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Maple Leafs vs Panthers: Round 2 Stanley Cup Playoff Dates Set

Apr 8, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) moves the puck past Florida Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola (77) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The National Hockey League has officially released the full schedule dates for the Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round playoff series against the Florida Panthers.

Just one day after announcing that the series would start on Monday, May 5 at 8 p.m. ET, the league revealed more dates, including all seven games (if necessary) for Toronto's second-round series.

Only Game 2 has a start time. The league says that the game will start at 7 p.m. ET, one hour earlier than Game 1, which has an 8 p.m. ET start time, despite both teams playing in the Eastern time zone.

Maple Leafs vs Panthers: Game 1 Start Time and Date RevealedMaple Leafs vs Panthers: Game 1 Start Time and Date RevealedThe Toronto Maple Leafs are set to open the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday.

The order of Games 1-7 goes as follows (all times ET):

Monday, May 5 at 8p.m. Florida @ Toronto

Wednesday, May 7  at 7 p.m. Florida @ Toronto

Friday, May 9 TBD Toronto @ Florida

Sunday, May 11 TBD Toronto @ Florida

*Wednesday, May 14 TBD Florida @ Toronto

*Friday, May 16 TBD Toronto @ Florida

*Sunday, May 18 TBD Florida @ Toronto

Some notes about the schedule include a two-day breast between Games 4 and 5 and no Saturday night games on either weekend if the series goes the distance.

The Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators in six games to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in the last three seasons. 

Maple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundMaple Leafs’ ‘Business-Like’ Mindset Overcomes Potential Playoff Disaster to Advance to Second RoundKANATA, Ont. — When the final horn sounded at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday, the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrated their 4-2 win against the Ottawa Senators, pushing them through to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

There is one more game in the first round of the playoffs, as the Winnipeg Jets will host the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 action on Sunday. After that contest, the NHL is expected to reveal the start times for Games 3 and 4 of Toronto's series. The league will then release times for subsequent games as they become necessary.

Morgan Rielly, Maple Leafs Seek Redemption In 2023 Rematch Vs PanthersMorgan Rielly, Maple Leafs Seek Redemption In 2023 Rematch Vs PanthersTwo years ago, the Toronto Maple Leafs walked into a second-round series against the Florida Panthers riding high from their first playoff series win since 2004. It was a long-awaited breakthrough for the franchise and the ‘Core Four,’ finally getting over the hump after years of early playoff exits. But the success was short-lived.

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With dad on hand, Kody Clemens homers in 1st game at Fenway Park to lead Twins past Red Sox 4-3

BOSTON (AP) — Kody Clemens hit a two-run homer in his first game at Fenway Park — with his famous father in attendance — and the Minnesota Twins beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Saturday.

With former Red Sox ace Roger Clemens watching from a luxury box along the first-base line, his son drove an 0-1 slider from Hunter Dobbins (2-1) over the short wall in the right-field corner to push Minnesota ahead 3-1 in the sixth inning.

Jarren Duran had an RBI triple and a double for Boston, which has lost three of four. Romy Gonzalez, expected to get the bulk of the playing time at first base after Triston Casas ruptured a tendon in his left knee, had three singles.

Clemens’ homer came during a three-run sixth that gave the Twins a 4-1 edge.

Bailey Ober (4-1) pitched six innings, holding the Red Sox to a run and seven hits. Jhoan Duran got three outs for his third save.

Jarren Duran hit his RBI triple in the seventh before scoring on Rafael Devers’ single that sliced it to 4-3.

The game was delayed by rain for 72 minutes in the seventh.

Key moment

With runners on first and second in the ninth, Jhoan Duran retired left-handed hitter Wilyer Abreu for the final out after walking Alex Bregman intentionally.

Key stat

Ober has allowed just one run five times in his six starts since giving up eight during his first start of the season.

Up next

Twins RHP Chris Paddack (0-3, 5.60 ERA) starts the series finale Sunday against LHP Garrett Crochet (3-2, 2.05).

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Golden Knights, Oilers Open Second Round On Tuesday In Vegas

<i>Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) and Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) watch the puck after a face-off during the second period of an NHL game at T-Mobile Arena on April 1, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images</b></i>

The Golden Knights will open their second-round series with the Edmonton Oilers at home on Tuesday at 6:30 pm (pacific).

Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday, also at T-Mobile Arena and again at 6:30 pm.

The series shifts to Edmonton for Games 3 and 4 on Saturday and Monday, May 12.

If necessary, Game 5 will be back in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 14.

