When Nashville Predators forward Steven Stamkos scored his first goal of the season in the first period of tonight's game, he did more than just tying the game against the Dallas Stars. He entered the 2026-27 season sitting in 19th place on the NHL's all-time goal scoring leaderboard. Today, he scored his 625th career goal and tied two Hockey Hall of Famers for 17th.
At 4:46 in the first period, the Predators were on the power play when Ryan O'Reilly was able to connect with Stamkos on a cross-slot pass that was quickly shot past Casey DeSmith and into the net. This was Stamkos's 70th goal with the Predators and 625th overall, as 555 of them came with the Tampa Bay Lightning. As a result, the Predators forward tied Hockey Hall of Famers Jarome Iginla and Joe Sakic for the 17th-most goals in NHL history.
Sakic scored his final goal against goaltender Mathieu Garon on October 23, 2008 when the Colorado Avalanche faced the Edmonton Oilers. Iginla then tied the legendary centerman with his 625th goal as a member of the Los Angeles Kings against the Vancouver Canucks and Ryan Miller on March 31, 2017.
Stamkos has the third-most career goals amongst active players trailing just the all-time goalscoring leader Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. On the all-time list, he now sits 15 goals behind Dave Andreychuk for 16th place.
The Senators had lingering questions about Jake Sanderson’s health all through preseason. Unfortunately, those questions likely aren't going away anytime soon.
After playing one period of preseason hockey, Sanderson suited up on Saturday night for the Sens regular season opener, but left the game in the first period after just six shifts. Early in the second period, the team announced he would not return.
Earlier in the game, as he battled former Senator Nick Paul, Sanderson appeared to awkwardly extend his leg along the boards. Sportsnet cameras later caught footage of the Senators' top defenceman on the bench, punching the boards in frustration.
Sanderson missed practices during training camp because of an undisclosed injury and didn't make his preseason debut until the Sens' final exhibition game against the Montreal Canadiens on September 26.
That return didn't last long either.
Sanderson played 13:22 against the Montreal Canadiens before leaving in the second period. The Senators described his departure that night as precautionary, and head coach Travis Green said afterward that he didn't expect Sanderson to miss any time.
But Sanderson subsequently missed more practice time, which until Saturday, is all the Sens have had since the NHL season began. The Senators said the issue that caused him to miss practice following the Montreal preseason game was different from the one that had bothered him earlier in camp.
He finally returned to a full team practice on Friday, one day before the opener and understood that it might take a minute to get up to sped.
"Obviously, I've only played one period of preseason," Sanderson said Friday. "I think, for me, I (need to) control what I can control, and that's my effort and my mindset, making sure I'm locked in."
There's no word yet on whether his exit Saturday has anything to do with the either of the issues that bothered him in camp. But it's more than reasonable to suspect that it does.
The timing would be terrible for a Sens blue line that's already without Sanderson's usual partner, Artem Zub, who continues to work his way back from a knee injury.
Simply having Sanderson available for opening night seemed to be good news for the Senators. Now, after his early departure, his health issues have instantly shot back to the top of the club's early season storylines.
Oct 3, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) reacts after hitting a two run home run during the sixth inning of game one of the NLDS against the Atlanta Braves for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I’m just trying to swing at good pitches, trying to put the barrel on the ball, having competitive at-bats, and keep the line moving,” Tucker said on Saturday, after hitting his seventh home run in his last 23 games. “Our pitching staff has done a good job all year long giving us opportunities to win games, so we’re just trying to do our part.”
The home run came in the sixth inning, two innings after Tucker singled and stole second base.
Power and speed have been a part of Tucker’s game throughout his career, averaging 27 home runs and 21 stolen bases in his previous five seasons before signing with the Dodgers in January, including three years with at least 22 home runs and 25 steals.
Even with the strong finish to his season, Tucker finished with 17 home runs in 154 games, his lowest power output since 2020. He was more opportunistic when running, stealing only 12 bases but was never caught trying.
In 73 career postseason games, Tucker is up to 10 home runs and eight steals now, but Saturday was his first time in the playoffs doing both in the same game.
“It’s been well talked about, the struggles he had this year. I give him a lot of credit for grinding through it, not running from it, always posting and kind of getting to the other side of it,” manager Dave Roberts said of Tucker. “Obviously for us it’s about winning a championship. Our fans, they really remember what you do in the postseason. So this is certainly a way to change the story for a season in 2026.”
Hitting a home run and stealing a base has only been done 14 times in Dodgers postseason history, from Wes Parker in Game 4 of the 1965 World Series to Freddie Freeman in the 18-inning marathon Game 3 of the 2025 World Series, and now Tucker.
Davey Lopes and Max Muncy are the only Dodgers with two postseason games with a home run and steal. Lopes did it in Game 4 of the 1977 World Series and Game 6 of the 1978 World Series. Muncy did it in Game 1 of the 2018 NLDS and Game 2 of the 2024 NLCS.
Twelve of the 14 Dodgers homer/steal postseason games have come at Dodger Stadium, and four were against the Braves, including Muncy and Kiké Hernández in the same contest, Game 1 of the 2018 NLDS.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - OCTOBER 01: Chris Sale #51 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in game three of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park on October 01, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This season I have probably watched more Braves baseball than any other season. And one of the recurring themes of this season and some of the previous seasons is the idea of “punting”. It’s saving your best pitchers, or designating which three of four of the bottom end of the bullpen will only pitch that particular game. It rubs many of you the wrong way.
