LA broke the seal with two home runs in the top fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Enrique Hernández had the honors and sparked a jolt in the Dodgers dugout with his 17th career postseason homer.
Hernández took Chris Sale's 86 mph changeup back 406 feet to the bleachers for a two-run home run that brought home Andy Pages to give the Dodgers a 2-0 lead.
Kiké Hernández hits his 17th career Postseason homer! https://t.co/rPyzcCfB6B
The homer continued the Dodgers' streak and historic MLB postseason run of scoring all their runs by way of home run.
It didn't end with Hernández. A couple of batters later, Freddie Freeman got some revenge. He had what seemed to be a home run robbed in the top of the third inning by Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubón, but Freeman would not be denied a second time.
All 10 runs the Dodgers have scored these playoffs have come via home run, the longest streak to start a postseason in MLB history.
Freeman sent Sale's 95 mph sinker flying across center field, soaring 399 feet out of the playing area for a solo home run as the Dodgers' lead climbed to 3-0.
The score was 0-0, the Dodgers had Mookie Betts on base with Freddie Freeman at the plate with a chance to make it a 2-0 game with one swing in the top third inning.
Freeman blasted a pitch to right field that looked deep enough for a home run. Instead, Braves outfielder Mauricio Dubón had other ideas.
Dubón robbed Freeman of the homer, leaping on to the fence to make the stab before the ball was out of play.
The Braves ended the inning with a couple outs following the spectacular catch made by Dubon.
The Dodgers and Braves split the first two games of their best-of-five series. The Braves can clinch a berth in the National League Championship Series by protecting home field, while the Dodgers will either need to steal a game on the road to stay alive, or win both road games to advance.
And he picked up right where he left off in his preseason debut, showing his offensive skill set translates on the court against genuine NBA talents.
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr made 3 of 7 3-point attempts in Monday’s win over the Kings. Getty Images
The Lakers rookie looked sharp during LA’s 127-103 win over the Kings on Monday at Golden 1 Center, scoring 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting (3 of 7 on 3-pointers) in 23 minutes off the bench in the Lakers’ preseason opener.
“Every chance I get to step on the court,” Carr said, “just growing in areas and just getting more comfortable with just playing in the offense and being efficient.”
Lakers rookie Cameron Carr (43) was poised during most of Monday’s win over the Kings outside of bobbling the basketball before a dunk. Getty Images
Carr said he was nervous ahead of his first exhibition.
But it didn’t show — outside of bobbling the basketball ahead of a dunk in the open court in the second quarter.
“I was definitely nervous, but I mean, it’s basketball,” Carr said. “I go out there and another opportunity to play basketball and now at the highest level. So it’s fun. Get to compete with my guys.”
But just like during the summer, Carr didn’t focus too much of his attention on what he did offensively.
Whether Cameron Carr can get more playing time will depend on his development defensively. NBAE via Getty Images
He continued to discuss what he needs to do defensively to earn a consistent spot in the rotation.
And Carr got a firsthand look at what coach JJ Redick expects from the wings defensively, with Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams, Quentin Grimes and Adou Thiero each taking turns picking up full court and hounding the Kings’ ball handlers.
“Just staying on top of my cues,” Carr said. “Don’t be late and don’t give lapses up. I mean, these dudes guard, they’re in the right spot, so just be in the right spot for them.”
Carr continues to make a strong case for himself to get meaningful playing time once the Lakers’ regular season starts with their Opening Night matchup against the Warriors on Oct. 21.
Whether he earns that spot will depend less on what he offers offensively and more about if he can keep up on the defensive end of the floor.
“A great example — just watching and learning,” Carr said. “Pick up whatever I can from them and just try to implement it and do it … myself.”
SACRAMENTO, CA ― It seems like yesterday that JJ Redick was a rookie head coach in the NBA with no previous coaching experience. It was the talk of the town. It seemed almost inconceivable that a former podcaster could simply join an NBA sideline and be as successful.