Game 6 would be in Edmonton on Friday, May 16.

A decisive Game 7 would return to Las Vegas on Sunday, May 18.

This marks the second time the Knights and Oilers will meet in the postseason after the teams faced one another in 2023, the year the Knights won the Stanley Cup.

Vegas won that series in six games, going 2-1 at home and 2-1 in Edmonton, including the series-clinching win on the road.

In 32 all-time meetings, the Oilers lead the series 17-13-2.

The Knights are 8-7-1 all-time against the Oilers at T-Mobile Arena.

At the Westgate Superbook in Las Vegas, the series price is a pick'em, each team priced at -110.

Vegas goes from facing Minnesota's scoring machine Kirill Kaprizov to Edmonton's double-dose of offense in Hart Trophy finalist Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

McDavid, who finished the regular season with the league's sixth-highest 100 points, leads all skaters in the postseason with 11 points (2 goals, 9 assists). Draisaitl is tied with three others with 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) this postseason.

"That'll be a fun series," veteran defenseman Brayden McNabb said. "They got the two-headed monsters who are two (of the top) players in the league, top five, whatever you want to categorize it, but it'll be a challenge for sure.

"I think they're a little bit more well-rounded than we saw them (in 2023), a little bit more depth for sure in all four lines, so we're gonna have to be on our game. We're gonna have to know who's on the ice and manage pucks, and it's gonna take everyone. We're gonna need everyone, use our depth. Hopefully, that helps us in the long run."

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Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Victor Eklund

Aug 3, 2024; Plymouth, MI, USA; Sweden's forward Victor Eklund (18) celebrates a goal against Finland with teammates during the first period of the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

With a total of 30 picks over the next three drafts, including 11 this year - which could reduce to 10 if the conditional first-round pick from the New York Rangers defers to 2026 - there will be plenty of opportunity for the Penguins to add impact players. Of their 11 picks in 2025, six of them are in the first three rounds.

And, as of now, the Penguins will select ninth overall. The draft lottery will take place on May 5th - Pittsburgh has a five percent chance of getting the first overall pick - while the draft itself will be on Jun. 27-28.

Assuming they stay put at ninth, however, we have compiled a list of potential draft prospects that should fall around the Penguins' selection. 

We recently profiled center Jake O'Brien. Next up? That would be Swedish left wing Victor Eklund.

Victor Eklund

Aug 2, 2024; Plymouth, MI, USA; USA’s defenceman Lukas Fischer (13) battles for position with Sweden's forward Victor Eklund (18) during the first period of the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images

DOB: Oct. 3, 2006
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Right
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 161 pounds
Team: Djurgårdens IF (HockeyAllsvenskan) 

There is a pretty decent chance that - assuming the Penguins remain in the ninth overall draft slot after Monday's draft lottery - one of the teams just above Pittsburgh in draft order will snag Eklund.

But if he does fall to ninth overall, this pick should pretty much be a lock for the Penguins.

The younger brother of San Jose Sharks forward William Eklund, the 18-year-old Victor registered 19 goals and 31 points in 42 games for Djurgårdens IF whilst playing in Sweden's second-tier league in a pool of grown men. He spent some time playing with fellow 2025 NHL draft prospect Anton Frondell, who is expected by most to be selected within the top-five.

His size certainly isn't going to jump out at you. But his offensive toolset sure is.

Eklund has a penchant for putting pucks in the back of the net, but his vision, playmaking, and ability to create something out of nothing is rivaled by few in his draft class. He creates space in all areas of the ice, using his hockey smarts to find the open man, position himself to make plays, and expose the danger areas of the ice. 

His skating is above average - which helps him a ton - and he's also relentless on the forecheck. Eklund isn't afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice to win battles on the wall and gain positioning at the net front, and his high-energy style and motor is somewhat resemblant of ex-Penguin forward Brandon Tanev.

Eklund could use some work in his defensive details, but his style of play should foster some growth in that area.

Djurgarden Pair Leads NHL Central Scouting 2025 Final European Skater RankingsDjurgarden Pair Leads NHL Central Scouting 2025 Final European Skater Rankings NHL Central Scouting released its final rankings for the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Tuesday and, among the international skaters, to no one’s surprise, the Djurgården pair of center Anton Frondell and right winger Victor Eklund top the list.

Similar to prospects such as Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty, Eklund's skills are translatable to the NHL level. He's someone who probably won't need as much time stewing at lower levels of professional hockey, especially since he's already been playing against adults in Sweden and thriving.

