preview Page 259 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Islanders, Sabres try to rediscover earlier form
Neither the New York Islanders nor Buffalo Sabres need to be reminded how a relatively brief stretch of subpar play can impact an entire season.,The Islanders will aim to snap a losing streak while the Sabres hope to return to their winning ways Friday night, when New York visits Buffalo in a battle...

Stars, Panthers excited for benefits of two-game series in Finland
Two of the NHL's top teams head to Europe for a two-game series that starts Friday and could also double as a Stanley Cup Final preview.,The Dallas Stars and the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers are in Tampere, Finland, for the second and final leg of the 2024 NHL Global Series.,While...

Last-place Sharks, Blackhawks aim to build on recent wins
It may be a battle of the Western Conference's two divisional cellar dwellers, but both the Chicago Blackhawks and host San Jose Sharks head into Thursday's matchup on a winning note.,The Blackhawks hit the West Coast after snapping a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 road win over the Colorado Ava...

Mavs bring depth into in-state clash with Rockets
Mavericks guard Luka Doncic swooped in at the last minute on Tuesday and buried a dagger 3-pointer that put the finishing touches on a 120-114 victory at the Minnesota Timberwolves to help Dallas sweep a challenging, early-season back-to-back.,The busy Mavericks will play their third game in four ni...

Predators aim to get even vs. Connor McDavid-less Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are preparing to move on without their superstar for the time being. ,Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators hope their early struggles are behind them. ,With Connor McDavid injured, the visiting Oilers aim to win at Nashville for the second time this month on Thursday night. ,Less t...

Hurricanes aim to bring road success home against Bruins
After what the Carolina Hurricanes accomplished on an extended road trip, they want to make sure to impress their fans at home as well.,It will have been more than two weeks since the Hurricanes have played on home ice when the Boston Bruins visit for Thursday night's game at Raleigh, N.C.,Carolina ...

Skidding Penguins focus on defense as upbeat Ducks visit
The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to avoid matching their longest losing streak under coach Mike Sullivan when they host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.,The Penguins have dropped six in a row, getting outscored 27-13 in the process.,Sullivan, who's in his 10th season with Pittsburgh, said there'...

Surging Capitals take aim at slumping Canadiens
The Washington Capitals have been riding high with six wins in their last seven games.,The Montreal Canadiens, in turn, couldn't have felt much lower after being on the business end of a shellacking in their last outing.,The Capitals aim to continue their winning ways on Thursday when they host the ...

Blues seeking better effort in visit to Flyers
To say the least, the Flyers and St. Louis Blues are entering Thursday's matchup in Philadelphia with varying degrees of short-term momentum.,The Flyers are coming off a crisp 2-0 road win over the Boston Bruins -- their first regulation win in Boston in more than 13 years. The Blues, meanwhile, wer...

Nebraska plans to deploy deep rotation as season begins
The sixth season of the Fred Hoiberg era gets underway Monday when Nebraska hosts Texas-Rio Grande Valley in a nonconference game in Lincoln, Neb. to open the 2024-25 season.,The Cornhuskers are coming off their first NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade, losing to Texas A&M in the first round and...

Overhauled Michigan ready for reveal starting with Cleveland St.
Michigan has so many changes within its basketball program since last season, it's almost as if the Wolverines swapped programs with another school.,Head coach Juwan Howard was fired after an 8-24 season and replaced by former Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May. The roster, revamped with a flurry of i...

Revamped Illinois roster chasing chemistry, faces Eastern Illinois
For the third year in a row, Illinois welcomes Eastern Illinois to kick off the season. But as the Fighting Illini prepare for Monday's game in Champaign, Ill., they bear almost no resemblance to last season's group.,The Illini retain just two scholarship players -- guards Ty Rodgers and Dravyn Gibb...

Northwestern doesn't mind doubters ahead of opener vs. Lehigh
Northwestern enters 2024-25 coming off consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in school history and returning 66 percent of its minutes.,Still, a preseason media poll tapped the Wildcats 16th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten, due largely to the graduation of top scorer and floor le...

Wisconsin looking inside to replace top production, opens with Holy Cross
After losing two top starters to the transfer portal, Wisconsin unveils its revamped lineup Monday night in the season opener against visiting Holy Cross.,Wisconsin finished 22-14 last season, 11-9 in the Big Ten but outside expectations are well below that mark. ,The Badgers were picked tied for 12...

Penn State opens with Binghamton on mission for sustained success
Penn State experienced ups and downs in its first season under coach Mike Rhoades. ,But the team is optimistic as Year 2 begins with the season opener against visiting Binghamton on Monday in University Park, Pa.,The Nittany Lions were 16-17 last season, but expectations will never be low as long as...

No. 18 Marquette, with tournament aspirations, opens vs. Stony Brook
Coach Shaka Smart said he is excited about his new-look yet veteran-savvy Marquette team ahead of the No. 18 Golden Eagles' season opener Monday against Stony Brook in Milwaukee.,"A big part of that (transition) is getting our guys better," Smart said at Big East media day last week. "Taking guys th...

Maryland stoked for 'generational talent' Derik Queen's debut vs. Manhattan
Maryland landed just two five-star recruits in its history before Derik Queen committed to the Terrapins.,The touted center makes his Maryland debut Monday when the Terrapins host Manhattan in College Park, Md., the regular-season opener for both teams.,Queen, a Baltimore native, returned home after...

Wade Taylor IV, No. 13 Texas A&M open at new-look UCF
Coming off a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance last season, No. 13 Texas A&M will travel to Orlando to play UCF on Monday in the season opener for both teams.,After reaching the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament, the Aggies lost in the Big Dance to No. 1 seed Houston 100-95 ...

Starting QBs questionable for No. 18 Pitt-No. 20 SMU showdown
The status of both starting quarterbacks is the top storyline heading into Saturday's Top 25 matchup between No. 18 Pitt and No. 20 SMU in Dallas.,Coach Pat Narduzzi said the Panthers (7-0, 3-0 ACC) are taking a "wait-and-see" approach when it comes to Eli Holstein. Similarly, SMU coach Rhett Lashle...

No. 17 Kansas State not underestimating Big 12 foe Houston
No. 17 Kansas State will try to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive when the Wildcats travel to Houston Saturday afternoon for the second-ever matchup between the schools.,The Wildcats have won four straight games since losing their Big 12 opener at BYU. Kansas State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) now ...