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Archives for October 2025

Wash Wizards Always Innovating

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WASH DC – (Staff Report from Official Team News Release) – The Washington Wizards are launching of the “Wizards 529” season ticket plan for the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season. This limited-quantity package offers fans full access to all 41 home games for just $529 – less than $13 per game. Designed as an innovative and affordable season ticket option, the “529 Plan” includes reserved seating in select value sections, along with early access to marquee matchups, exclusive fan events, and loyalty incentives.

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Inspired by both the Wizards’ youth movement and the widely recognized 529 college savings plan, the “529 Plan” encourages fans to invest in the future of D.C. basketball.  Tailored for first-time season ticket buyers, students, families, and young professionals, the package offers an accessible and affordable long-term way to witness the next era of the Wizards, and the growth of the game in the nation’s capital firsthand.

“Our Basketball leadership is building a talented roster for the future, and we want our fans to be part of that journey,” said Hunter Lochmann, Monumental Sports and Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer. “Just like a 529 savings plan, this ticket package is all about smart investing – in this case, investing in the future of D.C. basketball.”

In addition, the Wizards’ College Series and Student Rush ticket packages are returning for the 2025-26 season. The College Series features a 10-game lineup highlighted by UNC, UVA, UMD, and Pittsburgh, and purchases include a limited edition, co-branded school and Wizards Hawaiian shirt, while supplies last. Student Rush presented by Chick-fil-A, will be offered for select home games throughout the season, with tickets starting at just $15. Students will also receive a Chick-fil-A meal voucher with their purchase.

Washington will also have custom player designed giveaways. On Nov. 25, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive pajama pants designed by guard Bub Carrington. Fans can also take home a City Edition themed hat designed by second-year man AJ Johnson on Feb. 3.

This season, the Wizards will host a variety of theme nights. For the second consecutive season, Washington will host Hoops & Hounds Night presented by Brandywine Valley SPCA on Feb. 22, inviting fans and their dog to watch the Wizards vs. Hornets matchup at Capital One Arena. In addition, the SPCA will be on the concourse with dogs available for adoption. Further details will be announced later in the season.

NFL: Monday Night Football Previews

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Detroit Lions (4-2)
Monday, 7 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Lions -5.5, Total 52.5
Series Rewind: Former NFC Central rivals meet in Detroit for the third time in 22 months. They’ve split the past two meetings, both decided by one score: the Lions won 31-23 in the 2023 playoffs and the Buccaneers snuck out with a 20-16 victory in Week 2 last season. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield ran for a TD, threw for a TD, was sacked 4.5 times by Aidan Hutchinson and intercepted by safety Brian Branch.

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The Lions can outscore teams when necessary and exploiting shorthanded defenses is a specialty of QB Jared Goff. Goff leads the NFL with a 120.6 passer rating, 14 touchdowns and pilots an offense averaging 31.8 points per game. Goff has multiple options at most positions and elite playmakers in RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both are over 460 yards from scrimmage this season and have a combined 11 touchdowns. The Bucs can score points, too, and Detroit’s secondary might look different with Branch serving a one-game suspension and Kerby Joseph (knee) fighting through a knee injury. CB Terrion Arnold is a candidate to return from the shoulder injury that pushed him to IR and surprisingly practiced Friday. Tampa has a similar issue at wide receiver. Mike Evans (hamstring) was plotting to play, but after a limited Thursday practice he didn’t take the field with the Bucs on Friday. If he’s out, as Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) are expected to be, QB Baker Mayfield would be without his top three wideouts and starting RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder). He’s tied with Goff for the most TD passes in the league (81) since 2023.

Houston Texans (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
Monday, 10 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Seahawks -3, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: Seattle beat the Texans by 20 (33-13) in 2021 the last time these teams met. The Seahawks have won the past three meetings and four of five all-time.

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QB Sam Darnold appears to be working out just fine in Seattle. He has 11 touchdowns passes and a passer rating over 110 in four consecutive games. The Seahawks are dynamic defensively when healthy and DT Lawrence Jackson in the middle holds the key to locking down Houston’s passing game and QB C.J. Stroud. Stroud and Darnold have matching 70.8 completion percentages, but Stroud was sacked 12 times in the first five games as the Texans search for a consistent spark in the running game. Rookie Woody Marks and relative greybeard Nick Chubb have combined for 94 carries and 368 yards with Joe Mixon on the non-football injury list. Seattle is trying to turn Lumen Field back into the place visitors don’t want to see on the schedule. But the Seahawks are 1-2 this season at home after going 3-6 last year at home in coach Mike Macdonald’s first season at the helm. Houston returned from the bye week and won at Baltimore in Week 5. Stroud had four TD passes. Darnold and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba run into a talented secondary on Monday, but they’ve more than held their own this season. JSN is No. 1 in the NFL with 696 receiving yards in 2025, with a league-high four 100-yard receiving games.

–Field Level Media

 

Filed Under: NFL Tagged With:

NFL: Patriots v Titans Game Preview

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New England Patriots (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero Odds: Patriots -7, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: Current Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was head coach of the Titans when Tennessee beat the Patriots in the 2019 postseason. In the regular-season series, the Titans have won three of the past four meetings, including a 20-17 overtime home victory last season.

Vrabel instantly is turning around the Patriots, who bring a three-game winning streak into the clash. Tennessee is now seeking a new coach after firing Brian Callahan following last week’s 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders that continued a dreadful start. Anyone want to remind Titans’ brass who coached the franchise to the 2019 season AFC Championship Game? Oh yeah, Mr. Vrabel, who spent six seasons in Nashville before being dismissed following the 2023 season. New England is on the rise and second-year quarterback Drake Maye is displaying he’s the real deal with 1,522 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions. Linebacker Harold Landry was a Vrabel favorite in Tennessee and he is thriving with a team-high 4.5 sacks in his first season with the Patriots. Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward is struggling with 1,101 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions and the franchise is hoping interim head coach Mike McCoy can jumpstart an offense that ranks 31st in scoring (13.8 points per game) and last in total offense (232.3 yards per game). It will have to happen without top receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring), who is out this week. RB Tony Pollard is shining on the ground with 362 yards and two touchdowns. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has a team-high 4.5 sacks and the three-time Pro Bowler has a solid chance of surpassing his career-best 8.5 in 2021.

