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Former Yankees prospect Jesus Montero dies at 35, team announces

Former Yankees prospect Jesus Montero dies at 35, team announces originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The New York Yankees announced Sunday that former top prospect Jesús Montero has died at the age of 35 years old.

“The Yankees are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jesús Montero,” read a post on the team’s official X account. “We send our sincerest condolences to his family & loved ones.”

The former catcher’s motorcycle reportedly crashed into a truck on Oct. 4 and he had been hospitalized ever since in critical condition. He was unable to recover from multiple injuries, authorities said.

“We join the baseball community in mourning the passing of former Major League player Jesús Montero,” Major League Baseball posted on social media Sunday.

The Venezuela native, a power-hitting catcher in the minors, was ranked one of the sport’s top-10 prospects by Baseball America for three consecutive years from 2010 to 2012.  

Montero was the No. 1 prospect in the Yankees’ organization when he made his major-league debut in 2011 at 21-years-old. He played in 18 games for the Yankees that season, hitting .328 with four homers and 12 RBIs.

The following January, Montero was traded to the Seattle Mariners in a package for starting pitcher Michael Pineda. In his first season with the Mariners, he hit .260 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 135 games. Over the next three seasons, he played in a combined 73 games, making his final MLB appearance in 2015.

He was waived by the Mariners the following offseason and spent stints in the minor league systems of the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles.

In the Venezuelan Winter League, he played six seasons with the Navegantes del Magallanes, Cardenales de Lara, and Águilas del Zulia. He retired at age 31 after the 2020-2021 season.

“Venezuelan baseball sadly bids farewell to Jesús Montero … leaving behind a legacy of effort and passion for the game,” the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League said in a statement posted Sunday on X. “Today, baseball mourns his passing. But it also remembers him with gratitude: for every home run that thrilled the fans, for every day in which he proudly defended his country’s colors, and for every young person who saw in him an example that dreams can be achieved.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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The Hockey Show: Panthers, Rangers struggling to score, Carter Hart signs PTO in Vegas, a great Calder race and more!

There was a lot to get to on this week’s episode of The Hockey Show.

Co-hosts Roy Bellamy and David Dwork were joined by a couple of guests this week to help get into the bevy of hockey news and happenings going on.

They first welcomed Shayne Goldman, NHL writer for The Athletic, who did not hold back when discussing the Vegas Golden Knights signing former Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Carter Hart to a PTO.

Hart and four other Hockey Canada players were indicted but found not guilty in a sexual assault case stemming from when each were teenagers and celebrating their World Junior Championship victory in 2018.

Also discussed with Shayna were the issues surrounding the New York Rangers and the Florida Panthers, an exciting early race for the Calder Trophy and who the next player to get a big contract will be.

The Hockey Show also welcomed actor, comedian and former MLB prospect Gerard Michaels to the show to discuss his career, but perhaps more importantly, his being a huge Rangers fan yet absolutely despising their biggest star, Artemi Panarin.

He also has experience working with THS producer Rose Arias, which was another interesting topic to dive into, especially for Roy.

This week’s wins and fails included some revenge in Colorado for a former Avs player, an incredible defensive effort from one of the best offensive players in the league, David Pastrnak, and the NHL once again falling over themselves to give some fake recognition to Sidney Crosby.

You can check out the show and full interviews in the videos below:

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Brad Marchand rips apart helmet belonging to Rasmus Dahlin after taking it with him to penalty box

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Kings star Russell Westbrook bluntly addresses NBA retirement upon 18th season

Kings star Russell Westbrook bluntly addresses NBA retirement upon 18th season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The 2025-26 NBA season will be new Kings guard Russell Westbrook’s first campaign in Sacramento and the star’s 18th overall in the league.

So, given that the Kings are Westbrook’s seventh different team and “The Brodie” is 36 years old, it’s fair to wonder if the coming season will be his last.

Westbrook was asked if that’d be the case on Sunday at Kings practice, and he bluntly shut it down.

“Yeah, right,” the former NBA MVP told reporters when asked if he’d retire upon the season’s end.

The idea of calling it quits isn’t in Westbrook’s DNA.

Instead, the 6-foot-4 guard, with career averages of 21.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 8.0 assists, intends to keep playing for the foreseeable future.

Westbrook followed his frank response by sharing what keeps him going.

