Category: Sports News

Worldwide Sports News

Posted on

Canadiens A No-Show In St. Louis

Samuel Montembeault attempts to make yet another save - Photo credit:  Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens started their four-game road trip against the red-hot St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night, and the Habs seemed unable to execute early on. Martin St-Louis’ men needed over 12 minutes to get a shot on net finally, and it was a dump in on a penalty kill. By that time, the host had already tested Samuel Montembeault nine times.

Exclusive Interview With Jayden Struble On His Game, His Teammates And The Upcoming Lineup Change
Kaiden Guhle Will Travel With The Canadiens
Rafael Harvey-Pinard’s Injury Impacts Laval

Now Is Not The Time For Stage Fright

Over the last few games, the Canadiens have made it a habit of falling behind in the first period and being unable to execute, like actors who have forgotten their lines. Against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night, they were down 2-0 after 20 minutes, and against the New York Islanders, they gave up the first goal even though they tied the score before the end of the first. Last Thursday, they trailed 2-1 at the start of the third.

It’s all well and good to be able to pull out a comeback win now and then, but having to do it every game is far from ideal. Halfway through the first period, St. Louis led 13-1 in shots on goal and had three high-danger chances, while the Canadiens had none, which was understandable since their sole shot on goal was a dump-in on the penalty kill.

Part of learning to win for this young team is learning to start on time and not be intimidated by the importance of the game. Should Montreal qualify for the playoffs, every game will be do-or-die, and the Canadiens won’t be able to afford false starts.

Time For A Rest

Before this season, Montembeault had never played more than 41 games in a campaign. Earlier this year, when the team had lost confidence in Cayden Primeau, he played 10 games in a row. He admitted his pads felt heavier after a 5-4 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Tuesday night, Montembeault was playing his fifth game in a row. Over the last few games, he has not looked as sharp, and that’s perfectly normal. He has seen a lot of rubber this season, and this current situation is different from the one in December. It’s not a matter of just hanging on until a break. The Habs are in the middle of a race for the playoffs, and if/when they make it, it won’t be time to rest.

With the team playing so poorly in front of its goaltender on Tuesday night, it would have made sense to pull Montembeault and give him a rest. The Canadiens have three games in four nights starting Thursday. Give the man a break, let Jakub Dobes see some action, and shake off the rust in readiness for the start he will get this week when the Habs have a back-to-back. By the time St. Louis finally put him in on Tuesday night, the damage had been done, and there wasn’t much time left for his regular to rest.

Giving Dobest a start over the last few games wouldn’t have been about sending a message to Montembeault, it would have been about resting your top option in the net and making sure he’s as sharp as can be for the 12 games left in the regular season, and, hopefully for at least a round of playoffs hockey.

Tailoring Your Style To Your Opponent

The Canadiens have been very good of late, placing pucks in deep and getting them back, a kind of dump-and-chase with real purpose. Josh Anderson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Emil Heineman have been perfect examples of how much you can create that way.

St-Louis has praised his players for how well they’ve placed the puck to set the opponent up for punishing hits, but that’s not necessarily a good course of action against a goaltender like Jordan Binnington. The Blues’ netminder might not be one of the best goaltenders in the game in the classical sense of the expression, but his puck handling is brilliant.

He may not quite be as good as Martin Brodeur when handling the puck, but he is solid enough to be considered in the game plan. Putting the puck in his vicinity is like turning it over to a third defenseman.

Overall, just about everyone struggled all night for the Canadiens on Tuesday. Alexandre Carrier and Mike Matheson were minus-four, while Joel Armia and Jake Evans were minus-three. Those are not normal numbers. Montembeault gave five goals on 32 shots for a .844 save percentage, and Patrik Laine just couldn’t get his shot off properly, not even on the power play. In short, the Blues played an aggressive game and just wanted it more as evidenced by this 6-1 win. 

This is one to forget for the Habs, who will need to shake it off and move on to their next challenge, a duel with the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday night. Thankfully, Montreal’s opponents in the playoffs race could not make any ground tonight, the Buffalo Sabres even beat the Ottawa Senators in regulation, while the Los Angeles Kings did the same to the New York Rangers, but the Canadiens would do well to start winning again if they want to remain in control of their fate.

Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, never to miss a story.  

Follow Karine on X @KarineHains Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social and Threads @karinehains.

Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens.

