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Thunder Game 4 computer picks
Alex Caruso Under 10.5 points (-120)
Projection: 8.18 points
This may seem daunting after watching Alex Caruso in the first few games of this series, but the guard is due for regression.
Caruso went under this number in six of eight prior playoff games, and the San Antonio Spurs will do what they can to shut him down, along with the rest of the OKC bench.
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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 6.5 points (+102)
Projection: 7.86 points
After playing just 12 minutes in Game 1, Isaiah Hartenstein has played 20+ minutes in back-to-back outings. His increased floor time will lead to more shots, pushing him Over this total.
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Gilgeous-Alexander Under 7.5 assists (Odds)
Projection: 6.51 assists
With Ajay Mitchell out and Jalen Williams questionable, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to have to take on a much bigger offensive role. He'll be looking to shoot more, which should cut into his assists.
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Spurs Game 4 computer picks
Julian Champagnie Over 10.5 points (-105)
Projection: 11.72 points
Julian Champagnie has played his part well for the Spurs this season, and he's currently shooting 39% from three. As the Oklahoma City Thunder look to close in on Wemby, Champagnie will be there to knock down outside looks.
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De-Aaron Fox Over 14.5 points (-125)
Projection: 16.02 points
De-Aaron Fox returned from injury and still put up 15 points in Game 3. He's eclipsed this total in all but one playoff game so far, and he'll do so again tonight.
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Victor Wembanyama Over 24.5 points (-120)
Projection: 26.86 points
Victor Wembanyama knows he has to dominate if his team has any chance of winning. Going back to Oklahoma City down 3-1 is a death sentence, and Wemby will go all out to secure the win for San Antonio.
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How to watch Thunder vs Spurs Game 4
Location
Frost Bank Center, San Antonio, TX
Date
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
NBC
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PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 7: Jordan Goodwin #23 of the Phoenix Suns plays defense during the game against the Houston Rockets on April 7, 2026 at PHX Arena in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Phoenix Suns may have overachieved in plenty of ways during the 2025-26 season, still, overachieving doesnât automatically translate to end-of-season recognition. Thatâs just the reality of how awards work now.
Because of the NBAâs 65 game eligibility rule, Phoenix had a very limited pool of players even eligible for postseason honors. Only Oso Ighodaro, Collin Gillespie, Royce OâNeale, Jordan Goodwin, and Ryan Dunn played in 70 or more games and qualified. So when the NBA released its All-Defensive teams aon May 22, you already knew Phoenix wasnât going to have much representation.
2025-26 NBA All-Defensive teams:
First team: Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren, Ausar Thompson, Rudy Gobert, Derrick White
Second team: Bam Adebayo, Scottie Barnes, Cason Wallace, Dyson Daniels, OG Anunoby
Someone like Dillon Brooks never really had a chance to be part of the conversation. Brooks played in 56 games, leaving him short of eligibility despite the kind of defensive season that absolutely wouldâve warranted attention had he reached the threshold.
But what about Jordan Goodwin? Thatâs where the conversation gets interesting.
After all, he was one of the better defensive guards in basketball this season. He finished sixth among guards in offensive rebounds per game and seventh among guards in steals. His 110.1 defensive rating speaks for itself. When you isolate rebounding alone, you can absolutely make the argument that no guard in the NBA impacted the glass the way Goodwin did.
Which makes his absence from the All-Defensive voting feel a little perplexing. Not shocking. Perplexing.
A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 Kia NBA All-Defensive Team.
When awards voting rolls around, players on national television every week and players with bigger names tend to dominate the conversation. Thatâs the reality of it. Goodwin spent the year doing a lot of the dirty work that wins games and changes possessions without necessarily creating the kind of headlines that drive national narratives.
Still, not receiving a single vote feels surprising. Especially when you watched him night after night. You saw the hands. The point of attack defense. The rebounding. The hustle plays that turned into extra possessions. The way he consistently made life uncomfortable for opposing guards. The value was obvious in Phoenix.
Itâs a question that fellow teammate Collin Gillespie asked via Twitter.
Goodie didnât get a single vote for all defense?
