Posts

Posted on

Twins at Red Sox prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2

It's Friday, May 2 and the Twins (13-19) are in Boston to take on the Red Sox (17-16). Joe Ryan is slated to take the mound for Minnesota against Brayan Bello for Boston.

Boston has lost the past two games to Toronto after winning three straight before that, which is similar to Minnesota who's dropped three straight after four consecutive wins.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Twins at Red Sox

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:10 PM EST
  • Site: Fenway Park
  • City: Boston, MA
  • Network/Streaming: MNNT, NESN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Twins at the Red Sox

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Twins (-106), Red Sox (-113)
  • Spread:  Red Sox 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Twins at Red Sox

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Joe Ryan vs. Brayan Bello
    • Twins: Joe Ryan, (2-2, 3.18 ERA)
      Last outing: 7.0 Innings Pitched, 0 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walk, and 11 Strikeouts
    • Red Sox: Brayan Bello, (2-0, 3.27 ERA)
      Last outing: 6,0 Innings Pitched, 3 Earned Runs Allowed, 6 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Twins and the Red Sox

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Twins:

"Bello is making his third start of the season and while Boston has won both of those games, too many people may buy into that during a pick-em. Ryan is coming off an excellent start (11 Ks, 0 ER, 7 IP), while Bello allowed three earned runs and walked three over six innings of work. Neither team has figured it out yet, but I trust Minnesota to figure out Bello, so I'd have to lean toward Minnesota.

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Twins and the Red Sox:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Boston Red Sox on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Minnesota Twins at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Twins at Red Sox

  • The Red Sox have won 4 of their last 5 home games against teams with losing records
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Twins' last 5 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Kristian Campbell named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April

Kristian Campbell named AL Rookie of the Month for March/April originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Kristian Campbell’s MLB career couldn’t have gotten off to a much better start.

The No. 2 ranked Boston Red Sox prospect cracked the Opening Day roster as the club’s starting second baseman and has done nothing but rake since his big-league debut. Through 29 games, Campbell is slashing .301/.407/.495 with four home runs and 12 RBI.

On Friday, the league recognized Campbell’s hot start with the American League Rookie of the Month honor for March and April. New York Mets second baseman Luisangel Acuña earned the award in the National League.

Campbell is third on the Red Sox in doubles (eight), walks (19), and slugging percentage (.495), second in batting average (.301), and first in on-base percentage (.407). He ranks ninth in MLB in OBP.

If Campbell’s success is an indication of what’s to come from his fellow top Red Sox prospects, the future is bright for Boston. Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, the other members of Boston’s “Big Three,” have been on fire at Triple-A Worcester to start this season. They could force their way onto the big-league club later this year.

The Red Sox will return to action Friday against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park as they look to bounce back from a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Campbell will miss his second consecutive game with right rib discomfort and is considered day-to-day, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

Posted on

Kerr shares touching Popovich tribute before Warriors-Rockets game

Kerr shares touching Popovich tribute before Warriors-Rockets game originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — If not for Gregg Popovich, there might not be a Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

The longtime San Antonio Spurs coach, who stepped down from his position on Friday after 29 years, will take on a new role as the team’s president of basketball operations.

Popovich, 76, missed all but five games during the entire 2024-25 NBA season after suffering a stroke at the team’s arena on Nov. 2.

Kerr, who played for Popovich for four seasons from 1998-2001 and then again in the 2002-03 season, arrived at his pregame press conference before Game 6 of the first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Friday at Chase Center with a custom-made shirt dedicated to his longtime mentor and friend.

“Pop’s going to kill me for wearing this shirt. He’s going to call me a hapless rube for wearing this shirt,” Kerr joked.

Kerr then began his press conference with a touching tribute to Popovich, someone he believes has had a widespread impact on the NBA and basketball as a whole.

“I just want to say thank you to Pop and to the Spurs organization for everything they’ve meant to me and my career,” Kerr said. “I know this is a pretty emotional day for the Spurs. It is for the entire NBA. The number of people Pop has influenced. The number of coaches in his coaching tree, it’s just incredible. But Pop is one of the most important people in my life for many, many reasons, and most of them go way beyond basketball.

