Basel 1-2 Aston Villa, Celtic 0-3 Roma and more: Europa League – as it happened

A good night for English clubs in Europe; not so much for Scotland’s representatives

Stuttgart 3-1 Maccabi Tel Aviv. Some bonus content here. No need to thank us! And there really is no need to thank us, because it comes courtesy of our old MBM and Clockwatch pal Kári Tulinius. “Stuttgart looked like they were heading to the most comfortable of home wins when they went 3-0 up after yet another defensive rick by Maccabi, when the normally reliable Alexander Nübel tried to save Roy Revivo’s shot with a hand so weak it seemed like it was made out of cottage cheese. The comedy defending moment still goes to the visitors, though, who let in an opener after a covering defender simply fell on his behind while tracking a high ball, giving Lorenz Assignon all the time in the world to measure the aim on his volley.”

Callum O’Dowda swings a ball in from the left wing. Barnabás Varga heads into the top-right corner from close range. He couldn’t miss, partly because the nearest defender, Emmanuel Fernandez, was the wrong side of the striker, facing upfield, then span around in confusion, making no challenge whatsoever. Comically poor defending.

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Shohei Ohtani made 'very big contribution' to help Dodgers teammate's mother battle cancer

Toronto, Ontario, Saturday, November 1, 2025 - Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts bumps Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) in the dugout before Game seven of the 121st World Series between the LA Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts bumps fists with Shohei Ohtani in the dugout before Game 7 of the World Series in Toronto. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

When the Dodgers are on the field, Shohei Ohtani dominates the headlines with his base running, his slugging and his pitching. But off the field, his actions also resonate.

In a recent interview with Japanese media, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told a story of when the two-time World Series champion helped relief pitcher Gus Varland’s mother get cancer treatment by making a “very, very big contribution.”

“Shohei does a lot of great things, but a lot of what he does is on the down low, quiet, so people don’t talk about it,” he said.

Varland made seven relief appearances with the Dodgers during the 2024 season — including pitching in the season-opening series in South Korea against the San Diego Padres — and posted a 4.50 earned run average in six innings of work before he was designated for assignment in July of that year.

Read more:Why Dodgers face a ‘delicate’ situation with their Japanese stars ahead of the WBC

Roberts said he ran into Varland’s mother during the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays because his brother, Louis, pitched for them. Roberts said the mother told him she was cancer free.

After spending his first six major league seasons with the Angels, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. In November, he won his fourth MVP award in five seasons, becoming the only player besides Barry Bonds to win it more than three times.

Ohtani helped the Dodgers win their second consecutive World Series title after hitting 55 homers with a batting average of .282 and an ERA of 2.87 in 2025.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

(12-11-25) Blues-Predators Gameday Lineup

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Robby Fabbri was always hopeful to return when it all began but wasn’t sure if it would happen.

But there he was, wearing the Bluenote again after the St. Louis Blues selected the forward with their first-round pick in the 2014 NHL Draft.

“When you leave, you never think you’re going to go back, right,” Fabbri said. “But I loved my time here, a lot of memories here, so just very excited to be back. I know my family is as well.”

The 29-year-old, who was just a baby-faced kid when he was here his first stint that ended with a trade to the Detroit Red Wings in 2019, was smiling from ear-to-ear in the locker room after a morning skate Thursday prior to the Blues (11-13-7) facing the Nashville Predators (11-14-4) at 7 p.m. (FDSNMW, ESPN 101.1-FM). Fabbri will be in the lineup, playing on a third line with Pius Suter and Dalibor Dvorsky, with a feeling like no other.

“It’s going to be a long time,” Fabbri said. “You get that feeling when I’ve come back from my injuries (two major knee injuries in St. Louis) and a lot of things like that. This last little bit adversity-wise has been pretty up there, pretty tough compared to some injuries and stuff like that. To get back out here and to do it in a Blue Note again is going to be really exciting.”

Fabbri signed a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $775,000 NHL, $300,000 AHL on Wednesday after playing three games with Charlotte of the American Hockey League with the Blues down five forwards (Jimmy Smuggerud, Jordan Kyrou, Nick Bjugstad, Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko) due to various injuries.

“It kind of just worked out pretty quick,” Fabbri said. “I was in Charlotte playing some games and some injuries were happening over here, but they were watching some games and it kind of just came about early in the week and we just finished it up. I’m glad it was quick and I’m glad it was here.”

