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Columbus Blue Jackets (4 pts) vs. St. Louis Blues (3 pts) Game Preview

The Columbus Blue Jackets hit the road for their first game away from NWA this season and will take on the St. Louis Blues tonight at 7 PM. 

St. Louis Blues - 1-2-1 - 3 Points - OTL 1 - 7th in the Central

Columbus Blue Jackets - 2-1-0 - 4 Points - Won 1 - 5th in the Metro

Player Notes Per CBJ PR

  • Sean Monahan has a 6-game point streak (2-7-9) against the Blues and has notched 10-11-21 in 29 career GP vs. STL.
  • Emil Andrae has 0-3-3 in four career games vs. St. Louis, with all points in his last two matchups, including a two-assist effort last time out at the Enterprise Center.
  • Adam Fantilli has notched 3-1-4 with points in four of five career games against St. Louis, including points in both road contests (1-1-2).
  • Dmitri Voronkov has 3-4-7 in six career GP, with points in 5 of his 6 career matchups with two multi-point efforts.
  • Zach Werenski has posted 3-8-11 in 17 career GP, notched 1-2-3 last season, and has collected 1-5-6 in the last 5 matchups overall.
  • Greaves has a career 4-0-0 record against the Blues, while stopping 139-of-147 shots against for a .946 SV% and 2.00 GAA.

Blue Jackets Stats 

  • Power Play - 22.2% - 15th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 72.7% - 23rd in the NHL
  • Goals For - 10 - 28th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 9 - 8th in the NHL   

Blues Stats 

  • Power Play - 10.0% - 24th in the NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 92.9% - 4th in the NHL
  • Goals For - 9 - 26th in the NHL
  • Goals Against - 13 - 15th in the NHL

Series History vs. TheBlues

  • The Blue Jackets are 39-42-3-13 Overall and 14-26-1-8 at St. Louis. 
  • Columbus went 2-0-0 in 2025-26.
  • Columbus has won six consecutive games against St. Louis since Dec. 8, 2023, outscoring the Blues 22-12 and sweeping the past three season series.
  • The Jackets have earned three straight wins at Enterprise Center and have picked up points in seven of the past 11 in St. Louis (5-4-2).
  • The Blue Jackets have gone 13-7-2 against the Blues since the 2014-15 season, earning points in 15 of the past 22 in the series.

Who To Watch For TheBlues

  • Connor McMichael leads the Blues with 2-2-4. 
  • Mason McTavish has 2 goals and 3 points. 
  • Jordan Binnington is 0-1-0 with a SV% of .833.
  • Joel Hofer is 1-1-1 with a SV% of .930. 

Injured Reserve & Other Injuries

  • Dante Fabbro - Broken Hand - IR - 3 Games Missed
  • Isac Lundestrom - Achilles Surgery - LTIR - 3 Games Missed
  • Ivan Provorov - Lower Body - IR - 3 Games Missed

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 13

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be simulcast on The Blue Jackets Hockey Network and 97.1 The Fan, with Steve Mears behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

TV: CBJHN (Spectrum HD Ch. 320/1320; IP Ch. 349; Prime Video, Fubo)   

Next Up For Columbus: The CBJ take on the St. Louis Blues tonight at 7 PM.

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'He's A Very Special Person': Matt Dumba Announces NHL Retirement, Finds His Way Back Home To Minnesota

After 13 seasons in the NHL, former Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey.

Dumba, 32, announced his retirement Friday, bringing an end to a career that included 748 NHL games with the Wild, Arizona Coyotes, Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins.

While his playing career took him to several different cities over the past few seasons, Minnesota has always held a special place in Dumba's life. Now, with his playing days behind him, the former Wild defenseman has returned to the place where it all began.

For Wild captain Jared Spurgeon, having his longtime friend and former teammate back in Minnesota means a lot.

"Yeah, we're still very close right now," Spurgeon said. "I still remember the first road trips rooming with him. We've had a great friendship from the day he walked in here. So to see him up there and living here and putting his roots back here is awesome."

Dumba spent the first 10 seasons of his NHL career with Minnesota, appearing in 598 games and recording 79 goals and 157 assists for 236 points. During that stretch, he became a familiar presence on the Wild's blue line, helping the organization reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times.

During those eight years in the playoffs, Dumba recorded five goals, ten assists, 15 points, 73 blocked shots and 104 hits in 49 games.

