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Zach LaVine hails Dodgers starter Blake Snell as most ‘electrifying' MLB pitcher

Zach LaVine hails Dodgers starter Blake Snell as most ‘electrifying' MLB pitcher originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Zach LaVine is gearing up for his first full season with the Kings, but he’s keeping a close eye on the 2025 MLB playoffs. And for good reason.

LaVine’s brother-in-law and good friend, Blake Snell, has been pitching lights out for the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team aims for back-to-back World Series wins, and Snell’s first of his 10-year MLB career.

Snell helped those chances with another dominant start in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday, tossing six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 4-3 win. Snell didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning with two outs — and he never allowed another.

“Shoutout my boy Blake, man,” LaVine told reporters in Sacramento after Kings practice Tuesday. “He’s probably the most electrifying pitcher in baseball. I’m really excited for him. I wish I was able to go to a couple games. Hopefully, we have an off day and [I can] slide down there. We’ll see. We’ll figure it out.

“But Blake Snell right now is my MVP of the playoffs.”

Now through 13 innings pitched in his first two Dodgers playoff starts, Snell has a 1.38 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.

He now has four playoff outings with nine or more strikeouts and no more than two hits allowed, which is the most by any pitcher in MLB postseason history.

After one season with the Giants, Snell signed a five-year, $182 million free-agent contract with the Dodgers. And thus far, he’s proven to be worth every penny for Los Angeles.

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Best Fantasy Basketball Sleepers 2025-26: Undervalued Players to Target

The 2025-26 fantasy basketball season is nearly here, and smart managers know that championships aren't won in the first three rounds—they're won by finding sleepers who outperform their ADP.

Which players currently being drafted after round 5 have legitimate top-50 upside? After analyzing the latest roster moves, injury reports, and playing time projections, we've identified five fantasy basketball sleepers for 2025-26 who could provide multiple rounds of value. From Myles Turner's move to Milwaukee to Matas Buzelis' expanded role in Chicago, these undervalued players represent some of the best draft values available.

Top Fantasy Basketball Sleepers

Myles Turner, Bucks (Yahoo ADP: 50)

Following an offseason trade, Turner will find himself playing for his first team other than the Pacers, suiting up for the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bucks parted ways with veteran Brook Lopez during the offseason, making way for Turner to slide straight into the starting lineup. While the decision by the Pacers was somewhat confusing, given the recent success, it does provide Turner with an opportunity to play without as much pressure. Having been the subject of constant trade rumors, Turner will now be looking to prove a lot of people wrong, including perhaps the Indiana brain trust.

Turner finished the 2024-25 season as the 50th-ranked player in 9-category leagues, averaging 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.2 three-pointers in 30.2 minutes per contest. If nothing else, Turner is likely to play minutes in the low to mid-30s this season, an upgrade on what he has been afforded in recent times. Despite losing both Lopez and Damian Lillard, the Bucks will almost certainly be looking to win as many games as possible in what is a weakened Eastern Conference. Assuming Turner can improve slightly across the board, it wouldn't be surprising to see him end the season as a borderline second-round player.

OG Anunoby, Knicks (Yahoo ADP: 66)

Despite a change in head coach, there is no reason to think Anunoby's role will change this season. While it is almost certainly guaranteed that the starters in New York will be scaled back, the playing time for someone like Anunoby should continue to hover in the mid-30s on most nights. The Knicks added some much-needed depth during the offseason, meaning although Anunoby should play a little less, it could also result in more games played across what promises to be another hard-fought season.

Anunoby is coming off arguably his best statistical season, during which he averaged career-high numbers in scoring and blocks. He finished with averages of 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 36.6 minutes per contest, sitting just inside the top 50 in 9-cat fantasy formats. There is no reason to think his production will change significantly, while in fact, he could be tasked with doing a little more on the offensive end if Mitchell Robinson is to replace Josh Hart in the starting lineup. Expect to see Anunoby flirting with the top 40 once again, providing managers with potentially two rounds of value.

Jakob Poeltl, Raptors (Yahoo ADP: 81)

Much like Anunoby, Poeltl is often overlooked in drafts, with this season being no different. While the 2024-25 season was one to forget for the Raptors, Poeltl provided the team with a reliable inside presence once again. With a healthy Brandon Ingram on the roster, things are looking up in Toronto. The Eastern Conference is wide open following significant injuries to Tyrese Haliburton in Indiana and Jayson Tatum in Boston. While the Raptors certainly don't have the deepest roster in the league, their top-end talent is intriguing.

Poeltl closed the most recent season as the 44th-ranked player in 9-cat, averaging 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks, shooting 62.7 percent from the floor and 67.4 percent from the line. Although his block numbers fell slightly, his scoring, rebounds and steals all marked career highs. Based on the current roster, Poeltl has very little competition for minutes, meaning he could log in excess of 30 minutes per game for the first time in his career. Not unlike Turner, small increases across the board could see him nudge the top 30 once all is said and done. 

Ausar Thompson, Pistons (Yahoo ADP: 87)

After a promising rookie season, Thompson's 2024-25 season was delayed due to health concerns, with his first game coming in late November. His playing time was heavily monitored throughout the season, limiting him to just 22.5 minutes per game. The restrictions were a key factor when analyzing his production, preventing him from building any sort of momentum. Fast forward to the 2025-26 season, and it appears as though Thompson is fully healthy and ready to hit reset on his career. 

Despite the hurdles, Thompson's per-game numbers were encouraging, taking steps forward on both ends of the floor. He closed the season with averages of 10.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, shooting 53.5 percent from the floor and 64.1 percent from the stripe. His twin brother, Amen Thompson, took massive strides forward during his sophomore season, providing fantasy managers with somewhat of a blueprint as to what Ausar might be capable of. Factoring in a 30 percent increase in playing time, Thompson is positioned to also take some big steps forward. Managers can typically grab him in the seventh or eighth round, a range that could be considered his floor moving forward. With a top-40 ceiling, there could be plenty of value to be found when it comes to drafting Thompson.

Matas Buzelis, Bulls (Yahoo ADP: 95)

On the whole, Buzelis put together a serviceable rookie season but finished outside the top 250 in 9-category formats. Taken with the 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, Buzelis was considered someone who could potentially have an immediate impact for a Bulls team with little to no identity. From the outset, it was clear the coaching staff had different opinions, limiting him to single-digit minutes for basically the first month of the season. While it was another disappointing season for Chicago, there were moments of positivity, including the rise of Josh Giddey, the continued growth of Coby White, and eventually, the promise shown by Buzelis down the stretch.

When he was finally thrust into a meaningful role, Buzelis made the most of his opportunities. In 16 games over the final month, he averaged 14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 1.3 blocks and 2.3 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes per contest, good enough for top-70 value. Common sense would indicate that he should be in the starting lineup come Opening Night, allowing him to play upwards of 28 minutes per game. Factor in added opportunities and skill development, and we have a player who could very well flirt with top-50 value for stretches throughout the season.

