CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 08: Gabe McGlothan #41 of the Boston Celtics guards Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter of the preseason game at Rocket Arena on October 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Celtics defeated the Cavaliers 124-113. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavaliers fans and fans across the country.
The Cleveland Cavaliers had a busy offseason. To simplify things, they exchanged Max Strus, Dean Wade, Dennis Schroder, and Keon Ellis for Peyton Watson, Mario Hezonja, and Meleek Thomas.
Watson, Hezonja, and Thomas enter the year with very different expectations, and have each shown something different during these exhibition games.
Watson has the potential to be a breakout player. The 24-year-old, 6’8” wing has shown flashes of being a two-way impact player during the first four years of his career with the Denver Nuggets. The Cavs are giving him more opportunities to help him develop. And they gave him a four-year, $88 million deal, believing that he will be a consistent, high-level two-way player.
Hezonja isn’t joining the Cavs with those expectations. Cleveland is hoping that the once top-five pick can be a versatile, do-everything backup four that is on a veteran minimum deal. Not nearly as much is invested in this low-risk, high-reward gamble.
The Cavs are high on Thomas. The 20-year-old second-round pick has shown glimpses of being an efficient, score-first guard during Summer League and at times in the preseason. Thomas probably won’t be a high-impact player right away. It’s rare that a rookie taken in the second round makes a meaningful contribution on a contending team, but maybe Thomas can be the exception.
So, which one of these three players has impressed you the most in preseason based on your expectations coming into this preseason?
Oct 12, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) runs the bases against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning in game one of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Pablo Robles-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
While the NLCS is on hiatus Tuesday as the Dodgers and Brewers travel to Los Angeles with Milwaukee ahead 2-0, there will still be baseball on our televisions Tuesday evening.
The Cleveland Guardians and Tampa Bay Rays play Game 2 of their ALCS at 8 p.m. (TBS, truTV and streaming on HBO Max) with the Guardians ahead 1-0 after rallying for a 7-3 win Monday night.
Tampa Bay, looking to avoid dropping both games at home to begin the series, sends Freddy Peralta (0-0, 1.93 ERA) to the mound after acquiring him from the Mets ahead of the trade deadline. Cleveland has Parker Messick (0-1, 5.40 ERA) making his third start of the postseason.
The Guardians have won four straight playoff games since losing their first two, while Tampa Bay saw its postseason-opening three-game win streak snapped in Game 1.
For those who are still invested even with the Braves eliminated, share your thoughts below when things get underway tonight in St. Petersburg, Fla.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 12: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during Game One of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 12: A detail shot of an ALCS base during Game One of the American League Championship Series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on Monday, October 12, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers move to the City of Angels for Game 3 of the NLCS, tonight, attention focuses on the American League Championship Series as the Cleveland Guardians play their second game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
DALLAS, TX - APRIL 04: Dallas Stars center Justin Hryckowian (49) and Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) wait for the puck to drop during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche on April 4, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It’s Frozen Frenzy day, with all 32 NHL teams playing in 16 games starting at 4 p.m. MT, and the Avalanche will meet the Dallas Stars in Texas for the first of a home-and-home series at 6:30 p.m. MT!
The Stars are fresh off a 2-1 SO loss in Pittsburgh, and the Avalanche arrive in Dallas on the heels of their worst loss of the short season against Toronto on home ice. Which Central Division powerhouse will prevail in ‘Big D’?
Colorado Avalanche: 3-2-0
The Opponent: Dallas Stars (2-2-1)
Time: 6:30 p.m. MT
Watch: ESPN, ESPN+
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are likely pining to hit the ice again after their performance against the Maple Leafs this past Saturday. The days since have been filled with talk of potential goalie concerns, defensive lapses, and, of course, more on Avalanche power-play production.
I find myself dancing between seeing genuinely concerning things and knowing it’s far too early in the season to draw many conclusions about this Colorado club. Many of my fears about this team have surfaced in their two losses, but even more about why they should be a legitimate threat to win it all bubble up in their victories.
I’d love to see the Avalanche win a defensively structured, playoff-like game in this home-and-home against Dallas, as I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect at least a split series. That said, they are far more likely to secure the sweep if they tighten up their defense and stop playing like a team still in summer shinny mode. Colorado needs to raise their grown-up game against their fiercest rival.
