Sports
Flyers, Penguins open home-and-home stuck in Metro basement
Feb 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers in the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins have returned from the midseason break to the tune of very different results.
The Flyers will try to build off a strong performance when they host the scuffling Penguins on Tuesday in the first game of a home-and-home series.
Philadelphia looked strong in its initial game following the league’s two-week pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The Flyers thumped the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 on Saturday as Owen Tippett scored twice and Matvei Michkov notched a goal and an assist.
The team also received key contributions from Andrei Kuzmenko, who notched his first goal since coming over in a trade with Calgary, and Sean Couturier, who registered his 200th career goal.
“Everybody chipped in,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “It was up and down for a little bit, but we didn’t panic, and they made some big plays at key times.”
Prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tippett had missed five games due to an upper-body injury.
“I think the break came at a good time for me,” said the talented winger. “Obviously it (stinks) being out, but luckily it came at a good time and I’m happy to be back now.”
Tippett isn’t the only one.
“Ready for the rest of the season,” Michkov, a rookie who has slumped in recent months, said through an interpreter. “Needed that break.”
The Penguins also needed a break, particularly after a 3-2 defeat to the Flyers in both teams’ last game before the 4 Nations tournament. However, their return to the ice hasn’t exactly provided the desired results either.
Pittsburgh absorbed an 8-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday, followed by a 5-3 defeat against the New York Rangers on Sunday, both at home.
The Penguins actually led the Rangers 3-2 after Ryan Shea scored twice early in the third period, but New York tallied three times down the stretch to escape with the win.
“I thought we fought hard,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We didn’t get the result. We’ve got to figure out where we go from here. But it’s not doom and gloom. I think this group understands that type of an attitude doesn’t get us anywhere. So, we’re going to have to dig in here. We’ll keep fighting. We’ll keep battling. We’ll try to get the result the next game.”
That next game is a matchup with a Flyers, who the Penguins pounded 7-3 on Dec. 23 before Philadelphia drew even in the season series on Feb. 8. Tuesday’s meeting — and Thursday’s rematch in Pittsburgh — are the final two encounters between the teams this season.
The Flyers and Penguins currently sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings. Philadelphia (57 points) and Pittsburgh (55) will both need to accumulate points in a hurry to get back into the playoff picture.
“Listen, we understand where we’re at,” Sullivan said. “We know that every game is important. Every two points are important. We’re just going to stay in the moment and keep fighting, and we’re going to fight till the very end. We’re going to do everything we can to stay in the race here.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jenny Shin inches closer to first LPGA Tour win in 10 years
Jun 19, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Jenny Shin plays her shot from the 18th tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Jenny Shin carded a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday to maintain her five-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Women’s Scottish Open in North Ayrshire.
Shin recorded two birdies and a bogey at Dundonald Links on Saturday to ascend to 12-under 204 for the tournament.
The 33-year-old South Korean is bidding for her first LPGA Tour win since capturing the now-defunct Volunteers of America Texas Shootout 10 years ago. The last LPGA Tour player to go 10 or more years between official victories was Vicki Fergon, who went 12 years and three months between wins at the 1984 S&H Golf Classic and the 1996 Michelob Light Heartland Classic.
“I’ve never been in this position (a five-shot lead), so I don’t know how to feel (on Sunday),” Shin said. “I’m going to go and practice for a little bit and get a good feel for tomorrow so I’m not such a mess in the morning.”
Shin made a birdie on the sixth hole and answered a bogey on the 10th hole by making another birdie on No. 11.
“That was a very tough round. I was quite nervous for the first five holes, so I’m really glad that I was able to finish the day in red numbers,” she said. “It was a pretty boring and nerve-wracking day at the same time.”
“That was a bit of a hiccup on No. 10. I changed my setup this week because of all the wind and out of habit, I lined up the putt and went back to my old setup. I shut the face. I knew what I was doing, so I was able to get back pretty easily.”
Shin holds a five-stroke lead over Thailand’s Pajaree Anannarukarn, who had three birdies during her bogey-free round of 69.
“I would say almost everything went well,” Anannarukarn said. “I was driving the ball well and hitting it good out there. The putter was very hot today, so that was the key. It was a challenging day, and also, at the same time, I had good fun battling with the wind. It was a great day out there.”
Japan’s Erika Hara (71 on Saturday) and Germany’s Esther Henseleit (73) sit at 5 under for the tournament.
Despite her troubles, Henseleit said she wasn’t going to press as she attempts to record her first win since joining the LPGA Tour in 2020.
“It’s really hard to press on this golf course, to be honest. Just no matter like if you want to take birdie or par, you kind of have to hit the same shots because they are the only possible shots,” Henseleit said.
