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NHL Morning Skate – Dec. 20, 2022

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NHL Morning Skate – Dec. 20, 2022

* Patrice Bergeron became the oldest Bruins player with a four-point game since 2012 as several streaks were extended at TD Garden.

* Tage Thompson tallied his 26th goal of the season to move within two of League leader Connor McDavid in the 2022-23 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy race.

* A Capitals veteran with a surname that begins with the letter “O” scored a noteworthy goal to climb an all-time list Monday… but it was Alex Ovechkin’s longtime teammate Dmitry Orlov this time!
 

BERGERON HAS FOUR POINTS AS BRUINS, PASTRNAK AND ULLMARK CONTINUE TO ROLL
Patrice Bergeron (2-2—4) factored on four of the League-leading Bruins’ season-high seven goals to record his first four-point game of the campaign and help Boston improve to 17-0-2 (36 points) at TD Garden in 2022-23. The Bruins’ 19-game season-opening home point streak is two contests shy of the franchise record (19-0-2 in 21 GP from Oct. 10, 1973–Jan. 10, 1974).

* Bergeron (37 years, 148 days) became the oldest Boston player with a four-point game since Brian Rolston over 10 years ago (39 years, 27 days on March 19, 2012). The only other skaters in franchise history with at least one four-point game at age 37 or older are Johnny Bucyk (7x; last: March 11, 1976), Jean Ratelle (4x; last: March 12, 1980), Mark Recchi (April 9, 2009), Ray Bourque (Oct. 28, 1999) and Dit Clapper (Feb. 17, 1945).
 

* Bergeron provided the primary assist on the winning goal by David Pastrnak (7-4—11 in 9 GP), who extended his point streak to nine games and moved within one of his sixth double-digit run in the NHL. Linus Ullmark (36 saves) also extended a noteworthy streak Monday, improving to 11-0-1 in 13 home appearances this season with a 1.84 goals-against average and .939 save percentage.
 


THOMPSON TALLIES 50TH POINT AS SABRES WIN FOURTH STRAIGHT
Tage Thompson (26-24—50 in 32 GP) scored his team-leading 26th goal of the season to reach the 50-point mark and help the Sabres claim their fourth straight victory. Thompson joined Connor McDavid (28-36—64 in 33 GP) and Leon Draisaitl (21-33—54 in 33 GP) as the third NHL player to record 50 points this season.

* Thompson (12-9—21 in 9 GP) has tallied 21 points in nine games since Dec. 1. He matched Gilbert Perreault (December 1976; 8-13—21 in 11 GP)and Rene Robert (December 1972; 11-10—21 in 10 GP)for the second-most points by a Sabres skater in a single month of December, behind only Alexander Mogilny (December 1992; 17-6—23 in 9 GP). Buffalo contests four more games before the New Year.
 


DEFENSEMEN LIFT CAPITALS TO MULTI-GOAL COMEBACK VICTORY VERSUS RED WINGS
Nic Dowd (2-1—3) delivered two tallies in an 11-second span and Erik Gustafsson (1-1—2) also got a game-tying goal as Washington overcame deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 before Dmitry Orlov’s overtime winner to complete the comeback.

* Gustafsson (4-1—5 in 2 GP) became the fourth defenseman in franchise history with four goals over a two-game span during the regular season, joining Mike Green (4-1—5 in 2 GP from Feb. 7-11, 2009), Sergei Gonchar (4-1—5 in 2 GP from Jan. 4-6, 2000) and Kevin Hatcher (4-1—5 in 2 GP from Jan. 9-13, 1993). Al Iafrate also achieved the feat with the Capitals in the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
 


CENTRAL DIVISION CLUBS GOING 4-0-1 FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES
Monday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates featured more notes from the eight-game slate, with all five Central Division teams in action picking up points including the Blues and Stars:

* Jordan Kyrou (6-3—9 in 3 GP) scored the first hat trick of his NHL career and concluded the Blues’ Western Canada road trip with six goals and nine points. His six goals marked the most by a St. Louis player during a three-game Western Canada road trip, eclipsing the previous high of five by Brett Hull (5-4—9 in 3 GP from Feb. 12-17, 1991) and Brad Boyes (5-1—6 in 3 GP from March 8-11, 2008).
 

* Jake Oettinger made 27 saves to backstop the Stars to a one-goal victory while appearing in his 100th career NHL game (54-27-11, 2.44 GAA, .915 SV%). Oettinger’s 54 wins are the second most by a Stars/North Stars goaltender prior to their 25th birthday, trailing only Don Beaupre (99 in 224 GP w/ MNS). Of note, Oettinger just celebrated his 24th birthday on Dec. 18.
 


#NHLSTATS: 2022 YEAR IN REVIEW
#NHLStats has released an early edition of the Year in Review as the final days of 2022 wind down – a year that will see the most games in NHL history (1,502 regular season & playoffs combined through Dec. 31). Take a look back on the year that was by clicking here.

All stats are through games completed Dec. 18 and will be updated again on Dec. 31.
 

2023 DISCOVER NHL WINTER CLASSIC COVERAGE

* #NHLStats Pack: 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic
* Winter Classic ice truck arrives at Fenway Park ahead of Bruins-Penguins
* 2023 Winter Classic rendering for Fenway Park unveiled



QUICK CLICKS

* Alex Ovechkin, Tage Thompson and Mats Zuccarello named NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week
* Tomas Hertl suspended two games for high-sticking
*Hilary Knight talks Dream Gap Tour, 2026 Olympics in Q&A with NHL.com
* Maple Leafs invite children’s hospital patients, families to practice
* Women in Hockey: Julie Gamble

TOP TEAMS IN METROPOLITAN DIVISION SQUARE OFF TUESDAY
The top four teams in the Metropolitan Division are separated by just four points and will all face another team in that grouping as part of Tuesday’s eight-game slate: Carolina (19-6-6, 44 points) hosts New Jersey (21-8-2, 44 points) with first place in the division on the line, while the Rangers (18-10-5, 41 points) visit the Penguins (18-9-4, 40 points) as they jockey for third.
 

* The Metropolitan boasts the longest winning streak by any team this season (NJD: 13 GP from Oct. 25–Nov. 21), the longest active winning streak (NYR: 7 GP dating to Dec. 5) and the longest active point streak (CAR: 9-0-2 in 11 GP dating to Nov. 25).

* The Rangers aim to register a win streak of eight or more games within a regular season for just the seventh time in franchise history – they have done so just twice in the last 47 years (9 GP in 2015-16 and 8 GP in 2014-15).
 

Sharks’ Hertl Suspended Two Games for High-Sticking

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Sharks’ Hertl Suspended Two Games for High-Sticking

NEW YORK  – San Jose Sharks forward Tomas Hertl has been suspended for two games, without pay, for high-sticking Calgary Flames forward Elias Lindholm during NHL Game No. 501 in San Jose on Sunday, Dec. 18, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 0:02 of the third period. Hertl was assessed a minor penalty for high-sticking.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and, based on his average annual salary, Hertl will forfeit $87,972.98. The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

NBA Preview: Washington Wizards (11-20) at Phoenix Suns (19-12)

NBA Editor
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NBA Preview: Washington Wizards (11-20) at Phoenix Suns (19-12)

The Phoenix Suns will look for a fourth consecutive win on Tuesday when they complete a pair of back-to-back games as the sputtering Washington Wizards visit.

