Marlins Outlast Mets

     The Miami Marlins edged the New York Mets 2-1 at loanDepot park on Friday night. Marlins manager Skip Schumaker chalked up his first victory in the majors. The Marlins and Mets continued their four-game weekend series to begin the 2023 regular season. 

     Miami(1-1) got up 1-0 in the bottom of the second. Jorge Soler powerd a solo home run to right-center field on the first pitch from Mets starting pitcher David Peterson. It was the first homer by Soler during the 2023 campaign. 

     The Marlins extended it to 2-0 in the eighth inning. Jazz Chisholm Jr. lined a solo homer over the right-field wall on a 2-1 pitch against John Curtiss or his first home run in 2023. 

     New York(1-1) broke the shutout in the top of the ninth and trailed 2-1. A.J. Puk made his debut with the Marlins and he surrendered a solo home run to right field on the first pitch to University of Florida teammate Pete Alonso with one out. 

Tkachuk Hat Trick And Panthers Jump Habs

     Matthew Tkachuk compiled his second hat trick in a Panthers uniform and reached the 100-point plateau as the Florida Panthers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2 at Bell Centre on Thursday night. The Panthers remain just one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final Eastern Conference wild-card spot.

     Montreal(30-40-6) rolled out to a 1-0 lead at the 1:23 mark of the first period. Sean Farrell collected his first NHL goal with a wrist shot from the left wing following a feed from Jake Evans. 

     Florida(38-31-7) quickly evened it up 1-1 at 4:09. Anton Lundell scored in his second straight game with his 11th goal of the campaign from the top of the crease. Eetu Luostarinen and Tkachuk were credited with assists on the play. 

     The Panthers pulled ahead 2-1 with the man advantage at 3:59 of the second period. Brandon Montour connected a pass from the top of the zone with Sam Reinhart. He sent a cross-ice pass across the crease from the left goal line and Tkachuk powered in a forehand shot from the right of the crease by Sam Montembeault for his 36th tally. 

     It became 3-1 for Florida at the 5:57 mark of the second. Aaron Ekblad advanced the puck from his own zone. Anton Lundell brought the puck into the Canadiens zone. He made a drop pass at the right point and Tkachuk snapped a shot from right circle. Tkachuk chalked up his 100th point of the season along with his 37th goal this season. He joined Jonathan Huberdeau from last season as the only Panthers in franchise history to have 100 points in a single season. 

     In the third period, the Panthers increased it to a three-goal margin 4-1 with 9:45 to go. Lundell stripped Nick Suzuki in the Habs zone and went on a breakaway. He slid the puck by Montembeault with a forehand shot in the blue paint for an unassisted tally and his second goal of the contest. 

     The Habs went on the power play and added an extra attacker. Mike Hoffman blasted a slap shot from the right point that was deflected in by Rafael Harvey-Pinard past Alex Lyon with 1:25 remaining and they trailed 4-2. Former Panthers player Mike Matheson received a secondary assist on the play. 

     The Canadiens tried the same strategy to stay in the game. Tkachuk lofted a shot from the neutral zone into the Montreal cage with 19.3 seconds left for his second hat trick and 38th goal this season. 

Marlins Lose Season Opener To Mets

     The Miami Marlins began to celebrate their 30-year anniversary in Major League Baseball as they fell to the New York Mets 5-3 at loanDepot park on Thursday. The Marlins played in their first MLB game on April 5, 1993 when they hosted the Los Angeles Dodgers at Joe Robbie Stadium. The Mets continued their dominance with the best winning percentage among teams for season openers in Major League Baseball history. 

     Marlins starting pitcher and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara made his season debut. He allowed two earned runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings pitched. 

     New York(1-0) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Brandon Nimmo hit a sacrifice fly into left field to scored Daniel Vogelbach. 

     The Mets added two more runs in the top of the sixth and led 3-1. Francisco Lindor knocked in Nimmo on a sacrifice fly to the edge of the warning track in center field. Two batters later, Jeff McNeil followed with a base hit up the middle and Starling Marte scored. 

     Miami(0-1) answered back in the bottom of the sixth against Max Scherzer. Jacob Stallings led off the frame with a double to deep left-center field. Two batters later, current American League batting champion and new Marlins player Luis Arraez doubled into the right-center field gap and Stallings crossed the plate. Two batters later, Garrett Cooper blasted a two-run homer to right-center field on a 0-1 pitch for his first home run of the year. 

     In the seventh inning, New York reclaimed the lead with two runs to make it 5-3. Nimmo drove a line drive to deep center for Eduardo Escobar and Omar Narvaez to score. 

Panthers Climb Over Maple Leafs

      The Florida Panthers marched by the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Panthers, who stopped a four-game losing streak, are now one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Eastern Conference second wild-card position.

     Florida(37-31-7) struck first at 1:00 of the opening frame. The Maple Leafs turned the puck over deep in their own end. Eetu Luostarinen made a drop pass in the high slot and Anton Lundell snapped a shot from the slot area past Ilya Samsonov for his 10th goal of the campaign. 

     Toronto(44-20-10) tied it up at the 3:13 mark of the second period. Zach Aston-Reese collected his third goal of the year on assists from T.J. Brodie and Wayne Simmonds.

     In the third period, the Maple Leafs moved in front 2-1 at 6:40. Mitch Marner fed the puck from the left corner and Auston Matthews blasted a one-time slap shot from the top left circle by Alex Lyon for his 37th goal of the season. Marner extended his point streak to 11 games. 

     The Panthers pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and scored on the power play with 58.5 seconds remaining to tie it 2-2. Brandon Montour angled a pass to his left from the top of the zone. Aaron Ekblad fired a one-time slap shot from the left circle and Sam Reinhart deflected it in from the low slot for his 28th goal this season. 

     In overtime, the Cats won it 3-2 at the 1:41 mark. Reinhart pushed the puck ahead out of his zone. Aleksander Barkov came in on a two-on-one breakaway down the left side. He slid the puck across from the low left circle and Montour tapped it in from the right of the crease. Montour broke a club record as he got his 63rd point in a single season as a defenseman. He passed Keith Yandle who accomplished it in 2018-19. 

Knicks Hold Off Heat

     The New York Knicks batted down the Miami Heat 101-92 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night. The Heat, who have lost three straight contests, is in seventh place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks, who are fifth in the conference looks like they will avoid the play-in format. 

     New York(44-33) put in the first eight points of the contest, however Miami (40-37) scored 14 consecutive points. The Heat held a 23-19 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Jalen Brunson hit a three-point shot at the buzzer to end the second quarters and the Knickerbockers were up 48-46.    

     Numerous lead changes happened in the second half as both teams were tied 76-76 after three quarters. The Knicks went on a 12-1 spurt to go ahead 95-85 with 4:17 left in the fourth quarter.

     Gabe Vincent scored a team-high 21 points and Tyler Herro knocked in 16 points for the Heat. Jimmy Butler and Duncan Robinson both chalked up 12 points each. 

     Quentin Grimes poured in 23 points while Immanuel Quickley had a game-high 24 points for New York. Brunson and R.J. Barrett both contributed 12 points each. 

Raptors Step On Heat

     The Toronto Raptors handled the Miami Heat 106-92 at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night. The Heat have fallen in their last two contests. 

     Toronto(38-38) had a slight 24-23 edge at the end of the first quarter and remained ahead 53-47 by halftime. Miami(40-36) dropped behind even more during the second half and trailed 84-67 after three quarters. 

    Tyler Herro led the Heat with a game-high 33 points along with six assists. Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds. They were the only Miami players who had double-digit scoring. Pascal Siakam poured in a team-high 26 points for the Raptors. 

Sergio Romo Retires

     Former Miami Marlins relief pitcher Sergio Romo retired from Major League Baseball after signing a one-game contract with the San Francisco Giants on Monday. He maded a relief appearance for the Giants in an exhibition game at Oracle Park against the Oakland A's last night. 

     Romo was with San Francisco Giants in his first nine seasons in the majors from 2008 until 2016. He helped the Giants capture three World Series championships, which are their only titles since their relocation to San Francisco, in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Romo pitched 38 games for the Miami Marlins during the 2019 season. 

Senators Sink Panthers

     The Ottawa Senators broke the Florida Panthers 5-2 at Canadian Tire Centre on Monday night. The Panthers lost their fourth consecutive game after previously going 6-0-1. 

     The Panthers began a four-game road trip. Not including tonight, the Cats have played just three road games since February 19. Matthew Tkachuk of Panthers and his brother Brady Tkachuk of the Senators faced each other in their 17th NHL meeting. 

     Ottawa(37-33-5) got out to a 1-0 lead at the 8:02 in the first period. A clearing pass by the Panthers was stopped by Thomas Chabot at the left point. Chabot went around Givani Smith at the blue line and then angled a diagonal pass. Brady Tkachuk nailed a one-time slap shot from the right-circle dot past Sergei Bobrovsky for his 34th goal of the season. 

     The Senators added a power-play goal with 1:05 left in the first and led 2-0. Ex Panthers player Derick Brassard poked the loose puck from the crease area. Erik Brannstrom snapped a shot from the inner right circle for his third goal this year. 

     Florida(36-31-7) made it 2-1 during the second period at 5:58. Eric Staal cycled the puck from the left corner to Sam Reinhart behind the Ottawa cage. He banked a pass to the left point and Gustav Forsling rifled a one-time slap shot by Mads Sogaard for his 11th goal of the campaign. 

