Kitching and Sims strike late for league leaders
Southampton’s Eckert makes it four out of four
Late goals from Liam Kitching and Ellis Simms helped Coventry to extend their advantage at the top of the Championship table with a 4-2 win against Middlesbrough.
The Sky Blues landed two early blows in the opening 15 minutes, going ahead through Simms’s stunning top-corner strike and Kitching’s header.
Continue reading...Tre White had 15 points and 10 rebounds, Flory Bidunga added 13 points and 14 boards, and Kansas beat Syracuse 71-60 on Tuesday at the Players Era tournament. Syracuse was within 52-50 before Kansas scored 11 straight on layups and free throws to pull away. White completed a three-point play with 4:49 remaining in the second half and he added three free throws on Kansas' next possession for a 60-50 lead.
Serhou Guirassy scores twice in 4-0 victory
Juventus off the mark with winner at Bodø/Glimt
Borussia Dortmund ended a three-match winless run with a decisive 4-0 triumph against 10-man Villarreal, powered by a double from Serhou Guirassy.
The Guinean striker broke the deadlock in stoppage time before the break, heading home from a corner, and he made it 2-0 early in the second half.
Continue reading...The Colorado Avalanche are making a statement early in the 2025-26 NHL season, emerging as clear frontrunners for the President’s Trophy. With a staggering 16-1-5 record through 22 games and -149 odds on BetMGM, the Avalanche are showing all the signs of a team built for regular-season dominance. Many are already drawing comparisons to the 2023 Boston Bruins squad that set a record with a 65-12-5 finish.
Led by superstar Nathan MacKinnon, who tops the NHL with 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists), Colorado’s offense is firing on all cylinders. Defenseman Cale Makar is contributing 29 points, leading all blueliners in scoring, while Martin Necas has stepped up as a replacement for Mikko Rantanen with 28 points. Artturi Lehkonen looks poised to return to form, tallying 19 points and reminding fans of his Stanley Cup-winning performance in 2021.
Depth has also played a key role in Colorado’s hot start. Victor Olafsson and Brock Nelson have provided timely contributions, and Valeri Nichushkin has picked up the pace with 12 points in 17 games. The Avalanche are averaging four goals per game while allowing just 2.18 goals against—the best defense in the NHL this season.
Goaltending has been equally impressive. Scott Wedgewood boasts a 13-1-2 record, a 2.09 goals-against average, and a .918 save percentage, while backup Mackenzie Blackwood is undefeated in four appearances with a 2.47 GAA and .911 save percentage.
Colorado’s remaining schedule also favors their run, featuring 11 games against lower-ranked teams including the Calgary Flames, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks. With elite offense, lockdown defense, and a manageable schedule ahead, the Avalanche are positioning themselves as the team to beat. At -149 odds, bettors may want to act quickly if they want to ride what could be a historic regular-season campaign. Colorado may also be worth a look at +400 to win the Stanley Cup if they continue their rampant hot streak.
Bank On Offense in Oilers-Stars Standalone ClashStars seek revenge for playoff pain as high-octane Oilers aim to ignite their offense. Expect fireworks.All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.
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The Milan Lucic experiment with the St. Louis Blues organization has reached a conclusion.
And it's over as far as reaching the NHL with the Blues is concerned.
The 37-year-old will not receive a contract with St. Louis after the club announced Tuesday they terminated the American Hockey League professional tryout for the forward.
The 6-foot-3, 240-pound appeared in four preseason games with the Blues after signing an NHL PTO before training camp and posted a goal and an assist before being sidelined with a groin injury.
Upon recovery, Lucic continued his rehab with Springfield and had one assist in five games but was a minus-7 with one shot on goal.
There was some feeling that with Lucic, who last played in the NHL for the Boston Bruins when Blues coach Jim Montgomery was coaching the Bruins at the start of the 2023-24 season, would eventually land a contract for roughly the minimum in St. Louis once he was deemed healthy enough to play but the Blues decided in the end not to go that route.
