A Classic, Reborn: Nets unveil ABA Classic Edition uniforms and court for 60th season

The Brooklyn Nets are bringing timeless classics back to the hardwood. 

On Monday, the Nets unveiled their ABA-inspired Classic Edition uniforms and commemorative court ahead of the franchise’s 60th season. Both are set to debut on October 21 against the Charlotte Hornets.

The throwback kit features the red, white and blue worn by the Nets in their American Basketball Association (ABA) years. The design connects the franchise’s original roots to the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger. 

Here’s the full schedule of when they will wear them…

The Classic Edition uniform and court are part of a broader celebration planned throughout the 2026-27 season. Brooklyn will host six “Eras Nights” featuring alumni appearances, era-inspired entertainment, in-arena activations and giveaways.  For example, the Nets have reportedly invited all living players and coaches from their 1976 ABA championship to Barclays for the ABA celebration on November 18.

The Nets adopted their current name in 1968 and wore this version of their red, white and blue uniform through 1972. The look predates Julius Erving’s arrival and Brooklyn’s ABA championship runs.

Meanwhile, the court will feature several tributes to the franchise’s history. The Nets’ 60th-season logo, also red, white and blue, will appear at center court, while a logo incorporating past team branding will run along the sideline. The names of more than 575 players who have worn a Nets jersey will appear across the court apron, with the baseline recognizing the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger.

“The Classic Edition uniform and special-edition court give fans a new way to experience the history of this franchise,” said Becky Kimbro, Senior VP of Marketing, BSE. “This anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate every era of Nets basketball and the people who have shaped the franchise. From our ABA roots to the generations of players who have worn a Nets jersey, these elements honor where we have been while continuing to write the next chapter of Nets basketball in Brooklyn.”

It goes beyond jerseys, too. 


Latest on The Block

Per the Nets press release, “the Nets will bring back The Block, a dedicated lower-bowl fan section at Barclays Center that unites the team’s most passionate supporters to lead chants, energize the crowd and create an electric home-court atmosphere. The return of The Block celebrates the role fans have played in shaping the franchise’s history while giving them an opportunity to help build its next chapter in Brooklyn.”

The block is returning after a one-year hiatus.


New fan experiences at Barclays Center

The Nets are also introducing new technology at their October 21 home opener, which will feature a special show celebrating 60 years of Nets history with custom LED screens and 360-degree player footage.

Alibaba — the Nets’ new official technology and cloud partner and jersey patch partner — will introduce real-time 360-degree replays. Fans will also be able to visit the Nets Figure Lab to create personalized collectible cards using Alibaba technology. Joe Tsai, of course, is Alibaba’s executive chairman.

According to one report, the replays and other Alibaba technology will be rolled out throughout the season as the company and team use Barclays as a “testing ground for applications combining image processing, content personalization and cloud services.”

The home opener will coincide with the latest phase of Barclays Center’s five-year, $150 million-plus enhancement plan. Upgrades include a redesigned Main Atrium and box office, a 9,000-square-foot event-level club, a dedicated American Express card member entrance and lounge, and the first major control room upgrade since the arena opened in 2012.

The redesigned Main Atrium will feature WAVE, a newly commissioned airborne sculpture by artist Sarah Sze. At the new American Express entrance and lounge on Flatbush Avenue, there will be two large scale paintings by Rashid Johnson and Mark Bradford. The arena expects the updated entrance area to enhance the arrival experience for more than 70 percent of its guests.

***

The Nets joined the Nuggets, Pacers and Spurs in unveiling their 2026-27 Classic Edition uniforms and courts on Monday.  Whatever happens this year, at least the Nets will look good doing it.

Even a classic pose!

MLB Championship Series 2026 discussion thread: Day 2

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: Ryan Vilade #26 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning in game three of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium on October 07, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The MLB playoffs are rolling along, and today is the first day the Championship Series for both leagues will be on the field.

In a pitching showdown that pitted two of the best — Tarik Skubal vs. Jacob Misiorowski — against each other, Game 1 of the NLCS came down to the bullpens for the Dodgers and Brewers on Sunday. The relievers for both teams combined to pitch 7.2 scoreless innings, and it was Milwaukee that took Game 1 2-1 after Skubal gave up two earned runs, including a Brice Turang solo homer.

