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NHL Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (19-11-6) at Boston Bruins (28-4-4)

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NHL Preview: Pittsburgh Penguins (19-11-6) at Boston Bruins (28-4-4)

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS NOTES:

LAST 2 GAMES
Dec. 30: New Jersey 4, Pittsburgh 2 – PPG Paints Arena
PIT Goals: Malkin, Carter
Multiple Points: None
Goalie: Jarry (24 saves/27 shots)
Key Stats: Ty Smith logged 22:14 of time-on-ice in his season debut with Pittsburgh, marking the 17th time in his career he’s skated 22:00 or more in a game.
PP: 0-9
PK: 5-6

Dec. 28: Detroit 5, Pittsburgh 4 (OT) – PPG Paints Arena
PIT Goals: Zucker (2), O’Connor, Carter (PP)
Multiple Points: Zucker (2G), Carter (1G-1A), Kapanen (2A),
Rust (2A)
Goalie: DeSmith (41 saves/46 shots)
Key Stats: Jason Zucker notched his first multi-goal effort of the season as Pittsburgh fell in overtime.
PP: 2-2
PK: 2-4

INJURIES
Position Player Status Consecutive Games Missed Total Games Missed
D Jeff Petry Upper-Body 8 8
F Josh Archibald Lower-Body 5 6
D Chad Ruhwedel Upper-Body 2 2
D Kris Letang Lower-Body 1 7
2022-23 Total Regular-Season Man-Games Lost: 58

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Date Transaction
Dec. 30 F Ryan Poehling activated off of injured reserve.
Dec. 30 F Drake Caggiula re-assigned to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Dec. 28 D Ty Smith and F Drake Caggiula recalled from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL).
Dec. 28 F Josh Archibald and F Ryan Poehling placed on injured reserve.

Pittsburgh’s All-Time Record vs. Bruins: 78-115-29
In Pittsburgh: 50-43-19
In Boston: 28-72-10
OT Record vs. Boston: 12-6-3
Shootout Record vs. Boston: 2-2

2022-23 Results: Pittsburgh is 0-1-0.
Penguins All-Time Point Leaders vs. BRUINS:
Mario Lemieux: 43 GP, 73 PTS (31G-42A)
Sidney Crosby: 54 GP, 67 PTS (18G-49A)
Jaromir Jagr: 44 GP, 63 PTS (26G-37A)

TONIGHT’S GAME

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins take on the Boston Bruins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park (TV: TNT, Sportsnet, TVA; Radio: 105.9 The X).
  • Last game against the Bruins on Nov. 1, the Penguins lost 6-5 in overtime. This will be the second matchup of the season between the Penguins and Bruins and first ever outdoor game between the two teams.
  • Evgeni Malkin and Brock McGinn each recorded two points in the first matchup against the Bruins this year. Last season, Jake Guentzel led the team in points (5) against Boston, recording (3G-2A) and a plus-4 in three games played.
  • Pittsburgh has points in three of its last four games versus Boston (2-1-1). The teams have traded wins in each of the last 11 matchups, with Pittsburgh gaining points in six of them (5-5-1).

WE’RE TAKING IT OUTSIDE
Today, the Penguins (2-2-1) are playing in their sixth outdoor game, tying the Chicago Blackhawks for the most among NHL teams. Below is a look at the five previous outdoor games the Penguins have played in:

• 2008 Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium: Pittsburgh took down the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1 in the shootout, in the first-ever Winter Classic 15 years ago. Sidney Crosby scored the iconic shootout winner.

• 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field: Evgeni Malkin scored the lone goal for Pittsburgh as they fell, 3-1, to the Washington Capitals.

• 2014 Stadium Series at Soldier Field: James Neal tallied the only goal for the Penguins as they dropped their second-straight outdoor game, 5-1, against the Chicago Blackhawks.

• 2017 Stadium Series at Heinz Field: Rookie Jake Guentzel notched two assists as the Penguins took down their cross-state rival Philadelphia Flyers, 4-2, in the second NHL game at Heinz Field.

• 2019 Stadium Series at Lincoln Financial Field: Sidney Crosby scored in his second-straight outdoor game (1G-1A), but Claude Giroux’s overtime goal handed Pittsburgh the 4-3 overtime loss.

WINTER CLASSIC FAST FACTS

  • Fifteen current Pittsburgh players have participated in at least one outdoor NHL game (minimum: 1 GP in 2022-23).
  • No player in NHL history has scored at least one goal in three consecutive outdoor NHL games. Sidney Crosby and David Pastrnak enter the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic with tallies in each of their last two.
  • Road teams are 19-12-4 in the NHL’s 35 outdoor games to date.
  • Teams that score first are 19-11-5 in the NHL’s 35 outdoor games, including a 14-5-3 record in the last 22 such contests.
  • Eighteen of the League’s 35 outdoor games have featured a comeback win (51.4%), including seven of the last 10.
  • Seven of the NHL’s 35 outdoor games have required overtime, with five decided in the 5-minute extra session and two determined in a shootout.

