Posts

Posted on

Islanders Gameday News: Hockey’s back!

73 no more… | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The NHL season is underway! Let us now enjoy all the ups, the downs and endless absurdities that are sure to follow with the “transition” 2026-27 New York Islanders, including an extra two games of angst in the expanded 84-game schedule.

They have an incredible Calder-winning defenseman who’s sure to be a Norris candidate through much of his career and delight us on even the darkest nights, a Vezina-caliber goalie whose peak may nonetheless behind him, a 38-year-old backup trying to come back with two (partial) new knees, and a bunch of aging players who will be “transitioned” out in the next few years as this season’s (hopefully) emerging youngsters take the reins.

There is a lot to scratch your head about and wonder, “How’s this gonna work?” about their opening roster, but there’s also Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund, two youngsters who provide hope today and should be part of the next generation if the roster one day gets out of this middling state.

PROGRAMMING/GAME THREAD NOTE: I’ll do my darndest to make sure we have a separate game thread/chat for each game. With the new SB Nation app, there is a “game chat” functionality that is supposed to work pretty well. I am not an app person and sure as Avery am not a salesperson, so I’m comfortable telling you the app is pretty useful for accessing this site and jumping around comments on mobile.

COMMENTING NOTE: And that brings up another note…the lifeblood of this site is fun, informed(???), fan-driven commentary. I know you (or at least many of you) don’t come here for my unsourced prose; you come here for the laugh or the reality-check or the well-meaning banter in comments. So please don’t abuse it, don’t abuse each other, don’t hammer the same point (whether its genius or tinfoil) 20 times per day. To help prevent trolls and bots, there is network-wide comment moderation, which means certain words or antagonistic comments toward each other may get filtered or blocked, and I won’t know about the injustice until long after the moment has passed.

Sometimes the filters or moderators overreact (don’t mention that you graduated summa cum laude!), but by and large it shouldn’t be hard to have basic, human discourse here. (Remember: The enemy isn’t each other, it’s…Isles management, or something.) There are options to mute your least favorite commenters or simply skim on by the stuff you find dumb, so consider doing that and channel your blood pressure spikes to what happens on the ice.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk.

Islanders News

First things first! The Islanders open the season in Toronto tonight. First Islanders Goal picks for tonight go here, with instructions in the first comment.

  • Victor Eklund has switched to number 38, which I really don’t like but I guess it’s okay, as it’s what he wore in Sweden. Still, ick. [Isles]
  • The Islanders will have four alternate captains — different guys for home and road — in addition to new captain Bo Horvat. I’m not going to pretend to think this means anything significant, but I’m glad Schaefer gets an A since he’ll one day lead this next generation. [Isles]
  • ONLY in Newsday! What can Schaefer accomplish in his second season? [Newsday]
  • It’s going to be a work-in-progress as the Isles acclimate to what Pete DeBoer wants. [Post]
  • Exhausted by click bait headlines, I made 32 BOLD predictions about this season. [LHH]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores included the defending champs raising their banner but falling to the previous champs, the Leafs falling at home to the Canadiens, and the vaunted Babcockian Oilers and Islanders playoff hero Tristan Jarry giving up five goals on the first 20 shots in an OT loss to the Canucks. They got a very friendly call to help them tie it up late and force overtime, making Evan Bouchard’s hat trick worth something.

  • During the game broadcast, ESPN paid modest tribute to Barry Melrose. [NHL]
  • The Blue Jackets are happy to be done with the Kirill Marchenko drama. [NHL]
  • Speaking of whom, thank GOD Carson Soucy has found work. [TSN]
  • Who else here is thrilled that the Leafs “look like a new team in emotional loss”? [Sportsnet]
  • Who needs AI? Jakub Dobes proved he can get a robot to express emotion. [Sportsnet]
  • Elliotte Friedman returns with some 32 Actual Written Thoughts. [Sportsnet]
Posted on

Pens Points: The 2026-27 season begins

Hockey: A general view of the logo displayed on center ice during the Pittsburgh Penguins vs Edmonton Oilers game at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh PA 1/9/2025 CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164658 TK1)

Here are your Pens Points for this Wednesday morning…

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said his focus entering the new season remains on improving the team rather than setting a specific goal such as a playoff berth or Stanley Cup title. Dubas said Pittsburgh will continue seeking young impact players while developing its current prospects and improving defensively. [Trib Live]

The Penguins will celebrate their 60th anniversary throughout the 2026-27 season with special events, giveaways and ticket packages. The yearlong celebration begins with a pregame ceremony on Oct. 3 before the Penguins’ home opener against the Montreal Canadiens, and the team has also unveiled a retro-inspired 60th anniversary logo. [KDKA]

Forward Egor Chinakhov is getting an opportunity on Pittsburgh’s top power-play unit after Bryan Rust was placed on injured reserve. Chinakhov, who scored 18 goals and 36 points in 43 games with the Penguins last season, is expected to skate alongside Sidney Crosby, Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell and Tommy Novak.

ICYMI: In an appearance on Mark Madden’s radio show on 105.9 The X, Sidney Crosby said the shortened preseason has limited his time to build chemistry with new linemate Nick Robertson, but he has been encouraged by their progress. The Penguins captain also said he hopes to play for several more years, while acknowledging that his retirement timeline will depend on how he feels physically and mentally. [PensBurgh]

News and notes from around the NHL…

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a skull fracture suffered when he was struck by a puck during Friday’s preseason game against Dallas. The 24-year-old had 51 points in 80 games last season, but the Wild have not established a timetable for his return. [NHL]

Thomas Chabot has been named the next captain of the Ottawa Senators. [TSN]

Newly acquired Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matthew Knies is glad to have the trade speculation surrounding him in the rearview mirror after being dealt by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Knies said the rumors had become tiring but is excited for a fresh start in Columbus. [Sportsnet]

Posted on

A Night to Remember: 3 Observations as Golden Knights Defeat Blackhawks in Home Opener

Las Vegas, N.V.– With its legalized gambling, world-renowned restaurants, magic shows, and acrobatic circus acts, Las Vegas is widely viewed as the entertainment capital of the world. The Strip has something for everyone and attracts an unfathomable amount of foot traffic every day. On Tuesday, a good chunk of that traffic flocked to T-Mobile Arena for the Vegas Golden Knights’ home opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Golden Knights are known for their pregame theatrics, and they didn’t cut any corners in their 10th season. The ‘Season X’ pregame show included a walk down memory lane with a nostalgic video, and finished with a call to the city’s rich history with neon signs.

