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Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins

Welcome back to another Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 season series preview. In this article series, The Hockey News - Canucks site previews Vancouver’s team series matchups for the season in chronological order. Last time, we looked at what the Canucks will face in the Washington Capitals. Today, let’s preview their season matchups against the Pittsburgh Penguins.  

2024–25 Season Stats 

Team Stats: 

Record: 34–36–12

Points: 80

Standings placement: 7th in Metropolitan Division

PP%: 25.8% (6th) 

PK%: 77.8% (18th) 

Goals: 

Rickard Rakell (35)

Sidney Crosby (33)

Bryan Rust (31)

Evgeni Malkin (16)

Kevin Hayes (13)

Assists: 

Sidney Crosby (58)

Erik Karlsson (42)

Rickard Rakell (35)

Evgeni Malkin / Bryan Rust (34)

Kris Letang (21)

Points: 

Sidney Crosby (91)

Rickard Rakell (70)

Bryan Rust (65)

Erik Karlsson (53)

Evgeni Malkin (50)

Goaltenders: 

Tristan Jarry

Record: 16–12–6

GAA: 3.12

SV%: .893

SO: 2

Points: 1A 

Joel Blomqvist

Record: 4–9–1

GAA: 3.81

SV%: .885

SO: N/A

Points: N/A

Artūrs Šilovs

Record: 2–6–1

GAA: 3.65

SV%: .861

SO: N/A

Points: N/A

2025 Free Agency Rundown 

The Penguins are in a curious position as a team, as they still have members of their Stanley Cup runs of the 2010s but don’t look to be contenders anytime soon. Canadian icon Crosby has expressed his desire to stay in Pittsburgh, and as a result, veteran players such as Letang and Malkin have been kept by the organization. Even so, the Penguins haven’t made the playoffs since 2022, and their free agency moves seem to indicate that this will continue to be the case. They signed forward Connor Dewar, Caleb Jones, and Anthony Mantha, as well as acquired Calder Cup Playoff MVP Šilovs in exchange for prospect Chase Stillman. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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Vancouver Canucks 2025–26 Season Series Preview: Washington Capitals

2025–26 Season Series Preview

As mentioned, the Penguins are one of those teams who are currently leaning towards the draft pick category rather than the playoffs. If not for the presences of Crosby, Malkin, Letang, and Rust, it wouldn’t be surprising if Pittsburgh was in the bottom pool of the league where the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are likely to be. One thing that makes Pittsburgh a bit less competitive is their question mark in the crease. Jarry will likely do the heavy lifting as a starter, which comes as a result of the team parting ways with Alex Nedeljkovic. While the Penguins do have options in Blomqvist and Šilovs, it’s undetermined whether either is ready for a full-time backup role in the NHL. 

Vancouver faces off against the Penguins for the first time this season on October 21, with the Canucks visiting Pittsburgh for a 4:00pm PT matchup. Pittsburgh is one of the potentially easier opponents they will face on this road trip, as Vancouver will also take on the Dallas Stars and the Capitals during this stretch. Their next matchup isn’t until January 25 back in Vancouver.  

2025–26 Games Against Vancouver

Game 1: October 21, 4:00pm PT @ PPG Paints Arena 

Game 2: January 25, 3:00pm PT @ Rogers Arena 

Nov 27, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (46) moves the puck up ice as Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland (8) chases during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Season Series Preview Articles  

Washington Capitals

Chicago Blackhawks

Dallas Stars

St. Louis Blues

Edmonton Oilers

Calgary Flames

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News. 

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Carlos Mendoza: Mets 'can't be looking at the standings' after getting swept by Brewers, losing seventh straight

The Mets dropped Sunday's series finale at the Milwaukee Brewers, blowing a five-run lead on their way to a 7-6 walk-off defeat that leaves them with a season-high-tying seven-game losing streak.

"It's hard to describe -- off, frustrating, but we've got to turn the page," said New York manager Carlos Mendoza. "We've got to keep going. We've got to find a way to start getting a victory here. That wasn't a good showing there. They pretty much outplayed us."

Mendoza's Mets (63-55) have lost 11 of their past 12 games. They are 5.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East Division and 1.5 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds for the third wild card.

"We've got to go out and do it," Mendoza said. "We're going to keep saying it. The bottom line -- we've got to go out and do it. I'm going to keep saying we've got the talent, we've got the players. But until we start playing better and getting the job done, we continue to believe in the guys -- and we will. It's tough. I know it's tough right now. It's very frustrating. We are all very frustrated. But we've got to keep going. We've got to keep going. Nobody said it was going to be easy."

