It was a night to remember for Jonathan Costagna, even if the Calgary Flames would rather forget the final result.
The Flames fell 7-3 to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome, but the game marked a significant milestone for the 21-year-old forward, who made his NHL debut against a lineup featuring some of the league’s biggest stars, including Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Recently recalled from the Calgary Wranglers, Costagna took his rookie lap during warmups before getting his first taste of NHL action. It was a moment he had been encouraged to appreciate, knowing there would only be one first game.
“Before the game everyone was telling me to soak it in, you can only do it once, and I tried to do that as much as possible,” said Costagna. “When you get into the game it gets pretty intense out there and I can look back on it and say I’m really grateful for it and (I’m) just looking forward to what’s next.”
Seeing the opposition up close for the first time brought its own challenges, but Costagna felt he handled the moment well.
“Warmups is the first time where you look across from you and you see these guys and it could get a little intimidating, but I feel like I did a pretty good job handling that stress, because at the end of the day I want to win, and that’s what I tried to contribute (to) out there tonight.”
Rather than letting the names across from him become a distraction, the rookie focused on competing and trusting his game.
“I was taking it out there against some veterans today,” said Costagna. “You try to go into it with an ‘I’m going to beat you’ mindset and I feel like I did that pretty well all night, considering a lot of the guys I’m playing against were in the league for a long time now.”
The night also brought Costagna his first NHL point, coming on a play that showcased the speed and finishing ability of fellow forward Adam Klapka.
Costagna chipped the puck out of the defensive zone and onto Klapka’s stick. The 6-foot-8 forward took over from there, driving into the offensive zone, toe-dragging around a defenceman and firing a wrist shot past the goaltender.
Watching the play develop, Costagna could barely hide his excitement as Klapka finished the sequence.
“That was crazy,” he chuckled, reminiscing about watching Klapka. “Really happy that he did that, obviously, I didn’t have to do much for it, to get that off my back is really cool, but kudos to him that was unbelievable.”
While the result wasn’t what Calgary wanted, Costagna now has his first NHL game - and point - behind him. The experience should provide something to build on as he looks to establish himself at the highest level.
With his debut out of the way, the next question is what comes next for the young forward. The Flames are back in action Saturday, when we’ll see whether Costagna gets another opportunity to build on his NHL debut.
CALGARY, CANADA - OCTOBER 08: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his second period goal against the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on October 08, 2026 in Calgary, Alberta. (Photo by Leah Hennel/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche didn’t exactly come flying out of the gate Thursday night, but once they found their game, the Calgary Flames had a tough time keeping up.
Coming off a frustrating 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, the Avs responded with a 7-3 win in Calgary, using a big second period to take control and hand the Flames their fourth straight loss to start the season.
Devon Toews, Cale Makar and Jaden Schwartz each scored twice, while Nathan MacKinnon put up three points. Brett Kulak added two assists, and Scott Wedgewood stopped 26 shots to pick up the win despite some shaky defensive play in front of him.
It wasn’t always pretty, but the Avs found their offense when they needed it.
First Period
The first period was a bit of a mess for Colorado.
A couple of turnovers in their own zone gave Calgary some dangerous chances, and Wedgewood had to bail his teammates out more than once. One of his biggest saves came on a shorthanded breakaway by Joel Farabee after Colorado’s power play got off to a rough start.
The Flames were generating more pressure early, outshooting Colorado 5-2 midway through the period. The Avs weren’t doing themselves any favors with the puck, either, struggling to put together much of anything offensively.
Eventually, though, they found a breakthrough.
With just over five minutes left in the period, Cale Makar found Toews in the low slot, and the defenseman redirected the puck past Flames netminder Devin Cooley to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.
That was a nice change of pace for Toews, who didn’t score his first goal last season until Colorado’s 25th game. This time, he got on the board in Game 4.
Calgary answered before the period was over. Adam Klapka made a slick move around Josh Manson before firing a wrist shot off the post and into the net to tie things up at 1-1.
Toews took a penalty late in the period, sending the Avs into the intermission with some penalty-killing work ahead of them and plenty to clean up.
Second Period
Colorado came out looking like a much different team in the second period.
After killing off the carryover penalty, the Avs got right back to work, and Toews struck again. This time, he fired from just inside the blue line, sending the puck through traffic and past Cooley to put Colorado back in front.
Then Makar got in on the fun.
MacKinnon sprung him with a pass, and Makar used his speed to blow past the Calgary defense before beating Cooley with a shot to make it 3-1.
MacKinnon got one of his own shortly afterward, finishing a feed from Zachary L’Heureux to stretch Colorado’s lead to three. The Avs kept the pressure on, turning what had been a tight game into a much more comfortable one.
L’Heureux also brought some extra energy to the night, dropping the gloves with Matt Coronato late in the period. The forward was playing in just his second straight game after missing Colorado’s first two contests with a lower-body injury.
The Avs headed into the third with a 4-1 lead, having found their offensive rhythm and put Calgary on its heels.
Third Period
Any thoughts of a Calgary comeback took a hit pretty quickly in the third.
Makar scored again early in the period, pouncing on a loose puck after a pass from Nazem Kadri deflected off MacKinnon. He made no mistake, burying it to give Colorado a 5-1 advantage.
Schwartz followed less than a minute later, getting to a loose puck in the slot and firing it past Cooley to make it 6-1.
Calgary managed to respond with goals from Mikael Backlund and Kevin Bahl, cutting the deficit to 6-3 and briefly making things a little more interesting.
But the Avs had an answer of their own.
Schwartz scored his second of the night just over a minute after Bahl’s goal, taking a backhand feed from Fedor Svechkov and beating Cooley from a sharp angle. It was Schwartz’s third goal in the span of about 24 hours, following his goal in Wednesday’s loss to Winnipeg.
That pretty much wrapped things up.
Colorado scored six times over the final 40 minutes, turning an uneven start into a convincing 7-3 road win.
A Much-Needed Response
After letting a winnable game slip away against Winnipeg, the Avs got the offensive bounce-back they needed. Toews and Makar each had two-goal nights, MacKinnon continued to produce, and Schwartz made an immediate impact with another pair of goals.
There are still some defensive issues to sort out. The early turnovers and Calgary’s three goals are reminders that Colorado can’t afford to get quite so loose against tougher opponents.
