PARK CITY, Kan. — Rodney Sanders may have been late to the party but he was the one celebrating after he, Dereck Ramirez and a few of their friends produced a thriller for the fans at the 81 Speedway when the Summit USMTS National Championship fueled by Casey’s invaded the three-eighths-mile clay oval Thursday.

The start of the 40-lap main event looked like the ending but with a different cast of characters. Joe Duvall powered to a big lead at the drop of the green flag but Zack VanderBeek stuck with the high line and eventually pulled even with Duvall on the second lap.

VanderBeek edged “Big Daddy” to lead lap three, and the two raced wheel-to-wheel for several laps. Meanwhile, Ramirez was working his way to the front from the fourth row on the starting grid.

By lap 15, Ramirez was threatening for the top spot. VanderBeek turned it up a notch and they traded lines on a couple of occasions with Ramirez finally securing the lead for the first time as they completed the 18th lap.

As Ramirez tried to run off and hide, Sanders slipped by VanderBeek for second on lap 25 and set out to run down the leader.

Sanders, who started sixth, reached the back bumper of Ramirez with four laps to go and snuck underneath to lead lap 37. Ramirez stayed even with Sanders and gave him just enough room to operate the shortest path around the racetrack.

Ramirez was the leader by inches when they crossed beneath the flagstand on laps 38 and 39 but Sanders emerged out of the final corner with the advantage and crossed the finish line with less than three-tenths of a second to spare.

“Man, Dereck was really good tonight and I was just trying to keep it straight off the corner because if I hit it straight off the bottom there was a lot of traction,” said Sanders. “It was a lot of fun. Dereck’s probably the cleanest driver there is out there I feel like, so I can always race him clean and we always race each other hard but it seems like we never touch. That was a lot of fun and it was a hell of a night.”

In slightly padding his points lead over Ramirez, the win was the seventh of the season for Sanders and 104th of his USMTS career while Ramirez came up a car-length short of nabbing his fifth of the 2020 campaign.

“I got to racing them lapped cars and I didn’t know he was there. He showed me a nose and he was already beside me so I couldn’t do anything about it,” Ramirez admitted. “figured I’d better race him clean. We’ve raced each other clean for the whole year so… It’s fun racing with him. He raced me clean and he did what he had to do on the last lap and I just missed it. It’s what happens.”

Terry Phillips finished third, while four-time USMTS national champ Jason Hughes stormed from the 14th starting spot to finish fourth while VanderBeek held off Tanner Mullens for the final spot in the top five.

The finish:

Rodney Sanders, Dereck Ramirez, Terry Phillips, Jason Hughes, Zack VanderBeek, Tanner Mullens, Joe Duvall, Cole Traugott, Hunter Marriott, Darron Fuqua, Fito Gallardo, Jake Nightingale, Tyler Davis, Carlos Ahumada Jr., Casey Skyberg, Paden Phillips, Adam Kates, Brandon Givens, Calvin Iverson, Brendon Gemmill, Lucas Gibbs, Dustin Robinson, Brian Franz, Austin Siebert, Jake Gallardo, Nathan Hagar.

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. – Brandon Overton said he’s having fun right now, probably the most fun he’s ever had in his career; which is something that should have the rest of the dirt late model racing world worried.

Overlooked far too often in 2020, Overton has been the metaphorical third wheel to the the flashy national headlines sparked by World of Outlaws’ champion Brandon Sheppard and Lucas Oil points leader Jimmy Owens. Building his own remarkable campaign in the shadows, Overton has quietly pieced together a pristine portfolio this season which now includes a dominating victory in the USA Nationals preliminary.

Leading from flag-to-flag, the Evans, Ga., 29-year old controlled all 30 laps of Thursday’s feature at Cedar Lake Speedway for his eighth career World of Outlaws Late Model Series victory. Overton officially booked his 16th triumph of the year aboard the Wells Motorsports No. 76 Longhorn Chassis with the wire-to-wire win.

“Hell, I like it that way,” Overton said on Sheppard and Owens owning the spotlight. “Those guys are seriously good though, we’re just happy to be here and racing against them. To beat those guys and really this whole field, it’s pretty cool.”

Topping a stout 46-car field, Overton’s opener wasn’t just a win, but a sweep of the preliminary program. He was fastest in Group A Qualifying at 13.666 seconds, won his Team Drydene Heat Race from the pole, pulled the one in the Morton Buildings redraw, and led all 30 laps of the $6,000-to-win feature.