MAKING HISTORY AT FENWAY
The 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic is expected to be the first outdoor game to feature three 1,000-point scorers, in Penguins teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin and Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron. The only previous outdoor game to feature multiple players with 1,000 or more career points entering play was the 2018 Stadium Series at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Patrick Marleau, TOR; Alex Ovechkin, WSH). Crosby is set to become the fourth different player in NHL history to contest an outdoor game with 1,400 or more career points entering play. He is looking to join Jaromir Jagr (2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park and 2014 Stadium Series at Yankee Stadium), Mark Recchi (2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park) and Teemu Selanne (2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium). Crosby (2G-2A in 5 GP) and Malkin (2G-1A in 5 GP) have appeared in all five outdoor games contested by Pittsburgh. They can become the sixth and seventh players in NHL history to skate in six or more outdoor games along with James van Riemsdyk (7 GP), Jonathan Toews (6 GP), Patrick Kane (6 GP), Duncan Keith (1-2—3 in 6 GP) and Brent Seabrook (6 GP). Crosby and Malkin rank sixth and seventh, respectively in ice-time logged in outdoor games.

BOSTON BRUINS NOTES:

TODAY’S GAME

  • The Bruins host the Penguins today in the 2nd of 3 games between these teams this season and the Bruins’ lone home game of this series with the Winter Classic game at Fenway Park.
  • They are 28-4-4 overall this season and are 18-0-3 on home ice … They are 16-3-2 vs. Eastern Conference opponents.
  • The Bruins are playing today the 5th of 16 matinees this season (local start time 4:00 pm or earlier) … They have a 3-0-1 record in afternoon games so far.
  • The Bruins open 2023 hosting Pittsburgh in the Winter Classic at Fenway Park … They will then face a 3-game road trip to Los Angeles on 1/5, in San Jose on 1/7 and in Anaheim on 1/8.

RECENT GAMES:

  • The Bruins are 7-0-3 in their last 10 games with wins vs Vegas (3-1 on 12/11), vs NY Islanders (4-3/SO on 12/13), vs Columbus (4-2 on 12/17), 7 vs Florida (7-3 on 12/19), vs Winnipeg (3-2 on 12/22), and in New Jersey both 4-3 on 12/23 and 3-1 on 12/28; and 3-2 shootout setbacks each to Los Angeles on 12/15 and Ottawa on 12/27 and a 4-3 OT loss vs Buffalo on 12/31.
  • They are 11-1-4 in their last 16 games and are 18-2-4 in their last 24 contests.
  • They are 18-0-3 in their 21 home games, including a 14-game home win streak, the longest from the start of a season in league history … That is the 2nd longest point streak from a season’s start in Boston annals to 1973-74’s 21-game stretch at 19- 0-2 … This is their fourth longest home point streak overall in team history (2x) with their club mark a 26-0-1 stretch in 1970-71.
  • Boston 2 at Ottawa 3/SO … Jake DeBrusk and Pavel Zacha scored but Ottawa prevailed in the shootout … Jeremy Swayman earned a point in net … SOG: Bos 51, Ott 33 … PP: 0/3 … PK: ½
  • Boston 3 at New Jersey 1 … Trent Frederic, Patrice Bergeron (GW) and Pavel Zacha (EN) scored goals and Hampus Lindholm added 2A … Linus Ullmark earned his 2nd career 20-win mark with the victory … SOG: Bos 27, NJ 31 … PP: 0/3 … PK: 0/2
  • Boston 3 vs Buffalo 4/OT … David Pastrnak (1-1=2 totals) opened the scoring and Patrice Bergeron (PP) and Brad Marchand (1-1=2) took a 3-2 lead before dropping the extra point … Jeremy Swayman earned the decision in goal … SOG: Bos 40, Buf 25 … PP: 1/5 … PK: 0/3

INJURIES (Total man-games lost in 2022-23: 38)

  • None

BOSTON vs PITTSBURGH, LIFETIME SERIES

  • The Bruins and Penguins are meeting for the 223rd time in their histories with the Bruins having a 124-70-28 record and 839-685 scoring advantage in those games.
  • The Bruins are 76-24-6-4 lifetime vs. Pittsburgh on home ice.
  • The Bruins won the first game of this season’s series with a 6-5 OT win in Pittsburgh on 11/1.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Dec. 20: Craig Smith assigned to Providence/AHL (cleared waivers 12/19).
Dec. 21: Craig Smith recalled from Providence/AHL

Tigers acquire INF Tyler Nevin from Orioles in exchange for cash considerations

MLB Editor
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Tigers acquire INF Tyler Nevin from Orioles in exchange for cash considerations

DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers announced that they have acquired infielder Tyler Nevin from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for cash considerations.

Nevin, 25, saw time with both Baltimore and Triple-A Norfolk in 2022. In 58 games with the Orioles, Nevin hit .197/.299/.261 with four doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs. He batted .291/.382/.479 with eight doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 36 RBIs in 44 games with Norfolk. Nevin made his Major League debut with the Orioles in 2021, appearing in six games and going four-for-14 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs.

Nevin has played in 521 Minor League games in his career, slashing .274/.352/.434 with 114 doubles, eight triples, 59 home runs and 281 RBIs. Nevin was named a MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2017 and was selected to the AFL All-Prospect Team in 2018.