New York has Monday off before returning to Citi Field for a six-game homestand. The stretch begins with a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, led by Tuesday's 7:10 p.m. opener on SNY.

"We haven't played well for quite a bit now, and that's what happens," Mendoza said. "We can't be looking at the standings. We've got to start getting the job done -- that simple. We can't sit here and start looking back. There's no looking back. Like I said, we've got to get the job done -- and we will. We'll turn it around."

The Mets turn to right-hander Clay Holmes (9-6, 3.46 ERA) Tuesday after southpaw Sean Manaea allowed four runs on six hits (one homer) while striking out five and walking two in four innings Sunday.

"It's a lot," Manaea (1-1, 4.33 ERA) said of the Mets losing seven in a row. "It's frustrating. No one wants to be here. But at the end of the day, we've just got to get through it. There's no way around it."

Closer Edwin Diaz, who got New York out of a two-out jam in the eighth inning before allowing Isaac Collins' game-winning home run to lead off the ninth, kept a positive outlook.

"It's tough," Diaz said. "We know we've got a really good team here. We've got a really good group. We've just got to stay together, stick together, keep playing baseball. We know we can turn it around. On Tuesday, we can come back and play really good baseball. So, just stay together and keep fighting."

Before the 11-of-12 slide, the Mets went on a season-high-tying seven-game winning streak from July 20-27. They have won six games or more four times this season, and Brandon Nimmo sees the potential for another one.

"We can go on a run," Nimmo said. "We've still got time. But it just takes putting it together, playing some good baseball. I don't think the division's slipping away. We're still within shot, and we've been known -- this team, specifically -- to go on runs. So, we can easily rattle off a winning streak, especially with the people that we've got in here. But, yeah, it's going to take, obviously, turning it around."

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Flyers' Next Rebuild Step Hinges on Jamie Drysdale's Development

(Photo: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)

How Jamie Drysdale plays in the 2025-26 season will, for better or worse, alter the path of this rebuilding Philadelphia Flyers team.

Drysdale, 23, was drafted sixth overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2020 NHL Draft with the expectation that the Erie Otters would eventually blossom into a franchise defenseman.

After all, Drysdale was blessed with elite skating ability, and his strong (relative) hockey IQ allowed him to use that skating to his advantage to dominate the junior ranks.

At the NHL level, though, there's been little to write home about so far.

Traded to the Flyers alongside a second-round pick (Jack Murtagh) for Cutter Gauthier in Jan. 2024, Drysdale has played more than 34 games in an NHL season just twice since 2020-21.

In his only two full seasons, the 23-year-old has finished the year with plus-minus ratings of -26 and -32, respectively. Excelling defensively has, unfortunately, proven to be as great a challenge as staying on the ice for the young Drysdale.

His -32 rating last season was the seventh-worst in the NHL, ahead of only Steven Stamkos, Connor Bedard, Barclay Goodrow, Rasmus Andersson, Tyler Bertuzzi, and Mason Lohrei.

For reference, the closest Flyers player was Matvei Michkov at -18, and the closest defenseman was Egor Zamula at -14.

One Flyers Prospect Nobody Is Talking About Ahead of 2025-26 SeasonOne Flyers Prospect Nobody Is Talking About Ahead of 2025-26 SeasonThe Philadelphia Flyers have quite a few roster spots ready to be filled by up-and-coming prospects next season, but there's one prospect who should be talked about much more.

And, for the sake of further comparison, a rookie defenseman like Emil Andrae finished with a -5 in 42 games, even with all the struggles he endured towards the end of his time in the NHL last season.

If Drysdale continues to struggle to this degree defensively, his career-high 32 points, as a watermark reference, won't be good enough to erase those crucial deficiencies.

There's hope, though, starting with an improved power play.

Drysdale played 152 minutes on the power play for the Flyers last season; Rasmus Ristolainen, Travis Sanheim, and Andrae each played between 54 and 65 minutes, comparatively.

In those 152 minutes, Drysdale was second to Ristolainen in on-ice shot attempts for per 60 minutes (84.87 for Drysdale, 93.71 for Ristolainen), and narrowly led all Flyers defensemen in expected goals for per 60 minutes  (6.57 expected goals to Sanheim's 6.47), per Natural Stat Trick.

The key is that Drysdale is far younger than both Ristolainen and Sanheim and a much more fluid skater.

It should be noted that, in all scenarios, Drysdale finished the 2024-25 season with just 63 shots on goal in 70 games, despite scoring 7 times (11.1% shooting percentage).

