Vegas Golden Knights veteran forward Tomas Hertl knows what's expected of him as part of a potent offense.
Which is why he's more than relieved to not only have snapped a 29-game drought, but also a 16-game playoff drought that dated back to last season.
Hertl, who hadn't scored a goal since March 4 in a 4-3 overtime win in Detroit, hadn't scored a playoff goal since April 26, 2025 in a 4-3 overtime win in Minnesota.
Now, he's scored in back-to-back games, in Games 3 and 4 of the Knights' current series with the Anaheim Ducks.
"Obviously, it wasn't easy for me, you know," Hertl said. "The expectation for me is to make something happen on the ice. It was nice for me to score the last game, and especially tonight.
"I was very happy about it, because it was a pretty hard two months for me, because everybody expected I would score goals and make something happen. I obviously try to do other things, but it's always nice to get a couple. Hopefully, moving forward, I can help with a couple more goals.”
Vegas coach John Tortorella praised Hertl's line, with wings Brandon Saad and Colton Sissons flanking him.
"I know they were on the ice for the tying goal, but I thought they gave us some big minutes, and we're gonna need it," Tortorella said. "As the series keeps on going, we're gonna need all four lines."
Hertl, who acknowledged being benched at times and seeing limited playing time was difficult to absorb, said he tried not to think about his scoring drought the past two months but found it difficult.
Recent conversations with a supportive Tortorella, though, have helped ease him back into a comfort zone.
"We definitely had some talks about it, and he tried to help me around," Hertl said. "But it's always just nice to score the first one. Every game, when I was going through it, I just tried not to think about a goal because, especially in the playoffs, all that matters is winning the games. It doesn't matter who scores.
"Hopefully this is behind me and this stretch never happens, honestly, again, because it was way too long."
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena.
Game 5 is about to begin live from Ball Arena as the Colorado Avalanche look to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals with a win over the Minnesota Wild.
Let's get ready for a great game!
First Period
Just 34 seconds into the game, Marcus Johansson gave the Wild an immediate jolt, one-timing a feed from Matt Boldy from the slot to put Minnesota ahead 1-0 before the Avalanche had even settled in.
From the opening shift, the Wild made it clear they had no intention of going quietly. Minnesota established an aggressive forecheck early, finishing checks, forcing turnovers and swarming Colorado’s defensemen whenever they touched the puck. The Avalanche struggled to handle the pressure through the opening minutes and looked rattled by the pace and physicality.
Yakov Trenin, arguably Minnesota’s most relentless checker, set the tone physically. Less than five minutes into the game, he leveled Parker Kelly with a heavy hit before following it up with a cross-check to Kelly’s lower back that went uncalled.
Near the midway point of the period, Brent Burns tied up Mats Zuccarello in front of the Colorado net before wrestling him down to the ice after the whistle. The two exchanged shoves and punches while Zuccarello was on his back, adding even more tension to an already heated opening frame.
At 11:03 of the first period, Nick Foligno doubled Minnesota’s lead after tapping home a pass from former Avalanche forward Nico Sturm. It was a puck that Mackenzie Blackwood appeared to track initially, but it slipped underneath him through the five-hole and slowly crossed the line to make it 2-0.
Colorado briefly caught a break later in the period when Michael McCarron appeared to extend the lead to 3-0 by knocking a loose puck into the net. After review, officials ruled he had batted the puck in with his hand, overturning the goal. Still, the sequence wasn’t without damage for Colorado, as Gabriel Landeskog was assessed a hooking penalty during the play. The Avalanche penalty kill managed to survive the ensuing Wild pressure and, at least temporarily, kept the game within reach.
Minnesota wasn’t done. With 4:04 remaining in the period, Foligno struck again for his second goal of the night after Sturm generated a pair of dangerous rebounds on consecutive shots. Blackwood survived the first chance, but the second rebound kicked directly into the slot, where Foligno batted it home to push the Wild lead to 3-0.
By the end of the opening 20 minutes, the Wild held a commanding 3-0 advantage while narrowly leading the shot count 13-11. But the score hardly reflected how lopsided the period felt. Colorado looked disorganized defensively, overwhelmed physically and shaky in net.
After an opening frame that could only be described as disastrous, it became increasingly clear that Scott Wedgewood deserved serious consideration for the second period — unless the Avalanche were intent on taking the far more difficult route toward a Western Conference Final berth by trying to clinch the series on the road instead.
