Newcastle’s Red Bull rebrand brings fresh energy to rugby’s troubled outpost

High-profile takeover has rejuvenated an ailing club, with the opportunity for Steve Diamond’s team to take flight and grow

Don’t mention the F-word. Such has been the pace of the Red Bull rebrand that one Newcastle official joked there would be spot fines for anyone who forgets it is no longer the Falcons giving them flight.

Energy drinks are in, feathered friends out, but the feelgood factor now coursing through the north-east promises more than just a dopamine hit. For the club, who only a few months ago were exploring a loan from their league rivals to stay afloat, and the revamped Prem, there is a feeling that the Red Bull revolution can be seminal.

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Zack Minasian previews how Giants will approach bullpen rebuild for 2026 season

Zack Minasian previews how Giants will approach bullpen rebuild for 2026 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

As the Giants’ 2025 season wraps up this weekend, the team is starting to look forward to the offseason and a fresh start in 2026.

Perhaps the biggest question for San Francisco heading into next year will be its bullpen, which went from stellar in the first half to shaky at best since the All-Star break.

In an interview with KNBR’s Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher on Thursday, Giants general manager Zack Minasian discussed how the front office will approach their offseason rebuild of that staff.

“We’ve shown — and teams around baseball have shown — there’s a lot of ways to do it,” Minasian explained. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be the big free-agent reliever, but then again, it can be the big free-agent reliever. We’ve seen both work. We’ve seen both not work. So, it can be minor-league free agents. It can be in trade. I think it’s fair to say we just want to get more arms, more reinforcements, be open-minded to how we use our own players.

“I think we saw Hayden Birdsong early in the year really dominate in the bullpen as a prospect starter. And we put him in the rotation, and I think he flashed it and struggled, but do we consider more young guys in the bullpen?

“Those are all questions that we’ll be asking each other as we really start to roll our sleeves up come Monday, and we’ll look at how we make this team better in 2026.”

Clearly, there are a lot of possibilities for how the Giants’ bullpen will look next spring, and it’s likely to look quite different compared to this past spring.

After having perhaps the best bullpen staff in MLB for the first few months of the season, the Giants traded away Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval at the deadline, while All-Star Randy Rodriguez was lost to Tommy John surgery. And without those trusty late-inning stalwarts, San Francisco’s relievers have cost the team several games down the stretch.

Prior to the All-Star break, San Francisco’s bullpen posted an ERA of just 3.14 — the lowest in the league. But since then, that mark has fallen to a 12th-best 4.01.

For an organization that prides itself on having a consistently top-notch bullpen, Minasian and Co. have plenty of work ahead of them to rebuild San Francisco’s staff back to its prior form.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Guardians defy odds with historic comeback for AL Central lead

CLEVELAND — Steven Kwan wasn’t looking at the American League Central standings in early July when the Cleveland Guardians were eight games under .500, in fourth place and 15 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers.

The All-Star outfielder wasn’t about to look on Wednesday night, even though the Guardians have staged the biggest comeback in baseball history.

Cleveland moved into sole possession of first place with a 5-1 victory over Detroit and became the first major league team to overcome a deficit of 15 1/2 games and take the lead in either division or league play, beating the Detroit Tigers 5-1.

Cleveland (86-72) has a one-game lead over Detroit (85-73) with four games to play. The Guardians also have the tiebreaker by taking the season series. The last time the Guardians had sole possession of the division was on April 22, when they were 14-9 and a half-game ahead of the Tigers.

The 1914 Boston Braves were 15 games back in the National League on July 4 and rallied to win by 10 1/2 games according to Elias. Since baseball went to division play in 1969, the biggest deficit overcome was 14 games by the 1978 New York Yankees to win the AL East.

“Ignorance is bliss. You kind just keep your head down and don’t worry about those kind of things,” Kwan said. “It is a long, long season, so I think if you get caught up in those things early on, you’re going to be doomed.

“Just keep pushing, keep doing what we do. Can’t jinx it either. I mean, we’ve been doing what we’ve been doing for so long, it’d be a little silly to look forward too far.”

