LAS VEGAS (AP) — Cole Caufield had a goal and assist to extend his point streak to six games, and the Montreal Canadiens handed the slumping Vegas Golden Knights a 4-1 loss on Friday.
Zach Bolduc and Juraj Slafkovský also each had a goal and an assist, and Jake Evans also scored for the Canadiens, who have won three straight games. Samuel Montembeault made 30 saves and was within 4:44 of his first shutout since a 4-0 win over Carolina on Feb. 25. That also was the last time Montreal blanked an opponent.
Mark Stone scored the lone Golden Knights goal to help Vegas avoid being shut out for the second time this season. That goal gave Stone at least a point in all eight of his games this season. He was playing in just his second game since returning from a wrist injury. Akira Schmid saved 15 shots.
The Golden Knights suffered their fourth straight regulation or overtime loss, and are 2-4-3 in their most recent nine home games.
Vegas, however, outplayed Montreal in many ways, outshooting the Canadiens 31-19. But the Habs had 12 high-danger chances compared to 10 for the Golden Knights, according to Natural Stat Trick, including a handful of breakaway chances.
The Canadiens earlier Friday signed defenseman Mike Matheson to a five-year, $30-million contract extension that takes him through the 2030-31 season.
Canadiens: Play at Utah on Saturday.
Golden Knights: Host San Jose on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovsky, right, skates with the puck against Vegas Golden Knights center Colton Sissons (10) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
Montréal Canadiens right wing Josh Anderson (17) and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Kaedan Korczak (6) vie for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
Montreal Canadiens right wing Zack Bolduc (76) celebrates after his first-period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during an NHL hockey game Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)
MILAN (AP) — Norwegian cyclist Fredrik Dversnes claimed the biggest victory of his career as he won the 15th stage of the Giro d’Italia on Sunday, while Jonas Vingegaard remained in the overall lead heading into the final week.
Dversnes won from a four-man breakaway that escaped early on the flat 157-kilometer (98-mile) route that started in Voghera and ended with four laps of the finishing circuit in Milan.
The Uno-X Mobility rider edged out his fellow escapees by almost a bicycle length, with Mirco Maestri finishing second and Martin Marcellusi third.
It is the first Giro for Dversnes and his team.
“Super good help from the other guys in the breakaway … They were really, really strong today,” Dversnes said. "I knew I had good opportunities because I’m pretty good at going in breakaways, so this was my big shot.
“I’ve been joking this year that I will try to trick the peloton in one of these sprint stages, so I really wanted to do that and prove that, so super glad to make it. It's big. It’s a really big and incredible feeling.”
Vingegaard, who had seized control of the race on Saturday, finished safely in the peloton to maintain his overall advantage of 2:26 over Afonso Eulálio, with Felix Gall 24 seconds further back.
The race jury decided to neutralize Sunday's stage for the last lap after several riders — including Vingegaard — complained about the road surface and the placing of the barriers. The overall times were taken at the last passage under the finish arch, before the start of the last lap.
“Maybe today was not the most safe road, so to speak, but we tried to speak with the organization and they really listened to us,” Vingegaard said. “So I want to thank the organization as well for listening to what we had to say today.”
Monday sees the Giro’s third and final rest day before Tuesday’s brutal 16th stage. The 113-kilometer route from Bellinzona includes five classified climbs, including the top-category slog to the finish in Carì.
The Giro ends on May 31 in Rome.
The women’s Giro from May 30-June 7 will be defended by Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini.
AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling
Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard wears the pink jersey of the race overall leader as he stands on the podium after completing the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
Norway's Fredrik Dversnes Lavik, left, celebrates winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Marco Alpozzi/LaPresse via AP)
Norway's Fredrik Dversnes Lavik celebrates winning the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Pink jersey Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, center, pedals during Stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
The pack of riders pedals during the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Gian Mattia D'Alberto/LaPresse via AP)
Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard wearing the pink jersey of the race overall leader, waves to fans ahead of the 15th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Voghera to Milan, Italy, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)
