Thursday, July 23, 2026
Home Blog Page 586

NBA Game Preview: Sacramento Kings (12-35) vs. New York Knicks (27-18)

NBA Editor
-
0
NBA Game Preview: Sacramento Kings (12-35) vs. New York Knicks (27-18)

This Eastern vs. Western Conference matchup features a struggling Sacramento Kings team on a road slide against a strong New York Knicks squad at home. The Kings, one of the league’s worst teams this season, face a tough challenge against the Knicks, who have been solid defensively and offensively at Madison Square Garden.

Event Details

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM ET (4:30 PM PT)

Broadcast/Streaming: MSG Networks (local NY), NBCS-CA (local Sacramento), NBA League Pass, SiriusXM/880 AM ESPN radio

Injury Report

Sacramento Kings:

Zach LaVine: Questionable (Lower body injury/illness)

Malik Monk: Questionable (Right ankle soreness)

Various G-League/two-way players (e.g., Daeqwon Plowden, Isaiah Stevens): Out
The Kings are dealing with backcourt uncertainty, which could further weaken their already struggling offense if LaVine and Monk are limited or out.

New York Knicks:

Trey Jemison III: Questionable (G League two-way)

Other potential updates on Karl-Anthony Towns (recent knee/quad issues mentioned in reports, but likely available)
The Knicks are relatively healthy for a home game, with no major stars ruled out in recent reports. Their depth should give them an edge.

Key Player Matchups

Guard Play: New York’s Jalen Brunson (elite scorer, recent 31-point games) vs. Sacramento’s Dennis Schröder or backups if Malik Monk/Zach LaVine are limited. Brunson’s playmaking and scoring should exploit the Kings’ poor perimeter defense.

Wing/Forward Battle: Knicks’ forwards (e.g., OG Anunoby or others) vs. Kings’ DeMar DeRozan/Keegan Murray. DeRozan could provide scoring if healthy, but Knicks’ length and defense may limit him.

Frontcourt: Kings’ Domantas Sabonis (rebounding and passing hub) vs. Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns or Isaiah Hartenstein-style bigs. Sabonis has size advantage, but Knicks’ interior defense ranks well.

Key X-Factor: If LaVine and Monk play, Kings gain scoring punch; otherwise, New York’s balanced attack (led by Brunson) dominates. Knicks’ home defense (strong in recent wins) vs. Kings’ league-worst defense (121.2 PPG allowed).

Recent Team Form

Sacramento Kings: In a deep slump, on a five-game losing streak. Most recent: 116-139 loss at Detroit Pistons (January 25, 2026). Offense averages 111 PPG (bottom-tier), defense allows 121.2 PPG (near league-worst). Road woes continue (3-19 away), with poor shooting and turnovers plaguing them.

New York Knicks: Solid momentum, coming off a 112-109 road win at Philadelphia 76ers (January 24, 2026). Strong home record (17-6), averaging 117.8 PPG scored and 113.7 allowed (top-10 defense). They excel in close games and have won convincingly as favorites.

Series History
All-time regular season: The teams have played around 312 games, with the Kings holding a slight edge (159-153). Recent seasons have seen competitive games, but Knicks have dominated at home in matchups against struggling teams. Historically close rivalry, but current form heavily favors New York.

Betting Trends
Knicks are 25-13 as moneyline favorites and have won all games at -662 or shorter (86.9% implied win probability). Kings are 1-4 as big underdogs (+476 or more). Knicks strong ATS when scoring high (11-5 ATS over 121.2 points) and holding opponents under 111 (12-1 ATS). Total trends toward under in Knicks’ defensive games, but Kings’ poor defense could push scoring.

Game Odds

Sacramento Kings            231.5

New York Knicks               – 13.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 26, 2026

NBA Game Preview: Portland Trail Blazers (23-23) vs. Washington Wizards (10-34)

NBA Editor
-
0
NBA Game Preview: Portland Trail Blazers (23-23) vs. Washington Wizards (10-34)

This matchup pits a .500 Portland Trail Blazers squad against a struggling Washington Wizards team in a Western vs. Eastern Conference clash. Portland enters with a balanced but injury-impacted roster, while Washington continues to battle through a tough season marked by heavy absences and inconsistency.

Event Details

Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET (4:00 PM PT)

Broadcast: Likely NBA TV, local networks (KUNP for Portland, Monumental Sports Network for Washington), or streaming via NBA League Pass

Injury Report

Portland Trail Blazers:

Deni Avdija: Out (Lower Back Strain)

Scoot Henderson: Out (Left Hamstring Tear)

Damian Lillard: Out (Left Achilles – Injury Management)

Kris Murray: Out (Lumbar Strain)

Duop Reath: Out (Right Foot Soreness)

Matisse Thybulle: Out (Right Knee Tendinopathy)

Blake Wesley: Out (Right Foot Fracture)

Robert Williams III: Available (Left Knee – Injury Management)
Portland is significantly shorthanded, missing key guards and depth players, which could impact perimeter defense and scoring.

