Follow along as we track a jam-packed Saturday of college football action.
Michigan State football injury report vs UCLA: List of injured Spartans keeps growing
Michigan State football injury report: List of injured Spartans continues to grow for game vs UCLA in Week 7.
Former Leafs, Avs Goalie Signs In Germany
Canadian goaltender Antoine Bibeau, 31, has signed a one-year contract with Red Bull Munich, the German DEL club announced recently.
“I’m very happy to now be part of the Red Bull organization in Munich,” said Bibeau. “I’ve already played in Europe for the past two seasons, where my family and I have really enjoyed it. When the offer from the Red Bulls came, my family and I quickly agreed that this was a perfect fit for everyone. My goal is quick and simple: Whenever I get the chance to play, I want to help my team win games.”
“Antoine is an internationally experienced goalie who has proven himself in a wide variety of roles – he brings calmness, consistency, and leadership qualities to a key position,” said Christian Winkler, the managing director of Red Bull Ice Hockey – a corporation that operates the Munich team and Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian-based ICEHL.
“We are very pleased that we were able to convince him to play for our club in the future. With him, our goalie quartet is now complete – which this DEL schedule in an Olympic season demands.”
In addition to Bibeau, Munich has under contract German national team goalie Mathias Niederberger, Simon Wolff and Matthias Bittner.
Through nine games this season, Munich sits ninth in the 14-team DEL with four wins and five losses. The team’s leading scorer is Taro Hirose with 11 points. Other ex-NHLers on the roster include forwards Tobias Rieder and Adam Brooks and defenseman Ryan Murphy and Dillon Heatherington.
Ex-Canuck Heads To Germany
Canadian defenseman Akito Hirose, 26, has signed a one-year contract
with the Fischtown Pinguins, a DEL club based in Bremerhaven,
Germany.
Bibeau was born in Victoriaville, Que. and played junior hockey in the QMJHL for the Lewiston MAINEiancs, Prince Edward Island Rockets, Charlottetown Islanders and Val-d’Or Foreurs.
Bibeau was selected in the sixth round, 172nd overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. He played in the Toronto organization from 2014 to 2017, mostly for the AHL Marlies but he played two NHL games for the Leafs in 2016-17, recording a win and a loss, and a 1.99 goals-against average.
Bibeau appeared in two more NHL games for the Colorado Avalanche in 2019-20. He also played in the organizations of the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators.
Bibeau spent the 2023-24 season playing for AIK Stockholm in Sweden’s second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan, and last season for KooKoo Kouvola in Finland’s top-tier Liiga.
Leafs Prospect Impresses in SwedenToronto Maple Leafs prospect Tinus Luc
Koblar made his professional debut for Leksand on Thursday night. The young
forward quickly looked at home in the SHL, scoring his first goal already in
the opening period.
Red Wings Look to Bounce Back as Home Underdogs in Rivalry Showdown with Maple Leafs
The Detroit Red Wings look for bounce back performance when hosting one of their biggest rivals in the Toronto Maple Leafs in a primetime showdown.
It was a season opener to forget for the Red Wings as they wanted to make it as memorable as possible for the start of the franchise's 100th season but it quickly soured late in the first period. After defensive lapses led to an early 3-1 deficit heading into the second, the Wings couldn't recover as they eventually lost 5-1 while debuting their new Centennial uniforms.
Detroit looks to bounce back against a familar foe in Toronto. The Red Wings lost game 82 of the 2024-25 season in tragic fashion when blowing a 3-1 lead to the Maple Leafs entering the third period before losing 4-3 in overtime. They look to exact revenge on Saturday as well as make up for their lackluster start to the season.
It'll be their 688th meeting all-time with the Buds holding the upper hand historically with a 303-285-93-6 record. The rivalry has been neck-and-neck lately, with each team taking three wins in their last six matchups. Saturday night’s showdown will break the deadlock and show who truly owns this series.
#RedWings lines at the skate before hosting Leafs tonight (7, @FanDuelSN_DET):
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) October 11, 2025
Finnie-Larkin-Raymond
DeBrincat-Kasper-Kane
Copp-Compher-Brandsegg Nygard
Berggren-Rasmussen-Appleton
JVR-Soderblom
JVR activated today but looked like Berggren taking most reps on that line. pic.twitter.com/1pjr7dLfIr
Alex DeBrincat Reflects on Missed Chances in Red Wings' Loss to CanadiensThe ultimate fate of an NHL team during any given contest can sometimes come down to a series of bounces and what some fans would simply refer to as good or bad luck.
