In addition to eliminating playoff byes, the Oregon coach wants the entire college football season to be condensed.
Demons to appeal Steven May’s three-game AFL ban for brutal collision
Melbourne defender found guilty of rough conduct at tribunal
Collision left Francis Evans concussed and with broken nose
Melbourne has confirmed it will appeal defender Steven May’s three-match ban for his devastating collision with an opponent that has divided the football world.
May was found guilty of rough conduct at the AFL tribunal on Wednesday night for the collision that concussed Francis Evans and left the Carlton forward with a broken nose and a chipped tooth.
Continue reading...Everything Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said after Day 1 of training camp
Here's everything Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said following Day 1 of NFL training camp.
Yankees' Luis Gil completes first Triple-A rehab start with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Luis Gil made a good next step toward a Yankees return, completing his first rehab start with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The Yankees transferred Gil's rehab from Double-A to Triple-A and the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year was roughed up a bit on Wednesday. Going up against the Rochester Red Wings, Gil pitched into the fourth inning, but it could have been better if not for one inning.
After allowing a solo shot to lead off his night, Gil would cruise until the third inning. He allowed three runs on two walks and three hits. The big knock came off the bat of Nick Schnell, who doubled in two runs with runners on first and second and two outs. Gil would complete the inning and get one out in the fourth before he was pulled after 67 pitches (44 strikes).
Gil allowed five runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters in what is expected to be a lengthy rehab assignment.
Prior to Wednesday, Gil made two starts with Somerset. In those two appearances, he allowed three runs in 6.2 innings while striking out 13 batters.
It's unclear whether this will be Gil's final rehab start, but manager Aaron Boone said there was no intention of rushing the young right-hander back from his right lat strain.
Clifton Sour About Tenure With Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres trade that sent defenseman Connor Clifton and a 2025 second round pick to Pittsburgh for Conor Timmins and minor leaguer Isaac Beliveau was made in part because the Sabres coveted Timmins, a 26-year-old native of St Catharines, ON. Another factor according to GM Kevyn Adams was that Clifton would likely not be back after the final year of his three-year, $10 million contract. On Tuesday, Clifton spoke to the Pittsburgh media for the first time and did not hold his tongue regarding his two-year stay with the Sabres organization.
“I wasn’t too happy with it. I think I was all over the place. I wouldn’t even say last year, really the past two years. My game, it’s kind of been at a standstill.” Clifton said. “There’s been a lot of mental battles along the way. There was a couple of (healthy) scratches two years ago, too. My whole time in Buffalo, I feel like I kind of lost myself.”
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The 30-year-old signed with the Sabres the summer following their narrowly finishing behind Florida for the second Eastern Conference playoff spot. Adams did not make any roster changes, other than adding Clifton – coming off the Boston Bruins record-breaking President’s Trophy campaign in 2022-23 – and veteran Erik Johnson to bolster the Buffalo blueline. Clifton was excited to join the club under Don Granato, who had coached him in the US National Development Program, and because he was slated to play a top-four role alongside either Rasmus Dahlin or Owen Power. By the end of the season, the New Jersey native was playing on the bottom-pairing, and Granato had been replaced by Lindy Ruff.
Clifton played the same bottom-pairing role last season, finishing fifth in average ice time (16:03) and points (16) in 73 games.
“The change of scenery, I got that call that I’m going to be a Pittsburgh Penguin, I was really excited for the change. I want to get back to my old self and how I play and the impact that I have on the game.” Clifton said. ““There’s always setbacks on your journey, I’m pretty proud of the journey I’m on. I think I have a lot left to give. I’m really excited for a fresh start in Pittsburgh and can’t wait to get started.”
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Freddie Freeman's walk-off hit saves the day, lifts Dodgers to win over Twins
Remember when the Dodgers' injury-riddled rotation was the problem? That’s so last month.
The issue now is the bullpen. Over the last four weeks, the team’s bullpen ERA has ballooned to 4.44. Only six teams in the majors entered Wednesday with a higher mark.
