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Premier League: 10 talking points from the weekend’s action

Bradley offers pointers to Liverpool’s future, Forest at risk of losing stars and Watkins epitomises Villa’s sunny outlook

Late-season at Anfield, a welcome show of spirit in a comeback from Arsenal became the tale of three full-backs. Following an early booking, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who began sketchily, found the measure of Mohamed Salah. There may be no tougher discipline for a defender in 2025. Does “MLS” have a long-term future as a defender or is his broad skillset better suited to midfield? The same questions have long been asked of Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose second-half arrival gave rise to a loud, vicious barracking, rancorous accusations of treachery that will grab headlines. If not unprecedented – Steve McManaman received similar treatment in 1999 – it was shocking to hear the Kop’s open contempt for one of their own, though one who has dared to flee the Merseyside nest. Before Alexander-Arnold’s arrival, Conor Bradley staked claims to be a first-teamer with typical ferocity in the tackle and speedy overlaps. He was also booked. As his replacement arrived to boos, the Kop pointedly sang the youngster’s name. John Brewin

Match report: Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal

Match report: Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea

Match report: Manchester United 0-2 West Ham

Match report: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leicester

Match report: Tottenham 0-2 Crystal Palace

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Can watching sport really improve your wellbeing? The science suggests it can | Sean Ingle

Couch potatoes and die-hard fans rejoice; all that time and money spent on your sports addiction may just be worth it

And still the feast goes on. Since Rory McIlroy won a Masters for the ages, fans with multiple satellite TV subscriptions – and irregular sleeping habits – have been able to gorge on an extraordinary amount of dramatic sport. Seesawing shifts in momentum? Late twists? Huge shocks? We’ve had them all.

It says something when Barcelona’s epic 3-2 victory against Real Madrid in a Copa del Rey final was only their third-most exciting match in the past month; and when my sober-eyed colleague Robert Kitson describes Northampton’s 37-34 Champions Cup win at Leinster as “one of the all‑time great knockout heists”.

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Pacers win to edge closer to Conference final

Indiana Pacers' Myles Turner reacts during Sunday's game
Myles Turner made four out of four three-pointers for the Pacers [Getty Images]

The Indiana Pacers overcame the first-quarter ejection of guard Bennedict Mathurin to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109 and go 3-1 up in their NBA Eastern Conference semi-final series.

A win for the Pacers over the top seeds in game five in Cleveland on Wednesday (00:00 BST) will see them reach a second straight conference final.

Mathurin left the game with four minutes and 32 seconds left in the opening period after a punch to the chest of De'Andre Hunter.

At that stage, the Pacers led 22-10 and they were 38-23 at the end of the quarter before outscoring their rivals 42-16 in the second to hold a 80-39 advantage

The total was a Pacers franchise play-off record for points in a half.

Pascal Siakam scored 21 points for the Pacers while Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each added 20 as they bounced back from a heavy 126-104 loss in game three.

"This is a group that plays better through adversity," said Turner. "We got punched in the mouth last game, we had a hell of a response. The starters set the tone and the bench picked it up the rest of the game."

The Cavaliers were without six-time All Star Donovan Mitchell in the second half after he suffered an ankle injury - the 28-year-old will have an MRI scan on Monday to see if he can play on Wednesday.

Thunder level series in 'disgusting' game

Elsewhere, Oklahoma City Thunder edged the Denver Nuggets 92-87 to level their Western Conference series at 2-2.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points with six rebounds and six assists to lead Oklahoma City, while NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Denver.

The game tipped off approximately 38 hours after Denver's overtime win in game three and both sides showed signs of fatigue with Nuggets coach David Adelman describing Sunday's encounter as a "really disgusting basketball game".

He added: "Give their team credit, those guys made plays, made enough plays to push them over the edge and win the game."

The Nuggets overcame a poor start to lead 53-52 midway through the third quarter and led by eight points early in the fourth.

But the visitors regained the lead thanks to a Cason Wallace three-pointer with 8:35 to play and held on until the end.

The Thunder host game five on Wednesday (02:30 BST).

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India’s Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket: ‘I’ve given everything I had’

  • Sachin Tendulkar leads tributes to former captain
  • Kohli: ‘I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude’

The former India captain Virat Kohli has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 36-year-old’s decision comes the week after Rohit Sharma, who succeeded Kohli as skipper, also retired from the red-ball format and a month before India start a five-match Test series in England.

The 36-year-old Kohli amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85, putting him 19th in the all-time list for runscorers and behind only Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar among his fellow Indians.

