Sports
Home has been sweet for Kings as they welcome Blackhawks
Oct 29, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings center Anze Kopitar (11) skates against the San Jose Sharks during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images It’s been 14 years since the Los Angeles Kings won their first four home games of the season.
Meanwhile, it only seems that long since they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Kings can continue their undefeated home start with a sixth consecutive overall victory against the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Los Angeles followed its 3-2-2 opening stretch — all on the road — by winning three of its last four games. The three latest wins came at home, most recently 6-3 over the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday.
Captain Anze Kopitar had a goal with two assists, Adrian Kempe recorded one of each and Brandt Clarke added three helpers for Los Angeles, which last opened with four consecutive home victories during an 8-0-0 start in 2010-11.
“Consistency is something that we’re going to have to bring a little more often and be something that we have to be prepared for, both mentally and physically before every game,” said Kempe, who has four goals and six assists in the Kings’ 10 games.
“It feels good when you have the puck and you make the right plays and then the puck eventually goes in.”
Kempe has a goal with six assists in his last three games versus Chicago. Meanwhile, Kopitar, who recorded his 800th career assist Wednesday, has four goals with an assist in his last three contests against the Blackhawks.
The Kings have outscored Chicago 20-8 during a five-game winning streak since their 2-1 overtime road loss on Nov. 3, 2022. Los Angeles is 8-0-2 since its most recent regulation defeat against the Blackhawks on Oct. 27, 2019.
Two of Chicago’s three wins through 11 games this season have come on the road. The Blackhawks, however, dropped to 1-2-0 on their current five-game road stretch after Thursday’s 3-2 loss at San Jose.
First-period goals from Ryan Donato and Tyler Bertuzzi gave Chicago a 2-1 lead, but it allowed two goals in the second and failed to catch up. The Blackhawks were left frustrated after totaling 28 shots on goal and going 0-for-3 on the power play for the night.
“You’re disappointed in yourselves,” Donato told the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s a hard loss.
“We’ve been saying in the locker room that we’re not going to take any moral victories, and getting chances is just not good enough.”
While the Blackhawks have been held to fewer than three goals seven times this season, Donato is the team leader with six tallies. His career high in his previous seven NHL seasons was 16 goals in 2021-22.
Donato did have a goal with an assist during the Blackhawks’ 5-4 overtime loss at Los Angeles during the most recent meeting from April 18 of last season.
Petr Mrazek (3.05 goals-against average) made 26 saves for Chicago on Thursday in his fifth straight start. Meanwhile, backup Arvid Soderblom (2.52 GAA) has dealt with an illness of late, and made just two starts on the young season.
Los Angeles’ Darcy Kuemper made 23 saves Wednesday against Vegas and has a 3.16 goals-against average while going 3-0-2 this season. Teammate David Rittich has allowed 11 goals in his last three starts after yielding six through his first three of 2024-25.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
Sep 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (54) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Right-hander Lucas Giolito signed a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the Padres, however there is a mutual option for the 2027 season. He’ll begin his major league buildup at Single-A Lake Elsinore, per MLB.com.
The addition of Giolito comes with San Diego nursing injuries to its starting rotation, namely right-hander Nick Pivetta (right flexor strain). Joe Musgrove (recovering from Tommy John surgery) and Griffin Canning (Achilles) have yet to make their respective season debuts, and fellow right-hander Yu Darvish is on the Padres’ restricted list while he recovers from elbow surgery.
Giolito, 31, posted a 10-4 record with a 3.41 ERA in 26 appearances (all starts) last season with the Boston Red Sox.
He is 71-66 with a 4.30 ERA over 206 appearances (204 starts) with the Washington Nationals (2016), Chicago White Sox (2017-23), Los Angeles Angels (2023), Cleveland Guardians (2023) and Red Sox (2025). He was selected by the Nationals with the 16th overall pick in 2012.
San Diego transferred right-hander Bryan Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday to make room for Giolito on the 40-man roster.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Germany F Serge Gnabry (thigh) to miss World Cup
Jul 5, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; FC Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry (7) warms up before a quarterfinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Germany forward Serge Gnabry confirmed on Wednesday that he will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup due to injury.
His pro club Bayern Munich announced on Saturday that Gnabry, 30, had torn the adductor muscle in his right thigh.
“The last few days have been tough to process,” he posted on Instagram. “A Bayern season which still holds much to play for after securing another Bundesliga title on the weekend.
“As for the World Cup dream with Germany … That’s sadly over for me. Like the rest of the country, I’ll be supporting the boys from home. Now it’s time to focus on recovery and getting back for pre-season.”
Gnabry recorded eight goals and six assists this season for the Bundesliga champions in 2025-26, his eighth season with Bayern Munich.
Internationally, Gnabry has scored 26 goals in 59 caps since making his debut for Germany in 2016. He started every World Cup qualifier and two friendlies in March leading up to this summer’s tournament in North America.
Germany is No. 10 in the latest FIFA world rankings. The four-time World Cup champions are in Group E along with Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador. Their opening match is against Curacao on June 14 in Houston.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Phillies C J.T. Realmuto heading to injured list
Mar 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) at bat against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The slumping Philadelphia Phillies are placing catcher J.T. Realmuto on the 10-day injured list with a lower-back injury, The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Realmuto, 35, sat out two games before returning Tuesday and going 0-for-4 in a 7-4 road loss to the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia’s seventh straight defeat.
The three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove backstop is batting .259 with one home run and four RBIs through 17 games this season.
The Phillies are expected to call up catcher Garrett Stubbs from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to split time behind the plate with Rafael Marchan, per the report.
Realmuto is a lifetime .270 hitter with 181 homers and 681 RBIs in 1,390 career games with the Miami Marlins (2014-18) and Phillies (2019-26).
–Field Level Media
Padres bolster rotation, sign RHP Lucas Giolito to 1-year deal
Germany F Serge Gnabry (thigh) to miss World Cup
