Bryan Rust and Yegor Chinakhov send the streaking Penguins past the Red Wings, 4-1

DETROIT (AP) — Bryan Rust and Yegor Chinakhov scored first-period goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit Red Wings for the second time in three days, 4-1, on Saturday.

Rickard Rakell and Connor Dewar added empty-net goals to clinch Pittsburgh's fourth consecutive victory. Kris Letang's overtime goal gave thePenguins a 4-3 win over Detroitin Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Sidney Crosby extended his point streak to six games with two assists. Crosby, who scored two goals on Thursday, has four goals and six assists during that stretch and 53 points in 40 career games against the Red Wings.

Parker Wotherspoon had two assists and Stuart Skinner made 11 saves for the Penguins.

Alex DeBrincat scored his team-leading 22nd goal for Detroit. John Gibson stopped 27 shots for the Red Wings, who are 5-2-1 over their last eight games.

The Penguins led 2-0 after the first period. Rust lifted a shot over Gibson's left shoulder 3:44 into the game. Ben Kindel passed the puck out of his zone to Chinakhov, who got behind Detroit's defense and converted on the breakaway with 2:30 remaining in the period.

DeBrincat scored on a breakaway with 4:54 remaining in the second period. He clanged a shot off the right post during a power play later in the period.

Rakell and Dewar scored their empty-netters in the final minute.

Penguins: At Columbus on Sunday.

Red Wings: Visit Ottawa on Monday.

AP NHL:https://www.apnews.com/NHL

Bryan Rust and Yegor Chinakhov send the streaking Penguins past the Red Wings, 4-1

DETROIT (AP) — Bryan Rust and Yegor Chinakhov scored first-period goals and the Pittsburgh Penguins topped the Detroit R...
Panthers vs. Buccaneers score, live updates: Baker Mayfield, Bryce Young meet in clash for NFC South division title

The 2025 season hascome down to the wire for the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With a win or tie, the Panthers will be crowned NFC South champions, clinching the No. 4 seed and a home playoff game in the wild-card round. It would mark their first division title since the 2015 season, when Carolina went all the way to Super Bowl 50 with Cam Newton at quarterback, eventually losing to the Denver Broncos.

Carolina (8-8) has lost two of its last three since its bye week in Week 14. They had an opportunity to clinch the division last week and failed miserably, losing to Seattle, 27-10. Now the Panthers need to win or tie on the road to punch that postseason ticket; otherwise, their path to the playoffs looks a lot murkier. ThePanthers took the first matchup just a couple of weeks agobetween these rivals, 23-20 in Charlotte.

Tampa Bay has been free-falling in thesecond half of the season and has won just one gamesince its Week 9 bye. Despite the implosion, the Buccaneers can still win the NFC South and make the playoffs as the No. 4 seed, but they'll need a little help. The Bucs need to beat the Panthers, but also need the Atlanta Falcons to lose to the New Orleans Saints in Week 18.

How to watch Panthers vs. Buccaneers

Panthers-Bucs start time:4:30 p.m. ETLocation:Raymond James Stadium | Tampa Bay, FloridaTV channel, live stream:ESPN, ABC, NFL+

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more as the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off the Saturday slate in Week 18.

  • Panthers, Buccaneers announce Week 18 inactives

    With less than 90 minutes remaining until the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kick off on Saturday, each team has announced its Week 18 inactives for gameday.

    Here's a look:

    Panthers inactives

    • CB Robert Rochell

    • LB Claudin Cherelus

    • WR Hunter Renfrow

    • S D'Anthony Bell

    • S Demani Richardson

    • DT Jared Harrison-Hunte

    • DT Tershawn Wharton

    Buccaneers inactives

    • CB Jamel Dean

    • LB Anthony Nelson

    • WR Sterling Shepard

    • OG Elijah Klein

    • QB Connor Bazelak

Panthers vs. Buccaneers score, live updates: Baker Mayfield, Bryce Young meet in clash for NFC South division title

The 2025 season hascome down to the wire for the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a win or tie...
Wife of Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia addresses death of couple's newborn

The wife ofLos Angeles Dodgerspitcher Alex Vesia returned to social media to share an update after the couple announced the loss of their newborn daughter last year.

