The Stanley Cup champions have four former Sabres on their roster, including Taylor Hall, who missed the last two weeks with an upper-body injury. Jankowski, who split time between the AHL and NHL in 2021-22 and played 19 games in Buffalo, had his best offensive season in seven years last season with 21 points and has been on fire this season, with six goals in nine games.
Evan Rodrigues - New Jersey
The 33-year-old played parts of five seasons in Buffalo and has been well-traveled since, with stops in Pittsburgh, Toronto, Colorado, and Florida. He was dealt to the Devils last summer in the deal for goalie Jacob Markstrom and has five points (2 goals, 3 assists) in 11 games.
Logan Stanley - NY Islanders
The big blueliner was acquired from Winnipeg along with Luke Schenn last March, and had five assists in 25 regular season and playoff games with the Sabres. Stanley remained unsigned until late September, when he hooked on with the Isles on a one-year, $1.5 million deal. In 11 games, he has equaled his offensive output in Buffalo, with five assists.
Owen Power is off to a strong start with the Sabres this season
James Reimer - NY Rangers
The veteran journeyman played 22 games with the Sabres in 2024-25, and after a stop in Ottawa last season, is joining his ninth club, signing a one-year veteran minimum deal with the Rangers after earning a shutout in Hartford on an AHL deal last week.
Rasmus Ristolainen - Philadelphia
The former Sabres first-rounder has been oft-injured in recent seasons, but was impressive for Finland at the Milano-Cortina Olympics and down the stretch for the Flyers on their playoff run. This season, after playing three games, the 31-year-old missed three weeks and returned for one game before suffering an upper-body injury that is expected to keep him out for two weeks.
Alex Tuch - Washington
If you could not see Tuch killing the Sabres in his first meeting with them, then you don’t know hockey. The 30-year-old winger was sent to Washington in a sign-and-trade with the Sabres in June. In the first year of his eight-year deal with the Capitals. Tuch leads the club with seven goals, including a pair in a 4-3 overtime victory over Buffalo on Saturday.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 19: A general view of Tropicana Field during Game Six of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, October 19, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
This series has been amazing for casual baseball fans and those supporting the Milwaukee Brewers but it’s been infuriatingly brutal for those behind the Tampa Bay Rays.
The first two games have been filled with costly mistakes and nearly almosts and the end result is the Rays being down two games to none against the team with the best record in baseball. Milwaukee has nearly been unbeatable this postseason with their only loss thus far coming against the San Diego Padres in game three of the NLDS.
For the Rays to have any chance of getting back into the series, they’ll have to have a masterful performance from the ALCS MVP, Freddy Peralta.
Peralta, 30, has been among the best pitchers in baseball over the past two months and found a new gear on his fastball since the playoffs began. Earlier this season, Peralta was averaging 94 mph on his fastball but that is up to 96.9 during his four playoff outings thus far. This was Peralta’s 9th season in the big leagues and over that time, he has only thrown 10 pitches at or above 99mph, 5 of them have been this postseason with the highest of his career (99.4) coming during his last time out in the 5th inning against Cleveland in game six. Perhaps facing his old team will allow him to find one more gear and reach triple digits.
The Rays and Peralta will have to battle Robert Gasser, a southpaw drafted by the San Diego Padres as the 71st overall selection of the 2021 draft. Gasser was acquired by the Brewers in the lamented trade that sent Josh Hader to San Diego in 2022; now those with bad opinions on that deal may revise their judgement as Gasser could help to clinch the Brewers’ first World Series title in history. The 2026 season was Gasser’s longest time spent in the big leagues as he had short stints in 2024 and 2025. The 27-year was up and down this season until being brought up for good after the All-Star break.
Over 21 games — 20 starts — this season, Gasser has a 3.87 ERA | 4.23 FIP with a 22.2 K% & 7.6 BB% over 109.1 IP. Thus far in the postseason, Gasser has pitched in 2 games, and has been incredible allowing just 1 run over nine innings of work.
An observation from the previous games is that the Brewers hittes are tenacious with two strikes in the count. During the two World Series games thus far, the Brewers are hitting .182/.308/.333 with two strikes and have a 16.4 whiff%. Compare that to the regular season, the Brewers whiff rate was at 23.5% while the Rays led the MLB with a 21.0 two strike whiff%; that has jumped to 27.1% this postseason.