Washington Wizards:

Marvin Bagley III: Out (Thoracic Strain)

Bilal Coulibaly: Questionable (Lower Back Strain)

Khris Middleton: Questionable (Left Foot Soreness)

Tristan Vukcevic: Out (Left Hamstring Strain)

Cam Whitmore: Out (Right Shoulder – Deep Vein Thrombosis)

Trae Young: Out (Right Knee MCL Strain / Quad Contusion)
Washington is dealing with multiple absences, particularly in the frontcourt and backcourt, limiting their offensive and defensive options.

Key Player Matchups

Guard Play: Portland’s Anfernee Simons (primary scoring option) vs. Washington’s Jordan Poole or whoever steps in at point with Trae Young out. Simons’ shot-creation will be crucial against a Wizards backcourt lacking depth.

Wing/Forward Battle: If available, Washington’s Kyle Kuzma (scoring and rebounding) vs. Portland’s Jerami Grant or forwards like Toumani Camara. Kuzma’s size and scoring could exploit Portland’s injuries.

Frontcourt: Portland’s Deandre Ayton (rebounding and interior presence) vs. Washington’s Alex Sarr or backups. Ayton has an edge in experience, but Washington’s length could challenge if Coulibaly/Middleton play.

Key X-Factor: Robert Williams III’s availability for Portland provides rim protection; Washington’s depleted frontcourt struggles with rebounding and defense. Overall, Portland’s healthier (or less impacted) core scorers give them an advantage in a depleted matchup.

Recent Team Form

Portland Trail Blazers: Mixed results recently, sitting at .500. Their last game was a 98-110 loss to the Toronto Raptors (January 23, 2026). Portland has shown offensive capability (averaging ~116 PPG league-wide context) but defensive lapses, especially with injuries piling up. They are coming off a tough stretch but remain competitive in close games.

Washington Wizards: Struggling heavily with a 10-34 record. Recent outings include a 115-119 loss at Charlotte Hornets and other defeats. Washington has been inconsistent offensively and poor defensively, often losing by double digits. Momentum is low, with a long losing trend.

Series History
All-time, the Trail Blazers lead the series 67-58 over 125 regular-season games. Portland has had the edge historically, though recent matchups have varied. In recent seasons, games have been competitive, but Portland’s depth typically prevails against Washington’s rebuild phase.

Betting Trends
Trends show Portland covering in similar matchups against sub-.300 teams, while Washington has struggled to cover as home underdogs (poor ATS home record). Total has trended under in Washington’s recent games due to low-scoring outputs, but Portland’s offense could push it over if they exploit mismatches.

Game Odds

Portland Trail Blazers                     – 6.5

Washington Wizards                      232.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, January 26, 2026

Minnesota Recalls Matt Kiersted from Iowa

NHL Editor
-
0
Minnesota Recalls Matt Kiersted from Iowa

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has recalled defenseman Matt Kiersted from the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Kiersted, 27 (4/14/98), has one assist and four shots on goal in four games with Minnesota this season. He has also recorded four assists, 56 shots on goal and 22 penalty minutes (PIM) in 28 games with Iowa. The 6-foot, 181-pound native of Elk River, Minnesota, posted 29 points (1-28=29), 40 PIM and a plus-34 rating in 64 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) last season, leading the AHL in plus-minus rating and ranking second among Charlotte skaters in assists. Kiersted also registered eight assists, 12 PIM and a plus-8 rating in 13 games during the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs, helping the Checkers to an appearance in the Calder Cup Finals.

For his career, Kiersted has tallied eight points (2-6=8) in 43 career games in parts of five NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers (2020-25) and Minnesota (2025-26). He has also skated in 261 games and notched 89 points (16-73=89), 223 PIM and a plus-44 rating across five AHL seasons with Charlotte (2021-25) and Iowa (2025-26) while posting 12 points (1-11=12) in 30 career Calder Cup Playoff games. He originally signed with Florida as a free agent on April 1, 2021, and wears sweater No. 26 with the Wild.

PWHL Weekly Notebook

PWHL Editor
-
0
PWHL Weekly Notebook

LEAGUE SURPASSES 500,000 FANS ON THE SEASON AS OLYMPIC BREAK APPROACHES

Montréal’s Maureen Murphy Named PWHL Player of the Week Presented by SharkNinja

NEW YORK AND TORONTO – The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) continues to build momentum with monthly attendance exceeding 200,000 fans for the first time in league history, while season attendance has surpassed 500,000 heading into the final week before the league schedule pauses for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. More PWHL history will be made on Wednesday with the first-ever four-game schedule that will see all eight teams in action on the same night.

JANUARY ATTENDANCE SURPASSES 200K, SEASON ATTENDANCE MORE THAN 500K

The PWHL has set a new monthly attendance record with 229,691 fans across 24 January games, with four more games this week to grow the total. This exceeds the 194,881 fans that attended 24 games in December, with the game average month-over-month climbing from 8,120 to 9,570. Through 57 games of the 2025-26 PWHL season, total attendance now stands at 502,912 with a per-game average of 8,823. The league surpassed the half-million mark on Sunday with a crowd of 11,612 at Denver’s Ball Arena during the PWHL Takeover Tour™, with the week’s highest attendance of 14,006 recorded Thursday at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, representing the largest weekday crowd (Monday to Thursday) at a primary home venue in PWHL history. In 2024-25, the league surpassed 500,000 fans in the 69th game of the season (12 more games than this season), played on Mar. 15.

