The Knicks lost Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers, 125-108, ending their season on Saturday night.
Here are the takeaways...
-Things started off well for New York, who jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the early minutes, but it went downhill from there. The Pacers took the lead on a Pascal Siakam two-pointer with 7:34 left in the first and never looked back.
The Knicks did take the lead once more in the first quarter, following Mitchell Robinson's alley-oop dunk with 2:31 left, but Indiana had control of the game throughout the night.
-Turnovers dictated the game in this onem as New York gave it up 17 times compared to the Pacers' 12. Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges each had five turnovers.
-Offensively, the Knicks couldn't get enough going to outmatch the Pacers, who leaned on Siakam (31 points), Tyrese Haliburton (21 points) and Obi Toppin (18 points) off the bench. In fact, all five starters for Indiana ended the night in double-digits and its bench outscored New York's 38-20.
-Needing a big game from its stars, New York got disappointing results from Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Brunson finished with 19 points and seven assists, while Towns finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. They combined to go 2-for-11 from deep as the Knicks as a whole didn't shoot well from beyond the arc (9-for-32).
-On the other side, the Pacers were lights-out, especially from three, shooting 52 percent. Seven players made at least two threes.
-Surprisingly, Josh Hart only logged 22 minutes off the bench and finished with four points, six rebounds, three steals and one assist.
-Down just four points at halftime after OG Anunoby hit a two-pointer at the buzzer, the Knicks came out of the locker room and were outscored 34-23 in the third quarter, which spelled the beginning of the end.
-Indiana's scoring onslaught didn't stop in the fourth quarter and New York's defense wasn't nearly good enough, either.
-Despite outrebounding the Pacers, the Knicks couldn't get the extra looks to go down. Meanwhile, Indiana took advantage of New York's turnovers at every turn.
Game MVP: Pascal Siakam
He had a game-high 31 points in 36 minutes and shot well from the field and the free-throw line. He also added three blocks and one steal on the defensive end. After the game, he was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
Stark shoots 70 to take solo lead at 7-under overall
López Ramirez surges with 68 after recent surgery
Tricky greens trigger triple bogeys across the field
Maja Stark could tell pretty early Saturday that Erin Hills would provide much more of a challenge than it had in the first two days of the US Women’s Open.
Yet she found a way to avoid the mistakes that befell so many other competitors during a brutal third round. Now the 25-year-old from Sweden is in position to earn the $2.4m prize in the biggest event of the women’s golf season.
Max Muncy, right, celebrates with Shohei Ohtani, center, and Freddie Freeman after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning of the Dodgers' 18-2 win over the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
It was a statement, a reminder and a warning all wrapped into one.
The Dodgers might not have been playing their best baseball entering this weekend’s World Series rematch against the New York Yankees.
But in a ceaseless offensive onslaught in the opening two innings on Saturday, things seemed to suddenly, profoundly and perhaps permanently change.
The Dodgers didn’t just beat the Yankees in a nationally televised late-afternoon contest to clinch a weekend series win at Dodger Stadium. They executed a slaughter in broad daylight. Four runs scored in the first inning. Six more came around in the second. And by the end, their 18-2 victory did more than set up the chance for a sweep in Sunday’s series finale.
It sent a shot across the bow to the rest of the baseball world, signifying that for all of the Dodgers’ shortcomings of late, they might finally be clicking into top gear.
“We've sort of been playing middling baseball for a while now,” manager Dave Roberts said. “So maybe it took a club like the Yankees to get us to, you know, reset and step our game up. And we've done that for these last couple nights.”
Granted, the Dodgers hadn't exactly been struggling to hit. Entering Saturday, they were second in the majors in runs scored, second in OPS and first in batting average. They had been getting monster production from Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith. And, largely on the strength of their lineup, they were leading the National League West, still on a near 100-win pace in their pursuit of a second consecutive World Series title.
Still, over much of the last month, it had felt as if something was missing.
The team’s injury-ravaged pitching staff had put a strain on their recent play, leading to an 11-12 slide entering this weekend’s marquee Yankees matchup.
And their offense was picking up only so much of the slack, weighed down by early slumps from Mookie Betts, Max Muncy and Michael Conforto, as well as inconsistent performances from other bottom-half hitters.
Michael Conforto, left, celebrates with Hyeseong Kim after scoring on an RBI double by Tommy Edman in the second inning Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
“The last couple weeks have certainly been a grind, with all the stuff we've been going through,” Roberts said.
It led to a malaise epitomized by a lack of signature moments. Not since knocking off the Detroit Tigers at the start of the regular season had the Dodgers won a series against a legitimate title contender. They were just 10-9 overall against opponents with winning records.