Even before puck drop, the building was electric. 

The good time certainly didn’t stop when the Golden Knights struck first. After spending most of the 2025-26 season playing catch-up, the fans were all-too eager to cheer as their team took a two-goal lead and spent the rest of the night fending off every push that the Connor Bedard-less Blackhawks could muster. And in the end, when the final horn sounded on a 5-2 Golden Knights victory, well, they liked that too.

1. A Milestone Knight

Usually, an NHL debut is enough cause for celebration. But tonight, 20-year-old Trevor Connelly killed two birds with one stone and became the second-ever Golden Knight to score a goal in his NHL debut.

“I mean, it’s incredible,” said Jack Eichel about Connelly’s milestone. “You see his family here before the game; it’s his first NHL game. He’s been awesome all camp. He’s a great part of our locker room, and he’s obviously a special player. [I’m] so happy to see him get his first, definitely a night and a moment that he’ll never forget.”

Eichel, too, hit a pretty big milestone tonight. With a goal and two assists, Eichel recorded his 700th career point. 

“I’ve been really lucky and grateful to be a part of this organization,” said Eichel following the 5-2 win. “But I think those things just come kind of organically. I’ve played with some great players in my career, and like I said, those things kind of just come. Yeah, it was cool.”

2. Guess Who’s Back, Back Again?

There’s been a fair bit of chatter about the Golden Knights’ new-look power play heading into the season. There are questions about how they’ll replace Pavel Dortofeyev’s 25 power play goals, and how the top unit will fare without a one-time option for Jack Eichel. They went 1-4 tonight against the Blackhawks.

Who scored the lone goal? Why, Victor Olofsson, of course! 

After a partial change, Olofsson found himself out on the ice with most of the top unit. Shea Theodore left the puck for Jack Eichel at center ice, and Eichel found Olofsson entering the zone with a full head of steam. In his first game back with the Golden Knights, Olofsson flew towards the left dot and ripped a shot past Spencer Knight.

It’s far too early to form conclusions about the power play. However, one thing is for certain: Victor Olofsson sure does know how to score goals.

3. Meet the New Boss…

Ryan Craig has been working up to his first game as an NHL head coach for a long, long time. He spent six years serving as an assistant coach for the Golden Knights, then three years as the head coach of the Henderson Silver Knights. Now, he’s back behind an NHL bench, and this time, he’s the boss.

It only took Craig one game to record his first win as head coach.

“I don’t think anyone in this locker room is surprised,” said Jack Eichel postgame. “Craiger’s an unbelievable person, and a great leader. It’s been a really seamless transition. He’s done a great job in the meetings, before the game, on the bench. 

“I’m so happy to have this opportunity, and it’s so deserved,” Eichel continued. “He’s been in the organization for a while. It was a pleasure when he was on the bench a few years ago, and now to have him back, it’s great. For him, I’m sure this is a special moment as well, his first win as a head coach. So, super happy for him, and plenty more.”

Craig, who has been fielding questions about ‘firsts’ like a champ for the past two weeks, understandably wasn’t too interested in talking about himself following the 5-2 victory.

“It’s nice to have my family here to witness the first win,” he said following the game. “Proud of our guys and our effort, and we’ll get back to work.”

Posted on

Ben Rice has Yankees on brink of ALDS with MVP-type performance in Game 1 win

For as often as it is applied with certainty, “Most Valuable Player” can feel uncomfortably inexact. Pitchers are valuable in different ways than hitters. Hitters are more valuable in good times than when they are slumping. Sheer productivity is valuable, but players can help win games in ways statistics obscure. Maybe “Most Valuable” is best explained as “you know it when you see it.”

And in the Yankees’ Game 1 win against the Red Sox on Tuesday night -- as on so many nights during the regular season -- Ben Rice was the player heaving them over a finish line that was not immediately clear they would cross without him. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs, one of which gave the Yankees a second run when the game was close early, the second of which was a grand slam that allowed them to preserve key arms late. He drove in six of the Yankees’ nine runs while becoming the first Yankee to homer twice in a playoff game in half a decade’s worth of Octobers. He left no doubt.

“Count on one hand,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “One of the best hitters in the league.”

Rice’s regular season will earn him plenty of down-ballot MVP votes, though he almost certainly will not beat out Yordan Alvarez’s near-Triple Crown season to win it. But if the award were given for sheer offensive productivity, his numbers alone would solidify him as a top-five finish. 

Rice posted the fourth-best OPS (.897), fifth-highest wRC+ (149), and tied for the fourth-most home runs (41) in the majors. Only eight players had a higher OPS with runners in scoring position than Rice (.975), who became the focal point of the Yankees’ lineup – and was therefore under more pressure to produce while being pitched more carefully – when Judge was on the injured list for three months this summer.

Built into that three-month period was one month (August, mostly) during which Rice struggled to prop up the lineup in Judge’s absence, hurt further by an injury to Cody Bellinger. He endured a .184 average and .641 OPS in August, and the Yankees’ offense sputtered without him.

“It was a great offensive season, and obviously, we needed it,” Boone said, before recalling that second-half swoon.

“That’s the thing you love to see. For as great a year as he had, he had a stretch there for a month where it was really a grind and a struggle, but he kind of got himself out of it.”

As Rice recovered, the Yankees’ offense followed, and it exploded after Judge returned from his rib injury. And when a strained calf pulled Judge out of action again, Rice slid back into the role of offensive anchor.

The 27-year-old is, and has been, the hitter around whom the Yankees built entire lineup plans this year. Even Judge’s injury made his production so crucial, and even with their catchers enduring historic offensive struggles, the Yankees did not put Rice back in his old position, too desperate for his offense to risk injury or overload from catching duties.

And as Judge, a three-time MVP, tries to work his way back from this injury in time for a potential Division Series, Rice represents the lineup lynchpin once again. Judge has said he will have to be healthy enough to play right field when he returns -- not just serve as the designated hitter -- because the Yankees lineup functions better with Rice in that spot. Meanwhile, Boone said before Game 1 that Major League Baseball’s active home run leader, Giancarlo Stanton, is effectively on the roster just to take a pinch-hit at-bat each night because getting him more chances would require maneuvering with Rice.