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Door open for overseas Wallabies to take on the Lions, says Australia coach Joe Schmidt

  • Players like Samu Kerevi, Pete Samu and Will Skelton in frame
  • Squad of up to 40 players to be picked before first Test in Brisbane

Such is the magnitude of the challenge and occasion that Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt is set to ditch his no overseas-based players selection strategy for the blockbuster series against the touring British and Irish Lions.

While not picking talent from outside of Australia is not strictly a set-in-stone policy, Schmidt has made clear his preference to mostly overlook Wallabies stars playing offshore, or heading overseas.

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Top fantasy baseball prospects: Jacob Misiorowski strikes out 11, Jac Caglianone keeps hitting

A reminder: This is ONLY players who have Rookie of the Year MLB eligibility, and ONLY a look at potential help for 2025.

That out of the way, here’s a look at the top prospects who can help your fantasy roster this season.

1. Roman Anthony, OF, Boston Red Sox

2025 stats: 35 G, .302/.423/.476, 5 HR, 3 SB, 28 BB, 33 SO at Triple-A Worcester.

If there’s a negative to how Anthony has been playing since the start of May, it’s the lack of extra-base hits. And by lack of extra-base hits, I mean an entire lack, as he hasn’t picked up a single one in that time frame. That’s not ideal, but he’s gone 12-for-37 (.324) and drawn seven walks during those games, and getting on at a .422 clip is nothing to sneeze at. On the contrary. The Red Sox have some, well, roster issues right now, but unless a certain former third baseman wants to become a current first baseman, it’s a little hard to see a roster spot for Anthony in the coming days. It should be by the end of the month, and he’s well worth rostering now so you don’t miss out.

2. Jordan Lawlar, INF, Arizona Diamondbacks

2025 stats: 37 G, .336/.413/.579, 6 HR, 13 SB, 18 BB, 39 SO at Triple-A Reno.

Lawlar was due for some struggles, and the fact that he’s hit just .267/.283/.333 since the end of April and still has these kind of stats tells you just how good the former first-round pick has been. Like Anthony, he hasn’t been able to go deep since the calendar turned, but he has added three doubles. The D-Backs may want Lawlar to get on another run before they decide to bring him up to the highest level and there’s no obvious roster spot, but it’s pretty obvious Lawlar is ready to face MLB pitching again. Fantasy managers should pounce on it as soon as the Diamondbacks make that call.

3. Matt Shaw, 3B, Chicago Cubs

2025 stats: 18 G, .262/.392/.415, 1 HR, 3 SB, 13 BB, 9 SO at Triple-A Iowa; 18 G, .172/.294/.241, 1 HR, 0 SB, 10 BB, 18 SO at  Chicago (NL).

Shaw failed in his time with the Cubs to open the year. Those who watched Shaw play know that, and those who didn’t can just look at those stats. But you know how this works. You know how hard baseball is. You know how many young players faltered to begin their career and still went on to become excellent players. Shaw started out slowly after being demoted to Triple-A, but the infielder has turned a corner and been a solid contributor since May began. Shaw isn’t guaranteed to help fantasy rosters in 2025, but there’s obviously enough talent for him to be a contributor in redraft leagues this summer. He wouldn’t be on this list if that wasn’t the case.

4. Bubba Chandler, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

2025 stats: 7 G, 28 IP, 2.25 ERA, .160 BAA, 11 BB, 41 SO at Triple-A Indianapolis. 

Chandler was due for a bad start, and he had one Wednesday against Columbus. He went just 2 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on five hits, and while he did strike out five, he also issued four walks. Considering how dominant he was prior to that start -- he had a 1.42 ERA bump up to 2.25 due to the struggles -- it’s hard to be too concerned about it. Chandler’s stock was high coming into the year, but the stuff and command have seen it rise so much that many believe he’s now the best pitching prospect in baseball. Even pitching for a bad baseball team like the Pirates, there’s still a great chance he’s relevant in 2025.

5. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

2025 stats: 8 G, 42.1 IP, 1.49 ERA, .148 BAA, 18 BB, 54 SO at Triple-A Nashville. 

Chandler struggled in his last outing. Misiorowski did the opposite. He was able to work 6 2/3 innings while allowing just two hits without giving up a run, and he struck out a season-high 11 batters against just one walk. It’s nice to see him bounce back from the four free passes he gave up in the outing before, but even that one saw him give up just one run. The Brewers have dealt with a plethora of injuries in their rotation, and while Aaron Civale and Brandon Woodruff have a chance to come back soon,, it’s hard to imagine that Misiorowski isn’t one of their best options. The risk with the command is real, but so is the reward with electric swing-and-miss stuff.