To become the most effective proprietor of offense he can be, the former No. 6 pick must become more aggressive and decisive and continue to work at getting pucks through traffic if he isn't using his legs to create for himself as he should be.

Drysdale, like Cam York and Andrae, tends to defer. A more aggressive approach and an improved shot would do wonders for his offensive production.

Away from the power play is where Drysdale must improve the most, however.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Drysdale allowed 2.52 expected goals per 60 minutes. For comparison, Luke Hughes (2.53), and Roman Josi (2.54) were in that same neighborhood.

The difference is that Drysdale was on the ice for 54.81 shot attempts per 60 minutes and 63.77 shot attempts against per 60 minutes.

For Hughes, it was 60.51 shots per 60 and 54.06 shots against per 60, and for Josi, it was 68.22 shots per 60 and 56.15 shots against per 60.

Hughes is no finished product, either, but for Drysdale to even reach that level, he must improve as a shot-suppressor and as a shot-creator.

Philadelphia Flyers Must Avoid This Trevor Zegras MistakePhiladelphia Flyers Must Avoid This Trevor Zegras MistakeIf the Philadelphia Flyers are hoping to get the absolute most out of important trade acquisition Trevor Zegras, they need to avoid the mistake the Anaheim Ducks made in each of the last two years before dealing him away.

Some responsibility falls on the Flyers' forwards, too, but the fact that Drysdale's plus-minus was so much worse than every other Flyers defender is enough to rule out coincidences and bad luck.

Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, Drysdale will have, for better or worse, another fresh start under new head coach Rick Tocchet and his assistant, Todd Reirden.

Before their new Flyers venture, Tocchet and Reirden had names like Jakob Chychrun, John Carlson, Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson, John Marino, and Jamie Oleksiak on their resumes.

And, while Tocchet has never directly been involved with coaching defensemen, he ran the power play in Pittsburgh for two Stanley Cup wins.

In Tocchet's two full seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, captain Quinn Hughes erupted for 92 points in 82 games and a Norris Trophy in 2023-24, then followed that up with 76 points in 68 games in an injury-marred 2024-25.

Before Tocchet arrived, Hughes's career-high in points was 68.

Now-departed associate coach Brad Shaw was regarded as a defensive savant during his time in Philadelphia, but I'd be remiss to not note that Sanheim, York, and Drysdale all stalled out or took backward steps last season.

We can't reasonably expect Drysdale to turn into a Hughes brother, Chychrun, or Letang overnight, but there's still hope for further development.

With one year remaining on his contract at a $2.3 million cap hit, the onus is on Drysdale to cement himself in the Flyers' future, or management will be right back to square one on defense.

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Jen Pawol praised for work behind plate after breaking MLB umpire gender barrier

Umpire Jen Pawol calls a strike during a game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
Umpire Jen Pawol calls a strike during a game between the Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Sunday. (Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

Jen Pawol breezed through Sunday's Marlins-Braves game as if breaking a gender barrier was just another day on the job.

Considering Pawol became the first female umpire to work behind the plate in the majors, making unprecedented history appear to be routine was especially impressive.

“I think Jen did a really nice job,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said after Atlanta's 7-1 win over the Marlins.

“I think she’s very composed back there. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her. Big day for Major League Baseball. I congratulated her again on that because it’s quite the accomplishment.”

Read more:Blake Snell turns in a performance befitting his 'Snellzilla' nickname in Dodgers' blowout win

It was an impressive cap to a memorable weekend for Pawol. She made history in Saturday’s doubleheader as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in the majors. She called the bases in the doubleheader before moving behind the plate on Sunday, placing her in the brightest spotlight for an umpire.

Pawol never showed any indication of being affected by the attention, even while knowing every call would be closely watched.

“Congrats to Jen, obviously,” said Braves left-hander Joey Wentz, who earned the win by allowing only one run in 5 1/3 innings.

Asked about Pawol's calls, Wentz said, “I try not to focus on the zone, to be honest with you. ... I thought it was good though.”

Umpire Jen Pawol stands at third base during a game between the Marlins and Braves on Saturday.
Umpire Jen Pawol stands at third base during a game between the Marlins and Braves on Saturday. (Brett Davis / Getty Images)

There were few opportunities for disputes as Wentz and Miami starting pitcher Cal Quantrill combined for only three strikeouts. The first called third strike came in the fifth inning, when Pawol used a fist pump when calling out Miami's Kyle Stowers on a pitch that was close to the edge of the plate.

McCullough was seen in the Marlins dugout with his palms held up as if asking about the pitch call. He said after the game it's not unusual to question a close called strike.

