Victorian all-rounder Tess Flintoff is one step closer towards an Australian debut after being awarded her maiden national contract.
Nashville Predators Rout Dallas Stars, 5-1, in 2024-25 Season Finale
The Nashville Predators (30-44-8, 68 points) ended the 2024-25 season on a high note with a 5-1 defeat of the Dallas Stars (50-26-7, 107 points) at Bridgestone Arena.
The Predators will finish seventh in the Central Division this season, ahead of only the Chicago Blackhawks. Dallas is locked into second place in the Central Division and will have home ice advantage over the third-place Colorado Avalanche when the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins Saturday.
How the Predators Lined Up vs. Dallas
Bunting-O'Reilly-Evangelista
Forsberg-Stamkos-Marchessault
L'Heureux-Svechkov-Wood
Smith-McCarron-Vrana
Skjei-Blankenburg
Oesterle-Barron
Englund-Del Gaizo
Saros
Annunen
Extra: Sissons (week-to-week, lower-body)
IR: Lauzon, Wilsby, Josi
Predators vs. Stars: Live Updates
First Period (NSH 3, DAL 1)
It took just 16 seconds for Dallas to jump out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a goal from Mason Marchment. He was assisted by his line mates, former Predators forward Matt Duchene and Tyler Seguin – the latter of whom was making his return to the lineup for the first time since Dec. 1 after undergoing hip surgery.
Nashville was able to get out of some early penalty trouble and tie the game on a one-timer from Jordan Oesterle at the 13:02 mark of the first period.
Starting off with a defenseman goal?? YES PLEASE! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ePbSX3HQWK
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 17, 2025
Jakub Vrana gave the Predators their first lead of the game less than a minute later on a deflection at the top of the crease to make it 2-1.
TIP TIP GOAL! pic.twitter.com/VTibtMG8pf
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 17, 2025
With 15 seconds remaining in the first period, Justin Barron shoveled a loose puck under a sprawling Jake Oettinger to give the Predators a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
JB just sneaking it across 🤫 pic.twitter.com/3WAGHpLAIw
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 17, 2025
Second Period (NSH 5, DAL 1)
Jonathan Marchessault extended the Predators' lead to 4-1 when he tapped in a backdoor pass from Steven Stamkos at the 6:31 mark of the second period.
A Brendan Smith cross-checking penalty put the Predators on the man advantage near the halfway point of the second period, and it took Ryan O'Reilly just 20 seconds to capitalize with a power-play goal to give Nashville a 5-1 lead.
WIDE OPEN O'REILLY 🤯 pic.twitter.com/ahC49lsPkW
— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) April 17, 2025
Third Period (NSH 5, DAL 1)
Casey DeSmith came in to mind the Dallas net for Jake Oettinger in the third period. He stopped all 12 shots he faced for the 5-1 final.
Kings' season-ending loss exposes roster flaws heading into crucial offseason
Kings' season-ending loss exposes roster flaws heading into crucial offseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – The Dallas Mavericks outscoring the Kings 44-19 on Wednesday night led to the end of Sacramento’s turbulent 2024-25 NBA season.
But digging deeper, the Mavericks also exposed some of the Kings’ biggest concerns entering the offseason.
The Kings’ roster is flawed. Terribly.
Sacramento led Dallas 29-27 after the first quarter in Wednesday’s Western Conference play-in game, but a lack of offensive rhythm mixed with careless turnovers was the perfect recipe for disaster to strike in Sacramento. Add that to the failure of getting consistent defensive stops on the other end of the floor.
The Kings shot 7 of 19 (36.8 percent) in the second quarter and turned the ball over 10 times in those 12 minutes, something interim coach Doug Christie called “unacceptable” after the 120-106 loss.
Most of those giveaways came from miscommunication and bad passes while running – or attempting to run – the offense. Five of them came from star center Domantas Sabonis, while Zach LaVine added two, and then three more the rest of the game.
“No one tries to turn the ball over, obviously,” LaVine said postgame. “It’s just guys trying to make the right play or trying to get to the ball and get fouled. I think there were a couple times where passes didn’t go the right way. I know I had a couple where I was trying to in there and get fouled or create something that got tipped or whatever.
“So, you know, you wish you could have them all back. You wish you could play a perfect game, but we just didn’t have enough to win tonight.”
Didn’t have enough. Bingo.
That is when having a true point guard, someone the team can trust handling the ball, would have come in handy for the Kings. Since trading De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs in early February, the Kings have experimented with different options such as Malik Monk, who missed the season’s final four games due to a left calf strain, and Keon Ellis.
But neither Monk nor Ellis is listed as a point guard.
While LaVine agreed that a point guard-less offense threw off some of their offensive flow Wednesday, he didn’t want to make excuses for the ugly loss.
“Yeah, but everybody has stuff they’re dealing with at this time of the year,” LaVine said postgame. “It’s just figuring out how to overcome it. No team is really fully healthy at the end of the year. There’s been trades and people hurt, people fired. Everybody’s dealing with something.
“Obviously, those guys are big, key parts of our system. So it hurts, but we just need to find a way to win just like they did.”
Sacramento signed former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz in mid-February to add needed depth at the point guard position, but he averaged just over eight minutes in 21 games and recorded seven DNPs (Did Not Play). He was benched all but two minutes of garbage time in Wednesday’s game.
