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Two defensemen -- Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones -- scored the tying and go-ahead goals late in the third period as the host Florida Panthers rallied for a 4-2 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night in Sunrise, Fla.
The Panthers -- the reigning Stanley Cup champions -- lead the series 3-1. Game 5 is set for Wednesday night in Tampa Bay.
Monday's game is the only one so far in this series won by the home team.
Florida appeared to tie the score at 2 with 12:58 left in the third period on a would-be goal by Aaron Ekblad. But the goal was wiped out due to offsides.
But with 3:47 left, Ekblad tied the score on a rebound, and Jones got the game-winner on a carom 11 seconds later.
Mitchell Chaffee and Erik Cernak also scored 11 seconds apart for Tampa Bay in the second period, and Andrei Vasilevskiy made 19 saves for the Lightning.
Anton Lundell and Carter Verhaeghe (empty netter) also scored for the Panthers, who got 18 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky.
The game was highly physical, including Ekblad's high hit on Brandon Hagel. In addition, Florida's Niko Mikkola was ejected for boarding Zemgus Girgensons.
Florida opened the scoring with 10:54 left in the second period. The play started when Florida dumped the puck in and Panthers forward Brad Marchand got there first. Marchand drew four Lightning defenders before dishing the puck to Lundell, who, alone in the slot, beat Vasilevskiy to his stick side.
With 8:34 left in the second period, Ekblad got away with a right forearm to the face of Hagel, who was playing his first game since a one-contest suspension for his hit on Aleksander Barkov.
On the Ekblad hit, Hagel fell backward and hit his head on the ice.
Hagel went directly to the locker room to get checked out, and his teammates responded with two goals in 11 seconds.
Tampa Bay tied the score at 1 with 7:39 left in the second on a rebound shot by Chaffee. On the rebound, Bobrovsky momentarily lost sight of the puck, which slid under his left pad.
Following the goal, the Lightning won the faceoff, and Cernak scored off the right post. A screen by Nikita Kucherov may have hindered Bobrovsky's vision of the puck.
Florida tied the score at 2 with 3:47 left in the third. Sam Reinhart took a long shot to start the play. Ekblad, left alone in front, chipped the rebound under Vasilevskiy's glove.
Jones' goal gave Florida a 3-2 lead, and Verhaeghe scored into an empty net with 1:40 left.
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Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
Steelers In Town Scouting Elite Top Quarterback Prospect For 2026 NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of excitement heading into the 2025 season with Aaron Rodgers in town, along with many other new faces. The team has Super Bowl expectations, but the fan base is still craving a true franchise quarterback to lead them for years to come. While rookie Will Howard has looked promising in training camp, he is not expected to be the long-term answer at quarterback. After the 2025 season concludes, the Steelers will be hosting the 2026 NFL Draft. Many pundits believe this event will be where the Steelers finally find their franchise quarterback, a player who can bring stability and success to the position. The anticipation is high, and the organization is clearly preparing to make a big move. On Monday, it was reported by Brad Denny, who provides excellent coverage of Arizona State football, that the Steelers have sent scouts to evaluate their prospects. Among those they are watching closely is the top quarterback prospect Sam Leavitt, indicating the team’s serious interest in securing a future star through the draft. In November of 2022, the Sun Devils hired Head Coach Kenny Dillingham, who has quickly transformed the team. What was once considered a struggling program has now become an exciting and competitive squad, with serious potential to contend for a national title heading into the 2025 season. Naturally, Steelers fans immediately think of Leavitt when they hear about scouts visiting, but the Sun Devils’ roster is loaded with NFL talent beyond just their star quarterback. It’s very possible the Steelers’ interest extends to other promising players as well. Chris Karpman gave more details about the amount of NFL scouts at the ASU practice on Monday. "There are 11 NFL scouts representing 10 teams at today’s ASU practice, the most at any practice since Dillingham became head coach," Karpman said on social media. It’s certainly interesting, but not surprising, to hear that the Steelers had scouts in attendance at the ASU practice. Sheldon White, the Steelers’ Director of Pro Scouting, is clearly involved in deciding who the organization will scout, when, and why. It’s no secret that the Steelers are in desperate need of a true franchise quarterback. Many believe the 2026 NFL Draft will be Pittsburgh’s biggest opportunity to find that quarterback since their attempt with Kenny Pickett in 2022. That experiment didn’t go as planned, and now, with 12 expected draft picks in a quarterback class that could be loaded with talent, the Steelers are getting an early look. They’ve begun scouting at ASU, keeping a close eye on potential prospects. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that former Steelers legend Hines Ward is still the wide receivers coach at ASU. His presence adds another layer of connection to the reports of Steelers scouts attending ASU practices, suggesting strong ties and serious interest in the program and its players. Steelers' Will Howard Has Looked Good In Training Camp Early reports out of camp are that sixth-round pick Howard has done a solid job with the opportunities he’s been given. The issue for Howard is that the Steelers are expected to draft a top quarterback prospect. Making such a big investment in a promising player will make it even harder for Howard to steal the starting job. Naturally, when more resources are tied up in a higher-end prospect, the team will do more to get the most out of that player. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible for Howard, but he will need to continue to thrive if he wants any chance to compete for the starting job after Rodgers.
