The NHL returned on Wednesday night with four games that featured some of the sport's biggest stars, all of whom performed at a high level. Alex Ovechkin scored a goal in the Washington Capitals' win over the defending champion St. Louis Blues. Connor McDavid scored the game-winner in Edmonton's win over the Vancouver Canucks. Conn Smythe-winner Ryan O'Reilly assisted on both Blues goals, though they came in a loss.
RELATED: Auston Matthews brought out the best chirp in hockey for a preseason game
But opening night belonged to Toronto's Auston Matthews, which should come as no surprise, as the 22-year-old center has owned opening night since his career began in 2016. In his very first game as a pro Matthews famously scored four goals, and the following season he kicked off the year with a goal and two assists. Last year? Two goals against the rival Montreal Canadiens.
On Wednesday night, Matthews was back at it, scoring two goals back-to-back in the second peri..

Koepka spends short offseason recovering from stem cell treatment on his left knee

He broke par at a U.S. Open like no one before with a final-round 63 at Oakmont. He broke down barriers by bringing the word “choke” into golf telecasts. And he even claims to have started the white belt trend on the PGA Tour. In short, Johnny Miller has accomplished a lot in the game.
But he also might be the GOAT of SWAGGER on the course.
RELATED: Why Johnny Miller usually does broadcasts in bare feet
On Wednesday, the PGA Tour's Twitter handle shared a clip from the 1984 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open of Miller making a putt in which he turned and walked away well before the ball dropped in the hole. Seriously, this is a masterpiece in showmanship:
https://twitter.com/PGATOUR/status/1179425811549454336
The tour compares Miller's move to Kevin Na's walk-in putts, but there's no comparison. While Na's signature reaction is fantastic in its own right, Miller's move is actually a “walk-away” putt. A no-look walk-away at that. Wow.
The tweet should rea..

Daniel ShireyYou've probably heard this 50 times already, but that Wild Card Game on Tuesday night was pretty WILD, huh? Okay, I'll see myself out.
Just like that, after a wild furious finish to the season, the Milwuakee Brewers are donezo, and their defeat could not have come in more crushing fashion. Leading 3-1 and having completely shut down the Washington Nationals lineup for most of the night, Milwuakee manager Craig Counsell called upon his top reliever Josh Hader, who was able to get two outs but loaded the bases in the process. That's when Washington's Juan Soto hit what appeared to be a game-tying single to right, but it turned into a go-ahead, three-run single when Brewers right fielder Trent Grisham booted it and it rolled past him.
If we're lucky, we'll get similar chaos on Wednesday night in Oakland, where the 97-65 Athletics face the 96-66 Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card Game, with the winner advancing to take on the Houston Astros in the..

Richard RodriguezGritty Yankees third baseman Gio Urshela being gritty as usual.It's been well established that the New York Yankees are the Goliath of Major League Baseball. With names like Ruth, Gherig, DiMaggio, and Mantle, and more World Series titles than letters in the alphabet, the team has history unmatched in any sport. But this year's Bronx Bombers are (rightly) being hailed as scrappy underdogs. And it's time we all get behind them.
RELATED: Nothing will get you hyped for the MLB Playoffs like this Brave banger
I can see you spitting out your Yankee Hatorade in laughter, but bare with me for a minute. This year's team won 103 games despite breaking the MLB record for players having injured stints. In AUGUST! Only two key position players, Gleyber Torres and DJ LeMahieu, made it through the season unscathed, while stars like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, and Aaron Hicks all spent significant time on the disabled list, not to mention a banged-u..

Fox Sports golf analysts and PGA Tour winners Brad Faxon and Brett Quigley talk about growing up and learning the game in the Ocean State.

A Houston man named Jim McIngvale made one of the largest wagers in U.S. history on the eve of the 2019 MLB Playoffs by placing $3.5 million on the Astros to win the World Series. The craziest part? He was just hedging a different kind of bet.
McIngvale, better known as “Mattress Mack,” owns Gallery Furniture, one of the biggest furniture stores in the country. Through a store promotion that would refund all purchases of more than $3,000 if the Astros win it all, ol Mack says he could be on the hook for more than $15 million if that happens. In other words, this is the rare instance when gambling on sports is the safe, smart play.
RELATED: Atlanta Braves song will get you fired up for MLB Playoffs
Mattress Mack's (great nickname) $3.5 million wager was placed at DraftKings sportsbook at Scarlet Pearl Casino in Biloxi, Miss. At +220 odds, it would net $7.7 million. But he's already placed another $200,000 bet on the Astros in Las Vegas and he's looking for more action els..

Column: Ryder Cup preview has nothing to offer except anticipation

Golf notes: Pro-am in Florida next week to raise money for Bahamas relief; critical week for some LPGA Tour players in Texas