Today, another pitching duel is on tap for Game 2 of the NLCS as Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson will face off against L.A.’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Henderson gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings on Oct. 4 in his lone 2026 postseason appearance against the Padres. Yamamoto surrendered only one run on four hits, while striking out 10 in seven innings.

Meanwhile, in Tampa Bay, the Rays will host the Guardians in Game 1 of the ALCS. The Rays haven’t played since Oct. 7 when they completed their sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Cleveland, on the other hand, rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the White Sox in their ALDS series.

Los Angeles Dodgers (No. 2) at Milwaukee Brewers (No. 1) — 3 PM MDT

Pitching Matchup: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 1.29) vs. Logan Henderson (0-0, 1.80 ERA)

TV: FOX/FOX ONE

Radio: ESPN Radio

SB Nation Sites:Brew Crew Ball, True Blue LA

Lineups:

Cleveland Guardians (0-0) at Tampa Bay Rays (0-0) — 6 PM MDT

Pitching Matchup: RHP Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) vs. LHP Max Fried (5-5, 2.80 ERA)

SB Nation Sites:DRaysBay, Covering the Corner

Radio: ESPN Radio

Pitching Matchup: Foster Griffin (1-0, 3.38 ERA) vs. Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

TV: TBS/HBO Max

Stay tuned for lineups.


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Boston Celtics Daily Links 10/12/26

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 10: The sneakers worn by Paul George #13 of the Boston Celtics during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on October 10, 2026 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

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LCS, Game 1/2: Schedule, probable pitchers, and open thread, 10/12/26

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Los Angeles pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) reacts during the NLDS game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves on October 6th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Dodgers at Brewers

Brewers lead, 1-0

First pitch: 5:00 PM EDT
TV:
FS1/FOX ONE
Probable pitchers:
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP (LAD); Logan Henderson, RHP (MIL)

Guardians at Rays

Series tied, 0-0

First pitch: 8:00 PM EDT
TV: TBS/HBO MAX
Probable pitchers: Foster Griffin, LHP (CLE), Drew Rasmussen, RHP (TB)

ALCS/NLCS gamethread: Dodgers at Brewers, Guardians at Rays

ATLANTA, GA - OCTOBER 06: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on while pitching during Game Three of the National League Division Series presented by Booking.com between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The star studded pitching matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski and the Los Angeles Dodgers Tarik Skubal turned out to be a bit of a dud on Sunday night. Both were overpowering at points, but neither produced anything close to a dominant start. Ultimately, Skubal took a bit more damage, the Dodgers veteran bats looked overmatched at times, and the Brewers held on to a slim lead to take Game 1 of the NLCS.

They’ll be back at it tonight, while the ALCS matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cleveland Guardians also gets underway in Tampa Bay.

The Dodgers will send their ace, RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0, 1.29 ERA) against the Brewers young right-hander RHP Logan Henderson (0-0, 1.80 ERA) at 5:00 p.m. ET on FOX. It’s too early for either side to think about a short series, but the Dodgers would obviously do well to even things up before the series moves to LA.

The Guardians will go with LHP Foster Griffin (1-0, 3.38 ERA) as he takes on RHP Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who was absolutely brilliant in his lone start against the Yankees this postseason. The Rays will be well rested, but the Guardians will hope to catch them a little flat-footed early on. The ALCS will be broadcast on TBS, with Monday night’s game at Tropicana Field set for an 8:00 p.m. ET start.

NLCS Game 2: Dodgers at Brewers and ALCS Game 1: Guardians at Rays

The Brewers took a low-scoring Game 1. With the pitchers going in Game 2, that’s also likely to be low-scoring.

And the ALCS begins this evening. One discussion thread for both games today.

4 p.m. CT: Dodgers at Brewers (Brewers lead series 1-0)

TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP vs. Logan Henderson, RHP

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

7 p.m. CT: Guardians at Rays

TV: TBS. Announcers: Brian Anderson, Jeff Francoeur, Ron Darling and Lauren Shehadi.

