Sports
Streaking Kraken, Ducks face off in key divisional tilt
Jan 28, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann (19) battles Anaheim Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson (43) for the puck during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Just think where Jared McCann and the Seattle Kraken might be if the forward had been healthy all season.
McCann, the franchise’s all-time leading scorer, missed 24 of Seattle’s first 35 games this season because of injuries.
He’s come back strong since, with 11 goals in his last 18 games entering Tuesday’s contest at the Anaheim Ducks.
“It’s just been one of those seasons,” McCann said. “I’m hoping it’s finally all behind me now and I can make up for some of it the rest of the way.”
McCann set franchise records with 10 goals and 20 points in January and Monday was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week after tallying four goals and three assists in three games.
After playing on the third line following his return, McCann is back to first-line duty alongside center Matty Beniers and captain Jordan Eberle.
Beniers also scored a franchise-record-setting 10 goals in January and Eberle has a team-leading 19 for the season.
“I’m happy for him,” Kraken coach Lane Lambert said of McCann. “I’m happy with the way he’s playing. I’ve talked about it over the last little while how smart he is. How poised he is. And it looks to me like he’s feeling good. And that’s the most important thing.”
The Kraken have won four games in a row, including a 3-2 victory Saturday in Vegas to pull within three points of the Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights.
Kaapo Kakko scored the winner in the third period Saturday, after Eeli Tolvanen and McCann gave Seattle a 2-0 lead in the first.
“We haven’t had bad periods,” Tolvanen said. “We know (the standings are) pretty tight. I don’t think we should look at it that much. We just want to play as many games as we can.”
The Kraken play Tuesday at Anaheim and Wednesday in Los Angeles before the Olympic break.
The Ducks snapped a two-game skid with a 4-3 victory against visiting Vegas on Sunday as Chris Kreider tallied twice.
Goaltender Lukas Dostal made 28 saves for the Ducks and Troy Terry, who had missed the previous 11 games with an upper-body injury, had a pair of assists. Ryan Poehling (goal, assist) and Jacob Trouba (two assists) also had a pair of points.
“Detailed game, honest game, defense-first game,” Kreider said. “We kept it real simple. Trying to get pucks behind them, and when the opportunity presented itself, get to the net and get our bodies to the net, too, and just follow up on plays.”
Cutter Gauthier leads the Ducks with 24 goals and 48 points, with Kreider second with 19 goals — including a team-high seven on the power play.
The Ducks are currently tied with Seattle with 61 points, though the Kraken have a game in hand and two more regulation-plus-overtime wins.
This will be the last of four meetings between the teams in the regular season. The Kraken have won two of the previous three, by 3-1 margins on Oct. 9 and Dec. 22, while the Ducks triumphed 4-2 on Jan. 23 in Seattle.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: 76ers trade veteran G Eric Gordon to Grizzlies
Feb 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Eric Gordon (23) controls the ball against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Philadelphia 76ers traded veteran guard Eric Gordon to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday for a 2032 second-round draft pick swap in 2032, multiple outlets reported.
The Sixers also land the rights to Justinian Jessup, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. Jessup, who is playing for Bayern Munich in Germany, was a second-round draft pick by the Golden State Warriors in 2020, with his rights traded to the Grizzlies in July 2025.
Gordon, 37, was scoring 5.5 points in six games off the bench for the Sixers this season. In 18 career NBA seasons, including seven with the Houston Rockets, Gordon has averaged 15.2 points with 2.7 assists in 931 games (665 starts).
–Field Level Media
Sports
After near-upset last month, No. 2 Michigan locked on Penn State
Jan 6, 2026; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) drives the ball to the basket during the second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images No. 2 Michigan rightfully has been basking in the glow of a terrific week.
The Wolverines beat a pair of Top 10 teams last week – recording a 3-point home win over then-No. 5 Nebraska on Jan. 27 before going to archrival Michigan State’s floor and claiming a 12-point win over the then-No. 7 Spartans last Friday. The latter victory made Michigan head coach Dusty May an even more popular figure among Michigan faithful.
It also propelled Michigan (20-1, 10-1 Big Ten) to the top of the league standings with Illinois, a position it will attempt to maintain on Thursday when the Wolverines host Penn State in Ann Arbor, Mich.
While the game appears to be a mismatch on paper, so did the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 6 in State College, Pa. Yet the Nittany Lions rallied from an eight-point deficit with just over three minutes remaining to make it a one-point game in the final minute before Michigan prevailed 74-72.
“We’ve got a Penn State team that gave us everything and then some,” May said. “We’re focused on that game.”
While May is locked on Penn State, the Michigan fanbase gets to enjoy the big-picture excitement enhanced by Friday’s win over Michigan State.
With fewer than six weeks to go until Selection Sunday, Michigan finds itself on everyone’s short list of national championship contenders thanks largely to the four NBA prospects who transferred in during the offseason: Yaxel Lendeborg (team-leading 14.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game), Morez Johnson Jr. (13.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Aday Mara (10.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 2.6 blocks per game) and Elliot Cadeau (10.4 ppg, 5.3 assists per game).
“I love our guys last year, but we just didn’t have enough dog,” May said. “So we were able to solve that issue in recruiting. We were close. We just didn’t have enough. I think our staff did a great job of being intentional about fixing the things that needed to be fixed instead of just hoping that things change or go away.”
Penn State also comes in feeling good about itself, having snapped an eight-game losing streak on Sunday with a 77-75 home win over Minnesota.
The Nittany Lions (10-12, 1-10) will be at a size disadvantage against Michigan’s massive frontline but will try and give the Wolverines problems with the smaller, quicker lineup that trapped and pressed Minnesota effectively.
“If we play on our heels, we’re going to lose,” Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades said. “If we’re going to play little and don’t be aggressive and hawk the ball, we’re probably going to lose. It’s not rolling the dice. It’s how I always want to play anyway.”
Penn State has three players averaging double figures: Kayden Mingo (14.1 ppg, 4.7 apg), Freddie Dilione V (13.9 ppg) and Josh Reed (10.0 ppg). Mingo, who leads the Big Ten with 2.1 steals per game, did not play in the teams’ first meeting.
Penn State has lost the last three games it has played in Ann Arbor. The last time Penn State won at Michigan was a 72-63 triumph on Jan. 22, 2020.
The only road game Penn State has won this year came on Nov. 8 at New Haven, which is in the Northeast Conference.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles OL coach Jeff Stoutland to vacate role on staff
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Philadelphia Eagles offensive line coach and run game coordinator Jeff Stoutland announced Wednesday that he will vacate his longtime role as new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion arrives.
“Philadelphia, I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end,” Stoutland posted to X. “When I arrived here in 2013, I did not know what I was signing up for. I quickly learned what this city demands. But more importantly, what it gives back.
“The past 13 years have been the great privilege of my coaching career. I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”
Stoutland, 63, was exclusively a college coach before joining the Eagles’ staff in 2013 after serving as the offensive line coach at Alabama. Philadelphia went to the playoffs eight times during his run with the team and won two Super Bowls.
According to NFL Network, Stoutland will not completely sever ties with the organization, although no future role was specified.
–Field Level Media
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