Flyers celebrate clinching 1st playoff spot since 2020
PHILADELPHIA — Dan Vladar turned aside Carolina’s fourth shootout attempt, threw his arms in the air and waited for the swarm of Flyers to mob him in celebration. Every Flyer hopped the boards and rushed the ice as fans — almost all clad in orange — went wild in a...
Explaining rules old and new that are part of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs
More than a decade into the return of a division-focused playoff format, the arguments persist about whether it is the best thing the NHL can do to determine a Stanley Cup champion. For three years in a row from 2016-18, Sidney Crosby’s Pittsburgh Penguins faced Alex Ovechkin’s Washington Capitals in...
2026 Stanley Cup playoffs: Get to know the favorites and what to watch for
The field for the Stanley Cup playoffs is set with the first series set to begin Saturday. Six of the 16 teams did not qualify a year ago, including Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Boston in the East. It’s the 10th time in 12 seasons under the divisional wild card format...
Top 10 light heavyweight training in Ambridge works toward boxing stardom
Tom Yankello, even after three decades of experience, can’t be prepared for every detail on fight night. Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton, Yankello’s top current pupil, has an eye for flashy ring attire. The 55-year-old Ambridge native and owner of Tom Yankello’s World Class Boxing Gym appreciates that Oberlton, who...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): How many more days will the Pirates spend under .500 this season? I say none
Cup of Joe: Starkey on sports in 400 words or less (sometimes more) This won’t be the first time I put my lousy prognostication skills on the line, and it won’t be the last. You might remember that back in July 2021 I predicted the Pirates to win the 2027...
Effective changeup allowing Paul Skenes to ‘flip the script’ and ‘change the way we look at pitching’
The best swing of the day against Pittsburgh Pirates starter Paul Skenes may have resulted in the worst possible outcome for the Washington Nationals. After dusting the first two Nats on strikeouts to open the game Monday, Washington shortstop C.J. Abrams turned on a 99 mph fastball from Skenes and...
NFL Draft top prospect profile: Carnell Tate, Ohio State WR
TribLive is highlighting the top prospects leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The three-day event is April 23-25. Carnell Tate Position: Wide receiver Height/weight: 6-foot-2/192 pounds College: Ohio State Tate could be the top receiver in this year’s draft despite never leading his own team in receiving....
Brandon Lowe makes Pirates history with back-to-back 5-RBI performances
The Pittsburgh Pirates had scored seven runs in the sixth inning against the Washington Nationals, so Brandon Lowe was looking for an elevated pitch from Brad Lord to get off a good swing. “I didn’t want to be the guy,” Lowe said, “who ended that rally.” When the two-time All-Star...
First Call: Penguins favored to beat Flyers in 1st round; Arkansas quarterback visits with Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers interviewed a potential quarterback draft choice from Arkansas on Monday. They’ve also apparently expressed some level of interest in a cornerback from Florida. The Penguins are early favorites over the Flyers in their first-round playoff series. And another member of the McConnell family may be heading to...
Players getting paid in college has made evaluations easier for NFL teams weighing draft picks
Make no mistake, the reaction shots from the prospects during recent NFL drafts continue to mirror those of the past. Plenty of hugs from loved ones. Proud smiles. Sometimes, even some joyful tears. Achieving what has been for most a lifelong dream of joining an NFL team still will affect...
25 years of Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium drafts: The best Steelers pick from every class (2006-10)Video
The NFL Draft will take place outside of Acrisure Stadium on April 23-25. In advance of the event, we will be looking back at each of the 25 Steelers drafts in the history of the Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium era. Every day this week, we will pick the best player from...
Westmoreland County campus clips: Saint Vincent bowling coach visits winner’s circle
Jeff Zidek is the track announcer at The Hollywood Casino at The Meadows race track in Washington. He knows which horse to bet on come the college bowling postseason. Zidek also is the head women’s bowling coach at Saint Vincent, and after a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament,...