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How Quinten Post already is learning from new Warriors teammate Al Horford

How Quinten Post already is learning from new Warriors teammate Al Horford originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Just a few weeks in, Al Horford already has made an impact on second-year Warriors center Quinten Post.

Post told reporters after practice Tuesday that he has been picking his new teammate’s brain and constantly asking him questions. The 25-year-old, coming off a solid rookie season, shared how taking notes from Horford can help elevate his game on both ends of the court in Year 2.

“Offensively right now we play a similar role in our system, being a spacer,” Post explained. “But he’s very good at looking for his own [shot]. He’s actually quite an aggressive player while also being a really good team player. I feel like I can definitely learn from him from where he picks his own spots to be aggressive. He’s very aggressive with his shots; he even attacks the rim out of those closeouts.

“And then defensively, he’s just very steady from what I’ve seen right now. He’s always in the right spots. Obviously, he’s in great shape. He’s athletic for 39. Definitely a lot to learn and I’m trying to see what he’s doing every day.”

From one sharpshooting big man to another, Post will take all the advice he can get from the 18-year veteran and five-time NBA All-Star.

Over the last three seasons, Horford has shot 46.9 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range on nearly five attempts per game.

As a rookie, Post shot 44.9 percent from the field and 40.8 percent from distance on 4.3 attempts per game.

But Post wants to provide the Warriors with more than just his shooting in his sophomore season, and Horford is the perfect player to lean on along his path toward becoming a versatile center in the league. And Horford already believes Post is on the right track.

“A very high IQ type player,” Horford said of Post on Tuesday. “[He] really understands how to play. Can really shoot the ball. I just think he’s in the process of finding his footing in the league. Being a part of this team and this group, he understands what he has to do. Since I’ve been here in the Bay Area, every time I come in, I see him working. He’s always working, whether it’s in the weight room or on the court. He is consistent with his work.

“He has the right tools to be successful because he listens, he works hard and you can already see some flashes on the floor with him.”

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Avalanche Spoil Kings Season Opener

© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Both the Kings and the Avalanche entered this game with high expectations. Colorado built its team around its core players, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, while Los Angeles added a few veteran pieces and is leaning towards their up-and-coming young talent and veterans. 

It was shaping up to be a great game, but it was the exact opposite. 

In a season opener that’s already shaping to be a statement game for the Avalanche, they surged out to a 3-0 lead through the first two periods, scoring three goals in the second period alone. 

What looked like a tight, close, cautious first period of action blew open as Colorado’s offense began to attack the Kings and found a groove, while Los Angeles struggled to find answers on both sides of the ice. 

First Period: Tight Defense, No Goals

In the first period, both teams appeared sluggish and deficient, with both goaltenders standing strong and protecting their nets. Neither team could break the tie and score the team's first goal of the season, making it interesting to see if the entire game would go this way.

The ice was played with discipline and toughness, with a few penalties and hard hits. 

Speaking of a few hits, the biggest hit was the one Josh Manson delivered to Warren Foegele, which sparked a fistfight between Jeff Mallot and Manson, resulting in an extra 2-minute unsportsmanlike penalty. Many argue that this was the breaking point for Los Angeles.   

Second Period: Avalanche Takes Over

Colorado came out with a statement once the second period began, putting Los Angeles on its heels. 

Avs opened the scoring 48 seconds into the middle frame, setting up forward Martin Necas for a snipe to score Colorado’s first goal of the season, assisted by MacKinnon. 

The next play that sparked a 2-0 lead came just a few minutes later when Sam Malinski scored from the left side of the ice through a maze of traffic in front of him that was a very tough shot, one that Kings goaltender Kuemper never even saw go through. 

Suddenly, what had looked like a defensive battle became a runway. As left-wing Artturi Lehkonen dived down on the ice and scored a goal off the assist from Makar to take a commanding 3-0 lead. 

Third Period: Avalanche Hold Off Kings 

The Kings managed to score in the final period with Kevin Fiala cashing in on the fast break to avoid the shutout, but it wasn’t enough to mount a comeback. 

Overall, it wasn’t a pretty night for the Kings, as it looked like mentally they weren’t in the game after the first period. Give credit to Scott Wedgewood, who came up big for his squad and spoiled Anze Kopitar’s final home opener. 

It’s just one game; there's no need to panic for the Kings. However, mentally, they let the Avs get in their heads, and they can’t allow that to happen again against superior teams in the Western Conference if they’re going to be contenders. 

 

 

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Judge rallies Yankees past Blue Jays 9-6 to save season and avert ALDS sweep

NEW YORK — Aaron Judge hit a tying homer and drove in four runs during a clutch performance for the ages, and the New York Yankees staved off elimination by rallying from five runs down to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 9-6 on Tuesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. launched a go-ahead homer in the fifth inning and the Yankees took advantage of two Toronto errors to avoid a three-game sweep. They scored eight unanswered runs and pulled to 2-1 in the best-of-five series, with Game 4 on Wednesday night in the Bronx.

“We need another one tomorrow,” manager Aaron Boone said. “We’ll enjoy this for about 10 minutes and get ready for tomorrow.”

Judge went 3 for 4 with an intentional walk and scored three times, also making critical plays with his glove and legs as fans chanted “MVP! MVP!” After struggling at the plate in previous postseasons, he is 7 for 11 in this series (.636) with five RBIs and three walks.

“Tonight was special, but there’s still more work to be done,” the Yankees' captain said. “Hopefully we have some more cool moments like this the rest of the postseason.”

With the season on the line, New York starter Carlos Rodón gave up six runs and six hits in 2 1/3 innings - but five Yankees relievers bailed him out as they combined for 6 2/3 scoreless innings. Tim Hill got four outs for the win, and David Bednar worked 1 2/3 perfect innings for his second playoff save as New York improved to 3-0 in elimination games this postseason.

It was the Yankees' largest comeback ever in an elimination game, and tied for its second-biggest in any postseason game.

Toronto hadn't lost all season when leading by at least four runs.

“Kind of just didn’t play our game, really,” manager John Schneider said. “Their bullpen did a really good job, and we just gave them extra outs.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit an early two-run homer and Ernie Clement had four hits for the AL East champion Blue Jays, who squandered a golden opportunity to put away the Yankees as Toronto tries to reach its first American League Championship Series since 2016.

Consecutive doubles by Trent Grisham and Judge to start the third began New York’s comeback from a 6-1 deficit. Later in the inning, Judge stayed in a rundown between third base and home plate long enough to allow Cody Bellinger to reach third. That became important when Bellinger scored on Giancarlo Stanton’s sacrifice fly against Toronto starter Shane Bieber, who lasted 2 2/3 innings.

Stanton also had an RBI single in the first after Blue Jays second baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa committed a fielding error against his former team.

With the Yankees trailing 6-3 in the fourth, third baseman Addison Barger dropped Austin Wells’ wind-blown popup for another costly error with one out. Grisham walked, and right-hander Louis Varland was brought in to face Judge, who turned on an 0-2 fastball clocked at 100 mph off the inside corner and somehow kept it fair, launching a three-run drive that clanged high off the left-field foul pole.

