Browsing: Opportunity

It was a winning road trip for the Vancouver Canucks even if it didnâ€t feel that way.

Most times on a five-game trip, if the visiting teamâ€s travel record is 3-1 heading into the last stop on the tour, that final game feels like a bonus. Win and itâ€s a superb trip. Lose and itâ€s still a successful one with six points out of 10. Go .600 on the road all season and youâ€d need to be putrid at home not to make the National Hockey League playoffs.

Normally, you take 3-2-0 in a heartbeat. Get home, rest up and use your own rink to your advantage.

The problem for the Canucks is that Thursdayâ€s travel finale, which they lost 2-1 to the struggling Nashville Predators, looked at least as winnable as the back-to-back home games Vancouver has this weekend against the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers.

For the Canucks, there are other problems, of course. There is a potential crisis at centre with no safety net even before Filip Chytil crashed with another apparent concussion Sunday in Washington. The Canucks arenâ€t scoring — two goals in their last seven periods — and their power play has suddenly disappeared.

The power play went 0-for-5 on Thursday, which included a 90-second five-on-three near the end of the first period, and actually finished minus-one because Ryan Oâ€Reilly opened scoring shorthanded for Nashville at 9:01 of the second period.

Big picture, Thursdayâ€s game felt like a missed opportunity for the Canucks not only to add an exclamation mark to their trip but, more essentially, simply stash two more available points in the standings. Two points that may be harder to come by this weekend.

The Canadiens will be in Vancouver before the Canucks get home and had won six of seven before losing 6-5 in Edmonton on Thursday. And the Oilers, though scuffling themselves and playing their own back-to-backs this weekend, still have Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and fairly dominated Vancouver in a 3-1 win on Thanksgiving Weekend.

In Nashville, the Canucks managed more energy and a better game than they displayed in Tuesdayâ€s 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But they were outshot 35-22 by a Predators team that had been winless in four, and the Canucks were outplayed at five-on-five.

Still, it was 1-1 heading into the third period, with both points there to be seized.

But the Canucks were slow to close down Justin Barron at the point, the Predatorâ€s shot was tipped by Cole Smith between goalie Thatcher Demkoâ€s pads and the puck rolled on edge just over the goal-line for Nashvilleâ€s winner at 5:09 of the third period.

Playing their fifth game in eight nights with two time-zone changes, the Canucks generated only seven shots in the third period. Brock Boeser, back from a two-game leave of absence for personal reasons, had one of the few good chances to tie it but couldnâ€t elevate his shot from the hashmarks over Juuse Saros†pad just before the buzzer.

By the time the Canucks see the Oilers on Sunday at Rogers Arena, it will be Vancouverâ€s seventh game in 11 nights.

Itâ€s important to remember the unease hovering around the Canucks when their five-game odyssey began after disconcerting losses to the Oilers and St. Louis Blues.

The team chased away those doubts with impressive wins in Dallas, Chicago and Washington to start the road trip.

But since Chytil was crushed in the final minute of the first period in Washington on Sunday, Vancouver has been outscored 10-3 and lost a pair of games against teams almost nobody is picking to make the playoffs.

The Canucks are 4-4 through eight games. Equal shares of good and bad.

Promoted from minor-league Abbotsford for the road trip, Max Sasson scored his third goal in five games. The skill he displayed in doing a spin-o-rama with the puck in the neutral zone to beat Barron along the boards, then skate away on a breakaway and fool Saros with a quick shot between his pads is why the 25-year-old is changing the narrative around him.

Yes, Sasson is an undrafted, late-bloomer who is undersized and speedy. He had only three goals in 29 games for the Canucks last season. But he is showing on this recall that he can make plays at the NHL level and may yet be able to transport his offensive game from the AHL. Is he the second-line replacement for Chytil? He shouldnâ€t be, not this season.

But Sasson has speed and skill the Canucks need, and he looks capable of breaking through the low ceiling attached to most second-tier prospects.

And by the way, it was a heckuva assist on his goal by another minor-league callup, Sassonâ€s AHL linemate Linus Karlsson, who used his heavy stick and game to emerge with the puck against two Predators behind the Canucks†net, then send a stretch-pass up ice.

Sure, Smithâ€s fortunate deflection broke a 1-1 tie in the third period. But, honestly, the game was decided by a Vancouver power play that allowed Oâ€Reilly to open scoring shorthanded on a two-on-one. It capped an atrocious minus-one night for the Canucks†man-advantage unit.

The power play was mostly peripheral, and the decisive puck movement and player interchanges we saw in the pre-season and the start of October have been missing the last two games. The Canucks were bullied on special teams in both.

WHATâ€S WRONG WITH QUINN HUGHES?

That headline-question gets asked as often in Vancouver as: “Why is this condo so cheap?â€

Hughes is the Canucks†superstar, their one game-changer, not including Demko. And even when he isnâ€t generating goals, Hughes always seems to have the puck and is generating chances.

But Vancouverâ€s captain seems to be pressing so much to help his team win that it is getting counter-productive.

Usually a play-driving force of nature, Hughes had no points and two shots in 29:26 of ice time in Nashville and, almost inconceivably, Vancouver was outshot 18-6 at five-on-five with its best player on the ice. Hughes†expected-goals-for share of 33.5 per cent looked like a misprint.

Through eight games, the Canucks have been outshot 91-64 at five-on-five with Hughes, and that shot-share of 41.3 per cent is more than 14 points below his elite level from last season.

The Canucks have 74 games to go and their surest thing is Quinn Hughes. But through two weeks, the Canucks†desperation is reflected by Hughes†desperation. Even with the greatest players on Earth, less is more sometimes.

Foote on power play: “The last three games, teams have been pressing us a lot on our power play. I think we have to move our feet a little bit more. . . and get a few more pucks to the net. We had some good looks, but it would have been nice to get one there (on the five-on-three).â€

Foote on the schedule: “We donâ€t have much time to, you know, get our legs back. But it is a condensed season that we all are aware of, and weâ€ve been aware of it for a long time. Itâ€s happening to every team, and every team is going to have their. . . tough week or tough two weeks. This is a tough one for us, but weâ€re going to be pros and get ready for the next one.â€

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The fallout and scrutiny on England after the Ashes was so significant that it was never going to be a quick fix for Edwards, who was ushered in to replace Jon Lewis in the aftermath.

Even here in India and Sri Lanka, where they are unbeaten, there are still areas needed to improve considerably if they are to kick on past the semi-finals, most notably a fragile middle order which is relying heavily on Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight.