“Over the course of the game, there are a number of times that you just are going to be asking for clarity on one, if you aren’t sure,” McCullough said. “So it could have been that.”

The 48-year-old Pawol was called up as a rover umpire, so her next assignment in the majors has not been announced.

“I wish her the best moving forward as she continues to, I’m sure, hopefully one day be up full time, you know, a permanent big league umpire,” McCullough said.

Pawol also received positive reviews from Braves manager Brian Snitker, who on Saturday said, “You can tell she knows what she does.”

Pawol's work in the minor leagues began in 2016 when she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League. She worked in the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and in spring training games in 2024 and again this year.

Read more:In a battle of 3,000K stars, Clayton Kershaw outduels Max Scherzer in Dodgers' win

“We certainly didn’t call her up from A ball, right?” Quantrll said. “So yeah, I’m sure she was well prepared. And like I said I think, you know, part of the game moving forward is that if this is normal then we’re going to treat it normal, too. So, you know, I thought it was fine. I think she did she did a quality job. ... And yeah, I think she’d be very proud of herself. And, you know, it’s kind of a cool little thing to be part of.”

Pawol spoke to reporters on Saturday when she said, "The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it. I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”

Pawol received cheers from fans on both days. On Sunday, some held up “Way to go Jen!” signs.

Odum writes for the Associated Press.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Collins homers off Diaz in the 9th inning to give MLB-best Brewers a 7-6 walk-off win over Mets

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Isaac Collins hit a solo homer off Mets closer Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning and the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to nine games with a 7-6, walk-off win over New York on Sunday.

The Brewers trailed 5-0 early and tied it a 6-all in the eighth on Joey Ortiz’s two-out RBI single off the glove of diving first baseman Pete Alonso.

After Nick Mears (3-3) tossed a scoreless top half of the ninth, Collins sent a 2-2 pitch from Diaz (5-2) 363 feet to right field for his eighth homer.

The Mets lost their seventh straight game and fell 5 1/2 games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia.

William Contreras had two homers for the Brewers, a solo shot to open a three-run fourth, and a two-run homer in the fifth, his 12th, to pull Milwaukee within 6-5.

The Mets scored in each of the first four innings for a five-run lead against Quinn Priester, who had won his previous 10 decisions.

New York scored two in the first on RBI singles by Juan Soto and Jeff McNeil. Brett Baty opened the second with his 12th home run and Ronny Mauricio’s RBI single made it 3-0 in the third.

Cedric Mullins led off the fourth with his 16th home run before the Brewers answered with three runs in the bottom half on Conteras’ homer and Ortiz’s two-run single with two out. Alonso’s RBI double put the Mets up 6-3 in the fifth.

Key moment

The Brewers had runners on first and third with one out in the seventh, but Tyler Rogers coaxed Andrew Vaughn into an inning-ending double-play grounder to short.

Key stat

Priester, who had not lost in 12 appearances, including nine starts, since May 13, was tagged for six runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Up next

RHP Freddy Peralta (13-5, 3.03) starts for the Brewers on Monday against Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (5-9, 4.77).

The Mets are idle Monday before opening a three-game home series against Atlanta.

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Reds beat Pirates 14-8, Andujar hits first home run with Cincinnati

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Miguel Andujar hit his first home run with Cincinnati, Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte had three hits and four RBIs each, and the Reds outlasted the Pittsburgh Pirates 14-8 on Sunday to earn a split in the four-game series.

Andujar, who hit a three-run shot to the rotunda in left field in a four-run second inning, hit six homers for the Athletics before being traded at the deadline. He was also in the middle of the Reds’ decisive three-run rally in the sixth inning that broke a 4-4 tie.

Elly De La Cruz and Andujar hit back-to-back singles off Yohan Ramírez (1-1) to begin the sixth and, one out later, Marte hit a tiebreaking double. Steer followed with a two-run double to put the Reds ahead 7-4.

Steer hit a two-run homer in the eighth to make it 9-5 and Marte connected on a three-run homer during a five-run ninth.

The teams combined for 30 hits, including 16 by the Pirates led by Isiah Kiner-Falefa with three hits and two RBIs.

Scott Barlow (6-0) retired only one of three batters he faced.

Reds starter Zach Littell gave up four runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. Pirates starter Mike Burrows lasted five innings and allowed four runs on three hits while striking out six.

Key moment

The Pirates scored three runs, two on a throwing error by second baseman Matt McLain, in the eighth inning to get within 9-8. Graham Ashcraft struck out Jared Triolo with a runner on second base to end the threat.