Redick always accepted the challenge as just that, a challenge. He was a former player who conscientiously worked to be the best version of himself. He was always willing to outwork his competition, and he has taken that same approach into coaching.
It's helped him grow in the position as he enters his third season as the Los Angeles Lakers coach.
"I'm somebody who self-critiques and somebody who self-possesses," Redick told USA TODAY Sports before the Lakers' preseason win against the Sacramento Kings on Monday, Oct. 5. "I think that there's a term for, like, metacognitive, I think it's called, where you think about your thinking. So there's a lot going on in my brain."
Redick, 42, is a deep and meticulous thinker. " His brain doesn't stop; even when you think he's in a relaxation mode, Redick is on. It's actually what has made him a better coach. He's always wired, thinking about how he can be better.
"And so when that happens, like, you're constantly living this in this world of, like, honesty with self," Redick told USA TODAY Sports. "That could be an interaction with the player, that could be how you handled emotional regulation with a referee. That could be how you communicated something, game plan wise (during) pre game. That could be how you run a practice, like, literally, like, your brain is just constantly assessing all of those things. And so, I think I've grown in all those areas."
The 2026-27 season will present a different challenge to the Lakers coach – his first without four-time NBA champion LeBron James. The offense will now flow through MVP candidate Luka Dončić as the the Lakers adopt a new identity.
But Redick is excited as he continues to endeavor on his coaching journey and the process of becoming great.
"That's the really fun part about this, for me, is, you know, it's no different than shooting a basketball, right? It's the pursuit of mastery," he said. "(I'm) never gonna master coaching cause it's an adaptive, evolving thing, but it's something different every day."
Jake Weatherald has made a disastrous start to the Sheffield Shield season, with the former Test opener falling for a duck as Victorian debutant Harry Hoekstra rescued the hosts on a dramatic first day.
Jake Weatherald has made a disastrous start to the Sheffield Shield season, with the former Test opener falling for a duck as Victorian debutant Harry Hoekstra rescued the hosts on a dramatic first day.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 04: Brice Turang #2 of the Milwaukee Brewers looks on during Game Two of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, October 4, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
To get there, Milwaukee sends right-hander Dustin May to the mound. May, who has had an up-and-down Brewers tenure, went 2-2 with a 5.65 ERA and 5.06 FIP across 10 starts with Milwaukee, striking out 38 over 36 2/3 innings. He’s had a few really good starts, though, including against these same Padres. He went seven-plus innings, allowing one run and striking out six against them in a no-decision in San Diego back in August. He also had a pair of solid starts against them while with the Cardinals earlier in the season, including a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and six innings of three-run ball (two earned), striking out seven. For his career, May has made 16 appearances (13 starts) against San Diego, with a 3.14 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 86 innings.
For San Diego, right-hander Nick Pivetta will get the ball. Pivetta, 33, finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting a year ago, and he pitched even better this season, though he was limited to just eight starts due to injury. In those outings, he totaled 34 2/3 innings with a 2.86 ERA, 2.21 FIP, and 42 strikeouts, and the Padres have won six of those eight games, including all four he made after his return in September. The 10-year veteran has made five career starts against Milwaukee with very rough results, going 1-3 with an 8.76 ERA and 24 strikeouts across 24 2/3 innings.
The star of Sunday’s game, Jackson Chourio bats in the leadoff spot and starts in left. He’s followed by Jake Bauers and William Contreras, with Brice Turang moving down to bat in the cleanup spot. Christian Yelich bats fifth as the DH, with Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick, and Joey Ortiz rounding things out behind May.
First pitch in this one is at 8:38 p.m. CT on FS1 and the Brewers Radio Network.
For the second time this year, Alex Cora will not be the Phillies’ next manager.
President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski recently spoke with Cora about becoming the Phillies’ manager in 2027, but Cora informed him that he plans to sit out next season, according to a report from USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale.
Cora is still owed approximately $7.25 million by the Red Sox in 2027, the final year of the three-year, $21.75 million extension he signed with Boston in July 2024.