Kings rookie Devin Carter ran the point at times Wednesday, stringing together a promising performance in nearly 22 minutes off the bench. He finished with 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and 1 of 2 from downtown, with four rebounds, two assists, one steal and zero turnovers. Outside of the players substituted in during garbage time, he was the only Sacramento player to finish with a positive plus/minus rating.
Those lineups might have worked at times for Sacramento this season, but Wednesday’s loss was the perfect indication that it is not sustainable.
Of course, however, the players make do with what they have.
“I think you go into each game and you think you can win what you have,” LaVine said postgame of what the team might be missing. “That’s for people above our pay grade. The five guys starting and the other guys coming off the bench is the team we always think we have enough to go out there and compete with. That’s our mentality.”
This offseason has plenty in store for the people whose pay grade it is.
That change appeared to have begun roughly 30 minutes after the loss, with reports circulating late Wednesday night that the Kings and general manager Monte McNair mutually agreed to part ways.
And after former assistant general manager Wes Wilcox announced his departure from the organization late last month, the Kings’ full offseason makeover officially has begun.
The Kings made one of their biggest offseason moves in franchise history by acquiring DeMar DeRozan last summer. They then traded Fox for LaVine, while opening a new opportunity for Monk. Then there’s the guy who is – or was – the engine of the offense in the previous two seasons, Sabonis.
On paper, that’s 11 NBA All-Star appearances between the four of them and plenty of individual success along their respective NBA resumes. Together, though, it just didn’t gel as the team had hoped.
It’s like having salmon, a juicy homemade cheeseburger, pasta and French toast on the same plate. All great individually, but raise a lot of questions combined.
Those questions need answers, and fast.
USC coach Lincoln Riley is content with his roster as the sprint transfer portal opens
For the first time during USC football coach Lincoln Riley's tenure, the Trojans don't have major holes to fill during the spring transfer portal window.
Nashville Predators Send Prospect Back To AHL
The Nashville Predators have announced that they have reassigned defenseman Ryan Ufko to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals.
Ufko, 21, made his NHL debut with the Predators on April 14 against the Utah Hockey Club. During the matchup, the 6-foot defenseman threw one hit in 15:37 of ice time. Now, after making his debut, he is heading back to the AHL.
Ufko has been solid for the Admirals this season, so they will certainly be happy to have him back. In 71 games this campaign with the AHL squad, he has posted eight goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a plus-3 rating.
Ufko was selected by the Predators with the 115th overall pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Nashville Predators Place Defenseman On WaiversThe Nashville Predators have placed defenseman Marc Del Gaizo on waivers, PuckPedia reports.
New Predators Forward Michael Bunting Is Heating UpAt the 2025 NHL trade deadline, the Nashville Predators acquired forward Michael Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak. Schenn was then quickly flipped by the Penguins to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
Predators Top Prospect Is Heating Up In AHLNashville Predators prospect Joakim Kemell is considered one of the team's most promising youngsters. The 20-year-old forward is continuing to develop his game at the American Hockey League (AHL) level with the Milwaukee Admirals and is in the middle of a solid season that saw him play in the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic. Knicks' full postseason schedule for 2025 Eastern Conference Finals
After a hellacious first round against the Detroit Pistons, and an impressive performance against the defending champion Boston Celtics, the Knicks are on to the Eastern Conference Finals to take on the Indiana Pacers.
New York, the higher seed, will start the best-of-seven series with home-court advantage. Here are the full dates and times for the upcoming series...
Eastern Conference Finals
Wednesday, May 21
Game 1: Pacers at Knicks, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Friday, May 23
Game 2: Pacers at Knicks, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Sunday, May 25
Game 3: Knicks at Pacers, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, May 27
Game 4: Knicks at Pacers, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Thursday, May 29 *if necessary
Game 5: Pacers at Knicks, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Saturday, May 31 *if necessary
Game 6: Knicks at Pacers, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Tuesday, June 2 *if necessary
Game 7: Pacers at Knicks, 8 p.m. (TNT)
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Monday, May 5
Game 1: Knicks defeated Celtics, 108-105 (OT)
Wednesday, May 7
Game 2: Knicks defeated Celtics, 91-90
Saturday, May 10
Game 3: Celtics defeated Knicks, 115-93
Monday, May 12
Game 4: Knicks defeated Celtics, 121-113
Wednesday, May 14
Game 5: Celtics defeated Knicks, 127-102
Friday, May 16
Game 6: Knicks defeated Celtics, 119-81
FIRST ROUND
Saturday, April 19
Game 1: Knicks defeated Pistons, 123-112
Monday, April 21
Game 2: Pistons defeated Knicks, 100-94
Thursday, April 24
Game 3: Knicks defeated Pistons, 118-116
Sunday, April 27
Game 4: Knicks defeated Pistons, 94-93
Tuesday, April 29
Game 5: Pistons defeated Knicks, 106-103
Thursday, May 1
Game 6: Knicks defeated Pistons, 116-113
Christie wants to remain Kings coach, continue building team culture
Christie wants to remain Kings coach, continue building team culture originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – In the hours after the Kings’ season ended with a thud in their 120-106 NBA play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday while he was still wrestling with his emotions, Doug Christie made it clear he wants to keep the head coaching job in Sacramento.
