Tag: Florida Panthers

NFL Will Allow Players to Play in the 2028 Games, Thunder Roll, Panthers Dominate, and more.
NFL NEWS.

On Tuesday, NFL owners voted unanimously 32-0, in favor of letting league players “try out” for flag football at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angelos, California.

What we know so far about flag football at the Olympics,
- There will be 6 teams (USA included).
- It will be a 5 on 5 format. (5 on offense and 5 on defense).
- Each team will have a roster of 10 players. (That means it will be a 2 deep roster).
- Only 1 player from each team can try out. (Example: QB Jalen Hurts and HB Saquon Barkley from the Philadelphia Eagles, both cannot try out).
While this is an exciting development, the LA 2028 Games are still years away. A lot can happen in the time. Players playing college football right now could end up on the roster.

Personally, I don’t think flag football should be an Olympic sport.

They’re trying to attract “younger viewers”, and flag football is gaining popularity in youth sports and college campuses. So, I understand the reasoning behind the decision.

That being said, of course I’m going to watch it. It’s football.

NBA PLAYOFFS.

The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #6 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves 114-88 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.

The Timberwolves had a 48-44 lead at the half, behind PF Julius Randle’s 20 points.

The break completely changed the momentum of the game, as the Thunder, led by PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, scored 20 of his team-leading 31 points in the 2nd half.

OKC scored 32 points in the 3rd quarter and 38 in the fourth quarter to get the important win at home. They now led the series 1-0. Full game highlights below.

Game 2 is Thursday night, in Oklahoma City, at 8:30 PM, on ESPN.

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

The A3 Florida Panthers went into Charlotte, North Carolina and got a big win against the A2 Carolina Hurricanes 5-2, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Panthers special teams were on displayed, as they got powerplay goals by C Carter Verhaeghe in the 1st period, and C Sam Bennett in the 3rd period.

There was a stretch where Florida did not have a single shot for 15 minutes in the 2nd period. Carolina just dominated the puck. They had their chances, but Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was just a brick wall. He stopped 31 of 33 total shots he faced. Full game highlights below.

Game 2 is Thursday night, in Charlotte, at 8:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

MLB SCORES.

The Chicago Cubs put a beatdown on the Miami Marlins 14-1.

The Red Sox get their 2nd straight win over the New York Mets 2-0.

The Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4.

The lowly Colorado Rockies continue to struggle as they lose to the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4.

The Los Angelos Dodgers get the win over the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-3.

The New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers 5-2.

OTHER NEWS.

The Ottawa Charge defeated the Minnesota Frost in Game 1 of the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League) Walter Cup Finals, 2-1 in overtime.

Charge F Emily Clark scored the game winner at 2:47 into the OT period, beating Frost goalie Nicole Hensley just over the goalie stick. Full game highlights below.

Game 2 is Thursday night, in Ottawa, at 7:00 PM (EST) on TSN and RDS in Canada and FanDuel Sports North and PWHL YouTube channel in America.

– by Sean McKenzie

Follow me on X (Twitter) @JoeAmerican6771 and @allsportsfancom.

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, Olympics, NBA, NHL, MLB, PWHL.

Pictures and videos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, Olympics, and YouTube.
May 21, 2025
Shedeur Sanders Signs Rookie Contract, LB Warner Signs Big Contract, NHL Referee Gets Stitches, and more.

NFL NEWS.

Cleveland Browns 5th round quarterback Shedeur Sanders has signed his rookie contract.

It is a 4-year, $4.6 million dollar deal. with a $447,380 signing bonus.

I’m not going to talk about his “slide” in the draft. I’ve already done an article on that, plus we all know that story, it’s been beaten to death.

I’m “on the record” with my prediction that Sanders will be QB2 when the season starts.

The San Francisco 49ers have made LB Fred Warner the highest paid “off ball” linebacker in the NFL.

They came to terms on a 3-year, $63 million dollar contract extension, with $56 million dollars guaranteed. This new deal keeps Warner the red and gold through the 2029 season.