Posted on

The Jordan shot that 'changed the world'

There were 15 seconds left on the clock when a 19-year-old college basketball player launched a 16-foot winning shot that would change sports marketing forever.

Watching that day was marketing executive and grassroots promoter Sonny Vaccaro. He was so impressed by what he saw that two years later he would bet his job at sports manufacturer Nike on backing this relatively untested player.

That player was Michael Jordan.

But not the Jordan we know now. At the point Vaccaro witnessed him score the shot that won the 1982 NCAA championship for North Carolina Tar Heels, Jordan was just a freshman.

When, two years later, Vaccaro urged his bosses to spend their whole yearly basketball endorsement budget on him, Jordan was only 21 and had never competed in the NBA. And no-one was talking about his footwear.

Vaccaro says his conviction in the youngster's potential was forged the moment he watched him take that shot at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans.

"That shot changed the world because of what Michael Jordan became," the 85-year-old told BBC Sport.

"When he took the shot, it convinced me that he would take any shot in the world."

But it was Vaccaro who had to take a shot first.

In his memoir, Legends and Soles, he describes how he had to convince his bosses to take a chance on an up-and-coming star, while competitors such as Converse were endorsing household names including Earvin 'Magic' Johnson.

By that time, Vaccaro had established himself as a basketball insider with an extensive knowledge of young players. In 1964, aged 24, he established The Dapper Dan Roundball Classic - the first national high school all-star basketball game.

The tournament ran under different guises until 2007, showcasing future NBA stars including Moses Malone, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O'Neal.

He also founded the ABCD basketball summer camp in 1984 - an invitational that gathered the country's highest-ranked high school players.

Nevertheless, Vaccaro told BBC Sport former Nike boss Phil Knight was not satisfied with the Jordan proposal "until the last minute".

Their gamble turned the company's fortunes around, transformed the way basketball was viewed globally and left an indelible print on sneaker culture worldwide. The story was popularised in 2023 film Air, in which Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon.

In his book, as well as detailing the Jordan deal, he describes how he was able to spot the potential in future stars including Bryant, Tracy McGrady and James, whom he narrowly missed out on signing to an endorsement in 2003.

'No Jordan, no Nike'

Nike's offer to Jordan in 1984 included a guaranteed $250,000 a year for five years, plus a stake in his own line of merchandise. It would make the 21-year-old, who was the third pick in the NBA draft that year, one of the richest athletes in the world.

After signing that deal, Jordan went on to become arguably the greatest NBA player of all time, winning six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs and a record 10 scoring titles.

His partnership with Nike also catapulted the franchise from a company that mainly dealt in running shoes into a global behemoth worth just under $30bn (£23bn), with a monopoly over the NBA.

"My personal opinion is that if there is no Michael Jordan, you wouldn't even be talking about a Nike shoe company," Vaccaro said.

"That's the one deal that changed America's view of basketball players and endorsements. He was magnetic.

"Other people had endorsements with companies and they'd hold up a shoe and say: 'Wear this, I wear this.' Michael didn't have to hold up the shoe. He took the shot and then wore the shoe."

The Air Jordan shoe, designed by Peter Moore, first retailed in 1985. By 1986, $100m worth of Air Jordan shoes and products had been sold.

A pair of championship trainers worn by Jordan sold for $8m (£6.3m) at auction last year.

'Kobe was most confident person I've been around'

In 1993, Vaccaro joined Adidas America. For the next decade, he battled with his former employer for the signatures of the nation's hottest up-and-coming NBA stars.

One of the coups Vaccaro managed during his time with the German sportswear company was to sign 18-year-old Bryant to a $5m, five-year deal in 1996, a month before he entered the NBA straight from high school.

The marketer first encountered the future five-time NBA champion when he was invited to play at one of Vaccaro's ABCD camps in 1994.

"It took Kobe all of a week to blast to the top of my 'gifted' list," he writes. "Competing against the top 160 American players, along with a handful of prospects from places like China, France, Australia, Canada and Russia, Kobe was intimidated by no-one."

What left a lasting impression on Vaccaro was the fact Bryant approached him at the end of the week to apologise for not having won the MVP award, despite only being 16.

"I knew that this kid had that hidden thing - drive, an ambition and a belief in himself," he told BBC Sport. "He was the most confident, outward person I've ever been around in my life."

