After the Warriors’ 114–83 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at Chase Center, Butler shared that he planned to have Kuminga over to talk, offering support as the young forward works through a quieter stretch on offense.
“He’s actually [going] to come over to my house for dinner right now, but the thing that I’ll tell you and I’ll tell him … You’re not going to play great every night, you’re not going to play bad every night either,” Butler told reporters postgame. “But you don’t ever get too high whenever you score 79 points and you don’t ever get too low when you score two. You stay right in the middle and you keep working and you keep doing what you’re supposed to be doing every single day, and those days, they will even out.”
Kuminga finished with five points in 20 minutes, going 0-for-5 from 3-point range but adding eight rebounds and two assists.
Butler emphasized that scoring isn’t the full measure of Kuminga’s impact.
“I wouldn’t say that he’s played bad,” Butler explained. “He’s playing well enough on the defensive side, he’s rebounding the basketball — it’s more than just scoring, which is what I try to tell him.”
Kuminga opened the season strong, scoring in double figures in his first four games. But in Golden State’s 129-104 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Friday, he finished with just six points, part of a quieter stretch as his usage has dipped and the rhythm of the offense has shifted.
Butler also pushed back on the notion that Kuminga has looked tentative in recent games.
“I like all the threes that he takes … It’s a make-or-miss league — if he’s making them, we don’t have this conversation.” Butler noted. “I just want him to keep that confidence high knowing that he belongs in this league, knowing that he’s a starter on this team and it’s all going to turn around.”
Butler finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the win, while Golden State improved to a 6-5 record. As far as he is concerned, Kuminga’s production will come — the confidence and approach are what matter now.
The NBA is a results-based business. That applies on the court, with the scoreboard and standings, and it also applies off the court, in terms of fan loyalty and the amount of money they spend on tickets, jerseys, and more.
The Dallas Mavericks are 3-7 to start the season, which has stirred up frustration and resentment in the Dallas fan base that goes back to the Luka Doncic trade last season. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Doncic is averaging a near triple-double — 37 points, 10 rebounds and 9.5 assists a game — leading the Lakers to a 7-3 record and a top-10 offense in the league.
"With the Mavericks already in a significant hole when it comes to simply reaching the playoffs, league sources tell The Stein Line that the rising and virtually ceaseless negativity that surrounds the franchise is indeed wearing on and troubling ownership."
Part of the challenge for ownership is that "it is by no means clear at this juncture" to whom they would turn to run the team, Stein adds.
One major question hangs over this entire saga: Can owner/governor Patrick Dumont admit his mistake? Owners are notoriously poor at that, and firing Harrison would be a tacit admission that the Doncic trade was a mistake — a trade Dumont signed off on and backed.
Dallas picked up a road win over the lowly Wizards on Saturday, but now returns home for a tough stretch of games: the Bucks, the surprisingly strong Suns, the Clippers, and the athletic Trail Blazers. How much does the team's performance in this home stand impact ownership's decision?
One other interesting note from Stein: Despite the poor start to the season, Dallas has no plans at this point to trade center Daniel Gafford. That shouldn't be a huge surprise with third-year center Dereck Lively III having played just three games this season due to injury after playing just 36 games a season ago. Dallas signed Gafford to a three-year, $54.4 million contract extension this past offseason.
However, if Dallas continues to struggle after Christmas, the Mavericks might pivot — they control their 2026 first-round draft pick, which is considered a deep class at the top, and Dallas may instead consider adding another lottery pick to pair with No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg. If that happens, Gafford might become available, but the Mavs are not yet close to making that decision.
And we're not sure who might be the GM making that decision.
The Ottawa Senators continue to rise closer to the surface in the Atlantic.
They defeated the Utah Mammoth 4–2 on Sunday night at Canadian Tire Centre for their second win in as many nights. Leevi Meriläinen made 29 saves for the Senators, who now have just one regulation loss in their last 10 games (6-1-3). Ottawa leaned heavily on its secondary scoring to knock over the Mammoth, with goals from Nick Cousins, Ridly Greig, Jordan Spence, and Michael Amadio.
1. Meriläinen Makes His Case
Leevi Meriläinen was making his first start since October 27, a surprising stretch of inactivity given Linus Ullmark’s inconsistent start to the season. Meriläinen’s return gave the coaching staff plenty to think about after another calm, controlled performance in goal.
Yes, his season debut against Buffalo was a rough one, surrendering eight goals to the Sabres. But in his two games since he’s looked composed and confident, giving Ottawa a chance to win in each case. Meriläinen’s ability to make timely saves was crucial on Sunday.
2. Support Staff Steps Up
Ottawa’s depth came through in a big way.
The backup goalie played well got the win.
Ridly Greig opened the scoring with just his second goal of the season and first in 13 games.
Nick Cousins scored his third goal of the season.
Jordan Spence notched his first as a Senator, as fans continue to wonder, how much longer will the Sens keep a point-per-game (7) defenseman as a part-time player? With Spence moving up to play the second half of the game with Thomas Chabot, the answer appears to be: not much longer at all.
