The MLB trade deadline demands bravery. Go get Tarik Skubal like he's CC Sabathia.

Let’s see if we can get this straight.

The New York Mets, the National League’s greatest failure at 28-35 and going nowhere even after winning six of their last eight games, still have no interest in shopping Freddy Peralta or anyone else President of baseball operations David Stearns still has faith they can make a postseason run.

The Detroit Tigers, easily the American League’s biggest bust at 26-38, are telling teams that two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is off limits for now, and after winning four consecutive games against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners, they may even decide to keep him in hopes of a miraculous comeback.

The San Francisco Giants just scored 30 runs in consecutive games against the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers – their biggest output since 1944 – and tell you that a sell-off isn’t even whispered about in their front office.

CC Sabathia went 11-2 for the Brewers in 2008 after a July trade from Cleveland.

The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins, two more teams going nowhere, say they aren’t ready to sell considering the AL absolutely stinks, and they are somehow still alive in the wild-card race.

Considering this delusional wave of optimism, they’ll soon have you believing that Rob Manfred and Bruce Meyer are about to enjoy a golf outing and a new collective bargaining agreement finalized over a candlelight dinner.

Seven weeks remain before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and you have no further to look than the historic collapses by the Tigers and Mets last year, along with the miraculous run by the Cleveland Guardians, to know that wild and crazy things can happen in a pennant race.

Still, let’s have a little dose of reality, can we?

These teams aren’t going anywhere.

So why not at least pick up the phone, start engaging in preliminary trade talks, and see if there’s a potential match, you know, before the deadline?

Would that really be so nuts?

“I understand there are times to do value trades," longtime general manager Doug Melvin and now special assistant for the Brewers, tells USA TODAY Sports, “but sometimes, you’ve just got to go get guys and not worry about that. That’s what holds up some of trade deadline deals. Everyone is worrying about value trades instead of just getting the guys they need.

“Teams are just so afraid to engage early."

Maybe it’s time to take a page out of Melvin’s playbook, who played a vital role in making the Brewers who they are today.

Melvin pulled off one of the greatest deals in Brewers’ history, forever changing the franchise’s destiny in 2008, with a move that will live forever in MLB folklore.

Melvin didn’t worry about hoarding his top prospects. He didn’t freak out over the possibility that one of his prospects could become a future All-Star. He wasn’t panicking about how his move would be perceived by the media.

He just pulled the trigger on July 7, 2008, more than three weeks before the trade deadline, and traded four of his top prospects for impending free agent CC Sabathia of Cleveland.

It changed the course of history.

Sabathia, who was 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA, was acquired for the Brewers’ No. 1 prospect Matt LaPorta, their first-round draft pick a year earlier, along with left-handed pitcher Zach Jackson, right-hander Rob Bryson, and a player to be named later.

The only real hold-up, says Melvin, who began telephoning Cleveland a month earlier to express interest, was with GM Mark Shapiro and assistant Chris Antonetti trying to decide between outfield prospect Michel Brantley and prized infield prospect Taylor Greene as part of the package.

“They were torn, they wanted to see them a little more," Melvin said. “Both were really talented. So I finally said, 'Mark, how about we do this: If we don’t get to the playoffs, we pick the player. If we go to the playoffs, you get the choice and pick the player you want.'"

That player to be named turned out to be Brantley, who became a five-time All-Star and played 15 years in the big leagues.

“We were pretty clear defining what the market was and who we thought would be involved," said then-Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro, now president of baseball operations for the Toronto Blue Jays. “If you look back at the history of the deals, I did, I was definitely an early mover."

It was a deal the two teams liked at the time and would do all over again 18 years later.

“We liked this deal a lot," Shapiro said. “Matt LaPorta was the key guy, but getting Brantley made it an incredible trade."

Just like that, the Brewers’ destiny was dramatically altered.

“It showed our players and our fans," Melvin said, “that we're committed to winning, and winning now."

Sabathia, who cried after getting the news, was given the option to spend a few days with his family and join the Brewers late. He declined. He showed up two days later, walked into an elated Brewers clubhouse and beat the Colorado Rockies in his first game, 7-3, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs in front of a sold-out crowd. Five days later, he pitched a complete game and homered in a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. He threw another complete game and struck out 10 in his next start against the Giants. And in the next, a three-hit shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals.

He become one of the greatest trade deadline acquisitions in baseball history.

Sabathia went 11-2 with a 1.64 ERA with seven complete games in 17 starts. He ignored the advice of his agent and pitched on short rest in his last three starts of the season, throwing 335 pitches the final nine days. And he clinched the Brewers’ first playoff berth since 1982 on the final day of the season, a 3-1, four-hit complete game victory over the Cubs.

A legend was born.

“That was the jolt that we needed," Melvin said. “It meant so much to our players. When you see the players busting their balls and working so hard, the front office has to work harder themselves and see what we can do for them.’’

It also turned out to be a stroke of genius acquiring him early. The Brewers got an extra five starts out of Sabathia, who went 4-1 with a 1.82 in July, pitching three complete games and racking up 39.2 innings.

Sabathia departed after the season for a record seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees, winning the World Series the next year in 2009, but he left an indelible mark on the Brewers and was inducted into their Wall of Honor last month.

“That jump-started the entire organization," Melvin said.

The Brewers became the ultimate role model for small-market teams, drawing 3 million fans in three of four seasons, beginning with Sabathia’s arrival. They started winning and never stopped, coming within two games of the World Series in 2011, and have now produced nine consecutive winning seasons with seven playoffs berths and five division titles.

It was the single-most impactful trade in Brewers history.

And it was one of the biggest “what-if" misses in Los Angeles Dodgers history.

The Dodgers also were in on Sabathia. Ned Colletti, the former Dodgers GM, believed they were on the verge of reaching a potential deal with Cleveland that would have left the Brewers empty-handed.

The Dodgers offered catcher Carlos Santana, a future All-Star and Gold Glove first baseman; infielder Andy LaRoche; pitcher James McDonald; infielder Ivan DeJesus; and a fifth prospect. Cleveland was sending Sabathia, third baseman Casey Blake and utility man James Carroll to Los Angeles.

Colletti remembers getting a stamp of approval from manager Joe Torre that afternoon (“he was all fired up"), but when he approached owner Frank McCourt, he didn’t want to assume the $10 million in salary while also parting with prospects.

“A few weeks later, we still got Manny Ramirez with Boston paying his salary. And then we got [Greg] Maddux in August. Can you imagine if we had all three of those guys when we played Philly in the postseason?

“If we had gotten those guys, we might have had the guns to beat those guys."

The Dodgers had to wait another dozen years before they won the World Series.

Skubal could be the greatest pitcher to hit the trade block since Sabathia. Just like Sabathia, Skubal will be a rental too, set for the free agent market after the season where he’s expected to command $400 million. And just like Sabathia, Skubal is expected to make that kind of impact, yielding a 41-15 record and 2.41 ERA since 2024.

So, who has the guts like Melvin to pull off a deal for Skubal?

The Yankees? Dodgers? Padres? Cubs? Rays? How about those Brewers again?

“If I’m the Tigers," Melvin said, “I’d think about putting Skubal out there right now."

Skubal, who had arthroscopic elbow surgery five weeks ago, first must prove he is healthy. He’s pitching in a minor league rehab start Sunday, and if all goes well, could return to the Tigers rotation next weekend against Cleveland.

Rival executives believe that Skubal will need to make at least three starts to convince teams he’s healthy.

Perhaps even more important, the Tigers also have to convince themselves they have no chance to get back in the playoff race before moving him.

The trouble is that with expanded playoffs, and the AL being appallingly mediocre, every team believes they still have a chance. The Royals, Angels, Giants and Rockies were the only teams facing a deficit larger than six games entering Saturday.

And there are a bunch of clubs that share the same philosophy waiting until nearly the last possible moment to make deals.

“I think there’s a much more definitive valuation in players," Shapiro says. “Teams have the ability to precisely measure the expected return.

“Back then, we didn’t have the firm capability to determine the impact in value. A lot of it was intuitive. Now, you’re more cautious and more hesitant to move before understanding what the full market value might be.’’

The expanded postseason also decreases the value of making major moves to simply make the playoffs. If they are going to give up a significant part of their future, they want a legitimate chance to win a division title, and not a wild-card berth, to secure a first-round bye.

“Your World Series odds are probably going to be correlated to your odds of getting a bye,” Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations, said in his Friday gathering with reporters. “Getting a bye is such a big deal. It’s effectively not only winning one round but also, by getting a bye. In theory, you’re playing an opponent that should be in a lesser state. … The bye is that important.

“If you want to look at it differently, I’d say a lot of the aggressiveness is based on the ability to get a bye.”

Then again, it could be a cop-out. The Dodgers didn’t have a first-round bye last season and still won their second consecutive postseason World Series championship. The Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t have byes as wild-card teams in 2023 and were playing one another in the World Series.

When the opportunity presents itself, you better be ready to pounce.

“When I was in San Francisco with Sabes [Giants GM Brian Sabean]," Colletti said, “we were always making rounds of calls in the middle of May, just in case. If you know who you want, there’s no reason to wait.