Bryant returned to Vaccaro's summer camp the following year and won the MVP award.

Taking a chance on McGrady

In 1997, Vaccaro signed McGrady, just as he was about to enter the NBA draft from high school as the ninth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors.

McGrady, who would go on to become a seven-time NBA All-Star, had made an impression on the sports marketer at the 1996 ABCD camp. However, he almost was not included after his school coach kicked him off the team and advised Vaccaro not to deal with the youngster.

"We invited Tracy because of all the backlash," Vaccaro said. "Those five days at camp changed the whole world. He was voted the number one player in camp. No-one knew his name!"

The story of Vaccaro's life seems to hinge on a number of these serendipitous moments.

"What if those people in Pittsburgh were to say no to me and the Dapper Dan in 1964?" he said. "One no and this life is over. You'd be looking for someone else to interview."

Posted on

Why the double standards on ‘leadership’ when it comes to Black players? | Jonathan Liew

Jordan Henderson is a great English leader. But he has been encouraged and applauded for the very same acts for which minority ethnic players are castigated and stigmatised

How shall I lead thee? Let me count the ways. I lead thee by stepping up and being vocal, around the dressing room, setting standards in training. I lead thee quietly by example, you know, the not-much-of-a-shouter‑and-a-screamer-but-when-he-speaks-people-listen kind. I lead thee by having been there, done that, won everything in the game. I lead thee by never backing down from a challenge. I lead thee by sheer gravitas.

By any of these measures, Jordan Henderson is a leader. He was a leader for Liverpool, raising standards and setting the tone for 12 golden years. He was a leader for the NHS and the LGBTQ+ community off the field. He was still a leader when he left Liverpool and moved to Saudi Arabia in an attempt to create – in his words – “positive change” in the country for his beloved LGBTQ+ constituents.

Continue reading...
Posted on

All The Losing Is Getting ‘Tiring’ For The Rangers

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers couldn’t salvage an opportunity to gain ground in the playoff picture as they lost 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. 

Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Kings dominated possession time and the Rangers only recorded two shots, but the score remained 0-0. 

J.T. Miller opened up the scoring in the second period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Blueshirts, they did not take advantage of that lead.

The Rangers committed three penalties in the second frame, resulting in two goals for Los Angeles. 

The Kings won the special teams battle and that’s what ultimately led to the Rangers’ downfall. 

Igor Shesterkin displayed yet another valiant effort, recording 30 saves on 32 shots, which is why his teammates feel like they let him down in a way. 

“He was spectacular, kept us in the game,” Vincent Trocheck said of Shesterkin. “It almost goes unappreciated since you almost expect every night out of him, but he’s obviously a world-class goalie and shows it night in and night out.”

The Rangers feel like they did enough to win the game. However, there’s a sense of frustration with the losses continuing to pile up, especially at this point of the year when every point is critical. 

“It gets tiring because I feel like over the last few weeks we’ve been playing some good hockey, but we are still losing,” Mika Zibanejad said. “Find a way to lose. It’s hard to look at the positives.”

The Rangers will be back in action on Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks. 

Posted on

Kraken Rally In Second Period, But Fall 4-3 To Flames In Overtime

Calgary, AB - The Seattle Kraken concluded their road trip with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Nazem Kadri played a pivotal role in the Flames' victory, scoring both the game-winning goal and his second goal of the night. This win was crucial for Calgary, as it secured them two points, bringing their total to 79. The Flames are now just four points behind the St. Louis Blues, who sit in second place in the wild card standings with 83 points.

Mar 25, 2025; Calgary, AB, CAN; Nazem Kadri (91) scores the game-winning goal in overtime against the. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

In goal, Joey Daccord defended the net for Seattle, while Dustin Wolf did the same for Calgary. Both teams celebrated milestones, with Seattle’s Ryker Evans and Calgary’s Matt Coronato each playing in their 100th NHL game.

The game began with a goal from Adam Klapka, who scored his second of the season to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. The Kraken answered in the second period, with Jaden Schwartz scoring his 21st goal of the season on a power play, followed by Tye Kartye’s fifth goal, which gave Seattle a 2-1 lead. 

Calgary responded with two goals of their own. First, Kadri capitalized on a power play to score his 27th of the season, tying the game at 2-2. Then, Rasmus Andersson fired a snap shot past Daccord, assisted by Matt Coronato, putting the Flames ahead 3-2.

