Don’t look now, but the Florida Panthers are building up some steam.
Playing in their third road game in four nights, the Panthers took down the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Sunday night at United Center, wrapping up a perfect 3-0-0 road trip.
For the second time on this road trip, goals were quite hard to come by for both the Panthers and their opponent.
The first tally of the night came late in the second period, and once again, it was the Cats who went ahead first.
Directly off an offensive zone faceoff win by Cole Schwindt, Toby Bjornfot came down from the blue line and picked up the puck, carrying it behind the net and attempting a wraparound shot on Spencer Knight that squeaked through the goaltender’s legs.
Unfortunately for the Cats, they couldn’t hold the lead and take it into the third period.
A failed zone clear by Florida led to Tyler Bertuzzi banging home an Ilya Mikheyev rebound with just 29.3 on the clock.
It took Florida less than five minutes of third period time to re-take the lead.
Mackie Samoskevich picked up the puck in the right circle and leaned into a wrist shot that was stopped by Knight, just not enough to keep it from crossing the goal line.
They weren’t done there.
Just 2:04 later, Evan Rodrigues drew a gaggle of Blackhawks toward him in the left circle before feeding Carter Verhaeghe in the slot, and Swaggy’s wrister beat Knight over the glove to double the Cats lead with 12:36 to go.
An empty-net tally by Sam Reinhart, his 26th goal and 50th point of the season, cemented the victory for Florida, but Bjornfot added a second of the game off a great feed from Verhaeghe with 22.2 to go just for good measure.
Goaltender Daniil Tarasov was solid when called upon Sunday, finishing with 20 saves to earn his second win on the road trip. He was also in net for Thursday’s victory in Winnipeg.
Photo caption: Jan 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Tobias Bjornfot (22) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period at United Center. (Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images)
Despite a comeback attempt that spanned much of the fourth quarter, San Antonio was ultimately waylaid by one of its worst shooting efforts of the new year. The Pelicans also showcased superior mettle and execution to go ahead by as much as 20 before holding on for the road win. Despite getting 17 early free throws, San Antonio converted only 10 of them, and finished 19-for-32, including four straight bricks in the closing moments. New Orleans created countless second chances, getting to more 50/50 balls and securing offensive rebounds, and overpowered the Spurs with their physicality and defensive pressure in the process.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (16 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks) struggled with the brute force of his Pelicans’ counterparts, while receiving spirited efforts off the bench from Devin Vassell (13 points) and Keldon Johnson 15 points).
The Pelicans were led by identical statlines from Zion Williamson (24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists) and Saddiq Bey (24 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists)). Trey Murphy III (12 points and 7 assists) and Yves Missi (10 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks) when it mattered to help New Orleans get and keep a strangehold on the game.
The teams struggled through a roughshod first quarter, where New Orlean’s Bey put up almost half of his team’s points, and outside of Fox’s couple of buckets, the heavily-favored Spurs could not create any real separation. Guards Dylan Harper and Vassell hit back-to-back transition baskets to make it a 3-point game. Highly-coveted trade target Murphy III and rookie Fears supplied the bulk of the offense for New Orleans. Despite getting outplayed for much of the first, San Antonio still led 28-25.
San Antonio continued to see a lot of shots meekly fall off the trip to start the second. The Pelicans capitalized on the offensive ineptitude with two Jose Alvarado triples and a monstrous Williamson dunk. The Spurs struggled to find any flow offensively despite re-taking the lead for a few moments, and behind Williamson’s power and Fears’ daring, New Orleans took command of the sloppy game. Williamson’s and-1 put the Pelicans ahead by nine at the break.
Emboldened by that first half, Williamson continued to wreak havoc on Wembanyama as the primary defender and the Spurs with two lay-ups. The Pelican’s 16-6 run put them up 19 rather quickly and San Antonio went to their bench for most of the remaining minutes in the frame. The Spurs could not knock down shots to make it a single-digit game.
Observations
The Pelicans broadcast made it seem like there were eight Spurs out there against them.
The 31-14 record makes me think of the 2002-2003 ‘ahead of their time’ campaign.
I haven’t looked at the shot chart, but there’s particular spots where Fox’s three-ball looks more solid (left wing being one)
It’s either going to be “Devin Vassell!!!!“ or “DEVIN VASSELL!?!!!@#$!@#%” tonight
Too many “settling-for-this-three 3’s” for Wembanyama.
When did this version of Bey materialize?
Late in the third quarter, Harper couldn’t convert a contested layup, but then trailed the play for nearly 15 seconds. Not okay.
Slow and Steady Sequence of the Game #1: Late in the first period and after what seemed like the fourth botched Pelicans fast break, it went Fox, Vassell, Fox, then Kornet for a reverse deep in the paint.
Crunch Time Sequence of the Game #2: Missi was turned away at the rim by Wembanyama and then double-dribbled to turn the ball back to the Spurs.
Game Rundown
As part of a solid 8-2 San Antonio start, Castle picked Queen clean and got himself a transition dunk. Bey had New Orleans’ first six. Fox’s second three put the Spurs up 11-6. Wembanyama smartly drew a second foul on Queen on an dunk-and-1. Bey’s three brought him to a quick nine points. San Antonio’s reserve guards cobbled together a 6-0 run. The teams traded baskets with New Orleans’ (Fears) and San Antonio’s (Harper) rookies impressing with their driving and finishing skills. The Spurs left the first up 28-25.
