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How Steph, Warriors exorcised Nuggets demons in statement win

How Steph, Warriors exorcised Nuggets demons in statement win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – For the first six and half minutes of the second quarter, the two biggest superstars of Friday night’s Warriors game against the Denver Nuggets, Steph Curry and Nikola Jokić, were either sitting on the bench or waiting their turn at the scorer’s table. 

It was up to their teammates to either carry the load or crumble without them. The Warriors hadn’t beat the Nuggets since the 2022 NBA playoffs. These two teams had played nine games since then, including six on Golden State’s home court at Chase Center, and all nine ended in the Nuggets’ favor. 

Behind Curry’s 36 points, the Warriors finally overcame their Denver demons to the roaring tune of a 118-104 win. First, it all began without Curry. 

Having to rally back from a 10-point deficit after the first quarter, the second quarter began without Curry and Jokić on the floor. If the Nuggets took advantage of Curry’s absence, the Warriors could have found themselves in an impossible hole to climb out of on the second night of a back-to-back in which they came home from a six-game road trip that spanned two weeks.

Instead, the Warriors opened with a 7-0 run through the first three-plus minutes of the second quarter, bringing them within three points of the Nuggets, prompting a timeout from Denver coach Michael Malone. 

The Nuggets didn’t score until more than four minutes had passed in the second quarter. Upping the intensity and finding their second wind, the Warriors’ defense held the Nuggets to only 16 second-quarter points. All season long, opponents have crossed their fingers in hopes of slowing down Denver’s offense just enough, knowing fully stopping them almost never was going to happen. 

They shot 35 percent from the field in the second quarter (7 of 20) and went 2 of 10 from 3-point range. What changed?

“Just our physicality,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought we got into the ball, were more physical. The first quarter they were just doing anything they wanted. Jokić was incredible. They were hitting everything. Started forcing turnovers. 

“We forced 26 for the game, and it felt like the second quarter is when it changed.” 

Through the first 12 minutes, aside from a short stretch, the Warriors and Nuggets traded buckets. The Warriors scored a respectable 34 points in the opening frame on 54.5-percent shooting (12 of 22) and made half of their threes (4 of 8). But the Nuggets were even better, dropping 44 points on an absurd 70.8-percent clip and also shot 50 percent on 3-pointers (3 of 6). 

Denver’s size advantage saw them score 26 of its 44 first-quarter points in the paint. The Nuggets then only scored eight points in the paint during the second quarter. 

“They started to feel us,” Draymond Green said. “That first quarter was kind of a track meet. You shoot, I shoot. Whoever made the most shots won the quarter. They did, and we gave them 44 points. But we got our defense settled in to start the second quarter, and then when the group came back they continued it for the rest of the quarter. Sixteen-point quarter was huge. 

“Once we got the 44 under control I think we pretty much took care of them the rest of the game.” 

While Curry watched from the sidelines, a group of Green, Brandin Podziemski, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody and Quinten Post shined. By the time Curry came back, as well as Jokic, the Warriors only trailed by one point with five minutes and 33 seconds left in the first half. 

Everybody was part of the action during that span. No one player went on a major scoring run.

Butler scored four points, Moody had three, Post had three, and both Green and Podziemski each contributed two points. The Warriors had a 14-5 advantage to begin the second quarter once Curry was back. 

“That’s been a really good lineup for us since we got Jimmy,” Kerr said. “That top of the second, top of the fourth lineup. It’s been very effective against everybody.” 

Defense fuels the five-man unit. The spacing Post provides as a 7-footer gives Butler the necessary room to work with. And when Podziemski shoots like he has the last two games, making 12 threes and scoring 54 points, it’s going to be a tough group to beat for any team. 

They played a tad under 10 minutes together overall and were a plus-10, outscoring the Nuggets 22-12.

Green, however, has an even simpler answer than Kerr.

“Jimmy Butler,” Green said. “Got another one in that group. That group has struggled at times because we just – no No. 1 out there. We got a one now. … Yeah, we added Jimmy Butler to that group and he changes everything.” 

But who are we kidding? This team still jumps on the back of Curry and rides him to the finish line. 

Curry in the final five and a half minutes of the second quarter scored 12 points. Jokic scored two. The Warriors as a whole scored 32, putting them ahead by six points going into halftime.

Jokic then exploded for 14 points in the third quarter, five more than Curry’s nine points, only for Steph to outscore him 8-2 in the fourth quarter. 

The Warriors know the back and forth nature of the Western Conference standings. They understand what they must do to avoid the dreaded play-in tournament. And Curry, he was well aware of the Warriors’ losing streak to the Nuggets and what a win over them would mean spiritually for a team to take down three of the conference’s best in a grueling gauntlet of the schedule. 

“We knew about the streak for sure,” he said. “It is a little extra motivation of needing a win to stand pat in the standings. And just the idea that it’s a back-to-back and everybody talks a little about schedule losses and all that type of stuff. We wanted to rise to the level of the challenge of coming off a six-game, 13-day road trip and getting a good night sleep in your bed. 

