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Aaron Gordon's buzzer-beating putback dunk saves Nuggets, ties series with Clippers 2-2

LA Clippers host the Denver Nuggets of game 4 of the first round playoffs

Inglewood, CA - April 26: Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) dunks the final basket to beat the Clippers. LA Clippers hosted the Denver Nuggets of game 3 of the first round playoffs at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Nikola Jokic had the ball in his hands with the chance to even up the series against the Clippers: Eight seconds left, score tied 99-99, and he was isolated on Ivica Zubac. Jokic spun for position, put up a shot, and admitted his thought as he released the ball was, "This is going to be bad."

Then Aaron Gordon came flying in.

Gordon tried to sprint off the court as he was mobbed by his teammates, then everyone stood around for a couple of minutes while the review was conducted. Eventually, referee Zach Zarba said it counted.

What had been on the cusp of being a disastrous loss for the Nuggets — blowing a 22-point fourth quarter lead and going down 3-1 in the series — became the most dramatic win of these playoffs, in what has been the best series of the postseason.

The Nuggets escaped with the win and tied the series 2-2 heading back to Denver on Wednesday night.

It looked like a game Denver was going to win comfortably for at least 42 minutes on Saturday night, they came out playing with the desperation of a championship team with its back against the wall.

"I hate that stupid word of physicality, but they were more aggressive to start the game," Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. "I thought they picked their pressure up defensively, it kind of sped us up."

Nuggets defenders Christian Braun and Gordon started picking up James Harden and Kawhi Leonard out much higher on the court. In the face of that, Harden was relatively quiet much of the night (he finished with 15 points and 11 assists). It put pressure on the Clippers' role players to step up and hit shots, but unlike Game 3, that did not happen: Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum, and Derrick Jones Jr. combined to shoot 1-of-13 from 3-point range. Denver never pulled away in the first half, but they led most of it.

Los Angeles grew frustrated, emotions built up, and then just before halftime — when Braun fouled Harden— everything bubbled over. Harden turned and got in Braun's face. Then Jokic, Gordon and Ivica Zubac all got in the mix. There was a mini-fracas, but referee Zach Zarba handled it well: Six offsetting technicals (Harden, Zubac, Norman Powell, Braun, Jokic and Gordon) so no free throws. Just play on.

For three quarters this looked like another classic Jokic game, as the three-time MVP dominated, particularly in the third quarter, when he scored or assisted on 26 of Denver's 35 points and the Nuggets got the lead above 20. Jokic finished the night with 36 points and 21 rebounds.

"Throughout the game, and he did a great job finding the soft spots in their defense," Nuggets coach David Adelman said of Jokic.

Los Angeles trailed by 22 in the fourth but a combination of an offense-heavy lineup from Lue (leaning on Bogdan Bogdanovic), a zone defense from Los Angeles that threw Denver off, and the tired legs of the Nuggets' starters — every one of them played at least 42 minutes — opened the door for a dramatic comeback. Denver just looked exhausted.

A James Harden driving layup tied the game with eight seconds left. The Nuggets had one more shot and everyone in the building knew where it was going to go, including Gordon.

That putback saved the Nuggets' season — in this tight a series, they were not coming back from 3-1 down. Now, it's just a best-of-three that feels like a toss-up.

"[It's] 2-2. They're great team, won a championship a couple years ago, they're not going to give in, we got to beat them, and that's okay," Lue said.

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Party like it's 2009: Jarren Duran pulls off Boston's first straight steal of home in 16 years

CLEVELAND — Jarren Duran barely had time to catch his breath after tripling in the third inning. It didn’t matter, he had already made up his mind to run again.

Duran pulled off Boston’s first straight steal of home plate in exactly 16 years, scoring on the next pitch from Doug Nikhazy as the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday night.

“(Third base coach Kyle Hudson) heard him tell the umpire that he was working from the stretch, so I decided I was going to go on the first pitch,” Duran said. “It was just to keep the offense going and cause a little chaos. I knew I had it.”

As Nikhazy went from the windup, Duran broke for home. He slid headfirst and slapped his right hand on the plate ahead of Bo Naylor’s tag. Umpire Brock Ballou’s safe call was upheld in a video review.

“Under the new rules, he’s kind of the perfect player,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Duran. “We saw a window there and he took advantage of the situation.”

