Over the past decade-plus, Steve Kerr has coached some memorable games.
From Golden State’s run to its first NBA championship in 40 years during the 2014-15 season to that unforgettable 2022-23 campaign when everyone had counted them out — there’s no shortage of magical moments for Kerr to refer to.
And even despite the Warriors’ rocky 2025-26 season with injuries and inconsistencies, Kerr shared that the team’s electric NBA play-in win over the Los Angeles Clippers was a top-10 game for him.
“Well, first of all, it’s one of my all-time favorite games,” Kerr said Friday on “The TK Show.” “We’ve had so many amazing games, it’s probably a top-10 game in the 12 years we’ve had, and that’s saying something. It was just the first play-in game, we didn’t even qualify for the playoffs, but that’s how much the game meant to me and to those guys, probably because of the way this season went.
“The fact that Steph [Curry] missed 27 straight games, the fact that we were on life support, basically, going into that game, it just was so special. It was such a great win, and ultimately, this is what we do it for, that the players do it to feel that moment. The coaches work every day to achieve that level of play, and it hadn’t worked all year. We just couldn’t reach that level, and then to dig deep and to find it was so meaningful.
“It was probably a good metaphor for, like, you can’t get this anywhere else in life — you just can’t. And there’s a reason coaches get addicted to this work, it’s exhilarating. The camaraderie, the companionship, collaboration, it’s beautiful. And that was a wonderful moment.”
With their season on the line, the Warriors rallied from a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Clippers 126-121 at the Intuit Dome. Curry led the comeback with 35 points — 27 in the second half — and Al Horford hit four 3-pointers in the final frame to secure the victory.
Draymond Green also displayed a defensive masterclass against Kawhi Leonard.
And even though the magic expired two days later with a crushing loss to the Phoenix Suns, that special win in Los Angeles will forever be one of Kerr’s favorites.
WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 19, 2026: Anthony Huezo #47 of the Houston Astros bats during the sixth inning of a spring training Spring Breakout game against the Miami Marlins at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches on March 19, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Another day of minor league baseball is in the books. See the results below. Check out the previous days recap here.
AAA: Sugar Land Space Cowboys (19-24) lost 4-1 (BOX SCORE)
Pecko got the start and had some struggles in the first inning allowing 3 runs. He ended up allowing those 3 runs over 3.2 innings. The offense got on the board in the 6th inning on a Price solo home run. The pen was solid allowing just one run but the offense was quiet the rest of the way as Sugar Land fell 4-1.
AA: Corpus Christi Hooks (16-21) lost 6-5 (BOX SCORE)
Hader got the start in a rehab and tossed a scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts. The Hooks offense got on the board in the third inning on an Encarnacion solo home run. Swanson relieved Hader and went 4 innings allowing 2 runs. The offense picked up another run in the 6th on a wild pitch. The pen struggled a bit allowing 4 runs over the 6th and 7th as the Hooks found themselves down 6-2. They rallied in the 8th scoring 2 runs on a Holy RBI single and Austin RBI double. Holy added an RBI double in the 9th but he was stranded at second base as the Hooks fell 6-5.
Note: Holy is hitting .375 in Double-A this season.
Josh Hader, LHP: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Nic Swanson, RHP: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Ramsey David, RHP: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Alex Santos, RHP: 1.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Guedez, RHP: 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
A+: Asheville Tourists (9-28) won 23-11 (BOX SCORE)
The Asheville offense came to play last night. They jumped out to an early lead scoring 6 runs in the first on a Thomas solo home run, Frey RBI double, a run on an error, Nunez 2 run home run and Powell RBI single. They scored 4 in the 2nd inning on a Walker 3 run double and Powell RBI double. The offense got 7 more runs in the third inning on a Frey RBI double, Call 3 run home run, Walker solo home run and Thomas 2 run single. Smith got the start and pitched well allowing just one unearned run over 6 innings. The offense add more runs in the 5th scoring 3 runs on a Schiavone 2 run single and run on a double play. They added 3 more runs in the 6th on a Walker RBI double, Powell groundout and a run on a wild pitch. The pen struggled a bit but the offense did more than enough damage as Asheville won 23-11.
A: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (16-21) won 9-3 (BOX SCORE)
The Woodpeckers got on the board in the first inning scoring 3 runs on a Huezo solo home run and Newman 2 run triple. Weber got the start and went 4 innings allowing 3 runs. The offense got another run in the 4th inning on a Huezo RBI double. In the 6th, Huezo added a 3 run home run to extend the lead. The offense added 2 more runs in the 9th inning on a Cauro RBI single and Ramirez sac fly. Serrano tossed 5 no-hit innings to close it out as the Woodpeckers won 9-3.
If you were concerned either that the Cub offense wouldn’t return to form or about how long it would be before it did, then Friday night was a comforting game. The pitching was a little rough around the edges. Most concerningly, they allowed three homers. But that Cub offense had 14 hits and drew six walks. The Dodgers offense had a pretty good night offensively themselves, but the Cubs output was enough to bounce back into the top on-base percentage position among major league teams.
The fun part is the White Sox slugged three homers (not fun) and managed five total runs. The Cubs four doubles among their 14 hits, but managed 10 runs. Generally the team that slugs better is a good bet to win a game, but that didn’t hold here. The Cubs only slugged .439 while the Sox were at .576. So it wasn’t even a little close. The thing is, that’s a better than average slugging percentage for the Cubs and all the more impressive when you consider that they had 48 plate appearances (though the divisor is at bats and not PA).
All nine Cub starters had hits and four of the 10 players either drew walks or were hit by a pitch. So this was a diverse and balanced offensive output. Six different Cubs scored runs and six drove in a run. Eight of the nine starters and nine players overall had either a run or run batted in. All in all, the Cubs forced Sox pitchers to make 194 pitches. We haven’t talked about that this year, but that’s the kind of thing that could potentially win an additional game later in the series. The White Sox had to use five relievers and Jordan Hicks threw 35 pitches. That could affect his availability later in the series.
It wasn’t particularly easy, but things broke loose quite a bit. Hopefully, this win carries the team through the weekend. The Saturday game was the one that Fangraphs had as the most likely Sox win of the bunch. So nothing totally unexpected in this win. But it was just what the doctor ordered, just the same. This offense tends to either be locked in or out of whack. Maybe this locks them back in. The Sox are going to score some runs with the power they have in their lineup. The general path to victory is going to be scoring a handful (or two) of runs.
Three Positives:
Carson Kelly had three hits, one of them a double, and drove in four runs.
Trent Thornton had two key innings, striking out two and facing the minimum of six batters to do it. He quieted the game right when it was important for the Cubs to take control.
Seiya Suzuki had a single and a double, drew a walk. He drove in a run and scored two.
Game 45, May 15: Cubs 10, White Sox 5 (29-16)
Reminder: Heroes and Goats are determined by WPA scores and are in no way subjective.
