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Open Thread: Victor Wembanyama only took five shots in drubbing of 76ers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 01: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the third quarter of the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 01, 2026 in New York City. 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 Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Oh, man, am I ready for the Spurs to be home. Probably not as ready as they are after all the time on the road, but excited all the same.

The Rodeo Road Trip was a huge success and nearly perfect, sans the loss in Madison Square Garden.

That said, following up the loss with a throttling two nights later put some icing on the cake. Sure, the 76ers were on a limited roster, but it was how the Spurs played that transcended the rival or location of the opponent.

One interesting fact- Victor Wembanyama took only five shots.

When your top player can have a lower scoring game and your team is up by over 30, you’ve got the gears turning nicely. It’s not that Wemby had a bad game — he was hinting at a 5×5 pretty early on — but he certainly didn’t have to be the scoring focal point to make his presence known.

In fact, at the end of it all, Devin Vassell walked off the court with the second highest plus/minus in franchise history. His +43 was only two points below Tim Duncan’s +45. You’re always in good company when being roped into a conversation with The Bog Fundamental.

In addition, eight Spurs scored in double digits, which is closer to par for the course considering that eight Spurs players currently maintain scoring averaging in double digits. If this trend stands, it will be the first time in NBA history for that accomplishment.

But shared scoring and even keeled playing has become more the norm for the Silver & Black. The Spurs are winning over 70% of their games whether Wemby suits up or not. The team went 10-4 when he was sidelined in from mid-November to mid-December. By comparison, they are 34-13 when he has been available.

No matter who starts, who plays, or who serves as the team’s high scorer, it will be great to be back in the Frost Bank Center, celebrating the team’s return, and cheering them on with 18,418 fans.

Go Spurs Go!

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The future of the Phoenix Suns center rotation may be complicated

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 03: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns slam dunks against the Sacramento Kings in the second half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on March 03, 2026 in Sacramento, California. 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 Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Phoenix Suns have a very good big-picture “problem” right now.

The status of Mark Williams’ injury does not change the point of this piece. He has, to this point, been the healthiest he has of his career. This article was in progress before this announcement came out, for what it’s worth. This is more about this trio of centers coexisting in the short-term, but also discussing a tough decision this summer.

Oso Ighodaro is routinely looking like the best center on the Suns roster of late, and Jordan Ott is rewarding him. That reward comes to the detriment of Mark Williams’ time on the floor. With Williams out tonight and Nick Richards now out of the picture, that leaves Khaman Maluach as their backup center to Oso Ighodaro, who will shift into the starting lineup.

In Tuesday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, Ighodaro delivered one of his strongest games of the season, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds in a performance that helped Phoenix complete a season series sweep and fortify a balanced attack on both ends.

Last night’s performance wasn’t a fluke or one-off. It’s who he has morphed into after a slow start to the season.

This season has seen Ighodaro evolve from a role player into something closer to a defensive anchor and offensive facilitator, the kind of glue guy that isn’t always obvious in highlight reels but impacts the flow of a game. He is one of the few Suns players to see consistent minutes across most of the schedule, and his ability to set screens, read cuts, make plays out of short rolls, and contest at the rim has made the Suns tougher to dissect for opposing defenses. He’s an easy player to take for granted.

At just 23 years old, Ighodaro has the length, motor, and IQ to be a disruptive presence on both ends of the floor. His season averages (around 5.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on about 63.5 percent shooting) may not jump off the stat sheet, but they hide the nuance of his role, especially how he makes life easier for Phoenix’s primary creators and how his activity on defense frequently leads to transition opportunities.

Ighodaro’s rise, however, complicates things when you look at the other pieces at the Suns’ disposal.

Mark Williams entered this season as Phoenix’s presumptive starting center and center of the future after they dealt two first-round picks to acquire him. As we all know, he will be a restricted free agent this offseason, which means the team will have to weigh his performance, fit, and injury history when negotiations come. At full strength, Williams offers size, finishing ability, and rebounding that a contending team needs, but that same size and impact are now being challenged by Ighodaro’s ascendance. Williams has been solid, but he has his moments where he can fade. I’m not sure a heavy investment at the center position makes sense with Oso Ighodaro and lottery pick, Khaman Maluach patiently waiting.

Maluach has not been rushed. His development has been methodical, with much of his early seasoning coming through the G League and spot minutes in Phoenix. That approach was intentional, and Maluach was seen as raw when he arrived, and the team has tried to ease him into physical NBA action rather than bury him under early expectations. With Richards shipped out and Williams out, this will serve as an opportunity for him to show he can make an impact in meaningful minutes.

For now, Ighodaro sits at the tip of the spear in Phoenix’s frontcourt. His performances have changed how Ott deploys personnel, how opponents match up, and how the Suns think about the position going forward. Williams’ contributions give the team stability, and Maluach’s development provides optimism for years beyond this one.

Balancing all three is not simple. But it is a sign of organizational depth, and the kind of complexity a team on the rise usually welcomes, even if it keeps fans talking. In the meantime, all the focus is on optimizing this current version of the Suns’ center rotation, which looks as strong and promising as ever.

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Game Preview: Buffalo Sabres @ Pittsburgh Penguins 3/5/2026

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 26: Tage Thompson #72 of the Buffalo Sabres handles the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on November 26, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Who:Buffalo Sabres (36-19-6, 78 points, 2nd place Atlantic Division) @ Pittsburgh Penguins (31-16-13, 75 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)

When: 7:00 p.m. eastern

How to Watch: National game on ESPN, streaming on ESPN+

Pens’ Path Ahead: Another weekend back-to-back awaits, this time with home games against the Flyers on Saturday (5:30pm start) and then the clocks jump forward for a body 22-hour-later 4:30pm Sunday start against the Bruins. After that, the Pens start a five-game road trip from March 10-18 that begins and ends in Carolina with a lot of miles in between (Vegas next Thursday, Utah next Saturday and Colorado the following Monday) stops in the Tarheel state.

Opponent Track: In a sea of surprising teams this season, no team is more shockingly over-performing original expectations than the once-lowly Sabres. It’s looking like Western NY will see the playoffs for the first time since 2011, their Sabres have won all four games coming out of the Olympic break and showing no signs of slowing down. Most recently Buffalo beat Vegas 3-2 on Tuesday, they also took down both Florida teams on the road last week.

Season Series: The Penguins are 2-0 against Buffalo, looking for a season sweep tonight after beating Buffalo 4-2 back on November 26th and taking a 5-2 win on February 5th. Lately beating up on the Sabres would garner a shrug, it stands out a lot more this year.

