Evgeni Malkin became the 48th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals during the third period against the Buffalo Sabres.
Sidney Crosby passed the puck between his legs from behind the net to Malkin, who was on the ice. Malkin then flipped the puck past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. After he scored, the entire bench rushed to congratulate him, and the hometown fans gave him a standing ovation.
Earlier in the game, Crosby reached a milestone himself, becoming the 10th player in NHL history to record 1,600 regular-season points in his career.
Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin celebrate after a goal
Malkin, who has the third-most goals in Penguins’ history with 500 in 1,150 games, is also the 20th player in NHL history to score 500 goals for just one team. The Penguins chose the 38-year-old Malkin as the second overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft.
He now joins Crosby (592), Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (853), and Nashville’s Steven Stamkos (555) as the only active players with 500 goals, with Stamkos achieving this with Tampa Bay. Malkin also joins Ovechkin as the only Russian-born players in NHL history to reach this milestone.
Pittsburgh is the second team in NHL history, after Montreal, to have three players who have scored 500 goals.
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz, saves a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby during third-period NHL hockey game action
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has become the 10th player in NHL history to achieve 1,600 regular-season points in his career.
Crosby got a secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal at 11:01 of the first period during Wednesday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres.
Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin celebrate after a goal
At 37 years old, Crosby is the first player to reach this milestone since Jaromir Jagr did on October 6, 2011.
Crosby took 1,277 games to reach 1,600 points, which is the fifth-fewest games needed to hit this milestone. He is eight goals away from scoring 600 in his career and 41 points short of tying Hall of Famer Joe Sakic for ninth place in NHL history.
Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin celebrates after a goal1
Sidney Crosby scored a power-play goal just 1:38 into overtime, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 6-5 comeback win against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night.
Evgeni Malkin reached a milestone by becoming the 48th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals, while Crosby became the 10th player to reach 1,600 regular-season points. Crosby made a clever pass from behind the net between his legs to Malkin, who was sitting on the ice when he scored.
Crosby achieved his milestone with a secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal at 11:01 in the first period. Rust scored again with 46 seconds left to send the game into overtime.
Drew O’Connor also scored a short-handed goal, and Jesse Puljujarvi added his second goal of the season.
Jordan Greenway returns to the bench after scoring
Tristan Jarry gave up three goals on five shots in the first period before being replaced. Joel Blomqvist stepped in and made 26 saves.
For Buffalo, J.J. Peterka, who returned after missing two games due to a concussion, scored twice. Ryan McLeod, Tage Thompson, and Jordan Greenway also found the net, while Alex Tuch recorded two assists. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stopped 36 shots.
The Sabres were close to winning two games in a row for the first time this season. After losing their first three games by a total of 10-3, they couldn’t hold on to leads of 3-1 and 5-4.
Pittsburgh achieved back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Rust scored by tapping in a loose puck from right in front of the net with 46 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game.
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner celebrates after a goal
Auston Matthews ended his points drought at the start of the season by scoring his first goal and adding two assists as Toronto’s captain in the Maple Leafs’ 6-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.
Matthews made it 2-0 midway through the first period after recovering from a missed shot and then beating David Rittich with a wrist shot.
Last season, Matthews led the NHL in goals with 69. He also assisted on two power-play goals, helping the Maple Leafs secure their third straight win after starting the season with a 1-0 loss at Montreal.
Bobby McMann scored twice in the first period, which saw the Maple Leafs net three goals. Morgan Rielly, William Nylander, and John Tavares also scored, while Anthony Stolarz saved 32 shots. Mitch Marner contributed with three assists.
David Rittich makes a save in the 2nd period
Toronto ended their 0-for-11 power play start to the season when Nylander scored against Copley to make it 5-0 late in the second period.
In the third period, Alex Turcotte and Kevin Fiala scored for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles fell to 1-1-2 during their season-opening seven-game trip due to arena renovations. They will play again on Thursday night in Montreal.
