Category: Sports

Sidney Crosby scores twice as Pittsburgh holds off Washington and Alex Ovechkin in 5-3 victory

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Sidney Crosby (87) gets a rebound under Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren for a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby scored twice and Bryan Rust delivered the go-ahead goal midway through the third period as the Pittsburgh Penguins edged Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals 5-3 on Thursday night.

The 39-year-old Crosby’s two first-period power-play goals boosted his season total to an NHL-best 11. Rust’s fifth of the season helped the Penguins avoid a second straight collapse. Anthony Mantha picked up his seventh of the year for Pittsburgh. Connor Dewar added an empty-net goal in the final minutes.

Rookie Ben Kindel collected the first two assists of his young career for the Penguins. Arturs Silovs made 28 saves as Pittsburgh stopped a two-game skid.

Ovechkin fueled a second-period rally by collecting a pair of assists the night after becoming the first player to reach the 900-goal plateau.

Ryan Strome, Tom Wilson and Rasmus Sandin scored for the Capitals, but the 99th all-time meeting between longtime rivals Crosby and Ovechkin ended with the surprising Penguins maintaining their composure after blowing a three-goal lead.

Pittsburgh has been an early-season surprise under first-year coach Dan Muse, though the Penguins’ hot start hit a bump on Monday when two dominant periods in Toronto morphed into a third-period meltdown in which the Maple Leafs ripped off four straight goals to pull off a stunner.

Not this time. Pittsburgh’s second-ranked power play scored three times, including a pair by Crosby in the first.

Pittsburgh appeared to be in firm control when Mantha pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-0 just over 2 minutes into the second.

Washington responded by scoring three times, the last a nifty shot from his knees by Tom Wilson that tied the game 5 seconds before the horn sounded to end the period.

The Penguins steadied themselves, and Rust put them ahead to stay with a pretty redirect off a cross-ice feed from Evgeni Malkin.

Up next

Capitals: Travel to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Penguins: Visit New Jersey on Saturday.

Pitt ranks 24 in the initial 2025 College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh quarterback Mason Heintschel (6) celebrates with teammates after they defeated Florida State in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Colin Hackley)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The University of Pittsburgh college football team made it into the initial 2025 College Football Playoff Rankings Top 25 released yesterday. Pitt earned the #24 spot after a five-game winning streak since going 2-2 in their first four games. Pitt is now 7-2 overall and 5-1 in Atlantic Coast Conference play. Since making the switch to freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel on October 4th, 2025 for their game that afternoon against Boston College, Pitt has not only won five games in a row, but also during that winning streak, they lead college football with scoring 200 points, they are second in the nation with 2,229 total yards and they have put up 24 touchdowns.

Steelers sign two-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to practice squad

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks on before the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sept. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers signed wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the practice squad on Tuesday, reuniting him with former teammate Aaron Rodgers.

The well-traveled Valdes-Scantling played alongside Rodgers from 2018-21 when they were both in Green Bay.

The 31-year-old Valdes-Scantling, who won a pair of Super Bowls with Kansas City in 2022 and 2023, was most recently with the San Francisco 49ers, catching four passes for 40 yards before being released last month.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin downplayed Valdes-Scantling’s arrival, which came a week after reports that Valdes-Scantling’s signing was imminent, only for him to hold off while waiting for a chance to join a 53-man roster instead of taking a practice squad spot.

That opportunity did not materialize, and now Valdes-Scantling finds himself on his fifth team since 2023. His most productive stop during that stretch came in New Orleans, where averaged 22.6 yards per catch and scored four touchdowns in eight games with the Saints.

“He is a really special guy, and I think MVS can still really play,” Rodgers said last week. “You saw last year when he was in New Orleans, he had opportunities. He had a lot of big touchdowns. He can still run.”

Valdes-Scantling caught 123 passes for 2,153 yards and 13 touchdowns during his four seasons alongside Rodgers in Green Bay and has averaged 17.3 yards per reception in his career.

The Steelers are in first place in the AFC North at 5-3, but have struggled to get consistent production out of their wide receivers outside of DK Metcalf. Metcalf leads the team with 29 receptions. Their next four top pass catchers are either running backs or tight ends.

Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes becomes one of three finalists for the 2025 National League Cy Young Award

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Pittsburgh, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was voted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America yesterday as one of three finalists for the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in that league. This is the second year in a row that Skenes became a finalist for this award and he joins fellow finalists Cristopher Sánchez of the Philadelphia Phillies and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Skenes finished this year with statistics including a 10-10 record, a 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts through 32 starts and 187 and 2/3 innings, with one start as a complete game. Skenes’ 2025 ERA along with his 0.95 WHIP, 2.36 FIP and 217 ERA+ this year were all first among pitchers in the National League. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, if Skenes wins the 2025 National League Cy Young Award, he would be the fifth-youngest Cy Young Award winner. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America Awards’ broadcast for the Cy Young Award to announce the winners of that award for both leagues will be on the MLB Network on Wednesday, November 12th.