Getting contributions from across the lineup, which is crucial for any hockey team at any level, will be a major factor in Ottawa’s success this season.
3. It's A-Me, Amadio
Michael Amadio is starting to make it harder to describe his offense as “secondary.” The veteran forward scored his fourth goal in as many games and now sits third on the team with six goals this season.
A former 50-goal scorer in the OHL, Amadio’s production won't continue at this pace, but this run has been a pleasant surprise for a team that doesn't have a top 30 NHL scorer.
The Mammoth showed why they’re gaining a reputation as one of the NHL’s quicker teams. Both of their goals came off solo rush efforts, including a highlight-reel effort from Nick Schmaltz, who beat Jake Sanderson wide and cut to the net to score. It marked the second straight game Sanderson has lost a one-on-one showdown, after being victimized by Matvei Michkov on Saturday in Philadelphia.
Clayton Keller added another similar goal for Utah, forcing the Senators to make in-game adjustments to handle the pace.
“That’s a quick team over there,” head coach Travis Green told the media. “I thought the first period we did some good things, but their speed was an advantage for them. They were on top of us a couple of times, but we adapted, our defense made a few adjustments, and I liked the rest of our game for sure.”
With the win, Ottawa continues its slow but steady climb up the Atlantic standings at 8-5-1. The Sens have a busy week with home games against Dallas on Tuesday, Boston on Thursday and Washington on Saturday.
Add another intriguing name to the list of high-end starting pitchers who will be available this offseason as the Mets seek to fortify their rotation.
Japanese ace Tatsuya Imai, 27, will be posted by the Seibu Lions, and his posting paves the way for him to ink a deal with an MLB club in December.
Imai is coming off a huge season for the Lions.
In 163.2 innings over 24 starts, the right-hander had a 1.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while allowing just 101 hits and striking out 178 -- a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine.
Over eight seasons pitching for Nippon Professional Baseball, Imai has a 3.15 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. But he has reached another level over the last four seasons, posting earned run averages of 2.04, 2.45, 2.34, and 1.92.
Imai's stuff is considered plus. It includes a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can reach 99 mph. He also has a splitter, slider, and cutter.
While he isn't viewed by evaluators as the kind of can't-miss ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto has become since making the transition from Japan to the majors, Imai is nevertheless expected to get a relatively massive payday.
Imai will be the crown jewel when it comes to pitchers coming from Japan. As far as the MLB free agents, they include Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suarez, and Michael King.
Of those four pitchers, Cease -- a 29-year-old with swing-and-miss stuff who eats innings -- could be the best fit.
As New York decides which way to go this offseason as the rotation is bolstered, it's fair to believe they have three pitchers penciled into their rotation at the moment -- Sean Manaea, Nolan McLean, and Clay Holmes.
Other options include Kodai Senga (who could be a trade candidate), David Peterson (entering his final season of arbitration), Brandon Sproat, and Jonah Tong.
Monday’s NHL slate may be small, but it’s packed with excitement as four high-stakes matchups promise fast-paced action, dramatic finishes, and plenty of highlight-reel moments. One of the night’s most intriguing games features the Columbus Blue Jackets taking on the defending back-to-back Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers.
Columbus enters the matchup on a three-game skid, while Edmonton has also struggled with losses in six of its last eight. Both teams are desperate to turn things around. The Blue Jackets are looking to rediscover the momentum that fueled their earlier four-game winning streak, and the Oilers are eager to restore their reputation after suffering a 9–1 blowout loss to the league-leading Colorado Avalanche on Saturday.
For those following our betting challenge, we start with a modest $10 bankroll and aim to grow it through smart, data-driven wagers. In past runs, we’ve turned profits into triple-digit totals. Tonight’s same-game parlay focuses on the Oilers–Blue Jackets matchup, presenting a great opportunity to rebound after our recent hot streak cooled off. Our bankroll had climbed to $264.60 before taking a loss in last Tuesday’s Golden Knights–Red Wings game, but we’re ready to get back on track.
All betting lines are from BetMGM Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
Sign up with BetMGM, make a deposit, and place your first wager on any game using your First Bet Offer token. If that bet with the token applied loses, you’ll get your original stake paid back in Bonus Bets, up to $1,500! Get in the game today with BetMGM.
The Oilers’ long-standing goaltending issues continue to be a major problem, with no stability in net. This weakness has cost them dearly during both of their recent Stanley Cup Final runs. So far this season, Edmonton is allowing an average of 3.44 goals per game, ranking among the NHL’s bottom five teams defensively. Their offense has not been able to make up the difference, which was clear on Saturday when they were dominated at home by Colorado.
Heading into Monday’s matchup, the Oilers will be desperate for a strong response after widespread criticism suggesting they lack what it takes to make the playoffs, let alone return to the Stanley Cup Final.