“This is where I want to be,” said Christie, who said there have not been any discussions with management yet about his future with the team. “I need to finish what I started, and that’s the only reason I ever stepped onto the sideline from where I was at initially. I had to exorcise some demons for myself.”
Christie guided the Kings to a 27-24 record after taking over the reigns when the Kings fired 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year Mike Brown after 31 games.
Under Christie’s guidance the Kings took off, winning 10 of 12 games while nudging themselves back into the NBA playoff picture.
The good times didn’t last much longer than that. Sacramento fell into a funk down the stretch of the regular season, losing nine of the final 13 games heading into Wednesday’s play-in game at Golden 1 Center.
That the Kings lost the way that they did didn’t help Christie’s cause much, although he still has overwhelming support from the players.
Zach LaVine, who was obtained in a midseason trade, praised Christie for keeping the team together despite a ton of distractions.
“Doug did an incredible job of stepping in with the circumstances that he had and trying to rally the guys,” LaVine said. “And with me coming here a little bit later, with us going through some ups and downs … he definitely helped keep this group together on and off the court. You have to take your hat off to him in those situations. Anything above that as a player is above my pay grade.
“I’ve been a player that’s had eight head coaches in my career. I go out there, I try to play my heart out for whoever’s there. Obviously we love Doug, but players like us don’t make those decisions.”
The Christie situation took on a new twist late Wednesday when reports surfaced that the Kings and general manager Monte McNair have mutually agreed to part ways, although no official statement was released.
Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé might want to keep Christie around because of the player support he received, and because it would mean less change in the offseason.
Conversely, it’s common practice in all professional sports for a new GM to come in and make sweeping changes to the roster and, more specifically, the coaching staff.
Christie has multiple reasons for wanting to keep the job. Primary atop the list is to quiet the critics.
“More than anything is when you hear the narratives that are written by people who are not here and just have random stuff to say,” Christie said. “It irks me because they don’t know this incredible fan base. It’s an incredible organization. When it’s right and you’re going around beating the hell out of people, not a lot of people got a lot to say. But when you’re getting your butt beat, they got a lot to say. I feel you, but when that tide turns and the rabbit’s got the gun, then we’ll see.
“We have to create a culture that is highly competitive but highly positive at the same time because that’s who I am. It’s a tough thing, but you just keep going until we get to where we’re going.”
The Battle of Ontario Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Futures for Maple Leafs versus Senators
Breaking down the best value bets, futures to take and strategies to look out for ahead of the first round matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators
The Battle of Ontario is officially happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators facing off in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, starting with Game One this Sunday. It'll be a highly-anticipated matchup that should re-ignite an age old rivalry.
Toronto has faced off against Ottawa 171 times with their first meeting dating back to 1891, when the Senators beat the then-Toronto St. George's to win the Ontario ice hockey title.
Flash forward 134 years and both teams still hate each other as they head into their fifth postseason head-to-head with the Maple Leafs winning all four series and holding a 16-8 record. It should make for must-see tv and a series of games that every hockey fan won't want to miss.
We want to add to your viewing enjoyment by providing a couple betting options that you could take to enhance the experience and win money along the way.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
More NHL: Safe Bets to Close Out the NHL Season: Top Picks for Parlays and Futures
Maple Leafs Series Spread -1.5 (+122)
Ottawa has won five straight over Toronto heading into the playoffs but they have a young, unexperienced roster that could have a hard time adjusting to a playoff environment. The Maple Leafs have the fourth-oldest roster in the NHL with a average age at 29.8 tied with the Golden Knights and Hurricanes.
Toronto's stars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have lived through the playoffs with some wins but more regularly heart-breaking losses. The Maple Leafs have been able to bounce back from it and put themselves in a position to redeem themselves with this year being their biggest triumph yet thanks to their third division title in team history.
The confidence with this team is rolling high and with their recent additions of playoff-type players like Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton, they should be able to take advantage of a Senators team that is the tenth-youngest with an average age at 27.8 years old.
I expect the Sens to be able to edge out at least one game in the series after beating Toronto four consecutive times this season but the second win will be the challenge. Either way, this bet covers both ends with the only loss being if the Sens push the series to Game 7 but the Leafs playoff experience shouldn't let that happen.
More NHL: NHL Betting Roundup: Demidov and Nikishin To Make Debut, Landeskog Return
John Tavares - Series Leading Goal Scorer (+800)
The favourite to score the most goals in the Battle of Ontario is Auston Matthews, which makes sense as the near-70 goal scorer is tied with William Nylander for the team-lead in goals with 18 over the last seven postseasons. Both forwards are great choices at +340 and +500 respectively but we look at a much better value with the player behind the two in John Tavares.
Toronto's former captain has 12 goals over his last 38 playoff games but has been scorching hot, entering the postseason. With 11 goals over his last 13 games, no player in the NHL is hotter than Johnny Toronto.
The 34-year-old veteran centre rides a four-game point drought versus the Senators but I expect him to turn this around in the postseason. He's been playing for a new contract and should get a big one after recording 38 goals this season, his highest goal total since his first year in Toronto in 2019.
Betting Strategies: Offence to Stay Hot
There has been six or more goals in 15 of the last 25 meetings between the Maple Leafs and Senators, which promises more explosive games in the postseason. If we do catch most of the game lines coming out at over/under 6.5 goals, that would be tight but still doable as that number hit in six of their last 12 matchups.
More NHL: Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender
The most ideal situation for us would be to wait till the games start and hope for no early goals and then getting the over 5.5 with a live bet at a better price tag.
Matchup Trends: Potential Player Prop Targets
Toronto Maple Leafs:
- Auston Matthews has 16 goals, 17 assists for 33 points in his last 25 games against the Senators, including goals in two of the last three matchups. Nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in his last 16 games and has second-best playoff point-per-game average on the team at 0.87 through 55 games.
- Mitch Marner has just four goals and six assists for ten points in his last 16 games versus the Senators. Six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in last 15 games and has the best playoff point-per-game average on the team at 0.88 through 57 games.
- Matthew Knies has a pair of goals and an assist for three points in his last four games versus Senators. Plays on a line with Matthews and Marner, Potential Value Bet Option.
- William Nylander has nine goals and six assists for 15 points in his last 16 games against the Senators. 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in last 26 games.
- John Tavares has three goals and 12 assists for 15 points in his last 19 games against the Senators (four-game point drought). Bounce back should come with red hot play as of late - Potential Value Bet Option.
Ottawa Senators:
- Tim Stutzle has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in his last ten games against the Maple Leafs. Has been shown to lack toughness and could struggle in playoff-type atmosphere - Potential Fade Option.
- Brady Tkachuk has a goal and an assist for just two points in his last eight games versus the Maple Leafs. Has shown to have playoff-type build but untested, will need wait-and-see approach.
- Drake Batherson has two goals and four assists for a point-per-game average in his last six games versus the Maple Leafs. No playoff experience but could fly under the radar - Potential Value Bet Option.
- Shane Pinto has three goals and four assists for seven points in his last eight games versus the Maple Leafs. Four goals and two assists for six points over last seven games.
More Hockey: Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season
Projected Series Schedule for Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators
- Game 1: Sunday, April 20, Ottawa at Toronto
- Game 2: Tuesday, April 22, Ottawa at Toronto
- Game 3: Thursday, April 24, Toronto at Ottawa
- Game 4: Saturday, April 26, Toronto at Ottawa
- Game 5: Monday, April 28, Ottawa at Toronto
- Game 6: Wednesday, April 30, Toronto at Ottawa
- Game 7: Friday, May 2, Ottawa at Toronto
Ranadivé, Kings face critical offseason after NBA play-in loss
Ranadivé, Kings face critical offseason after NBA play-in loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – Beyond sitting in his courtside seats for every home game at Golden 1 Center, Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé has preferred to mostly stay out of the spotlight since he purchased the team from the Maloof brothers in 2013.
That is almost certain to change in the coming months.
With his organization facing a litany of critical decisions, Ranadivé holds all the cards and will have to step up front and lead the way in whichever direction he sees fit for the Kings.
First and foremost, Ranadivé had to figure out whether to keep general manager Monte McNair around — and the decision came immediately after Sacramento’s 120-106 NBA play-in loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, when the Kings and McNair mutually agreed to part ways, The Athletic’s Sam Amick reported, citing league sources.
The 2022-23 NBA Executive of the Year, McNair publicly accepted responsibility for firing coach Mike Brown early in the 2024-25 season and watched as the Kings responded with spirited play, only to see them wilt during the homestretch of the regular season before they melted under the pressure of the Mavericks in the No. 9 vs. No. 10 seed play-in game at G1C.
The Kings have yet to release an official statement on McNair’s reported departure.
Ranadivé also has to decide whether he plans to keep Doug Christie around and remove the interim from his title. The Kings responded very positively to the coaching change, and Christie has had a great relationship with Sacramento’s players.
Yet as good as things felt shortly after Christie inherited the reins from Brown, they turned equally sour toward the end of the season when it counted most.
There’s also the situation with Domantas Sabonis, the Kings’ three-time NBA All-Star center who is set to earn $95 million in base salary over the next two seasons.
Will Ranadivé stick with Sabonis and try to build up the pieces around him, or will the Kings owner try to swing a trade to send Sabonis and possibly another player to a team in exchange for a number of draft picks that will be vital to Sacramento moving forward?
Two years ago, the thought of a rebuild in the state capital seemed absurd.
The Kings had ended the longest playoff drought in NBA history at 16 years, had the unanimous Coach of the Year with Brown and a nucleus of players that seemed on the verge of taking Sacramento to the next level.
Firing Brown after only 31 games provided a little jolt of energy and enthusiasm that have long since dissipated.
Now it’s on Ranadivé to get the ship back on track.
He avoided speaking with the media following Brown’s firing, but the situation with his team is a lot more dire now than it was then.
And now that McNair reportedly has been let go, Ranadivé won’t have a buffer between himself and the media anymore — and he’ll have to answer the questions that undoubtedly will surface this offseason.
Hearing the boos rain down on the crowd at G1C on Tuesday, there almost certainly will be a lot of questions, too.
Mets vs. Cardinals: 5 things to watch and series predictions | April 17-20
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cardinals play a four-game series at Citi Field beginning on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.
Preview
Is the elite version of Kodai Senga back?
Senga lost most of last season due to injury, but he was the best version of himself during his one regular season start in 2024 -- firing 5.1 innings of two-run ball against the Braves while throwing 52 of 73 pitches for strikes and fanning nine batters.
Of course, Senga left that start after hurting his calf -- an injury that cost him the remainder of the regular season and left him behind the eight ball during the minor postseason contributions he made upon his return.