Lucic has played in 1,177 regular season games in the NHL and has 586 points (233 goals, 353 assists) and 1,301 penalty minutes with the Bruins, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings.
It's hard to imagine he will get another shot at this point but the door remains open to a certain degree.
Observations From Blues' 3-2 Loss Vs. RangersBlues lose for eighth time when scoring first; first 10 minutes of third period in 1-1 game was where game was lost; team's inability to score recently offsetting stronger goaltending; created few chances on four-minute power play late
St. Louis Blues Weekly Prospect Report (Nov. 23)Another Russian in KHL opening eyes in Fyodorov; Carbonneau keeps pace with QMJHL scoring lead; Jiricek extends point streak to 11; Harenstam continues to sizzle in Sweden
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
Here's a look a where to watch during Thanksgiving week (all times Eastern): College basketball The Players Era men's tournament features 18 teams playing in and around the Las Vegas area, with half ranked in the AP Top 25. Tuesday's games include No. St. John's vs. Baylor (4:30 p.m.
You had to go back to September 2018 for the last time Manchester City lost a Champions League group match at home, when Pep Guardiola was in the stands because of a ban, and Nabil Fekir’s winner gave Lyon a 2-1 victory.
Guardiola stood down all but one of the XI that lost at Newcastle United and witnessed Bayer Leverkusen end a 23-match run in the type of off‑colour display reminiscent of last season.
Continue reading...
The New York Rangers placed Jonathan Quick on injured reserve as he continues to deal with a lower-body injury.
Quick was banged up after a collision with Michael Carcone in the third period of the Rangers' 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth.
The impact that Quick provides goes far beyond just his play on the ice, with his presence carrying a lot of weight in the locker room.
“He is an amazing goalie,” Shesterkin said of Quick. “I love him. Every practice with him is a new lesson for me. We try to help each other be better every day.”
It’s unclear exactly how much time Quick will miss. The Rangers recalled Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League to replace the injured Quick.
The big question is if Mike Sullivan will utilize Garand in the same way he utilized Quick.
Shesterkin has started in 18 games, while Quick has started in 6 games. Sullivan emphasized during training camp the importance of managing Shesterkin’s workload in order to get the most out of him, which the team made a conscious effort of doing before Quick’s injury.
“We have an idea of what the workload should be in order to set up both guys for success,” Sullivan said during training camp. “Here's what I'll tell you, in today's game, it's hard to go wire-to-wire with one goaltender. The second goalie is required.
“We think in Shesty and Quickie, we’ve got two really solid guys. I think they can be complementary with one another. We're going to try to set both guys up for success, because ultimately that sets the Rangers up for success… I think for those reasons, it makes sense to make sure we have an eye on the workload and we manage it appropriately.”
Sullivan may shift his philosophy regarding Shesterkin’s workload now that Quick is out for at least the next few games.
He hinted at possibly increasing Shesterkin’s workload after practice on Tuesday.
“We're going to take each game as it comes. We'll probably make decisions on a game-by-game basis. What I will tell you is, I think, because we've managed Shesty’s workload to this point fairly well, if anyone's in a position to take on more of a workload, I think Shesty is postured to do that,” Sullivan said.
Shesterkin hasn’t been playing back-to-backs up to this point, but Sullivan’s message indicates that very well could change.
Rangers Place Juuso Parssinen On Waivers The New York <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers">Rangers</a> have placed Juuso Parssinen on waivers.
In 18 games this season, the 29-year-old goaltender has posted an 8-8-2 record, .909 save percentage, and 2.50 goals against average.
“I can (play) better,” Shesterkin said of his play to kick off the 2025-26 campaign.
Garand has the potential to be a very capable NHL backup while Quick continues to recover.. He’s served as the Wolf Pack’s starting goalie for each of the past three seasons.
The 23-year-old goaltender had a career year during the 2024-25 season, recording a 20-10-9 record, .913 save percentage, and 2.73 goals against average.
