Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin and David Perron also scored for the Red Wings, who are the only team to beat Boston (14-2-3) in regulation. Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists and Ville Husso stopped 25 shots.

“A big win for us,” Husso said.

In their third meeting in a month — the Bruins won the first game on Oct. 28 — Detroit took advantage of six Boston penalties to improve to 10-0-2 when scoring four or more goals.

“A really good start. I feel like our guys were focused and locked in,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “A pretty complete road game against a very good team.”

Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen scored for the Bruins, who had been 5-0-2 since losing at Detroit on Nov. 4. Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves on his 25th birthday.

“It’s one thing if you play well and things happen and you don’t get the result,” Bruins center Charlie Coyle said. “But that wasn’t the case I don’t think.”

Despite a 16-save shutout Wednesday against New Jersey, Alex Lyon was the Red Wings’ backup. Husso had allowed at least four goals in his past three starts, but had been on paternity leave and hadn’t played since Nov. 11.

“He should have a kid every six weeks,” Lalonde said, smiling.

The Bruins finally solved Husso when DeBrusk knocked home his own rebound on the power play to get Boston within 2-1 early in the second period.

It was DeBrusk’s second goal in as many games after managing one in his first 16 games.

But Husso kept the surging Bruins at bay until Fabbri scored on a wrist shot from the faceoff circle at 13:24 of the second.

Heinen’s wrist shot 4:12 into the third got the Bruins within a goal. But Brandon Carlo was called for hooking less than a minute later and Larkin scored five seconds into the power play to give Detroit another two-goal cushion.

Perron added an empty-netter with 1:45 left.

“Once we did start chipping away, it seemed like we had a penalty and they would capitalize,” DeBrusk said. “They controlled our momentum swings and that’s why they got the win.”

Boston coach Jim Montgomery gave veteran James van Riemsdyk the day off in the team’s traditional Black Friday home matinee, with Morgan Geekie returning to the lineup.

An early Geekie miscue and an odd bounce put the Bruins in a hole. With Geekie serving a holding penalty, Compher redirected Gostisbehere’s shot at 5:13. The puck bounced off Swayman’s chest and trickled between his legs.

The Red Wings made it 2-0 late in the first period when DeBrincat pickpocketed rookie Matt Poitras in the neutral zone, skated in alone and wristed a shot past Swayman for his team-high 12th goal.

Boston couldn’t overcome the sleepy start and lost in regulation at home for just the fifth time in 50 regular-season home games over the past two seasons.

After using 11 forwards and seven defensemen for several games this season, including their first victory over Boston, the Red Wings had a traditional 12-6 lineup with Jake Walman (illness) scratched.

It worked as Detroit won its second straight after returning from a 0-1-1 trip to Sweden.

“We know we’re a good team,” Husso said. “If we can bring it every night, every day, our best game, we can beat any team in this league.”

UP NEXT

Red Wings: Host Minnesota on Sunday.

Bruins: At the New York Rangers on Saturday, with Matt Grzelcyk (upper-body injury) expected to return.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Paolo Banchero had 23 points and seven rebounds for Orlando. Franz Wagner finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Cole Anthony came off the bench with 16 points.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 26 points. Jaylen Brown added 18, but made just 2 of 16 shots after scoring 12 points in the first 10 minutes.

Jalen Suggs hit two of the Magic’s four 3-pointers on a 17-0 run after Boston had taken a 62-50 lead early in the third quarter. The Celtics missed all eight shots during the game-changing run and went scoreless for 4:42.

The Magic finished 3-1 in group play. The loss dropped Boston to 2-1 with a game at home against Chicago coming up on Tuesday night. The Brooklyn Nets, who beat the Magic, are also 2-1 pending a game against Toronto on Tuesday night. Friday’s score left the Magic with a plus-17 point differential in group play and the Celtics are at zero.

If there is a three-way tie after group play, point differential will determine the group champion.

Boston center Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the third quarter with tightness in his left calf after scoring nine points and taking down four rebounds.

The Celtics also played without Jrue Holiday, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained right ankle.

Sam Hauser’s 3-pointer gave Boston an 11-point lead, the largest of the first half, after a first quarter in which Orlando shot 8 for 22 with eight turnovers.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Atlanta on Sunday night.

Magic: Host Charlotte on Sunday night.

The 7NEWS sports department has all the scores from eastern and central Massachusetts games: 

Eastern Mass.

