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With their big three out, Lakers work on 'championship habits' against Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 05: Bronny James #9 of the Los Angeles.
Lakers guard Bronny James, right, drives on Golden State star Stephen Curry during the Lakers' 111-103 preseason loss to the Warriors at Chase Center on Sunday. James finished with five points and three rebounds in 23 minutes. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

The Lakers entered training camp with hopes of finally establishing chemistry between stars Luka Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. But the trio have yet to see the court together. On Sunday, they all stayed on the bench during the Lakers’ 111-103 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center.

With Doncic (rest) and James (glute) already out, Reaves was rested Sunday after an already full first week of training camp. The fifth-year guard had the highest workload on the team entering the first preseason game that took place after three days of practice. He scored 20 points against the Phoenix Suns as one of the few offensive bright spots in Friday’s blowout loss.

Without their top offensive playmakers, the Lakers got a lift from guard Gabe Vincent, who made his preseason debut after nursing a knee injury. He had 16 points and five assists while center Deandre Ayton, who scored just one point on two shots in Friday’s preseason game, scored seven points, all in the first quarter, with seven rebounds.

Read more:Why Luka Doncic didn't play in Lakers' preseason opener against Suns

“We came with more intention,” Vincent said compared to the Lakers’ 103-81 loss to the Suns on Friday. “We were more focused. Obviously it's different with those three not playing. They're a huge part of our team and everything that we do. But next man up.”

After their first two preseason games, the Lakers have one week of practice until their first home preseason game against the Warriors on Oct. 12. Coach JJ Redick said that although Doncic was scheduled to rest for the first two preseason games after he played in EuroBasket with his national team, the Slovenian superstar is still expected to play before the team officially opens its season on Oct. 21. The Lakers have four preseason games remaining.

Whether James, who was held out of early training camp practices because of nerve irritation in his glute, will play in the preseason remains to be seen. Entering an unprecedented 23rd NBA season, James is on a slower ramp-up schedule than previous years, Redick said.

The Warriors took a similarly cautious approach with their aging superstars as Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler III and Al Horford were all limited to one half. The 37-year-old Curry still scored 14 points in 15 minutes, draining five of seven shots from the field and drawing loud cheers from a nearly full Chase Center crowd when he laid up an acrobatic shot through contact and pointed two finger guns into the ESPN baseline camera.

Redick called it a challenge to get a proper evaluation of his team in a 48-minute preseason game when his top three stars are out, but after Friday’s preseason opener, he was looking for better organization on offense early in the shot clock, playing with pace and more physicality.

“We've got to be more physical getting open,” Redick said before the game. “We've got to be more physical with our screening. That doesn't change based on who's in the lineup, so that habit, we can build that.”

“Championship habits” is one of three pillars Redick has preached relentlessly during training camp, along with championship communication and championship shape. He said he would judge the latter in part by whether players are sprinting back on defense.

The Lakers were outscored 23-5 in transition Sunday and 42-11 through two preseason games.

With the exception of a 10-0 Warriors run to end the second quarter and a nearly six-minute stretch to begin the third quarter during which Golden State pushed a seven-point halftime lead into a 23-point rout, Redick said the overall competitiveness was “much better” than against Phoenix. But the next challenge will be to put forth that effort consistently. 

It follows a recent theme Redick introduced to the team: Kaizen, the Japanese word for improvement.  

“It's just getting 1% better each day,” said forward Jake LaRavia, who had 10 points and three assists. “And that goes along with just winning the day. We thought when we played Phoenix, we didn't. Today, we thought we did a good amount better, obviously, still not the result that we wanted, but we're working in the right direction.”

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Knicks reportedly shopping Pacome Dadiet so they can keep both Brogdon, Shamet

From the moment the Knicks signed Landry Shamet and Malcolm Brogdon, it was clear another move was coming. The Knicks are hard-capped at the second apron and cannot keep the two guards without trading someone else away to create cap room.

That person may be Pacome Dadiet, reports Jake Fischer at The Stein Line.

"The focus for that trade has been on former first-round pick Pacome Dadiet ever since the Knicks signed the two veterans to Exhibit 9 contracts. Sources tell The Stein Line that Knicks, in fact, have indeed already called several teams to gauge interest in Dadiet."

Dadiet was a first-round pick of the Knicks a year ago, a developmental project on the wing who appeared in just 18 games for New York. Dadiet showed flashes in the Knicks' opener at the Las Vegas Summer League, scoring 17 points, but he only played in a couple of games and had a foot issue.

Dadiet is set to make $2.8 million this season, and the Knicks have yet to pick up the team options on the next two years. There are teams willing to take a flyer on Dadiet at that price, but they will likely squeeze the Knicks for a second-round pick since they are taking on the salary.

If the Knicks can't find a trade for Dadiet or another player, they will have to let one of Brogdon or Shamet go before the season starts.

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Conor Sheary Inching Toward Earning Roster Spot With Rangers

 Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

All signs are pointing toward Conor Sheary earning a contract and roster spot with the New York Rangers. 