To be honest, to me a punted game in May is disappointing but somewhat expected. To survive a 162-game season over 6 months, you need to reserve your strength. You don’t have to major in it as was done in 2024, and have it bear no fruit fruitlessly in the penultimate game. But it’s a cost of doing business. To survive, you may have to utilize you 12th or 13th best pitcher on your roster more than you would like. Or in some cases, 17th and 18th best. We at Battery Power are aware of this because we write up every roster move.
But Walt, this isn’t May, June, or even September.
Or this? Why is objectively your 12th best pitching option serving meatballs in a NLDS game?
We can’t have this. This game deserved Dylan Dodd for three, Brent Suter for three, and perhaps AJ Smith-Shawver if necessary for three hitters or less. Then you see where you are in the seventh. If you are down, maybe downshift. If it’s remotely close then upshift.
The only excuse for today would be if Chris Sale cannot pitch Game 2. If he can’t, today could make sense. If he can, it’s absolutely infuriating and completely unnecessary. You saved your premium options only for Chris Sale to possibly go into the eighth inning tomorrow.
I am going to tell you that I really like AJ Smith-Shawver. He should not lose heart. He should absolutely be ready to mow down three hitters right now and break into the starting rotation in 2027. I love Victor Mederos. I think he’s been a revelation and I love his enthusiam. But we scrimp and save for seven months just for the opportunity to get into the Postseason. The Braves should spend their options lavishly and perform with their best players when we get there. If Sale is available tomorrow, I don’t want to hear it.
Weiss told reporters that “today was going to be tough for us to chase from behind because of how we emptied the tank on Thursday night.” I don’t know, Walt. if it was so tough, why pursue it with Brent Suter for two innings in the eighth? Walt did reveal later, “Look, you’ve got Sale and Mahle still. Tomorrow a much more rested bullpen. Yeah, I don’t have any worries about … having enough pitching. We’ve got plenty of pitching.” And also, “We weren’t going to pitch Fuentes from behind. It would have been 4 out of 5. Then he’s at risk tomorrow in a game that we’re up. Suarez was down because of the elbow, missing three months. We weren’t going to use him at all.” It rather sounds as if he approached this game as if Sale would not pitch, and the punt was on.
It’s been hard enough for Atlanta in the Postseason as it is. It’s harder when you don’t have your best options available, or decline to use them.
Eventually, the Knicks will need one of them to break through.
Mohamed Diawara is the most likely.
It’s been a while — really, since Miles McBride — since a Knicks draft pick has developed into a consistent mainstay in the rotation.
A big part of that is due to the Knicks not having high picks and often trading out of the first round entirely. But in the apron era, finding value in young, cheap players is critical.
Pacôme Dadiet has done nothing to establish himself the past two years.
Mohamed Diawara goes up for a shot during a Knicks’ loss to the Hawks on Jan. 1, 2026 at the Garden. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Tyler Kolek has shown flashes and become a fan favorite, but he continues to be buried in the pecking order and the Knicks clearly were not comfortable trusting him to be the primary backup point guard last year, trading for Jose Alvarado.
Kevin McCullar Jr. is hanging on with a two-way deal. Ariel Hukporti was used only in emergencies last year and departed for Philadelphia during the offseason.
Diawara, more than any of the others, had spells during his first NBA regular season in which he had a sustained spot in head coach Mike Brown’s rotation.
During the postseason, though, he was on the outside looking in as the rotation condensed.
“We have a great team with big players, so if I was in the rotation and I’m not in the rotation anymore, I think it’s just part of the game for the whole team,” Diawara said after practice Saturday. “I just gotta [play] my role, especially as a rookie, that was my first year. I wasn’t really thinking about that, I was just ready to take any opportunity. I wasn’t thinking about not playing and stuff.”
At 6-foot-9 with long arms, he already is a strong defender with the type of frame that offers exciting potential.
Mohamed Diawara shoots a jumper during Knicks practice on Sept. 30, 2026 in Tarrytown, N.Y. Corey Sipkin for New York Post
“I think he has endless upside,” OG Anunoby said. “He’s very talented, can do a lot: shoot, defend, pass. He can do everything; a really versatile player. I’m excited to see him grow. I think he’s going to keep getting better and better, so I’m really excited for him.”
Diawara identified two areas in which he most needs to improve: physicality and 3-point shooting.
“Now that I know a little bit more the physicality that I need in the league, how I need to prepare my body,” Diawara said. “… I think now that I have a year in the league, it’s a little bit easier to see how I can prepare for the new season.”
There is clear belief in Diawara’s development, as the Knicks made it a priority to bring him back with a four-year, $11.2 million contract this past offseason.
He struggled in summer league, however, where he also suffered an injury to his left ring finger that required a minor procedure.
He’s fine now and already showing signs of growth.
A Year 2 breakout could cement Diawara as a Knicks mainstay.
