×
Deadspin | Blue Jays C Alejandro Kirk (left thumb) headed for surgery Tuesday Apr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) hits an RBI-double against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair his broken left thumb, Toronto manager John Schneider said Monday. The two-time All-Star was injured during Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox when he caught a foul tip near the bottom of the glove. The club hasn’t yet determined how long Kirk will be sidelined. “We’ll know the timeline after the surgery,” Schneider said. Kirk, 27, is 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer and two RBIs in five games this season. In seven big-league campaigns, Kirk is batting .267 with 52 homers and 265 RBIs in 569 games since reaching the majors with the Blue Jays in 2020. Tyler Heineman, 34, who is 4-for-10 in five games this season, is slated to be the main catcher while Kirk is out. Prospect Brandon Valenzuela, 25, was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo to be the backup and was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts on Sunday in his major league debut. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Blue #Jays #Alejandro #Kirk #left #thumb #headed #surgery #Tuesday

Deadspin | Blue Jays C Alejandro Kirk (left thumb) headed for surgery Tuesday
Deadspin | Blue Jays C Alejandro Kirk (left thumb) headed for surgery Tuesday Apr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) hits an RBI-double against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair his broken left thumb, Toronto manager John Schneider said Monday. The two-time All-Star was injured during Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox when he caught a foul tip near the bottom of the glove. The club hasn’t yet determined how long Kirk will be sidelined. “We’ll know the timeline after the surgery,” Schneider said. Kirk, 27, is 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer and two RBIs in five games this season. In seven big-league campaigns, Kirk is batting .267 with 52 homers and 265 RBIs in 569 games since reaching the majors with the Blue Jays in 2020. Tyler Heineman, 34, who is 4-for-10 in five games this season, is slated to be the main catcher while Kirk is out. Prospect Brandon Valenzuela, 25, was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo to be the backup and was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts on Sunday in his major league debut. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Blue #Jays #Alejandro #Kirk #left #thumb #headed #surgery #TuesdayApr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) hits an RBI-double against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair his broken left thumb, Toronto manager John Schneider said Monday.

The two-time All-Star was injured during Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox when he caught a foul tip near the bottom of the glove. The club hasn’t yet determined how long Kirk will be sidelined.

“We’ll know the timeline after the surgery,” Schneider said.


Kirk, 27, is 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer and two RBIs in five games this season.

In seven big-league campaigns, Kirk is batting .267 with 52 homers and 265 RBIs in 569 games since reaching the majors with the Blue Jays in 2020.

Tyler Heineman, 34, who is 4-for-10 in five games this season, is slated to be the main catcher while Kirk is out. Prospect Brandon Valenzuela, 25, was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo to be the backup and was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts on Sunday in his major league debut.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #Alejandro #Kirk #left #thumb #headed #surgery #Tuesday

Sports news

Apr 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk (30) hits an RBI-double against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk will undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair his broken left thumb, Toronto manager John Schneider said Monday.

The two-time All-Star was injured during Friday’s 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox when he caught a foul tip near the bottom of the glove. The club hasn’t yet determined how long Kirk will be sidelined.

“We’ll know the timeline after the surgery,” Schneider said.

Kirk, 27, is 3-for-20 (.150) with a homer and two RBIs in five games this season.

In seven big-league campaigns, Kirk is batting .267 with 52 homers and 265 RBIs in 569 games since reaching the majors with the Blue Jays in 2020.

Tyler Heineman, 34, who is 4-for-10 in five games this season, is slated to be the main catcher while Kirk is out. Prospect Brandon Valenzuela, 25, was recalled Saturday from Triple-A Buffalo to be the backup and was 1-for-3 with two strikeouts on Sunday in his major league debut.

