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Stone’s Third-Period Hat Trick Lifts Golden Knights Past Flames, Atop NHL Standings

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights started fast Thursday night. Their captain made sure they finished with a flourish.

Mark Stone scored three times in the third period as the Golden Knights defeated the Calgary Flames 6-2 at T-Mobile Arena, improving their home record against the Pacific Division rival to 14-2-0.

Brett Howden opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the game, Jack Eichel added a shorthanded goal and Braeden Bowman contributed a power-play tally as Vegas improved to 7-2-0. The Golden Knights’ fifth win in six games gave them 14 points and put them atop the NHL standings.

“I like playing hockey. I like playing in this league. I like scoring goals. So sure, why not?” Stone said when asked about the satisfaction of another hat trick. “I like winning, and we won.”

Calgary, which arrived after snapping a season-opening five-game losing streak Tuesday at Anaheim, fell to 1-6-0.

The Golden Knights wasted little time disrupting whatever confidence the Flames brought from that breakthrough.

Mitch Marner set up Howden’s opening goal, extending his assist streak to five games and immediately putting Calgary in chase mode.

“I thought more than the goal, I thought we just played the right way,” Bowman said. “I thought we got after their D and hunted them a little bit, and that usually turns out successful for us.”

Eichel doubled the lead with an unassisted shorthanded goal later in the opening period, sending Vegas into the first intermission ahead 2-0.

Calgary briefly tightened the game in the second when defenseman Jacob Middleton scored shorthanded, cutting the Golden Knights’ lead to one.

Bowman answered on the power play, restoring the two-goal cushion with assists from Ivan Barbashev and William Karlsson.

“They got one there in the PK and thought we did a good job getting back out and getting right back at it,” Bowman said.

Stone pointed to that response as one of the sequences that mattered more than the final margin suggested. Calgary had a chance to build momentum, but Vegas’ second power-play unit quickly erased it.

Then Stone took over.

The captain scored 1:06 into the final period to extend the lead to 4-1, then struck again at 12:10. He completed his hat trick at 16:13, with Eichel and Marner collecting the assists.

Matt Coronato scored for Calgary with 1:20 remaining, assisted by Morgan Frost and Matvei Gridin, to complete the scoring.

Barbashev credited his linemates’ intelligence and execution for making the game easier around them.

“Just the way they played today, five versus five, was outstanding,” Barbashev said.

Stone supplied all of Vegas’ offense over the final 20 minutes, turning a competitive game into a comfortable victory. The Golden Knights entered the night with a 9-4 scoring advantage in third periods and pushed that margin to 13-5.

Despite the result, Stone saw room for improvement, particularly with the power play’s entries.

“When we get possession in their end and move the puck around, we had some really, really good chances,” Stone said. “But for whatever reason, our entries need to be cleaned up a bit. So we’ll keep working on it.”

Vegas improved its all-time record against Calgary to 20-9-2 after winning three of four meetings last season, including both home games.

KEY MOMENT: Bowman's Response

Bowman’s power-play goal restored order after Calgary threatened to turn a strong Vegas start into a much tighter game. Middleton’s shorthanded tally had trimmed the lead to 2-1, but Bowman answered with help from Barbashev and Karlsson. The response sent the Golden Knights into the second intermission with a two-goal cushion, setting the stage for Stone’s three-goal third period.

KEY STAT: Marner's Five

Five consecutive games with an assist for Marner, whose setup on Howden’s goal gave Vegas an advantage just 25 seconds into the opening period. He added another assist on Stone’s hat-trick goal, giving him six during that five-game stretch. From helping establish the early lead to contributing to Vegas’ final tally, Marner continued to provide consistent production.

WHAT A KNIGHT: The Captain

Stone turned a two-goal lead into a runaway victory, scoring three in the third period. His first, just 1:06 after the intermission, immediately put Calgary further behind. His next two eliminated any remaining suspense, with Eichel and Marner combining to help him complete the hat trick. On a night when Vegas received contributions throughout its lineup, the captain delivered the defining performance.

UP NEXT

The Golden Knights host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT.

PHOTO CAPTION

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) scores against Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) in the first period at T-Mobile Arena.

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Miguel Rojas announces his retirement following Dodgers' NLCS loss

Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas is unable to make a play on a ground ball during the second inning of Game 3.
Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas is unable to make a play on a ground ball during the second inning of Game 3 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Miguel Rojas didn’t want to take his cleats off.

The veteran infielder stood by his locker at Dodger Stadium, his eyes red and watery, his uniform covered in dirt, knowing that when he pulled them off, it would be for the last time.

“This is it, guys,” he said, announcing his retirement, after the Dodgers were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series on Thursday. “It’s been a lot, the last four years of my life here. And obviously making my debut here in 2014 changed my life, not just for me but for my whole family. They took care of my son, my daughter, my wife, and everybody in my family. It’s really amazing what I can think about, what happened to me and to my family the last few years.”

Rojas addressed the team after the 6-4 loss to the Brewers. He said he was going to stay loyal to the Dodgers organization but in a different role.

Read more:Dodgers' three-peat dream dies with Game 4 NLCS loss to 'relentless' Brewers

Rojas, 37, has a player development role lined up, the first step in a post-playing career that he hopes eventually will land him in a manager’s seat.