“I’m having fun right now, and when I’m having fun I always run a whole lot better,” Overton said on his newfound confidence. “Hats off to David Wells, Eric, everyone for believing in me. This is a dream come true to drive for these guys. They’re giving us all of the pieces to the puzzle and I just have to put it together. It’s cool to get back out on the road and race with these guys.”

With Overton large and in charge, the action behind him heated up as Jimmy Owens, Tyler Erb, Billy Moyer and Mike Marlar jockeyed for the top five slots all race long. Owens and Erb were the main thrill-providers going at each other door-to-door during a handful of restarts with the runner-up spot on the line. Erb squeaked his BEST Performance Motorsports No. 1T ahead of Owens’ Ramirez Motorsports ride for a few laps past halfway, but couldn’t make it stick as the Newport, Tenn., native rallied to take the spot back and ultimately secure a second-place bid.

For Owens, his second-place result in the Rocket Chassis No. 20 keeps his streak alive with four-straight World of Outlaws podium finishes over the last month. The 2014 winner at Cedar Lake, Owens is one of seven former USA Nationals champions chasing a second wooden eagle trophy this weekend.

“This track was excellent tonight – you could run high, you could run low, you didn’t really know where to be because it had so many great spots,” Owens stated on the track conditions. “The car wasn’t near as good as we wanted it to be, but I’m glad to bring it home with a second-place finish. We’ll try to get better tomorrow and go for the big win on Saturday.”

Making his fourth appearance of 2020 with the World of Outlaws Late Models, Erb snagged his first podium finish and first top five result of the year with the Outlaws on Thursday night. Returning to Cedar Lake with a chip on his shoulder, Erb still remember last year’s USA Nationals when he put the BEST Performance No. 1T on the pole position of the 100-lapper, but a lap one error cost him a shot at the $50,000. A memory that motivates him this weekend.

“Jimmy and I had a really great race there,” Erb thought afterwards. “Brandon definitely had the best car tonight though. It just means we have to go to work and make this thing better tomorrow.”

Closing out the top five in Thursday’s 30-lapper was Billy Moyer in fourth, who continued his run of Cedar Lake Speedway success which dates back to his five USA Nationals titles in the 80’s and 90’s; and then Mike Marlar, the 2018 World of Outlaws champion, in the fifth spot aboard his Desk Equipment No. 157 Rocket Chassis.

The finish:

1. 76-Brandon Overton [1][$6,000]; 2. 20-Jimmy Owens [3][$3,000]; 3. 1t-Tyler Erb [2][$2,000]; 4. 21-Billy Moyer [4][$1,750]; 5. 157-Mike Marlar [6][$1,500]; 6. 97-Cade Dillard [8][$1,400]; 7. 28-Dennis Erb [5][$1,300]; 8. 58-Ross Bailes [7][$1,200]; 9. 1-Brandon Sheppard [12][$1,100]; 10. 0-Scott Bloomquist [24][$1,000]; 11. 18b-Shannon Babb [10][$900]; 12. 12-Ashton Winger [25][$250]; 13. 3s-Brian Shirley [11][$800]; 14. 40b-Kyle Bronson [13][$775]; 15. 7-Ricky Weiss [18][$750]; 16. 32-Bobby Pierce [9][$700]; 17. 18-Chase Junghans [23][$660]; 18. 32s-Chris Simpson [14][$640]; 19. 29v-Darrell Lanigan [17][$620]; 20. 99b-Boom Briggs [21][$600]; 21. 99jr-Frank Heckenast [16][$600]; 22. B1-Brent Larson [19][$600]; 23. 8-Kyle Strickler [20][$600]; 24. 15-Nick Anvelink [15][$600]; 25. 28m-Jimmy Mars [22][$600].

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – The next chapter in the legendary history of the Mk IV will continue in a new venture led by the father-and-son design and engineering team of Bob Riley and Bill Riley who, along with Jim Matthews, have acquired the assets of original constructor Kar-Kraft to build the next generation of machines many consider the greatest American-made sports prototype race car of all time.

Kar-Kraft assets have already been delivered to Riley Technologies in North Carolina, where the engineering and construction of the Mk IV continuation cars will take place. Initial plans call for a production run of up to 10 period-correct continuation cars.

The Ford GT40 Mk IV is the only all-American built car to claim the overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a dominating performance in the 1967 running of the world’s premier endurance race. The equally All-American duo of A.J. Foyt and Dan Gurney were the winning drivers, while a young designer and engineer named Bob Riley was part of the team that designed and built the Ford GT40 Mk IV.

Now 89-years-old and a member of the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, Bob Riley still works every day and never stops designing and developing race cars. The Mk IV continuation project reunites him with the same car he helped design more than 50 years ago in Detroit.

