Posts

Posted on

Golden Knights take 1-0 series lead into game 2 against the Avalanche

Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (55-16-11, in the Central Division)

Denver; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT

LINE: Avalanche -188, Golden Knights +156; over/under is 6

STANLEY CUP SEMIFINALS: Golden Knights lead series 1-0

BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Colorado Avalanche in the third round of the NHL Playoffs with a 1-0 lead in the series. The teams meet Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The Golden Knights won 4-2 in the last matchup.

Colorado is 55-16-11 overall and 31-10-6 at home. The Avalanche are first in NHL play with 298 total goals (averaging 3.6 per game).

Vegas has a 24-16-8 record in road games and a 39-26-17 record overall. The Golden Knights have a +22 scoring differential, with 264 total goals scored and 242 given up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cale Makar has 20 goals and 59 assists for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has seven goals and seven assists over the last 10 games.

Pavel Dorofeyev has 37 goals and 27 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has nine goals and two assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 8-2-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.1 assists, 3.8 penalties and 7.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.5 goals per game.

Golden Knights: 8-2-0, averaging four goals, 6.4 assists, 3.8 penalties and 9.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.

INJURIES: Avalanche: Cale Makar: day to day (undisclosed).

Golden Knights: Jeremy Lauzon: out (upper-body), Mark Stone: day to day (lower-body).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Posted on

Fight Like a Girl: how boxing helped Clarck Ntambwe rebuild a broken life

Matthew Leutwyler’s film shows how the DRC fighter was inspired by trainer Kibomango after the death of her father

“Clarck Ntambwe originally turned to boxing and went to the gym to learn how to fight so she could kill the guys that murdered her dad,” Matthew Leutwyler says of the young woman whose life story provided the basis for the powerful and moving feature film he wrote and directed against the backdrop of tragic conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Fight Like a Girl is also inspired by the memory of Leutwyler’s close friend Balezi “Kibomango” Bagunda, a former child soldier turned boxing champion who trained women to fight in the ring.

Ntambwe became one of Kibomango’s star fighters at the women’s boxing club he founded in Goma – the city where the trainer was gunned down soon after the movie was completed. Kibomango was killed by M23 rebels while he was helping Leutwyler evacuate 41 children from a village under attack in eastern Congo.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Gilgeous-Alexander stars as Thunder overcome Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the 14th NBA player to win back-to-back MVP awards [Getty Images]

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a game-high 30 points to inspire his side to a 122-113 victory against the San Antonio Spurs as the reigning NBA champions levelled the Western Conference final at 1-1.

Gilgeous-Alexander - who has won the NBA's Most Valuable Player award for a second year in a row - also provided nine assists in their second home game of the best-of-seven series.

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points in the opening game but was limited to 21 in the second match.

"The guys brought it tonight, knowing what it would have meant if we lost this one," said Gilgeous-Alexander.

"We brought the energy from the jump."

The game was level at 31 apiece after the first quarter before Thunder moved into an 11-point lead at half-time.

The Spurs did level the match midway through the third and got to within two points of their rivals in the fourth quarter but Thunder pulled away each time on the way to victory.

"We got a W, it's all you can ask for. Now we got to go on the road against a really good team and go get one," said Gilgeous-Alexander.

Games three and four will take place in San Antonio on Friday and Sunday.

The New York Knicks lead the Cleveland Cavaliers 1-0 in the Eastern Conference final with game two in New York on Thursday.

Posted on

Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Cade Smith leading MLB in saves, Grant Taylor on the rise in Chicago

In this week's Closer Report, Cade Smith is proving himself as one of the top closers in baseball in his first full season in the role. Grant Taylor may be giving the White Sox something to think about in the ninth inning. And consistency continues to elude David Bednar. All that and more as we break down the last week in saves.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

Check out this week’s Stolen Base Report!

2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

▶ Tier 1

Mason Miller - San Diego Padres
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves

Miller has worked through some traffic in each of his last several outings. He stranded two runners while converting a four-out save against the Mariners on Friday, recording all four outs via strikeout. He then worked around a pair of walks on Monday against the Dodgers to convert his 15th save. Miller then gave up an unearned run to break a tie in the top of the ninth on Tuesday and took his first loss as a Padre. Still, he's a perfect 15-for-15 in save chances with a 0.79 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, and 45 strikeouts over 22 2/3 innings.

There's no closer pitching better than Smith right now. He made three more scoreless appearances this week, picking up his ninth save in May and 16th on the year to lead baseball. After struggling a bit over the first week, he's got his ERA down to 2.66 with a 1.14 WHIP and 35 strikeouts over 23 2/3 innings.

Duran also worked two scoreless outings for a pair of saves. He's up to eight with just two runs allowed and a 21/5 K/BB ratio over 12 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old right-hander has struck out 42% of the batters he's faced, the highest mark in any 13-game stretch of his career.

Chapman made four scoreless appearances this week, picking up three saves against the Braves and Royals. The 38-year-old left-hander continues to get things done, with a 0.51 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts over 17 2/3 innings. Should the Red Sox fall out of contention over the next two months, Chapman should have plenty of suitors vying for his services at the trade deadline.

Muñoz pitched a clean inning against the White Sox on Monday, then was put in a tough spot on Tuesday. Luis Castillo was left out for the top of the ninth with a one-run lead to get his third inning of work, following Bryce Miller. Though he's no closer. Castillo left two runners in scoring position with one out for Muñoz, who gave up a pair of infield hits to blow the lead. The 27-year-old right-hander has been incredibly unlucky so far, but the underlying numbers still say he's one of the best. Meanwhile, Iglesias didn't get a save chance this week, but did toss two scoreless innings. He still has a spotless ERA, with no runs allowed over 14 2/3 innings.

