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Richmond court controversy with Noah Balta slated for polarising AFL return

  • Premiership star to play against Gold Coast on Saturday
  • Tigers backman faces court after pleading guilty to assault

Richmond premiership star Noah Balta returns to an AFL field against Gold Coast on Saturday, three days before fronting court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to assault outside a NSW Riverina club on 30 December last year.

Prison time – his charge in NSW carries a maximum five-year stretch – appears unlikely, but Balta’s return to football has become a political football.

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There Was A Feeling Of Sadness and Uncertainty In The Air During The Rangers' Season Finale

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The New York Rangers completed their season on Thursday night with a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning, but the emotions of the game spoke louder than the score or win. 

It’s been a season from the start that has been riddled with drama, tension, and underwhelming play. It feels that the energy around the Rangers has only gotten worse as time has gone on. 

The mood best to describe this night was sadness. Walking into the legendary Madison Square Garden for the last time this season, there was a sense of gloom. 

It was business as usual, yet there was a strange feeling of emptiness like the Rangers were just playing this game for nothing, which was exactly the case. 

To close out the season, the Rangers actually played really well. The win didn’t matter though, the only thing this victory did was reignite the question: What could have been and where has this team been all season? 

All season long the Rangers showed no sense of heart, no sense of urgency, and no sense of purpose. 

There were fans and surprisingly a lot of them in attendance cheering on the Blueshirts, but it feels like everyone gave up on the Rangers a while ago. 

Throughout the contest, the sadness continued to pour on. The sadness for Sam Rosen who was calling his final game as the Rangers play-by-play announcer, the sadness of a team’s utter collapse from the top of the league to the pits of despair, and the sadness of another season ending with nothing to show for it. 

There was also a feeling of uncertainty. The Rangers have had the same nucleus of players for many years and that might be changing after what can only be described as a dreadful season. 

Throughout the year, the wheels were falling off this team’s core. They were barely holding it together as they continued to lose piece by piece from Jacob Trouba, to Kaapo Kakko, to Ryan Lindgren, to Jimmy Vesey. 

Thursday night felt like this core’s last dance. Sure, there will be quite a few players who return to New York next season. However, major roster turnover and a drastic culture shift are inevitable. 

After the game, Peter Laviolette and a few players rattled on the same old cliches, something that you knew they weren’t actually thinking deep down. 

In a night full of emotions and uncertainty, one thing remained crystal clear: The fans and people of New York deserve better.

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Mets Notes: Brandon Nimmo's hard luck, if there's pressure on Juan Soto

Before the Mets' 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night at Citi Field, manager Carlos Mendoza spoke about Brandon Nimmo's tough luck, if Juan Soto is under pressure, and a plan for center field.

Pressure on Juan Soto?

With one ninth of the season gone, Mendoza was asked about Soto not “being off to a start that he may like” and if the pressure – both from the outside work and from himself – meant that the skipper had taken some time to speak to the slugger about his first 18 games in Queens and to see where he is at mentally.

“Not really,” Mendoza said with a chuckle and a bemused smile. 

“It’s funny because here we are talking about not having the start he would like or we would like or people would like,” the manager continued.  “He’s still got like an .830 OPS and he’s still getting on base and giving you great at-bats.”

While the manager slightly inflated the slugger's number, which fell to .773 after Soto went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's win, the point still stood. Especially when you consider the right fielder scorched two grounders – 106.7 mph off the bat up the middle in the first and 97.7 mph in the fifth – but came up empty.

In fact, the two balls in play carried a .530 and .500 expected batting average, per Statcast, but accounted for no hits and three outs via a double play.

“And yes, here we are,” Mendoza said, adding a shrug. “No, I just want him to be himself, go out there, have fun, and play the game.”

When asked about the pressure of the new contract, the new team, and a new borough, Mendoza said Soto was “under a lot of pressure last year when he was playing for the Yankees, going into his free agent year, and he handled it pretty well.”

“I think it’s just, he’s human,” the manager said. “And this is home for him now. He’s Juan Soto, he’s fine.”

Mendoza didn’t mention it, but over his career, games in March/April have been his worst ‘month.” He has a career .258/.395/.468 slash for an .863 OPS in 143 early-season games entering Thursday. 

Those four numbers are his lowest in those categories for any period of the season.

Nimmo’s fortune favors the bold? 

Through 19 games, Nimmo has 14 hits in 72 at-bats (.194) with three doubles, four home runs, and nine RBI with a .656 OPS.

What has the manager made of the 32-year-old’s at-bats to start the year? “They’re on, they’re off, there’s times where he’s hitting the ball hard and he’s not getting results,” Mendoza said before the game, in which Nimmo went 0-for-3. 

“Feel like he’s been a little aggressive at times, swinging at the first pitch,” he continued. “I think his approach, game plan that we’re going out there and we’re gonna be aggressive, he just hasn’t got results.”

Nimmo is swinging at the first pitch more than he ever has in his career at 46.1 percent entering Thursday’s game, up from 32.6 percent last year, which was up from a near career-low 25.5 percent in 2023.

But almost across the board, the Statcast metrics for Nimmo are up from last year: barrel percentage is up 5.2 percent, hard-hit percentage up 6.2 percent, expected batting average up .028 (to .272), and expected slugging up .121 (to .529, a small sample size career high).

In Thursday’s game, Nimmo swung at just one first-pitch and hit the ball hard (over 95 mph) twice, but had nothing to show for it.

“But we know, the professional hitter that he is, he’s gonna control the strike zone better than anybody else,” Mendoza said. “He’s got power, he’s got the ability to use the whole field, and he’s an important player for us. 

“So, early on, maybe a little bit of not getting results, hitting the ball hard, being a little too aggressive. But overall, I like where he’s at.”

With Nimmo batting in the heart of the order this year as opposed to in the two hole, where he spent a significant portion of last year, Mendoza was asked if that means the veteran is having trouble striking the right balance in his approach from working counts and taking walks to being more on the front foot and driving in runs.

“I think the game will dictate at times when he’s going to be aggressive, when he needs to work an at-bat,” the manager said. “And also, when there’s traffic out there and they’re giving you a pitch to hit, we want to be aggressive. 

“And more times than not, the results are gonna be there. Yes, right now, we’re not getting those results and we’re not gonna overreact to it. As long as the process, our approach, the reasons behind it are good reasons.”

Mendoza still sees Nimmo as “one of the better decision makers” at the plate. “He’s gonna be fine.”