–Field Level Media

Source link
#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #Alejandro #Kirk #left #thumb #headed #surgery #Tuesday

Related Posts

Deadspin | Flyers, Devils both focused on reaching playoffs in crowded Metro Apr 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers have picked the right time to get hot. With five games remaining, they sit in a playoff spot and start a three-game road trip Tuesday against the rival New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J. The Flyers (39-26-12, 90 points) find themselves in third place in the Metropolitan Division after Sunday’s 2-1 overtime win against the visiting Boston Bruins. Coach Rick Tocchet’s team has won two straight and eight out of 11. Since play resumed after the Olympic break, the Flyers are 14-6-1, and Tocchet said his team cannot become transfixed on how its fortunes have changed. “When you’re chasing somebody, it’s still hard, but when you’re getting hunted, it’s harder,” he said after Sunday’s win. “We’re going to have to learn that. We can only worry about tomorrow’s practice … and then we worry about the Devils. That’s the only way you can do it. We can’t worry about it.” Sunday was a breakout game for Porter Martone. The sixth overall pick in last year’s draft joined the club last Tuesday. He assisted on the Flyers’ first goal by Christian Dvorak, then scored the overtime winner, which also happened to be his first NHL goal. Tocchet said that Martone has impressed him in his first week as a pro, noting how he’s talked to his veteran teammates about positioning on power plays. “I like that. A young kid like that doing that?” Tocchet added. “You can just tell he’s been around. He’s just a hockey player. Love the kid.” New Jersey (40-34-3, 83 points) is one of the teams chasing the Flyers in the playoff race, but the Devils are seventh in the Metropolitan and would need a lot to fall their way over the final two weeks to sneak in. Coach Sheldon Keefe’s squad has alternated wins and losses over its last six games (3-2-1). On Sunday, the Devils scored a 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens, another team trying to crash the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Keefe said players told one another after the win that they are not out of the playoff race. “That’s what you like to see,” he said. “It’s shown up in different ways in the last few weeks, with how we played overall. The vibes and the energy, the team’s been really good and healthy. … But (against Montreal) it goes to another level in all regards.” Jack Hughes set up two of New Jersey’s goals in the win at Montreal, continuing a hot streak he’s been on since play resumed in late February. The center — the top overall draft pick in 2019 — has 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in the 20 games since the Olympic break. He’s been held without a point in just four games in that span. Despite missing 21 games this season, Hughes, 24, leads the team in points with 72. He’s second behind Nico Hischier (26) with 25 goals and one behind Jesper Bratt’s team-best 48 assists. On Monday, Hughes earned the NHL’s Second Star of the Week honor, after scoring three times and posting six assists in four games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Flyers #Devils #focused #reaching #playoffs #crowded #MetroApr 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

The Philadelphia Flyers have picked the right time to get hot. With five games remaining, they sit in a playoff spot and start a three-game road trip Tuesday against the rival New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J.

The Flyers (39-26-12, 90 points) find themselves in third place in the Metropolitan Division after Sunday’s 2-1 overtime win against the visiting Boston Bruins. Coach Rick Tocchet’s team has won two straight and eight out of 11.

Since play resumed after the Olympic break, the Flyers are 14-6-1, and Tocchet said his team cannot become transfixed on how its fortunes have changed.

“When you’re chasing somebody, it’s still hard, but when you’re getting hunted, it’s harder,” he said after Sunday’s win. “We’re going to have to learn that. We can only worry about tomorrow’s practice … and then we worry about the Devils. That’s the only way you can do it. We can’t worry about it.”

Sunday was a breakout game for Porter Martone. The sixth overall pick in last year’s draft joined the club last Tuesday. He assisted on the Flyers’ first goal by Christian Dvorak, then scored the overtime winner, which also happened to be his first NHL goal.

Tocchet said that Martone has impressed him in his first week as a pro, noting how he’s talked to his veteran teammates about positioning on power plays.

“I like that. A young kid like that doing that?” Tocchet added. “You can just tell he’s been around. He’s just a hockey player. Love the kid.”


New Jersey (40-34-3, 83 points) is one of the teams chasing the Flyers in the playoff race, but the Devils are seventh in the Metropolitan and would need a lot to fall their way over the final two weeks to sneak in.

Coach Sheldon Keefe’s squad has alternated wins and losses over its last six games (3-2-1). On Sunday, the Devils scored a 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens, another team trying to crash the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

Keefe said players told one another after the win that they are not out of the playoff race.

