ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Wild right wing Matt Boldy was sidelined for about half of the first period of Game 3 of the first-round NHL playoff series against Dallas on Wednesday after face-planting on the ice following a hit to the head from Stars captain Jamie Benn.
Boldy returned to action with the second line for the second period — drawing a roar from the crowd that was riled up about the officiating throughout the first period — and assisted on a goal that tied it at 2.
Just after the expiration of Dallas power play, Benn left his feet as he converged on Boldy in the Wild zone and appeared to cross-check him with his stick in the back of the head. Boldy struck the ice face-first and stayed face down for several seconds, until a whistle came.
He slowly climbed to one knee, looking woozy before skating off. No penalty was called. After sitting down on the bench during the stoppage, Boldy was eventually taken up the tunnel for further examination.
The U.S. Olympic team member and 2019 first-round draft pick had a career-high 42 goals with 43 assists during the regular season. The Wild were already playing Game 3 without forwards Mats Zuccarello and Yakov Trenin because of upper body injuries they suffered over the first two games they split in Dallas.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) defends against a shot attempt by Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) during the first period of Game 3 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Oneil Cruz had the hardest-hit homer in the majors this season, a three-run shot off the top of the right-field foul pole in the ninth inning that powered the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night.
The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the ninth when Nick Gonzales broke for the plate on pinch-hitter Jake Mangum's one-out chopper to third base off Cole Winn (1-1). Josh Jung’s throw home pulled catcher Kyle Higashioka into foul territory, and Higashioka could not make the tag.
Cruz followed with his 116.9 mph liner that bounced off the top of the foul pole and into the stands. It was the second hardest-hit ball in the history of Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020.
Pittsburgh's big ninth gave Gregory Soto (1-0) his first win as a Pirate, following his first blown save. The lefty reliever allowed Jake Burger's two-run single in the eighth that tied the score at 4-all. Dennis Santana pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in four opportunities.
Bryan Reynolds’ fifth-inning single, which produced his 500th career RBI, was part of a three-run frame that gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead. Reynolds is tied with Bobby Bonilla for the most RBIs by a Pirates switch-hitter. He also scored Pittsburgh’s first run on Marcell Ozuna’s first-inning double.
Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft set career highs with seven innings and 94 pitches, allowing Jung’s two-run homer in the second inning among four hits. Ashcraft grew up about 100 miles south of Globe Life Field near Waco.
Jung has an RBI in a career-best six consecutive games.
Texas starter Jack Leiter, who turned 26 on Tuesday, allowed four runs, three earned, in five innings. He hasn’t won since his first start this season, at Baltimore on March 30.
With a single and a walk, Pittsburgh’s Ryan O’Hearn has reached base in 20 of 22 games.
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA) will pitch on five days’ rest in Wednesday night’s series finale against Pirates rookie RHP Bubba Chandler (1-1, 3.15).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Texas Rangers' Jake Burger, center, sprints to first with a two-run single as Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gregory Soto, front left, reacts to the play in the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft hi-fives with teammates in the dugout after working against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Marcell Ozuna (24) celebrates a run-scoring single as first base coach Tarrik Brock (16) and umpire Dan Merzel, left, look on in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas Rangers' Josh Jung rounds third after hitting a two-run home run off a pitch from Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft, left rear, in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz (15) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
