Coen Carr scored 11 points in the opening seven minutes and finished with 13, and Jeremy Fears had 18 points and 11 assists to lead No. 17 Michigan State to an 84-56 win over Detroit Mercy on Friday night. Michigan State, which beat then- No. 14 Arkansas two weeks ago, will likely play a third game against an AP Top 25 team when it faces No. 18 North Carolina on Thanksgiving in Florida. Carson Cooper scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half and Jaxon Kohler had nine of his 13 points after halftime, helping the Spartans coast to the lopsided win after getting off to a strong start.
Tim Howard on MLS schedule change: ‘It needed to happen’
The former U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper - who played ten seasons in Major League Soccer - spoke about the league’s decision to change to a summer-to-spring schedule beginning in 2027. Tim spoke on behalf of Hyundai, an official 2026 FIFA World Cup sponsor.
Former Sabres Superstar Has Big Game
Former Buffalo Sabres star Jack Eichel has had a strong start to the 2025-26 season with the Golden Knights, and that is only continuing to be the case as the campaign rolls on.
During his most recent appearance on Nov. 20 against the Utah Mammoth, Eichel scored two goals and recorded an assist in the Vegas Golden Knights' 4-1 win over the Central Division. With this, Eichel was certainly a notable reason for the Golden Knights' victory over Utah in this contest.
With this latest big game for the Golden Knights, Eichel has now recorded 10 goals, 17 assists, 27 points, and a plus-7 rating in 20 contests this season. With this, there is no question that the former Sabre is having a very good start to the campaign with the Golden Knights. This comes after he posted 28 goals and set new career highs with 66 assists and 94 points in 77 games for Vegas in 2024-25.
In 375 games over six seasons with the Sabres from 2015-16 to 2020-21, Eichel recorded 139 goals and 355 points.
Nashville Predators Prepare For Hockey Fights Cancer Night On Saturday
Apr 4, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; A hockey fights cancer ambassador holds the puck during the ceremonial puck drop with Nashville Predators defenseman Roman Josi (59) and St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn (10) before the game at Bridgestone Arena. Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Amid the noise of on-ice struggles and rumors of roster changes involving the Nashville Predators, a battle of a completely different nature is taking place every day, all over the world: the fight against cancer.
Each season, the NHL and its teams hosts a Hockey Fights Cancer night – typically in November – to raise awareness and funds for their local cancer community.
Now in its 27th season, Hockey Fights Cancer unites the global hockey community through storytelling and meaningful events to fundraise for cancer research, to educate and empower more fans to learn about cancer risk factors and to take action to get screened for certain cancers.
The Nashville Predators Foundation will host its first of two Hockey Fights Cancer nights this season on Saturday, when the Preds take on the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena at 7 Pm CT.
The Foundation is looking to build off the support seen during its Hockey Fights Cancer efforts last season, which raised $229,365.25 for the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.
“We are excited to host our first Hockey Fights Cancer Night of the 2025-26 season,” Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King said in a news release. “These nights are incredibly impactful for our organization as we use our platform to support cancer patients and their families. We are asking SMASHVILLE to join us in the fight against cancer through bidding in our silent auction or donating directly to the 365 Fund. Every dollar we raise goes straight to pediatric cancer research at Vanderbilt."
The Predators organization has had cancer affect members of its family over the past several years. Last July, Erin Daunic, wife of current Preds play-by-play television voice Willy Daunic, passed away at 54 from the illness. Lexi Rogers, the daughter of the team’s equipment manager Pete Rogers, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. Sheila Crisp, wife of former broadcaster Terry Crisp, was also diagnosed several years earlier. Equipment manager Craig “Partner” Baugh is a prostate cancer survivor.
Since its inception during the 2013-14 season, the 365 Fund, created by former Predators legends Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber, has raised over $4 million in donations and in-kind contributions to advance pediatric cancer research efforts at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Saturday night’s game will feature six patient ambassadors from Monroe Carell who will take part in various in-game activities including: High-fiving the team as they take the ice for warm-ups; meeting with the game’s referees pre-game as part of the NHL Officials Association’s Zebras Care initiative; joining the team on-ice for the starting lineup and national anthem; participating in a ceremonial puck drop; riding the Zambonis; and welcoming the team back to the ice for the second period as the Mayor of SMASHVILLE.
