Sports
Oilers hope to keep staying afloat without Connor McDavid, face Flames
Nov 1, 2024; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames center Jonathan Huberdeau (10) celebrates his goal with teammates against the New Jersey Devils during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images This season’s first full game without superstar Connor McDavid was a roaring success. Now, the goal for the Edmonton Oilers is to replicate their latest performance when they visit the Calgary Flames on Sunday.
The Oilers somewhat surprisingly limped out of the gates when the season kicked off, but thanks to a dominant 5-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday, they have won three of their past four games.
Winning in such emphatic fashion without McDavid, who is expected to miss two to three weeks due to an ankle injury, is a confidence boost.
“We don’t want to play without Connor, but everyone was just a bit better,” Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch said after his team’s practice on Saturday. “Also, we were able to finish on our opportunities, which is something we haven’t been able to do earlier.”
The Oilers had huge expectations after reaching the Stanley Cup Final last season but opened the new campaign with three straight losses, including a 4-1 setback against the Flames on Oct. 13. Edmonton managed only two victories in its first seven outings.
Beating the Predators has the Oilers believing the ship has been righted.
“We’re pretty confident. We’re not just a one-man team,” Edmonton forward Zach Hyman insisted. “We have a lot of pieces that can step up. It’s nice to get that win, and before that we were confident as a group.
“Every team goes through injuries. It’s unfortunate we have the best player in the world and he’s not playing. It doesn’t help, but it does give others opportunities to step up and play better. That’s a good thing for this team. … Hopefully, when he comes back, we’re a better team.”
The Flames are coming off an impressive win of their own, a 3-0 home-ice victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday, which snapped a four-game skid.
“We deserved to win, I thought our effort was much better all around,” said Calgary forward Blake Coleman, who scored twice against New Jersey. “I thought we checked tight, didn’t give up a whole lot and when we did, Vladdy (goaltender Dan Vladar) was great. That’s the way we’ve got to play, we know that, and we know we got away from it for a couple games. It’s a tough brand of hockey, but when we’re on, that’s what we look like.”
Vladar, who stopped 22 shots to post the shutout, will likely be in net against the Oilers, breaking the rotation the Flames had been using.
“It’s a huge win for us after a couple losses in a row. I want to point that out,” Vladar said. “Obviously, this is a nice day for me … but the most important thing is two points.”
The Flames returned home after a horrid road trip in which they lost two games by a combined score of 10-1, with the second setback coming in Calgary captain Mikael Backlund’s 1,000th career game. Backlund was honored prior to puck drop against the Devils.
“Mikael’s an emotional guy, too, so I think it means probably more to him than people would think, just because of the way he is,” Flames coach Ryan Huska said. “We didn’t play well the last game in Utah, and I felt like we got a little bit closer to the way our team needs to play to have success, and it was even nicer to see it done on a special night for Mikael.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
MLS to investigate Inter Miami over Casemiro signing
June 29, 2026; Houston, Texas, U.S.; Brazil’s Casemiro celebrates after the match. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Major League Soccer has announced a review into a tampering allegation against Inter Miami in the signing of Brazilian superstar midfielder Casemiro on Wednesday.
“The league is gathering all relevant information and will refrain from further comment until the review is complete,” MLS said in a statement.
Casemiro, 34, is under contract through 2027 with an option until June 2029 following five years with Premier League side Manchester United. Inter Miami acquired his discovery priority from the Los Angeles Galaxy.
“While Inter Miami CF and the LA Galaxy have reached a settlement for the discovery priority to sign Casemiro, the terms will be released upon conclusion of the tampering investigation,” MLS said in a statement.
Casemiro just helped Brazil reach the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, increasing his career totals to 91 caps and 10 goals with the national team. It was his third World Cup.
“What motivates me the most, and I think this is true for every player, is winning and continuing to grow. The project the club presented to me, along with the effort everyone made to bring me here, means a lot to me,” Casemiro said.
“I’m incredibly grateful, and I can’t wait to get started so I can repay that trust — not only during the 90 minutes on matchday, but every day in training as well. All I can say is thank you, and I’ll give everything I have to return the affection and confidence the club has shown me.”