It became clear it was so bad – even in the first seconds after it happened – that a trainer rushed over to throw a towel over the ankle, hiding it from view.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams, a 2024-25 All-Star and one of the bright young players in the NBA, suffered a seemingly devastating lower leg injury Sunday, Oct. 25. And though the Thunder haven’t issued a formal diagnosis, the way Williams’ left ankle dangled sideways off his foot strongly suggests that Williams’ season is over just three games after it started.
So now the Thunder, who entered the season as favorites to win NBA Finals, must regroup, because this injury – assuming it’s as bad as it looked – changes the pathway for Oklahoma City moving forward. Because the overwhelming notion for this Thunder team was that it was a strong favorite because Williams was finally healthy.
Williams, the team’s second best player, missed significant chunks last season as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery. Then, late in the year and into the playoffs, it was multiple soft-tissue hamstring injuries.
So now, two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, once again, will have bear more of a burden. Williams can handle the ball and initiate offense. He can slash to the basket and has a dependable perimeter jumper. He’s a plus defender and is often the anchor through which the Thunder run their offense when Gilgeous-Alexander is catching a breath on the bench. When available, he is a staple, having started 238 of his 251 career regular season games. The loss is massive.
"These are tough, man," Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game. "We’re not doing great. That’s tough on the guys. Everyone empathizes, I think both teams, in those situations. We’re not doing great."
Yet, if there is any team in the NBA built to weather the loss of a player like Williams, it’s the Thunder. No team has been better at identifying and developing young players through the draft, and Oklahoma City is the deepest team in the entire association. They have options.
Thunder's depth provides options after Jalen Williams injury
In fact, the Thunder are so deep that they can alter whom they start at small forward in place of Williams, depending on the matchup.
The first indication of how the Thunder plan to make up for the loss of Williams comes fewer than 24 hours after he suffered the injury; Oklahoma City hosts the Phoenix Suns Monday, Oct. 26 on the second leg of their back-to-back.
The cleanest move is for Daigneault to replace Williams in the starting lineup with Alex Caruso, a veteran guard who specializes on defense. Caruso is nowhere near as talented as Williams on offense, though his perimeter shot has been a spark off the bench; Caruso is shooting a blistering 45.5% from 3-point range this season.
Each of starting guard Cason Wallace, who also suffered an injury Sunday night, one to his shoulder, and reserve guards Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain will likely see increased minutes and responsibility.
Daigneault likes to have a serviceable ball-handling creator on the floor when Gilgeous-Alexander heads to the bench, so it makes sense on some level for both Mitchell and McCain to come off the bench. Rookie guard Bennett Stirtz will also be called up for spot minutes.
Thunder's injury history prepared SGA, team to weather long season
This, unfortunately for the Thunder, is a familiar spot. They pushed the San Antonio Spurs to seven games in the 2026 Western Conference Finals despite injuries to Williams and Mitchell. Because the pair are Oklahoma City’s best offensive engines not named Gilgeous-Alexander, the team’s offense stagnated under San Antonio’s defense.
In previous seasons, it was Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein who were knocked out for extensive stretches because of injury.
This is all to say that, in many ways, the Thunder are used to this.
But as much as Oklahoma City is built to mitigate the loss of a star like Williams, one devastating fact is clear, and it’s a fact the team must contend with the rest of the season, assuming the injury ends Williams’ campaign.
The Thunder today are not as strong as they were yesterday, and that’s indisputable.
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jacob Fowler has been playing excellently for the Original Six club.
Now, Fowler has been rewarded by the NHL because of it.
The NHL has announced that Fowler has been named the league's Third Star of the Week from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25. When looking at how well Fowler played during this past week, it is easy to understand why.
In his two appearances this past week for Montreal, Fowler had a 2-0-0 record, a 1.00 goals-against average, and a .964 save percentage. This included him stopping 20 out of 21 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 23 and saving 33 out of 34 shots against the Winnipeg Jets on Oct. 25.
Fowler has been very good for the Canadiens this season in general, too. In six appearances this campaign with Montreal, he has a 5-1-0 record, a .924 save percentage, a 1.79 goals-against average, and one shutout.
With this, Fowler is only continuing to impress as he gains more NHL experience. It will be interesting to see if he can stay hot for the Habs from here.
