Two-time Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal planned to make just one start in the World Baseball Classic before returning to spring training with the Detroit Tigers.
But after getting a taste of what it's like to represent Team USA, he's not so sure he's ready to leave.
"When you get into these environments, when you get this team, it’s hard to walk away from that," Skubal said Saturday, March 7, after tossing three strong innings in the Americans' 9-1 win over Great Britain.
"I didn’t expect these types of emotions to run through my brain or my thoughts to differ. I was pretty committed to making a start and getting back to camp," Skubal said. "Things have changed, obviously, that’s why I’m going to have some conversations to try and figure out a plan for me."
The Tigers left-hander, who is ticketed for free agency – and likely one of the largest contracts in baseball history – at the end of the 2026 season, said he'll talk with the Tigers, his agent and his family before making what he calls "one of the tougher decisions I’ve made in my career."
He said he'll make the call "in the next couple days."
Skubal allowed a leadoff home run to Great Britain's Nate Eaton in the first inning, but he settled down and struck out five over his three-inning stint on Saturday in Houston. But he said he didn't expect his emotions to take over the way they did after getting on the mound.
"It just changes your perspective a little bit, you know?" Skubal said. "And how proud I am to be an American and go out there and pitch and compete. (Thinking about) the people that make real sacrifices for me to play a kid's game. So we'll see."
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 4: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a double during a World Baseball Classic exhibition game against Team Mexico at Camelback Ranch on March 4, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
2025 saw Andy Pages fully emerge at the plate, with his 27 home runs on the season ranking second on the Dodgers behind Shohei Ohtani while being one of the best offensive hitters while playing at home. In the postseason, Pages was a shell of himself at the plate, relegated to bench duties during the final two games of the World Series.
Had it not been for a season-saving catch to rob Ernie Clement of a World Series winning walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 7, Pages’ reputation as a postseason letdown would’ve made all the headlines. Instead, he enters the 2026 season as one of many unsung heroes during the Dodgers’ most recent title run.
Pages has performed well at the plate so far this spring to the tune of a .350/.364/.600 slash line with four RBI, and is firmly positioned to be the Dodgers’ starting center fielder this season. Dave Roberts noted that the team has instilled confidence in Pages as he continues to mature as a big league hitter and get past his postseason struggles, notes Doug Padilla of the Orange County Register.
“I do think (the Game 7 catch) can add that confidence because he was a big part of what we did all year,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I hope that he learned from that last month, month and a half, whatever it was, and know he was still valuable to the end. He’s a confident young player right now.”
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Landon Knack tossed three solid innings on the mound on Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, allowing a pair of runs on two sacrifice flies while also holding Colorado to just one hit— thanks in part to a horrible route by Teoscar Hernández in left field. Knack is one of a handful of young arms eager to be a part of the Dodgers rotation for opening day, but Knack has his sights on staying in the big league rotation throughout the duration of the season, per Courtney Hollmon of MLB.com.
Two years ago, James Tibbs III was selected 13th overall out of Florida State University by the San Francisco Giants. A year later, he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox in the Rafael Devers trade before being traded again to the Dodgers in the Dustin May deal. Now, he is putting on a show in his first big league spring training.
There is promise for the young outfield prospects, and Dave Roberts hasn’t ruled out the possibility of Tibbs making his big league debut at some point this upcoming season, per Jack Harris of the California Post.
“He’s on our radar,” manager Dave Roberts said Monday, after Tibbs belted a 458-foot home run, in a left-on-left matchup no less, for what has been his biggest highlight so far in camp. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all if, at some point this year, he makes his debut.”
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 6: Jalen Green #4 of the Phoenix Suns drives to the basket as Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans plays defense during the game on March 6, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Going into the week, there was some uncertainty revolving around the Phoenix Suns’ starting wings as Dillon Brooks remains out. With Devin Booker returning from injury, Jalen Green or Ryan Dunn was destined for the bench. Jordan Ott and his coaching staff decided with keeping Green in the starting lineup and bringing Dunn of the bench, but fans think Green should be starting games with the second unit.
Considering how inconsistent Green has been on offense and his lack of size, I’m not surprised that nearly two-thirds of fans want him to come off the bench. He’s had two of his strongest games this season this week, with his 20-point, 44% shooting game against the Kings, and 25-point, 47% shooting performance playing the Pelicans on Friday, but he had another inefficient game Thursday, when the got upset against the Bulls, and he shot 25% from the field on 20 shots.
The fifth-year guard has had a hard time adjusting to the Suns’ offense as he’s been working back from his hamstring injury. His inefficient three-point shooting (Green is shooting a career-low 27% of his threes) has hindered the team’s deep shooting. When Green is playing, the Suns are shooting 34.8% from three, when he’s not, they’re shooting 36.3% from behind the arc.
Yes, the Suns have still been winning games of late. While they dropped a game they were more than 10 point favorites in to the Chicago Bulls, Phoenix has won three of four, and are still firmly in the race to finish with a top-six seed.
While it may not be a longterm solution, Green coming off the bench could give him more of an opportunity to utilize his playmaking abilities. He’d assuredly be spending less time playing alongside Devin Booker, Phoenix’s lead playmaker, so Green would have more opportunity to do what he’s best at, alongside Grayson Allen, who is making the most threes per game of his career by more than half a triple per game. Green clearly needs more room to operate as he continues to work his way back from his long absence.
Additionally, with Mark Williams out for the next few weeks, adding Green to the bench would not be disrupting any bench chemistry, as Oso Ighodaro has moved to the team’s starting center with Williams sidelined. The second unit is already dealing with change.
HOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 26: Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers handles the ball during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 26, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers v Phoenix Suns
And with the trade for Mark Williams that was rescinded, Hayes received the most significant playing time for the best team he had been on up to that point of his career.
He delivered, for the most part.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes might see more court time if starter Deandre Ayton is sidelined due to injury. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Which is why, along with his improvements from the end of last season through three-fourths of this season, the Lakers have confidence in him if they need to rely on him more in light of starting center Deandre Ayton being day to day with left knee soreness.
“Jaxson’s had a really good season,” coach JJ Redick said. “And I know [this because] I played with him his first two years — he’s a better basketball player. He’s gotten better. He’s making touch shots around the rim. He’s making great pocket decisions.
“He’s a good basketball player. He consistently injects energy into the group when he runs the floor, blocks a shot or he gets those dunks.”
