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Takeaways: Defense, Goaltending Falter In Penguins' 5-3 Loss To Blackhawks

It's early in the season, but after three tough losses, the Pittsburgh Penguins put together their most complete effort of the young campaign Saturday in a 2-1 shootout win over the Dallas Stars, one of hockey's best teams. 

It seemed like a natural starting point to build for the Penguins, who had struggled to find consistency in the early going.

But they reverted right back to square one in their follow-up performance Tuesday.

The Penguins visited the Chicago Blackhawks and walked away with a 5-3 loss despite coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period. A late goal allowed by Sergei Murashov - one that he would certainly want back - forced a six-on-five situation for the Penguins at the end, where Tyleer Bertuzzi scored an empty-net goal to seal the win.

The Penguins were up to no good in the opening minute of the game yet again, which is becoming an unfortunate recurring theme for them. Defenseman Declan Carlile turned the puck over from below his own goal line, feeding a puck directly to the Hawks that resulted in a Teuvo Teravainen goal just 28 seconds into regulation.

Pittsburgh responded six minutes later, though, when captain Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell found themselves on a two-on-one. Crosby rifled the puck past Chicago goaltender Spencer Knight for his long-awaited first of the season to tie the game at 1-1. 

However, Roman Kantserov scored a power play goal near the end of the first period to restore the Blackhawks' lead, and he scored another goal midway through the second period to put Chicago up by two.

When all seemed to be going downhill for Pittsburgh, the fourth line of Blake Lizotte, Connor Dewar, and Nick Robertson created a chance off the rush in the offensive zone. Robertson finished the job to score his team-leading fourth goal for the Penguins at the end of the middle frame to bring the Penguins to within one. 

Midway through the third, the captain answered the bell again when he picked up some loose change at the net front to tie the score at 3-3. But, unfortunately, with a little more than four minutes left in regulation, Teravainen had the puck along the left wall just above the goal line in the offensive zone, and he threw it toward the net.

The puck unexpectedly trickled past Murashov, giving the Blackhawks the late lead and deflating the Penguins of any kind of life they had.

Takeaways: Penguins Deliver Complete Effort In 2-1 Shootout Win Over Dallas Stars To Snap Three-Game SkidTakeaways: Penguins Deliver Complete Effort In 2-1 Shootout Win Over Dallas Stars To Snap Three-Game SkidThe Pittsburgh Penguins brought their A-game against one of the league's best teams Saturday to get back in the win column.

Here are some takeaways from this one:

- Special teams killed the Penguins in this game. 

It's hard to fault the penalty kill too much, as the Penguins allowed just their second power play goal of the season against the Hawks. But Pittsburgh's power play was 0-for-4, and minus the third opportunity, it looked like it was 0-for-4, which occurred against one of the worst penalty kills in the league.

Special teams was a huge reason the Penguins made the playoffs last season. The PK is keeping up, but the power play looks lost. Zone entries and faceoffs have been an issue, but so has personnel. 

They need to switch things up, and I think it starts with moving Malkin back to the second unit, when the power play was more effective. It's hard to keep Egor Chinakhov off that first unit, and Rickard Rakell is struggling enough that he can afford to be bumped down, too.

They need more guys willing to just rip the puck - other than Erik Karlsson, that is, as he took about five consecutive one-timers on the third power play and missed the net about seven times. He showed up, at least

Penguins Complete Trade With Sabres To Acquire Former First-Round PickPenguins Complete Trade With Sabres To Acquire Former First-Round PickThe Pittsburgh Penguins addressed their defensive logjam at the minor league level with a blue line swap involving the Buffalo Sabres Monday

- If it seems like I'm bringing up Robertson in a whole lot of recaps, it's because I am. He's been really, really good for the Penguins up to this point, and it's not often you see a team's leading goal-scorer on the fourth line. 

While the goal total speaks to Robertson's work ethic and the season he's had so far, it's not ideal for, again, your team's leading goal-scorer, to be on the fourth line. Maybe this is less of an issue with a team like the Penguins, who roll four lines. 

But the top-six has two guys with three goals, two guys with two (both of Crosby's came in this one), two guys with one, and a guy with zero. At the end of the day, that's not encouraging, especially when the two guys with three goals, Tommy Novak and Evgeni Malkin, have one goal between them in the last three games. 

Simply put, the top-six needs to produce more, and in particular, the first line. There were some encouraging signs from Crosby in this game, but neither Rust or Rakell are meshing with Crosby like they usually do. 

As a whole, the top-six needs to get going. I know the fourth line has been spectacular, but it's a combination Dan Muse could always put back together down the line. Right now, Robertson needs to be playing in the top-six.

The Early Returns On Nick Robertson Are EncouragingThe Early Returns On Nick Robertson Are EncouragingPittsburgh Penguins forward Nick Robertson is off to a good start this season.

- Another player who needs to get going is Egor Chinakhov. This is something that was brought up in a recent recap, but it feels like he is so close to scoring yet so far at the same time. 

He had a one-timer hit above 96 mph on the radar gun that he missed the net on in this one. He had a breakaway opportunity that he just missed as well. He has had some chances, but he is missing the net with frustrating frequency right now. 

In addition, the chemistry that was so evident with Novak and Malkin last season isn't really there to start this season.  

If I'm the coaching staff, I consider bumping both Chinakhov and Rickard Rakell - two goal-scorers struggling to score - to the third line with Ben Kindel for a bit. Elevate Robertson and Andrei Kuzmenko. Give Elmer Soderblom another look:

Robertson-Crosby-Rust
Kuzmenko-Novak-Malkin
Chinakhov-Kindel-Rakell
Dewar-Lizotte-Soderblom

Chinakhov and Rakell have combined for just one singular goal in eight games this season, and the one goal was scored by Chinakhov in game one. The Penguins need more from them, and they need more from them sooner rather than later.

- Murashov's fourth goal was not a good one. It's a play that he would want back, and it's a save he should have had. 

That said, I think some folks need to pump the brakes on expectations for the 22-year-old netminder with eight games of NHL experience. 

Young goaltenders are going to give up bad goals. Elite goaltenders are going to give up bad goals. And, sometimes, those bad goals will come at bad times. There is a difference between wanting or needing a save in a particular situation and it being unnacceptable that a save isn't made in that situation. 

Murashov should not have allowed that goal. But he should be allowed to surrender a bad goal or have a bad game as a young goaltender finding his NHL footing and as a guy whose team has not played well in front of him once this season. 

Expecting perfection - or, even, expecting that goaltenders won't allow any goals they should have - is a perfect way to set a young netminder up for failure. 

His team needed a save there, but he also needed his team to be better the rest of the night. Neither happened. That goal is an easier pill to swallow if the stakes weren't that high to begin with due to poor play from the rest of the team preceding it.

- Carlile has endured a rough couple of games. He coughed up the puck in a bad turnover on Chicago's first goal, and oftentimes, he finds himself playing like a forward.

This is not a slight to Carlile, but there is a difference between Erik Karlsson jumping up on a play and Carlile doing so. I think Carlile commits a bit too much offensively for the relative level of offensive talent he has, and it gets him in trouble sometimes. 