     It became 3-1 for the Sens with 37.3 seconds remaining in the second as they scored on the power play. Tkachuk connected a pass from the right goal line to Drake Batherson at the top of the right circle. He angled a pass to his left and Alex DeBrincat blasted a one-time slap shot from the low left circle for his 24th goal this season. 

     In the third period, the Panthers cut it to 3-2 at the 9:15 mark. Eetu Luostarinen backhanded it across the slot from the inner right circle. Aaron Ekblad dropped it from the top left circle and Forsling powered in a snap shot from the top of the zone for his second tally of the game. 

     Ottawa compiled their third power-play goal with 2:23 left in the third and expanded their lead to 4-2. Former Panthers player Claude Giroux zipped a pass from the right wing to Travis Hamonic on the blue line. He fed the puck to his right and Tim Stutzle released a forehand shot from the right wing. 

     Florida pulled their goalie for an extra attacker to stay in the contest. Shane Pinto added an empty-net goal on a wrist shot from the left wing with 1:30 to go and the Senators led 5-2. 

Zac Dalpe Signs Extension With Panthers

     Florida Panthers right wing Zac Dalpe has signed a two-year contract extension with the Florida Panthers through the 2024-25 season. He has compiled two goals and two assists in 14 games this season. 

     Dalpe is in his second season with the Panthers organization. He has played 41 games with the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL this season and scored 18 goals. 

Marlins Elevate Yuli Gurriel

     First baseman Yuli Gurriel has made the Miami Marlins opening day roster. The Marlins will open up their 2023 Major League Baseball campaign on Thursday when they host the New York Mets. Gurriel signed a minor league contract with the team earlier this month. 

     Gurriel has spent his entire seven-year MLB career with the Houston Astros. He contributed to the Astros two World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. Gurriel captured the American League batting title in 2021. 

Miami Makes Final Four, Tops Texas

     The #5 University of Miami Hurricanes reached the Final Four for the first time in school history as they got a 88-81 victory over the #2 University of Texas Longhorns in the Midwest Region final on Sunday night in Kansas City. The Canes will challenge Connecticut in a national semifinal game on Saturday. 

     Miami scored seven unanswered points and had a 9-2 start to begin the first half. Texas responded with nine straight points and eventually led by halftime 45-37. The Longhorns increased it to a double-digit lead early in the second half. The Hurricanes mounted a comeback and made it 85-79 with 23 seconds remaining. 

Nets Down Heat

     The Brooklyn Nets disposed the Miami Heat 129-100 at Miami-Dade Arena on Saturday night. The Heat only have two of their remaining seven regular season games at home. 

     Miami(40-35) had a 36-28 at the end of the first quarter and remained in front 69-66 at halftime. Brooklyn(40-34) outscored the Heat 39-18 in the third quarter and led 104-87. The Nets continued to increase there in the final quarter and easily had a 20-point plus lead. 

     Tyler Herro and Max Strus dropped in 23 points each for Miami. Jimmy Butler scored 18 points and Bam Adebayo added 16 points. Mikal Bridges compiled in a game-high 27 points along with seven assists for the Nets. 

Chicago Fire FC Power By Inter Miami CF

     Chicago Fire FC sank Inter Miami CF 3-2 on Saturday night at DRV PNK Stadium. It expanded their losing streak to third games for the squad. 

     Chicago Fire FC(1-1-2) moved out to a 2-0 advantage with goals by Chris Mueller in the 30th minute and Carlos Teran in the 38th minute. The home team closed it to 2-1 during stoppage time to end the first half as Franco Negri scored. 

     Inter Miami CF(2-3-0) tied it up 2-2 during the 76th minute as Nicholas Stefanelli found the net with a header for the tally. Chicago landed the victory in stoppage time in the second half as Kei Kamara blasted a one-time shot with the right foot from 11 yards out. 

Florida Atlantic University Reach Final Four

     The #9 Florida Atlantic University Owls defeated the #3 Kansas State Wildcats 79-76 in the East Region final at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The Owls will play in the Final Four against San Diego State on Saturday in Houston. 

     Florida Atlantic University would turn out to have a 42-38 advantage at halftime. FAU held off Kansas State in the final two minutes of the second half. 

Rangers Take Panthers

     The New York Rangers knocked off the Florida Panthers 4-3 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers have lost three straight games and will be heading on a four-game road trip. The Rangers have won six of their last seven contests. 

     Aleksander Barkov reached second all-time in Florida Panthers franchise history as he played in his 655th career game and passing Stephen Weiss. The Panthers finished off a stretch in which then played 11 of their last 14 contests at home. 

     Florida(36-30-7) rolled out to a 1-0 lead at the 9:15 mark of the first period. Matthew Tkachuk handed the puck from the left wing to Gustav Forsling on the left point. His slap shot was saved by Jaroslav Halak, however Aleksander Barkov steered in the rebound for his 19th goal this season. 

     The Panthers extended it to 2-0 with 5:14 left in the first. Marc Staal carried the puck from the left point to the left corner. He pushed the puck and Ryan Lomberg rifled a one-time slap shot from the left circle for his 11th goal of the year. 

     In the second period, New York (41-20-10) at 8:50 and trailed 2-1. Filip Chytil made a pass from the slot area to Alexis Lafreniere and he returned it back. Chytil released a shot from the slot which was stopped. Kaapo Kakko snapped a shot from the low slot by Sergei Bobrovsky for his 14th goal of the campaign. 

     The Rangers tied it up 2-2 with 1:45 remaining in the second. Tyler Motte advanced the puck from the neutral zone. Jacob Trouba made a diagonal pass from the left point to the right circle. Lafreniere skated to top of the crease and put in a wrist shot for his 15th goal. 

     The Blueshirts got their first lead of the contest at the 1:22 mark of the third period. Brandon Montour had his clearing pass intercepted by Patrick Kane on the left wing. He flicked a pass to the middle that went off a Carter Verhaeghe's stick and into the cage for his 20th goal of the season. Kane compiled his 450th NHL goal on the play. He passed Phil Housley for second by a United States-born player with 1,233 career points. 

     It became 4-2 for New York at 6:18. Kakko banked a long lead pass to the Panthers zone. Chytil got to it first at the top right circle. He skated in and scored on a forehand shot. 

     Florida answered back just 42 seconds later and were down 4-3. Barkov won a faceoff in the left circle. Verhaeghe skated it down the left circle and went around the net with a wraparound shot. Barkov tapped in the rebound from close range for his second of the game and 20th goal this season. It is the eighth consecutive season that he has reached the 20-goal plateau. 

Meadowlark Media Adds David Samson

     Former Florida Marlins and Miami Marlins David Samson has joined Meadowlark Media as a contributor. He has been appearing weekly on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz in recent years.

     Samson will be continuing his position as a Major League Baseball studio analyst CBS Sports HQ. He will bring his Nothing Personal With David Samson podcast from there to Meadowlark Media. 

     He will co-host a new podcast called The Sporting Class with John Skipper at Meadowlark Media. Samson was the president of the Marlins baseball club until October 2017. 

Miami Upsets Houston

     The #5 University of Miami Hurricanes surprised the #1 University of Houston Cougars 89-75 in the Midwest Region semifinal in Kansas City on Friday night. It will result in no #1 seeds that will play in the Elite Eight round for the first time in NCAA Tournament history. 

     Miami started off strong going on a 7-2 spurt and held a 42-36 halftime lead. The Hurricanes had an 11-0 run and led 70-53 with 10:03 remaining in the second half.

Tennessee Shocked By Florida Atlantic University

     It was the continuation of their best season in school history as the #9 Florida Atlantic University Owls toppled #4 University of Tennessee Volunteers 62-55 in the East Region semifinal at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. FAU will challenge #3 Kansas State for a Final Four spot. 

     The first half was low scoring and Tennessee led 27-22 at halftime. The Owls had a 18-2 run and got to their biggest lead 51-41 with 6:49 remaining in the second half.

Maple Leafs Roll By Panthers

     The Florida Panthers were defeated by the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-2 on Thursday night at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers, who have allowed 12 goals in the last two games, remain on the outside for an Eastern Conference playoff position. Eric Staal and Marc Staal refused to wear the Panthers jersey on Pride Night and did not participate in the pregame warmups. 

     Toronto(43-19-9) broke out to a 1-0 lead at the 5:05 mark of the first period. Auston Matthews released a wrist show from just above the left circle for his 33rd goal of the campaign. 

     Florida(36-29-7) got on the power play and scored with 5:35 left in the first. Matthew Tkachuk put the puck into the cage from close range for his 35th goal this season. He became the sixth different Florida Panthers player in franchise history to score at least 35 goals in a season. 

     In the second period, the Maple Leafs made it 3-1 at 1:20. John Tavares took a shot from the right of the crease which Sergei Bobrovsky saved. William Nylander scored his 36th goal on a forehand shot from the top of the crease. 

     The Leafs extended it to 3-1 at the 2:57 mark. Mark Giordano connected a pass from the left point to behind the Florida cage. Matthews brought the puck out to the right circle and snapped a shot for his second tally on the contest and 34th goal overall. 

     The Panthers cut it to 3-2 with 8:17 to go in the second. Aleksander Barkov fed the puck from the left wing. Nick Cousins skated across the slot area and lifted a backhand shot past Matt Murray for his seventh goal this year.