Phoenix blasted the short-handed Los Angeles Lakers 130-104 on Monday behind a season-high 28 points from Chris Paul. The Suns posted a 12th straight head-to-head victory over the Lakers, who played without LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

Deandre Ayton gave Phoenix 21 points and 11 rebounds, his third double-double with at least 21 points in his past four games. Monday marked Ayton’s return to the lineup from an ankle injury that sidelined him the previous two contests.

Ayton’s play on the interior worked in conjunction with Phoenix’s red-hot shooting performance from the outside. The Suns knocked down 20 of 39 3-point attempts in the win despite playing without leading scorer Devin Booker.

Booker, who scored 58 points on Saturday against the New Orleans Pelicans, has missed three of the team’s past five games due to a groin injury. His status for the Tuesday contest was uncertain.

Phoenix also lost Josh Okogie in the second half on Monday due to right hip soreness.

The Suns have faced some recent roster reshuffling as a result of injuries, but they have settled into a groove all the same.

Since dropping five straight from Dec. 5-13, a stretch during which it averaged 109.4 points per game, Phoenix has averaged 119.7 points over its past three.

Asked about the keys to the turnaround, Suns coach Monty Williams said, “The freedom to do the things that you work on, the mentality and encouragement from teammates and hopefully a little bit of the system that allows for guys to be their best. That’s how we have to play.”

As Phoenix looks to build on its recent success, Washington arrives desperate to pull out of a lengthy tailspin.

The Wizards dropped their 10th consecutive decision and 13th in the past 14 games on Sunday, falling 119-117 to the Lakers. The defeat was the second in a Los Angeles weekend back-to-back, following a 102-93 loss to the Clippers on Saturday.

Washington has yet to win in the month of December, its last victory coming on Nov. 28 by a 142-127 count against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Beal scored 29 points against the Lakers, his first game since Dec. 4. He had missed six contests due to a hamstring ailment. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points for his 10th game of 20-plus points in his past 11 appearances, and he grabbed 11 rebounds.

Porzingis shared the floor with fellow post player Daniel Gafford for stretches on Sunday, a combination that Beal praised for giving Washington a defensive boost.

Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr.’s continued use of the two together could be a plotline in Phoenix, the fourth opponent of Washington’s current six-game Western Conference road swing.

The Suns rank seventh in the NBA in both points scored per game and points allowed per game. The Wizards are 25th in points scored, 16th in points yielded.

NBA Preview: Utah Jazz (17-16) at Detroit Pistons (8-24)

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NBA Preview: Utah Jazz (17-16) at Detroit Pistons (8-24)

Third-quarter lapses prevented the Detroit Pistons from carrying a three-game winning streak into their home game against the Utah Jazz on Tuesday.

Following an overtime victory in Charlotte on Wednesday, the Pistons established halftime leads against the Sacramento Kings on Friday and the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. The advantages quickly evaporated when Detroit came out of the locker room for the second half.

The Pistons led the Kings by eight points at the break, but Sacramento outscored Detroit 38-23 in the third quarter while claiming a 122-113 victory. The Nets were down 17 points at halftime but erased the deficit with a 44-25, third-quarter outburst. Brooklyn left Detroit with a 124-121 win.

Nets star Kevin Durant scored 26 of his 43 points during the quarter. Kyrie Irving finished off Brooklyn’s comeback by scoring 14 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter.

Casey added, “Once (the Nets) turned their water on, it’s hard to turn it off. It’s something we’re going to continue to work on. Lot of good stuff, lot of growth. We’re not getting rewarded.”

Bojan Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 26 points but missed potential tying 3-point shots on Detroit’s last two possessions.

Bogdanovic had a team-high 23 points when the Pistons defeated the Jazz 125-116 in their first meeting this season, on Nov. 23 in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz will try to bounce back from a pair of thrashings on the road. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 123-97 on Saturday, then got pummeled by the Cleveland Cavaliers and former teammate Donovan Mitchell 122-99 on Monday.

The Jazz trailed the Cavaliers 62-44 at halftime. Cleveland never let up, shooting 61.4 percent from the field while making 15 of 26 3-point attempts. The Cavaliers had a 29-2 advantage in fastbreak points.

Utah shot 38.7 percent from the field, but even a better offensive performance wouldn’t have offset its defensive lapses. Mitchell scored 23 points in 23 minutes and six other Cavaliers scored at least 12 points.

A loss to the Pistons would drop the Jazz to the .500 mark for the first time this season.

CFB: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Preview – Eastern Michigan Eagles (8-4) vs San Jose State Spartans (7-4)

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CFB: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Preview – Eastern Michigan Eagles (8-4) vs San Jose State Spartans (7-4)

EASTERN MICHIGAN EAGLES NOTES:

BOISE, Idaho – The Eastern Michigan University football team will play in its fifth bowl game in the last seven years when it participates in the 26th Annual Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 20, on the blue turf of Albertsons Stadium. The Eagles finished the regular season with an 8-4 mark and a 5-3 record in Mid-American Conference play. EMU made appearances in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl, the 2018 Camellia Bowl, the 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.

The Spartans finished the regular season with a 7-4 record, going 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference. SJSU is bowling for the first time since 2020. It will be Head Coach Brent Brennan’s second bowl game as head coach of SJSU. Furthermore, he is the first head coach to lead the Spartans to two bowl games since Claude Gilbert in 1986 and 1987.

Kickoff from Boise State University’s campus is set for 1:30 p.m. MT (3:30 p.m. ET) and the contest will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Clay Matvick and Rocky Boiman will be in the booth, while Dawn Davenport reports from the sideline. The game will also be aired on WEMU (89.1 FM) with veteran broadcasters Tom Helmer and Rob Rubick calling the action on the field. WEMU’s special 30-minute pregame show from the stadium begins at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET).

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1987?: The Eagles will face off against San Jose State for the second time in the postseason, as the matchup is a rematch of the 1987 California Bowl. The then-Hurons were a 17-point underdog, but EMU prevailed with a 30-27 win over the Spartans in Fresno, Calif., Dec. 12, 1987.

EYES ON NINE: A triumph would give Eastern Michigan exactly nine victories in a season for the first time ever, and would go down as the second-best win total in the 131-year history of the program. Eastern’s best season came in 1987, when the team won 10 games (nine regular season) en route to the program’s lone Mid-American Conference title and postseason bowl victory (California Bowl). EMU teams have finished with eight wins six times, including this season.

SEVEN IN THE FBS: The Eagles defeated seven Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents during the 2022 regular season campaign. That number is the second-most in a single season in program history (FBS officially established in 1978); only the 1987 team took down more with eight FBS wins during its nine-win regular season.

FIRST-TIME ACCOMPLISHMENT: Eastern Michigan will add another to its list of “firsts” under ninth-year Head Coach Chris Creighton in 2022. With its selection to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Eastern will make four consecutive bowl appearances (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season) for the first time in program history.

LET’S ROCK AND BOWL: Eastern Michigan’s 34-28 win over Akron, Nov. 8, gave the program bowl eligibility for the fifth time in the previous six full seasons and just the sixth time in program history. The win also gives EMU bowl eligibility in four consecutive seasons for the first time in program history (excluding COVID-shortened 2020 season). Of note, EMU’s 1971 appearance in the Pioneer Bowl does not figure into the bowl count since it was a NCAA Division II regional final contest and not part of the bowl system.