During practice this past Wednesday, Preds goalie Juuse Saros wore a custom mask honoring the four in the Preds family affected by cancer. Saros will wear the mask on Saturday.
Bigger than sports 💜
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) November 19, 2025
Juice debuts an extra-special Hockey Fights Cancer mask, honoring four members of our organization affected by cancer:
Craig “Partner” Baugh
Sheila Crisp
Lexi Rogers
Erin Daunic pic.twitter.com/BIuSM59bb8
“A lot of people are involved, unfortunately, with cancer within the last couple years,” Saros said Wednesday. “I thought I would honor all those people by fighting against it.”
Fans can bid on the mask in the Preds Foundation’s Hockey Fights Cancer auction by texting PREDS to 76278. The auction will close at the start of the third period of Saturday's game. Vaughn Hockey donated the mask, and David Gunnarsson of DaveArt donated the paint job.
To help make a bigger difference, the Preds Foundation is calling on SMASHVILLE to support Hockey Fights Cancer, the 365 Fund and the imperative cancer research taking place at Monroe Carell. There are a number of ways fans can get involved: wearing lavender to Saturday’s game; bid on silent auction items; and donate to the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund.
The goal is to raise $36,500 through these donations.
"We are so very grateful for the long-standing support of the Nashville Predators and the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund that spans well over a decade and that truly has made a difference in the lives of children and their families," Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, said in a statement. "Each season, we look forward to the Hockey Fights Cancer games that highlight our partnership with the Nashville Predators, raise support for childhood cancer efforts and also celebrate our pediatric cancer patients. I absolutely love to see the joy and hope that the Nashville Predators and Hockey Fights Cancer bring to our patients and families during these events."
Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint initiative of the NHL and NHL Players’ Association and powered by the V Foundation for Cancer Research presented by AstraZeneca.
The Predators’ second Hockey Fights Cancer Night will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, during their game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Ex-Temple basketball player Hysier Miller bet on his team to lose multiple times, NCAA says
The NCAA deemed Miller permanently ineligible after finding he placed 42 parlay bets totaling $473 on Temple games during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons.
Richie Saunders scores 26 as No. 9 BYU gets 1st win over ranked foe, beating No. 23 Wisconsin 98-70
Wisconsin struggled with prolonged shooting droughts, shooting just 32 percent from the field before halftime.
Bernie Parent's love for people and Flyers comes through in celebration of life
Bernie Parent's love for people and Flyers comes through in celebration of life originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As Scott Tharp watched all the miffed drivers whiz by Bernie Parent on the highway, he, of course, saw the legendary goaltender remain unfazed.
Parent was driving Tharp and others home from a 2018 outdoor game in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was going a cool 45 miles per hour in the left lane. Once he finally budged and moved his way to the right lane, some cars let him have it.
“Bernie rolled down his window and took both hands off the wheel to put his Stanley Cup rings out the window,” Tharp said. “And then turned to those of us in the car and said, ‘How about that? They’re cheering for me!'”
You could not bring down Parent’s zest for life and happiness.
“Bernie only ever saw good in others,” Tharp, the president and CEO of Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education, said.
That was abundantly evident Friday night as the Flyers held a celebration of life for Parent, who died Sept. 21 at the age of 80. His wife, fans and former teammates sat in the lower bowl at Xfinity Mobile Arena, remembering the fun-loving, dominant goalie who led the Flyers to their back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 1974 and 1975.
“Bernie was a titan of our franchise,” Dan Hilferty, the Comcast Spectacor chairman and CEO and Flyers governor, said. “For many, he is the quintessential Philadelphia Flyer. You cannot tell the story of the Flyers without talking at length about Bernie Parent.”
Video tributes and pictures were played on the arena’s giant scoreboard, which was flanked by Parent’s retired No. 1 and the Flyers’ Stanley Cup champion banners.
The Hockey Hall of Famer won the Vezina Trophy twice as the NHL’s top goalie and the Conn Smythe Trophy twice as the league’s postseason MVP.
