News

By TIM REYNOLDS

SUNRISE — Sam Bennett and Aaron Ekblad scored unassisted goals, Daniil Tarasov made 27 saves and the Florida Panthers snapped Colorado’s second 10-game winning streak of the season by topping the Avalanche 2-1 on Sunday night.

Colorado fell to 31-3-7, its 69 points still the second-most in NHL history through 41 games and the most in nearly a century. Boston had 73 points through 41 games in 1929-30. The NHL added regular-season overtime along the way and changed the points structure in 1999-2000 to add a point for losses past regulation.

But the Panthers never trailed Sunday. Bennett scored 6:27 into the game, and Ekblad made it 2-1 with 1:48 left in the second period.

Artturi Lehkonen scored midway through the second period for Colorado, which lost captain Gabriel Landeskog early in that period with what the team said was an upper-body injury.

The three regulation losses for Colorado tie the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers for the fewest through 41 games of any season. The Avalanche had gotten at least one standings point in 30 of their last 31 games coming into Sunday, going 26-1-4 in that stretch.

It was the third time this season Colorado was held to one goal. The Avs won both of the previous games.

Scott Wedgewood stopped 23 shots for Colorado, his record falling to 18-2-4 on the season.

The Panthers were further short-handed than usual. U.S. Olympic team defenseman Seth Jones (upper body) was out for Florida, and the Panthers expect word Monday on how much time he’ll miss. He was hurt in the first period of Friday’s Winter Classic.

Florida leaves for a six-game trip Monday and Matthew Tkachuk — who has yet to play this season following August surgery to repair a torn adductor and sports hernia — will be on the plane. It’s unclear yet if Tkachuk will play during the trip.

That trip is the start of a second half where Florida plays 26 of its final 41 games on the road.

Up next

Panthers: At Toronto on Tuesday night.

FOXBORO, Mass. — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel might have coached his last Dolphins game in Sunday’s 38-10 loss at the New England Patriots. Or, McDaniel might have only put a wrap on the part of his Dolphins head coaching era that included former general manager Chris Grier, who was fired on Halloween, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was demoted three games ago.

Perhaps we’ll find out this soon whether McDaniel will remain the Miami Dolphins coach for 2026. Or perhaps we’ll get a name or two on the list of general manager candidates.

Until then, we’ll reflect on the job done by McDaniel, Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, and a host of other players, mostly youngsters.

By the way, it should be noted the Dolphins (7-10), who suffered double-digit losses for the first time since finishing 5-11 in 2019, were without several key starters including Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane (shoulder), wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) and right tackle Austin Jackson (back/groin).

Here’s what we learned in Sunday’s season finale: 

Tua has quiet day

Tagovailoa, in what might have been his last game in a Dolphins uniform, had a low-key day that mostly involved standing on the sideline with a warming jacket over his shoulders. Tagovailoa, designated as the emergency third quarterback, wasn’t writing formations on the whiteboard for Ewers, which is a duty he handled on the sideline in his first two games as a reserve quarterback. For the record, Tagovailoa has seemed to be in good spirits since his benching, often mixing and laughing with teammates in the locker room. He’s never been seen publicly pouting or seeming unhappy.

Tagovailoa is due $55 million next season. If he’s released it’ll cost Miami $99 million in dead money which they could take a one-time hit in 2026 or split into a two-year hit with $67 million in dead money in 2026 and $32 million in dead money in 2027. — Chris Perkins

Ewers shows promise

Ewers, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a right knee ailment, showed enough in three starts that he could be in the mix for the starting job in training camp. Sunday’s performance had some good and some not-so-good.

Ewers was making his third start Sunday. He was 1-1 in his previous two starts, losing at Pittsburgh and defeating Tampa Bay.

Ewers started the game with a nine-yard run. He almost had a touchdown pass to wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., but Wilson couldn’t quite come up with the reception before falling out of the back of the end zone. 

