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“Danger in the mud,” by Jens Cullmann (Germany), is the grand prize winner of the 2022 World Nature Photography Awards. (Image credit: Jens Cullmann)

A creepy portrait of a crocodile keeping a watchful, yellow eye from a mud pool is the grand prize winner of the 2022 World Nature Photography Awards (WNPA), which honored the most evocative shots from thousands of entries in a variety of categories. The photo was taken in Zimbabwe by Jens Cullmann of Germany, who won the award for World Nature Photographer of the Year and scooped top prize for Animal portraits..

“This photograph is the result of my staking out the largest pool in Mana Pools National Park, Zimbabwe, at a time when an extended drought had reduced the pool to rapidly-drying mud,” Cullmann told the WNPA (opens in new tab) . “I had to be very careful not to disturb the crocodile, even though it was buried in dry mud. They will launch themselves with tremendous speed and power at any animal foolish enough to come too close.”

From underwater wonders to spectacular landscapes, here are the 2022 winners in each category.

 Related: Best wildlife photography cameras 2023 Behavior – Amphibians and reptiles

“Ride on you,” by Norihiro Ikuma (Japan), was the winner in the Behavior – Amphibians and reptiles category.  (Image credit: Norihiro Ikuma)

Norihiro Ikuma of Japan captured this otherworldly scene of two Japanese stream toads (Bufo torrenticola), also known as Honshū toads, looking over long strings of toad eggs as one toad rides on the other’s back. These animals are endemic to Japan and only come down from the mountains of Owase in Mie to the river when it is time to spawn. Behavior – Birds

“I’m coming for you,” by Charles Schmidt (U.S.), was the winner in the Behavior – Birds category.  (Image credit: Charles Schmidt)

This male hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) is heading straight for the camera lens, where photographer Charles Schmidt was patiently waiting for the bird to take off in Huntley Meadows Park, Virginia. “Ducks will often begin swimming more quickly when they are preparing to fly,” Schmidt told the WNPA. “I saw that they began to swim more quickly and thus was prepared to catch them taking off. I was lucky that they headed directly towards me!” Behavior – Invertebrates

“The ghost of the rocks,” by Javier Herranz Casellas (Spain), was the winner in the Behavior – Invertebrates category.  (Image credit: Javier Herranz Casellas)

This red crab (Grapsus adscensionis) was photographed by Javier Herranz Casellas on La Gomera, in Spain’s Canary Islands, just as a wave hit the rock where it was perched. The crab was looking for small crustaceans and plants to feed on when a thin veil of water streamed over its back, giving it a distinct Spider-Man-like appearance. Behavior – Mammals 

“Playgroup,” by Hidetoshi Ogata (Japan), was the winner in the Behavior – Mammals category.  (Image credit: Hidetoshi Ogata)

Hidetoshi Ogata photographed a rarely seen behavior of six Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) cozying up in a huddle during the lactation season on Japan’s Awaji Island. It takes just one embrace between a mother and her baby to entice other female and male monkeys to join a huddle, which can sometimes include more than 30 individuals and is thought to encourage grooming and cuddling behavior. Animals in their habitat

“The world is mine,” by Sascha Fonseca (U.A.E.), was the winner in the Animals in their habitat category.  (Image credit: Sascha Fonseca)

Sascha Fonseca, from the United Arab Emirates, set up a camera trap on the snowy peaks of the Indian Himalayas to snap this rare picture of a snow leopard (Panthera uncia). “I captured this image during a 3-year DSLR [digital-single-lens reflex] camera trap project in the Ladakh region of northern India,” Fonseca told the WNPA. “The mystery surrounding the snow leopard always fascinated me. They are some of the most difficult large cats to photograph in the wild. Not only because of their incredible stealth, but also because of the remote environment they live in.” Black and white

“Thankfulness,” by Ernoult Alain (France), was the winner in the Black and white category.  (Image credit: Ernoult Alain)

Ernoult Alain of France photographed this Lesser Antillean iguana (Iguana delicatissima), which looks like it’s rubbing its tummy after a big meal, on the Caribbean island of Grenada. The image captures, in stunning detail, the scales and folds of this endemic lizard’s skin as the animal stretches its neck. Nature art