WHAT’S STILL AT STAKE: Plenty of opportunities to cement the team’s legacy still await Eastern Michigan in its postseason bowl contest. A win would give EMU just its second in program history and its first since the 1987 California Bowl (EMU defeated San Jose State, 30-27).

NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT…: In going to a bowl game for the fourth time in five seasons, 13 student-athletes will have the opportunity to do something that just other group (three previous student-athletes) in program history has accomplished previously – play in four bowl games. hose 13 student-athletes participated in the 2018 Camellia Bowl, 2019 Quick Lane Bowl, 2021 LendingTree Bowl, and now the Potato Bowl. Of those 13 student-athletes, three will have the opportunity to become the first student-athletes in EMU history to record a snap in four different postseason bowl games: Dylan Drummond, Sidy Sow, and Gunnar Oakes. Blake Bogan would be the fourth, but is out with injury.

LAST TIME WE MET: Head Coach Jim Harkema’s Hurons were 17-point underdogs heading into the battle with the high-scoring Spartans of San Jose in the 1987 California Bowl, Dec. 12. While most people agreed with that pre-game prediction of an easy San Jose State win, the EMU team and its faithful fans knew that the Green and White would be prepared to pull off the major upset. Eastern, trailing 27-23 with just 3:59 left in the game, senior quarterback Ron Adams threw a long, arching pass to senior wide receiver Craig Ostrander for a 32-yard touchdown and Tim Henneghan added the PAT kick to give Eastern the 30-27 lead. That would be the last score of the game as the Hurons’ defense held on for one of the most memorable wins in school history.

GO WEST THEY SAID: For the first time in 51 years, EMU will play a contest in the state of Idaho when it battles San Jose State, Dec. 20. The last time Eastern ventured into the Gem State was the 1971 season at Idaho State University, Oct. 2. Eastern escaped with a 23-22 triumph. Eastern is 1-1 all-time against ISU and 0-1 versus Idaho.

VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST: EMU has met five current members of the Mountain West Conference in its history, holding a 3-2-1 record. Eastern’s first tangled with Fresno State for the 1990 season opener, falling 41-10, Sept. 1. The then-Hurons upset heavily-favored San Jose State, 30-27, in the 1987 California Bowl. EMU swept a home-and-home series against Wyoming. EMU cruised to a 48-29 victory in Laramie, Wyo., Sept. 12, 2015, and followed it up with a 27-24 decision the following year inside “The Factory”, Sept. 23, 2016. Most recently, the Eagles dropped an overtime affair at San Diego State, 23-20, Sept. 22, at SDCCU Stadium.

WE’LL SEE YOU SOON!: The Dec. 20 meeting in Boise will not be the final time the two sides meet on the gridiron, as the schools previously agreed to a home-and-home series. The Spartans will play in Ypsilanti, Sept. 5, 2026, while the Eagles will travel to San Jose, Sept. 1, 2029.

FAMILIAR FOES: Even though the teams are meeting on the gridiron for the first time since 1987, there are some ties between EMU and SJSU. San Jose State’s Director of Athletics, Jeff Konya, previously served as the athletic director at nearby Oakland University from 2014-18. Deputy AD Scott MacDonald also worked at Oakland and played collegiate baseball at Henry Ford Community College (1994-96). Meanwhile, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications Sky Kerstein was a sports producer and multimedia journalist for four years working for Detroit’s WJBK-TV (Fox 2).

THAT’S A GOOD POINT: Senior running back Samson Evans scored 78 points in 2022 which ties for 10th all-time in single-season scoring at EMU. He was edged by sophomore placekicker Jesus Gomez, who chipped in 82 points in his first campaign as the team’s primary field goal and extra point specialist to finish eighth on the list. This season marks just the second in program history in which two players finished within the program’s top-10 in the category in the same season. The other was just last season, when Evans (78 points) and former Eagle Chad Ryland (program-record 104 points) did it. Evans now has 162 points in his career, the 11th most of any player in program history. He is on pace to exceed 250 career points, which would place him comfortably in the program’s top three all-time (Ryland- 309, Andrew Wellock – 299, Justin Ventura – 239). If he is able to crack the top-3, he would be the only non-specialist to do so.

EVANS MOVES UP: Senior running back Samson Evans continued to climb up the EMU record books when he rushed for a touchdown against Central Michigan, Nov. 25. Evans now has 27 total scores in his career, which ties for third-most in program history, alongside Eric Deslauriers (2003-06). Evans would move into the No. 1 spot with 32 touchdowns. Eastern legend Gary Patton (1984-87) currently holds the top spot with 31. Additionally, Evans is now first all-time in EMU career rushing touchdowns. He surpassed Patton and Anthony Sherrell (2002-05) on that list.

SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS NOTES:

OPENING DRIVE
• The Spartans are looking for their eighth bowl game win and first since 2015. SJSU is 7-4 all-time in bowl games which is good for a .636 winning pct. and seventh best in the country with teams who have played in 10 or more bowl games.

• SJSU’s lone meeting against Eastern Michigan took place in the 1987 California Bowl where the Spartans fell 30-27 to the Eagles.

• Brent Brennan is leading the Spartans to his second bowl game as head coach of the Spartans and is the first head coach to lead the Spartans to two bowl games since Claude Gilbert in 1986 and 1987. This is also the first time since 1987 the Spartans have gone to two bowl games in three seasons.

• SJSU has a +12 turnover margin which is best in the MW and good for fifth in the country. In 2021, the Spartans had a -10 turnover margin.

• The Spartans only have six turnovers (4 int, 2 fumbles), with only five on offense and it would be the fewest for SJSU since they had nine turnovers in eight games in 2020. The 12 game record for the Spartans fewest turnovers is 13 in 2019. The fewest interceptions in a season for the Spartans is six in 1999, 1962 and 1956. The fewest fumbles for SJSU in a season is three in 2007.

• Defensive end Viliami “Junior” Fehoko was named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and was All-MW First Team (2020, 21, 22). Fehoko is the second SJSU player to win MW DPOTY in the last three seasons (Cade Hall, 2020). Fehoko was named to the Sporting News and PFF All-America Second Teams (ranked fifth with 57 QB pressures) and leads the MW and is sixth in the country with a career-high 18.5 tackles for loss
and second in the league and 11th in the country with a career-high nine sacks. Fehoko also has a career-high 65 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection this season.

• Defensive end Cade Hall is one game played away from tying Jack Snyder for tops in SJSU history with 55 games played. The two-time MW first team (2020, 22) and 2020 MW DPOTY is in the SJSU top-five all-time in tackles for loss and sacks.

• Linebacker Kyle Harmon was named All-MW First Team for the third time (2020, 21, 22). He has 94 tackles this season and has 434 for his career which is good for third all-time in SJSU history.

• Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro (2,885 yards, tops in MW) is looking to be the first SJSU QB to throw for 3,000 yards since Josh Love did in 2019. Love also had 22 touchdowns in 2019 and Cordeiro is at 20 which leads the MW. Cordeiro has only thrown four interceptions and is looking to best the SJSU record of five (437 attempts), by Scott Rislov in 2003. Only four FBS QB’s have over 300 passing attempts and less than four interceptions. Cordeiro’s eight rushing touchdowns are most by an SJSU QB in the modern era. Cordeiro has been part of 28 touchdowns this season, the SJSU record is David Fales who was a part of 35 touchdowns (33 in the air) in 2013. Cordeiro was All-MW Second Team and went 170 passing attempts before throwing his first interception as a Spartan on a deflected ball at Fresno State (10/15).

