Sports
Minus Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers hope to prey on Predators
Feb 8, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates with center Aleksander Barkov (16) and center Carter Verhaeghe (23) after scoring against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Even with star Matthew Tkachuk out indefinitely, the Florida Panthers seem poised to maintain their spot among the best in the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators are still searching for anything positive down the stretch of a disappointing season.
The Panthers aim to rebound from a home defeat when visiting the lowly Predators on Tuesday night.
Florida entered play Monday second in the Atlantic Division, one point behind Toronto. However, Tkachuk, second on the team with 57 points, will be out for an undetermined amount of time while dealing with a groin injury apparently suffered during the recent 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice told the “Joe Rose Show” on Monday that Tkachuk seems to be dealing with a long-term injury, “but he’s playing for us this year.”
Whether that means in the regular season or not until the playoffs remains to be seen.
“I don’t have a timeline on him,” Maurice added on the show. “We’re hoping it’s not too serious.”
Minus Tkachuk, Florida fell 2-1 to Seattle at home Saturday in its return from the 4 Nations break. Eetu Luostarinen scored for the Panthers, who managed only 27 shots while losing for the second time in seven games.
“We had our chances,” said Luostarinen, who has four points in his last eight games. “We can just improve from this.”
Regardless of who’s in its lineup, Florida would seem to have a good chance at bouncing back against the Predators. Carter Verhaeghe had two goals with an assist and Sam Reinhart registered one of his team-leading 31 goals during the Panthers’ 6-2 home win over Nashville on Nov. 7.
The Predators are close to the basement in the Western Conference with 47 points — ahead of only Chicago and San Jose, two teams in undisputed rebuilding mode. Nashville lost six straight before winning two in a row, then fell 5-0 to New Jersey at home on Sunday.
“It’s one of the toughest years I’ve been part of, coming in with so much expectation and just not living up to it” said Predators forward Ryan O’Reilly, a 16-year veteran.
“It hasn’t been fun, but we still have a lot of hockey left. We have to try to build on something here, and we’re not going to quit.”
Among the NHL’s lowest-scoring teams with 2.59 goals per game, Nashville has totaled just 18 in its last nine contests. Star Steven Stamkos, the Predators’ most prominent offseason acquisition, is caught in a career-worst nine-game point drought.
“I really feel for the group,” said Nashville coach Andrew Brunette, whose team has been shut out eight times this season.
Stamkos did score one of his 17 goals this season in November at Florida. Filip Forsberg, the team’s leader with 53 points, had an assist in that meeting, but he’s been blanked in six of the last eight games for Nashville.
Juuse Saros made 31 saves during Saturday’s 2-1 win over Colorado after allowing 10 goals in his previous two starts.
Meanwhile, Florida’s Sergei Bobrovsky has been on a tear in his last seven starts with five wins, a 1.74 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Panthers backup Spencer Knight stands 5-2-0 with a 1.84 GAA and a .935 save percentage as a starter since the calendar turned to 2025.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Marlins' Class A pitcher fails drug test, suspended 80 games
Sep 11, 2020; Miami, Florida, USA; A general view of a illuminated Miami Marlins logo in center field after the Miami Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies split a double header at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Miami Marlins minor league pitcher Eiver Mosquera has received an 80-game suspension for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance.
This season with Class-A Jupiter and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Marlins in 12 games (nine starts), the 19-year-old was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 16 walks in 38 innings.
Mosquera joined the organization in 2024 as a $150,000 international signing out of Venezuela.
–Field Level Media
Sports
NYCFC focusing on Fire, not player's demand, fan reaction
Sep 20, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York City FC midfielder a(7) brings the ball up the pitch against Charlotte FC during the second half at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Their leading goal scorer wants out of town and their goalkeeper is public enemy No. 1 after a costly gaffe during the World Cup played a key role in the United States losing to Belgium in the round of 16.
But New York City FC is still relying on Nicolas Fernandez Mercau and Matt Freese for big contributions Saturday night when the Chicago Fire invade Yankee Stadium.
Fernandez Mercau scored his 11th goal on a penalty kick Wednesday night during a 2-1 win at Columbus that got NYCFC (6-6-4, 22 points) to .500. It came one day after reports that the club rejected an $18 million offer for his services, leading to his demand that the team transfer him.
“You see a player that is performing for and with his team with a lot of energy,” head coach Pascal Jansen said of Fernandez Mercau. “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Freese, whose whiffed clearing attempt led to a third goal for Belgium in a 4-1 win on July 6, was booed on every touch Wednesday. Despite the jeers, he made three saves in the team’s first fixture after the World Cup break.
Meanwhile, Chicago (8-5-2, 26 points) sits third in the East table despite a 3-2 loss Wednesday night at Inter Miami. The result snapped the Fire’s three-match winning streak.
Chicago opted not to stand pat during the summer transfer window, adding Robert Lewandowski from Barcelona on a two-year deal. The 37-year-old Lewandowski, the captain of Poland’s national team, started at Miami and played 63 minutes.
“After just two days with my new team, I didn’t expect everything to work perfectly in my first game,” Lewandowski said.
Lewandowski’s signing led to the departure of star striker Hugo Cuypers. The Fire sold him to LIGA MX’s Monterrey for a reported $7.5 million after he scored 40 goals in 75 league matches over the past 2 1/2 seasons. Cuypers scored 13 goals in 11 matches this season, tying Dallas’ Petar Musa for the league lead.
NYCFC is 3-0-2 in its last five matches against Chicago.
–Field Level Media
Sports
CF Montreal acquire Brayan Ceballos from Revs for up to $850K GAM
Mar 15, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Revolution forward Luca Langoni (41) congratulates defender Brayan Ceballos (3) after he scored his second goal during the first half against the FC Cincinnati at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images The New England Revolution traded defender Brayan Ceballos to CF Montreal on Friday in exchange for up to $850,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).
The payments were divided into $500,000 in 2026 GAM, $250,000 in 2027 GAM and up to $100,000 in conditional GAM. The Revs also retained a percentage of Ceballos’ sell-on rights should he be transferred again.
“Brayan is a reliable and versatile defender who can play effectively in a variety of systems, making him an important addition to our roster,” Luca Saputo, Montreal’s managing director for recruitment and sporting methodology, said in a statement. “His strengths will complement those already present in our defensive unit. We are confident that he will contribute to our collective objectives as well as the team’s development.”
Ceballos, 25, came to the Revolution from Brazil’s Fortaleza EC in January 2025. He had three goals in 38 career games (37 starts) for the Revs, with two of those goals coming in one game this season, March 15 against Cincinnati.
“We are grateful to Brayan for all his contributions during his time in New England. We wish him all the best in Montreal,” Revolution general manager Chris Tierney said in a statement. “As we look to continue improving the first team, generating this significant amount of allocation money will allow us to continue investing in the roster in the future.”
–Field Level Media
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