Ayton’s status for Sunday’s home game against the Knicks wasn’t known as of Saturday afternoon.
Lakers center Deandre Ayton is day to day due to left knee soreness. Getty Images
But if Hayes, 25, needs to play more against the Knicks, like he did against the Nuggets or Pacers, the Lakers know he’ll be up to the task.
“We have the utmost confidence in Jaxson,” LeBron James said.
Hayes had 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting and five rebounds in 27 minutes against the Nuggets. He finished with nine points and four rebounds in 25 minutes against the Pacers.
When asked to play more minutes as a starter, he’s stepped up, with averages of 11.4 points (81.6% shooting), 4.5 rebounds and two assists in the eight games he’s started, with the Lakers going 6-2 in those games.
“That’s my job,” Hayes said. “That’s what they pay me to do is stay ready. Even if I wasn’t in the rotation, they pay me to stay ready. That’s all NBA players’ job is just stay ready and get better every day. I’m gonna just do whatever the team needs me to do.”
Ayton, the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, is considered a more talented player than Hayes. And there are several areas — such as 1-on-1 scoring, midrange shooting and defensive rebounding — that Ayton is better at than Hayes.
But there are some areas in which Hayes excels, making him more equipped to help the Lakers against a Knicks team that’s won 16 of its last 21 games.
Lakers center Jaxson Hayes has meshed well with star Luka Dončić this season. David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Hayes has been just as good, if not better, as an interior defender over the course of the season.
Hard rolls from an athletic center who can provide vertical spacing opens up lob opportunities, which Doncic is one of the best at delivering.
“Him and Luka have a really good connection right now,” Luke Kennard said. “They’re playing really well and playing off each other.”
Factor in Hayes’ improved playmaking out of the short roll and the Knicks will have to ensure they don’t give Hayes too much of a runway while also trying to contain Dončić.
“I love playing with Jaxson,” Dončić said. “This year, his improvement is unbelievable. He understands, I think this year even more, how to play with me. We’ve been working on that. So playing with him is very special for me.”
Hayes arguably had a career year last season.
And he’s following it up with another one.
“Maturity, the way he approaches the game day to day,” Austin Reaves said in the ways Hayes has grown the most. “He does what he needs to do in his off time around the gym, gets his work in, takes care of his body and then just the preparation that he puts into it, you can tell he’s grown in those aspects, and that’s just made him a better player.
“We can probably all agree that this is some of the best basketball he’s played in his career. I’m happy for him. We need him to continue to do that. He’s a big part of what we’re going to do.”
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How nice that there was no available media coverage of the game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I was looking forward to cocking one eye at the game. But no.
The faithful are taken for granted. Our only view is obstructed. We do not provide much in the way of profits, either short or long-term. We’re shut out of the entire process. We have no say. We have no power.
<snip rant>
The Cubs defeated the Athletics, 4-3, getting back to one game under .500. Once again the starting pitcher gave up three runs in his stint. This time it was Mike Imanaga who took the ball, while Shota rested. Grant Kipp walked a guy, and Riley Martin gave up a hit. That was all the A’s had. Chicago pitchers struck out ten Athletics.
Ian Happ solo-homered, Pedro Ramirez took one deep, and Nico singled in a run for the Cubs’ tallies, at home in Sloan Park.
Seiya Suzuki had a good game for Japan.
Right now, the Magic 8-Ball tells me that Ben Brown and Javier Assad will be in Des Moines to start the season.
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Mark Gonzales (Chicago Sun-Times* {$}): Cubs’ catching corps returns, but it could look different. “Carson Kelly had one of the best offensive seasons of his career. He also caught a career-high 105 games, but that could dip this season if Miguel Amaya can stay healthy.”
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SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 18: Zach Agnos #36 of the Colorado Rockies poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on February 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The last two seasons have been filled with MLB debuts for Colorado Rockies pitchers, including a trio of young relievers who have made an impact late in games: Seth Halvorsen, Zach Agnos and Juan Mejia. Halvorsen debuted in August 2024, while Agnos and Mejia both debuted in 2025.
Of the three, Mejia made the biggest splash in 2025, ranking eighth in our “Ranking the Rockies” series, and is currently playing for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. But all three are making their cases for why they should start 2026 with the team after taking some big lessons from last season.
Lessons learned in 2025
“I think the biggest lesson that I learned [in 2025] is that I’ll always be able to make adjustments,” Halvorsen said. “I think that I’m always wanting to make adjustments and improve, whether it’s game to game, year to year, pitch to pitch – I just want to be able to consistently make adjustments going forward.”
Mejia echoed that, while also leaning on his faith.
“Every mistake that I had, I can learn from that,” Mejia said through interpreter Edwin Perez. “Without any mistakes or errors, you can’t really grow as a player or you can’t learn. So I think I just grew overall learning through all the things that I went through last year.”
For Agnos, the lesson was different.
“Just being in the strike zone, honestly,” he said.
“When I was throwing really well, I was throwing a ton of strikes. And then when I wasn’t throwing so well, I didn’t throw a ton of strikes. And that’s been kind of the emphasis this camp and my bullpens and my live [BP’s] and from Alon [Leichman] and Gabe [Ribas] and Matt [Daniels] and [Matt Buschmann] and [Warren] Schaeffer and Paul [DePodesta] – everybody top to bottom, ‘Just throw strikes!’ I believe in my stuff. I believe I have the stuff to be an everyday guy, so now it’s just putting it over the plate and making hitters earn it.”
Throwing strikes and getting ahead in counts early has been an emphasis of the newly revamped coaching staff, and something Schaeffer has preached throughout camp.
Something else that has permeated Rockies camp since the new coaches were hired is an increased arsenal. Ryan Feltner added a cutter; Chase Dollander added a sweeper; and Kyle Freeland has been tweaking his changeup.
New pitches incoming
And just like the starters, the relievers are adding to their arsenals, too.
For Halvorsen, the work started in the offseason with his fastball and slider.
“I switched the grip [on my fastball] a little bit to maybe make it a little more true,” he said,” and then I switched the grip of my slider for it to maybe have a little more depth, or at least have the ability to do that. And then maybe I’ll manipulate that pitch a little bit, so I’m excited with those two for sure.”
Mejia, like Freeland, is working on his changeup and slider.
