The most likely culprit? No. 12 seed High Point, led by Chase Johnston, upending Greg Gard and No. 5 seed Wisconsin. No. 9 TCU technically scored an upset over No. 8 Ohio State, to say nothing of the near-disaster of No. 1 overall Duke eking out a 71-65 win over No. 16 seed Siena.
As of 7 p.m. ET on March 19, less than a million perfect brackets remain in either the ESPN or NCAA bracket challenges. Though the NCAA does not provide the full number of brackets submitted, ESPN does, providing some insight into just how maddening the NCAA Tournament has been.
Only 83,184 perfect remains out of 26,029,409 brackets submitted — a measly 0.3% of all brackets.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Hayden Birdsong didn’t get the second opinion he was seeking after visiting Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas this week, and now the Giants‘ young starter will miss the 2026 season.
Meister will surgically repair the ulnar collateral ligament in Birdsong’s right elbow, otherwise known as Tommy John surgery, ruling out the 24-year-old right-hander until at least early next season.
The operation typically comes with a timetable of about 12-16 months for a full recovery.
Hayden Birdsong will miss the 2026 season and undergo Tommy John surgery. Getty Images
The Giants announced Birdsong’s decision Thursday and said he will undergo the procedure next week.
“It’s hard to [say] you’re happy for him, based on the circumstances, but it is nice that after a few days of muddy waters to have some clarity,” manager Tony Vitello said.
Birdsong said he felt a “pop” and a “snap” in his elbow after throwing a curveball on the second-to-last pitch of what turned out to be his final outing of the spring last Tuesday. An MRI revealed a Grade 2 sprain of his UCL and a strain in his forearm, indicating there was structural damage.
Vitello said Birdsong was “convicted” in his decision, even while considering nonsurgical options. The second opinion from Meister, one of the leading specialists in pitchers’ elbow repairs, sealed the deal.
“He would just like to move on and make sure there aren’t any creeping thoughts in the back of his head, like, ‘Am I healthy?’ or this or that,” Vitello said. “Just push forward with what he and others think the best thing is.”
Meister also performed Robbie Ray’s elbow reconstruction in 2022 and Giants minor-leaguer Cole Waites’ operation in 2023. Ray, like Birdsong, had issues in his forearm and elbow.
“Meister did mine; he’s been great,” said Ray, who didn’t try to influence Birdsong one way or the other. “Just trying to be encouraging. Let him know that whatever happens he’s in good hands. Our training staff here is excellent.”
Giants pitcher Hayden Birdsong’s absence is a blow to the organization’s pitching depth in the minors. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The decision probably doesn’t impact the Giants’ plans for their Opening Day roster — Birdsong had fallen behind Landen Roupp and Trevor McDonald among their young pitchers — but losing him for the year is a blow to their pitching depth in the upper minors.
Birdsong likely would have been among the first pitchers called up from Triple-A when a need arose in the Giants’ rotation or bullpen. He has performed both roles and had appeared to make strides in his last time on the mound before, as he described it, a “freak” pitch put an end to his season.
“He was really sharp his last time out, but you can’t undo the past,” Vitello said. “I think the big thing for him is to take that baton … and carry it. Because you can still watch the game, have conversations, learn. You’d like to think the best-case scenario, like a lot of guys in the past, you can come back stronger.”
The loss makes the Giants more likely to call on Carson Whisenhunt, who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday. Carson Seymour, Blade Tidwell and Tristan Beck are all still in camp and should also be candidates to contribute at some point.
SF Giants injury report
Infielder Parks Harber will miss 4-6 weeks after straining his hamstring in a Cactus League game last week. Harber, 24, had been one of the Giants’ spring standouts with a .357 batting average and .996 OPS in 33 plate appearances. He was acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline last summer in the deal for Camilo Doval.
A pair of prospects were ruled out from the Giants’ spring showcase game Thursday night, including highly touted shortstop Josuar Gonzalez. The 18-year-old top prospect suffered a mild hamstring strain in minor-league action at Papago Park earlier this week. Johnny Level, another infield prospect, also missed the game with low back tightness.
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PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Sungjae Im, who missed two straight cuts upon his return from a wrist injury, found his form Thursday in the Valspar Championship with two eagles that offset a few late mistakes in his round of 7-under 64 for a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker.
The Copperhead course at Innisbrook was the third straight stop on the Florida swing where the conditions were firm and the greens already getting that yellow sheen. Im was up to the task by giving himself ample birdie chances and converting six of them.
