I Dig Sports
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Since 2021, the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin has started its season at Daytona Intl Speedway and has produced some of the best racing of the year.
Thursday was no different, as Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing) went from 14th on the grid to the top step of the podium in mixed conditions and under the speedway lights.
With unseasonably cold temperatures and steady winds, the weather in Daytona has been frigid since Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup teams arrived, and this trend continued into Thursdays race.
It wasnt just cold, however, as it also began to rain ever so slightly as the 36 cars made their way to the grid. Race officials expected the rain to intensify during the 45-minute race and therefore declared it a wet race, forcing all cars to switch to rain tires.
For the opening laps of the race, the track seemed too dry for rain tires, and polesitter Nate Cicero (No. 19 Saito Motorsports Group) gambled by pitting and losing a massive amount of time to put on slick tires.
This handed the lead to defending champion Gresham Wagner (No. 5 McCumbee McAleer Racing) followed by Gonzalez, who had an incredible start, advancing to third on the first lap.
Only a handful of laps later, Wagner too pulled into pitlane, but not for tires; he retired with a mechanical problem.
Gonzalez was now the leader, and the rain was beginning to intensify.
It was dry, then it wasnt dry, and then it went dry again for a little bit, and then it went really wet, Gonzalez explained. At the beginning of the race, we were contemplating whether or not we were going to come in and put dries on. Im glad we didnt. Im glad we stuck it out.
Without a drafting partner, it didnt take long for Bryce Cornet (No. 65 Spark Performance) to catch and pass Gonzalez.
We were all kind of questioning what rain tires would actually do on a dry track, Cornet said. But it was slick the whole way through, and then obviously it started to rain a little bit, and that exacerbated the situation, because our rain tires were warm.
Cornet and Gonzalez swapped the lead a few more times, but once they were joined by rookie Ethan Goulart (No. 29 Saito Motorsports Group) the trio began to pull away a bit from the rest of the field.
As the rain came down even harder, the trio of cars grew to six with Helio Meza (No. 27 BSI Racing), Parker Delong (No. 42 Parker Delong Racing) and Ethan Tyler (No. 80 BSI Racing) joining the group. Each driver keenly aware that time was running out.
Any forward planning they did for where they wanted to be on the white flag lap went out the window with six minutes left to go. Christian Hodneland (No. 32 BSI Racing) experienced an engine failure resulting in a fire. He pulled his car to a safe location but the fire forced race control to bring out a full-course yellow so safety crews could get to the car.
At the time the yellow came out, Gonzalez was the leader with two laps to go, effectively making him the race winner. It is his third MX-5 Cup win at Daytona.
Goulart and Cornet completed the podium.
The yellow threw a wrench in my plans, Gonzalez said. I did not want to lead, but I was also in a weird spot. We were in a three-car pack, but there was a big pack behind us too, so I didnt want to play too many games and risk it being a 14-car race instead of a three-car race. They went full-course yellow, and its sad to see the race end that way, but glad I was leading!
It may seem surprising for a rookie to finish his first MX-5 Cup race in second, especially at Daytona, but Goulart is a Miata specialist. He won last years Spec Miata SCCA National Championship and was a finalist for the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout.
That was probably one of the wildest races Ive ever been in, Goulart said. We had a setback in practice with a mechanical failure and only had a couple laps in the practice sessions before we went into qualifying. I qualified P4 but unfortunately, I had a lap time infringement. Thats all on me. Im sorry to the team. I told the team Id bring it back for them, and we went 19th to second! I mean, on my rookie debut, I think thats pretty amazing. We almost got the win. Congrats to Tyler Gonzalez, that was an awesome race. And thank you to the whole Saito Motorsports team.
Cornet picked up his first podium in his fourth season of MX-5 Cup.
I cant thank my family enough, a grateful Cornet said. I have great sponsors this weekend with the Braxton Byrd Foundation, and Spark Performance is an amazing team to work with. This is a huge monkey off my back to get third and I feel really good going into the season. Whats crazy for me is, I dont know if Ill make the full season, but thats part of the story. But well keep the momentum going, and hope this helps.
Meza, a MX-5 Cup Shootout scholarship winner, finished his first-ever MX-5 Cup race in fourth. His teammate, Tyler, followed in fifth, a career best finish for him.
