Sports

Ronaldo’s absence changes the spotlight Portugal’s squad for Thursday’s UEFA Nations League trip to Denmark features a major change: Cristiano Ronaldo is out, and Rafael Leão will wear the No. 7 shirt. The updated lineup was released on Thursday morning after Ronaldo left the national team camp the day before. For nearly 20 years, Portugal’s No. 7 has been inseparable from Ronaldo’s identity, turning the number into a global symbol. Seeing Leão inherit it for this match gives the shirt extra weight, even if the assignment is temporary. What changed in the squad Rafael Leão switches from No. 17 to…

The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks are set for a fast turnaround after one of the most chaotic opening games of the NHL season. Their rematch arrives Thursday, October 1, with Vancouver hosting its 2026-27 home opener at Rogers Arena. Vancouver already holds the early edge after a 6-5 overtime win in Edmonton on Tuesday, but that result came with plenty of drama. The Canucks built a three-goal lead, watched the Oilers storm back, and still found a way to finish the job in extra time. What the second meeting looks like This game completes the teams’ early home-and-home series…

Zion Williamson showed up to New Orleans Pelicans media day in noticeably better shape, and he did not try to dress up the reality of his career so far. The message was simple: the body is trending in the right direction, but the finished product is still a work in progress. The Pelicans now list him at 277 pounds, which is seven pounds lighter than last season and the first real change to that number in years. For seven straight seasons, the franchise had him at 284 pounds, so the adjustment stands out as more than a routine roster update.…

The Toronto Maple Leafs will welcome the New York Islanders to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Toronto is playing its second game in as many nights after opening the season against Montréal on Tuesday, while New York is beginning its year. The most talked-about showdown is the matchup between Gavin McKenna and Matthew Schaefer, the No. 1 selections in the 2026 and 2025 NHL Drafts. Even so, the final result may come down to Toronto’s veteran firepower and whether the Islanders can create enough offense in front of Ilya Sorokin. Toronto’s Names to Follow…

A familiar matchup with a fresh feel The Montreal Canadiens travel to face the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to launch the NHL regular season. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena, and Canadian viewers can watch on Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Even though this rivalry feels routine, the circumstances are not. Montreal is coming off a run to the third round of the 2026 playoffs, while Toronto missed the postseason, replaced its coach, and reshaped the roster with several new additions. Why this opener carries extra weight This is the seventh straight…

What Sunday Means at Rogers Centre Toronto closes its 2026 regular season against Cincinnati on Sunday, September 27, at 3:07 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre. The game also wraps up Fan Appreciation Weekend, giving the finale a different feel even though the Blue Jays will miss the postseason. That changes the meaning of the day. Instead of playoff pressure, the focus shifts to evaluation, energy, and one last home-game show for the current roster. The Reds still have reasons to push, so Toronto cannot treat this as a casual sendoff. Final-day games often hinge more on who is available and…

The Montréal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators close out preseason play on Saturday, September 26, with split-squad games in both Montréal and Ottawa. Each club is sending different groups of players into two separate matchups, which makes the night feel more like a roster evaluation than a standard exhibition. That setup changes how the games should be read. The biggest names matter, but so do the depth forwards, young defensemen, and goaltenders who are fighting for a place on the opening-night roster. Why the final preseason games carry extra weight At this stage, the score is only part of the story.…

A matchup with playoff weight The Saskatchewan Roughriders head to Vancouver to face the BC Lions on Friday, September 25, at 10:30 p.m. ET, and the timing could not be more important. The clubs sit only two points apart in the West Division, so this game carries major implications for positioning and the season tiebreaker. Each side has already won once in the first two meetings. Saskatchewan opened the series with a 31–27 victory, and BC replied with a 30–16 win, which means Friday’s result will settle the head-to-head edge. BC brings the hotter offense BC enters with clear momentum,…

The Toronto Argonauts head to Winnipeg on Friday, September 25, for a Week 17 CFL clash that kicks off at 8 p.m. ET. Toronto has already locked up a playoff spot and a home game, while Winnipeg still has meaningful games left in the regular-season race. This matchup looks like a test of discipline more than firepower. Both teams have recently leaned on defense, so the side that handles turnovers, field position, and red-zone chances best should gain the edge. Toronto’s defense has changed games Toronto’s latest win over Edmonton showed how quickly the Argonauts can flip momentum. Two end-zone…

Opening night sets the tone The 2026-27 NHL season starts on September 29 and expands to 84 games per team, giving bettors a fresh slate with more volume than last year. Opening night features the Canadiens against the Maple Leafs and the Canucks against the Oilers, two matchups that immediately spotlight the Canadian market. For anyone looking to back a Canadian club this season, Montreal stands out as the strongest long-shot style futures option, while Edmonton is the better team for night-to-night betting angles. Why Montreal has the most futures appeal The Canadiens are coming off a run to the…