Side note, I do love seeing that kind of support. Itâs one of those little things that gives you more confidence heading into the offseason that the Phoenix Suns are going to do everything they can to retain both of these players. Because theyâre exactly the kind of depth pieces you want around your core.
I do wonder why, in this day and age of award oversaturation, there are only two All Defensive teams. Why not three? There are three All NBA teams. It feels like another opportunity to recognize players who lean into the unsexy side of basketball and make a real impact doing it.
I also have an issue with the fact that there were three centers on the All Defensive First Team. Maybe thatâs the traditional structure. I still donât love it.
Personal qualms with the NBA award structure aside, there is one potentially positive thing to take from all of this. Had Jordan Goodwin received recognition, it probably would have driven his price up this offseason. For a team towing the luxury tax line, every dollar matters, and if Goodwin had picked up a few votes, it absolutely would have strengthened his case for more money.
And yeah, thereâs something kind of sad about that. You catch yourself quietly rooting for a player not to receive recognition because it could help your team financially. That probably says more about the state of the NBA than anything else.
Iâll cool my jets before I spiral into a larger conversation on the leagueâs philosophical shortcomings, and there are plenty.
Iâll simply end here. I appreciated everything Jordan Goodwin brought to Phoenix this season. He won the Marley Hustle Award, easily outplayed the value of his contract, and became the personification of a team that competed with grit, connectivity, and attitude.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 20: Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche faces off against William Karlsson #71 of the Vegas Golden Knights 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 Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Having lost both games on home ice to start the Western Conference Final against Vegas, the Colorado Avalanche find now face a daunting task as the series shifts to T-Mobile Arena.
A lot is riding on tonightâs game. Win, and set yourselves up to even up the series on Tuesday. Lose, and everything is in jeopardy.
Colorado Avalanche (8-3)
The Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights (10-4)
Time: 6:00 P.M. MDT/8:00 P.M. EDT
Watch: ESPN (US National Broadcast), CBC, SN, SN+, TVAS, TVAS+ (Canadian National Broadcast)
Listen: Altitude Sports Radio KKSE-FM 92.5 FM
Colorado Avalanche
The dominance of the Avalanche on home ice was well known ahead of this series. They didnât allow a single victory at Ball Arena to Los Angeles or Minnesota in the first two rounds, but thatâs all changed against Vegas. A hot start in Game One quickly cooled off as the Avs failed to generate much offense through most of game, resulting in a 4-2 loss. Game Two saw the Avs score the first goal early and had great success defensively, but they couldnât build on their lead. That opened the door for Vegas, who scored three times in the third to defeat the Avs 3-1.
Having played a defensively committed team in Los Angeles, and having a full week to prepare for Vegas ahead of the Western Conference Final, one would not expect that this series to unfold this way. While the Avs have outshot Vegas through both games in this series, Vegasâ defensive zone play has also led to many broken plays and limited sustained pressure. Far too often, the normally high-powered Avs offense has been distilled to the following outcomes:
Puck battles along the boards are lost, leading to the puck going the other way
Offensive zone passes are broken up, leading to the puck going the other way
Pucks are shot directly into Carter Hart, or shot wide of the goal
Not shooting at all(!)
When you have Nathan MacKinnon on your roster (who has ONE assist in this series) and heâs not shooting the puck more than he has (three shots in Game One, and one in Game Two), that is a very big problem. He isnât the only one thatâs struggling to produce: aside from Gabe Landeskogâs power play goal (the only power play goal in five attempts for the Avs, but thatâs a whole other issue), not one of the top-six forwards has produced any offense.
Brock Nelson and Martin NeÄas have no points in the series. Both have had their opportunities to create, and neither have finished on their chances. Meanwhile, both Pavel Dorofeyev and Jack Eichel have a goal and two assists for Vegas. Brett Howden scored the game-wining goal in Game One. Ivan Barbashev has two goals, including the game-winning goal in Game Two, and an assist on Eichelâs goal. While getting goals from Valeri Nichushkin and Ross Colton has been nice, it simply isnât enough: top-end talent cannot be held off the scoresheet.