But Dumba's impact in Minnesota extended well beyond what he accomplished on the ice.

During the 2019-20 season, Dumba received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and makes a significant humanitarian contribution to his community.

His connection to Minnesota has remained strong even after leaving the organization following the 2022-23 season.

Dumba returned to Grand Casino Arena earlier this month to deliver the ceremonial "Let's Play Hockey" call ahead of the Wild's home opener against the Boston Bruins.

For Spurgeon, seeing his former teammate back in a Wild jersey was a reminder of the years they spent together.

"We see him outside the rink a lot as well, but see him back in that jersey it feels right," Spurgeon said.

The two defensemen spent a decade together in Minnesota, developing a friendship that has continued long after their time as teammates ended.

Now, with Dumba settling back into Minnesota, Spurgeon and other members of the organization will have more opportunities to see him away from the rink.

And although Dumba's NHL career has officially come to a close, Spurgeon believes the next chapter of his life will be just as meaningful because of the person he is.

"Yeah, for sure," Spurgeon said when asked about Dumba's next chapter. "I think you can see just the energy he has, and just the joy he brings people around him. He's a very special person."

Nov 27, 2018; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) celebrates his goal with forward Nino Niederreiter (22), defenseman Matt Dumba (24), and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) in the second period against Phoenix Coyotes at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Nov 27, 2018; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) celebrates his goal with forward Nino Niederreiter (22), defenseman Matt Dumba (24), and defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) in the second period against Phoenix Coyotes at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Dumba finishes his NHL career with 85 goals, 176 assists and 261 points in 748 regular-season games.

The numbers tell the story of a lengthy NHL career, but in Minnesota, his legacy stretches beyond goals, assists and games played.

For 10 seasons, Dumba was part of the Wild's identity, both on the ice and in the community. And while he may no longer be wearing a Wild jersey on game nights, his connection to the organization and the people inside it remains.

After stops in Arizona, Tampa Bay, Dallas and Pittsburgh, Dumba's hockey career has come full circle.

He's back home in Minnesota.

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Could Maple Leafs Defenseman Debut Against Former Team in Colorado?

Nick Blankenburg could make his Toronto Maple Leafs debut against the Avalanche on Saturday at Ball Arena.

Blankenburg hasn’t played in any of Toronto’s first five games this season. It’s still unknown if he’ll be in the lineup against his former team.

The Maple Leafs signed him to a one-year, $1.4 million contract on Sept. 27 after bringing him in on a professional tryout. Blankenburg earned the deal after putting together the best offensive season of his NHL career.

Colorado acquired the right-handed defenseman at last season’s trade deadline to add depth to its blue line for the playoff push. He played 12 regular-season games with the Avalanche, scoring twice and adding an assist. He also appeared in five playoff games.

Blankenburg’s biggest moment in Colorado came in Game 2 of the second-round series against the Minnesota Wild. He scored his first career playoff goal with his parents watching from the stands, giving him a memorable moment during his short time with the Avalanche.

Colorado ultimately decided not to bring him back in free agency and signed Noah Juulsen, who has appeared in three of Colorado's four games this season, including on Thursday when the Avalanche defeated the Flames 7-3 on the road, as Sam Malinski was benched by head coach Jared Bednar reportedly due to poor play. 

Blankenburg moved on to Toronto after finishing the 2025-26 season with eight goals and 16 assists between the Predators and Avalanche. Both totals were career highs.

He has appeared in 178 NHL games, recording 18 goals and 40 assists.

Blankenburg now has a chance to get his season started with Toronto. If he plays Saturday, he’ll do it against the team that acquired him at the trade deadline last season and gave him an opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup. 

Thursday's game kicks off at 5 p.m. from Ball Arena. 

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If it improved the offense, would you trade one of the Phillies’ top three starters?

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 01: Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during Game Three of the National League Wild Card Series presented by AbbVie between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Thursday, October 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Let’s say there is a scenario in which the Phillies had an offer on the table to improve their moribund offense. That incoming player was a guaranteed 3-4 WAR player at a position of need – third base, outfield, pick your poison. The only catch is that there had to be something of value going back to the trading team, and that something of value was from a position they did not want to move from.

Would you trade one of Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez or Jesus Luzardo in order to get a piece for the offense that improved it substantially?

There needs to be some creativity this offseason to get the Phillies back into a position where they are fighting for a World Series title. Maybe this is the creativity that is required.

