Sports
Elvis Merzlikins, Blue Jackets shut out struggling Islanders
Oct 30, 2024; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (90 flips the puck after making a save against the New York Islanders in the first period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images Elvis Merzlikins made 28 saves for the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 2-0 win against the visiting New York Islanders on Wednesday night.
Merzlikins earned the opportunity to start consecutive games for the first time this season after making 31 stops in a 6-1 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
After missing out on a shutout by 27 seconds against the Oilers, Merzlikins responded by recording his 11th NHL shutout against the Islanders.
Damon Severson broke a scoreless tie in the third period and Justin Danforth scored into an empty net for the Blue Jackets, who have won two in a row for the first time this season.
Semyon Varlamov made 24 saves for the Islanders, who have one win in regulation through their first 10 games.
Severson broke the scoreless tie at 5:43 into the third period.
Kevin Labanc helped win the puck on the forecheck and Sean Kuraly got it out to Severson at the right point. He made a move to get around New York winger Hudson Fasching and then carried the puck deep into the Islanders zone before taking a sharp angle shot from just above the goal line.
The puck hit the skate of Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock, who was trying to box out Columbus center James van Riemsdyk, and was redirected into his own net for a 1-0 lead.
The Islanders pulled Varlamov for the extra skater with about 2 1/2 minutes left and Danforth scored into the empty net with 2:03 left for a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders, who were coming off a 3-1 loss to the visiting Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday, have been shut out four times in 10 games this season.
Severson briefly appeared to score with 1:32 left in the first period, but it was quickly waved off for goalie interference.
The Islanders went on the first power play of the game at 13:50 of the second period when Danforth was called for interference on Adam Pelech, which had sprung a 2-on-1 break.
The Islanders had a 11-7 advantage in shots on goal in the second period to give them an 16-15 edge heading to the third.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami to visit White House
Dec 6, 2025; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA; Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) lifts the Philip F. Anschutz trophy after winning the 2025 MLS Cup against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Inter Miami received an invitation to the White House to commemorate the team’s MLS Cup championship in 2025, The Athletic reported.
The Miami Herald confirmed that the Herons will visit the White House on Thursday, two days before they play D.C. United in Washington, D.C. The newspaper also reported that every player — including superstar Lionel Messi — is expected to attend the ceremony with President Donald Trump.
Inter Miami captured the franchise’s first MLS Cup trophy by posting a 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Dec. 6 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Herons co-owner David Beckham previously attended a White House ceremony while with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2012. The Galaxy won the title in 2011.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Giants planning to release LB Bobby Okereke
Nov 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (58) leaves the field after losing to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images The New York Giants are planning to cut inside linebacker Bobby Okereke in a cost-saving move, The Athletic reported Saturday.
Releasing the seven-year NFL veteran, who turns 30 in July, will save the Giants $9 million against the 2026 salary cap.
Okereke has led New York in tackles in two of his three seasons with the team, including 143 stops in 2025 and 149 in 2023.
Okereke added one sack, two interceptions and one fumble recovery in 17 games (all starts) for the Giants in 2025.
He has recorded 805 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven interceptions and 11 forced fumbles in 110 career games (95 starts) with the Colts (2019-22) and Giants. Indianapolis drafted him in the third round in 2019.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reddick starts bid for 3rd straight NASCAR Cup win with pole run
Feb 22, 2026; Hampton, Georgia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Tyler Reddick rounds the track at EchoPark Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Mady Mertens-Imagn Images AUSTIN, Texas — One of the few things that wasn’t startling about Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series qualifying session at Circuit of the Americas was Tyler Reddick’s run for the pole position.
Negotiating the 2.4-mile road course in 97.760 seconds (88.380 mph) in the second qualifying group, Reddick claimed his third Busch Light Pole Award in six attempts at the track. He will lead the field to green in Sunday’s DuraMAX Grand Prix Powered by Reladyne (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Of course, there’s more at stake for Reddick than simply a victory at COTA. In winning at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta last Sunday, the driver of the No. 45 Toyota became the sixth Cup competitor to start a season with two consecutive wins. No driver has ever won three straight to open a season.
The 23XI Racing driver acknowledged that the pole position, the 12th of his career, is a positive first step toward that goal.
“It helps the chances, certainly,” said Reddick, whose series-best average finish of 4.6 at COTA includes a victory in 2023. “I think starting up front is huge.”
Michael McDowell led the first qualifying group of 19 drivers with a lap at 88.031 mph but fell to sixth soon after the second group took to the track. Ultimately, Ross Chastain posted the second-fastest lap at 88.256 mph (97.897 seconds) and will start on the front row beside Reddick.
The shocker was not that Chastain, the 2022 COTA winner, fashioned an excellent lap. What was surprising was that his two Trackhouse Racing teammates, Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch — both vaunted road course racers — failed to crack the top 10 in qualifying.
Van Gisbergen was 13th fastest on his third lap. Zilisch could do no better than 25th. Van Gisbergen is seeking his sixth straight road course victory in the Cup Series, a mark that would tie NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for most consecutive road course wins.
Chase Briscoe (88.242 mph) will start third, followed by Ryan Blaney (88.179 mph) and Chase Elliott (88.161 mph). Elliott leads active drivers with seven road course victories.
Behind McDowell in sixth, AJ Allmendinger qualified seventh, followed by defending race winner Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and William Byron.
“We’ll see how it gets going,” Reddick said. “Certainly, Ross, Shane, Ryan Blaney-there’s a number of good drivers who were really strong in practice today. We’ll try to understand what that all looks like and make our best decisions on the car and everything.”
–Field Level Media
Reports: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami to visit White House
Report: Giants planning to release LB Bobby Okereke