Freddie Freeman saved the Dodgers from another painful bullpen implosion Wednesday, lining a two-out, two-run single to left field in the ninth inning, giving the team a 4-3 walk-off win over the Minnesota Twins in a getaway day matinee at Dodger Stadium.
An inning earlier Kirby Yates had given up two runs and an eighth-inning lead without recording an out. That wasted a season-best effort from right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who held the Twins to a run on three hits, striking out 12 batters, over seven innings. In each of his three starts since coming of the injured list, Glasnow has gone at least five innings and allowed fewer than two runs. His ERA in that span is 1.00.
Read more:'It just wasn't pretty.' Bullpen sinks slumping Dodgers again in loss to Twins
Glasnow left with a 2-1 lead but that was gone four batters later, with Yates walking the bases loaded, missing the plate on 12 of his 18 pitches. Alex Vesia came on to get Willi Castro to hit into a double play, but that allowed the tying run to score.
Pinch-hitter Harrison Bader then untied it with a poorly hit ball that got over the leaping Vesia before landing on the infield grass as Brooks Lee raced home from third.
The Dodgers were down to their last out in the ninth when Mookie Betts beat out an infield single. Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked and Esteury Ruiz followed with a walk of his own, bringing up Freeman, who had two called strikes before slicing a line drive just in front of diving Bader in left to give the Dodgers their second win in six games since the All-Star break.
Freeman’s heroics do nothing to heal the Dodgers where they are hurting most though, and that’s pitching. After losing three of his projected five starters in the season’s first two months, manager Dave Roberts has had to use everything short of masking tape to keep a rotation together. As a result, the Dodgers have used 16 starters this season and 37 pitchers overall.
And that makeshift rotation may be to blame for the bullpen troubles. Dodger starters have thrown a big-league low 467 2/3 innings this season, averaging less than five innings a start, while their exhausted relievers have pitched a major-league-leading 452 2/3 innings.
The rotation is getting healthier now that Glasnow, who has missed most of the season with an inflamed shoulder, could soon be rejoined in the rotation by two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, The left-hander, out since April 2 with shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to make his final minor-league rehab start Saturday.
Ohtani gave Glasnow an early lead Wednesday with a solo home run in the first inning. It was his fifth straight game with a home run, a career high that equaled the franchise record, and it gave 37 for the season. The run was his 96th of the year, best in the majors.
Royce Lewis got that run back for the Twins in the third, leading off with his fifth home run of the season just inside the left-field foul pole. It stayed that way until the seventh, when Tommy Edman looped a single over a drawn-in infield, putting the Dodgers back in front.
Roberts isn’t ready to blame the bullpen’s recent struggles entirely on the heavy workload. But he’s not excusing it either.
“That's how the season goes,” he said. “It's easy to look at that in totality. I do know that, we're what we're dealing with, we have to kind of weather it.”
In the last two days, the Dodgers have seen left-hander reliever Tanner Scott go on the injured list with elbow inflammation and watched right-hander Ben Casparius limp off the mound with a right calf cramp, joining 11 pitchers already on the sidelines.
Casparius underwent an MRI exam, which was negative, and he is expected to be available during the team’s nine-game road trip, which begins Friday in Boston. But Casparius acknowledged Wednesday that the bullpen’s recent struggles led him to try to pitch through the soreness, likely making the injury worse.
“Going through the back of my mind [was] kind of gutting it out,” he said. “I think you can look at it a bunch of different ways, but I'm not necessarily sure I put the team the best spot.”
Read more:Dodgers put Tanner Scott on IL, but hopeful he returns this season
Casparius said the pitchers in the Dodger bullpen, who haven’t had a scoreless game since July 3, have struggled collectively and will have to work collectively to get back on track.
“Momentum is everything,” he said. “We're kind of going through our tough patch right now and hopefully it's the worst it's going to be. We’ve got some guys coming back. Maybe getting on the road and being uncomfortable might help us out a little bit in a weird way too.
“It's a tough part of the year. Everybody around the league is going through this type of stuff. I think we're going to turn a corner.”