According to FanGraphs, the Guardians had a 2.9% chance to make the postseason and a 0.2% chance to win the division on Sept. 1. After improving to an MLB-best 18-5 in September, they have a 92.3% chance for the postseason and 80.7% to take the division for the second straight year.

“It feels good, but there’s no prize for having that spot today. I’m really proud of what our guys have done to get themselves back into it and give us a chance to get into the postseason,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “We have a lot of work left to go. It’s exciting. Sure, we’re going to enjoy the win for a few hours, but we got another game tomorrow going to come out ready to go.”

A key to the Guardians’ hot September has been their pitching. The starting rotation has allowed two or fewer runs in 19 consecutive games, matching the 2019 Tampa Bay Rays and 1916 New York Giants for the second-longest streak since the mound was moved.

The 1917 Chicago White Sox have the mark at 20, according to Elias.

Guardians starters are 12-0 with a 1.35 ERA during their 19-game run. Tanner Bibee improved to 3-0 in September, allowing only one run in six innings.

“I’ll be honest, I don’t think about the streak at any moment other than when you guys bring it up to me. We’re out here to win games each and every day, and those guys compete with each other,” Vogt said. “The truth is that when they take the mound, they want to give us a chance to win. And man, have they stepped up the last few weeks.”

Even though All-Star third baseman José Ramírez provided another big hit with a two-run double in the seventh inning, the Guardians have been getting unlikely contributions from the rest of the lineup.

George Valera — who made his big-league debut Sept. 1 after eight years in Cleveland’s minor-league system — hit a two-run homer in the third inning to give the Guardians the lead.

“I mean it’s great. We are playing baseball that matters right now and we’re doing everything we can to make a push,” said Valera, who has reached base safely in eight of 10 starts.

The Guardians finish with Detroit before hosting Texas in the final regular-season series.

Maple Leafs Lineup For Pre-Season Matchup Against Canadiens Revealed And Where To Watch

The Toronto Maple Leafs will visit the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on Thursday as they drop the puck on their third pre-season game.

As is usual, the Maple Leafs will dress mostly second-string players alongside the mandated minimum of NHL veterans. The Canadiens are expected to ice an NHL-loaded lineup.

Noteworthy is the inclusion of Easton Cowan, who will play in his third consecutive pre-season game. Toronto’s top prospect has impressed through the first week of training camp, earning praise from teammates and head coach Craig Berube.

Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann, David Kampf, and Dakota Joshua highlight the everyday NHLers on Toronto’s roster.

None of Toronto’s projected top-six defensemen will dress; Dakota Mermis and Philippe Myers will instead get the top defensive assignments.

Goaltender Dennis Hildeby is slated to start in Montreal, drawing attention following Joseph Woll's indefinite departure to tend to a personal family matter. Hildeby made 23 saves on 23 shots in 40 minutes of work during Toronto’s 3-2 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena.

'We're All Here For Him': Maple Leafs React To Joseph Woll Taking A Personal Leave of Absence, Lend Support'We're All Here For Him': Maple Leafs React To Joseph Woll Taking A Personal Leave of Absence, Lend SupportThe Toronto Maple Leafs revealed some unexpected news on Tuesday when they announced that goaltender Joseph Woll had stepped away to deal with a personal family issue.

Puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on TSN4 in Toronto’s viewing region, while Canadiens fans will tune in on TSN2.

What the Leafs can expect from the Canadiens tonight

The Leafs' veterans like Lorentz and Laughton will have a tough test on their hands going up against Canadiens defenseman Noah Dobson, acquired from the New York Islanders, in addition to the likes of Russian star Ivan Demidov.

"I know Dobson's been around a little bit, but this Demidov kid seems pretty electric when he's got the puck on his stick," Lorentz said Thursday morning "So it's going to be a good test for the veterans that we got in the group tonight, it's going to be a good test for the young guys to see what these young world-class players are really all about."

Laughton, acquired by the Maple Leafs at the NHL trade deadline from the Philadelphia Flyers, will get his first taste of Toronto vs. Montreal.

"I haven't been part of much here so far, so I'm excited to get into it. Great building to play in, so it's always fun going there," Laughton said. "I haven't seen too much of those new guys there (in Montreal), they've got some skill up front. They got a ton of speed, and adding Dobson, I think, helps their back and big guy that can move the puck. And they got a good goalie. So it's a good team and a younger team, but, yeah, excited to go there today."