It marked the first straight steal of the plate by the Red Sox since Jacoby Ellsbury against the Yankees on April 26, 2009. Duran’s two previous thefts of home were part of double steals last season at Tampa Bay on May 21 and at the White Sox on June 7.

“It was really a cool play and a cool sequence of events there,” Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler said. “He’s one of the most exciting players in baseball. After watching him from afar, it’s been fun to see him up close this season.”

Nikhazy, a 25-year-old left-hander, was making his major league debut and had already allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings. With Rafael Devers in the batter’s box, he said he took “a peek” at Duran before delivering the ball.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised Duran for making “a head’s up baseball play” because third baseman José Ramírez was off the line, but his starting pitcher blamed himself.

“He had taken a big jump and he took off immediately,” Nikhazy said. “In the moment, I chose to make the pitch as opposed to stepping off. Ultimately, when I saw him, I should have stepped off.”

Duran went 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs in the nightcap. He was hitless in four at-bats in the first game, which Cleveland won 5-4.

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Mets Notes: Francisco Alvarez flashes familiar power; Max Kranick stays calm in emergencies

It didn't take long for Francisco Alavrez to reestablish his presence in the Mets' lineup with a clutch hit. He only needed five at-bats, to be exact.

In his second game since returning from the injured list, the slugging catcher delivered some opportune power on Saturday, smacking a two-run home run that served as the Mets' only offense in a 2-0 road win over the division-rival Nationals.

Blame the lineup's lack of rhythm on the weather, as the afternoon at Nationals Park featured two rain delays that irked fans in attendance and at home. What mattered was the pop from Alvarez, who's hoping to prove that his surgically-repaired left hand is fully healed and overall approach at the plate yields the long ball.

"It means a lot. I've worked a lot on my hitting, on all facets of my game," Alvarez said of his homer after the win. "To be able to have a day like today means a lot because I put a lot into my game as a player."

The two-run blast from Alvarez came in the second inning, facing Nationals starter Brad Lord. With two outs and Jesse Winker on first, the 23-year-old jumped on a high 0-1 slider and watched it slice down the right field line and land inside the bullpen near the foul pole. The homer turned out to be ample support for the Mets' pitching staff.

Only time will tell how long it'll take Alvarez to once again find his groove as a lineup fixture. The Mets are obviously hoping that the young backstop resembles more of his 2023 rookie self, who produced 25 homers and 12 doubles across 382 at-bats. They have reason to believe that his 2024 power outage was largely due to an early-season thumb injury.

"When he's able to hit a ball out like that, pretty impressive," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said of Alvarez. "Off the bat, I didn't think that ball was going to go, and it just kept going. He's got the ability to use the whole field and drive the ball with authority. That's what makes him a special player."

Kranick answers the call... again

When the Mets were forced to pull Edwin Diaz due to a hip injury in Thurday's extra-inning win over the Phillies, Max Kranick played the role of hero in relief by registering two huge outs in a 10th-inning jam. So, naturally, he was thrust into a similar emergency situation on Saturday.

This time when the bullpen phone rang for Kranick, he took over for A.J. Minter, who exited with one out in the eighth with a tricep injury. Once again, the chaotic moment didn't faze him -- after allowing a walk, he induced a strikeout and popout to collect his second hold this season.

It's been an impressive April for the 27-year-old right-hander, who didn't see any big league action during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Kranick now owns a 2.70 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 16.2 innings, and Mendoza is thrilled with the confidence and composure he's seeing from him during high-leverage moments.

"That's back-to-back [games] now where he has to come in and warm up on the game mound. That's not easy to do," Mendoza said. "He continues to attack, make pitches, get outs. He's been solid for us... Calm, poise, confidence. There's a lot to like. The more he pitches out of the roles, the more he continues to get outs... He knows he's got elite stuff."

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Ottawa Senators Keep Season Alive With Game 4 Overtime Win Over Toronto

The Ottawa Senators will live to fight another day.

Jake Sanderson’s overtime goal at 17:42 of the extra period gave the Senators a 4-3 victory, staving off elimination and forcing a Game 5 in Toronto on Tuesday. Sanderson played a key role, contributing both a goal and an assist for the Sens, who were outshot 35-22.