During an opening 12-5 run to start the second, the only thing stopping New Orleans was two offensive fouls – including Queen’s third. Barnes hit a corner three along with Champagnie’s freebies (not an easy thing given the putrid 5-for-11 from the line prior ro this point) put San Antonio back up. The Pelicans’ clumsy defense (and 4 fouls on Karlo Matkovic) put the hosts in the foul bonus halfway through, but the Spurs could not find their touch from 15 feet away. Williamson attacked Wembanyama on the dribble-drive to create a handful of opportunities, and Murphy’s three put the Pelicans up eight. New Orleans caught fire in their halfcourt offense to get it to 56-47.
After the Pelicans’ 16-6 opening salvo, Coach Mitch Johnson did a hockey substitution, and Carter Bryant hit two threes shortly after. Vassell hit an open three and forced a Pelicans turnover. Despite there being several opportunities to shave the deficit further, San Antonio still trailed 14 going to the fourth with a buzzer-beating Vassell attempt trickling off the rim after going halfway down.
For the Pelicans fan’s perspective, please visit The Bird Writes.
I think I wrote this last game I did, but San Antonio heads east on I-10 for a chance at regular season redemption against Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets Wednesday night at 8:30 PM CDT on ESPN.
Sixth seed knocks out defending champion 6-3, 6-4 Three US women through to quarterfinals
Pegula (6) 1-0 Keys (9)* Pegula, in Adidas orange, holds to love. Keys, in Nike lemon and lime, mentioned in their podcast she was wary of her friend’s drop shots, which proved prescient when a delicate angle from Pegula secured the game.
Pegula has breezed through the draw so far, dropping just ten games. Keys has yet to lose a set but has been made to work harder. Fortunately her serve remains massive, and her 194kmh effort is the second fastest so far in the women’s draw.
The latest milestone came Sunday when Curry entered the NBA’s history books as a top 20 all-time scorer.
Curry had 26 points, seven assists and four steals in 28 minutes of play during the 111-85 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. During the game, Curry passed John Havlicek (26,395 points) for 20th on the all-time list and is tied with Paul Pierce for 19th with 26,397 career points.
He will chase San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan (26,496) for 18th place.
The Warriors will play the Timberwolves on Monday, Jan. 25. Curry is questionable for the game after playing through some knee soreness on Sunday.
NBA career scoring leaders
Here are the top 20 players with the most points in NBA history (does not include points scored in ABA):
A 3–2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins today was not the biggest concern for the Vancouver Canucks. At the end of today’s game, Brock Boeser found himself on the receiving end of a bad head-shot by Penguins forward Bryan Rust, getting up slowly after. This occurred within the final bit of the third period, during Vancouver’s push for a game-tying goal deep in Pittsburgh’s zone.
“I think it’s a pretty dirty play, to be honest with you,” Canucks forward Jake DeBrusk said post-game of what had happened to Boeser.
“Seemed pretty dirty to me watching it on the replay,” Teddy Blueger, who spent five seasons as a member of the Penguins alongside Rust, said. “I don’t think Rusty is a dirty player, but I think it was pretty clear head contact.”
Canucks Head Coach Adam Foote met with the media post-game, explaining that he has yet to receive an update on Boeser's condition.
"I don't have an update yet, but I just looked at the hit. It wasn't pretty. It was a headshot [...] I'm sure the league will look at it, because it was. Even though he may have been desperate to get Boes down because it was a scrum at the net, I still think it was something that you had to be in control of your body. I thought it was a little bit of a vicious hit to the head."
The Canucks resume their eight-game home stand with a match against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night at 7:00 pm PT. They remain at home for two more games after this, against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday and the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, before heading on the road for two games before the Olympic break.
Jan 21, 2026; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) skates against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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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Goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox have continued skating on their own, but head coach Mike Sullivan didn’t think that their return to practicing with the rest of the Rangers at full capacity would be “imminent.”
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Sullivan told The Post after the Blueshirts practiced in Tarrytown on Sunday that their pair of stars had skated “probably upwards of” four or five times.
Shesterkin has been on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and hasn’t played since Jan. 5, while Fox landed on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury and hasn’t played since that same overtime loss to the Mammoth.
Shesterkin is eligible to return, but Fox can’t get activated until the Jan. 31 game against the Penguins.
“They’ve been on the ice a handful of times at this point,” Sullivan said as the Rangers prepared to face the Bruins on Monday at the Garden. “They skated [Sunday] morning, so they’re making progress.”
A full return to practice would mark the final step needed for the Rangers to get their $92 million goaltender and their former Norris Trophy winner back into the lineup.
New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is helped off the ice by a trainer and New York Rangers defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov after falling back on his leg in the first period at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York, Monday, January 05, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Without Shesterkin, backup Jonathan Quick has gone 0-5-0 with a .795 save percentage and 23 goals allowed across five starts, while Spencer Martin, who was recalled from AHL Hartford, has gone 1-2-0 with an .881 save percentage in three starts — while also taking over twice when Quick was pulled.
And Fox’s absence — his second extended one of the season — forced the Blueshirts to bump Braden Schneider to the top defensive pairing alongside Vladislav Gavrikov and to shift Gavrikov into Fox’s spot on the top power-play unit.
The Blueshirts struggled mightily with the man advantage when Fox missed 14 games due to a shoulder injury earlier in the year, but they’ve gone 5-for-19 in the eight games since he sustained the latest injury.