“To be reunited with this project is incredible,” Bob Riley said. “It was a very special time, and everyone involved at Ford and Kar-Kraft were great people. This brings back a flood of memories of both with the car and the people involved.”

Among the acquired assets are tooling and fixtures as well as original design drawings, some with Bob Riley’s name on them. The timeframe for construction includes engineering preparation and design refamiliarization, with an eye on the first production run of cars in 2022.

Bill Riley was born into racing and has most recently owned and operated Riley Technologies with his father for the last 20 years.

“It is amazing and somewhat humbling to even have the chance to be involved in continuing the legacy of such an iconic car,” Bill Riley said. “For sure, this has always been one of my favorite race cars, and to be able to continue producing it makes me very proud.”

Matthews has a long history with the Rileys and has been a race-winning driver and car owner in a variety of Riley built and operated cars and teams over the years.

“I’m so excited to be involved in the continuation of the Mk IV,” Matthews said. “Being involved with Bob and Bill is always great, and I am looking forward to seeing these awesome cars back on track.”

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – Ed Carpenter’s livery for the 104th Indianapolis 500 will literally be out of this world.

It’s the U.S. Space Force, the newest branch of the United States Armed Forces that is entrusted to protect satellites and other United States space-based craft that currently orbit the Earth.

A black and silver paint scheme will adorn Carpenter’s No. 20 U.S. Space Ford Chevrolet in the 104th Indianapolis 500, scheduled for Aug. 23.

The U.S. Space Force announced the partnership with Ed Carpenter Racing Friday morning on FOX & Friends. Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, Chief of Space Operations unveiled the No. 20 U.S. Space Force Chevrolet with driver and team owner Ed Carpenter. The three-time Indianapolis 500 pole winner will carry the colors of the U.S.’s new military branch in this year’s 500-mile race. Through The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, Carpenter and ECR will build awareness of the U.S. Space Force in race fans and Americans all over the country.

“This is such an exciting day, unveiling this beautiful U.S. Space Force Chevrolet that I will drive in the Indianapolis 500 on Aug. 23,” Carpenter said. “To be able to represent the men and women of the U.S.’s newest military branch is truly an honor.

“Even though we are not running the ‘500’ on Memorial Day weekend this year, the event has such a strong connection to our Armed Forces and there’s no better way to showcase the brand-new U.S. Space Force.”

The U.S. Space Force became the sixth branch of the Department of Defense when it was signed into law on Dec. 20, 2019. The mission of the U.S. Space Force is to protect the interests of the United States in space; deter aggression in, from and to space; and conduct space operations. Similar to the branches of the military which are dedicated to protecting and securing the air, land, and sea, the U.S. Space Force focuses singularly on space.

“The U.S. Space Force’s involvement with the Indy 500 is centered around our organizations’ shared principles of STEM, teamwork, speed and competition,” said Maj. Jason Wyche, Chief of Air Force and Space Force Recruiting National Events Marketing Branch. “Additionally, the partnership gives the U.S. Space Force the ability to reach a large number of prospects and influencers through the far-reaching broadcast viewership and media coverage both for and leading up to the race.”

Carpenter drives on the oval races in the NTT IndyCar Series. He is one of the most experienced drivers in IndyCar with 184 career starts.

He began his 18th season of Indy car competition with a top-five finish at Texas Motor Speedway in June. Carpenter, an Indianapolis native, has started on the front row of the Indianapolis 500 five of the past seven years. He solidified his status as a hometown favorite by winning the pole position in 2013 and 2014; in 2018, he became just the 10th driver to collect three or more Indy 500 poles in the century-plus history of the race. Of Carpenter’s 16 Indianapolis 500 starts, two of his strongest results have come the past two years, including a runner-up after leading the most laps in 2018.

The U.S. Space Force will organize, train, and equip space professionals to defend our nation, allies, and American interests in space. By creating separate service with a dedicated purpose, the United States will maintain an advantage as space becomes more crowded and contested. Approximately 16,000 military and civilians from the former U.S. Air Force Space Command are now assigned to the U.S. Space Force and 6,000 active-duty Airmen will be transferring to the branch.

Carpenter is the only individual in the NTT IndyCar Series who handles both the responsibility of driving and owning his own team. Founded in 2012, Carpenter’s eponymous team has two full-time entries and expands to three cars for the Indianapolis 500.