Second Period
Colorado didn't have many high danger chances in the opening frame, but Logan O'Connor had a prime opportunity to get the Avs on the board in the early stages of the second. However, his one-timer just missed a wide-open net as his shot sailed by the left post.
Parker Kelly scored his second of the playoffs with nine minutes left in the second when he redirected a point wrister from Brent Burns to put the Avalanche on the board.
With less than five minutes left in the frame, Ross Colton detonated two vicious hits on Quinn Hughes that dropped the Wild defenseman to the ice and to the roar of the crowd inside Ball Arena.
The Avalanche went on their first power play with 3:08 left in the period after Damila Yurov high-sticked Cale Makar in the face. The need for Colorado to convert on this man advantage appeared critical. Unfortunately for Colorado, the power play appeared completely out of sync.
The Avs went back into the room trailing 3-1 entering the third period. Shots were in favor of Colorado 21-16.
Third Period
Scott Wedgewood made a critical save in the early stages of the third period after Vladimir Tarasenko was knocked down at center-ice by Nic Roy, but still managed to get back in the play, scoop up a loose puck, and fire a shot on net from the left circle. However, when the Avs needed a save, Wedgewood was there to keep his team in contention.
Round 17 fixture to instead feature Western Bulldogs against Sydney
Saints player Collard banned for use of homophobic slur
The fallout continues from the Lance Collard AFL tribunal case, with St Kilda cut from the annual Pride Game against Sydney.
The fixture, which celebrates LGBTIQA+ inclusivity, was supposed to take place when the Swans were hosting the Saints in round 13 at the SCG. Instead, the fixture has been switched to the Swans’ match against the Western Bulldogs in round 17.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 19: Bryce Miller #50 of the Seattle Mariners poses for a portrait at Peoria Sports Complex on February 19, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images
He’s back.
Bryce Miller takes the mound for the Mariners for the first time since the 2025 ALCS. He’s sat out the first 43 games of the new season with an oblique injury, after missing large swaths of last season with bone spurs in his elbow. I wrote before the season in our 40 in 40 series about the quick start to Miller’s career and the quick drop in performance as he tried to pitch through injury. Kate Preusser wrote more recently about his rehab starts and some of the adjustments he’s making to get right this year. What I’m looking for today is what his pitch mix looks like early and how his velocity holds up late.
With wins in games one and two, the Mariners will look to clinch the four-game series tonight, after sweeping the Astros in four games back in May, after sweeping the Astros to all but clinch the AL West last September. The Mariners have won nine straight against Houston.
Brendan Donovan is not in the lineup tonight, after being activated from the injured list at the start of the road trip. Leo Rivas is back at third base, while J.P. Crawford moves back up to the leadoff spot.
Scheduled day off for Donovan as the Mariners continue to be careful with him. He did take some early fielding work today.
The Golden Knights head to Anaheim with a 3-2 series lead over the Ducks, and a chance to wrap up their conference semifinal on Thursday, but will do so without one of their top defenders.
Defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for one game for interference against Ducks forward Ryan Poehling during Tuesday's Game 5, the NHL's Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.
The incident occurred at 8:55 of the first period, when McNabb was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for interference.
The Knights played the rest of the game without McNabb. After allowing the Ducks to tie the game at 2-all in the third period, Vegas won 3-2 in overtime.
"It’s just no sense talking about it ... I just don’t get it, coach John Tortorella said after the game. "High marks for the whole team tonight. I’m proud of the team tonight. Getting down, losing Nabber, one of our top D, losing him - I think he played three minutes - and still finding a way to get things done, to get a win, I’m really proud of the hockey club."
Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger speaks to the media after their Game 5 overtime loss (2-3) to the Vegas Golden Knights.
It can be quite difficult to find your game, especially after being a healthy scratch for 13 consecutive games. But Olen Zellweger looked like he hadn’t missed a beat when he made his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut in Game 4 of the Ducks’ series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Zellweger registered a primary assist in Game 4 on defensive partner Ian Moore’s game-winning goal and provided the equalizer late in the third period of Game 5, which helped send the game to overtime. You wouldn’t be able to tell he hadn’t played in a game in more than a month.
