Mookie Betts' late home run lifts Dodgers to series sweep of the Padres
For so much of this year, the Dodgers have been picking Mookie Betts up amid a career-worst season at the plate.
On Sunday afternoon, with a rivalry game and division lead hanging in the balance, he returned the favor with his biggest swing in ages.
After once leading by four, then watching the Padres claw all the way back to tie the score, the Dodgers completed a weekend series sweep on Betts’ go-ahead home run in the bottom of the eighth — his no-doubt, 394-foot, stadium-shaking blast sending the Dodgers to a 5-4 win and two-game lead in the National League West.
As Betts came to the plate in the eighth inning, Dodger Stadium was silent and tense.
In the first inning, the team had ambushed Padres starter Yu Darvish for four runs on long balls from Freddie Freeman and Andy Pages.
From there, a crowd of 49,189 watched the Padres slowly storm back.
Tyler Glasnow fizzled after two electric opening innings, leaving the game at the end of the fifth after giving up two runs.
A patchwork Dodgers bullpen couldn’t hold the Padres off, giving up runs in the top of the sixth and eighth that transformed the score into a 4-4 tie.
At that point, San Diego had the advantage. Their league-leading bullpen was fresh. Their closer, Robert Suarez, was on the mound. And the Dodgers were almost completely out of pitching options, having burned five relievers to get the previous nine outs.
But then, Betts delivered. In a 2-and-0 count against Suarez, he launched a center-cut fastball deep into the left-field stands.
It was the kind of moment that has eluded the former MVP so often this year. The kind of heroic act the Dodgers (71-53) had been waiting for despite his career-worst .241 batting average.
Just like that, the Dodgers completed their sweep against the Padres (69-55). They went from second place at the start of Friday to all alone back in first three days later.
Long before the dramatic ending, Sunday had started like the previous two nights. The Dodgers were getting good pitching, with Glasnow striking out four of his first five batters while pumping increased fastball velocity and generating foolish swings with his slider. The Padres were making mistakes; most notably, Freddy Fermín getting gunned down by Pages from center while trying to leg out a double in the top of the third, turning what could have been a crooked-number inning into only a one-run rally.
Darvish, meanwhile, made a pair of two-strike mistakes, leaving a fastball up to Freeman for a three-run homer before failing to bury a splitter to Pages for a solo shot.
Read more:Dodgers capitalize on Padres' sloppiness to retake sole possession of first place
Things began to shift, however, in the fifth. Ramón Laureano lifted a solo drive just over the wall in right. And though Glasnow got out of a jam later in the inning, his fading command and rising pitch count forced him from the game after 91 throws.
That meant, with the Padres turning to their shutdown (and, after two defeats to start the series, well-rested) bullpen, the Dodgers’ shaky relief corps was asked to protect a narrow lead.
Once again, they couldn’t.
In the sixth, Anthony Banda gave up one run on a pair of doubles (the second one, a floating fly ball into the right field corner from Ryan O’Hearn that slow-footed Teoscar Hernández couldn’t track down).
And though Blake Treinen stranded a runner at third in the seventh — thanks in no small part to a generous strike call against Manny Machado that negated a walk — more trouble arose in the eighth.
Alexis Díaz started the inning by hitting a batter, then gave up a double to Laureano on a line drive to center. Alex Vesia took over from there and retired both batters he faced. But the first one was a ground ball from Jose Iglesias, just enough to get a runner home from third for the tying run.
For a fleeting moment, all the momentum the Dodgers had built this past week seemed to be fading.
Instead of retaking control of the division lead, they risked finishing this weekend tied atop the standings.
With one swing, Betts changed all that.