The 39-year-old will compete alongside fellow Hoosier Conor Daly and Dutch rookie Rinus VeeKay. ECR will be representing two branches of the United States military as Daly races for the U.S. Air Force. The 28-year-old’s special edition No. 47 U.S. Air Force Chevrolet pays homage to the founding year of the U.S. Air Force and one of its most iconic aircraft, the Bell X-1. VeeKay, 19, will be competing in his first Indianapolis 500 in the team’s No. 21 entry.

The Indianapolis 500 was originally slated for May 24 but was rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After careful consideration and extensive consultation with state and city leadership, the decision has been made to hold the race on Aug. 23 without spectators.

All on-track action from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway can be viewed via NBC Sports Gold, NBCSN or NBC. The 2.5-mile oval will open for practice on Wednesday, Aug. 12 and continue throughout the week. Qualifications will be held on Saturday, Aug. 15 and Sunday, Aug. 16. The 104th Running of the Indianapolis 500 will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 23 with a live broadcast on NBC.

Friday's NHL slate features the highest stakes we've seen yet, with six teams facing elimination. Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby could all potentially go home.

Oh, and the teams ranked 22nd (Arizona Coyotes), 23rd (Chicago Blackhawks) and 24th (Montreal Canadiens) in regular-season points percentage can all clinch a playoff spot. Even for a league obsessed with parity, that's something.

Check out the ESPN NHL Playoffs Daily to catch up every day of the postseason until the Stanley Cup is handed out in October.

Friday's games

Note: All times Eastern

Qualification round, Game 4: No. 7 New York Islanders vs. No. 10 Florida Panthers (NYI lead 2-1) | 12 p.m.

The Isles couldn't get it done in Game 3 on Wednesday, but now get a second chance to eliminate Florida and earn a spot in the next round. Penalties (including a Semyon Varlamov gaffe) and a stagnant power play contributed to New York's third-period collapse. The Cats are going to rely on their power play, which scored two goals in the pivotal Game 3 win and is now 3-for-9 in the series. Our regular Sergei Bobrovsky watch: The expensive but underperforming Florida goaltender had a decent Game 3, stopping 20 of 22 shots. Coach Joel Quenneville may consider some other lineup changes; some of that depends on if forward Jonathan Huberdeau (injured in Game 3) is available.

Qualification round, Game 4: No. 6 Nashville Predators vs. No. 11 Arizona Coyotes (ARI leads 2-1) | 2:30 p.m.

The Yotes have a chance to qualify for the playoffs -- technically their first trip since 2012 -- and coach Rick Tocchet just wants to get that win. "Being up 2-1, it's like, 'Well, we make a mistake it doesn't matter, we still have the next game' -- but that's just a dangerous mindset," Tocchet said. "The mindset has to be the same whether you're facing elimination or whether you're trying to close a series out." The Predators' offense vanished in the Game 3 loss, and Nashville also looks mistake-prone. Fans are asking for more of Matt Duchene, the center the team signed to a $56 million contract last summer. He has a single assist in this series, and has done virtually nothing at 5-on-5.

Qualification round, Game 4: No. 5 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 12 Montreal Canadiens (MTL leads 2-1) | 4 p.m.

So here we are, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins on the verge of elimination to the Montreal Canadiens. This was the exact scenario everyone feared when the NHL expanded the playoffs to 24 teams (as a reminder ... Montreal was team No. 24). Of course, should the Penguins lose, they'll get a 12.5% chance at drafting Alexis Lafreniere, which will help them stay relevant for years to come. But a qualification-round exit would be a huge disappointment considering how well Pittsburgh battled this season, which led GM Jim Rutherford to be a buyer at the trade deadline.

Qualification round, Game 4: No. 5 Edmonton Oilers vs. No. 12 Chicago Blackhawks (CHI leads 2-1) | 6:45 p.m.

With the Oilers facing elimination, it feels like Connor McDavid is due for a big game -- which is weird to say, as he's already been on a tear this series. McDavid has joined Jari Kurri as the only Oilers to record five or more goals through three games of a single postseason. That's right, it's something even Wayne Gretzky hasn't done in his career. Let's talk about the Blackhawks, though. What an emphatic win in Game 3 to take control of the series. It feels like the veteran core and younger players have formed a nice synergy -- both on and off the ice -- to get the squad clicking at the right time.

Qualification round, Game 4: No. 8 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. No. 9 Columbus Blue Jackets (CBJ lead 2-1) | 8 p.m.