On a pairing with Karlsson, being too active can hurt more than help. He just needs to learn when to pick his spots better. And he also needs to have more awareness below the goal line in his own zone. 

He blocks a ton of shots, is mobile, and is physical. He's at his best when playing to his strengths and not trying to force plays. 

'I Feel Pretty Good Right Now': Penguins' Koivunen Building Confidence In Season's Earlygoing'I Feel Pretty Good Right Now': Penguins' Koivunen Building Confidence In Season's EarlygoingPittsburgh Penguins' forward Ville Koivunen signed an unexpected eight-year, $32 million contract this summer and has looked good early this season.

- A small yet relatively significant bright spot in this game was Crosby. 

He needed those two goals. It was only a matter of time before the captain broke through, and he finally did, which should, hopefully, get him going a bit.

I thought his line was a bit better tonight, but it could still use more speed, which is why I'd like to see Robertson reunited with Crosby. If Sid has finally found his legs, and Robertson and Rust can provide some speed on his wings, it could make for a lethal combination. 

- The Penguins next have the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights back-to-back Friday and Saturday. Needless to say, they are not the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Penguins tend to find a way to elevate against better competition, so hopefully, they can find another level like they did against the Stars Saturday. But they need to start beating some of the teams they should be beating, like the Hawks. 

Half the points on this tough Western road swing would be a good aim for the Penguins. Winning at least one of these games feels important. 

Breaking: Cale Makar to Miss Tonight’s Game as Wife Tracy Nears ChildbirthBreaking: Cale Makar to Miss Tonight’s Game as Wife Tracy Nears ChildbirthColorado Avalanche star Cale Makar will miss tonight’s game as he and his wife, Tracy, await the arrival of their first child, team spokesman confirms.

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

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Joe Girardi believes Yankees have accountability issue after another playoff flop: ‘Enough is enough!’

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells running the bases during an ALDS game, Image 2 shows Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda is out at second base as New York Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. attempts to turn a double play, Image 3 shows A middle-aged man with short, thinning gray hair is wearing a blue shirt and speaking against a plain background

Joe Girardi isn’t blaming Aaron Boone for the Yankees’ shortcomings, but believes a deeper-rooted culture issue might have contributed to the team being swept in the ALDS.

The former Yankees skipper tore into the team’s fundamentals, pointing to a pair of costly postseason blunders that underscored his concerns during an appearance on “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman.”

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“There are things that happen and you wonder, ‘Is someone saying anything?’” Girardi said on The Post podcast.

Girardi cited Austin Wells’ baserunning blunder in Game 1 and Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s disastrous throw in an error-filled Game 2 as examples of the team’s fundamental failures — and the concerning response to those mistakes.

Jonathan Aranda is out at second base but Jazz Chisholm Jr. throws the ball away as he attempts to turn a double play in the first inning of the Yankees’ error-filled loss to the Rays in Game 2 of the ALDS. Getty Images

Chisholm, in particular, said, “I’d probably still try to throw it,” if given a do-over, despite the result of the play.

“You said you would’ve done the same thing over again? No! You can’t do the same thing again — it didn’t work!” Girardi added. “Some of the base running cues, the sliding over the bases, someone’s gotta say, ‘Enough is enough!’”

Girardi, who managed the Yankees from 2009-17, noted that the sloppy play needs to be addressed during the regular season, especially with underperforming players.

Austin Wells hits a double and is tagged out at third base trying to stretch a double into a triple ending the eighth inning during the Yankees’ Game 1 ALDS loss to the Rays. Charles Wenzelberg for New York Post

He referenced infielder Anthony Volpe, who had been New York’s incumbent shortstop the past three seasons before being demoted to Triple-A midseason.

“I think it happened with Anthony Volpe,” Girardi added. “I think he was better when he came back up because he sent down and said, ‘Hey, I can’t keep doing what I’m doing, it’s not working.'”

Girardi, 62, knows the trappings and challenges of managing the Bombers all too well. He led the club to a World Series title in 2009 but, despite reaching the ALCS in 2017, he was let go as skipper and replaced by Boone.

In what’s expected to be a transformative offseason for the Yankees, Girardi went to bat for Boone, whose future has come under fire in the wake of another abrupt postseason exit.

Girardi said that 2026 is arguably Boone’s best year, citing the team finishing with the American League’s second-best record despite a rash of injuries and down seasons from key players.

“Can you say that that’s his fault? I don’t think so,” Girardi said. “To me, that’s not his fault. I just don’t think the guys had the years that they projected them to have, or some of the guys just aren’t as good as they thought they would be.” 

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Recap: Blackwood and Necas propel Colorado’s 3-2 victory in Dallas

DALLAS, TEXAS - OCTOBER 13: Martin Necas #88 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal against the Dallas Stars during the second period at American Airlines Center on October 13, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It was the first meeting of the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars of the 2026-27 season, and the fierce rivalry and tension did not disappoint!

The Dallas Stars made things interesting in the third period, but an explosive second period from Martin Necas and a solid outing from Mackenzie Blackwood made the difference.

First Period

The game started with both the Stars and Avalanche gauging each other, but halfway through the frame, Artturi Lehkonen got the scoring started. A point shot caught traffic in front, and Lehky worked hard in the slot, backhanding one through Jake Oettinger at 11:32.

Things got a bit chippy toward the end of the opening frame when Noah Juulsen took a hit from Radek Faksa. Fedor Svechkov took exception and quickly challenged Faksa to a fight. In a controversial call, the refs issued Svechkov an instigating penalty, giving the Stars a power play.

The Stars capitalized and got a bit of luck when Tyler Seguin’s centering attempt went in off an Avalanche skate. That brought things to a late first-period tie, one goal apiece.

Second Period

The second frame got even rowdier, but the Avalanche cashed in on the chaos and started a Marty Party in the middle frame.

First, Necas slammed home a one-timer on a feed from Nathan MacKinnon to make it 2-1 Avalanche at 3:05 in the second period.

We then saw Nathan MacKinnon in his second fight of the first six games of the season, but this time he was caught on the button and left the ice bleeding. He still ended the fight sprawling on top of Roope Hintz. I’m speculating, but I’d bet that tussle stems from MacKinnon and Hintz’ past. MacKinnon returned for his next shift without question.

Later in the frame, the Avalanche would earn a 5-on-3 after Malinski was cross-checked and MacKinnon was tripped. Once again, Martin Necas scored when Landeskog collected a net-front rebound and backhanded a pass to Marty, who had nothing but net to aim at. Just like that, the Avalanche led 3-1 at 16:14 in the second frame.

Third Period

It wouldn’t be a game against the Dallas Stars without a little anxiety, so the Stars brought it to a one-goal game just 3:17 into the third period. This time, Roope Hintz let his game do the talking, scoring a timely goal with help from Tyler Seguin and Miro Heiskanen.

That set up a contentious, heart-rate-spiking rest of the third period as the Avalanche were tested more than once as time wound down. Fortunately for Avalanche fans, Colorado’s players sold out left and right to block the puck and protect their one-goal lead, and their efforts secured a 3-2 win.

