LAS VEGAS (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone, who has missed the past five games because of a lower-body injury, not only played in Sunday's 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, his goal sparked the comeback.
Stone scored a power-play goal 19 seconds into the second period to start a rally from a 3-0 deficit and ultimately give the Golden Knights a 3-0 series lead.
“I don’t like watching, ever. I want to play every game," Stone said. "It’s been an unfortunate part of my career, sitting out. This time of year it’s definitely harder. But when the guys are playing the way they’re playing it makes it a little bit easier. Come to the rink with a smile on my face every day. Helps when you’re winning. It’s great to be around the guys and now it’s great to be back on the bench.”
Golden Knights coach John Tortorella announced before the game Stone would be back in the lineup.
”His talent speaks for itself, but his character and leadership, just to have him back in the room, get his voice back, is going to be huge for our team," Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin said. “Any time he comes back, it's like he didn't miss a beat.”
Stone, hurt in Game 3 of the second-round series at Anaheim, showed few if any limitations while taking part in an optional skate Saturday. He also skated when the team was in Denver for the first two games of the series.
His 28 goals and 73 points in the regular season were Stone’s highest in seven years, and he has produced four goals and five assists in 10 playoff games this year.
“No one wants to be out there more than Mark,” Hanifin said. “He's one of the most competitive guys I've played with in my career.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl, left, celebrates his goal with right wing Mark Stone during the third period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Colorado Avalanche, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Colorado Avalanche center Nazem Kadri, second fro, right, trips after scoring on Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart, right, as right wing Mark Stone, left, and defenseman Dylan Coghlan watch during the first period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — When Daniel Suarez was struggling to make his name in auto racing, he would often get phone calls from Kyle Busch offering words of encouragement and urging him to keep working.
That made his crown jewel Cup Series victory Sunday night all the more special.
Suarez benefitted from a crucial pit call, then caught a break from Mother Nature to win the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600, capping an emotional day in which the racing world remembered the late Busch.
Suarez became the first Mexican-born driver to win the Coke 600. It was his third Cup Series win and first since 2024.
The victory was especially emotional for Suarez, who previously raced for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“Kyle, he was special,” Saurez said as he teared up. “I was doing this for Kyle, for (his wife) Samatha, for (his children) Brexton and Lennix and for all of his family.”
A non-factor for most of the race, Suarez gambled and took two tires during a late pit stop, then held off Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin on restarts before the race was called when the sky opened up and rain drenched the track shortly before midnight Eastern time.
NASCAR quickly made the decision to call the race with 27 laps remaining.
Bell finished second; Hamlin was third.
The two Joe Gibbs Racing teammates had a chance to catch Suarez on the two restarts, but couldn't clear his No. 7 Chevrolet.
“It’s a bummer," Bell said, who won the rain-shortened 2024 Coca-Cola 600. "It wasn’t meant to be today. That's 2026 for us.”
Hamlin said he was “just a little unlucky.”
“The 20 car (Bell) and us were just really battling because we knew whoever could clear him (would win the race),” Hamlin said. "We were really good all day. We just didn’t get to see it through.”
The race came just three days after Busch’s death sent shockwaves throughout the motorsports world and beyond. The 41-year-old Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming complications, according to a statement released by his family.
The two-time Cup Series champion and winner of a record 234 races across NASCAR’s three national series had become unresponsive while practicing in a Chevrolet simulator Wednesday, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no details were released by the family.
Busch's family attended the race and NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell told them they are part of the NASCAR community and “we got you.”
NASCAR and CMS honored Busch with his No. 8 and signature on the frontstretch grass and a highway billboard near the main entrance of the track. The U.S. Army Golden Knights carried a Busch flag prior to the race and each of the 39 cars in field carried a small, black No. 8 decal.
Kyle Larson won the first stage race. Hamlin won the second stage and Bell the third.
Defending champion Ross Chastain crashed out when Ricky Stenhouse Jr. clipped his car in Turn 2 with 81 laps remaning in the race.
Connor Zilisch and Austin Cindric only made it 52 laps before getting caught up in a crash. Cindric got turned around and Zilisch came crashing in to the side of his No. 2 Ford, ending both drivers’ day.
Chase Elliott, a two-time winner this year, hit the outside wall and ping-ponged into the inside wall on Lap 90. That car was beyond repair and he finished 37th.
“I was trying to make something happen and I stepped over the line,” Elliott said.
Austin Hill, a regular driver in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series for Richard Childress Racing, took Busch's spot in the race and finished 26th. He drove the No. 33 car after RCR temporarily retired the No. 8 until Busch's 11-year-old son Brexton is ready to drive.
Austin Dillon, went behind the wall with damage to the front of his car with 56 laps to go, ending any hope of an emotional win for RCR. He finished 32nd.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Daniel Suarez celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Tribute images are displayed on the backstretch videoboard in honor of late driver Kyle Busch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Daniel Suarez celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Daniel Suarez celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Austin Hill steers down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
Kyle Larson (5) leads a pack of cars into Turn 4 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
A pack of cars compete down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley)