Lineup Storylines
The Red Wings' trio of rookies (Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin-Pellikka) held their own in their NHL debuts, avoiding costly mistakes, though their overall impact was more limited than Detroit bench boss Todd McLellan had hope. Brandsegg-Nygård saw his chances including a low slot chance that saw Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes turn the puck away.
Sandin-Pellikka played heavy minutes in the season opener (3rd-most on the team at 22:34) while Finnie wasn't given many opportunities to show what he has to offer as his linemates in captain Dylan Larkin and star winger Lucas Raymond spent a sizeable amount of time working the special teams. The trio will look to have a more impactful game on a big stage like a Saturday night primetime game against a fierce original six rival.
Rookie Trio Shows Promise Despite Tough Debuts as Red Wings Drop Season Opener to CanadiensBreaking down how Detroit’s trio of rookies handled their first NHL test against Montreal in a challenging season-opening loss.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
This will be Detroit's first look at a Toronto team without Mitch Marner as the 28-year-old superstar winger left for the Vegas Golden Knights in free agency, giving the Maple Leafs more cap space to add more players. In the process, the Buds added Utah Mammoth winger Matias Maccelli to take over Marner's role on the top line while lower in the lineup they added Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua and got back from the Golden Knights, Nick Roy as part of a sign-and-trade for Marner.
Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)
DET ML (+118) | TOR ML (-142)
DET +1.5 (-200) | TOR -1.5 (+165)
O/U 6.0 Goals
When the Red Wings and Maple Leafs face off it usually means fireworks as the two clubs have totaled six or more goals in 16 of their last 23 matchups. That means relying on certain players to find the back of the net and for the Red Wings, there’s no better bet than their top scorer, Alex DeBrincat. After generating several high-danger chances in the season opener, the Michigan native looks poised for a breakout performance. The 27-year-old also has a strong track record against the Maple Leafs, posting three goals and three assists for six points over his last seven meetings with Toronto.
On the Maple Leafs’ side, their key forwards all made an impact in the opener, highlighted by William Nylander’s standout performance with a goal and two assists for a three-point night. This time, though, it could be the captain’s turn to take over. Auston Matthews has scored in three straight games against the Red Wings and has dominated this matchup historically, tallying 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points in his last 23 contests versus Detroit.
Expect DeBrincat To Lead Red Wings in Bounce-Back Win Over Matthews, Maple LeafsDetroit's Alex DeBrincat and Toronto's Auston Matthews headline Best Bets options for Saturday's marquee matchup between the Red Wings and Leafs.
Goalie Matchup
Detroit: Cam Talbot (VS TOR: 6-5-2 record, 2.83 GAA, .901 SV% in 15 Games)
Toronto: Anthony Stolarz (VS DET: 2-0-0 record, One Goal Allowed - 0.49 GAA, .980 SV%, One Shutout in 2 Games)
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Bill Belichick apparently calls Kirk Herbstreit during ‘College GameDay’ discussion about his future at UNC
While ESPN's "College GameDay" discussed the future of Bill Belichick at North Carolina Saturday, and the inauspicious start to his stay in Chapel Hill, Belichick apparently called Kirk Herbstreit.
Steph Curry, several Warriors starters out for third preseason game vs. Lakers
Steph Curry, several Warriors starters out for third preseason game vs. Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Warriors will be without several starters for their third game of the 2025 NBA preseason.
Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford and Moses Moody all will miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, coach Steve Kerr told reporters Saturday (h/t ESPN’s Anthony Slater).
Kerr already had informed media members on Friday that Butler would be away for Sunday’s game as an excused absence, stating the reason was positive.
Meanwhile, Kerr said Curry is “banged up,” but the plan is for him to play Tuesday against the Trail Blazers in Portland.
Horford made his unofficial Warriors debut in Golden State’s preseason opener last Sunday, finishing with three points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. He was a plus-13 in 14 minutes.
Moody, after leading the Warriors with 19 points and five 3-pointers last Sunday, will miss the game in Los Angeles due to a calf issue. Kerr said Moody will undergo an MRI later Saturday, but the team believes it is minor.
The Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Quinten Post.
Strength in numbers will be tested early this season.
Cubs at Brewers – NLDS Game 5 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats
The Cubs and Brewers take the field in Milwaukee tonight for Game 5 of their National League Division series with the winner earning the right to play for the National League pennant against the Dodgers.