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Braves designate Luke Williams for assignment, select Danny Young

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 12: Luke Williams #37 of the Atlanta Braves stands ready in the ninth inning during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Truist Park on April 12, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No, this isn’t a post that was delayed four months.

That Atlanta Braves have begun their off-season roster machinations with the team’s transaction page showing that utilityman Luke Williams has been designated for assignment while left-handed reliever Danny Young has been selected to the roster.

This follows a slew of transactions on October 8 to activate players from the IL and recall players on the 40-man roster.

Williams has seen action with the big league team since being acquired by Atlanta in 2023, but only appeared in two games this season – walking in his only plate appearance – although he was on the team’s Wild Card Series roster. He spent most of the season with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Young appeared in 16 games with Atlanta this past season after seeing action nine times across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. After a solid start as a low-leverage option in the bullpen, he allowed nine runs in his final four appearances with Atlanta and was designated for assignment in mid-August.

With a lockout likely by December, there may be a small window for trade and free agent activities after the World Series.

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Paolo Banchero Is Impressed With Cameron Boozer

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 07: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic goes to the basket against Cameron Boozer #27 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on October 07, 2026 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

On Wednesday, the Memphis Grizzlies, featuring Cameron Boozer, fresh off a sensational freshman year for Duke, took on the Orlando Magic.

The star of the Magic is another member of the Brotherhood, Paolo Banchero, and after the game, he had this to say about Memphis’s prize rookie:

“He looked pro ready, definitely composed. Thought he just played very good basketball, played within himself, took the right shots. Yeah, I think Memphis has something to be excited about with him.”

It’s still the preseason, and by definition, it’s really early in the NBA season. Still, we’ve seen a number of NBA veterans say really positive things about the rising young star.

On Friday, the Grizzlies play Chicago, where Boozer will again encounter former AAU teammate and ACC rival Caleb Wilson. That should be interesting, to say the least.

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The Dodgers and Brewers are about to play the most impactful LCS in a generation

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 15: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his RBI triple next to Andrew Vaughn #28 of the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Off the field, owners and players are digging in for what promises to be a painful and shameful labor dispute. But before we get to that, we still have some action to settle on the field. Specifically, an NLCS matchup that almost perfectly prepares us the imminent conflict.

Yes, in classic baseball fashion, the sport has once again found a way mirror the issue of the day. Namely: Does MLB need a salary cap?

In one corner, we have the Dodgers and their Pacific rim empire. They have all of the money, all of the stars, and are gunning to become the first three-peat champions of this century. Just as importantly, a large segment of MLB fans from coast to coast believe the only reason they’re this close to a three-peat is because they have all of the money and all of the stars. This means — whether these beliefs are true or not — the Dodgers also might hold the keys the owners need to sell a salary cap to the fans.

That may sound crazy at first glance, but if the Dodgers don’t win, we instantly morph into an entirely different landscape. Consider the following:

1) The three American League teams to enter the season with the lowest payrolls were the Guardians, White Sox and Rays. They are now the last three teams standing on AL side of the board. (In other words, you’re guaranteed to have at least one small market / low payroll team in the World Series.) 

2) The Mets spent over $350 million this year and finished in last place. (In a vacuum, a strong case that Dodger level spending isn’t necessarily an automatic ticket to success.)

3) The Brewers play in Milwaukee, which is MLB’s smallest market.

Could the stakes be any higher for the owners and players in terms of how the upcoming winter work stoppage is going to play with the general public? If the Brewers win, you’re guaranteed an all small market/low payroll World Series. Any rational argument for a salary cap is dead on arrival (although the owners will still be trying like hell to implement one). In short, the owners could be picking the worst possible year to make their case for a cap.

But if the Dodgers win, the owners can and will sell the following narrative to a receptive and captive audience: “It’s not fair! The big bad billionaire behemoths are blowing everybody out of the water.” In short, a third straight Dodger World Series win would make the owners’ case for a cap in the name of maintaining competitive balance — Even though we know the real reason is they just want more money.

I’m of course oversimplifying things, but those two scenarios are very different worlds. Right or wrong, the outcome of Brewers vs. Dodgers will change the public perception on this issue, and which side the public puts more pressure on during the stoppage matters.

Make no mistake, a lockout is coming no matter what. Both sides are going to draw a line in the sand and retreat to their trench. However, whether that happens in a world where the Dodger dynasty is at the peak of its power or in a world where two small market teams prove you can win on limited resources might tip the scales. It’s basically the difference between starting a war on a sunny day or starting a war trying to invade Russia on the first day of winter.

