The New York Rangers have ended a five-game losing streak by defeating the NHL’s top team. Ryan Strome scored his first two goals this season and Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves as the Rangers thumped the Sabres, 6-2.
New York built a 3-0 lead on goals by Artemi Panarin, Brett Howden and Strome in the first period. Tony DeAngelo scored for the third time in two games, and Chris Kreider notched his first of the season. Carter Hutton just 18 of 24 shots as Buffalo dropped to 8-2-2.
Josh Bailey had a goal and an assist as the Islanders doubled up the Coyotes, 4-2. The Islanders won their fifth in a row and became the first team to score more than two regulation goals against Arizona this season. Derrick Brassard and Anders Lee also scored against Darcy Kuemper, Scott Mayfield added an 180-foot empty-netter and Brock Nelson had two assists.
Kevin Hayes finally scored his first goal of the season and James van Riemsdyk added a goal and an assist as the Flyers beat the Blackhawks for the second time this season, 4-1. It looked as if Hayes got the first goal of the game 6:09 into the first, but the Blackhawks challenged the play and it was waived off because Hayes was offsides. The Flyers lost another goal in the third because of an offsides challenge.
Leon Draisaitl scored two goals, including the game-winner as the Oilers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to end the Capitals’ four-game winning streak, 4-3 in overtime. The Oilers got a 3-on-1 in extra time and Connor McDavid set up Draisaitl for a goal 1:18 in, giving Edmonton a 5-0 record at home this season. Draisaitl added an assist in regulation and McDavid had a goal and two assists in the Oilers’ first win in three games.
Brayden Schenn scored twice and the Blues went 3-for-4 on the power play in a 5-2 victory against the Kings. Los Angeles enjoyed a 2-1 lead until Alex Pietrangelo and Robert Thomas scored goals in a 1:40 span midway through the second period. Jaden Schwartz and Colton Parayko set up two goals apiece and Jordan Binnington made 33 saves as St. Louis made it two straight since following an 0-2-2 stretch.
The Predators were 4-0 winners over the Wild behind Pekka Rinne, who turned back 26 shots in his first shutout of the season and 56th of his career. Colton Sissons had a goal and an assist to support Rinne, who is 6-0-1 this season. Miikka Salomaki, Calle Jarnkrok and Craig Smith also lit the lamp for Nashville.
The Sharks also earned a 4-2 win at Montreal as Evander Kane scored two power-play goals and Tomas Hertl had three assists. Aaron Dell turned back 35 shots and helped San Jose kill off the Canadiens’ three power plays. The Sharks ended a two-game skid and beat the Canadiens for the ninth straight time.
Matthew Tkachuk scored twice in regulation and again in the shootout as the Flames topped the Panthers, 6-5. Austin Czarnik, Mark Giordano and Sam Bennett scored in regulation for Calgary, which blew three leads before prevailing. Barkov had four assists for Florida, which is 3-0-4 in its last seven contests.
The Blue Jackets erased a 3-1, first-period deficit before knocking off the Hurricanes, 4-3 on Cam Atkinson’s goal 3:28 into overtime. Ryan Murray and Sonny Milano scored 4 ½ apart late in the second period to tie the game before Atkinson allowed Columbus to improve to 4-0-2 in its last six games. Carolina is 1-4 since opening the season with five consecutive wins.
Denis Gurianov ended his 26-game goal drought by scoring twice in the first period of the Stars’ 2-1 triumph over the Ducks. Ben Bishop made 29 saves and was perfect after Max Comtois notched a power-play goal 4 ½ minutes into the second period. Dallas has won three straight, while Anaheim has dropped three in a row.
NFL
Kirk Cousins was able to get a victory against the team that let him go in the summer of 2018. Cousins was 23 of 26 for 285 yards without a turnover as the Minnesota Vikings knocked off Washington, 19-9 to improve to 6-2. Cousins did some of his best work getting the ball to Dalvin Cook, who had 171 total yards and the game’s lone touchdown. Cook rushed 23 times for 98 yards and caught five passes for 73 yards in the Vikings’ fourth straight win. Quarterback Case Keenum had his return to Minnesota spoiled by a concussion that kept him out of the second half. Keenum also lost a fumble on a first-quarter sack. Rookie Dwayne Haskins threw an interception deep in Minnesota territory when Washington trailed by only seven points. Before the game hundreds of protesters chanting "We are not your mascot" marched in Minneapolis against the Redskins’ team name. The protesters called the name racist and degrading to American Indians.
In NFL news, a person with direct knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the Cowboys acquired defensive lineman Michael Bennett from the Patriots for a conditional late-round draft pick in 2021. Bennett had just returned to the Patriots after serving a one-game suspension for what he said was a "philosophical disagreement" with defensive line coach Bret Bielema.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Marcell Dareus needs surgery to repair a core muscle injury and is expected to miss four to six weeks. The 330-pound Dareus had 13 tackles in six games this season. The Jaguars acquired the former Alabama standout two years ago in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
The Lions have signed safety Marcus Gilchrist to fill a roster spot created when Detroit dealt starting safety Quandre Diggs to Seattle. Gilchrist started every game last season for the Raiders.