Casemiro has recorded 73 goals and 61 assists in 663 club appearances with Brazil’s Sao Paulo, Spain’s Real Madrid, Portugal’s Porto and Manchester United. His 21 club trophies include five UEFA Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns with Real Madrid from 2013-22.
“Casemiro’s arrival reflects the vision and ambition that define Inter Miami,” said managing owner Jorge Mas. “We never settle. We’re always looking to grow, improve, and raise our standards every season. We’ve built a global club with the vision of becoming not only the best club in the United States, but also a benchmark globally.
“Casemiro embodies everything this club stands for: leadership, a winning mentality, and an extraordinary track record at the highest level of the game,” Mas added. “After achieving virtually everything there is to achieve in fútbol, his decision to join Inter Miami shows that he shares our ambition and our commitment to the highest standards as we continue building for the future. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Inter Miami family.”
Casemiro now joins forces with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, his former rivals at FC Barcelona.
“I’m very proud to welcome Casemiro and his family to Inter Miami,” said co-owner David Beckham. “He is a person and a player that I have admired for a long time. He is a winner who has achieved so much in the game, and after such an incredible career with Real Madrid and Manchester United, I’m delighted that he’s decided to make Miami his next home.”
Defending MLS Cup champion Inter Miami (15-9-2, 31 points) are in second place in the Eastern Conference as they return from the World Cup break to host the Chicago Fire on Wednesday night.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: St. Louis City signing Carlo Holse on $6M transfer fee
Jul 16, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Sporting Kansas City forward Capita Capemba (7) is congratulated after scoring against St. Louis CITY SC in the first half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images Aiming to boost a struggling offense, St. Louis City are bringing in Danish attacker Carlo Holse for an approximate $6 million transfer fee, The Athletic reported Wednesday.
Holse, 27, will be a designated player when St. Louis City and Holse’s club, Samsunspor, finalize the deal.
Only five MLS clubs have scored fewer than St. Louis’ 19 goals, so Holse will be a welcome addition. St. Louis (5-6-4, 19 points) sits 10th in the Western Conference, just one point behind the Los Angeles Galaxy for the final playoff spot with 19 matches remaining. The clubs face off Wednesday night in Los Angeles.
Holse posted eight goals and four assists in the Turkish Super Lig last season and has scored at least eight goals per season with Samsunspor since 2023. In 10 appearances in the UEFA Conference League, he contributed two goals and five assists in the club’s run to the round of 16.
Holse, who has one cap for Denmark’s national team, can join fellow attacker Marcel Hartel in St. Louis’ dual No. 10 slots in head coach Yoann Damet’s 3-4-2-1 formation. Holse is capable of contributing as a scorer or goal creator, having posted 16 assists in one season for Norwegian side Rosenborg.
Over nine professional seasons in Denmark, Norway and Turkey, Holse has 42 goals and 36 assists in 242 matches.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Stefano Mazzoli accepts PGA Tour membership
Italy’s Stefano Mazzoli won the 2026 Puntacana Championship. Stefano Mazzoli officially accepted his PGA Tour membership on Wednesday, one day before he was set to compete in the 3M Open in Blaine, Minn.
Mazzoli was added to the field at TPC Twin Cities on Monday after winning the Corales Puntacana Championship in just his third start on the PGA Tour. The 29-year-old Italian drained a 24-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday to win by one stroke in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
Since he was not a member of the PGA Tour at the time of his victory, he received a one-year exemption on the Tour. He also is eligible to compete in the 2027 Players Championship and 2027 PGA Championship.
A rookie on the DP World Tour, Mazzoli earned his promotion from the HotelPlanner Tour just last year.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, this past year,” Mazzoli said after his maiden PGA Tour victory.
South Africa’s Casey Jarvis also accepted Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour and is eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the season. Jarvis, 22, has two wins on the DP World Tour this season and reached the threshold for the Special Temporary Membership with his tie for sixth at The Open Championship.
–Field Level Media
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 23, 2026
MLS to investigate Inter Miami over Casemiro signing