“When you win two Stanley Cups, it takes the best that everybody on that team can give,” Bob Clarke, a fellow franchise legend, said. “It just so happened that Bernie’s best was better than the rest of our best and we got two Stanley Cups because of Bernie.”
Well before he became the NHL’s deputy commissioner, Bill Daly remembered when Parent crushed his childhood dream of the Rangers hoisting the Stanley Cup. The Flyers knocked out New York en route to their first championship.
“Bernie contributed to breaking the heart of a 10-year-old boy in 1974,” Daly said. “Yes, that would be me. Yes, I was raised as a die-hard New York Rangers fan growing up in North Jersey.”
Fans in attendance gave Daly some good-natured boos.
“Passionately committed to the team despite years and years of postseason failure, 1974 was supposed to be a different year for the Rangers, finally an opportunity to win a Stanley Cup,” Daly said. “But Bernie and the Flyers had different ideas.”
Parent was not just a fearless goalie who donned that iconic white mask. He was also a father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“I’m so lucky and blessed that I was able to be his daughter, his only daughter,” Kim Parent said in a video message. “Like, how lucky am I? I am so grateful. The bond that we shared was something that means the world to me.”
The Montreal native became devoted to the Philadelphia area, making it his home.
“You were such a huge part of his life,” his wife Gini Parent said. “Bernie didn’t just play for the Flyers; he played for you, the fans.”
Parent was a true ambassador for the Flyers’ organization and the Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education program. He was always happy to see fans and take pictures.
“I can remember numerous occasions where he had his Stanley Cup rings, he would share them, you’d look over and there’s a couple of kids wearing his rings,” Flyers president of hockey operations Keith Jones said in a video message. “I think that’s something fans really appreciated, but I think we all can learn from, because he took the time to make sure he shared his success with everybody else.”
Joe Watson probably could have shared Parent stories all night and into the morning. He had known Parent since 1963, before their title-winning days with the Flyers. He called it “an honor and a privilege” to be Parent’s teammate.
“I know Bernie’s up there laughing and smiling and everything else,” Watson, who fought back tears, said. “He’d love to be down here. But I look forward to seeing you again my friend.”
Five Surprising NHL Teams In A Playoff Spot At The Quarter Mark
The NHL’s 2025-26 season has reached the quarter mark, and the playoff race is already intense.
It’s a great time to look at which teams are surprisingly in a playoff spot heading into Friday's games. Here are five of them in alphabetical order.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks were believed to be a team on the rise, but few believed they were going to rise to the top of the Pacific Division or even near it.
But after 21 games, Anaheim has a 13-7-1 record, including a 7-2-1 home mark. They've played one more game than the Vegas Golden Knights, but with a one-point lead, Anaheim is first in the Pacific. That’s a huge positive surprise for a franchise that has been one of the league’s worst for many years now.
The Ducks have been thriving in no small part due to their high-octane offense, which sits third in the NHL with 3.57 goals-for per game. Leo Carlsson is tied for fifth in NHL scoring, with 28 points, and Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry and the injured Mikael Granlund are also averaging at least a point per game.
Anaheim’s defense needs work, but this is a young Ducks team that is still learning how to compete at both ends of the ice. When they get to that point, Anaheim is going to be one of the NHL’s most dangerous squads.
BetMGM's odds of Anaheim making the playoffs: 1.53 (-189)
Chicago Blackhawks
Like the Ducks, the Blackhawks have been stuck in the unfortunate part of the competitive cycle. But thanks to young stars, such as centers Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar, Chicago has put together a 10-6-4 record, good for fourth place in the Central Division and a wild-card spot entering Friday's action.
Bedard has 29 points in 20 games, and goaltender Spencer Knight has been exceptional, with a .922 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average. He leads all NHL netminders in goals saved above expected, with 14.2, according to moneypuck.com.
The Hawks still need time to flesh out their roster, which isn’t deep enough for this team to be considered a legitimate Cup threat. But for the first time since the Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews Era, the Hawks aren't an easy out.