Takeaways

This was a big game for the Colorado Avalanche and an even bigger game for goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. He passed the test tonight, getting the stops Bednar called for after their loss to Toronto. This is the type of performance that could propel Blackwood’s season and confidence. The team in front of him wasn’t perfect, so Blackwood had to step up, and he did.

Martin Necas was on a mission tonight, and his two goals dictated the outcome. MacKinnon and Lehkonen were going too. All in all, aside from a few breakdowns, the Avalanche played a solid game, with a competitive level we haven’t seen too often so far. Stealing one in Dallas without Cale Makar is impressive.

I guess Nathan MacKinnon is a goon now, with a fight in Colorado’s two biggest games so far.

I, for one, love seeing Nate chuck ’em but naturally worry about him sustaining an injury in the process. He was bloodied tonight, but it’s kinda weird if Nate’s nose isn’t bleeding by the end of the game.

Up Next

The Avalanche will take a quick flight back to Denver and prepare for their second back-to-back with Dallas tomorrow night on home ice at Ball Arena!

Let us know what you thought of the game in the comments!

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Mistakes Cost Guards: Rays Even ALCS at One a Piece

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 13: Shawn Armstrong #43 of the Cleveland Guardians hands the ball to manager Stephen Vogt #12 after being pulled against the Tampa Bay Rays during the seventh inning in game two of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 13, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a stunning, come from behind, full team effort that lead to a huge Win in last night’s Game 1, the Guardians were back in action tonight at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida for Game 2 of the ALCS. On the mound for the Rays would be former Brewer/Met and 2026 Trade Deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta, who really turned his season around once joining Tampa Bay. Opposing him for Cleveland would be the Guardian All Star Parker Messick, who would be looking to rebound from a shaky 1st postseason start last week in Chicago. It was well documented that Parker is a local kid, from Plant City, Florida, and would have a lot of family in the crowd tonight. But as good as his career stats are vs the Rays, the Playoffs are a different Beast…

Right from the jump it was clear that Cleveland’s game-plan was to attack Peralta early. Kwan singled on the 2nd pitch of the game, and Jose, Chase & Adell ALL swung at the first pitch (Jose and Adell popped up while Chase had a 3 pitch swinging K). 7 pitches and 5 were swung at, so clearly they want to get after him early (of course, Lowe would strike out on 8 pitch at bat to start the 2nd), which makes sense considering he doesn’t typically go deep into starts and Cash is likely to go all hands on deck, desperate for a Win to avoid going down 0-2 and hitting the road (only so many teams can be as comfortable as Cleveland is in that scenario). Bazzana would follow Lowe’s K with a single to CF and take 2nd on a Wild pitch. But all Cleveland could muster up was a Hedges HBP as Halpin and Rocchio struck out to continue our early game woes. The third wasn’t much better, as Kwan and Jose went down pretty quickly (Jose 2 quick pop ups, just 3 pitches seen) before Chase started a new K-less streak by drawing an 8 pitch walk before Jo Adell would fly out. The more you watch, the more you understand the approach to attacking Peralta early, as he was really starting to get comfortable out there through 3 relatively clean innings, just 2 singles, a walk and 4 K’s. 

For as much fun as nearly every Guardian is having at the plate the last few days, Brayan Rocchio is probably not one of them. Since Rocctember ended, he’s hitting just .111, going 2-17 with just 2 singles. You can see him chasing a lot and swinging harder than usual, suggesting that he’s pressing at the plate compared to how calm and relaxed he’s looked recently when the pressure has turned up. A few people were suggesting a Genao start tonight- I wasn’t one of them but I wouldn’t have blamed Vogter if he went that way, looking to shake things up.

Meanwhile Parker Messick was continuing where he left off in Chicago- getting the job done but looking a tad shaky doing it. In the 1st inning he gave up a 2 out double down the line to Junior Caminero before striking out Mesa to end the threat. His 2nd inning started with an infield single, that was immediately doubled up on a slow groundball from the fastest man in the sport. Yes you read that correctly- usually a GIDP isn’t possible with Chandler Simpson running, but Rocchio ripped a seed to 1st to complete the 4-6-3 DP. Messick would lose a 2 out, 6 pitch battle to Ben Williamson, but immediately turned and picked him off at 1st to retire the side. Watching that half inning, I was hoping that the defensive magic would help Parker get a little comfortable out there and carry it into the 3rd.

Well, it wasn’t comfortable but it wasn’t harmful either.

Back to back singles from the 8-9 duo to start the inning and we were in trouble with the top of the order coming up. A 3-1 count to Yandy Diaz is not what you want, but sitting here I turn to my Dog (animal, not pal, although she is my pal too) and say “why not a groundball here?” as Yandy grounds into a tailor made 4-6-3 double play! Aranda would shortly follow with a groundball out of his own to Trav and just like that, Magic Man Parker Messick does it again!

0-0 through 3.

To the 4th inning we go and yeah, THIS is the Freddy Peralta I remember. Not the guy who suited up in Orange and Blue this year in Queens. For whatever reason, that marriage did not work at all, and Peralta was dealt after just 3+ months as a Met. But he looks very comfortable now, just pumping heat through the middle of our order, striking out Lowe and getting weak pop ups from Trav and Hedgie. It SHOULD be noted that Greedy Petey Halpin did hammer a single into RF in this inning, proving that he probably deserves more time in the starting lineup.

In the bottom half of the inning, Caminero would work a walk (after Hedges missed a pretty obvious strike 3 challenge!), which would be the 3rd straight leadoff man to reach for Tampa. A bad trend that Parker and the Guardians are eventually going to regret. Especially with a huge review in the next batter- another grounder to Bazzana…. would it be an another 4-6-3 double play? Was Rocchio off the bag? Was Lowe? A lot hanging in the balance that turned out just be a regular 4-6 put out. After a big K to Johnny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson does the ONE thing he does, hits a high chopper to Short and Rocchio just can’t get it over in time, and Mesa smartly takes 3rd with all eyes on Simpson. Messick, in hot water for the first time, answered by getting a 2 out groundball to his 3rd basemen, who couldn’t play it off the lip, letting the ball thru and the first run to score. Next up was Liam Hicks who knocked in 2 more and it was 3-0 Rays in the blink of an eye.

To me, this inning summed up the Rays and Guardians pretty well this season. In that inning alone we saw a leadoff walk, hustle to beat out a GIDP, hustle to beat out an infield single, a concentration error from someone who lets them happen more often than he should (usually resulting in runs), a mental error from TWO guys who should know better, and not being able to limit the damage. Yeah. The 2026 Guardians are a team that plays with fire all too much, eventually always getting burnt. Meanwhile the Rays do all the little things right, hustle their tails off and make you make plays to beat them. Sound familiar? More on that later.

To the 5th inning and you can just feel a bad aura from Jose, who knows this should still be a tie game if he either charges that grounder or gets his whole body in front of it (or if a number of things before that happen to not breathe in so much extra life!). That bad aura can’t last long though if the Guardians want to take this series, because you can just tell that the reason this team ran off 4 straight games in 6 days was because of how loose they’ve been playing, and the energy they’ve been feeding off of has come directly from #11. Jose would single and steal, and Chase would work a long walk as well- but Jo Adell hit a 2 out line drive right to the Centerfielder and the Guardians would move to 0-3 with RISP on the night (tho it feels way worse).