“Last year, you could see he was a little jittery when he was out there,” Brown said Saturday, “because he didn’t quite know what to do, and he knew when he did it, he just had to go hard. So a lot of times, he would just play at one speed. There’s a comfort level now, so his cadence is better, especially offensively. His ability to communicate on the floor is at a little bit of a higher level, because he has a better feel not just offensively, but defensively — not just what he should do, but what he should be telling his teammates to do, especially if he’s on the backside or bottom side of the defense, because he sees everything in front of him.
“He’s one of those players that needs to take a step forward.”
Given how much money the Knicks have invested in their starting lineup — and with extension decisions to make regarding Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and McBride — the bench is composed of budget options or veterans on minimum deals that the Knicks expect to perform above their pay grade, which they certainly did during their championship run last year.
It would be extremely helpful, with the Knicks operating under an edict from owner James Dolan to stay under the second apron, if Diawara becomes part of that group.
Max Muncy extends career Dodgers postseason home run record to 17 with solo shot in the sixth inning. Wally Skalij for the CA PostMuncy originally became the team leader for home runs in the postseason during Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers last year. Wally Skalij for the CA Post
Muncy originally became the team leader for home runs in the postseason during Game 1 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers last year, surpassing Corey Seager, who was previously tied with Muncy for the team record at 13.
In the postseason, Muncy now has a career batting average of .217, with 38 RBIs and 57 hits.
“It’s awesome,” Muncy told Ken Rosenthal during a postgame interview on Fox. “It means a lot to me. The thing about that, that means the most to me is it means I’ve had a lot of opportunities to play in October, and that’s obviously what this is all about, is you want to have a chance to win the World Series.”
“You want to have a chance to win the World Series and we’ve been able to do that every year that I’ve been here”
Max Muncy extends Dodgers player home run record to 17 following a solo shot in the sixth inning. Jim Ruymen/UPI/ShutterstockMax Muncy hit a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Muncy’s solo shot came just after his teammate Kyle Tucker knocked a two-run shot to give them a commanding 4-1 lead. Teoscar Hernandez was the first player on the team to homer with a 2-run blast in the fourth inning.
Like Muncy, Tucker has also built a reputation for thriving in baseball’s postseason, as he is a former World Series champion with the Houston Astros in 2022.
Both Muncy and Tucker have a combined 27 home runs in the postseason.
DENVER, COLORADO - SEPTEMBER 30: Cale Makar #8 and Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche bump fists following their 8-4 victory against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena on September 30, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Maclean/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche put on a clinic in their season opener against Los Angeles on Wednesday night!
Tonight marks the first head-to-head match within the Central Division, with the St. Louis Blues making their first trip to Denver of the season.
Colorado Avalanche (1-0-0)
The Opponent: St. Louis Blues (1-0-0)
Time: 7:00 P.M. MDT/9:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ALT, ALT+ (Avalanche Local Broadcast Area), STLNHL, BN+ (St. Louis Local Broadcast Area), ESPN+, NHL Center Ice (Outside Regional Broadcast Areas – US), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Canadian Broadcast Areas)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avs, having had four months to stew over being eliminated from the playoffs at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in May, took out their frustrations on former netminder Darcy Kuemper on their way to a lopsided 8-4 victory. The power play, which had been the Avs undoing against Vegas, got off to an impressive start. Brock Nelson led all skaters with three (3) power play points. Artturi Lehkonen scored two power play goals, and Nathan MacKinnon added another. In total, seven skaters collected points on the power play.
MacKinnon would also score another goal in this contest and, in the third period, put his goal-scoring hands to work in a brief but decisive fight against Los Angeles defenseman Brandt Clarke.
Newcomer Jaden Schwartz also tallied a pair of assists in his Avalanche debut, and Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 27 of 31 shots in his first win of the season.
Head Coach Jared Bednar also said Zachary L’Heureux could be a possibility for today’s game, but it would depend on how he looks during morning skate. Bednar didn’t seem optimistic that Logan O’Connor would be ready to go for today’s game.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Gabe Landeskog – Brock Nelson – Nazem Kadri Jaden Schwartz – Fedor Svechkov – T.J. Hughes Parker Kelly – Nicolas Roy
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski Josh Manson – Brent Burns Noah Juulsen
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
St. Louis Blues
St. Louis began their season on Friday evening against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. McTavish scored his first goal as a Blue—which ultimately stood as the game-winner—just barely over a minute and a half into the game. Dalibor Dvorský added a goal in the second period, while Jimmy Snuggerud and Pius Suter scored two empty-net goals in the third period to secure a 4-0 victory. Goaltender Joel Hofer stopped all twenty-four shots he faced for his first shutout win of the season.
The game was not without controversy. Early in the third period, Carlo made a dangerous knee-on-knee hit against Stars center Roope Hintz. Hintz did return to the game shortly after the hit, while Carlo earned a five-minute major and was ejected.
With Hofer getting the start in Dallas, expect Jordan Binnington to start in goal for St. Louis tonight. Loved by some and reviled by many, Binnington is entering the last year of his six-year contract with St. Louis. With Hofer being positioned to succeed him as the starter in goal, this season may be the final one in a Blues sweater for the thirty-three-year-old Binnington.