The background conditions will play a huge roll in the upcoming negotiations, and while fans have no seat at the table, it looks like the baseball gods will get to decide which way the wind is blowing when the owners and players fully engage in their pissing match.

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Film breakdown: How Jaylen Brown can become invaluable to Sixers offense

Film breakdown: How Jaylen Brown can become invaluable to Sixers offense originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Jaylen Brown is off to a hot start as a Sixer. 

He’s led the team in scoring in its first two preseason games, notching 40 points across his 41 minutes on the court. The former Celtic has shot 59.1 percent from the floor, 50 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent at the foul line. 

Brown has showcased the value he could bring to the Sixers and to Tyrese Maxey in particular this season.

Like he was for the Celtics in 2025-26, Brown was the go-to guy in the preseason opener while Maxey, LeBron James and Joel Embiid were inactive. All of his 22 points came in the first half as he consistently initiated the offense, repeatedly attacking in isolation and off ball screens.

The second game was a slightly different story as all five of the team’s projected starters suited up for the first time. Brown capitalized on great ball movement by James and Embiid with a dunk early in the first quarter. But he only took one more shot in the first stanza and didn’t score again until the 3:54 mark in the second. 

Each of his remaining three baskets came with Maxey off the floor, perhaps giving Sixers fans a glimpse of what splitting the two scorers’ minutes could look like. 

Maxey was a workhorse for the Sixers last season. His 38 minutes per game led the league. With Embiid playing 38 regular season games and Paul George available for just 37, Nick Nurse relied heavily on Maxey to create offense. VJ Edgecombe pitched in here and there. But 2026-27 should be a different story. 

With the potential for Embiid (who hasn’t played 40 or more games in a regular season since 2022-23) and James (who will turn 42 years old in December) to miss time, Brown’s presence can provide some meaningful relief for Maxey, especially given how Nurse wants the offense to run.

Under Nurse, the Sixers have been matchup hunters, subscribers to the weakest link theory. They spammed isolation ball in 2025-26, taking the second-most shots per game on isolation possessions in the NBA (9.3). On that high volume, the team was middle of the pack in terms of efficiency, scoring 0.92 points per possession in isolation, good for 15th in the NBA. 

Maxey took more than double the shots off isolated looks than any other Sixer. While Embiid (1.01 PPP) and George (1.03) were both efficient on isolation possessions, their lack of availability often left Maxey alone searching for mismatches.

Barring an irregular decrease in availability, Brown should be the answer to playing Maxey less and allowing him to take possessions off.

As the guy on the Celtics offense last season, Brown scored the third most isolation points in the league. And it wasn’t just a matter of volume. He generated 1.01 points per isolation possession, good for the 77th percentile. 

That’s been on display in the preseason. Right out of the gate against the Knicks, he attacked OG Anunoby – a two-time All-Defensive Second Team selection – off the dribble and hit a tough fadeaway jumper on the baseline. 

Brown’s success scoring in the mid-range is part of what makes him a tough individual cover. Basketball’s reliance on the mid-range shot has dwindled over time. But Brown made a living there last season, shooting 45.9% on 6.4 shots per game between 10 and 19 feet.

Part of what makes Brown so good at creating positive matchups to attack in isolation is how effective he is using ball screens. That’s another element of Brown’s game that should contribute to taking some of the onus off Maxey as the Sixers’ primary perimeter scorer.

The Sixers were middle of the road in both how often they used ball screens (19th) and how effective they were in those scenarios (11th in efficiency). 

Of the team’s 16.1 possessions per game that used a ball screen, Maxey was the ball handler for 7.5 of them (46.7%). He generated 0.92 points per possession off a ball screen, which was in the 66th percentile in the NBA. But the Sixers did not have enough tenable options to pilot the offense off a ball screen. 

Brown, again, is a reliable solution to that problem. He produced a similar efficiency to Maxey – 0.93 points per possession, good for the 70th percentile – on 6.4 such looks per game in 2025-26. 

Against the Knicks in the first preseason game, he used an Ariel Hukporti screen and a slow dribble to get Anunoby on his back before exploiting Karl-Anthony Towns’ drop coverage and exploding through the open lane towards the basket. 

