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Training Camp Observations: Penguins Emphasize Special Teams In Sunday's Scrimmage

The Pittsburgh Penguins were back at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex for another day of training camp on Sunday, and there was a big emphasis on special teams. 

Players from Groups A and B warmed up on separate rinks before scrimmaging for 45 minutes. Instead of the usual 5v5 scrimmage, each team rotated between having two-minute power plays. 

Ville Koivunen was one of the standouts during the power play scrimmage. He scored the first goal for Team Black when he banked it off a defender and in. He was later showcasing his strong vision with some of his passes in the offensive zone. 

He's had the opportunity to skate with some of the Penguins' top players at camp, including Sidney Crosby, Rickard Rakell, and Erik Karlsson, and confirmed after practice that he's starting to build some more chemistry with them. 

"Yeah, of course," Koivunen said. "I know how they play and what they want to do on the ice, so that's helped a lot." 

Koivunen got to spend time on Crosby's line to end the 2024-25 season and looked comfortable, notching seven points in eight games. He also got time on Evgeni Malkin's line, but appears more likely to at least start the season on Crosby's line.

Speaking of Malkin, he beat Sergei Murashov five-hole to give Team Black a 3-0 lead over Team Gold after Tommy Novak made it 2-0 a few seconds prior. Malkin had his legs during Saturday's 4-1 preseason win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, and that didn't change on Sunday. 

Benjamin Kindel continued to show his strong hockey IQ and playmaking ability when he threaded a beautiful pass through traffic from the blue line to set up Danton Heinen for Team Gold's first goal. Kindel has looked more comfortable as training camp has progressed and had the opportunity to play with the NHL regulars on Saturday. 

'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember 'Inspiring': Penguins' Top Goaltending Prospect Reflects On Fleury, Game To Remember Marc-Andre Fleury's final game in Pittsburgh was an unforgettable experience for many, fans and longtime teammates alike. 

He never looked out of place and used his skating ability to get some quality chances, just as he did in two previous preseason games. It's still unlikely that he gets a nine-game tryout, but he's not super far away from being an NHL player. 

Defenseman Caleb Jones cut the lead to 4-2 at the end of the power play portion of the scrimmage before the format switched to 6-on-5. Both teams got to work with an extra attacker for the last few minutes of the scrimmage and it resulted in a 7-3 win for Team Black. 

Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust, and Erik Karlsson were on PP1 for Team Black, while Tommy Novak, Justin Brazeau, Ville Koivunen, Anthony Mantha, and Kris Letang were on PP2. 

Team Gold's top power play consisted of Ben Kindel, Philip Tomasino, Tristan Broz, Filip Hallander, and Caleb Jones. The second PP unit featured Robby Fabbri, Valtteri Puustinen, Matt Dumba, Avery Hayes, and Broz. 

The Penguins will play their fifth preseason game on Monday against the Detroit Red Wings. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

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Addressing top three questions, concerns for Kings entering 2025 training camp

Addressing top three questions, concerns for Kings entering 2025 training camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

We’re back.

Training camp is hours away, which means the 2025-26 NBA season is upon us.

It’s been a long, particularly quiet offseason, not just for the Kings but throughout the entire league. Specifically for Sacramento, though, some questions need answers.

Some might be answered through training camp, some might require more time and carry into the regular season. While there are dozens of questions and concerns we can address, let’s break down NBC Sports California’s top three questions entering the Kings’ 2025 training camp, set to begin on Tuesday.

What does this roster look like?

The Kings’ roster construction was heavily criticized last season, especially after their trade deadline moves left them without a point guard.

There was a belief that under new general manager Scott Perry and assistant GM B.J. Armstrong, big moves would be made, and the Kings would “blow it all up” in the offseason. They, in fact, didn’t blow anything up and will enter the 2025-26 season with essentially the same roster as last season.

Sacramento’s big offseason acquisition was signing veteran guard Dennis Schröder, who instantly fills the void at starting point guard. The rest of the projected starting lineup, one would think, is Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.

