Worldwide Sports News
Four-time world champion eighth in qualifying
Failed to finish in the points in sprint race
Max Verstappen condemned his Red Bull’s performance as having reduced his efforts to a matter of “survival” in merely trying to complete a lap in Shanghai.
From the off the four-time champion had not been happy in the buildup to Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, dismissing his car on Friday as undriveable and saying: “We have never had anything this bad.”
Continue reading...
Who: Pittsburgh Penguins (32-18-15, 79 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division) @ Utah Mammoth (34-26-6, 74 points, 4th place Central Division)
When: 9 p.m. ET
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and Utah16, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The Pens’ road trip continues with two more tough matchups against the Colorado Avalanche on Monday night and the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday evening.
Opponent Track: The Mammoth are still sitting in the first Wild Card spot in the West with a six-point advantage over the San Jose Sharks, but they’re heading into Saturday’s matchup on a three-game losing streak after two overtime losses to the Chicago Blackhawks on either side of a 5-0 shutout by the Minnesota Wild.
Season Series: The Pens gave up four straight goals in six-minute span of the third period during their Dec. 14 matchup against the Mammoth, during which Justin Brazeau forced overtime before Dylan Guenther scored 42 seconds in to win it for Utah.
Hidden Stat: Ben Kindel recorded the only three-point outing of his NHL career so far against the Mammoth back, racking up a goal and two assists in that overtime loss back in December.
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Clayton Keller – Nick Schmaltz – Lawson Crouse
JJ Peterka – Logan Cooley – Dylan Guenther
Jack McBain – Barrett Hayton – Michael Carcone
Alex Kerfoot – Kevin Stenlund – Kailer Yamamoto
DEFENSEMEN
Mikhail Sergachev / Mackenzie Weegar
Nate Schmidt / John Marino
Ian Cole / Sean Durzi
Goalies: Karel Vejmelka, Vitek Vanecek
Potential scratches: Brandon Tanev, Liam O’Brien, Maksymilian Szuber, Nick Desimone
Injured Reserve: None
Season stats
via hockeydb
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Egor Chinakhov – Rickard Rakell – Bryan Rust
Anthony Mantha – Tommy Novak – Ville Koivunen
Elmer Soderblom – Ben Kindel – Avery Hayes
Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Ryan Shea / Kris Letang
Ilya Solovyov / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Arturs Silovs and Stuart Skinner
Potential Scratches: Sam Girard (injured), Evgeni Malkin (suspended), Ryan Graves, Kevin Hayes, Justin Brazeau (injured, week to week)
IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
Bo Naylor and Tugboat Wilkinson shone for the Canadian World Baseball Classic team in a losing effort, and Bazaana returned to the Guardians in Cactus League play.
The Canadians lost to the USA 5-3, but Bo Naylor went 2-for-4 with this two-run homer:
Bo Canada, that’s an excellent nickname. Can I write a baseball-themed parody of O Canada or is that considered sacreligious?
Meanwhile, Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson made some pretty great hitters look silly in two scoreless innings, with two walks and two strikeouts.
I suspect we will see Tugboat in the bigs for someone someday… perhaps as a reliever. The Dominican Republic destroyed Korea and will face the USA team next. Puerto Rico plays Italy at 3PM ET today, and Venezuela plays Japan at 9PM ET.
The Guardians lost a Cactus League game yesterday with Nolan Jones, Stuart Fairchild and Dayan Frias hitting doubles. Joey Cantillo struck out six in four and two-thirds but surrendered a homer and gave up three runs. Colin Holderman and Peyton Pallette both had clean innings, but Koby Allard did not. Travis Bazzana returned but went 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Make sure to check out our fellow CtC user jeffguards82’s interview with Travis Hafner, here. Jeff did nice work. The Guardians play the Padres at 4:10PM ET today. Daniel Schneemann was a late scratch yesterday with a sprained ankle, but it’s not expected to be a very lengthy time away, as it’s apparently not a serious sprain.
A three-time World Series champion, Dodgers utilityman Kiké Hernández has had his fair share of clutch hits, home runs and game-saving, series-defining moments that will forever be etched in baseball lore.
Earlier this month, however, he witnessed something new.