Apr 26, 2025: Drake batherson (19) follows the puck as it slips past Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz (41). Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

In OT, the Senators survived Drake Batherson’s double minor for high-sticking in the offensive zone. Batherson had already made one major overtime  mistake back in Game 2, so that successful kill was probably the longest four minutes of his life.

Tim Stützle, Shane Pinto, and David Perron scored for Ottawa. John Tavares, Matthew Knies, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson had the Toronto goals.

The Senators struck first midway through the opening period with a brilliant power-play goal as Stützle unleashed a one-timer from the top of the right circle. The opportunity came after Max Domi caught Shane Pinto in the head with the end of his stick during a face-off, sending the Senators to the power play. They made the most of it, taking a 1-0 lead.

Just four minutes later, David Perron nearly scored during a goalmouth scramble. However, he got a little too aggressive in the ensuing scrum and ended up taking a penalty. But the PK was on a roll in this one. Pinto broke free for a shorthanded breakaway, and he made no mistake, slipping the puck through Anthony Stolarz’s legs to give the Senators a 2-0 lead.

Toronto responded late in the second period when Tavares was left unchecked to the right of Linus Ullmark. Tavares redirected a shot from William Nylander past Ullmark, cutting the Senators’ lead to 2-1 as the teams headed into the final frame.

In the third period, Knies caught Sanderson and Zub flatfooted on a puck that dribbled out the Toronto zone up the middle. He blew past them to tie the game at 2.

Perron restored the one-goal lead on a perfect pass from Artem Zub. Standing at the right post, Perron directed the puck into the open net, much like the Tavares goal, to make it 3-2. But Toronto quickly answered again. Nylander, playing the setup man for a second time, delivered a perfect cross-ice pass to Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who fired a quick shot under Ullmark’s glove to tie the game at 3.

In overtime, after the huge four minute penalty kill, Sanderson hustled to keep the puck in at the left point along the boards and lofted a wrist shot through traffic that beat Stolarz high to the glove side to end the game and keep the Sens alive.

So, the Senators will not go gentle into that good night, but down 3-1, the road back remains long. Game 5 is on Tuesday in Toronto. 

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The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Senators Stay Alive With Win Over Maple Leafs

Claude Giroux (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

Welcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

On tonight's show, Michael Augello and Andrew McInnis react to the Ottawa Senators defeating the Toronto Maple Leafs4-3 in overtime to keep the series alive.

Playoff Live Frenzy - April 26, 2025 | The Hockey NewsPlayoff Live Frenzy - April 26, 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

They also look around the NHL as the first round continues.

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.  

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Clay Holmes overcomes rain delay to give Mets another solid start in a season full of them

Just about everything Mets converted starter Clay Holmes is experiencing in 2025 is new, but Saturday was something no one could have predicted.

The start of Saturday's tilt between the Mets and Nationals was delayed about 25 minutes. No big deal, Holmes hadn't started the game yet.

However, after getting one out in the bottom of the first inning, the skies opened up and the officials stopped the game to get the tarp on the field. As baseball fans know, rain delays could spell the end of a starter's outing, especially if it's a lengthy one. For 46 minutes, Holmes had to cool down from the nine pitches he threw, staying loose and then getting warmed up all over again when the delay was over because he had to take the ball immediately.

"Everything is new. This is new for him," Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza said of the delay's effect on Holmes. "As a reliever, you deal with a rain delay, you’re most likely done. We're not even through the first inning... He had to develop a routine and find a way to stay loose, stay warm and give us a solid five, that’s not easy to do. Part of the learning and I’m glad he went through it."

"You try to stay as locked-in as you can, but there's really not much you can simulate like the game speed," Holmes said of the experience. "Try to give what I could there, got through five and was able to make the most of it.”

Holmes pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just four hits while striking out two batters. While that statline may not jump off the page, Holmes was dominating this aggressive Nationals lineup, throwing just 70 pitches in those five innings, and at one point retiring nine straight batters. The right-hander would have gone deeper into the game if it weren't for the rain delay.

"The only thing that stopped him from going deep in the game was an almost 50-minute rain delay," Mendoza said with a chuckle. "He was dealing. Got groundballs and when he’s getting groundballs, lefties, righties, you know he’s on. Pitches were moving, attacking. Everything was in the zone. He was pretty good today. Part of the learning and I’m glad he went through it."