Here’s a roster breakdown as it currently stands:

Guards

Dennis Schröder
Zach LaVine
Malik Monk
Keon Ellis
Devin Carter
Terence Davis

Forwards

DeMar DeRozan
Nique Clifford
Keegan Murray
Doug McDermott

Centers/Bigs

Domantas Sabonis
Isaac Jones
Dario Šarić
Maxime Raynaud
Drew Eubanks

The question then turns to what the rotations will look like. After losing Jonas Valančiūnas in the offseason, who will back up Sabonis at the center position? Who will be the first player off the bench for Sacramento in that “sixth man” role? Is it Monk, who has thrived in that role, or maybe Ellis?

Also, will the closing lineups be the same as the starting lineup? Or, will Doug Christie experiment with other players, such as Ellis, for defensive purposes?

This might not be answered until a few games into the season.

Expectations for Keegan Murray in Year 4?

As with most lottery picks, the expectations always have been high for Keegan Murray since the Kings selected him No. 4 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft.

But many people don’t believe he has lived up to the hype through three seasons with Sacramento.

A large part of that last season was that so many players on the Kings’ roster last season required the ball in their hands, limiting the amount of touches Murray got. As we stated earlier in this article, a vast majority of those players will return to the Kings this season, so the “issue” hasn’t been resolved for Murray.

While not being able to contribute consistently on offense as much as he — or the Kings — have liked, Murray has grown enormously as a defender since his rookie season. He now stands as the unquestioned best defender on the team, with the ability to defend one through five.

However, it isn’t something he wants to do on a nightly basis. At his exit interview following the 2024-25 season, Murray was honest about his ideal defensive assignments.

“Yeah, ideally I don’t want to be guarding the five-man,” Murray said in April. “It’s not the most fun thing in the world. If I have to do it, I have to do it, regardless of who’s on our team [or] who’s not. At the end of the day, team defense wins championships.”

The Kings have lacked wing depth for years, and even after Murray’s seemingly public cry for help, they still haven’t addressed it.

Defending Kevin Durant or chasing Steph Curry around for 35 minutes and then trying to contribute offensively is a lot to ask of a young player, but as Murray said, it’s something he’s willing to do if he must. Getting him some help along the wing, however, could unlock a whole other level for the 25-year-old who’s itching to break out and live up to his two-way star potential.

A report from the Sacramento Bee’s Jason Anderson earlier this summer stated that the two players the Kings kept out of trade talks were Murray and Ellis. So, if that’s true, how are the Kings’ decision makers laying out a clear path to stardom for these players they supposedly value so much if they aren’t giving them the right opportunities?

With all that being said, what are the Kings’ realistic expectations for their former No. 4 pick as he enters Year 4 with the team?

How will Dennis Schröder fit?

The obvious answer is that Schröder addresses Sacramento’s point guard void after the team traded De’Aaron Fox last February.

OK, cool. But how else will he help the Kings?

Schröder is a 12-year NBA veteran who’s played on nine different teams. He has been to the playoffs nine times in his career, including two trips to the conference finals. He’s an unselfish player who creates for his teammates, which should benefit players such as LaVine and Murray. He also can get his own bucket when he needs to.

Not to mention, he’s fresh off leading Germany to the EuroBasket gold this summer and was named the EuroBasket MVP after averaging 20.3 points, 7.2 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game.

His energy, tenacity and leadership should be a welcome addition to the Kings, especially in a locker room full of several young and inexperienced players.

Defensively, his contributions should be an immediate upgrade. Schröder isn’t a lockdown defender by any means, but his effort and commitment on the end of the court never is something coach Christie will have to worry about. Fox, for example, became a much better defender over the course of his eight-year career with Sacramento. With a player like Schröder, though, it’s not something Christie and the Kings coaches will have to teach him, but rather, something already instilled in him.

One area we’re curious to see is how he meshes with Sabonis, who isn’t your typical five-man. As we’ve seen with other Kings guards, it usually takes them some time to adjust and adapt to Sabonis’ play style. But when it works, it works and it’s beautiful basketball. Hopefully for the Kings, a full training camp together will allow them the time to figure it out.