Silly Stat: The Pens are 7-2-1 with their yellow third jerseys this season. For an even deeper dive, the Pens happen to be 6-0-0 on Thursday’s on the same day ‘The Pitt’, an HBOMax hospital drama set in Pittsburgh, has been released. That streak will be on the line with another episode of the show coming out today.

Getting to know the Sabres

Projected lines

FORWARDS

Peyton Krebs – Tage Thompson – Alex Tuch

Jason Zucker – Ryan McLeod – Jack Quinn

Noah Ostlund – Josh Norris – Josh Doan

Zach Benson – Tyson Kozak – Brock Malenstyn

DEFENSEMEN

Matthias Samuelsson / Rasmus Dahlin

Bowen Byram / Owen Power

Zach Metsa / Michael Kesselring

Goalies: Alex Lyon, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Colten Ellis

Potential scratches: Josh Dunne, Jacob Bryson

Injured Reserve: Conor Timmins, Jordan Greenway, Justin Danforth, Jiri Kulich

  • The Sabres are uniquely constructed in that all four of their best defensemen happen to be left handed. That might be about to change — as of 9:00pm last night St. Louis and Buffalo reportedly have a trade made, pending Colton Parayko’s no trade clause approval, to send the Team Canada member east. Seems doubtful Parayko would make it to Pittsburgh and play tonight if the transaction gets hammered out in time but if he decides to come it will finally add a marquee right shot defender to the club.
  • Assuming he’s not a part of the incomplete-at-press-time trade, this will be Josh Norris’s fifth game back from his latest injury (2G+1A in the first four back, including a two-goal effort against Tampa last week) and his first time playing against the Pens since the preseason. Can’t get over how dominant he was in those games, if Norris can stay in the lineup (he’s only played 23 games this season) he could add a whole new dimension to Buffalo’s attack. Unfortunately, staying in the lineup for prolonged periods of time has been a weakness to this point.
  • Speaking of injuries, an underrated part of the Penguins flipping Timmins for the 39th pick in last year’s draft is in the timing. Timmins’ career has been checkered by injuries. Other than last year’s 68 total games between PIT/TOR, his previous seasons of games played (combining NHL and AHL) are: 42, 37, 6, 33, 25 and now 33, not counting a full season missed at what should have been the start of his career in 2018-19. To get a good draft piece from a guy who has missed more time than he played was a nice outcome for Pittsburgh, though sad to see Timmins land back on the IR again.

Season stats
via hockeydb

  • Lyon and Luukkonen have split the last four games since the Olympic break, with each playing twice and each playing rather well (Lyon has allowed four goals in his two games, Luukkonen gave up only three, both with save percentages north of .948% in the small sample). That means the Pens figure to see a goalie in good form tonight, no matter which one Buffalo decides to play.
  • Jack Hughes obviously had the ultimate star turn for the Olympics with his golden goal, a level down from there Tage Thompson was really good too. Thompson has kept it in gear, scoring 3G+2A in four games since returning. He also found the back of the net in the last PIT/BUF game in early February.
  • Rasmus Dahlin is always a visible player, he’s out there over 24 minutes per game for starters. Dahlin has put up 1G+4A in the last two games. When listing the reasons of ‘why is Buffalo good now’, pretty high up on the list is Dahlin who has put up 33 points (10G+23A) in the last 31 games of this growing sample of the Sabres’ becoming a wagon.

Key to the game: Sabres shooting vs. Pittsburgh defense/goalie

Since Buffalo’s turnaround on December 9th (they’re 25-5-2 since then, easily the best record in the league since that point), they’re shooting an NHL-high 13.9%. They don’t tend to dominate the puck and crush teams in that regard — their average shots per game are 27.0 – 30.2 in this stretch — but when they do create chances, they have been finishing them with impressive frequency.

That could be an issue for Pittsburgh, or certainly an area to watch- we saw them get disconnected and overreact in a five-man tandem all chasing the puck like peewees after they overcommitted to a corner in the first place against Boston on Casey Mittlestadt’s goal. That caused Dan Muse to use his timeout to somewhat uncharacteristically shout and chastise his team over the lapse. The Pens didn’t give up a goal or play a sequence that bad again against the Bruins, but by that point the damage was done. Any slips like that tonight are more than likely going to wind up in the net with the way the Sabres have been playing in the offensive zone this season. It’s tough to play a completely perfect and clean game against NHL-caliber competition, especially for a team like the Sabres that has grown immensely with their confidence and ability to strike. The Pens and their attention to detail will have their work cut out for them tonight, how they’re able to handle that could tip the balance in this tilt.

And now for the Pens

Projected lines 

FORWARDS

Egor Chinakhov  – Tommy Novak – Evgeni Malkin

Rickard Rakell – Ben Kindel – Bryan Rust

Anthony Mantha – Kevin Hayes – Justin Brazeau

Avery Hayes – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

DEFENSEMEN

Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson

Sam Girard / Kris Letang

Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton

Goalies: Arturs Silovs (Stuart Skinner played last game)

Potential Scratches: Blake Lizotte (day-to-day injury), Ryan Graves, Ilya Solovyov

IR: Sidney Crosby, Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany

  • The Penguins had an off day yesterday after returning from Boston. They now gear up for another stretch of three-games-in-four days starting today after just ending a three-in-four stretch on Tuesday. And the beat goes on..
  • Is it too early to hope Lizotte’s day-to-day injury is on the shorter end for a return tonight? Possibly, though more information could be revealed by potential participation at the morning skate coming up. The team could surely use Lizotte coming back ASAP given the state of their center depth chart these days that contains possibly only two actual NHL-quality centers (Dewar has certainly been an NHL-quality winger, filling in on a pinch, to his credit, and Kevin Hayes, well, he is a great guy!)..A three day recovery for Lizotte to make it back in time for tonight feels a little more on the hopeful end of the spectrum than anything else, but it doesn’t cost anything to hope.

Geno with the home cookin’

No one has felt more at home on their own ice these days than Evgeni Malkin, currently on a 10-game point streak at PPG Paints. From Pens PR:

Evgeni Malkin has been hot at home as of late with 12 points (2G-10A) in his last 10 games. He currently has the longest active home point streak in the NHL:

Longest Active Home Point Streaks, NHL

Name                   Streak    Dates                                  G            A            PTS

Evgeni Malkin      10          Jan. 8 – Present                 2            10          12
Rasmus Dahlin    8            Jan. 12 – Present               2            8            10
Tim Stutzle           7            Jan. 13 – Present               4            6            10
Matt Boldy            7            Jan. 15 – Present               2            9            11
Quinn Hughes      7            Jan. 22 – Present               1            11          12

With a point tonight, Malkin would have his first home point streak of at least 11 games since January 20 – February 26, 2022 (11 GP; 5G-8A). He has the longest home point streak this season by a Penguin.     