Of the 15 outs Holmes got, 10 came on groundballs thanks to his patented sinker, which he threw 37 percent of the time. His new changeup was thrown at a 20 percent clip, and complemented his other pitches, allowing Holmes to go at least five innings for the fourth straight start, while allowing one or fewer runs in three of those outings.

All in all, the Holmes experiment is working for the pitcher and the Mets. In his six starts this season, Holmes is 3-1 with a 2.64 ERA and considering how much of an unknown he would be in the rotation, the organization will take it.

"I still think there's a lot of room for growth, but overall, it's been, I feel like, pretty good," Holmes said of his season so far. "I think today was good to experience something new, having to deal with those things, but for me, I’ve relied on the people around me. Pitching coaches, the communication we have, the catchers. In that regard, I feel like it hasn’t been all on me; I’ve trusted the people around me. It’s been a group effort that’s been really good."

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Wild Drop Game 4 With A 4-3 Overtime Loss To Vegas

Apr 26, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Ivan Barbashev (49) celebrates with teammates after he puts the puck past Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during 1st OT in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Vegas Golden Knights win 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL - For the fifth time in franchise history, the Minnesota Wild have failed to turn a 2-1 series lead into a 3-1 series lead. In 2022, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Blues. In 2023, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars. 

They lost both those series in six games. They also had 2-1 series leads in 2008 and 2015.

But this team feels different. The way the Wild have played this season, it doesn't seem like this is the team that is capable of blowing a 2-1 series lead. 

"Yeah, I mean, I like our group. I liked the experience that we have from those previous playoff rounds. We’re right there, right? We had the lead and penalties. It is what it is," Marcus Foligno said. "We worked really hard tonight, and the way we answered and came back after their goal was the mental toughness that we've been showing all year. So, 2-2 doesn't scare us."

Shea Theodore got Vegas on the board early in the first after he scored on the power play. The goal on the power play was a result of a Vinnie Hinostroza high-sticking penalty on Brett Howden. 

The penalty came five seconds after Hinostroza was dumped into the boards from behind by Howden. Vegas got the power play and scored. 

Marco Rossi scored just a few mintues later to tie it. It was his second goal in back-to-back games. Rossi scored in game 3 and now in game 4. 

Despite that, Rossi only played 4:40 in the first two periods. He did not play the last 13 mintues on the secod period. 

Wild head coach John Hynes was asked why Rossi's line played only 4:40 in two periods and if it is something Rossi is doing to warant no ice time. 

"No, I think some of it goes into special teams and comes into matchups," Hynes said. "In different situations. So, we'll take it game by game here."

The Wild got the lead in the second period after Marcus Foligno scored his third of the playoffs. Mats Zuccarello fired a shot on net and Foligno grabbed it out of the air and down to his feet. 

The puck trickled to the point and Hartman fired a shot on net before Foligno banged home the rebound. 

Vegas got a power play chance in the third period after Zeev Buium caught Mark Stone up high with his stick. Stone was bleeding bad and Buium was given a four mintue penalty for high-sticking. 

The Golden Knights had a few chances but couldn't convert. Later, Jake Middleton was defending Tomas Hertl in front of the net. Nicolas Roy then came in and hit Middleton in the face. Middleton was slow to the bench after taking Roy's stick to the chomps.

No call. 

Moments later Roy scores on the power play to tie the game 2-2.

About five mintues later, Hartman and Hertl were in a wrestling match out in front of the net. Hertl then falls on top of Hartman and Stone fires a shot off the two and into the back of the net. 

"That’s something we talked about, wasted energy there," Wild captain Jared Spurgeon said on the non-calls. "Nothing we can really control. If we get frustrated with that, it bleeds into your game. To be able to just let it be as it is and work through it is something we’re trying to do."

But just 54 seconds after the Roy goal, Spurgeon scored on a wraparound goal to tie the game at 3-3. 

After a back-and-forth overtime, Ivan Barbashev was able to captilize on a mistake by the Wild in the defensive zone. 

Middleton got the puck behind the net and tried to clear the puck. He put it on the stick of Reilly Smith who found Barbashev in the slot. Game over. 

Say what you want about the penalties that were and weren't called in the game. Could the Wild have gotten a few more power plays then they did? Sure. But that doesn't stop the fact that they were out-shot 46-32.  