Still, putting seven goals on the board on the road is a pretty good way to respond to a disappointing loss.
Upcoming
The Avalanche will look to carry that momentum home when they face Gavin McKenna and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Ball Arena on Saturday, October 10. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time.
CHICAGO — José Ramírez homered and drove in three runs, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 9-5 on Thursday night to send their AL Division Series to a winner-take-all Game 5.
Patrick Bailey also went deep as the Guardians won for the second consecutive day in Chicago after beginning their postseason with two straight losses at home.
Jo Adell hit a two-run single to cap a six-run sixth inning for the AL Central champions.
Cleveland is looking to become the first major league team to come back from a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-five playoff series since the 2017 Yankees accomplished the feat against, well, Cleveland.
Teams with a 2-0 lead in a best-of-five postseason series have gone on to win 83 of 93 times.
José Ramírez watches his two-run homer leave the yard during the fifth inning of the Guardians’ 9-5 win over the White Sox in Game 4 of their ALDS series on Oct. 8, 2026 in Chicago. Getty Images
Game 5 is back in Cleveland on Saturday night, and the winner will open the American League Championship Series at Tampa Bay next Monday.
“As we’ve battled back and forth with these guys, obviously fitting that it’s going to come down to this,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “It’s been how the back and forth has been all year.”
Chicago’s bullpen — one of its biggest strengths in a surprising season — is suddenly looking very tired. Grant Taylor was hit hard after pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings over the first two games of the series, allowing four runs and four hits without retiring any of the six batters he faced during Cleveland’s rally in the sixth.
Miguel Vargas homered late for the White Sox, who flopped in their second straight bid to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.
Sam Antonacci drove in two runs.
Game 2 starter Gavin Williams got the last three outs on two days of rest for Cleveland after Vargas began the ninth with his first postseason homer.
It was the first career relief appearance for Williams, who could start Game 5 as well.
The right-hander threw 18 pitches after throwing 98 on Monday. He was the seventh Guardians reliever as the teams combined to use 15 pitchers in a game that took 3 hours, 39 minutes.
Williams went 14-8 this season and led the AL with 248 strikeouts.
Cleveland trailed 2-0 before rallying in the fifth. Bailey led off with a pinch-hit homer, and Steven Kwan chased Erick Fedde with a one-out single.
The MLB playoff bracket.
Jordan Hicks came in and Ramírez drove a 99.9 mph fastball deep to right-center for just his second homer since Sept. 1, a span of 26 games. The seven-time All-Star had surgery after he broke a bone in his left hand on a swing June 13.
It was Ramírez’s first postseason homer since 2024 and No. 5 overall. He also starred in Game 3, finishing with two hits and two RBIs in Cleveland’s 9-3 victory.
Chicago responded with two runs in the bottom half, sending a charge through the crowd of 39,920. Antonacci was hit by a pitch from Tim Herrin with the bases loaded, and Brenton Doyle made it 4-3 with a sacrifice fly.
The White Sox had the bases loaded with two down, but rookie Braden Montgomery struck out swinging against winning pitcher Erik Sabrowski.
José Ramírez celebrates after hitting a two-run homer during the fifth inning of the Guardians’ Game 4 win over the White Sox. Getty Images
Antonacci has been plunked 33 times this year, including a franchise-record 29 in the regular season.
The rookie became the first player in postseason history to be hit by a pitch with the bases loaded multiple times in a career, after he was also plunked in the same situation in Game 3.
Losing pitcher Anthony Kay started the sixth for Chicago, but the left-hander was replaced by Taylor after Travis Bazzana’s RBI double tied it at 4.
Bailey greeted Taylor with a run-scoring single, and Cleveland started to pull away.
Walks by Brayan Rocchio and Kwan loaded the bases for Ramírez, who made it 6-4 with an infield single. Chase DeLauter added another run-scoring single before Adell capped the outburst with a liner to right that drove in Kwan and Ramírez.
“They’re making really good swing decisions. They’re making contact. We talked about how good a job they do of doing that,” Venable said. “When you walk guys, they make you pay. We were able to get away with it a couple times the first couple games. These last two, just weren’t able to.”
Adell hit a three-run triple during Cleveland’s Game 3 victory. He has four hits, three walks and six RBIs in the series.
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Cale Makar had two goals and an assist, Devon Toews and Jaden Schwartz also each scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche beat the winless Calgary Flames 7-3 on Thursday night.
Nathan MacKinnon scored and had two assists as Colorado (3-1-0) bounced back from a 3-2 loss in Winnipeg on Wednesday night.
Scott Wedgewood, making his season debut, had 26 saves to win in his 200th career NHL game.
Adam Klapka, Mikael Backlund and Kevin Bahl scored for Calgary (0-4-0), the only NHL team yet to record a point this season. The Flames have been outscored 23-6 for a league-worst minus-17 goal differential.
Flames goalie Devin Cooley made 23 stops.
Tied 1-1 after the first period, Colorado scored three times in less than five minutes in the second. The Avalanche tacked on two more goals early in the third period.
The Senators improved to 3-1-0 on the young season thanks to a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers in their home opener on Thursday night. Carter Yakemchuk's power-play one-timer in the third period stood up as the game-winning goal.
Once again, as has been the case in all three of their wins this season, the victory was bittersweet thanks to another injury.
This time, it was newcomer William Eklund who went down with a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return. Eklund took a clean hit from Flyers defenceman Simon Benoit and had to be helped off the ice, unable to put any weight on his left leg.
Eklund appeared to jam his skate awkwardly into the base of the boards, with the toe of his skate moving upward as if the skate had come off. That makes you think right away that something very bad happened to the ankle or achilles.
William Eklund leaves the game with a lower-body injury after taking a hit from Simon Benoit. pic.twitter.com/i6P9Fj164E
But Travis Green had no update on Eklund after the game.
The Senators also lost key players to injury in their first two wins of the season. Jake Sanderson was hurt in Toronto and still isn't skating with the team, while Linus Ullmark was injured in Boston on Monday.
Fortunately, Ullmark was able to return to action Thursday night against the Flyers, stopping 28 of 29 shots. The one goal he allowed was an absolute stinker, but nobody in Ottawa is going to complain about a .966 save percentage on the night.