     It became 4-2 for Toronto on a five-on-three power play with 1:39 left in the frame. Tavares backhanded a pass from the end wall and Michael Bunting blasted a one-time slap shot from the inner left circle. 

West Palm Beach Ratings February 2023

     The radio ratings were released for West Palm Beach sports talk radio stations. The time span went from the first week in February until the first week in March.

     Fox Sports 640 South Florida WMEN-AM dropped from 0.9 to 0.7 in the period. The Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team was approaching a conference regional season title with their best record in school history. 

     Sports Radio 1230 The Gambler WBZT-AM ended with a 0.2 for the sixth consecutive month. They have been consistent with Florida Panthers hockey broadcasts, University of Florida men's basketball broadcasts and blocks of VSIN program blocks. 

Heat Battle Knicks To Victory

     The Miami Heat got by the New York Knicks 127-120 at Miami-Dade Arena on Wednesday night. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra chalked up his 700th career victory. 

     The Heat have three remaining home games during the regular season. They will host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night. 

     New York(42-32) began the contest on a 10-4 a spurt and had a 32-31 advantage after one quarter. Miami(40-34) scored the last seven points of the first half and were up 64-61 at halftime. 

     The Heat had an 11-point gap 88-77 with 3:19 to go in the third quarter and led 92-86 after three quarters. Miami went on a 16-4 run midway in the final frame and had a 114-102 lead. 

     Jimmy Butler came close to a double-double with a game-high 35 points along with nine assists. Tyler Herro dropped in 22 points and Gabe Vincent put in 19 points. R.J. Barrett had 26 points while Jalen Brunson added 25 points for the Knicks. 

Brian Boyle Retires, Joins NHL Network

     Former Florida Panthers center Brian Boyle announced his retirement from the National Hockey League. He has entered the broadcasting field and joined NHL Network as a studio analyst. 

     Boyle was with the Florida Panthers in 2019-20 and helped them reach the postseason. He had six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 39 games during the shortened season. 

Chris Wittyngham Leaves Dan Le Batard Show

     Chris Wittyngham announced on Tuesday that he is leaving his position as executive producer of the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. He joined the program in 2021. Wittyngham will continue as a contributor at Meadowlark Media.

     Wittyngham was named as a Major League Soccer television play-by-play announcer on MLS Season Pass at Apple TV in February. He was the audio play-by-play announcer of Inter Miami CF from March 2020 until February 2023. 

Japan Takes USA And World Baseball Classic

     The United States were defeated by Japan 3-2 in the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game at loanDepot park in Miami on Tuesday night. Japan captured their third World Baseball Classic title, which is the most in tournament history. They won the first two editions in 2006 and 2009. 

     USA, who were the reigning World Baseball Classic champions, scored first on the contest during the top of the second. Former Park Vista Cobras player Trea Turner belted a solo home run to left field on a 2-1 count. 

      Japan quickly tied it up 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Munetaka Murakami blasted a home run on the first pitch to right-center field.

     They would load the bases later in the frame. Japan took their first lead 2-1 when Lars Nootbaar grounded out to first and Kaz Okamoto scored. 

     It became 3-1 Japan in the fourth inning. Okamoto lifted an 0-1 pitch to left-center field on a 0-1 count. 

     The USA trailed by3-2 during the eighth inning. Kyle Schwarber waited until the 10th pitch from Yu Darvish and he connected on a solo home run to right-center field on a 2-2 offering. Shohei Ohtani came in the top of the ninth inning and collected the save. 

Flyers Fight Off Panthers

     The Philadelphia Flyers outhustled the Florida Panthers 6-3 on Tuesday night at Wells Fargo Center.The Panthers had their three-game winning streak and seven-game point streak snapped. Panthers goalieSergei Bobrovsky did not play after starting in the last 12 games. 

     Florida(36-28-7) broke out to a 1-0 advantage just 1:15 into the first period. Matthew Tkahcuk beat Carter Hart with a shot for his 34th goal of the season. Carter Verhaeghe and Eetu Luostarinen were credited with assists on the play. 

     Philadelphia(26-32-12) tied it 1-1 at 4:43. Egor Zamula cycled the puck from the right point to Noah Cates on the left point. He made a one-touch pass to the middle and Joel Farabee released a wrist shot from above the high slot pas Alex Lyon for his sixth goal this year. 

     In the second period, the Flyers moved ahead 2-1 at the 8:42 mark. Brandon Lemieux fed a pass for a Travis Sanheim goal. 

     The Panthers matched it with 5:43 left in the second for a 2-2 contest. Sam Reinhart passed the puck from the end wall to the left wing. Aleksander Barkov skated with it to behind the Flyers cage. He angled a pass and Brandon Montour placed in a one-time forehand shot from the right goal line for his 13th goal of the campaign. 

     The Flyers would compile three goals in a 2:01 span late in the frame. They got tallies from Scott Laughton, Sanheim and Ivan Provorov. 

Miami Ratings February 2023

     The ratings were issued for Miami/Fort Lauderdale sports talk radio stations. The time span went from the first week of February until the first week of March. 

     AM 560 Sports WQAM-AM dropped from a 0.6 to a 0.4 in the period. The National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in South Florida for the first time in 20 years. The Florida Panthers remained on the outside for a playoff position. The Miami Heat held on to an Eastern Conference playoff spot. 

     Fox Sports 940 WINZ-AM stayed at a 0.2 for the third consecutive month. The NASCAR Cup Series began their regular season with the Clash at The Coliseum and the Daytona 500. It was also the start of the Florida Marlins spring training camp. 

     The streaming of WQAM stayed at a 0.1 in the period. WKIS-FM-HD2, who had their array of Florida Panthers games, fell from a 0.1 to a 0.0.

Aleksander Barkov Passes Jonathan Huberdeau

     Aleksander Barkov passed Jonthan Huberdeau with his 614th point for the most points ever in Florida Panthers franchise history as the Cats defeated the Detroit Red Wings 5-2 on Monday night at Little Caesars Arena. 

     Florida leaped over the Pittsburgh Penguins for the final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers, who now hold the second wild-card spot, started a short road trip and visit the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. 

Cameron Maybin On Detroit Tigers Radio

     Former Florida Marlins and Miami Marlins outfielder Cameron Maybin will work as a game analyst for around 30 road games on the Detroit Tigers Radio Network in 2023. He was named the new Detroit Tigers television game analyst on Bally Sports Detroit back in early February. 

     Maybin had a slew of broadcasting jobs last year following his retirement from Major League Baseball in 2021. He was a New York Yankees television game analyst for YES Network. Maybin also worked as a MLB Network studio analyst and was a Chicago Cubs studio analyst on Marquee Sports Network. 

     He had two stints with the Marlins organization as a player. Maybin was with the team from 2008 until 2010 and then returned for the 2018 campaign. 

Heat Handle Pistons

     The Miami Heat picked up a 112-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night. The Heat completed a quick weekend road swing and will host The New York Knicks on Wednesday.  

     Detroit(16-56) had a 29-26 edge at the end of the first quarter. Miami(39-34) would take the lead in the second quarter and they had a 52-47 halftime lead. The Pistons moved in front 81-74 after three quarters. The Heat  outscored Detroit 38-19 in the final frame to get the win.

Miami Eliminates Indiana

     The #5 University of Miami Hurricanes knocked off by the #4 Indiana University Hoosiers 85-69 in the Midwest Region second round of the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday night in Albany, New York. The Hurricanes advanced to the Sweet 16 and will face the top seed University of Houston on Friday night in Kansas City. The U reached the third round in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history. 

     Miami rolled out to a 13-3 lead in the first four minutes of the contest. They held onto a 40-35 lead in at halftime. The Canes could not hold a 13-point lead and Indiana tied it 51-51 near the midway point of the second half. The Hurricanes scored 12 straight points and were up 63-51 with 8:13 to go. They led 75-60 with 3:15 left in the contest. 

FAU Tops FDU And Advance To Sweet 16

     The #9 Florida Atlantic University got by the #16 Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights 78-70 in the second round of the East Region in Columbus, Ohio. The Owls advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. They will challenge the University of Tennessee at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. 

     FAU was able to take a 32-25 halftime lead. The Owls had a 67-64 lead with three minutes remaining in the second half and went on an 11-3 spurt down the stretch. Johnell Davis became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to have 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals. 

Dolphins Get Malik Reed

     The Miami Dolphins have signed outside linebacker Malik Reed to the team. It turns out to be just a one-year contract. 

     Reed compiled 15 sacks in 45 contests for the Denver Broncos from 2019 until 2021. He moved on to the Pittsburgh Steelers last year and had just one sack in 14 games. 

Toronto FC Shuts Out Inter Miami CF

     Toronto FC blanked Inter Miami CF 2-0 on Saturday night at BMO Field. Inter Miami CF(2-2-0) has lost two straight games after beginning the Major League Soccer season with a 2-0 record. They host the Chicago Fire next Saturday. 

     There were two second-half goals by Toronto FC(1-1-2). Jonathan Osorio found the net during the 48th minute and Mark-Anthony Kaye made it 2-0 in the 69th minute of play. 

Bulls Rout Heat

     The Chicago Bulls pounded the Miami Heat 113-99 at United Center on Saturday night. The contest was never close between both teams. The Heat play six of their last 10 regular season games on the road. 