MILE HIGH MEMORIES

The 2025-26 PWHL Takeover Tour™ made its 10th of 16 stops on Sunday for an all-expansion matchup presented by Woody Creek Distillers. The Vancouver Goldeneyes defeated the Seattle Torrent 3-1 in Denver for the first game of this season’s Tour decided by multiple goals. This was the league’s second game played at Ball Arena in two seasons and the first of two matchups in the Mile High City this season, with the Minnesota Frost and New York Sirens returning on Mar. 15. Jenn Gardiner scored a goal and an assist, giving the Goldeneyes forward goals in two straight games played in Denver, while Izzy Daniel netted her second straight game-winner and third goal in Takeover Tour™ games this season. On Friday night, Torrent forward Danielle Serdachny attended the Colorado Avalanche game and joined the studio panel on Altitude TV. Both teams held open practices and autograph sessions for fans at Family Sports Center on Saturday, with youth hockey players enjoying a special on-ice experience with the Goldeneyes. Vancouver players also embraced the elements for walk-ins with slopes-to-skates inspired fits. Click here for more about the PWHL Takeover Tour™.

MURPHY LEADS VICTOIRE TO TWO WINS

Montréal forward Maureen Murphy led the PWHL with three goals on six shots in two games to be named PWHL Player of the Week presented by SharkNinja. On Wednesday, the 26-year-old from Buffalo, NY found the back of the net for the first time this season, scoring the opening tally in the Victoire’s 2-1 overtime win over the Frost. She followed that up by scoring again on Saturday, netting two in a 3-1 win over the Charge, the first multi-goal game of her career. Her second goal of the contest held as the game-winner and was her first-ever on the power play. Murphy has four points through 14 games and has matched her three-goal total amassed over 28 games in 2024-25.

FROST RECEIVE CHAMPIONSHIP RINGS

The league celebrated its back-to-back Walter Cup Champion Minnesota Frost on Thursday at a private ceremony in St. Paul where the team was presented with its 2024-25 championship rings created by Paris Jewellers Canada. The rings were designed in collaboration with the Frost and feature many bespoke design elements that reflect Minnesota’s historic repeat season. The Toronto Star told the story of the meaning behind Paris Jewellers’ design process, while the Frost shared a behind-the-scenes look at player reactions to seeing the rings for the first time. On Wednesday at Grand Casino Arena, fans are invited to join in celebrating their Walter Cup Champions and Olympic-bound players during the team’s 7 Rings Celebration game.

FOUR TEAMS REACH MIDWAY MARK OF SEASON

The first four teams in the PWHL to play 15 of their 30 regular-season games occupy spots four through seven in the standings. New York (7-0-2-6) has 23 points, Vancouver (5-1-2-7) and Ottawa (3-5-0-7) are tied with 19 points, and Toronto (4-1-3-7) has 17 points. The Sirens, who recently saw their team record seven-game point streak come to an end, are three points ahead of last year’s pace, while the Charge’s seven wins in their last nine games brings them two points ahead of last year through 15 games. The Sceptres, who dropped both games on their first West Coast trip of the season last week, are two points behind their 2024-25 pace. Boston (8-1-2-2) continues to lead the league with 28 points through 13 games, followed by Minnesota (6-2-3-3) with 25 points through 14 games and Montréal (6-3-0-5) with 24 points through 14 games. Seattle (4-1-2-6) is in eighth place with 16 points through 13 games. See full PWHL standings here.

BIGGEST SCORES OF THE SEASON

There were 41 goals scored across last week’s seven games for an average of 5.9 per game, representing an increase of approximately 1.3 goals above the full season per game average. The last time there were more than 40 goals scored in a week was Dec. 16-21, with 42 across nine games. This surge was largely driven by a pair of team records by the league’s expansion teams. Seattle scored a season-high six goals on Tuesday in a 6-4 win over Toronto, with the 10 combined goals representing the most in a single game this season. Vancouver’s five goals in a 5-0 win over Toronto on Thursday was a new season-high and the largest margin for victory so far in 2025-26. Minnesota also scored six goals for the second time this season in a 6-2 win over New York on Sunday and are the only team averaging more than three goals per game (3.14). Follow all PWHL results here.