NFL: Game Previews

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Week 7 Game Capsules

By Field Level Media

Philadelphia Eagles (4-2) at Minn Vikings (3-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Eagles -2.5, Total 43.5
Series Rewind: The home team has taken five of the past six meetings. The last time the Eagles defeated the Vikings in Minneapolis was in a wild-card playoff game at the Metrodome on Jan. 4, 2009.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is 8-0 against the NFC North, including wins in Philadelphia against Kevin O’Connell’s Vikings in 2022 and 2023. Things have gone south lately for the defending champs. Consecutive lackluster losses to the Broncos and Giants ignited questions and critiques from every direction. The Eagles’ offensive stars largely have sputtered to this point — even All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson wants them to be “less predictable.” Despite being outgained in every game, Philadelphia still is playing winning football with only three turnovers through six games and touchdowns on 14 of 16 trips to the red zone. But with only a modest threat of a vertical passing game, RB Saquon Barkley enters this week last in the league in yards after contact and has been stuffed on 28 percent of his carries according to Inside Edge. The Vikings return to Minneapolis after games in Dublin and London with a quarterback quandary. Ex-Eagle Carson Wentz will make his fourth straight start, with J.J. McCarthy assessing his ankle is “getting there” but not 100 percent this week. He is listed as questionable. In his only previous start against Philly, Wentz was sacked nine times in a 24-8 loss with Washington in Week 3 of 2022. Either quarterback should benefit from a determined running game. First-year Vikings RB Jordan Mason leads the NFL in EPA — expected points added — on first-down running plays this season. If Philadelphia can stuff the run on early downs, the pocket won’t be safe. The Vikings are 31st in the NFL in sacks allowed per pass attempt, permitting a QB takedown on nearly 15 percent of dropbacks.

New Orleans Saints (1-5) at Chicago Bears (3-2)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Bears -4.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: The Saints have won seven straight games in the series. The first ever meeting between the franchise was in 1968. Bears RB Brian Piccolo had 112 rushing yards in Chicago’s 23-17 win.

It could be a good day for the quarterbacks given the defenses combine to allow a combined average of more than 54 points per game. Saints QB Spencer Rattler was the starter at Oklahoma when a hotshot freshman showed up and took the job. Caleb Williams, who would eventually transfer to Southern California on the tail of coach Lincoln Riley, has the Bears on a three-game winning streak with a chance to get four in a row at Rattler’s expense. The Bears last won four consecutive games under Matt Nagy in 2018. Chicago has evolved offensively and asked less of Williams in a Monday win at Washington. RB D’Andre Swift, who is questionable this week, racked up 175 yards from scrimmage last week and WR Rome Odunze had a TD catch in four of five games this season. Rattler has only one interception this season. His top target is WR Chris Olave, who has at least six receptions in every game this season, and RB Alvin Kamara is on the verge of joining the 600-catch club. He has 595 and caught nine passes in his only career game against the Bears in 2020. New Orleans has three one-score losses among five defeats. Kicker Cairo Santos (thigh) was ruled out, meaning Week 6 hero Jake Moody remains on the active roster.

Carolina Panthers (3-3) at New York Jets (0-6)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Panthers -1.5, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: The Panthers have won four of the past five meetings, most recently a 19-14 victory in Charlotte, N.C., in the 2021 season opener. The Jets’ last win in the series was on Nov. 29, 2009.

The good news for the Jets is that they’re less than halfway to matching their 0-13 start in 2020. Three of New York’s losses have been by two points, including last Sunday’s 13-11 dud against Denver in London. The Panthers have won three of their last four, the last two by three-point margins, but still are hunting for their first road win of the season. Carolina running back Rico Dowdle has been unstoppable in October with 473 yards from scrimmage and two TDs against the Dolphins and Cowboys. He’ll be sharing the ballcarrier workload with Chuba Hubbard, who is back after a two-game absence. The tandem has to deal with Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, who has 218 tackles in 23 games since the start of last season. Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, is looking for his 10th win as a starter. Jets QB Justin Fields, the No. 11 pick two years earlier, is looking for his 15th. New York head coach Aaron Glenn’s defense only has one takeaway. He’s looking for Fields to make plays after sputtering last week. A rebound could happen, but Fields is searching for a new primary target. Top WR Garrett Wilson is dealing with a knee injury and is listed as doubtful.

Washington Commanders (3-3) at Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Commanders -1.5, Total 54.5
Series Rewind: This is the 131st meeting in one of the league’s marquee division rivalries (Dallas leads 79-49-2). They settled for a split last season, each team winning at home in one-score games.

Terry McLaurin remains out — missing his fourth consecutive game — and fellow Commanders WR Deebo Samuel is banged up. But expect fireworks in a clash of offenses ranked in the top seven in the NFL in scoring against defenses that both rank in the bottom seven of the NFL in yards allowed. The Cowboys’ Dak Prescott looks to become the third QB since 2000 (Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson) with at least three TD passes and a 120 rating in four straight games. The return of CeeDee Lamb after a three-game absence due to an ankle injury gives Prescott another weapon. Counterpart Jayden Daniels has a 104.0 rating and a 13-to-2 TD-to-INT ratio in 10 career road games. It’s the first rivalry game for head coaches Dan Quinn and Brian Schottenheimer, who worked together on the Jets’ coaching staff from 2007-08 and again with the Cowboys from 2022-23 and remain good friends. Tight ends continue to play vital roles for both teams. Jake Ferguson, on pace for more than 120 receptions this season, has four TDs in his last three games for Dallas, while Zach Ertz has seven career scores against the Cowboys.