“Underwater colorful snowstorm,” by Tom Shlesinger (Israel), was the winner in the Nature art category.  (Image credit: Tom Shlesinger)

Coral spawning underwater is a tricky event to capture, as it happens only for a few minutes, at a certain hour on a single night of the year. Tom Shlesinger of Israel captured the rare moment when thousands of corals cast their egg-and-sperm bundles into the open water, resulting in an artistic composition of what looks like a balloon-filled night sky. The bundles are carried away by sea currents and mix so that the sperm fertilize the eggs in the water. Nature photojournalism 

“Injured fur seal,” by Nicolas Remy (Australia), was the winner in the Nature photojournalism category.  (Image credit: Nicolas Remy)

Nicolas Remy captured this heartbreaking photo of an Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) with bad injuries caused by a boat propeller in Australia’s Port Kembla. Marine mammals such as whales, seals and sea lions are frequently hit by boats of all sizes, often resulting in injury and, sometimes, death. People and Nature

“The guts,” by Virgil Reglioni (Norway), was the winner of the People and nature category.  (Image credit: Virgil Reglioni)

To take this photograph, Virgil Reglioni of Norway abseiled down into the depths of a glacier at night. “This is how it feels to be inside the glacier’s guts,” he told the WNPA. “Not many people would even dare to go in there, where it is deep, cold, loud and wet. And that is the whole purpose of this photograph; pushing your limits to capture what few people will ever experience at night. Abseiling down felt incredible, as the more we penetrated into this dark monster, the more the fear rises up. The setup was simply impressive, and I did feel amazing just being hanging into that moulin with about 30 meters [100 feet] of dark void under my feet and my hanging tripod in the air.” Planet Earth’s landscapes and environments

“The Grand Tetons,” by Jake Mosher (U.S.), was the winner in the Planet Earth’s landscapes and environment category.  (Image credit: Jake Mosher)

This panoramic shot of the Milky Way crowning Grand Teton was U.S. photographer Jake Mosher’s reward for climbing to the top of Wyoming’s Table Mountain on a clear spring night. Towering 13,775 feet (4,199 m) high, Grand Teton is the highest peak in the Teton Range.

“On June 17th, 2021, I hiked, snowshoed and climbed to the 11,000-foot [3,400 m] summit of Wyoming’s Table Mountain to photograph the Milky Way over Grand Teton Peak,” Mosher told the WNPA. “While these iconic mountains have been photographed tens of thousands of times, I wanted to show an entirely unique view of them. I was treated to one of the most spectacular displays of airglow that I’ve ever seen — similar to the aurora and created by photo-charged particles, but spanning much of the horizon.” Plants and fungi

“Tree of life,” by Julie Kenny (Australia), was the winner in the Plants and fungi category.  (Image credit: Julie Kenny)

Julie Kenny of Australia captured sheep tracks surrounding a fallen tree in this evocative shot. “The tree is seen as a sacred symbol, which carries significant meanings in both religious and spiritual philosophies,” Kenny told the WNPA. “From above, the surrounding sheep tracks combined with the fallen tree reminded me of the Tree of Life. While the aerial perspective focuses on the earth, you can see the pooled water in the sheep tracks reflecting hints of blue from the sky. While this represents many different things, for me it communicates the interconnection of all things, beginnings and endings, the cycling of life.” Underwater

“Harlequin shrimps,” by Adriano Morettin (Italy), was the winner in the Underwater category.  (Image credit: Adriano Morettin)

Positioning the camera to focus on a blue sea star (Linckia laevigata), Adriano Morettin of Italy photographed a couple of color-coordinated harlequin shrimps (Hymenocera picta) in Lembeh Strait in Indonesia. Female harlequin shrimps grow larger than males do — up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) long. Urban Wildlife

“The home of the kestrel,” by Vladislav Tasev (U.K.), is the winner in the Urban wildlife category.  (Image credit: Vladislav Tasev) RELATED STORIES—Buzzing bees, sperm-covered sea stars stun judges of Wildlife Photographer of the Year

—Screaming monkeys, ‘headless’ penguins and face-planting zebras take top honors in Comedy Wildlife awards

—Heartbreaking photo reveals a baby baboon still clinging to its dead mother as she’s carried away by a leopard 

Vladislav Tasev of the United Kingdom spotted this male common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) perching on the doorstep of its new street-lamp home in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

“I took the picture at sunset to see the rust, the lamps and the bird in natural light,” Tasev told the WNPA. “The photo was taken in the town of Stara Zagora near the Thracian University, in an abandoned parking lot near a small forest.” 

