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Jalen Brunson, Knicks' franchise-changing signing, grabs season-altering moment

DETROIT – This was a few minutes after Jalen Brunson hit his series-ending three-pointer on Thursday night. He’d finished his on-court network interview and was making his way to the visiting locker room.

Brunson stopped at the scorer’s table to shake hands with Clyde Frazier and Mike Breen. He shared a handshake and hug with Karl Towns Sr.

As Brunson stepped off the court, he ran into team president Leon Rose.

Rose put his arm tightly around Brunson while they walked toward a back hallway at Little Caesars Arena.

For the second straight spring, Brunson had willed the Knicks to a victory in an intense first-round series.

For the second straight spring, he ended that series with an embrace from Rose.

“He’s at his best when his best is needed,” Tom Thibodeau said late Thursday. “He’s done it all year. That’s what makes him special.”

What happened on Thursday was the latest in a growing list of unforgettable moments for Brunson.

He shook an all-world defender off of him and pulled up for a three with 5.4 seconds to play. If the shot was off, the Knicks may have been headed back to New York for a high-stakes Game 7 against a tough Pistons team.

A loss in that game would probably lead to major changes. But Brunson didn’t miss. His shot went through the net, shocking the crowd at Little Caesars Arena and sending the Knicks to the second round.

“He’s the Clutch Player of the Year in the NBA for a reason,” Karl-Anthony Towns said afterward.

May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots on Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) in the second half during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) shoots on Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson (9) in the second half during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. / Rick Osentoski - Imagn Images

It was yet another storybook Knicks moment for the Roses and the Brunsons.

Three years ago, Rose put his team presidency on the line when he cleared cap space to sign Brunson to a $104 million deal.

The ties between Rose and Brunson were deep. One of Rose’s first clients during his run as a powerhouse agent at CAA was Rick Brunson – Jalen’s dad. Rose has known Jalen for his entire life. Rose’s son, Sam Rose, is Jalen Brunson’s agent. Rick Brunson is a lead assistant on Thibodeau’s coaching staff. The Roses and Brunsons are practically family.

Because of those close connections, the Brunson signing was a make-or-break move for Rose. The Knicks were coming off a disappointing season.

If Brunson didn’t pay immediate dividends, it might have been CAA-ya later for Rose & Co.

Obviously, it hasn’t played out that way

Brunson, Rose, and Thibodeau have helped build the Knicks into a playoff contender.

They’ve also raised expectations in New York. Merely making the postseason is no longer acceptable. That’s why a loss to Detroit would have been a disaster.

Brunson helped them avoid that fate with several clutch plays in the series. The last one came late Thursday night, when he shook Ausar Thompson and knocked down a three to bury the Pistons. The shot put the Knicks in the second round for the third straight season. And it gave the Brunsons, the Roses – and Knicks fans everywhere – another unforgettable moment.

May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates his three point basket in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena.
May 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates his three point basket in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Pistons during game six of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. / Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

BATTLES ON AND OFF THE COURT

After watching this series, I think fans on both sides would sign up for another Knicks-Pistons matchup next spring. This series had tough shot-making, physical play, and late-game heroics. Both teams seemed to relish the physicality. There were skirmishes in all six games and there was gamesmanship off the court.

Pistons assistant coaches and Knicks assistant coaches didn’t speak to one another for most of the series. For a first-round series, it was high-stakes and intense. The Knicks entered the series with a "soft" label that had stuck to them for stretches of the regular season. They seemed to shed that label at Little Caesars Arena.

They won all three road games in a series for the first time in franchise history.

“We're a tough group,” Josh Hart said afterward. “Everyone likes to paint us as not, but we’re a tough, physical group. This was a physical series. It was a grueling series. And I think we showed our physicality, our toughness, but also our mental toughness…. During those adverse situations, we banded together.”

THIRD QUARTER ADJUSTMENT

After blowing halftime leads in multiple games against Detroit, the Knicks decided to try something new on Thursday. They got into layup lines during halftime warmups. The move was spearheaded by Mikal Bridges.

“I guess today, he (was) trying to get the game over. He (was) trying to go ahead and close the series out,” Cam Payne said of Bridges. “Before we walked out (of the locker room), he was like, 'I need everybody out there doing these layups.' But I respect it, I respect it. It got us going. We came out in the third and played well. It was big time, everybody listened to him.”

The Knicks built a 13-point lead with four minutes to play in the third quarter. Maybe we’ll see layup lines before the third quarter in Boston on Monday. Speaking of the Celtics, Bridges and OG Anunoby seem to be trending in the right direction as they enter the second round.

Both players were key in the Knicks’ series win over Detroit. Anunoby and Bridges took turns defending Cade Cunningham. Anunoby had 22 points on 6-for-14 shooting in Game 6. Bridges had 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including a dunk in transition over Cunningham and a key put-back off of a Brunson miss to tie the game with 36 seconds remaining.

“It was big-time. It just shows how much he wants to win the game,” Payne said of Bridges, his former Suns teammate. “I know the fourth win is the hardest win, and you gotta do things you don’t normally do. Big-time dunk from him, big-time putback left hand.

“He don’t even crash (the boards),” Payne added, jokingly. “But when the game (was) on the line, the series on the line, you gotta play your hardest, and he came out and made big plays for us.”

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Hernández: Clippers' James Harden showed up in Game 6. Can he do it again for Game 7 in Denver?