“Family,” he said. “My family. My supporters. The ability to be grateful and blessed to be able to wake up and have limbs and things that work, and be able to use them. Using this platform to build other parts of my life and business. 

“You know, just the overall fun I have while playing and enjoying the game; I think it’s something I never ever take for granted, and I’m thankful to be able to do that again.”

The last few seasons have been rough for Westbrook. 

But the Kings are betting on the veteran to remain a productive player after he averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.1 assists over a promising 75 games a season ago.

And it appears Westbrook is betting on the Kings to help him have fun, as he avoids talk of retirement.

Download and follow The Deuce & Mo Podcast

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Warriors' starters for regular-season opener still unknown with Moses Moody out

Warriors' starters for regular-season opener still unknown with Moses Moody out originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Moses Moody officially is out for the Warriors’ regular season opener Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers while still rehabbing a strained calf, coach Steve Kerr announced Sunday. 

Moody did not practice Sunday. He went through individual work on the court and in the weight room, but has not scrimmaged since missing the Warriors’ final three preseason games. 

Jimmy Butler and Jonathan Kuminga, both coming back from ankle issues, scrimmaged Sunday and everything went well for them physically. The two forwards will be listed as questionable for the season opener with the expectation being they’ll be able to play. 

Losing Moody for at least the first game of the season already throws a wrench in Kerr’s plans for his starting lineup and how he’ll use different combinations. Moody started both preseason games he played in and averaged 14.5 points on 52.4 percent shooting and was 7 of 12 (58.3 percent) on 3-pointers. The Jimmy Butler trade last season cemented Moody into a role of being a go-to on-ball defender who can hit open threes. 

Moody’s versatility as someone who can play up as a forward in smaller lineups or down as a shooting guard in bigger lineups proved key down the stretch last season. And it also has Kerr trying to fill a missing piece. 

“I honestly have not decided yet who’s going to start on Tuesday,” Kerr said. 

Which prompted the question: Do you know who will start on Tuesday? 

Sprinkling in some sarcasm, Kerr rattled off the obvious choices of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Butler, assuming he’s healthy enough. He then made it clear who at least the fourth person will be. 

“With Moses out, that’s kind of the question,” Kerr said. “[Brandin Podziemski] will be out there. BP will be out there.” 

Kerr mentioned veteran center Al Horford as an option, as well as Kuminga, but he could go a number of ways. The Warriors don’t want to play Horford, 39 years old, more than 20 to 25 minutes per game, making it tricky to decide if he’s better served as a starter or coming off the bench. If he starts and the Warriors want to close games, that means long lulls on the bench in between. 

“What we have to think about is, what does that do to the rotation and what does that mean coming off the bench,” Kerr said. “Honestly, we have not decided yet and we’ve got to talk to guys as well.” 

The player who will be most affected by the fifth spot is Green. Starting Horford would slot Green into his more natural position of power forward. But if Kerr opts to go smaller and start Kuminga, Green would continue rising above as a small-ball center. 

None of this is new to Green, who joked that if he has to play the five “I’m going to ask for a trade.” The 6-foot-6 defensive genius has probably played more center than Kerr would have liked over the years, but he’s also a main piece of the modern NBA’s revolution. The deciding factor going into Green’s 14th season is the same that it’s always been for someone so decorated. 

What’s best for the team? What is going to help the Warriors win? And what will put them on the path to contending for another championship? 

“I’ve teetered with it my whole career. Sometimes at the five, sometimes at the four,” Green said. “I think you all know me. Whatever helps this team, whatever puts us in the best position to win, that’s what I’m going to do. I train to prepare myself for whatever’s to come. Playing the five isn’t always about the size, it’s about the size of the heart and I think my heart is as big – if not bigger – than anyone’s in the league. I always trust in that. 

“I think my brain helps me get by quite a bit. I can outthink some guys. I just use the tools that I have. But I’m not putting no huge emphasis on whether I play the four or the five. In life we all have ideally what we would like. I have ideally what I think it would look like. But I also know that I play a team sport and in playing a team sport, what may be best for you personally or what you think is best, if that’s not best for the team then you’re being selfish. And I take pride in not being selfish. 

