SAN ANTONIO — Stephon Castle took a page out of James Harden’s playbook Thursday.
While, yes, the Knicks won Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite not being at their best, the Spurs’ young guard remained just as confident in his team.
“I think [Victor Wembanyama] said it best: I don’t think we have anything to be too worried about,” Castle said. “Obviously, we feel like we’re the better team. We didn’t play well, still had a chance to win.”
It was somewhat reminiscent of Harden saying he felt the Cavaliers were better than the Knicks after getting swept in the Eastern Conference finals. This is, of course, just one game.
Spurs guard Stephon Castle talks with the media on June 4, 2026 in preparation for his team’s Game 2 battle against the Knicks. NBAE via Getty Images
But the Spurs had a 14-point lead in the third quarter and were at home, yet the Knicks outscored them by 17 points in the second half and won their franchise-record 12th consecutive playoff game.
They held Wembanyama in check, holding him to 6-of-21 shooting and forcing six turnovers. Wembanyama, who finished with 26 points, placed the blame on himself both after the loss and again Thursday.
He didn’t necessarily discredit the Knicks defense against him, but the 7-foot-4 Frenchman didn’t seem overly impressed by how they guarded him, either.
“It’s almost like I [don’t] have anything to figure out. It’s almost like I have to play normal, not even good,” he said. “It’s just like doing the right things is enough. When we play bad, when I play bad, is when we shoot ourselves in the foot. This is why I’m not worried. We’re going to be so much better. I’m going to be so much better.”
Spurs coach Mitch Johnson had a similar take on the series opener.
He felt San Antonio was uncharacteristically isolation-heavy on offense, relying on their talent instead of what has gotten them here. It led to only 16 assists and 43 3-point attempts, with the Spurs making just 11 of them.
“I think the way we played offensively in terms of a team and our brand, we didn’t play with the pass enough, we didn’t put enough pressure [on them], force the [ball] in the paint,” he said. “It led to a lot of making or missing shots, us trying to play with talent offensively instead of playing together and finding opportunities to take advantage of. New York gets a lot of credit for that. I think we have a lot of room for improvement on that moving forward.”
The Spurs, it should be noted, have been here before. They trailed the Thunder in the Western Conference finals and the Timberwolves in the series before that.
“We just need to play our game. We just need to be normal,” Wembanyama said. “We don’t need to do anything incredible.”
Carolina Hurricanes (53-22-7, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Vegas Golden Knights (39-26-17, in the Pacific Division)
Paradise, Nevada; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Golden Knights -110, Hurricanes -110; over/under is 5.5
STANLEY CUP FINAL: Series tied 1-1
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights host the Carolina Hurricanes in game three of the Stanley Cup Final with the series tied 1-1. The teams meet Thursday for the fifth time this season. The Hurricanes won the last matchup 4-3 in overtime.
Vegas has gone 26-14-9 in home games and 39-26-17 overall. The Golden Knights are 49-7-12 when scoring three or more goals.
Carolina has a 30-12-5 record on the road and a 53-22-7 record overall. The Hurricanes have a 58-7-6 record when scoring three or more goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Mark Stone has 28 goals and 44 assists for the Golden Knights. Brett Howden has eight goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Andrei Svechnikov has 31 goals and 39 assists for the Hurricanes. Nikolaj Ehlers has six goals and four assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Golden Knights: 8-1-1, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.7 assists, 3.2 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.4 goals per game.
Hurricanes: 8-2-0, averaging 3.6 goals, 6.2 assists, 4.6 penalties and 10.8 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
INJURIES: Golden Knights: None listed.
Hurricanes: None listed.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
People in custody on Rikers Island watch Game 1 of the 2026 NBA finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.Photograph: Lauren Caulk/The Guardian
It’s nearly half past eight on Wednesday evening and approximately 30 men in tan uniforms drift into the common area of a housing unit deep inside the George R Vierno Center, an 850-bed jail and one of eight active facilities on New York’s Rikers Island. Some hover around a folding table piled to the edges with snacks. Others make their way into the smaller rooms on the perimeter of the two-floor communal space and drag plastic chairs closer to the flat-screen televisions mounted inside. The excited chatter and nervous energy bubbles as a familiar refrain cuts through the din.
Knicks in four.
The New York Knicks are moments away from playing in the NBA finals for the first time in 27 years, the last remaining hurdle in their bid to end a title drought that reaches back to 1973. On this balmy June evening, separated by less than 10 miles of water, concrete and razor wire from a Manhattan skyline bathed in orange and blue, the men gathered here are watching the same game that is commanding the attention of millions more in bars, restaurants, living rooms and outdoor gatherings across the five boroughs.
Pictured above: An exterior view of the Rikers Island jail complex on 3 June 2026. Pictured below: The bridge connecting Rikers Island to Queens crosses a sprawling employee parking lot before reaching the jail complex, which houses the vast majority of people held in New York City’s custody. All photographs by Lauren Caulk.
For a few hours, one of America’s most notorious jail complexes and least visible institutions is tapping into a civic ritual that has brought New Yorkers together like few public events in decades. The underdog Knicks’ long-awaited return to basketball’s biggest stage has given people in custody at Rikers a rare opportunity to participate in a shared New York moment that will see them arguing over the same calls, second-guessing the same decisions and dreaming the same dream that is consuming the city outside.
“You don’t have a team full of superstar players in the Knicks,” says Luis Guzman, a 43-year-old from the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx who has been held at Rikers since September on a burglary case that remains pending. “It’s the chemistry and the teamwork that makes them great. This is the year they finally might get it done. If we take one in San Antonio, it’s over for San Antonio. We will not lose at home. All we got to do is take one down here.”
Guzman has taken a front-row seat for Wednesday’s game inside the Beacon Center, a common area that includes classrooms, a recording studio, a barbershop and other workforce-training programs. He is part of what correction officials describe as an “honors house”, a housing unit reserved for incarcerated people who have gone at least 120 days without violence or disciplinary incidents and have demonstrated a sustained commitment to programming and rehabilitation, qualifying them to receive snacks and to remain out past the normal 9pm lock-in. Many of the men here to watch the game have gone six months or longer without an infraction.
