On This Day 21 Years Ago, Flames Winger Martin Gelinas Earns The Nickname "The Eliminator"

Former Calgary Flames winger Martin Gelinas (Photo: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images)

After the Flames qualified for the 2004 post-season for the first time in seven years, Calgary fans saw a unique first:

Flames forward Martin Gelinas earned the nickname "the Eliminator" by becoming the first player in NHL history to end three playoff series with game-winning goals.

All three opponents were division champions.

In the opening round, Calgary took Vancouver to a Game Seven that went beyond regulation. Gelinas scored 1:25 into overtime.

In the Western Conference Semifinals against Presidents’ Trophy winners Detroit, the Flames bested the Red Wings in six games. Game Six also went into overtime and Gelinas once again scored the winner with 47 seconds left in the first OT period.

In the Western Conference Finals, Calgary took care of San Jose in six games. In the sixth and final game of the series on May 19, 2004, the Shawinigan-born forward scored 13:02 into the second period. It would turn out to be the game winner, thus earning Gelinas his nickname.

While the Flames didn’t win the Stanley Cup that year, the passion brought out by the fanbase during that playoff run captivated the league like nothing before.

Last but not least, it also made Gelinas a popular figure in Southern Alberta and a notable figure in Flames' lore.

Mets miss opportunity in Subway Series loss to Yankees as Juan Soto, defense disappoint

In some ways, this weekend’s Subway Series could’ve been about the Mets taking over this baseball town. They came to the Yankees’ house toting their free-agent prize, Juan Soto, pried from the Bronx last winter, along with a terrific pitching staff, a star shortstop and a better record. Maybe even better buzz citywide.

But the series ended and the Mets certainly didn’t look like the better team, especially after Sunday’s thud of a performance, an 8-2 loss that went kablooey in the eighth inning after Pete Alonso made a horrendous throw at first that allowed the go-ahead run to score, tilting a tight game.

Same old Mets?

Hopefully not. A few months from now, the Mets might be the better team and they’re so talented, on the field and in the front office, that an October stage should be their ultimate proving ground, regardless of what turn the rivalry might take next. The 29-18 Mets lost two of three, but still have a better record than the Yankees (27-19).

But their defense, something David Stearns has said the team could improve, hurt them badly Sunday night. Another recent bugaboo -- hitting with runners in scoring position -- stood out as a fail point once again. The Mets, who are ranked 25th in MLB in average with RISP, were 4-for-25 (.160) in such situations in the three games against the Yanks, including 1-for-7 Sunday.

Overall Sunday, the Mets had just three hits, none after the fourth inning. Soto, who was booed loudly all weekend in a stadium that adored him just a year ago, was 1-for-10 in the series, including 0-for-4 Sunday, with two runs scored. He walked four times, struck out thrice and stole two bases. Yes, there were some hard-hit outs. But there sure were a lot of outs.

To make the rivalry optics worse, the Yankees’ winter Plan B looked A-OK in this head-to-head. Key members of the group of players the Yanks turned to after Soto picked the Mets in a seismic free-agent faceoff were big pinstriped stars on Sunday.

Max Fried threw six sharp innings, Cody Bellinger drove home six runs and blew open the game with an eighth-inning grand slam. Paul Goldschmidt added an insurance RBI single and scored twice. Devin Williams, the demoted closer, contributed a scoreless setup inning both Friday and Sunday and was the winning pitcher in the finale.

May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after grounding out against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
May 16, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after grounding out against the New York Yankees during the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images / © John Jones-Imagn Images

Soto moving to Queens for a 15-year, $765-million deal gave a forever jolt to borough rivalry. Never had a player anywhere close to his stature left the Yankees for the Mets. He instantly gave a good team an even bigger, better vibe.

But he’s got to do more. He’s batting .246 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. His .822 OPS over a slow -- for him -- shows how high his floor is. His first foray into the Subway Series as a Met was, to say the least, a disappointment. 