Center of mind

With Jose Siri on the IL for some time with the broken left tibia, Mendoza isn’t short of options to platoon in center field with Tyrone Taylor. And the manager said Thursday that he is comfortable with Nimmo playing there “anytime we need him to.”

“Perfectly fine with [Nimmo] not only playing [center] late in games but even starts and things like that,” he said, adding that they will check on his fitness each day to maintain his freshness as the club views the long-time Met as an “everyday player.”

“Also comfortable playing the other guys,” Mendoza said. “I think it’s gonna be match-up based, if I feel like I need to get another lefty in the lineup and we put [Jesse] Winker in left and we put Brandon in center, we’ll be fine.”

Could that mean LuisangelAcuña ends up in center? “We’ll see,” the skipper said, adding that José Azócar, added to the roster on Thursday, can play there, too. “But we are preparing Acuña for a potential start if we need him to. He’s playing well, so he’s earning opportunities here.”

Nimmo was asked about the potential shift on Wednesday and said he is open to playing “wherever they want me to.”

“It doesn’t take any skin off my nose. I don’t have the pride like that. I just want to help the team win,” he said.

Another option down the road is Jeff McNeil, who played in center field Thursday in a rehab start at Port St. Lucie. (McNeil will return to playing at second base over the weekend.)

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Skyler Brind'Amour Scores First NHL Goal With Dad, Rod, Behind The Bench

April 17, 2025: Ottawa, Ontario, CAN: Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour poses with son Skyler Brind'Amour as he holds his first NHL goal puck. (Carolina Hurricanes)

It was another loss for the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night, as they fell 7-5 to the Ottawa Senators in their regular season finale, but yet again, the special moments from the game outshined the outcome.

Specifically, the fact that Skyler Brind'Amour scored his first career NHL goal with his father Rod coaching him from the bench.

With less than a minute to go in the first period, the Hurricanes led a rush up ice and William Carrier put a shot on goal. The rebound popped out to Skyler in front and the rookie managed to get his stick on it for the goal.

"It was obviously pretty cool," Skyler said. "A nice play by Carrier there and I just had to tap it in, but it was nice after the first one they scored which was on me, to get one back.

"There's been a lot of emotions, a lot of fun and a little bit stressful at times too, but I'm just trying to enjoy it and play hard and go from there."

And while a first NHL goal is always special, especially when you can get it just two games into your NHL career, having your dad be behind the bench for it too has to be even more special.

Skyler became just the third player in NHL history to score their first career goal while their father was also the head coach, joining Muzz Patrick (1938) and Lynn Patrick (1934).

In total, he was just the eighth NHL player to have his dad coach him as well.

'We've Just Been Waiting To Get To The Next Level': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov On Final Regular Season Game'We've Just Been Waiting To Get To The Next Level': Rod Brind'Amour, Andrei Svechnikov On Final Regular Season GameThe Carolina Hurricanes concluded the regular season with a 7-5 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

But on the other side, it's probably a little tough to have your dad as your head coach too because you know they're going to be pointing out every single mistake.

"Right now, it hasn't really sunk in too much because it was a loss and he did turn it over on the one and it cost us a goal," Rod said. "But it's been a long journey for him and I'm happy that he can at least say that he tucked one in."

Rod Brind'Amour talked before his son's NHL debut, a night earlier in Montreal, that while he's a parent, he's also still the coach, so it's been a pretty interesting dynamic.

"It's interesting," Rod said pre-game in Montreal. "The more the game is getting closer, the more I'm getting nervous about it for that reason as a parent more than anything, but I have a job to do and that's been the focus here all along. Trying to get our guys prepared and you want each player to be prepared to give their best effort and that's the task here."

It's lucky too for Rod to be able to watch these milestones with his son.

He was there when Skyler won the NCAA Championship with Quinnipiac in 2023 and two seasons ago, his son got to make his NHL preseason debut at PNC Arena with the Florida Panthers.

Now, all of the action from the past two days have created, I'm sure, even more memories that won't soon be forgotten.

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Philadelphia Flyers Steal Top Draft Pick; Now What?

Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer is currently the No. 1 ranked player for 2025. Should the Flyers pass on a center? (Photo: Greg Wohlford, Erie Times)

The Philadelphia Flyers have clinched the fourth-best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but they also created more questions than answers.

The long-standing goal of the Flyers has been to, somehow, some way, draft the top-line center of their future. A running mate for Matvei Michkov, if you will.

Jett Luchanko, the 13th overall pick from last year's draft, has some potential, but very few believe he can reach the heights of a star center.

Fans, understandably, are still hung up on Minnesota Wild draft pick Zeev Buium, a wildly skilled, smooth defenseman who was available to the Flyers, only for the Flyers to trade down one spot to select speedster Luchanko instead.

Should the Flyers land the top draft selection this year, it creates an interesting paradox.

Erie Otters rearguard Matthew Schaefer, a World Junior Championships gold medalist and Hlinka-Gretzky Cup winner, is widely regarded as the top player heading into the 2025 draft.

Would the Flyers dare draft a defenseman and punt their center needs to the back of the first round, or even 2026?

The comparison, unfairly, at that, becomes Luchanko and Schaefer, or Buium and one of James Hagens, Anton Frondell, Michael Misa, Caleb Desnoyers, Jake O'Brien, and Roger McQueen.

Of course, the most likely outcome is Luchanko and one of the aforementioned centers, and no franchise defenseman in the cupboard once more.

Medicine Hat Tigers starlet Gavin McKenna has 129 points in 56 WHL games this season and will have another year of junior hockey before his name is called first in the 2026 draft.

Can the Flyers afford another dismal season just to have a chance - not a guarantee - at this player?

There are many, many factors to consider now and in the future. While Thursday night's 5-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres may feel like victory for Flyers fans, the job has only just begun.

According to Tankathon, the Flyers have a 9.5% chance at landing either the first or second pick in the 2025 draft, a 0.3% chance of landing the third pick, a 15.4% chance of staying put at fourth, a whopping 44.6% chance of moving back to fifth, and 20.8% chance of moving back two spots to sixth.

Could the Flyers pick first and take their top player? Sure. Could the Flyers move back two spots and take the de facto runt of the litter amongst the draft's top centers? Certainly!

This is all to say that, yes, the Flyers have put themselves in a great position to land a key future piece after stealing a loss (win?) from under the Sabres' noses, intentionally or not.

