Reuters Sports News Summary

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs. ESPN's digital service to be exclusive UFC pay-per-view provider in U.S.

The streaming digital sports service ESPN+ will become the exclusive distributor of pay-per-view events for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the United States, the companies announced on Monday. The events will begin on April 13, almost exactly a year since parent company Walt Disney Co launched ESPN+ to retain viewers as traditional cable audiences started migrating to online services such as Netflix Inc. NHL roundup: Lightning capture Presidents' Trophy

Tampa Bay earned its first-ever Presidents' Trophy, and Steven Stamkos set a franchise record for the most goals as the Lightning beat the visiting Arizona Coyotes 4-1 on Monday night. Victor Hedman's goal in the first minute of the third period broke a 1-1 tie, and Tampa Bay's top-ranked penalty-kill held Arizona scoreless with the man advantage in the game's last 1:39. Anthony Cirelli, who also had an assist, and Yanni Gourde each produced short-handed, empty-net goals in the final minute. Women's sport needs more women to tell the story, says Asher-Smith

British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, a triple European gold medalist, would like to raise the profile of female athletes and believes the best way of doing that is to have more women telling the story. The 23-year-old holds British records in the 100 and 200 meters, and won European gold in those distances and the 4x100m relay last year. NFL notebook: Bengals release LB Burfict

Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was released by the Cincinnati Bengals after seven seasons, the team confirmed Monday. "As we continue to build our roster for the 2019 season, we felt it best to give both the team and Vontaze a fresh start," head coach Zac Taylor said in a statement. Olympic champion Hanyu says '100 percent' on return to ice

Yuzuru Hanyu, the only man in more than 50 years to win back-to-back Olympic gold in figure skating, said on Tuesday that his condition is "100 percent" ahead of the world championships after months out of competition with an ankle injury. Hanyu injured his right ankle in practice for a Grand Prix event late last year and was forced to drop out of the Grand Prix Final as well as the Japanese nationals. Japan committee chief Takeda to resign as IOC member: Kyodo

Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) chief Tsunekazu Takeda, who is expected to announce plans to step down on Tuesday, is also set to resign as a member of the International Olympics Committee, Kyodo News reported. French prosecutors questioned Takeda in Paris and placed him under formal investigation in December for suspected corruption in Japan's successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Games. MLB notebook: Kershaw will miss Opening Day start

For the first time since 2010, Clayton Kershaw won't be the Opening Day starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The left-hander, who has started a club-record eight straight openers, was ruled out of the March 28 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks due to the persistent shoulder inflammation he has dealt with all spring. He has yet to pitch in a spring training game. Spring training roundup: Goldschmidt hits first HR as Cardinals down Phillies

Paul Goldschmidt hit his first homer of the spring, a two-run blast, to help the St. Louis Cardinals post a 4-1 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday at Jupiter, Fla. Goldschmidt sent a low pitch from Philadelphia right-hander Zach Eflin over the wall in left-center in the fifth inning to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead. NBA roundup: Nuggets top Celtics, seal playoff spot

Nikola Jokic had 21 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, and the Denver Nuggets beat the host Boston Celtics 114-105 on Monday night to clinch a playoff berth. Will Barton had 20 points, Gary Harris added 16 and Paul Millsap had 12 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, which is back in the postseason for the first time since 2013. Golf: Reed seeking consistency ahead of Masters title defense

Patrick Reed has yet to string together four solid rounds of golf this year and would like to find some consistency before setting off on his Masters title defense next month. Reed is fresh off a share of 47th place at The Players Championship and only eight days removed from a T-50 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational but for the 28-year-old American there is no need to panic ahead of the April 11-14 Masters.