During Senga's first two starts of 2025, he more than held his own, allowing just two earned runs in 10.0 innings while striking out 12. But during his recent outing against the Athletics, he was utterly dominant, needing just 79 pitches to get through 7.0 shutout innings while walking two and striking out four.
In that start in Sacramento, Senga's ghost fork was extra filthy and his fastball consistently reached 97 mph, topping out at 97.6 -- the fastest he has thrown so far this season.
If Senga consistently resembles the version of himself who was one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2023, the Mets -- who now have Clay Holmes pitching very well and Sean Manaea on the horizon -- should be in very strong shape rotation-wise.
The pitching situation
Griffin Canning was scratched from Wednesday's start due to illness, with Huascar Brazoban getting the start as an opener.
With Canning unavailable, the Mets optioned Max Kranick to Triple-A Syracuse in order to call up Justin Hagenman, who was sharp in his major league debut on Wednesday against the Twins.
The Mets will have the option of bringing Kranick back on Thursday as a replacement on the roster for the injured Jose Siri -- if Siri is placed on the IL as expected.
Meanwhile, Canning is set to pitch Thursday's series-opener against St. Louis.
Is Mark Vientos' turnaround in progress?
Vientos hasn't hit much this season, with a .145/.254/.210 triple slash and OPS+ of 37.
Most glaring has been Vientos' lack of power. He has four doubles, but has yet to homer after cracking 27 long balls in just 111 games in 2024.
But Vientos has a six-game on-base streak, has hit safely in his last four games, and has looked more comfortable at the plate recently.
Vientos' strikeout rate is just 19.7 percent (it was 29.7 percent last season), and his outrageously low BABIP of .188 (his career BABIP is .287) suggests he's been incredibly unlucky and is due for a rebound.
The Cardinals have been better than expected
St. Louis attempted to trade cornerstone third baseman Nolan Arenado during the offseason ahead of a season that is expected to be transitional.
But Arenado remains, and the Cards have been solid -- with a 9-9 record and +10 run differential.
Their 94 runs scored were the third-most in baseball entering play Wednesday night, and their pitching has been holding its own.
It seems unlikely the Cards will be a serious playoff threat this year with their eye still very much on the future, but for now, they're a formidable opponent.
Can the Mets get to Sonny Gray?
St. Louis has Andre Pallante, Miles Mikolas, Matthew Liberatore, and Gray lined up to start against the Mets.
Gray, who finished second in NL Cy Young voting in 2023 and posted a 3.84 ERA and 1.08 WHIP last season, has been great so far.
In 23.0 innings over four starts, Gray has a 3.13 ERA and 0.78 WHIP, and has allowed just 15 hits.
He has been a bit susceptible to the home run ball -- allowing four dingers so far -- but his other numbers are excellent, including a minuscule walk rate of 1.2 per nine.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Mark Vientos
The signs of a breakout are there.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Kodai Senga
Senga will look to build off his strong early-season performance, and should be fresh after throwing just 79 pitches in his last start.
Which Cardinals player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
Brendan Donovan
Donovan has been on fire to start the year.
What gives with the No. 7 Warriors being favored over the No. 2 Rockets?
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
As the NBA playoffs approach, one of the more surprising storylines has been the betting odds favoring the seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors over the second-seeded Houston Rockets.
On the most recent episode of "The Kevin O’Connor Show," guest Esfandiar Baraheni and host Kevin O'Connor examined the playoff matchup and why oddsmakers are favoring Golden State — and whether the Warriors deserve that status.
Ezra Shaw via Getty Images
Oddmakers believe in the Warriors, but should they?
While playoff intensity and game-planning do tend to favor experienced teams, and that might explain why Golden State is a -190 favorite to win the series at BetMGM, Barahini suggests that Houston’s defensive versatility and depth might give it more than a puncher’s chance — especially when it comes to slowing Steph Curry.
“I'm a little surprised that Golden State's so heavily favored as a 7 over 2," Baraheni says. "I feel like Houston has played Golden State very well this season.”
But a number of reasons for the Warriors’ favored status are laid out: their reputation for playoff poise, the clutch brilliance of Curry and, now, Jimmy Butler, and their much-improved defense since acquiring Butler midseason.
“You have a guy [Curry] who you can rely on every single time," O'Connor says. "I think this will be one of those series where every game is going to go down to the wire. Every game is going to be very close.”
There’s a certain comfort in betting on established champions, especially in late-game situations.
The Rockets’ case: Defense, depth and matchups
The discussion didn't shy from the reasons to be bullish on the Rockets, either. Houston finished the year as one of the NBA’s best defenses, with plenty of size in Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams and disruptive perimeter players in Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet. In fact, Baraheni specifically mentions Thompson as someone who has "shut the water off" on Steph in previous matchups and Houston’s team defense as capable of supporting its big men on the perimeter — unlike some of Golden State’s previous opponents.
O’Connor also highlights Houston's rebounding advantage.
“If you look at the way those Şengün/Adams [lineups] perform, the reason that thing works offensively is because they generate so many offensive rebounds," O’Connor says. "They crash the glass.”
With Golden State’s relative lack of size on the interior, this presents a crucial potential swing factor.
Is experience everything?
What tips the scale for those picking the Warriors? According to O’Connor and Baraheni, it’s the question of late-game offense and experience.
Golden State has thrived in the clutch this season, while Houston, for all its defensive prowess, has struggled to create clean looks and score consistently in fourth quarters.
“I just trust Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler more than I do Jalen Green or Şengün or Fred VanVleet,” O’Connor says.
Prediction: It's closer than the odds suggest
While O’Connor picks the Warriors in seven and Baraheni slightly favors Houston in six, it's going to be a closer matchup than many believe. “I think people are discrediting the Rockets a little bit too much,” O’Connor says.
Both agree that Houston might be underrated, not just for its defense and rebounding but also for its potential to disrupt Golden State’s offensive flow with its physical style.
To hear the full discussion, tune into "The Kevin O'Connor Show" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
These NHL Veterans Hope Their First Stanley Cup Win Is Coming This Spring
From the first day they strap on a pair of skates, aspiring NHL players dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup.
When they make it to the league, the dream gets even closer. But championships can be elusive, and some NHL stars can play well into their 30s or even 40s while still striving to sip from the silver chalice.
Last summer, the Florida Panthers’ roster was rich with veterans who finally realized their Stanley Cup dreams, from Sergei Bobrovsky to Kyle Okposo, through Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Dmitry Kulikov and on down the line.
Here’s a look at this year’s longest-tenured veterans who are looking for their storybook ending in 2025 and, for many, a boost that will help them maximize their bargaining power for next season.
Ryan Suter, St. Louis Blues, 1,526 games
At 40, Ryan Suter has been the oldest skater in the NHL this season, 54 days younger than goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. After signing in St. Louis on a one-year, league-minimum contract following his buyout by the Dallas Stars, the 2003 seventh-overall pick appeared in all 82 games for the Blues and skated nearly 20 minutes a night.
Suter’s 1,526 games played lead all active players, and he hasn’t missed a game since 2018. His personal ironman streak stands at 535 games and counting.
But in 20 NHL seasons, Suter has not yet appeared in a Stanley Cup final. He has been getting closer — his longest runs to date came in his last two playoffs, when he got to the Western Conference final with Dallas.
After the Blues’ storybook run through the second half of the season, Suter now gets another chance to see if this is the year.
Cam Fowler is another veteran St. Louis defender who’s looking to make the most of this opportunity.
At 33, the longtime Anaheim Duck has 1,042 games on his resume. With 36 points in 51 games since his December trade to St. Louis, he has been a crucial addition to the Blues’ top pair. Under contract for one more year, Fowler is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2017. His best playoff run came in 2015, when the Ducks lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in the Western Conference final.
Brent Burns, Carolina Hurricanes, 1,495 games
With 923 consecutive games played, Brent Burns is the NHL’s reigning active ironman and the only man ahead of his fellow quadragenarian, Suter.
Burns has been to the Stanley Cup final once, putting up 24 points in 24 games before the San Jose Sharks fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. With 120 total playoff games, Burns also reached the Western Conference final with the Sharks in 2019 and the Eastern Conference final with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2023.
The Hurricanes are making their seventh straight playoff appearance – one of the NHL’s longest active streaks. With free agency looming for the bearded one, is this the year that Carolina finally puts it all together and raises the Cup for the second time in franchise history?
Claude Giroux, Ottawa Senators, 1,262 games
As a 22-year-old, Claude Giroux put up 21 points in 23 games during the Philadelphia Flyers’ Cinderella run to the 2010 Stanley Cup final. He’s been trying to get back ever since, but his last attempt fizzled in the second round when he joined the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Panthers for their 2022 playoffs – a couple of years too early, as it turned out.
Now, at 37, Giroux is back where he grew up in Canada’s Capital Region. This spring, he’ll chase the Cup in front of an Ottawa Senators fan base that’s thrilled to finally put its seven-year playoff drought to bed in just the second season under new owner Michael Andlauer.
Giroux is also on the cusp of free agency, finishing out the three-year deal he signed with Ottawa in 2022.
Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars, 1,191 games
The pattern continues. At 35, Jamie Benn is in the final season of the eight-year extension that he signed all the way back in 2016. His Art Ross Trophy days are nearly a decade in the rearview mirror, and he has been excruciatingly stuck on 399 career goals for more than a month. But since Benn took over the captaincy from Brenden Morrow in 2013, his Stars have gone to the Stanley Cup final in the 2020 bubble and, more recently, had back-to-back appearances in the final four.
The Stars’ Matt Duchene also sits high on the list of Cupless vets at 1,137 games. After making his first-career trip to a Conference final last year, he re-upped with Dallas in hopes of finishing the job. This season, Duchene has played some of his best hockey, cracking the 80-point mark for just the second time in his 16 years.
NHL Playoffs: Skinner, Tkachuk Headline New Faces To Watch In The Cup ChaseWith just over a week to go in the 2024-25 NHL regular season, our 16 playoff competitors look about set.
John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs, 1,183 games
For every pundit who predicted that John Tavares’ seven-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs would be an albatross in its later stages, the 34-year-old silenced them with yet another point-per-game campaign, ace face-off work and 18 reliable minutes a night under new taskmaster coach Craig Berube, consistent with his ice-time average in Toronto.
Both team and player have indicated they’d like to continue the relationship, but as always, the Leafs’ future plans will hinge on their playoff results. Though he ceded the captaincy to Auston Matthews last summer, Tavares might end up being named a Leaf for Life if he and his teammates can find a way to erase the curse of 1967 this spring.