What they do next is equally as important as the road they took to get here.

The Flyers' front office will have a ton of work to do between now and June 27, when they're slated to pick thrice in the first round. Add in four second-round picks, and the Flyers can easily address the needs they have at defense, center, and goalie.

But, for now, all eyes are on Philadelphia heading into the unofficial start of the 2025 offseason.

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Blues Can Bank On Wealth Of Experience From Blue Line

St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington (50) can count on a wealth of experience of defenseman in front of him when the Stanley Cup playoffs start, including Cam Fowler (middle) and Colton Parayko (right). (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- When the likes of Jimmy Snuggerud, Zack Bolduc and Jake Neighbours lace the blades and suit up for the St. Louis Blues in each respective first Stanley Cup playoff game on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, there’s something comforting knowing that players that could tend to perhaps play tentatively or fall into a quagmire of nerves.

And even for guys like Jordan Kyrou and some of the other Blues, who open their best-of-7 Western Conference First Round series on Saturday, there will be quite the comfort factor knowing that should they try to make plays and accentuate their strengths, there will be plenty of experience behind them on the Blues’ blue line.

Of the 16 playoff teams and their top six defensemen that will likely suit up for Game 1 of each respective series, the Blues have the most experience among top six defensemen by a wide margin.

Their 5,462 combined regular season games’ worth of experience ranks 1,010 games more than the next closest foe, the Carolina Hurricanes at 4,452.

Does it matter that the Blues have a wealth of experience back there? It may not mean anything in this day and age, but that comfort level, especially for forwards, will ease a lot of minds and help them in knowing that if mistakes are made, Ryan Suter (1,526 games), Cam Fowler (1,042), Nick Leddy (1,042), Justin Faulk (980), Colton Parayko (723) and even Philip Broberg and his modest 149 games played will be the kind of presence they need.

“Just look at how many games our d-corps has played in the league,” said Bolduc, who will make his playoff debut. “It’s incredible. We’ve got so much confidence in them. We’re just happy to have them and we know all the experience they have. We know they’re there to repair the mistake that we’re doing in front of them. It’s good to have them behind us.

“They’re involved in the offense too. They’re so good on boxing out, breaking out. We’ve got some many ‘D’ capable of beating pressure, one or two guys just by themselves. It’s great and it’s fun to have them.”

Only the Vegas Golden Knights (480 games) have a top six among defensemen that have played in more playoff games than the Blues (465), so not only do the Blues, who are the second wild card in the Western Conference after finishing the regular season 44-30-8, have the wealth and knowledge of guys that have played a plethora of games, but they also have guys that have been on the big stage often and taken home Stanley Cup titles with Parayko (2019) and Leddy (2013).

“It’s great,” Kyrou said. “Veteran d-corps, all have played a ton of playoff games before. They know what it’s going to be like and I think it’s going to make it a lot easier on us forwards. Them just playing an experienced game.”

Compared to the Jets, whose top six game played in 3,694 regular season games and 191 playoff games, the Blues have a decided edge on the aura factor. Again, it may not matter when the puck is dropped but from a coaching perspective with Blues coach Jim Montgomery, he has six guys he can utilize in any situation at any time.

“It’s very beneficial,” Montgomery said. “I thought it was a big factor in how well we played our last home game to get into the playoffs (a 6-1 win against Utah Hockey Club) and I think it’s a big factor why since 4 Nations break we’ve been second in odd-man rushes against. Our defensemen make reads and their experience helps them make really good reads.”

It’s a great advantage to have considering this group is adept at handling the pressures of what playoff hockey brings.

“Luxury to have,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. “That’s experience, it’s guys that have played in big games, guys that have won Cups back there, guys that have played in the Stanley Cup Finals. Just a whole lot of experience.

“You go in there and they’re just a calming influence back there. They’re good at making not many mistakes at all and if they do, they’re very good at covering up for them. That’s just with guys with presence and composure with the puck, they’re big and they’re long, they skate well and they’re hard to play against.”

The calming presence may be the greatest benefactor and guys that will remain cool under pressure and just simplify the game for everyone.

“I think so. I think the one thing about playoff time is you don’t want to change who you are as a person,” said Fowler, who will play in his first playoff game since 2018 with the Anaheim Ducks. “What you did up to this point that has gotten you this far. I know myself and ‘Leds’ and ‘Flak,’ Parayko are a little bit more on the soft-spoken side, I think if guys see us and see how we’re approaching things and still maintaining that calm demeanor, I think it will help guys understand that it is just another game at the end of the day. Of course the stakes are higher and the intensity’s higher, but if they see us going through our normal routine and with that same demeanor, I think it will help guys settle in too.

“We like to think of it as an advantage. We have guys in here that have a lot of experience and I think that’s valuable come playoff time and we have guys that have won the Stanley Cup, so they’ve gotten to the highest of highs that you can in this game. You combine that with a lot of youthful energy and guys that are experiencing it for the first time, I think it’s a great mix. We’ve known for a long time that the back end has kind of been that veteran type of group for us and we’ve kind of taken on that role during the regular season too. We’ll have to continue to do that along with the ‘Schenners’ and ‘Tommer’ and those guys that have been through it as well on the forward side of things.”

When the Blues face the Jets (55-22-4), who claimed the Presidents’ Trophy and won the Central Division, going into the Winnipeg ‘White Out’ on Saturday would rattle a younger group. But knowing who is behind them, the Kyrous, the Bolducs, the Snuggeruds, Robert Thomas, Neighbours, even Schenn and Pavel Buchnevich can all focus on doing creative things instead of playing with their knees knocking.

“You have to let those guys be creative,” Fowler said. “That’s part of the reason they’re here and part of why we’ve had success is because we’ve had a good blend of creativity with some sandpaper mixed in up there too. Those guys should feel the freedom to go out and play and feel creative and that part shouldn’t change. It’s the emotional highs and lows of the playoffs that can be difficult to navigate. I think that’s where we’ll come in and understand that there’s going to be ebbs and flows to every series and we have to try and maintain an even keel kind of mindset as a team and I think that’s where guys with a little of more experience can help out with that.”

Rest assured that Jordan Binnington will also be quite pleased to have this group in front of him.

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A breakdown of teams, players, regular season games played and postseason games played:

St. Louis Blues (5,462/465): Ryan Suter 1,526/133; Cam Fowler 1,042/62; Nick Leddy 1,042/130; Justin Faulk 980/38; Colton Parayko 723/82; Philip Broberg 149/20.