On March 7, hours after Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies hit the first walk-off home run in World Baseball Classic history to power Team Netherlands past Nicaragua in Miami, Athletics prospect Darell Hernaiz delivered a game-winning blast of his own to lift Team Puerto Rico over Panama in extra innings in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Hernández stormed out of the dugout at Hiram Bithorn Stadium alongside his teammates to greet Hernaiz at home plate and celebrate the monumental moon shot.
Read more:Blake Snell throws first bullpen session of spring training, taking key step forward
“There had never been a walk-off homer in the history of the WBC, and we [got] to see two in the same day, which was pretty cool,” Hernández said at his clubhouse stall at Camelback Ranch. “For me personally, I was running to home plate, conscious that I wasn’t necessarily part of the team so I couldn’t run laps around home plate, like I did on Freddie [Freeman’s] walk-off homers [in the World Series], but it’s still up there as one of those really cool moments that I’ll always remember.”
Unable to participate in this year’s WBC as he recovers from offseason left elbow surgery, Hernández left Dodgers camp to spend the first leg of the tournament with Team Puerto Rico.
“I got to experience it in a different way this year,” said Hernández, who has played twice in the WBC. “I was just kind of there as a fan, almost in like a coaching role. I get a lot more nervous when I’m not playing, because I really don’t have any power over it. I don’t have any control over what’s going on, so it was pretty nerve-wracking.”
He added: “Obviously, seeing that stadium packed out was pretty special. And of course, I’m still bummed that I don’t get to be a part of it, but I still support my people, and I’m still hoping they can win.”
During a Team Puerto Rico news conference last week, Hernández told reporters in Spanish that the WBC rates above the World Series. Hernández, who's played in five World Series, elaborated on his statement.
“I said it feels bigger,” Hernández said. “I didn’t say it’s bigger. Atmosphere, crowd, you’re representing your country. You’re not representing a city. You don’t always choose who you play for. Sometimes that’s out of your control and you know, when you’re representing your country, you’re playing along with your homies. Sometimes you’re playing along with people that you grew up with. Your people back home are rooting for you, at times.
"You’re playing in the United States, you’re playing for different teams, and sometimes they’re rooting against you. And for us, coming from our little island, the things that we can do for our island while the tournament is going on, it becomes a lot bigger than baseball, to where, it does not always feel that way when you’re playing for an organization in Major League Baseball.”
Hernández will be in Houston for Puerto Rico’s quarterfinal game against Italy on Saturday, and he said he doesn’t know if he would go to Miami if Puerto Rico reached the semifinals.
"I haven't had the conversation yet with Andrew," Hernández said, referring to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. "I only asked permission to go to Houston. We win in Houston, he might get another text message if I can go along for the ride, but haven't decided yet."
Read more:Dodgers prospect James Tibbs III attempts to show staying power after multiple trades
As for his rehab from surgery, Hernández said he's progressing rapidly and hopes to return in late May, when his 60-day IL stint expires.
“I’m not surprised that it’s going well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “End of May, beginning of June is probably a safe bet. Something like that.”
Dodgers left fielder Kyle Tucker hit his first home run of spring training to lead off the sixth inning of Friday's 10-7 win over the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. Tucker also walked twice and scored twice as the Dodgers also got homers from Teoscar Hernández and James Tibbs III, his third of the spring.
"Man, it's just fun to watch him compete in the batter's box," Roberts said of Tucker.
Injured relief pitchers Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol are progressing in their respective rehabs, Roberts said before Friday's game. Phillips is recovering from Tommy John surgery, while Graterol is working his way back from right shoulder surgery. Graterol hasn’t pitched in a game since the 2024 World Series.
“It’s going,” Roberts said. “I think [Phillips had] a pen today. It’s a short ten to fifteen-pitch pen, but it’s good effort, and he’s trending in the right direction. I think that with Evan, with some other guys that are continuing to build up, Graterol is another one, just continuing to build up, so they’re in their progression, but they’re still a ways away.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Good morning everyone, just for the weekend, we’ll be returning to our traditional Today on PSA open thread format. It’s sure to be a busy weekend, with the World Baseball Classic in its knockout rounds, and spring training starting to head towards its end. It’s a funny piece of dissonance, switching from watching high-stakes, high-level games in a major international tournament to monitoring low-key preseason matchups. It’s like watching two storylines at once, with one at the climax and the other still working through the opening exposition. That twin experience will continue today, with a pair of big quarterfinal matchups in the WBC, as well as some spring training action, which in Yankees camp features Max Fried making a tuneup start.