“I remember learning from my first boss, Dallas Green, and his philosophy: If you are sure who you want, and your team has a chance, don’t wait. These opportunities don’t come around too often.

“You better go for it."

Yes, just like 10 years ago, when Theo Epstein, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, traded for Yankees All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman. The price was steep. It cost them their top prospect, infielder Gleyber Torres, with Epstein left answering why he was willing to sacrifice the Cubs’ future for the ultimate prize.

“If not now," Epstein said, “when?"

Three months later, Epstein was standing on stage hoisting the World Series trophy, the Cubs’ first championship in 108 years.

“There are times," Melvin says, “that you’ve just got to step up."

It’s beginning to be that time.

Around the basepaths

– If a team acquires New York Mets ace Freddy Peralta at the trade deadline and wants to keep him, they better be ready to pay up. Peralta will be seeking a free agent contract similar to Max Fried’s eight-year, $218 million deal, according to those familiar with Peralta’s expectations.

– MLB executives believe there will be a slow trickle of free agent signings before the CBA expires Dec. 1 but that most agents will prefer to wait to see if a lot more small- and mid-market teams will be involved in free agency when a CBA is finalized.

– Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman is expected to join his eighth different team, and potentially be in the postseason with his sixth different team. He is the top reliever available on every contender’s target list, converting 28 consecutive saves dating back to last season, one shy of his career record.

– St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol, a candidate for the NL Manager of the Year award, has accepted Dave Roberts’ invitation to be on the National League coaching staff at the All-Star Game. Marmol and Phillies manager Don Mattingly will be the non-Dodger coaches with Roberts.

Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton will be on Blue Jays manager John Schneider’s All-Star staff.

– Just in case you wondered why Yankees star Aaron Judge is considered one of the greatest teammates in the game, all you have to know is his response when asked why he didn’t go on the injured list to have his ribs checked out on April 26 when he felt the injury instead of waiting until June.

“Big G [Giancarlo Stanton] is hurt," Judge said. “Max Fried’s hurt. We had a lot of guys banged up. You’ve got to be out there. That’s what they’re paying me to do, to go out there and play."

The Yankees entered Saturday with a .419 winning percentage when Judge doesn’t start since 2022, averaging 3.8 runs a game. They have a .592 winning percentage, averaging five runs a game, when he starts.

– Meanwhile, Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, who the D-backs tried to trade during the winter, continues to frustrate segments of the organization by opting to take days off. He sat last week when Shohei Ohtani the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched against the Diamondbacks, and then played the next day and hit a walk-off homer.

– There’s no hiding that the Chicago Cubs are desperate for another starter, with their rotation yielding a 6.35 ERA since their 10-game winning streak that ended May 10.

Their starting rotation:

Colin Rea: 4.59 ERA.
Shota Imanaga: 4.74 ERA.
Edward Cabrera: 4.99 ERA.
Jameson Taillon: 5.13 ERA.
Matthew Boyd: 6.00 ERA.

Still, Hoyer made it clear this week that it’s absurd for them to think about mortgaging the future for Skubal, Peralta or someone else unless they dramatically start playing better, losing 18 of their last 24 games.

“The trade deadline is the furthest thing from my mind right now …” Hoyer said. “Sitting here talking about the deadline, given how we played, seems like the wrong thing to talk about. We have to play better, and we have to put ourselves in a position to do that.’’

The Cubs, who had two 10-game winning streaks, went 37 consecutive days without losing a single game at Wrigley Field. It took them 28 days to win another game at Wrigley this week.

– The Athletics have shown interest in Royals starter Kris Bubic to help out their struggling rotation.

– The free-falling San Diego Padres don’t need Skubal as much as they need someone who can hit.

They are batting .216, which not only is the lowest in MLB, but the lowest in franchise history after 60 games.

Thy also are last in on-base percentage (.291), last in OPS (.651) and second-to-last in slugging (.360).

They are the only team in baseball not to have a single regular with an OPS+ of at least 100, meaning they don’t have even one average hitter on the team.

“The game’s evolving, man," All-Star third baseman Manny Machado, who’s having his worst season, .175 with a .617 OPS, told reporters. “It’s definitely getting harder to play. It’s definitely getting more strategic. I just wish we can get the analytics out of the way. I think there’s too many stats out there. Too many stats, way too many numbers."

– Pitchers are echoing the complaints of Twins pitcher Bailey Ober, who filed a formal complaint with MLB about the quality of baseballs, believing it was the cause of his recent pitching injury, according to the Minnesota Star-Tribune.

– While there has been speculation that San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello is so frustrated in his new job and could return to the college ranks after the season, he insists that he’s still happy he took the job, paying him $3.5 million a year, a record salary for first-year managers.

– The Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals have been two of the biggest surprises in baseball the first half, but please, they’re not about to trade prospects at the deadline to go all-in.

The Cardinals, in fact, are expected to trade reliever JoJo Romero and starter Dustin May at the trade deadline, providing they slip further back in the wild-card race.

A year from now, it may be a completely different story.

– Former Dodgers GM Ned Colletti conveyed a story to Hall of Famer CC Sabathia at the World Baseball Classic that had him laughing.

Colletti, who was the assistant GM with the San Francisco Giants at the time, drove with Giants GM Brian Sabean to Vallejo, California, Sabathia’s hometown, in between games of a doubleheader at Candlestick Park to watch Sabathia pitch as a high school player before the 1998 draft.

“He hit a towering home run to center field," Colletti said. “He was like a man playing with kids. As soon as he hit the homer, we got into the car and went back to Candlestick. Sabes says, 'He’s not falling to us.' And went home."

Well, it turns out they actually did, and missed out.

The Giants, with the 19^th pick overall, drafted third baseman Anthony Torcato of Woodland, Hills, California. Cleveland drafted Sabathia with the 20^th pick.

Torcato’s big-league career lasted just 47 at-bats. Sabathia pitched 19 seasons, won 251 games, and went to the Hall of Fame.

– The Boston Red Sox are an absolute mess and are 10-21 at Fenway Park. They are on pace to go 26-55 at home. The last time they played a full season and won fewer than 30 home games was in 1932 when they finished the season with a 43-111 record.

The Red Sox, who slashed their scouting department to add more analytics, may want to take a hard look at the Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres.

They have the most pro scouts in MLB and still have a robust analytic department.

– The Cleveland Guardians are the only team that has started only five pitchers this season, while 12 teams have already used 10 or more starters, led by the Houston Astros with 13.

– The Phillies are 29-0 when leading after eight innings this year and are an MLB-best 14-5 in one-run games.

Take a bow, closer Jhoan Duran, who’s 15-for-15 in save opportunities, retiring 21 of the last 23 batters he’s faced.

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tarik Skubal trade will require major MLB deadline bravery amid rumors

June 7, 2026

Where are they now? Pensburgh 2021 Top 25 Under 25 update

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 29: John Marino #6 of the Utah Mammoth celebrates his goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of Game Five of the First Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 29, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Let’s jump back in time to the 2021 prospect pool for the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was not a very good time for the youth in the organization, considering that the Pens only made one first round pick from 2016-21 during their period of maximizing the contending window in those days. Part of the price for banners that will hang forever is a willingness to sacrifice assets for the future.

As you’ll see in the list, the Penguins did that in a major way. Pittsburgh ranked 29th in prospects rankings from The Athletic in Feb. 2021 and were 29th again in Feb. 2022. Not much was expected, and now a few years later it’s clear that lived up to the billing with only three players currently in the NHL and minimal overall impact from the pool at this time.

—

#25: Santeri Airola: I always liked Airola’s style as a puck mover in the limited looks from the summer development camps he attended in Pittsburgh. In the end, he never signed in North America and has played in the Finnish league his whole career. Now 25, he had his best season for producing points in 2025-26 for SaiPa Lappeenranta with 34 (11G+23A) in 57 games. In the end, he turned out to be a pretty decent player in that league.

#24: Jan Drozg – Drozg stayed in the Pens’ organization until 2022, mostly as an AHL player. Then came four middling years in the KHL before going to the Austrian league in 2025-26.

#23: Will Reilly – Reilly also stayed with the Pens in the AHL through 2022, won the ECHL Kelly Cup with Florida in 2024 and last year played for the KHL team in Shanghai. Pretty interesting career journey for him.

#22: Clayton Phillips – A former third round pick in 2017, Phillips never got his career on track. He only played one game with WBS in 2022 after finishing up at Penn State. He then played for two different ECHL teams in 2022-23 outside of Pittsburgh’s organization and retired.

#21: Chase Yoder – Always saw a lot of Brandon Tanev in the fellow Providence product of Yoder, but he didn’t grit/effort his way to the big time. The Pens didn’t sign Yoder, who finished up his five collegiate seasons in 2025. Last year was his first pro year, split between ECHL (27 points in 39 games) and AHL (five points in 23 games) on an AHL contract.

#20: Kirill Tankov – Tankov, only 24 years old, still has his rights retained by the Pens but it doesn’t look like he’s in the plans for the NHL team. His career hit a bump in the road after suffering a neck injury in 2022, but he did graduate to a full-time KHL spot this season and scored 13 points in 42 games.