James van Riemsdyk, Columbus Blue Jackets, 1,081 games
He’s not in yet. But the fact that James van Riemsdyk could still qualify for the playoffs with the Columbus Blue Jackets after 81 games deserves a mention.
Just a few weeks before he turns 36, van Riemsdyk has played an important leadership role in Columbus as part of the feel-good story of the season. The Blue Jackets refuse to go away, and he has been skating in the top six while chipping in five points in his last four games.
In 16 NHL campaigns, van Riemsdyk has only made the playoffs eight times so far. His best run came all the way back in his rookie year, with Giroux on the 2010 Flyers team that fell to the Blackhawks.
Signed to his second-straight one-year deal at a bargain-basement rate, van Riemsdyk has shown he can still make a meaningful contribution at the NHL level.
Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets, 567 games
Approaching age 32 with six years to play on his current contract, Connor Hellebuyck’s situation is different from most of the players on this list.
He still has plenty of runway left to chase a Cup. But as the favorite to win his third-career Vezina while part of a Presidents’ Trophy-winning team, there’s no time like the present for him to check a championship off his to-do list.
Last year, Bobrovsky was the goalie who’d played the most games without a Cup win — and got it done. Semyon Varlamov (621 games) is now the only active Cup-less goalie with more games played than Hellebuyck, but his New York Islanders didn’t qualify for the dance.
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Ottawa Senators vs Toronto Maple Leafs: When Will The 2025 Battle of Ontario Begin?
The wait is finally over: the Ottawa Senators are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in eight years—and they’re diving in headfirst with a clash against their fiercest rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This marks the first playoff edition of the Battle of Ontario since 2004. Back then, the two clubs faced off four times between 2000 and 2004. The Senators came up short in each of those series, but as far as today's players are concerned, those battles might as well be a century ago.
In fact, two key opponents from that era—Travis Green and Daniel Alfredsson—have joined forces behind the Senators bench, helping end what was the third-longest active playoff drought in the NHL. The Senators swept the season series 3-0.
With the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs starting on Saturday, fans of both teams are looking to make plans. There are travel plans to make, parties to organize, and nachos to make. So when will the 2025 Battle of Ontario begin? Here's what we know:
According to Senators President Cyril Leeder, who addressed the media the morning after the team clinched their playoff spot last week, Game 1 is likely to be this Sunday.
"Not sure yet," Leeder told the media. "All we've been told from the league is that it's likely the East (schedule) will open on the Sunday (April 20). So that could be Sunday or Monday it'll open."
Starting the Eastern Conference series on Sunday would make sense. Six of the seven games scheduled for Thursday night are all-Eastern matchups, including two involving the Sens and Leafs. So it wouldn't make sense to only give the East one day (Friday) off while giving the West (except for LA) Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off.
So letting Western teams open things up on Saturday would be logical.
*Update: The NHL has announced with the Winnipeg Jets will host the St. Louis Blues on Saturday at 6pm ET, and the Dallas Stars will host the Colorado Avalanche at 8:30pm.
Sens Mile
Meanwhile, Senators owner Michael Andlauer was downtown on Wednesday with Leeder, former Senator Chris Neil, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, and members of City Council. Andlauer got a good workout in, cranking up the “Sens Mile” flag to officially kick off Ottawa’s playoff run.
Games 3 and 4 will take place at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, sometime in the mid to latter part of next week. According to Leeder’s media session last week, the Red Zone Plaza will be back in full swing, much like it was in 2017.
“We’ve got plans for the CIBC Red Zone Plaza. We’re going to activate that. We’ve got to get that going. What are we going to do out there? We’ve got to hire bands. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. We’ll have some outdoor patios for restaurants. Do all the planning in the arena, game production. We want that to elevate a bit. What can we do differently? What can we bring into it to help that?”
“There’s a lot of planning going on right now. And it’s a good problem to have. Our staff, as I said, are pretty excited about the opportunity to show what they can do at playoff time.”
Playoff Ticket Sales
Fans who sign up to be Sens season ticket holders for next season can still guarantee access to all home playoff tickets at a preferred rate.
As for the general public, the Senators announced on Tuesday that single game tickets for Round 1 of the playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre will go on sale at noon on Thursday (April 17th). They'll be available for purchase at Ticketmaster.ca, with a limited quantity available for Game 3 and Game 4. Since the Leafs are the opponent, fans can count on paying a premium and plenty of competition from Leaf fans.
Let the Battle begin.
Brandon Nimmo expects Mets offense to improve after series loss to Twins; open to playing center field
The Mets went into their series with the Minnesota Twins playing very well. They hadn't dropped a series since their opening set with the Astros, nor lost consecutive games all season.
Both those things changed after Wednesday's 4-3 loss in extra innings, and largely because of the lack of clutch hits from the Mets' offense. After they took the first game on the back of Juan Soto's power and shoddy Twins defense, the Mets dropped the final two games of the series after going a combined 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position (5-for-28 across the three games).
"It's baseball. You're gonna have ups and downs and right now, going through some downs with runners in scoring position but we’re getting guys on so the more opportunities we get the more we’re going to cash in," Brandon Nimmo said after the game. "Right now we’re finding ways to win games even without it, and I’m proud of that... It’s something I expect to get better and we’re aware of it. Sometimes you go through times where you’re good at it and sometimes you’re not as good at it. I’m just proud that we’ve been able to find ways to win despite it early on."