He's simply a step ahead than just about everyone else around him on the ice, and he has pretty surefire point-per-game potential at the NHL level. And pair him with someone like Sidney Crosby? There may be an even higher ceiling for him to reach.

Eklund has star potential at the NHL level. If he is still available at ninth overall, it's an opportunity that the Penguins simply cannot pass on.

Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: Jake O'BrienPenguins Draft Prospect Profile: Jake O'BrienWith the 2025 NHL Entry Draft approaching fast, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins have their work cut out for them. 

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Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets advance with 120-101 Game 7 laugher over stunned Los Angeles Clippers

DENVER (AP) — Not this time.

Nikola Jokic got plenty of help from his teammates and Denver’s scoring surge held up in a 120-101 blowout of the shellshocked Los Angeles Clippers in a Game 7 laugher on Saturday night.

The Nuggets led by as many as 35 and while the franchise’s biggest blowout in a win-or-go-home scenario won’t make up for last year when Denver blew a 20-point fourth-quarter lead over Minnesota at home in Game 7 of their Round 2 series, it certainly exorcised some of those demons.

“It feels good,” interim Nuggets coach David Adelman said, “but I also know we’re flying to O-K-C tomorrow.”

The No. 4 seed Nuggets advanced to take on the No. 1 seeded and well-rested Oklahoma City Thunder, which swept Memphis in the first round and has had a week off heading into the second-round series that begins Monday night.

When Adelman reminded a friend recently that the reward for surviving this gritty series with the Clippers was a date with the team that went an NBA-best 68-14, his buddy retored that what actually awaited the winner was a 72-14 team.

“OK, that’s right,” Adelman replied. “Appreciate that, bro.”

The Nuggets and Thunder split their season series 2-2 and if Denver can reproduce its effort from Saturday night, the next series could be a tight one, too.

Jokic had 16 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in 33 minutes but for a change he was overshadowed by his teammates. Aaron Gordon led Denver with 22 points, Christian Braun had 21, Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook chipped in 16 each and Michael Porter Jr. scored 15.

“In playoffs we know that everybody needs to step up, offensively, defensively, whatever, energy-wise. And everybody who plays needs to contribute something,” Jokic said. “It was special today the guys did that.”

Braun also played terrific defense on James Harden, who was held to 7 points on 2-of-8 shooting.

“Everybody behind me allowed me to guard him. But I think maybe the biggest part was Russ,” Braun said. “He’s played against James, he’s played with James, so he knows his game. ... The coaches trusted me tonight. We didn’t want to switch. They kept me on him all night. So, credit goes to those guys and the coaches.”

Kawhi Leonard led Los Angeles with 22 points and Ivica Zubac had his quietest game of the series with 10 points.

“I don’t think this team was 30 points better than us,” Leonard said. “We saw that throughout the first six games of this series, but you’ve got to give them credit. They came out, ran hard in transition, got easy points and they made shots.”

Hanging over the Nuggets all season, one that included the firings of their head coach and their general manaer, was their Game 7 fiasco in Round 2 last year just when it looked like they were primed to defend the franchise’s first NBA championship.

And after frittering away a 22-point fourth-quarter advantage in Game 4 of this series — only to be saved by the first buzzer-beating dunk in NBA playoff history, courtesy of Gordon — the Nuggets and Ball Arena crowd only grew more energized instead of anxious as the lead kept growing and the Clippers kept missing.

The Nuggets outscored LA 72-40 over the second and third quarters and blew this one open with a 17-0 run in the third quarter after Leonard started the second half with a 3-pointer to cut LA’s deficit to 58-50.

“The rebounding and defense was amazing,” Jokic said. “We had a lot of opportunities to run and a lot of guys stepped up and a lot of guys made baskets.”

After picking up his third, fourth and fifth fouls over a 48-second span late in the third, Jokic went to the bench. The Nuggets began celebrating early in the fourth quarter when Westbrook willingly took a technical for swinging on the rim after a steal and breakaway dunk put Denver up 107-76.

Courtesy of team owner Steve Ballmer, more than 100 Clippers fans were flown to Denver and assembled behind one of the baskets to provide extra noise. They were rowdy when the Clippers took a 26-21 lead after one quarter but were as bewildered as the Los Angeles bench as the Nuggets ran away with it.

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NHL Playoffs: Stars' Mikko Rantanen Gets Ultimate Revenge With Game 7 Hat Trick

Mikko Rantanen and Tyler Seguin (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen took revenge against the team he used to see a future with for the long term.