Miami Dolphins (1-5) at Cleveland Browns (1-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Browns -2.5, Total 36.5
Series Rewind: Miami leads the all-time series 11-9 and has won four of the last five games against the Browns.

After calling out teammates for lack of attendance at players-only meetings after last week’s loss, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa apologized this week. He has a chance to atone to the fanbase and his teammates if he’s able to lead Miami to a win in a battle of two of the six teams that have one or fewer wins entering the seventh week of the season. Miami’s defense, which ranks 30th in total defense (389.3 yards per game) and 29th in scoring defense (29.0 points per game), could potentially benefit from going against a Cleveland offense that ranks dead last in scoring offense (13.7). Rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel has not been the answer so far for the Browns. He was sacked six times in last week’s loss and is averaging 4.8 yards per pass attempt, the lowest among all starters. The chances for rainy and windy conditions might render the forward pass worthless. Cleveland has a “mudder” at running back in rugged rookie Quinshon Judkins, a 222-pounder and one of the many rookies bringing optimism to the Browns during another down season.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-4) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Chiefs -11.5, Total 45.5
Series Rewind: The Chiefs have dominated the series with 13 victories in the past 15 meetings.

Kansas City hasn’t been above .500 this season but the club has recovered from a shaky 0-2 start. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes erased the king-is-gone narrative by accounting for 10 touchdowns over the past three weeks, including four (three passing, one rushing) in last week’s 30-17 win over the Detroit Lions. Mahomes has thrown for 1,514 yards and 11 touchdowns against two interceptions and now will see top target Rashee Rice on the field for the first time this season. Rice just completed a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. Hollywood Brown (30 catches) and star tight end Travis Kelce (28) are Kansas City’s reception leaders. First-round rookie LT Josh Simmons (excused for a family matter) was scratched for the second game in a row. Las Vegas is looking for improved ball-protection measures from quarterback Geno Smith, who has been intercepted a league-worst 10 times while passing for 1,350 yards and seven touchdowns. It remains to be seen whether star tight end Brock Bowers (knee) can return after practicing Friday for the first time since Oct. 1. Rookie RB Ashton Jeanty (424 rushing yards) had 75 in last week’s 20-10 win over the Tennessee Titans for his second-highest output of the season. He has scored five touchdowns (three rushing, two receiving).

New England Patriots (4-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-5)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Betting Hero Odds: Patriots -7, Total 42.5
Series Rewind: Current Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was head coach of the Titans when Tennessee beat the Patriots in the 2019 postseason. In the regular-season series, the Titans have won three of the past four meetings, including a 20-17 overtime home victory last season.

Vrabel instantly is turning around the Patriots, who bring a three-game winning streak into the clash. Tennessee is now seeking a new coach after firing Brian Callahan following last week’s 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders that continued a dreadful start. Anyone want to remind Titans’ brass who coached the franchise to the 2019 season AFC Championship Game? Oh yeah, Mr. Vrabel, who spent six seasons in Nashville before being dismissed following the 2023 season. New England is on the rise and second-year quarterback Drake Maye is displaying he’s the real deal with 1,522 yards and 10 touchdowns against two interceptions. Linebacker Harold Landry was a Vrabel favorite in Tennessee and he is thriving with a team-high 4.5 sacks in his first season with the Patriots. Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward is struggling with 1,101 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions and the franchise is hoping interim head coach Mike McCoy can jumpstart an offense that ranks 31st in scoring (13.8 points per game) and last in total offense (232.3 yards per game). It will have to happen without top receiver Calvin Ridley (hamstring), who is out this week. RB Tony Pollard is shining on the ground with 362 yards and two touchdowns. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has a team-high 4.5 sacks and the three-time Pro Bowler has a solid chance of surpassing his career-best 8.5 in 2021.

New York Giants (2-4) at Denver Broncos (4-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Broncos -7, Total 40.5
Series Rewind: The all-time series is tied 7-7 dating back to 1972. The Broncos have won three of the last four, but the Giants took home the most important game between them, a 39-20 victory in Super Bowl XXI in 1987.

Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo have injected life into the moribund Giants, most recently leading them to a stunningly dominant win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Now coming out of a mini-bye, the Giants will have an even tougher test on their hands: a Denver team with not just postseason but Super Bowl aspirations. New York has won two of Dart’s first three starts but the only loss came on the road at New Orleans. The Broncos won’t make it easy and C John Michael Schmitz (concussion) is missing from the middle of the line and communication hub for the first-year pro. Denver had nine sacks in a 13-11 win over the Jets in London. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto leads the league with 8.0 sacks in six games. The Broncos might require a LB shuffle with ILB Dre Greenlaw (quad) participating in Friday’s practice and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, which would require a roster move to add him to the 53-man active roster; OLB Jonah Elliss (shoulder) is out. The Broncos have been playing well and won three straight while quarterback Bo Nix still hasn’t quite found the gear he had a year ago as a rookie, marginally down in yards per attempt, completion percentage and passer rating. A Giants defense that ranks 26th in passing defense (242.0) could be just the fix.

Indianapolis Colts (5-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Chargers -1.5, Total 48.5
Series Rewind: Chargers have won eight of the past 10 meetings, including two postseason victories over Peyton Manning.