Montgomery also said that right-wing Alexsey Toropchenko, who was injured early in the Dallas game, is “more than day-to-day” but is waiting for more information on his status as of this writing.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Dylan Holloway – Robert Thomas – Jimmy Snuggerud Pavel Buchnevich – Mason McTavish – Connor McMichael Jake Neighbours – Dalibor Dvorský – Jonatan Berggren Dillon Dubé – Pius Suter – Ross Johnston
Defense: Philip Broberg – Adam Jiříček Theo Lindstein – Colton Parayko Cam Fowler – Brandon Carlo
Between the Pipes: Jordan Binnington Joel Hofer
NOTE: Don’t forget to download the new SB Nation app for a more mobile-friendly way to follow tonight’s action and engage with Mile High Hockey’s match threads. Commenting and interacting with your communities is easier than ever before with the Game Chat feature. The app is currently available in the U.S. and Canada on iOS and Android devices.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 03: Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Walt Weiss #22 of the Atlanta Braves greet prior to game one of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves have opened up this five-game series on the short-end of the stick to start things off, as they took a 5-3 loss on the chin against the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin the 2026 NLDS.
It’s a bit of a flattering result, since Tarik Skubal spent most of the game in complete control and the Braves were down by as much as four after AJ Smith-Shawver gave up a pair of dingers that really gave the Dodgers serious control of the game.
As far as the questions go about who did or didn’t pitch for the Braves today, it’s clear that Walt Weiss had bullpen load management in mind with some of the decisions that he made today. “It’s a challenge. Even today was going to be tough for us to chase from behind because of how we emptied the tank on Thursday night,” said Weiss when he was asked about how the bullpen is looking for the rest of the series.“
“We weren’t going to pitch Fuentes from behind. It would have been 4 out of 5. Then he’s at risk tomorrow in a game that we’re up. Suarez was down because of the elbow, missing three months. We weren’t going to use him at all.”
When Weiss was asked about whether or not the Braves have enough pitching to make it through this series, Weiss remained bullish about the pitching staff. “Look, you’ve got [Chris] Sale and [Tyler] Mahle still. Tomorrow a much more rested bullpen,” stated Weiss. Yeah, I don’t have any worries about that, about having enough pitching. We’ve got plenty of pitching.“
Speaking of Chris Sale, his potential availability for the Los Angeles portion of this series has been a big question. Obviously, the Braves would like to steal one on the road and gain home field advantage for the rest of the series and it’ll be a big question as to whether or not Sale can or will be fully effective since he’s already taken on a heavy workload here in the Postseason.
Weiss was asked directly about his pitching plan for Game 2 and whether it involved Chris Sale started and he explained that it’s too soon to figure it out. “We still haven’t decided yet. The game just got over,” said Weiss. “We’ll have some conversations about this. So not sure who’s going to start. That’s where we’re at right now.”
I’d imagine that they’re going to think it over and wait until tomorrow afternoon to announce who the starter is. If it’s Sale, then I’d imagine that it’d be a similar case to what happened the morning of Game 3 where Sale barges into Weiss’s office and tells him that he’s good to go. If it happens, it’ll be very intriguing to see how long he goes and how effective he’ll be. It’ll certainly be one of the future Hall-of-Famer’s biggest tests of his career — and doing so at age-37, no less.
Either way, it’s tough to win games when the offense lies dormant for most of it and that was the case for the Braves. All of the runs today were scored via the long ball, but Atlanta was unable to really do much of anything to Tarik Skubal while he was out there (outside of Sean Murphy’s homer) and then only Ozzie Albies’s ninth-inning dinger kept the score respectable in the end. The offense will have to be more consistent — easier said than done, I know, but it’s the Postseason. The job’s gotta get done.
Either way, Weiss tipped his cap to Skubal and the performance he put on against Atlanta’s lineup today. “[Skubal] looked like he was in top form today. He’s obviously a really good pitcher. Yeah, he was tough,” said Weiss when he was asked about Skubal’s start. “We knew it was going to be a rough ride, but yeah, he did a helluva job.”
It’s not going to get much easier going forward considering the quality of LA’s pitching staff but again, there’s no choice but to execute and the lineup has to get better going forward. Momentum is a bit overrated in my opinion but hopefully what the Braves were able to do in the ninth inning of Game 1 will carry over to Game 2. Otherwise, Atlanta might be in a hole once they return to Cobb County. We’ll see what happens, folks.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin - October 02: American Family Field ahead of the National League Division Series between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
After a well-deserved week of rest, the Milwaukee Brewers are finally set to start their postseason action. A week filled with preparation, simulated games and workouts all leads up to the Crew’s first ever postseason matchup against the San Diego Padres.
The Brewers will have their ace on the mound in Jacob Misiorowski. The leading NL Cy Young contender, Misiorowski led the league in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252). The Padres will have the veteran left-hander Robbie Ray on the bump. Ray pitched to a 3.59 ERA this year, making 30 starts. He was a deadline acquisition from the San Francisco Giants. In Ray’s nine starts with the Padres, he had a 5.02 ERA.
The Padres used their two best starters to get through the Cubs in the Wild Card series. We’ll see just how deep into the game the Padres are looking to have Ray go against this Brewers lineup.