The Senators opened the scoring midway through the first period when Nick Cousins tipped home a shot from Tyler Kleven.
That lead held up until early in the second, when Matvei Michkov scored one of the easiest goals he'll ever get.
On a Philadelphia power play, Trevor Zegras fired a shot from the top of the circle that Ullmark appeared to see all the way. Somehow, the puck trickled right through him and sat in the crease, fat and juicy, waiting for Michkov to swat it home.
That set the stage for Yakemchuk, who delivered the biggest goal of the night with under seven minutes remaining in regulation.
Claude Giroux made a pass to the rookie defenceman that was perfectly paced and placed for a one-timer. Yakemchuk absolutely blasted it past Joseph Woll for what proved to be the game-winner. While there are certainly still defensive warts that will improve with time, Yakemchuk's cannon of a shot makes him a nice new weapon on the power play.
The Flyers then had the Senators under siege in the final couple of minutes. But the Sens held them off, surviving the late pressure and hanging on for the win.
“You knew Philly was going to play a hell of a game tonight,” Green said. “I thought they did. It was just a greasy, greasy game that had a lot of intensity to it, and we wanted to win that.”
Hoyt Stanley was just happy to be there, making his NHL debut for the Senators as a last-minute call-up from Belleville. Cam Crotty took the morning skate but was under the weather and did not dress.
The Senators officially went 1-for-5 on the power play, although you could make the argument it was more like 2-for-5. Cousins' first-period goal came just four seconds after Travis Sanheim's tripping penalty expired, before the Flyers defenceman had a chance to get back into the play.
Through five games, the Flyers are now 0-3-2 on the year and have scored a grand total of six goals.
After playing their first three games on the road, the Senators can look forward to a little more home cooking. Including Thursday, they're now in a stretch where they play seven of nine games at Canadian Tire Centre, with their next game coming Saturday night at 7 p.m. against the Nashville Predators.
Nashville will arrive in Ottawa fresh off a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night, despite being badly outshot 34-20.
Going yard: Miguel Vargas went deep in the ninth for the only White Sox homer of Game 4. Vargas reached base safely four times in the loss. | Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
With a second opportunity to seal the series at home, the White Sox (84-78) laid an egg against the Guardians (85-77), who tied the series with a 9-5 victory. The only ongoing Division Series is tied at two, and the only remaining game will happen in Cleveland.
Left-handed pitcher Hagen Smith got the start for the South Siders. Smith issued a six-pitch walk to Steven Kwan to open the game, but he retired José Ramírez with a fly out to medium-deep center. From there, Smith nearly got out of the first inning with a modest 11-pitch workload. The White Sox had a chance to turn a 3-6-1 double play when Chase DeLauter hit a grounder to first. Murakami made a quick throw to second, but on what was turning out to be a close play at first, Smith failed to handle Colson Montgomery’s return throw. As a result, DeLauter was safe at first.
Jo Adell proceeded to work an eight-pitch walk to extend the inning, and Nathaniel Lowe drew yet another eight-pitch walk. That increased Smith’s pitch count to 27, and the bases were suddenly loaded with two outs. In addition, Kyle Teel used a challenge on the 3-2 pitch to Lowe that missed the bottom of the zone by 2.2´´, not a wise challenge. At that point, Erick Fedde entered the game for his first appearance of the series. Fedde’s task was to retire Angel Martínez, and on a 1-2 sweeper, he did just that. Martínez chased the sweeper in the dirt, and the threat was gone. The crowd for this blackout game collectively exhaled and cheered.
Cleveland lefty Parker Messick got off to a strong start against the White Sox, retiring three of four batters he faced in the first. The only White Sox hitter to reach was Miguel Vargas, who drew his sixth walk of the series. Vargas drew that walk with two outs, and Messick struck out Murakami to strand Vargas at first.
Fedde got through the top of the second without drama, and things appeared to be looking up when Tommy Pham drew a leadoff walk in the White Sox half. However, Brenton Doyle looked at a 3-2 fastball that caught plenty of the plate, Teel chased a changeup in the dirt, and Braden Montgomery struck out swinging. Braden got ahead in the count at 2-0, and the third pitch was incorrectly called a strike. The rookie thought of challenging the pitch, but held off due to potentially using up the team’s the second ABS challenge just two innings into the game. Braden struck out two pitches later.
After another strong inning by Fedde in the top of the third, the White Sox offense got down to business in the bottom half. Colson Montgomery hit a soft grounder back to the mound. Messick attempted to field the ball with the glove behind his back, but he could not gather it cleanly. The ball squirted off to the side, and Colson had an infield single. Chase Meidroth followed with a double to the left field corner. Colson advanced to third, and the White Sox had a pair in scoring position with no outs. Randal Grichuk struck out swinging at a fastball above the zone, but Vargas worked an excellent plate appearance to draw a seven-pitch walk and load the bases. In a high-leverage spot, the stage was set for Murakami, who also displayed an excellent batting eye by drawing a six-pitch walk to force in the game’s first run. With the boisterous crowd going wild, Messick was removed from the game with the bases loaded and one out. Right-handed reliever Shawn Armstrong took over to face pinch-hitter Sam Antonacci, who replaced Pham. On Armstrong’s first pitch, Antonacci took advantage of a breaking ball that caught a large part of the plate and lined it toward right-center. DeLauter ran it down, so Antonacci had to settle for a sacrifice fly, but that was enough to double the lead. Armstrong got Doyle to line out, but the damage was done. The White Sox led by a score of 2-0 after three, and Cleveland’s ace was already out of the game.
After a quiet fourth inning, the Guardians offense came to life in the fifth, finally managing to put themselves on the board. Catcher Patrick Bailey entered the game as a pinch-hitter and launched a solo homer against Fedde, who had been cruising up until that point. After a line out by Brayan Rocchio and a single by Kwan, Fedde’s strong outing was over with a runner on first and one out. Jordan Hicks took over on the mound and got a favorable call on the first pitch he threw to Ramírez. However, Ramírez was expecting another high fastball, and this time, he turned on it and drove it over the wall in right-center. Just like that, the Guardians had a 3-2 lead and plenty of momentum.