A native of Poway, Calif., Nevin was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the Competitive Balance A round of the 2015 MLB Draft. His father, Phil, played for the Tigers from 1995-97 and is currently the manager of the Los Angeles Angels.

To make room for Nevin on the 40-man roster, left-handed pitcher Zach Logue has been designated for assignment.

Week 18 Saturday Doubleheader – Chiefs-Raiders, Titans-Jaguars

NFL Editor
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Week 18 Saturday Doubleheader – Chiefs-Raiders, Titans-Jaguars

In the final week of the 2022 regular season, the Kansas City Chiefs will play the Las Vegas Raiders and the Tennessee Titans will face the Jacksonville Jaguars during a Saturday doubleheader on ESPN/ABC. The rest of the Week 18 schedule, including Game 272 on NBC’s Sunday Night Football, will be announced during or immediately after tomorrow’s Bills-Bengals Monday Night Football game.

The following is the current Week 18 NFL schedule (all times ET):


Saturday, January 7, 2023

Kansas City at Las Vegas                                                           4:30 PM               ESPN/ABC

Tennessee at Jacksonville                                                          8:15 PM               ESPN/ABC

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Tampa Bay at Atlanta                                                                   TBD                                                                

New England at Buffalo                                                               TBD                     

Minnesota at Chicago                                                                  TBD                     

Baltimore at Cincinnati                                                                 TBD                     

Detroit at Green Bay                                                                    TBD

Houston at Indianapolis                                                               TBD                                  

New York Jets at Miami                                                               TBD                    

Carolina at New Orleans                                                             TBD                    

New York Giants at Philadelphia                                                 TBD      

Cleveland at Pittsburgh                                                               TBD                    

Dallas at Washington                                                                  TBD                    

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver                                                TBD      

Arizona at San Francisco                                                            TBD      

Seven From Sunday – Week 17

NFL Editor
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Seven From Sunday – Week 17

A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, January 1, the 17th week of the 2022 season.

  • The TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS defeated Carolina, 30-24, and clinched the NFC South division title in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history.

    The NEW YORK GIANTS defeated Indianapolis, 38-10, and clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2016.

    Four teams – BALTIMORE, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, MINNESOTA and the NEW YORK GIANTS – have clinched playoff berths after missing the postseason last year. Since 1990 – a streak of 33 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs in every season that were not in the postseason the year before.
  • CLOSE GAMES: With two games yet to be completed in Week 17, there have been 113 games decided by a touchdown (six points) or less and 191 games within one score (eight points) in the fourth quarter this season, both the most such games in a single season in NFL history.

    COMEBACKS: SAN FRANCISCO (10-point deficit) and TAMPA BAY (14-point deficit) each overcame deficits of 10-or-more points to win on Sunday and there have been 50 games in which a team has overcome a deficit of at least 10 points to win or tie this season, the most such games in a single season all-time.

    ATLANTA defeated Arizona with a field goal as time expired in regulation and San Francisco defeated Las Vegas in overtime in Week 17. There have been 61 games this season decided by a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime, the most such games in a single season in NFL history.

    Atlanta, KANSAS CITY, San Francisco and Tampa Bay each came back to win after trailing in the fourth quarter and there have been 80 games this season in which a team has come back to win or tie after trailing in the fourth quarter, the most such games in a single season all-time.
  • Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES passed for 328 yards and three touchdowns, including two to running back JERICK MCKINNON, while tight end TRAVIS KELCE had seven receptions for 43 yards in the Chiefs’ 27-24 win over Denver.

    Mahomes, who has 5,048 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes this season and had 5,097 passing yards with 50 touchdown passes in 2018, joins DREW BREES (five seasons) and TOM BRADY (two)  as the only players in NFL history to total at least 5,000 passing yards in multiple seasons.

    Mahomes joins DREW BREES (2011-12) as the only players ever with two career seasons of 5,000 passing yards and 40 touchdown passes.

    Kelce, who has 104 receptions and 1,300 receiving yards this season, has three career seasons with at least 100 receptions and three career seasons with at least 1,300 receiving yards, both the most by a tight end in NFL history. No other tight end all-time has more than one such season of each.

    Kelce recorded his 96th career game with at least five receptions, tied with ANTONIO GATES (96 games) for the third-most such games by a tight end in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer TONY GONZALEZ (139 games) and JASON WITTEN (130) have more.

    McKinnon is the first running back since 1970 to record a touchdown reception in five consecutive games.

    McKinnon has eight touchdown receptions this season, tied for the fourth-most by a running back in a season in the Super Bowl era. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (nine touchdown receptions in 2001), CHUCK FOREMAN (nine in 1975) and LEROY HOARD (nine in 1971) have more.
  • Tampa Bay quarterback TOM BRADY completed 34 of 45 attempts (75.6 percent) for 432 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions for a 127.3 rating while wide receiver MIKE EVANS had 10 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the Buccaneers’ 30-24 win over Carolina.

    Brady has 11 career games with at least 400 passing yards and three touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famers PEYTON MANNING (11 games) and DAN MARINO (11) for the second-most such games in NFL history. Only DREW BREES (12 games) has more.

