Pittsburgh Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse rescued Ian Smith, a cameraman for local station KDKA, after the journalist was attacked during police brutality protests in the city, the club confirmed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Jason Mackey on Saturday night.
Morehouse departed PPG Paints Arena, found Smith, and helped him inside before the cameraman was taken to the hospital, according to Mackey.
Smith detailed his ordeal while sitting in the ambulance.
I’m was attacked by protestors downtown by the arena. They stomped and kicked me. I’m bruised and bloody but alive. My camera was destroyed. Another group of protesters pulled me out and saved my life. Thank you! @KDKApic.twitter.com/clyANKodth
After seeing Smith's tweet, KDKA anchor and reporter Larry Richert called him and inquired about the incident. Smith told him he didn't know who saved him, so Richert contacted Paul Martino, a reporter for the network who'd been with Smith reporting on the protests. Martino confirmed it was Morehouse who saved Smith, and the Penguins later confirmed it to Mackey.
Protests began across the United States this week and continued through Saturday following the death of George Floyd on Monday. Floyd, a black Minneapolis man, died after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes while holding him in handcuffs.
The statue of Mario Lemieux outside PPG Paints Arena was spray-painted during the protests in Pittsburgh on Saturday.
Morehouse joined the Penguins as a consultant on the then-arena project in 2004. He was named team president in 2007 and was given CEO responsibilities in 2010.
Athletes everywhere continue to get creative as they deal with their respective leagues being on hiatus. Some are better at it than others. Every Sunday throughout May, we'll look back on the week that was before crowning a quarantine king or queen. Here are the top isolation moments from the sports world over the last seven days.
10. 'What up, 'Bron!'
There's just something pure - and surprisingly soothing - about watching LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and JR Smith casually enjoy a bike ride in the Los Angeles sunshine. The excitement of this Lakers fan when he catches a glimpse of James only adds to the feel-good nature of it all.
He drove by and saw LeBron, AD and JR Smith out for a bike ride in LA today 🚲
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen took part in TikTok's "Couples Challenge," which asks couples to close their eyes and answer a series of rapid-fire questions about their relationship, often with wildly entertaining results. All the family secrets, like which of the two is "more annoying when hungry," are revealed.
Let's start off by saying that New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban is in ridiculous shape. Based on the wildly challenging workout below, he'll be ready if the NHL does make its return this season. Far more importantly, though, are we just supposed to ignore the toilet in the squat rack? When you gotta go ...
P.K. Subban's #HockeyAtHome fitness routine is something else. 💪
Any NBA teams out there looking for a spot-up 3-point shooter in anticipation of the league's return this summer? Call this FedEx employee. He delivers from downtown.
.@FedEx out here delivering the purple promise with essential buckets! 🔥
— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) May 26, 2020
6. Cutch is getting good at this
From imaginative home videos to sleepy workout regimes, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen has become something of a social media star over these past couple months. So has his alter ego, Uncle Larry.
With fans unable to attend matches amid the pandemic, Danish soccer club AGF Aarhus came up with a unique solution, inviting 10,000 supporters to a Zoom party and placing giant screens in the stands so they could watch their season opener "in person." Better yet, they got to see a last-minute equalizer.
If the fans can’t be brought to the football, football has to be brought to the fans.
Danish Superliga club @AGFFodbold set up screens around the pitch to form a ‘virtual grandstand’ as 10,000 fans tuned in together to watch the game. pic.twitter.com/Xl32ILe915
Staying in peak physical condition has required professional athletes everywhere to devise creative workouts, but Marlon Humphrey's latest effort takes the cake. Just watching the Baltimore Ravens cornerback and his brother sprint up this gravel hill is enough to make your quads burn.
This looks... insane 😳@ravens Cornerback Marlon Humphrey getting creative with the workouts.
With the French soccer season canceled, Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is keeping himself busy and entertained by pranking his 8-year-old son, Davi Lucca. Take a miniature header challenge, start with some ping pong balls, then throw an egg into the mix and see what happens. Parenting 101.
In an ode to a classic scene from "The Mighty Ducks" film franchise, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn rounded up his teammates - rescuing them from their respective oddball tasks - to create this spectacular video, which culminates in a Sea-Doo "Flying V" formation.