“He made a really good pitch look really bad,” Varland said.

Judge tossed his bat aside and gestured to teammates on the bench as the sellout crowd of 47,399 burst into a frenzy.

“It's an amazing swing,” Boone said. “That’s shades of Edgar Martínez right there, taking that high-and-tight one and keeping it fair down the line. Manny Ramirez used to do that really well, too. But just a great swing on a pretty nasty pitch, obviously.”

The right fielder then made a diving catch with a runner at second in the fifth, drawing more “MVP" chants.

Chisholm gave the Yankees their first lead of the series with a solo homer off Varland in the bottom half. Amed Rosario doubled and scored on Wells’ two-out single to make it 8-6, and Ben Rice added a sacrifice fly in the sixth that scored Judge after he was intentionally walked with one out and nobody on base.

Call it the ultimate sign of respect. Or perhaps, fear.

Guerrero went full-out Superman while diving across home plate to score on Clement’s single in the third, and Anthony Santander’s two-run single capped a four-run inning that made it 6-1.

Rookie right-hander Cam Schlittler starts Wednesday night for New York, coming off a dominant performance in a winner-take-all Wild Card Series game against rival Boston last Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Toronto will go with a bullpen game, using Varland as an opener and potentially left-hander Eric Lauer as the bulk reliever.

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Martin Necas’ Two Goals Lift Avalanche to 4-1 Win Over Kings

It was a very “Game 1” feeling to this first period, mainly for the Avalanche. The Kings came out strong early in the period, generating a lot of chances in the Avalanche zone, but Scott Wedgewood was impressive to start. Keeping track of the puck well and making sure any loose rebounds were either batted away quickly or gloved for a whistle. 

A major standout of the Avalanche was the Landeskog-Nelson-Nichushkin second line. They were super impressive in the playoffs against the Dallas Stars, and they're keeping that chemistry to start the season. Big moment when Josh Manson lays a massive hit on Warren Foegele, and Jeff Malott steps up for his teammate. It is called for instigating, and the Avalanche gets a power play out of it, but they fail to capitalize on it.

It was an outburst in the second period as the Avalanche scored three goals in the period. It starts when MacKinnon wraps around the net and finds Martin Necas to open the scoring. His assist sets a new franchise record for most points by a Colorado Avalanche since moving from the Quebec Nordiques to the Colorado Avalanche, passing Joe Sakic.

Nathan MacKinnon Becomes Avalanche's All-Time Leading ScorerNathan MacKinnon Becomes Avalanche's All-Time Leading ScorerWith his assist on Martin Necas' goal, Nathan MacKinnon now passes Joe Sakic for most points in Colorado Avalanche history since relocating to Denver, Colorado.

Sam Malinski was able to scoop the puck off the boards and send a shot on the blue line through a crowd of players and beat Darcy Kuemper. The Avalanche get a power play opportunity when Joel Edmundson is called for slashing, but don't capitalize on it. Cale Makar makes a highlight play by dashing through the Kings' defenders, but his shot is blocked, though it's Artturi Lehkonen on the doorstep to bang it in. With 30 seconds left in the period, Edmundson takes a delay of the game penalty.

The third period was eventful to say the least, with four penalties called in the first 12 minutes. Brent Burns called for hooking, Makar called for hooking, and Foegele called for holding, all teams failing to capitalize on the power play. It won't be until Kevin Fiala is called for roughing and Necas makes it 4-0 after beating Kuemper far side right as the power play begins.

Another three penalties would be called after that, with MacKinnon penalized for interference and Manson penalized again for cross-checking, to make it a 5-on-3. The Kings capitalize on the opportunity as Fiala blasts one past Wedgewood to make it 4-1. Clarke is called for cross-checking, the seventh penalty in the period. That would end the game, with the Avalanche winning 4-1

The Avalanche play again on Oct. 9 against the newly introduced Utah Mammoths in their home opener.

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Aaron Judge's game-tying home run in Game 3 changed his postseason narrative and the ALDS

Aaron Judge still thinks that his first career home run, the one he hit way back on Aug. 13, 2016, off Matt Andriese of the Tampa Bay Rays, is the biggest one of his life. You finally make “The Show,” he explained, and you really have no idea if you’re good enough to stick around. If you aren’t, you can at least say that you hit one in the big leagues.

Fair enough. But Judge hit one Tuesday night that maybe should rate even higher than the first one and higher than No. 62 back in his record-setting 2022. With the Yankees staring at elimination and a five-run deficit against the Blue Jays, who battered them in the first two games of the AL Division Series, Judge smashed a tying three-run homer in a fashion no one else seemingly has – more on that later – to propel a comeback that might’ve tilted this best-of-five series.

Couple that with the constant background cacophony about Judge’s October resume and his towering shot off Louis Varland that clanged high off the left-field foul pole was not just a game-changer, but a narrative-changer, too.

Aaron Boone called the Yankees’ 9-6 victory over the Blue Jays in Game 3 “an awesome team win,” and the manager was right – in addition to Judge, the bullpen was huge, Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a go-ahead home run and Giancarlo Stanton knocked in a pair. But, years from now, we probably won’t remember all that.

So how about this meatier, more lasting moniker for this one? “The Aaron Judge Game.”

Judge finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs. He was a triple short of the cycle, made a sparkling diving catch in right field with a runner on second and worried the Jays so much they intentionally walked him in the sixth (he later scored). He even stayed in a rundown between third and home long enough for Cody Bellinger to grab an extra base in the third inning, and Bellinger eventually scored on a sac fly.

“It was a ‘best-player-in-the-game performance,’” Boone said.

Even ardent Yankee fans have wondered about Judge under the high-wattage lights of postseason baseball. His numbers are lower than the plaque-worthy stats he puts up in the regular season. As recently as the aftermath of Game 1 of this series, when he whiffed with the bases loaded and nobody out, an at-bat that could’ve changed the game, he was answering questions about being “overanxious” at the plate. Every one of his swing decisions is dissected, his playoff rep often lamented.

Yankeeland was waiting for Judge to wreck an October. Well, he’s 11-for-22 in six games so far with that homer, two doubles and six RBI. He has a 1.304 OPS in these playoffs.

Now you have to wonder if he is going to take over this series. Will the Jays even pitch to him again? Should they?

To be fair, Toronto is still ahead in the series, two games to one. But they commanded Game 3, too, and the Yankees took it away. Now the Jays are planning a bullpen game against Cam Schilitter, the Yanks’ rookie who was the breakout star of the Wild Card series.

Who blinks if the teams go back to Toronto for a winner-take-all game, the team that surged into a tie or the one who owned the series but lost two straight? Yanks haven’t won in Toronto, but narratives can evolve.

Just ask Judge.

The home run itself was fascinating. It came on an 0-2 pitch, right after Varland had thrown a 100-mile-per-hour fastball past Judge. “He blew my doors off on the pitch before,” Judge acknowledged. Judge added: “He’s got all the leverage. He’s probably in attack mode. You’ve gotta attack that head on.”

