Sports
Blue Jackets aim to win sixth straight, exploit Devils’ inconsistency
Jan 24, 2026; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) looks to pass the puck during the second period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images The Columbus Blue Jackets look to stretch their season-best winning streak to six games when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in Newark, N.J.
The Jackets are 9-1-0 in the last 10 games and 8-1-0 since Rick Bowness replaced Dean Evason as head coach. Since the change behind the bench, the Blue Jackets have trailed in only three of Bowness’ nine games.
While there’s still a lot of time before the March 6 trade deadline, the Jackets’ recent form has gotten general manager Don Waddell thinking about potential roster additions for this season and beyond.
“If we’re a buyer and I’m going to give up some assets, I’d like to get somebody who has some term left (on their contract),” Waddell told The Athletic.
Despite their stellar play, Columbus remains outside a playoff position in the crowded Eastern Conference. The Blue Jackets’ 61 points put them three ahead of the Devils, who are 1-3-0 in their last four games.
It has been an inconsistent season for the Devils, but forward Connor Brown feels as long as his team isn’t allowing the opponent any “freebies,” New Jersey can play with anyone.
“You look at the lulls throughout our season, there’s a lot of games where we beat ourselves,” Brown said. “(We’re) just trying to make plays on a 3-on-3 or when we don’t have a numerical advantage. Those are the things you’ve got to recognize, and you can’t just give the other team chances.”
Both teams could be missing a star player on Tuesday, as Jack Hughes (lower-body injury) and Kirill Marchenko (illness) are both questionable.
Hughes’ injury kept him out of New Jersey’s last game, a 4-1 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The forward didn’t train with the team on Monday, but he did skate on his own following the Devils’ practice session.
Though Marchenko’s status is unclear, Columbus should be getting some lineup reinforcements back. Dante Fabbro practiced Monday after missing six games due to a lacerated foot, and Sean Monahan practiced after an illness kept him out of the Jackets’ last game.
Marchenko and Zach Werenski share the Blue Jackets’ team lead with 19 goals, and Werenski leads the club in assists (41) and points (60).
Nico Hischier leads New Jersey in goals (18) and points (41), and Jesper Bratt has a team-leading 27 assists.
Killing penalties has been an issue for both teams, but the Blue Jackets and Devils each have been better recently against opposing power plays. Columbus is 19-for-21 on the penalty kill over its last seven games, while New Jersey is 18-for-20 over its last eight.
The away team won each of the previous three games between the Blue Jackets and Devils this season, with New Jersey holding a 2-1 edge. The Devils are 10-3-0 in their last 13 games with Columbus.
In three starts against the Jackets this season, Devils goalie Jake Allen posted a .905 save percentage and a 3.11 goals-against average. Allen and Jacob Markstrom have split starting duties over New Jersey’s last six games, and Markstrom would start Tuesday if the rotation holds.
Since the Jackets also play on Wednesday at home against the Chicago Blackhawks, Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins will split the back-to-back starts in some order.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Lindsey Vonn has ruptured ACL, intends to ski at Olympics
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Jan 30, 2026; Crans-Montana, SWITZERLAND; Lindsey Vonn of the United States reacts after sustaining an apparent injury in the women’s downhill alpine skiing race during the FIS World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Denis Balibouse/Reuters via Imagn Images American skiing great Lindsey Vonn has a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee but said Tuesday she intends to race in the women’s downhill race Sunday at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
It will be the fifth Winter Olympics for the 41-year-old Vonn. She suffered the injury on Friday when she crashed in a World Cup race in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and was airlifted to a hospital.
“I completely ruptured my ACL. I also have bone bruising, which is a common injury,” she told reporters in a news conference in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, site of the Alpine ski competition.
“We have been doing extensive therapy, been consulting with doctors, been in the gym, and today, I went skiing, and considering how my knee feels, it feels stable. I feel strong.”
Vonn said she is determined to leave that starting gate at the Tofane Alpine Skiing Center.
“I know [what] my chances were before the crash, and I know my chances aren’t the same as it stands today, but I know there is still a chance. And as long as there’s a chance, I will try.”
To take part in the Sunday downhill, all skiers must complete at least one official training run. Vonn is no stranger to the mountain. She has 12 of her 84 World Cup victories there, the most of any skier.
Vonn also had been slated to compete for the U.S. Ski Team in the team combined (Feb. 10) and Super-G events (Feb. 12).
Vonn earned gold (downhill) and bronze (Super-G) medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and a bronze medal in the downhill at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.
Vonn retired after the 2019 world championships due to injuries. She subsequently received a partial replacement of her right knee and launched a comeback late in 2024 with the Olympics in her sights.
She has won the downhill twice this winter and leads the World Cup standings in the discipline and was considered a favorite to win the gold medal in the event in Italy.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Rapids trade M Cole Bassett to Timbers in deal worth up to $3.6M
Jul 31, 2025; Commerce City, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rapids midfielder Cole Bassett (23) reacts in the first half against Santos Laguna at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Colorado Rapids traded midfielder Cole Bassett to the Portland Timbers FC, getting $2.65 million in return.
If Bassett, 24, meets certain performance metrics, the Rapids could receive as much as $950,000 more. Colorado also would receive a percentage of a future trade or transfer.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cole Bassett to the Portland Timbers. Cole has been an impactful player in MLS for a number of years, and his ambitions align with ours as he takes this next step in his career,” Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy said.
“He immediately makes our midfield more dynamic with his ability to join attacks and provide an end product. We look forward to his arrival, and he will be an important player for us moving forward.”
A native of Littleton, Colo., Bassett came through the Rapids’ academy and is the club’s all-time leader among homegrown players in MLS regular season appearances (155), starts (128), minutes (11,286), goals (31) and assists (22). He was the youngest player in club history to play a complete match (17 years, 77 days) and the youngest to contribute to a goal (17 years, 252 days).
Among all Rapids players, Bassett ranks tied for fifth in appearances, tied for sixth in goals and total goal contributions, and ninth in assists and minutes played in club history.
“Cole has been an important part of this club for a long time, not only for what he contributed on the field but for the way he represented the Rapids off it as well,” said Padraig Smith, the team president, in a statement on Monday.
“As a Homegrown player, he set a strong example within our locker room, in our community, and for the next generation coming through our Academy. We’re grateful for everything he’s given the club and wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career.”
Bassett was named to the MLS 22 under 22 list three times from 2019-21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Giants to add Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator
Nov 2, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy looks on during the third quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images The New York Giants plan to hire Matt Nagy as their offensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
Nagy’s primary order of business will be to continue the development of prized quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Nagy, 47, spent the past three seasons in the same post with the Kansas City Chiefs, who welcomed back Eric Bieniemy to replace him as offensive coordinator. Nagy also was the OC in Kansas City in 2017 before serving as the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2018-21, where he had a 34-31 record.
Nagy was unsuccessful in his bid to nab one of the vacant head coaching positions this offseason and now will join new head coach John Harbaugh with the Giants.
New York reportedly was interested in Todd Monken — Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator the last three seasons in Baltimore — to fill its OC position. Monken, however, was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
The Giants finished fifth in rushing and 13th in total offense this past season. Dart, a first-round selection from the 2025 draft, totaled 24 touchdowns (15 passing, nine rushing) and five interceptions in 14 games (12 starts).
–Field Level Media
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