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Red Wings Look to Bounce Back as Home Underdogs in Rivalry Showdown with Maple Leafs

The Detroit Red Wings look for bounce back performance when hosting one of their biggest rivals in the Toronto Maple Leafs in a primetime showdown. 

It was a season opener to forget for the Red Wings as they wanted to make it as memorable as possible for the start of the franchise's 100th season but it quickly soured late in the first period. After defensive lapses led to an early 3-1 deficit heading into the second, the Wings couldn't recover as they eventually lost 5-1 while debuting their new Centennial uniforms.

Detroit looks to bounce back against a familar foe in Toronto. The Red Wings lost game 82 of the 2024-25 season in tragic fashion when blowing a 3-1 lead to the Maple Leafs entering the third period before losing 4-3 in overtime. They look to exact revenge on Saturday as well as make up for their lackluster start to the season. 

It'll be their 688th meeting all-time with the Buds holding the upper hand historically with a 303-285-93-6 record. The rivalry has been neck-and-neck lately, with each team taking three wins in their last six matchups. Saturday night’s showdown will break the deadlock and show who truly owns this series.

Alex DeBrincat Reflects on Missed Chances in Red Wings' Loss to CanadiensAlex DeBrincat Reflects on Missed Chances in Red Wings' Loss to CanadiensThe ultimate fate of an NHL team during any given contest can sometimes come down to a series of bounces and what some fans would simply refer to as good or bad luck. 

Lineup Storylines

The Red Wings' trio of rookies (Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin-Pellikka) held their own in their NHL debuts, avoiding costly mistakes, though their overall impact was more limited than Detroit bench boss Todd McLellan had hope. Brandsegg-Nygård saw his chances including a low slot chance that saw Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobes turn the puck away. 

Sandin-Pellikka played heavy minutes in the season opener (3rd-most on the team at 22:34) while Finnie wasn't given many opportunities to show what he has to offer as his linemates in captain Dylan Larkin and star winger Lucas Raymond spent a sizeable amount of time working the special teams. The trio will look to have a more impactful game on a big stage like a Saturday night primetime game against a fierce original six rival. 

Rookie Trio Shows Promise Despite Tough Debuts as Red Wings Drop Season Opener to CanadiensRookie Trio Shows Promise Despite Tough Debuts as Red Wings Drop Season Opener to CanadiensBreaking down how Detroit’s trio of rookies handled their first NHL test against Montreal in a challenging season-opening loss.

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

This will be Detroit's first look at a Toronto team without Mitch Marner as the 28-year-old superstar winger left for the Vegas Golden Knights in free agency, giving the Maple Leafs more cap space to add more players. In the process, the Buds added Utah Mammoth winger Matias Maccelli to take over Marner's role on the top line while lower in the lineup they added Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua and got back from the Golden Knights, Nick Roy as part of a sign-and-trade for Marner. 

Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+118) | TOR ML (-142)

DET +1.5 (-200) | TOR -1.5 (+165)

O/U 6.0 Goals

When the Red Wings and Maple Leafs face off it usually means fireworks as the two clubs have totaled six or more goals in 16 of their last 23 matchups. That means relying on certain players to find the back of the net and for the Red Wings, there’s no better bet than their top scorer, Alex DeBrincat. After generating several high-danger chances in the season opener, the Michigan native looks poised for a breakout performance. The 27-year-old also has a strong track record against the Maple Leafs, posting three goals and three assists for six points over his last seven meetings with Toronto.

On the Maple Leafs’ side, their key forwards all made an impact in the opener, highlighted by William Nylander’s standout performance with a goal and two assists for a three-point night. This time, though, it could be the captain’s turn to take over. Auston Matthews has scored in three straight games against the Red Wings and has dominated this matchup historically, tallying 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points in his last 23 contests versus Detroit.

Expect DeBrincat To Lead Red Wings in Bounce-Back Win Over Matthews, Maple LeafsExpect DeBrincat To Lead Red Wings in Bounce-Back Win Over Matthews, Maple LeafsDetroit's Alex DeBrincat and Toronto's Auston Matthews headline Best Bets options for Saturday's marquee matchup between the Red Wings and Leafs.