     Chicago(33-37) blasted out to a 33-19 advantage at the end of the first quarter. The Bulls continued the momentum during the second quarter and were way ahead 70-45 at halftime. Miami(38-34) tried to cut the 25-point deficit in the second half and made it 90-77 after three quarters. 

Panthers Overcome Devils

     The Florida Panthers went by the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday night. The Panthers finished up a seven-game homestand with a 5-1-1 record. They extended their point streak up to six games. 

     The Panthers came closer to the final Eastern Conference playoff spot and are one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Devils remain behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division. 

     After a scoreless first period, New Jersey(44-18-7) was able to get a shorthanded goal at the 2:16 mark of the second. Brandon Montour could not keep the puck in the zone on the right point. Nico Hischier went down the ice on a 2-on-1 breakaway and snapped a shot from the inner left circle for his 29th goal of the season. John Marino and Ryan Graves were credited with assists on the play. 

     The Devils increased it to 2-0 at 7:43 of the second period. Damon Severson connected a cross-ice pass from the right wing. Jesper Boqvist scored on a snap shot from the left circle past Sergei Bobrovsky for his eighth goal of the year. 

     In the third period, Florida(35-27-7) broke the shutout at 6:14. Montour took a slap shot from the top of the zone and it went off the upper body of Marc Staal in the low slot. Aleksander Barkov came in and swept in a backhand shot from the top of the crease by Akira Schmid for his 18th goal this season. 

     The Cats converted with the man advantage at the 7:54 mark. Carter Verhaeghe issued a pass from the left point and Montour blasted a slap shot from the right point. Sam Reinhart deflected the puck in from the right circle for his 25th tally of the campaign. 

     It became 3-2 for the Panthers just 50 seconds later. Matthew Tkachuk lite the lamp for the 32nd time this season. Radko Gudas and Verhaeghe were given assists on the tally. The Panthers scored an empty-net goal with 20.3 seconds left in the third as Reinhart collected his second goal of the contest and 26th goal of 2022-23, 

Bills Release Isaiah McKenzie

     The Buffalo Bills have released former American Heritage Patriots wide receiver and special teams player Isaiah McKenzie. He spent the last five seasons in the Bills organization. 

     He helped Buffalo win three consecutive AFC East Division titles from 2020 to 2022. He chalked his best career numbers last year with 42 pass receptions for 423 receiving yards and four touchdowns. 

     McKenzie won a FHSAA Class 4A state championship with American Heritage in 2013. He later went to the University of Georgia. 

Florida Atlantic University Surprises Memphis

     The #9 Florida Atlantic University Owls shocked the #8 Memphis Tigers 66-65 in the East Region first round of the NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio. It was the second appearance by FAU in the NCAA Tournament in school history and their first victory. The Owls will face #16 Fairleigh Dickinson University in the second round. 

     FAU started off with a 25-17 spurt in the first 13 minutes of the game. Memphis answered back with a 16-4 run and led 35-31 at halftime. The Owls had an 11-5 spurt to lead 64--63 with 59.5 seconds remaining in the second half. Nick Boyd made a running left-handed layup across the lane with 2.5 seconds left. 

Miami Survives Drake

     The #5 University of Miami Hurricanes got by the #12 Drake University Bulldogs 63-56 in the Midwest Region first round of the NCAA Tournament in Albany, New York. The Hurricanes will face either Indiana University or Kent State University in the next round. 

     Drake moved out to 30-25 lead by halftime. The Bulldogs were ahead 55-47 late in the second half. The Canes went on a 16-1 in the last four minutes to win the contest. 

Mike Gesicki Goes To Patriots

     Tight end Mike Gesicki has joined the New England Patriots. It is a one-year contract worth up to around $9 million. 

     Gesicki was selected in the second round by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft. He played five seasons with the Fins. Gesicki had 231 pass receptions for 2,167 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in 81 games during his tenure with the Dolphins. 

Panthers Outscore Habs

     The Florida Panthers had a seven-goal outburst during the first period to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 9-5 on Thursday night at FLA Live Arena. It was the highest home output by the Panthers since the "We Want Eight" game against the then defending Stanley Cup champion Canadiens at Miami Arena on January 24, 1994, 

     Florida set a new franchise record with seven goals in one period. They did compile six goals in one period back on April 5, 2000 versus the Boston Bruins. 

     The Cats played their sixth contest in a seven-game homestand. Sam Reinhart participated in his 600th NHL game. 

     Montreal(27-36-6) rocketed out to a 1-0 lead just 16 seconds into the contest. Josh Anderson angled a pass from the neutral zone to former Panthers player Mike Matheson on the left side. He carried the puck to the left-circle dot and blasted a slap shot past Sergei Bobrovsky for bis seventh goal of the campaign. Jonathan Drouin was credited with a secondary assist on the play.

     Florida(34-27-7) quickly evened it up 1-1 at the 2:43 mark of the first period. Nick Cousins backhanded a pass from the left goal line and Colin White snapped a shot from the high slot by Sam Montembeault for his eighth goal this year. 

     The Panthers took a 2-1 lead at 3:17. Sam Bennett pushed the puck from the left wing and Carter Verhaeghe released a wrist shot from the left circle. 

     The Habs tied it up 2-2 at the 5:20 mark. Kaiden Guhle put a short pass in the right circle. Anthony Richard backed it out to above the right circle and flicked a forehand shot for his third tally. 

     The Cats regained the lead 3-2 at 6:03. Matthew Tkachuk made a backhand pass from the top right circle. Gustav Forsling skated to top the left circle and scored his ninth goal this season. Montembeault was replaced in net by Jake Allen after surrendering three goals on six Florida shots. 

     The Canadiens matched the Panthers again with 11:42 remaining in the first. Chris Tierney, who had a stint with the Cats earlier this season, lifted a high shot from the right point and it went off the body of Michael Pezzatta.  

     Florida extended their lead 4-3 with 10:51 left in the opening frame. Aleksander Barkov connected a pass from high in the offensive zone. Eetu Luotarinen poked the puck from the high slot and Aaron Ekblad found the net on a snap shot for his 11th goal of the season. 

     It became 5-3 for the Panthers with 9:27 to go in the first period. Josh Mahura sent it from the left point to Radko Gudas at the top of the zone. His shot was redirected in by Ryan Lomberg from the slot area.

     The Cats made it a three-goal margin 6-3 with 7:38 remaining in the first. Reinhart went around the defenseman in the left circle and scored on a forehand shot by Allen. Mahura was given the assist to set up the tally. 

     Verhaeghe picked up his second goal of the contest with 6:15 left in the frame on a feed from Tkachuk to make it 7-3. It turned out to be Verhaeghe's 34th goal of the season. 

     In the second period, the Canadiens cut it to 7-4 at the 2:26 mark. Joel Edmundson placed the puck from the top right circle. Justin Barron rifled a slap shot from the top of the zone and it was deflected in by Rafael Harvey-Pinard in the slot. 

     The Panthers scored a power-play goal at 5:31 of the second for a 8-4 lead. Tkachuk centered the puck from the low right circle. Brandon Montour has a shooting attempt from the blue paint and Ekblad put it into the Montreal cage. 

     It turned into a 9-4 advantage for the Cats at 7:33 of the period. Barkov passed from the high slot and Tkachuk got his 31st goal of the season on a snap shot from the inner right circle. 

     The Canadiens closed the deficit to 9-5 with the man advantage at 5:47 of the third period. Matheson sent a cross-ice pass from the left wing and Rem Pitlick ripped a one-time slap shot from the right circle. 

     

Ryan Dempster On Intentional Talk

     Former Florida Marlins pitcher Ryan Dempster has been elevated to afternoon co-host on Intentional Talk at MLB Network. He will work in the studio with former Marlins outfielder Kevin Millar and Siera Santos. Both Dempster and Millar made the Marlins roster in 1998 and stayed together as teammates on the club until July 2002. 

     Dempster and Santos, who will start on March 31, end up replacing Steven Nelson on the show. Nelson is the new backup television play-by-play announcer of the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Braxton Berrios Headed To Miami Dolphins

     Braxton Barrios will be going to the Miami Dolphins It is a one-year deal and a dollar amount has not been mentioned by the club.

     Berrios has been with the New York Jets for four seasons. He had 107 pass receptions for 1,085 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 65 games with the Jets. Berrios posted 18 pass receptions for 145 receiving yards last year. 

Miami Dolphins Ink Dan Feeney

     Offensive lineman Dan Feeney will be heading to the Miami Dolphins. He has agreed to a one-year deal with the club. 

     Feeney spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets. He was with the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017 until 2020 and missed just one game. 

Dolphins Retain Nik Needham

     The Miami Dolphins will be keeping defensive back Nik Needham. He has agreed to a one-year contract worth $2 million. 

     Needham has played his entire-four-year NFL career with the Dolphins. He has six career interceptions in 51 contest. 

Heat Sail By Grizzlies

     The Miami Heat got a 138-119 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at Miami-Dade Arena on Wednesday night. The Heat completed a stretch in which they played eight of their last nine games at home. They will finish their regular season with seven of their last 11 contests on the road. 

     Miami(38-33) had a 27-25 advantage at the end of the first quarter and remained ahead 63-51 at halftime.  Memphis(41-27) could not keep pace as the Heat went on a 22-8 run in the last six minutes of the third quarter and trailed 105-77. The Grizzlies had a 9-2 spurt to start the fourth quarter. 

