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This is the second October edition of The Lineup, an all-new newsletter recapping many of the most important developments in the world of sports.

NHL Updates

NHL Opens in Prague, by Jonny Martirano

The NHL opened the 2024-2025 season with its annual Global Series from Oct. 4-5. This year’s opening series in Prague, Czech Republic, at the O2 Arena featured the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres. In the two-game set, the Devils won both 4-1 and 3-1.

The new arrivals in New Jersey stole the show with major contributions. In the first game, three of the four Devils goals came from new additions. Former Devil Stefan Noesen, who came over from the Carolina Hurricanes on a three-year contract, scored the first goal. Next was Johnathan Kovacevic, whom the Devils acquired in a trade from the Montreal Canadiens. Captain Nico Hischier scored the third goal, and Paul Cotter iced the game with an empty-net goal. Cotter arrived in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. 2021 first overall pick Owen Power scored the lone goal for the Sabres.

Jacob Markstrom, who came over from a trade with the Calgary Flames, stopped 30 of 31 shots in his first game with the club. A crucial stick save on a wide-open net encapsulated Markstrom’s performance.

In the second game, Buffalo again mustered just one goal, scored by star Tage Thompson. The Devils responded with three unanswered scores, with rookie Seamus Casey netting his first NHL goal to tie the game at one. Casey, a second-round pick in 2022, played for the University of Michigan over the last two seasons. Cotter broke the tie with his second goal of the Global Series, and Timo Meier added insurance with a third goal en route to the victory.

The NHL heads to Tampere, Finland, next for games between the Dallas Stars and Florida Panthers on Nov. 1-2.

Tristate Teams, by Lucas Baquero

After one week of play, the NHL season is back in full swing, and all three tri-state area teams have hit the win column. The New York Rangers, New York Islanders and Devils are all on track to meet their expectations based on the first week of games. The Rangers started 2-0-1, as pending unrestricted free agent Igor Shesterkin showed flashes of greatness in all three games. A shutout in Pittsburgh and five goal scorers in the opener gave fans a taste of last year’s excellence. In two of three games, the Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith line proved effective, but Zibanejad recorded a minus-4 vs Utah and appeared lost at times.

The 4-2-0 New Jersey Devils got in on the action early, playing the Sabres in Czechia. Jacob Markstrom started strong with a dominant season-opening win, but he allowed three goals against Washington and Carolina and four against Toronto. His career arc shows that he experiences hot and cold streaks. In two starts, Jake Allen has allowed just one goal, proving his worth as a high-end 1-B goalie. With the Devils’ talented offense, the goalies don’t have to be stellar to ensure a season of improvement.

The New York Islanders opened at 1-1-1, featuring two strong offensive outings; a 6-2 win over the Avalanche and a 5-4 overtime loss to Utah. The top six have contributed most of the scoring, a trend in recent years. Semyon Varlamov has allowed seven goals in two starts, while Ilya Sorokin played just once. With a roster similar to last season, the Islanders will rely on their high-end goalie tandem and Sorokin’s health to perform.

Utah Hockey Club, by Tyler Steinberg

“Shot, scores! Dylan Guenther lights the lamp. Utah is on the board first with their first-ever goal by number 11,” play-by-play announcer Mike Folta called as the Utah Hockey Club wrapped up their first week as a team. This marked a historic moment for the new team in town, with fans celebrating their inaugural goal. Since that moment, Utah has had an impressive start, finishing their first four games with a 3-1 record.

The team has found no shortage of offense, netting five or more goals in each of their three wins. Although they suffered their first loss to the Devils, Utah’s performance remains a point of optimism. With the early-season buzz, the team’s stars have risen to the occasion when needed most. Newly appointed captain Clayton Keller racked up six points in just four games. His leadership and skill have set a positive tone for the young team. Mikhail Sergachev, acquired in a deal with the Tampa Bay L that sent JJ Moser, Conor Geekie, and two draft picks in return, has also been stellar so far, contributing three points through four games and serving as a reliable defenseman for goalies Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka.

Alongside Keller and Sergachev, breakout performances from players like Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther, and Barrett Hayton have given Utah fans reason to believe that the playoffs are within reach during their inaugural season.

The combination of veteran talent and young stars has fostered a strong foundation for Utah, leading fans to remain hopeful and excited about what lies ahead. This early momentum hints that the team may be primed to make a statement in their first season.