In fact, Rice is one of the Yankees’ few immovable objects. Luis Garcia Jr., whose .831 regular season OPS was 25th among qualified hitters, did not start Tuesday night because the platoon matchup favored Paul Goldschmidt at first base. Rice has been immune to Boone’s otherwise all-inclusive platoon considerations for quite some time.

“He’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen,” rookie George Lombard Jr. said. “And he shows why all the time.”

Still, Cam Schlittler was the one who heard MVP chants Tuesday night, and for good reason. He was untouchable, almost literally, for a Red Sox lineup that has seen him many times and planned for this. And when he was asked about those chants, he deferred to another Yankee more deserving of the title.

“We already got an MVP in this locker room. He’s won three of them,” Schlittler said of Judge. “If he were in there this whole season, he’d probably have it.”

But Judge was not in there this whole season -- wasn’t even in there for half of it -- and despite his best efforts to heal a strained calf in record time, he was not in the Yankees lineup Tuesday, either. Without him, against the kind of left-handed starter seemingly poised to punish the Yankees for the absence of their right-handed superstar, Rice was the unstoppable weapon.

His first-inning double signaled Payton Tolle was vulnerable. His home run against Erik Miller in the fifth gave the Yankees a two-run lead while signaling to the Red Sox that none of their lefties were safe. His bases-loaded single in the seventh gave the Yankees breathing room as Schlittler tired. And it would not be an exaggeration to suggest that his grand slam in the bottom of the eighth might decide the series. Because of that swing, Boone felt safe using John Schreiber in the ninth instead of David Bednar. Because of the size of the lead late, he did not need Brent Headrick, either.

Headrick and Bednar have been the Yankees’ best relievers all season. They will be fully rested in relief of Max Fried in Game 2. With a series win in reach, there might be nothing more valuable than that.

Posted on

The Red Sox were completely unprepared for Game 1 of the Wild Card series

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Willson Contreras #40 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after being struck out by John Schreiber #56 of the New York Yankees to end game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images

All September, we watched the Red Sox half-heart their way through the month. Guys got days off, pitchers were pushed back, bullpen arms were saved, and the general intensity of all the games flat out sucked, especially as a late season product where historically there’d be a race to get into or improve playoff positioning.

All of this uninspiring play was only potentially made palatable by one overarching theme: After losing their previous series in New York at the end of August — And with it the tiebreaker over the Yankees — the Red Sox essentially made a deal with the baseball devil in which they (apparently) made their return trip this week their sole priority. In short, they put the results of games in the first four weeks of September on the backburner in favor of getting healthier and being ready to go for September 29th.

Well, September 29th came, and they were woefully unprepared for the very matchup they were supposedly studying up on for the last month. They looked flat, overwhelmed, and like a team who didn’t belong on the stage.

Just as importantly, they looked like the same team they’ve been all month, where they not only rank dead last in runs scored with just 71, but are 18 runs behind the next closest squad.

They also mimicked multiple September games in which they ran out the white flag bullpen squad after falling behind early. When Payton Tolle walked off the mound in the fifth inning, it was still just a 1-0 game, but the next five pitchers through the bullpen door were Erik Miller, Greg Weissert, Alec Gamboa, Wyatt Olds, and Brayan Bello. Chad Tracy did this in a playoff game, in New York, with winter potentially breathing down their neck in 24 hours. That is some September 15th garbage!

Regardless of whether you felt the July and August Sox were legit or all smoke and mirrors, there’s no denying they had a certain fight to them, and it’s a quality that kept them in every single game.

And then all at once, after losing that Yankee serious to close August, they intentionally and strategically stopped pushing for wins every day with the same intensity. On one hand, I can’t even entirely blame them for doing that because it’s largely the box this playoff format puts you in … But wow, if you’re going to do that, you absolutely need to have a way to guarantee you can hit the ground running and be ready to go when Game 1 does come around, because tonight, this Red Sox team proved entirely incapable of flipping the summer switch back on.

Apparently, in their final tune up, they spent all weekend practicing against the Trajekt machine on the Schlittler setting, and despite seeing the difference between his velocity and off-speed pitches simulated, it didn’t make a lick of difference and they still got caught with their pants down for the second year in a row.

Unfortunately, there’s no perfect way to enter the playoffs, and this wretched, bloated postseason format only further complicates the conundrum. For this reason, I’m actually partially sympathetic to the idea there’s just a reality here where the line between getting the plane off the ground and never even getting started in October is razor thin and tough to gauge.

However, at the same time, solving this riddle is exactly what the guys who run this team get paid to figure out. That’s literally the gig. And borrowing a dramatic turnaround, it appears they’ve failed miserably.

Things aren’t quite over yet, but unless Wednesday and Thursday feature a flip of the script that’s as jarring, abrupt and surprising as that performance was hideous on Tuesday, it’s going to be a brutal and bitter winter in Boston. If there’s any bullets left in the gun, they need to find it and start firing now.

Posted on

‘I needed to change’: Peter O’Mahony on ditching hard-edged ritual, and his love of gardening

The former Ireland captain talks about allowing his own feelings, why every coach except Andy Farrell has been ‘a bit mad’, and pain over a ruthless exit from Munster

“It’s a natural human instinct, especially as an athlete, that you don’t want to lose,” Peter O’Mahony says on a quiet evening in Dublin as a new rugby season looms over us. “But at times it got in my way and caused despair. I honestly don’t know where that deep-down hatred came from but it used to derail me at times.”

The former captain of Munster, Ireland and the Lions is settling into his second year of retirement and the taciturn grit and uncompromising commitment which defined his career have been replaced by more complex reflections. O’Mahony is a fascinating character and I ask whether he would have carried the same competitive zeal if he had been a wizard at, for example, chess or mathematics.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Jack Eichel Hits 700 Points, Earns Craig's Trust in Golden Knights' Opening Win

Jack Eichel reached 700 career points Tuesday night, but the number that mattered most to him belonged in the Golden Knights’ win column.

"Not much, honestly," Eichel said when asked what the milestone meant.

His contribution meant plenty to Vegas - and to the coach who trusts him to deliver at both ends of the ice.