Playoff implications

It’s that time of year to white-knuckle it over every out of town score and point gained or lost. Here’s what hockeystats.com has with their model for the Pens’ outlook based on tonight, entering the day with an 85% chance of the playoffs

Based on this game alone the percentages go up by five points with a win, down four with a regulation loss and hold serve with an OT/SO loss. The next game against Philadelphia (still a mathematical challenge to the Pens’ spot in the Metropolitan Division) will figure to be a more statistically important game, but the biggest one is always the next one on deck.

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10 Takeaways from Celtics’ stinging loss to Hornets

Boston, MA - March 4 - Celtics bench can't bear to watch as the Charlotte Hornets build a lead over the Boston Celtics during the second half of an NBA game at TD Garden. (Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images

1. Lack of Effort

Coming off a blowout win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, the Celtics got a taste of their own medicine against the Charlotte Hornets, getting crushed 118-89. This game was a rough watch all the way around. It felt like the Hornets had a 20+ point lead in this game from the start and the Celtics just didn’t match the intensity.

In the postgame press conference, Joe Mazzulla stressed the fact that Boston was 4-18 on layups in the first half and went 11-33 for the game. Charlotte also finished with 22 fast break points, showcasing Boston’s lack of transition defense.

2. Awful Shooting Night

The missed layups were a small part of the overall issue with the Celtics offense. Boston shot 30-79 (38%) from the field and 10-36 (28%) from three. Boston’s offense was so bad at the half that Brown and White had 30 of Celtics 43 points.

I credit the Hornets defense for really stepping up big and locking down the Celtics in this game. They were able to get great contests on Boston’s shot attempts from beyond the arc, but it also just felt like one of those games where the Celtics couldn’t buy a bucket. In addition to the Celtics struggles, Charlotte also outshot Boston in this game, shooting 41-89 (46%) from the field and 19-49 (39%) from three.

Celtics Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)

3. Lost the Turnover Battle

One of the best parts of Boston’s game this season has been their ability to both force turnovers while also not giving them up. The Celtics lead the NBA in giving up the least amount of turnovers with 12.2 a game this season and rank 2nd in turnover ratio at 12.8%. In this game against the Hornets however, the Celtics lost the turnover battle, giving up 15 and only forcing 4.

Boston just had too many careless possessions that the Hornets turned into 10 steals and 21 points off turnovers. Some of them were great defensive plays from Charlotte, but a lot of them were just them kicking the ball out of bounds, bad passes, and sloppy play that looked like the Celtics were not prepared to play.

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4. Nothing From the Bench

The Hornets bench absolutely dominated the Celtics bench, outscoring them 44-26. Coby White was the main contributor for Charlotte, scoring 17 points on 6-9 shooting while Luka Garza led Boston with 9 points. The biggest problem for the C’s bench was the lack of production from Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vucevic.

Vucevic had a tough night in 17 minutes where he finished with 7 points on 2-10 shooting. Pritchard on the other hand finished with zero points for the second time in three games on 0-6 shooting. I feel like there has to be an injury that Pritchard sustained at some point since coming off the west coast road trip where he dominated to goose eggs twice in a week just feels off.

It wasn’t out of the ordinary to see them struggle, but Boston will need more than 7 combined points out of this pair if they want to make any serious noise against contenders.

5. Derrick White Scoring

In all the negative to take away from this game, Derrick White’s scoring was a real positive. He finished with 29 points on 9-17 shooting. In his last 6 games, White’s shooting has really started to turn around, shooting 42% from the field and 40% from three.

White had 17 of his 25 points in the first half and looked really confident when it came to his floater game. The three point shoot also looked really good despite finishing 3-9 overall. With the playoffs looming, it’s good to see White look like his shot is coming back.

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6. Jaylen Brown Weird Night

On the surface it looked like a solid night: 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists. However, he shot 7-19 from the field, had 3 turnovers and finished as a -20. It was an uncharacteristic night to say the least for Brown, but he did make some incredible plays, including a poster dunk on Moussa Diabaté, but he also had some baffling shot selection and bad turnovers.

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Brown said postgame this is a “flush it” type of game and “today was not the best example of Celtic basketball, and we all can be better. And being a leader, I take accountability.”

7. Neemias Queta Injury?

Neemias Queta only played 16 minutes in this game and finished with 2 points and 2 rebounds coming off his career night against Philadelphia on Sunday where he had 27 points and 17 rebounds. The reason for his low minute total came in the first two minutes of the game when he was subbed out by Joe Mazzulla and the athletic trainer came over to check on his knee.

Queta would come back in and play 6 minutes in both the second and third quarters so it didn’t feel like anything serious. He didn’t look his best tonight but when asked about it postgame, Mazzulla said that “he’s good” in regards to the potential injury. There doesn’t seem to be a concern about Queta for right now, but it will be something monitor moving forward.

8. Luka Garza Looked Solid

In the absence of Queta, Luka Garza played some spot minutes in the first quarter and the entirety of the fourth quarter. In this time, he played pretty well, finishing with 9 points on 3-5 shooting. If Queta does have to miss time with this knee injury, it will give Garza a chance to come back in the rotation as the first big off the bench.

His full offensive bag was on display in the fourth quarter where he showed off a deceleration step, a tough shot underneath the basket, and a three pointer. I have faith that Garza will be able to hold up if there is an injury to Queta and the addition of Jayson Tatum at some point will bring more possibilities as a small ball center option.

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9. Hugo Gonzalez, Fan Favorite

Coming into this game, Hugo Gonzalez had a career night against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday where he finished with career highs across the board with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 steals. In this matchup, he had another solid game with 8 points and 6 rebounds, but what was really interesting about his performance was the crowd’s reaction.

Being in the building covering this game, there was a different energy when Hugo entered the game. He got a loud ovation from the crowd every time he touched the ball and it felt like the TD Garden crowd was going crazy. When he knocked down two three pointers in the first quarter, it felt like the crowd was cheering just a little bit louder. When he made a big defensive stop on Coby White, the crowd went berserk.

It might not pickup on the broadcast but you could feel it in the building. Hugo Gonzalez is quickly climbing up the ranks in Celtics fans love and could reach “fan favorite” status if he has any notable playoff performances.