During the offseason, the Rangers signed Sheary to a Professional Tryout Agreement as he looked to compete at training camp for an opening-night roster spot. 

Mike Sullivan coached Sheary for multiple seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they won two Stanley Cups together. 

Sheary’s past relationship and success with Sullivan led to him coming to New York on a PTO deal. 

Throughout training camp, the 33-year-old forward stood out, proving his worth to Sullivan and the Rangers’ management. 

Sullivan has consistently put Sheary in a power-play role, which proves that he does have a plan for his trusted winger. 

New York Rangers • News and CommunityNew York Rangers • News and CommunityNew York Rangers news, video, analysis and community on The Hockey News Follow all Rangers news at https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers

The expectation is that Sheary will play a bottom-six role for the Rangers if he were to make the team.

With the regular season set to begin on Tuesday, Sheary is yet to be placed on waivers, a positive sign we’ll see him with the Blueshirts to kick off the 2025-26 season. 

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4 Nations fun, Stanley Cup run prominently featured in new season of FACEOFF: Inside the NHL

The new season of Prime Video’s behind-the-scenes hockey series FACEOFF: Inside the NHL dropped on Friday.

Florida Panthers fans are going to enjoy a lot of what the new season has to offer.

While there are fun Panthers tidbits that can be seen throughout, there are some key episodes that focus much of their runtime on Panthers-related content.

First, Episode 1 features the life of Ottawa Senators star forward Brady Tkachuk on and off the ice.

Much of it focuses on his time at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he and his brother, Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk, were key elements of the Team USA squad that came within an overtime goal of winning the tournament.

The injury suffered by the elder Tkachuk was also a main point of emphasis in this episode.

Another episode that Panthers fans are going to love is the final one, Episode 6.

That one is all about the Cats and their quest for a second straight Stanley Cup, and it give the same incredible, in-depth access that we received during the first season of FACEOFF.

Similarly to last year, we get some great mic’d up moments from the players, including another frustrated Oilers screaming moment in their locker room and some great bytes from Panthers Head Coch Paul Maurice.

No surprise there.

Let us know in the comments below which moments were your favorites from the new season of FACEOFF!

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Photo caption: Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team United States forward Matthew Tkachuk (19) and Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) fight in the first period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

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Here is how the Yankees can still get to the ALCS

TORONTO -- J.C. Escarra was the only Yankee who had seen it. He was the only one who knew how difficult it was to face that split-fingered pitch from the highest release point in baseball.

On Aug. 21, playing for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Escarra faced the Buffalo Bisons’ Trey Yesavage and struck out twice. None of his teammates had faced Yesavage, who made his MLB debut on Sept. 15. Escarra spoke in the Yankees’ hitters meeting prior to Yesavage’s Game 2 gem.

“I just let the team know what I saw,” Escarra told SNY after the 13-7 loss to the Blue Jays that put the Yanks in an 0-2 series hole. “I think with him, you take out the arm angle [and] it’s nothing we haven’t seen before, you know? But you throw in the height [6-foot-4] and the angle that he throws from, that is what gives the deception that plays off the splitter.

“As guys get more comfortable against that arm angle, I think we’ll do better.”

We bring this up not to review Game 2 but to light a path for the Yankees to take this series. In order to win, they’ll have to once again deal with Yesavage and Game 1 winner Kevin Gausman. In those losses, the team picked up a few insights on how to be more successful next time.

Carlos Rodon must beat the Jays on Tuesday in New York to extend the season. Cam Schlittler needs to do the same on Wednesday. Let’s cut right to the potential game that will be necessary for the Yanks’ season to progress past this week.

In Game 5 in Toronto on Friday, Max Fried would likely face some combination of a rested Gausman and Yesavage (Gausman would be on regular rest on Thursday, an off day; Yesavage would on Friday).

If facing Gausman as a starter, the Yankees’ adjustment will be straightforward. They should swap Ben Rice at first base for Paul Goldschmidt. Manager Aaron Boone started Rice in Game 1 because Rice earned it by becoming an elite MLB hitter this year. But Rice struggled against Gausman’s splitter, a tough pitch for a left-handed hitter.

Goldschmidt is 10-for-22 lifetime against Gausman, with a .636 slugging percentage. And as one scout put it, “Goldy is good against soft” -- like the splitter.

The solution for Yesavage -- like Escarra suggested -- is experience. Not only was he facing the Yankees for the first time on Saturday, but the team’s hitters were uniquely unable to prepare for him.

The Yanks are one of many teams to use a Trajekt Arc pitching machine, which uses artificial intelligence tools to mimic the pitches and mechanics of opponents. This is particularly useful against unfamiliar pitchers -- and particularly used against an uncommonly high release point.

The Yankees clinched the Wild Card Series against Boston late on Thursday, then flew to Boston for a workout day on Friday. The Trajekt is too big to travel, and home teams do not make their machines available to visitors. There was no time to practice against the Trajekt version of Yesavage.