The Blue Jackets are also looking to end their recent skid. Even though they enter as significant underdogs, they have won five of their last seven meetings with Edmonton. Goals should be expected in this matchup, as these teams have combined for four or more goals in 11 straight games against each other.
Columbus has also struggled on the defensive end, ranking 12th-worst in the league with a 3.21 goals-against average this season. However, the Blue Jackets have been strong against the spread, going 8-3 when listed as underdogs. The Oilers, in contrast, have one of the league’s worst betting records at 4-12 against the spread this season.
With a $10 bankroll, a wager on the Blue Jackets and the over at -114 odds would return a profit of $8.80 for a total payout of $18.80. With a full NHL slate scheduled for Tuesday, it is an ideal opportunity to build on momentum and continue growing the bankroll.
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Edmonton Oilers are going to come into this game angry. The Oilers were absolutely demolished by the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday by a score of 9-1. They will be looking to let out some frustration and blow the doors off the Jackets. They come into the game 4-3-3 in their last 10 games and have lost three straight games, and they desperately need a win.
The Blue Jackets, on the other hand, have also lost three straight and sit at NHL .500 with a record of 7-7. Much like Edmonton, Columbus really needs to break out of this slide. The Jackets typically play tough in Edmonton; they just can't get the wins. All-time, they are 9-23-0-2 on the road inside Rogers Place. Yeah, not good.
Something positive needs to happen for the Dean Evason and the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 14.7% - 29th in NHL
Penalty Kill - 70.7% - 27th in NHL
Goals For - 43 - 25th in NHL
Goals Against - 45 - 15th in NHL
Oilers Stats
Power Play - 33.3% - 2nd in NHL
Penalty Kill - 81.8% - 12th in NHL
Goals For - 47 - 14th in NHL
Goals Against - 55 - 26th in NHL
Series History vs. Oilers
Columbus is 27-36-3-3 all-time, and 9-23-0-2 on the road vs. Edmonton.
The Jackets are 5-2 in the last 7 games against the Oilers.
The CBJ went 1-1 vs. the Oilers last season.
Who To Watch For The Oilers
Connor McDavid leads the Oilers with 17 assists and 22 points.
Leon Draisaitl leads Edmonton with 10 goals.
Stuart Skinner is 4-4-3 with a SV% of .889.
Calvin Pickard is 5-2-2 with a SV% of .836.
CBJ Player Notes vs. Oilers
Zach Werenski has 8 points in 12 games against the Oilers.
Sean Monahan has 27 points in 45 games.
Cole Sillinger has 9 points in 8 career games against Edmonton.
Injuries - Gudbranson on IR
Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 6 games - IR
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 16
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
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After a three-game absence due to an illness, Warriors star Steph Curry officially will be back on the court when Golden State faces the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday at Paycom Center.
Curry was not on the Warriors’ 1:30 p.m. PT injury report for their game against the defending NBA champions, which kicks off a daunting six-game road trip for a 6-5 Golden State team that certainly felt its star point guard’s absence.
The Warriors went 1-2 without Curry, falling twice on the road against the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets before defeating a short-handed Indiana Pacers team 114-83 on Sunday night at Chase Center.
After the win, Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters he expected Curry back for the road trip. The 37-year-old worked out Sunday night on the Warriors’ practice court, and again on Monday morning.
While Curry is set to return, Warriors center Al Horford is questionable with a left toe injury (management). That was expected, however, with Golden State set for back-to-back games against the Thunder on Tuesday and San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
Another exciting week has come and gone in the Association. Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a game-winner on the Pacers last Monday, the Lakers kept finding ways to win, Oklahoma City remained dominant, and the Pistons moved into first place in the Eastern Conference.
Injuries, new opportunities and stellar play have given us a new group of preferred pickups heading into Week 4 of the NBA season. Here they are!
→ Watch the NBA on Peacock on Monday night, as the Washington Wizards take on the Pistons in Detroit. The action gets underway at 7 p.m. ET!
Ajay Mitchell, Oklahoma City Thunder (36 percent rostered)
Mitchell’s wildly productive run may come to an end once Jalen Williams and Lu Dort get healthy, but for now, we’re going to let the good times roll! To start the season, Mitchell has been electric with averages of 17 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 triples. He’s started each of Charlotte’s last three games, averaging 20/5/5 with a pair of steals, and fantasy managers need to be on high alert. Even when the Thunder are back to full strength, Mitchell has played far too well to be phased out of the lineup.
Jusuf Nurkic, Utah Jazz (35 percent rostered)
With Walker Kessler (shoulder) out for the season, Nurkic is expected to occupy Utah’s starting center gig moving forward. Over the last four games (all starts), Nurkic has averaged 5.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.5 dimes, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocked shots across 26.3 minutes. His production was a bit sporadic in those games as two of them were blowouts, so fantasy managers should be ready for some peaks and valleys.