FASTEST TWO GOALS IN PWHL HISTORY

The Goldeneyes set a new PWHL record for the fastest two goals by a team with two in 11 seconds during the second period against the Sceptres, with Tereza Vanišová scoring at 13:31 followed by Sarah Nurse at 13:42, both unassisted. The record was nearly matched Sunday by the Frost in the first period against the Sirens when Taylor Heise scored at 6:13 followed by captain Kendall Coyne Schofield 12 seconds later at 6:25. Before this week, the record for fastest two goals was 16 seconds achieved by Toronto against Minnesota on Feb. 3, 2024, and Minnesota against New York on Mar. 16, 2024, both in third period action.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH AND THE WIZARD OF WOZ

Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Charge rookie Sarah Wozniewicz became the first two players to score their second overtime-winning goals of the season. Both of Poulin’s tallies have come in wins against the Frost, including Wednesday night in Minnesota with her all-time leading 35th career goal and 10th game-winner. Wozniewicz won Tuesday’s game for Ottawa over New York in the extra frame, making all three of the third-round pick’s goals this season game-winners to tie Daniel for the league lead in the category. Laura Stacey of the Victoire holds the single-season record with three overtime goals in 2024-25, while Poulin’s six game-winners last season is the benchmark.

DESBIENS AND CAMPBELL SET GOALTENDING FIRSTS

Montréal’s Ann-Renée Desbiens became the first goaltender in PWHL history to record 30 career regular-season wins in her 49th appearance between the pipes on Saturday against Ottawa. The performance was the seventh time in 12 starts where she has allowed one or fewer goals, trailing only Boston’s Aerin Frankel who has had nine such performances in her 12 starts. The pair are tied for the league lead with eight wins, with Frankel narrowly holding the lead in goals-against-average with a mark of 1.23 to Desbiens’ 1.24, while Desbiens has the edge in save percentage at .951 to Frankel’s .950. Vancouver’s Kristen Campbell became the first goaltender to record a shutout against a former team, stopping all 24 shots against the Sceptres on Thursday. Her fourth career shutout includes three with Toronto during the inaugural season. Between her and Emerance Maschmeyer, the Goldeneyes are the first team this season to have a goaltending tandem with shutout victories. Frankel (28) and Campbell (27) are next in line to reach 30 career wins. See PWHL goaltending leaders here.

COYNE SCHOFIELD AND HEISE FIRST TO DOUBLE DIGITS IN GOALS, ASSISTS

The Frost duo of Coyne Schofield and Heise became the first players this season to reach double digits in single offensive categories while riding five-game point streaks. Coyne Schofield leads the league with 10 goals and 16 points, and Heise leads the way with 11 assists and is tied for second with 14 points. Two more Frost players have 14 points: alternate captain Kelly Pannek (7G, 7A), who has goals in three straight games, and forward Britta Curl-Salemme (5G, 9A). Charge captain Brianne Jenner (8G, 6A) also has 14 points to round out the top five scorers. Fleet captain Megan Keller (5G, 6A) leads all defenders in points with 11, and the Sirens duo of first overall pick Kristýna Kaltounková (9G, 1A) and third overall pick Casey O’Brien (4G, 6A) lead all rookies with 10 points this season. See this season’s PWHL leaders here.

CARTER SCORES FIRST CAREER GOAL

Seattle’s Megan Carter scored her first career goal against her former Sceptres team on Tuesday, becoming the first-ever Torrent defender to find the back of the net. The 24-year-old from Milton, ON, tallied in her 31st career game and has four points in 13 games this season. There have been 98 different goal scorers this PWHL season, including 24 defenders. See this season’s top offensive defenders here.

TRIO CHASING 50-POINT MILESTONE

Three players are on the brink of reaching the PWHL’s half century mark for career points with Torrent captain Hilary Knight (23G, 26A), Jenner (24G, 25A) and Heise (15G, 34A) all holding 49 points heading into Wednesday’s action. So far this season, the milestone has been achieved by four players, including Poulin, Coyne Schofield, Toronto’s Daryl Watts and Seattle’s Alex Carpenter. See PWHL all-time leaders here.

FIRST HALF UNITY GAMES

Vancouver hosted the league’s first-ever Lunar New Year Celebration on Thursday as part of the PWHL Unity Game Series, which celebrates diverse cultures and communities and promotes a welcoming and inclusive PWHL game experience for all. The first half of the regular season also saw Black History Celebrations in Boston, Minnesota, Montréal and Seattle, Indigenous Peoples Celebrations in Minnesota and Seattle, a Hispanic Heritage Celebration in New York, and an Asian Heritage Celebration in Toronto. PWHL Unity Games will continue in the league’s second half, with Pride Celebrations across all eight markets among the highlights. Click here for more.

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE

The first-ever four-game day in PWHL history on Wednesday will be accompanied by Olympic send-offs celebrating the league’s 61 players heading to Italy, and bobblehead giveaways in all four host markets. In Montréal, the first 6,000 fans in attendance can get their hands on a Desbiens bobblehead when the Victoire welcome the Sceptres to Place Bell at 6:30 p.m. ET. The first 3,000 fans at the Tsongas Center to watch the Fleet take on the Sirens at 7 p.m. ET will receive a Frankel bobblehead. In Ottawa, the first 6,000 fans to arrive at TD Place for the Charge against the Torrent at 7 p.m. ET will get a Jenner bobblehead. And in Minnesota, Lee Stecklein bobbleheads will be given away to the first 4,000 fans attending the Frost against the Goldeneyes which starts at 9 p.m. ET at Grand Casino Arena, all while supplies last. Following Wednesday’s action, 61 games will be completed representing just over half of the 2025-26 schedule’s 120 regular season games. Games will resume on Feb. 26, following the Olympics. Full broadcast details are below and available online here.