“It’s a sad day and it’s also an encouraging day, I think because this is a natural transition for him organizationally to move in to his next role. I think it also gives him the space and the time he needs to recover from the health issues. So I’ve got a lot of mixed emotions today, mainly just my love for Pop, my empathy for him for what he’s gone through for the Spurs organization. All of the above, and it’s still a very emotional day for everybody involved.”

Kerr, the former Spur and Chicago Bulls point guard, has had the fortune of playing for two of the most iconic coaches in league history in Popovich and Phil Jackson, whom he credits for transforming the role into the all-encompassing mentorship position it is today.

“I think Pop transformed coaching over the last 20 years,” Kerr explained. “I think it went from one era to the next with several coaches leading the way. I think Phil Jackson and Pop, and I know I’m biased for both of them, but each of them in their own way transformed the coaching profession into more than just X’s and O’s authoritarian figure to culture and collaboration and the unique chemistry great teams have. Those two guys, in my mind, helped create the current culture we’re in.”

Kerr has followed in Popovich’s footsteps both on and off the court, and similarly to his outspoken mentor, has not been shy about speaking up about political and societal issues he cares deeply about.

“He probably was one of the first coaches in the modern generation to really speak out on politics and social injustices,” Kerr added.

“I think Pop is in that Dean Smith mode of seeing the bigger picture beyond sports, and those are the coaches who really stand out to me, the guys who — and Phil, I immediately think of Phil in that regard — who recognize the importance of sports and yet the relative unimportance and find that balance and that perspective and make an impact societally. And that’s what Pop is.”

Kerr and Popovich have remained very close over the years, despite numerous on-court battles between the Western Conference foes.

The Warriors coach shared that he went to see Popovich three weeks ago before Golden State’s matchup against the Spurs on March 30 and the two have stayed in touch consistently since then.

With a win over the Rockets — led by coach Ime Udoka, another Popovich disciple — on Friday, Kerr and the Warriors will advance to the Western Conference semifinal round against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

While his focus remains on the task at hand, Kerr undoubtedly will be coaching with Popovich on his mind, and should Golden State advance further and further into the playoffs and potentially chase a fifth championship ring, Kerr could take another step closer to following in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer’s footsteps.

“So thank you, Pop. I’ll take the shirt off after,” Kerr joked. “Love you and see you soon.”

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

Posted on

Royals at Orioles prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2

It's Friday, May 2 and the Royals (17-15) are in Baltimore to take on the Orioles (12-18). Michael Wacha is slated to take the mound for Kansas City against Dean Kremer for Baltimore.

The Royals won three straight games and nine of the past 10 contests as they are one of the hottest teams in the league. The Orioles are 2-1 over the last three games but 2-4 over the previous six games.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Royals at Orioles

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 7:05 PM EST
  • Site: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
  • City: Baltimore, MD
  • Network/Streaming: FDSNKC, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Royals at the Orioles

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Royals (+113), Orioles (-134)
  • Spread:  Orioles -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for the Royals at Orioles

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Michael Wacha vs. Dean Kremer
    • Royals: Michael Wacha, (1-3, 3.38 ERA)
      Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts
    • Orioles: Dean Kremer, (2-4, 7.04 ERA)
      Last outing: Innings Pitched, Earned Runs Allowed, Hits Allowed, Walks, and Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Royals and the Orioles

Rotoworld Best Bet Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Royals:

"The Royals are underdogs in the series opener against Baltimore who has gone 5-5 in Game 1's this year. These teams met already and Kansas City won two out of three meetings, including the opener. The Royals are hot right now and I would not be comfortable with fading them at the -130 or a price or anything that isn't +100 or better."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Royals and the Orioles:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Kansas City Royals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Royals at Orioles

  • The Royals are 6-10 on the road this season but have won their last 4 games
  • The Under has cashed in 8 of the Orioles' last 10 games with a rest advantage over their opponents
  • The Royals have covered in 4 of their last 5 road games but they are profiting 1.79 units

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Diamondbacks at Phillies prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, stats for May 2

Its Friday, May 2 and the Diamondbacks (17-14) are in Philadelphia to take on the Phillies (17-14). Merrill Kelly is slated to take the mound for Arizona against Jesús Luzardo for Philadelphia.