"Yeah, I didn't have to do much. I mean, our guys are dialed in," Hynes said on non-calls. "We’ve got strong belief in how we're playing and nothing really rattles us whether you win a game, lose a game, you know our team’s been resilient all year. One of the main reasons why we're here is because a) we’ve got a great team and b) we’re resilient. We just play. And that's part of what it is, so we'll move on."

The Wild have won in Vegas already. They will have to win at least once in Vegas to move on to the second round. 

"It gives us a lot of confidence," Foligno said on winning in Vegas before. "I mean, we got to understand that we got to play the same way and play like we did in spurts of game one and majority of game two. So, yeah, we have a have a chance to go there. And, the road doesn't faze this team."

It is hard not to think about the last two playoff rounds the Wild have had a 2-1 series lead that turned into a 2-2 series lead and eventually two more wins for the oppenets.

That being said, this is a different team then the one in 2022 and in 2023. At least the Wild think so. 

"We all mature as a group, right? So those guys gain confidence after years like that, and understand," Foligno said. "The way Kirill and Bolds have been playing, it's just who they are as players. And the reason why they're top elite players. So, yeah, we're in a great series. We got our guys going. And, yeah, we feel confident going into game five."

Hynes added: "Oh man, we're in a good spot. Hard-fought battle, played well again. The game was right in our hands. Both teams competed hard. We knew it was going to be a hard series. Love where we’re at. I mean, we knew it was going to be a hard-fought series, really like our game, you know? We're here, man. We'll just keep grinding."

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Nuggets beat Clippers in Game 4 with a buzzer-beating tip-in dunk

Inglewood, CA - April 26: Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (32) is called for a technical foul during the first half of the LA Clippers Denver Nuggets of game 3 of the first round playoffs at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood Saturday, April 26, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon stares down the Clippers after a flurry of pushes and shoves between players during Game 4 of the playoff series Saturday at Intuit Dome. Gordon was one of several players to receive technical fouls. There were no ejections. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

The goal for the Clippers was to not give the Denver Nuggets any hope in Game 4 and in the process take complete control of the seven-game playoff series.

For any of this to happen, both teams had to maintain their composure, which both sides lost late in the second quarter, resulting in technical fouls being called on six players but no ejections.

The Clippers found a calmness amidst it all, even when they got down 22 points in the fourth quarter, keeping their emotions in check until Aaron Gordon dunked in a missed three-pointer by Nikola Jokic as time expired to give the Nuggets a thrilling 101-99 win.

The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2.

Game 5 is Tuesday night in Denver.

The Clippers went on a 32-9 run to take a 97-96 lead after Bogdan Bogdanovic got an offensive rebound and scored.

Clippers center Ivica Zubac, right, blocks a layup by Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, during Game 4 on Saturday.
Clippers center Ivica Zubac blocks a layup by Nuggets guard Jamal Murray during the first half of Game 4 on Saturday at Intuit Dome. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

But Jokic (36 points, 21 rebounds, eight assists) made a free throw to tie the score with 58.6 seconds left. After Kawhi Leonard (24 points) missed a shot, Jokic scored to give the Nuggets a 99-97 lead.

James Harden (15 points, 11 assists) missed on a drive, but Ivica Zubac (19 points, 12 rebounds) tipped the ball in to tie the score at 99-99 with 8.0 seconds left.

Jokic shot a three-pointer that missed, but Gordon (14 points) dunked it for a game Denver thought it had won.

But the officials had to review the play, eventually deciding that the basket was good.

The ruckus began after Christian Braun fouled Harden with 6.6 seconds left in the second quarter, causing a lot of pushing and shoving.

Harden took exception with the foul and pushed Braun, then Jokic came over and pushed Harden followed by Gordon pushing Harden, who then pushed the Nuggets' forward back. Zubac grabbed and pulled Gordon away. But Norman Powell ran over and pushed Gordon and Braun, and Kris Dunn then ran in and pushed Gordon.

The officials finally got things settled down and issued technical fouls on Harden, Powell and Dunn as well as Gordon, Braun and Jokic.

And then when both teams came out to start the second half, both having been given a chance to calm down in their locker rooms and resume playing a tense basketball game, the Nuggets were the aggressors and the Clippers were not.