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: Cam Talbot (VS TOR: 6-5-2 record, 2.83 GAA, .901 SV% in 15 Games)

Toronto: Anthony Stolarz (VS DET: 2-0-0 record, One Goal Allowed - 0.49 GAA, .980 SV%, One Shutout in 2 Games)

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Steph Curry, several Warriors starters out for third preseason game vs. Lakers

Steph Curry, several Warriors starters out for third preseason game vs. Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Warriors will be without several starters for their third game of the 2025 NBA preseason.

Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford and Moses Moody all will miss Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, coach Steve Kerr told reporters Saturday (h/t ESPN’s Anthony Slater).

Kerr already had informed media members on Friday that Butler would be away for Sunday’s game as an excused absence, stating the reason was positive.

Meanwhile, Kerr said Curry is “banged up,” but the plan is for him to play Tuesday against the Trail Blazers in Portland.

Horford made his unofficial Warriors debut in Golden State’s preseason opener last Sunday, finishing with three points, four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. He was a plus-13 in 14 minutes.

Moody, after leading the Warriors with 19 points and five 3-pointers last Sunday, will miss the game in Los Angeles due to a calf issue. Kerr said Moody will undergo an MRI later Saturday, but the team believes it is minor.

The Warriors will start Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga, Draymond Green and Quinten Post.

Strength in numbers will be tested early this season.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Cubs at Brewers – NLDS Game 5 prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats

The Cubs and Brewers take the field in Milwaukee tonight for Game 5 of their National League Division series with the winner earning the right to play for the National League pennant against the Dodgers.

Neither manager has released information as to who will start the pivotal Game 5 but lets review options and take an educated guess for each side.

Chicago's options are Shota Imanaga, a bullpen game, or Cade Horton. All things being equal, the obvious choice would be Horton, but he has thrown only a handful of pitches since fracturing a rib. He is not ready to face live bats. If they choose the bullpen, all arms other than Horton and Matthew Boyd are available. If Craig Counsell is thinking of using Imanaga at all, it will more than likely be to start the game. No doubt Iamanaga's issues this postseason - an 8.10 ERA with three homers allowed in 6.2 innings - are a cause for concern.

In the other dugout, Pat Murphy, has options but each also comes with question marks. The obvious choices are Jose Quintana, Quinn Priester, or a bullpen game. Priester was rocked earlier in the series lasting just two outs in the first inning. It would be a bold choice to give him the ball. The bullpen is always a possibility and like the Cubs almost every arm is available. The logical choice, though, is Quintana. The veteran has pitched in big games throughout his 14-year career including nine postseason games. Most recently, Quintana pitched five scoreless innings last year for the Mets in their winner-take-all Wild Card series Game 3 against the Brewers.

If Pat Murphy takes a detour away from these options, he could go with his flamethrower, Jacob Misiorowski. While the manager may feel taking the mound at the start may be too big for the rookie. That said, the manager without question will go to the rookie if need be out of the bullpen.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch the first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 5

  • Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025
  • Time: 8:08PM EST
  • Site: American Family Field
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming: TBS

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Cubs at the Brewers - NLDS Game 5

The latest odds as of Saturday courtesy of DraftKings:

  • Moneyline: Cubs (+119), Brewers (-145)
  • Spread: Brewers -1.5 (+142)
  • Total: 7.5 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Cubs at Brewers

  • Pitching matchup for October 11, 2025: Shota Imanaga vs. Jose Quintana
    • Cubs: Shota Imanaga (Reg. Season: 9-8, 3.73 ERA)
      Last outing: 10/6 at Milwaukee - 2.2 IP, 4ER, 5H, 0 BB, 3 Ks
    • Brewers: Jose Quintana (Reg. Season: 11-7, 3.96 ERA)
      Last outing: 10/8 at Cubs - 3IP, 0ER, 2H, 1 BB, 2Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Cubs at Brewers - NLDS Game 5

