After opening an investigation against the Dallas Stars, the NHL has decided to fine the team for holding an improper on-ice practice. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman stated on Saturday Headlines that the league was looking into the Stars holding a practice during a mandatory off day across the NHL on Boxing Day.

As first indicated by TSN’s Darren Dreger, the NHL will fine the Stars for violating the collective bargaining agreement that prohibits practices or travel on specified days. The Stars will pay a $100,000 fine for hosting an “optional” practice before teams were cleared to return to the ice.

“There are rules about what you’re not allowed to do,” Friedman said on Saturday Headlines. “You’re not allowed to practice, you are not allowed to provide ice to players. The Stars had some kind of skate on Boxing Day, and that has gotten the league’s attention.”

The Stars hosted the Minnesota Wild on December 27th and blew a 2-0 lead, eventually losing 3-2 in overtime. Defenseman Brock Faber scored the overtime winner 35 seconds into the extra period.

The NHL has set a standard with the CBA and when teams are and are not allowed to hold team practices or even travel to the city where their next game takes place out of the break.

This is not the first time in recent memory the NHL has fined a team for improper activity during the holiday break. Not long ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs were fined for traveling before the end of the holiday break. The Philadelphia Flyers were fined for a similar action about 10 years ago.

Taking an earlier practice or an earlier flight is considered a competitive advantage by the NHL.

Make sure you bookmark Breakaway On SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Associated Press

Dallas Mavericks (20-12, fourth in the Western Conference) vs. Sacramento Kings (13-18, 12th in the Western Conference)

Sacramento, California; Monday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Dallas visits the Sacramento Kings after Kyrie Irving scored 46 points in the Mavericks’ 126-122 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Kings are 10-14 against Western Conference opponents. Sacramento is ninth in the NBA averaging 115.0 points and is shooting 47.7% from the field.

The Mavericks are 14-10 in conference play. Dallas ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 16.3 fast break points per game led by Luka Doncic averaging 4.2.

The Kings make 47.7% of their shots from the field this season, which is 2.4 percentage points higher than the Mavericks have allowed to their opponents (45.3%). The Mavericks average 13.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 14.6 per game the Kings give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: De’Aaron Fox is averaging 26.2 points, 6.1 assists and 1.6 steals for the Kings.

Daniel Gafford is scoring 12.2 points per game and averaging 6.2 rebounds for the Mavericks.

LAST 10 GAMES: Kings: 3-6, averaging 116.0 points, 44.4 rebounds, 27.4 assists, 8.0 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.8 points per game.

Mavericks: 6-4, averaging 116.8 points, 44.9 rebounds, 24.1 assists, 8.5 steals and 6.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points.

INJURIES: Kings: Devin Carter: out (shoulder).

Mavericks: Dante Exum: out (wrist), Luka Doncic: out (calf), Dereck Lively II: day to day (hip).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

DALLAS — Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is the latest professional athlete whose home has been burglarized.

The star guard’s business manager told multiple media outlets Saturday there was a break-in at Doncic’s home. Lara Beth Seager said nobody was home at the time of the incident Friday night, and Doncic filed a police report.

Jewelry valued at about $30,000 was stolen, the Dallas Morning News reported, according to an internal police report it obtained.

Doncic, 25, who is from Slovenia, is the sixth known pro athlete in the U.S. whose home was burglarized since October. Star NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes of Kansas City and Joe Burrow of Cincinnati are among them, along with Mahomes’ tight end, Travis Kelce.

The others were Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.

The NFL and NBA issued security alerts to their players after the break-ins, some of which have come when players were away with their teams for road games. The NFL’s alert says homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”

Burrow lamented a loss of privacy over having to acknowledge that he was the victim of a break-in.

The incident at Doncic’s home came two days after the five-time All-NBA player strained his left calf in a Christmas Day loss to the Timberwolves. The injury is expected to sideline Doncic for about a month.