Carolina Hurricanes (4,452/354): Brent Burns 1,496/120; Dmitri Orlov 866/92; Jaccob Slavin 745/71; Shayne Gostisbehere 688/32; Sean Walker 394/13; Jalen Chatfield 263/26.

Toronto Maple Leafs (4,354/263): Oliver Ekman Larsson 1,059/49; Morgan Rielly 872/57; Chris Tanev 866/60; Jake McCabe 643/18; Brandon Carlo 636/72; Simon Benoit 278/7.

Florida Panthers (4,156/338): Dmitry Kulikov 1,018/53; Seth Jones 860/37; Nate Schmidt 741/76; Aaron Ekblad 732/64; Gustav Forsling 477/61; Niko Mikkola 328/47; *Uvis Balinskis 102/0 – Ekblad is suspended for the first round but was included in total over Balinskis.

Vegas Golden Knights (3,916/480): Alex Pietrangelo 1,087/139; Brayden McNabb 822/93; Noah Hanifin 758/34; Shea Theodore 564/114; Nicolas Hague 364/33; Zach Whitecloud 321/67.

Winnipeg Jets (3,694/191): Luke Schenn 1,072/47; Josh Morrissey 622/42; Dylan DeMelo 636/29; Colin Miller 572/41; Neal Pionk 536/22; Dylan Samberg 216/10.

New Jersey Devils (3,593/290): Brenden Dillon 974/83; Dougie Hamilton 835/66; Brian Dumoulin 706/81; Brett Pesce 699/57; Johnathan Kovacevic 224/0; Luke Hughes 155/3.

Washington Capitals (3,355/207): John Carlson 1,088/127; Trevor van Riemsdyk 682/35; Jakob Chychrun 540/9; Matt Roy 438/18; Rasmus Sandin 308/6; Martin Fehervary 299/12.

Tampa Bay Lightning (Lightning 3,231/444): Victor Hedman 1,130/165; Ryan McDonagh 1,009/191; Erik Cernak 440/79; J.J. Moser 258/0; Nick Perbix 219/8; Darren Raddysh 175/9; *Emil Lilleberg 112/0 – extra D not included in total games.

Minnesota Wild (3,183/206): Jared Spurgeon 933/67; Zach Bogosian 929/54; Jonas Brodin 853/67; Jake Middleton 306/12; Brock Faber 162/6; Zeev Buium 0/0; *Jon Merril 682/37; *Declan Chisholm 99/0 – Merrill and Chisholm not part of total games.

Dallas Stars (2,960/280): Cody Ceci 871/88; Matt Dumba 737/54; Esa Lindell 684/85; Ilya Lyubushkin 433/14; Thomas Harley 197/39; Lian Bichsel 38/0; * Miro Heiskanen 475/85 – Heiskanen is injured and not part of total games.

Los Angeles Kings (2,867/226): Drew Doughty 1,206/95; Joel Edmundson 602/82; Vladislav Gavrikov 434/23; Mikey Anderson 344/18; Jordan Spence 179/8; Brandt Clarke 102/0.

Ottawa Senators (2,679/49): Travis Hamonic 899/22; Nick Jensen 632/27; Tomas Chabot 512/0; Artem Zub 306/0; Jake Sanderson 235/0; Tyler Kleven 95/0.

Edmonton Oilers (2,576/223): Darnell Nurse 716/72; Brett Kulak 580/76; Troy Stecher 560/21; Evan Bouchard 347/53; Jake Walman 267/1; Ty Emberson 106/0.

Colorado Avalanche (2,546/310): Josh Manson 626/58; Samuel Girard 548/60; Devon Toews 473/77; Ryan Lindgren 405/43; Cale Makar 395/72; Sam Malinski 99/0; * Erik Johnson 1,023/55 – Johnson not added to total games.

Montreal Canadiens (2,158/93): David Savard 870/57; Mike Matheson 627/20; Alexandre Carrier 296; 16; Kaden Guhle 169/0; Jordan Struble 112/0; Lane Hutson 84/0.

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‘That Was Kind Of My Era Of Hockey’: Scott Laughton Ready To Write His Own Chapter With Maple Leafs In Battle Of Ontario Revival

Mar 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs left wing Scott Laughton (24) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Scott Laughton is ready for the revival of the Battle of Ontario. 

It’s been more than two decades since the last playoff matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, and for Laughton, it’s a chance to step into the rivalry he grew up watching. 

"I watched the highlight pack yesterday. I remember watching guys like Darcy Tucker, Shayne Corson and all those guys. That was kind of my era of hockey, and I thought it was the best era of hockey. It was amazing, so really excited to get going,” said Laughton post-game on Thursday. 

Originally from Oakville, Ont., Laughton watched the Leafs defeat the Senators four consecutive postseasons in a row from 2000-04. Now, he’ll be on the ice for the first playoff Battle of Ontario in 21 years.

'It's Going To Be An Absolute War': Maple Leafs Prepare For Intense Battle Of Ontario Playoffs Series Against Senators 'It's Going To Be An Absolute War': Maple Leafs Prepare For Intense Battle Of Ontario Playoffs Series Against Senators John Tavares has fond memories of watching the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in the early 2000s.  

The Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division title on Tuesday night with a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres, locking in a first-round series against Ottawa and home-ice advantage. The best-of-seven begins Sunday night in Toronto, and for Laughton, it couldn’t come at a better time for the 30-year-old.

"You see the buzz and how much people care here, and that’s what you want in a franchise and to go to battle for. So, yeah, it’s an exciting time. I haven’t played playoff hockey in a while, this is big for me," said Laughton. 

Maple Leafs' First-Round Playoff Scheduled Against Senators RevealedMaple Leafs' First-Round Playoff Scheduled Against Senators RevealedThe first Battle of Ontario in the postseason since 2004 will begin on Sunday in Toronto.

Laughton’s last playoff appearance came during the 2019-20 shortened season with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he posted five goals, four assists, and nine points in 15 games. In total, he’s played in 24 career postseason games, all with the Flyers, putting up six goals and 10 points across three separate Stanley Cup Playoff runs.

This year, after arriving in Toronto via trade on March 7, Laughton has been working to find his footing. His numbers don’t jump off the page with two goals and two assists in 20 games, but his play has started to come around at just the right time. He finished the regular season on a two-game point streak, including an assist in Tuesday’s division-clinching win and an overtime game-winner against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.