Varland’s next pitch was 99.7 mph, way inside. Judge kept his hands in and pulled it down the left-field line. According to Andrew Simon, a researcher for MLB, no one in the pitch tracking era (since 2008) had ever hit a home run on a 99-plus pitch that went as far inside as this one did. It was also the fastest pitch Judge had ever homered against. Boone said he’d only seen powerful righty hitters such as Edgar Martinez and Manny Ramirez hit balls like that.

Asked why he liked the pitch, Judge perhaps alluded to the questions he faced earlier in the series.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I get yelled at for swinging out of the zone, now I’m getting praise…It looked good to me.”

Still, it was unclear whether Judge’s drive would stay fair. Boone noticed the flags in left had stopped flapping, a hopeful sign that no wind would push it too far left. The manager leaned in the dugout – using “body English” – to will the ball fair. Judge stood at the plate, watching, then tossed his bat after the ball hit the pole. Later, the slugger wondered if Yankee Stadium ghosts had any influence on where the ball ended up.

Whatever the case, Judge authored a significant October moment in the midst of a remarkable game. It helped save the Yankees’ season.

It should quiet the noise that Judge is never quite himself in the postseason, too.

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Anze Kopitar's final season doesn't start well as Kings lose to Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) stops the puck in front of Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Colorado defenseman Sam Malinski stops the puck in front of Kings left wing Trevor Moore in the second period. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

For Kings’ captain Anze Kopitar, Tuesday’s NHL season-opener was the beginning of the end while for Ken Holland, the team’s first-year general manager, it was the end of the beginning.

For both it was also a night to forget, with the Colorado Avalanche skating through, over and around the Kings in a dominant 4-1 victory built on second-period goals from Martin Necas, Sam Malinski, Artturi Lehkonen and a second Necas score midway through the third.

Kevin Fiala got the Kings only score on the team’s third power play of the final period, though the goal, coming with less than five minutes to play, was little more than a murmur of protest. Kopitar picked up his 839th career assist on the play, padding his franchise record and extending his point streak on opening day to eight games.

“That's a pretty good team,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said afterward. “They did a good job. They out-checked us, they caught us, they disrupted plays, they didn't let us forecheck.

Read more:Anze Kopitar reflects upon his decision to retire as Kings enter season at a crossroads

“That was not a good game for us. I don't want to take away from how well Colorado played. [But] we need to play better than we did.”

Kopitar, the Kings’ all-time leader in several other categories including games, announced last month that this season, his 20th in the NHL, would be his last. And while those numbers will eventually take him to the Hall of Fame, first there will be a farewell tour around the league, one that got off to an uneven start with the sellout crowd at Crypto.com Arena saluting him with a standing ovation pregame. Kopitar wasn’t much of a factor after that, however, taking just one shot in 18 minutes.

Meanwhile for Holland, hired last May to get the Kings beyond the opening round of the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the game marked the end of his summer restructuring with his new team. And the first impression of what he built wasn’t a good one, with the Kings losing their opener for the third time in four seasons.

Both teams played cautiously in a first period that ended with the Kings skating shorthanded after Colorado’s Josh Manson took down Warren Foegele with an elbow, a hit Jeff Malott acknowledged by chasing Manson down the ice and dropping the gloves. Both players drew five-minute fighting penalties but Malott was also given two minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Anze Kopitar is introduced before Tuesday's season opener for the Kings.
Anze Kopitar is introduced before Tuesday's season opener for the Kings. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

“I like the response to the hit on Foegele,” Hiller said. “We thought it was a high hit so Malott went in. We’ve got no problems with that. I thought that was really important moment for him and for our team; that we're not going to take that.”

The Kings killed the penalty — the first of 12 on the night for both teams — but seconds after the two sides were back at full strength Necas gave the Avalanche the lead for good with a wrister from the right circle.

Malinski, a defenseman, doubled the advantage less than seven minutes later, blasting a shot from just inside the blue line through traffic and by goalie Darcy Kuemper. Lehkonen gave Colorado its third goal of the second period on a rebound with 5:18 left.

“Second period wasn't good enough,” defenseman Drew Doughty said. “We were on our heels, we were turning the puck over too much. They were getting a lot of speed up turnovers, 3 on 2s and stuff. And that hurt us.

“Definitely not even close to good enough.”

Read more:Kings' Corey Perry to miss six to eight weeks after knee surgery

Necas then made it 4-0 on a power-play goal halfway through the final period. Fiala matched that with the Kings’ first goal of the year less than five minutes later.

The Kings rarely challenged Colorado goalie Scott Wedgewood in the first two periods, playing tentatively and creating little offense, putting just nine shots on goal through the first 36 minutes. Helped by four Colorado penalties the Kings came alive in a chippy third period, putting 14 shots on goal.

“Good response in the third,” Doughty said. “But too little, too late.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Yankees bullpen's 'incredible effort' in Game 3 of ALDS gave offense chance to mount their comeback

In a must-win game, when their starter didn't have it, the Yankees bullpen came up clutch. Maybe not Aaron Judge clutch, but they were close.

After Carlos Rodon gave his team just 2.1 innings, and put his team in a 6-1 hole, five relievers combined to get the final 20 outs on Tuesday night to help the Yankees stave off elimination in the team's eventual 9-6 win over the Blue Jays in Game 3 of the ALDS.

"They were awesome," manager Aaron Boone said of the bullpen after the win. 

Fernando Cruz was the first man out, getting the final two outs of the third inning before getting an out into the fourth. Camilo Doval continued his recent streak of effective outings by getting the next three outs. Tim Hill picked up the final out in the fifth inning, stranding a runner on second base, before pitching a 1-2-3 sixth inning. Devin Williams picked up four outs and David Bednar locked down the five-out save.

"Cruz coming in and kind of settling things, Camilo continuing to really throw the ball incredibly well," Boone said. "Tim Hill coming in and getting that final out and then going back out knowing he's got to face [George] Springer, but we then added to the lead a little bit. So the fact he was able to get two guys out there and then that kept him in play to face [Davis] Schneider. The add-on run that we had and him getting the first two outs of that inning was really big because then you could afford to -- Schneider puts a pretty good swing on it but then flies out to left. And that allowed us to shorten things with Devin and Bednar finishing the last three innings in a shared situation. Really good job by all the pen guys and doing it efficiently, too."

The bullpen's 6.2 shutout innings -- allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out nine batters -- helped the Yankees complete their largest comeback win in a postseason game since the 2010 ALCS against the Rangers, also a five-run deficit. It also marked only the third time in franchise history that Yankees relievers tossed at least 6.2 scoreless innings in a postseason game.

"Proud of my boys," Hill said of his bullpen mates. "We did what we’re supposed to do."

"You want those shutdown innings, especially after the offense gets some you momentum," Bednar said. "Just keep handing the ball over. We have a really good group down there, just keep trusting everyone."