Pictured above: A group of men in the common area of a housing unit in the George R Vierno Center watch as the Knicks play their first NBA finals game since 1999. Pictured below: Most of Wednesday’s attendees have gone six months or longer without an infraction, qualifying them to receive snacks and to remain out past the normal 9pm lock-in.
The Guardian was granted access to Rikers Island by the New York City department of correction and was accompanied during its visit by the agency’s deputy commissioner for public information.
The reward for good behavior on Wednesday night looks more like a Super Bowl spread than standard jailhouse fare: bags of chips and cookies, platters of fruit and cheese, bottled soft drinks and a large sheet cake frosted with three words that, for a night at least, unite nearly everyone in attendance: Let’s Go Knicks! Some of the items are similar to what people in custody could buy through commissary, though one DOC staffer notes that the name brands represent an upgrade from what’s offered during a typical movie night. A tinsel curtain frames the entrance while the remnants of an unfinished balloon arch lie scattered across the sealed concrete floor.
The Game 1 watch parties on Rikers extend far beyond this one. Correction officials say incarcerated people in roughly 44 housing units across the complex are taking part in some form of gathering for the game, reaching almost 2,000 people in all. Some facilities host viewings in dedicated program spaces like the Peace Center in the basement of the Robert N Davoren Complex, a similar hub for incarcerated males aged 21 and under. Over in the Otis Bantum Correctional Center, another male detention unit located a half mile down the road, people are watching in a chapel.
Pictured above: A large sheet cake frosted with three words that, for one night at least, unite nearly everyone in the room. Pictured below: Remnants of an unfinished balloon arch lay scattered across the floor of the Beacon Center, which stands for Building Education, Advancing and Creating Opportunities for Networking.
There are roughly 6,000 people in custody on Rikers Island, a 413-acre patch of land in the East River tucked between Queens and the Bronx just north of LaGuardia Airport. Most have not been convicted of a crime and are awaiting trial, while some are serving shorter sentences. For generations, the name Rikers has been shorthand for New York City’s vast and troubled jail system, a collection of aging facilities that has been ordered to be closed and replaced by four jails across the city by August 2027, though it is unlikely to meet that deadline.
But on Wednesday night, for roughly a third of the people incarcerated here, basketball briefly collapses the distance between the island and the city beyond the bridge.
***
‘This is what the Knicks do!’
The snappy conversation ricochets around the room during the tense opening quarter, sounding much like it would in a Bronx barbershop, a Queens bodega or a crowded Staten Island living room. The hollers ring out from the doorways in Beacon Center with mounting intensity as the Knicks sprint out to a 14-7 lead, but the mood shifts when they abruptly fall behind 27-17 and the broadcast cuts away to star playmaker Jalen Brunson limping off the floor and into the locker room with an injury.
“This is what the Knicks do!” groans John Shakespeare, a 44-year-old from Brooklyn who has been detained here since February while awaiting trial. “This game is over. This is why I roll with the Liberty. I like the little elephant they got.”
Most New Yorkers know Rikers only as a forbidding silhouette in the East River, a cluster of low-slung buildings visible from highways on the drive into LaGuardia but largely disconnected from daily life. In reality, it functions almost as a self-contained municipality, with its own power plant, industrial kitchen that produces roughly 7m meals annually and other infrastructure needed to sustain thousands of people every day.
Nearly everybody in the Beacon Center watch party is a lifelong Knicks fan hanging on every possession. Not Richard Weems, a 44-year-old Harlem native who has been held here since October while awaiting court proceedings. He took a liking to the Spurs back in the 1990s because of Tim Duncan and quietly observes the game from the front row with a stoic intensity similar to the longtime San Antonio star, acknowledging every Victor Wembanyama highlight with a subtle fist pump and a knowing nod.
Thomas Gregory, 59, arrived at Rikers on a charge of attempted criminal possession of a weapon nearly 15 months ago and is still waiting for his case to move forward. A longtime Knicks supporter going back the Walt Frazier days, he says he was supposed to go to trial in December but has instead watched hearing after hearing come and go. With another court date looming next week, he speaks about his future with a mix of frustration and resignation.
“They keep putting it off, putting it off,” says Gregory, who spends his typical Wednesday nights in the housing unit playing chess or dominoes. “I feel like they’re not going to do nothing.”
But Gregory snaps right back into the action when a San Antonio player appears to get away with traveling during a chaotic possession: “He’s taking the A train! How many steps is he gonna take?”
Pictured above: The George R Vierno Center, opened in 1991 as an 850-bed facility for detainees, is one of eight active facilities on Rikers Island.
Sport may seem like a frivolity in a jail long criticized for violence, neglect, dysfunction, corruption and inhumane conditions. The average detainee remains at Rikers for nearly four months, roughly four times the national average. Four people have died in custody so far this year, including two in a 24-hour span last month, after more than a dozen deaths in 2025, nearly all from medical problems. An independent commission once described the jail as “a crumbling, inordinately expensive incubator of misery”, which qualifies as a understatement in the broader context of its bleak history. Though city leaders intend to replace Rikers with four smaller borough-based jails under a City Council mandate, the current administration has admitted the scheduled 2027 closure date is “practically impossible to fulfill”.
But for now those grim realities fade into the background and the conversation belongs to basketball.
The repartee during commercial breaks strays far beyond the game. An advertisement for the new iPhone sparks a debate over the merits of smartphones v dumbphones and the shredded attention spans of today’s youth. A trailer for Disclosure Day prompts an animated discussion of Steven Spielberg’s body of work. A mention of the reports that Donald Trump will be attending Game 3 at Madison Square Garden is met with a mixture of laughter and groans.
“Oh, now he wants to come?” Shakespeare says. “Now he’s from here?”
The banter comes quick and fast and everybody is fair game. When Mikal Bridges buries a mid-range jumper to put the Knicks ahead 40-39, the television cameras find celebrity superfan Timothée Chalamet celebrating from near courtside.
Guzman shakes his head.
“You see that guy?” he says, pointing at the screen. “He’s cheering now, but watch when they go down. He stays quiet.”