“Before, if you go back to three games now, I think he's really come around for us,” head coach Craig Berube explained after the win. “I thought in Buffalo he was excellent, but before that, he was even playing good hockey. Got some chemistry going with those guys. Starting to feel a lot more comfortable. I was happy for him to get that goal in OT. Obviously, if you score a goal, you feel good about yourself. But it's not the goal so much as how he's playing the game.”

‘He’s Overthinking Things Instead Of Just Playing’: Scott Laughton Remains Pointless With Maple Leafs, Craig Berube Urges Forward To ‘Loosen Up’‘He’s Overthinking Things Instead Of Just Playing’: Scott Laughton Remains Pointless With Maple Leafs, Craig Berube Urges Forward To ‘Loosen Up’The Toronto Maple Leafs have begun to find their stride, securing back-to-back victories over the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche. However, one player in particular remains stuck in a slump – newly acquired Scott Laughton, who has yet to register a point in six games with the Leafs and continues to struggle to find his place in his hometown.

With the Leafs resting their normal starters in the extra frame, Laughton took advantage of the opportunity.

“I let them know that I was ready,” said Laughton of his overtime goal.

It’s exactly the kind of confidence and momentum the Leafs are hoping carries over into the postseason – and the vision they had when they acquired the 12-year NHL veteran.

Toronto closed out the regular season with five straight wins, including Thursday’s 4-3 comeback victory against Detroit after trailing 3-1 in the third period. They finished with 108 points, fourth-most in the NHL.

“It was nice, I think, to get out in overtime and the season on a high note, I think, is big. We found a way to come back, Taney scores us a big one, and we found a way. So now the real fun starts, and it's exciting to get some rest here and get prepared for a really good series,” said Laughton.

For Laughton, who hasn’t had many chances to chase a Stanley Cup, this is a golden opportunity. Now playing for his hometown Maple Leafs, the forward has the chance to write his own chapter.

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Mets’ Griffin Canning sees ‘blueprint’ for success in win over Cardinals

Two days after an illness meant he would miss his normal day in the rotation and sent the Mets’ front office scrambling through a series of roster moves, Griffin Canning made St. Louis Cardinals batters sick for six innings in New York’s 4-1 win Thursday night at Citi Field.

“I feel like tonight is kind of the blueprint,” Canning said after allowing one run on three hits over six innings while striking out eight. “Tonight is how I want to pitch.”

Canning finished his outing retiring nine-straight Cardinals, including five going down swinging.

“I thought the slider was good again today, the way he uses both slider-changeup, but the fastball at the top of the zone to finish off hitters,” manager Carlos Mendoza said, adding it was “hundred percent” the best he’s seen Canning’s four-seamer.

“He executed well,” the skipper said of the heater. “It was high enough to get by the hitters. Good carry, good velo, and used it effectively.”

Canning threw his fastball 45 times out of 102 pitches, and got seven whiffs and eight called strikes. The right-hander said he noticed the Cardinals’ lefties were “a hundred percent selling out for the changeup” early in the game and adjusted to get on the same page with Luis Torrens behind the plate.

“Just kinda felt like they were sitting off-speed,” he said. “Felt like the fastball had pretty good life, rolling what was working and on the same page as Luis back there.”

Mendoza remembered facing Canning last year and that the right-hander really liked his fastball. The plan against him was to “take away his fastball, knowing that the secondary pitches were really, really good.”

The biggest difference this season?

“The biggest adjustment is how he’s using his arsenal,” the manager said. “He’s getting ahead with a lot of different pitches, whether it’s the slider, the changeup. Using the fastball effectively. On hitters’ counts, he’s not just throwing four-seam fastballs there. He’s using all of his pitches. 

“... and when he’s ahead, he’s sneaking fastballs by hitters. I think it’s an adjustment, and I think he’s got the ability to read the situation and read the lineups and hitters are trying to do to him.”

Of course, the slider was quite good as he got six whiffs, five called strikes, and six foul balls from his 27 offerings. 

Canning, while leaning heavily on his big three pitches, noted he threw a few cutters to left-handed batters late in the game and five curveballs, after only throwing two in previous outings.

“The hitters are good, they’re gonna go into a game watching video and having an approach against me,” he said. “Being able to throw something in that’s a little different speed, little different look kinda helps me in the long run.”

The long run was something the Mets were hoping to get from Canning in Thursday’s start, with the bullpen thin after Huascar Brazobán was used as an opener and Justin Hagenman was called up for his MLB debut in Wednesday’s extra-inning loss at Minnesota. 

“We needed at least five from him,” Mendoza said, adding that while they “felt good about him taking the ball,” they would be watching him closely because “he was weak a couple of days ago.”

Canning spared everyone the details of the illness, just saying with a broad smile, “I just didn’t feel very good.” And after a pair of walks in the fourth and a run in the third, he settled into things, retiring six straight batters to get him to 84 pitches through those five innings.

“Watching him go out there and continue to execute pitches, hold the velo. He wasn’t missing his spots. Good outing by him,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza had Reed Garrett ready in the sixth if Canning got into any trouble, but after a nine-pitch strikeout started the frame, a pair of groundouts got him to a quality start and bridged the gap to the back-end of the Mets bullpen, who slammed the door shut.

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Mets' Jeff McNeil plays six innings in center field for Single-A St. Lucie

Jeff McNeil continued his rehab with the Mets' Single-A affiliate down in Port St. Lucie, but Thursday saw him start in center field.

With Jose Siri down for weeks due to a leg injury, the Mets are trying to figure out who can play center field alongside Tyrone Taylor, and they are trying to give McNeil a look at the position.

In his first crack at center field on Thursday, McNeil was good, making all his plays and even making a running grab. The only ding on McNeil's start was that he went 0-for-3 at the plate, and is not 3-for-11 in four games, but he completed six innings in center field, which should be encouraging for the Mets.

Manager Carlos Mendoza has given a few names as center field options moving forward. In addition to Taylor, Brandon Nimmo was named and the veteran outfielder is open to making the change from left field to help the team out.

"I'll play wherever they want me to. If that requires center field, then that's where I'll be," Nimmo said Wednesday. "We’ll see how they want to write things up as we move forward."

Luisangel Acuña is also a candidate, but while the young infielder has some experience in center down in the minors -- 31 games in 2024 -- it's not his natural position and he'll need reps in the majors. But the Mets are prepping Acuña for the task.