  • William Contreras is 5-12 (.417) with 3 HRs against Shota Imanaga in his career
  • Jackson Chourio is 1-7 (.143) in his career against Imanaga
  • Christian Yelich is 5-12 (.417) with 1 HR in his career against Imanaga
  • Imanaga has allowed 12 HRs in his last 6 starts (34.2 innings).
  • Dansby Swanson is 4-13 (.308) with 1 HR in his career against Jose Quintana
  • Kyle Tucker is 2-8 (.250) with 1 HR in his career against Quintana
  • Justin Turner is 7-25 (.280) with 5 RBIs in his career against Quintana

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s NLDS Game 5 between the Cubs and the Brewers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Saturday's game between the Cubs and the Brewers:

  • Moneyline: Rotoworld is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: Rotoworld is leaning towards a play ATS on the Chicago Cubs at +1.5.
  • Total: Rotoworld is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.5.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page fromNBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

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Blackhawks Vs Canadiens: Roster, Lines, & More Ahead Of Game 3

The Chicago Blackhawks are back at home for the 2025-26 season. This, their centennial season, will begin with a game at the United Center against the Montreal Canadiens. 

Chicago started their season on the road with two losses to the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins, respectively. The latter of the two came in overtime, so the Blackhawks do have one standings point. 

Over the first two games, there have been some things to like about the way that the Blackhawks played, and some things that need major improvement. 

3 Things We Learned From Blackhawks Season Opening Road Trip3 Things We Learned From Blackhawks Season Opening Road TripThe Chicago Blackhawks are now 0-1-1 through two games to open their season. It began with two road Eastern Conference matches. Chicago lost to the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday night and dropped an overtime game 4-3 to the Boston Bruins on Thursday. 

Last season, the Canadiens were really hot towards the end of the season. It earned them a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs. However, the Blackhawks suffered two of their losses throughout their great run. Chicago will be looking to repeat that success against Montreal in their home opener. 

Calder Trophy Love

The Chicago Blackhawks have forward Connor Bedard, and the Montreal Canadiens have defenseman Lane Hutson. They are the last two winners of the NHL's Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. Each of them is an impact player in their own way and will be looking to lead their teams to victory in this one. 

Bedard is a shifty center who makes incredible plays and has a high-end shot. He impacts the game with his offensive tools as a center. As for Hutson, he is a dynamic offensive defenseman who can make plays at even strength while being a top-tier power play quarterback. 

Expected Lines And Defense Pairs

Dach - Bedard - Burakovsky

Teravainen - Nazar - Bertuzzi

Donato - Greene - Mikheyev

Foligno - Reichel - Lafferty

Vlasic - Rinzel

Kaiser - Levshunov

Grzelcyk - Murphy

(Crevier)

Knight

Spencer Knight is the expected starter for the Blackhawks in their home opener. He was brilliant in Chicago's first game of the season, as the main reason they were even in the game at all. Without him, the Florida Panthers would have run away with the game. Instead, it was just a 3-2 loss. 

Jason Dickinson is notably missing from this group. He left Thursday's game against the Boston Bruins and never returned. That is a big loss for Chicago as one of their top checking centers is missing from the lineup. Expect Ryan Greene's role on the team to increase in Dickinson's absence.

Right before the game on Thursday, the Blackhawks announced that they would dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen. Louis Crevier was in the lineup, and Sam Lafferty was the healthy scratch. With Jason Dickinson out,  it will be interesting to see if they go that route again.

If they don't, will Lukas Reichel make his season debut? Will Sam Lafferty play, and Reichel stay out? Regardless, these are mostly what the lines are going to look like in this matchup. 

UPDATE: Jeff Blashill confirmed that Lukas Reichel will make his season debut and that Jason Dickinson is expected to miss a week with an upper-body injury. Levshunov also stayed on the ice long after the morning skate ended, which is usually the sign of a healthy scratch. 