• Wide receiver Elijah Cooks (983 yards) is looking to be the first 1,000 yard wide receiver for the Spartans since Tre Walker in 2019. Cooks (10 touchdowns) has the most touchdowns by any SJSU wide receiver since Chandler Jones had 15 in 2013. Cooks tied the SJSU record for three touchdown catches in a game against Utah State (11/19) earlier in the season. Cooks was named to the All-MW First Team.

• SJSU has played an NCAA low 11 games this season and their first 10 games started at 5:30 p.m. local time or later.

• The Spartans went 6-0 at home for the first time since 1978 and their first six win home season since 2006 when they went 6-1 at home.

• The Spartans finished the season with 36 sacks which was good for first in the MW and were fifth in the country averaging 3.27 sacks per game. The SJSU record for sacks in a season is 58 by the 1986 team. The 36 sacks are the most by an SJSU team since they had 41 sacks in 2012.

• Cornerback Nehemiah Shelton finished last season third in the country averaging 1.4 pass breakups a game. Shelton went five consecutive games breaking up a pass last season. The Gardena, Calif. native has a team leading eight this season and is tied for the team lead with two interceptions. Shelton was named MW honorable mention for the second season in a row.

• Safety Tre Jenkins is a two-time All-Mountain West Honorable Mention Selection (2021, 22) and has a career-high two interceptions, career-high five pass breakups, career-high two sacks and a career-high seven tackles for loss in 11 games played. He is also tied for the team lead with two interceptions and jas 60 tackles and a forced fumble as well plus led the team with nine tackles and one quarterback hit vs. Hawai’i (11/26).

SJSU BOWL HISTORY (7-4)
• 2020: Arizona Bowl, Tucson, Ariz., Ball State 34, San José State 13 (Played without 30+ players due to Covid protocols)
• 2015: Cure Bowl, Orlando, Fla., San José State 27, Georgia State 16
• 2012: Military Bowl, Washington, D.C., San José State 29, Bowling Green 20
• 2006: New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, N.M., San José State 20, New Mexico 12
• 1990: California Raisin Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 48, Central Michigan 24
• 1987: California Bowl, Fresno, Calif., Eastern Michigan 30, San José State 27
• 1986: California Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 37, Miami (Ohio) 7
• 1981: California Bowl, Fresno, Calif., Toledo 27, San José State 25
• 1971: Pasadena Bowl, Pasadena, Calif., Memphis State 28, San José State 9
• 1949: Raisin Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 20, Texas Tech 13
• 1947: Raisin Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 20, Utah State 0

CFB: Boca Raton Bowl Preview – Liberty Flames (8-4) at Toledo Rockets (8-5)

NCAAFB Editor
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CFB: Boca Raton Bowl Preview – Liberty Flames (8-4) at Toledo Rockets (8-5)

LIBERTY FLAMES NOTES:

LIBERTY STORYLINES
• Seeking its fourth bowl game victory in as many seasons, Liberty (8-4) will face MAC champion Toledo (8-5, 5-3 MAC) in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.

• The Flames will attempt to join Appalachian State as the only two teams to win a bowl game during each of their first four seasons of full bowl eligibility.

• Liberty is 0-3 all-time against the Rockets. However, the Flames have won three straight matchups with MAC foes including a 56-20 triumph over Eastern Michigan in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl and a 21-12 home victory over Akron on Sept. 24.

• Co-Defensive Coordinator Josh Aldridge is serving as interim head coach and will make his collegiate head coaching debut. Jamey Chadwell, who was hired as Liberty’s 10th head football coach on Dec. 4, will make his Flames coaching debut in the 2023 season opener.

• After starting 8-1, the Flames lost three straight contests to close the regular season. Liberty has played a nation-leading six games decided by three points or fewer in 2022, going 3-3 in those contests.

• Liberty leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1), led by senior DE Durrell Johnson. The Walter Camp 2nd Team All-American ranks No. 1 nationally with 22.5 tackles for loss. That ranks No. 2 in program history, trailing only Jason Wells’ 25.0 TFLs in 2000.

• The Flames’ leading receiver, Demario Douglas is just 23 yards away from becoming the seventh Liberty player ever to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season.

SERIES HISTORY
Overall Toledo leads, 3-0
Record at Liberty 0-0
Record at Toledo 0-3
Record at Neutral Site 0-0
Current Streak Toledo W3
Last Meeting Toledo 35, Liberty 34
(at Toledo, 10/6/07)

“4 DOWNS” WITH TOLEDO
1 -Although former Coastal Carolina Head Coach Jamey Chadwell was hired as the 10th head coach in Liberty football history on Dec. 4, Co-Defensive Coordinator Josh Aldridge will serve as interim head coach for the bowl game. It will mark his collegiate head coaching debut in his 10th year of coaching overall. It will be the Flames’ final game before joining Conference USA in 2023.

2 – The Flames are facing a MAC opponent in a bowl game for the second straight year and are meeting their second MAC foe this season (also
Akron). Liberty is also scheduled to play two MAC games in 2023 (home vs. Bowling Green on Sept. 2 and at Buffalo on Sept. 16). Both Liberty and Toledo recorded victories over UMass this season. The Flames are 2-0 in bowl games played in Florida, winning the 2019 and 2020 Cure Bowls in Orlando.

3 – Liberty, which has won three straight bowl games, will try to become the first FBS Independent since Army (2010, 2016-18) to win four consecutive bowl appearances. The Flames have used three different starting QBs this sea- son (Charlie Brewer, Kaidon Salter and Johnathan Bennett) for the first time since 2005 (Brock Farrel, Zach Terrell and Brock Smith).

4 – This will mark Liberty’s fourth meeting with Toledo, making the Rockets the most frequently played MAC opponent in program history. The
Flames own victories over four different MAC foes all-time, including Eastern Michigan (2), Akron, Ball State and Buffalo. Liberty has not
lost four games in a row since 2017.

A LIBERTY WIN WOULD…
• Keep the Flames’ record in bowl games perfect at 4-0. They would join Appalachian State as the only two teams to win bowl games during their first four seasons of full bowl eligibility after moving from FCS to FBS football.

• Give the Flames their sixth season in program history with nine or more wins, including the second in the last three years.

• Mark Josh Aldridge’s first victory as a collegiate head coach.

• Be the Flames’ first-ever victory against Toledo, making the Rockets the fourth team Liberty has defeated for the first time in 2022 (also Akron, Arkansas and BYU).

• Represent the Flames’ fourth consecutive triumph against a MAC opponent, improving Liberty’s all-time record versus conference foes to 6-9.

• Give the Flames a 5-1 all-time record when playing in December.

LAST MEETING WITH TOLEDO
OCT. 6, 2007
TOLEDO 35, LIBERTY 34
TOLEDO, OHIO (GLASS BOWL)
• Liberty’s Ryan Greiser intercepted a D.J. Lenehan pass and returned it 35 yards for a TD, giving the Flames a 34-22 lead with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

• Jalen Parmele then posted his second and third rushing TDs of the game during the fourth quarter, sending the Rockets to a come-from-behind win. His game-winning five-yard score with 3:47 left capped a 14-play, 94-yard drive.

• Rashad Jennings paced the Flames’ offense with 24 carries for 160 yards and 2 TDs. Defensively, Stevie Ray Lloyd contributed 15 tackles and a pass breakup.

