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As the Edmonton Oilers prepare for a crucial Game 4 matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday night, concerns surrounding goaltender Calvin Pickard‘s health have intensified. The team may not be revealing the full extent of the situation, which is listed as day-to-day. In fact, one insider hinted the Oilers might be putting a positive spin on things.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported over the weekend that Pickard is expected to miss at least a week, putting his availability for the remainder of the series in serious doubt. “I’m told it’ll probably be at least a week,” Dreger said, suggesting that any hope of Pickard returning before a potential Game 7 is highly unlikely.
How Is Pickard’s Situation That Bad?
The Oilers haven’t changed their official prognosis of Pickard’s injury, but if Dreger’s sources are accurate, this isn’t good news for Edmonton. It’s also surprising, given that Pickard finished Game 2 and picked up the victory to give the Oilers a 2-0 series lead.
Pickard suffered his injury during Game 2 — when Tomas Hertl fell on him — but finished the contest. News of his absence in Game 3 came as a surprise and was felt almost instantly. Edmonton fell 4-3 in a last-second heartbreaker, shifting momentum back to Vegas, with Edmonton clinging to a lead in the series at 2-1.
Despite only playing a handful of games in this year’s playoffs, Pickard built a surprising fan following in Edmonton thanks to his 6-0 record. His performances, while statistically average, included timely saves in key moments. If he’s out for the series, there is genuine concern that the Oilers don’t have the same confidence in Skinner as in Pickard.
Oilers Publicly Backing Skinner as He Might Close Out Series with Vegas
In the final seconds of Game 3, Skinner came way out of his net to make a play on Reilly Smith. More than just the goaltender was involved in the Oilers’ collapse, but Skinner’s decision-making in that moment is receiving a lot of heat from Oilers Nation.
The Oilers have stuck by Skinner, and he’s seemingly remained confident. After the game, he noted, “That’s a goalie’s job to give your team a chance to win the game. I thought I did, but it’s a couple of tough bounces here and there.”
Oilers forward Zach Hyman echoed that sentiment before Game 4, saying, “Both goalies give us a chance to win. We have a formula that works, and we’ve got to get back to it. We’ve got to play better in front of Skinner.”
Can the Oilers Beat the Golden Knights Without Pickard in Goal?
The hope is that Pickard is only out for a game or two. In the meantime, Edmonton has some decisions to make if Skinner doesn’t find his game or steal a win on behalf of the Oilers. The organization may have already started making them.
Tom Gazzola of Edmonton Sports Talk noted that Colin Delia, a veteran goaltender for the Bakersfield Condors, is en route to Edmonton — a move that might not mean anything, but could also suggest the Oilers are preparing for a longer-term absence for Pickard than they’ve acknowledged publicly.
Delia’s call-up, combined with Dreger’s report, implies Pickard may not return in this series at all. At best, a return in a do-or-die Game 7 could be possible, but rushing back a backup goalie in such a high-stakes scenario could be problematic. The Oilers ideally need to win Game 4 and put this series away in five or six games. That would give Pickard time to rest and the Oilers a chance to decide without panicking.
The Oilers knew they would need Skinner to play well if they were to win the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, this is not the ideal circumstance for them to find out if he is capable.