The Penske Shocking Performance of the Race Award went to Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) who started dead last on the grid but fought his way up to eighth at the finish.
After qualifying I was pretty down on myself, Fletcher said. You know, it was pretty much 99 percent on me, and I apologized to the team too, but the backup car never disappoints. We did it at Canada last year and drove through the field. We drove through the field at VIR, so its not really a worry to me. Unfortunately, I think that caution kind of cost us a couple more spots. Daytona last lap, every year, theres a couple cars that dont end up coming back to the finish line and I was kind of banking on that, but a top 10 after starting 36th was pretty incredible.
CASA GRANDE, Ariz. Central Arizona Raceway is presenting the Ernie Mincy Early Thaw Memorial with three nights of action this week and next. Six divisions are in competition featuring WISSOTA late models.
Modifieds, sport mods, and stock cars are IMCA divisions, super stocks is an WISSOTA division, and limited mods combine cars from different sanctions.
The format uses passing/finishing points from heat races and main event lineups are straight up by points.
A 115-car field opened the six-race series, which is in action Thursday through Saturday this week and next. All the events are broadcast by IMCA.tv.
Northern sport mods ran a non-stop main with Ryan Perry leading the 20 laps for the win. Mark Martini was second and Kaden Woodie finished third.
The late models raced 25 laps non-stop and Dylan Thornton led the entire distance for a dominant win. Thornton hit traffic on lap eight but seemed to use traffic to lengthen his lead.
Ricky Weiss moved into second with eight laps remaining but was far back enough and the lack of any yellow made pressure on Thornton not possible. Josh Leonard finished third.
Super stocks had a lead trading battle between Max Nelson and Jordan Henkemeyer. Nelson used the bottom of turn one a couple times to take the lead but Henkemeyer came back each time.
Ninth-starting Henkemeyer got the win over Nelson and Doug Bolt was third.
Chaz Baca raced from eighth starting to second in a heat race to earn a front row starting spot and used that to win the modified main. Troy Morris III was second and Tom Berry Jr. was third.
The stock car main was claimed by Shelby Williams and Jake Smith was the limited modified winner.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Charlie Peter, winner of both the 2024 Touring 2 and GT-2 SCCA National Championships, was named the recipient of the Road Racing Drivers Clubs Mark Donohue Award.
Peter was honored at the annual RRDC members dinner on January 22, prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season-opening round of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Selected by members of the RRDC each year since 1971, the award recognizes the driver exhibiting the most outstanding performance at the annual Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs in terms of personal spirit and skill behind the wheel. Originally called the Outstanding Performance Award, the honor was later named after Mark Donohue, a former SCCA Champion, an inductee in the SCCA Hall of Fame and past president of the RRDC, following his death in 1975.
Having finished runner-up in Touring 2 (T2) in his first three Runoffs appearances from 2020-2022, Peter entered two classesT2 and GT-2for the 60th Anniversary event October 4-6, 2024. He earned his first-career Tire Rack Pole award, turning a GT-2 class record 2:11.860 (110.490 mph) in his Phenix Label/Yokohama Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup, and narrowly missed out on a second pole in T2, qualifying second.
The T2 race was up first, with Peter getting the jump in his Phenix Label/Hoosier Tire BMW M2CS Cup on three-time defending class champion Kurt Rezzetano to take the early lead. The two would trade the top spot multiple times, running side-by-side through the middle section of the historic four-mile circuit until the driver from Olathe, Kansas, put his BMW up front for good, taking a 10.504-second win.
It was an incredible battle, Peter said. Learning from previous Runoffs starts with Kurt, I knew I had to stay on his bumper or get by him by Turn One. Luckily for me, Kurt had a slow gear shift after the green, which gave me the edge I needed into the first turn. I knew hed get me back eventually, since he had the straightaway speed, but I figured Id have a chance if I could keep pressure on him without wearing my tires.
Peters pair of wins achieved the rare Runoffs double, something his father Hans Peter accomplished in 2007, winning C Sports Racing and Formula Atlantic. Charlie credits his father for his development as a driver.
I did a little karting when I was younger, but I really started racing in the WRL when I was 20, the 28-year-old said. Being that we were co-drivers, he taught me everything and I really owe all of my successes to him.