▶ Tier 2

Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays
Devin Williams - New York Mets
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
Tanner Scott - Los Angeles Dodgers
Louis Varland - Toronto Blue Jays

O'Brien picked up his 13th save against the Athletics last Thursday, then surrendered two runs against the Pirates to suffer his fourth blown save on Tuesday. His May hasn't been quite as good as his first month, with two runs allowed in three of his eight appearances.

Baker scuffled a bit, giving up a run in back-to-back outings, then recovered with two scoreless appearances for a pair of saves. The Rays have fully trusted him with the closer role. He's come through for the team with 13 saves, a 2.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts over 20 1/3 innings.

Williams worked two scoreless appearances, extending his scoreless streak to nine outings as he continues to turn his season around after a rough start. He converted his sixth save on Saturday against the Yankees, then earned a win on Sunday.

In Chicago, Palencia struck out two for just his third save of the season last Thursday against the Braves. He followed with a scoreless outing against the White Sox on Sunday.

Scott struck out two in a clean inning against the Giants last Thursday, then recorded the final out in the seventh and pitched a scoreless eighth against the heart of the Padres order on Tuesday. Will Klein was used in the ninth for his first save. Scott is up to four saves with a 1.37 ERA, 0.61 WHIP, and 20 strikeouts over 19 2/3 innings.

Varland has been lights out in any situation for the Blue Jays this season. He pitched two scoreless innings against the Tigers on Saturday to fall in line for a win, then struck out two to record his sixth save on Wednesday against the Yankees. The 28-year-old right-hander has posted a 0.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 37 strikeouts over 25 2/3 innings.

▶ Tier 3

Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks
Kenley Jansen - Detroit Tigers
Pete Fairbanks - Miami Marlins
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White Sox
Trevor Megill/Abner Uribe - Milwaukee Brewers
Jacob Latz - Texas Rangers

Sewald worked a scoreless inning in Colorado on Sunday to pick up a save against the Rockies, then worked a clean frame for his 11th save on Tuesday against the Giants. He's had three blowup outings that have led to a 4.15 ERA, but has otherwise been effective in the closer role for the Diamondbacks.

Jansen has made five straight perfect appearances, picking up a win this week against the Blue Jays. The 38-year-old veteran right-hander has converted seven saves with a 3.38 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 19 strikeouts over 13 1/3 innings. Despite concerns that the Tigers would be utilizing a committee, Jansen has converted seven of the team's nine saves.

Fairbanks made his first appearance off the injured list on Saturday, giving up one unearned run to blow the save before falling in line for a win against the Rays.

Bednar has had a rough go on the mound of late, giving up runs in six of his last nine outings. He surrendered a run in a non-save situation against the Mets on Friday, then gave up three runs and blew a save on Sunday before holding on for a save against the Blue Jays on Monday despite giving up a run. With Bednar unavailable on Tuesday, Camilo Doval stepped in and picked up a save. He also allowed a run before closing it out.

Fantasy managers rostering Domínguez are on red alert this week after he blew a save, giving up three runs against the Cubs on Sunday. Two days later, it was Grant Taylor out for the ninth inning with a one-run lead against the Mariners. He struck out the side to lock down his first save. Taylor has the makings of a dominant closer, posting a 1.78 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 38 strikeouts over 25 1/3 innings. Tuesday might've been a way to give Domínguez an extra day off after expending 32 pitches on Sunday. Or it was a showcase for Taylor to show what he could do in the closer role if Domínguez continues to struggle.

Megill got the first save this week for the Brewers, pitching a clean inning against the Twins on Friday after Uribe completed a scoreless eighth. Uribe then got the next save with a scoreless frame against the Cubs on Tuesday. It seems the two could work in tandem to close out games.

Latz had given up three runs without recording an out last Wednesday in a rare bad outing. After not pitching all week, he got the final two innings in Colorado on Wednesday, holding the Rockies scoreless with four strikeouts to fall in line for a win.

Tier 4

Gregory Soto - Pittsburgh Pirates
Rico Garcia - Baltimore Orioles
Lucas Erceg - Kansas City Royals
Bryan Abreu/Bryan King - Houston Astros
Gus Varland - Washington Nationals
Kaleb Killian - San Francisco Giants
Tony Santillan/Graham Ashcraft - Cincinnati Reds

Soto gave up three runs, two earned, to blow the save chance against the Phillies on Friday. He bounced back with a clean inning against the Cardinals, striking out the side in a non-save situation on Tuesday. The Pirates just haven't been in a position to offer many save chances, but Soto remains the best option, even if he isn't used for every opportunity.

The Orioles didn't see a save chance this week, but Garcia did make three scoreless appearances. The 32-year-old right-hander has stepped up for the injured Ryan Helsley, converting three saves with a 0.87 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts over 20 2/3 innings. Helsley has been out of action since April 29 with right elbow inflammation. He's making his way through his throwing progression, with a goal to return at the end of May.

Erceg blew a save with an unearned run allowed against the Cardinals on Friday, then bounced back with a save in St. Louis on Sunday. He's up to 11 saves with a 3.26 ERA over 19 1/3 innings, but it'll be tough to remain effective with a 17/13 K/BB ratio.

King converted a five-out save for the Astros on Friday against the Rangers. Abreu got the next two chances, converting back-to-back saves. He's come around a bit, with no runs allowed in his last six outings. King, Abreu, and Enyel De Los Santos have split save chances through the season, with Josh Hader working his way back from a biceps injury. Hader needs a few more rehab outings before he's activated from the injured list, but his return is near.

Varland didn't see a save chance this week. He recorded two outs against the Orioles on Friday, then pitched two scoreless innings against the Mets on Monday. Richard Lovelady stepped in for two saves. He's not someone to be trusted for saves going forward, with a 6.5% K-BB rate.

It seemed Kilian would have the opportunity to step into the primary closer role in San Francisco when the team optioned Ryan Walker to Triple-A Sacramento. Kilian hasn't exactly taken advantage of it, giving up runs in four of his last six outings. Manager Tony Vitello continues to play the matchup game in the ninth, with Matt Gage getting two save chances this week. He converted one, then surrendered a walk-off, three-run homer against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. It's tough to trust any Giants reliever at the moment.

