stanza.

Adam Henrique gave the Ducks renewed life, however, with a power-play goal just 1:38 into the third period.

After Carrick's first goal of the night tied the score with 9:05 remaining, McTavish beat Vegas goaltender Logan Thompson with a one-timer less than 5 1/2 minutes later to put Anaheim ahead.

Carrick later sealed the victory with an empty-net score with 1:09 left.

John Gibson aided the Ducks' comeback with 30 saves, while Thompson stopped 19 of 22 shots in defeat.

Devils bounce back with win over Blackhawks

Dawson Mercer and Max Willman scored first-period goals to help the New Jersey Devils get back on track with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.

New Jersey had a three-game winning streak snapped with Friday's 4-1 loss at St. Louis, then fell behind early in this one when former Devil Taylor Hall gave Chicago a 1-0 lead just 1:51 into the contest.

Mercer and Willman scored just 1:34 apart later in the opening period, however, and Curtis Lazar extended the lead by redirecting teammate John Marino's shot past Blackhawks' netminder Arvid Soderblom 4:35 into the third.

Ryan Donato's goal with 4:46 remaining got Chicago within 3-2, but Michael McLeod scored into an empty net in the closing seconds to seal the Devils' sixth win in eight games.

Soderblom finished with 36 saves, while Vitek Vanecek stopped 32 shots for New Jersey.

Blackhawks rookie Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick of this year's draft, was held without a point after registering a goal in each of the team's previous three games.

Iga Swiatek has moved a step closer to reclaiming the world number one spot with a straight-sets victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA Finals.

Swiatek, the world number two, claimed her 67th win of the year and her 10th win in a row in the 6-3 6-2 victory against the current number one Sabalenka on Sunday in Mexico.

The match, which began on Saturday, was suspended after the fourth game due to wet weather which has featured consistently throughout the tournament.

When it resumed on Sunday, Swiatek broke Sabalenka in the first game back and went on to take the win in just over 90 minutes.

“I’m really, really happy, I think that was the toughest and nicest match that I have played here,” Swiatek said after the match.

The 22-year-old from Poland went unbroken throughout the match and won more than 75 per cent of her service points.

She will meet world number five Jessica Pegula in the final on Monday for a chance to finish the year as the world number one.

It only took an hour for Pegula to beat her doubles partner and fellow American Coco Gauff on Saturday in a 6-2 6-1 win to continue her exceptional tournament form.

Both Pegula and four-time grand slam winner Swiatek have gone through the tournament undefeated with neither player dropping a single set.

Real Madrid were unable to reclaim top spot in LaLiga as Carlo Ancelotti’s men drew 0-0 at home with derby rivals Rayo Vallecano.

The stalemate at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu leaves second-placed Real two points behind table-toppers Girona, and two ahead of Barcelona in third.

Athletic Bilbao are fifth after surviving a late Villarreal fightback to win 3-2 at El Madrigal, where Inigo Ruiz de Galarreta, Nico Williams and Inaki Williams had the visitors three goals up inside the opening half an hour.

Gerard Moreno and Alexander Sorloth scored in quick succession late on but Athletic held on.

A Pepelu penalty gave Valencia a 1-0 home win over second-bottom Granada, and it was the same scoreline as Alaves beat basement boys Almeria.

Juventus are two points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan in second place after Fabio Miretti’s 10th-minute effort proved the difference in a 1-0 win at Fiorentina.

Roma pulled off a dramatic victory over Lecce at the Stadio Olimpico as two stoppage-time goals saw them come from behind to triumph 2-1.

Sardar Azmoun drew Jose Mourinho’s men level in the first minute of added time, cancelling out Pontus Almqvist’s goal, before Romelu Lukaku – who had had an early penalty saved by Wladimir Falcone – netted the winner three minutes later.

Lorenzo Colombo notched a brace as Monza won 3-1 at Hellas Verona, who are now in the relegation zone, with Cagliari moving out with a 2-1 home win over Genoa.