This morning on the site, Kento will recap last night’s WBC action, which featured one fairly tense match and one romp. Peter will write up an interesting entry in our Yankees Birthday series on Butch Wynegar, and Andres will continue our MLB Preview series with a rundown on the Tigers, before Josh provides the coverage of today’s game, which will see Fried take on the Phillies.
New York Yankees vs. Philadelphia Phillies
Time: 1:05 p.m. EST
Video: Gotham Sports App, NBCSP+
Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL
1. Who do you favor in today’s WBC matchups, between Italy and Puerto Rico, and Japan and Venezuela?
2. Do you want to see Gerrit Cole make an appearance in Grapefruit League play, or would you rather see him be more conservative and wait for a rehab stint before making appearances in games?
Calgary Flames (26-32-7, in the Pacific Division) vs. New York Islanders (37-24-5, in the Metropolitan Division)
Elmont, New York; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Islanders -166, Flames +139; over/under is 5.5
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Islanders host the Calgary Flames after Emil Heineman scored two goals in the Islanders' 3-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.
New York is 37-24-5 overall and 17-11-2 in home games. The Islanders have a +six scoring differential, with 190 total goals scored and 184 allowed.
Calgary is 26-32-7 overall and 10-20-3 in road games. The Flames are 19-7-3 when scoring three or more goals.
Saturday's game is the second time these teams meet this season. The Flames won 4-2 in the last meeting.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mathew Barzal has scored 18 goals with 42 assists for the Islanders. Anthony DeAngelo has one goal and six assists over the past 10 games.
Morgan Frost has 14 goals and 18 assists for the Flames. MacKenzie Weegar has five assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Islanders: 7-3-0, averaging 3.3 goals, five assists, 2.4 penalties and 4.8 penalty minutes while giving up 3.1 goals per game.
Flames: 4-5-1, averaging 2.5 goals, 4.3 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Islanders: None listed.
Flames: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Steve Borthwick must throw off the shackles in Paris to inject some attacking energy into his far-too predictable side
The inquest into England’s Six Nations campaign has already started and when that is the case before the championship has even finished it is never a good sign. Everyone has their own opinions on what is wrong and I’m sure that is the same within the squad too. When you are on runs like England are, different players come up with different reasons for their problems and different fixes – and that makes the situation all the more difficult.
If there is one thing holding England back it is their gameplan. I don’t say that as a reaction to these three defeats, I felt that they stagnated during the autumn and tightened things up despite chalking up four victories. The best illustration I can give is the 2024 tournament. England had lost to Scotland, went to York in the fallow week, contrived to throw off the shackles in attack and it paid immediate dividends.
Continue reading...Golden State Warriors (32-34, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (43-25, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Sunday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Golden State aims to end its four-game skid with a victory against New York.
The Knicks have gone 23-9 at home. New York ranks eighth in the league with 33.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Karl-Anthony Towns averaging 8.8.
The Warriors are 13-19 in road games. Golden State has a 4-4 record in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Knicks score 117.0 points per game, 2.6 more points than the 114.4 the Warriors allow. The Warriors are shooting 45.8% from the field, 0.2% higher than the 45.6% the Knicks' opponents have shot this season.
The teams square off for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Jan. 16 the Warriors won 126-113 led by 32 points from Jimmy Butler III, while Miles McBride scored 25 points for the Knicks.
TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Brunson is scoring 26.3 points per game with 3.5 rebounds and 6.6 assists for the Knicks. OG Anunoby is averaging 18.8 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 53.3% over the last 10 games.
Quinten Post is averaging 7.6 points for the Warriors. Brandin Podziemski is averaging 17.5 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 43.9% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 113.8 points, 47.9 rebounds, 29.4 assists, 7.9 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 104.2 points per game.
Warriors: 3-7, averaging 114.1 points, 45.8 rebounds, 30.6 assists, 9.3 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.8 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Josh Hart: day to day (knee), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (knee), Miles McBride: out (ankle), Jeremy Sochan: day to day (illness).
Warriors: Jimmy Butler III: out for season (knee), Al Horford: day to day (calf), Quinten Post: day to day (ankle), Stephen Curry: out (knee), Moses Moody: out (wrist), Draymond Green: out (injury management).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Detroit Pistons (48-18, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Toronto Raptors (37-29, seventh in the Eastern Conference)
Toronto; Sunday, 3:30 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will attempt to prolong its three-game win streak with a victory over Toronto.