BetMGM's odds of Chicago making the playoffs: 5.75 (+475)
New York Islanders
Coming off a season in which they finished 12th in the Eastern Conference, the Islanders looked like they needed a rebuild more than anything. Now, they're looking like a retool could suffice.
The Isles have been a competitive group, with a 12-7-2 record and a 7-2-1 mark in their last 10 games. That’s put them into third place in the Metropolitan Division – a lofty place few thought they’d be.
With 2025 No. 1 draft pick Matthew Schaefer as a foundational talent, the Islanders have been blessed by the hockey gods. But Bo Horvat has been outstanding, with 14 goals and 25 points in 21 games. Their second-leading scorers are Kyle Palmieri and Mathew Barzal, with 16 points. And off-season acquisitions Emil Heineman and Jonathan Drouin have 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Goaltender Ilya Sorokin had a rough start to the season. But after the team switched goalie coaches on Oct. 22, he's had a 5-2-2 record, .924 SP and 2.07 GAA.
The Islanders are still likely to need more time and talent to grow into a top team in the league, but they are feisty and intent on demonstrating the road back to relevancy will be fast-tracked.
BetMGM's odds of the Islanders making the playoffs: 2.15 (+115)
Pittsburgh Penguins
Few, if any, pundits had the Penguins as anything other than an also-ran team this season.
Instead, the Pens have been in a playoff spot right out of the gate, holding the first wild-card spot in the East on Friday. While they’ve cooled off of late, going 4-3-3 in their last 10 games, Pittsburgh has played well enough to quieten trade rumors involving stars Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Erik Karlsson, Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell.
The Penguins’ defense – second-best in the league at 2.47 goals against per game – is their biggest surprise. Last year, they ranked 29th in that category. Goaltender Tristan Jarry has bounced back, although he's currently injured, and trade acquisition Arturs Silovs has a .917 SP and 2.44 GAA.
While there may be some regression ahead for Pittsburgh in the days and weeks ahead, the Pens’ strong start means their fans may get to enjoy one more playoff run with Crosby, Malkin and Letang.
BetMGM's odds of Pittsburgh making the playoffs: 3.40 (+240)
Five Most Intriguing NHL Odds To Make Or Miss The PlayoffsBurning questions surround five NHL teams with playoff odds that are worth a closer look.Seattle Kraken
The Kraken took a step backward last season, finishing 13th in the Western Conference with a 35-41-6 record. But after making a few roster tweaks – and after hiring Lane Lambert to be their coach – Seattle has surged up the standings, posting a 10-5-5 record to sit in third place in the Pacific.
They're scoring by committee, with eight players posting at least 10 points. And the Kraken have the league’s sixth-best defense at 2.70 goals against per game.
They’re going to need more time to stock their roster with high-end talent, but Seattle’s start ensures that they’re likely to stay in the playoff race all season long.
BetMGM's odds of Chicago making the playoffs: 3.40 (+240)
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Different issue plagues Warriors after fixing turnover woes in loss to Blazers
Different issue plagues Warriors after fixing turnover woes in loss to Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors coach Steve Kerr during his pregame news conference Friday identified the greatest threat to the success of the team this season: Turnovers. When they commit fewer, they win. When they commit more, they lose.
“That’s our No. 1 concern at this stage,” he said. “Seventeen games in, it’s pretty clear what we have to do. If we take care of the ball, we win. If we don’t, we lose.”
Four hours later, in Game 18, at Chase Center for the first time since Nov. 9, the Warriors committed fewer giveaways than the Portland Trail Blazers – and, for the first time this season, lost.
Lack of size and interior muscle is an issue that has surfaced all too often this season, and they were the primary cause of the Warriors walking off the Chase Center floor with a 127-123 lashing that killed their homecoming buzz and dropped them back to .500.
“We know we’re small out there at times, but we got to play bigger than we are,” said Stephen Curry, whose game-high 38 points went for naught. “There were a lot of breakdowns and missed box outs because they had five out most of the time, with a 7-footer in there. Those possessions matter.”
Glancing at their opening-night roster, the smallest in the NBA, the Warriors had to expect there would be nights like this. Nights when they would pay a price for being relatively miniature compared to their opponent. When rebounds would be gone before the ball could drop low enough to reach their outstretched hands.
