Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Senators G Linus Ullmark to make first start since leave

Ottawa goaltender Linus Ullmark will make his first start since returning from a personal leave when the Senators host the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. Ullmark went on leave Dec. 28, one day after a difficult road ‌loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and later revealed in an interview with TSN that he experienced an onset of anxiety and panic during that game.

Report: Vikings hire Frank Smith, other assistant coaches

One day after firing Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their general manager, the Minnesota Vikings added to head coach Kevin O'Connell's staff on Saturday by naming four ⁠assistants, according to NFL Media. Frank Smith, the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator for the past four seasons, reportedly was named the Vikings' assistant head coach, while Keith Carter was promoted to offensive line coach, Gerald Alexander was tabbed as defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator, and Ryan Nielsen was named defensive line coach.

Penguins D Kris Letang (foot) out 4 weeks, placed on IR

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang is sidelined a minimum of four weeks due to a broken foot, the team said Saturday. Letang, ​who was placed on injured reserve Saturday, joined forward Evgeni Malkin in missing practice on Friday. Malkin reportedly is being plagued by the same shoulder injury he sustained in December.

Alpine skiing-Vonn misses final super-G before Olympics after downhill ‍crash

U.S. Alpine ski great Lindsey Vonn has ruled herself out of the final women's World Cup super-G before the Milano Cortina Olympics on Saturday after injuring her knee in a downhill crash. The 41-year-old was taken to hospital on Friday after falling in a race that was then cancelled due to the weather conditions.

Tennis-History awaits as Djokovic and Alcaraz meet in Australian Open final

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz meet in Sunday's Australian Open final with history in the balance, as the Serbian great chases a record 25th Grand Slam title and the Spanish dynamo bids to become the ⁠youngest man to ‌win all four majors. Modern men's tennis has not lacked for champions pushing ⁠for the next frontier of greatness but the stakes have rarely been higher in a single match.

76ers' Paul George banned 25 games for violating anti-drug policy

Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has been suspended without pay for 25 games by the NBA on Saturday morning for violating the ‍terms of the league's anti-drug program. George's suspension will begin on Saturday night when the 76ers host the New Orleans Pelicans. He is eligible to return to action on March 25.

Tennis-Sabalenka rues another Melbourne Park miss as hardcourt aura fades

Following two years of triumph ​at the Australian Open, Aryna Sabalenka is now processing two years of pain. A year on from losing the final in three sets to American Madison Keys, Sabalenka fell 6-4 4-6 6-4 to Elena Rybakina on Saturday, ⁠the Russia-born Kazakh turning the tables on the Belarusian who beat her for the 2023 title.

Tennis-Red-hot Rybakina resists Sabalenka to reign at Australian Open

Elena Rybakina delivered a thunderous display to dismantle firm favourite Aryna Sabalenka and win a maiden Australian Open title on Saturday, turning the tables on the world number one ⁠in their Melbourne Park final rematch from three years ago. Rybakina returned to the site of her 2023 defeat to complete an impressive 6-4 4-6 6-4 win and capture her second major trophy after Wimbledon 2022, underlining her credentials as the player best equipped to further puncture Sabalenka's hardcourt aura.

Olympics-Fast times on road to Olympic success for Canada curler Jacobs

Canada's Olympic curling champion Brad Jacobs knows exactly what it takes for him to reach the top: almost five days of ⁠fasting just before the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Few Olympic fans would associate curling with gruelling preparation and fasting that seems more fitting to skaters, skiers or ice hockey players, but for 40-year-old Jacobs, who won curling gold ⁠at the 2014 Games, it is just what he needed ahead ‌of next week's start of the Games in Italy.

Report: Christian Coleman, Twanisha Terry cited in Sha'Carri Richardson speeding arrest

Two more Olympic sprinters were cited by officers in conjunction with Sha'Carri Richardson's arrest for driving in excess of 100 mph on Thursday in Florida's Orange County, according to a report by The Athletic. Christian Coleman, the world record-holder in ⁠the indoor 60 meters, arrived at Richardson's traffic stop in another car and tried to intervene on his girlfriend's behalf. When Coleman refused to accept the officer's ‍orders to return to his car, he was eventually arrested.