Sports
Upbeat Avs go for back-to-back wins over slumping Red Wings
Jan 31, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot (8) shoots in the second period against the Colorado Avalanche at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Colorado Avalanche broke out of a mini slump with a dominant win over Detroit on Saturday. They will try to make it two in a row over their old rivals when the teams meet in Denver on Monday night.
Colorado routed the Red Wings in Detroit 5-0 to end a two-game skid while displaying the dominant play it has shown over the first half of the season. The Avalanche were 1-3-1 in their last five games entering Saturday and had allowed 19 goals in the last three losses before posting their sixth shutout of the season.
“This was huge,” star forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “We came here and got two points, and now we play them again next game. … It’s like a mini playoff series. It’s always tough to beat a team twice in a row, and that’s a very good team.”
The Avalanche also won without forward Martin Necas, who is day-to-day with a lower-body injury sustained Thursday at Montreal. Necas is Colorado’s second-leading scorer with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) and may not play in the final two games before the Olympic break.
The Avalanche do have MacKinnon, whose two goals and one assist sparked the win over the Red Wings. He has 91 points and became the first player in the NHL to reach 40 goals this season last time out. His 51 assists are tied for fourth in the league.
MacKinnon, who leads Colorado in points, goals and assists, went five games without a goal with three assists before Saturday.
“You just have to tip your hat because he’s a great player,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “With (Edmonton Oilers star) Connor McDavid, you check him in a certain way, and he’s always got another answer. Nate’s the same way. Sometimes it takes two guys to slow him down, and then someone else is open.”
The Red Wings are 1-2-2 in their last five games and are stumbling to the upcoming three-week hiatus. They earned just one point on their three-game homestand after going 2-0-1 on the road. They had several good scoring opportunities early Saturday but looked flat against a motivated Avalanche squad.
Detroit is second in the Atlantic Division but entered Sunday just three points ahead of the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins, who were tied for fourth.
“It could be a bit of a fatigue factor. And if it is that, then we’ve got to suck it up,” McLellan said of the current slump. “We have six periods left. And those could be the deciding points. If we aren’t completely willing to dig in and get after them, then regret comes in many different ways and at many different times. Or we can dig in and at least give ourselves an opportunity.”
Lucas Raymond, who has 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists), leads the Red Wings in scoring, followed by Alex DeBrincat with 57 points, including a team-leading 30 goals. Dylan Larkin is third on the team with 48 points (25 goals, 23 assists) and Moritz Seider is fourth with 37 points (seven goals, 30 assists).
–Field Level Media
Sports
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Apr 15, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches against the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Truist Park. All players are wearing number 42 today in honor of Jackie Robinson. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves placed closer Raisel Iglesias on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
Iglesias has said he’s felt the discomfort since sleeping on his shoulder wrong Friday night. But the Braves conducted an MRI that found no structural damage.
“There’s some inflammation there,” Braves manager Walt Weiss told reporters. “We feel like we’re getting out in front of this thing a little bit.”
Iglesias, 36, has amassed a 42-55 record, 258 saves and a 2.86 ERA in his 12 major league seasons, including four-plus years in Atlanta. He was off to a perfect start to the season, with five saves and no runs allowed over eight games (8 2/3 innings). He’s tossed 11 strikeouts to only one walk.
While Iglesias is sidelined, Robert Suarez will take over closing duties. Suarez led the National League with 40 saves while serving as the San Diego Padres’ closer last season; then he signed a three-year, $45 million deal to join the Braves and their bullpen.
The right-handed Suarez has gone 2-0 with one save and an 0.93 ERA for Atlanta in 10 appearances, used mostly as a setup man. He was an All-Star in 2024 and 2025 for the Padres.
–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
Braves put closer Raisel Iglesias on IL, Robert Suarez to close
Orlando City want attack to catch up to defense vs. Charlotte