Nice returned to the top of Ligue 1, a point above second-placed Paris St Germain, with a 2-0 home victory over Rennes that saw both sides reduced to 10 men.

Jeremie Boga opened the scoring and a Steve Mandanda own goal added to that late on, not long after Youssouf Ndayishimiye had been sent off for the hosts and Warmed Omari then followed suit for Rennes.

Monaco are a point behind PSG in third after beating Brest 2-0 at the Stade Louis II, Denis Zakaria and Aleksandr Golovin getting the goals before Lilian Brassier was dismissed for the away side in stoppage time.

Reims are up to fourth after a Junya Ito goal earned them a 1-0 win at Nantes.

Rock-bottom Lyon secured a 1-1 draw at home against 16th-placed Metz thanks to Skelly Alvero’s late goal, while Le Havre won 2-1 at Toulouse and Strasbourg and second-bottom Clermont drew 0-0.

In the Bundesliga, third-placed Stuttgart suffered a second successive defeat, losing 2-0 at Heidenheim with Jan Schoppner and Tim Kleindienst on the scoresheet, and Wolfsburg were held 2-2 at home by Werder Bremen.

Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou has plenty of admiration for Mauricio Pochettino’s appetite to take on a “big challenge” but has suggested he would never allow others to take complete control of recruitment.

Pochettino’s Chelsea visit Spurs on Monday with the west London club struggling for a second consecutive season despite an outlay of £1billion since Todd Boehly took over with his Clearlake Capital consortium last year.

While Pochettino has failed to hit the ground running and acknowledged at the end of September he would “need to be more involved now” with regard to the January transfer window, it is a different story for Postecoglou and his summer transfers.

“I haven’t come across him,” Postecoglou said of the former Spurs manager.

“From afar, great admiration. I think the impact he had at Southampton and at Spurs is unquestionable.

“He has taken on some pretty big challenges post-Spurs as well, which I’m all for. I like managers who take on big challenges, so great admiration and respect for his work.”

Paris St Germain was Pochettino’s destination after his departure from Tottenham, but a plethora of signings under his watch were made by PSG sporting director Leonardo.

This summer Chelsea spent more than £350million during Pochettino’s first transfer window, although he has been left with a bloated squad of big-money additions which lack experience.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mauricio Pochettino (@pochettino)

By contrast Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and James Maddison have quickly settled and Postecoglou said recruitment is a big factor for him, especially at the start of his tenure.

He added: “Wherever I’ve been, I’ve made sure that I have the biggest say over recruitment. I don’t do all the work, but I really think it’s an important part of my function and particularly when I first go into clubs.

“When you first go into a club, there are two measures that people will always put up against you.

“One is the results, that tells its own tale, but as a manager, and I’ve certainly had that experience, you can’t always guarantee the results early on.

“The other thing you get measured on is the people you bring in. Because at least if the results aren’t there, then people will say ‘okay, there’s something building here’.

“From my perspective, it’s the one area I really want strong control over.”

Spurs’ new technical director Johan Lange started work at the club on Wednesday and Postecoglou has already spent time with the ex-Aston Villa transfer guru, but a day earlier his focus was elsewhere.

Postecoglou and his wife Georgia were opening-night guests of Sir Kenneth Branagh on Tuesday at Wyndham’s Theatre to witness Shakespeare’s King Lear, a tale of a king seeking love from his three daughters, which ends in devastation.

The Aussie enjoyed the play but is eager for a different ending on Monday night.

“Sir Kenneth is a big Spurs fan and was kind enough to invite my wife and I to the theatre the other night,” Postecoglou revealed.

“We enjoyed it. I did have to swot up on King Lear. It wasn’t part of the curriculum at Prahran High!

“You always learn from life and the appreciation of seeing people excel at what they do is inspiring. You walk out of there thinking, ‘I don’t know how they do it’.

