Sports
Gloves off or Game On? USA vs. Canada Rematch Promises Fireworks
The first time Team USA and Canada squared off at the 4 Nations Face-Off, chaos was off the charts with a trio of fights in the first nine seconds.
What will these clubs do for an encore in the championship final in Boston on Thursday?
Anybody tuning in expecting players to drop the mitts the first two times the puck is dropped and on a third occasion in the aftermath may be disappointed.
Even so, expect some bad blood.
While the trio of American combatants in those fights, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk and J.T. Miller, admitted their goal was to send a message, Brandon Hagel, the Canadian who scrapped with Matthew Tkachuk, added fuel by stating he and his teammates are “out there playing for the flag, not the cameras.”
Even if that homage to the Slap Shot era worked for the Americans en route to their 3-1 victory over Canada in the round-robin portion of the tournament, it is hard to imagine the script will be the same.
That said, the passion and intensity will be even higher with so much at stake. When meeting each other in best-on-best tournaments for the title, Canada swept the best-of-three 1991 Canada Cup final, as well as Olympic gold medal finals in 2002 and 2010. The lone victory for the U.S. came at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey in a best-of-three series that went the distance.
So, be in your seat when the game begins, just in case.
There are a few other essentials to cover.
What does the injury bug say?
Speaking of the mayhem tandem of Tkuchuks, Matthew did not play the final round-robin clash after sitting out the final 12-plus minutes against Canada. Meanwhile, Brady was hurt in the first period of the game against Sweden and eventually left the clash.
Everyone is saying they will play, which would surprise nobody, but how effective they will be at less-than-100 percent will be worth watching.
The U.S. will be without defenseman Charlie McAvoy, with Jake Sanderson slated to suit up in his spot, while Auston Matthews also missed the Sweden game, and Vincent Trocheck appeared to suffer a wrist injury.
Binnington’s shot at redemption
Canada’s biggest question mark going into the tournament was goaltending and Jordan Binnington has done little to dispel that belief, even while winning two of three games.
In both those victories, Binnington surrendered a couple of dubious goals against. He also was admittedly disappointed with the two goals he surrendered to the U.S.
The decision to play only Binnington in the tournament is Monday morning quarterback fodder, but that is the route chosen, and the time is at hand for him to reward that belief.
The U.S. has a decided advantage with the game’s best goalie right now, Connor Hellebuyck, who will play in the biggest game of his career.
In a one-game showdown, Binnington—who, unlike his counterpart, has won a Stanley Cup—is staring at a golden chance to be a difference maker.
Which team controls the tempo?
The U.S. beat Canada in the round-robin match with an old-school, beat-them-in-the-alley mindset. And we are not just talking about the fights.
The way the Americans forechecked eventually wore down Canada’s squad, creating turnovers and plenty of bruises. Not that we expect to see an all-out track meet and an endless stream of scoring chances Thursday, but this is the key: Will Canada adapt and mitigate the U.S. attack with speed and skill? If not, the U.S. can impose its will.
Sports
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
Jul 25, 2026; Stanford, CA, USA; San Jose Earthquakes midfield Nick Fernandez (20) and LA Galaxy midfield Lucas Sanabria (8) battle for the ball during the first half at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images James Marcinkowski saved a penalty shot five minutes into extra time as the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy preserved a 1-1 tie against the San Jose Earthquakes in the latest installment of the California Clasico rivalry at Stanford, Calif.
Marcinkowski, who is in his second season with the Galaxy after five seasons with the Earthquakes, made a dive to his left to stop a shot from the spot by the Earthquakes’ Timo Werner. Marcinkowski finished with five saves.
Joseph Paintsil scored a goal in the first half for Los Angeles (5-7-6, 21 points), who earned a point for the first time in three matches since the World Cup break ended.
Reid Roberts scored a goal in the 62nd minute for the Earthquakes (10-4-3, 33 points), who were unable to convert the go-ahead goal late in the match after Ousseni Bouda earned a penalty on a foul from Marcinkowski.
Angus Gunn, who played for Scotland in the World Cup, made one save in his second match since joining San Jose during the break.
The Galaxy opened the scoring in the 13th minute when 19-year-old Harbor Miller took the ball up the right side and found Marco Reus in the middle of the field. Reus sent Paintsil forward on a breakaway and the forward slid home his fourth goal of the season.