The Raptors are 27-16 in Eastern Conference games. Toronto is the top team in the Eastern Conference with 18.8 fast break points led by RJ Barrett averaging 3.8.
The Pistons are 32-10 in conference games. Detroit ranks third in the league allowing just 109.6 points while holding opponents to 44.1% shooting.
The Raptors make 47.3% of their shots from the field this season, which is 3.2 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (44.1%). The Pistons are shooting 48.0% from the field, 1.6% higher than the 46.4% the Raptors' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 113-95 in the last matchup on Feb. 12.
TOP PERFORMERS: Scottie Barnes is averaging 18.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.5 blocks for the Raptors. Brandon Ingram is averaging 20.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists over the past 10 games.
Cade Cunningham is scoring 24.7 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 10.1 assists for the Pistons. Jalen Duren is averaging 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 65.4% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Raptors: 4-6, averaging 112.6 points, 39.1 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 111.3 points per game.
Pistons: 6-4, averaging 117.7 points, 46.0 rebounds, 28.4 assists, 10.3 steals and 6.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points.
INJURIES: Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles: day to day (thumb).
Pistons: Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Tobias Harris: day to day (hip).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Magoon Gwath had 17 points and BJ Davis made a layup with two seconds left to rally San Diego State to a 64-62 victory over New Mexico on Friday night in a Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinal.
No. 2 seed San Diego State (22-10) will play top seed Utah State in Saturday's championship game with an automatic spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Gwath made 6 of 10 shots with two 3-pointers and 3 of 5 free throws for the Aztecs, adding six rebounds and two blocks. Davis totaled 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals.
Deyton Albury scored 20 on 7-for-10 shooting to pace the third-seeded Lobos (23-10). Uriah Tenette had 11 points and Tomisla Buljan grabbed 10 rebounds to go with eight points.
Gwath had 10 points in the first half to help San Diego State take a 37-33 lead into intermission. Albury scored four straight points to pull New Mexico even at 62-all with 25 seconds remaining before Davis delivered the winner.
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Dominique Daniels Jr. scored 41 points to lead California Baptist to an 86-72 victory over Utah Tech on Friday night in a Western Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal.
No. 2 seed Cal Baptist (24-8) will play top seed Utah Valley in the championship game on Saturday with an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament up for grabs.
Daniels sank 15 of 23 shots with four 3-pointers and 7 of 9 free throws for the Lancers. Jayden Jackson made five 3-pointers and scored 19.
Ethan Potter scored 25 on 11-for-15 shooting to lead the third-seeded Trailblazers (19-15). Jusaun Holt totaled 16 points and five assists, while Chance Trujillo scored 15 off the bench, sinking three 3-pointers.
Potter had 14 points at halftime to help Utah Tech take a slim 36-35 lead. Daniels scored 26 in the second half and Jackson added 11 points as the Lancers outscored the Trailblazers 51-36 to pull out the victory.
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Minnesota Timberwolves (40-26, sixth in the Western Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (52-15, first in the Western Conference)
Oklahoma City; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City comes into a matchup against Minnesota as winners of seven straight games.
The Thunder are 10-3 against the rest of their division. Oklahoma City averages 118.6 points and has outscored opponents by 10.8 points per game.
The Timberwolves are 8-5 in division games. Minnesota is fifth in the NBA scoring 118.6 points per game while shooting 48.4%.
The Thunder average 118.6 points per game, 3.5 more points than the 115.1 the Timberwolves give up. The Timberwolves average 13.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the Thunder give up.
The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Timberwolves won the last meeting 123-111 on Jan. 30. Anthony Edwards scored 26 points to help lead the Timberwolves to the victory.
TOP PERFORMERS: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.8 points and 6.6 assists for the Thunder. Jaylin Williams is averaging 12.6 points and 8.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Edwards is averaging 29.4 points and 3.7 assists for the Timberwolves. Julius Randle is averaging 14.1 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 113.6 points, 43.9 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 8.7 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 112.3 points, 41.7 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.2 points.
INJURIES: Thunder: Branden Carlson: day to day (back), Jalen Williams: day to day (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee), Isaiah Hartenstein: day to day (calf).
