Sports
Resurgent Blues bid to take down ascending Flyers
Nov 27, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) makes a save while New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) looks for the rebound during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images The St. Louis Blues will go for their third straight victory under new head coach Jim Montgomery when the Philadelphia Flyers visit on Saturday night.
Since Montgomery replaced the fired Drew Bannister last weekend, the Blues have responded with two wins by a combined margin of 8-2. They blanked the New Jersey Devils 3-0 on Wednesday as Jordan Binnington stopped 31 shots for his 16th career shutout.
Binnington’s 152nd career victory for the Blues snapped a tie for the franchise record that he had held with Mike Liut.
“It’s nice just to get it and to accomplish something like that,” said Binnington, who needed only 298 games to break the franchise mark. “It’s just a matter of being here long enough to get those wins and to compound those wins over time. I’m proud to be here, and I’m proud to have that many wins.”
Binnington’s first NHL win was a shutout against the Flyers — a 3-0 blanking back on Jan. 7, 2019. He famously helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup later that season as part of a sizzling start to his NHL career.
Speaking of fast starts, Robert Thomas converted nine seconds into the game against New Jersey, and then Dylan Holloway added two goals later in the period to account for all of the scoring.
“We obviously started great, came with tons of energy,” said Blues captain Brayden Schenn, a former Flyer. “Tons of emotion early and got rewarded for it. We surprised them a little bit. They’re a great team over there with tons of speed.”
The Flyers can attack their opponent with speed, as well, and that is partially what has led to the team’s 3-0-1 stretch over the last four games. Philadelphia slipped past the New York Rangers 3-1 on Friday afternoon as Travis Konecny scored a pair of goals and Tyson Foerster made a highlight-reel pass to Bobby Brink for another.
“I think we played the way we wanted to, followed the game plan perfectly,” Brink said. “And it led to success against a great team.”
Ivan Fedotov made 22 saves for the Flyers, who continue to play well despite the absence of starting goaltender Samuel Ersson. Fedotov and Aleksei Kolosov essentially have split time in net while Ersson recovers from a lower-body injury.
“They’ve played good,” coach John Tortorella said of his backup goalies. “It was a tough game for Feds today — not much action watching (the Rangers’ Ilya Shesterkin) just stand on his head. (Fedotov) made some really key saves at key times. … Those two guys have done the job and kept us in games when we’ve struggled and made important saves at important times.”
The Flyers (11-10-3) are above .500 for the first time since they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in their season opener. They will play 11 of their next 16 games on the road.
“It’s a huge stretch of games,” forward Noah Cates said, “but I feel like we got through a tough couple stretches in November with the schedule, and to come out of that and to get our record up to .500 is huge for us.”
The Flyers defeated the Blues in Philadelphia on Halloween night as Brink scored on a redirection with 3:01 left to secure a 2-1 victory.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Mar 14, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Martin Ojeda (10) shoots on goal during the second half against the CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images Orlando City will be hoping for a much-needed attacking breakthrough on Wednesday night when they host a Charlotte FC side in search of a second consecutive away victory.
Orlando (1-6-1, 4 points) has been one of Major League Soccer’s most disappointing teams this season, costing former manager Oscar Pareja his job last month.
But there is some evidence that maybe the Lions have at least righted the ship defensively. After conceding 23 times in their first six games, interim manager Martin Perelman’s group has allowed only two goals in the last three fixtures across all competitions.
“I think we organize the team. It never is enough, always (important) to improve things,” Perelman said. “We are in that part. Last details. But yes, the structure is there. In the offensive side as well, we are working. Hopefully we can get the shape we want, that we are used to. Because in this club we have been scoring a lot for the last two years.”
So far, though, the attacking end remains pretty dire. After Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic combined for 28 MLS goals a season ago, they only have two apiece for a team with six goals total.
Pasalic also missed last week’s 1-0 home loss to Houston on Saturday night with a leg injury.
Charlotte (4-2-2, 14 points) makes the journey south following a 2-1 victory at New York City FC on Saturday, one that came despite holding a season-low 36% possession.
Defender Tim Ream exited that match at halftime and will miss roughly a week with an adductor strain, Charlotte manager Dean Smith said.
Idan Toklomati scored early in the second half and Kerwin Vargas added a goal late before NYCFC pulled one back in second-half stoppage time. And Charlotte created a similar number of chances to NYCFC despite having less of the ball.
