The man accused of fatally hitting Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau while intoxicated is asking a second time for reconsideration of at least some charges against him – at the same time he's presented a potential counteroffer for a plea deal to prosecutors.
Attorneys for 45-year-old Sean Higgins told a New Jersey judge on Feb. 24 that an expert's analysis raised questions that need to be addressed. Attorney Richard Klineburger said the blood alcohol testing done on Higgins on the date of the crash tested Higgins' plasma, not his blood, and resulted in a blood alcohol level of 0.075, which is below the legal limit for driving.
The information Klineburger said he received came from an expert employed by Higgins' defense team. Klineburger filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Higgins, saying at least a couple of the charges should be re-presented to a grand jury.
"This is science, it's not speculative," Klineburger said.
Assistant Salem County Prosecutor Michael Mestern said he needed to consult with the state's expert about how the blood testing was done in August 2024 before making any decision about taking the case back to the grand jury. Mestern said that even if there would be a desire to have the grand jury hear evidence about some charges again, it wouldn't impact all of the charges Higgins faces.
Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew, 29, died after being struck by a Jeep Grand Cherokee while bicycling along the side of a road. The brothers were in town for their younger sister's wedding, which was scheduled for the next day.
During the Feb. 24 hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Silvanio, Higgins' attorneys said they have presented a counter to a plea offer Higgins had previously been offered by prosecutors. The details of that proposal were not put on the record in open court.
Higgins rejected an offer in January 2025 that would have netted a 35-year prison sentence. Higgins' next court date will be a pretrial conference on April 14.
The motions and requests by Higgins' attorneys are part of routine efforts for defense lawyers, who are required to provide a zealous defense for their clients.
The Feb. 24 hearing came about 48 hours after members of the Gaudreau family, including the brothers' parents Guy and Jane and Johnny's widow, Meredith, were in Italy to watch the U.S. men's hockey gold medal game.
After the Americans won, Johnny Gaudreau's jersey was skated around the rink and Columbus Blue Jackets teammate Zach Werenski and Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin brought Johnny's two oldest children, daughter Noa and son Johnny Jr., who was celebrating his second birthday, onto the ice for a photo with the team and the jersey.
What happened in the crash that killed Johnny Gaudreau?
Around 8:20 p.m. on Aug. 29, 2024, the Gaudreau brothers were cycling one in front of the other on a two-lane road.
Court records say Higgins was behind two other vehicles he told police were driving slowly. Higgins passed one of the vehicles on the left. The other vehicle moved to the left to give the Gaudreau brothers room. Higgins cut back to the right and hit the brothers.
Both of the brothers died at the scene from their injuries.
According to evidence presented to Silvanio in hearings held so far during the case, Higgins continued to drive past the crash scene, coming to a stop about a quarter-mile from the crash scene. Higgins told New Jersey State police who responded to the scene he'd had a few beers before and while driving the Jeep.
Prosecutors say Higgins' blood alcohol level tested at 0.087, above the legal limit for driving.
Rudoni scores in added time to put leaders eight clear
Drop fears grow for Leicester with 2-0 loss to Norwich
Jack Rudoni’s goal four minutes into second-half stoppage time gave leaders Coventry their fourth win in a row with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Stoke.
Haji Wright headed them ahead before Ben Gibson equalised on the stroke of half-time with what proved to be Stoke’s only shot on target. Rudoni capitalised on an error from the onrushing Tommy Simkin in added time to put Coventry eight points clear of second-placed Middlesbrough, who travel to Birmingham on Monday. The last-gasp defeat meant Stoke, managed by former Coventry manager Mark Robins, have just one win in their last nine matches.
After having to leave the game against Philadelphia after 10 minutes, Miami Heat All-Star wing Norman Powell has been diagnosed with a groin strain and is considered week to week, the team announced.
INJURY UPDATE: MRI results for Norman Powell returned as a Grade 1 right groin strain. He will be week to week.
Nikola Jovic (lower back injury management) has been ruled out of tomorrow's game vs the Rockets.
Powell was a first-time All-Star this year, averaging a career-high 22.5 points per game and shooting 39% from 3-point range. Powell has been playing through a number of nagging injuries, according to reports, which will give him a chance to heal.
Powell will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Not that there is ever a good time for an injury, but this is less than ideal for the Heat, who sit eighth in the East at 31-29 and are fighting to hold on to their No. 8 seed and an easier path through the play-in to the playoffs.
