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Aaron Judge homers, Marcus Stroman goes six strong in Yankees' 4-2 win over Braves

The Yankees wrapped up their first post-All-Star break series on a high note, defeating the Braves, 4-2, on Sunday afternoon at Truist Park.

Here are the takeaways...

-- It didn't take long for the Yankees to inflict damage on Braves starter Grant Holmes. With one out in the first inning, Aaron Judge clobbered a cutter that landed in the right-center seats for a solo home run. It was the captain's 36th blast of the season, which tied him for sixth on the franchise's all-time homers list (351) with Alex Rodriguez. Then, with two outs, the Yankees produced three straight singles, and Paul Goldschmidt bumped their lead to 2-0 with a knock to center that brought home Giancarlo Stanton.

-- With a taxed bullpen, the Yankees desperately needed length from Marcus Stroman, and much to their delight, he completed the task. While the veteran right-hander had to earn outs with prolonged battles -- he needed 65 pitches to complete the first four innings -- Stroman held the Braves scoreless through five by inducing three strikeouts, six groundouts, and five flyouts.

-- Stroman's lone blemish came during the sixth inning, when Matt Olson demolished a cutter that landed well beyond the bleachers in right. Overall, he delivered a high-quality start, producing six frames of one-run ball (five hits) with four punchouts across 95 pitches. His season ERA now sits at 5.64, and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in four straight outings since coming off the injured list.

-- Before the shutout effort from Stroman was lost in the sixth, the Yankees increased their lead to 3-0 in the top half of the frame. A leadoff single from Stanton sparked a bases-loaded rally off Holmes, who regrettably forced in a run by plunking No. 9 hitter Jorbit Vivas with two outs and an 0-1 count. Holmes avoided further trouble, producing a quality start (three runs on seven hits and three walks) only on paper.

-- Dane Dunning took over for Holmes in the seventh, but he couldn't keep the Yankees in check. After a leadoff walk to Judge and a pair of flyouts to right, Chisholm sliced a double to left-center that pushed their lead back to three, 4-1. The seventh and eighth innings belonged to Yankees relievers Ian Hamilton and Tim Hill, who retired six of a combined seven batters with two strikeouts.

-- Devin Williams was tasked with closing out the ninth, and for a second straight game, he allowed a run. This time, Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. cut the Yankees' lead to two with a mammoth leadoff homer to center that traveled 456 feet. But the early mistake didn't faze Williams, as he won an eight-pitch bout via a strikeout and then induced a pop up and groundout to retire three straight batters and earn his 14th save this season.

Game MVP: Marcus Stroman

Stroman was challenged from start to finish, and forced to empty the tank while battling harsh summer temperatures. But the heat didn't impact his performance. He provided six strong innings that the Yankees demanded.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees (55-44) will continue their six-game road trip north of the border on Monday, with the first of three games against the division-rival Blue Jays. First pitch is scheduled for 7:07 p.m.

LHP Carlos Rodón (10-6, 3.08 ERA) is slated to take the mound, opposite RHP Kevin Gausman (6-7, 4.19 ERA).

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Former Bridgeport Islanders Forward Cole Bardreau Signs In Italy

Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

Former Bridgeport Islanders forward Cole Bardreau has signed a one-year deal in Italy with HC Pustertal, it was reported earlier this week. 

Having finished his sixth season in the New York Islanders organization in 2024-25, Bardreau spent the entire year in Bridgeport, scoring four goals and adding 14 assists for 18 points in 65 regular season games. 

Having turned pro at the end of the 2014-15 season, Bardreau has appeared in 11 career NHL games, all with the Islanders, putting up a goal and an assist. Over his 10-plus seasons of pro hockey, Bardreau has gotten into 535 AHL regular season games with Bridgeport and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, collecting 97 goals and 216 points. 

With Bardreau heading off to the ICEHL, this will be his first venture overseas. While his numbers have taken a dip in over the past few AHL seasons, Bardreau is still very much capable of making an offensive impact and will be a force for HC Pustertal. 

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From The Archive: Stanley Cup Issue 2017, Game 3

Jun 3, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban (76) during the third period in game three of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

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(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors).