Wednesday, January 28 – 6:30 PM ET
Toronto Sceptres at Montréal Victoire (Place Bell)

•           Canada: TSN and RDS

Wednesday, January 28 – 7 PM ET
New York Sirens at Boston Fleet (Tsongas Center)

•           Canada: TSN+

•           U.S. (In-Market): NESN, TV 38, MSGSN

•           U.S. (Out of Market): FOX 11+ Los Angeles, SNP+ (Pittsburgh)

Wednesday, January 28 – 7 PM ET
Seattle Torrent at Ottawa Charge (TD Place)

•           Canada: TSN+

•           U.S. (In-Market): FOX 13+

•           U.S. (Out of Market): Great Lakes Sports & Entertainment Network, Last Frontier Sports & Entertainment Network (Alaska), North Star Sports & Entertainment Network, Palmetto Sports & Entertainment Network, Peachtree Sports Network (excludes Augusta)

Wednesday, January 28 – 9 PM ET
Vancouver Goldeneyes at Minnesota Frost (Grand Casino Arena)

•           Canada: TSN

•           U.S. (In-Market): FanDuel Sports Network North Extra, FOX 9+

•           U.S. (Out of Market): FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin, Scripps Sports

NFL team transaction report for Monday, January 26, 2026

NFL Editor
-
0
NFL team transaction report for Monday, January 26, 2026

PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS
CONTRACTS EXPIRED
BUFFALO
Buechele, Shane QB Southern Methodist
Codrington, Brandon DB North Carolina Central
Judon, Matt LB Grand Valley State
Lawson, Shaq DE Clemson
Wilkerson, Kristian WR Southeast Missouri
Wright, Matthew K Central Florida
CHICAGO
Gordon, Thomas TE Northwestern
Hill, Trey C Georgia
Kromah, Jamree DE James Madison
Stromberg, Ricky C Arkansas
Summers, Ty LB Texas Christian
HOUSTON
Cephus, Quintez WR Wisconsin
Davidson, Marlon DT Auburn
Echols, Power LB North Carolina
Fotu, Leki DT Utah
Hill, Brandon DB Pittsburgh
Johnson, Jakob RB Tennessee
Ndubuisi, Haggai Chisom DT No College
Speed, Ameer DB Michigan State
Wallace, K’Von DB Clemson
SAN FRANCISCO
White, Kyzir LB West Virginia
Zakelj, Nick G Fordham

RESERVE LIST ADDITIONS
DENVER
Bailey, Levelle LB Fresno State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Lohner, Caleb TE Utah – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Miller, Jordan DT Southern Methodist – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Schrader, Cody RB Missouri – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Throckmorton, Calvin G Oregon – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Vaughn, Deuce RB Kansas State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
KANSAS CITY
Brownlee, Jason WR Southern Mississippi – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Arcuri, A.J. T Michigan State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Edwards, Tru WR Louisiana Tech – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Ingle, Tanner DB North Carolina State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Lampkin, Cam DB Washington State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
McMahon, Dylan C North Carolina State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Neal, Eli LB Marshall – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Norton, Bill DT Texas – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Presley, Brennan WR Oklahoma State – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Redman, Mark TE Louisville – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future
Scott, Tyler WR Cincinnati – Free Agent Signing – Reserve/Future

PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS
REVERSIONS FROM ACTIVE/INACTIVE LIST
DENVER
Bandy, Michael WR San Diego
Moore, Elijah WR Mississippi
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Murchison, Larrell DE North Carolina State
Neal, Eli LB Marshall
(Also see RESERVE LIST ADDITIONS)
NEW ENGLAND
Johnson, D’Ernest RB South Florida
Taylor, Leonard DT Miami
SEATTLE
Akers, Cam RB Florida State
Jones, Velus RB Tennessee

OTHER TRANSACTIONS/COMMENTS
DE-ACTIVATIONS (All are 1/25)
DENVER
Bandy, Michael WR San Diego
(Also see PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS)
Forsyth, Alex C Oregon
Franklin, Troy WR Oregon
Jackson, Jordan DE Air Force
Jones, Sai’vion DE Louisiana State
Reid, Karene LB Utah
Skinner, J.L. DB Boise State
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Atwell, Tutu WR Louisville
Bennett, Stetson QB Georgia – Third Quarterback
Hunter, Jarquez RB Auburn
Kendrick, Derion DB Georgia
Limmer, Beaux C Arkansas
Murchison, Larrell DE North Carolina State
(Also see PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS)
Vannett, Nick TE Ohio State
NEW ENGLAND
Bryant, Marcus T Missouri
Chism, Efton WR Eastern Washington
DeVito, Tommy QB Illinois – Third Quarterback
Dippre, C.J. TE Alabama
Landry, Harold LB Boston College
Minor, Kobee DB Memphis
Wallace, Caedan G Penn State
SEATTLE
Arroyo, Elijah TE Miami
Haynes, Christian G Connecticut
Ivey, Jared LB Mississippi
Jones, Velus RB Tennessee
(Also see PRACTICE SQUAD TRANSACTIONS)
Kight, Amari T Central Florida
Milroe, Jalen QB Alabama – Third Quarterback
Ouzts, Robbie RB Alabama

NHL Morning Skate – January 27, 2026

NHL Editor
-
0
NHL Morning Skate – January 27, 2026
NHL Morning Skate – Jan. 27, 2026

* Mattias Ekholm followed up Evan Bouchard’s historic performance on Saturday with a three-goal game of his own and established an NHL first in the process as the Oilers and Ducks combined for the third dueling hat trick of 2025-26 – the most in a season in 33 years.