It’s a decent descriptor of the Mets for the whole series. They won the middle game, an entertaining affair that had pitching, power and some nifty defense. They lost the two bookends, managing a total of eight hits in the two losses.

Sunday, a first-inning error by Mark Vientos on a grounder hit by the first Yankee hitter, Goldschmidt, opened a path to two quick runs. In the eighth, with the infield in, Alonso fielded Jorbit Vivas’ grounder as Jasson Dominguez broke on contact for the plate.

On Saturday, Alonso threw Dominguez out at the plate on a similar plate. This time, Alonso’s toss sailed wide. Dominguez scored to break a 2-2 tie and the Yankees gorged afterward.

Alonso, to his credit, quickly came out to talk to reporters and gave himself every bit of blame for the loss.

“I just made an awful throw,” Alonso said. “I mean, that whole inning, this game, it’s on me. After that throw, the momentum got out of hand and they had really good at-bats. This one’s on me and it stinks because I had the same play (Saturday). I feel like, for me, that’s a play that I usually make and I can make pretty routinely.

“I had my feet set and I just didn’t get my fingers on top of the baseball and it sailed on me. … It’s really frustrating.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he feels like his team has played good defense for stretches this season. But, he acknowledged, there have been plays that should have been made that haven’t been.

“This is something that we got to get better at,” Mendoza said. “And we will.”

They’ll have a chance to show it starting Monday in Boston. Then comes a series with the Dodgers at Citi Field, an NLCS rematch sure to attract eyeballs, to say nothing of hype.

The next crack at the Yankees? That begins July 4 at Citi Field. It’ll be another charged atmosphere, another measuring stick. A chance for Soto to edit the story of his current place in the rivalry.

They’ll have to be better then.

Incoming Australia coach Les Kiss to take charge of Lions tour invitational team

  • AUNZ Invitational XV play British & Irish Lions in Brisbane in July
  • Former Wallaby Toutai Kefu to coach First Nations and Pasifika XV

Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide.

Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field.

Continue reading...

The Maple Leafs Don't Deserve To Be 'Crucified,' Say Panthers' Marchand, Maurice

It was the same old story for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7 against the Florida Panthers. Florida dismantled Toronto in a 6-1 victory to advance to the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

From a Maple Leafs perspective, Sunday night's blowout loss had fans fuming at Scotiabank Arena. Several Maple Leafs sweaters were thrown onto the ice, as well as other debris, regardless of whether the play was on or not. And fans started to stream out of the stands with around 10 minutes left to play in the third period.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice and left winger Brad Marchand came to their opposition's defense after the game, specifically when discussing how much pressure the fan base and media put on the Leafs.

“If you look at the heat this team catches, it’s actually really unfortunate,” Marchand told reporters after the game. “They’ve been working and building something really big here for a while, and they were a different brand of hockey this year, and they’re getting crucified, and I don’t think it’s justified.”

Marchand, who's 5-0 against Toronto in Game 7s, also said a second-round rubber match is not as high-pressured as a Stanley Cup final matchup, but the fans beat that pressure into the Maple Leafs anyway.

"It's got to be tough on those guys to walk through the rink every day and not feel that because you see the way the fans treat them at the end – how do you not feel that every single day?"

Toronto Maple Leafs fans leave Game 7 early on May 18. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

Maurice, who coached the Maple Leafs for two seasons from 2006 to 2008, said there is a reason why players on Toronto are paid significantly higher than the rest of the NHL. Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and pending UFA Mitch Marner are among the top 15 players in the NHL with the highest average annual values.

“What’s great for the league is hard for the Toronto Maple Leafs and their players,” Maurice said. “The passion, the scrutiny these men are under is why everybody else gets paid so much. It’s a driver. There’s a cost to it.”

He went on to compliment the team's progress over the years, saying they’re “much better” than the team Florida beat in five games in the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs.

“It’s a much better team than we played 23 years ago in the conference final,” Maurice recalled from his days with the Hurricanes in the 2002 playoffs.

