The New York Rangers demoted fan favorite Matt Rempe to the Hartford Wolf Pack, their AHL affiliate, on Thursday.

Rempe, 22, only appeared in two of the Rangers' seven games this season and didn't register a point or a penalty minute. He had seven shifts and 3:40 of ice time against Utah on Oct. 12. He had 11 shifts and 7:37 of ice time against Toronto on Oct. 19. Otherwise, he was a healthy scratch.

The 6-foot-9 Rempe was a sensation during his 17 games last season for New York. He had a series of chaotic fights that caught the league's attention, including one in his NHL debut against the New York Islanders' Matt Martin during the Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium.

Those fights and Rempe's punishing hits resulted in 71 penalty minutes. That included an elbowing major against the New Jersey Devils' Jonas Siegenthaler that resulted in a four-game suspension from the NHL Department of Player Safety in March.

His energetic play in limited minutes (5:38 per game) resulted in just one goal and one assist but made him an instant cult hero for Rangers fans, sparking a movement colloquially known as "Rempe-Mania." He appeared in 11 playoff games, scoring one goal.

Rempe said he took strides in the offseason to improve his overall game and earn a place in the Rangers' lineup. He spent the majority of his summer honing his hockey skills rather than his fighting prowess. That included nearly two months of power-skating drills and working with Rangers teammate and mentor Chris Kreider on aspects of forechecking and puck protection.

"The fighting is a very small part," Rempe said in September. "I highly prioritize the skills, the skating and everything. I've got to become a better player, so that's what I've got to work on. I've enjoyed it and I think I've taken big strides this summer."

But Rempe also spent time on his fighting technique, including a stint at former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque's hockey camp in Edmonton, Alberta.

The Rangers felt Rempe would benefit the most from getting more ice time with Hartford to continue his progress. They've been impressed with how he's handled his lack of playing time and his eventual demotion back to the AHL, where he spent the majority of last season.

The Rangers have been one of the best teams in the NHL so far this season. Despite Thursday's loss to the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, they're off to a 5-1-1 start.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik announced Thursday that he has sold a majority stake of the NHL team but will retain control of the franchise for the next three years.

The team said the sale for an undisclosed price to a group of investors led by Doug Ostrover and Marc Lipschultz was approved by the NHL board of governors on Oct. 1.

Under terms of the deal, Vinik will retain full control of the team and act as the Lightning's governor.

"Vinik, Ostrover and Lipschultz have created a board of directors to oversee the strategic direction of the organization," the team said in a statement.

"In three years, control will transfer to Ostrover and Lipschultz," the Lightning added. "Vinik will then remain an active ownership partner as an alternate governor and Vinik Sports Group board member."

Since Vinik took control of the team in 2010, the Lightning have made the playoffs 11 times in 14 seasons and won two Stanley Cup titles.

"We have focused on building the Lightning into a world-class organization, and now we've found world-class partners who share in our mission of being a community-first organization," Vinik said. "Doug and Marc share my commitment to providing the Lightning with all the resources they need to excel and are excited to become part of the Tampa Bay community."

Day-to-day operations of the club will not change under the new ownership arrangement, with CEO and vice chairman Steve Griggs and general manager Julien BriseBois remaining in their current positions.

"Bringing in the right partners, with the right values, and a strong commitment to our culture is the way we ensure lasting success for the Tampa Bay Lightning," Vinik said. "We have built a legacy of which I am proud and I want it to endure for generations."

INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams held on to defeat the Minnesota Vikings, 30-20 on Thursday night Football.

The Rams got back two key starters -- wide receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) -- back from injury and scored a season-high 30 points against a Vikings team that entered the game ranked No. 1 in defensive DVOA.

Los Angeles got just a glimpse of their top two receivers on the field together in their season opener before Nacua injured his knee in the loss. Kupp sprained his ankle the week after and the offense has struggled to find consistency without the pair on the field.

The return of Kupp and Nacua opened up the field for the Rams and quarterback Matthew Stafford, who completed passes to nine different players in the victory. Nacua led the way with nine targets, while Kupp had eight and running back Kyren Williams had seven.

The win gave the Rams a 3-4 record, with two of those three victories coming four days apart. And despite the Rams' 1-4 start, Los Angeles enters the weekend tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals at 3-4. The Rams are just one game back from the division-leading Seattle Seahawks.

Los Angeles plays in Seattle in Week 9.