Even though there’s a left-handed starter on the mound, Pat Murphy elected to not put Andrew Vaughn in the starting lineup and went with Christian Yelich as the DH. When asked for the calculus as to why, Murphy said “I don’t think there’s calculus involved in that one.” Referring to Yelich’s body of work over his career as a large factor in the decision.
Murphy went on to say that Jake Bauers is still dealing with the toe and shin injuries and that if Bauers were 100% healthy, that he could have been an option in the outfield and put Vaughn at first. But the “risk of less defense” led him to keep Bauers at first base and put Lara in right.
That wasn’t the only interesting lineup decision from Murphy for Game 1. Cooper Pratt is batting 6th in the starting lineup, marking the first time in his young career that he has started higher than 7th. Pratt has been hitting .315 with a .794 OPS over the last 28 days, so he’s on a hot streak.
“You’re considering the other team, your own team, your individual player, his psyche, the options it gives you later, the mindset of who’s pitching” Murphy said. “We feel like with what we’re facing, Cooper is the best option there and letting Joey [Ortiz] hit down in the order.”
Brandon Woodruff also shared an update pregame that he will start throwing off a mound soon, though he does not have an exact date. The earliest he could possibly return would be if the Brewers made it to the World Series.
The Padres are staggering four lefties throughout their lineup against Jacob Misiorowski: Dustin Harris (2nd), Jackson Merrill (5th), Ethan Salas (7th) and Jake Cronenworth (9th). But mixed in between are some heavy hitters with Fernando Tatis Jr, Manny Machado, Ty France, Xander Bogaerts, and Luis Campusano.
Game 1 is here. The Brewers have their ace on the mound and need him to set the tone. We’ve seen Misiorowski step up in big moments before, and the energy of the playoffs will light up the radar gun.
San Jose beat the Los Angeles Kings 5-4 in overtime on Saturday, with Igor Chernyshov scoring twice — including the game-winner with 1:42 remaining in the extra period — to give the Sharks consecutive overtime victories to open the 2026-27 NHL season.
The winning goal came off a defensive play first. Macklin Celebrini recovered the puck deep in San Jose’s own zone before springing Chernyshov the other way, and Chernyshov beat Anton Forsberg clean.
The goal capped a wild, back-and-forth game at SAP Center. Chernyshov had given San Jose a 4-2 lead earlier in the third period on a breakaway, only for Los Angeles to answer twice — Erik Haula cut the deficit to one, and Artemi Panarin tied it with 5:01 remaining after a poor clearance attempt by Sharks defenseman Nolan Allan sent the puck right back to the Kings.
The night also included a milestone for rookie Ivar Stenberg, who recorded the first point of his NHL career with a second-period assist on a Tyler Toffoli power-play goal, with Celebrini picking up the second apple on the play.
Ivar Stenberg gets his first NHL point with this beauty of an assist to Tyler Toffoli 🍎 pic.twitter.com/GGzcnkmNpb
Toffoli, who has centered Stenberg alongside Alexander Wennberg to begin the season, did not hold back his praise for the rookie afterward.
“He’s a great player — he does everything on the ice,” Toffoli said. “I think there’s a reason he’s playing with Wenny and playing against other teams’ top lines. Obviously, yeah, very happy — selfishly — that he made that pass to me.”
"Obviously, very happy — selfishly — that he made that pass to me."
Allan’s turnover was not the full story of his night — the Sharks defenseman also scored a goal of his own, assisted by Michael Misa and Chernyshov, as eight different Sharks factored into the scoring column. Yaroslav Askarov made 31 saves on 35 shots for the win, and the Sharks improved to 2-0 while the Kings fell to 0-2.
Two games into the season, Toffoli said the team’s chemistry already feels different than it has in his first two years in San Jose.
“We’ve had it for the two previous years that I’ve been here — we just haven’t been as lucky,” Toffoli said. “We’re building off the same vibes and having fun, and now we’re getting wins. Everybody’s starting to produce.”
Three seasons ago, this same franchise tied an NHL record by losing its first 11 games. The year after that, it lost its first nine, then first six last campaign. San Jose has opened recent seasons with losing streaks long enough to make history for all the wrong reasons — which is exactly what makes two overtime wins to start this year feel different.
For a young core that has only ever known where this team has been, a 2-0 start is the first real sign of where it actually might be headed.
Lakers guard Bronny James enters his third season, and first without father LeBron, with the Lakers. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Bronny James laughed at the comment, because he found it funny to have a reporter tell him he’s tied for the third-longest tenure with the Lakers.
He is entering his third season, tied with Dalton Knecht and right behind Austin Reaves (entering his sixth season) and Jarred Vanderbilt (going on four-plus).
James is a veteran now and is looking to find his role with the Lakers.
“Crazy, right? AR keeps calling me a vet,” James said, chuckling. “I’m like, ‘I guess.’”
James is a naturally reserved person. But as a point guard, he admits his job is to speak up more, to help organize the offense, to make sure some of his nine new teammates understand what Lakers coach JJ Redick expects.
For his first two years with the Lakers, James didn’t say much because his dad, LeBron James, was the leader and powerful voice on the team.
As a 21-year-old, Bronny James leads in his own way, just as Redick wants all his players to do.