The linebacker had 131 total tackles, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 INTs last season, all of which earned him his 4th All-Pro appearance and 3rd straight.

NHL NEWS.

Veteran NHL referee Chris Rooney received stitches Sunday night after taking a high stick to the face by Panthers Defenseman Niko Mikkola, during the 2nd period of the Maple Leafs/Panthers pivotal Game 7.

Medical personnel from both teams attended to him, and a stretcher was brought out; however, he refused and skated off the rink under his own power.

Rooney hopes to return to resume duties during these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

MLB SCORES.

Guardians\Twins game was suspended in the 4th inning due to rain. Twins were up 2-1. Game resumes tonight at 6:10 PM (EST).

Marlins beat the Cubs 8-7.

Reds win 7-1 over the Pirates.

Red Sox beat the Mets 3-1.

Diamondbacks get the win over the Dodgers 9-5.

The Cardinals beat the surging Tigers 11-4.

Question of the day – What is your favorite sport to watch?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB.

Photos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, profootballnetwork, PFF, and SI.

May 20, 2025
NFL News, New Champion, Legend Retires, Hall of Famer Announced, NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup, and more.

NFL NEWS.

Quarterback Derek Carr has decided to retire, after 11 seasons in the NFL. The former Raiders and Saints QB attended Fresno State and was the 36th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He finishes his career throwing for 41,245 yards, with 257 TDs and 112 INTs.

Rookie mini camps were held over the weekend. Jaguars #2 pick WR/CB Travis Hunter took snaps on the offensive side of the ball. HC Liam Coen said that Hunter will get defensive reps next week. Browns #5 pick DT Mason Graham made headlines after he was caught vomiting on the field. HC Kevin Stefanski blew it off saying that he simply ate too much.

MMA NEWS.

Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) defeated Belal Muhammad (24-4) to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion, in an absolute slugfest. The judges gave Jack the UD win with scores of 48-47 (x2) and 49-46. Jack has now won 18 straight fights. His last lost coming way back in 2016.

Some things just seem to stay the same. Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) defended her Women’s Flyweight Championship for a record 10th time, defeating Manon Fiorot (12-2) by UD. 48-47 (x3).

Featherweight legend Jose Aldo (32-10), retired in the octagon after losing to Aiemann Zahabi (13-2).

Former Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame later this year.

Belfort (26-14) burst onto the scene when he won the UFC Heavyweight Tournament back in 1997, at only 19 years of age.

In 2013, his legal use of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) became a worldwide sports controversy. The Nevada State Athletic Commission later banned TRT, from competition without medical proof of necessity.

He holds career wins against legends Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, and Dan Henderson.

NBA Playoffs.

The #4 seeded Indiana Pacers defeated the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109, to take a 3-1 series lead.

PF Pascal Siakam led the team with 21 points. C Myles Turner had 7 rebounds, and PG T.J. McConnell had 8 assists.

Game 6 is Tuesday night, in Cleveland at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets 92-87, to tie the series at 2-2.

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 points and 6 assists. C Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 rebounds to lead the team.

Game 5 is also on Tuesday night, in Oklahoma City, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

The A3 and defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, defeated the A1 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0, to tie the series at 2-2.

Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got his 5th career playoff shutout, stopping all 23 shots attempted.

Tempers flared at the end of the game, when Maple Leafs C Max Domi (Pussycat Max, as I call him), landed his latest in a long career of cheap shots, this time on Panthers C Aleksander Barkov.

Game 5 is Wednesday night, in Toronto, at 7:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

The C2 Dallas Stars defeated the C1 Winnepeg Jets 5-2, to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

Stars RW Mikko Rantanen continues his incredible playoff run with another 3 points (1G/2A). Full game highlights below.

Game 4 is Tuesday night, in Dallas, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

MLB NEWS.

Phillies beat the Guardians 3-0.

In a battle of division leaders, the Mets beat the Cubs 6-2.

League leading Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 8-1.

Surprising Tigers lose to the Rangers 6-1.

