The 2020 World Series opens with back‑to‑back one‑run games for the first time since 2010, as the Tampa Bay Rays take a 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Brewers. Game 1 saw Texas edge St. Louis 3‑2, and the Cardinals returned the favor 2‑1 in Game 2. The last series with consecutive one‑run openings was in 2000, when the Yankees swept the Mets. Only four champions have ever won all four games by a single run—Boston (1915, 1918), the 1972 A’s, and the 1992 Blue Jays. Tonight’s matchup, a must‑win for the Rays, kicks off at 5 p.m. on FOX.
The Edmonton Oilers sit 8-2-1 after a month of the 2026-27 NHL season but slip to ninth in Daily Faceoff’s power rankings, despite recent OT wins over Minnesota (4-3) and Carolina (6-5) and a 7-2 loss to Toronto. Analysts praise Connor McDavid’s projected 200‑point pace but warn the team’s depth and defense remain concerns. Upcoming home games include Detroit and Calgary, followed by road trips to the Islanders and Rangers. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay’s Nikita Kucherov becomes the franchise’s all‑time points leader with 1,138 career points, surpassing Steven Stamkos, and the Carolina Hurricanes sign defenseman Alexander Nikishin to a one‑year, $3 million deal.
Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka updates the injury status of four key players during the team's Western swing. Defenseman Chris Tanev, out for two weeks after an upper‑body bump, returns to his first full skate and is week‑to‑week. Veteran center John Tavares, sidelined since Oct. 15 from a collision with Buffalo, is now skating solo but not yet with the roster. Forward Dakota Joshua completes a four‑game conditioning stint with the AHL Marlies and should be recalled within days. Max Domi remains out indefinitely after complications from offseason back surgery.
RJ Barrett is playing for his next contract.
Game 1 of the 2026 World Series between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers draws 12.2 million viewers on Fox and Univision, surpassing all non‑Dodgers finals this decade. Though lower than last year’s 13.3 million Dodgers‑Blue Jays opener and the 2024 record 15.2 million Dodgers‑Yankees game, the audience tops the 2023 Rangers‑Diamondbacks (9.4 million) and exceeds 2022 (11.7 million) and 2021 (11.1 million) viewership. Peaks reach just over 13 million, and upcoming Nielsen Big Data figures could push the total higher. The strong Friday start suggests growing interest despite the Rays and Brewers lacking broad national appeal.
Warriors star Draymond Green defends his earlier prediction that Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson’s floor is Kevin Garnett after Wilson’s 67 points in his first three games sparked Michael Jordan comparisons. Green, who called Wilson “potentially the best player in this draft” on his podcast, mocks critics for labeling him “dumb” when they now draw parallels to Jordan, who tallied 74 points in his first three games. Wilson’s debut (16 points vs. Raptors, 21 vs. Bucks, 30 with 14 rebounds vs. Wizards) ignited the debate, but Green stresses it’s too early to gauge Hall‑of‑Fame trajectories.
In Minnesota’s home opener, coach Chris Finch kept rookie guard LaMelo Ball in the game despite a fourth foul early in the third quarter. Ball answered by scoring 15 points on 5‑for‑8 shooting (4‑for‑5 from three) and dishing eight assists in just 16:44, propelling the Timberwolves to a 117–94 win over Toronto. Finch’s gamble paid off as Minnesota outscored the Raptors by 33 points while Ball was on the floor, and the duo’s growing trust was highlighted by Ball’s praise for Finch.
Ja'Kobe Walter green light from three-point land is really helping keep the Raptors perimeter scoring afloat to start the season.
Edmonton looks to bounce back against Detroit after Toronto exposed its defensive struggles.
Collin Murray-Boyles only took three shots in the loss to Minnesota.
After a 94-117 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Raptors fans are urging former big man Chris Boucher to return to Toronto. The defeat highlighted scoring blanks from starters Jakob Poeltl and Scottie Barnes, sparking calls for a change at center. Boucher, who last played for the Celtics and posted a supportive tweet on Oct. 26, 2026, received a flood of nostalgic messages from fans. Although his recent averages (2 points, 2 rebounds) and 6'8" frame suggest a limited bench role, supporters hope his defensive presence could boost morale and address the team's interior woes.
The Timberwolves played a strong two-way game, while the Raptors struggled.
The Calgary Flames aim to cap a three‑game winning streak with a home‑ice sweep on Monday, but they face a hot Toronto Maple Leafs squad (7‑4‑2) in the Leafs' final Saddledome appearance. Both teams boast strong recent form—Flames have won four of their last five, while the Leafs ride a four‑game streak highlighted by a 7‑2 win over Edmonton. Goalie Devin Cooley starts for Calgary, with Sergei Bobrovsky in net for Toronto. Key absences include Jonathan Huberdeau for the Flames and Max Domi and John Tavares for the Leafs. The game streams at 6:30 p.m. MT on Sportsnet+ and QR Calgary, with pre‑ and post‑game shows on the Barn Burner YouTube channel.
Jonathan Kuminga sparks a 117-94 win over the Toronto Raptors as the Timberwolves open the season 3-0. The 23‑year‑old tallied 13 points, four rebounds and earned praise from coach Chris Finch for his defense, hustle and rebounding. Kuminga, shooting 48% and averaging 12 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3 assists, adds a triple‑threat skill set alongside Anthony Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, Rudy Gobert and LaMelo Ball. A former Warriors champion who won a title at 19, he could be key to Minnesota’s push for a top Western seed as they face the Cavaliers on Monday.