Speaking of raising the level, Mackenzie Blackwood will get the net tonight, so he’ll have a chance to sway some detractors and show resolve after a tough 17-save, 23-shot evening in his last start. If that doesn’t happen, former Star Scott Wedgewood will get a crack at planting the seeds of a goalie controversy tomorrow night.
The Stars have gotten off to a slower start than I think most fans and pundits expected, but it’s not because of a lack of production from former Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen, who has 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists). Scoring, however, has been the issue for the group as a whole. Dallas has scored 1 or fewer goals in each of its three defeats, including a shutout by the St. Louis Blues in their home opener.
Goaltender Jake Oettinger has looked excellent in his four starts, posting a 0.74 goals-against average and a .963 shot percentage, with two shutouts already on the books. Historically, Oettinger has been just okay against the Colorado Avalanche in the regular season, with a career regular-season 7-3-3 record, a .911 sv%, and a 3.05 GAA. Colorado’s 40 regular-season goals against Oettinger are the most he’s allowed to any one team in his career.
Dallas Stars netminder Jake Oettinger has let in more regular-season goals (40) when facing the Avalanche than he has against any other team in the NHL.#GoAvsGo | @MileHighHockey
NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action and engage with Mile High Hockey’s match threads. The Game Chat feature makes it easier than ever to comment and interact with your communities. The app is currently available in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android devices.
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12: Tre Johnson #12 of the Washington Wizards drives to the basket against Nolan Traore #10 of the Brooklyn Nets during the first half of a preseason game at Capital One Arena on October 12, 2026 in Washington, DC. 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 Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
For the second straight year, Nolan Traore will be the youngest player on the youngest team in the NBA, a 20-year-old on a team whose average age is, again, a little more than 24. At 20 years and five months old, he is six weeks younger than Mikel Brown, the Nets No. 6 pick in the 2026 Draft. (Brown is also three weeks older than Ben Saraf.)
But in the NBA, youth only gets you so far and now in his second year, Traore is starting to show he belongs. It’s early and there’s only a small sample to work from, but as C.J. Holmes points out in the Daily News Tuesday, the 6’4” point guard with a shooter’s touch has growing confidence.
Traoré’s scoring has climbed with each appearance. He had 10 points against the Charlotte Hornets, 12 against Philadelphia 76ers and 17 Monday. Through three games, he’s averaging 13 points while shooting 65% overall and 57.1% from 3-point range. The percentages come from a small sample, but the confidence behind the attempts is clear.
A far cry from this time last year when there were doubts about about the No. 19 pick even inside the executive offices at 168 39th Street in Sunset Park. Like the top four picks in Nets historic draft, at least by numbers, he was considered somewhat of a reach. ESPN’s final mock draft had him going at No. 22. Never mind that he had once been seen as at top 5 prospect in the generational draft or the general assessment that he was the quickest guard in the Draft.
While fans wanted a finished product, others inside the front office understood that it was going to take time. He was new not just to the NBA, but the USA. He needed time to develop physically as well as mentally. And at the end of last season, after a 13-game stint with Long Island, he was putting up numbers, even if inconsistently. In the last six weeks in Brooklyn, he put up 13 points a game along with four assists and it seems he was more under control. But he had a lot to work on. As Brian Lewis reported, of every player who attempted at least 100 layups, his 44.4% was dead last.
Then over the summer, after arthroscopic surgery on his knee, he grew, like physically grew. He picked up an inch in height and about 12 pounds of what sure looks like muscle. He spoke about his transformation at Media Day.
“Definitely the more I play, the more confident I’ve gotten,” Traore told The Post. “I get a little better every game. I just feel great, and I hope it’s going to keep going.”
“My knee is completely fine now, so there’s no concern,” Traore, 20, said. “For me, [the offseason] was more the physical aspect. Obviously the shooting, too. I worked a lot on it and I feel good now. Changed a few things, too.
“Offseason was a lot of [time in the] gym. That was the main thing. Focusing on just getting better as a player, watching clips from the playoffs or watching reads. Working on my shot, too.”
His teammates and his coach noticed.
