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Panthers falter on home ice, heading back to Toronto for Game 7

Well, who doesn’t love a Game 7?

After winning three straight games to send the Toronto Maple Leafs to the brink of elimination, the Florida Panthers faltered on home ice Friday, falling 2-0 to knot the best-of seven at three games apiece.

The two teams combined for only nine shots on goal during the opening frame, with none getting past Sergei Bobrovsky, who made seven saves, and Joseph Woll, who had two.

Despite only registering the two shots, Florida still had eight scoring chances and 17 shot attempts.

When the second period began, the Panthers came out like gangbusters.

While there were still no goals scored, Florida outshot the Leafs 10-0 and had the edge in shot attempts 24-1 during the first 10 minutes of the second.

By the time the period was over, the Panthers had the edge in shots, attempts and scoring chances, but the game remained scoreless heading into the final frame.

A rare giveaway by Gus Forsling led to the game’s opening goal.

Auston Matthews picked up the puck just outside the blue line and carried it into Florida’s zone, snapping a shot that beat Bobrovsky through the legs to give Toronto a 1-0 lead with 13:40 left in the period.

Toronto doubled their lead on a rush play that developed after Nate Schmidt drove into the offensive zone and couldn’t recover.

Max Pacioretty finished off a cross-ice pass from Bobby McMann with 5:43 to go.

That would be more than enough for the Maple Leafs, who will drag the Panthers back to Toronto for a deciding matchup.

On to Game 7.

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Photo caption: May 16, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) covers the puck from Toronto Maple Leafs center Bobby McMann (74) during the first period in game six of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

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Ottawa Charge eliminate Montreal Victoire in Game 4 to reach PWHL Finals: Takeaways

Ottawa Charge eliminate Montreal Victoire in Game 4 to reach PWHL Finals: TakeawaysThe Ottawa Charge will advance to the PWHL Finals after a 2-1 win over the Montreal Victoire in Game 4 of the semifinals on Friday night.

Rebecca Leslie — an Ottawa-native — opened the scoring just two minutes into the game, giving the Charge an early lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Maureen Murphy made things interesting late in the third period, cutting the Ottawa lead in half with five minutes remaining. But the Charge — backed by strong goaltending from Gwyneth Philips — were able to secure the win and pull off the upset.

Montreal entered the playoffs as the No. 1 team in the league and got to choose its semifinal opponent, the third-ranked Charge. Montreal was heavily favored to win the series, according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s model, with 63 percent odds. But the Victoire mustered only one win — 3-2 in quadruple overtime — en route to another early exit from the postseason.

“We had to grind for every win. That’s a great hockey club over there that gave us a great challenge,” Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner said. “I think we’re playing our best hockey at the right time of year, so it’s exciting.”

As the top remaining seed, Ottawa will have home-ice advantage in the PWHL Finals against the Minnesota Frost. Game 1 will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET at TD Place Arena.

Here are some takeaways from Friday’s deciding game.

A quick opening goal

Ottawa had about as good a start as it could have hoped for, scoring just two minutes after puck drop. That it was Leslie, a local product, who started the two-on-one and buried the rebound that kicked out off Ann-Renée Desbiens’ pad was a nice touch.

The Charge are known for strong starts, with the most games scoring first (21) in the league through the regular season and into the playoffs. At times during the regular season, maintaining leads was perhaps Ottawa’s biggest issue, with a modest 10-1-3-4 record when scoring first.

But in the first round, Ottawa has been able to gain and hold a lead much more effectively, scoring first three times and winning each time, including on Friday night.

Montreal’s top line

One of the reasons to believe Montreal could get the job done against Ottawa was that it has the best forward in the world (Marie-Philip Poulin) and arguably the best top line in the PWHL (Poulin, Laura Stacey and Jennifer Gardiner).

Poulin led the league in scoring this season with 19 goals and has been named a finalist for Forward of the Year. She is sure to be a finalist for MVP when it is announced.

No duo combined for more goals than Poulin and Stacey during the regular season. Gardiner fit in on the top line perfectly, putting together an excellent rookie season bested only in points by Sarah Fillier.

But Ottawa did an excellent job shutting that line down, with its top line of Gabbie Hughes, Emily Clark and Mannon McMahon getting most of the head-to-head minutes. The trio played Poulin tough and did well to stop her from getting the puck, especially in high-danger areas of the ice, keeping Montreal’s captain off the scoresheet in games 2 and 3 and for most of Friday’s game — until Poulin’s secondary assist on Murphy’s late third-period tally.

It’s a credit to Poulin that, despite the stingy defense, she still found pockets of open space and got more shots off in the series than anybody (27), save for Stacey (28).

But she was able to beat Philips only once all series. Similarly, Stacey had only one goal.

It’s the second year in a row that Stacey and Poulin have been completely shut down in the first round of the playoffs.

Friday, Montreal head coach Kori Cheverie made some tweaks to the top line, replacing Gardiner with Lina Ljungblom, last year’s Swedish Women’s Hockey League MVP. In the second period, she moved Dara Greig to that line.

None of those moves could get Montreal’s stars going with the season on the line.

“You want to put the puck in (the net) and I think we came short,” Poulin said after the game. “I came short.”

Clark scores her first

As excellent as Clark’s line is on the defensive side of the puck, it also added a ton of value offensively over the last two games.

In Game 3, it was McMahon who scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win to give Ottawa a 2-1 series lead. Friday, the top line combined again for a massive goal just 31 seconds into the third period to give Ottawa a much more comfortable 2-0 lead.

It was Clark’s first goal of the playoffs, and the 8,011 fans at TD Place Arena erupted with “Clarky” chants for the fan-favorite player.

Throughout the semifinals, the Charge have been at their best in the third period, with five of their seven goals scored in the final frame. In Game 1, it was Shiann Darkangelo with the game winner. In Game 2, Aneta Tejralová and Jenner scored two goals in the final five minutes to force overtime — and ultimately quadruple overtime.