“I didn’t have the biggest confidence in it last year, and that’s why I didn’t throw it,” he said. “So that’s my pitch that I’ve held back, but I think I’m truly growing into it and getting better at it. And the slider – I think the slider’s still the same, but in a sense, it’s getting better. I’m just improving that.”
Agnos, on the other hand, is adding a plethora of new pitches.
“Sinker and curveball, and then we’re tweaking with my cutter, sweeper and slider,” he said during the first weekend of spring training. “I was actually with my brother (Jake) in the offseason. He gave me a lot of helpful little tips and showed me some grips that I talked to Alon and Gabe about, and the sweeper has been good. So it’s kind of nice to have these guys as pitching coaches and my brother as a pitching coach. You get two sets of eyes.”
Additionally, as of Saturday, Agnos has added yet another pitch at the suggestion of Michael Lorenzen.
“It’s called a death ball,” he said.
“It’s an interesting pitch. I threw it against Team USA, so it’s pretty good, but I’ve still got a lot of room to grow with it. But it’s been fun!”
The new coaching staff is really helping
And, of course, they’re learning a lot from the new pitching coaches overall.
“They’ve all been super fantastic. They’ve been awesome,” said Agnos.
“They communicate a plan, whether I’ve wanted to hear it or not. They’ll tell you how it is and it’s awesome. There’s a clear plan, and they’re definitely trying to develop us, which is awesome.
“[It’s] the most fun I’ve had playing catch,” he continued. “As stupid as that sounds, I’ve never had so much fun playing catch. Like today (Feb. 15), I threw with Alon because he wanted to work on my sweeper and cutter. So it was good, and he got to see it firsthand. We had a good talk, and he’s kind of building up some confidence in us, which is good, too. He just kept being like, ‘You’re nasty, bro, you’re nasty. Trust [yourself].’ He’s like, ‘You’re nasty.’ So it’s cool to hear. It’s always nice to hear – I believe it – but it never hurts to hear.”
For Halvorsen, it was an immediate change in his slider.
“I’ve done the same pitch there for a couple years now,” he said, “and then right away they came in and they had me make that adjustment. And I saw results – beneficial results – right away. So it was pretty exciting to see that.”
Mejia is noticing the difference in the clubhouse.
“It’s been very positive overall,” he said. “They’ve helped me so much already. From the start, you can feel that there’s a different energy, a different atmosphere in here, and I think that’s going to help us a lot this year.”
“I think we can have a better record this year,” he continued. “I think we can play better as a team and hopefully these changes bring us to the championship one day. Hopefully this year, and hopefully we’re able to celebrate this year, but more than anything, I think it’s been overall a great adjustment for all of us.”
Schaeffer had nothing but glowing things to say about the trio.
“All three of those guys are dudes. There’s no doubt about it” he said. “The one that has been the most impressive in camp, for me, has been Agnos with the way he’s attacked the zone and pounded it, doing what we’ve been asking 100%. It’s been impressive.
“Mejia, also, is one of our top guys. He’s so nasty. So it’s been a good progression for him,” he continued. “And it’s been a good progression for Seth. Seth’s working on new things, and so is Juan. So it’s about striking that balance, about executing the fundamentals in game, pounding the strike zone, and working on stuff, which is difficult early in camp. So I don’t foresee any problems.”
Closing thoughts
Agnos has been lighting it up in spring training, making a very strong case for the Opening Day roster. Halvorsen has been tinkering with things, but his fastball command has been improving. And Mejia has been outstanding for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.
2026 is still up in the air for a lot of Rockies, but at least the bullpen appears to be a strength heading into it.
DENVER, COLORADO - JUNE 02: Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates a goal scored by Artturi Lehkonen #62 on Mike Smith #41 of the Edmonton Oilers during the second period in Game Two of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on June 02, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Colorado Avalanche, boasting the most formidable lineup in the NHL this season, just got a little nastier coming out of the NHL trade deadline.
Or, perhaps more fittingly, Naz-tier.
Nazem Kadri begins his second stint as a member of the Avs today, who face the newly reconfigured Minnesota Wild in a high stakes matchup at Ball Arena.
Colorado Avalanche (42-10-9)
The Opponent: Minnesota Wild (37-16-10)
Time: 12:00 P.M. MST/2:00 P.M. EST
Watch: HBO MAX/TNT/truTV (U.S. National Broadcast), TVAS/TVAS+ (Canadian National Broadcast), SN+, NHL Centre Ice (Outside Avalanche and Wild Broadcast Region – Canada)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche return home on the heels of their most challenging stretch of hockey in the wake of the Olympic break. They defeated the Dallas Stars by a 5-4 shootout decision after coming back from separate 3-1 and 4-2 deficits on Friday evening at American Airlines Center. After Stars captain Jamie Benn botched an empty net play that would have secured a key regulation victory for Dallas, Valeri Nichushkin tied the game with 13.2 seconds remaining in the third period. Scott Wedgewood, who replaced Mackenzie Blackwood after he surrendered four goals on eleven shots, was sensational in relief, stopping everything that came his way in regulation, and made brilliant saves on Dallas’ Miro Heiskanen in overtime and both Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene in the shootout. Martin Nečas scored what proved to be the shootout winner on Jake Oettinger, and Nichushkin added another shootout goal to ice the comeback, salvaging two critical points in the standings from falling into Dallas’ hands. The victory completed a sweep of the Avs’ three game road trip, and was their fifth win in six games, while snapping Dallas’ franchise record ten game winning streak.
Coach Jared Bednar said this of Nichushkin’s performance on Friday: “I feel like he’s been playing a lot better right before the break, coming out of the break, he’s starting to using his legs like we’re used to seeing. He had been fighting the puck for a little bit, had a little bit of an injury that was bothering him; he was playing through that, and he’s been snakebit […] hopefully this sparks him here, and he starts feeling it a little bit, because he deserves to put a few more back in the net.”
In their win over Dallas, the Avalanche further solidified their position as the undisputed leader across the Central Division, Western Conference, and League standings. Coming into today’s game against Minnesota, they have a six point lead over Dallas with a game in hand, and a nine point lead over Minnesota with two games in hand. While the Avs trail the season series as a result of their 5-2 defeat on home ice by Minnesota on February 26, this version of the Avalanche roster will look markedly different from the one that Minnesota faced previously with the return of Nazem Kadri—a reunion that many Avs fans felt was nearly impossible—after being re-acquired from the Calgary Flames on Friday afternoon.