With less than two minutes on the clock Jordan Eberle tied things up 3-3 with a wicked wrist shot past Wolf, forcing the overtime.

The Kraken return home to host the final contest of the season with the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at 7PM PST.

Related

Kraken @ Flames Preview: Two Rookies Set To Hit Milestones As Calgary Faces Playoff PushKraken @ Flames Preview: Two Rookies Set To Hit Milestones As Calgary Faces Playoff PushCalgary, AB - The Seattle Kraken close out their road trip Tuesday night and face the Flames at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, aiming to finish the regular season series on a high note. Seattle has claimed two of the first three matchups this season, with a 3-2 win in Calgary on Feb. 8 and a 2-1 overtime victory in Seattle on Oct. 19. Calgary took a 3-2 win at Climate Pledge Arena on Feb. 4. Historically, Seattle is 5-8-1 against the Flames but boasts a strong 4-2-0 record on the road. The Kraken have also won four straight at the Saddledome, dating back to Nov. 1, 2022.

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News or Join the discussion with others in your hockey community on the Seattle Kraken Forum.

Posted on

Knicks rookie Kevin McCullar Jr. makes NBA debut, scores first points after long road back from injury

It's been a long road for Knicks rookie Kevin McCullar Jr.

The 2024 second-round pick out of Kansas had his collegiate career end early due to a knee injury that had him miss the NCAA tournament. After undergoing a knee procedure, the 24-year-old finally made it onto a professional court this month with the Westchester Knicks, the team's G League team.

McCullar Jr.'s potential began to show in White Plains where he averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 27 minutes across 11 games (seven starts). He even posted consecutive triple-doubles a week ago, showing the full arsenal the 6-foot-6 guard has.

So when McCullar Jr.'s injury status was upgraded from questionable to available ahead of Tuesday's game with the Dallas Mavericks, there was some excitement. The potential for McCullar Jr. to get on an actual NBA court was there, but thanks to Josh Hart and Karl Anthony-Towns' own triple-doubles putting the game out of reach for the Mavs in the fourth quarter, coach Tom Thibodeau signaled for the rookie to get his first taste of NBA action.

In three minutes on the floor, McCullar Jr. scored two points on 1-of-2 shooting, his first NBA points. When his first bucket went in, the Knicks bench cheered him on, recognizing the enormity of the moment.

"Kevin’s worked extremely hard and has been through a lot. His rehab has been long, arduous and he’s worked his way through that," Thibodeau said of the bench's reaction. "Then he made his way into the G League and put together some good games. This is his first opportunity but I think there’s an appreciation for the work that he’s put in. He’s a great kid.  We're happy for him. The team is always first to everybody. We're proud of him."

"It felt amazing. It felt good," McCullar Jr. said of his first NBA points. "As a kid that's what you dream of doing, so to go out there and finally get in the game and be able to score my first bucket was big."

Tuesday night was notable not just for McCullar Jr.'s debut but the history both Hart and Towns made with their triple-doubles. Hart, especially, deserved the game ball after the win because he broke the Knicks' record for most triple-doubles in a season. Despite that, the third-year Knick made sure the rookie got the game ball, something McCullar Jr. said he appreciated.

"For me, that’s an easy decision," Hart said of the gesture. "For me, that record is cool and a blessing, but it's gonna get broken at some point. Hopefully later rather than sooner but getting your first NBA points, no one can take that away from you. It’s important he got the game ball for that. That’s an easy decision for me."

McCullar Jr. is on a two-way contract with the Knicks, and is not expected to see much court time -- especially with how Thibodeau uses his bench -- but Tuesday night was a huge first step for the former third team All-American.

Posted on

Penguins Dominated By Lightning, Lose 6-1

Mar 25, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at Amalie Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Well, that one was a doozy for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In fact, it was one of their worst losses of the season.

On Tuesday, the Penguins were outclassed by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 6-1 rout, pretty much being outplayed after the first few minutes of the game. Pittsburgh registered four of the first five shots on goal, and after that, the Lightning completely took over the game. 

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry was pulled after allowing four goals on the first six shots. Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring a little more than 12 minutes into the opening frame, picking up a rebound off a Ryan McDonagh shot in the low slot area and sneaking it past Jarry. McDonagh got a goal of his own just over a minute later, as he threw the puck at the net from a sharp angle on the left wall that hit Penguins forward Rickard Rakell's skate and went in.