About 20 hours after that epic overtime Game 3, these two get to go at it again. The fatigue factor will be intriguing; Cam Atkinson, Zach Werenski, Seth Jones and Morgan Rielly all played 30 minutes or more on Thursday night. Columbus is riding high. The Blue Jackets are lucky to have two capable goaltenders, but it will feel weird to see Joonas Korpisalo ride the bench after he crushed the first 96 minutes of this series. As for the Leafs? It's a tense situation for Sheldon Keefe's crew (and a big moment for the coach himself). He wasn't pleased with his team's effort in Game 3 -- at all. "I didn't like our game at 1-0, 2-0, 3-0," the coach said. "We got what we deserved. We didn't have any purpose or plan to our game."

Qualification round, Game 4: No. 7 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 10 Minnesota Wild (VAN leads 2-1) | 10:45 p.m.

Vancouver hasn't been to the playoffs since 2015, but the Canucks can punch their ticket with a win on Friday. The Canucks are known as a young, exciting team to watch. Even as Elias Pettersson got his first goal of the tournament and Quinn Hughes dished out three assists, Game 3 had an old-school, physical feel. Each team took 11 penalties. Things were getting nasty. The Wild say if they have any chance at Game 4, they'll need to tone that down. "You're trying to get flow in the game, and it just seemed like when you did get something going it was a power play or a penalty kill," Marcus Foligno said on Thursday. "We're such a good 5-on-5 team, and when we can roll four lines we're really good. We definitely just have to calm it down a little bit with the penalties."

About last night...

Vancouver Canucks 3, Minnesota Wild 0 (VAN leads 2-1)

Brock Boeser opened the scoring for Vancouver for his second goal in as many games. But this one was extra special for Boeser, who returned to the bench then pointed to the sky in honor of his childhood friend, Ty Alyea, who died in a car accident six years ago to the day. Boeser wears No. 6 with Vancouver because it was Alyea's high school hockey number. "It's obviously a tough day for my friends and I," Boeser said. "It's crazy how fast time flies, but to be able to get one for him is something special."

After scoring, Brock Boeser pointed to the heavens for his best friend Ty Alyea who passed away in a car accident on this day in 2014. pic.twitter.com/2Nuo6XN98C

— Vanessa Jang (@vanessajang) August 6, 2020

Quinn Hughes had three assists, Elias Pettersson got his first goal of the series and Jacob Markstrom had a great effort in goal to pace the Canucks. The Wild are now on the brink of elimination, and here's a telling stat: They have yet to score a goal at 5-on-5. Not great. Could Friday be the last time we see Mikko Koivu in a Wild uniform? Full recap.

Philadelphia Flyers 3, Washington Capitals 1

The Flyers were one of the hottest teams in the NHL at the time of the pause. They shared the best record in the league from Jan. 8 on, and went 9-1-0 in the 10 games right before the NHL halted operations. They've picked off right where they left off, going 2-0-0 in the restart so far, and have clinched no worse than the No. 2 seed in the East (a game against the Lightning on Saturday will determine that). Philly's second line of Kevin Hayes, Scott Laughton and Travis Konecny have been particularly good, and they picked up eight points on Thursday. The Caps were once again without Norris Trophy nominee John Carlson. Hopefully Carlson, who is nursing an unknown injury, gets back soon. With the loss, the Caps will either get the No 3 or No. 4 seed in the East. Full recap.

Vegas Golden Knights 6, St. Louis Blues 4

This was the wackiest game of the day (until the Blue Jackets' comeback). For the second time in as many games, the Golden Knights rallied from a two-goal deficit to win. Vegas dictated play for most of the game, even as Marc-Andre Fleury struggled, and ended up winning thanks to a pair of goals each from Alex Tuch and Shea Theodore. The Golden Knights now play the Colorado Avalanche to see who gets the No. 1 seed in the West. The Blues have gone 0-2 in the round robin, and face the Stars to see who gets the 3-seed. Full recap.

Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Toronto Maple Leafs 3 (OT) (CBJ lead 2-1)

The Blue Jackets are officially the NHL's comeback kids. In the history of the franchise, the Blue Jackets have only 12 playoff wins; in five of them, they've overcome multi-goal deficits. This one was special. The Leafs built a 3-0 lead, and coach John Tortorella pulled Joonas Korpisalo for Elvis Merzlikins to give his team a boost. Boy did it work. According to Evolving Hockey, the Blue Jackets had a 3.5% chance to win when Pierre-Luc Dubois had a giveaway with 10:06 left in the second period. Dubois' first goal to make it 3-1 improved it to 11.7%. Bit by bit, the Blue Jackets chipped away, before a thrilling back-and-forth effort from both teams in the extra frame. Dubois was the star, finishing with a hat trick and the OT game winner. The Leafs are now on the brink. Full recap.