#19: Raivis Ansons – Ansons has hung on the very fringes of the organization, he got an entry level contract but couldn’t win a full-time AHL job by the end of it. He signed an AHL contract with Wilkes for 2025-26 and again split time between the ECHL/AHL this year. He has played two playoff games in the current WBS run, but has mostly been a depth player/scratch.

#18: Lukas Svejkovsky – A fourth round pick in 2020, Svejkovsky found his high scoring rates in the WHL and ECHL couldn’t be carried up to the AHL level (19 points in 66 games split over two years with WBS). He’s played in Finland the last two seasons.

#17: Judd Caulfield – Caulfield was traded to Anaheim and has spent his entire three-year pro career with their AHL team in San Diego. Now 25, he did set career-highs in goals (17), assists (21) and points (38) this season, proving to be a decent AHL option.

#16: Jonathan Gruden – Gruden looks like he peaked in 2023-24, playing 13 games with NHL Pittsburgh as an injury call-up. Since then, it’s been a downward trend – his role and points went way down with Wilkes in 2024-25 as organizational priorities shifted and he was traded to New Jersey. Gruden’s spent all his time in the Devils organization with their AHL team in Utica as a nice AHL option.

#15: Kasper Bjorkqvist – Injuries did a number on the 2016 second round pick, who opted to leave the Pens’ organization in 2022 and head back to Finland where he’s played the last four seasons with fairly middling stats (three goals and 12 points in 30 games in 2025-26).

#14: Jordy Bellerive – Another instance of injury derailing a career, Bellerive was never able to get back on track after an off-ice injury. He played in the AHL until 2024, with the Pens until 2022 and ended up playing in the Swedish lower league in 2024-25 and signed with a Slovakian team in 2025-26.

#13: Cam Lee – Lee has played in the KHL for the last four seasons after leaving WBS in 2022.

#12: Drew O’Connor – O’Connor is a rare success story for this pool, scoring 17 goals for NHL Vancouver last season and working on a $5.0 million contract ($2.5m per year). He improved his skating enough to become a solid NHL player.

#11: Joel Blomqvist – Blomqvist has been with AHL Wilkes the last three full seasons. He’s worked his way towards being one of the better goalies in that league, only to find himself passed up by a younger prospect who has been a little better in Sergei Murashov. His upward path might be blocked now, to no real detriment of his own with his contract running out this summer. Where his future plays out will be interesting to see.

#10: Isaac Belliveau – Belliveau played two seasons with PIT, split between ECHL/AHL, then was traded to Buffalo. He was able to avoid the ECHL but only appeared in 36 AHL games this season for Rochester. He’s another player who has been great in the Juniors and ECHL as far as production and role but struggled to make much of an impact in the AHL.

#9: Calle Clang – Clang was traded to Anaheim as part of the Rickard Rakell trade. He’s made his way up to being AHL San Diego’s most used goalie in 2025-26 but his stats look unremarkable with a career AHL save percentage under .900.

#8: Filip Lindberg – Lindberg played 26 total games with WBS from 2021-23 then the goalie opted to go back to his native Finland where it looks like he’s held down a backup position for four different teams in the last three seasons. His high ranking was the result of being dominant in college from 2019-21 at UMass but his path didn’t stay in that direction much longer.

#7: Nathan Legare – A member of the NJD organization since 2024, Legare has been remaking his game from scoring forward into a physical lower liner. He’s played four total NHL games with the Devils in the last two seasons, working mostly out of AHL Utica where he scored 13 goals and 20 points in 65 games this season. Skating concerns and a lack of scoring touch ended up limiting the ceiling for the former third round pick.

#6: Tristan Broz – It feels like Broz, still just 23, has been around forever. The 2021 second round pick spent three years at college and has become one of the better and more clutch players in the AHL (11 points in 13 games on the current WBS run). Unfortunate timing on injury/illnesses has limited him to only one NHL game, though there could be more ahead in the near future.

#5: Valtteri Puustinen – Always a prevalent point producer in Finland and the AHL, Puustinen got a serious look with Pittsburgh and scored 20 points in 52 games in 2023-24. It didn’t quite come together for him for long at the NHL level and he was traded to Colorado – where he is still active on the AHL Eagles playoff run (giving the possibility of Puustinen to play WBS in the Calder Cup Finals, if both win their current series).

#4: Filip Hallander – Hallander’s had quite the journey, playing mostly in the AHL from 2021-23, opting to sign with a Swedish team where he spent two seasons, and then a return to the NHL in 2025-26. A blood clot issue shut down his season in November, what happens from here with that remains outwardly unknown. He is under contract for 2026-27 with Pittsburgh and could be a fringe player in the lineup, assuming the health situation is cleared. Seemingly just as easily, he might not be an NHL option with other younger players pushing for a lineup spot, plus re-signings of players like Connor Dewar and Blake Lizotte.

#3: Samuel Poulin – Poulin’s time with the Pens came to an end late in 2025, being a part of the Stuart Skinner/Tristan Jarry trade. He didn’t sniff NHL Edmonton for the rest of the season, playing 49 games with AHL Bakersfield to wrap up the year. Poulin qualifies as a Group VI unrestricted free agent this offseason, his next step remains unknown at this point.

#2: Pierre-Olivier Joseph – Appearing mostly as an AHL player from 2019-22, Joseph made the jump to full-time NHLer in 2023. It’s been spotty since then, changing teams three times in the last two seasons. He caught on with Vancouver for 2025-26 but was a depth player appearing in 31 NHL games for the worst team in the league. His contract is up, Vancouver could opt to keep his rights as a restricted free agent if they choose to do it under new management.

#1: John Marino – Marino was traded to New Jersey in 2022, endured some up and down seasons and was moved to Utah in 2024. He’s appeared to find a good fit with the Mammoth, appearing in the second most TOI for them in the playoffs and a close third in the regular season. In 2025-26 Marino finally broke his single-season point best of 26 from his rookie year with the Pens in 2019-20, where he scored 36 points. Amazingly, he’s still got one more season to go on the contract that Pittsburgh signed him to back in January of 2021, which is like a hockey lifetime ago considering all the changes to the Pens and for Marino since that point.

June 7, 2026

Today on Pinstripe Alley – 6/7/26

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 05: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium on June 05, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The weather decided not to cooperate with the Yankees last night, as the rain would’ve had the team waiting around until well after 10 p.m. to start Saturday’s scheduled game. With a matinee on deck today, that timeline was deemed too brutal to wait things out, and thus we have another two-game set with a division rival on deck that the Yankees are looking to split.

Today will be a slow morning while we wait for the Yankees to take the field again, with just a couple things of note. Andrew has the Rivalry Roundup featuring the Rays giving back a half-game with the Yankees inactive, Nick honors the legacy of Thurman Munson on what would’ve been his 76th birthday, and John has the weekly social media spotlight. After the game, Scott will be on hand with a look at the history of Scranton’s no-hitters after they penned their latest one this weekend.

Today’s Matchup:

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

Time: 1:35 p.m. EST

TV: YES Network, NESN

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

Questions/Prompts:

1. Will we see Cam Schlittler have continued velo problems or will he have his fastball back to form?

2. Are we witnessing an all-time Stanley Cup Finals after the third straight wild finish in Game 3?

June 7, 2026

Hao-Yu Lee homers twice as Hens split doubleheader, Brett Callahan homers again for Erie

Iowa Cubs 7, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (Gm1)(F/7)(box)

The Hens swung the bats well in Game 1 but Dylan File took a beating from the Cubs. The right-hander gave up seven runs, six earned on 10 hits and a walk, with five strikeouts.

Hao-Yu Lee opened the scoring in the top of the first with a two-run shot with Gage Workman aboard. The Cubs tied it up against File in the bottom of the first. Tyler Gentry’s solo shot in the second inning made it 3-2 Hens, but the Cubs tied it back up in the bottom half.

File lost it a bit in the bottom of the third, and the Cubs racked up four more runs to take a commanding lead. Eduardo Valencia launched a solo shot, his 12th homer, in the fourth to make it 7-3 Cubs. In the fifth, Workman doubled and scored on a Lee single to make it 7-5, but they couldn’t complete a comeback.

Lee: 2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR, 2 K

Anderson: 2-4

File (L, 4-2): 6.0 IP, 7 R, 6 ER, 10 H, BB, 5 K

Toledo Mud Hens 8, Iowa Cubs 1 (Gm2)(F/7)(box)

Excellent outings from Carl Edwards Jr. and Tyler Mattison locked down the Cubs, and the Hens built a lead and then erupted late to take Game 2 on Saturday.

Ricky Vanasco was the opener, but he allowed a run in the first inning. Edwards Jr. took over, and after several pretty grim outings since the Tigers picked him up, the veteran right-hander blanked the Cubs for 3.1 innings, striking out seven without a walk allowed.

Edwards Jr. got whiffs on fastballs and curveballs, and particularly with a mid-80’s offering that was registering on Statcast as a fourseamer, but looked like a nascient cutter in development. Tyler Mattison took over to close out the fifth and then handled the sixth, striking out four with one hit allowed.

