Commissioner Gary Bettman at the NHL general managers meeting this spring had a clear answer for when the league might be able to use tracking technology to determine a variety of things with certainty, from high-sticking to whether a puck fully crossed the goal line.

“When we’re certain that it works,” Bettman said at the time. “We will test it and re-test it, but we haven’t hesitated to spend the money or the time on technology to improve the game.”

The NHL is taking another step in that innovation with the expansion of the use of Hawk-Eye measuring and tracking technology as part of a new technology partnership with Sony announced Wednesday, hours before the start of the Stanley Cup Final.

The same technology that has become omnipresent in tennis to determine whether the ball is in or out has evolved to the point that it could in help hockey officials and the league’s situation room make more precise calls for close plays on the ice.

Penguins hire Muse as coach >> Dan Muse is the new head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Penguins hired the former New York Rangers assistant tasking him with helping the franchise navigate a rebuild during the twilight of longtime captain Sidney Crosby’s career.

Muse replaces Mike Sullivan. Sullivan and the Penguins split in April after a nearly decade-long tenure that included a pair of Stanley Cup titles.

Avalanche extend Nelson >> The Colorado Avalanche shored up their depth at center by bringing back Brock Nelson on a three-year deal.

The team announced the contract extension that will keep the 33-year-old Nelson with the Avalanche through the 2027-28 season. Colorado picked up Nelson in a trade with the New York Islanders on March 6. Nelson played in 19 games with Colorado to finish up the regular season with six goals and seven assists, and had four assists in the team’s first-round playoff exit against Dallas.

Lightnings Kucherov wins Lindsay Award >> Nikita Kucherov of the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Ted Lindsay award as the NHL’s most outstanding player as chosen by his peers.

Kucherov and Colorado teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar were the finalists for the trophy as voted on by members of the NHLPA.

Kucherov was the league’s leading scorer with 121 points on 37 goals and 84 assists.

NBA

Suns hire Ott as coach >> The Phoenix Suns hired Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott as their head coach, opting for a young, emerging leader to rebuild a franchise that has regressed over the past few seasons.

Ott will be the team’s fourth head coach in four seasons and replaces Mike Budenholzer, who was fired following a miserable 36-46 season that ended without a trip to the playoffs despite the high-priced trio of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

The 40-year-old Ott has worked for the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Cavaliers. He also worked as a video coordinator under Tom Izzo at Michigan State, which is where Suns owner Mat Ishbia played as a walk-on from 1999 to 2003.

Tennis

French Open >> No. 2 seed Coco Gauff reached Thursday’s French Open semifinals should surprise no one. Her 361st-ranked opponent for a berth in the title match? That’s a whole other story.

Gauff made it to the final four at Roland-Garros for the third time, getting past No. 7 Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-1 in a quarterfinal between two Americans who both have won a major title.

Next up for 2023 U.S. Open champion Gauff? A matchup against French wild-card entry Loïs Boisson, who extended one of the most stunning runs in tennis history by beating No. 6 Mirra Andreeva 7-6 (6), 6-3.

• Top-ranked Jannik Sinner’s overpowering run through the French Open moved into the semifinals with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 victory over No. 62 Alexander Bublik.

• Novak Djokovic proved too much for No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev, a man who’s a decade younger and was last year’s runner-up at Roland-Garros, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semifinal showdown against No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

MLB

Reds place pitcher Greene on IL >> The Cincinnati Reds placed ace pitcher Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain and signed veteran left-hander Wade Miley to a one-year contract.

It was another setback for Greene who made three starts since a 15-day stint on the injured list last month due to a groin strain he sustained May 7 during a start in Atlanta.

In Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over the Brewers, Greene threw 85 pitches before leaving the game after five innings when he felt discomfort in his groin.

Golf

US Amateur champion joins LIV >> U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain has joined LIV Golf and will make his professional debut this week at the Saudi-funded league’s Virginia event.

Ballester, who goes by the nickname Josele, signed a multiyear contract and will be part of the Fireballs team captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

The 21-year-old Ballester recently concluded his senior season at Arizona State, the alma mater of LIV stars Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson. He finished third in the PGA Tour University standings, earning him full status on the Korn Ferry Tour, but Golf Channel reported Monday that he declined membership on the PGA Tour’s top developmental circuit.