LIBERTY FOOTBALL BY THE NUMBERS
2: Liberty and Appalachian State are the only two teams to win bowl games during each of their first three seasons of bowl eligibility following a transition from the FCS to the FBS. Liberty was the champion of the 2019 and 2020 Cure Bowls and won the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.

5: Liberty is one of five teams to win a bowl game during each of the last three seasons (2020-22), joining Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Louisiana.

5: The 2022 season is Liberty’s fifth as an FBS member, following 30 seasons of competition at the FCS (1-AA) level.

8: Liberty won eight Big South Conference titles (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016).

9: Nine Flames have been selected in the NFL Draft. Most recently, Malik Willis was taken by Tennessee in the third round of the 2022 Draft.

10: Jamey Chadwell is Liberty’s 10th head coach in program history.

10: Liberty has won a program-record 10 games twice, going 10-2 in 2008 and 10-1 in 2020.

10: Ten Flames have been named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

16: The Flames have posted a .500 or better record for 16 consecutive years, going 128-70 since the start of the 2006 season.

23: 23 members of this year’s team have completed bachelor’s degrees and are currently working toward master’s degrees.

50: The 2022 campaign is Liberty’s 50th football season.

25,000: The seating capacity of Williams Stadium was expanded to 25,000 for the 2018 season.

BOWL GAME EXPERIENCE
Three of Liberty’s first-year transfer players have prior bowl game experience. Charlie Brewer started two bowl games as quarter- back at Baylor, highlighted by the 2018 Texas Bowl against Vanderbilt during which Brewer passed for 384 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 109 yards and a score in a 45-38 Baylor win. He also started in the 2019 Sugar Bowl against Georgia, passing for 211 yards and one TD and rushing for one touchdown. Dre Butler started for Auburn in the 2020 Citrus Bowl, recording one tackle in a 35-19 loss to Northwestern. Cam Reddy appeared for Boston College in BC’s 38-6 loss to Cincinnati in the 2019 Birmingham Bowl.

CLOSE CALLS
With its dramatic 21-19 win over Arkansas on Nov. 5, followed by a 36-33 loss at UConn and a 23-22 setback to Virginia Tech, Liberty is 3-3 in games decided by three points or fewer this season. Liberty’s six games decided by three points or fewer are the most in a single season in program history. Liberty is tied with East Carolina for the most games decided by three points or fewer of any FBS school this season. ECU is also 3-3 in such games. Toledo has had six games decided by seven points or fewer this season, going 2-4 in those games.

OUT WITH A BANG
Last year, Liberty entered bowl season on a three-game winless streak before responding in a big way, scoring 43 straight points while posting a 56-20 win over Eastern Michigan in the LendingTree Bowl. Liberty’s 56 points were the second most in any bowl game last year (59 by Western Kentucky) and its 36-point margin of victory was the second largest (54- 10, Maryland over Virginia Tech).

BOWL BLITZ
Liberty did not trail at any point during its first two bowl games, and only trailed (3-0) for 4:40 during the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.
The Flames jumped out to a 7-0 lead against Georgia Southern in the 2019 Cure Bowl and then led from 13-7 on the way to a 23-16 win. In the 2020 Cure Bowl, Liberty built a 14-0 lead, and Coastal Carolina tied the Flames 34-34 late in the fourth quarter before Liberty won 37-34 in overtime. In bowl games, Liberty has led 144:06, been tied for 31:14 and trailed for 4:40.

BOWL-HEAVY SCHEDULE
For the second year in a row, seven of Liberty’s opponents this season have qualified for bowl games. Liberty’s regular-season opponents who competed in bowl games

2022: (Liberty went 4-3 against these teams)
• Southern Miss (LendingTree Bowl vs. Rice)
• UAB (Bahamas Bowl vs. Miami (Ohio))
• Wake Forest (Gasparilla Bowl vs. Missouri)
• BYU (New Mexico Bowl vs. SMU)
• UConn (Myrtle Beach Bowl vs. Marshall)
• Arkansas (Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas)
• New Mexico St. (Quick Lane Bowl vs. Bowling Green)

MAC-TION
Liberty is 5-9 all-time against MAC opponents. Liberty’s first two wins over FBS programs were against MAC schools (Oct. 14, 1989 – W, 25-24 at Eastern Michigan; Sept. 11, 2010 – W, 27-23 at Ball State). This will be Liberty’s second straight year facing a MAC team in a bowl game, as the Flames downed Eastern Michigan 56-20 in the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER
Prior to joining the FBS in 2018, Liberty had only played one game in December, a 29-22 loss at Villanova in the second round of the 2014 NCAA FCS Playoffs. Since then, Liberty is 4-0 in December games, defeating Norfolk State 52-17 on Dec. 1, 2018 before winning the the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl in 2019 and 2020 and the 2021 LendingTree Bowl.

DEFENSE
Last year, Liberty ranked 118th in FBS football with 11 total takeaways all season. The Flames rank 18th nationally with 23 takeaways this season. Both Liberty (26 giveaways) and Toledo (25) struggle to hold onto the football, with negative turnover margins. Liberty leads the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.1) and is fourth in sacks per game (3.42). Liberty’s Durrell Johnson leads the nation with 1.9 tackles for loss per game and is third with three fum- ble recoveries. Liberty’s Robert Rahimi and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell are tied for eighth nationally with five interceptions each.

Trends/Streaks
• Liberty has won eight or more games each of its last four seasons and 14 times total in program history (2019: 8-5; 2020: 10-1: 2021: 8-5; 2022: 8-4).

• The Flames played four of their six home games in front of 20,000-plus fans at Williams Stadium (including a stadium record 24,012 vs. BYU), setting a stadium record for the most 20,000-plus attendance games in program history.

• The New Mexico State game, Liberty’s final regular season game, was played in front of 18,837 fans, giving Liberty a new stadium record for total home attendance (125,724) and average home attendance (20,954).

• The Flames finished the regular season on a three-game losing streak for the second year in a row, including setbacks in their final two home games in 2021 (No. 21 Louisiana and Army) and 2022 (Virginia Tech and New Mexico State).

• Despite losses in its last two home games of 2021 and 2022, Liberty has posted a 19-5 record at home during last four seasons.

• Liberty has had six games decided by three points or fewer this season, the most games in a single season in program history to be decided by three points or fewer. The Flames are 3-3 in those games this year, and 1-2 in games decided by one point.

Offense
• The Flames finished the New Mexico State game with 315 yards of offense on 74 plays, matching its second-lowest offensive output of the year (also had exactly 315 yards against Gardner-Webb and Arkansas/season low was 309 vs. Akron).

• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game averaging 4.3 yards per play, its lowest offensive average of the 2022 season (previous low was 4.8 yards per play against Akron – 65 plays for 309 yards).

• Liberty’s 315 total offensive yards against New Mexico State marked the sixth time in 2022 the Flames have been held below the 400 total offensive yard mark in a game.

• Liberty has surpassed 400 total offensive yards in 30-of-48 games during the last four seasons (62.5 percent).

• Liberty’s year-by-year games held below 400 total offensive yards over the last four years (2019 – 4; 2020 – 2; 2021 – 6; 2022 – 6).

• In the last four seasons, Liberty has averaged 441.6 offensive yards per game (21,196 yards in 48 games). Liberty is averaging 400.8 total offensive yards through 12 games in 2022.

• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game rushing for 108 yards on 35 yards, averaging 3.1 yards per carry (second-lowest average of the season).