The unique award has a glass top and sits on a race wheel with a historic provenance. RRDC member David Donohue, son of Mark Donohue, presented Peter with the award, which included a wheel donated by Meyer Shank Racing that was used on its No. 60 Acura GTP car in victories at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and the Mobil 1 Petit Le Mans with drivers Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun.
Peter found out that he had been selected for the Mark Donohue Award after a phone call from RRDC President Bobby Rahal.
I was at work when I saw an incoming call from an unrecognized Ohio phone number. I figured if it was important, they could leave a message. he said. Thankfully, he left a message because after listening to the voicemail, I realized I had ignored a phone call from Bobby Rahal! Before calling him back, I prepared my Indy car driver contract acceptance speech.
This is a considerable honor, an award I never through that I would achieve. Mark has been an idol of mine since I was young, and because of him, I take pride in working on the car that I race.
CONCORD, N.C. Alex Karpowicz is stepping into the national midget ranks in 2025 with ambitions to win the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Series championship in his first year.
To do so, the 21-year-old from Spring Branch, Texas, native has switched from micro sprints to the No. 97 Lynk Chassis midget for Keith Kunz/Curb Agajanian Motorsports.
Ive been running micros the last few years and we really felt like we did everything we could, Karpowicz said. We felt like I mastered a lot of micro-practices and figured it was time to move up. (Im) getting a little up there in age, and thought I was ready. So, well run at the best team and give it our best shot.
Karpowicz found his success piloting micro sprints around Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, picking up two NOW600 Stock Non-Wing Division championships in 2022 and 2023.
He got his first laps in a KKM midget during his NOS Energy Drink Chili Bowl Nationals debut in January. While it was a new experience for him, Karpowicz said hes already confident hell find comfort with the team and car.
Their cars are definitely different from what Im used to, Karpowicz said. We came (to Tulsa) to try and shorten that learning curve as quickly as we could. The teams great, and I got to adjust my driving style to fit their setups and we all know that theyre capable of winning, so I gotta do my part now.
Looking at the 2025 slate of races that the series tackles, Karpowicz expressed excitement to compete on larger-scale racetracks like Missouris Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55, which gives him memories of racing similar tracks around his home.
Down home in Texas, we run a lot of quarter miles, Karpowicz said. I mean, true quarter miles, bigger tracks. So, Im pretty stoked for a lot of the bigger tracks at the beginning of the season, and I think I-55 is gonna be pretty fun too, high-banked and fast.
Entering the season, Karpowicz has two goals with KKM: win the 2025 rookie-of-the-year title and the series championship.
Im big into championships, Karpowicz said. So, were gonna give our best run in a championship. Hopefully, Rookie of the Year if we can pull that off too. If were really lucky, well get both.
New Jersey Devils goalie Jacob Markstrom will be out for weeks with a lower-body injury -- though it's not as bad as the team initially feared, sources told ESPN on Thursday.
Markstrom was injured in Wednesday's game against the Bruins after Boston forward Justin Brazeau collided with him in his crease. Markstrom underwent imaging Thursday, and the team will provide an update Friday. A source said Markstrom's participation in February's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament for Team Sweden would be "a challenge." Sweden is dealing with other injury concerns too, as Ottawa Senators goalie Linus Ullmark and Vegas Golden Knights forward William Karlsson also are sidelined.
Markstrom, 34, has been a steadying force for New Jersey in his first season with the team after a June trade from Calgary that involved a first-round pick and defenseman Kevin Bahl headed to the Flames. The Devils inherited the final two years of Markstrom's contract.
In 36 games, Markstrom has a 2.20 goals against average with a .912 save percentage and three shutouts. The Devils won Wednesday against the Bruins after Jake Allen came on in relief, and they sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with a 27-17-6 record. Allen also has been solid for New Jersey. In 15 games, the 34-year-old has a 2.66 GAA, a .901 save percentage and two shutouts.
NHL Power Rankings: Capitals retain the crown, plus each team's most intriguing game before 4 Nations
NHL teams will be taking a break in the middle of February for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, featuring star players from each team playing for the United States, Canada, Sweden and Finland.
But before that event begins, which games are the most intriguing? As part of this week's updated edition of the Power Rankings, we've identified the top captivating contest for all 32 teams -- whether it's a game against a rival, one that takes on added value in the playoff races, or something else entirely.
How we rank: A panel of ESPN hockey commentators, analysts, reporters and editors sends in a 1-32 poll based on the games through Wednesday, which generates our master list.