The Clippers fell behind 85-65 at the end of the third quarter, their offense struggling and their defense unable to control the Nuggets in the early going of the second half.

Denver scored 35 points in the third quarter by shooting 56% from the field and 50% (five for 10) from three-point range.

Meanwhile, the Clippers scored just 17 points in the third quarter, shooting 27.8% from the field.

Before the game, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue talked about his team’s approach to the game.

“We got to be locked in to start defensively,” he said. “They’ve come out really aggressive, really scoring the basketball in that first quarter. So we just got to come out with a defensive mindset to start the game and not give them any life to start the game because they are a really good team. Their starting five is amazing and like I said, they won a championship two years ago so we got to be locked in.”

The Clippers were mostly locked into the game at the outset, their defense forcing the Nuggets into two 24-second violations in the first quarter and that allowed L.A. to trim a Denver lead from nine to two points.

But the Clippers ended the first with a turnover when Harden’s long pass to Zubac sailed out of bounds with 1.9 seconds remaining.

That left the door open for the Nuggets, and they stepped into it when Jokic drilled a 28-foot three-pointer as the buzzer sounded to end the first half that put the Clippers down five points.

The Nuggets were without reserve guard Russell Westbrook (left foot).

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Alex de Minaur sounds warning with ruthless victory at Madrid Open

  • Australian No 1 seals 6-2, 6-3 win Lorenzo Sonego
  • Djokovic suffers third straight loss in 6-3, 6-4 defeat

While Alex de Minaur looks more comfortable and impressive on the clay with every passing match, the great Novak Djokovic seems to be losing his magical powers on the red stuff.

For while Australia’s No 1 kicked off his Madrid Open quest with a clinical 6-2, 6-3 victory over Italian Lorenzo Sonego on Saturday, all the talk at the Caja Magica surrounded another dismal first-round defeat for Djokovic, whose quest for 100 titles took another savage hit.

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Former Hurricanes Star Has Huge Playoff Game

Jake Guentzel (© James Guillory-Imagn Images)

During this past off-season, the Carolina Hurricanes traded Jake Guentzel's UFA signing rights to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2025 third-round pick. Quickly after, the star forward signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Lightning. 

Given how well Guentzel played during his time as a rental with the Hurricanes, their hope was to keep him around. However, they could not come to terms on a deal, so they got an asset for him rather than losing him for nothing in free agency.

Guentzel had plenty of success in his first regular-season with the Lightning in 2024-25. In 80 games with the Atlantic Division squad, he posted 41 goals, 80 points, and a plus-18 rating. Now, he is making an impact for Tampa Bay in the playoffs.

Guentzel had a big performance in the Lightning's Game 3 matchup against the Florida Panthers, as he recorded one goal, two assists, and a plus-4 rating. The Lightning undoubtedly benefited from Guentzel's strong night, too, as they defeated the Panthers by a 5-1 final score.

Guentzel's multi-point game came at a great time for the Bolts, too. If the Lightning had lost this matchup against the Panthers, they would have been down 3-0 in the series. Instead, they are now only down 2-1 in the series after this win and have the chance to tie it up again in Game 4. 

Guentzel showed during his short stay with the Hurricanes that he is a star offensive talent. In 17 regular-season games with the Hurricanes this past season, he had eight goals, 25 points, and a plus-16 rating. He then followed that up with four goals and nine points in 11 playoff games for Carolina.

Recent Hurricanes News

Hurricanes Are Still In Good Spot Despite Game 3 LossHurricanes Are Still In Good Spot Despite Game 3 LossThe Carolina Hurricanes had an opportunity to extend their series lead to 3-0 in their Game 3 matchup against the New Jersey Devils. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes fell short in their attempt to achieve this, as they lost to the Devils by a 3-2 final score in double overtime. With this, the Devils now have the chance to tie the series back up at home in Game 4.  Former Hurricanes Forward Has Big Game With New TeamFormer Hurricanes Forward Has Big Game With New TeamFormer Carolina Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings this past off-season. This was after the 29-year-old winger posted 20 goals and 41 points in 82 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2023-24. Hurricanes' Taylor Hall Continues To Be Great AdditionHurricanes' Taylor Hall Continues To Be Great AdditionThe Carolina Hurricanes acquired Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks back in late January. The 33-year-old forward had been the subject of trade rumors during the season because of his pending unrestricted free agent status and the Blackhawks being out of the playoff race early. Thus, the Hurricanes brought him in, and it's a move that continues to benefit them. 
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Auckland clinch ALM premiership as City held to draw by Adelaide

  • Auckland clinch A-League Men premiership in maiden season
  • Melbourne City held to 0-0 by Adelaide United at AAMI Park

Auckland FC have claimed the A-League Men premiership in their first season, while Melbourne City will lick their wounds and turn their focus to locking in second place after falling short.