Around the minors:

Jac Caglianone lost the race to Nick Kurtz to be the first big bat from 2024 to make the majors, but to say he’s impressing in the minors is quite the understatement. Over his last 10 games, Caglianone is slashing .410/.477/.795 with five homers and drawn five walks for good measure. The Royals offense is playing better -- it would be hard to play much worse -- but it’s hard to argue that Caglianone doesn’t make them better right now. I seriously considered him for the final spot in this week’s list, and if you wanted to argue he should be rostered over those two pitchers -- or even Shaw -- I wouldn’t argue with you for too long.

Jonah Tong was a seventh-round pick back in 2022 who didn’t receive much fanfare before 2024, but he posted a 3.03 ERA while reaching Double-A last season, and things have gone well for the right-hander in 2025; particularly as of late. He threw 6 2/3 perfect innings for Double-A Binghamton on Saturday, and he did it while striking out 13 hitters. His low-to-mid 90 mph fastball plays up because there’s so much deception in his delivery, and he complements that heater with a plus curve and solid slider. Command is an issue at times, but Tong’s ability to miss bats gives him a chance to be a mid-rotation starter -- maybe more -- in the coming years.

When the Nationals drafted Elijah Green with the fifth pick in 2022, the hope was that his elite athleticism would translate into making him a potential star. That athleticism still shows up, but the translation hasn’t been good. That’s an understatement, unfortunately. Over his last 10 games Green has whiffed 20 times in 37 at-bats, and he’s hitting an unusable .157/.242/.259 with a whopping 58 strikeouts in 108 at-bats over 30 games. It’s worth pointing out that Green struck out 206 times in 2024, so this isn’t new. It’s just disappointing it hasn’t gotten better. There could be some sellers' remorse for those who move on from Green in dynasty leagues, but there’s just too many issues here to bet on him becoming more than organizational depth at this point. I hope I’m wrong.

Hey. Remember Everson Pereira? You’d be forgiven if you don’t; there are a lot of baseball players to remember and Pereira only played 40 games last year because of internal brace surgery. He also missed a couple of weeks in 2025, but he’s made the most of his time on the field with eight homers and a .951 OPS over 24 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Strikeouts are always going to be an issue for Pereira, but he has plus power from his right-handed bat, and the 24-year-old also has above-average speed that gives him a chance to steal 15-to-20 bases -- possibly more -- in his best seasons. The Yankees don’t have room right now, Pereira may force his way into their plans, and if not, he could be a player to watch if he was to be moved at/near the deadline.

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Cavaliers vs. Pacers Game 4: Indiana dominates from opening tip in 20-point win, Donovan Mitchell injured

NBA: Playoffs-Cleveland Cavaliers at Indiana Pacers

May 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) and forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrate a made basket during game four of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

It's hard to imagine a game so radically different from the one the same two teams had played 48 hours before.

Friday night, the Cavaliers looked like the dominant 64-win East leaders they were this season, cruising to a 22-point win behind 43 points from Donovan Mitchell, who played like a guy deserving of First Team All-NBA.

Sunday Indiana was dominant squad, taking command from the opening tip, getting up by double-digits with 5:15 left in the first (and the game never got closer than that), led by 41 at the half, stretched that lead out to 44 at one point, and turned the second half into essentially 24 minutes of garbage time.

Indiana now has a commanding 3-1 lead in the series — and that's potentially not even the worst news for Cleveland.

Donovan Mitchell did not play in the second half due to an ankle injury. He will get an MRI when the team returns to Cleveland, coach Kenny Atkinson said. What's most concerning is how it appeared to happen, a non-contact injury warming up for the second half (he had been playing through a calf issue, it's unclear if it's related).

As for Game 4 itself, Atkinson summed it up well.

"Complete domination by them," the Cavaliers coach said. "That's the story — in every facet."

Pascal Siakam scored 21 points to lead Indiana, with Myles Turner and Obi Toppin each adding 20. Everything Indiana did seemed to work, they moved the ball and got open looks, and shot 42.9% from 3 for the game.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle sounded like a coach making sure his team doesn't take its foot off the gas, heading back to Cleveland for Game 5.

"We haven't done anything yet," Carlisle said after the win. "We're a pretty significant underdog in every game we've played in this series, and that will continue til the end. And we're going to keep approaching this like we have everything to prove."

Darius Garland led the Cavaliers with 21 points, and he could have a lot more responsibility on his plate in Game 5 if Mitchell cannot play in a must-win game.

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Marcus Stroman struggling to get over ‘final hump' of rehab; Yankees unsure of next step

Yankees starter Marcus Stroman is not progressing as the club hoped during his rehab of a knee injury, manager Aaron Boone said Sunday.