Eichel finished with one goal and two assists in the Golden Knights’ 5-2 season-opening victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at T-Mobile Arena. His second-period goal produced his 700th career point, and he ended the night with 701. He recorded two shots while playing 18:01 across 25 shifts.

Two days after NHL Network ranked him No. 10 on its Top 50 Players Right Now" countdown, Eichel supplied a three-point illustration of his offensive ability. First-year Vegas coach Ryan Craig emphasized the broader game behind that production.

"Jack’s an elite player in this league, elite 200-foot player," Craig said. "And I think we saw it with how he can skate, how he can get to certain areas."

Craig’s Trust Goes Beyond the Scoresheet

Craig’s assessment reflected a relationship maintained during his three seasons coaching Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson. Their conversations helped establish an understanding that Eichel’s status comes with demanding expectations.

"I understand how I can push Jack, how I can hold him accountable," Craig said. "He expects that out of me."

That combination of talent, responsibility and accountability has become central to Eichel’s importance in Vegas. Acquired from Buffalo in November 2021, he made his Golden Knights debut the following February after neck surgery.

In his first NHL postseason, Eichel led the 2023 playoffs with 26 points in 22 games as Vegas captured its first Stanley Cup. He later produced the two highest-scoring seasons in franchise history: 94 points in 2024-25 and 90 last season.

His production helped earn NHL Network’s top-10 recognition and its No. 6 ranking among centers. Craig’s remarks explained why Eichel’s value extends beyond those numbers: his skating creates opportunities offensively, while his commitment to defending gives his coach confidence in demanding situations.

"He’s a guy that I can trust," Craig said.

Eichel, meanwhile, shared credit for his milestone. He praised Ivan Barbashev’s play on the goal and the preceding shift that helped create the opportunity, describing himself as "really lucky and grateful" to be part of the organization.

"I think those things just come kind of organically," he said.

Eichel Shares the Spotlight With Connelly

Eichel’s enthusiasm was more pronounced when discussing Trevor Connelly, who scored in his NHL debut. Before the game, Eichel had named a Connelly goal as something he hoped to see.

"He’s been awesome all camp," Eichel said. "He’s a great part of our locker room."

Watching the rookie score with his family in attendance gave Eichel another reason to celebrate.

"So happy to see him get his first," he said, "and definitely a night and a moment that he’ll never forget."

Eichel was equally measured about the victory, identifying encouraging offensive-zone pressure and quick transitions while acknowledging that timing and spacing still need improvement.

"By no means was it our prettiest effort, but we’re going to get better. We know that," Eichel said.

Opening night gave Eichel another career milestone and Craig his first NHL head-coaching victory. It also offered an early look at their shared expectations: an elite center willing to be pushed, and a coach who trusts him with more than scoring.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) looks on during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game six of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at T-Mobile Arena.

Posted on

Padres rout Cubs 8-0 in emphatic Wild Card opener with Tatis’ leadoff homer, King’s no-hit bid

SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. hit the first leadoff homer in Padres playoff history on the Cubs’ first pitch, Michael King took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and San Diego rolled to an 8-0 victory over Chicago in their NL Wild Card Series opener on Tuesday night.

Manny Machado also homered in the first inning and added an RBI double in the third during an emphatic opening statement by the 91-win Padres. Xander Bogaerts also homered off Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, and Jackson Merrill added a two-run single later.

San Diego provided more than enough support for King, who struck out eight over seven stellar innings while thoroughly throttling the majors’ highest-scoring team. King set the tone by striking out probable NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong with the game’s first three pitches.

Nico Hoerner got the Cubs’ only hit off King with a one-out infield single in the seventh, but King racked up two more strikeouts to earn the last of several standing ovations from the raucous sellout crowd watching his third career playoff start.

Game 2 is Wednesday night at Petco Park. The series winner faces the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-five division series.

Chicago had just one hit before getting to Joe Musgrove, the Padres veteran making his first major league appearance since Oct. 2, 2024, in the ninth inning. The Cubs got two singles and a walk before Musgrove struck out pinch-hitter Michael Conforto to preserve the shutout in his return from Tommy John surgery.

The Padres dominated the opener of this rematch of last fall’s Wild Card Series, won by the Cubs in three tight games. San Diego scored more runs in the first five innings of this series opener than it did last year in all three games at Wrigley Field combined.

San Diego finished this season with the majors’ sixth-best record, besting Chicago by two wins and setting franchise records with its third straight playoff berth and fifth straight winning record. The Padres hit the postseason on a 17-3 roll, and they’re still surging.

Boyd’s opening pitch was a changeup, and Tatis crushed it 405 feet to center in a blast reminiscent of his first-inning homer in Game 1 of San Diego’s 2024 NL Wild Card Series victory over Atlanta.

Moments later, Machado smashed another changeup out to left-center, setting off pandemonium at Petco with his franchise-record ninth postseason homer.

Tatis walked in the third and scored from first on Machado’s double to the wall. Bogaerts connected in the fourth, lining a full-count changeup into the seats on the Western Metal Supply Co. building above left field.

San Diego loaded the bases in the fifth against reliever Javier Assad, and Merrill cracked a two-run single to center before Ty France scored on a passed ball.

King escaped the minor trouble he faced, picking up key strikeouts and throwing his sweeper superbly. Hoerner got Chicago’s hit on a grounder that Machado stopped with difficulty, but couldn’t transfer to his throwing hand cleanly enough to make a play.

Tatis scored his third run in the seventh when he singled, stole second and ran all the way home when the throw trickled into center. Tatis slid headfirst past the tag and came up screaming while Machado theatrically signaled him safe.

Up next

Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) starts Game 2 for the Padres in his fifth game back from a near five-month absence with a right elbow injury. Kevin Gausman (4-2, 4.83) goes for the Cubs.

Posted on

White Sox strike first in AL wild card, beating Astros 6-3 in Game 1

HOUSTON — Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer and Sam Antonacci drove in two runs to lead the Chicago White Sox over the Houston Astros 6-3 in Game 1 of an AL Wild Card Series on Tuesday.

The White Sox, in the postseason for the first time since 2021, made a remarkable turnaround this year to become the only team in major league history to follow consecutive 100-loss seasons with a playoff berth. They had lost 100 games three straight seasons, including 121 defeats in 2024, setting the record for most losses since 1899.

“We came here to win the series and the first part of that is getting this first win, which is great,” manager Will Venable said.