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Hurricanes’ Jaccob Slavin Invited to USA Olympic Orientation Camp
The news has been mostly slow over the last few weeks in the hockey world. However, as we draw closer to the 2025-26 season, promotional schedules are being released, and now Olympic Orientation Camp invitations are being sent out. As part of it, the Team USA Olympic invite list has been released, and there is one name in particular that stands out, especially for Carolina Hurricanes fans. There was no doubt that defenseman Jaccob Slavin would be on the 44-player invite camp list. What does it mean for Slavin, and why does it matter to be part of the plans for Team USA next February in Italy? Let’s Go to Hockey Camp On Tuesday afternoon (Aug. 19), USA Hockey revealed its 44-player Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp invite list. Out of the 44 players, 16 of them were defensemen, ranging from Massachusetts to Colorado to Montana. One of the names that stood out right away for Hurricanes fans was Erie, Colorado’s Slavin. After showing out in the 4 Nations Face-off for Team USA, it only made sense that the 29-year-old would be part of the orientation camp roster. He joins fellow Hurricanes players Seth Jarvis, Frederik Andersen, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Sebastian Aho to be part of their nations’ Olympic roster in some capacity. Slavin did not tally a point during the 4 Nations Face-off; however, he was a plus-3 during the four games Team USA played in the tournament. Alongside partner Brock Faber, the two were the biggest shutdown pair for Team USA during the 4 Nations. It got to the point where Slavin was getting his overdue flowers from around the hockey world. Hurricanes fans know how amazing he is on a nightly basis. After only having eight penalty minutes in 95 games between the regular season and the playoffs, he is considered one of the best defensive defensemen in the NHL. It just took the 4 Nations for everyone else to catch up. Under head coach Rod Brind’Amour’s system, Slavin is a number one defenseman who always has the most critical assignments against other teams’ best players. Even on the penalty kill, he is on PK1 for penalty kill coach Tim Gleason, who relies on him to use his elite defensive IQ to be a brick wall. His IQ is on another level, where he lets his game do the talking for him. On a nightly basis, he uses his stick at the right time to break up passes or even intercept them going across the ice. Furthermore, he knows when to throw a hit at the right time and make it clean in the process. His best ability is his availability on the ice for the Hurricanes. That translated to Team USA during the 4 Nations, where he was relied upon to shut down the best players for Canada, Sweden, and Finland. It’s a foregone conclusion that Slavin will be on the Olympic roster. There is no reason not to have him, especially after the showing he put on at the 4 Nations, where he shut down the best of the best game in and game out.
Shaquille O'Neal makes peace with longtime enemy — mostly
Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard patched things up Sunday after years of feuding. But even while describing their rapprochement, O'Neal couldn't keep from teasing his longtime nemesis. The "Big Aristotle" was at the BIG3 playoffs Sunday to watch Howard's L.A. Riot play the Chicago Triplets. In the middle of describing to Rachel Nichols how he and Howard had made peace, O'Neal broke off his explanation to make fun of Howard for missing a dunk. The two Hall of Fame centers had sparred for years, despite their common ground as former members of the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers. Some of the tension seemed to be due to Howard adopting O'Neal's "Superman" nickname, though O'Neal claimed to Nichols that he was simply being tough on Howard to motivate him. That explanation doesn't account for the time O'Neal mocked Howard for playing basketball in the Taiwanese league or the decade-plus he's spent roasting Howard on his podcast, in public appearances and on "Inside the NBA." Still, it appears that the two have made peace. Despite O'Neal being left off the original list of presenters, he insisted that he'll be among a group of Hall of Famers inducting Howard Sept. 6, including Dominique Wilkins, Robert Parish, Dennis Rodman and Patrick Ewing. It means that two of the most dominant big men of their eras have finally buried the hatchet. It's added a new level of interest to the Hall of Fame ceremonies, and it should be a sweet moment between O'Neal and Howard. As long as Howard doesn't mention Superman.
Chicago Bears looking at bringing back familiar face at running back
The Chicago Bears don’t appear satisfied with their running back room with one week left to decide the 53-man roster. The Bears have until Aug. 26 to make their final cuts before preparing for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. The Bears entered training camp with questions at running back. Veteran D’Andre Swift had a down year in 2024. Roschon Johnson isn’t a long-term solution, and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai will have a steep learning curve when the regular season begins. The Chicago Bears worked out a former running back Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC, the Bears worked out running backs Royce Freeman, undrafted rookie Kylin James and former Carolina Panthers practice-squad player Dillon Johnson. Royce Freeman played with the Bears in 2024 Of the three, Freeman is the only running back with stats at the NFL level. Freeman, a third-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, has appeared in 79 games and started nine games. He’s rushed 471 times for 1,472 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Bears signed Freeman to the practice squad in December. He was then signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad in January. He last played a regular-season game in 2023, when he added 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games for the Rams. The Bears are signaling their need for a running back this summer. There are other options available in the trade market, as the Washington Commanders are shopping Brian Robinson Jr. during the preseason. More running backs will be available after other teams trim their rosters to 53 players, but they might not be the type of athletes to make a significant boost for the offense early in the regular season.