Nights, like this one, when they would outshoot their opponent from the field, and from beyond the arc, while committing fewer turnovers, and still come up short. Literally and figuratively.
Portland won the offensive rebounding war 21-9, the total rebounding war 52-32 and was plus-18 (28-10) in second chance points. Four Blazers snagged at least seven rebounds, with Robert Williams III hauling in a game-high 11, while Jimmy Butler III, with eight, was the only Warrior with more than six.
“They are an athletic team,” Kerr said after losing to Portland for the second time this season. “A couple of their guys are super athletic. They crash. They put a lot of pressure on us. That was the difference.”
It is exceedingly difficult to win when taking such a beating on the glass, though Curry indicated there is a path.
“Pretty much perfect basketball on the other end,” Curry said.
“But it’s still crazy that we were in a one-possession game with whatever with minute and a half (remaining) with that type of discrepancy. It’s like you play as hard as you want to, fly around, but the best offense and the most demoralizing thing for defense is 20 seconds of good defense, and then an easy put back or second, third opportunity.”
Though rebounding was the most statistical failure, and the most decisive, the Warriors also did a poor job of defending, particularly at the point of attack and when spread out by Portland’s shooters. Rookie guard Caleb Love, on a two-way contract, came off the bench to score a career-high 26 points, in the process draining six 3-pointers, several of which were wide open.
“We’re just not guarding nobody, from what I can tell,” Butler said. “And I haven’t been here long, but that’s never been the formula here.”
“You’re not taking anything away. You’re not taking the paint away. You’re not taking away layups, free throws, lobs, 3s. So, we don’t know where they’re going to get a shot from, but tonight they were getting whatever shot they wanted.”
Brandin Podziemski, at times tasked with point-of-attack defense, conceded that it did not go well for him or any of his teammates when given that assignment.
“Just too many straight-line drives,” Podziemski said of Portland’s freeway to the rim. “Obviously, they are a bigger team than us. So, when our big has to rotate over so many times, it leaves (it open) for lobs and offensive rebounds.”
The Warriors entered the game ranked 29th in number of turnovers per game and 22nd in rebounding. They committed 14 turnovers, to 21 for Portland. They plugged that leak.
Only to have another one bite them in the backside.
It has been that kind of season for Golden State. And probably will be if the current roster is unable to overcome the areas, and there are several, in which it is deficient.
Canadiens Recall Florian Xhekaj From AHL
After extending their losing streak to five games following their 8-4 loss to the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens have made a notable roster move.
The Canadiens have announced that they have recalled forward Florian Xhekaj from their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. In addition, the Canadiens announced that forward Joshua Roy will remain on the NHL roster, after initially stating that he was heading back to Laval.
Xhekaj is a prospect who many fans have been wanting to see get his first chance on the Canadiens' roster, and it is now coming to fruition. The 6-foot-4 forward has appeared in 16 games this season with Laval, where he has recorded two goals, four points, and 44 penalty minutes. This is after he recorded 24 goals, 35 points, and 175 penalty minutes in 69 games this past season with Laval.
With Xhekaj being called up, the Canadiens will be adding more bite and toughness to their lineup.
Erratum : Les Canadiens ont rappelé l’attaquant Florian Xhekaj du Rocket de Laval. Joshua Roy demeure avec les Canadiens.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) November 21, 2025
Erratum: The Canadiens have recalled Florian Xhekaj from the Laval Rocket. Joshua Roy remains with the Canadiens. pic.twitter.com/TaieDtFBif
As for Roy, he has recorded zero points, two shots, and an even plus/minus rating in three games this season with the Canadiens. Down in the AHL with Laval this season, he has posted four goals, seven points, and a plus-4 rating in 10 contests.
Report: Ottawa Senators Place Swedish Winger On Waivers
The Ottawa Senators reportedly made a roster move on Friday. According to Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch, the Senators have placed 26-year-old Swedish winger Olle Lycksell on waivers for the purpose of reassignment. Lycksell was recently placed on injured reserve with a concussion, but now he's apparently ready to return, and if he clears, he's likely headed back to Belleville for the second time this season.