Foster Griffin, LHP vs. Drew Rasmussen, RHP

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

NLCS/ALCS Gamethread: 10/12/2026

Oct 11, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (13) at bat in preparation against the Cleveland Guardians for the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Two games today:

  • Dodgers at Brewers, Game 2: 5:00 pm
  • Guardians at Rays, Game 1: 8:00 pm

Let’s talk about them.

Cats' comeback effort comes up short, Panthers lose 5-3 in Buffalo for second straight regulation defeat

The Florida Panthers opened their brief two-game road trip on Monday afternoon in Buffalo, but the game did not go particularly well for the Cats.

Florida fell behind four different times en route to a frustrating 5-3 defeat at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo.

It took less than six minutes for the Sabres to pick up the opening goal, as Josh Doan blocked a Gustav Forsling attempted dump in from the point and quickly transitioned it into a rush chance.

Doan’s wrist shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle beat Jacob Markstrom, who had been brilliant to that point, over the blocker to put the Sabres in front 1-0 at the 5:58 mark.

Florida’s first goal of the game came just over five minutes later and it was the result of some hard work by a pair of Panthers forward lines.

A shift that started with the Cats’ fourth line pinning the Sabres deep in their zone was kept going by the Lundell line, as Florida was able to make a change while still keeping the puck in Buffalo’s end.

Eventually, a point shot by Aaron Ekblad hit Sabres’ goalie Colton Ellis up high, and the rebound bounced to Anton Lundell at the side of the crease. Lundell swept the puck through Ellis’ five-hole, tying the game at one.

A holding penalty called on Dmitry Kulikov allowed Buffalo to re-take the lead, coming off a blast by Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres had been just 1-for-17 on the power play previously.

Not that the Panthers have been any better.

Coming into the game Florida was just 1-for-28 when on the man advantage, but that changed after Owen Zellweger was called for tripping Sam Reinhart early in period number two.

Reinhart proved to be Johnny-on-the-spot, standing next to the goal crease and tapping home Seth Jones’ point shot that had just trickled through Ellis’ pads, tying the game at two.

He wasn’t done there.

A few minutes after Ryan McLeod put Buffalo back in front 3-2 on a breakaway, Reinhart picked up his second PPG of the night, this time benefiting off a great, between-the-legs pass by Brady Tkachuk and knotting the score for a third time.

By this point of the game, both teams had replaced their starting goaltenders.

Akira Schmid came out to start the second period for Florida after Markstrom stopped nine of 11 shots during the opening frame, and Buffalo replaced Ellis with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen after Reinhart’s first power play goal.

The third period did not go well for the visitors, as Buffalo picked up another power play goal at the 7:15 mark and then an insurance goal by Tage Thompson 6:05 later.

That 5-3 score is how the game ended, with Florida dropping its second straight game in regulation after picking up points in their first four games of the season.

Now holding a 2-2-2 record, the Panthers won’t have much time to dwell on the defeats.

They’re right back in action on Tuesday night when they face the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:15 p.m. as the NHL will be holding its annual Frozen Frenzy in which all 32 games play on a staggered schedule.

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Photo caption: Oct 12, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres center Ryan McLeod (71) scores a goal onFloridaPanthersgoaltender Akira Schmid (40) during the second period at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)

Teoscar Hernández moves up in the order for Game 2

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 11: Teoscar Hernández #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a single during the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game one of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field on October 11, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a series facing plenty of left-handers against the Braves, the Dodgers offense will see a second right-handed starter in Milwaukee. Although the scoring output was disappointing in Game 1, Dave Roberts sticks with his approach of righty-lefty throughout the lineup, but there are a couple of changes.

Tommy Edman, who was on the bench for Game 1, gets the starting nod over Kiké Hernández in the ninth spot, playing second base. This is Edman’s first start since Game 2 of the NLDS, having appeared off the bench in each of the Dodgers’ last three games. More notably, perhaps, Will Smith drops to the fifth spot in the order, with Teoscar Hernández moving up to bat third, rewarded for his two-hit performance in Game 1.

It’s been no secret that Smith has been the worst Dodgers hitter this postseason; however, his at-bats in the first game of the series provided a bit of hope that he can bounce back and be a real factor in this NLCS. The Dodgers’ starting catcher had more hard-hit balls than any other player in a 2-1 defeat—it just happened that they were all outs.