“I like his aggressiveness shooting the 3, and his shot looks very confident. Credit to the work he’s put in the whole summer. And just want to challenge him to improve defensively. There’s just a couple of hiccups that he could’ve been better; but I know he is tough and he’s up for the challenge.” head coach Jordi Fernández said postgame.
Traore also said the Nets more open offense this year is a big help to his individual game.
“It’s helped me a lot,” Traore told Lewis. “I think I’m better when the defense is not set because I can take gaps quickly and make plays off of that. So the more we play fast, the better I’m going to be.”
And the better Traore is, the better off Brooklyn will be.
Things will change, of course, Thursday night in Miami, the team’s final preseason game. Mikel Brown Jr. will finally make his NBA debut and there will be more competition for minutes among him, Brown Jr., Demin and Keon Ellis who Fernandez has started, liking his point-of-attack defense and 3-point shooting. Traore knows he will have fight for minutes and a role.
As Holmes wrote.
The opening-night depth chart remains unsettled, and Brown’s return will make the competition more complicated. Traoré has made an encouraging start. His best argument is to keep producing whenever Fernández gives him the ball.
“It was more focused on just having the same form every time, basic stuff,” Traoré said.
Pack your patience, Dub Nation. Eight days before the 2026-27 NBA regular-season opener, it is abundantly clear there will be moments of frustration as the Warriors apply the revamped offense coach Steve Kerr is trying to install.
One such moment came Tuesday night in a 101-89 preseason win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Barely two minutes into the game, Kerr was hopping off the bench signaling for a timeout, displeased with seeing a flaw reappear after being directly addressed one day earlier: Turnovers that give easy points to opponents.
“We have, I think, 90 (actually 84) turnovers through four games,” Kerr told reporters Monday after practice. “I haven’t harped on them until now because I know we’re really teaching a lot of things that are new for our guys. But now is the time. We only have two exhibition games left. We start the season a week from (Wednesday), so much of the film session was about our decision-making and showing poor decisions from the other night. Time and score, risk/reward type stuff.
“I give our guys a lot of credit; they really took the film session to heart. In the scrimmage part of our practice today, they did a great job.”
Or so Kerr thought – until the third minute of the game.
When Kerr signaled for timeout with 9:27 remaining in the first quarter, it was three seconds after Brandin Podziemski flipped an errant hook pass that was stolen, launching Los Angeles toward an easy transition bucket.
Golden State’s immediate response was an 8-0 run for its first lead of the game (12-11). Problem solved? Well, no. The Warriors in the second quarter committed nine giveaways, giving the giddy Lakers 12 points that fed their 63-50 halftime lead.
“Just mindless turnovers that completely allowed the game to get away from us,” Kerr told reporters at T-Mobile Center in Las Vegas. “The first quarter, you could see we’re still need a lot of work on everything that we’re talking about. Winning the game in the margins.”
Not until the second half, mostly against LA’s second and third wave of reserves, did Kerr’s message seem to be absorbed. While the Warriors were cleaner and more careful, the Lakers submitted a woefully pathetic performance, with almost twice as many turnovers (18) as field goals (10) over the final 24 minutes.
“Much better second half, overall, the energy and effort,” Kerr said. “But we’ve got to execute better. We have to finish in transition, make the easy plays and we’re not close yet.”
The second-half recovery – nine turnovers, giving LA the Lakers only four points – was enough to secure Golden State’s third victory in its first five preseason games. The finale comes Friday night at Chase Center against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Kerr and his staff, as well as every member of the roster, understand that what matters most in the preseason is not the score, but process and execution.
“We’re not anywhere close to where we want to be,” Kerr said. “But we are working on the right things, we have a clear vision, the players are great guys, they’re committed, they want to do well. But our execution is just scattered at this point. You just got to keep working. It’s not going to happen overnight.”
Coming off this game, the Warriors have more to critique than celebrate. More areas of concern than confidence.
Consider that on a night when advanced vets Draymond Green and Al Horford were allowed to rest, solid point-of-attack defense and rim protection were MIA. Luka Dončić didn’t play, so Austin Reaves consistently got to the cup, torching a procession of defenders.
Consider that Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State’s Great Rookie Hope, rolled his left ankle in the third quarter. He left briefly, got checked out and later returned. This is, at the very least, worth watching.
