Alek Thomas' stellar diving catch
The Medicine Hat Tigers continued their winning ways on Monday as they defeated the Moncton Wildcats 3-1, improving to 2-0 at the 2025 Memorial Cup. Ryder Ritchie scored twice and added an assist, while Gavin McKenna iced the game late in the third with an empty-net goal. As for Harrison Meneghin, he had a strong performance, stopping 21 of the 22 shots he faced.
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CBS News
33 minutes ago
- CBS News
Oviedo earns 1st major league win since 2023 as Pirates beat Blue Jays 2-1 to take the series
Johan Oviedo earned his first major league win since 2023, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1 on Wednesday to take the three-game series. In his second start since having Tommy John surgery in late 2023, Oviedo (1-0) struck out six, allowed two hits, one run and had a walk in five innings. His last win came with six scoreless innings in an 8-6 victory against the Cubs on Sept. 21, 2023. Dennis Santana struck out one in a perfect ninth for his ninth save. Toronto, first in the AL East, dropped two of three to Pittsburgh, last in the NL Central. George Springer quickly put the Blue Jays ahead, driving the 10th pitch of his leadoff at bat to the left-field bleachers for his 21st homer. Tommy Pham then plated a pair with a double in the bottom half. Bryan Reynolds hit a two-out double, Spencer Horwitz walked and Pham brought them in with a liner just inside the left-field line. Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt (11-7) was tagged for two runs and six hits, tying a season-high with 10 strikeouts and walking two in 5 2/3 innings. Bo Bichette led off the fourth with a double. Oviedo kept him at second by striking out Alejandro Kirk, getting Daulton Varsho to fly out and sending Nathan Lukes down swinging after hitting Ty France with a pitch. The Pirates are 23-27 in a major league high 50 games decided by a single run. Blue Jays RHP Shane Bieber (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his season debut Friday, opening a three-game series at Miami. The 2020 AL Cy Young winner was traded by Cleveland to Toronto on July 31 and has not pitched in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024. The Pirates open a three-game home set against the Colorado Rockies on Friday. ___ AP MLB:
New York Times
6 hours ago
- New York Times
Connor McDavid vs. Leon Draisaitl: Of the Oilers superstars, who will age better?
The Edmonton Oilers have been blessed with two franchise talents playing at elite levels for a decade. As Connor McDavid (who turns 29 in January) and Leon Draisaitl (who will be 30 in October) get older, it's worth asking the question: Which of the two will be more productive in their 30s? Through the 2024-25 season, both men have posted exceptional numbers that compare to all-time best offence. Draisaitl's comparables (in points per game, position and roster slot) through age 29 include brilliant names like Peter Forsberg and Nathan MacKinnon. The only names above McDavid in points per game are Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and a bunch of old-timey guys like Newsy Lalonde and Cy Denneny, who were skating around on bone skates 100 years ago. Advertisement Finding a true comparable is no easy chore, and that alone informs us about these two players. The fewer truly comparable players, the more unique and elite the player in question. Finding a comparable for McDavid is impossible, as his combination of speed, skill and offensive production are historically unique. He is one of one. If we use names from the past, we're left with shy numbers (Gilbert Perreault) or mind-blowing numbers from the highest-scoring era in history (Gretzky and Lemieux). The only other consistent Art Ross winner in the McDavid era is Nikita Kucherov, himself an outstanding offensive player for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He is not similar in style to McDavid, but the output has been good enough to win three scoring championships during McDavid's time in the league. Kucherov, 32, is a few years further down the aging curve and that gives us an indication of what might be in the future for McDavid. McDavid's offensive talent is superior to Kucherov during the seasons when both men played in the league, but the winger still posted outstanding totals during these seasons. The most important item in this exercise is the exceptional offensive performance by Kucherov after age 27. Elite players enjoy a higher trajectory than mere mortals, and the career bell curve often shows a slower fade than most NHL players. Kucherov is showing that kind of career strength, and there's every chance McDavid reaches or exceeds his levels. There's a tendency to undervalue bigger forwards as they age, but the productivity levels of quality scorers with size has been strong over many decades. Phil Esposito was an elite scorer 55 years ago, and he was highly productive (34-44-78 in 80 games) at age 37. Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings scored 67 points in 81 games last year at age 37. Advertisement That said, Esposito and Kopitar played very different styles of hockey. Esposito's career ended less than one year after his age-37 campaign but this is a provably different era. By the time Draisaitl approaches that age, it's anyone's guess how much the game will have changed offensively. What we can track is Draisaitl's offensive output over the past four seasons in comparison to MacKinnon, who was born about two months before Edmonton's big centre. Both men show consistency despite the NHL's shifting sands in calling penalties that create power plays. Both Draisaitl and MacKinnon have elite teammates, and that can only help each man sustain current offensive levels. Both men are also speedsters, with NHL Edge placing Draisaitl's straight speed in the 92nd percentile (and 94th in the playoffs) and MacKinnon's in the 98th percentile. The MacKinnon comparison is less than ideal as a projection exercise, but there are strong indicators both men will be among the NHL's best for several seasons to come. Foot speed, conditioning and quality of linemates likely guarantee more elite seasons for Draisaitl. McDavid arrived in the NHL labeled as the next generational player and has delivered a decade of breathtaking hockey. His incredible skills are on display from October to June every year. Any reduction in performance can be explained through injuries and a league-wide reduction in power-play opportunities. The Oilers are a better team than in his early years, and the organization has strong wingers for the top lines. The Oilers captain is in an ideal situation, and should be elite offensively for the next five or six seasons. That will most likely be followed by a long and productive coda that takes him to his late 30s. Based on his ridiculous speed and hand-eye coordination, it's possible he plays to age 40 and beyond. Advertisement The numbers suggest McDavid will be the more productive player, but the fact Draisaitl is realistically in the conversation is a credit to the big man's determination and hard work. When he arrived in pro hockey, there were concerns about foot speed and endurance, and little mention of his now all-world shot and release. Draisaitl is more than the sum of his parts coming out of junior. His progression and sustained performance at the highest levels can be partially credited to McDavid. Like Gretzky during his early years with the Oilers, McDavid's presence and outrageous skills allowed talented teammates to improve just by playing with (and practicing against) the best player on the planet. Just as Gretzky inspired Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson and Paul Coffey, McDavid's talent elevated the team's best young talent. Draisaitl was the first example, and Evan Bouchard the latest. Draisaitl's career has flown far higher than anyone expected (except then-GM Craig MacTavish, who was lavish in his praise on draft day) and he should deliver strong offensive seasons through the end of the decade. After that, Draisaitl is likely to have enough speed and two-way acumen to play in the top six for several more years. McDavid is inevitable. His scoring rates are consistently in the top two or three among NHL scorers every season; he is the owner of five Art Ross trophies as leading scorer in the NHL, easily the most of his generation. The class of the next decade starts with McDavid. The numbers suggest he will ease into his 30s with remarkable grace. The great news is that Draisaitl won't be far behind. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
New York Times
8 hours ago
- New York Times
Submit your questions for Scott Wheeler's first 2026 NHL Draft mailbag
The Athletic's prospects writer Scott Wheeler released his preseason 2026 NHL Draft ranking on Monday. Have a question about the 2026 class, prospects, or scouting? Submit them below for his upcoming mailbag.