Notes: Reliever Blake Treinen was scheduled to make back-to-back appearances for Triple A Oklahoma City on Wednesday and Thursday and if things go well, he could rejoin the Dodgers on the road trip. Treinen went on the injured list April 19 with forearm tightness. ... Third baseman Max Muncy is scheduled to face live pitching at the Dodgers’ Arizona complex on Thursday and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment next week, far sooner than expected. Muncy was the Dodgers’ hottest hitter when he sustained a bone bruise in his left knee three weeks ago. It was anticipated he would miss a month and half.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Big Ten notebook: Hoosiers ready to prove they’re no one-hit wonder
The Hoosiers’ road back to the playoffs is no easy chore, as their conference slate includes trips to 2024 CFP participants Oregon and Penn State.
Shohei Ohtani homers in fifth consecutive game, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani homered for the fifth consecutive game on Wednesday, tying a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise record.
Yankees star Aaron Judge was the last player to homer in five consecutive games, accomplishing that feat last year.
Ohtani, who leads the National League with 37 home runs, homered in the first inning off Minnesota Twins starter Chris Paddack. He hit a slow curveball 441 feet to center. He carried the bat midway down the first-base line and then did a bat flip.
This is the seventh time in Dodgers history that a player has homered in five consecutive games. Ohtani joins Max Muncy, Joc Pederson, Adrian Gonzalez, Matt Kemp, Shawn Green and Roy Campanella in that club.
Ohtani, a three-time MVP, is batting .276 with 70 RBIs. He’s also pitched well in six games and is scheduled to throw four innings on Monday in Cincinnati as he is getting close in his buildup as a starter, coming back from his second right UCL repair surgery.
With an off day on Thursday, Ohtani's next chance to see if he can homer in six consecutive games will be against the Red Sox in Boston.
Levi On NHL.com’s Top-10 Young Goalie’s List
After winning consecutive Mike Richter Awards as the NCAA’s top goaltender, signing with the Buffalo Sabres, and going 5-2-0 at the end of the 2022-23 season, the expectations Devon Levi were extremely high. Since then, the 23-year-old netminder has not been able to repeat his success at the NHL level, but has been one of the best goalies in the American Hockey League.
In NHL.com’s list of the Top-10 goalies under the age of 25, Levi was ranked eighth. 2025 Calder Trophy nominee Dustin Wolf was the top ranked on the list, followed by Spencer Knight of the Chicago Blackhawks, Yaroslav Askarov of the San Jose Sharks, and Leevi Meriklainen of the Ottawa Senators.
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While any ranking is subjective, the concern for the Sabres has to be that the perception of Levi’s progress is that it is not as positive as other goalies, who are still in college or just entered their pro careers. Montreal’s Jacob Fowler – who played two years at Boston College before playing for Laval during the AHL regular season and Calder Cup Playoffs, and Detroit prospect Trey Augustine –, a two-time World Junior gold medalist who plays for Michigan State, are considered better prospects. Jett Greaves of the Columbus Blue Jackets was ranked just ahead of Levi, with Minnesota’s Jesper Wallstedt, and Pittsburgh’s Joel Blomqvist finishing up the Top 10.
Levi is a restricted free agent, but was not eligible for arbitration or an offer sheet, leaving the young goalie in a situation with little leverage. With the signing of veteran Alex Lyon earlier this month, the Sabres will have an open competition, but the 23-year-old’s waiver exempt status makes it likely that Levi starts next eason in Rochester unless he impresses at training camp.
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Verlander ends historic 16-game winless streak as Devers' 2 homers power Giants past Braves 9-3
ATLANTA — Justin Verlander ended the longest streak of starts in a season without a win in Giants history, Rafael Devers drove in four runs with three hits, including two home runs, and San Francisco beat the Atlanta Braves 9-3 on Wednesday.
The 42-year-old Verlander (1-8) had been winless in his first 16 starts, the longest stretch by a Giants pitcher in a single season in franchise history. The three-time Cy Young winner, who finalized a $15 million, one-year deal with San Francisco in January, allowed one hit in five scoreless innings and overcame five walks.
Devers went deep off Spencer Strider (4-8) in the fifth for the game's first run. Strider then hit Willy Adames with a pitch before Matt Chapman's two-run homer gave San Francisco a 3-0 lead. Devers added a three-run shot off Dylan Dodd, who was recalled earlier in the day, in the sixth.