Clippers guard James Harden, right, celebrates with forward Nicolas Batum after his three-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Clippers guard James Harden, right, celebrates with forward Nicolas Batum after his three-pointer in the fourth quarter of Game 6. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Something unexpected happened in the Clippers’ elimination game on Thursday night.

James Harden actually showed up.

In the Clippers’ 111-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets at Intuit Dome, Harden looked nothing like the player with a reputation for stinking up arenas at this stage of the season.

He was purposeful, he was sharp, and he scored 28 points in Game 6 to extend his team’s first-round playoff series to seven games.

“I know what needs to be done,” said Harden, who won his first elimination game since he played for the Houston Rockets in the NBA bubble in 2020.

Read more:James Harden and Kawhi Leonard power Clippers past Nuggets to force Game 7

Game 7 will be played on Saturday at Ball Arena in Denver.

The performance by Harden was a stark-contrast from his vanishing acts in the Clippers’ losses in Games 4 and 5.

He scored 15 points in Game 4 and just 11 in Game 5.

The Nuggets had the Joker. The Clippers had the Choker.

This looked like more of the same from Harden, who scored a combined 23 points and shot just 25% last year in Games 5 and 6 defeats by the Dallas Mavericks that resulted in the Clippers’ first-round exit.

However, coach Tyronn Lue said he was to blame for Harden’s lack of production, saying he was responsible for creating more space for Harden.

“I need to get you more involved,” Harden recalled being told by Lue on the team’s flight home after a Game 5 loss in Denver.

Lue’s solution: To designate more minutes to a smaller lineup that included Nicolas Batum. The Clippers started the second quarter with Harden, Batum, Kawhi Leonard, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Derrick Jones Jr.

“I wanted to get to the small lineup against their second unit,” Lue said. “I thought we were able to push the pace, get open shots, get to the paint, kind of spread ‘em out a little bit so they couldn’t just load up and try to take away driving lanes.

“Going to that and seeing how good it was just to kind of space the floor was really huge for us.”

Harden thrived in that second quarter, scoring 17 points.

“I thought he did a good job attacking one-on-one,” Lue said. “Our spacing was really good tonight. He was able to get to the paint, get to the basket.”

With the Nuggets mindful of Harden, openings were created for others. Norman Powell scored 11 points in the third quarter, during which they were ahead by as many as 15 points. Leonard scored nine of his 27 points in the same period.

Harden finished with a team-high eight assists.

“He’s been here before,” Leonard said of Harden. “Guys have games where they don’t play well during the season. It’s just another game, so I knew he was gonna be able to come back, or he was going to be aggressive and try to get to his spots.”

The Clippers now have a chance.

They have a chance to take down the Nuggets and advance. They have a chance to advance further than any team in franchise history.

That chance, however, is contingent on Harden continuing to play like this and not reverting to his customary postseason form.

Can his body hold up?

Harden played 47 minutes in Game 6, marking the third time in this series he played more than 40 minutes.

He is 35 years old.

“Tired,” Harden said. “Tired, a little bit.”

Does Harden have another 47 or 48 minutes in Denver?

“Have to, have to,” Harden said. “Whatever the team needs, 47, 48, overtime, whatever, I’ll be willing to do it.”

Lue didn’t think fatigue would be a problem for Harden.

Read more:Clippers search for answers against Nuggets in critical Game 6

“He wants to play every night,” Lue said. “He’s in great shape, trains for these moments. He wants to play.”

Harden averaged more than 35 minutes over 79 regular-season games, and he thinks the workload will prepare him for a Game 7 that will be played 5,280 feet above sea level.

“Prepares your body physically to be able to withstand and just being able to play both ends of the ball,” Harden said. “Your legs are tired, so you’ve been there before. For me, it’s just finding my spots.”

The simple objective could produce monumental changes in reputation — not only for Harden personally but for the Clippers as well.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets' foundation for pitching success a process five years in the making — with many to thank

In examining the Mets’ rather startling pitching success under David Stearns, it’s instructive to go back some five years to a time when the team's baseball operations department was still in the dark ages analytically and owner Steve Cohen was just beginning to put his imprint on the organization. 

Zack Scott had been hired as assistant GM in December of 2020, shortly after Cohen had officially taken over as new owner, and was then promoted to acting GM in January of 2021 when Jared Porter was fired. 

Coming from the cutting-edge Boston Red Sox front office, Scott found an organization lacking in technology yet functioning well on the pitching side, thanks to some knowledgeable analysts and a "very impressive" pitching coach in Jeremy Hefner, then going into his second year in that position.

"They were really behind analytically," Scott recalled during a recent phone conversation. "It didn’t feel great, coming from Boston where they had so many analytical tools, and yet the Mets were in a decent place with pitching, mostly because of their communication process.

"They didn’t have (analytical) tools but they were getting good buy-in to what they were doing because of Jeremy. He has the rare combination of understanding the complexity on the data side, the ability to interact with analysts and speak their language, but also the ability to speak the players’ language. He could impart the information without shoving it down their throats and also has the even-keeled personality to deal with pushback and coach the human side of major league pitchers."

With that key piece of the puzzle in place, Scott went about upgrading the analytical side, with Cohen’s financial and emotional support. He hired Ben Zauzmer out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' high-tech front office to lead the baseball ops department into the modern age. 