He added that he was impressed with the poise his young team showed.

“A bunch of young guys that haven’t been in this situation before, they didn’t back down at all,” he said. “So really good stuff to come out and have an early win.”

The White Sox got a letter of support from Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native, prior to the game and got to work immediately to show off for the pontiff.

They led 3-0 after two innings and held on for their first playoff win since Oct. 10, 2021 in the ALDS against Houston.

The AL West-winning Astros eked out a playoff spot with an 81-81 record to become the first team to reach the postseason without a winning record. Houston lost its eighth straight home playoff game in its ninth trip to the postseason in the last 10 years.

Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Wednesday in Houston.

Manager Joe Espada is confident his team will respond Wednesday to force a Game 3.

“Our backs have been against the corner before and I think that’s when we are our best, when we fight back,” he said. “We know it’s a do or die and we’ve been here before, so I really admire how they bounce back and they react to challenges. I expect them to go out there and bounce back and our offense to get going.”

MVP-favorite Yordan Alvarez said they’re ready for the challenge.

“Tomorrow we have to come out here and win or there’s no tomorrow after that,” he said in Spanish through a translator.

Houston had runners on first and third with two outs in the eighth after singles by Jeremy Peña and Alvarez when Jose Altuve reached and Peña scored on an error by third baseman Miguel Vargas to cut the lead to 6-3.

The Astros’ tough day came in front of a surprisingly thin crowd. The announced attendance was 34,011 in a park with a capacity of 40,963. The home fans peppered the team with some boos when it fell behind early.

Both teams went with a bullpen game and combined to use 13 pitchers. Chicago opened with rookie left-hander Hagen Smith, and he allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.

“It was cool just to get the opportunity to go out there and do that,” he said. “And, yeah, just try to go out there and compete the best I can for the team and give us the best chance to win.”

Houston’s rookie opener AJ Blubaugh gave up two walks, and an error by Christian Walker left runners on first and third with one out in the first. The White Sox took an early lead on a sacrifice fly by Murakami.

Bryan King plunked Montgomery to load the bases with no outs in the second before Antonacci’s single pushed the lead to 3-0.

Espada said having to use two pitchers so early made piecing together the game difficult.

“It puts you in a tough spot for sure,” he said.

Montgomery, who Venable dropped to ninth in the order Tuesday, opened the fourth with a 432-foot homer to straightaway center field to make it 4-0. He hit 31 home runs in the regular season but also set the single-season record with 227 strikeouts.

Chicago made it 5-0 on a bases-loaded RBI single by Chase Meidroth with one out in the fifth.

Pinch-hitter Nelson Velázquez hit a two-run homer to cut the lead to 5-2 with two outs in the fifth.

The White Sox tacked on another run on a wild pitch by Bennett Sousa in the seventh.

Up next

Ace Hunter Brown (6-4, 3.19 ERA) will start Game 2 as the Astros try to avoid elimination against RHP Sean Burke (11-7, 3.34 ERA).

Posted on

Mattingly’s decision to bring in Phillies closer Duran in the 7th inning backfires in loss to Braves

ATLANTA — Interim manager Don Mattingly wanted the Philadelphia Phillies’ best reliever on the mound as early as possible in a tight opening game of a best-of-three National League Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves.

Turning to All-Star closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning made it appear Mattingly was hoping his best reliever could cover the final three innings and protect a beleaguered bullpen.

After Duran gave up a three-run homer to Austin Riley in the eighth inning of the Phillies’ 5-3 loss to the Braves on Tuesday, Mattingly and Duran faced questions about why the manager turned to his closer so early in the game and if he was asking too much from Duran.

“I threw the first inning and I go back to the dugout and they said be ready for another inning and so I go back out there and try to do my work,” Duran told reporters.

Duran’s perfect seventh inning only emboldened Mattingly’s plan to stick with the closer in the eighth. Mattingly may have hoped the 28-year-old Duran could pitch three innings to protect a 3-2 lead even though he made just one multi-inning appearance in the regular season.

“He made it look easy the first inning,” Mattingly said of Duran. “If the second one would have went really quick, I would have just checked with him. If not, we would have went to somebody else.”

Unfortunately for Duran and the Phillies, Duran’s second inning — the eighth — was not quick or successful. Duran gave up a two-out single to Michael Harris II before hitting Ozzie Albies with a pitch and then giving up Austin Riley’s three-run homer that gave Atlanta the lead.

“Anytime you lose a game late, obviously it’s frustrating, but in our minds we had our best guy out there,” Mattingly said of Duran. “You live with this one.”

When asked if he turned to Duran in the seventh because the Braves had the top of their lineup coming up, Mattingly said it wasn’t a matchup decision.

“Not with Jo,” Mattingly said. “We don’t really worry about the matchup. It was more the spot.”

Duran (0-1) allowed just two homers in 61 regular-season games. He was successful on 33 of 35 saves opportunities but others in the Phillies’ bullpen did not enjoy the same success.

Philadelphia’s relievers had a 5.79 ERA in September, worst in the majors.

Mattingly was asked about his ninth-inning plan if Duran had protected the lead in the eighth.

“It depended where we landed,” Mattingly said. “We had (Jonathan) Bowlan. We had different guys, we’d probably combo the inning a little bit. If (Duran) gets a quick out, we’ll check with him and we see.”

Mattingly said Andrew Painter, a starter in 23 of his 25 games this season, could have been another ninth-inning option.

The Phillies now turn to left-hander Cristopher Sánchez to start Wednesday’s must-win second game of the series.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Game 1 or 2, just keep focused on what we have to do and follow the game plan,” Sánchez said before Tuesday’s game. “It’s not that difficult at all. It’s just a matter of being able to wait it out.”

Mattingly acknowledged the Phillies face another must-win scenario after being stretched to the final game of the regular season to clinch the wild-card spot.

Mattingly said his players will “show up and play.”

“These guys have been here before, so that game the other day felt like a must-win,” Mattingly said. “... We’re back there tomorrow.”

Mattingly said he’s confident having Sánchez for Game 2.

“Always feel good with Cristopher out there,” Mattingly said. “The playoffs are momentum-based it seems like, and really momentum starts with your starting pitcher. He goes out and gives you a good start to the game ... it’s just a game at that point.”

Duran’s availability on Wednesday is uncertain after he threw 27 pitches while allowing three runs in two innings.