However, considering that much of the criticism they faced surrounded their attitude and perception to the public, there has been a notable difference in that regard.

Sciver-Brunt said before the tournament the team was “chalk and cheese” from the one which ended the Ashes in Melbourne.

They had been thumped inside three days in the one-off Test and worn down by a brutal, winless tour, consoled by their families and friends, while the jubilant Australians basked in the glory.

But here, England are relaxed and quietly confident. They are more engaging with the media, and when under pressure on the field have held their nerve rather than buckling.

Under Lewis their mantra was to “inspire and entertain”, which seemed to get lost in translation quite often as they became overly aggressive, but under Edwards things have shifted – in fact, they are even embracing being boring.

“It’s the way it can go in ODI cricket sometimes – you just have to stay in it, try and be boring, try and control the game as much as you can,” fast bowler Lauren Bell told BBC Sport.

“If you can bowl tight over, after tight over, after tight over, it’s a way of building pressure and then the wicket will hopefully come.

“I get told to be boring a lot when it comes to bowling, as in bowl the same ball – your best ball as much as possible.

“We’ve come a long way since we played Australia in the Ashes. Lottie’s [Charlotte Edwards] really big on just winning, and working out a way however it looks or however it might come – sometimes winning ugly is something that you need to learn how to do.”

The knockout stage is looming and that is where their new process and mindset will be tested most, but on Wednesday England have a chance to show they have put the Ashes behind them while in form and riding a wave of positivity – something they are rarely afforded.

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MONTREAL — A sequence of saves from Jakub Dobes, when his Montreal Canadiens needed it most, as they were killing a penalty after losing all the momentum theyâ€d built up through the first 25 minutes of play against the Buffalo Sabres: first on a Tage Thompson breakaway, then on a sharp-angle shot from Rasmus Dahlin, then with his paddle down to break up a two-on-one, and finally with his skate to stifle a jam play from Peyton Krebs.

The 24-year-old made 30 stops on Monday, but those four were most timely.

Without them, the Canadiens wouldnâ€t have beaten the Sabres 4-2 to complete a 3-1-0 Bell-Centre stand that improved their record to 5-2-0 on the season.

They stacked up a bunch of small plays that proved big in the end. There was Alex Carrierâ€s first-period stand at the offensive blue line, where he took a hit, held his position, stepped on the puck to freeze it — as three Sabres attacked him — before kicking it over to Alex Newhook, who sprung Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen on the break that led to Montrealâ€s first goal. And there were all the ones Jake Evans, Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher made to get the Canadiens back to their game before Evans scored an empty-net goal captain Nick Suzukiâ€s desperate shot block created.

Lane Hutson, who scored what proved to be the winning goal earlier praised Carrier for his intelligence on Kapanenâ€s goal.

And then Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said this about Evans, Anderson and Gallagher: “Jakeyâ€s line, to me, is a momentum line. I thought they spent a lot of time in the offensive zone. It didnâ€t start from pretty plays through the neutral zone, and we need that. Especially at home, when you have matchups, and you can have a line that can play against other guys†top line and also bring momentum… I feel like their simplicity helps my matchup.â€

St. Louis wasnâ€t asked about Dobes, but heâ€d have acknowledged the goaltenderâ€s simple efficiency as a major factor in this win.

Dobes wasnâ€t exactly the same Dobes we saw shoot out to a 5-0-0 start to his NHL career last season. That guy was electric, he was all over his crease, he was scrambling to make both the easy and hard saves look hard and demonstrating a level of desperation that quickly endeared him to his teammates.

The guy we saw on Monday was better. And he coupled his built-in combativeness with some technical proficiency to steady the Canadiens right as they were losing the plot.

“I feel like I like a lot of things that weâ€ve worked on,†Dobes said. “I feel like Iâ€m really compact this season, and I donâ€t open up as much as I used to in the past. I feel like the technical thing, maybe you guys donâ€t see it, but I feel like Iâ€m way better than last year. Last year, I felt like I was a little bit scrambly, but this year I feel like Iâ€m more compact and subtle and just feel a little bit better than last year for sure.â€

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His confidence is swelling at the right time, and itâ€s keeping the Canadiens rolling and offering starter Samuel Montembeault time to redeem some of his own confidence.

Itâ€s been rocked a bit by a slow start to the season, with Montembeault allowing 13 goals through four starts and failing to make the timely saves the Canadiens have needed in their only two losses.

Prior to Mondayâ€s game, St. Louis said Dobes deserved to start.

Following Mondayâ€s game, itâ€s easy to conclude Dobes deserves to start more. Heâ€s 3-0-0 and sporting a .939 save percentage after allowing only five goals on 82 shots, and that was after he didnâ€t allow a single goal in the pre-season. Riding the hot hand while allowing Montembeaultâ€s to warm back up seems logical.

Stimulating competition between both goaltenders does, too, and St. Louis said earlier in the day he was for it.

“I think itâ€s a competitive league,†the coach said. “Youâ€re always going to have internal competition… We feel comfortable with both goalies, but youâ€re always going to have that internal competition, no matter what position you play. Players want more.â€

And St. Louis needs his players pushing for more.

Dobes did it from post-to-post on Monday, and heâ€ll need to keep that up. Especially with a compressed schedule that wouldâ€ve already forced the Canadiens to rely on him more than they did last season.

Down the stretch, they relied almost exclusively on Montembeault.

The Becancour, Que., native ended up appearing in 62 regular-season games before tearing his groin in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thereâ€s a need to manage Montembeaultâ€s minutes more this season, and Dobes is enabling them to do it.

“We have 82 games, we have two good goalies,†said St. Louis. “Will both be on top of their game all year? No, so you manage it. You manage their workloads and their performance.

“Thatâ€s what weâ€re doing.â€

It would be a lot harder right now if Dobes wasnâ€t stepping up to the task.

But the Ostrava, Cze., native did that on Monday, and heâ€s earning trust he can be used more regularly.

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It’s been a long road to the NHL for young Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson.

Robertson was selected back in 2019 with the 49th overall pick in the second round of the NHL Draft, and he spent his first four seasons stashed down in the AHL before receiving a call-up down the stretch last year.

With New York eliminated from the playoff race, he appeared in the final two games of the regular season, finishing with three shots on goal and a +3 rating.

After more changes to the defensive core this offseason, Robertson cracked the roster as the extra defenseman to start this season, but with injuries and sluggish play he’s quickly made his way into the lineup.

Thus far, the 24-year-old has taken advantage of the opportunity.