Despite having just a twelve goals to this point in this year, his lowest since the COVID-shortened 2020-2021 season, Kadri’s physicality, face-off prowess, and penchant for drawing penalties will be huge as the Avs close in on that coveted top seed for the playoffs. He should have no problem getting re-acquainted with Bednar’s system, and his chemistry within the locker room speaks for itself. Kadri will undoubtedly receive a hero’s welcome from Avs fans for his first game in a Colorado sweater in over three years.
Today marks the final game of the four game series with Minnesota, but a win by the Avalanche this afternoon could all but put the top spot in the Central Division out of Minnesota’s reach.
(Let’s try not to launch any pucks from the defensive zone on the penalty kill today.)
Nathan MacKinnon still leads the NHL with a League-best 42 goals and has closed the points gap with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (MacKinnon has 103 points; McDavid leads the League with 106). Nečas, who tied his career high in goals (28) this past Friday in Dallas, is two goals away from a tie for second place in goal scoring with Brock Nelson (30). Cale Makar is one goal away from his fourth season of reaching the 20 goal marker.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Gabe Landeskog – Nathan MacKinnon – Martin Nečas Ross Colton – Brock Nelson – Valeri Nichushkin Parker Kelly – Nazem Kadri – Nicolas Roy Joel Kiviranta – Jack Drury – Gavin Brindley
Defense: Devon Toews – Cale Makar Josh Manson – Brent Burns Brett Kulak – Sam Malinski
Between the Pipes: Mackenzie Blackwood Scott Wedgewood
Minnesota Wild
Minnesota came out of the Olympic break with a huge opportunity to gain ground in the hotly contested Central Division with their victory over Colorado. However, two consecutive losses to division opponents (ironically, a 5-2 loss at the hands of the Utah Mammoth on February 27—the night after they defeated Colorado by the exact same score—and a 3-1 loss to the St Louis Blues on March 01) allowed Dallas to reclaim second place, dropping Minnesota to third in the division. Coming into today’s game, Minnesota pulled within two points of Dallas, having defeated the Vegas Golden Knights by a score of 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena this past Friday, so a win in Denver today would be pretty massive. However, since Dallas holds a game in hand on Minnesota, they would still retain second place in the division. With less than twenty games left in the regular season, Minnesota may need to start getting help from other teams in order to position themselves more favorably as teams hit the final stretch of the season.
While Minnesota landed its biggest trade piece earlier this season in the Quinn Hughes deal last November, GM Bill Guerin was very active leading up to the NHL trade deadline. He claimed center Robby Fabbri off waivers from the St. Louis Blues, and acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Minnesota’s seventh round pick in this year’s draft. He also acquired center Michael McCarron in exchange for Minnesota’s second round pick in 2028.
Guerin wasn’t done there: at the deadline, he acquired right wing Bobby Brink from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman David Jiříček. Brink made his debut for Minnesota this past Friday, but is no stranger to playing in Colorado, having won several awards at the collegiate level, including the NCAA championship in 2022, with the University of Denver Pioneers. Guerin also acquired Nick Foligno, the brother of Minnesota assistant captain Marcus Foligno, from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations. Marcus Foligno is currently out with injury, but could return to the lineup against Colorado. Vinnie Hinostroza was also dealt to the Florida Panthers in exchange for future considerations.
Minnesota’s retooled lineup will give them a much different appearance in this final regular season matchup against Colorado. The addition of Brink will give them another option on offense; while his thirteen goals would tie him for seventh place among Minnesota skaters, this figure is a career high for him in his short NHL career and could see a bump in his new surroundings, especially if he continues to see top six ice time like he did this past Friday against Vegas. Foligno and McCarron add a veteran presence that playoff-bound clubs find irrisitible for playoff runs, and while Fabbri has struggled in recent seasons, having roster depth—especially at center—is a must have at this time of year as teams gear up for postseason play.
Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy currently share the team lead in goals (35). Kaprizov leads all skaters in points (75), while Boldy is three points behind in second place (72). Filip Gustavsson got the start Minnesota’s previous victory in Colorado, but was unable to finish the game due to illness. With Gustavsson getting a majority of the starter’s workload since coming back from the Olympics, it’s possible Jesper Wallstedt starts today to give Gustavsson a breather prior to Minnesota’s upcoming four game homestand starting on Tuesday.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Kirill Kaprizov – Ryan Hartman – Mats Zuccarello Matt Boldy – Joel Eriksson Ek – Bobby Brink Vladimir Tarasenko – Danila Yurov – Yakov Trenin Robby Fabbri – Michael McCarron – Nico Sturm
Defense: Quinn Hughes – Brock Faber Jonas Brodin – Jared Spurgeon Jake Middleton – Zach Bogosian
Between the Pipes: Jesper Wallstedt Filip Gustavsson
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 26: Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on October 26, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Sam Hodde/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Before a single possession takes place on the court, the Toronto Raptors are already expected to beat the Dallas Mavericks at home on Sunday.
At least that’s what the Raptors fan base believes, especially after being held hostage by exceeded expectations and a timeline that’s regrettably ahead of schedule.
Simply put – the NBA’s lone Canadian franchise isn’t very good against competitive teams.
Fine then.
But that means the Raptors can’t drop games against the bottom dwellers of the league. Their fragile lead over the play-in team is in danger of slipping away. With the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets awaiting them later this month, the Raptors desperately need to take care of business against lower-ranked teams.
That begins with defending home court against the Mavericks, even if Cooper Flagg overcomes his questionable tag before the 6:00 p.m. EST tip-off on Sportsnet.
The last time the Raptors dropped a game to a team below .500 was in a 121-117 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Jan. 16. Former fun guy Kawhi Leonard sat the game out with a right ankle sprain, but James Harden bullied the Raptors defence and finished with 31 points and 10 assists. When adjusting the bar to a slightly lower level, the Raptors haven’t lost to an opponent currently in a playoff or play-in spot since falling 138-117 to the Washington Wizards on Dec. 26.
Since their last meaningful victory over a playoff staple – a 103-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder back on Jan. 25 – the Raptors have struggled mightily in the second half. Toronto is 3-5 in the third and fourth quarters against playoff teams during this stretch. Often, it’s a disastrous third quarter that leads to a comfortable final frame for the opponent, or it’s a Raptors meltdown in back-end of the fourth quarter.
