No. 5 DU splits weekend series with Minn. Duluth

The No. 5 Denver Pioneers held off the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs to win 2-1 at Amsoil Arena in Duluth on Saturday in the final meeting of the regular season between the NCHC foes.

Senior captain Carter King and Samu Salminen scored for the Pioneers (18-6-0, 7-5-0 NCHC), and junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp recorded two assists for a multi-point night.

The Pioneers lost 4-3 on Friday night.

Djokovic takes jab at injury “experts” by posting MRI

MELBOURNE, Australia>> Novak Djokovic posted a scan of his injured left hamstring on social media early Sunday, more than 24 hours after being booed at the Australian Open when he quit playing one set into his semifinal because of what he said at his news conference was a torn muscle.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion put the picture of the MRI taken Saturday on X and wrote: “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there.”

Mets hint Alonso’s return is growing less likely

NEW YORK>> The first Amazin’ Day fan fest at Citi Field did not bring with it a dramatic resolution to Pete Alonso’s free agent saga — but did seem to confirm the New York Mets’ most popular and prolific power hitter is likely to sign elsewhere as spring training nears.

“We’ve made a significant offer to Pete,” Mets owner Steve Cohen explained. “This has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation.”

Astros GM: Bregman’s door to re-sign is “cracked” open

HOUSTON>> The door to re-signing free agent Alex Bregman is “cracked” open for the Astros, but keeping the third baseman with the team might still be a longshot, general manager Dana Brown said. He spoke at the team’s FanFest.

Chock and Bates win sixth ice dance national title

WICHITA, Kan.>> Madison Chock and Evan Bates have been the best American ice dancers for years. Best in the world, too.

They only served to underscore that fact, when they won their fourth consecutive title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and sixth overall, which matched the record held by longtime standard-bearers Meryl Davis and Charlie White.

Brignone beats Goggia in downhill; Vonn misses gate

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, Germany>> Federica Brignone edged out teammate Sofia Goggia by the smallest possible margin for an Italian 1-2 finish in a women’s World Cup downhill, while Lindsey Vonn missed a gate near the bottom of the course and failed to finish.

Brignone had a technically well controlled run down the Kandahar course to finish 0.01 seconds ahead of Goggia, who lost considerable time early on before going all in for a gutsy second part.

Canadian Crawford wins, teammate third in downhill

KITZBUEHEL, Austria>> James Crawford became the first Canadian skier in 42 years to win the prestigious World Cup downhill on the Streif course, sharing the podium with his third-placed teammate Cameron Alexander.

Wearing bib No. 20 and coming down after all pre-race favorites had completed their runs, Crawford bumped Alexis Monney into second position.

— The Associated Press