Defenseman Cale Makar missed the first two games due to injury, and the Avs certainly miss him on both ends of the ice. When addressing the media on Saturday regarding Makarâs availability for Game Three, head coach Jared Bednar said that it would be Makarâs decision on when heâs ready to play. âNo one can go into Caleâs body and feel what heâs feeling, so when he feels like he can do all the things he needs to be able to do out on the ice to play, then heâs going to make the decision to play.â
Having Makar miss Game Three isnât ideal, especially with Vegas now having the home ice ability to control on-ice match-ups. The Avs need every advantage they can get, and if Vegas will continue to be without captain Mark Stone, getting Makar back in any capacity would go a long way.
Bednar did make a defensive adjustment in Game Two, reinserting Nick Blankenburg in place of Jack Achan. Blankenburg fared well in his limited time on ice, and if Makar is unavailable tonight, expect Blankenburg to get the call.
Bednar didnât (and wonât) tip his hand regarding his goaltending, but Wedgewood is likely to start between the pipes for Game Three. Wedgewood played well through most of Game Two, providing his teammates with a chance to win early. While some criticism of his play on the Eichel goal might be warranted, that criticism can also be levied at the rest of the lineup for failing to give him more offensive support in return.
The Avs will have to be better throughout their entire lineup, and for the entirety of Game Three, in order to get back into this series.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Artturi Lehkonen â Nathan MacKinnon â Martin NeÄas Gabe Landeskog â Brock Nelson â Valeri Nichushkin Ross Colton â Nazem Kadri â Nicolas Roy Parker Kelly â Jack Drury â Logan OâConnor
Defense: Devon Toews â Sam Malinski Josh Manson â Brent Burns Brett Kulak â Nick Blankenburg
Between the Pipes: Scott Wedgewood Mackenzie Blackwood
Vegas Golden Knights
Vegas is heating up at the right time. With two wins on the road, theyâre in the best position theyâve had throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. A win today puts them in position to push the Leagueâs best regular season team closer to elimination, and get one step closer to their third Stanley Cup Final.
Despite falling behind early in Game Two, Vegas was able to overcome Coloradoâs tight play in the second period in addition to losing the services of defenseman Brayden McNabb for a large stretch of the game. Head Coach John Tortorella highlighted McNabbâs importance in media yesterday, âI thought our team played better, you know? It was a different team. As I said after the game [Friday] night, the second period, it was tilted, and we got out of there unscathed, very fortunately, and I thought that was the most important part of the game, was just being down by a goal after two periods. âNabberâ comes back in, and I think it settled us down.â
Much has been made of Coloradoâs ability to apply pressure late in games, but Vegas has proven that they are no slouch in third period play. In both games of this series, Vegas has bested Colorado in third period offense, outscoring Colorado 5-2 in the final frame, with two of those goals coming with an empty net late in regulation.
Tortorella also highlighted his rosterâs ability to remain patient despite trailing in Game Two. âTeamâs down one-nothing going into the third period, you donât want to open yourself up and start doing crazy stuff and opening yourself up, because that team will make you pay, the team weâre playing right now,â He said.
âJust take each shift at a time, see if we can get a big play,â Tortorella continued, âWe end up getting a big play. [âŠ] Itâs a big play by a big player, and thatâs what you hope for.
Given the production from his lineup, Tortorella doesnât have to look far for more big plays from his big players coming into Game Three.
There is no word on Stoneâs availabilty ahead of tonightâs contest.
Projected Lineup
Forwards: Ivan Barbashev â Jack Eichel â Pavel Dorofeyev Brett Howden â William Karlsson â Mitch Marner Brandon Saad â TomĂĄĆĄ Hertl â Colton Sissons Cole Smith â Nic Dowd â Keegan Kolesar
May 19, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves designated hitter Ronald Acuna (13) celebrates after scoring against the Miami Marlins during the fifth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
After playing right field the last three days while dealing with a bone bruise in his left thumb, Ronald Acuña Jr. will serve as the Bravesâ designated hitter for Sundayâs home series finale against the Washington Nationals.
Mauricio Dubon is back in the two-hole against left-handed starter Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02 ERA) and Ha-Seong Kim is back at shortstop after an off day Saturday. Eli White replaces Acuña in right field and will hit seventh, while Sandy León is back at catcher and hitting ninth.