“I just wanted to say thank you to all the veteran guys for allowing me to be myself when I got here, even though I didn’t play one game for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last eight or nine years before I came here,” Rojas said. “They allowed me to be the leader that I wanted to be, the person that I wanted to change the culture and kind of give a little bit more of a culture, chemistry to the clubhouse. I feel like that is going to be a legacy that I wanted to leave here, other than my performance on the field. ... I want them to remember me as a guy who always did everything possible to help my teammates win and to help the team get better every single day.”

Rojas put together a 13-year career split between the Dodgers and Miami Marlins. He had a career .260 batting average, won two World Series rings and three straight Roy Campanella Awards for his leadership in the Dodgers’ clubhouse.

Miguel Rojas hits a single during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Wednesday.
Miguel Rojas hits a single during Game 3 of the NLCS against the Brewers on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“He built a legacy that we’ll be talking about Miguel Rojas for a long time,” veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “He impacted [so] many people in this organization. I wish we could have gotten him a third one.”

After Rojas made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2014, the team traded him to the Marlins. He played eight seasons there. Then in 2023, the Marlins traded him back to the Dodgers.

Rojas, a key contributor in the Dodgers’ back-to-back championship seasons, saved the Dodgers’ 2025 World Series with his Game 7 home run. He re-signed in December for what was expected to be his last season.

Right before the playoffs, Rojas, who is from Venezuela, took his U.S. citizenship test. He said the person administering his interview didn’t realize he was a baseball player until she asked who his employer was.

“I actually wanted it to be that way because I didn’t want to have any kind of preference or anything because this process has nothing to do with baseball,” he said last week. “I felt like, as a citizen, as a human being, I always wanted to be a good person off the field and not let my performance influence anything, because we all know how hard this game can be and how high you can be and how low you can be one day. I don’t want to be judged by my performance on the field. I want to be judged by the person I am and my preparation.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Miguel Rojas retires as a player after 13 seasons

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 14: Miguel Rojas #72 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during Game Three of the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers clubhouse after they lost Game 4 of the National League Championship Series was closed for quite some time before opening to media. Once the clubhouse opened, some players were getting dressed or already dressed, winding down after the end of their season. Infielder Miguel Rojas was still at his locker in full uniform, as Thursday was his last game after 13 major league seasons.

“This is it. I’m going to move on and go to the next step of my life in the baseball world. Today was the last time I wore the uniform as a player and my cleats, it’s really hard to take them off right now,” Rojas said, still wearing the cleats. “It’s been a lot, the last four years of my life here, and obviously making my debut in 2014 changed my life, and not just for me, but for my whole family. They took care of my son, my daughter, my wife, and everybody in my family. It’s really amazing when I think about what happened to me and my family the last few years.”

Rojas reached base in each of his final two major league plate appearances, with a single and walk in Game 3 of the NLCS on Wednesday. This postseason all seven of his plate appearances came against left-handed pitching, and he had a double to go with that single and walk. Rojas this year hit .293/.340/.469 with a 121 wRC+ against left-handed pitching. He played two innings at second base in Game 4 but did not bat.

Rojas originally signed at age 16 as an international amateur free agent with the Cincinnati Reds in 2005, and played in the Reds system before signing with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent in November 2012. He debuted with the Dodgers in 2014, and made the key defensive play at third base to preserve Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter that year.

Traded to the Marlins at the 2014 winter meetings, Rojas in Miami found his way as a regular player for most of his eight seasons there.

The Dodgers traded for Rojas in January 2023, and he thrived over his last four seasons in a variety of roles. He filled in at shortstop when needed, also played all over the infield, and did whatever was asked, including helping Miguel Vargas try to learn a new position at second base, then helped Mookie Betts transition from the outfield to shortstop as a veteran.

“They allowed me to be the leader I want to be, the person that I wanted to change the culture, give a little bit more of the culture, the feel in the clubhouse. I feel that is going to be a legacy,” Rojas said Thursday. “I want them to remember me as a guy who always did everything possible to help my teammates win, and help my team get better every single day.”

Rojas hit the game-tying home run in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, which is forever etched in Dodgers lore. But he also was voted by his teammates as the club’s Roy Campanella Award for his leadership and spirt in each of the last three seasons.

“Nobody when I came to this organization asked me, ‘Hey we want you to be a leader’ or ‘We want you to be a mentor.’ It’s just who I want to be and who I want to be for the future,” Rojas told True Blue LA in 2024. “After my career is over, I’m trying to stay on the field, to stay coaching, and I want to be a part of an organization that wants to win.”

Rojas last December signed a $5.5 million contract to return to the Dodgers with the expectation that he would then transition after this season into the Dodgers front office, likely with an emphasis on player development. What that role is has yet to be determined.

“I talked to the guys, it was really emotional after the game. I told them that I’m going to be loyal, I want to stay here. I want to wear this uniform or this logo in a different capacity and continue to make the organization better,” Rojas said. “But this is it, this is it as a player.”

“I think what we created is something bigger than winning or losing the last game of the year,” the 37-year-old added. “It’s a culture, it’s a winning mentality, a team that the people of Los Angeles and every part of the world can be proud of.”

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Watch Brewers' wild celebrations for NL pennant after sweeping Dodgers

The party is on at Dodger Stadium.

The Milwaukee Brewers captured the National League pennant Thursday night by sweeping the two-time champion Dodgers in Los Angeles.

It's been 44 years since the Brewers went to their first − and until this year only − World Series. They played in a different league entirely back then, winning the American League championship in 1982.