Side note- and I know this is gonna make me sound like a classic old man baseball fan- this Rays team loves to show off. I know that’s kinda how sports are now, even in baseball where I once counted 11 types of celebrations on ONE homerun (Ronald Acuña I will never forgive you), but man this team REALLY wants to let you know it when they do something. It started yesterday with Caminero playing almost even with the pitcher’s mound. That wasn’t in the gameplan, it’s not like the Guardians are a good bunting team, he wants to play up that close to show you he’s not afraid. So when he caught a liner from Rocchio there, he just HAD to do the Dikembe Finger waive to let you know. And I know I’m not just imagining it, this is the guy who set the record for the longest homerun Trot in the history of the game. For reference, Colby Mayo has an inside the park homerun where he would’ve scored 3 times in the time it took for Caminero to circle the bases…

I KNOW, make baseball fun, and all that. But there’s a difference between being fun and taking every opportunity to soak up the spotlight. And no, I am NOT suggesting he faked the injury last night (even if that was the longest injury delay I have ever seen for a guy that stayed in the game who also had a delayed reaction to said collision). He was definitely shaken up on that. But, ya know… no no no not gonna suggest that, let’s just keep it clean here.

Back to the game and frankly, with the way Peralta was pitching, it was hard to imagine that the Guardians were ever gonna score tonight, making that calamity of mistakes in the 4th slightly more forgivable than if this were a night where we could score 2-3 runs and make a run at a 2-0 series lead. Peralta would go 6 innings scattering 4 hits (all singles) and 2 walks while striking out 6. His night came to and end with one tiny whimper of a firework when Bazzana took him to the deepest part of the ballpark, flying out 400 feet with nothing to show for it.

While Freddy was the Sum of All Fears for the Guards; Parker was living all night in Clear and present Danger. He would go 5 innings giving up 6 hits and 2 walks while only striking out 3. The 3 runs he gave up were all unearned, tho, he’d be the first to tell you that they’d have zero had he pitched better. Back to back nights an All Star and Cy Young Finalist hopeful gave up just a little too much and the team paid dearly for it. Shawn Armstrong would give up an infield single (how many throws to First can the Rays beat out in one game? Seriously they are going for a record!) but otherwise pitched a clean 6th as we headed to the final act.

Thru 6, 3-0 Rays.

Onto the 7th and the Guardians looked thrilled to face anyone but Freddy Peralta. On in relief was former Clevelander Kevin Kelly, who would work himself into trouble by way of walking pinch hitter Patrick Bailey and giving up a single to Steven Kwan. With 1 out and 2 on for our Hero Jose Ramirez, the Guardians were looking for a big hit. Jose wouldn’t provide it, and it was up to Chase DeLauter

DeLauter would come up big with our first hit with RISP on the night! A double down the line that unfortunately only scored 1 (I gotta see a better replay to see if Kwan should’ve went), but put the tying run at 2nd for Jo Adell. Could we see more late heroics from the middle of the order again?

Thank you, Jonathan Frakes. No. Not this time… But the Guards DID finally get on the board, showing the resiliency and never-quit attitude we’ve grown to love over the last month and change. And with a quick 1-2-3 inning from the Armstrong/Herrin combo, the Guards would return to the plate with 6 outs left, their backs against the wall, a spot that they’ve excelled in time and time again.

Sadly, this would not be one of them. Tonight was not our night at the plate, and honestly a day off for travel might do everyone some good. The Guardians would lose to the Rays 3-1, evening the series at 1 game a piece. On the positive, we came to Tampa, split the series and shifted home field advantage our way. On the negative, we had the 1 seed on the ropes and gave them 3 runs in a game we lost by 2. It’s fair to be frustrated but also need to keep in mind; a lot has gone our way recently and there is a lot of baseball left.

Finally, I wanted to point out the familiarity when watching these two teams. The Rays play a very similar brand of baseball to the one we’ve gotten used to over the last few years. While Cleveland has been better at it over the course of 3 seasons, the Rays were much better at it over the last 162 games. But hey/ that doesn’t mean Cleveland can’t be better over a 7 game series! Just gotta bounce back and limit the mental errors, and avoid giving Tampa extra chances/at bats. They WILL capitalize, as we saw tonight.

Game 3 will be Thursday evening when Gavin Williams takes the mound once again facing (I believe?) Nick Martinez. Should be a fantastic pitching matchup between one guy coming off a record setting Game 5 vs one who completely owns the Cleveland Guardians. Time to see what we’re made of, again.

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William Karlsson has go-ahead goal and Golden Knights beat Predators 5-2 for 3-1 road record

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — William Karlsson scored for the second straight game to put Vegas ahead, and the Golden Knights beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Playing a night after losing 4-2 at Minnesota to stop a four-game skid, the Golden Knights (6-2) improved to 3-1 on the road this season.

Jack Eichel, Tomas Hertl, Trevor Connelly and Brett Howden also scored for Vegas, and Adin Hill made 25 saves.

Hill stopped a penalty shot from Jack Drury in the first period after Nic Dowd was penalized for holding on a breakaway.

Adam Edstrom had his first career short-handed goal and Ryan O’Reilly also scored for the Predators, who lost in regulation for the first time since their season opener against the Wild. Juuse Saros stopped 20 shots.

At 8:45 of the second, Edstrom had a breakaway with Nashville a man down but initially couldn't get a shot off with Eichel in pursuit. But he maintained control of the puck behind the net and guided it past Hill to tie the game at 2-all.

Karlsson restored the Golden Knights' lead at 17:44 of the second with a snap shot to the top corner of the net, and goals by Connelly and Howden about 1 1/2 minutes apart in the third gave Vegas a three-goal advantage.

Up next

Golden Knights: Host Calgary on Thursday.

Predators: Host San Jose on Thursday.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Freddy Peralta shines again as Rays beat Guardians to even ALCS

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Freddy Peralta, who pitched six scoreless innings, celebrates after getting the last out of his outing in the Rays' 3-1 Game 2 win over the Guardians on Oct. 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Fla, Image 2 shows Liam Hicks rips a two-run single during the fourth inning of the Rays' Game 2 win over Guardians

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — With the crowd chanting his name, a fired-up Freddy Peralta pumped one fastball after another past hitters all night long.

Peralta threw six innings of four-hit ball, Liam Hicks lined a two-run single after José Ramírez’s fielding error and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 Tuesday night to even the ALCS at 1-1.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Cleveland.

The former Mets starter threw the hardest pitch of his big league career at 99.4 mph and relied on his four-seam fastball on 71 of 99 pitches — his 71.7% usage was his highest since June 11, 2019.

“It’s no secret that I trust in my fastball a lot and it’s my best pitch,” Peralta said.

Peralta’s 96.9 mph average fastball velocity was 2.6 mph above his season average.

Freddy Peralta, who pitched six scoreless innings, celebrates after getting the last out of his outing in the Rays’ 3-1 Game 2 win over the Guardians on Oct. 13, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Fla. Gary Bogdon/UPI/Shutterstock

“It plays a big role, the adrenaline,” Peralta said. “And also I define myself as a competitor, and I like these kind of games. I’ve always said in the past, that I enjoyed this as a Dominican pitcher. I grew up watching the games in D.R., and that’s the game that you see. And I got used to that because I grew up watching it. And I feel that I have that in me, in myself. And that’s the way that I feel when I am on the mound in these kind of games.”