It’s been quite the departure from Ottawa’s issues earlier in the season (and last season) with closing out games. And it has come at the right time.

Philips wins the goalie battle

This series was far different from the Toronto Sceptres versus Minnesota semifinal, which featured 32 goals scored between the teams and a league record for goals scored in a single game.

Goaltending was at times optional. That was not the case between Ottawa and Montreal.

All four games were close, decided by one goal. Both teams combined for only 14 goals — only two more than the record-breaking 7-5 Minnesota win Sunday in an entire series. And it’s not because the games were low-event. There were more shots on goal in the Ottawa-Montreal series than in the Toronto-Minnesota series.

The low scores were largely due to excellent goaltending by Desbiens and Philips, who lead the PWHL postseason in shots against, saves, save percentage and goals-against average.

“The whole series has been a battle of the goaltenders,” said Cheverie.

Philips — the rookie goalie who has been thrust into the starter’s crease, with Emerance Maschmeyer on LTIR — has the edge in nearly every category, with a league-leading .956 save percentage and 1.14 goals against average. Desbiens finished the series with the most saves (132). In Philips’ last two games, she has made 45 saves on 46 shots for back-to-back wins to lead Ottawa to the Finals.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Roger McQueen

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Roger McQueen. (Credit: Brandon Wheat Kings)

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

Since the Penguins have a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.

After the results of the draft lottery on May 5, the Penguins will officially select 11th overall, dropping down two spots from where they originally were at ninth. As such, we have compiled a list of potential draft prospects that should fall around the Penguins' selection. 

We recently profiled center Jake O'Brien, forward Victor Eklund, defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, and forward Brady Martin. Next up? Center Roger McQueen.

Penguins Drop Two Slots In NHL Draft, Will Pick 11th OverallPenguins Drop Two Slots In NHL Draft, Will Pick 11th OverallIn past draft lotteries, the Pittsburgh Penguins have seen their fair share of luck.

Roger McQueen

2025 NHL Draft Prospect Roger McQueen. (Credit: Brandon Wheat Kings)

DOB: Oct. 2, 2006
Position: Center
Shoots: Right
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 197 pounds
Team: Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

There is, perhaps, no 2025 NHL Draft prospect more polarizing than big-bodied centerman Roger McQueen.

A native of Saskatoon, Saskatachuwan, there isn't anyone quite like McQueen in this draft class. Standing at 6-foot-5, 197 pounds, the 18-year-old has a rare mix of size, mobility, and skill that is such a rarity at the NHL level, especially on the forward front. 

But the biggest questions about McQueen is whether or not his skillset will translate to the NHL level - and whether or not he can stay healthy.

McQueen missed nearly all of the 2024-25 season with spondylosis, which is a stress fracture in the spine. He played in only 17 total games and registered 10 goals and 20 points in that span, which seemed to pretty much be a continuation of his 2023-24 campaign that featured 21 goals and 51 points in 53 games.

Wheat Kings' Roger McQueen Re-joins Team, Records Assist In Second Game BackWheat Kings' Roger McQueen Re-joins Team, Records Assist In Second Game BackAfter four and a half months away from the team, Roger McQueen has returned to the WHL.  One of the most intriguing prospects of the 2025 NHL Draft, THN's Dawson Petryshen had the opportunity to sit down with McQueen and catch up on how his recovery went and look ahead to the remainder of the regular season.

The big forward is good with the puck on his stick, and he is quite effective down low and at the net-front, especially on the power play, as seven of his 21 goals in 2023-24 came on the man advantage. He can also take the puck end-to-end with a powerful stride and the ability to deke out opponents along the way. 

Any player with size and skill is attractive to NHL teams, and that's not a secret. If McQueen can continue to put up numbers and produce - as well as build on his skating just a bit - the sky is the limit for him becoming an effective power forward at the NHL level.

However, a lot of the details in McQueen's game aren't quite there, and he doesn't always use his frame to his advantage. There is some left to be desired as far as physicality, and, at times, he can be caught either in the wrong areas of the ice or not anticipating up to the level of his skill.

Some of the "hockey-IQ" that is often referred to with regard to prospects isn't necessarily as prominent with McQueen. That isn't to say that he can't develop that more as he starts playing with better talent and players who do possess a strong hockey sense, but it is something to keep in mind, especially since POHO/GM Kyle Dubas and the Penguins have recently been honing in on high-IQ playmakers. 

He also tends to produce in waves, so the consistency in his production has also been a slight area of concern.

Overall, McQueen is an intriguing prospect, and he has all the tools to be the kind of player that any NHL team would want to deploy every night. However, given the pool of talent that projects to be around the area the Penguins will be picking - and considering their desperate need for more surefire talent at the center position in their system - it's hard to say whether or not the Penguins should take a gamble on a high-upside, low-floor player.

Whether or not Pittsburgh selects him should more so be determined by the players remaining when it's their turn to draft. If a center such as Jake O'Brien or Brady Martin is still available, they may be a bit safer because of the higher level of assurance that they'll at least become effective players at the NHL level. 

As mentioned before, the sky is the limit for McQueen. But the floor is also a pretty low one. So the Penguins should take that into consideration if he is available at 11th overall.

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Brady MartinPenguins Draft Prospect Profile: Brady MartinWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

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Nuggets' Aaron Gordon suffers hamstring strain, availability for Game 7 Sunday in serious doubt

Aaron Gordon, who has been clutch for the Nuggets throughout these playoffs and is a key reason there is a Game 7 for Denver on Sunday in Oklahoma City, will very likely miss that game with a strained hamstring.

The strain diagnosis was first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania and has since been confirmed by multiple reports.

Gordon appeared to strain his hamstring in the final minutes of the Nuggets’ Game 6 win on Thursday, rubbing it and moving slowly on the court, then he checked himself out of the game in the final minute. After the game Gordon said he would be okay, however, coach David Adelman was concerned about his status. As has been discussed with Stephen Curry and his hamstring strain, that is an injury that usually takes around 10 days to heal.