Roberts downplayed that notion Friday.
“We know that we have a good ballclub, and I don't think that us not winning series against X amount of teams with winning records is an indictment on our ballclub,” he said. “I don't think we're thinking too much about that.”
Then again, with the Yankees coming to town as winners of 16 of their previous 20 games, this still felt like something of a litmus test — even if Betts was out with a fractured toe and the pitching staff remained far less than full strength.
“We try to win each and every game, of course,” Ohtani said in Japanese on Friday night, “but I think it’s a special atmosphere.”
Two games in, it has produced a couple of special results.
After coming from behind to steal Friday night’s opener, the Dodgers (36-22) wasted no time Saturday putting their foot firmly on the Yankees’ neck.
In the bottom of the first, Ohtani, Freeman, Smith and Muncy all singled within the first five at-bats against rookie Yankees starter Will Warren, scoring two runs. Conforto later added a sacrifice fly, before Tommy Edman hit a hard ground ball that got past third baseman (and former Dodgers farmhand) Jorbit Vivas for a run-scoring double, punctuating an inning in which the Dodgers batted around.
In the second, the Dodgers sent all nine batters to the plate again. After walks from Hernández and Freeman, Muncy hit a three-run homer to right, chasing Warren from the game with his 200th career long ball. Edman doubled home another run with two outs. Then Hyeseong Kim got the Dodgers to double digits, hitting his second home run of the season.
Max Muncy hits a three-run home run in the second inning for the Dodgers on Saturday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
By the time the Yankees (35-22) recorded their first hit on Austin Wells’ leadoff single in the third, it was already 10-0.
“You could say it was a statement,” Muncy said. “For us to do it without Mookie also, I think that’s huge for everyone trying to pick up the slack in the lineup. It’s just a really good day offensively all around. Even last night was a really good night offensively for us. So, just having several good games in a row, it’s big for the boys.”
As starting pitcher Landon Knack cruised through six strong innings with the big lead — he gave up his lone run on a fourth-inning solo blast from Aaron Judge, his first of two long balls on the day — the Dodgers kept adding on.
In the fifth, Freeman plated a run with his 525th career double, tying Willie Mays and Ted Williams for 46th most all-time.
Then, Muncy went deep again, continuing his recent surge by belting another three-run homer high off the right-field foul pole, tying a career-high with seven RBIs on the day.
Over his last 19 games, Muncy is now batting .300 with five home runs, 24 RBIs and a .991 OPS.
“Just trying to build on the positives,” he said. “The last several weeks I thought have been really good for me, and today was a very good game. Try to build on it, keep the momentum moving forward.”
Muncy isn’t the only Dodgers hitter heating up. Edman snapped a recent cold streak with three hits. Kim also had four hits, plus two stellar defensive plays: doubling off a runner at second base with a diving effort from shortstop in the third inning, then throwing out Judge at second with a perfect throw from deep center after shifting to the outfield. Andy Pages maintained his strong form with a solo home run in the seventh. Dalton Rushing hit his first career home run in the eighth.
“It's contagious,” Roberts said. “People talk about [how] hitting is contagious and winning, losing, all that stuff. And there's just guys that want to get up to bat. I'm sure they feel it. It's just that adrenaline, that emotion in the dugout.”
The Dodgers’ biggest stars, meanwhile, have continued to dominate.
Ohtani, coming off his second live batting practice as a pitcher before the game (he threw 29 pitches over two simulated innings), had two hits, moving his OPS to 1.062.
In the National League, only Freeman has a better mark in that category, finishing Saturday at 1.078 (to go along with his NL-leading .374 batting average) after his own two-hit showing.
Couple all that with the impending returns of pitchers such as Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen — all of whom could be back within the next month or two, and in some cases sooner — and the Dodgers are starting to look more like the juggernaut they were supposed to be all along.
“It's certainly sweet to win any game [by an 18-2 score],” Roberts said. “But to beat those guys, it's always good. It always feels good to beat the Yankees. You know, they're the class of the American League right now. And anytime you can beat those guys, you feel good.”
Despite Aaron Judge's two home runs, the Yankees' pitching staff just didn't have it, falling to the Dodgers, 18-2, on Saturday night in Los Angeles.
The Yankees had just seven hits on the day, with Judge providing three of them.
Here are the takeaways...
-It was a first inning to forget for Will Warren and the Yankees. The young right-hander had to throw 39 pitches in the first frame, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks. It was a death by a thousand paper cuts for Warren as the Dodgers hit single after single to keep pushing runs across. Warren struck out Shohei Ohtani with two outs and the bases loaded to get out of the inning and save his outing.
But Warren's start wouldn't last much longer. After two walks to lead off the second and a grounder, Max Muncy knocked Warren out of the game with a three-run shot to put the Dodgers up 7-0. It's Muncy's 200th career homer and the Dodgers' 13th unanswered run dating back to Friday's comeback win. Warren finished throwing 57 pitches (29 strikes) across 1.1 innings. He allowed seven runs on six hits, four walks, while striking out two. It's the most runs allowed by Warren this season, and the first time he's allowed more than three runs since April 28. The outing raised Warren's ERA from 4.09 to 5.19.
-The Yankees bullpen did not fare much better against the Dodgers. The combination of Brent Headrick, Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., Yerry De los Santos, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver -- yes, the top relievers in the pen -- and position player Pablo Reyes were tasked with getting the final 20 outs. Headrick allowed three runs in his 0.2 innings while Leiter Jr. gave up four runs in his 0.2 innings of work. Weaver allowed a solo shot to Andy Pages in the seventh before Reyes allowed three in his inning of work.
-Tommy Edman doubled to drive in a run and then Hyeseong Kim homered to put the Dodgers up 10-0 after two. Muncy launched his second three-run shot of the day in the fifth to put LA up 14-1.
-On the offensive side, the Yankees didn't have much to hand their hats on. Judge blasted his 20th homer in the fourth, the second in as many games, to put the Yankees on the board. But other than that, the Yanks could not figure out Landon Knack who allowed just one run on five hits and three walks in six innings while striking out six. Judge would get a hold of another one in the eighth, his 21st longball of the year, this one going 425 feet.
Game MVP: Max Muncy
The utility infielder had himself a day, going 3-for-5 with his two homers and driving in seven runs.
Like the other 30 NHL general managers watching the playoffs, Sens GM Steve Staios is likely studying the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers to better understand what sets them apart from the team he runs.
How did these two teams make it back to the Stanley Cup Final for the second year in a row?
How have the Panthers made the finals three years in a row?
What is it about their rosters that the Senators lack?
This will ultimately guide Staios’ decision-making over the summer and dictate how he chooses to spend the projected $16.6 million in cap space available to him.
The Oilers and Panthers are not the same kind of teams. They aren’t built the same way, and they don’t play the same way. Yet both found their way to the finals in back-to-back years.
If the Oilers win the Stanley Cup, it will be one of McDavid, Draisaitl, Nugent-Hopkins or Bouchard who accepts the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The Panthers are built from the crease outward, with two-time Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky leading the charge. They don’t have a defenceman with the offensive prowess of Bouchard, but they have depth, size, and scoring-by-committee, led by Aaron Ekblad and Seth Jones, and an ensemble that makes it very difficult for anyone to establish an offensive presence in their zone.
If the Panthers win the Cup, the Conn Smythe likely won’t go to McDavid again, but rather to someone like Bennett, Barkov or Bobrovsky.
Now, which of these two moulds most resemble the Ottawa Senators: the Panthers or the Oilers?
Up until this past season, the Senators’ goaltending was in turmoil, and Staios took steps to rectify that by acquiring Linus Ullmark. He also severed ties with undersized Erik Brännström to pave the way for Tyler Kleven to ascend to the NHL.
The benefits were immediate and continuous.
The Senators have elite skill and speed in Tim Stützle, but their identity is being forged through their defensive game and their captain, Brady Tkachuk, and they try to play a more defensively conscious and puck possession game.
Players like Shane Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Mike Amadio — and their 200-foot game — are more likely to propel the Senators forward than getting into track meets every night.
In his first draft as an NHL GM, Staios even used his inaugural first-round pick to choose a huge defenceman with offensive potential and grit in Carter Yakemchuk. His second-round pick was a 6’7” stay-at-home defenceman with a mean streak in Gabriel Eliasson.
On the surface, it would seem that Staios has bought more into the Florida Panthers' model and believes the way out of the Eastern Conference is a war of attrition. Though they aren’t there yet, this is the way forward that Staios appears to have chosen — and given the Panthers’ recent success, it’s hard to blame him.
Before he spends any money on free agency, Staios needs to figure out what to do with players whose contracts are expiring July 1.
Nicklas Matinpalo was inked to what could easily be one of the most team-friendly two-year deals in the league at $875K per. A 6’3”/210 lb right-shot mainstay defenceman seems to fit right in with what Staios is building.
Claude Giroux, Nick Cousins, Adam Gaudette, and Matthew Highmore are the UFAs up front. Travis Hamonic is the lone UFA on defence, and Anton Forsberg in goal rounds out the list. The lone RFA is Fabian Zetterlund, who's arbitration-eligible.
The Senators became harder to play against this season, enough so to make the playoffs and give a good account of themselves.
The question facing Staios about all of his potentially outgoing players and whether to retain them is:
“Do any of these guys fit with what we are trying to do here?”
That is a debate for another day. If the dealing of the popular Josh Norris to Buffalo is any indication, Staios is willing to do whatever it takes to move the Senators to the next level.
If the GM isn’t overly attached to any of the existing players, then fans should take a similar approach and expect more than a few fresh faces come training camp.
The run of “Inside the NBA” on TNT came to an end on Saturday night, after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one.
“I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,'” Johnson said, before turning his back to the camera, placing his microphone on the desk and getting up from that set for the final time.
NBA games will not be airing on TNT starting next season when the league’s new television package kicks in — an 11-year media rights deal worth at least $76 billion, one that keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video.
ABC will broadcast the NBA Finals, meaning the end of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and New York was the end of TNT’s run. Turner Sports first acquired an NBA package in 1984 and games were on TNT since the network launched in 1988.
“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” O’Neal said during the final broadcast. “And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to (expletive) around. … We’re taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.”
The moment was not lost on Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. His team had just clinched a spot in the NBA Finals by beating New York, and when his brief interview with Johnson during the trophy ceremony was over, Carlisle grabbed the microphone out of the host’s hands.
“Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that’s coming to an end,” Carlisle said in the unprompted tribute. “We’re all very sad about that.”
The names of countless past and current broadcasters and analysts were included in the many tributes offered on-air after the game, including Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Dick Stockton, Cheryl Miller, Danny Ainge, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, Marv Albert, Brian Anderson, Chris Webber, Candace Parker and Craig Sager.
“Our hearts are full of gratitude,” TNT’s Kevin Harlan said on-air, speaking to the viewers. “Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.”
Harlan had the play-by-play call for the final game, with Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well.
“Think about my life. I’m very fortunate,” Miller said. “I’ve only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.”
Many members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, Johnson said, because of their exemplary work to this point. “Best production crew in the business, I might add,” Johnson said.
And when it turned back to the “Inside the NBA” crew for one last time on TNT, the emotions were clear.
“This has just been a magnificent ride,” Smith said.
Barkley talked about how he was going to sign with NBC when starting his broadcast career, then switched to TNT.
“I just want to say thank you to the NBA,” Barkley said. “Every coach I’ve had, every player I’ve played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we’ll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.”
The run of “Inside the NBA” on TNT came to an end on Saturday night, after nearly four decades as a fixture of the league. The show will move to ESPN and ABC next season — and keep Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley together, still doing most shows from Atlanta — but the final TNT sign-off was an emotional one.
“I’m proud to say for the last time, ‘Thanks for watching us. It’s the NBA on TNT,'” Johnson said, before turning his back to the camera, placing his microphone on the desk and getting up from that set for the final time.
NBA games will not be airing on TNT starting next season when the league’s new television package kicks in — an 11-year media rights deal worth at least $76 billion, one that keeps games on ABC and ESPN, brings the league back to NBC and starts a new relationship with Amazon Prime Video.
ABC will broadcast the NBA Finals, meaning the end of the Eastern Conference finals between Indiana and New York was the end of TNT’s run. Turner Sports first acquired an NBA package in 1984 and games were on TNT since the network launched in 1988.
“Even though the name changes, the engine is still the same,” O’Neal said during the final broadcast. “And to that new network we’re coming to, we’re not coming to (expletive) around. … We’re taking over, OK? I love you guys and I appreciate you guys.”
The moment was not lost on Indiana coach Rick Carlisle. His team had just clinched a spot in the NBA Finals by beating New York, and when his brief interview with Johnson during the trophy ceremony was over, Carlisle grabbed the microphone out of the host’s hands.
“Congratulations to TNT on a fabulous, unbelievable run that’s coming to an end,” Carlisle said in the unprompted tribute. “We’re all very sad about that.”
The names of countless past and current broadcasters and analysts were included in the many tributes offered on-air after the game, including Doug Collins, Hubie Brown, Dick Stockton, Cheryl Miller, Danny Ainge, John Thompson, Steve Kerr, Mike Fratello, Marv Albert, Brian Anderson, Chris Webber, Candace Parker and Craig Sager.
“Our hearts are full of gratitude,” TNT’s Kevin Harlan said on-air, speaking to the viewers. “Not sadness, but gratitude and happiness for what has been. It has been an honor. It has been a privilege. And I hope you all have enjoyed it as much as we have.”
Harlan had the play-by-play call for the final game, with Reggie Miller, Stan Van Gundy and Allie LaForce on the broadcast as well.
“Think about my life. I’m very fortunate,” Miller said. “I’ve only known two things: 18 years with one franchise in this building with the Indiana Pacers, and 19 years with Turner.”
Many members of the TNT production crew have gotten jobs with NBC and Amazon, Johnson said, because of their exemplary work to this point. “Best production crew in the business, I might add,” Johnson said.
And when it turned back to the “Inside the NBA” crew for one last time on TNT, the emotions were clear.
“This has just been a magnificent ride,” Smith said.
Barkley talked about how he was going to sign with NBC when starting his broadcast career, then switched to TNT.
“I just want to say thank you to the NBA,” Barkley said. “Every coach I’ve had, every player I’ve played with, for giving me this magnificent life that I’ve had. I am so lucky and blessed. I’m lucky and blessed. And I want to thank TNT. Even though we’ll never say TNT Sports again, I want to thank TNT for giving me a magnificent life.”
Brett Baty is starting to become a dangerous hitter in the Mets' lineup, and Saturday was just another notch in the young infielder's belt this season.
With the bases loaded and one out in the first inning, Baty -- hitting in the No. 5 hole -- stepped up to the plate. Pete Alonso came up empty with the bases loaded by striking out, and the Rockies were one pitch away from getting out of the early jam. But this is a different Baty, a more confident hitter.
After swinging through a fastball for a foul and taking a curveball for a ball, he stayed back on another Antonio Senzatela curve and lofted it to left-center field. Rockies center fielder Brenton Doyle ran toward the wall but the ball kept traveling, and it ultimately hit the top of the padding and away from him.
Baty had cleared the bases with a triple to put the Mets ahead 3-1, en route to an eventual 8-2 win against Colorado.
"I thought I hit it pretty hard, but it looked like [Doyle] had a beat on it," Baty said after the game. "I thought, at least I’ll get one run in. It ended up hitting the wall. It was huge."
Baty said he was looking heater but wanted to just hit any ball hard that was over the plate, and he did. The ball went 398 feet, just a couple of feet from a grand slam. But more impressively, it was hit 104.1 mph off the bat.
"I like the aggressiveness," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Baty's at-bat. "First pitch went out there and swung through a fastball and he kept attacking. Put a really good swing on it and went left-center. Starts with the aggressiveness in the strikezone and he continues to do that."
With the Mets' issues with runners in scoring position well-documented and the team trailing 1-0 before coming to the plate, Baty's bases-clearing triple came at the best time for everyone, especially starter Kodai Senga.
Once Senga got the lead, the right-hander dominated, retiring 17 straight Rockies and pitching into the seventh inning. Baty, the catalyst for the Mets' offense on Saturday, said he believes it helped Senga get into rhythm.
"Four runs in the first is always big and I think it gave Kodai the confidence to just go out there and pump strikes and let his stuff play," he said.
Mendoza went a step further and called Baty's hit a tone-setter.
"[Baty] came through right away with the bases loaded to set the tone with a bases-clearing triple there," Mendoza said. "Not only offensively but defensively. Made a couple of plays, the line drive right at him, but the slow roller was really good the way he charged it, got rid of it.
"Pretty good play by Pete with the good footwork, with the stretch and the pick. But Brett, the defense, the at-bats, the conviction. Confident player. He’s hitting fifth today, first inning gets an opportunity and comes through."
Baty's second triple of the season rewarded his manager for moving him up in the lineup. And although it was his only hit on Saturday, it was obviously a big one, and another example of the young hitter's maturation in the majors. His hit was his fifth RBI to put the Mets in the lead this season, tied for the fourth-most on the team. He recorded 16 RBI over 21 games in May.
In 16 starts since being recalled from Triple-A on May 5, Baty is slashing .304/.350/.625 with 10 runs, one double, one triple, five homers and a .975 OPS.
The Mets weren't lucky enough to have a fully healthy and reliable Kodai Senga at their disposal last October, but enough of that old and tired news. What matters is they have a valuable version of him now, and his dominance on the mound deserves league-wide recognition.
Senga wrapped up his laudable May slate with yet another gem, completing 6.1 innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts in the Mets' 8-2 beatdown of the lowly Rockies on Saturday afternoon at Citi Field. Check the leaderboard -- he owns an NL-best 1.60 ERA through 11 starts.
While he added to his list of first-inning mistakes this season, allowing a home run to the game's second batter, it didn't take long for Senga to settle in and find a groove. He proceeded to retire 17 straight batters, and ultimately walked off the field to a standing ovation midway through the seventh.
"Ideally, I'd like to get through without giving up any runs," Senga said after the win, via his interpreter. "I don't really think about my stats. A lot more games left in the season. In terms of my innings, give it a few days and I'm no longer on the leaderboard anymore. We have a lot more left to do, and I want to finish my outings on a strong note, unlike today. So, we have a lot of work to do."
With an average salary of $15 million, Senga isn't being paid like one of MLB's elite pitchers. But there's no disputing the ace-level production the right-hander has offered. He matched his stellar April (1.26 ERA) by delivering an excellent May (1.89), and he's now allowed three runs or fewer in 28 consecutive starts.
If the league isn't ready to give Senga worthy praise, at least his rotation mates are. Upon entering the dugout in the seventh, he was swarmed by the Mets' starting pitchers and Francisco Lindor. They huddled around Senga and jumped in celebration of his second-longest start of the season.
"The forkball, that was a pitch he had right away," Mendoza said postgame. "They kept swinging at it and he kept going. And then he made the fastball look 98-99 mph when it was 95-96 with how much he was throwing [the fork]. The cutter was good, the sweeper, all of his pitches. He attacked, got ahead, got some chases. He was solid today."
It's still too early to declare which aces will start this summer's All-Star Game in Atlanta, but the short list of candidates undoubtedly includes Senga. He's held opposing hitters to a .203 average, which ranks seventh best in the NL. It's also worth mentioning his career regular-season ERA now sits at 2.62.
Senga can only hope June treats him as well as springtime did -- he's lined up to face the vaunted Dodgers next week. Perhaps there's some added motivation to step up in Los Angeles, as he allowed six runs across three uninspiring innings during two NLCS meetings at Chavez Ravine last fall.
The Medicine Hat Tigers have a chance to do something that hasn't been done in 11 seasons: Bring a Memorial Cup trophy to the Western Hockey League. However, this isn't their first rodeo. The Tigers won back to back championships in 1987 and 1988, defeating the Oshawa Generals and Windsor Spitfires respectively.
There has been one attempt since then, though it didn't go the way they expected. What happened the last time Medicine Hat made their way to one of junior hockey's biggest stages?
Vancouver, 2007
The Tigers were fresh off a WHL championship win over the Vancouver Giants, a hard-fought seven game series that saw the orange and black come back from a 3-2 series deficit and finish off the Giants in a double overtime thriller. Career Tiger Brennan Bosch scored the eventual winner, sealing Vancouver's fate.
However, Medicine Hat would not get the last laugh.
The 2007 Memorial Cup was hosted in Vancouver, so it was inevitable that the two teams would meet again. In their lone round robin matchup, the Tigers squeaked out a 1-0 victory. Now-former NHL journeymen Derek Dorsett, Kris Russell, and David Schlemko all combined for the game's only goal and Matt Keetley turned aside 29 shots for the shutout.
The Giants ended up pumping the now-defunct Plymouth Whalers by a score of 8-1 in order to secure their spot in the championship game, and they were not going to let the opportunity go to waste. Longtime Detroit Red Wings forward Darren Helm scored the only goal for the Tigers, but Vancouver ended up with a 39-15 shot advantage and skated their way to a 3-1 win and a Memorial Cup title in their hometown.
Nearly 20 years later, the only piece of that Medicine Hat team that remains? Head coach Willie Desjardins. Surpassing the 500-win mark this season, the former NHL bench boss is ready to take his team to the promised land and secure a championship in Rimouski.
With several NHL-drafted prospects (and several more making their way to the podium in the next couple seasons) the Tigers are primed to do battle with teh powerhouse London Knights, who are coming off repeat OHL championship winning seasons of their own.
Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
After 14 years of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Buffalo Sabres have to change up their lineup. However, this organization cannot afford to play fast-and-loose with most of their assets -- and that includes up-and-coming left winger J.J. Peterka.
The 23-year-old is an RFA this summer, and he's going to get a major raise on the $855,834 he earned this season. But that's not nearly reason enough for Buffalo to part ways with him. To the contrary -- Peterka should absolutely be a building block for the present and the future, and finding a way to make him happy financially and competitively needs to be a priority for Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and his newly-rejigged management team.
Not only was Peterka second in scoring for Buffalo this season -- with 27 goals and 68 points in 77 games -- he hasn't come close to his prime yet. You don't dump a player like that. You do what you need to do to assure him that he's a key member of the franchise.
Whether Adams gives Peterka a bridge contract or a long-term deal ultimately hinges on where team brass believes he's going to be in the near-future. It's highly unlikely Peterka will have the same type of surge in point production next season -- going from 50 points in 2023-24 to an 18-point improvement this year is going to be very difficult to replicate -- but Peterka now has 55 goals and 118 points in the past two seasons. And getting to the 30-goal plateau isn't a herculean task.
Will Peterka get offer-sheeted as an RFA? It's possible in theory, we suppose. But there's a reason why the NHL doesn't have many players who get an offer sheet; far more often than not, teams will match any offer their player gets. An offer-sheet situation like the St. Louis Blues/Edmonton Oilers saga last summer was all about a team in the Oilers that was strapped for salary cap space, and a Blues team that was extremely calculating in targeting specific mid-tier players.
You can't say the same about the Sabres and Peterka, who now has consecutive seasons of stellar play. Sure, it's not the biggest sample size to judge him by, and there's always a possibility Peterka will regress. But if you're Adams, why take that risk? You're under incredible pressure to produce a playoff team next season, so playing with fire with Peterka is tantamount to cutting off your nose to spite your face. And if a team offer-sheets Peterka, you match the offer and move on. Straightforward stuff, really.
Buffalo has more than enough cap space to use this summer -- $23.2-million, to be precise -- and most of their players are locked up for next season. Even if Adams gives top-four defenseman Bowen Byram a healthy bump in pay, there's plenty of money left over for the Sabres to spend on Peterka. It's not about completely catering to all of your players if you're Adams, but it is about keeping most of them in a good place with their financial bottom line.
If Peterka does take a step back in 2025-26, the Sabres can look at trading him at this time next year. So long as his annual cap hit and contract term aren't outrageously high, there will be many teams lining up to bid on Peterka's services. And Adams (or whoever is running the team by then) should be able to drum up a robust trade market for him if things get to that point. There's always teams out there who believe a change of employer will unlock a particular player's talents, so even if Peterka only pots, say, 20 goals this coming year, Buffalo will be able to find a new home for him.
But for now, the best approach with Peterka is to stay the course, and see exactly how high his goal-scoring prowess can go. And if the Sabres have him locked up for the next two or three years while he gets to that 30-goal mark, Buffalo will have driven a solid bargain for him.
Offense was a strong suit for the Sabres this season, as they were eighth in the NHL in goals-for. You don't want to hamstring the offense by dealing Peterka when there's no good reason to do so. It would be different if the player actively wanted out of Buffalo, but no one is suggesting that's the case with Peterka right now. Better, then, to ensure he's a key component of the team, at least, for the short-term. And you can worry about his future down the road.
Peterka has shown himself to be a capable and worthy NHLer. Now it's on the Sabres to show they're a worthy and capable employer for him. Because if they can't -- or because they choose not to spend the money to retain him -- there will be legitimate cause for abject rage among Buffalo's fans. Peterka needs to be a core component for the Sabres moving forward, and arguing otherwise is lowering the bar for this beleagured franchise.
The Vegas Golden Knights are pressed against the salary cap heading into the offseason and will likely need to make moves to remain under and improve their team. According to a report by David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Golden Knights could do so by trading Nicolas Hague and are entertaining calls and engaging in trade discussions.
No drafted Golden Knights player has played more games with the franchise than Hague. Selected in the second round (34th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft, Hague has played 364 games, scoring 20 goals and 83 points. His 6'6", 245 lbs frame makes him a physical force, breaking up cycle opportunities and clearing the front of his net.
He's garnered a lot of trust from HC Bruce Cassidy, and there will be plenty of teams looking to make a move for the 26-year-old left-handed defenseman.
"Speaking of Vegas, the Golden Knights have just over $9.6 million in salary cap space and a few decent holes to fill. Word on the street is they are entertaining calls on defenceman Nic Hague, who is set to become a restricted free agent July 1 and is due for a solid paycheck," said Pagnotta in his recent "Start of Silly Season" article.
"Multiple sources indicated this week that Vegas has already started to engage in trade discussions involving Hague, who brings size, accountability and a championship pedigree to any club looking to strengthen their defensive corps. Several teams will be poking around, and this should be something to keep an eye on leading up to Draft weekend."
The Golden Knights have been expected to move a defenseman for quite some time now. With eight NHL-calibre defensemen on their roster, freeing up some money to add offence could be a beneficial move.
Kaedan Korczak has shown that he is ready for the next step in his development, and Ben Hutton has been a more than capable replacement when his services are needed. Hague offers many great assets due to his size, but unfortunately, this also makes him a highly sought-after player who can command a substantial salary in this contract extension.
Trading Hague would also allow the Golden Knights to regain some draft capital, which they are currently lacking. Whether they use the draft picks to make selections or acquire other players is unknown, but it gives Kelly McCrimmon more options.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.
Pascal Siakam scored 31 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.
Obi Toppin added 18 points and six rebounds against his former team as the gold-clad crowd gave the starters a roaring ovation when they departed with 47.2 seconds left.
Indiana will visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Thursday night.
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points as the Pacers’ relentless ball pressure forced New York into 17 turnovers.
The Knicks still have not reached the Finals since 1999, and they couldn’t extend the series in a game that was tough and physical right from the start.
Whether it was Towns limping after drawing a foul or Haliburton holding his jaw when he took a shot that knocked him to the ground, the tone was set early — and never really changed with so much at stake.
Indiana finally broke open a close game by opening the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 78-63 lead courtesy of three straight 3-pointers — two from Thomas Bryant and one from Andrew Nembhard. The run ignited the crowd, which included everyone from Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to WNBA star Caitlin Clark to Timothee Chalamet to Kylie Jenner.
But when the Knicks answered with eight straight to cut the deficit to 78-71, the Pacers responded with another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game and the Knicks were forced to play catch-up the rest of the night.
Pacers star and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was on the 1999-2000 Pacers team that made The Finals, served as the color analyst for TNT’s final broadcast.
New York was trying to become the 14th team in league history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. It hasn’t won a title since 1973.
Pascal Siakam scored 31 points, Tyrese Haliburton had 21 points and 13 assists, and the Indiana Pacers pulled away for a 125-108 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 6 on Saturday night to reach the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history.
Obi Toppin added 18 points and six rebounds against his former team as the gold-clad crowd gave the starters a roaring ovation when they departed with 47.2 seconds left.
Indiana will visit Oklahoma City for Game 1 on Thursday night.
OG Anunoby led the Knicks with 24 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson added 19 points as the Pacers’ relentless ball pressure forced New York into 17 turnovers.
The Knicks still have not reached the Finals since 1999, and they couldn’t extend the series in a game that was tough and physical right from the start.
Whether it was Towns limping after drawing a foul or Haliburton holding his jaw when he took a shot that knocked him to the ground, the tone was set early — and never really changed with so much at stake.
Indiana finally broke open a close game by opening the second half on a 9-0 run to take a 78-63 lead courtesy of three straight 3-pointers — two from Thomas Bryant and one from Andrew Nembhard. The run ignited the crowd, which included everyone from Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson to WNBA star Caitlin Clark to Timothee Chalamet to Kylie Jenner.
But when the Knicks answered with eight straight to cut the deficit to 78-71, the Pacers responded with another 9-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game and the Knicks were forced to play catch-up the rest of the night.
Pacers star and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller, who was on the 1999-2000 Pacers team that made The Finals, served as the color analyst for TNT’s final broadcast.
New York was trying to become the 14th team in league history to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win a series. It hasn’t won a title since 1973.
For the second year in a row, the Philadelphia Flyers will have two of their former goalies representing them in the Stanley Cup Final, with one making a surprisingly large contribution in the NHL playoffs relative to his role with the team.
This year's Stanley Cup Final matchup is, of course, a rematch of last year's final, which featured the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.
Former Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, whose career post-Philadelphia has been discussed and reflected on ad nauseam, will appear in his third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, starting to quietly cement himself as one of the best goalies in the NHL playoffs of his era.
With four wins and a back-to-back championship, Bobrovsky will move into 15th all-time in wins in the NHL playoffs amongst goalies.
But, today, we're talking about a different kind of impressive feat from one of the journeymen goalies playing across from him. That's none other than former Flyers goalie Calvin Pickard, who's certainly played his part in bringing the Oilers back to the Final for the second year in a row.
Pickard, 33, didn't start the playoffs as the Oilers' starting goalie, and after some tidy work, he's not going to end them as that either. And that's okay.
Pickard and his goalie partner, Stuart Skinner, combined to allow no fewer than six goals in each of the first two games in Round 1 against the Los Angeles Kings, but Pickard then took over and ripped off four straight wins for the Oilers, playing at a borderline dominant level in two of them.
Pickard's win streak extended into Round 2 against the Vegas Golden Knights, starting that series with two decisive victories in as many games. An injury to Pickard forced Skinner back into the crease, who, after a tight 4-3 loss in his first game, posted back-to-back shutouts to send the Golden Knights packing.
It's been Skinner's crease ever since, but we can't so quickly ignore Pickard's flawless 6-0 record this postseason at a time when the Oilers needed him the most.
And should the Flyers be missing Pickard, who was 4-2-2 with a .863 save percentage and one shutout in his brief 11-game stint in Philadelphia back in 2018?
At this point, yes, probably.
Pickard has gone 34-17-2 over the last two seasons for the Oilers, posting a save percentage no lower than .900 in either season and going 7-1-0 in his 10 postseason appearances.
Pickard, even with his unimpressive Flyers stint, has a career save percentage of .903 in 175 games at the NHL level. It's not great, but it's a lot better than what is in Philadelphia right now.
If nothing else, Pickard would have been a solid backup or rotational piece, at least in the current context of the Flyers, but his career has now advanced and playoff success has followed in lockstep.