How To Watch

Those looking for the game in the Chicago area can find it on CHSN. Out-of-market viewings can be found on NHL Network. The puck will drop at the United Center just after 6:00 PM CT. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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5 biggest questions Yankees are facing during 2025-26 MLB offseason

October disappointment equals pointed winter evaluations and, perhaps, nowhere is that baseball equation truer than the Bronx, USA. The Yankees fell well short of their playoff goals again and now they have much to do before the optimism of spring blooms anew. 

So, what are the five biggest questions facing them as they push for a World Series title in Aaron Judge’s prime? 

1. Elbow Judge-ment

Anything to do with Judge’s health has outsized implications in Yankeeland, so we must start with the flexor strain in his right elbow. 

It briefly put him on the injured list over the summer, though he played in 152 games. 

He returned, at first as a designated hitter, and then back to right field. And he was amazing, as usual. His arm strength got better along the way, but there was trepidation about his throwing, too. 

So what now? 

In the clubhouse after the Yankees were eliminated, Judge was asked about his elbow and he said, “We’ll definitely do some work on it. We’ll do some work on it and get it right.” 

Pressed if that meant surgery, Judge replied, “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know.” 

Will this become something that significantly impacts Judge’s 2026?

2. Lineup re-up? 

The Yankees were the most prolific offense in baseball over the course of 162 games, averaging 5.24 runs and blasting 274 home runs. They had enough variety that they recorded a .405 winning percentage in games they were homer-less, the third-best mark in MLB, though chasing homers is certainly a big part of their approach.

But the Blue Jays’ contact-heavy attack overwhelmed Bronx lightning in the four-game ALDS, outscoring the Yankees, 34-19. Toronto led MLB in hits and had the lowest strikeout percentage. The Yanks were 12th in hits and had the third-most strikeouts. Hmmm. 

Hitting home runs is a great way to win in October -- over the 2024-25 postseasons, teams outhomering their opponents are 38-12, according to MLB researcher Sarah Langs. That’s a .760 winning percentage. 

But you have to hit the home runs. That was the Yankees’ great skill and yet they were outhomered in the playoffs, 10-6, while also hitting less and striking out more than their opponents. They must address that discrepancy to cover themselves in the October tournament, when top teams’ top pitchers can suppress their slugging.

Calling all free-agent contact hitters. 

Sep 9, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) walks back to the dugout after failing to lay down a sacrifice bunt during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium.
Sep 9, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) walks back to the dugout after failing to lay down a sacrifice bunt during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3. We need to talk about Anthony

Do the Yanks have a shortstop problem? Maybe. 

Anthony Volpe regressed defensively and morphed into a dominant season storyline, whether it was his struggles on offense, playing through a small labrum tear in his left shoulder or the repeated votes of confidence he got from Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman. 

Now that the season is over, they have to figure out the position. 

Is Volpe, as the bigwigs insist, the solution? He did have an impressive 55 extra-base hits and got himself together defensively later in the season. He’s also under team control for three more years.

But he batted .212 with a .663 OPS and made 19 errors. He was also dreadful against Toronto, going 1-for-15 with 11 strikeouts. 

4. Go Back-to-Back with Belli? 

Cody Bellinger has a $25-million opt-out and seems destined for free agency after a tremendous first season in pinstripes. He can do it all -- hit, base-running, defense -- and can play all three outfield positions plus a nifty first base. The Yanks must retain him. 

Problem is, all those great qualities should make him a popular target across MLB, maybe the contract gets kooky.

There’s a lot going on in the Yankee outfield -- Judge’s elbow and the potential departures of both Bellinger and Trent Grisham, also a free agent. 

Does Spencer Jones, the touted prospect who slugged 35 homers in the minors, fit in? What’s Jasson Domínguez’s role?

5. Who’s on first? 

Ben Rice emerged in a big way this season, but is he the everyday first baseman going forward? 

He certainly hits enough (26 homers, ridiculous hard-hit metrics, 19th-best slugging percentage in MLB). He needs to improve on defense, however.