Vesiadid not pitch in the World Seriesvictory against theToronto Blue Jaysdue to the death of his daughter, Sterling Sol Vesia, announcing the news on Nov. 7, saying their baby "went to heaven Sunday October 26th."

On Jan. 2, Vesia's wife Kayla posted a two-minute clip on TikTok explaining how she and her husband are coping.

"Alex and I are just trying to get through it everyday. Every day's so different for us right now and I don't really have the words," she said, noting that she normally shares a lot of their lives on social media," she said.

"It just felt right to come on here and say 'Thank you'. I am really grateful for the community of you guys, and just expressing your support and love towards us. It really has brought us a lot of comfort during this."

Kayla Vesia thanked the couple's supporters and said social media is a "good outlet" to talk to them.

"I don't know how much I'm going to share. I don't know. I don't know the details of it, but I do know that I want to share, and if it can help somebody who's going through the same thing, feel like they're not alone," she said. "I was prepared for whatever was gonna happen but I wasn't prepared for not taking my baby home.

Alex Vesia will return to the Dodgers next year as the team exercised his $3.55 million club option for 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) and Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) celebrate during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Magic Johnson wave to fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. A fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers with his dog after the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers players and coaches ride double-deck buses during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Magic Johnson waves to Los Angeles Dodgers fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell (7) during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) and teammate Enrique Hernandez (8) celebrate during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers players wave to the crowd during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers pose for a photo after the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers fans wait for the start of the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) wave to fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers fans react during the team's victory parade after winning the World Series. A fan looks on before the 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series Celebration at Dodger Stadium on Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) wave to fans during the World Series championship parade and celebration. Los Angeles Dodgers players hold the baseball World Series trophy as they greet fans from an open-top bus during the team's victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on Nov. 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history. Los Angeles Dodgers players wave to fans from an open-top bus during the team's victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on Nov. 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history. A young fan runs with a Los Angeles Dodgers flag before the start of the Dodgers 2025 World Series Championship parade on Nov. 3, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Shohei Ohtani (L) and Freddie Freeman of the Los Angeles Dodgers acknowledge the crowd during the Dodgers 2025 World Series Championship parade on Nov. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. Los Angeles Dodgers players greet fans from an open-top bus during the team's victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on November 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history. Fans watch as Los Angeles Dodgers players greet fans from an open-top bus during the team's victory parade after winning the World Series, in downtown Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025. The Los Angeles Dodgers conjured a stunning come-from-behind victory in extra innings to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 and clinch back-to-back World Series on Nov. 1, in one of the greatest Major League Baseball championship deciders in history. Los Angeles Dodgers players wave to fans during the team's victory parade in Los Angeles after winning the World Series on Nov. 3, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers fans react as the team bus passes them during the team's victory parade in Los Angeles on Nov. 3, 2025, after winning the World Series. Los Angeles Dodgers fans wait for the start of the World Series championship parade and celebration on Nov. 3, 2025.

Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate back-to-back World Series titles with thousands of fans

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Alex Vesia's wife speaks after loss of newborn baby last year

Wife of Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia addresses death of couple's newborn

The wife ofLos Angeles Dodgerspitcher Alex Vesia returned to social media to share an update after the couple announced ...
Russell Westbrook passes Oscar Robertson as all-time scoring leader among point guards

Russell Westbrook has another place in the NBA record books.

The former MVP reached 26,711 career points Friday, passing Oscar Robertson to become the NBA's all-time scoring leader among point guards. Robertson was previously the top scorer at the position with 26,710 points.

Westbrook finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 turnovers in the Sacramento Kings' 129-102 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Brodie passes The Big O 👑Congrats to@russwest44for becoming the NBA's all-time leading scorer for a point guard.pic.twitter.com/GOeQmKihE8

— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings)January 3, 2026

Westbrook was already the NBA's all-time leader in triple-doubles and in rebounds among guards. He is seventh on the all-time assists leaderboard and is on pace to pass Mark Jackson and Steve Nash for fifth by the end of the season.

