Following defeat at Leeds 10 days ago, one West Ham-supporting WAG suggested Jarrod Bowen “must feel like that one human actor in a Muppets film” in a Social Media Disgrace post that got nowhere near the amount of LOLs it deserved. And having seen their team go a goal down on Sunday, moments after their captain had spanked a shot from distance off a post, West Ham fans must have felt it was going to be another regulation day in which Bowen tried to channel his inner Michael Caine in a bid to lend some much-needed gravitas to a typically absurdist and slapstick performance. The feeling can only have been heightened when he was awarded a penalty only to see it overturned by the curtain-twitchers in Stockley Park. But against all odds, West Ham dug deep and managed to eke out a rare and thoroughly deserved victory.
A few weeks back I listened to a discussion on the wireless about AI. A man informed that the limits of AI include the fact that ‘AI doesn’t have a sense of humour’. Imagine my surprise when it turned up in Football Daily” – Michael Lloyd.
As a Bournemouth fan I can assure you that the best AI tactics are Andoni Iraola’s” – Kelvin Baynton.
Given the current farago surrounding Crystal Palace’s impending fixture pile up, would it make more sense to redefine the Fizzy Cup as only being open to teams that have not qualified for Europe that season? This would help with potential fixture clashes, but more importantly it is likely to open up the competition and increase the chances of a ‘smaller club’ winning it. I doubt any of the bigger clubs would complain about being excluded” – Rob Burton (and no other sensible readers).
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have acquired a familiar face for some depth.
The Blues acquired defenseman Calle Rosen from the Washington Capitals for defenseman Corey Schueneman. Rosen will report to Springfield of the American Hockey League.
The 31-year-old had seven points (one goal, six assists) in nine games with Hershey of the AHL this season. He spent parts of three seasons with the Blues from 2021-24, including playing in 73 games (10 goals, 15 assists, plus-17).
In 2022-23, he played in 49 regular-season games for the Blues and had a career high in points (18), goals (eight) and assists).
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
The Warriors dropped their last two games to teams they should have beaten on paper.
With the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers missing star players, role players like Ryan Rollins and Quenton Jackson took the spotlight. Draymond Green explained why that happened in the latest episode of his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
“Any time a star [goes] out against us, you’re always going to have guys that step up and just play out of their minds,” Green said. “That is the Warrior effect, that is the effect you get when you have had the success that we have.”
Green explained that with the Warriors’ prestige, younger and relatively unknown players take the matchup as an opportunity to play their best basketball.
“You figure a lot of these young guys that come into the NBA now, they grew up on the success that we’ve had,” Green continued. “So when they come into that game, it’s their NBA Finals. It’s their childhood dream come true. And so, you always get the absolute best version of guys …”
“… No excuse to why we lose those games, but then I think for us where we have to grow is, you have to put the fire out before it gets started.”
“You’re talking about a team that was [0-5] and we got the game in complete control, and then just down the stretch, let it go,” Green recalled. “That’s not a characteristic of this team since Jimmy [Butler] has come to this team, but that was something we were struggling with before. We can’t fall back into that.”
Last season, the Warriors lost four games in which they had a double-digit lead during the fourth quarter. Three of those blown leads were before the team acquired Butler.
According to Green, the problem lies on the offensive side of the ball.
“I think offensively we got to figure it out. We got to figure our spacing out, we got to figure the turnovers out,” Green explained. “The turnovers are adding up more and more each game, and they’re costly. We got a really good defense; it’s hard to get your defense set when you’re just turning the ball over.They’re not playing against our half court defense, and again you get back to the thing where you’re allowing guys to get off, that allows guys to get a rhythm and get to feeling good.”
Golden State looks to bounce back this week with a Western Conference slate that doesn’t get much easier, starting with back-to-back games against the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings at home and on the road, respectively. The Warriors will play the Denver Nuggets on the road on Friday.
Steven Stamkos' first season with the
Nashville Predators ended with his lowest production over a full NHL
season since his rookie campaign in
2008-09.
Stamkos isn't faring any better early
in this season, netting just two points in his first 13 games. This
is not what the Predators expected when they signed the two-time 'Rocket' Richard Trophy winner and Stanley Cup champion to his four-year
contract in July 2024.
Adam Proteau of The Hockey News
believes that trade speculation could begin to swirl around Stamkos
if his numbers don't improve soon. He cited Sportsnet's Elliotte
Friedman envisioning a scenario where management and the 35-year-old
forward meet to discuss their options.