When I noted this on Twitter during the game, the reporter Ben Nicholson-Smith of SportsNet in Toronto noted in a quote tweet that “this was part of the reason why it made sense for the Blue Jays to start Yesavage at home, and start the more experienced Shane Bieber @ NYY.”

Kyle Boddy, the founder of the influential Driveline Baseball pitching company, added, “This sounds like an excuse given the box score, but it’s a very real training tool for the best organizations. Still, Trajekt can’t perfectly mimic extreme release points - possibly including Yesavage (ex: has real trouble with Chris Sale).”

As one Yankee put it after the game, “Trajekt is objectively helpful, period.”

The Yankees were not looking to make excuses or cite the lack of Trajekt as the reason for their loss. This was my thought, not theirs. But it does speak to their chances of faring better against Yesavage on Friday, if they earn the chance.

As the Yankees’ postgame clubhouse was about to close on Sunday, I asked Giancarlo Stanton if the hitters would be more prepared for a second shot at Yesavage in particular because of the unique arm angle.

“Yes,” Stanton said without hesitation.

Then he offered a light admonishment of my premise. “That would be looking ahead,” Stanton said. “We’ve still got to win Tuesday first and get there.”

He was right, of course. But the road to the ALCS likely now goes through Gausman and Yesavage again.

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Crosby Set To Tie Prestigious NHL Record This Season

By now, Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby approaching NHL records is a relatively regular occurrence. 

And - this year - he is set to tie yet another.

At the dawn of the 2025-26 season, Crosby will tie Detroit Red Wings legend Steve Yzerman as the longest-tenured captain in NHL history. Yzerman holds the current record at 19, which is the number for both total seasons captained and seasons captained with one franchise.

Crosby, 38, was named captain of the Penguins on May 31, 2007 at 19 years, nine months, and 24 days old, which made him the youngest captain in NHL history at the time. Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers have since broken Crosby's previous record.

The future Hall-of-Fame center has led Pittsburgh to three Stanley Cup Championships and four Cup Final appearances. The Penguins made the postseason for 16 consecutive seasons from 2007-2022 under Crosby's captaincy, which is tied for the ninth-longest postseason streak in NHL history.

Behind Crosby as the longest-tenured active captains in the NHL are Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, who is entering his 16th consecutive season, and Landeskog, who is entering his 14th.

Everything You Need To Know About Captains Heading Into The 2025-26 SeasonEverything You Need To Know About Captains Heading Into The 2025-26 SeasonThere aren’t many higher honors on a professional sports team than being the captain of a team. This article will be all about them, a rundown of current and past captains, where they come from, and interesting facts along the way.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

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With elimination looming for Yankees, Carlos Rodón has opportunity to seize moment in Game 3 of ALDS

Carlos Rodón says he’s enjoyed the heightened atmosphere October brings to the Bronx, how the fans are louder and the stakes so supercharged. “It’s a treat to be able to step on the mound in Yankee Stadium in the playoffs,” Rodón noted on Sunday.

He’ll be at his happy place on Tuesday, when he starts Game 3 of the ALDS against the Blue Jays and Shane Bieber. But Rodón will have to cope with more than just the enjoyable parts of pitching there in October, since this best-of-five series has gone dangerously haywire for the Yankees. 

With the Bombers down 0-2 and facing elimination, Rodón faces tremendous pressure to save the season. Or at least help extend it and give the Yanks more life. Can Rodón be the stopper that Max Fried wasn’t on Sunday?

We can’t possibly know until he takes the ball. But we do know this – the Yankees brought Rodón here for starts like this, to excel in big spots. He didn’t get a six-year, $162 million contract to be a mid-rotation piece who just sucks up innings. He needs signature starts, outings that fans will remember and, perhaps, even cite as an example for future Yankee teams pushed to the brink. 

After by far his best season as a Yankee, there’s plenty of evidence that Rodón can seize this moment. He was 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA in 33 starts, finishing second in the AL in wins and eighth in ERA. He’s awfully hard to get a hit against – he allowed 6.1 hits per nine innings, the best mark in the American League. Opponents batted .188 against him.

That means it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares against the Blue Jays, who had the most hits in the majors, and excel at putting the ball in play. Toronto had the lowest strikeout percentage in baseball, which means that Rodón might have to seek outs in different ways.

He acknowledged Sunday in the pre-game interview room, “I’ve always chased the strikeout.”

To his credit, though, Rodón also talked about how he’s watched Fried, a fellow lefty, rack up outs via weak contact. It made him weigh the merits of forcing contact to get quick outs, rather than slogging through a longer battle. We’ll see if he can apply that to the Blue Jays on Tuesday. 

“They're tough to strike out,” Rodón said. “They force action. They put the ball in play. They make teams play defense. They're pretty athletic. There's also slug within the lineup.

“And it makes it tough. There's times where you need a strikeout and just the miss isn't there.”