Rangers defenseman Adam Fox reacts while on the ice in the second period at Madison Square Garden in New York, November 04, 2025. JASON SZENES/ NY POST
Sam Carrick’s job isn’t to score. But in the immediate aftermath of the loss to the Sabres on Jan. 8, Carrick rued his missed chances on offense and was critical of himself for not doing enough to contribute production.
During the Rangers loss to the Sharks on Friday, the fourth-line center collected his third goal of the season and his second across their last six games, an early sign of his starting to turn those opportunities into occasional goals.
“He does a lot of the thankless jobs that help teams win,” Sullivan said. “They don’t necessarily show up on the scoresheet all the time, but he does a lot of the little things, the subtleties of the game that add up to winning. He’s physical. He sticks up for our guys. He takes faceoffs. He’s part of our penalty kill. He’s a momentum guy. He’s a great teammate.”
“And so a player like [him] is able to chip in a few goals, it certainly is a boost of confidence for him, but everybody’s thrilled for him because of all the thankless jobs he does on a daily basis.”
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Rookie Ben Kindel scored twice in the second period to lead the Penguins to a 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday and a sweep of Pittsburgh's four-game western Canada trip.
Kindel, from nearby Coquitlam, British Columbia, had a large contingent of supporters on hand for his second multi-goal game. The 18-year-old had gone 20 games without a goal after scoring eight in his first 28 and has 10 goals and 12 assists in 48 games.
Evgeni Malkin also scored for the Penguins (26-14-11), and Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots and won for the seventh time in eight games.
Jake DeBrusk and Teddy Blueger scored in the third period for the Canucks (17-30-5), who failed to complete their comeback try and dropped their second straight. Kevin Lankinen stopped 21 shots.
Malkin and Kindel made it 2-0 with goals 3:17 apart in the second period. Malkin opened the scoring by taking a pass from Thomas Novak that went over a Canuck defender’s stick, then beat Lankinen. Kindel made it a two-goal lead by directing in a shot from defenseman Ryan Shea. Kindel gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead at 17:22 by beating Lankinen on a shot from the faceoff circle.
Pittsburgh opened its trip with a 6-3 win over Seattle on Monday, beat Calgary 4-1 on Wednesday, then defeated Edmonton 6-2 on Thursday.
Veteran Kris Letang returned to the Pittsburgh lineup after missing two games with an upper-body injury.
The Canucks have just one win in their last 14 games (1-11-2). Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko missed his eighth game with a lower-body injury.
Up next
Penguins: Host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday.
Canucks: Host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday in the sixth game of an eight-game homestand.
Los Angeles Dodgers World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto holds his trophy as teammates celebrate their win in Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.
In their quest for a third consecutive World Series championship, the Dodgers will encounter obstacles in some of the usual suspects.
The Mets, who picked up Freddy Peralta and Bo Bichette. The Blue Jays, who added Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto. The Yankees, who re-signed Cody Bellinger.
Over the next nine-plus months, however, the Dodgers’ competition won’t be limited to the 29 other teams in the league.
The Dodgers will also be taking on history.
(L-R) Roki Sasaki and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays. Getty ImagesA view of the Commissioner’s Trophy being raised after the LA Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5–4 in game seven to win the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
They will be measured against champions spanning multiple generations, from Babe Ruth’s Yankees to Mickey Mantle’s to Derek Jeter’s.
They will be chasing the legacies of every powerhouse team from the Big Red Machine to the Orioles of Frank Robinson and Jim Palmer, the three-peating Athletics of Reggie Jackson to the Braves of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.
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As baseball’s only repeat champions in the last 25 years, the Dodgers already belong in the company of these dominant champions of the past. But the group led by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman now has a chance to elevate itself in the sport’s mythical realm.
In front of the Dodgers is not only the opportunity to make history but also rewrite it. If they win the World Series this year, they will have a legitimate claim as the greatest team of all time.
Los Angeles recognizes when history is being made, and similar to when Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant dominated the NBA or when Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart powered the most recent USC dynasty, the people here know the Dodgers have the kind of team they will be telling their grandchildren about.
LA Dodgers World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto holds his trophy as teammates celebrate their win. AP(C) Dodgers’ Dave Roberts celebrates with his team after defeating the Blue Jays 5–4 to win the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
The appetite for Dodgers-related information has become insatiable in Los Angeles.
The first time I spoke to Ohtani, he was still playing for the Nippon-Ham Fighters of the Japanese league. I visited the hometown of Roki Sasaki and spoke to a close friend of his late father, who died in the 2011 tsunami that devastated the region. I was able to interview Yoshinobu Yamamoto and interpreter Yoshihiro Sonoda about their relationship, in the process learning the superstitious Sonoda wears lucky underwear on days when Yamamoto pitches.
With two more stars in Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz joining the Dodgers this year, there will be even more stories.
This is what our customers demand and deserve, particularly in what could be a generation-defining season for the Dodgers.
Would a third consecutive championship, or a fourth in six years, make the Dodgers the best team ever?
Manager Dave Roberts thinks so.
Over the last few decades, Roberts said, “The only team that compares is the Yankees.”
As great as the Atlanta Braves were in the 1990s, they won only one World Series. The San Francisco Giants won three titles from 2010–2014, but their offense was always mediocre, which is why they missed the playoffs twice in that five-year stretch.
