Sports
No rest for weary as Devils host Ducks
Oct 25, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils left wing Jesper Bratt (63) celebrates his goal against the New York Islanders during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images The New Jersey Devils have a unique understanding of the challenges that the Anaheim Ducks are facing early this season.
A busy schedule continues for both teams Sunday night when the Devils host the Ducks in Newark, N.J.
Both teams will be trying to bounce back from one-goal defeats.
The Devils dropped their fourth straight decision (0-2-2) on Friday when they overcame a trio of one-goal deficits before falling 4-3 to the visiting New York Islanders in overtime. The Ducks will be looking to rebound following a 2-1 setback to the New York Rangers on Saturday.
The loss to the Islanders ended a back-to-back home-and-away set for the Devils, who lost to the Detroit Red Wings, 5-3, on Thursday night. It was the third back-to-back of the season for New Jersey, which has played an NHL-high 11 games.
The Devils opened the season with consecutive wins over the Buffalo Sabres in the Czech Republic on Oct. 4-5 and have had more than one day off in between games just once since resuming their schedule Oct. 10.
The impact of the condensed schedule may be showing in New Jersey’s recent defensive struggles. The Devils have been outscored 23-16 during their losing streak, during which they’ve allowed at least four goals in every game.
The Devils gave up four goals in a game just twice during their 5-2-0 start.
“Today we were chasing the game right from the get-go and that’s a challenge, but guys stayed with it until the end and I thought we got better as the game went on,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Listen, the league is hard. (Friday) was our ninth game in the last 16 days. It’s a tough schedule.”
The schedule hasn’t been easy and won’t get any less difficult for the Ducks, who have played just three games at home and won’t play again at the Honda Center until Nov. 3.
Anaheim began a four-game road trip against Metropolitan Division foes Saturday. The Ducks will face the Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday and Thursday night, respectively.
The Ducks continued to play well defensively while finding it difficult to generate offense Saturday. Goalie Lukas Dostal stopped the first 27 shots in a scoreless duel before Ryan Lindgren scored 4:13 into the third. Will Cuylle added what proved to be the game-winning goal 7:40 later.
Defenseman Olen Zellweger scored with 7:22 remaining in the third period for the Ducks, who have scored three goals or fewer in six of their seven games.
“I thought we picked it up about halfway through the second period,” Ducks coach Greg Cronin said. “We’re just having a hard time scoring goals right now. You get energy in a game and you get some chances, they don’t go in — we’re at that point now where I think guys are starting to press. Just have to find a way to get some blue-collar goals.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
RFA Cole Sillinger signs 3-year deal with Blue Jackets
Oct 13, 2025; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Cole Sillinger (4) walking the blue carpet greeting fans before the game on opening night against the New York Islanders at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images Restricted free-agent forward Cole Sillinger avoided arbitration by signing a three-year, $13.875 million contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The deal, announced Saturday, spans through the 2028-29 season.
The move comes one day after the Blue Jackets avoided arbitration by signing goaltender Jet Greaves to a three-year, $15 million contract.
“Cole is a hard-working, reliable two-way forward who plays the game the right way, has outstanding character and continues to grow and improve,” said Don Waddell, Blue Jackets’ president of hockey operations and general manager.
“He has played a lot of games in this league at a very young age, and we are excited about his future and his contributions to our organization.”
Sillinger, 23, recorded 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) and a plus-2 rating in 81 games last season with the Blue Jackets. He was playing in the last season of a two-year, $4.5 million contract.
Sillinger has totaled 140 points (51 goals, 89 assists) in 367 career games since being selected by Columbus with the 12th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Draft.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Super Bowl-winner Jordan Devey dies at 38
Sep 27, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Jordan Devey reacts against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Jordan Devey, a retired NFL offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, died at age 38.
According to a GoFundMe page started to benefit his wife, Linsey, and their four young children, Devey “took his own life.” As of Saturday morning, the fund had collected more than $92,000 of its $200,000 goal.
Devey was the rare NFL player who didn’t play high school football, giving up the sport after junior high. Afflicted by a disease that causes knee inflammation and pain in children and teens, Devey played tuba in the school band.
After a two-year mission with the Church of Latter Day Saints, he enrolled in Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, and played two years of football since his knee issue had lessened. He transferred to Memphis for his final two seasons, then signed with the Baltimore Ravens after being unselected in the 2013 NFL Draft.
The Patriots signed the 6-foot-7 Devey to their practice squad that September and promoted him to the active roster in 2014 — the same season New England defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLIX.
He played with the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, appearing in a career-high 15 games (nine starts), then followed with stops with the Kansas City Chiefs, then-Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills through the 2020 season. In all, he played in 44 NFL games (21 starts).
Following his career, he volunteered as a coach of his kids’ teams and coached high school football coach in Idaho.
In an interview with Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, Leslie Devey said she believed the brain injury CTE contributed to her son’s death on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jays' Addison Barger to have elbow surgery, out for season
Mar 18, 2026; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger (47) hits a home run during the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at TD Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger will undergo surgery on his right elbow Monday and will miss the remainder of the season.
The Blue Jays announced the news on Friday for Barger, who played in just nine games this season.
After missing more than one month with an ankle injury, Barger injured his elbow in his return to the field on May 9. Per manager John Schneider, Barger’s injury was sustained after the outfielder threw a 101.2-mph throw to nail a tagging runner at the plate.
“It’s tough to lose the whole year of at-bats, reps and performance,” Schneider said. “We were counting on him to be a big part of our team. You can see how much we miss him, for sure. It’s also a dude starting his career and trending in the right direction who’s missing, basically, a full season. It’s frustrating for him and for us.”
Barger, 26, went 1-for-22 (.045) with two RBIs this season after hitting 21 homers with 74 RBIs in 135 games in 2025. He batted .367 (22-for-60) with three home runs and nine RBIs in 17 games during the 2025 postseason.
Since making his major league debut in 2024, Barger is a career .223 hitter with 28 home runs and 104 RBIs in 213 games for the Blue Jays.
–Field Level Media