The Phillies’ interest in Cora is hardly new.
Dombrowski spoke with his former manager in April, shortly after Boston fired Cora following a 10-17 start. At the time, the Phillies were in the middle of their own disastrous opening month and Dombrowski was prepared to make a managerial change if Cora wanted the job. Cora declined, choosing instead to step away from managing and spend the remainder of the season with his family. (More on the Phillies’ April pursuit of Cora)
Rob Thomson was fired shortly afterward with the Phillies sitting at 9-19, and bench coach Don Mattingly took over on an interim basis.
Cora’s family situation has remained an important part of his time away from the dugout. He is scheduled to marry his longtime partner in November, while their twin sons turned 9 this summer. Cora has also been establishing a home base in Puerto Rico.
The connection between Cora and Dombrowski made him an obvious candidate whenever the Phillies’ managerial job initially became available. Dombrowski hired Cora to manage the Red Sox before the 2018 season, and Boston went 108-54 before winning the World Series that October.
Instead, the Phillies must continue evaluating their options.
Mattingly remains under contract with the organization for 2027 as bench coach. The 65-year-old went 79-55 after replacing Thomson, helping the Phillies recover from their 9-19 start and reach the postseason for a fifth consecutive year.
The ending was considerably less encouraging. Philadelphia struggled badly down the stretch, did not secure its Wild Card berth until the final day of the regular season and was eliminated by Atlanta in three games.
Still, Mattingly received significant support from his clubhouse after the season. J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner were among the players who spoke favorably about his work after the Phillies were eliminated, while Mattingly declined to campaign publicly for the full-time job.
Dombrowski now has another major offseason decision to make for a team that has not won a postseason series since 2023.
Cora, the candidate he pursued twice in less than six months, appears to be off the board.
DETROIT (AP) — Dylan Larkin played for the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night for the first time since asking for a trade, getting stripped of the captaincy, reporting to training camp, missing the start of the season because of injury and getting booed by home fans during introductions prior to their first game.
The crowd booed Larkin when he touched the puck for the first time on his opening shift. Larkin was then slow to get back defensively, and Ottawa's Tim Stützle scored off the rush less than three minutes in.
Coach Todd McLellan said following the morning skate that Larkin would play against the unbeaten Senators as long as the 30-year-old center was cleared by doctors. Larkin was activated off injured reserve prior to taking the ice for pregame warmups.
Larkin is a Michigan native who has played his entire NHL career with Detroit, which last made the playoffs in his rookie season a decade ago. That is the longest active drought of any of the league's 32 teams.
Fans at the home opener taped over Larkin's name with such things as “Loser," “Traitor” and “Leavin" and at times chanted, “Sell the team."
Larkin initially last spring gave the Red Wings only three destinations he'd accept a trade to — Florida, Minnesota and Vegas — before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks.
A lengthy road trip against strong opponents like these — beginning with the defending Stanley Cup Champions, no less — is sure to put Vancouver through a grind.
For Jake DeBrusk, who is just coming off a case of the flu that saw him sit out of Saturday’s 4–1 win against the Calgary Flames and Sunday’s 3–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, this task will be even more difficult.
Tuesday morning’s practice ahead of Vancouver’s flight to Raleigh was DeBrusk’s first time practicing with the full team since skating as an extra on Friday ahead of the weekend games. On Saturday, Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra revealed that DeBrusk was out with the flu.
On Tuesday, DeBrusk revealed that his illness had actually begun much earlier than Saturday.
“I initially felt it, actually, the day of the game in Edmonton,” he said in a media availability. “It was a long off-season, long year. You obviously want to play in the first game and the home-opener, but I think obviously the medical staff stepped in. They did their job and they told me that I probably should take some time off.”
In his first practice back with the team, DeBrusk was noticeably a little hoarser than usual, but still managed to emit energy.
Fittingly, in his first practice back, Canucks Head Coach Manny Malhotra had the players bag-skate to end things off. It was a good test of the lungs for the Canucks winger, but also served as a reminder of what state he’ll need to be in to play in Vancouver’s next game.
