Dame Sarr was playing in Spain’s top professional league in the spring when he plotted a course once forbidden by NCAA rules. Now the Blue Devils freshman is part of the influx of international players — many having played professionally, notably in Europe — entering the sport this year. “Players get offers 10 times higher than in Europe," international sports agent Misko Raznatovic said in a recent email to The Associated Press, “so it is a very easy decision ... for the players and their families.”
The Wraparound: Reflecting On Nazem Kadri's Evolution Over 1,000 NHL Games
The Wraparound has more rapid-fire NHL and hockey topics for your listening and viewing pleasure.
Reflecting On Nazem Kadri's Evolution Over 1,000 NHL Games by The WraparoundHere's what Emma Lingan, Michael Augello, and Jim Parsons discussed in this episode:
0:00: Is Alex Ovechkin’s 900-goal milestone the most impressive feat in hockey?
5:15: Reflecting on Nazem Kadri’s evolution after reaching 1,000 games played
10:05: Could NHL teams change their approach on rookies nearing the 10-game mark?
16:15: Where does Drew Doughty rank among defensemen in his era?
20:15: Is Logan Thompson forcing his way onto Team Canada’s Olympic roster?
24:30: Can the Pittsburgh Penguins stay hot with Tristan Jarry out of the lineup?
27:56: Does Matthew Knies or Cole Caufield have a better chance of making Team USA’s Olympic roster?
31:15: Is there a path for Connor Ingram to become an effective player for the Edmonton Oilers this season?
See below for where to subscribe to the show for future episodes.
Europa League: Classy Roma with comfortable two-goal lead over chastened Rangers
- Listen to Sportsound commentary from Ibrox by hitting 'listen live'
- Soule heads in from close range after corner & Pellegrini rolls in classy second
- Rangers looking for first Europa League points
- Aarons, Barron, Moore & Gassama come in as Tavernier equals Europa League appearance record
- FT: Europa League: Midtjylland 3-1 Celtic
- FT: Conference League: AEK Larnaca 0-0 Aberdeen
- Have your say on the action
Europa League: Classy Roma with comfortable two-goal lead over chastened Rangers
Europa League: Midtjylland dispatch Celtic as Nottingham Forest draw blank
Martin O’Neill’s side leak three first-half goals in 3-1 defeat
Gibbs-White misses penalty as Forest held by Sturm Graz
Celtic’s revival under Martin O’Neill came juddering to a halt in Jutland after they were beaten 3-1 by Midtjylland. The Hoops’ hopes of prolonging their Europa League campaign into the knockout stages suffered a major blow as the Danes hammered in three goals in eight first-half minutes.
The teenage substitute Callum Osmand won a late penalty which Reo Hatate converted, but the 19-year-old was then taken off on a stretcher in tears after suffering what appeared to be a hamstring injury on a horrible evening for the Scottish champions.
Continue reading...Todd McLellan Breaks Down Keys Behind Red Wings’ Vastly Improved Penalty Kill
Perhaps the biggest area of concern for the Detroit Red Wings during the 2024-25 campaign was their penalty killing, which flirted with being the lowest ranked in NHL history since the stat began being tracked in the late 1970s.
The good news for the Red Wings among other things during their 9-5 start to the 2025-26 campaign is that their penalty killing efficiency has vastly improved.
Their penalty killing is humming along at a robust 87.2 percent efficiency, good for fifth overall in the NHL.
They've also maintained one of the better power-plays in the NHL, currently ranked 10th overall at 22.7 percent efficiency.
When asked what he believes the biggest differences between this season and last season in terms of penalty killing that have lent themselves to such an improvement, head coach Todd McLellan said he believes it begins between the pipes.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
"It starts with goaltending," McLellan said following Thursday's practice. "They have to make the expected save and then on the penalty kill, the goaltenders have to make the unexpected saves and we've been getting some of that."
"We've made some changes with our structure and our approach, the way we roll some players out, and it was just a clean sheet," he continued. "It was a clean starting sheet at the beginning of the year, we started all over. We paid attention to it, and we got off to a good start. All those things lend to a bit more confidence, and there's a long way to go."
The argument can be made that the Red Wings could potentially have attained a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season had their penalty killing been even average. Right now, it's among the best in the NHL, something they'd like to maintain.
"We'd like to maintain that position and that number if we can, but it takes a lot of work," McLellan said.
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Panthers' Struggling Offense Meets Kings' Stingy Defense
It's been very difficult for the Florida Panthers to find results while playing on the road, and tonight, their task will only be tougher.
After dropping the opener of their road trip 7-3 to the Anaheim Ducks, the Panthers will remain in California to take on the Los Angeles Kings. In 2024-25, the Kings had the best home record, posting 31 wins in 41 games.
They've surprisingly struggled to pick up wins at home, owning a 1-3-2 record on home ice, but their stingy defensive structure keeps them in every game.
It's hard to generate a high volume of offensive chances against a team coached by Jim Hiller. The Kings are allowing 2.93 goals per game, ranking 14th in the NHL and are allowing 27.6 shots per game, ranking tied for 12th.
Tonight's contest appears, on paper, to be a defensive showdown. Both teams are posting near league-worst shooting percentages. The Panthers are scoring on just nine percent of their shots, sitting in 30th in the NHL, and the Kings are scoring on 9.4 percent of their shots, ranking tied for 26th.
The writing is all over the wall for this game to finish with a 2-1 or 3-2 scoreline.
Panthers in Los Angeles looking to break out of road funk Panthers aim to rebound from a deflating loss in Anaheim against a tough Kings team in LA, a place where Brad Marchand has seen a good amount of success. Although it's still early in the season, the Panthers are approaching desperate measures. They need to solve their road struggles before they dig themselves a hole that is too deep to climb out of. Following tonight's fixture, the Panthers take on the San Jose Sharks and the Vegas Golden Knights.
The Sharks are a high-flying young team, but have plenty of holes in their roster. The Golden Knights are among the favourites to hoist the Stanley Cup this season and have been clicking on all cylinders at home, boasting a 4-1-1 record.
It's not must-win territory, but a win could go a long way in helping turn things around.
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.
Dodgers pick up club options on Max Muncy and Alex Vesia, Tony Gonsolin and Justin Dean DFA'd
The now two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers made their first moves of the offseason on Thursday.
The biggest one will ensure will ensure a familiar face is back for their pursuit of a three-peat next year.
The team picked up its $10-million club option for third baseman Max Muncy, according to a person with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly, bringing the now longest-tenured member of the roster back for what will be his ninth season in Los Angeles.
The Dodgers also picked up a $3.55-million club option for reliever Alex Vesia (keeping him out of arbitration), according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly. Additionally, they shook up the 40-man roster with a series of maneuvers that included Tony Gonsolin being designated for assignment.
None of the moves were overly surprising, starting with the option the Dodgers exercised at the end of a two-year, $24-million deal Muncy signed in the 2023 offseason.