* A trio of goaltenders helped propel their teams to victories on Monday, including Andrei Vasilevskiy,who shut out the streaking Mammoth to help lift the Lightning back into the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

* A 10-game Tuesday will feature the Stars and Blues on ESPN+ as well as the second of four instalments of the Foligno Face-Off as Nick Foligno and the Blackhawks visit Marcus Foligno and the Wild.


EKHOLM’S HAT TRICK, OFFENSE FROM THE DEFENSE PROPEL OILERS TO VICTORY

Just two days after Evan Bouchard’s historic six-point night, Mattias Ekholm (3-0—3) scored his first career hat trick while Darnell Nurse (1-0—1) and Spencer Stastney (1-0—1) also found the back of the net from the blueline to propel the Oilers to victory. The trio scored four straight goals in a span of 3:49 during the middle frame, marking the fastest four tallies by defensemen in NHL history.



* The Oilers accounted for the sixth instance in NHL history of defensemen combining for four goals in a period, and the first since the Blues on Nov. 29, 2000. It was also the third time in which defensemen scored four consecutive goals, following a previous instance by the Oilers (March 31, 1985) as well as the Flyers (March 4, 1972).

* Ekholm and Mikael Granlund, who had his own three-goal performance for the Ducks, recorded the 26th and 27th hat trick of January. There have only been three other months in NHL history with as many: December 1985 (29), February 1981 (28) and December 1981 (27). The Oilers recorded a hat trick in consecutive regular-season games for the first time since March 20-22, 1995, while the Ducks also did so for the second time in franchise history, following Jan. 8-10, 2012.
 


EASTERN CONFERENCE GOALTENDERS COME UP BIG ON MONDAY NIGHT

Andrei Vasilevskiy, Jonathan Quick and Ilya Sorokin each played a pivotal role in helping their respective teams to victory during Monday’s four-game slate:

* Nikita Kucherov factored on both of Tampa Bay’s goals to reach the 80-point mark and Vasilevskiy saved all 28 shots he faced to help the Lightning (33-14-4, 70 points) shut out the streaking Mammoth and move back into first place in the Eastern Conference. Vasilevskiy, who climbed an elite list of goaltenders born outside of North America on Monday, can also join a short list of netminders to win each of their first two career outdoor appearances when the Lightning take on the Bruins in the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series on Sunday, Feb. 1. More notes on that can be found here.
 


* After Will Borgen (1-0—1) pulled the Rangers even in the third period, their goaltenderQuick (0-1—1) set up Matthew Robertson (1-0—1) in overtime to lift New York to a comeback win at Madison Square Garden. Quick, who made 21 saves, earned his 408th career win and surpassed Glenn Hall for sole possession of 12th place on the League’s all-time list among goaltenders.


* Sorokin stopped all 21 shots he faced to post his third shutout of January and sixth of the season – one shy of the Islanders record for the most in a campaign. The Islanders have recorded a League-leading eight shutouts in 2025-26 – the only seasons they’ve posted more are 2018-19 (11), 2020-21 (10), 1975-76 (10) and 2021-22 (9).



PASTRNAK’S MILESTONE FEATURED IN #NHLSTATS: LIVE UPDATES

Monday’s edition of #NHLStats: Live Updates spotlighted a milestone night for David Pastrnak (0-3—3), who became the sixth player in Bruins history to reach 900 career points and the second fastest among that cohort (412-488—900 in 804 GP). Pastrnak, who will represent Team Czechia at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, also became the third Czech player in NHL history to record 900 career points, following Jaromir Jagr and Patrik Elias.

QUICK CLICKS

* Kirill Kaprizov, Nikita Kucherov and Lukas Dostal named NHL’s “Three Stars” of the Week

* Rogers reveals final design for ‘Great Canadian Jersey’

* Auston Matthews says U.S. has what it takes to win gold at 2026 Winter Olympics

* Macklin Celebrini making it look easy with Sharks in 2nd NHL season

* William Nylander of Maple Leafs fined for inappropriate gesture

STARS, BLUES CLASH ON ESPN+ AS PART OF 10-GAME TUESDAY

A 10-game Tuesday will feature a number of Central Division matchups on display, including the Stars and Blues on ESPN+ as well as the second of four instalments of the Foligno Face-Off when Nick Foligno and the Blackhawks visit Marcus Foligno and the Wild.