THREE HEROES:
Superhero: Trent Thornton (.281). 2 IP, 6 BF, 2 K
Hero: Carson Kelly (.274). 3-5, 2B, 4 RBI
Sidekick: Matt Shaw (.078). HBP, BB, RBI
THREE GOATS:
Billy Goat: Ryan Rolison (-.243). 0.1 IP, 4 BF, 2 H, BB, ER
Goat: Edward Cabrera (-.105). 4.2 IP, 19 BF, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 ER, 2 K
Kid: Nico Hoerner (-.026). 1-6, R
WPA Play of the Game: With the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, the score tied, Carson Kelly had an infield single, driving in a run. (.183)
White Sox Play of the Game: In the bottom of the sixth with the Cubs up one, Miguel Vargas led off with a solo homer. (.183)
Cubs Player of the Game:
Game 44 Winner: Brown 173 of 231 votes
Rizzo Award Standings: (Top 5/Bottom 5)
The award is named for Anthony Rizzo, who finished first in this category three of the first four years it was in existence and four times overall. He also recorded the highest season total ever at +65.5. The point scale is three points for a Superhero down to negative three points for a Billy Goat.
Michael Busch/Shōta Imanaga +13
Michael Conforto +12
Ian Happ +7.5
Ben Brown +5.5
Caleb Thielbar -6
Phil Maton -7
Matt Shaw -10
Dansby Swanson -11
Seiya Suzuki -17
Current Win Pace: 104.4 wins
Up Next: Game two of the three-game series Saturday night on the South Side. Jameson Taillon (2-2, 3.94, 45.2 IP) gets his ninth start of the year. Last time out, he was pretty good against the Rangers, despite taking the loss. He allowed one run on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He’s been better at home but also better at night, so this is a decent spot for Taillon. The one issue is that his Achilles Heel has been allowing homers. He’s served up 11 of them already in 45.2 IP.
29-year-old Davis Martin (5-1, 1.62, 50 IP) makes his ninth start of the year. He’s been flat out terrific for them. He’s pitched in parts of three previous seasons with a combined career ERA of 3.88 (306 IP). Last time out, he got a no-decision against the Mariners despite allowing only one run over six innings. He struck out nine and walked only two in that one. Martin was a 14th round pick of the White Sox back in 2018 (408th overall). All of his splits are pretty good but at home he has a 1.02 ERA. He doesn’t walk a lot of hitters.
It isn’t hard to see why Fangraphs likes this one for the Sox. Let’s ignore the script and get one anyway.
With the Knicks set to tip off the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday, legendary center Patrick Ewing takes a shot at some playoff Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What would you tell these Knicks if you were standing in the locker room about the opportunity that is in front of them right now?
A: What I would tell them is they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. No one knows if it’s going to come back around. When we got there in ’94, I definitely thought that we were going to have another opportunity in ’95 — take advantage of this opportunity. Continue to do the things that they’ve been doing. Continue to play as a team. The five guys on the floor got to do their part, the bench has to do their part. So remember that it’s about team, this is not tennis with one person against another person, all five have to be locked in, be unselfish, be selfish when you need to be selfish, and just play a team game,
Q: Why do you believe these Knicks can win an NBA championship?
A: Anything is possible. These guys have been putting in the work, the coaches have been putting them in great positions to accomplish that. That’s everybody’s goal at the beginning of the year to win a championship, and we’re all hoping that happens.
Q: How do they do it?
A: They have to continue to do what they’ve been doing. We’ve been definitely hot in these last two rounds. We have to continue to do the same thing that we’ve been doing — playing as a team, both offensively and defensively taking care of business, no turnovers, just all the things that they’ve been doing.
Q: Could you paint the picture for me of what the city would be like if the Knicks won it all?
A: Hey … You see the way that the fans have been acting during these first two rounds. You saw the way the fans did when the Rangers won it or the Yankees won it. The whole city, the whole state would be so happy to be so proud to … I think the whole city would go wild.
Q: Why would Patrick Ewing have liked playing with Jalen Brunson?
A: Jalen is one of the most talented players that I’ve seen play. He not only can pass the ball, but he also can take a game over. I wasn’t fortunate enough to play with a talent like that. I think that having an opportunity to play with him would have only made my job that much easier.
Patrick Ewing sits on celebrity row during the first quarter of a playoff game against the Hawks.
Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Q: What do you think of Karl-Anthony Towns as an occasional hub of the offense?
A: Everybody has to learn how to play off each other. They’ve both been doing an outstanding job of learning each other. KAT has to continue to do all the things that he’s been doing, he’s been a facilitator and looking to score when he has an opportunity. I think both of them have to continue to do their part if we’re going to win.
Q: What makes OG Anunoby so invaluable?
A: To me, the last two series he’s been our best player. He’s been scoring, he’s been playing great defense. … I think all of them, you look at the team as a whole, it’s been all of them, all of those guys have been doing their part to help the team to get to where it’s gotten to. You can’t just say it’s Jalen or it’s KAT or it’s OG, I think that everybody has been doing their part — the whole entire team. When guys have had the opportunity to come in off the bench, they’ve been doing their part.
Q: From an intangible standpoint, does Josh Hart remind you of John Starks?
A: He definitely does. His heart and soul … John was a better shooter, but Josh wears his emotions on his sleeve, and I think that everybody on that team knows what he brings to the team and knows what he means to the team and he definitely has to continue to do all that.
Jose Alvarado #5 of the Knicks and Patrick Ewing hug before the game against the Atlanta Hawks during Round One Game Four on April 25, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NBAE via Getty Images
Q: How has Mitchell Robinson evolved?
A: I think [assistant] Mark Bryant has done an outstanding job of tutoring him, of teaching him. When I look at the talent that he has, I think he still has a lot more that he has to learn. But his energy, his effort … he’s looking more comfortable shooting his free throws.
Q: What do you think of Mikal Bridges lately?
A: He is hitting his stride right now, and he’s only going to get better as the next series goes on an and hopefully into the next one.
Q: What have you learned about Mike Brown coaching this team this season?
A: Mike has been doing an outstanding job. He’s a great coach. His record proves for itself everywhere that he’s been.
Q: What are your three all-time favorite Knicks moments?
A: To beat Indiana to get to the [1994] Finals, finally. That was definitely one of them. … I was hurt, but Larry Johnson’s four-point play [vs. the Pacers in 1999]. It’s funny, when I look at pictures of that, my son was a ballboy on that team, and they have a picture from the other end down by Larry shooting the shot, you could see our bench and my son jumped so high celebrating that play. So definitely that. I’ve had so many great memories that I really can’t put them into order.
Q: How would you describe your emotions when you stood on the scorer’s table with your arms raised to the rafters after winning Game 7 against the Pacers to get to the 1994 Finals?
A: I think that what I was feeling right then and there is all the raw emotion of finally getting there. We had not reached the pinnacle or the goal, but this was the first step, and I just wanted to embrace the city and the city to embrace me, because it was a journey to get to that point. And we just finished a hard-fought series against a talented Indiana team.
Q: If these Knicks were to win it all, would you stand on the scorer’s table and reenact that pose with your arms raised high?
A: I don’t think I’ll stand on a scorer’s table, but I’ll be right in the huddle with them, because I think that Leon [Rose) and Wes [William Wesley, aka World Wide Wes] and Mr. [James] Dolan have done an outstanding job of bringing a majority of us back to make us feel like we are a part of this. So I would definitely be in there celebrating with them. Because I do feel like I’m a part of it.
Q: How would you describe your on-court mentality?
A: I was focused, I was locked in, I had my game face. … I was tunnel-visioned.
Q: Why didn’t New York scare Patrick Ewing?
A: Hey look, there’s nothing to be afraid of. New York is a big city, biggest media market. Like I said, I was tunnel-visioned, I tried to block out the noise, block out the media, block out everybody and just concentrate on my teammates, my coaches and try to be the best version of myself that I could be.