The Earthquakes got even in the 62nd minute after the Galaxy nearly coughed up an own goal on a clearance header that clanked off the crossbar.
The rebound came to the feet of San Jose’s Benji Kikanovich, who fired a shot that was knocked down in the penalty area. Roberts cleaned up a loose ball on the goal line for his second tally of the season.
Paintsil nearly gave Los Angeles the lead in the 83rd minute before Gunn used his right hand to swat away a shot headed toward the upper right corner of the goal.
While the Galaxy were without defenders Jakob Glesnes (yellow-card accumulation) and Emiro Garces (red card on Wednesday), the Earthquakes were without forward Preston Judd (yellow-card accumulation).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rams QB Ty Simpson becomes last first-round pick to sign
Jun 2, 2026; Woodland Hills, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball during organized team activities at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Quarterback Ty Simpson became the last of the 2026 first-round draft picks to sign on Saturday, coming to terms with the Los Angeles Rams.
The rookie’s contract is fully guaranteed at four years and $25.4 million with a $14.9 signing bonus, NFL Network reported on Saturday.
The Rams, with reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Matthew Stafford at quarterback, made a stunning selection in April by drafting Simpson with the 13th overall pick.
Simpson, projected as a second-rounder, passed for 3,567 yards with 28 touchdowns and five interceptions in 15 games at Alabama last season, his first as a starter. He now is projected to have time to develop as a backup to Stafford, 38.
The only other quarterback to be selected in the first round, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, went No. 1 overall to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Heisman Trophy winner signed a four-year rookie deal worth a fully guaranteed $57.27 million which includes a fifth-year option.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Another Tiger possibly on trade block, Casey Mize, faces Royals
Jul 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize (12) pitches during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images The possibility of Tarik Skubal getting traded has loomed over the Tigers all season. But another key Detroit starter and impending free agent, Casey Mize, also could swap out uniforms if the Tigers choose to sell before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Mize could be making his last appearance with the club when the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals on Saturday afternoon.
The 29-year-old right-hander has battled groin tightness at various times this season, but when he’s been on the mound, he has delivered quality innings. Mize (4-6, 2.79 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs in 11 of his 15 starts.
Mize had his latest start, his first after the All-Star break, cut short when a comebacker from Los Angeles Angels’ Jo Adell struck his left wrist. He exited after 3 1/3 innings but didn’t have any lingering effects from the injury.
“I’m good,” Mize said, according to the Detroit News. “I (am) looking forward to Saturday. We’ve been checking all the boxes that we need to and I’m feeling good.”
Mize, who gave up one run and five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in Anaheim, Calif., is not dwelling on the trade speculation.
“Where we are as a team makes that more simple (to deal with),” Mize said. “There are so many unknowns. We’re in a 10-game sprint right now, and it takes tons of focus on what we’re doing here and now, day to day. That’s kind of how I’ve always played, so that makes it pretty easy to focus on that instead of the other stuff. I’m just leaning on that and really caring about what we’re doing right now.”
Mize hasn’t faced the Royals this season, but he has made more career starts against them than any other club. He is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA in 13 starts vs. Kansas City. Royals catcher Salvador Perez has a .424 average with five extra-base hits against him in 33 at-bats.
Michael Wacha (5-7, 3.66) will start for the Royals. Wacha was sharp in his first start after his All-Star appearance, holding San Francisco to one run and three hits in six innings on Monday.
The 35-year-old right-hander had one of his best outings of the season against the Tigers on May 9, tossing seven scoreless innings. He only allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.
In 11 career starts against Detroit, he is 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA.
Like Mize, Wacha is a potential trade candidate, as is another veteran Royals starter, Seth Lugo. Wacha is signed through next season with a club option for 2028.
“We’ll be open-minded to anything,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said. “But we have to be very, very pointed on what we want to get out of any one of those two. And it’s also, they made a commitment to us, and that’s big. And I think that’s important to the morale of the team.”
The Tigers have won three straight, including the first two games of the current four-game series. Skubal struck out 12 in 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball during the Tigers’ 2-1 victory on Friday.
Kansas City had won three straight prior to visiting Detroit, while the Tigers have won three in a row.
–Field Level Media
PK save in final minutes helps Galaxy earn tie vs. Earthquakes
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