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NHL player Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets has been killed after being hit by a car while riding a bicycle in his home state of New Jersey. He was 31. New Jersey State Police confirmed Gaudreau and brother Matthew were hit by a driver of a car on Thursday night in Salem County, not far from their native Carneys Point. Officials said the driver was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto. The driver admitted to drinking five or six beers prior to the crash.

Remembering Johnny Hockey: Johnny Gaudreau and brother Matthew shined on and off the ice

Johnny Gaudreau was known as “Johnny Hockey” for his lifelong journey in the sport he loved along with his family. He and his younger brother, Matthew, died when they struck by a drunken driver while riding bicycles not far from their childhood home. Undersized from the time he first put on skates growing up in New Jersey just outside Philadelphia, Gaudreau excelled in college and thrived in the NHL despite being well under 6 feet tall and weighing less than 180 pounds. Those who knew him also remembered him for how he embraced life off the ice.

Johnny Gaudreau put family first, never forgot South Jersey roots even as NHL career blossomed

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hockey fans had yearned for Johnny Gaudreau to come home and play for either New Jersey or Philadelphia. The Columbus star was back this week with his beloved family. All four siblings were preparing for the wedding for his sister, Katie. Gaudreau and his younger brother Matthew died after they were hit by a suspected drunken driver. It sent a wave of grief across the area for the Gaudreaus, who are well known in South New Jersey.

Arnold throws 4 TD passes — 3 to newcomer Burks — to help No. 16 Oklahoma rout Temple 51-3

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Jackson Arnold threw four touchdown passes — three to newcomer Deion Burks — and No. 16 Oklahoma routed Temple 51-3 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams. Oklahoma forced six turnovers and held Temple to 197 yards in its first game as a member of the Southeastern Conference. The Sooners joined the league this summer after a long run in the Big 12. Arnold, a sophomore, completed 17 of 25 passes for 141 yards in his first career victory as a starting quarterback for the Sooners. Burks, a transfer from Purdue, never caught more than two touchdown passes in a game for the Boilermakers. He had three scores at halftime Friday and finished with six catches for 36 yards.

Coco Gauff comes back at the US Open and beats Elina Svitolina. Emma Navarro is next

NEW YORK (AP) — Coco Gauff has come back to beat Elina Svitolina 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Friday’s result in New York extends the 20-year-old American’s defense of her first Grand Slam title. The third-seeded Gauff made mistake after mistake in the first set and dropped its last 11 points against the 27th-seeded Svitolina. But Gauff managed to turn things around and win despite losing the opening set, something she did three times en route to winning the 2023 trophy at the U.S. Open. This ends a five-match losing streak for Gauff against opponents ranked in the top 50. She will face Emma Navarro next.

Caitlin Clark has career-high 31 points, 12 assists as Fever beat Sky 100-81 despite Reese record

CHICAGO (AP) — Caitlin Clark had a career-high 31 points and 12 assists in her final regular-season matchup with fellow rookie sensation Angel Reese, leading the Indiana Fever to a dominating 100-81 win over the reeling Chicago Sky. Clark shot 8 for 14, including 5 for 9 from 3-point range, in her 11th double-double. She is the only player to ever have three games of at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a season. On the other side, Reese had 10 points and 11 rebounds, breaking a tie with Tina Charles for rookie double-doubles with 23 and passing Sylvia Fowles for the Chicago season record. The Fever (16-16) beat the Sky (11-20) for the third time in four matchups, solidifying their probable playoff berth while Chicago is barely hanging on to the last spot as the season winds down.

Scottie Scheffler leads by 4 at East Lake as Morikawa and Schauffele try to keep it close

ATLANTA (AP) — Scottie Scheffler had a chance to run away with the FedEx Cup finale. Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele have done their best to stay in range. Scheffler was efficient as ever from tee-to-green and shot a 66. Morikawa birdied his last two holes for a 63 and still trailed by four shots going into the weekend. Schauffele made a pair of big putts after a storm delay and finished with a 64. He was five back, one better than he started on Friday. No one else was close to Scheffler. At stake is $25 million for winning the FedEx Cup.

Analysis: Patriots have no reason to rush rookie quarterback Drake Maye

Drake Maye is the quarterback of the future for the New England Patriots. Jacoby Brissett is the team’s present. Credit coach Jerod Mayo for not giving in to public pressure. The Patriots are a rebuilding team with no chance of competing for the playoffs this season. They’ll be closer to battling for the No. 1 overall pick. Maye, the No. 3 overall pick, may have outplayed Brissett in the preseason – Mayo even said so. But, the decision to start the veteran QB in Week 1 is more about the players surrounding Maye. The rookie won’t be in a position to have success behind New England’s weak offensive line and a mediocre receiving corps.

Bubba Wallace confident he and team can have success at Darlington to make NASCAR playoffs

DARLINGTON, S.C. (AP) — Bubba Wallace believes he can have success at Darlington this weekend and make the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs for a second straight season. Wallace currently sits one spot out of NASCAR’s postseason on the playoff grid. He’s 21 points behind Chris Buescher and says his best way in is to win the Southern 500 on Sunday night. Wallace had the last spot going into the final regular-season race a year ago and made it through to compete for a championship. Wallace has run strongly at Darlington with four top 10s in his last four races there.

Haeran Ryu has bogey-free 62 and opens up a big lead at TPC Boston

NORTON, Mass. (AP) — Haeran Ryu has a history of going low on the LPGA and the 23-year-old South Korean added to that in the FM Championship. Ryu twice had runs of four straight birdies on the TPC Boston. She wound up with a career-low 62 and a six-stroke lead. The FM Championship is in its first year on the TPC Boston. The course previously hosted a PGA Tour event for some two decades. Ryu was at 13-under 131. Bianca Pagdanganan, Yealimi Noh and Robyn Choi were tied for second. Pagdanganan had a 66, and Noh and Choi each shot 68.