Category: NHL

Why is the NHL playing regular season games in Europe during the preseason?

The start of the 2024-25 NHL season will officially begin in Europe.

For two NHL teams, regular season play for the 2024-25 season officially starts begins on Friday, October 4. The rest of the league, however, will have to wait a few days for regular season play to begin.

So, what’s the deal here?

You might have noticed that amidst the NHL’s preseason, two regular season games are being played by the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils in Europe. The first is on Friday, October 4 while the second is Saturday, October 5, both at the O2 Arena in Czechia.

The reason is because the NHL is kicking off the 2024-25 season with the NHL Global Series. Over the years, the NHL has put regular season games across the globe — from China to Sweden and more — in an effort to show off its product to other countries. The Global Series has been a thing off and on since 2017, with the NHL set to play games in 2024 in Czechia and Finland later this year.

So, while the rest of the NHL finishes up their preseason, the Sabres and Devils will get things started for the 2024-25 campaign on October 4! The NHL’s regular season begins in North America on Tuesday, October 8 with a three-game slate, including a matchup featuring the most recent Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers.

Commanders’ Quinn expects more from the D-Line vs. Cardinals

The head coach expects more from his DL vs. Cardinals.

Though the Commanders’ offense is now rolling, the defense has been extremely disappointing through the first three games this season.

The defense has surrendered the second-highest yards per play in the NFL (6.6). Three teams have produced only one takeaway, and the Commanders are one of them. Only the Colts have given up more first downs (71) to Washington’s 70.

In scoring percentage defense, the Commanders are so bad that they are dead last in the NFL, permitting a score on 69 percent of the opponents’ possessions. How bad is it? Well, the Rams are second at 55 percent and the Jaguars third at 53 percent.

So, on Friday, a member of the press asked Dan Quinn, “What are you looking to see from the defensive line this week?”

“Number one, I have a lot of respect for (RB) James Connor,” opened Quinn. “He’s a factor. They have a good run game and the play passes that go off of it. So, being stout, being physical up front, that is going to be a key. Then finding ways on third down to making our presence felt, to when can get the individual rushes to go.”

Playing a mobile quarterback like Kyler (Murray) presents its own challenges. So, having the discipline from them to do that, will be front and center for us.”

Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Clelin Ferrell, Dorance Armstrong, and Dante Fowler have all really struggled. The Commanders need healthy substitutions from Johnny Newton, Phidarian Mathis, and Javontae Jean-Baptiste.

As Quinn was succinct and direct in his response, so too must the Commanders be direct in responding. Otherwise, Kyler Murray, James Conner, and the Cardinals’ offense will make Commanders Nation miserable on Sunday.

Johnny Gaudreau’s wife Meredith posts heartbreaking messages about the late Blue Jackets star

“Thank you for the best years of my life.”

The mourning over the death of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, continues after the tragic accident that killed them on Thursday night, an incident that never should have happened.

The Gaudreau family shared a statement on Friday about the brothers, but it was Johnny’s wife Meredith who posted a pair of Instagram messages to her late husband, one about the star forward as a husband and the other about what he was like as a father.

We’re sending our deepest condolences out to the whole Gaudreau family after this tragedy.

Here are the Instagram posts:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_VNIC_Rry5/?img_index=1

https://www.instagram.com/p/C_VOITPxjt3/?img_index=1

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Johnny Gaudreau’s family released a heartbreaking statement after his death

“Last night, we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers … truly two amazing humans.”

The world continues to mourn Johnny Gaudreau after the death of the Columbus Blue Jackets star and his brother Matthew on Thursday night in a reported car accident while they were biking in New Jersey.

Jim Gaudreau, the uncle for both Gaudreaus, released a statement on behalf of the family that’s just heartbreaking.

“Last night we lost two husbands, two fathers, two sons, two brothers, two sons and brothers in law, two nephews, two cousins, two family members, two teammates, two friends, but truly two amazing humans,” it said.

It went on to say that they had received “messages of love” and that they were appreciative.

Here’s the full statement:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1996]

Johnny Gaudreau dies: What we know about the tragic reported accident that killed the Blue Jackets star and his brother

What we know about this horrific tragedy.

The world was shocked by news on Friday morning that Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Johnny Gaudreau had died on Thursday night at the age of 31.

It’s a horrible, stunning loss of a player and person loved by so many, who was in the middle of an already-stellar career. But it wasn’t just him who died. We also have to mention that his brother, 29-year-old Matthew Gaudreau was killed as well.

With information and rumors swirling on Thursday night on social media before official word on Friday morning, here’s everything we know about the tragic accident that killed the Gaudreau brothers:

Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Gaudreau were killed by a suspected drunk driver while riding their bikes

Per NBC Philadelphia:

John Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were riding their bikes north on County Route 551 in Oldmans Township on Thursday at 8:19 p.m. At the same time, Sean Higgins, 43, of Woodstown, New Jersey, was driving a Jeep Grand Cherokee north on County Route 551, according to investigators.

Higgins tried to pass two vehicles ahead of him and entered the southbound lanes, police said. An SUV in front of Higgins moved to the middle of the roadway, splitting the north and south lanes in order to safely pass the Gaudreau brothers as they rode their bikes on the right side of the road, according to investigators.