“I’ve waited a long time for this,” Robertson told Mollie Walker of the NY Post. “I came into camp not knowing what to expect and I’m just grateful for the opportunity. Trying to make the most of every opportunity I get and trying to get better each day.”

Robertson certainly has looked the part as he’s skated in the Blueshirts’ last four games.

He finally found his way onto the scorers’ sheet on Saturday night, firing a shot from the point past Montreal’s Sam Montembeault to give him his first career goal and the Rangers their first lead in the third period.

That made up for the first big mistake of his pro career, which occurred just a minute and a half into the opening period, as a turnover sent the Canadiens the other way for an odd-man rush and the game’s opening goal.

Mike Sullivan liked how he was able to shake it and bounceback later on.

“As a young player, sometimes that can affect a guy,” the head coach said. “What I loved about it is just his response — his ability to shake it off and just play. Watching him the rest of the night, he was competing and playing hard, it didn’t effect his confidence or swagger.”

If that confidence and swagger continue growing, perhaps Robertson can solidify himself as a mainstay in the lineup.

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The Detroit Red Wings are set to begin their centennial campaign with a matchup on Thursday evening against the historic Original Six rival Montreal Canadiens, and while this campaign will be all about the franchise celebrating a full century in Motor City, there are several youngsters being introduced into the institution that is Red Wings hockey.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård (15th overall, 2024), Axel Sandin-Pellikka (17th overall, 2023), and Emmitt Finnie (201st overall, 2023) have all made sufficient enough an impression on Red Wings coaching and management during Training Camp and the pre-season that they saw fit to reward them with roster spots for Opening Night.

Finnie will be getting a true baptism by fire into the NHL, beginning his young career playing on Detroit’s first line with team captain Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond.

Naturally, when he found out the news that he’d made the cut, it was an exciting feeling.

“I just came to the rink and found out I was going to be in the lineup, there was lots of excitement and nerves for tonight, but just you know, happy it all worked out,” Finnie explained Thursday morning ahead of his NHL debut.

It doesn’t seem like long ago that established Red WIngs players like Larkin, Raymond, and Moritz Seider were once rookies themselves, and Finnie has leaned on their support and picked their brains on what he himself can expect as he hits the ice for the first time in regular season play.

“I’ve talked to a couple of guys about their first games and how to kind of get into it and relax then nerves, and they tell just keep telling me to play my game and the nerves will settle in off the start,” Finnie said. “Just be super confident out there and play my game.”

Just like his rookie teammates Brandsegg-Nygård and Sandin-Pellikka, Finnie is going to have a large presence of relatives in the stands to watch his inaugural game.

“I’ve got my mom and dad, brother, sister, my girlfriend, aunt, uncle, and his wife,” he said of who will be coming to support him. “Lots of family and friends.”

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Finnie especially impressed with his play in Training Camp and the pre-season, during which he skated in seven of eight games and was used in all situations by head coach Todd McLellan. Not only does he possess tremendous speed, he’s also shown that he’s unafraid to go into the tough areas of the ice – not something that your average 20-year-old does with such enthusiasm.

“I think I bring a high motor, I feel like a 200 foot player, and I have lots of speed so I can be all over the ice and impact the game in lots of ways,” Finnie said of his playing style.

During McLellan’s press conference following Wednesday’s practice, he said he’d love to have some of the younger Red Wings players take a crash course in Red Wings history so that they could better appreciate that their vocation has brought them to such a historic team.

While Finnie was only weeks away from turning three years of age when the Red Wings last won the Stanley Cup in 2008, he’s already familiarized himself with some of the dominant teams of years past who wore the logo he now sports himself.

“I’m pretty familiar with it, just obviously watching highlights and stuff like it,” Finnie said of understanding the history of the team he now plays for during their most recent period of NHL supremacy. “They were a dominant team and had dominant players. It’s definitely the expectation for this team, and they’ve built a legacy around it. We just want to get back to that point.”

Meet The New Guys: Detroit’s Trio Of Rookies
The Detroit Red Wings will open their 100th season on Thursday by ushering in a new era, as top prospects Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, and Axel Sandin-Pellikka make their NHL debuts in key lineup roles.

Starting his own career in the 100th year of the winningest franchise in the history of any United States-based NHL team isn’t something that Finnie is taking for granted.

“It’s very special, obviously the Winged Wheel is a historic logo and any time you get to wear it, it’s very special,” he said. “I’m super honored to be in this position.”

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Mark Briscoe (photo by Jared Walsh @jjwalsh22)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

Mark Briscoe is someone that is impervious to being booked poorly given his charisma and connection with the crowd. Mark and his brother Jay were relegated to only appearing only in Ring of Honor under Tony Khan after he purchased the company in 2022 due to Jay posting anti-LGBTQ tweets on Twitter while he was a member of the original ROH roster. The tweets upset a Warner executive and Mark and his brother were banned from AEW TV and PPV.

Not long after Jayâ€s death, Mark was allowed to appear on AEW TV for the first time. He got a shot at the ROH World TV Championship held by Samoa Joe. The match took place at the ROH Supercard of Honor PPV on March 31. Mark had a ton of momentum heading into the match and the storyline for the match even revolved around the spirit of Jay Briscoe being in the ring with Mark as he challenged Samoa Joe for the title, but somehow the call was made for Mark to lose the

This isnâ€t meant to be an exhaustive look at how Mark Briscoe has been booked in AEW, but he hasnâ€t been allowed to succeed at his maximum potential by AEW COO and booker Tony Khan. Mark appears on AEW TV frequently and every time he cuts a promo backstage or makes an appearance in a singles match, he lights up the TV screen with his charisma and connection to the crowd.

Markâ€s connection with the fans may dwindle a bit from time-to-time when Mark is put on the backburner by AEW, but since wrestling is a fan service first, why is someone so beloved by fans as Mark is not put in the position to succeed in AEW whether it be for a major title or secondary championship.

Anyone that watched Mark Briscoeâ€s appearances on social media following his brotherâ€s death saw the grace with which he handled the terrible tragedy. Mark handled the situation with a grace that I would not expect from anyone that had lost their brother. Mark almost seemed to be comforting the fans in one video that was shown on social media following Jayâ€s death that I remember fondly talking about how Jay was in a better place now and he was going to move forward with his wrestling career knowing that Jay was always with him.

It is impossible not to feel a connection with Mark if you see him cut a promo on TV with his enthusiastic delivery tinged with his signature southern accent. Mark recently got a huge victory over MJF in a Tables & Thumbtacks match at the All Out: Toronto PPV in September. He beat MJF clean and sent him packing from the company from a storyline standpoint.

