Sports
Flyers, Canadiens bid to build momentum at other's expense
Oct 26, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) scores an open-net hat trick goal against the Minnesota Wild in the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens couldn’t spend much time celebrating after picking up much-needed wins on Saturday.
The Flyers welcome the Canadiens to South Philadelphia on Sunday evening in a matchup of teams looking to complete a stellar weekend.
Philadelphia won its season opener in overtime against the Vancouver Canucks but then dropped six games in a row (0-5-1), leaving the team without a regulation victory through seven games. That drought came to an end Saturday as the Flyers posted a 7-5 win over the Minnesota Wild.
Sean Couturier recorded a hat trick and dished out two assists and Travis Konecny also provided a five-point performance (one goal, four assists). Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen had a key goal late in the third period to help the Flyers win for the first time in more than two weeks.
However, it was Couturier who got the headlines after notching his first goal since Feb. 10 and his first hat trick since January 2019.
“I thought I was getting some chances lately, (but the) puck just wasn’t going in,” said Couturier, who completed the hat trick by scoring into the empty net with one minute remaining in the third period.
“You have those nights sometimes where everything seems to go in and the puck finds you. Just like those rebounds, they just seemed to kind of pop back at me every time. So those are nice, and you’ve got to take advantage of those.”
Konecny was happy for his long-time teammate after Couturier set a new personal best for points in a game.
“Coots is one of those guys who puts in the effort every day,” Konecny said. “He tries hard, he’s always a pro during practice, off the ice, and he’s always doing the right things. It was just a matter of time before he had a game like this.”
Montreal had a bit of a sweet redemption story on Saturday, as well. Kirby Dach, who missed most of last season with a serious knee injury, registered his first goal since March 23, 2023, in a 5-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.
“It was nice to get it in front of the fans,” Dach said after helping his team snap a four-game losing streak (0-3-1). “They were really supportive all year last year and have been early this year. It’s been a long road since I scored a goal. So, it was nice to get that one, but even better to get the two points as a team and play a complete game.”
It will be interesting to see if Philadelphia coach John Tortorella goes with Samuel Ersson in net for the second straight day. Flyers backup goalie Ivan Fedotov has struggled on the young season, allowing 14 goals on 78 shots. The team also recalled netminder Emil Andrae from Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League on Saturday.
One player who certainly won’t be taking the ice Sunday for the Flyers is rookie forward Jett Luchanko, who has been returned to his junior team, the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
“The decision to send Jett back is something we strongly believe is the right path for him and his development,” general manager Daniel Briere said.
Montreal went 2-0-1 against Philadelphia in 2023-24 and has won the season series between the teams in each of the past three campaigns.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dodgers jump ahead early, hold off Mets to win fourth straight
Jul 25, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) talks to starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) after the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Kyle Tucker homered for a second straight game and Yoshinobu Yamamoto allowed just a run over six innings Saturday for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who won their fourth straight game by beating the host New York Mets 4-3.
The Dodgers outfielder, who on Friday went deep for the first time since June 27, led off the third with a 392-foot shot off Nolan McLean (7-7) that hit the right field foul pole.
Andy Pages (1-for-4) drove in two, and Freddie Freeman had three singles in four at-bats for the Dodgers.
Bo Bichette went 2-for-5, and Tyrone Taylor hit a pinch-hit, two-run double for the Mets.
Yamamoto (11-6) could not match his last start, a complete-game victory last Sunday against the New York Yankees. Still, he was able to secure his eighth win in his last 10 starts. The right-hander struck out five against five hits and three walks.
The Dodgers staked Yamamoto to a three-run lead in the third thanks to Tucker’s power and some errant Mets defensive play. First baseman Brett Baty threw wild after fielding a Shohei Ohtani chopper. Rather than starting a possible inning-ending double play, it gave the Dodgers runners at the corners.
Pages grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice, and then went to third on a Freeman single and scored on a passed ball by catcher Francisco Alvarez.
McLean went six innings, and only two of the four runs he allowed were earned. The Dodgers got seven hits and two walks off the righty, who struck out seven.
Pages added to the lead in the fifth with a single to right that scored Teoscar Hernandez, who led off the frame with a double.