Ewers bounced back with a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tahj Washington. Ewers had a couple of close calls on passes. He had an incomplete pass in the end zone that went between Washington and fellow wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. Ewers also had a close call on a throw for Washington deep in the third quarter. Washington and Pro Bowl cornerback Christian Gonzalez get their feet tangled up and both went to the ground.

All in all, Ewers showed promise in his three starts.

Related Articles

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• Final week of regular season does Dolphins no favors in regards to NFL draft
• Miami Dolphins’ opponents for the 2026 season
• Dave Hyde: The most damaging season in Dolphins history finishes in an awful fashion

McDaniel is a .500 coach (including playoffs)

McDaniel finishes his fourth season with a 35-33 (.515) regular-season record, 35-35 (.500) including his 0-2 playoffs record.

The Dolphins rallied to finish 7-10 this season after starting 0-3, 1-6 and 2-7. 

Last season they rallied to finish 8-9 after starting 2-6.

In 2022, the Dolphins started 8-3 but slumped to a 1-6 finish, including their wild-card round playoff loss at Buffalo.

In 2023, the Dolphins started 9-3 but slumped to a 2-4 finish, including their wild-card loss at Kansas City.

TO margin/penalties

The Dolphins ended with season minus-4 in turnover margin. After having seven penalties for 52 yards, they also ended with 107 penalties for 841 yards.

The Dolphins began play Sunday tied for 17th in the league in turnover margin at minus-2. In 2024, they were tied for 29th at minus-7. In 2023, they were tied for 12th at plus-2, and in 2022 they were tied for 28th at minus-7.

The Dolphins began play Sunday tied for 12th fewest penalties with 100, and 11th in fewest penalty yards with 789.

As for penalties, in 2024, the Dolphins were 30th in penalty yards with 1,030 and their 125 penalties were tied for 29th.

In 2023, the Dolphins were No. 5 in the league with 719 penalty yards while they were tied for 13th fewest penalties with 96.

In 2022, the Dolphins were No. 19 in penalty yards with 799 yards while they were tied for No. 4 in penalties with 84.

Cold weather games

Miami is now 1-7 (.125) in cold weather games under McDaniel. Sunday was a “cold weather” game with the definition for this purpose being 45 degrees or colder at kickoff. The “feels-like” temperature at kickoff was 23 degrees. The actual temperature was 28 degrees. 

Cold weather has been a big deal for the Dolphins under McDaniel. Miami began play Sunday with a 1-6 (.143) record in cold weather losing twice in Buffalo in 2022 (regular season and playoffs), once in Kansas City (playoffs), once in Green Bay (Thanksgiving 2024), losing against the New York Jets (2024 finale), winning at the New York Jets (this season) and losing at Pittsburgh (this season).

It should be noted that six of the eight cold weather games came against playoff teams.

Run defense sags again

New England rushed for 243 yards 34 carries. The Dolphins began play Sunday ranked 24th in run defense at 125.5 yards allowed per game. When these teams played in September, New England rushed for 122 yards. They were second of seven consecutive Dolphins opponents to rush for more than 100 yards.

Late-season road games

Miami is now 3-11 in December-January road games under McDaniel.

The Dolphins were winless in January road games under McDaniel when play began Sunday, posting an 0-4 record.   

The verdict on recent Grier draftees, free agents

All of the Dolphins draftees that played Sunday, and almost every Miami player that took the field, were drafted or selected by Grier, who was widely ridiculed for his drafts and free agent signees. The list from Sunday ranges from Ewers to linebacker Jordyn Brooks and kicker Riley Patterson.

In the past two years Grier’s players posted losing seasons but last year they finished 6-3 and this year they finished 5-3.

The final conclusion on the draftees and free agents is likely similar to the final conclusion on each these seasons — mediocre-ish.

Special teams surface again

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler blocked a 38-yard field goal attempt shortly before Patterson booted a 52-yard field goal. Last week rookie defensive tackle Zeek Biggers blocked a 55-yard field goal attempt.

It’s been an eventful special teams season for the Dolphins, and it’s involved a punt return touchdown, allowing a kickoff return touchdown immediately afterward, running into the punter, roughing the punter, allowing an opponent to recover an onside kick, recovering an opponent’s onside kick, punter Jake Bailey and Patterson turning in exemplary seasons.