Peralta pumped a fist and screamed joyfully walking off the mound in the sixth after fanning Petey Halpin swinging at a 3-2 changeup.

“I just enjoyed the moment because it was a really good at-bat,” Peralta said. “It wasn’t an easy game since the first pitch that I threw until the last one. It was a lot of competition between me and the hitters. … I think that was why I was fired up like that.”

Ramírez, whose two-run homer in Game 5 of their AL Division Series against Chicago helped the Guardians become the 11th team to overcome an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series, misplayed a grounder in the fourth inning that led to three unearned runs against rookie lefty Parker Messick.

Junior Caminero walked to start that inning and Victor Mesa Jr. grounded into a forceout originally ruled a double play. The Rays challenged the calls at both first and second and Mesa was ruled safe when a video review overturned the out decision by first base umpire Mark Ripperger.

After Jonny DeLuca struck out, Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop, and the Mesa reached third standing up when Ramírez failed to cover the bag.

Ben Williamson followed with a grounder that scooted underneath Ramírez’s glove and between his legs after the ball hit the edge where the artificial turf met the infield dirt. The third baseman played back rather than charging.

“It’s a little bit faster here this type of surface,” Ramirez said through a translator. “It’s frustrating. I feel bad.”

Williamson reached second and Simpson went to third. Hicks drove the next pitch to right-center for a 3-0 lead, electrifying the towel-waving, cowbell-ringing crowd of 32,125 fans at Tropicana Field.

Peralta and three relievers didn’t need any more support.

Liam Hicks rips a two-run single during the fourth inning of the Rays’ Game 2 win over the Guardians. AP

“I think the velocity really stood out,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Peralta.

Kevin Kelly got two outs in the seventh, retiring Ramírez on a fly ball to center with two runners on.

Lefty Ian Seymour replaced him and Chase DeLauter lined an RBI double to the right-field corner.

Seymour struck out Jo Adell swinging at a changeup, leaving runners at second and third. Seymour pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Bryan Baker finished with a perfect ninth for his fourth postseason save.

Acquired by the Rays from the Mets at the trade deadline, Peralta turned around his season in Tampa Bay going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts after posting a 4.99 ERA for New York.

He pitched his latest gem in front of Mets owner Steve Cohen, who was in attendance.

“We have a good relationship,” Peralta said of Cohen. “I think he’s awesome. And I’m happy that he was here watching, not watching me, watching the Rays.”

Messick, who grew up going to Rays games at the Trop, took the loss after giving up six hits and the three unearned runs in five innings.

Cleveland had won four straight in the postseason for the first time since winning their first six playoff games in 2016 on the way to a World Series berth.

The 98-win Rays swept the Yankees before a 7-3 loss in Game 1 on Monday.

That was their first loss in two weeks. Now, they’re back on the winning track and need three more in a series that’s reduced to a best of five to advance to their third World Series.

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Martin Necas has 2 goals to lead the short-handed Avs past the Stars, 3-2

DALLAS (AP) — Martin Necas scored two goals, including a 5-on-3 score, and the short-handed Colorado Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Tuesday night in the opener of a home-and-home series.

Artturi Lehkonen also scored for the Avalanche, while Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves after allowing five goals on Saturday against Toronto. Nathan MacKinnon had two assists, giving him 12 points.

The Avalanche opened with 11 forwards and six defensemen when forward Zachary L’Heureux was a late scratch with an upper-body injury. Colorado then played almost 17 minutes with 10 forwards when Fedor Svechkov drew a two-minute instigator penalty, five minutes for fighting and 10 more for misconduct. MacKinnon was also off the bench for more than seven minutes in the second after he fought Roope Hintz — who had his first NHL fight — and went to the locker room for facial repairs.

Tyler Seguin had a goal and an assist, and Hintz also scored for the Stars. Jake Oettinger stopped 22 shots after allowing three goals in his previous four games, and Miro Heiskanen had two assists.

Colorado came in leading the NHL with 5.2 goals per game, while Dallas had a league-best 1.38 goals-against average.

Necas gave the Avs a 2-1 lead early in the second period and then doubled the lead with four seconds left in the 29-second, two-man advantage.

Seguin’s goal, tying the score late in the first period, was Dallas’ first home power-play goal in eight tries.

Cale Makar, the Avalanche’s two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, didn’t make the trip with his wife expecting twins.

Stars forward Wyatt Johnston sat out with an illness after playing in all 395 games, regular season and playoffs, since he made the team in 2022. The Stars played with 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Up next

The teams will meet again on Wednesday in Denver, where the Stars swept two meetings last season in shootouts.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Blackhawks Hang On And Win 5-3 In Connor Bedard's Return To Lineup

The Chicago Blackhawks were a part of the NHL’s Frozen Frenzy on Tuesday night. All 32 teams played in 16 games with staggered starts from 5 PM until the early hours of the morning. 

Chicago welcomed the Pittsburgh Penguins in the third United Center game of the young 2026-27 season. In addition to being a special night because of the Frozen Frenzy, it had extra-special meaning for the Blackhawks as well.

This game was the season debut of Connor Bedard, who skated in his first game as captain. It was also his first game with Patrick Kane. With this, there was extra buzz in the building. 

Once the game started, it didn’t take the Blackhawks long to get on the board. Just 28 seconds into the game, Teuvo Teravainen made it 1-0. Tyler Bertuzzi and Anton Frondell were hard on the forecheck, and Frondell found Teravainen for a point-blank chance that he didn’t miss. 

For a while, the Penguins started to take over the game. Eventually, Sidney Crosby scored with a snipe on the rush. His first of the season tied the game at 1. 

Late in the first period, with Chicago on the power play, Roman Kantserov gave the Blackhawks their lead back. He put home a goal after receiving a one-touch pass from Connor Bedard, who collected his first point of the season there. Bowen Byram also earned an assist, as he found Bedard for the setup. 

Whether it’s Kantserov, Bowen Byram, or Patrick Kane, who passed it to Byram, Bedard makes everyone on that unit better. That 2-1 lead stuck with Chicago through the first intermission. 

At 10:32 in the middle frame, Kantserov added his second goal of the game. He tapped home a nifty centering feed from Artyom Levshunov, who has been really good in the offensive zone in the season's early stages. 

Kane collected the secondary assist on this one, and that tied him with Phil Housley for the most assists by an American-born NHL player (894). This new-look top line with Bedard back in the mix is clicking, and it’s only been one game. 

Before the second ended, Pittsburgh added another to get back within one. Nick Robertson scored a strange one as he put it in the net, but it came out the back of the bottom, causing some confusion. After a review, it was clearly a goal. This 3-2 Chicago lead held through the second intermission. 

In the 3rd period, the expected push from the Pittsburgh Penguins came. Sidney Crosby’s second of the game tied it up at 9:17. At that point, the game could have gone in any direction. 