“Just practicing hard,” Zellweger said when asked about how he was able to stay in game shape despite not playing in a game for so long. “We’ve got extra time, extra workout sort of thing. You kind of know what it takes to stay in game shape, so I think all the guys who aren't playing are doing a pretty good job of that.”
May 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) checks Vegas Golden Knights right wing Cole Smith (22) during the third period of game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Assistant coach Tim Army works with healthy scratches after morning skates, putting them through rigorous conditioning skates once the skaters in that gameday’s lineup have left the ice. He also frequently works with players after practices on improving their skills, whether it’s faceoffs, puck recoveries or board battles.
“He’s been awesome. He does a great job,” Zellweger said. “We do a lot of game-like things. A lot of things that keep us in game shape, too, with skating and tempo over speed sort of stuff. So it was awesome. He's always in a great mood. He's awesome to work with.”
Zellweger said there were a lot of things that went well in the Ducks’ 4-3 win in Game 4, which helped them even the series heading back to Vegas for Game 5. He pointed to the different perspective that he had while watching games from the press box and how he would envision himself in those game situations, to better prepare himself for if he were to end up being down there at any point.
“Overall, I felt fine. I think my timing felt pretty good. Just trying to communicate and get to my spots. When I'm watching from above, I'm trying to see the situations I'd be in, so I didn't feel like it was that crazy. It was a lot of time (being out), but just wanted to go out there and play direct, simple and help the team where I could.”
May 10, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) skates with the puck during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game four of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Corinne Votaw-Imagn Images
Between Games 3 and 4, head coach Joel Quenneville said that he wanted to incorporate the defensemen offensively as much as they can, and see the team skating at a higher level and doing things quicker. The insertion of Zellweger surely did that.
“I think when there's those opportunities, especially with the skill we have, it can be dangerous for the other team,” Zellweger said. “Jumping in where I can, still having the discipline with our structure. But I think it's harder to defend when we're active, especially at the right times.”
“I loved the shot,” Quenneville said of Zellweger’s Game 5 goal. “He was active, he was skating. He had some possession time, too, as well off the rush or endzone. He was a factor, and good to see him respond in the last couple of games after watching as much as he did. It was a great response.”
“Zelly made a great play there and was able to get himself open and make a great shot,” Cutter Gauthier, who set up Zellweger’s goal, said. “He’s been extremely disciplined with how he carries himself on and off the ice this whole season. When he heard his name called these last handful of games, he was ready to go. Kudos to him for having a great mindset these last few months, it pays off with the big goal.”
May 12, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Anaheim Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) makes a save as defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) checks Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) during an overtime period in game five of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Zellweger received more ice time down the stretch in Game 5, which led to him being on the ice for that game-tying goal. He played nearly 17 minutes, with almost all of it coming at even strength.
“Commend him,” Quenneville said. “That’s a great attribute to show, his competitiveness. Stayed with it. Professional for a young kid, knowing that you lose your lifetime dream of not playing in a playoff game. And then he bided his time, he worked his tail off, getting himself not just conditionally ready for it, but mentally. That was the thing that we were all appreciative of, how he approached it mentally and prepared himself to be a part of it and contribute in a meaningful way, and he did more than we were expecting.”
Anaheim is facing elimination for the first time this postseason, entering Game 6 down 2-3 after falling in overtime to the Golden Knights in Game 5. Confidence has been unwavering in the Ducks locker room, with a sense that they can push the Golden Knights to the brink.
“Yeah, a ton of confidence. I know this group is going to bounce back,” Zellweger said. “I think we have all playoffs long. We're going to take a few lessons from this one, and then ready to go.”
“Everyone knows it's an elimination game in the room, but it's not something that's really talked about or said if everyone knows it,” Gauthier said. “Everyone’s gonna give just a little bit extra to try to get the win and force a game seven, so I’ve got confidence in the group that we'll get that job done.”