Note: Previous ranking for each team refers to the previous edition, published Jan. 17. Points percentages and paces are through Thursday's games.
1. Washington Capitals
Previous ranking: 1
Points percentage: 73.96%
Feb. 1 vs. Jets. Not only is this a potential Stanley Cup Final preview -- sponsored by the letter W? -- but thanks to their heritage as the Southeast Division's Atlanta Thrashers, the Jets franchise is the team against which Alex Ovechkin has scored the most goals in his career (55). How many will he get in this one?
Next eight days: @ VAN (Jan. 25), @ CGY (Jan. 28), @ OTT (Jan. 30)
2. Winnipeg Jets
Previous ranking: 2
Points percentage: 68.37%
Jan. 28 at Canadiens. Maybe this isn't for the entire team, but just for a couple of Jets in particular: Connor Hellebuyck and Kyle Connor. Though this game against the Canadiens obviously counts in the NHL standings, Hellebuyck and Connor will hit this same ice at the Bell Centre on Feb. 15 as the U.S. takes on Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off, the first best-on-best clash between these two countries since the semifinal round of the 2014 Olympics.
Next eight days: vs. UTA (Jan. 24), vs. CGY (Jan. 26), @ MTL (Jan. 28), @ BOS (Jan. 30)
3. Vegas Golden Knights
Previous ranking: 3
Points percentage: 66.67%
Jan. 26 vs. Panthers. For any team that has its sights set on a long playoff run, games against the defending Cup champs take on extra meaning. The Knights lost a 4-3 overtime contest against the Cats on Oct. 19. How will this game end up?
Next eight days: @ DAL (Jan. 24), vs. FLA (Jan. 26), vs. DAL (Jan. 28), vs. CBJ (Jan. 30)
4. Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: 4
Points percentage: 65.63%
Feb. 1 vs. Maple Leafs. No Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup since the Canadiens in 1993, though the Oilers were just one win away in 2024. Along with the Jets, these two clubs represent the country's best chance of breaking that streak, and the cross-continent clash will give us a preview of what a Cup Final between the two could look like.
Next eight days: vs. BUF (Jan. 25), vs. SEA (Jan. 27), vs. DET (Jan. 30)
5. Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 9
Points percentage: 64.29%
Feb. 4 at Jets. A potential Stanley Cup Final preview? This matchup might not set any viewership records, but it would be superb hockey.
Next eight days: @ NYI (Jan. 25), @ NYR (Jan. 28), vs. CHI (Jan. 30)
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous ranking: 8
Points percentage: 63.27%
Feb. 6 at Kraken. For years, Yanni Gourde tormented the Maple Leafs as a member of the Lightning. With the veteran center's name being floated in trade rumors -- and the Leafs always looking for ways to improve the team -- could they be playing this game against a future teammate?
Next eight days: @ OTT (Jan. 25), vs. MIN (Jan. 29)
7. Minnesota Wild
Previous ranking: 6
Points percentage: 62.50%
Jan. 30 at Canadiens. Future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury has announced he'll retire at the end of this season, so -- barring a Stanley Cup Final matchup between these teams -- this will be his last visit as a pro to his home province.
Next eight days: vs. CGY (Jan. 25), @ CHI (Jan. 26), @ TOR (Jan. 29), @ MTL (Jan. 30)
8. Dallas Stars
Previous ranking: 5
Points percentage: 62.77%
Jan. 24 vs. Golden Knights; Jan. 28 at Golden Knights. The Stars have had some epic postseason showdowns with the Knights recently -- and both appear playoff-bound again this season -- so this pair of games will be a treat. Will the intensity match what we've seen in springs past?
Next eight days: vs. VGK (Jan. 24), @ STL (Jan. 25), @ VGK (Jan. 28)
9. Florida Panthers
Previous ranking: 12
Points percentage: 60.20%
Feb. 8 vs. Senators. There's a possible future world in which the Panthers and Senators face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs -- ensuring us at least four games of Tkachuk-on-Tkachuk combat. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Any game in which Brady and Matthew face off has the potential for viral highlights.
Next eight days: @ SJ (Jan. 25), @ VGK (Jan. 26), vs. LA (Jan. 29)
10. Los Angeles Kings
Previous ranking: 10
Points percentage: 63.33%
Feb. 7 vs. Stars. On some nights, the Kings look as if they could beat any team in the NHL; other nights, not so much. So this matchup against the perennial contender Stars will be a litmus test ahead of the 4 Nations break.