Stroman, who was placed on the injured list with left knee inflammation in early April, was still feeling discomfort after throwing a live session on Friday in Tampa, and the next step in the process for the right-hander remains unclear, Boone noted before Sunday’s series finale win over the Athletics.

“He’s got a lot of treatments on it and stuff, and he just can’t kind of get over that final hump to really allow him to get to that next level on the mound,” the manager said, via The New York Post. “We’ll try and continue to get our arms around it and try and make sure we get that out of there.”

Stroman struggled in all three of his starts this season, and lasted just nine batters in his most recent start on April 11 before landing on the IL. On a rainy night in The Bronx against San Francisco, he allowed five runs on four hits and three walks in just 0.2 innings. 

Boone added that it was “definitely possible” the knee ailment contributed to his poor start to the year.

“Certainly his last start, I think he just couldn’t really step on that front side like you need to,” the manager said. “I talk about these guys that are like race cars — a little thing off, it can affect just that last level of command or that last level of extra stuff that you need.”

Overall, he has surrendered 12 runs on 12 hits in 9.1 innings for an 11.57 ERA and 2.036 WHIP in his second season in pinstripes.

And that’s been a big problem for New York, as outside of Max Fried, who has been excellent (1.05 ERA in 51.2 innings) and Carlos Rodon, who has been solid (3.29 ERA in 54.2 innings), the Yanks’ rotation has simply not been reliable.

With Gerrit Cole out for the year after Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil still a ways away from his season debut, Carlos Carrasco has already been DFA'd after six ineffective starts (5.91 ERA), and Will Warren (4.75 ERA in 36 innings) and Clarke Schmidt (4.79 ERA in 20.2 innings) haven't pitched in a way the club would have hoped.

The Yanks did get a big boost on Sunday with Ryan Yarbrough going five innings and allowing two runs, working as an opener pressed into a spot starter role as he was efficient, needing just 67 pitches to get 15 outs.

That has temporarily cooled the fire, but getting Stroman back and hoping the 34-year-old, when healthy, can match last year's form (4.31 ERA and 1.468 WHIP) would be a huge boost to the rotation.

In addition to the big question of "if" he will be able to match that level of performance, the matter of "when" is equally unanswerable.

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IceHogs Eliminated By Admirals In Devastating Fashion

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The Rockford IceHogs were looking great in the Calder Cup Playoffs. When they took a 2-0 series lead over the Milwaukee Admirals in their second-round matchup, they did it with their fourth win in a row.

That gave them three chances to close out the series. After losing the next two, the two teams competed in a winner-take-all game five on Sunday in Milwaukee. 

Game five started negatively for Rockford. Chase De Leo scored his first of the playoffs for Milwaukee to put them up 1-0. 

However, the IceHogs showed some life in the first ten minutes of the second period. Zach Sanford scored two goals in under three minutes to give Rockford a 2-1 lead. 

Before the middle frame ended, the Admirals took the lead back. Back-to-back goals by Fedor Svechkov and Jesse Ylonen made it a 3-2 score. 

At 11:09 of the third period, Joey Anderson tucked in his fifth of the playoffs to tie the game for the IceHogs. At that point, it was clear that both teams wanted to move on badly. It would be an understatement to say that they were evenly matched, despite where they finished in the regular season standings. 

60 minutes wasn't enough to settle this game or series. Just 1:38 into the fourth period, Fedor Svechkov scored his second to win the game and the series for Milwaukee. It was a hard-fought matchup between two great teams. It was only fitting that it came down to one sudden-death goal.

Now, the Admirals will move on to the Central Division Championship of the Calder Cup Playoffs. They will see the Texas Stars in that series. 

As for Rockford, there will be some changes. The Chicago Blackhawks may have a handful of their players in their opening night lineup next year.

Guys like Artyom Levshunov, Ethan Del Mastro, and Nolan Allan, amongst others, are all going to compete for jobs at training camp. There are also players on the IceHogs roster who may be looking to make their NHL debut in the fall. 

Reinforcements could be on the way as well. The Blackhawks will likely have some of the younger guys, like Taige Harding and Marek Vanacker, play in Rockford to begin their careers.

Goaltender Drew Commesso deserves some individual praise. He gave the IceHogs a chance to win every night. The Blackhawks' backup situation in 2025-26 is cloudy, but he will be in the mix.  

Only time will tell if Rockford has what it needs to make a run again next season. It can be difficult in the AHL with all of the NHL transactions that affect their on-ice list of players.