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 03: A general view inside the stadium during the game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
RANGERS
Ketel Marte – 2B
Joc Pederson – DH
Corbin Carroll – RF
Brandon Nimmo – RF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Corey Seager – SS
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Josh Jung – 3B
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Evan Carter – CF
Lourdes Gurriel – LF
Ezequiel Duran – 2B
Adrian Del Castillo – DH
Alejandro Osuna – LF
Gabriel Moreno – C
Jake Burger – 1B
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Danny Jansen – C
Ryne Nelson – RHP
Kumar Rocker – RHP
Last night was the seventh consecutive game where the Diamondbacks were held to six hits or fewer. That ties a franchise record, last done in April 2022, and previously in August 2011. The team’s .477 OPS over that time is actually lower than either streak, though due to the efforts of the pitching staff, Arizona are actually 3-4 during the current run. They went 2-5 in 2022, and 1-6 in 2011. There hasn’t been a longer streak in the majors since the Angels went nine in April last year. In the National League, the Pirates went eight in June 2023. And in case you are wondering, the last team to reach a double-digit streak of games with 6 or fewer hits each time? The 1968 Astros reached 11, the year before the mound was lowered.
Let’s hope the D-backs render that moot and the offense comes to life a bit. The three runs added in garbage time last night, because one of the Rangers’ relievers couldn’t find the strike-zone, certainly padded Arizona’s resume. But they were more because of walks than hits. I’ve no doubt the team will hit better. They have batted .152 over the past week. It’s the second lowest in franchise history for a seven-game span. The only worse was April 7-15, 2022 when Arizona hit a remarkable .135, going 28-for-208 in that span. They actually scored three more runs than the current streak, mostly because they had twice as many home-runs (6-3).
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 11: Braden Shewmake #28 of the Houston Astros bats during the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Monday, May 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
TONIGHT’S GAME: The Houston Astros (16-27) will continue their homestand tonight in the third game of a four-game series against the rival Seattle Mariners (21-22).
Astros starter RHP Lance McCullers Jr. (2-3, 7.41 ERA), a veteran of nine Major League seasons, enters tonight’s game with 898 career strikeouts and is looking to become the 15th pitcher in franchise history to reach 900 career strikeouts. He’ll be opposed by the Texas native RHP Bryce Miller (NR), who’s returning from the IL today to make his 2026 debut.
LANCE VS. THE M’S: RHP Lance McCullers Jr. is set to make his eighth start of the season and his second against the Mariners, also April 11 at SEA (4.1IP).
McCullers has gone 10-3 in 21 career starts against the Mariners and also faced them once in the postseason, in Game 3 of the 2022 ALDS, in which McCullers tossed 6.0 shutout innings in the Astros 1-0 win in 18 innings.
FIGHTIN’ AGGIES: The Astros will face off tonight against Texas A&M Aggie RHP Bryce Miller, who pitched three years at A&M (2019-21) before being selected by the Mariners in the fourth round of the 2021 draft.
Notably, Astros SS Braden Shewmake also played three seasons at A&M (2017-19) and was a teammate of Miller’s in the 2019 season. The 2019 Aggies made it to the finals of the Morgantown Regional, losing to Duke, a team that featured Astros OF Joey Loperfido.
VS. SEATTLE: The Astros and Mariners are playing their second series of the 2026 season this week in Houston and will not see each other again until August.
Tonight, the Astros are looking to snap a nine-game losing streak to Seattle, which spans back to September of 2025.
THE ORDER: The Astros have used 43 different batting orders in their 43 games in 2026. Only LF Yordan Alvarez has started every game in the same spot in the lineup (second), while 1B Christian Walker has played in every game (42 starts).
AIR YORDAN: DH Yordan Alvarez is batting .308 (49×159) with 10 doubles, 13 HR, 29 RBI and a 1.029 OPS (.413 OBP/.616 SLG).
In the AL, he ranks tied for first in total bases (98), tied for first in extra-base hits (23), tied for third in hits, tied for third in homers, tied for third in RBI, fourth in OPS, fourth in SLG, fifth in batting average, and sixth in OBP.
EXTRA! EXTRA!:DH Yordan Alvarez has 355 career extra-base hits, which ties him with 3B Doug Rader for 10th in extra-base hits in Astros franchise history. The two immediately trail 1B Bob Watson (410) for ninth on that all-time list.
THE SHEW FITS:SS Braden Shewmake went 2×4 with an RBI last night, which extended his current hitting streak to a career-long seven games.
Shewmake has hit .357 (10×28) with three homers and a 1.036 OPS in 12 games since being acquired by the Astros in a trade from the Yankees on April 19.