"Incredible effort by everyone," Williams said. "Everyone stepped up and got as many outs as you could tonight. It was a great performance tonight and gotta go do it tomorrow."

Devin goes beyond

While all the Yankees relievers were spectacular, Williams' was notable as he went and pitched more than an inning for the first time all season. Williams said Boone didn't ask, just told him he was going to go back out there to get Ernie Clement. While he allowed a single, Clement's fourth hit of the game, Williams bounced back to strike out Anthony Santander before being lifted for Bednar.

"This is the time when you're going to need it every now and then," Boone explained of the decision to keep Williams to pitch a second inning. "He was efficient in his inning in the seventh there. So I knew for sure I wanted him to go out and face Clement. And then if he was efficient, Wellsy and I kind of talked about giving him Santander too. And the fact that Clement gets another hit, but he's able to make a couple of really good pitches to get the strikeout of Santander, which was big. That shortened it a little bit for Bednar." 

"I was expecting to go further than I did, but it’s all hands on deck right now," Williams said. 

Tuesday was Williams' sixth postseason appearance, and the first of at least four outs in his career. The trust Boone has in Williams right now is sky high, and for good reason. Entering Game 3, Williams had allowed just two baserunners (one hit, one walk) in two innings of work. If you want to include just the regular season, since allowing four runs in 0.2 innings back on Sept. 3, Williams has not allowed a run (12 IP).

"He’s a hard worker," Hill said of Williams. "Devin’s always putting in the work no matter what. I saw that from the beginning. Everyone goes through struggles in this game. His work never changed, he stayed the course and that’s why you’re seeing what you’re seeing at this point."

"[He's been] Lights out," Bednar added. "It’s been fun to watch playing in the [NL] Central getting to watch him from the other side and now getting a front seat. It’s been a lot of fun to watch. It’s been very impressive."

Despite the up-and-down first season in the Bronx, Williams says he's kept the same mindset but ist just getting the results he wants now. Once Boone took the ball from him in the eighth, the Yankee Stadium crowd gave the often-maligned reliever a standing ovation for his efforst. 

"It’s awesome, nice to feel appreciated sometimes. It was definitely a lot better than what I heard from most of the year," Williams said with a grin. 

The Yankees will hope to get the same performance from the bullpen in Wednesday's must-win Game 4. With Cam Schlittler on the mound, Boone may not need many relievers, but they are ready to try and send the series back to Toronto.

 

 

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Carlos Rodón's ill-timed clunker becomes footnote to Yankees' thrilling ALDS Game 3 win over Blue Jays

Carlos Rodón understood his assignment and the stakes. What he needed to give the Yankees in a must-win Game 3 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays was what two teammates couldn't deliver in Games 1 and 2 over the weekend -- quality length as a starting pitcher.

But fans' long-standing fears about Rodón's reliability in October were once again realized on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, since he, too, didn't meet the job's demands. While the Yankees miraculously staved off elimination with a thrilling 9-6 comeback victory, Rodón was responsible for the necessity of a huge rally, as he gave up six runs and failed to complete three innings.

"All year since we've played them, the miss is just not really there," Rodón said after the win. "Just trying to force weak contact. They put some good swings. Obviously, I made some pitches that could've been way better. They force the issue. They make us play defense. Up and down the lineup, they have pretty good at-bats. The chase isn't really there, and they just put the ball in play."

The signs of trouble for Rodón appeared almost immediately. After allowing a one-out walk in the first inning, he left a soft changeup in the middle of the zone to the red-hot Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who clobbered it into the left field bullpen for a two-run blast. The superstar slugger became the first player in Blue Jays history to start the playoffs with a homer in each of the first three games.

Rodón worked around a leadoff infield single and a two-out hit-by-pitch in the second, but that inning turned out to be his easiest. The wheels fell off in the third, and his mess began with a leadoff double to Davis Schneider that was followed up by an intentional -- and sensible -- walk to Guerrero.

With one out, Rodón gave up a single to Dalton Varsho that brought Schneider home due to a botched Yankees relay. Then, sharp singles from Ernie Clement and Anthony Santander doubled the Blue Jays' run total to six and extended their lead to five. Rodón's eight-pitch bout with Santander was his last -- he was pulled with one out at 67 pitches (44 strikes). He struck out only two.

For a third straight game, the Yankees didn't see their starter record 10 outs. The combination of Luis Gil, Max Fried, and Rodón allowed 15 runs on 18 hits (four homers) for a ghastly ERA of 16.88. And by the time of Rodón's exit, Yankees pitchers had given up a whopping 29 runs, the most allowed in any three-game stretch within a single postseason in franchise history (h/t Katie Sharp).

Of course, the Yankees were lucky that dormant bats finally woke up in the Bronx to not only bail out Rodón, but also to force a do-or-die Game 4 on Wednesday night. The bullpen deserves ample praise, too, as five relievers kept the relentless Blue Jays in check by providing 6.2 scoreless innings.

"They were incredible," Rodón said of the bullpen. "They didn't give up a run. They covered 21 outs and were really impressive. They shut them down and won us the game there, too."

By the numbers, Rodón's efforts weren't the worst among the Yankees' three starters, but the timing of his clunker was disastrous. There was little reason -- maybe even no reason -- to believe the team was capable of summoning eight unanswered runs en route to stunning survival when the veteran left-hander walked off the mound.

Whether or not the Yankees overcome the series deficit to the Blue Jays and advance to the ALCS, the topic of Rodón's struggles under the bright postseason lights is sticking around. The 32-year-old southpaw has a 9.72 ERA across 8.1 innings (two starts) this month. 

Rodón seemed poised to put that narrative to bed, too. He produced the second 200-strikeout campaign of his career, while logging career-high marks in both innings (195.1) and starts (33). For extended stretches, he performed near ace level, living up to his high-priced salary.

Luckily for Rodón, the postgame conversations weren't centered on him this time. The massive weight of the season now rests on other shoulders.

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Penguins Play Clinical Road Game, Shut Out Rangers, 3-0

There were a lot of storylines heading into the Pittsburgh Penguins' season opener against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

For one, the respective head coaches of each squad - Dan Muse for Pittsburgh and Mike Sullivan for New York - swapped places and organizations this offseason. Two teenagers in Harrison Brunicke and Ben Kindel were debuting on the same day for the Penguins - the first time that's happened since Kris Letang and Jordan Staal on Oct. 5, 2006. Also, the "Big Three" - Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang - kicked off their record-shattering 20th season together.

But, despite all the noise, Pittsburgh played a smooth, sound road game - and it paid off for them.

The Penguins shut out the Rangers, 3-0, to begin their 2025-26 season, and they did it in clinical fashion. They limited high-danger chances against, and goaltender Arturs Silovs - who got the nod over veteran Tristan Jarry - stopped all 25 shots he faced. 

No one could have predicted that forwards Justin Brazeau and Blake Lizotte would carry the scoring for the Penguins, even with two of those goals being empty-netters. But perhaps the most impressive thing was that the Penguins took a 1-0 lead into the third period, and it didn't once feel like that lead was in danger of being taken from them.