For most supporters who have followed the team this season, it’s a script that’s repetitive in the worst possible way. It feels like the Raptors are destined to lose in the opening round of the post-season. It’s like Toronto is on a collision course that can be seen before the car leaves the driveway.
But despite the doom and gloom, there’s still basketball to be played, and the Raptors aren’t necessarily firing on all cylinders (yet).
Centre Jakob Poeltl’s minutes are back to where they should be. The Austrian big man is averaging 27.4 minutes in his last five games. However, there’s still ample room for improvement. Poeltl is often good for a double-double in roughly half the games he appears in. Still, he only has one double-double in seven games since returning from injury on Feb. 11. With Collin Murray-Boyles already ruled out due to a thumb sprain, it’s imperative that Poeltl quickly works his way back to full strength. The rookie performed admirably in the veteran’s presence, and Poeltl returning the favour would go a long way in sustaining the Raptors’ lifeline.
With Brandon Ingram listed as questionable, it’s important for Scottie Barnes to summon the aggression he showcased earlier in the 2025-26 campaign. Barnes’ February numbers (and his two-game sample size in March) are down across the board in comparison to his season averages. His three-point shooting is the most glaring downward spiral, but that’s been a concern since early January. The bigger red flag is the rebounding totals. Since the All-Star break, Barnes has averaged 3.3 rebounds against playoff teams. That’s a drastic dip from the eight boards he averages on the season. Understandably, it’s also affecting his assist numbers since he’s initiating fewer breakouts.
Historically, Barnes is the type of player that goes as his team does. The best version of Barnes have arguably come during his rookie season, when he was surrounded by championship-level auxiliary players, and earlier this year when the Raptors were one of the hottest teams in the NBA. But when the Raptors struggle, Barnes does as well. If he can eventually tap into a state where he can consistently will Toronto to victories, it’ll help the team stay afloat in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
On this day 75 years ago, Marilyn Monroe paid a visit to White Sox camp, posing here with Gus Zernial (catching) and Joe Dobson. | Phil Burchman
1942 Future White Sox MVP Dick Allen was born in Wampum, Pa.
Allen set a franchise mark with 37 home runs in his 1972 MVP year, along with 113 RBIs. His 8.6 WAR in 1972 ranks second all-time among White Sox hitters (Eddie Collins, 9.4, 1915) and 14th all-time among all White Sox players.
Perhaps most importantly of all, Allen was credited by numerous sources as saving the White Sox in Chicago, his play driving attendance when a move to Milwaukee or other cities loomed as a consistent threat.
Allen died in 2020, still short of Hall of Fame election. In the most recent Veterans Committee vote in 2021, Allen was just one vote shy of immortality.
1948 WGN announced that it would televise Chicago White Sox games for the first time during the upcoming season.
Veteran radio broadcasters Jack Brickhouse and Harry Creighton would become the first White Sox TV announcers in history. The first game WGN aired was an exhibition game against the Cubs from Wrigley Field on April 16, 1948, in the freezing cold!. The White Sox won, 4-1.
WGN televised White Sox games from 1948-67, 1981, and 1990-2019.
1951 The White Sox held Spring Training in Pasadena, Calif. after the war. It was near Hollywood, and on this day the team had a special visitor, as actress Marilyn Monroe came calling.
Monroe was going to be the mascot for a charity game played at Gilmore Field (home of the Pacific Coast League Hollywood Stars) that Sunday. The game featured a number of All-Stars.
Monroe arrived early and took a number of publicity photos with the players, including Hank Majeski, Joe Dobson and Gus Zernial. All of the Sox players would later receive autographed pictures from her.
The photo shoot that resulted caught the eye of a player on the other side of the country: Joe DiMaggio, who reached out to Monroe’s press agent to arrange a date after the season, as he began life as a retired player.
1961 Former White Sox player and bullpen catcher Mark Salas was born, in Montebello, Calif. The catcher, drafted in 1979 by the St. Louis Cardinals, made a major impact as a rookie, with 2.2 WAR and an eighth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year polling as a member of the Minnesota Twins. However, Salas never played in as many as 92 games after that season, taking tours with the Yankees, Tigers, Cleveland, and in 1988, the White Sox. The catcher had a barely-positive season (0.3 WAR) backing up Carlton Fisk, but was released at the end of Spring Training 1989.
Salas spent much more than one year with the White Sox later, as a coach and scout. Immediately upon retirement, he went to work as a coach in the White Sox system. Later he served as White Sox bullpen catcher from 1996-99, and again under former teammate Ozzie Guillén starting in 2007. In-between coaching, Salas scouted for the Sox.
Salas is also one of 10 major-leaguers in history whose surname is a Palindrome.
2011 On International Women’s Day, former White Sox front office analyst Kim Ng moved from assistant GM of the Los Angeles Dodgers — the highest-ranking woman in baseball — to MLB senior vice president of baseball operations.
Ng got her start with the White Sox, hired for an internship in 1991 in what she thought would be public relations. Instead, assistant GM Dan Evans saw promise in her analytical thinking and background in the game (Ng was a University of Chicago softball player) and took her under his wing. When Evans lost out on the White Sox GM job that went to Ken Williams, Evans knew his future was outside of Chicago, and when he left for the Dodgers, Ng came with him.
Nine years after taking this executive position with MLB and after at least four failed attempts at landing a GM position, Ng was hired as the general manager of the Miami Marlins.
2019 Former White Sox catcher Mike Colbern passed away in Tempe, Ariz. He played his only 80 career games with the South Siders in 1978-79, tallying 0.1 WAR and a .627 OPS/73 OPS+. He played two full seasons for the White Sox in Triple-A after that, and wound up his career with a season in the Atlanta organization.
In retirement, Colbern became the lead plaintiff in a class action for what lawyers turned into (against Colbern’s wishes) a reverse-discrimination lawsuit against MLB demanding his health costs be paid akin to an approved plan that paid for pre-1947 Negro League players’ health bills. Although that lawsuit failed, Colbern later received $3,700 in medical payments as part of a partial restitution plan initiated by MLB.
GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) — Iran’s soccer team lost its last group match at the Women’s Asian Cup on Sunday and had to contemplate returning home to a country embroiled in war.