Brown’s effectiveness at coming off a ball screen, touching the paint and then making plays can contribute to opponents opting to switch ball screens. That’s how he becomes a nightmare for defenses to handle – and where he should thrive in Nurse’s offense. At 6-foot-6, 223 pounds, he can be a matchup problem for players both bigger and smaller than him. 

He already has been as a Sixer. An Edgecombe screen forced the Nets to switch the 6-foot-4, 175-pound Keon Ellis onto Brown. Even with a help defender collapsing on him, he got to the basket and scored through contact.

That’s how No. 7 tends to abuse switches onto guards: attacking the paint by dribbling into the post and overpowering them.

When he earns switches against bigs, he tends to rely on his twitchiness to get a jumper off, like he did on this fadeaway midrange look over Noah Clowney’s outstretched arm. 

Being the ball handler in a pick-and-roll isn’t the only way for Brown and the Sixers to create mismatches. He set a ball screen for Labaron Philon Jr. that Brooklyn switched between the 6-foot-8 Egor Demin and the 6-foot-8 Chaney Johnson. 

Denim, a big guard, tried to get into Brown’s grill to throw him off. But this is where the former Finals MVP’s handle came into play. He absorbed the contact from Denim, ripped the ball across his chest, took a dribble between his legs and another back to his left hand before using his gather step to create enough separation for a silky 11-foot floater.

Brown’s unique combination of controlled strength and lithe explosiveness makes him the type of universal matchup beater that tends to thrive in a Nurse offense – and alleviate responsibility for the guys who’ve been burdened by it. He’s done just that through two games in a Sixers uniform.

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On the Yankees’ playoff failures and the agony of apathy

I try very hard to fight back against apathy. In politics, the economy, media, the world begs for your apathy. Don’t make a fuss, let it all just happen. It’s all going According to Plan. The state apparatus depends on your apathy. Do not give them that gift.

And yet, not quite 48 hours after the Yankees once again lost in the ALDS, lost to a team seeded higher than them, lost to a team that is just so fundamentally annoying that thinking about them raises my blood pressure a point or two…I don’t feel much at all.

I’ve always tried to hedge my reactions to bad sports news. The Don LeGreca-style rants make for good radio and some of the longer, more unhinged comments we get here are fun to scroll past, but at the end of the day I consume baseball for my own entertainment. Letting yourself get mad over something you say you enjoy while having 0 control over it hasn’t made a whole lot of sense to me. Let sports lift you up, not press you down.

And true to form, I’m not mad about the 2026 Yankees. I’m beige. The Yankees dogwalked the Red Sox last week only to find themselves canine-ized by the Rays, swept out of the ALDS in what’s actually a worse result than last year. (They lasted a whole four games against the Blue Jays!) Aaron Boone put the worst leadoff hitter in baseball atop the lineup, telling us that he liked the potential for action on the basepaths ahead of the only batter who showed up in the series, and that leadoff hitter went 0-for-5 as the team died—with him as the final out—because of course he did.

I don’t quite know why I’m so numb to all of this. The Yankees won 93 games, the second-best record in the AL, without the game’s best player, while actively rehabbing three pitchers in their starting rotation, while Austin Wells was locked in the trunk of a car for four months, while shortstop was an open question until the season’s final few weeks. It should be kind of remarkable that they were even in the dance in the first place?

But the AL was so bad, the table so uncompetitive, that the Yankees didn’t really outrun the other guy being chased by the bear. There was no bear at all. The team wasn’t good enough to chase down the Rays, dooming themselves to an additional two playoff games while the Rays got to rest, prepare, and welcome the Yankees to the Trop for the start of the series. The same offense we’d seen sleepwalk through the year for weeks at a time showed themselves, they lost, and I don’t really care.

Supposedly at the staff level the organization is starting to pick at itself like an under-stimulated pet bird. This annual tradition of “just be good enough to make it before 26 people who should be among the best in the world at what they do collectively forget what their jobs are” might finally be sinking in. At the top level though we’ll be told not to worry, There is A Plan, these guys are having good at bats actually, it’s right in front of us.

Congratulations to the New York Yankees. You’ve managed to accomplish something my government and AI companies haven’t. Sure, man, whatever you say, I shrug my shoulders and I walk down the street.

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Mets Morning News: Game 5, do or die

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 07: A general view of Rate Field during Game Three of the American League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Cleveland Guardians and the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Meet the Mets

Teruaki Sato, NPB’s first Triple Crown winner since Munetaka Murakami, could make the jump to MLB next season, and he’s been linked to the Mets.