* Mikko Rantanen (19-44—63 in 49 GP), who is just over two weeks away from representing his country at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, enters Tuesday one goal shy of tying Sebastian Aho (9) for the fourth-most 20-goal seasons by a Finnish player in NHL history, behind Teemu Selanne (17), Jari Kurri (13)and Aleksander Barkov (10). The contest between the Stars and Blues will also feature the final head-to-head between Thomas Harley, Colton Parayko and Jordan Binnington, who will all represent Team Canada in Italy after winning the 4 Nations Face-Off together.

* Marcus and Nick are proud Hockey Fights Cancer Champions and are turning their sibling rivalry into a season-long showdown for life-saving breast cancer research in honor of their late mother Janis Foligno, who they lost to breast cancer. Fans can join the Foligno Face-Off and donate $17, or any amount they can give, at v.org/FolignoFaceoff. 100% of donations will go to game-changing breast cancer research supported by V Foundation for Cancer Research, ensuring that every dollar contributes to a future with more survivors and fewer families impacted by this disease.

#NHLSTATS MEMOS TO MILAN: YOUNG CANADIENS TO CLASH IN TOURNAMENT OPENER

With the opening game of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 just over two weeks away, #NHLStats looks at some of the NHL players who will hit the ice in the first contest – a matchup between medalists from the 2022 Games.

* Juraj Slafkovsky, now a goal away from his second 20-goal NHL season, was just 17 years old when he claimed tournament MVP, Best Forward and a spot on the All-Star Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games. Slafkovsky led the event in goals (7) and points (7; tied), totals that included the bronze medal-clinching goal that gave Team Slovakia its first medal of any color in Olympic ice hockey. Four months later, Slafkovsky became the highest NHL Draft pick in that country’s history (No. 1).

* Slafkovsky will go toe-to-toe with NHL teammate Oliver Kapanen, who is set to become the first rookie to represent the Canadiens at the Olympic Winter Games when he aims to help Team Finland defend its gold medal from 2022. Defenseman Yannick Weber played five games for Montreal in 2009-10 but was in the AHL in the weeks leading up to donning the Team Switzerland sweater in Vancouver.

* Kapanen is the youngest player on the Team Finland roster, but not the youngest Canadiens player heading to the event as Slafkovsky has him beat on that list.

* The NHL debuted a series of pages on Records.NHL.com that provide statistics and information from the League’s participation in the Olympic Winter Games in advance of this February’s tournament in Milano Cortina, Italy. Click here for more information.

Tampa Bay Lightning recall Forward Curtis Douglas from AHL Syracuse Crunch

NHL Editor
-
0
Tampa Bay Lightning recall Forward Curtis Douglas from AHL Syracuse Crunch

TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have recalled forward Curtis Douglas from his conditioning stint with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, Vice President and General Manager Julien BriseBois announced today.

Douglas, 25, has played in 27 games with Tampa Bay this season, recording two assists and 75 penalty minutes while averaging 5:58 of time on ice. The 6-foot-9, 242-pound forward made his NHL debut with the Lightning on October 9 versus Ottawa, logging five penalty minutes, two hits and one shot on goal. 

A native of Oakville, Ontario, Douglas was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2018 NHL Draft. He was claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay from the Utah Mammoth on October 6, 2025. 

St. Louis Cardinals Invite 27 Non-Roster Players to Spring Training

MLB Editor
-
0
St. Louis Cardinals Invite 27 Non-Roster Players to Spring Training

Top Prospects Wetherholt, Mathews & Henderson Highlight List

ST. LOUIS, Mo., – The St. Louis Cardinals announced 27 non-roster invitees to 2026 Spring Training camp today.

Highlighting the list of those set to report to Jupiter the second week of February are 2025 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year JJ Wetherholt and 2025 Texas League Pitcher of the Year Ixan Henderson.

Eight players who were acquired this offseason or after the start of last season will report with the big leaguers: RHP Scott Blewett, RHP Skylar Hales, 1B Blaze Jordan, RHP Gerson Moreno, LHP Jared Shuster, OF Nelson Velázquez, C Andy Yerzy and LHP Bruce Zimmermann.

Eleven non-roster invitees will take part in their first Major League camp including pitchers Luis Gastelum, Pete Hansen, Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón; catchers Graysen Tarlow and Yerzy; infielders Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, and Brody Moore; and outfielder Mike Antico.

2024 MiLB & Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews returns to St. Louis’ spring roster along with other members who were in camp last season including pitchers Max Rajcic, Sem Robberse and Zack Thompson; catcher Carlos Linárez; infielders Jeremy Rivas and Wetherholt; and outfielders Chase Davis and Matt Koperniak.

Left-handed pitcher Packy Naughton, who pitched for St. Louis in 2022 and 2023 before being sidelined for most of the past two seasons with an arm injury, will also be in Major League camp. Four other non-roster invitees will enter Cardinals camp with Major League experience, including Blewett (Royals, Twins, Orioles, Braves), Shuster (Braves, White Sox), Velázquez (Cubs, Royals) and Zimmerman (Orioles, Brewers).