“But you got to go back to work and perform, and we did that. It’s nice to beat those guys, because it’s been rough.”

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Alex Ovechkin Ties Gretzky’s NHL Goals Record Amid 14th 40-Goal Season

Alex Ovechkin (Amber Searls-Imagn Images)

Alex Ovechkin stands beside Wayne Gretzky as the top goal-scorers in NHL history, and he’s one goal away from breaking the record.

After scoring goal No. 893 early on Friday night’s game against the Chicago Blackhawks, Ovechkin notched No. 894 in the third period. He tied Wayne Gretzky's goals count in one fewer game and is one goal from standing alone.

"It's fun," Ovechkin told Monumental Sports on the bench after the game.

"Right now, so emotional, you never thought you can reach this milestone, and how I always said, without all my teammates, all my partners, you guys (the fans), obviously my family, my mom, my wife, they support, they do everything I need, and it's great."

Gretzky was in Capital One Arena watching history unfold and received a standing ovation from Caps fans in the first period.

The opening goal happened four minutes into Washington’s battle with the Blackhawks. That was Ovechkin’s 40th goal of the year, the 14th time he achieved that mark in his 20-year career. He has the most 40-goal seasons in NHL history, breaking the tie with Gretzky's 12 campaigns last year.

Defenseman John Carlson played the puck along the wall and found Dylan Strome behind Chicago’s net. Strome picked out the Capitals captain, who fired home a one-timer from point-blank.

Ovechkin beat goaltender Spencer Knight for the fourth time in his career. His shot beat Knight’s blocker but rang off the post. Luckily for Ovechkin, it bounced off the backside of the Blackhawks’ netminder and crossed the goal line.

The second goal of the game came on the power play.

With 13:47 left in the third period, Ovechkin stood at the left faceoff circle uncovered and buried a pass into the open net.

Ovechkin’s goals against the Blackhawks puts him on a four-game goal streak. 

In his three games leading up to Friday’s outing, along with three goals, he provided an additional three assists for six points.

After the game, the Blackhawks players lined up to congratulate Ovechkin on tying the record. The Capitals captain then stood at center ice to salute the crowd and went to the glass to fist bump his two sons through the glass.

Alex Ovechkin Vs. Wayne Gretzky: The Tale Of The Tape In NHL Record ChaseAlex Ovechkin Vs. Wayne Gretzky: The Tale Of The Tape In NHL Record ChasePart of what makes Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goal-scoring record so compelling is that the two players are polar opposites in some ways yet stunningly similar in others. 

Washington plays next on Sunday afternoon against the New York Islanders in UBS Arena on and return home to face the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

Further down the schedule, the Capitals take on the Columbus Blue Jackets on the road on April 12 and at home on April 13. Ovechkin scored his first career NHL goal against the Blue Jackets on Oct. 5, 2005. Nearly 20 years later, he can break the record against them, if he doesn’t do it in the next two games.

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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Former Michigan State forward Xavier Booker transferring to Big Ten member UCLA

Former Michigan State forward Xavier Booker wrote Friday that he’s transferring to UCLA, confirming earlier reports with a post on his social media account. The Spartans expected big things from the 6-foot-11 Booker when he arrived on campus in 2023-24. While he appeared in 60 games, he started only starting five and averaged just 11.3 minutes in two seasons in East Lansing.

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Yankees' bottom of the order comes up big to sink Pirates, 9-4

The Yankees got big-time production from the bottom of the order and easily dispatched the hapless Pirates, 9-4, to spoil Opening Day in Pittsburgh.

Anthony Volpe, Trent Grisham, Jasson Dominguez, and Oswaldo Cabrera combined to go 6-for-7 with three walks and two hit batters for seven RBI… all in the game’s first four innings.

Max Fried produced 5.2 innings of effective work, allowing just one run and striking out six, Aaron Judge added the icing on the cake with a two-run blast in the seventh to give him six home runs on the year, and New York improved to 5-2. Pittsburgh fell to 2-6.

Here are the takeaways...

- Dominguez yanked a double into the right field corner after Grisham's one-out walk in the second. They came home on Cabrera's single to the gap in left-center to give the visitors a 2-0 lead off Pirates starter Mitch Keller.

The duo at the bottom of the lineup inflicted more damage with two outs in the third. After Volpe was hit by a pitch and Grisham rocketed an infield hit, Dominguez added an RBI with a broken-bat single to left (72.2 mph exit velocity). Cabrera tacked on another run with a ball hit just off the end of his bat (66 mph) for a single to left to make it 4-0.

A second-straight two-out rally produced another run in the fourth. Paul Goldschmidt singled, Austin Wells was hit by the pitch, and Volpe singled up the middle to plate the Yanks' fifth run. Keller walked Grisham for a second time. Pirates lefty Joey Wentz came in and plated two runs by plunking Dominguez and walking Cabrera to make it 7-1.

Here’s how the bottom of the order finished the day:

  • Volpe: 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs, HBP, and a caught stealing.
  • Grisham: 1-for-3 with two walks, two runs, and two strikeouts.
  • Dominguez: 2-for-4 with two RBI, one run, a HBP, and a strikeout.
  • Cabrera: 3-for-3 with four RBI and a walk.