     Bam Adebayo compiled 26 points and eight rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro dropped in 24 points to get the win. Jimmy Butler contributed 23 points along with eight rebounds and six assists. Jaren Jackson Jr. led Memphis with a team-high 25 points and nine rebounds, barely short of a double-double. 

Tyler Huntley Tendered By Ravens

     The Baltimore Ravens have tendered quarterback Tyler Huntley. He has the option to sign the tender and receive $2.63 million for the 2023 season. The other option is Huntley can receive offer sheets from other NFL teams until April 21. If he signs any of these offer sheets, then the Ravens have seven days to match it. 

     He played for the Hallandale Chargers during high school and faced Boynton Beach and current Ravens starting quarterback Lamar Jackson for the District 15-6A title in 2014. Huntley later participated in college football with the University of Utah.  

Dolphins Keep Myles Gaskin

     Running back Myles Gaskin will be staying with the Miami Dolphins. He has agreed to a one-year contract with the club. 

     Gaskin was taken in the seventh round by the Dolphins in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has played four seasons with the Fins. Gaskin put up his worst numbers of his NFL career last year with 10 rushing attempts for 26 rushing yards in four contests. 

DeShon Elliott Going To Dolphins

     Detroit Lions safety DeShon Elliott will be signing a contract with the Miami Dolphins. It is expected to be a one-year deal with the team. 

     Elliott played 14 games with the Lions last season and made 96 total tackles. He began his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens from 2019 until 2021. 

Jacoby Brissett Heading To Commanders

     One-time Dwyer Panthers quarterback Jacoby Brissett will be going to the Washington Commanders. He is expected to sign a one-year contract worth around $8 million. He was with the Cleveland Browns last season and participated in 16 games. 

     Brissett had made several stops in the National Football League. He captured Super Bowl LI with the New England Patriots during his rookie year in 2016. Brissett spent four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts from 2017 to 2020 and played for the Miami Dolphins in 2021. 

2023 NHL General Manager Meetings

     The National Hockey League held the Spring 2023 general manager meetings over the past three days at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa in Manalapan. The 32 NHL general managers met for the second straight year at that venue. 

     Some of the items spoken about between the general managers included use of expanded video review on pucks sent out-of-play and high sticking. They also spoke about cutting down of penalties for instigating following clean body hits. There will be no changes to come out from these meetings. 

     NHL commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned today that the salary cap may go up to $1 million to $83.5 million. Game broadcasts will continue on regional sports networks in 2022-23 through the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

     Bettman spoke that the current divisional playoff format will stay the same and not switched to a traditional format #1 seed versus #8 seed matchup. He did not expect the NHL to have expansion in the near future and that new ownership of the Ottawa Senators will be decided soon. 

Pablo Torre Joins Meadowlark Media

     Pablo Torre will soon be joining Meadowlark Media. He will work with audio and video content as a content host, producer and writer. 

     Torre is leaving ESPN, however he will continue to be a panelist on Around The Horn and a contributor to Pardon The Interruption. He was first a writer at ESPN The Magazine. Torre eventually co-hosted High Noon with Bomani Jones from June 2018 until March 2020, which turned out to be a huge success. He later hosted the ESPN Daily Podcast and co-hosted Debatable. 

Ravens Re-Sign Trayvon Mullen

     The Baltimore Ravens have re-signed cornerback Trayvon Mullen to a one-year contract. He is the cousin of teammate quarterback Lamar Jackson. 

     Mullen split his time last season with two teams in 2022. He participated in eight games with the Arizona Cardinals and one game with the Dallas Cowboys. 

     Mullen played high school football with the Coconut Creek Cougars. He moved on to Clemson University and won two CFP National Championships in 2016 and 2018. Mullen was in 37 games with the Raiders in Oakland and Las Vegas. 

Travis Homer Lands With Chicago Bears

     Former Oxbridge Academy Thunderwolves running back Travis Homer is joining the Chicago Bears. He has agreed to a two-year contract worth $4.5 million.

     Homer played college football with the University of Miami Hurricanes. He has played his entire four-year National Football League career with the Seattle Seahawks. Homer had 83 carries for 453 rushing yards and one touchdown in 49 games with the club. 

Diamond Sports Group Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

     Diamond Sports Group filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier today in Texas. The corporation owns 19 Bally Sports regional sports networks in the United States. 

     Two of their regional sports networks are Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun in the state of Florida. The Miami Heat, Florida Panthers and Miami Marlins are three South Florida sports teams that air their television broadcasts on Bally Sports regional sports networks. 

     Bally Sports will continue to broadcast the remainder of Miami Heat and Florida Panthers 2022-23 regular season games and first-round playoff contests. There has been no decision made what will happen to their team broadcasts as of the 2023-24 season. 

     The circumstance is a little bit different for the Miami Marlins. Major League Baseball has considered to end their broadcasting agreement with Diamond Sports Group and bring in-house their telecasts along with 13 other MLB teams. 

Phillip Dorsett Off To Raiders

     Former local high school football player Phillip Dorsett is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders. He is expected to sign a deal with his new club. 

     Dorsett had 20 pass receptions for 257 receiving yards and one touchdown in 15 games last season with the Houston Texans. He once captured a Super Bowl title with the New England Patriots. 

     He played high school football with the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders and won three FHSAA state championships in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Dorsett moved on to the University of Miami Hurricanes. 

Dolphins Re-Signing Jeff Wilson Jr.

     The Miami Dolphins are expected to keep their running back core as they will re-sign Jeff Wilson Jr. to a two-year deal worth around $8.2 million. It has been stated that the Fins will also ink Raheem Mostert. 

     Wilson was acquired by the Dolphins from the San Francisco 49ers on November 1. He had 84 carries for 392 rushing yards and three touchdowns in eight contests with Miami. 

Raheem Mostert Stays With Dolphins

     Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert will be remaining with the team. He will sign a two-year contract worth around $5.6 million. 

     Mostert joined the Miami Dolphins in 2022 following six seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. He had 181 carries for 891 rushing yards and three touchdowns last year with the Dolphins. 

Duke Riley Returns To Dolphins

     Miami Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley will be returning to the Miami Dolphins. He has agreed to a two-year contract with the team. 

     Riley had played with the Dolphins over the last two seasons. He compiled 45 total tackles in 17 games last season with the Fins. 

Matt Breida Reups With Giants

     Running back Matt Breida will be resigning with the New York Giants. He played with that club last season and had 54 carries for 220 rushing yards and one touchdown in 17 games. 

     Breida was with the Miami Dolphins during the 2020 NFL campaign. He had 59 carries for 254 rushing yards and no touchdowns in 12 contests that season. 

Heat Settle Jazz

     The Miami Heat edged the Utah Jazz 119-115 on Monday night at Miami-Dade Arena. The Heat are in a stretch in which they are playing eight of nine games at home. 

     Miami(37-33) got out to a 33-26 lead after one quarter. Utah(33-36) had a slight 57-56 lead by halftime. Both teams were tied 90-90 at the end of three quarters. The Heat had a 10-4 spurt in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. 
     All five Heat starters scored in double digits. Jimmy Butler led the way with 26 points and eight rebounds. Bam Adebayo fell short of a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds. Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent both contributed 18 points each. Lauri Markkanen got a game-high 38 points for the Jazz. 

Dolphins Getting David Long

     The Miami Dolphins are about to sign linebacker David Long. He is expected to sign a two-year contract worth $11 million. 

     Long has played his entire four-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. He participated in 12 games last season and compiled 86 total tackles along with two interceptions. 

Patrick Peterson Going To Steelers

     Former local high school football player Patrick Peterson is expected to be heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be a two-year contract between him and the club. 

     Peterson played with the Blanche Ely Tigers in high school and LSU in college football prior to his arrival in the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and stayed there for ten seasons. Peterson was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 and 2022. He has 34 career interceptions in 184 NFL contests. 

Jordan Yamamoto Retires

     Former Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jordan Yamamoto announced on Monday that he has retired from Major League Baseball. He was acquired by the Marlins from the Milwaukee Brewers along with three other players for Christian Yelich. 

     Yamamoto participated with Miami in 2019 and 2020 and helped the club reach the postseason in 2020 for the first time in 17 years. He had a 4-6 record with a 6.20 earned run average in 19 games. Yamamoto was with the New York Mets in 2021. 

Mike White To Sign With Dolphins

     Quarterback Mike White is expected to sign a contract with the Miami Dolphins. It is to be a two-year deal worth around $16 million. He is expected to be the backup quarterback to Tua Tagovailoa. 

     White spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets. He compiled 191 pass completions for 2,145 yards and three touchdowns in four starts last season with New York. 

Panthers Sign Marek Alscher

     The Florida Panthers have inked Marek Alscher to a three-year, entry-level contract. It will go into effect beginning in the 2023-24 season. 

     Alscher was a 2022 third-round selection by the Panthers, their first NHL Draft pick that year. He has played with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League and compiled 21 points in 54 contests this season. He had 16 points in 61 games with Portland last season. 

Miami Dolphins Acquire Jalen Ramsey

     The Miami Dolphins have acquired defensive back Jalen Ramsey from the Los Angeles Rams for tight end Hunter Long and a 2023 third-round pick. He has 19 career interceptions over seven NFL seasons. 