All of the Bravesâ experience against Griffin comes from his start against them last month in Washington. The active Braves are 4-for-18 (.222) against him. Dubon was 2-for-3 with a double, Michael Harris II had a double and White homered off Griffin, who has two strikeouts and one walk against current Braves.
Karl-Anthony Towns (32) running across the basketball court during an NBA game as fans watch from the stands.
The only thing more unbelievable than the Knicksâ 10-game win streak through the playoffs are the ticket prices at Madison Square Garden.
It looks like two tickets for a potential Game 3 at The Garden in the NBA Finals have already been sold after the Knicks went up 3-0 on the Cavaliers with a chance to make the Finals for the first time since 1999.
According to sports business reporter Darren Rovell, two courtside tickets have been sold on StubHub for a staggering $279,804.
The first two courtside seats have sold for the first Knicks Finals home game at Madison Square Garden in 27 years.
The secondary ticket market for a Knicks Finals game has some eye-popping prices just for a chance to see these Knicks try to snap the franchiseâs 53-year championship drought.
The cheapest price for a single ticket to Game 3 of the Finals at MSG is $3,265 as of Sunday morning on Tick PIck. That seat in is in section 418.
Fans who want to get closer to the action will find prices as high as $192,000 at Seat Geek to sit in Section 6 D behind the Knicks bench. Believe it or not, thatâs more money than a few 1-bed, 1-bath apartments in midtown Manhattan listed on Zillow.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
How does that compare to the two teams in the Western Conference finals?
If the Thunder make the Finals, they would host Game 1 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City and the highest ticket price on the secondary market for that game is currently $12,339 for a seat in Section 106.
Prices for a good seat at a potential Finals Game 1 with the Spurs hosting are a bit higher. The most expensive tickets at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio are a center court seat in Section 8 for $21,803 at Seat Geek and a $29,126 Box seat.
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In both cases, the get-in price for a potential Game 1 at either area is around $1,000, which is a third of the price of the cheapest seat at The Garden.
The Chicago Blackhawks should be a fun team to watch next season. They have plenty of young players on their roster who have the potential to hit new levels in 2026-27.
However, in this article, let's take a look at two specific young Blackhawks who are standing out as prime breakout candidates.Â
Nick LardisÂ
Nick Lardis showed plenty of promise this season with the Blackhawks, posting 10 goals and 15 points in 41 games. Overall, the 2023 third-round pick had a nice start to his NHL career, but it would not be surprising in the slightest if he breaks out in a major way next season. The 20-year-old forward has a ton of potential, and he certainly showed that when he had 71 goals and 117 points in 65 games with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL in 2024-25.Â
Sam RinzelÂ
Sam Rinzel will be another breakout candidate to watch on the Blackhawks next season. The 21-year-old blueliner appeared in 54 games this season with Chicago, where he had four goals, 14 points, and 49 hits. Overall, the young defenseman naturally had some growing pains, but there is a lot to like about him heading into next season. Now that he has gained more NHL experience, don't be surprised if he hits a new level in 2026-27.Â
LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 14, 2026: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning at Dodger Stadium on May 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
After a nine-game road trip, the Dodgers are back home to host the Colorado Rockies on Memorial Day Monday night at Dodger Stadium, with a start time one hour earlier than usual.
Emmet Sheehan starts for the Dodgers. The Rockies have not yet announced their starting pitcher for Monday.
These two teams split four games at Coors Field in Denver from April 17-20.
May 24, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) gets hit with a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images | Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
In the space of one inning Dylan Cease and Vladimir Guerrero each walked off the field with injuries.
Cease looked like he was shaking out a leg, the trainer and manager came out and he stayed in the game. A couple of pitches later, it happened again and he came out of the game. There was no sign of what the injury might be, but we thought it might be cramps. Hoping nothing more.
Cease went 4.2 innings, allowing 2 earned, both on solo homers, with 1 walk and 8 strikeouts.
In the bottom half of the inning, Guerrero was hit by a pitch on the inside of the left arm, near the elbow. He didnât look happy, and then walked right off the field. Vlad had walked twice in the game.