In a year of so much frustration, his moment of salvation finally arrived.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Bob MacIntyre blows four-shot lead as Scheffler wins BMW Championship
MacIntyre never recovers after bogeys on first two holes
Scheffler has five PGA titles for second year in a row
Bob MacIntyre blew a four-shot lead in the final round as the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, produced a moment of magic to clinch victory at the BMW Championship in Maryland. MacIntyre’s big overnight advantage was whittled to a single stroke after he started Sunday with two bogeys and, despite a gallant effort, he could do nothing to quell the American’s momentum.
Back within touching distance with two to play, MacIntyre watched as Scheffler nailed a remarkable chip from the rough to in effect confirm his victory on the penultimate hole. It was hard to take for MacIntyre, who had produced his own memorable moment on the final hole on Saturday when he sunk a 41ft putt to retain his significant advantage.
Continue reading...Start of Sunday's Mets-Mariners MLB Little League Classic delayed due to rain
The start of Sunday's MLB Little League Classic between the Mets and Mariners in Williamsport, PA., has been delayed due to rain.
The rain began to come down in buckets at around 5:45 p.m., and the tarp was placed over the field at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field.
The game, the finale of the three-game set which began at Citi Field, will now begin at 7:45 p.m.
Fortunately, the Mets players had plenty of chances to soak in some of the fun with the Little League World Series players before the rain.
When things get underway, right-hander Clay Holmes will climb the hill for the Mets, serving as the home team in the game, for his 25th start of the year. He has pitched to a 3.71 ERA and 1.349 WHIP over 126 innings with 101 strikeouts and 52 walks.
Holmes has struggled of late; in five starts since the All-Star break, he has pitched to a 5.56 ERA (3.95 FIP) and a 1.765 WHIP in 22.2 innings. He has just 18 strikeouts to 11 walks.
Seattle is sending out righty GeorgeKirby for his 16th start of the year. He has a 3.71 ERA and 1.071 WHIP over 85 innings with 90 strikeouts to 20 walks. After struggling to start the year (6.16 ERA over his first six outings), he has been solid since the break, with a 2.32 ERA (2.21 FIP) and 0.935 WHIP in 31.0 innings over his past five starts with 34 strikeouts to eight walks.
Canadiens Have Intriguing PTO Target To Consider
Now that we are in the middle of August, we are going to start seeing teams around the NHL invite players to training camp on professional tryouts (PTOs). While the Montreal Canadiens have had a busy off-season, it would be understandable if they brought in a player or two on a PTO to create more friendly competition at camp.
When looking at the Canadiens' current roster, it is fair to argue that they could benefit by adding to their forward depth. Because of this, one player who could be worth taking a shot on with a PTO is forward Victor Olofsson.
After Jack Roslovic, Olofsson is arguably the top unrestricted free agent (UFA) forward left. When looking at the season he just had with the Vegas Golden Knights, he could be a decent player for the Canadiens to take a gamble on if they are on the hunt for more secondary scoring. In 56 games this past season with Vegas, he recorded 15 goals, 14 assist, 29 points, and a plus-17 rating.
Olofsson has also shown several times during his career that he can produce solid offense. The former Buffalo Sabres forward has scored 20 goals and recorded 40 points three different times in his career. This includes scoring 28 goals with Buffalo in 2022-23 and posting 49 points in 2021-22.
Ultimately, bringing in Olofsson on a PTO would give the Canadiens a backup plan to consider if they end up feeling that some of their younger players need a bit more time before making the jump to the NHL level. If he earned a contract for the season, he could be a nice pickup for the Canadiens' bottom six on a one-year deal.
Canadiens: Montembeault’s Big DayOn Saturday, August 16, Montreal Canadiens goaltender Samuel Montembeault got married to his girlfriend of seven years, Daryanne Ayotte. They met at the Festival du Blé d’Inde in St-Celestin in 2018, and while she initially had reservations about dating a hockey player, she eventually agreed. This weekend, the couple took the plunge and said yes to spending their life together. Paul Goldschmidt's three hits, sloppy St. Louis defense lead to Yankees' three-game sweep of Cardinals
The Yankees secured a three-game sweep, defeating the St. Louis Cardinals by a score of 8-4 on Sunday afternoon.