Next eight days: @ CBJ (Jan. 25), @ DET (Jan. 27), @ FLA (Jan. 29), @ TB (Jan. 30)
11. New Jersey Devils
Previous ranking: 7
Points percentage: 60.00%
Feb. 6 vs. Golden Knights. Because of some wonkiness with the schedule, this is the first meeting between these two playoff-bound clubs (they'll face off again in Vegas on March 2).
Next eight days: @ MTL (Jan. 25), @ PHI (Jan. 27), vs. PHI (Jan. 29)
12. Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 11
Points percentage: 59.18%
Feb. 7 at Oilers. Once the 4 Nations Face-Off begins, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar will be teammates of Connor McDavid's for Canada. But on this night, they'll be battling hard for two points as the Western Conference bracket remains tight.
Next eight days: @ BOS (Jan. 25), @ NYR (Jan. 26), @ NYI (Jan. 28)
13. Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 13
Points percentage: 57.61%
Feb. 4, 6 vs. Senators. For the past few preseasons, there has been some thought that the Lightning would regress and one of the rising Atlantic teams would take their spot in the playoffs. So far, that hasn't proven to be the case -- but this back-to-back set against one of those rising teams will go a long way (one way or another).
Next eight days: @ CHI (Jan. 24), @ DET (Jan. 25), vs. CHI (Jan. 28), vs. LA (Jan. 30)
14. Calgary Flames
Previous ranking: 14
Points percentage: 57.61%
Jan. 26 at Jets. Every game is important for a team like the Flames on the cusp of a wild-card berth. But, we'll circle this one as an old-school Smythe Division rivalry renewed, featuring two elite American goaltenders: leading Vezina Trophy candidate Connor Hellebuyck and Calder Trophy candidate Dustin Wolf.
Next eight days: @ MIN (Jan. 25), @ WPG (Jan. 26), vs. WSH (Jan. 28), vs. ANA (Jan. 30)
15. Ottawa Senators
Previous ranking: 17
Points percentage: 54.17%
Jan. 25 vs. Maple Leafs. The Battle of Ontario continues! The Sens took Round 1 this season in Toronto, and the two clubs will face off again on March 15. These games are never boring, especially with both teams in the playoff hunt.
Next eight days: vs. TOR (Jan. 25), vs. UTA (Jan. 26), vs. WSH (Jan. 30)
16. Montreal Canadiens
Previous ranking: 19
Points percentage: 54.17%
Feb. 9 vs. Lightning. Despite modest expectations entering this season, the Canadiens remain within shouting distance of a wild-card berth. A win against their division rivals from central Florida would greatly aid in that quest.
Next eight days: vs. NJ (Jan. 25), vs. WPG (Jan. 28), vs. MIN (Jan. 30)
17. Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous ranking: 16
Points percentage: 54.08%
Feb. 8 vs. Rangers. For a team on the wild-card bubble, every point matters. But games against division rivals matter more -- especially if a team can hand that rival a regulation loss. This game will make a statement (one way or another) for the Blue Jackets.
Next eight days: vs. LA (Jan. 25), @ VGK (Jan. 30)
18. Boston Bruins
Previous ranking: 18
Points percentage: 54.00%
Feb. 1 vs. Rangers. Have the Rangers turned a corner back to being a true contender after a midseason swoon? Perhaps. Whether the trend sticks or not, this is a pivotal game for the Bruins to use as a measuring stick (and the two teams will face off again four days later at MSG.)
Next eight days: vs. COL (Jan. 25), @ BUF (Jan. 28), vs. WPG (Jan. 30)
19. New York Rangers
Previous ranking: 22
Points percentage: 54.17%
Jan. 28 vs. Hurricanes. Although the Rangers won their second-round playoff series against the Canes last spring, Carolina has beaten them in regulation in both matchups this season. A win here would really signal that the Blueshirts have turned around their fortunes.
Next eight days: vs. COL (Jan. 26), vs. CAR (Jan. 28)
20. Vancouver Canucks
Previous ranking: 15
Points percentage: 53.19%
Jan. 31 at Stars. If the various reports are true, the Canucks are seeking out the best new home for disgruntled center J.T. Miller. Well, on this night, they'll be visiting one of those potential options, as the Stars are on the prowl for a veteran center to replace injured Tyler Seguin.