“Definitely coming in every day trying to get better and better myself as a point guard,” James said. “Just taking those steps, encouraging my guys, getting them in the right spots and stuff like that. Making sure we’re organized.
“For sure, that’s what a point guard is. You’ve got to be talking to your guys, got to be helping people get to where they need to be. I take pride in that, for sure. If anyone goes out — God forbid anyone goes out — I’ve got to be the guy to step up and be the primary ballhandler, and get my guys in the right spots. So, yeah, I’ve definitely got to lock in on that.”
James played in 42 regular-season games last season, averaging 2.9 points and shooting 40.9% from the field.
Though he didn’t put up big numbers in the playoffs, James was solid in his role, especially on defense. He played in eight postseason games, averaging 1.5 points and shooting 50% from the field.
This current Lakers team has depth and talent throughout the lineup.
James knows it’s going to take a lot of work to find a role on the team.
“Continuing to come in the gym and stay after practice, just working, competing, playing, just trying to make my mark,” James said. “I think just building on defensive instinct, how I was in the playoffs, picking up full court. They’ve been emphasizing that so I’ve been one of the guys that is picking up full court every possession, every time we get a bucket, just picking up full court.
“And then just being a primary ballhandler for my team. We’re playing against Luka [Doncic] and AR today, so me, Q[uentin Grimes], or J[aden] Hardy, guys were on the team, being primary ballhandlers, giving us confidence.”
Being a top-notched defender is what James strives to be for the Lakers.
Every day during these training camp sessions, James gets tested when he has to defend Doncic and Reaves, two of the NBA’s most dynamic guards.
But that can only help James.
“For sure, it’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”
James has worked on his jump shot. He looks more defined, a sign that he has worked on his body as well.
“Just continuing to come in and work on it. The jumper, I’ve been in the gym all summer working on fluidity and the speed of my release, stuff like that, moving,” James said. “Tied into that, just running a lot. I’m the same weight, 215 or 220-ish, but still slim so I can move fast. Just getting in the gym every day and continuing to keep a routine.”
The Lakers have had four days of practice, all of them intense, all of them full of energy.
They will play their first preseason games Monday at Sacramento and then Tuesday at Golden State.
That will give James and the rest of his teammates a chance to carve out roles.
“I definitely think it’s still a process. It’s definitely going to take a few games to get everyone situated,” James said. “We’re trying to figure out our own roles and those things, but also just trying to experiment with lineups. I’ve been here for a minute now, so I know kind of what my role is, but definitely for the new guys.”
LOS ANGELES — Tarik Skubal tossed six dominant innings in triple-digit heat, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker and Max Muncy homered, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 in Game 1 of their NL Division Series on Saturday.
The game-time temperature of 100 degrees (38 Celsius) fell just short of equaling the Dodger Stadium record of 103 degrees at Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. The feels-like temperature was 105 degrees, with umpires chugging water between innings and fans shielding their heads with giveaway towels on a cloudless day.
Skubal was cool, though.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner allowed one run and two hits, struck out seven and walked two while starting a postseason game at home for the first time in his career. His previous playoff starts were all on the road for the Detroit Tigers, who traded him to the two-time defending World Series champions just before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Skubal’s 63 strikeouts are the second-most in a pitcher’s first seven postseason appearances behind Bob Gibson’s 74.
Game 2 is Sunday evening at Dodger Stadium, when an extreme heat warning remains in effect.
Hernández and Tucker each hit a two-run homer against the Braves’ bullpen. Atlanta’s rotation got upended during its three-game NL Wild Card Series win over Philadelphia, with the Braves using ace Chris Sale in relief in the deciding game.
The Braves managed just four hits. Sean Murphy’s two-strike, 421-foot homer leading off the sixth left them trailing 2-1.
Ronald Acuña Jr. singled leading off the ninth against reliever Tanner Scott, who then served up a 432-foot homer to Ozzie Albies, cutting the lead to 5-3. Scott then got two outs before Evan Phillips induced a groundout by Austin Riley with a runner aboard to earn the save.
Braves starter Dylan Dodd tossed three scoreless innings and gave up only singles to Shohei Ohtani in the first and Mookie Betts in the third.
The Dodgers broke through against Atlanta’s bullpen in the fourth. Losing pitcher Victor Mederos walked Freddie Freeman before serving up Hernández’s 431-foot shot to left-center, making it 2-0.
Still bothered by nagging arm and knee issues, Ohtani batted second behind Betts and lined to second with a runner on to end the third and flied out with a runner on in the fifth.
Tucker went deep in the sixth and Muncy added a solo shot off AJ Smith-Shawver two batters later, extending the lead to 5-1.
Up next
The Braves had yet to announce a starter for Game 2 on Sunday against Dodgers LHP Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves gave the team’s group of wings one of the best compliments they can hear.
“They all annoy the hell out of me,” Reaves said after the first few days of training camp.
With Reaves referring to the rigor of defense he’s had to go up against during each of the Lakers’ practices, the praise couldn’t have been any higher.
Austin Reaves had high praise for the Lakers’ wings. William Liang for CA Post
Adou Thiero’s combination of size and athleticism, with Reaves saying the second-year forward is already “one of the best athletes in the league”.