Stamkos has a full no-movement clause
in his contract, along with an expensive average annual value of $8
million. Proteau speculated he could waive that clause to go to a
Stanley Cup contender, suggesting the Carolina Hurricanes, Los
Angeles Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs as possible destinations.
Meanwhile, Paul Chapman of The Province
noted that CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal claimed the struggling Vancouver
Canucks had “poked around” on Stamkos. Chapman considers him to
be well past his prime but doesn't blame the injury-ravaged Canucks
for considering all options.
For now, there's no indication that
Stamkos has asked for a trade or been approached about it by
Predators management. If he were to go to a contender, the Hurricanes
have the cap space and tradeable assets to outbid the Kings, Leafs and Canucks.
Turning to the Pittsburgh Penguins,
they're off to a better-than-expected start, jockeying for first
place in the Eastern Conference standings.
Sportsnet's Luke Fox singled out
long-time Penguins star Evgeni Malkin as a key reason behind that
strong start. The 39-year-old center is among the league's top 10
scorers with 18 points. However, Fox questions whether Malkin and his
teammates can maintain that pace.
Malkin is in the final season of his
contract. Fox noted there were recent rumblings that it could also be
his last NHL campaign. He wondered if the future Hall of Famer would
be open to gett moved to a Cup contender at the trade deadline.
Fox believes Malkin would be a
high-interest trade target even if his production drops as the season
progresses. He thinks the Florida Panthers might be a suitor, perhaps
seeing Malkin as a replacement for sidelined center Aleksander
Barkov.
Similar speculation surfaced over a
month ago after Barkov underwent season-ending knee surgery. At that
time, Malkin stated he wanted to remain with the Penguins, but he
didn't know how he'd react if GM Kyle Dubas approached
him about accepting a trade.
If Malkin were to be traded, it won't
happen at this stage of the season. Dubas indicated he intends to
meet with him during the February Olympic break to discuss his
future.
For
action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue,
subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by
subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
“When we got on that plane I was telling Steph, like, ‘Man, Ja ain’t in it at all. It looked like something happened — like, it ain’t Ja,’” Green said. “He was giving the ball to Cam Spencer and kind of going to stand in the corner. And Steph was like, ‘Quiet protest going on, huh?’ And I was like, ‘That’s what it looked like.’”
A few days later, after Memphis’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Morant brushed off questions about his play, telling reporters to “ask the coaching staff” about his limited minutes. Morant then was suspended on Saturday for one game because of “conduct detrimental to the team” — a move that, according to Green, validated his instincts that something deeper was brewing in Memphis.
“When I saw [Ja’s] comments, I found those interesting,” Green explained, “but all they did was confirm to me what I was watching … and rightfully so, there was something going on.”
Green then reflected on the Grizzlies’ handling of the situation and how suspending a franchise cornerstone can backfire.
“What I will say is this: I am not a big fan of suspending your top guys,” Green said. “As a guy who has been suspended through the years, I don’t think it does much of anything outside of piss the guys off. When you’re talking your first and most important player and you’re suspending that guy, there’s always the possibility of like — there’s no coming back from that.”
Green, who’s been suspended six times across 15 NBA seasons, has built a reputation as one of the league’s most fiery competitors — and someone who understands better than most how quickly trust between players and teams can fracture. Whether the Grizzlies can move past the suspension — and keep Morant fully engaged — remains to be seen.
The 2025-26 NBA season on Peacock continues tonight as the Brooklyn Nets, seeking their first victory of the season after an 0-6 start, while playing host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-3), who are without injured superstar Anthony Edwards. It's the first meeting between the teams since April 11 last season when Rudy Gobert tied a career high with 35 points to lead Minnesota to a 117-91 victory over Brooklyn in Minneapolis.
After losing their first two games since losing Edwards to a hamstring injury, the Timberwolves are coming off a 122-105 road victory Saturday over the Charlotte Hornets. Julius Randle scored 30 points while improving to 30 of 54 from the field in the past three games, and Gobert had 14 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in his second double-double this year while leading a Minnesota defense that suffers when the four-time Defensive Player of the Year is on the bench.
Edwards (25.7 points per game) has been sidelined since being hurt Oct. 26 during a 114-110 win over the Indiana Pacers. In his absence, Minnesota has filled the offensive void with Randle (27.2 ppg and 2.7 3-pointers per game), Jaden McDaniels (18.0 ppg) and Donte DiVincenzo (13.5 ppg, 3.0 3-pointers pe game), who had 18 points against the Hornets. Naz Reid also chipped in 18 against Charlotte and is averaging 11.3 points.