Around the National League East

Todd Zolecki listed five pressing questions facing the Phillies ahead of this offseason.

The Braves have made tweaks to their 40-man roster, adding a lefty pitcher and designating an infielder for assignment.

Around Major League Baseball

Jackson Chourio’s postseason statistics put him in some rarefied air at only 22 years old.

Gavin Williams will start the decisive ALDS Game 5 for the Guardians, just two days after closing out Game 4.

Sean Burke will get the ball first for the White Sox in Game 5 against the Guardians, with the rest of the pitching plan less defined.

Colton Cowser believes he can return to form for the Orioles in 2027.

Matthew Roberson of FanGraphs listed the ten best Division Series of all time.

The Dodgers have chosen Tarik Skubal and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start the first two games against the Brewers in the NLCS.

The latest MLB proposal for the new CBA would slightly shorten the season, and it could be prioritizing quality over quantity with it.

The Brewers went out with a whimper against the Dodgers in last year’s NLCS, but this year it could be very different.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Steve Sypa reviewed the 2026 Syracuse Mets’ season.

This Date in Mets History

65 years ago, the Mets picked the foundational pieces of their first team in the expansion draft.

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UN condemns Coco Gauff abuse and warns: ‘Black female athletes are being targeted’

  • Human rights office denounces online targeting

  • ‘Appalling vitriol and abuse’ of American

The United Nations’ human rights office has condemned the racist abuse of Coco Gauff and called for solidarity to help push back against racism and sexism.

The office, led by high commissioner Volker Türk, issued a social media post on Saturday saying the racist messages sent online targeting the American tennis player were “appalling and illustrate that Black female athletes are specifically targeted for vitriol and racial abuse”.

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Arsenal 2-1 Leeds: Premier League – as it happened

The reigning champions were forced to dig extremely deep to come from behind and beat visitors who can go home with their heads held extremely high

An email: “Happy Saturday, Barry,” writes Mark Kerry. “Is it just me or are there other baffled Arsenal fans out there regarding Arteta’s obsession with starting Havertz as a centre forward? I just can’t see the rationale for it at this point, given that Havertz has proven over the last few seasons that he’s not at all prolific, whereas Gyokeres is clearly a capable finisher - as exemplified both by last season in the Premier League but also during recent internationals. Would Arsenal not be better to persist with, or even adapt to,a more natural goal scorer?”

I’m not an Arsenal fan, baffled or otherwise, but I don’t think Gyokeres is a good enough centre-forward to play for them and I’m not sure he’s done anywhere near enough to convince Mikel Arteta otherwise. His forte is running behind into the kind of space Arsenal just aren’t afforded by most teams they play against and for such a big unit, his hold-up play is dismal. It doesn’t surprise me that Kai Havertz is picked ahead of him.

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Dodgers notes: NLCS history with Brewers, playoff scoring down this year

MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 14: Enrique Hernández #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers slides safely into home plate to score off an RBI double hit by Andy Pages (not pictured) in the second inning during Game Two of the National League Championship Series presented by loanDepot between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

While we continue to enjoy the few days of a break between the Division Series and National League Championship Series, we do know that the Dodgers will start Tarik Skubal on the mound in Game 1 in Milwaukee on Sunday, followed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 on Monday afternoon.

Here are a few other postseason notes, as we wait for Saturday night’s finale of the Division Series, with the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians deciding their ALDS vying for a shot at the Tampa Bay Rays.

A gaggle of writers at The Athletic offered their thoughts and predictions for the NLCS. Among them was Dennis Lin picking the Brewers to win:

“The Brewers will be fresher than they were a year ago, when the Dodgers swept an exhausted team. In this rematch, Milwaukee will also feature the sport’s most disciplined offense, the hardest-throwing pitching staff and, after Wednesday’s smothering of the Padres, the belief they can win big games on the road.”

Lin referred to the Brewers in NLDS Game 4 at Petco Park, which snapped a record 12 straight postseason road losses, a streak that spanned seven different series. Wednesday’s win in San Diego was the first Brewers postseason road win since Game 3 of the 2018 NLCS at Dodger Stadium. Half of the dozen consecutive road losses for Milwaukee came in Los Angeles.