The White Sox were not behind for long. Meidroth added to his strong performance with a leadoff walk, and although Tristan Peters struck out, Vargas drew yet another free pass. That prompted a pitching change, as Tim Herrin replaced Armstrong on the mound. That move nearly backfired immediately in spectacular fashion, as Herrin’s first pitch to Murakami was a hanging curveball that Murakami crushed. Off the bat, it looked like it could be trouble, but Murakami was barely early on it, and the ball drifted foul down the right field line. Two pitches later, however, Murakami lined a single to left to load the bases. Up to the plate stepped Antonacci, who was hit by yet another pitch. Antonacci seems to be a magician when it comes to HBPs, and this was his fourth one already this postseason. This HBP forced in the tying run, and the White Sox still only had one out. From there, Doyle got the job done with a sacrifice fly to drive in Vargas, and suddenly, the White Sox were back in front, 4-3.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the sixth, when Anthony Kay took over on the mound for the White Sox. After retiring Lowe to open the inning, outs were difficult for Kay and the White Sox to collect. Kay hit Martínez, who proceeded to steal second despite an accurate throw by Teel. With Martínez on second, Bazzana hit a liner to right. Braden Montgomery appeared to have a bead on it, but he could not track it down. Martínez scored, and Bazzana parked at second with a double to tie the game at four. At that point, with the game being in the balance, Grant Taylor took over.
Taylor entered the game as the MVP of the series with +3.42 cWPA (Championship Win Probability Added). Taylor relinquished that spot with this outing, which went as poorly as it could have gone. The first batter against Taylor was Bailey, who poked a grounder through the left side for a go-ahead RBI single. That put the Guardians ahead, 5-4, and they were not done. Taylor issued back-to-back walks to Rocchio and Kwan to load the bases for Ramírez. Taylor got Ramírez to hit a curveball into the ground, and it appeared the White Sox would be able to pick up at least one out. However, Meidroth, who was playing in, did not field it cleanly, and everyone advanced 90 feet safely. From there, the situation got out of hand. DeLauter drove in an insurance run with a single, and Adell continued his attack on White Sox pitching with a two-run single. Incredibly, Adell became the eighth consecutive Guardian to reach base safely, and the score was 9-4. Finally, Taylor’s nightmarish outing was over after failing to retire any of the six batters he faced.
After the dust of that top of the sixth inning settled, the game intensity plummeted given Cleveland’s lead. What was surprising, however, was that after that bizarre sequence, nobody scored again until the bottom of the ninth. Part of that was because Cleveland put Cade Smith in the game to open the bottom of the eighth, even though Cleveland had a five-run lead. Smith shut the White Sox down in the eighth, but the Vargas got the best of Smith in the ninth, launching a solo homer to open the frame.
That cut the deficit to four, but the South Siders were still deep in the woods. Smith proceeded to walk Murakami before being pulled after 31 pitches. Another surprising development occurred when presumed Game 5 starter Gavin Williams took over on the mound in relief of Smith. Antonacci was the first batter to face Williams, and he singled to bring the potential tying run to the on-deck circle. As a result, there was a glimmer of hope for the White Sox, who had runners on first and second with no outs in a 9-5 game. However, Williams got pinch-hitter Andrew Benintendi to chase a couple of breaking balls in the dirt for the first out, and Williams got into a groove from there. Teel worked an intense plate appearance, but on the eighth pitch, Teel grounded into a fielder’s choice at second base out for the second out of the inning. With the potential tying run still in the on-deck circle, Braden Montgomery hit a soft liner to left that appeared to have a chance of falling for a single. However, Kwan, who has won four Gold Gloves, got a good jump on the ball to make a nice catch. As a result, Williams iced the game, though he needed 18 pitches Cleveland surely didn’t want to burn.
The White Sox will be back in action on Saturday in Cleveland at 7 p.m. CT. This time, there will be no wiggle room, as the winner of that game will take the series and face the Rays (98-64) in the ALCS. TBS/HBO Max and TruTV will televise Game 5, and WMVP 1000 AM will have the radio coverage. We will see you then for a crucial matchup.
On Aug. 6, the Pittsburgh Penguins made a move that no one really saw coming.
No, they didn't land a superstar winger who was the subject of rumors all summer long. No, they didn't re-sign their 39-year-old captain and NHL legend. And, no, they didn't make a splash. But they did take a big gamble on a young player with little NHL experience and not a ton to show for that experience up to that point.
And, in the earlygoing of the 2026-27 season, that gamble has begun to show early signs of positivity.
Sure, the average annual value of $4 million isn't seismic - especially with the salary cap going up substantially - but the term was a head-scratcher for some. That said, Koivunen already has a goal and two points in three games this season and has remained in the NHL lineup despite the vast forward depth the Penguins possess, which is a testament to his play up to this point.
"I feel like [I'm making] good plays with the puck and making some plays," Koivunen said. "Maybe last game wasn't too good, but wasn't too bad, either. So, I feel pretty good right now."
It's been well-documented how hard Koivunen worked this summer to add weight and get stronger. The Penguins wanted to see him be tougher to knock off of pucks and better along the walls, which are both areas of his game that have seen some noticeable improvement in the first three games he's played this season.
He's no longer getting rid of pucks to avoid contact or to make plays hastily. He knows he has the ability and the physical attributes to be able to carry and protect the puck with authority.
"I feel like I'm stronger and I can keep the puck, hold onto pucks more," Koivunen said. "So, yeah, it feels like it's translated to the ice.
"I think I feel more confident. I'm more confident on the boards, and I don't have to get rid of the puck if I have it there and I feel the pressure. So, that's a thing where, right now, I feel better on the walls."
The 23-year-old isn't the only one who has a higher degree of belief in his play at the NHL level.
Going into a shortened training camp this season, young players, in particular, got the short end of the stick because they had far less runway to prove themselves and stand out to the coaching staff. Koivunen's play in the pre-season games - as well as some injuries to NHL regulars - earned him a spot on the opening night roster.
What a disgusting goal by Ville Koivunen. Totally deked Vladar out of his jockstrap.
He played in the season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers and scored an impressive breakaway goal in a 7-0 rout that night. He was scratched in the second game of the season but has played in the last two, registering an assist.
Prior to Wednesday's game against the Washington Capitals, a tough roster decision had to be made in order to activate Bryan Rust from injured reserve, as the roster was at full capacity. While many were quick to point out that Koivunen's eight-year term likely makes him waivers-proof, there is always a small risk of an NHL GM taking a gamble as big as the one Kyle Dubas took when he signed Koivunen.