Feb 23, 2026; Bradenton, Florida, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) throws a pitch during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
We’re in spring training proper now, with less than a week to go before the World Baseball Classic opens, and players on both of the teams squaring off today will represent their countries. Both the Yankees and the Blue Jays will send multiple participants to the WBC, but in the meantime the two AL East hopefuls will face off at Steinbrenner Field.
Paul Blackburn gets the ball in his second spring appearance, hoping to prove himself in a bullpen role with the MLB club. He didn’t have a great, albeit brief, stint with the club last year after coming over from Queens, but Matt Blake has worked some success with sinker-cutter combos before, and that’s Blackburn’s primary offering.
Meanwhile, José Berríos has had a rocky few months. He was on the IL for the Blue Jays’ World Series run and actually abandoned the club, returning home to Puerto Rico. This caused much discourse about the veteran’s commitment to the team, and in the midst of his apologies, Berríos was informed he was one of several Puerto Rican players who wasn’t able to be insured for the WBC, and he’ll miss the tournament. As he’s still rehabbing his right bicep, the time in camp might end up the best for him personally, but Puerto Rico is a proud baseball machine and missing what is likely his last Classic must be weighing on Berríos.
We get a pretty representative lineup today, with only Spencer Jones, who’s batting ninth, expected to not be on the Opening Day roster. Trent Grisham, Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. form a very powerful top three. Note that utilityman Amed Rosario was originally in the starting nine at third base but was scratched about an hour before first pitch, with NRI Jonathan Ornelas taking his place. This reportedly would’ve been Rosario’s last start before heading off to join Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, so an injury could be in play.
The Montreal Canadiens welcome Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to the Bell Centre tonight, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
Noah Dobson is shining as a playmaker lately, and my Capitals vs. Canadiens predictions are eyeing him to keep it rolling.
Read more in my NHL picks for Saturday, February 28.
Capitals vs Canadiens prediction
Capitals vs Canadiens best bet:Noah Dobson Over 0.5 assists (+185)
Noah Dobson has been a tremendous addition to the Montreal Canadiens, collecting 40 points this season. That includes 28 assists, and he’s been handing out helpers left and right lately.
The 26-year-old has cashed the Over in assists in four of his last six appearances, compiling six helpers during that span. He’s only one assist off last season’s total.
While he’s done most of his damage on the road, Dobson is thriving at the moment as a passer. He’ll stay hot tonight against the Washington Capitals.
Capitals vs Canadiens same-game parlay
Cole Caufield is third in the NHL in goals with 33. He’s been one of the Canadiens’ top players this season, and he’s scored 14 of his goals in 29 home contests.
The 25-year-old found the back of the net in the first game back from the break against the New York Islanders, and Caufield has scored three goals across his previous four appearances.
While the Habs have lost both matchups to the Caps this season, the last one was a 3-2 OT defeat, and Montreal is coming off a similar result against the Isles at home.
The Montreal Canadiens have covered the puck line in 19 of their last 25 games (+15.30 Units / 36% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Capitals vs. Canadiens.
How to watch Capitals vs Canadiens
Location
Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
MNMT, CITY
Capitals vs Canadiens latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 26: Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals advances to third base during the first inning of a spring training game against the Philadelphia Philliesat BayCare Ballpark on February 26, 2026 in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a tie with the Astros last night, the Nats are back in action this afternoon against the Mets. They are headed to Fort St. Lucie to face a stacked Mets lineup. It will be a good test for this young Nats team who has shown some sloppiness in the last couple games this spring.
The Nats who did not play last night will be in action this afternoon. That means we will see the likes of James Wood, Daylen Lile, Brady House and Harry Ford, among others. Wood and Lile have had slow starts to the spring, so it would be nice to see them make a statement. Jake Irvin will be on the mound, facing a very strong Mets lineup.
As we have mentioned a couple times now, the Mets are rolling out a lineup that should be pretty similar to their Opening Day lineup. New additions Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette are in the lineup. Juan Soto will be hitting between them in the two hole. Long time Mets like Francisco Alvarez, Brett Baty and Mark Vientos will also be in the lineup. Tobias Myers was part of the Freddie Peralta trade, and he will be on the mound for the Mets.
This should be a good test for the Nats. Jake Irvin will have to work his way through a big league lineup and Tobias Myers is no scrub on the mound either. There have been some slow starters for the Nats this spring, so hopefully they can wake up. Follow along down below and let’s go Nats!