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Former Flyers Defenseman Hits Waivers

Ronnie Attard (© Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)

According to PuckPedia, former Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ronnie Attard has been placed on waivers by the Colorado Avalanche. 

Attard, 26, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Avalanche back in July. This was after he posted seven goals, 10 assists, 17 points, and 80 penalty minutes in 66 American Hockey League (AHL) games split between the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Bakersfield Condors in 2024-25. 

Attard was selected by the Flyers with the 72nd overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In 29 games over three seasons with the Flyers, the White Lake, Michigan native recorded two goals, four assists, six points, 33 blocks, 49 hits, and a minus-1 rating. 

Attard's time with the Flyers organization ended when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers back in November of this past season in exchange for defenseman Ben Gleason. 

If Attard clears waivers, he will be eligible to be sent down to the Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. However, it will be interesting to see if another team claims the 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman off waivers.

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Changing Speed: How K'Andre Miller Can Push The Hurricanes To New Heights

There’s a fun little paradox to K’Andre Miller’s move from the New York Rangers to the Carolina Hurricanes.

On one level, the big defenseman is going from The City That Never Sleeps – and the hyper-bustling borough of Manhattan – to the take-your-time, low-and-slow South. But on another level, he’s joining a Hurricanes team known for playing the game at such a high pace that it leaves most other teams strewn in their wake.

On both fronts, Miller is happy with his new home and team. “We always had great battles when I was on the other side in New York,” he said. “They have such a fast team and get up and down the ice in a fast motion. They do everything as a team. It’s a fun group to watch, and they’ve had a lot of success recently, so I’m excited.”

Miller also joked that he’s happy he no longer has to worry about getting hemmed in his own zone when playing against the Canes – he’ll now be a part of the relentless attack that has made Carolina one of the Eastern Conference’s best squads.

Now, the Hurricanes have yet to break through to another Stanley Cup final, but an effective summer by GM Eric Tulsky has Carolina once again threatening to make a run for the franchise’s second championship. Along with Miller on defense, Tulsky also brought in one of the top forwards available this summer when he inked erstwhile Winnipeg Jets left winger Nikolaj Ehlers to a six-year contract.

K'Andre Miller (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

In Miller, Tulsky sees a player who will slot right in with what Carolina wants to do on the ice. “We think he’s a great fit for us,” Tulsky said. “He’s a really powerful skater who can close out effectively and take away time and space. The aggressive way we play will suit him very well. He’s also very strong in front of the net, which is also helpful and important. His skating and recovery speed will be effective for us. When we want guys to get up the ice, they need to be able to get back, too.”

Miller came to Carolina via trade on July 1, with Tulsky sending prospect defenseman Scott Morrow, a 2026 second-round pick and a conditional first-round pick in either ’26 or ‘27 to the Rangers. Miller, an RFA, then signed an eight-year, $60-million ($7.5-million AAV) deal with Carolina. Tulsky said talks between the two teams had gone on for a while. And based on all the rumblings that had surrounded the Rangers throughout the season, that’s not surprising. Before Miller, New York traded away Kaapo Kakko, who the team had selected second overall back in 2019, and Rangers lifer Chris Kreider. “There was a lot of noise throughout the season,” Miller said. “It was definitely in the back of my head that something could happen. I loved my time in New York, but I’m excited for what’s to come in Carolina.”

The Hurricanes Used A Unique Strategy To Acquire K'Andre MillerThe Hurricanes Used A Unique Strategy To Acquire K'Andre MillerIn order to acquire K’Andre Miller, the Carolina Hurricanes used a unique strategy. 

And while Raleigh is hardly a backwater – that area of North Carolina is part of ‘The Triangle,’ a research-and-tech hub that has grown leaps and bounds in the past 20 years – there will be cultural differences from New York City, one of the most famous metropolises in the world. And that’s just fine with Miller. “I’m super excited for that aspect,” he said. “The style of living being a bit of a slower pace, I’m really going to like that. Being from Minnesota, I think it will be comparable.”