Rumor: Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton, Gary Payton II Expected To Sign With Warriors Once Jonathan Kuminga Signs Deal
Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II are expected to sign with the Golden State Warriors once Jonathan Kuminga signs his deal, according to NBA insider Marc Stein of The Stein Line. Kuminga is a restricted free agent. Most people believe the swingman will sign his qualifying offer worth $7.9 million and then enter unrestricted free agency next offseason. “Al Horford, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II have all long been expected to sign with the Warriors this summer but remain on hold when it comes to making those deals official while the Jonathan Kuminga situation plays out,” Stein wrote. Payton II and Melton played for the Warriors last season, while Horford played for the Boston Celtics. Golden State lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. The Warriors want to re-sign Kuminga. The franchise recently offered the forward a two-year, $45 million contract. Kuminga, though, declined the offer because the contract had a team option in Year 2 and there was no built-in no-trade clause. Kuminga wants to leave the Warriors. He doesn’t have a good relationship with head coach Steve Kerr. Kuminga averaged 15.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Warriors last season in 47 games. He shot 45.4% from the floor, 30.5% from beyond the arc and 66.8% from the free-throw line. The 22-year-old Kuminga was the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He enters next season with career averages of 12.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists with Golden State. The Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings are interested in acquiring Kuminga in a sign-and-trade deal, but the Warriors don’t like the offers. The Kings offered a three-year, $63 million deal to Kuminga, according to NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic. In the sign-and-trade proposal, the Warriors would get Malik Monk and a 2030 first-round pick. More NBA News Rumors
What would a Micah Parsons trade to the Seahawks look like?
Dallas Cowboys star linebacker Micah Parsons has officially requested a trade. Heading into the second week of training camp, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Parsons are far apart on contract talks, with the All-Pro in the final year of his deal. With Parsons requesting a trade, there are plenty of teams lining up to acquire the services of one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Amongst speculation, the Seattle Seahawks could very well make a play for Parsons. Seahawks general manager John Schneider has been known to make splashes in the trade market, including trading for Pro Bowl defenders like safety Jamal Adams in 2020 and defensive end Leonard Williams in 2023. The Seahawks have $34M in cap space this year, and Parsons' cap hit is $24M this season. The trade would work regardless of who is included in the package, but the real question is: Will Parsons sign an extension? It looks promising for Seattle because Williams signed a three-year deal at the beginning of the 2024 season, and linebacker Ernest Jones IV also signed a three-year deal this offseason after he was traded to Seattle from the Tennessee Titans during the 2024 season. Package 1: 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick and 2026 second-round pick for Micah Parsons and a 2026 fifth-round pick Schneider has made aggressive trades in the past. Take the Adams trade for example. In 2020, Seattle gave up their 2021 and 2022 first-round picks, a 2021 third-round pick and safety Bradley McDougald, to the New York Jets for Adams and a fourth-round selection. Schneider isn’t shy about paying a premium, and this would be a hard deal for Jones to pass up, especially since Dallas has shown no intent to pay Parsons $40M per season, a number similar to what linebacker T.J. Watt received from the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason. Package 2: 2026 first-round pick, 2026 second-round pick and edge-rusher Uchenna Nwosu for Micah Parsons and a 2027 fourth-round pick If Parsons were to sign an extension with the Seahawks, Seattle may be more inclined to give up more if it believes it's getting long-term value. Nwosu's deal expires at the end of the 2026 season; his cap hit is $11M this year and $20M the next. However, Dallas can save more than $11M if it cuts him, per OverTheCap.com, giving it flexibility if the 28-year-old underperforms. Nwosu was solid in his first two seasons with Seattle, totaling 9.5 sacks in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, he dealt with injuries and only played 12 games combined. For Seattle, this trade works as it moves on from an older, more expensive player, and Dallas adds two top-65 picks to its 2026 draft class. Package 3: 2026 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick and edge-rusher Derick Hall for Micah Parsons There is no guarantee that Parsons signs an extension with Seattle, and with him in a contract year, it may be able to hold on to next year's first-round pick. Dallas gets Hall, who has been a productive player in spurts but has dealt with injuries early to start his career. The 2023 second-rounder has eight sacks in 14 starts over 34 total games. Hall shows promise, and Dallas also gets some decent draft capital for what could very well be a temporary addition for Seattle. If any trade were to be done, it would be one of the biggest player movements of the offseason, not just because Parsons is a big name but also because of the haul.
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