- Fried needed nine pitches in a 1-2-3 first, but Joey Bart and one-time Yank Andrew McCutchen singled to start the second. But a pair of soft grounders and a flyout kept the Buccos off the board. The left-hander hung a 0-1 curveball to Bryan Reynolds with two down in the third, and the Pirates DH didn’t miss for a homer into the first row of seats in left. After walking Oneil Cruz, Fried nabbed his first strikeout on his 54th pitch of the day to close the inning.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on an infield hit to start the fifth, but with one out, the left-hander picked off the ex-Yank with a fine move before tallying his fourth strikeout to end the inning. Fried saved his best for last, striking out the first two he saw in the sixth before McCutchen’s infield hit on a slow roller to third chased the starter. (McCutchen, 38, went 3-for-3 off Fried.) 

The final line of his second start of the year: 5.2 innings, six hits, one run, one walk, and six strikeouts on 98 pitches (62 strikes)

- Judge had Yankee fans holding their breath when he tangled with the right field wall in the bottom of the first. The slugger’s left shoulder bore the brunt of it when he made a leaping, awkward grab on Ke'Bryan Hayes’ liner.

After walking his first time up, Judge got a chance with two men on and one out in the second, but swung through a 95.6 mph fastball that was over the plate and thigh-high. He went down on three pitches, looking at a sinker that just caught the outside corner in the fourth. 

Judge struck in his fifth at-bat, clobbering a first-pitch two-run home run off one-time Yank Tim Mayza. The middle-middle sinker was smashed (106.7 mph, 403 feet) to center for his sixth dinger and 17th RBI of the year. He is now the first player in MLB history to produce those numbers in his team's first seven games. Friday was also his 1,000th big league game, his 321 homers are the most by a player in history in that span. (Ryan Howard’s 279 dingers are the second-most.)

The right fielder added a running grab over his shoulder on the warning track in the eighth. He finished 1-for-5 with a walk and three strikeouts.

- Out of the bullpen, Fernando Cruz got the final out of the sixth but allowed a leadoff double in the seventh, a bloop one-out single to Kiner-Falefa before Hayes smacked a three-run homer over the short-porch to left to make it 9-4.

Brent Headrick added two strikeouts and a walk in scoreless 1.2 innings. Back off the paternity list, Devin Williams kicked off the rust with a scoreless ninth working around a two-out walk needing 18 pitches (9 strikes).

- The Yanks had some tough luck with two on and nobody out in the first as Jazz Chisholm Jr. got rung up by on a 2-2 slider that looked below the zone in the first. Chisholm Jr. wasn’t pleased about the call and immediately had a short face-to-face with home plate umpire Tom Hanahan. Goldschmidt then went down looking at a fastball that was well off the plate. A tough break for the Yanks, who had two on and nobody out.

Chisholm Jr. went on to finish 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. Goldschmidt rebounded from the bad call to finish the day 2-for-5.

Highlights

What's next

The two sides tangle for the second game of the series on Saturday, with righty Marcus Stroman starting for New York and lefty Bailey Falter for Pittsburgh in the 4:05 p.m. start.

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Penguins Notebook: Malkin Practices With Team, Bemstrom Optioned

Mar 18, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) prepares for a face-off against the New York Islanders during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

It appears a key forward is nearing a return for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Center Evgeni Malkin - out since Mar. 23 with an upper-body injury - was a full participant when the Penguins practiced Friday in Dallas. Malkin skated in his customary second-line center position between Rickard Rakell and rookie Ville Koivunen, which is a combination that was showcased briefly during training camp.

Malkin is expected to be a game-time decision for Saturday's tilt against the Dallas Stars.

These were the lines and pairings from practice on Friday with Malkin back in the fold:

McGroarty-Crosby-Rust
Rakell-Malkin-Koivunen
Dewar-Hayes-Tomasino
Heinen-Lizotte-Acciari

Grzyleck-Letang
Timmins-Karlsson
Graves-Kolyachonok/Shea

Mar 1, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Mason Lohrei (6) checks Pittsburgh Penguins center Emil Bemstrom (52) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

-  In other news, the Penguins officially optioned forward Emil Bemstrom back to Wilkes-Barre Scranton (WBS) on Friday. Bemstrom was waived by the Penguins on Apr. 1 and cleared the next day, but the Penguins kept him on their roster until Friday. He registered one point in 13 games with the NHL club this season.

Bemstrom will rejoin WBS for their Calder Cup quest. Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate has already clinched a playoff berth, but they are vying for a first-round bye in the final stretch of the season. 

In 43 AHL games this season, Bemstrom recorded 21 goals and 46 points in 43 games and was named to the AHL All-Star team. He led the team in scoring prior to his NHL call-up on Feb. 7. 

McGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To BluesMcGroarty Scores First NHL Goal In Penguins 5-4 Overtime Loss To BluesThe Pittsburgh Penguins' 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues on Thursday - which gave the Blues their whopping 11th straight win - obviously wasn't the desired result.

