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Olympic sports weekend preview: NHK Trophy figure skating, Rivalry Series hockey

Figure skating’s Grand Prix Series and the U.S.-Canada Rivalry Series in women’s hockey both share the spotlight in Olympic sports this weekend.

**Figure Skating at the NHK Trophy**

The NHK Trophy kicks off Thursday night, streaming live on Peacock. Three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto and Olympic silver medalist Yuma Kagiyama headline their home Grand Prix event in Japan.

Sakamoto aims to secure a spot in the Grand Prix Final—a goal well within reach if she finishes in the top three. In her previous Grand Prix appearance three weeks ago, Sakamoto posted the world’s second-best score of the season across all competitions.

This year’s six-woman Grand Prix Final is shaping up to be a preview of the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympic competition. Sakamoto is joined in strong contention by American skaters Alysa Liu, the 2025 World Champion, and Amber Glenn, the 2024 Grand Prix Final champion.

On the men’s side, Yuma Kagiyama makes his Grand Prix season debut. He stands as the closest challenger—though at some distance—to Ilia Malinin as the Milan-Cortina Olympics approach. Malinin has recorded the three highest scores in the world this season (333.81, 321.00, and 306.65), followed by Kagiyama’s 285.91.

**Women’s Hockey: USA vs. Canada Rivalry Series**

The U.S. and Canada, who have together won all seven Olympic gold medals since women’s hockey debuted in 1998, meet in their first two games of a four-game Rivalry Series ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games.

NHL Network will air Thursday’s game in Cleveland at 7 p.m. ET and Saturday’s game in Buffalo at 6 p.m. ET.

The U.S. has momentum, having won their last two clashes with Canada at the World Championship last April—2-1 in group play, then 4-3 in an overtime thriller for gold.

Thursday’s game will be especially meaningful for U.S. forward Laila Edwards, as Cleveland is just eight miles from her hometown.

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Catch all the action as Olympic sports showcase world-class athletes and rivalries on ice this weekend!
https://www.nbcsports.com/olympics/news/olympic-sports-weekend-preview-nhk-trophy-figure-skating-rivalry-series-hockey

Peak explores The Roots update today

**Peak’s Latest Free Update: The Roots Brings a Thrilling New Biome and Exciting Challenges**

Indie studios Aggro Crab and Landfall have seen surprising success with their game, Peak. As more groups of friends dive in to tackle its harrowing climbs, the developers have released the game’s latest free update, **The Roots**.

This update introduces a brand-new biome inspired by the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest. While Peak’s core gameplay still revolves around climbing, players now find themselves scaling towering trees within this lush, sprawling forest. Climbing these trees presents a unique challenge regardless of party size.

Adding to the tension are giant insects roaming the forest, including massive spiders that can cocoon players in webs and drop them from great heights, leading to potentially perilous falls. Players will need to stay alert and work together to survive these new threats.

The update also adds native mushrooms scattered throughout The Roots biome. Players can choose to consume these mushrooms, but beware—doing so carries risks, including the possibility of turning into a zombie-like state.

In addition to the new biome and creatures, **The Roots** update brings tweaks to Peak’s cooking system. It’s now possible to place non-food items over the fire and observe mysterious effects. The developers haven’t revealed what these effects are, encouraging players to experiment and discover secrets on their own.

Moreover, players can now cook berries to remove their poison, making them safe to eat. However, this cooking method does not work on mushrooms—so handle those fungi with caution while exploring the forest.

For the complete list of changes and updates, be sure to check out the full patch notes available on Steam.

Get ready to climb, survive, and discover all-new dangers in Peak’s thrilling Roots update!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146689/peak-the-roots-update-release-date

Lions Lose Veteran Linebacker Immediately After He Returns From Injury

The Detroit Lions waited three weeks to get veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham back after a serious injury, but now he will be sidelined for at least a month—and potentially the entire season.

The team placed Cunningham on injured reserve following a hamstring injury he suffered in last week’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cunningham had just returned from a three-week absence due to another hamstring injury, making this latest setback a significant blow to his season and the team.

### Lions Lose Key Depth

Cunningham was ruled out to return last weekend during the Lions’ 24-9 victory over the conference-leading Buccaneers due to the hamstring injury. As Jeff Risdon of USA Today’s Lions Wire noted, this loss removes a key special teams player and situational defender from the roster.

“There is no indication if Cunningham, who plays primarily on special teams but has also worked in short-yardage and red zone packages throughout the season, will be able to return in 2024,” Risdon wrote. “The Lions facility is closed and staff are off until next week. For the year, the 30-year-old has seven tackles and one tackle for loss (TFL).”

Cunningham joined the Lions as a free agent this offseason, adding veteran experience to the linebacking corps. The 30-year-old has appeared in 106 NFL games with 86 starts, accumulating 716 total tackles over his career. This season, he has played a limited role in Detroit, featuring in four games with seven total tackles.

### Backups Come Through in the Secondary

The Lions have already faced numerous challenges on defense, particularly in the secondary. Several cornerbacks have been sidelined due to injury, and safety Brian Branch served a one-game suspension after sparking a skirmish during the team’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite these setbacks, the Lions employed what head coach Dan Campbell referred to as their “Who?” secondary against the Buccaneers. Remarkably, they held Tampa Bay’s potent offense to just nine points, showcasing the resilience and depth of the team’s backup players.

As the season progresses, the Lions will need continued contributions from their depth players to navigate these injury hurdles and maintain competitive performances on defense.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/detroit-lions/lions-zach-cunningham-injured-reserve/