Even at 35 years old, Muncy was a relative bargain at $10 million next season for a player who, prior to second-half injuries, had shaken off a slow start to the year by being one of the hottest hitters in the majors in May and June.
His return will also help keep a key part of the club’s veteran core intact, bringing back a player who — in the wake of Clayton Kershaw’s retirement — has been with the Dodgers longer than anybody else.
Muncy’s 2025 season did not start well. After an offseason in which trade rumors involving Nolan Arenado swirled, and a spring training spent working through the lingering after-effects of an oblique and rib injury that limited him in 2024, Muncy hit .176 through his first 34 games, and had only one home run.
In early May, however, he started wearing glasses to address an astigmatism in his right eye. Around that same time, he also found a breakthrough with his swing, one that helped him begin punishing fastballs up the zone. From May 7 to the end of June, he hit .315 with 12 home runs and a 1.039 OPS, one of the best stretches of his 10-year, two-time All-Star career.
Read more:The Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series had record-setting ratings. Here's what it means
That streak was derailed on July 2, when Muncy suffered his knee injury after being slid into at third base. His return a month later was cut short, too, when his oblique began bothering him during a batting practice session in August.
Those IL stints preceded a September slump that carried into the postseason, when Muncy hit just .173 entering Game 7 of the World Series.
But that night, he collected three hits, had the pivotal eighth-inning home run off Trey Yesavage that got the Dodgers back within a run, and became one of six players to contribute to all three of the Dodgers’ recent World Series titles.
“It’s starting to get a little bit comfortable up here,” he joked from atop the stage at the Dodgers’ World Series celebration on Monday. “Let’s keep it going.”
Vesia will also be part of that three-peat pursuit, and had his $3.55-million club option picked up on Thursday as well. Vesia had that option negotiated into the contract he signed last offseason to avoid arbitration. Next year will be his last under team control before free agency.
Vesia was one of the few consistent performers in the Dodgers’ bullpen this year, posting a 3.02 ERA in a career-high 68 appearances. He was also one of their most trusted relief arms in the playoffs, bouncing back from a two-run outing in the wild-card series opener with 4 ⅓ scoreless innings the rest of the way.
Read more:'Work to do': Four questions the World Series champion Dodgers face this offseason
He was not available for the World Series as he and his wife dealt with what the team described as a “deeply personal family matter.” But he figures to be a key cog in their bullpen again next season, having established himself as one of the sport’s best left-handed leverage relievers.
The one notable roster subtraction Thursday came in the news of Gonsolin’s DFA. The right-hander was an All-Star in 2022, but has made just 27 starts since then because of two elbow surgeries (Tommy John in 2023 and an internal brace this past year). The latter procedure was likely to keep him sidelined into next season, his last under team control.
Gonsolin was one of three cuts made to the 40-man roster Thursday, as outfielder Justin Dean (a member of the Dodgers’ postseason roster) and injured pitcher Michael Grove (also coming off a season lost to surgery) were both outrighted to the minors. The open spots made way for outfielder Ryan Ward (the 2025 Pacific Coast League MVP in triple-A) and left-handed pitcher Robinson Ortiz (a 25-year-old who went from high-A to triple-A last year) to be added to the 40-man group.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
‘The goal is to win all the final races’: Norris raises bar before São Paulo GP
McLaren driver leads overall standings by one point
Piastri and Verstappen still in hunt with four races to go
Lando Norris has acknowledged that he needs to be at the very top of his game to try to secure his first world championship, as the British driver heads into this weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix with a narrow one-point lead over his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.
Norris had trailed Piastri by 34 points after the Dutch GP but with a series of strong results including a dominant win from pole to flag at the last round in Mexico, Norris has edged ahead in the title race for the first time since the Saudi Arabian GP in April.
Continue reading...Atlanta Hawks executive charged with fraud, embezzling $3.8 million from franchise
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia has brought an indictment against Lester Jones, the Atlanta Hawks' former senior vice president of financial planning and analysis, charging him with fraud and embezzling $3.8 million from the franchise.
The indictment was unsealed last week and was seen by Mike Vorkunov and Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Jones himself pled not guilty and was released on bond, pending trial.
Some of the evidence against Jones came from an audit conducted by the Hawks themselves. The Hawks have not publicly commented on the indictment. From The Athletic:
Jones used his position with the Hawks to build a lavish lifestyle for himself, prosecutors allege. He controlled the team's American Express card account and had the ability to authorize charges, according to prosecutors, authorized multiple corporate cards for himself and had the ability to charge sums for others.
He reportedly used that power to spend on trips to the Bahamas, Hawaii, Thailand, Switzerland and other countries; paid for a Porsche; and bought tickets to concerts and other events. Now, he is facing a count of federal wire fraud.
Prosecutors allege that Jones went to great lengths to cover up his spending. They say he changed financial reports to hide his use of the company's corporate cards, faked emails to make his transactions seem legitimate and diverted his personal spending on those cards to the Hawks' team operations.
This case will now proceed through the federal court system.
Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report: Injuries to Trae Young, Walker Kessler shake up rotations
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Fantasy Basketball Minutes Report. Every week, I will be going through each team's updated minutes per game to see which players are seeing the court more or less than in previous weeks. With this information in hand, I'll try to discuss any relevant fantasy risers or fallers; players who we should be adding off waivers or removing from our teams.
The charts below are also great for exploring on your own. You can track the minutes over the last three games, five games, ten games, and for the entire season to see what trends stand out to you. All of this data was made accessible by Kyle Bland, who is incredibly talented and also incredibly generous, so make sure to give him a follow to check out all of his baseball data as well.
“The Klaw” capped a short Week 2 for the Clippers with a buzzer-beater as his fantasy resurgence continues.
Raphielle JohnsonAtlanta Hawks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Dyson Daniels | 36.4 | 35.5 | 32.4 |
| Jalen Johnson | 33.7 | 32.4 | 31.9 |
| Nickeil Alexander-Walker | 32.7 | 32.1 | 31.1 |
| Luke Kennard | 26.3 | 25.5 | 25.2 |
| Onyeka Okongwu | 26 | 27.1 | 29.1 |
| Kristaps Porziņģis | 25.8 | 25.5 | 25.5 |
| Zaccharie Risacher | 24 | 24 | 23.5 |
| Trae Young | — | 20.6 | 27.8 |
Obviously, the big change here is the knee injury to Trae Young, which will keep him out at least a month. In the meantime, we haven't seen a major spike for any one player. Minutes have ticked up a bit for all starters, and those five (Daniels, Johnson, Alexander-Walker, Porziņģis, and Risacher) and going to be leaned on heavily. Kennard and Okongwu will see enough time to maybe pop a big fantasy day here and then, especially Kennard with his three-point shooting, but the biggest shift will be the way the usage rates tick up for the other starters.