Indianapolis has scored well with quarterback Daniel Jones running the show as the Colts lead the NFL in scoring (32.3 points per game) and rank fourth in total offense (376.8 yards per game). Jones is completing 71.7% of his throws for 1,502 yards and eight touchdowns against just three interceptions. He also has been sacked just five times behind a solid offensive line led by seven-time Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson, who is on the fast track to Canton if he continues his high-caliber play for another four to five seasons. That same line is leading the way for Jonathan Taylor, who leads the NFL with 603 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. The Chargers came dangerously close to a third straight loss last week but Cameron Dicker’s 33-yard field goal with five seconds to go gave the squad a 29-27 road win over the hapless Miami Dolphins. Second-year running back Kimani Vidal was a virtual lifesaver with a career-best 124 rushing yards. He will again be counted on with Najee Harris (Achilles) out for the season and rookie Omarion Hampton (ankle) on the injured list. Elite pass rusher Khalil Mack (elbow) is questionable after four-game absence and LT Joe Alt (ankle) is doubtful.

Green Bay Packers (3-1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday
Betting Hero odds: Packers -6.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: The Packers stomped the Cardinals 34-13 in Green Bay last season and has a record of 46-24-4 against the franchise in the regular season. Aaron Rodgers hit Randall Cobb for a pair of second-half touchdowns in a 24-21 Packers victory in the most recent game in the series played in Glendale, Ariz., in 2021. The first ever game between the teams was in 1921, a 3-3 tie.

Four consecutive losses — by a total of nine points — and simmering doubt about the health of QB Kyler Murray (foot) cloud the Cardinals’ view from the bottom of the NFC West. Jacoby Brissett threw two TD passes and topped 300 passing yards at Indianapolis last week in a 31-27 loss to the AFC-leading Colts. Backfield issues go far beyond Murray. He’s the leading rusher for Arizona at 173 yards and the next three on the Cardinals’ list of top ground gainers — Trey Benson (160), James Conner (95) and Emari Demercado (81) — are all hurt. Benson and Conner are on IR and Demercado left last week’s game with an ankle injury. Marvin Harrison Jr. cleared concussion protocol on Friday and is no longer on the injury report. The Packers are the only NFC team to not lose a game (2-0-1) against a conference opponent this season. Packers coach Matt LaFleur is 11-1 against the NFC West during the regular season with 11 consecutive wins. He’s crossing his fingers the flight to Arizona includes a few more healthy offensive linemen, a lingering concern since Week 1. Green Bay’s defense held four of five opponents under 20 points. The exception was a 40-point outburst by the Dallas Cowboys. Takeaways are a focus for the group, which has only two interceptions but has successfully made most teams one-dimensional allowing 73 rushing yards per game. Missing for Green Bay on Sunday are WR Christian Watson (knee), defensive end Lukas Van Ness (foot) and defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (knee).

Atlanta Falcons (3-2) at San Francisco 49ers (4-2)
8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday
Betting Hero odds: 49ers -1.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: The Falcons have won three of the past four games but San Francisco has a 48-33-1 edge in the all-time series. Atlanta took the most recent matchup, 28-14 in 2022.

Primetime is the place for the Falcons, who scorched the Bills last week on SNF, smacked the Vikings (22-6) in Week 2 and return to the Sunday primetime slot to test their “legit” status in the words of QB Michael Penix. Penix has picked up the pace with 20-plus completions in back-to-back games while RB Bijan Robinson makes a case for MVP consideration. He’s leading the NFL with 822 yards from scrimmage. No player has had a five-game start to the season with those numbers since Christian McCaffrey with Carolina in 2019. McCaffrey still is going strong and currently on pace for more than 2,000 total yards and 110 receptions. He had seven catches, 111 total yards at Tampa last week and has become the stabilizing presence for an offense forced to flip quarterbacks due to Brock Purdy’s toe injury while rotating a cadre of wounded wideouts. McCaffrey ranks No. 2 in the league behind Robinson with 780 total yards in 2025. Mac Jones produced a season-high 347 passing yards last week but was picked off twice by the Buccaneers in defeat. Atlanta is without rookie edge Jalon Walker (groin) and CB Clark Phillips III (triceps). The potential return of TE George Kittle would be well-timed for the Niners. He averages 103.3 yards per game in three career games against the Falcons. Besieged by injuries this season, San Francisco’s defense is already without DE Nick Bosa (knee) and subtracts All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner from the depth chart as it preps for Robinson. Warner underwent ankle surgery this week after a season-ending injury at Tampa Bay. Replacement Tatum Bethune posted 10 tackles against the Bucs.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1) at Detroit Lions (4-2)
Monday, 7 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Lions -5.5, Total 52.5
Series Rewind: Former NFC Central rivals meet in Detroit for the third time in 22 months. They’ve split the past two meetings, both decided by one score: the Lions won 31-23 in the 2023 playoffs and the Buccaneers snuck out with a 20-16 victory in Week 2 last season. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield ran for a TD, threw for a TD, was sacked 4.5 times by Aidan Hutchinson and intercepted by safety Brian Branch.

The Lions can outscore teams when necessary and exploiting shorthanded defenses is a specialty of QB Jared Goff. Goff leads the NFL with a 120.6 passer rating, 14 touchdowns and pilots an offense averaging 31.8 points per game. Goff has multiple options at most positions and elite playmakers in RB Jahmyr Gibbs and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. Both are over 460 yards from scrimmage this season and have a combined 11 touchdowns. The Bucs can score points, too, and Detroit’s secondary might look different with Branch serving a one-game suspension and Kerby Joseph (knee) fighting through a knee injury. CB Terrion Arnold is a candidate to return from the shoulder injury that pushed him to IR and surprisingly practiced Friday. Tampa has a similar issue at wide receiver. Mike Evans (hamstring) was plotting to play, but after a limited Thursday practice he didn’t take the field with the Bucs on Friday. If he’s out, as Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (fibula) are expected to be, QB Baker Mayfield would be without his top three wideouts and starting RB Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder). He’s tied with Goff for the most TD passes in the league (81) since 2023.

