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Demidov pays dividends on power play as Canadiens topple Canucks

They had none of it to start the game, sleepwalking through the first period and emerging fortunate to have not spotted the Vancouver Canucks a bigger lead than 1-0.

The Canadiens didnâ€t start the second any better before falling down 2-0 in the eighth minute of the second period. They were flat, they were forcing passes, they were disconnected at five-on-five, and they were playing the exact type of game that would force their power play to come through.

Turns out the timing was ripe because the Canadiens’ power play, as currently constructed, was designed to do exactly that.

They didnâ€t need it to get them to 6-2-0, but it wouldâ€ve helped them avoid a loss in Edmonton had it hit the ice more than once in that game.

On Saturday, with Demidov replacing Zachary Bolduc and occupying the right half-wall of the top unit for just the second time this season, it offered up three rescue breaths to help the Canadiens turn a sure loss into a 4-3 win. And, in the process, it served notice that itâ€ll be a force to be reckoned with moving forward.

Just having Demidov across from Suzuki makes it so.

“You think back to Tampa, with (Steven) Stamkos and (Nikita) Kucherov kind of going seam-seam, thatâ€s hard to defend,†said Mike Matheson. “Once you can rely that itâ€s going to be in one guyâ€s hands a bit more, you can read off that as a P.K. But when thereâ€s two guys (opposite each other) who are really good with the puck, it really adds an element.â€

Itâ€s not as if Martin St. Louis didnâ€t know.

Long before taking over the Canadiens†bench in February of 2022, he spent plenty of time at his vacation home in Tampa Bay, watching Stamkos and Kucherov torch their opposition time and time again. The coach also had Demidov playing with Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson through the end of Montrealâ€s first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals last spring, so he had a fair idea of what they could do together before this season started.

But with Noah Dobson traded for and signed over the summer, and with Patrik Laine healthy, the coach sought more balance by opting to split Suzuki and Demidov so that each power-play unit could have an elite playmaker on it.

With Laine not making the trip through Western Canada, and with him later going under the knife to repair a torn core muscle that will require a three-to-four-month recovery, the impetus to move Demidov up was created.

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There were other things steering St. Louis in that direction, too.

“Iâ€ve known all along that Demi can play on the first wave, first power play,†St. Louis said. “I feel I got to a certain point with Demi where he showed me heâ€s willing to play on the other side of the game, the defensive game, and heâ€s actually very attentive and trying to keep getting better. So, for me, all signs led to: itâ€s time. And it was also a chance for me to get him more ice-time.â€

With it, Demidov not only helped turn around a rough game for the Canadiens; he also helped turn around a game he later said was not his best.

The pass to Suzuki, on a play where just about anyone else wouldâ€ve shot, was brilliant. He made another one to Slafkovsky to tie the game 2-2 just 1:50 into the third period. And then the 19-year-old Russian made several other deceptive ones and just missed scoring on an open net on the teamâ€s final power play to create the momentum Matheson capitalized on at five-on-five seconds later to put the Canadiens up 3-2.

Less than three minutes after that, Demidov completed his best even-strength shift of the night with a one-timer that proved to be the winning goal after a late surge netted the Canucks a goal off Conor Garlandâ€s stick.

But it all started with a power play that came into the game ranked 22nd in the NHL and came out of it ranked 12th.

Hutson, who runs the middle of the point of the top unit, said whatâ€s happening on both sides of him opens all kinds of options that wouldnâ€t otherwise be there.

“I donâ€t think thereâ€s any great strategy (to defend Demidov across from Suzuki),†he said. “Theyâ€re both so dangerous, and theyâ€re kind of learning what works against different kills and all that stuff. So, I think, maybe just stay back and hope they donâ€t seam you.â€

Itâ€s what both Demidov and Suzuki are looking for.

“Heâ€s looking for a seam, heâ€s looking for someoneâ€s stick in the wrong spot so he can hit a seam, heâ€s looking for guys in space, and I try to get in space so I have space to get a puck,†Hutson said of Demidov, but he just as easily couldâ€ve been referring to Suzuki.

The deception with which both players operate makes them a lethal combination.

On this night, it was a life-saving one for the Canadiens.

Outside of the line of Kirby Dach, Joe Veleno and Bolduc, they didnâ€t have much of anything going at five-on-five, which made this game an outlier.

But there will be others like it, and for the Canadiens to know they can change the outcome as convincingly as they did with the man-advantage Saturday is to know they have a chance to win any game.

