The Penguins are coming off a 4-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night and will be in second place in the Metropolitan Division heading into that game.
All healthy players were present for practice, except defenseman Sam Girard, who made his Penguins' debut on Thursday. He skated on the second pair with Kris Letang.
Girard was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, along with a 2028 second-round pick, for fellow defenseman Brett Kulak.
Here's how the lines looked when the team did line rushes:
Forwards
Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin
A. Hayes-Rakell-Rust
Mantha-Kindel-Brazeau
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
K. Hayes-Clifton
Kevin Hayes was filling in for Girard, while Ryan Graves and Ilya Solovyov were skating on the fourth defensive pair. Penguins PR confirmed during practice that Girard wasn't on the ice because he was being evaluated for a lower-body injury.
Defenseman Sam Girard will not practice today as he is undergoing evaluation for a lower-body injury. pic.twitter.com/2POc7nU9go
Penguins head coach Dan Muse confirmed after practice that Girard will travel to New York for Saturday's game, so he hasn't been ruled out. Girard blocked multiple shots during Thursday's game, so hopefully it's nothing too serious.
- The Penguins ended Friday's practice with a shootout, which is never a bad idea. The Penguins are 1-7 in shootouts this season and need all the practice they can get in them. There were some nice goals scored on both Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs.
- This is a big weekend for the Penguins as they try to stay in second place in the Metropolitan Division heading into next week. They'll face a Rangers team on Saturday that has already waved the white flag on the season and is the worst team in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins have won two of the three previous meetings against them this year.
After that game, the Penguins will come home to play the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time this season. This will be a big test for the Penguins, since the Golden Knights are first in the Pacific Division and a top Stanley Cup contender this season.
Both games will be nationally televised. Saturday's game will start at 12:30 p.m. ET on ABC, and Sunday's will start at 1 p.m. ET on TNT.
DETROIT (AP) — James Harden sat out the Cleveland Cavaliers' game against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night as he recovers from a fractured right thumb.
Harden was injured Tuesday against New York. He's averaging 18.9 points in seven games for the Cavaliers following a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Cleveland also was without Donovan Mitchell. He strained his groin against the Knicks.
Feb 27, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) warms up before the start of the game against the Boston Red Sox during spring training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Good evening! I hope your week has gone well and that the weekend treats you just as well. The floor is now yours and here’s a random clip:
As part of the busy 2025 offseason for Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, he acquired veteran goaltender John Gibson from the Anaheim Ducks.
In return, he sent goaltender Petr Mrazek, a 2027 second-round pick, and a 2026 fourth-round pick back to the Ducks.
While Gibson didn't get off to the start that he would have liked in the first two months with his new club, he's been among the NHL's best goaltenders since the calendar flipped to December and beyond.
He turned in another fine performance on Thursday evening, stopping 26 shots from the Ottawa Senators in a 2-1 overtime victory that vaulted the Red Wings back into second place in the Atlantic Division.
Despite his elite run of play, Gibson is keeping an all-business approach and, as he put it, just trying to play his game to give his club a chance to win.
“I just kind of try and approach it (like) I just try to play my game and focus on that; If I sat here and told you that I could draw it all up, I’d be lying to you," Gibson said afterward. "You can’t control the bounces and all that, so I’m just trying to keep the puck out of the net and give us a chance to win.”
"They had their chances, and fortunately, we were able to capitalize (on ours) and win the game."
Since Dec. 1, Gibson has gone 19-5 while posting an impressive 1.89 goals-against average. He has also posted four shutouts during that span.
This is the kind of goaltending that the Red Wings envisioned from Gibson when they acquired him in late June, and it's resulted in them being in as advantageous a position at this point in an NHL season as they've been in a decade.
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Devin Williams reacts after allowing a home run during the Mets' Feb. 27 Grapefruit League game.
JUPITER, Fla. — Devin Williams’ first Grapefruit League pitch in a Mets uniform resulted in a ball disappearing behind the fence at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on Friday.
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The cutter, a pitch Williams is still learning, got too much of JJ Wetherholt’s strike zone in the fourth inning.
“That one, specifically, I was just trying to throw a strike,” Williams said on a day the Mets rolled to a 14-3 victory over the Cardinals. “He jumped on it, so that is part of it.”
Williams, who is slated for the closer’s role, retired the next three batters he faced in the inning.
He averaged 93.8 mph with his four-seam fastball.