Mixing and matching late in games, expect either Josue De Paula or Kiké Hernández to be ready for an impact off the bench against a Brewers reliever, depending on which reliever is on the mound late in the game. De Paula in particular has impressed with key walks in this postseason.

Why Yoshinobu Yamamoto is built for Dodgers' biggest games and can save NLCS

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto will take the mound in a critical situation for Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 11.

It’s unlikely to faze him.

The Dodgers lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in the opening game of the National League Championship Series; falling behind two games could be a fatal blow. Delivering in high-stakes situations is one of the things that define Yamamoto's dominance.

Yamamoto, a 28-year-old righthander, started Game 2 of the 2025 NLCS against the Brewers. He pitched a complete-game, allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 2-1 victory. But what defined him took place in the 2025 World Series.

Against the Toronto Blue Jays, Yamamoto started two games and won both, allowing just two runs in 15 innings. Then he closed out Game 7, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings as the Dodgers won 5-4 in 11 innings and Yamamoto won the World Series MVP.

This year, in his only postseason appearance, Yamamoto allowed one run in seven innings with 10 strikeouts in the Dodgers’ 3-1 victory against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS.

Location, location, location

Thanks to his exceptional pitching mechanics, Yamamoto is among the league’s best pitchers as defined by pitch location and control. During the 2026 regular season, his strikeout-to-walk rate was 4.33, 11th best in the majors.

Sturdy

Yamamoto is dependable.

During the 2026 regular season, Yamamoto shared the league lead with 22 quality starts – pitching at least six innings and allowing three earned runs or fewer. Cristopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies also had 22 quality shares.

Repertoire

He'll keep hitters guessing with his wide selection of pitchers.

Yamamoto throws a filthy four-seam fastball up to 99 mph, averaging around 96 mph. He throws a nasty sinker at 95 mph. But his best pitch is a split-finger fastball that, at 91 mph, keeps batters baffled.

He can also drastically change speeds with a 77 mph curveball, along with a 95 mph sinker and an 87 mph slider.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Yoshinobu Yamamoto is built for Dodgers' biggest games and can save NLCS

Coventry City 4-1 Newcastle United: Premier League – as it happened

Goals from Jack Rudoni, Sidiki Cherif, Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni – Cherif’s and Mfuni’s blinders – gave Coventry their first Premier League home win in 25 years

So where is our game? Coventry will want to use their wide attackers to get them up the pitch. Down their left in particular, I’d expect to see Dasilva and Mason-Clark ganging up on Miley, who isn’t a full-back, with Rudoni and Yirkenkyi making late runs to give them presence in the box. I also wonder if Cherif will look to run off Botman, who isn’t the quickest, with Thomas-Asante and Van Ewijk looking to supply him with crosses.

Email! “I say this is a perfect fixture,” writes Mary Waltz. “To get back to semi normal football. We have had a week to focus on the City problem but let’s get real. Whatever happens to them it will probably months before the lawyers get all their billable hours in and we don’t know what the final outcome will be. I for one am tired of speculating when it is pointless until the powers that be make up their minds. Let’s play ball.”

Continue reading...

NLCS and ALCS Chat and Discussion

The Atlanta Braves are not longer in contention but there is still some fun playoff baseball to watch as the Los Angeles Dodgers are the visiting team against the Milwaukee Brewers. We already saw an insanely good pitching matchup yesterday, but we get another one today with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking on Logan Henderson.

Interestingly on paper in looks like the Dodgers have the advantage on paper, but some of the places people place their money do not agree.

More fun baseball is to follow as the Cleveland Guardians will be at the Tampa Bay Rays where Foster Griffin, in his first season back from Japan and after being traded mid-season, will be taking the mound against Drew Rasmussen. Rasmussen had a fantastic season with a 2.67 ERA over 172.0 innings pitched. Oddsmakers like the Rays in this matchup, but the Guardians are getting hot at the right time.

Follow along in the comments below, and don’t feel limited on just this subject. Want to talk about what the Braves should do in the offseason? Go for it. Will there even be a season next year? Who knows.

First pitch for the first game is at 4:00 EDT and can be seen on FOX. The second game will be at 7:00 EDT on TBS.