Key stat

The Reds have gone 40 series without being swept, dating to last season.

Up next

Reds: Open a three-game home series Monday night against Philadelphia with LHP Andrew Abbott (8-2, 2.34 ERA) facing RHP Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.53).

Pirates: LHP Andrew Heaney (5-9, 4.77) pitches against RHP Freddy Peralta (13-5, 3.03) on Monday night in the first of three in Milwaukee.

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24 Nashville Predators in 24 days: Andreas Englund

Is it October yet? 

Unfortunately, no, but we're here to help pass the time. From Aug. 8 to Sept. 1, The Hockey News Nashville Predators will be counting down 24 players in 24 days, profiling every current or potentially rostered player. 

Today's player profile is defenseman Andreas Englund.

24 Nashville Predators in 24 days series 

Adam Wilsby

Jordan Oesterle

As an NHL prospect 

Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, Englund played his junior hockey with Djurgårdens IF in J20 Nationell and moved up to HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest hockey league, later that year.

In his draft year, 2014, he played 33 games in the J20 league, scoring 10 points in 33 games and in HockeyAllsvenskan, he scored two points in 19 games.

Enguland was selected 40th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2014 draft, but remained in Sweden for two more seasons. For the 2014-15 campaign, he moved up to the SHL, Sweden's top hockey league, scoring five points in 49 games. The following season, he had six points in 46 games. 

Professional career 

Dec 3, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Andreas Englund (39) follows the puck in the first period against the Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

To start the 2016-17 season, Englund split time between the Ottawa and Binghamton Senators. He played 69 games in the AHL, scoring 10 points and logging 82 penalty minutes. It was a relatively uneventful season in the NHL, marked by just five games and no points scored. 

The following season, Binghmaton moved to Belleville, Ontario, and Englund would split time between there and Ottawa from 2017 to 2020. His best season in the AHL, in that stretch, was during the 2018-19 campaign, where he played 68 games, scoring 14 points and logging 77 penalty minutes. 

Englund's best season with the Senators was 2019-20, where he played 24 games and had three points. 

Englund's contract expired in 2020, and due to the delayed start of the 2020-21 season, Englund signed to play a season with Västerviks IK in Sweden; however never played a game due to injury. 

Eventually, Englund would sign as a free agent with the Colorado Avalanche to start the 2021-22 season. He'd played the entirety of that season with the Colorado Eagles, logging a career high 103 penalty minutes in 57 games and 12 points. 

During the 2022-23 season, Englund split time between the Avalanche and Eagles, playing a career high 36 games in the NHL, recording three points. 

He was traded midway through the season to the Chicago Blackhawks and played 11 games, recording a point.

His time in Chicago was short-lived as he signed as a free agent in the 2023-24 offseason with the Los Angeles Kings. 

Englund spent a season and a half with the Kings, playing in 93 games, scoring 11 points and logging 93 penalty minutes. The 2023-24 season was the first time in his career Enguland had played a full NHL season. 

In the final year of a two-year contract with the Kings, Englund struggled and was placed on waivers. In February, the Predators claimed him. Nashville offered Englund a 1-year, $775,000 contract. 

What role will he play this season? 

Mar 31, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Nashville Predators defenseman Andreas Englund (8) shoots the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

In a little under a month last season, the Predators claimed four players off of waivers, Englund was one of them. 

Nashville needed a defenseman, and Englund is a veteran player who was available to be picked up. However, he has not done much to add depth to the defense, other than fighting. He had 36 penalty minutes in the 24 games he played at the end of last season. 

Similar to Jordan Oesterle, Englund is going to be battling for minutes on the Predators' third pairing, or be the seventh player. 

The Predators have seemingly "fixed" the defense by adding Nic Hague and Nick Perbix, but if that doesn't work out, expect Englund to be thrown back into the rotation. 

Overall, the Predators need their defense to start contributing, and Englund has never been that. He hasn't had more than 14 points in a season between playing in the NHL and AHL. 

If the Predators are looking for an "enforcer," Englund would fill out that role, but right now, the Predators have too many defensemen who aren't doing enough. 

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Phillies sweep Rangers with Wheeler's strong outing and Sosa's homer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Zack Wheeler struck out seven and allowed three hits, Edmundo Sosa homered, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Texas Rangers 4-2 on Sunday to sweep the three-game series.

Wheeler (10-5) had six or more strikeouts for the 19th straight start this season, with his last outing with less than six coming on April 13 when he had three against St. Louis.

Trailing 2-0 early, the Phillies answered in the fourth with an RBI double from Bryce Harper. They tied it in the fifth on Sosa's solo homer, and took the lead for good with Weston Wilson’s RBI single two batters later.