     Ramsey began his National Football League career with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2015 to 2019. He was traded to the Los Angeles during the 2019 regular season. Ramsey helped them capture Super Bowl LVI in 2021. 

Florida Atlantic University Makes NCAA Tournament

     The Florida Atlantic University Owls men's basketball team has made the 2023 NCAA Tournament. They will be a #9 seed in the East Region and challenge #8 Memphis in the first round of play on Friday in Columbus, Ohio. 

     It is only the second occasion that the Owls made the NCAA Tournament. Florida Atlantic University appeared back in 2002. 

     FAU had their best regular season since they joined NCAA Division 1 basketball with a 31-3 record and were the winners of the Conference USA Tournament. The Owls appeared and were ranked in the Top 25 for the first time in school history. 

Miami Hurricanes In NCAA Tornament

     The University of Miami Hurricanes has made the 2023 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. They will play in the Midwest Region as a #5 seed and face #12 Drake during the first round on Friday in Albany, New York. 

     Miami had a spectacular run last year during the tournament. The Canes were able to reach the Elite Eight and lost to the eventual national champions Kansas in the regional final, one game short of a Final Four appearance.  

Jets Fly By Panthers

     The Winnipeg Jets held off the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime on Saturday night at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers will not play another game in five days until they host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night. 

     Florida(33-27-7) had their three-game winning streak snapped. It was the second time Panthers head coach Paul Maurice faced his former team Winnipeg(37-26-3).

     The Jets were able to jump to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period. Winnipeg remained in front 4-2 at the end of the second frame.

     In the third period, the Panthers mounted a comeback to tie it 4-4. Marc Staal got his third goal of the year at 33 seconds in. Matthew Tkachuk his second tally of the contest on the power play and 30th goal of the season at the 6:24 mark. 

     Winnipeg would get the last laugh with 28.2 seconds left in overtime to get a 5-4 victory. Kyle Connor angled a pass from the left circle and Mark Scheifele put in a rebound shot from the left of the crease for his second goal of the game. 

New York City FC Shuts Out Inter Miami CF

     Inter Miami CF went to Yankee Stadium on Saturday night and were blanked by New York City FC 1-0. NYCFC eliminated Inter Miami CF during the 2022 Major League Soccer Playoffs. Inter Miami CF lost their first game of the 2023 regular season while NYCFC won their first of the campaign. 

     New York City FC(1-1-1) had the only goal in the contest. They were able to go ahead 1-0 on an own goal by Inter Miami CF(2-0-1) during the 36th minute. 

Magic Mash Heat

     The Orlando Magic disposed the Miami Heat 126-114 in overtime at Amway Center on Saturday night. The Heat entered this contest following a six-game homestand. 

     Orlando(28-40) headed out to a 34-24 advantage at the end of the first quarter and led 58-55 at halftime. Miami(36-33) kept it close and trailed 81-78 after three quarters. The Heat went on a 22-7 run the final six minutes in the fourth quarter to make it 108-108 and sent the game into overtime. The Magic outscored Miami 18-6 in overtime. 

     Jimmy Butler poured in a game-high 38 points for the Heat. Bam Adabayo and Tyler Herro both had 14 points each. Wendell Carter Jr. dropped in an Orlando club-high 27 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. 

Heat Move By Cavaliers

     The Miami Heat drove by the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-115 at Miami-Dade Arena on Friday night. The Heat, who finished up a six-game homestand, faced the Cavs two days ago at the same venue. 

     Miami(36-32) had a slight lead 27-26 at the end of one quarter. The Heat went on a 10-7 spurt to start 2nd quarter, but Cleveland(42-27) overtook them and was up 59-50 by halftime. The Cavaliers stayed in front 89-82 at the end of the third quarter. Miami had a 13-2 run at the beginning of the fourth quarter and held on. 

     Jimmy Butler answered with a team-high 33 points for Miami. Tyler Herro dropped in 25 points while Bam Adebayo added 19 points. Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with a game-high 42 points. 

Duke Knocks Off Miami

     The Duke University Blue Devils defeated the University of Miami Hurricanes 85-78 in the ACC Tournament Semifinals at Greensboro Coliseum on Friday night. Duke will play for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship tomorrow night. 

     Miami ended up as the Atlantic Coast Conference co-champions during the regular season. They are expected to be seeded for the NCAA Tournament on Sunday. 

Panthers Overcome Blackhawks

     The Florida Panthers came back on the Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 in overtime on Friday night at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers are in the middle of a seven-game homestand. The Blackhawks entered the game with the second-worst record in the National Hockey League. 

     Chicago(22-37-6) scooted out to a 1-0 lead at 6:49 of the first period. Caleb Jones got his third goal of the year on assists from Taylor Raddysh and Tyler Johnson. Boris Katchouk picked up his third goal with 2:57 remaining in the first to make it 2-0. 

     Florida(33-27-6) scored two goals in a 29-second span during the third period. Eetu Luostarinen pushed the puck from the right corner to the end wall. Matthew Tkachuk skated with it to the right goal line, connected a cross-ice pass and Sam Bennett scored his 16th goal of the season on a forehand shot from the left of the crease at the 8:29 mark. 

     The Panthers tied it up 2-2 on the power play at 8:58 of the third. Sam Reinhart found the net for the 22nd time this season. Tkachuk and Brandon Montour were credited with assists on the play. 

     The Cats got ahead for the first time of the contest with 7:18 left. Tkachuk centered the puck from the left wing and Luostarinen snapped a high shot from the high slot by Petr Mrazek for his 16th goal of the campaign. 

     The Blackhawks pulled their goalie for an extra attacker and scored with 44.8 seconds to go to even it up 3-3. Jujhar Khaira poked the puck from the top of the crease and Cole Guttman swept a backhand shot by Sergei Bobrovsky for his fourth goal this year. 

     In overtime, Florida would take it with 2:17 left. Carter Verhaeghe angled a pass from the left wing. Aleksander Barkov advanced the puck ahead and Montour batted the puck into the cage with a backhand shot for the victory. 

Jayce Hawryluk Dealt To Devils

     Jayce Hawryluk has been traded by the Ottawa Senators to the New Jersey Devils for future considerations. Hawryluk will not be able to play with the Devils for the rest of the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs after they have been dealt after the NHL trade deadline last week. He will report to the Devils AHL affiliate in Utica. 

     Hawryluk played two seasons with the Florida Panthers as a center in 2018-19 and 2019-20. He had eight goals and seven assists with the Panthers in 57 contests.

Flyers Let Go Chuck Fletcher

     The Philadelphia Flyers relieved general manager Chuck Fletcher of his duties on Friday. He was with that organization since the 2018-19 season. 

     Fletcher was the assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers when they began in the National Hockey League in 1993 and held the position until 2002. He worked under two general managers while with the Panthers, who were Bobby Clarke and Bryan Murray. Fletcher was the interim general manager of the Florida Panthers during the 2001-02 NHL season. 

Yuli Gurriel To Sign With Marlins

     Former Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel is about to join the Miami Marlins. He has agreed to sign a minor league deal with the team. 

     Gurriel has spent his entire seven-year Major League Baseball career with the Houston Astros. He helped that franchise win their only World Series titles in 2017 and 2022. Gurriel had a.284 batting average with 94 home runs and 435 runs batted in during 801 contests with that club. He also captured the American League batting title in 2021. 

Jose Iglesias Joining Marlins

     Jose Iglesias will be soon signing with the Miami Marlins. The shortstop is expected to sign a minor league contract with the club. 

     Iglesias has spent the past 11 seasons in Major League Baseball. He had stints with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels. Iglesias was with the Colorado Rockies last season and had a .292 batting average in 118 games. 

Hurricanes Get By Wake Forest

     The Atlantic Coast Conference co-champion University of Miami Hurricanes barely defeated the Wake Forest University Demon Deacons 74-72 in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals at the Greensboro Coliseum on Thursday. It was the first postseason game that the Canes were involve in. Miami will face Duke University in the ACC Semifinals tomorrow.

     The Hurricanes held a 34-29 lead at halftime. They led their opponent by at least 18 points in the second half and held off Wake Forest down the stretch. 

Steven Kampfer Traded To Coyotes

     Former Florida Panthers defenseman Steven Kampfer has been traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the Arizona Coyotes for future considerations. Trades can be made by NHL teams after the trade deadline, however the player dealt can't participate in the National Hockey League for the remainder of the regular season and the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Kampfer will play for the Tucson Roadrunners in the American Hockey League for the rest of the 2022-23 campaign. 

     Kampfer played 73 games over three NHL seasons with the Florida Panthers from 2014-15 until 2016-17. He compiled two goals and six assists with Florida. 

Mike Pouncey Retires

     Former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Mike Pouncey has retired from the National Football League. He signed a one-day contract with the Miami Dolphins organization Thursday. 

     Pouncey was selected by the Miami Dolphins 15th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played his first seven seasons with the Dolphins from 2011 to 2017 and finished his playing career with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 and 2019. Pouncey played in 93 games with the Fins. 

     Pouncey and his brother Maukice Pouncey helped the Lakeland Dreadnaughts win three FHSAA Class 5A state championships over the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Both Pouncey brothers went to the University of Florida and captured a national championship for the Gators in 2008. 

Cavaliers Beat Heat

      The Miami Heat lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-100 at Miami-Dade Arena on Wednesday night. The Heat will play the Cavs again in the same venue on Friday night to complete their six-game homestand. 