The same can be said for the Reds, where it seems like as many as five relievers are in the daily saves mix. Tejay Antone converted a save against the Guardians on Friday. Then it was Santillan pitching a scoreless ninth for a save on Tuesday for his second of the season. No one has been particularly effective. If anything, Pagán (hamstring) will be the clear choice once he returns from the injured list.

▶ Tier 5

Jack Perkins/Hogan Harris - Athletics
Juan Mejia/Antonio Senzatela - Colorado Rockies
Eric Orze/Justin Topa/Luis Garcia - Minnesota Twins
Sam Bachman/Ryan Zeferjahn - Los Angeles Angels

Senzatela has been the best pitcher among this bottom tier and the only one really worth rostering for fantasy purposes, even if he's not seeing traditional save chances. His save on Saturday against the Diamondbacks marked the first time he was asked to get just three outs. He then pitched two scoreless innings against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Posted on

San Antonio, Oklahoma City tied 1-1 heading into game 3

Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18, first in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Spurs -1.5; over/under is 215.5

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: Series tied 1-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Oklahoma City Thunder visit the San Antonio Spurs for game three of the Western Conference finals with the series tied 1-1. The Thunder defeated the Spurs 122-113 in the last matchup on Thursday. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 30 points, and Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 25.

The Spurs are 36-16 in Western Conference games. San Antonio is second in the Western Conference scoring 119.8 points while shooting 48.3% from the field.

The Thunder are 41-11 in conference games. Oklahoma City scores 119.0 points and has outscored opponents by 11.1 points per game.

The 119.8 points per game the Spurs average are 11.9 more points than the Thunder give up (107.9). The Thunder average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.8 more makes per game than the Spurs allow.

TOP PERFORMERS: Castle is shooting 47.1% and averaging 16.6 points for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama is averaging 22.5 points over the last 10 games.

Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring 31.1 points per game and averaging 4.3 rebounds for the Thunder. Alex Caruso is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 7-3, averaging 118.7 points, 48.9 rebounds, 25.5 assists, 8.3 steals and 8.5 blocks per game while shooting 49.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.2 points per game.

Thunder: 9-1, averaging 120.7 points, 41.0 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 11.0 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 49.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.2 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), De'Aaron Fox: out (ankle), Dylan Harper: day to day (leg).

Thunder: Jalen Williams: day to day (hamstring), Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Posted on

Big Ten Tournament: Day 2

Game 1

Purdue 3 Illinois 1

Starting Pitchers:

· Purdue — LHP Zach Erdman (4-1, 4.61 ERA)

· Illinois — LHP Aidan Flinn (1-2, 2.48 ERA)

The curse of the tarp is broken for Purdue baseball after an eighth inning comeback over Illinois to start off Day 2 of the Big Ten Baseball Tournament.  The Boilermakers had lost all five of their tournament games since 2022 when they scammed their way into the tourney by choosing not to tarp their field in the final series of the season.  Today, they pulled off a 3-1 win despite a gem of a pitching performance from Illini lefty Aidan Flinn.

It was all about the pitching on both sides of the matchup as Zach Erdman matched Flinn’s efforts through five scoreless innings.  He conceded the first run of the game as Illinois second baseman Michael Farina led off the top of the sixth with a single and then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jack Zebig.  Right after that, Illini freshman star A.J. Putty smoked a single that scored Farina and put Illinois on top 1-0.  

Flinn continued to pitch strong, holding on to that slim lead into the bottom of the 8th.  Up to that point he had only given up one run to Purdue and faced more than three batters in an inning just twice.  He started the 8th off with a strikeout of Jackson Bessette and seemed on his way to another quick inning.  But that was not to be the case as he plunked pinch-hitter Quincy Malbrough after being ahead in the count, and then turned around and hit Dylan Drake.

All of a sudden, Purdue had two on and one out, and were facing a pitcher that had suddenly lost control of his pitches and could not find the strike zone.  Next up was the nine-hole hitter Westin Boyle who trotted to first after a five-pitch walk.  Flinn had completely melted down and was replaced by another lefthander, Reed Gannon.

Eli Anderson, at the top of the order, stepped in to face Gannon with bases loaded and ripped a single right back at the pitcher.  The ball deflected just a bit off his leg but still got through the infield, scoring two and putting Purdue on top 2-1.  They scored another run right away as Brandon Rogers laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Boyle.

The Boilers went to their closer Jake Kramer in the top of the ninth and he shut down the Illini with a pair of strikeouts and a weak grounder to first base.  Curse broken and a Purdue 3-1 win allows them to play another day.

Illinois becomes the first team out of the tournament.  Aidan Flinn deserved better today, but his teammates were stymied by a strong effort from the Purdue pitching staff.  The Boilermakers will face the winner of Ohio State and Rutgers at 2:00 Thursday to see who gets to stick around and play against the big boys and who goes home.

Game 2

Ohio State 3 Rutgers 2

Starting Pitchers:

· Ohio State — RHP Pierce Herrenbruck (6-3, 3.45 ERA)

· Illinois — RHP Zack Konstantinovsky (1-3, 5.48 ERA)

The story of the second game of Day 2 between Ohio State and Rutgers was the 98-pitch complete game tossed by Buckeye junior righthander Pierce Herrenbruck.  Complete games are an unusual occurrence, but under the stress of a conference tournament and facing elimination, almost unheard of.  Credit head coach Justin Haire for showing the confidence in his starter to stick with him.

Herrenbruck’s counterpart in the first base dugout, Zack Konstantinovsky, was very good today as well.  Outside of a solo home run to Henry Kaczmar in the bottom of the fourth, he had done a very good job keeping the bases clear of Buckeyes.  He did show some fatigue in the bottom of the sixth after his team had taken a lead and gave up a game-tying run.