Brandon Marsh added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly that scored Harrison Bader in the ninth inning, and a strong Phillies bullpen performance was capped off by Jhoan Duran's 20th save of the season to secure the win. Duran, acquired from Minnesota on July 30, has allowed just one baserunner in four appearances for Philadelphia.

Joc Pederson hit a first-inning two-run homer to give the Rangers the lead. Patrick Corbin (6-8) threw 4 1/3 innings and allowed four hits and three runs.

After the Phillies went ahead 3-2 in top of the fifth, center fielder Harrison Bader protected that lead in the bottom of the inning with a leaping catch to take a home run away from Corey Seager. Bader was reaching above the 6-foot wall in front of the Texas bullpen in right-center when he made the play.

The Phillies are now 49-2 when leading after six innings, and 57-2 when leading after seven, both MLB-best marks.

The Phillies continue their 10-game road trip in Cincinnati on Monday, where RHP Taijuan Walker (4-5, 3.53 ERA) starts opposite Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (8-2, 2.34). The Rangers have one more series against the Diamondbacks in their homestand, with Texas RHP Nathan Eovaldi (10-3, 1.38) facing Arizona RHP Ryne Nelson (6-3, 3.20) on Monday.

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Pawol breaks gender barrier, earns good reviews for her work behind the plate on historic weekend

ATLANTA (AP) — Jen Pawol breezed through Sunday’s Marlins-Braves game as if breaking a gender barrier was just another day on the job.

Considering Pawol became the first female umpire to work behind the plate in the majors, making unprecedented history appear to be routine was especially impressive.

“I think Jen did a really nice job,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said after Atlanta’s 7-1 win over the Marlins.

“I think she’s very composed back there. She handled and managed the game very well. And big day for her. Big day for Major League Baseball. I congratulated her again on that because it’s quite the accomplishment.”

It was an impressive cap to a memorable weekend for Pawol. She made history in Saturday’s doubleheader as the first female umpire to work a regular-season game in the majors. She called the bases in the doubleheader before moving behind the plate on Sunday, placing her in the brightest spotlight for an umpire.

Pawol never showed any indication of being affected by the attention, even while knowing every call would be closely watched.

“Congrats to Jen, obviously,” said Braves left-hander Joey Wentz, who earned the win by allowing only one run in 5 1/3 innings.

Asked about Pawol’s calls, Wentz said, “I try not to focus on the zone, to be honest with you. ... I thought it was good though.”

There were few opportunities for disputes as Wentz and Miami starting pitcher Cal Quantrill combined for only three strikeouts. The first called third strike came in the fifth inning, when Pawol used a fist pump when calling out Miami’s Kyle Stowers on a pitch that was close to the edge of the plate.

McCullough was seen in the Marlins dugout with his palms held up as if asking about the pitch call. He said after the game it’s not unusual to question a close called strike.

“Over the course of the game, there are a number of times that you just are going to be asking for clarity on one, if you aren’t sure,” McCullough said. “So it could have been that.”

The 48-year-old Pawol was called up as a rover umpire, so her next assignment in the majors has not been announced.

“I wish her the best moving forward as she continues to, I’m sure, hopefully one day be up full time, you know, a permanent big league umpire,” McCullough said.

Pawol also received positive reviews from Braves manager Brian Snitker, who on Saturday said, “You can tell she knows what she does.”

Pawol’s work in the minor leagues began in 2016 when she was assigned to the Gulf Coast League. She worked in the Triple-A championship game in 2023 and in spring training games in 2024 and again this year.

“We certainly didn’t call her up from A ball, right?” Quantrll said. “So yeah, I’m sure she was well prepared. And like I said I think, you know, part of the game moving forward is that if this is normal then we’re going to treat it normal, too. So, you know, I thought it was fine. I think she did she did a quality job. ... And yeah, I think she’d be very proud of herself. And, you know, it’s kind of a cool little thing to be part of.”

Pawol spoke to reporters on Saturday when she said, “The dream actually came true today. I’m still living in it. I’m so grateful to my family and Major League Baseball for creating such an incredible work environment. … I’m just so thankful.”

Pawol received cheers from fans on both days. On Sunday, some held up “Way to go Jen!” signs.

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Canadiens Veteran Is Big Player To Watch

The Montreal Canadiens are one of the NHL's most intriguing teams, as they have several promising young players who have the potential to become big parts of their future. However, they also have some veterans on their roster to watch in 2025-26, and forward Brendan Gallagher is certainly one of them.