Penn State Beaver adds four new varsity sports for Fall 2026 academic/athletic season

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – The Nittany Lion logo taken before an NCAA college football game between Penn State and Delaware, Sept. 9, 2023, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Monaca, PA) According to a recent release from Penn State Beaver Athletics, the Penn State Beaver Athletics Department announced the addition of four new varsity sports: men’s golf, women’s golf, men’s cross country and women’s cross country: with competition officially set to begin in the Fall 2026 academic/athletic season. The expansion underscores the commitment that Penn State Beaver has for providing opportunities for student athletes that are robust, strengthening its footprint for athletics, and enriching both engagement for its community and life on campus.

William Nylander helps the Maple Leafs rally past the Penguins 4-3

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander (88) lines up a shot on goal during second period NHL hockey action against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Toronto, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — William Nylander had two goals and an assist in the third period, helping the Toronto Maple Leafs rally for a wild 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.

Auston Matthews had a goal and an assist for Toronto, which trailed 3-0 going into the third. Bobby McMann snapped a tie with 6:17 left, and Anthony Stolarz stopped 34 shots.

The Maple Leafs won for the fourth time in five games.

Ben Kindel had two goals for Pittsburgh, and Erik Karlsson also scored. Tristan Jarry made 16 saves.

Kindel became the fifth 18-year-old in franchise history with a multigoal game, joining Sidney Crosby, Jaromir Jagr, Jordan Staal and Craig Simpson.

Kindel’s power-play goal made it 3-0 at 11:50 of the second. It was his fifth of the season.

Matthews started Toronto’s rally when he converted a breakaway 3:31 into the third. Nylander, who missed three of the Leafs’ previous four games, added two more, including a tying one-timer at 6:55.

McMann then gave Toronto its first lead after Nick Robertson took the puck hard to the net.

Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev returned to Toronto after being stretchered off in Saturday’s 5-2 victory at Philadelphia. Coach Craig Berube said the veteran blueliner “is in a good spot” following an overnight hospital stay.

Up next

Penguins: Host the Capitals on Thursday night.

Maple Leafs: Host the Mammoth on Wednesday.

 

Comrie makes 28 saves, Lambert scores 1st NHL goal as Jets top Penguins 5-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Winnipeg Jets’ Brad Lambert (93) celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. (John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP)

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Rookie forward Brad Lambert scored his first NHL goal and backup goalie Eric Comrie made 28 saves as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 Saturday.

Kyle Connor scored twice, including an empty-net goal, and Gabriel Valardi and Vladislav Namestnikov also scored for Winnipeg (9-3-0).

Sidney Crosby and Blake Lizotte scored for Pittsburgh (8-3-2). Arturs Silovs made 29 saves.

Vilardi scored 15 seconds into the game, grabbing the rebound of a shot by Josh Morrissey and banking the puck off Silovs into the net.

Lambert struck at 2:43 of the first. He was to Silovs’ right and teammate Parker Ford carried the puck behind the Penguins’ net and attempted a wrap around. The puck squirted through the crease and Lambert converted.

The Jets burst out of the gate in the second period, too. Namestnikov and Jonathan Toews rushed into the Penguins’ zone and, after Toews hesitated with the puck for a split second, the Russian winger deflected a pass behind Silovs at 1:17. It was Namestnikov’s sixth of the season.

Connor scored on a penalty shot at 12:13 of the second. Silovs misplayed the puck in the Penguins’ corner during a Pittsburgh power play and threw his stick when Connor lunged for the puck in front of an empty net.

Connor beat Silvos with a backhand shot to the glove side for what was technically a short-handed goal for his seventh of the season.

Crosby scored Pittsburgh’s first goal with 12 seconds remaining in the second, deflecting Erik Karlsson’s point shot behind Comrie.

The Penguins pulled within two goals just after the halfway point of the third. Lizotte crashed Comrie’s crease for his second goal of the season.

The Penguins kept one of the NHL’s top power plays off the scoresheet, killing all three of their penalties.

Up next

Penguins: At the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

Jets: At the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday in the opener of a six-game trip.

Aliquippa wins 21-14 against Trinity in playoff showdown

Story by Curtis Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 31, 2025 9:15 P.M.

(Washington, Pa) The Aliquippa Quips travelled to Washington Friday night to visit the Trinity Hillers for the quarterfinal round of 2025 WPIAL playoffs.

Both teams got off to a fiery start with Aliquippa scoring on the opening drive to lead the game 7-0. Trinity soon answered on their possession marching down the field to knot the game at 7-7.

As the end of the first half was approaching Aliquippa marched down the field to 1st & Goal. With seconds left until the half, Trinity held Aliquippa at the goal line until time ran out, ending the half tied at 7-7.