“So I don’t think my game plan really changed, and yeah, I’m just trying to do my thing out there and hopefully tomorrow I can hit a few close and make some putts.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Course management sets up Lucas Herbert for wire-to-wire effort at LIV UK
Jul 17, 2026; Southport, ENG; Lucas Herbert plays a shot on the 18th hole during the second round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Lucas Herbert maintained his lead through three rounds of LIV Golf United Kingdom on Saturday and will carry a three-shot advantage into the final round as he bids for a wire-to-wire victory at Rocester, England.
Herbert shot a 3-under-par 69 in the third round and is at 20 under for the tournament to maintain an advantage over Bryson DeChambeau, who was at 4 under Saturday and is at 17 under through three rounds.
“Look, I enjoy it; I enjoy being in the lead,” said Herbert, who won in May at LIV Golf Virginia. “It’s been awesome to play with Bryson the last couple days and get to play with him again tomorrow. It’s a great energy out there. Any time when you’re in the lead you get good energy. … I think maybe playing under pressure brings the best out of me.”
England’s Tyrrell Hatton (67) was alone in third place at 15 under, while Australia’s Cameron Smith (66) was alone in fourth place at 14 under. A two-way tie for fifth at 13 under included Harold Varner III (68) and Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (65).
After scorching the JCB Golf and Country Club course with an 11 under in the opening round, Herbert was far more conservative in the third round when he opened with seven consecutive pars. He closed the front nine with consecutive birdies at Nos. 8 and 9.
After a bogey 5 at No. 11, Herbert closed with a pair of birdies over his last seven holes, including a birdie 3 at 18 when he put a 132-yard second shot to inside of 7 feet from the hole.
“I am going to do my best just to stick to what I’m doing, try and make as many putts as I can,” Herbert said. “I wasn’t happy with my (putting) speed out there. I was a little tentative today. That’s not going to happen tomorrow. I am going to make sure I get the ball to the hole and get a lot more chances.”
Herbert acknowledged the challenge of trying to close out the victory against a trio of proven players in DeChambeau, Hatton and Smith.
DeChambeau put himself in line for his third victory of the season, and first since March at South Africa, with five birdies and a bogey in the third round.
DeChambeau’s lone hiccup came at the par-5 10th hole when he sent his third shot just over the green and missed a 13-foot putt for par. He improved his round with a pair of birdies over the final three holes.
“I played some good golf,” said DeChambeau, who gained a stroke on Herbert during the round. “I felt like I could have had a couple things go a couple different ways, but the birdies on 16 and 17 were huge for tomorrow.”
Hatton, a fan favorite for the week while in his home country, made an early charge with three birdies over his first four holes, but the run was interrupted by a bogey 6 at No. 6. He rebounded with a pair of birdies to close his front nine then had another bogey 6 at No. 10. He was 1 over on the day at the four par-5 holes.
With windy conditions expected for the final round, Hatton knows there will be additional challenges ahead.
“It’s quite quirky out there, so it’s easy to get a little bit unlucky with some of the slopes,” Hatton said. “And you don’t really have to do too much wrong to drop shots. We’ll see how it goes. Either way, I think just focusing on my side, just trying to play another good round of golf, whatever the weather.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lionel Messi (rest) officially ruled out of MLS All-Star Game
May 17, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts against the Portland Timbers during the second half at Nu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi was one of four players officially ruled out of Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game at Charlotte, N.C., as the Argentina star continues to recover from a run to the World Cup Final.
Also on Saturday, Hugo Cuypers, Rodrigo De Paul, Mbekezeli Mbokazi were ruled out of the All-Star Game, which will match the best of MLS against the top players from Mexico’s LIGA MX.
Cuypers earned his All-Star spot with his play for the Chicago Fire, but he was transferred to Mexico’s CF Monterrey on Thursday. De Paul, an Inter Miami midfielder, will follow Messi’s lead and bow out of Wednesday’s festivities after playing for Argentina in the World Cup.
Mbokazi, a defender from the Chicago Fire, was ruled out with a lower body injury. The South Africa native also appeared in this summer’s World Cup.
To replace the foursome, Inter Miami midfielder Yannick Bright, Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Andres Cubas, Houston Dynamo forward Guilherme and Fire forward Philip Zinckernagel all were named All-Stars on Saturday.
Bright has guided Inter Miami to a 9-2-1 record in his 12 starts this season, while Cubas has three assists in 12 matches for the Whitecaps. Guilherme has eight goals and five assists in his first season with the Dynamo, while Zinckernagel has five goals and seven assists for the Fire.
–Field Level Media
Jenny Shin inches closer to first LPGA Tour win in 10 years
Charlize Theron's Forgotten R-Rated Thriller Gets Second Life On Streaming