The Rockies actually win a game!!! Beating the Padres 9-3.

OTHER NEWS.

Congratulations to my Aunt Chris’ as her Toledo Walleye defeated my Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 and advance to the Western Conference Finals in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Question of the day – Did your favorite team make the playoffs?

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB, ECHL, NBA, bleacherreport, UFC.

Pictures and video courtesy of…..wallpapercave, UFC, ECHL, bleacherreport, and YouTube.

May 12, 2025
Knicks Do It Again, Thunder Reigns, Home Teams Hold Court, and so much more.

NBA PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

For the 2nd time in 2 games, the #3 seeded New York Knicks overcome a 20-point deficit to beat the defending NBA Champion and #2 seeded Boston Celtics. The 91-90 victory last night, gives them a big 2-0 series lead going back home to Madison Square Garden.

The odds now heavily favor the Knicks, as 85.7% of teams who win the first 2 games on the road, end up taking the best of seven series.

SG Josh Hart led the team in points with 23, but it was C Karl Anthony-Towns with his team leading 17 rebounds. Dominating the glass and not allowing those pesky second chance shots by Boston. PG Jalen Brunson led with 7 assists. Check out the final seconds of the game below.

Game 3 is in New York, Saturday afternoon, at 3:30 PM (EST) on ABC.

The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder laid a 43-point butt whipping on the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets with a 149-106 victory at home.

The Thunder set an NBA record, scoring 87 points in the first half alone. The shots just weren’t falling for the Nuggets last night, and the Thunder made 56.2% of their shots, including 44.4% from beyond the arch. Full game highlights of the record-breaking night below.

PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 34 points and assists with 8. PF Chet Holmgren had 11 rebounds.

It was a big win for the Thunder as the series is now tied 1-1, going to Denver.

Game 3 is Friday night, in Denver, at 10:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

Golden State Warriors superstar PG Stephen Curry has Grade 1 left hamstring strain, is slated to miss at least 2 games, if not more.

Hamstring injuries are hard to recover from, as they can linger for weeks or months.

NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

The A1 Toronto Maple Leafs take a big 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup Champion and A3 Florida Panthers with a 4-3 victory at home. Full game highlights below.

Both teams got power play goals by Barkov (FLA) and Pacioretty (TOR) in the 1st period. Goals by Nylander and Domi, gave Toronto a 3-2 lead after 2 periods of play. Lundell scored at 5:33 of the 3rd to tie it at 3-3. Only 17 seconds later, Mitch Marner scored the eventual game winner at 5:50.

Game 3 is Friday night, in Sunrise, FL, at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

The C2 Dallas Stars steal Game 1 in Winnepeg from the C1 Winnepeg Jets with a 3-2 win, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

All 5 goals were scored in a wild and crazy 2nd period. Led by Stars RW Mikko Rantanen, who got his 2nd straight hat-trick. See all 3 goals below.

Game 2 is Friday night, in Winnepeg, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

The Utah Hockey Club in the NHL, now officially has a nickname and logo.

They will be called, the Utah Mammoth.

It was a 13-month process, and they had over 850,000 ballots cast by fans to come up with the name and logo.

It went through 4 rounds of “community voting” and this is the winner.

MLB SCORES AND NEWS.

The Guardians beat the Nationals 8-6.

The Yankees get the 4-3 win over the Padres in extra innings.

The Dodgers lay a beat down on the Marlins 10-1.

The Pittsburgh Pirates lose their 7th straight game to the streaking St. Louis Cardinals 5-0.

OTHER NEWS.

My Aunt Chris’ Toledo Walleye defeated my Fort Wayne Komets in double overtime, to get the 3-2 win, and tie the series at 2-2 in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. Game highlights below.

Game 5 is tonight, in Fort Wayne, IN. Puck drops at 7:35 PM (EST)

Get out and support your local pro and semi-pro teams.

– by Sean McKenzie

Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NBA, NHL, MLB.

Pictures and videos courtesy of…..YouTube, myhighplains, and the ChicagoSunTimes.

May 8, 2025