Here are the key takeaways…
-- For the first time in 46 games, Anthony Volpe was not the starting shortstop for the Yankees. Volpe is just 3-for-his-last-26 at the plate, and if you zoom out further, he’s 11-for-his-last-55 with 13 strikeouts.
Jose Caballero got the start at short, and he ended up playing a huge role in the victory. Leading off the top of the ninth in a 4-4 game, Caballero hit a high-chopper to second, and while Thomas Saggese had plenty of time to make the play, he ended up throwing it away, putting Caballero on second.
The Yankees would go on to load the bases, and Cody Bellinger found a hole between first and second, with the ball getting past Saggese for his second error of the inning, scoring two New York runs. The Yankees would add another on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. groundout, going up 7-4.
Caballero went 1-for-4 with an RBI, but his speed was what put things in motion in the ninth.
-- Welcome back, Paul Goldschmidt!
After playing 836 regular-season games as a Cardinal, including winning an NL MVP in 2022, Goldschmidt got his first start as a visitor in St. Louis.
The crowd gave Goldschmidt a standing ovation in the second inning, and he ended up having a really nice day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with an RBI double in the ninth and a run scored earlier in the game.
--Goldschmidt was part of a three-run fourth inning for the Yankees against Miles Mikolas. After a Chisholmwalk and a Goldschmidt double, the bottom of the Yankees’ order delivered with three-straight RBI hits by Jasson Dominguez, Ryan McMahon, and Caballero, as the Yankees jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
-- It wasn’t a great afternoon for Yankees starter Will Warren, though the defense behind him didn’t give him a ton of help. After three scoreless innings to get things started, Warren ran into trouble in the fourth, allowing a pair of two-out runs after the inning began with a McMahon error.
Warren’s fifth inning started with a Chisholm throwing error, and after the Cardinals scored their third run of the game on an Alec Burleson RBI single, Warren’s afternoon ended shortly thereafter.
Warren went 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run (three runs total) on six hits to go along with three strikeouts and one walk.
-- The Yanks evened the game in the seventh thanks to some small ball. After Trent Grisham walked to get things started, an Aaron Judge soft hit to right moved Grisham to third, and the speedy outfielder came around to score on a Bellinger sac fly to center.
-- Both benches had some problems with home plate umpire Nick Lentz. In the fourth, after Aaron Boone was chirping at Lentz about the strike zone, it was major league field coordinator and director of catching Tanner Swanson who got tossed after the inning was over. Then, in the top of the seventh, Cards skipper Oli Marmol got the hook after being dissatisfied with the strike zone.
-- Camilo Doval allowed a game-tying solo home run to Cards catcher Yohel Pozo in the sixth inning, and has now allowed at least one earned run in four of his eight appearances with the Yankees. Doval owns a 6.43 ERA since being traded to the Yanks from the San Francisco Giants.
Game MVP
Goldschmidt, who had three hits in his first start as a visitor in St. Louis since his days as a Cardinal.
Highlights
Paul Goldschmidt gets a standing ovation in his return to St. Louis 👏 pic.twitter.com/g4QE2QvCGe
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 17, 2025
Ryan McMahon doubles the Yankee lead 💪 pic.twitter.com/apCKILpTh0
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 17, 2025
The bottom of the order delivers!
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 17, 2025
Jose Caballero makes it 3-0! pic.twitter.com/fq2djNX2an
Jose Caballero SPEED SPEED SPEED pic.twitter.com/hzCgC7yeGY
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 17, 2025
THE YANKEES TAKE THE LEAD IN THE 9TH! pic.twitter.com/wEq46QQy1g
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 17, 2025
Paul Goldschmidt plates the Yankees' fourth run of the ninth inning! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/0ya8mEpsxa
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) August 17, 2025
Upcoming schedule
The Yankees have a day off on Monday before starting a quick two-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday night at 7:35 p.m.