-  Rutger McGroarty scored his first NHL goal on Thursday against the St. Louis Blues with just 23.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. 

As for what he plans to do with his first-goal puck (which, evidently, Koivunen - who also registered his first NHL point on the play - let him keep)?

"I plan to give the puck to my parents," McGroarty said. "They've been there through every stage, and they've helped me with just about everything in my life. I couldn't be here without him."

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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"They've Been Delivering For 18, 20 Years Under Pressure": Canucks Rick Tocchet Discusses The Historic Careers Of Sidney Crosby & Alex Ovechkin

Nov 8, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shake hands after a puck drop ceremony prior to their game at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The 2024-25 season is shaping up to be a historic one for both Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The ninth and 11th all-time point producers in NHL history are wrapping up their 20th season and are now breaking Wayne Gretzky records that were once deemed unbreakable. Despite both closing in on 40 years old, neither looks like they are slowing down, with both Crosby and Ovechkin signed for at least one more season. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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As mentioned, by the end of the season, both Crosby and Ovechkin will have passed records set by Gretzky. Starting with Crosby, he already has set a new record, becoming the NHL's all-time leader in consecutive seasons above a point per game. As for Ovechkin, he is on the verge of surpassing Gretzky's all-time goal record and, before the end of the campaign, could become the first and only player in NHL history to score 900 goals.

Watching these players battle it out over the past two decades has been a treat for hockey fans. While they weren't drafted in the same year, Crosby and Ovechkin made their NHL debuts on the same day and have faced off 97 times combined in the regular season and playoffs. Both will also be headed to the Hockey Hall of Fame while also having their jersey's retired by their organizations.

One person who has witnessed this rivality first hand is Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet. Tocchet spent three years as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins and faced the Washington Capitals in both the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. When asked about Crosby and Ovechkin's careers, Tocchet had a simple answer as to why they have been successful for so long. 

"Well, it's just amazing, said Rick Tocchet. "We talk about consistency; they're consistency level. Whether it's scoring or whether it's any facet of the game. I lived it there for a couple of series of Washington and Pittsburgh, and watching them at high level, especially in the playoffs. Just a respect factor. It's hard to play that way every game. It's hard to play in pressure games and deliver, and they've been delivering for 18, 20 years under pressure. That's the hard part, to be able to deliver under pressure."

Crosby and Ovechkin have also served as role models for a large portion of players in the NHL. For years, whenever players were asked who their favourite player was growing up, the answer was usually Sid The Kid or The Great Eight. As Tocchet explains, he hopes young players are still paying attention to how much work Crosby and Ovechkin are putting in as the two continue to demonstrate how to be successful in the NHL.

"The easy answer is work ethic. They're doing stuff that other players aren't doing. Sidney Crosby, he trains, you know, he'll be in Germany one year training the new way of training. He's always trying to look outside the box. He always tried to build his foundation. And I think that's the same with the young players. You got to do what is required, what's more than required. Habits, build your foundation, build your game, what's your identity as a player, and then apply it in all the games."

In the end, the Crosby vs Ovechkin rivalry will go down as one of the best in NHL history. The two have battled their entire careers and produced moments that won't soon be forgotten. Luckily, fans will get one more chance to watch Crosby and Ovechkin go head-to-head, as they will face each other on April 17, 2025, which is the final day of the 2024-25 regular season. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum.

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. downplays cheers from Mets fans at Citi Field: 'That's normal for me'

Among all the pomp and circumstance of the Mets' home opener was a curious moment when the Blue Jays were being introduced during the pregame ceremony.

When the Mets' public announcer introduced Toronto slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr., there were noticeable cheers from the Citi Field crowd. Guerrero Jr.'s impending free agency -- unless he agrees to an extension with the Blue Jays before the end of the regular season -- is not lost on the Mets fans in attendance and they remember when New York checked in on him this offseason.

Of course, the Mets re-signed Pete Alonso and didn't get Guerrero Jr., but those rumblings are hard to keep quiet as evidenced by the fan reception. When asked about it after the game, the Blue Jays first baseman downplayed it.

"To be honest with you, that's normal for me," Guerrero Jr. said of the cheers through an interpreter. "I've never been booed in any other stadium. Everybody always has been nice to me everywhere I go."

The 26-year-old is coming off one of the best seasons of his career and is off to a good start this year. Although he hasn't hit a home run, he's batting .267 and hit 2-for-3 with a walk on Friday. He's easily the Blue Jays' best player and a homegrown star, which is why the team is looking to sign Guerrero Jr. to an extension, which multiple reports say they are close to achieving.

But, Guerrero Jr. poured some cold water on those reports.

"We didn't talk anything about contracts or deals or nothing like that. Just talking about family and seeing how we're doing," he said. "Like I said before, I'm playing right now. I'm concentrating on the games, on my teammates."

He told ESPN's Jorge Castillo in Spanish a bit more on these reported extension talks, saying, "Well, until now, I don't know anything. I've always tried to talk to my agent and I've always left that to my agent. I focus on playing. Until now, I don't know what you're talking about."