He also holed eagle putts of 18 feet on the par-5 11th and 35 feet on the par-5 first after making the turn. Only a pair of bogeys over the last four holes slowed him.
The surprise was the 45-year-old Snedeker, the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup, who received a sponsor exemption. He had a bogey-free round at Innisbrook for the first time in 14 years, running off three straight birdies to start the back nine in his round of 65.
Snedeker hasn't won in eight years and had only two top 10s in the last year. But he switched to a mallet putter a few weeks ago and is starting to see some putts go in, particularly some long ones.
He started with a 20-foot birdie on No. 1 and had a 45-foot birdie putt drop on No. 12.
“Playing perfect the way we want to see it play, firms and fast,” Snedeker said. “Had a really good game plan — just relied on my putter. I putted great today, made a bunch of footage of putts, and put myself in position off the tee hit a lot of fairways and greens and made it stress-free which was nice. So really excited about how it started, but a long way to go from here.”
Snedeker led the field in putting and made nearly 150 feet of putts, which included a pair of par putts from just outside 10 feet.
Davis Thompson was at 66, with Billy Horschel among those at 67. Horschel, who missed The Players Championship last week, is running out of time to either win or get back inside the top 50 to qualify for the Masters.
Riviera winner Jacob Bridgeman also had a bogey-free round, rare at Innisbrook, by holing a par putt from just inside 10 feet on the 18th. He was at 68 along with another bogey-free effort, this one from Xander Schauffele.
“That was a big one, even more than a normal par save. That one felt good,” Bridgeman said. “To go around here bogey-free, it means you’re playing some good golf. I made a couple nice saves today to keep myself in it.”
Bridgeman and Schauffele were part of a large group that included Matt Fitzpatrick, who was runner-up at The Players Championship last week.
Corey Conners shot 69, an ordinary round except for an extraordinary moment when he made consecutive eagles. He dunked his shot off the pin from the 18th fairway for a eagle, made the turn and holed out from 40 yards in the rough at the par-5 first.
Also at 69 was Jordan Spieth, who had reason to expect more.
Spieth looked as though he might catch Im even while playing in tougher, gusting conditions in the afternoon. He was 5 under on the front nine and had a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 11th. But he missed that, missed a 3 1/2-foot par putt on the 13th and dropped three shots over the three-hole stretch known as “Snake Pit,” including a double bogey on the 16th by driving into the water.
Defending champion Viktor Hovland was 2 over through six holes and salvaged a 70, while Brooks Koepka made his return to Innisbrook with three birdies, three pars and a 71.
While their season hasn’t quite gone the way many have hoped it would, the Vancouver Canucks will still be giving fans something to cheer about in the coming games. Nine milestones are currently on the horizon for a number of players, ranging from personal to franchise records.
The first to note of these records is Elias Pettersson sliding into ninth in Canucks history in career goals-scored. After his two-goal performance against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, Pettersson only needs one more goal to tie him with Bo Horvat for ninth in franchise history. This isn’t the only milestone Pettersson can hit soon, as he is also three points away from 500 career NHL points and three assists away from 300 on his career.
Another player who is close to achieving another franchise milestone is Brock Boeser, who needs one more point to tie him with Tony Tanti for ninth-most in Canuck history. The forward currently has 469, only 28 less than the next active player on the list (Pettersson, 497).
Next on the list are a handful of career-milestones in NHL games played. The most talked-about as of late has been Evander Kane, who is six games away from hitting 1000 NHL games. The last player to hit this record as a member of the Canucks was none-other than Tyler Myers, who did-so on October 19, 2024.
The next crop of career-milestones in games played are a fair bit less than Kane’s 1000. The first to take place will be Aatu Räty’s 100th-career NHL game, which he will hit if he plays tonight against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Following that is Linus Karlsson’s 100th NHL game, of which he still has nine more to play before he hits it. Marcus Pettersson will be the next to hit a milestone in games played with 600 — while he still has 11 more games to play, it’s expected he’ll hit this before the end of the season. Finally, Max Sasson is 14 games away from 100 in the NHL, which he can achieve if he plays in virtually every game before the season ends.
Nov 11, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) celebrate Boeser’s goal against the Winnipeg Jets in the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Roki Sasaki has done little this spring to inspire confidence that he will be an effective starting pitcher this season. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“He’s going to be one of our starters,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters this week.