ST. PETERSBURG - AUGUST 03: Manager Joe Maddon #70 of the Tampa Bay Rays directs his team against the San Francisco Giants during the game at Tropicana Field on August 3, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Manager who ushered in one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history will be back at Tropicana Field on Monday night as Joe Maddon will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the start of game three of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers.
The last time the World Series was played at Tropicana Field, Joe Maddon was in the Rays dugout, managing the team as they took game two against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. It was the franchise’s first foray into the postseason after going worst to first, finishing the season with a 97-65 record. Unfortunately, Tampa Bay fell in the World Series, but the team could take solace in being the champions of the American League and the division leader of the tough American League East.
It was just the start of success for Joe Maddon’s led team as he helped guide the Rays to the postseason in 2010 (won the division), 2011, and 2013 but was unable get the past the Division Series each time. Maddon was named the AL Manager of the Year in 2008 and in 2011. Following the 2014 season, Maddon left to take over the Chicago Cubs with whom he won the World Series in 2016, ending a 108 year championship drought for the Northsiders.
After leaving Chicago following the 2019 season, Maddon managed the Los Angeles Angels but could not bring his prior magic to that star studded roster and the team played well below .500 during his tenure there; Maddon was let go in June 2022 after a 27-29 start.
Maddon spent the most time of his managerial career with the Tampa Bay Rays, leading the team for 9 years, ending his time with a 754-705 record. The Rays reached the postseason four times and won one pennant.
The Rays will look to battle back from a 2-0 series deficit tonight against the Brewers with first pitch slated for just after 8:00pm
The Chicago Blackhawks brought 8 defensemen to their NHL roster out of training camp. Two of them, Ethan Del Mastro and Kevin Korchinski, have mostly been rotational players if they are needed due to injury or performance.
Bowen Byram has missed the last handful of games with an upper-body injury. For the first few, the head coach tapped Ethan Del Mastro to come into the lineup. However, Kevin Korchinski was used on Sunday against the Florida Panthers.
Kevin Korchinski, like most of his small sample size in the 2026-26 training camp, preseason, and regular season, played very well against the Panthers. In a lot of ways, he was the best defenseman on the team for 60 minutes.
This is the type of performance that makes you question the point of him sitting out at all. He seems to be one of the six best defensemen in the organization at this time, but he's not treated like it. Even after this game, it doesn't sound like head coach Jeff Blashill was as impressed as one would have thought. Blashill had his compliments for Korchinski, but there was plenty of "coach speak" with critiques as well.
"I thought he did a lot of good things," Blashill said of Korchinski. "He's going to want the change back, but I thought there were moments where he did good stuff. He's got a habit of drifting back when he's got the puck in the neutral zone. We want him to plant his feet and go North. He played solid. His pair with Rinzel - both of them did a lot of good things. It's unfortunate he had the tough change."
It is hard to tell, based on Blashill's postgame quotes, whether or not Korchinski will get to follow up this game with another. Sure, he had the tough change, but that doesn't change the fact that he was the team's best defender over the course of the 60 minutes. That may be true even if you include the forwards.
There is no easy way to approach Korchinski's situation, and he knows that. It has been a very up-and-down start to his NHL career, but he certainly has the tools to become an everyday contributor. He is aware that one good game doesn't mean he'll even get to dress in the next. Whether that's fair or not, he has accepted it and will continue to work until he is an everyday player.
"Every day you have to earn it," Korchinski said about getting to play again after a good showing. "It starts with showing up the next day and proving myself again. The past doesn't matter. You want to be good in the present and help the team win. You have to be good every day. It's a hard league. That's the approach you want to have to be a difference maker and have a long career."
Korchinski has the right attitude. Everything he said is spot on. However, if he doesn't play against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, the Blackhawks are announcing to the world that his being in the lineup has nothing to do with his prior performance. Would he like the one bad line change back? Sure. But other defensemen have had way worse plays that didn't result in being scratched.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 23: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during second half of the Celtics Home Opener at TD Garden on October 23, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Knicks 107-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When people said they wouldn’t care if the Knicks went 0-82 this season, I don’t think that they meant it as an invitation.
The first three games have gone from disappointing to annoying to bewildering as the Knicks sit at the bottom of the standings with a 0-3 record after three close losses to Eastern Conference rivals, all of which were winnable with better execution. It’s the first 0-3 start since David Fizdale was coach in 2019-20 (yikes).