    Brady has 131 career games with at least 300 passing yards, including the postseason, tied with DREW BREES (131) for the most such games including the playoffs in NFL history.

    Brady has 477 completions and surpassed DREW BREES (471 completions in 2016) for the second-most completions in a season in NFL history. Brady set the single-season record with 485 completions in 2021.

    Brady is the first player in NFL history to complete at least 30 passes in five consecutive games and the first player ever with at least 30 completions in 10 games within a single season.

    Evans has 1,124 receiving yards in 2022 and is the first player in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first nine seasons.

    Evans is the third player ever with at least 1,000 receiving yards in nine consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (11 consecutive seasons from 1986-96) and TIM BROWN (nine consecutive seasons from 1993-2001).

    Evans has five career games with at least 180 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions, tied with TYREEK HILL (five games) for the most such games in NFL history.
  • Los Angeles Chargers quarterback JUSTIN HERBERT had two touchdown passes with a 119.9 rating while running back AUSTIN EKELER had four catches, 161 scrimmage yards (122 rushing, 39 receiving) and two rushing touchdowns in the Chargers’ 31-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

    Herbert has 44 career games with a touchdown pass, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING (44 games) for the most such games with at least one touchdown pass by a player in his first three seasons in NFL history.

    Ekeler has 103 receptions this season, the third-most receptions by a running back in a single season in NFL history. Only CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY (116 receptions in 2019 and 107 receptions in 2018) has more.

    Ekeler has 1,567 scrimmage yards with 18 scrimmage touchdowns (13 rushing, five receiving) this season and joined PRIEST HOLMES (2002-03) as the only undrafted players with at least 1,500 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns in consecutive seasons in the common-draft era.

    Ekeler has 7,105 scrimmage yards in his career and joined ARIAN FOSTER (8,350 scrimmage yards) and PRIEST HOLMES (7,143) as the only undrafted players with at least 7,000 scrimmage yards in their first six seasons in the common-draft era.
  • San Francisco rookie quarterback BROCK PURDY recorded 284 passing yards and two touchdown passes while running back CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY had six catches, 193 scrimmage yards (121 rushing, 72 receiving) and one rushing touchdown in the 49ers’ 37-34 overtime win at Las Vegas.

    Purdy is the fifth rookie quarterback ever to win each of his first four career starts, joining BEN ROETHLISBERGER (won first 13 starts in 2004), MIKE KRUCZEK (first six in 1968), VIRGIL CARTER (first four in 1968) and PHIL SIMMS (first four in 1979).

    Purdy became the seventh rookie in the Super Bowl era with at least two touchdown passes in five consecutive games and the first since JUSTIN HERBERT (2020).

    McCaffrey has 439 receptions and surpassed ROGER CRAIG (434) for the most receptions by a running back in his first six seasons in NFL history.
  • Detroit rookie defensive lineman AIDAN HUTCHINSON had a half sack, interception and fumble recovery, rookie linebacker JAMES HOUSTON had three sacks and a forced fumble and rookie defensive lineman JOSH PASCHAL had two sacks in the Lions’ 41-10 win over Chicago.

    Hutchinson, who has 7.5 sacks this season, and Houston (eight sacks) are the first pair of rookie teammates each with at least seven sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

    Hutchinson is the first rookie since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least seven sacks (7.5) and three interceptions (three).

    Houston is the first player with eight sacks in his first six career games since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

    With Houston and Paschal, it marked the fourth game in which rookie teammates each recorded multiple sacks in the same game since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. The three other occurrences were October 4, 1987 (Chicago’s JIM ALTHOFF and SEAN MCINERNEY), November 11, 2001 (Buffalo’s KENDRICK OFFICE, TYRONE ROBERTSON and AARON SCHOBEL) and December 20, 2009 (Green Bay’s BRAD JONES and CLAY MATTHEWS).
  • Additional notes from Sunday include:
    • New Orleans defensive end CAMERON JORDAN had three sacks and a forced fumble in the Saints’ 20-10 win over Philadelphia.

      Jordan has 8.5 sacks this season and is the sixth player since 1982 to record at least seven sacks in 11 consecutive seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers REGGIE WHITE (14 consecutive seasons), CHRIS DOLEMAN (13), JOHN RANDLE (12) and DERRICK THOMAS (11), as well as ROBERT MATHIS (11).
    • Green Bay cornerback KEISEAN NIXON had a 105-yard kickoff-return for a touchdown while safety DARNELL SAVAGE had a 75-yard interception-return for a touchdown in the Packers’ 41-17 win over Minnesota.

      The Packers became the first team with a 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown and a 75-yard interception-return touchdown in the same game since MINNESOTA in Week 11 of the 2016 season.

      Minnesota safety JOSH METELLUS recorded a blocked punt on Sunday and became the first player since 1995 (ANTHONY MARSHALL) to block a punt in consecutive games.
    • PHILADELPHIA recorded seven sacks on Sunday and lead the NFL with 68 sacks this season, tied with the 1985 NEW YORK GIANTS (68 sacks) for the fourth-most sacks by a team in a season in NFL history. Only the CHICAGO BEARS (72 sacks in 1984 and 70 sacks in 1987) and MINNESOTA VIKINGS (71 sacks in 1989) have more.