A win over MJF should be huge for anyone that beats him in AEW. Mark seemed primed for big things, but before All Out: Toronto ended, Mark tipped his hand at what was to come next for him. It wasnâ€t a shot at Hangman Page and the AEW World Hvt. Championship. It wasnâ€t even a shot at Kyle Fletcher and the TNT Championship, it was hyping up the return of Orange Cassidy and his Conglomeration stablemates.

Mark teased the return of Orange Cassidy backstage on the same night he beat MJF and heâ€s been a hype man for The Conglomeration ever since then on TV. Orange Cassidy, who had been out for months with injury, even got a shot at Kyle Fletcher and the TNT Championship before Mark was rewarded from a storyline standpoint for his win over MJF.

Mark is so popular that Tony Khan can easily build him back up and give him his big moment as a singles wrestler if he wants to, but why keep teasing the fans. A win over MJF is about as big as can get in terms of a launching point for a wrestler, so why have him beat MJF and then fade to the undercard with The Conglomeration? Only Khan knows the answer.

Mark leaning heavily into comedy and being goofy on TV after beating MJF in a serious match to end a serious feud is a disappointment because it felt like it was time for Khan to pull the trigger on something bigger for Mark as a singles wrestler. He is a wrestler that would almost certainly draw interest from the AEW fanbase on TV and PPV. Unfortunately it feels like AEW is not going to deliver that big moment for Mark anytime soon.

You can contact Sean at pwtorchsean@gmail.com. Follow him on X @SR_Torch and on Bluesky @SeanRadican.

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What a different a year can make.

Following his T-33 finish at last year’s Korn Ferry Tour Championship, Mitchell Meissner hopped in his rental car and drove two hours from French Lick, Indiana, to Indianapolis. It was there that he met with a wrist surgeon, and five days later he was undergoing a second procedure on his right wrist in three years.

Now, he’s on the cusp of earning his first PGA Tour card, as he enters this week’s KFT playoff finale at Pete Dye Golf Course ranked No. 21 in points, just one spot out of the graduation cutoff.

“I’m trying to have a lot of gratitude being in the position that I am,†Meissner said on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old Meissner, whose younger brother, Mac, competes on the PGA Tour, wasn’t always planning on a career in professional golf. Plagued by the putting yips while in college at Rice, he spent the fall of his senior year lining up a consulting job with Accenture in Dallas. But that winter, he tried one last putting experiment – the righty grabbed and left-handed putter and the putts began dropping – and the decision reignited his game. He’s putted from the opposite side ever since.

Meissner’s pro breakthrough came on PGA Tour Latinoamerica in 2022, as he finished second three times to help lock up his KFT card. Later that year, however, Meissner was playing a boxing game at a bar when one punch ruptured his ECU tendon, requiring surgery.

After his second wrist operation last year, Meissner knew not to rush back like he did the first time. But he also couldn’t afford to wait too long. His mid-October surgery was the same procedure as Jordan Spieth, who was out from September to February.

“When you’re on the PGA Tour in his position, you are probably in a position where you can wait a little longer,†Meissner said. “When you’re on the Korn Ferry Tour and not getting paid when you’re not playing, you have to rush back a little bit.â€

Not that Meissner didn’t expedite things smartly. After his surgery, his mom drove him back home to San Antonio. They made a pit stop in Kansas City to watch his sister perform in a ballet rendition of Alice in Wonderland; with Meissner on pain killers, one could imagine the experience. A week later, he couldn’t fit his casted arm in his suit jacket for his cousin’s wedding, where he was required to read a passage during the ceremony.

By December, Meissner was hitting golf shots, and when the KFT season started in the Bahamas in January, Meissner teed it up and finished T-39. He followed with three straight finishes of T-11 or better to build a nice, early cushion in the standings.

In July, Meissner was among the KFT pros to pledge money for every birdie made to victims of the devastating flooding in Kerrville, Texas. Meissner grew up attending and working at Laity Lodge, a Christian camp less than an hour from Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors died in the flooding. While tying for ninth at the NV5 Invitational, his last tournament of the pledge, Meissner birdied the last hole to end the week with 25 birdies and an eagle (27 shots gained). The event ended on July 27 as well.

“That was pretty poetic,†said Meissner, who still wears a green ribbon on his hat to honor the lives lost. “That was one of the first times where something so worldly and very tragic happened that really affected me. I was really devastated.â€

Meissner hasn’t finished better than T-22 since that tournament, missing three of six cuts in the process. He’s had to lean on the putter more as his usually elite ball-striking and distance control has waned.

While he’s slipped from No. 11 in points to begin August to now just outside the bubble, Meissner will also lean on his faith.

If he’s supposed to be on the PGA Tour in 2026, he will be.

But he’ll be grateful no matter the outcome on Sunday.

In what is shaping up to be a race to the bottom in the battle for a roster spot on defense, injured Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk is, unfortunately, missing out on a big opportunity.

Players like Helge Grans and Noah Juulsen, two favorites for a roster spot due to their right-handedness, have largely flattered to deceive or played poorly outright in training camp and the preseason thus far.

Egor Zamula appears to have plateaued, and Emil Andrae has only appeared in one preseason game to this point; he’ll play against Boston on Monday night.

An underwhelming roster battle has left the Flyers in a precarious position with only a few preseason games left on the schedule, and you have to wonder what a healthy Bonk could have done for himself going against this group.

Bonk, 20, was deemed day-to-day by the Flyers with an upper-body injury on Thursday, along with forwards Lane Pederson and Karsen Dorwart, and has technically been day-to-day since the Flyers’ first announcement on Sept. 18.

Flyers Roster Battles Leaving Much to Be Desired Early in NHL Preseason
Through three NHL preseason games, several Philadelphia Flyers roster battles look far from being decided any time soon.

The 2023 first-round pick was meant to play in the rookie series games against the New York Rangers, too, only to be held out of those before training camp started.

Considering Bonk was also left off the ice during development camp in July to recover from a long season, he’s quietly missed a decent amount of on-ice development with NHL coaches and NHL-caliber players this year.

The timing of it all has been awful, frankly, as Rasmus Ristolainen is expected to miss time well into the start of the season (potentially as late as November as of now)

Given that Ristolainen will inevitably return at some point, this would have been an easy opportunity to see Bonk play a month or so’s worth of NHL games and how he holds up doing so.

The same premise applied to Grans, in a way, where the 23-year-old is no longer waivers-exempt. If the Flyers want to get a real good look at Grans, there was no better time to do so than while Ristolainen can’t play.