Guerrero said back in early March that he was looking for a contract that would go for "14, 15, even 20" years but did not reach the reported $600 million ask. The most recent reports say both sides are close to a deal that is closer to $500 million.

The Mets will host the Blue Jays, and Guerrero Jr., for two more games this weekend.

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Jaylen has jokes for Porzingis after big man's nasty cut on nose

Jaylen has jokes for Porzingis after big man's nasty cut on nose originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kristaps Porzingis quickly diffused a scary moment Friday night at TD Garden.

The Boston Celtics big man took an elbow to the face from Phoenix Suns wing Cody Martin while defending the paint in the fourth quarter of Friday’s matchup and started bleeding from his nose while lying on the hardwood.

Porzingis quickly got to his feet with a big smile, however, and started pumping up the home crowd as he walked toward the locker room with a trainer.

The cut on Porzingis’ nose required stitches, but while he didn’t return to the game– a 123-103 Celtics rout — he seemed to avoid any serious injury. That meant he was open to chiding from his teammates, and good friend Jaylen Brown happily obliged.

“I told KP, ‘The stitches can’t make you uglier than you already are,'” Brown joked in his 1-on-1 with Abby Chin after the game, as seen in the video player above.

Celtics big man Luke Kornet, meanwhile, got a rise out of watching Porzingis channel his inner wrestler by hyping up the crowd as blood streamed from his nose.

“I feel like for anyone to have just blood dripping down the middle of their face — kind of the whole wrestler persona, the UFC-type persona — I feel like KP was perfect for that,” Kornet said in an exclusive interview with Celtics Postgame Live.

Porzingis has always had a great relationship with the Garden crowd, and his ability to feed off their energy even while dealing with a bloody nose will only add to his legend in Boston.

The C’s are back in action Sunday at TD Garden against the Washington Wizards, with tip-off at 6 p.m. ET.

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Bruins And Predators' Free Fall Could Lead To Great News

David Pastrnak celebrates a goal with teammates on April 3. (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

The Boston Bruins are so bad right now that it may help them more than people think.

It almost beggars belief that, coming off a 47-20-15 record last season, the Bruins are dead last in the Eastern Conference right now.

The Bruins were three points out of a wild-card spot at the NHL trade deadline when they traded Brad Marchand, Brandon Carlo, Charlie Coyle and Justin Brazeau. They since plummeted to the East’s basement and sit 29th overall with a 30-37-9 mark. They’re also 0-9-1 in their last 10 games after losing to longtime rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, on Thursday. It’s undoubtedly painful for Bruins fans to watch.

But the Bruins’ free fall through the standings has a positive element. It means they’ve avoided the mushy middle of the East and can now have a very high draft pick – maybe even the first-overall pick, if they win the draft lottery.

Before you know it – perhaps as soon as next season – the Bruins could be right back in the thick of the playoff hunt .

After Boston GM Don Sweeney sold at the trade deadline, Boston is committed to about $66.7 million in salary cap space next season. With the cap ceiling slated to rise to $95.5 million, that leaves the Bruins with about $29 million in cap space, which gives them leeway to spruce things up in the off-season. They do have six RFAs to take care of and five UFAs, but if they want to make changes and go big in free agency, they can.

But if the draft goes in their favor, Boston would have a draft pick in the top half of the first round for the first time since 2016, when they selected defenseman Charlie McAvoy 14th overall. 

Boston hasn’t had a top-10 pick since Dougie Hamilton went to them ninth overall in 2011, and they haven’t had a top-five pick or higher since Tyler Seguin went to them second overall in 2010. 

Needless to say, landing a top-five pick or better this season would do wonders for Boston’s core in the next decade or longer. All things considered, the Bruins’ relatively short period of struggle this season could be extremely beneficial for their big picture.

Another team in a similar situation to the Bruins is the Nashville Predators. They currently have the NHL’s third-worst record despite being major buyers in free agency. 

Heading into next season, Nashville has about $17.2 million in cap space, so GM Barry Trotz will have many areas where he can improve the organization. 

The Predators haven’t had a top-10 draft pick since they selected defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall in 2013. Incredibly, they haven’t had a top-three pick or better since selecting David Legwand second overall with the franchise’s first-ever draft pick in 1998. The Preds desperately need young, elite talent, and like the Bruins, Nashville’s unexpected collapse this season could have benefits in the long haul.

Three NHL Clubs That Made The Best Of A Seller’s MarketThree NHL Clubs That Made The Best Of A Seller’s MarketThe NHL trade deadline saw contenders mortgage their future by trading future first-round picks and top prospects to add players to help in their pursuit of a Stanley Cup.

But back to the Bruins, whose fans have grown accustomed to year after year of being legitimate front-runners to go on long playoff runs. Their longest playoff drought since the 1960s is two seasons.

It must be unsettling for them to see this rapid collapse, but it must be more comforting to know that this doesn’t happen as often to them as it does to other teams. They’ll also be picking up a skilled player who can be part of their core for many years to come. 