Rutgers took advantage of Ohio State’s sloppy defense and took the lead for the first time in the top of the sixth inning.  With one out, Chase Krewson tripled to right-centerfield.  Had he not stumbled around second base, he could have perhaps turned that into an inside-the-park home run.  The Buckeyes then intentionally walked the dangerous Peyton Bonds for the second time in the game.  Sensing the big moment, Coach Steve Owens put Matt Chatelle in to pinch-run for the big slugger.

Gabriel Rivera then took a four-pitch walk from Herrenbruck to load the bases with one out.  Up came Ryan Jaros and the fun began for the Scarlet Knights.  Jaros slapped a ground ball right at second base.  All Lee Ellis had to do was field it, step on second and fire to first for an easy double-play. However, Ellis fumbled and kicked it enough that everyone was safe and Rutgers put their first run across.  Right after that on another infield ground ball, Buckeye first baseman Dane Harvey committed an error and another run scored.  Lee Ellis, backing up the play did pick up the ball this time and fired to home to nail Rivera trying to score.  At that point, Rutgers was up 2-1.

As mentioned above the Buckeyes came back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game as Alex Bemis scored on a Noah Furcht single.  Furcht’s hit came off Joe Mazza, who had come in relief of Konstantinovsky.

With the game tied at two-all, one could sense the tension in the ball park.  Both teams were scoreless in the seventh inning and Rutgers went down in order in the top of the 8th inning.  Bemis led off the bottom half with a double, his second hit of the game.  Mazza battled and got the next two batters out and kept Bemis at second.  That didn’t last with Buckeye Big Boy Dane Harvey lacing a double of his own the opposite way to left-center to score Bemis.  That ended up being the winning run as Herrenbrock worked around a couple of Rutgers singles in the ninth to end it.

Ohio State wins and advances and will play again Thursday in the 5:00 game against the winner of Washington and Michigan.  Rutgers returns to New Jersey with their season over.

Game 3

Michigan State 4 Iowa 3

Starting Pitchers:

· Iowa — RHP Joe Husak (1-1, 6.52 ERA)

· Michigan State — RHP Carter Monke (4-5, 4.90 ERA)

For the third game in a row, pitching ruled the day and runs were hard to come by.  Sparty starter Carter Monke was really good, as was Gannon Grundman who came in for him in the sixth.  Iowa’s starter Joe Husak did struggle a bit in the second inning and Coach Rick Heller made the decision to pull him early and replaced him with Justin Hackett, who struggled but worked around trouble into the fourth inning when Kyle Alivo was brought in.  Both coaches recognized the significance of this game and chose to act before the game got away from them.

Iowa took a quick lead in their usually aggressive way.  First time lead-off batter Ben Swails started the bottom of the first off with a single and then stole second.  He advanced to third when Gable Mitchell hit a ground ball to the second baseman and then scored on a fly ball to leftfield.  1-0 Iowa after one inning.  After that, Monke toughened up and kept them from scoring any more runs through the fifth.

In the meantime, Michigan State tied the game in the top of the second and then took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Hackett walked three Spartans before he was pulled, and then one of them scored when Nick Williams hit a ground ball to the shortstop whose only play was to first.  

Two innings later, Iowa went on top by a run when the top of their lineup came through.  With one out Swails doubled and scored on a Mitchell single.  Then Mitchell swiped second base to put himself in scoring position.  He scored when Jaixon Frost record the third hit of the inning to make it 3-2 Hawkeyes. 

Sparty came back quick and tied it in the top of the seventh when Parker Picot reached by being hit by Alivo and scored when catcher Matthew Delgado dropped the third strike, which would have been the third out, and sailed his throw well over the head of first baseman Caleb Wulf.  Picot raced home from second base making it 3-3.  Grundman retired six Hawkeyes in a row taking the tie to the ninth.

After Picot flew out to open the inning, Isaac Sturgess singled.  An obviously fatigued Kyle Alivo then hit both Randy Seymour and C.J. Deckinga to load the bases.  The Iowa staff opted to stick with their best reliever and then Ryan McKay poked a single through the left side to score Sturgess and put Michigan State up 4-3.

The one run lead was enough as Nolan Higgins came on in the bottom of the ninth and ended it for the Hawkeyes with a fly out and a couple of strikeouts.  

Michigan State has the day off tomorrow and has advanced to the quarter-finals.  Iowa will play again tomorrow in an elimination game.  

An interesting statistic is that Michigan State left 15 runners on base and Iowa left four.  Iowa pitching wasn’t great, but it, along with their defense kept things from getting out of hand.  On the flip side, Spartan pitchers simply kept Iowa off the bases where they can create so much chaos.

Game 4

Washington 7 Michigan 1

Starting Pitchers:

· Washington — RHP Jackson Thomas (2-4, 5.13 ERA)

· Michigan — RHP Kurt Barr (5-4, 4.40 ERA)

Finally we were promised a battle between two teams’ aces. Only one didn’t go so well. Kurt Barr came out firing in the first inning for Michigan, looking unhittable. But then in the 2nd, he completely lost his feel for the bottom of the zone. Barr walked a batter then got to a 3-1 count on Husky third baseman Blake Wilson, and had to try and take some off his fastball to get it over. Wilson destroyed it into the bleachers for a 2-run blast.

A leadoff in the 3rd was all the Michigan staff needed to see to replace him. Showing how urgent winning this game is, they brought their 2nd most effective starter, David Lally Jr in. Lally gave up a double off the left field wall that allowed a runner to score to make it 3-0 Huskies.

Washington’s Jackson Thomas was on point in his khaki pants. He hammered the bottom of the zone with his sinker. After walking Michigan’s leadoff batter, Thomas retired 11 straight Wolverines, 6 of the 11 by strikeout.

It took Michigan until the 6th inning to finally get to Thomas. Back to back singles put runners on the corners and a sac fly scored the first Wolverines run of the game. Two more singles appeared to score another run, but the Michigan runner tripped rounding 3rd, he was able to scamper back to the base, but he had another runner right behind him who was gunned down heading back to second. Thomas’s 9th strikeout on pitch number 106 stranded two baserunners.