Next eight days: vs. WSH (Jan. 25), @ STL (Jan. 27), @ NSH (Jan. 29)
21. St. Louis Blues
Previous ranking: 21
Points percentage: 51.02%
Feb. 4 vs. Oilers. There are some who considered Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner a snub from Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster. One of the netminders who did make it? The Blues' Jordan Binnington. Perhaps Binnington will have extra motivation in this one to show that Hockey Canada made the right call.
Next eight days: vs. DAL (Jan. 25), vs. VAN (Jan. 27)
22. Philadelphia Flyers
Previous ranking: 23
Points percentage: 51.02%
Feb. 8 vs. Penguins. Although the Keystone State battles are a little more captivating when the Flyers and Penguins are both in line for playoff berths, the matchups are typically enthralling; to wit, their matchup on Dec. 23 ended 7-3.
Next eight days: @ NYI (Jan. 24), vs. NJ (Jan. 27), @ NJ (Jan. 29), vs. NYI (Jan. 30)
23. Utah Hockey Club
Previous ranking: 24
Points percentage: 52.13%
Jan. 29 vs. Penguins. It's a big deal any time a superstar comes to town, but Penguins games are particularly notable for UHC center Logan Cooley, who participated in Sidney Crosby's "Little Penguins" program as a youth player.
Next eight days: @ WPG (Jan. 24), @ OTT (Jan. 26), vs. PIT (Jan. 29)
24. Detroit Red Wings
Previous ranking: 20
Points percentage: 51.04%
Jan. 25, Feb. 8 vs. Lightning. Given the ties between the franchises -- including current Detroit GM/former Tampa Bay GM Steve Yzerman -- games between the two are always must-see affairs. And with the Red Wings currently chasing the Lightning in the standings, these will matter even more.
Next eight days: vs. TB (Jan. 25), vs. LA (Jan. 27), @ EDM (Jan. 30)
25. Pittsburgh Penguins
Previous ranking: 25
Points percentage: 48.00%
Feb. 8 at Flyers. A stretch in late January (at the Kraken, Sharks and Utah) might wield more influence on the Penguins' playoff hopes, but a win here against the rival Flyers might mean more heading into the break.
Next eight days: @ SEA (Jan. 25), @ SJ (Jan. 27), @ UTA (Jan. 29)
26. New York Islanders
Previous ranking: 26
Points percentage: 48.91%
Jan. 24 vs. Flyers, Jan. 30 at Flyers. The Islanders' playoff hopes remain alive, and the Flyers are one of the teams over which they'll have to climb if they want to extend their postseason streak.
Next eight days: vs. PHI (Jan. 24), vs. CAR (Jan. 25), vs. COL (Jan. 28), @ PHI (Jan. 30)
27. Seattle Kraken
Previous ranking: 27
Points percentage: 45.92%
Jan. 28 vs. Ducks. Things haven't gone as well as planned in Dan Bylsma's first season behind the Kraken bench, and the team is closer to the bottom of the standings than the top. As a result, this matchup against another struggling Pacific Division club could have outsized impact on Seattle's ultimate spot in the draft order.
Next eight days: vs. PIT (Jan. 25), @ EDM (Jan. 27), vs. ANA (Jan. 28), vs. SJ (Jan. 30)
28. Nashville Predators
Previous ranking: 30
Points percentage: 45.74%
Feb. 1 at Penguins. A rematch of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final! But as both GMs have continually been asked by reporters about their plans for the trade deadline, perhaps this will be a preview of some players who will find themselves skating elsewhere by March 7.
Next eight days: @ ANA (Jan. 25), vs. VAN (Jan. 29)
29. Buffalo Sabres
Previous ranking: 29
Points percentage: 42.71%
Jan. 31 vs. Predators. It's looking more likely that the Sabres will miss the playoffs again, meaning that their rise up the draft lottery board is of no small amount of interest. Games against fellow struggling teams like the Preds will have an outsized impact.
Next eight days: @ EDM (Jan. 25), vs. BOS (Jan. 28)
30. Anaheim Ducks
Previous ranking: 28
Points percentage: 45.83%
Feb. 8 at Kings. The Ducks are mainly looking at their spot in the draft lottery standings at this point, but their final game before the break will be against the rival Kings, a matchup that always raises the proverbial temperature.