Maurice, therefore, has the Leafs in the group of Stanley Cup contenders.

“This team is in that group of teams – like ours – where there’s 11 this year. Then there’s eight. They have a chance. So you’re going to assign a whole bunch of character flaws that just aren’t true.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup Window Has Slammed ShutThe Toronto Maple Leafs' Stanley Cup Window Has Slammed ShutAny hope the Toronto Maple Leafs had of winning a Stanley Cup when Auston Matthews was drafted nine years ago went up in a cloud of apathy-filled smoke when the Maple Leafs lost Game 7 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers Sunday night.

The Maple Leafs’ 13 games this post-season were the most they played in the playoffs since the 13 in 2004. And in Craig Berube’s first season as the Leafs’ coach, the team won the Atlantic Division, the third time it clinched its division since 1967-68, when divisions were first formed.

“It's so much closer than you think, but you're going to kill these guys, and they don't deserve it,” Maurice said. “Puck went our way tonight, that's it.”

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Yankees cherish Subway Series intensity after three-game battle with Mets

The Yankees broke an eighth-inning tie with a six-run frame that made the difference in Sunday's rubber game against the Mets, taking the first of the 2025 season's two three-game Subway Series matchups and feeding off the energy.

"It's fun playing at Yankee Stadium when it feels like it matters a lot," said Aaron Boone.

After Friday's 6-2 win, the Yankees bounced back from Saturday's 3-2 loss with a late-game breakthrough.

"I thought all three games were really good," Boone said. "Obviously, we came up winning two of 'em and rode a big inning tonight late. It felt like, either way, the whole time, I think clearly two really good teams having a little fun in May."

With the NL East-leading Mets (29-18) as the latest opponent, the Yankees (27-19) have won four consecutive series and hold a five-game lead in the AL East.

"I think anytime you win a series it's important," said Max Fried, who held the Mets to two runs on three hits while striking out eight and walking two in six innings. "Obviously, rivals and same city -- that sort of thing -- there's a little extra to it. But the series that feel like a playoff series are always good, especially earlier in the year -- it gets the juices going and preps you for the baseball you want to play towards the end."

The Yankees and Mets meet again July 4-6 at Citi Field with all three games scheduled to be on SNY.

"It's always fun playing the Subway Series," said Aaron Judge. "It doesn't matter what year it is. It's always going to be exciting. The fans always get into it. It's always back and forth, different chants -- the cheering, the booing, everything -- but two good ballclubs going after it."

Mets 'have to turn the page' from Subway Series loss to Yankees as Red Sox, Dodgers loom

The Subway Series didn’t quite go as planned for the Mets. 

They dropped two out of the three games in the Bronx with the latest one coming in ugly fashion -- as a Pete Alonso error in the bottom of the eighth led to the Yankees scoring six times to close out the series victory. 

The Mets were sloppy defensively. They scored just seven runs over the three games. Simply put, they were outplayed in almost every facet of the game.

But they can’t sit back and sulk over it because the road ahead doesn’t get any easier. 

The Mets head out to Boston for three games with the Red Sox starting on Monday before returning home to host Shohei Ohtani and the high-powered Dodgers for a three-game weekend set. 

“We’ll take it one day at a time,” Carlos Mendoza said. “We knew that this is a good team -- we didn’t get the job done and we lost the series. Now we have to get ready for another good team before we start thinking about what’s next. 

“That’s our mentality here, we have to turn the page -- I think we do a pretty good job of doing that. I’m pretty sure the guys will be ready to go tomorrow for a new series against a very good team in Boston.”

How can they turn things around? Alonso simply says by playing “clean quality baseball.”

“That’s really what it boils down to,” he said. “I think we did a good job of battling and putting together quality at-bats tonight and throughout the weekend, it’s just a matter of making plays and driving in a couple of runs when guys are on base.”