“That’s what you like to see,” he said. “It’s shown up in different ways in the last few weeks, with how we played overall. The vibes and the energy, the team’s been really good and healthy. … But (against Montreal) it goes to another level in all regards.”

Jack Hughes set up two of New Jersey’s goals in the win at Montreal, continuing a hot streak he’s been on since play resumed in late February. The center — the top overall draft pick in 2019 — has 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in the 20 games since the Olympic break. He’s been held without a point in just four games in that span.

Despite missing 21 games this season, Hughes, 24, leads the team in points with 72. He’s second behind Nico Hischier (26) with 25 goals and one behind Jesper Bratt’s team-best 48 assists.

On Monday, Hughes earned the NHL’s Second Star of the Week honor, after scoring three times and posting six assists in four games.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Flyers #Devils #focused #reaching #playoffs #crowded #Metro">Deadspin | Flyers, Devils both focused on reaching playoffs in crowded Metro Apr 2, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) celebrates his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images The Philadelphia Flyers have picked the right time to get hot. With five games remaining, they sit in a playoff spot and start a three-game road trip Tuesday against the rival New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J. The Flyers (39-26-12, 90 points) find themselves in third place in the Metropolitan Division after Sunday’s 2-1 overtime win against the visiting Boston Bruins. Coach Rick Tocchet’s team has won two straight and eight out of 11. Since play resumed after the Olympic break, the Flyers are 14-6-1, and Tocchet said his team cannot become transfixed on how its fortunes have changed. “When you’re chasing somebody, it’s still hard, but when you’re getting hunted, it’s harder,” he said after Sunday’s win. “We’re going to have to learn that. We can only worry about tomorrow’s practice … and then we worry about the Devils. That’s the only way you can do it. We can’t worry about it.” Sunday was a breakout game for Porter Martone. The sixth overall pick in last year’s draft joined the club last Tuesday. He assisted on the Flyers’ first goal by Christian Dvorak, then scored the overtime winner, which also happened to be his first NHL goal. Tocchet said that Martone has impressed him in his first week as a pro, noting how he’s talked to his veteran teammates about positioning on power plays. “I like that. A young kid like that doing that?” Tocchet added. “You can just tell he’s been around. He’s just a hockey player. Love the kid.” New Jersey (40-34-3, 83 points) is one of the teams chasing the Flyers in the playoff race, but the Devils are seventh in the Metropolitan and would need a lot to fall their way over the final two weeks to sneak in. Coach Sheldon Keefe’s squad has alternated wins and losses over its last six games (3-2-1). On Sunday, the Devils scored a 3-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens, another team trying to crash the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Keefe said players told one another after the win that they are not out of the playoff race. “That’s what you like to see,” he said. “It’s shown up in different ways in the last few weeks, with how we played overall. The vibes and the energy, the team’s been really good and healthy. … But (against Montreal) it goes to another level in all regards.” Jack Hughes set up two of New Jersey’s goals in the win at Montreal, continuing a hot streak he’s been on since play resumed in late February. The center — the top overall draft pick in 2019 — has 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in the 20 games since the Olympic break. He’s been held without a point in just four games in that span. Despite missing 21 games this season, Hughes, 24, leads the team in points with 72. He’s second behind Nico Hischier (26) with 25 goals and one behind Jesper Bratt’s team-best 48 assists. On Monday, Hughes earned the NHL’s Second Star of the Week honor, after scoring three times and posting six assists in four games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Flyers #Devils #focused #reaching #playoffs #crowded #Metro

Craig Reedie, the former World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president whose position on the Russian doping scandal a decade ago brought him into conflict with the IOC where he was a vice president, has died. He was 84.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed his death on Monday without stating the cause.

Reedie played key roles in London’s unexpected win in bidding to host the 2012 Olympics and in getting his own sport badminton on to the Olympic program for the 1992 Barcelona Games.

“Craig was my mentor, wise counsel, passionate advisor, and great friend,” said Sebastian Coe, who worked alongside Reedie in bidding for and organizing the London Summer Games.

“He was the distinguished elder statesman with a reservoir of Olympic knowledge and experience which he shared willingly and to great effect,” Coe wrote in a social media post on Monday.