The LA Dodgers win the World Series and celebrate on the field in the 2024 World Series. Robert Sabo for NY PostPitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers (R) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Blue Jays. Getty Images
The Yankees won the championship three years running, from 1998–2000. Including the 1996 World Series, they won the World Series four times in five years.
But the game has changed since then. A luxury tax was implemented to reduce spending on player salaries, and one of the side effects was supposed to be increased competitive balance. The postseason is also harder to navigate now, as the field has increased from six teams to 12.
What other teams could be compared to the Dodgers?
The Athletics or Reds of the 1970s? They never had to play a Wild Card or Division Series.
The Yankees of the 1950s and ’60s? They advanced directly from the regular season to the World Series, eliminating any possibility of an early-round upset.
Dodgers’ Ohtani celebrates with teammates in the locker room after defeating the Blue Jays. Getty ImagesThe Dodgers celebrate as they defeat the New York Yankees 7-6 to win Game Five and the 2024 World Series. Getty Images
By no fault of their own, no pre-integration team merits consideration, and that includes the 1927 Yankees. The player pool back then was much more limited than it is today.
Relative to their contemporaries, the Dodgers could be more loaded than any of the above-mentioned teams.
In theory, talent would be diluted in a 30-team league, but the Dodgers have seven former All-Stars in their projected lineup, counting Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy. They have four more in their starting rotation — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow.
They have the most complete 40-man roster in baseball, with pitchers such as River Ryan and Gavin Stone who would be in the rotation plans of almost any other team. The Dodgers might not have a generational talent in the minors, but their farm system is marked by unmatched depth.
Dodgers’ president Stan Kasten stands in between the 2025 and 2026 World Series Trophies. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
In Roberts’ view, there are factors beyond baseball ability and on-field performance to consider.
“I would say there’s more Dodger fans than there ever has been,” Roberts said. “Certainly because of social media, because of Shohei, because of our winning, [because of] Yamamoto. And the Yankees sort of did that in the ’90s. They were like the team of the world. So I do think that when you do something like that, that matters, too.
“As far as just on the playing field, that’s what you guys are for,” he added. “That’s what makes sports great, so people can debate.”
That’s why we’re here. To chronicle the efforts of a dynasty to enhance its legacy. To place what is done or said into context. To provide information that can inspire more spirited debates.
But he has a belief about where his 2026 Dodgers team is headed.
In his 10 years as manager of the Dodgers, the pressure on Roberts’ club has always been the same: World Series or bust.
The reasons why, however, have constantly shifted: End a decades-long title drought for the franchise. Validate a pandemic-altered 2020 championship with another. Erase a maddening pattern of October disappointments. Become the first repeat champion in a quarter-century, and cement a dynasty more than a decade in the making.
This year, the historical stakes facing the Dodgers will only heighten.
The LA Dodgers win the World Series and celebrate on the field after the game in Game Five of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium. Robert Sabo for NY PostLA Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts celebrates with his team after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in game seven to win the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
They will be attempting to complete only the third World Series three-peat in MLB’s expansion era (since 1961). They will be trying to burnish their bid as one of the best teams of all time. And they will do it against the backdrop of continued angst around the sport, with their run of dominance pushing baseball (fairly or not) into an existential crisis over competitive balance and financial parity.
“It’s kind of who we are,” Roberts said. “That’s the expectation.”
Which is why, as Roberts discussed the upcoming season with The California Post recently, he didn’t bother tempering such expectations or cautioning about the obstacles that may lie in his team’s path.
The LA Dodgers win the World Series and celebrate on the field after the game in game five of the 2024 World Series. Robert Sabo for NY PostThe LA Dodgers pose for a group photo on the field after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Instead, he pondered historical comparisons between his current group and the late ‘90s New York Yankees, baseball’s most recent three-peat champions: “I think it’s a good debate,” he said, later adding: “I think three [World Series] in a row would certainly make our case stronger.”
He embraced the amplified external pressure that has enveloped his club: “If you’re saying a championship is the only thing that we expect, and we’re gonna win this year, then you gotta realize that bar. And I think that’s a good thing.”
And then, when asked if that meant he wanted to guarantee a third-straight ring, he chuckled and flashed a confident grin.
“That’s the plan,” he said. “That’s the plan.”
A view of the Commissioner’s Trophy being raised after the LA Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in game seven to win the 2025 World Series. Getty ImagesPitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the LA Dodgers (R) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-4, in game seven of the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
On paper, of course, the Dodgers’ 2026 plans once again look impenetrable.
They are returning almost the entirety of their 2025 lineup, and added four-time All-Star and top free-agent outfielder Kyle Tucker on a $240 million contract last week for good measure.
They are bringing back practically every member of last year’s pitching staff, save the now-retired Clayton Kershaw, and fortified their shaky bullpen by signing top free-agent closer Edwin Díaz to a $69 million deal last month.
Oh, and they will have Shohei Ohtani available as a full-time, two-way player for the first time in his Dodgers career too.
To no surprise, the Dodgers are already prohibitive title favorites according to both bookmakers (their World Series odds are three times shorter than the next closest contender) and analytic projections (they are a distant leader in Fangraphs’ team WAR projections, almost seven wins clear of any other club).
Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) celebrates on the podium after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Kevin Sousa-Imagn ImagesShohei Ohtani #17 of the LS Dodgers (C) celebrates with teammates in the locker room after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in game seven to win the 2025 World Series. Getty Images
“The team these guys put together and assembled, to give a great product for the fanbase in the city, to go out there and compete for a championship, kind of speaks for itself,” Tucker said at his introductory press conference last week, citing the Dodgers’ powerhouse status as one of his main appeals in coming to Los Angeles. “I think it’s very special. You don’t really get that very often.”
