THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST
WITH JASON ROMANO, FEATURING ADAM MCQUAID
Adam McQuaid is a former NHL defenseman who played 10 years with the Boston Bruins (2009-18), participating in two Stanley Cup Finals and winning the Cup in 2011. He played his final season (2018-19) with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets. Selected 55th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by Columbus, he was traded to Boston in 2007 and made his NHL debut in December 2009.
McQuaid retired in 2019 and is now a player development coordinator with the Boston Bruins.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Adam McQuaid about his NHL path, winning a Stanley Cup, growing in his faith, the power of a praying mom, and fighting the disease of “more.”
Starting off Strong 💪
Rob Collier and Jenn Rogers – the siblings of fallen MIT police officer Sean Collier – and former #NHLBruins blue liner Adam McQuaid were tonight's honorary fan banner captains! pic.twitter.com/hOqByVKjlv
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING DANIELLE FORTE
On today’s episode, Matt invites his wife, Danielle Forte, to the show for a special Mother’s Day edition. Danielle shares about raising kids to love Jesus, why she is so passionate about being a mother, her adoption story, and the importance of keeping her identity in Jesus and not her role as a mom or wife.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING JUWAN JOHNSON
Juwan Johnson is a tight end for the New Orleans Saints. He went undrafted in 2020 out of college after spending four seasons with Penn State and a fifth at Oregon. He signed with the Saints after the 2020 NFL Draft and has become an integral part of New Orleans’ offense. In 2025, he had his best season as a pro, with a career-high 77 receptions and 889 receiving yards.
Today on the podcast, Juwan Johnson opens up about how putting Christ first transformed his identity beyond the jersey. He shares about how to lead with a servant’s heart in the spotlight, from handling the pressures of the NFL to finding a deeper purpose off the field.
THIS IS THE SPORTS SPECTRUM PODCAST WITH MATT FORTE, FEATURING ALEX HIGHSMITH
Alex Highsmith is a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft after a stellar college career with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers.
In 2022, Highsmith led the Steelers with a career-high 14.5 sacks and tied for the NFL lead with five forced fumbles. He was rewarded in July 2023 with a four-year contract extension. He will be entering his seventh season with Pittsburgh in 2026.
Today on the podcast, we talk to Alex Highsmith about representing Christ as a football player, growing in his faith, the pressure of performing on the field, and giving back to his community.
Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson celebrates one of his goals, April 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
It had been 15 long years since the Buffalo Sabres last made an appearance in the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. That is, until Sunday.
The Sabres took down the Boston Bruins, 4-3, in their much-anticipated playoff return, and it took a spurt of four goals in less than seven minutes to do so during a wild third period.
The Sabres, champions of the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division, looked listless as they fell behind by two goals early in the third period. The energy inside Buffalo’s KeyBank Center, once celebratory, became marked with anxiety. It appeared as though Sabres fans would have to wait at least one more game for the team’s first playoff win in a decade and a half.
But then, the team’s best offensive weapon came alive.
Playing in his first career playoff game, longtime Sabre Tage Thompson scored two goals in quick succession to even the score. He wrapped his first around the Bruins’ goalie from behind the net.
TAGE THOMPSON SCORES BUFFALO'S FIRST GOAL OF THE #STANLEYCUP PLAYOFFS! 🦬
His second came less than four minutes later, when he stole the puck behind Boston’s goal, skated open in front of the net, and buried a shot just inside the far post.
TAGE THOMPSON'S GOT TWO GOALS AND TIED IT FOR THE SABRES! GET LOUD BUFFALO! 😆
Buffalo netted two more goals just minutes later to seize control of the game. Despite a successful Boston power play to trim the lead to one, the Sabres held on for the victory and a 1-0 series lead. Buffalo’s rally was just the second time in NHL history a team overcame a multi-goal deficit in the final eight minutes of a playoff game to win in regulation.
“Eight years of adversity is enough experience to get you ready for something like this,” Thompson said in his postgame press conference about his time with the organization. “I think any time you go eight years and not making playoffs, and then it’s finally here, the last thing you want is regret. There was just a heightened feeling of hunger. We just don’t want to let this opportunity slip. I thought tonight was really important to make a statement and set our standard.”
The 28-year-old has been a stalwart on the offensive end for the upstart Sabres all year. He played the most games (81) and recorded the second-most points of his career (a team-leading 81) this season. He scored 40 goals, the most on the team, and handed out 41 assists.
Thompson’s heroics for the Sabres in Game 1 only added to what has already been a very memorable 2026. In February, he scored three goals for Team USA during the Americans’ trek to capture their first Olympic gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980.
And he’s proclaimed his faith in Christ throughout.
“Jesus is everything to me,” the 2023 NHL All-Star said days after winning gold. “Obviously, we’re made imperfect. We’re all sinners, and we need Him. And I fall short every single day, and He’s the One I rely on. I think when you have that sense of hope, the grace and the mercy that I receive every day from Him is something that gives me peace and joy in life, no matter what I do.
“And He’s blessed me with this game and this opportunity to play the game I love at a high level.”
Thompson spoke at length about his faith in Christ as a guest on the Sports Spectrum Podcast in July 2023, when he said he grew up hearing about God but only later came to an understanding of his need for a relationship with Him.
“I think when you take a step back,” he said, “and realize that God’s in control and He has a plan for you, and His plan is far better than anything we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20), you just kind of give it over to Him and sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Now with one postseason game — and one postseason victory — under his belt, Thompson knows the publicity of a deep playoff run would present him with an even better opportunity to point others to Jesus.
“Hockey influences my faith,” he told His Huddle in December 2020, “because I’m able to use the platform I’ve been given to try and be a light to others to show what it means to be a follower of Christ. And hopefully lead others to come to know Him.”
Thompson and the Sabres will face off against the Bruins in Game 2, set for Tuesday in Buffalo at 7:30 p.m. ET. They will seek to retain the home-ice advantage and take a commanding series lead.