STARS DOWN IN CORPUS: SS Jeremy Peña (right hamstring strain), CF Jake Meyers (right oblique strain) and LHP Josh Hader (left biceps tendinitis) all played on rehab assignments for Double A Corpus Christi last night.
Peña went 1×2 with a double and a HBP. Hader pitched 1.0 inning, allowing 1 hit with a strikeout, but faced the minimum due to a caught stealing. Meyers went 0x4.
TODAY IN ASTROS HISTORY: 2022 – The Astros beat the Nationals in Washington by a score of 6-1, extending their win streak to 11 games.
LHP Framber Valdez (1ER/7.2IP) dominates in the outing, while 2B Jose Altuve hits a leadoff homer.
The streak, which ended the following day, fell one win shy of the club record.
The win also gave manager Dusty Baker his 2,009th managerial win, which moved him past Leo Durocher (2,008) for 10th on the all-time manager win list.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Wednesday, May 13, 7:10 p.m. CT
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KTRH 740 AM, KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
NEW YORK (AP) — Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb has been suspended for Game 6 of the team's second-round playoff series at Anaheim on Thursday night for his late hit that injured Ducks center Ryan Poehling.
The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced the suspension Wednesday, hours after holding a disciplinary hearing with him about the hit.
McNabb was given a 5-minute major penalty for interference and ejected 9 minutes into Game 5 on Tuesday night. While the hit was shoulder to shoulder, it came long after the puck was gone.
The back of Poehling's head hit the glass, and he was wobbly when he tried to stand back up. Teammates helped him off the ice, and the team ruled him out for the rest of the game because of an upper-body injury.
Apr 5, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; A view of the open roof and the sky and the field and the fans during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
May 10, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Brant Hurter (48) pitches during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images
Detroit Tigers (18-23) vs. New York Mets (16-25)
Time/Place: 7:10 p.m., Citi Field SB Nation Site: Amazin’ Avenue Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network Pitching Matchup: LHP Framber Valdez (2-2, 4.57 ERA) vs. RHP Christian Scott (0-0, 3.27 ERA)
McNabb missed most of Game 5 for the first period hit, which left Poehling woozy. McNabb received a five-minute major for interference and game misconduct. Poehling left the game with assistance and didn't return.
The NHL Player Safety department said Poehling was no longer eligible to be checked at the time he was.
"With the puck having long been cleared away from Poehling and with sufficient time to elect to avoid or minimize contact, McNabb instead finishes the hit with considerable force," the NHL Player Safety department said in its suspension video.
Brayden McNabb has been assessed a 5-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Ryan Poehling 😬
Poehling needed assistance getting off the ice and has gone to the locker room 🤕 pic.twitter.com/hhHsqZlpzB
The Golden Knights lead the second round series 3-2 and can clinch a trip to the Western Conference final with a Game 6 win on Thursday night in Anaheim.
McNabb will be eligible to return in Game 7, if there is one, or in Game 1 of the conference finals if Vegas wins Thursday. The defenseman has averaged 20 minutes a game in the playoffs, with one goal, two assists, 22 blocked shots and 23 hits.
A Blue Jays logo is displayed with the CN Tower in the background outside the Rogers Centre before a Major League Baseball game between the Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners in Toronto, Canada, on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images
End of the series with the Rays. And then we don’t have to see them for a little while.
The Jays are saying there is nothing decided on Jose Berrios yet. They are ‘talking through a plan with doctors”, which doesn’t sound like great news. I don’t think we’ll be seeing him on a mound for a while.
Today we get to watch Dylan Cease, who’s been pretty terrific this season. And we also get Tyler Heineman, who is having a terrible time at the plate, and not all that much better behind the plate. He’s got a little bit to turn it around before Alejandro Kirk comes back, but he better start soon.
Amazingly enough the Jays are only 2.5 games back in the Wild Card race (also amazing that the White Sox hold that spot at the moment. But there are five teams between the Jays and that Wild Card spot. There are a lot of teams not playing well early this season.
The NL West rival San Francisco Giants face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third game of their series. The Giants won series’ first two games and have won three straight overall. Scheduled starting pitchers are Robbie Ray for San Francisco, with a 2.76 ERA, and Shohei Ohtani for Los Angeles, with a 0.97 ERA.
How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
BOSTON, MA - MAY 07: Griffin Jax #22 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, May 7, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Joe Sullivan/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