The Minnesota Timberwolves start the 2026‑27 season 3‑0, blowing out the Toronto Raptors in a home win. Point guard LaMelo Ball, praised for his shooting and creative passing, admits he occasionally taps teammates on the head to keep them alert for his unconventional assists, as shown in a Timberwolves YouTube interview. His on‑court chemistry with Anthony Edwards is clicking, though Edwards’ knee flared during the game. With the duo healthy, Minnesota looks poised to contend for a top spot in the Western Conference this season.
In today’s NHL injury news, Chris Tanev is making progress toward a return for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Edmonton Oilers have placed goaltender Devon Levi on injured reserve, and…
The Minnesota Timberwolves start the 2026‑27 season 3‑0, blasting the Toronto Raptors in their first home game and lifting their all‑time winning percentage to .42148, edging out the Brooklyn Nets for the league's worst historical record. The win marks a franchise milestone and underscores the Wolves' resurgence after dismantling three former playoff teams. With Anthony Edwards returning from knee woes, LaMelo Ball thriving in his new role, and free‑agent Jonathan Kuminga contributing, Minnesota now looks capable of challenging the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the West. The Wolves head to Cleveland next on Monday.
The Maple Leafs travel to Calgary on Oct. 26 for an 8:30 PM showdown at the Saddledome. Toronto rides a 7‑4‑2 record (0.615 points %) after a 7‑2 win over Edmonton, while the Flames sit 4‑6‑0 (0.400) following a 4‑1 victory over Detroit. Calgary’s fiery pace is offset by defensive lapses and a struggling power play, but goalie Devin Cooley dazzles with a 0.971 save percentage, earning NHL’s second star of the week. Expect a fast‑paced, high‑scoring contest as the Leafs’s offense meets the Flames’s erratic but explosive style.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to start veteran netminder Sergei Bobrovsky against the Calgary Flames on Monday, following his 5-4 win over the Rangers and a 3-3-2 record with a .895 save percentage in eight games. Coach Jim Hiller keeps most lines intact after a four‑game streak highlighted by a 7-2 rout of Edmonton, where Auston Matthews (nine goals, 19 points) praised linemate Easton Cowan. Defenceman Troy Stecher continues his surge, scoring game‑winning goals in back‑to‑back contests. Chris Tanev returns from a week‑to‑week injury, while Cole McWard and Bo Groulx are healthy scratches. Flames goalie Devin Cooley starts, with captain Mikael Backlund a game‑time decision.
The Oilers sit 8-2-1 after 11 games despite losing a second line, a third‑line centre, and two goalies to injury. With Devon Levi out for weeks, starter Tristan Jarry must rebound from a rough 6‑goal, .806 SV% loss to Toronto, and the author hopes a Detroit matchup against a low‑ranked offense will help. Connor Murphy emerges as the new shot‑blocking leader with 28 blocks (10th in the NHL), while Ryan Shea steps onto the top defensive pairing, posting solid metrics in a 25:33 stint against the Leafs. The piece examines these replacements and stresses the bottom‑six’s need to step up as the Oilers chase a strong start.
The Timberwolves beat the Raptors 117-94, with Anthony Edwards scoring 26 points, and enter their next matchup against the Cavaliers at 3-0. However, Edwards is listed as questionable due to right‑knee injury management, and his availability could go either way, according to The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski. Minnesota also lists Donte DiVincenzo (out with Achilles surgery) on the injury report. Cleveland meanwhile has three players out, including Khalifa Diop (knee) and Nae’Qwan Tomlin (back). Fans will be watching closely to see if Edwards suits up for Monday’s game.
The Calgary Flames have snapped a winning streak, clinching three straight victories over Carolina, Minnesota and Detroit, and now gear up for a packed week featuring games against Toronto, Edmonton, Seattle and Colorado. The Monday Mailbag tackles key topics: goalie Devin Cooley’s rare three‑game start streak, Yan Kuznetsov’s steady defensive play and his partnership with Zayne Parekh, and the latest buzz on Parekh’s pending contract extension. Readers also get a quick look at the top‑20 prospect rankings, with Chase Harrington and Jonathan Castagna highlighted as the season’s biggest movers.
Rudy Gobert says he’ll keep “dominating offensively” in his own style after Minnesota’s 117-94 loss to Toronto. He posted 8 points, 13 rebounds and highlighted his impact through screens, offensive boards and spacing rather than traditional post scoring. Gobert is averaging 9.0 points, 12.3 rebounds and a 71.4% field‑goal rate, while entering his fourth Defensive Player of the Year award. The Timberwolves start 3‑0 and aim to become a ‘superteam’ alongside Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball, Jonathan Kuminga and Jaden McDaniels as they head to Cleveland on Oct. 27.
Anthony Edwards powers the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 117-94 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 26, 2026, snapping a close first half with a dominant 35-15 third‑quarter run. Edwards tallies 26 points on 10‑of‑18 shooting, while the Wolves shoot 56% overall and 48% from three, improving to 3‑0 and tying Oklahoma City atop the Northwest Division. Toronto’s Ja’Kobe Walter leads the Raptors with 22 points, but the team struggles, shooting just 38% from the field and committing 17 turnovers. Key contributions also come from LaMelo Ball (15 pts, 8 ast) and Rudy Gobert (13 reb).
Bluebird Banter asks fans which Toronto Blue Jays player has exceeded expectations, spotlighting Marco Estrada as a surprise success. After the Jays traded Adam Lind for Estrada, the pitcher—once a middling reliever with a 4.11 ERA for Milwaukee—thrived in Toronto, posting a 4.25 ERA, 9.6 bWAR over four seasons and a dominant 2.16 ERA in six playoff starts, including two near‑no‑hit games. The post contrasts Estrada’s rise with Lind’s declining performance after leaving the Jays, inviting readers to share their own underrated Blue Jays stories.