We donât know what either injury might be, hoping neither are serious serious. Sometimes baseball is a cruel game.
Update: RHP Dylan Cease was removed from todayâs game with mild left hamstring discomfort.
Update: The Jays say no fracture shown in Vladâs arm, calling it a contusion.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - MAY 19: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros takes an at-bat against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at Target Field on May 19, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Matt Krohn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:
Jose Altuve doesnât think his injury is as serious the one he had in 2023:
Jose Altuve said he thinks his left oblique strain is ânot as badâ as the one that sidelined him in 2023, but there is no timeline yet for his return. Joe Espada said Altuve will travel to Florida in the coming days to continue his rehab:https://t.co/UmJHac2QA6
Jose Altuve is expected to resume swinging a bat "in the next day or two" after arriving in Florida to continue his rehab from the oblique strain, Joe Espada said. https://t.co/wImKAgp9Fp
â Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 24, 2026
Updated on Yordan Alvarez, who said his right scapula area felt "tight" before his sixth-inning at-bat Saturday, leading to his early removal from the Astros' win over the Cubs: https://t.co/RjfuIxL8VB
Can the Astros pitching continue to normalize and maintain itâs recent improvement?(Astros starters have a combined ERA of 2.56 (13ER/45.2IP) over the last 8 games. Saturday was the 3rd time in the last 4 games that an Astros starter did not allow a run in their start. Astros starters have allowed no runs 4 times in the last 8 games.)
The Astros' pitching has turned a corner in May, with some unheralded arms like Saturday's starter Kai-Wei Teng spearheading the improvement on the mound. https://t.co/GkjCIOgCYGpic.twitter.com/H2p2IJpVQN
â Houston Chronicle (@HoustonChron) May 24, 2026
The Astros rotation has two TBDs in it for the upcoming series vs. Rangers, but according to Joe Espada there is really only one TBD as far as pitchersâŠ(Jason Alexander would seem to be the most likely candidate for the other game. He last pitched on 5/19. Burrows last pitched 5/20)
Mike Burrows will start one of the middle two games, Joe Espada said. https://t.co/W0FVggvkGO
Kai-Wei Teng continues to impress, and appears to have adapted to being a starter:
Kai-Wei Teng: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K. 89 pitches, 56 strikes. The Cubs moved one runner past first base against him. Teng has a 2.19 ERA in 37 innings.
Joey Loperfido is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with Double-A Corpus Christi, Joe Espada said. Hunter Brown, Josh Hader and Taylor Trammell are all scheduled to play in that game as well.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today gave out his Memorial Day grades: The Astros did not get the worst grade. In fact, they didnât even get an F! (well, kindaâŠ)
Sunday Notebook: Grades for all 30 MLB teams at Memorial Day: So many Fs to hand out https://t.co/u7TqZAcOdh
Los Angeles Angels fans should probably be demanding Arte Moreno sell the team:
The #Angels are the dumbest franchise w/ dumbest owner: The Angels were given opportunity to match $700M offer w/ $680M deferred. Ohtani would have returned if the Angels agreed. Yet, owner Arte Moreno passed, w/ Ohtaniâs price tag exceeding expectations. â @BNightengale
May 6, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo (22) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
After a fairly pathetic offensive showing over the last two games, the Mariners will try to get something going today with Bryan Woo on the mound.
Lineups:
Todayâs game information:
Game time: 11:10 PT
TV: Mariners TV with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink, with Brad Adam as field reporter
Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Gary Hill Jr. and Ryan Rowland-Smith on the call
MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 23: Teoscar HernĂĄndez #37 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a two-run single in the ninth inning during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Aaron Gash/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Yoshinobu Yamamoto faces Brandon Sproat as the Dodgers wrap up their nine-game road trip.
Feb 21, 2025; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jordan Wicks (36) warms up during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
The Cubs today announced that left-hander Jordan Wicks has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa. Wicks is replacing Edward Cabrera, who goes on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 21, with a blister on his middle finger.
The 26-year-old Wicks started this season on the injured list with left-elbow inflammation. He returned to the mound on April 18 as he started a 30-day rehab assignments with the Iowa Cubs. At the end of that rehab stint, Wicks was optioned back to Iowa.
