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Two of the bigger questions facing the Calgary Flames were answered Wednesday when they signed center Mikael Backlund to a two-year extension while also naming him their captain.

Re-signing Backlund, 34, to a two-year deal worth $4.5 million annually resolved one of the most prominent issues facing the team entering training camp.

“This is a very special day for my family and I,” said Backlund, the 24th overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft. “Calgary is our home and to know that we will continue my playing career here is important to us.

“… I’m as equally proud to be named the captain of this historic franchise. I’m ready for the responsibility that goes with wearing the ‘C’ and I’m surrounded by a strong leadership group in our locker room that will help us take the next step toward winning the Stanley Cup.”

Backlund is coming off one of the strongest seasons of his career, having scored 19 goals while finishing with a career-high 56 points in 82 games for a Flames team that, despite facing inconsistencies, still finished only two points out of the final Western Conference wild-card spot in 2022-23.

After signing Backlund, the Flames now have eight players on their roster who are slated to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2023-24 season, including Noah Hanifin, Oliver Kylington, Elias Lindholm, Christopher Tanev and Nikita Zadorov.

Backlund, who has spent his entire career with the Flames, had been an alternate captain for the past six seasons. He now becomes the 21st captain in team history and the first since defenseman Mark Giordano was selected by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft.

“Mikael Backlund is our captain. He has been our captain for some time,” general manager Craig Conroy said in a statement. “… We look forward to his continued leadership on the ice, in the locker room and in our community.”

Backlund becomes the fifth new captain before the start of the 2023-24 season, joining Brad Marchand (Bruins), Brayden Schenn (Blues), Quinn Hughes (Canucks) and Adam Lowry (Jets).

Anaheim, Arizona, Chicago, Philadelphia and Seattle are the only teams who have yet to name a captain ahead of the upcoming season.

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Follow live: Cubs aim to force Game 5 vs. Brewers

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Dodgers advance to NLCS after Kerkering’s error

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Dodgers advance to NLCS after Kerkering's error

LOS ANGELES — Orion Kerkering made a wild throw past home instead of tossing to first after mishandling Andy Pages‘ bases-loaded comebacker with two outs in the 11th inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 Thursday to win their NL Division Series 3-1.

Kerkering hung his head and put hands on knees after his throw sailed past catcher J.T. Realmuto as pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim crossed the plate, advancing the Dodgers to the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs or Milwaukee.

Realmuto had pointed to first when the broken-bat, two-hopper hit off Kerkering’s glove and rolled just in front of the mound.

Kerkering picked up the ball and in one motion made a sidearm throw, 46 feet from the plate. The ball sailed up the third-base line, past Realmuto’s outstretched mitt, and fans in the crowd of 50,563 at Dodger Stadium erupted after spending the final three innings on their feet.

“It’s brutal,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s one of those things that it’s a PFP, a pitcher’s fielding practice. He’s done it a thousand times. And right there he was so focused, I’m sure, on just getting the hitter and just sort of forgot the outs and the situation.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson wrapped an arm around Kerkering when the distraught reliever reached the dugout.

“He just got caught up in the moment a little bit,” Thomson said. “I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders.”

This was the second postseason series to end on a walk-off error, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. A wild relay throw by Texas second baseman Rougned Odor on a potential double-play grounder allowed Josh Donaldson to score and give Toronto a 7-6, 10-inning win and a three-game sweep of their 2016 AL Division Series.

Los Angeles ended a postseason series with a walk-off win for the third time after Bill Russell’s single against the Phillies in Game 4 of the 1978 NLCS and Chris Taylor‘s homer in the 2021 NL wild card game.

Nick Castellanos‘ RBI double in the seventh off Emmet Sheehan had put the Phillies ahead but Jhoan Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded in the bottom half, forcing in the tying run.

Tommy Edman singled off Jesús Luzardo with one out in the 11th and took third on Max Muncy‘s two-out single that eluded diving shortstop Trea Turner.

Kerkering walked Enrique Hernández, loading the bases. Pages, in a 1-for-23 postseason slide, hit what appeared to be a routine grounder, the type every pitcher practices gloving from spring training on.

Philadelphia, wearing its powder blue throwback uniforms on the road for the second straight day, was knocked out in the Division Series for the third straight season while the defending World Series champion Dodgers reached the LCS for the eighth time in 13 years.

Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki, averaging 99.5 mph his his fastball, threw three innings of hitless relief, combining with Tyler Glasnow, Sheehan and winner Alex Vesia on a four-hitter.

Glasnow allowed two hits and three walks in six innings with eight of the 12 strikeouts by Dodgers pitchers.

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QB Mateer probable to play for OU against Texas

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QB Mateer probable to play for OU against Texas

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer was upgraded to probable Thursday on the SEC availability report, a signal he’s set to attempt to play against Texas on Saturday, just 17 days after surgery on a broken bone in his throwing hand.

Mateer’s push to return Saturday has continued this week, with sources telling ESPN that he has practiced and progressed enough to be in position to attempt to play. Sources told ESPN earlier Thursday that Mateer was on track to attempt to play Saturday.

The ambiguity over Mateer’s ability to play is expected to extend until kickoff, as sources told ESPN that Mateer’s pain level and ability to grip the ball will be watched closely.

A return to the field against Texas would be in line with the most aggressive timelines of a potential comeback.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said Monday that he assumed Mateer wouldn’t be available. OU listed Mateer as questionable on the first SEC availability report Wednesday, and Venables has remained evasive on Mateer’s availability.

Mateer emerged as a Heisman favorite in the first month of the season. He injured the hand in the first quarter of a 24-17 win over Auburn on Sept. 20. He played the rest of the game and threw for 271 yards.

He has missed just one game since surgery Sept. 24, as OU had a bye and blew out Kent State 44-0. Michael Hawkins Jr. started in the Kent game and threw three touchdown passes.

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