HOCKEY

A caller told a 911 dispatcher that Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks was about to go into convulsions after he was struck in the chest with an errant Fourth of July fireworks mortar blast at a Michigan home.

Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died of chest trauma from an errant fireworks mortar blast in what authorities described as a tragic accident on the Fourth of July.

The New York Islanders are facing a familiar scenario again, trailing 2-1 in a series after a narrow loss in Game 3 at home.

The NHL is in the most difficult position among the four major North American professional sports leagues on vaccinations because seven of its teams are based in Canada.

(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears will not take to the ice Wednesday night. The ECHL has announced the team’s game against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits scheduled for 7 p.m. has been postponed, per the league’s health and safety protocols, according to a news release. Tickets purchased for the game will be honored when the game is rescheduled, league officials said. For ticket information please contact ticketmaster.com or call the Solar Bears at 407-951-8200. The Solar Bears are scheduled to return to the rink when they host the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

TAMPA, Fla. – A neighbor called sheriff’s deputies on some rabid Tampa Bay Lightning fans who were screaming, “Shoot! The call prompted several Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies to show up at Devon Garnett’s apartment door. He and two friends had gathered to watch the game at Garnett’s Radius Palms apartment. “So they came to the door and thought there were guns in the house,” Garnett, 26, told the Tampa Bay Times. “But they thought it was serious because I was screaming, ‘Shoot!’ as in ‘Shoot the puck.’”Tampa beat Dallas 5-2 in Game 3 and lead the best-of-seven series 2-1.

PHOENIX Baseball's bubble-free environment is an anomaly as the sports world tries to come back amid the coronavirus pandemic. Arizona Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said he'll be constantly reminding everyone in his organization about the delicacy of the current situation. The younger guys that are single that, you know, tend to be a little bit more social, Woodward said. The first step toward a successful season is getting all the players to their home cities. Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn said his team's travel department has a busy week ahead, but that they've been planning on this scenario for quite a while.

– Alexey Lipanov broke a 2-2 tie in the second period with his team-leading sixth power-play goal of the season, and Rich Boyd enjoyed a two-point night to help lift the Orlando Solar Bears (20-18-5-1) to a 5-2 win over the Wheeling Nailers (20-19-5-0) on Saturday night at WesBanco Arena, and earn a split of the two-game weekend series. With the goal, Lipanov now owns the Solar Bears’ single-season record for power-play goals scored by a rookie, passing the previous mark of five shared with Trevor Olson (2018-19), Brent Pedersen (2018-19), J.J. Piccinich (2017-18), Milos Bubela (2016-17) and Jack Rodewald (2015-16). After Lipanov pulled Orlando ahead in the second period, Taylor Cammarata netted an unassisted power-play goal at 4:42 of the third for his 10th of the season. Cody Donaghey sealed the game with an empty-net goal at 17:01 for his second of the season. THREE STARS:Alexey Lipanov – ORLRich Boyd – ORLSpencer Trapp – WHLOTHER NOTABLES:

ORLANDO, Fla. – For almost two decades, the Orlando Firefighters Hockey Club has been hosting a nationwide competitive hockey tournament that goes beyond the camaraderie and love they share for the game. "It's all for a good cause and we enjoy it," Asher Blumenthal, a firefighter and Captain of OFD Hockey club said. The charitable organization is composed of a group of Orlando firefighters as well as others from surrounding departments. The OFD Hockey club raises money and donates proceeds of the event to the affected families of fallen police officers and firefighters. If they sacrificed in the line of duty and they die in the line of duty, let’s help their families out,” Shanks said.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears game Saturday night will be broadcast live on News 6 and it will be streamed live on ClickOrlando.com in an immersive 360-degree experience. The Solar Bears take on the South Carolina Stingrays, with the puck dropping just after 7 p.m. at the Amway Center. Starting Saturday evening, use the video player embedded below to enjoy the Solar Bears in an interactive experience, with the ability to rotate the video screen, pan up or down and get the best view of the game. [NOTE: Google Chrome should be used as a browser or use the YouTube app to best enjoy the 360-degree view.] For those interested in attending the game, tickets can be purchased at OrlandoSolarBears.com.

Ice may slow the aging process -- the ice rink that is. Steve Hartman met a 94-year-old "On The Road" who swears hockey keeps him young.