Sports
Stars, Blues face off in rematch of struggling squads
Jan 23, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) stops a shot by St. Louis Blues right wing Jordan Kyrou (25) during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Dallas Stars have been struggling to regain traction since before the holiday break.
After starting the season 25-7-5, they have gone 4-7-4. The Stars have not won consecutive games since Dec. 19 and 21.
They will try to finally achieve that feat Tuesday night when they visit the St. Louis Blues. The Stars edged the Blues 3-2 in their previous game, last Friday in Dallas.
“I thought we were a little tight in the third (period),” Stars forward Matt Duchene said. “We could have handled that a little bit better. When you’re not winning games, sometimes you grip it a little bit. I think we did that a little bit in the third on simple plays; we had some turnovers.
“But I think, overall, the last three games have been a way better step in the right direction and some of the best games this team has played all year.”
The Stars routed the Boston Bruins 6-2 on Jan. 20, then fell 1-0 to the Blue Jackets in Columbus two nights later. That was their fourth loss in five games.
In those defeats, Dallas scored three goals. The Stars were buoyed by Jason Robertson’s late goal to defeat the Blues.
“The past couple of weeks, we haven’t been able to just get one at the end of games or just find a way to win close games,” Robertson said. “So, that feels good.”
Dallas winger Mikko Rantanen returned from illness to face the Blues, but he was ineffective. He should be closer to full strength for this rematch.
“Rants has been sick for four days, and I give him a lot of credit,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said after Friday’s victory. “He’s down weight, he didn’t feel great this morning, and I didn’t think he was playing. But he came and said, ‘I’m going to play.'”
While the Stars had three days to rest and prepare for this rematch, the Blues suffered a 5-4 shootout loss to the Los Angeles Kings at home Saturday night.
“Back-to-backs are always tough, especially with some travel,” Blues winger Jordan Kyrou said after the loss. “I thought we battled hard (Saturday), especially in the second (period) of that game. We kept bringing it back and I thought we had a good game.”
Kyrou scored twice against the Kings, giving him three goals and four assists in his last seven games.
Saturday’s setback extended the Blues’ winless streak to four games (0-3-1) and prompted them to get back to work on puck management and coverage in their own zone.
“There’s some things defensively that we need to clean up again,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “You can’t be happy any time you give up four goals.”
The Blues have been playing without top center Robert Thomas and key forwards Dylan Holloway and Pius Suter due to injuries. Suter and Holloway both skated during Monday’s practice.
Rookie Dalibor Dvorsky has picked up some of that slack with goals against the Stars and Kings. He has three goals and an assist in his last six games.
“It’s always about the whole line, but yeah, I’m just trying to play with confidence every time I’m out there,” Dvorsky said.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Acaden Lewis, Villanova thriving ahead of Marquette matchup
Feb 7, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Villanova Wildcats guard Acaden Lewis (55) dribbles against the Georgetown Hoyas during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images In his first season at Villanova, head coach Kevin Willard has been lucky to have another Wildcats newcomer running his offense.
Freshman point guard Acaden Lewis aims to lead Villanova to its fourth straight win Tuesday when the Wildcats host Marquette in Big East action.
While playing all 23 games for the Wildcats (18-5, 9-3 Big East), Lewis leads them in assists (5.3) and steals (2.0) while contributing 12.4 points per game. He made two clutch 3-pointers and finished with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting in Saturday’s 80-73 road victory over Georgetown.
“I have the utmost confidence in him,” said Willard. “He is progressing just the way you want a freshman to progress. He’s been great at getting everyone involved. Tonight, we needed him to score and he did that.”
Tyler Perkins chipped in with 15 points while Duke Brennan added 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Wildcats, who remain on track to reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2022.
Meanwhile, Marquette (9-15, 4-9) is looking for its fourth win in six games following a stretch in which the team lost nine of its previous 10 contests.
The Golden Eagles topped Butler on Saturday, posting a 70-55 home victory as Chase Ross scored 19 points and Adrien Stevens pitched in with 18. Stevens and Ross combined to make 10 3-pointers for Marquette, which shot an impressive 45.2% from beyond the arc (14 of 31).
“It’s a testament to all of our guys, particularly our guards,” Golden Eagles coach Shaka Smart said. “Creating pretty high-quality outside shots.”
Villanova has won two straight meetings with Marquette after losing the previous eight matchups.
In the first encounter this season, the Wildcats posted a 76-73 victory in Milwaukee on Jan. 10. Lewis led the way with 20 points and eight assists, helping to overcome Nigel James Jr.’s 31 points for the Golden Eagles.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Why the New England Patriots Can Get Back to the Super Bowl After Ugly Loss
The New England Patriots were overmatched in Super Bowl LX, losing to the Seattle Seahawks 29-13 on Sunday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
After the sting subsides and the New England fan base has had time to lick its wounds, those fans will turn the page and begin thinking about next season. When they do, they’ll ponder the following question: Can the Patriots return to the Super Bowl next year?
