Sports
Flyers, Penguins open home-and-home stuck in Metro basement
Feb 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) controls the puck against the Edmonton Oilers in the third period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins have returned from the midseason break to the tune of very different results.
The Flyers will try to build off a strong performance when they host the scuffling Penguins on Tuesday in the first game of a home-and-home series.
Philadelphia looked strong in its initial game following the league’s two-week pause for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The Flyers thumped the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 on Saturday as Owen Tippett scored twice and Matvei Michkov notched a goal and an assist.
The team also received key contributions from Andrei Kuzmenko, who notched his first goal since coming over in a trade with Calgary, and Sean Couturier, who registered his 200th career goal.
“Everybody chipped in,” Flyers coach John Tortorella said. “It was up and down for a little bit, but we didn’t panic, and they made some big plays at key times.”
Prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off, Tippett had missed five games due to an upper-body injury.
“I think the break came at a good time for me,” said the talented winger. “Obviously it (stinks) being out, but luckily it came at a good time and I’m happy to be back now.”
Tippett isn’t the only one.
“Ready for the rest of the season,” Michkov, a rookie who has slumped in recent months, said through an interpreter. “Needed that break.”
The Penguins also needed a break, particularly after a 3-2 defeat to the Flyers in both teams’ last game before the 4 Nations tournament. However, their return to the ice hasn’t exactly provided the desired results either.
Pittsburgh absorbed an 8-3 loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday, followed by a 5-3 defeat against the New York Rangers on Sunday, both at home.
The Penguins actually led the Rangers 3-2 after Ryan Shea scored twice early in the third period, but New York tallied three times down the stretch to escape with the win.
“I thought we fought hard,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “We didn’t get the result. We’ve got to figure out where we go from here. But it’s not doom and gloom. I think this group understands that type of an attitude doesn’t get us anywhere. So, we’re going to have to dig in here. We’ll keep fighting. We’ll keep battling. We’ll try to get the result the next game.”
That next game is a matchup with a Flyers, who the Penguins pounded 7-3 on Dec. 23 before Philadelphia drew even in the season series on Feb. 8. Tuesday’s meeting — and Thursday’s rematch in Pittsburgh — are the final two encounters between the teams this season.
The Flyers and Penguins currently sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division standings. Philadelphia (57 points) and Pittsburgh (55) will both need to accumulate points in a hurry to get back into the playoff picture.
“Listen, we understand where we’re at,” Sullivan said. “We know that every game is important. Every two points are important. We’re just going to stay in the moment and keep fighting, and we’re going to fight till the very end. We’re going to do everything we can to stay in the race here.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins' Class A pitcher fails drug test, suspended 80 games
Sep 11, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a illuminated Miami Marlins logo in center field after the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies split a double header at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Miami Marlins minor league pitcher Eiver Mosquera has received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
This season with Class-A Jupiter and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins in 12 games (nine starts), the 19-year-old was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 16 walks in 38 innings.
Mosquera joined the organization in 2024 as a $150,000 international signing out of Venezuela.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
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