In these games, the Knicks have scored 103 or fewer points in all of them. Raw point totals aren’t everything with this team’s preferred slow pace, but that doesn’t work in the modern NBA. This is early-Thibsian-level offense.
Is it process-based or just shoddy shooting? It could be both.
On Opening Night, the Knicks fell to the Sixers not only due to inconsistent shooting at the perimeter, but also startlingly bad finishing at the rim. As a team last year, they shot 66.3% in the restricted area and 58.3% on shots in the paint. On Opening Night? 58.6% and 42%.
These shots make up half the team’s shot diet, so shooting 16% worse at it can decide games. That’s especially concerning against a team with incredibly little rim protection, even if it were the freshest Joel Embiid you’ll ever see.
The jarringly bad shooting continued through Boston and Orlando. They’re 26th in FG% at the restricted area (63%) and dead last in total FG% in the paint (50%).
The main culprits? Andre Drummond (8-for-15 at the rim, 8-for-18 in the paint), Jalen Brunson (4-for-18 outside the restricted area), and Josh Hart (4-for-8 at the rim, 7-for-13 in the paint).
Those last two are the ones we can directly compare to last season. Brunson shot 47.9% on incredible volume outside the restricted area last season, while Hart shot 67.4% at the rim and 60.4% in the entire paint. The sample is small, but important in three close losses.
The perimeter shooting has been pretty bad, too. Outside of Deuce McBride’s Boston heater, nobody has had the touch to start the season. Four players have attempted at least 14 threes so far, and all of them are below league average (Brunson 26.7%, Anunoby 28.6%, Hart 33.3%, Shamet 35.7%). Mikal Bridges is also doing his best October 2024 impression, starting the year 0-for-10 from deep.
On Sunday night against the Magic, the Knicks shot 32 open and wide open threes and made only nine of them. There were some bad looks in there, but a lot of them were clean looks that you’re used to them making. Last season, they only averaged 30.5 of those attempts per game, but shot 37.3%. That’s equivalent to three extra made threes last night, which could’ve swung the game.
Really, they lost on Sunday because the Magic, an extremely poor shooting team, shot 43.6% on those looks and had just their third game in the last two years where they shot 40 threes and made at least 40% of them, but you could’ve also made shots yourself.
As if their shooting at the rim and behind the arc wasn’t bad enough, they’ve also been ghastly at the foul line.
As a team, they’re shooting 70.8%, which in prior years you’d think would be dragged down by the Hack-a-Mitch, but there’s no excuse this year. Even if you remove the only poor free-throw shooter on the roster, Drummond, they’re at an unacceptable 72%. If you removed Mitch last year, the team shot 81.6% from the line.
It added up against Philly; it didn’t help against Boston; and it directly hampered their chances at a late comeback against Orlando.
Anunoby is at 81.8%, but after him? Brunson is 14-for-20, and Towns is 12-for-17, both around 70%. For two guys who are career 85% free-throw shooters, it’s a back-breaker.
Looking at the splits (and turnovers, which are also a small problem) through three games, the Knicks aren’t close to where they need to be as a team:
vs PHI: 37/33/70, 14 TO @ BOS: 44/40/71, 16 TO vs ORL: 41/24/68, 14 TO – 25-26: 48/37/79, 12.9 TO
The only game they shot adequately was against Boston, but they committed a season high in turnovers and still didn’t make their free throws. In the other two games, it was poor play at all three levels.
In the modern NBA, three-point shooting is everything. For the Knicks under Mike Brown, they are as reliant as a team can be without being Joe Mazzulla-esque.
2025-26 Knicks, including playoffs: 22-0 when shooting 44% or better 0-7 when shooting 25% or worse
Last season, when the Knicks shot worse than 33.3% from downtown, they went 11-19.
When they shot 33.3% or better, a mark that is not even league average, they went 58-13.
It’s a cheat code for their success, and considering they returned every shooter from last season’s roster, it’s one that needs to show up to right the ship.
Despite their current 10-game losing streak, not all is doom-and-gloom for the Vancouver Canucks organization at the moment. Down in the AHL, the Abbotsford Canucks have won their past five games — and, for the most part, Jacob Quillan has been part of it all.
Quillan, 24, has had a hot start to his time as part of the AHL Canucks. Previously part of the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, the forward joined Abbotsford for their home-opener on October 17 after being moved with forward Brandon Buhr for centre Aatu Räty. Since his first game with Abbotsford, Quillan has registered at least one point in each of his four games.