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10. Hornets are legit

Don’t look now, but the Charlotte Hornets are becoming a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. With their win over the Celtics, they are now 12-3 in their last 15 games and have slayed some of the best teams in the NBA including the Spurs and Rockets. This game was their 6th win in a row and a common theme in all of them is that they have come by a margin of 15+ points. It is tied for the longest streak in NBA history and no team had reached this milestone since the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors.

Charlotte got 56 points out of their three core young players in Kon Knueppel (20), LaMelo Ball (18), and Brandon Miller (18). They also got big contributions out of their depth guys in Coby White and Moussa Diabaté. The Hornets currently sit in 9th place in the Eastern Conference so they would have to escape the Play-In Tournament but if they make the playoffs, they will be a dangerous first round opponent. It would be cool to see a potential matchup between Charlotte and Boston in Round 1, but I would be nervous to face them.

Over the years, the Hornets just seem to have the Celtics number in random points of the season. Former Celtics assistant coach and current Hornets head coach Charles Lee has done an incredible job defending Mazzulla Ball at times and in a playoff setting with nothing to lose for Charlotte, it could be a dog fight.

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MLB rookies to watch: Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle look like real deal

It’s perhaps the ultimate rite of spring – poring over prospect ratings, getting too excited over a rookie’s chance to impact their Major League Baseball squad, going nuts over absurdly small samples of fake baseball in Grapefruit and Cactus league exhibitions.

Well, maybe this is the year to revel in it a bit.

Four top prospects have done little to dispel that they may not only be big league-ready, but poised to break through even before the most starry-eyed prospect-head could’ve imagined.

Yes, three weeks remain before Opening Day, plenty of time for twentysomethings to get schooled by superior pitching and steady veterans look more alluring to a manager. Noted.

Let’s take a minute to hone in on four uber prospects who have made the industry take notice with their early performances in camp:

Konnor Griffin, SS, Pirates

Might as well start with the aircraft carrier. Griffin is a teenager, at least until April 24, the game’s top prospect and a dude who has no idea how to tamp down the hype surrounding his name.

Thankfully, the dude finally mixed in a single in an exhibition against Colombia, ending his spring streak of every hit being a gargantuan home run. Alas, those tape-measure shots did little to dull the roar that emerged from a .333/.415/.527 first professional season that started at low A and concluded at Class AA.

At 6-foot-3, 222 pounds, Griffin looks the part and, in his comportment and style of play, acts it as well. Ace Paul Skenes has voiced his support that the kid start in Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.

And for whatever it’s worth, he’s still at shortstop while presumed incumbent Jared Triolo is getting reps at third.

Tea leaves will soon turn to brass tacks. And the most anticipated debut in several years may very well stay on the fast track.

Kevin McGonigle, SS, Tigers

Here’s the deal: The Tigers were a really good team last year, falling short of the ALCS only because the Seattle Mariners outlasted them in a 15-inning elimination game. And the really good team returned virtually intact on the position-player side.

Run it back? Not so fast, perhaps.

McGonigle is the consensus No. 2 prospect in the industry behind Griffin and we just have to say, this simply doesn’t happen. Nos. 1-2 never bust down the door in tandem, in spring training. Perhaps 1 is major league-ready and 2 is an uber talented kid ticketed for Class A.

But no. While Griffin’s loud noises in Bradenton have generated attention, McGonigle is doing even more to win a job up in Lakeland.

The Tigers keep putting him in high-profile positions – imagine never playing above Class AAA and suddenly playing behind Tarik Skubal – and he keeps answering. They batted him leadoff against the Dominican Republic’s World Baseball Classic team in front of a crowd in the D.R. ready to tear the roof off in support of their heroes.

And McGonigle hit a leadoff home run and produced a 3-for-3 night.

Never mind the stats, which are great – six hits in 15 Grapefruit League at-bats, a 1.137 OPS. The 21-year-old simply seems unbothered, and steady.

“The confidence that he's showing in his at-bats against these particular pitchers,” manager A.J. Hinch said after McGonigle lit up the Dominicans, “is impressive.”

There was little doubt McGonigle would impact the Tigers this season, especially as it got closer to the playoffs. The next three weeks will reveal just how much that timeline has sped up.

Justin Crawford, OF, Phillies

Don’t be alarmed, but the Phillies very much look poised to plug a young player into the lineup.

Nope, John Middleton’s store-bought NL East champions all won’t carry nine-figure contracts this season. In fact, one of the most important positions figures to be manned by a guy making his major league debut when he jogs out to center field March 26 at Citizens Bank Park, when the Phillies open against the Texas Rangers.

He’s had a very nice spring thus far, with six hits in 19 at-bats, including three doubles, a nice catch in center field and, like McGonigle, a feeling that he’s ready.

Probably more than ready.

Crawford is 22 and has 112 Class AAA games already under his belt. And it’s true ... legacy players are typically less fazed by the big league environment and Crawford bears many uncanny resemblances – looks and game-wise – to his father Carl, a four-time All-Star.

Unlike Griffin or McGonigle, Crawford carries neither the top two prospect hype nor the weight of franchise expectations. Batting ninth in a lineup of All-Stars is actually a pretty great way to break in.

Right now, it feels only a matter of time.

Andrew Painter, RHP, Phillies

OK, it was just two innings in a fake baseball game in Clearwater.

Yet 20 pitches, two perfect frames against the New York Yankees and a sense of command – figuratively and literally – went an awful long way toward cementing Painter’s spot in Philadelphia’s rotation to begin the season.

“I was very encouraged,” manager Rob Thomson told reporters after the March 1 outing. “I thought it was great.”

It is no small thing. It’d been three years since Painter’s first exhibition start. Then came Tommy John surgery, sidelining what was then the game’s top pitching prospect, and two years spent largely on the mend. He fought himself and his new arm a bit last summer, costing him a chance at a late-season recall once Zack Wheeler succumbed to a blood clot and thoracic outlet surgery.

Wheeler won’t be ready until perhaps a month into this season. That created the opening Painter is vying for and, most likely, has already nailed down.

His next start is March 7 against the defending American League champion Toronto Blue Jays. They will see a guy with enhanced confidence and a five-pitch mix building himself up for his big league debut.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle lead MLB rookies to watch in spring

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NHL's 5 longest regular-season winning streaks

The Dallas Stars won their ninth and 10th straight games when they beat the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames 6-1 this week, setting a franchise record for most consecutive regular-season wins.