Calgary Flames 4, Winnipeg Jets 0 (CGY wins 3-1)

Ah, the poor Jets. This season started with drama -- remember the controversy surrounding Dustin Byfuglien skipping training camp, which feels like years ago? Winnipeg somehow kept things together to make the playoffs, and then in the first game lose their two best forwards to injuries. One can only wonder how this series might have been different if Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele were available. Credit, of course, should also go to the Flames, who found their offensive stride at exactly the right time. Calgary is playing a tough brand of hockey that should scare other teams in the West. Full recap.

Three stars

Pierre-Luc Dubois, F, Columbus Blue Jackets

A hat trick in the postseason, including the overtime game-winner, gets No. 1 star status pretty much any night. But to do it a game after the entire hockey world saw him get chewed out by John Tortorella on the bench? Epic.

Dubois hat-trick. Tortorella is a genius.

pic.twitter.com/NHhOypHwkx

— John (@TheEagleDares) August 7, 2020

Jacob Markstrom, G, Vancouver Canucks

The Swedish goalie had a 27-save shutout to lift his team within one win of a playoff berth. It was the first postseason shutout for the Canucks since Roberto Luongo blanked the Bruins in the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

Scott Laughton, F, Philadelphia Flyers

The 26-year-old paced the red-hot Flyers with two goals and and assist on Thursday. Philadelphia's second line, which also features Kevin Hayes and Travis Konecny, is crushing this tournament so far. Just look at this chemistry:

This Hayes, TK, Laughton line tho ? pic.twitter.com/39zQ4iG0DF

— Broad Street Hockey (@BroadStHockey) August 6, 2020

Outfit of the day

The fashion MVPs of this tournament so far have been the Toronto Maple Leafs, led by Auston Matthews who rocked this Pascal Siakam jersey to the rink on Thursday:

Dino drip ?#LeafsForever x #WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/Ige5IGXxD9

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) August 6, 2020

Good deed of the day

According to Global News, members of the Vegas Golden Knights arranged a pizza delivery for homeless people right outside the NHL bubble in Edmonton.

Celebration of the night

Maple Leafs rookie Nick Robertson has received a lot of summer hype -- even if you're not from Toronto, you've probably heard the Toronto media gush about him -- so it was neat to see the 18-year-old notch his first career goal. His reaction is so pure.

First @NHL goal for Nick Robertson and his reaction is absolutely everything! ?#NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/wvEyWcxBOH

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) August 7, 2020

Quote of the day

"We got lucky enough to be in the playoffs this year. We battled hard to be here. We shouldn't be here. But at the same time, sometimes it's the hockey gods at some point." -- Canadiens center Phillip Danault telling it like it is.

United States youth international Konrad de la Fuente has been handed his first call up to Barcelona's matchday squad for Saturday's Champions League match against Napoli.

Barca have been forced to turn to youth for the crunch European tie with six first team players ruled out of the clash.

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Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal are both suspended, while Ousmane Dembele and Samuel Umtiti are injured. Martin Braithwaite is ineligible because he signed after the Jan. 31 registration deadline and Arthur has told Barca he doesn't want to play for the club again ahead of his move to Juventus.

De la Fuente, 19, is one of nine B team players called up for the match at Camp Nou, which includes the first team regulars Ansu Fati and Riqui Puig.

The Miami-born forward, who signed a new contract in June, has been training with the first team for the last two weeks after impressing during the third division playoffs with the reserves last month.

He scored twice en route to the final, where Barca B were beaten 2-1 by Sabadell as they missed out on promotion to the second tier of Spanish football.

However, De la Fuente's consolation prize was a first-team call-up and he will be on the bench against Napoli as the side's fifth forward, behind Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suarez and Ansu.

Barca and Napoli drew 1-1 in Italy in February and the winners will advance to the last eight of the Champions League in Lisbon, where they will face either Bayern Munich or Chelsea.

There has been speculation that a defeat, after missing out on the La Liga title to Real Madrid and being knocked out of the Copa del Rey to Athletic Bilbao, could cost coach Quique Setien his job.

"How did I know you would ask this?" Setien said when asked about his future in a news conference. "The truth is it has not passed through my head at any moment that this could be my last game. We've been preparing for the game with the idea that we're going to continue."

If Barca progress against Napoli, Setien will welcome back Busquets and Vidal for the quarterfinals following their bans, while Dembele will also be fit again.

Arthur will not feature, though. He feels unfairly treated since his €82 million transfer to Juve was confirmed in June.

Setien said he spoke to Arthur upon the completion of La Liga on July 19 but not since.