The Hens tied the game in the second inning when Hao-Yu Lee walked and scored on a Jace Jung double. In the fourth, Lee was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and both pitcher Vince Velasquez and Cubs’ manager Denver Dangerfield were ejected in a lengthy row. A batter’s interference call on Tyler Gentry to end the inning led to more frustration from the coaching staffs, and Hens’ manager Gary Jones was tossed out of the game on that one. Pitching coach Doug Bochtler took over the argument, and he got tossed out there as well. On a long hot day for the doubleheader, tensions were running high.

Back to baseball, as Cal Stevenson led off the fifth with a triple. Max Clark singled him in, and then in the top of the sixth, Workman and Lee both hit solo shots to make it 4-1 Hens. Three batters later, Gentry hit a homer with Jace Jung aboard, and Tomás Nido capped a big inning with a solo shot as the Hens batted around. 7-1 Hens. Gage Workman doubled, took second on a Lee single, and scored on a Trei Cruz sacrifice fly.

Hao-Yu Lee follows Workman’s blast with an oppo homer of his own to make it a 4-1 Mud Hens lead. It’s his 3rd home run in Triple-A, and his 2nd of today’s doubleheader. pic.twitter.com/ujd2ZRml22
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 7, 2026

Lee: 2-2, 2 R, RBI, HR, BB

Workman: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HR, K

Jung: 1-3, R, RBI, 2B, BB, K

Edwards Jr. (W, 2-4): 3.1 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 7 K

Coming Up Next: The Hens lead the series 4-1 heading into a 2:08 p.m. ET matchup on Sunday.

Richmond Flying Squirrels 8, Erie SeaWolves 7 (box)

The Seawolves had this one in the bag until Wandisson Charles melted down late to blow a big lead.

Erie jumped all over the Squirrels in this one. Seth Stephenson led off the game with a walk and Peyton Graham drew a walk. John Peck doubled in Stephenson, and Brett Callahan drilled an opposite field, three-run shot to make it 4-0. Callahan’s 9th homer took him to a .n .877 OPS on the year. They weren’t done either, as Justice Bigbie singled and was wild pitched to second and then to third, scoring on a wild pickoff attempt. 5-0 SeaWolves.

John Peck blasts an RBI double off the wall in deep left center to put Erie up 1-0. pic.twitter.com/G7stOsBp3w
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 6, 2026

Brett Callahan lines a 3-run homer to left and the SeaWolves lead 4-0 just four batters into the game. It’s his 9th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/elLCMEY7eu
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 6, 2026

On a bullpen day after Joe Miller left due to what looked like an arm injury after an inning, Johan Simon allowed a run in the second and then the third, but in the fourth, Stephenson led off with a single and stole second and third, scoring on a Peyton Graham single. 6-2 Erie.

Tyler Owens tossed two scoreless innings of relief, and Luke Taggart and Trevin Michael gave them an inning of scoreless relief as well. In the eighth, Graham walked with two outs and scored on Peck single.

So it was 7-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Wandisson Charles then melted down to allow five runs. Infielder Andrew Jenkins took over with the SeaWolves out of arms, and he allowed a walk off double to Onil Perez to lose it.

Callahan: 3-5, R, 3 RBI, 2B, HR

Peck: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2B, BB

Graham: 1-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB

Charles: 1.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Coming Up Next: The SeaWolves need to bounce back and win on Sunday to split the series. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.

West Michigan Whitecaps 11, Dayton Dragons 3 (box)

The Whitecaps got a nice outing from Rayner Castillo and a nice offensive performance to win on Saturday to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Castillo fired 4.2 innings of one-run ball, walking two against four strikeouts. He allowed a run in the second inning and then really settled in. It’s been a frustrating season so far for the young right-hander, so hopefully he can build on this one.

The offense got going early as Jackson Strong and Ricardo Hurtado singled in the first inning. Bryce Rainer lofted a sacrifice fly to score Strong for a 1-0 lead. Luke Shliger cracked a two-run shot with Clayton Campbell aboard for a 3-1 lead in the second inning.

In the third, Hurtado walked, and Bryce Rainer singled him to third, then stole second base. Campbell was hit by a pitch, and Junior Tilien cleared the bases with a three-run double. 6-1 Whitecaps. Rainer singled in Strong in the fourth to make it 7-1.

Junior Tilien smashes a 3-run double off the wall in right and the Whitecaps take a 6-1 lead. @ThatDanHasty calls it. pic.twitter.com/FXHhoHxr1F
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 7, 2026

In the fifth, they kept pouring it on. Shliger singled in Woody Hadeen, and later in the inning Strong cracked a three-run shot, his fourth of the year, to make it 11-1.

Jackson Strong smashes a 3-run homer to right to put West Michigan up by double digits. It’s his 4th home run of the year, and his 2nd in as many days. @wangler_nathan calls it. pic.twitter.com/bfcnmMxITF
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 7, 2026

Jalen Evans allowed two late runs, but this one was in the bag already.

Rainer: 2-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB

Strong: 2-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, HR, BB, 2 K

Tilien: 2-5, R, 3 RBI, 2B, K

Castillo: 4.2 IP, ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: It’s a 2:00 p.m. ET matchup in Comstock Park with Tarik Skubal starting in his first rehab outing for the Whitecaps. One would think they’ll have a good chance to win the series. We’ll see how many pitches Skubal is allowed to throw.

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 0 (box)

Caleb Leys was knocked around a bit, while the offense struggled to get anything going on Saturday.

The southpaw allowed a run in the first, then two more in the fourth. He wasn’t hit that hard, but a pair of walks and a two-run shot allowed didn’t help his cause.

Eliseo Mota allowed a pair of runs in the sixth.

The offense managed just five hits in this one, and then couldn’t capitalize on its few opportunties.

Ankeney: 1-3, 2B, BB, K

Yost: 1-4

Leys (L, 0-3): 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The Mussels are up 4-1 in the series, which concludes on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. ET.

FCL Yankees 8, FCL Tigers 1 (box)

Owen Hall was charged with six runs in this one, but it wasn’t as bad as the statline. Hall was rocked in the first. He gave up a single, two doubles, and two walks before he was lifted due to pitch count per inning restrictions. Gabriel Rosado came on and immediately allowed a grand slam. Hall came back out to pitch the second, third, and first out of the fourth, allowing just one hit, while striking out three the rest of the way. Cris Rodriguez and Steven Madero each had a hit but it was a rough game for the Tigers’ offense.

June 7, 2026

ANALYSIS: How should Brooklyn Nets fans feel about Nate Ament?

I will always appreciate writing for NetsDaily. There are nearly 600 comments on Friday’s article, where I reported the league-wide consensus that the Brooklyn Nets have interest in Tennessee’s Nate Ament, whether at the #6 spot or in a trade-down. Thank you all for the engagement and consistent readership; I don’t even remember the Nets playing in the NBA Finals, and yet, my fandom-turned-coverage of the team has, somehow, been as rewarding as it has been tormenting, thanks to the people who visit this site regularly.

So let’s just clarify a couple things about that report. I am not reporting that it is “likely” that the Nets take Ament, but rather, that is what people around the league believe. Brian Lewis of the New York Post, ever a trustworthy reporter, says that Ament hasn’t even been in for a workout…

Nate Ament has not worked out for the #Nets, according to sources. People around the league are saying Brooklyn holds the #Vols forward in high regard, but as of now they haven't had him in yet. #NBA
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) June 5, 2026

I personally doubt it’s “likely” the Nets take anybody at this juncture, over a fortnight before the NBA Draft, though their interest in Ament certainly seems legit. The noise, though, is undeniable. No prospect is linked to Brooklyn more often — it’s not even close.

And again, part of that comes from Brooklyn’s recent draft history. But just because it seems like the Nets would take Ament at No. 6 — after Egor Dëmin, everybody now knows this front office isn’t afraid to “reach” in the lottery — doesn’t actually make it more likely.

Perhaps the Nets are preying on their rivals’ preconceived notions to create some smoke, maybe they’re doing their best to facilitate a trade-down, who knows? For what it’s worth, major sportsbooks still don’t think Ament is “likely” to go at #6, though the odds are climbing. On Kalshi (sorry), Ament’s odds of being drafted at No. 6 overall have jumped from 4% to 17% in the past week, but that’s still lower than Mikel Brown Jr. and Darius Acuff.

In any case, there’s enough smoke to strongly consider Ament’s strengths and weaknesses, even if Brooklyn doesn’t trade down, which would have seemed unthinkable a couple weeks ago. He was not good at Tennessee in his freshman year, and to discuss his talents further, I held a brief Q&A with NBA Draft analyst Ben Pfeifer.

Benny Pfeif is a friend of mine and a tremendous tape-eater; no analyst has a crystal ball, but he’s demonstrated the value of his opinion many times over…

teams with an okc/boston style drive and kick offense should hope to draft ajay mitchell, who thrives in quick offense off of his rim pressure

win with burst -> threaten to score w/touch -> kick to a shooter is a flow ajay already thrives in and should be able to at the next lvl pic.twitter.com/J1QLe7N4si
— Ben Pfeifer (@bjpf_) June 11, 2024

His social media is, obviously, linked in that post above, and I’ll link his YouTube channel here. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Q: Nate Ament was the #4 high school prospect in the country upon graduation. What to that point made him such an exciting prospect. What, for lack of better wording, was the high-end sell?

