Sports
High-octane Jets face Predators, aim to continue win streak
Feb 26, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) glances over during a break in the first period against the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images The Winnipeg Jets will put their franchise-record 11-game winning streak on the line when they visit the struggling Nashville Predators on Thursday night.
The Jets, who last were defeated on Jan. 20, have climbed to the top of the NHL standings. That said, they were not fooling themselves on their performance in a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday to kick off a quick two-game road swing.
“It’s not going to be pretty every night,” said forward Cole Perfetti, who opened the scoring against Ottawa. “We’ve won 11 in a row, and not every game is going to be great, but we’re still finding ways to win when we’re not at our best, and I think that says a lot about our group.”
The Ottawa game is a textbook example of the scoresheet not telling the whole story. Even though the Jets scored a pair of first-period goals and posted a 3-0 lead just past the eight-minute mark of the second period, there were flaws.
The usually defense-first Jets surrendered a dozen shots against in the opening period and relied on two-time Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to keep the Senators at bay.
Jets coach Scott Arniel said his team’s play in the first two periods was “sloppy.”
“It’s bound to happen,” he said. “We couldn’t make a play. We weren’t connecting. We did a lot of things uncharacteristic. But at the end of the day we played a lot better in the third period and did a lot of good things.”
Winnipeg is the sixth team in the past five seasons to win 11 consecutive outings. Being the second game on consecutive nights on the road, the Jets likely are to start second-stringer Eric Comrie in net on Thursday.
The Predators will finish a string of five consecutive home games having lost two straight and eight of the past 10 outings overall.
Nashville, which sits 30th overall in the league and 18 points outside of a playoff spot, lost 4-1 to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
The defeat was made all the worse with an upper-body injury suffered by captain Roman Josi when he was hit from behind by Florida’s Sam Bennett.
Josi did not participate in practice on Wednesday, and the team said he was day-to-day, albeit with an ominous qualifier.
“I don’t really know, I’m not a doctor,” Nashville coach Andrew Brunette told the Tennessean. “With those things, it’s day-to-day, week-to-week, or it could be season ending. We don’t really know.”
Regardless of how long Josi is out, the window of opportunity for a miracle run that earns the Predators a playoff spot appears to be slamming shut.
The team has scored two or fewer goals in eight of those 10 outings.
“You need to score to win in this league,” defenseman Luke Schenn said. “We get some big saves all the time. But you feel for both goalies, but (Juuse Saros) a lot. He doesn’t get much support. When you’re trying to win a game all the time and you don’t score, it’s obviously extremely challenging, and every play means that much more.”
As much as it may be a grind for the team to keep trying, Nashville’s situation is a mettle test for a club that was expected to make the playoffs.
“Just play with pride … no matter what happens throughout the rest of the year,” forward Michael McCarron said. “As a team, I don’t think we’ve really played too many full 60-minute games this year.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richardson Hitchins relinquishing IBF title after signing with Zuffa
May 21, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Richardson Hitchins (gold trunks) and Angel Rodriguez (black trunks) box during a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Just two weeks after revealing that he was signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins is relinquishing his title to pursue welterweight competition instead, Hitchins announced on social media this week.
“I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go!!!”
147 It’s time! i will be 2 division world champ Real Soon , I’ve outgrown 140 and My days at the weight is done Let’s go !!!! ????
— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) April 21, 2026
The IBF confirmed the move via an issued statement on Tuesday.
“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF wrote. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.
“We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”
Hitchins, 28, originally won his title in 2024 after a unanimous decision against Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn native is 20-0 with eight wins by knockout.
The move now ends the possibility of a reworked bout between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado, originally scheduled in replacement of Hitchins’ canceled February fight with Oscar Duarte due to Hitchins’ illness.
Delgado is in line to challenge for the vacated super lightweight title in his next fight. As the highest remaining fighters in the division, Delgado and Duarte would now seem likely opponents for one another, though both are trained by the same individual, Robert Garcia, which could complicate a potential pairing.
Hitchins followed Jai Opetaia in joining Zuffa, with the latter actually being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. For Hitchins, reclassifying could be a preemptive move to avoid having his own title stripped.
Hitchins is scheduled to make his Zuffa debut this summer.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
