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Panthers continue to dominate Battle of Florida
The Battle of Florida now feels like a one-sided rivalry.
On Wednesday night, the Florida Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-3 in Game 5 on the road, advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The defending Stanley Cup champions will face the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Ottawa Senators in the second round. The Lightning, meanwhile, have been eliminated in the first round for a third consecutive season.
"Every year, [the Battle of Florida] just keeps getting harder and harder," Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said, via Jameson Olive of the team website.
While it has been a heated rivalry, its scales are clearly tipping toward the Panthers.
Since the 2020-21 season, the Lightning and the Panthers have met in the playoffs four times. Tampa Bay won the first two matchups. It eliminated the Panthers in the first round in the 2021 playoffs and in the second round the following season.
Since the Panthers acquired left winger Matthew Tkachuk in a trade with the Calgary Flames in July 2022, they have dominated the rivalry, winning the last two playoff matchups.
"It was our turn. Now it's theirs," Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said of the Panthers postgame, per The Athletic's Josh Yohe.
More importantly, the Lightning's future seems more uncertain than that of the Panthers.
Cooper is under contract through the 2025-26 season. However, on Wednesday, the New York Post's Larry Brooks tweeted he may leave Tampa Bay for the Utah Hockey Club. Utah head coach Andre Tourigny is under contract through the 2026-27 season, but the team missed the playoffs this season.
The Panthers, meanwhile, have Tkachuk under contract through the 2029-30 season and have a strong chance to repeat as champions. As of Wednesday night, FanDuel Sportsbook gives them the best odds (+390) to win the Stanley Cup.
Both teams seem to be heading in different directions, which could make the Sunshine State's rivalry far less competitive.
More must-reads:
- Alex Ovechkin lifts Capitals into second round of Stanley Cup playoffs
- Five RFAs with plenty to gain during 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs
- The 'Most NHL goals scored in a season by U.S. born players' quiz
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Mike Matheson and David Savard in talks with the Canadiens
Mike Matheson has entered the final year of his contract and, with an annual salary of $4.875 million, will be free as a bird on July 1 if he hasn’t signed a new deal by then. But if we’re to believe David Pagnotta(The Fourth Period), it might not come to that, because according to the informer, discussions are currently underway between the defenseman and the Canadiens to extend his contract. We know that Matheson wants to play here, and we also know that the Canadiens like him a lot. Jeff Gorton praised him this summer, saying he was important to the club at the moment… and even if there are other defensemen growing within the organization, making room for a veteran like him isn’t a crazy idea. Especially when you recognize the fact that the Canadiens’ defense is very young. Matheson is valuable to the Canadiens. His role will diminish (possibly even more so after the arrival of Noah Dobson), but we’re still talking about a player who helps the team in his own way. Last season, he was particularly useful on the power play, and he’s likely to have a similar role this year too. If he can produce offensively, on top of all that… [content-ads] Matheson is said to be in talks with the Habs… but the same can be said of David Savard. No, it wouldn’t be in the context of a return to the ice. But the former Canadiens defenseman, who retired at the end of last season, admitted to Kevin Dubé(Journal de Québec): there may be a position waiting for him with the Canadiens at some point. We’ve had a lot of conversations, and nothing’s closed yet. – David Savard The Journal de Québec article was published on the TVA Sports site (and Habs and NHL also wrote on the subject): It’s not the first time we’ve heard about this, but it’s interesting nonetheless. Because it shows one thing: there really seems to be an interest on the part of the defenseman and the organization to find something for him. Savard was on the ice with the Quebec Remparts on Tuesday, and it’s worth remembering that he’ s associated with 44 seconds, a consulting firm that helps junior and professional defensemen. Clearly, he’s still interested in staying in the hockey world. And so much the better, if the Canadiens are able to find a role for him within the organization [spacer title=’Overtime’] – It’s true that we’re talking about a beautiful amphitheatre. – The – He knows what he has to do. – Happy reading,
Cleveland Browns may be without a Pro Bowler against the Packers, and Green Bay suffers legit scare on Thursday
The Cleveland Browns have their attention on the Green Bay Packers with their first NFC opponent coming to town in Week 3. Cleveland opened the season with two AFC North losses against the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens and will now look to get right against perhaps the league’s best team. Green Bay has had the best defense this season through two games the league has and they bring a good quarterback with Jordan Love. Cleveland looks like they’ll get RT Jack Conklin back this week against the Packers, while DT Mike Hall did not participate on Thursday as part of his plan returning from the knee injury. It could be another week before the former second-round pick is out there. Joel Bitonio has not practiced yet this week with a back injury and tomorrow will tell whether or not he will be able to play against the Packers. Returner DeAndre Carter returned to practice for the Browns on Thursday from concussion protocol. The Packers suffer scare with one of their offensive stars Tucker Kraft is one of the league's more underrated tight ends and he suffered a knee tweak at practice on Thursday that was a scare, but he is expected to be fine. The star tight end had 124 yards and a touchdown against the Washington Commanders last week and will be a major weapon that the Packers and Love will look to target. Cleveland’s defense is allowing 146 passing yards per game through two games, which is third in the NFL. The Browns' offense will have to give the defense a chance to stay in this one at home. If Cleveland doesn’t have Bitonio against the Packers, they’ll be turning to backup offensive lineman Tevin Jenkins. Cleveland’s defensive front has been maybe the best in the NFL through the first two games, so they’ll only benefit when they put Hall’s interior rushing ability into the mix. It just may be too early for that to happen in Week 3 against Green Bay. window.addEventListener('message', function (event) {if (event.data.totalpoll event.data.totalpoll.action === 'resizeHeight') {document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-424').height = event.data.totalpoll.value;}}, false);document.querySelector('#totalpoll-iframe-424').contentWindow.postMessage({totalpoll: {action: 'requestHeight'}}, '*');
Fantasy Football Week 3 Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em – Bench Hill?