• During the first six weeks of the 2022 season, Liberty was averaging 194.8 rushing yards per game with 13 rushing touchdowns. Following Week 6 of the NCAA season, the Flames were ranked No. 31 in the country in rushing offense.

• During the final six weeks of the 2022 regular season, Liberty averaged 162.3 rushing yards per game with 10 rushing touchdowns. The Flames enter the bowl game ranked No. 47 in the country in rushing offense (178.6 yards per game).

• Liberty recorded his 23rd rushing touchdown of the season against New Mexico State and has rushed for two or more touchdowns in 7-of-12 games this season.

• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game converting on 6-of-13 third-down plays, marking the fourth time in the last five games the Flames have six or more third-down conversions. Liberty currently ranks No. 84 in the country in third-down conversion rate (37.1 percent) and ranked as low as No. 116 following the seventh game of the season (Gardner-Webb game on Oct. 15).

• The Flames surpassed the 40-point total for the second time this year with 41 points against BYU (also 42 points against UMass). Liberty has scored 35 or more points in 24 of Liberty’s 48 games over the last four seasons (50.0 percent).

• For the ninth time this year, Liberty lost the time of possession battle, with New Mexico State finishing with a 11:02 TOP edge over Liberty (35:29 to 24:27). NMSU was the third team in 2022 to finish with a 10+ minute time of possession advantage on the Flames.

• Liberty’s quarterbacks were sacked five vs. New Mexico State. The Flames have allowed two or more sacks in 11-of12 games in 2022 and Liberty ranks No. 115 in the country in sacks allowed (3.25 per game).

• Liberty has struggled to take care of the ball through the air in 2022, as the Flames rank No. 121 in the country in passes intercepted (15).

Defense
• After finishing 2021 ranked No. 118 in the country with 11 turnovers gained, Liberty’s defenders have already more than doubled that total through 12 games in 2022 (23).

• The Flames finished the New Mexico State game with an interception, its 23rd turnover gained in 2022. Liberty enters the bowl game ranked No. 18 in the country in turnovers gained (14 INTs, 9 fumbles recovered).

• New Mexico State finished Liberty’s regular-season finale with 428 total offensive yards, matching Arkansas for the most total yards Liberty has allowed in 2022. • The Flames have surrendered 400+ yards three times in 2022 (Old Dominion – 415; Arkansas – 428; New Mexico St. – 428).

• Liberty currently ranks No. 34 in the country in total defense, allowing 345.3 yards per game.

• Liberty has allowed an opponent to surpass the 300-passing yard mark five times during four seasons under head coach Hugh Freeze (2019: BYU – 306, Maine – 456; 2020: Coastal Carolina – 318; 2021: Ole Miss – 324; 2022: Wake Forest – 325).

• Despite allowing New Mexico State to convert on 7-of-12 third-down plays in the regular-season finale, Liberty still ranks No. 19 in the country in third-down conversion defense (32.0 percent).

• Liberty finished the New Mexico State game with 10.0 tackles for a loss of 22 yards. Following the game, Liberty ranks No. 1 in the tackles for a loss for the third week in a row (9.1 per game).

• The Flames matched their highest sack total of the season with six sacks against Virginia Tech and enter the bowl game ranked No. 4 in the country in sacks per game (3.42).

Special Teams
• Shedro Louis returned a kick off 97 yards for a touchdown against Virginia Tech, his second 97-yard return for a TD in his career (also against Maine in 2019).

• Entring the bowl game, Shedro Louis ranks No. 2 in the country in kickoff returns for a TD (1) and No. 17 in average kickoff return yardage (24.9).

• P Aidan Alves has pinned the opponents inside the 20-yard line 21 times on 56 punts in 2022 (37.57 percent), including three-straight games having a punt downed at the one-yard line (Akron, ODU and UMass).

TOLEDO ROCKETS NOTES:

ROCKET UPDATE
• Toledo is 8-5 and champions of the Mid-American Conference.

• Toledo (West Division champion) defeated Ohio (East Division champion) 17-7 in the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 3.

• The Rockets were 5-3 in MidAmerican Conference play , co-champion of the MAC West Division along with Eastern Michigan. Toledo advanced to
the MAC Championship Game due to its 27-24 victory at EMU on Oct. 29.

• Toledo has now won or shared 12 MAC Championship titles as well as 12 West Division crowns.

• This was Toledo’s seventh appearance in the MAC Championship Game and first since 2017. Toledo is 4-3 all-time in the MCG.

• Toledo will be playing in its 20th bowl game and sixth under Candle. Toledo has an 11-8 bowl record since its very first appearance in the Tangerine Bowl in 1969.

• This will be the Rockets’ second trip to the Boca Raton Bowl. Toledo defeated No. 24 Temple, 32-17, on Dec. 22, 2015. That contest was Jason
Candle’s first game as head coach of the Rockets. Candle was named head coach just 20 days prior to the contest after having served seven seasons as a Toledo assistant.

• Toledo is bowl eligible for the 13th consecutive season, the longest streak in the MAC.

• Toledo and Liberty have played three times, with the Rockets holding a 3-0 advantage.

• Toledo’s defense ranks first in the MAC in total defense (331.9), passing yards allowed (185.5) and defensive passing efficiency (110.05). The Rockets are ninth in the nation in defensive passing efficiency, 15th in passing yards allowed and 25th in total defense.

• Toledo’s offense ranks first in the MAC in scoring (32.1), and third in total offense (405.8) passing efficiency (133.10) and rushing (178.0).

• Toledo ranks first in the MAC and 25th in the country in fourth-down conversions (16-26/61.5%).

• Toledo has 10 All-MAC players on its roster, including a league-best five on the first team.

• Sophomore cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was named second-team All-America by Walter Camp and Pro Football Focus. He is the nation’s leader
with 1.9 passes defended per game (20 breakups, 5 interceptions in 13 games).

• Senior defensive tackle Desjuan Johnson was named honorable mention All-America by Pro Football Focus. His 16.5 tackles for loss ranks fourth in the MAC and 19th in the nation.

• Junior linebacker Dallas Gant, an Ohio State transfer, leads the team with 113 tackles. His 8.7 tackles per game is ninth among MAC players and 38th in the country.

TOLEDO’S LAST APPEARANCE IN THE BOCA RATON BOWL
Toledo is 1-0 in the Boca Raton Bowl, having defeated No. 24 Temple, 32-17, in 2015. Senior Phillip Ely threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns and Toledo used a smothering defense to shut down the Owls.

Ely, playing in his final game as a Rocket, returned to his native Florida to lead the Rockets to victory in Jason Candle’s first game as head coach. Candle, a seven-year assistant at UT, took over the head coaching position
just 20 days before the game following Matt Campbell’s departure to Iowa State.

Ely, a transfer from Alabama, was named the game’s Offensive MVP. He completed 20-of-28 passes despite throwing in driving rain most of the night. Ely announced after the game that his appeal for a sixth season due to injury hardship was turned down by the NCAA. Thus the bowl victory served as a fitting swan song for the Tampa, Fla. native. Junior Kareem Hunt led the running attack with 79 yards and two TDs. Sophomore Cody Thompson had four receptions for 119 yards, including a big 80-yard score in the fourth quarter.

TOLEDO-LIBERTY SERIES
Toledo leads the series with Liberty, 3-0. The last meeting came in 2007 when the Flames were still an FCS program, with Toledo holding on for a 35-34 victory at the Glass Bowl.