Lycksell cleared waivers coming out of training camp but made Ottawa's roster to open the season. The Sens sent him to Belleville 12 days later (Oct. 17), but brought him back on Oct 21. He's played just six games in Ottawa this season, scoring one goal, and two games in Belleville, where he's been held pointless.
In 51 career NHL games with the Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, Lycksell has tallied two goals and 10 assists. But he's been an elite AHL player the past three seasons, putting up 128 points in 136 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. That intrigued the Senators enough to sign him to a one-year two-way contract on July 1.
With Lycksell ready to play, the Senators had the option on Friday of sending Stephan Halliday back down, a forward who's waivers-exempt. But after his nice NHL debut on Thursday night in Anaheim, including a fine setup on Shane Pinto's tying goal, it appears the Sens are keen to book a little more Halliday time until either Ridly Greig or Brady Tkachuk is ready to return.
On that note, Tkachuk hopes to return (and come off IR) within the week. Greig is said to be day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, but with Senators' head coach Travis Green being so consistently cloak-and-dagger with his roster and/or injury information, who knows?
If he clears waivers, Lycksell is expected to immediately join the AHL's Belleville Senators. The B-Sens are in Laval this weekend, where they play on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News/Ottawa
This article was originally published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Read more:
NHL Insider Says Senators Are 'Looking To Hit A Home Run' On The Trade Market
Former Senators Defenseman Returns To Ottawa In Monday Trade With Philadelphia
Arthur Kaliyev Heating Up, Now Third In AHL Goal Scoring
Senators Have Big UFA Contract Decisions In Next Few Years (Who Stays And Who Goes?)
Four More Years: Shane Pinto Signs Four-Year Extension
Dodgers non-tender Evan Phillips, but remain interested in re-signing the reliever
Ahead of his final season under club control, and with his 2026 salary expected to top more than $6 million through arbitration, reliever Evan Phillips was not tendered a contract for next year by the Dodgers on Friday, but president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team is still interested in re-signing him as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
“We had a number of back and forth discussions with Evan and his agent,” Friedman said via text. “It is challenging with him coming off surgery, so he is going to take some time and look to sign after he throws off the mound when his rehab allows. Evan has been a big part of our past success and we will continue the conversation about bringing him back. We respect that he is taking this time to decide what is best for him and his family.”
Friday’s decision — which will make Phillips a free agent — reflects the uncertainty around the pitcher’s status for next season, following the Tommy John procedure he had last June.
Read more:Dodgers boss Andrew Friedman part of team to advise Lakers in ownership transition
Phillips’ recovery process is expected to stretch at least into the early part of next year. How much he will be able to pitch in 2026 remains unclear.
Because of that, the Dodgers faced a decision ahead of MLB’s non-tender deadline Friday: Keep Phillips on the roster and pay him the $6.1 million or so that MLB Trade Rumors projected he would receive through the arbitration process. Or cut him loose and attempt to re-sign him (likely to a lesser salary) this offseason.
The club picked the latter. Now, only time will tell whether Phillips’ productive tenure in Los Angeles will continue.
Phillips, 31, has been a key part of the Dodgers' bullpen since the team plucked him off waivers near the end of the 2021 season.
In 2022, he was one of the top relievers in baseball, posting a 1.14 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 63 innings. He had a 2.05 ERA and 24 saves the following season, before regressing to a 3.62 mark in 2024.
Despite that decline, the right-hander still played a crucial role in the club’s 2024 World Series run, pitching 6⅔ scoreless innings that postseason before missing the World Series with a shoulder injury.
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That injury, which Phillips later said included a tear in the back of his rotator cuff, caused him to miss the early weeks of this past season.
Phillips eventually made his 2025 season debut on April 19, but logged only seven appearances (all of them scoreless) before going on the injured list in early May with forearm discomfort. At the time, Phillips’ hope was that the IL stint was only a “precautionary” measure and that he would be able to return later in the season.
Instead, his forearm pain lingered. And by the end of May, the full severity of his injury had become frustratingly clear.
Phillips underwent his Tommy John procedure, which typically comes with a 12-18 month recovery timeline, on June 3.