It was a difficult summer for Fabbri, who was playing for a contract for the first time since he was drafted. Stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Florida Panthers on professional tryouts yielded no contract.

“My injuries have kind of prepped me for adversity like this,” Fabbri said. ‘This is obviously a different type of adversity. Any free agent loves to sign on July 1st and be done with it. That’s just now how it went for me, but at the end of the day, I’ve done it my whole career. I’ve had to come back and prove myself after every injury and after anything that’s ever happened. I think I’m prepped to do that. I’ve prepared to do that unintentionally my whole career. It was a difficult summer, but I just had my second daughter (Sophia) two weeks ago. So that distraction and my two-year-old right now (Mara), family means the most always. I’m just thankful for my wife and for them to be there for this.”

The transition should be seamless, considering Fabbri was part – albeit a smaller role at the time – of the Stanley Cup-winning Blues in 2019, and will play with teammates Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, Oskar Sundqvist, Colton Parayko and Jordan Binnington, as well as coaches Steve Ott and David Alexander on that roster.

“He knows enough guys in this room, including trainers and coaches,” Schenn said. “He’s going to come here, I know he’s super excited to be here. He always wanted to come back here and have another crack at it. We’re excited to have him back and he’s equally, if not more excited, to be wearing a Bluenote again.

“I talked to him this morning on the way to the rink and it’s seamless. You go into a new team and you don’t know anyone or not many people here you know, but he feels right back at home again. When you have that mentality and mindset, the adjustment period isn’t as long and he’ll be able to hopefully come right in and make an impact for us. Just a great guy to be around too. He brings a lot of energy, will have a voice in the room, he’s not afraid to talk.”

Fabbri is now obviously more mature and a wiser player than his first stint in St. Louis.

“I’ve obviously grown up off the ice, but I think my game’s matured, just positionally and everything like that over the years, even with experience, learning the right way to play,” Fabbri said. “I probably had a little junior still in me when I was here in St. Louis early on. But I think my game’s matured a lot, being able to play on both sides of the puck, penalty kill, power play, all those types of things has evolved over the years.”

Blues coach Jim Montgomery said on Wednesday Fabbri would be in the lineup, and his decision to start him playing with Suter and Dvorsky was almost a no-brainer.

“This guy has over 100 goals, has been known as an offensive player for a long time, so his speed, his smarts his tenacity in and around the net, his ability to finish should complement those two guys well,” Montgomery said.

Fabbri, who has 216 points (106 goals, 110 assists) in 442 NHL games, wore No. 15 when he was first with the Blues, then No. 14 with the Red Wings and last season when he played for the Anaheim Ducks, No. 13. He’ll wear No. 9 this time around with the Blues.

“I wore nine in junior,” Fabbri said before joking, “This is kind of just a fresh start, a new era of myself. Some guy by the name of Steve Ott had nine when I came in my first year, so that was kind of taken early on. I just wanted to kind of change it up and get a fresh start over here.”

A fresh start and a fresh perspective.

“The transition is kind of seamless from the staff to the players, just a lot of familiar faces,” fabbri said. “It makes it easy for any player to come into a locker room. It’s just exciting to get back to work with these guys that you won a championship with.”

- - -

The Blues will be going back to some familiar faces on Thursday on their blue line.

Montgomery is reuniting Cam Fowler with Parayko and Philip Broberg and Justin Faulk as the top four once again, a quartet that was instrumental in the team’s success last season that fueled their run to the playoffs.

“Really, it’s just the familiarity like last year,” Montgomery said. “We were at our best when the pairings were like that. That’s a little bit of it, and it feels like our D-corps got a little stale in the last game, so just giving them a new outlook. You’ve got a different partner, maybe you get excited again, just fresh energy.”

And some of those things that need to look different that were detriments on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins?

“Our D-zone coverage, stopping in the D-zone, boxing out at the net front,” Montgomery said. ‘We didn’t do a good enough job last game, our habits got away from us. And then conversely playing to the goal line and being ready and having that mentality that, ‘we’re going to play the right way for 60 minutes and grind out a one-goal win.’”