So the Yankees should bring in a right-handed hitting complement who can provide the glove-work. 

Rice can also catch and be a lefty DH, which might open more opportunities at first for a free agent, or even Bellinger, depending on how the outfield evolves.

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Islanders' Jonathan Drouin suspended one game for cross-check late in season opener

The Islanders will be without one of their free agent forward additions for their second game of the season. 

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced on Friday that Jonathan Drouin has officially been suspended one game for his cross-check late in Thursday's season opener. 

With just over 10 seconds remaining in regulation, Drouin threw a rough cross-check to the head of Penguins forward Connor Dewar during a net-front scrum. 

The veteran was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct on the play. 

Friday morning, the league announced that he would have a hearing, and shortly after news of his ban broke. 

This is Drouin's first career suspension, but he has been fined in the past for another cross-checking incident (2022).

Prior to his absence, the winger enjoyed himself a strong debut with the Islanders, scoring the team's opening goal of the season during in the first period.  

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What's new about Knicks' offense heading into 2025-26 NBA season?

We’re just three games into the preseason, but it’s been a transformative stretch for the Knicks as they build up the foundations of their restructured offense under new head coach Mike Brown.

A primary reason for hiring him was to diversify and maximize an offense that finished top five last season, but steadily declined into the playoffs and stagnated too often by admission of the players running it.

We won’t see the final results until months from now, and even early returns should be taken with a grain of salt, given the undertaking of installing a new read-and-react system in a low-stakes preseason environment. Still, we can start to spot the big differences and how that might inform what this team looks like, fully formed. 

Here are three major ways this Knicks offense is different from prior iterations.

Three-point emphasis

Brown wants 40 three-pointers per game out of these Knicks, a mark well above their previous 34.1 average and one met by only four other teams during the 2024-25 season. New York is currently on pace this preseason, averaging 44 behind a revamped shot diet.

A big focus for them this training camp has been getting two feet in the paint to collapse the defense and create catch-and-shoot opportunities for shooters. The Knicks have been doing more of this thanks to increased ball and player movement, pace, and cutting down on mid-range shots. 

All of their top scorers have aligned early shot diets with these principles. Out of the 32 shots Jalen Brunson has taken this preseason, only two have come from the mid-range -- ditto for Karl-Anthony Towns (1 of 19), OG Anunoby (1 of 15) and even Mikal Bridges (1 for 26).

The Knicks will probably want to get a little more out of the paint and free throw line, but this is probably just a preseason thing. We’ll see how stringent these changes remain, how the personnel adjusts, and how much it boosts the offense once we’re well into the regular season.

Oct 9, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts as he talks with center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden.
Oct 9, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown reacts as he talks with center/forward Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Madison Square Garden. / John Jones-Imagn Images

Freelance fundamentals

One thing that looks to be consistent with last year’s approach is a reliance on freelanced offense, or trusting the talent on the court to make the right reads without relying on too many canned plays. However, where the 2025 Knicks could stagnate in their approach -- often simplifying to a pet pindown or weave to get Brunson the ball in pick-and-roll or isolation -- this year promises increased motion and sharing to generate looks. 

Brown mentioned running no set plays in the Knicks’ most recent win, in an effort to familiarize them with the new system. Two major tenants of the approach are spacing principles and emphasis on movement.

New York is trying to be more diligent with spacing the floor by keeping players spread and in motion behind the arc, while also being smarter about how they cut into the paint. There were times last season when guys would be bunched up in the same corner, or cutting into each other on a drive. Hyperfocusing on the right positioning with no plays running should help deter those mistakes.

The other piece is increased player movement, including a ton of quick-hit dribble hand-offs, give-and-gos, and weak-side cuts and flares to keep the opportunities flowing with no set being run. There also seems to be an informal dribble or isolation limit, as the ball is moving much freer than in years past. 

Quicker pace

This change has been a little tougher to gauge on the eye test and by the numbers. Partially from preseason obfuscation, partially because this might be the biggest new adjustment for New York’s top players, and partially because it’s not as simple. Increased pace means more fast breaks and quicker shots. 