Houston Texans (2-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-2)
Monday, 10 p.m. ET
Betting Hero odds: Seahawks -3, Total 41.5
Series Rewind: Seattle beat the Texans by 20 (33-13) in 2021 the last time these teams met. The Seahawks have won the past three meetings and four of five all-time.

QB Sam Darnold appears to be working out just fine in Seattle. He has 11 touchdowns passes and a passer rating over 110 in four consecutive games. The Seahawks are dynamic defensively when healthy and DT Lawrence Jackson in the middle holds the key to locking down Houston’s passing game and QB C.J. Stroud. Stroud and Darnold have matching 70.8 completion percentages, but Stroud was sacked 12 times in the first five games as the Texans search for a consistent spark in the running game. Rookie Woody Marks and relative greybeard Nick Chubb have combined for 94 carries and 368 yards with Joe Mixon on the non-football injury list. Seattle is trying to turn Lumen Field back into the place visitors don’t want to see on the schedule. But the Seahawks are 1-2 this season at home after going 3-6 last year at home in coach Mike Macdonald’s first season at the helm. Houston returned from the bye week and won at Baltimore in Week 5. Stroud had four TD passes. Darnold and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba run into a talented secondary on Monday, but they’ve more than held their own this season. JSN is No. 1 in the NFL with 696 receiving yards in 2025, with a league-high four 100-yard receiving games.

–Field Level Media

 

Filed Under: NFL Tagged With:

NHL: Bruins Look to Bounce Back

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SALT LAKE CITY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Bruins look to erase a string of three consecutive losses and finish their first Western Conference road trip of the season strong, paying a Sunday night visit to Salt Lake City to clash with the Utah Mammoth.

Marco Sturm made the first major lineup shake-up of his young Bruins coaching tenure ahead of a 4-1 Saturday loss to the 5-0-1 Colorado Avalanche, opting to bring Johnny Beecher in for his season debut while Pavel Zacha joined Elias Lindholm and David Pastrnak on the top line.

“Against a team like Colorado, we need the whole package. We spread it out a little bit more (on the lines),” Sturm said, noting Beecher’s strong penalty-killing and faceoff ability.

Come Sunday, though, it could be back to the drawing board for Sturm.

Beecher rewarded his new coach with a first-period goal just 3:11 in, but the Bruins were dominated to the tune of 38-14 in shots and went more than 17 minutes without a single shot at one point.

Not nearly enough Bruins were going. For one, Pastrnak finished without a shot and had a minus-2 rating.

“My grinders were the best players again. If your grinders are your best players rather than your best players, you’re going to be in trouble,” Sturm said in a television postgame interview.

Defenseman Hampus Lindholm did give the Bruins a veteran boost after being considered a game-time decision on Saturday morning. He returned from a three-game absence (lower-body injury) to play 20:44 against Colorado and hopes to finish the back-to-back in Utah.

“It’s nice to be out there playing. Tough game tonight, but lots of stuff to build on for myself, and I feel like as a team, (we want to) get back on the horse,” Lindholm said.

Jeremy Swayman tended the goal for the first two games of Boston’s trip, which began Thursday with a 6-5 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Joonas Korpisalo is expected to make the Sunday start.

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The Mammoth has turned around a 1-2-0 start with back-to-back wins for the first time this season, including a season-high scoring output in a 6-3 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Friday. Utah enters Sunday as one of just five teams (2-0-0) still unbeaten at home this season.

“Eighty-two games, it’s a race for improvement. We’re far from the finish line, we need to improve,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. ” … I’m proud of the focus of the guys, the way they commit to what we have to do.”

Nick Schmaltz and captain Clayton Keller paced Utah as the first pair of teammates to record four points in the same game this season.

While Keller recorded his fifth four-point game in the last two seasons, Schmaltz notched his second career hat trick and the second in Utah franchise history with the help of two goals in a span of 3:52 in the first period. Schmaltz’s first goal broke the team’s 0-for-13 drought on the power play, which was a league-worst 1-for-16 entering the game.

Schmaltz leads the Mammoth with seven points, including at least one in four of the first five games.

“I feel like I’ve had a lot of chances early on in the season here and (I’m) trying to shoot the puck more, take it to the net, be around the net more,” Schmaltz said. “A couple guys made some great plays to me and found me in open areas. It was fun to see a couple go in there.”

The teams split their two meetings last season. Utah won its home game 2-1 in overtime on Oct. 19, 2024.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | October 19

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St. John’s is issuing “Replica Rings” to longtime fans (file photo)

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – As the 2025-26 college basketball season is now underway (St. John’s defeated Towson, 73-63, in a Saturday afternoon exhibition at Carnesecca Arena in Queens), there’s a new kid in town as some major Div I basketball programs appoint celebrity (and full time) General Managers to the mix of coaches, assistant coaches, graduate assistants and other assorted people on the team bus.

Boston Celtics great Jayson Tatum (recovering from an injured Achilles) made some headlines in Boston and Durham, North Carolina when he and Duke University announced the NBA All-Star would be the new GM of the Blue Devils. Tatum will still keep his “daytime” job as a star player for the NBA Celtics as he works his way back into playing, jumping, sprinting and full court defensive condition. Tatum’s rehab and therapy session are reportedly ahead of schedule for a possible return come NBA Playoff time.

But Tatum lending his name, his game and his money to the Duke University basketball program follows a very interesting trend which is not new to this season but trending upward as the money flows into collegiate sports.

Back in April of 2023, Villanova Vice President and Director of Athletics Mark Jackson announced the creation of a new position, General Manager of Basketball, and named former Wildcats’ Associate Head Coach Baker Dunleavy to fill the role.