During the season, Rodón had a 3.60 ERA against Toronto, allowing six runs (four earned) in 10 innings. But he walked eight batters, a potential red flag for a start in which a few walks might lead to Yankee doom. 

Another potential reason for limited confidence in him – Rodón’s career postseason ERA is 6.15, including a 5.32 mark as a Yankee. Last year, he was so overamped in his first playoff start against the Royals, he could not get out of the fourth inning, despite starting with three scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 first with three Ks. He had a terrific start against Cleveland in Game 1 of the ALCS, but was spotty in two outings afterward. 

He said earlier this postseason that he learned from those experiences. He has a 4.50 ERA so far this October, but lasted six innings against the Red Sox, enough to help the Yankees win Game 2. 

Starting pitching was such a huge part of the Yankees victory over Boston in the Wild Card series – the rotation had a 1.33 ERA. But the starters have been a main factor in the Yankees getting clobbered twice in a row in Toronto. Yankee starters have gotten a total of 17 outs (eight by Luis Gil, nine by Fried) in this series. In their combined 5.2 innings of work, they have a 14.29 ERA. 

That alarming trend must change in Game 3. A win could shift the whole feel of this series, especially with the way the Yankees fought back in Game 2, scoring seven runs in a two-inning span after falling way behind. Aaron Judge looked sharp at the plate; Giancarlo Stanton broke out a little, too. Perhaps the lineup is beginning to percolate. And wunderkind Cam Schlittler, who smothered the Red Sox in the last series, is slated to pitch Game 4.

But until the Yanks actually win a game, the series has, for them, a dark cloud hovering close. Elimination is looming and the Jays are 10-5 against the Yanks this year, though the Bombers were 4-2 against Toronto at the Stadium. 

When you sign a big free agent contract to come to New York, you’re expected to crave these moments. You’re expected to deliver, too. 

Rodón’s got a fascinating chance here. A big performance could ink him into Yankee lore alongside some pretty remarkable names. 

Can he seize the moment and save the Yanks, even if just for one more day?

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Early Injuries To Key Sabres Players Can't Be An Excuse For Buffalo To Fail This Season

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Images)

We said it earlier this summer, on more than one occasion – if the Buffalo Sabres intend on ending their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years, they can’t afford to let the injury bug take a major bite out of their roster. Obviously, that’s something that only the Hockey Gods can control, but the Sabres simply don’t have the organizational depth to withstand the damage if someone meaningful is sidelined for a notable stretch of time.

With that in mind, if you’re a Sabres fan, you have ample reason to begin the season concerned for the Sabres on the health front. Because on Friday, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff revealed the news – Buffalo No. 1 goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and defenseman Michael Kesselring would begin the year in the injury ward. Luukkonen is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, while Kesselring is also out week-to-week, this because of an undisclosed injury. 

In both cases, the Sabres had notable expectations for Luukkonen and Kesselring. Kesselring was on course to play on Buffalo’s second defense pairing after the Sabres acquired him this summer in the J.J. Peterka trade. The goaltending picture is a little easier for Buffalo management to handle, given there’s three other goalies – Alex Lyon, Devon Levi and Alexandar Georgiev – to potentially step up in Luukkonen’s absence, and given that the Sabres don’t want to put the weight of the world on youngster Levi’s shoulders, you have to assume Lyon and Georgiev will begin the year as Buffalo’s two goalies.

Of course, that plan could be entirely out the window if the Sabres can’t get solid performances out of Lyon and Georgiev. Buffalo’s desperation to be a playoff team this year could mean they do turn to Levi at some point – especially if Luukonen can’t return to the form he showed only a couple of seasons ago. A netminding crisis will almost assuredly cause Sabres GM Kevyn Adams to panic – and rightfully so, as his job security depends on it – and Levi will probably be their last line of defense to salvage their season.

As it stands, the Sabres are trying not to make eye contact with the injury bug and be 100 percent healthy once Luukkonen and Kesselring return to action. But coming out of the gate with two pieces of the puzzle on the sidelines is not a great harbinger on how things are going to unfold for them the rest of the way. 

Sabres Should Be Looking Into Trading For One Of These Maple Leafs Forwards-On-The-BlockSabres Should Be Looking Into Trading For One Of These Maple Leafs Forwards-On-The-BlockThe Toronto Maple Leafs are about to finish their 2025-26 training camp, and as it happens, the Maple Leafs are very deep at every position -- but certainly, the most depth they've got is on the wings. And as we'll exploain, we're telling you this because the Buffalo Sabres should be looking into acquiring into one of a few veteran Leafs wingers in particular: right winger/center Calle Jarnkrok, and left-wingers David Kampf and Nick Robertson.

There’s still 82 games to be played by the Sabres, and who knows – maybe this early adversity is a rallying point for Buffalo. Maybe they show the expectations on them have been unfairly lowered. Right now, there’s still plenty of time left for them to be the authors of their destiny.

