Sports
Hurricanes' road woes in focus heading to game against Panthers
Nov 17, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) skates against the St. Louis Blues during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images The Carolina Hurricanes have been without desired results for most of the past couple of weeks.
They’ll have a big challenge to get back on track Thursday night when they meet the Florida Panthers in Sunrise, Fla.
One way the Hurricanes have identified to find their groove again would be better outings away from home.
“It’s obviously tougher playing on the road,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said.
The Hurricanes have won just one of their last four games overall following Tuesday night’s 4-3 shootout loss at Columbus.
More troubling for Carolina is a 1-6-2 record in its last nine road games and 8-9-2 for the season.
“We have to figure out what’s going on on the road games right now,” Hurricanes forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi said. “It has been happening for a while now. We have to find a way out of it. Have the same mindset we have for the home games.”
Florida last played on Monday, defeating the visiting New York Rangers 5-3.
That should give Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky plenty of time to be ready for the team’s first game of 2025.
“He has been very, very good,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “I think his last nine or 10 starts, he’s fantastic for us.”
For the Panthers, flipping the calendar is notable after they won the Stanley Cup in 2024.
“We’ve had a spectacular and memorable year,” Maurice said.
Florida has scored in a game’s first five minutes 12 times this season.
The Hurricanes have had good patches of play in some recent games even without the results. That’s what gives them a sense of good things to come in 2025.
“There are certain ways we want to do things, and they’re trying to do it that way,” Brind’Amour said of his players. “It’s not always going to work out.”
The outcome in Columbus was characterized, from the Carolina standpoint, by “some weird goals that cost us,” Brind’Amour said.
On the last two days of November, the Panthers beat Carolina twice. There was a 6-3 victory in Raleigh, N.C., and then a 6-0 home rout in the rematch.
“We were really bad the last two games against them,” Kotkaniemi said. “We need to fix that.”
Spencer Martin, who is back in the minor leagues, was the losing goalie in both of those matchups. Florida split the goalie assignments, with Spencer Knight logging the 20-save shutout. That marked one of two games this season that the Hurricanes have failed to score.
Carolina forward Jack Roslovic has scored three goals across the past two games. The line he’s on has been clicking.
“They’ve been fairly dynamic and we need them on the scoresheet,” Brind’Amour said. “He has been good all year.”
Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, who already has compiled a career-high four goals, missed the past two games with an upper-body injury. He was back on the ice earlier in the week. He’s a player who Maurice has referred to as the team’s top defenseman this season.
“Not an injury we’re worried about becoming chronic,” Maurice said. “It’s more pain tolerance. That’s not even fair because he’d play with it. We need him to heal a little bit and then he’ll come back and won’t come out.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
Apr 4, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York forward Emil Forsberg (10) tries to gain control of the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are struggling at the opposite ends of the pitch.
Over their last four MLS matches, D.C. United have failed to score. Meanwhile, over the Red Bulls’ last four league games, they have surrendered 14 goals.
When the teams meet Wednesday night in Harrison, N.J., they will be seeking answers for their recent woes.
The lack of scoring punch is nothing new for D.C. United (2-4-2, 8 points). Last year, the club scored 30 goals, the fewest in MLS. D.C. also failed to score in four straight league matches from May 10-24, 2025.
It’s been a challenge for the Black and Red to remain positive. In addition to going 0-2-2 during their scoreless MLS run, they fell last week on penalty kicks to One Knoxville SC in a U.S. Open Cup match in which they put up three goals.
“I think we’ve shown we can create. I think it’s just about being very precise in some moments on both sides of the ball,” said D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had four saves in a scoreless draw Saturday at the Philadelphia Union.
The offensive struggles of D.C. were evident as it took just six shots against Philadelphia, none of which were on frame. Coach Rene Weiler said he expects a similar challenge against New York (3-3-2, 11 points).
“You have to find ways to score goals,” Weiler said. “First of all, you have to accept the fight and the physical game because most of the teams on our side of the league are very physical.”
The Red Bulls look to rebound from a dispiriting 4-1 loss Saturday at CF Montreal in which their lone tally was an own goal.
Lowly CF Montreal has just two wins this season, both against the Red Bulls, who they have outscored 7-1.
Julian Hall (five goals, two assists) and Emil Forsberg (one goal, two assists) provide firepower for New York, which hopes to rediscover its defense against its longtime MLS rival.
“Games against D.C. United always carry extra weight,” Red Bulls manager Michael Bradley said. “We’re gonna step on the field at home on Wednesday night ready to give everything we have to respond in a really strong way.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
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