LOS ANGELES — The Kings oh-so-narrowly avoided a matchup with top-seeded Dallas by reaching overtime, where they prevailed, 5-4, against the lowly Chicago Blackhawks in Thursday night’s regular-season finale at Crypto.com Arena. About four hours to the northeast of the arena, the rival Ducks did their part to aid the Kings’ modest last-minute ascent in the standings, beating the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights, 4-1. Vegas had gone 14-6-2 against the other seven playoff teams in the Western Conference – the Kings posted an 8-12-3 mark – but lost three of four matchups with the rebuildin ..read more

By MARK ANDERSON AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS — Frank Vatrano scored three goals and the Ducks ended their season on a high note, defeating the Vegas Golden Knights, 4-1, on Thursday night. The loss knocked the Knights – whose three-game winning streak ended – out of third place in the Pacific Division and into the second Western Conference wild card. Vegas was leapfrogged by the Kings, who rallied to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-4 in overtime. Vatrano’s goals gave him a career-high 37 for the season. It was his third hat trick this season and the sixth of his career. Jackson LaCombe had a g ..read more

LOS ANGELES — Eric Gentry will never forget the number 116, because it has been weaponized around USC, a painful trigger pressed over and over and over again as a reminder of the season that was lost. 116. It comes after every defensive workout, one additional set of repetitions, as Gentry described after USC’s final spring practice on Thursday. One more rep for every rung USC dropped in total-defense rankings in 2023. 116 reps. 116th in yards-per-game allowed. A cardinal-red stain on the back of the returning Trojans’ jerseys, the reminder glistening in every drop of sweat. “If you don’t feel ..read more

NORWALK — The La Mirada softball team relied on strong pitching, quality defense and clutch hitting by junior left fielder Angelina Ratzlaff to defeat rival Gahr 2-1 at Glenn High Thursday night. The victory, on the team’s senior night, secured back-to-back Gateway League titles for La Mirada. “It felt amazing,” said Ratzlaff, who hit the go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning after senior catcher Rebecca Eckart (Notre Dame signee) was intentionally walked. “The energy was up and I was feeling it,” Ratzlaff continued. “In my head, I was like I’m not going to lose right now. I wa ..read more

The consensus box of Santa Anita horse racing picks comes from handicappers Bob Mieszerski, Terry Turrell, Eddie Wilson and Kevin Modesti. Here are the picks for thoroughbred races on Friday, April 19, 2024. Trouble viewing on mobile device? See consensus picks Enjoy the consensus horse racing picks online? Subscribe Sign up for Ponies Express newsletter and get the latest news and tips on wagers for weekend Horse Racing at Santa Anita and other Southern California tracks in your inbox. Subscribe here.     Related Articles Sports | Judge denies request for Bob Baffert-trained Muth ..read more

Another Tax Day has come and gone, and most Americans believe they pay too much. One recent poll revealed that 56% say they pay more than their fair share. Unfortunately, I fear this is just the beginning considering the insane level of debt Washington policymakers have accumulated over the years. With this in mind, here are some important facts about our tax system that you might not know. The payroll tax is the heaviest burden for most taxpaying Americans, but the income tax is more visible and painful to a lot of people. While we are accustomed to it — and while it affects some Americans’ d ..read more

A Los Angeles Police Department officer was arrested Thursday in connection with charges that he tampered with evidence and stole items during traffic and pedestrian stops last year, authorities said. Alan Carrillo — who joined the LAPD in 2018 and was assigned to the department’s Mission Area Gang Enforcement Detail — was allegedly discovered to have seized contraband from people who had been detained, and allegedly concealed or destroyed the evidence, according to a statement released by the LAPD. According to the department, the discovery was made during a series of investigations initiated ..read more

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A judge has denied a request by the owner of Bob Baffert-trained Arkansas Derby winner Muth for the colt to run in next month’s 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mitch Perry declined Thursday to grant a temporary injunction to Zedan Racing Stables, which had argued that the ban of Baffert was “illegal.” Muth won the Arkansas Derby on March 30 but is ineligible to receive the 100 points that would have put him in the Run for the Roses because of Baffert’s suspension. ZRS sued Churchill Downs days later. In his ruling, Perry expressed conce ..read more

PLAYA VISTA — Clarity over Kawhi Leonard’s availability became slightly murkier Thursday when it was disclosed that the two-time NBA Finals MVP was still dealing with inflammation in his right knee. Lawrence Frank, the Clippers’ president of basketball operations, said Leonard continues to “do everything” possible to play in the first round of the playoffs against the Dallas Mavericks. He said Leonard is “questionable” for Sunday’s Game 1. “Our medical staff is doing everything to get the inflammation down so he can play. Progress has been made, but more progress needs (to happen),” Frank ..read more

EL SEGUNDO — D’Angelo Russell is aware of the attention he’s receiving ahead of the Lakers’ first-round playoff matchup against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets. The type of attention usually reserved for a team’s main stars – such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the Lakers. Or Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray for the Nuggets. But because of the way things went the last time the Lakers and Nuggets met in the playoffs, Russell’s performance in the best-of-seven series that starts on Saturday night in Denver will be under a microscope. “I’d rather show you,” Russell told the Southern ..read more