“That first pitch, that cutter didn’t cut much,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s a pitch that he is working on, but I thought the fastball was good. He did a couple of good sliders, which is another pitch that he is working on, so a good inning of work for him.”
Devin Williams reacts after allowing a home run during the Mets’ Feb. 27 Grapefruit League game. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Williams, who arrived on a three-year contract worth $51 million — he spent last season with the Yankees — said he needs about eight or nine appearances in spring training games to prepare for the season.
MJ Melendez homered twice for the Mets, going to the opposite field for both.
“I knew that I was going to learn a lot coming here,” Melendez said. “Very advanced things that I kind of knew about myself, but really not how to get the best version of myself, and just learning those things each and every day, and it’s been amazing so far.”
Melendez’s education has included learning about his swing path and stance.
“Just stuff that my body does well, but I necessarily didn’t know, exactly how and why,” Melendez said. “Just kind of get into those things and on the outfield side, how to get better reads and improve daily out there.”
Grae Kessinger departed the game with knee discomfort, according to Mendoza, and will likely have an MRI exam.
Former Major League Baseball pitcher Dan Serafini was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole Friday for the 2021 first-degree murder of his father-in-law and attempted murder of his mother-in-law in Lake Tahoe.
Serafini, who pitched for six MLB teams during a 22-year professional career that ended in 2013, killed Gary Spohr, 70, and seriously injured Wendy Wood during a burglary of their home on the west shore of Lake Tahoe.
"He is a monster who knows no moral boundaries and has zero reservations about taking the lives of others to benefit himself," said Adrienne Spohr, daughter of the victims, at the sentencing hearing.
He was convicted in July after a six-week trial and made two unsuccessful appeals, denied a new trial only a week ago. During his ruling, Placer County Superior Court Judge Garen J. Horst said Serafini, 52, was a "liar, manipulator, arrogant and someone who has a loose relationship with the truth."
The jury also found Serafini guilty of first-degree burglary and found the special circumstance allegations of lying-in-wait and felony murder, as well as related firearm allegations, to be true.
Serafini broke into the Spohr's home while the couple was boating with their grandsons and daughter Erin Spohr — Serafini's wife and sister of Adrienne Spohr. He waited in a closet until his family left and shot them both in the head upon their return, according to prosecutors.
Wood took her own life in 2022 at age 69. After a year of rehabilitation after the shooting, she had regained her ability to read and write, as well as to hike and ride a bicycle, according to Adrienne Spohr. But she battled disability and depression.
Samantha Scott, a nanny employed by Serafini and Erin Spohr to watch their two young children, pleaded guilty to being an accessory to the crimes. She testified in 2025 that she drove Serafini to the crime scene, believing it was for a drug deal.
Scott also testified that she saw Serafini with a gun and a silencer made of PVC pipe in his backpack. She testified that she dropped him off near the Spohr's home and later saw him discard items from his backpack after they crossed the Nevada state line.
"When I learned that my sister’s husband Daniel Serafini and sister’s close friend Samantha Scott were arrested for the shooting of my parents, I was shaken to my core,” Adrienne Spohr said in a statement to the court. “This was a heinous, calculated crime. My parents had been incredibly generous to Daniel Serafini and Erin Spohr throughout their marriage."
The Minnesota Twins made Serafini their first-round draft pick in 1992 out of Junipero Serra High in San Mateo, Calif., the same school that all-time home run king Barry Bonds attended. Serafini made his big-league debut in 1996 with the Twins and pitched with the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Colorado Rockies.
Serafini pitched in Japan from 2004 to 2007 before returning to the United States. He was suspended for 50 games in 2007 for using performance-enhancing drugs that he blamed on medication he took in Japan. He also pitched for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Serafini’s bar in Sparks, Nev., was featured on an episode of “Bar Rescue” in 2025. The bar’s named was changed from the Bullpen Bar to the Oak Tavern as part of the makeover, but not before Serafini's financial woes were described: He blew through $14 million in career earnings and took a $250,000 loan from his parents.
Prosecutors said Serafini's crimes were driven by anger and financial distress. Evidence was presented that he made threats and spoke about wanting his in-laws dead for many years. He and Gary Spohr also had disputes over a $1.3 million loan intended for Erin Spohr's horse ranch business.
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Stuart Skinner has found himself entering the rumor mill with the 2026 NHL trade deadline right around the corner. Teams looking for depth between the pipes could consider targeting Skinner, as he has plenty of playoff experience due to his time with the Edmonton Oilers.