Third-quarter woes

The Dolphins were outscored in Sunday’s third quarter, 14-0. For the season they were outscored, 130-27, in the third quarter.

Dolphins Deep Dive: What should happen . . . what will happen with McDaniel after season finale? | VIDEO

That Patriots first touchdown was a rarity

The Patriots received the opening kickoff and began the game with a three-play, 70-yard touchdown drive. It marked the first time under Mike McDaniel that an opening-possession-of-the-game touchdown drive of that length had taken up three plays or fewer.

The Dolphins offense under McDaniel had accomplished the feat twice: In San Francisco in 2022 and against the Broncos in the 70-20 game in 2023.

The previous time the Dolphins had allowed such a touchdown had been against Peyton Manning and the Colts 16 seasons ago. Pro-football-reference.com’s database covers the 21st century, and the Dolphins hadn’t given up such a touchdown that featured only running plays in the past 25 years at least. Once, in 2005, the Browns on their first possession (but after Miami also had had a possession) saw Reuben Droughns take their opening snap 75 yards to the house. — Steve Svekis

Patrick Paul became a bit of a flag machine late in the season

After a first 15 games where he had been nabbed for only 6 flags, Dolphins second-year tackle Patrick Paul saw four penalties attached to his number in the final two games against the Buccaneers and Patriots, including a trio (holding, false start and illegal man downfield) in a span of 8:18 in Foxborough. He is to be lauded for playing all 34 of the possible games his first two seasons.

Boo! Ollie Gordon was a short-yardage liability after Halloween

Maybe as a rookie, Ollie Gordon hit a rookie wall, but his effectiveness in short-yardage situations fell off a cliff after October. Before Halloween, Gordon had been fine 6 for 7 converting on third- or fourth-and-1 runs. However, in November onward, he converted in only 2 of 6 situations, losing 5 yards in total.

2026 schedule tidbits

Here is a note for each non-division game next season:

Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium

Patrick Mahomes has played two games at Hard Rock Stadium, both six years ago. The first, on February of 2020 was in his first Super Bowl, against the 49ers. The second, in December, was his lone game against the Dolphins in South Florida. In that matchup, the AFC champion had a 30-10 lead in the fourth quarter before taking their foot off the gas, winning 33-27. The Dolphins have a five-game losing streak against the Chiefs and haven’t beaten them in Miami Gardens in 20 years.

Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium

In his four career games against the Dolphins, Justin Herbert, selected sixth in the 2020 draft after the Dolphins picked Tua Tagovailoa, has averaged 26.8 points a game, including 29 in a pivotal game for the Chargers earlier this season. The Dolphins have averaged 27.3 points a game in that quartet.

Chicago Bears at Hard Rock Stadium

Former Dolphins assistant Ben Johnson makes his first return to Hard Rock Stadium since his stint with Miami from 2012-18. After the Dolphins grabbed a 4-0 lead in the all-time series with the legendary Monday Night Football win over then-undefeated Chicago in 1985, the Bears won four of the next seven games between the teams. However, Miami has a three-game win streak.

Detroit Lions at Hard Rock Stadium

Another former Dolphins assistant coach, and former interim head coach, comes back to Miami Gardens for his first time since finishing his six-year tenure in South Florida in 2015. The last time the Dolphins beat the Lions in South Florida was a 49-21 walloping in the season opener of 2002, which was also Ricky Williams’ Dolphins debut.

Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium

Joe Burrow will be looking to improve to 3-0 all-time against Miami, having averaged 36 points a game in games against the Dolphins.

Denver Broncos at Empower Field*

Broncos coach Sean Payton will have been waiting three years for this game, his Broncos having been ravaged for 70 points in Miami Gardens in 2023 the most recent time the teams played.

Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium*

One of the rare flips of series record in the Dolphins’ favor since Don Shula left after 1995, the Dolphins trailed Oakland/Los Angeles 6-16-1 heading into the 1996 season. The past 20 years, however, the Dolphins have rolled Oakland/Las Vegas 15-5, and now the series is squared at 21-21-1.

Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field*

The Dolphins had been 8-0 against Green Bay when Jimmy Johnson took over for Don Shula in 1996, but the Packers, powered by Hall of Fame quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, have cruised through the Dolphins with wins in seven of the teams’ nine matchups since then.

Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium*

The Dolphins have played a Brian Flores-coached defense once since he and Miami parted ways after 2021, and that was a 16-10 Dolphins win in 2022 when the Steelers dropped four Tua Tagovailoa passes that hit both hands.

Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium*

The Colts, before collapsing, arguably had their best game of their season in the opener against the Dolphins, a 33-8 shellacking in Indiana.

San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California*

There is some argument that one of the last moments the Dolphins felt like things had finally turned around was the first-play-of-the-game 75-yard touchdown pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Trent Sherfield the last time Miami traveled to Santa Clara. However, the host 49ers rebounded to rout Miami, who had entered the game 8-3. Miami sputtered to 9-8 to squeak into the playoffs, where they lost to Buffalo 34-31.

(* Denotes there is a possibility this game may be played internationally.)

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick has retained David Oscar Markus to represent
her on charges of conspiring to steal roughly $5 million in federal COVID-19 disaster funds.

Markus is arguably the best federal criminal defense attorney in South Florida — and bills his clients accordingly.

Simply put, the congresswoman from Broward County cannot afford him on her $174,000 salary.

Cherfilus-McCormick’s income jumped from $86,000 to more than $6 million from 2020 to 2021 based on alleged overpayments to her home health care company, Trinity Health Care Services.

She cannot use that loot to pay attorney Markus. Federal law prohibits the use of “ill-gotten gains” to pay bond or legal fees. Known as “Nebbia” rules, pursuant to United States v. Nebbia, the law allows a court to require a defendant to prove that bail money and attorney fees have come from a legitimate source.

Gerard S. (Jerry) Williams, Southwest Ranches

The writer has been a member of the Florida Bar since 1992.

Don’t abolish HOAs A Miami lawmaker has filed a bill to establish an community association court system and make it easier for homeowners to abolish their HOAs. (File art)

I laughed out loud when I read about the legislative proposal from Republican state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras of Miami to make it easier to terminate homeowners’ associations (House Bill 657).

I hope the proponents of such lunacy relish the idea of living next to a homeowner who refuses to mow his yard, has a couple of cars sitting on blocks in his front yard or better yet, turns his house into a daily rental for parties.

Having no rules is great — until you consider what an HOA protects you from.

As a former HOA board member in East Delray, I suggest that people who don’t like the “law and order” that an HOA brings simply move to somewhere else, where they can contend with all the issues their current HOA shields them from.

Harvey Starin, Boca Raton

‘Price of admission’ to U.S.

Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, has said that mass immigration is a great lie because it imports entire societies that instead of assimilating into America re-create the conditions and terrors of the countries they left behind.

He said it in reference to a fraud controversy involving Somali immigrants in Minnesota, but it applies to all immigrant groups. The U.S. government has forgotten to require assimilation as a condition of living here.

In America, no one is required to learn English, American history or civics unless they apply for naturalization. An immigrant can live here for life without ever assimilating into our language or culture.

That’s why it was not surprising to hear Rep. Ilhan Omar say on CNN that the Somali community should not be blamed for money sent from a billionaire fraud scheme to fund terrorism abroad. She framed the issue as a failure of the FBI and the courts, shifting responsibility away from community accountability.

America must be strict about who we allow to enter and settle here. We must have higher expectations.

English should be required, along with basic knowledge of American culture and laws. Expecting nothing from immigrants is dangerous. We can’t allow foreign communities to embed in America without assimilating. That’s the price of admission to American life.

Eduardo Montalvo, Coral Gables

On sticking with Trump

The real tragedy of the current occupant of the White House is that millions of Americans are sufficiently gullible, ignorant or bigoted to have voted for him and still support him.

Jack Lippman, Boynton Beach

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