ABINGTON – 46

WHITMAN-HANSON – 6

–

WESTFORD ACADEMY – 35

ACTON-BOXBOROUGH – 10

–

NEWBURYPORT – 44

AMESBURY – 26

–

NORTH ANDOVER – 13

ANDOVER – 27

–

OLD ROCHESTER – 21

APPONEQUET – 36

–

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS – 42

CARDINAL SPELLMAN – 14

–

WALTHAM – 7

ARLINGTON – 27

–

SHAWSHEEN VALLEY TECH – 41

ARLINGTON CATHOLIC – 7

–

HOPKINTON – 0

ASHLAND – 35

–

NORTH ATTLEBOROUGH – 20

ATTLEBOROUGH – 15

–

AYER-SHIRLEY – 18

LITTLETON – 35

–

BARNSTABLE – 54

FALMOUTH – 8

–

BEDFORD – 34

BURLINGTON – 19

–

NORTON – 13

BELLINGHAM – 20

–

BELMONT – 47

WATERTOWN – 0

–

SALEM – 35

BEVERLY – 14

–

CHELMSFORD – 13

BILLERICA – 27

–

BISHOP FEEHAN – 31

BISHOP STANG – 6

–

MASCONOMET – 3

BISHOP FENWICK – 39

–

TECHBOSTON – 14

BRIGHTON – 20

–

BLUE HILLS – 22

BRISTOL-PLYMOUTH – 6

–

CATHOLIC MEMORIAL – 50

BC HIGH – 22

–

BOSTON LATIN – 19

BOSTON ENGLISH – 6

–

BOSTON LATIN ACADEMY – 6

O’BRYANT – 36

–

BOURNE – 36

WAREHAM – 26

–

MILTON – 19

BRAINTREE – 33

–

BROCKTON – 7

BRIDGEWATER-RAYNHAM – 22

–

NEWTON NORTH – 42

BROOKLINE – 21

–

SOMERVILLE – 20

CAMBRIDGE RINDGE & LATIN – 43

–

CANTON – 19

STOUGHTON – 0

–

CAPE COD TECH – 16

UPPER CAPE COD – 6

–

MIDDLEBOROUGH – 56

CARVER – 0

–

ATLANTIS CHARTER – 0

CASE – 26

–

CHELSEA – 20

CATHEDRAL – 0

–

CENTRAL – 22

SOMERSET BERKLEY – 26

–

LAWRENCE – 14

CENTRAL CATHOLIC – 17

–

COHASSET – 3

HULL – 10

–

LEXINGTON – 6

CONCORD-CARLISLE – 33

–

GLOUCESTER – 0

DANVERS – 35

–

FAIRHAVEN – 24

DARTMOUTH – 21

–

DEDHAM – 12

NORWOOD – 15

–

DENNIS-YARMOUTH – 35

NAUSET – 32

–

SEEKONK – 16

DIGHTON-REHOBOTH – 42

–

GREATER NEW BEDFORD – 27

DIMAN – 8

–

MEDFIELD – 25

DOVER-SHERBORN – 7

–

DRACUT – 16

METHUEN – 48

–

NEW BEDFORD – 26

DURFEE – 21

–

MARSHFIELD – 21

DUXBURY – 23

–

EAST BRIDGEWATER – 21

ROCKLAND – 42

–

ESSEX TECH – 14

NORTHEAST METRO TECH – 16

–

ST MARY’S – 28

EVERETT – 56

–

FOXBOROUGH – 30

MANSFIELD – 17

–

NATICK – 13

FRAMINGHAM – 15

–

KING PHILIP – 35

FRANKLIN – 0

–

GREATER LAWRENCE – 30

WHITTIER – 20

–

LOWELL CATHOLIC – 6

GREATER LOWELL TECH – 42

–

IPSWICH – 0

HAMILTON-WENHAM – 34

–

HANOVER – 0

NORWELL – 32

–

SCITUATE – 13

HINGHAM – 10

–

SOUTH SHORE VOC TECH – 41

HOLBROOK/AVON – 30

–

HOLLISTON – 36

WESTWOOD – 53

–

KEEFE TECH – 28

MINUTEMAN – 12

–

LYNN TECH – 19

KIPP ACADEMY – 45

–

NEWTON SOUTH – 7

LINCOLN-SUDBURY – 35

–

LOWELL – 12

HAVERHILL – 20

–

LYNN CLASSICAL – 8

LYNN ENGLISH – 6

–

NORTH READING – 0

LYNNFIELD – 34

–

MALDEN – 14

MEDFORD – 30

–

ST. JOHN’S (S) – 33

MALDEN CATHOLIC – 14

–

NORTH MIDDLESEX – 28

MANCHESTER-ESSEX – 8

–

MARBLEHEAD – 28

SWAMPSCOTT – 21

–

SANDWICH – 15

MASHPEE – 22

–

MAYNARD – 20

WEST BOYLSTON – 50

–

MILLIS – 14

MEDWAY – 0

–

MELROSE – 3

WAKEFIELD – 7

–

TAUNTON – 21

MILFORD – 31

–

MONOMOY – 42

ST. JOHN PAUL II – 0

–

NEEDHAM – 21

WELLESLEY – 7

–

QUINCY – 20

NORTH QUINCY – 43

–

TRI-COUNTY – 8

OLD COLONY – 43

–

SHARON – 42

OLIVER AMES – 6

–

SAUGUS – 6

PEABODY – 27

–

PEMBROKE – 27

SILVER LAKE – 21

–

TRITON – 7

PENTUCKET – 21

–

PLYMOUTH SOUTH – 7

PLYMOUTH NORTH – 28

–

READING – 0

STONEHAM – 39

–

WINTHROP – 22

REVERE – 0

–

SOUTHEASTERN – 0

WEST BRIDGEWATER – 48

–

ST. JOHN’S PREP – 21

XAVERIAN – 23

–

TEWKSBURY – 29

WILMINGTON – 19

WALPOLE – 44

WEYMOUTH – 20

–

WESTON – 18

WAYLAND – 49

–

WINCHESTER – 17

WOBURN – 20

Central Mass.

ABBY KELLEY FOSTER – 0

WORCESTER TECH – 14

–

ALGONQUIN REGIONAL – 6

WESTBOROUGH – 28

–

MAHAR – 8

ATHOL – 40

–

AUBURN – 18

LEICESTER – 7

–

SOUTHBRIDGE – 8

BARTLETT – 10

–

BAY PATH RVT – 42

OXFORD – 34

–

BLACKSTONE-MILLVILLE – 40

SUTTON – 6

–

NIPMUC – 14

BLACKSTONE VALLEY TECH – 35

–

DOHERTY MEMORIAL – 32

BURNCOAT – 6

–

CLINTON – 42

NASHOBA REG – 14

–

LEOMINSTER – 59

FITCHBURG – 7

–

GARDNER – 31

QUABBIN – 16

–

MILLBURY – 0

GRAFTON – 14

–

TYNGSBOROUGH – 44

GROTON-DUNSTABLE – 22

–

MARLBOROUGH – 0

HUDSON – 41

–

OAKMONT REG – 40

LUNENBURG – 7

–

MONTACHUSETT RVT – 22

NASHOBA VALLEY TECH – 26

–

NARRAGANSETT – 40

MURDOCK – 8

–

UXBRIDGE – 35

NORTHBRIDGE – 14

–

WARE – 20

QUABOAG – 14

–

ST. PAUL DIOCESAN – 6

ST. BERNARD’S – 32

–

SHEPHERD HILL – 14

TANTASQUA – 17

–

SHREWSBURY – 22

WACHUSETT – 31

–

WORCESTER SOUTH – 20

WORCESTER NORTH – 14

“We have a lot of other great players too, for sure, but they have set a standard,” said Methuen head football coach Tom Ryan, discussing brothers Shane and Drew Eason. 

Ryan continued, crediting the Eason brothers for their standard in the weight room and their standard in practice. 

“They’re excellent, hard working kids and it shows,” he said. “The results show for them.”

The Easons made it look relatively easy over the past two seasons with Drew under center and Shane in the backfield. 

Speaking with 7NEWS, Shane said Drew is a great leader and a great role model who “does all the things for the team.” 

“[He] steps up in the biggest moments,” Shane said.

Drew similarly praised his brother. 

“When there is someone I need to go to, he is the guy,” he said of Shane. 

Shane and Drew together helped drive Methuen to an 18-6 record through the past two seasons, highlighted by a Final Four berth in 2022.

Coach Ryan said Shane “has got to be one of the best running backs I have ever encountered.” 

“And Drew has such good command of our offense,” he continued. “He can sling it with the best of them in the state.” 

The Eason brothers’ talent is reminiscent of their father PJ, who was a standout for powerhouse Everett in the 1990s. 

Drew said his father told him he led the league in scoring. 

“I will take his word for it,” Drew said. 

“He was a power back,” Shane said of his father. “He also used his speed. He was faster than most. He could run through most. He was just an all-out dog.” 

The Eason brothers’ mother and father have had a front row seat as their children helped put Methuen football on the map. 

“I think that he is a big piece of them,” said the brothers’ mother, Tammi. “They are very coachable kids. I think that comes from their dad for sure.” 

PJ, the brother’s father, said it has been fun watching the two play together. 

“When one does something good, the other one is the first one there to cheer them on,” he continued. 

PJ said he had been hoping to see his sons play sports together. To now see that happen, he said, “is tremendous.” 

With all their football success, Coach Ryan said the Eason brothers are leaving a legacy that will impact the next generation of Rangers players. 

Ryan said their brand of success, though, may be unique. 

“We’re going to be able to show kids films of these kids one day and be like ‘Hey, this is kind of how we want you to do things,’” Ryan said. “But I don’t think you’re ever going to be able to copy what these kids have done.” 

Shane Eason is a junior. Drew, a senior, threw for 120 yards and three scored in a 48-16 win over Dracut Wednesday night, finishing his high school career with a school record 6,212 passing yards and a school record 62 career passing touchdowns.

In addition to the school records, Drew’s 6,212 passing yards are good for ninth place all-time in Massachusetts history.

John Beecher and Jake DeBrusk scored in a 3:05 span of the second period to put Boston in control, and Charlie Coyle also scored for the Bruins.

Anton Lundell scored for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots. The Panthers saw their six-game winning streak on home ice snapped and lost for just the second time in their last nine games overall.

“We were really good on the rush defense,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said of his team’s shutdown third-period performance. “We had a lot of numbers back, we were putting bodies on bodies and we had a little bit of time to make good breakout plays.”

Boston improved to 14-1-3 on the season and 4-0-0 after losses. The Bruins have 31 of a possible 36 points so far — by far the best in the league, yet slightly behind their pace from last season when they had 32 points through 18 games.

“We’ve only lost one game in regulation, so any time you’ve played this amount of games and have that, you’re doing something right,” DeBrusk said. “There are a lot of guys that are contributing in different ways and you need that to win. Our goaltending has been solid as well, and it bailed us out in a lot of games.”

The 31 points after 18 games ties the fifth-most in NHL history. The only teams with more: the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks had 33 points, while the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers, the 1929-30 Bruins and last season’s Bruins each had 32 points.

Boston finished with an NHL-record 135 points last season, yet still lost to Florida in seven games in the opening round of the playoffs. The Panthers went on to play in the Stanley Cup Final, but are 0-1-1 against the Bruins so far this season.

“This is going to be a real good rivalry for five or six years,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said before the game. “Boston’s been a great team for a long time. We’re trying to get to that level.”

The Panthers suffered their first multi-goal loss since Nov. 4 and fell to 12-6-1, but remain in second place in the Atlantic Division.

Ullmark improved to 7-1-1 on the season.

”He is a good, big goalie,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said of Ullmark. “He likes to play the puck, so every time you rim it, he stops it and makes a play. Obviously, we found a way to get to him in the past and we’ll do it again someday.”

The Panthers were again without captain Aleksander Barkov, who missed his second consecutive game with a knee injury. Barkov has been skating and Maurice said there is a chance — if the doctors approve — that the forward could play Friday against Winnipeg.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host Detroit on Friday afternoon.

Panthers: Host Winnipeg on Friday night.

Jaylen Brown had 26 points and eight assists for Boston, which improved the NBA’s best record to 12-3. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and Derrick White scored 13.

“I thought it was great. Obviously, the fans and everyone in the building knew this was No. 1 and No. 2 seed playing against each other, and that just adds more fuel to the atmosphere,” Porzingis said. “The energy was there. We played hard and they made a good push at the end and almost made a comeback, but we held strong.”

The Celtics opened a 21-point lead in the first half and never trailed. They held that double-digit edge until the Bucks made a late charge in the final two minutes, slicing it to 114-111 before Tatum hit three free throws in the closing 21.2 seconds.

Brook Lopez led Milwaukee (10-5) with 28 points. Damian Lillard had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to 21 points after scoring at least 40 in his last two games.

“When you miss a lot of shots, usually it’s what the opposing team is doing,” Lillard said of the slow start. ‘When you look at how we played, we just didn’t execute well. We didn’t have good pace to our offense, we didn’t make extra passes, we didn’t screen for each other; a lot of things we have to do.”