There were a sprinkling of others which led to the big scoop. St. Bonaventure alum and multi-million dollar earner Adrian Wojnarowski left his mobile device and his 24/7 job as an NBA Insider for ESPN, dropped the serious coin and became the GM of men’s basketball for his alma mater. It was more of less a dream “retirement” job where Woj can still work 24 hours a day, but rather than scoop San Antonio Spurs leads, he can improve the Bonnies’ chances of making the big Dance. Surely, he’ll get some good tips on up & coming talent from RC, right?

Davidson basketball GM Austin Buntz spent several years at Under Armour, and originally joined Davidson’s athletic department in the fundraising department. But he’s recently moved over into the GM role, which he describes as “an extension” of the coaching staff.

Buntz was “one-upped” when Golden State Warriors guard and Davidson Wildcats’ most famous alum, Stephen Curry, signed on as defacto GM. Curry, at the direction of Coach Bob McKillop, led the 2008 Davidson team to a wild ride through March Madness only to fall a game away from the Final Four. And, while Curry fell short in college he made up for it in the pro game as an 11-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion, in addition to his three-time USA Basketball gold with the senior national team at the Paris Olympics (2024) and twice at the Worlds (2010-Turkey; 2014-Spain).

Curry lending his name and frequent appearances on campus helps build the Davidson brand globally while raising much needed money for NIL, and general expenses, noting the small collection of alum from such a small Carolina school.

Think that’s enough? How about other active NBA players like Portland’s Damian Lilliard as a GM for Weber State; Brooklyn’s Terance Mann helping out at Florida State; Atlanta’s Trae Young lending a GM hand at Oklahoma.

It’s not just hoops, either, as Andrew Luck is a football GM for his alma mater, Stanford; Michael Lombardi has an active, day-to-day gig as GM with Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels and former NFL head coach Ron Riviera is lending a hand at Cal, all according to a short list assembled by The Old Gray Lady,” The New York Times by way of its sports subsidiary, The Athletic.

For major change, however, college athletic departments, as a whole, need to operate in similar fashion as a pro franchise, complete with a pro mentality of investing in their product, staffing up properly – especially in ticket sales – more facility and game operation improvements, along with front office savvy. Of course, the initial investment is something college ADs refuse to entertain, so they dip their toe in the water, a bit, as long as the newly created positions come with a major donation. to the “U.”

The changes need to be much more substantial. Colleges and the NCAA have long kept a straight arm up against the professional sports leagues, citing the need for compliance and keeping their products squeaky clean and far away from the big bad wolf of professionalism and money.

Well, the barn door blew wide open when the NCAA lost its case to Ed O’Bannon and the world of N.I.L. hit the colleges like a cold slap in the face. No longer could the payments go under the table or in FedEx envelopes to addresses unknown. As it’s been written here before, Now, It was Legal (NIL). Let the Vitamin Water guy (Mike Repole) fund coach Rick Pitino’s St. John’s starting five and some.

GM positions for college basketball are the perfect example of what is really needed. Instead of the head coach making each and every decision as it relates to his program, a trusted GM – even one reporting on a dotted line to both the basketball coach and the AD – can accomplish much more, especially in season. A good GM can run a much better and deeper scouting department (both high school prospects and potential transfer portal options, never mind the upcoming oppenents.

A good GM can make 10 decisions a day that the head coach need not concern himself with at any level. It would free-up time for the coach to coach his team and better prepare for the next game. In addition to a good GM, college coaches for both basketball and football should have a right hand man to clear and guard his/her schedule for the most important activities. If the school marketing department needs a photo shoot, schedule it through the right hand man. If the development office needs some meet and greets on a road trip, run it through the right hand man to best schedule the task. That way, it’s sure to get done and the head coach doesn’t get five calls from five different people for the same requirement/obligation.

The big question is whether the power hungry, control everything head coaches, who control all aspects of basketball and football, will yield their power and responsibilities to a newfound colleague or not?

Of course, football and basketball are the revenue generators but a more professional approach needs to take place within every sport and the athletic office as a whole.

Can the colleges and college conferences make sacrifices for the greater good of college sports as a whole?

Along with the schools moving ahead, the NCAA and individual college conferences need to call a cease fire and form a truce. No more raiding each others’ colleges until a fair and universal approach can be negotiated. In other words, will the NCAA or the colleges have the clout, or will the NCAA be relegated only to run post season play?

The BIG EAST Conference will gather industry leaders this week to discuss the “Future of College Basketball” (Monday, Oct. 20, from 2:00 to 5:30pm (ET), at the Empire State Building), a day ahead of BIG EAST Basketball Media Day on Tuesday, Oct. 21st.

The seminar will start with a “One-on-One” with NCAA president and former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker who will sit down with Bonnie Bernstein, a former reporter for CBS and ESPN and now Founder/CEO, of Walk Swiftly Productions.

There will be four additional panel discussions which are all listed in the BIG EAST agenda – HERE.

The BIG question for Big Charlie – will he re-establish the NCAA and his own power to rule over all of college athletics or will he allow each conference to run amok the way things have been going, which resulted in the Pac-10 imploding? Stanford and Cal playing in the ATLANTIC Coast Conference and other abnormal activities have turned college athletics into a very bad lesson in geography and business sense.

three white baseballs on gray textile

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: MLB’s Gold Gloves finalists were named earlier this week. These players are the best defensive gloves in the game of baseball. Players from the Boston Red Sox are in BOLD.

American League

P – Jacob deGrom, Texas Rangers; Max Fried, New York Yankees; Luis Severino, The Athletics.

C – Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers; Alejandro Kirk, Toronto Blue Jays; Carlos Narváez, Boston Red Sox.

1B – Ty France, Minnesota/Toronto; Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays; Carlos Santana, Cleveland Guardians.