"There was a lot to be done," Scott says. "They didn’t even have what was then a very popular tool, an analytical pitch-ranking system that takes all the tracking metrics and gives you a way to grade your pitchers’ stuff and command. We had to develop that. 

"We doubled the size of the analytics department in one year. Steve was very analytically-minded and it was clear what he wanted. We went from 13 to 26 people, including analysts, software developers, and data engineers. 

"One of the unique benefits we had then was being able to utilize the resources from Steve’s Point 72 (hedge fund) company. His head of data at Point 72 became the Mets’ head of data for a while. But it was going to take time. You just don’t snap your fingers and have the necessary advanced tools and the ability to implement them. 

"But the building blocks were in place, with Jeremy at the center of their communication. So it doesn’t surprise me that once they were getting caught up with the rest of the league, in terms of tools, that they could take a big step forward and have the kind of pitching success they’re having now."

Steve Cohen and David Stearns
Steve Cohen and David Stearns / SNY

Still, a lot has changed during that time. Scott was let go over a DWI arrest, though he was later acquitted in court of all charges, Billy Eppler was hired and operated as GM for two years, and then Cohen hired Stearns, the man he’d quietly sought for years, as president of baseball operations after waiting for him to be free of his contractual obligations with the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Scott is quick to give credit to Stearns for the Mets’ success last season and now in 2025, which is being driven primarily by excellent pitching that has outperformed expectations -- at least outside the organization -- despite the lack of name-brand starters. 

"The easy thing to do is go sign guys like Corbin Burnes and Max Fried as free agents," Scott said. "It takes some stones to say, no, this is the best way to do it. Being a bold decision-maker means doing things that aren’t popular. David has the ability to do what he thinks is best for the organization. But to do that you really have to believe in your process, and I think that’s where the Mets are now."

With that in mind, Scott and other baseball people I spoke to, including one currently in the Mets’ organization, all essentially make that larger point: that is, while it’s proper for Stearns to be praised publicly as the top decision-maker for the signings of the likes of Griffin Canning, Clay Holmes, and Sean Manaea, the spectacular results the Mets are getting are part of an organizational success story, one built on its advances in so many areas. 

"The guy in the big chair always gets too much credit and too much blame," was the way an executive from another MLB team put it. "It’s no secret around the league that the Mets have come a long way in a short time with some of their methodology, with competent people in key places. So Stearns should get credit but their process is the engine for what’s happening there."

For simplistic purposes, based on observations of various baseball people, the focus here is on two components to that engine: 

1) Hefner

2) The ballyhooed Pitching Lab. 

Let’s go back to Hefner momentarily. It’s not just Scott who sings his praises. Former Mets star pitcher Al Leiter was involved in the hiring of Hefner in December of 2019, when he was working as an advisor under then-GM Brodie Van Wagenen, and he too thinks the Mets’ pitching coach is a huge factor in the staff’s success. 

Apr 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner walks to the dugout during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum.
Apr 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; New York Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner walks to the dugout during the eighth inning against the Oakland Athletics at RingCentral Coliseum. / Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

"It was an easy hire," Leiter said recently by phone. "Hef is very knowledgeable, very much in tune with the analytics, but the key is being able to take that to your pitchers and have their trust. 

"He has street cred as a former major leaguer, which to me is very important. A lot of the pitching coaches now are information guys who didn’t pitch in the big leagues, which is fine, but if you want your pitchers to really trust you in tough times, especially when you’re trying to make changes, it helps that you’ve done it at the highest level and understand how hard it is. To me, Jeremy is a snapshot of the ideal pitching coach."

As for the Pitching Lab, the mere mention of it draws chuckles from baseball people around the league.

"You guys have turned that pitching lab into a place where miracles happen," a rival exec said with a laugh, speaking generally of the New York media. "I give the Mets all the credit in the world for the success they’re having, but let’s not make that into some mystical place. 

"By now just about everybody has something like that in place, with all the necessary technology, so I don't think they're doing things that others are not. I just think they're people making good decisions to get the most out of what the information and technology provides." 

Leiter, now an analyst for MLB Network, concurs. And partly because he has a son, Jack, pitching in the big leagues for the Texas Rangers, he’s very informed on what teams do in those labs. 

"It’s technology that takes in all the data on every pitch and deciphers the good and the bad," Leiter said. "With video and high-speed cameras and pitch-tracking monitors and biomechanical cameras, it breaks down every little thing in how you deliver the ball, how it comes off your fingers, and why it works or doesn’t work. 

"They have pitch designers now who look at the information and come up with ways to pair pitches effectively, how often you should be throwing your slider, which pitches best complement your fastball. All that stuff. 

"You can sit and look at it for hours but it still goes back to whether you can implement it: 'What are the skills and drills that I have to do to make it work for me?' To me that’s the special sauce."

New York Mets starter Brandon Sproat (91) pitches against the Houston Astros at Clover Park.
New York Mets starter Brandon Sproat (91) pitches against the Houston Astros at Clover Park. / Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Scott adds that a big benefit of the lab is in the way the technology provides information beyond what even the best pitching coach can see for himself. 

"If you’re looking to change a pitcher’s effective spin rate," said Scott, "or the spin axis, that’s not something that can be seen by the naked eye.