***
‘We’re not the judge or jury’
Few people in the room understand the weight of these moments better than Stanley Richards, who in January was tapped by New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani to become the first formerly incarcerated person to oversee the city’s jails. Three decades earlier, Richards spent time in a 10-by-7-foot cell on Rikers following a robbery conviction. He has gone on to build a career helping others navigate re-entry before returning to the system as a reform-minded leader.
Richards says events such as the Knicks watch party are designed to remind people in custody that they remain connected to the city beyond the jail’s walls.
“Nights like this communicate to the people in our care that we’re not the judge or jury,” Richards tells the Guardian at half-time with the Spurs nursing a seven-point lead. “We don’t determine who comes in or when people go out, but we can determine how we treat people when they come into our care.”
Pictured above: Stanley Richards was appointed commissioner of the New York City’s department of correction in February, becoming the first formerly incarcerated person to oversee the city’s jails. Pictured below: Richards takes in the second half of Game 1 at the George R Vierno Center.
His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Rikers. The jail complex has been under federal oversight for a decade, while last year a federal judge ordered the appointment of an independent remediation manager with sweeping powers after finding the city had failed to make sufficient progress in curbing violence and improving conditions.
The unusual arrangement means Richards must lead the nation’s second-largest jail system while sharing authority with a court-appointed third party, known as a federal receiver, charged with accelerating reforms. At the same time, he is helping steer New York City’s long-delayed effort to close Rikers altogether and replace it piecemeal. That has included the April opening of a jail unit within the city’s Bellevue hospital that will house more than 100 people with acute medical conditions and serious mental illness who are currently held at Rikers.
Standing inside one of the viewing rooms in the Beacon Center as correction officers hand out cake and drinks during the third quarter, Richards says those small acts matter more than people realize.
“Part of our job is to see the best in people before they can see it in themselves,” Richards says. “We hold that image of who they can be until they begin to believe it too. That means not judging someone by the worst thing they’ve ever done. It means refusing to give people a scarlet letter for life. It means treating people the way we’d want our own family members treated.”
***
‘The whole of New York is stressed right now’
Even as San Antonio stretch their lead to 14 midway through the third quarter and a collective anxiety begins to creep in, the noise level in the unit barely dips. But as Richards watches the game from alongside the men of the George R Vierno Center while giving his running commentary, the Knicks storm back with a 22-9 run to close the period and send the game into the fourth tied at 76 apiece.
With every New York basket from there, a full throttle of sound reverberates through the cinder-block walls from all directions as “Let’s go Knicks!” chants ring through the corridors. Gleeful correction officers and staffers move in and out of the different viewing rooms with pace, pumping their fists and hollering as if they were in the Garden itself.
The tension only climbs in the fourth quarter as the Spurs rattle off eight unanswered points during a four-minute stretch where the suddenly frigid Knicks miss seven shots in a row, lifting San Antonio to a 95-94 lead with just over two minutes to go.
“This is stressing me out right now,” Guzman says. “The whole of New York is stressed out right now.”
Pictured above: An interior view of the George R Vierno Center. Pictured below: The bridge to Rikers Island is less than a mile long, but for many New Yorkers it marks a far greater divide between life inside the city’s jail system and the world beyond.
That’s when Brunson, the Knicks’ undersized talisman, deposits a corner three that puts New York ahead once and for all, detonating celebrations throughout the unit. The home team closes the game on a decisive 11-0 run, the roars growing in volume as the margin widens, setting off scenes of pure elation throughout Beacon Center and sending nearly all of the crowd off to lock-up with spirits high. Final score: Knicks 105, Spurs 95. One down, three to go.
“Last time I watched the Knicks in the finals I was a senior in high school,” Guzman says. “It was back in 1999 when they lost to the Spurs, the year after Michael Jordan retired. I grew up on 149 and Third Avenue in the Bronx, but I ended up moving out to a better neighborhood. Third Avenue is like a third-world country nowadays. But I love the Bronx and I love our city.”
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against Victor Wembanyama #1 and De'aaron Fox #4 of the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In an 0-1 scenario for the second time this postseason, the San Antonio Spurs didn’t sound like they were hitting the panic button after their Game 1 loss to kick off the 2026 NBA Finals. Nor should they: Even near the end of what was a rough 2nd half where they were outscored 57-40, the Spurs still held a 2-point lead with less than two minutes to go and with the game looking primed for a photo finish before an 11-0 Knicks run sent fans heading to the exits. Still though, games this deep into the postseason hinge almost entirely in the margins. In other words, who’s doing the little things that can help a team pick up wins when shots aren’t falling? In Game 1 it was the Knicks coming up with all those hustle plays and loose balls. If the Spurs want to avoid heading to the Mecca in an 0-2 hole, they’ll need to flip that script on its head tonight in Game 2.
San Antonio Spurs (0-1) vs New York Knicks (1-0) June 5 2026 | 7:30 PM CT Watch: ABC | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM) Line: San Antonio -6.5
As has been the case since he was drafted, everything the Spurs do on offense and defense revolves around Victor Wembanyama. He’s had an eventful postseason in his first playoff run, with moments ranging from the historical (NBA record 12 blocks in Game 1 against Minnesota) to the flat-out ridiculous (40/20 Game 1 against OKC, picking up his first Game 7 victory on the road). Along the way though, there’s been a few headscratchers, the sort of games that have all the talking heads and social media boo-birds getting on their soapbox in between games about what he needs to do to overcome his current shortcomings. The aftermath of his 6/21 shooting performance in Game 1 has been no different, but the best thing about this postseason, maybe even more than this Finals appearance itself, has been watching him respond with exactly what San Antonio needs from him to come away with wins. The Knicks’ defense will have a say, but expect Wembanyama to come out with something to prove tonight, just as he’s done time and time again this season, especially when the moment demands it.