Patrick Ewing looks to drive around a defending Pacers Rik Smits during a playoff series. New York Post
Q: When I think of Patrick Ewing, I think a lot of people use the word warrior. How proud are you of that?
A: I’m very proud of it. I’m very proud of it. Because that’s how I perceive myself. People who play sports, we always talk about that we’re going to war. … It’s not literally, you’re not out there killing people, but we are competing against others. Our job or our goal is to try to dominate the next person. So that’s how I perceive myself, I had my game face on, I try to mentally prepare myself to try to dominate that next person. I’m very proud of it.
Q: What was the worst pain you ever played in?
A: I played in a lot of pain. What’s the worst? I tore my Achilles against Indiana … it was in Indiana. I went back in, I taped it up and I told Jeff [Van Gundy, coach], “I can’t move. I’m going to do my best to get every rebound. I’m not sure if I’ll be effective on the offensive end.” I was able to finish that game and then we flew back to New York. I didn’t know that it was torn. I got an MRI [exam], said I had obviously torn my Achilles. … Spraining my ankle in Game 6 against the Bulls, hobbling around, finished the game, we were able to beat them and go to Chicago where unfortunately we lost Game 7.
Q: What drove you?
A: To win, to try to be the best version of myself that I could be. I always wanted to win. I wanted to be able to bring a championship to New York. I thought it was going to be a lot easier when I was in college to win a championship than I found out that it really was. Growing up in Boston and learning about Bill Russell and those 11 championships that he won, I’m like, “I’m going to get me a few championships.” That’s what drove me, to try to be the best player I could possibly be, and to also bring a championship to New York.
Q: How difficult was it early on for you to be expected to be the savior?
A: That’s just part of the sport. In high school I was the best player on my team, and at Georgetown I was one of the best, I’m not going to say I was the best. I was the most famous. I was fortunate enough to play with some great talent — Reggie Williams, David Wingate, Michael Jackson, Bill Martin, some great teammates. They helped me to be the player that I also became. Then coming to the Knicks, us losing Bernard [King] the year before I got there and then losing him for the next year and a half, that didn’t help. And then when he came back I got hurt. So I didn’t look at it as me being the savior, I just was out there trying to do the best I could to help us to win.
Q: What was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome?
A: The biggest obstacle I guess was Michael Jordan (laugh). The biggest obstacle was definitely Michael Jordan.
Jes Kersey listens to Patrick Ewing plead his case as Michael Jordan looks on in the fourth quarter of the Eastern Conference semifinals in 1996. WA Funches Jr./ New York Post
Q: If there was no Jordan, how many championships do you think you might have won?
A: Hey look, he was out for two years and we had an opportunity. We got to the Finals, unfortunately we didn’t get it done. Great players want to be able to play great players. I consider myself a great player, so I want to definitely go against Michael, I definitely want to go against Hakeem [Olajuwon], I want to go against Shaq [Shaquille O’Neal]. I think those players make you perform at a high level, so I never looked at it as, “OK, Michael is here or not here, this is my opportunity,” or, “If he wasn’t here I would have won X amount of championships.” I just think that you go out there and perform at your best every time you play. One thing about me is that I have the love for the game, so it didn’t make a difference who was there, I was going to go out and try to perform at my best, and I think that I showed it night in and night out.
Q: What do you remember about the plane flight home from Houston after losing Game 7 or the 1994 Finals?
A: Now you’re bringing up bad memories (laugh). I really don’t remember too much about the flight. I just remember after the game walking off the floor depressed, down. … I think I left the arena with Alonzo Mourning because he came to the game to support me. … People just talk trash to us on the way out. So it was a bad feeling.
Q: Did your 1993-94 Knicks pride yourselves on intimidation?
A: I think we prided ourselves on being a great team. We weren’t trying to intimidate people, we weren’t going to back down from anybody, we weren’t going to take crap from anybody, but we also thought that we were a talented team and had a great opportunity to hopefully win a championship, and we got there but just fell short.
Patrick Ewing of the Knicks posts up against Hakeem Olajuwon of the Rockets during Game 1 of the NBA Finals played on June 8, 1994 at The Summit in Houston, Texas. NBAE via Getty Images
Q: How would the ’94 Knicks do against these current Knicks?
A: You know what, I’m not even going to go there. This team is a talented team, they’re in their era, my team was in my era, we played different brands of basketball. I think that Jalen is a special player, KAT’s a special player and the rest of the guys are special.
Q: What was the best motivational ploy coach Pat Riley used?
A: Pat had a lot of lot of different ploys, but I thought that we were self-motivated, I was self-motivated. Pat was a great coach, he’s won multiple championships, all you can do is take your hat off to him. Wish we could have been with him winning a championship in New York. He told a lot of different stories … but I was self-motivated.
Q: When you think about the ’99 Knicks, what do you think about?
A: The [lockout]-shortened season. I thought we had some talented guys on the team. We had Spree [Latrell Sprewell], we had Allan [Houston], Larry, Marcus [Camby], Kurt [Thomas], Charlie [Ward]. That’s the year I tore my Achilles and I couldn’t finish the year, but the guys did an outstanding job. Larry made that four-point play to help to propel us to the championship. When you talk about the biggest hurt, I would say that was the biggest hurt. Me physically not being able to play. I remember one game, we lost that game, and I went on the bus by myself and I broke down. I started crying, because I was so hurt that I was not able to play and help my team.
New York Knicks alumni John Starks (l) and Patrick Ewing (c) during the first quarter of a playoff game against the 76ers. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Q: If you could go back in time and test your skills against any big man in NBA history, who would it be?
A: I felt like I played in an era where there were some great big men. You got Hakeem, you got Shaq, you got David [Robinson], Robert Parish when I was younger, Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] was at the end when I played against him but he was still kicking butt. I think that the guys I played against were fierce enough to play against, so I don’t think I need to go any further. … My idol was Bill Russell, watching him and Wilt [Chamberlain] battle it. But I’m going to say the guys I played against.
Q: Which was more rewarding, winning the 1984 national championship at Georgetown or coaching Georgetown to the 2021 Big East Conference Tournament championship?
A: Of course winning the national championship, that’s the pinnacle right there! But winning the Big East title was very rewarding. To be back at Georgetown coaching, I came full circle. … We went on a run at the right time, guys stepped up. I thought that Coach [John] Thompson was definitely looking down upon us, and we made him proud.
Q: Would you like to coach again?
A: Yes I would.
Q: Would you dream of coaching the Knicks one day?
A: That one I’m not going to answer. The Knicks have a great coach in Mike Brown, and I’m just happy to be there to support him and the team in any way that we can.
Q: Describe the 1980s St. John’s rivalry and Chris Mullin in particular?
A: We’re playing against one of the best or one of the greatest shooters to play this game in my opinion in Chris Mullin. Going against St. John’s … when people talk about rivalry, right, they always equate us with Syracuse. But I think of St. John’s as well. St. John’s had Chris and we both came into college together, we left together, we played with each other on both Olympic teams. … We hated each other back then, we didn’t become good friends until ’84 when we played in the Olympics and actually were around each other. But to compete against him, Walter Berry, Willie Glass, all those guys, those were some great memories.
Q: Whatever comes to mind: John Thompson.
A: Father figure. One of the best people that I ever got the opportunity to work with, or work for.
Q: Mike Jarvis.
A: The same. One of the best people I got to play for and build a relationship and a friendship with.