The Bucks, who scored 130 points or more in their last three games, had a five-game winning streak halted.

Tatum started despite being listed as questionable after scoring a season-high 45 points in an overtime loss at Charlotte in the last game.

The Celtics led 67-53 at halftime after shooting a sizzling 58.1%, including 12 of 23 from 3-point range.

“We were making great plays and executing for each other and we had our defensive connectivity,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.

They broke in front 10-0 and pushed it to 21-8 before opening a 54-33 edge on Brown’s three-point play midway through the second quarter.

Antetokounmpo was pulled by first-year coach Adrian Griffin after a dibbling violation. The two appeared to have words while the star was leaning against the scorer’s table facing the court, where he remained before checking back in on the next stoppage of play.

The teams made some of the biggest additions during the offseason, looking for supremacy in the East.

In late June, the Celtics acquired Porzingis in a blockbuster three-team deal that sent one of its longtime floor leaders, Marcus Smart, to Memphis.

The Bucks later added Lillard on Sept. 27, months after he requested a trade out of Portland. Milwaukee traded Jrue Holiday in that deal, and the Celtics acquired him from the Trail Blazers four days later.

Those players got involved right away, too, when Holiday picked up Lillard defensively on Milwaukee’s first possession and Porzingis challenged Antetokounmpo’s shot that caromed off the backboard on his initial drive to the basket.

“We knew neither one of us was going to win the championship tonight,” Lillard said of the energy in the building. “The thing that made it a high-level game is they were the first team in the East and we were the second. The winner walks away No. 1 right now, which means nothing. A lot of high-level players on their team, a lot of high-level on ours.”

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host the Wizards in an In-Season tournament game on Friday night.

Celtics: At the Magic in an In-Season tourney game on Friday afternoon.

A day after Patriots coach Bill Belichick stonewalled in his media availability about whether Jones would be benched, the 2021 first-round draft pick said he is preparing as if he will start, even though the coaches appear to be undecided.

“Hope so. I mean, that’s the plan,” Jones said when asked directly if he will start. “A lot of that decision-making is things I can’t control, but I can control my attitude and my effort.”

Just as Belichick repeatedly fell back on “everybody needs to be ready to go” in his availability on Tuesday, Jones pulled out the standby, “I’m focusing on what I can control.” The third-year quarterback said the word “control” 13 times during his 8 minute, 23 second media availability on Wednesday; Belichick dropped “ready” 14 times on Tuesday in 8:21.

“We’ve had good conversations,” Jones said. “Really what I’ve been focusing on is what I can control. Put a lot of thought into that, the things that I can control. … That’s what I can do, control what I can control.”

Jones, who went for X-rays for an undisclosed injury after the 10-6 loss to Indianapolis in Germany on Nov. 12, also said that he had some bumps and bruises but isn’t limited in participation coming out of the week off.

“I have things that I’m working through; everybody does. You’re playing NFL games every week. Every week’s a car crash in its own way, so you’re trying to get back from that,” he said. “The bye week definitely helped get the body back, and I’m looking forward to finishing this thing strong.”

Jones has started each of the first 10 games this season, but he has been pulled three times – twice for blowouts and once, in the Week 10 loss to the Colts, after throwing a fourth-quarter interception near the end zone. With a chance to rally the Patriots, Bailey Zappe was 3 of 7 for 25 yards and finished by throwing an interception on a fake-spike play to seal the game.

Zappe, a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, appeared in four games, starting two — both wins — last season. The Patriots also have Will Grier, who started three games for Carolina in 2019, on the roster and rookie Malik Cunningham on the practice squad.

Earlier this week, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said Jones, Zappe and Grier all took reps in practice with the first team during the off week. Jones said he wouldn’t let that derail him.

“You take advantage of the reps you’ve had, right?” he said. “I’ve played a good amount of snaps in the NFL, I feel confident that I can go out there, feel prepared based on my preparation, film study and all those things.”

Jones said he learned from watching the quarterback competition at Alabama, when Tua Tagovailoa won the starting job and Jalen Hurts transferred to Oklahoma. Jones took over as the starter when Tagovailoa was injured late in 2019 season, and then he led the Crimson Tide to the national championship the next year.

“I witnessed everything. I heard every conversation, watched everything, watched every move between each guy,” Jones said. “So I learned a lot about both of them, and I learned a lot about myself, too, just trying to learn from their situation, and talking with Jalen, Tua, and having those friendships is always good.”

Likely a future Hall of Famer for his stellar Major League Baseball (MLB) career as an outfielder, Ichiro, 50, not only still likes to play, but he’s doing it as a pitcher.

A Japanese high school girls’ team found out just how well he can throw during Ichiro’s annual All-Star game on Tuesday.

The game, which was first played two years ago, was set up to encourage women to play baseball in Japan – and Ichiro was certainly all in.

According to MLB.com, Ichiro threw a 116-pitch, complete game shutout and struck out nine in the 4-0 victory at the Tokyo Dome.

He even dusted off an 86-miles-per-hour fastball during the game which, in truth, might give some of the best hitters in the world something to think about.

Ichiro was joined in the game by former MLB pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka – who played for the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets – and retired from professional baseball in 2021, with the pair excited to show off their skills once again.

As well as his prowess from the mound, Ichiro also picked up two hits in the game – a relief given he went hitless during the last two years of the exhibition contest, according to MLB.com.

“Personally, I am glad to be able to make a hit. I would like to continue training in hopes to motivate the female athletes,” Ichiro said after the game, according to Japanese broadcaster NHK.

The Japanese great certainly inspired the opposition during the game, both with his exploits as well as being struck out by Okayama Gakugeikan High School’s Ryona Domae in one inning, leading the aspiring young athlete to beam with excitement.

“I was really looking forward to this match with Ichiro. I was determined to get a win, but the fact that I got to strike him out is a memory I will cherish forever,” Domae said on Japan’s TBS Sports.

“Knowing that I was able to strike out Ichiro, I think I can compete with confidence in future matches.”

Ichiro praised the pitcher, saying to an ecstatic Domae: “I had a weird feeling [being struck out] – I typically have very few strike outs. You should be proud of yourself.”

MLB icon

Ichiro’s professional debut came with the Orix Blue Wave of Japan’s Pacific League on July 11, 1992. He played in Japan from 1992-2000, winning three consecutive MVP awards and seven straight batting titles.

When he made the move to the Seattle Mariners in 2001 – becoming the first Japanese position player to sign with an MLB team – Ichiro emphatically made his mark. He went on to win the American League MVP and Rookie of the Year awards that year, becoming just the second player ever to win both honors in the same season.

From 2001-2010, Ichiro won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards and made 10 straight trips to the All-Star Game.

In 2016, he recorded his 3,000th MLB hit to join an elite list of players to reach such a landmark.

In addition to the Mariners, Ichiro played for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins in his MLB career.

For fans itching for more of Ichiro on the field after Tuesday’s game, the baseball great had some good news as he emphasised that the series would continue.

“I felt the energy of everyone and it was the most happiest moment me – and I believe it was for Matsuzaka and the high school team as well. Thank you so much everyone,” he added.

“But especially for the high school female athletes who will continue on with this sport, in hopes that I can be their motivation. I will continue my training and so will Matsuzaka. I want to do this again next year at the Tokyo Dome!”

Now, that’s exactly what has happened.

Bailey was hired Tuesday as pitching coach of the Boston Red Sox, joining Alex Cora’s staff a month after Breslow became the team’s chief baseball officer. Bailey, who spent the previous four seasons as the Giants pitching coach, played with Breslow in Oakland for three seasons before they both joined the Red Sox from 2012-13.

“It’s a pretty unique relationship,” Bailey said Tuesday night. “To be able to joke around like that with a former teammate and a true friend, and now be able to see that path laid out and be able to compete together in another capacity, is special.”

A New Jersey native, Bailey said he would have been interested in coming back to Boston even if Breslow hadn’t been hired, in part to get back to the East Coast. He also didn’t like the way his Red Sox career finished in 2013: A shoulder injury ended his season in July, and he missed the World Series run, as well as all of the following season.

“I know I was brought there to do a job. And unfortunately, as a player, I wasn’t able to to do that job to the best of my ability due to injuries,” he said. “And it’s it’s not too frequent you get a second opportunity to kind of right the ship in a different capacity.”

Bailey, 39, replaced Dave Bush, Boston’s pitching coach for the past four seasons.

The 2009 AL Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star, Bailey was 16-14 with a 3.12 ERA and 95 saves in eight seasons with Oakland, Boston, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Angels. He appeared in 19 games with a 7.04 ERA for Bobby Valentine and the 2012 Red Sox, who lost 93 games, and was 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA and eight saves for Boston the following year, when John Farrell took over and led the team to the World Series title.