That said, nobody will care to hear Buffalo’s excuses if injuries do cause the Sabres’ playoff hopes to dwindle and die on the vine. This is a bottom-line business the Sabres are in, and if their playoff drought extends to a 15th consecutive season, Buffalo won’t be able to couch it with lines like “moral victory” or any kind of victory, for that matter.

Sabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearSabres' Second Line Must Lead The Way For Buffalo's Forwards This YearThe Buffalo Sabres need a lot of things to go right for them to be a Stanley Cup playoff team this coming season. They need their goalies to pan out with strong performances. They need star defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to put on a defensive clinic and carrry Buffalo to a strong defensive game. And one thing could also be the difference between the Sabres missing or making the 2026 playoffs -- namely, the play of Buffalo's second line of forwards: center Ryan McLeod, and wingers Alex Tuch and Jason Zucker.

Healthy or unhealthy, the Sabres are going to be judged this year only by the bottom line in the wins and losses department. They’ve got to make do with whomever’s healthy enough to play, and let the chips fall where they may. 

And the ramifications that will follow will be well-earned, one way or another.

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Yesavage sets Blue Jays postseason record with 11 Ks, Toronto thumps Yankees 13-7 in ALDS Game 2

TORONTO (AP) — Rookie Trey Yesavage set a Blue Jays postseason record by striking out 11 in 5 1/3 no-hit innings, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit the first postseason grand slam in team history and Toronto beat the New York Yankees 13-7 on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the ALDS.

Daulton Varsho had two home runs among his four extra base hits, and Ernie Clement and George Springer also both homered as Toronto reached double figures in hits (15) and runs for the second straight game.

The Blue Jays had three home runs among their 14 hits Saturday in a 10-1 victory. They have as many home runs (eight) as strikeouts (seven) through two games.

Varsho went 4 for 5 with two doubles, scored four runs and drove in four. Guerrero went 3 for 5 and scored twice.

Cody Bellinger homered and drove in three runs and Ben Rice had two hits and two RBIs in a five-run seventh but Toronto won for the eighth time in nine home meetings with New York. The Blue Jays went 2-4 in six games at Yankee Stadium, where the series shifts for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

Yesavage (1-0) was selected by Toronto with the No. 20 pick last year in the amateur draft. The 22-year-old right-hander rose through four minor league levels this season before joining the Blue Jays and going 1-0 in three September starts.

Yesavage needed fewer than four innings to beat Toronto’s previous record for postseason strikeouts, eight, held by Dave Steib, David Price (twice) and Juan Guzmán.

Known for his elite split-finger fastball, Yesavage set a Blue Jays record by striking out nine Rays batters in his Sept. 15 debut. Eight of his 11 strikeouts Sunday came on the splitter. The other three came on fastballs that reached 96 mph.

Yesavage opened the game by striking out Trent Grisham on a splitter. He walked Aaron Judge on four pitches, then fanned Bellinger and Rice to start a streak of 12 straight outs that ended when Jazz Chisholm Jr. reached on Guerrero’s fielding error in the fifth.

Yesavage responded by getting Ryan McMahon to pop up and fanning Anthony Volpe for his 11th strikeout.

Yesavage struck out six straight over the third and fourth innings as Volpe, Austin Wells, Grisham, Judge, Bellinger and Rice were retired.

Left-hander Justin Bruihl came on to face Grisham after Yesavage threw 78 pitches, 48 for strikes. Manager John Schneider was booed as he came out to remove Yesavage with Toronto leading 12-0. The crowd of 44,7564 then roared until Yesavage came out for a curtain call, lifting his arms over his head at the top of the dugout steps.

Bruihl retired Grisham on a grounder before Judge reached on an infield single for New York’s first hit. Bellinger followed with a homer.

Yankees left-hander Max Fried (0-1) allowed seven runs and eight hits in 3-plus innings. He gave up seven runs in 33 1/3 innings in five September starts.

Fried went 11-1 with a 1.82 ERA in 16 starts after a Yankees loss in the regular season, but suffered another difficult start in Toronto. He was 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two regular season road starts against the Blue Jays, giving up 10 runs, eight earned, five walks and nine hits, including two home runs.

Up next

Toronto RHP Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner with Cleveland, is scheduled to start against Yankees LHP Carlos Rodón in Tuesday’s Game 3. Bieber went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in seven starts after returning from elbow surgery in August. Rodón allowed three runs and four hits in Game 2 of the Wild Card round against Boston, striking out six in six innings.

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Max Fried rocked, Yankees' late charge not enough in 13-7 loss to Blue Jays in Game 2 of ALDS

The savages in the box were no match for rookie Trey Yesavage, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. blasted the first grand slam in Toronto history and the Blue Jays hammered the Yankees, 13-7, Sunday in Game 2 of their American League Division Series. 

The Blue Jays, who bullied Yankee starter Max Fried, are in full control of the series and can eliminate the Yankees when the best-of-five affair resumes Tuesday for Game 3 at Yankee Stadium. 