Gordon has averaged 16.8 points and 7.3 rebounds a game while playing clutch defense in these playoffs. More than that, he hit this clutch shot against the Clippers.

And this clutch shot against Oklahoma City in Game 1.

"There’s certain people in our league I would define as championship pieces, I think we say that too much, he is one those people, he is a definition of that and he always has been since he got to us," Adelman said of Gordon earlier this postseason.

That's the kind of player the Nuggets need to step up on Sunday, but Denver will have to go without him.

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NHL Playoffs: Three Eliminated Teams That Should Go Further Next Year

The NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs continue to unfold as more teams head home empty.

But hope springs eternal, and a number of eliminated NHL playoff teams still have serious Cup aspirations in the near future. 

With that in mind, let’s look at three teams that failed in the early stages of this year’s NHL playoffs but could rebound to go further next post-season.

Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche were one period away from beating the Dallas Stars in the first round. But former Avs star Mikko Rantanen went on a tear in a third-period comeback to eliminate his former team.

Somewhat lost after Colorado’s exit is that this is still an excellent team, and the Avalanche have $8.7 million to spend this summer. Brock Nelson, Jonathan Drouin and Ryan Lindgren are among their pending UFAs.

That means a team that has superstars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, as well as star right winger Martin Necas and No. 1 goalie Mackenzie Blackwood, will be even more dangerous for all of next season if it re-signs some of its trade deadline acquisitions or finds an equivalent in free agency.

'Definitely Miss Him': Avalanche's MacKinnon Reflects On The Rantanen Trade In Sweden'Definitely Miss Him': Avalanche's MacKinnon Reflects On The Rantanen Trade In SwedenSTOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Nathan MacKinnon was all smiles as he arrived for the 2025 IIHF men's World Championship.

The Avalanche will be stronger out of the gate than they were this year, and that means home-ice advantage will be well within their reach.

Rantanen burned the Avalanche, but GM Chris MacFarland may have made the right choice for the franchise by dealing the star and giving his team more depth overall. That gamble will play out throughout the 2025-26 campaign, but no one should be surprised if the Avalanche go on a deeper playoff run next spring. They have the elite-level talent to do so, and they could win a Cup next year.

Nathan MacKinnon, Brett Pesce and Johnathan Kovacevic (Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images)

New Jersey Devils

The Devils were some observers’ sexy pick to go far in the past couple of seasons, but 2023-24 was a major letdown for New Jersey, which didn’t make the playoffs that year. This season, the Devils did better in the regular season, but they suffered unfortunate luck when key cog Jack Hughes was hurt late in the year and missed out on any playoff action.

It was no shock, then, that New Jersey didn’t have the firepower to contend with a very deep and skilled Carolina Hurricanes squad in the first round this year. The Hurricanes dominated the Devils, with only one of Carolina’s four wins being a one-goal game. 

But New Jersey fans shouldn’t get too down on their team, even as Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has said he “won’t be bringing back the same group” next season. New Jersey will almost assuredly have the same core of top-end talent, including Hughes, his brother and Devils defenseman Luke Hughes, blueliner Dougie Hamilton and captain Nico Hischier.

Even if New Jersey’s supporting cast changes notably, there are all kinds of talent there that will make the Devils a surefire playoff team in 2025-26 – and they’ve got $12 million in cap space to play with this summer. If the Devils can lock up home-ice advantage next spring, they have the ability to shake off the disappointment of the past couple of years and get far further in the post-season.

St. Louis Blues

For the last few minutes of Game 7, the Blues looked set to eliminate the Winnipeg Jets and move on to a second-round showdown against Dallas. But then it all fell apart in spectacular fashion, with Winnipeg forcing overtime with 1.6 seconds left in regulation, then knocking off St. Louis in double overtime. 

That had to be crushing to Blues fans, players and management, but it shouldn’t take away from the encouraging fact that St. Louis played and won must-win hockey for weeks at the end of the regular season just to get into the playoffs.

The Blues wisely chose not to break up their team at the NHL trade deadline, and St. Louis GM Doug Armstrong is well known for his aggressive moves to keep his team in playoff contention, year in and year out. 

It doesn’t always pan out for the Blues, but with a few tweaks here and there, St. Louis can once again be a playoff team next year – and with the right bounce, they could get to the second round at least.

The Blues have only $5.9 million in cap space at the moment, but that number could rise by $6.5 million if veteran defenseman Torey Krug can’t return from what could be a career-ending injury. You have to know Armstrong will use that cap space to better his team, and although the Central Division will likely be even more competitive next season, the Blues have the experience and internal drive to get back into the playoffs. From there, it’s about being in control for just a few more minutes than they were against the Jets this time around.

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

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Porzingis candidly reflects on illness that impacted him throughout playoffs

Porzingis candidly reflects on illness that impacted him throughout playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A frustrating postseason for Kristaps Porzingis came to an end Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Boston Celtics big man tallied just four points on 1 for 4 shooting in his team’s Game 6 blowout loss to the New York Knicks, providing a brief spark with a 3-pointer and a blocked shot but logging just 11 minutes and 30 seconds of court time.

Porzingis only played 20-plus minutes in one of Boston’s last six games while battling the lingering effects of an upper respiratory illness that caused him to miss eight straight games in late February and early March.

After torching the Knicks during the regular season, Porzingis was a shell of himself in this series, finishing with 25 total points over six games (4.2 per game) while shooting 6 for 25 (24 percent) from the floor and 2 for 9 (22.2 percent) from 3-point range.

Following Boston’s season-ending loss at Madison Square Garden, Porzingis spoke at length about the health issues he’s battled for several weeks.

“I always try to downplay it in my own mind, like, ‘I’m good, I’m good, I’m good,'” Porzingis said about managing his illness. “But I don’t know, my system is not perfect right now, not working the way it should be. Many, many weird things. Might be the best thing I need right now is just to rest, just get somewhere in the sun and just let my system kind of even itself out.