Lally had stabilized the game on the mound for Michigan, but as he neared 90 pitches in the 7th, he began to give up a lot more hard hit balls. He hit a batter, then gave up a double, that could have been caught by the right fielder. (What is it with right fielders from the state of Michigan in this park??) Last nights hero for Washington Mic Paul struck again late into the night. A solid single brought in both runners and extended the lead to 5-1.

The Huskies best hitter, Jackson Hotchkiss added a 2 run home run, his 20th on the season, to straightaway center, a rare feat in this park. Something only guys like Pete Alonso, have done. That gave us the final score, a 7-1 Husky win. Washington moves on to take on Oregon on Friday, and we get to watch The Game: Baseball Version on Thursday evening for the right to advance to take on Nebraska.

Posted on

Jarmo Kekalainen Sends Clear Message About Sabres’ Future

The Buffalo Sabres entered the offseason Wednesday carrying something the organization had not experienced in 15 years: legitimate momentum.

After guiding Buffalo back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2011, Sabres general manager Jarmo Kekalainen addressed the media for more than 30 minutes following end-of-season meetings with players and head coach Lindy Ruff. The tone throughout the afternoon was reflective, optimistic, and at times emotional as Kekalainen looked back on a season that reshaped expectations around the franchise.

Buffalo’s turnaround was fueled less by star power and more by the identity the group gradually developed over the course of the year. The Sabres became more connected defensively, more disciplined structurally, and far more difficult to play against as the season progressed — a shift that ultimately carried them into postseason hockey.

“I’m just real proud of the whole group and what we went through, and how much we learned," said Kekalainen on Wednesday in Downtown Buffalo. "Obviously we’re not where we want to be right now, and the disappointment will take a little while [to get over], but we did the exit meetings with Lindy [Ruff] together, and I just can’t emphasize enough to them how excited I am about the future of this group and the potential we have.”

A Foundation Buffalo Finally Believes In

Kekalainen repeatedly pointed toward the roster’s long-term makeup as one of the organization’s biggest strengths. From the depth at center to the mobility on the back end, Buffalo’s general manager made it clear he believes the Sabres are building a sustainable contender rather than simply enjoying a breakthrough season.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group of young men that have so many potential center icemen in the group," the Sabres general manager said. "I’ve always believed in building from the back end, and I would put our defensemen against anyone in this league. The goaltending was solid all year, and it’s just the beginning.”

Just as notable was the way Kekalainen spoke about the city itself.

Buffalo’s playoff atmosphere became one of the defining storylines of the spring, with KeyBank Center re-emerging as one of the loudest and most energized buildings in hockey. For a franchise that spent years trapped in rebuilding cycles and frustration, the emotional reconnection between the team and its fanbase clearly left an impression on the organization’s front office.

“It was so great to see how this city came together. I get chills even thinking about it," Kekalainen noted. "The atmosphere in the building, the electricity around the whole city.”

Major Decisions Await This Summer

Despite the optimism surrounding the franchise, Buffalo now enters an offseason filled with important roster decisions — beginning with the future of veteran winger Alex Tuch.

The 30-year-old is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and while Kekalainen praised Tuch’s value to the team, his comments suggested negotiations will need to strike a balance between rewarding leadership and maintaining long-term roster flexibility.

“He’s been an important part of our success," Kekalainen acknowledged. "He’s always getting some of the most ice-time of any of the forwards, killing penalties, playing power play, he’s a consistent goal scorer. He’s a valuable part of our team. But just like I’ve told him and I tell everybody in the same situation, we make our decisions based on how can we make our team better. We have to come to an agreement that this is the type of contract where we can still make our team better, and hopefully we can do that.”

Kekalainen sounded considerably more aggressive when discussing defenseman Bo Byram, who becomes extension eligible July 1 with one year remaining on his current deal.

Buffalo views Byram as a major piece of its long-term core alongside Rasmus Dahlin, Owen Power, and Mattias Samuelsson — a defensive group Kekalainen clearly sees as the heartbeat of the roster moving forward.

“It’s very important, and I said that to Bo Byram today. I’d like to lock him up for a long time," Kekalainen said. "I think the top-four of our defense is our drive, our engine, and their mobility and ability to move the puck, ability to support offense and also play good defensively; there’s a lot of untapped potential there too. I think Bo’s still a young [defenseman], and he can get better.”

The organization also faces looming decisions in goal.

With new league requirements expected to mandate an emergency backup goalie presence at games next season, carrying three goaltenders on the NHL roster could become increasingly common around the league. Buffalo may find itself in exactly that situation, especially considering waiving Colten Ellis would likely expose him to a claim from the St. Louis Blues.

That reality leaves the development path of Devon Levi under continued scrutiny as the 24-year-old continues navigating the difficult transition from top prospect to full-time NHL starter.

“He’s a talented goalie, and he’s played some great hockey at the American League level," Kekalainen said of the 24-year-old netminder. "He’s played some games in the NHL, and I think almost every goalie in the league has gone through the process of when they need to develop and play games, they need to play in the minors. It’s the most demanding position, and you don’t get better by sitting on the bench. So he’s just getting through that process now, and next year he’ll need waivers, and we’ll see how he keeps developing.”

Now, the real work begins.

Buffalo’s long playoff drought is over, but expectations inside the organization have shifted quickly. The Sabres are no longer trying to prove they belong in the conversation — they are now tasked with proving this season was only the beginning.

Image
Posted on

All the Small Things: 3 Takeaways as Golden Knights Beat Avalanche in Game 1 of Western Conference Final

DENVER, May 20th, 2026– It was a dark and stormy night in downtown Denver, but none of that doom and gloom spread to the visiting Vegas Golden Knights. Against all odds, they went out on the road and beat the mighty Colorado Avalanche 4-2 to steal Game 1 of the Western Conference Final.