The NFL’s Week 3 action begins with the Buffalo Bills taking on the Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. Following Thursday Night Football, Sunday’s slate presents some fun matchups for fantasy football. Ending the Week 3 lineup will be an exciting matchup featuring the Detroit Lions vs the Baltimore Ravens. Who’s worth a start and who’s worth benching this week? Here are five players to start and sit entering Week 3. Five Players to Start 1. Rome Odunze vs. Dallas Cowboys – No. 30 vs WRs (NFL Fantasy) Considering the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants had a thrilling 40-37 showdown last week, definitely start Rome Odunze. Last week, in a 52-21 loss against the Lions, Odunze was targeted 11 times and caught seven passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. In the Cowboys’ matchup against the Giants, New York’s receivers did very well. Malik Nabers scored 37.70 points. He caught nine passes on 13 targets for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Their secondary wide receiever, Wan’Dale Robinson, scored eight passes on 10 targets for 142 yards and a touchdown. The Bears feature two receivers in Odunze and D.J. Moore, but Odunze has been the alpha between the two early on this season. He can contribute mightily to fantasy teams in Week 3. 2. Drake Maye vs Pittsburgh Steelers – No. 28 vs QBs (NFL Fantasy) After allowing Justin Fields (29.52) and Sam Darnold (15.80) to some solid performances in the first two weeks, starting Drake Maye is a good idea. To start the season the Steelers have let up 200+ yards in the passing game and have struggled to guard the middle of the field. With weapons like Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas, Maye could have a big day and potentially throw for multiple touchdowns. Even with the Steelers having Ramsey in the secondary, their safety play has allowed big plays across the field. Until the Steelers fix their defensive miscues, starting the quarterback facing them makes sense. According to StatMuse the Patriots are 8-2 against the Steelers in their last 10 matchups. 3. Jonathan Taylor vs. Tennessee Titans – No. 22 vs RBs (NFL Fantasy) After a 165 yard performance vs the Denver Broncos, Jonathan Taylor will face the Tennessee Titans in a AFC South matchup. His 165 yard game netted him 29.5 points against a good Broncos defense. The Titans are currently giving up an average of 5.4 yards per carry. Seeing these numbers should give fantasy owners plenty of confidence to start Taylor against the Titans. Last time the Colts played the Titans on Dec. 22, 2024, Taylor rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns. 4. James Cook vs Miami Dolphins – No. 27 vs RB’s (NFL Fantasy) James Cook is another running back on this list that’s coming off another 100+ yard performance. Not only did he score two touchdowns but he rushed for 132 yards vs the New York Jets. The Dolphins are coming off another bad game and are on a short week. With little time to truly fix their run game, Cook can take advantage of a good situation. Though he’s only averaged 37.3 rushing yards vs the Dolphins, there’s optimism he can have his first big game against Miami on Thursday night. 5. Kyle Pitts vs Carolina Panthers – No. 30 vs TEs (NFL Fantasy) With Michael Penix and Kyle Pitts’ chemistry continuing to grow, Pitts is finally inching towards becoming a trustworthy start. Though he hasn’t had a big game yet this season, Week 3 looks to be ideal against the Panthers. His four catches for 37 yards in a 22-6 win may seem disappointing, but there’s hope that he can bounce back. Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride averaged 13.0 yards per catch in Week 1 against the Panthers. Even Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange average 14.8 yards per catch against the Panthers defense. If Pitts gets big receptions in space he could be a threat in fantasy football this week. Five Players to Sit 1. Jacory Croskey-Merritt vs. Las Vegas Raiders – No. 5 vs RBs (NFL Fantasy) Even with his expectation to take more snaps in the absence of Austin Ekeler, sitting him this week may be the best option. The Raiders are only allowing an average of 13.20 points to running backs. Having to face Maxx Crosby should caution fantasy owners from starting Croskey-Merritt. Last week, Chargers backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton combine for 10.3 fantasy points. 2. Garrett Wilson vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers – N0. 5 vs WRs (NFL Fantasy) With Justin Fields missing Week 3 due to his concussion, there’s a reason to feel unsure about starting Garrett Wilson. After last weeks disappointing performance against the Bills, Wilson will face a well-rounded Buccaneers secondary. Facing a secondary of Antoine Winfield, Jamel Dean, Tykee Smith, Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish makes it a difficult decision to start Wilson. With Tyrod Taylor starting this week, his unstable chemistry with the receiving core as a whole may limit the production of Wilson. 