From the vantage point of head coach Dan Muse, who had Koivunen remain in line rushes and on the power play during practice Tuesday when talk was rampant, the young forward has earned a stay in the lineup through performance.
"He's played well," Muse said. "Honestly, I think, for him, coming off of that Philly game, I can't really think of a harder conversation that I've had to have, in recent memory, at least.
"Ville put in the work this summer. I mean, you go back to that last exhibition game, he scores a breakaway goal there in Philly, he has an assist [against Winnipeg], he's making plays, he's stronger, he's done the things that were asked of him, and he's produced on the ice. So, it's a credit to him and the work he's put in. It's good to see."
Koivunen is cognizant of an entirely new set of expectations now that he has already broken through to the NHL level and signed a long-term commitment with the Penguins. At this point, it's not just about making the NHL and simply sticking at this level, it's about how he can be a difference-maker and show that the team's investment in him was worth the gamble.
He knows that he has been given a chance to show what he is capable of and how he can help the NHL team moving forward, and he plans to continue taking advantage of that opportunity.
"Everyone wants to play well, everyone wants to stay up and play here and play your game in the NHL. I think that's what everyone wants to do," Koivunen said. "I do feel like you get chances here for young guys, and that's good.
"I think it's just work hard and play my game. I know my strengths, use them, and that's pretty much what it is. Just work hard and try to be a better version of yourself every day. It makes you go a long way."
Seriously. The Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox burned through their pitching staffs just to get to a Game 5 on Saturday, Oct. 10, when they'll both likely have to do it all over again. Then one of them will have to head straight to Florida for Game 1 of the ALCS on Monday, Oct. 12, the arms of their pitchers hanging by a thread.
The Rays, meanwhile, are chilling, having completed their sweep of the New York Yankees on Wednesday, Oct. 7. They could enjoy Cleveland's 9-5 win that forced Game 5, watching their would-be opponents beat each other up while the Rays pitchers are getting another breather and manager Kevin Cash is lining up his pitching staffs and batting order exactly how he wants them.
No word on whether the Rays are sipping margaritas and mai tais while they wait.
"We'll worry about that Monday if we're fortunate enough to get there," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said.
"It's always a concern. You're always concerned with workload this time of year," he added. "We ask a lot of these guys, and they step up."
This wasn't how it was supposed to go. The upstart White Sox, the first team to reach the playoffs after consecutive 100-loss seasons, had rolled through the first four games of the postseason, sweeping the Houston Astros in the wild-card round and taking the first two games against the Guardians in Cleveland.
They returned to Rate Field triumphant, having two games to get one win and clinch their first postseason series at home since 1906.
But this is what happens when one team lacks experience and adequate pitching and the other is desperate. Together, Chicago and Cleveland used 15 pitchers who threw a total of almost 370 pitches.
"We punch back," Vogt said of Cleveland refusing to exit the series quietly. "As soon as we went to the bullpen, it felt like it was going to be that type of a back-and-forth game."
Chicago starter Hagen Smith was gone before the first inning was over, giving up three walks to the first five batters he saw. The White Sox chased Cleveland starter Parker Messick by the end of the third inning. And while it's little consolation for having to go back to Cleveland, Chicago forced the Guardians to use ace Gavin Williams out of the bullpen.
Williams, who started Game 2, came in in the ninth after Cade Smith gave up a lead-off homer to Miguel Vargas and walked Munetaka Murakami. Williams threw 18 pitches before ending the game.
"Small victories there, I think," White Sox manager Will Venable said.
Oh, the two games in Chicago each lasted longer than 3 hours, too. There aren't enough ice baths and electronic stim machines in the world that's going to erase all those aches and pains. Especially when there's a flight, albeit a short one, involved.
"Obviously fitting that it's going to come down to this. It's how the back and forth has been all year," Venable said.
This was the 17th game the AL Central rivals have played against each other this year, and neither team has any secrets from the other by by now. They know the other's philosophies and tendencies, and they know how to get to every player on the other's roster.
The ease, if you want to call it that, of how the White Sox won the first two games was the outlier. The battles of the last two games is more the norm.
"If we lose, we're gone. Might as well go out there and win," said Patrick Bailey, who had a pinch-hit home run in the fifth and an RBI single as part of Cleveland's six-run sixth inning. "We've still got one more to win at home."
But there's a price for this backyard brawling. Only after Game 5 will the winner be able to turn their attention to the Rays. Instead of being able to rest and regroup before the ALCS, both teams have to spend the next three days grinding.
The Rays were going to be favored in the ALCS, anyway, having finished the regular season as the American League's best team. But the White Sox and Guardians are making Tampa Bay's job a whole lot easier.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.
They forced a Game 5 in the American League Division Series with a 9-5 win over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, Oct. 8 amid a blackout at Rate Field.
In the fifth inning, José Ramírez hit a go-ahead, two-run home run to put the Guardians up 3-2. With the count 0-1, the third baseman was tossed a fastball by White Sox pitcher Jordan Hicks just above the strike zone. He smacked it hard and watched it sail into the bullpen in right field. Steven Kwan also scored after hitting a single.
Earlier that inning, Patrick Bailey hit a solo home run to put the Guardians on the board. Cleveland had not hit a home run in the first three games of the series.
Chicago answered in the sixth, taking a 4-3 lead. The White Sox scored when Sam Antonacci was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and then Brenton Doyle hit a sacrifice fly.
Cleveland fought back with six runs in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 9-4. Travis Bazzana tied things up with an RBI double, with Bailey, Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Jo Adell (two) adding RBIs in the inning.
The Calgary Flames showed signs of improvement Thursday night but couldn’t keep pace with the Colorado Avalanche, falling 7-3 at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The game featured a pair of familiar faces returning to Calgary in Nazem Kadri and Cale Makar. Makar grew up in Calgary, while Kadri spent multiple seasons with the Flames before being traded to Colorado.
Colorado opened the scoring late in the first period when Makar found Devon Toews beside the crease. Toews redirected the puck past Cooley to give the Avalanche a 1-0 lead.
Adam Klapka provided an immediate response for Calgary at 17:30 with an impressive individual effort. The forward carried the puck into Colorado’s zone, toe-dragged around Josh Manson and fired a wrist shot past Scott Wedgewood to tie the game 1-1.