With a focus on strong defense under new coach Craig Berube, Toronto has allowed only seven goals in four games.Toronto quickly chased Rittich, scoring four goals on their first 14 shots. Pheonix Copley allowed two goals on 12 shots while in relief.
Matthews became the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to score 200 goals at home, joining Darryl Sittler (231), Dave Keon (225), and Mats Sundin (217).
Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin celebrates after a goal
Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby have created many milestones and memories together over the past twenty years as key players for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
On Wednesday night against the Buffalo Sabres, they both reached significant milestones. Malkin became the 48th player in NHL history to score 500 career goals, while Crosby became the 10th player to reach 1,600 regular-season points.
Crosby scored the winning goal in overtime, leading to a 6-5 victory over Buffalo.
“I really wanted to score (the 500th goal) last year,” Malkin said. “All summer, I was probably thinking too much about it. It was a long way to 500 and I’m glad to finally do it.”
When Crosby scored his 500th NHL goal in 2022, Malkin assisted him. On Wednesday, Crosby returned the favor by passing the puck between his legs from behind the net to Malkin, who was sitting on the ice when he flipped it past Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen.
Pittsburgh Penguin players celebraes after a goal
The entire bench rushed to congratulate Malkin, and the crowd gave him a standing ovation. “It was a pretty awesome goal,” Crosby said. “I had a front-row seat watching him do that. I’ll have a great memory of that one.”
Malkin, who has the third-most goals in Penguins history with 500 in 1,150 games, is the 20th player in NHL history to score 500 goals with a single team. The Penguins selected the 38-year-old Malkin as the second overall pick in the 2004 Draft, and he has teamed up with Crosby to win three Stanley Cup championships for Pittsburgh.
“When you look at the championships the Penguins have won while they’ve been here, their fingerprints are all over it,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “When you win Stanley Cups, it has a way of strengthening relationships.”
Malkin joins Crosby (592), Washington’s Alex Ovechkin (853), and Nashville’s Steven Stamkos (555) as the only active players with 500 goals. Stamkos achieved this with Tampa Bay. Malkin also becomes one of the only Russian-born players in NHL history to reach this milestone, alongside Ovechkin.
Pittsburgh is the second team in NHL history, after Montreal, to have three players with 500 career goals.
The Penguins’ stars had a strong performance against Buffalo, combining for seven points. Crosby scored a goal and had two assists. Malkin contributed a goal and three assists, bringing his total to 11 points in five games and showing no signs of slowing down.
“I think (Malkin) has had a really strong start to the season,” Sullivan said. “When he’s at his best, the puck seems to follow him around and that’s what he’s doing right now.”
Sidney Crosby and Evegeni Malkin celebrates after a goal1
Crosby reached his 1,600th regular-season point with a secondary assist on Bryan Rust’s power-play goal at 11:01 of the first period. The 37-year-old Crosby is the first player to hit this milestone since Jaromir Jagr on October 6, 2011.
Crosby took 1,277 games to reach 1,600 points, which is the fifth-fastest in NHL history. Now in his 20th NHL season, Crosby is seven goals away from 600. He is also 39 points shy of tying Hall of Famer Joe Sakic for ninth place in NHL history.
Crosby, who was picked first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2005 Draft, is 121 points behind Penguins legend Mario Lemieux for eighth place in league history. Lemieux holds the franchise record with 1,723 points.
For one more night, Malkin and Crosby were the stars of the show. “We probably deserved to share this night together,” Malkin said. “It’s a great story.”
Napheesa Collier drives to the basket in the 2nd half
The new Unrivaled women’s basketball 3-on-3 league will have its games aired on TNT and its sports channels.
The league announced a multi-year partnership with the network to broadcast more than 45 games from its first season, which starts in January. Games will be shown three nights a week, with two of those nights on TNT—specifically Mondays and Fridays. Saturday games will air on truTV.
