Sports
Sharks look to build on rare win as it heads to Seattle
Jan 28, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Kraken forward Matty Beniers (10) passes the puck against Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras (11) during the second period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images It doesn’t take advanced metrics to figure out Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer has struggled this season.
His 3.83 goals-against average and .866 save percentage, career worsts in both categories, are last among the 54 NHL goalies to play at least 15 games this season.
The Kraken, who are scheduled to play host to San Jose on Thursday night, placed Grubauer on waivers Wednesday, with the intent of assigning him to Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League.
The move came after Grubauer allowed five goals on 22 shots in a 6-4 loss Tuesday against visiting Anaheim.
“We hung him out to dry. . . . Just too many pucks he didn’t have a chance on,” Kraken coach Dan Bylsma said after the game.
The 33-year-old Grubauer, who is 5-15-1, likely will go unclaimed on waivers as he’s in the fourth season of a six-year, $35.4 million contract ($5.9 million average annual value).
Tuesday’s start, in the second of back-to-back games for the Kraken, was Grubauer’s first since Jan. 12 in Detroit, where he was pulled 6:16 into the game after allowing three goals on four shots. He was 0-5-1 over six starts since Dec. 30.
“The disappointment of really the Detroit game, it’s not on him. He didn’t get pulled in that game because of bad goals, it was a message more to the team but one that he has to deal with,” Bylsma said before Tuesday’s game. “And just kind of reset the last two weeks a little bit. Get back to what you do well, what you had been doing well and get ready for the opportunities.”
Grubauer helped the Kraken reach the playoffs in 2022-23 and upset defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado in the opening round.
But Joey Daccord has gradually taken over the top spot in net over the past two seasons and signed a five-year, $25 million extension in October. Daccord is 17-12-2 with a 2.45 goals-against average and .917 save percentage this season.
When Bylsma was asked if defensive breakdowns occur more frequently when Grubauer is in net, his one-word answer was “no.”
“Obviously, they had a couple backdoor one-timers that it’s tough for (Grubauer) to see those,” defenseman Brandon Montour said after losing to Anaheim. “Just awareness, clean some stuff up. Every time we make a mistake, it seems like it’s in the back of the net, or our goalies have to make big-time saves. Anytime you let up five, six goals, it’s tough to win those games.”
The Sharks can attest to that. They allowed at least six goals in four consecutive games before snapping a six-game skid with a 2-1 victory against visiting Pittsburgh on Monday.
Macklin Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft, scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period. Celebrini now has four game-winning goals this season.
“We did a great job, I don’t think our confidence wavered,” Celebrini said. “I think we stuck with it. We knew what we needed to do.”
Mikael Granlund also scored for the Sharks and Yaroslav Askarov made 29 saves.
“The result is the big thing, but we did some really good things (Monday), things that we’ve talked about,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Some guys stepped up, which we needed.”
The Sharks won the first two games in the season series with Seattle, beating the Kraken 8-5 on Nov. 29 in San Jose and 4-2 the next day at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Feb 22, 2026; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) looks on from inside the dugout against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol received a two-year contract extension through the 2028 season, the team announced Sunday.
Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, which holds an option for the 2029 season.
“As I’ve gotten to know Oli, I’ve seen someone who cares about this organization and knows what has made the Cardinals special over time — and who understands that for us to get where we need to go, we must compete relentlessly to set new standards in everything that we do,” president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said.
“He is invested in the progress of our young core and is unafraid to challenge himself and to help those around him grow. I am energized to continue working with him towards the on-field success that we expect and that our fans deserve.”
Marmol, 39, has guided the Cardinals to a 325-323 record during his four seasons as the skipper. He led St. Louis to the National League Central title in 2022 before the team fell in the wild-card series to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Last season, the Cardinals posted a 78-84 record to finish in fourth place in the NL Central.
Marmol was a coach with St. Louis from 2017-21 under previous managers Mike Shildt and Mike Matheny.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
Oct 31, 2025; Avondale, Arizona, USA; NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Reif (41) during the NASCAR Truck Series Championship race at Phoenix Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Tyler Reif was treated for heat exhaustion after Saturday night’s street race in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Reif, 18, was transported to an area medical facility after finishing 16th in the race in the No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet. He was later released.
“Tyler and his family would like to express their gratitude to the NASCAR officials, track medical workers and the local medical facility staff for their care,” Niece Motorsports said in a release.
Reif made his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks Series in 2025. Saturday’s race was just his third on the circuit, including a 17th-place finish at Atlanta on Feb. 21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: RB David Montgomery 'wants out' of Detroit
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) looks on before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images Lions running back David Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after three seasons, ESPN reported on Sunday.
Montgomery, however, immediately appeared to refute the report on X, posting: “Damn, Dmo told you that?”
The ESPN report claims the Lions would want “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in the 2026 NFL Draft in return for Montgomery, who turns 29 in June and is owed $6 million next season.
The report follows general manager Brad Holmes’ remarks after the season about Montgomery being unhappy with his playing time in 2025. Sharing a backfield with Jahmyr Gibbs, Montgomery rushed for a career-low 716 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games (no starts).
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said of Montgomery in January. “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Holmes said the situation with Montgomery is “fluid.” He signed a two-year extension during the 2024 season that runs through the end of the 2027 campaign.
“Yeah, I have been in touch with David’s agent, and his representation,” Holmes revealed. “Obviously, we love David, he’s a great player, we love to have him, you know, kind of want to put last year in the rear view, and just move forward. But, obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. The conversations are still fluid, but we’ll see how it goes.”
Montgomery has rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns in 45 games (28 starts) in three seasons with Detroit (2023-25). He has 76 catches for 650 yards in that span.
He began his career with the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, who drafted him in the third round in 2019. Montgomery rushed for 3,609 yards and 26 scores in 60 games (51 starts) with the Bears (2019-22).
–Field Level Media
Cards extend manager Oliver Marmol through '28 season
Tyler Reif treated for heat exhaustion after Trucks race