Mets' David Peterson went 'toe to toe' with Yankees' Max Fried in Subway Series showdown

Taking the mound against Yankees ace Max Friedin Sunday night’s Subway Series finale, David Peterson gave the Mets the exact type of effort they were looking for.

The southpaw was hurt by his defense early, as the slow-footed Paul Goldschmidt reached on a Mark Vientos error leading off the bottom of the first, and then Cody Bellinger drove in the first two runs of the game after an Aaron Judge double. 

Peterson did well to settle in after that -- working around a leadoff single in the second and then a two out walk in the bottom of the third before putting together his first 1-2-3 frame of the night. 

The Yanks threatened again in the fifth, as three walks (one intentional to Judge) loaded the bases for Anthony Volpe, but the southpaw was able to bare down and got him to groundout to short to end the inning. 

Peterson then closed his night with a perfect bottom of the sixth -- giving him another quality start with a final line of two runs (one earned) on three hits while walking four and striking out four. 

“For him to go six there, going toe to toe with Max, that was important,” Carlos Mendoza said. “He kept us in the game, he kept getting groundballs -- we weren’t able to make the play in the first, but he mixed his pitches well against a good lineup and was good overall.”

The Mets let this one slip away with a six-run, eighth-inning meltdown.

Still, seeing Peterson put together another strong effort against this high-powered offense is an encouraging sign for the Mets. The former first-round pick has now allowed less than two earned runs in four consecutive outings, helping him bring his ERA down to 2.86 on the season.

“It was a good battle,” Peterson said. “It’s always fun going into these pitcher battles. Our offense grinded as much as they could and they put up a really good fight -- but overall, I felt good. I was on the same page as (Francisco Alvarez), and we have a really good game plan.”

Pete Alonso owns costly error in Mets' loss to Yankees: 'This one is 100 percent on me'

The Mets were knotted in another close one with the Yankees

After David Peterson worked his way through six efficient innings, Huascar Brazoban entered and somehow danced his way out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to keep things evened at two a piece.

Ryne Stanek was handed the bottom of the eighth -- and things didn’t go as planned.  

The right-hander found himself in immediate danger as he issued a leadoff walk to Jasson Dominguez and then Austin Wells lined a one out double down the right-field line to put two in scoring position. 

Jorbit Vivas worked an 11-pitch at-bat before rolling one down to Pete Alonso. The big first baseman fielded the ball cleanly, but with the speedy Dominguez running on contact he uncorked a throw extremely wide of home, allowing the go-ahead run to score easily. 

After a pitching change, the Bombers were sure to make the Mets pay, as they tacked on five more runs with a Paul Goldschmidt single and Cody Bellingerthree-run homer to put this one away for good.

“I messed it up,” Alonso said. “I had the identical play (Saturday) where it was hit straight to me and it was a tag play at home, and I just made an awful throw. That whole inning, this game, it’s on me -- after that throw the momentum got out of hand. 

“It stinks because it’s the same play and I feel like that’s a play that I usually make and I can make pretty routinely, but I just had my feet set and didn’t get my fingers around the baseball and it sailed on me -- bad throw on me, this one is 100 percent on me.”

Alonso’s throw certainly was the biggest miscue of the game -- but he wasn’t alone in what was another poor defensive showing from the Mets.

Mark Vientos bobbled what should've been a routine groundball leading off the bottom of the first, allowing Goldschmidt to reach base safely -- and he scored just a few batters later on a Bellinger two-run single off of Alonso’s glove. 

And this is just the latest sloppy effort in what's quickly developing into an early season problem for New York -- Carlos Mendoza says it has to change. 

“We’ve been through some stretches where it’s been sharp,” the skipper said. “But also there’s been games where we’re not finishing plays or completing them, even some of the routine plays -- as we saw in the first inning tonight which led to a run.

“This is something that we have to get better at and we will because we have good defenders.”

Taking a moment to appreciate how far Florida Panthers have come

The Florida Panthers sure seem to enjoy playing hockey in May.