“I think I showed this year that I can be one of, if not the, best goalies in this league and NHL caliber,” Garand said at the World Championship in May. “Obviously, I’m waiting for my opportunity up top. I know that if I keep putting in the work, that’ll come. Wherever I am, whether it is up there or here, I’m going to compete to win and keep working hard and getting better every day.”
Shesterkin goes from having a backup goalie that could mentor him to being a mentor figure for his new backup.
The 2022 Vezina Trophy winner had nothing but positive things to say about Garand.
“He’s a pretty good kid,” Shesterkin said about Garand. “I think he will have a good future. He works hard every day. It’s nice to see somebody else who works hard. If he needs something, of cours,e he can always ask me.”
The Rangers have a difficult stretch of games coming up against the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Colorado Avalanche, and Vegas Golden Knights.
All of the weight and pressure could fall onto Shesterkin’s shoulders, the Rangers’ 11.5 million dollar man.
Marcus Semien was officially introduced as the newest member of the Mets, as the veteran infielder met with members of the media via a video call.
After thanking the Mets for welcoming him and his family, Semien said that while the trade – which sent Brandon Nimmo to the Texas Rangers – took him by surprise, he’s very excited to join a talented Mets team.
“I know in this business, anything can happen,” Semien said. “I’m excited to join a ballclub that has good veteran players, great veteran players, Hall of Famers, and strong young players that look hungry.
“I got a chance to sit back and watch the series [between the Mets and Rangers] in September. I had an injury so I just sat back and watched and I liked the passion that the Mets players were playing with. I like the young pitching staff that they were putting out there, the stuff that those guys had, I’ve just been thinking about that series and imagining myself on that side now, and it makes me really excited.”
A three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, Semien not only knows what it takes to win a World Series, as he did in 2023, but also knows the meaning of leading by example, playing in at least 159 games in a season eight times in his career.
“My style as a leader, it’s definitely something that has evolved. I think the one thing that has remained constant for me is leading by example with how I work, leading by example with how I respect each member of the organization,” Semien said. “Treat everybody like a man or a woman, whoever you’re working with. For me, I’m mostly talking about my teammates here, respect them, help them through tough times, get to know them as a person, get to know their families, so when we go out to battle we know how each other is going to react.”
Up until now, Semien has spent his entire 13-year big-league career in the American League, coming up with the White Sox before playing with Oakland, Toronto, and Texas, but he’s still plenty familiar with playing in New York, whether it’s the Bronx or Queens.
In fact, Semien said that the Big Apple used to be his favorite place to play on the road. And now he gets to call it home as he looks to help the Mets win their first World Series since 1986.
“When people ask me what’s your favorite road city, I say New York. I love being in the city,” Semien said. “I grew up on the West Coast, San Francisco, Bay Area. Maybe not as large as New York, in terms of culture, it’s definitely a place that I really enjoy being. Now I get to do what I love in that city in front of fans that love the game.
“There's a strong history with the Mets organization. There have been great players who came through there and done some good things and I just want to be one of those players.”
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox acquired 36-year-old right-hander Sonny Gray, a three-time All-Star, from the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday for righty Richard Fitts and a prospect.
Red Sox Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow had said adding a starting pitcher behind ace Garrett Crochet was one of the team’s goals for the offseason. Gray gives them a dependable option who could take some of the pressure off the rest of the rotation.
Gray went 14-8 with a 4.28 ERA for the Cardinals last season, striking out 201 batters and walking 38 in 32 starts — the best ratio in the National League. He is one of five pitchers to record at least 200 strikeouts in each of the last two seasons.
In a 13-year career with five teams, he is 125-102 with a 3.58 ERA and three All-Star Game appearances.
Fitts, who turns 26 next month, was 2-4 with a 5.00 ERA as a rookie in Boston last season. The Cardinals also will acquire 22-year-old lefty Brandon Clarke, a fifth-round draft pick who has pitched only in Class A and is rated the No. 5 prospect in the Red Sox system by MLB.com, and a player to be named or cash.