Sabres' Dahlin leaves with upper-body injury in 2nd period against Panthers

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres ruled out captain Rasmus Dahlin returning after he sustained an upper-body injury in the second period against the Florida Panthers on Monday.

The Sabres did not provide any further details in making the announcement. Dahlin's final shift lasted 18 seconds and ended 3:44 into the second period during a Sabres power play.

Dahlin left the ice after going down to one knee upon taking a shot from the slot off a faceoff in the Panthers zone. He collected the rebound along the side board before turning it over, and then headed immediately to the bench.

Dahlin scored his second goal of the season on the power play 15:55 into the first period.

Meantime, Panthers starting goalie Jacob Markstrom did not return for the start of the second period. He allowed two goals on nine shots in the opening 20 minutes and was replaced by Akira Schmid. The Panthers did not have an immediate update on Markstrom's status.

Florida acquired the 36-year-old Markstrom in a trade with New Jersey to be the starter after failing to re-sign Sergei Bobrovsky, who left Florida to sign with Toronto in free agency.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Hitters are winning more ABS challenges in the postseason, and teams are challenging more overall

NEW YORK — Batters have been more successful on robot umpire challenges in the playoffs than during the regular season, and teams are utilizing the Automated Ball-Strike System more overall in its postseason debut.

Seventy-one of 121 overall challenges under ABS prevailed during the 25 games of the Wild Card Series and Division Series. The 59% success rate was up from 54% during the regular season. That includes an improvement for batters to 57% (29 of 51) from 49%.

It’s not that hitters are necessarily being more conservative, either. Teams are challenging more in the postseason overall, with 4.8 per game compared to 4.3 during the regular season. Batter challenges are up to 2.04 per game from 1.96.

Teams exhaust their challenges when they are unsuccessful twice in the game, so the more times they win appeals the more opportunities they can have.

Catchers had won 60% (42 of 70) of challenges, just above their 59% during the regular season. Pitchers were 1 for 1, with Tampa Bay’s Griffin Jax making the only challenge.

“Maybe a little more cautious,” Rays catcher Liam Hicks said. “It’s more just in the back of your head, you’re like, you want to save these for a meaningful situation.”

Among the four teams advancing to the League Championship Series, Cleveland won 7 of 13, Milwaukee 8 of 16, Tampa Bay 3 of 5 (with no tries by batters) and the Dodgers 2 of 6.

Atlanta had the most challenges, winning 14 of 22 over seven games and the White Sox 12 of 31.

Among batters, Milwaukee’s Jake Bauers and Atlanta’s Austin Riley won both their challenges.

Munetaka Murakami of the Chicago White Sox went 0 for 2 and the Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. had the most challenges, splitting on four.

“It’s a new muscle for these guys to instinctually have, so I think if this is the route we go for the next few years guys will get more and more instinctually,” New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Some guys have been really good and really adept at it early on. Other guys have been more of a work in progress. Some guys have struggled with it.”

Braves catcher Sean Murphy was 4 for 4 and the Phillies’ J.T. Realmuto won 5 of 6. Realmuto had the first game-ending ABS challenge in postseason history in Game 2 of Philadelphia’s Wild Card Series against Atlanta.

Kyle Teel of the White Sox had the most challenges, winning 8 of 12, and the Guardians’ Patrick Bailey was second, succeeding on just 4 of 10. The Brewers’ William Contreras won 4 of 9.

“Some of the first-inning challenges, 1-0 counts, it’s like, let’s let those go and save them for when we might need them later in the game,” Realmuto said. “With that being said, we have a lot of guys that know the strike zone really well.”

Just 17 challenges were defined by Statcast as in high-leverage situations, and eight of 17 were successful.

“You’ve got to be careful trying to script it or dictate the perfect situation for it. You don’t know what it’s going to lead to, even if it’s early,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said. “My message has always been, the lower the leverage, the more certainty you need to have and vice versa. But at the end of the day, trust your eyes.”

Among 25 umpires who worked the first two rounds, four had perfect rates and were confirmed on all challenges. Tripp Gibson, James Hoye, Nic Lentz and Gabe Morales all were challenged twice and confirmed twice.

Lance Barrett was overturned on 10 of 12 challenges during Milwaukee’s Game 2 Division Series victory over San Diego and Adam Beck on seven of 10 during Philadelphia’s Game 2 Wild Card Series win over Atlanta.