Toledo-Liberty Series
1994: Toledo 47, Liberty 37 (at Toledo)
2003: Toledo 49, Liberty 3 (at Toledo)
2007: Toledo 35, Liberty 34 (at Toledo)

ROCKETS ON TV
The Roofclaim.com Boca Raton Bowl will be carried on ESPN. The announcers for the game are Anish Shroff (PxP), Tim Hasselbeck (analyst) and
Ashley ShahAhmadi (sideline).

ROCKETS WIN 12TH MAC CHAMPIONSHIP
Toledo won its 12th MAC Championship with its 17-7 win over Ohio on Dec. 3. It was their second title under Head Coach Jason Candle, who also led the Rockets to victory in 2017. Prior to 1997, the MAC champion was determined by league record. The league was divided into East and West
divisions in 1997, the year of the first MAC title game.

Toledo’s MAC Championships
1967, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2017, 2022

  • Co-champion

2022 MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
A smothering defense and a gutty performance by sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn launched the Toledo Rockets to a 17-7 victory over Ohio in
the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 3. Holding a 10-7 lead in the fourth quarter, Finn hit sophomore wide receiver DeMeer Blankumsee for a 16-yard touchdown pass with 10:36 left in the game. Toledo’s defense then did its job, holding the Bobcats scoreless on their final three drives. Finn, who missed two games in November with a sprained ankle, was 16-of-25 for 154 yards and added 86 yards on the ground. Toledo’s running game totaled 236 yards, led by sophomore Jacquez Stuart, who had 93 yards and the game’s first touchdown, a 29-yard run on Toledo’s opening drive. Sophomore Jerjuan Newton was Finn’s top target, snagging six passes for 77 yards.

Toledo’s defense, ranked No. 1 in the MAC much of the season, dominated the Bobcats for most of the game, holding Ohio to the fewest points by
any team in MAC Championship Game history. Ohio gained 262 yards of total offense, including just 69 yards in the second half. Junior linebacker Dallas Gant led Toledo with 10 tackles and junior Nate Bauer had an interception.

NOTES FROM THE MAC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
• The victory gave Toledo its fourth MAC Championship Game title and 12th MAC title overall. Toledo is 4-3 in MAC title games, last winning in 2017 vs. Akron.

• Toledo’s victory gives it an 8-5 record and guarantees a winning season for the 12th time in the last 13 years. The only exception came in 2019 when the Rockets went 6-6.

• Head Coach Jason Candle won his second MAC Championship title, which ties him with Frank Lauterbur (1969, 1970) and Tom Amstutz (2001, 2004)
for the most outright titles in Toledo history. Lauterbur’s 1967 team shared the MAC title with Ohio.

• Sophomore quarterback Dequan Finn was named the game’s Offensive Player of the Game. He completed 16-of-25 passes for 154 yards and one TD.
He also ran for 86 yards on 18 attempts.

• Senior linebacker Dyontae Johnson was named Defensive Player of the Game and had eight tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and a QB hurry.

• Redshirt freshman punter Johnathon Batzke averaged 46.5 yards per punt and was named Special Teams MVP.

• Toledo’s defense allowed just 69 yards of total offense in the second half, 262 yards overall. Seven points is the fewest ever allowed in the MAC Championship Game.

• Sophomore Jacquez Stuart ran for 93 yards and one touchdown. It was his first rushing TD since Oct. 8 vs. Northern Illinois.

• Sophomore Jerjuan Newton grabbed a team-high six receptions for 77 yards.

• Junior linebacker Dallas Gant led Toledo with 10 tackles.

• Quinyon Mitchell had three pass breakups, adding to his nation-leading total of 25 passes defended (5 interceptions, 20 pass breakups).

• Thomas Cluckey’s 44-yard field in the second quarter was his 11th of the season and first since the Buffalo game on Oct. 22.

NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (19-10) at Denver Nuggets (19-11)

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NBA Preview: Memphis Grizzlies (19-10) at Denver Nuggets (19-11)

Nuggets, Grizzlies clash hoping to seize West

Golden State is struggling to reach .500, the Los Angeles Lakers lost Anthony Davis to another injury and the Phoenix Suns have lost six of their last nine games.

The teams that have won the Western Conference the last eight years are looking vulnerable and there are young squads ready to step into the void. Two of them meet Tuesday night when the Memphis Grizzlies visit the Denver Nuggets.

Memphis sits atop the West after winning seven in a row before losing at Oklahoma City on Saturday night to open a four-game road trip. The Grizzlies are a game ahead of Denver, which has kept pace despite having played the fewest home games (12) than any other team in the West except Sacramento, which hosts Charlotte Monday night — breaking the tie.

Both the Grizzlies and Nuggets brings superstars into the first of three meetings between the squads on Tuesday. Ja Morant leads the Grizzlies in scoring (26.7 points per game) and assists (7.7) and has a solid supporting cast in Jaren Jackson Jr., Dillon Brooks and Desmond Bane, although Bane (24.7 ppg in 12 games) has not played in five weeks due to a toe injury.

Most nights Morant is the one leading the team, but he wasn’t around for the second half of the loss at the Thunder after getting his second technical with 43 seconds left in the second quarter.

Losing to an undermanned Oklahoma City team was a step back after beating the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks by 41 points two nights earlier, but it hasn’t hurt the team’s confidence.

The Nuggets have plenty of talent, too, but the one name circled on every scouting report is two-time MVP Nikola Jokic. He is playing well again this year and is coming off a historic game against Charlotte on Sunday night.

Jokic finished with 40 points, a career-high 27 rebounds and 10 assists to join Wilt Chamberlain as the only players to compile those numbers in one game. Jokic had a franchise-record 20 rebounds in the first half of the 119-115 win.

The downside of Jokic’s night was the fact that he had to salvage Denver’s night after the bench gave up a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. Jokic scored 13 points in the fourth, including three free throws to help ice it.

The reserves were outscored 46-18 by the Hornets’ bench, which exposed a weakness for the Nuggets.

When Michael Porter Jr. returns from a heel strain it will strengthen the second unit by allowing Bruce Brown to come off the bench. However, Porter has missed 12 games and there is no timeline for his return.

NBA Preview: Golden State Warriors (15-16) at New York Knicks (17-13)

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NBA Preview: Golden State Warriors (15-16) at New York Knicks (17-13)

After his team became the New York Knicks’ latest victim Sunday night, Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said the Knicks were “as good as any team in the NBA.”

Next for the Knicks: An opportunity to see how they compare to the defending NBA champions — albeit without Stephen Curry.

The Knicks will look to extend the longest winning streak in the league Tuesday night when they host the Curry-less Golden State Warriors in the final meeting of the regular season between the teams.

Both clubs were off Monday after earning road wins Sunday, when the Knicks outlasted the Pacers 109-106 and the Warriors beat the Toronto Raptors 126-110.

The win was the seventh straight for the Knicks, their longest streak since a nine-game run from April 9-24, 2021. The victory over the Pacers marked just the second time in the streak New York has won by fewer than 10 points.

The winning streak appeared endangered when Aaron Nesmith’s dunk gave the Pacers a 104-98 lead with 1:56 left. But New York’s revitalized defense clamped down the rest of the way, limiting Indiana to just a pair of free throws while the hosts went 0-for-3 from the field with two turnovers.

Jalen Brunson began the comeback with a 3-pointer and a layup before Julius Randle closed it out by going 6-for-6 from the line in the final 45 seconds. His second free throw of the six-pack gave the Knicks the lead for good.