Reedie’s standing in Olympic politics helped to elevate him to lead the global anti-doping watchdog in 2013, when the presidential nomination was effectively the turn of the IOC to decide.

Three years later, the lead-in to the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games was dominated by the scandal of learning the scale of Russia’s state-backed doping program at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.

The push by Reedie’s WADA to remove the entire Russian team from Rio was fiercely resisted by the IOC and its president Thomas Bach. Both men sat on the IOC’s 15-member executive board that ultimately decided to let governing bodies of Olympic sports decide their entry policy for Russian athletes.

The public pressure put on Reedie by influential Olympic figures continued for months until he and Bach met to clear the air. Since Rio, no Russian team has competed at an Olympics with its own country name, flag and anthem.

Current IOC president Kirsty Coventry said on Monday that Reedie’s contribution “to the Olympic Games, to clean sport and to the development of athletes worldwide will endure for generations to come.” “He was a steadfast guardian of integrity, guiding the global sporting community through some of its most challenging moments with dignity and resolve,” Coventry added in an IOC statement.

Coe described Reedie, a Scotsman who was knighted in 2006, as the “epitome of a gentleman.” “He was equal parts opinionated, wise, canny, and, most of all, loyal to those who legitimately wanted to serve sport,” the World Athletics president said. “He certainly did not suffer fools gladly, was authentic, and would speak his mind.” Reedie was elected as an IOC member in 1994 and became an honorary member in 2021.

The IOC said its flag would fly at half-staff for three days at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Published on Apr 07, 2026

#World #AntiDoping #Agency #chief #Craig #Reedie #dies #aged">Former World Anti-Doping Agency chief Craig Reedie dies aged 84 Craig Reedie, the former World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) president whose position on the Russian doping scandal a decade ago brought him into conflict with the IOC where he was a vice president, has died. He was 84.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed his death on Monday without stating the cause.Reedie played key roles in London’s unexpected win in bidding to host the 2012 Olympics and in getting his own sport badminton on to the Olympic program for the 1992 Barcelona Games.“Craig was my mentor, wise counsel, passionate advisor, and great friend,” said Sebastian Coe, who worked alongside Reedie in bidding for and organizing the London Summer Games.“He was the distinguished elder statesman with a reservoir of Olympic knowledge and experience which he shared willingly and to great effect,” Coe wrote in a social media post on Monday.Reedie’s standing in Olympic politics helped to elevate him to lead the global anti-doping watchdog in 2013, when the presidential nomination was effectively the turn of the IOC to decide.Three years later, the lead-in to the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games was dominated by the scandal of learning the scale of Russia’s state-backed doping program at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.The push by Reedie’s WADA to remove the entire Russian team from Rio was fiercely resisted by the IOC and its president Thomas Bach. Both men sat on the IOC’s 15-member executive board that ultimately decided to let governing bodies of Olympic sports decide their entry policy for Russian athletes.The public pressure put on Reedie by influential Olympic figures continued for months until he and Bach met to clear the air. Since Rio, no Russian team has competed at an Olympics with its own country name, flag and anthem.Current IOC president Kirsty Coventry said on Monday that Reedie’s contribution “to the Olympic Games, to clean sport and to the development of athletes worldwide will endure for generations to come.” “He was a steadfast guardian of integrity, guiding the global sporting community through some of its most challenging moments with dignity and resolve,” Coventry added in an IOC statement.Coe described Reedie, a Scotsman who was knighted in 2006, as the “epitome of a gentleman.” “He was equal parts opinionated, wise, canny, and, most of all, loyal to those who legitimately wanted to serve sport,” the World Athletics president said. “He certainly did not suffer fools gladly, was authentic, and would speak his mind.” Reedie was elected as an IOC member in 1994 and became an honorary member in 2021.The IOC said its flag would fly at half-staff for three days at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.Published on Apr 07, 2026 #World #AntiDoping #Agency #chief #Craig #Reedie #dies #aged