Timberwolves: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Sacramento Kings (16-51, 15th in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Clippers (33-32, eighth in the Western Conference)
Inglewood, California; Saturday, 10:30 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Clippers -13.5; over/under is 229.5
BOTTOM LINE: Los Angeles hosts the Sacramento Kings after Kawhi Leonard scored 45 points in the Los Angeles Clippers' 153-128 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Clippers are 8-5 against Pacific Division opponents. Los Angeles is 6-8 in games decided by less than 4 points.
The Kings are 10-34 in Western Conference play. Sacramento is eighth in the Western Conference with 11.2 offensive rebounds per game led by Domantas Sabonis averaging 3.4.
The Clippers average 113.4 points per game, 7.5 fewer points than the 120.9 the Kings give up. The Kings are shooting 46.3% from the field, 0.4% lower than the 46.7% the Clippers' opponents have shot this season.
The teams meet for the third time this season. In the last meeting on Feb. 7 the Clippers won 114-111 led by 31 points from Leonard, while Malik Monk scored 18 points for the Kings.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bennedict Mathurin is scoring 18.3 points per game and averaging 5.6 rebounds for the Clippers. Leonard is averaging 27.5 points and 5.7 rebounds over the last 10 games.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.4 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Russell Westbrook is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Clippers: 6-4, averaging 121.4 points, 41.2 rebounds, 23.7 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.7 points per game.
Kings: 4-6, averaging 115.1 points, 44.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.3 points.
INJURIES: Clippers: Darius Garland: out (toe), Yanic Konan Niederhauser: out for season (foot), Bradley Beal: out for season (hip), John Collins: out (arm).
Kings: Malik Monk: day to day (ankle), Domantas Sabonis: out for season (back), Dylan Cardwell: out (ankle), Devin Carter: day to day (calf), De'Andre Hunter: out for season (eye), Zach LaVine: out for season (finger), Keegan Murray: out (ankle).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Isaac Johnson scored 19 points and Harry Rouhliadeff added a double-double to propel Hawaii to a 78-63 victory over Cal State Fullerton on Friday night in a Big West Conference Tournament semifinal.
No. 2 seed Hawaii (23-8) will play No. 1 seed UC Irvine in the championship game on Saturday with a berth in the NCAA Tournament on the line.
Johnson made 6 of 15 shots with a 3-pointer and all six of his free throws for the Rainbow Warriors. Rouhliadeff totaled 16 points and 10 rebounds. Dre Bullock had 11 points and Hunter Erickson pitched in with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks.
Christian Williams made 6 of 10 from 3-point range and scored 21 to lead the third-seeded Titans (18-16). Bailey Nunn sank three 3-pointers and scored 11 off the bench.
Johnson had seven points in a balanced first-half attack to help Hawaii take a 29-21 lead into the break. Erickson hit a jumper to give the Rainbow Warriors a 46-44 lead with 12 minutes remaining and they pulled away from there.
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ST. LOUIS – And so it continues. Haven't we seen this movie script before?
As a matter of fact, we saw it last year when the St. Louis Blues made a push to gain entry into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It’s still premature to say things will play out the same way, but the Blues are giving a whole new meaning to ‘March Madness.’
They continued their winning ways, this time rallying from a two-goal deficit and earning their seventh win in nine games (7-1-1) since the Olympic break and running their point streak to seven games (6-0-1) when Robert Thomas found the net with nine seconds left in overtime of a 3-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers at Enterprise Center on Friday.
The Blues (27-29-10) now sit five points out of a wild card in the Western Conference with their second win in as many nights after downing the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes, 3-1 on Thursday in Raleigh, N.C.
Not only did the Blues, who got a goal and an assist from Cam Fowler and a goal from Pius Suter, rally from down two goals, they did it in the third period after Connor McDavid put the Oilers (32-26-9) ahead midway through.
“It was fun. It wasn’t exactly the way that we drew it up, but I’m proud of our guys,” Fowler said. “We continue to fight against a really good team that needed the points and was desperate and we just hung in there, got a couple goals and had a big shot by ‘Tommer’ there in overtime to seal the deal. Just an overall good effort by everyone staying in the game and staying in the fight.”
Blues coach Jim Montgomery, whose Blues are 18-2-2 the past two seasons in the month of March, noticed that it’s that time of year.