"We are preparing Acuña for a potential start if we need him to," Mendoza said on Thursday. "He's playing well. He's earning opportunities here."

The team also brought in José Azócar on Thursday, so they'll have another outfield option if they choose to go that way, but when McNeil returns from his injury, is when Mendoza and the rest of the organization will have decisions to make.

McNeil has made three appearances (two starts) in center field in his big league career. All those times in center came in 2023 when he had six chances and made six putouts.



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Penguins End Season On High Note, Defeat Caps, 5-2

Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) reacts with center Connor Dewar (19) after Crosby scored a goal against the Washington Capitals during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

It's difficult to imagine a more fitting end to the 2024-25 season - and any season, really - than one last matchup between Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

That's what happened in the Pittsburgh Penguins' final game of the season on Thursday, and Crosby's team came ready to play.

The Penguins defeated the first-place Washington Capitals, 5-2, in yet another contest that saw Crosby and Ovechkin each light the lamp. Bryan Rust also hit the 30-goal plateau for the first time in his NHL career, and he had two tallies on the evening.

The rivalry between these two teams, and two all-time greats, never gets old. Even though the teams will part ways in much different directions - the Penguins will get an early start to their summer and the Capitals are bound for a first-round matchup against the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup playoffs - it's still a sight to behold two decades later.

"It's cool," Rust said. "Two guys who, from my point of view, almost saved the league. It was in not the greatest spot 20 years ago, and these two guys - these two young bucks - came into the league and took it by storm. Two high-character guys who have only gotten better and shown that they're the best of their generation, if not two of the best players of all time.

"Seeing them on the ice tonight after two huge milestones for each of them this year... I think it's really cool, and the hockey geek in me was really excited to be a part of that."

The game got off to a good start for Washington, as forward Connor McMichael potted his 26th goal of the season just four minutes into the game. But Rust responded with this 30th goal just 46 seconds later off a feed from Ville Koivunen, and the 1-1 tie was taken into first intermission.

Pittsburgh received a power play a little more than six minutes into the second period, when Capitals forward Andrew Mangiapane went off for holding the stick. Rust struck again, this time on a ridiculous no-look backhand feed from Crosby cross-crease. That point secured the sixth 90-point season of Crosby's career.

Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) and Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) share a laugh during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

A few minutes later, Crosby added a goal of his own, going to one knee in his office just below the right circle to snipe home a feed from Philip Tomasino to make it 3-1 Penguins.

Then, just as Crosby scored a signature goal, Ovechkin followed it up with one of his own on the power play, which came in the form of a heavy one-timer from the top of the left circle to cut the Penguins' lead to 3-2.

But Pittsburgh completely took over in the third period, getting tallies from Danton Heinen - his first this season as a Penguin - just as shorthanded time expired and from Tomasino just 15 seconds later. 

It was a great team effort from top to bottom, but - although they will end the season on a high note - it doesn't make it any less disappointing that they won't be suiting up for the playoffs along with the Capitals.

"We kind of know that we should have won a lot more games earlier in the year," Rust said. "Which is, kind of, a tougher pill to swallow that if we would've played a little but more like this through the first large part of the year, maybe we'd be playing on Saturday, Sunday, Monday, whatever it is. But, unfortunately, we didn't."

Like Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipLike Ovechkin's Capitals, Penguins Owe It To Crosby To Right The ShipOn Sunday, the hockey world got to witness Alexander Ovechkin - The Great “8” - surpass The Great “One” for the most goals in NHL history.

Here are some notes and observations from the final game of 2024-25:

- It's really a great thing to see Rust hit the 30-goal mark, Rickard Rakell hit the 70-point mark (a new career-high), Crosby hit the 90-point mark, and Matt Grzelcyk hit the 40-point mark. Aside from Crosby, all of those were career-firsts.

The Penguins are one of only five teams with three 30-goal-scorers this season (Rust, Crosby, and Rakell), and Crosby is the only player in NHL history to record three 90-point seasons over the age of 35. 

Just really incredible stuff from some the veterans on this Penguins team this season.

- It was easy to tell that Tomasino had a lot to play for in this game.

Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Philip Tomasino (53) celebrates his goal with the Penguins bench against the Washington Capitals during the third period at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

A pending restricted free agent, Tomasino, 23, was trying to make something happen on just about every shift. He was getting creative in the offensive zone, trying to skate and deke around guys to get to the danger areas of the ice, shooting the puck at every given opportunity... and he made a nice play to set up Crosby's goal.

It's hard to say what the Penguins are going to do with each of their pending-RFAs. They only have so many open roster spots, and with young prospects knocking on the door, development is the priority. They won't want to block any players from being where they should be, but they also can't rely entirely on prospects to fill out the depth of their 2025-26 roster.

If I was Dubas, I would bring back Tomasino on a one-year "prove-it" deal. I suspect something like that will happen. But you never know, and these guys certainly can't take anything for granted. 

Tomasino certainly didn't. He left it all out there Thursday.

Which RFAs Should The Penguins Keep?Which RFAs Should The Penguins Keep?It should be quite the summer for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the free agent market.

- I liked what I saw from the fourth line of Sam Poulin, Vasily Ponomarev, and Valtteri Puustinen on Thursday. I thought they served their function as an energy line and generated some good opportunities on the forecheck.

I don't expect Poulin or Puustinen to factor in heavily regarding the Penguins' future at this point. But, that's not to say they couldn't be somewhat effective fourth-line players when needed. 

- Erik Karlsson has been a polarizing figure among Penguins' fans since his arrival in the summer of 2023.

There is no question that Karlsson is in a complete league of his own in terms of the type of player he is. Few players in the game can impact a game as strongly as he does on both sides of the coin.

And, man, was this a vintage Karlsson performance against the Capitals.

He made a gorgeous play leading up to a prime scoring opportunity for Rickard Rakell during the first period, pirhouetting around a defender, smoothly carrying the puck into the left circle, and feeding Rakell across the ice with an open net that he simply missed. His skating was on full display, and he kept skating down low in the offensive zone and taking the reins, just as he does when he's at his best.

This is the version of Karlsson the Penguins need - and have needed - far more often. And, depending on what happens this summer, this may have been the final game for Karlsson in a Penguins' uniform. 

We'll see what happens. But if he does remain in Pittsburgh next season, the coaching staff and Karlsson need to figure out a happy medium that allows him to do this kind of stuff more often. Whether that's coach or player... the jury is out on.

- I feel like a broken record at this point, but I can't say enough how impressed I am by Koivunen. 