Feb 10, 2026; North Port, FL, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider (99) works out during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
It’s another road game but this time, the lineup for our Atlanta Braves figures to be a little better than the last one that they sent out for a road game against the Yankees in Tampa. That’s probably because it’s a quicker trip from North Port to Sarasota instead of Tampa but either way, this’ll probably be less of the Braves serving as live practice partners for the Orioles like they did over at Steinbrenner Field earlier this week.
It also helps that the Braves are going to be sending one of their expected starting pitchers to the mound today as well. Spencer Strider is getting the ball and I’d say that there’s plenty of anticipation for his spring training debut. There’s been a lot of speculation about Strider’s velocity early on here in spring training so we’ll see exactly what he’s got in the tank with what he can deliver against a pretty solid Orioles lineup today.
If you live in the Orioles TV market then you can catch this game on MASN. That’s the only way you’ll be able to catch the game on TV, as the Braves will only be broadcasting this game via the radio on 680 The Fan/93.7 FM. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET.
As rain fell, incessantly, Eddie Howe wandered around the pitch alone. The final whistle had just gone and, with Everton celebrating a deserved win, Newcastle’s lingering hopes of a top six finish were also blown.
Newcastle look shattered, mentally as much as physically, by a Champions League campaign that will soon pit them against Barcelona and their Premier League form is suffering accordingly.
Burnley’s spirited fightback counted for nothing as Mikkel Damsgaard struck in injury time to earn Brentford a dramatic 4-3 victory at Turf Moor.
The Brentford manager, Keith Andrew, looked to celebrate his new long-term deal with a comfortable win amid a mutinous atmosphere when first-half goals from Damsgaard, Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade put the visitors three up.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - JULY 18: Isaac Paredes #15 of the Houston Astros bats during the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on July 18, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Mariners won 6-1. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
3B Isaac Paredes will make his 2026 Grapefruit League debut today.
The Houston Astros (1-4-2) welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates (6-2) to West Palm Beach.
RHP Mike Burrows will make his second start and appearance of the Spring as he takes on Buccos RHP Braxton Ashcraft.
RHP Mike Burrows takes on his former club with today’s start vs. the Pirates. Burrows made 23 appearances (19 starts) for PIT in 2025 before being acquired by HOU on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team, six-player deal. Burrows was selected PIT in the 11th round of the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft.
Today is the second start of the Spring for RHP Mike Burrows. He hurled 2.0 scoreless innings in his first start on Feb. 22 vs. STL (1 BB, 2 SO). In 2025, Burrows was 2-4 in 23 appearances (19 starts) for the Pirates with a 3.94 ERA (42ER/96IP) and 97 strikeouts in 96.0 IP. Burrows was solid in the second half of the season, posting a 3.27 ERA ERA (20ER/55IP) in 13 appearances (10 starts), allowing one or fewer runs in seven of his last eight appearances (2.22 ERA in that span). He earned his first win as a starter on June 4 vs. HOU (5.1 scoreless inn.).
TODAY’S POTENTIAL RELIEVERS: RHP Logan VanWey, RHP Jayden Murray, RHP Roddery Muñoz, LHP Tom Cosgrove, RHP Michael Knorr, RHP Alex Santos.
WALK THIS WAY: The Astros have drawn a combined 54 walks in seven games (7.7 per game).
Today is the first of two scheduled meetings between the Astros and Pirates this Spring. The two clubs will also play in Bradenton on St. Patrick’s Day (3/17). In the regular season, the Pirates will visit HOU for a three-game set, June 2-4.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, February 28, 12:05 p.m. CST
Location: CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach, FL
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 13: A general view of Peoria Stadium following the cancellation of a spring training game between the Seattle Mariners and the Arizona Diamondbacks due to field conditions on March 13, 2025 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Max Scherzer Returns to Toronto With the way the contract is structured and the low potential maximum, it feels like Arizona should have been circling Scherzer themselves, though he may not have had any interest in dessert baseball.
DUNEDIN, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 21: Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies waits for the pitch during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark on February 21, 2026 in Dunedin, Florida. (Photo by Mark Taylor/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Feb 17, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets infielder Brett Baty (7) works during spring training at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Los Angeles, CA - February 22: Guard Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics shoots between Austin Reaves #15 and center Deandre Ayton #5 of the Los Angeles Lakers as guard Luka Doncic #77 looks on in the second half of a NBA basketball game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
It’s always good to beat LA. Always.