Their silence during the anthem before an opening loss to South Korea last Monday was viewed by some as an act of resistance and others as a show of mourning. The team hasn't clarified. But the players sang the anthem and saluted during the national anthem ahead of their 4-0 loss to Australia last Thursday and a 2-0 loss to Philippines on Sunday.
Amid concerns for player welfare following reported criticism in the Iranian media, the Australian Iranian Council wrote to Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke urging the government to protect the squad members while they’re in Australia.
It launched an online petition, which had more than 50,000 electronic signatures before kick-off Sunday, urging Australian authorities to “ensure that no member of Iran’s women’s national football team is to depart Australia while credible fears for their safety remain” and also to provide independent legal advice, support and interpreters.
Iran team management and players have mostly declined to comment on the situation at home during more than a week preparing for and playing games on Australia’s Gold Coast, although Iran forward Sara Didar choked back tears in a news conference last Wednesday as she shared their concerns for their families, friends and all Iranians during the conflict.
The online petition asked local authorities to ensure any player seeking protection “can do so safely, privately, and without interference” and to “make clear that Australia will uphold its … humanitarian protection obligations in relation to any player at risk of persecution or serious harm.
“Where credible evidence exists that visiting athletes may face persecution, imprisonment, coercion, or worse upon return, silence is not a neutral position," it said. “The current wartime environment has intensified repression, fear, and the risks faced by anyone publicly perceived by the Islamic Republic as disloyal.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong declined to comment on whether the Australian government had made contact with individuals but told domestic media Australia stood in solidarity with the Iranian women's team.
“It has been really moving for Australians to see them in Australia, and (Australia's women's team) swapping jerseys with them was a very evocative moment,” Wong told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Sunday. “We know this regime has brutally oppressed many Iranian women.”
Iranian Australian activist Tina Kordrostami, a local government member in Sydney’s Ryde Council, told The Australian newspaper the Iranian players “need an opportunity, a safe space, a chance to actually speak up about what their needs are and what their requirements are.”
“We can’t give them that space without the government helping us,” she said.
The Iranian women's team needed to beat Philippines on Sunday to maintain any chance of advancing to the Asian Cup quarterfinals, which would have extended its stay in Australia for more than another week, but conceded goals to Sara Eggesvik in the 29th minute and Chandler McDaniel in the 82nd in a tough loss in wet conditions at Gold Coast Stadium.
TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 07: Shohei Ohtani #16 of Team Japan celebrates with Seiya Suzuki #51 after hitting a solo home run in the third inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between South Korea and Japan at Tokyo Dome on March 7, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Pinstripe Alley’s coverage of the 2026 World Baseball Classic! We previewed Pool A, Pool B, Pool C, and Pool D in the linked articles. Since the first several days of the WBC feature a bevy of games, we’ll be recapping them in batches. Enjoy!
Pool C: Japan 8 (2-0), South Korea 6 (1-1)
Japan-South Korea is a heated rivalry as far as international baseball is concerned (and, uh, in life really), and the clash lived up to it in this year’s WBC. While Japan blasted four home runs for the game, it was a couple walks and a single that gave them the three-run inning they needed to come away with the win.
Korea got off to a hot start, with a Bo Gyeong Moon double scoring three runs to cap off a three-run top of the first. However, two homers from Seiya Suzuki, one from Shohei Ohtani, and one from Masataka Yoshida allowed Japan to storm back and take a 5-3 lead in the third. Ohtani’s Dodgers teammate Hyeseong Kim answered with a two-run shot of his own, tying things up as the game went into the late innings.
In the seventh, Japan’s Shugo Maki drew a leadoff walk, with the pinch-runner for him advancing to third on two outs. Korea’s pitching then got sloppy, as while they intentionally walked Ohtani, they also issued two unintentional ones, allowing a run to score. Yoshida brought home two more with a single. While South Korea did get one run back, that three spot in the seventh ended up being the difference in the game.
Pool A: Canada 8 (1-0), Colombia 2 (0-2)
Thanks to a homer from Cubs-turned-Marlins up-and-comer Owen Caissie in the second, Canada never trailed in this one. But they didn’t fully put it away until a four-run eighth inning.
Canada was never not in control of this game, as the Caissie homer gave them a 2-0 lead, and they later went on to take a 4-1 lead thanks to a Josh Naylor single. However, Colombia got back within two runs in the eighth thanks to a Harold Ramírez RBI double and even brought the go-ahead run to the plate later in the inning.
That was as close as they got, though. Canada went on to bat around in the bottom half of the eighth, plating four runs in the process and staving off any upset bid.
Pool D: Netherlands 4 (1-1), Nicaragua 3 (0-2)
Nicaragua got within one out of pulling off the upset, but a stunning, walk-off, three-run homer from Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies swung the pendulum in the complete opposite direction and gave the Netherlands a crucial win to keep any hopes of advancing alive.
Much of this game was a pitching duel between Nicaragua’s Erasmo Ramírez and Jaitoine Kelly and the Dutch bullpen. The Netherlands had taken a lead after Albies was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the third, but Nicaragua answered when Cheslor Cuthbert drew a bases loaded walk in the fifth.
The game then stayed tied until the eighth. There, former Yankee farmhand Jeter Downs (most famously part of the trade package that netted the Dodgers Mookie Betts) hit a two-run home run to give Nicaragua the late lead and on the verge of their first-ever WBC win. Nicaragua pitcher Angel Obando then got through the eighth and picked up two quick outs in the ninth to get them right on the brink. Things quickly got away from them, though. Ceddanne Rafaela lined a single to center, and Xander Bogaerts caught a break when his 72.2-mph grounder hit the third-base bag and bounced into left. That set the stage for Albies, who launched one over the right-center-field fence for the first* walk-off homer in WBC history.
Through the first five innings, there was no score as Sam Aldegheri of Italy — who finished with eight strikeouts in 4.2 innings — and Enzo Sawayama of Brazil both had pretty decent days. When Italy did finally break through, the runs then came in bunches.
Zach Dezenzo and Jac Caglianone broke the deadlock with RBI hits in the sixth. Homers from Dante Nori and a moonshot from Seattle’s Dominic Canzone then helped Italy to a four-run seventh to put Italy in full control. Brazil never really troubled them after that, as Italy pitching combined to strike out 15 on the way to a win.
There will be another roundup post coming later, breaking down the rest of the games, including Aaron Judge and Team USA. Today will also be another busy day of WBC action with seven games ahead, so here’s the skinny of what’s on tap.