Q: Mark Jackson.
A: One of the best passers and teammates in the game.
Q: Rick Pitino.
A: One of the greatest coaches in college and NBA history in my opinion.
Knicks alumni Carmelo Anthony (l) and Patrick Ewing (r) sit on celebrity row during the third quarter for a game against the Thunder. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Q: Jeff Van Gundy.
A: One of the greatest minds in basketball. Great coach, a great friend.
Q: Him hanging on to Alonzo Mourning’s leg during a 1998 brawl?
A: (Laugh) Yes. He needs to learn that he’s small and can’t fight.
Q: Alonzo Mourning.
A: A great friend. One of the best players in the game. Great competitor, but a great role model. But I would say the best thing is a great friend.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: Martin Luther King [Jr.], Malcolm X, Jesus.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I think that from where I came from in Kingston, Jamaica, to where I ended up today, I’m proud of the journey. I’m proud of my mom and my dad working hard, scraping up their money to bring their family to a new country, and me falling in love with the game of basketball and what basketball was able to accomplish for us.
The Edmonton Oilers have been both directly and indirectly linked to the Vegas Golden Knights in recent days. As the Oilers move on from head coach Kris Knoblauch and reports suggest they've reached out to Vegas for permission to interview Bruce Cassidy, one insider has also linked John Tortorella to the Oilers.
Granted, Torts in the middle of a playoff run, but he fits the mold of the coaching style Edmonton might want to pivot toward -- a complete opposite when compared to Knoblauch's style.
Of course, with the recent sanctions levied against Vegas by the NHL, something that could have been avoided if Tortorella wasn't doing Tortorella things, it would be wise for the Oilers to stay away from going down that road.
Elliotte Friedman noted on the 32 Thoughts podcast that the Oilers are looking for a coach who can push buttons. Someone who has won has the respect of the players and isn't afraid to handle top stars like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Cassidy is deemed to be that guy, but so is Tortorella, who Friedman noted does not have a contract for next season.
The NHL insider wondered if Torts would actually be the kind of coach the Oilers are prioritizing. He's got a history of holding top players accountable, even if it causes a storm of controversy, and it's clear from his latest stunt that he doesn't care about optics.
What Edmonton has to be aware of is the downside of hiring a coach like that -- and there is a major downside, as the Golden Knights are learning.
The Golden Knights will ride this Tortorella train as far as they can during these playoffs. However, his stunt to avoid the media -- costing Vegas a second-round pick -- is not something the team will forget, even if they end up winning the Stanley Cup. With his childish defiance, Tortorella may have cost himself an extension, and it should almost definitely take him off Edmonton's radar.
There are coaches who push, and there are coaches who push to blow things up, bringing the wrong kind of attention and drama. Tortorella is the latter.
He eventually casts himself off every NHL team's island. He just can't help himself. His demeanor is unnecessary, and his attitude is tired. How do we know for sure? The NHL has finally said enough, having warned him and the Golden Knights for failing to follow league rules. The NHL almost never steps in and hands out a fine and punishment like this. They've decided it's time to set an example.
The Oilers need no part of that drama. It would put an unneeded target on their back.
If the Golden Knights want to be known for their ruthless ways and they're prepared to deal with a coach like Tortorella, let them. It seems to be the modus operandi. For the Oilers, the optics around how they run things are already being questioned. There is no need to pile on if Tortorella becomes available this summer.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 15: Daylen Lile #4 and Nasim Nuñez #26 of the Washington Nationals celebrate after a 3-2 victory against the Baltimore Orioles at Nationals Park on May 15, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Whenever the Nats have a chance to get to .500, they fall on their face. This is not just a gut feeling, we have the numbers to back this up. The Nats have lost the last 15 times they have had the chance to get to .500. They will have a chance to snap that embarrassing streak this afternoon against the O’s.
The Nats were in a similar spot the other day. They had just won a one run game thanks to a Daylen Lile home run. The boys were riding high, and were one win away from sweeping the Reds and getting to .500. However, they laid an egg in that contest, losing 15-1 in a game where Joey Wiemer had to pitch.
Final: Reds 15, Nats 1. The Nationals have lost 15 consecutive games when having a chance to reach .500. The last time they won: May 14, 2024 (exactly 2 years ago) in the opener of a doubleheader against the White Sox. They then lost the nightcap to fall back under .500.
After a close win in front of an electric Nationals Park crowd, the team is in a familiar spot. They are one win away from that .500 record. Getting that one win has proven to be very elusive for this group. For the fanbase, it is getting frustrating. The difference between being 23-23 and 22-24 is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. After all, it is a 162 game season.
However, getting to that .500 mark this deep into the season is meaningful for the fans, and it should be for the players as well. Spencer Nusbaum wrote an interesting piece about this the other day. His story had quotes from players and manager Blake Butera.
The Nats have lost 15 games in a row in which they had a chance to get to .500. Does it matter?
That depends on who you ask. More in here, free and unlocked to read:https://t.co/9kCOqkfMu6
There were mixed feelings about the concept. For some players, like Jacob Young, that .500 mark is very meaningful. Young talked about how close they have come to that milestone in the past couple years. However, it has eluded them, and eventually the team has faded down the stretch.
For newer members of the club, they are more committed to staying the course rather than focusing on the record. Blake Butera talked about how he cared more about what their record will be in August and September. He talked about how this team has bigger goals than to be .500 in the middle of May.
However, this team needs to get over the hump at some point. Sure, there are bigger fish to fry down the road, but getting to .500 is an important step in the process. For more process driven folks, it may not mean a ton, but it would mean a lot for this fanbase. Nats fans have not had a ton to cheer about since 2019, and getting to that big milestone would make them happy.
The Nats’ futility when they have a chance to get to .500 has gotten to the point where it is a running joke in the fanbase. People are making memes about it online and clowning the team for this dubious streak. It is just one of many things that has made Nats fans miserable over the past five years.
Getting to .500, especially against a rival like the O’s would be a big deal. It may not matter that much to Paul Toboni and Blake Butera, but it would mean a lot to the fans. Eventually they will break this streak, and this will be a .500 team. I trust the process and believe this team is heading in the right direction.
However, they need to get over that .500 hump at some point. Hopefully that happens sooner rather than later. In an ideal world, it would happen today. The Nats have Cade Cavalli on the mound against Chris Bassitt, who has struggled this year. On paper, the opportunity is there for the Nats.
Fans are not going to believe until they see it get done. In the grand scheme of things, getting to .500 on May 16th does not matter that much. However, for this fanbase that has seen so much losing in recent years, it would be fun to feel like winners again, even if it is for a brief and fleeting moment.
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 27: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks arrives to the arena before the game against the Atlanta Hawks on December 27, 2025 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
We’ve reached a point where you can say the Cavs and the Pistons are doing this on purpose to prevent Knicks fans from enjoying New York basketball.
But hey, seven games on their legs? Can’t complain!
We’re the latest four days and a few hours from the ECF Game 1 tip-off. Finally.
OG Anunoby fully participated in Knicks practice today
On OG Anunoby returning as a full participant in practice:
“He practiced today in full. Everything we did today, he did. Anytime anybody is able to do anything like that, it’s always encouraging.”
On leaving the final decision about Anunoby’s availability to the medical staff:
“At the end of the day, I’m a wait and let the medical group tell me each day what he can do. We’ll see if they tell me something different tomorrow. But it’s definitely encouraging to see somebody be able to go out there and practice a full practice like OG did.”