NHL Eastern Conference Preview, by Justin Schwartz

As a new season begins, the Eastern Conference looks to be as top-heavy as it has been in recent years. Florida Panthers sit atop the East, fresh off their first Stanley Cup win in franchise history while returning almost all their stars, such as forwards Sasha Barkov, freshly signed Carter Verheaghe, and captain Matthew Tkachuk, alongside defensemen Aaron Ekblad and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

The New York Rangers aren’t far behind as they look to get over the hump and win their first Stanley Cup since 1994, where the core of Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Igor Shesterkin, and Chris Kreider all return for one more playoff run, hoping to put past years failures behind them. Other top teams include the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs.

One team that will look vastly different this year is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay may take a step back this season after former captain Steven Stamkos signed with the Nashville Predators. With Stamkos’ departure, Tampa Bay lost one of their best players in franchise history who won two Stanley Cups.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Detroit Red Wings are primed for a breakout season after just missing the playoffs last year. They have improved while other teams have declined, and this is their time to take advantage of that, with Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond approaching their primes alongside Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin; expect this team to be competitive.

NHL Western Conference Preview, by Deegan Holden

The NHL’s well-balanced Western Conference will take a different shape than the top-heavy Eastern Conference. Last year’s Western Conference Champions, the Edmonton Oilers, will look to win their first Stanley Cup since 1990 after losing to the Florida Panthers last year. The Oilers made several additions, including Victor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner. Edmonton will likely remain an offensive powerhouse, headed by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. However, if the roster remains as dependent on those two, their postseason results could remain a failure.

The Dallas Stars are one of the league’s most exciting teams, largely due to 21-year-old center Wyatt Johnston. In his second year with the Stars, he put up 32 goals and 65 points in 82 games while not even playing on the first line. Due to the retirement of Joe Pavelski, Johnston is projected to start on the top line for most of the season.

Another exciting player is 21-year-old right-winger Logan Stankoven. Although he has yet to play a full season, he is projected to play in the middle-six this season. The Stars will also be counting on a bounce-back season from goalie Jake Oettinger.

A vastly different team this year is the Nashville Predators, adding former Lightning captain Steven Stamkos. Other additions include forward Johnathan Marchessault and defenseman Brady Skjei. Along with longtime impact players such as Roman Josi, Filip Forsberg and Juuse Saros, these additions could push Nashville into an elite standing in the West.

Other top teams include the Canucks, Jets and Avalanche. The Western Conference will be a fight to the final game, not just with the juggernauts of the conference, but even the playoff hopefuls.

MLB Playoff Updates

Mets Playoff Run Continues, by Tommy Jacobellis

OMG, the Mets are continuing their wild ride and just returned from Hollywood after facing the LA Dodgers. Now trailing 2-1 in the National League Championship Series, the Mets must once again defy the odds, just like they did in defeating the heavily-favored Philadelphia Phillies three games to one in impressive fashion last round. In that series, the Mets continued their trend of taking punches but getting right off the canvas and fighting right back.

In game one of the National League Division Series, the Mets looked outmatched by star pitcher Zach Wheeler being shut out for over seven innings, but once the Phillies went to their bullpen, their bats struck. Third baseman Mark Vientos and shortstop Fransisco Lindor fueled the rally, allowing New York to steal game one.

Coming off a walk-off loss in game two, the Mets came home to a rocking Citi Field, where they dominated from start to finish. Led by star pitching from Sean Mannea and a power surge from outfielder Jesse Winker and first baseman Pete Alonso, the Mets won 7-2 with a chance to finish off the Phillies on their home turf the next night.

Off to a slow start leaving runners on base all night, the Mets looked destined to head back to Citizens Bank Park. Down 1-0 in the 6th inning with runners in scoring possession for the fourth inning out of six, the Mets needed to convert on this scoring oppo. With their MVP in Lindor, stepping to the plate with the bases loaded, he ended the Phillies season with one swing.

Lindor hit a towering fly ball into the right field bullpen for a grand slam, giving the Mets a 4-1 lead which they held onto. The Mets will need more of that magic to stay afloat in the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.