Apr 17, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Ville Koivunen (41) reacts after being named a star of the game against the Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

His instincts are just so far beyond his age. He looks like a natural out there with Crosby and Rust, and he just knows where to go and what play to make. He makes the right decision almost every time.

He appeared to finally have his first NHL goal in the third period, as he crashed into the net-front and took a few swats. However, he put the puck in the net with his hand, so it was called back.

Regardless, he recorded two points on the evening and had seven points in eight NHL games.

What this kid has shown in a small sample size should give the Penguins a strong dose of encouragement heading into next season. There is absolutely no way this guy should be left off of the NHL roster from the get-go. He and Rutger McGroarty have earned their spots.

- There was a really nice video tribute and a great ovation for Ovechkin during the first commercial break in the first period. And it was well-deserved.

This rivalry between the Caps and Pens - and between Ovechkin and Crosby - has been one of the very best in sports. Maybe ever. What they both accomplished this season by beating Gretzky in their own signature way won't soon be forgotten.

I said it after the last game, and I'll say it again: Enjoy this, folks. It has truly been a remarkable 20 years so far.

Ovechkin Proud Of What He & Crosby Have Done For NHL, Reiterates He's Not Retiring YetOvechkin Proud Of What He & Crosby Have Done For NHL, Reiterates He's Not Retiring YetWhen Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby came into the league, they didn't exactly take kindly to one another, having been pitted against one another right from the get-go while the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins remained intertwined in a heated rivalry.

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Igor Shesterkin makes 27 saves as Rangers end season with 4-0 win over Lightning

NEW YORK (AP) — Mika Zibanejad scored twice and Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves as the New York Rangers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-0 on Thursday night in the regular-season finale for both teams.

Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider also scored for the Rangers, who missed the playoffs a year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s best team.

The Lightning host the defending-champion Florida Panthers in the first game of a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series on Tuesday.

Trocheck scored his 26th goal this season — his sixth short-handed — at 1:02 of the middle period. The Rangers lead the NHL with 18 short-handed goals this season.

Kreider scored at 4:02 of the third to make it 2-0, then Zibanejad scored at 12:50 and 16:24.

The shutout was the sixth this season for Shesterkin, who finished with a career-worst 27-29-5 mark.

The playoff-bound Lightning finished with 47 wins and 102 points.

Lightning netminder Jonas Johansson made 19 saves.

Takeaways

Rangers: New York ended with a 19-19-3 home record. Last season, they were 30-11-0 at Madison Square Garden.

Lightning: Jake Guentzel played his 600th career game. The 30-year-old forward had 41 goals and 39 assists in his first season with the Lightning.

Key moment

Every Ranger wore a blue No. 40 jersey with “Rosen” on the back during warmups to honor Hall of Fame broadcaster Sam Rosen, who called his final game after 40 years as the team’s television play-by-play voice. The jerseys also included a patch on the front with Rosen’s famous call: “It’s a Power Play Goal!”

Key stat

Tampa Bay has made the postseason eight straight seasons and since 2014-15 they lead the league with 146 postseason games and 87 playoff wins. The Lightning won back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021 and lost to Colorado in the 2022 Final.

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Griffin Canning strikes out eight, Mark Vientos homers in Mets' 4-1 win over Cardinals

Mark Vientos' first home run of the season started a four-run fourth inning that was all Griffin Canning needed as he twirled a quality six innings with eight strikeouts in the Mets' 4-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday night at Citi Field.

New York improved to 12-7 on the year (6-1 at home). St. Louis fell to 9-10 (1-6 on the road).

Here are the takeaways...

- Canning, who had his start pushed back a day due to illness, issued a pair of walks, missing outside to right-handers with sliders, but stranded the runners in the first. In the third, Canning allowed a leadoff single (that reached third on a steal and wild pitch), but his fastball got Lars Nootbaar and Wilson Contreras swinging before a bullet of an infield single scored the Cardinals’ first run.

After a leadoff bunt single in the fourth, Canning went back to the well of the high fastball to get back-to-back swinging strikeouts before a 3-2 slider in the dirt ended the inning with his sixth strikeout.

Canning finished very strong, retiring the last nine batters he faced to close the door with a quality start of one run on three hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six innings on 102 pitches (65 strikes).

- Vientos ended his 62 at-bat home run drought with a leadoff shot off the foul pole in right. The third baseman took a fastball up and away and just kept it fair the other way, 339 feet down the line (100.1 mph off the bat). He finished the day 1-for-4.

- After the Vientos homer in the second, the Mets tacked on, starting with Starling Marte smacking a double to left to snap a 0-for-9 stretch. With two down, Brett Baty grabbed an RBI, serving a ball the other way for a softly hit single. Tyrone Taylor then lashed a first-pitch up the middle to give Francisco Lindor a chance with men on base.

Lindor, who singled his first time up, entered Thursday just 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position on the year. With the runners off on a 3-2 pitch, he rocketed a single to right to score one run, but got caught in no man’s land when the relay through was cut off. However, the Cardinals' defense failed to execute the rundown and Taylor smartly was able to dash home to give the Mets a 4-0 lead before Lindor was tagged out.

After the funky second, Cardinals starter Andre Pallante retired 12 of the next 13 batters with Lindor cracking his third single of the night, lifting a low breaking pitch into center, in the fifth.

- In relief for the Mets, Reed Garrett was first up and the Cards made him earn the scoreless seventh inning as they fouled off 10 pitches. AJ Minter tossed a perfect eighth on nine pitches, the inning after Garrett needed 29 to retire the side with a walk.

Edwin Diaz walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth for the third straight outing. But the closer got Alec Burleson looking at a fastball, Jordan Walker to swing through a slider, and Nolan Gorman to weakly ground out to first to pick up his fourth save of the year.

 - Juan Sotoscorched a ball up the middle (106.7 mph) but right at shortstop Brandon Donovan for a 6-4-3 double play in the first. Soto chased a high slider and then chased one in the dirt on a half-swing to go down on strikes his second time up. He smashed a 1-2 slider on the outside corner (97.7 mph) that was deftly handled by Nolan Arenado at third.

The two balls in play had a .530 and .500 expected batting average, but accounted for no hits and three outs. Baseball, huh? He finished 0-for-3 with a walk.

- Baty made a fine play in the first, moving quickly to his left on a sharply hit ball to get a force at second. And he cracked a double into the corner in right with two down in the seventh to give him back-to-back multi-hit games after not having any all season. He finished 2-for-3 and was lifted for Luisangel Acuña. 

