Rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks looking for growth from their young players

Chicago Blackhawks

Last season: 25-46-11, missed playoffs.

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The Detroit Tigers have defeated the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 in the deciding Game 3 of their AL Wild Card Series, advancing to a Division Series against the Seattle Mariners. Dillon Dingler hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning, and Wenceel Pérez drove in two runs during a four-run seventh. This marks the second consecutive season the Tigers have won a Wild Card Series on the road. Detroit heads to Seattle for the first two games of their best-of-five Division Series, with Game 1 on Saturday. The Guardians, who made a historic comeback to overtake the Tigers and win the AL Central, fell short in their best-of-three playoff. Kyle Finnegan got the win in relief for Detroit.

A popular Alaskan climber fell to his death from Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan. Balin Miller’s mother confirmed that the 23-year-old died in a climbing accident Wednesday. The death comes on the first day of the federal government shutdown, which left national parks generally open with limited operations and closed visitors centers. Miller was an accomplished alpinist who had already gained international attention for claiming the first solo ascent of Mount McKinley’s Slovak Direct. He grew up climbing in Alaska with his brother and their father, who was also a climber.

It’s hard to win without controlling the line of scrimmage, as the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers were reminded last week. The Commanders couldn’t rush the passer in a 34-27 loss at the Atlanta Falcons, and the Chargers failed to protect quarterback Justin Herbert as their undefeated start ended with a 21-18 defeat at the New York Giants. The teams face off Sunday, putting their respective struggles up front in the spotlight. Washington managed just one sack and gave Michael Penix Jr. enough time to throw for a career-best 313 yards, while Los Angeles struggled to block after left tackle Joe Alt sprained his ankle.

New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a lease extension for the state-owned Superdome that will run at least through 2035. The extension allows the Saints and the greater New Orleans area to bid on the 2031 Super Bowl. The current lease agreement was scheduled to end in 2030. The new lease takes the place of the old one and gives the Saints up to four five-year options that could extend the agreement through 2055. The 78-year-old Benson says the extension demonstrates the teams’ intent to be Louisiana “and fully committed for many decades.”

Magomed Ankalaev has been making waves in the UFC with a 14-match unbeaten streak. This is the second longest in his weight class, just behind Jon Jones’ 18. Ankalaev defends his light heavyweight belt on Saturday against Alex Pereira at UFC 320. Ankalaev’s only UFC loss was in 2018, and he’s been nearly unstoppable since. Pereira, a former champion, aims to reclaim his belt after losing to Ankalaev in March. Ankalaev is favored to win, but Pereira is determined to prove himself.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been left to rue a “baffling” VAR decision that denied his team an equalizer against Braga in the Europa League, despite replays suggesting that the goal had been wrongly disallowed. Celtic went on to lose 2-0 at home but thought it had made it 1-1 in the 51st minute through Kelechi Iheanacho. German referee Tobias Stieler disallowed the goal for handball and video assistant Christian Dingert then spent several minutes reviewing the incident before upholding the initial decision — even though replays seemed to clearly show that the ball bounced off Iheanacho’s forehead and never touched his arm.

Ben Rice is in the New York Yankees’ lineup for Thursday’s decisive Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against Boston Red Sox rookie left-hander Connelly Early. Rice did not start the series opener against lefty Garrett Crochet, who struck out 11 and allowed four hits in a dazzling 7 2/3-inning performance in Boston’s 3-1 win on Tuesday. Before the series opener, manager Aaron Boone said Paul Goldschmidt would start against any left-hander the Yankees faced. Rice homered on the first pitch he saw from right-hander Brayan Bello in New York’s 4-3 win on Wednesday.

The Green Bay Packers have reason to believe they possess a championship-caliber offense and defense. But their special teams have been a different story. Breakdowns in that phase have helped cost the Packers victories each of the last two weeks. Those special-teams issues help explain why the Packers fell out of the NFC North lead heading into their bye week. Green Bay’s traditional struggles in special teams started well before coach Matt LaFleur’s arrival in 2019. But a couple of big plays the last two weeks have made the issue more glaring.