     Miami(35-32) had a 30-26 edge at the end of the first quarter. The Cavs moved ahead and were up 57-53 at halftime. Cleveland(42-26) stayed out in front 87-82 after three quarters. The Heat fell behind by eight points twice during the fourth quarter and could not tie it up in the final four seconds of the contest. 

     Only three Miami players scored in double figures. Jimmy Butler collected 28 points, five assists and five rebounds. Tyler Herro scored 22 points and Bam Adebayo had 17 points. Darius Garland led Cleveland with a team-high 25 points. 

Panthers Outduel Golden Knights

     The Florida Panthers held off the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 on Tuesday night at FLA Live Arena. The Panthers continued their season-long, seven-game homestand. The Golden Knights began a five-game road swing. 

     Florida(32-27-6) took a 1-0 lead at the 4:25 mark of the first period. Josh Mahura made a square pass to his right and Ryan Lomberg snapped a shot from the high slot past Adin Hill for his ninth goal of the campaign.   

     In the second period, the Cats made it 2-0 at 4:05. Nick Cousins sent the puck from the left corner. Anthony Duclair flicked a pass from the low left circle across and Aleksander Barkov put in a forehand shot from the low slot for his 17th goal of the season. Cousins collected his 100th career assist on the play. 

     Vegas(38-20-6) cut the deficit to 2-1 on the power play with 6:37 left in the second. Former Panthers player Reilly Smith passed from the left goal line to Jack Eichel on the left wing. He connected a pass to the top of the zone and Shea Theodore blasted a slap shot by Sergei Bobrovsky for his eighth goal this year. 

John DeMott Passes Away

     Former longtime West Palm Beach radio sportscaster John DeMott passed away last weekend at the age of 80. DeMott was best known for his long reign as the sports director, sports anchor and sports reporter at WJNO-AM from the 1980s until the early 2000s. He was also the West Palm Beach Blaze public address announcer in the Sunshine Hockey League during the 1992-93 season. 

     DeMott was the public address announcer of the Florida Panthers during their first seven seasons in the National Hockey League from 1993-94 until 1998-99. He came up with the call of "Panthers Goal!" every time the team scored in a home game at Miami Arena and in Sunrise.

     He previously was in San Diego prior to his arrival in South Florida as a radio sportscaster.  He also worked as the first public address announcer of the San Diego Padres. DeMott held the role of president of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at the time of his passing. 

Dolphins Releasing Byron Jones

     The Miami Dolphins will be releasing defensive back Byron Jones. He will be let go by the club on March 15, which is the first day of the league year. 

     Jones played 30 games over the last two seasons with Miami. He complied two interceptions along with 95 total tackles in the past two years. Jones was with the Dallas Cowboys from 2015 to 2019. 

Heat Sweep Hawks

     The Miami Heat swept the Atlanta Hawks 130-128 at Miami-Dade Arena on Monday night. It was the second time in three days both clubs faced each other in the same venue. 

     Atlanta(32-33) blasted out to a 43-30 lead at the end of the one quarter and remained ahead 68-63 at halftime. Miami(35-31) crept up to tie it twice and was behind 96-92 at the end of the third quarter. The Heat went on a 10-3 spurt late in the fourth quarter to win the game. 

     Jimmy Butler led Miami with 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds. They had bench scoring as Victor Oladipo scored 22 points while Caleb Martin dropped in 21 points. Bam Adebayo contributed 16 points along with seven rebounds. Trae Young had a club-high 25 points and seven assists for the Hawks. 

Geno Smith Re-Signs With Seahawks

     Former local high school quarterback Geno Smith has signed a new three-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks worth $105 million. He was named the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year on his performance last season with the Seahawks as he threw for 4,282 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. 

     Smith guided the Miramar Patriots to the FHSAA Class 6A state semifinals back in 2008. He moved on as starting quarterback for West Virigina University while in college football. 

NFL Reinstates Calvin Ridley

     Former local high school football wide receiver Calvin Ridley has been reinstated by the National Football League. He was suspended for the 2022 season because of gambling of NFL games. 

     Ridley participated with the Monarch Knights until 2014. He helped the University of Alabama Crimson Tide capture two national championship titles in 2015 and 2017. 

     He was with the Atlanta Falcons when he was suspended by the NFL in March 2022. He was traded by the Falcons to the Jacksonville Jaguars in November 2022. Ridley will be part of their offense during the 2023 season. 

Stan Van Gundy Working NCAA Tournament

     Former Miami Heat head coach Stan Van Gundy will be announcing part of the 2023 NCAA Tournament. He will be working as a game analyst alongside Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner on several games. 

     Van Gundy is currently on his second stint on Turner Sports as an NBA game analyst. He was the head coach of the Miami Heat from 2003 to 2005 and an assistant coach from 1995 until 2003. 

Miami Hurricanes Win ACC Regular Season Title

     The University of Miami Hurricanes clinched as the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season co-champion with a 78-76 victory over the University of Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday night at Watsco Center in Coral Gables. The Hurricanes won their first ACC regular season crown for the first time since 2013. 

     Miami finished with a 15-5 ACC record while Pitt ended up 14-6 in the standings. Virginia defeated Louisville 75-60 to on Saturday and had a 15-5 conference record to become ACC co-champions. 

Heat Breeze By Hawks

     The Miami Heat beat the Atlanta Hawks 117-109 on Saturday night at Miami-Dade Arena. The Heat played their third home game in four nights and are in the middle of a six-game homestand. 

     Miami(34-31) raced out to a 29-26 lead at the end of the first quarter and increased the gap to 66-49 by halftime. Atlanta(32-32) gained some ground during the third quarter and were down 87-75 going into the final frame. The Hawks cut the deficit down to five points at 99-94 with 7:09 remaining in the fourth. 

     Bam Adebayo compiled a double-double of 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat. Jimmy Butler also nailed a double-double with 15 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Tyler Herro scored 20 points and Caleb Martin added 15 points. Saddiq Bey had a team-high 22 points for Atlanta. 

Inter Miami CF Stun Philadelphia Union

     The defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Union lost to Inter Miami CF 2-0 at DRV PNK Stadium in Fort Lauderdale on Saturday night. Inter Miami CF came into the contest with a winning record for the first time in their four-year franchise history. 

     Inter Miami CF(2-0-0) went up 1-0 during the 32nd minute when Corentin Jean rifled a right-footed shot from 26 yards away into the bottom left corner of the cage. In the second half, Philadelphia(1-1-0) surrendered another goal in the 77th minute by Robert Taylor on a full-volley shot with the right foot from 20 yards out and trailed 2-0. 

Panthers Ice Down Penguins

     The Florida Panthers pushed by the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 at FLA Live Arena on Saturday night. It the second contest of a seven-game homestand for the Panthers. 

     Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling played in his 300th NHL game. Nick Bonino began his second stint with the Penguins organization following his acquisition from the San Jose Sharks. 

     Florida(31-27-6) moved out to a 1-0 lead with 21.6 seconds left in the first period. Matthew Tkachuk forwarded the puck from the neutral zone. Carter Verhaeghe took a shot from the left circle which was saved by Casey DeSmith. Sam Bennett put in a backhand shot from the low slot for his 15th goal of the season. 

     The Panthers increased it to 2-0 on the power play at 4:11 of the second period. Brandon Montour sent the puck from the left wing across the ice. Aleksander Barkov made a cross-ice pass from the low right circle and Aaron Ekblad scored on a one-time forehand shot from the low left circle for his 10th goal of the campaign. 

     Pittsburgh(31-22-9) made it 2-1 on a 5-on-3 man advantage at the 8:51 mark. Evgeni Malkin fired a slap shot from the high slot which was stopped by Sergei Bobrovsky. Jake Guentzel passed the puck out from the top of the crease and Kris Letang ripped a slap shot from the left circle for his eighth goal this season.

     It became 3-1 for the Cats with 10 seconds left in the period. Barkov cranked a high shot from the top right circle and it was saved. Eetu Luostarinen poked in the rebound from the top of the crease and give him his 15th goal. 

     In the third period, Florida got a three-goal margin at 9:53. Tkachuk angled a lead pass from his own blue line. Verhaeghe skated to the inner left circle and snapped a shot for his 32nd goal of the season. Montour was credited with a secondary assist on the play and got his 40th assist in 2022-23. 

Goran Dragic Heading To Milwaukee

     Former Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic looks like he is about to sign a deal for the rest of the NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks. It is likely to be for the NBA minimum for the remainder of the campaign. 

     Dragic signed this season with the Chicago Bulls and was held to 6.4 points per game in 51 contests. He spent seven seasons with the Miami Heat and helped them win the 2020 Eastern Conference title. 

Brad Hand Signing With Rockies

     Former Marlins pitcher Brad Hand will be signing a contract with the Colorado Rockies. He spent last season with the Philadelphia Phillies and helped them win the National League pennant with a 2.80 earned run average in 55 game appearances. 

     Hand came into the majors as a starting pitcher with the Florida Marlins in 2011 and stayed with the Miami Marlins until 2015. He had a 9-25 record in 90 contests over five seasons with the Marlins. 

Knicks Slip By Heat

     The New York Knicks edged the Miami Heat 122-120 on Friday night at Miami-Dade Arena. The Heat have been beaten in six of their last seven games. 