"But it always comes back to feel: how did that feel to the pitcher? It has to feel right to him. That’s the relationship part of it, which, again is why Jeremy is such an important part of the process.”

Whatever the ingredients that go into the Mets’ pitching success, everyone I spoke to made the point that common sense says the starting rotation, in particular, likely can’t continue to pitch at this high of a level, leading the majors with an ERA of 2.24 going into Friday's action. 

"You have to pump the brakes a little," said Leiter. "I wouldn’t say it’s fluky but individually they’re mostly pitching way above the back of their baseball cards.

"Although I will say that if you’re limiting your starters to five and six innings, which they’ve done a lot, you’re going to put up better numbers. I remember all the times I told Bobby Valentine, 'I’m good, I’m good' and then went out and gave up a two-run home run in the seventh or eighth inning, so, yeah, that matters. But then you have to ask if the bullpen can handle that type of workload over an entire season."

Scott, meanwhile, said he believes the Mets’ success is largely for real, but admitted, "If you’re sitting in their front office, you kind of know there is bound to be some regression to the mean."

To that point, one MLB scout said, "As good as they’ve been, I believe the Mets are going to need more pitching. They could have help coming from a couple of big arms in their farm system. If not I’m sure they’ll be looking to add at the trade deadline."

How that plays out remains to be seen. But what seems clear by now, in Year 2 of this Stearns-led regime, is that by upgrading the inner workings of the organization so dramatically during the Cohen era, the Mets have a foundation for pitching success that is paying off now and should for years to come.

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Report: The Ducks Ongoing Search for Next Head Coach

Apr 13, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks players acknowledge the fans after a game against the Colorado Avalanche at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Anaheim Ducks parted ways with head coach Greg Cronin on April 19, following his second season behind the Ducks’ bench.

“It’s much like the way I took the approach last time,” Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek said when asked about the upcoming hiring process during his media availability following Cronin’s firing. “The net’s going to be cast wide. I’m not going to really eliminate any options as far as my approach to the next coach.”

Eight teams are in need of a new head coach behind their respective benches heading into the 2025-26 season, and a laundry list of available candidates with a wide range of experience are on the market.

“Am I looking for some sort of specific coach? No,” Verbeek said. “I’m going to go through the interview process and I will probe and poke and ask questions (about) certain things that I think our group needs and see how it all shakes down.

“I’m open to any type of coach at this point. I’m not shutting anything down. Now, timeline. We’re going to start the search and start to make a list immediately. I really don’t have a timeline on it. I’m going to look to hire the best candidate for this team and what it needs moving forward.”

Ducks Move On From Greg Cronin

Speculation: When to Expect an Anaheim Ducks Coaching Hire

How the Ducks Head Coaching Job Compares to Other Vacancies around the NHL

4-26-25

Just one week later, on April 26, the first sizable news around general manager Pat Verbeek’s coaching search surfaced.

ESPN’s John Buccigross sent a cryptic post on social media of side-by-side images of controversial (to say the least) three-time Stanley Cup-winning head coach Joel Quenneville and a family of Ducks.

Nearly four hours after Buccigross’ post, James Murphy of RG Media reported that a “well-connected NHL source” told him the Ducks offered Quenneville their open head coaching job, a very surprising potential development considering Verbeek’s statements alluding to casting a wide net and being open to any coach.

“The job is his if he wants it, and I’d be stunned if he doesn’t take it,” Murphy’s source relayed to him. “I’d say it’s 99.999999 percent he becomes the next head coach in Anaheim.”

Oct 27, 2021; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers head coach Joel Quenneville watches from behind the bench during the first period between the Florida Panthers and the Boston Bruins at FLA Live Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

The Ducks later confirmed that Murphy’s report was false and that interviews will continue.

Roughly an hour and a half later, PHWA President Frank Seravalli from DailyFaceoff.com slightly contradicted Murphy’s report, confirming the Ducks interviewed Quenneville, but stated the team is early in their process.

“Joel Quenneville recently interviewed for the (Ducks) head coaching vacancy,” Seravalli reported on social media. “He is a strong candidate but it’s still early in the process, multiple interviews to come in Anaheim.”

4-27-25

The IIHF U18 World Championship is underway in Frisco, Texas, the final big on-ice draft event of the season. Making up most of the attendance numbers are NHL coaches, scouts, media, and family members of players.

Sean Shapiro of DLLS Sports and Elite Prospects offered an update on the Anaheim coaching search via social media.

“Chatter at U18s from some in the NHL coaching circles is that Anaheim has interviewed, but not offered the job to anyone,” Shapiro said.

Elliotte Friedman from SportsNet is one of the NHL's premier insiders. He gave his thoughts on Monday’s rendition of his “32 Thoughts” podcast.

“The way I understand it, he’s definitely a serious candidate there, and we’ll see if he ends up being the guy. But he’s definitely a serious candidate. I don’t think that’s the only team that’s interested in him.

“I think the Ducks are very serious about it from a hockey perspective. You’ve heard Pat Verbeek say that they want to make the playoffs next year, and that’s why I think he’s looking at Quenneville, and Quenneville is a possibility. And I think the two of them met face-to-face last week.

“The bottom line is the Ducks are considering him, and he is a very serious contender for their job.”

4-30-25

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on the latest installment of “The Ray & Dregs Hockey Podcast” that the Ducks are expected to interview Quenneville a second time.