Carlos Rodon is scheduled to face righty Shane Baz.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: New-Look Kings May Be Vulnerable In Sabres Series Next Season
The Buffalo Sabres' pursuit of its first Stanley Cup playoff appearance in 15 years means that there's no room for error for them, at any time of the season. A prolonged losing streak can and will knock down any team's post-season hopes, but the Sabres are particularly desperate, so Buffalo fans will be watching each and every game in the hope the Sabres can secure a playoff spot.
That's where THN.com's "Know Your Enemy" series comes in. For a while now, we've been examining Buffalo's chances against teams in the Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central divisions. And this past week, we turned our attention to Pacific Division teams. Today, we're focused on the Los Angeles Kings, who once again lost in the first round of the playoffs to the eventual Western Conference-champion Edmonton Oilers.
The Kings have a solid group of players, and although Holland made a slew of changes, the core in L.A. hasn't changed. And though the Kings and Sabres split their season series last year, Buffalo needs to aim higher than that this coming season.
BUFFALO SABRES VS. LOS ANGELES KINGS
NEW KINGS PLAYERS: Joel Armia, RW; Corey Perry, RW; Cody Ceci, D; Brian Dumoulin, D; Anton Forsberg, G
2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-0, Kings 1-1-0
2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER: January 29 at Buffalo; March 21 at Los Angeles
CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM? Both games the Sabres and Kings played against each other last season were close games; Buffalo dropped the first game in early October -- the Sabres' third game of the regular-season -- by a 3-1 score, and then, in late November, Buffalo blanked L.A. by a 1-0 score.
In that second game, No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside all 23 Kings shots he faced for the shutout win. Luukkonen didn't play in the first Kings/Sabres game, so that should factor into the game-plan of Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff when he's looking at assignments for the games against L.A. this coming year.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: High-Octane Oilers Will Be More Than A Handful For BuffaloThe Buffalo Sabres are a 14-year reclamation project, and losing so consistently is currently the norm for the franchise. But every year brings some hope that things will change for the better, and the Sabres will have 82 opportunities to show they're an improved team that's finally going to make it into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Otherwise, the Kings have more or less stayed the same. Even though they suffered a huge blow with the departure of veteran defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to the New York Rangers, to soften the blow, Holland brough in experienced hands in former Dallas Stars blueliner Cody Ceci and former New Jersey Devil Brian Dumoulin. And up front, Los Angeles signed former Montreal Canadien fan favorite Joel Armia, as well as longtime abrasive winger and Cup-winner Corey Perry.
That said, the key for the Kings still revolves around a mix of young and old -- center Quinton Byfield being the young, and center Anze Kopitar being the old; defenseman Brandt Clarke being the young, and blueliner Drew Doughty being the old.
Meanwhile, the Kings also made what could be their best pickup in the form of longtime Ottawa Senators goalie Anton Forsberg. And the way things may develop, the Sabres could see Forsberg in one of the two games Buffalo and Los Angeles will play against each other this season.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Is Buffalo Better Than Rebuilding Flames?The Buffalo Sabres were a major disappointment last season, and the 13 other seasons before that which ended without any Stanley Cup playoff action. The Sabres have been one of the NHL's worst teams, and they're now in a position where they desperately need to get into the post-season. Fans are exhausted with all the losing, and they won't be going on much longer as the same group if they miss the playoffs again next year.
Thus, the Sabres are bound to have their hands full with the Kings this year. And the way the schedule-maker has mapped it out, Buffalo and Los Angeles may be significantly-different teams from the teams that play their first game in late January and the second game they square off in on March 21. That's because the league's trade deadline will be taking place between those two dates.
We're not suggesting either or both teams are guaranteed to make a slew of moves, but by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Kings could be desperately working to fend off other Pacific teams challenging them for home-ice advantage, and the Sabres could be desperately working just to get into the playoffs.