Los Angeles Rams (3-4)

Most surprising performance: The Rams kept Nacua's return quiet, activating him from injured reserve despite the fact he couldn't practice because of the short week.

But Stafford went to Nacua early and often on Thursday night and the second-year receiver led the Rams with seven catches for 106 yards on nine targets.

Nacua played 35 of 65 offensive snaps for Los Angeles.

QB breakdown: Stafford entered the game with just three passing touchdowns this season.

He more than doubled that on Thursday night, throwing two in the first half and two in the second half to wide receiver Demarcus Robinson.

Stafford had one of his best games of the season, completing 24 of 33 passes for 270 yards and an interception.

Biggest hole in the game plan: Stopping Justin Jefferson.

Jefferson, the receiver Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula called "the best in the world" leading up to this game, had eight catches for 115 yards on Thursday night.

The Rams' pass defense entered the game ranked 30th in DVOA, and the group struggled to stop the Vikings' best player.

Next game: at Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 3)

Minnesota Vikings (5-2)

Who are the Minnesota Vikings? The team that dominated their first five games of the season with the biggest point differential in the NFL? Or the one that has now lost two games in five days?

That's what Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell and his staff will be thinking about as they travel back to Minnesota after Thursday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

It's one thing to have dropped a two-point game last Sunday to the Detroit Lions, who might well be the best team in football. But the Rams were 2-4 before last night and reportedly have considered trading receiver Cooper Kupp, one of the cornerstones of the franchise, in a possible concession to the season.

The answer is often somewhere in the middle. ESPN's Football Power Index projected the Vikings to win 6.8 games for the season, and they're highly likely to eclipse that mark. And there will be a lot of discussion about the uncalled face mask penalty when the Rams sacked quarterback Sam Darnold for what turned out to be the game-deciding safety.

But after watching the Vikings' defense give up four touchdown passes to Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, and big chunks of yards in between, and knowing the difficult task they have of playing in the NFC North, it's clear we don't yet know how good this team can be.

Describe the game in two words: Jefferson breakout.

Jefferson entered the game with 531 receiving yards in six games, fifth-most in the NFL, but he had only had one 100-yard performance before Thursday night.

In fact, he said last week: "I'm definitely sick of having these 80-90 yard games. I've definitely got to get over that hump over 100 yards. It's going to be one of these games that we're going to show the world what we're really capable of, and hopefully it's Thursday night."

Jefferson eclipsed the 100-yard mark with a juggling 27-yard reception in the third quarter and finished with 115 yards on eight catches.

Troubling trend: Left tackle Christian Darrisaw was ruled out after suffering a left knee injury late in the second quarter.

There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury, but he needed assistance from medical staff to get off the field and into the locker room.

The Vikings have a competent veteran backup in David Quessenberry, and they'll have a few extra days to prepare for their Week 9 game against the Colts. But make no mistake, Darrisaw is one of the NFL's top left tackles, one who is worth every penny of the five-year, $140 million contract extension he signed last week, and he would be an enormous loss if he misses extended time.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Vikings couldn't find a way to get to Stafford for most of the game.

They pressured him on only three of 34 dropbacks. And even then, he completed a pass against all three of those pressures, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Kupp in the third quarter in which he eluded defensive tackle Harrison Phillips and linebacker Jonathan Greenard.

Pass rush had been key to the Vikings' hot start this season, and before Thursday they had managed at least a 24.6% pressure rate in every game.

Next game: vs. Colts (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 3)

AUSTIN, Texas -- Alyssa Thompson scored her first goal for the United States women's national team, and Jaedyn Shaw and Sophia Smith scored late on Thursday at Q2 Stadium as the Americans defeated Iceland 3-1 in their first match since winning a fifth Olympic gold medal in August.

Thompson broke the deadlock in the 39th minute, cutting inside to put the ball on her right foot and smashing a shot off the underside of the crossbar near the far corner.

"Coming onto the field and wearing this jersey in the beginning, I was like, 'This is surreal,'" Thompson said at halftime. "I just -- I can't describe how I feel. I'm so happy."

Thursday's match was the start of the USWNT's victory tour since the Paris Games. The Americans play Iceland again on Sunday in Nashville, Tennessee, and Argentina on Wednesday in Louisville, Kentucky.

"I know she's committed to looking for the next level in her play, and I think you see just how threatening and dangerous she is," U.S. manager Emma Hayes said of Thompson after the match. "It's not an easy goal, drop in from the left-hand side and roof it in the top corner. But she is someone who is -- her international career started at a very early stage. That's why I believe it does take time.