By all accounts, it would seem that Bonk is destined to start his 2025-26 campaign – his first as a professional player – in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Most likely, he would’ve spent most of the season there anyway, but you can’t help but feel a healthy Bonk makes this Flyers team out of training camp to glean some valuable experience while Ristolainen is on the shelf.

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MVP (photo credit Grant Gould © PWTorch)

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

The following report originally published 5 years ago this week here at PWTorch.com…

KELLERâ€S WWE RAW REPORT
AUGUST 31, 2020
ORLANDO, FLA. AT AMWAY CENTER (“THUNDERDOMEâ€)
AIRED ON USA NETWORK

Announcers: Tom Phillips, Byron Saxton, Samoa Joe

[HOUR ONE]

-The show opened with a graphic acknowledging the death of “Bullet†Bob Armstrong.

-After the WWE brand stamp, the Raw full opening theme played. Then pyro blasted in the Thunderdome as the LED boards lit up with fans as cheers filled the venue. Phillips called the Thunderdome “immersive†and “vaunted.â€

-Randy Orton made his ring entrance. Phillips said Orton has to be in a foul mood after what happened to him at Summerslam and Payback. They went to the announcers on camera who commented on Ortonâ€s two weeks including giving Drew McIntyre a hairline jaw fracture. Phillips said McIntyre is not there this week, but they anticipate heâ€ll be cleared in time for Clash of Champions. Phillips said there will be three singles matches, with the winners facing off in a Triple Threat match, and then the winner of that faces Drew at the Clash. The three matches are Lee vs. Dolph Ziggler, Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth, and Kevin Owens vs. Orton. Dominik is replacing the injured Rey Mysterio, who was originally scheduled to face Seth.

Orton said last week, Drew offered him a title rematch, but because it came out of pity, he considered himself disrespected and thus gave him three kicks to the skull. He said Drew thinks he deserves the WWE Championship, but as far as heâ€s concerned, all he deserves is the fractured jaw that he gave him. He said all Drew deserves is to be in pain and drink his meals through a straw. He listed his recent victims – Edge, Christian, The Big Show, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, and now McIntyre himself.

He said Drew thinks heâ€s entitled and was handed everything. He had to be bleeped for what he said next. He said he shouldnâ€t have to beat KO and another match to get a title shot he already deserves, but he said he would jump through the hoops. He said heâ€s not sure Drew can make it to the Clash because he might not be healthy enough. He said he has it on good authority that Drew got together with some old buddies to reminisce about an experience they all share. The big screen then showed an image of the wrestlers heâ€s injured in hospital beds looking miserable. He laughed.

Keith Lee marched out to the ring. Orton stared him down as he entered the ring. Lee said Mr. Orton has done well for himself and is amused if not proud of himself. He said he is fixated on the havoc heâ€s caused in recent months and the damage he did last week on Raw, doing his best to forget about what happened last night at Payback “when I beat you.†Lee said itâ€s factual that he gave him no choice last night but to bask in his glory.

He said he now wants a title opportunity handed to him. He said things are a little bit different now because maybe a victory like his last night over a Legend Killer like him means maybe he should get the opportunity at the WWE Title. He said heâ€s known Drew a long time and considers him a friend. He said he is sure he will make good on his word and at some point pay him back. Ziggler attacked Lee from behind. Lee shoved him aside and eyed Orton. Ziggler recovered and gave Lee a DDT.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: I suppose substituting Dominick for Rey makes sense in terms of putting a match on TV with a backstory and built-in personal issues. Giving Dominick this much of a shot at headlining a PPV for the WWE Title at this stage, though, makes a mockery of the “selection process†for the top six contenders. Orton did a good job making his case while also ignoring that he lost to Lee the night before. It was good to have Lee call Orton out for that.) [c]

(1) KEITH LEE vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER – Qualifier for Triple Threat for a WWE Title shot

Lee catapulted Ziggler into the top turnbuckle a minute into the match. Ziggler rolled to the floor. Ziggler came back and settled into a chinlock. He staggered Lee with a dropkick and then landed a Stinger splash in the corner. Lee came back with a Pounce. They cut to a break. [c]

Lee chopped Ziggler hard in the after the break, then tossed him across the ring. He landed a corner splash, then put Ziggler on his shoulders. Ziggler raked his eyes to escape and then landed a quick Fameasser for a two count. Ziggler delivered a neckbreaker and elbowdrop for a two count next. He applied a sleeper next. The screen hyped IIconics vs. Riott Squad, with winning team earning a title shot and losing team cannot team anymore. Lee powered out of it and the punched Ziggler in the face. Ziggler staggered and Lee lifted and dropped Ziggler. Lee pushed Ziggler (too softly) into the ropes and then landed a turning powerslam. Ziggler caught a charging Lee with an elbow and then landed a Zig Zag for a near fall. Lee caught Ziggler flying at him and landed a Spirit Bomb for the win.

WINNER: Lee in 10:00 to advance to the Triple Threat match for the Clash title match.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Ziggler is a good type of opponent for Lee, although this came across as if these two hadnâ€t worked together before. Some timing issues on a few moves, and Lee seems a little nervous or overwhelmed at times. Iâ€m still waiting for some biographical framing of Lee for Raw viewers.)

-The announcers talked about Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax winning the Womenâ€s Tag Team Titles at Payback.

-Sarah Schreiber interviewed Jax and Baszler backstage. She asked how they were able to put their differences aside. Jax said it was easy because she told Baszler to follow her lead, and they succeeded. Baszler objected and said she told Baszler to stay out of her way, and then she did and she won the match for them. Jax said itâ€s easy for Baszler to put someone to sleep after she tossed them around all match. Jax said sheâ€s champion and Baszler is just holding the other belt for her. Asuka danced in. Schreiber asked if she found out who her next challenger will be. Asuka said no. Baszler and Jax objected to her taking their interview time. Asuka shoved Baszler and yelled at Jax. [c]

-Adam Pearce told security he appreciates them being there. He said itâ€s time to get serious because they are going to make sure Retribution doesnâ€t ruin another Raw main event. He said if they donâ€t deliver on that, they will fire them and hire some people who can. “Letâ€s get to work!†he said.