- - -

Blues Projected Lineup:

Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich

Dylan Holloway-Brayden Schenn-Mathieu Joseph

Pius Suter-Dalibor Dvorsky-Robby Fabbri

Hugh McGing-Oskar Sundqvist-Aleksanteri Kaskimaki

Cam Fowler-Colton Parayko

Philip Broberg-Justin Faulk

Tyler Tucker-Logan Mailloux

Jordan Binnington will start in goal; Joel Hofer will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Matt Luff and Matthew Kessel. Jordan Kyrou (lower body), Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns), Nathan Walker (upper body) and Nick Bjugstad (upper body) are all out.

- - -

Predators Projected Lineup:

Steven Stamkos-Ryan O’Reilly-Luke Evangelista

Filip Forsberg-Fedor Svechkov-Matthew Wood

Michael Bunting-Erik Haula-Jonathan Marchessault

Reid Schaefer-Michael McCarron

Nicolas Hague-Roman Josi

Brady Skjei-Nick Perbix

Spencer Stastney-Nick Blankenburg

Adam Wilsby

Juuse Saros will start in goal; Justus Annunen will be the backup.

Healthy scratches include Tyson Jost. Ozzy Wiesblatt (upper body), Cole Smith (lower body) and Justin Barron (lower body) are out.

Blues Make Official Signing of Dillon Dube To AHL Professional TryoutBlues Make Official Signing of Dillon Dube To AHL Professional TryoutThe forward was one of five players from Canada's 2018 World Junior team charged with sexual assault from an incident in June of 2018, acquitted earlier this yearImage

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2-time All-Star reliever Robert Suarez and Atlanta Braves reach $45 million, 3-year contract

ATLANTA (AP) — Two-time All-Star reliever Robert Suarez and the Atlanta Braves agreed Thursday to a $45 million, three-year contract.

He gets a $13 million salary in 2026 and $16 million in each of the following two seasons.

Suarez will donate 1% of his salary to the Atlanta Braves Foundation.

The 34-year-old was 4-6 with 40 saves and a 2.97 ERA this year and has 76 saves over the past two season.

He is 22-13 with a 2.91 ERA and 77 saves in four major league seasons, all with San Diego.

Left-hander Ryan Rolison was designated for assignment.

Hurricanes Rookie Goaltender Brandon Bussi Chasing NHL History On Unfathomable Start

Who'd have thought that a contingency waiver claim could stake a claim as the potential number one netminder on a perennial contender, while making NHL history at the same time?

It sounds crazy, but that's exactly what Brandon Bussi is doing for the Carolina Hurricanes.

The 27-year-old netminder has seized the opportunity presented to him and he's seemingly cemented himself as the Canes' number one netminder.

To start his NHL career, Bussi has a 0.909 save percentage, one shutout and an 9-1-0 record, becoming just the fifth goaltenders in NHL history to record nine wins within their first 10 career starts (Igor Shesterkin, Frederik Andersen, Bob Froese, Frank Brimsek).

And he'll be getting the chance to do something only one other netminder in NHL history has done tonight as he is set for start number 11.

Bussi will be getting the chance to join Bob Froese as the only other goalie in NHL history to win 10 wins in his first 11 starts (Froese started his career 12-0-1) on Thursday night against the Washington Capitals, the second time he's started in consecutive games so far this season.

"I don't think we envisioned him going in an every-day rotation or a back-to-back, but he's earned that," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour Thursday morning.

You'd think that an NHL rookie would be a little caught up in the emotions of everything that's gone on along the way, but if you asked the 27-year-old netminder if this stretch or the moments within it have even felt surreal, you'd probably be fairly surprised by his blasé attitude.

"My job is to stop the puck as much as I can and I just take it day-by-day," Bussi said. "It feels good to get wins. Our team's been playing really well in most of these wins if not all of them, so it feels good. Gonna try and keep it going.

"He doesn't get shaken," said teammate Seth Jarvis. "I think obviously the position he was in coming in, a bad goal or something could have ruined his confidence, but I think he's incredibly confident in himself and knows that. And for us, knowing we have a guy back there that makes timely saves and will bail us out when need be is huge."

Hurricanes Goalie Brandon Bussi Unveils New MaskHurricanes Goalie Brandon Bussi Unveils New MaskHurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi debuts a custom mask, a vibrant tribute to autism awareness and personal family connection, featuring unique artistry.