But the Lightning just kept coming. Cirelli potted his second goal of the game - and 26th of the season - less than two minutes later, and Brayden Point put one home 48 seconds after that to chase Jarry from the game and put the Bolts up, 4-0.

All four goals happened in a span of less than four minutes, and it pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game, in which the Lightning outshot the Penguins, 27-15.

"We just didn't play well enough," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "Most of the first, I didn't think it was all that bad, but it just seemed like every chance went in the net. It was one of those nights."

Mar 25, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at Amalie Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Nikita Kucherov added insult to injury within the last five minutes of the second period, as he capitalized on a Lightning power play resulting from a Ryan Graves interference penalty that sent him crashing into Alex Nedeljkovic, who had relieved Jarry in the first. And before the middle frame was over - with less than a minute remaining - Brandon Hagel put home his 33rd goal of the season to give Tampa Bay the 6-0 lead.

Pittsburgh did add a late tally during a mini-push near the end of the third period, as Bryan Rust tipped a Matt Grzelcyk shot from the point to get the Penguins on the board. And Sidney Crosby did register the secondary assist, putting him just one point shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record.

But all of it was too little, too late, and the Penguins know they can't let games get away from them early on. The good news is that they will get right back at it against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, and they have a chance to wipe this one from memory pretty quickly.

"We just gotta reset," Rakell said. "Look at the next game, learn from our mistakes today, and just restart. It's a new game for us, a new chance for us to respond."

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

Posted on

From the Pocket: Harley Reid has time to grow up away from the glare of amateur psychologists

Want to get this in your inbox every Wednesday afternoon? Sign up for the AFL newsletter here.

At first, it was a bit of a joke. It was the West Australian picturing him in Eagles-branded chef whites with the tagline, “Superstar teen sensation reveals sandwich based lunchtime ritual”. It was the 52 back pages in 60 days. It was the “Harley Judd” and “Prince of Perth” headlines. It was, mostly, all in good fun.

Then, it was all about his football. It was Nine’s Kate Halfpenny, in a rare deviation from complaining about Harry and Meghan, writing a column titled, “Watching Harley Reid play footy has made me feel hopeful again”. And yes, he really was a wonderful player to watch in his debut season. He was straight off the peg. To watch him on his hands and knees, seizing a dead ball, standing up like a surf life-saver in a flags race, skating away from seasoned footballers and taking a nonchalant bounce was to see the sport at its best.

This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions

Continue reading...
Posted on

‘That’s Pretty Cool, But My Focus Is On The Playoffs’: Maple Leafs’ William Nylander Reaches 40-Goal Mark, But Remains Locked In On Postseason Run

Mar 25, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

William Nylander means business. 

Despite reaching the 40-goal mark for the third consecutive season during the Maple Leafs’ dominant 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night and becoming the second Swedish player in NHL history to record three consecutive 40-goal seasons, the star winger made it clear that his priorities are elsewhere.

“That’s pretty cool, but my focus is on the playoffs right now. That’s obviously fun to accomplish that, playing with great players, but what matters is the playoffs,” said Nylander. 

His sentiment speaks to the 28-year-old’s mindset. Since entering the NHL in the 2015-16 season, he’s won just one playoff series and has been vocal about his desire to change that. Last postseason, the Leafs suffered another first-round exit, and Nylander was forced to miss time due to migraines.

He knows that his success only means so much if it doesn’t translate to the playoffs. 

On Tuesday, that was on full display at Scotiabank Arena as the forward registered a season-high four points (2G, 2A) while tying his career-high in goals (40). His linemates, John Tavares and Bobby McMann, also had standout performances – Tavares posted two goals and two assists, while McMann added a goal and an assist. 

The trio combined for 10 points on the night, but Nylander’s eyes are on the bigger picture.

“Just trying to do what I’m paid to do. That’s it,” said Nylander post-game.

With the victory, the Leafs reclaimed first place in the Atlantic Division, improving to 43-25-3 on the season with 89 points. Again, Nylander downplayed the possibility of winning the division, noting that the goal is to be successful in the post-season. 

“I think that would be fun, but playoffs – that’s what the goal is, to be successful there. If we win on the way to having a good playoffs, that’s a nice little plus,” said Nylander.