The Phillies are coming off a 4-2 loss to the Nationals that snapped a four-game winning streak for Philadelphia. The Diamondbacks have won three of the past four games to follow up a four-game losing streak. Both of these teams have been streaky over the past 10 games.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Diamondbacks at Phillies

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 6:45 PM EST
  • Site: Citizens Bank Park
  • City: Philadelphia, PA
  • Network/Streaming: ARID, NBCSP

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Diamondbacks at the Phillies

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Diamondbacks (+135), Phillies (-159)
  • Spread:  Phillies -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Diamondbacks at Phillies

  • Pitching matchup for May 2, 2025: Merrill Kelly vs. Jesús Luzardo
    • Diamondbacks: Merrill Kelly, (3-1, 4.41 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 4 Hits Allowed, 1 Walks, and 4 Strikeouts
    • Phillies: Jesús Luzardo, (3-0, 1.73 ERA)
      Last outing: 6.0 Innings Pitched, 2 Earned Runs Allowed, 3 Hits Allowed, 3 Walks, and 5 Strikeouts

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Phillies

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the Over between Arizona and Philly:

"Naturally, I would be on the Under between these teams because Kelly has allowed two or fewer earned runs in five out of six games and Luzardo the same. However, those types of bets and mindsets are only a small portion of things to consider when betting. There is some regression due for both starting pitchers and neither bullpen has been reliable this season. I lean toward the Over 8.5 to 9.0, which is a higher total for two pitchers coming off impressive outings."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Diamondbacks and the Phillies:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Philadelphia Phillies on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Arizona Diamondbacks at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC.

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Diamondbacks at Phillies

  • The Phillies have a winning record (4-1) in their last 5 games
  • The Over is 15-5 in the Diamondbacks' last 10 games on the road and the Phillies' last 10 at home combined
  • The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in 3 straight matchups against the Diamondbacks

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Looking back at Gregg Popovich's key moments with San Antonio Spurs

Looking back at Gregg Popovich's key moments with San Antonio Spurs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Some of the key moments in the career of San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, who stepped down as coach Friday:

Dec. 10, 1996: The beginning

Saying the team needed a change in direction, general manager Gregg Popovich fired coach Bob Hill and named himself coach on the same day that star center David Robinson was returning to the lineup. The Spurs were 3-15 at the time.

June 25, 1997: Tim Duncan gets drafted

After winning the draft lottery, the Spurs get the chance to take Tim Duncan No. 1 overall in the 1997 draft. The team immediately becomes a contender, and Popovich and Duncan become joined at the hip for the better part of the next two decades.

June 25, 1999: Championship No. 1

Two years to the day after Duncan got drafted, the Spurs beat New York 78-77 to win the NBA Finals in five games.

June 15, 2003: Championship No. 2

Popovich wins coach of the year in a season where the Spurs sent David Robinson into retirement as a champion, beating New Jersey in six games for the franchise’s second title.

June 23, 2005: Championship No. 3

Tied going into the fourth quarter, the Spurs never trail in the final 12 minutes and Popovich wins his third title. San Antonio beats Detroit 81-74 in Game 7.

June 14, 2007: Championship No. 4

Popovich and the Spurs sweep LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning the four games by an average of 6.0 points.

March 16, 2009: Pop reaches 1,000

In a game at Oklahoma City, Popovich becomes the 24th coach in NBA history to reach the 1,000-game milestone. The only coaches with better records after 1,000 games were Phil Jackson and Pat Riley.

April 6, 2011: Pop passes Red

The Spurs beat Sacramento for Popovich’s 797th career win, one that allowed him to pass Boston’s Red Auerbach for the second-most wins with a single team.

June 15, 2014: Championship No. 5

Popovich becomes the fifth coach in NBA history with five championships, the Spurs beating Miami 104-87 to win that title in five games.

Feb. 4, 2017: The most wins with one team

The Spurs defeat Denver and Popovich gets career win No. 1,128, passing Utah’s Jerry Sloan for the most by a coach with one team.

Aug. 7, 2021: USA Basketball wins Olympic gold

Popovich leads the U.S. to its fourth consecutive gold medal in men’s basketball, with the Americans beating France 87-82 at the Tokyo Olympics. “Every championship is special, and the group you’re with is special, but I can be honest and say this is the most responsibility I’ve ever felt,” Popovich said.

March 11, 2022: The winningest coach ever

Popovich becomes the NBA’s all-time coaching win leader, with the Spurs beating Utah 104-102 for the 1,336th victory of his career — one more than Don Nelson’s previous mark.