Devers served as the designated hitter, one day after making his debut as the starting first baseman in Tuesday night’s 9-0 win, which ended the team’s six-game losing streak.
Eli White’s blooper landed fair near the right-field line to open the fifth for Atlanta's first hit off Verlander. White stole second base and moved to third on a wild pitch before Verlander struck out Drake Baldwin to end the inning.
The Giants outscored the Braves 18-3 to win the final two games of the series after Atlanta won the opener 9-7.
The Giants, off on Thursday, return home to open a weekend series against the New York Mets on Friday night. Giants RHP Logan Webb (9-7, 3.08) is scheduled to face RHP Clay Holmes (8-5, 3.48).
The Braves play at Texas on Friday night with LHP Joey Wentz (2-1, 5.71) scheduled for face Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (7-3, 1.58).
Phillies can't overcome 5th-inning disaster, fail to sweep Red Sox
Phillies can't overcome 5th-inning disaster, fail to sweep Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies couldn’t overcome a nightmarish fifth inning Wednesday night.
The Red Sox scored six runs in the fifth and avoided a three-game series sweep at Citizens Bank Park, taking a 9-8 win in 11 innings.
The Phils dropped to 58-44 and Boston improved to 55-49.
“The offense was good tonight,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “The bullpen was good. That fifth inning was just a killer, that’s all.”
Jesus Luzardo started for the Phillies and was stellar until the fifth. He wound up conceding six runs in five innings of work. Luzardo allowed two hits, walked five and struck out seven.
The Phils never let Red Sox righty Lucas Giolito even think about settling in.
Trea Turner knocked a first-pitch single to left field and Kyle Schwarber slugged him home three pitches later, nailing a high changeup over the right-center field wall for his 34th dinger of the season. Bryce Harper then stepped up and promptly cracked a milestone shot, hammering his 350th career homer. He crushed Giolito’s center-cut fastball 439 feet.
Though Nick Castellanos couldn’t make it back-to-back-to-back jacks, he got in on the power-hitting fun next time up. Castellanos built the Phils’ lead to 4-0 in the third inning with a deep fly over the left-field wall. Bryson Stott added a solo long ball in the fourth.
Just like Cristopher Sanchez the night prior, Luzardo was flawless his first time through Boston’s order. He struck out five batters over the first three innings and the Red Sox whiffed at his first seven sweepers.
Boston had no baserunners until Rob Refsnyder started the fourth inning with a walk. Masataka Yoshida picked up the team’s first hit on a fifth-inning leadoff double.
The fifth descended into disaster with two outs.
Refsnyder popped up a 2-0 pitch behind home plate with the the bases loaded and it appeared Luzardo had escaped any damage despite shaky control. However, J.T. Realmuto couldn’t locate the ball and it plopped in the grass.
Realmuto “lost it in the sky,” Thomson said. “It was close to me and I had trouble seeing it.”
Luzardo walked in a run … and then another run. The boos intensified and the inning grew much worse. Romy Gonzalez delivered a go-ahead grand slam.
Luzardo is still trying to understand and solve his issues pitching from the stretch.
“It’s not physical,” he said. “My stuff is the best it’s been my whole career, so it’s not a stuff problem. It’s more command, making the right pitches at the right times, executing the pitches. … There’s no excuse. It needs to happen now.”
The Phillies’ bullpen prevented the game from spiraling away. Jordan Romano, Daniel Robert, Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm combined to throw four scoreless innings.
Boston’s bullpen also handled business through the seventh inning, but Aroldis Chapman was unable to polish off a 1-2-3 eighth. Realmuto evened the contest with one swing, lacing a Chapman sinker over the center-field fence.
The Phillies caused no problems for Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock in the ninth inning and Boston went back on top in the 10th. Trevor Story’s one-out double down the left-field line drove in ghost runner Jarren Duran.
Two pitches into the bottom of the 10th, the game was tied again. Turner’s fly out to right field advanced Stott to third base. Schwarber’s single off of Greg Weissert leveled it up at 7-all.