Then again, it’s not often that teams face the uniquely challenging circumstances the Dodgers will have to navigate this coming season.
Over the last two years, the club has played a combined 33 postseason games, putting a burdensome tax on their aging lineup.
“That’s an extra month to a month and a half that you don’t get to rest and recover, and that you’re pushing beyond what you normally do,” third baseman Max Muncy said during last year’s championship trek. “One postseason game is the equivalent of playing three extra-inning games, all at one time. The stress — both mental, physical, emotional — it’s just on a whole ‘nother level.”
Getty Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Last October, the Dodgers also had to push their pitching staff (and starting rotation, in particular) to a point that often heightens injury risk for the following season.
“It’s something we definitely have to be mindful of,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said at the Winter Meetings.
Team officials aren’t worried about motivation or complacency, not after one player after another took the mic at last November’s World Series parade and forecasted their aim for three-peat glory.
“I’m ready to get another ring next year,” Ohtani said then.
“It’s time to fill the hand all the way up, baby,” echoed Mookie Betts, who will be going for his fifth career World Series championship.
Getty Images Getty Images
But difficulties will present themselves, nonetheless, in ways that will force the Dodgers to be strategic with their roster management (the club is planning to be even more cautious than usual with pitchers’ workloads, and work in more off-days for their veteran hitters) and push through the daily mental grind of a 162-game marathon.
“I think the most taxing part of it, even with the pitchers, is the mind, the emotions,” Roberts said. “If you look at even last year, you could see that the intensity wasn’t there all year. It’s just hard to manufacture that, certainly coming off two world championships.”
Getty Images Getty Images
That, though, is why Roberts doesn’t want to shy away from pressure, expectations or historical significance. He’d rather his team embrace it, use it as fuel, and let it steel an organizational culture that has already brought them to the mountaintop of the sport –– and the precipice of legacy-cemented three-peat triumph.
“I think it puts it on [the players] and myself and the coaches to keep that incentive to be a team that wins three in a row,” Roberts said. “I have enough trust with our players that when I talk about things like that, they talk about things like that, we’re not gonna run from it … I think our guys really can understand and manage that, and that comes with experience.”
The final minute or so of the Saturday afternoon contest between the Philadelphia 76ers and New York Knicks was an absolute cluster that seemingly took 15 minutes real time because of a number of puzzling officiating calls.
After the marathon ending, the Sixers ultimately fell 112-109 hosting the Knicks. Let me get this out of the way: I am not doing this to try to say the officiating caused the loss. The Sixers’ loss was caused by the Sixers. You don’t score go ice cold and score 13 points in an entire period against a tight opponent and expect to come back from that.
Now that that’s established, we can move on to the point of the article. With little time to stop and analyze the sometimes-confusing calls as the game was concluding in real time, now we can look back at individual plays, the calls on the floor and their impact as well as the NBA official’s Last 2 Minute Report final explanations about each.
This is the Sixers’ second time in two games with an interesting L2M report after the officials missed a relatively-obvious goaltending violation right near the end of regulation against the Houston Rockets back on Thursday. The basket, had it been scored, would have given Philadelphia a two-point lead with about three seconds to play. The Sixers ultimately won the contest in extra time, but the L2M report admitted that the no-call for goaltending was incorrect.
Now that the report for Sixers-Knicks is out, let’s go through the more controversial calls from the end of that one.
33.3 seconds to play: Offensive foul called on Jalen Brunson overturned upon challenge review to an away-from-the-play defensive foul on VJ Edgecombe
L2M from Sixers-Knicks is up! Let's look at some plays.
33.3 sec, away-from-play foul on VJ Edgecombe
L2M: "Edgecombe extends his arms outward and initiates illegal contact with Brunson off-ball, which affects his FOM" that contact "occurs first and prior to any from Brunson." pic.twitter.com/0sH7hgpmZ2
On the floor: The call here was originally an offensive foul on Jalen Brunson for the contact with VJ Edgecombe. However, the Knicks challenged and, after review, the call was changed. It was determined by officials that Edgecombe’s contact with Brunson preceded Brunson’s hook on the rookie, changing the outcome to an away-from-the-play foul (since the ball had not been inbounded yet) on Edgecombe.
The impact: This was a monumental swing, as it not only meant taking possession away from the Sixers and giving it back to the Knicks, but gave New York a free throw as well. Brunson hit the free throw, extending their lead to four points — a two possession game.
In the L2M report: The report calls the decision made after the review to be a correct call.
“Replay review of the foul called on Brunson (NYK) pursuant to a coach’s challenge was deemed successful. Edgecombe (PHI) extends his arms outward and initiates illegal contact with Brunson (NYK) off-ball, which affects his FOM. The contact from Edgecombe to Brunson occurs first and prior to any from Brunson.”
In short, they agree that the challenge outcome changing the foul from Brunson to Edgecombe was correct by game officials.
9.9 seconds to play: Defensive foul called on Paul George overturned upon challenge review to a clean defensive play with Sixers having imminent possession
2M from Sixers-Knicks is up! part 2
9.9 sec, defensive foul call against Paul George is overturned via challenge
L2M: "George (PHI) maintains verticality and absorbs the contact that occurs during Anunoby's (NYK) layup attempt." L2M says that decision was a correct non-call. pic.twitter.com/qqEzAH2W19
On the floor: This was originally called a defensive foul on Paul George. Nick Nurse challenged and, after review, the defense by PG was determined to be clean and the Sixers’ had imminent possession (clear possession immediately following the incorrect whistle) by way of Edgecombe catching the rebound.