“But it’s definitely a very, very frustrating time for me.”

While it was clear how the illness impacted Porzingis — he struggled with his breathing throughout the series and tired very easily — the big man said he still doesn’t know what type of illness he has.

“I’m not sure,” Porzingis said. “The doctors are trying to help as much as possible, but it was just some lingering fatigue, some effects. And even right now — I played 11 minutes, but I’m gassed right now. Like, I could just lay down over here and just take a little nap, easy, which is extremely weird, and many symptoms that were super weird.

“So, I think nobody has a clear answer. I’ll see how I go from here; maybe I do some extra testing, some extra stuff and see if we find something, but if not, maybe just a reset to my whole system, and hopefully that will get my energy levels back up.”

While the mystery surrounding Porzingis’ illness is obviously concerning, the big man confirmed he got approval from team doctors to play in each game of this series, and that he wasn’t risking further complications by taking the court.

“I got the approval from the doctors that they don’t believe anything serious can happen,” Porzingis said. “They tested my heart and everything, then it was just a matter of, how much can I give? I tried to give what I had, but it wasn’t much, as you could see.”

“But, yeah there’s no bigger risk, so I was able to play.”

Porzingis’ future with the Celtics is murky; he’ll enter the final year of his contract in 2025-26 at a $30.7 million salary. The 7-foot-3 big man is a two-way spark plug and matchup nightmare for opponents when healthy, but if Boston is looking for ways to get under the luxury tax to avoid repeater penalties, it’s possible the team could explore trading Porzingis and end his two-year tenure in Boston.

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Brown shares optimistic outlook after season-ending loss to Knicks

Brown shares optimistic outlook after season-ending loss to Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

“It just wasn’t our year.”

Jaylen Brown emphasized that point several times Friday night after the Boston Celtics’ season-ending 119-81 loss to the New York Knicks. The reigning NBA champions were outclassed as they trailed by as many as 41 points in the Game 6 defeat.

The Knicks winning the series in six games was a stunning outcome. The C’s entered as heavy favorites, but New York jumped out to a 2-0 series lead and eventually finished the job in front of its home crowd.

Brown didn’t sugarcoat how he felt about an archrival ending his season, but he offered a refreshing perspective on the Celtics’ future.

“Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught there is life after death,” he said. “So we’ll get ready for whatever’s next. Whatever’s next in the journey, I’ll be ready for.”

Between Jayson Tatum’s devastating Achilles injury and the lopsided Game 6 loss, the Celtics’ 2024-25 campaign couldn’t have ended on a much more sour note. On top of that, Boston is likely to part ways with multiple key players this offseason to avoid hefty luxury tax penalties.

While Brown understands the general feeling of unease surrounding the team, he is entering the offseason with a positive mindset.

“This journey’s not the end. It’s not the end for me,” Brown said. “You just take this with a chin up… I know Boston, it looks gloomy right now with JT being out…but there’s a lot to look forward to, and I want the city to feel excited about that. This is not the end.”

Brown logged a team-high 20 points with six rebounds and six assists before fouling out in the third quarter of Game 6. Although he was Boston’s only consistent scorer, he accounted for seven of the team’s 15 turnovers.

A nagging knee injury hampered Brown for a chunk of the second half of the season and the playoffs. He wasn’t listed on the injury report in recent games, but the 28-year-old acknowledged that he wasn’t 100 percent. He is uncertain about whether he will have to have a procedure to fix the issue.

That’s one of many question marks surrounding the Celtics as their season comes to a close. As Boston’s offseason begins, the Knicks will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Indiana Pacers.

Watch Brown’s full postgame press conference below:

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‘Just Wilmer things': Flores' huge game further cements Giants legacy

‘Just Wilmer things': Flores' huge game further cements Giants legacy originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Wilmer Flores added another head-turning chapter to his already deep book of MLB lore.

The veteran utility man, already a Giants fan-favorite, did something in San Francisco’s 9-1 win over the Athletics on Friday at Oracle Park that the 41,112 fans in attendance, regardless of which team they support, will remember forever.

Flores hit not one, not two, but three home runs and drove in eight runs in the game, giving him 10 homers and 41 RBI — tied with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the MLB lead — on the season.

“‘Just Wilmer things,’ that’s what we always say,” Giants pitcher Logan Webb said postgame.

Flores, who historically has slow starts to seasons, is off to the best start of his 13-year career, and after an injury plagued 2024 season, not only has returned to peak form, but is on pace to blow past the 23-home run, 60-RBI career-best campaign he had in 2023.

His 2024 season was cut short due to a right knee injury that required surgery, and Flores admitted there were times last year when he doubted whether he ever would return to that level of play, but coming into spring training this year, he knew he still had that in him.

“Because I’ve done it before,” Flores said when asked why he was confident he could return to form. “If I’m at the plate [and] I’m competing, that’s all I need.”

As he rehabbed throughout the offseason, many outside the organization doubted whether Flores would be back with the Giants in 2025 under new leadership, led by president of baseball operations and former Flores teammate, Buster Posey, who took over in the fall.

The veteran infielder exercised his $3.5 million player option in November, and despite being under contract, it still wasn’t clear if there would be much of a role for him this season. It turns out, he might just be the best bargain in all of baseball.

“I don’t know that anybody would have predicted this,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said postgame. “But when he came back in spring training, you saw that it was pretty normal to what we’ve seen before. We felt good about him, but I don’t think anybody could have predicted this.”

“I’m just so happy for him,” Webb added. “Dealing with injuries last year and coming back this year, he’s a huge part of our team and we missed him last year. Seeing him healthy this year and back to doing what Wilmer does is really cool.”

Flores, whether he’s hitting three home runs or going 0-for-4 at the plate, is as consistent and dialed in with his approach as anyone in the Giants’ clubhouse, and his teammates have the upmost respect for him because of it.

“There’s a lot of things,” Webb said when asked what he loves about Flores. “One thing, my favorite thing, is he is the exact same guy every single day. He works his butt off, he always seems like he’s locked in, he’s ready to go.

