Sports
Maple Leafs pledge to play Game 2 'the right way' vs. Panthers
May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) and Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) battle for position in front of the goal during the second period of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Toronto Maple Leafs are focused on what lies ahead, not retribution, as they get set to host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference second-round series.
Starting goaltender Anthony Stolarz left Game 1 on Monday midway through the second period. He took an elbow to the head from Panthers center Sam Bennett as the latter took the puck to the net, knocking Stolarz to the ice. Stolarz stayed in the game for a few minutes, but exited after vomiting into a bucket while on the Toronto bench during a break in play.
“I’ve talked to my players about focusing on the game and playing the game hard and playing it the right way,” Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube said. “If there’s an opportunity to take the body — and I don’t care who it is — you go through them.
“But if you think you’re going to get back at Bennett, you’ll end up in the penalty box. We’ve got to focus on the game and play the game the way we need to play it.”
Berube hasn’t ruled out Stolarz, who also took a shot off the mask earlier in the contest, for Game 2 as of Tuesday afternoon. Berube said that the team did not yet know if Stolarz had a concussion.
“We can only worry about what we can control as individuals and as a team,” Toronto forward Max Pacioretty said. “And we always want to stick up for one another and stick together and do it the right way.”
Pacioretty is doing plenty the right way since drawing into the lineup in Game 3 of the Maple Leafs’ first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. He scored the series-winning goal and had an assist in Game 6 against Ottawa, assisted on both of William Nylander’s tallies in Monday’s 5-4 win and leads the Maple Leafs with 27 hits despite playing in just five of their seven postseason games.
“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel,” said Pacioretty, who plays on a line with Nylander and John Tavares. “I’m trying to get the puck to two of the best players on the planet as much as I can and make life a little bit easier on them and harder on the opponent.”
The defending Stanley Cup champion Panthers, meanwhile, head into Game 2 looking to restore their structure as they eye a series split before it shifts back to Florida.
“At the end of the day, the style of play and our identity, we didn’t give ourselves much of a chance to get to that early in the game,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. “Then we got a little better as the game went on, but the score changes the way teams play sometimes.”
Florida will have defenseman Aaron Ekblad back in the lineup for the contest after he served his two-game suspension for a hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in Game 4 of the first round.
“Just closing gaps, up the ice on the rush and he puts the rest of our defense corps into a different structure of matches and things like that,” Maurice said.
They’ll be seeking a little more from their top line of Aleksander Barkov, Carter Verhaeghe and Sam Reinhart. Verhaeghe had two assists Monday, while Barkov and Reinhart were held off the scoresheet.
–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