They outshot the Rangers, 12-5, in the third period, locking down and playing structurally sound hockey - something that's been largely lacking over the past several seasons in Pittsburgh.

"I thought they, to a man, did a great job," Muse said. "I thought for the first game of the season, I just like the fact that you walk out of there, you get the job done. But you can look around the locker room and really feel like, to a man, everybody did something there to contribute tonight. If we start that way, and that's going to be the base that we're going to build off of, that's what I learned tonight. I'm excited about building with these guys."

2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' Edition2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' EditionIt’s a new NHL season, and that means it’s time for a new THN - Pittsburgh Penguins season prediction piece!

Here are some thoughts and observations from the Penguins' impressive season-opening win:

- Let's start with the kids.

First of all, it was a really cool thing to see Brunicke and Kindel take the ice in the opening lineup, along with three scrubs in Crosby, Malkin, and Letang (just kidding, of course). They actually had a pretty good opening shift and were pressuring in the offensive zone until the puck leaked out to the neutral zone and Brunicke took a penalty within the first minute.

To start the game, it was clear that Brunicke took some time to adjust to the speed and rigors of playing in a regular season NHL game. But after the first period, the 19-year-old blueliner - only the second South African-born player to play in an NHL game - settled in. His reads progressively got better, he got more confident in joining the rush and in playing the offensive blue line, and his defensive zone presence improved.

Brunicke was good in this game. But Kindel was outright impressive.

The 18-year-old center was 80 percent in the faceoff circle, and he looked like an NHL regular from puck drop. He made a few passes and plays that were remniscent of a 10-year veteran. He was calm, composed, and confident with no panic in his game. He even generated a few chances for his line with Philip Tomasino and Tommy Novak, and he easily could have finished the evening with a few points on the board.

There are very few young players in this league that I've seen debut - and I've seen many over the years - who looked like they belonged from the very start. It's so difficult to just jump into a game against an NHL lineup for the first time as a teenager and look the way Kindel did on Tuesday.

I continue to be impressed by this kid. If he can keep this up for nine games, I'm not sure how he doesn't stick around. But, that's just it: We'll see how he looks over a nine-game sample. 

Oct 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) tends net against Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel (81) during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

- Another player who was impressive and committed to structure tonight was Erik Karlsson.

"Karlsson" and "structure" don't typically go together in the same sentence. But, alas, he made very few mistakes - a missed outlet pass in the second period was one of them - and he looked akin to the 2022-23 version of Erik Karlsson that the Penguins thought they were acquiring from the start.

I think he and Parker Wotherspoon could, potentially, be a really solid pairing for the Penguins this season. It's obviously very, very early, but based on Tuesday's game and some camp observations, Wotherspoon plays a very stay-at-home, structurally sound, low-risk, and low-event game. A very low-event and positionally sound defenseman is an ideal partner for one of the most high-event players in the league. 

We'll see how things shake out with them. But if Wotherspoon's "unnoticeability" makes Karlsson more noticeable in a good way - and allows him to do what he does best - that's all you can really ask for. 

- Malkin was very, very good in this game. He had his gallop. And his linemate, Brazeau, seemed to be in the right place at the right time with frequency. 

'It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three''It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three'On Oct. 5, 2006, a young, 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman named Kris Letang suited up for his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Anthony Mantha looked a bit rusty, but that's probably because he is. He'll need time to get back up to game speed after missing nearly the entire 2024-25 season with a torn ACL, so it's nothing to be concerned about at this point. 

I'm not yet sure what to make of this line, which has a minimum height requirement of 6-foot-5. But it seemed like they were using that size advantageously, and the fact that they were mostly deployed in offensive zone starts allowed them to play to their size and their strengths.

I don't think this line sticks once Bryan Rust returns, and it certainly won't if Rutger McGroarty returns to the NHL roster. But, for now, it might just work. And Malkin deserves to have some consistency on his wings in what could be his final NHL season.

- Silovs was not tested to the extreme on Tuesday, and he was a bit shaky with his rebound control earlier on in this game. 

But, he locked in and made the saves he needed to. It was nothing flashy and nothing spectacular, but he got the job done. And he was calm and composed in the process. 

Honestly? This might just be what the Penguins need between the pipes this season. He won't be perfect, but he could very well be good enough - and he still has potential to rise above that. Muse said Jarry will get his early-season opportunities, too, but this was a really good way to start the season for Silovs.

3 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-263 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-26With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

- Many hockey people are projecting the Rangers to be a playoff team. 

To be honest, I just don't see it.

Yes, they have, arguably, the best goaltender on the planet. Their top defensive pairing is quite good, and their top-six is formidable. 

But, beyond that? Things get less than ideal. 

The bottom-six leaves a lot to be desired, even with rookie Noah Laba in the picture. The bottom-four in their defense corps isn't all that great, either, and they also don't have a whole lot to look forward to in their prospect pipeline. 

On top of all of that, their team is aging, and its best player in Artemi Panarin is on an expiring contract.

I'm not saying the Rangers won't make the playoffs. It's early, they have the goaltending, and Sullivan is a very, very good coach. But I just don't think they have the talent or the depth to really make any kind of statement this season. 

I, for one, think this team needs a whole lot of tinkering in order to make the playoffs this season. If it stays the same - and they don't end up making the playoffs - I can't say I'd be surprised.

Mike Sullivan Understands The Magnitude Of What It Means To Represent The Rangers Mike Sullivan Understands The Magnitude Of What It Means To Represent The Rangers Mike Sullivan makes his way to The Big Apple in a unique season for the New York Rangers. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!      

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Yankees avoid elimination with thrilling 9-6 comeback win over Blue Jays in Game 3 of ALDS

Aaron Judge hit a huge home run Tuesday night to help the Yankees rally from a big deficit and stave off elimination in Game 3 of their ALDS against the Blue Jays. 

Judge, often maligned for his October play, slammed a game-tying three-run homer in the fourth inning and Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in the subsequent frame to give the Yankees the lead for good in a 9-6 win in front of 47,399 at Yankee Stadium. It was the third time in these playoffs that the Yankees won a game in which a loss would’ve ended their season.

The Yankees had trailed by five runs after the top of the third inning. Toronto was 71-4 when they scored at least five runs in a game during the regular season and had won the first two games of this series while scoring five-plus, too.

The teams resume the series Wednesday night in the Bronx, and the Yankees will still be trying to avoid elimination -- the Jays still lead the best-of-five affair, two games to one.

Here are the main takeaways...

-- The Blue Jays got a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning after Carlos Rodón issued a one-out walk to Davis Schneider, bringing up Yankee-slayer Vlad Guerrero Jr. Guerrero smashed his third home run of the series, a 427-foot shot to left center that left his bat at 110.5 mph. Guerrero, who entered the game 10-for-17 with a homer and three doubles lifetime against Rodón, is the first Blue Jays player to homer in three consecutive playoff games. Not surprisingly, when Guerrero batted against Rodón in the third inning with first base open, Aaron Boone ordered an intentional walk. 