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Game Preview: Dallas Stars @ Pittsburgh Penguins 10/10/2026

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 28: Tommy Novak #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves much against Lian Bichsel #6 of the Dallas Stars at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 28, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Who: Dallas Stars (2-2-0, 4 points, 6th place Central Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (2-2-1, 5 points, 4th place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. ET

How to Watch: Locally televised and streamed on Prime Video and SportsNet Pittsburgh, streaming for out of market at ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: The Penguins get two days off after this weekend’s back-to-back before beginning a four-game road trip, which starts Tuesday in Chicago and continues Friday in Denver and Saturday in Las Vegas.

Opponent Track: The Stars were outscored 6-1 in a pair of season-opening losses against the St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators, but bounced back by outscoring opponents 9-0 in wins over the San Jose Sharks and Buffalo Sabres.

Season Series: The Penguins lost both games in this season series last year, starting with a December shootout loss and ending with a 6-3 home defeat in late March.

Hidden Stat: The Stars have scored nine straight unanswered goals over their last two games. They could set a franchise record if they manage to score five more without allowing a response, per NHL Stats.

Getting to know the Stars

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Sam Steel – Wyatt Johnston – Mikko Rantanen

Jason Robertson – Roope Hintz – Jamie Benn

Justin Hryckowian – Arttu Hyry – Tyler Seguin

Oskar Back – Radek Faksa – Colin Blackwell

DEFENSEMEN

Esa Lindell / Miro Heiskanen

Thomas Harley / Nils Lundkvist

Lian Bichsel / Tyler Myers

Goalies: Jake Oettinger and Casey DeSmith

Potential scratches: Kyle Capobianco, Joel Kiviranta

Injured Reserve: Matt Duchene

  • Joel Kiviranta is sitting out the Stars’ two-game road trip with a lower-body injury. The Stars called up Colin Blackwell from the AHL to slot in on the fourth line in his absence.
  • Jake Oettinger started the Stars’ season opener, during which he allowed two goals on 22 shots in the shutout loss. He’s been perfect since then after stopping 39 consecutive shots against the Sharks and Sabres. The Stars have two days off after tonight’s matchup before a back-to-back against the Colorado Avalanche, so Oettinger could potentially get a third straight start tonight.

Season stats
via hockeydb

  • Stars first-line winger Mikko Rantanen is heating up. He scored a highlight-reel goal against the Sharks before recording the first four-point night (1-3—4) of his regular-season Stars career in his team’s Thursday night win over the Sabres.
  • The Stars’ power play, which had struggled through the first three games of the season, broke through Thursday when Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz finished off a passing play against the Sabres.
  • Another aspect that started clicking for the Stars recently is the addition of Sam Steel, a player Stars coach Glen Gulutzan has described as a “utility knife,” to the top line. He scored his first goal of the season Thursday against the Sabres.
  • The Penguins defense could be tested tonight with limiting some of their quickest opponents yet. Rantanen said after the Stars’ Thursday win he felt the key to his team’s recent victory streak was better skating.
    • “We had our legs again, I think that’s the key,” Rantanen said, per NHL.com’s Heather Engel. “Playing well, you need to skate well, and I think the last two games we’ve been playing really fast.”

And now for the Pens

Projected lines (based on Friday’s lineup)

FORWARDS

Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust

Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Hendrix Lapierre – Ben Kindel – Ville Koivunen

Connor Dewar – Blake Lizotte – Nick Robertson

DEFENSEMEN

Declan Carlile / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kaeden Korczak

Trevor van Riemsdyk / Kris Letang

Goalies: Arturs Silovs (Sergei Murashov started last night)

Potential Scratches: Ilya Solovyov, Spencer Stastney, Elmer Soderblom

IR: Ryan Graves, Justin Brazeau

Non-Roster: Andrei Kuzmenko

  • Ilya Solovyov was listed as a scratch for Friday’s game against the Blue Jackets despite being waived earlier that day. So was newcomer Spencer Stastney, who joined the Penguins Friday but did not play against the Blue Jackets. Muse indicated he could still potentially draw into the defensive lineup going forward.
  • Bryan Rust moved back up on the top line alongside Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell ahead of Friday’s game. This line often got hemmed into their own zone Friday and found themselves on the ice for both of the Blue Jackets’ regulation goals, although Rust also scored for the Pens.
  • Arturs Silovs is in line to start Saturday. Sergei Murashov is in line for some well-deserved rest after weathering 45 shots on goal in Friday’s 3-2 shootout loss.