Asked by Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group whether Sasaki was one of the team’s 13 best pitchers, Roberts offered a revealing non-answer.
“He’s going to start the season in the rotation,” Roberts said.
In other words, no.
“He’s going to be one of our starters,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters this week. Getty Images
That doesn’t mean the Dodgers shouldn’t have the unseasoned 24-year-old on their major league roster. Just because they technically have the right to option Sasaki to the minor leagues doesn’t mean they should.
Sasaki trusted them when he chose to play for them. Regardless of whether they believe he will succeed, they now owe their second-year right-hander the same courtesy.
Doing right by Sasaki is in the best interest of everyone involved – for Sasaki, who believes he can start in the major leagues, and for the Dodgers, whose dealings with him could influence how they are viewed by the future Japanese players.
Examining the Dodgers’ position with Sasaki requires revisiting the circumstances under which he was signed.
Doing right by Sasaki is in the best interest of everyone involved. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Because he was only 23 when the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese league made him available to major league teams before the 2025 season, he was classified as an international amateur. As such, Sasaki could only sign a minor league contract.
The bargain price made Sasaki the most desirable Japanese free agent in history outside of Shohei Ohtani.
Yu Darvish and Daisuke Matsuzaka were comparable to Sasaki in stature when they moved stateside, but each cost their original major league teams more than $100 million.
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Sasaki could have fetched $200 million on the open market. The Dodgers landed him for just a $6.5-million bonus.
Rules prohibited teams from making any promises to Sasaki about a future contract or roster spot, but the Dodgers had to know they were taking on unspoken responsibilities when they signed him.
Here was a pitcher viewed as arguably the most talented ever produced by his home country, one pursued by other teams as a frontline starter.
The scale of the vision they sold Sasaki became evident at his introductory news conference when president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said he would be part of the rotation from the start of his rookie season. There were mentions of a Cy Young Award and comparisons to Paul Skenes.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Sasaki flopped in the regular season last year.
Maybe it was because his preparation was rushed so that he could start in the Dodgers’ season-opening series in Tokyo. Maybe it was because of the unfamiliar part of the major league game such as the pitch clock or slicker American baseball. Maybe it was the shoulder problem that ended up sidelining him for four months.
Or maybe he just wasn’t as good as the Dodgers thought.
He managed to salvage the year by returning as a reliever in the final week of the regular season.
He became the closer in October, his festive entrance music and 100-mph fastball transforming him into a crowd favorite. While he became less dominant with each passing round of the playoffs, he was without question a major reason why the Dodgers won the World Series.
Something else worth recalling: Sasaki agreed to pitch in relief under the condition that he be given an opportunity to start this year.
The Dodgers are honoring their arrangement, and it’s important they do so.
The reality is that Americans are viewed as particularly untrustworthy in many parts of the world, and that perception is strengthened every time a foreign player and his major league team have entirely dissimilar interpretations of the same deal.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki leaves the game against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In the case of Sasaki, he obviously expects to be afforded the luxury of treating spring training as a time to experiment in preparation for the regular season rather than to prove anything.
He wouldn’t be the only Japanese player to have treated the exhibition season in this way.
Ichiro Suzuki was famously doubted by his own manager in his first major league camp. Ohtani was compared to a high school hitter in a Yahoo Sports article that quoted several scouts who broke down his miserable Cactus League performance.
Sasaki has a 13.50 earned-run average in three exhibition starts, but he hasn’t sounded concerned.
“If I’m able to pitch the entire season,” Sasaki told reporters after his most recent Cactus League game, “I don’t think anyone will remember spring training.”
The Dodgers are giving him the same chance the Angels once gave Ohtani to prove the skeptics wrong, and why not?
Sasaki is not pushing Tarik Skubal out of the rotation.
Sasaki’s spot comes at the expense of River Ryan, whose workload the team will carefully monitor this year because he is coming back from Tommy John surgery.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki is taken out of the game by manager Dave Roberts against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
What happens from here is entirely up to Sasaki.
He won’t be able to point a finger at the Dodgers for demoting him right as he thought everything was about to come together.
He won’t be able to complain about how they didn’t trust him after telling him how much they believed in him.
The Philadelphia Flyers are ending Year 3 of the Danny Briere and Keith Jones regime in the same place it began: close to the Stanley Cup playoffs, but not in them, and in need of some serious high-end talent down the middle of the ice.