Kon Knueppel, Charlotte Hornets (34 percent rostered)
Over the last three games, the rookie has erupted with 24.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists and four triples, and he now leads all rookies with 16.4 points per game. He posted a season-best 30 points on Saturday against the Heat, and he’ll look to carry momentum forward into Week 4. With Brandon Miller, LaMelo Ball and Collin Sexton banged up, opportunities should continue to be available for Knueppel, making him a strong waiver wire add. Fellow Hornet Tre Mann has also made the most of his increased opportunities, but his fantasy value is more closely tied to the availability of Ball and Sexton. Knueppel will still see plenty of run even when both Ball and Sexton are healthy.
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Charlotte Hornets (31 percent rostered)
Kalkbrenner hasn’t been electric as a scorer or rebounder this season, but he’s been tremendous as a defender. Over his last five, Kalkbrenner has recorded one three-block game and four straight four-block performances, averaging 1.2 steals and 3.8 blocks in that span while shooting 74.1% from the field.
Jake LaRavia, Los Angeles Lakers (26 percent rostered)
Over the last two weeks, LaRavia has shown why he was such an important offseason acquisition of the Lakers. Across his last six games, LaRavia has averaged 16.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.7 triples across 32 minutes. His numbers will likely take a hit when Austin Reaves (and eventually LeBron James) return, but even then, LaRavia should remain a key part of LA’s rotation off the bench.
Trendon Watford, Philadelphia 76ers (19 percent rostered)
Over a four-game stretch leading into Sunday, Watford was a beast with averages of 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and a triple. On Saturday, Watford recorded his first career triple-double, posting a monster 20/17/10 line across 36 minutes against the Raptors. He finished with just 7/3/2/1 on Sunday, but Philadelphia will likely keep starting him at the four or at least give him plenty of run off the bench until Paul George returns.
Jeremiah Fears, New Orleans Pelicans (18 percent rostered)
Over his last six games, the rookie has averaged a healthy 15.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.5 triples across 26.3 minutes per game. With Jordan Poole (quad) out for at least another week and Zion Williamson on the shelf for the same amount of time, expect Fears to see plenty of run for the foreseeable future.
Noah Clowney, Brooklyn Nets (10 percent rostered)
Cam Thomas is dealing with a hamstring injury that will keep him out for an extended period of time. Guys like Terance Mann and Tyrese Martin should see additional minutes, but Clowney looks like the biggest beneficiary from a fantasy standpoint. Clowney has started three straight games while averaging 17 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 3.3 triples. He should continue to pick up the slack for Thomas on offense.
Noah Clowney bullies his way to the rim and throws down a big-time dunk.
Derik Queen, New Orleans Pelicans (12 percent rostered)
With Zion Williamson out at least a week due to a left hamstring injury, Queen should see increased minutes until he returns. Over his last three with additional playing time, Queen averaged 12 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.7 blocks. He’s seeing minutes in the low 20s right now, but that should be enough to keep him viable in standard leagues. A bump in playing time would just be the cherry on top.
Tyson has scored in double figures in each of his last six games, averaging 15.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals and a block in that span. He’s logged 28 minutes a game in that span with five starts, and while he may not stick in the starting lineup, the return of Darius Garland won’t knock Tyson completely out of the rotation. He’s done enough to remain a viable contributor off the bench, and he’s worth a look in standard fantasy leagues.
Others to consider: Tari Eason (36%), Zaccharie Risacher (23%), Isaiah Stewart (23%), Isaiah Jackson (17%), Jarace Walker (15%), Keaton Wallace (1%)
When Kent Hughes decided that Alexander Romanov was expendable and struck a deal with the New York Islanders for their first-round pick in 2022, he was doing it because he needed a second-line center. He thought the Chicago Blackhawks' Kirby Dach would be it. After three seasons and two significant knee injuries, whether he can be that player for the Montreal Canadiens remains in doubt. He has played in only 48% of the Canadiens' games since being acquired, making it hard to know what he can really do.
In his first season in Montreal, he showed some great flashes, and at some point, there were even fans ready to crown him first circle over Nick Suzuki. Needless to say, those days are long gone. This is the last year of the bridge contract Dach signed when he arrived, and that means this season is a significant one for him, and so far, so good.
When playing with Zachary Bolduc and Brendan Gallagher this season, he has six points in eight games, for a total of seven points in 12 matches. Projected on 79 games (since he’s missed three games so far), that’s a 46-point pace, which would be the highest total of his career. Since being reunited with Gallagher in the game against the Philadelphia Flyers, he has four goals in three games, and after scoring a beauty on the breakaway, he was shown on the Canadiens’ bench sharing a laugh with coach Martin St-Louis, which illustrates the good mindset he’s in.