Trinity started the second half with the ball. As a result, the Hillers managed to drive down the field and score 7 more making it a 14-7 game.

Aliquippa’s first possession in the second half was similar to the last in the first half. They marched down the field only to be halted by big Trinity stops.

With 6 minutes left in the game, Aliquippa managed a big run play to score and tie the game.

As the end of the game approached with the score still tied, Quip made a big pass play to grab a 21-14 lead with 20 seconds left.

Aliquippa held Trinity for the last 20 seconds and made a sack at the yard line to end the game and take the playoff victory.

FINAL SCORE: Aliquippa 21 Trinity 14 

Rust has a goal and an assist as Penguins win 4-1 to send Wild to fifth straight loss

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Bryan Rust (17) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Bryan Rust had a goal and an assist, Tristan Jarry made 26 saves and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat Minnesota 4-1 on Thursday night to hand the Wild their fifth straight loss.

Rust’s tip-in of Ryan Shea’s long pass from the point broke a 1-1 tie 6:29 into the third. Ben Kindel added an insurance goal a minute later.

Shea also scored and Anthony Mantha had an empty-net goal for Pittsburgh, which improved to 5-1-1 on the road. Jarry improved to 13-5-2 since returning from an AHL stint late last season. The 30-year-old goalie held the Wild scoreless on four power plays after they entered leading the Western Conference with 14 goals with the man advantage.

Kirill Kaprizov had the lone goal for Minnesota, which has lost eight of nine, including four straight to start a six-game homestand. Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves.

Shea’s slap shot off a loose puck outside the left faceoff circle tied it 2:18 into the second period. Gustavsson stopped former Wild forward Connor Dewar on a short-handed breakaway before Jarry made two point-blank saves to help keep it tied entering the third.

The Wild opened the scoring for the first time in six games when Kaprizov tapped in a cross-ice pass from Marcus Johansson with 9:44 left in the first. It was Kaprizov’s team-leading seventh goal.

Evgeni Malkin appeared to answer for Pittsburgh less than three minutes later, but the goal was waved off because of goaltender interference. Penguins coach Dan Muse unsuccessfully challenged the call.

The sequence then included the replacement of a damaged piece of glass next to the Wild bench, leading to a stoppage of more than five minutes before the ensuing Wild power play.

Up next

Penguins: At the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday.

Wild: Host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night.

Twins hire former coach and ex-Pirates skipper Derek Shelton as manager, AP source says

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton walks to the dugout before a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Pittsburgh, April 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins have picked former bench coach Derek Shelton as their new manager, a person with knowledge of the decision confirmed Wednesday night.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the hire. Major League Baseball encourages clubs to avoid spotlighting big moves during the World Series.

Shelton served as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates for five-plus years with an overall record of 306-440 before he was fired on May 8, just 40 games into this season. The 55-year-old was the bench coach for the Twins in 2018 and 2019 under two different managers, Paul Molitor and Rocco Baldelli. With the under-funded Pirates, Shelton never finished higher than fourth place in the NL Central or better than 76-86.

Baldelli was fired the day after the regular season ended with a 527-505 record over seven years, plus 3-8 in the postseason. The Twins won three AL Central titles under Baldelli, including their 101-61 finish in 2019 when the rookie skipper won the AL Manager of the Year award, but they made the playoffs only once in his last five seasons and frequently struggled to shepherd their top prospects into becoming consistent contributors.

New York Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, who held that role for the Twins under both Molitor and Baldelli before leaving to become bench coach of the Miami Marlins in 2020, was also one of the finalists. According to multiple reports, former Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais and current Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty were in the mix, too. The Twins are one of nine MLB teams who have changed managers this year.

Shelton, who was well-regarded within the Twins organization and a close friend to Baldelli, will take over a team that spiraled to a 70-92 finish after the front office decided to use the leverage of the deadline to maximize the incoming talent and traded 10 players off the major league roster in a stunningly aggressive teardown.

The Twins traded their five best relievers, from closer Jhoan Duran on down, and left the final 54 games to a ragtag group that had eight blown saves in 18 opportunities during that span. The conversion rate of 44.4% ranked second-worst in the majors over the final two months.

The Twins are 82-119 over their last 201 games for a .408 winning percentage, and that includes a 13-game winning streak this season.

Attendance has swooned at Target Field. The Twins finished with their lowest total for 81 home games (a little more than 1.7 million tickets sold) in a non-pandemic season since 2000 when they played at the cramped and dingy Metrodome and went 69-93.

Fans mostly have directed their disdain toward ownership, with deep frustration over cost cutting that came after the 2023 breakthrough Baldelli led with the end of a record 18-game postseason losing streak and the club’s first win of a playoff series in 21 years.

Executive chair Joe Pohlad and his family members put the franchise up for sale in 2024, but decided in August to keep control and bring on two new investment groups for an infusion of cash to help pay down debt.