Who knows – by adding some veteran talents, Boston could return to the playoff mix next season. But you can’t get elite young players without some short-term pain, and that’s why the Bruins’ current struggles are a double-edged sword. They, at some point, needed to bottom out to take more steps forward as soon as possible, and that time is now.

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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Pete Alonso, Tylor Megill power Mets to 5-0 home-opening win over Blue Jays

QUEENS, New York, April 4, 2025 — There was a festive atmosphere all morning at Citi Field on Friday. Crowds and vendors were lurking outside by the 7 train as early as 10 am. Pyrotechnics were being set up for player introductions, and the massive scoreboard was flashing through images with the words "Opening Day" as the Mets prepared to open the gates to their fans for the first time in the 2025 season.

By first pitch, 43,645 fans had piled into the stadium, both a sell-out and the 9th largest regular crowd in Citi Field history. With the Mets coming off a surprise NLCS performance and then an off-season that saw them bring Juan Soto crosstown to Queens and also re-sign fan favorite Pete Alonso, there was plenty to be excited about.

That excitement bled carried out onto the field almost immediately. After starting pitcher Tylor Megill retired the Blue Jays in order in the top of the first inning, Francisco Lindor opened the game for the Mets by lacing a single to left center field. The excitement seemed to get to Lindor too, as he took off for second base, only to be thrown out trying to stretch it into a double. It was the ultimate rollercoaster of emotions that seemed to epitomize the Mets' 2024 season.

Only, this is a new year and a new team with boundless optimism in the early stages of 2025. After review, it turned out that Bo Bichette missed the tag, and Lindor was able to get his hand in safely.

"He likes to set the tone," said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza of Lindor. "Today, first pitch of the game right away. Here we are, attacking. It's good to see. He brings the energy, and, again, that's what you want to see out of your offense: you have to attack. We did that from pitch one today."

The Mets' attack continued with their $765 million man coming up to bat. The whole stadium rose to its feet and stayed standing. In fact, the stadium rose to stand for all of Juan Soto's at-bats in his first game at Citi Field as a member of the Mets, not wanting to miss a single pitch.

However, in this moment, Soto wasn't the hero. He popped out to second base and jogged off the field, but the disappointment for Mets fans was only momentary. Before Soto could even leave the field, the PA announcer was calling out the name of a player who currently ranks third on the Mets’ all-time home leaders, trailing only Darryl Strawberry and David Wright.

For much of the off-season, it seemed like Pete Alonso was destined to be wearing another uniform in 2025. In his six seasons with the Mets, Alonso slashed .249/.339/.514/.854 with 226 home runs and 586 RBIs, but he was entering his age-30 season and seemingly wanted a longer deal than the Mets were willing to give a player they worried would be a soon-to-be-DH. In fact, there were a few days where it seemed realistic that today would be Alonso's return to Citi Field, only as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Yet, Alonso and the Mets wound up agreeing to a two-year, $54 million contract, and he strode into the batter's box wearing his Mets' whites as the stadium chanted his name. Four pitches later, Alonso drove a 1-2 fastball from Kevin Gausman 377 feet over the fence in right field to put the Mets on the board.

"It was sick," said Alonso after the game. "That type of stuff is what you dream about as a kid, and to have that type of support is really special for sure. I enjoyed every second of it."

"It's pretty cool. Not gonna lie," added Mendoza. "You were there in the dog out, and everybody's kind of waiting for that moment as he's walking towards the plate to a standing ovation. He means a lot to the people, the fans, and to our players, and then for him to go out there, you know, first at bat of the season here at Citi Field after the off-season, with all the rumors and all that. It's a pretty cool feeling for him, for all of us."

After the opening inning excitement, the bats went quiet for a while. Tylor Megill and Kevin Gausman traded zeros on the scoreboard; although, neither pitcher was overpowering or forced many swings and misses. A lot of batted balls died in the brisk April air, and the potential early-season timing issues for hitters led to plenty of pop-ups and not many scoring opportunities.

Until the sixth inning. After getting a lineout to start the frame, Megill issued back-to-back walks to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander and was removed from the game after throwing 82 pitches. Reed Garrett would come in and strike out Andres Gimenez and Alejandro Kirk to end the threat.

Megill finished the day allowing no runs on two hits in 5 1/3 innings while walking three and striking out three. He induced nine whiffs for a 23% whiff rate and 24% CSW in what was a rather uneven performance. The Blue Jays weren’t able to hit much hard, but Megill had just a 44% zone rate overall.

He leaned into his four-seam fastball the most, but it had just a 52% strike rate and got only two whiffs. His new slider, which was so effective for him in his first start, did generate four whiffs, but he struggled to command it with a 30% zone rate and 59% strike rate.

Still, he made enough good pitches when it mattered and kept the Mets ahead on the scoreboard after the bats went quiet following the energetic first inning.

A walk to Francisco Lindor chased Kevin Gausman from the game after failing to record an out in the sixth inning, and then Mason Flaherty immediately allowed a double down the right field line to Juan Soto to plate Lindor and give Soto his first hit and RBI at Citi Field.