Despite how things unfolded Sunday, the answer is an unequivocal “yes.”
New England’s level of success this season was unexpected — the Patriots were 4-13 in 2023 and 2024 — and it’s certainly reasonable to expect the team to take another step forward next year.
New England will lose some players to free agency, but none who you would call “core” contributors. Edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, an unrestricted free agent, may be the best of the bunch.
What Vrabel said after Patriots loss
“Disappointed,” first-year New England head coach Mike Vrabel said following Sunday’s loss.
“I reminded them that we’re 307 days into what hopefully is a long, successful relationship and program. It’s OK to be disappointed and upset together. … Every year, somebody’s going to lose this game. We have to remember what it feels like and make sure it’s not repeatable.”
The quarterback/coach combo is in place with Drake Maye and Vrabel, and the defense has cornerstone pieces with cornerback Christian Gonzalez, 23, and tackle Milton Williams, 26, both of whom are in their prime.
Of course, to make another lengthy playoff run, Maye will have to perform like he did in the regular season — not the postseason. Maye was sacked 21 times and had four passes intercepted in four playoff games.
“You’re going to have times like this and it’s how you bounce back,” Maye said. “All those guys in the locker room are going to use this as fuel and I’d go to war with those guys any time, any day, anywhere. It’s motivation to get back here and not have this feeling and have what they’re feeling out there. … Can’t wait to get back and play in another one.”
Vrabel said the significant jump the Patriots made this season won’t be very valuable if the organization can’t find ways to improve the team in the offseason.
The New England fan base can also take solace in the fact that the team’s front office earned high marks in both free agency and the draft last season.
Sunday’s outcome certainly highlighted New England’s shortcomings and will undoubtedly influence what team management does to help the roster.
Even with a low draft position, the Patriots should be able to bolster their offensive line and add a much-needed playmaker to their offense. Those two areas are arguably where the team needs the most upgrading.
The schedule will be more difficult next season, but the Patriots play in the weaker of the two conferences. Two of the top teams in the AFC — Buffalo and Baltimore — will each have a first-year head coach next season, and the AFC East is certainly manageable. It always helps to play the New York Jets twice a year.
DraftKings lists New England at +1200 to reach next year’s Super Bowl, behind Seattle (+950), the Los Angeles Rams (+950), and Buffalo (+1000).
It shouldn’t surprise anybody if the Patriots get there.
Sports
David Coit takes over late as Maryland beats Minnesota
Feb 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers guard Isaac Asuma (1) works around Maryland Terrapins guard George Turkson Jr. (11) during the first half at Williams Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images David Coit scored seven of his 29 points in the final 26 seconds as Maryland snapped a four-game losing streak, outlasting Minnesota 67-62 Sunday in Big Ten play at Minneapolis.
Andre Mills added 12 points and Darius Adams contributed 11 points as Maryland improved to 18-3 all-time against Minnesota.
Solomon Washington put up nine points and 10 rebounds for the Terrapins (9-14, 2-10 Big Ten), who had lost their previous four games by an average margin of 28 points.
After Cade Tyson hit two free throws with 53 seconds left to put Minnesota up 62-60, Coit scored the game’s final seven points.
The key play came with 26 seconds left when Coit drained a side-step 3-pointer to put the Terrapins up 63-62. Coit then added four free throws in the final 11 seconds.
“Coach got on me after the last game. He called me out. I was being selfish with my body language,” Coit said. “I had to respond.”
Coit made 9 of 13 shots from the floor, 4 of 7 from distance and hit all seven of his free throw attempts.
Isaac Asuma scored all 18 of his points from behind the arc to lead Minnesota (11-13, 4-9), which was coming off an upset of No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday. The loss was the Golden Gophers’ eighth in their last nine games.
Tyson finished with 12 points and Langston Reynolds contributed 11 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Golden Gophers.
Midway through the first half, Mills made a 3-pointer which gave Maryland a 17-14 lead, before Asuma responded with consecutive triples to give Minnesota a lead that it held the rest of the period.
Two 3-pointers by Bobby Durkin pushed the Golden Gophers’ edge to 33-26. Coit answered with a 3-pointer and a driving three-point play to cut the deficit to 33-32 at the break.
Midway through the second half, two driving layups by Reynolds gave Minnesota the biggest lead of the second half, 53-47.
But Coit put the Terrapins on his back scoring 15 of his points in the final 8:41.
–Field Level Media
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