"I've learned about everything else through the club," he added. "It's a situation that goes beyond my position. I would have liked things to be different but I can't say anything else."

The BCCI has confirmed that England's white-ball tour of India has been postponed until early 2021.

England were due to arrive in India at the end of September for a tour involving three ODIs and three T20s. But with the IPL having been rescheduled to cover the same period, the tour has been put back a few months.

It is now anticipated that the white-ball games will be played as part of England's Test tour scheduled from late January to late March 2021. Five Tests are also scheduled to be played on that tour.

Where those games will be played remains unclear. The IPL will be staged in the UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic; it seems there is a good chance the England tour will follow suit. An ECB spokesperson suggested it was too early to "speculate" on such a scenario.

"Now that we have clarity regarding the postponement of ICC Men's T20 World Cup, it enables us to work with other Boards to progress the vital task of optimising the international schedules in the challenging circumstances that we have all been having to address with the Covid-19 pandemic," the ECB's chief executive Officer, Tom Harrison, said.

"International cricket between India and England is a highlight of the cricketing calendar and we look forward to working with the BCCI to firm-up the schedules for these eagerly anticipated tours as soon as possible."

Jay Shah, honorary secretary of the BCCI, said: "The BCCI and ECB are working closely to finalise the schedule as we move towards the resumption of cricket. The rescheduled tour is also being redesigned in a way to accommodate both red and white-ball format and will now be a comprehensive one."

Cricket South Africa (CSA) has named international player Vaughn van Jaarsveld and domestic veteran Craig Alexander as whistle-blowers in the 2015-16 domestic T20 match-fixing saga, which saw seven players, including four former internationals, banned for between two and 20 years.

Alviro Petersen, Gulam Bodi, Thami Tsolekile, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Ethy Mbhalati, Jean Symes and Pumelela Matshikwe were banned for breaches of CSA's anti-corruption code following an 18-month investigation. All players accepted their bans but this week, Tsolekile claimed other players, including van Jaarsveld, whose last of five appearances for South Africa came in 2009, were involved in wrongdoing and were not punished because of their race.

"The first guy that was approached by Gulam Bodi was Vaughan van Jaarsveld. He was approached at North West during the Africa T20. Vaughn never disclosed the approach. When he was asked by the investigating officer he said yes he was approached and David Becker and Louis Cole, because Vaughn is a white player, they defended him," Tsolekile told Marawa Sports Worldwide, which airs on radio stations Metro FM and Radio 2000.

CSA has denied that there was any discrimination and defended the integrity of the investigation, which included keeping van Jaarsveld and Alexander, who is coloured, anonymous.

"The allegation that the investigation deliberately targeted black players must be rejected. Both white and black players were investigated and charged, based on the evidence that was collected and presented," Judge Bernard Ngoepe, who carried out the investigation for CSA's Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), said. "Both Vaughn and Craig must be commended for doing the right thing. They acted with courage and integrity, notwithstanding the pressure that was placed upon them. CSA undertook to protect the identity of these players during the investigation in their own interest and that of their families. This process is important as the ACU relies on the goodwill and responsibility of players to come forward when they are approached."

Tsolekile also named Robbie Frylinck as untouched by the investigation, for allegedly fixing a match during the now-defunct Champions League T20, which CSA said was not revealed during the investigation.

"Bodi told the investigating officers, and it's on my affidavit, Robbie Frylinck did a game during the Champions League in India. When I asked the independent officers they said they will follow it up but no one has ever heard about Robbie Frylinck. He is an ex-Proteas player and he is still playing," Tsolekile said. "And then, I had a call from a white coach. I am not going to mention his name."

CSA confirmed that Frylinck was identified and requested by Bodi to be part of his fixing plans, but there was no evidence to support that Frylinck was involved in any way. "The allegation of match-fixing during the Champions League by Mr Frylinck was never mentioned by Mr Tsolelike during his interviews with ACU. Both Mr Alexander and Van Jaarsveld reported to the ACU that Mr Bodi had mentioned this as part of his approach," Louis Cole, CSA's anti-corruption officer, said. "Although that relates to a separate tournament outside South Africa and falls under the jurisdiction of the ICC, it was referred to the ICC ACU for investigation.

"At no stage prior to the Ram Slam investigation did Mr Tsolekile or any other player provide any evidence to substantiate this claim as required by the Code. According to Mr Bodi, he requested Mr van Jaarsveld to recruit Mr Frylinck to participate in the match-fixing scheme. This aspect was thoroughly investigated, including interviewing one of the bookmakers in India, and no evidence was uncovered to support the possibility that Mr Frylinck had been recruited."