      Linebacker HAASON REDDICK (16 sacks), defensive end BRANDON GRAHAM (11), defensive tackle JAVON HARGRAVE (11) and defensive end JOSH SWEAT (11) each have at least 10 sacks this season and the Eagles are the first team with four players each with at least 10 sacks in a single season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.
    • NEW ENGLAND defeated Miami, 23-21, as defensive back KYLE DUGGER registered a 39-yard interception-return for a touchdown.

      The Patriots joined the 2002 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (Weeks 2-5) as the only teams since 2000 with a defensive touchdown in four consecutive games within a single season.
    • Chicago quarterback JUSTIN FIELDS rushed for 132 yards on Sunday.

      Fields has 1,143 rushing yards this season and surpassed MICHAEL VICK (1,039 rushing yards in 2006) for the second-most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. Only LAMAR JACKSON (1,206 in 2019) has more.

      Fields has four career games with at least 100 rushing yards, tied with RUSSELL WILSON (four games) for the third-most such games by a quarterback in the Super Bowl era. Only LAMAR JACKSON (12 games) and MICHAEL VICK (10) have more.

      Fields has three games with at least 100 rushing yards this season and is the fourth quarterback with at least three games of 100-or-more rushing yards in a season in the Super Bowl era, joining LAMAR JACKSON (five games in 2019), MICHAEL VICK (three in 2004 and three in 2006) and RUSSELL WILSON (three in 2014).
    • Denver quarterback RUSSELL WILSON totaled 249 yards (222 passing, 27 rushing) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) in Week 17.

      Wilson, who has 305 touchdown passes and 26 rushing touchdowns in his career, is the sixth player in NFL history with at least 300 touchdown passes and 25 rushing touchdowns, joining TOM BRADY, DREW BREES, Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN ELWAY, AARON RODGERS and Pro Football Hall of Famer FRAN TARKENTON.

      Wilson has 4,948 rushing yards and surpassed RANDALL CUNNINGHAM (4,928) for the third-most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. Only MICHAEL VICK (6,109 rushing yards) and CAM NEWTON (5,628) have more.
    • Las Vegas quarterback JARRETT STIDHAM, in his first career start, passed for 365 yards and three touchdowns while wide receiver DAVANTE ADAMS had 153 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions on Sunday.

      Stidham joined MIKE WHITE (Week 8, 2021) as the only quarterbacks since 1950 with at least 350 passing yards and three touchdown passes in their first career start.

      Adams has five games with at least 100 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions this season and is the fifth player in NFL history with five such games within a single season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers RANDY MOSS (seven games in 2007), LANCE ALWORTH (five in 1966), DON HUTSON (five in 1942) and TERRELL OWENS (five in 2001).

NHL Morning Skate – Jan. 2, 2023

NHL Editor
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NHL Morning Skate – Jan. 2, 2023

* The League-leading Bruins play host to the Penguins in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at the “Cathedral of Boston” and home of the Red Sox, Fenway Park, during the 36th regular-season outdoor game in League history Monday.


* The Hurricanes earned their 11th straight victory, trailing only the Devils (13 GP) for the longest winning streak in the NHL this season. 
 
* Erik Karlsson set a franchise record and hit the 40-assist mark en route to becoming just the sixth defenseman in NHL history to post an assist streak of at least 13 contests.

BRUINS, PENGUINS GET FIRST TASTE OF FENWAY AHEAD OF WINTER CLASSIC
The Penguins and Bruins each hit the ice – and a few (wiffle) balls – at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day ahead of their first head-to-head outdoor meeting.

* Several notes on Boston and Pittsburgh players can be found in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic #NHLStats Pack, with numbers updated through games played Dec. 31, 2022.

* #NHLStats: Live Updates for Jan. 2 is up and running ahead of the 2 p.m. ET puck drop, with notes already loaded for the Winter Classic.

More Winter Classic links:
* Outdoor Game List
* Outdoor Game Standings
* Outdoor Game Skater Records
* Outdoor Game Goaltender Records
* Outdoor Game Team Records

* Interactive Information Guide


2023 DISCOVER NHL WINTER CLASSIC PITS BRUINS VERSUS PENGUINS AT FENWAY PARK
The League-leading Bruins (28-4-4, 60 points), who have yet to suffer a regulation loss at TD Garden this season, will look to match the NHL benchmark for wins in outdoor games when they host the Penguins (19-11-6, 44 points) in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday.

* While the outcome of the game is top of mind, one burning question ahead of puck drop is: What will the pre-game wardrobes consist of this year?

* Boston will become the first team to contest a Winter Classic while occupying first place in the League standings and just the second top-ranked club to play in any NHL outdoor game, following Anaheim (38-10-5, 81 points) during the 2014 Stadium Series at Dodger Stadium. Of note, the Penguins (25-11-3, 53 points) entered the 2011 Winter Classic at Heinz Field tied for the most points in the League standings, but the Red Wings (24-9-5, 53 points) held first place by virtue of games in hand.