Bussi is writing quite the story in Carolina and it's only been getting better and better.

It's gone from a feel good story of a rookie doing well, to actually looking like a potentially game-changing acquisition for the Hurricanes.

"It doesn't matter if you're 22 or 26, especially when you're a goalie," said teammate Taylor Hall. "There's no direct path to being what you are and when you're big and athletic like he is in the net, you just need to keep going. I think he's only going to get better and better."

The 6-foot-4, New York native has positioned himself as the top netminder not only for the Hurricanes but currently in the league as well.

And it isn't like Bussi has been insulated by the Canes' play either. Sure, he's not facing 30 shots a night, but the saves that he's being asked to make are shorthanded breakaways, 2-on-1s, and overall just multiple high-danger chances game after game and he's been absolutely incredible.

"That's what goaltending's really about," Brind'Amour said. "If you can make the saves at crucial times, that's what I think goaltending is really about. You're supposed to make the ones you're supposed to make and make a couple that you're not supposed to make, but when you make them, I think, is real important too."

Bussi is currently leading the Canes in goals saved above expected (7.5) according to moneypuck.com and is actually leading the entire league in high-danger save percentage (0.888) according to NHL Edge.

"He's been great for us," Brind'Amour said. "He's come up with the timely saves and that's how I sum it up. Because it's not like we've bene leaving him out to dry or giving up 40 shots a night. It's not that, but if there's a breakaway here or there all of a sudden, those are huge moments in tight games and every game, you could kind of say the same story. Timely saves that allow us to have a chance. That's what you ask of him."


While essentially an unknown to the league and the greater hockey world when he made his NHL debut, Bussi wasn't just a random claim by the Hurricanes.

The Western Michigan University product went undrafted out of college, but a strong three seasons with the Providence Bruins put him on the Hurricanes' radar.

His name kept coming up in organizational meetings during the summer and he was a player that the team knew they'd want to keep an eye on.

"He was somebody I identified in the summertime," said Hurricanes goaltending coach Paul Schonfelder. "He obviously ended up signing in Florida, but he was somebody who was on my list of people to go after. I had him down as somebody who, he obviously played down in the American league for three years, but was ready to make that jump to the NHL."

And as fate would have it, a chance came on the waiver wire and the rest is history.

"The hockey world can be crazy at times," Bussi recalls.

From one of the hundreds of players hoping and praying for the chance to prove their mettle, to standing on the verge of making NHL history in just a few months.

"I think they know who he is now," Jarvis said. "He's been electric. He's the best guy. No one I'm happier for."


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Game No. 29 Preview: Flyers vs. Golden Knights

The Philadelphia Flyers are in the final legs of their home-heavy December schedule, with a matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight. 

For the second straight game, Philadelphia will roll out the same group that brought home a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks, giving head coach Rick Tocchet some more in-game views of guys like Nikita Grebenkin, Carl Grundstrom, and Ty Murchison, who all fared quite well in Tuesday night’s game.

And with the Golden Knights in town, every detail matters.

1. Dan Vladar Stars In Net.

Dan Vladar starts against the Golden Knights, making it clear the Flyers want to keep him in rhythm. 

His recent outings have featured calm movement, efficient positioning, and—maybe most importantly—a growing sense of predictability for the players in front of him. They know what mistakes he can erase and what situations they can’t leave him exposed to.

Vegas is a stylistically different challenge from San Jose. They funnel pucks from the points, crash for second chances, and rarely attack in straight lines. Vladar’s game thrives when he’s reading the first shot cleanly; Vegas will test whether he can manage the second and third.

2. No Lineup Changes Against Vegas.

Rick Tocchet is riding the same group that won in San Jose, meaning Ty Murchison draws back in for his second NHL game, Nikita Grebenkin stays in the bottom six, and Carl Grundstrom remains in after scoring his first Flyers goal.

'My Heart Was Beating About a Hundred Beats Per Minute': Ty Murchison on His Flyers Call Up'My Heart Was Beating About a Hundred Beats Per Minute': Ty Murchison on His Flyers Call UpOn Sunday, Ty Murchison sat in Lehigh Valley’s facility thinking it would be a normal morning—practice, meetings, the routine that has been both comfort and crucible for a 22-year-old defenseman trying to force his way into the conversation.