Brooklyn Nets storylines
At 0-6, Brooklyn is off to its worst start since losing the first seven games to open the 2015-16 season. Defense has been a sore spot for the Nets, who have rank last in field goal percentage allowed. In a 129-105 loss Sunday to the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn allowed an opponent to shoot at least 50% for the fifth time in six games this season. Coach Jordi Fernandez also has been seeking an answer at point guard, most recently starting Tyrese Martin (who went scoreless in 27 minutes against Philadelphia) in place of rookie Ben Saraf.
Brooklyn's offense primarily has been reliant on Cam Thomas, who is averaging 24.3 points per game and led the Nets with 29 points against the 76ers, Michael Porter Jr. (20.8 ppg) and Nic Claxton (13.3 ppg).
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets
When: Monday, Nov. 3
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
Time: Pregame studio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is mobbed after the Dodgers won the 121st World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The Los Angeles Dodgers' thrilling 11-inning Saturday win over the Toronto Blue Jays was the most watched World Series game since 2017, according to Nielsen data.
The Fox telecast of the Game 7 contest giving the Dodgers their second consecutive world championship attracted an average of 25. 5 million viewers on Fox.
Viewers watching the Spanish-language telecast on Fox Deportes and Fox Sports streaming platforms brought the audience figure to just under 26 million.
The Dodgers' 5-4 win delivered the largest audience for a World Series game since the Houston Astros' Game 7 win over the the team in 2017, which had an audience of 28.3 million.
The figure was 10% over the last decisive World Series Game 7 in 2019, when the Washington Nationals defeated the Astros.
The battle on Saturday will go down as one of the most memorable games in World Series history, with a number of spectacular plays in the field and a dramatic go-ahead home run by Dodgers catcher Will Smith.
Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto won his third game of the series with his strong relief outing, earning him the Most Valuable Player Award for the series.
The audience level peaked between 8:30 and 8:45 p.m. Pacific, with 31.5 million viewers tuned in.
The Dodgers became the first Major League Baseball team to win back-to-back championships in 25 years.
The 2025-26 MLB free agency period got fully underway at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, as free agents are now allowed to sign with a new team.
The opening of free agency came just days after the Los Angeles Dodgers successfully defended their crown by beating the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2025 World Series championship. But now, the chase for the 2026 title is on.
So, from the top players available to how the qualifying offer works and more, here’s everything you need to know about MLB free agency:
When does MLB free agency start?
Players scheduled to hit free agency officially became free agents the day after the World Series ended. At that time, teams were able to re-sign their departing free agents.
But players weren’t permitted to sign with a new club until 5 p.m. ET on the fifth day after the World Series ended.
When is the MLB option deadline?
The exercising of a player, club or mutual option had to occur within five days following the conclusion of the World Series.
Teams had five days after the World Series ended to extend qualifying offers to their departing free agents. A team could only extend a qualifying offer to a player who hadn’t received one before and spent the entire 2025 season on its roster.
The qualifying offer is a one-year deal with a value equal to the mean salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid players, and a player has until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 18 to accept it.
Should a player reject the qualifying offer and then sign with a new club in free agency, the team who lost the free agent will receive a compensatory draft pick. A club that signs a rival player who rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of at least one draft pick.
How much is the MLB qualifying offer worth?
This year’s qualifying offer is worth $22.025 million.
Which MLB players received the qualifying offer?
Here are the 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, according to multiplereports:
Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
Edwin Díaz, RHP, New York Mets
Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Trent Grisham, OF, New York Yankees
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Chicago Cubs
Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, Detroit Tigers
Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs
Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
When are the MLB Winter Meetings?
The Winter Meetings will run from Dec. 8-11 in Orlando, Florida.
Who are the top 2026 MLB free agents?
Here’s a look at the top players who hit free agency (listed alphabetically by last name, all contract details via Spotrac):
Josh Naylor, a trade deadline pickup from Arizona, hit three homers with a .967 OPS across 12 games in the 2025 playoffs. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
The 2025-26 MLB free agency period got fully underway at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, as free agents are now allowed to sign with a new team.
The opening of free agency came just days after the Los Angeles Dodgers successfully defended their crown by beating the Toronto Blue Jays for the 2025 World Series championship. But now, the chase for the 2026 title is on.
So, from the top players available to how the qualifying offer works and more, here’s everything you need to know about MLB free agency:
When does MLB free agency start?
Players scheduled to hit free agency officially became free agents the day after the World Series ended. At that time, teams were able to re-sign their departing free agents.
But players weren’t permitted to sign with a new club until 5 p.m. ET on the fifth day after the World Series ended.
When is the MLB option deadline?