Neither manager has released information as to who will start the pivotal Game 5 but lets review options and take an educated guess for each side.
Chicago's options are Shota Imanaga, a bullpen game, or Cade Horton. All things being equal, the obvious choice would be Horton, but he has thrown only a handful of pitches since fracturing a rib. He is not ready to face live bats. If they choose the bullpen, all arms other than Horton and Matthew Boyd are available. If Craig Counsell is thinking of using Imanaga at all, it will more than likely be to start the game. No doubt Iamanaga's issues this postseason - an 8.10 ERA with three homers allowed in 6.2 innings - are a cause for concern.
In the other dugout, Pat Murphy, has options but each also comes with question marks. The obvious choices are Jose Quintana, Quinn Priester, or a bullpen game. Priester was rocked earlier in the series lasting just two outs in the first inning. It would be a bold choice to give him the ball. The bullpen is always a possibility and like the Cubs almost every arm is available. The logical choice, though, is Quintana. The veteran has pitched in big games throughout his 14-year career including nine postseason games. Most recently, Quintana pitched five scoreless innings last year for the Mets in their winner-take-all Wild Card series Game 3 against the Brewers.
If Pat Murphy takes a detour away from these options, he could go with his flamethrower, Jacob Misiorowski. While the manager may feel taking the mound at the start may be too big for the rookie. That said, the manager without question will go to the rookie if need be out of the bullpen.
Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game details & how to watch Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 5
- Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
- Time: 8:08PM EST
- Site: American Family Field
- City: Milwaukee, WI
- Network/Streaming: TBS
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
Odds for the Cubs at the Brewers - NLDS Game 5
The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Cubs (+119), Brewers (-145)
- Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+142)
- Total: 7.5 runs
Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Brewers
- Pitching matchup for October 11, 2025: Shota Imanaga vs. Jose Quintana
- Cubs: Shota Imanaga (Reg. Season: 9-8, 3.73 ERA)
Last outing: 10/6 at Milwaukee - 2.2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 0 BB, 3 Ks - Brewers: Jose Quintana (Reg. Season: 11-7, 3.96 ERA)
Last outing: 10/8 at Cubs - 3IP, 0ER, 2H, 1 BB, 2Ks
- Cubs: Shota Imanaga (Reg. Season: 9-8, 3.73 ERA)
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 5
- William Contreras is 5-12 (.417) with 3 HRs against Shota Imanaga in his career
- Jackson Chourio is 1-7 (.143) in his career against Imanaga
- Christian Yelich is 5-12 (.417) with 1 HR in his career against Imanaga
- Imanaga has allowed 12 HRs in his last 6 starts (34.2 innings).
- Dansby Swanson is 4-13 (.308) with 1 HR in his career against Jose Quintana
- Kyle Tucker is 2-8 (.250) with 1 HR in his career against Quintana
- Justin Turner is 7-25 (.280) with 5 RBIs in his career against Quintana
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s NLDS Game 5 between the Cubs and the Brewers
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Saturday's game between the Cubs and the Brewers:
- Moneyline: Rotoworld is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
- Spread: Rotoworld is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
- Total: Rotoworld is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.5.
Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page fromNBC
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Blackhawks Vs Canadiens: Roster, Lines, & More Ahead Of Game 3
The Chicago Blackhawks are back at home for the 2025-26 season. This, their centennial season, will begin with a game at the United Center against the Montreal Canadiens.
Chicago started their season on the road with two losses to the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins, respectively. The latter of the two came in overtime, so the Blackhawks do have one standings point.
Over the first two games, there have been some things to like about the way that the Blackhawks played, and some things that need major improvement.
3 Things We Learned From Blackhawks Season Opening Road TripThe Chicago Blackhawks are now 0-1-1 through two games to open their season. It began with two road Eastern Conference matches. Chicago lost to the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday night and dropped an overtime game 4-3 to the Boston Bruins on Thursday.
Last season, the Canadiens were really hot towards the end of the season. It earned them a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, the Blackhawks suffered two of their losses throughout their great run. Chicago will be looking to repeat that success against Montreal in their home opener.
Calder Trophy Love
The Chicago Blackhawks have forward Connor Bedard, and the Montreal Canadiens have defenseman Lane Hutson. They are the last two winners of the NHL's Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. Each of them is an impact player in their own way and will be looking to lead their teams to victory in this one.