Dallas Wings select Azzi Fudd of UConn No. 1 in WNBA Draft with a $500,000 payday waiting
NEW YORK — Azzi Fudd is on her way to Dallas as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA Draft with a $500,000 payday waiting for the former UConn star. A record-setting six UCLA players followed her into the league. “I’m not really sure I have words to describe that...
Penguins to face rival Flyers in 1st round of playoffs
Entering the season, few expected the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers to be participants in the Stanley Cup playoffs. But each member of one of the NHL’s most enduring rivalries will be playing meaningful hockey in the next handful of days. After claiming a 3-2 home shootout win against the...
Pirates provide plenty of run support for Paul Skenes, pound out 16 runs to beat Nationals
The Pittsburgh Pirates not providing run support for Paul Skenes seems like a distant memory as they scored in the double digits for the first time this season. And they did that in the sixth inning alone. Skenes delivered a quality start with six strikeouts in as many innings, but...
Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick, 40, says he is retiring from the NHL
SUNRISE, Fla. — Jonathan Quick said he is retiring at age 40 after nearly two decades in the NHL, a stretch during which he was one of the best goaltenders of his generation. Quick said his start for the New York Rangers at the Florida Panthers on Monday night is...
Who’s got Hart? AP picks the NHL MVP and other top awards as the playoffs arrive
For a third consecutive year, there is no clear choice for the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, and again the debate over the importance of “valuable” comes into play. Edmonton’s Connor McDavid is on track to win the scoring race for the most points and the Art Ross Trophy, and...
Mercer center Armani Mighty becomes 6th spring transfer for Pitt men’s basketball
Pitt landed a third commitment from the transfer portal Monday in Mercer center Armani Mighty, who made an announcement on Instagram. Mighty followed Georgia Tech big man Baye Ndongo and Syracuse point guard Naithan George in joining the Panthers on Monday. With their additions, on top of three other transfers...
Penguins executive Jason Spezza named to Hockey Canada’s management group
Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Jason Spezza was appointed to an unspecified role with Hockey Canada’s management group for the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) World Championship. On Monday, Hockey Canada announced Spezza will head the group along with Brad Treliving, recently fired as general manager of the Toronto Maple...
Pitt lands Georgia Tech big man Baye Ndongo
Pitt’s transfer portal class is up to five with Monday’s addition of forward Baye Ndongo from Georgia Tech. Multiple recruiting outlets, including On3, reported Ndongo was joining the Panthers, following Syracuse point guard Naithan George, who also committed Monday. NEWS: Georgia Tech transfer forward Baye Ndongo has committed to Pitt,...
After fixing arm slot, lefty reliever Evan Sisk hopes to help taxed Pirates bullpen
Evan Sisk knew his command struggles in spring training cost him a spot on the Opening Day roster after he issued almost as many walks as he did strikeouts in Grapefruit League play. “You notice it when it’s happening,” Sisk said. “I knew during spring I was walking too many...
Likely Day 2 receiver, 1st-round lineman visit Steelers ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
If the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t draft a receiver in the first round, they have added another option to target on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Alabama receiver Germie Bernard was among three draft prospects to visit the Steelers on Monday. He was joined by Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano,...
Pitt lands point guard, proven scorer Naithan George from Syracuse
Though transfers have begun to roll in for Pitt men’s basketball this spring, the Panthers had yet to land a player who was a proven scorer over multiple seasons. That changed Monday when former Syracuse and Georgia Tech point guard Naithan George announced a commitment on Instagram. View this post...
Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza brings brains, poise to top of NFL draft board
INDIANAPOLIS If leading Indiana to a national championship — in football — seems improbable, how about what Fernando Mendoza pulled off a few years prior? As a rising high school senior who had been accepted into and committed to attending Yale, Mendoza spurned the Ivy League yet somehow (arguably) upgraded...
Rory McIlroy is a Masters champion again and the chase is on for more majors
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy went from becoming the sixth player with the career Grand Slam to only the fourth player to win the Masters two years in a row. Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are the only other players to occupy both clubs. Elite company, indeed. If joining the...