However, Teuvo Teravainen had a bit of puck luck that saved the day for the Blackhawks. He threw an innocent floater on net, and it somehow went in through the paraphernalia of goaltender Sergei Murashov. 

After Tyler Bertuzzi tapped a great spin-o-rama pass from Anton Frondell into the empty net, Chicago took a 5-3 lead, and that held as the final score. 

Winning Bedard's first game back was big for the group, as they now improve to 2-5-0 through their first 7 games. It hasn't been a pretty start, but they are 2-1 at home and 1-0 with Bedard back in the lineup. 

It's clear that Bedard changes the entire outlook of their game. He played a key role in making the power play look better; his line was strong at even strength, and everyone below his trio in the lineup had an extra step because they were slotted into positions where they were better suited. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will play at home again on Thursday. It's another divisional battle as the Winnipeg Jets are coming to town. This is another good test for Chicago against a team that came in with low expectations but is off to a grand start (4-1-1). 

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'Football 301' diagnoses fatal flaws of 6 NFL contenders: What could derail Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks and more?

In this week's episode of Yahoo Sports' "Football 301" podcast, host Nate Tice and guest Derrik Klassen of The Athletic took a microscope to the NFL's contending teams and identified the fatal flaws that could keep each from grasping the Lombardi Trophy.

Here's a thorough breakdown of what could trip up each contender.

Fatal flaw: Defensive secondary

Despite a surging pass rush and another dynamic year from QB Josh Allen, the soft underbelly of this Bills roster is the coverage unit. Klassen pointed out that the corners and safeties aren't making the grade, notably with players like C.J. Gardner-Johnson — a red flag signing for a would-be contender. There's hope in the front four, but as Tice drilled home, the AFC playoffs will force you to beat elite QBs three weeks running.

With Buffalo's defense currently 28th in success rate and 30th in EPA, the risk of getting torched is painfully real. Unless the pass rush can dominate, expect shootouts and potential heartbreak in January.

Fatal flaw: Offensive line depth and durability

With talent at the skill positions and creative, adaptable coaching, the Jags look dangerous. But their hopes may rest on a precarious offensive line. Klassen highlighted the myriad dominoes that had to fall into place to make this line work, and the recent injury to their best lineman, left tackle Anton Harrison, puts them on red alert. The run game has survived on scheming and quarterback talent, not domination in the trenches, and stats like being 28th in QB hits allowed and 30th in yards before contact on run plays underscore the imminent danger.

Fatal flaw: Lack of downfield speed and explosiveness in passing game

With Tyquan Thornton out for an extended period with an ankle injury, the Chiefs' passing attack risks becoming horizontal and cramped. That's dangerous for a team built around stretching defenses, as Klassen argued.

While the run game has thrived, and Patrick Mahomes can still make magic, Thornton was KC's only real downfield threat. Even the highly touted Xavier Worthy hasn't shown that same top-end juice. Stats confirm it: with almost no plays breaking 20 mph among receivers outside Thornton, the Chiefs could be reduced to a "dink-and-dunk" unit.

Fatal flaw: Inflexible, predictable offense with a capped run game

Tice and Klassen discussed how the Bengals have reverted to their old spread, shotgun-only offense, with little diversity in look or concept. When forced to run, they rely on RPOs, which trade blocking for flexibility and cap explosive play potential. As defenses catch up and scheme specifically for the Bengals' flavor of spread, the games inevitably become tight, with the deep ball to Ja'Marr Chase the only real bailout. As Tice put it: "It's tough to make 10 good decisions in a row against a great defense."

Fatal flaw: Sam Darnold regression and no offensive "Plan B"

Per Klassen, the Seahawks managed to win last year with Darnold threading the needle — burning defenses on big explosives. This year, Darnold's turnover rate has ballooned, his sack rate is up, and his average depth of target has cratered. The run game has suffered from injuries, and auxiliary pass-catchers outside of Jaxon Smith-Njigba haven't stepped up. Without explosives, Darnold isn't the kind of QB to nickel and dime down the field. The formula worked in 2025, but with the supporting cast banged up and his confidence flagging, this offense could struggle hanging with the best again.

Fatal flaw: Undefined offensive identity and inconsistency

With the defense playing at an elite level, all eyes land on whether the Vikings' offense can find a steady footing. The run game is a work in progress, the o-line is banged up and QB Kyler Murray's style introduces volatility. There are flashes — especially when weapons like Justin Jefferson are healthy — but overall the offense feels "grab bag," per Klassen, and is prone to stalls and third-and-longs, leaving it too dependent on Murray heroics or play extension.

For more NFL insight, tune into "Football 301" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Jets beat the Wild 5-2 as Cole Perfetti scores 2 goals

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Cole Perfetti scored a pair of goals, Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists, and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Tuesday night.

Perfetti opened the scoring with his fourth of the season just 1:50 into the game. He added another late in the second period on the power play, converting a pass from Gabriel Vilardi in the slot.

Promoted to the top line with Scheifele and Kyle Connor, the trio combined for seven points against the Wild. Connor had a goal and assist. Connor now has goals in three straight games and in five of six games this season.

Perfetti now has five goals this season. Last season, the Jets winger needed 40 games to score five times.

Cole Koepke also scored for Winnipeg, which finished a three-game homestand 2-1.

Stuart Skinner made 19 saves and has yet to lose in regulation this season, with a 3-0-1 record.

Kirill Kaprizov scored both goals for the Wild, who were playing the second of back-to-back games after defeating the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night. Calvin Pickard stopped 20 shots. Kaprizov’s two goals gives him the NHL lead, with eight. Quinn Hughes’ assist extended his point streak to seven games. He has two goals and eight assists in that span.

Winnipeg went 1 for 2 on the power play, while Minnesota was 0 for 2.

Winnipeg never trailed in the game, taking 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 leads.

Up next

Wild: Host St. Louis on Thursday night.

Jets: At Chicago on Thursday night.

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

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Knicks reserves demolished by Raptors as starters don’t play in ugly 50-point preseason loss

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Adam Graves looks to put up a shot as James Wiseman (35) and Mohamed Diawara (51) defend during the Knicks' 148-98 preseason blowout loss to the Raptors on Oct. 13, 2026 in Toronto, Image 2 shows Miles McBride drives to the basket during the Knicks' preseason blowout loss to the Raptors

TORONTO — No, the preseason results don’t actually matter. Knicks coach Mike Brown instead harps on the process.

Whatever this process was, though, it was ugly.

With Knicks starters — as well as veteran bench pieces Landry Shamet, Andre Drummond and Jordan Clarkson — sitting out the team’s preseason game (since it was the second leg of a back-to-back) against the Raptors on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena, it was a chance for those battling for bigger roles and roster spots to help their cases.

Brown went with Jose Alvarado, Miles McBride, Mohamed Diawara, Bruce Brown and James Wiseman as his starters.

Adam Graves looks to put up a shot as James Wiseman (35) and Mohamed Diawara (51) defend during the Knicks’ 148-98 preseason blowout loss to the Raptors on Oct. 13, 2026 in Toronto. John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Raptors, however, used their normal starting lineup — which now includes Kawhi Leonard. And the Knicks reserves got crushed by a staggering 50 points — 148-98 — to continue their winless preseason (0-4).