Boston Celtics
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Jaylen Brown | 28.4 | 29.8 | 31.1 |
| Payton Pritchard | 28.3 | 29.9 | 31.9 |
| Derrick White | 26.9 | 30.1 | 31.9 |
| Anfernee Simons | 24.3 | 25.6 | 26.9 |
| Josh Minott | 22.7 | 24.6 | 22.5 |
| Sam Hauser | 22.4 | 22.5 | 23.6 |
| Neemias Queta | 22 | 22.2 | 22.9 |
| Jordan Walsh | 21.3 | 14.7 | 9.6 |
The Celtics continue to toy around with their rotation in a season without Jayson Tatum. Recently, we've seen Joe Mazzulla use a lot of smaller lineups with Josh Minott spelling Neemias Queta at center. This has allowed Jordan Walsh to enter the rotation as a bigger guard/wing. That has cut into minutes for Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman, but none of that is actionable in fantasy leagues other than the fact that Minott has settled into a consistent role and is contributing across most categories in his nearly 23 minutes per game.
Brooklyn Nets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Michael Porter Jr. | 33.4 | 31.9 | 32.4 |
| Nic Claxton | 32.5 | 29.9 | 28.7 |
| Terance Mann | 32.2 | 29.8 | 27.9 |
| Tyrese Martin | 25.6 | 24 | 20.9 |
| Noah Clowney | 25.5 | 23.4 | 22.6 |
| Cam Thomas | 25 | 27.1 | 28.3 |
| Ziaire Williams | 22.5 | 22.5 | 20.5 |
| Egor Dëmin | 16.7 | 16.6 | 18.9 |
| Ben Saraf | 3.6 | 13.8 | 15.7 |
As I mentioned last week. Brooklyn is a young team that is going to try and work in a bunch of rookies and second-year players around the main cogs Michael Porter Jr., Cam Thomas, and Nic Claxton. Thomas' recent hamstring injury makes his minute totals look lower than they are, and we've seen Terance Mann grow into a bit more of a prominent role. It's been a struggle early on for Egor Dëmin and Ben Saraf, but the rookies figure to continue to get plenty of minutes throughout the year.
Charlotte Hornets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Miles Bridges | 35.6 | 34.2 | 33.6 |
| LaMelo Ball | 33.5 | 32.7 | 33.3 |
| Kon Knueppel | 32.9 | 30.6 | 30.4 |
| Sion James | 29.2 | 27.7 | 24.3 |
| Ryan Kalkbrenner | 27.2 | 28.8 | 27.4 |
| Collin Sexton | 26.3 | 26.2 | 26.4 |
| Tre Mann | 23 | 22.3 | 20.8 |
| Moussa Diabaté | 19.6 | 19.6 | 19.9 |
| Pat Connaughton | 12.7 | 9.1 | 7.4 |
| Brandon Miller | — | — | 19.9 |
The injury to Brandon Miller, which will keep him out at least a few weeks, has led to an uptick in minutes and usage from Kon Knueppel, who's having a solid rookie season and averaging 14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and very few defensive stats. Sion James has also stepped into a bigger role, but there isn't much fantasy juice there. Ryan Kalkbrenner also continues to lead the center battle here and is putting up plenty of fantasy value because he's blocking 2.4 shots per game with 7.1 rebounds and an elite field goal percentage.
Chicago Bulls
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Josh Giddey | 38.1 | 35.6 | 34.2 |
| Nikola Vučević | 31.3 | 32.1 | 32 |
| Matas Buzelis | 30.3 | 31.4 | 29 |
| Ayo Dosunmu | 29.3 | 25.8 | 26.1 |
| Tre Jones | 28.2 | 29 | 29.4 |
| Kevin Huerter | 24 | 23.6 | 24.9 |
| Isaac Okoro | 23.7 | 24.8 | 24 |
| Patrick Williams | 23.3 | 22.3 | 22.5 |
The Bulls are 6-1. Who saw that coming? (Yes, I will continue to ask that question if they continue to play this well). Ayo Dosunmu has been great off the bench and should be back on Friday after missing one game with a quad injury. The rest of the minutes have been relatively consistent and likely will be until Coby White returns, which is still a couple of weeks away.
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Donovan Mitchell | 35.5 | 33.1 | 33.8 |
| Evan Mobley | 34.7 | 33.7 | 34.1 |
| De'Andre Hunter | 32.3 | 29.8 | 29.2 |
| Jarrett Allen | 29.5 | 26.6 | 27.4 |
| Jaylon Tyson | 28.9 | 28.2 | 24.8 |
| Sam Merrill | 26.8 | 22.4 | 26 |
| Darius Garland | 26.1 | 26.1 | 26.1 |
| Lonzo Ball | 25.1 | 24.9 | 24.1 |
| Craig Porter Jr. | 20 | 21.2 | 18 |
| Larry Nance Jr. | 19.7 | 18.1 | 16.9 |
Darius Garland is back, and his numbers here are from just one game. I would expect his minutes to continue to tick up here, and we should see other minutes fall as a result. In Garland's first game back, we saw Sam Merrill move to the bench but still play 27 minutes. Craig Porter Jr., Larry Nance Jr., and Lonzo Ball all saw their minutes take a hit, but Ball still played 23 minutes, so he would be usable if he was doing much on the statsheet.
Dallas Mavericks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| P.J. Washington | 36.6 | 35.3 | 34.6 |
| Cooper Flagg | 34.2 | 33.7 | 33 |
| Max Christie | 31.1 | 31.6 | 30 |
| D'Angelo Russell | 26.5 | 25.9 | 22.8 |
| Naji Marshall | 23.5 | 23.3 | 23.6 |
| Daniel Gafford | 22.3 | 22.3 | 22.3 |
| Klay Thompson | 19.8 | 20.7 | 20.4 |
| Anthony Davis | — | 22.3 | 29.9 |
| Dereck Lively II | — | — | 16.9 |
| Ryan Nembhard | — | — | 9.2 |
The injuries are starting to pile up for the Mavericks, with Dereck Lively II and Anthony Davis joining Kyrie Irving on the sideline. Lively II is expected back next week, and Davis could return later this week, so these don't seem like major injuries that will drastically impact playing time. Daniel Gafford has gotten the most immediate bump, and might until Lively returns, but the other changes have mostly been added minutes for guys like P.J. Washington and Cooper Flagg.
Denver Nuggets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Nikola Jokić | 36.5 | 34.7 | 35.2 |
| Jamal Murray | 33.4 | 32.5 | 33.5 |
| Christian Braun | 32.3 | 30.3 | 31.6 |
| Aaron Gordon | 30.9 | 29.6 | 30.3 |
| Cameron Johnson | 28 | 26 | 26.7 |
| Bruce Brown | 23.2 | 20.3 | 20.4 |
| Tim Hardaway Jr. | 23.2 | 23.1 | 23.3 |
| Jonas Valančiūnas | 11.2 | 11.7 | 11.9 |
It's been pretty status quo for the Nuggets, who don't have any major injuries and have kept their rotation consistent.