3. Tyreek Hill vs Buffalo Bills – No. 6 vs WRs (NFL Fantasy) With Tua Tagovailoa‘s shaky performance to start the season, sitting Tyreek Hill vs. the Buffalo Bills is best. Despite Jaylen Waddle being questionable, the Bills defense could wreck the game for everyone on Miami. According to StatMuse, Hill has not had over 100 receiving yards against the Bills since starting his Dolphins tenure in 2022. The Bills defense has proven they can contain him and prevent him from having big time games. 4. Matthew Stafford vs Philadelphia Eagles – No. 11 vs QBs (NFL Fantasy) Matthew Stafford against the Philadelphia Eagles is a must avoid matchup. The Eagles have a fierce defense, including Jalen Carter and rookie safety Andrew Mukuba. Last week, Stafford struggled in the first half against the Titans before exploding in the second half in a 33-19 win. In the first two weeks, quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Dak Prescott have struggled against against the Eagles defense. In Week 2, Mahomes went 16-of-29 for 187 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He had to produce a lot with his legs, which Stafford cannot do. In Week 1, Prescott went 21-of-34 for 188 yards. 5. Ashton Jeanty vs Washington Commanders – No. 6 vs RBs (NFL Fantasy) Ashton Jeanty is worth the consideration of a sit this week. In his first two weeks, Jeanty has not cracked 50 rushing yards on 10+ carries. Since he is still adjusting to the NFL from Boise State, it’s okay to let him set on the bench this week or until he proves to be fantasy worthy.
Steelers fans get alarming update about T.J. Watt: 'It's even worse'
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has the fan base very upset after back-to-back disappointing performances. In Week 1, the Steelers were lucky to escape MetLife Stadium with a 34-32 win over the New York Jets, but in Week 2, they lost at home. Dropping a game to the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium is far from ideal, but it’s not time to worry just yet. The season is long, and plenty can change as things progress. Still, the fact that both opponents were able to rack up nearly 400 yards of offense each against one of the NFL’s highest-paid defenses is a legitimate reason for concern. What makes the situation even more troubling is the lack of home-run production from T.J. Watt, the face of this defensive unit. Daniel Valente, a stats expert on social media, highlighted numbers that reveal Watt has not been the same disruptive force for quite some time. His data shows a drop-off in sacks and overall impact, which is eye-opening considering how much the Steelers lean on Watt to change games. When your top player isn’t producing at the level fans have come to expect, the struggles across the entire defense become that much harder to ignore. His quiet outings not only limit the Steelers’ ability to generate momentum-shifting plays, but they also give opposing offenses confidence to attack more aggressively. Without Watt setting the tone, the defense looks far less intimidating and far more vulnerable than fans are used to seeing. For a defense that was built to carry this team through tough stretches, the early season results have not matched the hype. Allowing nearly 800 yards in two weeks and seeing their cornerstone player go quiet has created a wave of frustration among fans who expected dominance, not vulnerability. While it’s far too early to call the situation a crisis, these trends need to reverse quickly. The pressure is mounting, and if the defense doesn’t respond, the narrative around Pittsburgh could shift from Super Bowl aspirations to serious doubts about their ability to compete. Now, it’s not all on Watt, and it’s important to recognize what’s really happening here. The fact that he has failed to record a sack in five of his last 17 games is certainly concerning, but it isn’t entirely his fault. Steelers' T.J. Watt's lack of overall production explained Opposing offenses are adjusting to neutralize him, and the Steelers’ inability to stop the run has made it easier. Far too often, teams are running to the opposite side of the field from where Watt lines up, effectively removing him from the play before it begins. When the defense can’t win at the line of scrimmage or contain the ground game, it puts Watt in a position where his impact is minimized, no matter how hard he’s playing. That falls back on defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, who has not put this unit in the best position to succeed. The talent and investment on this defense are far too great for them to look this vulnerable. The breakdown late in the fourth quarter against Seattle, where Kenneth Walker III broke free for a 19-yard touchdown run, was unacceptable for a team with championship expectations.
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