"It was pretty cool," said Soto of his first game at Citi Field, where he finished 1-for-4 with a stolen base and his lone RBI. "It feels great."

"He's going to help you win games in a lot of different ways," added Mendoza. "Whether it's by getting on base, by getting the big hit, and he made a big defensive play there at the end of the game."

Yet, Soto isn't the only dangerous presence in the Mets' lineup. After his double, the Blue Jays opted to intentionally walk Alonso, and Brandon Nimmo made them pay with another double to right to score Soto. A sac fly from Starling Marte made it 5-0 Mets heading into the top of the seventh inning.

"Hitting is contagious," smiled Nimmo after the game. Nimmo himself finished 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI while Lindor finished the day 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs, and a stolen base.

If that's indeed true, then a Mets lineup that features Lindor, Soto, and Alonso at the top may spread a lot of hits around Citi Field this season. But, for now, they'll take the time to enjoy a perfect opening to their home season.

"Envisioning coming back, for me, it was all about winning," said Alonso. "Obviously, this place is familiar. Love it here. Love being in New York. It checks all those boxes for me." Alonso would finish the day 1-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and his two-run home run, which is already his third of the season.

"Pete loves New York," added Nimmo. "He loves the Mets fanbase, and I'm glad he's putting on a show for them."

"You couldn't write up a better home opener," said Alonso. Now the Mets will hope to carry on those festivities into the remainder of the season.

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Carolina Hurricanes Rookie, Justin Robidas, To Make NHL Debut

Sep 26, 2023; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Robidas (46) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period at PNC Arena. (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

Carolina Hurricanes forward Justin Robidas will be making his NHL debut tonight as the team takes on the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena.

The Canes recalled the 2021 fifth-round pick yesterday in relation to both Jordan Staal and Andrei Svechnikov being questionable to go Friday and it was confirmed during morning skate that neither forward would be going tonight.

So in comes the rookie, the third to make their NHL debut for the Hurricanes this season (Juha Jaaska, Ryan Suzuki).

"He's a great kid and he's kind of earned the callup," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "That's kind of how we look at it. Had a good year, did everything that they asked him to do down there and I think we're rewarding him with this callup. It's well deserved.

"He's earned it by the way he came in this summer. He put in the work and just had a solid, solid season. So I'm happy for him."

Robidas is also another of NHL lineage, as his father, Stephane, played 15 years in the league. He's now an assistant coach with the Montreal Canadiens and according to FanDuel Sports Network's Hanna Yates, is trying to make it to Detroit in time for the game.

"Hopefully he can get here," Brind'Amour said. "They played last night and they don't play tonight so he should get here. Figure it out, because these are special moments in his life and in the family's life. Hopefully it has a good outcome."

The 22-year-old centerman had a strong first AHL season, with 17 goals and 48 points in 65 games.

Despite being listed at just 5-foot-8, Robidas is a relentless worker who makes an impact at 5v5, the power play and the penalty kill.

"From his work ethic to his defensive play and creating offense, he's really grown over the last two years," said Hurricanes AGM Darren Yorke to team reporter Walt Ruff. "He has developed into a consistent offensive driver, as well as a trustworthy defensive player and leader."

He'll be debuting on the fourth line alongside Mark Jankowski and Tyson Jost.

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Podz reveals mindset shift behind 3-point shooting revival

Podz reveals mindset shift behind 3-point shooting revival  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski saved his best for the most vital stretch of the season. 

Since March 18, the 22-year-old guard leads the NBA in 3-pointers made with 34 (h/t StatMuse) after netting four in Golden State’s 118-104 win over the Denver Nuggets on Friday night at Chase Center.

Battling injuries and struggling to establish a shooting rhythm early on in the season, the second-year Warriors guard revealed the mindset reset behind his recent three-point revival.

“Yeah, I got some great people on my corner that I talk with extensively about it,” Podziemski admitted to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on “Warriors Postgame Live.”

“Really breaking shooting down to the physics of it: How my body moves and things that are going to help me personally. [I’m] just trying to stay consistent and stay in the moment.” 

On Thursday night, Podziemski netted a career-best 8 of 10 from 3-point range in the Warriors’ win over the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Although Podziemski’s 3-point shooting on Friday night fell below his personal record, his overall performance in recent weeks has been remarkable.

Teammate Steph Curry, who has been on a run of his own, sits at 32 3-pointers made since March 18 – two behind Podziemski. 

Cognizant of the ups and downs of playing against the best, Podziemski is prioritizing a level-headed approach when it comes to shooting from deep. 

“Sometimes, you make two, three in a row and you get excited and start taking bad ones or rush it,” Podziemski added. “[I’m] just trying to stay in the moment and take one shot at a time, like it’s my last shot. And that’s all I’ve been focused on. 

“Like I said to you guys in November when I was struggling, I always [knew] the percentages were going to even out to where they should be because I know how much time and effort I put into the gym. To see it paying off at the right time of the year, it’s really good for me.” 