Quillan’s most recent outing saw the forward score a hat-trick against the Calgary Wranglers, helping his team along to a 4–2 win. This was Quillan’s second-career AHL hat-trick — his first came in the 2025–26 season against the Belleville Senators — and now brings his season total up to four goals and two assists with Abbotsford.
“It’s been pretty good — just pretty standard stuff, just getting a feel of the systems and the players, and getting to know the guys and stuff,” Quillan said after the game regarding the move to Abbotsford.
Notably, Quillan has spent his past two games centering Abbotsford’s top-line, consisting of himself, Kole Lind, and Trey Fix-Wolansky. 2025 first-round draft pick Braeden Cootes previously held the role, but has been absent due to a lower-body injury that is likely to keep him out of his team’s upcoming road trip.
Apr 15, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs center Jacob Quillan (26) battles witjh Ottawa Senators right wing Claude Giroux (28) for control of the puck in the third period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-IMAGN Images
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NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 18: José Urquidy #70 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Friday, September 18, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
What if I told you that a pitcher that was picked up off the scrap heap at the end of the season to provide innings to a staff that could be described as beleaguered at the time and would end up finishing top ten on the team in WAR? Would you believe that that was the story of the Phillies pitching staff towards the end of the season?
Would you believe that it was Jose Urquidy?
2026 stats
2 G (1 GS), 7 1/3 IP, 9 K, 0 BB, 3 R (3 ER), 10 H, 0.4 fWAR
What went right
Listen, being brought in off the waiver wire at the end of the year to give the team a bulk outing and a start in the final week of the season isn’t easy. You’re expected to be effective enough that the team would want to keep you in the game long enough to save other more valuable arms, but also so that the team might actually have a chance at winning a game mostly assumed to be a loss.
Urquidy did just that though. Facing a Mets team in a game that the Phillies kind of had to win, he was the bulk guy in a September 18th start in which he threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball. He struck out six, scattered five hits and kept the Phillies in the game long enough that they could make something of a run. The problem was that Tim Mayza essentially salted the game away early by being an opener that couldn’t get anyone out. Urquidy earned a start for the team in the final week that wasn’t all that great, but hey – baseball seasons are long and sometimes, unexpected performances are needed. At that time, Urquidy gave them an unexpected performance that they really needed.
What went wrong
He kind of stunk in his only scheduled start and showed why he was on the scrap heap in the first place.
Final grade: B
Listen, I’m not going to fault a guy for being rough in these kinds of circumstances. Asking Urquidy to do anything was nigh impossible, yet he looked serviceable in both of his appearances. He’s not going to be a member of the 2027 Phillies unless he somehow gets a minor league deal and decides to ply his trade in Lehigh Valley for half a year, but at the very least, we have this.
Now you have a permanent answer for an Immaculate Grid square.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 18: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves embraces Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 18, 2025 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
To quote new Timberwolves commentator Kevin Calabro, “Nothing but cord.” Fresh off another hot shooting night where Minnesota was 15 for 31 from deep (48%) they prepare for their first back-to-back of the season. Coach Chris Finch rewarded the effort of his squad with frequent breathers and deployed 11 players in non-garbage minutes. Some of this was due to LaMelo Ball foul trouble. Or was that Melo’s strategy all along for saving his legs for the next day?
Minnesota’s opponent the Cleveland Cavaliers are struggling to find their Eastern Conference Finalist form in the early goings of the season. They will have the advantages of rest and home court as they host the undefeated Wolves.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 25: Anthony Edwards #5 celebrates with Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game against the Toronto Raptors on October 25, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Maybe it was something in the Parisian water. Maybe it was the iron sharpening iron team organized practices before training camp. Maybe it was the trade for LaMelo Ball and the full court press to get Jonathan Kuminga to sign in Minnesota. Whatever it was, this Wolves team is knit tighter and more defined than a Norwegian sweater.
No matter the lineup that Finch runs out, every player knows what is expected of them. In the Raptors game, every player bought in on relentless defense regardless of assignment as seen most prominently in Bones Hyland posting as many points as he did blocks and rebounds (three of each). The early efforts have taken some of the load off the regular rotation and allowed the deep bench to get some run. Rookie Isaiah Evans has played in each of the first three wins.