On maintaining consistency after a long layoff:
“If we expect to be who we think we’re capable of being, we’ll find a way to stay consistent with what we’re doing. Whether it’s the energy level, the effort level, or embracing/focusing on the details that we have to be able to understand in order to go out and get a win.”
On ignoring outside noise and focusing on a championship goal:
“I don’t look at it like that. I literally do this to try to compete to try to win a championship. That’s what my focus is throughout the course of the year. Throughout the course of the year, there’s going to be noise out there. When [ex-San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich] was at his height, people talked about him. When [Golden State Warriors head coach] Steve Kerr was at his height, people talked about him. People can talk about Mike Brown for sure, but it’s my job to ignore the noise. It’s easy to do that because the pressure that I put on myself and the team puts on itself to be great or try to be the best team in the league, doesn’t even match up to what everyone else says.”
On weighing player suggestions before making adjustments:
“You can’t act upon everything. Because if you act upon everything, you’re going to be driving yourself crazy and everybody else crazy. It was just something where we were struggling to score [at the time] and I had been thinking about it for awhile and it finally came to me at that point. … I take suggestions from everybody. At the end of the day, it’s up to me to make the decision of yea or nay. The tough part about it is, sometimes when you have suggestions, and there are a lot of good ones out there, a suggestion is one thing, but trying to actually put the suggestion into something that can be real for the group and fit the group, not just that one person, that’s the tricky part. I’ve always been a guy that if you come to me with a suggestion, a lot of times, especially as a coach, you gotta have something to back it up. Some video, some analytics. Tell me how.”
On tailoring his system to the personnel he has:
“We kind of figured it out along the way. [KAT and Sabonis] do a lot of stuff that are similar. You have an idea [coming into a new job with a new team] of what you want to do offensively [and] defensively, but then it’s your job as a coach to try to figure out, ‘Does this really fit the group that you have in front of you?’”
On the challenges of implementing changes in Year 1:
“That’s why it’s always tough to do things in Year 1, because it takes some time to get used to the group, not just what their strengths are as skill players, but their personalities and other things that make them tick. Trying to put a guy like Sabonis at his strength, trying to put a guy like KAT at his strength is something that, as a head coach, it’s my job to think constantly about, as long as it enhances everybody else.”
On embracing collaboration while retaining final authority:
“I take suggestions from everybody. And at the end of the day it’s up for me to make the decision of yay or nay. I’ve always been a guy who if you come to me with suggestions especially as a coach. You have to have something to back it up. Some video or analytics. At the end of the day, I have to say this makes sense let’s do it, but this is how we’re going to do it.”
"I believe luck is not given, it's earned. I've earned my luck. I've put the work in outside of the basketball court…that keeps me healthy and feeling good. I've earned the right to have luck in my situation because I put the work in."
On watching potential Eastern Conference Finals opponents with his fiancée:
“My fiancee [Jordyn Woods], she loves watching basketball a lot. It’s always something, even when I’m not thinking about it, maybe I’m thinking of talking to my family, my niece, my nephew, [Jordyn] has the game on. She’s constantly updating me on what’s happening. She knows ball now, after all these years together. She’s talking about flex screens, UCLA cuts and stuff like that.”
On staying connected with his former Minnesota teammates:
“I definitely am tuned in. I watch the games, especially on the days that we’re not playing, and the Wolves are playing. I’m always tapped in, I’m watching, I’m texting Ant [Edwards], I’m texting Rudy [Gobert], I’m texting those guys and just watching them play.”
On approaching the coaching staff about changing his role:
“You’re down 2-1, obviously it’s not the end of the world but you guys understand the importance of the next game. … You go in there and say how you feel, your feelings, your idea and see if it’s received. And it was received.”
On embracing a facilitator role:
“I’ve always loved this role. I’ve always wanted this role, so [I’m] happy we got to this point.”
On whether he feels vindicated by the adjustment:
“I’ve always said since the beginning, I’ll do whatever it takes to impact winning. I’m glad I’ve been able to do that with this changing role and be able to help our team win. That’s the most important thing. And utilize my talent.”
On entering Year 1 under Mike Brown without expectations:
“I really didn’t have any expectations. I didn’t know what to expect.”
On crediting Brown for the team’s current position:
“He’s done a great job of adjusting our team to give us the best chance to win. The spot we’re in now is because of his courage and trust to change what we were doing and putting us in a better position.”
On Mitchell Robinson’s impact:
“[Robinson’s] one of the most impactful players on our team. I think all of y’all know how important he is to us.”
"Both great opponents, we respect both of them. We'll be ready to go."
On how the offense naturally evolved through Towns late in possessions:
“Using KAT sometimes at the end of the [shot] clock, we started using him more [in that role]. And then we kind of naturally started getting into it. Obviously, our coaches are taking notice. It’s kind of what we’ve been doing all year, but I think the more it started happening when, at the end of the clock, guys were [playing] off of him and then we started using it, guys playing off the ball, and then we kind of just started making it a point of emphasis. I felt like it was something [Towns] was always capable of.”
On believing Towns could handle the expanded responsibility:
“I felt like it was always something he was capable of. You don’t get a lot of practice time. I always feel like it’s tough to figure it out — but again — that’s what the regular season is for.”
On Mitchell Robinson’s continued growth and value:
“It feels like every year Mitch just continues to get better. He’s so important to our team. And when it’s time for him to show up, he shows up. … It’s huge for us creating opportunities at the offensive end. And obviously being at the rim and helping us in so many ways is huge.”
“He’s always wanted to have open dialogue since day one. And obviously he’s still the coach and he’s going to make the decisions and everything. But I mean, we give our opinions, and whether they’re good or bad opinions, they’re talked about and they’re decided on later.”
“Sweep is great right… but dog. 7 days? No games? That’s torture. I’m over here doing nothing… We’re in a good rhythm right now. JB’s passing the ball, KAT’s passing the ball, not yelling at the refs, Kal hooping, Mike Brown… pic.twitter.com/lW0vBkfFbG
On revisiting his postgame comments about Philadelphia:
“I was wrong in part of my post-game interview. I said Philly wasn’t a sports town. I thought it was, but it’s no longer is. It’s not a sports town. They’re diehard and they love the Eagles. What’s the definition of a sports town? You can’t be a sports town if another team fan base takes over your arena. You cannot be a sports town if that happens. Boston? Sports town. You won’t see anyone take over their arena. So yes. (Los Angeles) is more of a sports town than Philly. Because the Rams, they just got back. So I mean, it’s going to take a little bit of time to kind of, you know, cultivate that environment, but they’re almost there. But we’ve taken over Philly. We’re down the street from Boston. Have we ever taken over TD Garden? No. And you will never see Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum sitting there saying, fans, we need y’all to come out because if y’all don’t, the Knicks are going to [take over], they’re never going to say that because they don’t have to.”
“It’s just been amazing, like, ‘Who are these guys?’ ”
On the similarities to the 1970s championship teams:
“They remind me so much of Frazier-to-Bradley-to-Barnett-to-Reed-to-DeBusschere. The way the ball is moving around the court. The way they hit the open man.”
On how stagnant the offense once looked:
“I kept hoping. A lot of times they were stagnant, too much dribbling. And sometimes when Jalen was playing so well, it was like the other guys would stand transfixed, and they weren’t moving like they are now, all of them realizing how equally important they all are. And then KAT happened.”