-- After a terrific regular season, Rodón has been mostly a disappointment in the playoffs. He could not get out of the third inning against Toronto and wound up allowing six runs and six hits in 2.1 frames. He walked two, one intentionally, and fanned two. In two starts, he’s mustered a 9.72 ERA.

-- Overall, Yankees starters have failed them badly in the series, allowing 15 earned runs and 18 hits in just eight total innings of work. Rodón’s start was the shortest of all, but the worst might have been ace Max Fried in Game 2, when he gave up seven runs in three innings. Overall, their starters have a 16.88 ERA in the series.

-- Schneider started the third inning with a double and the Yankees put on Guerrero. One out later, Daulton Varsho blooped a ball to left field that Cody Bellinger dove for, but could not snare. Schneider had slowed at third, but when he saw that Trent Grisham, who backed up the play, threw the ball to second, he bolted for the plate and beat Chisholm’s throw easily to give the Jays a 3-1 lead. Ernie Clement followed with a single to left and Guerrero whirled around second and sprinted for home, barely beating a strong throw by Bellinger. Varsho and Clement each moved up a base on the throw, which became key when the next batter, Anthony Santander, hit a two-run single to right for a 6-1 Toronto lead. Judge did not try to throw home on the play and the Jays seemed to be prepared to exploit that. Judge has been dealing with an elbow issue.

-- The Yankees kept chipping away, though. They scored twice in the third inning, which started when they challenged a non-call with Grisham up, hoping it would result in catcher’s interference. It did not, but the result of Grisham’s at-bat was better, anyway -- he doubled to right. Judge followed with an RBI double to left. After Bellinger singled to center, Ben Rice hit into a fielder’s choice, in which Judge was put out in a rundown between third and home. But the Yankees weren’t done scoring -- Stanton brought the crowd to its feet with a deep drive to center, but Varsho ran it down and the Yankees had to settle for a sac fly to move to within 6-3. After Chisholm walked, Boone used Amed Rosario, who hits lefties well, to pinch-hit for Ryan McMahon against lefty reliever Mason Fluharty. Fluharty got Rosario to foul out.

-- Judge’s big homer in the fourth inning was set up in part because the Blue Jays made another error. With one out, Austin Wells lofted a catchable fly ball beyond third base. Addison Barger went back for it, but the ball glanced off his glove for a two-base error. Fluharty walked Grisham, bringing up Judge. With the crowd chanting “M-V-P, M-V-P,” Judge fell behind hard-throwing reliever Louis Varland, 0-2. The second pitch was 100 mph heat that blew right by Judge. But he smashed a high parabola down the left-field line on Varland’s next offering, a 99.7 mph fastball off the plate, and it struck high up the foul pole, 373 feet away, for an enormous three-run homer. 

-- The Yankees, seemingly dead an inning earlier, were dead even. It was the 17th career postseason homer for Judge, first this year. According to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, it was Judge’s sixth home run in the postseason when facing elimination, matching David Ortiz for the most in MLB history.

-- -Before Chisholm’s go-ahead homer in the fifth inning, which landed in the second deck in right field, he had been just 3-for-17 (.177) in the playoffs. His blast off Varland was the third postseason home run of his career. The Yankees pushed their lead to 8-6 in the same inning when Rosario doubled and scored on a single by Wells. In the sixth, Rice tacked on with a sac fly, scoring Judge after his intentional walk.

-- The Yankees' bullpen, viewed as a potential trouble spot during these playoffs, was terrific after Rodón gave up six runs and couldn’t get out of the third inning. Fernando Cruz, Camilo Doval, Tim Hill, Devin Williams and David Bednar combined to allow no runs and three hits in 6.2 innings of work. Williams had not gotten more than three outs in any appearance all season, but provided four across the seventh and eighth innings and allowed only one hit. This would’ve sounded crazy at points during the season, but Williams got a standing ovation from fans. Bednar got the final five outs in a row.

-- -With multiple miscues, including a pair of fielding errors, the Blue Jays looked more like the mistake-prone midsummer Yankees than their usually-efficient selves. Even plays in which they weren’t charged with an error -- like Santander’s ill-advised dive on a Bellinger liner in the sixth -- weren’t smooth. Santander missed and Bellinger reached second with a double. 

Game MVP: Aaron Judge

Judge singled and scored in the first, doubled in a run in the third, homered in the fourth and was intentionally walked and then scored in the sixth. He grounded out in the eighth to finish 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle. He even made a sweet catch in right field. Judge is 11-for-22 this postseason (.500) and has already set a career-best for hits in a single October.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees will host Game 4 on Wednesday night, with first pitch in the Bronx scheduled for 7:08 p.m.

RHP Cam Schlittler is slated to take the mound, while the Blue Jays have yet to announce their starter.

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Artūrs Šilovs Shuts Out J.T. Miller And Carson Soucy In Battle Of Former Canucks To Start 2025–26 NHL Season

While the current Vancouver Canucks prepare for their season-opener on October 9, some former Canucks started their 2025–26 season off with a matchup against former teammates. In the second game of the NHL’s opening night, former Canuck Artūrs Šilovs and the Pittsburgh Penguins shut out J.T. Miller, Carson Soucy, and the New York Rangers by a score of 3–0. All three players started the 2024–25 season on Vancouver’s opening night roster and all ended up on different teams via trade. 

Šilovs, the 2025 Calder Cup MVP in the Abbotsford Canucks’ first championship in franchise history, had been named the Penguins’ opening-night starter earlier in the day. He was traded back in July in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick and forward Chase Stillman. In his Pittsburgh debut, Šilovs stopped all 25 shots faced and earned his first regular-season NHL shutout. 

On the other side of this game was Miller, who spent six seasons with the Canucks before being traded for Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini, and a 2025 first-round pick back in January. The scrappy forward was named captain of the Rangers back in September and will likely be a big piece in New York’s successes in 2025–26. He was joined by Soucy in March when the Canucks traded the veteran defenceman a day before the trade deadline. 

Oct 7, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (8) reacts after being pushed into Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) by Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The next former 2024–25 Canuck who is expected to start their season is Dakota Joshua, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in mid-July. Joshua and the Maple Leafs will face the Montréal Canadiens tomorrow, October 8, at 4:00 pm PT. Another former Canuck, Pius Suter, will make his debut with his new team, the St. Louis Blues, on October 9 at 5:00 pm PT. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Raleigh, Suarez, Crawford homer and Mariners top Tigers 8-4 for a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series

DETROIT — The Seattle Mariners are on the brink of a spot in the AL Championship series for the first time in 24 years.

Cal Raleigh hit a two-run homer, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford had solo shots and Seattle beat the Detroit Tigers 8-4 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Division Series.

The Mariners are within a win of their first AL Championship Series since 2001. Their first chance to advance is on Wednesday afternoon in Game 4 at Comerica Park and if necessary, another opportunity awaits on Friday back in Seattle for a decisive Game 5.