We’re almost there, y’all. A mere two preseason games stand between us and the start of the NBA regular season. There have been some great storylines thus far that have made all of these preseason games worth watching, and our Minnesota Timberwolves are getting their identities and rotations firmly established as the team looks to start the year strong.
On deck this Wednesday we have the Detroit Pistons, who are due to give their starting players some burn as the team has only played in two other preseason games so far. Regular Detroit starters Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren did not play in their last game against the Washington Wizards, so it would seem likely that the Pistons would like to get their usual starting five a bit of run before the regular season starts.
Whether or not Wolves head coach Chris Finch will continue to trot his preferred starting lineups out there for extended stretches of time remains to be seen. Regardless, there are plenty of things to both build off of and tweak coming off of a fairly complete victory over the reigning champion New York Knicks.
Lamelo Ball’s effect is real. The open looks just keep coming.
The Timberwolves were shooting lights-out from deep against the Knicks, amassing 18 made 3-point shots at a 53% clip. Jaden McDaniels was four for five, Anthony Edwards was five for eight, and Ayo Dosunmu shot three for four from long range. While it may be a bit unrealistic to expect the team to shoot over 50% from perimeter most nights, that volume will need to be maintained in order to beat top teams like the Pistons.
Despite their embarrassing early playoff exit a season ago, this Detroit team returns with high expectations and will again be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. Their identity will be predicated on the infectious defensive presence of Ausar Thompson, highlighting capable 3-point specialists in Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, and new addition Isaiah Joe, while their talisman in Cade Cunningham contributes positively in every aspect of the game. Tough matchups are abound here, and continuing to make the deep shots at a high clip will be able to stretch the defensive congestion that the Pistons will feature.
Not only do the Timberwolves starters need to continue to excel in this area, but the bench players will also need to do their part in creating diverse offensive looks for Detroit to deal with. A return of Terrence Shannon Jr. and Jonathan Kuminga could force the Pistons to defend the paint a bit more honestly than was the case against the Knicks on Monday night. This should create opportunities for reserves like Trey Lyles, Isaiah Evans, Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland, and Cody Williams to let it fly from beyond the arc.
Mitigate Turnovers & Fouls
Despite playing limited minutes, the Timberwolves starters had a propensity for turning the ball over at a high rate and committing fouls against the Knicks. Joan Beringer’s three fouls in 14 minutes of play were not exactly encouraging, and Jaden McDaniels’ four fouls and four turnovers in 24 minutes would have been a bigger topic of conversation had he not scored 22 silky-smooth points. LaMelo Ball had seven assists, but that also came with five turnovers of his own.
These are areas that will need to get cleaned up against top-flight teams like Detroit. Without the aforementioned blistering three-point percentage keeping New York chasing the game, it would have turned into a dogfight.
The Pistons are a pesky team. They will pressure, and they will get their steals. They have plenty of dudes that can draw pressure and fouls, especially with new frontcourt addition John Collins. Minnesota will have to play tough and intelligent basketball to win a matchup against this smartly retooled Detroit team.
Ball cannot afford to be lackadaisical with his handles. The silly fouls will need to stop to both keep players in the game and maintain possession of the ball. Failure to do so will allow the Pistons to go on runs and capture the momentum of the game.
All Eyes on Cody Williams
While his surprise inclusion in the starting lineup would never have happened if Kuminga or Shannon Jr. played against the Knicks, it spoke volumes of Finch’s confidence in Cody Williams that he got the nod for this game.
It was a modest outing, but that is enough to consider what Williams’ role may be when the regular season gets in full swing. Williams only had six points, one rebound, and one block in 15 minutes of play, though he was two for two from deep (two for three overall) and finished the game at a +4 in box plus-minus. Not too shabby for a guy that few expect to earn any meaningful minutes this season.
His decision making and confidence seem to be improving in every matchup. Williams still has all the physical tools to be a plus defender, and he has been making strides in his limited minutes. It is becoming less outlandish to wonder whether or not there may be an end-of-bench role for him this season afterall, despite many projecting him to be a deep stash that will see spot minutes in the event of injury.
While Williams’ Utah Jazz game film often leaves much to be desired, the opportunity to develop good habits in a positive winning environment could be what he needs to right the ship. I’ll stop short of calling him the next Nickeil Alexander-Walker, though there is a reason that Tim Connelly kept Williams over John Konchar in the salary-dump trade of Josh Green.