-Charly Caruso introduced Asuka from mid-ring. Asuka made her ring entrance. Asuka said sheâ€s defeated many great women. She listed many opponents and began laughing. Caruso wasnâ€t quite sure what to do with her laughter when Asuka looked over at her. Asuka said she is ready for anything. Mickie James danced out to her music. She said as a six-times champion in WWE, she recognizes greatness when she sees it. She said she is probably one of the greatest womenâ€s champions of all-time. She said out of respect, she should be the first to know sheâ€s coming for her title. Natalyaâ€s music interrupted. Natalya and Lana marched to the ring. Natalya told Mickie sheâ€s had six chances, so sheâ€s being selfish.

Lana said sheâ€s delusional. She said itâ€s not about age, since J-Lo is 50 and sheâ€s fabulous. She said she has failed to evolve and pointed at her outfit and said it hasnâ€t changed since 1997. Lana said sheâ€s a trend-setter and has elevated the entire womenâ€s division. She said Natalya is her best friend, so if she wants to get her hands on her, she has to go through her first. Mickie stepped up and asked, “Oh, is that a fact!†Asuka pointed at all three of them and said sheâ€s ready for each of them. A brawl broke out, with Lana stomping away at Mickie while Natalya beat on Asuka. Mickie and Asuka cleared the ring within seconds of the two heels, including an Asuka hip attack to knock Lana to the ground. Asukaâ€s music played. [c]

-A Connorâ€s Cure video aired.

-They went to the announcers at ringside. Phillips said theyâ€re still dealing with the fallout from Payback including Bobby Lashley winning the U.S. Title. They cut to a clip from Raw Underground last week with Lashley dominating, including a fight with the Viking Raiders. A clip aired with the Viking Raiders hanging out with Cedric Alexander. Demi Burnett from “The Bachelor†reality show was hanging around and she kissed Ivar. Angel Garza walked toward Demi with a rose and had a strange look on his face – a mix of sinister and seductive.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Will someone please let us know why Demi is there every week? I donâ€t mean to start a conspiracy theory here, but didnâ€t Retribution start showing up around the time she did? Maybe sheâ€s scouting the joint for them.)

(2) LANA (w/Natalya) vs. MICKIE JAMES

Asuka joined the commentators. Her mic didnâ€t work at first. Lana grounded Mickie early. Asukaâ€s mic finally started working and she did her usual rants in mostly Japanese. Byron asked if she has a preference for whom sheâ€d defend her title against. Mickie came back with a Thesz Press, clothesline, and her Mick Kick for a quick win.

WINNER: Mickie James in 3:00.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Tough to tell without crowds, but I doubt thereâ€s an existing strong bond between most of todayâ€s WWE audience and Mickie. It might be more fruitful to reintroduce her as if most fans arenâ€t sure who she is or why they should care other than the references to her being a pioneer and multi-time champion. Whatâ€s she about? Why is she back? Whatâ€s her attitude toward her place in WWE now? It just feel randomly thrown together.)

-Phillips threw to a clip of the Aleister Black turn on Kevin Owens last week.

-Backstage Charly Caruso was standing outside of Blackâ€s locker room and discussing what happened last week. She said she was awaiting word from him on why he did what he did last week to KO when Orton walked out of his locker room. She looked confused and Orton just sauntered by her. [c]

-Schreiber interviewed the IIconics in the second ring elsewhere at the Thunderdome and asked about the possibility of having to break up tonight as a team. They talked about their long history together. Peyton Royce said they missed holidays with family to become tag champs, and the only constant they had was each other. Billie Kaye they wonâ€t let snot-nosed hooligans destroy what they built. They said Riott Squad are destined to self-destruct and they will help the process along, which “will be iconic!â€

(3) KEVIN OWENS vs. RANDY ORTON – Qualifier for Triple Threat for a WWE Title shot

Orton made his entrance. When Owens walked to the ring, Black attacked him from behind. He hit a Black Mass. The ref told him, “You cannot compete tonight.†Owens said he could, although he couldnâ€t keep his balance. The ref agreed, reluctantly, to start the match. Owens took a few hapless swings at Orton, but Orton brushed them away and hit an RKO for the quick win.

WINNER: Orton in about 15 seconds to advance to the Triple Threat match for the Clash title match.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: I didnâ€t at all expect Owens to advance to the PPV main event at the Clash against Drew, so this is probably the best way for Owens to be eliminated – quickly and only due to a sneak attack by his new rival. This advances the Black-Owens feud. Now we need to hear from Black why he chose this route.)

-Backstage Caruso interviewed Rey, a nervous-looking Dominik, and Reyâ€s daughter and wife. Rey said getting closure against Seth was important to him. Dominik said it would mean the world to him to beat Seth tonight and earn a title shot at the Clash, but his loss is his sonâ€s gain. He said he understands injuries happen, and if thereâ€s anyone heâ€d want to take his place, itâ€d be Dominik. Dom said he knows heâ€s an underdog, but after the win last night, his confidence is on another level. He said he has another 619 with the Monday Night Messiahâ€s name written all over it. [c]

-Phillips hyped the Apollo Crews vs. Shelton Benjamin fight at Raw Underground later.

-VIP Lounge: MVP celebrated the start of the first MVP Lounge at Thunderdome. He introduced the new U.S. Champion Lashley, who made his own ring entrance. MVP said there are three definites in life – death, taxes, and Bobby Lashley. Lashley said he did exactly what he said he was going to do. He beat up Crews, put him in the Hurt Lock, and took his title. He said afterwards, Crews came out for a little bit of payback during Payback, and he would have done the same thing, but he will get him back. He looked sternly at the camera as he talked. Shelton said since Crews wants to act like a little punk, heâ€s going to beat him like a little punk in Raw Underground. MVP said at first they have to face the Viking Raiders & Cedric Alexander. As MVP talked about Cedric, Cedricâ€s music interrupted him.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Lashleyâ€s made big strides on promos. Iâ€m not saying theyâ€re super-entertaining or must-see, but heâ€s delivering believable promos that just fit his character now and that obvious awkwardness isnâ€t there like it used to be.)

MVP approached Cedric and said he sees heâ€s alone, so heâ€s curious if heâ€s had a change of heart. Cedric said hell no, and also he didnâ€t come alone. The Raiders jumped Lashley and Benjamin from behind at ringside, then jumped into the ring ready for the fight to start. [c]

(4) CEDRIC ALEXANDER & THE VIKING RAIDERS vs. MVP & BOBBY LASHLEY & SHELTON BENJAMIN

The match started after the break, with Lashley pummeling Ivar in the corner. Hurt Business dominated, including an extended beatdown of Cedric. When Cedric fought back against MVP, Lashley and Shelton yanked the Raiders off the ring apron and fought with them. Cedric avoided a charging MVP and then rolled him up for the three count.

