Sports
Ondrej Palat's goal in Islanders debut keys win over Rangers
Jan 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders left wing Ondrej Palat (81) celebrates his goal against the New York Rangers during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images Ondrej Palat opened the scoring in his first game for the host New York Islanders to give his new team a lead it never relinquished Wednesday night in a 5-2 win over the undermanned New York Rangers in Elmont, N.Y.
Palat, who was acquired along with two draft picks from the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday in exchange for right winger Maxim Tsyplakov, also had an assist for the Islanders, who have outscored the Rangers 12-2 while going 3-0-0 against their rivals this season. The teams conclude their season series Thursday night in Manhattan.
Simon Holmstrom, Mathew Barzal, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won two straight following a 2-4-0 stretch. Goalie David Rittich made 14 saves.
Mika Zibanejad and Taylor Raddysh scored for the reeling Rangers, who scratched leading scorer Artemi Panarin, a pending unrestricted free agent, due to “roster management.” Newsday reported Panarin will not play for the Rangers before the Olympic break begins Feb. 6.
The Rangers, who have lost 13 of 17 (4-11-2) to fall into last place in the Eastern Conference, began their retool by trading defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders on Monday, completing only the fourth trade ever between the rivals. Soucy was scoreless in 16:38 in his Islanders debut Wednesday.
Rangers goalie Spencer Martin recorded 31 saves.
Palat scored on the power play with 5:01 left in the first when his shot from the slot sailed past Martin as he was screened by teammate Will Borgen.
Holmstrom doubled the lead just 1:11 later when Tony DeAngelo’s shot from the high slot glanced off his skate as he jostled for position with Borgen.
Zibanejad’s power-play goal cut the gap in half with 1:56 remaining in the first, but Barzal scored with 29 seconds left in a four-minute power play to give the Islanders a 3-1 lead at 13:12 of the second.
Barzal’s goal was still being announced 47 seconds later when Pageau’s second attempt to bury the rebound of Marc Gatcomb’s shot trickled under Martin’s legs.
Raddysh scored following a turnover deep in the Islanders’ zone with 4:18 left in the second before Heineman put the hosts ahead 5-2 with 46.6 seconds remaining in the period.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: LHP Jordan Montgomery agrees to reunion with Rangers
Sep 22, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (52) pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images Left-hander Jordan Montgomery agreed to a one-year contract with the Texas Rangers, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday.
Per the Dallas Morning News, the deal is worth $1.25 million.
Montgomery, 33, is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery of his career. He also had the procedure in 2018.
He was 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA in 25 games (21 starts) in his first season with Arizona in 2024.
A World Series champion with Texas in 2023, Montgomery is 46-41 with a 4.03 ERA in 166 career games (161 starts) with the New York Yankees (2017-22), St. Louis Cardinals (2022-23), Rangers (2023) and Diamondbacks.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orioles' Jackson Holliday (hand) likely out weeks after Opening Day
Sep 27, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday (7) at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will miss Opening Day due to a broken hamate bone in his right hand, general manager Mike Elias announced on Wednesday morning.
Holliday, who sustained the injury during live batting practice last Friday, will undergo a procedure to address the issue on Thursday. His timeline for recovery likely will be measured in weeks, per Elias.
Holliday, 22, batted just .242 with 17 homers and 55 RBIs in 149 games last season.
He is the top overall pick of the 2022 MLB June Amateur Draft and the son of seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday.
New acquisition Blaze Alexander likely will take the younger Holliday’s place in the field.
Also on Wednesday, Elias announced third baseman Jordan Westburg is nursing a right oblique injury. The injury, however, is not expected to prevent Westburg from playing at the start of the regular season.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Giants hire Brian Callahan as QBs coach
Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan exits the field after the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. Former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan is being added to John Harbaugh’s coaching staff as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the New York Giants, ESPN reported Wednesday.
Callahan, 41, was fired by the Titans last October after a 1-5 start. Tennessee posted a 4-19 record under Callahan, who was hired by the Titans after five seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive coordinator that included a three-point loss in Super Bowl LVI.
ESPN reported Callahan also interviewed with the Giants for the offensive coordinator position, which ultimately went to Matt Nagy. The latter was a former offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs and head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Callahan, who will be coaching former first-round pick Jaxson Dart in his second season in the league, has extensive experience developing quarterbacks. He was the offensive coordinator for four seasons for Joe Burrow with the Bengals, was the quarterbacks coach in 2018 for Derek Carr with the Las Vegas Raiders and for two seasons for Matthew Stafford with the Detroit Lions.
In addition to Dart, Callahan will be working with veteran quarterback Jameis Winston.
Callahan and Nagy are part of an offensive staff that also includes former Rice University head coach Mike Bloomgren as offensive line coach and former offensive coordinators Greg Roman as senior offensive assistant and Tim Kelly as tight ends coach.
–Field Level Media
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