Expect his preseason minutes to grow in these last few games, and don’t be surprised if we see more of him in the regular season than initially anticipated.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 11: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Jevon Carter #2 of the Orlando Magic dive for a loose ball during the first quarter of a preseason game at Rocket Arena on October 11, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers wrap up their exhibition slate with a rematch against the Orlando Magic. The Cavs won the first meeting on Thursday 119-105.
Share your thoughts as the game unfolds. If you aren’t a member of the community, sign up so you can talk to your fellow Cavalier fans and make your voice heard!
Sediqullah Atal’s marathon century and some inspired lower-order resistance – as well as a familiar controversy – inspired Afghanistan to a dramatic draw in the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
These are the colors (but not tonight). | NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders host the Vancouver Canucks in their best chance of the season to get back to .500, briefly.
Ilya Sorokin is set to get the start against a team that is struggling.
#Isles facing a #Canucks squad that has lost four straight, is 0-3-0 on a six-game road trip, having been outscored 17-5 in the three games, and is last in NHL on PK at 52.0 percent (13/25) Canucks have been outscored 12-4 in first period, 15-7 in second period.
It will be another Meeting of the Schenns, brothers who’ve combined to play over 2,200 NHL regular season games and each get their name on the Stanley Cup.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 10: Jordan Clarkson #00 and Landry Shamet #44 of the New York Knicks defend the basket from Jonathan Mogbo #2 of the Toronto Raptors during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on April 10, 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 Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 0-3 Knicks visit the 1-1 Toronto Raptors tonight at Scotiabank Arena for the fourth of five preseason contests. Karl-Anthony Towns, Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are all supposed to sit for rest after playing in last night’s loss to the T’Wolves. Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard is penciled in for his first preseason appearance with the Dinos since their 2019 title run.
Tip off is 7:00 p.m. EST on MSG. This is your game thread. This is RaptorsHQ. Please don’t post large photos, GIFs, or links to illegal streams in the thread. Extend kindness to your fellow humans. And go Knicks!
The Flyers showed some fight Tuesday night by erasing a 2-0 deficit in the third period.
But it wasn’t enough for their first win. The club lost to the Kraken, 3-2, in a shootout at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Flyers’ dreadful losing streak hit eight games two nights after the team set the franchise record for the longest skid to start a season.
Christian Dvorak and Trevor Zegras tied things up for the Flyers in the final stanza.
“Honestly throughout the whole game I thought we had better energy,” Travis Sanheim said. “It just seemed like we had some more jump playing more of the style that we need to play to win in this league. It was nice to get rewarded in the third. It would have been nice to finish it off in the shootout.”
Seattle won it thanks to Bobby McMann and Matty Beniers delivering in the five-round shootout. Matvei Michkov was the Flyers’ lone scorer in the skills competition.
In overtime, the Flyers had to kill off a penalty for too many men on the ice.
Rick Tocchet’s club is now 0-5-3 and has been outscored 30-10 (excluding the shootout goal). Last season, Tocchet’s first as the team’s head coach, the Flyers were 4-3-1 through eight games and had scored 22 goals.
“This is something to build on,” Tocchet said of his team’s effort in the shootout loss. “I know it’s the moral victory thing, but it is, it’s something to build on.”
The Flyers see the Kraken (5-2-0) again Dec. 29 in Seattle.
• Dan Vladar was fantastic, turning away 29 of 31 shots. He deserved a win.
He stopped three of the Kraken’s five shootout attempts.
The 29-year-old made a huge save just nine seconds after Zegras tied the game. He also tallied an assist on Dvorak’s goal.
Vladar denied Jordan Eberle on a penalty shot 6:23 minutes into the second period. It was an excellent stop with his right leg pad to keep the Flyers’ deficit at 1-0.
“He has been solid every time he starts,” Tocchet said. “There were a couple of bouncy goals this year that he’s really upset about, but we’re not blaming the goalies. They’ve been terrific for us this year.”
Philipp Grubauer stopped 24 of the Flyers’ 26 shots.
Zegras had a couple of heated confrontations with the Seattle netminder.