The Mets, who have lost three straight, were 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 on base. They got two runners on base against Yamamoto three times but only capitalized once, when Bo Bichette’s two-out single got Baty home in the fifth.
Dodgers reliever Edgardo Hernandez hit Carson Benge and walked Luis Robert Jr. to start the eighth. He retired the next two before giving way to Tanner Scott. Taylor welcomed him with his two-bagger to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Brock Stewart threw a perfect ninth to record his third career save, the first for the 34-year-old right-hander since 2023.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Defenses rule as Minnesota United, Whitecaps play to scoreless draw
Jul 25, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota United FC midfielder Wil Trapp (20) and Vancouver Whitecaps FC midfielder Oliver Larraz (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Minnesota United goalkeeper Drake Callender made five saves in a 0-0 draw with the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at Saint Paul, Minn.
The performance was a big upgrade for the United, who were blown out by Vancouver earlier this season.
Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka stopped three shots, but the Whitecaps (10-3-3, 33 points) remained winless in two matches since returning to action this month.
Even though there was improvement, Minnesota (6-6-5, 23 points) had its winless streak grow to six matches (0-3-3).
United forward Mamadou Dieng compiled a match-high three shots on goal.
Despite a nice advantage in possession for the Whitecaps (60.3%), they weren’t crisp and that cost them repeatedly when they were attempting to push forward.
Each team produced two shots on goal in the scoreless first half. Later, there were rushes for both teams in the added time, but nothing that mounted to a breakthrough. Vancouver finished with 11 shots, five on target, to 10 and 3 for Minnesota.
The Whitecaps, who dropped Wednesday’s outing at Cincinnati by 4-3 following the layoff for the World Cup, have been shut out in two of their last four matches.
The Whitecaps drubbed visiting Minnesota 6-0 in March.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jonquel Jones leads Team Spoon to All-Star Game defeat of Team Coop
Jul 25, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Team Spoon forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) celebrates with center Jonquel Jones (35) in the first half during the 2026 WNBA All Star Game at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Jonquel Jones had 22 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists and Olivia Miles added 11 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists to boost Team Spoon to a 129-122 victory against Team Coop on Saturday in the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago.
Jones, a star with the New York Liberty, garnered MVP honors, helping outpace a 28-point effort from Kelsey Mitchell of Team Coop.
Allisha Gray (19 points), Caitlin Clark (17), A’ja Wilson (12), Courtney Williams (12), Nneka Ogwumike (11) and Kiki Iriafen (10) also scored in double figures for Team Spoon.
Marina Mabrey added 23 points for Team Coop. Gabby Williams chipped in 18 points, while Paige Bueckers and Dominique Malonga had 12 each. Malonga added 13 rebounds for a double-double while Breanna Stewart (six points) also had 13 boards.
A league All Star Game-record 19,783 fans attended the game at the United Center, home of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
That more than doubled the attendance when Chicago hosted the annual midseason showcase in 2022. A crowd of 9,572 looked on at Wintrust Arena, where the Chicago Sky play their home games.
With the WNBA saluting its 30th anniversary season, Hall of Famers Cynthia Cooper and Teresa Weatherspoon drafted the teams and served as general managers. They also were part of a rotating contingent that was “mic’d up” during an interactive broadcast on ABC.
Minnesota Lynx bench boss Cheryl Reeve coached Team Spoon while Becky Hammon, coach of the reigning league champion Las Vegas Aces, guided Team Coop.
Team Spoon rolled to an 81-64 advantage at the half behind 55.7% shooting compared to 42.6% for Team Coop. The teams combined for 24 makes from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes, with Mabrey (five) edging Clark (four) for the most treys before the break.
Mabrey, who entered the All-Star break as the league leader in made 3s with 82, led all scorers with 23 first-half points. Still, Malonga provided arguably the most memorable first-half basket with a dunk off a pass from Angel Reese with 6:24 to play in the second quarter.
It marked the first dunk in an All-Star Game since Sylvia Fowles in 2022.
Skylar Diggins remains the only player to record an All-Star triple-double, accomplishing the feat last season.
–Field Level Media
Dodgers jump ahead early, hold off Mets to win fourth straight
Defenses rule as Minnesota United, Whitecaps play to scoreless draw