Florida played a spectacular Game 7 on Sunday night in Toronto, knocking out the Maple Leafs and advancing to the Eastern Conference Final.

It’s the third straight year that the Panthers have made it to the third round.

Take a moment and let that sink in.

For those of you who have been riding with the Panthers since the days of Scott Mellanby and Rob Neidermayer, these past few years have been mind blowing.

It wasn’t that long ago, just a few years actually, that the Panthers hadn’t been out of the first round since 1996.

That was a span of 26 years. That’s bonkers.

They went 12 seasons between playoff appearances at one point.

While those days may now seem like a long, long time ago, it’s times like this, with the Panthers back in the conference final, that’s it’s nice to take a step back and remember just how far we’ve come.

General Manager Bill Zito rightly gets much of the credit for the amazing turnaround this franchise has made, his predecessor Dale Tallon is who got the party started by drafting core players Sasha Barkov, Aaron Ekblad and Jonathan Huberdeau, the latter of whom was so good that he made Zito’s trade for Matthew Tkachuk possible, and signing goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Bottom line: It’s a great time to be a Florida Panthers fan, and they are showing no signs of slowing down.

Drink it in, Panthers fans.

As you’ve learned over the past few years, it always goes down smooth.

See you in Raleigh.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers play excellent Game 7 in Toronto, advance to conference final

Brad Marchand Shares Excitement For Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs

Matthew Tkachuk Has Big Message Ahead Of Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs

Panthers have been good under Paul Maurice when facing elimination, historically in Game 7s

Panthers back in Toronto for Game 7, looking for third straight trip to conference final

Photo caption: May 18, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers forward Aleksander Barkov (16) and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) celebrate winning game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Share Your Thoughts As Panthers Eliminate Maple Leafs

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Katie Gaus, Ryan Kennedy and Michael Traikos react to the Florida Panthers blowing out the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of their second-round series.

What went right for the Panthers and horribly wrong for the Maple Leafs? What comes next for Toronto's pending UFAs? All that and more.

Panters VS Leafs Game 7Panters VS Leafs Game 7Panters VS Leafs Game 7

Share your thoughts in the comments, and the hosts may discuss your message during the stream.

Check out the show right now.

Promo image credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers Will Once Again Meet In Eastern Conference Final

The Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers will meet in the Eastern Conference yet again, setting up a rematch of the 2023 ECF.

The Panthers defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in seven games to advance and meet the Hurricanes, who had defeated the Washington Capitals in five games.

The last and only time these two teams met in the postseason was the 2023 Eastern Conference Final where the Cats defeated the Canes in a 4-0 sweep.

Despite the sweep, every game was a one-goal contest with the first game going to quadruple overtime, the second one going to overtime as well and the next two being one goal regulation losses.

The margins in that series were razor thin, and the Canes were without Andrei Svechnikov and Max Pacioretty in that series, but I'd still expect nothing less between these two teams this time around.

Here's the ECF schedule:

Game 1: Tuesday, May 20 (8 p.m.) @ Lenovo Center
Game 2: Thursday, May 22 (8 p.m.) @ Lenovo Center
Game 3: Saturday, May 24 (8 p.m.) @ Amerant Bank Arena
Game 4: Monday, May 26 (8 p.m.) @ Amerant Bank Arena
Game 5: Wednesday, May 28 (8 p.m.) @ Lenovo Center
Game 6: Friday, May 30 (8 p.m.) @ Amerant Bank Arena
Game 7: Sunday, June 1 (8 p.m.) @ Lenovo Center  


In the regular season, the Hurricanes went 1-2-0 against the Panthers.

The Canes didn't have any player with more than a single goal (six skaters) or two points (four skaters) so it doesn't look like there's any secret weapon on Carolina's roster.

Spencer Martin started two of those games (both losses), posting a 0.825 save percentage. Pyotr Kochetkov played the other, posting a 0.962 save percentage win.

Frederik Andersen did not play the Panthers this season.

