Category: Sports

Mantha scores 2 goals to help the Penguins beat the Hurricanes 5-1

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Anthony Mantha (39) celebrates his second goal of the game during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Anthony Mantha scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1 on Tuesday night.

Mantha, who scored in his third straight game, had a power-play goal in the first period and added another goal in the second as Pittsburgh jumped out to a 5-0 lead. Justin Brazeau set a career high with his 12th goal and added an assist. Tommy Novak had a goal and an assist, and Sidney Crosby scored his 21st of the season.

Erik Karlsson had two assists and passed Brad Park for the 14th-most points by a defenseman in NHL history. Bryan Rust also added two assists for the Penguins, who have won three of four following an eight-game losing streak.

Stuart Skinner made 27 saves and improved to 1-3 with the Penguins since they acquired him Dec. 12 from Edmonton in a trade that sent goalie Tristan Jarry to the Oilers.

Mark Jankowski scored for the Hurricanes, who have lost four of six.

Frederik Andersen stopped 23 shots for Carolina. He is 0-6-2 in his last eight starts and hasn’t won since Nov. 6 against Minnesota.

Crosby and the Penguins took advantage of a turnover behind the net to open a 1-0 lead 3:46 into the game.

Brazeau and Mantha made it 3-0 later in the period with goals 1:05 apart. Brazeau chipped a shot behind Andersen at 16:07 while falling to the ice on a partial breakaway, and Mantha scored a power-play goal at 17:12 from the top of the crease. Brett Kulak set up Brazeau’s breakaway with his 100th NHL assist.

Novak and Mantha scored in the final five minutes of the second period to make it 5-0. Noel Acciari screened Andersen on Novak’s shot from the high slot, and Mantha scored his second goal after a give-and-go with Brazeau.

The Hurricanes played again without top defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, who missed Monday’s game against the New York Rangers with a lower-body injury.

Up next

Hurricanes: Host the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.

Penguins: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

 

Former Pitt wide reciever Larry Fitzgerald among fifteen 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Larry Fitzgerald Jr. holds a ball on the field before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Ravens in New Orleans on Nov. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert/File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Canton, OH) Former Pitt football and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is one of fifteen finalists to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 Class. People from the museum in Canton, Ohio recently selected Fitzgerald as a finalist for this honor because he is second all-time in NFL history in catches with 1,432 and receiving yards with 17,492 only behind Jerry Rice in those categories. Fitzgerald was drafted as the third overall pick in the first round in the 2004 NFL draft and he played all seventeen of his NFL seasons with the Cardinals. Fitzgerald joins Willie Anderson, Drew Brees, Jahri Evans, Frank Gore, Torry Holt, Luke Kuechly, Eli Manning, Terrell Suggs, Adam Vinatieri, Reggie Wayne, Kevin Williams, Jason Witten, Darren Woodson and Marshal Yanda as finalists for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Penguins acquire forward Yegor Chinakhov from Blue Jackets in exchange for Danton Heinen and two draft picks

(Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of Sue Ogrocki/AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired right winger and forward Yegor Chinakhov from the Columbus Blue Jackets yesterday as part of a trade in exchange for left winger Danton Heinen, a 2026 second-round draft pick and a 2027 third-round draft pick. During his time with Columbus, Chinakhov scored 37 goals, recorded 40 assists and earned 77 points in 204 games. Chinakhov was drafted as the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

All-Star first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and Pirates agree to a $29 million, 2-year deal, AP source says

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – San Diego Padres’ Ryan O’Hearn celebrates after hitting a grand slam during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sept. 23, 2025, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

PITTSBURGH (AP)(December 23rd, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Pirates took another step toward being a contender in 2026, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with All-Star first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn that’s designed to give one of the worst offenses in the majors a boost.

A person with knowledge of the agreement told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the deal includes $500,000 annually in performance bonuses. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because it was not yet official.

O’Hearn receives the first multiple-year free agent deal the Pirates have agreed to since 2016. The left-handed slugger is coming off the best season of his big league career. He hit .281 with 17 home runs and 63 RBIs in 2025 and made the All-Star team for the first time while playing for Baltimore and San Diego.

The rare splurge by the Pirates is their second significant acquisition in less than a week. Pittsburgh acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe from Tampa Bay on Dec. 19 as part of a three-team deal that included sending starting pitcher Mike Burrows to Houston.

Pittsburgh has vowed to build around a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes and rookie Bubba Chandler. The Pirates are coming off a 71-91 season in which the offense finished at or near the bottom of the majors in most significant statistical categories, including runs and home runs.

O’Hearn gives Pittsburgh a bit of versatility. He has played both first base and a corner outfield spot. The Pirates have the left-handed hitting Spencer Horwitz at first, though O’Hearn could see time there and perhaps in the outfield alongside Oneil Cruz and two-time All-Star Bryan Reynolds.

O’Hearn is a career .252 hitter, but his numbers improved as he became a reliable contributor during his 2 1/2 seasons with the Orioles, who traded him to the contending Padres at the deadline. He is batting .277 with 46 homers and 182 RBIs since 2023 and now finds himself playing half his games in a ballpark where the 21-foot-high Clemente Wall starts just 320 feet from home plate.

Mark E. Byers named as the new Executive Director of the PIAA

PIAA logo

(File Photo of the PIAA Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Mechanicsburg, PA) Mark E. Byers was recently named as the new Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA). Executive Director with unanimous support from the PIAA’s Board of Directors. Byers will begin his new position on January 1st, 2026 and he will be the ninth Executive Director of the PIAA since 1913, the year it was founded. Byers has been a member of the PIAA Administrative Staff since 1999, was brought on that staff as an assistant executive director, and in 2012, was promoted to chief operating officer.