Jalen Brunson went just 12/31 from the field overall, but he was 5/9 in the 4th quarter, scoring 13 of his 30 points when it mattered most for the Knicks. The Spurs did a good job at contesting on a lot of those looks, but the fact that he was able to get 31 shots off against what has been an excellent San Antonio defense all season is a testament to the type of offensive player he is and also the sort of trust the Knicks have in him. Knowing what they’re going to get on the offensive end in the waning moments of a close game by putting the ball in Brunson’s hands is an advantage New York has over the Spurs in this series, but at least the Spurs know that he’s gonna be the one coming.
Dylan Harper added another caveat to what has been an impressive rookie season, becoming the youngest player to score at least 10 points in an NBA Finals game in just his first 6 minutes of play. He scored just 6 more the rest of the way, finishing with 16 points, but the talk afterwards was about Mitch Johnson’s decision to play Harper just 3:35 in the 4th quarter, especially considering De’Aaron Fox’s troubles putting the ball in the hole (3-13, 7 points) the entire night. There’s certainly a case to be made that Harper should have been in at least for the final 90 seconds of the game, but Mitch Johnson opted to roll with the group that ultimately overcame an 8-point deficit and had even taken a 1 point lead before the Knicks went on that 11-0 run that ended the game. In light of all this, it will be interesting to see what his minutes look like at the end of Game 2 tonight.
If you’d like to, you may follow along with the game on our Twitter profile (@poundingtherock) or visit our Game Thread!
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 04: Seth Jarvis #24 of the Carolina Hurricanes reacts after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights in overtime to win of Game Two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center on June 04, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Carolina Hurricanes were losing 2-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game and the ESPN crew was talking about a Las Vegas Golden Knights’ sweep, but then something happened.
With less than 10 minutes left, Logan Stankoven went behind the Vegas net, bodied the defender and then took away the puck. He skated to the side of the net and fired the puck on net. Somehow, it found its way past Carter Hart and the Hurricanes as well as their fans, found new life.
After the game when Coach Rod Brind’Amour was asked how such a small player could make a play like that, Brind’Amour patted his chest. “It’s all heart” the coach said.
Stankoven has been Carolina’s top goal scorer all postseason and has now notched 10 goals.
Also, ESPN reported that this is the first time since 1944 that a team has come back to win after trailing by multiple goals with less than 10 minutes left.
Two minutes and change after Stankoven’s goal, William Carrier made another extra effort move to get the puck to Mark Jankowski while laying prone on the ice and Jankowski took the puck and went bar down to tie the score. Of course the crowd was going nuts at this point.
A couple of minutes after that, the Knights came close to scoring to take the lead. It looked to me like the puck got under Fred Andersen and it was blown dead, but it was eventually knocked past the goal line as everyone converged in the crease. It was called no goal on the ice but John Tortorella challenged the play.
After a review, the call on the ice was held and the Canes were awarded what everyone thought would be another meaningless powerplay.
But, the tremendous momentum swing held over and the Hurricanes scored their first powerplay goal of the series when Jordan Staal tipped in a Shayne Gostisbehere shot to give Carolina a 3-2 lead. Staal had been battling in front of the net beforehand and was finally rewarded.
The Knights tied things up with a minute and change left. Mark Stone was credited for the goal which sent the contest to overtime.
In overtime, Vegas was called for tripping and Carolina went back on the powerplay. Seth Jarvis then blasted in a shot from the wing for the game-winner.
In the first period, the Canes outshot the Knights 8-2 but went to the dressing room behind on the scoreboard, 1-0.
Vegas scored again in the second and took over the game for a bit. Things seemed a bit down for the Canes until the Stankoven play which may have saved the playoffs for Carolina.
Brind’Amour said that they were just waiting for someone to make a play. The coach did switch up the lines by moving Jordan Martinook to the first line and Jarvis to the third, and Martinook did his job and was chasing down the puck and created a couple of chances.
The Canes ended up out-hitting the Knights, 46-25. Svechnikov, Staal, and Carrier had seven hits each.
Staal won 70% of his faceoffs while Stankoven won 64%.
Both teams will leave for Las Vegas for their next match on Saturday night.
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 10: Darryn Peterson poses for a portrait during the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, 2026 at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
This upcoming NBA Draft is looking like one of the all-time great drafts at the top. AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cam Boozer are looking like an elite top-3 to choose from. What’s different about the optimism with this draft is that it seems warranted for these players. Let’s look at the best and worst case scenarios for each player.
Darryn Peterson
Worst Case Scenarios
DeMar DeRozan 6’6”
Zach LaVine 6’5”
Arron Afflalo 6’5”
Kevin Martin 6’7”
Jordan Clarkson 6’4”
Michael Redd 6’6”
Eric Gordon 6’4”
Tyreke Evans 6’6”
Jamal Murray 6’4”
Gilbert Arenas 6’4”
Best Case Scenarios
Anthony Edwards 6’4”
Dwyane Wade 6’4”
Kobe Bryant 6’6”
Devin Booker 6’5”
SGA 6’6”
Vince Carter 6’6”
Brandon Roy 6’6”
Michael Jordan 6’6”
This is a list of notable players between 6’4 and 6’6” that averaged 20 or more points per game from 1990 and on. It seems reasonable that Peterson would average that amount once he gets into the league with his elite shooting
The first thing you notice is that averaging 20+ points per game is not an easy thing to do in the league. To do it efficiently makes you an incredible player in the league. There’s an obvious variation of style and athleticism with each player, but the correlating factor is their ability to score. What makes me excited about Peterson is that he’s been shown to have an incredible ability to score efficiently both on and off the ball. If that scoring carries over, he could be a potent cornerstone of a great offense.
AJ Dybantsa
Worst Case Scenarios
Brandon Ingram 6’8”
Ricky Davis 6’7”
Antawn Jamison 6’9”
David West 6’9”
Luol Deng 6’9”
Rashard Lewis 6’10”
Michael Beasley 6’10”
Rudy Gay 6’8”
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6’9”
Best Case Scenarios
LeBron James 6’9”
Kevin Durant 6’11”
Dominique Wilkins 6’8”
Jayson Tatum 6’8”
Paul George 6’8”
Tracy McGrady 6’10”
Kawhi Leonard 6’7”-6’8”
Carmelo Anthony 6’8”
PROVO, UT – FEBRUARY 21: AJ Dybantsa #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars watches a shot during warm-up before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at the Marriott Center on February 21, 2026 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Once again, this is a pretty amazing list of players who are comparable in height to Dybantsa and have scored 20+ points per game. There have been a lot of players in the league whom teams have invested in with characteristics similar to Dybantsa’s. But a lot of them have not panned out. Just like with the players in Peterson’s range, if Dybantsa can meet his potential, he’s a championship-caliber player that could be the cornerstone of a dominant offense.