Roberto Ortiz was overturned on 6 of 9, Jansen Visconti and Todd Tichenor on 4 of 7, Shane Livensparger on 5 of 6, Cory Blaser and Chris Guccione on 4 of 5 and Alex MacKay on 4 of 6.

Dylan Peterson Set To Make NHL Debut With St. Louis Blues

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Dylan Peterson was stoked to get his best opportunity to try and make the St. Louis Blues roster out of training camp last month.

So when the Blues sent the 24-year-old back to Springfield of the American Hockey League to begin his third season there and not in the NHL, there was certainly some disappointment but nothing he couldn’t overcome.

A strong start earned Peterson, a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, a recall on Sunday, and the forward is poised to make his NHL debut on Tuesday when the Blues (2-2-1) begin a three-game road trip against the Ottawa Senators (4-1-0).

“So surreal,” Peterson said Monday after practice. “It hadn’t set in until I got here and put the jersey on and went out there for practice. I’ve wanted to wear the ‘Note’ for six years since I got picked. It’s a long time to wait, to work, to get here. I’m full of emotion and I’m so excited.”

Peterson skated Monday on a fourth line on right wing alongside Pius Suter in the middle and Ross Johnston on the left wing and judging by all accounts, he will be in the lineup against the Senators.

“He’s been playing well down there,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said of Peterson. “He is your prototypical fourth line player. We’re going on the road here for three game and we think he’s going to add an edge to our game and more of a fourth-line presence for us.

“He’s got great speed, he takes puck to the net on the outside, he’s got a good release. That’s his skill. It’s not going to be in play-making type areas.”

Peterson has 25 goals, 22 assists in 115 regular-season games with the Thunderbirds, a mix of speed and physicality in his tool shed. But no offense to some of the players that have been put on the fourth line, but Peterson brings more of what’s needed there, which includes more of a chip-and-chase game, something Montgomery wants to see.

“That’s just understanding your role,” Montgomery said. “It’s not an easy game to always chip-and-chase, but it’s always needed.

“If you look at the good fourth lines in the history of this game that give a team an identity, we had one two years ago where (Alexey) Toropchenko, (Radek) Faksa and (Nathan) Walker knew exactly what they were and they played north and it just brought momentum to us every shift.”

Peterson, who played four years at the prestigious Boston University from 2020-24, has put in a lot of work and waited an awfully long time to get his moment, which it looks like is here.

“Worth it. It’s been worth it, every second,” Peterson said. “Playing in the American (Hockey) League the last two years, it’s not an easy league to play in, but I’ve learned a lot, grown a lot. I put a lot of work in. To see it come together like this has been very rewarding.

“As a player and person, I’ve developed a lot. On the ice I’ve learned how to manage the game, stand up for my teammates, stick up for myself. So with all those things, they said go back down there, put your head down and go to work and that’s what I did and it didn’t take too long (to get back to the NHL). I’m very grateful and I’m very blessed.”

A Roseville, Calif. native, Peterson will be represented by a number of family and friends, including his parents Vlaine and Angela along with sisters Justine, Cassandra and Tessa.

“We just played Laval (Saturday night) and a couple minutes after the game, ‘Otter’ came and grabbed me, pulled me in his office and told me. It was a really special moment,” said Peterson, who also fought in the game Saturday. “… I’ve got a lot of family. I played in Ottawa quite a bit growing up. It’s a lot of family and friends and it’s just going to be really special to share that with them.”

And should Peterson need some teammate guidance, there are plenty to keep him guarded.

“He looked good at camp. He earned the call-up,” Johnston said of Peterson. “He did everything he could. He fought, he finished checks. He’s deserving everything he gets here and hopefully he gets a crack at it tomorrow. He plays straightforward, physical and if we’re together, it should be a fun night.

“At the end of the day, it’s your first NHL game. No matter what I say, you’re still going to be nervous, and you’re still going to live off all the adrenaline. You’ve kind of just got to let him figure it out, let him ride the wave and enjoy the experience. There’s no sense in filling him with a whole bunch of information and so on. It only happens once and it only happens once for him and his family. I’m here if he needs anything; I already told him that, but enjoy the whole process. It goes by fast.”

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