Athletes everywhere continue to get creative as they deal with their respective leagues being on hiatus. Some are better at it than others. Every Sunday throughout May, we'll look back on the week that was before crowning a quarantine king or queen. Here are the top isolation moments from the sports world over the last seven days.
10. 'What up, 'Bron!'
There's just something pure - and surprisingly soothing - about watching LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and JR Smith casually enjoy a bike ride in the Los Angeles sunshine. The excitement of this Lakers fan when he catches a glimpse of James only adds to the feel-good nature of it all.
He drove by and saw LeBron, AD and JR Smith out for a bike ride in LA today 🚲
Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen took part in TikTok's "Couples Challenge," which asks couples to close their eyes and answer a series of rapid-fire questions about their relationship, often with wildly entertaining results. All the family secrets, like which of the two is "more annoying when hungry," are revealed.
Let's start off by saying that New Jersey Devils defenseman P.K. Subban is in ridiculous shape. Based on the wildly challenging workout below, he'll be ready if the NHL does make its return this season. Far more importantly, though, are we just supposed to ignore the toilet in the squat rack? When you gotta go ...
P.K. Subban's #HockeyAtHome fitness routine is something else. 💪
Any NBA teams out there looking for a spot-up 3-point shooter in anticipation of the league's return this summer? Call this FedEx employee. He delivers from downtown.
.@FedEx out here delivering the purple promise with essential buckets! 🔥
— SI Extra Mustard (@SI_ExtraMustard) May 26, 2020
6. Cutch is getting good at this
From imaginative home videos to sleepy workout regimes, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen has become something of a social media star over these past couple months. So has his alter ego, Uncle Larry.
With fans unable to attend matches amid the pandemic, Danish soccer club AGF Aarhus came up with a unique solution, inviting 10,000 supporters to a Zoom party and placing giant screens in the stands so they could watch their season opener "in person." Better yet, they got to see a last-minute equalizer.
If the fans can’t be brought to the football, football has to be brought to the fans.
Danish Superliga club @AGFFodbold set up screens around the pitch to form a ‘virtual grandstand’ as 10,000 fans tuned in together to watch the game. pic.twitter.com/Xl32ILe915
Staying in peak physical condition has required professional athletes everywhere to devise creative workouts, but Marlon Humphrey's latest effort takes the cake. Just watching the Baltimore Ravens cornerback and his brother sprint up this gravel hill is enough to make your quads burn.
This looks... insane 😳@ravens Cornerback Marlon Humphrey getting creative with the workouts.
With the French soccer season canceled, Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar is keeping himself busy and entertained by pranking his 8-year-old son, Davi Lucca. Take a miniature header challenge, start with some ping pong balls, then throw an egg into the mix and see what happens. Parenting 101.
In an ode to a classic scene from "The Mighty Ducks" film franchise, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Alex Killorn rounded up his teammates - rescuing them from their respective oddball tasks - to create this spectacular video, which culminates in a Sea-Doo "Flying V" formation.
Is it just me or does the vandalism of the Lemieux statue look very similar to the vandalism of Doughboy statue from earlier this week? #pittsburghprotestpic.twitter.com/QS3wMxZAPE
Protests across the United States began this week and continued into the weekend in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis who died Monday after a white police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes while holding him in handcuffs.
Floyd's death was the latest example of police action leading to the death of an unarmed black person.
The Lemieux statue was erected in 2012 to honor the career and achievements of the legendary former Penguins forward.
The NHL's 24-team playoff format has given new life to clubs that were outside the postseason picture when the season was suspended in March.
Due to the unique best-of-five setup, hockey fans will be treated to several thrilling and unpredictable matchups before the traditional Round of 16 gets underway.
Here are the three higher-seeded squads most in danger of being upset.
Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 5 seed in East)
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
Regular season vs. Canadiens: 2-1 Goal differential: 8-7 Penguins
Players reportedly fought against the play-in series being a best-of-three specifically because of superstar talents like Montreal Canadiens netminder Carey Price and their ability to single-handedly steal games. A best-of-five gives the Penguins a little more room for error, but not much.