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NHL Rumor Roundup: Red Wings Linked To Quinn Hughes, Flames Not Ruling Out Signing Rasmus Andersson

Last week, Ben Kuzma of The Provincereported the Detroit Red Wings were among the clubs monitoring Quinn Hughes' situation with the Vancouver Canucks this season.

Hughes' future in Vancouver has been the subject of ongoing speculation since the spring, after Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford said his captain would one day like to play alongside his brothersJack and Luke, who both belong to the New Jersey Devils.

The Canucks aren't shopping Hughes, who is signed through 2026-27. However, this season could be crucial in determining his fate. If they miss the playoffs again, the 25-year-old defenseman could be reluctant to sign a contract extension, forcing the Canucks to consider trading him.

Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now pointed out Hughes' ties to Michigan, including playing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth and with the NCAA's Michigan Wolverines.

If Hughes were interested in playing for the Red Wings, Duff believes they should make a serious trade bid next summer. That would include offering up top prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka in a package deal.

PuckPedia indicates that Hughes lacks no-trade protection, meaning the Canucks can ship him to the highest bidder. However, if the Wings become one of them, they must ensure he's willing to sign an extension.

NHL's Biggest Trade Bait With 2025-26 Season Almost HereNHL's Biggest Trade Bait With 2025-26 Season Almost HereIt is an exciting time for hockey fans with the new season approaching. Soon, NHL teams will be back to playing regular-season hockey, as it officially begins Oct. 7. 

Turning to the Calgary Flames, they seemed headed toward an amicable parting of ways with Rasmus Andersson.

The 28-year-old defenseman is UFA-eligible next July, and contract extension talks broke down in June, sparking speculation about possible trade destinations.

Andersson denied he only wanted to be traded to the Vegas Golden Knights, calling it “fake information.” While this season could be his last with the Flames, he doesn't believe it will distract his teammates.

TSN's Pierre LeBrun believes Andersson is likely to be moved by the March 6 NHL trade deadline. However, he reported that neither side has fully closed the door on a contract extension.

LeBrun believes Andersson might be open to an eight-year contract, but doesn't think the Flames are willing to go that long. Andersson turns 29 in October, which explains their reluctance.

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.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: An Open Spot in the Top Nine

The Anaheim Ducks are now a week into their 2025-26 training camp and are still reportedly far apart in negotiations with projected second-line center Mason McTavish on a contract extension.

The Ducks don’t have many position battles to speak of heading into the season, at least not in terms of impact roles.

With McTavish in the lineup, the Ducks’ top nine forward group is relatively set, consisting of himself, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Troy Terry, Alex Killorn, Ryan Strome, Frank Vatrano, Chris Kreider, and Mikael Granlund.

Preseason: Takeaways from the Anaheim Ducks 3-1 Loss to the Los Angeles Kings

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 6-1 Win over the Mammoth

Preseason: Takeaways from the Ducks 3-0 Loss to the Kings

Through the unknown duration of McTavish’s absence, however disappointing on a macro level, it allows an opportunity for a hungry forward to earn a look in the top nine.

Beckett Sennecke

The most substantial benefactor could come in the form of 2024 third-overall draft pick Beckett Sennecke, who played back-to-back games to open the exhibition season, including in Monday’s 6-1 win over the Utah Mammoth, when he scored tenaciously off the rush. He was slotted on a potent line centered by Leo Carlsson and opposite Chris Kreider.

“He’s got some skill. He’s got a lot of nice things to his game,” Ducks new head coach Joel Quenneville said of Sennecke after Monday’s win. “The growth in a young player taking that next big step is their consistency. Learn how to be a good pro.

“The tendencies from junior, you gotta make sure you take the right habits with you. But, he showed some really good flashes and we like the way he’s progressing in camp.”

After signing his ELC in the summer of 2024, Sennecke’s only options for the 2025-26 season are to either play in the NHL or head back to the CHL to play for the Oshawa Generals.