NBA
The Houston Rockets’ revamped starting backcourt delivered 34 points, 23 rebounds and 21 assists, but it wasn’t enough to win their season opener. The Milwaukee Bucks posted a 117-111 win over the Rockets as Giannis Antetokounmpo contributed 30 points before fouling out. The NBA’s reigning MVP left the game for good with five minutes left and the Bucks ahead by six. Brook Lopez helped Milwaukee keep the lead by hitting two free throws and a jumper in a 25-second span near the end of the game. Russell Westbrook had 24 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists in his first game since being acquired by the Rockets from the Thunder for Chris Paul. Backcourt mate James Harden added 19 points, 14 assists and seven rebounds but was just 2 of 13 from the field and 1 of 8 on 3s.
Kawhi Leonard spoiled the Warriors' first game at Chase Center just as he did their farewell at Oracle Arena four months ago, scoring 21 points in three quarters of the Clippers’ 141-122 victory. The reigning NBA Finals MVP shot 9-for-17 and also dished out nine assists in his second game with L.A. after leading the Raptors to their first title last season. Stephen Curry scored 23 points and D'Angelo Russell added 20 in his Golden State debut.
Trae Young poured in 38 points and had nine assists as the Hawks downed the Pistons, 117-100. Young converted a four-point play with 3:43 left in the second quarter to give him 26 points, his career high for a single half. Vince Carter checked in for Atlanta with 6:52 left in the first quarter to become the first player to see action in 22 NBA seasons.
In NBA news, Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III will miss four to six weeks after injuring his thumb in their season-opening loss at Phoenix on Wednesday. The Kings says an MRI showed Bagley has a non-displaced fracture in his right thumb, leaving the team without a player who averaged 14.9 points and 7.6 rebounds as a rookie last season. Bagley had 14 points and 10 rebounds in the Kings’ 124-95 loss to the Suns.
Suns center Deandre Ayton has been suspended for 25 games without pay for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. The first player taken in last year’s draft tested positive for a diuretic. Ayton averaged 16.3 points and 10.3 rebounds as a rookie last season and delivered 18 points and 11 boards in Wednesday’s win over the Kings.
A person familiar with the negotiations says the Cavaliers and starting forward Cedi Osman have agreed to a four-year, $30.8 million contract extension. Osman averaged 13 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.6 assists last season.
MLB
Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks will have Tommy John surgery for a partially torn ligament in his throwing elbow and is expected to miss the start of next season. Hicks missed time this season after injuring his right elbow Aug. 3, but he returned during the American League Champions Series and hit .154 with a .353 on-base percentage, one homer and three RBIs. His projected recovery time is 8-10 months.
The Astros have dismissed assistant general manager Brandon Taubman for directing inappropriate comments at female reporters following the team’s pennant-winning victory over the New York Yankees last Saturday. The team issued a statement saying Taubman’s conduct didn’t reflect the organization’s values, adding that the firing is the most appropriate course of action. The Astros initially denied Taubman’s comments chronicled in a Sports Illustrated report were directed at the female reporters, but they say they learned otherwise following an investigation and have since apologized to SI and its reporter.
President Donald Trump says he is planning to attend the World Series on Sunday if it goes to a fifth game. The Washington Nationals lead the series against the Houston Astros 2-0 and could conceivable win it before it gets to Sunday's game. The Nats host the next three games and can wrap it up by Saturday if they manage to sweep the team that posted the best record during the regular season.
David Ross was one of the most popular players at Wrigley Field while helping the Chicago Cubs end a 108-year World Series title drought. He’s stepping back into the dugout again, this time as manager. The Cubs have hired the former catcher to replace Joe Maddon, who left the team after missing the playoffs for the first time in five seasons since being named manager of the franchise. Ross was a revered leader on the 2016 squad that won the World Series and spent the last three seasons in the team’s front office. Ross was a .229 hitter over his 15 major league seasons, but he came through with a big home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series against the Indians.
The Phillies also landed a former catcher as their manager and plan to introduce Joe Girardi at a news conference on Monday. Girardi replaces Gabe Kapler, who was fired after his injury-depleted team went 81-81 despite significant offseason additions, including the arrivals of Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto. Girardi completed a 10-year run as manager of the Yankees in 2017. He led New York to the 2009 World Series title and was 910-710 as the Yankees’ skipper. Girardi owns a .554 winning percentage, including a 78-84 mark in his lone season with the Marlins.
A person with knowledge of the decision says the Padres have hired Rangers coach Jayce Tingler as their manager. Tingler replaces Andy Green, who was blamed for the Padres' second-half collapse this year. He has no previous major league manager experience and takes over a franchise that hasn’t made the postseason since 2006.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SMU has continued its perfect start to the season by defeating a state rival. The 16th-ranked Mustangs are 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the American Athletic Conference after Shane Buechele and Xavier Jones led their offense in a 34-31 victory at Houston. Buechele was 20 of 38 for 203 yards and two TDs, with James Proche catching seven passes for 83 yards and a score. Jones ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yard scoring burst in the second quarter. Clayton Tune finished 18 of 35 for a career-high 407 yards and two touchdowns for the 3-5 Cougars, who actually outgained SMU 510 yards to 385.
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