What’s also interesting to consider is whether a certain archetype is better to have lead your team than another. Is a big wing like Dybantsa more effective than a big shooting guard like Peterson? Looking at this rudimentary study, it isn’t clear which is more important. What does appear important is that the player you want leading you to a championship is the one that has the ball in their hands, a characteristic that Dybantsa and Peterson share. It’s probably as simple as this: are you better than the team you’re playing against? Both Dybantsa and Peterson have a chance to be among the best players in the league with the ball in their hands a lot, leading an offense.
Cam Boozer
Worst Case Scenarios
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 6’9”
Carlos Boozer 6’9”
Kevin Love 6’10”
Derrick Coleman 6’10”
Jermaine O’Neal 6’11”
Zach Randolph 6’9”
Best Case Scenarios
Karl Malone 6’9”
Tim Duncan 6’11”
Nikola Jokic 6’11”
Chris Webber 6’9”
Karl Anthony-Towns 7’0”
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 27: Cameron Boozer #12 of the Duke Blue Devils celebrates in the second half against the St. John's Red Storm during the Sweet Sixteen round game of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Capital One Arena on March 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) | NCAA Photos via Getty Images
What’s interesting about Cam Boozer is what seems like a much wider range of possibilities. I looked for players in this group who were comparable in height to Boozer (some of these players are taller but have comparable skill sets) and averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game. With so many bigs in the history of the league, you can imagine him fitting into a lot of these molds.
What appears to be the thing that Boozer will need to overcome is the height. Boozer will likely be somewhere between 6’9” and 6’10” in shoes. He’s not a rim protector, so he’ll need to be elite offensively, which a lot of draft experts predict. If he can be good defensively, he can put himself into the mold of a player like Karl Malone. Malone wasn’t a rim protector, but he was a tough, physical defender, an all-defense-level defender. Boozer also has to show that he can handle the ball and be the focal point of everything a team does, not just a player dependent on guards and wings to get him the ball in his spots.
On FanDuel, the odds are continuing to adjust every day. Right now, Dybantsa is the top possibility at -450 to be the first pick, Peterson is at +380, and Boozer is at +1700.
What do you think? Who do you think are the comps for each of these players?
The Carolina Hurricanes, down 2-0, appeared to be heading to a 2-0 series deficit. Instead, they became the first team since 1944 to rally for a victory after trailing by two goals with 10 minutes left in a Stanley Cup Final game.
The Vegas Golden Knights appeared to go ahead 3-2 with the puck clearly in the net. But it was ruled no-goal and a John Tortorella challenge was denied, giving the Hurricanes a power play. Carolina had struggled with the man advantage but scored for the lead.
But the Golden Knights would delay the Hurricanes' victory celebration, getting a late tying goal before Carolina won in overtime.
Here are the winners and losers of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final:
WINNERS
Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis
Jarvis and the Hurricanes' top line has taken its share of criticism for lack of production. He was replaced on the Sebastian Aho-Andrei Svechnikov line by Jordan Martinook during the game. But Jarvis ended up scoring in overtime on a one-timer. He told ABC that the best part was winning in front of the home fans. "It was the best feeling in the world," he said.
SETH JARVIS JUST SILENCED THE DOUBTERS WITH THE GAME 2 OT WINNER, THIS SERIES IS TIED!!!! 😱🚨 pic.twitter.com/UWqoHDzdwF
He had 12 goals in the regular season and is up to 13 in the playoffs. He showed strength on both goals, breaking free from Sean Walker on the first goal and outmuscling Jaccob Slavin on the second.
Hurricanes' power play
The success rate was 12.5% coming into the series and didn't connect in Game 1 and the first two periods of Game 2. But it came through when it mattered. Shayne Gostisbehere's shot was tipped in by Jordan Staal after the Golden Knights' unsuccessful challenge. The defenseman fed Jarvis for the game-winner in overtime.
"That's his job as the quarterback to make those reads, and he made those reads," Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour said.
LOSERS
The no-goal controversy
Did the referees blow the call? Or was Tortorella wrong for challenging? Regardless, it was ruled a no-goal, was challenged unsuccessfully and the Hurricanes went ahead on the power play.
Here's what both coaches said:
"I saw a loose puck in front of Freddy (Andersen)," Tortorella said "Our player stabbed it, it didn't move the goalie and it goes through him to the other side. I'd challenge it 10 out of 10 times."
Said Brind'Amour, talking about his experience: "If you call no-call on the ice, you better be 100 percent if you challenge it."
Golden Knights forward Tomas Hertl
He was the hero of Game 1 when he scored the winning goal. But he was in the penalty box for tripping when Jarvis scored in overtime.
Brayden McNabb injury
It was tough to see as he took a puck to the face and, according to ABC, went to the hospital. The Golden Knights played a long time with five defensemen. That could have been a factor as the Hurricanes rallied.
RALEIGH, N.C.– For the first 50 minutes of Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes had something in common with a Waffle House hashbrown order– they were getting smothered. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the third period, the Vegas Golden Knights held a two-goal lead and appeared to be firmly in the driver’s seat.
And then, after over 50 minutes of complete and utter domination, the Golden Knights suffered their most dramatic collapse of the postseason at the worst possible time. The Hurricanes scored four goals on their final seven shots of the game, spread across 9:40 in the third period and 3:56 in overtime.
“It was wild, a lot going on,” said Brett Howden of the final 14 minutes following the 4-3 overtime loss. “Yeah, just crazy. I mean, with the call there on the no-goal, and then the penalty, but then I thought we did a great job of fighting it and coming back with a goal there.”