“Some wanted to connect Joel Quenneville to (Rangers GM Chris) Drury because of their Colorado days,” Dreger said. “I know that Q is—he’s expected to get a second interview with the Anaheim Ducks, so we’ll see how things play out there.”

5-1-25

Pierre LeBrun from TSN, one of the NHL’s premier insiders, reported on social media that the Ducks have contacted several coaches in regards to filling their head coaching vacancy while confirming they intend to interview Quenneville a second time.

Apr 29, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft speaks with media following game six of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

“Hearing Ducks have interviewed Jay Woodcroft,” LeBrun said. “Also hear Ducks GM Pat Verbeek recently met with David Carle. Believe Anaheim has also made contact with Mike Sullivan. As reported by others, Joel Quenneville will soon get a second interview. Other names in mix. Wide search by Ducks.”

Less than one hour later, Vince Mercogliano, who covers the New York Rangers for USA Today, reported on social media the Rangers were heading toward hiring Sullivan as their next head coach. 

"The (Rangers) haven't confirmed or announced anything officially yet, but it sounds like things are getting close and very much trending toward Mike Sullivan becoming the 38th head coach in franchise history." 

5-2-25

To make it official, early on May 2, the Rangers announced they hired Sullivan as their head coach, making him the first coaching hire of the 2025 offseason and eliminating him from contention for the Ducks' job.

Feb 23, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan address the media after the game against the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Linked Names

Joel Quenneville: Quenneville (66) sits second on the NHL’s all-time wins list for head coaches with 969. He hasn’t coached a game since Oct. 28, 2021. He resigned from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers following the results of Jenner & Block’s investigation into the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.

David Carle: Carle (35) recently withdrew himself from the running for head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. He is possibly the most clamored-for coach on the market. Carle has coached the University of Denver to two NCAA championships and Team USA to back-to-back World Junior Championship gold medals.

Jay Woodcroft: Woodcroft (48) was relieved of his position as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers just 13 games into 2023-24 and after assuming the position in the middle of 2021-22. He has a 79-41-13 record in 133 games behind an NHL bench, and the Oilers, months after parting ways, made it to game seven of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

Mike Sullivan (Hired-New York Rangers): The Pittsburgh Penguins let Sullivan (57) go on April 28. He won two Stanley Cups with the Pens in 2016 and 2017 as their head coach, and his appearance on the market immediately made him one of the most desirable targets for one of the eight franchises in need.

This piece will see continued updates as new information surfaces

THN Anaheim Ducks Show (05-01-25)

2025 Anaheim Ducks Draft Lottery Preview

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Mets at Cardinals: How to watch on SNY on May 2, 2025

The Mets open a three-game series with the Cardinals in St. Louis on Friday at 8:15 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

  • The Mets' team ERA of 2.68 is the lowest in baseball
  • Francisco Lindor is hitting .298/.362/.484 with a career-best 141 OPS+
  • Pete Alonso has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games and 16 of his last 17
  • Clay Holmes has been tremendous over his last three starts, allowing just two runs in 16.0 innings
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CARDINALS

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What channel is SNY?

Check your TV or streaming provider's website or channel finder to find your local listings.

How can I stream the game?

The new way to stream SNY games is via the MLB App or MLB.tv. Streaming on the SNY App has been discontinued.

In order to stream games in SNY’s regional territory, you will need to have SNY as part of your TV package (cable or streaming), or you can now purchase an in-market SNY subscription package. Both ways will allow fans to watch the Mets on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. 

How can I watch the game on my computer via MLB? 

To get started on your computer, click here and then follow these steps: 

  • Log in using your provider credentials. If you are unsure of your provider credentials, please contact your provider. 
  • Link your provider credentials with a new or existing MLB.com account. 
  • Log in using your MLB.com credentials to watch Mets games on SNY. 

How can I watch the game on the MLB App? 

MLB App access is included for FREE with SNY. To access SNY on your favorite supported Apple or Android mobile device, please follow the steps below.  

  • Open “MLB” and tap on “Subscriber Login” for Apple Devices or “Sign in with MLB.com” for Android Devices. 
  • Type in your MLB.com credentials and tap “Log In.”  
  • To access live or on-demand content, tap on the "Watch" tab from the bottom navigation bar. Select the "Games" sub-tab to see a listing of available games. You can scroll to previous dates using the left and right arrows. Tap on a game to select from the game feeds available.  

For more information on how to stream Mets games on SNY, please click here. 

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Former Canadiens Captain Comes to The Maple Leafs’ Rescue

Feb 17, 2018; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Max Pacioretty (67) carries the puck over the blue line as Vegas Golden Knights center Ryan Carpenter (40) defends during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Every Spring in recent memory, the Toronto Maple Leafs make the playoffs, and their fan base thinks that this could be the year. It’s hard to blame them, considering they have an excellent “Core Four” or five, but they fall short every year.

Canadiens: The End For Patrik Laine?
Canadiens: Curtain Call For Savard
Laval Rocket Wins Game One

Before Thursday night, they could only get to the second round once when they dispatched the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022-23. That year, they thought it would be for sure; not only had they made it to the second round, but the Florida Panthers had taken care of their nemesis, the Boston Bruins, in the first round.