Aug. 12, 2023: Pop enters the Hall

Popovich, after years of resisting because he wanted more of his former players to be enshrined before him, enters the Basketball Hall of Fame. “It’s unimaginable,” Popovich said.

Nov. 2, 2024: Popovich suffers stroke

Popovich had a stroke at the team’s arena in San Antonio a couple of hours before the game that night against Minnesota. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson took over as acting head coach that night and wound up coaching the team’s final 77 games of the season.

Feb. 27, 2025: Popovich updates his status

Popovich released a statement saying Johnson will finish the season. “Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding,” Popovich said in the statement distributed by the Spurs. “I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future.”

May 2, 2025: Popovich steps down as coach

Popovich stepped down as coach of the Spurs. “While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach. I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me,” he said. Later that day, the Spurs promoted Johnson to the head coach role.

Posted on

Jets' Arniel, Capitals' Carbery And Canadiens' St-Louis Are Jack Adams Award Finalists

Scott Arniel (James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images)

The NHL announced the finalists for the Jack Adams Award, which goes to the coach who contributed the most to their team's success.

The Winnipeg Jets' Scott Arniel, Washington Capitals' Spencer Carbery and Montreal Canadiens' Martin St-Louis are all finalists after their teams took a step forward this season.

Arniel took over as Jets coach following Rick Bowness' retirement. The Jets finished fourth in the NHL last season, and in his first season, Arniel took the club to new heights.

Winnipeg won the Presidents' Trophy for the first time in franchise history, recording a team-high 56 wins and 116 points. The team allowed the fewest goals against in the NHL while scoring the fourth-most. Their 28.9 percent power-play success rate topped the league and is the ninth-best rate since the NHL started tracking it in 1977-78.

While Bowness finished third in Jack Adams voting last season, the Jets' new bench boss is in the running to win the award for the first time in franchise history.

Carbery, meanwhile, could be the fourth coach in Capitals history to win the award. The Capitals barely made the playoffs last year and were swept by the New York Rangers in the first round. This year, they finished second in the NHL standings, improving by 20 points. It was the largest points gain by a team that made the playoffs.

Washington improved to second in the league in goals-for from 29th place last season. They were also tied for eighth for fewest goals against, fifth in the best penalty-kill rate and first in comeback wins.

No bench boss has won coach of the year honors in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. Carbery could be the first.

Great Work, Canadiens. Now, The Real Work BeginsGreat Work, Canadiens. Now, The Real Work BeginsEven though the Montreal Canadiens went down in five games to the best team in the Eastern Conference in the first round of the playoffs, there is every reason to frame the 2024-25 season as a tremendous success.

St-Louis had his first playoff experience coaching the Canadiens this season, and it came after a big late-season push. The Canadiens were tied for second-last in the Eastern Conference at the 4 Nations Face-Off break and were six points out of a playoff spot. The rebuilding squad then went 15-5-6 the rest of the season to grab the second wild-card spot in the East by just a two-point cushion.

Montreal improved by 15 points this season from last year, and its penalty-kill rate shot up to ninth-best from 24th in 2023-24.

St-Louis is the Canadiens' first Jack Adams Award finalist since Guy Carbonneau finished second in 2007-08. Only Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns won the Jack Adams Award while coaching the Habs.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

Posted on

Oilers Vs. Kings: One Important Moment Changed Everything

Evander Kane (Perry Nelson-Imagn Images)

EDMONTON – One moment can change everything. 

That certainly rings true for Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers.

They booted the Los Angeles Kings out of the first round of the playoffs for the fourth straight year. This time around, they eliminated them in six games.

Bookmark The Hockey News Edmonton Oilers team site to never miss the latest news, game-day coverage, and more. 

Adam Henrique, Zach Hyman, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Trent Frederic, Darnell Nurse, and Connor Brown scored goals for the Oilers in Game 6 to send the Kings packing.

Trending Oilers Stories

Ex-Oiler Woodcroft Strong Candidate For Coaching GigEx-Oiler Woodcroft Strong Candidate For Coaching GigEDMONTON – It's that time. 

