4 Nations starts with a bang, plus the Red Sox grab a star

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While You Were Sleeping: Canada wins scintillating 4 Nations opener

The sweaters were crisp. The vibe screamed “playoffs.” The game was even better, and anyone who worried about the 4 Nations Face-Off falling flat should feel silly this morning. 

Team Canada prevailed, 4-3, over the visiting Swedes in overtime of a truly thrilling opening game. Canada scored early, Sweden scored late. Mitch Marner played hero for the Canadians with this shot just a few minutes into OT:

Mitch Marner gives Canada an OT winner ‼️

The assist? It had to be Sidney Crosby, his third of the night.

🎥 @NHL pic.twitter.com/paCKuxuf9p

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 13, 2025

The assist came via Sidney Crosby, of course, who registered three on the night. Canada gets Team USA next on Saturday. 

We also had two big MLB signings late last night:

• Alex Bregman finally found a home in Boston, agreeing to a three-year, $120 million contract that essentially serves as a one-year deal. The 30-year-old Bregman, who wanted a long-term contract, gets opt-outs after each season and can reset his market accordingly after the year. The Red Sox get the best third baseman on the market. Both sides win in my eyes.
  
  
• The Padres agreed to a four-year, $55 million deal with starter Nick Pivetta, a notable update as San Diego needs pitching depth and could still trade top-end starter Dylan Cease in the coming days. 

Pitchers and catchers are already reporting for spring training around the league, and yet the stove is still hot. Onward:

Things You Need to See: A Merseyside banger

Two straight days with soccer goals in the newsletter? When they’re this good, yes:

THE DEFINITION OF SCENES. 🤯

JAMES TARKOWSKI BRINGS EVERTON LEVEL IN THE FINAL MOMENTS. pic.twitter.com/PpZl3GXud1

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) February 12, 2025

The goal itself is perfectly lovely, but I want you to look at the timing, as Everton captain James Tarkowski put this ball in on the literal final possession of a game Liverpool — tops in the Premier League — led by a goal. 

The moment was poetic, too, as this was the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. It will now live in Everton folklore. 

Oh, and multiple players and coaches were sent off after the match ended. What a night. Let’s keep going:

News to Know

Familiar faces, high-profile spots
It was a buzzy day for college football hires yesterday. Let’s start big with Matt Patricia, the former NFL coach, who will be Ohio State’s defensive coordinator next season after Jim Knowles left to become Penn State’s DC. Patricia’s record is … mixed. We’ll finish with nostalgia, as “new” West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez hired Pat White — once a Heisman candidate quarterback under Rodriguez at WVU/video-game legend — to be the team’s QBs coach. Yes, you’re old.

The Angels’ Rendon problem
What a strange tenure Anthony Rendon has had in an Angels uniform. The team announced yesterday that Rendon — who signed a seven-year, $245 million deal with the club in 2020 — will miss the entire 2025 season with a hip injury. Rendon, 34, has been oft-injured as an Angel and has publicly sparred with his current employer on multiple occasions. Though he has two years and $70 million left, the tea leaves say this might be the end for Rendon in L.A. Sam Blum pondered Rendon’s solemnly fascinating future.

UNLV football player dies
Ben Christman, a senior offensive lineman at UNLV, was found dead in his apartment Tuesday, the university announced. The statement included no cause of death for the 21-year-old, who transferred to UNLV from Kentucky this offseason. Despite being on campus for just a month, UNLV coach Dan Mullen had added Christman to the team’s leadership committee already. More details on the sad situation here.

More news

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Watch and Listen

📺 NHL: USA vs. Finland
8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Back with another 4 Nations matchup, and we get our first glimpse at the Americans. Last night’s opening game felt momentous. Let’s hope for more of that feeling here. 

📺 NCAAW: No. 3 Texas at No. 8 Kentucky
7 p.m. on ESPN 2
The SEC is wide open on the women’s side, too, and Texas is the conference’s hottest team. The problem with playing in the best conference is that you have to continue playing the best teams. Here’s another one. 

Get tickets to games like these here.

🎧 NFL Draft season? Let’s go. The Athletic Football Show has industry guru Dane Brugler on to discuss the best prospects as his first top 100 has been revealed. Watch the show right here.

Pulse Picks

Filed under “important”: Luke Smith has a sprawling report about F1 and the hunt for a new media rights deal, which could wholly change the sport. 

Joe Vardon spoke exclusively with former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel as the newly minted Ohio lieutenant governor weighs a run for the state’s top job next. Tressel was open about his role in “Tattoogate.”

NFL insiders ranked the league’s coaching hires — and Ben Johnson wasn’t No. 1. See the full dossier. 

Both Steve Kerr and JJ Redick have provided relief for a high school basketball team in the Palisades area of Los Angeles, which was devastated by wildfires. Make time for this heartwarming story today. 

John Hollinger ranked each NBA team’s trade deadline performance, with some harsh, and frankly hilarious words about the Luka Dončić trade that already feels historic. 

Bubba Wallace seems unfazed by the massive pressure surrounding his upcoming NASCAR season, in which he has a single goal: win. 

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Jason Kelce’s comments about his Eagles beating his brother Travis in the Super Bowl. Read those here. 

Most-read on the website yesterday: Stewart Mandel’s latest college football mailbag, in which he tries to sort out tiers for each major program. Daunting.

(Top photo: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)