On Towns’ creativity as a passer:
“Some of the passes are really just very impressive. You know, Globetrotter-like, extraordinary where he has the ball in one hand, behind his back, but that’s the other thing that’s fascinated me is the moving and grooving. How does that happen all of a sudden? Bridges is going back door? OG’s going back door. All these guys, it doesn’t matter, the second unit. They’re all moving the ball.”
On adapting alongside Earl Monroe during the 1973 title run:
“He had to play more defense here than he did in Baltimore. And I had to make sure he shot the ball enough because he didn’t want to come across like a ball hog. We figured it out.”
On his excitement about this Knicks team winning the title:
“Yeah, man, let’s go. Let’s go Knicks!”
"The humble warrior. He just wants to play basketball. … He definitely just wants to win."
“The humble warrior. He just wants to play basketball; he definitely just wants to win. He definitely just wants to win. [Brunson] definitely is a guy that’s going to take over when he needs to. But he knows he needs his team. He knows everybody in that locker room, so he’s going to do whatever he’s got to do and say whatever he’s got to say for everybody to be together.”
You never know who you'll see on the street @Shift4
If the Stanley Cup Playoffs have been building toward a collision of power, speed, and star talent, the Western Conference Final has arrived exactly as advertised.
The Colorado Avalanche, champions in 2022 and winners of the 2025–26 Presidents’ Trophy, will meet the Vegas Golden Knights, the 2023 Stanley Cup winners, with a place in the Final now the only thing separating them from another championship run.
Game 1 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN, marking the start of a matchup that features two of the league’s most complete and explosive teams.
Paths To The Conference Final
Colorado reached this stage by sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in four games before eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five. Vegas advanced after a six-game series win over the Utah Mammoth and followed it with another six-game victory against the Anaheim Ducks.
Both teams arrive tested, but not worn down—each carrying the confidence of having handled adversity without losing control of their identity.
A Clash Of Modern Powerhouses
The Avalanche and Golden Knights are not strangers to deep playoff runs. Colorado won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Vegas captured the Cup in 2023. Now, both franchises are one series away from returning to hockey’s biggest stage again.
This is Colorado’s eighth Western Conference Final appearance since relocating to Denver. The Avalanche hold a 3–4 series record at this stage, and in each of their three previous wins at this level, they went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Vegas, meanwhile, is making its fifth appearance in the round just before the Final in its first 10 seasons, also reaching the Western Conference Final in 2018, 2020, 2023, and now 2026, along with a semifinal berth in 2021 during the league’s realignment playoff format. The Golden Knights hold a 2–2 series record at this stage and have already won one Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Stars Driving The Series
Colorado enters with momentum and depth. The Avalanche lead all playoff teams in scoring at 4.11 goals per game.
Nathan MacKinnon remains the engine, producing 7 goals and 6 assists for 13 points, while maintaining a 1.44 points-per-game average this postseason. That number has also lifted his career playoff scoring rate to 1.31 points per game entering the 2026 playoffs, underscoring his long-term consistency in pressure moments.
Perhaps most strikingly, Colorado has had scoring contributions from 17 different players this postseason, marking the seventh time in NHL history a team has had at least 17 goal scorers through its first nine playoff games. Only the 1983 Calgary Flames, 1985 Chicago Blackhawks, 1987 Montreal Canadiens, 1988 Calgary Flames, 1988 Boston Bruins (who had 18), and 1993 Los Angeles Kings have matched or exceeded that level of scoring distribution.
Goaltending has also stabilized Colorado’s run. Scott Wedgewood has posted a 2.21 goals-against average, the second-best among remaining goaltenders, along with a .914 save percentage, tied for fourth among goalies still active in the postseason.
On the other side, Vegas brings one of the most dangerous offenses in the playoffs, averaging 3.67 goals per game, the third-highest mark in the postseason field.
Mitch Marner has been at the center of it all, recording 7 goals and 11 assists for 18 points, including his fifth multipoint game of the 2026 playoffs in Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks—matching his career high for multipoint games in a single postseason, previously set in 2023 with Toronto.
Pavel Dorofeyev has surged into the spotlight with back-to-back multi-goal performances in Game 6 and enters the series as the leading goal scorer in the 2026 playoffs with nine goals.
Meanwhile, Brett Howden has carved out a unique niche in special teams dominance, scoring his third short-handed goal of the postseason, placing him in an eight-way tie for the most short-handed goals in a single playoff year in NHL history.
Betting Lines
Oddsmakers slightly favor Colorado, listing the Avalanche at -240, with Vegas at +200.
On the Stanley Cup futures board, Colorado sits at +130, while Vegas is listed at +700, reflecting both their dominance and the respect for their playoff consistency.
Everything points toward a tightly contested series between two teams capable of controlling games in different ways—Colorado through depth, pace, and scoring distribution, and Vegas through star-driven offense and timely finishing.
A Series Built For The Biggest Moments
There is no shortage of history between these two franchises. Colorado previously eliminated Vegas in six games during the 2021 playoffs, adding another layer of familiarity and unfinished business to the matchup.
Now, with both teams carrying championship pedigree and elite offensive form, the margin between them feels thinner than ever.
One series will define a return to the Stanley Cup Final. The other will end a season that still felt built for something more.
It’s do or die for the Buffalo Sabres tonight in Game 6, while the Montreal Canadiens can clinch their berth to the Eastern Conference Finals on home ice.
Lane Hutson has been a stud for the Habs this postseason, and he highlights my Sabres vs. Canadiens predictions along with Josh Doan and Rasmus Dahlin.
Keep reading for my NHL picks for Saturday, May 16.
Best Sabres vs Canadiens props for Game 6
Player
Pick
Lane Hutson
Over 0.5 assists
-170
Josh Doan
Over 0.5 points
-125
Rasmus Dahlin
Over 2.5 shots
-145
Game 6 Prop #1: Lane Hutson Over 0.5 assists
-170 at BET99
The Montreal Canadiens are one win away from the Eastern Conference Final, and Lane Hutson has been a major driver behind the team’s success.
The blueliner has 10 assists in 12 games, with at least one helper in four straight contests and seven of his last nine.
Hutson has consistently tilted the ice in Montreal’s favor, controlling over 52% of the shot attempts at even strength – the second-best mark among all regulars in the Habs lineup.
Montreal has scored in bunches, averaging 4.2 gpg this series, and Hutson will have no problem factoring on at least one tonight.
Game 6 Prop #2: Josh Doan Over 0.5 points
-125 at BET99
Twenty-four-year-old Josh Doan has emerged as an important offensive piece for the Buffalo Sabres, sitting second on the team in playoff scoring with 10 points in 11 games.
Doan has found the score sheet in six straight outings, and the Sabres will need him to be productive in Game 6 to avoid elimination.
Doan has been dominant in terms of possession, controlling over 59% of shot attempts and 60% of expected goals at even strength. His 18 high-danger chances this postseason also lead the Sabres, and that’s another reason why he’ll pick up a point in Game 6.
Game 6 Prop #3: Rasmus Dahlin Over 2.5 shots (-145)
-145 at BET99
With the Sabres’ backs against the wall in Game 6, they’ll be throwing everything at the Canadiens net. That’s just business as usual for Rasmus Dahlin, though.
The Sabres captain has logged Over 2.5 shots on net in four of five games this series, and seven of his last eight overall.
