Sports
Islanders clash with Canadiens in pivotal conference matchup
Feb 5, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New York Islanders left wing Jonathan Drouin (29) skates past New Jersey Devils right wing Lenni Hameenaho (29) pursues during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Two teams look to solidify their holds on a playoff spot when the New York Islanders visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday in the first game for each following the NHL’s pause for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The Islanders sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 69 points, one behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for second in the division, though Pittsburgh holds two games in hand. New York won its last two games before the break and has won five of its past seven overall.
“The break gave us a chance to recover, both with little injuries and the mental aspect of the game,” Islanders center Jean-Gabriel Pageau said. “It gave us a chance to look at ourselves in the mirror and see where we can be better. We took advantage of practices in the past week to work on those details. We’re all excited to get back to action.”
The power play is one area that they will be watching. It’s been a season-long struggle on the man advantage for New York, which sits 30th in the NHL with a mere 15.7% success rate. The Islanders are 0-for-10 over their past five games, a drought that comes after their most successful stretch of the season on the power play over their previous seven outings. They went 6-for-24 during that run, connecting at a 25% clip.
They’ll also be looking for more offensive contributions from their depth, namely forward Jonathan Drouin. The 30-year-old has just three goals in 51 games this season while averaging 17:17 of ice time, third-most among active forwards on the team.
“If you probably ask him, (Drouin) probably would like to score a goal and take some pressure off of himself,” Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. “Eventually, I mean, his confidence will be back. But I like the fact that he’s focusing on the big picture. And to me, the big picture is how you play with or without the puck. … He’s bringing a lot to the team that maybe sometimes we don’t place enough attention on.”
The Canadiens will be looking to pick up where they left off before the break, having won four of five (4-0-1) and six of their previous nine.
They’ll welcome back forward Alex Newhook for Thursday’s tilt after a 40-game absence following surgery for a fractured ankle sustained Nov. 13.
“It’s been a while since he’s played, but it’s been encouraging watching him in practice this week. He has jump,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said.
Newhook was off to a solid start this season, with 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 17 games. He’s on pace for 30 points in 42 games, should he play in all of Montreal’s remaining 25 contests — an output that would match the third-highest total of his career.
“I think I gained a lot of confidence from the start of the year,” Newhook said. “I have expectations for myself and had expectations coming into the year as to where I thought I could be as a player and what kind of player I could be to this team. I think early on in the season I proved that.”
The Canadiens entered Wednesday in second place in the Atlantic Division with 72 points, tied with the Detroit Red Wings but holding a game in hand.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
Apr 4, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; Red Bull New York forward Emil Forsberg (10) tries to gain control of the ball against FC Cincinnati during the second half at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls are struggling at the opposite ends of the pitch.
Over their last four MLS matches, D.C. United have failed to score. Meanwhile, over the Red Bulls’ last four league games, they have surrendered 14 goals.
When the teams meet Wednesday night in Harrison, N.J., they will be seeking answers for their recent woes.
The lack of scoring punch is nothing new for D.C. United (2-4-2, 8 points). Last year, the club scored 30 goals, the fewest in MLS. D.C. also failed to score in four straight league matches from May 10-24, 2025.
It’s been a challenge for the Black and Red to remain positive. In addition to going 0-2-2 during their scoreless MLS run, they fell last week on penalty kicks to One Knoxville SC in a U.S. Open Cup match in which they put up three goals.
“I think we’ve shown we can create. I think it’s just about being very precise in some moments on both sides of the ball,” said D.C. goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who had four saves in a scoreless draw Saturday at the Philadelphia Union.
The offensive struggles of D.C. were evident as it took just six shots against Philadelphia, none of which were on frame. Coach Rene Weiler said he expects a similar challenge against New York (3-3-2, 11 points).
“You have to find ways to score goals,” Weiler said. “First of all, you have to accept the fight and the physical game because most of the teams on our side of the league are very physical.”
The Red Bulls look to rebound from a dispiriting 4-1 loss Saturday at CF Montreal in which their lone tally was an own goal.
Lowly CF Montreal has just two wins this season, both against the Red Bulls, who they have outscored 7-1.
Julian Hall (five goals, two assists) and Emil Forsberg (one goal, two assists) provide firepower for New York, which hopes to rediscover its defense against its longtime MLS rival.
“Games against D.C. United always carry extra weight,” Red Bulls manager Michael Bradley said. “We’re gonna step on the field at home on Wednesday night ready to give everything we have to respond in a really strong way.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–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
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Red Bulls' struggling defense clashes with woeful D.C. offense
