Sports
Calvin Pickard shines as Oilers beat Hurricanes to snap 5-game skid
Mar 1, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Calvin Pickard (30) makes a save against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images Calvin Pickard helped Edmonton end its five-game losing streak Saturday by making a season-high 35 saves for a 2-1 Oilers victory over the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C.
Adam Henrique, Corey Perry and Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers. Leon Draisaitl saw his seven-game goal-scoring streak end, but his two assists extended his points streak to 11 games. Connor McDavid, Brett Kulak and Mattias Janmark also had assists.
Sebastian Aho scored a power-play goal for Carolina. Mikko Rantanen and Shayne Gostisbehere both assisted, with the helper being Gostisbehere’s 400th career point. Frederik Andersen stopped 28 shots for the Hurricanes, who lost for the third time in their last four games.
After giving up 26 goals during their five-game losing streak, the Oilers posted one of their best defensive games of the season. Saturday’s win marked the first time since a 1-0 victory over Los Angeles on Jan. 13 that Edmonton allowed one goal or less, a span of 17 games.
Carolina went on the power play at 16:29 in the opening period when Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was called for hooking. However, Janmark corralled a loose puck in Edmonton’s defensive end and skated across the rink. He shot on goal, and the puck careened off Andersen. Henrique was there for the putback with 14:52 left in the period.
The Hurricanes had momentum in the second period, missing out on a tying goal when Jordan Martinook’s shot hit the post with 7:57 left. Still, the Oilers managed to double their lead four-and-a-half minutes later as Draisaitl threaded a backhand pass between Andersen and Jalen Chatfield to Perry for an easy tip-in.
Aho cut the deficit in half on Carolina’s fourth power play of the night. His 22nd of the year came on a cross-ice give-and-go with Rantanen, whose returning pass found Aho as he crashed the net behind Pickard with 15:34 left in the game.
Aho had a chance to tie, getting a short-handed breakaway opportunity in the final minute, but Pickard stood tall.
Bouchard ended the scoring with an empty-netter just before the buzzer.
Edmonton defenseman Darnell Nurse missed his second straight game due to an undisclosed injury.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby steps down
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; The Philadelphia Eagles logo is projected on the video board during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Philadelphia Eagles assistant general manager Alec Halaby stepped down from his post on Tuesday.
Halaby has spent 17 years in the organization, holding numerous roles before accepting the assistant general manager position in 2022. He played a role in the Eagles winning a pair of Super Bowl titles in 2018 and 2025.
“I am deeply grateful to the Eagles organization, especially (Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie) and (general manager Howie Roseman) for giving me a chance to work in the game I love,” Halaby said in a statement. “Jeffrey’s stewardship has created a first-class organization. Howie has been a mentor to me from Day One, for which I am greatly appreciative.
“It has been a rare privilege to contribute to building championship teams for the city of Philadelphia. The experience has been enriched by a set of special relationships with front office colleagues, coaches, and players. Football has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember; that won’t change. Nevertheless, after 17 years in Philadelphia, I’ve decided to step away to start a new professional chapter. It has been a wonderful journey. Go Birds.”
The specific nature of Halaby’s “new professional chapter” was not immediately known.
“Alec has been a huge part of our success, and a close friend,” Roseman said. “Although I’m sad to see him leave the organization, I am excited to see what he does next. Whatever direction he decides to go, I have no doubt that he is going to have great success. On behalf of the entire organization, I wish him the absolute best.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
Apr 8, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Adolis García (53) walks off the field after lining out to San Francisco Giants left fielder Harrison Bader (9) in the to pot the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Justine Willard-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Phillies made news on Tuesday morning, hours before opening a three-game series against the visiting San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies fired manager Rob Thomson and named bench coach Don Mattingly as their interim skipper through the 2026 season.
USA Today reported Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora, fired Friday, was offered the job and declined, opting to spend time with his family.
The floundering Phillies (9-19) have lost 11 of their last 12 games and are tied with the New York Mets (9-19) for the worst record in the majors. Both were expected to compete for the National League East title this season.
The Phillies’ run differential (-54) is by far the worst in the sport, landing Thomson on the hot seat.
“Well, that’s natural, right?” Thomson said of his job security prior to Tuesday’s news. “It’s normal. And I’ve never worried about that in my entire career. … I don’t have time to think about it.”
The Phillies snapped a 10-game losing streak Saturday with an 8-5 extra-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves. But the momentum didn’t last long, as they fell behind early in Sunday’s 6-2 series-finale loss.
Aaron Nola allowed three runs in the first inning and three more in the second, and the Phillies’ bats managed only one hit (a single) in six innings against Chris Sale.
“It’s not like the record is going to change overnight,” said designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, whose two-run homer in the eighth accounted for the Phillies’ offense on the day. “It’s going to be a continuous grind, and we’re ready for that. We know that there’s a long road ahead.”
The Phillies’ attempted path to recovery will begin Tuesday with Jesus Luzardo (1-3, 6.91 ERA) on the mound. The left-hander has labored through the first month of the season, although he was able to limit the damage in his most recent outing.
Despite allowing five hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday, Luzardo gave up just one run in an eventual 7-4 defeat. Still, he expects more of himself after signing a five-year, $135 million contract extension in the offseason.
“It’s very frustrating,” Luzardo said. “As a whole, we don’t feel like we’re doing the job that we need to do. … I think there’s been times that a lot of us think that we can pick up the slack, me included.”
Luzardo, who is 2-1 with a 5.23 ERA in six career starts against San Francisco, will be facing a team that has turned things around following a slow start of its own.
The Giants have won seven of their last 10 games after beginning the season 6-12. They have won three series in a row — against the Washington Nationals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins.
In Sunday’s 6-3 triumph over Miami, San Francisco’s Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game.
“That’s what we’re here for: to drive in runs and be productive,” said Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, who walked and scored in the decisive seventh inning. “But we are a team, and Casey’s hot right now.”
Landen Roupp allowed just two hits and three runs over 7 2/3 innings — a performance that Tyler Mahle (1-3, 5.26) would love to copy in Tuesday’s contest.
Mahle is coming off a sparkling effort in last Wednesday’s 3-0 win over the Dodgers, as he gave up just three hits and two walks over seven innings.
In four lifetime starts against Philadelphia, Mahle is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA. He held the Phillies to three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings April 8 in San Francisco, helping the Giants take two of three in that series.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Dash sign USL Super League MVP Emina Ekic
Aug 20, 2022; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Racing Louisville FC forward Emina Ekic (13) takes a shot against the OL Reign in the Women’s Cup championship match at Lynn Family Stadium. Mandatory Credit: EM Dash-Imagn Images The Houston Dash signed USL Super League Player of the Year Emina Ekic through the 2027 NWSL season.
The deal announced Tuesday with the 26-year-old midfielder includes a mutual option for 2028.
Ekic joins the Dash on a transfer from Lexington SC of the USL Super League.
She was named that league’s inaugural Player of the Year with the Spokane Zephyr in 2024-25 after tallying 10 goals and six assists.
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft, Ekic began her professional career with Racing Louisville with 38 appearances from 2021-23.
–Field Level Media
Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby steps down
After managerial change, Phillies look to alter fortunes vs. Giants