“[His arm] wasn’t really responding,” general manager Brandon Gomes said at the time. “We felt like this could be a possibility. So as he got deeper into the process and it wasn’t really getting better, the decision to do it was pretty much evident with our information.”
Read more:Dodgers need an outfielder. Cody Bellinger is a free agent. Could a reunion be possible?
Phillips did begin throwing again on Nov. 5, he announced on Instagram. The Dodgers would still like for him to be part of the mix in their bid for a World Series three-peat in 2026.
Now, however, it will take a new contract to get that done.
In addition to Phillips, the Dodgers also decided not to tender a contract to 27-year-old pitcher Nick Frasso on Friday. Frasso, a former top prospect who struggled in triple-A in his return from a shoulder surgery this past season, had yet to make his MLB debut.
Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Jets goalie Hellebuyck to undergo arthroscopic procedure on his knee and miss 4 to 6 weeks
Nov 15, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his knee and be out four to six weeks, the team said Friday.
Jets coach Scott Arneil said Friday that Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL's top goalie, had been trying to play through a knee injury, and the timing is right to get it taken care of.
“Obviously, he’s, what is it, 10 years, he’s been pretty healthy,” Arniel said. “And this has kind of been nagging on him here since training camp. It’s something we’ve kind of known about, he was trying to play through it, would be good days, bad days, just something that, timing’s right, get it done now.
“A lot of schedule ahead of us, so that was really just the thinking. Sat down, talked to him, obviously the medical staff, everybody, agent. This was the time to do it.”
The surgery comes less than three months before the start of the Olympic men’s hockey tournament in Milan, Italy.
Hellebuyck is 8-6-0 with a 2.51 goals-against average and .913 save percentage this season for the Jets (12-7-0), who entered a game Friday against Carolina in third place in the Central Division.
The 32-year-old Hellebuyck won his first Hart Trophy as NHL MVP and his second straight - and third career -Vezina Trophy in 2024-25, helping the Jets to the best regular-season record in the NHL. He also won the award as top goalie in 2019-20.
Hellebuyck, from Commerce, Michigan, was not included in the first group of six players announced for the United States’ Olympic preliminary roster, but was widely expected to be added to the team.
Eric Comrie is expected to take the Jets starting role in Hellebuyck’s absence. He is 4-1 with a 2.60 GAA and .908 save percentage this season.
In a corresponding move, the Jets called up goaltender Thomas Milic from the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose.
“Obviously we’ve been really fortunate to have Helly be healthy and available," Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey said. "His durability is something to marvel at. Obviously now without him, you can’t replace a guy like that.
“But we’re super confident in Coms and Milly and our defensive game. But definitely, we’ve been fortunate to not have him out of the lineup for a whole lot of years.”
Hellebuyck, who last played on Nov. 15 in a victory over Calgary, was 47-12-3 last season. He has a career record of 330-191-44 with a 2.56 GAA and .918 save percentage and 45 shutouts.
Flames' Ugly Start Has A Big Bright Spot In Net
Things are not going well for the Calgary Flames so far this season.
The Flames are at the bottom of the NHL standings with a 6-13-3 record and 15 points. This is after they just missed out on the playoffs last season, finishing the year with a 41-27-14 record and 96 points. They even had more points than the New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens, which made the playoffs in the East.
A crucial part of Calgary's success last year was the play of rookie Dustin Wolf. He started the season splitting the starts with then-backup Dan Vladar, then gradually got more assignments as he played exceptionally well for a rookie netminder. He finished as a finalist in the Calder Trophy race.
Now, Wolf has had some ups and downs this season as he's taken on more responsibility, with an .892 save percentage, 3.08 goals-against average and one shutout.
But while the Flames are struggling immensely early on, another goaltender – Devin Cooley – has been a big bright spot for them.
Oh Devin Cooley. Never ever change. pic.twitter.com/nbzzkmKlcI
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 20, 2025
After spending all of last season in the AHL with the Calgary Wranglers, Cooley beat out free-agent signing Ivan Prosvetov for the Flames' backup job out of training camp. And he quickly dismissed questions about whether Calgary needed a proven NHL veteran to give Wolf the type of backup support that Vladar gave.