Time ticked away in Rantanen's season as the Colorado Avalanche led the Stars 2-0 early in the third period. Just about 20 minutes later, it was Colorado's season that ended, and Rantanen was the biggest part of that happening.

"The belief in the group, the whole team of ours, there was no quitting at any point," Rantanen told ESPN's Emily Kaplan on the bench post-game.

First, let's rewind.

Rantanen was with the Avalanche for parts of 10 seasons. They drafted him 10th overall in 2015, and they won a Stanley Cup together in 2022. He recorded two 100-point seasons for them.

As January arrived without a contract in place for the then-pending UFA, the Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes in a three-team blockbuster involving the Chicago Blackhawks. Rantanen told reporters in mid-March he never wanted to leave Colorado.

Rantanen didn't sign a new contract with the Hurricanes, so they traded him to the Stars at the NHL trade deadline. Rantanen signed an eight-year contract with a $12-million cap hit to stay in Dallas for the long term.

Fast forward to April, and Rantanen's Stars faced his former team, the Avalanche, in the first round.

Colorado struck first in Game 1. The Stars won the following two games.

Colorado tied it. Dallas took the lead again. Colorado tied it again.

During that time, Rantanen recorded two goals and eight points in six games. He already made a mark in the later stages of the series, with three points in Game 5 and four points in Game 6.

It all led up to a Game 7 on Saturday night, with less than 13 minutes left in the third period. The Stars were still not on the scoreboard.

Rantanen changed that.

He walked into the offensive zone and took a snapshot that beat Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, cutting the deficit to one.

His teammate, Matt Duchene, received a penalty for tripping Martin Necas, who went from Carolina to Colorado in the initial Rantanen deal. But Cale Makar got a tripping penalty to force 4-on-4 play and a Stars power play when Duchene hit the ice.

Rantanen once again took matters into his own hands. He skated around the net and scored on a wraparound while taking contact from Blackwood and falling to the ice. Just like that, it was a tie game, and Rantanen reignited the Stars crowd.

The game could have went to overtime for the third time in the series, but Avalanche center Jack Drury, who also went to Colorado from Carolina, got a holding penalty. Dallas went back to the power play.

With four minutes left in the third frame, Rantanen found Duchene in the bumper position beside Blackwood's left post. Duchene then passed the puck past Blackwood and two Avs defenders to Wyatt Johnston. The 21-year-old finished the tic-tac-toe by beating Blackwood to complete the comeback and take a 3-2 lead. Rantanen earned the secondary assist.

As the Avalanche pulled the goalie to try to score with the extra attacker, Rantanen got the puck with seconds remaining in the series to secure the hat trick, the first one in the third period of a Game 7 in NHL history.

The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Join The Chat As Stars Win Game 7, Plus Round 1 WrapThe Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Join The Chat As Stars Win Game 7, Plus Round 1 WrapWelcome to The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the first round of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

Rantanen's Stars looked like they were heading out of the playoffs. They're now sending the Avalanche home with their eighth straight Game 7 loss.

After the Stars celebrated, they shook hands with the Avalanche players. Rantanen called it an emotional moment.

"They're my brothers, you know?" Rantanen said. "I still love every one of them. Obviously, we were enemies in the series on the ice, but they're my dear friends off the ice."

The Stars now await the winner of Game 7 between the Winnipeg Jets and St. Louis Blues on Sunday. 

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James Harden disappoints again as Clippers are eliminated by Nuggets in Game 7 rout

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden, right, confers with head coach Tyronn Lue.
Clippers guard James Harden, right, talks to coach Tyronn Lue during the second half of the Clippers' season-ending blowout loss to the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 on Saturday. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

The coach of the Clippers had never lost a Game 7, and so his players knew they could lean on Tyronn Lue to shepherd them in the most important game of their 2024-25 campaign.

But Lue was the first to say that he is the coach and doesn’t play, that his 4-0 mark in the seventh game of a playoff series is because “it takes really good players” to accomplish that tough feat and that he believed he had those really good players in Kawhi Leonard, James Harden and the rest of his crew to deal with the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in Game 7 at Ball Arena.

The odds, however, were against the Clippers winning this deciding game on the road and the Nuggets made sure they kept it in their favor with a 120-101 beatdown.

Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, right, looks on with guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, left, during the second half.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, right, looks on with guard Bogdan Bogdanovic, left, during the second half of the team's season-ending loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

The home team had won 74.2% of the time in Game 7s, and by winning the best-of-seven series 4-3 over the Clippers, the Nuggets left little doubt while blowing the game open in the fourth quarter in building a 35-point lead.