Toronto has outscored the Yankees, who had the best offense in baseball this season, 23-8, so far in the series, though the Yanks made a late charge to make the final deficit Sunday a tad more tidy. Perhaps that gives them some oomph heading into Game 3.

Here are the main takeaways...

-- It was a nightmare outing for Fried, who has been the Yankee ace all season. He had been so good in starts following a Yankee loss – 11-1, 1.82 ERA in 16 such starts – but he was no stopper on Sunday. Fried was charged with seven runs over three-plus innings while giving up eight hits, walking two and striking out one.

He allowed a two-run homer to the Jays’ Ernie Clement. It was a far cry from Fried’s first outing of the postseason – 6.1 scoreless frames against the Red Sox in last week’s playoff opener. Should the Yankees rally to force a Game 5, Fried would get another chance in this series – with two off-days between now and then, Fried could start on regular rest. You know, if. 

-- Guerrero had struggled in his first six games of postseason play in his career, but the Toronto star has changed that narrative in a hurry. He’s on fire in this series. After homering and going 3-for-4 in the opening game, he smashed the first grand slam in Jays' postseason history Sunday. His blast, measured at 111 mph off the bat, traveled 415 feet to left field and upped the Jays’ absurd lead to 9-0. Guerrero victimized Will Warren on the blast, crushing a 95.8-mph fastball. 

-- Daulton Varsho had a huge day for the Blue Jays, too. He doubled twice off Fried and homered twice off Warren. He might have been on cycle watch early in the game save for a scorer’s call on his first double. He ripped the ball down the right-field line, a sure extra-base hit, and the ball caromed off the side wall and Aaron Judge missed it. Varsho got to third because of that and he was credited with a double, advancing to third only because of what was scored an error on Judge. Varsho finished 4-for-5 with four RBI and four runs scored.

-- Yesavage, who turned 22 in July, is a great story. He was drafted in 2024 out of East Carolina and began this season in Single-A before ascending through four different levels of the Toronto system to reach the majors in September. He was just the third pitcher ever to make a postseason start within his first four MLB appearances, including the playoffs. Shane Baz (2021) and Matt Moore (2011), both of the Rays, are the others. 

Jays manager John Schneider said earlier in the series that he decided to have Yesavage pitch at home instead of Shane Bieber. Bieber, a veteran, would be more likely to handle a hostile environment at Yankee Stadium, so he’ll start Game 3 there on Tuesday. 

-- The Yankees were perhaps at an extreme disadvantage in that they had not seen Yesavage before and he has a distinctive arm angle with a high release point over the top. He was 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA in three September starts for the Jays and his plunging splitter is a marvel. It certainly was on Sunday when he used it to great effect – eight of his strikeouts were finished by a diving split. He got 18 swings-and-misses, according to Statcast, 11 of them on splitters. 

-- The Rogers Centre has been the Horror Centre for the Yankees this year. They are 1-8 at the Blue Jays’ nest and played some of their sloppiest baseball of the season there over the summer. But it wasn’t as humiliating as this. And the Yankees were the second-best road team in the majors this season, a fact that was overwhelmed by the Blue Jays being the AL’s top home team, apparently. 

-- The Yankees trailed, 12-0, entering the sixth inning before they finally got their first hit and got on the scoreboard. Judge broke through with an infield single and then Cody Bellinger smacked a two-run homer. Both came off reliever Justin Bruihl. It was the 10th postseason home run of Bellinger’s career. 

-- The Yankees scored five times in the seventh inning to creep closer. With the bases loaded and one out, Judge blooped an RBI single to center. Bellinger hit a ball down the left-field line that could have been big trouble, but Myles Straw made a terrific sliding catch near the side wall. Still, the Yanks got a run on what was a sac fly. Then Ben Rice whacked an RBI double and Giancarlo Stanton, who had been 2-for-18 in the series, hit a two-run single to left, drawing the Yankees within 13-7. 

-- George Springer homered for the Jays in the fifth inning, his 20th career postseason homer. That ties him with Derek Jeter for fifth all-time. 

-- Warren allowed six runs, including four home runs, on seven hits over 4.2 innings of relief. At the very least, he provided some bulk innings to give the Yankee bullpen some rest. Luke Weaver, who had not retired any of the six batters he’d faced so far in the postseason, got the final out of the eighth inning, inducing a flyout to left by Varsho. 

-- Judge (2-for-3) was on base four times for the Yanks, including two walks. He is batting .444 this postseason. 

Game MVP: Trey Yesavage

Yesavage, a righty who threw 5.1 scoreless innings and allowed no hits. He had 11 strikeouts – a Toronto record for a postseason game – and walked only one. Not bad for a guy who started the season in Single-A.

Highlights

What's next

The Yankees and Blue Jays head to New York for Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday at 8:08 p.m.

Carlos Rodon (18-9, 3.09 ERA) will face Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA) in the elimination game.

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Cutdown Day: Kaliyev Among Seven Ottawa Senators Ticketed For Belleville

With the preseason now in the books, the Ottawa Senators cut their roster from 31 to 24 players on Sunday afternoon, with seven players ticketed for the AHL's Belleville Senators.