* As the home team at Fenway Park, Boston will have a chance to improve upon its 18-0-3 record as hosts this season. That is tied for the longest season-opening home point streak in franchise history, equaling a 19-0-2 stretch as hosts to begin the 1973-74 season, when each home contest was played at Boston Garden. While this list details all season-opening home point streaks of 21-plus games, none of those happened to include a neutral site contest. It should also be noted that home/road streaks on Records.NHL.com exclude neutral site games.




* The Penguins can snap an opponent’s home point streak of 20 or more contests for the first time in franchise history. The longest home run Pittsburgh has halted was an 18-game stretch by Vancouver nearly 30 years ago (16-0-2 from Nov. 4, 1992 – Jan. 16, 1993), which came to an end when the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions earned a 5-2 win at Pacific Coliseum on Jan. 19, 1993.

* The lengthiest season-opening home point streak snapped by the Penguins is 10 contests – they defeated the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 19, 1972 to snap New York’s 9-0-1 start as hosts in 1972-73.


WE’RE FIVE GAMES INTO THE NEW YEAR
The first day of 2023 included a first NHL goal for a 27-year-old Senators forward Jacob Lucchini, milestone achievements by Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Mathew Barzal, along with a number of franchise-record streaks extended.


HURRICANES SURGE TO ANOTHER WIN
The Hurricanes (25-6-6, 56 points) took three leads and scored a tying goal in the final five minutes of the third period to extend their winning streak to 11 games and their point streak to 17 (15-0-2) while padding their lead atop the Metropolitan Division. Carolina have now scored at least three goals in nine consecutive games – their longest such run since 2005-06 (10 GP; excluding shootout deciding goals).

* The Hurricanes’ 17-game point streak marks the 14th instance in the past 40 years of a team recording a run of that length and the first since the Avalanche last season (19 GP; 17-0-2).

* Carolina’s 11-game winning streak trails only New Jersey (13-0-0 from Oct. 25 – Nov. 21) for the longest by a team in 2022-23. It marks the seventh season in NHL history to feature multiple winning streaks of 11-plus games and first since 2016-17.

Of note, there were no divisions from 1917-18 to 1925-26 and 1938-39 to 1966-67 when the League was comprised of no more than seven teams in each campaign.


KARLSSON ESTABLISHES LONGEST POINT STREAK IN SHARKS HISTORY
Erik Karlsson recorded two assists, including a helper on the game-winning goal, to extend his point streak to 13 games and establish a Sharks franchise mark. He also became the sixth defenseman in NHL history to record an assist streak of 13 or more games, equaling Cale Makar (13 GP in 2021-22) for the longest run by a blueliner in the past 30 years.

* Karlsson (13-40—53 in 39 GP) moved into a share of fifth place in overall League scoring this season. He also became the eighth defenseman in NHL history to record 40 assists in a season in fewer than 40 games, joining Bobby Orr (6x; best: 32 GP in 1974-75), Paul Coffey (3x; best: 34 GP in 1987-88), Brian Leetch (37 GP in 1991-92), Borje Salming (37 GP in 1976-77), John van Boxmeer (38 GP in 1981-82), Randy Carlyle (38 GP in 1980-81) and Ray Bourque (39 GP in 1989-90).



LARSSON, FOX COLLECT POINTS IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Two more defensemen turned in notable performances in the Sunday edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates, with Adam Larsson and Adam Fox finding the scoresheet to help the Kraken and Rangers each earn two points:

* Larssonscored the game-opening goal to extend his point streak to six games, matching Justin Schultz (6 GP from Nov. 17-29) for the longest run by a Kraken defenseman since the club’s inception in 2021-22. With the win, Seattle (19-12-4, 42 points) moved from outside the Western Conference playoff picture into the first Wild Card spot.

* Fox collected two assists to improve his career totals to 31-169—200 (241 GP) and help the Rangers (20-12-6, 46 points) move into a Wild Card position. Fox required the second-fewest games by a Rangers defenseman to reach 200 NHL points, behind Brian Leetch (211 GP).



QUICK CLICKS

* Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid, Tage Thompson named NHL’s “Three Stars” for December

* Pyotr Kochetkov named NHL’s “Rookie of the Month” for December

* Sidney Crosby looks back on his baseball days ahead of Winter Classic
* 2022 Year in Review by #NHLStats
* David Pastrnak pays homage to Red Sox, David Ortiz with Winter Classic equipment


MONDAY ALSO FEATURES VEGAS-COLORADO ON SPORTSNET AND TVA SPORTS

Four other teams are in action after the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic, with the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights (25-12-2, 52 points) visiting the defending-champion Avalanche (19-13-3, 41 points) at Ball Arena on Sportsnet and TVA Sports followed by the Ducks (10-23-4, 24 points) hosting the Flyers (13-17-7, 33 points) at Honda Center.
 

NBA Preview: Miami Heat (19-18) at Los Angeles Clippers (21-17)

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NBA Preview: Miami Heat (19-18) at Los Angeles Clippers (21-17)

Paul George just established his top scoring output of the season while being booed vociferously by fans of the Indiana Pacers.

Come Monday, the crowd in Los Angeles will be decidedly pro-George when the seven-time All-Star attempts to follow up the 45-point performance with more success when the Clippers host the Miami Heat.