“So whatever that looks like, wherever I can help … if that’s like, ‘Oh man, you sliding to the five is going to help this lineup, that’s going to help this rotation,’ then great. If it’s sliding to the four, great. Ultimately, Steve proved in Year 1 that he knows how to do these things, so I’m not going to be the idiot to sit here and question him. I’ll move on in my life and get ready for whatever’s ahead.” 

Lakers head coach JJ Redick is expected to use Gabe Vincent, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura and Deandre Ayton as his starting five against the Warriors. LeBron James remains out because of sciatica.

Who Kerr slots in next to Curry, Podziemski, Butler and Green is to be determined, and always, Draymond is ready for however the cards are shuffled. 

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Jets Recall Former First Round Pick Ahead Of Road Stretch

The Winnipeg Jets announced Saturday before their 4-1 win over the Nashville Predators, that they have recalled forward Brad Lambert from their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.

The 21‑year‑old Finland‑born forward has played in two games with the Moose so far this season, following a 35‑point campaign (seven goals, 28 assists) in 61 games during the 2024‑25 AHL season. Over his career with the Moose, Lambert has 93 points (30 goals, 63 assists) in 139 career AHL contests. 

Scheifele Sets Franchise Mark as Jets Beat Predators 4-1Scheifele Sets Franchise Mark as Jets Beat Predators 4-1Mark Scheifele etched his name in Jets history with a franchise-record point. Connor Hellebuyck starred as Winnipeg took down Nashville, extending its win streak to four games.

Born in Lahti, Finland, Lambert has steadily progressed through the Jets organization and has drawn attention for his playmaking ability and polish at the AHL level. Earlier in his career, he broke out as a rookie, posting 55 points (21 G, 34 A) in 64 games, earning All‑Rookie Team honors. 

This recall comes as Lambert has already appeared in six NHL games for the Jets, picking up two assists. He was originally selected by Winnipeg in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2022 NHL Draft.

It's unclear as to what his role on the team will be just yet with the team experimenting with their lineup, playing rookies in Nikita Chibrikov and Parker Ford in a number of roles with nothing sticking as impactful. Hopefully, Lambert will get an opportunity to show what he has to offer with his game in likely their next contest on Monday in a road game versus the Calgary Flames.

Former First Round Pick Seizes Opportunity as Jets Navigate Early-Season InjuriesFormer First Round Pick Seizes Opportunity as Jets Navigate Early-Season InjuriesWith Dylan Samberg sidelined, Logan Stanley has stepped into a top-four role and delivered one of his best performances yet. As the 27-year-old defenseman shines in expanded minutes, the Winnipeg Jets face a decision; keep him as a developing cornerstone or capitalize on his rising trade value.
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NHL fines Brad Marchand for 'unsportsmanlike conduct' after he ripped apart Rasmus Dahlin's helmet

The first Florida Panthers player to incur a fine from the NHL Department of Player Safety this season is Brad Marchand.

Well, this regular season.

Marchand was fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”

This stems from an incident that occurred during Saturday’s game between the Panthers and Sabres in Buffalo.

During the second period, Dahlin came up behind Marchand and cross-checked him in the lower back.

Marchand responded as many would expect, going after Dahlin and trying to fight him, eventually skating away from the scrum he created with Dahlin’s helmet in his hands.

As he got to the Panthers penalty box, Marchand began ripping the straps off of the helmet before tossing the damaged bucket back on the ice.

You can check out video of the incident by clicking here.

Florida will be back in action on Tuesday when they wrap up their disaster of a road trip in Boston.

Can the Cats salvage a single point on their five-game roadie? We’ll find out Tuesday!

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Photo caption: Oct 18, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) looks to pass during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

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Panthers’ Marchand Fined $5,000 For His Actions Against Dahlin And The Sabres

NHL player safety has fined Florida Panthers left winger Brad Marchand $5,000 for his unsportsmanlike conduct and his actions against the Buffalo Sabres during Saturday’s game.

The $5,000 fine is the maximum fine allowable under the CBA.

In the middle of the second frame between the Panthers and the Sabres on Saturday, Marchand flew off the hinges, following a cross-check from Buffalo’s defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

Dahlin cross-checked Marchand in the back, with the puck away from the two of them. Marchand went down as a result of the cross-check, but there was no call on the play.

Not long after, Marchand followed Dahlin to the other side of the blueline, stepping into the Sabres' D-man, taking him to the ground.

From that point, Marchand jumped on Dahlin and began whaling punches on him. Buffalo center Tage Thompson stepped in to pull Marchand away from the team’s captain.