“We’ll check tomorrow like we always do,” Mattingly said. “We let guys go throw, see how they are, and then we decide.”

Posted on

Patrick Kane Scores In Return To Blackhawks, But Chicago Loses To Vegas 5-2 In Season Opener

The Chicago Blackhawks were in Las Vegas for their first game of the season, as they had a tough matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas, of course, was in the Stanley Cup Final back in June, and now they're looking to defend their Western Conference crown while trying to finish the job this time around. 

Vegas has elite players up and down their lineup, and they are all filled with the pedigree needed to win games in bunches. Most of them were at the top of their game in a 5-2 victory over the Blackhawks on their home ice. 

The leader among them was Jack Eichel, who had a three point night (1-2--3) in the win for the Golden Knights. Victor Olofsson, Trevor Connelly (first career NHL goal), Noah Hanifin, and Mark Stone (empty-netter) also scored.

Jordan Greenway scored the first goal of the season for the Chicago Blackhawks, and it was a great shot to beat Carter Hart. Wyatt Kaiser made a great move that allowed Ryan Greene and Jordan Greenway to make a play, and the latter gave his team a great first impression. 

It was that fourth line with Greene, Greenway, and Cole Smith that played the best of all Chicago lines in the loss. They are the team's 4th line, but they created chances, kept Vegas at bay, and scored a goal. They will mostly need to simply be an energy line throughout the season, but they showed how good they can be in this one, despite losing the game. 

Patrick Kane scored Chicago's second goal of the game. This was the first goal that Kane has scored in a Chicago sweater since 2023, before he was traded to the New York Rangers. It was a breakaway goal that he created for himself. His hands and patience allowed him to find the back of the net. Vintage Patrick Kane was on full display there. 

In addition to the goal, Kane had 4 shots, 8 shot attempts, and managed to play 21:36. At his age, it is impressive to see him still playing at this level. The Blackhawks didn't bring him in for a feel-good story. It happens to be a feel-good story, but he is there to play well and help young guys develop. 

Spencer Knight was the main reason that the score wasn't worse than it showed. He would say he'd like to be better than four goals against, but they were hardly all on him. He made 32 saves on 36 shots, as Vegas peppered him all night long. The Blackhawks, especially early in the game, had no answer for Vegas's speed on the rush. Knight faced the brunt of that issue. 

Vegas is an incredibly hard team to face, especially for a young team like Chicago in their first game of the season. Not every opponent will be as good as they are, but they will all be difficult in their own way. For the Blackhawks, this is a process that they hope will lead to better results as the year wears on. 

Andrew Mangiapane Injury Update

Andrew Mangiapane was part of a few scoring chances in the first period, but he hurt himself one shift into the second period. He did not return for the rest of the game. Once the match ended, Jeff Blashill confirmed that Mangiapane would not play again on their current road trip, which has two more games on it. 

First Time Blackhawks

Roman Kantserov made his NHL debut in this game. He didn't score a goal or have an assist, but he clearly demonstrated high-end offensive abilities more than once. In 17:07 of ice time, he had one shot and three hits. He also didn't give the puck away once while earning a takeaway. When Mangiapane went down, Kantserov was one of the players to take a few shifts in his spot. Early on, Jeff Blashill already trusts the young star. 

Ian Cole, Bowen Byram, Cole Smith, and Jordan Greenway are the other players who made their Blackhawks debut in the game. Obviously, Greenway's goal was the most noticeable moment for any of them, but they all showed promise as they try to play a role in getting this team back on track. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are now 0-1-0 in the 2026-27 season. They will now head to Salt Lake City for their first Central Division showdown as they take on the Utah Mammoth on Thursday night. 

Image

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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.

Posted on

Oilers Lucky To Salvage A Point In 2026-27 Season Opener: Lose 6-5 To Canucks

The Edmonton Oilers opened their 2026-27 regular season with a loss to the Vancouver Canucks. To say the least, fans have seen this story before.

After a perfect preseason in which the Oilers allowed only five goals in four games, Edmonton allowed six to a Canucks team many aren't expecting much from. A style of play that felt all too familiar to Oilers fans, night one of the season reminded everyone how little exhibition means.

"The bottom line is, if we want to work, we want to do things right, we're going to have a lot of success. We want to play like that, we're going to be chasing the game," said Mike Babcock. "To be honest, we've got to feel fortunate we got a point."

The Game BreakDown

Paul Cotter scored first for the Canucks, a shorthanded goal after a great save by Kevin Lankinen on a one-timer from Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers had dominated up to that point, 8-3 in shots. It was a nice shot, high glove, on Jarry.  

Evan Bouchard scored his first of the season, and what would be his first of three goals on the night. It came on a long-point shot that worked through a screened Kevin Lankinen. 

The shots were 13-5 in favor of the Oilers after the first, and Edmonton dominated at 5-on-5 play. They went 0-for-2 on the power play and tried to send an early message physically, outhitting the Canucks 14-3. 

The first was not an indicator of how the rest of the evening would go. 

Babcock On His GoaltendersBabcock On His GoaltendersMike Babcock was asked Monday afternoon if he could tell us who would start in net for the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers#google_vignette">Edmonton Oilers</a> on opening night.

Marco Rossi made it 2-1 for the Canucks early in the second. He got in behind the defense on a breakaway. Jake Walman made a poor choice to pinch, with Connor Murphy having gone down low; Colton Dach was the forward covering. It was just one of many odd-man rushes for the Canucks.  

Bouchard scored his second of the night on a pass from Connor McDavid. Alex Formenton drove the puck along the boards and got taken out, opening a lane for McDavid. Bouchard was in the slot to pick up a pass and score. 

The Canucks scored just over a minute into the third on a shot that Tristan Jarry should have had. Jonathan Lekkerimaki scored a five-hole goal. Max Sasson scored another quick one to give the Oilers a 4-2 lead. Jarry lets another one sneak by him, five-hole, on a backhand break. 

Elias Pettersson scored to make it 5-2. A nice tip past Jarry. It became clear that the Oilers were back to their old habits and had really crumbled in the second and third periods. 

Vasily Podkolzin got the Oilers back on the board with a goal on a nice loose-puck pickup from a Bouchard shot that didn't quite reach the intended target. Podkolzin had worked hard and deserved the reward. On the goal, Bouchard picked up his third point.