Briere's tenure, not accounting for the draft, has actually been mostly solid, though his successes haven't come without missteps to match.
Buy-low acquisitions like Sean Walker, Ryan Poehling, and Dan Vladar have paid dividends for the Flyers, but overall, the core of the roster remains the same.
Aging players like Nick Seeler, Travis Konecny, Christian Dvorak, and Garnet Hathaway all inked contract extensions under Briere's watch, which strays from the path of a traditional rebuild.
Dvorak, as well as defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, could have fetched hauls at the 2025 NHL trade deadline, but one signed a five-year pact, and the other simply stayed put.
The good news for Briere and the Flyers is that they have proven shrewd in trade negotiations overall. Trevor Zegras, David Jiricek, Nikita Grebenkin, and even Jamie Drysdale and Carl Grundstrom have brought meaningful value to the table for the organization, be it now or for the future.
But, the Flyers could lean into that strength more.
In the 2025 draft, they traded the 22nd and 24th overall picks to the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 12th overall pick, but then used that 12th pick on a pure upside play in Jack Nesbitt, rather than more critically acclaimed prospects like Carter Bear, Cole Reschny, Jackson Smith, Braeden Cootes, or Kashawn Aitcheson.
The Flyers made a similar pivot the year prior, trading down one spot from 12th to 13th, passing on the chance to select Zeev Buium, and adding Jett Luchanko to the fold instead.
It's not a slight against Nesbitt or Luchanko, but the two centers haven't taken meaningful steps forward in their development yet, and the Flyers still need high-end talent at the position despite burning a total of three first-round picks on the two players.
That's where, if the Flyers had gotten Smith and Buium, the rebuild would look much more positive, even with the significant presence of veteran players.
Assembling a young defense core of Buium, Smith, Jiricek, Oliver Bonk, Drysdale, Hunter McDonald, and Ty Murchison is an extremely solid and talented base to work with, and that's excluding existing options like Cam York and Travis Sanheim.
Also excluded was defenseman Spencer Gill, who was acquired with the help of the third-round pick the Flyers acquired when trading down with Minnesota at the 2024 draft.
So far, the fact of the matter is that the Flyers, 16th in the NHL standings with 76 points and a -13 goal differential, are right back where they were in the 2023-24 season, even after adding Matvei Michkov, Zegras, Vladar, and Dvorak.
They still haven't leaned fully into one direction: whether to embrace a full rebuild or push all the chips in and go for a playoff run with their cap space and draft capital.
Other "rebuilding" teams, like San Jose, Anaheim, and Chicago have assembled more exciting nuclei of young talent without becoming abhorrent or unwatchable for more than a year at a time.
This fact is especially disappointing when accounting for the regression of Matvei Michkov, who has been in the crosshairs of Rick Tocchet, as well as the divided public, since the beginning of this season.
A once-promising 26-goal, 63-point rookie has devolved into a one-dimensional middle-six scorer who might just barely crack 40 points in his sophomore season.
That's sucked the excitement out of the Flyers, who still have plenty to offer for the future. Michkov, the apparent franchise player, has become more of a side character or extra in a cliché, inspiring action film rather than continuing to ascend as the avatar of a hopeful, high-flying future in Philadelphia.
The Flyers still have a solid group, yes, headlined by the likes of Michkov, Zegras, Porter Martone, Jiricek, and Drysdale, but it could also be much better with verifiable direction and focus.
It doesn't help, either, that the Flyers are on pace to secure another middling draft pick in the midst of their current playoff push, which will presumably push them out of the territory of the likes of Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, Viggo Bjorck, Gavin McKenna, and more top prospects at positions of need.
Aleksei Kolosov, Carson Bjarnason, and Egor Zavragin make for a strong group at the goalie position, but little else has improved for the future of the rebuild in the last two seasons.
“I wish this tournament was pushed back two weeks,” the future Hall of Famer said, before explaining 14 additional days would significantly lessen athletes’ concerns about injuries.
Max Scherzer explained on Foul Territory this week that if the World Baseball Classic tweaked its schedule, it’d get more MLB stars to participate. YouTube
“Two more weeks here and in my opinion, you’d really drop the risk factor for pitchers,” he said, “and you would get everybody to participate.”
The WBC traditionally kicks off in early March, and while that’s not necessarily a problem for Big League hitters, Scherzer told Pierzynski and Kratz it’s a significant issue for pitchers.
The Blue Jays starter called throwing in high-intensity games so early in the season “a huge risk factor.”