George was 15-of-25 shooting — including 7 of 13 from 3-point range — and recorded nine rebounds and three steals while the Indiana faithful once again expressed their disapproval. George spent his first seven seasons with the Pacers before requesting a trade and being shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder before the 2017-18 campaign.

But George and the Clippers left the building dejected as their defense wasn’t up to par and Indiana posted a 131-130 win.

The loss was the second straight for Los Angeles and marked a 2-3 ending to a five-game road trip.

The Clippers make a brief stop home to face the Heat before going back on the road for two more games.

While George has been solid with nine 20-point efforts in the past 10 games, fellow star Kawhi Leonard has topped 20 points in consecutive games for the first time since tearing an ACL in his right knee in the playoffs in June 2021.

Leonard had 26 points during a 116-110 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday and followed up with 24 points against Indiana. He is averaging 23 points over his last eight appearances, topping 20 five times during the stretch.

Just as encouraging is that Leonard is averaging 35 minutes over the last four games.

Miami has won three of its past four games and knocked off the Clippers earlier this season in South Florida.

Bam Adebayo had 31 points and 10 rebounds in the 115-110 win over Los Angeles on Dec. 8. George had 29 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Clippers.

The Heat enter the contest on a high after Tyler Herro buried a 3-pointer as time expired to provide a 126-123 victory over the Utah Jazz on New Year’s Eve.

With Jimmy Butler sitting out to rest his right knee, Adebayo (32 points, eight rebounds), Herro (29 points, nine rebounds, six assists) and Victor Oladipo (season-best 23 points) picked up the slack.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Adebayo’s performance was just as important as Herro’s contributions as the club improved to 1-1 on a five-game road trip.

debayo has topped 20 points in five of his past six games and is averaging 24 points during the stretch.

Herro is averaging 27.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists over the past two games.

Miami has won the past two meetings after the Clippers won the previous six.

NBA Preview: Detroit Pistons (10-29) at Portland Trail Blazers (18-17)

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NBA Preview: Detroit Pistons (10-29) at Portland Trail Blazers (18-17)

Blazers hope to remain above .500, welcome Pistons to town

The Portland Trail Blazers maintained a winning record throughout December, though they’re in danger of falling to the .500 mark if they lose at home to the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

The Blazers have dropped four of their last five games, including a 118-112 defeat to defending champion Golden State on Friday.

Portland coach Chauncey Billups was limited to an eight-man rotation due to illness and injuries. Starting center Jusuf Nurkic and reserves Keon Johnson and Greg Brown III were too sick to play, while second unit fixtures Nassir Little (hip) and Justise Winslow (ankle) were nursing ailments.

The Trail Blazers were outscored 16-2 in the last five minutes.

The players who started accounted for 95 of the team’s points, led by Damian Lillard with 34. Portland committed six turnovers in the fourth quarter against the Warriors, who were also missing two starters.

Jerami Grant, who was traded by Detroit during the offseason for draft assets, will be facing his former team for the first time since arriving in Portland. Grant is averaging 22 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

The Pistons still have the league’s worst record, but they’ve won two of their last three games to reach the 10-win mark.

They captured a 116-104 road victory against Minnesota on Saturday, outscoring the Timberwolves 66-40 in the second half.

Starter Bojan Bogdanovic, as usual, led the team in scoring with 28 points.

However, the second unit proved to be the difference. A handful of reserves scored in double digits, contributing 65 points in all.

Marvin Bagley III led that group with 18 points. Alec Burks had 13, Hamidou Diallo tossed in 12 and Cory Joseph and Rodney McGruder added 11 apiece.

Burks, acquired from the New York Knicks in an offseason deal, has provided a big spark off the bench. He’s averaging 14 points in 21.5 minutes per game.

The 31-year-old McGruder, who has been out of the rotation most of the season, played a season-high 23 minutes against Minnesota.

Starting guard Killian Hayes will serve the final game of a three-game suspension for striking Orlando’s Moritz Wagner from behind during a skirmish on Wednesday. The Pistons are in the midst of a five-game road trip.

NBA Preview: Atlanta Hawks (17-19) at Golden State Warriors (19-18)

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NBA Preview: Atlanta Hawks (17-19) at Golden State Warriors (19-18)

The Golden State Warriors hope to continue their homecourt roll – and get some help in the process – when they host the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Monday night.

Coming off a 1-5 trip that dropped them three games under .500, the Warriors have opened an eight-game homestand with four consecutive wins, all without injured stars Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins.

The defending champs, now a league-best 16-2 at home, expect Wiggins to return Monday from a 13-game absence that began with a strained adductor and has been extended by an illness. Golden State has gone 6-7 over that stretch – 5-1 at home and 1-6 on the road.

The most recent of the wins came Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers, a game the Warriors trailed 105-98 with 6:59 to go before finishing with a 20-7 flurry.

Donte DiVincenzo hit a key 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining to secure the win and cap what has become a trademark all-around contribution with nine points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.

The Warriors will be seeing the Hawks for the first time as Atlanta embarks on a week-long California tour. The club packed a three-game losing streak, including a 130-121 home loss Friday to the Los Angeles Lakers, against whom the Hawks will get a rematch later this week.