On the other hand, Anton Lundell led Florida with two goals and four points (Sam Reinhart also had two goals) in the regular season series.

Sergei Bobrovsky went 1-1-0 against Carolina this year, posting a 0.929 save percentage.


Be sure to check out the Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Hub for all postseason stories!   


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

Quiet offense, sloppy infield defense doom Mets in 8-2 loss to Yankees

Pete Alonso’s wild throw home allowed the Yankees to score the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of a ‘til-then taut game and the Yanks went on to win, 8-2, to take the first installment of this season’s Subway Series. 

With one out and runners on second and third and the score knotted at two, Jorbit Vivas smacked a hard grounder to Alonso at first and Jasson Dominguez broke from third base on contact. Alonso fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw was nowhere near the plate as Dominguez slid home.

It was the second error of the game for the Mets, who didn’t hit much, either. They had just three hits.

Alonso’s gaffe helped fuel a huge inning for the Yankees, who went on to score six times in the frame. Cody Bellingersmashed his ninth career grand slam and Paul Goldschmidt added an RBI single. 

The Yankees won two of three at Yankee Stadium over the weekend. Sunday’s game drew 48,028 fans, the biggest crowd at the Stadium so far this season.

The teams next meet in a three-game series at Citi Field beginning on the Fourth of July.

Here are some takeaways...

- The loss dropped the Mets (29-18) to below .500 on the road this season -- they are 12-13. The Yankees (27-19) are 15-9 at home. 

- Max Fried did not factor into the decision, but he gave the Yankees six very fine innings, allowing three hits and two runs. He struck out eight, walked two and threw 102 pitches. One highlight pitch -- he threw a tantalizing, 77-mile-per-hour curveball that flummoxed Juan Soto on a called strike three for the second out of the third inning. An indication of how good a season Fried is having -- his stingy outing actually raised his ERA from 1.11 to a still-sparkling 1.29. 

- David Peterson didn’t factor into the decision, either and he was just as effective as Fried, allowing two runs (one earned) and three hits over six frames. He walked four (one intentionally) and struck out fourth. He lowered his ERA from 3.05 to 2.86. 

- Defense, a facet of the game that David Stearns said was something the Mets could improve, bit them at the very beginning of the night. The Yankees took advantage of a Mark Vientos error, in part, to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Goldschmidt, the leadoff hitter, hit a grounder to third and Vientos bobbled it, putting a runner on first. One out later, Aaron Judge doubled to right and Bellinger followed with a double up the first-base line that plated two runs. Peterson got two ground balls to escape further damage, holding the Yanks two only a pair of runs, one of them unearned. It was the sixth error of the season for Vientos. 

- The Mets tied the score at two in the fifth inning, thanks to McNeil’s eye and legs. He worked an eight-pitch walk leading off, was sacrificed to second by Luisangel Acuña and went to third on a groundout by Francisco Lindor. When Fried bounced a pitch to Soto and it skipped away from Austin Wells, Jeff McNeil, who drove in the Mets' first run with an RBI single in the second, broke for the plate and scored on the wild pitch.

- Soto, who was a flashpoint player all weekend, made a fine running catch to end the fourth inning, racing back to snag a deep drive toward right-center by Wells. Wells’ smash was clocked at 99.8 miles per hour off the bat and had an expected batting average of .380.

- Mets manager Carlos Mendoza’s strategy impacted the Yankee fifth when he chose to intentionally walk Judge with a runner on second and two out and let Peterson pitch to Bellinger, a lefty-lefty matchup. Peterson walked Bellinger, but then got Anthony Volpe to ground out to short and the Yanks left the bases loaded. That was the first time Volpe made the final out of an inning with the bases loaded -- he struck out with the sacks full to end the seventh, too. 

- In the fateful eighth inning, relievers Ryne Stanek and Genesis Cabrera combined to allow six runs (three earned) and three hits. They threw a combined 50 pitches, 31 by Stanek.