Smith hopes the performance sets the tone for upcoming travels, with Charlotte to play its next three league games away after five of its first eight came at home.
“There’s not plenty of away games we’ve played so far, such is the fixture list,” Smith said. “We didn’t start on the road well, but we showed loads of characteristics that I liked on Saturday. And we need to continue to do that in the next three away games as well.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
Apr 18, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto FC midfielder Malik Henry (78) attempts to control the ball against Austin FC during the second half at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Sousa-Imagn Images Toronto FC will aim to extend their unbeaten streak to seven matches when the Philadelphia Union visit on Wednesday.
Toronto (3-2-3, 12 points) is 3-0-3 in its last six outings. Wednesday marks the sixth date of Toronto FC’s nine-match homestand, and the club is unbeaten (4-0-8) in its last 12 home matches dating back to last season.
Despite the good results, midfielder Malik Henry felt his team left victories on the table.
“Some of the draws we’ve had, we feel like we definitely could have won those games, which makes it a bit more disappointing,” Henry told TFC Republic. “We just have to take the points and then continue to move forward with it.”
Walker Zimmerman is expected to be available Wednesday, in a boost to an injury-depleted back line. Zimmerman missed Toronto’s last two matches with a calf injury.
Toronto FC’s offense has been both varied and efficient. Eight Toronto players have at least one goal this season, and the team’s 51.5% accurate shooting percentage is the best in MLS.
The Union are at the other end of the attacking spectrum, with a 27.1% AS percentage that ranks second-last in the league.
Philadelphia (1-6-1, 4 points) has recorded only six goals in eight regular-season matches, ahead of only four-goal D.C. United in MLS.
The lack of offense contributed to the Union’s season-opening six-game losing streak, and goals remain at a premium even as Philadelphia has gone 1-0-1 in its last two matches. The Union outshot D.C. United 17-6 on Saturday and held D.C. without a shot on target, yet still had to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Philadelphia coach Bradley Carnell felt that returning to the striker pairing of Bruno Damiani and Ezekiel Alladoh can help unlock the Union’s offense.
“We have tried a lot of different combinations (at forward) and now we go back-to-back with the same,” Carnell said. “Every day we get together with Eze and Bruno working together, it’s … one day more advanced and developed.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Richardson Hitchins relinquishing IBF title after signing with Zuffa
May 21, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Richardson Hitchins (gold trunks) and Angel Rodriguez (black trunks) box during a Premier Boxing Champions card at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Just two weeks after revealing that he was signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins is relinquishing his title to pursue welterweight competition instead, Hitchins announced on social media this week.
“I’ve outgrown 140 and my days at the weight is done,” he wrote on X. “Let’s go!!!”
147 It’s time! i will be 2 division world champ Real Soon , I’ve outgrown 140 and My days at the weight is done Let’s go !!!! ????
— Richardson Hitchins (@HeIsRichardson) April 21, 2026
The IBF confirmed the move via an issued statement on Tuesday.
“On the evening of April 20, 2026, the IBF received notification from Richardson Hitchins that he was relinquishing his IBF Jr. Welterweight World title,” the IBF wrote. “Hitchins expressed his pride in fighting for, winning and holding the title. Likewise, the IBF was proud to have Hitchins as a world champion.
“We recognized his talent, included him in the rankings and he took that path to the championship. The IBF extends its best wishes to Richardson Hitchins for his continued success.”
Hitchins, 28, originally won his title in 2024 after a unanimous decision against Liam Paro in Puerto Rico. The Brooklyn native is 20-0 with eight wins by knockout.
The move now ends the possibility of a reworked bout between Hitchins and Lindolfo Delgado, originally scheduled in replacement of Hitchins’ canceled February fight with Oscar Duarte due to Hitchins’ illness.
Delgado is in line to challenge for the vacated super lightweight title in his next fight. As the highest remaining fighters in the division, Delgado and Duarte would now seem likely opponents for one another, though both are trained by the same individual, Robert Garcia, which could complicate a potential pairing.
Hitchins followed Jai Opetaia in joining Zuffa, with the latter actually being stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title following his victory at the Zuffa World Cruiserweight Championship in March. For Hitchins, reclassifying could be a preemptive move to avoid having his own title stripped.
Hitchins is scheduled to make his Zuffa debut this summer.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
Union bring challenged offense north to face streaking Toronto FC