These Wolves are not playing with their food. When they build a lead they add to it. They have only lost three quarters thus far and two of those were in the fourth quarter of 20+ point victories. Even the players “sitting” on the bench understand what is expected of them.
Apr 20, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) talks with guard James Harden (1) during the first half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Target the Bad Defenders
The Cavaliers deploy two bigs in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley who will roam the paint looking to swat shots. Cleveland has averaged eight and a half blocks in their two games, good enough for first in the league. They outbid the Denver Nuggets in a sign-and-trade for Peyton Watson to defend on the wing, and that’s where the strength of their defense trails off. James Harden presents some effort when he can guard in the post, but when asked to move his feet, he runs into problems.
As the Wolves did against the Miami Heat’s Klay Thompson, they should hunt the Harden and Donovan Mitchell on the perimeter. The rest of the Cavs rely on the shot creation of those two players to get their offense going, so pulling them into a recurrent defensive stance will wear them out. Off the bench, Cleveland relies on the scoring of wings Jaylon Tyson, Sam Merrill, and former Trey Lyles Real Madrid teammate Mario Hezonja, none of whom offer much more defensive resistance than who they replace.
Rebounds and Turnovers
The Raptors won the offensive rebounding and turnover battle against the Wolves allowing them to hang around until early in the third quarter. I’d imagine Finch and the coaching staff will be in the player’s ears on the flight to Ohio about ways to clean that up. This will be a unique test for the Wolves playing on the second night of a back-to-back. They rank number one in the league in rebounding, predicated on effort and gang rebounding. They will need to summon that same sweat equity to nullify Cleveland’s bigs.
The Cavaliers have choked away one game against the Philadelphia 76ers and barely hung on against the Brooklyn Nets with fourth quarter turnovers. They have coughed up the ball over 20+ times in each of their first two games with Mitchell and Harden among the biggest culprits. Perhaps a student of the Shaquille O’Neal school of taking the season to play into shape, Harden has shown limited burst to get to the cup. Staying in front of him should allow for off-ball defenders to swarm passing lanes and juice the score in transition.
Prediction
The Wolves have momentum, a clear thesis of what they want to do, and the spirit of youth. The Cavs guards will look to put Minnesota into compromising positions and if the Wolves play clean, they’ll run out to an early lead. Off of tired legs, less Wolves three-balls will drop, but second efforts on the glass will sap the confidence of their opponent. Cleveland will try to get back into the game launching errant three-point shots and Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson will assure the media that by every number but the final score, they won the game. Isaiah Evans will record his first regular season point.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 24: Brandon Williams #12 of the Golden State Warriors shoots the ball over Luke Kennard #8 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns’ first two games of the season couldn’t have gone more differently. A historic beatdown from the Portland Trail Blazers commenced their season, which they followed up three days later with a solid victory over a Stephen Curry-less Golden State Warriors team in their home opener. Nonetheless, it was a 1-1 week despite losing by 41 in their first game. The beauty of a singular game only being worth one loss, no matter the outcome.
Now having our first glimpse of the 2026-27 regular season Suns, here’s what we want your responses on:
Thoughts on the new guys
Luke Kennard and Miles Bridges are in Phoenix and contributing early. While Kennard didn’t play in the season opener and Bridges scored just eight points on 3-of-11 shooting, both were impactful in the team’s first win of the season. Kennard hit three three-pointers, including a few late, and Bridges showed his inside-out game, scoring in the paint and hitting a few triples against the Warriors.
How do you think the two have fit in so far, and how do you expect their roles to evolve as the season goes on?
Starting guard drama looming?
Early returns on the Jalen Green and Devin Booker starting backcourt have not been promising. The first game of the season saw the Suns go down 21-0 en route to getting blown out, and in 13 minutes against the Warriors, the starting lineup had a -21.6 net rating.
In comparison, when Collin Gillespie was replaced by Green, the rest of the starting lineup had a +85.7 net rating.
Two games into a season is no time for seismic changes, and the Suns as a whole mightily struggled in their first game of the season especially, but how concerned are you about Jalen Green’s fit next to Devin Booker in the starting lineup?
Early returns on Khaman Maluach as the starter?
There’s a new starting center in Phoenix, and his name is Khaman Maluach, and he’s been quite passive on the offensive end so far. In 44 minutes in his first two games, the Duke product has taken just five shots and six free throws, averaging 5.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, and two assists per game.