2B – Andrés Giménez, Cleveland Guardians; Luis Rengifo, Los Angeles Angels; Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers.

3B – Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays; Maikel Garcia, Kansas City Royals; José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians.

SS – Corey Seager, Texas Rangers; Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays; Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals.

LF – Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians; Wyatt Langford, Texas Rangers; Tyler Soderstrom, The Athletics.

CF – Kyle Isbel, Kansas City Royals; Ceddanne Rafaela, Boston Red Sox; Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners.

RF – Wilyer Abreu, Boston Red Sox; Adolis García, Texas Rangers; Cam Smith, Houston Astros.

UTIL – Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays; Mauricio Dubón, Houston Astros; Daniel Schneemann, Cleveland Guardians.

National League

P – Matthew Boyd, Chicago Cubs; David Peterson, New York Mets; Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants.

C – Patrick Bailey, San Francisco Giants; Carson Kelly, Chicago Cubs; Luis Torrens, New York Mets.

1B – Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies; Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves; Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds.

2B – Xavier Edwards, Florida Marlins; Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs; Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers.

3B – Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburg/Cincinnati; Ryan McMahon, Colorado/NY Yankees; Matt Shaw, Chicago Cubs.

SS – Nick Allen, Atlanta Braves; Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers; Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals.

LF – Ian Happ, Chicago Cubs; Tommy Pham, Pittsburgh Pirates; Kyle Stowers, Florida Marlins.

CF – Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs; Victor Scott II, St. Louis Cardinals; Jacob Young, Washington Nationals.

RF – Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks; Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers; Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres.

UTIL – Miguel Rojas, Los Angeles Dodgers; Javier Sanoja, Florida Marlins; Jared Triolo, Pittsburgh Pirates.

Winners will be announced on November 2nd.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Formula-1 racing dumped ESPN to sign a five-year deal with Apple TV. While the fringe sports trend towards big money and long term deals with streaming services, they fall short with the ability to extend their audience/reach. F-1 can kiss nightly/weekly news highlights on SportsCenter goodbye.

In other words, the ESPN TV coverage of F-1 will be as terse as their parting shot statement after the Apple TV deal was announced: “We’re incredibly proud of what we and Formula 1 accomplished together in the United States and look forward to a strong finish in this final season. We wish F-1 well in the future.”

Sort of an F-U to F-1?

Speaking of ESPN, many an NBA fan expressed some outright glee when former Golden State team GM and now former NBA on ESPN studio analyst Bob Myers took a lofty position as president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment – the parent company for the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), New Jersey Devils (NHL), Washington DC Commanders (NFL) and The Prudential Center in Newark (home of the NJ Devils).

“Our goal has been to hire, grow, and retain the best and brightest executives in the world and we are a stronger, more dynamic organization with the addition of Bob Myers,” Harris and Blitzer said in a statement.

Myers was already working as a senior advisor on the Commanders’ reorganization plans.

Let’s see if the Commanders, Sixers and Devils can get one of the greatest players in their respective sports with the seventh pick of the draft?

Miami’s Erik Spoelstra was named head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team through 2028. Spoelstra was selected by USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team managing director Grant Hill and was approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.

In addition to an Olympic gold coaching effort as an assistant coach at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Spoelstra was an assistant coach to Steve Kerr at the 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cup, where the USA finished fourth. He also served as head of the 2021 USA Basketball Men’s Select Team, which trained alongside the 2020 USA Men’s National Team ahead of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Spoelstra is the perfect choice for this time and place, but it’s sort of amazing his boss, Pat Riley, never had an opportunity to coach the USA at the Olympic Games.

Ohtani Leads LA with All-Time Outing

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LOS ANGELES  – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Instead of postgame orange slices there was champagne as Shohei Ohtani made the one of baseball’s biggest stages look like Little League.

Ohtani was a one-man show, hitting three home runs and striking out 10 in six-plus scoreless innings as the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced to the World Series for the second consecutive season with a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Ohtani hit home runs in the first, fourth and seventh innings as the defending champion Dodgers swept the best-of-seven National League Championship Series. Los Angeles will attempt to become the first team to win consecutive titles since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.

Ohtani (2-0), who gave up two hits and walked three, became the first pitcher in major league history — regular season or postseason — to hit three home runs and strike out at least one in the same game. The performance earned him series MVP honors.

The two-way star went deep for the first time since he hit a pair of homers in the wild-card opener against the Cincinnati Reds. Ohtani, a three-time regular-season MVP, entered the night batting .121 (4-for-33) over his previous eight games.

“There were times during the postseason where (Teoscar Hernandez) and Mookie (Betts) picked me up. And this time around it was my turn to be able to perform,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “Just looking back over the course of the entire postseason, I haven’t performed to expectations, but I think today we saw what the left-handed hitters could do.”

Los Angeles is headed to the World Series for the fifth time in nine seasons, getting past the Brewers in the NLCS for the second time in that stretch (2018).

Veteran left-hander Jose Quintana (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits over two-plus innings as the Brewers saw their season end after compiling the majors’ best regular-season record at 97-65. Quintana walked one and fanned one.

Milwaukee ended the four-game series with four total runs on 14 hits.

“Obviously, the last five days were not good, not the way we wanted to go,” said the Brewers’ Christian Yelich, who went 1-for-14 with two walks in the series. “It’s how it (can) be sometimes, and hopefully we can learn from this as a team and get back to this point and take that next step.”

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Ohtani opened the game from the mound by walking Brice Turang. He followed that by striking out the next three Milwaukee batters, then led off the bottom of the first inning with a 446-foot home run to right field on Quintana’s sixth pitch. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to hit a home run in a playoff game.

Los Angeles put up two more runs in the first inning, taking a 3-0 lead on an RBI single from Tommy Edman and a run-scoring groundout from Teoscar Hernandez.