The Swede’s third straight 40-goal season places him in elite company. He became just the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to record three consecutive 40-goal seasons, joining Auston Matthews (5), Lanny McDonald (3), and Rick Vaive (3). 

“He’s a lot of fun to play with,” said Tavares. “Such a unique talent, and the way he’s elevated his game the last number of years and just becoming a perennial all-star. One of the top wingers in the game. Such a game breaker, one of the ultimate game-breakers in our league and certainly we’re thrilled to have him, and he’s having a great year. 40 is difficult to get, so he’s done a lot of good things, special player.”

“I think his work ethic is pretty exceptional. His desire to be the best player on the ice and make an impact is extremely high, he’s very driven that way. We’re certainly seeing it. Thrilled with the way he’s been playing for us all year,” he added. 

Tavares and Nylander have developed a strong on-ice connection, with both players enjoying standout seasons. Tavares has been particularly hot of late, tallying five goals, three assists, and eight points over his last three games. Despite their contrasting personalities, has Nylander's laid-back approach – and perhaps even his goal-scoring touch – rubbed off on Tavares?

“Maybe a little bit. It’s just fun to laugh at him and chuckle and things like that,” said Tavares. “You appreciate someone with his drive and skillset, and that’s why I’ve always said he is built to play in Toronto and be a Maple Leaf. His ability to deal with all the attention and all the questions all the time, not taking things too seriously in the right way.”

Nylander had his fingerprints all over this game, helping the Leafs earn their 11th win of their last 12 meetings against the Flyers. Their second-period dominance – an area they’ve succeeded in for much of the season – was on display again Tuesday, as they registered four goals in the middle frame as the forward collected a goal and an assist to break the game open. 

His knack for taking over games has only grown as he continues to evolve into a dynamic, all-around superstar on the wing, his teammates say.

“He’s awesome. I love watching Will play; he’s one of one, for sure,” said Max Domi. “The way he plays the game, and I mean that as a really huge compliment. He makes everyone around him better, hangs onto the puck, and he can just make guys look silly out there.”

“Just his ability to generate when you think there is nothing there. I think he sees the ice so well,” added linemate McMann. “He’s always working on his footwork and his puck handling. He always knows where the puck is on his stick. He can make heads-up plays all over the ice and generates a lot of offense.”

‘There’s A Little Bitter Taste In Our Mouth’: Maple Leafs Look To Redeem Themselves Against Flyers After Disappointing End To Road Trip‘There’s A Little Bitter Taste In Our Mouth’: Maple Leafs Look To Redeem Themselves Against Flyers After Disappointing End To Road TripThe Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice on Monday at Ford Performance Centre, looking to reset after a frustrating end to their road trip. Their 5-2 collapse against the 30th-placed Nashville Predators – a team that had lost four straight entering the game – left a sour taste, and forward Mitch Marner made that clear following the on-ice session. 

It was a commanding victory for the Leafs, one that was much-needed following a disappointing finish in Nashville on Saturday. The club now heads out for a California road trip, with their stars and squad carrying plenty of momentum.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Posted on

Josh Hart makes Knicks history twice with triple-double performance against Mavericks

Those in attendance at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night were treated to Knicks history. Twice. Courtesy of Josh Hart.

Hart, who is having a career season in his third year with the Knicks, posted his ninth triple-double of the season after his 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists lifted New York to a 128-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The significance of nine is it puts Hart as the top triple-double getter in Knicks single-season history after his performance Tuesday night broke Walt "Clyde" Frazier's record of eight.

The former Knick great, and current broadcaster, posted those eight triple-doubles back during the 1968-69 season. A record that stood for more than 55 years until Hart's all-around play this season put him in the record books.

"Any time you get a record, it's pretty special because of the greatness of this league," coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hart's record after the game. "To do what he’s doing, is a testament to what he's put into it. Also, his teammates and feeding off each other."

“It’s just a blessing. I got a great group of guys, great, high-character group of guys," Hart said of his record. "Means I at least played nine good games so far out of 60-whatever [games]. It’s just a blessing, can’t say more than that."

Hart is never one to make personal accomplishments about himself, no matter how great they are. A humbling character for a player who is a bulldog on the court while doing it all without the accolades -- he's never been named to an All-Star game -- or the name recognition of some of his teammates.

And yet, you ask his coaches and teammates what Hart means to this team and they won't be able to stop singing his praises.