“It's the month of March,” he said. “Either we've got a bunch of Irish guys and they love the month of March, they love March Madness or spring break. I don't know. I don't know what our combined winning percentage is combined the last two Marches but it's pretty phenomenal.”
Joel Hofer contined his sorcery with another stellar outing with 35 saves.
Here are Friday’s takeaways:
* First period had some pace to it – Each team played on Thursday, so one could understand if the teams would perhaps go through the motions a little bit and feel each other out.
But that’s not the case.
There was some pace to it, with each team having its share of odd-man rushes.
Goaltending was up to the challenge despite the shot clock only being 7-6 in favor of the Oilers.
* Oilers owned the second – For one, the Blues never got into an offensive flow and going 19:46 without a shot on goal was evident why.
When Dylan Holloway put a shot on goal with 6:45 left in the opening period, the Blues were stuck on six shots until Jordan Kyrou’s slot shot with 6:59 to play.
Edmonton, which was embarrassed on Friday in Dallas, losing 7-2, had the puck on a string and finally cracked Hofer when former Blue Kasperi Kapanen broke the barrier when he converted from the slot a gorgeous Leon Draisaitl pass at 15:41:
Kasperi ghosts 'em 👻 #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/KA8y43jvPC
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 14, 2026
The Blues made a bit of a push there but the Oilers owned the period.
“We didn’t touch the puck the whole second period, it felt like,” Thomas said. “Maybe start with that, but we came out in the first, they had a couple rush chances early and then we felt like we started to get some good looks and some good time in the O-zone, so we just had to get back to that. Even when they go up 2-0, that was our focus, and that was the way we were able to climb back into it.”
* Penalty kill continues to be key – The Oilers are the last team, with the likes of McDavid and Draisaitl, you want to put on the power play; it’s the top-ranked PP at 32.1 percent. And with the Blues’ PK ranked 29th at 75 percent, you’re asking for trouble.
But the Blues were 3-for-3 in kills, marking the fifth time in six games they were spotless killing penalties and are 16-for-18 in those games, with the only blip being the two goals the New York Islanders scored on Tuesday in the third period.
The kills kept the Blues in the game, and in fact, they had two shorthanded breakaway chances by Colton Parayko and Alexey Toropchenko that they didn’t convert on – Parayko hit the cross bar behind Connor Ingram – that could have produced momentum.
“Smart sticks, running straight lines,” Montgomery said. “Our PK forecheck up ice has been patient and steering people to the outside. We’re never giving cross-ice passes or in the middle of the ice and our goaltenders have been really good.”
* Theo Lindstein helped fuel a spark, along with Jonatan Berggren – Playing in his third NHL game, imagine being Theo Lindstein, looking up and seeing arguably the greatest player in the world (Connor McDavid) coming at you like a freight train.
What was Lindstein going to do? I’d be shaking in my skates too, and McDavid saw his prey and made Lindstein pay by backing him in, then snapping off a shot from the high slot past Hofer at 9:56 of the third period and making it 2-0:
Show Me State 🤩 #LetsGoOilerspic.twitter.com/xooiA4trHi
— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) March 14, 2026
The Blues had a semblance of a push, but with the way things transpired in the second period, that almost felt like a dagger goal.
But Lindstein came right back, made a strong read by pinching in on a chipped puck into the corner, got a stick on it that Berggren could recover, get below the goal line and find Suter in the low slot to get the Blues back within one at 2-1 at 12:22:
This highlight sutes us just fine. #stlbluespic.twitter.com/builEmuA1H
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 14, 2026
“What a play by Berggren on the Suter goal,” Montgomery said. ‘I think that really gave us the momentum that we could (win).
“(Lindstein’s) come up and he’s played with a lot of purpose, and he’s been aggressive. It’s been nice to see him play to his strengths and we’re seeing the kind of player he can become. I know it’s just three games in, but it’s been a good three games.”
* Face-off win leads to tying goal – With Robert Thomas still not able to take draws after taking a puck off his right pinkie finger Tuesday, face-offs were a challenge against the Oilers, although you wouldn’t have known it by seeing McDavid going 0-for-7.
