Sports
As break arrives, Devils put it all on line vs. Islanders
Jan 6, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders left wing Anthony Duclair (11) celebrates hit 3rd goal of the game against the New Jersey Devils with New York Islanders defenseman Tony Deangelo (77), New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech (3), New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images With the NHL playoff race taking shape, the New York Islanders are once again in the thick of the action.
The Islanders, as expected, have been in contention all season long, but their chances continue to get better as their captain Bo Horvat continues to get into the swing of things.
Horvat, who missed more than three weeks in January due to a lower-body injury, has played in seven games since his return, leading the Islanders to a 4-3-0 record, including a massive 5-4 overtime win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday when Horvat had three points, including the game-winning goal.
The Islanders and their captain look to continue their momentum when they travel to face the New Jersey Devils on Thursday in what will be each team’s last game before the Olympic break.
“You’d like to think it was coming,” Horvat said after his production against the Devils. “You try to not think about it and do other things away from the puck that go unnoticed and eventually get rewarded for it. So, to finally get the reward, it was great.”
After the break, New York hopes reward comes with more consistency down the stretch. The Islanders are just 5-5-0 since Jan 17, but, led by Horvat’s return, the group feels it has been playing better hockey of late.
“We’ve gone through stretches and games, especially the last couple, where we’ve actually played really good hockey and just haven’t gotten the result,” Horvat said. “For us to get that result (against Pittsburgh), maybe not having our best game, definitely boosted us going into Thursday.”
What should give the Islanders even more confidence is what took place the last time the two teams met. On Jan. 6, the Devils absorbed one of their worst losses in recent memory with a 9-0 shellacking.
In that meeting, New York’s Anthony Duclair recorded a hat-trick with five points, while Casey Cizikas, Matthew Barzal and Tony DeAngelo all finished with three points.
To avoid a similar performance, the Devils will have to dig deep in what has been a challenging season. New Jersey has lost two straight and four of its last five games. The team is near the bottom of the standings in the Eastern Conference.
“The level of urgency has got to go up. We have to go on a run. It’s as simple as that,” Devils forward Connor Brown said. “It’d be naive to not realize what type of position we are and how many points back of the playoffs we’re in. The urgency needs to get going.
“Whether the season is slipping away or not, you have to look in the eye and realize we have a big game before the break. We’ll have an opportunity to reset after that.”
No game will be bigger than Thursday for the Devils, who are nine points behind the Islanders in the Metro Division.
“We know what situation we’re in, but we’re not looking more than a day ahead,” the Devils’ Jesper Bratt said. “We know the Metro and the East has been a good (battle), and we haven’t been able to maintain a lot of wins in a row. It’s obviously frustrating. … We have one really important game until the break. That has to be our focus now and then recharge.”
–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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