Bedard is a shifty center who makes incredible plays and has a high-end shot. He impacts the game with his offensive tools as a center. As for Hutson, he is a dynamic offensive defenseman who can make plays at even strength while being a top-tier power play quarterback.
Expected Lines And Defense Pairs
Dach - Bedard - Burakovsky
Teravainen - Nazar - Bertuzzi
Donato - Greene - Mikheyev
Foligno - Reichel - Lafferty
Vlasic - Rinzel
Kaiser - Levshunov
Grzelcyk - Murphy
(Crevier)
Knight
Spencer Knight is the expected starter for the Blackhawks in their home opener. He was brilliant in Chicago's first game of the season, as the main reason they were even in the game at all. Without him, the Florida Panthers would have run away with the game. Instead, it was just a 3-2 loss.
Jason Dickinson is notably missing from this group. He left Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins and never returned. That is a big loss for Chicago as one of their top checking centers is missing from the lineup. Expect Ryan Greene's role on the team to increase in Dickinson's absence.
Right before the game on Thursday, the Blackhawks announced that they would dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Louis Crevier was in the lineup, and Sam Lafferty was the healthy scratch. With Jason Dickinson out, it will be interesting to see if they go that route again.
If they don't, will Lukas Reichel make his season debut? Will Sam Lafferty play, and Reichel stay out? Regardless, these are mostly what the lines are going to look like in this matchup.
UPDATE: Jeff Blashill confirmed that Lukas Reichel will make his season debut and that Jason Dickinson is expected to miss a week with an upper-body injury. Levshunov also stayed on the ice long after the morning skate ended, which is usually the sign of a healthy scratch.
How To Watch
Those looking for the game in the Chicago area can find it on CHSN. Out-of-market viewings can be found on NHL Network. The puck will drop at the United Center just after 6:00 PM CT.
Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.
5 biggest questions Yankees are facing during 2025-26 MLB offseason
October disappointment equals pointed winter evaluations and, perhaps, nowhere is that baseball equation truer than the Bronx, USA. The Yankees fell well short of their playoff goals again and now they have much to do before the optimism of spring blooms anew.
So, what are the five biggest questions facing them as they push for a World Series title in Aaron Judge’s prime?
1. Elbow Judge-ment
Anything to do with Judge’s health has outsized implications in Yankeeland, so we must start with the flexor strain in his right elbow.
It briefly put him on the injured list over the summer, though he played in 152 games.
He returned, at first as a designated hitter, and then back to right field. And he was amazing, as usual. His arm strength got better along the way, but there was trepidation about his throwing, too.
So what now?
In the clubhouse after the Yankees were eliminated, Judge was asked about his elbow and he said, “We’ll definitely do some work on it. We’ll do some work on it and get it right.”
Pressed if that meant surgery, Judge replied, “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know.”
Will this become something that significantly impacts Judge’s 2026?
2. Lineup re-up?
The Yankees were the most prolific offense in baseball over the course of 162 games, averaging 5.24 runs and blasting 274 home runs. They had enough variety that they recorded a .405 winning percentage in games they were homer-less, the third-best mark in MLB, though chasing homers is certainly a big part of their approach.
But the Blue Jays’ contact-heavy attack overwhelmed Bronx lightning in the four-game ALDS, outscoring the Yankees, 34-19. Toronto led MLB in hits and had the lowest strikeout percentage. The Yanks were 12th in hits and had the third-most strikeouts. Hmmm.
Hitting home runs is a great way to win in October -- over the 2024-25 postseasons, teams outhomering their opponents are 38-12, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs. That’s a .760 winning percentage.
But you have to hit the home runs. That was the Yankees’ great skill and yet they were outhomered in the playoffs, 10-6, while also hitting less and striking out more than their opponents. They must address that discrepancy to cover themselves in the October tournament, when top teams’ top pitchers can suppress their slugging.
Calling all free-agent contact hitters.
3. We need to talk about Anthony
Do the Yanks have a shortstop problem? Maybe.
Anthony Volpe regressed defensively and morphed into a dominant season storyline, whether it was his struggles on offense, playing through a small labrum tear in his left shoulder or the repeated votes of confidence he got from Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman.
Now that the season is over, they have to figure out the position.
Is Volpe, as the bigwigs insist, the solution? He did have an impressive 55 extra-base hits and got himself together defensively later in the season. He’s also under team control for three more years.
But he batted .212 with a .663 OPS and made 19 errors. He was also dreadful against Toronto, going 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts.