Due to this, let's look at two teams that could consider targeting Skinner if the Penguins end up shopping the pending unrestricted free agent (UFA).
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks stand out as a potential landing spot for Skinner. The Ducks could use an upgrade over Ville Husso for their backup role, and Skinner would provide them with just that if acquired. Petr Mrazek is also out for the season, so Anaheim would benefit by adding another netminder.
Furthermore, the Ducks are in a position to be buyers right now, as they are third in the Pacific Division standings with a 31-23-3 record and 65 points. While Skinner would not be the biggest of splashes for Anaheim, he would still improve their goalie depth, which is a clear need.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators could also make sense as a trade destination for Skinner. Backup goalie options like Leevi Merilainen, James Reimer, and Mads Sogaard have all struggled this season with the Senators, so it could make sense for Ottawa to take a chance on Skinner. Starter Linus Ullmark has had a tough season for Ottawa, as evidenced by his .884 save percentage in 31 games.
With the Senators needing to move up the standings to help their playoff odds, they should not be afraid to bring in a potential goalie upgrade like Skinner. He could form a nice tandem with Ullmark as the Senators look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
MESA, Arizona — Friday was Edward Cabrera’s first outing in a Cubs uniform and it was a great success. Cabrera retired all six Guardians batters he faced, striking out three. He threw 20 strikes in 31 pitches and had six swings-and misses.
The bullpen did a good job, too — well, with one exception, I’ll get to that — and Dansby Swanson homered and singled and drove in three runs as the Cubs defeated the Guardians 8-6.
Ryan Rolison, Daniel Palencia, Collin Snider and Jacob Webb all threw scoreless innings in relief of Cabrera. Those four combined to allow just two hits and struck out four.
Swanson’s RBI single in the sixth made it 3-0 Cubs, and things looked good … until Porter Hodge entered the game in the seventh. Hodge again struggled with command, issuing two walks. He also got hit pretty hard, allowing three hits — and remember, these were basically all Guardians minor leaguers. Hodge got charged with five runs and Cleveland led the game 5-4 after seven. Scott Kingery had homered for the Cubs in the seventh.
I’m not sure what’s up with Hodge but he now sports a 31.50 ERA with four hits, seven walks and seven runs allowed in two innings of work this spring. That’s a 5.500 WHIP which, yikes. I suspect Hodge is going to wind up starting the year at Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs scored four in the eighth to take the lead. The big blow was a bases-clearing double by Leonel Espinoza, an outfielder who split 2025 between Myrtle Beach and South Bend, where he stole 31 bases in 116 games.
Gavin Hollowell entered for the save opportunity. He did give up a pair of hits and a run, and it might have been more except for a really slick play by Pedro Ramirez at short. Ramirez, who was added to the 40-man roster this winter, might wind up at Iowa this year. He’s only 21 (turns 22 in April). Even if he doesn’t hit much, that glove plays in the major leagues.
Attendance watch: 11,217 attended Friday afternoon’s contest at Sloan Park. That makes the season total 56,039 for five dates, or 11,208 per date.
A note on Friday afternoon’s weather: It was 86 degrees at game time and as of 2 p.m., the temperature in Phoenix was 92 degrees, which tied the record high for both the date and the entire month of February. It’s not supposed to be this hot in the Valley in February — the average high right now is 73. It’s forecast to be in the mid-90s for at least the next three days.
Saturday, the Cubs head west to Glendale to face the Dodgers. Colin Rea gets the start for the Cubs and Justin Wrobleski will go for L.A. Game time is 2:05 p.m. CT and the game will be televised via the Dodgers channel SportsNet LA.
Feb 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shane Drohan against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers stayed hot in sunny Phoenix on Friday afternoon, taking down the Chicago White Sox for their fourth consecutive win to move to .500 at 4-4 in Cactus League play. The Crew did it behind a balanced offensive attack and some solid bullpen work late.
Right-hander Brandon Sproat, one of Milwaukee’s acquisitions in the Freddy Peralta trade, made his spring debut in this one. He allowed a leadoff single in the first before striking out the next two hitters. After Chase Meidroth stole second, catcher Edgar Quero singled him home to make it 1-0 early. Sproat would pick off Quero at first base, but the Brewers faced an early deficit.
Milwaukee went down 1-2-3 against Sean Burke in the first, and after Sproat recorded a strikeout of Jarred Kelenic, he allowed a walk and a single. That marked the end of Sproat’s day, as he went 1 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and a run allowed on a walk and three hits.