Carlos Narvaez landed the decisive blow in the 11th vs. Seth Johnson. He lined a two-run homer just over the left-field wall, a result that stood after a review for potential fan interference.
The Phillies trimmed their deficit to one with a two-out Johan Rojas base hit, but Max Kepler struck out looking against Brennan Bernardino to wrap up a sour series finale.
Next up for the Phillies is a weekend series with the Yankees. Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) and Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) are the scheduled starters for Friday night’s series opener.
Bohm to join Phils’ road trip
After their stay in New York, the Phillies will head to Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox.
The plan is for Alec Bohm to be there and begin his rehab from a fractured rib.
“Feels better,” Thomson said pregame. “He’ll stay here until Sunday. And then Sunday he’ll travel to New York, catch up with us and go to Chicago with us. I think by that time he’ll start doing some functional work. Probably not swinging the bat yet, but at least play catch and take some ground balls or something like that.”
Phillies can't overcome 5th-inning disaster, fail to sweep Red Sox
Phillies can't overcome 5th-inning disaster, fail to sweep Red Sox originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies couldn’t overcome a nightmarish fifth inning Wednesday night.
The Red Sox scored six runs in the fifth and avoided a three-game series sweep at Citizens Bank Park, taking a 9-8 win in 11 innings.
The Phils dropped to 58-44 and Boston improved to 55-49.
Jesus Luzardo started for the Phillies and was stellar until the fifth. He wound up conceding six runs in five innings of work. Luzardo allowed two hits, walked five and struck out seven.
The Phils never let Red Sox righty Lucas Giolito even think about settling in.
Trea Turner knocked a first-pitch single to left field and Kyle Schwarber slugged him home three pitches later, nailing a high changeup over the right-center field wall for his 34th dinger of the season. Bryce Harper then stepped up and promptly cracked a milestone shot, hammering his 350th career homer. He crushed Giolito’s center-cut fastball 439 feet.
Though Nick Castellanos couldn’t make it back-to-back-to-back jacks, he got in on the power-hitting fun next time up. Castellanos built the Phils’ lead to 4-0 in the third inning with a deep fly over the left-field wall. Bryson Stott added a solo long ball in the fourth.
Just like Cristopher Sanchez the night prior, Luzardo was flawless his first time through Boston’s order. He struck out five batters over the first three innings and the Red Sox whiffed at his first seven sweepers.
Boston had no baserunners until Rob Refsnyder started the fourth inning with a walk. Masataka Yoshida picked up the team’s first hit on a fifth-inning leadoff double.
The fifth descended into disaster with two outs.
Refsnyder popped a 2-0 pitch behind home plate with the the bases loaded and it appeared Luzardo had escaped any damage despite shaky control. However, J.T. Realmuto couldn’t locate the ball and it plopped in the grass.
Luzardo walked in a run … and then another run. The boos intensified and the inning grew much worse. Romy Gonzalez delivered a go-ahead grand slam.
The Phillies’ bullpen prevented the game from spiraling away. Jordan Romano, Daniel Robert, Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm combined to throw four scoreless innings.
Boston’s bullpen also handled business through the seventh inning, but Aroldis Chapman was unable to polish off a 1-2-3 eighth. Realmuto evened the contest with one swing, lacing a Chapman sinker over the center-field fence.
The Phillies caused no problems for Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock in the ninth inning and Boston went back on top in the 10th. Trevor Story’s one-out double down the left-field line drove in ghost runner Jarren Duran.
Two pitches into the bottom of the 10th, the game was tied again. Turner’s fly out to right field advanced Stott to third base. Schwarber’s single off of Greg Weissert leveled it up at 7-all.
Carlos Narvaez landed the decisive blow in the 11th vs. Seth Johnson. He lined a two-run homer just over the left-field wall, a result that stood after a review for potential fan interference.
The Phillies trimmed their deficit to one with a two-out Johan Rojas base hit, but Max Kepler struck out looking against Brennan Bernardino to wrap up a sour series finale.