Some of the changes have been more subtle -- like Brown preaching for guys to spread out to the corners as quick as possible semi-transition, which we’re seeing the beginnings of. But the results may not look like what some expect right away.

The Knicks won’t be turning into seven seconds or less anytime soon and probably at all, but they’re trying to get more leak-outs in transition, make space for trailers, and even get into their halfcourt stuff much quicker, which may bring the biggest impact. 

A big issue with last season's offense was just taking six seconds to cross halfcourt and another eight to finally begin the action. It happened often.

Again, drawing any concrete conclusions from these early games is a fruitless exercise, but they’ve given us a real look into the core tenants Brown has been preaching for this new-look offense all training camp. It may take some time to fully realize, but we can see the building blocks starting to emerge.

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Panthers Den: Opening the season with a pair of tight wins, previewing Ottawa matchup

It’s time for a quick little math lesson.

What do you get when you combine The Hockey Show with the start of a new NHL season?

The answer is…the return of the Panthers Den!

During hockey season, every new episode of The Hockey Show with co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork will include a segment dedicated to the latest happenings in and around the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champs.

This week, they discussed Florida’s win on Opening Night against the Chicago Blackhawks and their victory two nights later over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Both games saw the Cats run into a hot goaltender but ultimately come out on top with the two points.

Also on this week’s show, Roy and Dave previewed Saturday’s matchup between the Panthers and their division rivals from Ottawa.

You can check out the first Panthers Den of the season in the video below:

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Mets, Yankees interested in Japanese INF Munetaka Murakami who is expected to be posted this offseason

There will be a new free agent joining the market this offseason. 

Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami will be posted by the Yakult Swallows this winter, officially making him available to all 30 MLB teams, according to MLB’s Mark Feinsand. 

Numerous teams are expected to be in the running for the lefty sluggers talents, and according to Nikkan Sports, both New York clubs are among them. 

Murakami has been a star for the Swallows over the past eight seasons, taking home a pair of MVP awards while popping a combined 246 home runs, 165 doubles, and 681 RBI.

22 of those long balls came in an injury-riddled campaign this past season.

His biggest power display came in 2022, when he popped 56 homers and drove in 134 runs. 

The 25-year-old mainly plays the hot corner, but he’s also spent time at first and DH.

For the Mets, Murakami presents an intriguing option for David Stearns to consider if slugger Pete Alonso were to leave in free agency after opting out of his deal with the club.

Stearns went to Japan to watch one of Murakami’s games earlier this year, and he launched a grand slam.  

The Yankees, on the other hand, aren’t exactly a smooth fit at the moment but his powerful swing from the left-side certainly would be well suited for the short porch in the Bronx. 

The Dodgers, Mariners, Phillies, Red Sox, and Giants are also expected to be in the mix.

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What Islanders Matthew Schaefer Wants To Improve Upon After First Career NHL Game

EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer isn't satisfied with his NHL debut performance. 

Despite recording an assist and being on the ice for all of the Islanders' three goals in 17:15 TOI, here's what he wants to do better at when he plays in his second NHL game on Saturday night against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. 

Islanders No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer Becomes Youngest Defenseman To Record Point In NHL DebutIslanders No. 1 Pick Matthew Schaefer Becomes Youngest Defenseman To Record Point In NHL DebutPITTSBURGH, PA -- During the New York Islanders’ season opener on Thursday, 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer scored his first NHL point, marking an early milestone for the young defenseman. 

"I want to end plays quicker in the D zone," Schaefer said. "I think that's a big one. Maybe get more shots through, you know, use my feet more on the blue line.

"I think that's a big thing that will come over time with confidence. But you know, things like that, getting shots through, pucks to the net. I mean things like that. I think those are all things that I can work on."

If we are being picky, Schaefer did struggle to get shots through in his first game, with just one on six attempts. Five of his shots were blocked. 

The reason Schaefer was a No. 1 pick is because of how determined he is to improve each and every time his skates hit the ice. 