The Golden Knights have never been such heavy underdogs entering a playoff series before, and that says less about them than it does about just how good this Avalanche team is. But, underdogs or not, they kicked off the Western Conference Final with a road win against the best team in the league.

Game 2 of the Western Conference Final is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST on Friday.

1. A Good Old-Fashioned Story of Perseverance

Dylan Coghlan played just three games with the Golden Knights during the regular season, spending the rest of the year with AHL Henderson. But he’s drawn into the last five postseason contests, and the undrafted free agent out of Duncan, British Columbia, is making a name for himself.

“When you say Dylan Coghlan to me, I think of no fear. I don't think he’s afraid to make a play,” said head coach John Tortorella following the 4-2 win. “I just think he plays. He’s been unflappable… I don’t think he gets caught up in anything. He just tries to be the best he can be. And I just think he has an inner confidence about himself.”

He opened the scoring tonight with a sneaky shot that beat Scott Wedgewood five-hole. It was the first postseason goal of his career, and his first goal since December 17th, 2021.

“It was pretty crazy,” Coghlan said postgame. “I didn’t know it went in until I turned and looked at Shea, and he was smiling at me. Just kind of blacked out for a second.”

2. Defense Wins Championships

Carter Hart made no shortage of impressive stops in the Golden Knights’ 4-2 win, but it’s possible that the best saves were the ones he didn’t have to make. Most of the Avalanche’s best looks ended up going off-net, whether by the nature of a strong defensive play or an unforced error. It was usually the former.

The Golden Knights were excellent at limiting the Avalanche off the rush and keeping them to the outside during the first two periods. If they want to win this series, that will have to continue.

3. The Looming Threat

The Golden Knights winning Game 1 was no small feat, whether the Avalanche were at full strength or not. However, it’s important to remember that they beat the Avalanche… without Cale Makar, the best defenseman in the world, in the lineup. If and when Makar returns, the Avalanche become infinitely more dangerous.

“It’s a very hard team we're playing against,” said Mitch Marner following the 4-2 win. “We know that, and we know they’re gonna come with even more next game, and we gotta be ready for that.”

Posted on

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein bounce-back games key Thunder Game 2 win

It took just two minutes of Game 1 for Isaiah Hartenstein to get subbed out — having a non-shooting big man on the court allowed Victor Wembanyama to hang out in the paint and help off him, and that was blowing up the Thunder offense. For the rest of Game 1, Hartenstein only played when Wembanyama sat.

Then there was Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He saw double-teams from the Lakers, however, he didn't see them with defenders as big, physical, and just plain good as the Spurs threw at him in Game 1 — and if he got by them he saw Wembanyama lurking in the paint, waiting. The result was a 7-of-23 shooting night in which the two-time MVP was not the best player on the court, or even on his own team. The Thunder lost.

Two days later, the Western Conference Finals are tied 1-1 because SGA and Hartenstein had massive bounce-back games.

In Game 2, Gilgeous-Alexander looked like the two-time MVP: 30 points, nine assists, some solid defense all night and a late bucket when his team needed it most. He was getting downhill into the paint, floating shots over Wembanyama or drawing him in then passing out to an open shooter. When the doubles came, he quickly found the open man and created 4-on-3s for OKC.

Hartenstein not only got the start in Game 2 but he also drew the Wembanyama defensive assignment much of the night — and he thrived.

Nobody is going to stop Wembanyama, but Hartenstein was physical, never let him get comfortable, fouled him a few times and basically made Wembanyama work for every inch of the court. Wembanyama still scored 21, but he wasn't the dominant force of Game 1. Also, Hartenstein added 10 points and 13 rebounds of his own to the Thunder.

“I thought we all played better,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said, via the Associated Press. “I had a quiet confidence about that. I didn’t know if we’d win or lose the game, but I was pretty sure after watching Game 1 and knowing our team that we were going to come out and play better tonight.”

Part of what drove them was knowing that if they dropped Game 2 at home there would be no return to the NBA Finals. They would have dug too deep a hole against a very good team.

“The guys brought it tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Knowing what it would have meant if we lost this one, we brought the energy from the jump."

If the Thunder are going to take a game in San Antonio, the guys are going to have to bring it on the road — starting with SGA and Hartenstein.

Posted on

The family moment that made Zach Thornton’s Mets debut extra ‘special’

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A New York Mets pitcher on the mound throws a pitch, Image 2 shows A man in a wheelchair with knee braces, a woman in a Mets jersey, and another woman in a polka dot shirt sitting together
Thornton Mets

WASHINGTON — Zach Thornton’s thrills Wednesday included sharing the night with his father, who is recovering from spinal surgery. 

Paul Thornton has been confined to a wheelchair, his legs paralyzed, after undergoing surgery April 2 that removed part of a tumor from his spine. He will undergo radiation this summer. 

Access the Mets beat like never before

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.

Try it free

But the elder Thornton managed to attend his son’s major league debut, traveling from Chicago (where he’s been undergoing rehab) to watch Zach Thornton pitch into the fifth inning of the Mets’ 8-4 loss to the Nationals. 

“[Zach] made one mistake to a major league hitter,” Paul Thornton said, referring to the three-run homer CJ Abrams hit for the Nationals in the first inning. “Those batters aren’t going to miss mistakes and he made one mistake that went a long way, and other than that he did great.” 

Zach Thornton, who was selected from Triple-A Syracuse to fill a rotation need with Clay Holmes sidelined by a fractured right fibula, allowed four earned runs on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 4 ¹/₃ innings. He retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced. 

New York Mets starting pitcher Zach Thornton (49) throws the first pitch of his major league debut against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Nationals Park on May 21, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“I thought he settled in really well,” Paul Thornton said. “I know him. He probably wanted to go through five or six innings, so he will be disappointed about that, but Zach never loses. He just runs out of time.” 