While Gallagher's role has changed in recent years with the Canadiens, he is still an important part of the club's roster due to his leadership. With the Canadiens looking to continue to trend in the right direction, having Gallagher around as a mentor for their several youngsters is undoubtedly a good thing. 

Gallagher also showed this past season with the Canadiens that he is still capable of providing decent secondary scoring at this point of his career. In 82 games with the Habs during the 2024-25 season, the veteran winger recorded 21 goals, 17 assists, and 38 points. He also made an impact with his physicality, as he finished the year 92 hits. 

The Canadiens will now be hoping for Gallagher to continue to give them solid depth offensive production, leadership, and grit during this upcoming season. He makes the Canadiens a more difficult team to go up against when he's playing at his best, and it will be fascinating to see what kind of year he can put together for the Habs in 2025-26 from here. 

Canadiens Defenseman Is Interesting Breakout CandidateCanadiens Defenseman Is Interesting Breakout CandidateEarlier this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens re-signed defenseman Jayden Struble to a two-year contract with an average annual value (AAV) of $1.4125 million. Getting this deal done with Struble was important for the Canadiens, as he is among their most promising young defensemen.
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Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Will Buffalo Sweep Series Vs. Sub-Par Nashville Predators Next Season?

Alex Tuch (Steve Roberts, USA TODAY Images)

The NHL's 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now, and THN.com's Buffalo Sabres site has been analyzing every team the Sabres will take on next season. We've worked our way through the Eastern Conference teams, and we're currently focusing on the Central Division teams. And in today's file, we're turning our attention to the Nashville Predators.

To say the Predators had a disastrous season would be an understatement. The Preds plummeted down the Central Division standings, eventually landing in seventh place in the division -- their worst finish since the 2013-14 season. Let's look at their record against the Sabres, their new players, and more in our analysis below:

BUFFALO SABRES VS. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

NEW PREDATORS PLAYERS: Erik Haula, LW; Nicolas Hague, D; Nick Perbix, D;  

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-1-0, Predators 1-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  January 20 at Nashville; March 7 at Buffalo 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Predators were brutal last season, despite bringing in stars including wingers Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, and defenseman Brady Skjei. Nashville GM Barry Trotz began his tenure running the team with multiple stumbles, but the good news is that the Preds at long last got a high-end draft pick out of it -- fifth-overall pick Brady Martin. 

In any case, we're going to be serious skeptics about the Predators in 2025-26. Adding Haula is a fringe move. A more meaty move was adding two veteran defensemen in Hague and Perbix, although neither blueliner will be the reason why Nashville suddenly turns into a playoff team. At their peak, we think the Preds are a mushy-middle team -- not bad enough to get a No. 1-overall draft pick, but not good enough to make the playoffs.

And that's why the Sabres need to sweep their two-game series against the Predators next season. Buffalo has to take care of business against teams that on paper the Sabres absolutely should beat. No more split seasons of 1-1-0 hockey, as was the case when Buffalo took on Nashville last year. The Sabres need to go 2-0-0, and add the standings points they earn against the Predators in the effort to end Buffalo's 14-year playoff streak.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Will Superstar Kaprizov And Minnesota Wild Roll Over Sabres?Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Will Superstar Kaprizov And Minnesota Wild Roll Over Sabres?The NHL's 2025-26 season is nearly here, and here at THN.com's Sabres site, we've been examining every one of the Buffalo Sabres' opponents next year. Earlier, we looked at the Atlantic Division's seven teams, followed by the Metropolitan Division's eight teams, and now, we're four teams deep in the highly-competitive Central Division. 

The Sabres can't afford to be swept by any opponent next season. Even if they only get an overtime-or-shootout-loss point against a few teams, that will be an improvement for Buffalo. But ideally, the Sabres have to be thinking bigger than that. And that's why making statements against weak teams like the Preds is incredibly important for Buffalo. 

And can you imagine if lowly Nashville wins both games against the Sabres? It will be lost opportunities of that nature that sink Buffalo's playoff hopes next year. The Sabres simply cannot afford to lose in regulation time, twice, against any opponent in 2025-26. But in particular, when it comes to bottom-shelf teams like the Predators, it's an absolute must that Buffalo at least gets one point in the series.