Detroit Tigers beat Cleveland Guardians 6-3 to win Wild Card Series, advance to AL Division Series against Seattle.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor uses his uncanny blend of speed, strength and shiftiness to outrun NFL defenses. Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is trying to do the same thing. On Sunday, two of the league’s most explosive runners meet in Indianapolis. Taylor has three 1,000-yard seasons and an NFL rushing title. Jeanty is trying to create his own niche by becoming the league’s best rookie. Both teams are trying to rebound. The Raiders have lost three straight while the Colts’ perfect season was spoiled by last weekend’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

Indianapolis Colts veteran Jonathan Taylor and Las Vegas rookie Ashton Jeanty have a similar playing style. They’re both strong, fast and capable of making game-changing plays. On Sunday, two of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs will take center stage together in Indianapolis. Taylor leads the NFL in yards rushing while Jeanty has had a strong start to his pro career. But after Indy lost its first game and Las Vegas lost its third in a row last week, Taylor and Jeanty also have something else in common. They want to get their teams back on the right track.

The PGA of America president has finally apologized for the unruly crowd behavior at Bethpage Black during the Ryder Cup. Don Rea Jr. has written a letter to the 30,000 golf professionals he was elected to serve. He says there’s no room for that kind of behavior in professional golf. It struck a different tone from his BBC interview Sunday morning at Bethpage Black. Rea said 50,000 fans are bound to get excited. He compared their behavior to what might be heard at a youth soccer game. He also suggested it was like that in 2023 in Rome.

Roma missed three attempts at an equalizing penalty before losing to Lille in the Europa League. The penalty had to be retaken twice because of encroachment but goalkeeper Berke Öze saved all three spot kicks. In another strange scene, Celtic had an equalizer ruled out for handball by VAR even though replays seemed to clearly show that Kelechi Iheanacho had scored the goal without any use of his arm. Nottingham Forest remained winless under Ange Postecoglou after a dispiriting loss to Danish club Midtjylland but Aston Villa captain John McGinn scored again in a 2-0 win over Feyenoord for the English team’s third straight victory in all competitions.

The Washington Commanders have ruled wide receiver Terry McLaurin out for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers. The team announced Thursday that McLaurin, receiver Noah Brown and guard Sam Cosmi would not travel to Los Angeles. McLaurin injured his quadriceps muscle in Week 3 against Las Vegas and did not play in last weekend’s loss at Atlanta. It’s still been a positive week of preparation for the Commanders. Star quarterback Jayden Daniels returned to practice Wednesday and said he plans to play Sunday. McLaurin missed training camp while negotiating a new contract. He has 10 catches for 149 yards on the season.

HARTFORD, Conn. — The first commit is on the board for the UConn men’s basketball program in its 2026 recruiting class.

The Arizona Cardinals are facing challenges after losing two consecutive games due to last-minute field goals. The Tennessee Titans are struggling even more, with an 0-4 record and 10 straight losses dating to last season. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the top draft pick, has had a tough start. The Titans, averaging less than 13 points per game, recently lost 26-0 to Houston. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon emphasizes that every NFL team has a chance to win. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are dealing with injuries in their running back lineup and quarterback Kyler Murray might need to step up his running game.

Mike Vrabel acknowledges the shift in the AFC East rivalry between New England and Buffalo since his time as a Patriots linebacker. The Patriots’ first-year coach fully appreciates the challenge New England faces in traveling to play the AFC-leading Bills on Sunday night. Where the Patriots once dominated the Bills during Vrabel’s playing days, Buffalo is now the team to beat. The Bills are five-time defending division champions and have won 14 straight home games. Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs, making his first trip back to Buffalo since being traded, calls it a sentimental return.

LOS ANGELES — Now comes the hard part.

Unrivaled is on its way to Philadelphia. The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league headed by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart announced Thursday that it will play a pair of games at Xfinity Mobile Arena, home of the NBA’s 76ers and NHL’s Flyers, during its second season. Four clubs will compete in back-to-back matchups under the league’s standard format on Jan. 30, 2026. The specific teams will be revealed when Unrivaled releases its full schedule in November. The event, billed as the league’s first official “tour stop,” will mark the first women’s professional basketball games played in Philadelphia since 1998.