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Follow live: Kings look to take 3-0 series lead vs. Oilers

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Hagel suspended for Game 3 due to hit on Barkov

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Hagel suspended for Game 3 due to hit on Barkov

Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel was suspended one game by the NHL Department of Player Safety on Friday night for what it labeled “an extremely forceful body check to an unsuspecting opponent” that injured Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov.

Hagel will miss Saturday’s Game 3 in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers lead the series 2-0.

Around midway through the third period of Thursday’s Game 2, Tampa Bay was on the power play while trailing 1-0. Barkov pressured defenseman Ryan McDonagh deep in the Lightning zone. With the puck clearly past Barkov, Hagel lined him up for a huge hit that sent the Panthers captain to the ice and thumping off the end boards.

A penalty was whistled, and the officials conferred before calling a “five-minute penalty.” After review, Hagel was given a 5-minute major for interference. Barkov left the game with 10:09 remaining in regulation and did not return to the Panthers’ 2-0 win.

Lightning coach Jon Cooper said after the game that he didn’t expect Hagel to receive a major penalty for the hit.

“Refs make the call. I was a little surprised it was a five, but it was,” he said.

The NHL ruled that Hagel’s hit made “some head contact” on Barkov.

“It’s important to note that Barkov is never in possession of the puck on this play and is therefore not eligible to be checked in any manner,” the league said.

In the Friday hearing, held remotely, Hagel argued that he approached the play anticipating that Barkov would play the puck. But the Department of Player Safety said the onus was on Hagel to ensure that Barkov was eligible to be checked. It also determined that the hit had “sufficient force” for supplemental discipline.

It’s Hagel’s first suspension in 375 regular-season and 36 playoff games. He was fined for boarding Florida’s Eetu Luostarinen in May 2022.

The Panthers held an optional skate Friday. Coach Paul Maurice said Barkov “hasn’t been ruled out yet” but “hasn’t been cleared” for Game 3.

“He’s an irreplicable player,” Panthers defenseman Seth Jones said of Barkov. “One of the best centermen in the league. He’s super important to our team.”

The Lightning lose Hagel while they struggle to score in the series; they scored two goals in Game 1 and were shut out in Game 2. Tampa Bay was the highest-scoring team in the regular season (3.56), with Hagel contributing 35 goals and 55 assists in 82 games.

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Goalies Montembeault, Dobes leave Caps-Habs

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Goalies Montembeault, Dobes leave Caps-Habs

The Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens lost their starting goalies because of injuries in Game 3 of their first-round series Friday night.

Canadiens starter Sam Montembeault was replaced by rookie Jakub Dobes, who made his playoff debut, in the second period. Capitals starter Logan Thompson left late in the third period after a collision with teammate Dylan Strome.

The Canadiens won 6-3 to cut their series deficit to 2-1.

Montembeault left the crease with 8:21 remaining in the second period and the score tied 2-2. Replays showed him reaching for the back of his left leg after making a save on Capitals defenseman Alex Alexeyev. Montembeault had stopped 11 of 13 shots. For the series, he stopped 58 of 63 shots (.921 save percentage) with a 2.49 goals-against average.

Dobes, 23, was 7-4-3 in 16 games for the Canadiens in the regular season with a .909 save percentage. Dobes had a win over the Capitals on Jan. 10, stopping 15 shots in a 3-2 overtime win.

Thompson was helped from the ice by a trainer and teammates after Strome collided with him with 6:37 left in regulation right after Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky made it a 5-3 Montreal lead. Thompson attempted to skate off on his own but couldn’t put weight down on his left leg.

Backup goalie Charlie Lindgren replaced Thompson, who had been outstanding for the Capitals in the first two games of the series, winning both with a .951 save percentage and a 1.47 goals-against average. He made 30 saves on 35 shots in Game 3.

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