An additional claim made by Tsolekile was that his admission of guilt along with those of other players of colour involved in the saga was coerced from them by lawyers provided by the South African Cricketers' Association (SACA), who, according to him, did not act in their best interests.

"SACA provided us with lawyers and convinced us to accept the charges. According to my lawyer it could be too expensive for SACA to go to a tribunal," Tsolekile said. "I met with SACA and I told them I wasn't happy with the investigation because it was targeting black players. I told SACA, 'give me a good lawyer'. They agreed. A month later, there is a guy that I don't even know. Lawrence van Zyl. He was supposed to protect me. He never had an interest in me."

CSA's statement denied Tsolekile's accusation that players were persuaded to accept charges.

"At no time did any of the players or their respective attorneys submit that they were coerced into admitting their guilt or signing their Sanction Agreements. They did so willingly and, in fact, were consulted on, and provided input into, the respective press releases announcing confirmation of the offences to which they had admitted," the statement read.

ESPNcricinfo understands that SACA paid for Tsolekile's legal counsel, as well as that of some of the others, and the players' body is expected to make a statement clarifying their position in due course.

Tsolekile is the second of the seven banned players to have indicated there is more to the match-fixing saga than what is already known. In recent weeks, Mbhalati wrote on social media, suggesting he would reveal "who else" was approached by Bodi, and revealing his own experiences of racial discrimination.

And I will be sharing as well the all match fixing saga stories, untold or not shared or written on news papers, tv, social media what really happened, who else did gulam approached as well the names that u saw 2015/16 its not only us a lot were not mentioned and investigated.

— ethy mbhalati (@ethy81) July 12, 2020

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has joined a movement in petitioning the governor of Oklahoma to overturn the conviction and release Julius Jones, a Black man on death row for murder.

In a letter sent Thursday to the office of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and the state's parole board, a copy of which was obtained by Time magazine, Prescott advocates on Jones' behalf, writing that this is an opportunity to correct a "miscarriage of justice."

"Current events are shining a much-needed light on deep-seated prejudices and systemic mistreatment of black people, and it is my sincere hope that the cultural movements of today will lead to significant social changes that will create a better tomorrow," Prescott wrote. "To that end, you all are in the unique position of being able to make a direct impact by addressing a specific miscarriage of justice."

Prescott has joined Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and the NBA's Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin, Trae Young and Buddy Hield in urging the governor to spare Jones' life. In his letter, Prescott addressed his experience with racial injustice.

"As a black man in this country right now, I experience injustices firsthand day in and day out, even as an athlete with 'celebrity status,'" Prescott wrote.

In 2002, Jones was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of Paul Howell. The 45-year-old businessman was shot in the head on July 28, 1999, while sitting in a vehicle in his parents' driveway in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Jones has maintained his innocence, with he and his family saying he was at home at the time of the crime. Advocates have pointed to issues such as racial bias, a flawed investigation and an ill-equipped defense in explaining why they believe Jones' conviction should be overturned. Oklahoma City's Black Lives Matter chapter has included a commutation for Jones in a list of demands that was presented to Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt on June 1.

"After reviewing the facts of the Julius Jones case, I firmly believe the wrong person is being punished for this terrible crime; furthermore, an evaluation of the process that led to Mr. Jones' conviction raises serious legal and ethical concerns," Prescott wrote. "I implore you to right this wrong. Please don't let another innocent black man die from the systemic mistreatment that has plagued our nation for far too long."

Last month, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter released a summary of trial transcripts in the case that he says refute what he described as "misinformation" being provided to the public about Jones' conviction.

"The fact is, Julius Jones murdered Paul Howell in cold blood in front of his sister and daughters," Hunter said. "No celebrity imploration or profusion of misinformation will change that."

An execution date for Jones has not been set, but he has exhausted all of his appeals. Hunter announced earlier this year that the state is prepared to resume lethal injections.

"The treatment of Julius Jones is the kind of miscarriage of justice African American men like myself live in fear of, and that is why I feel compelled to use the influence that God has blessed me with to speak up for what I believe is right and to give a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves," Prescott wrote. "Julius Jones' case is a clear example of what can happen to a person who cannot afford legal representation, and what can happen to a black person at any time in this country -- which is exactly why so many are protesting for the changes we so desperately need."

In June, Prescott pledged $1 million "to improve police training and address systematic racism through education and advocacy in our country." His pledge was made following the May death of George Floyd, who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis.

Information from ESPN's Royce Young and Todd Archer and The Associated Press was used in this report.