So, don't be shocked if he gets more shots through and skates even better on Saturday night. 

Puck drop is at 7 PM ET on MSGSN. 

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Canadiens: Contract Extension With Hutson Is Imminent

According to Journal de Montreal journalist Jonathan Bernier, a contract extension for the reigning Rookie of the Year, Lane Hutson, is imminent with the Montreal Canadiens. Why is the longtime Canadiens beat writer saying so? Because on Thursday night, when the Canadiens were taking on the Detroit Red Wings, Hutson’s agent, Ryan Barnes, was taking in the game with the Habs’ GM in the Little Caesars Arena press gallery.

Barnes is based in the Detroit area; however, the fact that he was with the Canadiens’ executive bodes well for Canadiens’ fans. Bernier also adds that Kent Hughes had a reasonably busy morning in Detroit. The writer even ventures a guess, saying that he believes the AAV of a long-term deal could be similar to the deals signed by Luke Hughes and Jackson Lacombe.

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Canadiens: Advantage Hughes
Canadiens: The Kids (And The Dads) Are Having Fun

I still expect the Canadiens’ GM to push for a maximum-term deal with the star blueliner. Hughes has been keen on locking up his core long-term signing maximum-term deals with Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Noah Dobson. The exception is Kaiden Guhle, who only signed a six-year contract, but given his injury history, that’s quite understandable. Furthermore, it would have been more expensive to buy unrestricted free agent years, so to speak.

The sooner a deal is ironed out with Hutson, the better. While the youngster is still the first on the ice and the last off it when it’s time to practice, he hasn’t had the best start to the season. It’s too early to talk about a sophomore slump, but it seems less effortless for him to play the game. He’s been held off the scoresheet in the first two games and has a minus-one rating.

As tough on himself as always, he blamed himself for the Toronto Maple Leafs’ game-winning goal in the season opener on Wednesday night. The bizarre sequence in which both Canadiens’ defenseman had lost their sticks, making it child’s play for Morgan Rielly to score as he walked in and received a pass that had no chance of being intercepted by the stickless blueliners. It was hardly Hutson’s fault, but the youngster likes to be the man who builds his team’s game-winning goal, not the one on the ice when the other team gets the game-winning goal.

Being held off the scoresheet in a game where his team scores five goals is not a frequent occurrence for Hutson, either, nor is it being unable to produce on the power play, especially with the kind of power play unit the Canadiens now have. Playing with the first line and Zack Bolduc, who has proven that he can be quite the goal scorer in the league already, should make it easier to pick up helpers.

It’s too early to criticize Hutson, and there’s really no reason to blame him. There’s no lack of effort in his play; you can see that he wants to do well and contribute, but the contract negotiations may be playing on his mind.

Players often claim that they don’t worry about contracts and let their agents handle them. Still, when a deal becomes a highly discussed topic in the market, it must be challenging, especially in Montreal, where the GM has been able to sign most of his players to team-friendly deals, leaving money on the table for the good of the team, giving the GM more money to work with and assemble a winning team.

Is it out of the realm of possibilities that it worries Hutson? Does he wonder what his teammates think about the prolonged negotiations? I don’t think so. In fact, it would just be a human reaction, and even if the youngster works tirelessly and looks like a hockey-playing robot at times, especially when he says he’s bored on days off, he remains a human being.

The sooner the contract is finalized, the better it will be for both the Canadiens and the player. I still believe Hughes is making every effort to keep his cap hit under Noah Dobson’s, and with the way the newly acquired defenseman has played since the start of the season, it’s understandable. He has played like a number-one defenseman. If Hutson signs an eight-year pact, it will take him straight to unrestricted free agency, and he’ll have time left in his career, making it possible for him to break the bank once again. That’s probably one of Hughes’ arguments to keep the cap hit reasonable.

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Mike Dunleavy admits Kuminga distractions are ‘impossible' for Warriors to avoid

Mike Dunleavy admits Kuminga distractions are ‘impossible' for Warriors to avoid originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jonathan Kuminga and the Warriors are ready to turn the page to basketball after a strenuous offseason, but Mike Dunleavy can’t avoid the obvious.