“I was able to do it, which is great. But I’ve obviously got to test the lungs. That’s the biggest thing right now. It was obviously an air-conditioned building. It sounds like a simple thing, but I feel [it] as soon as I walk in here. So I’ve got to go through it. If I want to play in the next game, I have to do these steps.”
Because of the fact that he’s missed half of Vancouver’s games throughout the start of the regular season — and had to deal with symptoms during the other two — the forward noted that it feels like he has yet to actually start the season. With that, comes those first-day-back feelings of excitement.
“I’m starting off at zero, so it’s been positive. Obviously the last two days I’ve been doing kind of nothing. But to be able to skate today, see the guys, it gives you energy, feeling for them. Everyone’s in a good mood, and it’s nice to be back in the room.”
Vancouver’s first game of their six-game road trip takes place against the Hurricanes on Thursday at 4:00 pm PT.
Sep 26, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks left wing Jake DeBrusk (74) looks on against the Seattle Kraken during the third period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Simon Fearn-Imagn Images
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Oct 5, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) celebrates with guard Bones Hyland (8) after scoring a basket in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
After drubbing the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, the Wolves are back in action on Wednesday to take on the Indiana Pacers. One game in and I’m already happy to never have to look at the Timberwolves in their 1920’s Bathing Suit jerseys ever again. See below, Andrew Wiggins looking more like he’s playing in a bath tub with a Toxic Avenger themed bath bomb than getting ready for an NBA season.
In back-to-back plays in the second quarter, Minnesota got out on the break. The first one was off an errant pass, the second one off a defensive rebound. Both times the Wolves moved as a pack down the court, making the defenders second guess if they should play the shot or the pass. On the first sequence, Bones Hyland found Jonathan Kuminga for the dunk of the night. A few seconds later on the second sequence, Ant found Rudy Gobert for an easy alley-oop. Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins quickly called for a timeout to try and lift his team’s spirits after a thorough shellacking.
For this new vibes focused iteration of the Timberwolves, continue to look to the skies for more of these plays. I expected this to be a specific benefit that Melo could bring, and I am encouraged to see the rest of the team searching for those looks. Against a Pacers defense who has stronger rim protection and rebounding, there may be less opportunities to get on the break, but it should remain a point of emphasis.
As Conan the Barbarian replied to the question, “What is best in life?” I say, “To yam it on your opponent, to see their heads hang low under the basket, and hear the lamentation of their fans.”
Pass the Ball in the Half-Court
Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Balls are two incredible scorers. They can light it up from distance and are masters at creating space to get themselves open. Several times in the first half against the Bucks, both of them heaved shots from deep shortly after crossing half-court. There will be times for shots like this in the regular season, but if I’m head coach Chris Finch, I’m asking my stars to take this opportunity in preseason to get into the flow of the offense. Neither player figures to play any minutes in the second half, so these reps are essential to build the rapport and muscle memory that can carry through a season.
TJ at the Rim
Terrance Shannon Jr. is a runaway freight train to the hoop. He only shot one time in the first half on Monday, often looked to spray the ball to outside shooters instead. It was heartening to see TJ take on pseudo-point guard duties when Melo is off the floor. Some of this might be how teams defend him and knowing his predilections, so going to the pass early will open up the avenue to the cup in the future.
In the second half, Shannon shot four more times before heading to the bench. He slammed home one massive dunk, but missed his other three attempts all on account of getting fouled. Overall he shot six free throws in the game. Going forward, this will be a vital skill for the Wolves as they have a dearth of players seeking to finish through contact and put the opposing team into foul trouble.
Haliburton’s Return
It has been a full season since Tyrese Haliburton has played an NBA minute. The last time he did, he was leading the spirited Pacers to a potential upset of the overwhelming favorite Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. He tore his Achilles and the rest of the basketball world wept. The Thunder went on to win and everyone wondered if the Pacers magical run could have gone the distance had Haliburton remained available (They were tied when he got injured.)