To make the team out of camp, Sennecke needs to prove, beyond any doubt, that he’s not only NHL-ready but can have a positive nightly impact. Especially because the stated mandate from the team is to make the playoffs this season.

To this point, he’s left something to be desired. He’s flashed his trademark skill, has had some extended puck touches, and appeared dangerous multiple times, but his puck management and fundamental defensive tendencies have proved costly at both the “Golden State Rookie Faceoff” and in his two preseason games.

As with anything, these are only exhibition games and not many overarching conclusions should be reached, but these are the opportunities for young players like Sennecke to earn spots on NHL rosters.

Sam Colangelo and Nikita Nesterenko

Though spending the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls, both Nikita Nesterenko and Sam Colangelo were given extended looks with with Ducks last season.

Nesterenko tallied six points (4-2=6) in 20 games over two separate NHL stints, while Colangelo notched 12 points (10-2=12) in 32 games over three stints.

Neither player has a prototypical fourth-line skill set, though they’ve both worked tirelessly to improve those aspects of their games; they are perhaps more suited for traditional top-nine roles.

Colangelo has added levels of battle and puck possession prowess while showing a scoring touch at every level he’s played.

“I think I proved last year I could play in the top nine, but that doesn’t really mean anything now,” Colangelo said at training camp. “It’s a fresh slate, a new coaching staff, so I’m just trying to bring it every day and take that spot.

“Obviously, it sucks with Mac not being here as one of my best friends, but like everyone said, it’s kind of part of the business, and I know when he shows up, he’ll be ready to go.”

Nesterenko uses his feet to create plays and provides more of a transition element with layers of playmaking and creativity.

Ryan Poehling

The Ducks brought in Ryan Poehling as the NHL piece of the trade that sent Trevor Zegras to the Philadelphia Flyers.

The anticipation was (and remains) that Poehling would slot into the fourth-line center spot. However, he, like Nesterenko and Colangelo, has shown more offensive upside to his game than that of a typical fourth-liner, as he’s coming off of his most productive season a year ago, when he scored 31 points (12-19=31) in 68 games.

“I pride myself on a 200-foot game, and defense is something that’s very important to me and something that can help this team win. We’ve got a lot of skill guys on this team, a lot of guys that can put pucks in the back of the net.

“For myself, I think it’s just playing a 200-foot game and helping out offensively when I can, but more importantly, just shutting down the other team defensively.”

He’s a detailed fleet-of-foot center who can have an impact in every zone as well as in transition. If the Ducks decide to load up a top six with the majority of their firepower, he could, in theory, contribute to a more defensive-oriented third line with some scoring upside, a la Yanni Gourde during the Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup years.

The hope is that McTavish’s contract dispute is settled as soon as possible, but this window could be seen as an audition of sorts for those third/fourth line bubble players should injury occur at some point in the season.

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Zellweger, Mintyukov to Benefit Most from New Coaching Staff, Systems

Anaheim Ducks Training Camp: Right Shot Defense Position Battle

Providence's Stellar Scoring Depth From Last Season Could Improve With Newcomers

The Providence Bruins are going to have a boatload of talent going into next season, specifically offensively. For the 2025-24 campaign, their top-six forward group, and maybe even deeper, will be littered with NHL-fringe players.

Last season, Providence finished eighth in the overall AHL standings, registering 90 points and a 41-23-8 record. With that, they advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs, but were eliminated by the Charlotte Checkers in the Atlantic Division semifinal, losing in five games.

The Bruins’ offense was already one of their strong suits last season. They finished fifth overall in goals scored with 240, averaging 3.33 goals per game. They also had the best power-play percentage in the Eastern Conference - third-best in the entire league - registering 21.4 percent.

Providence lost two of its top five scorers from last season in Vinni Lettieri and Tyler Pitlick. However, center Georgii Merkulov, their leading scorer from last season with 54 points, remains. On top of that, center Patrick Brown and Riley Tufte are also sticking around as they signed one-year contracts in the off-season.

Coach Ryan Mougenel won’t have to worry about making up for lost scoring because they’ll be receiving a few players who will only bolster their attack.

