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At long last, one of the best goaltending tandems in the NHL is back together as the New York Islanders activated Semyon Varlamov off injured reserve on Monday, reuniting him with his crease mate Ilya Sorokin.
In a related move, the team sent goalie Ken Appleby back down to AHL Bridgeport.
#Isles have activated Semyon Varlamov off IR. Ken Appleby has been sent down to Bridgeport.
— Andrew Fantucchio (@A_Fantucchio) January 22, 2024
Varlamov hasn’t played since he suffered a lower-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 2. In 14 starts this year, Varlamov has a record of 6-4-2 with two shutouts, a 2.78 GAA and a .918 save percentage.
Since Varlamov went down, Sorokin has started nine consecutive games for the Islanders as part of 14 straight appearances. Although Sorokin has played some of his best hockey lately, Varlamov is more than capable of filling in for him and supplying him with some well-earned rest.
Another added benefit of having Varlamov back for the Islanders is that he’s the one player who has prior experience playing for new head coach Patrick Roy.
Varlamov was with the Avalanche, while Roy was the head coach in Colorado from 2013-2016. When Roy won the Jack Adams Award in 2013, Varlamov finished second in the running for the Vezina Trophy behind Tuukka Rask of the Boston Bruins.
The Islanders welcome the Vegas Golden Knights to UBS Arena tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. EST.
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Former first-round pick is hoping to join Maple Leafs out of camp
After sending All-Star winger Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade, the Toronto Maple Leafs have looked to fill their new offensive void by committee. Using the cap space left by Marner, the Maple Leafs have acquired Matias Maccelli, Nicolas Roy and Dakota Joshua via trade. Still, there is a promising prospect eager to be part of the new equation. Enter the 28th overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft, Easton Cowan. Cowan is coming off an impressive three-year stint with the OHL’s London Knights, scoring 83 goals and 218 points in 168 games, with a +72 rating. He has also been a phenom in postseason action, scoring 32 goals and 94 points in 55 playoff games with a +41 rating, helping the Knights win two OHL championships and reach two Memorial Cup Final appearances, winning the most recent one this past season. In a recent interview on Sportsnet’s The FAN Morning Show with hosts Ben Ennis and Brent Gunning, Knights head coach Dale Hunter said he expects Cowan to make the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp, saying, “He’s going to push to make the team and play well for the Leafs. Every organization needs young guys pushing to make the team, and it’ll make the Leafs better. I’m betting he’s going to make it, so that’s a good thing for the Leafs.” Although it’s nice to hear a positive recommendation from his recent coach, Cowan has enough confidence for the both of them. During a team media availability after a development camp skate in early July, Cowan was quoted as saying, “This time last year, I wasn’t as good as I am now. Just being able to manage the puck better, I’ve learned that a lot this year, and obviously with the Knights organization, they helped me out a lot. I felt when games got bigger, I got better. Those are the games I love to play in, when there’s a lot of people watching and there’s high stakes.” If it’s a high-stakes environment he craves, it’s a high-stakes environment he shall receive in Toronto. Although it was only the second time that the Maple Leafs had moved beyond the opening round of the playoffs in the last two decades, the postseason fell well short of expectations. Of arguably any team in the NHL for the foreseeable future, the stakes are the highest in Toronto. Unfortunately for Cowan, he’ll have to have a flawless training camp to crack the opening night roster. The Maple Leafs already have 14 forwards signed to one-way contracts next season, without counting RFA forward Nicholas Robertson, who may be back with the club despite his ongoing trade request. His pathway will become extremely narrow if Toronto decides to retain Robertson for the upcoming season. However, he could take one of the roster spots from Calle Järnkrok or Michael Pezzetta. Assuming he can beat out one of the latter two for a roster spot, Cowan could then work his way up to a top-six role throughout the regular season.