The games kick off on January 17 and will take place in Miami.
“Our TNT Sports portfolio focuses on high-quality live sports, and our media and equity partnership with Unrivaled strengthens our commitment to expanding the variety of top-tier women’s sports programming we provide for our fans and allows us to help grow women’s basketball,” said Luis Silberwasser, chairman and CEO of TNT Sports.
The league features 30 of the best women’s basketball players divided into six teams and was co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
“To have a network like that supporting us, especially in Year 1, is a huge sign of how much women’s basketball is growing,” Collier told The Associated Press during shootaround before Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Thursday.
Having all the games on one platform is important for the new league. They were also in talks with ESPN, Amazon, ION, and the CW.
Breanna Stewart blocks a shot by Myisha Hines Allen in the 2nd half
“We had a lot of interest, as you can imagine, and we considered dividing the games among different networks, but credit goes to Luis for his vision. He wanted it all,” said former Turner President David Levy, who is the co-founder and co-CEO of Horizon Sports & Experiences and helped secure the media rights deal.
“He thought this was a smart move for the league, and after discussing it, we decided it was best to go with one strong entity.” TNT will host a studio show on at least one of the two nights it airs games.
“Being on TNT for two of the three nights is really important, not just to help grow this league, but also for the women who play in it,” said Levy. “They grew up watching TNT. And let’s not forget Bleacher Report and House of Highlights. That’s where all the Gen Z’ers are.”
Unrivaled President Alex Bazzell mentioned that the players reacted very positively to being on TV.
“I think there’s a lot of nostalgia that goes along with this for the athletes,” he said. “We have an obligation to choose a partner they can be proud of, and I think they are really proud of this partnership. I’ve received many texts from our athletes saying they are excited.”
Salaries for the new league will be in the six figures. Pay was important for players, many of whom have spent their offseasons playing overseas to supplement their WNBA earnings.
The average WNBA base salary is around $130,000, with top players able to earn over $500,000 through salary, marketing deals, an in-season tournament, and bonuses. Many players will also have an ownership stake in the league.
The league will last for eight weeks with 30 players divided into six teams. The teams will play two games each week on a court about two-thirds the size of a WNBA court. The teams will remain the same throughout the season.
Sabrina Ionescu saw Breanna Stewart lead the New York Liberty throughout the game, but when it came time to win, the ball was in her hands.
“In the timeout, (coach) Sandy (Brondello) was like, ‘You’re going to shoot the shot,’” Ionescu said.
She nailed a three-pointer from 28 feet away with just one second left, giving the Liberty an 80-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night and bringing them one victory away from their first WNBA title.
New York now leads the finals 2-1, marking the first time they have ever been ahead in the championship series. They can clinch the title Friday night in Minnesota.
“We know we’re one game away from winning the championship, and I think that they are going to give us their best shot,” said Stewart, who has won two titles with Seattle. “They are going to give everything they have got, and you know what, so are we. The turnaround is quick, but we are going to continue to be ready.”
Napheesa Collier drives to the basket in the 2nd half
Ionescu mentioned she had to watch a replay of her shot after the game to fully understand what happened.
“I didn’t even really remember it. I had to go look at the video really quickly to see like how far I was,” she said. “I feel like I was able to get a little separation in range and get a really good shot to go.”
With the game tied at 77, Ionescu dribbled around before stepping back a few feet behind the arc and making the shot to break the tie.
“It’s pretty special. It was never in doubt. Obviously Stewie got us back in there, willed us in there, but I thought the right time, this is Sabrina,” Brondello said. “She just made a big shot. She’s a great shooter and she just needed a little bit of separation.”
Stewart contributed 22 of the team’s 45 points in the second half and finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocked shots.
“We don’t win this game without Stewie,” Ionescu said. “There’s nothing I can say. That shot’s nice, but what she was able to do for us tonight willed us back into the game.”