"Maybe she wasn't ready before, but I can see from tonight's performance here that she offers a lot for us going forward, and I was super pleased for her goal and performance."

Iceland equalized early in the second half when Selma Magnusdottir scored on a low, left-footed strike from just outside the box after evading three USWNT midfielders.

The visitors, ranked 13th in the world, were organized defensively and outshot the USWNT in the first half despite holding only about one-third of possession.

But the USWNT broke through in the second half with key contributions off the bench. Shaw, playing in her first game since July after not playing a minute at the Olympics due to a lower-body injury, slipped in behind Iceland's defense in the 85th minute and poked the ball between goalkeeper Telma Ívarsdóttir's legs for the go-ahead goal.

"I just say it's all God's plan," Shaw said, reflecting on her experience at the Olympics. "It was a really tough month for me, but it was also the best month of my life, and I learned a lot from it. And so it just made me hungrier to come back and produce the same if not more."

Shaw had entered the match in the 67th minute to take over the No. 10 role from captain Lindsey Horan. Three minutes after Shaw's goal, Smith scored on a volley from just inside the box. The Portland Thorns star has been dealing with an ankle injury that caused her to miss a month of the NWSL season recently. She entered Thursday's match in the 72nd minute.

Hayes said earlier this week that her team's purpose in this international window is twofold: a reflection on the Olympics and a turning of the page toward the team's next phase -- one she sees Shaw playing a big part in.

"I think every single one in our locker room is over the moon for Jaedyn Shaw knowing what she experienced in the summer," Hayes said. "Her ability to create and score goals is second to none in this country. Her feet were fabulous. She took her goal well and looked very threatening."

Hayes' promise of old and new played out on Thursday, with a familiar lineup rolled out at the start followed by returns and debuts.

Thompson, 19, made her first appearance for the USWNT in 10 months after participating in the 2023 World Cup as an 18-year-old. She was the only member of the USWNT's starting lineup on Thursday who was not on the Olympic roster.

Forward Yazmeen Ryan and midfielder Hal Hershfelt made their USWNT debuts off the bench in the second half. Emily Sonnett started at center-back to earn her 100th cap, becoming the 45th player in program history to hit the century mark.

LOS ANGELES -- New York Yankees lefty Carlos Rodon will start Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, and righty Clarke Schmidt will get the ball for Game 3 in New York on Monday.

Rodon, 31, has started three games this postseason including Games 1 and 5 against the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series. Overall, he's 1-1 with a 4.40 ERA in 14 innings in October.

He gave up just three runs in 10 innings against Cleveland in the ALCS. During the regular season, Rodon was better at home than on the road, posting a 4.69 mark away from Yankees Stadium compared to a 3.11 ERA in New York.

Schmidt, 28, will be making his third Game 3 start this postseason, having pitched 4 innings in each of his previous outings, against the Kansas City Royals in the AL Division Series and then the Guardians in the ALCS.

He has given up four runs on nine hits and three walks to go along with six strikeouts in his 9 innings. The Dodgers have yet to announce a starter for Game 3. Righty Yoshinobu Yamamoto will oppose Rodon in Game 2.

Jack Flaherty and Gerrit Cole face each other in Game 1 on Friday at Dodger Stadium.

LOS ANGELES -- Jack Flaherty experienced a noticeable dip in fastball velocity during his last start, averaging 91.4 mph in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series and triggering concerns about the state of his arm as the season stretched into late October. Flaherty, who will start Game 1 of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, said the drop stemmed from a timing issue with his delivery that he has been working to correct throughout the week.

Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said the issue is not injury-related, though he acknowledged to being "moderately concerned."

"Moderately concerned," Prior said. "Obviously everybody knows -- the more velocity the better, usually. As long as you're going way below hitting speed. Concern, yeah, because obviously he was pitching on regular rest and it was a little bit down. Can he pitch with it? Yeah. He's somebody who's more about execution that anything. And I think they did a really good job of game-planning the second time through, sitting on some of their slower spin stuff. But I think with extra rest and what we saw in bullpens, I feel pretty confident that he can get back to where he was the other time."

Flaherty pitched seven scoreless innings against the New York Mets in Game 1, then allowed eight runs in three innings against them from Citi Field in Game 5. The latter start saw Flaherty's four-seam fastball fall by nearly two ticks, from a season average of 93.3 mph. His average fastball has now dipped below 92 mph in three of his last five starts. The mechanics of his delivery tend to impact that.