Stephen Halliday is waivers-exempt, so he's been loaned directly to Belleville. Jan Jenik, Hayden Hodgson, Olle Lycksell, Arthur Kaliyev, Lassi Thomson and Mads Sogaard have been put on waivers for the purpose of a loan to the B-Sens.

Many fans today are pointing to last fall when Adam Gaudette was placed on waivers at the end of camp, yet he still made the Senators’ opening-night NHL roster. But that's not likely to happen with any of today’s assignments, which are specifically labelled for the "purpose of being loaned to Belleville."  According to Puckpedia, Gaudette didn't have that label when he was waived last year.

So, all seven of these players are expected to report to Belleville if/after they clear waivers, and that leaves just one extra player in camp that the Sens have to let go before Monday’s 5:00 p.m. deadline because the NHL's maximum roster size is 23.

Tyler Kleven and Drake Batherson are still dinged up right now, so the Sens are probably waiting for one more day of healing before making the decision on who their last cut will be.

For example, if Batherson is still hurt, MacDermid would likely move into the starting 12 for Thursday’s opener. At the same time, the team probably wouldn't want to head for a two-game Florida road trip this week with no extra forward. So one of the forwards who was placed on waivers today would probably be recalled for the trip. If that happens, the Sens might keep one fewer defenseman than they were planning.

That’s just one of the potential variables, and there’s nothing to say the Sens couldn’t decide to roster 22 players if they choose and go with just one extra D and one extra forward.

If nothing else, Kleven and Batherson are close to returning — even if they miss opening night. So the last cut between now and tomorrow is likely a defenseman, and we’re still of the opinion that Carter Yakemchuk will end up in Belleville, where he’ll get to play big, important minutes.

With today's news, here's what a sample lineup might look like if they go with a full 23-man roster.

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stützle – Claude Giroux

Fabian Zetterlund – Dylan Cozens – Drake Batherson

Ridly Greig – Shane Pinto – David Perron

Nick Cousins – Lars Eller – Michael Amadio

Kurtis MacDermid (extra)

Defence

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zub

Thomas Chabot – Nick Jensen

Tyler Kleven – Jordan Spence

Nikolas Matinpalo (extra #1) – Donovan Sebrango (extra #2)

Goalies

Linus Ullmark - Leevi Merilainen

The Senators open the 2025-26 regular season in Tampa Bay on Thursday night, taking on the Lightning.

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Chase Stillman: A Fresh Start And A Chance To Prove Himself With The Vancouver Canucks

When Chase Stillman learned he’d been traded to the Vancouver Canucks organization this summer, it was unexpected but exciting. Rather than dwelling on the uncertainty of being moved, not once, but twice in the same season, the 22-year-old forward is choosing to focus on what it represents: opportunity.

“It was awesome,” Stillman said. “Obviously, getting traded twice in the same season is a lot on a player, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to look at it as someone wanting you. I got traded for a pretty important piece on the team last year, so it’s clear they see me as high value.”

That mindset —resilient, grounded, and optimistic — has defined Stillman’s approach to his career so far. The American-born winger, originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft, joins the Canucks organization that prizes speed, grit, and relentless competition. After a strong showing at training camp, Stillman began the year in Abbotsford, where he’s eager to establish himself as a key piece of the team’s forward group.

“I just want to get my foot in the door and play in the NHL,” Stillman said. “Regardless of what that takes or what kind of player I have to be to get there. That’s the goal this year. It’s a brand new season, zeros across the board, so I’m just trying to enjoy the process.”

Over the summer, Stillman focused on building both his physical strength and mental resilience. He trained with his agency’s development group alongside other pros, sharpening his skating and conditioning, but he admits the mental reset was just as important.

“It was a tough start to last year, for sure,” he reflected. “But mentally, I’ve been working on building back my confidence and remembering that every season is a clean slate. I’ve been really excited about coming here. The fans are great, and obviously, Canada loves their hockey.”

Stillman’s enthusiasm for Vancouver is palpable, and he’s already experienced a taste of what’s to come. “I played in the exhibition game here in Abbotsford, and it was pretty rowdy,” he laughed. “I’m excited to see what it’s like during the regular season for sure.”

Hockey runs deep in the Stillman family. His father, Cory, played over 1,000 NHL games and won two Stanley Cups, while his brother, Riley, is a defenceman in the Buffalo Sabres organization. When asked if his brother had any advice about playing in Vancouver, Chase smiled.

Chase Stillman of the Abbotsford Canucks (Photo Credit: @abbycanucks on

“Yeah, he said the fans really like their hockey here. Regardless of what you do or what your job is, if you do your job really well, you’re going to be liked. There’s no better feeling than when you’ve got fans that love the way you play.”

For Stillman, that’s what this new chapter is about: proving himself to a new city, a new organization, and to the fans who fill the stands. “I just want to show them that I’m a fun player to watch,” he said. “That I can do a lot of things on the ice. I’m excited to get going.”