Jul 17, 2017/vol. 71, issue 01

GAME 3

BRIDGESTONE ARENA JUNE 3, 2017

THE FLOODGATES OPENED for the Penguins 10 seconds into the third period of Game 2 when Bryan Rust put a shot off Pekka Rinne’s pad, with the rebound coming out to Jake Guentzel, who scored to put Pittsburgh ahead for good.

After the game, the Penguins almost bragged about it being a set play, one they work on all the time.

Fast-forward three long, agonizing days for Rinne, with his team ahead 2-1 and the Pens pressing in Game 3. This time it was Phil Kessel who directed one off Rinne’s pad right to Chris Kunitz, but Rinne was ready for the rebound and robbed Kunitz, prompting P.K. Subban to get really excited and say a very bad word.

Neither Rinne nor Subban would reveal exactly what was said. At least Subban didn’t get close enough for Rinne to smell his breath.

According to Subban, Sidney Crosby pointed out that it was offensive.

“When guys chirp after the game or during the game, it’s usually about your game or something personal, but he went on to tell me that my breath smelled bad,” Subban said. “I really don’t understand why, because I used Listerine before the game, so I thought my breath smelled great.”

Rinne stepped up for his teammate’s sense of oral hygiene.

“He’s a classy guy,” Rinne said. “He flosses every day.”

For the third straight game, the Preds were indisputably the superior team on the ice. The differences in Game 3 were that Rinne was much, much better, they had some bounces go their way, and coach Peter Laviolette’s lineup changes had the desired effect.

Of more importance to the Penguins was the fact their three best offensive players – Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kessel – were rendered impotent. Crosby and Malkin didn’t have a shot between them.

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Yankees top prospect Spencer Jones continues mashing in Triple-A as trade deadline nears

It's still unclear whether or not the Yankees will treat Spencer Jones as a trade chip before the month ends, but the top prospect has wasted no time in boosting his value at the highest minor-league level.

Jones flaunted his power at the plate yet again on Sunday, smacking a pair of home runs to bring his total to an eye-popping 10 in just his 16th game for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

The first of two solo shots from the 6-foot-7 lefty came against the Red Sox' affiliate in the third inning, and traveled a whopping 445 feet to dead center with a scalding 109.6 mph exit velocity. Then, in the sixth, he crushed a ball the opposite way to left at 103.7 mph.

The transition from Double-A to Triple-A has essentially been seamless for Jones, who's listed as the Yankees' second-best prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Since receiving the promotion on June 27, the former first-round pick has hit an eye-popping .418 (28-for-67) with 20 RBI and a 1.399 OPS. He's also in the 98th percentile or greater in average exit velocity, barrel percentage, and hard hit percentage.

With clear needs at key positions and the trade deadline looming, the Yankees could appoint Jones as the centerpiece to a package for a highly-coveted asset. The 24-year-old outfielder's stock is soaring, as his 26 total home runs (in 65 games) rank tied for the minor league lead this season.

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Phillies reunite with familiar bullpen arm for a third time

Phillies reunite with familiar bullpen arm for a third time originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies reunited with a familiar bullpen arm following Sunday’s 8-2 loss to the Angels.

The team agreed to terms with 40-year old free agent reliever David Robertson, who threw for scouts on Saturday in Rhode Island. The Athletic first reported the signing.

This is the third time that the Phillies have acquired Robertson. They signed him to a two-year, 23 million dollar contract prior to the 2019 season. But Robertson appeared in only seven games before eventually undergoing Tommy John surgery.

The Phillies re-acquired Robertson at the 2022 trade deadline. He had a 2.70 ERA in 22 regular season appearances for the Phillies and a 1.17 ERA in eight postseason games.

Robertson last pitched for the Rangers in 2024, posting a 3.00 ERA in 68 appearances. This figures to be the first of several moves made by the Phillies to bolster their bullpen before the July 31st trade deadline.  