It was Klapka’s first goal of the season, while Costagna picked up his first NHL point with the secondary assist.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
The Avalanche took control in the second period, starting with Toews’ second goal of the night at 6:45. His point shot found its way through traffic and past a screened Cooley to restore Colorado’s lead.
Makar extended the advantage moments later, beating Cooley with a quick wrist shot between the goaltender’s glove and body. The Colorado defenceman’s second point of the night made it 3-1.
The Flames continued to struggle defensively as Colorado maintained pressure in the offensive zone. Nathan MacKinnon capitalized at 11:39, blasting a one-timer past Cooley off a feed from Zachary L’Heureux to push the lead to 4-1.
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Frustration began to show as Matt Coronato and L’Heureux exchanged words before dropping the gloves for a brief but spirited fight along the boards.
Colorado continued to pull away in the third period. Makar completed his two-goal night with a shot from the high slot that found the top of the net, making it 5-1. MacKinnon and Kadri picked up the assists.
The Avalanche added another when T.J. Hughes found Jaden Schwartz in front of the net. Schwartz finished the play by roofing the puck past Cooley to make it 6-1.
Kevin Bahl followed at 8:28, putting a shot toward the net that deflected past Wedgewood off a body in front. Suddenly, the Flames had scored twice in just over a minute to make it 6-3.
Any hopes of building further momentum were short-lived. On the next shift, Schwartz sent the puck toward the net, where it deflected off Jake Middleton and past Cooley to restore Colorado’s four-goal advantage.
The Avalanche held on for the 7-3 win, leaving Calgary with another difficult result despite a more competitive start and a late offensive push.
Three Takeaways
1. A better response, but defensive issues remain
The Flames showed more life against a difficult opponent and found ways to generate offence, particularly in the first and third periods. However, Colorado took advantage of defensive breakdowns and sustained offensive-zone pressure to create separation. Calgary’s late push was encouraging, but it came after the game had largely been decided.
2. Adam Klapka makes his presence felt
Klapka was one of Calgary’s most effective players on the night. His first goal of the season was a highlight-reel effort, showcasing his speed, puck control and finishing ability. He also brought a physical presence and remained engaged throughout the game. His performance made a strong case for a larger role as the night progressed.
3. Costagna gets his first NHL point
Costagna’s NHL debut was a milestone in an otherwise difficult night for the Flames. After taking part in his rookie lap during warmups, the rookie forward recorded his first career NHL point by assisting on Klapka’s first-period goal.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 07: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres reacts after flying out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on October 07, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whether you’re an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist, the 2026 San Diego Padres season will look different to you. The dramatic swings within the 162-game regular season gave many Padres fans whiplash.
The bullpen’s excellence remained the one constant throughout the season. That part of the roster showed consistency until the very end of the year. Ultimately, the overuse of the relief corps resulted in fatigue and inconsistency during the past month.
Just about every other aspect of the team’s performance was as unpredictable as any season could be.
The offense and starting pitching weren’t reliable, but the effort was always there.
The Padres had weaknesses
There was never a real starting rotation. Michael King was excellent all year, a staff ace. The rest were a patchwork and could not provide reliability.
The offense took almost four months to find its feet. Going from almost the worst in baseball to a top-five offense is a credit to the players and the coaches who put in the work.
The bench was a rotating cast of characters. Injury was a major factor, and without the scouting and coaching within the organization, the Padres would have been floundering by midseason.
Being led by a rookie manager with several coaches who were also rookies at their jobs has inherent risk. Mistakes were made; there can be no denying that fact. Craig Stammen would be the first to acknowledge it. Those mistakes were not the reason this team faltered in the postseason.
An overworked bullpen
All through the season, the bullpen was used to buoy the starting pitchers. When the starters failed to provide length, the relievers stepped in and propped them up. That strategy will eventually catch up with you. As the regular season wound down and the postseason began, the wear and tear on the trusted arms in the bullpen began to show.
Both Mason Miller and Adrián Morejón exceeded career numbers for innings. Both showed the results of that strain as the season was finishing.
Bradgley Rodriguez, a 22-year-old rookie, lost velocity as the regular season concluded and had to be given rest. He also lost some effectiveness, allowing more hits and runs.
In the postseason, the repeated use of the trusted core of relievers resulted in David Morgan, Randy Vasquez, and Wandy Peralta never seeing the field during any of the six games played.
The postseason offense
What is the answer to why the Padres offense goes missing during the postseason?
Manny Machado was exceptional, defying logic that would dictate a decline in performance with age. He had a .350 batting average with a 1.080 OPS, hitting a homer with three RBI. Fernando Tatis Jr. had two home runs with three RBI but only hit .167 with six strikeouts in 24 at-bats. Jackson Merrill hit .292 but had no extra-base hits with eight strikeouts in 24 at-bats.
The lack of execution with runners in scoring position was the death knell for this team. In the divisional series, the Padres were 4-for-23 with 30 left on base over the four games.
This is the third straight postseason with the Padres’ offense underperforming when the lights are the brightest. Role players made minimal contributions, while Merrill and Tatis didn’t provide what was needed.
There is an explanation for the failures of the Padres in the postseason. The challenge is for the organization to find the answers.
Looking forward
Both Xander Bogaerts and Machado are still performing, despite their advancing ages. The window of opportunity for this team should remain open as long as they are both contributors on the positive side.
The young core of Tatis, Merrill, Luis Campusano, and the newly arrived Ethan Salas provides talent to build around.
Re-signing Ty France should be an offseason priority. He wants to be here and has been their most consistent player all season. He should also be named the team MVP.
Starting pitching must be a focus this offseason. Retain Michael King; that comes first. Decide what role Randy Vasquez will be filling. Use the offseason to assess what Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta can do going into next season. Move on from Yu Darvish unless he decides he can pitch next year.
Walker Buehler, Casey Mize, and Robby Ray are all free agents. The team needs more stability and length than what those three have provided.
Jhony Brito should be recovered from his Tommy John rehab and needs to be assessed for what he can contribute. It seems clear neither Griffin Canning nor JP Sears can be contributors for this team.
The bench includes Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar. The team can retain Samad Taylor and/or Dustin Harris, but a permanent solution for left field is not among those players.