Every player, including veterans like Joey Anderson and Brett Seney, should be proud of the year that they had. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay updated on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Yankees trying not to take Aaron Judge’s greatness for granted

Playing for a team and a city where the first grand ballpark was built on the back of a man who ended up being more myth than man, where the great ghosts of the past physically loitered beyond the centerfield wall, the belief that if anybody could measure up to what it meant to be the next Yankee great, Aaron Judge looked the part.

The home runs came right away and in bunches for the six-foot-seven, hulking outfielder, showing he was a true slugger. In the last few years, since turning 30, a high on-base percentage arrived, demonstrating he could be a great, disciplined batter.

This year, with a batting average above .400 after a quarter of the season, Judge showed that he had the final piece of the puzzle, that he was truly a great hitter.

After striking out his first time up on Sunday, Judge had four hits in his next four at-bats in the Yanks' 12-2 win over the Athletics, driving in two runs in the process. Smoking three balls harder than 99.8 mph, increasing his 57.1 hard-hit percentage he had entering the game.

Ben Rice, who notched his first career grand slam in the game, could only shake his head about the right fielder.

“Just another day at the office for him,” Rice said. “It’s crazy you sometimes catch yourself taking it for granted what he’s doing. It’s been so impressive to watch, so fun to watch him hit every day and go out there and help us win.”

For Judge, the series against the Athletics helped right the ship after three games against the Padres in The Bronx saw him collect just one hit (a solo home run) in 10 at-bats with two walks, three strikeouts, and one double play. In West Sacramento, he tallied seven hits in 14 at-bats, including two doubles, two home runs, and five RBI to give him the third-highest batting average for a Yank through 40 games, trailing Paul O'Neill in 1994 (.465) and Mickey Mantle in 1956 (.430).

Even after the San Diego swoon, his slash line ballooned to .409/.494/.779 for a 1.273 OPS by Sunday. Not only is he first in all of baseball in each of those four categories, but he's blowing away the competition.

Judge is first in batting average by 60 points (Paul Goldschmidt at .349 is next closest), in OBP by 60 (Pete Alonso at .434), slugging by 138 (Shohei Ohtani at .641), and OPS by 222 (Ohtani at 1.051).

And for good measure, he’s put himself in position for a shot at history. He's in the conversation to be the 11th player to win the American League triple crown and first since Miguel Cabrera in 2012. And by leading the AL with 63 hits (ahead of Jacob Wilson by nine) and home runs (ahead of Cal Raleigh by two), he could be the first player to lead the league in both categories since Jim Rice in 1978.

And yet, both manager Aaron Boone and Judge agree he is still not as locked in as he would like to be.

“Still not where we want to be,” Judge said after Sunday's game. “But we’re improving. I think that’s the beauty of this game: there’s always room for improvement. There’s always areas of your game that you can try to get a little bit better at. That’s just a constant chase in the game that we play.”

Always room for improvement. Always another mountain to climb. Always another chance to be 'the first player since...'

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On This Day In Penguins Playoff History: May 11

Brooks Orpik - Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will reflect on how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, May 11, Pittsburgh has compiled a 6-3 record in nine games on this date.

  • 1991 - Game 6 Win vs. Boston Bruins (5-3)
  • 1992 - Game 5 Win vs. New York Rangers (3-2)
  • 1996 - Game 5 Win vs. New York Rangers (7-3)
  • 1999 - Game 3 Win vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (4-3)
  • 2008 - Game 2 Win vs. Philadelphia Flyers (4-2)
  • 2009 - Game 6 Loss vs. Washington Capitals (5-4 OT)
  • 2013 - Game 6 Win vs. New York Islanders (4-3 OT)
  • 2014 - Game 6 Loss vs. New York Rangers (3-1)
  • 2022 - Game 5 Loss vs. New York Rangers (5-3)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

May 11, 1991 - The Penguins advance to their first Stanley Cup Final with a Game 6 win over the Bruins, thanks in part to Larry Murphy's four points (goal, three assists) along with three point nights from Mario Lemieux (goal, two assists) and Mark Recchi (goal, two assists).

At the time, it was Murphy's first four-point playoff game, and Lemieux's sixth career three-point playoff game.

May 11, 1996 - Lemieux records his third and final career playoff hat trick. Meanwhile, Jaromir Jagr records his only postseason in the same game, the only time these two legends combined for six goals in one contest with the Penguins.

May 11, 1999 - Ten seasons after his first career three-point playoff game, Rob Brown picks up three assists in a 4-3 win over the Maple Leafs. Moreover, Jagr has a goal and two helpers for three points. 

Former Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamFormer Penguin Marc-Andre Fleury Named To NHL Quarter-Century TeamTwo days after Pittsburgh Penguins' forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were named to the NHL Quarter-Century Team, another longtime former teammate will be joining them.