Five AHL Coaches Nearing Promotions To The NHLFive AHL Coaches Nearing Promotions To The NHLOftentimes, when an NHL coach is fired or removed from their role in any fashion, it’s natural to immediately look for candidates who are next in line to take that job. The obvious picks are outside hires who have NHL experience and who are one or two years removed from an NHL coaching position.

Along with the previously listed players, Providence will still have Matthew Poitras, Fraser Minten, Fabian Lysell and others on the roster. But still coming in are center Alex Steeves and right winger Matej Blumel.

Matthew Poitras (Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images)

Steeves is coming off the best season of his four-year pro-hockey career. He scored 36 goals and 62 points in 59 games for the Toronto Marlies last season. He finished second in the league in goals and eighth in points. He also made a few NHL appearances for the Toronto Maple Leafs in each of those four years.

The one player who had more goals than Steeves last season was also picked up by the Bruins organization in Blumel. The Czech right winger scored a league-leading 39 goals, but also ended up second in the AHL in points with 72 to his name. He was just one point behind San Jose Barracuda center Andrew Poturalski, who is now a member of Omsk of the KHL.

There’s no denying that a handful of those players who make up Providence’s scoring depth will get looks with the NHL’s Boston Bruins. But, in the big picture, this team should be reaching new heights this coming season.

Check out our AHL to KHL signing tracker and AHL Free Agency signing tracker.        

Mets at Cubs: How to watch on SNY on Sept. 25, 2025

The Mets conclude a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday at 7:40 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...


Mets Notes

  • Pete Alonso is hitting .327/.372/.600 with eight home runs, six doubles, and 20 RBI in 121 plate appearances over 27 games dating back to Aug. 26
  • In 10.2 innings over eight appearances this month, Edwin Diaz has allowed one run on five hits while walking three and striking out 17
  • Nolan McLean has a 1.27 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 46 strikeouts in 42.2 innings over his first seven major league starts

METS
CUBS
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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here.

Mets 2025 MLB Wild Card Watch: Playoff odds, standings, matchups, and more for Sept. 26

With three games remaining in the regular season, the Mets are looking to secure the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.

The Reds hold the tiebreaker over the Mets due to winning the season series. The tiebreaker between the Mets and Diamondbacks will likely be based on intradivision record since the two clubs split the season series.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of play on Sept. 26...


Mets: 82-77, 1.0 game up on Reds and 2.0 games up on Diamondbacks for third Wild Card

Next up: @ Marlins, Friday at 7:10 p.m. on WPIX (Brandon Sproat vs. Sandy Alcantara)
Latest result: 8-5 win over Cubs on Thursday
Remaining schedule: 3 @ MIA
Odds to make playoffs: 78.1 percent

Reds: 81-78, 1.0 game back of Mets

Next up: @ Brewers, Friday at 8:10 p.m. (Zack Littell vs. Quinn Priester)
Latest result: 2-1 win over Pirates on Thursday
Remaining schedule: 3 @ MIL
Odds to make playoffs: 19.7 percent

Diamondbacks: 80-79, 2.0 games back of Mets

Next up: @ Padres, Friday at 9:40 p.m. (Zac Gallen vs. Yu Darvish)
Latest result: 8-0 loss to Dodgers on Thursday
Remaining schedule: 3 @ SD
Odds to make playoffs: 2.1 percent

Blues Defenseman Tyler Tucker Has Arrived Into A Well-Deserved Top Six Role … Finally

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- These days when entering the St. Louis Blues locker room, veer to the right and there’s defenseman Tyler Tucker, low-keyed as usual.

But there’s a difference these days: there’s smiles and laughter to go along with it, and for good reason.

For the first time in his NHL career, the 25-year-old can finally feel a bit comfortable with his surroundings; he can feel comfortable what he’s doing and most importantly, he can finally feel at home.

The NHL has always been the destination, but it’s been quite the journey for the Blues’ seventh-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.

This is Tucker’s eighth training camp, and in the previous seven, it’s always been about proving himself. There’s never been a guarantee he would land a job in the NHL.

But that’s all changed in the past year or so, so much so that instead of chasing after someone else’s job, now other’s are chasing Tucker’s position, and that’s OK with him. Because since he arrived at his first Blues training camp in 2018, it’s been quite the ride.