However, Price hasn't played in the postseason since 2016-17, and although he's posted save percentages of .933, .920, and .919 over his three previous playoff runs, it's hard to say where his game will be after such a unique layoff. The puck-stopper owns a .929 save percentage across three starts against Pittsburgh this season, but the Penguins took the season series despite captain Sidney Crosby suiting up for just one of those contests.
The neutral-site factor also leads to an intriguing case for a Canadiens upset. The Penguins ranked second in home wins with 23 this season and were .500 on the road. Meanwhile, the Habs were far better away from the bright lights of the Bell Centre, and Price produced a save percentage of .917 on the road compared to .901 at home. Playing in an empty arena could benefit Montreal.
But most of the star power in this matchup belongs to the Penguins, and they should have a healthy lineup - with the exception of Nick Bjugstad - for what feels like the first time all season. The club will also be motivated after suffering an embarrassing first-round sweep at the hands of the New York Islanders last spring.
Edmonton Oilers (No. 5 seed in West)
Andy Devlin / National Hockey League / Getty
Regular season vs. Blackhawks: 1-2 Goal differential: 10-9 Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are far from the dynasty they were over the last decade, but the club still possesses a ton of winning pedigree and game-breaking talent. Though the Oilers finished 11 points ahead of Chicago, Edmonton isn't nearly as experienced in the postseason.
Along with Price, players reportedly cited Blackhawks star Patrick Kane as a reason they didn't want a shorter play-in series. Kane leads all players in the series in postseason goals (50) and points (123), and he's known for playing his best hockey when the stakes are the highest after winning three Stanley Cups and taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy.
All things being equal, the Oilers are certainly the better team. Two of the best players in the world are on their side in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, and after Chicago dealt Robin Lehner to Vegas at the trade deadline, Edmonton owns an edge between the pipes too. The Blackhawks' core group is also much older, so although the layoff provided them with some much-needed rest, it could take Chicago a little bit longer to find its legs once the puck drops.
Regardless of the outcome, this matchup between two dynamic and exciting clubs should provide hockey-starved fans with everything they were missing.
Carolina Hurricanes (No. 6 seed in East)
Karl DeBlaker / National Hockey League / Getty
Regular season vs. Rangers: 0-4 Goal differential: 17-9 Rangers
Despite this being a showdown between the sixth and 11th seeds, these two teams were closer in quality this season than those rankings would suggest.
The Hurricanes finished with 81 points through 68 games, while the New York Rangers earned 79 points in 70 outings. Now, Carolina must earn its playoff spot against a top-heavy Rangers team that's dominated this matchup in recent years.
New York swept the season series this year, with superstars Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad combining for 16 points in those four contests. Since the 2017-18 campaign, the Hurricanes own a 2-10 record against the Rangers and have been outscored 49-29.
The Rangers' goaltending could pose a problem for their opponents. Though he's years removed his prime, Henrik Lundqvist posted a 3-0 record with a .949 save percentage against Carolina this season, and rookie Igor Shesterkin was quick to make a name for himself by picking up 10 wins through his first 12 career starts.
However, the return of blue-chip defenseman Dougie Hamilton will give the Hurricanes a major boost, and their fourth-ranked penalty kill could nullify the Rangers' potent power play. Carolina also deploys a more well-rounded offense, and that depth should play to its advantage over a five-game series.
Winnipeg Jets captain and Minnesota native Blake Wheeler tweeted a statement Saturday calling for systemic change in the United States amid protests following George Floyd's killing.
"I've wanted to say something for a while, but it's been really difficult knowing what to say. My hometown is burning. Businesses where I grew up are being boarded up. America is not OK," Wheeler wrote.
"Growing up outside Minneapolis, I always felt sheltered from racism. That's because I was. Most people I grew up with looked like me. I never had to be scared when I stopped at a traffic light or saw the police in public. My kids will never know that fear either.
"I'm heartbroken that we still treat people this way. We need to stand with the black community and fundamentally change how the leadership in this country has dealt with racism. I'm sorry it has taken this long, but I'm hopeful that we can change this NOW. George Floyd's life mattered. Ahmaud Arbery's life mattered. So did every other life that has been lost by this senseless violence and racism."
Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed Monday in Minneapolis after Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, knelt on his neck for over eight minutes while Floyd was handcuffed on the ground. The incident has sparked mass outrage and protests across the U.S.
San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane, one of the few black players in the NHL, called Friday for more high-profile athletes to publicly speak out against racism. Sharks captain Logan Couture backed Kane on Saturday, stating that athletes cannot continue turning a blind eye to racism in hockey.
"In a shortened series, I think the coach that knows his team best and knows how to get the quickest performance out of his team, you know, is going to have an advantage," Foligno said, according to Mark Masters of TSN. "The team that gets their minds to their identity is going to have an advantage."
Veteran head coach John Tortorella has served as the Blue Jackets' bench boss for five seasons. He's won 110 career playoff games, captured the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's coach of the year on two occasions, and guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup title in 2004.
He also coached Columbus to a historic sweep of his former club as the Blue Jackets ousted the 62-win Lightning in the opening round of the 2019 postseason.
Known for his passionate approach, Tortorella put his coaching bona fides on full display while delivering a memorable speech to his players ahead of that series.
"He trusts us, and that trust has been built now for a few years," Foligno said. "You can go back to the video before the series in Tampa and that speech he gave, and that's exactly how all of us were feeling.
"He was dead on, because nobody was expecting anything out of us and we all felt slighted, so he was right in there with us and saying, 'We don't take a backwards step to these guys, we go right at them,' and that's a big reason why we had the success in that series."
Foligno believes Tortorella was paramount in helping the Blue Jackets carry last season's success into 2019-20, coaching them to a 33-22-15 record despite the offseason departures of several high-caliber talents and injuries to key players throughout the campaign.
"We could have easily strayed with the injuries we faced and the question marks going into the season, but he did a great job and we followed suit," Foligno said. "Now that belief is in the locker room. When you have a coach like that who can coach off emotion but also practicality, that's a huge benefit for us."
The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, replaced Mike Babcock with rookie head coach Sheldon Keefe in November following a 9-10-4 start to Babcock's fifth season with the team. Though Toronto's play remained inconsistent, the team improved under Keef, posting a 27-15-5 record.
The NHL clarified its plan for processing conditional trades involving 2020 draft picks in a memo sent to teams this week, according to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.
With the NHL and NHLPA agreeing upon a unique 24-team playoff format, the league has ruled teams must advance to the round of 16 for trade stipulations contingent on playoff appearances to take effect. Teams' round-by-round progression in the postseason will be measured from the 16-team stage onward.
"More specifically, for trade condition purposes, a club will not be deemed to have qualified for the playoffs unless or until they have progressed into the round of 16, and 'playoff games/rounds' will only include the games/rounds played in the round of 16 or later," the league wrote, according to LeBrun. "We believe this interpretation will best reflect the intentions of the parties at the time of the trade."
Several deals around the league were left in question when the NHL suspended its season on March 12.
The Vancouver Canucks dealt a conditional 2020 first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning last offseason; if Vancouver missed the 2020 postseason, the pick was to convert into a 2021 first-rounder. The Lightning sent that pick to the New Jersey Devils in February in a deal for Blake Coleman.
Under the league's ruling, the Devils will own the pick in 2020 if the Canucks beat the Minnesota Wild in the 24-team play-in round. If the Canucks lose, New Jersey will receive Vancouver's 2021 selection instead.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, meanwhile, sent a conditional first-round pick to the Wild in February in exchange for Jason Zucker. If Pittsburgh were to miss the playoffs this season, the club would have the option to keep the pick and instead send Minnesota a first-round selection in 2021. The Penguins will face that decision if the Montreal Canadiens upset them in the play-in.
Despite declaring the 2019-20 regular season officially concluded, the league has yet to rule on the conditions for several other trades, such as the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames' deal to swap forwards Milan Lucic and James Neal.
The Flames were to receive a 2020 third-round pick from the Oilers if Neal scored 21 goals and Lucic scored 10 or fewer goals than Neal this season. Neal had 19 goals when the league halted play, while Lucic had eight.
