the Page 3 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Auston Matthews' hat trick sparks Leafs' comeback vs. Jets
Auston Matthews registered three goals and an assist Thursday night as the Toronto Maple Leafs overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the visiting Winnipeg Jets 6-5.,Matthews completed his hat trick by knocking in a loose puck at 15:38 of the third period to snap a 5-5 tie, sending the Jets to thei...

Unbeaten outdoors, Rangers hit Miami for Winter Classic vs. Panthers
The New York Rangers' perfect record in outdoor games will be on the line Friday when they face the Florida Panthers in the 2026 Winter Classic at Miami's loanDepot Park.,The franchise is 5-0 outdoors, the most wins without a loss of any NHL team. Previously, the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers...

Inconsistent Panthers aim to clinch NFC South in rematch with Bucs
It's not exactly a winner-takes-all situation when the NFC South rival Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers clash for the second time in three weeks on Saturday in Tampa.,However, the Panthers can dictate their fate when it comes to qualifying for the postseason.,"We're aware of all those scen...

Panthers F Brad Marchand avoids discipline for elbow to head
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand escaped supplemental discipline for his elbow to the head of Montreal Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson on Tuesday, according to multiple reports Wednesday.,Marchand received a two-minute roughing minor in overtime. His penalty was about to expire when Canadie...

Jeremy Payne's OT jaunt lifts TCU past No. 16 USC in Alamo Bowl
Jeremy Payne broke two tackles on his way to the game-winning touchdown and TCU shocked Southern California 30-27 in overtime to win the Alamo Bowl in dramatic fashion Tuesday in San Antonio.,TCU faced third-and-20 and needed at least a field goal to match USC and force a second overtime. Ken Seals ...

Nick Suzuki scores last two to rally Canadiens past Panthers
Nick Suzuki scored two goals, including the game-winner 3:24 into overtime, as the Montreal Canadiens rallied to defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 on Tuesday night in Sunrise, Fla.,Montreal trailed 2-0 with less than five minutes left in regulation, but Cole Caufield scored with 4:27 left. Suzuki scor...

Malik Reneau's 28 help Miami rally past Pitt
Malik Reneau scored a season-high 28 points to lead host Miami to a 76-69 victory over Pitt in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams on Tuesday.,Reneau, who sat out the final 7:32 of the first half because of foul trouble, shot 8 of 13 from the field and made all 10 of his free-throw a...

Matthew Stafford may have thrown MVP away in 3-pick loss
Matthew Stafford's march toward his first NFL Most Valuable Player award went from one of the league's feel-good stories of 2025 to a significant longshot over four shocking quarters in Atlanta on Monday night.,With only two regular-season games remaining -- both against teams out of playoff content...

Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews (lower body) deemed day-to-day
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that star forward Auston Matthews has a lower-body injury that will keep him out of Tuesday's home game against the New Jersey Devils.,Matthews is considered day-to-day, the Leafs said.,Matthews, 28, had four points in two weekend games for Toronto -- a goal and two...

Canadiens' Sam Montembeault returns to start against Panthers
Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky, the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, continues to improve.,The 21-year-old Slovakian has 13 goals in 38 games and is on pace to eclipse his career high of 20 tallies in 2023-24. He also has four goals and four assists in his past four games headin...

LSU stays hot with big win over Southern Miss
Junior point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. tossed in a game-high 22 points and LSU extended its winning streak to four games by beating visiting Southern Miss 90-62 Monday night in Baton Rouge, La.,Thomas, who was 8 of 11 from the floor, had 12 assists. He committed two turnovers in 35 minutes.,Forward Mic...

Third-period surge propels Panthers past Capitals
Aaron Ekblad scored the go-ahead goal with 6:48 left in the third period as the Florida Panthers defeated the Washington Capitals 5-3 on Monday night in Sunrise, Fla.,Sam Reinhart also scored twice, including an empty-netter with 35 seconds left that clinched the win.,The Panthers, who are 9-3-0 ove...

Georgia Southern downs rival App State in Birmingham Bowl
JC French IV threw for 171 yards and a touchdown as Georgia Southern defeated rival Appalachian State 29-10 on Monday afternoon in the JLab Birmingham Bowl in Alabama.,In the third postseason meeting of the longstanding "Deeper Than Hate" rivalry, French guided the Eagles' offense efficiently by com...

No. 20 Illinois barely breaks a sweat against Southern
Jake Davis scored 15 points and Keaton Wagler posted an 11-point, 10-assist double-double as No. 20 Illinois routed Southern 90-55 on Monday in Champaign, Ill.,Zvonimir Ivisic (13 points), Tomislav Ivisic (11) and David Mirkovic (11) also scored in double figures for the Fighting Illini, who led by ...

Reports: Penn State hiring USC DC D'Anton Lynn
Penn State is finalizing a deal with Southern California defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn for the same position, multiple outlets reported Monday.,Lynn, 36, played cornerback for the Nittany Lions from 2008-11 and is joining new head coach Matt Campbell's staff after two seasons with the Trojans.,...

Toronto FC acquire Brazilian D Matheus Pereira
Toronto FC acquired Brazilian defender Matheus Pereira from Portugal's CD Santa Clara on Monday.,The 25-year-old left back is signed through the 2027-28 MLS season with an option for 2028-29.,Pereira has recorded 10 goals and 14 assists in 198 career matches, including 86 appearances in Portugal's t...

Report: Bears rookie WR Luther Burden injures quad
Chicago Bears rookie receiver Luther Burden III sustained a quad injury Sunday night in the loss at San Francisco, according to reports.,The injury occurred on the final play of the 49ers' 42-38 victory but is not thought to be serious, per the reports. He attempted to walk off the field with assist...

Steelers-Ravens to decide playoff berth on Sunday night stage
The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens in a battle for the AFC North title and a playoff berth next Sunday night, the NFL announced after the finish of play on Dec. 28.,The loser of the clash between the Ravens (8-8) and Steelers (9-7) will miss the playoffs. Kickoff is set for 8:20 ...

Northern Colorado beats Colorado for first time since 1936
Quinn Denker returned to the lineup with a career-high 33 points and Northern Colorado beat Colorado 86-81 on Sunday in Boulder, Colo.,Denker, who missed the previous two games after hand surgery, hit all seven of his shots in the second half to lead Northern Colorado (10-3) to the upset. He added e...

NFC West-best Seahawks stifle Panthers, win 6th straight
Zach Charbonnet rushed for a season-high 110 yards and two touchdowns and the Seattle Seahawks' defense was dominant in a 27-10 victory against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C.,The NFC West-leading Seahawks (13-3), who limited Carolina to 139 yards of total offense, won t...