The biscuits and barbecue will certainly be better down there, even if the bagel quality takes a step back. But truly, Miller is there for the hockey. Playing for coach Rod Brind’Amour is another plus when it comes to the Hurricanes. “I’ve heard nothing but great things about Rod,” Miller said. “I can’t wait to get to know him and talk hockey. A number of guys reached out to me and said, ‘You’re really lucky to be in this position to have that coach and a team like Carolina supporting you.’ So, I’m super excited for the whole thing.”

Playing for Carolina isn’t for everyone. Famously, Mikko Rantanen lasted only 13 games with the Canes, and the team does play a very specific, structured system that requires maximum buy-in. But the payoff is obvious. Since Brind’Amour took over, Carolina has been a beast, reaching the conference final three times in his seven seasons as coach.

The problem recently has been pushing through to that Stanley Cup final. Carolina’s offense has dried up completely at the worst possible times in the post-season, and while it’s no shame to get shut down by the Florida Panthers, at some point, you need to score goals against good teams. Miller’s ability to make plays through the neutral zone and get pucks up to forwards will help that cause. And, at 25, he’s just starting to hit his prime as an NHL blueliner. Let’s not forget, the player he’s essentially replacing on Carolina’s back end is Brent Burns, who turned 40 last season.

However, still starring on the Hurricanes’ blueline is Jaccob Slavin, a two-time Lady Byng Trophy winner and a player who will serve as a potential partner and certainly a mentor. “He’s definitely one of the guys I’ve tried to model my game after the past couple of years,” Miller said. “He’s obviously a generational player on this team, and it’s going to be great sharing ideas and sharing the ice with him.”

So, it’s a remix of a lineup for the Canes heading into 2025-26, but it’s also one of the strongest units the franchise has put together in recent years. Is it enough to finally break through in the Eastern Conference? Slow and steady wins the race – even if Miller and Carolina will play fast in order to do so.

This article appeared in our 2025 Meet the New Guys issue. The cover story for this issue features the newest Vegas Golden Knight, Mitch Marner, as he looks to shine in the desert. We also include features on new Jets forward Jonathan Toews, Canadiens D-man Noah Dobson and more. In addition, we take a look at the top 'new guys' from each NHL division.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

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De'Anthony Melton's return to Warriors prompts familiar backcourt question

De'Anthony Melton's return to Warriors prompts familiar backcourt question originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

De’Anthony Melton’s long-awaited Warriors return has come close to official after committing to sign a deal with the Warriors before the 2025-26 NBA season, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Sunday evening, citing sources.

Melton signed a one-year, $12.8 million contract to join the Warriors at the opening of NBA free agency last year on the mid-level exception. His injury concerns became apparent early on, as did his perfect fit on the team.

The veteran guard began the 2024-25 campaign coming off the bench through the first three regular-season games, then was shelved for the Warriors’ next five games because of similar back issues that held him to only 38 contests with the Philadelphia 76ers a season prior. His return to health immediately showed what kind of impact he could have on the Warriors. In his first game back, Melton had 10 points and three assists in a blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, prompting coach Steve Kerr to insert Melton into the starting lineup. 

That wasn’t just any game. It was an 11-point win on the road over the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in which Melton scored 19 points while going 5 of 8 from 3-point range with 10 rebounds, two assists and three steals. The Warriors then welcomed Klay Thompson back to Chase Center in a win to remember against the Dallas Mavericks, and had to say goodbye to Melton without even knowing it. 

Undoubtedly, the Splash Brothers of Steph Curry and Thompson were the story of the night. Curry was the showman, sending his former teammate out of his old home with a loss after scoring the final 12 points of the game. Melton was the unsung hero, showing why he could be the new ideal complement next to Curry. 

Before Curry went on his scoring spree, Melton showcased his two-way ability by first diving on the floor for a loose ball and then hitting a massive three to cut the Warriors’ deficit to four points with a little under four minutes left in the game.

He finished that game, just his sixth of the season, as a plus-12 by tallying 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and one steal. But Melton also sustained an injury late in the win that later was revealed as a season-ending torn ACL. The Warriors used his contract to then acquire Dennis Schröder and never truly made up for his absence. 