“I know what it’s like to do blow a save in Boston. I know what it’s like to be a player to have success as well,” Bailey said. “We won a World Series, and we finished in last place. I experienced both of those, and I kind of ran the gamut in Boston as well in a really short period of time. … I think we can draw from those experiences, for sure.”

Bailey spent 2018 as an Angels coaching assistant and video replay coordinator and 2019 as the Angels bullpen coach. He switched to the Giants to work under manager Gabe Kapler, who was fired after the season and replaced by Bob Melvin.

Bailey is also the director of development for the Breslow’s Strike 3 Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research.

“There’s a lot of people that you meet along the way in this game. And I think there’s a handful of people that you can call true friends, and Craig is one of them,” Bailey said. “Along the way, you get a lot of teammates and coaches and you cross paths here and there, but we’ve stayed in contact. Craig is a big reason why I was pitching coach in San Francisco. And, obviously, a main driver of of why I’m with the Red Sox now.”

Now, that’s exactly what has happened.

Bailey was hired Tuesday as pitching coach of the Boston Red Sox, joining Alex Cora’s staff a month after Breslow became the team’s chief baseball officer. Bailey, who spent the previous four seasons as the Giants pitching coach, played with Breslow in Oakland for three seasons before they both joined the Red Sox from 2012-13.

“It’s a pretty unique relationship,” Bailey said Tuesday night. “To be able to joke around like that with a former teammate and a true friend, and now be able to see that path laid out and be able to compete together in another capacity, is special.”

A New Jersey native, Bailey said he would have been interested in coming back to Boston even if Breslow hadn’t been hired, in part to get back to the East Coast. He also didn’t like the way his Red Sox career finished in 2013: A shoulder injury ended his season in July, and he missed the World Series run, as well as all of the following season.

“I know I was brought there to do a job. And unfortunately, as a player, I wasn’t able to to do that job to the best of my ability due to injuries,” he said. “And it’s it’s not too frequent you get a second opportunity to kind of right the ship in a different capacity.”

Bailey, 39, replaced Dave Bush, Boston’s pitching coach for the past four seasons.

The 2009 AL Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star, Bailey was 16-14 with a 3.12 ERA and 95 saves in eight seasons with Oakland, Boston, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Angels. He appeared in 19 games with a 7.04 ERA for Bobby Valentine and the 2012 Red Sox, who lost 93 games, and was 3-1 with a 3.77 ERA and eight saves for Boston the following year, when John Farrell took over and led the team to the World Series title.

“I know what it’s like to do blow a save in Boston. I know what it’s like to be a player to have success as well,” Bailey said. “We won a World Series, and we finished in last place. I experienced both of those, and I kind of ran the gamut in Boston as well in a really short period of time. … I think we can draw from those experiences, for sure.”

Bailey spent 2018 as an Angels coaching assistant and video replay coordinator and 2019 as the Angels bullpen coach. He switched to the Giants to work under manager Gabe Kapler, who was fired after the season and replaced by Bob Melvin.

Bailey is also the director of development for the Breslow’s Strike 3 Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research.

“There’s a lot of people that you meet along the way in this game. And I think there’s a handful of people that you can call true friends, and Craig is one of them,” Bailey said. “Along the way, you get a lot of teammates and coaches and you cross paths here and there, but we’ve stayed in contact. Craig is a big reason why I was pitching coach in San Francisco. And, obviously, a main driver of of why I’m with the Red Sox now.”

He replaced Dave Bush, Boston’s pitching coach for the past four seasons.

A two-time All-Star, the 39-year-old Bailey was 16-14 with a 3.12 ERA and 95 saves in eight seasons with Oakland (2009-11), Boston (2012-13), the New York Yankees (2015), Philadelphia (2016) and the Los Angeles Angels (2016-17).

He spent 2018 as an Angels coaching assistant and video replay coordinator and 2019 as the Angels bullpen coach. He switched to the Giants to work under manager Gabe Kapler, who was fired after the season and replaced by Bob Melvin.

Bailey is director of development for the Strike 3 Foundation, founded in 2008 by Craig Breslow, hired last month as Boston’s chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. The organization raises money for childhood cancer research. Bailey and Breslow were teammates on the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox.

Rodríguez, who turns 32 on Nov. 14, had a 6.55 ERA over 11 relief appearances and 11 innings in his one season with Boston. He agreed last November to a $2 million, one-year contract that included a $1.5 million salary this year. He earned a $500,000 roster bonus for being on the active roster for 30 days.

Rodríguez began the season on the injured list with a strained right oblique. After making five appearances from May 17-30, Rodríguez went back on the IL with left shoulder inflammation. He made six more appearances from July 9-25, then went on the IL with right hip inflammaton. Rodríguez did not pitch for the Red Sox for the rest of the season.

A six-year major league veteran, Rodríguez is 5-9 with a 4.70 ERA and one save in 168 games for Philadelphia (2016-17), Texas (2020-21), the New York Yankees (2021), the New York Mets (2022) and the Red Sox.

Boston announced its decision Saturday night.

But the experience that best prepared him for his new job may have come when he was working in the Cubs front office and he traded away his kid’s favorite player.

“I’ve worn multiple hats, and I think I’ve got a unique perspective,” Breslow said Thursday in a Fenway Park news conference where he was introduced as the team’s chief baseball officer. “I also think I have the willingness and the conviction to make the tough decisions necessary to succeed in this role.”

A journeyman who bounced around 10 different organizations during 16 years in professional baseball, Breslow takes over the Red Sox front office from fellow Yalie Chaim Bloom, who was fired with three weeks left in the season as the team stumbled to its third last-place finish in four years.

Breslow had been working as an assistant general manager in Chicago. He was hired there and mentored by Theo Epstein, who also went to Yale before building the rosters that won World Series in Boston in 2004 and 2007. (Breslow would not identify which player was his child’s favorite, but while he was in Chicago the Cubs traded Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez and Kris Bryant.)

But Breslow brings to the job playing experience that neither Epstein nor Bloom had.

“I watched a lot of baseball games at Fenway Park. Some from the stands. Some from the bleachers. But most from the bullpen,” Breslow said. “I know what it’s like to put on a Red Sox jersey, to jog through the bullpen gate across freshly cut outfield grass. And I know what it’s like to stand on the mound in front of tens of thousands of the most passionate fans in the game, to feel the cool, fall breeze hit the Red Sox jersey. And I know what it’s like to hoist a World Series trophy overhead, the culmination of a group of people coming together to accomplish something that they couldn’t have alone.”

“I know what it means to win in Boston,” he said. “I understand that some of you will see me as another Ivy League nerd with a baseball front office job. It’s true, I am that. But I’m also a 13-year big leaguer. And a 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series champion. And I know what it means to win here. And I’m willing to make the hard decisions necessary to deliver.”

“My contribution to winning in this role will be different than it was back then. But one thing remains constant: My desire to win today is as strong as it was as a player,” he said, “and I can’t wait to get started.”

Breslow, 43, was born in New Haven and was the Yale baseball captain before graduating with degrees in molecular biophysics and biochemistry. He put off medical school to pursue a career in the major leagues and stretched his career to 576 appearances over 13 seasons, going 23-30 with a 3.45 ERA.

Breslow pitched in 13 games for the 2006 Red Sox and was a September callup the following year, making the postseason roster when Boston won the World Series. He earned his first of two championship rings even though did not pitch in the majors that year. He was 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA for the Red Sox in 2013, including a 2.45 ERA in six postseason appearances as they won it all again.

Team president Sam Kennedy said it wasn’t just Breslow’s playing experience, it was how he adapted his pitching style to what would help him hang around.

“Craig is a problem-solver of the highest order,” Kennedy said. “He literally turned himself into a big-leaguer and turned himself into a front office executive using innovative and non-traditional methods. … Most importantly to us, he played right here in Boston at Fenway Park. And Craig knows firsthand what it takes and what it means to win here. And ultimately, he knows what our fans expect and what they deserve.”

Manager Alex Cora said he doesn’t remember interacting much with his new boss as teammates in 2006 and 2007. Like Breslow, Cora bounced around during his career, joining six organizations as a player before coaching in Houston and Boston.

To Cora, being a journeyman player can be an asset as an executive because it exposed Breslow to different styles he might not have experienced if he had spent his entire career with one club.

“You can learn from their mistakes. I learned from my mistakes throughout the years and how that made me better,” Cora said. “And hopefully our partnership can, you know, translate into a lot of wins and hopefully we can bring back that trophy that is in Texas right now.”

Multiple sources reported the hiring on Tuesday and said Breslow had accepted the job. 