With the I-Cubs this year, Wicks is 0-2 with a 4.44 ERA over 26.1 innings and seven starts. He struck out 20 and walked 12. However, over Wicksâ last three starts, he has an 0.60 ERA after allowing just one run over 15 innings. In that span, Wicks has struck out 12 and walked eight.
Cabrera was 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in ten starts in his first season with Chicago. Over 54 innings, Cabrera had struck out 47, walked 20 and held opposing hitters to a .262 batting average.
Itâs time to mark another important anniversary in Florida Panthers history.
For this one, it was about as monumental as you can get.
At the time, it was probably the most euphoria felt by anyone associated with the Panthers organization in the teamâs existence.
Itâs almost unbelievable that itâs only been three years since May 24, 2023, when Florida hosted the Carolina Hurricanes for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
That entire 2023 run to the Stanley Cup Final was something special â from shocking the league by beating the historically good Boston Bruins to rolling over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina during an incredible 11-1 stretch â nothing could compare to the way Matthew Tkachuk capped it off during Game 4 against the Hurricanes.
Entering play that Wednesday night, Florida had just won three straight one-goal games during the conference finals, including a pair of overtime victories in Raleigh.
Now they could smell the Stanley Cup Final and fueled by a first-minute goal by Anthony Duclair and a power play goal by Tkachuk, they were up 2-0 at the midway point of the opening period.
Carolina battled back, tying the game early in the second, and then again late in the third period when Jesper Fast lit the lamp at the 16:38 mark.
Just when it looked like a third game in six days would require more than sixty minutes, Jordan Staal took a tripping penalty with 57 seconds to go.
That led to Tkachuk finding the puck on his stick in the final seconds of regulation, simultaneously seizing the moment and causing a small earthquake in South Florida.
The play started with the puck on Sam Reinhartâs stick in the left circle and about 12.5 seconds on the clock. Reinhart wired a shot from the faceoff dot that went over Frederik Andersenâs blocker and off the crossbar, bouncing to Panthers captain Sasha Barkov at the bottom of the right circle.
Barkov then spotted Tkachuk open behind the net and fed him the puck with 6.7 to go.
With Sam Bennett tying up Brett Pesce in front of the net, Tkachuk circled to the top of the crease, made a quick deke to get Andersen to commit, and fired the puck his blocker and into the yawning cage.
Then, jubilation.
Tkachuk made a beeline for the blue line, mouthpiece dangling, arms extended in the air, sliding on his knees toward the neutral zone as he was consumed by his teammates.
Amerant Bank Arena had never been that alive.
Everyone had to briefly hold their breath when the goal was reviewed by officials, but all that did was allow fans a second moment of explosion when NHL referee Dan OâRourke announced that the goal would stand.
What a moment.
Enjoy the goal and the series in the videos below.
Photo caption: May 24, 2023; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The Springfield Thunderbirds, the St. Louis Bluesâ AHL affiliate, have had their season ended in the Calder Cup playoffs, suffering a defeat at the hands of the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
The Thunderbirds upset multiple teams in their path to the Atlantic Division final, and they pushed one of the AHLâs best teams to the brink, but in the end, the Penguins proved to be too much.
The Thunderbirds forced a Game 5 with a 2-0 win in Game 4, but the Penguins jumped out early in Game 5.
The Penguins got out to a 4-0 lead after the first period, setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Penguins added a fifth in the second period and a sixth early in the third before Akil Thomas was finally able to put the Thunderbirds on the board. Shortly after, the Thunderbirds added another pair of goals to make it 8-1.
Springfieldâs season comes to an end, but there is plenty to be proud of. Adam Jiricek and Justin Carobonneau joined the lineup for the playoffs, picking up vital experience and making an impact. Jiricek and Carbonneau will be key factors for the Thunderbirds next season.
Additionally, top prospects Otto Stenberg and Theo Lindstein excelled following their stints in the NHL, proving they can be immediate factors to start the 2026-27 NHL season.
The Penguins now move on to the conference finals, where they will take on the winner of the North Division finals between the Toronto Marlies and the Cleveland Monsters.
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Thunder
Spurs