Toronto fans went from chanting “We want Florida! We want Florida!” to lamenting yet another defeat when the Sunshine State outfit eliminated their favourite in just five games. Then, last year, they had to take on the Bruins one more time, and after Boston took a 3-1 lead, the Leafs managed to claw their way back in the series. Unfortunately, they dropped game seven 2-1 in overtime, and it was back to the drawing board.

They did not make that many changes. The Core Four stayed. They resigned Max Domi and brought in Max Pacioretty on a professional tryout contract. The former Montreal Canadiens captain won his gamble and made the team, and on Thursday night, he saved the team.

The Connecticut native was drafted 22nd overall by the Habs in the 2007 draft and spent 10 years playing for the Canadiens. He acted as captain for three seasons and scored 448 points (30th in franchise history) in 626 regular-season games. Pacioretty made the playoffs with the Canadiens four times and scored 19 points in 38 games.

The relationship with the Canadiens didn’t end well, but he will forever be remembered as the player who got the Habs their current captain, Nick Suzuki. Seven years after the trade, he’s become a cornerstone of Montreal’s team while the former captain plays for a fourth team.

For the fifth year in a row, Pacioretty struggled with injuries and could only suit up for 37 games, putting up 13 points in the regular season. In the first round series against the Ottawa Senators, he only suited up for four games in the Battle of Ontario, but he made an impact.

With the score tied at 2-2 and just over five minutes left, the former Canadiens’ captain scored the game-winning goal with assists from another Hab in Domi and Pontus Holmberg. William Nylander then sealed the deal with an empty-netter, and just like that, for the second time in three years, the Maple Leafs moved on to the second round.

They’ll now be taking on the Canadiens’ first-round opponent, the Washington Capitals, and it will be interesting to see how the Leafs’ skilled forwards react to the Caps' tough, punishing brand of hockey. Will Pacioretty remain in the top six alongside John Tavares and Nylander? Time and Craig Berube will tell.

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New York Rangers Hire Coach Mike Sullivan: 'Mike Brings A Championship-Level Presence'

Mike Sullivan (James Guillory-Imagn Images)

The New York Rangers named Mike Sullivan their new coach on Friday.

Sullivan, 57, joins the Rangers four days after he and the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways. Sullivan spent parts of 10 seasons with the Penguins, logging a 409-255-89 record and two Stanley Cup championships. He'll now coach their Metropolitan Division rival, which won the Presidents' Trophy last season but missed the playoffs this season.

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Rangers GM Chris Drury said in a news release. “Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career – including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level – Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench.”

The Rangers fired coach Peter Laviolette on April 19. Their coaching search lasted just under two weeks. 

“As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team,” Drury said.

Sullivan was an assistant coach with the Rangers from 2009-2010 to 2012-2013, when John Tortorella was the bench boss. The Rangers even drafted him as a player in the fourth round of the 1987 NHL draft. He ended up playing 709 career NHL games for the San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes.

Sullivan coached Team USA to second place at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and he was an assistant coach for the Americans at the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was also named Team USA's coach for the men's hockey team in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Rangers defenseman Adam Fox spoke about Sullivan's coaching style at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

"He wants to give us kind of a semblance of the structure," Fox told Taylor Hasse of dkpittsburghsports.com. "But at the same time, it's not being too hands on, and letting us play hockey. (Sullivan has) been great."

Fox and the Rangers finished fifth in the Metropolitan Division this season, five points ahead of the seventh-place Penguins and six points out of a playoff spot. Their 3.11 goals-for per game ranked 12th in the NHL, while their 3.11 goals against per game ranked 19th. The 17.6 percent power-play success rate was fifth-worst in the league, while the 80.3 percent penalty-kill rate ranked 11th.

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Colton Dach’s Overtime Winner Puts IceHogs Up In Second-Round Series

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The AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks, the Rockford IceHogs, advanced to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs with a 2-0 sweep over the Chicago Wolves. Thanks to some outstanding Blackhawks prospects playing in the AHL, this IceHogs team has the talent to make a run. 

On Thursday, they began their next series on the road against the Milwaukee Admirals. Milwaukee is the AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators. They won the Central Division with a record of 40-21-5 (91 points), so the IceHogs are being presented with a challenge in this series. 

At the start of Game One, the Admirals looked every bit like the team that dominated the regular season. After no scoring in the first period, Milwaukee came out firing in the second. Before a minute passed in the middle frame, the Admirals had a 2-0 lead thanks to two goals in 15 seconds. Being outshot 14-5 and outscored 2-0 didn’t look good. 

However, Rockford didn’t think they were out of it for one second. In the third period, they found a way to get it tied. Just after the halfway point of the final frame, Paul Ludwinski put the IceHogs on the board. Under five minutes later, Gerry Mayhew evened it up. 

Overtime was needed to decide this intense game. Of course, the Blackhawks would love to see one of the call-ups make an impact. They got their wish when Colton Dach scored the winner just :12 into the extra frame. The brilliant shot put Rockford up 1-0 in the best-of-five series. 

Kevin Korchinski, who has been good in the playoffs so far, assisted on the goal, which is another call-up contribution. These guys, along with the veterans, all need to be on top of their game if they want to continue this run. 

Rockford’s next playoff game will again be in Milwaukee as they look to take a 2-0 lead. This match will occur on Saturday at 6 PM CT. 

It isn’t every year that an NHL franchise can expect its AHL affiliate to make a run in the Calder Cup Playoffs. It happens when a great farm system turns a bunch of players pro at the same time, and solid veterans complement them. Through one game of the second round, things are trending up.