Unfortunately, Jase Bowen has no clue how to hit major league pitching.
Sung-Mun Song is a defensive marvel, but can someone teach him how to hit?
The rules could change
The offseason labor situation will impact everything the Padres need to do for the next season. When that season begins is not even clear at this point.
Padres general manager A.J. Preller and his team have a lot of work to do, but they won’t know the guidelines they have to work within until the labor dispute is settled.
New owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones got an exciting introduction to owning a Major League Baseball team. Hopefully, that will just whet their appetite for more.
There is potential and excitement for this Padres organization, once the labor situation is decided.
They are so close to the final step that will take them all the way.
Oct 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) goes to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Peyton Watson (8)during there first half of a preseason game at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers opened up the exhibition slate with a less-than-stellar 124-113 loss to a Boston Celtics team that didn’t bring their starting lineup. Still, there were some positives to take away from this one.
Peyton Watson was the bright spot of this game.
Preseason basketball can be fool’s gold. You don’t have to look further than some of the takes I had about De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball after their first few exhibition games last season as evidence of that. Those disclaimers aside, Watson looked exactly like the player the Cavs have long needed at the wing in this game.
Watson has the toolset to be the most complete small forward the Cavs have had since LeBron James left nearly a decade ago. That well-rounded skill set was on display as he showed his “creative chops,” in the words of Kenny Atkinson, as a secondary creator, spaced the floor as a shooter, and was disruptive defensively.
Previous playoff runs have been derailed due to a lack of multifaceted players — particularly on the wing. One preseason performance doesn’t mean that he’s the solution to this problem, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Speaking of promising wings, Jaylon Tyson looked impressive in his season debut. Nearly everything that I said about Watson could also be applied to Tyson. On this night, he looked like a complete all-around wing.
As good as he played, Tyson’s energy remains the best part of his game. The way he attacks in transition and hustles to rotate out to shooters on the perimeter is infectious — or at least it would be in theory if this were a game where the score mattered.
Atkinson has talked about preseason games being important for finding lineup groupings that work well together. Based on what we saw, the Watson and Tyson duo showed promise.
“I love it,” Atkinson said about that pairing before the game. “They complement each other well. Obviously, the size and then defensive chops, too. So if you pair them with one of Donovan [Mitchell] and James [Harden] or even both, that’s really interesting. Because I think you look at Jaylon and Peyton, they’re really kind of two, three, four. They can play any of those positions. We’ll see, but it seems like it could be a really good match for us.”
The lineup possibilities are a huge advantage for that particular grouping. Both being able to play the two through four means that they can go smaller with them on the court or go with a jumbo lineup featuring two bigs and a guard. Having multiple athletic wings in the same lineup isn’t a luxury the Cavs have had in quite some time.
On top of that, they seem to feed off each other’s energy. We saw that here as they rotated and recovered out to shooters on the perimeter and were dynamic in the open court.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can buy the Spida shirt HERE. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE.
Sticking with things that went well, Meleek Thomas looked good in his minutes. He played with energy, was disruptive defensively, and showed some solid touch as a passer. In short, the things he did well in Summer League were evident in preseason, which is encouraging considering how much better the talent was here than in Vegas.
Thomas was the eighth man in the rotation, but the backup point guard spot is hardly decided based on Atkinson’s comments postgame. Especially after Craig Porter Jr. had a solid showing with 10 assists.
If Thomas does break into the rotation, it’ll have to be because he improves defensively. He grabbed a couple of steals — which is exactly what you want to see — but there’s still a learning curve for rookie guards on that end of the floor. And, considering some of the defensive issues Cleveland showed here, they may not be able to afford someone who’s still trying to figure out how NBA defenses work.
“Offense is going to come with the team and power that we got, but if I could be a real presence on defense, then I know I could make a huge impact,” Thomas said afterward.
As of now, it’s difficult to see Thomas as a day-one member of the rotation Atkinson would prefer to cap at 10. That’s okay. Most rookie second-round picks aren’t instant impact players.
Still, this was a strong outing for Thomas. The tight handle that allowed him to get where he wanted on the court in Vegas carried over here.
With that out of the way, let’s look at some of the concerning parts of this game, starting with the lackluster defense.
The Cavs spent the lead-up to this game talking about how they want to reestablish their defensive identity. If this performance was any indication of things, there’s still plenty of work to be done on that end.
The Celtics reserves were able to break down Cleveland’s perimeter defense and get to the basket at will. On top of that, neither Mobley nor Allen had an answer for opposing center Luka Garza, who registered 16 points on 6-of-13 shooting and seven rebounds in the first half.
You don’t want to be too critical of defensive effort in a preseason game. But there wasn’t much from this performance that would make you believe that this could once again become a strong point for this team.
Rebounding was also an issue. Atkinson pointed out afterward that this was a “concern coming into the season.” It proved to be in their first game as Boston grabbed 46.9% of their missed shots (98th percentile).
You can’t have an elite defense if you can’t end possessions.
Mario Hezonja also struggled mightily in his debut.
The Cavs have continually gone out of their way to praise what they’ve seen from Hezonja throughout training camp and off-season workouts. The things that he was praised for didn’t carry over to this outing.
It’s foolish to overreact to preseason basketball, both good and bad. Yet, it is concerning when the game looks too fast for a certain player.
Hezonja struggled with the speed of the game. His drives to the basket were walled off by multiple defenders, he didn’t hold up guarding his man on the perimeter, and overall just looked slow. It’s easy to excuse away missed shots. It’s difficult to justify looking this out of place.
Atkinson said Hezonja is still getting “his feet wet” being back in the NBA. “It’s going to be easier when we reduce the rotation and define a role for him a little bit more.”
The Cavs don’t have much financially invested in Hezonja. His contract is unguaranteed, and he’s only making the minimum. That said, the forward depth chart looks pretty thin if Hezonja ends up being unplayable. There really aren’t many ideal options at the four and five outside of Watson, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen.
It’s way too early to write off Hezonja. One preseason game doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. That said, this wasn’t what the Cavs wanted to see. We’ll see if that improves in the final two preseason games.
Lakers star guard Austin Reaves made his preseason debut during Thursday’s matchup against the Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
Reaves sat out of the Lakers’ first two preseason games earlier in the week after hurting his ankle in practice.