As the team continues to play without a traditional point guard in the starting lineup, it might take Maluach some time to find his role on the offensive end, and his 136.4 defensive rating leaves a lot to be desired on defense, but the team has been significantly better on the glass when he’s in the game.
It was well-known that the big man was going to take some time to get comfortable in his new role, but have early returns given you more or less confidence in his future as a starter?
On the Suns’ Plate This Week
Another two-game slate this week starting on the road and ending at home against the Western Conference for the Suns.
Phoenix will face the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at 5 PM AZ time in a rematch of the first round of the 2026 Western Conference Playoffs that saw the Suns go down in four games. Then on Friday, they’ll host the Denver Nuggets at 7 PM AZ time for their first game of NBA Cup play. The Thunder and Nuggets were the West’s first and third seeds a season ago and once again project to be some of the conference’s best teams.
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - OCTOBER 25 : Head Coach JJ Redick talks with Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half of their game against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on October 25, 2026 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images) | Getty Images
By first quarter’s end on Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers looked a bit of a mess and trailed the Utah Jazz, 47-29. By halftime, they had righted the ship and already stormed all the way back to enter the break with a 74-71 lead. For much of the second half, the two sides engaged in a back-and-forth affair before Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves made a handful of key plays down the stretch to propel Los Angeles to a 132-123 victory and a 3-o start to the year.
After the win, head coach JJ Redick emphasized the importance of a game like that so early in the season for a team still growing together with so many new rotation players. Of course, doing so in a win is preferable but Redick made clear it would’ve provided valuable information regardless of the outcome.
“I talked about this earlier in the year last year. For, particularly, a new group of guys and this feels like a newer team, right, because of all the new faces, you need to build reference,” Redick told reporters. “Really, whether we had responded to the adversity of that first quarter, not being ready to play and not doing any of the stuff that we had talked about pregame, it still would be a reference point. Because we ended up coming back and winning, now it becomes a positive reference point and it’s a reference point for resiliency, right?”
Once Utah had built an 18-point advantage to close the first quarter, Redick saw his team quickly respond in the second quarter to extinguish the deficit and, ultimately, nab a road victory — something that shouldn’t be discounted, especially against a team that’s given the Lakers trouble in recent years.
“Winning on the road is hard in the NBA. These guys always play us tough, particularly here, at least since I’ve been here,” Redick said. “So I wasn’t surprised with how they came out and played offensively. But our guys were, we talked to them at the beginning of the second quarter and there was an immediate response and then we had to gut out a win. We had to gut out a win and I’m just proud of the group for that.”
The Buffalo Sabres now have to deal with questions about their immediate future and their sluggish start to the 2026-27 season without the possibility of bringing in goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, as the saga involving the Hart and Vezina Trophy winner and the Winnipeg Jets ended on Friday with the deal to the New Jersey Devils for center Dawson Mercer, goalie Nico Daws, 2026 first rounder Alexander Command, forward Nick Bjugstad, and a pair of draft picks.
The Sabres were reportedly among the leading contenders for the 33-year-old, going back to last June and the NHL Draft, but they were not alone in their interest. On the most recent episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast,
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman detailed what the various clubs offered for Hellebuyck, but he admittedly could not specify what Buffalo GM Jarmo Kekalainen was prepared to give up. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was reportedly part of a trade for Hellebuyck before July 1, but once his five-team no-trade clause kicked in, moving him to another club to clear his salary and recoup or obtain some assets likely became a complicating factor.O
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the goalie for the Buffalo Sabres for now and the future after Connor Hellebuyck was dealt to New Jersey.
Another factor that killed any chances of a trade before the draft was the Sabres ask of swapping the fourth overall pick, acquired from Chicago in the Bowen Byram deal; for the Jets eighth overall selection. Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff had targeted Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck at #8, and wanted the fourth overall outright as part of the trade.
Friedman mentioned Sabres center Josh Norris, but he had heard that the Jets were concerned about his injury history. Ryan McLeod was the subject of some
speculation as being part of the deal, but was not a name that Friedman had heard. He also assumed with it well known that Winnipeg was looking for young centers or young retainable forwards that they would have asked about Noah Ostlund, Konsta Helenius or Jack Quinn.
James Reimer is set to make his first start for the New York Rangers on Monday night against the Los Angeles Kings after signing a one-year, $850,000 contract over the weekend.