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Blackhawks' Free Bird: How Frank Nazar Went From The AHL To Chicago's Potential No. 2 Center

When you're born and raised in Hockeytown, your first NHL game at Little Caesars Arena should be a cherished memory. But by the time Frank Nazar checked that box in January 2025 with a 5-3 Chicago Blackhawks loss to the Detroit Red Wings, he was already a grizzled vet at that barn. “I played a pre-season game, a few college games – actually scored my first college goal at Little Caesars,” he said. “Every time I play there, it’s a blast. I always have, like, 100 family members, so that makes it a lot of fun. It’s great.”

Until he turned pro with the Blackhawks in April of 2024, Nazar had always stuck to his home state. He played with Detroit’s famed Honeybaked youth program, then developed in Plymouth with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program before shifting to Ann Arbor for two seasons at NCAA Michigan.

But it was a positional shift that may have had the biggest impact on Nazar’s development. Young players often move from center to the wing as they reach higher levels. Naturally speedy and somewhat undersized, Nazar went the other way – pining to play in the middle before finally getting his chance in his age-17 season. “I had asked my coaches my whole life, ‘Put me at center,’ and they always told me ‘No, you’re wing,” he said. “Finally, my first year at the NTDP, I started off as a wing, and I was not doing well at all. Actually, I was pretty horrible, I’m not going to lie. Then we had a bunch of guys get sick with COVID, and we needed a center. I told the coach, ‘Hey, put me at center.’ I was joking with him, and he’s like, ‘All right, we’ll see.’ He put me at center, and I had an amazing game and never looked back from there.”

"I think it was really, really good for my development."
- Frank Nazar on his AHL time with coach Anders Sorensen

It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish. By the end of 2020-21, Nazar was the leading scorer on a U-17 squad that also included talents such as Logan Cooley, Cutter Gauthier and Lane Hutson. He finished third on the U-18 squad in 2021-22, and that June, the Blackhawks picked him 13th overall.

Though Nazar missed the first four months of his freshman NCAA season due to injury, his Wolverines reached the Frozen Four in both of his college years. He, along with many of his NTDP mates, won his first international gold medal at the 2024 world juniors. Then, in April, he scored his first NHL goal in his pro debut against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Last fall, Nazar was assigned to AHL Rockford to learn the pro game. Playing big minutes in a first-line center role, he thrived under longtime IceHogs coach Anders Sorensen. “He allowed me to just go out there and play my game, playing all types of situations,” Nazar said. “He let me be free, as well, in creating plays and making plays and having fun out there. He let me be free in that regard, and I think it was really, really good for my development.”

When Sorensen was summoned to Chicago to replace Luke Richardson Dec. 5, Nazar followed a week later, and he never looked back. “I texted him congratulations, and he texted me right after: ‘It was a great time in Rockford’ – stuff like that – and ‘we’ll see you soon,’” Nazar said. “It was really cool to see him say something like that, and I know that he knows what I bring to the table.”

Though he managed just one point in his first 10 games after his call-up, Nazar picked up the pace from there. From Jan. 5 to the end of the season, he logged 25 points in 43 games, including five goals and nine points in Chicago’s last nine games, while playing second-line center behind Connor Bedard.

Frank Nazar (Bob Frid-Imagn Images)
"I had an amazing game and never looked back from there."
- Frank Nazar on getting a chance to play center

Brimming with confidence and looking to play more hockey, he accepted the invitation to play at the men’s worlds for the first time, and he shone. He was named one of the United States’ top three players and tied his NTDP running mate Cooley for the team lead with 12 points in 10 games as the Americans snapped a gold-medal drought that stretched all the way back to 1933.

Frank Nazar (Matt Marton-Imagn Images)

And while the Blackhawks may have struggled to put wins together last season, Nazar is a glass-half-full guy. He appreciates the historic moments that were part of his rookie season: the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, Alex Ovechkin’s record-tying goal against the Blackhawks in April and the final NHL games for newly retired teammates Pat Maroon and Alec Martinez.

With Jeff Blashill now installed behind the Chicago bench, next season is a clean slate for the team. “I know that every player,” Nazar said, “is going into the summer with a point to prove.”

This article appeared in our 2025 Champions issue. Our cover story focuses on the 2025 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, specifically the elite play of defenseman Seth Jones, along with a recap of each game of the Cup final. We also include features on Sharks center Will Smith and Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans. In addition, we give our list of the top 10 moments from the 2024-25 NHL season.