     New York(38-27) held a 37-31 advantage after one quarter and were way ahead 71-56 at halftime. Miami(33-31) cut into the deficit and trailed 96-88 at the end of three quarters. The Heat had a 24-16 spurt to start the fourth quarter and tied it up 112-112 with 3:35 remaining. Julius Randle put in a field goal with 1.1 seconds left to give the Knicks a 122-120 lead. 

     Jimmy Butler contributed a club-high 33 points and eight rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro chalked up 29 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Bam Adebayo knocked in 18 points and Caleb Martin drained in 14 points. 

     Randle fell short of a double-double with game-highs of 43 points and nine rebounds for New York. Jalen Brunson added 25 points and R.J. Barrett scored 17 points. 

Dmitry Kulikov Traded To Pittsburgh Penguins

     The Pittsburgh Penguins has acquired former Florida Panthers defenseman Dmitry Kulikov from the Anaheim Ducks for center Brock McGuinn and a third-round draft pick. Kulikov has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in 61 contests with Anaheim this season. 

     It will be the eighth NHL club that Kulikov will join. He has participated in 866 games in the National Hockey League. 

     Kulikov was with the Florida Panthers for his first seven NHL seasons. He helped them win their first two division titles in franchise history back in 2011-12 and 2015-16. Kulikov ended up with 138 points in 460 games with the Panthers. 

Dryden Hunt Moves To Calgary Flames

     Former Florida Panthers forward Dryden Hunt has been traded by the Toronto Maple Leafs to the Calgary Flames for forward Radim Zohorna. Hunt will be playing for his fourth National Hockey League team this season following stints with the New York Rangers, Colorado Avalanche and Toronto Maple Leafs. He has chalked up only three goals in 37 games during 2022-23. 

     Hunt was once with the Florida Panthers for three seasons from 2017-18 until 2019-20. He compiled 15 points in 63 games with Florida. 

Chase Priskie Going To Anaheim Ducks

     Former Florida Panthers defenseman Chase Priskie has been dealt by the Buffalo Sabres to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Austin Strand. Priskie never reached the NHL with Buffalo this season and spent his time with the Rochester Americans in the American Hockey League. 

     The only time Priskie was involved in the National Hockey League was in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers. He finished with no points in four games with the Cats. 

Good Karma Brands West Palm Beach 20th Anniversary

     Good Karma Brands will celebrate its 20th anniversary in the West Palm Beach market on Friday. They have a 20-hour live local broadcast tomorrow on ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM. 

     They acquired a West Palm Beach AM frequency and launched ESPN 760 WEFL-AM on March 3, 2003. Their only local program was an afternoon show hosted by Craig Karmazin and Steve Politziner. The rest of their schedule had nationally syndicated ESPN Radio. 

     Evan Cohen would later move from early evenings to host the afternoon show while Karmazin and Politziner shifted to early evenings. Jeremy Marks-Peltz and Jason Pugh would replace them so they could put their main emphasis on Good Karma Broadcasting management at that time. 

     Good Karma Brands decided to buy another West Palm Beach radio station WUUB-FM and made it an FM frequency simulcast of ESPN 760 on February 25, 2013. They flipped it to a sports talk format and branded it ESPN West Palm 106.3. Their original property was changed to ESPN Deportes 760 with a Spanish language sports talk format in September 2013. 

     There have been numerous people that have worked at Good Karma Brands in West Palm Beach. On-air talent includes Craig Karmazin, Steve Politziner, Evan Cohen, Ken LaVicka, Jeremy Marks-Peltz, Mike Goldstein, Lance Davis, Russ Evans, Jason Pugh, Joe Girvan, Debbie "Jeter" Brown, Joe Colella, Alex Petakas, Jordan Sherwood, Chris Kokell, Pat Rooney Jr., Wells Dusenbury, Ginette Javier, Din Thomas, Kristina "Tina" Costanza, Maria Martin, Rick Horrow, Pierre Garcon, Craig Dolch, Chris Dietrich, Jimmie Bell, Josh Cohen and Herb Uzzi. Producers have included John Martin, Jim Rutledge, Brian Rowitz, Kelley Bydlon, Pratik Patel, Kyle Cassandra, Chris Conte, Stone Lebanowitz and Christian Katt. 

     They also had on-air talent that contributed at ESPN West Palm along with their duties at WPTV-TV Channel 5 and WFLX-TV Channel 29. Sportscasters were Ben Becker, Ryan Lieber, Evan Cohen, Emerson Lotzia, Jason Pugh, Joe Girvan, Keli Ferguson, Ian Hest, Theo Dorsey and Tyree Smith. 

     ESPN West Palm 106.3 WUUB-FM, ESPN 760 WEFL-AM, ESPN Deportes 760 WEFL-AM and Good Karma Brands West Palm Beach had their share of upper management along with program directors and directors of content over the past two decades. They have consisted of Craig Karmazin, Steve Politziner, Lance Davis, Mike Goldstein, Evan Cohen, Stephanie Prince and Courtney Reukaff.

     Good Karma Brands has carried local team game broadcasts over the past 20 years. They had the Palm Beach County exclusive radio rights to the Miami Dolphins, Miami Heat, Florida Marlins, Florida Panthers, University of Miami Hurricanes and University of Florida Gators when ESPN 760 launched in 2003. The organization would later become the flagship radio station of the Florida Atlantic University Owls and Keiser University. Good Karma Brands has broadcast high school football games since 2003. In addition, they once announced a weekly Florida State League baseball game of the Jupiter Hammerheads or the Palm Beach Cardinals.

Predators Surprise Panthers

     The Nashville Predators upended the Florida Panthers 2-1 at FLA Live Arena on Thursday night. The Panthers begin a seven-game homestand, which is their longest of the 2022-23 campaign. Casey Fitzgerald made his home debut with the Panthers. 

     Nashville(29-23-6) scored on the power play with 6:20 left in the first period for a 1-0 lead. Matt Duchene exchanged the puck with Luke Evangelista and then snapped a shot from the top right circle for his 19th goal this season. Roman Josi was credited with a secondary assist on the play. 

     The Predators increased their lead to 2-0 with 10.2 second left in the first. Josi gave the puck from the left point to Cody Glass on the left wing and he returned it to the middle on a blind backhand pass. Josi skated through the low slot, angled a pass to his left and John Leonard scooped in a backhand shot from the crease area past Sergei Bobrovsky for his first goal of the year. 

     In the second period, Florida(30-26-6) closed it to 2-1 at the 3:21 mark off a turnover. Radko Gudas sent the puck from his own blue line. Ryan Lomberg went down the right side on a 3-on-1 breakaway. He slid the puck across from the low right circle and Brandon Montour tapped it in by Kevin Lankinen from the top of the crease for his 11th goal of the campaign. 

Nick Bjugstad Traded To Edmonton

     The Arizona Coyotes have traded center Nick Bjugstad and defenseman Cam Dineen to the Edmonton Oilers for defenseman Michael Kesselring and a 2023 third-round draft pick. Bjugstad will be part of his fifth NHL team. 

     Bjugstad played seven seasons with the Florida Panthers and compiled 191 points in 394 games. It was his first season with Arizona and had 13 goals along with 10 assists in 59 contests. 

Vernon Carey Jr. Waived By Wizards

     The Washington Wizards have placed center Vernon Carey Jr. on waivers. He once played high school basketball with the University School Sharks. He is the son of former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Vernon Carey. 

     Carey has participated in just 11 contests this season with the Wizards and has averaged 0.5 points and one rebound per game. He has been in the National Basketball Association for the last three seasons and played in only 37 games. 

Sixers Run By Heat

     The Philadelphia 76ers raced by the Miami Heat 119-96 on Wednesday night at Miami-Dade Arena. Both teams played the second game of a home-and-home series. The Heat, who have lost five of their last six contests, participated in the first home game since February 13 and began a six-game homestand. 

     Miami(33-30) took a 38-34 lead at the end of the first quarter. Philadelphia(40-21) went on a 24-7 spurt to begin the second quarter and led 71-53 at halftime. 

     The Heat scored 10 consecutive points and the 76ers answered back with nine straight points during the third quarter. The Sixers were up 96-77 heading into the final frame. Philadelphia got the first six points of the fourth and had a 25-point margin. 

     Bam Adebayo had 20 points and eight rebounds for the Heat. Jimmy Butler scored 16 points and Max Strus added 13 points. 

     James Harden led the 76ers with 23 points and seven rebounds while Tyrese Maxey put in 27 points. Tobias Harris contributed 18 points in the victory. 

Marlins Ink Richard Rodriguez

     The Miami Marlins have signed pitcher Richard Rodriguez to a minor league contract. He will participate in spring training camp to make the Marlins major league roster. 

     Rodriguez split last season with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Atlanta Braves. He had a 5-4 record in 64 relief appearances between both clubs. 

Derek Jeter Fox Sports Limited Appearances

     Former Miami Marlins minority co-owner and chief executive officer Derek Jeter will not make as many appearances as was expected as a Fox Sports baseball studio analyst for the 2023 season. He was named to his new role at that network on February 12. 

     Jeter will work a total amount of games ranging from 15 to 25 contests this year. It will include the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game and one contest of the London Series between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. He will appear for all games of the 2013 World Series, American League Championship Series and American League Division Series. 

     He played with the New York Yankees as a shortstop from 1995 until 2014 and captured five World Series titles. Jeter was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020. He was involved in the Miami Marlins organization as an executive from October 2017 to February 2022.