Nationals xxxx Marlins

      The Washington Nationals xxxxx the Miami Marlins x-x on Saturday at loanDepot park.

NHL Sets New Salary Cap

     The National Hockey League announced the parameters to the new salary cap for the upcoming 2026-27 season. The ceiling for the salary cap will jump to a nine-figure amount for the first time in NHL history at $104 million from $95.5 million in 2025-26. 

     The salary cap floor will be at $76.9 million for next season. It turned out to be $70.6 million during the 2025-26 campaign. The midway point of the new NHL salary cap in $90.4 million. The largest amount that an NHL player can receive for the 2026-27 season is $20.8 million. 

P.J. Tucker Ends Career

     One-time Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker has announced his retirement from professional basketball. He was a free agent following the 2024-25 season with the New York Knicks. He helped the Knickerbockers reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. 

     Tucker played for the Heat during the 2021-22 NBA campaign. He averaged 7.6 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1assists per game in 81 contests with Miami. 

Nationals Get By Marlins

     The Miami Marlins were edged by the Washington Nationals 3-2 at loanDepot park on Friday night. Marlins starting pitcher Robby Snelling made his Major League Baseball debut. He gave up three runs on five hits in five innings pitched. The Nationals remained second in the National League East Division. 

     Washington(19-20) zipped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. C.J. Abrams singled into center field and Curtis Mead crossed the plate. Jacob Young followed with a two-run homer to left field on a 2-2 count with Abrams on base. 

     Miami(17-22) answered back with two runs in the bottom of the first and they were down 3-2. Xavier Edward led off with a solo home run to left-center field on a 3-1 pitch for his third homer of the year. Two batters later, Kyle Stowers hit a ball to first and Mead made a throwing error for Otto Lopez to score. 

Matthew Tkachuk On Team USA Roster

     Florida Panthers right wing Matthew Tkachuk has been named to the Team USA roster for the upcoming 2026 IIHF World Championship later this month. He was the only member of the Panthers who was selected for the squad. Tkachuk won two Stanley Cup titles with Florida in 2024 and 2025. 

     Tkachuk will attempt to be the 31st person and the first American player to ever to become a part of the Triple Gold Club. He captured a gold medal in the IIHF World Junior Championship back in 2017 and at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy several months ago in February. 

Rocky Thompson Elevated By Islanders

     Former Florida Panthers forward Rocky Thompson has been promoted by the New York Islanders to assistant coach under new head coach Peter DeBoer. Thompson spent the 2025-26 as the head coach of the Islanders AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. He finished with a 34-30-8 record as the club reached the AHL Playoffs for the first time since 2021-22.

     Thompson played with the Panthers for two seasons in 2000-01 and 2001-02. He ended up with no points in 10 contests.

Orioles Can't Sweep Marlins

     The Baltimore Orioles attempted a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins and lost 4-3 on Thursday at loanDepot park. The Marlins will host the Washington Nationals this weekend. 

     Miami(17-21) rushed out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Liam Hicks smashed a two-run homer to right field on a 0-1 pitch with Connor Norby on base. It was the ninth home run for Hicks in the 2026 campaign. 

     Baltimore(17-21) closed it to 2-1 in the top of the third. Gunnar Henderson singled up the middle for Coby Mayo to score.

     The Marlins regained a two-run margin 3-1 in the bottom of the third. Norby knocked in Javier Sanoja with a base hit through the left side. 

     In the fourth inning, the Orioles were able to make it 3-2. Tyler O'Neill singled into right-center field and Samuel Basallo reached home. 

     The O's evened it up 3-3 in the top of the eighth, Pete Alonso drove in Taylor Ward on a single into center field. 

     Miami picked up a walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Joe Mack doubled to right field with two outs. Sanoja hit the ball to third, Mayo made a throwing error to first base and Mack rounded third to score his first run of his MLB career for the walk-off victory.