Australia vs. Japan (Pool C) Pitching Matchup: RHP Connor MacDonald vs. RHP Tomoyuki Sugano Time: 6:00 am ET TV: FS1 Venue: Tokyo Dome — Tokyo, Japan
Colombia vs. Cuba (Pool A) Pitching Matchup: RHP Luis Patiño vs. RHP Denny Larrondo Time: 12:00 pm ET TV: FS2 Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium — San Juan, PR
Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic (Pool D) Pitching Matchup: RHP Arij Fransen vs. RHP Luis Severino Time: 12:00 pm ET TV: FOX Venue: LoanDepot Park — Miami, FL
Great Britain vs. Italy (Pool B) Pitching Matchup: TBD vs. RHP Dylan DeLucia Time: 1:00 pm ET TV: Tubi Venue: Daikin Park — Houston, TX
Nicaragua vs. Israel (Pool D) Pitching Matchup: RHP Carlos Rodriguez vs. RHP Dean Kremer Time: 7:00 pm ET TV: Tubi Venue: LoanDepot Park — Miami, FL
Panama vs. Canada (Pool A) Pitching Matchup: TBD vs. RHP Jameson Taillon Time: 7:00 pm ET TV: FS2 Venue: Hiram Bithorn Stadium — San Juan, Puerto Rico
Brazil vs. Mexico (Pool B) Pitching Matchup: RHP Eric Pardinho vs. RHP Taijuan Walker Time: 8:00 pm ET TV: FS1 Venue: Daikin Park — Houston, TX
NHL trade deadline addition David Jiricek made his debut for the Philadelphia Flyers organization in the AHL on Saturday night, and the results were a mixed bag. That's ok, and it's what the Flyers signed up for when they traded for him.
Paired with Helge Grans for his debut with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Jiricek found the back of the net with a power play strike from medium range.
The 22-year-old, unfortunately, also went semi-viral online for a mishap early in the Phantoms' game against the Charlotte Checkers.
After blocking a point shot from Brian Pinho, Jiricek pivoted to play the puck, only to fall down and allow Sandis Vilmanis to open the scoring in alone on Carson Bjarnason.
He did redeem himself with the power play goal, though, completing a comeback from 4-0 down and tying the game at 4-4 late in the third period.
In one game, the Flyers organization got all of the good and all of the bad with Jiricek, and again, that's what they signed up for. Fans criticizing their new top prospect after one awkward mistake need to resign themselves to this, too.
Flyers GM Danny Briere said himself that the goal was to get Jiricek ready to push for an NHL roster spot next year, which is seven months away.
In those seven months, the one thing Jiricek really needs to work on is his mobility. The hulking 6-foot-4 defender is never going to be skating around like a gazelle, but his hips are a bit stiff and he tends to take short, choppy strides. Jiricek's actual speed is perfectly adequate.
Defensively, Jiricek stood around a bit too much, and maybe that's a result of having just been traded for the second time and trying to learn a new system and new teammates on the fly. We'll see how that changes over the course of the rest of the 2025-26 season.
Initially, I wasn't too big a fan of trading an established middle-six scorer in Bobby Brink for a high-risk, high-reward defenseman in Jiricek who may or may not be an NHLer.
But, after seeing the talent and the puck skills, he's a few tweaks off from making it. Big tweaks, to be clear, but only a few.
Criticize the Flyers' development staff all you want - and maybe some of that is warranted over the years - but they've been doing a great job recently.
Forwards Alex Bump, Nikita Grebenkin, and Denver Barkey are all already NHL-caliber contributors, and Brink and Tyson Foerster came up from their system, too.
Brink, notably, was a small playmaker with not a whole lot of speed, and he worked like a dog to become faster, stronger, and better defensively. Who's to say a much more physically gifted and revered Jiricek can't do the same in a summer or two?
Coming into Philadelphia, a 21-year-old Jamie Drysdale was looking like a total zero from the 2020 draft. Wasn't putting up points, couldn't defend, and couldn't stay on the ice. See the above advanced stats chart for a visual of how bad it really was in 2023-24.
Now, though, Drysdale is beginning to emerge as a leader for the Flyers, and he's become one of their best defensemen overall. Maybe better than Cam York, and I think he'll continue to grow even more.
Drysdale, of course, is an elite skater, but he, like Jiricek, needed to work on his side of the ice and learn to defend at the NHL level.
Whether or not it works out, the Flyers deserve props for their unwavering willingness to take on high-risk projects in player development.
Drysdale was one, Jiricek is one, Jack Berglund with his skating coming in is another, and Jack Nesbitt is probably a worse skater than Jiricek. It's clearly not something the Flyers value, and it's something they also feel can be corrected to the level they require.
Jiricek is a player the Flyers have coveted for a long time, as have some fans. Now that the opportunity cost was deemed appropriate, Briere and Co. pulled the trigger and brought him in.
Now that you have your ticket for the Jiricek ride, you have to get on the train.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Scott Laughton has gotten off to a strong start with his new team.
The 31-year-old, who was traded from the Maple Leafs to the L.A. Kings on Friday at the deadline for a conditional third-rounder in 2026, made his debut with his new club on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Laughton centered the Kings' third line, alongside Alex Turcotte and Jared Wright, and scored a game-tying goal for his new team in the second period.
Wright made a behind-the-back pass below the goal line to Laughton. He received the puck, spun, and then fired a shot under Jakub Dobes for his ninth goal of the season. It was Laughton's first goal since Jan. 23 against the Vegas Golden Knights, while with the Maple Leafs.
The Canadiens and Kings traded goals back and forth throughout the game, but Nick Suzuki's marker with less than five minutes to go in the third period turned out to be the game-winner for Montreal.
L.A. pushed to tie the game late in the third period, and Laughton was among the players on the ice fighting for a goal. Despite not scoring, the veteran forward finished the game with 15:08 of ice time in his Kings debut.
Laughton played more of a fourth-line role with the Maple Leafs and had only 10 games this season in which his ice time was higher than what it was in his debut with the Kings.
Growing up in the Greater Toronto Area, Laughton was living out his dream of playing for the Maple Leafs. Before being moved, he expressed a desire to remain with his hometown club.
However, with where Toronto sits in the standings, general manager Brad Treliving decided to sell, and Laughton — an unrestricted agent at the end of this season — was among the players traded before Friday's 3:00 p.m. ET deadline.