“It’s not necessarily what’s on the scoreboard at that particular time,” an unconcerned Brown said. “It’s are you doing the right things to be better and/or get better? And in the first half, what I was most disappointed in was we weren’t putting bodies on bodies. Fifteen second-chance points in one half is not good. Thirty fast-break points in one half is not good.

Miles McBride drives to the basket during the Knicks’ preseason blowout loss to the Raptors. NBAE via Getty Images

“And then the way they sped us up, and us not necessarily touching the paint and trying to spray it and/or making quick decisions is not good. So that’s what I was most disappointed in in the first half. I really didn’t care about the score, especially with the group we had on the floor.”

Mikal Bridges made the trip here and went through a workout on the court pregame, though the four other Knicks starters — as well as Shamet, Drummond and Clarkson — stayed home.

Drew Eubanks, Tyler Nickel, Pacôme Dadiet, Tony Bradley, Ochai Agbaji, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek and Jaden Akins were the other Knicks who saw action.

They trailed by 20 after the first quarter.

The deficit ballooned to 28 early in the second quarter, reached 35 just past the midway point of the quarter and was at 38 by halftime.

It didn’t get much better in the second half, as the Knicks backups looked overmatched going against a playoff team that just added a superstar to its ranks.

“You never want to lose in that way,” McBride said. “But at the same time, we just gotta move on. Preseason is for those reasons. Missing eight of our guys, you just want to come out there and have a positive mindset. Go out there and play hard. There were things we could’ve definitely done better, but they’re a playoff team and you add a Hall of Famer with them.”

Leonard had his way with the Knicks with 21 points in 16 minutes, with Scottie Barnes and Collin Murray-Boyles adding 19 apiece and RJ Barrett chipping in 17. The Raptors as a whole shot 57.3 percent from the field.

This was like those blowouts the Knicks punished opponents with during their championship run — except this time with the roles reversed.

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Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks lift the Rays to a 3-1 win over the Guardians that evens the ALCS at 1-1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Freddy Peralta threw six innings of four-hit ball, Liam Hicks lined a two-run single after a fielding error by José Ramírez and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-1 Tuesday night to even the AL Championship Series at 1-1.

Game 3 of the best-of-seven series is Thursday night in Cleveland.

Ramírez, whose two-run homer in Game 5 of their AL Division Series against Chicago helped the Guardians become the 11th team to overcome an 0-2 deficit in a best-of-five series, misplayed a grounder in the fourth inning that led to three unearned runs against rookie lefty Parker Messick.

Junior Caminero walked to start that inning and Victor Mesa Jr. grounded into a forceout originally ruled a double play. The Rays challenged the calls at both first and second and Mesa was ruled safe when a video review overturned the out decision by first base umpire Mark Ripperger.

After Jonny DeLuca struck out, Chandler Simpson beat out a high chopper to shortstop, and the Mesa reached third standing up when Ramírez failed to cover the bag.

Ben Williamson followed with a grounder that scooted underneath Ramírez’s glove and between his legs after the ball hit the edge where the artificial turf met the infield dirt. The third baseman played back rather than charging.

Williamson reached second and Simpson went to third. Hicks drove the next pitch to right-center for a 3-0 lead, electrifying the towel-waving, cowbell-ringing crowd of 32,125 fans at Tropicana Field.

Peralta and three relievers didn’t need any more support.

With fans chanting “Freddy! Freddy! Freddy!” Peralta struck out six to earn the win. He was fired up walking off the mound in the sixth after fanning Petey Halpin swinging at a 3-2 changeup.

Kevin Kelly got two outs in the seventh, retiring Ramírez on a fly ball to center with two runners on.

Lefty Ian Seymour replaced him and Chase DeLauter lined an RBI double to the right-field corner.

Seymour struck out Jo Adell swinging at a changeup, leaving runners at second and third. Seymour pitched a 1-2-3 eighth and Bryan Baker finished with a perfect ninth for his fourth postseason save.

Acquired by the Rays from the Mets at the trade deadline, Peralta turned around his season in Tampa Bay going 5-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts after posting a 4.99 ERA for New York.

Messick, who grew up going to Rays games at the Trop, took the loss after giving up six hits and the three unearned runs in five innings.

Cleveland had won four straight in the postseason for the first time since winning their first six playoff games in 2016 on the way to a World Series berth.

The 98-win Rays swept the New York Yankees before a 7-3 loss in Game 1 on Monday.

No hit for you

Caminero leaped to his left to snag Steven Kwan’s hard liner to third in the fifth and then wagged his finger toward the batter. Caminero, who played all 162 games in the regular season and hit 42 home runs, was in the lineup after a collision with DeLuca on a foul ball in the ninth inning Monday night.

Up Next

Neither team had announced a starter for Thursday night. RHP Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) started Game 3 against the Yankees, allowing two runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings in a 4-3 victory. RHP Gavin Williams (14-8, 3.76) is on schedule to start for the Guardians. Williams started Games 2 and 5 against the White Sox and tossed an inning in relief in Game 4. He had 24 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and six hits.

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Cubs BCB After Dark: Should the Cubs pick up Colin Rea’s option?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 31: Colin Rea #53 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on August 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Welcome back to BCB After Dark: the hippest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. Come on in and join us. It’s always good to see a friendly face. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. There’s a two-drink minimum, but it’s bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last evening, I asked you who was the Cubs’ Pitcher of the Year for 2026. Admittedly it was a lot of bad choices, but you tied between Shōta Imanaga and Ben Brown, with both of them getting 24 percent of the vote.

On Tuesday night, I don’t normally do an movie stuff. But I always have time for tunes and you’re free to join us.

For our collection of Halloween jazz for October, we have a cocktail lounge classic in Peggy Lee singing the theme song to the sixties television show “Bewitched.” I bet some of you didn’t even know the theme song had lyrics.

I feel like I should have a martini in my hand while I listen to this. Maybe one of you can wiggle their noses and whip one up for me.

Welcome back to everyone who skips the music.

Colin Rea was not listed among my candidates for Cubs Pitcher of the Year, but at least one of you put in a plug for him in the comments. I think the best you can say about Colin Rea at this stage of his career is he’s a dependable innings eater. He can start and he can relieve. He’s thrown over 120 innings in each of the last four seasons and 137 this past year over 19 starts and 15 relief appearances. In that time, Rea went 4.34 with a record of 8-8. He struck out 101 batters and walked 47. Both Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs had Rea’s WAR last year at 0.4. That’s, well, just a little bit better than replacement value. Which means it’s somewhat below average. But hey, this isn’t Lake Woebegone. At least half the players have to be below average.

The Cubs have a $7.5 million team option on Rea with a $1 million buyout. So essentially, it will cost the Cubs $6.5 million to keep him around in 2027. (Assuming they play a full season in 2027, which isn’t a guarantee.) Would you pick up that option?

On the one hand, Rea has done everything the Cubs have asked of him. He’s not spectacular out there, but he’s not terrible. He’s someone who can fill in when someone gets hurt and won’t complain in between appearances.