With six minutes left in the second period, Zegras was whistled for slashing as the Flyers’ forward tried to dislodge a puck from under Grubauer. The goaltender then went after Zegras, who was being held by some of the Kraken’s skaters.
After Zegras exited the penalty box, he put a shot on Grubauer, who snagged it with his glove. Once the play was whistled dead, Grubauer rolled the puck to Zegras, who then flipped it back at the goalie. As they came together, Grubauer gave Zegras a two-arm shove.
“When stuff happens like that on the ice, maybe the fans get into it a little bit more and the guys respond from that,” Zegras said. “I think maybe we just need a little bit more of that in our DNA going forward.”
Both players were hit with penalties — Zegras for unsportsmanlike conduct and Grubauer for roughing.
But Zegras got some payback in the third period. With the action at 4-on-4, he scored off a great play by Sanheim.
Grubauer, though, finished with the win. Zegras, Tyson Foerster, Porter Martone and Denver Barkey couldn’t score on him in the shootout.
“I like the way we played tonight, we played hard,” Zegras said. “We got pucks to the net, bodies to the net. It’s just unfortunate that we couldn’t get it done in the shootout.”
• Jack Studnicka, a forward who was called up Monday, didn’t have a good start to his Flyers debut.
The 27-year-old committed a first-period tripping penalty that led to McMann’s game-opening power play goal 7:57 minutes into the action. The Flyers had a solid start, but the penalty ultimately put them in an early hole. And with that came the pressure because confidence has been hard to come by for the Flyers.
The Flyers had their own power play opportunity later in the period. They didn’t record a shot and the fans let them know.
In the second period, Ville Ottavainen cushioned Seattle’s lead to 2-0.
• Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York skated Tuesday morning under the watch of assistant coach Todd Reirden.
As Ristolainen performed his conditioning work at the end, the defenseman was without a stick. He has missed the last five games after taking a shot to his left hand.
York, recovering from an upper-body injury, missed his third straight game and has been considered day to day.
Rasmus Ristolainen and Cam York going through skate with assistant coach Todd Reirden.
Ristolainen has missed last four games after taking shot to left hand. Didn’t see him have stick here.
Travis Konecny also missed his third straight game. The alternate captain has a lower-body injury after taking a check to his right leg last Thursday night.
Konecny is eligible to come off injured reserve Saturday, but we’ll see if he’s actually cleared to return then.
• The Flyers practice Wednesday before flying to Detroit for a matchup Thursday with the Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN+, Hulu).
Kevin Lankinen's start to the 2026-27 season has given the
Vancouver Canucks some reasons for concern. Losing games was always going to be
part of the rebuild. Too often, Vancouver is buried early and spends the night
chasing.
The early scoring outbursts were fun, but Vancouver doesn't have the offensive firepower to trade goals with opponents every night. They need tighter defence, cleaner exits and harder forechecking. That's where Lankinen needs to help. There are going to be
defensive breakdowns with this group, but a few timely saves can keep the
Canucks from spending the rest of the night chasing the game.
The numbers haven't been pretty. Six appearances, 29 goals
against. A 6.88 goals-against average and .786 save percentage tell the story.
Dan Brousseau of Ocelot Analytics measured him at minus-10.7 goals saved above
expected. That was the lowest mark through six appearances in Brousseau's
sample of 479 goalie seasons since 2020-21.
The Road-Warrior Record Feels Distant
It wasn't always like this for Lankinen. Back in 2024-25, he
broke a road record when he went 10-0 in his first 10 road games. He ended up
playing 51 games that season and finished with a .902 save percentage. That
figure dropped to .875 last year. This October, he allowed eight against the Edmonton Oilers and six each against the Carolina Hurricanes and the New York Rangers.
The Edmonton game showed why the discussion can't end with
his save percentage. Lankinen was pulled after eight goals on 20 shots, yet
Manny Malhotra pointed to the breakaways and dangerous chances the Canucks had
surrendered. The defence was poor. Lankinen still needed to stop more.
The Defence Has Its Own Problems
There are three defencemen under 23 in the picture: Zeev
Buium, Tom Willander and Elias Pettersson. Pettersson has had encouraging
moments, but the group is still learning. The veterans haven't provided much
relief. Luke Schenn was a healthy scratch against Carolina, Jamie Oleksiak sat
against the Rangers, and Filip Hronek has been below his usual standard.