WINNERS: Cedric & Raiders in 6:00.

-Backstage Titus Oâ€Neal was warming up. Phillips said theyâ€re going to see a whole new side of Titus as he enters Raw Underground. [c]

-Backstage, Hurt Business had jumped Cedric and were stomping on him, saying he has to learn. Crews and Ricochet ran out to protect him and told them to back off.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Itâ€s good they ran to Cedricâ€s aid, but it made them look lame not to actually physically go after Hurt Business even if they were outnumbered by one.)

(5) THE IICONICS (Peyton Royce & Billie Kaye) vs. RIOTT SQUAD (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan) – Winners Gets Title Shot, Losers Cannot Team Anymore

The IIconcs took over against Liv early in the match after a yank of her hair. Joe talked about the IIconics being the definition of synchronicity. Liv hot-tagged in Riott. who worked over Kaye. When Liv saved Riott from Kayeâ€s interference. Kaye rolled up Riott for a near fall. They reversed each other a few times and eventually Riott rolled up Kaye for the three count. Kaye and Royce looked shocked. Royce threw a fit. Joe said, “That did not just happen, Tom!†The IIconics begged with the referee to change his decision. Riott and Morgan were long gone. Phillips said a decade of friendship is gone. They cried and hugged.

WINNERS: Riott Squad in 3:00.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Itâ€s strange theyâ€ve broken up Peyton and Billie without a storyline that seems to launch either them into a new position as a singles wrestler. Will they just be at ringside for each other in singles matches now? There seemed to be a slight tease of Royce feeling taken advantage of by Kaye last week, and that didnâ€t happen this week.)

-They hyped Seth vs. Dominik. Saxton tripped over his words and Joe gave him a hard time.

-Shane McMahon talked to the tall bouncer outside the Raw Underground door. Shane said itâ€s going to be super-intense tonight with Titus, Jessamyn Duke, and then Crews and Shelton. He said itâ€ll be a good show. The bouncer agreed and opened the door for him. [c]

-An ad aired for NXT Super Tuesday. Then Phillips plugged NXT on camera next. They threw to a video package on the Dominik & Rey vs. Seth & Murphy feud.

-Seth and Murphy made their way to the ring. Seth gave Murphy a disdainful look for losing at Payback the prior night. He told Murphy he cannot afford to have him screw up anything for him tonight, “so get the hell out of my ring.†Murphy looked surprised and dejected. Seth told him he doesnâ€t want to hear him or see him until he figures out what kind of man he wants to be and what he stands for. “What side of history do you want to be on?†he asked. When Murphy began to speak, Seth told him to shut his mouth. Murphy walked to the back, but Dominik attacked him from behind. Phillips defended it because of all that has happened before, then complimented his moxie.

(6) SETH ROLLINS (w/Murphy) vs. DOMINIK MYSTERIO (w/Rey Mysterio) – Qualifier for Triple Threat for a WWE Title shot

Dominik landed a dropkick early. Seth threw Dominik into the announce table at ringside seconds later, then threw him back into the ring. Dominik came back with springboard armdrag. He set him up for an early 619, but Seth moved. Seth dragged Dominik to the floor, but Dominik reversed Seth into the table, then flip-dove off the announce desk onto Seth. They cut to a break at 2:00. [c]

Dominik broke free from a Seth chinlock after the break, but Seth took over again and scored a two count. Seth grounded Dominik again for a couple minutes. Dominik avoided a Seth charge and threw some punches at Seth in the corner. Seth tried to buckle bomb him out of the corner, but Dominik head scissored Seth into the turnbuckles.

Seth caught Dominik springboarding off the top rope, but Dominik spun around and DDTâ€d Seth. He landed a standing moonsault for a near fall. He leaped off the top rope onto Seth on the floor seconds later. They showed Rey, his daughter, and his wife watching a monitor backstage with great concern. Dominik sent Seth into the middle rope and then landed a 619. He followed up with a frog splash, but Seth moved out of the path. Dominik crashed and didnâ€t get up. Seth then gave him a running stomp for the win. They showed his family backstage wincing as they watched Dominik writhe in pain on the mat.

WINNER: Rollins in 10:00.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Obvious credit goes to Seth, but Dominik again looked like he belonged in there. The spots they did were somewhat limited, but still showed off Dominikâ€s balance and timing well.)

-They cut to Shane calling the action with Titus beating up his opponent with a high one-arm slam. Shane asked if anyone else wanted to step up. Titus mounted the guy and slammed his head into the mat until the ref stopped it. Riddick Moss stepped up. Moss got Titus down early and mounted him. Titus got up and threw Moss out of the ring. Moss rammed Titus into the ring edge. Titus pushed Moss into the metal shelves. They returned to the ring. Moss kicked Titus low and then landed a KO punch. The ref stepped in to stop it. “Titus brought it tonight!†Shane said.

-They showed the Street Profits backstage reacting to Mossâ€s win. Then they hyped their tag team tornado match. They revealed a board on an easel with a scouting report on Angel Garza, Andrade, and Zelina Vega. They took some digs at each of them. About Zelina, they said she poisonâ€s people and is too short for the roller coaster. They closed with: “We Want the Smoke!†[c]

-Phillips touted the Thunderdome. Saxton said he feels like a kid on Christmas morning every time he experiences the Thunderdome.

-They aired a clip from earlier of Akira Tozawa arriving at the parking garage in his mini-van with his ninjas. The garage attendant said heâ€s not on the list. Tozawa got out of the van and looked at the guyâ€s clipboard. Tozawa discovered the papers were blank. He saw the guy was wearing a referee shirt underneath his jacket. R-Truth snuck up behind him and rolled him up to regain the 24/7 Title. Truth yelled something about Cobra Kai.

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of “Wrestling Night in America,” part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “pwtorch†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

(7) THE STREET PROFITS (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) vs. ANGEL GARZA & ANDRADE (w/Zelina Vega) – Tornado Tag Rules

After a tower suplex on top with Ford on top and Dawkins underneath, they cut to a break at 2:00. [c]

After the break, Andrade and Garza threw Ford shoulder-first into the ringpost. They showed Demi cheering at ringside. Dawkins took a beating for a while, but eventually made a comeback and scored a near fall on Andrade. Garza broke up the cover. They showed Demi reacting with concern at ringside. Garza and Andrade took over on Dawkins again. Andrade did a leaping double stomp off the top rope, with Garza holding him up and in position for it. Ford made the save. Ford rallied with a flurry against Andrade. Ford shook the top rope excitedly. The lights flickered. Garza left and took Demi to safety. Ford covered Andrade. Retribution then ran out and surrounded the ring and pounded on it. Ford and Dawkins looked down at them. Then Retribution attacked. A couple of them surrounded Vega. She shoved them. They attacked her. They beat on the Profits and Andrade in the ring, then ran away.