On the other hand, Rea is going to be 36 years old next season. His ERA this past year was kind of “meh” at 4.34, but his expected ERA was a poor 5.35. His fielding independent pitching (FIP) was a below average 4.80. It wouldn’t be unfair to say that what little success that Rea had in 2026 was because of the Cubs defense and that the Cubs might be able to get another pitcher who replicate that performance for less salary.

So would you bring Colin Rea back for a third season? Or more precisely, would you pick up his team option? Because technically, the Cubs could possibly decline the option and try to sign him back for less.

Thanks for everyone who stopped by tonight. We enjoyed hosting you. Get home safely. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.

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Cavalier superlatives: Meleek Thomas shines in an otherwise disappointing performance vs. Magic

ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 13: Meleek Thomas #15 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Orlando Magic on October 13, 2026 at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished their preseason with a whimper, as they fell to the Orlando Magic 132-116 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score would indicate.

Three stars of the game

First star: Franz Wagner

20 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds

The Magic have skilled pieces, they just don’t fit together. That changes when Wagner is able to create for others as easily as he did on Tuesday.

Orlando’s offense makes sense when Wagner is attacking downhill, getting to the line, and kicking out to shooters. This was the offensive formula new head coach Sean Sweeney wants to see from his team going forward.

Second star: Paolo Banchero

24 points, 3 assists, 8 rebounds

The Cavs didn’t have an answer for Banchero inside. He went 7-for-8 in the restricted area and 8-for-10 in the paint overall.

This was a stark contrast to what we saw Sunday. Then, Cleveland’s defense did a good job of containing Banchero by mostly making him a jump shooter as he went 1-for-10 from the field that game. That formula was lost entirely in this matchup in what was an overall awful defensive outing for the Cavs.

Third star: Meleek Thomas

16 points, 0 assists, 3 rebounds

Thomas was the lone Cavalier standout in this game. He made the most of his opportunity in the fourth quarter by putting up 14 of his 16 points then.

It’s worth pointing out that Thomas’s scoring hasn’t exactly translated to an off-ball role. Whether or not he can show these same skills playing away from the ball could determine the rookie’s impact this season. That said, the flashes you see when you put the ball in his hands are incredibly encouraging.

Dud of the game

Evan Mobley

14 points, 5 rebounds, 0 assists

This wasn’t an objectively bad game, but it was the continuation of an underwhelming preseason for Mobley. The Cavs have talked about wanting to get him comfortable in the offense. He hasn’t looked that way, as this showing was on the heels of a 3-for-10 shooting performance on Sunday.

You don’t want to make too much of preseason, but there hasn’t been much from these three games that would make you believe a drastic leap is coming.

Cavalier who deserves a shoutout

Jaylon Tyson

12 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist

Tyson continues to showcase the well-rounded game he teased at times last season. He seems much more comfortable creating with the ball in his hands. That pairs well with a solid three-point shot and the consistent energy he plays with.

Play of the game

Kenny Atkinson has talked about using Mario Hezonja in the post when he has a mismatch. This shows how doing so can lead to an easy basket.

Here, Hezonja gets a mismatch on him, backs his guy in the post, and then forces Goga Bitadze to step up to help. That help defense gave Jarrett Allen a runway to get into the lane and draw a foul.

Efficient scoring often comes down to whether you can create and exploit mismatches. Plays like this show how Hezonja can do that.

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Quote of the game

“We got to have a first line of attack that’s a little stronger.” – Assistant coach Mike Gerrity

Defense starts at the point of attack. You can’t protect the rim if the guards are consistently getting blown by on the perimeter. That forces you into rotation, opens up driving angles off ball, and leaves you vulnerable to three-pointers.

This was a bad game all around, but the reason this got out of hand was due to a lack of perimeter defense.

Stat of the day

The Magic put up a 109.7 half-court offensive rating (92nd percentile)

This number represents how poorly Cleveland played on that end. You don’t give up that high of a half-court offensive rating without struggling to contain the ball. When you can’t contain the ball, the offense can continually get easy looks just by making one or two passes.

It’s just preseason, but Cleveland’s defense has left a lot to be desired in three exhibition games after setting the goal of being a top-five defense.

What this game will be remembered for Meleek Thomas’s fourth-quarter breakout

You don’t want to get carried away by a garbage-time preseason performance. Yet, the Cavs have to be pleased with what they’ve seen from Thomas in these three exhibition games.

This strong on-ball scoring outing doesn’t mean that Thomas will have a place in the rotation when the season starts, but at the same time, the other guards in the depth chart haven’t exactly shown that they’re more deserving of those minutes either. If he does get a shot in the opening night rotation, we can point back to the close of this game as to why.

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Flyers Lose 8th Straight Despite Best Efforts as Spiral Continues

The Philadelphia Flyers looked as much like a real hockey team as they have all season, and despite an encouraging comeback that saw them erase a 2-0 deficit, they sputtered out, ultimately falling 3-2 to the Seattle Kraken in shootout fashion.

Kraken forward Bobby McMann opened the scoring on a pop fly in close proximity to Dan Vladar, swatting home on the power play on an opportunity generated by a Jack Studnicka tripping penalty.

The penalties and an overall lack of discipline in all facets have plagued the Flyers throughout their eight-game winless start, and Studnicka and Michael Bunting, players brought in by the Flyers to provide a spark, took penalties that led to goals in the last week.

Just under halfway through the second period, the Kraken doubled their lead to 2-0 on a Ville Ottavainen wrist shot through some heavy traffic, which was again produced by a series of unavoidable mistakes.

David Jiricek was forced to ice the puck on a long line change, and the Kraken proceeded to cycle the puck around the Flyers' defensive zone until Ottavainen's long-range shot through traffic beat Vladar.

After some taunting and back and forth between Trevor Zegras and Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer, the Flyers finally caught some life in the third period.

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After diving to break up a 2-on-1, rookie defenseman Oliver Bonk raced up the left wing before dishing a backhand pass through the middle of the ice. Tyson Foerster dummied the pass, which allowed Christian Dvorak to slam home the puck at the back door for an easy Flyers goal to make it a 2-1 game.

Zegras would get his revenge on Grubauer a short time later, rifling a shot into the top left corner to tie the game after a tremendous solo rush from Travis Sanheim during a 4-on-4 sequence.

"It is what it is," Zegras sheepishly said of his kerfuffle with the Seattle goalie after the game, visibly dismayed with an eighth consecutive loss.

The Flyers squandered a promising overtime period, taking a lazy too many men penalty to put the Kraken on the power play for two minutes of the final 2:39.

Soon after, the shootout required 10 shooters to decide the victor, with Matvei Michkov the lone scorer with the Flyers.

Matty Beniers and Bobby McMann each scored for the Kraken despite some phenomenal efforts from Vladar, which included a marvelous glove save on Mackie Samoskevich.

"He's been solid every time he starts. There's a couple of bouncy goals this year that he's really upset about," Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said of Vladar after the shootout loss. "We're not blaming the goalies. To be honest, they've been terrific for us this year."

With the loss, Vladar dropped to 0-3-1 on the season, though his GAA and save percentage improved to 4.21 and .875, respectively.

The Flyers will practice at 12 p.m. at the Flyers Training Center in Voorhees, N.J. on Wednesday before facing the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday night.