But if the showcase started in late March, Scherzer said it’d change everything.
“Everybody wants to be out there competing for their country,” said the 42-year-old, who’s never participated in a WBC. “Full stop. There’s no argument about that. Everybody wants to. It’s just you have a risk factor to this. This is hard on your arm.”
Without some of the nation’s best pitchers, Team USA lost in the WBC final to Venezuela. AP
Scherzer acknowledged that might mean the MLB season would have to drop from 162 games to 155 and there would be a financial loss, but he said the benefit for the sport would be worth it.
“The WBC is great. Everybody is watching,” Scherzer said. “Can you imagine if all the players were in it and it’s even better? You’re having even better baseball. The WBC can be even better with that regard.”
Plus, Scherzer noted April matchups are “not high-revenue games” for MLB teams.
The WBC began on March 5 and concluded on March 17. Team USA advanced to the finals, but lost, 3-2, to Venezuela.
Red, white and blue fans have pointed out that adding star pitchers like Garrett Crochett and Bryan Woo — or even getting more innings out of Tarik Skubal and Mason Miller — could have resulted in a championship, and Scherzer said his idea would have paved the way for that reality.
“Where’s the perfect slice here?” he said. “It’s right now (in late March). Start it right now and that would solve a lot of this.”
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WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 17: Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons controls the ball against the Washington Wizards during the second half at Capital One Arena on March 17, 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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It is round two for the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, and things are looking much different than they were 48 hours ago. The Pistons beat the Wizards 130-117 on Tuesday night, but they lost Cade Cunningham after five minutes, and today are coming to grips with the idea he could be out much longer. Cunnigham has a collapsed lung that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. That indefinite timeline could be as little as two weeks or it could stretch deep into a Pistons’ first-round playoff series. There is also the notion of Detroit’s grip on the No. 1 overall seed in the East. They’ve held that spot since Nov. 7. With Cade missing time, that position feels tenuous. There is also the fact that Cunningham needs to play five more games to qualify for the first-team All-NBA spot he so rightly deserves. There is the question of how rusty he will be when he finally does come back. The mind reels. But tonight, the Wizards!
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C. Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Odds: Pistons -14
TALKING STICK, AZ - OCTOBER 18: Alfredo Duno #28 of the Peoria Javelinas bats during the game between the Peoria Javelinas and the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Saturday, October 18, 2025 in Talking Stick, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Thursday night the Cincinnati Reds will send the best and brightest pieces of their farm system to Scottsdale to take on the best and brightest prospects from the system of the San Francisco Giants, the 2026 edition of the Spring Breakout Game.
Cincinnati won’t be sending the likes of Rhett Lowder or Sal Stewart, I should note, despite both still maintaining rookie status (and, in most cases, ‘prospect’ status). That’s because those two are going to be part of the big league Reds roster come Opening Day. Instead, the Reds will turn over the reins to the likes of Alfredo Duno, Edwin Arroyo, Tyson Lewis, Cam Collier & Co.
Right-hander Chase Petty will toe the rubber to start for Cincinnati’s young stars, and the team will lineup this way:
Of note is a middle infield of Arroyo at short and Leo Balcazar at 2B given that the likes of Steele Hall and Tyson Lewis are both on the roster (and expected to play). My best guess is that the Reds will work those two in together at some point mid-game.
Also on the roster is 2025 2nd round pick Aaron Watson, whom the Reds selected out of Trinity Christian Academy down in Jacksonville last summer. The 19 year old didn’t throw a single professional pitch last year after being drafted, and it would be cool to see him get into some pretty serious non-serious action this evening for the first time.
I say ‘see’ because this one should be able to be viewed most places thanks to televised coverage by NBC Sports Bay Area (and, therefore, MLB.tv). I’ve even seen some reports that it may be viewable via MLB.com, though I cannot guarantee that’s the case at the moment.
First pitch is set for 9:05 PM ET, so put on a pot of coffee while you watch the first round of the NCAA Tournament first.
A preseason game between the Hartford Wolfpack and the Bridgeport Islanders in Bridgeport on October 1, 2025.
OTTAWA, Ontario — The Islanders made official on Thursday what’s been expected since the fall, announcing plans to relocate their AHL affiliate from Bridgeport, Conn. to Hamilton, Ontario for the 2026-27 season.
The announcement was made alongside Oak View Group, which operates TD Coliseum, the arena in Hamilton where the team intends to play next year.
The move is subject to approval by the AHL Board of Governors.
A preseason game between the Hartford Wolfpack and the Bridgeport Islanders in Bridgeport in October 2025. Connecticut Public Broadcasting
“We are excited to make Hamilton our primary affiliate in the American Hockey League,” general manager Mathieu Darche said in a release. “The support the city has shown our organization throughout this transition has been incredible. We look forward to having our top young talent play in front of such a strong fanbase inside the newly renovated, world-class TD Coliseum and we are committed to establishing ourselves in the community to engage a new generation of hockey fans.”
The Islanders have struggled to draw crowds to Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, but the city has been their AHL home for 25 years.
The future of the venue is not entirely clear, but the team’s statement said the club remains “committed to working with the City of Bridgeport on a successful transition for Total Mortgage Arena.”
“On behalf of the entire New York Islanders organization, I want to extend our deepest thanks to the City of Bridgeport and the incredibly loyal fans who have supported this team for the past 25 years,” president of business operation Kelly Cheeseman said in the release. “From the early days of the Sound Tigers to our time as the Bridgeport Islanders, this community has been the heart of our AHL operations. We are grateful for the memories, the partnerships, and the passion the fans in Connecticut have shown our players and staff.”
Situated 45 minutes from Toronto with a capacity of nearly 18,000, TD Coliseum recently underwent a $300 million upgrade.
While the Islanders forfeit some convenience with Bridgeport being driving distance to Long Island, the number of direct flights every day from Toronto to New York make it unlikely there will be issues with getting call-ups to the area on time.
New York Islanders GM Mathieu Darche speaks at a press conference before the game when the New York Islanders played the Saturday, November 22, 2025 at UBS Arena in Elmont, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The team name and logo, along with ticketing information in Hamilton, will be announced at a later date, per the Islanders.
“Hamilton is thrilled to welcome an AHL team to our city,” Hamilton mayor Andrea Horwath said in the release. “This is an exciting moment for Hamiltonians and a major step forward in building on the momentum we’re seeing in our downtown. Bringing professional hockey back to TD Coliseum means more opportunities for families to come together and increased support for local businesses. It strengthens our city’s proud hockey tradition while creating new opportunities for young players and fans alike to connect with the game.”
In the final seconds of the NCAA Tournament first round game against Wisconsin, the Panthers were down by a point when Rob Martin got a loose ball, and up ahead was an open Johnston running toward the bucket. Martin passed it perfectly to Johnston. All that was left was for Johnston to make a 2-point spot.
It sounds unusual, but it’s in fact one of the wildest stats in college basketball. Prior to that moment, Johnston attempted 142 shots on the season; 138 were 3-pointers.
The four 2-point shots? All misses.
No pressure for the sharpshooter.
Luckily, it was a layup. Johnston rolled it into the bucket, and sealed High Point’s first NCAA Tournament win in school history.
It was unusual territory for Johnston, but it didn’t frighten him at all. Because he knew “we can go shock the world.”
“When Rob threw that off, I was just like, ‘I gotta put this in to win this game,’” he said. “I wasn't really thinking whether it's a 2 or 3. I was just trying to put it in and win this game.”
A moment that held the breath of every fan donning purple inside Moda Center, knowing it was asking someone for something out of their game. But those on the court knew their fortunate fate was sealed the moment it touched his hands.
In fact, the only thing they wondered was if it was going to be a slam.
“Chase got a little bit of bounce. Chase probably dunk a little bit,” Martin said, drawing laughs from his teammates. “But I knew Chase was gonna make a layup. Of course, I believe in him.”
While it was a one-of-a-kind moment for a one-of-a-kind achievement, it wouldn’t have been possible if Johnston hadn’t done what he does best: drill it from deep.
It was an intense battle between the Panthers and Badgers, but it looked like Wisconsin was about to pull away with an eight-point lead with five minutes left. Then Johnston, who had just three points at the moment, finally drained another 3-point shot.
Then another. And another, including one from the midcourt logo.
A nine-point flurry in four minutes made it a one-point game in the final minute, all to set up the game-winning layup.
But Johnston’s heroics weren’t done. After making the shot of his life, he told his coaches to take him out. He is a reliable defender, but he knew what was needed to preserve the win. Put in a bigger guy to defend the last-second attempt.
Wisconsin wasn’t able to retake the lead, and when it got another chance, wasn’t able to get the shot off as the High Point defenders hounded the long pass.