You can get it in print for free when you subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/Free today. All subscriptions include complete access to more than 76 years of articles at The Hockey News Archive.

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Marcus Smart on the Lakers? Processing a tough sight for Celtics fans

Marcus Smart on the Lakers? Processing a tough sight for Celtics fans originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Marcus Smart in purple and gold? Yeesh.

Amid a summer in which Celtics fans have already endured watching beloved members of the 2024 championship team depart as Boston tries to gets its finances in order, now comes news that Smart, a cherished former Celtic, intends to sign with the rival Los Angeles Lakers after agreeing to a buyout with the Washington Wizards.

It’s been a summer of stomach punches for Celtics fans.

Smart spent nine seasons in Boston and endeared himself here with his full-throttle ways and knack for winning plays. It sometimes felt like Smart might be a Celtic for life before the team made a pair of bold roster moves in the summer of 2023, paving the way to elusive Banner 18.

Smart becomes the latest former Celtics guard to sign with the Lakers late in his career, joining a group that includes Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, and Isaiah Thomas.

While plenty of photoshops of Smart in Lakers gear popped up with Saturday’s news, there’s an actual photo of Smart in purple and gold from his 2014 pre-draft visit there. The Lakers were slotted a pick behind Boston that year and ultimately selected Julius Randle at No. 7.

The Celtics never missed the playoffs with Smart on the roster. His shot selection could be a bit divisive, but Smart was beloved for his ability to make big-time plays in big moments and his impact in the Boston community.

Smart, who will turn 32 in late October, played just 54 games for the Grizzlies and Wizards since departing Boston. After being dealt to Memphis in the Kristaps Porzingis deal, Smart endured an injury-filled season in Memphis. He was then shipped to the lottery-chasing Wizards in a three-team swap midway through the 2024-25 season.

Smart will earn $26 million in the final year of a four-year, $77 million extension he inked with Boston in 2021. His new deal with the Lakers reportedly is for two years, $11 million.

The Lakers are beefing up around Luka Doncic, even with uncertainty about the future of LeBron James. After enduring a couple of seasons outside the playoff spotlight, Smart ought to be reenergized while joining a Lakers team that will have big goals in a loaded Western Conference.

Smart has played only one game against Boston since his departure, a December 2024 visit with Memphis.

The Celtics have watched Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Luke Kornet, and (presumably soon) Al Horford depart this summer, all while trying to get off the restrictive second apron. Smart going to the rival Lakers feels like another stomach punch in a summer of swallow-hard moves.

The twice-annual Celtics-Lakers showdowns always have a little extra juice, and seeing Smart in purple and gold will only fuel this season’s matchups.

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Aaron Judge ties A-Rod on Yankees' all-time home run list in win over Braves

Aaron Judge ties A-Rod on Yankees' all-time home run list in win over Braves originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Aaron Judge hit the first home run of his MLB career the day after Alex Rodriguez retired. Now, the two are tied on the Yankees’ all-time home run list.

Judge hit his 351st career homer in a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday, moving into a tie with A-Rod for sixth place in Yankees history.

“Just an incredible honor, especially, you know, growing up watching A-Rod for so many years and watching what he did in pinstripes,” Judge said. “He’s a legend. One of the best ever players.”

Judge trails Yankee greats Babe Ruth (659), Mickey Mantle (536), Lou Gehrig (493), Joe DiMaggio (361) and Yogi Berra (358) in career homers for New York.

Judge’s homer on Sunday was his 36th of the season. He is two behind MLB leader Cal Raleigh of the Mariners, who won the Home Run Derby in Atlanta on Monday.

Judge hit a solo shot in the first inning that traveled 409 feet to right field off Grant Holmes, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. It was his eighth home run in his last 17 games.

The Yankees travel to Toronto to face the AL East-leading Blue Jays in a three-game series starting Monday.

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Mets' Carlos Mendoza updates Tylor Megill's injury status, explains next step in road to recovery

Mets right-hander Tylor Megill is making progress on his return from a right elbow sprain, manager Carlos Mendoza explained before Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Reds.