“Sir Kenneth was good after it. I caught up with him briefly, he was very kind with his time.

“He was all over how it’s going and gave me some little bits of advice, which I’ll ignore like he’ll ignore my advice on acting, mate! It was good. It was much appreciated.

“There was a fair bit going on in that play, mate! I definitely want a better ending than Sir Kenneth had.”

Pep Guardiola hopes anger at missing out can fuel more sensational performances like that of Jeremy Doku at the weekend.

Doku took centre stage as Manchester City thrashed Bournemouth 6-1 to return to the top of the Premier League on Saturday, opening the scoring and setting up four other goals.

That came after Jack Grealish was preferred to him for last week’s derby victory over Manchester United, and manager Guardiola now wants the England midfielder, in turn, to come back firing.

Guardiola said: “I want Jack angry and I want him to play good, and then Doku – be angry that he hasn’t played the last two games. This is the way to maintain the consistency at that level.”

Grealish has had a frustrating start to the season after missing a month due to a dead leg, but Guardiola has no doubt he will get back to his best.

“Jack is back,” he said. “The way he played at Old Trafford, to give us more composure and more powers in that position, it was decisive for us.

“We need everyone. There are a lot of games and everyone has to compete.

“As much as Jeremy and Jack perform, and I can play both at the same time, but when they don’t, train better the next day because the moment is coming, and when you are mentally there in the head you will perform well.

“Then we will win games and you will be happy and everyone will be happy. This is what we have to do.”

City will check on the fitness of star striker Erling Haaland ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Young Boys. The Norwegian was removed at half-time on Saturday after twisting his ankle.

Guardiola was pleased his side managed to score six without any contribution from the prolific Haaland but admits he wants him back as soon as possible.

He said: “It’s good that Jeremy has this threat to score goals and Bernardo (Silva) and Phil (Foden). We know it.

“I know Mateo (Kovacic) is not a goalscorer, but we have now more players involved, with and without Erling – but I want Erling on the pitch.”

Holders City cans secure their place in the Champions League knockout stages for an 11th successive year with victory over the Swiss side this week.

Guardiola said: “It’s so important, more than you can imagine, because we can park the car until February and focus on the Premier League and others. We have to close it on Tuesday.”

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is confident he will not repeat Ron Atkinson’s Mr Bean-esque gaffe of standing in the wrong dugout on his return to Tottenham.

‘Big Ron’ unwittingly provided entertainment at the City Ground in 1999 when he mistakenly took his place in front of the away team’s bench in his first match since being appointed Nottingham Forest manager.

Pochettino was asked about that famous blunder ahead of going back to Spurs on Monday evening but initially confused veteran boss Atkinson with near-namesake Rowan Atkinson, creator of comedy character Mr Bean.

Following the brief misunderstanding, the Argentinian, who managed Tottenham between 2014 and 2019, insisted he will not make a similar error as he helped design the layout of his former club’s stadium.

“Ah, Mr Bean? Ron Atkinson is the actor?”, Pochettino replied to the original question, before the mix-up was explained.

“Ah, OK, OK – I was thinking the actor. My wife will kill me! She will say, ‘I told you, remember that is the name’.

“No (I will not make the same mistake). I know very well the away dugout. I know very well because I designed where it was, I was there with the architect.

“On the right is the local (home) and the away is on the left.”

Pochettino is preparing for a special occasion on his first reunion with Tottenham since being sacked four years ago.

He holds fond memories of his spell with the north London club, which included reaching the Champions League final just months before his dismissal.

Despite being desperate for victory, the 51-year-old rejected any notion of seeking revenge in response to the nature of his departure.

Mid-table Chelsea are in great need of points to kickstart their season following just three Premier League wins from 10 games, while unbeaten Tottenham are among the early pacesetters.

“I want to win,” said Pochettino, who arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer. “I want to beat them.

“But when I play with my kids, I want to beat them, or my dad, or my brothers, or my friends – I try to kill them!