Now, after a woeful 2026 campaign, Indiana has shifted gears from what Haliburton was driving before he went down. Gone is Myles Turner, the outside shooting big who helped spread the floor. In is Ivica Zubac, a terrific pick-and-roll partner. Much like the Wolves, the Pacers need to build new connections amongst their starters if they hope to compete against an imposing Eastern Conference. This will be their first preseason game and it’ll all take place in the stadium where Haliburton went to college.
Prediction
It’ll be a feisty and frenetic game where both teams use the first half to get a sweat going with their starters. All of the Wolves talk of pace will be pressed against a team that mastered it en route to the 2025 Finals. Both teams defenses will be caught flatfooted and it will be a high scoring affair. After that, a mad dash to the finish where the deep bench bounce off each other like pinballs against bumpers as the score ratchets up in fits and spurts.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 05: Miles Bridges #22 of the Phoenix Suns plays against the Detroit Pistons during a pre season game at Little Caesars Arena on October 05, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns have one game logged in the preseason books, a game from which you really can’t take too much away. After all, it’s preseason. This is an empty canvas for the coaching staff to experiment with rotations and manage minutes, while giving players an opportunity to try things they’ve worked on throughout the summer against real, aggressive competition. And the Suns certainly faced aggressive competition in their first matchup.
They opened against the Detroit Pistons, one of the top defensive teams in the league last season after finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. It was a great opportunity for Phoenix to go out there and attempt to match aggression with aggression.
I don’t put too much stock in the 32 turnovers, especially considering the majority came in the second half when the Suns rolled out their second and third units against Detroit. Do you like to see it? Absolutely not. You’d hope for better ball handling and more responsible facilitation, but credit the Pistons. Their pressure was constant and consistent throughout every phase of the game. That is something the Suns can learn from.
There’s only one thing that concerns me, and that was the free-throw shooting.
I’ll credit the Suns for their aggression and willingness to attack the cylinder. This has been a challenge for recent Suns teams. Phoenix ranked 29th in attempts inside of 5 feet last season, so any movement that swings the pendulum in the other direction is appreciated. As a result of that aggression, the Suns got to the line for 33 free throw attempts. In the first half alone, when we saw the majority of the starters and rotation players, Phoenix attempted 21.
The problem was converting them. The Suns finished 17-of-33 from the line, good for 51.5%. Even in the first half, they were only 13-of-21, or 61.9%.
That certainly will, and must, improve. Because what’s the point of driving downhill, playing physically, attacking the rim, and drawing fouls if you ultimately can’t convert the opportunities you create?
Last season, Phoenix ranked 28th in the league in free throw attempts and 15th in free throw percentage. It marked the first time since the 2018–19 season that the Suns failed to finish in the top 10 in free-throw percentage. That makes the line an area of opportunity for this team.
Defensively, the Suns are going to compete night in and night out. They’re going to pressure the opposition and attempt to generate extra possessions. But given their personnel, they don’t project to be an elite three-point shooting team. They’ll need to generate points however they can, and the free-throw line should be one of those avenues, given the tenacity and ferociousness of this roster.
Is it something to be concerned about? In the short term, sure. We’ll see if it becomes a trend, whether this is a team that can consistently get to the line but struggles to convert once it gets there.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Johni Broome #22 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket during the game against the Detroit Pistons during the 2026 NBA Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2026 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed former Philadelphia 76ers forward Johni Broome to a training camp deal, the team announced today; in a related move, the Bucks will waive John Butler Jr. Philadelphia selected Broome with the 35th pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, but he spent most of his time with the Delaware Blue Coats on a two-way deal. In the G’, he averaged 21.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 1.5 BPG, and 1.1 SPG in 26 games before undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in February.