- Pete Alonso made a nice over-the-shoulder grab in foul territory to start the second inning. The slugger, who has been red-hot at the plate, went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

- Brandon Nimmo went 0-for-3 with a pair of hard-hit groundouts to see his average dip to .194 on the year.

Game MVP: Griffin Canning

The right-hander threw 14 first-pitch strikes to 23 batters and kept the Cardinals off balance all game. And in the 19th game of the year, he was the first Met pitcher to break the century mark on pitches.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets continue the series with the Cardinals on Friday at Citi Field at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Left-hander David Peterson (2.70 ERA, 1.380 WHIP in 16.2 innings) climbs the hill for New York. Righty Miles Mikolas (9.00 ERA, 1.615 WHIP in 13 innings) starts for St. Louis.

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LIVE Game Thread FINAL: Calgary Flames 5 Los Angeles Kings 1

Jayne Kamin-Oncea

The Los Angeles Kings (48-24-9) will host the Calgary Flames (40-27-14) at Crypto.com Arena to close out the regular season for both teams. The Pacific Division rivals find themselves going in direct directions: Los Angeles is set to host Edmonton in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs on April 21st, while Calgary failed to make the playoff cut.

Last Ten

Los Angeles 8-2-0

Calgary 6-1-3

Top Scorers

LA- Adrian Kempe 35 G 38 A 73 PTS

CAL-Nazeem Kadri 35 G 32 A 65 PTS

Notable

Forward Taylor Ward will make his NHL debut for the Kings tonight.

With at least one point tonight, LA would set the franchise record for most points in a season.

1st Period

We are underway at Crypto!

Byfield and Fiala go in a 2-on-1 but can't convert.

Calgary gets some o-zone time and Kadri gets off a wrister that is eaten up by Rittich.

Taylor Ward can't handle the pass on what could have been a Grade-A scoring chance.

Mikey Andersson enters the zone with speed and finds Trevor Moore in deep but Vladar makes the save.

BIG SAVE from Vladar on a walk-in by Taylor Ward who was looking for his first NHL goal.

PENALTY Samuel Helenius goes off two minutes for hooking.

Coleman gets offs a hard wrist shot but Big Save Dave makes the pad save.

LA is back to even-strength.

Calgary outshooting LA 9-4 with about 7 minutes left in the 1st.

Gavrikov turns the puck over and Rittich bails him out with a nice save. Rittich looks dialed in tonight.

Akil Thomas bid is denied by Vladar. 

So far, LA looks like a team that is thinking about the playoffs. Not a lot of engagement.

Excellent save from Rittich on a hard one-timer from Hunt.

First shift from LA where they have had some sustained zone time. Hard shot from the point by Doughty.

LA waking up a little before the final horn on the 1st. Hard shot from Gavrikov gets through to Vladar. 

END OF ONE

Shots on goal

CAL 12

LA 10

A very lethargic start from the Kings tonight. Could easily be down a few goals in this one but Rittich has come through with some big saves. LA will need to be much better in the second period.

2nd Period

The puck is down in the second frame in LA.

GOAL  Kadri walks out from behind the goal line and roofs one over Rittich's pads. 1-0 CAL. Kadri sets a career season high with this 34th goal of the year.

Good shift from the Kings, generating a few shots and some traffic in front of Vladar.

Byfield makes a nice move and then fires off a missile that draws iron. Fiala recovers the puck and is tripped up. LA to the power play.

Good pressure and puck movement from the Kings but Vladar keeps them off the board.

Bahl wraps up Akil Thomas after the whistle and Helenius comes in to stick up for Akil.

Parekh trips Mikey Andersson and the Kings are back on the power play. Fiala fires a rocket over the net. 

Good pressure from LA, feels like they are close to converting.

Backhand chance from Lewis but Vladar gloves it down.

END OF TWO

Shot on goal

CAL  12   6

LA     10   5

LA looked much in the second period and had more sustained o-zone time. LA had some good looks on the power play but couldn't find the back of the net. A lot of work to do in the 3rd if they want to win for the 32nd time at home this year. 

3rd Period

Taylor Ward wide open in front of Vladar but can't beat the Calgary netminder over the glove. 

Laferriere walks in but can't beat Vladar.

Turcotte hits the post. Good jump from the Kings at the start of this period.

Byfield to the penalty box for a high-stick on Parekh.

Byfield and Fiala on a 2-on-1 but Vladar robs Fiala.

GOAL Counter by Calgary and Morton drives to the net and flips the puck past Rittich. 2-0 CAL. This is Sam Morton's first NHL goal.

GOAL Kadri connects for his 35th of year and the Flames are starting to blow this one open.

GOAL Zane Parekh joins in on the fun and scores his 1st NHL goal. You can put this one in the fridge. The jello is jigglin' and the butter is getting hard. 

GOAL Mikael Backland top shelf wrister from the left circle.  His 15th of the year. This Calgary team doesn't look like a non-playoff team tonight. As the for the Kings, head coach Jim Hiller cannot be happy about this effort from his team tonight. 

LA to the power play.

GOAL Taylor Ward knocks in a rebound from in front to score his 1st NHL goal, breaking up Vladar's shutout.

FINAL: CAL 5, LA 1

Shot on goal

CAL 12   6    11      29

LA    10   5    16     31

The Kings never looked ready to play in this one. If they come out like this against Edmonton on Monday, they should probably expect a similar result. In a certain sense, however, this was the Kings' B Squad, in that Kempe, Trevor Moore, and Phil Danault were all scratched. 

Sam Morton (CAL), Zayne Parekh (CAL), and Taylor Ward (LA) all scored their 1st NHL goal.

NEXT UP: Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles, Round 1, Game 1, April 21st, 7:00 Pacific, Crypto.com Arena.

 

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Islanders Clinch Top-10 Lottery Odds At 2025 NHL Draft

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The New York Islanders will enter the NHL draft lottery with the 10th-best odds of moving into a top-two pick.

They will have a 3.5% chance of landing the first overall pick and a 3.7% chance of landing second overall.

There is a 73.3% chance the team remains at the 10th-overall slot, while an 18.4% chance of moving to 11th and a 0.9% chance of falling to 12th.

The Islanders have not made a top-10 selection since 2014 when they selected Michael Dal Colle at No. 5.

The draft lottery is set to take place on either May 5 or May 6.

Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.