If either of those things come to pass, Holland and Sabres counterpart Kevyn Adams may be pressured to add at least one high-level talent, and the second game between the Sabres and Kings could have an entirely different dynamic.
Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Should Sabres Throttle Ducks Again Next Year?The Buffalo Sabres have failed in one consistent way in recent years -- namely, that they haven't played Stanley Cup playoff hockey in nearly a decade-and-a-half. Thus, there's an inordinate amount of pressure on the Sabres to be a playoff team this year. And as we've seen in the NHL's overtime/shootout era, teams can make or miss the playoffs by only one or two standings points, so it's not an exaggeration to say that just about every game is going to be important to Buffalo's playoff hopes.
In any case, the games between Buffalo and Los Angeles should make for very entertaining hockey. Both teams have exciting performers, both teams have playoff aspirations, and both teams may make serious changes next summer if things don't go well for them this year. The Kings and Sabres will be fighting for every standings point they can get, and that means making the most of this series.
Former Blackhawks Prospect Joins New Team
A former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman is officially staying in the KHL.
The KHL's Shanghai Dragons have announced that they have signed former Blackhawks prospect Adam Clendening to a one-year contract.
Shanghai Dragons have signed one-year contracts with goaltender Andrei Tikhomirov, defenseman Adam Clendening and forwards Alexander Burmistrov, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Borna Rendulichttps://t.co/gK6pTpgsBE
— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) August 17, 2025
Clendening was selected by the Blackhawks with the 36th overall pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he primarily played at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Rockford IceHogs. In 185 games with Rockford from 2012-13 to 2014-15, the 6-foot blueliner recorded 22 goals, 96 assists, 118 points, and a plus-18 rating. This included posting 12 goals, 47 assists, and 59 points in 74 games with Rockford in 2013-14.
While Clendening certainly made an impact with the IceHogs, it did not result in him getting too many chances on the Blackhawks' roster. He played in just four games with Chicago during the 2014-15 season, where he posted one goal, one assist, two points, and a plus-1 rating.
Clendening's time with the Blackhawks would end in January of the 2014-15 campaign, as he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for blueliner Gustav Forsling. From there, Clendening would become quite the journeyman, as he played for the Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and Columbus Blue Jackets following his time with the Blackhawks.
Clendening returned to the IceHogs on an AHL contract during the 2022-23 season, where he posted three goals, 21 assists, and 24 points in 48 games. However, Rockford traded him to the Hartford Wolf Pack later that season.
In 61 games this past season in the KHl with Kunlun Red Star, Clendening recorded five goals and 22 points. He should now be a key part of Shanghai's roster in 2025-26 from here.
Blackhawks Soaring Forward Named Top Breakout CandidateThe Chicago Blackhawks have several exciting young players in their system as they continue their rebuild. They will certainly be hoping that their promising youngsters can continue to develop in the right direction during the 2025-26 season. Ex-Penguins Defenseman Signs With KHL Club
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Adam Clendening has found his home for the 2025-26 season, as he has signed with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL.
Clendening spent this past season with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL, where he posted five goals, 17 assists, 22 points, and a minus-13 rating in 61 games. Now, he will be joining the Dragons after their relocation.
Shanghai Dragons have signed one-year contracts with goaltender Andrei Tikhomirov, defenseman Adam Clendening and forwards Alexander Burmistrov, Vladimir Kuznetsov and Borna Rendulichttps://t.co/gK6pTpgsBE
— Shanghai Dragons (@shadragons) August 17, 2025
Clendening was acquired by the Penguins during the 2015 NHL off-season from the Vancouver Canucks in the trade that memorably also brought Nick Bonino to Pittsburgh. In nine games with Pittsburgh during the 2015-16 season, Clendening posted one assist, 10 penalty minutes, and a plus-3 rating. He also played in six AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that season, recording three assists and a plus-4 rating.