Detroit Pistons
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Cade Cunningham | 37.7 | 35.5 | 36.1 |
| Tobias Harris | 35.5 | 27.9 | 32.2 |
| Duncan Robinson | 34.2 | 31.6 | 32.3 |
| Jalen Duren | 32.7 | 30.3 | 26.4 |
| Isaiah Stewart | 30.1 | 26.8 | 24.7 |
| Ausar Thompson | 28.5 | 26 | 27.9 |
| Ronald Holland II | 22 | 23.1 | 21.8 |
| Caris LeVert | 19.3 | 18.4 | 19 |
Tobias Harris is dealing with an ankle injury that kept him out earlier this week, and has led to Isiah Stewart and Jalen Duren getting some more playing time. With how Stewart has looked, it might make sense for the Pistons to keep his minutes increasing even when Harris comes back, which could be later this week. Stewart would be really interesting in fantasy if we knew he wouldn't dip back to 23-ish minutes per game.
Golden State Warriors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Will Richard | 34.5 | 17.5 | 16.7 |
| Stephen Curry | 31.3 | 30.8 | 31.1 |
| Draymond Green | 31.3 | 31.5 | 29.6 |
| Jonathan Kuminga | 30.7 | 30.4 | 30.8 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 30.2 | 28.6 | 29.4 |
| Moses Moody | 29.5 | 24.1 | 23.4 |
| Jimmy Butler III | 24.3 | 29.3 | 31.1 |
| Al Horford | 20.9 | 20.6 | 22 |
| Buddy Hield | 16.4 | 15.3 | 16.8 |
The Warriors are an older team, so they are going to deal with injuries all season. Right now, all of Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Draymond Green are listed as day-to-day and have missed recent games. That has obviously led to opportunities for second-round pick Will Richard, who had 30 points against the Kings. However, I don't expect his playing time boost to last. Moses Moody has also seen his playing time increase in the wake of these injuries, and he's been fine, but he hasn't exactly played himself into a bigger role when the veterans all return.
Houston Rockets
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Amen Thompson | 36.7 | 35.1 | 34.9 |
| Alperen Sengun | 35.1 | 34.1 | 36.8 |
| Kevin Durant | 34.1 | 32.8 | 35.4 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 30.9 | 30.9 | 34.2 |
| Tari Eason | 27.1 | 26 | 25.7 |
| Josh Okogie | 23.1 | 24.7 | 23 |
| Steven Adams | 18.8 | 18.3 | 22.5 |
| Reed Sheppard | 16.7 | 18.4 | 20 |
| Clint Capela | 14.9 | 12.9 | 10.9 |
Things have remained pretty consistent for the Rockets so far to start the season. We have seen Steven Adams cede some minutes to Clint Capela as he's battled a hip injury, and Reed Sheppard continues to see his playing time dialed back a little, but the rest has remained the same.
Indiana Pacers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Pascal Siakam | 37.3 | 35.7 | 35.6 |
| Aaron Nesmith | 33.7 | 32.6 | 32.1 |
| Jarace Walker | 33.4 | 32.8 | 30.9 |
| Quenton Jackson | 25.4 | 22.7 | 20.1 |
| Isaiah Jackson | 23.6 | 21.8 | 18 |
| Ben Sheppard | 22.6 | 24.3 | 27.1 |
| Johnny Furphy | 17.8 | 17.8 | 12.2 |
| Bennedict Mathurin | — | — | 36.4 |
| Obi Toppin | — | — | 27.4 |
| James Wiseman | — | — | 19.8 |
| Andrew Nembhard | — | — | 16.9 |
The Pacers are riddled with injuries, as Bennedict Mathurin, Obi Toppin, James Wiseman, and Andrew Nembhard have all missed time due to injury. That has led to spikes in playing time all over the rotation, with Johnny Furphy and Isaiah Jackson being the biggest risers. We did expect Jackson to get a bigger role due to his previous performance, so I think some of his gains will stick, but guys like Furphy and Jarace Walker should see their minutes tick down when the key players return.
The Pacers, Lakers and Thunder are among the teams with lengthy injury reports at the halfway point of Week 2.
Los Angeles Clippers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Kawhi Leonard | 36.7 | 34.8 | 33.5 |
| James Harden | 36 | 35.5 | 33.6 |
| Ivica Zubac | 30.9 | 30.3 | 29 |
| Bogdan Bogdanović | 29.6 | 20.9 | 20.9 |
| Derrick Jones Jr. | 28.1 | 26 | 24.4 |
| Kris Dunn | 25.3 | 24.7 | 23.9 |
| John Collins | 22.9 | 23.7 | 24.3 |
| Bradley Beal | 20.7 | 20.7 | 20.4 |
Another team that has stayed relatively consistent so far this season. Kwahi Leonard is battling an ankle injury right now, and James Harden is dealing with a personal matter, but we have no indication that those situations will last beyond one day.
Los Angeles Lakers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Luka Dončić | 40 | 39.6 | 38.9 |
| Austin Reaves | 37.7 | 37.8 | 37.8 |
| Jake LaRavia | 36.2 | 33.8 | 30.5 |
| Rui Hachimura | 34.5 | 35.7 | 35.8 |
| Deandre Ayton | 31.8 | 28.9 | 31.5 |
| Marcus Smart | 30.7 | 31.7 | 28.7 |
| Jaxson Hayes | 20.1 | 19.3 | 18.4 |
| Gabe Vincent | — | — | 23.9 |
Luka Doncic missed a little bit of time, and Austin Reaves is now battling a groin injury, so we've seen an uptick in minutes and usage for Jake LaRavia. More offensive responsibility has also fallen to DeAndre Ayton and Rui Hachimura, but those guys were playing big minutes before anyway. Reaves is expected to return this week, so the rotation should remain similar to this until LeBron James returns, which might be another 2-3 weeks.
Memphis Grizzlies
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ja Morant | 34.3 | 32.8 | 30 |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | 31 | 31.3 | 28.7 |
| Cedric Coward | 29.6 | 28.7 | 26.3 |
| Santi Aldama | 25.8 | 26.9 | 24.6 |
| Kentavious Caldwell-Pope | 25.5 | 23.9 | 24.8 |
| Jock Landale | 24.3 | 24.4 | 23.9 |
| Jaylen Wells | 22.4 | 24.6 | 25.3 |
The Grizzlies are dealing with myriad injuries, so their rotation has been pretty small to start the season, at least in terms of meaningful minutes. Zach Edey is the closest player to returning since he has already been sent to Memphis' G-League team, but Ty Jerome and Brandon Clarke are weeks away, so this rotation could continue to look like this for a while. It's been nice to see Cedric Coward get a slight increase in minutes, and I expect that to continue given how good the rookie has looked.