Melton being back in Warriors colors will make plenty of people within the franchise happy, especially Curry. It also creates the same questions as when he arrived last year: Who starts in the backcourt next to Steph? 

The options also are the same as last season. Kerr will be choosing between Melton, Brandin Podziemski and Buddy Hield. Each brings something different to the table. Melton easily is the best on-ball defender of the three, Podziemski is the connector who really came into his own after the Warriors traded for Jimmy Butler, and Hield is one of the best threats in the league behind the 3-point line. 

Even though it was an extremely small sample size, Melton was exactly what the Warriors needed next to Curry because of his defensive tenacity and underrated offense. The two played 47 minutes together and were a plus-39, producing a 136.5 offensive rating and 98.1 defensive rating for a 38.4 net rating. Curry had a 10.4 net rating (120.0 offensive rating, 109.5 defensive rating) next to Podziemski over 652 regular-season minutes, and a 9.0 net rating (119.3 offensive rating and 110.3 defensive rating) in 969 regular-season minutes alongside Hield. 

“That was really the perfect mix. De’Anthony does a little bit of everything: On-ball defense, rebounding, 3-point shooting, playmaking,” Kerr said in mid-November. “It was great fit, and that’s why we targeted him.”

Can Melton step into big minutes and a starting role right away coming off his ACL surgery, as well as previous injury issues to his back? Probably not. The job likely will be Podziemski’s to start the season entering Year 3. 

If so, that leaves Hield as a feared sharpshooter off the bench, and Melton doing a bit of everything on and off the ball also in a reserve role. The real likelihood is all three get starting nods throughout the season based on health and matchups, and closing games always will be more important anyway. The Warriors used 38 different starting lineups in the 2024-25 regular season, 11 more than the previous year. 

Even when it’s not at the start of games, getting Curry and Melton on the court together will have to be a priority for Kerr against the toughest teams. 

Bringing Melton back into the fold isn’t a move for October, November and December. It’s one for the stretch run of the regular season and a hopeful playoff push for a chance at title contention. At his contract number, he’s a worthy bet but a gamble nonetheless for an older team that already will need everything to go right health-wise. 

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2 Former Rangers Placed On Waivers

Zac Jones (© Danny Wild-Imagn Images)

The NHL saw several players hit the waiver wire on Sep. 28, and a few of them were former New York Rangers. This is because the Buffalo Sabres placed defenseman Zac Jones and forward Jake Leschyshyn on waivers. 

Jones became an unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer after the Rangers elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. From there, the left-shot defenseman signed a one-year contract with the Sabres. 

In 46 games last season with the Rangers, Jones recorded one goal, 10 assists, 11 points, and 46 blocks. He also scored one goal in two games for the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, in 2024-25. In 115 games over five seasons with the Blueshirts, he posted four goals, 24 assists, 28 points, and a minus-10 rating. 

Leschyshyn also did not receive a qualifying offer from the Rangers this off-season and ended up signing with the Sabres. This was after he spent the entirety of this past season in the AHL with Hartford. In 69 games with the AHL squad in 2024-25, he had 13 goals and 24 points. 

Leschyshyn played in 14 games with the Rangers from 2022-23 to 2023-24, where he had zero points, 17 hits, and a minus-4 rating. 

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Matt Chapman, Willy Adames thank Giants fans after disappointing 2025 season

Matt Chapman, Willy Adames thank Giants fans after disappointing 2025 season  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Willy Adames and Matt Chapman grabbed a microphone after Sunday’s 4-0 Giants win over the Colorado Rockies, taking the field at Oracle Park to thank San Francisco fans for their support through an up-and-down year.

The victory gave San Francisco a four-game sweep against the Rockies to close out the 2025 MLB season, but the Giants still finished 81-81 and missed the playoffs.

“I know this year ended up not the way we wanted it to, but we just want to thank you all,” Adames said. “Thank you, guys, for the support. You guys were unbelievable.

“Even when we were at our worst, you guys were showing up every day and packing the stadium. That was impressive. So, we just want to say we love you guys. Thank you for the support. We promise we’re going to do our best this offseason to get prepared for next year and go to the postseason next year.”