The exercising of a player, club or mutual option had to occur within five days following the conclusion of the World Series.
Teams had five days after the World Series ended to extend qualifying offers to their departing free agents. A team could only extend a qualifying offer to a player who hadn’t received one before and spent the entire 2025 season on its roster.
The qualifying offer is a one-year deal with a value equal to the mean salary of MLB’s 125 highest-paid players, and a player has until 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 18 to accept it.
Should a player reject the qualifying offer and then sign with a new club in free agency, the team who lost the free agent will receive a compensatory draft pick. A club that signs a rival player who rejected a qualifying offer is subject to the loss of at least one draft pick.
How much is the MLB qualifying offer worth?
This year’s qualifying offer is worth $22.025 million.
Which MLB players received the qualifying offer?
Here are the 13 players who were extended the qualifying offer, according to multiplereports:
Bo Bichette, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego Padres
Edwin Díaz, RHP, New York Mets
Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Trent Grisham, OF, New York Yankees
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Chicago Cubs
Michael King, RHP, San Diego Padres
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Philadelphia Phillies
Ranger Suárez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Gleyber Torres, 2B/SS, Detroit Tigers
Kyle Tucker, OF, Chicago Cubs
Framber Valdez, LHP, Houston Astros
Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers
When are the MLB Winter Meetings?
The Winter Meetings will run from Dec. 8-11 in Orlando, Florida.
Who are the top 2026 MLB free agents?
Here’s a look at the top players who hit free agency (listed alphabetically by last name, all contract details via Spotrac):
Josh Naylor, a trade deadline pickup from Arizona, hit three homers with a .967 OPS across 12 games in the 2025 playoffs. (Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
The 2025-26 NBA season on Peacock continues tonight as the New Jersey Nets, seeking their first victory of the season after an 0-6 start, while playing host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-3), who are without injured superstar Anthony Edwards. It's the first meeting between the teams since April 11 last season when Rudy Gobert tied a career high with 35 points to lead Minnesota to a 117-91 victory over New Jersey in Minneapolis.
After losing their first two games since losing Edwards to a hamstring injury, the Timberwolves are coming off a 122-105 road victory Saturday over the Charlotte Hornets. Julius Randle scored 30 points while improving to 30 of 54 from the field in the past three games, and Gobert had 14 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in his second double-double this year while leading a Minnesota defense that suffers when the four-time Defensive Player of the Year is on the bench.
Edwards (25.7 points per game) has been sidelined since being hurt Oct. 26 during a 114-110 win over the Indiana Pacers. In his absence, Minnesota has filled the offensive void with Randle (27.2 ppg and 2.7 3-pointers per game), Jaden McDaniels (18.0 ppg) and Donte DiVincenzo (13.5 ppg, 3.0 3-pointers pe game), who had 18 points against the Hornets. Naz Reid also chipped in 18 against Charlotte and is averaging 11.3 points.
New Jersey Nets storylines
At 0-6, Brooklyn is off to its worst start since losing the first seven games to open the 2015-16 season. Defense has been a sore spot for the Nets, who have rank last in field goal percentage allowed. In a 129-105 loss Sunday to the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey allowed an opponent to shoot at least 50% for the fifth time in six games this season. Coach Jordi Fernandez also has been seeking an answer at point guard, most recently starting Tyrese Martin (who went scoreless in 27 minutes against Philadelphia) in place of rookie Ben Saraf.
Brooklyn's offense primarily has been reliant on Cam Thomas, who is averaging 24.3 points per game and led the Nets with 29 points against the 76ers, Michael Porter Jr. (20.8 ppg) and Nic Claxton (13.3 ppg).
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Jersey Nets
When: Monday, Nov. 3
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
Time: Pregame studio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
The 2025-26 NBA season on Peacock continues tonight as the Brooklyn Nets, seeking their first victory of the season after an 0-6 start, while playing host to the Minnesota Timberwolves (3-3), who are without injured superstar Anthony Edwards. It's the first meeting between the teams since April 11 last season when Rudy Gobert tied a career high with 35 points to lead Minnesota to a 117-91 victory over Brooklyn in Minneapolis.
After losing their first two games since losing Edwards to a hamstring injury, the Timberwolves are coming off a 122-105 road victory Saturday over the Charlotte Hornets. Julius Randle scored 30 points while improving to 30 of 54 from the field in the past three games, and Gobert had 14 points, 15 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in his second double-double this year while leading a Minnesota defense that suffers when the four-time Defensive Player of the Year is on the bench.