But it was late in the game and Montgomery needed to try something different, so he had Oskar Sundqvist, who took only four draws (2-for-4) for the game, won a big one from the right circle back to Fowler, who grabbed it, and snapped a shot off the near post and past Ingram’s left shoulder at 16:14 to tie the game 2-2:
Nothing Fowl about this pic.twitter.com/xBQ15pJGdp
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 14, 2026
“I put ‘Sunny’ out for maybe a second face-off all night and he wins it clean and we’ve got it tied up because we were struggling to win (face-offs), so I just tried a different center to win face-offs,” Montgomery said.
* Blues needed their skating legs – Look, let’s face it, Thursday was a hard game for the Blues, winning in Carolina.
And playing their third game in four nights, with travel sandwiched in between home games, was not an easy task.
The Blues looked lifeless in the second period, and the Oilers were skating them to death. Something had to change, and it did.
“The second period wasn’t really good at all,” Fowler said. “They kind of dictated the pace of the play there and spent most of the period in our own end, so we came in here just wanted to regroup a little bit, just wanted to get back to what had given us some success in previous games. It still took a little while in the third and sometimes when you play desperate and you’re down a couple, you play a little bit more aggressively and you’re able to gain some more chances and I think that was the case tonight.”
* Blues goaltending leading the way – It’s been by committee, as Thomas stated afterwards, but what the Blues are getting from Hofer and Jordan Binnington, who was the No. 1 star against the Hurricanes, is leading the way.
The goaltending has been so good, the Blues are either winning games by locking them down when they gain the lead, or they’re able to come back like the last two nights when the goalies are giving them the chance.
Joel Hofer:
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) March 14, 2026
5-0-1
1.64 GAA
.948 SV%
192 shots-182 saves
Jordan Binnington:
2-1-0
1.69 GAA
.944 SV%
89 shots-84 saves#stlblueshttps://t.co/X2A3vKhoXH
“They give us a chance night in, night out, both of them to win hockey games,” Fowler said. “’Binner’, he was unbelievable last night in Carolina and ‘Hof’ was amazing tonight. We need to take a look at things and make life easier on them, but they’re a huge part of this and they’re as big a part of the team as anybody else. When they’re playing like that, it’s really difficult for other teams to gain momentum. We have tremendous confidence in both of those guys any time that they suit up for us.”
The numbers since the break speak for themselves:
* Fresh legs helped fuel the fire – Montgomery made three changes to the lineup anticipating that some fresher legs would be needed, especially having to play an overtime game on Tuesday and a tough order on Thursday.
He inserted Berggren, Sundqvist and defenseman Justin Holl in for Dalibor Dvorsky, Nathan Walker and Tyler Tucker.
It’s part of the dynamic depth that’s on display at the moment.
Holl played 16:33, Berggren was at 12:36 with the assist, and Sundqvist was at 13:11, also with an assist.
“It’s nice to have (depth), because we threw three bodies in because we knew we were going to be tired and that they could give us juice,” Montgomery said. ‘Berggren gave us juice, Sunny gave us juice. So did Holl. Holl played a good game. He was smart back there, he was skating, defended well. I’m really happy that we could roll in three fresh bodies.”
* Thomas calls game – The Oilers are no fun to go against 3-on-3, not when they can throw McDavid, Draisaitl and Evan Bouchard on the ice at any given moment.
And it was Draisaitl that nearly ended it when McDavid fed him for a shot off the post, and Holloway swatting the puck out of danger from the crease, but gaining that extra point has been tough sledding for the Blues most of the season.
But with the clock winding down and possession, Kyrou takes the puck to the net and gets his shot stopped for Thomas, who fed Fowler, and he gave the puck back to Thomas curling back to the inner edge of the left circle before beating Ingram with McDavid defending:
HOW 'BOUT THAT????? pic.twitter.com/15I6OCu0e9
— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) March 14, 2026
“We’re obviously feeling good,” Thomas said. “We’re playing confident and we’re really using our strengths. Our ‘D’ are really skating, they’re joining the rush, they’re creating a lot. They’re beating the first forechecker in and that’s opening up all of us forwards. We’re just clicking right now and really confident and coming in and winning every game.
“I think the biggest thing is we’re playing to our strengths. That’s what made us a good team, that’s what’s making us a good team now. When we get that puck and we’re skating, our ‘D’ are active, we’re a tough team to beat and to get the puck from. I feel like we’re doing a good job of that.”
And with the playoffs now in the line of vision, Thomas said, “We’re right there.”
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