'Best Game As An Oiler': Connor McDavid Praises Connor Brown

Oilers Will See Strong Opponent In Round Two

New Oilers Defenders Can't Replace Ekholm

Connor McDavid's Wife Lauren Makes Big Announcement

'No Line That We're Hiding': Kris Knoblauch On Latest Oilers' Victory'No Line That We're Hiding': Kris Knoblauch On Latest Oilers' VictoryEDMONTON – “I think everybody was ready to bring their A-game, and most of them did.”

It was the cherry on top of a rewarding stretch of games for the Oilers. After dropping the first two contests, they came roaring back with four straight victories.

And it all started with one moment.

It was Game 3, and the Oilers were down 4-3 to begin the third period. With around seven minutes left in the period, the Oilers were cooking in the Kings' end with some good zone time. There was chaos around the net. McDavid came around the net and threw the puck toward the crease, and Evander Kane magically deposited it into the net.

The Moment That Changed Everything For The Oilers

After looking at the play, Kings’ head coach Jim Hiller decides to challenge the goal for goaltender interference. The referees review the sequence and then determine that there was no goalie interference. The Oilers go on the powerplay with the game tied 4-4.

Evan Bouchard tips a Leon Draisaitl shot for a goal, 10 seconds into the man advantage. The Oilers are now up 5-4. They would add two empty-net goals to secure a 7-4 victory.

For the rest of the series, after that moment, the Oilers dominated play for long stretches.

Many people online wondered if that coach’s challenge would change the series. It looks like every single one of those people was right.

The Kings didn’t look the same after that play. After the first three games, Adrian Kempe, their top point producer, only recorded one assist in Games 4, 5, and 6.

The “Oilers Killer” had nine points in the first three games, four of which were goals.

Whether the Oilers played exceptional defense and neutralized the Kings, or the Kings lost steam and motivation against a team that has had their number for a long time (or a combination of the two), the two teams never looked the same.

And now, the Oilers face a new challenge: the Vegas Golden Knights.

Add us to your Google News favourites, and never miss a story.

Posted on

Padres at Pirates prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for May 2

It's Friday, May 2 and the Padres (19-11) are in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates (12-20). Dylan Cease is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Mitch Keller for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates are 1-5 in the last six games coming off back-to-back lost series against the Cubs and Dodgers. The Padres have won back-to-back games after four consecutive losses, so the two are trending in different directions.

Let's dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two. We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Padres at Pirates

  • Date: Friday, May 2, 2025
  • Time: 6:40 PM EST
  • Site: PNC Park
  • City: Pittsburgh, PA
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Padres at the Pirates

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Padres (-147), Pirates (+123)
  • Spread:  Padres -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Padres and the Pirates

Rotoworld Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) leans the NRFI between Pittsburgh and San Diego:

"The Pirates and Padres both have two of their better pitchers on the mound tonight and Pittsburgh has a slight advantage with San Diego traveling across the country for this matchup. The Padres did have a day off yesterday, but this being the first of the series and in a different time zone is not a spot where I like San Diego to win or come out swinging. I like the No Runs First Inning and lean the Pirates ML."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s game between the Padres and the Pirates:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the San Diego Padres on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Padres at Pirates

  • The Padres have won 7 of their last 10 away games against teams with losing records
  • In his last 5 home starts on the mound the Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller has an ERA of 5.13

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)
Posted on

Golden Knights Set For Second Round Matchup Against Connor McDavid And Oilers

Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) and Edmonton Oilers center Leon Draisaitl (29) watch the puck after a face-off during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in the opening round of the playoffs, setting themselves up for a rematch with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Kings in six games despite losing the first two games of the series. Their opening-round matchup was filled with goals, shaky defence and at times, awful goaltending. The series was ultimately decided by the best player in the NHL, Connor McDavid, willing the Oilers to win.

The Golden Knights' opening round series was a bit different. It wasn't as tight checking as some may have thought it would have been, but the goal totals were far lower than what occurred in the Oilers series.

The Golden Knights' star forwards, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, started the series very poorly. They were neutralized by Joel Eriksson-Ek, Brock Faber and Jonas Brodin, but as the series went along, they found their game.

In the final two games of the series, Eichel recorded a goal and three assists, and Stone added his own two goals and three points. 

The Golden Knights and Oilers have met in the playoffs before, with the Golden Knights defeating the Oilers in six games in the second round of the 2022-23 playoffs, going on to win the Stanley Cup. The teams traded wins in the first four games before the Golden Knights took over in Games 5 and 6, closing out the series. 

