Sports
Last-place Sharks, Blackhawks aim to build on recent wins
Oct 20, 2024; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman (96) skates with the puck against the Colorado Avalanche during the first period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images It may be a battle of the Western Conference’s two divisional cellar dwellers, but both the Chicago Blackhawks and host San Jose Sharks head into Thursday’s matchup on a winning note.
The Blackhawks hit the West Coast after snapping a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 road win over the Colorado Avalanche on Monday, while the Sharks kicked off a five-game homestand with a solid 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
In fact, the Sharks have won consecutive games – claiming a 5-4 comeback victory in overtime over the Utah Hockey Club Monday in Salt Lake City – after starting the season winless in their first nine games.
“A win’s a win. It doesn’t matter where it is. We want to win hockey games here,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “(I’m) proud of the guys (Tuesday) in the back-to-back effort, the way we performed, the way we showed up, and how we worked was how it should look. Proud of the group.”
To say it has been a rough stretch for the Sharks, who are in last place in the Pacific Division, would be an understatement. After finishing last in the league in the 2023-24 campaign, hopes were high they had reached rock bottom and could turn the corner. Instead, they struggled out of the blocks.
However, spirits are higher thanks to a pair of victories, and probably nobody is feeling better than Jake Walman. The defenseman scored once in a three-point performance against the Kings after collecting three assists in Utah the previous night.
“I think we can all contribute. We’ve all kind of individually done it in the past,” Walman said. “Any time we can help the forwards out, the biggest thing is just getting it up to them. We have so many skilled forwards.”
Chicago, which beat the Sharks 4-2 in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 17, is playing the third game of a five-game road trip that will conclude with a pair of clashes against the two Southern California clubs.
Beating the Avalanche to finally snap their skid was a huge boost for the Blackhawks, who had been on the wrong side of a few close games during their swoon.
“I think we deserved what we got (Monday), and there’s been nights that we probably didn’t deserve the final fate,” coach Luke Richardson said. “We could have easily had a few more wins, and I think this team and the whole organization is tired of the moral victories. So, (this win) was a really big step for us to take a real victory and put it in the back of our minds how we did it.”
Chicago was the better team through the first period against Colorado and took advantage. Ryan Donato scored his first of two goals in the game late in the opening frame to stake a 3-1 lead.
And if his offensive contributions were not enough, Donato – along with linemates Jason Dickinson and Ilya Mikheyev – kept Colorado star Nathan MacKinnon (one power-play goal) reasonably in check.
“There’s so many times the last couple games where we feel like we played pretty well, and five minutes we take off they’re back in the game. We just find a way to not finish it off,” Donato said.
“I think we all came in the locker room after the second (period) and said it wasn’t good enough, we’ve got to step back up. There’s not much to say other than just getting the job done, and that’s kind of what happened.”
Chicago enters Thursday’s game tied with Nashville at the bottom of the Central Division.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