“It’s been a long journey but well worth it,” Tucker said.

The 6-foot-1, 204-pound left-handed shot is healthy again after the most unfortunate of injuries, a right knee injury late in the third period of Game 4 of the Western Conference first round against the Winnipeg Jets and part of the Blues’ top six and most likely in the opening night lineup.

Through ups and downs, learning on the fly and good and bad play, recalls and options back to the American Hockey League to exceptional play, especially last season under Jim Montgomery and when inserted into the playoffs, Tucker has arrived on the scene as one of the boys.

“I feel like I’ve obviously taken a lot of steps and then had a little setback,” Tucker said. “Just kind of keep on proving throughout the camp and into the preseason and what not. Just trying to get better every day is big for me, and playing with confidence.”

Confidence. It’s a word players often speak of, but it’s so vital to one’s success. Tucker’s confidence has obviously soared within the past year and he felt the momentum on his side finally. And instead of shying away from it, he’s looked back on seven-plus years of blood, sweat and tears and learned to embrace the pot of gold.

“He definitely has worked for everything he’s got, and he’s done it the hard way,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said of Tucker. “The hard way is fighting guys, blocking shots and playing a hard game, obviously which he needs to play. And then a little bit of up and down and up and down. You can tell he feels more comfortable and I think you’re going to get a really good ‘Tucks’ this year. He’s one helluva teammate and normally me saying it, the majority of the guys in this locker room would say you’d take Tyler Tucker as a teammate every single day of the week.

“He actually has one of the best sticks of getting guys, and getting in guys’ faces and just being reliable with his body and his stick and breaking up plays and he’s very good at it.”

Tucker’s momentum built with a strong showing with Springfield of the AHL last season when he put up 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games and a plus-6. When he got recalled on Dec. 19, 2024 and Montgomery was hired a week later on Dec. 25, there was no turning back. He played 38 games in the regular season and put up seven points (three goals, four assists) averaging 14:35 minutes per game but a steady, reliable skater on the Blues’ third pairing.

“I got to play a lot of games with a very experienced D-partner in (Ryan) Suter, and that was a big help,” Tucker said. “I feel like you learn a lot of little things. Not the flashy things or anything, but just simple, little things that you take and they go a long way, I feel like, throughout a series or throughout multiple games. So I think that’s the biggest thing. Other than that, confidence is one of the biggest things for me.”

Tucker didn’t open the series against the Jets but entered it in Game 2 and had he not been injured, likely would have stayed in the entirety of that series. His style of play helped change the complexion for the Blues that ultimately turned it into a seven-game series after losing Games 1-2 on the road.

“He played to his strengths. He knows who he is,” Montgomery said. “He was physical, but also, he’s a hockey player. He’s around the puck. His instincts take him to where the puck’s going to be. So he’s either ending plays defensively or offensively, he’s keeping pucks alive for us.”

But when Tucker’s right knee buckled toe-picking a check in the D-zone corner against Brandon Tanev, his playoff and season ended in a snap.

“Obviously tough,” Tucker said. “I felt like I was playing real good hockey towards the end. Tough to go down, obviously kind of in a meaningless game towards the end of the period. Just sucks, but happy to be back, happy with all the rehab and what not, hard work, stuff I did in the summer paid off and just happy to be back on the ice.”

Tucker is healthy, and barring any change in tactics, he will open the season on the third D-pairing with newly-acquired Logan Mailloux.

“I’ve played against him in the minors,” Tucker said. “Obviously see what he did in junior. Very, very talented player. Big guy with a lot of skill. Those are very hard to come by. Obviously just try and get him the puck and he’ll do good things with it. We’ve spent a lot of time here in the last month or so. I feel like I know him pretty well. He came in and we’ve been friends right away. It’s been nice. He’s super easy to get along with. I’m sure everyone can tell you it’s been a real easy transition for him.

“I feel good, really good. Obviously a long summer, a lot of rehab, a lot of boring stuff. I feel ready to go. Obviously first game in a while in Columbus there (last Sunday), but it felt good. Everything with the knee is going well.