“Itâ€s great,†said Slafkovsky. “Thatâ€s what changed the momentum… There will be games where itâ€s not going to work fully. But I feel like if we get three chances, we need at least one from our power play every time.â€

So far, Montrealâ€s top unit is two-for-four. And though we wonâ€t read too deeply into such a small sample, we like its chances of scoring on one of every three.

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Hard Work Pays Off For Tigers’ Izaac Pacheco

Third baseman Izaac Pacheco has never liked being told something canâ€t be accomplished.

The Tigers’ 2021 second-round pick out of Friendswood High in Texas has proven he is willing to exhaust every option before accepting anything but success.

That stems from a work ethic ingrained from an early age.

“Head down and keep working,†Pacheco said, citing his high school coach Cory Benavides.

The 22-year-old Pacheco has spent the past three seasons at High-A West Michigan. This year he broke through as the Midwest League MVP after hitting .258/.388/.499 with 17 home runs in 99 games.

Routine has always been a focal point for Pacheco, but he found additional inspiration from an MLB all-star.

“I watched a podcast with Bobby Witt Jr., and he talked about journaling,†Pacheco said. “I think he was the first guy I saw who was open about it and said he writes his affirmations and journals and brings the journal into the dugout.

“It made me think, ‘Obviously, this guy is an incredible player,’ so I wanted to do that too.â€

The journal became a daily practice for Pacheco—pages of personal affirmations, notes on opposing pitchers and takeaways from a rotation of mental-skills books. Scouts took note of the differences.

“This was not the same kid I saw last year,†one said. “He played tighter defensively. His swing was better. And he just looked like he understood his body. The kid grew up.â€

For Pacheco, the mental side of baseball holds as much value as the physical.

“I really never failed coming up to pro ball,†Pacheco said. “I think it’s a big realization to know that there are 10 guys behind you who want your spot. It’s not about being scared of it, but wanting to put the work in, and that’s who I am.

“My parents raised me to believe that if you want something, you have to work hard for it. If you want to be better than the people behind you, youâ€ve got to work harder than they do.

“Itâ€s pretty simple.â€

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Top AEW Heel Seemingly Pays Tribute To WWE’s John Cena At WrestleDream

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A top AEW heel subtly paid tribute to WWE legend John Cena at WrestleDream.

WWE legend John Cena is retiring at the end of the year and has been going around paying tribute to a lot of his past rivals and current peers. The star has previously paid tribute to AEW’s Adam Copeland (Edge) and a few other stars. The Cena vs AJ Styles match was filled with such tributes, with The GOAT even doing the Tombstone to honor The Undertaker. Now, AEW heel Samoa Joe paid tribute to Cena at WrestleDream.

During his match against Hangman Page, the former WWE star locked in an STF on the world champion. While the STF, Cena’s submission move, is a part of Joe’s arsenal as well, the star rarely uses it. Now, however, he decided to bring it out.

AEW Star Samoa Joe Turned Heel Right After The WrestleDream Match, Where He Paid Tribute To John Cena

Immediately after losing to Hangman Page, Samoa Joe turned heel and attacked the world champion. Joe, a former champion in WWE, was accompanied by his Opps teammates, who also turned heel in the process.

It was a surreal moment to see the star go to the dark side, while also paying tribute to a babyface legend like Cena.

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‘You taught India what it takes to win’: Dinesh Karthik pays heartfelt tribute to ‘captain’ Rohit Sharma | Cricket News

blank NEW DELHI: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik on Saturday praised Rohit Sharma for his leadership, impact, and influence on the Indian cricket team during his tenure as ODI captain.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Rohit Sharma. Thank you so much. You were a phenomenal captain — tactically astute, but most importantly, very, very friendly and got along with everyone, making them feel so comfortable. But for me, the legacy that you’ve left as a captain… in those big moments, those big matches, you taught this current team what it takes to win,†Karthik said in a video he shared on Instagram.

Rohit Sharma removed as India ODI captain, a glorious era comes to an end

Karthik highlighted Rohitâ€s approach to leading from the front, particularly during high-pressure games. “At times we used to take a backward step, but you said, ‘I think we need to press forward, put more pressure on the opponent, take more risks,’ and you didn’t leave it to anyone else. I think you started it with the bat—when in the big matches, you said, ‘I’m going to go harder,’ and that required skill. You got it done, and you did it consistently.â€

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What do you think was Rohit Sharma’s greatest contribution as captain?