May 11, 2008 - Sergei Gonchar compiled his first three-point playoff game with the Penguins, registering three assists in a 4-2 win against the Flyers.

May 11, 2009 - Evgeni Malkin records three assists in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Capitals. At the time, it was his seventh three-point playoff game. As of 2025, he's up to 16. 

May 11, 2013 - Brooks Oprik is the overtime hero, eliminating the Islanders in Game 6 with his first career overtime goal. 

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Mets Minor League Notes: Ronny Mauricio talks rehab, Ryan Clifford launches long homer

On the field in Queens, the Mets scored a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs, but that wasn't the only bit of action on Sunday.

Paul Blackburn makes second rehab start at Triple-A

The Mets hope that the injury bug has stopped biting Blackburn as the right-hander pitched for the second time with the Syracuse Mets as he continues to work his way back from knee inflammation that flared up at the end of spring training and kept him off the Opening Day roster.

The 31-year-old got the start Sunday against the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and had issues with his command while allowing three runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in three innings. Blackburn threw 60 pitches (31 strikes).

He used his sinker on half of his offerings and got five whiffs (12 swings) and six called strikes. The curveball and slider accounted for nine balls on 10 pitches.

Blackburn's average velocity was up for his sinker (0.8 mph to 92) from his previous start at Jacksonville on Tuesday. He had better success on that occasion, allowing one run on three hits and a walk in 3.2 innings with five strikeouts, throwing 35 of 54 pitches for strikes.

His rehab assignment began with two outings at High-A Brooklyn, where he allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over 5.0 innings with seven strikeouts and two home runs.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday that the goal is for Blackburn to reach 70-75 pitches (which would be after one to two more starts after Sunday), before the Mets make a decision.

Ryan Clifford goes yard

Leading off the bottom of the ninth inning on Sunday, Clifford got a 2-1 breaking pitch that hung around the middle of the plate and did not miss it, launching it deep over the right-center wall for a 400+ foot dinger.

It was his third home run of the series against the Reading Fightin Phils and sixth in his first 30 games with Double-A Binghamton. And after an RBI single earlier in the game, he now has 19 batted in on the year. He is heating up, going 9-for-19 with nine RBI and five runs scored in his last five games.

The 21-year-old, who entered the season as the Mets' No. 4 prospect per Joe DeMayo, is now batting .248 (25-for-101) with a .820 OPS.

Ronny Mauricio talks knee, getting back to MLB

It has been 19 months since Mauricio last played a big league game, after suffering a torn ACL while playing winter ball in December 2023. Speaking to Matt Levine of the Binghampton Rumble Ponies, the infielder said his knee feels "really good" as he continues to build back toward rejoining the Mets.

"He's working so hard, being in that situation that he's in right now, that the knee feels really well," Mariano Duncan, Binghamton's bench coach, said, who was serving as Mauricio's interpreter for the interview.

The 24-year-old has played just seven games in his rehab stint so far, but is "very excited" to have moved up the ranks to Double-A and continue progressing.

"The process has been a lot of ups and downs," Mauricio said, via Duncan. "There's a lot of setbacks since the injury. In the beginning, after the first surgery, the knee felt swollen, and they had to go to the second surgery."

But he's "so happy" to have worked hard and made it back to the field. And during the time out rehabbing, Mauricio "dedicated more time to his body," and he learned a lot about how to take care of it.

"Really tough, but so glad that everything is over," he said.

As far as some of the other young Mets – Mark Vientos, Brett Baty, Francisco Alvarez – Maurico said he's "very happy to see them perform at the Major League level" and that is making him "push a little bit harder to try and go back an stay healthy" and join them in the big leauges.

In two games at Double-A so far, Mauricio has one hit (a double) in six at-bats with an RBI and a strikeout.

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PWHL Ottawa-Montreal Game 2 goes to 4 OTs, breaks league record for longest game

A playoff game between the Montreal Victoire and Ottawa Charge set a record for the longest game in Professional Women’s Hockey League history on Sunday night, spanning over 135 minutes and four overtime periods.

The puck dropped at 2:08 p.m. ET, and the game went on for more than five hours, finally coming to an end at 7:42 with Montreal winning 3-2.

Catherine Dubois scored the game-winning goal with just under five minutes remaining in the fourth overtime period to give Montreal its first playoff win in franchise history.

“I’m just happy we got a win and it’s over now,” Dubois said.

It was the second consecutive year – on the exact same day – that Montreal’s second game of the postseason turned into a hockey marathon. Last season, Boston beat Montreal 2-1 in triple overtime with Taylor Wenczkowski’s game-winner at 111:44.