The impact: Hindsight is always 20/20 of course, but even in real time PG seemed to be pretty damn vertical on this shot contest. If anything, it was certainly more obvious that the Edgecombe/Brunson play. This nearly gave the Knicks free throws to extend their lead back to two possessions.
The call was changed ultimately in the Sixers favor, but at the cost of the team’s second challenge and final timeout as well as the stoppage of play itself halting a Sixers’ possible counter attack when Edgecombe had grabbed the rebound.
In the L2m report: The report called the final decision, the one made after review that George had not committed a foul, was a correct non-call.
“Replay review of the foul called on George (PHI) pursuant to a coach’s challenge was deemed successful. George (PHI) maintains verticality and absorbs the contact that occurs during Anunoby’s (NYK) layup attempt.”
So, the post-challenge decision was deemed correct, meaning the initial call was wrong.
5.8 seconds to play: No defensive foul called with Landry Shamet appearing to be trying to intentionally foul Tyrese Maxey
L2M from Sixers-Knicks is up! part 3
5.8 sec, no foul called on Landry Shamet
L2M says this was a INCORRECT NON-CALL. "Shamet extends his arms forward and initiates illegal contact with Maxey's body in attempt to commit a take foul." Should have been FTs for Tyrese Maxey. pic.twitter.com/iA4PI74Fo6
(Another thing to get out of the way very quickly: intentional foul or not, I think Maxey’s decision to heave this up and hope for the call was an extremely poor one. Even if you feel that contact, it’s a huge risk to rely on the whistle in that game-defining situation, plus there was enough time to just try to get a better look for the shot.)
On the floor: No foul was called on the floor and game played on, with Maxey’s airball heave landing out of bounds and giving the Knicks possession with time quickly running out.
The impact: This call, or lack thereof, made the difference between Maxey shooting two (if the defensive foul was called on the floor) or three free throws (if the foul was called as during Maxey’s shooting motion) and the Sixers getting zero free throws while losing possession with only a few seconds left to play.
In the L2M report: This was crucially determined to be an incorrect non-call by the game officials in the report. “Shamet (NYK) extends his arms forward and initiates illegal contact with Maxey’s (PHI) body in attempt to commit a take foul.” At the time, the Sixers were already in the bonus. Even if they called it a take foul on the floor, Maxey should have been shooting from the line.
3.0 seconds to play/end of game: No defensive foul called with Jalen Brunson appearing to be trying to intentionally foul Joel Embiid
L2M from Sixers-Knicks part 4
3.0 sec, no foul called on Jalen Brunson
L2M says this was a correct noncall. "There is no clear and conclusive angle" showing "contact is to Embiid's wrist/arm and not to the ball or the part of Embiid's hand that is in contact with the ball" pic.twitter.com/ceOjlLHKnR
On the floor: No foul was called on the floor as Joel Embiid grabbed the rebound from Brunson’s missed free throw and turned up court. Brunson appeared to possible commit an intentional foul-type grab of tapping the arm and back of Embiid before Embiid threw the ball forward, but the officials did not observe or call a foul on the play. This one, in my opinion, would have been a much closer call than the missed one on Shamet.
The impact: To state the obvious: it ended the game. The Sixers had somewhat of an opportunity, with Joel Embiid coming up with the rebound on Brunson’s missed free throw, leaving the Sixers five seconds down three points. Is it a great opportunity? Maybe not. But an opportunity nonetheless.
With no call on the play, the bounce pass attempt from Embiid to Maxey was intercepted by OJ Anunoby and game clock hit zero.
In the L2M report: The report says this was a correct non-call from the officials. “There is no clear and conclusive angle that confirms Brunson’s (NYK) contact is to Embiid’s (PHI) wrist/arm and not to the ball or the part of Embiid’s hand that is in contact with the ball.”
What did you think about the officiating from the last few minutes of the Sixers and Knicks contest? Which calls do you think they got right? Wrong? Are you satisfied by their explanations? Let us know!
The Penguins strike first only to see it get called back on a Vancouver challenge. Egor Chinakhov sneaks a puck in from right in front but he was offside and a step ahead of the play at the blueline so it made for an easy reversal.
Jack St. Ivany leaves the bench in the middle of the period, dropping Pittsburgh down to five defenders.
It becomes the Canucks turn to have a disallowed goal. Conor Garland blasts a slapshot from outside that gets by Stuart Skinner, though the ref immediately washes it out because Teddy Blueger backed all the way into the blue paint of the crease and contacted Skinner with his backside.
Matching no goals makes it a 0-0 score after one. Vancouver is up 9-8 on shots, Skinner made a few nice saves along the way.
Second period
Vancouver gets the first power play of the game when Anthony Mantha smacks a guy in the face. The Pens PK takes care of business, no small thanks to a bunch of saves from Skinner.
The Pittsburgh second line comes through for a goal again, this time it counts. Chinakhov picks the puck off this time, Novak again with the setup to a streaking Evgeni Malkin to lift it home. 1-0 Pens.
Next up, the Ben Kindel show. The 18-year old gets his first goal in 19 games by redirecting a puck from in tight, to the delight of 180 family and friends in attendance.