With Igor Shesterkin suffering a season-ending injury and Joonas Korpisalo being placed on injured reserve, the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, brought Reimer in on a PTO.
In the wake of Shesterkin’s absence, Dylan Garand started seven consecutive games, with Spencer Martin only making one appearance in relief of Garand during the team’s 7-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 15.
Garand, who started the season off hot, giving up just four goals in his first four starts of the season, is beginning to show cracks in his game as he’s continued to shoulder a heavy workload.
After Garand gave up 10 goals through the Rangers’ most recent two-game road trip, Reimer was brought in to help take some pressure off Garand, providing a steadier goaltending presence in place of Martin.
Despite heading into a six-day break following Monday’s game, Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff deemed it beneficial to give Garand a rest and get a look at Reimer in game action.
"Well, I think we're asking a lot of Dylan,” Sullivan said. “He just had seven starts in a row, and there's a certain attentional focus that's required with the goaltending position. As I said yesterday, it's the only position where you're on the ice for the full 60 minutes, and even if the play is down the off ground of the rink, it still requires attentional focus.
“And so I think there's a physical challenge to it, but there's also a mental challenge to it. And so we feel just based on our discussions with our goalie coaches, both in Hartford and here, that Rhymes is in a position to go in the net and help us win. So those are the main reasons why we made the decision today."
Reimer has 16 years of NHL experience, having played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, Carolina Hurricanes, Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators.
The 38-year-old goaltender most recently played for the Senators during the 2025-26 season, recording a 7-4-2 record, a .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average.
“He obviously has a significant body work in the league,” Sullivan said of Reimer. “He’s been a quality goalie. It’s never easy to get thrown right into the fire, but if anyone can handle it, it’s a guy like him that has the experience level and understands the position and how he can have success.”
Korpisalo skated for the first time on Sunday since being placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury as he inches toward a return to the lineup.
At 38 years old, Reimer has done everything he’s wanted to at the professional-hockey level but is still excited about what might come of this opportunity with the Rangers.
“I'm really content with my NHL career,” Reimer said via Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic. “I don't need to play. I want to play. I love playing this game, and so if the situation is right and it works for my family and whatnot, then it's something you stay ready for and you make it happen. That was kind of my mindset.”
The catwalk system suspended beneath Tropicana Field's roof has already played a role during Tampa Bay's postseason run. During Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, a high popup by Spencer Jones struck one of the catwalks in shallow right-center field and remained in play, allowing the Rays to record an out.
That unusual scenario is one of several Tropicana Field ground rules that could affect the World Series and become a factor in determining a world champion. The Rays return home trailing 2-0 after dropping the first two games in Milwaukee, but Tampa Bay will host the next three games, giving baseball's only fixed-roof stadium a chance to become part of the World Series.
Here's a look at Tropicana Field's one-of-a-kind ground rules as it gets set to host the Rays and Brewers for three-straight games, including what happens when a batted ball strikes the catwalk system.
Tropicana Field has a catwalk system beneath its non-retractable roof and there are four circular steel rings to help stabilize the structure. They are considered part of the field of play over fair territory and there are specific ground rules in place for all MLB games at the stadium.
MLB ground rules for Tropicana Field state that a batted ball that strikes either of the lower two catwalks (known as the 'C-Ring' and the 'D-Ring'), or any lights, suspended objects or support rods attached to the catwalks, is considered a home run in fair territory.
A batted ball that strikes either of the upper catwalks (known as the 'A-Ring' and the 'B-Ring'), or any support rods or masts attached to them, is considered in play if in fair territory. If the ball is caught by a fielder, the batter is out and runners advance at their own risk.
A batted ball that is not judged by an umpire to be a home run and remains on a catwalk, light or suspended object is considered a ground rule double.
If a batted ball strikes a catwalk, light or suspended object over foul territory, it is considered a dead ball, according to MLB.
Bullpen area
Tropicana Field features throwback bullpens that sit outside either foul line and could be part of the field of play if a ball is batted down the line or if there's a wild throw to first or third base.
MLB rules state a "ball lodging on, under or in the bullpen seating area" is considered out of play. A ball is deemed to be lodged when it goes in or behind equipment or seating or, in the umpire's judgment, is deemed otherwise unplayable.
If a ball enters the bullpen seating area and rebounds out of the seating area, it is considered in play.