Second-placed City were held to a 0-0 draw by Adelaide United at AAMI Park on Saturday night. The draw also means City could yet let second place slip - and with it an Asian Champions League Elite berth and the first week of finals off - while Adelaide’s finals hopes are all but over.

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Francisco Alvarez's home run lifts Mets to 2-0 win over Nationals

Francisco Alvarez's first home run of the season was enough for the Mets' pitching staff, as New York shut out the Nationals, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C.

The start of Saturday's game was delayed by about 25 minutes before a rain delay in the bottom of the first added another 46 minutes.

Here are the takeaways...

-It took the Mets seven innings to score against the Nationals on Friday, but New York didn't waste much time on Saturday. After a two-out single by Jesse Winker, Francisco Alvarez -- in just his second game off the IL -- went the other way and deposited a Brad Lord slider just inside the right field foul pole to give the Mets an early 2-0 lead.

Alvarez finished with 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

-That Alvarez home run was all Clay Holmes needed on this day, but it was an inauspicious start for the reliever-turned-starter. After getting one out in the first, the heavens opened up and the game was delayed for a total of 46 minutes. Holmes returned to the mound and promptly got the next two batters out to finally complete the first frame. Holmes would settle in after that disrupted first inning, retiring nine straight Nats at one point.

Holmes was never in trouble, cruising through five scoreless innings. He probably could have gone longer, if it wasn't for the long rain delay. The right-hander threw 70 pitches (44 strikes), allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out two. He lowered his ERA to 2.64.

It's the 14th consecutive start a Mets starter hasn't allowed a home run.

-The Mets' bullpen was great after blowing the save on Friday. The combination of Danny Young and Reed Garrett pitched two scoreless innings before A.J. Minter came out to start the eighth. After getting the first out, Minter was in a 3-1 count to James Wood before he had to leave with an apparent injury. Similar to the series finale against the Phillies, Max Kranick was called upon to sub in on an injury. After walking Wood -- which was charged to Minter -- Kranick got the next two Nationals batters to get through the eighth.

Edwin Diaz returned for the ninth inning, his first appearance since leaving Wednesday's game with a hip cramp. He struck out his first batter but threw five straight balls before Alvarez came out to talk to Diaz. Diaz came back to strike out Dylan Crews and Jose Tena to nail down the win.

-Jeff McNeil started in center for the first time this season, and it was his first time playing in that position since 2023. He played six innings in the field without much doing and was 1-for-3 at the plate. Tyrone Taylor took over at center in the seventh inning.

-The Mets had eight total hits and Francisco Lindor had three of them. It was his fifth three-hit game this season, tied for the most in MLB.

Game MVP: Francisco Alvarez

The whole pitching staff should be applauded, but Alvarez's blast gave the Mets enough to come away with the win.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets continue their series against the Nationals on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.

Tylor Megill (3-2, 1.09 ERA) will be on the mound, opposite Nationals lefty Mitchell Parker (3-1, 1.39 ERA).

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Flyers' Jett Luchanko Thriving in First True Playoff Experience

Flyers center prospect Jett Luchanko (left) is elevating his game for the Phantoms in the Calder Cup playoffs. (Photo: Perry Nelson, Imagn Images)

Top Philadelphia Flyers forward prospect Jett Luchanko is coming into his own during his first postseason experience as a pro player.

Luchanko, 18, is far from a finished product, especially offensively. It may very well take him until his mid-20s to reach his ceiling in that department, but we'd be remiss to ignore the very obvious flashes the Flyers' 2024 first-round pick is displaying in the Lehigh Valley Phantoms' Calder Cup playoff run.