Most of those hits with RISP came in one inning on Wednesday. Down 3-0, the Mets rallied to score three runs in the eighth inning before ultimately falling in the 10th inning.
"We didn't play good baseball for the first half but then coming back in the eighth, putting a rally together against one of the better arms from them, was really good to get back in the game," manager Carlos Mendoza said. "Overall, we couldn't close the deal today. We didn't get the job done. We've just got to play better."
"I’m proud of the guys for fighting back," Nimmo said, pointing out how they played a day game after a night game and had to prepare to head back home for a four-game series starting Thursday against the Cardinals.
But the Mets (11-7) now have to take on a scrappy Cardinals (9-9) team on the heels of their first losing streak of the season.
Although many of the Mets hitters aren't hitting when it matters, Pete Alonso continues to. The slugger had three more hits on Wednesday, including an RBI double that started the Mets scoring. He's been the Mets' early-season MVP and Nimmo understands the importance of that production.
"He’s swinging it amazing, man. He’s really staying in the zone, he’s taking what they’re giving him," Nimmo said of Alonso. "He’s putting really good at-bats up there... I know he worked really hard this offseason I’m glad it’s paying dividends right away... He looks like a complete hitter up there, which is fantastic. I’m so happy for him. We’ll need that as the year moves on."
Nimmo in center?
With Jose Siri about to hit the IL, the Mets will have to figure out who will pay center field alongside Tyrone Taylor. Mendoza had said Nimmo could see time with Luisangel Acuña, potentially getting a crack in the outfield -- Jeff McNeil is also going to get looks in center while rehabbing in the minors.
Nimmo was asked about the potential shift from left and the veteran outfielder was open to whatever the Mets need him to do.
"I'll play wherever they want me to. If that requires center field, then that's where I'll be," Nimmo said. "We’ll see how they want to write things up as we move forward.
“I honestly don’t care [switching back and forth]. They can switch me back and forth if they want. Wherever is best for the team that’s where I’ll play that day. 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. Wherever they want me, that’s where I’ll play.”
Clippers' Kawhi Leonard still has 'love' for the game of basketball
The joy for the game of basketball remains strong for Kawhi Leonard.
The injuries that have robbed him from playing time have not taken away Leonard’s passion for the game. The inability to play this season because of a right knee injury he had to manage has not lessened Leonard’s happiness for basketball.
He’s 33 and has spent the last five of his 13-year NBA career with the Clippers, and his “love” for the game has only grown.
That is what has motivated Leonard through it all and it’s what he will lean on when the Clippers face the Nuggets in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs starting Saturday afternoon in Denver.
“I love the game. I love the game and I have a passion for it still. I love to compete out there. So, that's pretty much what drives me back,” Leonard said after practice Wednesday. “You know, everything has its ups and downs. You got to go through those in life and you just keep going, really.”
This was yet another up-and-down season for Leonard.
Read more:How do the Clippers match up against the Nuggets entering their playoff series?
He missed the first 34 games and played in just 37, including only one set of back-to-back games.
Yet Leonard never wavered.
That didn't surprise teammate Norman Powell. The two were teammates on the Toronto Raptors team that won the NBA championship in 2019.
Powell saw how Leonard handled things then and now.
“I think we all have love for it,” Powell said. “I think everybody’s journey and path is different and what they face and what they see and how they feel about it. It’s not just him. I feel like it happens a lot with different guys.
“But with him, I know he’s a very level-headed person and he understands things that aren’t under his control and he just controls the controllable. That’s the best attribute about him. He’s a gifted basketball player, but his mental fortitude and toughness, on and off the floor, all the things he’s been through in his life, everything that he’s been through on the floor, makes him who he is. So, I don’t think it takes away from his love or enjoyment of the game. I think he sees it as another obstacle he’s going to get through and figure it out and that’s what I like best about him. He’s always figuring it out.”
Leonard averaged 21.5 points, 5.9 assists and 3.1 assists per game this season. He shot 49.6% from the field, 41.1% from three-point range.
Read more:'We are here': Tyronn Lue knew the Clippers could exceed expectations
In the Clippers’ two must-win games to close the regular season, Leonard was a force. He averaged 30.5 points and played 44.5 minutes in wins at Sacramento and Golden State.
In the eyes of Clippers coach Tyronn Lue, that was just another sign of the competitor Leonard is and how much the game means to his star forward.
“Yeah, I mean, it just says a lot about him, about his dedication to the game,” Lue said. “I said he’s a hard worker. But like I said, we'll continue to keep giving our medical staff a lot of credit. They put him through a lot of stuff and didn't let him shortcut, checked every box before he came back and he's been feeling good. So, I'm happy about that as well.”
Leonard missed the final eight regular-season games last season and played in just two of the Clippers' six playoff games against the Mavericks because of right knee inflammation.
He didn’t play in his first game with the Clippers this season until Jan. 4 and it has been a slow build-up to get Leonard to this point.
But he’s back in the playoffs and ready to play the game he loves.
“I'm just happy that I was able to get here, and my teammates did a great job down that last stretch,” Leonard said. “And yeah, just like I said, just don't take the opportunity for granted and try to play my best and that's it. I’m just having fun.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.