The Red Sox fired previous Head of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom on Sept. 14 after the team’s third last-place finish in four seasons. Brewslow’s reported hiring now follows an extensive search over the past 5.5 weeks.

The 43-year-old Breslow pitched for seven teams over a 12-year career, including two stints in Boston, where he won a World Series in 2013.

Breslow has additional New England ties as a New Haven, Conn. native and Yale graduate.

Breslow comes to the Red Sox front office after serving as the assistant to the general manager of the Chicago Cubs. 

This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest updates.

A day after Patriots coach Bill Belichick stonewalled in his media availability about whether Jones would be benched, the 2021 first-round draft pick said he is preparing as if he will start, even though the coaches appear to be undecided.

“Hope so. I mean, that’s the plan,” Jones said when asked directly if he will start. “A lot of that decision-making is things I can’t control, but I can control my attitude and my effort.”

Just as Belichick repeatedly fell back on “everybody needs to be ready to go” in his availability on Tuesday, Jones pulled out the standby, “I’m focusing on what I can control.” The third-year quarterback said the word “control” 13 times during his 8 minute, 23 second media availability on Wednesday; Belichick dropped “ready” 14 times on Tuesday in 8:21.

“We’ve had good conversations,” Jones said. “Really what I’ve been focusing on is what I can control. Put a lot of thought into that, the things that I can control. … That’s what I can do, control what I can control.”

Jones, who went for X-rays for an undisclosed injury after the 10-6 loss to Indianapolis in Germany on Nov. 12, also said that he had some bumps and bruises but isn’t limited in participation coming out of the week off.

“I have things that I’m working through; everybody does. You’re playing NFL games every week. Every week’s a car crash in its own way, so you’re trying to get back from that,” he said. “The bye week definitely helped get the body back, and I’m looking forward to finishing this thing strong.”

Jones has started each of the first 10 games this season, but he has been pulled three times – twice for blowouts and once, in the Week 10 loss to the Colts, after throwing a fourth-quarter interception near the end zone. With a chance to rally the Patriots, Bailey Zappe was 3 of 7 for 25 yards and finished by throwing an interception on a fake-spike play to seal the game.

Zappe, a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, appeared in four games, starting two — both wins — last season. The Patriots also have Will Grier, who started three games for Carolina in 2019, on the roster and rookie Malik Cunningham on the practice squad.

Earlier this week, offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien said Jones, Zappe and Grier all took reps in practice with the first team during the off week. Jones said he wouldn’t let that derail him.

“You take advantage of the reps you’ve had, right?” he said. “I’ve played a good amount of snaps in the NFL, I feel confident that I can go out there, feel prepared based on my preparation, film study and all those things.”

Jones said he learned from watching the quarterback competition at Alabama, when Tua Tagovailoa won the starting job and Jalen Hurts transferred to Oklahoma. Jones took over as the starter when Tagovailoa was injured late in 2019 season, and then he led the Crimson Tide to the national championship the next year.

“I witnessed everything. I heard every conversation, watched everything, watched every move between each guy,” Jones said. “So I learned a lot about both of them, and I learned a lot about myself, too, just trying to learn from their situation, and talking with Jalen, Tua, and having those friendships is always good.”

Long term, they have even bigger problems.

With the team on track to miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons since Tom Brady defected to Tampa Bay, Bill Belichick’s job is at stake.

Yes, you read that correctly: The six-time Super Bowl champion could be chasing Don Shula’s all-time coaching record from a new sideline next year.

Belichick – whose boat is named “Eight Rings” because of the two other NFL titles he won as a New York Giants assistant – is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. With 330 career wins, including postseason, he needs only 17 more to surpass Shula for No. 1 all-time.

That once looked like a sure thing — just a few more 12-win seasons like he routinely racked up with Brady during the team’s string of 17 AFC East titles in 19 years. But his failure to be competitive without Brady, including a 2-8 record this season, means the 71-year-old coach might have to claim the crown somewhere else — if at all.

Belichick is widely presumed to be moving on, with him and team owner Robert Kraft already been positioning themselves through the media for the postseason. Most of the debate is over where he will land, with every utterance about another organization dissected to determine if Belichick is campaigning for a new gig. Conflicting leaks of how long he has remaining on his contract have been seen as the prelude to a fight over whether the Patriots receive compensation if Belichick leaves or is fired.

Belichick has deflected questions about his future with his usual dismissiveness, saying after the 10-6 loss to Indianapolis in Germany on Sunday: “Well, I just do the best I can every day.”

The uninspired loss to the Colts was the Patriots’ third defeat in a row and it comes during a part of the schedule – against similarly lackluster Washington, Indianapolis and on Nov. 26 against the 2-8 New York Giants — that was supposed to be a chance to move up in the standings. Instead, New England is last in the AFC and 2-8 for the first time since 2000, Belichick’s first season with the team.

Kraft, who set a playoff berth as the minimum expectation before the season, told fans in Germany he was disappointed; the fans are openly rooting for the team to tank and put itself in position to draft Southern California’s Caleb Williams or another top college quarterback. Asked to respond, Belichick said, “I think we all feel that way. I think we’re all disappointed in the season. But we’ll keep going here. Seven games to go. Be ready to go next week against the Giants.”

But first, the Patriots need to find a quarterback.

And the options aren’t so great.

Jones showed promise in 2021 after the Patriots selected him No. 15 overall in the draft, finishing second in the offensive rookie of the year voting — ahead of top-three picks Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson and Trey Lance and No. 11 selection Justin Fields. The Patriots went 10-7, and despite a loss in the playoffs it looked as though Belichick had found his next franchise quarterback: Jones was in the top 10 for all qualifying rookie QBs from 2000-22 in passer rating and yards per attempt.

But the Alabama national champion regressed badly in Year 2, when Belichick experimented with an offense largely directed by play caller Matt Patricia and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge.

Under his third offensive coordinator in as many seasons, Jones has been even worse this year, throwing only 10 touchdowns to go with 10 interceptions, including what he admitted was a “terrible throw” against Indianapolis on Sunday when he short-armed a pass to tight end Mike Gesicki, who was open in the end zone with the Patriots down by four late in the fourth quarter.

Jones was replaced for the final drive by Bailey Zappe; it’s the third time this season Zappe has come off the bench after Jones was ineffective, with the first two being blowouts. With a chance to rally the Patriots, Zappe was 3 of 7 for 25 yards and finished by throwing an interception on a fake-spike play to seal the game.

In the past two seasons, Jones is near the bottom of the quarterbacks with at least 300 passes thrown in rating (82.8) and yards per attempt (6.6); he is tied for the fourth-most turnovers, with 24. New England also has Will Grier, who started three games for Carolina in 2019, as a third quarterback; rookie Malik Cunningham is on the practice squad.

Belichick said he would assess all positions during the bye week.

Jones said he didn’t know what the team had planned. He took snaps with the first team in the portion of practice that was open to the media Wednesday. Asked in Germany if he felt Belichick still had confidence in him, Jones said: “At the end of the day, I’ve got to play better.”

“To make people believe, you’ve got to be better,” he said. “I’m not sure. I don’t know.”

___

AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed.

Jones, 25, was a fourth-round draft pick in 2022 who played in 13 games last year and four this season, missing the first six with a hamstring injury. The Patriots are 2-8 — last in the AFC East and tied for last in the conference.

Jones agreed to serve one year of probation and 48 hours of community service in exchange for prosecutors dropping eight of the nine weapons charges he faced after Logan Airport security in June found two loaded guns in his carry-on bag.

After intercepting two passes as a rookie, Jones saw decreased playing time this season, getting on the field for 10 snaps in Sunday’s 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany.

Training camp brought the first chance to put a dismal 2022 campaign behind them.

A win over the Jets in Week 3 was also supposed to serve as a restart following an 0-2 start.

Hopes of yet another mulligan came after a Week 7 win over Buffalo that stopped a 1-5 start.

But Sunday’s 10-6 loss to Indianapolis in Germany not only gave New England its second three-game losing streak of the season, it also is the clearest sign yet that this team’s issues may not be fixable at this point.

The back-footed, severely underthrown interception that Mac Jones tossed in the red zone late in the fourth quarter didn’t just rob his team of a chance to take the lead.

It also brought a season’s worth of futility by the third-year quarterback to an international audience, raising questions about who will have the starting job when the Patriots emerge from this week’s bye.

“We’ll look at everything,” coach Bill Belichick said Monday. “We’ll look at everything across the board.”

While Belichick made clear those assessments would include every position on the roster, the fact that Jones was benched after his pick in favor of backup Bailey Zappe was an indication that Jones’ status as the starter is tenuous at best.

“We’re not there yet, but I always use the bye week to evaluate myself and the team and everything I can do better, and there’s a lot of things clearly I need to do better,” Jones said. “I’m always going to work. I know that.”