Clendening's time with the Penguins ended on Jan. 16, 2016, as he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks with David Perron for Carl Hagelin. From there, he had stops with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Arizona Coyotes, and Columbus Blue Jackets, with his last NHL appearance being in 2018-19. From there, he played in the AHL from 2019-20 to 2022-23 for various teams before playing overseas in each of the last two seasons. Now, after singing with the Dragons, he will be playing in his third straight season overseas.
2 Penguins Make NHL Network's Quarter Century TeamThe NHL Network has revealed their quarter century team, and without any surprise whatsoever, two Pittsburgh Penguins have made the cut. College football season kicks off with thrilling matchups and high stakes
After a long and busy season for college athletics, the football season arrives with a host of tantalizing angles.
Iga Swiatek powers into first Cincinnati final with battling win over Rybakina
World No 3 recovers from early break to win 7-5, 6-3
Paolini beats Kudermetova 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3 in other semi
Iga Swiatek, the third seed, defeated Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-3 on Sunday to reach her first Cincinnati Open final. The Pole had her hands full in the early stages of the 98-minute match but took advantage of a sudden dip in Rybakina’s form to win four consecutive games and wrap up the first set before easing through the second.
“That was a tough match,” Swiatek said. “At the beginning the level was pretty crazy. We played so fast that sometimes we couldn’t even run to the second ball. But I was there to play with intensity and good quality and I am super happy with the performance. I served much better, so for sure it helped and I wouldn’t change anything.”
Continue reading...Mets' Tylor Megill strikes out nine in second rehab start at Double-A Binghamton
Tylor Megill had another impressive rehab outing as he looks to get back to bolster the Mets' pitching ranks.
In his second start with Double-A Binghamton as he works his way back from an elbow strain, the right-hander allowed one hit over 3.1 innings while striking out nine and walking none on 55 pitches (39 strikes, with 12 whiffs).
Megill had to settle in as he allowed a leadoff single on an 0-2 pitch before needing five pitches to get the next two outs. With two down in the home half of the first, Megill uncorked a pair of wild pitches to allow the runner to reach third before getting a swinging strikeout, his second of the inning, on a 3-2 pitch.
After that, Megill retired the next seven straight batters with six going down on strikes. With one out in the third, the righty recorded his ninth strikeout of the day, but a passed ball saw the batter reach to end his day with a runner on first base.
In his first outing at Double-A earlier this week, Megill allowed three hits and a walk while striking out four over 1.2 innings, throwing 41 pitches (27 strikes).
In 14 starts with the Mets this year, the 30-year-old has pitched to a 3.95 ERA and 1.361 WHIP in 68.1 innings with 89 strikeouts to 33 walks. He made his last appearance on June 14 before landing on the IL.
Tylor Megill struck out nine over 3.1 innings in his rehab start for Double-A Binghamton 💪
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) August 17, 2025
His final line: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K
(via @RumblePoniesBB) pic.twitter.com/jlcy8T8V2W
Sabres Prospect Profile – Vasili Zelenov
The Buffalo Sabres have been considered to have one of the deepest prospect pools in the NHL, which is in part due to them selecting high in recent drafts because of their not qualifying for the playoffs. The Sabres have displayed an eye for talent, but the organization’s developmental model has not yielded enough results.
Leading up to the opening of training camp in mid-September, we will look at the club's top 40 prospects. All are 25 years old or younger, whose rights are currently held by the Sabres or are on AHL or NHL deals, and have played less than 40 NHL games.
Other Sabres Stories
Projecting Sabres Trade Cost - Bryan Rust
Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere
#26 - Vasili Zelenov - RW (Green Bay - USHL)
Zelenov was the first of the Sabres two seventh-round picks at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas. The Moscow-born winger has been playing at various lower-level youth leagues in Austria since 2021 and posted an impressive 37 points (14 goals, 23 assists) in 40 games for the Salzburg RB Hockey Juniors last season.