4. Go Back-to-Back with Belli?
Cody Bellinger has a $25-million opt-out and seems destined for free agency after a tremendous first season in pinstripes. He can do it all -- hit, base-running, defense -- and can play all three outfield positions plus a nifty first base. The Yanks must retain him.
Problem is, all those great qualities should make him a popular target across MLB, maybe the contract gets kooky.
There’s a lot going on in the Yankee outfield -- Judge’s elbow and the potential departures of both Bellinger and Trent Grisham, also a free agent.
Does Spencer Jones, the touted prospect who slugged 35 homers in the minors, fit in? What’s Jasson Domínguez’s role?
5. Who’s on first?
Ben Rice emerged in a big way this season, but is he the everyday first baseman going forward?
He certainly hits enough (26 homers, ridiculous hard-hit metrics, 19th-best slugging percentage in MLB). He needs to improve on defense, however.
So the Yankees should bring in a right-handed hitting complement who can provide the glove-work.
Rice can also catch and be a lefty DH, which might open more opportunities at first for a free agent, or even Bellinger, depending on how the outfield evolves.
Islanders' Jonathan Drouin suspended one game for cross-check late in season opener
The Islanders will be without one of their free agent forward additions for their second game of the season.
The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Friday that Jonathan Drouin has officially been suspended one game for his cross-check late in Thursday's season opener.
With just over 10 seconds remaining in regulation, Drouin threw a rough cross-check to the head of Penguins forward Connor Dewar during a net-front scrum.
The veteran was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct on the play.
Friday morning, the league announced that he would have a hearing, and shortly after news of his ban broke.
This is Drouin's first career suspension, but he has been fined in the past for another cross-checking incident (2022).
Prior to his absence, the winger enjoyed himself a strong debut with the Islanders, scoring the team's opening goal of the season during in the first period.
2025 NCAA college football Week 7: How to watch Michigan vs. USC tonight
USC plays Michigan this weekend for Week 7 of the NCAA football season, here's how you can tune in to the game this Saturday.
What's new about Knicks' offense heading into 2025-26 NBA season?
We’re just three games into the preseason, but it’s been a transformative stretch for the Knicks as they build up the foundations of their restructured offense under new head coach Mike Brown.
A primary reason for hiring him was to diversify and maximize an offense that finished top five last season, but steadily declined into the playoffs and stagnated too often by admission of the players running it.
We won’t see the final results until months from now, and even early returns should be taken with a grain of salt, given the undertaking of installing a new read-and-react system in a low-stakes preseason environment. Still, we can start to spot the big differences and how that might inform what this team looks like, fully formed.
Here are three major ways this Knicks offense is different from prior iterations.
Three-point emphasis
Brown wants 40 three-pointers per game out of these Knicks, a mark well above their previous 34.1 average and one met by only four other teams during the 2024-25 season. New York is currently on pace this preseason, averaging 44 behind a revamped shot diet.
A big focus for them this training camp has been getting two feet in the paint to collapse the defense and create catch-and-shoot opportunities for shooters. The Knicks have been doing more of this thanks to increased ball and player movement, pace, and cutting down on mid-range shots.
All of their top scorers have aligned early shot diets with these principles. Out of the 32 shots Jalen Brunson has taken this preseason, only two have come from the mid-range -- ditto for Karl-Anthony Towns (1 of 19), OG Anunoby (1 of 15) and even Mikal Bridges (1 for 26).
The Knicks will probably want to get a little more out of the paint and free throw line, but this is probably just a preseason thing. We’ll see how stringent these changes remain, how the personnel adjusts, and how much it boosts the offense once we’re well into the regular season.
Freelance fundamentals
One thing that looks to be consistent with last year’s approach is a reliance on freelanced offense, or trusting the talent on the court to make the right reads without relying on too many canned plays. However, where the 2025 Knicks could stagnate in their approach -- often simplifying to a pet pindown or weave to get Brunson the ball in pick-and-roll or isolation -- this year promises increased motion and sharing to generate looks.
Brown mentioned running no set plays in the Knicks’ most recent win, in an effort to familiarize them with the new system. Two major tenants of the approach are spacing principles and emphasis on movement.
New York is trying to be more diligent with spacing the floor by keeping players spread and in motion behind the arc, while also being smarter about how they cut into the paint. There were times last season when guys would be bunched up in the same corner, or cutting into each other on a drive. Hyperfocusing on the right positioning with no plays running should help deter those mistakes.
