diff --git a/app.py b/app.py
index 033f408..50b2d2e 100644
--- a/app.py
+++ b/app.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from ui_builder import install_ui_builder
 from khl_site.khl_data_center import APP as khl_site_app
 
 BASE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
-BUILD_VERSION = "2026.09.18.1"
+BUILD_VERSION = "2026.09.18.2"
 # compatibility: BUILD_VERSION = "2026.08.26.1"
 # compatibility: BUILD_VERSION = "2026.08.25.1"
 # compatibility: BUILD_VERSION = "2026.08.24.15"
diff --git a/hockey_data/static/tournament-menu.js b/hockey_data/static/tournament-menu.js
index 0d1fc7b..b380fe3 100644
--- a/hockey_data/static/tournament-menu.js
+++ b/hockey_data/static/tournament-menu.js
@@ -996,6 +996,9 @@
   }
 
   async function refreshDrawerCache() {
+    // Do not patch/re-render Runtime data while the operator edits settings.
+    // The hourly server refresh keeps running; the browser catches up afterwards.
+    if (operatorSettingsEditingActive()) return;
     if ((!state.open && !state.selectedId) || state.drawerRefreshBusy) return;
     state.drawerRefreshBusy = true;
     try {
@@ -1995,6 +1998,17 @@ function selectedGameIsFinished() {
   return Boolean(state.selectedGame?.is_finished);
 }
 
+function operatorSettingsEditingActive() {
+  // BUILD144: settings are operator-owned UI state. Live match/schedule refresh
+  // may continue on the server, but must not rebuild the Runtime while an
+  // operator is typing into either Stat2TV settings or a full UI settings modal.
+  return Boolean(
+    state.settingsModal
+    || document.querySelector(".hockey-settings-modal")
+    || document.querySelector(".modal-settings-full")
+  );
+}
+
 function scheduleSelectedGamePoll(delay = 1000) {
   stopSelectedGamePolling();
   if (!state.selectedGameId || selectedGameIsFinished()) {
@@ -2022,6 +2036,7 @@ async function pollSelectedGame() {
     || !state.selectedGameId
     || !state.selectedId
     || state.open
+    || operatorSettingsEditingActive()
     || selectedGameIsFinished()
   ) {
     scheduleSelectedGamePoll(1000);
@@ -2498,6 +2513,10 @@ document.addEventListener("visibilitychange", () => {
     const close = () => {
       modal.remove();
       state.settingsModal = null;
+      if (state.selectedGameId && !selectedGameIsFinished()) {
+        scheduleSelectedGamePoll(150);
+      }
+      if (state.selectedId) scheduleDrawerRefresh(250);
     };
     modal.querySelector("[data-settings-close]").addEventListener("click", close);
     modal.querySelector(".hockey-settings-backdrop").addEventListener("click", close);
diff --git a/ui_builder/static/app.js b/ui_builder/static/app.js
index c166fd2..2b37aca 100644
--- a/ui_builder/static/app.js
+++ b/ui_builder/static/app.js
@@ -13635,15 +13635,14 @@ function renderHockeyPenaltyDashboard(node, component, runtime) {
 
   function runtimeVisibleTabs() {
     const standings = getByPath(state.data, "hockey.standings") || {};
-    const schedule = getByPath(state.data, "hockey.schedule") || {};
-    const teamSchedule = getByPath(state.data, "hockey.team_schedule") || {};
     const selectedGame = getByPath(state.data, "hockey.selected_game") || null;
     const selectedTournament = getByPath(state.data, "hockey.selected_tournament") || null;
-    const hasSchedule = (Array.isArray(schedule.items) && schedule.items.length > 0)
-      || (Array.isArray(teamSchedule.items) && teamSchedule.items.length > 0);
     const visible = state.config.tabs.filter((tab) => {
       if (tab.id === "standings") return Boolean(standings.available && Array.isArray(standings.variants) && standings.variants.length);
-      if (tab.id === "schedule") return hasSchedule;
+      // BUILD144: Schedule is navigation, not a data-availability indicator.
+      // Keep the tab visible even when the selected day has zero games or while
+      // the schedule cache is still loading; the component shows its empty state.
+      if (tab.id === "schedule") return true;
       if (tab.id === "shootout") return Boolean(selectedGame && String(selectedTournament?.stage_key || "").toLowerCase() === "regular");
       return true;
     });