None of this is surprising. The structure worked against the Sharks, and Vegas—despite being a stronger team—profiles similarly in one important way: they test depth. Their third and fourth lines don’t play “safe.” They forecheck with purpose, run quick cycles, and finish checks like it’s a scrimmage day.

Keeping the Flyers’ current lineup intact signals trust in their depth and, just as importantly, gives Murchison another chance to experience NHL pace without the disruption of new partners or new roles.

Stability isn’t just comfort; it’s consistency of expectations. Tocchet is choosing consistency.

3. The Andrae–Drysdale Pairing Is Working, and Working Well.

If the Flyers needed a pairing to surprise them this season, it was this one.

Tocchet has been notably enthusiastic about the Emil Andrae–Jamie Drysdale duo, praising a combination of swagger, poise, and decision-making that’s turning them into an increasingly reliable option. 

On Andrae, Tocchet said, “He’s got some swagger… he’s not afraid to make some plays.” Meanwhile, speaking about Drysdale: “He’s got a lot of deception… he wheels the puck… he’s probably one of our best.”

What stands out is what Tocchet likes: not their skill in isolation, but their judgment. They aren’t throwing pucks away. They aren’t defaulting to safe plays out of habit. They manage risk thoughtfully—and that’s harder to coach than systems play.

Vegas forechecks aggressively and layers pressure through the neutral zone. This pairing will get a meaningful test in whether they can maintain their calm, their spacing, and their ability to play with the puck on their terms rather than Vegas’s.

If they handle this well, the Flyers may have found a long-term second pair solution sooner than expected.

4. The Depth Scoring Trend Will Matter Even More Tonight.

Philadelphia’s scoring against San Jose wasn’t just balanced—it was diversified in how chances were created. They got goals from a grinder (Carl Grundstrom), a transition-driven center (Noah Cates), and a support-playmaker (Christian Dvorak). They also had assists scattered across the roster.

Against Vegas, they’ll need something similar. The Golden Knights don’t crumble when top players strain to create offense. They’re built to smother first lines and force secondary groups to beat them. If the Flyers rely solely on Travis Konecny and the top unit to generate momentum, the game will likely tilt toward Vegas by attrition.

The Flyers have been trending toward evenly distributed scoring for several weeks; this game is the kind of matchup where that trend either becomes a habit or fades under pressure.

Depth isn’t a luxury in this matchup—it’s a requirement.

Christian Dvorak (22). (Megan DeRuchie-The Hockey News)

5. The Game’s Tempo Will Hinge on Puck Discipline.

Vegas thrives on opponents who get impatient. They bait teams into stretch passes, jump on lateral plays through the neutral zone, and turn blocked shots into counterattacks.

The Flyers’ best games this season have come when they force teams to earn every foot of ice. Their worst games come when they shortcut the process.

Two factors will decide which version shows up: Clean puck management from the defense, especially from Andrae, Drysdale, and Murchison, and the forwards’ commitment to short support, not hopeful lead passes.

Vegas doesn’t need odd-man rushes to score, but they’re extremely good when they get them. Keeping this game five-on-five in structure is probably the Flyers’ best path.

Projected Lines

Philadelphia Flyers

Forwards:

Trevor Zegras - Christian Dvorak - Travis Konecny

Matvei Michkov - Sean Couturier - Owen Tippett

Nikita Grebenkin - Noah Cates - Bobby Brink

Carl Grundstrom - Rodrigo Abols - Garnet Hathaway 

Defense:

Nick Seeler - Travis Sanheim

Emil Andrae - Jamie Drysdale

Ty Murchison - Noah Juulsen

Goalies:

Dan Vladar

Sam Ersson

Vegas Golden Knights

Forwards:

Ivan Barbashev - Jack Eichel - Braeden Bowman

Mitch Marner - Brett Howden - Mark Stone

Reilly Smith - Tomas Hertl - Pavel Dorofeyev

Cole Reinhardt - Colton Sissons - Keegan Kolesar

Defense:

Brayden McNabb - Shea Theodore

Noah Hanifin - Zach Whitecloud

Ben Hutton - Kaedan Korczak

Goalies:

Akira Schmid

Carter Hart

Golden Knights And Lotus Broadcasting Taking Broadcasts To New FM Home

LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights and Lotus Broadcasting are switching stations, literally.