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Al Horford demonstrates how he can elevate Warriors in preseason win vs. Lakers

Al Horford demonstrates how he can elevate Warriors in preseason win vs. Lakers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Al Horford, 39, knows he’s old by NBA standards. He doesn’t sweat it, nor do the Warriors. If his regular season looks anything like his performance on Sunday, neither should the good citizens of Dub Nation.

Horford came off the bench for 14 hyperactive minutes in a 111-103 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Golden State’s preseason opener at Chase Center. He scored only three points, a triple that splashed neatly through the net, but the rest of his game put skeptics on alert.

The 6-foot-9 forward/center had four rebounds, three assists, three blocks and one steal. Moreover, he was plus-13 for his effort.

“Fun,” coach Steve Kerr said of Horford’s showing. “To see the size and the shooting ability, passing ability, just the flow of the game. What an addition he is.”

Horford earned the right to join fellow veterans Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler III and Draymond Green as spectators once the halftime buzzer sounded.

When Moses Moody picked up three fouls in the first three minutes, Horford hopped off the bench and took the floor, receiving a warm ovation from the sellout crowd. He immediately went to work.

Horford was sprinting the floor. Bouncing about the paint. Rotating with ease and timing. He slides over to trap Bronny James and comes away with a steal. When Nate Williams pump-fakes Draymond Green out of position, Horford rotates over and uses his 7-foot-1 wingspan for the block.

“It’s more a sign of his basketball IQ than it is him flying around trying to impress anybody,” Kerr said. “He’s just always in the right spot. He had (three) blocked shots. The two that I remember, he just rotated over perfectly, recognized the late shot clock, knew exactly where he was, what he needed to do. He’s been around for a long time, he’s seen everything, and it comes very naturally to him.”

For all that Kevon Looney gave this franchise, this was an 18-year veteran, with more comprehensive skills, making spectacular plays, and nobody appreciated it more than Curry, who turned a Horford dime into an easy bucket.

“Obviously has a high IQ,” Curry said. “An experienced, championship-caliber player that can fit with any lineup out there. He gives us space. He gives us presence on the defensive end. You saw the pass he made to me out of the corner on the give-and-go. There’s just an unspoken chemistry that will continue to get better.

“He’s a multidimensional as a 5-man. Excited to see what that looks like for me, for Jimmy, for JK and Draymond. Any lineup, you can throw him out there at the 5 and he lifts the group.”

Horford spent time with most of the team’s rotation players, and even shared the court with fellow center Quinten Post. That probably won’t be last time Kerr resorts to utilizing two big men together.

Though Horford was not in the starting lineup, he still projects as the likely starter at center. He certainly will be in the finishing lineup.

No player in franchise history has been projected as a starter at such an advanced age, so initial concern about Horford’s health is valid. Any concern about his conditioning, however, should be put to rest. Not one of his teammates brought more velocity.

Horford played 60 games, with 42 starts, last season with the Celtics, as planned by coach Joe Mazzulla. He hasn’t played more than 70 games since appearing in 72 in 2017-18. He averaged 27.7 minutes last season, 26.8 the year before.

The Warriors will follow a similar regimen.

“We’ll do the same thing,” Kerr said. “We have to preserve all our older guys as best we can to have them ready for the playoffs. That’s the idea.

“But no question, he’s still got it. He’s incredible player. Great fit for us.”

It’s a preseason game. The opener. But there was not one clumsy moment for Horford. The pro looked like a pro with enough game to render his age irrelevant.

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4 Former Flyers Placed On Waivers

Cal Petersen (© Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

With the 2025-26 NHL regular season almost here, several players were placed on waivers on Oct. 5. The Philadelphia Flyers were one of the clubs involved, as they placed newcomer Carl Grundstrom on waivers shortly after acquiring him from the San Jose Sharks. 

Yet, four former Flyers have also been placed on waivers, as Cal Petersen (Minnesota Wild), Tyler Pitlick (Wild), Erik Gustafsson (Detroit Red Wings), and Olle Lycksell (Ottawa Senators) have all hit the wire. 

Petersen signed with the Wild this summer. This was after he had a 13-15-3 record, a .885 save percentage, and a 3.14 goals-against average in 31 games with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2024-25. In five games with the Flyers in 2023-24, he had a 2-2-0 record, a .864 save percentage, and a 3.90 goals-against average. 

Pitlick also signed with the Wild during the summer. In 63 games with the Flyers during the 2019-20 season, he posted eight goals, 12 assists, 20 points, and a plus-11 rating. 

Gustafsson is entering his second season with the Red Wings, where he carries a $2 million cap hit. In 24 games with the Flyers during the 2020-21 season, he recorded one goal, 10 points, and a minus-2 rating. 

As for Lycksell, he signed with the Senators this summer. In 45 games over three NHL seasons with the Flyers from 2022-23 to 2024-25, he recorded one goal, 11 points, 14 hits, and 16 blocks.