The same scrutiny is squarely on Belichick, whose team is last in the AFC and 2-8 for the first time since finishing his first season in New England 5-11 in 2000.

WHAT’S WORKING

If a complete overhaul of the quarterback position is what’s on tap this offseason, the Patriots continue to be in position to land a high draft pick. If the season ended today, the Patriots would select third.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

While Jones’ play and injuries haven’t helped, the offense has taken massive strides backward under the direction of Bill O’Brien.

Points per game (14.1), yards per game (308.4) and third down efficiency (34.9%) are all down from a season ago.

Slow starts also continue to plague the Patriots, who have yet to score a touchdown on an opening drive this season.

“There are things that we can build off of,” Belichick said. “We’re certainly doing a lot of things better than we did earlier in the year. But, it doesn’t take much to stop a drive or to have a bad play.”

STOCK UP

Rookie punter Bryce Baringer continues to shine this season. He dropped his NFL-leading 23rd punt inside the 20 on Sunday.

STOCK DOWN

Jones. He was 15 of 20 for 170 yards, but failed to see open receivers down the field and his incompletions were doomed by poor mechanics. His 10 interceptions are tied for the most in the NFL. When he was pulled in favor of Zappe prior to the Patriots’ final drive, it marked the third time he’d been benched this season.

“I’ve played well in my career before, but just not right now,” he said. “It’s peaks and valleys, but I’m kind of in a valley right now, and just got to bounce back.”

INJURIES

Running back Rhamondre Stevenson had treatment for a back injury in the fourth quarter but returned. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore left the field for treatment in the fourth quarter. Offensive tackle Conor McDermott, who was promoted from the practice squad Saturday, also left the field for treatment in the fourth quarter.

KEY NUMBER

27-33 — The Patriots’ record since Tom Brady left following the 2019 season to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

UP NEXT

The Patriots have a bye this week. They visit the New York Giants on Nov. 26.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Will he even start the Patriots’ next game? After all, nothing seems certain with the Patriots right now.

Jones was replaced by backup Bailey Zappe late in the fourth quarter.

With the team at 2-8 and with two weeks until its next game at the New York Giants on Nov. 26, it could be time for some changes.

“At the end of the day, I’ve got to play better. To make people believe, you’ve got to be better. I’m not sure. I don’t know,” said Jones when asked if he felt coach Bill Belichick still has faith in him as the starting quarterback.

Asked if he still has faith in Jones, Belichick said simply: “I have faith in all our players.”

Jones was sacked five times in the first half, leading the Patriots to switch to more of a rushing game in the third quarter, and he threw a costly red zone interception in the fourth quarter with a pass he called a “terrible throw.”

Trailing 10-6 late in the fourth quarter, Jones drove the Patriots inside the red zone, but was intercepted by Julian Blackmon on a pass intended for tight end Mike Gesicki at the 1-yard line.

Jones said “there were some things I was working through” on that throw and that he ended the game “a little bruised.”

Second-year quarterback Zappe has played in two other games this season before Sunday, but only in blowouts such as the 38-3 loss to the Cowboys on Oct. 1 and a 34-0 loss to the Saints a week later.

Given a chance — though a tough one — Sunday to win a game for the Patriots, Zappe completed 3 of 7 attempts for 25 yards and finished by throwing an interception to Rodney Thomas on a fake-spike play to seal the game.

Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew said he had some sympathy for Zappe’s situation in the last two minutes of the game.

“That’s a hard spot to go in on your own 15, no timeouts, two minutes left. That’s tough,” he said.

Back in Belichick’s first season with the Patriots in 2000, the team slipped to 2-8 on Nov. 12, but improved to finish the season 5-11.

Now New England needs to find a way to emerge from its bye week an improved team.

“There’s no division” between New England’s offensive and defensive units, defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. said after a game in which the defense allowed 10 points and still lost.

The bye week is a time for “recharging, resetting, kind of just getting away for a little bit,” he said, “and then towards the end of it just refreshing and getting back, ready to finish out these next games strong.”

Robby Fabbri, Dylan Larkin and David Perron also scored for the Red Wings, who are the only team to beat Boston (14-2-3) in regulation. Shayne Gostisbehere had two assists and Ville Husso stopped 25 shots.

“A big win for us,” Husso said.

In their third meeting in a month — the Bruins won the first game on Oct. 28 — Detroit took advantage of six Boston penalties to improve to 10-0-2 when scoring four or more goals.

“A really good start. I feel like our guys were focused and locked in,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “A pretty complete road game against a very good team.”

Jake DeBrusk and Danton Heinen scored for the Bruins, who had been 5-0-2 since losing at Detroit on Nov. 4. Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves on his 25th birthday.

“It’s one thing if you play well and things happen and you don’t get the result,” Bruins center Charlie Coyle said. “But that wasn’t the case I don’t think.”

Despite a 16-save shutout Wednesday against New Jersey, Alex Lyon was the Red Wings’ backup. Husso had allowed at least four goals in his past three starts, but had been on paternity leave and hadn’t played since Nov. 11.

“He should have a kid every six weeks,” Lalonde said, smiling.

The Bruins finally solved Husso when DeBrusk knocked home his own rebound on the power play to get Boston within 2-1 early in the second period.

It was DeBrusk’s second goal in as many games after managing one in his first 16 games.

But Husso kept the surging Bruins at bay until Fabbri scored on a wrist shot from the faceoff circle at 13:24 of the second.

Heinen’s wrist shot 4:12 into the third got the Bruins within a goal. But Brandon Carlo was called for hooking less than a minute later and Larkin scored five seconds into the power play to give Detroit another two-goal cushion.

Perron added an empty-netter with 1:45 left.

“Once we did start chipping away, it seemed like we had a penalty and they would capitalize,” DeBrusk said. “They controlled our momentum swings and that’s why they got the win.”

Boston coach Jim Montgomery gave veteran James van Riemsdyk the day off in the team’s traditional Black Friday home matinee, with Morgan Geekie returning to the lineup.

An early Geekie miscue and an odd bounce put the Bruins in a hole. With Geekie serving a holding penalty, Compher redirected Gostisbehere’s shot at 5:13. The puck bounced off Swayman’s chest and trickled between his legs.

The Red Wings made it 2-0 late in the first period when DeBrincat pickpocketed rookie Matt Poitras in the neutral zone, skated in alone and wristed a shot past Swayman for his team-high 12th goal.

Boston couldn’t overcome the sleepy start and lost in regulation at home for just the fifth time in 50 regular-season home games over the past two seasons.

After using 11 forwards and seven defensemen for several games this season, including their first victory over Boston, the Red Wings had a traditional 12-6 lineup with Jake Walman (illness) scratched.

It worked as Detroit won its second straight after returning from a 0-1-1 trip to Sweden.

“We know we’re a good team,” Husso said. “If we can bring it every night, every day, our best game, we can beat any team in this league.”

UP NEXT

Red Wings: Host Minnesota on Sunday.

Bruins: At the New York Rangers on Saturday, with Matt Grzelcyk (upper-body injury) expected to return.

___

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

John Beecher and Jake DeBrusk scored in a 3:05 span of the second period to put Boston in control, and Charlie Coyle also scored for the Bruins.

Anton Lundell scored for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 22 shots. The Panthers saw their six-game winning streak on home ice snapped and lost for just the second time in their last nine games overall.

“We were really good on the rush defense,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said of his team’s shutdown third-period performance. “We had a lot of numbers back, we were putting bodies on bodies and we had a little bit of time to make good breakout plays.”

Boston improved to 14-1-3 on the season and 4-0-0 after losses. The Bruins have 31 of a possible 36 points so far — by far the best in the league, yet slightly behind their pace from last season when they had 32 points through 18 games.

“We’ve only lost one game in regulation, so any time you’ve played this amount of games and have that, you’re doing something right,” DeBrusk said. “There are a lot of guys that are contributing in different ways and you need that to win. Our goaltending has been solid as well, and it bailed us out in a lot of games.”

The 31 points after 18 games ties the fifth-most in NHL history. The only teams with more: the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks had 33 points, while the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers, the 1929-30 Bruins and last season’s Bruins each had 32 points.

Boston finished with an NHL-record 135 points last season, yet still lost to Florida in seven games in the opening round of the playoffs. The Panthers went on to play in the Stanley Cup Final, but are 0-1-1 against the Bruins so far this season.

“This is going to be a real good rivalry for five or six years,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said before the game. “Boston’s been a great team for a long time. We’re trying to get to that level.”

The Panthers suffered their first multi-goal loss since Nov. 4 and fell to 12-6-1, but remain in second place in the Atlantic Division.

Ullmark improved to 7-1-1 on the season.