From 98.9 FM to 94.7 FM, the Golden Knights will have a new radio home beginning Thursday, Dec. 18.

The team’s games have been broadcast on 98.9 FM since the teams joined the NHL in 2017.

Lotus Broadcasting believes the transition to 94.7 FM will bring increased signal strength to provide listeners an upgraded and more reliable listening experience.

The broadcast will now include an HD signal, expanding coverage throughout Southern Nevada, while giving listeners more ways to access Golden Knights programming.

Golden Knights fans can also find the broadcast on KOMP 92.3 HD2, further broadening availability across the valley.

All Golden Knights programming and on-air personalities remain the same, including game broadcasts with Dan D’Uva and Gary Lawless, pre/intermission/postgame coverage with Ryan Wallis and the VGK Insider Show with Wallis and Daren Millard.

The team’s AM station on 1340 AM remains unchanged, consistent with what listeners have been accustomed to since the inaugural season.

PHOTO CREDIT: Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) celebrates his goal ahead of during during the third period at UBS Arena.

Montreal Canadiens At Pittsburgh Penguins Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch

The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Montreal Canadiens for the first time this season on Thursday night. 

It will be the first of three meetings between these two teams after the Penguins won all three meetings last year. They outscored the Canadiens 18-6 in those three games. 

The Penguins are coming off another brutal loss on Tuesday against the Anaheim Ducks, and it was a game that they should never have lost. They had a power play with 17 seconds left in regulation, but the Ducks beat the buzzer with a shorthanded goal with .1 seconds left, thanks to forward Beckett Sennecke. The game then went to a shootout, which the Penguins lost. 

It's the second-straight game that the Penguins surrendered a late lead in the third period when it looked like they were going to secure two points. If they find themselves in that situation again on Thursday night, they need to close the door since points are at a premium right now. 

The lineup for the Penguins will mostly be the same outside of Tristan Jarry starting in goal. Arturs Silovs started in goal on Tuesday. 

Here are the expected lines: 

Forwards

Novak-Crosby-Rust

Mantha-Hayes-Brazeau

McGroarty-Kindel-Koivunen

Dewar-Heinen-Acciari

Defense

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Shea-Letang

Graves-Clifton


The Canadiens come into this game with a 15-11-3 record, good for fourth in the Atlantic Division. They have lost two in a row and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. 

Rookie goaltender Jacob Fowler is set to make his NHL debut for the Canadiens in this contest. He has played in 15 games for Laval in the AHL this year and has compiled a 10-5 record with a 2.09 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. 

Nick Suzuki leads the Canadiens in points with 33 and Cole Caufield in goals with 16. Caufield is making a strong push for the Team USA Olympic roster, which should be finalized over the next few weeks.

Ivan Demidov is also off to a great start in his first full NHL season, racking up six goals and 23 points in 29 games. He's one of the strong contenders for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL's top rookie. 

Defenseman Lane Hutson is also doing his thing and has five goals and 22 points in 29 games. 

Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'


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Red Wings Recall Erik Gustafsson As Insurance For Edvinsson Injury

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins as an insurance option in case young blueliner Simon Edvinsson requires time to recover from a lower body injury sustained during Wednesday’s game against the Calgary Flames. The club has not yet provided a timetable for Edvinsson’s recovery, but the recall signals that his status is at least somewhat uncertain.

Gustafsson has already appeared in one NHL game for Detroit this season. In that outing he logged seventeen and a half minutes, registered two shots on goal and finished minus one in a loss to the last place Nashville Predators. Known as an offensive defenseman, he provided the type of puck movement Detroit expected from him but did not get on the scoresheet during his brief appearance.

There has been growing attention surrounding Gustafsson in recent weeks, with multiple reports linking the former Ranger to New York. Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman has noted that the Rangers are looking for a power play quarterback who can fill in while Adam Fox remains out on long term injured reserve. Friedman included Gustafsson among the players the Rangers have checked in on, and his familiarity with their system plus his affordability makes him a logical short term target.

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For the Red Wings the recall could serve several purposes as Edvinsson has already missed time this season due to what was described as an illness, and if the current injury lingers the team may prefer to let him recover fully rather than rush him back. At the same time Gustafsson gets an opportunity to showcase his value at the NHL level. If he performs well Detroit could benefit by boosting his trade stock ahead of a potential move. He has been a productive presence with Grand Rapids where he has recorded twelve assists in thirteen games and has been one of the Griffins’ most reliable veterans.