In fact, Cooley's been excellent.
While he has a 1-2-1 record, he leads all NHL goaltenders who have played six or more games with a .935 save percentage and a 1.80 goals-against average. He also has six goals saved above expected, according to moneypuck.com.
With numbers like these, there is no question that Cooley is playing some very strong hockey right now. He is also showing no signs of slowing down as the season continues, either. In his most recent appearance against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 19, he stopped 28 out of 30 shots, which equates to a .933 save percentage.
Cooley has also shown great consistency early on, as he has had a .921 save percentage or better in five out of his six appearances this season with the Flames.
When noting that the 28-year-old Cooley had only six games of NHL experience before this season, which were all with the San Jose Sharks in 2023-24, him playing this well with the Flames is undoubtedly impressive. It will be interesting to see if the Los Gatos, California, native can continue to stay hot for the Flames, but he has been a fun story early on in 2025-26.
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Red Wings Still Can't Budge With Andrew Copp Situation
A quarter of the way into the NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings find themselves in unfamiliar but welcome territory: sitting atop the Atlantic Division with a winning record, a wave of rookies making meaningful strides, and milestone moments piling up faster than they have in over a decade. It has been, by nearly every measure, a season to remember.
But amid the glowing storylines and energized fan base, a handful of concerns continue to simmer beneath the surface. At the center of the quiet discontent is a respected veteran who has long been considered part of the team’s leadership core in forward Andrew Copp.
Copp, 31, entered the season looking for a rebound year as his production has dropped every season since his first with the Red Wings when he recorded nine goals and 33 assists for 42 points. He's continued to be a two-way player with a stabilizing presence in the locker room and a key contributor on special teams. Yet his offensive production has again dipped, this time to an alarming level.
Through 21 games, Copp has recorded just one goal, an empty-net tally, and seven assists for eight points. He is currently on pace for just four goals, which would mark the lowest total of his NHL career, while his projected 30 points would fall fairly in line with his last two seasons but remains well short of expectations for a player carrying a $5.625 million cap hit.
With Detroit fans growing increasingly vocal about their frustrations with general manager Steve Yzerman and several of his personnel decisions, Copp has become one of the most heavily scrutinized names. Certainly not because of his character, as he remains one of the most beloved players in the dressing room and has even worn the "A" at times with the organization, but because of what his contract means for a team trying to take the next step.
Complicating matters even worse is Copp has a modified 10-team no-trade clause, which limits Detroit’s flexibility. Even if the Red Wings wanted to move him, the combination of his cap hit, declining scoring touch and lack of trade candidates would make any deal difficult to execute.
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Yet Detroit’s coaching staff continues to lean on Copp in critical moments, largely because of his role on the top penalty-kill unit. Though now skating on the fourth line, he still averages over 14 minutes per game because of his work on Detroit's penalty kill, that has transformed the unit for from the worst in the NHL last season to a respectable 13th overall this year.
Still, internal pressure is on the horizon as the Red Wings are continuing to get surging young talent pushing upward from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, with several prospects eager for NHL minutes. Among them is Carter Mazur, who was nearing an NHL look before suffering an injury. Once healthy, Mazur could force Detroit’s hand, or at least apply the pressure necessary to spark improvement from Copp.
What a slick little pass from Emmitt Finnie to Carter Mazur! pic.twitter.com/IErr5a1Fti
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 23, 2025
League insiders suggest the Red Wings have quietly explored their options regarding Copp, though no imminent move appears realistic. With the salary cap expected to rise next season, Copp’s contract may feel less burdensome over time but for now, Detroit is likely tied to him for the next two years.
For a team finally emerging from its rebuild, the Copp conundrum is less a crisis and more a stubborn complication. The Red Wings know what he brings as a leader, penalty killer, and steadying on-ice presence. They also know they are not getting the level of offensive production they are paying for and will continue to nag at fans until things turn around. Until then, the Red Wings may simply have to make the best of the situation, trusting that Copp’s intangible value and the rising cap environment will ease the sting over time.
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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.