Bouchard scored his hat-trick goal on a long point shot that got through a crowded net.

Finishing off the comeback,  Podkolzin scored with 42.5 seconds left after the Oilers got a power play in the final minute. It was a bullet from Podkolzin.

The Oilers salvaged a point out of the comeback, but couldn't seal the deal with a win. Three successive good chances for the Canucks in overtime eventually led to a goal against the Oilers. 

Was it a valiant effort or a disappointing showing? Head coach Mike Babcock called it the latter. Down three goals, they tied the game at five. Still, when a player like Bouchard has five points, it makes no sense that the Oilers would lose. 

The Oilers looked solid in the first period but brutal in the second and the first half of the third. Jarry owned his poor performance, and Babcock noted there was no point in hammering home what their goaltender already knew, nor praising the individual performances of Bouchard and Podkolzin. There was a lot not to like here and Babcock said the team will get to work, and that there's a lot of work to do.

See more of The Hockey News on Google and save us as a preferred source. 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.   

Posted on

How Yankees utterly dominated Red Sox without MVP Aaron Judge

NEW YORK – Aaron Judge was nowhere to be found on the field at Yankee Stadium. Yet “M-V-P!” chants still resonated through the raucous ballpark.

Judge did not join his teammates on the baseline for pregame introductions. But a total team effort pulled the Yankees through in a virtual must-win game.

There’s still no certainty if or when Judge will take the field this postseason. But for one night, perhaps the most important night of the playoffs – Game 1 of the best-of-three American League wild card series – the Yankees proved they could survive without their three-time Most Valuable Player.

Perhaps that’s because Cam Schlittler has become their most important player.

Schlittler tormented the Boston Red Sox for the second consecutive year in the wild card round, this time getting a massive assist from fellow New England product Ben Rice, the Walpole ace and the Cohasset crusher laying waste to the team they couldn’t avoid growing up.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 29: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees celebrates after defeating the Boston Red Sox in game one of the American League Wild Card Series at Yankee Stadium on September 29, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776567875 ORIG FILE ID: 2297820955

This time, Schlittler took a two-hit shutout into the seventh inning and Rice drove in six runs as the Yankees moved a massive step toward advancing to the AL Division Series with a 9-0 trouncing of the Red Sox on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

Game 2 is Wednesday night, Boston’s Sonny Gray pitching to save the Red Sox’s season against Yankees lefty Max Fried. Tuesday’s final score might have you believe Game 1 was a laugher.

It was anything but, Schlitter nursing a 1-0 lead into the fifth and a 2-0 lead into the seventh, with Rice quietly laying waste to the Red Sox bullpen until his final, big blast.

That came in the bottom of the eighth inning, a garbage time grand slam off Brayan Bello to make it 9-0 and bring winter nearer New England.

It was Rice’s fourth hit and he tied a Yankees franchise record with his six RBIs, the fifth to do it and the first since Robinson Cano in 2011. Rice, the Dartmouth grad and erudite soul of the Yankee clubhouse, does not necessarily fit the mold of past Yankee greats.

In another fashion, he and Schlittler are both fitting right in.

“If you want to be a legend,” Schlittler said Tuesday, “you’ve got to do it in the postseason.”

Doesn’t he know it. Schlittler’s die was cast in the decisive Game 3 of the 2025 wild-card round, when he struck out 12 Red Sox over eight innings and talked mad smack after, chiding Red Sox fans for goading him on social media.

A year later, Schlittler’s tone mellowed only a bit, noting his good friends from up north came down for the game and while they are Red Sox fans, knew not to poke the bear.

His pitching dominance was nearly identical, though.

Cam Schlittler stats are unreal

Mixing in a diving curveball that got five swings and misses his first time through the order, Schlittler retired 13 in a row, seven by strikeout, after Adley Rutschman’s 10-pitch at-bat ended in a first-inning single.

The streak ended with a seven-pitch walk to Jarren Duran in the fifth. But manager Aaron Boone let Schlittler go, all the way to 117 pitches until there was one out in the seventh.

In two wild card starts against the Red Sox, here’s what Schlittler’s done: 14 1/3 innings, 22 strikeouts, one walk, seven hits – and zero runs given up.

Yet one mistake, and all could have gone for naught. It was just 1-0 in the fifth inning when Red Sox rookie manager Chad Tracy opted to pull starter Payton Tolle after 83 pitches. It was simply swapping lefty for lefty, reliever Erik Miller summoned to get Rice.

The move backfired when Rice drilled a middle-middle sinker 423 feet to straightaway center field and into Monument Park. The way Schlittler was pitching, going from 1-0 to 2-0 felt massive.

“One hundred percent,” says Schlittler. “I mean, their guy was pitching really well. And obviously, another local guy, so it’s a great feeling to watch him go out and dominate.”

Ah, yes. Schlittler, a seventh-round pick in 2022, and Rice (12th round, 2021) wear their draft positions like a badge of honor. They pay constant respect to Matt Hyde, the Yankees scout that discovered them both.

 And Rice, who grew up a Yankee fan up there because he loved Derek Jeter, says beating the Red Sox “definitely adds a cool element to it.” He’s a bit Jeterian himself, known as the Yankees’ rock for his ability to process information, dispense advice and perform consistently.

Rice’s approach paid off in a 41-home run season at 27.

“When it starts to get hard, that’s all the more reason to be consistent. You’ve got lean on your everyday routine, your approach. All that is really for the hard times. You need that.

“That’s the backbone of your season.”

Aaron Judge injury won't derail Yankees

Most years, Judge is that backbone. But his four-month absence due to a fractured rib was followed by a calf strain in the final week of the season, rendering him unavailable for this round.

Judge did not agree with the assessment, but the Yankees are soldiering on without him and in Game 1 got contributions from all corners of the roster.

Deposed shortstop Anthony Volpe, getting a key hit and making every play at second base.

Catcher Austin Wells, driving in the first run of the game.

Rookie George Lombard – second-youngest player, to Mickey Mantle, to play in a Yankee playoff game – getting three hits in his playoff debut.

All homegrown products and all making up for the big fella that’s out.

“I think we view ourselves as a complete team,” says center fielder Spencer Jones, another Yankee product. “We have a bunch of guys up and down the lineup and we talk about, you’re going to get a opportunity to play every single night.