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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Rangers hire two-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Sullivan as head coach

The Rangers are hiring Mike Sullivan as the 38th head coach in franchise history. 

Sullivan had long been rumored as one of general manager Chris Drury’s top candidates to take over behind the bench for Peter Laviolette if he were to become available this offseason. 

That became a reality earlier this week as he and the Penguins decided to part ways after their aging core and rebuilding roster failed to reach the postseason for the third consecutive year. 

“Mike Sullivan has established himself as one of the premier head coaches in the NHL,” Drury said in a news release. “Given his numerous accomplishments throughout his coaching career - including two Stanley Cups and leading Team USA at the international level – Mike brings a championship-level presence behind the bench. I’ve gotten to know Mike very well over the years, including as teammates in the 1997 World Championships, when he coached me as a player in New York and through our shared time working together with USA Hockey. As we began this process and Mike became an available option for us to speak with, it was immediately clear that he was the best coach to lead our team.”
Added MSG executive chairman and CEO James Dolan:

“I would like to welcome Mike back to the Rangers organization. Mike’s track record and success in the NHL and internationally speaks for itself, and I look forward to seeing him behind the Rangers bench.”

Sullivan has plenty of ties to the Rangers organization. He was selected by the Blueshirts in the fourth round of the 1987 NHL Draft but elected to stay at Boston University until 1990 -- when he signed with the Sharks and began his 11-year playing career.

He spent four years behind the Rangers’ bench as an assistant under John Tortorella -- a handful of which Drury served as the captain -- and the two are plenty familiar from their BU ties and overlap with USA Hockey. 

He was also the head coach for a United States squad during this year’s 4 Nations Face-Off that had Drury in the assistant GM role and a handful of key Rangers filling out the roster.

Sullivan will now be tasked with turning things around after the Rangers underperformed mightily during Laviolette’s second year at the helm -- becoming just the fourth team in league history to miss the playoffs the year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

He has plenty of experience under his belt -- having reached the playoffs eight different times during his 12-year coaching career. He’s also the only American-born coach to win the Stanley Cup twice and currently owns the record for the most wins in Penguins history (409).

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‘He’s mad for it’: Northampton’s Henry Pollock back in Dublin after rise to Lions contender

A year ago he was with the fans: now he’s an England player before Saints’ Champions Cup semi against Leinster

Henry Pollock is bouncing around the south stand at Franklin’s Gardens. He is in demand at Northampton’s media session and in between interviews he seems most preoccupied with reminding his teammate Tommy Freeman who won their latest battle on the golf course. As has been clear since his emergence, Pollock has no problem with the spotlight.

His restless energy is not confined to the pitch but soon he sits down for a chat, ostensibly to preview Northampton’s Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster on Saturday, but essentially to discuss Pollock-mania. How and why it has taken hold and whether at any stage in the 20-year-old’s fledgling career he has experienced a shred of self-doubt.

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Telling Brunson stat hints at blueprint for Celtics beating Knicks

Telling Brunson stat hints at blueprint for Celtics beating Knicks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Jalen Brunson is the head of the snake for the New York Knicks.

A two-time All-Star and the reigning NBA Clutch Player of the Year, Brunson led the Knicks in scoring (26.0 points per game) and assists (7.3 per game) this season while taking more than 20 percent of their shots. He poured in 31.5 points per game in New York’s first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons, including the dagger 3-pointer in Game 6 on Thursday that punched the Knicks’ ticket to the second round.

So naturally, the Celtics’ No. 1 priority in their Round 2 playoff matchup with the Knicks should be keeping Brunson in check.

Or so you’d think. But there’s some compelling evidence to the contrary.

Consider this: Brunson played 65 games this season and was held to 20 points or fewer in 17 of them. The Knicks went 14-3 in those games. When Brunson scored 21 or more, New York was a pedestrian 26-22. So, the fewer points Brunson scored, the better the Knicks’ were chances of winning.

Some context is required: A few of those 14 wins were blowouts in which Brunson rested down the stretch. But he played 30-plus minutes in 13 of his 17 games with 20 points or fewer, suggesting that this was a real pattern for the Knicks and their star player.

The Celtics should hardly be surprised, of course; Brunson scored at least 22 points in all four regular-season matchups vs. Boston and lost all four times. His “best” game against the C’s (36 points) came in New York’s most lopsided loss, a 131-104 Celtics rout on Feb. 8.

What Joe Mazzulla and Co. may have known — and what they’ll try to replicate in this series — is that an essential key to beating the Knicks is shutting down their role players.

Of the five Knicks outside Brunson who averaged 25 minutes or more per game this season, nearly all have the expected correlation of more points leading to more wins. For example, New York was 21-8 when OG Anunoby scored 21 points or more, and just 16-17 when he was held to 15 points or fewer.

The Knicks won 85 percent of their games (22-4) when Mikal Bridges contributed 21 or more points, and 73 percent of their games (8-3) when Miles McBride crossed the 15-point threshold.

While the correlation was less strong with Karl-Anthony Towns — 34-17 record when Towns scored 21 or more; 12-9 when he scored 20 or fewer — the Celtics got a first-hand look at how the Knicks big man can impact a game.

