Cook: We Can Win World Cup

WINNIPEG — The narrative of the “Big Save” can often be rooted in mythology more than fact during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After Alexandar Georgiev allowed seven goals on 23 shots in Game 1 of this opening-round series, the Avalanche needed its goaltender to start making some, even if it was just one key stop per game. Georgiev has delivered. Not only did he only allow a total of five goals across the next three games, he came up a huge stop at critical times in each of them and the Avs have taken control of this series against the Winnipeg Jets in part because of it. “You know it’s in him.

From being an undrafted rookie to a Super Bowl champion, Chris Harris Jr. has done it all. Now, he feels like it’s time to look forward to better things. The former Broncos cornerback officially announced his retirement Tuesday after 12 seasons in the NFL. “I just felt it’s time to close that chapter,” Harris told The Denver Post.

AUSTIN, Texas — Mike Tyson’s fight against Jake Paul in Texas this summer has been sanctioned as a competitive boxing match rather than an exhibition, and the rounds will be shorter and the gloves will be heavier. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation this week approved terms for the July 20 fight at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Netflix will provide live coverage of the bout between the 27-year-old Paul, a social media star-turned-boxer, and 57-year-old Tyson, who hasn’t fought since an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg forward Vladislav Namestnikov and defenseman Brenden Dillon are recovering from injuries and won’t be available for Game 5 against Colorado on Tuesday night as the Jets try to avoid playoff elimination. Namestnikov fractured his cheekbone in Game 4 on Sunday when he was hit by a deflected puck on a shot.

By JAMES ROBSON (AP Soccer Writer) An English study into the causes of knee injuries to women soccer players was launched on Tuesday. ‘Project ACL’ will focus on players in the Women’s Super League in England as part of a three-year study into an injury that is suffered by a disproportionate number of female players compared to their male counterparts. Organizers of the project said women were two to six times more likely than men to suffer ACL injuries. “The players have rightly called for more research into ACL injury, and Project ACL is a response to both their needs and those of the industry more broadly,” said Dr.

By RONALD BLUM (AP Sports Writer) NEW YORK — The U. S. Soccer Federation and its Mexican counterpart dropped their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup on Monday and said they will focus on trying to host the 2031 tournament. The decision left a proposal from Brazil and a joint Germany-Netherlands-Belgium plan competing to be picked for 2027 by the FIFA congress that meets May 17 in Bangkok. The USSF said the 2031 bid will call for FIFA to invest equally in the men’s and women’s World Cups. FIFA said last year it planned to spend $896 million in combined prize money to teams and payments to clubs for releasing players for the 2026 men’s World Cup in the U.