Kindel turns that goal-drought into a goal-streak with another goal to extend the lead to 3-0. Should get a bonus point for absolutely shattering the camera within the net.
Big time period for the visitors to blow the game open with three goals.
Third period
It takes almost six minutes for Vancouver to get their first shots of the third period, they make them count. Jake DeBrusk follows up a shot and is able to put the puck into the net. 3-1
Say what you will about the Canucks, they didn’t go away quietly. Filip Hronek takes a big slapshot that has enough energy on it to bounce around a few times and go off Teddy Blueger and into the net. 3-2 game with just 6:00 to go.
Goalie Kevin Lankinen is pulled with about 2 minutes left, it’s crunch time for the 6v5 magic that Vancouver looks for. They get a great look that Skinner stymies with a diving save that brings back memories of Marc-Andre Fleury in Detroit.
The Canucks keep throwing everything they can at the net between bodies, sticks, pucks, yet they can’t crack Skinner again before the final buzzer goes off to save the Pens.
Some thoughts
Novak’s play in the neutral zone has been great lately. Whether it’s skating the puck and gaining the zone or blocking breakout attempts he’s been everywhere. It’s been paying off in big ways like the setup for the Malkin goal, it’s also all over the place to be on the puck constantly.
Two goals for Kindel! He’s still been playing well all over the ice without the puck despite the lack of goals lately, popping in two for the homecoming of the Vancouver native in his first game there was a special moment for him to create.
Between the team’s rookie party and seeing his family in a luxury box, how expensive was the weekend for Kindel? The old joke about playing for free might have some level of truth to it, he’d probably take it for the two goals, including the GWG.
The Bob Grove stat of the day: today was game 1,000 (including playoffs) of the Big 3 all in the lineup together.
St. Ivany only took three shifts (playing 2:54) before leaving with what was announced as an upper body injury. That meant the Pens basically went the distance with only five defenders for the balance of the game tonight.
They still found a way to ease Letang back into the lineup, though you wouldn’t tell it from his overall ice time (16:50 through two periods, overall for the game). Letang wasn’t used on the PK. He hasn’t been a huge PK guy this season (averaging 1:27 per game), but that still ranked fourth among Pittsburgh defenders for a somewhat regular shift or turn in the rotation.
Another quality start in the books for Skinner, as has become his norm as of late. There were times he didn’t have a lot of action, though at the start of the game and the Canuck power play early in the second he had to be good, as was. Moneypuck had Vancouver with over 2 expected goals at the halfway point of the game. Thanks to Skinner it was 0 actual at that point. Could it have been another OT/SO loss and three-goal third period lead blown for the Pens? It was trending that way until Skinner’s late game heroics.
Maybe when the Penguins come back East they will find some power plays back at home. Pittsburgh only had six total power plays over the four-game western swing, including zip, zero tonight.
Can’t complain with the results though, four games on the trip end up as four wins. Big time results there.
The Penguins gotta be looking around seeing if the NHL has any more teams for them to play out in the northwest. Sadly, they do not, the team will return home and look to bottle up the momentum for their next game on Thursday against Buffalo.
DENVER (AP) — Jenn Gardiner, Izzy Daniel and Michelle Karvinen each scored a goal on Sunday to help the Vancouver Goldeneyes beat the Seattle Torrent 3-1 at Ball Arena as part of the PWHL’s Takeover Tour.
Emerance Maschmeyer had 33 saves for the Goldeneyes.
Jessie Eldridge scored a goal for Seattle (4-1-2-6), which beat Toronto 6-4 on Tuesday, has lost three of four. Hannah Murphy had 28 saves.
After Murphy stopped a one-timer by Gardiner, Hannah Miller passed it to Daniel for a tap-in goal that gave the Goldeneyes the lead for good with 13:37 left in the game.
Karvinen capped the scoring with 6:18 to play.
Vancouver (5-1-2-7) beat the Torrent 4-3 in overtime in the season opener for both teams.
Gardiner's goal with five seconds left in the first period gave Vancouver a 1-0 lead. From the left side, Gardiner slipped a low wrister inside the back post.
Eldridge beat the defense to a puck pushed ahead by Julia Gosling and beat Maschmeyer stick side with 6:20 left in the second period to make it 1-1.
Up next
Seattle: The Torrent visits Ottawa on Wednesday.
Vancouver: The Goldeneyes play Wednesday at Minnesota.
The Golden State Warriors got a big win in Minneapolis with a 111-85 victory over the Timberwolves in Sundays’ makeup game from Saturday, and somehow, that 26-point margin feels like it coulda been even wider. The Warriors took care of business in a game they had to have to get their mojo back after the Jimmy Butler ACL injury and Jonathan Kuminga tweaking his own knee. The Dubs blew this game open with a big 38-17 third quarter and never looked back.
Steph Curry did Steph Curry things, dropping 26 points on 7-of-18 shooting while handing out seven dimes while collecting four steals. Meanwhile, Anthony Edwards activated video game mode for Minnesota with 32 points on 13-of-20 shooting, and it still wasn’t enough. When your best player cooks like that and you lose by 26, that’s a tough pill to swallow. It’s enough to make you wanna fight!