”He is a good, big goalie,” Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad said of Ullmark. “He likes to play the puck, so every time you rim it, he stops it and makes a play. Obviously, we found a way to get to him in the past and we’ll do it again someday.”

The Panthers were again without captain Aleksander Barkov, who missed his second consecutive game with a knee injury. Barkov has been skating and Maurice said there is a chance — if the doctors approve — that the forward could play Friday against Winnipeg.

UP NEXT

Bruins: Host Detroit on Friday afternoon.

Panthers: Host Winnipeg on Friday night.

Tanner Jeannot, Nicholas Paul and Austin Watson scored for the Lightning. Jonas Johansson turned aside 22 shots.

Stamkos’ goal came after Victor Hedman kept a clearing attempt in the Boston zone. Hedman also set up Hagel’s goal.

Pavel Zacha, David Pastrnak, John Beecher and Charlie Coyle scored for Boston. Jeremy Swayman stopped 41 shots as the Bruins dropped to 13-1-3 on the season.

Tampa Bay star Nikita Kucherov skated gingerly off the ice midway through the second but returned for the third.

Pastrnak and Beecher scored 1:21 apart midway through the third before Watson pulled Tampa Bay even at 3-3 just 57 seconds after Beecher’s goal. Coyle then put Boston up 4-3 with 3:51 remaining,

It’s just the fourth time Boston has allowed more than two goals in a game.

After failing to score during a minute-long 5-on-3 power-play earlier in the second. Paul put the Lightning up 2-1 on a deflection of Mikhail Sergachev’s man-advantage shot with 30 seconds left in the period.

Tampa Bay’s top-ranked home power play went 1 for 6 against the Bruins’ league-best penalty kill. Boston failed to score on its two power plays.

Pastrnak extended his point streak to seven games with a nifty pass from the low slot to set up Zacha’s goal that tied it at 1 midway through an up-tempo first period that Tampa Bay held a 19-12 shot advantage.

Brad Marchand also assisted on Zacha’s goal amd moved past Lightning broadcaster Phil Esposito into fourth place in franchise history with 431 road points. The left wing has a point in six consecutive games.

UP NEXT

Bruins: At Florida on Wednesday night.

Lightning: Host Winnipeg on Wednesday night.

Facing the Canadiens for the second time in eight days, Boston got some payback for a 3-2 overtime loss in Montreal last Saturday.

Pavel Zacha, Charlie McAvoy and James van Riemsdyk also scored for the Bruins (13-1-2), who have lost just once in regulation this season.

Boston posted NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) last season.

On a night when members of the 1970 and ’72 Stanley Cup-winning teams — led by Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Johnny Bucyk — got to finally raise a banner to the rafters, the Bruins jumped out fast in the 759th regular-season meeting between the Original Six clubs.

Montreal lost its fourth straight. Juraj Slafkovsky and Johnathan Kovacevic scored for the Canadiens.

The Bruins are 11-0-1 in their last 12 games against Montreal.

With Boston skating on a two-man, power-play advantage, McAvoy one-timed Marchand’s pass into the top left corner of the net from the right circle 7:11 into the opening period.

Marchand picked up his milestone assist on the goal.

Frederic’s first goal came with 40 seconds left in the opening period when he redirected Brandon Carlo’s shot past goalie Jake Allen.

Zacha’s wrister from the slot deflected off the stick of a Canadiens’ player in front and trickled past Allen’s right skate, making it 3-0 at 5:18 of the second period.

Frederic’s second goal came on a wrister with 4:30 left in the second, giving Boston a 4-1 edge.

After they went up 5-1 in the third, the TD Garden fans started chanting and mocking the Canadiens with “Ole! Ole!” — a chant used when they play well in Montreal.

Bruins star David Pastrnak missed a good amount of the opening period but returned to the bench late in the period.

The Bruins said Milan Lucic is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team after he was involved in an undisclosed incident Friday night.

In a statement released Saturday morning, the team didn’t provide any details about the incident other than to say the organization is aware of the situation and “takes these matters very seriously.” The team also said it would work with Lucic’s family to provide any support and assistance needed.

Boston Police said it could neither confirm nor deny arresting Lucic early Saturday morning.

UP NEXT

Canadiens: At the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday, the second of a five-game trip.

Bruins: At the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, their first of five straight away from TD Garden.

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As part of the club’s 100th season celebration, the club honored what was called the “Big Bad Bruins Era” from 1960-76.

During that period, they captured Cups in ’70 and ’72 but they never had a ceremony to raise the banner.

Before the team faced longtime rival Montreal Canadiens, some of the members of those teams — led by Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Johnny Bucyk — walked onto the ice wearing a jersey and hoisted banners.

“I’ve seen it done in other cities and how they’ve gone about it, it meant a lot to our guys,” said former forward Wayne Cashman, 78, a member of both Cup winning teams. “You really feel the championship.”

Dallas Smith, 82, a defenseman on both teams, also felt special pride raising the flags that honored the achievement.

“It meant a lot,” he said, smiling. “It’s nice to be recognized. We’re lucky to have won the Cup twice. We wish we could have won it more, but that’s how sports is.”

President Cam Neely felt like the moment meant a lot to the players and the fans.

“It’s extremely special. Obviously, a team as old as the Bruins and the players that have come through here and worn the jersey, to have so many ’70, ’72 guys here is pretty special,” he said.

Neely didn’t know they hadn’t a banner ceremony until someone in marketing brought it up.

“I didn’t even realize it until a couple of months ago,” he said. “They’d show up the next year and the banner was already hanging.’’

Paolo Banchero had 23 points and seven rebounds for Orlando. Franz Wagner finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists, and Cole Anthony came off the bench with 16 points.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 26 points. Jaylen Brown added 18, but made just 2 of 16 shots after scoring 12 points in the first 10 minutes.

Jalen Suggs hit two of the Magic’s four 3-pointers on a 17-0 run after Boston had taken a 62-50 lead early in the third quarter. The Celtics missed all eight shots during the game-changing run and went scoreless for 4:42.

The Magic finished 3-1 in group play. The loss dropped Boston to 2-1 with a game at home against Chicago coming up on Tuesday night. The Brooklyn Nets, who beat the Magic, are also 2-1 pending a game against Toronto on Tuesday night. Friday’s score left the Magic with a plus-17 point differential in group play and the Celtics are at zero.

If there is a three-way tie after group play, point differential will determine the group champion.

Boston center Kristaps Porzingis left the game in the third quarter with tightness in his left calf after scoring nine points and taking down four rebounds.

The Celtics also played without Jrue Holiday, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained right ankle.

Sam Hauser’s 3-pointer gave Boston an 11-point lead, the largest of the first half, after a first quarter in which Orlando shot 8 for 22 with eight turnovers.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Atlanta on Sunday night.

Magic: Host Charlotte on Sunday night.

Jaylen Brown had 26 points and eight assists for Boston, which improved the NBA’s best record to 12-3. Kristaps Porzingis added 21 points and Derrick White scored 13.

“I thought it was great. Obviously, the fans and everyone in the building knew this was No. 1 and No. 2 seed playing against each other, and that just adds more fuel to the atmosphere,” Porzingis said. “The energy was there. We played hard and they made a good push at the end and almost made a comeback, but we held strong.”

The Celtics opened a 21-point lead in the first half and never trailed. They held that double-digit edge until the Bucks made a late charge in the final two minutes, slicing it to 114-111 before Tatum hit three free throws in the closing 21.2 seconds.

Brook Lopez led Milwaukee (10-5) with 28 points. Damian Lillard had 27 points, five rebounds and five assists, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was limited to 21 points after scoring at least 40 in his last two games.

“When you miss a lot of shots, usually it’s what the opposing team is doing,” Lillard said of the slow start. ‘When you look at how we played, we just didn’t execute well. We didn’t have good pace to our offense, we didn’t make extra passes, we didn’t screen for each other; a lot of things we have to do.”

The Bucks, who scored 130 points or more in their last three games, had a five-game winning streak halted.

Tatum started despite being listed as questionable after scoring a season-high 45 points in an overtime loss at Charlotte in the last game.

The Celtics led 67-53 at halftime after shooting a sizzling 58.1%, including 12 of 23 from 3-point range.

“We were making great plays and executing for each other and we had our defensive connectivity,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.

They broke in front 10-0 and pushed it to 21-8 before opening a 54-33 edge on Brown’s three-point play midway through the second quarter.

Antetokounmpo was pulled by first-year coach Adrian Griffin after a dibbling violation. The two appeared to have words while the star was leaning against the scorer’s table facing the court, where he remained before checking back in on the next stoppage of play.

The teams made some of the biggest additions during the offseason, looking for supremacy in the East.

In late June, the Celtics acquired Porzingis in a blockbuster three-team deal that sent one of its longtime floor leaders, Marcus Smart, to Memphis.

