The college football schedule for Week 7 is full of games that will have an impact on the playoff. A breakdown of the biggest matchups this week.
If Arch Manning can stop the flop, he’d make a great comeback story
Our society takes glee in seeing people fail, but we also love a good comeback story. You're up, Arch Manning.
Hernández: Roki Sasaki's playoff dominance shows why he's the Dodgers' future staff ace
Roki Sasaki was literally the toast of the Dodgers.
“Shot for Roki!” infielder Miguel Rojas screamed.
Hooting and hollering, the players raised the little paper cups in their hands and emptied the contents into their mouths to celebrate the three perfect innings delivered by Sasaki in an 11-inning, 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies that secured their place in the National League Championship Series.
The emergence of Sasaki as an October hero was as unexpected as his relief performances in the NL Division Series were electric.
How did this happen?
How could a newcomer who practically vanished when he went down with a shoulder impingement five months earlier become the team’s most dominant reliever?
How could a pitcher on whom the Dodgers had more or less given up produce what manager Dave Roberts described as “one of the great all-time appearances out of the pen”?
Sasaki can point to when he started down the road to postseason glory.
“The scene in the hotel,” Sasaki said in Japanese.
Sept. 8.
Sasaki was in a hotel room in Oklahoma City, preparing to pitch the next day for the Dodgers’ triple-A affiliate.
Read more:Plaschke: A wild finish propels the Dodgers into NLCS and past their toughest playoff test
While eating, he watched videos of himself pitching for Ofunato High School. His signature high leg kick was the same then as it was now, but what he did in the next phase of his delivery wasn’t.
Sasaki noticed that he used to be more explosive before landing his plant foot and releasing the baseball.
“This is it,” he said to himself.
Right there, in his Oklahoma City hotel room, Sasaki started shadow pitching, wanting to recapture the feeling in his lower body from when he was viewed as the most talented pitcher his country had ever produced.
The next day, Sasaki rediscovered his fastball.
Of the 90 pitches he threw in his 4⅔-inning start, six of them were clocked faster than 100 mph. His average fastball velocity was 98.5 mph.
His average fastball velocity in the start before that: 94.4 mph.
A couple of days later, Sasaki met with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Brandon Gomes. While assuring him they viewed him as a starter next year and beyond, they presented him with the idea of a temporary move to the bullpen, which could drastically improve his chances of making the playoff roster.
Sasaki has done more than make the roster.
Most valuable players aren’t chosen for division-round series, but if they were, Sasaki would have likely claimed the prize.
He saved Games 1 and 2.
Roberts called on Sasaki to pitch two innings in the clinching game. Sasaki ended up pitching three, starting with an eighth inning in which he retired Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm in order.
Sasaki made the Phillies look as overmatched at the plate as Postseason Shohei Ohtani, also pitching perfect ninth and 10th innings.
“I was relieved,” Sasaki said.
Roberts was feeling more intense emotion — “Pure elation,” he said — which was why he didn’t wait for Sasaki to return to the dugout to embrace him. Roberts jumped off the bench and hugged Sasaki on the field.
Sasaki’s effort kept the score level at 1-1, positioning the Dodgers to win the game in the 11th inning on a throwing error by Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering.
“Roki was unbelievable,” starter Tyler Glasnow said. “Since coming back, coming in from the bullpen, he’s honestly one of the best pitchers I’ve ever seen. His stuff is incredible.”
Sasaki didn’t look like this in the eight starts he made early in the regular season. Part of that was health-related, as Sasaki has said that his shoulder problems affected his arm slot. When Sasaki recovered, he regained more than his natural throwing motion and previous fastball velocity.
He also regained his confidence.
Sasaki has projected an entirely different energy than he did at his introductory news conference, at which he looked uncomfortable.
When he was asked if he was taunted by fans at Citizens Bank Park, he said he didn’t understand what they were saying. The implication: He didn’t care.
Read more:Dodgers defeat Phillies in a wild, instant-classic walk-off to reach the NLCS
When he was asked about his first season in the major leagues, he said he felt as if his injury prevented him from gauging the level of competition. The implication: If he was healthy, he would have dominated the way he is now.
“He’s very shy, reserved,” Roberts said. “But I do think that [since] coming back, he’s opened up a lot more. I think he’s showing more of who he really is and showing some emotion.”
The change was reflected on the field in the NLDS, Sasaki attacking the Phillies in a style that conveyed a hit-me-if-you-can attitude. The demeanor has contributed to him being the ace of the bullpen this October and it could be why he will be the ace of the rotation in the future.
“We’re starting to see something really special in him,” Roberts said. “What he’s done now on the biggest stages, he’s just scratching the surface.”
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Why Warriors star Jimmy Butler wants to win ring for Steph Curry, Draymond Green
Why Warriors star Jimmy Butler wants to win ring for Steph Curry, Draymond Green originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors forward Jimmy Butler has been chasing an NBA championship for more than a decade.
He has come close twice, reaching the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat, but the six-time All-Star still hasn’t won the ultimate prize.
After joining Golden State at the 2025 NBA trade deadline in February, Butler now is in his first full year with the team — and he made clear that his top motivation isn’t silencing his own doubters, but securing another legacy-defining title for Steph Curry and Draymond Green.
“It would mean the world to me, but it would mean the world to me if they won,” Butler told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on the latest “Dubs Talk.”
Butler understands his teammates’ résumés speak for themselves. Curry, drafted by the Warriors in 2009, already is a four-time NBA champion, two-time MVP and widely considered the greatest shooter of all time.
Green, selected by the Warriors in 2012, also has won four titles and built his reputation as the franchise’s defensive heartbeat, earning a NBA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2017 and nine All-Defensive Team honors along the way.
Still, history shows that a fifth ring would move both into an even smaller circle of all-time greats. Only 26 players in NBA history ever have won five or more championships. For Butler, that pursuit isn’t about collecting another trophy, but about cementing his teammates’ place among the legends of the game.
“They’ve already solidified themselves in the basketball fame and in the league, we get that,” Butler explained. “But to separate themselves from other individuals — you get five, like, you’re there. You know? No doubting, you can’t question it.”
The Warriors’ dynasty already has stretched across three distinct eras — the “Strength in Numbers” group that broke through in 2015, the Kevin Durant years of 2017 and 2018, and their 2022 return to glory behind the original core. Winning a fifth title would underline just how adaptable Curry and Green have been at the center of it all.
“You can’t say, ‘Who was on your team?’ ” Butler added. “You’ve done it with multiple different types of players and rosters. You get five, nobody is questioning anything about anybody that got five.”
If the Warriors do reach that mountaintop again, Butler will know he played a role in ensuring Curry and Green’s dynasty ends with no questions left to ask.
Fantasy Basketball Breakout Candidates: Top Options for 9-Category Leagues
When it comes to preparing for your fantasy basketball draft(s), it is incredibly important to identify players who could be headed for a breakout campaign. Those types of players offer plenty of upside with the potential to provide tremendous return on investment for managers. In this article, we'll highlight some of the guys you should consider drafting who have the talent and opportunity to take a leap during the 2025-26 season.
Matas Buzelis, F - Chicago Bulls
Buzelis has been a popular choice as a potential breakout candidate for his hometown Chicago Bulls after a strong Summer League. The 20-year-old continued that momentum in his two preseason outings so far, posting averages of 15.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 0.5 steals and 1.0 blocks on 55.6/40.0/75.0 shooting splits in 18.6 minutes. He didn't start a game until after the All-Star break last year as a rookie, but Buzelis is expected to take over as a full-time starter in Year 2.
Over his final 27 games in the first unit in 2024-25, Buzelis put up 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 blocks in just 26.8 minutes a night. He should certainly see an increase in playing time as a sophomore, and in an up-tempo offense with Josh Giddey at the helm, Buzelis' speed and athleticism will be on full display. With a year under his belt and growing self-confidence, he'll get every opportunity to improve upon his preseason success as a two-way difference-maker.
Evan Mobley, F/C - Cleveland Cavaliers
It might be difficult to think of Mobley as a breakout candidate after he won the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year award, but the forward-center is ready to make another jump at both ends of the court as he enters his fifth season as a pro. Through his first four years with the Cavs, he's never averaged more than 12.8 field goal attempts a night. In 2025-26, coach Kenny Atkinson, Mobley and Donovan Mitchell have talked extensively about the 24-year-old demanding the ball on offense while making a concerted effort to run more offense through the big man.
In limited preseason action, Mobley has been on-ball a bit more, recording a 27.9% usage rate in 44 total minutes across two outings. The sample size is small, but with Cleveland expected to be missing two-time All-Star Darius Garland (toe) and Max Strus (foot) for extended periods, Mobley will be tasked with more offensive responsibilities than in previous years. After averaging 18.5 points, 9.3 boards, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks over 71 appearances last season, it wouldn't be surprising to see him eclipse 20.0 points and 10.0 rebounds while chipping in a steal and at least one block per contest.
Neemias Queta, C - Boston Celtics
Now that Al Horford is no longer in Beantown, Queta is set to be the starting center for the Celtics in 2025-26. The Portugal native represented his country in EuroBasket 2025 this past summer, posting a stellar 23-point, 18-rebound outing in an upset victory over the reigning European champions Spain.
This isn't to suggest Queta will be going off with similar performances in the NBA this season. What it does prove, however, is that he's a talented seven-footer who will earn the most playing time of his young career as he enters his fifth season. In 13.9 minutes per game last year, Queta averaged 5.0 points, 3.8 boards and 0.7 blocks, numbers that jump to 12.9 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per 36 minutes. He probably won't see that much time on the court every night, but averaging a double-double with some defensive stats while shooting north of 60% from the field should absolutely be in the cards for the 26-year-old.
Brice Sensabaugh, G/F - Utah Jazz
Sensabaugh is entering his third season in the NBA. Historically speaking, players experience a breakthrough as a pro at this time in their careers. After suiting up for only 32 games as a rookie in 2023-24, he appeared in 71 contests for the Jazz last year and impressed over the final two months of the season. In 27 games after the All-Star break, Sensabaugh tallied 14.1 points, 3.7 boards, 2.1 assists and 0.7 steals on 47.4/47.5/86.7 shooting splits in just under 25 minutes per night.
Utah made several moves in the offseason to make way for their young talent in 2025-26, and Sensabaugh stands to benefit as the starting small forward for coach Will Hardy in Year 3. During his lone preseason outing against Houston on October 8, Sensabaugh dropped 24 points (9-15 FG) with six made 3s, three rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 26 minutes.
Amen Thompson, G/F - Houston Rockets
Much like Evan Mobley on this list, some readers may take umbrage with Thompson's placement as a breakout on this list after he seemingly did so last season by averaging 14.1 points, 8.2 boards, 3.8 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks across 69 games as a sophomore. In Year 3, Amen is poised for another big jump, one that should land him firmly in the All-Star and Most Improved Player conversations.
With the unfortunate news that Fred VanVleet could miss the entire 2025-26 campaign after tearing his ACL in late September, Thompson has the chance to earn heavy minutes as the lead ball-handler on a team featuring Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith. As one of the most explosive athletes in the NBA, Thompson is a dynamic two-way force that will wreak havoc for the Rockets and provide stellar production in nearly every statistical category for fantasy managers. He may not necessarily help in terms of three-pointers or free-throw percentage, but his positional versatility, defensive stats and all-around game are too juicy to pass up.
Kel'el Ware, C - Miami Heat
Heading into Year 2, Kel'el Ware looks ready to make an impact at both ends of the floor for the Heat. In somewhat of an up-and-down rookie season, the seven-footer started to show signs of growth over the last two months that he carried into Summer League and now the preseason. Over his final 26 contests in 2024-25, Ware averaged 10.3 points, 9.7 boards, 0.7 steals and 1.3 blocks in 26.8 minutes, compiling nine double-doubles in the process.
Across three preseason appearances in 2025-26, Ware has recorded two double-doubles while scoring in double figures in each outing, and he's gone 6-for-12 on three-point attempts overall. In a loss to the Spurs on October 8, he erupted for 29 points (12-19 FG, 3-6 3Pt), 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 26 minutes of action. Targeting Ware towards the latter stages of drafts could pay huge dividends for managers, regardless of his status as a starter or reserve in Miami.
Despite OT loss to Golden Knights, can Sharks sustain surprisingly good play?
Despite OT loss to Golden Knights, can Sharks sustain surprisingly good play? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
For a San Jose Sharks’ fanbase that’s as tired of losing as owner Hasso Plattner is, this is going to be cold comfort, after a truly unbelievable 4-3 OT loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
But I don’t care about the honestly fluky goals that Alex Nedeljkovic gave up that turned a hard-fought 3-2 opening night victory into a wild defeat.
This is what I care about: The Sharks, and it’s just one game, did a lot more good than bad, against a Cup-contending Vegas squad. In fairness, the Golden Knights were on a back-to-back.
Is the good sustainable? We’ll see, but I thought Macklin Celebrini had gotten faster, William Eklund carried over his assertive pre-season, Ty Dellandrea actually excelled as third-line center, and Barclay Goodrow also got quicker.
Read the full article at San Jose Hockey Now
Sabres' Schedule Is Punishing Out Of The Gate — And It Could Be Why Buffalo Misses Playoffs For 15th Straight Season
The Buffalo Sabres’ 2025-26 regular-season is here at last, and the Sabres would certainly like to win their first game – a home game against the New York Rangers Thursday night – an analysis of their schedule tells Sabres fans they need to buckle down and get ready for a true test of this team, right out of the starting block.
No matter what happens against the Rangers Thursday, there’s no let-up for the Sabres, because they don’t have a break inschedule for the next 20 games. Legitimately, there are 19 more teams after the Rangers that Buffalo could plausibly lose to.
Need evidence? Here you go: after Thursday’s game, the Sabres are taking on the Boston Bruins – the same Bruins who are determined to make a playoff push after being bitten hard by the injury bug last season. Boston has a new coach, some new players, and returning stars including winger David Pastrnak, defenseman Charlie McAvoy and goalie Jeremy Swayman. They could quickly snuff out Buffalo’s momentum if that’s what the Bruins have after Game 1.
Meanwhile, after that, the Sabres take on the Colorado Avalanche, Ottawa Senators and defending Stanley Cup champion-Florida Panthers. Buffalo can’t afford to let those teams overpower them. And after those three games, Buffalo will square off against the Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs (twice) and Columbus Blue Jackets in their first 10 games this season.
All of those teams – especially the particularly-desperate Red Wings and developing Canadiens and Blue Jackets – are going to give the Sabres a hard fight for the two standing points night-in and night-out.
Will Sabres Have Any Individual Award-Winners This Season?Full disclosure: the Buffalo Sabres aren't particularly interested in the NHL's individual awards. But who's kidding who -- you always like to perform well, and that's somthing the league de facto acknowledges by handing out end-of-season honours.
But that’s only the half of it. Buffalo will start its second stretch of 10 games against the Bruins (again), then the high-octane Washington Capitals, followed by the Utah Mammoth (twice), St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes, Avalanche (again), Red Wings (again), Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. Buffalo can’t afford a soft effort against any of those teams.
It isn’t until they play the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 21 that you can say the Sabres have a ‘gimme’ game. That means there’s a full quarter of the season immediately ahead that legitimately could go one way or another for the Sabres. A solid effort to kick things off against the Rangers is something that would set an immediate tone for Buffalo, and to be honest, we’re not sure how this Sabres team will react when confronted with adversity.
That said, the slate is clean for Buffalo, as it is with all teams. But one way or another, Buffalo is going to send a message out of the gate. Either they impress people with their growth as a group, or they buckle under expectation and have to play catch-up the rest of the way this year.
Do The Math, And You'll See Why Sabres Are A Playoff Longshot
There’s really no inbetween for the Sabres, is there? Either they make the playoffs and fire back at their cynics, or they fail to make the playoffs and the organization faces drastic on-and-off-ice consequences. Make it to the playoffs, and you get to keep your job; miss the playoffs, nobody’s safe.
It’s that simple. And the way Buffalo plays its next six weeks will go a long way toward determing their fate this season
When Giants exec Buster Posey knew Northern California was ‘home' for his family
When Giants exec Buster Posey knew Northern California was ‘home' for his family originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Northern California is home to Buster Posey.
The Giants president of baseball operations explained why he knew the Golden State is where he belongs in Wednesday’s inaugural “415 Podcast” episode hosted by The San Francisco Standard’s Kerry Crowley.
“Well, this is home,” Posey told Crowley. “I think for me personally, it took a year away to realize just how important and special this part of the world had become to me and my wife and our kids. My wife will tell you, she didn’t want to make the move back to Georgia to begin with. … It’s really hard to explain. You’re hopeful that everybody out there gets to experience that feeling of a place where you belong. And we’ve spent basically our entire adult lives here; our kids were all born here.
“Really, what spurred this move on was [that] we came back out, probably eight months or so to being in Georgia, and were visiting some friends and here for some sort of engagement … Like 24 hours in, my wife and I looked at each other, and [we were] like, ‘Why aren’t we living here?’ And it was one of those strange life moments, where we made the decision on the fly.”
Posey essentially grew up in San Francisco after the franchise selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2008 MLB Draft out of Florida State, playing his entire 13-year career with the Giants.
Upon retiring in 2021, Posey moved his family back to their roots in Georgia, but as he explained, California kept calling.
And it’s safe to say it was meant to be.
“We’ve been back a couple of years now,” Posey told Crowley. “It’s great. It’s home. The downside is definitely not being able to see family as much as we’d like. But this is home for the Poseys, and we love being here.”
It seems Posey will stay “home” for good.
Sports quiz of the week: Cole Palmer, Women’s Cricket World Cup and Cape Verde
Have you been following the big news in football, cricket, rugby, cycling, UFC, horse racing and the NFL?
Continue reading...Journee Tonga helps lift Leuzinger to victory over Palos Verdes at SoFi Stadium
Journee Tonga scores on touchdown runs of 14 and 21 yards and the Leuzinger defense puts on a stingy performance in a 40-14 win over Palos Verdes.
Vancouver Canucks Kick Off 2025-26 Regular Season With 5-1 Victory Over The Calgary Flames
The Vancouver Canucks set the fans home at Rogers Arena happy as they defeated the Calgary Flames 5-1 to kick off their 2025-26 regular season. Kiefer Sherwood, Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Brock Boeser each scored once while Filip Chytil found the back of the net twice in the victory. As for Thatcher Demko, he stopped 17 of the 18 shots he faced for his first win of the season.
Thursday's game was close until the Canucks took control in the third period. Vancouver scored four times in the final 20 minutes while limiting the Flames to just five shots in the third. The game also featured some massive hits, which were originally called majors until they were downgraded to minors after video review.
Looking at standouts, one of the Canucks best forwards was Chytil, who scored twice. He also led the team in shots with five while recording 16:25 of ice time. Considering the injury issues Chytil went through last season, Thursday's game was a welcome sight as he was able to provide offence as the team's second-line center.
Thursday was also a special night as Braeden Cootes made his NHL debut. The 2025 first-rounder played 11:14 and was able to record his first career hit. Post-game, Cootes spoke to the media about his first game and the crowd at Rogers Arena.
"They're awesome," said Cootes. "They're so passionate. They're for sure like the best fans in the league. Honestly, that's it's a pretty cool building to play in, and a ton of support. So couldn't be more thankful for that."
As for some areas that need improvement, Vancouver's power play went zero for four while only recording six shots on net. While the Canucks did generate some chances, their passing was off, which led to easy zone clears for the Flames. For Vancouver's power play to be successful, they need to move the puck quickly and space themselves out in open ice, which will provide the puck carrier with more passing options.
Clearing the puck out of the defensive zone was also a problematic trend during this game. The Canucks struggled to clear the zone which led to scoring chances for Calgary. In the end, Vancouver was lucky as Demko came up with some massive saves to keep the Flames off the board.
They were good, said Foote when asked about the defensive structure of his team. I thought the structure was good. We didn't give them too much. The mistakes we made, we covered over pretty good. Between the dots. I think coming to our landmarks inside really helped us when we did make a mistake, leaving our zone or leaving their zone, we hustled back. Those things stopped more damage."
Overall, Thursday was a good start to the 2025-26 season for the Canucks. 10 players recorded points, while 12 were credited with at least one hit. While there are some areas that need some work, Vancouver played a solid game and were deserving of the win on opening night.
Stats and Facts:
- Kiefer Sherwood becomes the 20th undrafted player to record 960 hits
- Scoring his 79th career goal, Filip Chytil breaks his tie with Petr Prucha and is now in sole possession of the 54th most goals by a player from Czechia in NHL history.
- Recording his 121st assist with Vancouver, Conor Garland breaks his tie with Matt Cooke for 44th all-time in franchise history
- Filip Chytil records his first game-winning goal since joining the Canucks
Scoring Summary:
1st Period:
14:53- VAN: Kiefer Sherwood (1) from Drew O'Connor
2nd Period:
No scoring
3rd Period:
2:54- VAN: Filip Chytil (1)
8:52- VAN: Filip Chytil (2) from Arshdeep Bains
11:42- VAN: Jonathan Lekkerimäki (1) from Evander Kane and Conor Garland
13:04- CGY: Morgan Frost (1) from Yegor Sharangovich and Joel Farabee
17:05- VAN: Brock Boeser (1) from Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk
Up Next:
The Canucks hit the road for a Saturday night battle against the Edmonton Oilers. Last season, Vancouver lost the head-to-head matchup with Edmonton, going 1-2-0 against their Pacific Division rivals. Game time is scheduled for 7:00 pm on October 11 at Rogers Place.
Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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Three Takeaways: Canucks Cut Flames' Season Opener Celebration Short With 5-1 Drubbing
A day after making perhaps one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history, the Calgary Flames were humbled 5-1 by the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Thursday night.
Here are my three takeaways for the game:
Kings of Comeback(ish)
After outshooting the home team 3-2 for the first 5:41 of the first period, not only did the Canucks restrict the Flames to just two shots on goal, but they put six on them for the rest of the period including a goal off a giveaway.
But Calgary, being a great comeback team it is, rebounded in the second period.
By the second break, the Flames had outshot the Canucks 39-26 in total shots in the game. Even though the stat sheet showed 16-13 shots on goals as favoring Canucks, the scoring opportunities were 17-9 in Calgary's favor., including seven high-danger scoring opportunities for Flames versus a flat out zero for the hometown Canucks. Yet, Vancouver was still up 1-0 by the second intermission.
Unfortunately, it was the third period, where the Flames crapped the bed. More on that below.
0-for-4 on the Power Play
This was probably the most disappointing. A team that has four opportunities at the man-advantage and comes up with zero goals is not going to go very far in the regular season.
During Calgary's first power play, they were 0-for-3 in faceoffs, which was a big reason why the man-advantage didn't materialize into anything. So they need to clean up their faceoff act as well.
Keep Playing
Yeah, I'm not a pro hockey player, but even I know you don't stop playing until the ref blows the whistle.
I get how the Calgary players were concerned about their comrade Kevin Bahl getting hit in the head and falling on the ice, but that doesn't mean you freeze up and leave the goal unguarded.
As a result, Vancouver's Filip Chytil scored a goal and put the Canucks up 2-0.
How costly was that?
It drained all the life out of the Calgary bench, and until the next Chytil goal 5:59 minutes later, the Canucks outshot the Flames 10-3 in total shots.
After that, Vancouver put on two more goals.
Except for a Morgan Frost goal, the Flames never recovered and frankly never had a chance.
Bottom Line
As to things that I did like, going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill is amazing. The Flames did get out of their zone more easily than they did against Edmonton and they did have a lot more scoring opportunities than against the Oilers, but ultimately it was that second goal that just killed any life on the Calgary bench.
The Flames will now host the St. Louis Blues for their home opener on Saturday.
Boyd and Happ lead the Cubs past the Brewers 6-0 to send the NLDS to a deciding Game 5
CHICAGO (AP) — Matthew Boyd pitched two-hit ball into the fifth inning, and the Chicago Cubs shut down the Milwaukee Brewers for a 6-0 victory Thursday night that pushed their NL Division Series all the way to a decisive Game 5.
Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Michael Busch homered for Chicago, delighting a rollicking Wrigley Field crowd of 41,770. Busch went deep for the second straight game and third time in the series.
The Cubs were on the brink of elimination after they dropped the first two games of the NLDS in Milwaukee. But they held on for a 4-3 victory Wednesday before making the most of a sharp performance by Boyd and four relievers in Game 4.
Next up is the finale of the best-of-five series back in Milwaukee on Saturday night. The winner takes on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
The Brewers, who went 97-65 this season for the majors’ best record, finished with three hits. They were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position and left 13 on base overall in the series’ two games at Wrigley.
Boyd also started the series opener Saturday. Pitching on three days’ rest, he recorded just two outs while Freddy Peralta worked into the sixth inning in Milwaukee’s 9-3 win.
Given another opportunity, Boyd delivered. The All-Star left-hander struck out six and walked three in 4 2/3 innings.
The 34-year-old Boyd was staked to an early lead when Happ drove a 1-1 fastball from Peralta deep to right for a three-run drive with two out in the first. Nico Hoerner singled and Tucker walked ahead of Happ’s third career postseason homer.
Chicago has gone deep in the first in each of the four NLDS games. It has scored 11 of its 16 runs in the series in the first inning.
It was a big moment for Happ, who went 2 for 21 with 11 strikeouts in Chicago’s first six postseason games this year.
The Cubs had a 3-0 lead when Boyd exited with runners on second and third in the fifth, drawing a huge ovation from the crowd. Daniel Palencia came in and retired Jackson Chourio on a popup to shortstop, ending the inning.
Palencia also worked the sixth in this third win of the playoffs. Drew Pomeranz and Brad Keller each got three outs before Caleb Thielbar handled the ninth.
Chicago blew a bases-loaded opportunity in the fifth, but Matt Shaw hit an RBI single off Aaron Ashby in the sixth. The rookie third baseman had two hits after he went 0 for 12 in his first six postseason games.
Tucker added a leadoff drive in the seventh against Robert Gasser, and Busch connected in the eighth. It was Busch’s fourth homer in this postseason overall.
Observations From Blues' 5-0 Loss Vs. Wild In Season-Opener
ST. LOUIS – It’s only one game, right?
That’s the message coming from the St. Louis Blues locker room after a disheartening 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild in the season-opener for both teams at Enterprise Center on Thursday.
The Blues delivered a stinker of a result after lots of preseason hype of building off of how the team finished in the second half of last season and into the playoffs before falling to the Winnipeg Jets in seven games in the first round.
Minnesota’s top line of Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi and Kirill Kaprizov, who on Sept. 30 signed the richest contract in NHL history (eight years, $136 million; $17 million average annual value), combined for eight points (two goals, six assists) and Filip Gustavsson stopped all 26 shots the Blues threw at him, including the first 14 in the second period.
Jordan Binnington did not have a good night, allowing five goals on 21 shots.
Here are tonight’s observations:
* This game was decided at the net front – Blues coach Jim Montgomery hit the nail on the head when he talked about the net front presence at both ends of the ice.
The Wild were on top of it from their end; the Blues were not.
Four of five Minnesota goals came as a result of being at the net, whether it be a rebound, a loose puck or just being in the right place at the right time.
“I think our habits, special teams, our battle level on 1-on-1 battles wasn’t at the level that we expect,” Montgomery said. “And then I think the biggest difference was the battle at the net front. There’s a process that we believe in and a lot of those details and habits within our process cost us tonight.”
Ryan Hartman, who scored twice, scored the first goal after getting a puck by Dylan Holloway’s stick check, then being at the net after Logan Mailloux, making his Blues debut, couldn’t get enough of the puck sliding trying to sweep it away at 15:54 of the first period:
what a move and what a finish 🤯 pic.twitter.com/lQsgR4e8VE
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 10, 2025
Then Boldy was parked in front of Binnington and to redirect a Kaprizov pass off the boards at 17:30 of the first for a 2-0 Wild lead, which was a defensive breakdown and missed assignment of another guy in tight:
sit back... relax... and enjoy pic.twitter.com/x4Kk8zEc7b
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 10, 2025
Minnesota’s third goal, a power-play marker scored by Joel Eriksson Ek, at 12:27 of the second made it 3-0 and came on the Wild’s first shot of the period after the Blues put up the first 14. But it was another case of funneling a puck to the net and Eriksson Ek being in the right place in tight:
Ekker putting the puck where it belongs pic.twitter.com/eyHla3vWSL
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 10, 2025
And on Rossi’s goal that made it 5-0 at 7:27 of the third period, another case of funneling a puck to the net and driving the goal to collect the rebound in the crease:
goal 5 ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/LV95P8cUg4
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 10, 2025
“I thought through the first two (periods) we did some good things and there's some things that we need to clean up,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. “… Defensively, got to work on closing plays a little bit faster. We did some good things tonight, but there's a whole lot we can clean up and grow and get better.”
At the other end, Gustavsson was seeing the puck because the Blues just simply didn’t get enough bodies to the net. The goalie’s eyes were clear as day at that end of the ice far too often throughout the game.
“Offensively we've got to get harder in front of the opposition's goalie, that's for sure,” Schenn said. “Nothing against them, but I think we just weren't hard enough there ... willingness to go there and make it hard on Gustavsson. We had some looks, but they weren't second and third opportunities and chaos around the net. That's obviously something we've got to focus on here moving onto the next game.”
* Logan Mailloux had a rough first Blues game – Needless to say, it wasn’t the greatest of debuts for Mailloux, playing his first game after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens on July 1 for Zack Bolduc. He played 14:12 and was a minus-2 in the game.
The 22-year-old looked jittery when the puck was near him, fumbling it, not playing it cleanly throughout the game. The first Hartman goal started as a result of Mailloux misfiring a batted puck out of the zone that led to the sequence for the goal in which he tried to atone himself with a sliding play but not getting enough of the puck.
The Rossi goal also started with a defensive play in which Mailloux’s pass to partner Tyler Tucker was off the mark.
This is a process, and there are going to be nights where it doesn’t go right and the teaching moments will be there. You have to remember, this was Mailloux’s ninth NHL game, and there’s a long-term plan here, and judging someone’s play by just one game.
It wasn’t the kind of game Mailloux had hoped or envisioned, but there are certainly some teaching moments, that’s for sure.
* Blues shot selection was not good enough when game could have changed at start of second period – The Blues came out in the second period with a purpose. And that purpose was to try and re-grab the game.
They had a firm grip on it until the two goals late in the first by the Wild. They grabbed it back by pumping the first 14 shots on goal in the second period and having a 22-7 edge on the shot clock.
Unfortunately, the shot selection was not the idea to aim at the Wild logo, which the Blues were adept at doing. If that was the case, they win this game running away. But it also goes hand in hand with not taking the goalie’s eyes away.
“Well one, we weren’t taking away his eyes, so even if you are shooting at the logo, which you are correct,” Montgomery said. “A lot hit the whatever animal that is. And I don’t have an answer. We have a lot of good players that score a lot of goals and for whatever reason, we weren’t on our mark tonight.”
* Team play dipped – When the Blues were up 14-0 in shots in the second period, they had the territorial edge. But an untimely Schenn hooking penalty halted the momentum and 15 seconds later, Eriksson Ek made it 3-0 and instead of sticking with the process, the team’s play sagged instead.
There was no cohesion, little urgency and the effort level as the game wore on dipped.
And it reflected onto Binnington, who allowed a poor fourth goal to Hartman, who made a veteran move count by locking up Colton Parayko’s stick with his legs that was not called leading up to it:
2ND OF THE NIGHT pic.twitter.com/NlEgNqFU8u
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 10, 2025
“It’s a long season. It’s a journey, it’s a grind,” Montgomery said. “You’re going to have nights where unfortunately the score ends up like tonight at times. I did think for the first two periods, until it went 3-0, I liked our game quite a bit. The execution of special teams and being at the net front I think is why they separated from us. I didn’t like our game after that. Once it went 3-0, I didn’t like the energy on our bench, I didn’t like the energy that we had on the ice and the game kind of got away from us in the third.”
* Boobirds already? – The pregame hype was one thing. But that tone changed at the end of the second period when some boobirds could be heard, then they grew a bit louder at game’s end.
For Game 1 of 82, that’s way too soon.
“You obviously want to win the home opener in front of your fans,” Schenn said. “You know what, it's a long season. We can't dwell on one game. We have to turn the page and the best part about it is we have a game in a day and a half. We can go right back at it and make some adjustments and we know we can be better.”
Tommy Edman and Andy Pages put struggles aside to be key part of decisive Dodgers' inning
This hasn’t been the best of seasons for Tommy Edman or the best of postseasons for Andy Pages.
But both stepped up when they were needed most Thursday, with Edman singling to start the game-winning rally and Pages’ soft comebacker to the mound starting the strange play that gave the Dodgers a 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 4 of the National League Division Series. The victory sends the team on to next week’s NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs or Milwaukee Brewers.
For Edman, baseball’s biggest stage has long been a comfortable place. If teammate Kiké Hernández has proven to be one of the best postseason players in recent history, Edman isn’t far behind. In five playoff series with the Dodgers, Edman, a .258 hitter in the regular season, is batting .306. And last October he had 11 hits and 11 RBIs against the Mets in the NLCS, winning MVP honors.
Read more:Dodgers defeat Phillies in a wild, instant-classic walk-off to reach the NLCS
“Tommy is a competitor,” infielder Miguel Rojas said during the Dodgers’ beer-soaked victory celebration, a pair of ski googles on his head and a bottle of champagne in one hand. “I feel like everything that happens to him in this stage is not a coincidence.”
Edman certainly deserves something for the patience and persistence he showed during a trying summer. A right ankle injury, which sent him to the injury list twice, limited him to just 97 games and his .225 batting average and 78 hits were his lowest totals for a full season. Yet despite playing in discomfort during the playoffs, he’s hit safely in four of the five games in which he’s appeared.
“Everybody on our team likes the big moment,” Edman said. “We just do our best to keep on passing the baton and find a way to win.”
Edman made his biggest contribution in the 11th inning Thursday, though he had to watch from the bench to see how it played out. With one out, Edman battled through an eight-pitch at-bat before lining a single to left, the Dodgers’ first hit since the seventh inning.
Edman then exited for pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim, who came around to score the winning run on a single, a walk and Pages’ two-hopper back to the mound that Phillies’ pitcher Orion Kerkering fumbled, then threw away. The comic sequence so surprised Kim, he ran past the plate before returning to make sure the run counted.
“You see the ball come off the bat, you think it's the third out, and you see him boot it and throw the ball away,” Edman said. “And that's the game right there. Definitely not the way we expected to win.”
It may not have been pretty, or even particularly memorable. But it kept alive the Dodgers’ quest to win a second consecutive World Series.
“We’re glad to be moving on,” Edman said. “And hopefully it ends well with a few more wins.”
While Edman is at his best under the postseason spotlight, Pages is...well, the opposite. He hit .211 with more strikeouts than hits in the first two playoff series last fall and was left off the roster for the World Series.
His struggles have been even more pronounced this fall. When he came to the plate with the bases loaded in the 11th inning Thursday, he was 1 for 23 in the postseason.
He managed to put the ball in play, however, and Kerkering did the rest.
“Anything can happen when you put the ball in play,” Rojas said. “He's been fighting, and he's been going through it in the [batting] cage. I know how hard he works. The confidence that he can get from this is going to be amazing.”
Across the room Pages stood in an expanding puddle of champagne, clutching a handful of Budweiser bottles as teammates took turns pouring beer over this head.
“I knew that moment would come,” he said in Spanish. “The two at-bats before the last one, I had good at-bats. But it wasn't my moment. So, I just thought maybe there will be another one.”
For Pages, who batted .272 with 27 homers and 86 RBIs during the regular season, it wasn’t the most impressive at-bat in his short career. But it may have been the most important.
“Our goal has always been the same: to win the World Series,” Pages said.“To keep moving forward, keep winning games, is what ultimately matters to us.”
But there’s also something personal at stake for Pages, who grew up in Cuba so poor his carpenter father made the bats he played with. He escaped from the island at 15 to chase a pro career, the only thing that would make that sacrifice worth the price. His parents, meanwhile, remain in Cuba, separated from a son who they follow on TV and through social media.
Read more:Plaschke: A wild finish propels the Dodgers into NLCS and past their toughest playoff test
So Pages, juggling the beer bottles, took a moment to raise a toast to them in the bedlam of the victory celebration.
“To all the people who supported me during the bad times I was going through,” he said. “I am always grateful to them.”
Thursday he and Edman gave those people something to cheer.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.