Sports
Islanders, Penguins in playoff mode with second place on line
Mar 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) celebrates his goal against the Florida Panthers during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images The New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins square off in a battle for second place in the Metropolitan Division when they face each other in Elmont, N.Y., on Monday.
As the clubs meet with one point separating them, the Islanders (42-27-5, 89 points) are on a mini two-game winning streak, and the Penguins (36-21-16, 88 points) are battling double trouble — an uneven stretch of games without two of their offensive catalysts.
The Islanders are coming off a 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Saturday, when they erased a two-goal deficit by scoring five goals in the second period.
“The rest of the games are playoff games,” Islanders forward Bo Horvat said. “They’re big games for us, big points, and we need all the wins we can get.”
New York has won three of its last four games, with positive signs all over.
Brayden Schenn, acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline, scored a goal in a three-point game Saturday, his first multi-point performance since the move.
Matthew Schaefer, the rising star drafted first overall last summer, collected a pair of assists to tie the team record for points by a rookie defenseman (56, set by Stefan Persson in 1977-78).
With the likes of Horvat and Mat Barzal held off the scoresheet for New York, Marc Gatcomb emerged to snap a 36-game goal drought.
“We just keep sticking to the gameplan,” Gatcomb said. “We’ve been great with comebacks and stuff like that. We’ve been staying resilient. I think the main focus was just getting pucks on net. We got some good bounces there, and they just started going in.”
The Penguins, meanwhile, have lost three of four games, with the latest setback a 6-3 home loss at the hands of the Dallas Stars on Sunday.
Pittsburgh surrendered leads of 1-0 and 2-1 en route to the defeat, although the game was not as one-sided as the final score indicated. Dallas netted a pair of empty-net goals after the Penguins made it a 4-3 affair midway through the final period.
“We had a great start,” Penguins forward Bryan Rust said. “I thought we were in their face. We had some really good shifts. Got into penalty trouble. I think that hurt us. I don’t think we did a very good job of playing hard and simple to get that momentum back on our side.”
The Penguins are hoping for reinforcements to turn their fortunes in a hurry. Captain and leading scorer Sidney Crosby missed the Dallas game due to a lower-body injury. Evgeni Malkin has missed three games due to an upper-body issue.
They both practiced Sunday without contact jerseys, which bodes well.
“Guys have to take on different responsibilities, different minutes, you know, from maybe what they’ve had in the past,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Muse said. “Obviously, with Sid and with Geno, not one person is going to go in there and suddenly replace them. All these things have to be done by committee.”
Defenseman Erik Karlsson has elevated his play of late. Karlsson has posted consecutive games with one goal and two assists. He has netted two or more points in nine March games and collected 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) in 15 games this month.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Former Vikings Pro Bowl S Joey Browner dies
Oct 27, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Former Minnesota Vikings safety Joey Browner smiles as his was honored before the game with the Green Bay Packers at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Packers win 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Former Minnesota Vikings’ six-time Pro Bowl safety Joey Browner died on Saturday. He was 65.
The Vikings announced the passing of Browner on Sunday, one day after the team announced former middle linebacker Jeff Siemon had died. The team did not announce the cause of death of either former player.
Selected by Minnesota with the 19th overall pick of the 1983 NFL Draft out of Southern California, Browner spent nine of his 10 NFL seasons with the Vikings.
Browner had 37 interceptions with 17 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries in 145 career games (117 starts) for the Vikings (1983-91) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992). He was a first-team All-Pro performer four times and was part of the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team.
In 2010, Browner was named one of the 50 greatest Vikings players of all time and was inducted into the team’s ring of honor in 2013.
“We’ve lost a great friend and one of the best Vikings teammates,” former Vikings tight end Steve Jordan said. “God blessed Joey with phenomenal talent and a big heart to love people and be a beacon of positivity. Truly, he will be missed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Verstappen says he is considering F1 retirement
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory of the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Max Verstappen said his current unhappiness has left all options on the table, including retirement once the current Formula 1 season ends.
A winner of 71 career F1 races, which trails only Lewis Hamilton (105) and Michael Schumacher (91) all time, Verstappen finished eighth at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The four-time F1 drivers’ champion from 2021 to 2024 for Red Bull relinquished his seat at the top of the sport when McLaren’s Lando Norris won the title last season.
Verstappen, 29, has bemoaned recent technical changes to F1 cars and reiterated his disappointment Sunday, according to the BBC. New F1 engines now have a 50-50 split between electrical power and fuel combustion.
On the record as critical of the changes, the Dutch driver was asked if there was a chance he would walk away from his Red Bull contract that runs through the 2028 season.
“That’s what I’m saying,” said Verstappen, who finished sixth in the season-opening race at Australia, did not finish at China and had his worst finish of the season Sunday.
With races at Bahrain and Saudi Arabia canceled this season because of conflict in the Middle East, the F1 schedule now heads into a one-month pause and will return May 3 at Miami. It is widely believed that Verstappen will weigh his future before racing resumes, while expecting to finish out the season regardless of what he decides.
“Privately I’m very happy,” Verstappen said, according to the BBC. “You also wait for 24 races. This (season) it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”
Verstappen is not only struggling in races, he failed to emerge from the second stage of pole qualifying Saturday when only the best 10 lap times move on to the third and final stage.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Max Verstappen says he is considering F1 retirement
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory of the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Max Verstappen said his current unhappiness has left all options on the table, including retirement once the current Formula 1 season ends.
A winner of 71 career F1 races, which trails only Lewis Hamilton (105) and Michael Schumacher (91) all time, Verstappen finished eighth at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The four-time F1 drivers’ champion from 2021 to 2024 for Red Bull relinquished his seat at the top of the sport when McLaren’s Lando Norris won the title last season.
Verstappen, 29, has bemoaned recent technical changes to F1 cars and reiterated his disappointment Sunday, according to the BBC. New F1 engines now have a 50-50 split between electrical power and fuel combustion.
On the record as critical of the changes, the Dutch driver was asked if there was a chance he would walk away from his Red Bull contract that runs through the 2028 season.
“That’s what I’m saying,” said Verstappen, who finished sixth in the season-opening race at Australia, did not finish at China and had his worst finish of the season Sunday.
With races at Bahrain and Saudi Arabia canceled this season because of conflict in the Middle East, the F1 schedule now heads into a one-month pause and will return May 3 at Miami. It is widely believed that Verstappen will weigh his future before racing resumes, while expecting to finish out the season regardless of what he decides.
“Privately I’m very happy,” Verstappen said, according to the BBC. “You also wait for 24 races. This (season) it’s 22. But normally 24. And then you just think about is it worth it? Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”
Verstappen is not only struggling in races, he failed to emerge from the second stage of pole qualifying Saturday when only the best 10 lap times move on to the third and final stage.
–Field Level Media
Former Vikings Pro Bowl S Joey Browner dies
Max Verstappen says he is considering F1 retirement