Hulu Free Trial: You Still Can Try 3 or 30 Days of Free Streaming in August 2025
The Bear Season 4 is still waiting for your binge-watch weekend. Now, it's time to get yourself set up with a Hulu free trial. When it comes to the plethora of streaming platforms available today, Hulu stands as the king of the content throne. With over 1,200 movies and 1,300 TV shows available, Hulu offers a world of entertainment for every kind of viewer. It's time to get you in on the action. The Two Hulu Free Trials Offered As of August 2025 Currently, the Hulu 30-day free trial is the best free trial period and offers the best bang for your buck. Once you sign up, you can access and explore Hulu's platform like a paying subscriber, flipping through genres and libraries, so you can find all your favorite content that will keep you hooked. The Hulu Basic Plan Free Trial The Hulu Basic Plan free trial gives you a whole month (30 days) to check out thousands of movies and TV shows. The Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) free trial The livestreaming side of the Hulu platform gives you 3 days to access over 100 live channels and Hulu’s endless on-demand library, as well as Disney Plus content and ESPN Plus content included with the Disney Plus Bundle option. Hulu Free Trial (3-Day or 30-Day): What You Need To Know Eligibility for the free trial: For the Hulu + Live TV (With Ads) 3-day free trial or the standard 30-day Hulu on-demand free trial, you must be a new subscriber who hasn't had an active Hulu subscription in the past month. What information Hulu requires: You will need to enter your current and valid billing information to start your free trial on Hulu. You won't be charged until your free trial with Hulu is over. You must cancel before the 3-day trial period ends to avoid being charged. Be wary of modifying your Hulu free trial plan: Altering, upgrading, or changing your Hulu + Live TV or Basic/On-demand streaming free trial could result in immediate charges — always read the fine print before you check out. What To Watch With Your Hulu Free Trial Hulu’s free trial gives you full access to the streamer’s on-demand library, which features thousands of TV show episodes and movie titles. Section is updated weekly - current for week of 08/04/2025 This Week's Hulu Premieres Mon. 8/4 – King of the Hill S14 (Hulu Original) Tues. 8/5 – Capturing Their Killer: The Girls on the High Bridge (ABC) Thurs. 8/7 – Ted Bundy: Dialogue with the Devil S1 (A E) Thurs. 8/7 – The Monkey (Neon Film) Fri. 8/8 – Ralph Barbosa: Planet Bosa (Hulu Original) Fri. 8/8 – Necaxa S1 (FX) August Hulu Premieres You'll Want To See (Upcoming) Tues. 8/12 – Alien Earth (FX on Hulu) Wed. 8/20 – The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox (Hulu Original, Starring Grace Van Patten from Tell Me Lies) Hulu + Live TV Seasonal Highlights 8/22 – 9/27 – Rugby World Cup 8/24 – 9/7 – US Open Tips for Sharing and Making the Most of Your Hulu Free Trial All plans allow you to stream on two screens simultaneously, so you can share your free Hulu trial with someone else in your household. Don't forget about the extra content on Disney Plus and ESPN Plus with the bundle offering. Hulu’s 30-day free trial is available for its ad-supported plan and not the Hulu (No Ads) plan. Only the No ads option allows you to download content for offline viewing so you'll need to sign up for this plan outside of a free trial if you need this ability. And with the rare opportunity to test out Hulu's Live TV plans, it's a perfect time to watch the NBA and NHL seasons gearing up for the playoffs. MLB season is right around the corner with Spring Training almost at an end. How To Sign Up for the Hulu Free Trial in 2025 Hulu’s free trial is only available to new and eligible returning subscribers, so if you’ve used your email to sign up for Hulu before, you won’t be able to enjoy another free trial. Let's take you through the sign-up process for a free trial: Visit the Hulu Signup Page Select the Hulu Free Trial Plan Here's where you can try the Basic Hulu Plan with no ads for 30 days, the ad-supported Basic Hulu Plan for 30 days, or the Hulu + Live TV option for 3 days for free. Sign Up With the Email Address You Would Like Assigned to Your Account This email will also be used for your Disney Plus and ESPN Plus login. If you already have accounts with these platforms, make sure they are all under the same email. Enter Your Billing Info You’d Like To Use for the Hulu Free Trial Remember, you won't be charged until your free trial is over. After you enter in your billing info, scroll a little further down the page and press the button to subscribe and start your free trial! Set a Reminder for a Day Before Your Free Trial Will End Ensure you set a reminder for a day or two before your 30-day or 3-day Hulu free trial is up. This way, you can choose