“He just does everything, and he’s a true professional. If I were to tell someone how to act or how to be a professional baseball player, I’d point right at Wilmer Flores and say, ‘Hey, this is how you do it.”

Webb also mentioned that Flores is his favorite player, and it’s a safe bet that he’s not the only player in the Orange and Black — or around the league — who shares that sentiment.

“Everybody loves Wilmer here,” Melvin said. “Everybody around the league loves Wilmer. He’s about as respected of a guy as you’re going to come across, so it’s great to have someone have a game like that, it’s double good that it’s Wilmer. And I think everybody really embraces him here. He’s a leader.”

Flores has had plenty of big moments throughout his five-plus seasons with the Giants and throughout his MLB career, but his monster game on Friday ranks at the very top of his list.

“This has to be my favorite,” Flores shared. “I’ve had some good ones, but we lost the games, so this is a better one [because] we won.”

The three hits are nice. So are the three homers. Not to mention the eight RBI. But the win always will be the most important thing.

Just Wilmer things.

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Harper and Phillies grind out 7 late runs to come back to beat Pirates

Harper and Phillies grind out 7 late runs to come back to beat Pirates originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Bryce Harper chased a slider well off the plate for strike one and quickly found himself in an 0-2 hole in the seventh inning Friday night. The Phillies trailed by two runs with two aboard, hadn’t been able to muster much offense, and it looked from Harper’s first swing like he might be in over-aggressive mode.

One of Harper’s best qualities, though, is his ability to slow the game down. He can do it in a way that many hitters cannot, that many pitchers cannot.

Pirates lefty reliever Ryan Borucki missed with ball one, a low-and-away sweeper. Then ball two, another low-and-away sweeper. Then balls three and four, two more low-and-away sliders. Harper appeared to learn his lesson from the first pitch and apply it to the rest of the plate appearance.

“That’s who he is,” manager Rob Thomson said. “When he’s going good, he’s gonna fight, he’s gonna be a tough out.”

It loaded the bases for Kyle Schwarber, who is every bit as selective as Harper, a primary reason why the Harper-Schwarber back-to-back is so troublesome for opposing arms. A visibly flustered Borucki missed with four non-competitive pitches to walk in a run, shaking his head receiving return throws from catcher Joey Hart. Even then, the Pirates still led.

Borucki worked ahead 0-2 on Nick Castellanos just as he did Harper before hitting him with the next pitch, tying the game and prolonging an inning in which the Phillies scored four times with just one hit. A two-run deficit turned into a two-run lead and the Phillies tacked on three more in the eighth to win, 8-4.

The seventh-inning rally was based almost entirely around patience with the Phillies working walks against three different Pirates relievers in the span of six hitters. This is a lineup that prides itself on making pitchers grind.

The first baserunner in both late rallies was Johan Rojas, who drew walks out of the nine-hole and scored both times.

“I thought Rojas had an incredible at-bat getting things going late in the game and scoring the runs that we needed to,” Harper said. “You never know what’s gonna happen in the ninth inning. We fought back, did a great job of having good at-bats all night.”

The Phils have a chance over their next two series to surge in the standings against two of baseball’s worst teams. Friday began a run of seven straight games against the Pirates and Rockies, the two weakest offenses in baseball at 3.1 and 3.2 runs per game. Those two teams are a combined 22-66. The Phillies are 26-18.

Ranger Suarez allowed a three-run homer in the top of the sixth inning but was otherwise efficient, as he has been through the majority of his first three starts. He went seven innings, just as he did last Saturday in Cleveland. Suarez has pitched 17⅔ innings this season and faced the minimum three batters in 10 of them. It’s just that the three innings he’s allowed a run, he’s allowed at least three.

It was a very productive game for Harper, who went 3-for-4 with a walk and two RBI, numbers 1,000 and 1,001 of his career. He received a nice standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 44,039 after reaching the four-digit milestone in the bottom of the sixth.

“You always want more,” Harper said. “There’s a lot of baseball ahead of me and this team as well. Having moments like that are really cool on a personal level and really cool to be a part of that company, that history.”

Zack Wheeler toes the rubber for the Phillies on Saturday, giving them a great chance to earn a series win after dropping two of three to the Cardinals earlier in the week.

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Mets' Juan Soto on booing fans, hostile Yankee Stadium environment: 'I was ready for it'

The highly anticipated matchup between the Mets and Yankees this weekend had a major storyline in place: how Juan Soto will be welcomed at Yankee Stadium.

After helping the Yankees make it to their first World Series since 2009, Soto spurned the team from the Bronx to sign with the Mets in the offseason. Now, in his first game back at Yankee Stadium since Game 5 of last year's World Series, the Yankee faithful gave him a reaction, rather befitting of the circumstances.

Batting second with one out in the top of the first, Soto came up to the plate with boos raining down on him.

Soto tipped his helmet to the crowd and mouthed "thank you."

"I was ready for it," Soto said after the Mets' 6-2 loss. "They are really passionate fans and they were hurt. They are going to do the best for their team and they just feel that way."

Soto was asked about his cap tip and whether it was planned.

"Was just joking in the dugout and that I should do it," he said. "And I just did it. The guys just loved it."

"I thought they were very respectful and that's what you want," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of the Yankee Stadium crowd. "You can boo all you want and all that, as long as they're not crossing the line. It was loud."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone chuckled when asked about the crowd but kept his description of the environment more generalistic.

"It was a pretty great environment," he said. "Comfortable weather-wise. Certainly one of those nights where you can feel the energy in the building."

Soto took a five-pitch walk and never swung the bat once. The Mets fans in attendance cheered as Soto took his base. It was a common theme for Soto on Friday night. The left-handed slugger finished 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and a run scored.

If you listen closely to the broadcast, "F--- you Soto" chants could be heard from the Yankees faithful. And when he took the field for the first time, he received Bronx jeers from the crowd in the right field bleachers, and many turned their backs to him.

Soto said he didn't notice what the fans were doing and avoided eye contact while just listening to the boos.

"You gotta embrace it. At the end of the day, whatever they give you, it is what it is," Soto said. "You gotta be a professional and take it as a man. I was just enjoying the moment."

As Yankee fans see when the Astros and Jose Altuve come to town, the boos can sometimes motivate players. Soto says cheers can get a player going, but the boos don't affect him or his approach to the game.

"It’s just another game. Unfortunate we didn’t get the win," Soto said. "I don’t focus on the fans, we focus on the game and be a professional and try to win the game. It just sucks that we lost the game but we have two more to win the series."

He was asked if that's the loudest boos he's every heard, and he said "I think so. They were really loud."

And they didn't die down. Every time Soto came to the plate, the Yankee Stadium crowd kept dishing their vitriol at a once-beloved player. And they were ecstatic when Soto flew out to end the game.

But like Soto said, it's on to Saturday where the Mets will try and get their offense rolling after scrapping together just five hits against Yankees pitching.

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Watch Stephen Curry, Warriors learning of Doncic trade to Lakers in new video

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers

Apr 3, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) moves to the basket against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Everyone's first reaction to Shams Charania breaking the news that Luka Doncic had been traded to the Lakers for Anthony Davis was the same: "He's been hacked." Followed by stages of disbelief, shock, and (in some quarters) anger. Nobody could believe it.

That includes Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors players, who were at a charity poker event. We can now watch their reactions in a video posted to Alan Keating’s YouTube channel (hat tip CBS Sports).

The best reaction was Kyle Anderson, who basically went Edvard Munch's "The Scream." Stephen Curry was more literal on that front and screamed into his phone, which was crazy, too. And you can see Kirk Lacob and other members of the Warriors front office trying to figure out how this happened without anyone knowing.

Four days later, Golden State would make its own bold move, trading for Jimmy Butler. In the end, Curry's Warriors and Doncic's Lakers both were eliminated by the same team in the playoffs, the Minnesota Timberwolves. That doesn't make the Doncic trade any less shocking more than three months after it happened. And this video is classic.

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Celtics roster reset: Breakdown of contracts, free agents entering offseason

Celtics roster reset: Breakdown of contracts, free agents entering offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

As was the case with the previous five NBA champions, the Boston Celtics were unable to defend their title after falling to the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Friday.

Losing superstar forward Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles in Game 4 of the series was a huge blow to Boston’s chances of repeating as champs. The injury also could have a significant impact on how the C’s approach the upcoming offseason.

The Celtics have a very expensive roster as a team in the second apron. It would behoove the Celtics to get under the second apron and give themselves some more financial and roster flexibility. Achieving that would require shedding some salary.

It’s too early to tell which players could be moved, but it seems unlikely that the Celtics bring back nearly their entire roster for the second straight summer.

Here’s what our Celtics Insider Chris Forsberg wrote earlier this week:

“The Celtics are already committed to $228 million in contracts next season. They are nearly $20 million over the second apron, and that’s before addressing a pair of free-agents-to-be in Al Horford and Luke Kornet. The team is currently projected to have a $238 million luxury tax bill, which would push the team closer to a half billion total spend if the roster was maintained.”

Here’s a full breakdown of the Celtics’ contract situations and free agents heading into the offseason:

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Under contract in 2025-26

  • Jayson Tatum: $54.1 million (contract expires after 2028-29, includes player option for 2029-30)
  • Jaylen Brown: $53.3 million (expires after 2028-29)
  • Jrue Holiday: $32.4 million (expires after 2026-27, player option for 2027-28)
  • Kristaps Porzingis: $30.7 million (expires after 2025-26)
  • Derrick White: $28.1 million (expires after 2027-28, player option for 2028-29)
  • Sam Hauser: $10 million (expires after 2028-29)
  • Payton Pritchard: $7.2 million (expires after 2027-28)
  • Baylor Scheierman: $2.6 million (expires after 2025-26, team options for 2026-27 and 2027-28)
  • Xavier Tillman: $2.5 million (expires 2025-26)
  • Neemias Queta: $2.3 million (expires after 2026-27)
  • Jordan Walsh: $2.2 million (expires after 2025-26, team option for 2026-27)

The Celtics spent huge money to sign Jayson Tatum and Derrick White to multi-year extensions last offseason. Tatum’s supermax contract was the richest in league history at the time.

This offseason should be a little quieter in regards to large extensions, and that’s because the team’s best players are all under contract for at least two more seasons, with the exception of Porzingis. The veteran center is entering the final year of his deal.

Celtics teammates Payton Pritchard and Jaylen BrownPaul Rutherford-Imagn Images
Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard could shoulder a bigger offensive load next season while Tatum is out.

Team option for 2025-26

  • JD Davison: $2.3 million

Davison, Boston’s second-round pick in 2022, won the 2024-25 G League MVP award this past season for the Maine Celtics. He also played in 16 NBA games this season. If the Celtics make some changes in the offseason, that could open up a larger role for Davison in 2025-26.

Restricted free agents

  • Drew Peterson

Peterson played in 25 games for the Celtics this season, averaging 7.4 minutes per game. He excelled in the G League, averaging 20 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists over 15 games for Maine.

Unrestricted free agents

Al HorfordPetre Thomas-Imagn Images
Will Al Horford stay in Boston for his 19th NBA season?
  • Al Horford
  • Luke Kornet
  • Torrey Craig

Al Horford is 37 years old but remains a valuable player for Boston as a good outside shooter, a strong defender and the team’s best leader. Bringing him back on a team-friendly deal would be a great outcome for the Celtics.

Kornet has emerged as an essential big man off the bench who plays his role very well. He’s also highly effective in the pick-and-roll with Jayson Tatum, who has praised Kornet on several occasions. Kornet is great for team morale, too. Re-signing him should be a priority.

Craig was acquired at the trade deadline back in February. He didn’t have much of a role for Boston, but he could provide some depth, outside shooting and perimeter defense if brought back. Tatum’s injury could give Craig a slightly larger role.

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Will RFA Fabian Zetterlund Get Paid On His San Jose Numbers Or The Ones In Ottawa?

Mar 15, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators forward Fabian Zetterlund (20) warms up before playing the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Fabian Zetterlund has only been an Ottawa Senator for a couple of months, and he’s already asking the club for a raise. That wouldn’t fly in a normal workplace, but that’s how it goes in the NHL when you bring in a pending restricted free agent at the trade deadline.

The Senators acquired Zetterlund, minor league centre Tristen Robins, and a 2025 fourth-round pick from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for winger Noah Gregor, centre Zack Ostapchuk, and a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

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Zetterlund’s current contract expires on July 1st, and he’ll be seeking an upgrade from the $1.45 million he earned over the past two seasons. He has a decent case: he led the Sharks in goals in 2023–24 with 24 tallies and 44 points. He was on a similar pace this season before the trade to Ottawa, where things got… well, a little more fourth-liney.

Coming to a new team can be a little awkward at first, but it sounds like the transition for Zetterlund was relatively easy.

“I would say it's been great,” Zetterlund said. “It felt like I stepped into a big, big family and yeah, it's been great. I mean, the group is so tight and so close with each other, so it was easy for me. Even hockey-wise didn't go that well at the beginning, but I felt comfortable when I learned the system more and more.”

Fans who recall the pesky NHL playing career of Claude Lemieux, who’s now a player agent, would never think of him as a guy who brings people together. But he’s the agent for both Zetterlund and Tim Stützle, so it’s quite likely Lemieux asked Stützle to take the new guy under his wing.

Why 2024-25 Was The Best Season Yet For Senators Centre Tim StützleWhy 2024-25 Was The Best Season Yet For Senators Centre Tim StützleOttawa Senators centre Tim Stützle just enjoyed the best season of his NHL career.

“Yeah, (Stützle) reached out right away and told me I could live with him,” Zetterlund said. “And yeah, it was an easy, easy choice. And we had a lot of fun together. It just made when I came here so much easier. He showed me around everything, so yeah, it's just great to have a guy like that.”

Zetterlund says he would love to return to the Senators this season, but he clammed up when he was asked at the season-end media availability whether there has been any contract talks.

“No. You can talk to Steve (Staios).”

Translation: not touching that one with a ten-foot composite stick.

Staios and Lemieux occasionally butted heads as players, and it’s possible they’ll do so again while trying to agree on Zetterlund’s worth this summer. Lemieux is likely to be after a deal that reflects his client’s stats and performance with the Sharks, the worst team in the NHL the past two years.

In San Jose, Zetterlund played in the top six, frequently making calls on the “Lund Line” with Mikael Granlund and William Eklund. Last season, he played almost 19 minutes a night. This season, almost 17 minutes.

But on a superior team in Ottawa, his path to top-six minutes was often blocked. Zetterlund got some games up there but also frequently played on the fourth line. So, in 20 games with the Sens, he had just 2 goals and 5 points, and his ice time with the Senators was just over 14 minutes a night.

That said, he's quick, has a lethal release, and based on his Instagram workouts, he can deadlift a Zamboni.

A lot will depend on other moves Staios makes this summer, but one thing’s for sure: Staios will be negotiating based on Zetterlund’s value in Ottawa, not in San Jose. And unless Zetterlund breaks into the top six regularly, getting the minutes he needs to repeat those California stats will be a challenge.

With Zetterlund under club control for two more years, Staios has the upper hand. He’d probably like to get a deal done at around $2 million or under, but Lemieux will look at the recent contracts signed by Ridly Greig ($3.25M) and Shane Pinto ($3.75M) and want to be in that salary range, especially since Zetterlund had more points than both of those players last season.

Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?Will The Ottawa Senators Sign Shane Pinto To An Extension This Summer?Shane Pinto is eligible for a contract extension this summer. As with every deal, the Ottawa Senators would like to be sure they're getting what they pay for.

But the difference is this: Staios probably has more of a desire to keep Greig and Pinto happy because they're likely to be part of the long-term solution here, while the jury is still out on Zetterlund, who isn’t a UFA until 2027.

Most likely, both sides split the difference: a short-term deal around $2.5 million. It’s a nice bump for Zetterlund and gives Ottawa flexibility in case he turns into more than just a depth scorer with great quads.

If Zetterlund works his way into core player status, there’s plenty of time to revisit things in a year or two.

Steve Warne, Site Editor
The Hockey News - Ottawa 
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What we learned as Flores' monster game fuels Giants' win vs. Athletics

What we learned as Flores' monster game fuels Giants' win vs. Athletics originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Goodbye Bay Bridge Series, hello … Highway 80 Series?

Friday marked the beginning of a new era for the Giants and their former intra-market rivals, the artists previously known as the Oakland Athletics.

The Green and Gold paid their first visit to Oracle Park since their move to West Sacramento, and while the rivalry doesn’t have nearly the same significance it once did, even as recently as last year, the atmosphere still resembled that neighborly rivalry.

It started with the two aces on the mound, as Logan Webb squared off against Athletics (22-23) lefty JP Sears (L, 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 2 K’s), who Wilmer Flores made pay for one mistake early in the game.

Here are three takeaways from the Giants’ 9-1 win that improved their record to 26-19:

If Nobody’s Got Me …

Bases loaded. No outs. Flores at the plate. Based on how his 2025 MLB season has gone, you can probably guess what happened next.

The Giants’ RBI leader, who now is tied with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge for the MLB lead (41), drove in San Francisco’s first eight runs of the game. Yes, you read that correctly.

First, with a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning.

Oh, but he was just getting started.

Already with four RBI on the night, Flores came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, with one out and runners on first and second, and lined his second homer of the game, and ninth this season, just over the left field wall for RBI five, six and seven on the night.

Just when you thought he was finished …

With the Giants leading 7-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Flores launched a solo shot to left for his third homer and eighth RBI of the game.

Through the Giants’ first 45 games this season, Flores is on a 147-RBI pace, which, simply put, is nowhere near realistic for what the veteran utility man ultimately will finish with.

However, if you were to tell the Giants before the season started that Flores would bat .266 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI, for the entire year, they would be thrilled. Let alone in less than two months.

All that production for $3.5 million this season.

The Usual Home Cookin’

Webb (W, 8 IP, 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 4 K’s) is off to the best start of his MLB career and has continued to dominate at home. In four starts at Oracle Park this season, Webb has surrendered two earned runs in 28 1/3 innings pitched.

If the season ended today, Webb’s Strikeouts Per Nine Innings (10.6) this season, prior to Friday’s start, would be the highest of his seven-year career.

He was nothing short of excellent on Friday night, which, impressively, is par for the course for him when pitching at the friendly confines.

He would have been the biggest storyline of the night, if not for Flores.

Odes To The East Bay

The Giants are embracing the East Bay baseball fans whose team up-rooted from Oakland this offseason.

Oracle Park’s lively “415” section in right-center field now has a banner that includes the iconic San Francisco area code plus “510,” an East Bay Area code, which, not-so-coincidentally, is home to the Oakland Coliseum.

The East Bay acknowledgement didn’t stop there, either. In between inning early in the game, members of the Pioneer League’s Oakland Ballers organization were shown on the video board with public address announcer Carolyn McArdle saying: “Thank you for keeping baseball in Oakland alive.”

It’s fair to assume some A’s fans might harbor some resentment toward the Giants for certain off-the-field ballpark-related factors, but if there are fans of the Green and Gold looking to call Oracle Park their baseball home in the near future, it’s clear the Giants will embrace them.

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Yankees Notes: Aaron Boone expects 'creativity' from fans during Juan Soto's reunion

The most anticipated Subway Series in recent memory has less to do with a pair of first-place crosstown rivals and more to do with Juan Soto's return to the Bronx. For the first time as a member of the Mets, the superstar slugger will face his former club on Friday night at Yankee Stadium, in a matchup that should deliver ample drama to both fan bases.

While there's no reason to doubt Soto's ability to ignore the outside noise and also produce with heightened expectations this weekend, only time will tell how he'll be received by the sold-out crowds. When he steps into the batter's box and travels out to right field, there'll be far more jeers than cheers. It's the new reality.

The Mets already have a win over the Yankees in 2025, if counting the historic free-agent sweepstakes for Soto. But regardless of what unfolds in the three-game set, Yankees manager Aaron Boone only hopes the attention directed toward his former slugger doesn't cross any lines.

"It'll be interesting. I'm sure there'll be some creativity in there," Boone said on Friday afternoon. "The biggest thing is, I just want everyone to come have a good time and be safe and not take things too far... This year is unique, obviously because of all the news and storylines around Juan the last couple years. So you understand that ratchets up the intensity of it. Both teams playing well, in first place. Mendy is over there now... It always feels like a big deal. There's been some really good series with them..."

This iteration of the Subway Series doesn't lack storylines. Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso currently rank atop the AL and NL leaderboards in RBI. Francisco Lindor recently became the first shortstop to cross the 50-WAR threshold since Derek Jeter. Max Fried and Kodai Senga have resembled staff aces with league-leading ERAs nearing 1.00. The Big Apple stars are shining.

But the main attraction is undoubtedly Soto, who's poised to have a breakout series against old teammates and justify his status as baseball's highest-paid player. After a stellar 2024 season in pinstripes, he's now a lifetime .283 hitter at Yankee Stadium who's also posted 24 home runs and 18 doubles (83 games).

The missing piece to a bullpen puzzle?

The Yankees finally welcomed back a valuable reliever to their bullpen on Friday, as right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga was taken off the injured list after a lengthy recovery from season-ending elbow surgery last spring.

Loaisiga, who re-signed with New York this past offseason on a one-year deal that includes a 2026 club option, has the potential to be a high-leverage option for a bullpen that began the 2025 campaign with some trust issues. The 30-year-old made six rehab appearances across two minor league levels, allowing just one run across 7.1 innings.

"I'm excited to get him back. He's looked really, really good -- really from February, when he was throwing bullpens and lives," Boone said. "The ramp-up has been really good. Very in line with what a full spring would've looked like. I feel like he's throwing the ball really well. We'll be careful with him here, the first couple of weeks. Making sure we build him successfully. But really excited the way he's throwing the ball and what he can mean to our pen."

The hope is that Loaisiga rediscovers the dominance he flashed back in 2021, when he posted a 2.17 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 57 appearances (70.2 innings). Any success he achieves will be contingent upon his health; however, he was limited to just four innings in 2024 and 17 games in 2023 due to elbow and shoulder ailments.

Latest injury updates on Chisholm and Cabrera

Jazz Chisholm Jr. doesn't believe he'll spend much more time on the shelf with his high-grade oblique injury. The veteran infielder was seen fielding grounders on Friday afternoon and later told Greg Joyce of the New York Post that he could possibly return in 10 days.

When asked about Chisholm's recovery timeline, Boone didn't express the same level of optimism. But the team is pleased with his progress and considers his ramp-up efforts "encouraging." Chisholm, who's hitting a lowly .181 this season, last played on April 29.

As for utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera, who fractured his ankle on a slide at home plate against the Mariners earlier this week, he isn't expected to make a late-season comeback, according to Boone. But an official ruling won't be made until doctors further evaluate him in the coming days.

An end-of-week trade

The Yankees parted ways with a left-handed reliever on Friday, as they traded veteran Rob Zastryzny to the Brewers in exchange for cash considerations. The 33-year-old appeared in nine games for Milwaukee last season, posting a sharp 1.11 ERA across 7.1 innings of work, but didn't make a single appearance for New York. He's spent all of 2025 in the minors.