"He's up to 120 [feet]," Mendoza said of Megill's throwing regimen. "Just continue to do the long toss and all that. So, hopefully, he starts getting on the mound here shortly."

New York transferred Megill to the 60-day injured list July 8. He originally landed on the 15-day injured list with his injury June 17 (retroactive to June 15).

Megill, 29, is 5-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 68.1 IP over 14 games this season.

His last appearance came June 14, when he allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits in 3.2 IP against the Tampa Bay Rays.

"I'm not going to push it just because I'm trying to rush and get back," Megill said June 17. "Obviously, I want to get back on the mound throwing. But it'd be dumb to rush it and then end up [with] something down the line actually hurting myself."

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Update on Jonathan Kuminga, Warriors as well as updates on Giddey, Thomas, Grimes restricted free agency

Restricted free agency often is a brutal spot for a player to find himself. While it sounds great that a player is free to sign an offer sheet with any team — which his current team has the right to match — the reality is far trickier. Players aren't moving teams in free agency much anymore (players of note tend to be traded), so teams aren't hoarding much cap space, so few teams can even make a sizable offer. Even if a team has the cap space and covets a restricted free agent, they generally have to overpay to the point that the current team will not match. Once the offer sheet is signed, the new team has to sit around for 48 hours of prime free agency signings with their money tied up until the current team decides to match or not.

It often leads to stalemates. There are four in the NBA right now, all with a similar theme (and in a few cases, dollar amounts). Let's break them down.

Jonathan Kuminga

The expectation going into the offseason was that Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors would find a sign-and-trade deal that would get Kuminga to a new home out from under Steve Kerr, and the Warriors would get something in return to help them win now in the Stephen Curry era. Both sides were ready to part ways. Except, no trade has come together.

Sacramento has been the name most often linked to Kuminga, but no deal is reportedly even close to being finalized. There are reports that the Bulls have some interest and have talked to the Warriors, but again there seems to be no traction toward a trade (Golden State does not want Nikola Vucevic back in a deal). The Suns have reportedly had early discussions about a sign-and-trade, and they are intrigued by him, but nothing is close because the Warriors want a first-round pick in any Kuminga trade, and the Suns lack draft capital, Jake Fischer reports.

Kuminga wants a deal in the four-year, $120 million range, $30 million a season or more, but the Warriors are thinking more like $20 million a year over three years, a contract they could flip in a trade at the February deadline (or next summer). That's where the standoff lies. Last season, Kuminga averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, but shot 30.5% from 3-point range with a true shooting percentage of .535, well below the league average.

If, or more likely when, the Warriors and Kuminga settle this and he returns to the team on a shorter contract, two things have to happen: 1) Steve Kerr has just to trust Kuminga, play him heavy minutes and let him play through some mistakes; 2) Kuminga has to show he deserves those minutes with a level of play where other teams would be willing to trade something of real value for him.

Cam Thomas

Cam Thomas' situation became very public this week when the Brooklyn guard ranted against The Ringer's Zach Lowe for stating publicly what the league consensus is on Thomas.

Financially, this is reportedly similar to Kuminga's situation: Thomas wants a deal in the $30 million a year range, but the Nets are thinking more like $20 million (the Nets currently have about $17 million in cap space and can create up to about $25 million by waiving a couple of players with non-guaranteed contracts). Thomas doesn't have to like it, maybe he can change it, but what Lowe said about the league's perception of him is spot on, and in a world of tax aprons, he's going to struggle to get the money he seeks from anyone. This is another situation where, whatever deal the sides eventually agree upon, Brooklyn will want it to be something they can easily flip in the future in another trade. Don't expect this one to be resolved anytime soon.

Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey put up numbers for the Bulls last season, and after the All-Star break averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists a game for a Chicago team that went 17-10 for that stretch.

See if this sounds familiar: Giddey and his representation want around $30 million a season, but Chicago's management is thinking more like $20 million a year (a more tradable contract). There are also questions around the league about whether a team can build a contender with Giddey as one of the top two options, because he is not a strong defender and needs to have the ball in his hands to be effective.