The 30-year-old shortstop also capped his season with a milestone — becoming the first Giants player since Barry Bonds in 2004 to hit 30 or more home runs in a season.

Adames closed the season with a .224 batting average and 86 RBI, while Chapman hit .245 with 21 home runs and 61 RBI.

Chapman echoed Adames’ gratitude shortly after.

“Just like Willy said, I speak for the whole team,” Chapman said. “We love you guys. You guys support us every single night. It means a lot. You guys spend your money to come show up and support us. You cheer hard. We love you guys.”

A .500 finish left plenty to fix, but Chapman and Adames made clear the fans remain the team’s biggest strength.

“I know we didn’t reach our goal this year,” Chapman continued. “We’re all disappointed, but like Willy said, we’re gonna go home, we really are gonna get better and we’re not gonna disappoint you guys next year. We’re gonna be playing a lot later than this. So, thank you guys.”

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Blackhawks Place New Forward On Waivers

Dominic Toninato (© Terrence Lee-Imagn Images)

The Chicago Blackhawks have made a roster move, as they have placed forward Dominic Toninato on waivers. 

Toninato played in five games this past season with the Winnipeg Jets, where he recorded zero points, seven hits, and an even plus/minus rating. He spent the bulk of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Manitoba Moose, however, posting 18 goals, 18 assists, 36 points, and 81 penalty minutes.

The Blackhawks signed Toninato back in July to a two-year, two-way contract. The expectation then was that he would serve as a veteran forward for their AHL affiliate, the Rockford Ice Hogs. Now, assuming he clears waivers, he will do just that. 

In 189 career NHL games over eight seasons split between the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Winnipeg Jets, Toninato has posted 13 goals, 22 assists, 35 points, and a plus-12 rating. 

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Marc-Andre Fleury receives emotional farewell in final game with Penguins

PITTSBURGH — Returning to Pittsburgh for one final farewell just felt right for Marc-Andre Fleury.

Fleury stopped all eight shots he faced during the third period of his final game with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a 4-1 preseason win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night.

“It was a little surreal, a little crazy, but also comfortable,” Fleury said. “When I played here with other teams, I always felt a little weird, but this felt normal … like it used to.”

Fleury officially retired from the NHL as a member of the Minnesota Wild at the end of last season. But the beloved 40-year-old goaltender signed a ceremonial professional tryout contract earlier this month to see old teammates and friends, come full circle and complete a 21-season NHL career that began in Pittsburgh.

“I feel bad because I’ve done so many laps and goodbyes and I keep coming back,” Fleury said. “I’m thankful I got the opportunity to come back for one more go-around.”

Fleury, a former Vezina Trophy winner who also played with Vegas and Chicago, is second in NHL history only to Martin Brodeur with 575 wins and 1,051 regular-season games played, and his 76 NHL shutouts are tied for 10th in league history.

But this night was meant to celebrate Fleury, who is most well-known for his time in Pittsburgh where he won three Stanley Cups and holds nearly every major goaltending record in Penguins’ history, including games played (691), wins (375), goals-against average (2.58), shutouts (44), playoff games (115), playoff wins (62) and playoff shutouts with 10.

Fleury, who practiced with the Penguins on Friday, wore his familiar bright, yellow pads and a specially made mask to commemorate the special weekend. Fleury was offered a choice as to when he could play on Saturday and he opted for the third period to try to win one more game with the Penguins.

The sellout crowd rose to its feet in unison and gave Fleury a standing ovation as he led the Penguins’ from the tunnel to begin the third period. Loud chants of “Fle-ury” “Fle-ury” and “One More Year” filled the arena minutes after the puck dropped to begin the period. Fans erupted with thunderous applause each time Fleury made a save or touched the puck, including stops on Hudson Fasching, Cole Sillinger and Erik Gudbranson.

In the final two minutes, with the game in hand, the crowd showered Fleury with chants of “Thank You Fleury.” When the final horn sounded, fellow franchise cornerstones Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang embraced Fleury one more time in the crease.