And it’s always good to beat LeBron James.
And it’s great that LeBron joined the Lakers in order to make victories all the sweeter.
For me, I sometimes wonder what LeBron thinks of Boston in his heart of hearts. He’s far too savvy to say anything out loud about the team, but consider that the Celtics were in his way starting in 2008; in fact, they were so much in his way that he left Cleveland and joined Miami to get past them.
And he was able to get past the Celtics, first as a member of the Heat, and then, again, as a Cavalier. He had a roughly 7-year run where he pretty much owned Boston, knocking the C’s out of three conference finals appearances and four playoff appearances overall.
But, inexorably, time has caught up with LeBron, and now, as he’s facing the end of his career and the Celtics are back again.
To be sure, LeBron did add a championship with the Lakers, and he had the satisfaction of seeing the Lakers tie the Celtics for most titles won, but that tie was short lived. The Celtics secured another title in 2024, and appear poised to contend for more titles in the future. The Lakers, Luka Doncic notwithstanding, do not.
Yes, the Celtics are once again the better team, as evidenced by two thorough spankings of the purple and gold this season, and a record of 10-6 against the Lakers since LeBron joined the team.
A different kind of respect for Luka
During the game, Joe Mazzulla paid Luka a very high honor.
Now with pretty much any other team, putting a rookie and a second year guy on the other team’s leading scorer is a sign of disrespect, insanity, or a fervent hope to secure a high draft pick (don’t use the “T” word — the league is on high alert for such things these days).
But Boston isn’t other teams, and Baylor Scheierman and Hugo Gonzalez play defense as though their life depended on it. Mind you, their playing time pretty much does.
The two wings held Luka to 25 points, 7 less than his season average, and the difference was basically one less made basket and about four fewer free throw attempts.
Yes, these two kids, and I don’t mind calling Scheierman a kid, since he’s young enough to be one of mine, effectively locked down Luka without sending him to the line. That’s a level of skill that one simply does not associate with newcomers to the league.
Overall, the team also limited Luka to just three assists, well down from his season average of 8.6. His season average is 54.1 passes per game, and on Sunday he made just 37.
One of the easiest insights to give someone new to the game regarding its likely outcome is to see which team has to work harder for its points. Now, it’s not a perfect indicator, but it’s a good eye test for neophytes.
The Lakers, and Dončić especially, had to work much harder for their points on Sunday, and that’s down to the exceptional defense played by Boston.
At least Riley’s statue is wearing nice clothes
But what was especially enjoyable about the victory on Sunday, though, was that it was Pat Riley Day.
Now, normally, I would say that a Celtics win, especially one delivered in clear and convincing fashion, would be sufficient to ruin Riley’s day, but in this case, I think Riley’s day was actually ruined when he saw his statue.
I find Riley’s statue ugly not because I’m a Celtics fan, but because I was an art major.
Los Angeles, CA – February 22: Former Lakers coach Pat Riley with his wife Chris Rodstrom look on as his statue is unveiled in Star Plaza in front of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Riley won 4 championships as Lakers head coach. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
Of course, some really nifty work was done to give character to the clothes, and perhaps that’s an appropriate tribute to Riley—his clothes look good.
But that statue—that statue is what happens when you try to make a sculpture based on a photograph.
There’s a lack of coherent anatomy in the sculpture. Try to hold your hand in the position that Riley is holding it—it feels awkward and kind of painful. His raised arm looks a bit like a piece of licorice, with no clearly defined elbow, and the legs suggest a contrapposto pose that just isn’t carried through into the torso. He’s stepping forward and leaning backwards in a manner does not reflect the way that any sober person walks.
And then there’s the face. Now the thing about Pat Riley is that he does have a rather heavy brow, but he must have winced mightily when he saw his features given an almost Cro Magnon appearance.
There’s a far more well-done sculpture of an NBA coach near Faneuil Hall.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 03: Bronze statue tribute to Boston Celtics coach and president Red Auerbach in Boston's Faneuil Hall Market on March 3, 2013 in Boston. (Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The statue, of course, is Red Auerbach’s, capturing him, cigar in hand, poised to get up off the bench he’s sitting on and do some characteristic bit of Auerbach showmanship or gamesmanship.