1. Tarps Off?
During a whistle stoppage with 9:48 remaining in the third period, the Jumbotron at Lenovo Center featured a series of shirtless Hurricanes fans while sporting a graphic that read ‘Tarps off for the boys?’ What followed was 14 minutes of complete and utter mayhem.
Play resumed. William Karlsson won the defensive zone draw back to Rasmus Andersson. Logan Stankoven moved in on Andersson like a heat-seeking missile, pushed him off the puck, drifted out in front of the net and fired off a backhand that somehow found its way home.
The Hurricanes, who had seemed so lifeless and beaten just moments before, tied it just 2:26 later.
With exactly five minutes remaining in the third period, the Golden Knights thought they scored the go-ahead goal after a truly herculean effort from Ivan Barbashev. The on-ice officials immediately waved the goal off, but John Tortorella initiated a coach’s challenge.
Frederik Andersen comes up with a massive pair of saves to keep the game tied with five minutes to go! pic.twitter.com/JRkOsOYgYD
“I saw a loose puck in front of Freddie,” said Tortorella postgame. “Our player stabbed it, didn’t move the goalie, and it goes through them into the other side. I’d challenge it 10 out of 10 times.”
The Situation Room saw things differently.
The Hurricanes, who were 0-for-4 on the man advantage in the series, scored the go-ahead goal just 25 seconds into the power play.
The Golden Knights, who have never once gone ‘gentle into that good night,’ pulled Carter Hart for the extra attacker with 1:35 remaining in regulation and scored the equalizer 14 seconds later.
Tomáš Hertl took a penalty 3:17 into overtime, and the Hurricanes evened the series on the ensuing power play.
2. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)
Jeremy Lauzon returned for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, meaning that for the first time in a very long time, the Golden Knights were fully healthy.
Naturally, that didn’t last very long.
Halfway through the first period, Brayden McNabb found himself on the receiving end of a Nikolaj Ehlers slapshot and went down in a heap. When he got up, dripping, he rushed down the tunnel and did not return to the game. ESPN reported that he left the arena and was taken to a local hospital. The Golden Knights played the remainder of the game with five defensemen.
John Tortorella had no update on McNabb’s status following the game. There is a media availability on Friday morning, but because this is the postseason, I doubt he’ll provide a timeline.
3. It’s Been 84 Years…
After winning Game 1 in dramatic fashion, the Golden Knights held a truly unbelievable stat: it had been 25 days since their last loss.
Yep. Their last loss was on May 10th against the Anaheim Ducks. The Golden Knights finished the second round with wins in Games 5 and 6; in the Western Conference Final, they swept the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.
A stretch of 25 days between losses is impressive even during the regular season; in the postseason, it’s even more monumental.
Despite the less-than-ideal conditions of their loss, the Golden Knights aren’t worried in the slightest.
“We’re fine,” said defenseman Noah Hanifin following the 4-3 overtime loss. “We’ve got a positive group. We did a lot of good things tonight. We’ve just got to improve on those mistakes, but we’re all good. We’re excited to go back to Vegas and take control of this again.”
The Stanley Cup Final has turned into a Manitoba showcase.
From Oakbank’s Brett Howden continuing one of the most unlikely playoff scoring runs in NHL history, to Winnipeg’s Mark Stone delivering a game-tying goal and Winnipeg’s Seth Jarvis ending the night in overtime, Game 2 belonged to the middle province.
The Carolina Hurricanes ultimately walked away with a dramatic 4-3 overtime victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, evening the series at 1-1, but there was no ignoring the Manitoba flavour throughout the contest.
Photo by Nathan Seabeck/USA Today
Howden, who grew up just outside Winnipeg in Oakbank, continued his remarkable postseason with two more goals for Vegas, bringing his playoff total to 13. That number is especially eye-opening considering he found the back of the net just 12 times during the entire regular season.
In doing so, Howden established a new NHL benchmark, becoming the first player in league history to score more goals in a single postseason than he did during a regular season in which he reached double digits.
The 27-year-old opened the scoring in the first period before adding another in the second, giving the Golden Knights a 2-0 advantage and putting Vegas in position to take a commanding two-game series lead. Instead, Carolina stormed back.
The Hurricanes scored three unanswered goals in the third period to flip the game on its head, but another Manitoba product had something to say about that.
With the Golden Knights’ net empty and time winding down, Captain Stone came through.
The Winnipegger, who has built a career on clutch moments, buried the tying goal at 6-on-5 to force overtime and temporarily silence the Carolina crowd with just over a minute left to play. The Golden Knights' leader once again showed why he remains one of the game’s most reliable postseason performers.
But fittingly, the final word also belonged to Manitoba.
Just 3:56 into overtime, Jarvis stepped into the spotlight. The Winnipeg-born forward blasted home a power-play one-timer to complete Carolina’s comeback and send the Hurricanes home with the series tied heading back to Las Vegas.
Jarvis’ winner was another defining moment in what has become a spectacular postseason run for the 24-year-old, who continues to establish himself as one of the Hurricanes’ most important offensive weapons.
And while the three Manitoba goal scorers stole the spotlight in Game 2, another familiar name to Winnipeg hockey fans remains right in the middle of it all.
Former Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers is chasing his first Stanley Cup in his first season away from Winnipeg. After years of postseason frustration with the Jets, the Danish winger has become a key piece of Carolina’s championship push.
Ehlers made his presence felt immediately in the series opener, scoring twice in Game 1, including one of the fastest goals to begin a Stanley Cup Final in league history.
The storyline remains bittersweet for Jets fans. After watching Ehlers depart, Winnipeg’s former first-round pick now sits three victories away from accomplishing what he spent nearly a decade attempting to achieve in Manitoba.
But even without the Jets involved, Manitoba’s fingerprints are all over the Stanley Cup Final.
Through two games, the series has featured clutch goals, historic performances and unforgettable moments from players who grew up within a short drive of what was then called the MTS Centre.
No matter which team eventually lifts the Stanley Cup, Manitoba will certainly have played a major role in making it happen.
Smokies outfielder Andy Garriola (22) breaks his bat during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Birmingham Barons at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tennessee., on May 7, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Shortstop Ezequiel Pena was promoted to Low-A Myrtle Beach from the ACL Cubs
Iowa Cubs
Rained out. They’ll play a doubleheader on Saturday.
Connor Schultz pitched four innings and gave up just one run on three hits. The one run came on a solo home run in the fourth. Schultz struck out seven and walked just one.
Evan Taylor threw the next two innings, didn’t allow either a run or a hit and got the win. He struck out three and walked one.
Center fielder Andy Garriola hit a grand slam in the first inning, his tenth on the season. Garriola was 1 for 4.
Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 2 for 4 and scored once.
Left fielder Carter Trice was 2 for 4 and scored twice.
Second baseman Ed Howard went 1 for 3 with an RBI double and a sac fly.
Hayden Frank started and got the loss. Frank made one big mistake—a three-run home run in the third inning. Frank allowed three runs on three hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out two.
First baseman Michael Carico hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth, his fourth of the season. Carico went 2 for 5.
DH Logan Poteet doubled twice in a 3 for 5 night. He drove in one run with a double in the seventh inning and scored once.
Second baseman Yahil Melendez also hit two doubles. He was 2 for 4 with a walk. He had three RBI.
Shortstop Derniche Valdez was 2 for 4 with a walk and one run scored.
The Carolina Hurricanes pulled a page out of the Vegas Golden Knights' playbook by overcoming a two-goal deficit and winning 4-3 in overtime in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.
Seth Jarvis' power-play goal 3:56 into overtime gave the Hurricanes new life after they appeared headed to a 2-0 series deficit.
Jarvis' game-winner put an exclamation point on an exhilarating game that included a thrilling third period that included four goals being scored and a potential fifth being negated because of goaltender interference.
The Golden Knights got goals from Brett Howden in the first and second period to take a 2-0 lead, but the Hurricanes woke up midway through the third period.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) June 5, 2026
Logan Stankoven got the 'Canes on the board at the 10:20 mark of the final period, and less than three minutes later it was Mark Jankowski tying the game.
The most poignant moment of the game came with five minutes left, and eventually provided the opportunity the 'Canes would need.
Carolina's Frederik Andersen went full extension to stop Ivan Barbashev's effort with the paddle of his stick. A scrum in the crease followed, and ended with the puck slipping into the net. Referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, saying Andersen was pushed into the net and ruled goaltender interference.
Vegas coach John Tortorella used his coach’s challenge, but after deliberation, the NHL’s situation room confirmed the call on the ice would stand. That meant the failed challenge would result in a 2-minute minor penalty, giving Carolina a power play.
Shortly thereafter, Jordan Staal deflected Shayne Gostisbehere's shot past Carter Hart and the 'Canes held a 3-2 lead.
John Tortorella spoke following the @GoldenKnights' Game 2 loss.
Shortly after a missing their chance on a 6-on-4 power play, the Golden Knights still used their advantage with an empty net when captain Mark Stone stuffed a loose puck past Andersen to tie the game with 1:21 left in regulation.
Early in the game, Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was knocked out of the game and taken to the hospital after being hit in the face with the puck. Tortorella didn't have an update.
Game 3 is slated for Saturday in Las Vegas, with Game 4 set for Tuesday. The series is guaranteed to return to Raleigh for Game 5.
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights John Tortorella during the post game press conference after the loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in game two of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center.
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas and Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy both left Thursday’s game following a violent collision at first base.
Muncy hit a ball up the line in the fifth inning and Vargas, seeing pitcher Ryne Nelson wouldn’t get to the bag in time, charged toward first. Muncy beat him to the bag, but the players collided and flew into the air and landed with a thud.
Both players lay on the field for several minutes while trainers worked on them in a hushed stadium.
Muncy got to his feet first and slowly headed to the dugout. Vargas got up with help and walked across the diamond to his dugout.
Vargas was replaced by Pavin Smith at first and Muncy was replaced by pinch runner Santiago Espinal.
Jun 4, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte (4) flips his bat after hitting a walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images | Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
The Dbacks were able to split the series with the Dodgers Thursday night thanks to some late inning heroics from none other than Ketel Marte and some terrific pitching from Ryne Nelson and the bullpen.
The Dbacks offense was stymied once again for 7 innings until Corbin Carrol hit a home run in the 8th inning to get the Dbacks offense on the board. Torey Lovullo dropped Geraldo Perdomo from the 3 hole to the 7 spot against the lefty today, and in the 8th inning he came through with a key hit, his second of the game, to tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the 9th, Ketel Marte was due up second after going 0-4 previously in the game. However, 9th inning Ketel Marte has been a whole different animal this season, and on the first pitch he saw from Tanner Scott Ketel Marte hit a ball 431 feet to send 41,000 fans into a frenzy as the Dbacks walked off the defending world series champions. Such a good moment for this team and for Ketel Marte! His 3rd walkoff hit already of the season. According to Mark Grace in the postgame show, since May 17 Marte is now 4-7 with 4 HR vs left handed relievers.
Ryne Nelson dominated the defending world champs holding them to just 2 ER through 7 IP. Nelson did a phenomenal job of getting quick outs in this one keeping the pitch count super low with the exception of the 5th inning due to some questionable defensive plays. The first being Nelson himself not covering first base on a ground ball from Max Muncy (more on that later) and the second being a bad route from Corbin Carroll in RF as he took way too shallow of a route to a ball in RF allowing the ball to soar over his head for an RBI double.
On the aforementioned Max Muncy ground ball to Ildemaro Vargas, Ryne Nelson was late to break to cover the bag and so Vargas sprinted to the base to get the out himself. However, Max Muncy gave Vargas a forearm shiver that was a blatant contact initiating move. From Muncy’s standpoint maybe he was in self defense mode from colliding with Vargas, however it was a very bad look as the replays clearly showed Muncy going out of his way to make contact with Vargas. According to Lovullo, Vargas’ xrays are all negative and he was all smiles in his office after the game and is day to day. Vargas said he would be ready to play tomorrow but it sounds like Lovullo will rest him tomorrow to give him some time to recover.
A split of this series to the Dodgers certainly feels like a decent outcome to the series and now the Dbacks will look to win the next series against the Nationals. It is worth noting that the Nationals offense has been pretty hot so far this season, however hopefully they can carry the momentum from this walkoff and the series split into the series.
PHOENIX –– There are no-doubters. And then there are the kind of thunderous swings Ketel Marte uncorked in the bottom of the ninth inning on Thursday night.
After leading by two runs entering the eighth inning, the Dodgers got walked off by the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Thursday night.
The fatal blow: A first-pitch fastball from Tanner Scott that Marte absolutely crushed deep to left.
The ball sailed 431 feet, leaving Marte’s bat at a scorching 113 mph.
Ketel Marte celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off home run. Getty Images
It was the culminating blow in a bullpen implosion from the Dodgers, who squandered a 2-0 lead by allowing three runs over the final two innings.
Will Klein was at fault for blowing the lead, making a mess of an eighth inning that began with a leadoff home run from Corbin Carroll. After that, Klein walked Gabriel Moreno, then gave up a one-out single to Ryan Waldschmidt.
Alex Vesia tried to come in and limit the damage, but Geraldo Perdomo got him with a base hit to center that tied the score.
The Dodgers had initially taken the lead Thursday in the most painful of ways.
With two outs in the fifth inning, Max Muncy hit a ground ball up the line that Arizona first baseman Ildemaro Vargas fielded directly behind the bag. What ensued next was a brutal head-on collision.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Max Muncy and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas collide on a play in the fifth inning. AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
Vargas tried to quickly record the out himself, racing back toward first. Muncy came barreling directly at him.
Muncy got there first by half a step, reaching safely for an infield single.
But neither player had time to avoid the other, sending them crashing into each and flying to the ground.
Max Muncy collides with Ildemaro Vargas at first base. Getty Images
They each remained down for several minutes before exiting. The Dodgers later announced that Muncy had shortness of breath and was being evaluated for a concussion.
The good news: The Dodgers capitalized on Muncy’s effort to get to first safely.
Max Muncy walks off the field with an apparent injury after colliding with Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
The team’s next batter, Ryan Ward, laced a line drive to right field that Corbin Carroll misplayed and allowed to sail over his head, scoring pinch-runner Santiago Espinal from first. Dalton Rushing followed with a bloop single to center, giving starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski a 2-0 lead in his scoreless sixth inning start.
Alas, after Klein’s eighth-inning stumble, the Dodgers couldn’t recover.
Will Smith hit a double with two outs in the ninth, but was left stranded when Espinal struck out against Dbacks closer Paul Sewald.
Scott, who is effectively serving as the Dodgers’ closer in the wake of Edwin Díaz’s injury, couldn’t get the game to extras, helplessly turning to watch Marte’s blast fly out of the yard as the Dbacks split this four-game series.
Ketel Marte hits a walk-off home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning. Getty Images
Who’s hot
Wrobleski continued his breakout 2026 season, producing his fourth start of at least six scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.62.
For a second-straight outing, the left-hander’s fastball played up, averaging 95.6 mph. And while he only had four strikeouts –– returning to a pitch-to-contact approach after his season-high nine Ks last week –– he was effective at limiting damage and wiggling out of jams, stranding a one-out double from Corbin Carroll in the first inning and runners at the corners following a pair of singles in the third.
Wrobleski continued his breakout 2026 season. Getty Images
Wrobleski’s biggest escape came at the end of the night, after a two-out double from Ryan Waldschmidt in the sixth inning put two runners in scoring position.
He got Pavin Smith to ground out; after catcher Dalton Rushing won back-to-back ABS challenges to turn a 2-0 count into an 0-2 hole.
Who’s not
With Shohei Ohtani getting the day off following his two-way masterpiece on Wednesday, Mookie Betts was bumped up to the leadoff spot in the batting order.
Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks. AP Photo/Rick Scuteri
The move, however, did little to snap what is quickly becoming a troubling, prolonged slump.
Betts went 0-for-4 in the defeat, dropping his batting average this season to .183.
Up next
The Dodgers return home for a weekend series against the Angels, starting on Friday night when Roki Sasaki (3-3, 4.59 ERA) will face left-hander Reid Detmers (2-5, 4.63 ERA).
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Seth Jarvis scored on the power play in overtime after Carolina erased a deficit in regulation only to gave up a late tying goal, and the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-3 in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday night to the series.
Jarvis’ OT heroics came after a thrilling third period that included four goals being scored and another getting called off because of goaltender interference.
The Hurricanes had almost nothing going for the first 45 minutes, falling behind by two goals as the Golden Knights took advantage of a couple of scoring chances and locked down defensively. A couple of strong shifts in the offensive zone just before the midway point of the third brought the crowd back to life because the Hurricanes were buzzing.
Logan Stankoven made a terrific individual effort to get them on the board, taking the puck away from Rasmus Andersson, going to the net and banking a shot off Jeremy Lauzon and in with 9:40 remaining in regulation. Less than three minutes later, Mark Jankowski fired a shot past Carter Hart to tie it, flipping the script from Game 1, when Vegas erased a multigoal deficit and won.
The Hurricanes took the lead with 4:35 left when their captain, Jordan Staal, redirected Shayne Gostisbehere’s point shot in on the power play. It was just their eighth power play goal of the playoffs.
That was 25 seconds after the Golden Knights thought they scored at the other end.
Frederik Andersen initially went full extension to deny Ivan Barbashev with the paddle of his stick, and a scrum ensued in the crease that ended with the puck eventually in the net. Referee Jean Hebert waved it off immediately, saying Andersen was pushed into the net and ruling it was goaltender interference.
Tortorella after some deliberation opted to challenge, and the on-ice officials in consultation with the NHL’s situation room confirmed the call on the ice stood. That put the Hurricanes on the power play, and Staal — the captain who has been around longer than anyone else on his team — cashed in.
After Mark Stone tied it for Vegas with 1:21 left in regulation to send the game to OT, Tomas Hertl tripped Staal to put Carolina back on the power play. That allowed Jarvis to score just Carolina’s eighth power play goal of the playoffs.