Believe it or not, Luchanko has made the OHL playoffs with the Guelph Storm before. Twice, in fact. The first time was his D-1 season in 2022-23, and the second was in his D0 (draft year) season in 2023-24. 

The 18-year-old had only 14 points in 46 games in the 2022-23 season, which was his first season in the OHL. Luchanko and the Storm lost to the Sarnia Sting in six games in the first round, wherein the then-fledgling had one assist.

The Storm allowed no fewer than four goals in five of the six games, and lost the first three games by scores of 5-0, 5-4, and 8-4. And, it is worth noting that Luchanko went without a shot on goal in each of the last three games of the aforementioned series against the Sting.

Despite the two wins, it was really not much of a competition.

Last year, Luchanko's Storm saw the Soo Greyhounds come in and sweep them in four games, notwithstanding Luchanko's three assists in three games to start the series.

Now, after having already made his NHL debut with the Flyers, Luchanko is in the midst of his first real playoff experience. One where Luchanko and the Phantoms have something to play for, and where games flat-out mean more for everyone.

Many of these AHL players, on the Phantoms and on other teams, are fighting for jobs. Those jobs may be in the NHL or the AHL, but they are jobs.

Luchanko himself is a candidate to make the Flyers outright again next season, but he, like his teammates, has to earn that and fight for that. This Calder Cup run is the best place for the Flyers' top forward prospect to strut his stuff before the real fun begins in training camp a few months from now.

So far, the London, Ontario, native is taking advantage in a big way.

In two playoff games with the Phantoms, Luchanko has racked up four assists, hastily surpassing the three assists he had in nine prior AHL regular season games.

Sure, the eight penalty minutes in two games is a minor issue, but everyone would rather Luchanko be involved in plays than not, for better or for worse.

Aside from his readily apparent blazing speed, Luchanko has consistently flexed his playmaking chops.

In a 5-2 Game 1 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on April 23, Luchanko showed one of the many things he can do at the peak of his powers.

Picking off a Penguins defensive zone turnover at his offensive blueline, Luchanko took possession of a loose puck and wheeled down the right wing boards, eventually gaining the zone 1-on-4. 

After using his speed to circle deep into the zone and behind the net, Luchanko pulled up at the left circle, whipping a pass through five Penguins defenders and teammate Garrett Wilson to find Anthony Richard at the right circle for a one-timer goal.

This element of Luchanko's game has been a strength of his since the Flyers drafted him in June, but the two question marks that need the most work are his shooting and consistency.

In 15 professional games between the Flyers and Phantoms, Luchanko has yet to find his first pro goal to complement his seven assists.

For instance, Luchanko failed to record a shot on goal in the Game 1 against the Penguins referenced above despite recording two assists on the evening.

In Game 2, Luchanko picked up another two assists, including the secondary helper on the game-winner scored by defenseman Helge Grans, while also adding three shots on goal.

Before this, Luchanko had gone three games in a row without a shot on goal.

Good or bad, this is all useful information for the Flyers. The more Luchanko plays, the easier it will be to pick up on his habits and pick things out to improve or continue.

In Game 2, for example, Grans enters the zone on his own before executing a drop pass to a trailing Luchanko. After pivoting inside, Luchanko makes a nice heads-up play to find Richard cutting to the back post.

Some players might opt to pull up and shoot a puck through heavy traffic, but it is clear that Luchanko's first offensive instinct is to defer and look for another pass.

This works out for Luchanko, as he has the skill to pull off such a high-difficulty pass to create a big scoring chance for his teammate. He gets bonus points for the assist, as Grans was able to turn around and swat a juicy rebound into the goal to win the game.

At the NHL level, Luchanko will have to add more wrinkles to his game to thrive on the stat sheet, but at the AHL level, his vision, speed, and passing abilities are too hot for the average player to handle.

Luchanko's processing speed and decision-making have shown clear progress, and perhaps the Flyers' top forward prospect is willing himself to an even higher gear in these playoff games.

These are the kind of things a Flyers organization starved of playoff hockey wants to see from its up-and-coming players. Which players want to be here and want to succeed here? Who can push themselves and their teammates to another gear when the stakes are raised?

Right now, it looks like Luchanko is indeed a prospect capable of accomplishing this in Philadelphia, and that has to be an encouraging feeling for this Flyers front office.