Minnesota didn’t get a real chance to tie the game at the end. “Great player made a good shot,” Minnesota guard Kayla McBride said. “I guarded her for 40 minutes.”
The Liberty came back from a 15-point deficit and are now one win away from their first title.
“There’s a lot of things that we didn’t do right tonight and have a kind of quick memory,” Stewart said. “I think that we’re happy we got this win but the job’s not done.”
Sandy Brondello reacts in the 1st half
The Liberty have been in the finals five times before, including last season, and lost all of them.
With 2:26 left in the fourth quarter and trailing 73-69, the Liberty scored eight straight points, starting with five from Jonquel Jones. Ionescu, who hadn’t played as well earlier in the game, then hit a 3-pointer after a missed shot by the Lynx, bringing the score to 77-73 with 55.5 seconds remaining.
Bridget Carleton brought the Lynx closer with a layup, making it 77-75 just 21 seconds later. On New York’s next possession, Ionescu had a 3-pointer that went halfway through the basket before bouncing out, allowing Minnesota to grab the rebound.
Napheesa Collier was then fouled with 16 seconds left and made both free throws to tie the game, leading to a thrilling finish.
Collier finished with 22 points and McBride added 19 for Minnesota.
“Our defense gave us a chance to win the game, period, and our offense is going to help our defense,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. “If you told me that we would have got the amount of stops that we did and we wouldn’t have scored 80, that would be surprising to me.”
Courtney Williams reacts after making a 3 pointer
The Lynx changed the pattern from the first two games by taking a double-digit lead in the first half. Minnesota, which had only led for a bit over three minutes in the first two games, was ahead 60-50 with 2:28 left in the third quarter before the Liberty narrowed it to 62-61 by the end of the period.
Stewart scored the last five points of that quarter, including a three-point play with 19 seconds remaining.
She then scored the first eight points for New York in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 69 with another three-point play with 6:18 left.
Carleton made two free throws to break the tie just 12 seconds later. Neither team scored again until Courtney Williams hit a pull-up jumper from the baseline with 2:26 left, giving the Lynx a four-point lead.
A'ja Wilson grabs a rebound against Ezi Magbegor in the 1st half
Rookie guard Caitlin Clark has added another achievement to her impressive first season by being named to the All-WNBA team on Wednesday.
Clark, who plays for the Indiana Fever, is the first rookie to make this team since Candace Parker in 2008. She is only the fifth rookie in history to receive this honor, joining the ranks of Sue Bird, Tamika Catchings, and Diana Taurasi.
Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson and Minnesota’s Napheesa Collier were also chosen unanimously for the first team. They were joined by Breanna Stewart from New York and Alyssa Thomas from Connecticut to complete the five-player team, which does not follow traditional positions.
Wilson was named the league’s MVP by a unanimous vote and has made the first team for the third year in a row and the fourth time overall. Collier, who has been selected for the All-WNBA team three times, was voted onto the first team for the second consecutive year.
Caitlin Clark jumps to take the shot
Clark received 52 votes for the first team and appeared on 66 out of 67 ballots submitted by a national media panel. She led the league with an average of 8.4 assists per game, along with scoring 19.2 points, grabbing 5.7 rebounds, and making 1.3 steals per game. Clark also set a league record by making 122 three-pointers, helping the Fever reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
New York had three players among the ten selected for the two teams, with Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones earning second-team honors. They were joined by Phoenix’s Kahleah Copper, Seattle’s Nneka Ogwumike, and Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale.
Breanna Stewart blocks a shot by Myisha Hines Allen in the 2nd half
The Minnesota Lynx started strong but couldn’t finish against the New York Liberty.
They lost 80-77 after blowing a 15-point lead, meaning they now need to win two games in a row to earn their fifth WNBA championship. This happened in Game 3 of the Finals, where Sabrina Ionescu hit a last-second shot. Game 4 is scheduled for Friday night.