While it's a streak coach Glen Gulutzan and his team will wear as a badge of honor, only four franchises have not won 10 straight: the 2-year-old Utah Mammoth, 5-year-old Seattle Kraken, Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings.

The Stars are reaching new heights, and they're getting closer to the Colorado Avalanche for the top spot in the NHL standings as we approach Friday's trade deadline. But they'll need to keep winning through mid-March to get on this list of the longest winning streaks in NHL history:

Top 5 longest regular-season winning streaks in NHL history

5. Pittsburgh Penguins (15 games, 2012-13)

In 2013, the Pittsburgh Penguins enjoyed a perfect March, winning all 15 games. They had a somewhat favorable schedule, playing 10 of 15 at home, including a four-game stint to end the month. 

They allowed just 26 goals, an average of 1.73 per game, and had four team shutouts.

Sidney Crosby had 25 points (six goals, 19 assists), leading the league during the streak, and teammate Chris Kunitz was second, notching 20 points (11 goals, nine assists). 

4. New York Islanders (15 games, 1981-82)

The New York Islanders enjoyed a 15-game winning streak in 1981-82, culminating in their third successive Stanley Cup.

The Islanders went on to win a fourth straight Stanley Cup the next season, marking the last time any franchise won more than two in a row.

They scored 97 goals in 15 games, 24 more than a Montreal Canadiens team that had the second-most during the famous stretch. New York was also the best defensively, conceding 35 goals. 

3. Columbus Blue Jackets (16 games, 2016-17)

The Columbus Blue Jackets won eight straight at home and on the road from Nov. 29, 2016, to Jan. 3, 2017.

Sergei Bobrovsky started in 14 of those 16 games and had a sterling .941 save percentage and 1.64 goals-against average during the streak. Both were league bests, and the Blue Jackets allowed two goals or fewer 13 times.

Unfortunately, all was for nought as the Blue Jackets lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Penguins. 

2. Edmonton Oilers (16 games, 2023-24)

After a woeful 5-12-1 start that cost Jay Woodcroft his job, the Oilers went on arguably the greatest run in NHL history, winning 24 of the following 27 games. 

That included an eight-game and a 16-game winning streak, the latter of which was bettered only by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The Oilers were almost impenetrable for large portions of the streak, allowing two goals or fewer in 14 straight. 

They eventually advanced to the Stanley Cup Final, losing in seven games to the Florida Panthers.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins (17 games, 1992-93)

The Penguins' astonishing run set a record that has stood for 33 years.

We all know who spearheaded the unprecedented streak, with Mario Lemieux scoring an outrageous 27 goals and 51 points, an average of three per game.  

He finished the season with 69 goals and the Hart Trophy to boot. Tom Barrasso was between the pipes for 14 of those wins, and backup Ken Wregget took the helm for the other three.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dallas Stars' 10-game win streak doesn't make this NHL top 5

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Ranking World Baseball Classic champions: Shohei, Japan stand above

Teams competing in the World Baseball Classic have a most delicate task: Carve out a legacy in less than two weeks.

Yet despite the microwaved format that’s inverse to how we typically watch the sport and assess greatness, the five championship teams all managed to both showcase their talents, conserve their resources and suppress some pretty elite competition to hoist the trophy at tournament’s end.

The WBC has changed almost as much as the sport itself in two decades. Ranking the best of the best is certainly a dicey proposition, as several mini-eras have emerged in the game during that span.

Still, some squads shined a bit brighter. With that, ranking the five WBC champions as the 2026 edition gets under way March 5:

5. Japan 2006

Record: 5-3, 60-21 run differential

Pool play: 2-1 (Lost to Korea 3-1, beat China 18-2, beat Chinese Taipei 14-3)

Second round: 1-2 (Lost to Korea 2-1, lost to USA 4-3, beat Mexico 6-1, advanced on tiebreaker among USA, Mexico, Japan).

Semifinals: Beat Korea 6-0.

Final: Beat Cuba 10-6

Star power: Daisuke Matsuzaka – one year away from making the leap from Japan to the Boston Red Sox for a total commitment of $103 million – won all three of his starts, giving up three earned runs in 13 innings, a 1.38 mark, striking out 10. Ichiro Suzuki showed he was still in the peak of his MLB career, ripping 12 hits in 33 at-bats and producing a .964 OPS.

And while Koji Uehara was most renowned stateside as a reliever, including with the 2013 champion Red Sox, he was a dominant starter then, having won 20 games as a 24-year-old in 1999. In this WBC, he was unbeaten in three starts with 16 strikeouts to zero walks. Uehara avenged Japan’s two previous losses to Korea, pitching seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts in the semifinals.

Championship: Matsuzaka tossed four innings of one-run ball while Suzuki reached base three times and scored three runs to subdue Cuba.

Legacy: They’re the lone WBC champ to suffer three losses, dampening the ledger a bit. Yet it was a harbinger for the next decade in the game, as Matsuzaka, Nori Aoki and Aki Iwamura went on to populate our TVs in subsequent Octobers.

4. Dominican Republic 2013

Record: 8-0, 36-14 run differential

Pool play: 3-0 (Beat Puerto Rico 4-2, beat Spain 6-3, beat Venezuela 9-3)

Second round: 3-0 (Beat Italy 5-4, beat USA 3-1, beat Puerto Rico 2-0)

Semifinals: Beat Netherlands 4-1

Finals: Beat Puerto Rico 3-0.

Star power: Robinson Cano, on a fast track to Cooperstown at the time, banged out 15 hits, two homers and a 1.296 OPS. Nelson Cruz and Jose Reyes contributed 10 and 11 hits, respectively while Hanley Ramirez, 29, and Carlos Santana, 27, each hit a pair of homers. Even 39-year-old Miguel Tejada put up a .316/.350/.368 line.

Hard to believe the lone unbeaten champ in WBC history called upon Sam Deduno as its ace, but he gave up one earned run in 13 innings (0.69 ERA) of three starts. Edinson Volquez also started three games but struggled, striking out nine but walking six. That’s OK – the bullpen was heroic. Fernando Rodney – who saved seven of their eight wins – Pedro Strop, Santiago Casilla, Octavio Dotel and Kelvin Herrera gave up zero runs and 11 hits across 28 innings.

Championship: Deduno pitched five shutout innings against a Puerto Rico lineup with 36-year-old DH Carlos Beltran and Yadier Molina in the middle, but precious little else. And, of course, Dotel, Strop and Casilla combined for four innings of one-hit, no-run relief.