“I want to win because we are competitive, I am competitive.

“It’s not a special thing. I don’t want to go there and (people) think it’s a revenge. For what?

“For me, it’s going to be important because we need to win, Chelsea need to win because we need the points.

“But not because it’s special because it’s against Tottenham.”

An early goal from Fabio Miretti proved decisive as Juventus held on for a 1-0 win at Fiorentina on Sunday.

Miretti struck in the 10th minute but Juve also owed much to a strong defensive effort as they claimed a victory that lifted them to within two points of Serie A leaders Inter Milan.

Fiorentina controlled much of the play at the Artemio Franchi Stadium but were unable to find a way past Wojciech Szczesny in the Juve goal.

The game had gone ahead despite some calls for it to be postponed following the storms that have devastated parts of the region in recent days. Players from both teams stood together in tribute to the victims prior to kick-off.

When the game got under way, Juve seized the advantage with their first attack.

Fiorentina’s defence were caught out as the visitors broke with speed and Fabiano Parisi missed a chance to intercept as the ball was slipped to Filip Kostic on the left of the area.

Kostic made the most of the opening and slid a pass across the box which Miretti met with a firm first-time strike at the near post that Pietro Terracciano could not keep out.

The hosts responded well to the setback but continually met with frustration in their attempts to find an equaliser.

Antonin Barak got into a good position but fired well over before Nicolas Gonzalez shot straight at Szczesny.

Gonzalez forced a better save from the former Arsenal goalkeeper with a volley and Cristiano Biraghi tested the Pole with a free-kick before the interval.

Juve tried to break out and make the result safe early in the second half, but Moise Kean was denied by a Luca Ranieri block and Fiorentina continued to dictate the pace.

Rolando Mandragora dragged an effort wide and Giacomo Bonaventura also missed the target with a fierce strike before Szczesny saved from Christian Kouame.

Fiorentina fought to the end but they were unable to create any more clear-cut chances after M’Bala Nzola headed over with three minutes remaining.

Andrea Cambiaso almost added a second for Juve in stoppage time but Terracciano saved.

Former Scotland boss Craig Levein has been confirmed as the new manager of cinch Premiership bottom club St Johnstone.

The McDiarmid Park outfit have announced the 59-year-old has signed a contract which runs until May 2026.

Levein, whose previous clubs include Hearts, Dundee United and Leicester, succeeds Steven MacLean, who left the Perth club last week.

Chief executive Stan Harris said in a statement: “I am delighted to welcome Craig to St Johnstone.

“Craig joins with vast experience having managed over 600 games, including having the highest honour of managing Scotland.

“We identified the need for experience to help guide St Johnstone through this difficult spell. We believe we have found that by appointing Craig.

“We wish Craig all the best in his new role and have no doubt we have picked the right candidate for the job.”

MacLean left Saints last week following a 4-0 defeat at St Mirren.

Interim boss Alex Cleland oversaw a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock on Wednesday but Saints remain three points behind second-bottom Livingston as Levein takes charge.

His first game will be the visit of Motherwell on Tuesday.

Levein, who has left his role as club adviser at Brechin City, told SaintsTV: “I am delighted to be sitting here as the new St Johnstone manager.

“I believe we have a great squad here that can kick on and start to climb up the league.”

Andy Kirk has also joined the club as Levein’s assistant.

Daniel Ricciardo said he was thankful to be alive after he narrowly avoided being struck by a flying tyre in Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

The race in Sao Paulo was suspended after a chaotic start which saw the loose carcass hit Ricciardo’s rear wing following a collision between Alex Albon and Nico Hulkenberg.

Albon, 13th on the grid, drew alongside Hulkenberg ahead of the first corner, but the two machines made contact, sending the London-born driver into Hulkenberg’s Haas team-mate Kevin Magnussen and then into the barrier.

The force of the impact tore the left-rear off Albon’s Williams, with the bouncing tyre, which weighs 13 kilograms, narrowly flying over the top of Ricciardo’s head before smashing into the back of his AlphaTauri.