Paul Thornton’s journey to Nationals Park was his first time flying since he was confined to a wheelchair. 

“It was an experience for my wife and I and learning how to travel with a wheelchair and maneuver a stadium with a wheelchair and so we’re learning all these things on the fly,” he said. “That’s OK. That is part of life.” 

Zach Thornton was asked what it meant seeing his dad at the game. 

“Super special just seeing him sitting there in his little wheelchair,” Zach Thornton said. 

Paul Thornton visited with his son after the game, and the message was simple. 

“I told him that I loved him,” Paul Thornton said. 

He added that he is hopeful he will begin walking again before summer officially begins. 

“Right now, my whole focus and goal is to be able to walk,” he said. “I am probably two, three weeks away from walking.”

Posted on

Thunder-Spurs Game 2 takeaways: Defending Wemby, turnovers haunt San Antonio

The 2026 Western Conference finals are all knotted up.

The Oklahoma City Thunder outlasted the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, May 20 in Game 2, 122-113, as the series now heads to San Antonio.

Two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander bounced back with a 30-point, 9-assist game after he had struggled with double-teams and inefficiency in the series opener.

On the other side of that, Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama (21 points, 17 rebounds) appeared to wear down late in the game, as Oklahoma City ramped up its physicality against him.

Here are takeaways from Game 2 of the Western Conference finals:

The biggest issue for the Spurs is obvious

In Game 1, the Spurs committed 21 turnovers — against 14 by the Thunder — yielding to a 28-17 deficit in points off of those giveaways.

On Wednesday night, it was much of the same. San Antonio turned the ball over 21 times (compared to Oklahoma City’s 9), leading to a 27-10 Thunder edge in points off of turnovers. Fourteen of those Spurs turnovers were on Thunder steals.

The main culprit here is Stephon Castle, who has had a solid series against Oklahoma City, overall, though he has committed 20 turnovers across both games. Some of that is because he has been tasked with more ball-handling than usual; starting point guard De’Aaron Fox has missed both games, and Dylan Harper left Game 2 in the third quarter.

That has forced Castle to be the primary play-maker. It’s a role he’s comfortable with in smaller doses, but Spurs coach Mitch Johnson already offered some possible solutions to cut down on those giveaways.

“We’ve addressed it and we’ll continue to, in terms of trying to help him with some of his reads, especially when he’s tired,” Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game. “Whether it’s playing more off of two feet or getting off the ball earlier with the early pass and letting the ball find the open man.

“They do such a great job of showing crowds in the paint and having multiple bodies. So it’s not just Steph. He had too many turnovers, but our whole team did.”

Castle did put the blame on himself, but it’s unclear whether Fox or Harper — or both — will miss additional time in the series. And while the Spurs did steal one game on the road, this pace of turning the ball over is not sustainable for winning.

How Oklahoma City defends Victor Wembanyama will define the rest of this series

In Game 1, 12 of Victor Wembanyama’s 14 made field goals came inside the restricted area, which is the semicircle that’s four feet from the center of the rim. Another of those 14 was from just outside the restricted area, and the final one was the logo 3 he hit in the first overtime.

In Game 2, the Thunder altered their defensive plan on Wembanyama.

Whereas in the series opener, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault chose to rotate a platoon of wing players — Alex Caruso and Jalen Williams being the primary ones — Wednesday night, he asked center Isaiah Hartenstein to be the primary defender on Wembanyama.

Hartenstein was physical, using his added bulk to displace Wembanyama down low and make it more difficult for him to get clean looks down low.

That said, Hartenstein also pushed the limits of what’s legal, often grabbing Wembanyama’s arms and jersey, pulling him and shoving him around the low block.

“I thought the other night, and during the regular season, having wings on (Wembanyama) was effective in the macro,” Daigneault said. “The other night, he just had way too much at the restricted.

“Two things that just didn’t feel good were his stuff at the rim just felt too sustainable, so we had to make some corrections there; it won’t be the last time we have a wing on him, we had a wing on him a couple of possessions tonight. And then the other thing that doesn’t feel good is playing Hart 12 minutes. It just didn’t feel good to me. And in order to get him extended past (12 minutes), that’s the matchup.”

Wembanyama still did score 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting and he hauled in 17 rebounds, but the added energy expended to battle Hartenstein appeared to take its toll late in the game; Wembanyama went just 2-of-7 in the fourth quarter, scoring only 4 points.

Daigneault added that the Thunder would never commit to having Hartenstein focus on Wembanyama the entire game, but that the injury to Williams prompted Hartenstein to take on the bulk of that responsibility in Game 2.

The Spurs will certainly tweak their plan to find ways to get Wembanyama easier offense. The Thunder, in turn, will need to adjust accordingly, because this is the central matchup in the series.

Victor Wembanyama shoots as the Oklahoma City Thunder's Isaiah Hartenstein defends during Game 2 of the Western Conference finals on May 20, 2026 at Paycom Center.

Injury management is suddenly going to be a delicate matter

Thunder forward Jalen Williams seemingly reaggravated the left hamstring injury that had kept him sidelined for a month-and-a-half.

Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper left the game in the third quarter with a right leg injury.

After the game, there was no definitive update on either, but there’s the chance that either or both could now miss extended time in the series. This comes as Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox has missed both Western Conference finals games with right ankle soreness.

How both teams manage those injuries — and navigate any potential substitutions that might need to happen — will be significant because all three are essential to their respective teams.

The Spurs are in a particularly precarious situation, as Fox and Harper are often catalysts for the entire offensive operation.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Thunder beat Spurs in Game 2: Takeaways from Western Conference finals

Posted on

NBA Draft Rumors: Cam Boozer stock rising?

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates in the second half against the St. John's Red Storm during the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images

According to Fortyeightminutes, Cam Boozer may be higher on boards than people expect. Here’s what they said about AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards. It looks like he may be more or less a lock to go #1.