Edwards (25.7 points per game) has been sidelined since being hurt Oct. 26 during a 114-110 win over the Indiana Pacers. In his absence, Minnesota has filled the offensive void with Randle (27.2 ppg and 2.7 3-pointers per game), Jaden McDaniels (18.0 ppg) and Donte DiVincenzo (13.5 ppg, 3.0 3-pointers pe game), who had 18 points against the Hornets. Naz Reid also chipped in 18 against Charlotte and is averaging 11.3 points.
Brooklyn Nets storylines
At 0-6, Brooklyn is off to its worst start since losing the first seven games to open the 2015-16 season. Defense has been a sore spot for the Nets, who have rank last in field goal percentage allowed. In a 129-105 loss Sunday to the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn allowed an opponent to shoot at least 50% for the fifth time in six games this season. Coach Jordi Fernandez also has been seeking an answer at point guard, most recently starting Tyrese Martin (who went scoreless in 27 minutes against Philadelphia) in place of rookie Ben Saraf.
Brooklyn's offense primarily has been reliant on Cam Thomas, who is averaging 24.3 points per game and led the Nets with 29 points against the 76ers, Michael Porter Jr. (20.8 ppg) and Nic Claxton (13.3 ppg).
How to watch Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Brooklyn Nets
When: Monday, Nov. 3
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
Time: Pregame studio coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET.
Peacock NBA Monday will stream up to three Monday night games each week throughout the regular season. Coast 2 Coast Tuesday presents doubleheaders on Tuesday nights throughout the regular season on NBC and Peacock. On most Tuesdays, an 8 p.m. ET game will be on NBC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones, and an 8 p.m. PT game on NBC stations in the Pacific and often Mountain time zones.
Check local listings each week. Both games will stream live nationwide on Peacock. NBC Sports will launch Sunday Night Basketball across NBC and Peacock on Feb. 1, 2026. For a full schedule of the NBA on NBC and Peacock, click here.
How to sign up for Peacock:
Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You'll also get tons of hit movies and TV shows, originals, news, 24/7 channels, and current NBC & Bravo hits on Peacock for whatever suits your mood.
NBA on NBC 2025-26 Schedule
Click here to see the full list of NBA games that will air on NBC and Peacock this season.
All's well that ends well for the Detroit Red Wings, who collected their fourth win in their last five games with their 3-2 shootout triumph over the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Sunday evening.
After surrendering a late goal in regulation that knotted the score, the Red Wings secured the extra point in the standings thanks to an unsung hero in the shootout in veteran James van Riemsdyk, who was signed to a one-year contract during the offseason.
van Riemsdyk was the only player on either side to score during the shootout, and thanks to several key saves from goaltender Cam Talbot as well as a little help from the post, the Red Wings outlasted the Sharks.
Afterward, van Riemsdyk described just how big the victory was for the Red Wings, who have ensured that they'll have a winning record on their five-game road swing.
“A huge game for us to set ourselves up nicely to have a really strong road trip, just finding a way to get the extra point there was huge for us," he said. "We got to keep things rolling along here.”
He would also point to Detroit's ability to play a direct game as what helped them ultimately emerge with the W.
“That’s a recipe, to be honest, no matter what for us is just trying to play pretty predictable, direct straight forward, and just kind of let our abilities take over from that," he said. "I find that’s when we’re playing our best is when we’re all predictable."
Following Friday evening's disappointing 5-2 setback against the Anaheim Ducks, the Red Wings got off to a better start on Sunday, but didn't solve former Detroit goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic until Lucas Raymond fired a wrist shot bar-down near the end of the second period.
The Sharks managed to pull even early in the third period after a deflection goal from Jeff Skinner, only to have Moritz Seider respond midway through the frame with his first tally of the season.
The Sharks knotted the score late in regulation thanks to the first NHL goal (and point) in the career of Sam Dickinson, though neither team was able to score in overtime.
The Red Wings will conclude their road trip with a tilt against the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday evening before returning home to host the New York Rangers on Friday evening.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites!
For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.
After spending big there was optimism in Florence, but their season has been a mess that may get worse
Daniele Pradè had described Fiorentina v Lecce as a “question of life or death”, but as the occasion approached he remembered football’s third option: you can always just walk away. On Saturday, a little more than 24 hours before this game was due to take place, he left his role as sporting director of the Viola by mutual consent.
The timing was a surprise, but not the decision. Fiorentina had made a shockingly poor start to the season, collecting four points from their first nine games, and Pradè was adamant that he alone should shoulder the blame. “The club put €90m at my disposal to build the team,” he pointed out last month. “If anyone is responsible for the current situation, it’s me.”