Next eight days: vs. NSH (Jan. 25), @ SEA (Jan. 28), @ CGY (Jan. 30)
31. Chicago Blackhawks
Previous ranking: 32
Points percentage: 36.17%
Feb. 5 vs. Oilers. At one point, Connor McDavid was a generational star playing for a team that wasn't winning a ton of games. Will this matchup be a look into the future for Connor Bedard?
Next eight days: vs. TB (Jan. 24), vs. MIN (Jan. 26), @ TB (Jan. 28), @ CAR (Jan. 30)
32. San Jose Sharks
Previous ranking: 31
Points percentage: 33.33%
Jan. 30 at Kraken. At some point, these are going to be really great matchups given the wealth of young talent on both of these rosters (and in the pipelines). For now, it's all about the nautical theming.
Next eight days: vs. FLA (Jan. 25), vs. PIT (Jan. 28), @ SEA (Jan. 30)
Slot's father critical of Liverpool win over Lille
Arne Slot's dad wasn't impressed with Liverpool's midweek win over Lille in the Champions League.
The Liverpool manager mentioned his dad's reaction when discussing how difficult it is to break down defensive-minded opponents.
"That is difficult for fans [having to be patient]. My father is a fan as well," Slot said. "When I called him after the [Lille] game, he [said] 'it wasn't as exciting as other games of Liverpool.'
"Then I have to try to explain to him that these games, you can easily lose if you are starting to force all kinds of difficult balls. But he's not always agreeing with me."
Slot noted how Bayern Munich dominated possession, attempts at goal and other stats but still lost 3-0 to Feyenoord -- Slot's old team -- in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Against Lille, midfielder Curtis Jones played a risky ball near the halfway line, Slot noted, and it turned into a scoring opportunity for the French team after it recovered the ball and counterattacked.
"So that's the risk you have if you play against a low-block team," he said. "[Nottingham] Forest is probably the best in the league if you play these stupid balls -- which I call stupid balls which my father would love to see us playing a bit more -- that is the risk of them creating many more chances."
Ipswich were routed 6-0 by Manchester City last weekend. Kieran McKenna's team heads to Anfield in 18th place, behind Wolverhampton Wandereres only on goal difference.
Liverpool are past the halfway point of what's turning into a dream first season under Slot, a Dutchman who replaced the charismatic Jurgen Klopp.
Slot's side lead both the Premier League and Champions League, and they are alive in the FA Cup and League Cup. But fans should not expect a scoring frenzy Saturday.
"It's a balance we have to find. I can understand that it's sometimes difficult for fans as well that come to the stadium to see us winning but hopefully us scoring a lot of goals and an exciting match," Slot said.
"But you need two teams for that, and the better we do the less likely it is that teams come to Anfield and say 'OK let's go to a high press and press them all over the place.'"
Arteta: Arsenal players recognise need for signing
Mikel Arteta has said his Arsenal players "recognise" the need for a new signing this month and he is talking to his squad about possible targets.
Sources have told ESPN that the Gunners are scouring the January market for reinforcements after their decision not to sign a forward last summer was compounded by serious injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal are weighing up multiple options in the attacking positions and midfielder Declan Rice hinted at the feeling among his teammates when, after the win over Tottenham Hotspur, he suggested he's "not surprised if we are going to do something" before the window closes on Feb. 3.
Asked whether the players had spoken to him about wanting a new addition, Arteta said: "Not like that, but we have all been there, we all look at each other. We have very, very short numbers for many, many weeks and they recognise the situation, we all do.
"That's why we are trying to do what is right for the club, the team, that's our intention."
Pushed on whether he consults players over possible signings, he continued: "Sometimes yes, especially if they know them because that's getting us away from the computer and what the data is saying and it is real.
"I have seen it, I sense it. A player can score a lot of goals, great. How does this player react when he hasn't scored for six or seven games? This is what I am interested in. Watch an interview with a player who hasn't scored for six games, and then what kind of goals does he score?
"Against which teams in which context? Is it first half or second half? Is it only with his right foot, only headers, only in open spaces? Does he like the physical contact of this league? There are a lot of things. So when you have a player that has spent a lot of days with him, that is really valuable information to have."