Getting on the road might be a good thing for the Hawks, whose two-game homestand was engulfed in rumors about coach Nate McMillan possibly considering stepping down.

That’s what a report in The Athletic insisted was occurring behind the scenes, and McMillan was quick to refute it.

The Hawks now employ two guards who have tormented Golden State.

Trae Young had 28- and 33-point performances when the Hawks split the two-game series against the Warriors last year. Atlanta won 121-110 at home in March after losing 127-113 in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, the Hawks have since added Dejounte Murray, who faced the Warriors 10 times as a member of the San Antonio Spurs and scored 19 or more points in half of them. He put up 23 and 19 points in Spurs wins at San Francisco last season.

Young had 29 points and Murray 20 in Friday’s loss to the Lakers.

NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets (24-12) at Minnesota Timberwolves (16-21)

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NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets (24-12) at Minnesota Timberwolves (16-21)

Wolves attempt to contain Nikola Jokic as Nuggets visit

When the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Rudy Gobert from Utah this offseason, it looked like he might be the final piece they needed to become a contender.

But with a new calendar year upon it, Minnesota is far from the top and searching for answers.

The Timberwolves have lost six in a row, the last a demoralizing home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night, and now face the top team in the Western Conference when the Denver Nuggets come to Minneapolis on Monday night.

Minnesota is five games under .500 and sits 11th in the Western Conference. Center Karl-Anthony Towns has not played since Nov. 28 due to a right calf strain but should be returning shortly, but he won’t play against Denver, which makes the task of defending two-time MVP Nikola Jokic that much tougher.

Minnesota is 6-10 since Towns went out with the injury.

Gobert has faced Jokic many times when he was with the Jazz, and Monday should be another challenge for him.

While that is a concern, the bigger issue for Minnesota is getting out of their downward spiral. After the 116-104 loss to Detroit, the Timberwolves held a players-only meeting to try to find solutions.

Monday’s game is the first of four between the teams, and all the games are going to occur in a span of six weeks.

One advantage for Minnesota is the fact that the Nuggets played Sunday night against Boston to wrap up a stretch of five games in eight nights, but they’re coming in with momentum. Denver beat the Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA, 123-111.

One player who could be rested for Monday’s game is guard Jamal Murray. Murray sat out Sunday’s game as part of management for his surgically-repaired left knee, a strategy the Nuggets have used this year as he works his way back to full health.

Other than Murray and Jeff Green, who is out with a fractured right hand, Denver is playing with a stacked roster and has been getting better defensively over the last three weeks. The Nuggets are 10-2 since dropping three straight at the beginning of December, and coach Michael Malone said one key is defense.

It helps having a unique player like Jokic, who notched his ninth triple-double of the season after putting up 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists against the Celtics.

NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (21-16) at Houston Rockets (10-26)

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NBA Preview: Dallas Mavericks (21-16) at Houston Rockets (10-26)

Prior to Dec. 23, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic had recorded one 50-point game in his five-season career. In the five games played over the next eight days, Doncic has been on an offensive tear unlike anything ever witnessed in the history of the NBA.

The Houston Rockets will try to better cope with the red-hot Doncic when they host the Mavericks on Monday.

Doncic produced 51 points, six rebounds and nine assists in the Mavericks’ 126-125 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday for his third 50-point performance over his last five games. Doncic torched the Rockets for 50 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists two days before Christmas and demolished the New York Knicks with a historic 60-point, 21-rebound, 10-assist triple-double on Dec. 27.

Against the Spurs, Doncic shot 18 of 29, made 6 of 10 3-pointers and added four steals to lead the Mavericks to their sixth consecutive victory. He is averaging 42.2 points (on 58.7 percent shooting), 10.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists during the win streak.

Doncic has playfully referenced his exhaustion during this stretch of extraordinary efforts, but there was a troubling truth behind the sheepish grin he offered when he said he needed a “recovery beer” following the overtime win over the Knicks.

Doncic is averaging just under 40 minutes per game during the win streak, and with the Mavericks missing Dorian Finney-Smith (groin) and Maxi Kleber (hamstring) from their rotation, Doncic is shouldering an even heavier workload than usual. He is third in the league in usage rate behind Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.

At this moment, Doncic appears unstoppable. The question is, how long can he keep this going?

The Rockets have been victimized by Doncic twice during his run of dominance, with Doncic adding a 35-point, 12-rebound, 13-assist triple-double on Dec. 29 to the 50-point display that ignited this stretch.

Houston has dropped eight of nine games since opening a seven-game homestand with consecutive victories over the Bucks and Phoenix Suns. Completing the season series against Dallas on Monday should provide some measure of relief for its beleaguered defense.

Houston owns a minus-10.5 net rating over the last nine games, the worst in the NBA, in large part because of a 118.1 defensive rating during that stretch that is 24th in the league.

The Rockets’ defense was relatively decent in their 108-88 home loss to the Knicks on Saturday, but it was another season-long bugaboo — turnovers — that greased the skids to their latest demise. The Rockets committed 25 turnovers against the Knicks.

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