Quentin Grimes

This is the least contentious of the outstanding restricted free agents: Grimes wants to be a Sixer — he thrived after being traded there — and Philly intends to bring him back. The only question is the money and number and years for the 25-year-old, and the sides are still negotiating. Philadelphia reportedly wants a contract of at least three years.

Grimes in a rotation with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and just-drafted VJ Edgecombe could be the future in Philly (whatever happens with Joel Embiid and Paul George). This will be worked out, it just might end up being closer to training camp.

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Suarez struggles as Phillies drop series finale against Angels

Suarez struggles as Phillies drop series finale against Angels originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Starting pitching – far and away the Phillies’ biggest strength this season – was anything but in the club’s first series following the All-Star break.

Ranger Suarez was the latest starter to falter on Sunday.

Suarez didn’t make it out of the fifth inning, allowing six earned runs on eight hits. He walked four batters and hit another with a pitch. Suarez surrendered five runs in the second inning, putting the Phillies in an early hole that they couldn’t climb out of in an 8-2 loss.

The Phillies dropped two of three to the Angels, their third straight series loss. Kyle Schwarber’s grand slam on Saturday prevented them from being swept. They’ve lost six of their last nine games and their lead in the NL East is down to a half game after the Mets defeated the Reds on Sunday afternoon.

Suarez labored throughout a steamy afternoon in South Philadelphia. He needed 100 pitches to get through four and one-third innings. His season ERA increased by more than a half run, from 2.15 to 2.66.

“My command was awful today,” Suarez said through a team interpreter. “I didn’t have any control of any of my pitches and that’s the main reason we lost today.”

Suarez says he feels fine physically and declined to use Sunday’s 41-minute rain delay or the layoff over the break as excuses. It was simply a matter of command.

“The pitches weren’t there,” Suarez said. “My curveball wasn’t there, my changeup wasn’t there. I was leaving sinkers up in the middle of the zone. I don’t think it had anything to do with the extra days of rest.”

“Basically it was his command,” manager Rob Thomson said of Suarez’s struggles. “Couldn’t find his changeup. Not a whole lot of swing and miss, which is unusual for him.”

Suarez, Jesus Luzardo and Taijuan Walker combined for a 9.00 ERA in the last three games, allowing 13 earned runs in 13 innings. None of them made it through the fifth inning.

Suarez surrendered four straight singles with one out in the second inning. After a Lamonte Wade Jr. flyout, Suarez walked Mike Trout with the bases loaded on a borderline ball four call to force in a run. Taylor Ward followed with a bases-clearing double that gave the Angels a 5-0 lead.

It was a huge series for Ward, who is one of the more popular names on the trade market. He went 5-for-12 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI.

The Phillies could use a righthanded bat like Ward in their outfield. But will he be available if the Angels are in playoff contention? Los Angeles is four games out of the final wild card spot in the American League with the trade deadline 11 days away.

The Phillies offense never got on track, managing just one extra base hit – a solo home run by Otto Kemp.

“It felt good,” Kemp said of his first career homer at Citizens Bank Park. “I wish it would have been a little bit more meaningful but it felt good.”

It was a mixed bag for Kemp, who figures to get the bulk of the playing time at third base with Alec Bohm on the IL with a fractured rib. Kemp went 2-for-4 with a single in addition to his home run. But he also committed a pair of errors.  

“I just got to get my head behind the baseball a little bit and slow it down,” Kemp said of his fielding miscues. “We’ll get there, we’ll get back in the saddle.”

The Phillies continue their stretch of 21 straight interleague games following the All-Star break with a three-game series against the Red Sox beginning Monday at Citizens Bank Park.  

Zack Wheeler takes the ball in Monday’s series opener then Cristopher Sanchez goes on Tuesday. Thomson elected to give his two best starting pitchers some extra rest coming out of the break.  

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Panthers bench during final minute of 2025 Stanley Cup Final quite different than previous year

The final moments of this year’s Stanley Cup Final were quite different than the previous year.

In 2024, the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers were fighting tooth and nail in the third period of a one-goal game in Game 7, so the intensity level on the Cats’ bench was likely at an all-time high.

It wasn’t until literally the final seconds ticked off the clock that the Panthers could begin celebrating.