Deadspin | Canadiens, Cole Caufield shooting for goals against Panthers Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defends the puck against Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images The playoff-bound Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night and Cole Caufield has history to chase down. The Canadiens (45-22-10, 100 points) clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance on Sunday, despite having their eight-game winning streak snapped by a 3-0 loss to the visiting New Jersey Devils. Montreal’s ticket to the postseason was punched by virtue of the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon. “You wake up from your nap and you’ve clinched your spot,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We didn’t have our fastball tonight, but it’s not like we didn’t play well. Our execution was off, but we had good structure.” While the playoffs have been secured, three Montreal players still have individual milestones hanging in the balance. The most immediate of which is Caufield, who has 49 goals. His next tally would make him the seventh player in franchise history to reach the half-century mark in goals and the first in 36 years. The last was Stephane Richer in 1989-90. Caufield’s next goal would also place him alongside Hall of Famers Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt, along with Pierre Larouche as Montreal Canadiens’ 50-goal scorers. Caufield had two golden opportunities on one-timers from the left circle for No. 50 in the third period on Sunday night within seconds of each other. But Devils’ goalie Jacob Markstrom quickly moved across the crease to stop both shots. “Coming to the rink, everyone was in a pretty good mood,” Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki said. “Our goal ever since we started camp was to get back in the playoffs, and we’ve secured that. But we’ve got big games ahead to try to get home ice and possibly first in the division.” Suzuki has 95 points (27 goals, 68 assists) and a chance to be the fifth different player in team history with 100 points in a season. He would join Lafleur (six times), Shutt (two), Peter Mahovlich (one) and Mats Naslund (one), who was the last to reach the mark in 1985-86. Defenseman Lane Hutson has 74 points (12 goals, 62 assists), six away from joining Hall of Fame member Larry Robinson (twice) as Montreal defensemen to reach 80 points in a season. The Panthers (37-37-3, 77 points) are coming off back-to-back weekend thrashings at the hands of the host Pittsburgh Penguins. Florida, which has also dropped five of seven, was outscored by a combined 14-6 in the two games. The score was 5-2 on Sunday. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champs were also officially eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend. “Better than it was yesterday,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the Sunday loss. “Got behind it a little bit, but I don’t think we’d given a whole lot to get behind in that manner. Had some good penalty kills, some good action on the power play. Scored a goal. That’d be about it.” Carter Verhaeghe and Cole Schwindt scored Florida’s goals Sunday. “They were better than us,” Verhaeghe said. “They were just better than us through the whole game. I mean, last two nights, they’re a really good team. Tough playing them. But we obviously have to play better.” Panthers’ defenseman Dmitri Kulikov returned after missing two games with a broken nose. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Canadiens #Cole #Caufield #shooting #goals #PanthersJan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defends the puck against Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The playoff-bound Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night and Cole Caufield has history to chase down.

The Canadiens (45-22-10, 100 points) clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance on Sunday, despite having their eight-game winning streak snapped by a 3-0 loss to the visiting New Jersey Devils.

Montreal’s ticket to the postseason was punched by virtue of the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon.

“You wake up from your nap and you’ve clinched your spot,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We didn’t have our fastball tonight, but it’s not like we didn’t play well. Our execution was off, but we had good structure.”

While the playoffs have been secured, three Montreal players still have individual milestones hanging in the balance.

The most immediate of which is Caufield, who has 49 goals.

His next tally would make him the seventh player in franchise history to reach the half-century mark in goals and the first in 36 years. The last was Stephane Richer in 1989-90.

Caufield’s next goal would also place him alongside Hall of Famers Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt, along with Pierre Larouche as Montreal Canadiens’ 50-goal scorers.

Caufield had two golden opportunities on one-timers from the left circle for No. 50 in the third period on Sunday night within seconds of each other. But Devils’ goalie Jacob Markstrom quickly moved across the crease to stop both shots.


“Coming to the rink, everyone was in a pretty good mood,” Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki said. “Our goal ever since we started camp was to get back in the playoffs, and we’ve secured that. But we’ve got big games ahead to try to get home ice and possibly first in the division.”

Suzuki has 95 points (27 goals, 68 assists) and a chance to be the fifth different player in team history with 100 points in a season. He would join Lafleur (six times), Shutt (two), Peter Mahovlich (one) and Mats Naslund (one), who was the last to reach the mark in 1985-86.