"And sometimes it's intent," Prior said. "He's a little bit old school where sometimes he'll throttle his heater so that he can jump on it a little bit late. We've seen that since the beginning. I know his velocity over the year is up a little bit more, but we've seen him pitch at 91 very effectively, and then next thing you know he's 94, 95. He has the ability to go get it when he needs to. Sometimes when his delivery is a little bit off, though, it makes it a little bit more challenging to go get it."

At this time of year, the amount of days off between starts might also have an impact. Flaherty was on six days' rest when he dominated at the start of the NLCS but was on the traditional four days' rest when he struggled in Game 5. When he faces the New York Yankees in Game 1, he will once again be on extended rest. But he'll be on four days' rest once again when he makes his second start, from Yankee Stadium in a potential Game 5.

Asked if that's a concern, Roberts said: "I think that, No. 1, we don't have a different alternative. And, No. 2, we're going to dig into that as far as the stuff kind of seems like it's been down on regular [rest]. But that's kind of the way we set up the rotation, and that's just the way it's going to be."

The Pittsburgh Penguins have sent struggling goaltender Tristan Jarry home so he could get some individual work in hopes of breaking out of an early-season funk.

Coach Mike Sullivan made the announcement Thursday. The Penguins are in the middle of a four-game road trip through Western Canada that continues Friday in Edmonton.

Jarry is 1-1-0 in three games for the Penguins with a 5.47 goals-against average and an .836 save percentage. The two-time All-Star hasn't played since being pulled after allowing three goals on five shots in the first period of what became a 6-5 overtime victory over Buffalo on Oct. 16.

Sullivan said Jarry will spend time working with Jon Elkin, the club's director of goaltending.

"It's just part of the process we've put in place in here over the next little while to help Tristan get to his very best," Sullivan said.

Jarry is in the second year of a five-year contract extension he signed in July 2023. While Jarry's six shutouts tied for the NHL lead last season, he was effectively benched down the stretch last spring in favor of Alex Nedjelkovic and his GAA (2.91) and save percentage (.903) marked career lows since he became an NHL regular during the 2019-20 season.

While the organization and Jarry expressed optimism that he was ready to hit the reset button, the opening weeks of the season have been troubling.

"The first couple of starts that he's had haven't been his best," Sullivan said. "I'm probably stating the obvious when I say that. But it's our responsibility to help players through some of the struggles they inevitably go through in this league, and Tristan is no different."

Nedjelkovic and rookie Joel Blomqvist are splitting goaltending duties at the moment for Pittsburgh, which has lost three straight. The Penguins finish up the road swing in Vancouver on Saturday before returning to Pittsburgh for a three-game homestand next week.

It's unclear when Jarry will return to game action.

"This is just a process that we've put in place," Sullivan said. "We spoke to Tristan about it. He's bought into it, and we'll go from there."

Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana has branded their 1-1 draw with Fenerbahce in the Europa League "a big disappointment."

United led through Christian Eriksen before Youssef En-Nesyri equalised just after half-time. Onana played his part in earning a point for United with a stunning double save from En-Nesyri, but afterwards the goalkeeper insisted the dressing room was "not happy."

"It is a big disappointment for me and the fans, for the club, as a Manchester United player you have an obligation to try to win," Onana told TNT Sports. "We didn't win, but at least we didn't lose, Not happy of course, but we move on, take responsibility and go again.

"We conceded an early goal in the second half, we had to show character and I think that is what we did. We didn't win but I thought we were better than them."

On a sometimes chaotic night in Istanbul, Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands for his protests after believing his team should have had a second-half penalty. Mourinho sought out referee Clement Turpin after the game and said the official's explanation was "incredible."

However, Erik ten Hag, who was missing 10 players through injury or suspension, was keen to take the positives ahead of a trip to West Ham United on Sunday.

"We've shown we are a team which is hard to beat," said the Dutchman. "We can take confidence and take it into the game against West Ham.

"We have to win and we came in the position to win. We created the chances but we have to be killing more. We let the opponent get away with a point."

United winger Antony picked up an injury late in the game after coming on as second-half substitute for Marcus Rashford. The Brazilian left the field on a stretcher and was seen leaving the stadium in a protective boot.

"His training performances are that good that he deserved to come on," Ten Hag said. "When you have to come off so quickly, that is really sad to see. Hopefully, it's not too bad, we have to wait 24 hours for what the assessment is."