The driver was reportedly arrested and charged with two counts of driving under the influence and death by auto

They were back home in New Jersey for their sister’s wedding

From the Columbus Dispatch:

According to a post on a popular wedding site, Gaudreau and his brother were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister’s wedding Friday in Philadelphia. Gaudreau had two young children, a daughter, Noa, and son, Johnny, with his wife Meredith and both were born in Columbus.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1996]

The NHL world mourns Johnny Gaudreau after beloved 31-year-old forward dies

Johnny Gaudreau died at the age of 31 on Thursday.

The hockey world was stunned by the news that was confirmed on Friday morning: Johnny Gaudreau, the 31-year-old forward known as Johnny Hockey, who was born in New Jersey and who had 743 points in his already stellar career, died on Thursday.

Per a statement from the Columbus Blue Jackets, he died on Thursday night, and The Columbus Dispatch says there are reports that he was killed while biking in his native New Jersey. His brother, Matthew, also died.

That’s all the info we have as of publishing this post. The Dispatch adds that “he and Matthew Gaudreau were scheduled to be groomsmen in their sister Katie’s wedding Friday in Philadelphia. Gaudreau’s wife, Meredith, is listed as maid-of-honor.”

The hockey world mourned after the news broke:

 

 

 

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1996]

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez won’t make the 53-man roster

Here’s why New York Jets GM Joe Douglas couldn’t commit to Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez.

Through three weeks of NFL preseason, quarterbacks Andrew Peasley and Adrian Martinez gave it everything they had. Still, New York Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas could not commit to their talents as essential to the 2024 mission.

Fate only came to fruition for Martinez and Peasley yesterday. Veteran quarterback Tyrod Taylor was always destined to secure the No. 2 slot on the quarterback depth chart and rookie Jordan Travis was only non-participatory because of injury.

 
 
 
 
 
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The Jets simply could not afford to fumble off such tremendous talent on the defensive side of the football so Peasley & Martinez caught the bad end of the sleight.

Peasley & Martinez finished the 2024 preseason with 1 touchdown pass on 80 combined pass attempts.

Your favorite sports team now has a new WWE Championship Belt

Fanatics has your favorite team’s WWE championship belt available right now:

Whether it’s the football field, the baseball diamond, the basketball court or even the hockey rink, your favorite team has a WWE legacy championship belt now available with their name on it.

It’s the perfect way to show off some bragging rights or display your fandom, a real world championship belt just like the WWE has.

Speaking of being at the top, the NFL is covered at every corner … except the Jacksonville Jaguars (Jags owner Shahid Khan and his son, Tony Khan, own rival promotion AEW.)

Cowboys fans? Defend your NFC East division title. Naturally, Chiefs Kingdom needs no explanation on their championship prowess.

A top college football supporter? WWE has produced belts for 20 top programs such as the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes.

And don’t forget your other sports squads like the Boston Celtics after they won their league-leading 18th NBA Championship banner this season.

Grab your team’s belt right now at Fanatics.

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We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Your favorite sports team now has a new WWE Championship Belt

Fanatics has your favorite team’s WWE championship belt available right now:

Whether it’s the football field, the baseball diamond, the basketball court or even the hockey rink, your favorite team has a WWE legacy championship belt now available with their name on it.

It’s the perfect way to show off some bragging rights or display your fandom, a real world championship belt just like the WWE has.

Speaking of being at the top, the NFL is covered at every corner … except the Jacksonville Jaguars (Jags owner Shahid Khan and his son, Tony Khan, own rival promotion AEW.)

Cowboys fans? Defend your NFC East division title. Naturally, Chiefs Kingdom needs no explanation on their championship prowess.

A top college football supporter? WWE has produced belts for 20 top programs such as the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes.

And don’t forget your other sports squads like the Boston Celtics after they won their league-leading 18th NBA Championship banner this season.

Grab your team’s belt right now at Fanatics.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop WWE title belts” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/rQvNvy”]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Your favorite sports team now has a new WWE Championship Belt

Fanatics has your favorite team’s WWE championship belt available right now:

Whether it’s the football field, the baseball diamond, the basketball court or even the hockey rink, your favorite team has a WWE legacy championship belt now available with their name on it.

It’s the perfect way to show off some bragging rights or display your fandom, a real world championship belt just like the WWE has.

Speaking of being at the top, the NFL is covered at every corner … except the Jacksonville Jaguars (Jags owner Shahid Khan and his son, Tony Khan, own rival promotion AEW.)

Cowboys fans? Defend your NFC East division title. Naturally, Chiefs Kingdom needs no explanation on their championship prowess.

A top college football supporter? WWE has produced belts for 20 top programs such as the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs and Ohio State Buckeyes.

And don’t forget your other sports squads like the Boston Celtics after they won their league-leading 18th NBA Championship banner this season.

Grab your team’s belt right now at Fanatics.

[afflinkbutton text=”Shop WWE title belts” link=”https://fanatics.93n6tx.net/rQvNvy”]

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. FTW operates independently, though, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.