“Richard Fitts has already begun his big league career, and with his power stuff and willingness to attack the strike zone, he has the ability to start games at the highest level for many years. Brandon Clarke is an exciting left-handed prospect whose ceiling rivals that of any pitcher in the minor leagues,” said Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, who previously held that job with the Red Sox. “Both have the potential to be part of our growing core for a long time.”
Gray had been guaranteed $40 million for the next two seasons: $35 million for 2026 and a $5 million buyout of a $30 million team option for 2027. His contract was changed to guarantee him $41 million: a $31 million salary for next year and a $30 million mutual option for 2027 with a $10 million buyout.
The Wraparound is back with more rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics.
Here's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Diandra Loux discussed in this episode:
0:00: What has been the biggest factor in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s recent success?
5:02: How concerning is Sergei Bobrovsky’s start to the season?
8:15: Could the Ottawa Senators end up being the top Canadian team in the standings this season?
11:55: Will Alexandar Georgiev get another shot on an NHL team?
16:18: Breaking down Don Maloney’s comments regarding the Calgary Flames
20:45: Will the Carolina Hurricanes trade Andrei Svechnikov this season?
24:45: Which players stand out as potential trade pieces for the Vancouver Canucks?
Could The Senators Be Canada's Top Team This Year? by The WraparoundSee below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Freshman Killyan Toure scored a career-high 20 points and No. 15 Iowa State beat Creighton 78-60 on Tuesday in the second round of the Players Era Championship. Despite missing co-leading scorer Tamin Lipsey, who injured his groin in Monday’s 83-82 win over St. John’s, the Cyclones kept Creighton at arm’s length for most of the game. Joshua Jefferson had 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Do Red Sox view Sonny Gray as No. 2 starter? Here is Breslow's take originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
If you’re a Red Sox who wanted the team to add an ace, or at least a legit No. 2 starter, to the rotation during the offseason, then you probably weren’t super hyped about the Sonny Gray trade on Tuesday.
Then again, Gray does have a long track record of success at the MLB level.
The Red Sox acquired Gray and $20 million from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for right-handed pitcher Richard Fitts and left-handed pitcher Brandon Clarke.
Gray is 36 years old and entering the final year of his contract. He posted a 4.28 ERA with a 1.234 WHIP, while also striking out 201 batters and walking only 38, over 32 starts for the Cardinals last season.
Do the Red Sox view Gray as a real No. 2 behind ace Garrett Crochet?
“I don’t know how much sense it makes in November to put a number on a guy,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow told reporters during a press conference Tuesday.
“I think Sonny is a very talented major league player. The seasons that he has put up pretty consistently indicate that to be the case. That said, we still intend to improve our team and exactly what that looks like we don’t know right now. But we’ll continue to try and explore opportunities and figure out where that takes us.”
As it stands now, Gray probably slots in as the No. 3 starter behind Crochet and Brayan Bello in the rotation. But if healthy, Gray does have the potential to pitch at a No. 2 level. It’s not inconceivable.
The real question now is whether the Red Sox’ next major move will be for another impact pitcher or a powerful bat.
Either way, if the Gray acquisition ends up being Boston’s major offseason addition, fans should (and will) be very disappointed.
Reacting to games from Jaxon Kohler, Divine Ugochukwu and more after Michigan State's win over East Carolina on Tuesday at Fort Myers Tip-off.
Little by little, the Pittsburgh Penguins are getting healthier and healthier.
And - on Tuesday - there were two more steps in the right direction.
Forward Ville Koivunen and goaltender Tristan Jarry were full participants in Tuesday's practice, as Koivunen took line rushes and power play reps while Jarry practiced as part of the main group.
In addition, forward Sam Poulin was re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS), which will clear a roster spot for at least one player to return. Because rookie defenseman Harrison Brunicke - who was loaned on conditioning to WBS as a rostered player - still counts toward the active roster, another move would have to be made in order to activate both.