Two of Towns’ worst scoring performances of the season came in New York’s two biggest losses to Boston (nine points in the 27-point loss and 12 points in a 132-109 defeat on Opening Night), while Towns’ best effort against the C’s (34 points) came in the one game the Knicks kept close, an overtime loss on April 8.

The Celtics obviously can’t let Brunson run wild in this series; just ask the Pistons. But the bigger concern for Boston when the second-round matchup begins Monday at TD Garden should be preventing scoring outbursts from Brunson’s supporting cast.

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ICYMI in Mets Land: Edwin Diaz's lack of usage; sixth starter needed again

Here's what happened in Mets Land on Thursday, in case you missed it...

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MLB Wealth Transfer Drives Fierce NL West Competition

SAN DIEGO – The transfer of playing wealth from the American League East to the National League West is palpable, says veteran San Diego Padres outfielder Jason Heyward, who offered an acute analysis of the issue.

An argument can be made that the NL West, with its investment this season of $1.25 billion in players and MLB-best four teams with a winning record entering Friday, is the best division in the sport.

“That’s fair,” Heyward said Tuesday night after his return from the injured list amid left knee soreness in the Padres’ 7-4 victory over the division rival San Francisco Giants at jam-packed Petco Park. “From the amount of money spent investing in the teams to the amount of guys who’ve played in postseason baseball, it’s pretty top heavy.”

The reigning champion Los Angeles Dodgers lead the league with $400.5 million invested in players for luxury tax purposes, but even the 6-25 Colorado Rockies have spent a 21st-in-MLB $145 million. The Padres, Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks have collectively spent $703.2 million trying to keep up with the Dodgers.

It’s created a highly competitive environment with the Dodgers, Padres and Giants each already having at least 19 wins.

“It’s probably the strongest I’ve seen this division in a while,” said Giants starter Robbie Ray, who also has pitched for the D-backs.

To Heyward’s point, the Padres have Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles, Nick Pivetta and Xander Bogaerts from the Boston Red Sox and Michael King from the New York Yankees. The Dodgers have Mookie Betts from the Red Sox. The D-backs have Corbin Burnes from the Orioles. The Giants have Willy Adames, who played for Tampa Bay’s 2020 World Series participants.

That’s a transfer of $1.45 billion from the AL East to the NL West in long-term financial obligations via either trades or free-agent signings. And that’s just a sampling. 

“It’s having seasoned vets mixing in with some up-and-coming young guys,” said Heyward, who played for the Chicago Cubs in 2016 when they won the World Series for the first time in 108 years. “That’s the route you have to take. It’s about the character you build on the club, too.”

The AL East is still highly competitive, make no mistake about it, with the Yankees leading the AL in spending at $312.1 million, third in MLB behind the Dodgers and crosstown Mets, the latter of which is at $329.8 million.

Toronto ($267.5 million) and Boston ($247.7 million) are not that far behind the Yanks, with the division as a whole spending a total of $1.1 billion. Tampa Bay is 29th in baseball at $102.9 million.

“You have to spend money to make money,” Heyward said, noting that the seven highest spending teams across the NL West and AL East are among MLB’s top teams thus far this season in attendance and are all highly competitive.

The Padres, who opened 12-0 at home and are 14-4 there after sweeping the Giants in a two-game series, have sold out 15 of their first 18 games at Petco. They drew 47,345 on Tuesday for the umpteenth Tony Gwynn bobblehead night—the gift that keeps on giving—the second-largest crowd in the history of a ballpark that opened in 2004 but has yet to host a World Series game.

It was the first time all season either the Giants or Padres had played one of their top division rivals as April turned into May.

“It’s crazy,” Bob Melvin, in his second season managing the Giants, said. “Usually, the first month of the season there’s a ton of divisional stuff. It’s weird, but it is what it is. The Padres are a good team off to a great start.”

San Diego has been to the World Series twice since expanding into the NL in 1969, but it lost on both occasions—to the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and the Yankees in 1998. The franchise is 1-8 in Fall Classic competition, with all the home games having been played in its original facility—Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium, a multi-purpose edifice in Mission Valley.

This is the fourth season since the Seidler family began pouring money into the team. With the investment into star players and the goal of winning it all, Padres fans have bought in. And despite chaos in ownership since Peter Seidler died after the 2023 season, the spending continues.

Home attendance has risen from 2.1 million in 2017 to a club-record 3.3 million last season when revenue was $448 million, according to Sportico’s MLB valuations. The Padres’ total value is $2.31 million, way up from the $800 million the Seidlers paid John Moores when they purchased the club in 2012.

After missing the playoffs 13 years in a row, the Padres have been to the expanded postseason three times in the past five years. Petco Park has become a destination ballpark.

Melvin, surveying it from the third base side visitor’s dugout pregame on Tuesday night, said, “it’s San Diego, you can’t get any better than this.”

Melvin managed the Padres for two seasons in 2022 and 2023 before moving on to the re-tooling Giants. His 2022 club suffered a five-game NL Championship Series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, as deep as the Padres have gone in the playoffs since the 1998 World Series.

The current club is replete with players that have either won or gone to the Fall Classic elsewhere—Bogaerts, Machado, Heyward and Yu Darvish. 

“Their body of work speaks for itself,” current manager Mike Shildt said after the Wednesday win. “But we don’t take anything for granted. We know who we are and how we play. This game is challenging.”

The overall challenge will be surviving the NL West.

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