At the faceoff dot, he’s got a 45.9% success rate, which is over five percent better than he has ever had in his career. On Thursday night in New Jersey, he won the five face-offs he took, which is an excellent sign of improvement. Speaking about Dach’s play this season on Saturday night, the coach said:
I was really happy he scored at the end . He’s another guy who I feel like is really trying to play with the right intentions, in terms of on the other side of the puck, and he’s getting rewarded. It’s so nice when a player’s really bought in, and working at it, and asking questions, and looking at video, and his actions are actually matching what he’s saying when he’s talking… His habits are matching what he says that he wants. It’s rare (players playing the right way) don’t get rewarded, especially with the tools that he has. The game almost becomes a little bit easier. Not that it’s easy, but easier in the sense that you’re always in the right spots, and when you do that, you’re going to touch the puck more. You’re not just working hard, you’re not just sweating, you’re actually playing with a lot of purpose on the ice. And that’s what he’s doing. And you want those players to get rewarded.
- St-Louis on Dach
Of course, 46 points in a season isn’t really worthy of a top-end second-line center, but Dach is improving daily, and it takes time for a player to get results when he plays the St-Louis way. Just look at Cole Caufield, who saw his goal production go down momentarily while he was learning to play the way his coach wants him to play. Speaking of Caufield, he had this to say about what makes the big center perform so well after the last game:
I'd say confidence, and you know, just him getting his legs back. I think, obviously, nobody truly knows what he's been going through the last couple of years, and that's the type of player we expect in this room. He's been doing that consistently for the past 5-6 games. It definitely makes our team a lot deeper, and I'm proud of him for how hard he's worked, and the success. There's more to come.
- Caufield on Dach
The sniper clearly believes there’s more to come from Dach, and it does seem to trend that way. There are already talks that his performance might be worthy of getting another try with Ivan Demidov on his wing, and while I understand the point, I wouldn’t rush it. Dach and Demidov are both doing well on their respective lines right now, and playing with Gallagher and Bolduc, there’s less pressure on Dach. I’m not advocating for never playing them together, but for now, with the team winning and their respective lines being productive, I’d stick to the current formula.
Somewhere down the line, they will be reunited. They have to, since it’s Dach’s contract year and Kent Hughes is higher on Dach’s ceiling, but there are still 67 games left in the season. That’s plenty of time, as long as he remains healthy, of course, but you can’t rush the process just in case he gets injured again.
Dennis Hildeby did as much as he could in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 5-4 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Fresh off a call-up from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Saturday afternoon, the 24-year-old has seen 67 shots combined from the Hurricanes and Boston Bruins in the last two days. And he looked strong despite the .894 save percentage on Sunday night vs. Carolina.
"He made a lot of saves," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said after the loss. "I mean, we gave him, what, three breakaways in the second period? Maybe four, I don't know. I lost count. You know, (the loss) has nothing to do with the goalie."
What was going through Hildeby's mind when the Hurricanes were skating in all alone, one after another, in the middle frame?
"You just got to try and stop them. It's not going to look like that entire game. It's just for that certain moment that things aren't going that well, so yeah, we had some fortunate bounces there with the bar and the post, like I said."
Toronto was up in the game 4-2 before the Hurricanes stormed back with three unanswered goals. Carolina's 47 shots on goal were the most Hildeby has ever faced in his NHL career. Matter of fact, it's the most shots he's ever faced during his professional career in North America.
"They threw a lot of pucks to the net, which can get tough," Hildeby said. "We created some chances, but a couple of mistakes there from me there, on the third especially, which kind of messed up our two-lead there."
We don't know what Stolarz would've brought had he played on Sunday. However, we do know one thing: if the Maple Leafs need to go to Hildeby again at some point, I'd say there's confidence from Berube to put him in the net.
"Yeah, I mean, he's the reason why we had a chance to win the hockey game," said John Tavares. "I thought he was phenomenal. A heck of a job on the PK, especially in the third period too. Tight hockey game. So, he was great."
Below is more from Hildeby after the game on his performance, plus what it was like to be a part of the Hockey Hall of Fame game.
Q: Overall, how did you feel about your performance? A: Tough to analyze shortly after, but yeah, a lot of good stuff, but a couple of bad stuff too, which kind of cost us there, so yeah, it's tough to analyze.
Q: What were the mistakes in the game? A: I just forgot to stop the puck there. Yeah, I know a lot of shots, which was fun.
Q: A chunk of those shots coming from breakaways and giveaways, how difficult was that to deal with? A: Yeah, a breakaway is harder than a shot from the blue line usually, so it's definitely a harder chance, but I had some luck there with the post and the bar a couple of times.
Q: What was it like to be part of the Hall of Fame game, the ceremony or the game? What was it like to be part of a night like this? A: It was fun. I saw some great legends there. I wasn't really too sure about where I was supposed to stand. I didn't really know much before, but I had a ton of fun. It just sucks we couldn't get them a win.
Q: What was it like seeing Mats Sundin there? A: It's always a pleasure. I've run into him before. He’s quite a huge legend in Sweden and in Toronto, obviously, so it's always fun seeing him.
The New York Islanders snapped their two-game skid on Saturday inside Madison Square Garden, kicking off what’s to be a massive seven-game road trip through the heart of November.
For the final six teams on this road trip, it’s the first meeting of the season for the Islanders, all except against the Detroit Red Wings at the tail end of the trip. All six teams are at least two games above .500, and all but Detroit and Utah are in the top two of their division.