Defenseman Lane Hutson has 74 points (12 goals, 62 assists), six away from joining Hall of Fame member Larry Robinson (twice) as Montreal defensemen to reach 80 points in a season.

The Panthers (37-37-3, 77 points) are coming off back-to-back weekend thrashings at the hands of the host Pittsburgh Penguins. Florida, which has also dropped five of seven, was outscored by a combined 14-6 in the two games.

The score was 5-2 on Sunday.

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champs were also officially eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend.

“Better than it was yesterday,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the Sunday loss. “Got behind it a little bit, but I don’t think we’d given a whole lot to get behind in that manner. Had some good penalty kills, some good action on the power play. Scored a goal. That’d be about it.”

Carter Verhaeghe and Cole Schwindt scored Florida’s goals Sunday.

“They were better than us,” Verhaeghe said. “They were just better than us through the whole game. I mean, last two nights, they’re a really good team. Tough playing them. But we obviously have to play better.”

Panthers’ defenseman Dmitri Kulikov returned after missing two games with a broken nose.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Canadiens #Cole #Caufield #shooting #goals #Panthers">Deadspin | Canadiens, Cole Caufield shooting for goals against Panthers Jan 8, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) defends the puck against Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (13) during the first period at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images The playoff-bound Montreal Canadiens host the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night and Cole Caufield has history to chase down. The Canadiens (45-22-10, 100 points) clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup Playoffs appearance on Sunday, despite having their eight-game winning streak snapped by a 3-0 loss to the visiting New Jersey Devils. Montreal’s ticket to the postseason was punched by virtue of the Detroit Red Wings’ 5-4 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Sunday afternoon. “You wake up from your nap and you’ve clinched your spot,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We didn’t have our fastball tonight, but it’s not like we didn’t play well. Our execution was off, but we had good structure.” While the playoffs have been secured, three Montreal players still have individual milestones hanging in the balance. The most immediate of which is Caufield, who has 49 goals. His next tally would make him the seventh player in franchise history to reach the half-century mark in goals and the first in 36 years. The last was Stephane Richer in 1989-90. Caufield’s next goal would also place him alongside Hall of Famers Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion, Guy Lafleur and Steve Shutt, along with Pierre Larouche as Montreal Canadiens’ 50-goal scorers. Caufield had two golden opportunities on one-timers from the left circle for No. 50 in the third period on Sunday night within seconds of each other. But Devils’ goalie Jacob Markstrom quickly moved across the crease to stop both shots. “Coming to the rink, everyone was in a pretty good mood,” Canadiens’ captain Nick Suzuki said. “Our goal ever since we started camp was to get back in the playoffs, and we’ve secured that. But we’ve got big games ahead to try to get home ice and possibly first in the division.” Suzuki has 95 points (27 goals, 68 assists) and a chance to be the fifth different player in team history with 100 points in a season. He would join Lafleur (six times), Shutt (two), Peter Mahovlich (one) and Mats Naslund (one), who was the last to reach the mark in 1985-86. Defenseman Lane Hutson has 74 points (12 goals, 62 assists), six away from joining Hall of Fame member Larry Robinson (twice) as Montreal defensemen to reach 80 points in a season. The Panthers (37-37-3, 77 points) are coming off back-to-back weekend thrashings at the hands of the host Pittsburgh Penguins. Florida, which has also dropped five of seven, was outscored by a combined 14-6 in the two games. The score was 5-2 on Sunday. The two-time defending Stanley Cup champs were also officially eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend. “Better than it was yesterday,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said after the Sunday loss. “Got behind it a little bit, but I don’t think we’d given a whole lot to get behind in that manner. Had some good penalty kills, some good action on the power play. Scored a goal. That’d be about it.” Carter Verhaeghe and Cole Schwindt scored Florida’s goals Sunday. “They were better than us,” Verhaeghe said. “They were just better than us through the whole game. I mean, last two nights, they’re a really good team. Tough playing them. But we obviously have to play better.” Panthers’ defenseman Dmitri Kulikov returned after missing two games with a broken nose. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Canadiens #Cole #Caufield #shooting #goals #Panthers

Post Comment