WINNER: No contest in 10:00. [c]

-After the break, Pearce yelled at security to get to their posts and do their jobs.

-In Raw Underground, Shane interviewed Royce and Kaye, who were still downtrodden about their loss. Jessamyn Duke took it to her opponent for a quick and easy win. She didnâ€t break clean. Two other women fought. Royce threw Kaye into the ring. Kaye yelled at Royce that she didnâ€t like that. She begged off. Duke KOâ€d her with one high roundkick. Shane put his arm around Royce and smiled and said theyâ€d have more Raw Underground later.

-Back to ringside, they replayed Cedric pinning MVP in the six-man tag match earlier, and then the Hurt Business attack on Cedric.

-They went backstage where Caruso interviewed Crews, Ricochet, and Cedric. She said itâ€s been a rough stretch for them. She asked Crews if itâ€s a wise decision to face Shelton tonight at Raw Underground. Crews said the old Apollo would have woken up feeling sorry for himself, but in his place is a man ready to bounce back harder than ever. He said he wonâ€t stop until he gets the U.S. Title back. Ricochet said they have Cedricâ€s back, whereas MVP only cares about his money. Crews got psyched up. They entered Raw Underground when the bouncer opened the door for them. [c]

-The bell rang to start the Crews vs. Shelton fight at Raw Underground. Crews went for a kimura. Shelton stood and leaped out of the ring, taking Crews with him. MVP and Lashley joined in the attack. They all rolled into the ring. Hurt Business got the better of all three, so Shane called it off. Shane said Crews, Cedric, and Ricochet were all out. “The Hurt Business means business,†Shane said. He said theyâ€d be back next week.

-Demi told Garza that he abandoned everyone. He said what concerns him most is her safety. He said heâ€d never forgive himself if something happened to her. Retribution burst back into the arena and attacked the security guy. Garza looked panicked and ran away, leaving Demi behind. The Retribution women approached Demi who turned and ran away finally.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: Boy, if that wasnâ€t a cowardly act by Garza. Itâ€s hard to take him seriously after that, to be honest.)

-Orton made his ring entrance. [c]

(8) RANDY ORTON vs. SETH ROLLINS vs. KEITH LEE – Triple Threat match to earn a WWE Title match at Clash of Champions

The bell rang 47 minutes into the third hour. Orton bailed out at the bell. Seth asked why he left the ring. Seth said they had decided to work together. Orton said he already worked tonight and had a fight, so Sethâ€s got this. Joe chuckled. Saxton said Orton is preserving himself and playing mind games. Seth rolled out of the ring and confronted Orton. Orton said he changed his mind. As Seth complained, Lee yanked on his hair and dragged him back into the ring. Lee checked Seth and smashed him in the corner. Orton got into the ring and applied a side headlock. Lee powered out and charged at Seth and Orton in the corner. They lifted Lee over the top rope onto the ring apron. Lee slingshot himself onto both Seth and Orton. They cut to a break as Lee began striking a pose. [c]

Back live, with seven minutes left in the show, Lee slingshot himself at Seth, but Seth sidekicked him out of mid-air. Seth leaped over the top rope with a flying knee to Sethâ€s head. Orton went after Lee and threw him onto the announce desk. He laughed. Seth and Orton worked together to throw Lee into the ringside steps. Seth shoved Lee back into the ring. As Seth re-entered the ring, Orton kicked him and gave him a draping DDT for a near fall. Orton set up an RKO, but Seth countered with a Falcon Arrow for a two count.

As Seth waited for Orton to stand, Lee got back up and went on the attack against both. He threw Seth into Orton. Both Seth and Orton rolled to the floor. Lee charged at Orton and checked him hard into the boards. When Seth leaped at Lee, Lee caught him and threw him into the announce desk. Lee grabbed Seth and threw him back into the ring. Saxton said Lee is a different breed of human. Seth kicked away at Lee in the ring, but Lee picked him up for a powerslam. Lee small packaged him for a two count. Seth ducked a Lee clothesline and landed an enzuigiri. Seth superkicked Leeâ€s chin. He waited and positioned himself for a Stomp. Lee countered with a high Spirit Bomb. Orton came up behind Lee with an RKO. Orton then covered Seth for the three count.

WINNER: Orton in 13:00 to earn a title match against McIntyre at Clash of Champions.

(Kellerâ€s Analysis: No surprise here to see Orton get the rematch considering Drew last week said he had unfinished business with Orton and they have the personal issue related to Ortonâ€s kicks last week that injured Drewâ€s jaw. Having Orton pin Seth instead of Lee is further indication they are protecting and pushing Lee and see big things for him down the line. He looked like he belonged in there with Orton and Seth, legacy main event stars at this point, so thatâ€s good.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: Average show for Raw. Enough good wrestling and high-stakes matches. No standout angles or promos. The Retribution and Raw Underground segments continue to just be treading water. Raw Underground is okay to watch, but is this something they can just keep doing indefinitely without an context or end-game?

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In what was his sixth international outing across all formats, Cox’s maiden half-century easily surpassed his previous best of 17 in an England jersey.

After leading The Hundred in runs scored and being named Most Valuable Player as he helped the Oval Invincibles to a third consecutive title last month, he said he had looked to bring some of that confidence to his international return.

“It’s only a ball coming down, don’t worry about it. Whoever is bowling it, just have a bit of fun and show what you can do. That’s what I tried to do.

“I seemed to do well in that Oval shirt so I just was like ‘come on, this is just franchise cricket and I’m playing for the Oval, just enjoy it and have a bit of fun’.

“That’s what I do when I’m there so why not try and do it everywhere?”

Cox said he has “really struggled” with missing out on a Test bow against New Zealand last winter.

In his absence, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell made his Test debut on the tour and now seems sure to be a part of the squad that will be named this week for this winter’s Ashes series in Australia.

Cox added: “To have the opportunity to play for your country in Test cricket is something that I always dreamt of doing, and am still dreaming about doing, so to get that taken away was really hard.

“My friends and family, the people closest to me, said it would have happened for a reason. If that means I wasn’t quite ready to play Test cricket yet, that was someone telling me I wasn’t ready.

“There’s a reason why I didn’t play; there was a reason why Bethell did and why he did so well. But I really struggled with it.”

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