Despite dominating in college with Auburn and playing well with the Blue Coats, Broome struggled in the NBA. He made just 11 appearances for the Sixers last year, posting 0.9 PPG and 1.5 RPG, mainly in garbage time. Moreover, he has yet to develop a consistent perimeter jumper; he shot just 22.9% from beyond the arc in the G League, and is undersized as an NBA center. As such, the bully-ball brand that made him a consensus All-American in college has yet to translate to the NBA. Although he’s produced consistently in the G League, it remains to be seen whether Broome can develop into the high-IQ big scouts hoped for.
This offseason, Broome was traded to the LA Clippers to clear cap space ahead of their signing of guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Clippers then waived Broome a month later amid a roster crunch, leaving him without a team ahead of the 2026-27 season.
As mentioned, to make room for Broome—who will join Milwaukee on a non-guaranteed deal—the Bucks bid farewell to John Butler Jr. Butler joined the Wisconsin Herd a few seasons ago after bouncing around the G League, averaging 9.4 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 1.7 BPG; he is still expected to rejoin the Herd for the upcoming season, though.
Looking ahead, Broome will likely compete for Milwaukee’s open two-way slot as the preseason continues. If he permanently joins the Bucks, he’d slot in behind a frontcourt rotation that includes Myles Turner, Kel’el Ware, and Jericho Sims at center (along with a lot of unknowns at power forward). That depth could prove necessary ahead of an 82-game season.
Moments before the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves kicked off Game 3 of the NLDS, Tyler Glasnow had a memorable press conference with the media.
Glasnow’s presser came to an abrupt end after he was asked only three questions.
His response after being asked the three questions was only three words.
“Done? F— yeah.”
"Done? F*ck yeah."
Tyler Glasnow was thrilled that his pregame presser only lasted three questions. pic.twitter.com/JTwjenzQ4e
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow gives a 3-word reaction ahead of clash with Braves. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Glasnow eagerly gave a thumbs up to the members of the media and walked off the stage.
It’s unknown as to why Glasnow was asked so little, but with his presser behind him, he can now focus on the task at hand.
Potentially pitching in an elimination game on Wednesday.
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale pitching in Game 3 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
For Glasnow, the expectation is simple. If the Dodgers win on Tuesday, he’s pitching on Wednesday to move them to the NLCS for the third season in a row.
If they lose on Tuesday, then he’s pitching to save their season.
The series is tied at 1-1 as both teams endured a scorching heat wave that struck Dodger Stadium last weekend; the two teams are out in Atlanta to play Games 3 and 4 of the series.
Tyler Glasnow is expected to start in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Game 2 of the series happened during a high-90 degrees Sunday evening when Atlanta got the best of Blake Snell, forcing him to exit the game in the fourth inning.
In the seventh inning, Michael Harris hit a double out to right center field that brought in Matt Olson to make it a 3-1 lead. Muncy homered in the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as Josue De Paula popped out to Austin Riley, ending the night.
With Game 3 underway, Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the starting nod against Chris Sale.
Manager Dave Roberts installed a new lineup card for the Dodgers, as four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is hitting fifth for the first time in his career since 2020, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Angels.
If the series is forced into a Game 5, it will be played on Friday, Oct. 9 at Dodger Stadium.
Semyon Varlamov goes for the miracle tonight, starting an NHL game at age 38 and for the first time in two years following two partial knee replacements.
“You ask everyone and they had the same feeling, he gave that vibe that, ‘I’m going to do it, I’ll be the first one in history to ever do it,’” Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said after the morning skate. “I think we all felt it. It’s a hard feeling to explain, but to see the commitment and the determination that he had in his eyes, it was fun to watch. It was fun to be part of that journey…”
He’ll do it in the New York teams’ first rivalry meeting of the season, with the host Rangers already off to a 3-1 start while the Islanders (1-1) have only played twice.
#Isles at practice Heineman-Horvat-Palmieri Schenn-Ritchie-Eklund Duclair-Pageau-Holmstrom Palat-Ciikas-Maccelli Extra: MacLean Pelech-Schaefer Romanov-Pulock Stanley-DeAngelo Extras: Kessel, Mayfield Sorokin (starter's net) Varlamov
