Sports
Penguins wallop Panthers behind big days from stars
Apr 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (58) controls the puck against the Florida Panthers during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images Evgeni Malkin recorded his first hat trick in more than four years, Sidney Crosby climbed ahead of Steve Yzerman in the record books and a six-goal second period moved the Pittsburgh Penguins two points closer to a playoff spot as they walloped the visiting Florida Panthers 9-4 Saturday.
Malkin’s big game, three goals and an assist, came on the night he became the 23rd player and fifth European to reach 1,400 career points. Erik Karlsson had a goal and three assists for his 11th career four-point game and first since April 1, 2023.
Elmer Soderblom, Anthony Mantha and Rickard Rakell each added a goal and an assist, and Noel Acciari and Ryan Shea also scored for the Penguins (39-22-16, 94 points). A dozen players registered at least a point for Pittsburgh, with Crosby’s two assists giving him 1,756 career points, placing him one ahead of Yzerman for seventh on the NHL all-time points list.
Arturs Silovs stopped 19 shots for the Penguins.
A.J. Greer had a goal and an assist, while Seth Jones, Noah Gregor and Mackie Samoskevich also scored for the Panthers (37-36-3, 77 points).
Sergei Bobrovsky made 13 saves on the 19 shots he faced before exiting midway through the second period. Daniil Tarasov faced 12 shots and saved nine.
The Penguins jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after Acciari scored on a putback 20 seconds into the game and Karlsson got his 14th goal of the season on a power play with 14:54 left in the first. However, Greer got one back for Florida two minutes later, and Jones tied the game with 5:29 left in the first.
From there, it was all Penguins, who scored six goals in a period for the first time since Dec. 12, 2024. Mantha’s team-leading 31st came less than two minutes into the second. Malkin scored the next two before Soderblom chased Bobrovsky at 10:07.
Malkin finished the scoring for Pittsburgh with an unassisted goal 3:30 into the third to make it 9-2. It was his 14th career hat trick and first since March 27, 2022, against Detroit.
Florida gave up nine goals for the second time this season. Earlier in the day, the Panthers became the first Stanley Cup defending champion to miss the ensuing season’s playoffs since the Los Angeles Kings in 2015.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets deal reliever A.J. Minter to Twins
Jun 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher A.J. Minter (33) throws a pitch during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images The New York Mets have begun their expected sell-off of veterans before the trade deadline, with the first deal bringing a familiar last name back to Queens.
The last-place Mets traded left-handed reliever A.J. Minter to the Minnesota Twins on Friday in exchange for minor league infielders Bruin Agbayani and Billy Amick.
Agbayani, 19, is the son of former Mets outfielder Benny Agbayani, a fan favorite in his playing days.
Minter, 32, is set to become a free agent after the season. He is 1-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 20 strikeouts and just two walks across 23 innings in 23 appearances this season, his second in New York after eight seasons with Atlanta. He is 25-30 with 36 saves and a 3.18 ERA and 456 strikeouts over 382 2/3 innings in 420 games in his career.
Minter suffered a lat muscle tear last season that delayed his 2026 debut to late May, which could help explain his dip in velocity.
Agbayani was the Twins’ sixth-round draft pick last year out of Saint Louis School in Honolulu. He played 10 games for Class-A Fort Myers this season, batting .268 with no homers and six RBIs, before being sidelined since mid-May due to a right shoulder ailment.
Amick, 23, was Minnesota’s second-round draft choice in 2024 out of the University of Tennessee. He hit .217 with 23 homers and 72 RBIs in 86 games for Double-A Wichita this season.
The Twins enter Friday three games behind the Chicago White Sox for the American League Central lead and one game back of fellow Central foe Cleveland for the final AL wild-card spot.
The Mets, in the cellar in the National League East, hold the second-worst record (47-63) in the NL behind only the Colorado Rockies (42-67).
Among the players they are expected to try to move are relievers Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley as well as starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes.
The trade deadline is 6 p.m. ET on Monday.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
Jul 13, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; ESPN commentator Karl Ravech before the MLB Draft at The Coca-Cola Roxy. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Longtime anchor and play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech, laid off 10 days ago by ESPN, is not quite finished with the network.
Viewers of ESPN’s coverage of the game between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals on Thursday night heard Ravech on the call. And The Athletic reported that Ravech still has a few more baseball tasks for the network.
He served as ESPN’s lead MLB announcer and the network’s voice of the College World Series before being laid off.
Per the report, Ravech will be in the booth when the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners meet on Aug. 12. He will follow that by calling some games in the Little League World Series, one of the events closely associated with Ravech through the years.
The LLWS will be held Aug. 19-30 in Williamsport, Pa.
Ravech, 61, began work at ESPN in 1993 and anchored “SportsCenter” and hosted “Baseball Tonight”. He also called college basketball games.
ESPN parted with several employees who work both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in its latest round of layoffs. NFL analyst Ryan Clark and NFL insider Tom Pelissero were among the most prominent cuts.
These layoffs were linked to ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network, according to an internal memo from ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro that multiple media outlets obtained.
The Athletic said it is expected that Ravech’s time on air at ESPN will conclude with the end of his baseball assignments.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Whitecaps acquire Canadian F Kwasi Poku
May 22, 2024; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Forge FC Hamilton midfielder Kwasi Poku (20) celebrates after scoring a goal against the CF Montreal during the first half at Stade Saputo. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Vancouver Whitecaps acquired Canadian striker Kwasi Poku from Belgium’s RWDM Brussels.
Poku, 23, agreed to a contract through 2027-28 with a club option for the 2028-29 MLS campaign.
He recorded six goals in 31 appearances with the Belgian side from 2024-26.
“We are excited to welcome Kwasi to our group,” Vancouver sporting director Axel Schuster said in announcing the deal on Thursday. “Kwasi is a young, talented Canadian international who brings pace, intelligent movement, and finishing ability to our attack. He has the qualities and mindset to continue his development, and we are excited to help him take the next step in his career while strengthening our team.”
Poku previously played three seasons with Forge FC in the Canadian Premier League, posting 13 goals and four assists in 70 appearances (47 starts) from 2022-24.
“I’m very excited to be joining Whitecaps FC, for me, it feels like a fresh start and it’s great to be back in my home country,” said Poku, who is from Ontario. “I can’t wait to make my debut at BC Place and meet all of you. I understand this is a winning team, and I want to continue that legacy and make even more history.”
Poku earned his first senior cap for the Canadian national team on Oct. 15, 2024, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win in a friendly against Panama.
–Field Level Media
Mets deal reliever A.J. Minter to Twins
Report: Karl Ravech not quite finished at ESPN