Now this statue is no Moses by Michelangelo, but it’s better executed than Pat Riley’s, and it’s well, it’s just more fun. Anyone can sit on the bench with an appropriately larger-than-life Red, and in fact, there are parts of Red’s sculpture that have been buffed to a nice shine from passersby stopping to interact with it.
A small version of the statue, stripped of its championship ring, is presented annually to the league’s Coach of the Year.
INDEPENDENCE, OH – APRIL 20: The Red Auerbach Trophy that head coach Mike Brown of the Cleveland Cavaliers received as the NBA's 2008-09 Coach of the Year Award is seen at the Cleveland Clinic Courts April 20, 2009 in Independence, Ohio. 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 2009 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Anyone but Joe
On Wednesday, CelticsBlog’s Jeff Clark started a poll regarding this season’s Coach of the Year award.
I think it should go to anyone but Joe Mazzulla.
Why?
First of all, I think that Gregg Popovich might have been the only other coach in recent memory who could match Mazzulla in disregard for that particular award, so hey, it might as well go to someone who appreciates it.
Secondly, I think the award should be routinely given to coaches of teams that are not the Boston Celtics, because that little sculpture of Red Auerbach about to celebrate a victory over some other team is a nice tiny little reminder of where the Celtics fit in the NBA’s grand scheme of things.
Which isn’t to say that Mazzulla isn’t richly deserving of the award.
Coming into the season, 40 wins seemed an unlikely outcome for all but the most optimistic fans, and the C’s could achieve that with 22 games left on the calendar.
40 before 20—almost
The big watch, this week, was whether Boston could get to 40 wins before 20 losses. That mark is considered a leading indicator of whether a team has legit potential to contest for a championship.
As it turns out, the C’s fell just short, losing to Denver at the end of a longish road trip that took them on a tour of California and the western states.
Looking at the schedule, most of us had our doubts about Wednesday’s game against Denver. It was Boston’s third road game in four nights, and it was a back to back.
I think the team held Jaylen out of the Phoenix game at least in part to have him better rested for Denver, but it wasn’t enough. The team, which hustles more than most at both ends of the court, ran out of gas, or legs, or something in the third quarter, and Denver, coming off a two day break, cruised to victory.
Here’s where I say that as much as I like these Celtics, they’re not championship caliber without Jayson Tatum. I don’t know how much Tatum the Celtics need to be true championship contenders, but I’m pretty sure that it’s more than zero.
If Tatum comes back in early March and the C’s can make it to the second or third round of the playoffs, I think there’s a good chance that Tatum will have recovered to the point where something magical could happen, but that’s my best case scenario.
Even so, this team has been as much fun to root for as any Celtics team in my memory.
And in case you’re wondering
Boston’s overall record against the Lakers is 212-166.
The Toronto Raptors are on course for their first playoff spot since 2022, and they can get back in the win column tonight against the tanking Washington Wizards.
Toronto brings an impressive 18-10 road record to Capital One Arena, and my Raptors vs. Wizards predictions expect the visitors’ offense to break loose in a big way after facing two swarming defenses earlier this week.
Find out more in my free NBA picks ahead for Saturday, February 28.
Raptors vs Wizards prediction
Raptors vs Wizards best bet: Raptors team total Over 119.5 (-115)
After back-to-back outings against the elite Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs defenses, the Toronto Raptors will see no such nightmares tonight in D.C.
The Washington Wizards have been consistently woeful on that end of the floor, giving up 118+ points in seven of their past eight contests – and 126+ points in five of those outings.
Sure, Toronto has its offensive shortcomings, but Darko Rajakovic’s squad dropped 140 points on Washington in November.
The Wizards serve up the third-most turnovers per game, while the Raptors force 15 a night. Those easy buckets should keep this team total Over in play.
Raptors vs Wizards same-game parlay
Brandon Ingram missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer on Wednesday, but he couldn’t wish for a better bounce-back fixture.
He’s gone past this O/U number in both meetings with the Wizards this season, and he’s jacked up 17+ shots in seven of his past 10 games. Immanuel Quickley is in a nice rhythm, too. He’s splashed 3+ 3-pointers in eight of his last nine outings, and he’s made his triples at a 45% clip in February.
Over/Under: Over 226.5 (-110) | Under 226.5 (-110)
Raptors vs Wizards betting trend to know
The Wizards are 24-34 ATS this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Wizards.
How to watch Raptors vs Wizards
Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
Date
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN, Monumental SN
Raptors vs Wizards latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