“Everybody was in it on every pitch. And that’s the way we operate.”

Yet the loudest cheers were reserved for Schlittler, the presumed AL Cy Young Award winner thanks to his 239 strikeouts and 1.95 ERA in 33 starts. Yankee fans are getting a little greedy, as is their wont, and the MVP chants started up a while back in the Bronx.

They grew louder with each subsequent zero Schlittler hung on the scoreboard, reaching a crescendo when they saluted him with a standing ovation as he left the game in the seventh.

“I mean, we already got an MVP in this locker room. He's won three of them,” says Schlittler of Judge. “So, I mean, if he were in there this whole season, he'd probably have it. I mean, it's a good feeling.

“I wouldn't say I am an MVP. But it's good to kind of embrace that from the fans.”

And in Game 1, Schlittler enhanced the chances this October ride may be a long one – with or without Judge.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Yankees utterly dominated Red Sox without MVP Aaron Judge

Posted on

Yankees' Cam Schlittler pitching himself into legendary status after another dominant postseason start

Cam Schlittler did something Tuesday night in the Bronx that put him in spectacular pitching company. 

Already a talent so sublime he qualifies as a rivalry separator in the blood feud that is Yankees-Red Sox, Schlittler’s going for bigger than just Sox-killer status: He’s blooming into postseason royalty, too.

The Yankees beat the Red Sox, 9-0, at Yankee Stadium and Schlittler delivered 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits while striking out 10. Going back to last October when he first shredded Boston, he now has two scoreless playoff starts with at least 10 strikeouts in his career, something only five pitchers have accomplished.

And those pitchers are something else – Justin Verlander did it three times and Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown and Cliff Lee did it twice each. Aces all.

"It's very well known that if you want to be a legend, which is obviously the goal, you've got to do it in the postseason,” said Schlittler. “Go out there and have dominant starts and put the team in the position to win.”

The Yankees can advance Wednesday with a victory in Game 2 of the best-of-three AL Wild Card Series. Schlittler knows, as he put it, “the job isn’t finished yet.” But he also said, “We’re heading in the right direction.”

Schlittler will win the AL Cy Young Award later this year following a remarkable regular season. He’s also got a 0.47 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox, including his eight scoreless innings last October. Tuesday night, he demonstrated numerous times how good he is, to the point where his teammates were marveling afterward.

Anthony Volpe, who started at second base after only playing shortstop behind Schlittler, was agog. "From second base, watching some of these righties, I never had that angle,” Volpe said.

“Some of the swings were so far away from where he was throwing the ball."

Schlittler, who had a 1.95 ERA during the regular season, featured his curveball nearly three times more than usual. The pitch was landing for called strikes or swing-and-misses – he finished four of his strikeouts with it – and it was the perfect antidote for the times Red Sox hitters tried to guess early at his high-90s heat.

Aaron Boone noted that Schlittler and catcher Austin Wells excelled at picking spots to use the curve.

“I thought they did a really nice job of using that off of some guys selling out to the four-seam,” Boone said. “He was filling up the strike zone with it, too, so he was able to get strikes with it if he needed to and, obviously, chase. And then the fastball was great.”

“The amount of miss and weak contact I'm getting with that (the curve), I’m feeling like I'm in a really good spot with it,” Schlittler said.

“Cam was obviously awfully good,” added Boston manager Chad Tracy. “The fastball shapes are well-documented. He’s throwing hard. He also had a good curveball. You know it’s there, but he used it a little bit more often. He landed it, if he wanted to, for strikes. He was able to get it beneath (hitters’ bats) for swing and miss.

“We weren’t able to do much with him.”

When Schlittler finished off the sixth inning with a strikeout of Adley Rutschman on a cutter, he matched his career high with 107 pitches. Boone sent him out to start the seventh and he retired Willson Contreras, Boston’s most dangerous hitter. But then he gave up a hit to Wilyer Abreu and came out of the game.

“No debate to send him out there,” Boone said. 

After Contreras? “I probably should have taken him (out) at that point, but I got a little greedy.” 

The Yanks were trying to squeeze every last out from Schlittler, especially since they took 10 pitchers on the Wild Card roster so they could maximize their hitting options against Boston.

They got 19 outs on 117 pitches from Schlittler. It was plenty, especially considering the way their bats came alive late – Schlittler’s fellow New Englander, Ben Rice, homered twice, including an eighth-inning grand slam.

The pair enjoys beating their hometown team – both are from the Boston area. “It adds like a cool little layer to it,” Rice said of their shared geographical background and success against the Red Sox. “For Cam, too.”

“I mean, we love it,” Schlittler said.

They’ve got to beat the Sox one more time this week to advance. There’s plenty more work Schlittler wants to do.

He wants to be a legend, after all. Pitching like this, he’s well on his way.

Posted on

Paul Cotter scores in OT as the Canucks beat the Oilers 6-5 in the opener

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Paul Cotter scored 1:59 into overtime to cap a two-goal game as the Vancouver Canucks got the season off to a strong start with a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night.

Marco Rossi, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Max Sasson and Elias Pettersson also scored for the Canucks, who are coming off a last-place finish in the NHL last season with a 25-49-8 record.

Kevin Lankinen made 32 stops.

Evan Bouchard had three goals and two assists and Vasily Podkolzin scored twice for the Oilers. Tristan Jarry made 17 saves for Edmonton.

Entering the third period tied 2-2, Pettersson capped a three-goal run by the Canucks 5:15 into the frame to swiftly put the Canucks ahead 5-2.

But Podkolzin scored at 8:56, followed by Bouchard’s third of the night 24 seconds later and Podkolzin’s second of the night with 43 seconds left in regulation to send it to extra time.

Cotter, who joined Vancouver as a free agent after spending the last two seasons in New Jersey, became the first player in Canucks history to score a short-handed goal in his debut with the team.

Bouchard is the first defenseman in Oilers history to record a multigoal game in a season opener and just the third defenseman in NHL history to score a hat trick in an opener. He is also just the third blue-liner in the last 30 years to have at least four points in a game to open the season.

Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra became the fourth person to represent the Canucks as both a player and head coach in his career, following in the footsteps of Marc Crawford, Pat Quinn and Orland Kurtenbach.

Up next

Canucks: Host the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Oilers: At the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here