“There are so many ups and downs, and it takes special mental and physical strength to handle those changes, and here we are,” said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve. “We’re disappointed. We played well at home and just couldn’t secure the win.”
In the first two games of this best-of-five series, Minnesota had only led New York for about three minutes.
However, they managed to split the first two games and were back home in front of a record crowd of 19,521, which included former point guard Lindsay Whalen, who helped the team win four championships.
This support energized the Lynx, allowing them to start strong, leading by 10 points after the first quarter. They built a 15-point lead in the first half, but that slipped away as Breanna Stewart helped New York come back.
Minnesota made 10 of their 20 shots in the opening quarter but struggled afterward, going 19 for 55 for the rest of the game.
Sabrina Ionescu reacts after making a 3-pointer
“We definitely got the shots we wanted. They were good shots, but we just didn’t make them, while they did,” said Courtney Williams. “Great players make great plays, and that’s how the game went.”
Now, Minnesota needs to win the last two games. Four teams have managed to win the Finals after being down 2-1. The Lynx were the last team to do this in 2017, which was also the last time they won the championship.
Phoenix is the only team that lost Games 2 and 3 but still went on to win the title.
“I feel like they were making plays at the end of shot clocks, and like Coach said, we were getting good looks,” said Napheesa Collier, who scored 22 points. “We just weren’t executing well on offense, and it’s tough when they are such a strong offensive team.”
Minnesota played the last few minutes without forward Alanna Smith due to back problems.
Reeve didn’t provide any updates on Smith’s condition after the game. She had two points and six rebounds in just under 20 minutes and didn’t play the final 6:06 of the game.
“Give credit to Lan. She did what she could,” Reeve said. “We were plus-20 with her on the floor. Losing her was tough. Our starting five is really strong, and not having her, plus foul trouble, put us in a difficult spot.”
The Green Bay Packers have signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus, marking their seventh kicker move since the end of last season. McManus, who officially signed a one-year deal, is expected to kick in Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.
The Packers have cycled through several kickers this year, including Brayden Narveson, who struggled with five missed field goals in six games before being released. Alex Hale, another kicker, remains on the practice squad, and the team has tried multiple options, such as Greg Joseph and Anders Carlson, but none have provided lasting stability.
Narveson’s struggles prompted the Packers to look for alternatives, as he led the league in missed field goals. The decision to release him came after he missed a critical 44-yard attempt in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Narveson, a rookie who claimed off waivers from the Tennessee Titans, was brought in during the preseason but failed to meet expectations. Despite Packers coach Matt LaFleur initially downplaying the possibility of a change, the team moved forward with bringing in McManus after working him out earlier in the week.
Brandon McManu (NFL)
McManus, a seasoned kicker, played last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, making 30 of 37 field goals and all 35 extra points. His career spans nine years with the Denver Broncos before joining Jacksonville. Despite his solid performance, McManus faced personal challenges off the field when a lawsuit was filed against him by two flight attendants accusing him of sexual assault on a trip to London in 2023. However, the NFL conducted an investigation and found insufficient evidence to take action, leaving the door open for future developments if new evidence arises.
The Packers have been struggling to find a reliable replacement since parting ways with long-time kicker Mason Crosby after the 2022 season. Crosby, the Packers’ all-time scoring leader, left behind big shoes to fill after a consistent 86.2% field goal conversion rate in his final season. The Packers hoped for stability with Anders Carlson, a sixth-round pick in 2023, but his inconsistency, along with other kickers’ struggles, has kept the search ongoing.
With McManus now in the fold, the Packers hope his experience and track record will bring much-needed consistency to their kicking game. McManus has an 81.4% career field goal accuracy and could provide a solution to the instability Green Bay has faced this season. The team’s performance in upcoming games will reveal whether this latest signing can finally solidify the kicking position.