Of course, with the scoring record, the point guard distinction is an unofficial one. There are now 14 players ahead of Westbrook on the NBA's all-time leading scorer list and only three of them are guards: Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and James Harden. Jordan and Bryant are both quintessential shooting guards, while Harden has spent his career in more of a combo role.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Russell Westbrook #18 of the Sacramento Kings looks on against the Boston Celtics in the first half of an NBA basketball game at Golden 1 Center on January 01, 2026 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Westbrook has spent his post-Oklahoma City Thunder career as something of a journeyman,joining the Kings this season on a one-year, $3.6 million contract (aka the veteran minimum). He has still averaged double-digit points in every season of his career and currently ranks fourth on the Kings with 14.4 points per game, his highest output since the 2022-23 season.

He also entered Friday shooting 42.3% from the field, his worst mark since 2010, but that's partially offset by a career high 35.3% clip from 3-point range.

It was a tough night if you hate seeing less-heralded Oscar Robertson records go down, asGiannis Antetokounmpo surpassed him to become the all-time leader in 30-10-5 games. What a time to be alive.

Russell Westbrook passes Oscar Robertson as all-time scoring leader among point guards

Russell Westbrook has another place in the NBA record books. The former MVP reached 26,711 career points Frida...
An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Former Met Lenny Dykstra speaks into a microphone, wearing a white and orange hat that says

Lenny Dykstra could be facing more legal issues.

Dykstra, a member of the Mets' 1986 World Series team, was allegedly in possession of drugs during a traffic stop just after midnight Thursday, Pennsylvania State Police records viewed by The Post show.

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The 62-year-old, who lives in Scranton, was a passenger in a 2015 GMC Sierra truck that was stopped by police for alleged motor vehicle violations.

Dykstra was listed as the "arrestee" in the police report.

"During this investigation, the passenger was found to be in possession of narcotics and narcotic related equipment/paraphernalia. Charges to be filed," the state police report said.

His lawyer, Matthew Blit, however,told TMZ on Friday nightthat Dykstra will be "absolved" in the case.

Former Met Lenny Dykstra appears during a press conference to promote their celebrity boxing fight in New York, NY on September 12, 2019. Christopher Sadowski

"Lenny Dykstra was merely a passenger in a vehicle that did not belong to him," Blit told the outlet. "Undeniably, the actual driver and owner was taken into custody at the scene under the suspicion of driving under the influence. Lenny was not accused of being under the influence of any substance at the scene, nor was he arrested or taken into custody at the scene. To the extent charges are brought against him, they will be swiftly absolved."

Dykstra, who played 12 seasons in MLB — including parts of five with the Mets — from 1985-96, has run into legal trouble numerous times in the past, and was most recentlyarrested in 2018 for drug possessionand uttering terroristic threats to his Uber driver in Linden, N.J. He later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, while the third-degree terroristic threats charge was reduced to a petty disorderly persons offense.

The three-time All-Star has also been accused of sexual misconduct multiple times, first in 1999, when he was arrested for the alleged harassment of a 17-year-old girl who was an employee at his car wash — those chargeswere later dropped.

Then in 2011, Dykstra was accused of sexual assault by his housekeeper, who claimed that she "needed the job and the money so she went along with the suspect's requests rather than lose her job," according to the filing.

No charges ended up being filed.

New York Mets Lenny Dykstra (4) in action, at bat, hitting game winning home run vs Houston Astros at Shea Stadium. Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima

Later that year, he was arrested andsubsequently chargedwith grand theft auto and drug possession, and was sentenced to three years in prison in March 2012.

In July 2012, Dykstra pleaded guilty in federal court to bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, and money laundering after admitting to hiding, destroying, and selling more than $400,000 worth of items that were a part of his bankruptcy filing in 2009.

His most recent legal battle was with former teammate — and current Mets TV broadcaster — Ron Darling, back in 2020.

Dykstra sued Darling for defamation after the ex-pitcheraccused him of yelling racist tauntsat Red Sox hurler Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd during the 1986 World Series.

A New York Supreme Court judge eventually threw out the lawsuit, saying that Dykstra was known as "among other things, racist, misogynist, and anti-gay, as well as a sexual predator, a drug-abuser, a thief, and an embezzler."

Ex-Mets World Series champ Lenny Dykstra to face drug charges after Pennsylvania traffic stop

Lenny Dykstra could be facing more legal issues. Dykstra, a member of the Mets' 1986 World Series team, was allegedly in possession o...

 

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