Kaleb Bowman worked around a passed ball to finish out the inning with the score still 1-0.
After once again going down 1-2-3 in the second, Abner Uribe got the ball in the third. He allowed a run on a walk, a sac bunt, and a double as Quero picked up his second RBI of the day.
With the score now 2-0, Luis Rengifo cut that lead in half to lead off the third, slugging his first homer of the spring 345 feet over the wall in right. Milwaukee wasn’t done there either.
Garrett Mitchell followed with a walk, Joey Ortiz singled, and Jackson Chourio singled to tie it up at 2-2. Brice Turang then flew into a 7-5-6 double play as Ortiz was thrown out on the basepaths, and William Contreras popped out to end the rally.
Shane Drohan, one of Milwaukee’s acquisitions in the Caleb Durbin trade, made his spring debut in the fourth and proceeded to strike out the side (all swinging).
The Brewers took the lead in the fourth against new pitcher Tanner McDougal, as Jake Bauers doubled and was brought home by Rengifo to make it 3-2 entering the fifth.
Drohan’s fifth inning didn’t go quite as well as the fourth, as he allowed a single and hit Meidroth with a pitch before recording an out. He was able to induce a pair of groundouts — including a fielder’s choice at the plate to cut down Oliver Dunn — and Quero lined out to end the inning with no damage done.
Milwaukee tacked on another in the fifth, as Ortiz singled, stole second, and later scored on a Brice Turang double to make it 4-2.
Most of Milwaukee’s starters were substituted in the sixth and seventh, as Chourio, Mitchell, Sal Frelick, and Turang were all removed before Bauers and Rengifo exited the next inning.
The Brewers were able to tack on one more run in the seventh, as Ortiz, Jacob Hurtubise, and Contreras all singled to make it 5-2.
The White Sox nearly mounted an eight-inning rally against Drew Rom, as Rom walked the bases loaded before his replacement, Will Childers, was able to get a called strike three upon review (initiated by catcher Darrien Miller) to escape the inning unscathed.
Both teams went down in order in their final at-bats, and the Brewers locked up another win to push them to 4-4 this spring.
Ortiz and Rengifo were the big hitters offensively, as Ortiz went 3-for-3 with three singles, two runs scored, and a steal, and Rengifo went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored on his homer. Five other Brewers collected hits in the win, including doubles from Bauers and Turang.
Shane Drohan picked up the win in his Brewer debut, pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Blake Holub got the save with three strikeouts in the ninth, while Bowman, Easton McGee, Rom, and Childers also had scoreless outings. The two runs went to Sproat and Uribe.
The Crew will look to make it five straight and move over .500 tomorrow, as they’ll stay home to take on the Reds. First pitch in that one is at 2:10 p.m. CT on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in a position to add to their roster ahead of the 2026 NHL trade deadline. This is because the Penguins have a 30-15-12 record and are second in the Metropolitan Division standings with 72 points.
One area that the Penguins should be looking to improve is the right side of their defense. When looking at trade candidate defensemen around the NHL, Nashville Predators blueliner Nick Perbix stands out as an interesting potential option.
If the Penguins acquired Perbix, he would give their bottom pairing a nice boost. Furthermore, he would provide the Penguins with another defenseman who could work on the penalty kill.
Perbix would also be more than a rental for the Penguins if acquired. This is because the right-shot defenseman is signed until the end of the 2026-27 season, where he has a $2.75 million cap hit. This adds to the 27-year-old blueliner's appeal, as he would have the potential to benefit the Penguins beyond this season.
In 55 games so far this season with the Predators, Perbix has recorded three goals, six assists, and nine points. While his offensive totals are not necessarily the highest at this point of the season, he has two 20-point seasons on his resume. With this, he could give the Penguins some offense from the point if he bounced back in Pittsburgh.
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 20: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the first half of a basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on February 20, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Harden broke his thumb in Tuesday’s win over the New York Knicks. Initial X-rays revealed a non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx. He will not be undergoing surgery at this time and is expected to play through the injury.
However, that won’t be happening on Friday as he’s still struggling to dribble according to head coach Kenny Atkinson.
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“I know this morning he was struggling a little just dribbling,” Atkinson said when asked about Harden’s thumb injury before Friday’s game in Detroit. “If you have a hard time dribbling and catching [it’s tough to play]. Jarrett Allen went through it earlier in the season. We tried to bring him back. He wanted to rush, and then we had to go back and give him some time.