Miami Heat
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Andrew Wiggins | 33.5 | 33.1 | 31.5 |
| Davion Mitchell | 32.4 | 31.1 | 29.3 |
| Norman Powell | 29.4 | 29.4 | 30.3 |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | 29 | 29.9 | 29.1 |
| Bam Adebayo | 24.9 | 28.4 | 30.4 |
| Pelle Larsson | 24.4 | 26.1 | 18.3 |
| Nikola Jović | 21.6 | 19.3 | 21.4 |
| Kel'el Ware | 18.8 | 20.8 | 20.3 |
Norman Powell returned to the Heat, which is great, but now Bam Adebayo is dealing with a foot injury. Kel'el Ware played 27 minutes on Wednesday with Bam hurt, so he would see the biggest change in role and could certainly be usable in fantasy leagues since he had 13 points, 13 rebounds, and four steals on Wednesday. Jaime Jaquez Jr. remains a key bench piece, but he has seen his minutes dip a little with Powell back.
Milwaukee Bucks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Ryan Rollins | 31 | 31.1 | 31.1 |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | 29.2 | 30.2 | 31.2 |
| Gary Trent Jr. | 29.1 | 29.6 | 28.7 |
| Myles Turner | 26.3 | 27.7 | 28.4 |
| AJ Green | 25.3 | 26.5 | 27 |
| Kyle Kuzma | 21.5 | 23.9 | 22.9 |
| Cole Anthony | 20.1 | 21.2 | 20.6 |
| Bobby Portis | 19.7 | 18.8 | 19.4 |
| Kevin Porter Jr. | — | — | 9.4 |
Kevin Porter Jr. remains out, so Ryan Rollins has moved into the starting rotation and looks like he may not relinquish the role. The rest of the rotation has been pretty consistent.
Minnesota Timberwolves
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Julius Randle | 34.6 | 34.8 | 34.9 |
| Donte DiVincenzo | 32.6 | 32.3 | 31 |
| Rudy Gobert | 32.4 | 32.4 | 32 |
| Jaden McDaniels | 31 | 33.8 | 32.6 |
| Anthony Edwards | 28.8 | 28.8 | 26.5 |
| Mike Conley | 23.7 | 25.1 | 21.5 |
| Naz Reid | 22.4 | 23.4 | 22.8 |
Anthony Edwards returned on Wednesday night, which led to Mike Conley seeing just 18 minutes and Bones Hyland falling out of the rotation altogether. The rest of the rotation is pretty secure, and Rob Dillingham is only seeing like 12 minutes per game, which was not enough to make the cut here.
New Orleans Pelicans
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Trey Murphy III | 35.8 | 34.5 | 35.5 |
| Herbert Jones | 31.7 | 29.2 | 29.1 |
| Zion Williamson | 28 | 29 | 31.5 |
| Jordan Poole | 25.5 | 26.4 | 30.3 |
| Saddiq Bey | 25.1 | 23.3 | 24.7 |
| Jose Alvarado | 23.8 | 20.3 | 18.1 |
| Jeremiah Fears | 22.8 | 25.6 | 25.2 |
| Yves Missi | 22 | 24.5 | 23.2 |
| Derik Queen | 16.9 | 15.6 | 18.6 |
| Kevon Looney | 15.5 | 15.5 | 15.5 |
Another season, another injury to Zion Williamson, who is set to miss at least one week with a strained hamstring. The Pelicans are also without Jordan Poole for a bit this week, which could lead to extra opportunities for rookie Jeremiah Fears or Jose Alvarado. The most interesting change has been Derik Queen, who was electric in the fourth quarter on Tuesday and then played 26 minutes against the Mavs on Wednesday, scoring 11 points with seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals. He figures to see the biggest bump in minutes while Zion is sidelined.
New York Knicks
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| OG Anunoby | 32.8 | 33.7 | 33.9 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | 32.6 | 33 | 33.1 |
| Jalen Brunson | 32.5 | 33.5 | 34 |
| Mikal Bridges | 32.4 | 34.8 | 35.1 |
| Josh Hart | 26.6 | 24.3 | 24.1 |
| Miles McBride | 19.5 | 21.9 | 24.3 |
| Jordan Clarkson | 18.3 | 17 | 16.1 |
| Landry Shamet | 18.1 | 19.8 | 17.8 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 14.8 | 16.4 | 16.4 |
Mitchell Robinson has been battling a foot injury, so his minutes have been kept in check. We've also seen the bench minutes consolidate a bit to guys like Jordan Clarkson, Landry Shamet, and Deuce McBride, who missed some time for personal reasons, which is why his numbers seem low. The other thing to note is that no Knicks player is over 33 minutes per game after their starting five played more than any other unit last year.
Oklahoma City Thunder
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | 32.2 | 32.3 | 35.4 |
| Chet Holmgren | 30 | 30 | 33.4 |
| Cason Wallace | 29 | 28.2 | 30.1 |
| Ajay Mitchell | 27.1 | 27.1 | 27.1 |
| Isaiah Hartenstein | 26.8 | 27.4 | 30 |
| Aaron Wiggins | 26.6 | 27.6 | 27.6 |
| Isaiah Joe | 24.7 | 24.5 | 24.5 |
| Jaylin Williams | 19.1 | 19.3 | 17.7 |
| Alex Caruso | 17.9 | 19 | 21.3 |
| Luguentz Dort | 14.8 | 25.2 | 31.8 |
The Thunder have a few injuries of note here with Chet Holmgren battling a lower back injury, Lu Dort dealing with a shoulder injury, and Alex Caruso getting a rest day this week. We also saw the return of Isaiah Joe, which, importantly, didn't really cut into the minutes for Ajay Mitchell, who has played himself into a key reserve role for the Thunder.
Orlando Magic
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Franz Wagner | 33 | 33.8 | 34.2 |
| Paolo Banchero | 31.9 | 33.7 | 34.4 |
| Wendell Carter Jr. | 28.3 | 26.8 | 28.2 |
| Anthony Black | 27.1 | 27 | 26.2 |
| Desmond Bane | 23.4 | 27.1 | 29.1 |
| Tristan da Silva | 23.2 | 21 | 21.4 |
| Jalen Suggs | 19.8 | 20.2 | 19.4 |
The Magic are just 3-5, but they have no major injuries to report and no real changes to their rotation. They're just shooting 33% from three as a team and struggling to take the next step in their development as a contender.
Philadelphia 76ers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Tyrese Maxey | 38.2 | 41.1 | 41.3 |
| VJ Edgecombe | 35.9 | 37.5 | 38.6 |
| Kelly Oubre Jr. | 34.6 | 37.6 | 37.4 |
| Quentin Grimes | 31.1 | 33 | 31.6 |
| Andre Drummond | 25.7 | 18.7 | 16.6 |
| Joel Embiid | 25.6 | 24.5 | 22.8 |
| Trendon Watford | 22.5 | 19.4 | 19.4 |
| Adem Bona | 18.3 | 16.7 | 16.9 |
| Jared McCain | 15.2 | 15.2 | 15.2 |
Joel Embiid continues to be in and out of the lineup with his knee injury, and Paul George has still not returned from knee surgery. We also saw Jared McCain back for one game and now out again as he manages a knee injury. McCain should be back soon, and the 76ers clearly don't want to keep playing VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Quentin Grimes as many minutes as they have, so expect those to reduce a bit as this team gets healthy. You'll still likely want all three in fantasy, but they'll be playing around three to five minutes per game less.