Matisse Thybulle’s anticipation and active hands, having been one of the NBA’s most disruptive defenders since entering the league in 2019.
And that’s before addressing Jarred Vanderbilt and Quentin Grimes, the latter of whom the Lakers are expecting to get back to embracing the defensive side of the ball after standing out on that end early in his career with the Knicks.
Or Jake LaRavia, who’s improved significantly on that end of the floor since entering the NBA in 2022.
These are the types of defensive challenges the Lakers stars have been going up against on a daily basis.
“It’s going to be a healthy competition and it gets you better,” coach JJ Redick said Saturday. “It’s going to make Austin better when Ziaire is picking them up full court every possession and Matisse is in the passing lane trying to blow things up. Adou, with his physicality…those guys are getting better from practicing that way.”
Matisse Thybulle is among the Lakers playing stifling defense during training camp. William Liang for CA Post
But the challenge, and benefits, go both ways.
Just like the Lakers wings are helping make the team’s stars better, Doncic and Reaves are also making the Lakers’ best perimeter defenders even better.
Ironing sharpening iron.
“I mean, you have to work so hard – they’re so talented,” Thybulle said Saturday. “For me it’s great because getting to play against two of the best offensive players in the NBA every day just primes you for – it primes all of us, but me specifically – just primes you for what to expect.
“It was a big thing when you’re growing up that practice should be harder than the games. And I think in the NBA it’s a little different because you just have to pace yourself for such a long season, but guarding Luka and AR, practice is definitely going to be harder than the games.”
As a two-time All-Defensive team honoree in 2021 and ‘22, Thybulle has been one of the most impactful perimeter defenders for a while now.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick sees the iron-sharpening-iron impact during training camp. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
But he’s still learning.
And going against Doncic and Reaves have helped provide lessons.
“The importance of just being solid,” Thybulle responded when asked what he’s learned defensively during his career. “The best offensive players in the league, Luka being probably one of the best, changes pace so well. As I’m growing in this league, growing as a defender, learning when to change pace and go for steals vs. [sitting] back, [being] solid and [making] it more of a cat-and-mouse game as opposed to trying to be in every passing lane every single time.”
With the Lakers set to travel up north for preseason exhibitions against the Kings (Monday) and Warriors (Tuesday), players will soon be able to showcase how much it’s helped against each other over the last week.
And with the Lakers hoping to have a significant defensive improvement from last season, Doncic and Reaves have been helping the team with the challenges they’ve brought offensively.
“It’s going to make me better on the defensive end just picking them up full court,” Bronny James said. “I’m annoyed by them, they get annoyed with me in practice. Just continuing to do that will make me better for sure.”
Dodgers pitcher Tarik Skubal is congratulated in the dugout after exiting the game during the Dodgers' 5-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday. (Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
Though the Dodgers would eventually break open the game via the long ball, and despite the Atlanta Braves being forced to throw a bullpen game coming out of a taxing wild-card round, Game 1 of the National League Division Series began as a pitching duel.
Braves left-hander Dylan Dodd held the Dodgers to just two hits through three scoreless innings. But Dodgers left-handed starter Tarik Skubal was even more impressive, despite the heat. He set the Dodgers up for a 5-3 victory to take control of the series.
“A really good starting rotation obviously is really helpful, but it is very impactful for quality of life,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said before the game. “We have gone through years where our starting rotation hasn’t been as good. In ’24 that wasn’t a strength of our roster. We won the World Series. The quality of life is way more difficult than being able to pencil in a Skubal, a [Blake] Snell, a [Yoshinobu Yamamoto], and a [Tyler Glasnow.]”
The temperature at first pitch was 100 degrees, and still climbing, making it the second-hottest recorded first-pitch temperature in postseason history, behind only Game 1 of the 2017 World Series between the Dodgers and Astros (103), according to Elias Sports Bureau.
The announced attendance was over 50,000, but far fewer fans were in their seats in the dangerous temperatures.
Skubal’s command wasn’t at its sharpest in the first inning, with his changeup consistently missing high. But he adjusted before the second and went on to limit the Braves to one run through six innings.
The difference was clear when contrasting Braves leadoff hitter Drake Baldwin’s first and second at-bats against Skubal.
Skubal fell behind with his first pitch of the game, a fastball below the zone. He worked back, with another fastball for a strike and a foul-tipped changeup low and away. But then, in a two-strike count, Skubal missed his spot, giving Baldwin a thigh-high changeup that he could drive.
That sharp single through the middle of the infield was one of just two hits he gave up Saturday. And after it, he retired 15 straight batters.
By the time Skubal faced Baldwin again, with two outs in the third, his whole arsenal was dialed in. Four of the last five outs he’d recorded were strikeouts, with a different putaway pitch for each: slider, sinker, curveball, changeup.
This time, Skubal was the aggressor, getting to a 0-2 count with a slider and sinker inside. Then Baldwin avoided chasing a pair of sliders to even the count. Skubal came back inside with a fastball that Baldwin fouled off.
So, to end the at-bat, Skubal went to his signature changeup, which he’d regained feel for the previous inning. It dove out of the bottom of the strikezone, and Baldwin swung through it, ending the inning on a strikeout.