“You hate to see them go out like this in a Game 7,” Lue said. “So, that’s very disappointing.”

When the Nuggets opened a 65-50 lead on an Aaron Gordon dunk, forcing a timeout, the fans began to chant, “Beat L.A.”

And they did in a big way, breaking the Clippers’ spirit in the third quarter with a 35-19 outburst, the start to sending the Clippers home for the summer to contemplate what might have been and sending the Nuggets for the second round against Oklahoma City.

“I think we could have given a better effort, for sure,” said Leonard, who had 22 points. “At the time, I don’t think this team is 30-points better than us, as you seen throughout the first six games of this series. But got to give them credit. They came out and fought, ran hard in transition, got easy points and they made shots.”

The Clippers' James Harden, top center, looks to pass the ball to teammate Derrick Jones Jr. between two Nuggets defenders.
Clippers guard James Harden looks to pass the ball to forward Derrick Jones Jr. between Nuggets guards Jamal Murray, left, and Christian Braun (0) during Game 7. (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Harden was a disappointment again, his seven points on two-for-eight shooting and 13 assists another low-point for him in this series.

Harden didn’t talk after the game, just like he didn’t talk after losses in Game 4 and 5.

"They played harder,” said Ivica Zubac, who had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. “They beat us in every aspect of the game. That was the difference.”

Nikola Jokic wasn’t as sharp as he has been this series, but he finished with 16 points on six-for-14 shooting, eight rebounds, eight assists and five fouls that limited his time on the court.

Gordon worked over the Clippers for 22 points, Jamal Murray had 16, and Clippers nemesis Russell Westbrook relished all of his 16 points against his former teammates.

Lue made a change to his lineup, inserting Derrick Jones Jr. as a starter in place of Kris Dunn and then starting Nicolas Batum in the third quarter over Jones, which was a sign to his team that he was willing to do what’s necessary in a Game 7.

“In a Game 7, there are no tactics,” Batum said. “It’s who wants it more. They clearly wanted it more than us.”

Defense is where it was going to start for the Clippers and it’s what allowed them to be in control at the outset of the game.

They swarmed Jokic in the first, making it so tough that he missed his first five shots in the quarter and scored just two points.

They stifled Murray in the first 12 minutes, making it so difficult for him that he missed his first four shots and had just one point.

They put a grip on the Nuggets in the first quarter, holding them to 38.1% shooting from the field and 25% from three-point range and 21 points.

But all that momentum the Clippers had in the first shifted in the second quarter.

They were unable to hold the Nuggets for those 12 minutes, giving up 37 points, allowing them to make 50% of their shots and 50% (four for eight) from three-point range.

It went downhill from there for the Clippers.

They went 50-32 during the regular season, the same record as the Nuggets. They were the fifth-seeded team in the Western Conference.

But in the end, none of that mattered. The Clippers’ season is over.

“I would say this group deserves a better finish, I would say,” said Bogdan Bogdanovic, who had 12 points off the bench. “Not a way to finish it. But we got to look ourselves in the mirror. That’s it.”

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Mets Prospect Roundup: Drew Gilbert homers for Triple-A Syracuse, Nate Dohm dominates with St. Lucie

Here's the latest on some of the Mets' young talent down in the minor leagues...

Drew Gilbert hits first 2025 Syracuse homer

Gilbert is known for his power but hadn't gone yard for the Syracuse Mets this season... until Saturday.

Going up against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Gilbert took Yerry De los Santos -- the reliever who started the season in the majors with the Yankees -- deep, launching an 85 mph changeup 369 feet. The outfielder went 1-for-2 but walked three times.

Gilbert had two home runs with Port St. Lucie this season before he returned to Syracuse in mid-April. In 13 games with the Triple-A affiliate, Gilbert is slashing .275/.426/.425 with an .851 OPS.

Former Mets outfielder Rafael Ortega had the big blast in Saturday's 8-2 win, launching a three-run shot to put Syracuse up 5-0 in the first inning.

Nate Dohm dominates with St. Lucie

Dohm, the 22-year-old right-hander, dominated his latest start for the St. Lucie Mets on Saturday. Dohm pitched 5.1 innings while allowing one unearned run on four hits, two walks and striking out six batters. It's the second consecutive start Dohm has not allowed an earned run.

Across six starts in Single-A, Dohm is 2-2 with a 2.22 ERA and has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start this year. In fact, since allowing four runs in his first two starts, Dohm has allowed just two earned runs across his last two. He's also struck out 30 batters in 24.1 innings pitched.

