COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski each had a goal and an assist and the Columbus Blue Jackets routed the New York Islanders 6–1 on Thursday night in the final game of the season for both teams.
A season that began with heartache over the death of Johnny Gaudreau left the Blue Jackets in the most unlikely of positions. A preseason pick to finish 31st in the NHL, they instead battled through all 82 games for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot that went to Montreal with the Canadiens’ win over Carolina on Wednesday.
Columbus ended the season with 89 points, good for fourth in the Metropolitan Division.
Dante Fabbro, Dmitri Voronkov, Sean Kuraly and Adam Fantilli also scored for the Blue Jackets (40-33-9), who won six straight to end the season and tied a franchise record with 57 home points. Jet Greaves stopped 36 shots and was 5:12 from his third straight shutout.
Hudson Fasching scored and Marcus Hogberg made 19 saves for the Islanders (35-35-12). They finished with 82 points, good for sixth in the Metro.
Islanders: New York lost steam late in the season, dashing any remaining playoff hopes.
Blue Jackets: Feeding off a sold-out home crowd, the Blue Jackets dominated with six goals from six players and set a season franchise record for goals with 267.
Columbus broke it open with five goals in the second period, and Greaves stopped all 16 shots he faced during the frame.
Werenski extended his points streak to six games and tied Artemi Panarin for the most assists in a single season in franchise history with 59. He also became the first defenseman to lead Columbus in scoring, finishing with 82 points.
Columbus Blue Jackets center Adam Fantilli (19) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Sunday, April 13, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Themus Fulks hit a jumper with 11 seconds left to give No. 25 UCF a 73-72 victory over Cincinnati on Sunday.
Riley Kugel scored 19 points for the Knights, who held on after blowing a five-point lead with 2:22 to play. Fulks, who came in 13th in the country in assists at 6.6 per game, had 12 assists and six points.
The Bearcats had a chance to win, but Jalen Celestine's 3-pointer at the buzzer missed off the back iron.
Jamichael Stillwell added 15 points for the Knights (13-2, 2-1 Big 12), and backup big man Jeremy Foumena had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Moustapha Thiam, who transferred from UCF to Cincinnati in the offseason, was booed on every touch and finished with a career-high 24 points on 10-of-15 shooting for the Bearcats (8-8, 0-3). Jizzle James added 14 points and Baba Miller had 13.
The game was tight throughout. UCF led 33-32 at halftime and its biggest second-half lead was six points. After the Knights went ahead 71-66 with 2:22 to play, Thiam responded with a hook shot and two free throws, and Miller's layup with 30 seconds left put the Bearcats ahead 72-71.
Cincinnati shot only 3 of 19 (15.8%) from 3-point range. UCF, meanwhile, shot 57.7% from the floor and 6 of 14 from 3.
The Bearcats kept it close thanks to their defense and rebounding. Cincinnati forced 14 turnovers for 17 points and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds for 15 second-chance points.
Cincinnati: Hosts Colorado on Wednesday.
UCF: At Kansas State on Wednesday.
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Central Florida center Jeremy Foumena (0) goes up to shoot between Cincinnati forward Baba Miller (18) and center Moustapha Thiam, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida forward Jamichael Stillwell (4) celebrates after getting the win as Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam (52) and guard Jizzle James (2) look on during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Central Florida guard Themus Fulks goes up to shoot the game-winning shot as Cincinnati forward Baba Miller (18) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