Dahlin leads Buffalo in shots (38) and shot attempts (76) this postseason, and he won’t be shy to fire the puck with his team’s season on the line.
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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The best way to score runs in bulk is with the longball but hitting homers will be a difficult challenge for both teams in this matchup.
Elder has done a fantastic job of suppressing power, allowing 0.49 homers per nine innings while posting a remarkably strong 3.5% barrel rate. That puts him in the 90th percentile league-wide.
It's difficult to square up either of these arms, and stringing together hit after hit is also a tall order given Elder and Tolle both rank 83rd percentile or higher in xBA.
Todd Cordell's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 17-10, +3.48 units
Over/Under bets: 11-15-1, -6.41 units
Red Sox vs Braves odds
Moneyline: Red Sox +120 | Braves -140
Run line: Red Sox +1.5 (-170) | Braves -1.5 (+145)
Over/Under: Over 8 (-105) | Under 8 (-115)
Red Sox vs Braves trend
The Braves have hit the Under in 23 of their last 35 home games (+12.2 units, 32% ROI) Find more MLB betting trends for Red Sox vs. Braves.
How to watch Red Sox vs Braves and game info
Location
Truist Park, Cumberland, GA
Date
Saturday, May 16, 2026
First pitch
7:15 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, BravesVision
Red Sox starting pitcher
Payton Tolle (1-2, 2.78 ERA)
Braves starting pitcher
Bryce Elder (4-1, 1.81 ERA)
Red Sox vs Braves latest injuries
Red Sox vs Braves weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
May 15, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Justin Foscue (14) reacts after being picked off during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Good morning, LSB.
The Rangers lost another frustrating one last night, falling 2-0 to the Astros.
With the Buffalo Sabres one loss away from elimination and a roaring Bell Centre already primed for celebration, Game 6 has turned into something simpler—and far heavier—than strategy or tactics: survival.
The Sabres will face the Montreal Canadiens in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series on Saturday night at Bell Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET, with Montreal holding a 3-2 series lead and a chance to close out the series on home ice.
A Season On The Brink
For Buffalo, there is no ambiguity left.
Win, and the series returns to KeyBank Center for a winner-take-all Game 7. Lose, and one of the franchise’s most emotional seasons in nearly two decades comes to an immediate end.
The weight of that reality is only amplified by the setting.
Saturday night at Bell Centre. “Hockey Night in Canada.” A building already known as one of the loudest arenas in the sport, now preparing for what Canadiens fans hope becomes a series-clinching celebration. Montreal defenseman Alexandre Carrier captured the anticipation in a single word: “unreal.”
Montreal’s Momentum Swing
That energy didn’t appear out of nowhere. It was earned in Game 5.
The Canadiens erased three separate Buffalo leads on Thursday night before pulling away with a 6-3 win, powered by a dominant middle stretch that flipped the series. Nick Suzuki led the charge with a goal and two assists, Juraj Slafkovsky added three helpers, and Cole Caufield extended his scoring streak to three straight games. Montreal closed the night with four unanswered goals to seize full control of the series.
Buffalo, for stretches, looked dangerous.
The Sabres got goals from Jason Zucker, Josh Doan, and Konsta Helenius, and even outshot Montreal 36-26. But the details that matter most in May turned against them—defensive breakdowns, lost structure under pressure, and momentum that slipped away too quickly. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled after allowing five goals, with Alex Lyon finishing the night in relief.
Do Or Stay Alive
Now the series swings back into Montreal’s building with everything tilted toward the home side.
The Canadiens know how quickly a clinching game can unravel. Earlier this postseason, they failed to close out the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 before ultimately finishing the series in Game 7 on the road. Head coach Martin St. Louis put it plainly: closing out a playoff series “takes your best. And more.”
Buffalo, though, has already proven it can walk through pressure this spring.
The Sabres eliminated the Boston Bruins in six games in the opening round—ending a 19-year playoff series drought—and they’ve already shown they can win at Bell Centre earlier in this series.
That matters now more than ever.
Because for all the noise waiting inside Montreal, the Sabres are not walking in searching for comfort or rhythm. They’re walking in with one purpose left to define their season: find a way to live to fight another day.
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 15: Yandy Díaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field on May 15, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After dropping five of six, the Yankees got back on track yesterday with a strong showing against the Mets at Citi Field. Cam Schlittler outdueled Clay Holmes, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Spencer Jones had timely hits, and Ben Rice’s solo shot off Craig Kimbrel was the icing on the cake in a 5-2 win. It did stink to hear in the postgame that Jones fractured Holmes’ fibula on a line drive though. Holmes is a great dude who has defied the odds by turning back into a good starter. Call this one of the morse somber citations of “That’s baseball, Suzyn.”
Here’s what else was going on around the American League’s best on Friday night.
Tampa Bay Rays (29-14) 7, Miami Marlins (20-25) 2
The Rays are on some kind of heater right now. On the morning of April 22nd, they were 12-11 after clinching a series loss to the Reds. Since then, they’ve now won 17 of their last 20, zooming to the front of the American League in a season when they weren’t really expected to compete. The bottom still might fall out to some degree, but these wins are banked and they keep on coming.
Remember when Janson Junk inexplicably shut out the Dodgers in a six-inning effort in LA a few weeks ago? That was fun. Anyway, the long-ago Yankees prospect got smoked by the Rays last night, with a Yandy Díaz two-run shot in the first setting the tone. They plated two more in the second and then another pair in the fourth on Taylor Walls’ double.
Southpaw Ian Seymour was the opener for Tampa Bay and was fine through two with a Connor Norby solo shot the lone real blemish on his line. Jesse Scholtens took over after that, and the righty evidently decided that this was a good strategy for him as well. During his five innings of work, he allowed a few hits but likewise held them to a Jakob Marsee homer with no one on base.
The Rays quickly atoned for that anyway, as the struggling Cedric Mullins muscled up a long ball to mark their seventh run against Junk. Casey Legumina finished off the Fish with two perfect frames. Tampa Bay has won 11 in a row at Tropicana Field.
Toronto Blue Jays (19-25) 2, Detroit Tigers (20-25) 3
You know, this once could’ve been a Trey Yesavage vs. Tarik Skubal matchup had the Tigers’ ace not gone down with an injury earlier in the month. Instead, the Tigers had an opener with Ty Madden expected to cover the bulk of the action in Skubal’s place. But not even Skubal’s effective replacement was safe — Madden left the ballgame after recording only one out in the third, as he got drilled by a comebacker from Yohendrick Piñango.
That scare aside, Detroit’s Johnny Wholestaff strategy worked out, exactly matching Yesavage’s effort of six innings with four hits and two runs allowed. Although Toronto’s tallies came on a two-run double by Andrés Giménez in the second, the Tigers’ bullpen kept them at bay from there. That gave their offense some leeway to eventually knot it up at 2-2 off Yesavage thanks to bases-loaded wild pitch to score Kevin McGonigle and then an RBI double from Riley Greene down the right-field line during Yesavage’s final frame.
Drew Anderson did yeoman’s work for Detroit with Madden unable to eat innings. So instead Anderson went four scoreless, limiting Toronto to a Brandon Valenzuela single that was quickly erased on a double-play ball from George Springer. Veteran Kenley Jansen threw a perfect ninth, giving his team an opportunity to walk it off.
