First Call: Former Steeler hoping to get healthy for Vikings; Pens' goalie tandem rated worst in NHL

A former Steeler in the Vikings’ lineup is hoping to be back in action Sunday in Ireland. We examine the gambling lines on the local college games. We discuss the heavy Pittsburgh influence on the New York Rangers.

And at least one outlet sees very little hope for the Penguins’ goaltending.

On the mend

Former Steeler Javon Hargrave suffered a chest injury during Minnesota’s most recent game against Cincinnati. That limited him to just one tackle in the first half.

But it looks like he’s tracking to return Sunday against his former team in Ireland. The defensive lineman sat out practice Wednesday but returned as a limited participant Thursday.

The 32-year-old was one of six Vikings who didn’t practice or were limited Thursday.

Thursday's #Vikings injury report pic.twitter.com/zDlBCXJeiU

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 25, 2025

Hargrave had 10 tackles and two sacks over the first two weeks before getting injured in Week 3.

Odds ahead

Penn State (3-0) is playing the premiere college football game in the country on Saturday. They host Oregon (4-0) at 7:30 p.m.

The Ducks come to Happy Valley rated No. 6 in the nation; the Nittany Lions are third. PSU is favored by 3½ points. Penn State coach James Franklin is 4-20 versus Top 10 teams.

Current Browns QB Dillon Gabriel threw four touchdown passes to lead the Ducks past the Lions, 45-37, in the Big Ten championship game last year.

Also, locally, Pitt (2-1) is a 4½ point home underdog to 3-0 Louisville as the Panthers open ACC play. The Cardinals thumped the Panthers, 37-9, last year.

West Virginia (2-2) is an even bigger home underdog to Utah (3-1) at 3:30 Saturday. The Utes are 12½ point favorites.

On the FCS level, Duquesne (1-3) welcomes New Haven (2-2) at noon Saturday. The Chargers are new to FCS competition this year. Robert Morris, meanwhile, is idle.

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O captain! My captain!

J.T. Miller was an interesting choice as captain for the New York Rangers in Mike Sullivan’s first year as head coach.

But the former Pittsburgh Hornet got on the board with a preseason goal having the “C” on his jersey Thursday night.

It came on the power play to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead over the New York Islanders.

Let it fly, J.T. pic.twitter.com/IYqKAfjlrN

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 26, 2025

Born in East Palestine, Ohio, Miller was taken in the first round (15th overall) by New York in the 2011 NHL Draft. But he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018. Then former Coraopolis resident was dealt to the Vancouver Canucks where he was part of some off-ice static with franchise star Elias Pettersson.

Miller had a 103-point season in Vancouver in 2023-24 before being dealt back to New York last year. He posted 70 points in 72 games between the clubs a year ago.

Miller is the first player to be named a captain in New York since Jacob Trouba was traded to Anaheim last December.

Upper St. Clair’s Vince Trocheck assisted on Miller’s goal and scored one as well.

Foxy from far out + Troch redirects it. pic.twitter.com/eltGjoGlfS

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 25, 2025

In the end, though, the Islanders ended up winning 5-4.

Expecting very little

The Daily Faceoff website ranked all 32 goalie tandems in advance of the 2025-26 season opener. Writer Matt Larkin had the Penguins‘ duo of Arturs Silovs and Tristan Jarry dead last.

Here’s why:

“Jarry’s 2024-25 was a hellish fever dream in which he allowed a goal on the first shot he faced six times in 22 games before the Pens waived and demoted him. To call him a volatile option would be a gross understatement. Silovs hasn’t flourished as a regular-season NHLer but does carry some prospect pedigree and did help Vancouver filling in for injured Demko and DeSmith in the 2023-24 playoffs. It still feels like these two are mere seat fillers before the prospects take over: Sergei Murashov and, to a lesser extent, Joel Blomqvist.”

That’s the key isn’t it? If Murashov or Blomqvist are on the team at any point this year, then maybe the narrative changes.

But, yeah, if we are considering those two the tandem, if they aren’t the worst they might be bottom five.

Theoretically, Jarry is a better goalie than that. But he rarely plays that way consistently enough to make anyone change their opinion about him.

And, no, 40-year-old Marc-Andre Fleury signing his one-game PTO doesn’t count as part of the equation here. But, frankly, he still may be their best option until Murashov and/or Blomqvist prove themselves capable.

Listen: Kevin Gorman and Tim Benz host their final baseball podcast of the Pirates season