Connect with us

Sports

Maple Leafs, Flames out for more after brushing off skids

NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs at Utah MammothJan 13, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates with the puck against Utah Mammoth defenseman Nate Schmidt (88) during the third period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames each snapped pronounced losing streaks on Saturday.

On Monday, one of those teams will look to pick up a second consecutive victory at the other’s expense when they meet in Calgary.

William Nylander made his presence felt in his return from injury on Saturday, scoring in a shootout to help the Maple Leafs halt a six-game slide (0-5-1) with a 3-2 victory over the reeling Vancouver Canucks.

Nylander showed no ill effects of the groin injury that sidelined him for seven games after he scored on a backhand deke in the first round of the shootout.

Although Nylander technically was held off the scoresheet on Saturday, he had totaled six goals and six assists in his previous six games. Nylander leads the team in both assists (31) and points (48).

Captain Auston Matthews, who boasts a team-best 26 goals, atoned for being stopped on a penalty shot with 1:14 left in overtime by converting in the extra session on Saturday.

“I came down with an idea what I wanted to do, and it obviously didn’t work out but coming down that first time, I was just going to stick to my guns, but I thought there was some room there on that glove side,” Matthews said. “Luckily, I got that second opportunity in the shootout, and I didn’t want to make that mistake twice.”

Matthews effectively made a winner out of Joseph Woll, who finished with 28 saves as the Maple Leafs recorded their second win in the last 10 games (2-6-2).

“Big to get back in the win column,” Woll said. “And I thought an unbelievable third period by us, really setting the tone for the rest of the game, overtime, and two big goals by our big dogs in the shootout and that’s a great win. From here on out, we need every game pretty badly, so it’s going to be playoff mindset.”

Max Domi scored early in the third period on Saturday to extend his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists).

Domi joined Matthew Knies in tallying twice in Toronto’s 4-3 win over Calgary on Oct. 28. Anthony Stolarz made 26 saves in that game and may draw the start again on Monday.

Joel Farabee, who scored in the previous encounter versus the Maple Leafs, converted with his team short-handed at 6:53 of the third period to lift the Flames to a 3-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. Farabee is tied for the NHL lead with four short-handed goals.

Morgan Frost scored a goal for the third time in four games for the Flames, who halted a five-game slide (0-3-2).

“It’s nice to produce, for sure,” said Frost, who also scored against Toronto earlier this season. “I was definitely going through a rough stretch there before and I’m just trying to build it back. I thought (Saturday) was one of my better ones of the year.

“I think that’s always been the thing with me, though, is keeping it going for a long stretch of time. I’m not going to be satisfied with that.”

–Field Level Media

source

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sports

Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close

MLB: Miami Marlins at Atlanta BravesApr 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

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte

MLS: CF Montreal at Orlando CityMar 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

source

Continue Reading

Sports

Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC

MLS: Austin FC at Toronto FCApr 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

source

Continue Reading