How to watch the Detroit Tigers vs. the Philadelphia Phillies: First pitch, TV & streaming details for tonight
Whether you are tuning in on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, we've got you covered on all the latest when it comes to watching the Detroit Tigers taking on the Phillies. The Tigers are currently on a 4-0 run, contrary to their earlier 0-6 play, just before their streak. Both teams are in the running for the postseason, but the Phillies are trailing in their division. Tune in to see what happens in their matchup. How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 1 tonight Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Date: Friday, August 1, 2025 Time: 6:45 PM ET TV Channels: NBC Sports Philadelphia and FanDuel Sports Detroit Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV (Regional restrictions may apply) Location: Philadelphia, PA Stadium: Citizens Bank Park Predictions, odds, and spread for Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies — Game 1 How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 2 tomorrow Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Date: Saturday, August 2, 2025 Time: 6:05 PM ET TV Channels: NBC Sports Philadelphia and FanDuel Sports Detroit Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV (Regional restrictions may apply) Location: Philadelphia, PA Stadium: Citizens Bank Park How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Game 3 Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025 Time: 7:10 PM ET TV Channels: ESPN and ESPN2 Live Stream Platform: Hulu + Live TV (Subscription required; regional restrictions may apply) Location: Philadelphia, PA Stadium: Citizens Bank Park Key players you need to watch on the Detroit Tigers Riley Greene – Greene led the Tigers in home runs with 26 while hitting .277 with a .850 OPS in 2025, making him a key offensive force for Detroit. Spencer Torkelson – Torkelson was second on the team in home runs with 23 and drove in 63 runs, providing significant power in the lineup during the 2025 season. Zach McKinstry – Serving primarily as the Tigers' third baseman, McKinstry hit .268 with 9 home runs and offered valuable versatility and strong all-around play in 2025. Key players you need to watch on the Philadelphia Phillies Kyle Schwarber – Schwarber leads the Phillies with 37 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .957 OPS through the 2025 regular season, making him the team's most powerful hitter. Bryce Harper – Harper has contributed 15 home runs, 45 RBIs, and an .867 OPS, providing strong run production and on-base skills at first base. Trea Turner – As the Phillies' shortstop, Turner leads the team with a .289 batting average, collects 127 hits and 44 RBIs, and delivers consistent offense and speed. Key stats for Detroit Tigers Key stats for Philadelphia Phillies Who's winning the Detroit Tigers vs. Philadelphia Phillies series? With both teams looking to boost themselves just before playoffs, it's going to be a tight race to see which of these two teams can win the series. The Phillies are favored, and for good reason. They have just been more consistent down the stretch.
Lakers Interested in $60 Million All-Star Big Man, Under One Condition
The Los Angeles Lakers were hunting for a center for most of the offseason after being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. They knew they needed an upgrade from Jaxon Hayes. While the Lakers didn't get any of the top centers on the free agent market, they were able to sign Deandre Ayton after he was bought out. Another center would be a better fit, but he wasn't available in the offseason. Nikola Vucevic has been linked to the Lakers dating all the way back to the trade deadline, although Vucevic was not moved. More news: Lakers Make Massive Announcement Ahead of 2025-26 Season The Lakers would only be interested in Vucevic if he were to be bought out, according to Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints. Los Angeles will not be pursuing a trade to acquire Vucevic. After bringing in Ayton on a two-year deal, it wouldn't make sense to trade assets in order to bring in Vucevic. They want to see what Ayton can do before bailing on him already. The Lakers needed a starting center, as that was their biggest need heading into the offseason. While Ayton isn't the greatest option, he is someone who can help the team with what he brings to the table. The Bulls seem to think that Vucevic can still help them win games and contend for the playoffs in what will be a very weak Eastern Conference next season. If things don't go well by the time the trade deadline arrives, the Bulls might decide to buy him out if they aren't in the playoff picture. That would be the only scenario in which the Lakers bring him in. More news: Lakers Rumors: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Luka Doncic Extension The Lakers are always looking to improve the roster whenever possible. They aren't worried about hurting feelings, so they wouldn't hesitate to offer Vucevic a contract if they thought he was better than Ayton. With LeBron James entering the end of his career, the Lakers are going to try to win the title as quickly as possible while he is still on the roster. Last season with the Bulls, Vucevic averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. He shot 53 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Castoff All-Star Linked to East Team in Free Agency For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Lakers reportedly monitoring two-time All-Star's availability
The Los Angeles Lakers finished last season with a dud after propelling to the third seed of the Western Conference, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. The one thing that the Wolves exposed was the Lakers' lack of an inside presence. The center spot was weak once they traded Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic midway through the season, but they found a way to manage despite putrid numbers coming from the center position. The Lakers were bottom five in both rebounds and points per game for centers during the regular season after the All-Star break. However, in the postseason, the numbers got worse. They tried to use their original starting center, Jaxson Hayes, to man the paint, but he only played 7.8 minutes per game while only scoring 1.8 points and grabbing two rebounds per contest. This team knows it needs extreme levels of help for the center spot, which is why it is reportedly looking at a former All-Star center's situation. Anthony Irwin of ClutchPoints reported that the Lakers are closely monitoring the situation between Nikola Vucevic and the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls have shipped out several key players over the last year, with Vucevic being the lone former All-Star still on the roster. As his trade market winds down, some have speculated that a potential buyout is on the horizon. However, Chicago Bulls insider K.C. Johnson reported on "The Fastbreak" podcast that the Bulls have no intentions of a buyout and would like to move him for assets at the trade deadline. Vucevic would be a massive upgrade alongside Deandre Ayton, whom the Lakers signed earlier in the offseason. Vucevic put up very impressive numbers last season, averaging 18.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game while shooting 53% from the field in 73 games. His career numbers are just as impressive, and he's a former two-time All-Star as well. The Lakers should continue to monitor Vucevic and assess the Bulls' ultimate plan for him. With Ayton already in the fold, a trade for Vucevic could put them at the top of the Western Conference.
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