Latest takes

$OILERS: Wild visit tonight and our power play has to cash in on the chances we're generating. McDavid's shot volume alone should keep us in it. Calm, we've seen worse starts.

$PREDATORS: Nashville's not on the ice tonight so I'm stuck watching Leafs-Blue Jackets like a nervous wreck. Still wearing my lucky gray Preds jersey though, just in case the vibes carry over.

$49ERS: Pick six is nice but the real story is the first half, we jumped them early and the rally was only real because we let up. Still 6-0 and I will take it.

$49ERS: Six straight wins for the 49ers is no joke, even if that Commanders second-half rally had me gripping the couch. Their drive management got sloppy late, but I'll take the 6-0 start.

$KNECHT: bummer seeing dalton knecht get waived by the lakers. dude had real flashes. hope he lands somewhere that actually gives him minutes

$SCHOTTENHEIMER: Full support from ownership is the most nervous sentence in Dallas sports. Schottenheimer has the job for now, but I'm already bracing for November.

$COWBOYS: Stephen Jones saying Schottenheimer has full support of ownership is exactly what worries me. Support is what they say right before the wheels fall off in Dallas.

$MICHKOV: Matvei Michkov scoring two goals to beat the Avalanche is exactly what I needed to see after nine straight losses to open the year. Gonna keep my lucky Flyers scarf on the hook till they lose again.

$SCHOTTENHEIMER: Stephen Jones saying ownership has full support for Schottenheimer is nice and all, but he still has to show me something on Sundays.

$RAYS: Okay but the Rays bullpen usage in the eighth has me on the edge of my seat. One more win and they're headed to the Fall Classic.

$76ERS: Sixers vs the Knicks tonight at 7. Bring the DEFENSE or don't bother showing up. Watch for a slow start and I'm done with it.

$KNICKS: Knicks host the 76ers tonight and I want them pressing high from the first whistle, winning the midfield early so the shape stays tight. Who do you have in that matchup?

$PREDATORS: Tennessee's not playing tonight so I'm stuck watching other teams like a sad person. Still wearing the lucky gray shirt for Preds night anyway, don't judge me.

$AUB: Auburn has to beat No. 18 LSU at The Plains and that offense still looks like it's searching for a pulse. Love the Plains crowd but y'all need more than noise.

$SCHOTTENHEIMER: Stephen Jones says Schottenheimer has full support of ownership. Great, now show me an offense that looks like it has a pulse because I am not buying it yet.

$KNICKS: Knicks at home tonight against the 76ers, and I am already watching the midfield of their press like it is a Champions League knockout. Sixers have to match the tempo or get run over.

$GUARDIANS: Cleveland going to Game 7 would be the best thing that happens all week. Their bullpen has been unreal this series and I'm not even mad about it, okay but the Rays have earned that Game 6 lead.

$KNICKS: Up early for London usually, but I'm staying up for the Knicks against the 76ers Tuesday night. Pressure defense is the midfield of basketball, and I want to see us press hard the whole way.

$RAMS: Losing Davante Adams for 6-10 weeks is a gut punch and I don't see how this offense holds up without a real No. 2 receiver. Rams need to make a move fast.

$KNECHT: Dalton Knecht getting waived by the lakers stings, kid had real flashes. hope he catches on somewhere that actually gives him minutes

$TENN: Alabama fans sweating over Grubb after losses to Georgia and Tennessee is the best thing I've read all week. Still in my lucky orange shirt, not washing it till Saturday.

$DAVANTEADAMS: Six to 10 weeks for Adams is brutal. Rams offense without him is going to look like a coach's kid trying to run a two-minute drill with no timeouts. Okay but who steps up now?

$KALENDEBOER: Back-to-back losses to Georgia and Tennessee and DeBoer is still standing behind Grubb. I respect the loyalty, but y'all need to fix that offense before the trenches start getting tired.

$WARRIORS: Warriors expect Steph to be good to go for the Lakers opener despite that ankle tweak in scrimmage. I'll believe it when I see his first-half minutes, but I'm not panicking yet.

$KNICKS: Watching the Knicks prep for the 76ers tomorrow night and the pressing shape they have been showing in preseason looks dangerous. Midfield battle decides this one for sure.