Starting strong against the struggling New York Rangers became almost a must-win for the Islanders, as the Blueshirts are currently the worst team they’ll face during this gauntlet away from UBS Arena.
Tonight, the first game will be against the New Jersey Devils, the last game in the Eastern Time Zone for 10 days for the Islanders.
The Devils have won three of their last four games, and will be a team that enjoys playing with speed in the same way the Islanders do. The key to surviving against them will be structured play, otherwise New Jersey can poke some serious holes in New York’s defense.
After tonight, the Islanders ship out west, beginning with a Thursday night game in Las Vegas, where the Golden Knights await. Through their first seven trips against Vegas, New York’s gone 4-3-0, with Vegas being a top team every year throughout their franchise’s history.
This year, Vegas added Mitch Marner, making a deadly team that much more dangerous.
The very next night, the Utah Mammoth plays host to the Islanders, kicking off what will be three-straight games against Central Division foes, all against teams with a record above .500.
It’s a quick turnaround for New York, bouncing between time zones for a road back-to-back against high-speed teams, something that could easily exhaust the Islanders.
Unfortunately for the Islanders, the road isn’t getting any easier after that. After just one off day, they’ll be in Denver for a Sunday night clash with Brock Nelson and the Colorado Avalanche. The game would be Calum Ritchie's first against the team that drafted him, too.
Colorado is 10-1-5 thus far, and on Saturday decimated the Edmonton Oilers 9-1. It’s not going to be easy by any stretch of the word.
In case you think it gets any easier, the Islanders close up the Western swing 48 hours later, squaring off with the Dallas Stars in Texas.
If you’re exhausted just thinking about playing Vegas, Utah, Colorado and Dallas, just remember those four games come in six days, with long travel dotting the way, including that time-zone switch between Vegas and Utah.
Every single point the Islanders can earn out west will be monumental, as the schedule is nothing less than a brutal gauntlet against some of the best teams in the NHL in an abbreviated trip.
It all ends next Thursday, when on the way back home from Texas, the Islanders fly northeast to Detroit, where the Red Wings host the Islanders. The Islanders pummeled Detroit 7-2 in UBS Arena on October 23, when Detroit came in on the second half of a back-to-back.
Last year, the Red Wings swept the Islanders, with all results coming in regulation.
Nothing’s a given about this road trip. If the Islanders can scratch a .500 or better record over the next six games, it’ll go a long way to keeping them in the fight.
During a compressed schedule due to the Olympics in February, survival over the long haul becomes the biggest key.
While obviously dominating on this road trip and going on a run would be the best-case scenario, it's a brutal stretch for any team. Just gritting out points to keep themselves afloat is the biggest key throughout this run.
After this stretch of games, the Islanders get rewarded with a seven-game home stretch, and 13 of their next 17 at UBS Arena, with the all 17 getting played inside the Eastern Time Zone.
It all starts tonight in New Jersey, with puck drop coming just after 7 o’cloc
Yankees GM Brian Cashman will head to the annual MLB GM Meetings, taking place in Las Vegas this week and speak to reporters for the first time since New York was ousted in the ALDS by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Many could see the 2025 season as a failure for the Yanks, after making it to the World Series a year prior, so Cashman and his front office will have plenty of questions to answer about how he plans to get New York its first championship since 2009.
It won't be easy, of course, as the Blue Jays and other American League upstarts like the Red Sox and Mariners are waiting to take their shots this offseason and in 2026.
Don't expect Cashman to lay his cards on the table at the GM Meetings. But we can glean something from when he speaks, whether it's about the needs of the team or where current players are on the depth chart.
Here are five questions Cashman should be asked this week...
One of the many questions Cashman received during his end-of-season news conference was about shortstop Volpe.
The third-year infielder had a difficult 2025, which -- whether manager Aaron Boone admits it or not -- was impacted by his injured shoulder. Volpe has since undergone surgery and will look to man the shortstop position when he returns sometime during the season. However, is Volpe's role as the starting shortstop in hand?
Cashman didn't commit to the shortstop position back in October, but he said he believes in Volpe and that there is still growing to do.
“I believe in the player, still. I think we believe in the player,” Cashman said. “It doesn’t mean that we don’t play with, on any level, all aspects of roster assessments. He’s 24 years old. I don’t think New York’s stage is too big for him, I just think he’s still finding his way. The age is something that there’s a lot of value to reminding yourself about.”
Jose Caballero is on the roster and probably has an inside track to break camp as the starting shortstop, but there are some intriguing options like Bo Bichette available.
Sep 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) runs to first base on a single during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Cashman has had some great trade deadline deals the last few seasons, and the addition of Chisholm in 2024 helped the team make it to the World Series. In Chisholm's first full season in pinstripes, he was even better, having arguably his best offensive season en route to an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger.
But does that mean Cashman has the stomach to have extension talks with his infielder?
Chisholm will enter the final year of his contract in 2026, but an extension could buy out his final year of arbitration and keep the 27-year-old in the Bronx for a long time.