When asked if he was doing that now, Arteta replied: "I always do it. If we can get the right player, that's why we are actively looking at it. Any player, no. Someone that makes us better and has an impact in the team.
"It is clear that in the period that we lost them, ideally we need some help. We were short already and now we are even shorter. The team still copes with that. We have to do what is right for the club.
"That's an option. It doesn't just depend on Arsenal, on Mikel or our will. It depends on the market and a lot of different factors."
Arteta added that there was a chance Myles Lewis-Skelly (knee) and William Saliba (hamstring) could be fit to face Wolves at Molineux on Saturday. Both players face late fitness tests.
Carlo Ancelotti has insisted Vinícius Júnior is "very happy" and "wants to make history at Real Madrid" despite interest in the star forward from the Saudi Pro League.
ESPN has reported that representatives of the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund contacted Vinícius' entourage last month to assure them that they remain keen on the player, after first making an approach last summer.
Vinícius said this week that he is focused on "continuing to develop, and helping the biggest club in the world" after scoring twice in Madrid's 5-1 Champions League win over RB Salzburg, although he will be suspended for their trip to Real Valladolid in LaLiga on Saturday.
"As far as I'm aware, and I have direct information from the player, he's very happy here and he wants to make history at Real Madrid," Ancelotti said in a news conference on Friday, ahead of the Valladolid game.
"He's like everyone who works here, we all think the same way -- we're happy here and want to make history."
Vinícius -- who finished second in the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or voting and won FIFA's The Best award -- has already scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, but there have also been suggestions that Madrid are less reliant on him since the arrival of Kylian Mbappé.
"People forget that with Vinícius we won the Champions League in Paris [in 2022] and we won the Champions League in London [in 2024]," Ancelotti said. "People have forgotten that. He's unquestionable as a player."
Vinícius is serving a two-game ban in LaLiga after being sent off at Valencia on Jan. 3. He is also now suspended in the Champions League for Madrid's trip to Brest next week after picking up his third yellow card of the European campaign against RB Salzburg.
"He won't play tomorrow [Saturday], but it's good for him to recover, and to work in training," Ancelotti said.
"He'll make the most of it, and the player will be fresh when it comes to the most important part of the season."
Ancelotti said he wasn't annoyed by constant speculation about Vinícius' future.
"I don't know if that [Saudi] offer will come or not," he said. "I have to say what I see, which is a player who's happy here... Lately I've been thinking I've been getting too angry in news conferences! I should stay calm. So no, I don't get annoyed by questions about Vinícius."
Ancelotti eulogised midfielder Federico Valverde as "the most complete player in football right now" and also praised forward Rodrygo after his brace against Salzburg made it eight goals in nine appearances.
"What stands out now is [Rodrygo's] consistency," Ancelotti said.
"He's scoring a lot of goals, providing a lot of assists. For a forward, it's normal, you have ups and downs. But when you can get the numbers he's getting consistently now, that's what stands out."
Ruben Amorim has said all options remain on the table regarding Marcus Rashford's future at Manchester United with just a week to go before the transfer deadline.
Rashford was omitted from the squad again for Thursday's 2-1 win over Rangers in the Europa League.
United chose to name nine substitutes instead of the permitted 12 and left Rashford watching from his private box at Old Trafford.
Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund are among the teams to have expressed an interest in signing Rashford on loan. But Amorim said he "doesn't know" how the situation will unfold in the final days of the window.
"I really don't know," Amorim said. "Guys, it's eight days [until the deadline]. We will see in the end of the window what happened. And then we will talk about that in the moment."
Rashford hasn't featured for United since the 2-1 win over FC Viktoria Plzen on Dec. 12.
It is likely he will miss out again when Amorim takes his team to play Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
The United boss will also have to decide whether to reinstate André Onana or keep faith with Altay Bayindir.
Onana's mistake contributed to Brighton's 3-1 win at Old Trafford and he was left out of the team against Rangers in favour of Bayindir.
"It's always an even fight but this [Bayindir playing against Rangers] was rotation, it was prepared," Amorim said. "I also think about the mistake [against Brighton] and then the idea I send to you guys and the fans but the rotation was done, everything was prepared and we deal with that normally.
"We think we have two really good goalkeepers. They need time to play, they need the space in the team, so this rotation was prepared. But that mistake was my concern but, in the end, we continue with the same plan that we did last week."
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