Phoenix Suns
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Devin Booker | 37.6 | 38.7 | 36.8 |
| Grayson Allen | 33.8 | 35.9 | 34.6 |
| Royce O'Neale | 30.4 | 34.4 | 32.2 |
| Ryan Dunn | 30 | 27 | 25 |
| Mark Williams | 26 | 27.3 | 24.9 |
| Collin Gillespie | 23.4 | 26.6 | 24.7 |
| Jordan Goodwin | 20.4 | 20.4 | 14.4 |
| Dillon Brooks | — | — | 30.5 |
Dillon Brooks continues to battle a groin injury, and we've yet to see Jalen Green (hamstring) so far this season, so the Suns' rotation could change a bit in the next week. As it stands, Ryan Dunn and Jordan Goodwin have seen an increase in minutes, but neither one is really fantasy viable.
Portland Trail Blazers
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Deni Avdija | 35.2 | 34.4 | 33.4 |
| Jrue Holiday | 34.3 | 33.8 | 33 |
| Toumani Camara | 34 | 32.7 | 33 |
| Jerami Grant | 32.2 | 29.9 | 29.2 |
| Shaedon Sharpe | 24.9 | 25.6 | 26.7 |
| Kris Murray | 23.2 | 23.4 | 22.3 |
| Donovan Clingan | 22.3 | 24.2 | 24.6 |
Portland's rotation and minutes have remained pretty consistent so far this season. Their top six players have each played in all eight games, and Kris Murray has only missed one. These are their guys for now.
Sacramento Kings
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Zach LaVine | 37.8 | 36.8 | 36.9 |
| DeMar DeRozan | 37.6 | 36.2 | 36.8 |
| Domantas Sabonis | 36.9 | 35.1 | 34.6 |
| Russell Westbrook | 35.5 | 33.1 | 28.6 |
| Dennis Schröder | 34.8 | 32.8 | 32.7 |
| Malik Monk | 25.3 | 26.2 | 25.2 |
| Nique Clifford | 22.5 | 22.5 | 22.8 |
| Keon Ellis | 19.5 | 21.7 | 19.5 |
Russell Westbrook has worked into a bigger role with his new team and played well, recording a triple-double this week. It's going to be hard for the Kings not to keep his minutes up. However, Zach LaVine missed one game this week with a back injury, and Domantas Sabonis has missed two games with a rib injury, so those two will get back onto their court and get their normal minutes allotment soon enough. That would likely cause Keon Ellis' role to shrink a bit.
San Antonio Spurs
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Victor Wembanyama | 35.6 | 34.8 | 33.7 |
| Stephon Castle | 35.5 | 33.5 | 32.8 |
| Devin Vassell | 35.4 | 34.3 | 34.6 |
| Julian Champagnie | 30.9 | 29.5 | 29.8 |
| Harrison Barnes | 28.7 | 28.6 | 29.7 |
| Keldon Johnson | 24 | 25 | 24.1 |
| Jeremy Sochan | 22.6 | 22.6 | 22.6 |
| Dylan Harper | 17.9 | 23 | 23.4 |
| Luke Kornet | — | — | 25.2 |
The Spurs are in the throes of some injuries right now, as Luke Kornet has been sidelined with an ankle injury, and Dylan Harper will now miss multiple weeks with a calf strain. In one game without Harper, we saw Devin Vassell's minutes tick up a bit, same with Stephon Castle. Julian Champagnie saw the biggest increase in minutes (just about five), but that was also the season debut for Jeremy Sochan, so it seems like a lot of minutes in the rotation will go to him now that he's back.
Toronto Raptors
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| RJ Barrett | 34.3 | 33.6 | 32.3 |
| Brandon Ingram | 33 | 32.9 | 32.6 |
| Scottie Barnes | 31.5 | 31.4 | 32.3 |
| Immanuel Quickley | 28.3 | 29.4 | 30.5 |
| Collin Murray-Boyles | 22 | 23 | 21.4 |
| Jakob Poeltl | 20 | 22 | 22.4 |
| Jamal Shead | 18.2 | 17.9 | 17.1 |
Everything is status quo for the Raptors so far. Jakob Poeltl's minutes continue to be limited, but this is their rotation for now.
Utah Jazz
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Lauri Markkanen | 36.5 | 36.4 | 37.1 |
| Keyonte George | 35.4 | 34.1 | 34.6 |
| Svi Mykhailiuk | 31.5 | 28.1 | 28.2 |
| Jusuf Nurkić | 28.6 | 23.9 | 21.5 |
| Taylor Hendricks | 18.9 | 15.3 | 16.3 |
| Ace Bailey | 18.9 | 18.9 | 17.7 |
| Kyle Filipowski | 18.5 | 16.2 | 18.9 |
| Walker Kessler | — | 30.1 | 30.8 |
The Jazz just lost Walker Kessler (shoulder) for the season, which should mean a big uptick in minutes and usage for Jusuf Nurkić; he's a player you have to add in fantasy. We've also seen the team toy with Taylor Hendricks starting over Kyle Filipowski, and while that hasn't led to a huge breakthrough, it's a situation to monitor because Hendricks could be intriguing with starter's minutes.
Washington Wizards
| Name | Last 3 | Last 5 | Last 10 |
| Alex Sarr | 28.8 | 29.3 | 27.9 |
| Kyshawn George | 27.7 | 30.8 | 30.8 |
| Bub Carrington | 25.9 | 27.4 | 27.3 |
| Bilal Coulibaly | 23.6 | 23.8 | 23.8 |
| Tre Johnson | 23.3 | 24.5 | 25.5 |
| CJ McCollum | 20.6 | 25.1 | 27.3 |
| Khris Middleton | 20.4 | 23.5 | 24.9 |
| Corey Kispert | 14.1 | 17.4 | 18.2 |
The Wizrads got Bilal Coulibaly back, and in his four games, he has not really cut into the playing time for young guys like Bub Carrington, Kyshawn George, and Tre Johnson. The minutes have seemed to come at the expense of the veterans, which may also be related to Khris Middleton dealing with a knee injury. Still, this is great news for George, who remains a hold in fantasy leagues. I covered his breakout season earlier this week.
Former Inuk NHLer Jordin Tootoo Leads By Example: 'Everyone Has Different Rock Bottoms'
Inuk NHL trailblazer Jordin Tootoo was an agitator across 723 games in 13 NHL seasons.
But some of his biggest battles took place away from cameras and microphones.
On the inside, he was struggling with addiction, mental trauma and family issues.
“A lot of times, I was this quiet, shy guy who didn't believe in myself,” Tootoo told THN.com as he promoted his new documentary, Tootoo, now airing on Super Channel in Canada. “Every person that walks on the street is fighting a fight no one knows about.”
As the first Inuk player in NHL history, Tootoo was a pioneer of sorts. But by the time he broke into hockey’s top league in 2003 with the Nashville Predators, Tootoo had already experienced racism and turbulence on and off the ice.