The Knicks, who entered Monday in a virtual tie with the Philadelphia 76ers for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, have allowed 106 points or fewer six times during their winning streak. They gave up 106 points or fewer just four times in the first 23 games of the season.

The Warriors found a recipe that worked Sunday in their fifth game this season without Curry. The two-time scoring champion and centerpiece of Golden State’s four recent NBA titles is expected to be out several weeks due to a left shoulder subluxation he suffered in a 125-119 loss to the Pacers last Wednesday. He had earlier missed three games between Nov. 4 and Dec. 7 due to a left ankle injury and load management.

Golden State trailed just twice — both times in the opening minute — Sunday against Toronto, when fourth-year guard Jordan Poole set a career-high with 43 points and Curry’s fellow championship mainstays Klay Thompson and Draymond Green scored 17 points apiece. Kevon Looney (11 points, 11 rebounds) added a double-double.

The win was the Warriors’ first without Curry since they beat the New Orleans Pelicans 128-107 in the 2021-22 regular-season finale in April. It also pulled Golden State within a half-game of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the race for the 10th seed in the West. The Timberwolves are slated to host the Dallas Mavericks Monday.

NBA Preview: Chicago Bulls (11-18) at Miami Heat (16-15)

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NBA Preview: Chicago Bulls (11-18) at Miami Heat (16-15)

This is not a good time for the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls, who are set to visit the Miami Heat on Tuesday night, have lost four straight games. Worse, they are coming off a 150-126 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday night.

It was the most points allowed by the Bulls in a regulation game in 40 years. In the entire history of the franchise, only three performances were worse.

Bulls star DeMar DeRozan, who scored 29 points, took the loss personally.

Perhaps it’s fortunate that Chicago will next face a Heat squad that is struggling to score. Miami enters Monday ranked next-to-last in the NBA in points per game (108.1). The Heat also rank 26th in field-goal percentage (45.1), 23rd in 3-point marksmanship (34.3) and 21st in assists per game (23.8).

Still, the Heat are riding a season-best four-game winning streak, largely because they have held opponents to an average of 99.8 points during that span.

Guard Tyler Herro has led Miami during this streak, averaging 26.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Of Miami’s “big four” — a group that also includes point guard Kyle Lowry, forward Jimmy Butler and center Bam Adebayo — only Herro has been available for all four games.

Herro scored a career-high 41 points last Thursday against Houston. He also had 35 points versus Oklahoma City, making a total of 19 3-pointers in those two games.

On the season, Butler (21.9 points per game), Herro (21.2) and Adebayo (20.7) are Miami’s top three scorers. Adebayo also leads in rebounds per contest (9.8).

Lowry, who is tied with Butler for team lead in assists with 5.9 per game, is questionable for Tuesday due to a knee injury. Miami also lists starter Caleb Martin (ankle) and key reserve Gabe Vincent (knee) as day-to-day.

Chicago’s main injury issue is at point guard, where Lonzo Ball (knee) has yet to play this season.

The Bulls, who lost at Miami 116-108 in their season opener and have yet to play the rematch, are led by DeRozan, who tops the team in scoring (25.9) and assists (4.7).

DeRozan, who thrives in the mid-range game, is converting on 52.1 percent of his 2-point tries.

Wing Zach LaVine and center Nikola Vucevic are Chicago’s other stars. LaVine, a sensational leaper, is second on the team in scoring (21.8) and assists (4.1). He is making 50.2 percent on 2-pointers and 36.5 percent on 3-pointers.

Vucevic, who tops the Bulls in rebounding (10.4) and ranks third in scoring (16.3), has had some big games against the Heat over the years, especially in the nine seasons he played for the Orlando Magic. He is making a career-best 57.9 percent on 2-pointers, due to his ability to post up, and 36.7 percent on 3-point tries.

Guard Goran Dragic, who played seven seasons for the Heat (2014-15 through 2020-21), leads Chicago’s reserves and has become a team leader.

Ovechkin, Thompson and Zuccarello Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

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Ovechkin, Thompson and Zuccarello Named NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the Week

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson and Minnesota Wild right wing Mats Zuccarello have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the week ending Dec. 18.

FIRST STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Ovechkin tallied 3-2–5 in three games, highlighted by his historic 800th career goal, as the Capitals (16-13-4, 36 points) earned four of six possible points and climbed within one point of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. Ovechkin opened the week by notching a hat trick and an assist in a 7-3 win at Chicago Dec. 13 — regular-season goals 798, 799 and 800 of his storied NHL career. He became just the third player in League history to reach the 800-goal milestone, joining Wayne Gretzky (894) and Gordie Howe (801). The Washington captain’s 800th goal also was his 20th of 2022-23, making him the third player in NHL history to record 18 consecutive 20-goal campaigns, following Howe (22) and Brendan Shanahan (19). Ovechkin later recorded an assist in a 2-1 loss to Dallas on Dec. 15 and did not reach the scoresheet in a 5-2 victory over Toronto Dec. 17, the Capitals’ sixth win in their past seven contests. The Great Eight resumes his quest to tie Howe for second place on the all-time goals list tonight vs. the club synonymous with Mr. Hockey’s legendary career, the Detroit Red Wings.

SECOND STAR – TAGE THOMPSON, C, BUFFALO SABRES

Thompson recorded eight points (four goals, four assists) in three games, including a pair of game-winning goals that bookended the week, as the Sabres (15-14-2, 32 points) went 3-0-0 and closed the gap on the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference to five points. Thompson recorded multiple points in each game, beginning with 2-1–3 in a 6-0 victory over Los Angeles on Dec. 13. The three-point night raised his season total to 23-21–44 in 29 games; the only players in Sabres history with more points before their 30th game of a campaign were team legends Pat LaFontaine (20-32–52 in 1992-93) and Gilbert Perreault (20-28–48 in 1974-75). Following a two-point effort (1-1–2) in a 4-2 win at Colorado Dec. 15, the Phoenix native enjoyed a successful homecoming to close the week, recording 1-2–3 in a 5-2 win over Arizona Dec. 17. Thompson notched his seventh three-point game this season – the only player with more is Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (nine). Thompson raised his season total to 25-24–49 in 31 games, ranking second League-wide in goals and third in points and shots (tie, 143).

THIRD STAR – MATS ZUCCARELLO, RW, MINNESOTA WILD

Zuccarello (5-3–8) recorded a point in each of his four games, matching a career high by extending his point streak to 10 games. His performance helped the Wild (18-11-2, 38 points) sweep a four-game homestand, extend their overall winning streak to five games and rise to third place in the Central Division standings. Zuccarello tallied an assist in a 2-1 win vs. Edmonton on Dec. 12 and a goal in a 4-2 win vs. Detroit on Dec. 14 before notching four points (3-1–4), his second career hat trick, in a 4-1 win vs. Chicago on Dec. 16. Zuccarello (Oslo, Norway), whose first three-goal performance was more than seven years ago (Oct. 30, 2015 w/ NYR), became the first Norwegian-born player in NHL history with multiple hat tricks. Oslo native Espen Knutsen is the only other Norwegian-born skater with one (Jan. 24, 2002 w/ CBJ). Zuccarello finished with week with 1-1–2 in a 4-2 win vs. Ottawa on Dec 18. Zuccarello has recorded 16 points (7-9–16) during his 10-game point streak and ranks second on the Wild with 36 points (14-22–36) in 31 games this season.

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