In the aftermath, Marchand was called for interference and roughing on Dahlin, and Thompson was sent to the box for roughing Marchand.

Brad Marchand (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

That wasn’t the end of the theatrics from the Panthers veteran. As Marchand headed for the penalty box, he was carrying Dahlin’s helmet. When he was stepping into the sin bin, Marchand began ripping the straps off Dahlin’s helmet and tossing it away.

The Sabres capitalized on Marchand’s penalties. Right winger Josh Doan scored his second power-play goal of the game to make it 2-0 for Buffalo.

Buffalo went on to defeat Florida 3-0 with goaltender Alex Lyon earning the shutout.

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Why ‘doubt' about Kings excites Russell Westbrook for new endeavor with team

Why ‘doubt' about Kings excites Russell Westbrook for new endeavor with team originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

An epic facial expression, a bit of trolling with a reporter in a back-and-forth exchange and laughter filled the Kings’ practice facility on Sunday morning.

Russell Westbrook has arrived.

“It feels great, truly,” Westbrook said when asked how it feels to be a member of the Kings. “I’m blessed to be able to have an opportunity to play and enjoy a place that wanted me to come here. So I’m grateful for that.”

Westbrook signed a one-year contract with Sacramento after a lengthy unrestricted free agency kept him teamless for roughly four months.

But alas, he found his new home.

“I don’t know how it all came together so quickly, but obviously I have a lot of friends and guys I’ve played with on this team before,” Westbrook said. “Not just that, but also an organization that [my agent] had been in contact with, trying to figure out ways to make it happen. With salary cap and all these different rules that I’ve come to learn, things you can and can’t do, and things just kind of meshed together that way. And I’m here now.”

Westbrook, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, widely is regarded as one of the most fiery players and personalities in the league.

You love him … or you don’t. Regardless, Westbrook won’t ever change who he is.

Now entering Year 18, symbolized by the No. 18 he’ll wear with the Kings, Westbrook is used to the criticism.

“To be honest, it’s really been like this my whole career,” he said. “It’s nothing new, unfortunately. I’m grateful and blessed for the doubt, the ‘if I can and will play.’ I know what I’m capable of when given the opportunity. So when the season starts, I’m going to do what I’ve always done and compete. There’s going to be people who love it. There’s going to be people who hate it. That’s life for me. I didn’t make it 18 years on accident.

“I’m grateful. The chip has always been on my shoulder, and it won’t go nowhere until I’m done playing.”

But Westbrook isn’t just motivated by the chip on his shoulder, as the external doubt and criticism of the Kings’ roster as a whole also lights a fire under him.

“The doubt that everybody has against us,” Westbrook said when asked what intrigues him about the team.

The triple-double king spent the last season with the Denver Nuggets, where in 75 games (36 starts), he averaged 13.3 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, with 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists 1.4 steals in 27.9 minutes.

He remains in great shape among point guards across the league, while doing the things coach Doug Christie is looking for, such as rebounding, play-making, providing high energy and getting after it defensively.

His high momentum and contagious energy are fitting for the arena he’ll now call home.

Westbrook can’t wait to finally be on the home side of the “loud” Golden 1 Center crowd after fans have “talked a lot of mess to me when I was here” as an opponent over the course of his career.

“Very excited. I think fans are one of the reasons why I love to play the game,” he said. “It’s one of the reasons why I continue to go out and give everything I have. Being on the road side, I know how great this fanbase can be. I’m grateful and excited to be able to get out there and have them on my side and feed off their energy.

“And yes, ultimately light the beam.”

Westbrook is a nine-time NBA All-Star, nine-time All-NBA member, former league MVP, two-time scoring champion and likely a future Hall of Famer.

Nearly two decades into this, accolades have become less and less important to him as much as being healthy and able to even step foot onto the hardwood. While he acknowledged winning a championship would be a great addition to his already illustrious NBA resume, he’s more focused on having a lasting impact on the things he does and the people he comes across.

That includes on and off the basketball court.

“I think since I’ve been in this league, leadership is not just something that you guys see on the floor,” he said. “My job, and I think one of my traits as a leader, is to be able to learn about guys’ journeys off the floor, how they got to this point, what inspires them, what pushes them. Being able to do that allows me to be a better teammate [and] a better brother to my teammates.