"The Seattle Mariners deserve where we’re at right now," Suarez said.

Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said not to count his team out after it showed resolve following a historic collapse in the regular season and bounced back by eliminating Cleveland in an AL Wild Card series, then won Game 1 against Seattle.

“We’ve had to play more and more back-against-the-wall-type games,” Hinch said. “I know our guys are going to be ready.”

Seattle’s Logan Gilbert gave up one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none over six innings.

“Can’t say enough about what Logan did," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. "Just an incredible outing. He had everything going.”

Raleigh, who had a major league-high 60 homers during the regular season, hit a 391-foot, two-run homer to left-center in the ninth to make it 8-1.

The offensively challenged Tigers were limited to four hits and one run through eight innings before suddenly generating some offense in the ninth against Caleb Ferguson, who allowed three runs on three hits and a walk without getting an out.

Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double and Andy Ibanez followed with an RBI single.

All-Star closer Andres Munoz entered with one on and no outs and ended Detroit's comeback hopes with a flyout and game-ending double play.

Detroit's Jack Flaherty lasted just 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks.

Seattle scored two runs in the third after starting the inning with three hits and a walk.

Victor Robles led off with a double and scored on an error, which was credited to left fielder Riley Greene for an errant throw that could have been fielded on a bounce by catcher Dillon Dingler.

“A little bit of a breakdown all the way around,” Hinch said.

Randy Arozarena's RBI single put the Mariners ahead 2-0 in the third.

Suarez sent a 422-foot shot to left in the fourth to make it 3-0. Raleigh's two-out RBI single in the inning gave Seattle a four-run cushion.

The Tigers were hoping their first home game in two-plus weeks might make them more comfortable at the plate, but it didn't help and they lost an eighth straight at Comerica Park.

Detroit finally scored in the fifth on Kerry Carpenter’s fielder's choice on what was potentially an inning-ending double play. Crawford’s throw from second base pulled first baseman Josh Naylor off the bag and he didn’t secure the ball in his glove, allowing Dingler to score.

Crawford's homer in the sixth restored Seattle's four-run lead.

The Tigers allowed the Mariners to score a second unearned run in the eighth inning after Carpenter dropped Victor Robles' fly in right field, allowing Luke Raley to advance to third and to score on Crawford's sacrifice fly.

Detroit RHP Casey Mize and Seattle RHP Bryce Miller are expected to start Game 4 on Wednesday.

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'It's Super Rare': Looking Back On Two Decades Of The 'Big Three'

On Oct. 5, 2006, a young, 19-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins' defenseman named Kris Letang suited up for his NHL debut against the Philadelphia Flyers.

By then, 19-year-old phenom teammate Sidney Crosby already had an entire NHL season under his belt, which was a marvelous 39-goal, 102-point rookie campaign. And, less than two weeks later - on Oct. 18 - a 20-year-old Evgeni Malkin suited up for an NHL game for the first time. 

Little did those three players know that, 20 years later, they'd still be donning the same sweater and taking to the ice together. 

The trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Letang is the longest-tenured trio in North American professional sports history, and, to some, it might stand to reason that they always knew there was something special between the three of them - a bond and a partnership that could stand the test of time.

But, in reality, it's not something that was ever guaranteed - which makes it all the more unique and special.

“Honestly, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt that secure with it, to be honest," Crosby said. "I mean, [in] hockey… there’s so much turnover. I think, just in general, like all sports, you see more and more turnover. It’s pretty rare that you see guys be with one team for long periods of time, and because of that, I probably didn’t allow my hopes to get up too much. But, I think that’s what makes it even more special.

"I think that, in the back of our mind - you’d have to ask [Malkin and Letang] - but there’s no guarantees, and that’s what makes it what it is. It’s super rare, and I think it makes us appreciate knowing that [change] could have happened so many different times.”

8 Bold Penguins' Predictions For The 2025-26 Season8 Bold Penguins' Predictions For The 2025-26 SeasonIn case you haven't heard, the Pittsburgh Penguins play hockey Tuesday night against the New York Rangers. 

But, change never happened. And given the long run of success that the Crosby-era Penguins had, the thought of them spending two decades together - from an outside perspective, at least  doesn't feel unnatural in the slightest.

The trio's run of success started almost immediately, as the Penguins made the playoffs in that first season. Letang was not part of the picture - as he was sent back to juniors after just six NHL games and remained there for the rest of the season - and they did get ousted by the Ottawa Senators in five games. But it built the foundation for what was to come next with a roster one year older and more experienced. Malkin and Crosby enjoyed successful seasons individually as well, as Malkin recorded 33 goals and 85 points in 78 games and Crosby registered 120 points - and won the Art Ross Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, and Hart Trophy. 

But it all started to peak in 2007-08 with all three of them in Pittsburgh for almost the entire season. The young Penguins peaked early, going all the way to the Stanley Cup Final against the veteran powerhouse Detroit Red Wings but ultimately falling short. 

It was almost deja vu in 2009, but this time, the Penguins came out on top, and the young core were already Stanley Cup champions at 22, 22, and 21 years old. Playoff success may have eluded them for a while after that, but after back-to-back championships in 2016-17, it seemed that - no matter what - the legacy of the "big three" was already pretty solid.

Fast forward to the dawn of the 2025-26 season, and the Penguins have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons. The team finds itself in the midst of a rebuild with an unclear timeline, and even with youth beginning to populate the roster, the three Penguins' legends still remain. 

It's hard to tell what's next with these Penguins and their three longest-tenured players. Malkin is entering the final season of his current contract and - at 39 years old - is contemplating retirement at the end of it. Letang, 38, still has three years remaining on his deal, and he will likely continue to settle into a lighter workload as the season progresses. At 38 years old, Crosby is still going very strong, and he is entering the first year of a two-year contract.

2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' Edition2025-26 Season Predictions: THN Penguins' EditionIt’s a new NHL season, and that means it’s time for a new THN - Pittsburgh Penguins season prediction piece!

The 3,705 points between them is the most by a trio on a single team in NHL history. Even if the future is a bit uncertain, they're still writing history, and they're still writing their story.

It would be easy for each of them to sit back and soak in the moments. Take it all in and enjoy everything they've built together. But that's just not how they're wired. 

They still want to win, and they want to win in Pittsburgh. As a new generation is ushered in, they're still focused on the season in front of them - and they're enjoying the ride.

And, even if his captain is pleasantly surprised that the three of them are still doing all of it together, Letang is not.

"We don't really take time to think about," Letang said. "From the beginning, we felt like we were pulling in the same direction, and we all wanted the same thing. For some reason, it doesn't surprise me that we're still here. It's just been great. Three different personalities, and it's just been fun.

"So, we're excited for another one."

3 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-263 Big Penguins' Storylines To Watch in 2025-26With final NHL rosters submitted and the pre-season officially coming to a close, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be an interesting team to watch for a plethora of reasons in 2025-26. 

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