At least one Mega Millions player has plenty of dough to ring in the New Year after drawing the winning number. After three months without anyone winning the top prize in the lottery, a ticket worth an estimated $1.22 billion was sold in California for the drawing Friday night, according to the Mega Millions website.
The California Lottery said the winning ticket was sold at Circle K (Sunshine Food and Gas) on Rhonda Road in Cottonwood, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) north of Sacramento. The winning ticket matched the white balls 3, 7, 37, 49, 55 and the gold Mega Ball 6. Ishar Gill, a son of the store owner, said the winning ticket was “a blessing” for the small rural town of roughly 6,000 people. The identity of the winner or winners was not immediately known.
“We don't have the slightest clue of who may have won it or who may have sold it,” Gill told The Associated Press. “But congratulations to the winner.”
The total amount of the Mega Millions jackpot would only be distributed to a winner who chooses an annuity paid over 29 years. Nearly all grand prize winners opt to take a cash payout, which for Friday night’s drawing is an estimated $549.7 million.
Despite the game’s long odds of 1 in 302.6 million, players continued to purchase tickets as the size of the grand prize grew. Until Friday, the last time a Mega Millions player hit the top prize was Sept. 10.
The largest-ever Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth $1.6 billion was sold in Florida in August 2023. Two prizes for its compatriot Powerball lottery have been larger.
Mega Millions and Powerball are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Powerball also is sold in Puerto Rico.
Mega Millions ticket prices are set to rise from $2 to $5 in April. The increase will be one of many changes that officials say will result in improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and even larger payouts.
Rob, right, buys a Mega Millions ticket at Rossi's Deli in San Francisco, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
A Mega Millions lottery ticket is displayed at a store on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, in Tigard, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Dennis Murphy shows off his lottery tickets he just bought at Joe's Service Center on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in Altadena, Calif. In 2022, the location had sold a $2.04 billion Powerball ticket. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Jakub Dobes stopped 34 shots in his NHL debut, Kirby Dach had his first two-goal game in nearly two years, and the Montreal Canadiens beat the Florida Panthers 4-0 on Saturday.
Dobes, a 23-year-old from the Czech Republic, went 9-3-1 with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in the minors this season, his second as a pro.
He became the first goaltender to record a shutout against the defending Stanley Cup champion in his NHL debut since Daren Puppa for Buffalo at Edmonton on Nov. 1, 1985, according to STATS.
Cole Caufield and Jake Evans also scored for Montreal, and Alex Newhook had two assists.
Spencer Knight stopped 20 shots for Florida, which has been shut out in back-to-back games for the second time this month.
Canadiens: Dobes became the first Montreal goalie to get a shutout in his NHL debut since Yann Danis in 2005.
Panthers: This marks the first time since 2003 that Florida was blanked in consecutive home games. Florida lost 4-0 to Tampa Bay on Dec. 23, its most recent game before Saturday's matchup with Dobes and the Canadiens.
Evans' short-handed goal with 2:41 left in the second seemed to put the game out of reach.
The Panthers are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games in which they have scored at least one goal. They've also been shut out four times in that span.
The Canadiens visit Tampa Bay on Sunday. Florida remains home to face the New York Rangers on Monday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) pursues during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammate Patrik Laine (92) after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) fires a shot past Florida Panthers goaltender Spencer Knight (30) to score a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Florida Panthers left wing A.J. Greer (10) fights with Montreal Canadiens defenseman Arber Xhekaj (72) during the second period of an NHL hockey game on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Montreal Canadiens center Kirby Dach (77) celebrates with teammates after scoring his second goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) stops the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) defends the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) makes the save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (David Santiago/Miami Herald via AP)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) celebrates with his teammates after the Canadiens shut out the Florida Panthers 4-0 in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Montreal Canadiens players surround goaltender Jakub Dobes, not seen, after the Canadiens defeated the Florida Panthers 4-0 in an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