Cashman, however, is not one to give out extensions. But he should be asked if Chisholm is an exception, especially after the production he's provided and how selfless he's been, playing third base whenever asked.
What's the plan for the outfield?
Aaron Judge is the only name Boone can write in as a starting outfielder next season. Cody Bellinger opted out of his contract and will explore free agency, and Trent Grisham's contract also expired -- though the Yankees extended him the qualifying offer.
Cashman needs to fill out left field and center field, so what is his plan for them this offseason? The qualifying offer shows the Yanks are willing to bring Grisham back, but it doesn't guarantee his return. And then, how hard are they going to try and re-sign Bellinger? The former NL MVP had a great first season in the Bronx and said he'd welcome a return.
There's also the bevy of free agent outfielders, like Kyle Tucker, who are available. We don't expect Cashman to give away which of the outfielders he wants the most, but perhaps a hint of where he's leaning could be gleaned.
New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones (78) celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the third inning during spring training at BayCare Ballpark / Nathan Ray Seebeck - Imagn Images
Speaking of the outfield, the Yankees have two youngsters who could fill one -- or both? -- spots to start the 2026 season. Dominguez made the team out of spring training in 2025, but the young switch-hitter had growing pains at the plate and in the outfield. Once a highly-touted prospect, Dominguez's first full season in the bigs did not go the way the team had hoped.
It also didn't help that Grisham simply outplayed the youngster, taking away precious at-bats while New York was in the midst of maintaining a playoff spot.
Cashman should be asked if Dominguez is a part of their plans and whether he has the stomach to deal him.
And then there's Jones. The young slugger burst out in the minors last season, going on a power tear through Double-A and Triple-A. Cashman said that Jones "put himself in the conversation" of making the Opening Day roster, but how true is that? Also, is Jones a trade candidate if the outfield spots are filled up with external signings?
This could be the best time to trade Jones, whose stock has never been higher.
Do the Yankees have enough pitching to withstand injuries?
The Yanks will be without Gerrit Cole, Clarke Schmidt and Carlos Rodon to start the 2026 season. While the team has viable arms, do they have enough to get through a 162-game season?
Max Fried will anchor a starting rotation that will likely include Luis Gil, Will Warren, and Cam Schlittler. That's a lot of question marks that need to be answered.
The Yankees can sign a free agent starter like Dylan Cease, Michael King or Zac Gallen to help their bludgeoned rotation, which would possibly clear the way for them to trade some of their young arms.
Cashman is always candid when it comes to pitching, in that he can never have enough of it. Perhaps that's the case this offseason, and Cashman should answer that.
The Washington Wizards (1-9) go to Detroit to face the Pistons (8-2) on Peacock Monday night! it is a battle of two teams trending in different directions, but both with so much to prove.
The Pistons have won six consecutive games, including yesterday's 111-108 thriller over the 76ers in Philadelphia. This will be the third game in four days for the Pistons, which is the same for the Wizards, except Washington had Sunday off.
Washington has lost eight straight games and only two of those have come by single digits. The Wizards will have four nationally televised games, starting with this one, so I expect a hearty-effort from Washington after narrowly losing to Dallas on Saturday (111-105).
Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup and find a potential sweat or two! We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff. Odds courtesy of DraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to watch the Wizards vs. Pistons live
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Game odds for the Wizards at the Pistons
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Pistons (-650), Wizards (+470)
Spread: Pistons -11.5
Total: 235.5
That gives the Pistons an implied team point total of 123.5 and the Wizards 110.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups for the Pistons and the Wizards
Pistons
PG Cade Cunningham
SG Duncan Robinson
SF Ausar Thompson
PF Tobis Harris (OUT) — Isaiah Stewart is questionable
C Jalen Duren
Wizards
PG CJ McCollum
SG Kyshawn George
SF Khris Middleton
PF Julian Champagnie
C Alex Sarr
Injuries for the Pistons and the Wizards
Pistons
F Tobias Harris (ankle) was OUT for Sunday's game
C Isaiah Stewart (ankle) was OUT for Sunday's game and is listed as day-to-day
G Marcus Sasser (hip) was on the inactive list Sunday
G Jaden Ivey (surgery) is OUT for at least another week
Wizards
G Bilal Coulibaly (calf) is OUT for Monday's game
Important stats, trends and insights ahead of Wizards at Pistons on Monday.
Washington is an NBA-worst 1-9 ATS
Washington is 1-4 ATS as a road underdog
Washington is 6-4 to the Over, ranking tied 10th-best to the Over
Detroit is 7-3 ATS, ranking tied for 3rd-best
Detroit is 5-2 ATS as a favorite, ranking 8th-best
Detroit is 2-0 ATS as a home favorite
Detroit is 4-3 to the Under as a favorite
Detroit is 5-4-1 to the Under, ranking 5th-best to the Under
Rotoworld Best Bet
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Wizards to cover the first quarter spread in Detroit:
"Washington has trailed by 11 and 13 points in the last two games, but before that, led three straight first quarters over the Magic, Knicks, and Celtics. Teams don't get excited to play the Wizards, understandably, which means Washington sometimes gets out to quick starts.