Some NBA Teams are seeing little gap between AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson, which form a clear top-4. Jeremy Woo of ESPN.com writes that rival teams don’t see Dybantsa as a lock to go No. 1 and Woo writes that all four are expected to receive consideration by the Wizards.

Our intel tells a slightly different story. While the Wizards have done extensive research on all the top prospects, sources connected to ownership expect Dybantsa to be the selection with the No. 1 pick. Washington is always evaluating trade offers, though the franchise is likely to keep the pick.

First off, I don’t know how reputable this outlet is, so this comes with a grain of salt. That said, this appears to align with all the reports we’ve seen that the Wizards are focused on Dybantsa, and if they do have connections to ownership, it would appear to be a lock for #1.

They also go on to talk about the #2 pick and the Utah Jazz:

Our intel suggest that Boozer is strongly in the mix for the No. 2 pick.

The recent clip of new Mavs GM Mike Schmitz explaining how athleticism is no longer seen as something that dictated upside but rather is a mindset that several evaluators around the league align with. “Positional size, skill, and feel for the game” are the metrics that determine greatness or upside, Schmitz explains. It’s easy to understand why Boozer could be the preference of many teams over Wilson, for example.

It’s not much of a report, other than that the Jazz have Boozer “strongly in the mix.”

It’s far from a guarantee, but it’s more of a sign that the Jazz are doing their due diligence. But there’s a lot more here than meets the eye. If this report is accurate, it suggests some potential for trades.

Consider this. If the Grizzlies are really high on Cam Boozer, and the Jazz and Wizards know it, that gives them reason to put out the smokescreens that they’re interested in drafting Boozer.

What’s very clear for the Jazz, with a majority of the reporting going on, is that they’re high on both AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, and likely higher on Peterson. Knowing that, it makes a lot of sense for the Jazz to put out there that they’re considering Boozer at #2. If the Grizzlies are super high on Boozer and lower on Peterson, it might be a move by Utah to get a move done with the Grizzlies. Utah could get some sort of draft capital from the Grizzlies and swap spots so they take Boozer and the Jazz get their guy, Darryn Peterson, at #3.

But it goes beyond that. Let’s say the Wizards have AJ Dybantsa as their untouchable #1. If they know that Utah is taking Peterson regardless of who’s there at #2, including if Dybantsa is there, that opens up a potential trade with the Grizzlies. There’s a scenario where the Wizards have Dybantsa at #1, the Jazz have Peterson at #1, and the Grizzlies have Boozer at #1. It’s what makes this draft pretty remarkable that a scenario like that isn’t out of the question. If this were the case, and Utah creates enough uncertainty with the Grizzlies, the Grizzlies could also end up making a move with the Wizards, and the Wizards could fall to #3 and still take Dybantsa.

This is all a bit of tinfoil-hat stuff, but it makes sense if this report is true. It looks like there’s a chance we’ll see some movement at the top, like we don’t normally see. NBA draft night can’t come soon enough!

Posted on

Avalanche fall 4-2 to Vegas in Western Conference Final Opener

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 20: Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights reacts after assisting on a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images

DENVER — The Colorado Avalanche opened the Western Conference Final without superstar defenseman Cale Makar on Wednesday night, and the difference was noticeable in a 4-2 Game 1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena.

Colorado pushed late with third-period goals from Valeri Nichushkin and captain Gabriel Landeskog, but Vegas controlled much of the game and capitalized on their opportunities to take an early series lead.

First Period

The opening 20 minutes were scoreless, though both teams generated quality chances.

Vegas entered the night having scored in the first period in each of its previous four playoff games, but Scott Wedgewood helped keep the Golden Knights off the board early. The Avalanche goaltender made several key saves in the first period, including a strong stop on a dangerous Vegas rush that energized the Ball Arena crowd.

Colorado had moments offensively, but the Avalanche struggled to consistently break through Vegas’ structure without Makar in the lineup. The Golden Knights controlled stretches of possession and kept Colorado from establishing much sustained pressure.

Second Period

Vegas broke through midway through the second period when depth defenseman Dylan Coghlan converted on a rush chance and scored his first goal of the postseason to give the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Pavel Dorofeyev added to the advantage on a power-play goal after a slick setup from Mitch Marner, extending the lead to 2-0. It was his 10th score of the postseason giving the young sniper the NHL lead in goals.

Although Colorado held an edge in shots through two periods, Vegas looked sharper in transition and created the more dangerous scoring opportunities. The Avalanche continued searching for offense but struggled to generate consistent traffic around the net and looked slow for most of the night up to this point.

Third Period

The Golden Knights pushed the lead to 3-0 midway through the third period on Brett Howden’s ninth goal of the playoffs, putting Colorado in its largest deficit of the postseason. He evaded coverage and batted a rebound out of the air before getting his stick on the puck for a legal goal.

The Avalanche responded later in the period when Val Nichushkin scored on a between-the-legs finish to cut the lead to 3-1 and bring some life back into the arena.

Now the momentum was really on Colorado’s side and they looked dangerous with the puck for the first time in the contest. With the goaltender pulled late in regulation after receiving a power play and executing the 6-on-4 attack, Gabe Landeskog added another goal with 2:20 remaining to trim the deficit to one and give Colorado a chance in the closing minutes.

With Wedgewood on the bench again Vegas answered shortly after when Nic Dowd beat out an icing and scored into the empty net to seal the 4-2 Vegas win.


Takeaways

Missing such an important piece as Cale Makar was a factor in the loss and every day that goes by will ramp up the hope that he can return to play soon. The rest of the team was a bit scrambled and slow in their coverage and can correct some mistakes in their own right.

Jack Ahcan was inserted into the lineup again and played double the three minutes he received in Game 5 against Minnesota. He still was on the ice for a goal against in this game, though. The ailing defense core is thin on options and the Avalanche need to come up with some other solutions.

Upcoming

The rematch in Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night at Ball Arena with puck drop set for 6 p.m. local time.