ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Finland handed the United States its second loss, 3-2, at the world ice hockey championship on Monday.
Finland’s third win in three games kept pace with Canada, which routed Belarus, 8-0, with seven different players scoring. Canada has 20 goals in three games, and doesn’t play Finland until the last round of group matches next week.
The U.S. is fourth with its only win against Belarus. The top four qualify for the quarterfinals.
Mikko Koivu and Antti Pihlstrom scored for Finland in the first period before Frank Vatrano made it 2-1 with a slapshot.
Connor Murphy pulled the U.S. even in the third, but Leo Komarov slid in the puck four minutes later for the game-winner.
PHILADELPHIA – Quarterback Sam Bradford has returned for voluntary workouts with the Philadelphia Eagles after asking for a trade last month.
Bradford issued a statement Monday saying he’s “committed” to his teammates and the organization. He signed a two-year contract worth $36 million with $22 million guaranteed before the Eagles traded up twice in the NFL draft and selected Carson Wentz with the No. 2 overall pick.
The Eagles also signed Chase Daniel to a three-year, $21 million deal to back up Bradford. New Coach Doug Pederson stressed during Bradford’s two-week absence that the team wanted him to return and be the starter.
Two days after being jettisoned by the Memphis Grizzlies, Dave Joerger has landed in Sacramento as the latest coach looking to end the Kings’ decade-long playoff drought.
Joerger replaces George Karl and becomes the Kings’ ninth head coach since the team went to the playoffs in 2006 under Rick Adelman.
A person with knowledge of the deal told the Associated Press that Joerger will get a three-year contract worth $4 million per season. The deal includes a team option for the fourth season. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t release the terms of the deal.
Joerger went 147-99 in three seasons with the Grizzlies and took them to the playoffs each year.
San Antonio Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford has been named the NBA’s executive of the year.
The NBA announced the award Monday. It’s the second time Buford has received the honor. He previously won it in the 2013-14 season.
Buford led the field with 77 total points in voting by fellow NBA executives. Portland’s Neil Olshey finished in second place and Golden State’s Bob Myers was third.
Buford helped the Spurs land LaMarcus Aldridge last summer, bringing the most coveted free agent on the market to San Antonio. He also added veteran forward David West and re-signed Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to big-money contracts to keep the Spurs rolling.
San Antonio finished with a franchise-best 67 wins, second in the Western Conference to the defending champion Warriors.
NEW YORK – Mike Tirico will take part in NBC’s Olympic coverage in Rio this summer after he joins the network July 1.
NBC formally announced Monday that Tirico was leaving ESPN after a quarter-century. NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood says details about Tirico’s assignments won’t be revealed until after he officially joins the network.
Flood will say that Tirico will be involved in NFL and golf coverage.
ROME – Singles was the easy part for Venus Williams on Monday. The difficult part came with younger sister Serena in doubles.
After Venus comfortably beat CoCo Vandeweghe, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round of the Italian Open, the Williams sisters lost to Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia, 6-1, 7-5.
It was the first time the sisters played doubles together since the 2014 U.S. Open. They are preparing for an attempt at a fourth Olympic gold medal in doubles in Rio de Janeiro.
In other first-round matches, Sara Errani was slowed by physical problems in losing to Heather Watson of Britain, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, and Lucia Safarova of the Czech Republic defeated former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, 6-3, 6-2.
On a rough day for the home players even in the men’s tournament, Fabio Fognini of Italy was beaten by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, 6-1, 7-6 (2).
Also, Milos Raonic overcame two breaks of his serve to get past Italian wild card Marco Cecchinato, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Raonic will next face Nick Kyrgios, who eliminated Salvatore Caruso, another Italian wild card, 6-1, 6-2.