The Bucks later added Lillard on Sept. 27, months after he requested a trade out of Portland. Milwaukee traded Jrue Holiday in that deal, and the Celtics acquired him from the Trail Blazers four days later.

Those players got involved right away, too, when Holiday picked up Lillard defensively on Milwaukee’s first possession and Porzingis challenged Antetokounmpo’s shot that caromed off the backboard on his initial drive to the basket.

“We knew neither one of us was going to win the championship tonight,” Lillard said of the energy in the building. “The thing that made it a high-level game is they were the first team in the East and we were the second. The winner walks away No. 1 right now, which means nothing. A lot of high-level players on their team, a lot of high-level on ours.”

UP NEXT

Bucks: Host the Wizards in an In-Season tournament game on Friday night.

Celtics: At the Magic in an In-Season tourney game on Friday afternoon.

Bridges hit a 3-pointer with 6.6 seconds left in overtime and the Charlotte Hornets snapped a six-game home losing streak with an improbable 121-118 come-from-behind win over the red hot Boston Celtics on Monday night.

LaMelo Ball finished with 36 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, and Gordon Hayward added 20 points for the Hornets, who battled back from an 18-point deficit to end Boston’s six-game win streak.

Jayson Tatum had 45 points, but missed a free throw with 5.2 seconds left that would have tied the game after getting fouled on a 3-point shot. He made the first two before the crucial miss on the third one.

“I couldn’t believe he missed that last one, but we got the win and that is all that matters,” Bridges said.

Tatum couldn’t believe it, either.

“Was I surprised? Yeah, I was surprised,” he said “It felt good, just didn’t go in.”

He was more upset over the Celtics surrendering an 11-point lead with six minutes to play.

“We have to regroup,” Tatum said. “We had six wins in a row and it’s easy to get complacent and we paid for it tonight.”

After Tatum’s miss, the Celtics fouled Hayward, who made two free throws to put Charlotte back up by three points with 0.8 left. Bridges stole the inbounds pass to seal the win.

Mark Williams finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds for Charlotte. Coach Steve Clifford called it his best game since joining the Hornets.

Clifford said it was an important win for his team, but added “this league is not about a great win. it’s about can we come back and play well Wednesday night?”

Peyton Pritchard had 21 points on five 3s for Boston, which had its six game winning streak snapped.

Clifford said the decision to replace P.J. Washington with Bridges in the starting lineup is something that has been in the works for weeks. Charlotte also needed a spark after losing its last four games.

Bridges had averaged 18 points is his first two games back after missing all of last season and the first 10 games of this year while serving a 10-game suspension for his role in a domestic violence case.

Bridges didn’t shoot the ball well, but finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds while playing a team-high 45 minutes.

Tatum tied a career-high with 31 points in the first half and Pritchard added four 3s as the Celtics built a 65-54 at the break.

But Charlotte trimmed the lead to two with 22 seconds left when Williams put back an offensive rebound.

Jrue Holiday was fouled on the ensuing possession and had a chance to make it a two-possession game but missed both free throws with 10.3 seconds left, giving the Hornets a chance to tie or win the game.

Ball received the side inbounds pass, drove to the basket and scored to tie it with 7.2 seconds left.

Sam Houser had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but missed at the buzzer.

It was another huge performance for Ball, who is averaging 32 points over his last eight games.

The former All-Star was big in overtime, scoring on a left-handed layup high off the glass to give Charlotte the lead. With the game tied, Ball found Bridges on the left wing for an open look and the left-hander hit the go-ahead 3 to break the tie.

“I’m a little more healthy and I have some games under my belt,” said Ball, who was limited to 36 games last year due to ankle injuries. “My game has finally got there and I’m feeling better now.”

UP NEXT

Celtics: Return home to face Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

Hornets: The Hornets wrap up a five-game homestand on Wednesday night against Washington.

Porzingis’ dunk was followed by a flurry of missed shots including a 3-point attempt by Santi Aldama with 4 seconds left. Ziaire Williams’ 18-footer as time expired was blocked by Porzingis — his sixth of the game — as Boston held on to win its sixth straight.

Jayson Tatum finished with 20 points and Sam Hauser added 15 for Boston, including 5 of 7 from outside the arc. Tatum had nine rebounds and five assists, but committed eight of Boston’s 17 turnovers.

“We were just undisciplined. We didn’t execute defensively as far as our personnel and our tendencies,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said.

Desmond Bane led Memphis with 30 points, while Aldama added a career-high 28 and Jaren Jackson Jr. finished with 17 points. Aldama, who also had 12 rebounds, was 11 of 27 from the field, including 6 of 15 from outside the arc.

“He was awesome,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Career night (scoring). Twelve rebounds, six assists. Six made 3s. He’s got so much versatility.”

“I’m lucky to have teammates and a coaching staff that trust me,” Aldama said. “Obviously, I believe in my shot, but everybody does.”

Memphis, with a makeshift lineup, stayed close through the night and even took the lead on several occasions in the second half. Memphis led 100-98 with 1:48 left. But the Celtics were able to pull out the victory as Porzingis converted a pair of free throws and the winning dunk.

There were seven ties and 18 lead changes.

Memphis, as it has done most of the season, played without key players. Last year’s leading scorer Ja Morant is serving a 25-game suspension to start the season. The Memphis frontline has been depleted by a season-ending injury to center Steven Adams, while backup Brandon Clarke is still recovering from an Achilles injury.

The injury report also includes point guard and former Celtic Marcus Smart, who sat out with a left foot sprain. Smart played his entire career with Boston before an off-season trade landed him in Memphis.

Meanwhile, the Celtics were at full strength, including Jaylen Brown, who was listed as questionable on the pre-game injury report.

Porzingis benefitted from going against the smaller Memphis lineup. Despite Memphis playing thin on the frontline, Porzingis, who finished 9 of 13 from the field, said the game plan was not necessarily to focus on that mismatch.

“We just played our game,” Porzingis said. “I tried to take advantage of some of the mismatches. It was just one of those games that kind of happened naturally.”

The Celtics shot 51% in the first half and held Memphis to 38%. Boston led 56-53 lead at the break.

“We got lucky to win that game” Mazzulla said.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Wrap up a four-game road trip Monday in Charlotte.

Memphis: Travels to Houston to face the Rockets and former teammate Dillon Brooks on Wednesday.

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Jaylen Brown scored 23 points and Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Celtics won their sixth straight meeting with Toronto. Jayson Tatum scored 17 points for Boston, Jrue Holiday had 14 and White 13.

Sam Hauser and Al Horford each scored 11 points. Boston improved to 2-0 in tournament play after beating Brooklyn last Friday. The Celtics have won five straight overall.

“I felt like we did a good job tonight, but I thought it was one of our lesser performances,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “It was the first time last year where we just weren’t the best version of ourselves.”

White agreed that the Celtics weren’t at their best against the Raptors.

“I kind of felt like we didn’t really have that extra gear, or that gear that we’ve been playing with for the year so far,” White said. “Sam came in and made some big shots, Al made some big shots. It’s just finding a way to win when you don’t have that gear.”

Brown (non-COVID illness) and Porzingis (right knee) returned after sitting out Wednesday’s win at Philadelphia.

Brown said he strained his groin “a little bit” when he slipped on the court late in the game. He was one of several players to lose their footing on the special tournament court.

A frustrated Brown said the condition of Toronto’s black and gray court was “kind of unacceptable.”

“The court was just slippery all game,” Brown said. “As players, we’re all here for the in-season tournament because it’s going to generate revenue, excitement, competition, et cetera. But you’ve got to make sure the floor is safe to play on. We can’t put our players out there and risk their health.”

Brown said he had no problem with Boston’s tournament court last Friday, but said he’s heard from other players around the NBA that they’ve been slipping on tournament courts.

“I think they need to make sure that’s an emphasis before somebody gets seriously hurt,” Brown said.

Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa said he slipped “a few times” against the Celtics. Achiuwa strained his left groin during training camp and has missed five games because of the injury.

“Coming back (from injury), I’m extra cautious,” Achiuwa said.

Toronto’s Scottie Barnes got open for a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left that would have tied the game, but his shot bounced off the rim.

Pascal Siakam and Dennis Schroder each scored 23 points in a losing cause as Toronto made its tournament debut, the last NBA team to do so. Gary Trent Jr. and Barnes both scored 14 points and Jakob Poeltl had 11.

Toronto’s O.G. Anunoby missed his third straight game because of a cut finger on his right hand, while Otto Porter Jr. was unavailable because of personal reasons.

Trent started after missing the previous three games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and musician Fat Joe attended the game.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Visit the Grizzlies on Sunday. Memphis guard Marcus Smart won’t face his former team because of a sprained left foot

Raptors: Host Detroit on Sunday.

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