Detroit is one of the worst ATS teams in the first quarter at 3-7 on the season, one spot worse than the Wizards (4-6). This is a nationally televised game for the Wizards, which is a bigger deal to them than the Pistons, since Washington will get less than five nationally televised games this season.
I expect Washington to come out, similar to the Nets on Peacock against the Timberwolves, and cover the first quarter spread of +3.5 to +4.5."
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pistons & Wizards game:
Moneyline: Pistons ML (high confidence)
Spread: Pistons -11.5 (medium confidence)
Total: Under 235.5 (low confidence)
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Back then, Stearns was blunt about how the Mets handled their in-season pitching woes (he said they should've done more) and repeatedly stressed the need for the club to improve its run prevention.
Stearns obviously won't lay out an exact blueprint regarding what the team plans to do this offseason, but his availabilities are generally candid and forthcoming, which makes his upcoming comments at the GM Meetings something to keep an eye on.
Here are five questions Stearns should be asked as things start to percolate...
Alonso and Diaz opted out of their contracts last week. And with free agency now open, they can sign with any team. In the case of Diaz, the Mets extended a qualifying offer that he will almost certainly reject.
The negotiation with Alonso last offseason was drawn out and didn't end until early February, when he agreed to a two-year deal worth $54 million that contained an opt-out after the first year of the deal.
First base options on the free agent market include Cody Bellinger, Josh Naylor, and Japanese stars Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto.
When it comes to Diaz, who opted out of the final two years and roughly $40 million on his deal, it's possible he can be brought back by in effect tacking two years onto that contract at a similar average annual value.
With the Mets not having an in-house closer option, bringing Diaz back makes all the sense in the world.
Sep 19, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Brandon Sproat (40) follows through on a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
What is the team's appetite for trading top prospects?
In Stearns' first year at the helm, which began during the 2023-24 offseason, he made it clear that the Mets trading any of their most prized prospects at that point was unlikely.
After struggling while getting sporadic playing time over his first two full seasons in the majors, Brett Baty got a long look at third base this past season. And he excelled.
In 432 plate appearances over 130 games, Baty slashed .254/.313/.435 with 18 home runs, 13 doubles, and two triples.
If Mark Vientos remains with the Mets for 2026, it's safe to believe he would be viewed as mainly a designated hitter option. That would seemingly leave Baty as the starter at the hot corner. But are the Mets prepared to hand him the job?
Stearns spoke a bit during his end-of-season news conference about the possibility that the offensive core could be shaken up. If Alonso leaves, perhaps that shakeup comes at first base. If Alonso stays, the easiest way to jolt the offensive core could be by making a big addition at either second base (Bo Bichette?) or third base.
When it comes to third, free agent Alex Bregman could be a nice fit, with him able to bring a plus bat, plus defense, and leadership.
Carson Benge and Jett Williams / Imagn Images/Envato Elements/SNY Treated Image
What's the plan in center field?
The Mets had serious issues in center last season.
Jose Siri suffered an early injury that kept him out for most of the year (and was DFA'd shortly after returning), Tyrone Taylor was strong defensively but had the worst offensive year of his career (70 OPS+), and trade deadline acquisition Cedric Mullins hit .182 with an OPS+ of 62.
Taylor is arbitration-eligible in 2026 and slated to make roughly $3.6 million, so it's safe to think he'll be back. But he's better suited as a backup.
If the Mets view Carson Benge or Williams -- who both ended the 2025 season with Triple-A Syracuse -- as the future in center, it's possible that future will arrive at some point during the first half of the 2026 season.
If the Mets decide to go the free agent route for a short-term answer, options they could explore include Harrison Bader.
Will the Mets consider free agents who have qualifying offers attached?
As a team that exceeded the luxury tax in 2025, the Mets' penalty for signing a player attached to the QO would be relatively severe, with them losing their second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2026 MLB Draft as well as $1 million from their international bonus pool.
Bichette, Dylan Cease, Kyle Schwarber, Kyle Tucker, Framber Valdez, and Ranger Suarez were all tagged with -- and will reject -- the QO.
Of those players, the ones who make the most sense for the Mets are arguably Cease, Bichette, and Schwarber.
And it's hard to make a case against the Mets chasing any of those players, even with the associated penalties.
John Elkann has say after Hamilton’s ‘nightmare’ verdict
Lando Norris plays down title talk after victory in Brazil
Lewis Hamilton has been told to “focus on driving and talk less” in a rebuke from the Ferrari president, John Elkann, which was almost certainly a reaction to Hamilton’s outspoken description of his first season with the team as a “nightmare”.
Hamilton has endured a difficult debut year with Ferrari, with the team underperforming and the seven‑time champion having a trying time adapting to a new environment and practices.
Raphielle Johnson