“He should get way more credit,” coach Flynn Clayman said. “That is not just a defender, but an all-around player.”
And just like that, March gets its new darling. The tournament is all about guys that go largely unnoticed all season, just for them to become the breakout star on the biggest stage in college basketball. Johnston wasn’t even the team’s leading scorer, it was Martin with 23 points.
But when you are the glass slipper for Cinderella, that’s all it takes to become the hero. This may just be the rare case of the guy that got thrust in the spotlight for doing something he isn’t known for.
That’s all OK, because Johnston has High Point still dancing.
“To be on this stage with these guys, and be able to hit a couple shots and finish with the layup,” Johnston said. “It's something that I'll never forget.”
Duke basketball avoided a scare against No. 16 seed Siena in the first round of the Men's NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 19 as the No. 1 overall seed, overcoming a 13-point deficit in the second half to win 71-65.
Siena became the first No. 16 seed to lead a No. 1 seed at halftime in Men's NCAA Tournament history, leading 43-32 at the break. The Blue Devils outscored the Saints 39-22 in the second half to secure the victory, although fourth-year coach Jon Scheyer said it was the toughest NCAA Tournament moment he has experienced since taking over for Mike Krzyzewski in 2022.
"Toughest one," the longtime Duke assistant-turned head coach told reporters after the win. "Not close. Toughest moment, toughest game, toughest position I've ever been in in the tournament, no question about it. You have to credit Siena for that. Look, I remember a lot of our teams, we've had some games like this. 2018-19, North Dakota State, it's a one-possession game there.
"These games are fragile. Unfortunately, you have to lose some, I've been on the other end of some of these in the past where you have great appreciation for it, but it doesn't mean you can avoid it. ... You gotta show what you're made of, and these guys really did that."
Twins Cameron and Cayden Boozer led the way for Duke, scoring 22 and 19 points, respectively, to lead all scorers. The Blue Devils played a seven-man rotation without starting center Patrick Ngongba II and starting guard Caleb Foster, who are both hoping to return sometime during the NCAA Tournament, depending on how far Duke advances.
Duke had no issues with No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary's last season, winning 93-49 in the first round. Scheyer also cited Duke's 85-62 win over No. 16 seed North Dakota State in 2019, when he was an assistant and the Blue Devils only led by four points at halftime.
Only two No. 16 seeds have ever won an NCAA Tournament game: Fairleigh Dickinson defeated Purdue in 2023 and UMBC took down Virginia in 2018. 16 No. 1 seeds have only beaten No. 16s by single digits in NCAA Tournament history, none of which have gone on to win a national championship.
Scheyer said he isn't concerned with Duke's performance but acknowledged the Blue Devils must rebound before taking on No. 9 TCU in the second round on March 21.
"It's not concerning from the standpoint that, unfortunately this is the nature of the tournament," he said. "Look, I wish it could be just smooth sailing. These guys, even though we have returners from last year's team, were all in different spots. You can face a team like Siena; they were incredibly ready to play.
"We made some mistakes early that they made us pay for, and all of a sudden you want to win very badly. So, you want to start making plays to try and get back in the game that are probably uncharacteristic to who we've been."
The Brooklyn Nets announced on Thursday that forward Michael Porter Jr. has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain following an MRI. He will be sidelined and reevaluated in two to three weeks, per team PR.
Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain following an MRI performed on Wednesday. Porter Jr. is currently listed as out and will be reevaluated in two to three weeks.
Porter Jr. had already missed four straight games with a right ankle sprain, but during his return-to-play process, he experienced discomfort in his left hammy in a workout. The Nets play their final regular season game on April 12, three weeks and three days from this announcement. It seems all but certain that Porter Jr. has played his final game of the 2025-26 campaign.
And quite a campaign it was. In his first season in Brooklyn, MPJ played in 52 games, averaging a career-high 24.2 points along with 7.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists (also a career-high) while shooting 46/36/86, (59.5% true shooting). While a bit arbitrary, his 176 3-pointers marks a new franchise-record through a player’s first 52 games.
In fact, it came as a minor surprise that Porter Jr. did not make his first All-Star team this season — his numbers were even better before the break…
kinda fitting that MPJ is knocking down threes on a triple-vote day, isn't it?
This season marked MPJ’s first as a first-option for an NBA offense, and the Nets needed every bit of his production. Their offensive rating is over ten points higher when he plays vs. when he sits, though that, of course may factor into the calculus to effectively end his season, with the tank in full swing.