Malik Nabers, the New York Giants rookie wide receiver, returned to practice on Wednesday, sporting a red non-contact jersey for the first time since suffering a concussion nearly three weeks ago in a game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Although he remains in the concussion protocol, his return to practice is seen as a positive sign for his potential availability in the Giants’ upcoming game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Brian Daboll expressed optimism, noting that Nabers is progressing well and could take another step forward on Thursday.
Daboll confirmed that Nabers has cleared some steps in the concussion protocol, allowing him to participate in practice. This development is encouraging for a Giants offense that struggled in its recent game, scoring only seven points against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The team has also been dealing with other injuries, including the loss of standout left tackle Andrew Thomas, who is out for the season due to foot surgery. The Giants are adjusting by giving third-year lineman Josh Ezeudu the opportunity to fill Thomas’ position rather than moving Evan Neal, their 2022 first-round pick, into that role.
Malik Nabers (NFL)
Nabers’ concussion occurred in the fourth quarter of the Giants’ game against the Cowboys on September 26, and he has since missed two games, including a 17-7 loss to the Bengals. Although he was unable to clear the concussion protocol in time for the Bengals game, Nabers has been making noticeable progress over the past five days. He was seen running on the sidelines with trainers late last week, signaling a possible return soon.
The Giants are eager to have Nabers back on the field, as he had an explosive start to his rookie season after being selected with the No. 6 overall pick out of LSU. In his first four NFL games, Nabers set several records and accumulated 35 catches for 386 yards and three touchdowns, proving to be a key asset for the Giants’ offense. His return would be a significant boost, particularly given the team’s recent offensive struggles.
In addition to Nabers’ recovery, the Giants are facing injury issues on the defensive side of the ball. Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rusher Brian Burns both missed practice on Wednesday due to hip and groin injuries, respectively, while outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux was placed on injured reserve last week. Daboll considers Lawrence and Burns day-to-day, but both players have expressed their intent to play against the Eagles, signaling hope for the Giants’ defense in the upcoming game.
Tom Brady’s acquisition of a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders was officially approved by NFL team owners on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone for both the legendary quarterback and the franchise. Brady expressed his enthusiasm for this opportunity, describing it as “a blessing” and highlighting the enduring connection he feels with the NFL.
In a statement, he emphasized that the values of teamwork, resilience, and excellence resonate deeply with him and are integral to both football and the Raiders organization, as well as the city of Las Vegas.
Raiders owner Mark Davis shared his mixed history with Brady, particularly recalling the contentious Tuck Rule incident from 2002, which had created tension between the two. Despite their past rivalry, Davis welcomed Brady into the Raiders family, expressing pride in having him as a partner. He noted that Brady’s competitive nature and intelligence could be beneficial in key areas, particularly in selecting and developing future quarterbacks, thereby enhancing the team’s overall performance.
Tom Brady (NFL)
While the specifics of Brady’s role within the organization remain somewhat vague, Davis chose not to elaborate on it out of respect for Brady’s ongoing broadcasting commitments with Fox. This dual role posed challenges during the approval process, resulting in a series of restrictions on Brady as a broadcaster. These restrictions include prohibitions on attending team production meetings, visiting facilities, and observing practices, which will continue as part of his agreement with the league.
Concerns about potential conflicts of interest also surfaced during discussions about Brady’s ownership stake. Kansas City Chiefs owner Clark Hunt pointed out these issues, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell assured that the league’s restrictions were designed to mitigate any potential conflicts. Goodell noted that Brady has complied with these guidelines since starting his broadcasting career, suggesting that the league remains vigilant about maintaining its integrity while allowing for new ownership dynamics.
Goodell expressed hope that Brady’s involvement with the Raiders would inspire other former players to pursue ownership opportunities in the NFL. He highlighted the importance of diverse perspectives in team ownership, both for representation and for the strategic growth of the league. The approval of Brady’s ownership stake, alongside Raiders Hall of Famer Richard Seymour, signals a progressive step for the franchise and the league as a whole, potentially paving the way for more former players to enter ownership roles in the future.