Gustafsson played 76 games for the Rangers during the 2023-24 season and finished with six goals and 25 assists for 31 points. Across ten NHL seasons he has appeared in 516 games. His best year came with Chicago in 2018-19 when he posted 60 points and established himself as one of the league’s more dynamic offensive defensemen.

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Blues Assistant GM Touches On Development Of Otto Stenberg And Theo Lindstein

In a subscriber Q&A ran by The Athletic, questions were asked to St. Louis Blues assistant GM Tim Taylor. Questions ranged from prospects attending the world juniors to how some of their youngsters were performing in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Plenty of questions were asked about a boatload of prospects, but the current development trajectory of 2023 first-round picks Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein seemed to stand out.

Stenberg's 2025-26 season has been odd. In training camp and pre-season, he was noticeable for all the right reasons and caught the eye of coach Jim Montgomery several times. He demonstrated the skill that earned him the 25th overall selection, but he also showed a genuine desire to win puck battles and engage physically.

He was one of the final cuts during training camp, and the excitement following his strong pre-season was at an all-time high. Expectations grew, and the hope was that he would be a dominant force in the AHL. However, through 20 games, the 20-year-old has scored just two goals and seven points.

Despite that, Taylor and the Blues are happy with Stenberg's development.

"Otto is a very smart player. He doesn’t gain a lot of recognition around the ice because he does things that look easy, and he’s always in the right spot at the right time. He got his feet wet last season, and now he’s going through the trials and tribulations. It’s kind of like his second-year pro, where guys fall off a little bit, but then they get going again. He had a tough time at the start points-wise, but we’re happy with his play. I could see him playing some NHL games this year."

Theo Lindstein and Otto Stenberg

Lindstein, a fellow Swede and the third player the Blues drafted in the first round of the 2023 NHL draft, has also struggled a bit to put up points, but the Blues are big fans of other parts of his game. Taylor was asked if Minnesota Wild's Jonas Brodin was a good comparable for Lindstein, and Taylor was thrilled to see the comparison.

"This fan really knows their hockey — Brodin is a real good example! Theo has taken a big jump since the start of the year. The ebbs and flows of his game, it’s been really good. I thought it was going to be a harder transition, and we’d have to be patient with him. But he’s been a real pleasant surprise in that he’s handled the AHL grind very well. He’s the type of player where his growth is on a high incline from the start of the year until now."

In 22 games, the 20-year-old has notched just two goals and five points, but like Stenberg, the Blues believe the offense will come for Lindstein, and sooner, rather than later, we will see the pair of young Swedes in the NHL with the Blues

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Rockets reportedly not interested in Ja Morant trade

When he wakes on Feb. 6, the day after the NBA Trade Deadline has passed, Ja Morant will almost certainly still be a member of the Memphis Grizzlies.

There are a few reasons for this. For one, as NBC Sports’ Grant Liffmann said in a recent video, Memphis decision-maker Zach Kleinman tends to hold on to his assets rather than trade them — especially when it would likely have to be a swap of bad contracts.

It would have to be that kind of swap because of the bigger issue facing a Morant trade: There is not much of a market for him. As evidence, look at what The Athletic’s Sam Amick wrote about the Rockets and their president Raphiel Stone's potential interest in Morant.

Stone, who values this young core greatly and has frequently resisted the temptation to reach for overpriced roster shortcuts. Case in point, league sources say they're not interested in pursuing Memphis' Ja Morant despite having lost veteran point guard Fred VanVleet for the season with a torn ACL.

The challenge in trading Morant is that availability remains the best ability. Morant has missed the Grizzlies' last 10 games with a calf strain (notably, Memphis is 7-3 in those 10 games), and he hasn't played 65+ games since his rookie season. Interested teams would also need to ask how Morant would fit culturally in their locker room.

If Morant gets traded — and this is true of other point guards rumored to be available such as Trae Young and LaMelo Ball — it is more likely something that happens during the offseason. At the deadline, there just isn't expected to be the needed market to get a deal done. The bigger short-term question in Memphis may be whether Morant can fit in with and accentuate what has worked for the Grizzlies with him out.