When he left his childhood home in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, and began flourishing as a member of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings, Tootoo knew he was blazing a trail for people like him.
By the time he got to the NHL, however, Tootoo had already experienced tragedy, as his older brother, Terence, died by suicide in 2002. But Terence left a note for Tootoo, and its contents stay with him to this day.
“Losing my brother at the age of 19, my path could have definitely taken a different direction, but I knew, in order for my brother's legacy to live on, I had to keep going and live by his words on a daily basis,” Tootoo said. “The note that he left me, (telling me to) go all the way, take care of the family, you’re the man – I used that to motivate me and keep inspiring me to put my head down and keep his legacy living on.”
Tootoo developed an alcohol addiction in his adult days, and it affected virtually every aspect of his life. But after entering the NHL and NHL Players Association’s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program in 2010, he began to understand and come to terms with the anguish he was enduring day in and day out.
Tootoo had quickly become a fan favorite in Nashville, as he was a smaller player at 5-foot-9 who never shied away from leaving his mark on opponents. But eventually, his off-ice struggles became apparent to Predators GM David Poile and coach Barry Trotz, and they helped Tootoo start to find the road to recovery.
“The first seven years of my career, I was this angry young kid who didn't take crap from nobody,” Tootoo said. “And for me, fortunately, I had Mr. David Poile and Mr. Barry Trotz in Nashville that kept pulling me into their office and trying to talk to me. It was at one point where I went on a two-day bender, and I knew that it was going to be my time sooner than later, so I had to accept the help that was offered.”
Over the years, Tootoo has also learned that the systemic racism he encountered has to do with pain and anger of the offending party, and not anything to do with himself or his background. And eventually, he came to understand that racist actions could be addressed by having empathy toward the people hurling epithets at him.
“A lot of times, when racism comes into hand, it's not you – it's that individual who's struggling for themselves,” Tootoo said. “We're human too, right? People look at professional athletes like we have this perfect life... Fans or people see professional athletes struggling, and then they say, ‘Well, how come they're struggling – like they got the world by their hands, or you know, they got all the money in the world.’ Like, we're human.
“And when I entered rehab and got out and started having clarity, I realized, I started thinking, ‘Wow, that individual who's saying racist words to me is obviously having a lot of demons themselves that they're battling through.’ ”
After his Predators career ended in 2012, Tootoo bounced around the NHL, playing for the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks before retiring in 2017.
Since then, he’s been an advocate for therapy, Indigenous Peoples, and anyone struggling with some form of trauma. And his message – which comes through in the new documentary – is a simple one. “It's different for everybody, right?” Tootoo said. “Everyone has different rock bottoms. I'm not one to tell an individual, ‘Hey, time to smarten up.’ I'm here to share my journey and what it's done for my life and lead by example.”
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.
Washington Capitals At Pittsburgh Penguins Preview: Lineup Changes, Where To Watch
The Pittsburgh Penguins will look to snap their two-game skid when they welcome the Washington Capitals to PPG Paints Arena on Thursday night.
The Penguins had everything going for them through two periods against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, only to throw it all away in the third period. The Penguins had a 3-0 lead heading into the final frame and didn't even get a point out of the game.
Meanwhile, the Capitals snapped their four-game losing streak with a 6-1 win over the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday. Alex Ovechkin made more history, becoming the first player in NHL history to score 900 goals. Goaltender Logan Thompson finished the game with a .958 save percentage and has been one of the best goaltenders in the league to start the year.
Because Thompson played on Wednesday, he'll likely have the night off on Thursday, which would pave the way for Charlie Lindgren to start. Lindgren has struggled to start the year, compiling a 3.47 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage.
Arturs Silovs will start in goal for the Penguins after having the night off on Monday. A lot of fans were hoping to see Sergei Murashov make his NHL debut after he was called up on Tuesday, but the Penguins are taking their time and easing him in. He got called up from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after Tristan Jarry was placed on injured reserve.
Murashov will likely get one of the two games this weekend since the Penguins have a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday.
The Penguins have yet to make a decision on Harrison Brunicke for the rest of the season, but he appears to be a healthy scratch for this game. Ryan Graves and Connor Clifton appear to be returning to the lineup. Joona Koppanen also appears to be playing after he was called up from WBS on Thursday.
Ben Kindel will replace Filip Hallander on the top line since Hallander is day-to-day with an injury. Kindel has been one of the Penguins' best players to start the season and is coming off his first two-goal game on Monday.
Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and Hulu. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
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Game #13: Ducks vs. Stars Gameday Preview (11/06/25)
DALLAS - The Ducks are embarking on a two-game road trip and looking to extend their winning streak to five games. They are currently tied for first in the Pacific Division with the Vegas Golden Knights.
Anaheim has been powered by the dynamic duo of Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier, who have 18 and 16 points. Both of them are riding seven-game point streaks, the first pair of teammates to record simultaneous point streaks of at least seven both at the age 21 or younger since Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in 2016-17.
Carlsson received a five-minute major and a game misconduct on Tuesday for a hit on the Florida Panthers' Evan Rodrigues during Tuesday’s game, but did not receive any supplementary discipline from the Department of Player Safety.
Takeaways from the Ducks 7-3 Win over the PanthersGauthier ignited the offense with a hat trick, powering the Ducks past the Panthers with a dominant offensive performance.“It happened pretty fast,” Carlsson said. “I was trying to get the puck from Troy (Terry), and I didn’t have anywhere to go. And (Rodrigues) is shorter than me, so I just go straight into him. It's just unfortunate that he was so low and I'm taller, so just went straight into his head.”
The Dallas Stars are currently fifth in the league in power play percentage (31.1), powered by the likes of Wyatt Johnston, Mikko Rantanen, Roope Hintz and Jason Robertson. Johnston's four power play goals are tied for fourth in the NHL. The Ducks are middle of the pack in penalty kill percentage (79.5), but have killed 10 of their last 12 penalties.
“They’re looking to get their power play to get their game offensively, and they’re good at it,” head coach Joel Quenneville said. “The skill level’s high-end. Patience, play recognition, options. I think that (assistant coach Ryan McGill) does a nice job getting the PK ready and on our opponents and what they’re intending to do. It’ll be a good test for us as well, but I think there’s some improvement on our end of it killing-wise. Denying entries, possession, recognizing pressure points. They’re getting better.”
“You’re just trying to be in position so they can't set up exactly the way they want it,” Carlsson said. “Troy and I like to go on offense (on the PK) too, they have to have to know that. So that gives us a little bit of advantage to it.”
“They’re pretty similar (to the Panthers),” Olen Zellweger said. “Good pace, good forecheck. And I think Dallas is pretty good at maintaining possession of the offensive zone. Lots of good forwards, just a good team overall. Different challenges, but similar. We’re gonna have to play really sharp and execute well.”
Through 12 games, the Ducks lead the league in goals per game with 3.92. They are also top-5 in the league in shots per game with 31.4. Gauthier is currently tied for first in the league with 10 goals and is second in the league in shots with 58.