Dunleavy joined 95.7 The Game’s “Steiny & Guru” on Friday and addressed the reality of the aftermath of Kuminga’s contract situation.

“This is the nature of the business, especially in the offseason,” Dunleavy said. “You got to cover news, cover things that are going on. But once camp starts and you jump into basketball, that’s what our guys are focused on. Of course, there are going to be things that come up in the season, rumors and all those things, and the players have to deal with that.

“I think it’s impossible to go through a season without distractions and things like that.”

After a 92-day standoff, Kuminga and the Warriors finally agreed on a two-year, $46.8 million contract with a team option in the second year.

The 23-year-old returned to the Warriors’ practice facility for training camp last week, and all parties involved have downplayed any bad blood or drama between Kuminga and the rest of the team.

While his role within Steve Kerr’s offense still needs to be sorted, Kuminga’s sole focus is doing whatever he can to help the Warriors win. And a few weeks ahead of the 2025-26 season opener, that’s the only vibe Dunleavy has got thus far.

“But I don’t see the JK stuff from what’s happened in the offseason in terms of figuring out a contract for him carrying over into the season,” Dunleavy said. “That would be pretty surprising to me. He’s not that type of guy. We’re moving forward. The rest of the team is moving forward. I haven’t really seen any of those things lingering thus far in camp, even.”

As Dunleavy stated, the team won’t be able to avoid any outside noise. But as long as the Warriors are good within their own walls, Kuminga’s presence should be nothing but a positive for Golden State.

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Columbus Blue Jackets (0 pts) vs. Minnesota Wild (2 pts) Game Preview

The Blue Jackets play the Minnesota Wild tonight at Grand Casino Arena. 

The first game of the season for the Columbus Blue Jackets didn't go as they had planned, but being beaten by the Nashville Predators is a normal thing. Now they travel to Minnesota to play a Wild team that thrashed the St. Louis Blues 5-0 in game one of their season in St. Louis. 

The Blue Jackets could only muster a single goal against Juuse Saros, who was looking to have a comeback year. Now, they will most likely get to play another hot goalie in Filip Gustavsson, who shut down the Blues. Playing their first two games on the road against teams that are hosting their first home game of the season is never an easy thing to do, but for some reason, the CBJ seem to have to do it every year. 

Columbus has to put some goals in the net, plain and simple. Against Nashville, they put 38 shots on goal, so it's not like they didn't try. 

Blue Jackets Stats  

  • Power Play - 0.0% - 19th in NHL
  • Penalty Kill - 75% - 17th in NHL
  • Goals For - 1 - 25th in NHL.
  • Goals Against - 2 - 9th in NHL

Wild Stats

  • Power Play – 33.3% - 4th in NHL
  • Penalty Kill – 100% - 1st in NHL
  • Goals For - 5 - 2nd in NHL
  • Goals Against – 0 - 1st in NHL

Series History vs. The Wild

  • Columbus is 32-28-1-7 all-time, and 13-17-0-5 at Grand Casino Arena.
  • The CBJ went 0-2 against the Wild last season.
  • The Blue Jackets are 6-4-2 in the last 12 games in Minnesota.
  • Columbus has an all-time PK of 83.3% against the Wild.

Who To Watch For The Wild

  • Kirill Kaprizov has 10 points in 7 career games against the CBJ. He also has 3 assists in one game this season.
  • Ryan Hartman leads the Wild with 2 goals through one game.
  • Filip Gustavsson recorded a shutout in the first game of the season.

CBJ Player Notes vs. Wild

  • Cole Sillinger has 6 points in 8 games against the Wild.
  • Zach Werenski has 6 points in 13 games vs. Minnesota.
  • Boone Jenner has 3 points in 15 games against the Wild.

Injuries - None

TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 0

How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. Steve Mears will be on the play-by-play. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.

Let us know what you think below.

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