whether to move forward with becoming a full-time subscriber or explore other streaming platforms. Hulu’s Free Trial Compared to Other Streaming Service Providers in 2025 Hulu is the only major streaming platform to still offer a full 30-day trial. Many streamers have stopped offering free trials entirely or only offer shorter testing periods. Netflix and Peacock, for example, no longer offer free trials, while Paramount Plus and Fubo allow users to test them out for a week. DIRECTV's free trial is a 5-day period. Sling TV doesn't offer a free trial, but it does provide new subscribers with 50% off their first month. Hulu free trials give you much longer to explore its on-demand library than the typical free trial lengths you get with other competitors. Plus. no risk or commitment is involved. Hulu's free trial offering for live TV is a bit shorter than competitor platforms, but still provides an excellent opportunity to test the service. Subscribing to Hulu Once the Free Trial Expires After your 3-day (post-trial $82.99) or 30-day free trial ($9.99 post-trial) of Hulu ends, you’ll automatically begin paying your monthly subscription fee on the credit card you used to sign up to continue using the service. Comprehensive Chart of Hulu Plans and Prices (Updated 2025) The primary difference between these plans is that the no-ads plan allows you to watch most on-demand content ad-free once you've signed up and paid. You can also download content for offline viewing with the no-ads plan. In either case, you’ll have full access to Hulu’s library of shows and movies. Hulu + Live TV plans include access to more than 100 live TV channels, along with Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. The live TV streaming plans currently offer a 3-day trial. Hulu’s Student Discount for $1.99 per Month Hulu has a special deal, just for the college students out there. With the Hulu Student Deal, students get the Hulu (With Ads) plan for 75% off the regular price, bringing the monthly price down to just $1.99 per month. (Only students enrolled at a US Title IV accredited college or university are eligible for our Hulu Student discount.) To get the deal, click on “Sign Up Now” on the Hulu Student page and create an account. You’ll be redirected to Sheer ID to verify your student status. Then, you can start streaming Hulu content on a smart TV, computer, tablet, mobile device, or game console. Is the Hulu Free Trial Worth It? The Hulu free trial provides 3 days of live TV streaming or 30 days of full access to one of the best on-demand libraries available. With nothing to lose by testing out the service, you can explore countless shows and movies with no commitment to make the choice if Hulu is right for you. With most people staying on the post free trial, there's no doubt that the Hulu free trial is worth it. If you don't love it, as long as you cancel your plan before the end of the trial period, you won’t pay a dime. This is still one of the best offers you can find from any streaming service. FAQ Does Hulu + Live TV Have a Free Trial in August 2025? Hulu is repping elite 2025 streaming content in style, and still has their 30-day free trial option ($9.99 per month after trial ends) for basic plans and 3-day free trial option for Hulu + Live TV ($82.99 after trial ends). With the MLB in full swing, it's time to demo a free trial. Does Hulu Offer a Free 30-Day Trial? Absolutely! Hulu gives you a 30-day free trial of its basic plan, which means you'll see some ads while you watch. After the 30 days are up, it costs $9.99/month. If you don’t want to be charged, just make sure to set a reminder to cancel before your trial ends. How Can I Get Hulu for Free Without Paying? You can get Hulu for free without breaking the bank by trying the 30-day basic free trial or the 3-day Hulu + Live TV free trial. Unfortunately, you won't have luck swapping in new emails and infinite free trials isn't the way to go. Take your time exploring the platform. If it's a good fit, it's well-worth the money. Is Hulu $1 for 3 Months? Originally, Hulu offered a stellar deal of trying 3 months of Hulu for $1. This promotional offer is no longer offered — but, that doesn't mean you can't take advantage of the current free trials. How Much Does It Cost To Add Disney Plus to Hulu? As of August 2025, you can add Disney Plus and Hulu together through the Duo Basic bundle for $10.99/month, which includes ads on both services. You can also choose the Duo Premium bundle for $19.99/month for ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu. For a full bundle with Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus, the Trio Basic bundle is $16.99/month with ads, while the Trio Premium bundle costs $26.99/month and includes ad-free Disney Plus and Hulu (ESPN Plus still includes ads).
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