“I feel like we're playing exactly the way we want,” Carlsson said. “Sure, sometimes we make unnecessary dangles and stuff on the blue line, but I feel like we play hockey. We know when to put it deep and not. A lot of shots is the key, too.”
“We always talked last year about increasing our shots, but there’s not really a blueprint to do it,” Zellweger said. “I feel like this year, we're skating well, maybe playing more free. Creating more opportunities to shoot and get scoring chances. I don't think there's one specific thing, it’s just a bunch of different things you’re adding to create more rushes and more o-zone time.”
Roope Hintz (undisclosed) and Radek Faksa (illness) will both be game-time decisions for the Stars, who rolled out a lineup of 11 forwards and seven defensemen for their game on Tuesday.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry
Cutter Gauthier - Mason McTavish - Beckett Sennecke
Nikita Nesterenko - Ryan Poehling - Alex Killorn
Ross Johnston - Jansen Harkins - Frank Vatrano
Jackson LaCombe - Drew Helleson
Olen Zellweger - Jacob Trouba
Pavel Mintyukov - Ian Moore
Lukáš Dostál (projected)
Stars Projected Lines
Jason Robertson - Wyatt Johnston - Mikko Rantanen
Tyler Seguin - Roope Hintz - Mavrik Bourque
Oskar Bäck - Sam Steel - Colin Blackwell
Adam Erne - Radek Faksa - Nathan Bastian
Esa Lindell - Miro Heiskanen
Thomas Harley - Ilya Lyubushkin
Lian Bischel - Alex Petrovic
Jake Oettinger (confirmed)
Count On Ovechkin, Crosby Turning Back Clock in Penguins-Capitals Showdown
Thursday’s NHL schedule features nine games filled with high-stakes matchups, promising fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most compelling showdowns pits Sidney Crosby and the Penguins against his longtime rival Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals.
Pittsburgh started strong at 8-2-2 but has dropped four of its last six. The team now looks to rebound at home against a Washington squad coming off a dominant 6-1 win over St. Louis and facing a quick turnaround.
This matchup offers plenty of intrigue for fans and bettors alike, with the potential for explosive scoring and standout individual performances. We’re aiming to build on early-season momentum after a perfect 3-0 Tuesday on Stars-Oilers picks, plus a win in Wednesday’s Pad Stack Challenge. That challenge now holds a 5-1 record over the past six days.
All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
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Expect Offensive Fireworks As Lightning Take On Golden Knights in VegasWitness a high-octane showdown as the offensively potent Lightning aim to exploit the Golden Knights' recent struggles on home ice.Pittsburgh Penguins vs Washington Capitals Best Bets
Penguins ML (-105)
Alex Ovechkin Over 0.5 Points (-154)
Ben Kindel Over 0.5 Points (+115)
Bryan Rust Anytime Goal (+175) Longshot Pick
Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are set to face off again on Thursday, continuing one of the NHL’s most storied rivalries. The Penguins will look to build on their rest from Monday’s game, while the Capitals aim to regroup after a dominant win on Wednesday that ended a four-game losing streak.
Both teams have split their last eight matchups, making this an evenly matched contest. Pittsburgh should be able to hold onto the upper hand of rest as Washington will have the fatigue of playing the night before as well as travelling. The Capitals also used a good amount of their offense Wednesday when blowing out the Blues 6-1 and could fail to follow up the performance.
History suggests this could be another tight battle as Crosby and Ovechkin have squared off 99 times, with 73 regular-season games and 25 playoff matchups. Over those matchups, Crosby has racked up 125 points, with Ovechkin recorded 101 points. The Penguins hold the edge in this clash between two hockey legends with a 55-39-4 record, although recent games have often been closely contested.
Ovechkin, fresh off his 900th career goal on Wednesday versus the St. Louis Blues, remains a reliable offensive threat, having scored in his last game against the Penguins in April. Crosby continues to drive Pittsburgh’s attack, while his linemate in 18-year-old Ben Kindel has been an impactful rookie after being drafted 11th overall this past draft and looks poised to make his mark with his first career NHL assist.
Crosby or his longtime winger Bryan Rust, who scored 31 goals last season, should be able to get Kindel his milestone with Rust entering Thursday with seven goals in his last 11 games against Washington as well as four goals over his last six games.
Offensively, both teams have shown flashes of explosiveness, including two consecutive matchups with seven or more combined goals. However, the overall trend of their head-to-head history suggests that high-scoring games are not guaranteed, with only 14 of the last 25 meetings exceeding seven goals.
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.
Sens Game Day: Senators Prepare To Face Another Team Out For Revenge On Thursday Night
After four days without a game, the Ottawa Senators return to action on Thursday night with a road game against the Boston Bruins. On the one hand, after six games in 10 days, the respite from a busy schedule was welcome. On the other hand, they've been playing some good hockey, going 4-1-1 in that six-game stretch, and might have preferred not to interrupt the positive momentum.
But one would imagine there's a heavy preference for the former mindset. With a condensed schedule in an Olympic year that now sees them play six games in 10 days once again, teams are happy to embrace any rest and recovery time that the schedule allows.
As the Montreal Canadiens were on Saturday night, the Bruins will be in foul humour on Thursday, looking to get even. In Montreal's case, they wanted physical revenge for Nick Cousins' slash on star rookie Ivan Demidov. For Boston, they'd like to push back after getting whalloped by the Senators in Ottawa 7-2 on Oct. 27.
The Bruins seem to have used the sting and venom from that loss as fuel. They've ripped off four straight victories since then, beating the New York Islanders twice, and also posting wins over the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes.
Overall, Boston has been a streaky lot in the first month. They won their first 3 games, lost their next six in regulation, and now they've won five of their last six.
The Bruins will welcome back their former star goalie, Linus Ullmark, who won the 2023 Vezina Trophy with the club. That performance has created sky-high expectations in Ottawa that Ullmark has yet to live up to.
Analytics: Can Senators Goalie Linus Ullmark Replace Another Slow Start With Another November Heater?An analyst recently questioned Ullmark's intensity, and Ullmark questioned some aspects of his own offseason prep. Between that and his current numbers, there are goaltending concerns again in Ottawa.In 130 games over three seasons with the Bruins, Ullmark had an 88-26-10 record, a .924 save percentage, and a 2.28 goals-against average. Sens fans no longer need him to get back to that level.
They're more than ready to settle for something that falls just halfway between his Boston numbers and what he's done for the Sens so far this season, which is allowing 3.41 goals against per game with an .861 save percentage.
Leevi Merilainen guarded the Sens' cage in the recent beatdown of the Bruins, but Ullmark is expected to get the call on Thursday. The veteran won both starts against his old mates last season, making 14 saves in November's 3-2 overtime win, and 22 saves in a 6-3 victory in March.
The Sens lineup remains mostly the same, with newcomer Jordan Spence expected to be a healthy scratch for the ninth time in 14 games.
Face off is 7 pm.