Under Rohitâ€s leadership, India won 42 of 56 ODIs, maintaining a winning percentage of 76. His tenure saw India lift two ICC trophies in 2024 — the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy — and finish runner-up in the ODI World Cup at home in 2023. Karthik also emphasised Rohitâ€s contribution to nurturing young talent and building a resilient side. “Asia Cup unbeaten with a young team… You’ve left it in a better place than what it was when you started, and that’s always a great sign of a leader.â€The Indian selectors on Saturday removed Rohit from ODI captaincy and handed over the reins to young Test skipper Shubman Gill ahead of the white-ball tour of Australia, keeping the 2027 World Cup in focus. Shreyas Iyer will serve as Gillâ€s deputy for the three-match ODI series starting October 19 in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne, followed by a five-match T20 series.

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Wrestler Pays Tribute to WWE Star AJ Styles, But Faced Criticism For It

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An indie wrestler paid tribute to the Phenomenal AJ Styles, but faced criticism despite the sweet act.

On September 21, 2025, WrestlePro held its Killer Smokeshow event in Rahway, New Jersey, at the Rahway Rec Center. The main event featured Killer Kross facing Richard Holliday. The match card also included Max Caster defending the WrestlePro Gold Championship against CPA and a first-time singles bout between Mike Santana and Jordan Oliver.

During the headliner, Holliday landed a Styles Clash on Killer Kross, a move made famous by WWE star AJ Styles. The live commentator immediately called the use of the move ‘disrespectful,’ sparking debate among viewers.

After the show, Holliday posted a clip of the Styles Clash on X, writing,

Hey @AJStylesOrg I hit the Styles Clash on Kross and the commentator said it was ‘disrespectfulâ€. Cmon, seems pretty respectful to me!â€

His tweet drew swift attention. Wrestling fans praised Holliday for honoring Stylesâ€s signature maneuver, noting that tribute moves have long been part of wrestling tradition. Richard Holliday, who debuted in 2018, is known for blending athleticism with showmanship. His execution of the Styles Clash, lifting Kross and dropping him face-first, garnered both cheers and gasps from the Rahway crowd.

AJ Styles’ Signature Move Used by John Cena

This was not the first time someone delivered the Styles Clash on their opponent. On August 31, John Cena paid homage to one of the greatest rivals of his wrestling career by delivering the same move on Logan Paul at Clash in Paris.

He paid homage to multiple wrestlers, including Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler. During his US Title open challenge match against Sami Zayn, Cena paid homage to Edge by delivering a Spear to Zayn. The Rated-R superstar reciprocated it during AEW All Out by delivering the ‘You can’t see me’ taunt, followed by Five Knuckle Shuffle and the Attitude Adjustment.

Related read: “I Get To Beat Up John Cena†– AJ Styles Gloats Ahead of WWE Crown Jewel Match

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Football

Crystal Palace star pays for £1,000 of drinks at pub for jubilant fans

Dean Henderson is fast becoming a fan favourite at Crystal Palace, not just for his performances on the pitch but for his down-to-earth generosity off it.

After playing a starring role last seasonâ€s FA Cup final win over Manchester City – a historic moment that delivered Palaceâ€s first major trophy – Henderson was once again the hero in the Community Shield showdown against Liverpool.

In front of a buzzing crowd at Wembley Stadium, the England international goalkeeper made crucial saves during the penalty shootout, denying both Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott. His heroics helped Oliver Glasnerâ€s side clinch the trophy and kick off the new season in style.

But Hendersonâ€s goodwill didnâ€t stop there.

Following the game, he made a surprise visit to a local pub where he posed for selfies with fans. In a generous gesture, he reportedly put down a £1,000 tab, inviting Palace supporters to enjoy a few drinks on him.

“Legend. Totally gets this club. Cheers,†one fan wrote on Instagram alongside a selfie with the goalkeeper.

One fan, however, walked away with arguably something even more valuable than a few drinks and a selfie.

After the penalty shootout win, Henderson accidentally left his water bottle by the goalposts. Wrapped around it was a cheat sheet detailing Liverpoolâ€s penalty tendencies – including correctly pointed out the way both Mac Allister and Elliott would go with their saved efforts.

That bottle found its way into the hands of a lucky supporter, giving them a certified piece of Crystal Palace – and Wembley – history.

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