Sunday night’s game was more than 20 minutes longer than last year’s record (135:33) and longer than two regulation hockey games combined.

At one point during the game, Ottawa had packets of mustard and pickle juice on the bench, according to rinkside reporter Kelly Greig.

“At some point, you just laugh,” said Ottawa forward Emily Clark. “The mustard was coming out, the pickle juice … It honestly went down easier than I thought it was going to.” 

For most of regulation it looked like Montreal might cruise to victory, holding a 2-0 lead in the third period. But Ottawa charged back with two goals in the final five minutes, including Brianne Jenner’s game-tying goal with only 42 seconds left to force overtime.

“There’s so much to be proud of,” said Ottawa defender Jocelyne Larocque, who led the team with 56 minutes of ice time. “We never gave up. We tied it up late in the game. We gave an amazing effort.”

Both teams had quality chances to end the game in the first overtime period, including five-on-three power plays on both sides, but failed to capitalize. Montreal forward Alexandra Labelle also appeared to win the game just minutes into the fourth overtime period, but the puck rang off the post behind Ottawa netminder Gwyneth Philips.

Finally, Dubois ended it on the 121st shot of the game. It was her first career playoff goal and builds off a strong regular season for Dubois, who finished tied for third in goals on the Victoire behind only captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey.

Montreal goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens set a record with 63 saves on 65 shots. Philips made 53 saves for the Charge, good for a franchise record.

Montreal defender Erin Ambrose logged a game-high 58:09 in ice time, less than her all-time high 61:33 in last year’s Game 2 thriller. Stacey led all forwards with 46:47; her 12 shots on goal is a PWHL single-game record.

It was the second-longest game in Montreal’s rich professional hockey history, just shy of Game 1 of the 1936 semifinals between the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Maroons (176:30). It was also the second consecutive year that Montreal’s second game of the postseason turned into a hockey marathon. Last season, Boston beat Montreal 2-1 in triple overtime en route to a 3-0 series win.

With the win Sunday, the Victoire have tied the best-of-five semifinal series and took a key step toward avenging last year’s opening-round sweep against Boston.

“I think that the group showed the grit that was needed to win a playoff game,” said Montreal coach Kori Cheverie. “I’d like to think that the momentum is in our corner, but we’ll have to wait and see and be able to put another game together for 60-plus minutes.”

In the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Minnesota Frost beat the Toronto Sceptres 7-5 in the highest-scoring game in league history. Minnesota, the reigning champion, now has a 2-1 series lead.

The PWHL playoffs continue Tuesday.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

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Veterans First: NHL Insiders Pick Players Who Deserve Cup First From Each Contender

Who gets the Cup first? NHL insiders pick likely Stanley Cup handoff heroes for each contender.

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The moment every kid dreams of is the one where they hoist the Stanley Cup. Some of the most memorable moments from Stanley Cup wins is when the team captain makes the first handoff to a player who worked long and hard to finally lift up the greatest trophy in sports. 

Who could forget when Ray Bourque finally won his first Stanley Cup in year 22 of his legendary career? Or when Scott Niedermayer passed the Cup to his brother Rob in 2007? 

These iconic moments endure through time, creating unforgettable memories as fans witness the players who’ve represented them for generations finally achieve the ultimate glory in the sport.

With that in mind we look at all the eight current Stanley Cup Contenders and spoke with team insiders as to which player would most likely get the first handoff. 

All betting lines are from Bet365 and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

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Winnipeg Jets - Mark Schefiele (+10000)

We spoke to both of The Hockey News' Winnipeg Jets insiders in Carter Brooks and Julian Gaudio with the two coming to the consensus that captain Adam Lowry’s first handoff would go to Mark Scheifele, the first-ever draft pick of this era of the Jets franchise.

The 32-year-old Kitchener native has been with the team for 14 seasons and has totaled 804 points through 879 career games. Scheifele is the longest active tenured Jet and makes the most sense for the honor of getting the Cup first. 

Dallas Stars - Tyler Seguin (+800)

Mikko Rantanen is putting together a solid resume for the Conn Smythe trophy if the Stars were to win the cup but would that mean he gets the Cup first? Team insider Taylor Newby believes it would be longtime Star Tyler Seguin being the first handoff. 

After spending the first three years of his career in Boston, Seguin has solidified himself as a Dallas Stars legend with 688 points through 786 games over 12 seasons with the team.

He and captain Jamie Benn have been known to have a very close relationship and they are the team's two longest tenured players and would make the most sense for them to celebrate the moment together.