The 6’0”, 181 lb. winger was selected by the USHL’s Green Bay Gamblers in their Phase II draft in May while Rochester Americans head coach Michael Leone was their GM and instead of staying in Austria headed to North America to play for the Gambler to pursue a US college track. In 54 USHL games, the 19-year-old scored 33 points (14 goals, 19 assists).
Zelenov will be playing for the University of Wisconsin this season, along with 2024 fourth-round pick Luke Osburn, who made an impressive showing at the World Junior Summer Showcase for Team USA earlier this month.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
From The Archive: GREATEST GAMES OF ALL-TIME: Nashville Predators
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Subscribe now to view the full story and issue Archives here.
(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors).
Apr 15, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Nashville Predators center Kevin Fiala (56) is congratulated for scoring a goal during the third period in game two of the first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Nashville won 5-0.
Oct 21, 2019/vol. 72, issue 21
GREATEST GAMES OF ALL-TIME
BY DAVID BOCLAIR
#1 APRIL 15, 2017
NASHVILLE 5, CHICAGO 0
WELCOME TO THE BIG-TIME
A one-sided playoff walloping of rival Chicago proved to be a franchise turning point for the Preds
IT WAS ONE THING when the Predators opened the 2017 playoffs with a win in Chicago. It was something else altogether when they dominated the Blackhawks 5-0 in Game 2. That performance not only fueled their run to the Cup final, it changed their perception of the type of team they were and where they fit in the NHL hierarchy.
For years, Chicago had been a bridge too far for the Preds. The franchises had met twice in the first round – in 2010 and 2015 – and both times Chicago won in six games. In 2017, the Hawks finished 15 points ahead of the Predators in the standings, won four of five regular-season matchups and scored five times in three of those contests.
A 1-0 victory in Game 1 gave Nashville an edge but did not alter the fundamental perception of the matchup, even in the Preds’ dressing room. The Blackhawks limited Nashville to 20 shots, and Pekka Rinne’s performance in net was the primary reason for the outcome.
Game 2 was a different story. The final score was an accurate reflection of a game in which Nashville looked faster, more determined and more skilled. Ryan Ellis opened the scoring early in the first period, and the Preds never looked back. They ousted Chicago in four games for the first sweep in franchise history and didn’t trail in any series in the first three rounds.
In the two seasons since, Nashville has won back-to-back Central Division titles (the first two in team history) and the 2017-18 Presidents’ Trophy. Prior to 2017, playoff losses were disappointing. Since then, post-season failures, such as those in the past two years, have felt like exactly that – failures.
#2 APRIL 22, 2011
NASHVILLE 4, ANAHEIM 3 (OT)
SHEA WEBER SCORED LATE and Jerred Smithson won it in OT as the Predators’ first playoff overtime victory led to their first series victory two days later.
#3 FEB. 28, 2009
NASHVILLE 8, DETROIT 0
THE BIGGEST WIN IN franchise history against the franchise’s first rival. Jason Arnott had a hat trick, Pekka Rinne a 30-save shutout.
GREATEST INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE OF ALL-TIME
STEVE SULLIVAN
FEB. 18, 2004
NASHVILLE 7, SAN JOSE 3
SULLIVAN MADE QUITE A first impression. After being acquired in a trade with Chicago, the undersized winger had three goals (all on the power play) and an assist in his Preds debut. Sullivan scored Nashville’s first two goals and completed the hat trick late in the second period. Those were his only shots on goal.
His performance energized the dressing room as the team tried to move beyond its expansion era. Nashville won five of its first six games with Sullivan and ultimately made the playoffs for the first time.
PTOs, The CBA, McDavid Update, & Key Oilers Questions Answered
The Edmonton Oilers face a pivotal period of contract negotiations, tricky decisions on potential PTO additions, and some lingering trade questions.
From rumors of Connor McDavid’s team-friendly extension to Stuart Skinner’s uncertain future, here’s what fans need to know.