“To me, that’s what I look forward to most. Being able to impact and inspire someone daily is always my goal to run into somebody and maybe I can inspire them to do something they didn’t think they could do.”

It appears Christie and Westbrook already are on the same page when it comes to what the Kings are expecting out of the star point guard in his first season with the team.

“I want Russ to be Russ,” Christie said last week.

It sounds cliche. It sounds like propaganda. Even a great public relations answer. But Russell Westbrook might literally be incapable of being anyone other than himself.

And he hopes Kings fans can enjoy that player, and more importantly, the person in Sacramento.

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Habs Summit Raises $4000 For The Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation

On Saturday, former members of the Hockey Inside Out message board and Montreal Canadiens fans gathered at Hurley’s Irish Pub to hold their annual Habs Summit. The group included a lot of out-of-towners, people from different provinces; Ontario, Alberta, and Newfoundland, to name a few, and even one gentleman from Bulgaria.

As always, Stu Cowan from the Montreal Gazette acted as master of the ceremony and held a Q&A with the fans until the guests of honour, Yvon Lambert and Rejean Houle, arrived. The alumni members brought a team-signed stick with them, which ended up being the crown jewel of a prize table, which also included a signed Arber Xhekaj jersey, Jeff Petry game-worn gloves, and autographed pictures of Brendan Gallagher and Samuel Montembeault (generously provided by Memorable Authentic), a copy of Brendan Kelly’s Habs Nation: A People’s History of the Montreal Canadiens, and much more.

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Lambert and Houle also fielded a few questions, and Lambert gave everyone a good laugh when he gave his opinion on Marc Bergevin drafting Jesperi Kotkaniemi in no uncertain terms that cannot be published in this article. Houle poked fun at Lambert, teasing him about the fact that he has one more Stanley Cup ring than he does.

Both men played with the late great Ken Dryden in the 1970s, and they reminisced about their former goaltender and how great and focused he always was in the net. Lambert prompted another round of laughs when he told how Dryden would chase players who would shoot on him above the shoulders in practice. They also had good words for another Canadiens idol, Guy Lafleur, explaining that when he was scoreless in a game, he would often ask goaltender Michel “Bunny” Larocque to show up an hour early to practice the next day because he needed to work on his shot.

After the Q and A, the raffle was held, and everyone left with a prize, even if those who came out of the hat late got smaller prizes.$4,000 was raised for the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. Overall, it was a great day for those fans who only get to gather once a year but have a blast discussing their beloved Habs while also raising funds for the worthy cause.

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Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets reportedly agree to two-year, $90 million extension

How badly did Kevin Durant want to be back in Texas — the state where he played in college — and to be on a team with a legit title chance in the next couple of years? Here's the answer:

Durant took about $30 million less than his max in agreeing to a two-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets, a deal first reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. Durant is in the final year of his current contract at $54.7 million and now is locked in with the Rockets for two years beyond that — and is taking a nearly $10 million a year drop from that salary to be part of a contender in Houston.

Durant chose Houston as one of the destinations he wanted to be traded to out of Phoenix last summer and he is a hand-in-glove fit for the team's needs — shooting and half-court offensive creation.

Last season, in a rough season for the Suns, Durant, 37, still averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists a game while shooting 43% from 3-point range. He is still one of the best pure bucket getters in the game and exactly what the Rockets need to improve a stagnant half-court offense.

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Red Wings Aim for Fifth Straight Win as McDavid-Led Oilers Look to Snap Slump

The Detroit Red Wings look to extend their winning streak to five on Sunday in a matinee matchup versus the defending back-to-back Western Conference Champion Edmonton Oilers. The Motor City hockey club is coming off impressive wins over several divisional opponents in the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and sweep of the Toronto Maple Leafs during a home-and-home. 

Superstar center Connor McDavid and the Oilers are looking to win their third game of the season after dropping two straight heading into Sunday, that leaves them with a 2-2-1 record through five games. 

Detroit's homestand to start the season has helped them get out to an early 4-1-0 record on the season as they currently sit a top the Atlantic Division. For the Oilers, they sit outside of the playoffs early on and will need to start stringing together some wins if they want to build some momentum towards a seventh straight playoff push, that has included nine series wins, three conference finals appearances and two straight trips to the Stanley Cup Finals. The Red Wings look to continue their hot streak into a potential playoff berth for the first time in nearly a decade. 