Next up for the Phillies is a weekend series with the Yankees. Taijuan Walker (3-5, 3.75 ERA) and Will Warren (6-5, 4.91 ERA) are the scheduled starters for Friday night’s series opener.
Bohm to join Phils’ road trip
After their stay in New York, the Phillies will head to Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox.
The plan is for Alec Bohm to be there and begin his rehab from a fractured rib.
“Feels better,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said pregame. “He’ll stay here until Sunday. And then Sunday he’ll travel to New York, catch up with us and go to Chicago with us. I think by that time he’ll start doing some functional work. Probably not swinging the bat yet, but at least play catch and take some ground balls or something like that.”
Ex-Penguins Goalie Signs With Overseas Club
The Graz 99ers of the ICEHL in Austria have announced that they have signed former Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Maxime Lagace.
Lagace spent each of the last two seasons in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) with Farjestad BK. In 31 games with the SHL squad in 2024-25, he posted a 17-10-0 record, a .886 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average.
Lagace was with the Penguins organization during the 2020-21 season, where he primarily played in the AHL. In nine games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that campaign, he had a 4-3-2 record, a .907 save percentage, and a 2.30 goals-against average. He also made one appearance with Pittsburgh, where he recorded a 29-save shutout in their season finale against the Buffalo Sabres.
Lagace's time with the Penguins ended the following off-season, as he signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency. In 20 career NHL games over four seasons split between the Vegas Golden Knights, Penguins, and Lightning, Lagace had an 8-9-1 record, a .870 goals-against average, and a 3.90 goals-against average.
Ex-Penguins Forward Signs With New TeamFormer Pittsburgh Penguins forward Daniel Sprong is heading overseas, as he has signed a one-year contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.
Photo Credit: © Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
The Canadiens And Senators Rivalry Is Hot. It Could Be Scorching In 2025-26
Of all the NHL teams that improved this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens may have improved the most.
Trading for a No. 1 defenseman, Noah Dobson, from the New York Islanders really elevates Montreal’s game, and acquiring up-and-coming right winger Zack Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues improves the Habs’ attack up front.
But looming not too far in the distance is a showdown we anticipate could be one of the most compelling battles in the league next season – the Canadiens’ rivalry with the Ottawa Senators. If things shake out in the standings the way we think they may, Montreal and Ottawa could wind up fighting it out for one of the last Stanley Cup playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
This past season, Ottawa got into the post-season with a fourth-place finish in the highly competitive Atlantic Division. Montreal squeezed into the playoffs with their fifth-place finish in the Atlantic.
Next season, however, there may be only four Atlantic teams that get into the playoffs, as the Metropolitan Division’s New York Rangers could bounce back and give the division four representatives in the post-season. If the Columbus Blue Jackets prove last year’s improvement was for real, they may even end their drought.
If that’s what comes to pass, the battle in the Atlantic will be ferocious. The back-to-back defending Cup-champion Florida Panthers are locks to be a playoff team in 2025-26. The Toronto Maple Leafs – which led the Atlantic this past season – are also all but guaranteed to be a playoff team this coming year. The same goes for the Tampa Bay Lightning, which bolstered their lineup in 2025.
That leaves a slew of teams – the Canadiens, Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins – competing for what could only be one playoff berth. And out of those five teams, we feel that Ottawa and Montreal are best-positioned to return to the playoffs. But if only one of them can make it, that will certainly crank up the heat of an already-hot Montreal and Ottawa rivalry.
Make no mistake: this rivalry is already intense.
Senators fans don’t forget Arber Xhekaj hitting and injuring former prospects Angus Crookshank and Viktor Lodin in the AHL and a rookie tournament, respectively. A high pre-season hit that knocked Tim Stutzle out of the game and earned Xhekaj a major penalty last fall caused a stir as well. And Canadiens fans, along with Brendan Gallagher, have accused Stutzle of embellishment in the past. Both teams virtually forgot about the play to tussle during an important game this past April.
This upcoming season, the Canadiens and the Senators will square off four times – once at the start of November, again at the start of December, once in mid-January and one final time on March 11. That final game will be particularly important, as it will come after the league’s 2026 trade deadline. At that point, Montreal and Ottawa’s lineups will be as good as they can be, and fans of both clubs will pack the Senators’ arena to watch them battle.