Legacy: It’s tough to argue with an unbeaten squad, and the bullpen managed to hold down the fort. But the lack of a true No. 1 – and the tepid opponent they faced in the final – downgrades the Dominicans just a bit here.

3. USA 2017

Record: 6-2, 41-21 run differential

Pool play: 2-1 (Beat Canada 8-0, lost to Dominican Republic 7-5, beat Colombia 3-2)

Second round: 2-1 (Beat Venezuela 4-2, lost to Puerto Rico 6-5, beat Dominican Republic 6-3.

Semifinals: Beat Japan 2-1

Finals: Beat Puerto Rico 8-0

Star power: The home team finally got one, though it was due in large part to high-end grinders rather than superstars. Shortstop Brandon Crawford and Eric Hosmer each had 10 hits and OPSes north of 1.000. Christian Yelich scored a team-high seven runs. And the consensus starting squad had Gold Glovers (Buster Posey, Hosmer, Ian Kinsler, Crawford, Nolan Arenado, Adam Jones, Yelich, Andrew McCutchen) at every position.

Marcus Stroman carried, starting three games, pitching 15 1/3 innings with a 2.35 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. Danny Duffy started and won two games, including the must-win quarterfinal against the Dominicans. Luke Gregerson and Pat Neshek combined for nine innings of scoreless relief.

Championship: Stroman pitched six innings of one-hit ball, while Kinsler – who also homered – Yelich, Arenado, McCutchen and Giancarlo Stanton each had two-hit games. Puerto Rico started Seth Lugo and had a star-studded lineup compared to its 2013 finalists: Francisco Lindor, a young Carlos Correa, Beltran, Molina and Javy Baez.

Legacy: This team remains the only group that beat all the Latin American powers – Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico – as well as Japan to win it all. And this WBC marked a turning point, with Jones’ home run robbery of Manny Machado in the quarterfinals at Petco Park turning it into a can’t-miss event.

2. Japan 2009

Record: 7-2, 50-16 run differential

Pool play: 2-1 (Lost to Korea 1-0, beat Korea 14-2, beat China 4-0)

Second round: 3-1 (Beat Cuba 6-0, lost to Korea 4-1, beat Cuba 5-0, beat Korea 6-2)

Semifinals: Beat Venezuela 10-2

Finals: Beat Korea 5-3

Star power: Perhaps the apex of Japanese talent, both old and new. Suzuki banged out 12 more hits and scored seven runs, and Aoki also had a dozen hits and drove in seven. Catcher Kenji Johjima never found stardom with the Seattle Mariners but had a 10-for-30 WBC with a home run.

Meanwhile, Matsuzaka was back, as he posted a 2.86 ERA and Japan won all three of his starts, but this time he had company. Yu Darvish, the 22-year-old who was still three years away from debuting with the Texas Rangers, struck out 20 in 13 innings with a 1.000 WHIP. And Hisashi Iwakuma, who won 63 games in six seasons with the Mariners, posted a 1.35 ERA in three starts an a relief appearance.

Final vs. Korea: Iwakuma pitched four-hit ball into the eighth and Suzuki had four hits, including a two-out, two-strike two-run single in the top of the 10th inning off Chang Hong Lim, giving the WBC a thrilling finish that wouldn’t be matched for 14 years.

Legacy: Let it be known that the Japanese WBC squads of the aughts struggled mightily with Korea. But they were more or less unbeatable otherwise and this team’s pitching depth separates it from almost all the champions.

1. Japan 2023

Record: 7-0, 56-18 run differential

Pool play: 3-0 (Beat Korea 13-4, beat Czechia 10-2, beat Australia 7-1)

Quarterfinals: Beat Italy 9-3

Semifinals: Beat Mexico 6-5

Finals: Beat USA 3-2

Star power: Might be oversimplifying it to say any team with Shohei Ohtani is a default No. 1. Yet he truly never disappoints. Ohtani led Japan with 10 hits and 10 walks, produced a 1.345 OPS and, on the mound, a 1.86 ERA in winning both his starts and adding his epic relief strikeout of Mike Trout to end the championship. Munetaka Murakami – catch him on Chicago’s South Side this spring – produced an .845 OPS while American-born Lars Nootbaar posted a .424 OBP.

Future Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto had his international coming-out party, striking out 12 in 7 1/3 innings. The youngsters – Shota Imanaga, Rōki Sasaki and Yamamoto – ensured that Darvish, now 36, could get hit a little harder and Japan survived it.

Final vs. USA: Ohtani’s strikeout of Trout was the Polaroid moment; home runs from this year’s spring curiosities – Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto of the Toronto Blue Jays – pushed them toward victory. Kyle Schwarber got Team USA within 3-2 with a solo homer, but that only made Ohtani’s heroics all the more necessary.

Legacy: It’s debatable whether this squad is deeper overall than the 2009 edition; it will take a few seasons to gauge Murakami and Okamoto’s MLB production to further contextualize the talent. But any team with Ohtani already has a massive edge – and he proved it emphatically.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic: Ranking the previous five champions

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Pirates pitchers Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto star in Dominican Republic exhibition

SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - MARCH 03: Dennis Santana #60 of the Dominican Republic pitches during an exhibition game against the Detroit Tigers at Estadio Quisqueya on March 03, 2026 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the middle of Spring Training, but they have a couple of players who are playing in the World Baseball Classic, including two bullpen guys who will be suiting up for the Dominican Republic.    

Right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana and left-handed pitcher Gregory Soto showed up against the Detroit Tigers in an exhibition match at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo on March 3.

Soto entered the game in the third inning where he struggled early. He walked first baseman Spencer Torkelson and allowed a single to Tigers third baseman Colt Kieth.

 After the struggle, the lefty was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run. He got center fielder Max Clark to ground out, then he struck out second baseman Zack McKinstry and designated hitter Thayron Lizano to end the inning. 

Santana then came in the fourth inning where he struck out catcher Jake Rodgers on an 85 mph slider. 

Santana just threw 18 pitches after allowing an unearned run from the bat of Riley Greene. Even though it was a short outing for the righty, he looked solid against a Tigers team that made the playoffs last season. 

Santana and Soto are two of the Pirates best bullpen arms and they are going to be important pieces to one of the better pitching staffs in all of baseball going into the 2026 season.

Santana was picked off of waivers from the Yankees in 2024. He has quickly improved with the team and had a strong year in 2025. He became the full time closer after the Bucs traded David Bender to the Yankees at the trade deadline. 