“I know James is different…we got to get the feedback from James. … Theres no tougher guy in the league. No one more available. No one wants to play more.”
The plan was to have Harden go through pregame warmups and see how it goes. However, he didn’t come out for pregame warmups like usual.
Even though he won’t be playing Friday, Atkinson says that he is making progress.
“It was improved from when he first did it,” Atkinson said. “It wasn’t like, man it feels the same. It’s better than it was two days ago, so that’s a positive.
Harden has played seven games with the Cavs this season and is averaging 18.9 points and 8 assists on .494/.488/.867 shooting splits. On the season, he’s averaged 24.5 points and 8.1 assists in 51 games.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dunks against Duncan Robinson #55 of the Detroit Pistons during the second half at Rocket Arena on January 04, 2026 in Cleveland, 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. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be shorthanded again. That isn’t ideal when going against the best team in the conference, the Detroit Pistons.
I’ll be in the comments throughout the game sharing my thoughts. Feel free to join in on the conversation and let your voice be heard in the comments below.
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain (AP) — Carlos Espí scored twice in the dying minutes to give Levante a 2-0 win over Alaves on Friday and a vital three points in its fight to avoid relegation from La Liga.
Espí, who came through the youth ranks at the Valencia-based club, had scored only once all season but tripled his tally with a blistering late show against an Alaves side that played the last half hour with 10 men after Víctor Parada was sent off.
Espí's deflected shot in the 88th minute put Levante ahead and he then sparked jubilant scenes with almost the last kick of the game when his assured finish rounded off a counterattack.
"This has been one of my greatest nights," the 20-year old told broadcaster DAZN. "It's incredible."
The result snapped a four-game losing streak for the home side. It remained second from bottom of La Liga but has cut the gap with the fourth bottom club to four points.
Alaves was 14th but only three points clear of the relegation zone.
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Michael Toglia (48) and infielder Leo Balcazar (85) celebrate a 5-4 win against the Kansas City Royals, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Ariz. | Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Los Angeles Mike Trouts of Anaheim sent the Cincinnati Reds to their showers with a 4-3 defeat on Friday at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona. The Reds had been riding a 3-game win streak heading into this game, which did not feature Mike Trout even though I insinuated that it did with a misleading nickname in the very first words of this article.
The Good
Rhett Lowder was simply brilliant as the starter for the Reds today. He fired a trio of scoreless, hitless innings in his second outing of the spring, walking a lone Angel while fanning three. Safe to say his quest to earn the 5th spot in Cincinnati’s starting rotation is off to a pretty, pretty good start.
Meanwhile, Blake Dunn swatted a solo homer, Jose Trevino had a pair of hits and a ribbie, and Rece Hinds tripled, walked, and scored while playing CF on the afternoon. In a similarly positive vein, JJ Bleday continued his hot-hitting start to Cactus League play with another 2 for 3 day (with a run scored).
The Bad
Sal Stewart was actually retired twice on the day, which is bad for him. Just one hit, Sal? That’s all ya had in ya today, superstar?!
I’ve really got to find a better format for these spring recaps.
The Ugly
It was not the finest day for Julian Aguiar in his quest to earn a spot on the team’s pitching staff. Taking over for Lowder in the Top of the 4th, he was tagged for a homer by Logan O’Hoppe of the 2-run variety, and Aguiar eventually yielded 3 ER on 4 H in his 2.0 IP of work.
He didn’t walk anybody, which is a good thing.
Yunior Marte surrendered the other run on the day.
What’s Next
You aren’t going to believe this, but Saturday will feature Cincinnati Reds baseball that’s watchable on your screens!
The Reds will head to American Family Fields of Phoenix to face off against the Milwaukee Brewers, and it’s dawning on me that place was way cooler when it was just called ‘Maryvale.’ Anyway, it’s a 3:05 PM ET start time and MLB.tv and Reds.tv (if you’re in-market) will have the stream with the Reds broadcast. If you’re into the Brewers version of calling baseball games, their own broadcast will be viewable via MLB.tv (or Brewers.tv if you happen to be a Reds fan in the Milwaukee region).
Hunter Greene will toe the rubber for Cincinnati, and given who sat out today – Elly De La Cruz & Co. – I’d expect a pretty loaded lineup from the Reds side tomorrow. Rob Zastryzny, a lefty, will start for the Beers though, so Terry Francona could get experimental with his lineup again tomorrow the same way he did today against lefty Brent Suter to start.