Even if both players appear primed to return, head coach Dan Muse said the team is still taking it day-by-day. He did say, however, that he expects Jarry to be available Wednesday against the Buffalo Sabres.
"I think we're still in that continuing to look at it each day," Muse said. "You know, you come off the ice, there needs to be some conversations. I think he's progressing very well, so I would expect that he's going to be available here for us [Wednesday].
"He's had some really good days. I think he's looked good. It's nice that we've actually been able to have some team practices, too, the way we have. So, there's some times in the year where you're not able to get a lot, you're not able to see a ton, they're really quick practices. And I think - especially for the goalies - it's hard to replicate a real team practice with just a couple shooters."
Penguins' Former First-Round Pick Re-Assigned To AHLWhile one <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a>' forward prospect is <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/he-s-a-great-player-tristan-broz-confirmed-to-make-nhl-debut-wednesday-against-buffalo-sabres">slated to make his NHL debut on Wednesday</a> against the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/">Buffalo Sabres</a>, another is headed back to the AHL.
For a second consecutive day, forward Bryan Rust missed practice due to illness. While - like the others - the team is monitoring the situation, Muse is moving forward as if the top-line right wing will be available Wednesday.
Rookie Ben Kindel skated in Rust's place on the top line for the second straight day.
"You always take things a day at a time," Muse said. "The expectation is [that we'll] see where things are at as we get through today. But, no, I'm thinking that he'll be back, and that's the plan."
Prior to the full team session, injured forwards Rickard Rakell, Justin Brazeau, Noel Acciari, and Filip Hallander all took to the ice.
Rakell was on the second rink working solo, while the other three shared the main rink.
This is the fourth time in five practice days that Rakell, Brazeau, and Acciari have skated, while Hallander - diagnosed with a blood clot and expected to miss at least three months - just returned to the ice this week.
Three Penguins Forwards Who Must Be Better Going ForwardHere's a look at three Penguins forwards who need to be a lot better. With forward Tristan Broz set to make his NHL debut Wednesday, he will be the ninth rookie to dress for the Penguins in a game this season, which is the highest mark in the NHL. In addition to Koivunen and Hallander - both of whom are on IR but around the NHL club - the Penguins currently have three rookies on their active roster in Kindel, Broz, and Brunicke.
Given the Penguins' injury situation and very condensed schedule in the next month, it's certainly a plus to have youthful energy and young legs at their disposal up and down their lineup.
But, Muse said that the energy aspect - although helped along by the young players - extends beyond them and to the veterans on the roster.
Pittsburgh's 2021 second-round pick (58th overall) Tristan Broz will make his NHL debut tomorrow against the Sabres.
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) November 25, 2025
Broz will be the ninth rookie to suit up for the @penguins this season, which is the most in the NHL. pic.twitter.com/HAyU2KOx8t
"I think it’s both," Muse said. "We need the young guys driving the energy, but you know what? We need the veterans driving the energy, and I think it’s a little bit of both. That’s what I’ve been seeing. And I think it’s actually been really good to see.
"[With] the young guys, obviously, I think there is natural energy that’s going to be coming from them because they’re young and, obviously, it’s the excitement of being here. And then I think there’s also energy though that can be driven from some of the veteran players - flip side - that goes to the younger guys and them seeing, like, that these guys have been doing it for 20-something years, they’re staying out just as long as [they] are, and there’s just as much competitiveness in practice as there is with when they’re young.
So, I think it can kind of come from both sides, and for me, I guess you come in here - you come in with eyes wide open - and you don’t necessarily have an expectation of what that will all look like. But that’s what I’ve seen from the two ends of it, and then it’s everybody in between also making sure that they’re pushing that energy and that they’re pushing the day-to-day. So, you need everybody pulling on that.”
'He's A Great Player': Tristan Broz Confirmed To Make NHL Debut Wednesday Against Buffalo SabresPittsburgh Penguins' forward prospect Tristan Broz will make his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres On WednesdayBookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