Following is a positional list of non-roster invite players:

PITCHERS (15): Scott Blewett (RHP), Luis Gastelum (RHP), Skylar Hales (RHP), Pete Hansen (LHP), Ixan Henderson (LHP), Austin Love (RHP), Quinn Mathews (LHP), Gerson Moreno (RHP), Packy Naughton (LHP), Max Rajcic (RHP), Hancel Rincón, (RHP), Sem Robberse (RHP), Jared Shuster (LHP), Zack Thompson* (LHP), Bruce Zimmermann (LHP)*

CATCHERS (3): Carlos Linárez, Graysen Tarlow, Andy Yerzy

INFIELDERS (5): Blaze Jordan, Ramon Mendoza, Brody Moore, Jeremy Rivas, JJ Wetherholt

OUTFIELDERS (4): Mike Antico, Chase Davis, Matt Koperniak, Nelson Velázquez

*Injured

Cardinals pitchers and catchers will hold their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on Thursday, February 12, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday, February 16.

The 27 non-roster invitees brings the Cardinals’ Spring Training roster to 67 players.

New York Yankees Re-Sign INF/OF Cody Bellinger

MLB Editor
-
0
New York Yankees Re-Sign INF/OF Cody Bellinger

YANKEES RE-SIGN INF/OF CODY BELLINGER

The New York Yankees today announced that they have re-signed infielder/outfielder Cody Bellinger to a five-year Major League contract with two player opt-outs.

Bellinger, 30, batted .272/.334/.480 (160-for-588) with 89R, 25 doubles, 5 triples, 29HR, 98RBI, 57BB/1IBB, 2HP, 9SF and 13SB in 152 games with the Yankees in 2025. He appeared defensively at all three outfield positions (85G/59GS in left field, 52G/48GS in right field and 41G/38GS in centerfield) and at first base (7G/3GS). Bellinger was named to the All-MLB Second Team.

Last season, he hit .348/.409/.567 (49-for-141) with 8 doubles, 1 triple, 7HR, 70RBI, 21BB/1IBB and 9SF with runners in scoring position. Bellinger was tied for seventh among Major Leaguers in hits with RISP (tied for third in AL) and ranked ninth in batting average with RISP (fifth in AL).

In 2025, he hit .353/.415/.601 (54-for-153) with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 8HR and 18BB vs. left-handed pitching. Among Major League batters vs. lefties last year, he ranked third in batting average (second in AL), slugging percentage (third in AL) and OPS (1.016, third in AL), and sixth in on-base percentage (fifth in AL). He also batted .302/.365/.544 (90-for-298) with 54R, 12 doubles, 3 triples, 18HR, 55RBI, 33BB, 6SF and 5SB in 80 home games.

Over nine Major League seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2017-22), Chicago Cubs (2023-24) and Yankees (2025), the left-handed batter has hit .261/.334/.483 (1,102-for-4,230) with 690R, 211 doubles, 28 triples, 225HR, 695RBI, 469BB and 104SB in 1,157 games. He has reached the 25HR-plateau five times in his career (39HR in 2017, 25HR in 2018, 47HR in 2019, 26HR in 2023 and 29HR in 2025).

Ottawa REDBLACKS Extend Veteran Receiver Justin Hardy

CFL Editor
-
0
Ottawa REDBLACKS Extend Veteran Receiver Justin Hardy

OTTAWA — The Ottawa REDBLACKS announced Monday that they have extended American receiver Justin Hardy, keeping one of their most productive offensive weapons off the free‑agent market. Hardy had been slated to become a free agent in February and ranked No. 25 on CFL.ca’s Top 30 pending free agents list.

Hardy, 34, appeared in all 18 games for Ottawa in 2025, recording 78 receptions for 1,019 yards and eight touchdowns. The Vanceboro, N.C., native reached the 1,000‑yard mark for the third straight season and earned East Division All‑CFL honours.

“I’m thrilled to be back in Ottawa for another year,” Hardy said. “The support from RNation is second to none and I can’t wait to play in front of the best fans in the CFL again this season.”

Since joining the REDBLACKS in 2022, Hardy has played 59 games, amassing 304 receptions for 3,787 yards and 16 touchdowns. His 2024 campaign was the best of his CFL career, producing 97 catches for 1,343 yards, earning All‑CFL recognition and serving as Ottawa’s nominee for Most Outstanding Player. He has been named an East Division All‑CFL selection in each of the past three seasons.

“We’re extremely excited to have Justin back in Ottawa next season,” said head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie. “He’s one of the most talented receivers in the CFL, and his playmaking ability will continue to be a key to our offence going forward.”

An East Carolina product, Hardy was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft. He appeared in 73 games over five seasons with Atlanta, totaling 95 receptions for 946 yards and 27 touchdowns, and later spent time with the Chicago Bears in 2021 before joining Ottawa.

1...585586587...4,399Page 586 of 4,399

Contact us: info@sportsgamingjournal.com

* PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED AT THIS SITE IS FOR NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. ANY USE OF THIS INFORMATION IN VIOLATION OF ANY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAWS IS PROHIBITED.

FOLLOW US

TODAY"S TOP CATEGORIES

© Copyright 2024, Sports Gaming Journal. All rights reserved.