"It’s hard to describe what he is to the team," Thibodeau said of Hart. "At times he’s a facilitator, a rebounder, a pace guy, he’s a hustle guy. And at the end, he’s done a number of things to help you win. The effort plays, that unites and inspires the team."

"The way he’s doing it is special," Karl-Anthony Towns said of his teammate. "I'm just happy that Josh gets stats on the sheet that show the impact he's making on the game. 

"There's much more stats that don't show up on the stat sheet that he does for our team. I’m happy he’s having this moment where the effort, the sacrifice and the work he puts in for our team to be the best version of ourselves is showing up…so he can get his respect and accolades. He deserves it."

Towns, one of those recognizable names on the Knicks, was a big part of Hart's second record-breaking night. The duo became the first Knicks teammates in their history to record a triple-double in the same game. It's also only the 17th time in NBA history that it's happened.

Hart has witnessed that sort of history in the past while a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Back in 2018, he was on the team that saw LeBron James and Lonzo Ball have that special night.

"Now full circle, I’m in the same situation with KAT," Hart said of the parallels from that night.

But in classic Hart fashion, his thoughts are on the Knicks' next game. The second of their back-to-back, this time against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Just hope we can carry that for tomorrow," he said.

Posted on

Xavier hires Richard Pitino as basketball coach

There will be more than one Pitino in the Big East next season. Xavier hired Richard Pitino, the son of St. John's coach Rick Pitino, as its basketball coach on Tuesday night. The school had an opening after Sean Miller left to accept the Texas job on Monday.

Posted on

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: Gary Trent Jr. a must-add

Tuesday's eight-game slate offered a number of quality performances, and injury updates shed some light on valuable waiver wire pickups.

Here are five guys to grab off your waiver wire.

PG/SG/SF Gary Trent Jr. (11% rostered in Yahoo! leagues), Milwaukee Bucks
GTJ has been hot over the last week, averaging 17.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.0 steals and 4.3 triples while shooting 48.5% from the field and a perfect 100% from the charity stripe.

Damian Lillard will be out indefinitely with a blood clot in his calf, and Trent Jr. should continue to pick up the slack in his extended absence.

He's a top 25 per-game fantasy player over the last week, and he has eligibility at three different positions, making him a must-add in leagues of all sizes.

PG/SG Scotty Pippen Jr. (29% rostered), Memphis Grizzlies
SPJ has been stuffing the stat sheet with regularity, and his full range of skills was on display in Tuesday's blowout win over the Jazz in which he delivered 16 points, five rebounds, 10 assists and a steal in just 24 minutes.

PG/SG Anthony Black (7% rostered), Orlando Magic
Black posted a 17/5/6 line in Monday's win over the Lakers, and he followed it up with a 20/5 line on Tuesday.

Black has recorded five stocks across those two games, only adding to his surging fantasy value. Orlando - a team that has struggled mightily on offense this season - should consider giving him more minutes, and fantasy managers should take a long look at him on the waiver wire.

PF/C Al Horford (30% rostered), Boston Celtics
Big Al sat out Monday's win over the Kings, but he'll be back in action for Wednesday's tilt with the Suns. With Jayson Tatum listed as doubtful, Horford should take his place in the starting five, making him worth streaming in this favorable matchup.

PG Tyler Kolek (0% rostered), New York Knicks
Kolek has seen a significant bump in playing time and production across his last two games, logging 37 total minutes due to the absences of Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride.

McBride has a chance to return Wednesday, but if he doesn't, expect Kolek to see meaningful minutes again. Over his last two, Kolek has averaged three points, one rebound, two stocks and 8.5 dimes. He's worth a look if McBride is out and you need assists.

Posted on

Jimmy Butler hears cheers, boos in return to Miami, then he and Warriors get run out of building by Heat

Golden State Warriors v Miami Heat

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 25: Jimmy Butler #10 of the Golden State Warriors looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on March 25, 2025 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

NBAE via Getty Images

There was no love from Jimmy Butler for the Miami Heat organization on Thursday, especially team president Pat Riley. "I have nothing to say to Pat, and Pat better have nothing to say to me," Butler told TNT Sports’ Taylor Rooks.

The fans were a different story — there was a mix of boos and cheers after a tribute video to Butler and then when he was introduced pregame. Although the booing fans let Butler know what they thought every time he touched the ball early in the game, this was not one of the more hostile returns we have seen.