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Lineup Storylines

With Patrick Kane and possibly Lucas Raymond sidelined, the Red Wings will need a full team effort to extend their winning streak to five games. Their new-look top line features rookie Emmitt Finnie, still chasing his first NHL goal, alongside offseason acquisition Mason Appleton, who has three goals so far, tying captain Dylan Larkin for the team lead. 

The lineup shuffle will put Detroit’s depth to the test as Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Söderblom return, with Berggren stepping into a key second-line role in Kane’s absence. Meanwhile, rookie Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, also searching for his first NHL tally, will aim to spark the third line with veterans Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher. That trio has managed just one goal combined, and in a game like Sunday’s, secondary scoring could be the difference between another clutch win and a lost opportunity. 

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

The Oilers will be desperate to halt their two-game losing streak, which means the Red Wings should expect a motivated, high-energy Connor McDavid leading the charge. Edmonton’s lineup will look quite different from the last time these teams met, featuring several new faces and returning players who were previously injured. Detroit will now get a look at additions like Jake Walman, Trent Frederic, Andrew Mangiapane, and recent acquisition Jack Roslovic, along with promising prospects Isaac Howard and Matt Savoie.

The rookie duo were projected to play key roles for the Oilers this season, but both rookies have struggled to find their footing still without a point and now skating on the fourth line after opening the year in top-six roles. Much like Detroit, Edmonton will likely need some timely production from its depth players if it hopes to gain the upper hand and secure the win. 

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Player & Betting Trends (Presented By BetMGM)

DET ML (+115) | EDM ML (-139)

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

O/U 6.0 Goals

All eyes in Detroit will be on Connor McDavid, the Oilers’ captain who has consistently tormented the Red Wings. Over his last 17 games against Detroit, McDavid has racked up five goals and 21 assists for 26 points, including a stunning six-assist performance in February 2023, when Edmonton came out on top in an 8–4 shootout victory. That result fits a recent pattern as the Oilers have owned this matchup, posting a 5-0-2 record over their last seven meetings with the Red Wings.

High-scoring affairs have also been a trend, with the over hitting in five of the last seven matchups and both teams combining for six or more goals in many of those contests. However, history points to the more consistent outcome being over five goals, which has occurred in eight straight meetings. 

Beyond that, goal-heavy games have been somewhat inconsistent, with six or more goals in just 11 of the last 20 matchups, not exactly a dependable betting angle, especially given Detroit’s recent defensive surge. The Red Wings’ latest success has been built on tight defensive play and stellar goaltending, allowing two or fewer goals in three consecutive games. With injuries piling up, Detroit's Dylan Larkin will be asked to shoulder much of the offensive burden. Fortunately for the Red Wings, Larkin has a solid track record against Edmonton, tallying seven goals and eight assists for 15 points in 17 career games versus the Oilers. 

Goalie Matchup

Detroit: John Gibson (VS EDM: 9-9-3 record, 3.48 GAA, .893 SV% in 23 Games)

Edmonton: Stuart Skinner (VS DET: 1-1-1 record, 2.95 GAA, .919 SV% in Three Games)

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Islanders Goalie Ilya Sorokin Remains Perfect On Penalty Shots

The New York Islanders got an early contender for win of the year on Saturday, defeating the Ottawa Senators late in a matinee contest. New York came from behind three times in the victory, with Anders Lee scoring the game-winner with just over a minute to play in regulation. 

However, not to be lost in the effort was a timely performance by Ilya Sorokin. While he wasn’t at his sharpest, allowing four goals on 33 Ottawa shots, he made several big saves late, including a penalty shot save on Shane Pinto, to give his team a chance to rally late. 

His stop on Pinto continued his success on penalty shots in his career. Per MSG Network’s Eric Hornick, Sorokin is a perfect four-for-four on such opportunities. His stops came against Michael Bunting and the Toronto Maple Leafs in Jan. 2023, Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins April 2024, Jason Zucker and the Buffalo Sabres in Nov. 2024. Two of those three stops have led to Islanders wins. 

While both sides can be heard of Sorokin’s struggles to open the campaign and the Islanders' struggles structurally, the goaltender made the big saves when needed to give them a chance to pull off the comeback.

The Islanders return to action against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday at UBS Arena, puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.