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Knicks ready to do 'whatever it takes' to overcome regular-season struggles against Celtics in second round of playoffs

After a tough battle against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the Knicks know things will only get tougher in the second round when they face the defending-champion Boston Celtics.

Not only are the Celtics the reigning champs, in which they dominated their way through the league by going 16-3 during the 2024 playoffs, they also enter this series having swept New York in the regular season, 4-0.

"Obviously, play better than we did throughout the regular season," said point guard Jalen Brunson after Saturday's practice. "Be ready to go from the jump and knowing that it’s gonna be a game of runs, knowing that they’re capable of doing a lot of great things. We’ve got to keep our composure, stick together and just making sure that we continue to play throughout the entire game."

Despite the Knicks' first three games against Boston in the regular season being blowouts, losing by a combined 63 points, the final matchup between both clubs was much closer and necessitated overtime before the Celtics eventually came away with a 119-117 win at Madison Square Garden.

While there are no moral victories, the last meeting did, at the very least, give New York confidence that it can hang with the defending champions.

"They’re a terrific team, each game you learn something," said head coach Tom Thibodeau. "You have to play for 48 minutes. We felt the last game, there were things we obviously could have done better. It was an overtime game, so just find a way to win."

Thibodeau has emphasized playing a full 48 minutes often this season and during his coaching career. It even came up in the first round after the Knicks dropped Game 5 to the Pistons at home in a game they led at halftime and had a lead in the fourth quarter.

It's something that has resonated with the team, evidenced most recently by their comeback win against Detroit in Game 6 on the road.

"You gotta play 48 minutes against them," said center Karl-Anthony Towns. "We didn’t do that in the fourth game and it cost us the game. We gotta be ready to do whatever it takes to get a win."

Of course, if not for a game-tying three-pointer by Jayson Tatum in the final seconds of that match, New York would've won -- serving as a blueprint for how to beat the Celtics.

"I feel like we played better in that game," Brunson said. "We adjusted to them from the first three times we played them. Obviously still not getting it done. Definitely played better and competed better than the first three games. That’s something we can look at and build off of."

Part of what makes Boston so difficult is its ability to switch at an elite level, as each player is capable of defending any opposing player efficiently.

To counteract that, the Knicks will need to move the ball and have everybody on the same page constantly.

"I think the biggest thing is making sure everyone is in rhythm," Brunson said. "They’re tough and they have a lot of guys who can switch and guard one through five and make it a problem. For us it’s just making sure that we’re sticking together, going with our game plan and then making sure that we’re moving the ball, getting in the paint, making plays for ourselves and each other. Just find the best open shot every possession."

What else is the Celtics' prowess at hitting threes, which New York will have to look out for and do its best to defend.

"Obviously keep bodies on bodies, not let them loose for open threes, we have to contest everything, and be ready for the long rebounds and second shots," Brunson said. "I think that’ll be a big key because obviously they’re great at chasing down their misses and getting wide open second looks."

Offensively for the Knicks, players will have to step up and help Brunson, who averaged 26.8 points in the four meetings and who turns it on to another level in the playoffs. One player who did that in the last meeting was Town,s who had 34 points and 14 rebounds.

It'll be interesting to see how New York utilizes Towns in the next series, coming off a game in which he attempted just 10 shots and scored 10 points.

"I’m about wins so as long as we win then everything is fine," Towns said.

The big man averaged 24.4 points while shooting 52.6 percent from the field in his first season with the Knicks, which resulted in an All-Star selection.

Regardless of how their offense plays out, the Knicks must continue to focus on the little things that often help teams win games.

"We can’t let offense or shots falling dictate how hard we play or the things that we can control," Brunson said. "I feel like a lot of people on this team have that mindset and we’re gonna have to because the longer you’re in the playoffs, the more difficult the games are gonna be. So we can’t let little things like that have an effect on how we’re playing."

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How Flyers, Tyson Foerster Are Affected by Matt Coronato Contract

Tyson Foerster scored his first Flyers hat trick against the New York Rangers on April 9. (Photo: Dennis Schindler, Imagn Images)

Matt Coronato's blockbuster new contract extension with the Calgary Flames has made Tyson Foerster that much more expensive for the Philadelphia Flyers to keep.

Coronato, 22, signed a seven-year, $45.5 million contract ($6.5 million AAV) with the Flames Saturday, tying him down in Calgary through the 2031-32 season on the heels of a breakout 24-goal, 47-point campaign.