The star guard, who re-signed with the Lakers on a four-year, $180 million contract, was in the starting lineup alongside Luka Doncic, Quentin Grimes, Adou Thiero and Kevon Looney.
Los Angeles Lakers’ Austin Reaves warms up before a game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Walker Kessler, Ziaire Williams, Collin Sexton, Dalton Knecht, Cameron Carr and two-way forward Arthur Kaluma weren’t available against the Kings.
Coach JJ Redick said Williams was experiencing soreness, but it isn’t a concern of the team’s.
Quentin Grimes and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers high-five before a game against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. NBAE via Getty ImagesLuka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before a game against the Sacramento Kings on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles. NBAE via Getty Images
Kessler, the 7-foot-2 center the Lakers acquired from the Jazz as part of a four-year, $130 million sign-and-trade, hasn’t played in the preseason yet after jamming his finger during a practice.
Redick said the team will examine Kessler’s finger on Friday, before adding that the ailment isn’t concerning and that Kessler will play during the preseason.
The Lakers have two more preseason games after Thursday: Tuesday vs. the Warriors in Las Vegas and Oct. 16 vs. the Nuggets in Los Angeles.
Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) drives to the basket past Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) during the first half of a preseason NBA game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Halfway through Egor Dëmin’s rookie season, the Nets slid him off the ball. A year later, with Mikel Brown Jr. out, they’ve moved him back to lead guard.
So, is Dëmin a point guard? A shooting guard?
Neither, Dëmin says. He’s a player, and he’s a winner.
And early preseason returns say the Russian might be right.
Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James (23) defends Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) during the first half at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I think back to last year in summer league — and even before that on the predraft when I was in the workout with Brooklyn — I’ve been saying at all times to Jordi [Fernández] and the other coaches that I’m seeing myself as a very versatile player in the future and that I want to be anywhere I can benefit the team,” Dëmin said. “I’m a winner, so I want to win as much as I can.
“If that means for me to have 25 assists and five points, or whatever that means for me, I want to win first. Working on certain things helps to be even more versatile, whether I’m off or on the ball. And that’s the goal, for sure, is being everywhere and being able to be everywhere. You look at LeBron [James], he can play from 1-through-5.”
Dëmin started a second preseason game Thursday at point guard and sparked a second Nets win, this one 114-108 over James’ 76ers at Barclays Center.
With Brown unavailable, Dëmin had 13 points, a game high-tying five assists and finished a game-high plus-13 in 21:36. It was another auspicious outing.
Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) drives to the basket past Philadelphia 76ers forward Jabari Walker (33) during the first half of a preseason NBA game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. Heather Khalifa for NY Post
“Very composed, five assists, one turnover, got to the paint multiple times,” Fernández said. “You just can see how much he’s improved already from last year. I probably wanted him to be a little bit more aggressive shooting 3s, but his willingness to get everybody involved is showing. He played the right way, defended. … He was a good leader handling the ball, communicating with everybody. His voice is growing, so it’s very important.”
Using his voice is vital for the 20-year-old sophomore, who is rapidly growing into a leadership role on this young, rebuilding Nets team.
“He’s not afraid to lead,” Julius Randle said. “We know what he does on the court, talent-wise how he is, but he’s not afraid to lead and use his voice. And I try to encourage him to do that even more. You’re not too young to be a leader. So, he’s very vocal.
“You can tell he’s comfortable in his own skin, with who he is as a player, and really understands the game. So he’s never trying to prove anything out there; he’s just playing the game and making the right plays. But he’s not afraid to use his voice. You can tell he has a point guard background. So he knows how to lead a team and get us organized. He has a bright future.”
Dëmin started last season as a point guard but too often got turned at the point of attack and couldn’t drive. An offseason spent bulking up and working on his downhill game has paid dividends.
Brooklyn Nets’ Egor Demin, right, drives to the basket against Philadelphia 76ers’ Vj Edgecombe (77) during the first half. AP Photo/Pamela Smith
“Last year, it looked like he touched the paint, he had no plan for it,” Fernández said. “He worked, and he put his mind to it and handling pressure. He’s just like a new player.”
This new player gives Fernández options if he and Brown can play on or off the ball once the latter returns.
Dëmin repeatedly touched the paint during the win at Charlotte on Tuesday. On Thursday, he crossed up James and went over Joel Embiid for what likely was the best drive of his life.
“I’m really trying to be a leader of this group in the most selfless way,” Dëmin said. “I want to win and I want to do whatever it takes to win. I want to make sure that I understand every single person and that’s my way to lead.
“Obviously, putting as much work as I can to lead as an example of what I’m doing from a development standpoint and being vocal is what Julius talked about is going to be a big part of who I am.”
The Islanders dispatched the Blackhawks, as well they should, to even their record at 2-2 on the young season.
The 4-1 final turned in the second period when the Isles got two goals in quick succession, converting some counterattacks against a loose Blackhawks team defense.
Bo Horvat had two goals, a power play one to open scoring and an empty netter to finish it, while Emil Heineman scored with a rifle aided by a Horvat screen, and Anthony Duclair got on the board after a snuffed partial breakaway led to an amusingly insightful setup from Logan Stanley, who paired with Matthew Schaefer in the wake of Alex Romanov’s season-ending injury.
Stanley has four assists in four games after signing at the conclusion of preseason; things can be weird this early in the year.
The run of play wasn’t that lopsided overall, but the Isles’ quick pair in the middle period put things fairly out of reach. Ilya Sorokin was there when needed, and the Blackhawks don’t have many guns to ever make you too nervous that the Isles might blow it.
Shenanigans began on the final goal, when Frank Nazar bizarrely went for a shoulder check to the head of Horvat as the Islanders captain released his empty net shot from the Isles zone. After the dust settled with a match penalty to Nazar — and an enraged J-G Pageau taking on Tyler Bertuzzi — more theater erupted when someone by the ethnically confused name of Wyatt Kaiser took a shot at Emil Heineman, which drew objection from Duclair.
Kaiser and Duclair drew matching roughing penalties, and the rest of the game was a formality.
Horvat was sent to the dressing room for evaluation, but I (not a doctor) thought he looked fine and it was just a spotter precaution.
Up Next
The Islanders host the Lightning on Saturday, a 7:30 EDT start.