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Realmuto's heroics, Ohtani's blunder help Phillies win fun first meeting vs. Dodgers

Realmuto's heroics, Ohtani's blunder help Phillies win fun first meeting vs. Dodgers originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

A Citizens Bank Park crowd of over 43,000 let out a collective, “Ooooh,” Friday night when Shohei Ohtani drilled the first pitch he saw in the third inning.

Jesus Luzardo was already walking back to the dugout.

Ohtani’s deep flyball died in the wind, a few feet in front of the warning track in left-center, and two hours later the Dodgers were undefeated no longer, watching the Phillies celebrate a dramatic finish in the teams’ first meeting of the season.

Ohtani’s own baserunning blunder helped the Phils seal it. With runners on the corners, he illogically attempted to steal second base down three runs in the bottom of the eighth and Mookie Betts at the plate representing the tying run. Realmuto nailed him pretty easily.

The next one was even prettier and even more important. Realmuto threw out Chris Taylor for a game-ending strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play as the Phillies won 3-2. It would’ve been a walk-off caught stealing for Realmuto if not for the umpires needing to review the play after an initial safe call.

“The Ohtani one surprised me a little bit just because Mookie was hitting,” Realmuto said. “When Chris ran, I had a pretty good idea he was gonna try to run at some point in that at-bat just because he was the tying run.

“Live, I thought I got (Taylor) for sure and the first replay it looked like he was out, then the next couple of angles, it was tough to tell whether the tag was there or not. It felt 50-50 and I didn’t feel good about them overturning that.”

It was overturned, though, ending an entertaining first edition of a potential NLCS preview.

The Phils have won seven of their last eight games against the Dodgers and outscored them 29-10 at home the last two years. This Dodgers roster is even better than the last two, but the Phillies have a ton of confidence against the team most of the baseball world seems to already have crowned. Facing them three times in early April and three times in mid-September provides a fun wrinkle.

“They have a lot of depth. They can beat you in a lot of different ways,” manager Rob Thomson said. “They can match up offensively, they can match up defensively, they’ve got great start pitching. We know we’ve got to play well every time we play them.”

The front office, fanbase and Phillies clubhouse has to love what it’s seen so far from Luzardo, who has allowed two runs through 12 innings with 18 strikeouts and held his opponents to a .167 batting average. He allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings Friday.

Luzardo called it “one of the most well-executed starts of my career,” and said he didn’t shake off Realmuto once.

“He’s incredible back there, obviously,” Luzardo said. “I’ve enjoyed being able to watch him from a distance for a while and now being able to work with him is awesome, all the homework he does, the preparation, and then going out and throwing two guys out in that situation is huge.”

The Phillies held a narrow one-run lead for most of the game after scoring in the bottom of the first when Trea Turner, doubled, stole third and scored on an errant throw. Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto stepped off the mound and had a play on him but threw wide of third baseman Miguel Rojas, who was far off the bag and racing with Turner.

They were unable to muster anything else against Yamamoto but Luzardo just kept throwing up zeroes quickly to keep the Dodgers from gaining any momentum.

The Dodgers pulled Yamamoto after six innings and Kirby Yates gave up two runs in the seventh as Max Kepler walked, Nick Castellanos doubled down the line, Bryson Stott singled one in and Brandon Marsh brought another home with a groundout. Two themes throughout the first week have been the Phillies getting to opposing bullpens and starting rallies at the bottom of the order.

The Phils knew they didn’t have Jose Alvarado on Friday after using him for 35 pitches Thursday, his second of back-to-back appearances. They brought in Matt Strahm for the eighth inning but had to turn to Jose Ruiz with two outs after Ohtani rocketed a single past Bryce Harper to put runners on the corners and bring the tying run to the plate in the form of Betts. That’s when Ohtani bailed the Phillies out.

Jordan Romano earned his first save as a Phillie but it was of the heart-attack variety. Holding a three-run lead, he allowed a two-run homer and put the tying run on first base before striking out Max Muncy as Realmuto threw out Taylor.

The Phillies are 6-1 but do have to figure out what’s going on with Strahm, whose fastball was 90-91 mph against the Dodgers, and Romano, who has struggled with control and had a pair of two-run outings. Thomson suspects Strahm is dealing with a “dead arm” period that pitchers typically experience toward the end of spring training. Strahm missed most of camp with a left shoulder impingement.

As for Romano?

“Just not getting ahead of guys has been his biggest issue,” Realmuto said. “When he’s attacking the strike zone and able to get ahead then expand, that’s when he’s really good. For me, the stuff is there, just got to command the baseball a little better.”

The Phillies go for their third straight series win to begin the season when Aaron Nola opposes Japanese rookie Roki Sasaki on Saturday.

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For Florida’s Clayton, spiking football and saying so long to Pitino leads to the Final Four

Most people thought Walter Clayton Jr. would play football in college. Taking a different path has turned Clayton into one of the best players to wear a Gators uniform, and also led him down a road every college basketball player hopes to travel — the one that ends at the Final Four. Heading into Saturday's game against Auburn, Clayton averages 18 points this year, 22.2 in the tournament and, maybe most important, is proving to be the most clutch player in all of March Madness so far.