This was also Coronato's first full season in the NHL; last year, the Greenlawn, N.Y., native scored three goals and nine points in only 34 NHL games.

Coronato's contract, does, however, set the stage for the Flyers and Foerster, as the latter is a restricted free agent and due for a new contract on July 1.

Foerster, 23, is slightly older than Coronato, but with his 25 goals this season, Foerster has reached the 20-goal threshold in each of his first two full seasons in the NHL with room for plenty more.

Even despite Foerster's modest point-producing exploits (43 points in Year 2 vs. Coronato's 47 in Year 1), his elite defensive play and contributions on the power play and penalty kill make him equally valuable to the Flyers, if not more than Coronato is to the Flames.

Among the 13 forward lines in the NHL that played 500 or more minutes together, Foerster's line of himself, Noah Cates, and Bobby Brink allowed the fewest expected goals against per 60 minutes (2.17), per MoneyPuck.

Even better is that Foerster's line was dominant at both ends of the ice, controlling 58.3% of the expected goals. This ranked second among the 13 aforementioned lines, trailing Toronto's line of Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews, and Mitch Marner (58.4%) by 0.01%.

While the Flyers' offensive production was modest (28.8 expected goals for, ninth out of 13), they still created roughly the same as New Jersey did with Ondrej Palat, Jack Hughes, and Jesper Bratt (26.7 expected goals for) in 49 more minutes together.

For the sake of comparison, Evolving-Hockey last offseason predicted Winnipeg Jets forward Gabe Vilardi's next contract to be worth $21.94 million over four years ($5.485 million AAV), and Vilardi at the time was heading into the last year of a two-year bridge contract at a $3.437 million cap hit with a career-high 41 points.

After exploding for a career-high 27 goals and 61 points this season, Vilardi has made himself much more money after taking a bridge deal in 2023.

Last summer, Evolving-Hockey projected Foerster would receive a two-year extension worth $5.952 million ($2.976 million AAV), which is certainly out of the window now after the season he had.

If the Flyers want to preserve flexibility and opt to sign Foerster long-term now, they are very likely looking at something between Vilardi's old projection--roughly $5 million--and Coronato's new deal at $6.5 million.

Foerster might not have the same offensive ceiling as Coronato does, but his size, versatility, and two-way play are things the Flyers cannot readily replace. Plus, one must figure that Foerster's goal-scoring will drastically improve with a competent power play.

The Flyers' power play converted 15.6% of their opportunities this season, 12.2% of their opportunities last season, and 15% of their opportunities in 2022-23. 

The league average power play was 21.64% this season, 20.98% last season, and 21.31% in 2022-23.

That's a lot of goals Foerster and the Flyers are missing, but fortunately for the Flyers, it may help them save a heap of money on Foerster's next contract in the end.

Coronato has help set the bar, and it's now up to Foerster, his camp, and the Flyers to work towards an amicable middle ground for the future.

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Katie Ledecky smashes her longstanding 800m freestyle world record

  • US swim star Ledecky smashes record set at Rio Games
  • Gretchen Walsh sets world record in 100m butterfly

Katie Ledecky broke new ground once again on Saturday, shattering her own world record in the 800m freestyle with a time of 8min 4.12sec at the Tyr Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale.

The 28-year-old American improved on the 8:04.79 mark she set at the 2016 Rio Olympics, notching her first long-course world record since 2018 and reaffirming her dominance in the distance freestyle events.

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Yankees Notes: Ryan Yarbrough gives New York length, Jazz Chisholm Jr. surprised by severity of injury

Following the Yankees' 3-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon, manager Aaron Boone and some players spoke about a number of topics...

Ryan Yarbrough gives Yanks what they needed

With the sudden scratch of Clarke Schmidt on Saturday, Yarbrough was tasked with being the team's opener against the Rays. The bulk reliever is used to pitching multiple innings, but Boone was very happy with the results.

The left-hander allowed just one run on one hit and three walks in four innings. It was a season-high four innings for Yarbrough, who had a sac fly from Taylor Walls in the second inning to thank for the lone run allowed.

"I tried to convince [Boone] to get me into the fifth there, especially with a bullpen game," Yarbrough said after the game. "Just really giving those guys some time off, especially when you have a day that you don't really necessarily expect early on. We were there to pick each other up and just tried to go as deep as I could."

"I thought he did great," Boone said. Walked a couple of leadoff hitters, which wasn’t ideal, had a few walks in there. But going into the day, if you said four innings, one run. Sign us up, all day long. He gave us exactly what we needed. Gave us a chance and put us in a good position to win a game. Unfortunately, just couldn’t get to the finish line today."

