Brady Tkachuk First Star Of The Week

     The National Hockey League has named Florida Panthers center Brady Tkachuk as their First Star of the Week. The time period went from October 12 to October 18. 

     Tkachuk compiled back-to-back natural hat tricks at the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 13 and at home against the Vancouver Canucks on October 15. He finished with six goals and four assists for 10 points in three games this past week. He was held pointless in his first five contests with the Panthers to begin the 2026-27 regular season. 

     Florida had one of their players announced as the NHL First Star of the Week several times over the past decade. Matthew Tkachuk was named First Star of the Week in February 2023 and December 2024. Sam Reinhart won it in January 2024 and October 2024.   

Jack Studnicka On Flyers

     One-time Florida Panthers center Jack Studnicka was called up by the Philadelphia Flyers from their AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley last week. He had no points in three contests with the Flyers. 

     Studnicka had a short stint with the Panthers last season. He participated in 19 games and contributed no points for them. 

Vidal Brujan Becomes Free Agent

     Former Miami Marlins utility player Vidal Brujan had decided to become a free agent. He participated in nine contests with the New York Mets during the 2026 campaign. 

     Brujan was with the Marlins organization for one season in 2024. He finished with two home runs, 16 runs batted in and a .222 batting average in 102 games with Miami. 

Eagles Ink Joe Milton

     The Philadelphia Eagles decided to sign quarterback Joe Milton to a one-year contract. He was selected off the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. 

     Milton started his high school football career with the Pahokee Blue Devils and moved on to the Olympia Titans. He split his time in college football with the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Tennessee Volunteers. 

     He was taken by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft and appeared in one game. Milton participated in four contests with the Cowboys last year. 

Hurricanes Survive Florida State

     The University of Miami Hurricanes escaped the Florida State University Seminoles 43-35 in double overtime at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday night. It continued the rivalry between the two Florida-based colleges in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

     Miami(6-0, 4-0) took a 7-0 lead at 7:33 of the first quarter. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. busted through the left side of the line from seven yards away.

     Florida State(3-4, 1-3) tied it up 7-7 at the 13:52 mark of the second quarter. Tight end Desirrio Riles caught a 23-yard screen pass on the left side from quarterback Ashton Daniels for the score. 

     The Canes answered back with 8:19 remaining in the second and led 14-7. Quarterback Darian Mensah connected a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malachi Toney in the back of the end zone.

      The Seminoles evened it up 14-14 with 1:40 to go in the first half. Daniels was able to sneak in on a run from two yards out.

      FSU got their first lead in the contest with 4:09 left in the third quarter to make it 21-14. Daniels tossed a 28-yard pass to running back Quintrevion Wisner.

      In the fourth quarter, the Hurricanes made it 21-21 at the 9:33 mark. Javian Mallory rushed around the left end on a three-yard touchdown run. 

      The U moved in front 28-21 with 2:38 remaining in the fourth. Mensah threw a four-yard swing pass to tight end Elija Lofton on the right side of the end zone. 

      The Seminoles scored just 13 seconds later to tie it 28-28. Daniels zipped a 75-yard touchdown pass to wide reciever Duce Robinson. 

      The Noles got the ball in the overtime session and scored. Daniels found Robinson again on a 20-yard pass play.

      The Hurricanes matched it and made it 35-35. Mallory bolted through the left side of the line from 25 yards away.

       In the second overtime, Mensah fired a three-yard touchdown pass  to Toney. Wide receiver Cooper Barkate caught a two-point conversion pass from Mensah and Miami led 43-35.

       Florida State had a 36-yard touchdown strike on fourth down from Daniels to wide receiver Danzy deep on the right side of the end zone, however it was negated due to a holding penalty. Daniels then threw another hail-Mary pass of 46 yards to the right side of the end zone and it was barely intercepted by Bryce Fitzgerald to end the game.

Inter Miami CF End Atlanta United FC

     Inter Miami CF topped Atlanta United FC 3-1 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday night. The Herons entered tonight's contest at an away venue in which they have the worst road record among all competitions in franchise history at 2-5-2 or a .222 winning percentage. 

     Inter Miami CF(14-5-10) waited until 45 minute into the first half to go up 1-0. Luis Suarez made a left-footed cross from the right side and German Berterame was able to get the tally on a header from three yards away. 

      In the second half, it became 2-0 for the Herons in the 56th minute. Lionel Messi dribbled with the ball up the middle of the field, through several defenders and into the penalty area. He then fired a left-footed shot from 12 yards out. 

     Messi put in another goal in the 60th minute to increase the Inter Miami CF lead to 3-0. Suarez threaded a long lead pass from the Herons own end of the field. Messi went in on a 1-on-1 breakaway and scored from 15 yards out with his left foot. It was his second tally of the contest and his 25th Major League Soccer goal this season. 

     Atlanta United FC(8-15-6) broke the shutout in the 89th minute of play. Fafa Picault shot the ball into the low right corner of the cage on a penalty kick with his right foot.

Panthers Steamroll Kraken

     Carter Verhaeghe pulled off a natural hat trick and Sam Bennett added a hat trick as the Florida Panthers clobbered the Seattle Kraken 8-3 on Saturday night at Amerant Bank Arena. Florida became the first team in NHL history with natural hat tricks in three straight games.

     The Panthers led at the conclusion of the first period for the first time in nine games this season. They completed a two-game homestand and will not play at home again until October 30. Kraken right wing Mackie Samoskevich faced his former team for the first time. 

     Florida(5-2-2) raced out to a 1-0 lead at the 1:05 mark. Bennett chalked up his first goal of the year off an assist by Matthew Tkachuk.

     Seattle(5-3-1) evened it up 1-1 at 4:54 in the period. Shane Wright released a rising shot for his third tally this season.

     The Cats expanded their lead to 2-1 with 2:04 left in the opening frame. Carter Verhaeghe found the net for the fourth time of the campaign.

     The Panthers made it 3-1 on the power play with 53 seconds remaining in the first. Verhaeghe collected his second goal of the contest and fifth goal of the season.

     In the second period, Florida increased their lead to 4-1 at 6:02. Verhaeghe picked up the natural hat trick with his third goal of the game and sixth goal in 2026-27.

     The Cats made it 6-1 later in the period. Niko Mikkola scored at the 6:42 mark and Bennett marked his second goal of the contest with 6:47 to go in the second.

     The Kraken closed it to 6-2 with 54.6 seconds remaining in the second. Frederick Gadreau placed in his fifth tally in 2026-27.

     The Panthers had a 7-2 lead on the power play at the 2:25 mark of the third period. Sam Reinhart was able to get his fifth goal this season.

      It became 8-3 for Florida with 8:46 to go in the third. Bennett completed a hat trick with his 400th career NHL point.