Footage from Ricciardo’s cockpit shows him turning sharply to the left to avoid the airborne rubber.

“I saw a big crash in front of me and lots of debris,” said Ricciardo.

“I felt I was getting through it and then saw a tyre off the rim coming at me like a frisbee through the air and it started getting closer.

“I remember ducking my head. I didn’t feel anything hit me, so I was happy, but I checked my mirrors and saw my rear wing was pretty much off, so I assumed the tyre hit the wing, and that was frustrating. But looking back, it is nice it did not hit me.

“My immediate relief was turned into disappointment because I realised the race could be over. When you are in race mode you don’t think about it, but in hindsight I am thankful we all got out of it safe.”

Ricciardo, 34, was able to limp back to the pits for the repairs following the fortunate escape, while both Albon and Magnussen emerged unscathed, albeit out of the race.

Hulkenberg was able to carry on before a 25-minute delay ensued as the tyre barrier on the approach to the opening bend was repaired.

The red flag allowed Ricciardo’s mechanics to fix his machine, but he was a lap down for the restart.

Ricciardo continued: “The team did a great job fixing the car so we were ready to go and then I was told I would start a lap behind. All the excitement to race again gets zapped out of you.

“Common sense should be used and we should not have been a lap down because there was not one lap of green-flag racing. It is frustrating that they ruined our day from the beginning.”

Luis Diaz has spoken of his desperation and distress in an emotional call for the release of his father.

The Liverpool winger’s parents were kidnapped at gunpoint in Colombia last week.

His mother has since been found, but his father remains missing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Luis Fernando Diaz Marulanda (@luisdiaz19_)

The National Liberation Army (ELN), a left-wing guerrilla organisation, is behind the abduction.

Diaz made his appeal after coming off the bench to score a stoppage-time equaliser for the Reds in a 1-1 draw at Luton on Sunday.

The 26-year-old marked the goal by revealing a T-shirt bearing a message reading ‘Freedom for Dad’, and he followed that up with a post on Instagram.

It read: “Today the footballer is not speaking to you. Today Lucho Diaz, the son of Luis Manuel Diaz, is speaking to you.

“Mane, my dad, is a tireless worker, a pillar in the family and he has been kidnapped.

“I ask the ELN for the prompt release of my father, and I ask international organisations to work together for his freedom.

“Every second, every minute, our anguish grows. My mother, my brothers and I are desperate, distressed and without words to describe what we are feeling. This suffering will only end when we have him back home.

“I beg you to release him immediately, respecting his integrity and ending this painful wait as soon as possible.

“In the name of love and compassion, we ask that you reconsider your actions and allow us to recover him.

“I thank Colombians and the international community for the support received, thank you for so many demonstrations of affection and solidarity in this difficult time that many families in my country find themselves living.”

Diaz’s appearance as an 83rd-minute substitute at Kenilworth Road was his first since the kidnappings on October 28.

Jurgen Klopp said fans who directed chants at Liverpool supporters that indirectly referenced the Hillsborough disaster during his team’s game at Luton should be ashamed.

The taunts were sung by some home fans during the second half of the 1-1 Premier League draw at Kenilworth Road.

Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher also condemned the chants, saying: “We’re better than that.”

Liverpool manager Klopp has previously spoken out against so-called ‘tragedy chanting’ between rival supporters and in July the Football Association issued a new charter outlining rules for dealing with the problem.

It followed the arrest of a Manchester United supporter at last season’s FA Cup final for wearing a shirt that mocked the victims of Hillsborough.

After the Luton match, Klopp said he did not hear the chanting, which occurred while the game was still goalless shortly after half-time, but added: “Shame on everyone who said it.”

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: “At the start of the season I was involved in something with supporters coming together about tragedy chanting.

“I’ve just heard that a couple of times in this game. As supporters you’ve got to have rivalry, there is no doubt. But we’re better than that.