And really, even then, you'd have to consider a 0-1-1 record against the Preds not good enough for the Sabres. The reality is that Buffalo fans, media and management all believe the Sabres should be winning this series outright. The Predators still have too many question marks to put them at the level the Sabres should be performing at, and Buffalo has to put its foot on the gas when they're playing vulnerable teams like the Preds.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Can Sabres Keep Up With First-Rate Dallas Stars?Know Your Enemy, Sabres Central Edition: Can Sabres Keep Up With First-Rate Dallas Stars?The Buffalo Sabres have little room for error next season as they attempt to end a 14-year Stanley Cup playoff drought -- and that means they need to beat above-average teams. That includes the Dallas Stars, who the Sabres will take on twice this coming year. 

So, to answer the question, "should the Sabres beat this team?", we say a hearty "yes". Buffalo should absolutely knock the Predators around and take their lunch money. Nasvhille still has some proud players who won't lay down for any opponent, but the Preds' depth is sub-par, and their ability to play at a high level should be questioned by all who have yet to see that from them. The Sabres need to dominate the Predators, as any lost opportunities could come back to haunt Buffalo.

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Keaschall hits 2-run homer in 11th as Twins top Royals 5-3

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luke Keaschall hit a two-run homer in the 11th inning, Ryan Fitzgerald homered for his first career hit, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 5-3 on Sunday.

With two outs, Keaschall hit a fastball from Royals closer Carlos Estévez (4-4) to the first row of seats in right-centerfield for Minnesota’s ninth walk-off win of the season.

It was the third hit of the day for Keaschall, who has reached base in 12 straight games to start his career.

Michael Tonkin (1-0), Minnesota’s seventh pitcher, pitched scoreless 10th and 11th innings for his first win since July 30, 2024.

Adam Frazier had four hits and Maikel Garcia three for Kansas City. Vinnie Pasquantino hit his 20th home run for a 3-2 lead in the seventh.

The Twins tied it in the eighth when Ryan Jeffers drove in Austin Martin, who tripled on an ill-advised diving attempt by John Rave with the ball getting past the left fielder and rolling to the wall.

In his fourth career game, Fitzgerald, a 31-year-old who signed a minor league contract with Minnesota in January, hit a third-inning slider from Ryan Bergert off the top of the right field wall for a 2-1 Twins lead.

Key moment

Seeking his second career five-hit game, Frazier flew out with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth. Kansas City was 1 for 15 with men in scoring position and left 15 runners on base.

Key stat

The Royals lost for just the fourth time in 50 games when leading after seven innings. Minnesota won for the third time in 48 games when trailing after seven.

Up next

Kansas City LHP Bailey Falter (7-6, 4.14 ERA) hosts Nationals’ RHP Cade Cavalli (0-0, 0.00) on Monday.

RHP Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17) gets the ball Monday for Minnesota against Yankees RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.44).

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Sosa, Montgomery homer, Martin works six strong innings as White Sox beat Guardians 6-4

CHICAGO (AP) — Lenyn Sosa and Colson Montgomery homered and the Chicago White Sox snapped a six-game skid with a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday

Sosa hit a two-run homer, his 14th, in the first and Montgomery followed later in the inning with a solo shot, his ninth. Curtis Mead and Kyle Teel also knocked in runs for the White Sox, who banged out 11 hits.

Chicago starter Davis Martin (4-9) allowed five hits and three earned runs in five innings, with three walks and two strikeouts. Grant Taylor earned the save.

Kyle Manzardo hit a solo home run in the fourth inning and a two-run shot in the seventh, and David Fry added a two-run double in the sixth for the Guardians.

Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi (5-5) allowed five runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in the loss.

Key moment

Mead, in his sixth game with the White Sox, hit an RBI double in the third to extend the lead to 4-0 in the third.

Key stat

Chicago has led the league in home runs since the All-Star break with 42.

Up next

The White Sox have not named a starter for their home series against the Tigers on Monday. Detroit will go with RHP Chris Paddack (4-10, 4.91 ERA).

The Guardians send LHP Logan Allen (7-9, 3.96 ERA) against Marlins RHP Janson Junk (6-2, 3.97) on Tuesday.

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Arizona Diamondbacks score in 1st inning for 6th game in row, longest MLB streak this season

PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks scored in the first inning for the sixth game in a row Sunday, the longest such streak in the majors this season.

Adrian Del Castillo’s three-run homer, his first of the season, put the Diamondbacks up 3-0 against the Colorado Rockies.

Several teams this season had four-game streaks of scoring in the first inning. The Diamondbacks exceeded that Saturday night when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had an RBI single in the first of their 6-5 win over Colorado that ended on Gurriel’s RBI double in the ninth.

The homer by Del Castillo on Sunday also extended Arizona’s streak to seven games in a row of scoring multiple runs within the first three innings of a game. That matches NL East-leading Philadelphia for the longest in the majors this season.