Pitt promotes assistant coach Corey Sanders to defensive coordinator

(Photo Courtesy of the Pitt Panthers, Posted on Facebook on December 28th, 2025)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The University of Pittsburgh college football team has promoted Corey Sanders from assistant coach to its new defensive coordinator. The announcement of this move came yesterday from head coach Pat Narduzzi after longtime Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates announced he would retire following the bowl game that Pitt played against East Carolina University on Saturday. Sanders has served as Pitt’s assistant head coach since 2024 and he will enter into his ninth season on the Pitt coaching staff in 2026.

Ambridge targeting Ellwood City high school coach Dan Bradley for its next head coach

(File Photo of the Ambridge Area School District Logo)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Ambridge, PA) Ambridge athletic director Anthony Amadio confirms that after four seasons leading the Ellwood City High School football team, Dan Bradley could be returning to Ambridge to become its next head coach. According to information in a phone call last Monday, Amadio said that the position has been offered to Bradley and the move will be voted on and made official during its next school board meetings in January on the 14th and 21st. Bradley has a career record of 104-53 and this comes after Ambridge high school football head coach Sherman McBride resigned at the end of the 2025 season.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and his wife welcome birth of their fifth child

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of Allegheny Health Network)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Wexford, PA) Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and his wife, Maria, welcomed their fifth child at AHN Wexford Hospital four days before Christmas this year. Their new baby boy, Suede McCutchen, was born on the afternoon of December 21st, 2025 and according to a recent release from Allegheny Health Network, Suede was delivered by Dr. Ron Cypher, OB/GYN with Allegheny Health Network. 

Brazeau has hat trick, Rust scores twice as Penguins rout Blackhawks 7-3

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby, top, passes the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

CHICAGO (AP) — Justin Brazeau recorded first NHL hat trick, Bryan Rust scored twice and the Pittsburgh Penguins rolled past the sliding Chicago Blackhawks 7-3 on Sunday night.

Anthony Mantha had a goal and assist and Noel Acciari scored as the Penguins won their second game in three, but just their second in the last 11 (2-5-4). Ryan Shea had three assists, and Arturs Silovs made 21 saves.

Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno scored in his return after missing 19 games with a hand injury, and Wyatt Kaiser and Tyler Bertuzzi each had a goal. Last-place Chicago came out flat a night after snapping a six-game losing streak in Dallas with a shootout win and lost for the ninth time in its last 11 (2-9-0).

Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight stopped only three of the first seven shots he faced before being relieved by Arvid Soderblom 12:03 into the game. Knight returned for the third period and stopped both shots he faced in the frame.

Soderblom stopped 12 of 15 shots, including Sidney Crosby’s breakaway in the second period.

The Penguins led 4-0 midway through the first period.

Mantha opened the scoring 1:38 in, swatting in a loose rebound. Rust made it 2-0 at 7:19, beating Knight on the glove side from the left circle. Brazeau upped it to 3-0 just 61 seconds later, knocking in Mantha’s feed from behind the net and prompting Chicago coach Jeff Blashill to take a timeout.

Rust fired in a screened shot from the right circle at 12:03 for his 15th goal to chase Knight.

Foligno cut it to 4-1 midway through the second, tucking in a loose puck from the crease.

Brazeau added goals 57 second apart to complete his hat trick. Alone in front, he slid in a power-play score at 12:20, then deflected in Connor Dewar’s high shot for his 11th goal of the season.

Kaiser made it 6-2 with 6:30 left in the second, then Acciari scored with 1:12 to go in the period. Bertuzzi scored with one second left in the third.

Up next

Penguins: Host Carolina on Tuesday.

Blackhawks: Host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

 

William Nylander’s 4-points lift Maple Leafs over Penguins 6-3, snapping 3-game skid

 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz (18) scores past Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Stuart Skinner (74) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP) — Max Domi scored the winner with 8:25 remaining to snap a 23-game goalless streak and added an assist to end the Toronto Maple Leafs’ three-game slide with a 6-3 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Domi danced around Pittsburgh newcomer Brett Kulak for the deciding goal, a few hours after Toronto general manager Brad Treliving gave coach Craig Berube a vote of confidence for the second time this season.

William Nylander scored twice and added two assists, and Matias Maccelli and Steven Lorentz also scored for Toronto. Bobby McMann added an empty-netter to give Toronto its third win this season against the Penguins.

Bryan Rust, Rutger McGroarty and Anthony Mantha scored for the Penguins, who have lost nine of their last 10.

Nylander scored the icebreaker for his first in 11 games, midway through the first period. But Rust drew the Penguins even 44 seconds later, getting behind Nicolas Roy and Chris Tanev for a successful breakaway.

Tanev returned after a 23-game absence. He was stretchered off the ice after a collision on Nov. 1 in Philadelphia.

Toronto fired 31 shots on goal while the Penguins registered 32, with Joseph Woll picking up his sixth win in 11 starts. Pittsburgh goalie Stuart Skinner has yet to win in three starts, with 12 goals against since being traded by the Edmonton Oilers on Dec. 15.

A day after assistant coach Marc Savard was fired for steering the Maple Leafs to the NHL’s worst power play (12 for 90 with four short-handed goals against), Toronto went 0 for 2 against Pittsburgh. Assistant coach Derek Lalonde has been tasked with fixing the team’s power-play struggles.

Up next

Penguins: Visit Chicago on Sunday.

Maple Leafs: Host Ottawa on Saturday.