Hours after being shipped to the Kings, Laughton shared a post on X with a photo and video of him in Maple Leafs gear alongside his son, Reed. "Thank you Toronto," he wrote. "Dream come true."
Laughton joined the Maple Leafs via trade one year earlier from the Philadelphia Flyers. Toronto moved a conditional first-rounder in 2027 and Nikita Grebenkin for the bottom-six center.
"(Laughton) fit in right away," said Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews on Saturday morning, looking back on Laughton's tenure in Toronto. "I mean, he was only here for a year. I think a lot of guys kind of knew him from the Toronto area, and just an incredible guy."
The Oakville, Ontario-born forward finished his Maple Leafs tenure with 10 goals and 16 points in 63 regular-season games, plus two assists in 13 postseason games last spring.
After suffering a tough loss in the sixth round of the shootout on Friday night, the Montreal Canadiens were back on the ice less than 24 hours later to complete their Western road trip with a duel with the Los Angeles Kings. While the Habs were very vocal in their frustration about how they played on Friday night, it didn’t show in the way they started the game in Los Angeles.
Despite the loss in Anaheim, Martin St-Louis stuck to the same lineup aside from Jakub Dobes manning the net after yet another subpar display from Samuel Montembeault on Friday.
For a second game in a row, the Canadiens just weren’t ready to start the game. In Anaheim, they gave 12 shots in the first period while taking only four, and somehow, they managed to do worse on Saturday night. The Kings pummelled Dobes’ net with 16 shots in the first 20 minutes, including nine on the man-advantage. The Czech netminder looked very sharp on the penalty kill, making nine saves while the men in black passed the puck around as if they were the Harlem Globetrotters playing a team of kindergarten students.
The only goal Dobes conceded was at even strength on an odd-man rush after a questionable play from a knackered Brendan Gallagher in the offensive zone. The veteran was on the ice for over a minute and didn’t have any gas left to defend when the play went the other way. Adrian Kempe served a perfect feed to captain Anze Kopitar, who only had to tip it over a powerless Dobes.
The Canadiens’ inability to start on time in these last two games has been puzzling, to say the least. Whatever the reason, it’s just unacceptable, especially as the season is entering its final stretch and every team is fighting for points with desperation. It’s not because the Kings are just a much stronger team either, in the second frame, Montreal put 11 shots on net.
Slafkovsky Strong
When Juraj Slafkovsky first came to the NHL, he struggled to stay on his feet in the league’s tough physical battles, but not anymore. In the second frame, he battled for puck possession in the offensive zone with Scott Laughton, and he almost carried him on his back as he made his way to the high slot to take a precise shot that gave the Canadiens a 2-1 lead.
It’s easy to forget that Slafkovsky is still only 21 years old because he’s already in his fourth NHL season, but it remains true. When he graduated with the Habs, he still had some growing up and some filling up to do. Now that it’s done, he’s become a force to be reckoned with.
That goal was his 50th point of the season, and with it, he became the first player in Canadiens’ history to have three consecutive 50-point seasons before the age of 22. That’s an impressive feat, especially when you consider how much history this franchise has. The big Slovak added another goal in the third frame, and an assist to get to 52 points, a new career high with 20 games left to play.
Watch Juraj Slafkovsky get open on the PP for the game-tying goal.
Once again tonight, the Canadiens failed to protect the lead they acquired in the second period when Laughton and Alex Laferriere found the back of the net. At that stage, the Habs looked defeated. Nick Suzuki had slouched shoulders, and Mike Matheson looked discouraged before heading to the bench and slamming the door. Given how L.A. scored the third goal, it was almost understandable.
Dobes made a couple of saves, but he couldn't smother the rebound, and it was pushed back in. While it’s obvious that he could have done a better job controlling the rebounds, Matheson, Suzuki, and Kaiden Guhle didn’t exactly cover the slot very well.
However, they were all able to shake it off, roll up their collective sleeves with just over 13 minutes left in the third, and claw their way back into the game. Slafkovsky’s second goal tied up the score with just over five minutes to go, and Suzuki scored what would stand as the game-winner less than a minute later.
With over four minutes left, the Canadiens finally protected a lead, even after the Kings pulled their goalie for an extra skater, something they have struggled with this season. Dobes surrendered three goals on 39 shots for a .923 save percentage. Granted, he gave up a weak goal to Laughton, but without his performance, the game could have been over after the first frame. Furthermore, he didn’t let that weak goal get to him; he shook it off and got right back on the horse, so to speak. This was the Canadiens' first win in L.A. since March 2019 and it was long overdue.
The Canadiens will now head back home for what will be another tiring week featuring a couple of back-to-backs. Given the schedule, it’s highly likely that we’ll see both goaltenders, but in an ideal world, St-Louis would be able to stick to Dobes going forward.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - MARCH 7: Casey Mittelstadt #11 and Viktor Arvidsson #71 of the Boston Bruins celebrate the third-period goal against the Washington Capitals at the TD Garden on March 7, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Happy Sunday, folks!
The Bruins turned in a much-improved performance on Saturday afternoon, beating the Washington Capitals at TD Garden by a score of 2-1.
The B’s got goals from Pavel Zacha and Viktor Arvidsson, plus 22 saves from Jeremy Swayman.
The game probably could have gone a bit differently if Tom Wilson didn’t miss a couple of grade-A scoring chances, but coming off of Thursday night’s mess of a game in Nashville, yesterday’s team-wide performance was better in all areas.
The win coming in regulation had standings implications as well, with Washington falling to six points behind the Bruins for the second wild card spot.
The Caps are actually tied in points with Philadelphia now, with both Ottawa and Columbus ahead of them.
Other games on Saturday with playoff implications:
Buffalo beat Nashville, while Tampa beat Toronto. Those two wins mean Buffalo and Tampa remain tied atop the Atlantic Division, though Buffalo has played two more games.
Montreal beat Los Angeles to move into 3rd in the Atlantic and bump Detroit down to the first wild card spot.
Ottawa beat Seattle to stay in the wild card hunt.
Columbus lost to Utah in OT, allowing the B’s to gain a point in the standings on the Blue Jackets.
With 20 games left, there’s still plenty of time for all of this to change, so it’s probably silly to put too much thought into it, but hey, it’s Sunday. Something to read about.
Your highlights from yesterday’s win over Washington, if you’d like to review:
