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Still one of MLB's best rosters, Phillies' World Series-or-bust season set to begin

Still one of MLB's best rosters, Phillies' World Series-or-bust season set to begin originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The end to incessant speculation and crystal-balling has nearly reached its end — Phillies Opening Day is about 24 hours away, 4:05 p.m. Thursday at Nationals Park.

It’s a now-or-never year for the Phillies, who have maintained the same core for four seasons and are unlikely to return the same cast of characters if it can’t make progress in 2025.

The offseason feels especially long when it follows a finish as disappointing as this group’s October 2024. One of the beautiful things about baseball is the opportunity to bounce back from a tough loss the next day, and the most difficult losses are unfortunately also the ones that send you home for six months.

But there was renewed optimism this spring in Clearwater. If you were to stack all 30 rosters against one another, the Phillies would be somewhere between second and fifth in any logical ranking and it’s hard to put them lower than third.

Having the roster to do it is one part. Staying healthy is another. Getting hot at the right time — as the Phillies did for stretches in October 2022 and 2023 and the Mets did last fall — is another.

We’ve seen the ceiling of this offense. We’ve seen the Phillies beat teams 10-0 in the playoffs, homer five times off of a starting pitcher. But the floor needs to be higher when hitters aren’t totally locked in, when the ball isn’t bouncing their way. Thus the annual emphasis of controlling the strike zone and utilizing the whole field.

On to some specifics:

The rotation

The Phillies’ rotation in D.C. will be Zack Wheeler on Thursday, Jesus Luzardo in Game 2 Saturday and Aaron Nola Sunday.

Cristopher Sanchez will start Monday’s home opener against the Rockies. Wheeler will start Wednesday, the fifth game of the season, on an extra day of rest. Taijuan Walker will start the next day to wrap up the Phils’ first home series.

And from there, the Phillies would likely go on turn until Ranger Suarez is ready, with Walker following Wheeler because of the early flip-flop.

The lineup

The Phillies face Nationals left-hander Mackenzie Gore on Opening Day. He has reverse platoon splits; lefties have hit .279 with an .816 OPS, righties have hit .253 with a .753 OPS.

As a result, there might be five lefties in the Phillies’ lineup against a left-handed starter: Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh.

The Phillies will play Kepler every day in left field. They’ve said they want to and will play Marsh more in center against lefties. But both will need to hold their own against same-handed pitching to show it’s not worth starting Edmundo Sosa or Johan Rojas over them more than occasionally.

As for the top of the order, the much-debated Schwarber vs. Trea Turner leadoff topic might conclude with the boring answer of “both.” Manager Rob Thomson has discussed potentially leading Turner off against a lefty, Schwarber against a righty.

The upside of moving Schwarber down a few spots is that two-thirds of his home runs as a Phillie have been solo shots, and the likelihood of him batting with men on base would be significantly higher a spot or two after Harper and Alec Bohm than a spot or two after the eight- and nine-hitters.

The downside of moving Schwarber down a few spots is that he led the NL in walks last season and had a .366 on-base percentage. Turner’s OBP as a Phillie has been .328. That needs to increase.

The injured list

Suarez will begin the year on the IL because of his back. The Phillies don’t think it’s a severe injury, but it’s another back issue for a pitcher who has dealt with several. He’ll need a few weeks to build back up once he’s throwing again, so Walker has a spot in the rotation for a little while.

Weston Wilson suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain the day before spring training games began and was expected to miss six weeks. This is about the four-week mark. Once Wilson is ready to ramp back up, the Phillies will let him find his timing at Triple A. He has a minor-league option remaining so he doesn’t need to be activated onto the big-league roster right when his rehab assignment is over if the Phils feel he does need more time. But his skill set is one they could sure use — right-handed bat with pop and speed who could realistically play six different positions.

Matt Strahm dealt with a left shoulder impingement early in camp and tore a fingernail packing his bags to leave Clearwater, but it sounds like he’ll be ready to go for Opening Day.

The division

The Braves will be better. Ronald Acuña Jr. is expected back from his ACL injury in May. Spencer Strider could be back in late April or May. Those two returns alone are equivalent to adding two $300 million players in free agency.

The 2024 Braves were ravaged by injuries and underperformance from players like Ozzie Albies, Sean Murphy and Matt Olson. Chris Sale and Marcell Ozuna vastly exceeded expectations. Overall, the Braves should be a 92-to-95-win team. Same for the Phillies.

The Mets are loaded, too, but have more questions on their pitching staff. There’s talent and upside, but their season-opening rotation projects as Clay Holmes, Kodai Senga, Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning and David Peterson. While they’ll get Sean Manaea (oblique strain) and Frankie Montas (lat strain) back at some point, it still doesn’t look like a Top-10 rotation. The bullpen is just OK behind Edwin Diaz, whose fastball averaged 95 mph this spring compared to 97 previously. Maybe things break right in New York, maybe they’re shopping aggressively for pitching in June and July. The offense, specifically the top of their order, is going to do damage.

The NL East race should be tight all year, unlike 2024 when the Phillies led by at least five games every day after May 19.

The schedule

The first two series are on the lighter side against the Nationals and Rockies. Colorado has the inside track to being the National League’s worst team again this year.

That’s offset by the next two series, at home vs. the Dodgers and in Atlanta. Two fun early-season tests.

The Phillies see every team in the division in April, then face only the Braves in May around Memorial Day. They end the season with 20 NL East games in their final 35.

There are three West Coast trips — May 19-25 in Colorado and Sacramento, July 7-13 in San Francisco and San Diego leading into the All-Star break and September 15-21 in Arizona and Los Angeles.

The Phillies are, fortunately, middle of the pack in travel miles this year after going everywhere from Seattle to London in 2024.

The expectations

It’s World Series or bust, even with how much the Dodgers loaded up. Beating L.A. will be a monumental task for any team this season because the Dodgers don’t just have the superstars atop the lineup, they now also have a deep and high-ceiling rotation and three top-tier late-inning relievers in Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates.

But the Phillies are probably the most talented, deepest and well-balanced team after the Dodgers, in either league. Some clubs have better lineups, some have better overall pitching staffs, but the Dodgers and Phillies have the best combinations.

The Phils beat them five out of six games last year, which means nothing other than they know they have it in them. The timing of the two regular-season series — so early in April, then right before the regular season ends — should only add to the drama.

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Melvin wants Giants to attack challenge of tough NL West in 2025

Melvin wants Giants to attack challenge of tough NL West in 2025 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — The memories probably will come flooding back when Buster Posey steps foot in Great American Ball Park on Thursday. It was home to one of the great comebacks in postseason history, sparked by Hunter Pence’s rousing speech in the visiting clubhouse. Posey’s grand slam in Game 5 of the National League Division Series in 2012 capped the comeback, which led to a second title in three years. 

That comeback was a reminder that anything can happen in a short series. If you catch fire for a week, or even just for 27 innings, you can exceed expectations. Get everything clicking for a few weeks at exactly the right time and you might find yourself in a parade.

The problem this season for the Giants, now run by Posey, won’t be imagining what they can do in a short series. It’ll be getting to one in the first place.

Entering the season, just about everyone will pick them to finish fourth in their own division. That’s not a path to the postseason, which means they’ll have to vault one of three contenders ahead of them. Nobody is going to catch the reigning champs, who added Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki, and will get Shohei Ohtani back on the mound in a couple of months. The Arizona Diamondbacks are a popular dark horse pick in the NL, and they now have Corbin Burnes alongside Zac Gallen. The San Diego Padres had a messy offseason, but the top of their rotation is strong and the lineup features Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. 

The NL West might be the best division in baseball. And Bob Melvin wants his team to embrace that.

“You have to be inspired to play against teams like that,” he said on Wednesday’s “Giants Talk” podcast. “The Dodgers are probably as close to a super team as you have right now in baseball, but you know what, you get motivated to play against those guys, and then the rivalry comes into play, too. That even inspires you more to play good against those good teams, and if you beat them — which we expect to stand up against all these teams — especially with the younger guys, the confidence grows.

“Now all of a sudden you look forward to playing in those tight games, packed houses at our place, packed houses at Dodger Stadium. And you gain a lot of confidence from that. We’re not going to back down to anybody. We know our division is tough, but it’s kind of cool that we’re playing a lot of good teams in our division. We feel like we’re going to stack up well.”

Spring is a time to be that optimistic. It’s also a time to set the tone, and that’s what Posey attempted to do when he spoke to the full team at the start of camp. Four years ago, Posey returned from a year off and encouraged his teammates to make the division title their first goal. That surprised the coaching staff, but the Giants went out and won 107 games, one more than Los Angeles. This spring, Posey again reminded the players that the first priority is always to win your division.

“I don’t think the years after (2021) we had the same message. I don’t know why,” Logan Webb said. “I can’t explain why, but I think getting back to that, if you go back to that year, I think (the projections) probably were 80 wins. It’s kind of the same thing right now. There’s not a lot of people who think we can do it (but) winning is contagious. You win a couple and they start piling up and all of a sudden you win 107 games.

“I don’t necessarily think we should shoot for a number. It’s just go out there and play as hard as we can every single day. I think when you do that, good things happen, and you’re fighting and scrapping until the end to try to win the division. Once you do that, you give yourself a chance to try to win a World Series.”

This year’s projections again have the Giants in that 80-win range. FanGraphs currently has them going 81-81, with a 29 percent chance of making the playoffs and a 2.4 percent chance of winning the West. The Dodgers are overwhelming favorites, given an 86 percent chance of winning the division, by far the highest in baseball. They’re 2-0 already after starting the season in Japan, and nobody would be surprised if they go wire-to-wire en route to 110-plus wins.

FanGraphs has the Diamondbacks as a playoff team but the Padres just percentage points ahead of the Giants. PECOTA has the Giants well behind all three, with a win projection of just 77. Its calculations have all three teams ahead of the Giants projected to make the postseason.

“Our division is no joke,” Matt Chapman said. 

But, he added …

“There are four teams that could win any division, I think.”

Chapman is one of the biggest reasons why Webb, who has experienced the postseason just once in his career, is confident that winning ways are returning. He noted that when he looks back at 2021, he realizes how important it was for someone like Posey to lead the charge. In Chapman and Willy Adames, the Giants feel they have similar leaders. 

“I think getting back to that is really important,” Webb said.

The staff ace will take the ball Thursday, but it’ll be some time before the Giants get to test themselves against the three contenders in the West. They open with a trip to Cincinnati and Houston, and the first homestand brings the Seattle Mariners and another round with the Reds. 

The Giants don’t face an NL West team until late April, and that’s just a two-game trip to Petco Park. In May, they’ll see the Colorado Rockies and Diamondbacks, but it’s not until June 13 that they get a first look at this version of the Dodgers. The best team in baseball doesn’t come to Oracle Park until July.

If the Giants truly can surprise the industry and hang on, they’ll get a chance to prove themselves against the NL West’s best when it matters most. In September, they have a two-week stretch when they play only the Diamondbacks and Dodgers. 

There’s a long, long way to go until the Giants get there, and the start of their season isn’t easy by any means, even if they are avoiding their division. The second road trip includes series against the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies, and they also will see the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers early on.

The NL West discussions will be put on the back burner, at least for a few weeks. Melvin hopes his group gets off to a good start and gets used to winning, which will allow them to take more confidence into all those divisional battles. After that, you never know. He pointed out that he was part of a Padres team that knocked off the Dodgers in October, and a year later the Diamondbacks did the same thing.

“Last year was probably the first year in quite some time that — with the Yankees and Dodgers — two big spenders were actually in the World Series,” Melvin said. “It doesn’t guarantee anything, and with as many teams that can get into the playoffs now, a lot of it is who is playing well towards the end of the season.”

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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The Jordan shot that 'changed the world'

There were 15 seconds left on the clock when a 19-year-old college basketball player launched a 16-foot winning shot that would change sports marketing forever.

Watching that day was marketing executive and grassroots promoter Sonny Vaccaro. He was so impressed by what he saw that two years later he would bet his job at sports manufacturer Nike on backing this relatively untested player.

That player was Michael Jordan.

But not the Jordan we know now. At the point Vaccaro witnessed him score the shot that won the 1982 NCAA championship for North Carolina Tar Heels, Jordan was just a freshman.

When, two years later, Vaccaro urged his bosses to spend their whole yearly basketball endorsement budget on him, Jordan was only 21 and had never competed in the NBA. And no-one was talking about his footwear.

Vaccaro says his conviction in the youngster's potential was forged the moment he watched him take that shot at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans.

"That shot changed the world because of what Michael Jordan became," the 85-year-old told BBC Sport.

"When he took the shot, it convinced me that he would take any shot in the world."

But it was Vaccaro who had to take a shot first.

In his memoir, Legends and Soles, he describes how he had to convince his bosses to take a chance on an up-and-coming star, while competitors such as Converse were endorsing household names including Earvin 'Magic' Johnson.

By that time, Vaccaro had established himself as a basketball insider with an extensive knowledge of young players. In 1964, aged 24, he established The Dapper Dan Roundball Classic - the first national high school all-star basketball game.

The tournament ran under different guises until 2007, showcasing future NBA stars including Moses Malone, LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, Kobe Bryant, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O'Neal.

He also founded the ABCD basketball summer camp in 1984 - an invitational that gathered the country's highest-ranked high school players.

Nevertheless, Vaccaro told BBC Sport former Nike boss Phil Knight was not satisfied with the Jordan proposal "until the last minute".

Their gamble turned the company's fortunes around, transformed the way basketball was viewed globally and left an indelible print on sneaker culture worldwide. The story was popularised in 2023 film Air, in which Vaccaro is played by Matt Damon.

In his book, as well as detailing the Jordan deal, he describes how he was able to spot the potential in future stars including Bryant, Tracy McGrady and James, whom he narrowly missed out on signing to an endorsement in 2003.

'No Jordan, no Nike'

Nike's offer to Jordan in 1984 included a guaranteed $250,000 a year for five years, plus a stake in his own line of merchandise. It would make the 21-year-old, who was the third pick in the NBA draft that year, one of the richest athletes in the world.

After signing that deal, Jordan went on to become arguably the greatest NBA player of all time, winning six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs and a record 10 scoring titles.

His partnership with Nike also catapulted the franchise from a company that mainly dealt in running shoes into a global behemoth worth just under $30bn (£23bn), with a monopoly over the NBA.

"My personal opinion is that if there is no Michael Jordan, you wouldn't even be talking about a Nike shoe company," Vaccaro said.

"That's the one deal that changed America's view of basketball players and endorsements. He was magnetic.

"Other people had endorsements with companies and they'd hold up a shoe and say: 'Wear this, I wear this.' Michael didn't have to hold up the shoe. He took the shot and then wore the shoe."

The Air Jordan shoe, designed by Peter Moore, first retailed in 1985. By 1986, $100m worth of Air Jordan shoes and products had been sold.

A pair of championship trainers worn by Jordan sold for $8m (£6.3m) at auction last year.

'Kobe was most confident person I've been around'

In 1993, Vaccaro joined Adidas America. For the next decade, he battled with his former employer for the signatures of the nation's hottest up-and-coming NBA stars.

One of the coups Vaccaro managed during his time with the German sportswear company was to sign 18-year-old Bryant to a $5m, five-year deal in 1996, a month before he entered the NBA straight from high school.

The marketer first encountered the future five-time NBA champion when he was invited to play at one of Vaccaro's ABCD camps in 1994.

"It took Kobe all of a week to blast to the top of my 'gifted' list," he writes. "Competing against the top 160 American players, along with a handful of prospects from places like China, France, Australia, Canada and Russia, Kobe was intimidated by no-one."

What left a lasting impression on Vaccaro was the fact Bryant approached him at the end of the week to apologise for not having won the MVP award, despite only being 16.

"I knew that this kid had that hidden thing - drive, an ambition and a belief in himself," he told BBC Sport. "He was the most confident, outward person I've ever been around in my life."

Bryant returned to Vaccaro's summer camp the following year and won the MVP award.

Taking a chance on McGrady

In 1997, Vaccaro signed McGrady, just as he was about to enter the NBA draft from high school as the ninth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors.

McGrady, who would go on to become a seven-time NBA All-Star, had made an impression on the sports marketer at the 1996 ABCD camp. However, he almost was not included after his school coach kicked him off the team and advised Vaccaro not to deal with the youngster.

"We invited Tracy because of all the backlash," Vaccaro said. "Those five days at camp changed the whole world. He was voted the number one player in camp. No-one knew his name!"

The story of Vaccaro's life seems to hinge on a number of these serendipitous moments.

"What if those people in Pittsburgh were to say no to me and the Dapper Dan in 1964?" he said. "One no and this life is over. You'd be looking for someone else to interview."

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World Series champion Dodgers to visit White House next month

World Series champion Dodgers to visit White House next month originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

In World Series tradition, the Los Angeles Dodgers have accepted their invitation to visit President Donald Trump and White House next month on April 7.

In a social media post Tuesday the team wrote it “look[s] forward to visiting the White House and celebrating our title.”

Select players and personnel will visit Capitol Hill the following day on April 8.

Franchise shortstop Mookie Betts told reporters Tuesday he was undecided if he would visit the White House with the team and needed to talk it over with his family first.

Betts did not visit the White House in 2019 with the Boston Red Sox following their World Series victory during Trump’s first term. He did join the Dodgers on their 2021 White House visit while Joe Biden was president.

The visit will coincide with a three-game series against the Washington Nationals.

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Butler issued stern warning for Riley ahead of Warriors-Heat game

Butler issued stern warning for Riley ahead of Warriors-Heat game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler made it abundantly clear where he stands with Miami Heat president Pat Riley.

It’s no secret the star forward’s relationship with Riley soured in the months leading up to the blockbuster trade to the Warriors on Feb. 5, but now six-plus weeks removed from the trade deadline saga, Butler does not appear to be on speaking terms with his former boss.

Butler spoke with TNT’s Taylor Rooks prior to the Warriors’ 112-86 loss to the Heat on Tuesday at Kaseya Center and was asked by Rooks what he expects if he were to see Riley at any point during his return to Miami.

“I have nothing to say to Pat, and Pat better have nothing to say to me,” Butler told Rooks.

Message received.

Butler and Riley’s relationship took a turn for the worse earlier this season when Butler was suspended by the team multiple times and eventually requested a trade out of Miami. Butler reportedly viewed Riley’s behavior during the saga as “unhinged” and “disturbing” after the two had a private meeting that had Riley in tears.

The Heat honored Butler with a tribute video before Tuesday’s game, and while the Warriors star has nothing but love for the Miami fans and his former teammates, it’s clear there still is animosity between him and Riley.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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Why the double standards on ‘leadership’ when it comes to Black players? | Jonathan Liew

Jordan Henderson is a great English leader. But he has been encouraged and applauded for the very same acts for which minority ethnic players are castigated and stigmatised

How shall I lead thee? Let me count the ways. I lead thee by stepping up and being vocal, around the dressing room, setting standards in training. I lead thee quietly by example, you know, the not-much-of-a-shouter‑and-a-screamer-but-when-he-speaks-people-listen kind. I lead thee by having been there, done that, won everything in the game. I lead thee by never backing down from a challenge. I lead thee by sheer gravitas.

By any of these measures, Jordan Henderson is a leader. He was a leader for Liverpool, raising standards and setting the tone for 12 golden years. He was a leader for the NHS and the LGBTQ+ community off the field. He was still a leader when he left Liverpool and moved to Saudi Arabia in an attempt to create – in his words – “positive change” in the country for his beloved LGBTQ+ constituents.

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All The Losing Is Getting ‘Tiring’ For The Rangers

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers couldn’t salvage an opportunity to gain ground in the playoff picture as they lost 3-1 to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday night. 

Through the first 20 minutes of play, the Kings dominated possession time and the Rangers only recorded two shots, but the score remained 0-0. 

J.T. Miller opened up the scoring in the second period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Blueshirts, they did not take advantage of that lead.

The Rangers committed three penalties in the second frame, resulting in two goals for Los Angeles. 

The Kings won the special teams battle and that’s what ultimately led to the Rangers’ downfall. 

Igor Shesterkin displayed yet another valiant effort, recording 30 saves on 32 shots, which is why his teammates feel like they let him down in a way. 

“He was spectacular, kept us in the game,” Vincent Trocheck said of Shesterkin. “It almost goes unappreciated since you almost expect every night out of him, but he’s obviously a world-class goalie and shows it night in and night out.”

The Rangers feel like they did enough to win the game. However, there’s a sense of frustration with the losses continuing to pile up, especially at this point of the year when every point is critical. 

“It gets tiring because I feel like over the last few weeks we’ve been playing some good hockey, but we are still losing,” Mika Zibanejad said. “Find a way to lose. It’s hard to look at the positives.”

The Rangers will be back in action on Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks. 

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Rangers fall to Kings, 3-1, as playoff chances take hit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kevin Fiala scored twice, Darcy Kuemper stopped 22 shots, and the Los Angeles Kings beat the New York Rangers 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Phillip Danault also scored as the Kings extended their home point streak to 15 games (12-0-3). Los Angeles is the second team in the NHL to have a home streak of at least 15 games, joining Washington (11-0-5).

J. T. Miller scored for New York, and Igor Shesterkin finished with 30 saves. The Rangers have lost four of their last five games.

Miller put New York ahead 1-0 at 2:10 of the second period with a goal awarded after a review. It initially appeared a sprawled Kuemper kept the puck out with a sweeping right pad. However, it was called a goal by the situation room in Toronto after replays showed the puck crossed the line before the goalie’s right skate swept it away.

Fiala tied it on a power play with 9:06 left in the middle period on a deflection from the right doorstep.

Danault, playing in his 700th NHL game, put the Kings ahead on their second power-play goal of the night as he put in the rebound with 2:12 to go in the second.

Fiala added an empty-netter for his second of the night with 15.1 seconds remaining.

Takeaways

Rangers: New York has lost eight of 11 (3-6-8) to remain one point out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Kings: Los Angeles won for the ninth time in 10 games and moved two points ahead of Edmonton for second place in the Pacific Division.

Key moment

Kuemper made a point-black save on the Rangers’ Will Cuylle from the right doorstep with about 7:47 to go. He then slid across to pounce on the loose puck after Vincent Trocheck’s shot was blocked by Adrian Kempe seconds later, preserving the Kings’ 2-1 lead.

Key stat

The Kings, 28th on the power play at 15.7% coming in, converted on multiple chances in a game for the first time since Oct. 14 when they went 3 for 5 in an 8-7 overtime loss at Ottawa in their third game of the season.

Up next

Rangers visit Anaheim on Friday, and Kings play at Colorado on Thursday.

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Kraken Rally In Second Period, But Fall 4-3 To Flames In Overtime

Calgary, AB - The Seattle Kraken concluded their road trip with a 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Nazem Kadri played a pivotal role in the Flames' victory, scoring both the game-winning goal and his second goal of the night. This win was crucial for Calgary, as it secured them two points, bringing their total to 79. The Flames are now just four points behind the St. Louis Blues, who sit in second place in the wild card standings with 83 points.

Mar 25, 2025; Calgary, AB, CAN; Nazem Kadri (91) scores the game-winning goal in overtime against the. Mandatory Credit: Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

In goal, Joey Daccord defended the net for Seattle, while Dustin Wolf did the same for Calgary. Both teams celebrated milestones, with Seattle’s Ryker Evans and Calgary’s Matt Coronato each playing in their 100th NHL game.

The game began with a goal from Adam Klapka, who scored his second of the season to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. The Kraken answered in the second period, with Jaden Schwartz scoring his 21st goal of the season on a power play, followed by Tye Kartye’s fifth goal, which gave Seattle a 2-1 lead. 

Calgary responded with two goals of their own. First, Kadri capitalized on a power play to score his 27th of the season, tying the game at 2-2. Then, Rasmus Andersson fired a snap shot past Daccord, assisted by Matt Coronato, putting the Flames ahead 3-2.

With less than two minutes on the clock Jordan Eberle tied things up 3-3 with a wicked wrist shot past Wolf, forcing the overtime.

The Kraken return home to host the final contest of the season with the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at 7PM PST.

Related

Kraken @ Flames Preview: Two Rookies Set To Hit Milestones As Calgary Faces Playoff PushKraken @ Flames Preview: Two Rookies Set To Hit Milestones As Calgary Faces Playoff PushCalgary, AB - The Seattle Kraken close out their road trip Tuesday night and face the Flames at Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome, aiming to finish the regular season series on a high note. Seattle has claimed two of the first three matchups this season, with a 3-2 win in Calgary on Feb. 8 and a 2-1 overtime victory in Seattle on Oct. 19. Calgary took a 3-2 win at Climate Pledge Arena on Feb. 4. Historically, Seattle is 5-8-1 against the Flames but boasts a strong 4-2-0 record on the road. The Kraken have also won four straight at the Saddledome, dating back to Nov. 1, 2022.

Stay updated with the most interesting Kraken stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News or Join the discussion with others in your hockey community on the Seattle Kraken Forum.

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Knicks rookie Kevin McCullar Jr. makes NBA debut, scores first points after long road back from injury

It's been a long road for Knicks rookie Kevin McCullar Jr.

The 2024 second-round pick out of Kansas had his collegiate career end early due to a knee injury that had him miss the NCAA tournament. After undergoing a knee procedure, the 24-year-old finally made it onto a professional court this month with the Westchester Knicks, the team's G League team.

McCullar Jr.'s potential began to show in White Plains where he averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 27 minutes across 11 games (seven starts). He even posted consecutive triple-doubles a week ago, showing the full arsenal the 6-foot-6 guard has.

So when McCullar Jr.'s injury status was upgraded from questionable to available ahead of Tuesday's game with the Dallas Mavericks, there was some excitement. The potential for McCullar Jr. to get on an actual NBA court was there, but thanks to Josh Hart and Karl Anthony-Towns' own triple-doubles putting the game out of reach for the Mavs in the fourth quarter, coach Tom Thibodeau signaled for the rookie to get his first taste of NBA action.

In three minutes on the floor, McCullar Jr. scored two points on 1-of-2 shooting, his first NBA points. When his first bucket went in, the Knicks bench cheered him on, recognizing the enormity of the moment.

"Kevin’s worked extremely hard and has been through a lot. His rehab has been long, arduous and he’s worked his way through that," Thibodeau said of the bench's reaction. "Then he made his way into the G League and put together some good games. This is his first opportunity but I think there’s an appreciation for the work that he’s put in. He’s a great kid.  We're happy for him. The team is always first to everybody. We're proud of him."

"It felt amazing. It felt good," McCullar Jr. said of his first NBA points. "As a kid that's what you dream of doing, so to go out there and finally get in the game and be able to score my first bucket was big."

Tuesday night was notable not just for McCullar Jr.'s debut but the history both Hart and Towns made with their triple-doubles. Hart, especially, deserved the game ball after the win because he broke the Knicks' record for most triple-doubles in a season. Despite that, the third-year Knick made sure the rookie got the game ball, something McCullar Jr. said he appreciated.

"For me, that’s an easy decision," Hart said of the gesture. "For me, that record is cool and a blessing, but it's gonna get broken at some point. Hopefully later rather than sooner but getting your first NBA points, no one can take that away from you. It’s important he got the game ball for that. That’s an easy decision for me."

McCullar Jr. is on a two-way contract with the Knicks, and is not expected to see much court time -- especially with how Thibodeau uses his bench -- but Tuesday night was a huge first step for the former third team All-American.

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Penguins Dominated By Lightning, Lose 6-1

Mar 25, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period at Amalie Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Well, that one was a doozy for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In fact, it was one of their worst losses of the season.

On Tuesday, the Penguins were outclassed by the Tampa Bay Lightning in a 6-1 rout, pretty much being outplayed after the first few minutes of the game. Pittsburgh registered four of the first five shots on goal, and after that, the Lightning completely took over the game. 

Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry was pulled after allowing four goals on the first six shots. Anthony Cirelli opened the scoring a little more than 12 minutes into the opening frame, picking up a rebound off a Ryan McDonagh shot in the low slot area and sneaking it past Jarry. McDonagh got a goal of his own just over a minute later, as he threw the puck at the net from a sharp angle on the left wall that hit Penguins forward Rickard Rakell's skate and went in.

But the Lightning just kept coming. Cirelli potted his second goal of the game - and 26th of the season - less than two minutes later, and Brayden Point put one home 48 seconds after that to chase Jarry from the game and put the Bolts up, 4-0.

All four goals happened in a span of less than four minutes, and it pretty much set the tone for the rest of the game, in which the Lightning outshot the Penguins, 27-15.

"We just didn't play well enough," head coach Mike Sullivan said. "Most of the first, I didn't think it was all that bad, but it just seemed like every chance went in the net. It was one of those nights."

Mar 25, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first period at Amalie Arena. (Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

Nikita Kucherov added insult to injury within the last five minutes of the second period, as he capitalized on a Lightning power play resulting from a Ryan Graves interference penalty that sent him crashing into Alex Nedeljkovic, who had relieved Jarry in the first. And before the middle frame was over - with less than a minute remaining - Brandon Hagel put home his 33rd goal of the season to give Tampa Bay the 6-0 lead.

Pittsburgh did add a late tally during a mini-push near the end of the third period, as Bryan Rust tipped a Matt Grzelcyk shot from the point to get the Penguins on the board. And Sidney Crosby did register the secondary assist, putting him just one point shy of breaking Wayne Gretzky's point-per-game seasons record.

But all of it was too little, too late, and the Penguins know they can't let games get away from them early on. The good news is that they will get right back at it against the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, and they have a chance to wipe this one from memory pretty quickly.

"We just gotta reset," Rakell said. "Look at the next game, learn from our mistakes today, and just restart. It's a new game for us, a new chance for us to respond."

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From the Pocket: Harley Reid has time to grow up away from the glare of amateur psychologists

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At first, it was a bit of a joke. It was the West Australian picturing him in Eagles-branded chef whites with the tagline, “Superstar teen sensation reveals sandwich based lunchtime ritual”. It was the 52 back pages in 60 days. It was the “Harley Judd” and “Prince of Perth” headlines. It was, mostly, all in good fun.

Then, it was all about his football. It was Nine’s Kate Halfpenny, in a rare deviation from complaining about Harry and Meghan, writing a column titled, “Watching Harley Reid play footy has made me feel hopeful again”. And yes, he really was a wonderful player to watch in his debut season. He was straight off the peg. To watch him on his hands and knees, seizing a dead ball, standing up like a surf life-saver in a flags race, skating away from seasoned footballers and taking a nonchalant bounce was to see the sport at its best.

This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions

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‘That’s Pretty Cool, But My Focus Is On The Playoffs’: Maple Leafs’ William Nylander Reaches 40-Goal Mark, But Remains Locked In On Postseason Run

Mar 25, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander (88) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring a goal against the Philadelphia Flyers in the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

William Nylander means business. 

Despite reaching the 40-goal mark for the third consecutive season during the Maple Leafs’ dominant 7-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night and becoming the second Swedish player in NHL history to record three consecutive 40-goal seasons, the star winger made it clear that his priorities are elsewhere.

“That’s pretty cool, but my focus is on the playoffs right now. That’s obviously fun to accomplish that, playing with great players, but what matters is the playoffs,” said Nylander. 

His sentiment speaks to the 28-year-old’s mindset. Since entering the NHL in the 2015-16 season, he’s won just one playoff series and has been vocal about his desire to change that. Last postseason, the Leafs suffered another first-round exit, and Nylander was forced to miss time due to migraines.

He knows that his success only means so much if it doesn’t translate to the playoffs. 

On Tuesday, that was on full display at Scotiabank Arena as the forward registered a season-high four points (2G, 2A) while tying his career-high in goals (40). His linemates, John Tavares and Bobby McMann, also had standout performances – Tavares posted two goals and two assists, while McMann added a goal and an assist. 

The trio combined for 10 points on the night, but Nylander’s eyes are on the bigger picture.

“Just trying to do what I’m paid to do. That’s it,” said Nylander post-game.

With the victory, the Leafs reclaimed first place in the Atlantic Division, improving to 43-25-3 on the season with 89 points. Again, Nylander downplayed the possibility of winning the division, noting that the goal is to be successful in the post-season. 

“I think that would be fun, but playoffs – that’s what the goal is, to be successful there. If we win on the way to having a good playoffs, that’s a nice little plus,” said Nylander.

The Swede’s third straight 40-goal season places him in elite company. He became just the fourth player in Maple Leafs history to record three consecutive 40-goal seasons, joining Auston Matthews (5), Lanny McDonald (3), and Rick Vaive (3). 

“He’s a lot of fun to play with,” said Tavares. “Such a unique talent, and the way he’s elevated his game the last number of years and just becoming a perennial all-star. One of the top wingers in the game. Such a game breaker, one of the ultimate game-breakers in our league and certainly we’re thrilled to have him, and he’s having a great year. 40 is difficult to get, so he’s done a lot of good things, special player.”

“I think his work ethic is pretty exceptional. His desire to be the best player on the ice and make an impact is extremely high, he’s very driven that way. We’re certainly seeing it. Thrilled with the way he’s been playing for us all year,” he added. 

Tavares and Nylander have developed a strong on-ice connection, with both players enjoying standout seasons. Tavares has been particularly hot of late, tallying five goals, three assists, and eight points over his last three games. Despite their contrasting personalities, has Nylander's laid-back approach – and perhaps even his goal-scoring touch – rubbed off on Tavares?

“Maybe a little bit. It’s just fun to laugh at him and chuckle and things like that,” said Tavares. “You appreciate someone with his drive and skillset, and that’s why I’ve always said he is built to play in Toronto and be a Maple Leaf. His ability to deal with all the attention and all the questions all the time, not taking things too seriously in the right way.”

Nylander had his fingerprints all over this game, helping the Leafs earn their 11th win of their last 12 meetings against the Flyers. Their second-period dominance – an area they’ve succeeded in for much of the season – was on display again Tuesday, as they registered four goals in the middle frame as the forward collected a goal and an assist to break the game open. 

His knack for taking over games has only grown as he continues to evolve into a dynamic, all-around superstar on the wing, his teammates say.

“He’s awesome. I love watching Will play; he’s one of one, for sure,” said Max Domi. “The way he plays the game, and I mean that as a really huge compliment. He makes everyone around him better, hangs onto the puck, and he can just make guys look silly out there.”

“Just his ability to generate when you think there is nothing there. I think he sees the ice so well,” added linemate McMann. “He’s always working on his footwork and his puck handling. He always knows where the puck is on his stick. He can make heads-up plays all over the ice and generates a lot of offense.”

‘There’s A Little Bitter Taste In Our Mouth’: Maple Leafs Look To Redeem Themselves Against Flyers After Disappointing End To Road Trip‘There’s A Little Bitter Taste In Our Mouth’: Maple Leafs Look To Redeem Themselves Against Flyers After Disappointing End To Road TripThe Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice on Monday at Ford Performance Centre, looking to reset after a frustrating end to their road trip. Their 5-2 collapse against the 30th-placed Nashville Predators – a team that had lost four straight entering the game – left a sour taste, and forward Mitch Marner made that clear following the on-ice session. 

It was a commanding victory for the Leafs, one that was much-needed following a disappointing finish in Nashville on Saturday. The club now heads out for a California road trip, with their stars and squad carrying plenty of momentum.

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Josh Hart makes Knicks history twice with triple-double performance against Mavericks

Those in attendance at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night were treated to Knicks history. Twice. Courtesy of Josh Hart.

Hart, who is having a career season in his third year with the Knicks, posted his ninth triple-double of the season after his 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists lifted New York to a 128-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks. The significance of nine is it puts Hart as the top triple-double getter in Knicks single-season history after his performance Tuesday night broke Walt "Clyde" Frazier's record of eight.

The former Knick great, and current broadcaster, posted those eight triple-doubles back during the 1968-69 season. A record that stood for more than 55 years until Hart's all-around play this season put him in the record books.

"Any time you get a record, it's pretty special because of the greatness of this league," coach Tom Thibodeau said of Hart's record after the game. "To do what he’s doing, is a testament to what he's put into it. Also, his teammates and feeding off each other."

“It’s just a blessing. I got a great group of guys, great, high-character group of guys," Hart said of his record. "Means I at least played nine good games so far out of 60-whatever [games]. It’s just a blessing, can’t say more than that."

Hart is never one to make personal accomplishments about himself, no matter how great they are. A humbling character for a player who is a bulldog on the court while doing it all without the accolades -- he's never been named to an All-Star game -- or the name recognition of some of his teammates.

And yet, you ask his coaches and teammates what Hart means to this team and they won't be able to stop singing his praises.

"It’s hard to describe what he is to the team," Thibodeau said of Hart. "At times he’s a facilitator, a rebounder, a pace guy, he’s a hustle guy. And at the end, he’s done a number of things to help you win. The effort plays, that unites and inspires the team."

"The way he’s doing it is special," Karl-Anthony Towns said of his teammate. "I'm just happy that Josh gets stats on the sheet that show the impact he's making on the game. 

"There's much more stats that don't show up on the stat sheet that he does for our team. I’m happy he’s having this moment where the effort, the sacrifice and the work he puts in for our team to be the best version of ourselves is showing up…so he can get his respect and accolades. He deserves it."

Towns, one of those recognizable names on the Knicks, was a big part of Hart's second record-breaking night. The duo became the first Knicks teammates in their history to record a triple-double in the same game. It's also only the 17th time in NBA history that it's happened.

Hart has witnessed that sort of history in the past while a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Back in 2018, he was on the team that saw LeBron James and Lonzo Ball have that special night.

"Now full circle, I’m in the same situation with KAT," Hart said of the parallels from that night.

But in classic Hart fashion, his thoughts are on the Knicks' next game. The second of their back-to-back, this time against the Los Angeles Clippers.

"Just hope we can carry that for tomorrow," he said.