For a reminder of how Game 7 ended last June, check out the video below: 

This year, while the teams remained the same, the ending to the Final was quite different.

While the Panthers were back on home ice, this time it was Game 6.

The series that had started out with a pair of overtime thrillers had shifted in Florida’s favor.

After leaving Edmonton with a two-game split to open the Final, the Panthers went on to win their next three games by a combined score of 16-4. Their only defeat, a 5-4 overtime loss in Game 4, saw the Oilers mount a furious comeback after Florida went up 3-0 early.

As it turned out, Game 6 was the most Panther-dominated night of the Final.

Florida was up 2-0 after one, 3-0 after two and held a four-goal lead with five minutes to go.

There was no last-minute drama this time. No nail biting, no hand wringing. Just a countdown to when the party would start.

Earlier this week, the Panthers continued their streak of putting out some extremely cool championship content by posting footage showing Florida’s bench as the final minute ticked away during Game 6.

With the game long decided, it shows the players, seemingly in their own time, allowing themselves to come to grips with winning the Stanley Cup.

You can check out the video below:

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Photo caption: Jun 17, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; The Florida Panthers celebrate in the final seconds of game six of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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10 NHL-Drafted Players On Czech U-20 Summer Roster

The roster that the Czechs have brought to a four-team summer tournament in Vierumäki, Finland includes 10 players who have been drafted by NHL teams, including defenseman Radim Mrtka, who as taken ninth overall by the Buffalo Sabres this summer.

The roster also includes defenseman Vladimír Dravecký and winger Adam Novotný, both late-2007-born players who will be eligible to be drafted for the first time in 2026. It does not include any 2008-born players, such as winger Šimon Katolický, who are still eligible to play U-18 hockey and are preparing for this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

The Czechs lost their opening game on Sunday, 3-2 in overtime to Finland A. They play Finland B on Monday. Then, after the Finns depart overseas for the World Junior Summer Showcase, the Czechs and Swiss will play two more head-to-head games in Finland before heading home.

Helenius & Hemming Highlight Finnish U-20 Roster In Home TournamentHelenius & Hemming Highlight Finnish U-20 Roster In Home Tournament Ahead of next week’s World Junior Summer Challenge in Minnesota, a series of games involving four U-20 teams is taking place in Vierumäki, Finland on Sunday and Monday. Two teams from Finland – essentially an A-team and a B-team – will host the Czech and Swiss national junior teams once each.

Goaltenders: Adam Ebenstreit (Slavia Praha), Jakub Milota (Cape Breton, QMJHL – Nashville Predators), Ondřej Štěbeták (Portland, WHL).

Defensemen: Tomáš Galvas (Liberec), Martin Švec (Pardubice), Pavel Průšek (Třinec), Jan Skok (Škoda Plzeň), Marek Chaloupka, Matyáš Man (both Vítkovice), Jakub Fibigr (Brampton, OHL – Seattle Kraken), Max Pšenička (Portland, WHL – Utah Mammoth), Vladimír Dravecký (Rögle, SWE), Radim Mrtka (Seattle, WHL – Buffalo Sabres). 

Forwards: Štěpán Hoch (České Budějovice – Utah Mammoth), Vojtěch Čihař (Karlovy Vary – Los Angeles Kings), Petr Sikora (Třinec – Washington Capitals), Matěj Kubiesa (Třinec), Adam Novotný (Peterborough, OHL), Oskar Lisler (Kladno), Adam Jecho (Edmonton, WHL – St. Louis Blues), Ondřej Kos (Ilves Tampere, FIN – St. Louis Blues), Vít Záhejský (Kamloops, WHL), Tomáš Poletín (Pelicans Lahti, FIN – New York Islanders), Václav Nestrašil (Muskegon, USHL – Chicago Blackhawks), Richard Žemlička (SaiPa Lappeenranta, FIN), Jiří Klíma (Shawinigan, QMJHL), Adam Titlbach (Vancouver, WHL), Samuel Drančák (Red Deer, WHL).

Team Staff:

Manager: Otakar Černý. Head Coach: Patrik Augusta. Assistant Coaches: Robert Reichel, Pavel Trnka. Goaltending coach: Martin Láska.

Photo by Martin Voltr.

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