The recent four-game losing streak was ugly: 20 goals
against and only seven for Vancouver. Scoring chances favoured the opposition
109-63, including a 45-27 margin on high-danger looks. The penalty kill hasn't
offered much help, either, sitting last in the NHL at roughly 52 percent after
conceding 12 goals. A goalie is supposed to be his team's best penalty killer,
but there are four skaters who have to win battles and take away passing lanes
first. Neither part has worked well enough.
Paul Cotter and Max Sasson have shown how a hard forecheck
can turn a loose puck into offence. Vancouver needs more of that pace across
its lineup. Without it, the Canucks get stuck defending, and the deficits pile
up. They were down 3-0 inside 10 minutes against Carolina. There aren't many
ways for this roster to recover from that kind of start.
A Bigger Job Than Planned
The Canucks committed five years and $22.5 million to
Lankinen with Thatcher Demko still expected to be their No. 1. With Demko
injured, Lankinen is once again carrying a bigger load. But 51 appearances
didn't stop him from playing well in 2024-25, so the workload only explains so
much.
Meriläinen's Strong Start
Leevi Meriläinen has given Vancouver another reference
point. His first four appearances produced a .929 save percentage. He's stopped 68 of 69 shots at 5-on-5, good for .986 in that
situation. Against Calgary, he turned aside 23 of 24 shots in a 4-1 win.
Malhotra has liked how composed Meriläinen looks, especially
when the Canucks need a stop. Four appearances aren't enough to declare him the
better option, and the two goalies haven't faced identical workloads or
opponents. Still, when another goaltender can keep Vancouver competitive behind
much of the same defence, it's difficult to blame all of Lankinen's struggles
on the players in front of him.
The Verdict
The Canucks can accept losses during a rebuild, but not this many goals
against. Repeated blowouts can hurt a young team's confidence. Lankinen can't
fix the breakouts or penalty kill alone, but he needs to start making more of
the saves that kept Vancouver competitive when Demko was out two seasons ago.
This can't continue much longer. If things don't improve, Meriläinen could soon
get the green light for a string of starts.
Oct 4, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen (32) makes a save against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (1) drives down the court against Los Angeles Lakers guard Adou Thiero (1) in the first half in a pre-season game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The Warriors defeated the Lakers 124 - 98. (Photo by Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
The Golden State Warriors will play their fifth game of the preseason with Tuesday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in Las Vegas and can be watched on NBA TV.
The Warriors improved to 2-2 this preseason with a 111-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night. Stephen Curry remained on a 14-minute restriction but made the most of his limited playing time, finishing with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field, including two three-pointers. The rest of Golden State’s starting lineup played more than 20 minutes, highlighted by another impressive performance from rookie Yaxel Lendeborg. The 11th overall pick continued to show that his success at the collegiate level can translate to the NBA, stuffing the stat sheet with 23 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal. Lendeborg’s combination of size, activity, and versatility has been on full display throughout the preseason, particularly on the glass, where he once again led the Warriors in rebounding.
Yaxel Lendeborg stuffed the stat sheet in a win over the Kings 📊
As the Warriors prepare for Tuesday night’s matchup against the Lakers, their starting lineup is beginning to take shape. After opening the preseason with a more traditional lineup featuring Al Horford at center, Golden State has since utilized a “small” unit featuring Draymond Green at the five, Lendeborg and Gui Santos in the frontcourt, and Curry and Brandin Podziemski in the backcourt.
In years past, moving Green to center typically meant sacrificing size in favor of additional shooting, playmaking and versatility. However, this latest iteration of the Warriors’ small-ball lineup offers a different dynamic. With Lendeborg and Santos alongside Green, Golden State can be aggressive on the glass without sacrificing the positional size and offensive versatility that have long defined its success around Curry. With the regular season approaching, Tuesday’s matchup should provide another opportunity for this group to build chemistry and establish itself as a potential starting unit.
Steve Kerr says Kristaps Porzingis will be at Chase Center tomorrow to meet with the medical staff. No other updates yet @NBCSWarriors
For now, Steve Kerr is leaning towards a starting five of Curry, Podziemski, Santos, Lendeborg and Green on opening night pic.twitter.com/CpLereH8BL