“It definitely took some time. Probably two-, two-and-a-half months before I kind of started back to regular training and what not. Obviously I was in the gym, but doing more so rehab and knee-specific exercises and trying to rebuild my muscles and what not rather than just lifting with the other guys, team aspect of the gym in the summer. It went well. Obviously very thankful for the team to help me get back.”

The Blues know who Tucker is, big, strong, physical and willing to drop gloves. But what about his offense? Did he show something last season that can help putting pucks into the net on a more frequent basis? This shot against Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets that turned out to be the game-winner in Game 4 speaks volumes:

“I think it’s very underrated because the things he did offensively last year, I don’t know if he had three or four goals, but he had opportunities to have a lot more and he gets pucks through and we had a lot of almost-tips,” Montgomery said. “He’s looking for sticks and stuff. Very underrated offensively.”

“Whenever I’ve gotten the opportunities to be an offensive guy, I like doing that,” Tucker said. “It’s kind of how I played in juniors, but I’m just worried about taking care of my own end first and then if those opportunities present themselves, I’ll take them.”

Now the big question: how does Tucker build off that strong momentum gained last year? If he can find that success again, his ceiling is waiting.

“I think just continue where I left off,” he said. “Towards the end of the summer, I felt like I was a little behind. So just trying to ramp things up, keep getting better every day, trusting myself and playing with confidence is a big key for me. I thought especially down the stretch last year, that was a huge thing in my game is I felt confident with the puck, playing and doing things … not to say I normally don’t feel comfortable with but not as comfortable. I think just building and keep going in the right direction, trusting myself, trusting my instincts, just simple things. Obviously when you get hurt, you feel like you’re a long ways out. But I feel like I’m right around the corner.”

The Blues hope so.

Pius Suter Pius Suter "Did The Homework," Feels He Found Right Fit With St. Louis BluesMARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the initial floodgates to free agency opened on July 1 and NHL teams had their checkbooks out, sometimes there would always be someone that would fall through the cracks, perhaps not making a hasty decision and wanting to take some time to contemplate one’s next destination. Blues First-Round Pick Snuggerud Injured In Practice, Lucic Also Hurt; Each Day To Day Blues First-Round Pick Snuggerud Injured In Practice, Lucic Also Hurt; Each Day To Day MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- The St. Louis Blues were hit with a bit of their first injury bug during training camp. Blues Coach Praises Jordan Kyrou For Maturity And Defensive HabitsBlues Coach Praises Jordan Kyrou For Maturity And Defensive HabitsSt. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou is entering his sixth full season as an NHL player, and the book is out on his skill, but the talented forward has matured and improved on other aspects of his game, according to coach Jim Montgomery. 

Blue Jackets Overpower Penguins In Preseason Game #4

Yegor Chinakhov, Jake Christiansen, Kent Johnson, and Dante Fabbro provided the offense, and Jet Greaves stopped 24 of 25 Pens shots in the 4-1 CBJ win on Wednesday night. 

Jet Greaves got to play the entire 60 minutes and played really well at times, flashing his lightning-quick glove more than a few times. 

Head Coach Dean Evason raved about the play of defenseman Jake Christiansen's play the last two nights. Evason said, "We just had a lengthy conversation about how well he played yesterday and today, how hard he played, how detailed he played, how gritty he played." Kent Johnson also said that although he has an offensive side to his game, he knows his role in the NHL and does it well. 

Jake Christiansen is going to make Don Waddell and Dean Evason's jobs hard. 

Final Stats

Courtesy of CBJ APP

Player Stats

  • Yegor Chinakhov scored his first goal of the preseason and had an assist.
  • Jake Christiansen scored his first goal, which was on the power play.
  • Kent Johnson scored a power play goal.
  • Dante Fabbro scored a shorthanded empty net goal and had an assist.
  • Zach Werenski recorded two assists.
  • Kirill Marchenko had an assist.
  • Charlie Coyle tallied his first assist.
  • Jet Greaves made 24 saves on the night.

Team Stats

  • The Jackets power play went 2/7 on the night.
  • The Columbus PK stopped all five Penguin power plays.
  • Columbus won 52% of the faceoffs.

Up Next: The Blue Jackets travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday night to take on Marc-André Fleury and the Pens. 

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