He finished with a 4-5 record in 70 appearances, a 2.18 ERA over 70.1 innings pitched, 13 holds, 16 saves in 19 opportunities, 60 strikeouts to 17 walks, a .179 opposing batting average and a 0.87 WHIP.

The Pirates signed Soto to a one-year, $7.75 million deal, which was made official on Dec. 15, giving them an important piece of their bullpen. Soto is coming off of a 2025 season where he had a 3.96 ERA over 45 appearances and 36.1 innings pitched with the Baltimore Orioles, before they traded him to the New York Mets at the deadline. 

I am excited to see what Santana and Soto will do for the Pirates this season. Pittsburgh’s starting rotation should be great which will put pressure on the bullpen to do its job as well.  

I will obviously be rooting for team USA and pitcher Paul Skenes during the World baseball classic but I will also keep a close eye and see what two of our top bullpen guys are doing for team Dominican Republic.  

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Is Shohei Ohtani pitching for Japan in World Baseball Classic? What to know

Shohei Ohtani will once again be one of the top players in the World Baseball Classic with Team Japan.

The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar designated hitter/pitcher helped Japan to its first World Baseball Classic title in more than a decade at the 2023 World Baseball Classic when he struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to clinch that victory over Team USA inside LoanDepot Park in Miami.

The Ohtani-Trout matchup remains one of the more cinematic and talked-about moments in baseball history three years later.

REQUIRED READING: Can Shohei Ohtani win Cy Young Award? He expects to be in conversation

But as the 2026 World Baseball Classic begins, that matchup won't be seeing a Round 2 in the international tournament, as Trout was not named to the United States' roster after serving as its captain because of insurance issues.

Ohtani also is not expected to step on the mound for Japan, whose rotation will be headlined by his Dodgers teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, at the World Baseball Classic.

Japan starts its title-defending run on Friday, March 6 against Chinese Taipei bright and early at 5 a.m. ET over in Japan at the Tokyo Dome in Pool C play.

Here's what to know on whether Ohtani is pitching for Japan in the WBC:

Is Shohei Ohtani pitching in World Baseball Classic for Japan?

No, Ohtani will not be pitching for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. He will only hit for the defending WBC champions and will be slotted in at the designated hitter spot.

Why is Shohei Ohtani not pitching in World Baseball Classic for Japan?

Ohtani's decision not pitch in the World Baseball Classic was announced at DodgerFest in January, and appears to be one made by him to manage his workload before opening day with the Dodgers on Thursday, March 26 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

"It’s been a great offseason. Mostly business as usual," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton on Saturday, Jan. 31 according to MLB.com. "I think the good thing is that I wasn’t hurt this year or had any injury. … I’m very healthy. Glad that I am. The only wrinkle is going to be the World Baseball Classic, so I’m wrapping up (the offseason) a little early."

Ohtani's manager, Dave Roberts, mentioned at a Dodgers' offseason fan event that he wasn't surprised by his star player's decision not to pitch in the WBC, and that it was Ohtani's decision to make himself.

"Understanding what he did last year, what he had to go through to then how best to prepare himself for '26 to do both – it just seemed like the right decision," Roberts said on Jan. 31 according to MLB.com. "So, I wasn't surprised – and feel really good with that one."

It also appears that Ohtani's decision not to pitch in the WBC, where he could get injured before opening day, has to do with one of his bigger goals: winning the Cy Young Award with the Dodgers.

"Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season," Ohtani said through Dodgers interpreter Will Ireton on Friday, Feb. 13. "So if that's the end result, that's a good sign for me."

Japan schedule for World Baseball Classic

Here's a full breakdown of Japan's schedule for the World Baseball Classic:

All times Eastern

Pool C Play

  • Game 1: March 6 vs. Chinese Taipei | 5 a.m. | Fox Sports 1 (Fubo)
  • Game 2: March 7 vs. South Korea | 5 a.m. | Fox Sports 1 (Fubo)
  • Game 3: March 8 vs. Australia | 6 a.m. | Fox Sports 1 (Fubo)
  • Game 4: March 10 vs. Czechia | 6 a.m. | Fox Sports 1 (Fubo)

Knockout round

  • Quarterfinals: March 13/14 in Miami
  • Semifinals: March 15/16 in Miami
  • Final: March 17 in Miami

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Shohei Ohtani pitching for Japan in 2026 World Baseball Classic?

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Is Trae Young playing tonight? Wizards star nears debut with new team

The Trae Young experience in Washington, D.C. unofficially began earlier this week, when the 6-foot-2 point guard earned his first ejection from the bench before ever playing a minute for his new team. Now comes his first game for the Washington Wizards.

Young appears ready to make his debut for a new NBA team after the Atlanta Hawks traded him to Washington in January. The 27-year-old has not played in an NBA game in more than two months due to injury, and the Wizards' years-long rebuild and tanking tendencies didn't necessitate a hasty return.

But Young offered recent hints he was closing in on playing again this season and there are indications his first game with the Wizards could be as early as their matchup against the Utah Jazz on Thursday, March 5 in D.C.

Here's a breakdown of Trae Young's injury status and situation heading into Thursday's game between the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz:

NBA ROOKIE RANKINGS: Kon Knueppel now favored over Cooper Flagg

Is Trae Young playing today?

Yes, Young is expected to make his Wizards debut in Thursday's home game against the Utah Jazz. Young was not listed on the Wizards' injury report when it was released on Wednesday and he indicated March 5 as the date of his return in a recent social media post. Wizards coach Brian Keefe told reporters Young would be restricted to 17-20 minutes, mostly in the first half.

Trae Young injury update

Young's debut with the Wizards would be his first NBA game since Dec. 27. He has been out with knee and quad injuries initially suffered with the Hawks.

Young was listed on the team's official injury report as dealing with an MCL sprain and thigh bruise. The Wizards announced last month that Young had started to ramp up basketball activities coming out of the NBA All-Star break.

Trae Young stats

Young, in his eighth NBA season, is averaging 19.3 points and 8.9 assists in 10 games with the Hawks. He is shooting 41.5% from the field and 30.5% from 3-point range during the 2025-26 campaign.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trae Young injury update: Wizards star set to make debut with new team

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Will George Lombard Jr. play a role for the Yankees in 2026?

Mar 4, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

There’s nothing like the early days of spring to get the imagination going. Pitchers show up with new pitches, hitters show up with improved swings and approaches, everyone is in the best shape of their lives, and hope springs, well, eternal.