How Will the New CBA Timeline Impact the Oilers?
The recently agreed-upon NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be something the Oilers keep in the back of their mind most of the season. Once thought to give possible leverage in negotiations with players like Jake Walman, Stuart Skinner, and Vasily Podkolzin, the date of when that CBA kicks in may change things.
As per James Mirtle of The Athletic, the agreement doesn’t officially take effect until September 2026. If that date doesn't change, the above mentioned players can complete the 2025–26 season and even test free agency on July 1, 2026, without losing eligibility for a long-term deal.
Previously, the Oilers could have dangled eight-year contracts as a carrot. Now, players can wait, gauge their market value, and potentially command higher salaries.
The McDavid Contract Twist
Respected analyst John Shannon recently reported that Connor McDavid is expected to sign a team-friendly extension with Edmonton at $16–17 million per season. “I think it’s a three or four-year deal,” Shannon told Bob Stauffer.
That's far less than the 20 percent McDavid could get, which would put him around $19 million starting in the 2026-27 season.
But, what happens in four or five years when McDavid reaches his mid-30s? Salary cap growth could push him into the $25 million range per season and that's a huge issue for Edmonton, especially if McDavid's production understandably declines a little.
A Short Term McDavid Discount Deal Might Not Be What It SeemsConnor McDavid’s next contract with the Edmonton Oilers isn’t signed yet, but all signs point to it getting done before the end here in the next couple of weeks.
When does loyalty versus production come into play for the Oilers? If McDavid shows the organization love by signing another under-value deal, do they owe it to their captain to give him more than he's potentially worth in his mid 30s? Or, is this a simple fact that McDavid will always be undervalued, regardless of the size of his contract?
It will be intriguing to see how the narrative changes from today (where the Oilers are exclusively focused on trying to win a Stanley Cup) to four years from today.
Trade Talk or Extension for Stuart Skinner?
Stuart Skinner’s future in Edmonton is anything but clear. For now, it appears he's safe and will start the season with the team. Does the sense of security last?
According to Allan Mitchell of The Athletic, “fans should expect either a Stanley Cup delivered with Skinner-Pickard or a complete overhaul in goal by this time next year. Possibly sooner.”
Edmonton must decide whether to extend Skinner at a reasonable cap hit or trade him while his value remains intact. Signing Skinner early could pay dividends if he finds consistency, but if he underperforms, a long-term contract is extremely risky.
Mitchell talks about overhauling the goaltending, but that is dependant on upgrades being available. There's no guarantee that's going to happen.
If Skinner and Pickard falter, the Oilers’ front office may be forced into an aggressive move, whether via trade or free agency, to find the netminder who can push them over the top like the Avs did when they took only 11 days to overhaul their goaltending tandem completely. They traded Alexandar Georgiev and Justus Annunen and picked up MacKenzie Blackwood and acquired Scott Wedgewood.-
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Oilers Looking at 3 Potential PTO Options
Veteran PTOs and Depth Options
As training camp approaches, veteran free agents are exploring professional tryouts (PTOs), and Edmonton could be a landing spot. Marc-Edouard Vlasic, 38, is a candidate, offering a veteran presence on the blue line for a sheltered role.
Vlasic recently told Le Journal de Québec that he fully intends to keep playing in 2025-26
Other PTO options being speculated include forwards Klim Kostin and Brett Leason, and goalies Ilya Samsonov and Alexandar Georgiev.
Mattias Janmark on the Trade Bubble
Mattias Janmark could face an uncertain spot on the roster this season. With prospects like Noah Philp pushing for a full-time NHL role, Janmark’s tenure in Edmonton may be limited.
Janmark's production and usefullness dropped last season, but a veteran with nearly 600 NHL games may have some value on the trade market. If the Oilers continue to look at ways to clear cap space and they want to give younger players an opportunity, he could be in trouble.
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