Skubal strutted off the mound, hit the palm of his glove twice, and slapped hands with catcher Will Smith.
Skubal didn’t allow another baserunner until the sixth inning, when Sean Murphy launched a top-rail sinker for a solo homer.
Dodger pitcher Tarik Skubal is congratulated by Will Smith after making quick work of the Braves in the second inning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The Dodgers’ lead, however, remained intact. Two innings earlier Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernández broke up the scoreless tie with a two-run homer.
Hernández knows how to fire up a crowd in a big postseason moment. And he seized his chance when he got a cutter down the middle from Braves reliever Victor Mederos. Hernández tossed his bat back toward the home dugout, and it sliced through the air end-over-end.
With the Dodgers’ lead cut to one run, Skubal labored through the rest of the sixth inning, issuing a pair of walks, his first of the game. Smith and pitching coach Mark Prior came out for separate mound visits. But manager Dave Roberts stayed in his seat and trusted his Game 1 starter to face Braves cleanup hitter Matt Olson for a third time.
Skubal escaped the inning by getting Olson to chase an outside fastball and fly out to left field.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Dodgers’ bats came alive. Right fielder Kyle Tucker, in his first postseason game as a Dodger, hit a two-run home run. And Max Muncy joined in with a solo homer of his own.
Dodgers relievers Brock Stewart and Alex Vesia each retired the side in order, in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. Lefty Tanner Scott, whom Roberts plans to use in a fireman role, surrendered a two-run homer to Ozzie Albies in the ninth. But right-hander Evan Phillips came in to record the final out.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Koa Peat #18 of the Phoenix Suns poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot on July 14, 2026 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
48 hours. That’s all that stands between you, me, and Phoenix Suns basketball. Sure, preseason basketball doesn’t count toward the standings, but Monday afternoon will provide our first opportunity to see the 2026–27 Phoenix Suns in action as they take on the Detroit Pistons in the Motor City.
With every new season comes excitement. With every preseason comes curiosity. So what am I looking forward to this preseason?
Who survives the Suns’ center competition?
The battle at center will be at the heart of plenty of conversations. There will undoubtedly be some overanalysis of every performance from Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach, and perhaps one of them will solidify his place in the starting five based on what we see throughout the five preseason games. But I’m also interested in what the minutes look like for CJ Huntley and Duop Reath.
Both are essentially fighting for an opportunity to remain with the organization during the regular season, with the ceiling perhaps being a two-way contract. I know who I’d prefer Phoenix to keep based on youth, long-term viability, and developmental upside. But ultimately, how they perform throughout training camp and the preseason could determine who remains on the roster.
Will the Suns let Koa Peat create?
Speaking of youth, this could be our first opportunity to see first-round pick Koa Peat in a Suns uniform. And seeing as it’s the preseason, especially during these first three games, we should see plenty of him.
I’m interested in what role he’ll ultimately be asked to play because Peat possesses the ability to handle the ball, even from the power forward position. Will the Suns allow him to explore that part of his game, or will they ask him to fulfill a specific role within their scheme that doesn’t necessarily complement everything he can do as a prospect?
Think about Ryan Dunn. Dunn showcased during Summer League that when he’s allowed to be more aggressive with the ball, he can get downhill and be effective. But that isn’t the role he’s asked to play with the Suns. He’s primarily a three-and-D player, somebody who spaces the floor, hits three-pointers, and isn’t asked to dribble very often. Peat is somewhat similar, although he hasn’t shown an affinity for shooting the three-ball, much like Dunn hadn’t coming out of Virginia.
So throughout the preseason, I’ll be interested to see what role the young rookie is given and how the Suns begin utilizing the different aspects of his skill set.
What does continuity actually look like?
The corporate buzzword this offseason, and rightfully so, has been “continuity”. If you look across a long enough timeline, however, this team hasn’t possessed much of it. The longest-tenured players outside of Devin Booker are Oso Ighodaro, Ryan Dunn, and Collin Gillespie, all entering their third seasons with Phoenix.
How many current members of the Suns were on the 2023-24 team? Devin Booker and Jordan Goodwin. Thats it. And Goodwin was eventually traded and played with 2 other teams before returning.
The 2nd longest tenured players on the Suns are Ryan Dunn, Oso Ighodaro & Collin Gillespie
But there is continuity from last season, and as the preseason progresses into the fourth and fifth games, when rotations and minutes begin stabilizing in preparation for the regular season, it will be interesting to see what that continuity actually looks like on the court.
Connectivity and comfort should be natural byproducts of having players who spent last season together. Still, 20% of the starting lineup has changed with the addition of Miles Bridges, while another 20% is currently injured in Mark Williams. So continuity exists, but not necessarily within the confines of the roles and expectations these players will have this season.
With the influx of youth, that continuity will have to be directed from the top and become something tangible as the preseason progresses into the regular season.
The results won’t matter, but the clues will. We’ll begin learning who wins the center battle, how Peat fits into the developmental puzzle, whether Huntley or Reath can force their way into the organization’s plans, and what continuity actually looks like when roles begin changing. Five preseason games won’t answer every question. They shouldn’t. But after months of projecting what this team could become, we finally get to watch the answers begin revealing themselves.