Ohtani did not give up a hit until Jackson Chourio doubled to lead off the fourth. The right-hander retired the next three Milwaukee batters, including the last two by strikeout.

Ohtani belted a 469-foot home run in the fourth inning that landed on top of the corrugated metal roof at the back of the right field bleachers. He added a 427-foot homer to center field in the seventh as the Dodgers took a 5-0 lead.

“What he did on the mound, what he did at the bat, he created a lot of memories for a lot of people,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “So to do it in a game-clinching game at home, wins the NLCS MVP, it’s pretty special. I’m just happy to be able to go along for the ride.”

After walking Yelich and giving up a single to William Contreras to open the top of the seventh inning, Ohtani left the mound to a standing ovation. Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Anthony Banda and Roki Sasaki recorded the final nine outs.

The Brewers’ lone run came on a Turang RBI forceout in the eighth.

“We were part of, tonight, an iconic, maybe the best individual performance ever in a postseason game,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “I don’t think anybody can argue with that. A guy punches out 10 and hits three homers. (But) I’m really proud of our team. I admire our team.”

–Doug Padilla, Field Level Media

Celtics Sign Harper, Jr. to 2-Way Deal

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Celtics announced the player contract for guard-forward Ron Harper Jr. was converted to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not announced. The slot opened when the Celtics waived R.J. Luis – the 2025 BIG EAST Player of the Year – was waived on October 15.

Harper Jr. (6-5, 233) has appeared in 56 career regular season G League games (49 starts) across three seasons with Toronto (2022-24), Maine (2024-25), and Motor City (2024-25), averaging 17.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.1 steals in 32.6 minutes per game. The 25-year-old scored in double figures in 23 outings last season, including nine games with 20+ points and three games with 30+ points. Harper Jr. posted a G-League career-high 38 points (13-20 FG, 11-18 3FG, 1-1 FT) to go with three rebounds, eight assists, and one steal in a victory over Long Island Feb. 1.

The New Jersey native has seen action in 11 NBA games over three seasons with Toronto (2022-24) and Detroit (2024-25) with averages of 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 6.2 minutes per game. In three appearances with Boston in the 2025-26 preseason, Harper Jr. averaged 4.3 points and 1.0 assists in 10.6 minutes per game. Prior to going undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, Harper Jr. spent four seasons at Rutgers (2018-22) where he posted averages of 12.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 121 career games (109 starts). He earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors his senior season after averaging a team-high 15.7 points per game and shooting a career-high 39.8 percent (68-171 3FG) from 3-point range. Harper Jr. is the son of former NBA first-round pick Ron Harper, and his younger brother, Dylan, currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs.

Twins Peeking

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MINNEAPOLIS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) -The Minnesota Twins are seeking permission to interview Boston Red Sox bench coach Ramon Vazquez for their managerial opening, MLB Network reported on Tuesday. The Twins parted ways with skipper Rocco Baldelli on Sept. 29 after finishing 70-92 and fourth in the division in his seventh season.

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Vazquez, 49, has been part of Boston’s coaching staff since 2018. He was promoted to bench coach in 2022.

On May 19 this season, Vazquez filled in for Red Sox manager Alex Cora and recorded a 3-1 win over the New York Mets. Cora was away for his daughter’s college graduation.

Vazquez played shortstop, third base and second base for parts of nine seasons in the majors with six teams from 2001-09. He was a career .254 hitter with 22 homers and 176 RBIs in 696 games.

Baldelli recorded the third-most wins in franchise history with a record of 527-505 (.511).

–Field Level Media

Bruins Ex-STURM-inated

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Tampa Bay’s Anthony Cirelli’s planted a pair of first-period goals which helped the visiting Lightning build a three-goal lead and hold off the Boston Bruins for a 4-3 victory on Monday afternoon.

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Pontus Holmberg had a goal and an assist, Yanni Gourde added a goal, and Jonas Johansson made 30 saves for the Lightning, who shook their first 0-2-0 start under coach Jon Cooper.

Tampa Bay’s Gage Goncalves and Jake Guentzel each had two assists.

The Lightning finished 5-for-5 on the penalty kill, with the last coming during Johansson’s 10-save third period.

Casey Mittelstadt, Jordan Harris and Morgan Geekie each scored a goal for the Bruins, who saw their three-game season-opening win streak come to an end. Boston’s Joonas Korpisalo stopped 19 shots.

The Lightning scored 1:09 into the game as Cirelli tipped home Guentzel’s shot from the right side. Guentzel picked off Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy at neutral ice and bumped the puck to Goncalves, who made the play with a cross-ice pass.

Cirelli made it 2-0 at 13:16 when he deposited Guentzel’s backhand from behind the goal over Korpisalo’s glove-side shoulder. Another turnover extended the Lightning’s zone time before the goal.

After Boston was held scoreless in the first period for the first time this season, Tampa Bay extended its lead to 3-0 on the opening shift of the second period. Holmberg drove to the net and spun to feed a wide-open Gourde for a tap-in at the 39-second mark.

Mittelstadt responded with Boston’s first goal just 30 seconds later, scoring a wrist shot from the high slot off a strong rush sequence.

Tampa Bay reestablished a three-goal lead at 3:37 of the second period when Holmberg banged in a loose puck in the crease after Max Crozier centered it from the side wall.

Harris scored his first as a Bruin at 5:31. After David Pastrnak chipped the puck off the defensive zone wall, Harris beat Johansson with a short-side wrister.

Pavel Zacha’s faceoff win led right to Geekie for a quick flick of the wrist from the left circle, bringing Boston back within 4-3 at 11:35.

With Boston skating 6-on-5 in the final minute, Pastrnak blocked Brandon Hagel’s shot at an empty net before Johansson’s key rebound stop on Geekie in the slot preserved the victory.

–Field Level Media