A: Nate Ament looked to join the long line of tall wings oozing shotmaking talent and theoretical upside that the NBA typically covets. Ament coupled his 6’10” frame with dynamic on and off-ball shooting from beyond and inside the arc, some basic ball skills and impressive defensive versatility, especially on the ball. His prospect profile sat clearly below the level of Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa but the promise of a 3-and-D plus wing with latent on-ball creation enticed evaluators (myself included).

Q: Let’s break his NCAA season down into parts — how good of an outside shooter is he, really? 33.3% from deep, 37.3% on long twos, 79% from the line isn’t terrible, but that’s not the profile of a sniper. I know it’s just one season of college data, but what level of shooter do you think we’re really talking about here?

A: While Ament’s shooting profile is indeed solid, his 3-point volume, efficiency and free-throw numbers all dipped from his final AAU season (and his most recent reliable pre-NCAA dataset). He traded some of those outside shots for mid-range jumpers, which contributed to some volume deflation from 3-point range, but <8 threes per 100 possession is undeniably disappointing for a prospect with shooting as a primary sell. Plenty of prospects with similar shooting profiles have developed into effective NBA shooters, but they rarely become truly elite outside of fringe cases like Kawhi Leonard. Ament’s mid-range off-the-dribble shotmaking and flashes of movement shooting are enticing, but I view Ament as a good-to-great outside shooter rather than a game-changing one.

Q: Let’s get to the main reason most draft nerds don’t have Ament in the lottery. He shot 43% from two this season, and under 40% from two against top 100 teams. What the hell is going on there? Can we blame Tennessee’s offensive environment, does he just not have wiggle/explosiveness? How does that happen?

A: Since 2008, 11 drafted college players 6’7” or taller logged a career 2-point percentage under 45%, according to Bart Torvik. The best of these players is Jaden McDaniels, who still isn’t a scoring ace after tons of offensive development. Jabari Smith (an apt comparison for Ament, IMO) is there too, but the rest of the list consists of the Cam Reddishes, Ziaire Williamses, and Brandon Bostons of the world. It’s an undeniably concerning indicator and speaks to Ament’s lack of burst, ball-handling chops and standout contested touch.

He’s a far better foul-drawer and strength creator than in high school, but notable strength gains zapped much of the mobility he previously relied on to outmaneuver defenders with the ball. Tennessee’s spacing and supporting cast weren’t pristine by any means and and Ament occasionally flashed effective driving and finishing off two feet with a runway. Maybe he leans into the strength creation, adds a ton of muscle and takes the bully route, but it will be a tight needle to thread regardless on the path to efficient NBA scoring, especially with any on-ball creation involved.

Nate Ament curl, drive, FTs on Rueben Chinyelu.

Since 1/10, Ament has averaged 9 FTs/gm. A lot have looked like designed touches that leverage Ament’s length/strength and minimize his passing reads.

Def impressive for Nate to go at/over Reuben. Still a project on feel. pic.twitter.com/Qlyjs4dhDw
— Chucking Darts NBA & Draft Podcast (@ChuckingDarts) February 8, 2026

Q: Penultimate question: What are his most enticing secondary skills? Plus-rebounder? Rim protector/switchy? Secret passing guru despite a 1.0 assist:turnover? In other words, when the ball ain’t going in, what are you most confident he’ll contribute to an NBA team?

A: Based on my pre-college expectations, Ament’s defense significantly disappointed this past season. The aforementioned muscle gain and lessened mobility really hurt his defense, especially moving in space and making plays as a helper. At his best, Ament should develop into a fine defender, but he lacks high-end traits and feel on that end (and on offense). His off-ball lapses and technical worries aren’t as concerning as his frequently poor instincts, awareness and change of direction on closeouts and long rotations.

He’ll occasionally flash as a help-side shot blocker, but those moments were few and far between. Ament is one of the class’s least threatening playmakers, often struggling to convert easy reads in favor of tough off-dribble jumpers. He’ll high point some rebounds and his cleanest path to ancillary value comes from being extremely large and (hopefully) positioning himself well, but it’s unfortunately bleak projecting any non-scoring facets of his game to impact winning at a playoff level.

Thomas Haugh semi transition drive on Nate Ament (foul on Ament)

Oof. This should not be a difficult closeout for Nate. He’s in position and Haugh is a meh shooter, and Ament is still upright and slow laterally, gets handsy.

Good aggression from TH, but this is harder in pros. pic.twitter.com/UzX7WOONJZ
— Chucking Darts NBA & Draft Podcast (@ChuckingDarts) February 8, 2026

Q: Well, this has been kinda depressing, but let’s ask the big question(s) now. Assuming their interest is real, what do you think Brooklyn sees in him, like what’s the high-end scenario? Lastly, let’s say they take him at #6. Is that fine? Crazy?

A: Viewing Ament’s projection through the rosiest lens possible could lead one to value him near the top of a loaded draft class, especially if said person really values physical traits and shotmaking. Maybe the Tennessee context cloaked his true offensive self, and NBA spacing/movement unlock his game. Even for players without standout feel, ball handling or defensive chops, there’s value in sheer size and scoring, especially in certain postseason matchups. If Ament fleshes out his strength creation and becomes a high-level contested shotmaker, it’s possible he’d fit in as a stabilizing force with the size to add value on the defensive end.

However, that outcome sits at the tail end of Ament’s range and even if a player of the Tobias Harris/Jabari Smith progeny isn’t a terrible result for a top-6 pick, it’s a bleak one in a draft as loaded as 2026. In 2025, Brooklyn drafted a smattering of future complementary pieces, and that’s what Ament projects as. Maybe the Nets view themselves as such a marquee free agent/trade destination that they’ll intentionally eschew high-end star swings like Mikel Brown Jr., Aday Mara, or Kingston Flemings for better roster/size fits. But if Ament is Brooklyn’s sixth pick, it would be an undeniably disappointing selection with potentially damaging long-term ramifications. For your sake (Lucas and his lovely readers), let’s hope this is just typical draft season smoke and mirrors.

Again, another thanks to Mr. Pfeifer for his time and words. He also made this comprehensive video on Ament a couple days ago…

Again, the NBA Draft beings on June 23rd at 8:00 p.m. ET. Until then, get ready way more rumors, analysis, and everything in between.

June 7, 2026June 7, 2026

England beat New Zealand by 115 runs: first cricket Test, day four – as it happened

Gus Atkinson claimed three more wickets as England wrapped up victory despite resistance from Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips

25th over: New Zealand 77-6 (Conway 26, Phillips 9) Conway, facing Tongue, decides that he may as well come to the party. First he steers a four to gully’s right, then he tries to leave a lifter, reacts too late, pats it to Harry Brook at second slip – and is dropped as Brook can only tip it over the bar.

24th over: New Zealand 71-6 (Conway 20, Phillips 9) Robinson continues, moving the ball both ways. Phillips finds the boundary in no time – but only off the inside edge. And again, with his first shot of some authority, punched past cover. “You need to be playing Twenty20 here,” says Stuart Broad, and Phillips, unlike the rest of the Kiwis, seems to agree. He’s been there five minutes and has already made more runs than Latham, O’Rourke, Ravindra and Mitchell put together.

June 7, 2026

Yankees news: Benny Backstop? Don’t count on it

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Ben Rice #22 of the New York Yankees looks on from his defensive position at catcher in the seventh inning during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 20, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images

ESPN | Jorge Castillo: Perhaps unsurprisingly, one of the first questions to arise in the wake of Austin Wells’ surprise IL trip pertained to whether the Yankees’ best healthy hitter could help take up some slack at catcher. While Aaron Boone did not shut the door on Ben Rice donning the tools of ignorance, he mentioned “It’s not on the board right now.” Elaborating, Boone discussed the concern that regular time behind the dish could impact Rice’s torrid bat.

“Do we want to do that with what he means to, obviously, the middle of our lineup?” Boone said. “So we’ll continue to evaluate that and ultimately decide if the risk is worth that, or if we think it’s worth it.”

Back to Wells for a second though, there was some curiosity about the timing of his IL placement, which saw J.C. Escarra return to the team almost immediately after being demoted during Friday’s postgame. It seems that the situation developed quickly. Here’s what Boone had to say:

Aaron Boone said Austin Wells reported feeling headaches late last night, and that the Yankees got him checked out for a concussion. No concussion. Team still wants doctors to run tests on his neck.
— Brendan Kuty 🧟‍♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) June 7, 2026

MLB | Rob Terranova: While the Yankees were busy losing to the Red Sox in the Bronx Friday night, the Yanks’ Triple-A affiliate was much more successful. 2021 second round pick Brendan Beck tossed seven no-hit innings against Syracuse, the Mets’ Triple-A club. After Beck left, having thrown 93 pitches, reliever Carson Coleman entered and proved up to the task he’d inherited. Two hitless frames letter, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre had itself a no-hitter, the RailRiders’ first in five years. It continued a strong start to the season at Triple-A for Beck, who made his MLB debut versus Texas in early May.