“It’s happened two or three times in the game. All clubs have been guilty of that over the years at different times.

“But the world we live in right now, I think we’re better than that.”

Liverpool earned a dramatic point five minutes into added time when substitute Luis Diaz cancelled out Tahith Chong’s 80th-minute goal for Luton.

Lewis Hamilton all but wrote off his chances of challenging for a record eighth world championship for the next two years following Mercedes’ “inexcusable” performance at Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

As Max Verstappen extended his winning record to 17 races in the most dominant season Formula One has ever seen, Mercedes endured an abysmal afternoon.

Hamilton took the chequered flag in eighth, an eye-watering 63 seconds behind, with George Russell forced to retire the other Mercedes.

Performances at the previous two rounds had afforded Hamilton and Mercedes hope that they were closing the gap to Verstappen’s Red Bull team.

Armed with a new floor, Hamilton finished second in Austin, before he was disqualified after his Mercedes failed a post-race scrutineering check. He was runner-up again in Mexico seven days later, this time with a legal car, 14 sec adrift of Verstappen.

But the Silver Arrows were dealt a grizzly reality check here.

Far from being any closer to Red Bull, Mercedes were slower than McLaren, Aston Martin, Ferrari and the mid-table Alpine team, with Pierre Gasly embarrassing the former world champions when he batted aside Hamilton and Russell.

Hamilton admitted after Saturday’s sprint race – where he laboured to seventh, 35 seconds behind Verstappen – that he was counting down the days until the end of the season.

Twenty-four hours later he expressed his fear that he will not be in a position to take on Verstappen before his £100million two-year deal expires at the end of 2025.

Hamilton, 39 in January, said: “All I can do is try to remain optimistic. But the Red Bull is so far away, they’re probably going to be very clear for the next couple of years.

“I knew it would be a tough one. In the moment, it is a setback. But as a team we will just come together and try to push forward.”

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff could not hide his despair at the result.

“An inexcusable performance,” the 51-year-old Austrian said.

“There are no words for it. The car finished second last week and the week before and whatever we did to it was horrible.

“Lewis survived out there. I can only feel for the two driving. It is a miserable thing. The car is on a knife’s edge and we have to develop it better for next year because in seven days you cannot have one of the quickest cars (in Mexico) and then you are nowhere.

“The car almost drove like it was on three wheels and not on four. This car doesn’t deserve a win.”

The start had been mildly encouraging for Hamilton. The seven-time world champion started third, up from his grid spot of fifth, when the race resumed after Alex Albon crashed into the wall and his loose tyre narrowly missed striking Daniel Ricciardo on the head.

But Mercedes’ abject pace was soon laid bare for all to see. Fernando Alonso wasted no time in racing past Hamilton at the Curva do Lago on lap four.

With Russell one place behind Hamilton, and having no luck in calling on Mercedes to move his team-mate out of the way, the black-liveried duo started tumbling back through the field.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz made light work of the two Englishmen. Gasly was next, leaving Hamilton in eighth and Russell one place back. Russell was then told to retire his car with an engine failure 12 laps from the end.

Hamilton now trails Perez by 32 points in the race for runner-up in the championship after the Red Bull driver failed to take the final spot on the podium.

Perez got ahead of Alonso on the penultimate lap only for the Spaniard to blast back past the next time round. The two drivers then went toe to toe on the 200mph drag to the chequered flag, with Perez finishing just 0.053 seconds behind.

Lando Norris took second, following another fine drive. He even threatened Verstappen for the lead on lap eight before the Dutchman reasserted his authority.

The 26-year-old’s latest triumph ensures he will end the year with the greatest win ratio ever seen over a single season.

Verstappen has won 85 per cent of the races, and with just rounds in Las Vegas and Abu Dhabi to follow, he will post a greater one-campaign ratio than Alberto Ascari’s 71-year record which stands at 75 per cent.