NLCS Outlook, by Jack Cappiello

The 2024 NLCS features the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers, with an impressive 98-64 record, facing the wildcard New York Mets, who finished 89-73. The Mets have been the story of the postseason, getting hot at the right time. They overcame the heavily favored Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies in the Wild Card and Divisional Series, losing only two games along the way.

The Dodgers, however, are not to be underestimated. As the No. 1 seed, they earned a bye and faced a tough challenge from their division rivals, the San Diego Padres in the NLDS. The Dodgers emerged victorious in a thrilling five-game series, 3-2.

While the Dodgers are leading the series 2-1, each game has been a blowout. The Dodgers dominantly won game one at home, 6-0. Game two saw the Mets bounce back in with a 7-3 win. While the Mets showed their resilience, they had a couple of late scares in game two, managing to stave off the Dodgers’ rallies. The Dodgers threw another heavy punch in game three behind an Ohtahi three-run homer, taking game three, 8-0, and the leg up in the series.

As the series continues, the Mets’ ability to outlast the Dodgers’ powerhouse offense is in question. However, this season, they’ve earned a reputation as a gritty, underestimated team that thrives under pressure. Initially, I predicted the Mets would take the series in six games. I now see this series going the distance, with the Mets winning in seven games.

Top Seeds Advance in ALDS, by Mike Duda

The 2024 American League Division Series kicked off with the sixth-seed Detroit Tigers traveling to Cleveland to face the second-seed Guardians. After a first-round bye, Cleveland jumped out to a five-run first-inning lead in game one, knocking out Tigers’ starting pitcher Tyler Holton before he could record an out in a 7-0 victory.

Knotted up 0-0 with two outs in the top of the ninth of game two, Kerry Carpenter launched one into the seats for a three-run homer en route to a 3-0 Tigers win. Dominant pitching led the Tigers to another 3-0 win in game three as the series moved to Detroit.

Pinch-hitter David Fry sealed the deal in game four with a go-ahead two-run home run and RBI suicide squeeze, propelling a 5-4 Guardian win. In a do-or-die game five, Lane Thomas broke a 1-1 tie with a grand slam off probable Cy-Young winner Tarik Skubal to steer Cleveland to a 7-3 victory and series win.

The other series started in the Bronx with the fifth-seed Kansas City Royals squaring off against the first-seed New York Yankees. Game one featured a back-and-forth nail-biter until Alex Verdugo broke the 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a go-ahead RBI base knock.

A four-run fourth inning– led by a Salvador Perez solo shot– won Kansas City game two 4-2. However, Giancarlo Stanton’s three of New York’s four hits propelled them to a 3-2 game three victory. Gerrit Cole outmatched the Royals offense with seven innings of one-run baseball in game four. This guided the Yankees to a 3-1 victory and the series clincher.

ALCS Outlook, by Ryan Eichem

This year’s American League Championship Series features two division winners, the New York Yankees (94-68) and the Cleveland Guardians (92-69). Both teams won over 90 games in the regular season and sit just four wins away from a World Series appearance.

The Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in four games, highlighted by Gerrit Cole’s seven innings of one-run pitching in game four of the divisional series. Cole started game two of this championship series on four days rest, allowing two runs in four and a third innings. Cole was helped by superstar centerfielder Aaron Judge, homering to straightaway center and breaking out of his ice-cold playoff drought.

On Oct. 14 in New York, the Yankees took a 1-0 series lead over Cleveland behind their starting pitcher Carlos Rodon. Rodon kicked off the championship series winning the matchup against opposing starter Alex Cobb. Rodon threw a dominant nine-strikeout, six-inning performance while Cobb was chased after a Juan Soto home run in the third inning. In game two, Cole led the Yankees in a wire-to-wire 6-3 victory.

Matthew Boyd is likely going to be the third Guardians starter. He’ll square off with Clark Schmidt in game 3, scheduled for Oct. 17.

My prediction? Yankees in six games.

NFL Updates

Wide Receivers on the Move, by Jake Zappala

As we look to week seven of the NFL season, many questions have been answered regarding the status of two impressive star wide receivers.

The latest news on elite wideout Davante Adams has answered the prayers of New York Jets fans, as a trade will reunite him with his former quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. The 31-year-old former second-round pick turned superstar was linked to two teams above any other: the Jets and the New Orleans Saints. Ultimately, the Jets’ trade of a third-round pick was enough for the Las Vegas Raiders to let him go during his third year with the organization.