Edmonton Oilers - Adam Henrique (+10000)

The Devils run to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012 was headlined by several big goals by a young Henrique, who put his name on the map. Unfortunately the Devils fell just short but the now 35-year-old centre is still on the hunt for his first cup and could get a chance with the red hot Oilers. 

People expect McDavid to pass it to his star teammate in Draisaitl but history shows the veterans get it first. When Sidney Crosby won all three of his Stanley Cups, none of his first handoffs were to superstar teammate Evgeni Malkin. 

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Vegas Golden Knights - Tomas Hertl (+3000)

The 31-year-old forward came close to lifting lord Stanley when reaching the Finals in 2016 with the San Jose Sharks. Gaudio also covers the Golden Knights and spoke to Hertl's character of being a positive guy and that the team would be more than happy to give him to Cup first. 

Toronto Maple Leafs - John Tavares (+750)

The hometown hero has been a difference maker to Toronto’s success this season, racking up 74 points—including 38 goals, matching the second-highest total of his career. After being the Leafs captain over the last five seasons, Tavares stepped down to allow superstar Auston Matthews to take over as the leader and face of the franchise they drafted him to be. 

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Johnny Toronto getting the Cup first makes as he is the third-oldest player on the team but an honorable mention is veteran Max Pacioretty, who is the oldest on the team at 36 years old. 

Florida Panthers - Nate Schmidt (+1500)

The runaway favourite for the defending Stanley Cup Champions is newcomer Nate Schmidt, who has come close before when reaching the Finals in 2018 with the Vegas Golden Knights.

At age 33, Schmidt has played nearly 750 games and has accrued a dominant +106 rating, which is 48th-best in the NHL since joining the league back in the 2013-14 season. 

Carolina Hurricanes - Brent Burns (+490)

Hurricanes insider Ryan Henkel agrees with sportsbooks that have Burns as the overall favourite to be the first handoff for the cup.

The sure-fire Hall-of-Fame defenceman has never won before despite ranking ninth all-time in goals and 12th in points. He currently holds the fourth longest iron man streak in the NHL and is three games short of 1,500 games played. 

Washington Capitals - Nic Dowd (+10000)

Washington's pick is easy as the 34-year-old winger joined the Caps shortly after they won the Stanley Cup in 2018 and has become such an integral part of the team that many may not know, he hasn't won yet. 

Team captain Alex Ovechkin will surely spot that their second-oldest player on the roster after himself hasn't won yet and deserves the respect of getting the first handoff. 

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Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 4

Jordan Staal (© James Guillory-Imagn Images)

After a 3-1 loss to the Washington Capitals in Game 2, the Carolina Hurricanes bounced back in a big way in Game 3. The Hurricanes put together a strong effort in Game 3, defeating the Capitals by a 4-0 final score.

Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen was undoubtedly a significant reason for the victory, as he recorded a 21-save shutout. Hurricanes forward Jack Roslovic also stepped up for the Metropolitan Division club, scoring a goal and adding an assist. Jackson Blake, Eric Robinson, and Andrei Svechnikov all scored for the Hurricanes as well.

With their strong team effort, the Hurricanes now sport a 2-1 series lead over the Capitals. With this, they now have a major opportunity in front of them heading into Game 4. If the Hurricanes can win at home again, they will take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Capitals. This would be massive for the Hurricanes, as it is always incredibly challenging for teams to overcome 3-1 deficits. 

A loss to the Capitals, on the other hand, would certainly be a tough blow for the Hurricanes. If the Hurricanes are defeated in Game 4, the series will be tied back up at 2-2, and the Capitals would regain their home-ice advantage. Thus, this matchup carries great weight for both teams.

Nevertheless, it will be very interesting to see if the Hurricanes can stay hot and pick up a win in Game 4 from here.

Recent Hurricanes News 

Hurricanes Provide Positive Update On Injured PlayersHurricanes Provide Positive Update On Injured PlayersCarolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour delivered some positive news on the injury front Sunday afternoon. 'That Was Textbook Hurricanes Hockey': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Frederik Andersen On Game 3 Win'That Was Textbook Hurricanes Hockey': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov, Eric Robinson, Jack Roslovic, Frederik Andersen On Game 3 WinThe Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Washington Capitals 4-0 in Game 3 at Lenovo Center Saturday night to take a 2-1 series. Carolina Hurricanes Defend Home Ice, Shutout Capitals In Game 3Carolina Hurricanes Defend Home Ice, Shutout Capitals In Game 3The Carolina Hurricanes defended home ice in Game 3, smashing the Washington Capitals 4-0 at Lenovo Center Saturday night.