“Every time he touched the puck, the reception was unreal,” Crosby said. “It felt like a playoff game. It was nice to get him the win.”

Fleury spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Penguins. He helped Crosby, Malkin and Letang win the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016 and 2017 before Vegas selected Fleury in the 2017 expansion draft.

Pittsburgh traded up to draft an 18-year-old Fleury No. 1 overall in 2003 during a tumultuous period in which the franchise nearly moved. More than two decades later, Pittsburgh is no longer a playoff fixture, but Fleury helped stabilize the franchise and turn the Penguins into one of the NHL’s marquee teams.

His signature moment with Pittsburgh came June 12, 2009, in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final against Detroit. Fleury made a last-second desperation, post-to-post diving save on Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom to seal a 2-1 win and deliver Pittsburgh its third Stanley Cup.

The fans remembered on Saturday.

Before the game, crowds gathered multiple rows deep behind the Penguins’ goal hoping to catch a glimpse of Fleury during his final pregame warmup with the team. Many took photos and video to commemorate the moment, wore familiar No. 29 jerseys and held homemade signs expressing their love for Fleury, who lobbed pucks over the glass in between facing shots.

“It was surreal to be back with the Penguins and seeing the guys in front of me,” Fleury said. “It was amazing. It was just like old times.”

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Al Horford reportedly agrees to multi-year contract with Golden State Warriors

This signing has been expected since early in the offseason, but was on hold for months pending the resolution of the Jonathan Kuminga restricted free agency situation. Now, with training camps a day away, the Warriors can wait no longer.

Golden State and Al Horford have verbally agreed to a multi-year contract, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN and confirmed by other sources. He leaves a Boston team where he helped mature their young core and was a key part of their 2024 championship run, and Horford essentially confirmed the deal with the Warriors by thanking Celtics fans.

Exactly what Horford's new contract looks like still depends on how the Kuminga situation plays out (as Keith Smith of Spotrac explains). If Kuminga picks up the $8 million qualifying offer, Golden State can give Horford the full mid-level exception ($14.1 million this year, with raises after), hardcapping the Warriors at the first apron of the luxury tax. If the Warriors and Kuminga work out an extension before the Wednesday deadline (likely for north of $20 million a season), the Warriors can still offer the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.7 million), and the team would be hard-capped at the second apron. Either way, the Warriors have to sign at least four more players with De'Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II, and Seth Curry expected to make up three of those (all for the minimum).

Horford, 39, is a natural fit at a floor-spacing center backing up (at times next to) Draymond Green in the Warriors' offense, plus he remains a solid defender. That's why the Warriors targeted him early in free agency. Horford wants to compete for something in the final couple of years of his career, and the Warriors — with Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler — provide him with that opportunity, if this older squad can stay healthy when the playoffs roll around.

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Carlos Mendoza explains Kodai Senga joining Mets in Miami, Pete Alonso's potential last game with franchise

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza's pregame media availability for Sunday's game at the Miami Marlins, a 3:10 p.m. regular-season finale on SNY, included comments about Kodai Senga's presence and Pete Alonso's future.

Why Senga joined Mets in Miami

Senga has not been with the Mets since they optioned him to Triple-A Syracuse in early September, but their 32-year-old right-hander was on hand for Sunday's game.

"He's part of the team, in Port St. Lucie, he's doing his throwing program here and, hopefully, he gets on a plane with us," Mendoza said of the Mets potentially having a playoff roster. "That doesn't mean that's going to be on a potential playoff roster, because we've got to get there first, but that's why he's here."

If the Mets reach the postseason, it would be for a wild-card series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mendoza said that Senga would "most likely" fly with the team to Los Angeles for the potential matchup but did not go so far as saying if he would make the roster.

Alonso's potential last game

If the Mets do not reach the postseason, it could be the last game for Alonso with the franchise.

Alonso, 30, has a player option for the 2026 season.

"He means a lot to all of us," Mendoza said. "Homegrown player that knows what it takes to play here in New York. And when you see the production, I mean, he's unbelievable -- pretty steady, consistent and he takes pride in being in the lineup and posting every day. But hopefully it's not the last game for him."