The close proximity between the Senators and Canadiens and playoff matchups from the last decade have already built a strong rivalry. But if either club puts a dagger in the heart of its rival and prevents them from making the playoffs, this rivalry will be scorching. That’s good news for league executives whose blueprint for success hinges on building up rivalries within divisions.
If we’re being honest, we think the Canadiens have a shot at leapfrogging over the Senators. Montreal has been proactive in improving its lineup, while Ottawa has largely stood pat with its group from last year and filled the gaps. We’re not suggesting teams that make big off-season moves are guaranteed to do better than teams that have been static with their lineup. But the Canadiens’ dynamic attack might just prove to be better than that of the Senators.
Time will tell whether this prognostication is correct. But if a heightened Sens/Habs rivalry is in the cards this season, their battles will be epic. One lost point here or there might just be the difference between a team making or missing the playoffs, so every Canadiens and Senators game will have major repercussions on their season. That’s exactly the type of development that will boost the league’s business.
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Mets finally see Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso snap slumps as lineup catalysts
It took longer than the Mets wanted, but Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso have appeared to give up the funk.
While the bottom half of the lineup was relied upon for offense in Tuesday night's win, the Mets' superstar tandem atop the order finally packed a punch on Wednesday afternoon, driving in a combined five runs on four hits in a sweep of the Angels at Citi Field.
The first chunk of damage was inflicted in the third inning. With two on and nobody out, Lindor mercifully snapped a career-worst 0-for-31 skid with an RBI single to left that gave the Mets a 2-1 lead.
Then, five pitches later, Alonso joined in on the fun, demolishing a fastball to left-center that struck the second deck for a 439-foot, three-run home run. It was the 248th blast of his career.
"I feel the love, it's definitely special," Lindor said of the fans' support after the win. "It makes you want to continue to go even harder, day in and day out. This city, this market makes you bring the best of yourself every day. And you can't take that for granted... Sorry I didn't put on a good show for them earlier.
"Stay the course, hopefully good things happen... I'm human. I don't want to go through [a slump], but I know I'm going to go through it. It sucks, put your head down and work. Try to get better... When you're good, you're good. When you suck, you suck. It is what it is."
Lindor collected his second hit of the game in the fourth, another RBI single to left that bumped the Mets' lead to 6-1. Alonso wrapped up his two-hit effort with a single to right in the seventh.
Some semblance of an awakening at the plate was inevitable for Lindor and Alonso, but their prolonged slumps naturally tested patience.
Lindor's first at-bat was a flyout to center, and with seven more hitless appearances, he would've surpassed Rey Ordóñez for the worst skid (0-for-37, set in 1997) in Mets history.
There was also a considerable power outage from Alonso. While he launched an emphatic three-run jack in the All-Star Game last week, his three-run bomb on Wednesday was his first regular-season homer since July 8.
It was the 22nd long ball of the year for Alonso, who's now four shy of tying Darryl Strawberry's record and five shy of becoming the Mets' all-time homers king.
Alonso entered July with a strong .291 average, but that marked dipped down to .270 before Wednesday's win due to a powerless 2-for-33 slide.
"That [homer] felt really good. I'm honestly more satisfied with the inside-out single in my last at-bat," Alonso said. "The homer obviously is super great, but personally, when I'm hitting the ball to the big part of the field, that's when I feel good... I just want to put my best foot forward every at-bat and give it my all."
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stated the obvious on his invaluable infielders -- their MVP-caliber production will allow the team to achieve the long-term goals set well before the regular season began.
"We're going to need those guys," Mendoza said. "We know they're going through it, but they're too good of a hitter. They're too good of a player. I'm glad they were able to come through for us today."
Francisco Lindor offers up his appreciation to Mets fans for continuing to support him as he snapped his difficult 0-for-31 stretch:
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 23, 2025
"I feel the love, it's definitely special - it makes you want to continue to go even harder. Sorry I didn't put a good show on earlier." pic.twitter.com/3K4kXMj7H3