So, it's been a long time. The last 10 years in particular have provided plenty of heartbreak, with the Brewers losing in the NLCS twice to the Dodgers − last year by sweep.

The Brew Crew arrived in 2026, though, and years of frustration melted away as the celebration commenced.

Here's a quick look at the scene as the Brewers celebrated winning the 2026 NL championship.

The moment the Brewers won the NL pennant

Brewers radio call of pennant-winning moment

Brewers trophy presentation

Pat Murphy's postgame speech as Brewers pop bottles

Big Papi wears a cheesehead

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch Brewers' wild celebrations for NL pennant after sweeping Dodgers

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Rangers expect Dylan Garand to bounce back after getting pulled in ugly outing

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier celebrates a goal against New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand, Image 2 shows New York Rangers goaltender Spencer Martin (41) looks on as goaltender Dylan Garand (33) sits on the bench during an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils

In the aftermath of the worst start of Dylan Garand’s NHL career, the Rangers didn’t blame the rookie goaltender who’s been thrust into the starting role after injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo. 

It still added a disappointing twist to what otherwise had been a promising — and historic — start to his NHL career. Garand allowed four goals on 14 shots, including two in 31 seconds to end his night, before getting pulled in favor of Spencer Martin in the Blueshirts’ 7-1 loss to the Devils. Garand entered the night with a 1.15 goals against average and a .951 save percentage in 2026-27. 

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“It’s not on Dylan,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think Dylan’s played pretty good for us. He’s played sound hockey. … I know Dylan will bounce back. He’s a high-character kid. He’s a competitive guy. He’s played really well for us to this point. I would expect him to respond the right way, just like our team.” 

Garand’s season to this point has been a whirlwind, as he was cut in training camp, placed on waivers, sent to AHL Hartford after clearing and then brought back up before the Rangers’ second game of the season once Korpisalo sustained a lower-body injury. Then, when Shesterkin’s season ended last Friday with a right knee injury, Garand became the starter — and proceeded to win his first two starts to give the Blueshirts hope of surviving without their franchise goaltender. 

But Garand, for all the potential he has flashed, only has seven starts and eight appearances on his ledger with massive skates to fill. He stopped Jack Hughes in the first period, but everything unraveled after Evan Rodrigues beat him off a J.T. Miller turnover near the end of the first period and Luke Hughes’ shot deflected off Adam Fox’s skate and in at the start of the second. 

Nico Hischier (13) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Dylan
Garand during the second period of the Rangers’ 7-1 blowout loss to the Devils on
Oct. 15, 2026 at Prudential Center in Newark. Noah K. Murray for New York Post

“We’re gonna need him here for a lot of games,” Fox said, “and he’s been playing great. He’s mentally tough, and I know he can bounce back. … He knows how important he is to us as a team and what we’re trying to do. That game doesn’t fall on him by any means.” 

The Rangers added some veteran goaltending depth to their organization in the wake of Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and Korpisalo’s presence on long-term injured reserve. 

James Reimer, the 38-year-old who has played in 539 career NHL games, signed a professional tryout agreement with AHL Hartford, the Wolf Pack announced Thursday. Reimer can play in up to 25 games before they’d need to make a call on his future, and Hartford’s depth has been thinned with Garand and Martin — who began the season as the Blueshirts’ top two AHL options — now in the NHL. Callum Tung and Gabriel Carriere have been the Wolf Pack’s goaltenders so far. The Rangers said Oct. 10 that Korpisalo would miss another four weeks. 

Reimer hasn’t started more than 25 games in a season at the NHL level since 2022-23, and last year, he appeared in 14 with the Senators — including 13 starts — while posting a 7-4-2 record, an .886 save percentage and a 2.42 goals against average. 

Alexis Lafrenière was given a game misconduct late in the third period over what he said to an official. … Matt Rempe and Scott Morrow were the Rangers’ scratches. … Justin Dowling centered the fourth line after his recall from Hartford on Wednesday. 

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Heard ‘em Say: Roster news, podcast announcements, and (more) draft disappointments

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Dalton Knecht #4 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball against AJ Green #20 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on March 20, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Folks, we’ve got a full plate of news in today’s edition of Heard ‘em Say, including fresh intel on how the Bucks are trying to whittle down their roster to 15, another draft-related horror story, and a Bucks fan favourite has started a podcast. Let’s rip into it!

Roster developments

On Wednesday, Jake Fischer reported on social media that Milwaukee is exploring trades to address its roster crunch, as I noted in The Feed. We now have more specifics on how the Bucks plan (or hope) to make those trades happen via another edition of The Stein Line.

Bucks, Lakers discuss Jericho Sims-Dalton Knecht swap

Per Fischer, the Bucks and Lakers have held “exploratory trade discussions” about a deal that would send former first-round pick Dalton Knecht to the Cream City, along with second-round draft capital, in exchange for Jericho Sims. However, Fischer also points out that he’d heard some pessemism that such a trade will actually eventuate.

The Lakers have had interest in Sims for a while now, which I mentioned in my Bucks trade value rankings for 2026-27, where I ranked the bouncy big 11th and said he could fetch an early-to-mid second-round pick. Apparently, he’s worth more than that.

Granted, Sims’ value is somewhat inflated because, well, the Lakers need a viable backup big. Milwaukee’s own Kevon Looney currently occupies that spot, and he isn’t exactly playable anymore. In short, Horst would have the upper hand in negotiations, which I can only assume is why the reported deal is Knecht plus picks.

Fischer notes that if no deal materialises, LA might have to waive the former Tennessee wing before Monday’s deadline. Knecht is guaranteed $4.2m for the 2026-27 season after the Lakers picked up his third-year team option, so they would have to absorb that money if they waived him instead of trading him.

Interestingly, Fischer also reports that Sims is a name to monitor for the Philadelphia 76ers after their original backup centre, Ariel Hukporti, tore his Achilles in the opening minutes of the preseason.

Bucks weigh deals involving Kevin Porter Jr. and Caris LeVert

The other Bucks-related tidbit from Fischer is that Milwaukee has weighed potential deals involving Caris LeVert and Kevin Porter Jr.—along with possible Sims trades—to avoid waiving contracted players. Crucially, Fischer states that the Bucks want to keep fan-favourite Pete Nance and know they risk losing him to another team if they waive him in hopes of re-signing him to their final two-way contract.

(Another) draft-related Horst horror story

Folks, we have another “close, but no cigar” story relating to Jon Horst’s drafting. Last year, I wrote about Washington Wizards wing Kyshawn George’s appearance on the Old Man And The Three podcast, where he revealed he was shocked the Bucks didn’t pick him at 23 in the 2024 NBA Draft after strong workouts and feedback.

Well, it appears the same thing happened (in that same draft!) with OKC Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell. Even more ironically, Mitchell appeared on the same podcast this year to detail his draft story and Milwaukee’s interest in him during the pre-draft process.

“My agents were like, ‘There’s a chance you get picked late first.’ Milwaukee had the 23rd pick. I went in there, they really liked me. My sister lived in Wisconsin, so I could see that connection. My whole family was like, ‘You might be in Milwaukee, and that would be great.’”

Instead, Milwaukee selected AJ Johnson, not Ajay Mitchell. However, Horst still had a chance to save himself: Mitchell wasn’t taken until pick 38, and the Bucks also had pick 33, but as we all know, they used it on Tyler Smith.

But wait, there’s more! In the same article above where I detail the Kyshawn George story, I also share a tidbit from Zach Lowe: the Bucks were basically deciding between Andrew Nembhard and MarJon Beauchamp for pick 24 in the 2022 draft. In the end, they went with Beauchamp, who quickly flamed out. Sigh.

I want to curl up into a ball.

Kyle Kuzma starts a podcast (just like everyone was asking for)

To top it all off, Kyle Kuzma has announced he is starting his own podcast, Read the Room, where he will “sit down with founders, investors, athletes, and creators to talk about the boldest moves, the pivots, and what they learned along the way.”

Do with that information what you will.

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Dodgers 2025 World Series hero announces retirement after NLCS sweep

Miguel Rojas is retiring after 13 seasons in MLB.

He made the news official after the Los Angeles Dodgers were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, announcing his decision to retire in the Dodgers’ clubhouse after the Game 4 loss.

"This is it as a player,” Rojas told reporters. “That was my last game played; that was the last time I put these cleats on and this uniform on as a player.”

The Venezuelan spent the past four seasons in Los Angeles, winning back-to-back World Series in 2024 and 2025. He was a big reason the Dodgers repeated.

Rojas' biggest career moment came in the top of the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series when he hit a game-tying home run off Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman at the Rogers Centre.

He returned to the Dodgers in 2026 to help chase the three-peat.

Rojas finishes his career with 61 home runs, 457 runs, 386 RBI and 68 stolen bases.

What's next for Miguel Rojas?

Rojas is expected to transition into a player development or front office role with the Dodgers, starting this offseason.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers 2025 World Series hero announces retirement after NLCS sweep

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Rockets roll past Thunder in preseason final 116-89

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Bogdan Bogdanovic #31 of the Houston Rockets dribbles the ball during the fourth quarter of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Toyota Center on October 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images

I had thought that both the Rockets and Thunder might not play their starters at all tonight. Both teams had a hefty number of “Game Time Decisions” and “Day To Day” players. It seemed like it might be a slightly nonsensical clash of deep benches, and guys who are likely headed to the GLeague.

This was not to be. We certainly saw some deep roster players in action tonight, but the first quarter, and much of the second was more or less starters and rotational players, minus a couple of absences. We didn’t see Steven Adams for the Rockets, nor Chet Holmgren or Jaylin The Other Williams for the Thunder.

The first quarter went the Rockets way, as neither team could really hit jumpers, but Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun could dunk the ball at the rim pretty easily. The R0ckets ended up winning the quarter 33-15. The beginning of this game, the Rockets offense was basically just dunks by Amen on cuts, and clever passes from Sengun. Nice to see that again.

The Thunder came back in the second quarter, winning it 32 to 21, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen The Main Williams got going a bit.

The third quarter saw a switch from starting players (Durant came out at the half in street clothes.) to rotational players, and the Rockets Bogdan Bogdanovich, Tari Eason, and Reed Sheppard all made shots, particularly BogBog, who was 5-8 from three, and looked to be moving very well.

We also saw minutes with Marcus Smart, but he wasn’t particularly effective tonight, going 0-3 and notching 2 assists to 2 turnovers. Fred VanVleet was the primary point, and in the distribution role he was again a sight for sore eyes, logging 8 assists and 0 turnovers. His shooting was not as good as the first game, as he went 3-13 overall. He needs to keep shooting, though, as he’s been away from basketball for a year, and we need to see if some consistency will return to his shooting.

We’re also going to have to see if the idea of Marcus Smart being the secondary point guard is a good one. There are other players who might do as well, and offer better shooting.

The fourth quarter was basically the deep benches, but the Rockets deep bench could hit 3pt shots, and the Thunder couldn’t. The Rockets put up 53 three pointers tonight, which is far beyond their average of 31.6 last season. We’ll see if that holds up in any way.

I’m not sure there are any particularly surprising takeaways from individual play, but there were some changes in approach from the Rockets we might hope to see continue.

The first is, not setting up in the same spot every time, and very few screens being called up anywhere, and certainly not as a reliable certainty. Last year screens mainly served to drag another defender into the area of the ballhandler, congesting their movement. Right now the Rockets are staying spread out. They don’t move, but they do actually space the court, forcing defenses from the paint.

The second is, the Rockets are attacking on offense early in the clock, with very little surveying and pounding the ball. Certainly some of this is attributable to Fred VanVleet, but the set up is simply different as well, from the past two seasons. I’m cautiously optimistic. Attacking a defense like the Thunder early is the way to go. The Thunder want to swarm and slap on defense, and the longer a team holds the ball, the worse it gets. They’re good at it. What they aren’t, in general, is big and powerful, or even especially quick. Decisive attacks that force reactions, and might lead to passes off cuts, like Sengun to Amen, are a way to break them down. Sure, it’s preseason, but that’s a good recipe no matter when.

Third, we’re seeing an actual fast break attack. Despite the Rockets size and athleticism, they were one of the lower ranked fast break teams in the league last season.

Finally, are they going to shoot more threes? They might well have better personnel to do it than anytime since The Harden Centuries.

Anyhow, preseason is now over, and the Rockets start the real season at home, against Dallas, on Wednesday the 21st. See you there.

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Karl-Anthony Towns doesn’t miss a beat in return to Knicks playoff-like form

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns smiles on the court during a game against the Toronto Raptors.
New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the first quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.

Karl-Anthony Towns was facilitating like it was the 2026 playoffs. 

The All-Star center collected six assists and five points in the first 7 ½ minutes of Thursday’s 122-120 preseason finale victory over the Raptors, setting the tone for a stat-stuffing evening while using his height and vision to create from the top of the key. 

It was a flashback to the dominant postseason run from Towns, who unlocked a dominant Knicks offense by transforming into a triple-double threat midway the first round. 

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) pulls down a rebound during the third quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post

Coach Mike Brown said he would revisit Towns as the hub this season and Thursday’s evidence was on display early. Towns, whose stagnant extension negotiations have hovered ominously over preseason, finished one assist shy of a triple-double with 15 rebounds and 13 points in 28 minutes. 

“Yeah, I feel good,” said Towns when asked about his rhythm. “I feel really, really good.” 

It represented KAT’s best performance of preseason, and also New York’s as a team as it finished 1-3. But the lone win arrived with a caveat. 

Towns was unstoppable unless guarded by Toronto’s top defender, Scottie Barnes, who drew the assignment in the third quarter and subsequently shut down KAT. 

It was the type of adjustment that is sure to define the start of the Knicks season. Towns as the hub was a new wrinkle in the playoffs, and the opponents are equipped with enough film to discover ways to counter. 

New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) reacts during the first quarter of a game against the Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden in New York, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Jason Szenes for New York Post

The Knicks start the real games against the Sixers on Tuesday’s Banner Night, when Towns as the hub will resurface as a strategy that the opponent will have to deal with. 

Thursday showed it can work again. 

“I thought today was a good dress rehearsal,” Towns said. “It was cool, it was very nice to get back out there and get back into our flow and be really good. Obviously we have a lot of things to work on. But it was a good way to end the preseason.” 

Josh Hart was the only starter who did not play in Thursday’s preseason finale. He had a sore right ankle but Brown said it shouldn’t impact Hart for the season opener Tuesday.

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Dodgers hero Miguel Rojas announces retirement as he plans to stay with team in new role

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas running the bases with a dirty uniform, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers players Freddie Freeman and Miguel Rojas carry back-to-back World Series trophies at Dodger Stadium

Amid the Dodgers’ pain, hurt and frustration of their National League Championship Series sweep at the hands of the Brewers on Thursday night, Miguel Rojas added even more emotions to one final postgame clubhouse meeting.

As he had planned –– but not fully committed to –– throughout this season, the 37-year-old veteran told his teammates he was indeed retiring from baseball, making Game 4 of the NLCS the final act in his accomplished 13-year MLB career.

“This is it,” Rojas told reporters afterward. “I’m moving on with the next chapter in my life.”

Miguel Rojas runs out a base hit during the third inning of the Dodgers’ Game 3 loss to the Brewers in Los Angeles. AP Photo/Gregory Bull

“The last four years here changed my life,” he added.

Almost as much as Rojas changed the two-time defending champions themselves.

A Venezuelan native who broke into the majors with the Dodgers in 2014, before spending the next eight years of his career as a defensive stalwart with the Marlins, Rojas returned to Los Angeles in a trade ahead of the 2023 season, initially in what was viewed as a marginal addition for a star-studded Dodgers roster trying to climb back to the mountaintop after their 2020 World Series championship.

Right from the start, however, Rojas carved out an important role as a steady, experienced leader.

During his second Dodgers stint, he produced plenty on the field, hitting .260 with 22 home runs, 117 RBIs and versatile infield defense in 446 total games.

He was even more crucial in the postseason, contributing to their 2024 title before saving them in the 2025 Fall Classic with his game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 against the Blue Jays.

“I’m just proud of being part of this group,” he said. “That we were able to win back-to-back championships.”

Rojas will remain in the Dodgers’ organization moving forward, having agreed to transition into player development after 2026 when he re-signed as a free agent with the club this winter.

Second baseman Miguel Rojas throws to first base for an out during the Dodgers’ Game 3 NLDS win over the Braves on Oct. 6, 2026 at Truist Park in Cumberland, Ga. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I wanna stay here,” he said. “I wanna wear this uniform or this logo in a different capacity.”

Still, he didn’t want to take off his uniform –– or even his cleats –– on Thursday night, remaining dressed in his full game attire as he spoke to reporters after addressing his teammates. 

“It’s really hard to take them off right now,” he said. “It was really emotional after the game.”

Freddie Freeman (left) and second baseman Miguel Rojas carry the back-to-back World Series trophies to the field before the Dodgers’ blowout win over the Diamondbacks in their season and home opener on March 26, 2026 in Los Angeles. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Rojas never went to an All-Star Game or hit more than 11 home runs in a season, and somehow was denied Gold Glove recognition.

But to this Dodgers dynasty, he will go down as a core piece and a beloved veteran leader.

“He built a legacy,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “We’ll be talking about Miguel Rojas for a long time.”

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Flames' Slow Start Continues With 6-2 Loss to Golden Knights

The Calgary Flames dropped to 1-6-0 after a 6-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

Vegas struck early and capitalized on its special teams opportunities, while the Flames struggled to find consistency defensively. Calgary managed to cut into the deficit in the second period, but the Golden Knights responded almost immediately to take control of the game.

Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images
Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images

Brett Howden opened the scoring just 25 seconds into the contest, skating into the Flames zone before firing a shot over Dustin Wolf’s shoulder to give Vegas an early lead.

The Golden Knights doubled their advantage at 9:34 of the first period with a shorthanded goal. Jack Eichel intercepted the puck and broke in alone on Wolf, beating him on the glove side to make it 2-0.

Calgary found a response while shorthanded in the second period, as Jake Middleton scored his first goal as a Flame at 10:15. Joel Farabee set up Middleton in the slot, where the defenceman ripped a wrist shot past Carter Hart to cut the deficit to one.

Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images
Credit: Christopher Trim-Imagn Images

However, the momentum didn’t last long. Vegas answered just 48 seconds later, with Braeden Bowman finishing a quick passing play on the power play to restore the Golden Knights’ two-goal lead.

Vegas added another early in the third period. At 1:06, Eichel sent a cross-seam pass to Mark Stone at the side of the net, where the Golden Knights captain redirected the puck past Wolf to make it 4-1.

Stone struck again at 12:10, beating Wolf with a backhand to complete the scoring and completed the natural hat-trick late in the game as Eichel set up the Vegas captain for this third goal of the period.

Matt Coronato scored a late powerplay goal, but it was too little too late as the Flames fell 6-2.

Three Takeaways

1. The Flames need timely saves

The Flames couldn’t afford to give up goals at critical moments, but that’s exactly what happened in Vegas.

Howden scored on the opening shift, putting Calgary behind immediately. Then, after Middleton cut the deficit to one in the second period, the Golden Knights responded less than a minute later.

Those goals made it difficult for the Flames to build any momentum. Wolf and the Calgary defence need to find a way to limit those momentum-killing moments, particularly when the team starts to generate some offence of its own.

2. Special teams made the difference

Both teams found the scoresheet on special teams, but Vegas made better use of its opportunities.

Calgary got a shorthanded goal from Middleton, and a powerplay goal late from Coronato, while the Golden Knights scored once shorthanded and added a power-play marker of their own.

The Flames showed they can create offence on special teams, but they couldn’t build on that success. Vegas, meanwhile, answered Calgary’s shorthanded goal with a power-play marker of its own, quickly restoring its two-goal advantage.

In a game where Calgary needed something to swing its way, the Golden Knights consistently had the answer.

3. Middleton gives the Flames another scoring option

Middleton’s second-period goal was a positive takeaway from another difficult night for Calgary.

The defenceman jumped into the rush, found space in the slot and finished Farabee’s pass with a quick wrist shot. It was his first goal since joining the Flames and his first career shorthanded marker.

Middleton was brought in to provide physicality, experience and leadership on the blue line. Getting offence from him is an added bonus, particularly for a team that has struggled to generate consistent scoring.

The Flames need more contributions throughout the lineup. With the team searching for answers early in the season, goals from unexpected sources can help, but Calgary needs to turn those moments into more complete efforts.

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New Zealand cling to hope of Kalyn Ponga playing at World Cup despite broken arm

  • Kiwis fullback sustained injury in second half in defeat to Kangaroos

  • Ponga was a standout in his first Test since a switch of allegiance

Kalyn Ponga will undergo surgery on his broken arm but will remain in camp with New Zealand not giving up on the superstar fullback playing again in the Rugby League World Cup.

Ponga failed to finish his long-awaited Test debut for the Kiwis, departing in the 70th minute of the 24-22 loss after suffering the injury earlier in the second half.

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Dodgers manager sends direct message to Brewers after crushing NLCS sweep

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks at a press conference, Image 2 shows The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after a win during the National League Championship Series, Image 3 shows Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell and Cooper Pratt celebrate a home run during a game

For the first time in a long time, Dave Roberts had to give a consolation speech in the Dodgers clubhouse.

The Brewers completed a four-game sweep of the back-to-back World Series champions in the National League Championship Series Thursday night, ending the Dodgers’ historic run to complete the three-peat.

Manager Dave Roberts had nothing but praise for Milwaukee following a crushing 6-4 defeat in NLCS Game 4.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts speaks to the media ahead of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Gregory Bull

“I can’t give enough praise to the Brewers organization and the baseball office of Matt Arnold and his staff and Pat Murphy and his staff. And how they got those guys to play,” Roberts said.

“They played flawless, they really did,” he added.

The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

Murphy wasn’t so kind in his parting message to the Dodgers as the Brewers were crowned National League champions at Dodger Stadium Thursday night. For all the excitement and hype surrounding the Dodgers in 2026, the juggernaut miserably failed to live up to expectations in October.

Across eight postseason games, the Dodgers were 5-for-43 with runners in scoring position and stranded 50 runners on base. Their performance was not up to snuff to beat Milwaukee or even get a game over the Brewers in the Championship Series.

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell celebrates his solo home run with Cooper Pratt during the sixth inning of Game 4 of baseball’s National League Championship Series. AP Photo/Ashley Landis

The Dodgers may have assembled one of the best rosters in baseball, but the 2026 group will have nothing to show for it. There are several question marks regarding the future of the franchise as the front office will have to navigate the direction of the Dodgers in 2027 and beyond.

But Roberts took the crushing sweep on the chin and mustered a heartfelt message for the Brewers, a team that will be remembered for dominating the juggernaut Dodgers.

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Knicks weighing options to keep both James Wiseman, Bruce Brown on roster

The Knicks’ regular-season roster is taking shape. The only remaining question is: will there be room for Bruce Brown?

Brown and James Wiseman have made it through preseason cuts. The Knicks clearly like both players. But New York only has room under the second apron in team salary to keep one player. In order to keep both Brown and Wiseman, the Knicks would need to trade a player on a standard contract without taking back salary.

My read heading into the weekend: Wiseman is a lock to make the roster. There is strong support to add Brown as well. The Knicks would need to make a trade by Monday afternoon if they want to keep Brown. I think they will explore all avenues to make that happen.

It's logical to assume that the Knicks will move third-year wing Pacome Dadiet. But I believe New York will explore other deals — including trades involving third-year guard Tyler Kolek — this weekend and Monday.

The Knicks will be asking teams to take on a player without sending back salary. To get a deal done, New York may need to attach its own second-round picks (New York will have at least 11 second-round picks in the next seven drafts).

Something worth noting here: multiple teams (Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers and others) are trying to attach second-round picks to work through a roster crunch. So the Knicks have competition in that regard. But given their plethora of second-rounders, they have the draft capital to get a deal done.

Here's what Knicks head coach Mike Brown likes about the veteran combo guard:

“Bruce has been through a lot with a lot of different teams at a pretty high level,” Brown said of the NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets. “His toughness, his experience, his feel, all those things — he's a winner. It seems like every place he's gone, he's won, but all those things can add a lot to the program, and then he's versatile both ends of the floor. He could play a few different positions offensively; he can guard a few different positions defensively. So a guy like that, especially a veteran winner, can be helpful to any team.”

Here’s what Brown likes about Wiseman:

“He's young, he's talented, you know, he's raw, still. I think he's still trying to establish a foothold in this league,” Brown said of the former No. 2 overall pick. “But with the God-given attributes he has, in terms of athleticism and length and quickness, [they] can bode well for him on both ends of the floor. And at 25 years old, he hasn't even reached his prime, especially knowing he hadn't played a ton of basketball; having a vertical threat at the rim will help [the Knicks], or could help everybody else play the game a little bit easier, whether it's driving the basketball or playing pick and roll.” 

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Four fatal flaws that doomed the Dodgers’ bid for a historic three-peat

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Los Angeles Dodgers player Shohei Ohtani strikes out at the plate, Image 2 shows Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman watches his hit during Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium, Image 3 shows Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow on the mound

Winter has come early in Los Angeles this year.

There will be no World Series three-peat for the Dodgers this season. No downtown parade to celebrate the continuation of their modern-day dynasty. Not even a return trip to the Fall Classic to try and defend their back-to-back titles.

Instead, despite a 100-win regular season and league-record $432 million payroll, the two-time defending champions were eliminated in the National League Championship Series by the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, ending their bid for history and sending them into an uncertain offseason –– one that could include an extended lockout, notable changes to the roster, and existential questions about how to retool around their aging veteran core.

Many questions loom about where the Dodgers go from here.

Many unknowns remain about what the sport at large will look like in 2027 –– and when next season, amid what figures to be a protracted labor battle, will even begin.

But for now, the focus will be on why a team with the most talent in the sport, the most October experience on their roster, and the best statistical odds of winning the World Series couldn’t even get back to it.

As a long winter begins, here are the five biggest reasons the 2026 Dodgers came up short.

No-Sho’ Ohtani

On paper, no team in the majors has a better-looking lineup than the Dodgers.

In reality, however, cracks in their offensive production have grown increasingly evident in recent postseasons.

Dating back to the 2024 World Series, the club has batted .219 in postseason play. In five of their seven playoff series in that span, their team average has been .206 or worse.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani strikes out during the first inning of NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

Even in regular-season play, they have endured extended lulls and repeated second-half slumps. They’re a supremely talented unit, to be sure. But, despite all the big names they boast, they haven’t performed all that different from most other playoff teams, either.

Really, only Shohei Ohtani has been a true separator for them at the plate.

And this October, he was in no condition to help the club compensate for its other shortcomings offensively.

That’s why the team’s mismanagement of Ohtani’s injury saga this year proved so costly. For all his talent on the mound, his greatest importance to the Dodgers has long been as a hitter. And this season, the toll of his attempted return to full-time two-way duties rendered that all-important skill set void.

After all, it was no real surprise that some of the team’s other aging star hitters suffered inconsistent postseason campaigns. That was the case last year. Ohtani’s eight playoff home runs and 1.096 OPS helped them overcome it.

But this fall, the four-time MVP’s right arm and left knee injuries limited his capabilities in the box. Where the Dodgers needed a superstar to spearhead their offense, all they had for most of the month was a physically diminished slap hitter who struggled to even reach base consistently instead.

And even when the old Ohtani finally re-emerged in Game 4 on Thursday, hitting a mammoth home run that gave the Dodgers an early 4-0 lead, it was too little, too late, with Ohtani later coming up short again on a three-pitch strikeout with the tying runner at third and one out in the seventh.

That Ohtani and the team couldn’t better manage his health this season will be the biggest regret from this failed three-peat pursuit.

While he was far from the only slumping bat in their lineup, he was the one who, if fully healthy, could have made the biggest impact.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in the first inning of Game 4 of the NLCS. Wally Skalij for the CA Post

A mortal rotation

The other way the Dodgers overcame their offensive inconsistencies last year, of course, was through superhuman starting pitching.

In the 2025 playoffs, their rotation posted a 2.68 ERA and while averaging more than six innings per start.

Replicating that kind of production again always felt like an unlikely challenge.

Indeed, this October, even an equally star-studded staff encountered inevitable struggles.

Outside of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s seven-inning, one-run gem in Game 3 of the NL Division Series, the Dodgers only had one other pitcher get past the sixth inning. And that, of course, was in Game 3 of the NLCS, when Blake Snell gave up back-to-back seventh-inning home runs in a gut-wrenching loss that all but ended the Dodgers’ season.

That didn’t mean the Dodgers’ rotation pitched terribly this postseason. They still finished the playoffs with a 3.89 combined ERA from their starters.

Given the fine margins that came with their lackluster offense, however, that wasn’t nearly good enough.

In the NLCS, the Brewers got to each of their big arms, chasing Tarik Skubal after five innings of two-run ball, knocking out Yamamoto in less than three innings the following day, ambushing Snell for three home runs in Game 3, then erasing their four-run deficit against Glasnow in Game 4.

In the same way Ohtani couldn’t put the team on his shoulders, neither could the rotation.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman lines out to left at the bottom of the third inning during NLCS Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Dodger Stadium. Carlin Stiehl for CA Post

RISPy business

After every loss this postseason, the Dodgers’ explanations boiled down to the same futile failure.

They generated plenty of chances for themselves. But, as manager Dave Roberts said for the umpteenth time after Game 3, “we’re just not getting those timely hits.”

No stat better epitomized that than the Dodgers’ 5-for-43 mark in these playoffs with runners in scoring position.

Such challenges, of course, aren’t unique to their offense. Entering Thursday, the league-wide batting average with runners in scoring position was .221.

Los Angeles Dodgers’ Tommy Edman reacts after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth inning of Game 3 of the NLCS. Wally Skalij for the CA Post

Still, the Dodgers’ output fell far below that mark.

For a team that prided itself on “winning the big moments” each of the past two Octobers, they were repeatedly unable to do so en route to this year’s early exit.

“It’s just one of those points in time where it seems to go that way,” utilityman Kiké Hernández said of the Dodgers’ RISP struggles. “And it just happened to be at the worst time of the season.”

While that might be true — there is an inherent randomness to situational hitting — the issue has also been a recurring problem for the Dodgers recently.

Last postseason, the team hit .204 with runners in scoring position. This year, they ranked seventh in the majors in that category with a .262 but also experienced long stretches in which big hits felt impossible to consistently produce.

Questions about why that was the case will reverberate long into the offseason.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws out Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras on a ground out during the sixth inning of Game 3. AP Photo/Gregory Bull

Dino Dodgers

All season, the Dodgers downplayed concerns about having the majors’ oldest lineup. Throughout the playoffs, they embraced their “Dinosaur Dodgers” nickname.

But in the end, it was hard not to feel like the club’s age eventually caught up to it.

Exhibit A: They didn’t hit a home run in the NLCS until Ohtani’s blast in Game 4, lacking the kind of consistent pop that has helped carry them through offensive lulls in previous postseasons.

“I don’t know what you can really say to that,” Freddie Freeman, the second eldest of the bunch at 37 years old, said before Game 4. “That’s just people’s opinions of what that is. We do know we have an older team. That doesn’t mean we’re old and we’re playing bad because we’re old. We’re just not playing that great, in my mind.”

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