On the other hand, the Warriors had a lot of love for Andrew Wiggins, the NBA Champion they had to send to Miami to make the trade work.

As for the game itself, Jimmy Butler is no Stephen Curry.

Curry was out for the second consecutive game with a pelvic contusion, and for the second straight game, the Warriors' offense struggled to score — their starters missed the first 14 shots they took on the night. Meanwhile, the Heat came in fired up and behind 27 points from Bam Adebayo and 24 off the bench from Kyle Anderson, the Heat blew Butler and the Warriors out of the building 112-86. Tyler Herro added 20 for Miami.

That loss has the Warriors just half-a-game ahead of the Clippers and Timberwolves for the No. 6 seed in the West and avoiding the play-in.

But the story of Tuesday night was Butler returning to South Beach — the fans may have shown Butler some love but the Heat showed no mercy.

Posted on

'His Journey Is A Great One': Bobby McMann Hits 20-Goal Mark With Maple Leafs For First Time In NHL Career

McMann has 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points in 63 games with the Maple Leafs this season.

Mar 25, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann (74) tracks the play against the Philadelphia Flyers in the first period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Bobby McMann hit another career milestone on Tuesday in the Maple Leafs' 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 28-year-old scored in the second period off a great feed from William Nylander behind Philadelphia's net. The goal, which put the Maple Leafs up 3-1, was McMann's 20th goal of the season.

It's the first time he's hit the 20-goal mark in the NHL.

"It's great. If you told me at the start I'd get that, I'd be happy," he said following the game." But just happy we won more than anything and feeling good about our team game."

McMann's story is few and far between. An undrafted forward who signs an AHL deal, starts his career in the ECHL, and works his way up to eventually getting an NHL contract and opportunity with the Maple Leafs.

There wasn't much known about McMann when he showed up in Toronto in 2021, but it's clear he's used every chance to grow his game.

"There's many different ways to get [to the NHL] and continue to believe in yourself and trust yourself. Sometimes you just need the right opportunity, the right break, and like I said, continue to believe in yourself, enjoy the game, and appreciate the journey," John Tavares said on Tuesday night.

"Everyone's different, but thrilled for Bobby and what he's become for us as a player and his impact, not just on the scoresheet, which is obviously phenomenal and a great accomplishment by him, but certainly how he can be counted on in so many different areas and make an impact for us.

"His journey is a great one for a lot of young kids to learn from."

McMann's career started to take off during the 2021-22 season, where he broke the Marlies' rookie goal record with 24 goals in 61 games. He filled the back of the net in the AHL again the following season with 21 goals in 30 games before getting a shot in the NHL.

The Wainwright, Alberta, native lauded former Marlies head coach Greg Moore as someone who helped him unlock his potential at the next level.

"I think my decision-making, as far as when to carry the puck and when to dump and try and go get the puck back. I think that's a skill that's sometimes overlooked and I think there's guys that I've watched previously trying to break into the league that do that really well," McMann said.

"That was something I worked on with the Marlies a little bit. Understanding how you can be effective and how I can carve a role for myself in the NHL. I think that was something that was really big for me. And then, it's watching video and then try to get the reps every game and every practice."

That process has helped McMann. And now, he's on the Maple Leafs' second line, producing alongside players like Tavares and Nylander. Even Max Domi, who, at moments, has played alongside McMann, offered praise for the 20-goal scorer on Tuesday.

"He's a really good skater. He can score. He knows where to go, goes to the dirty areas, and has got that knack [for goal scoring]. He's playing great hockey right now."

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has rotated McMann between Toronto's second and third lines this season. There was also a point in the year when the forward played alongside Auston Matthews on the team's top line.

When asked about McMann following their win against the Flyers, Berube mentioned how he "quietly goes about his business" while being a consistent player for the Maple Leafs.

"I think you get pretty consistent play out of him in terms of what he needs to do to be successful. He does a lot of things right every game and they go unnoticed a lot of times," Berube said.

"But his skating, he really does a great job of pushing D back all the time with his speed and he's very consistent at it. He skates extremely well and he's a big, strong guy and he's on top of pucks all the time."

McMann has never played a postseason game in the NHL, though it's trending like he will in a couple of weeks. He's been able to produce consistently in the regular season, and the next step will be doing so in the playoffs, when Toronto will need it most.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.