As for another coveted wide receiver, former Cleveland Brown Amari Cooper is now a Buffalo Bill. Several teams had links to Cooper, not only being interested in a talented receiver but also in need of a player of his position and caliber.

The Kansas City Chiefs for example, after losing Rashee Rice to a season-ending LCL injury, could have easily been a team that landed a talented receiver to inject life into their offense. Other potential destinations included the Chargers, Saints and Cowboys. The Bills pulled the trigger, sending a third and seventh-round pick in exchange for Cooper and a sixth.

Back to the Jets, Hassan Redick, previously a Philadelphia Eagle and an elite defensive end, has been holding out for a new contract for some time now. Back on Aug. 12, Reddick requested a trade, which did not sit well with the Jets. Fast forward to the middle of October, and with a Jets offense that now includes Davante Adams, Reddick has been granted the ability to seek a trade. Reddick’s contract standoff led to his release by his agency, CAA.. What’s next for the 30-year-old player is up in the air.

Jason Myers Recap, by Levi Diamond

Former Red Fox and current Seattle Seahawk Jason Myers extended his extra-point streak to 77, going two for three in a loss to the New York Giants at home on Sunday, Oct. 6. Myers made his first kick from 43 yards with six seconds left in the first half. He then made his third-longest field goal of the season at 48 yards.

His final kick attempt to tie the game from 47 yards out was blocked by Giants safety Isaiah Simmons, who swiftly rushed past the Seahawks’ protection and with outstretched arms blocked the kick. The ball bounced straight to Giants special teamer Bryce Ford-Wheaton, who ran 60 yards for a touchdown to seal the game for New York.

Myers, now 8-11 on field goals for the season, moved to week six with a home against division rival San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Oct. 10. The only current NFL player from Marist took a loss, 36-24, but Myers went four-for-four on all kicks, kicking three extra points and one field goal from 20 yards out. Myers extended his extra-point streak to 80, the longest active streak in the league.

Jets Fire Head Coach Robert Saleh, by Alex Leppo

Early on Tuesday, Oct. 8, the New York Jets shocked the NFL world. Two days after the Jets lost a close, one-score game to the Minnesota Vikings, owner Woody Johnson made the choice to discharge Robert Saleh from his duties as head coach. This unexpected decision has caused much confusion, and it seems the NFL community has been left wondering why the move took place now.

Since being hired in Jan. 2021, Saleh has a record of 20-36, making it the third-worst record over that span. The previous additions of Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, and Mike Williams made many believe the Jets had what it took to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy.

Unfortunately, as offensive woes continued, Johnson felt the need to make a change.

“One of the reasons I decided to make a coaching change is exactly that, we need to find ways to win… we’re not going to find those ways by doing the same thing over and over and over,” said Johnson.

Now, it was not just the decision to fire Saleh that left people with questions. The way the Jets organization handled the firing is also receiving criticism.

After the decision became public, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Saleh was escorted out of the facility without a chance to say goodbye to coaches, players, and other Jets staff. This shocked individuals both inside and outside of the organization.

Shortly after the firing, Johnson appointed defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as interim head coach. If things go well, Ulbrich will have the opportunity to retain the position as head coach.

One Surprising, One Disappointing NFL Team, by Pat Sypher

Biggest Surprise: Chicago Bears

Jayden Daniels’ early success with the Washington Commanders left Chicago Bears’ fans wanting more from 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams and over the past two weeks, he has delivered. In his week five performance against the Carolina Panthers, the former Heisman winner’s improvements showed, then followed with an exceptional game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. In the past two games, the young QB out of USC has 530 yards and six touchdown passes.

The Bears’ defense has been great all year, allowing only 16.8 points per game. With the offense now overcoming their struggles from earlier this season, both sides of the ball can become headaches for opponents. Play calling was an issue, but recently the coaching staff has limited the playbook and started to run a quicker tempo offense. This young Bears’ team is really starting to come into its own and look ready to compete in an elite NFC North division.

Biggest Disappointment: Dallas Cowboys

On Jan. 31, Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are “all-in” on winning a Super Bowl in the 2024 season. Many were skeptical of this claim because of the little activity from Dallas in the offseason.