Golden State’s defense actually showed up. Holding Minnesota to 38% shooting and forcing 26 turnovers is the kind of effort that used to be standard around here. The Warriors turned those giveaways into 25 points while keeping the Wolves out of rhythm all night. When you’re getting 20 steals and limiting a team with Edwards and Julius Randle to 85 points, you’re doing something right. Golden State’s defense actually showed up. Holding Minnesota to 38 percent shooting and forcing 26 turnovers is the kind of effort that used to be standard around here. The Warriors turned those giveaways into 25 points while keeping the Wolves out of rhythm. When you’re getting 20 steals and limiting a team with Edwards and Julius Randle to 85 points, you’re doing something right.
Moses Moody quietly put together another solid performance with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting, including five triples. Moody nailed 5-of-9 from deep and added 8 rebounds, another example of when he’s on he’s a guy who gives the Dubs a big lift. Brandin Podziemski snagged four steals of his own, added six dimes, grabbed five rebounds, and tallied 12 points in a spirited effort.
The win pushes Golden State’s record to 26-21, but with Butler done for the season and Kuminga’s future still murky, every victory feels like borrowed time. They defended well, shot well enough, and got contributions up and down the roster. That’s the blueprint. Whether they can replicate it tomorrow night in their second straight game in Minnesota? That’s the question that remains to be answered, in the meantime the Dubs can get some relief from a well earned victory.
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jack St. Ivany exited the team's Jan. 25 contest against the Vancouver Canucks after suffering an upper-body injury.
St. Ivany was limited to only three shifts during the Penguins' matchup against the Canucks, where he recorded one block in 2:54 of ice time.
Before suffering this injury, St. Ivany was in the middle of a nice hot streak for the Penguins. The right-shot defenseman had back-to-back two-assist games for the Penguins on Jan. 21 against the Calgary Flames and then on Jan. 22 against the Edmonton Oilers. With this, the timing of this injury is certainly tough for St. Ivany.
In 17 games so far this season with the Penguins, St. Ivany has recorded zero goals, seven assists, and a plus-7 rating.
Defenseman Jack St. Ivany (upper body) will not return to tonight's game.
For both Miles McBride and Landry Shamet, 3-point shooting is what most associate them with.
They are shooting 43.7 percent and 43.5 percent from deep, after all. Their ability on the other end of the floor often gets lost in the discourse.
But their defending is crucial, and something the Knicks can hardly replicate.
“Shots fall, sometimes don’t. It’s not as much of a controllable as your effort,” Shamet told The Post after the Knicks’ 112-109 win over the 76ers on Saturday in Philadelphia. “On the defensive end, you gotta find ways to — coaches and good coaches say it all the time — you gotta find ways to win games when the ball’s not going in. I think you just take pride in our principles and just try to guard. It’s a pride thing, a personal thing.”
Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks defends VJ Edgecombe #77 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the Saturday game. NBAE via Getty Images
Coach Mike Brown has long praised and identified McBride and Shamet as the Knicks’ two best point-of-attack defenders — particularly when they were injured and the Knicks defense was shredded without them. It is the biggest weakness on their roster — Mikal Bridges has struggled in the role, allowing ball-handlers to break down their defense, get into the lane and hurt them.
Notably, it was McBride and Shamet — not Bridges — who were on the floor at the end of the game. Yes, Bridges was struggling badly with his shot, going 3-for-16 from the field. But it also became clear that McBride and Shamet were better equipped at guarding Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.
Maxey and Edgecombe torched the Knicks in the first two matchups between the two teams this season — both 76ers wins at Madison Square Garden. McBride missed the first matchup, and Shamet missed both of the first two.
It’s not a coincidence Saturday’s results were much better, with both healthy and in the lineup.
“They’re huge,” Brown said. “Again, you don’t stop those types of guys [Maxey and Edgecombe], but to have a guy like Deuce coming off the bench, have a guy like Landry — both those guys are physical at the point of attack, whether those guys are trying to get over pick-and-rolls or trying to get over [dribble handoffs] or even pindowns. And to have that type of relentless pursuit with athleticism and strength and toughness and the mindset is phenomenal. And obviously, we need those guys.”
Bridges has been miscast in that role since the Knicks traded five first-rounders to acquire him last year. He has good straight-line speed, but is not as quick laterally. McBride and Shamet are both stronger as well, helping them keep ball-handlers in front of them.
It would not be surprising if McBride and Shamet continue to see more late-game minutes at Bridges’ expense.
Philadelphia 76ers’ Tyrese Maxey, left, drives to the basket with New York Knicks’ Landry Shamet, center, defending during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026. AP
“They were huge,” Josh Hart said. “I think Sham got two offensive fouls drawn from blowing up handoffs or stuff like that. So he was huge. Dude was great all game. Obviously that’s a tough match over there with Tyrese. So give those guys a lot of credit. He did really well and we need that.”
With better pressure at the point of attack, it better masks Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive deficiencies. Without constant penetration into the lane, OG Anunoby can operate where he’s best — acting like a free safety in football where he can be disruptive in passing lanes and create turnovers.
It can be contagious as well.
“I think it’s just coming in — if you’re coming off the bench you’ve got fresh legs,” Shamet said. “You’ve been observing and watching what’s been going on in the game. ‘How can I integrate myself as quickly as possible to what’s going on without any drop-off’ or ‘how can I elevate what’s going on?’ Sometimes it’s just as simple as ball pressure and picking up full court one or two times. Like I said, if you can start the domino the trickle down effect is real.”
Brown had begun to sound a bit like a broken record when he constantly mentioned missing McBride and Shamet in that role. But clearly there was a reason for it.