The Tigers did just that. With the beleaguered Jeff Hoffman on for the Jays, Matt Vierling hit a one-out single and stole second, setting the stage for Spencer Torkelson. Toronto challenged the erstwhile No. 1 overall pick by intentionally walking Zach McKinstry to face him, so Tork thanked them by lining a walk-off single to right-center.
Boston Red Sox (18-26) 2, Atlanta Braves (31-14) 3: The Red Sox overcame homers against Connelly Early by Drake Baldwin and Michael Harris II to tie it up at Truist Park against a fading Spencer Strider and reliever Tyler Kinley. It was a Marcelo Mayer solo shot that knotted it up at 2-2 in the seventh. The bullpens battled from there, with prominent arms like Aroldis Chapman, Robert Suarez, and Raisel Iglesias keeping their opponents off the board. Tasked with stranding Boston’s zombie runner in the 10th, 20-year-old Didier Fuentes was up to the task, striking out Carlos Narváez and getting outs from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Mickey Gasper. Mike Yastrzemski rewarded the rookie in Atlanta’s first at-bat of the 10th, doubling in Ha-Seong Kim to walk it off.
Seattle Mariners (22-24) 0, San Diego Padres (25-19) 2: Are the Mariners and Rangers really going to force us to cover the A’s, who still sit in first despite barely sitting over .500? We are getting closer by the day, even in mid-May. Former Yankee Randy Vásquez continued his surpisingly superb first month and a half, lowering his ERA to 2.68 with six scoreless frames, and fellow old friend Miguel Andujar got San Diego on the board with an RBI knock off Emerson Hancock. Andujar was involved in the second run as well, as his seventh-inning single was followed by a Ramón Laureano hit, and Andujar then scored on an out. Later, Mason Miller escaped a mostly-inherited jam by striking out Connor Joe with the bases loaded in the eighth. Then he got out of his own mess by striking out Mitch Garver and Brendan Donovan to end the game.
Texas Rangers (21-23) 0, Houston Astros (18-28) 2: I’ve made no secret of how much I long to exclude the Rangers from the Rivalry Roundup. Maybe almost getting no-hit by Spencer Arrighetti will be what send them on the role to “uncovered whatever.” Texas was held hitless until Justin Foscue broke up the gem with one out in the eighth. The Astros were backed up an Isaac Paredes blast against Jack Leiter, and Arrighetti made it hold up.
Cleveland Guardians (24-22) 6, Cincinnati Reds (24-21) 7: The Ohio Cup turned into a minor slugfest on Friday night, but not until the later innings. Entering the eighth, it was a 3-1 Reds lead, with a Rhys Hoskins dinger representing the sum of Cleveland’s offense. But in the Cincy half of the eighth, they scored three, two of them on a blast by Matt McLain. Atrocious relief by Graham Ashcraft and Brock Burke allowed the Guardians to get back into it on the strength of five (!) walks, a single, and a sacrifice fly. Now in a 6-5 ballgame, the Reds got insurance with productive outs following a Dane Myers double, and that came in clutch when Kyle Manzardo tripled in the ninth for Cleveland. Facing Angel Martínez and then rookie Travis Bazzana as the potential tying runs at the plate, Tejay Antone got two groundouts to end it (with a nice play by McLain for the end). To quote Marty Brennaman, this one belonged to the Reds, but boy was it an adventure to get there!
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - APRIL 22: Matt Brash #47 of the Seattle Mariners delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park on April 22, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Good morning everyone and happy Saturday!
The Mariners opened up the weekend with a sleepy 2-0 loss to the Padres last night, though it was great to see Emerson Hancock continue his strong start to the season.
Speaking of, we finally got a resolution to the six-man rotation situation yesterday:
Do you endorse this decision by the club? What would you have done?
In Mariners news…
Kate provided a flurry of updates on currently-injured Mariners. Make sure to follow Lookout Landing on BlueSky to get these alerts in real-time!
In the latest episode of the Meet at the Mitt podcast, the squad worked through the M’s options for navigating Cal’s injury (Spotify link; Apple link)
After a slow start to the season, Rainiers outfielder Brennen Davis is heating up. Ryan Divish at The Seattle Times has the latest on the post-hype breakout candidate.
The Mason Peters experience continues to roll in Single-A. It shouldn’t be long before he’s making starts in Everett.
Mason Peters is good. Final line: 4IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 4K, 12 whiffs, 6 groundouts, 61-37. Lowers ERA at 1.93. pic.twitter.com/l6pHQj4cjk
In Kansas City, Hawaiian Bros agreed to a promotion with the Royals in which they’d give a free lunch to every fan each time the club scored six or more runs during a home game. Well, the Royals did just that eight times in their first 17 home games, so the company had to adjust the promotion to prevent going out of business.
The Los Angeles Dodgers aim to stay hot as they visit the reeling Los Angeles Angels for the second game of the Freeway Series on Saturday night.
The odds are giving the Angels a fair chance with ace Jose Soriano on the mound, but my Dodgers vs. Angels predictions and MLB picks for Saturday, May 16, think the adjustment is too much.
Who will win Dodgers vs Angels today: Dodgers (-136)
Anytime I can get short odds like this for the best roster in the MLB to defeat a squad that has lost 19 of its last 24 games, I’m buying.
The odds are such due to a perceived starting pitching advantage for the Los Angeles Angels, but Jose Soriano’s.248 BABIP and 94% left-on-base percentage both indicate his 1.66 ERA is at least part smoke and mirrors.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have won five of Justin Wrobleski’s seven starts, and he sets up favorably against an Angels lineup with a lowly 70 wRC+ in May.
COVERS INTEL:Much of Jose Soriano’s success comes from his 28.4% K rate and 91st percentile whiff rate. The Dodgers are a tough matchup in that department, striking out only 20.8% of the time against RHP.
Dodgers vs Angels Over/Under pick: Over 8.5 (-105)
It might seem odd that I’m targeting the Over in a game where both starting pitchers have such stellar ERAs, but I’m betting on variance.
Soriano has been tremendous, but his 3.75 xERA is more indicative of future performance than his 1.66 ERA.
Wrobleski’s 2.42 ERA is undercut by his 4.08 xERA, 4.84 xFIP, and 92 Stuff+. He doesn’t make batters miss (second-percentile whiff rate), and the Angels are more respectable against southpaws (104 wRC+).
The Dodgers are in a bind after Blake Snell was scratched yesterday, forcing Dave Roberts to use eight bullpen arms.
JD Yonke's 2026 Transparency Record
ML/RL bets: 13-13 -3.84 units
Over/Under bets: 19-8 +10.64 units
Dodgers vs Angels odds
Moneyline: Dodgers -129 | Angels +117
Run line: Dodgers -1.5 (+124) | Angels +1.5 (-144)
Over/Under: Over 8.5 (+100) | Under 8.5 (-120)
Dodgers vs Angels trend
The Angels have lost 19 of their last 24 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Angels. Find more MLB betting trends for Dodgers vs. Angels.
How to watch Dodgers vs Angels and game info
Location
Angels Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Date
Saturday, May 16, 2026
First pitch
9:38 p.m. ET
TV
SportsNet LA, FDSN West
Dodgers starting pitcher
Justin Wrobleski (5-1, 2.42 ERA)
Angels starting pitcher
Jose Soriano (6-2, 1.66 ERA)
Dodgers vs Angels latest injuries
Dodgers vs Angels weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Lane Hutson
Josh Doan
COVERS INTEL: The Braves lead the league with 