The Carolina Panthers are hoping returning home will help wipe away some of the sting from last week’s 42-13 loss on the road to the New England Patriots. The Panthers’ only win of the season came at home in Week 3 when they shut out the Atlanta Falcons 30-0. On Sunday, the Panthers host the Miami Dolphins and there will be a priority on stopping running back De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle, who figure to be the focal point of the Dolphins offense with star Tyreek Hill lost for the season because of a knee injury.

The Air Force-Navy football game is set to proceed as planned despite the government shutdown. The Naval Academy Athletic Association, a nonprofit, operates independently, limiting the shutdown’s impact on Navy’s teams and the game Saturday. Navy said all games will be played, though a spokesman notes that some military coaches are affected. Air Force sports information director Troy Garnhart, a civilian, is unable to work due to the shutdown. Air Force won’t stream home athletic events, and updates will be delayed. Despite this, Air Force Academy confirms all intercollegiate events will continue as scheduled.

The Nuggets have made significant offseason moves to support Nikola Jokic and strengthen their team. They added depth similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder, who won the NBA championship after defeating Denver in a seven-game series. Jokic chose not to sign a $212 million deal this summer, aiming for a $293 million extension next year. He expressed a desire to remain with the Nuggets long-term. The team made several changes, including new coaching and management, trading Michael Porter Jr., and acquiring players like Cam Johnson and Jonas Valanciunas. Jokic is optimistic about the team’s new energy and potential.

Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler aims to achieve in his 11th career NFL start what Giants rookie Jaxson Dart did in his debut. Dart is 1-0 as a starter heading into the 1-3 Giants’ Week 5 visit to New Orleans. The Saints are winless through their first four games under rookie coach Kellen Moore and are on an eight-game skid dating to last season. Rattler started six games last season and is still looking for his first win in that role. He’ll try to make it happen against the last team to lose to the Saints when they met last Dec. 8. Meanwhile, Dart gets a chance to beat a team that passed on him in the NFL draft.

Here’s a look back at Week 4’s action and fantasy advice for the week ahead:

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has missed his second straight day of practice, raising doubts about his availability for Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins. Hubbard played through a calf injury last Sunday against New England, but coach Dave Canales says he emerged from that game in worse shape. Canales is expected to address Hubbard’s status on Friday when the team releases its injury report. If Hubbard is out, Rico Dowdle is expected to start, with rookie Trevor Etienne likely seeing action. Hubbard leads the team with 217 rushing yards and two TD receptions this season.

Tight end Kyle Pitts and quarterback Michael Penix Jr. enjoyed confidence-building performances in the Atlanta Falcons’ win over Washington last weekend. Penix threw scoring passes to Pitts and Drake London. The Falcons have a bye week to relish the offensive revival before they host the Buffalo Bills in a Monday night game. Penix and running back Bijan Robinson enjoyed career-best games as the Falcons set a season high with 435 yards against the Commanders. The Falcons are 2-2 and will need more production from their offense as they look for their first playoff season since 2017.

Napheesa Collier covered a lot of bumpy ground in her lengthy end-of-season statement. Yes, officiating in WNBA games is substandard. Sure, the collective bargaining agreement is about to expire and negotiations could cripple the league’s extraordinary popularity.

Two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya is ending her seven-year legal challenge against sex eligibility rules in track and field. Her lawyers told The Associated Press on Thursday that they would not continue the case despite winning a ruling at the European Court of Human Rights in July that appeared to have reignited Semenya’s appeal. The South African first launched her case against the rules that barred her from competing at international events because of her high natural testosterone levels in 2018. She took her case to sports’ highest court, the Swiss supreme court and Europe’s top rights court. The contentious rules have remained in place and were recently made stricter.

The Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury have announced a $115 million, 10-year naming rights deal with United Wholesale Mortgage. The team’s arena will be renamed the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mat Ishbia, the owner of the Suns and Mercury, is also the CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage. He took over as CEO in 2013, transforming it into a top U.S. mortgage lender. Ishbia says the partnership aligns with both organizations’ commitment to excellence. The downtown arena hosts Suns and Mercury games, concerts, and will host the 2026 NCAA Women’s Final Four and 2027 NBA All-Star Game.

Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell grabbed the railing as she walked up and down the stairs to the dais Thursday. The three-time All-Star didn’t need crutches or a walking boot, didn’t even walk with a noticeable limp. But she wasn’t going to miss a last chance to speak about this team and its incredible postseason run — certainly not after waving away a stretcher that could have gotten her from the court to the locker room during the third quarter of Tuesday night’s Game 5 season-ending overtime loss at Las Vegas. She wanted to leave on her own two feet after suffering such severe cramping in her lower body that her legs and feet went numb for about seven seconds.

Davis Chatfield is the latest Korn Ferry Tour player with a 59. Chatfield made an albatross on the par-5 15th hole and finished with a 30-foot birdie putt for 12-under 59 at The Patriot Golf Club in the Compliance Solutions Championship. Myles Creighton and Adrien Dumont Du Chassart shot 59 in the same Korn Ferry Tour event at the Wichita Open. It’s the eighth sub-60 round across golf this year. That list includes three 59s on the PGA Tour Americas. Jake Knapp shot 59 on the PGA Tour and Sebastian Munoz shot 59 at a LIV Golf event in Indianapolis.

Two-time national champion quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow says quarterbacks are more prepared to play at both the collegiate and NFL levels but they still need time to develop and grow. Tebow says the right fit in player-coach relationship, scheme and supporting cast can be the difference between success and failure.

Knicks forward Josh Hart was ejected from the opening game of the preseason after slipping to the court and then throwing the ball when a Philadelphia player tried to take it from him while he was on his back. Hart had grabbed a defensive rebound early in the second quarter and was dribbling the ball upcourt when he fell in front of the 76ers bench. Philadelphia’s Kennedy Chandler tried to steal the ball, and Hart turned away to protect it and threw it toward the other end of the court. Hart got up and limped off the court with what appeared to be a lower back injury.

Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Nate Wiggins were back at practice for the Baltimore Ravens, but star quarterback Lamar Jackson and safety Kyle Hamilton were absent during the portion open to reporters. Hamilton did not seem injured during last weekend’s loss at Kansas City, but he showed up on Wednesday’s injury report as limited in that day’s practice because of a groin issue. He was not on the field early in Thursday’s session. Neither were linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. The returns of Stanley and Wiggins were encouraging, however, for a depleted Baltimore team that needs all the healthy players it can find this weekend against Houston.

The Kansas City Chiefs have won eight in a row against Jacksonville and will try to make it nine straight on “Monday Night Football.” The Chiefs have won consecutive games since an 0-2 start and have receiver Xavier Worthy back in the mix. The Jaguars, meanwhile, are off to their best start since 2018 and are one seemingly botched pass interference call away from being undefeated. First-year head coach Liam Coen and quarterback Trevor Lawrence have benefitted from a league-leading 13 takeaways.

The Calgary Flames have extended coach Ryan Huska’s contract for two years. The announcement Thursday keeps him signed through the 2027-28 season. Huska became the franchise’s 24th head coach in June 2023. He has since led the retooling Flames to a 79-66-19 record, coming within one point of a playoff appearance last season. A former Chicago Blackhawks draft pick, Huska began coaching in 2002 as an assistant with the Western Hockey League’s Kelowna Rockets, becoming the club’s coach in 2007. The 50-year-old from Cranbrook, British Columbia, joined the Flames organization in the 2014-15 season as coach of the American Hockey League’s Adirondack Flames.

With Brian Snitker stepping down in Atlanta, there are now eight major league teams with a managerial opening. Five of those spots became vacant since the end of the season, and three teams have had interim managers in place for a while. With the dust seemingly settling, it’s time to take a look at which of these jobs are the most attractive. It’s a subjective exercise of course, and it depends on what a prospective manager values. Some teams can offer a talented current roster, while others might have a better long-term outlook.

Rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks looking for growth from their young players | Sports

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