Game MVP

Tough to choose anyone but Bellinger, who had six RBI total on the night and extended his hitting streak to 13 games by going 3-for-3 with two walks. He’s 20-for-53 (.377) during the streak with four homers and 12 RBI. His 13-game streak matched his career high.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets head to Boston to start a three-game set with the Red Sox on Monday at 6:45 p.m.

The Yankees have an off day before hosting the Texas Rangers for a three-game set on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Panthers play excellent Game 7 in Toronto, advance to conference final

The Florida Panthers are moving on to conference final.

Florida showed up and showed out in Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, breaking the hearts of everyone inside and outside Scotiabank Arena with a 6-1 victory on Sunday night.

The Panthers got off to a much stronger start than they did in Game 6, registering eight shots on goal before the first TV timeout and controlling play for much of the early stages of the opening period.

Shot attempts were 21-0 in favor of Florida through the game’s first seven minutes.

Toronto’s first two shots of the game were of the high danger variety, but Sergei Bobrovsky came up with big stops on William Nylander and Bobby McMann.

A few minutes later it was Steven Lorentz following in Nylander and McMann’s footsteps and getting behind Florida’s back line, but once again it was Bobrovsky making a strong save.

It wasn’t until about three minutes into the second period that Florida finally broke the ice.

A great play along the boards in the neutral zone by Evan Rodrigues sent Seth Jones and Sam Reinhart on an odd-man rush.

Toronto’s defense collapsed on Reinhart, allowing Jones plenty of time and space in the right circle, and he went bar down past Joseph Woll’s blocker to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

Florida doubled their lead a few minutes later and it was Brad Marchand who sparked the play.

Keeping the puck alive in Toronto’s zone, Marchand fired a quick shot on Woll from the half boards and Anton Lundell was there to pounce on the rebound, putting the Panthers up 2-0 and further silencing the Scotiabank Arena crowd.

The Florida onslaught continued just over two minutes later when Jonah Gadjovich converted a cross-crease pass from A.J. Greer, making it 3-0 Panthers at the 9:39 mark.

Early in the third period, Toronto caught Florida in a line change and Max Domi fired a shot that beat Sergei Bobrovsky between the legs to get Toronto on the board.

Less than a minute later, Eetu Luostarinen deflected a shot by Brad Marchand between Woll’s blocker and the goal post, restoring Florida’s three-goal lead and immediately taking the wind out of the sails of Toronto and their fans.

A Sasha Barkov faceoff win led directly to a goal by Sam Reinhart with just over 10 minutes go to, after which a fan continued the trend of throwing a Maple Leafs jersey on the ice out of disgust.

Marchand added an empty-net goal, his third point of the game, with just over three minutes left to put the final nail in Toronto’s coffin.

On to Carolina and the conference final.

QUICK THOUGHTS

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice improved to a perfect 6-0 in Game 7s.

Jones’ goal was his third of the postseason and first since Game 1 against Toronto. He added an assist on the Gadjovich goal.

Rodrigues picked up the primary assist on Jones’ goal, his third helper in three games.

Sasha Barkov also assisted on the goal by Jones, his first point since Game 4.

Marchand finished the series against Toronto with three goals and eight points in seven games.

Both Marchand and Luostarinen finished with a goal and an assist. Eetu is now up to three goals and 11 points during the playoffs.

Reinhart’s goal was his fourth of the playoffs. He’s got 11 points through 12 games.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Brad Marchand Shares Excitement For Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs

Matthew Tkachuk Has Big Message Ahead Of Game 7 vs. Maple Leafs

Panthers have been good under Paul Maurice when facing elimination, historically in Game 7s

Panthers back in Toronto for Game 7, looking for third straight trip to conference final

Should Panthers beat Toronto in Game 7, Eastern Conference Final begins Tuesday in Raleigh

Photo caption: May 18, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones (3) reacts after a goal by forward Jonah Gadjovich (12) against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the second period of game seven of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images