Now six weeks into the season, the Cowboys are 3-3, they’re allowing 28 points per game, and they just got massacred 47-16 at home against the Detroit Lions. This loss made it blatantly clear just how large the gap is between the Cowboys and the true contenders in the NFC.

In their week 6 game, Dallas was without star pass rusher Micah Parsons and cornerback Trevon Diggs, but that doesn’t excuse the team’s complete lack of offensive production. These offensive struggles started on the ground, only rushing for 53 yards. The offense also struggled to maintain possession of the ball, turning the ball over eight times over the past two weeks.

WNBA Updates

Liberty One Win Away From Winning WNBA Finals, by Stephen Zaglin

The 2024 WNBA Finals features the two best teams in the league record-wise, the one-seeded New York Liberty (32-8), and the two-seeded Minnesota Lynx (30-10). New York defeated the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, while Minnesota beat the Connecticut Sun. While having five finals appearances, the Liberty are looking to win their first championship in franchise history. The Lynx are seeking their league-leading 5th championship. Including the Commissioner’s Cup, the Lynx lead the season series 3-1 against the Liberty.

This figured to be a great series led by Liberty’s clutch playoff-performing forward, Breanna Stewart, and the league’s defensive player of the year, Lynx forward Naphessa Collier. While the Liberty have home court, the Lynx have a 14-6 road record coming into the series.

Game one on Oct. 11, saw Minnesota trailing by as many as 15 points with five minutes to go, coming all the way back, forcing overtime and winning 95-93. Collier, who finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, six blocks and three steals, won the game for the Lynx with 8.8 seconds to go. Stewart had a chance to tie the game in overtime but missed a layup. She finished with 18 points and nine boards.

In game two, New York evened the series at one apiece after winning 80-66. With 3:40 left, Minnesota had cut the lead to 68-66; they didn’t score for the rest of the game. Liberty forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who finished with 20 points, hit a number of clutch shots for the Liberty after a quiet game one. The two-time MVP Stewart finished with 21 points as well as a WNBA finals record seven steals to help seal the win for New York

Game three, which was the first of the series in Minnesota, was arguably the most exciting game of the series. Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu, who had an up-and-down game up to that point, hit the game-winning three with one second left, propelling New York to an 80-77 win. Stewart, who finished with 30 points, scored 22 of the Liberty’s 45 points in the second half. The Liberty also erased a 15-point deficit, leading the game for the first time since being up 5-4. This was the third-largest comeback win in Finals history, and New York now leads the series 2-1. They are one win away from winning their first title going into game four on Oct 18.

UFC 307 Recap, by Max Moughan and Rowan Potter

Two title fights headline UFC 307. Alex “Poatan” Pereira attempted to defend his light heavyweight belt for the third time this year in the main event against contender Khalil Rountree Jr.

The co-main event saw newly crowned women’s bantamweight champion Raquel Pennington take on former champion and number one contender Julianna Pena.

Pereira retained his title after a TKO of Rountree in the fourth round. Pereira’s main weapons, his potent left hook and calf kicks were not on display; his jab became the weapon of choice, tearing up the face of Rountree as the fight progressed into the later rounds. With his third title defense this year, Pereira cements himself as the overwhelming favorite for Fighter of the Year.

Raquel Pennington relinquished her title after Julianna Pena came out on the winning end of a controversial split decision, becoming a two-time UFC champion. The highlight of this fight was Pennington connecting on a right cross, sending Pena to the canvas in the fourth round.

The other three victorious fighters were Mario Bautista, who won another controversial decision over the legend Jose Aldo; Roman Dolidze, who won by TKO over fan favorite Kevin Holland; and Kayla Harrison, who dominated top contender Ketlen Vieira, cementing herself as the next title challenger in the women’s bantamweight division.

UFC 308 will take place on Saturday, Oct. 26, in Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, available to watch via pay-per-view on ESPN+.

Ilia Topuria will defend his featherweight belt against contender Max Halloway. Halloway, most recently seen knocking out Justin Gaethje, would hand Topuria his first career loss with a victory.

Other notable bouts include Robert Whittaker versus Khamzat Chimaev and Shara Magomedov versus Armen Petrosyan. One preliminary fight that should draw eyes is Geoff Neal going up against Rafael Dos Anjos.

Edited by Aidan Lavin, Marley Pope and Luke Sassa

Graphic by Jaylen Rizzo

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