On one hand, Porter Jr.’s breakout season paints him as a foundational piece for a franchise desperately seeking talent. On the other, he is extension-eligible this summer, currently making $40 million a year. The Nets are nowhere near contention, and just one year ago, the team took on MPJ as a salary dump in order to obtain Denver’s unprotected 2032 first-round pick.
It is quite possible that Porter Jr. has played his final game as a Brooklyn Net.
Still, that remains a worry for the offseason. For now, Porter Jr. will rehab a hamstring injury (a process the Nets know all too well), be re-evaluated in 2-3, and hopefully avoid podcasting too much as his team gets ready for the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets play their next game on Friday evening, hosting the New York Knicks. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Jurickson Profar #7 of the Atlanta Braves at bat against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in game two of a split doubleheader at Nationals Park on September 16, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Jurickson Profar is officially out for the 2026 season.
He will also be ineligible to play during the postseason.
It’s the second time Profar tested positive and was suspended for PEDs after receiving an 80-game ban last year, getting popped for Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) after appearing in Atlanta’s first four games of the season.
Jurickson Profar of the Atlanta Braves at bat against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in game two of a split doubleheader at Nationals Park on September 16, 2025 in Washington, DC. Getty Images
This time around, Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, per ESPN.
At the time of the first suspension, Profar proclaimed innocence, claiming he’d “never willingly take a banned substance.”
“This is especially painful for me because anyone who knows me and has seen me play knows I am deeply passionate about the game,” Profar said in a statement last March. “There is nothing I love more than competing with my teammates and being a fan favorite. I want to apologize to the entire Braves organization, my teammates, and the fans. It is because of my deep love and respect for this game that I would never knowingly do anything to cheat it.”
He is the sixth MLB player to receive the 162-game ban for a second PED violation since the penalty was bumped to a full season in 2014.
Profar was set to enter the second year of a three-year, $42 million deal he signed with the Braves before the 2025 season.
Jurickson Profar of the Atlanta Braves during batting practice before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Truist Park on September 26, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Getty Images
He will forfeit his entire $15 million salary for this season.
When not suspended last season, Profar hit .245/.353/.434 with 14 home runs and 43 RBIs in 80 games for Atlanta.
The former No. 1 overall prospect had a career season in 2024 before the PED suspensions, hitting .280/.380/.459 with 24 long balls while making his first career All-Star team and winning a Silver Slugger award.
Ronny Mauricio strikes out during the Mets' Feb. 28 Grapefruit League game.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Ronny Mauricio languished on the bench for the final six weeks of last season, and the Mets weren’t prepared to let that happen again.
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But Lindor returned in the last week to begin playing in the Grapefruit League, signaling his buildup toward next Thursday’s season opener at Citi Field.
“We’re getting to those days where we have to make tough decisions and this was one of them,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But we said it from the beginning: We need Ronny Mauricio to play and for him right now with everyone — knock on wood — healthy, he needs to go down to get everyday reps.”
Mauricio, 24, produced a .313/.389/.531 slash line with one homer and five RBIs in 13 exhibition games this spring. Last season, he saw extensive action at third base, but was squeezed to the bench in mid-August. He received only 20 at-bats over the final six weeks of the season.
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns later said Mauricio was kept on the major league roster to preserve his option for this season. The Mets would have otherwise lost that minor league option on Mauricio.
Mauricio missed the 2024 season while rehabbing from multiple knee surgeries.
Ronny Mauricio strikes out during the Mets’ Feb. 28 Grapefruit League game. Corey Sipkin for the NY PostRonny Mauricio is pictured during the Mets’ Feb. 25 Grapefruit League game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
“We’re very pleased with how he went about his business, what he showed here in camp,” Mendoza said. “Not only he’s healthy, but his ability to play shortstop. He got a lot of reps there and played pretty well, so that is exciting — the fact that he’s playing not only third base, but keeping shortstop as an option.”
Mendoza, a Venezuelan, said he was in tears watching Team Venezuela win the WBC final by beating Team USA, on Tuesday.
“This is something people don’t realize how big a deal it is, especially for a country that suffered so much for the last 20 years,” Mendoza said. “All around the world, there’s families that are feeling and celebrating this victory.”
Mendoza has not announced his rotation beyond Freddy Peralta on Opening Day, but it would appear Senga won’t pitch in the first series against the Pirates.