Among those bright spring training traditions is letting one’s optimism run wild when it comes to prospects. Prospects are unproven, untested, but that they’re untested means we haven’t yet seen them fail, making it that much easier to dream. George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ consensus top prospect, certainly gave us a reason to dream yesterday:

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That’s a 20-year-old shortstop, facing perhaps the second- or third-best pitcher on the planet, taking a 97-mph fastball in a 1-2 count way out to left field. Lord knows we can’t jump to conclusions based on spring training, much less one swing in spring training, but if there was ever a swing to get excited about, it’s that one.

We won’t know what Lombard will ultimately become for many years, but after seeing him do that against Garrett Crochet, it’s not hard to ask: will he play a major role for the Yankees this year? The smart money probably says no. He’s still only 20, and he’s coming off a minor-league season that was fine more than anything, posting a .748 OPS across two levels, albeit while flashing big tools and playing largely against players much older than him. The Yankees also have José  Caballero, Ryan McMahon, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. lined up to start on the infield dirt, with Anthony Volpe likely to reclaim a starting job once he’s healthy.

Yet is it crazy to wonder if there’s any way Lombard could force himself into the conversation? Caballero and McMahon both project as average-ish players. If one of them played slightly below that standard, and Lombard was tearing up the high minors in the first half of the season, could he enter the picture? And then there’s the matter of Volpe, who was basically the worst regular starter in baseball for a good chunk of 2025. Better health could and should help him regress in a positive manner this year, but we’ve all grown weary of Volpe struggling for infuriatingly long periods. If he does it again, will the Yankees resist in challenging their top prospect, much as they did with Volpe himself three years ago?

Most 20-year-old prospects don’t end up playing a prominent roles for their big-league clubs. But we’re at spring training, and it’s time to dream big. Do you think Lombard will make an impact as soon as this year?

It’ll be another loaded day on the site today, starting off with Kevin’s recap of the official opener of the WBC, which took place late last night between Chinese Taipei and Australia. Josh will also finish off our preview coverage of the WBC with an overview of Pool D, while Jeff will continue our general 2026 MLB Preview with a look at the St. Louis Cardinals. Also, Michael brings us our latest player preview by analyzing Giancarlo Stanton, and Peter profiles Doug Bird as part of our Yankee Birthday series.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins

Time: 1:05 p.m. EST

Video: YES, Gotham Sports App, Twins.tv

Venue: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL

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Pens Points: Sabre Rattling

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 05: Alex Lyon #34 of the Buffalo Sabres makes the save against Rutger McGroarty #2 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period of an NHL game on February 05, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ben Ludeman/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Coming off their first regulation loss of the post-Olympic schedule, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be looking for another bounce back performance this evening when the Buffalo Sabres pay a visit to PPG Paints Arena. Rewinding back to October, no one could have foreseen that a Penguins v. Sabres matchup in early March having massive playoff implications, but that will be the case when the two sides meet tonight. The contest will also serve as the final game for both sides before Friday’s trade deadline, where both the Penguins and Sabres are expected to be active.

Puck drop tonight is scheduled for 7:00 PM and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

Pens Points…

It’s no secret that the Penguins consider Sergei Murashov as their future in goal, and he showed why over the weekend with a “Save of the Year” candidate while playing with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the AHL. [Pensburgh]

We are just over 24 hours out from the NHL trade deadline and the Penguins are in position to be buyers, something no one thought possible all the way back when the season started. There are obvious areas of need and there are plenty of options on the market to address those needs come Friday. [The Athletic $$]

Rickard Rakell is a winger by trade, but an injury to Sidney Crosby and forced him to move to center for the time being. Results thus far have been a mixed bag, but his struggles in the faceoff dot have been particularly glaring but that should be expected given his unfamiliarity with the practice. [Trib Live]

NHL News and Notes…

Speaking of the Buffalo Sabres, they didn’t wait for deadline day to start making moves, acquiring defenseman Colton Parayko from the St. Louis Blues for prospect Radim Mrtka and a first round pick. Step one of a playoff chase and a rebuild is complete for the Sabres and Blues respectively. [ESPN]

Six weeks after being acquired by the San Jose Sharks, Kiefer Sherwood has decided to extend his stay in Northern California by agreeing to a five year contract extension that will begin next season and carry an AAV of $5.75 million against the salary cap. [NHL]

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Emma Raducanu hopes to rediscover ‘natural’ style that has been ‘coached out of me’

  • British No 1 being aided by Mark Petchey at Indian Wells

  • ‘I am definitely going to tap into a few people’

Emma Raducanu says she is determined to wrest back control of her “natural” tennis style, with the British No 1 eager not to be bound by the diktats of a single coach.

“I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that’s something that has been coached out of me a little bit,” Raducanu told BBC Sport. “I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn’t necessarily fit. I don’t necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised – even if it’s a trial.

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‘I’ll never be that kind of manager’: Brighton’s Hürzeler hits out at Arteta and Arsenal – video

The Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler, accused Arsenal of playing by their own rules in a void left by weak Premier League refereeing after the Gunners' 1-0 win at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday.

Bukayo Saka’s early goal moved Arsenal seven points clear at the top of the table, with Manchester City drawing 2-2 at home against Nottingham Forest.

'I think there was only one team who tried to play football today,' said Hürzeler. 'If they win the Premier League, no one will ask how ... [But] I will never be that kind of manager who tries to win in that way.

'Of course, every team will manage and waste time but there has to be a limit, and the limit has to be set by the Premier League.'

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War-hit Qatar still plans to host Argentina-Spain game with Messi and Yamal for UEFA

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — UEFA still plans for Qatar to stage the Argentina vs. Spain game known as Finalissima this month even as the emirate is targeted by Iranian missiles in the widening Middle East war started by Israel and the United States.

“At present, there are no alternative venues being considered,” UEFA said on Thursday about the scheduled March 27 game in Doha between the reigning champions of South America and Europe in a likely matchup of Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal.

“A final decision is anticipated towards the end of next week,” said the European soccer body which organizes the game with South American counterpart CONMEBOL.

Argentina and Spain are due to play at Lusail Stadium that staged the epic 2022 World Cup final. Argentina won a penalty shootout against France after Messi scored twice and Kylian Mbappé got a hat track in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Qatar has close relations with UEFA. Its top soccer official Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, the president of Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain, is a member of the UEFA executive committee.

“Discussions are ongoing with the local organizers who have made a huge effort to make the match a success,” UEFA said.

If Doha is too much of a security risk to host the game, it could be moved to Spain or elsewhere in Europe where nearly all the players in the two squads are based.

The first Finalissima was at Wembley Stadium in London in June 2022. Argentina and Messi beat Italy 3-0.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer