With star power on both sides, a South Florida stage, and Messi's legacy chapter in play, MLS gets the marquee match it wanted.
Scottish Premiership: Rangers aim to move back into fourth at Kilmarnock – team news
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- Full coverage of Kilmarnock v Rangers (20:00) to follow
- FT: Dundee 1-3 Aberdeen - Visitors now into top six
- FT: Hibernian 3-0 Falkirk - Bowie stars with double
- FT: Motherwell 3-0 Livingston - Hosts narrow gap to leaders to six points
- FT: St Mirren 2-0 Dundee United - Saints break losing streak
Scottish Premiership: Rangers aim to move back into fourth at Kilmarnock - team news
Game Day: Everything you need to know ahead of Nashville Predators game at Carolina Hurricanes
The tides are beginning to turn for the Nashville Predators toward the end of 2025, as they have won four of their last five games and are on a back-to-back streak.
Thursday, they knocked off the Florida Panthers, 2-1, in overtime for their first victory over the Panthers since the 2023-24 season. Steven Stamkos had the game-winning goal, which was his fourth goal in five games.
The Predators face a hefty task on Saturday in Raleigh against the Carolina Hurricanes to extend their winning streak.
Here is everything you need to know for the Predators Saturday evening tilt.
Game info
Who: Nashville Predators (10-13-4, 8th Central) at Carolina Hurricanes (16-8-2, 2nd in Metropolitan)
When: 6 p.m. CST
Where: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, North Carolina
TV: FanDuel Sports Network South
Radio: 102.5 The Game
Line (via BetMGM): Predators (+1.5) Hurricanes (-1.5). Over/under 6 (-110/-110)
Penalty slayers
The Predators' penalty kill has been impressive all season, but it arguably had its best showing in the win against the Panthers. The unit killed off 6-of-6 penalties en route to the victory.
The performance was so impressive that Steven Stamkos, who scored the game-winner, gave the team's postgame award to the entire PK unit. Nashville's penalty kill is now tied for 10th in the NHL at 82.1%, killing off 69-of-84 penalties.
The effort is even more impressive considering that Cole Smith, one of the unit's top killers, has been out for the last two weeks. In addition, the Predators have been taking fewer penalties compared to the last few seasons.
Nashville has 232 penalty minutes, which ranks 19th in the league. Usually, the Predators are one of the league leaders in that category. The Predators have dropped the gloves only six times so far. At this time last year, there had been 10.
O'Reilly picking up speed
Ryan O'Reilly has been rock-steady for the Predators all season, but has really begun to pick up momentum over the last few games. He has eight points in the last five games after failing to record a point in the previous four games.
He leads the Predators in scoring, sitting at 21 points. O'Reilly had multi-point performances against the Red Wings (three points), Blackhawks (two points), and Panthers (two points). He's truly been living up to his nickname, Factor, over the last few games.
Adding in Steven Stamkos' recent success, recording six points in the last five games, it seems that the Predators are finally finding an offensive identity. Nashville has also scored four goals or more in three of its last five games.
Calming the storm
The Hurricanes have consistently been one of the best teams in the NHL over the past few seasons, but the Predators have their number in the regular season, winning five of their last six against Carolina.
In their last meeting, on March 26 in Raleigh, Luke Evangelista scored twice and Juuse Saros recorded his 200th career win, making 34 saves in a 3-1 victory. It's a matchup the Predators have dominated even if both teams are in different spots in the standings.
Unlike Nashville, Carolina has struggled as of late, dropping three of its last five, including a 5-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. Toronto had a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period before it scored three unanswered goals.
The Hurricanes are still one of the better teams in the league, sitting at second in the Metropolitan Division with 34 points. Seth Jarvis is tied for 10th in goals with 16 in 26 games played.
Inactive players
Nashville: Justin Barron (lower body, injured reserve), Ozzy Weisblatt (upper body, injured reserve), Nick Perbix (upper body, day-to-day), Zach L'Heureux (lower body, injured reserve), Cole Smith (upper body, injured reserve).
Carolina: K'Andre Miller (illness, questionable), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (ankle, injured reserve), Jaccob Slavin (lower body, injured reserve), Pyotr Kochetkov (lower body, day-to-day), Charles-Alexis Legault (hand, injured reserve).
Tottenham 2-0 Brentford, Manchester City 3-0 Sunderland, and more: football – as it happened
City closed the gap after Arsenal’s slip as Thomas Frank enjoyed victory over his old club
Everton: Pickford, O’Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Garner, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye, Alcaraz, Grealish, Barry. Subs: Travers, King, Patterson, McNeil, Beto, Dibling, Aznou, Campbell.
Nottm Forest: Sels, Savona, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Ndoye, Gibbs-White, Hutchinson, Igor Jesus. Subs: John Victor, Hudson-Odoi, Kalimuendo, Dominguez, Yates, Jair Cunha, McAtee, Boly, Abbott.
Continue reading...Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Earns Big Win Over Lehigh Valley On Friday
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continued their winning ways over Lehigh Valley on Friday night.
WBS defeated Lehigh Valley 6-2 and got contributions from all over the lineup. Aidan McDonough, Avery Hayes, Tristan Broz, Sam Poulin, Danton Heinen, and Atley Calvert all scored in the win. Sergei Murashov was also great in goal, stopping 34 of 36 shots.
Murashov has been lights out since the Pittsburgh Penguins sent him back to WBS, showing why he has a bright future in the organization. He made his NHL debut back on Nov. 9 against the Los Angeles Kings and played in four games before the Penguins sent him back. In those four games, he had a .913 save percentage and a 1.90 goals-against average.
He has played in 10 games for WBS this year, compiling a 1.73 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage.
Heinen, McDonough, and Broz were named the three stars of the game. Heinen finished with a goal and an assist, McDonough had a goal and two assists, and Broz had a goal and an assist.
⭐️ Danton Heinen (1G, 1A)
— Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (@WBSPenguins) December 6, 2025
⭐️⭐️ Aidan McDonough (1G, 2A)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tristan Broz (1G, 1A) pic.twitter.com/xImTPc5jnZ
Broz made his NHL debut on Nov. 26 against the Buffalo Sabres before he was sent back to WBS a few days later. He was close to making the NHL roster out of training camp and was one of the final cuts. If he keeps up his strong play, it won't be long until he gets a second NHL look.
McDonough has also enjoyed a nice season, racking up four goals and 14 points in 21 games. It's his first season with the organization after he was signed over the summer.
Hayes now has six goals and 12 points in 16 games and could also get a call-up to the big squad later in the season. Like Broz, he was really close to making the NHL team out of camp.
WBS is now 16-5-1 and has 33 points through 22 games. They are in first place in the Atlantic Division, one point up on the Providence Bruins. WBS will be back in action on Saturday against the Hershey Bears, another top rival.
The game will start at 7 p.m. ET.
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Guimarães scores from corner before Newcastle cling on against 10-man Burnley
Long before the end Burnley were down to 10 men, en route towards a sixth straight Premier League defeat and concerned, largely, with damage limitation. But then, as is becoming a habit here, Newcastle lost concentration and Burnley very nearly pickpocketed a last-minute point when Josh Laurent miscued a glorious headed chance to equalise in the dying seconds.
“We have to improve,” said the home manager, Eddie Howe. “It was a bizarre ending, and a sluggish start, but we got the job done. It was a tough game and the vibrant second half I was hoping for didn’t happen, but we’ve taken 10 points from the last possible 12. That’s no mean feat so let’s be positive rather than negative; we’re moving in the right direction.”
Continue reading...(12-6-25) Blues-Senators Gameday Lineup
The St. Louis Blues enter their matchup on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators 30th in the NHL in goal scoring (2.54 goals per game) and scoring two or fewer in nine of the past 10 games.
They’ve scored a grand total of 19 the past 10 games (1.9 per game), with the line game they’ve scored more than two: the Senators, who the Blues beat 4-3 in come-from-behind fashion on Nov. 28.
And in an ever-changing lineup for the Blues (9-12-7) where consistency seems to be a monumental task of achieving, the coaching staff continues to search for combinations that they hope get them out of the doldrums of scoring. But when you're also 29th in goals against (3.50) per game, it makes it awfully tough to secure wins, and the Blues are the only team in the league with single-digit wins at this point of the season.
Saturday was an optional skate, but according to the team, there will be changes throughout the forward group (listed below).
The only actual lineup change will be Matthew Kessel going back in on defense for Tyler Tucker, and with the Blues set for a back-to-back this weekend, including a Sunday night game against the Montreal Canadiens, Joel Hofer will get the start on Saturday, with Jordan Binnington then slated to go on Sunday.
The Blues’ come-from-behind win against the Senators was their only one of the season when trailing after two periods, when they were down 2-1 and rallied to score three in the third, a rarity of scoring more than one goal in a period of late.
It'll be the second of a three-game trip after a poor loss Thursday against the Boston Bruins, 5-2.
- - -
Blues Projected Lineup:
Jake Neighbours-Robert Thomas-Pavel Buchnevich
Dylan Holloway-Dalibor Dvorsky-Jordan Kyrou
Pius Suter-Brayden Schenn-Nick Bjugstad
Aleksanteri Kaskimaki-Oskar Sundqvist-Mathieu Joseph
Philip Broberg-Colton Parayko
Matthew Kessel-Justin Faulk
Cam Fowler-Logan Mailloux
Joel Hofer will start in goal; Jordan Binnington will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Tyler Tucker and Matt Luff.Jimmy Snuggerud (wrist), Alexey Toropchenko (leg burns) and Nathan Walker (upper body) are out.
- - -
Senators Projected Lineup:
Brady Tkachuk-Tim Stutzle-Fabian Zetterlund
David Perron-Dylan Cozens-Drake Batherson
Michael Amadio-Ridly Greig-Claude Giroux
Nick Cousins-Stephen Halliday-Hayden Hodgson
Jake Sanderson-Artem Zub
Tyler Kleven-Jordan Spence
Nikolas Matinpalo-Nick Jensen
Linus Ullmark will start in goal; Leevi Merilainen will be the backup.
Healthy scratches include Kurtis MacDermid and Dennis Gilbert. Thomas Chabot (upper body), Lars Eller (undisclosed) and Shane Pinto (lower body) are out.
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Rayan Cherki too good for Sunderland as Manchester City pressure Arsenal
In the 65th minute Rayan Cherki burst along the right, cut back, then delivered a scintillating rabona plum on to the head of Phil Foden, who nodded home off the bar. Manchester City had cruised to a 3-0 lead and were heading for second, two points off the top, after Arsenal’s defeat at Aston Villa, and the Etihad Stadium doffed the proverbial at the magical Cherki.
Of his 22-year-old star man, Pep Guardiola said: “Rayan is an exceptional player, so young, has huge personality. In the final third he has something special. What I admire the most about Rayan is not the skills. I never saw these kind of crosses from Messi – I like simplicity because I learned from Messi never to make a mistake with the simple things.
Continue reading...Giannis Antetokounmpo: 'I want to run through the wall, and make things work'
Before NBA training camp opened, rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo pushing the Bucks to have trade talks with the Knicks were everywhere. That's when, at media day, Antetokounmpo tried to quash all that saying he was all in on this team now, and in six or seven months maybe he would change his mind.
Then the Bucks stumbled out of the gate, and this week the rumor mill cranked up into high gear this week when a report came out that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with the Milwaukee front office to discuss his future with the franchise. Antetokounmpo hasn't spoken to the media since all this started (he is currently out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain), but he did talk with NBA insider Chris Haynes, who discussed that conversation on Amazon Prime's NBA coverage Friday, with Antetokounmpo reportedly echoing what he said before the season started.
"I see a wall and I want to run through the wall, and make things work."@ChrisBHaynes on what Giannis Antetokounmpo told him about his future in Milwaukee.#NBAonPrimepic.twitter.com/hz6t3rZJGR
— NBA on Prime (@NBAonPrime) December 6, 2025
"I want to run through the wall and make things work." As a reminder, here is what Antetokounmpo said at media day that was along the same lines:
"I've said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I'm here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I'm here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it's definitely going to be hard. We're going to take it day by day, but I'm here. So, all the other extra stuff does not matter... Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that's human too, you're allowed to make any decision you want, but I'm locked in. I'm locked in to this team. I'm locked in to these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself."
There should be no doubt that Antetokounmpo wants to make things work in Milwaukee and that he will make every effort to do so. He is not going to be a disruptive force. It's also possible to play hard and try to make things work while understanding the bigger picture about the Bucks' competitiveness and what that might mean in the long term.
Milwaukee is only going to trade Antetokounmpo if he pushes for it — it's the only reason for the conversations with New York in August (after the Knicks had extended Mikal Bridges and couldn't really make a decent trade offer). There are a lot of questions that flow if and when that request is made — starting with if the Bucks would help get Antetokounmpo to his preferred destination, or if they are taking the offer on the table that's best for them — but it all has to start with Antetokounmpo willing to forcefully push his way out.
Antetokounmpo being traded still feels more like something that will happen in the offseason, when roster size limits are expanded and the concerns of the luxury tax aprons are less pressing. However, if the Bucks stumble further down in the East while Antetokounmpo is out injured, that dynamic could change.
Inter Miami, Lionel Messi win first MLS Cup 3-1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the MLS Cup Final Saturday, the first for both the player and club.
Inter Miami, Lionel Messi win first MLS Cup 3-1 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps 3-1 in the MLS Cup Final Saturday, the first for both the player and club.
Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better' amid early struggles with Warriors
Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better' amid early struggles with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors veteran center Al Horford recognizes he has fallen short since his arrival to the Bay Area.
In an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, the 39-year-old big man reflected on his first two months as a part of Golden State, which he joined in late September on a multi-year contract.
The 19-year NBA veteran’s self-assessment? Harsh yet honest and accurate.
“I’m not where I want to be,” Horford told Friedell on Thursday. “I would say I haven’t been very good. I understand that there’s a lot of work ahead of me, there’s more that I need to do, and I need to be better, and I feel like I will. But right now, I’m not where I want to be.”
To say that Horford’s adjustment to the Warriors has been less than ideal is an understatement.
The former All-Star and NBA champion, who won’t play back-to-back games this season, only has featured in 13 games for Golden State, averaging career-lows of 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes.
On Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers, Horford returned after missing two weeks due to sciatica.
“It’s not so much frustrating,” Horford told Friedell. “It’s just that there are a lot of different circumstances going on. Whether it’s injury, missing time away from the team, there’s a lot of factors, and there’s no excuses, but I take all of this first part with a hint of salt, and I know that I will be better. So I know that I will be better.”
Outside of adjusting to a new system, injuries and playing for a team based west of the Great Plains, Horford and his wife, Amelia, recently welcomed their sixth child.
It has been a whirlwind, but Horford knows exactly what parts of his game he has to improve on.
“For me, it’s continuing to figure everything out defensively,” Horford added to Friedell. “So being more of a support on the defensive end. And then on offense, getting more comfortable in spots so I can impact the team.
“Being able to get to the right spots to shoot the three, and just giving the team more on the offensive end. Whether it’s setting screens, getting guys open, things like that. That’s always something that I’m going to continue to try to be better at.”
Horford made his first start of the season in the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the 76ers.
And although his performance wasn’t the most convincing, it’s a step in the right direction for the veteran, especially during a time in which an injury-riddled Warriors could benefit from the brand of basketball that has kept Horford in the league for nearly two decades.
“That’s always been my mindset,” Horford told Friedell. “And I understand it, but right now the team needs me. We need to be a little better, and this is a part of it; it’s a part of the journey. But in my mind, I know where I need to be when that time comes.”
Canadiens To Take Part In 2026 Heritage Classic
Earlier this week, news that the Winnipeg Jets would host the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium on October 25, 2026, leaked online after a post on the Jets’ official website announced the event, only to be taken down. Clearly, the league wasn’t ready to announce the news, but it is indeed happening.
It’s been quite a few years since the Canadiens played outdoors. The last time they did it was in the league’s NHL 100 Classic back in 2017 when they took on the Ottawa Senators at Lansdowne Park. In front of 33,959 fans, the Habs were shut out 3-0 by the Sens. The temperature at puck drop was minus eleven Celsius, and it got colder as the game went on. Montreal was outshot 38-28 and could only win 29% of the faceoffs. Carey Price, who was making his 10th consecutive start, played well, but he couldn’t score any goals.
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The Habs’ performance was a stark contrast with the 2016 Winter Classic in Foxboro, where the visiting Canadiens beat the Boston Bruins 5-1. Brendan Gallagher was one of the stars of the game, putting up a goal and an assist in what was his return to action after missing 17 games because of two broken fingers, which needed surgery. Paul Byron (2), David Desharnais, and Max Pacioretty had scored the other goals, but it was the then 23-year-old who had sparked the Habs to life. Even more impressive was the fact that the Canadiens were without star goalie Price and that Mike Condon, a Holliston, Massachusetts native, was manning the net.
At the Canadiens’ practice on Friday, the winger was asked about the upcoming Heritage Classic by RDS’ Luc Gelinas and was surprised to hear about it:
Awesome, it will be nice and warm, he said with a big grin, before adding: That’s great, that’s a lot of fun. I still remember those games, some of the most fun hockey games; it reminds you of your childhood experiences, so I’m excited for these guys to experience it.- Gallagher on the upcoming Heritage Classic
The veteran also recalled that when the Canadiens played the first Heritage Classic in Edmonton in 2003, he had tickets to the game, but his dad decided he should go with his team to Fort McMurray to play their game rather than go watch. His team had won by 15 or 16 goals; I’m not sure they needed us there. He laughed it off, adding that his decision might have been motivated by the extreme cold that day.
The game was held to commemorate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary in the NHL and the 20th anniversary of their first Stanley Cup win, in front of 57,167 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. In a polar-temperature game, the Habs won a 4-3 thriller in which Jose Theodore saved 34 of 37 shots and famously wore a toque over his mask.
On this day in 2003, the Canadiens and Oilers braved the cold and played the Heritage Classic, the NHL’s first regular season outdoor game #Habs365#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/kcK39cLe7E
— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) November 22, 2024
Eight years later, the Sainte-Flanelle took on the Calgary Flames at McMahon Stadium in Alberta and were shut out 4-0 by Mikka Kiprusoff. Funnily enough, soon-to-be Hab Rene Bourque had scored two of the four goals while Alex Tanguay, a former Hab, also scored.
The Canadiens have a 2-2-0 record in outdoor games and will be hoping to win a third match in Winnipeg next October. One has to wonder if the NHL will ever give the Habs a chance to play an outdoor home game, but for now, they’ll have to make do with being the road warriors.
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Charlton’s match against Portsmouth abandoned after supporter’s death
Supporter had been taken ill during first half at Valley
Clubs pay tribute after fan passes away in hospital
A Charlton supporter has died after being taken ill during the club’s abandoned Championship fixture against Portsmouth. The fan was treated by medical staff in the stands before being taken to hospital, but it was later confirmed the person had died.
The 12.30pm kick-off was paused in the 12th minute, when the score was goalless, after the referee Matthew Donohue was made aware of the severity of the incident in the lower tier of the Covered End by supporters who shouted to attract his attention. The match official then took the players off the pitch six minutes later. It was announced at 1.30pm that play would not resume.
Continue reading...Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski
Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
On the first night of a Midwest back-to-back, the Warriors will be down several key contributors — namely stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Without those steady veterans, coach Steve Kerr needs a big night from Golden State’s second timeline, particularly two players who have struggled lately: Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. Before Saturday’s matchup in Cleveland, Kerr detailed some areas he needs to see improvement from that young duo.
“Well, JK, it’s always run the floor, take care of the ball — the turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr told reporters. “So I’m really urging him to get up the floor instead of, you know, holding back in the backcourt and asking for the ball. I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last. And I think that’s been an issue the last few games. I don’t think he’s running the floor that well.”
Kuminga had a strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season but hasn’t looked quite like himself since returning from a seven-game absence due to bilateral knee tendinitis.
Podziemski, on the other hand, has been thrust into a larger role while Curry is out with a quad contusion. But in Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Podziemski was a team-worst minus-20 in just under 20 minutes, while third-string point guard Pat Spencer was a team-best plus-17 in 24 minutes.
“And then with Brandin, he’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr continued. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own, instead of doing what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.
“That’s why Pat has closed these last couple of games and played most of the fourth quarters, if not all, because he’s doing that. So Brandin needs to get back to just focusing on the things he does best.”
With Golden State missing practically all of their veterans on Saturday, Kerr needs Kuminga and Podziemski to return to form to have any chance at taking down a talented Cavaliers squad on the road.