MLB | Bryan Hoch: Spencer Jones finds himself back in New York for the second time this season, called up to replace Aaron Judge on the 26-man roster. On his way back to the bigs, Jones found himself on the receiving end of some advice from Oswaldo Cabrera, currently toiling in the minors. “New York doesn’t need any heroes. They just need you,” Oswaldo told Jones, who admittedly struggled in his initial experience against major league pitching. For what it’s worth, Jones went 3-for-3 with an RBI double Friday night. Hopefully, he can provide some thump to the Yankee lineup this time around.

The Athletic | Brendan Kuty ($): By this point, it’s part of Cam Schlittler Lore that the flamethrower grew up in New England, Massachusetts specifically. Less well known perhaps (I certainly hadn’t heard it prior to this) is that Schlittler was named for a Boston sports hero, namely Cam Neely. The NHL Hall of Famer played 10 of his 13 seasons in Beantown. Schlittler’s father was a big fan of Neely and in a nice coincidence, Mrs. Schlittler liked the name Cam as well. Et voila. Now a team president for the Bruins, Neely remarked that he’ll be following the Yankee fireballer’s career with interest. Hopefully Neely can watch his namesake win a World Series or three in his time as a Yankee.

June 7, 2026

Hurricanes Mount Historic Comeback But Fall Short Off Demoralizing Bounce

The Carolina Hurricanes were mere inches from doing what no team had ever done before: Comeback from a four-goal deficit to win a Stanley Cup Final game.

After trailing 4-0 after 40 minutes, the Canes found a way to rally back and force overtime, becoming just the second team ever in Stanley Cup Final history to erase a four-goal deficit (1972 New York Rangers).

But they hoped to do what they couldn't: win.

Unfortunately for them though, this game will not be one that is long remembered in the annals of history, shown in the 3 p.m. slot on NHL Network in the summer a decade from now.

Instead, the Hurricanes wound up on the losing side of a 5-4 double overtime decision in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Vegas Golden Knights due to one of the most heartbreaking bounces you can have.

"It's probably the toughest game I've ever lost," said Andrei Svechnikov.

Much like the rest of the series, this game was a wild one.

After a strong opening frame, the Hurricanes seemingly shut off their brains for the second, compiling mistake on top of mistake as the Golden Knights just unloaded on Carolina, potting four goals in the final half of the period.

It was arguably one of the worst periods in Stanley Cup Final history, as the Hurricanes saw six goals make their way into the back of their net (only four of which ended up actually counting as the first two were called off for offside and goaltender interference respectively).

"I thought we were okay to start, and even the start of the second, the first six minutes, everything was going fine and then we took a bad penalty," said Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Then they made a nice play and a bad bounce on the second one and then it just snowballed on us for the rest of that period."

"It was just kind of not our game," said captain Jordan Staal. "Too many turnovers and not trusting in just playing in their end and grinding them down and doing what we did in the first and staying with it and just kind of got lax a little bit. They're a good team. I mean there's no question they've got some high end talent and they're going to make plays and make moves. We can't be taking any breaths on any of the shifts against that team."

But the team has never been one to give up on any game and they found a way to battle in the third period.

It started with Brind'Amour electing to go with backup netminder Brandon Bussi in relief for Frederik Andersen and he immediately gave Carolina a chance, stopping multiple shots right away, including an already hat-trick scored Mitch Marner on a penalty shot.

"Honestly, I was pretty even keeled,' Bussi said. "I think these are the moments you want to be playing in, right? Just put my head down and have fun with it."

The saves settled Carolina in and they, themselves well line blended, were able to get on a perhaps overly comfortable Vegas team, scoring three times in the span of 39 seconds to make it a game once again.

Jordan Martinook got the team going, sliding the puck five-hole on Carter Hart after Seth Jarvis forced a turnover, then on the ensuing shift, Sebastian Aho jumped on a Vegas turnover and fed a perfect pass across to Taylor Hall in off the rush and then Jordan Staal tipped in a shot from the point.

"I know one thing," Brind'Amour said. "We've been in games where we haven't played well and we always find a way to dig ourselves out. Always."

It was an insane sequence to behold and all of a sudden, everyone in gold got very, very tense.

Carolina continued to push, but it wouldn't be until the last possible moments were they'd get their best chance for an equalizer as Shea Theodore was assessed a minor penalty for delay of game with just over two minutes to go.

Wouldn't you know it, the Hurricanes found that fourth goal too, as Andrei Svechnikov cleaned up a loose puck amongst a sea of bodies with just over a minute to go.

"We never give up on anything," Svechnikov said. "We just keep going and going. That's our identity. Never quit."

They had done it and now momentum was on their side.

In OT, Carolina had their chances, the team was credited with 23 overall in the extra frames, and their were multiple times when the pucks were there in the slot and other high-danger areas, but combinations of bouncing pucks and tight checks prevented them from capitalizing.

And that's probably why this loss feels so much more punishing, because they were the better team from that third period on, they just couldn't get the bounce.

Instead, the Golden Knights got one of the flukiest ones you'll see, with Shea Theodore, who went from zero to hero in an instant, letting a one-timer go that was well wide of the net, but still ended up ricocheting back up and in off of Bussi's leg.

I guess it's true what they say in Vegas, the house always wins.

"There are no moral victories this time of year," Brind'Amour said. "It's irrelevant to be honest. We have to regroup."

"It's part of the gig and it's never easy," Staal said. "It's never going to be easy and we know that and we understand that. We’ve got a bigger hill to climb now, but we're excited for the challenge and excited to keep playing hard and keep moving forward."

'We Just Dug Too Big A Hole': Brandon Bussi, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Andrei Svechnikov, Rod Brind'Amour On Brutal Game 3 LossA stunning four-goal rally forced double overtime, but a cruel bounce sunk Carolina. The Hurricanes process a heartbreaking defeat that leaves no room for error.

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June 7, 2026

No Lede is Safe: 3 Takeaways from Resilient, Dramatic Golden Knights Game 3 Overtime Win

Between Games 2 and 3 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, professional wrestler and viral black magic guru Danhausen put a curse on the Carolina Hurricanes. This curse came in the form of a Cameo, so the validity of the hex is up for debate, but the Vegas Golden Knights certainly played like a team aided by a supernatural entity.

Or, at least, they played like a team with a supernatural entity watching over them for two periods.

In the National Hockey League, no lede— er, lead— is safe. The debatably-cursed Hurricanes came all the way back in the third, scoring three goals in 39 seconds and finding the equalizer on a late-game power play with their goalie pulled for the extra attacker.

The Hurricanes had all the momentum heading into overtime. Teams that trailed by at least four goals in a Stanley Cup Final game were 0-108, but after that miraculous comeback, they had the opportunity to establish themselves on the right side of history.

And that’s when they felt the full force of Danhausen’s curse.

The Golden Knights have a 2-1 lead in the series, which is a familiar position for them to be in. They have not trailed in a series since Game 3 in the First Round, and thanks to Danhausen’s curse, they may never trail in a series again this postseason.

Oh no! WWE star and sports oracle @DanhausenAD has cursed the @Canes! pic.twitter.com/KtBcZoF3dN
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) June 7, 2026

1. A Nice Record

In the second period, the Golden Knights scored four goals in a span of 6:26. Three of these goals came courtesy of Mitch Marner, who recorded a natural hat trick in just six minutes and ten seconds. Marner’s natural hat trick broke a 69-year-old record to become the fastest in Stanley Cup Final history.

The previous record holder was none other than Maurice “Rocket” Richard, who recorded a six-minute, twenty-one-second hat trick in Game 1 of the 1957 Stanley Cup Final.

Marner has been the driving force behind the Golden Knights’ postseason run, and he continues to put the team on his back when they need him most. He recorded four points tonight, ten shots on goal, three hits, and was a +3 in 27 minutes of ice time.

“You need all five guys on the ice to all be on the same page, and I thought our line did a really good job of that throughout the entire night,” said Marner following the 5-4 overtime win. “I thought our line played a really good game throughout all 3 periods— uh, all five, I guess. I thought we did a really good job of just advancing pucks, winning battles down low, and making plays.

“I thought we had good looks all night from all three of us,” Marner finished. “I got put in good areas by my teammates, and I was happy enough to finish them off.”

2. Hold On, Partner, I Am Overstimulated

Following a dramatic Game 1, John Tortorella said he expected the whole series to be equally back-and-forth. I don’t think he had any idea just how right he’d be.

The Golden Knights kicked off the scoring with two goals that came 16 seconds apart. They added another less than four minutes later, and a fourth that came 2:20 after that.

In the third period, the Hurricanes rode a momentum wave of their own, scoring the fastest three goals in Stanley Cup Final history. Their second goal came 26 seconds after their first; their third, 13 seconds after the second.

“[It was] a crazy game,” said Mitch Marner postgame. “I’m really happy with how our group responded, staying calm in the moment. Going into overtime, we just trusted the calmness and went out there and kept doing what we were doing.”

This is just the fifth Stanley Cup Final over the last 45 years to have each of the first three games decided by a goal. But, hey– won’t somebody please think of the ratings?

3. Shea Theodore and the Shawshank Redemption

Most of the spotlight tonight is pointed at Mitch Marner for his second-period heroics, and understandably so. Brayden McNabb, too, is rightfully getting his flowers for returning to the lineup less than 48 hours after taking an 87-MPH slapshot to the face.

Not enough is being said about Shea Theodore, who played 39:09 in this double-overtime thriller, provided an assist, and sent the fans home happy by scoring the game-winning goal. He blocked three shots, recorded three shots on goal, and was a +3.

Of course, Theodore also took an untimely penalty leading to Carolina’s game-tying goal. With 2:55 remaining in regulation, he flipped the puck over the glass and had to watch as Andrei Svechnikov tied it on a late power play.

In the end, his late-game penalty doesn’t matter. When his team needed a hero, Theodore stepped up and donned the cape in double overtime.

Theodore’s game-winner wasn’t the prettiest of his career. It took a lively bounce off the end boards, hopped into Brandon Bussi’s skate, and ricocheted into the back of the net.

SHEA THEODORE WINS IT FOR VEGAS IN @ENERGIZER DOUBLE OVERTIME TO TAKE A 2-1 LEAD IN THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zpOANju87a
— NHL (@NHL) June 7, 2026

“It’s exactly the way I planned,” joked Theodore following the 5-4 overtime win. “Obviously, you want to be the guy that scores, but at the same time, you just want to play well, carry the play, and be smart defensively… Just get things to the net, and sometimes good bounces happen.

“I was pretty gassed there towards the end,” Theodore finished. “I was just relieved that the game was over and that we got the win.”

June 7, 2026

Hurricanes vs Golden Knights Game 3 winners, losers: Mitch Marner, Brandon Bussi stand out

The true winner of Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final is the fans.

Not necessarily fans of the Vegas Golden Knights and Carolina Hurricanes, because they're probably still catching their breath after another wild series of twists and turns.

But hockey fans, in general.

How many thought that this series would be a defensive slog with both teams so capable of limiting opponents' chances?

Instead, it has been crazily unpredictable with 25 total goals over three games and comebacks galore. The first two games produced something never done before in the Stanley Cup Final when each team had a multigoal comeback. And then Carolina overcame a 4-0 deficit to force overtime before falling in the second overtime.

Here are the winners and losers of Game 3:

WINNERS

Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner

He set a record for the fastest hat trick in the Stanley Cup Final and added an assist to give Vegas that 4-0 lead. And he was dangerous other times, such as getting a penalty shot.

Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi

He hadn't played a second of the postseason before replacing Frederik Andersen after the second intermission. But he quickly had to stop Marner's penalty shot and make other tough saves to allow Carolina to get back into the game. He can't be faulted for the fluke goal he allowed in the second overtime.

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb

He went to the hospital and needed 20 to 30 stitches after getting hit by a puck in Game 2. He returned for Game 3 and wasn't eased back in. He played nearly 36 minutes and had two assists, including on the game-winner. That's five assists in two full games for a player mostly known for the defensive side of his game.

ABC's Dave Jackson

The former referee and ABC/ESPN's NHL rules expert was kept busy. There were two disallowed goals early in the second period and then Jackson explained why John Tortorella shouldn't challenge Andrei Svechnikov's tying goal. The Golden Knights coach didn't.

LOSERS

The way the game ended

Once you reach the second overtime, it's usually not going to be a brilliant play that ends the game. But Shea Theodore's goal is about as fluky as it gets. His shot hit the back boards and went in off Bussi. Doesn't seem a fitting way to end a game that had so much going for it.

SHEA THEODORE WINS IT FOR VEGAS IN @ENERGIZER DOUBLE OVERTIME TO TAKE A 2-1 LEAD IN THE #STANLEYCUP FINAL 🚨 pic.twitter.com/zpOANju87a
— NHL (@NHL) June 7, 2026

The starting goaltenders

Carolina's Andersen and Vegas' Carter Hart were stellar in earlier rounds. Less so in the Final. They both have played a lot more consecutive games than they usually do. There are two days off until Game 4. Maybe the rest will help. Or does coach Rod Brind'Amour start Bussi in Game 4?

Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker

He started Marner's hat trick with an own goal, accidentally deflecting the forward's centering feed into the net. Later, he broke the stick with which Marner set the record.

Sean Walker broke Mitch Marner's hat trick stick, but Mitch still made sure to collect it 😅 pic.twitter.com/tFCY4BfC5m
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 7, 2026

Hurricanes injuries

William Carrier, the former Golden Knight who was cheered during introductions, had to leave the game after a check. K'Andre Miller was working with a trainer earlier in the game. Jalen Chatfield fell awkwardly though a bench door when it opened as he was checked. Carrier's injury seemed the most serious.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Stanley Cup Game 3 winners, losers: Mitch Marner, Brayden McNabb shine

June 7, 2026

New York takes 2-0 lead into game 3 against San Antonio

San Antonio Spurs (62-20, second in the Western Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)

New York; Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

LINE: Knicks -2.5; over/under is 215.5

NBA FINALS: Knicks lead series 2-0

BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals with a 2-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last meeting 105-104 on Saturday, led by 21 points from Karl-Anthony Towns. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 29.

The Knicks are 30-10 in home games. New York ranks fifth in the NBA allowing just 110.1 points per game while holding opponents to 46.0% shooting.

The Spurs are 30-12 in road games. San Antonio averages 119.8 points and has outscored opponents by 8.3 points per game.

The 116.5 points per game the Knicks average are 5.0 more points than the Spurs allow (111.5). The Spurs average 13.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.3 fewer makes per game than the Knicks give up.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Brunson is averaging 26 points and 6.8 assists for the Knicks. Mikal Bridges is averaging 17.3 points over the last 10 games.

Wembanyama is averaging 25 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.1 blocks for the Spurs. Julian Champagnie is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 10-0, averaging 118.2 points, 44.9 rebounds, 27.8 assists, 9.2 steals and 3.9 blocks per game while shooting 50.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points per game.

Spurs: 5-5, averaging 112.7 points, 48.4 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 7.8 steals and 6.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.2 points.

INJURIES: Knicks: None listed.

Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle).

___

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

June 7, 2026

Jacob Misiorowski hits Tyler Freeman in helmet with pitch

Milwaukee Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski was dealing once again Saturday night.

And while he mowed down the Colorado Rockies − including firing a starter record 103.7 mph pitch − he was also responsible for a scary moment in the sixth inning.

A 98 mph offering from Misiorowski got away from him, hitting the Rockies' Tyler Freeman flush in the helmet. Both players seemed shaken by the incident and Freeman exited the game after being attended to by trainers.

Jacob Misiorowski hits Tyler Freeman in the head with a pitch pic.twitter.com/TAINGWeOMZ
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 7, 2026

Freeman did walk off the field under his own power.

His manager, Warren Schaeffer, painted a positive outlook for Freeman after the game.

"He took it about as good as I think anybody can take 101 (miles per hour) off the helmet," Schaeffer said, per the Denver Post. "Obviously, it didn’t feel good, but he seems fine."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski hits Tyler Freeman in helmet with pitch

June 7, 2026

Jalen Brunson hasn’t hit his best level for Knicks in NBA Finals — yet

Jalen Brunson struggled to get his shot going in NBA Finals Game 2.

What’s scary is that there is another level the Knicks can reach.

Jalen Brunson in particular.

He has been far from his best across the first two games of the Finals — he has shot just 19-for-56 from the field (33.9 percent) and 4-for-17 from 3-point range (23.5 percent).

He’s committed a combined eight turnovers.

In Friday’s 105-104 Game 2 win over the Spurs at Frost Bank Center, he missed three straight shots as the Spurs went on a 14-0 run to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.

Jalen Brunson struggled to get his shot going in NBA Finals Game 2. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

The last one was a wide-open 3-pointer that he was unable to hit.

He did, though, make a jumper to tie the game and hit a free throw — after stealing Victor Wembanyama’s pass — to give the Knicks their final lead.

“We’re just trying to make it difficult on him,” De’Aaron Fox said. “I think we’ve done a good job both games. He’s made big shots at the end of games. He’s a hell of a player.”

“Even when you make it difficult on good players, they’re talented so they’re going to end up making shots. He’s done that, especially at the end of the games.”

The Spurs clearly made it a point to not let Brunson beat them Friday.

They blitzed him every time someone set a screen for him.

They collapsed in the paint every time he got into the lane.

San Antonio Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox fouls New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson during the second half at Frost Bank Center of Game 2. Jason Szenes for The New York Post

And they were extremely physical — picking him up full court, bumping him off the ball and trying to get under his skin.

Much of it was allowed by the referees.

At one point in the fourth quarter, De’Aaron Fox basically shoved him, then tried to exchange a few words with Brunson, who simply stared him down.

Brunson’s father, assistant coach Rick, shouted a few words toward Fox.

Brunson expects even more of that approach in Game 3 on Monday.

“Knowing them, there’s going to be another level,” Brunson said. “We have to be prepared and be ready to match it and play for 48 minutes. No matter what goes on in the game, we have to have each other’s back, what’s going on, who is on a run, what’s not, who is up, who is down. Making sure we are playing together for 48 minutes is really important.”

And, as Fox said, Brunson has still found a way to execute late in both Games 1 and 2 despite his struggles up to that point.

He became the first player since at least 1971 to score the final go-ahead points in the last two minutes of back-to-back Finals games, according to ESPN.

“I see Captain Clutch doing what he’s always been doing since I got here,” Karl-Anthony Towns said. “He’s a huge part when it comes down to the actual — the game, to winning the game, No. 11 can’t be messed with.”

If this is what the Knicks look like without Brunson at his best, just imagine what they’ll be when he finally breaks out.

June 7, 2026

Domincan Summer League preview

The San Diego Padres organization again has two teams in the Domincan Summer League (DSL). The players live and train on the campus of their Domincan Academies and play their games on the grounds of the the team-operated training sites and academies.

Padres Gold and Padres Brown began playing on June 1 with several top international prospects on the roster(s). Padres scouts and executives have signed dozens of players during the international signing period that began on Jan. 15. If you check the Padres transactions in the roster section of the website, you will see many more have been signed over past months.

All of these players fall within the criteria of at least 16 years old and turn 17 before Sept. 1 of the signing year. They come from everywhere outside of the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and the DSL is the location where most begin their professional careers.

The Padres have a $5.94 million bonus pool for this signing class that runs until Dec. 15. Three of the top 100 international prospects as ranked by MLB Pipeline signed with the Padres. They are all currently on the roster in the DSL. There are also three other prospects playing this year that are considered high reward players. One is a holdover from the 2025 class that also featured three other players currently ranked on the Padres top 100 prospects list.

2025 class prospects to watch

SS/3B Deivid Coronil, No. 25, is an 18-year-old from Venezuela who played in the DSL last year and is currently not active on any team. He is most likely still in Arizona in a development program.

SS/2B Jhoan De La Cruz, No. 21, is an 18-year-old from the Dominican Republic (DR) and played last year in the DSL. He is currently playing for the ACL Padres at shortstop, second base and DH.

RHP Lan-Hong- Su, No. 16, is a 19-year-old from Taiwan who is with the ACL Padres after not playing in 2025 (he signed in Oct. 2025). He has already made a splash by skipping the DSL and has started three games for the ACL team with a 1.29 ERA in seven innings.

LHP Carlos Alvarez, is not a top 30 prospect after struggling in his DSL debut last year. At 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, Alvarez is still only 18 years old. Command and control are the big issues for him, and he still has plenty of time to work through them and develop.

2026 top prospects in the DSL

The Padres signed 17-year-old Cuban shortstop Joniel Hernandez, the No. 13 rated international prospect on MLB Pipeline, for a $1.4 million bonus. At 6-1 and 180 pounds, the potential for a five-tool player is there. If he grows out of his shortstop position, he could be moved to center field. He is currently on the DSL Gold roster.

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LHP Diego Serna, 17, is the No. 20 prospect for the Padres and is from Mexico. He has international experience after pitching for Mexico in the 2024 U-15 World Cup. He is considered the best lefty prospect in the international class. At 6-3 and 205, Serna still has time to grow and currently has a low-90’s fastball with a slider and changeup. Serna is pitching for DSL Gold.

SS/3B Timothy Mogen, 17, is from Curacao and stands 6-4 and 170 pounds. He was noted by Baseball America as one of the top athletes outside of the top rankings that should be watched. He has speed, a plus-arm and power potential. He is currently on the DSL Gold roster.

RHP Yoel Duarte is out of Venezuela and recently changed from the shortstop position to pitching. He was clocked to have a mid-90’s fastball from the go and tops out at 98 mph. At 6-3 and 185 pounds, the 17-year-old still has projectible development and is still learning. He is on the DSL Brown roster.

Catcher Jhonneiker Leon is a 17-year-old out of Venezuela. He is 6-1 and 210 with a plus-arm and already possesses plus-power with his bat. He is on the DSL Gold roster.

RHP Jordan Perez is a Cuban 17-year-old that has a low-90’s fastball, a curveball and a developing third pitch. He is 6-1 and 175 pounds and is more polished that many of the other inexperienced pitchers around him. He is on the DSL Gold roster.

The DSL season typically runs a 72-game schedule and ends in August. The Padres DSL Gold team won the championship last year and will fight to keep the DSL Cup. Updates will be included in the weekly minor league updates on Gaslamp Ball.

June 7, 2026

Golden Knights survive with double OT win over Hurricanes after blowing four-goal lead in Game 3

An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Vegas Golden Knights player Shea Theodore celebrates his game-winning goal as a referee and fans look on, Image 2 shows Jordan Staal (number 11) of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates a goal with his teammates, Image 3 shows Vegas Golden Knights player Mitch Marner (93) celebrating a goal while Carolina Hurricanes player Andrei Svechnikov (37) reacts in the background during the 2026 Stanley Cup Final — The Golden Knights defeated the Hurricanes on Saturday.

LAS VEGAS — A four-goal lead in what has been a wacky, compelling and highly entertaining Stanley Cup Final nearly wasn’t enough for the Golden Knights on Saturday night.

A four-goal, third-period rally by the Hurricanes nearly made NHL history and in process sent shockwaves through T-Mobile Arena.

And this game ended in a way perhaps befitting all the craziness, a shot from Vegas defenseman Shea Theodore off the skate of Brandon Bussi — the backup goalie put in the game in the third period after not playing for two months — that went into the net at 5:38 of double overtime to give the Golden Knights a 5-4 victory over Carolina.

“I have experienced a lot of games in playoffs,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella said. “I haven’t experienced one like this.”

Shea Theodore celebrates his goal during overtime June 6. NHLI via Getty Images

Almost overlooked was the four-point night by Vegas’ Mitch Marner, who also produced the fastest hat trick in Cup Final history.

The Golden Knights took a 2-1 series lead. The teams take two days off before meeting in Game 4 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Teams with a 2-1 series lead went on to win the Cup 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%.

Carolina had been 6-0 in overtime this postseason. The Hurricanes were trying to become the first team to win after trailing by at least four goals in the third period, but now clubs in that situation are 0-109.

“We just left our foot off the gas,” Theodore said on the ABC broadcast. “I think we have to be sharper in the third, but I liked the resiliency out of our group. I liked the way we started that second overtime, and I felt like we were more on our toes.”

This was the 10th time the first three games of a Cup Final were decided by a point. The last time was in 2016 between Pittsburgh and San Jose.

The Golden Knights seemed to have it in hand after scoring four times in the second, including a natural hat trick by Marner.

Mitch Marner celebrates Shea Theodore’s overtime goal June 6. Imagn Images

But Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall and Jordan Staal scored goals for the Hurricanes. Their goals, occurring 39 seconds apart, are the fastest three in a Cup Final game.

Andrei Svechnikov jammed in a puck on a six-on-four power play with 1:42 left to force overtime.

“I love that we feel like we can come back from anything, but you can’t put yourself in a hole like we did,” Martinook said. “The second period, for them to come out like that and take total control of the game, it’s something that can’t happen, especially this time.”

Marner’s scoring outburst came over a 6:10 stretch of the second period, and he had four points in the period. He had the secondary assist on Tomas Hertl’s goal midway through the period.

The last time a player had four points in a period of the Cup final was in 1919 when Frank Foyston of the Seattle Metropolitans pulled off that feat.

Jordan Staal celebrates his goal during the Hurricanes’ June 6 loss. NHLI via Getty Images

Marner nearly added to the total in the third period, but failed to capitalize on a breakaway and a penalty shot. Those missed chances came back to bite the Golden Knights.

The Hurricanes made the comeback after changing goalies to open the third, going with Bussi, who made 18 saves. Frederik Andersen had given up those four goals on 16 shots.

Carolina also rallied without forward and former Golden Knight William Carrier, who had an upper-body injury in the second period.

Vegas’ Carter Hart stopped 29 shots.

Vegas twice thought it took the lead early in the second period, but the Hurricanes successfully challenged both goals to keep the game scoreless.

The Golden Knights received a major boost when defenseman Brayden McNabb took the ice. He took a puck in the face in the first period Thursday night at Carolina and didn’t return to the game. McNabb, who had on a cage to protect his face, is Vegas’ best defensive defenseman. He was on the first defensive pair with Theodore.

Around the basepaths

Today’s Matchup:

Questions/Prompts:

Iowa Cubs 7, Toledo Mud Hens 5 (Gm1)(F/7)(box)

Toledo Mud Hens 8, Iowa Cubs 1 (Gm2)(F/7)(box)

Richmond Flying Squirrels 8, Erie SeaWolves 7 (box)

West Michigan Whitecaps 11, Dayton Dragons 3 (box)

Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, 5, Lakeland Flying Tigers 0 (box)

FCL Yankees 8, FCL Tigers 1 (box)

Recent Articles

1. A *Nice* Record

2. Hold On, Partner, I Am Overstimulated

3. Shea Theodore and the Shawshank Redemption

WINNERS

Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner

Hurricanes goalie Brandon Bussi

Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb

ABC's Dave Jackson

LOSERS

The way the game ended

The starting goaltenders

Hurricanes defenseman Sean Walker

Hurricanes injuries

2025 class prospects to watch

2026 top prospects in the DSL

1. A Nice Record