The other piece is increased player movement, including a ton of quick-hit dribble hand-offs, give-and-gos, and weak-side cuts and flares to keep the opportunities flowing with no set being run. There also seems to be an informal dribble or isolation limit, as the ball is moving much freer than in years past.
Quicker pace
This change has been a little tougher to gauge on the eye test and by the numbers. Partially from preseason obfuscation, partially because this might be the biggest new adjustment for New York’s top players, and partially because it’s not as simple. Increased pace means more fast breaks and quicker shots.
Some of the changes have been more subtle -- like Brown preaching for guys to spread out to the corners as quick as possible semi-transition, which we’re seeing the beginnings of. But the results may not look like what some expect right away.
The Knicks won’t be turning into seven seconds or less anytime soon and probably at all, but they’re trying to get more leak-outs in transition, make space for trailers, and even get into their halfcourt stuff much quicker, which may bring the biggest impact.
A big issue with last season's offense was just taking six seconds to cross halfcourt and another eight to finally begin the action. It happened often.
Again, drawing any concrete conclusions from these early games is a fruitless exercise, but they’ve given us a real look into the core tenants Brown has been preaching for this new-look offense all training camp. It may take some time to fully realize, but we can see the building blocks starting to emerge.
Panthers Den: Opening the season with a pair of tight wins, previewing Ottawa matchup
It’s time for a quick little math lesson.
What do you get when you combine The Hockey Show with the start of a new NHL season?
The answer is…the return of the Panthers Den!
During hockey season, every new episode of The Hockey Show with co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork will include a segment dedicated to the latest happenings in and around the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champs.
This week, they discussed Florida’s win on Opening Night against the Chicago Blackhawks and their victory two nights later over the Philadelphia Flyers.
Both games saw the Cats run into a hot goaltender but ultimately come out on top with the two points.
Also on this week’s show, Roy and Dave previewed Saturday’s matchup between the Panthers and their division rivals from Ottawa.
You can check out the first Panthers Den of the season in the video below:
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Mets, Yankees interested in Japanese INF Munetaka Murakami who is expected to be posted this offseason
There will be a new free agent joining the market this offseason.
Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami will be posted by the Yakult Swallows this winter, officially making him available to all 30 MLB teams, according to MLB’s Mark Feinsand.
Numerous teams are expected to be in the running for the lefty sluggers talents, and according to Nikkan Sports, both New York clubs are among them.
Murakami has been a star for the Swallows over the past eight seasons, taking home a pair of MVP awards while popping a combined 246 home runs, 165 doubles, and 681 RBI.
22 of those long balls came in an injury-riddled campaign this past season.
His biggest power display came in 2022, when he popped 56 homers and drove in 134 runs.
The 25-year-old mainly plays the hot corner, but he’s also spent time at first and DH.
For the Mets, Murakami presents an intriguing option for David Stearns to consider if slugger Pete Alonso were to leave in free agency after opting out of his deal with the club.
Stearns went to Japan to watch one of Murakami’s games earlier this year, and he launched a grand slam.
The Yankees, on the other hand, aren’t exactly a smooth fit at the moment but his powerful swing from the left-side certainly would be well suited for the short porch in the Bronx.
The Dodgers, Mariners, Phillies, Red Sox, and Giants are also expected to be in the mix.
What Islanders Matthew Schaefer Wants To Improve Upon After First Career NHL Game
EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer isn't satisfied with his NHL debut performance.
Despite recording an assist and being on the ice for all of the Islanders' three goals in 17:15 TOI, here's what he wants to do better at when he plays in his second NHL game on Saturday night against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.
Islanders No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer Becomes Youngest Defenseman To Record Point In NHL DebutPITTSBURGH, PA -- During the New York Islanders’ season opener on Thursday, 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer scored his first NHL point, marking an early milestone for the young defenseman.
"I want to end plays quicker in the D zone," Schaefer said. "I think that's a big one. Maybe get more shots through, you know, use my feet more on the blue line.
"I think that's a big thing that will come over time with confidence. But you know, things like that, getting shots through, pucks to the net. I mean things like that. I think those are all things that I can work on."
If we are being picky, Schaefer did struggle to get shots through in his first game, with just one on six attempts. Five of his shots were blocked.
The reason Schaefer was a No. 1 pick is because of how determined he is to improve each and every time his skates hit the ice.
So, don't be shocked if he gets more shots through and skates even better on Saturday night.
Puck drop is at 7 PM ET on MSGSN.