New York Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (56) delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium
New York Yankees pitcher Mark Leiter Jr. (56) delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the eighth inning at Yankee Stadium / Tom Horak - Imagn Images

Mark Leiter Jr. gives up lead

The Yankees were up 2-1 heading into the eighth inning when Leiter Jr. came in. The hard-throwing right-hander was a bit unlucky in that inning. After allowing a leadoff hit to Christopher Morel -- on a play that was just out of the reach of Anthony Volpe -- Brandon Lowe walked. Leiter Jr. struck out Junior Caminero before a Curtis Mead bloop single tied the game and then a Volpe error pushed across the go-ahead run.

Boone, after the game, applauded the Rays' hitters, especially Lowe and Mead for getting to Leiter Jr.'s well-executed pitches.

"I thought he threw the ball alright. Just a couple of balls that had eyes," Boone said.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. surprised by MRI

Chisholm was placed on the IL on Friday with a high-grade oblique strain. Boone expects Chisholm to be out 4-6 weeks, but when the infielder was asked how he felt in the Orioles series earlier in the week, he believed he would be back in a few days.

“I’m very surprised [by the results], just depending on how my body feels and how I feel personally," Chisholm said after Saturday's game. "This is the second time I had an oblique. This feels completely different from the first one. So, for me, I was super surprised when I saw the results."

Chisholm revealed that there were three different tears in his oblique, which made him more surprised.

"That’s why I’m really surprised by what [the tests] said," he explained. "It doesn’t feel like three, doesn’t feel as bad as when I tore my oblique two years ago."

Chisholm is having an up-and-down 2025 with the Yanks. He has launched an impressive seven homers, but his batting average (.181) and OBP (.304) remain low.

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Nola works through pregame neck injury to deliver 6 scoreless

Nola works through pregame neck injury to deliver 6 scoreless originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Aaron Nola felt his neck tighten up about 45 minutes before first pitch Saturday night.

It put manager Rob Thomson, pitching coach Caleb Cotham and catcher J.T. Realmuto on high alert, and the Phillies even activated Ranger Suarez from the injured list pregame, a day early, in case he was needed for an emergency start.

There was no emergency because Nola felt good enough to pitch. And he didn’t just toe the slab, he delivered six scoreless innings against a Diamondbacks lineup that can hurt you with power and with speed.

“They said we’ll see what we get out of him tonight, essentially,” catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “We were a little worried, we didn’t know how much he was going to be available but obviously his neck felt good enough.

“I was on high alert in the bullpen just trying to watch his pitches and see if anything was moving differently or his stuff was different, but it was just as sharp as it normally is. Once the game started, I didn’t even really think about it again.”

Nola didn’t have his best command early but found a groove after ending the second inning by inducing a 4-6-3 double play. His velocity was up for a second consecutive start and averaged 92.2, more than 1 mph above his season average. He also had his cutter working for a second straight start and had one of his better curveballs, the pitch he utilized most to beat the D-backs in a 7-2 Phillies win.

“It says a lot,” Realmuto said. “He’s a competitor so if there’s a way for him to go out there and pitch, he’s gonna do it. He showed that tonight.”

Nola is not worried about the neck tightness and expects it to subside quickly. He felt it during the game on a few occasions but is fortunate that it’s the right side of his neck, not the left. The left side is the direction to which a right-handed pitcher like Nola cocks his head before delivering a pitch out of the stretch or when peering over to first base.

“Everything was normal. I felt it a little bit but it didn’t get any worse during the game,” Nola said. “I don’t think it’s gonna be any long-term, lingering kind of thing.

“Felt like it needed to pop and wouldn’t pop. Just a little tight on a couple of different movements but luckily it wasn’t to my left where I have to look toward the plate. If it was on the left side, it might have been a little bit different.”

Nola received seven runs of support, more than the Phillies had provided him all season. He has lowered his ERA in his last two starts from 6.43 to 4.61. His command is sharpening and he’s generating more finish to his pitches. All but one of his 18 outs Saturday night was a strikeout or groundout.

“I feel pretty good, all my pitches feel pretty good right now,” Nola said. “Getting ahead of the hitters better than I was the first few starts and putting ’em away when I need to.”

His next one will be Friday in Cleveland. The Phillies will start Ranger Suarez on Sunday to finish up the Diamondbacks series, then have Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo going in Tampa. Taijuan Walker has been moved to the bullpen, where he’ll be used as a longman or reliever who can pitch one-plus inning.