The series was headlined by the phenomenal play of Eichel. Although it's seemingly impossible to stop McDavid, Eichel did his best to make him work for every goal while matching his output. If the Golden Knights have any hope of doing so again, they'll need Eichel to play at the level he displayed in Games 5 and 6.

The Golden Knights and Oilers met four times this season, splitting the season series. The Golden Knights were victorious in the first two meetings, but the Oilers defeated the Golden Knights in the following two. 

The series will be fierce, as the two teams have built a bit of a rivalry with one another. The Oilers have suffered this season from their lack of depth, something the Golden Knights have an abundance of and will need to exploit to prevail.  

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

Golden Knights' Forward Announced Day-To-Day With Undisclosed InjuryGolden Knights' Forward Announced Day-To-Day With Undisclosed InjuryVegas Golden Knights forward Pavel Dorofeyev exited Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild with an undisclosed injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Posted on

Flowers For 'Flower': Penguins Goaltending Legend Earns Warm Reception In Final NHL Appearance

Apr 26, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) reacts to the fans prior to the start of game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. (Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images)

On Thursday, the Minnesota Wild suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in Game 6 to the Vegas Golden Knights, eliminating them in the first round for the eighth time in their last 10 postseason appearances. 

Even though the loss was a killer, there was some silver lining offered during and after the handshake line.

NHL Community Reacts To Marc-Andre Fleury's Final Moments Of His CareerNHL Community Reacts To Marc-Andre Fleury's Final Moments Of His CareerMarc-Andre Fleury’s NHL playing career is over.

Former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury - backup goaltender to Filip Gustavsson for the Wild - took to the ice one final time in his NHL career following the loss. The 40-year-old goaltender has plans to retire following the 2024-25 season, and since Minnesota was eliminated, he was dressed on NHL ice for the last time on Thursday.

Even though Fleury didn't start the game - he did make an appearance in Game 5 after Gustavsson left due to illness - he was recognized by just about every single person who took the ice that evening - teammates and opponents alike.

Fleury was the first overall draft pick by Pittsburgh in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the first 13 seasons of his career with the Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups and earning 375 wins, which is the most by a goaltender in franchise history.

He was exposed to Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft and played four seasons there, winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender in 2020-21 before moving on to the Chicago Blackhawks. He was with Chicago until the 2022 trade deadline, when he was dealt to Minnesota. 

The four-time All-Star netminder finishes his NHL career second all-time in wins with 575, which should all but guarantee first-ballot entry to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!       

Posted on

MSG Sports Sees Q3 Revenue Drop Amid Media Rights Strain

The New York Knicks cashed in on strong attendance at the Garden this season—support they’ll continue to need against the defending champion Boston Celtics in the playoff semifinals. But while the Knicks’ parent company is poised to return to the second round for a third straight year, turbulence surrounding broadcaster MSG Networks dragged down revenue.

On Friday, Madison Square Garden Sports, which also owns the NHL’s New York Rangers, reported that it earned $424.2 million in revenue during the fiscal third quarter ended March 31. That’s a decrease of $5.8 million from the same period last year. MSG Sports also reported an adjusted operating income of $36.9 million during the third quarter, a decrease of $51 million compared with the same period last year.

Shares of MSG Sports (NYSE: MSGS) were trading slightly down around $190 per at midday on Friday.

The drop in revenue reflects the reduction in rights fees stemming from amendments made to Knicks and Rangers’ local media agreements with MSG Networks. The financial report provides a snapshot of how diminished broadcast money can impact sports franchises’ bottom lines amid a shift in the regional sports network landscape.

Sporticopreviously reported the Knicks will receive a 28% reduction in their annual rights fee, as part of the deal between MSG Networks and its lenders to resolve $804 million in debt that was originally due in October. The Rangers also agreed to an 18% reduction in their deal. Annual escalators were removed from the contracts of the Knicks and Rangers and their local media deals will now expire after the 2028-29 season versus 2034-35.

The Knicks, Rangers, MSG Networks and Sphere Entertainment are all controlled by the Dolan family through a pair of publicly traded companies, MSG Sports and Sphere Entertainment. “While the company is now seeing the impact of the evolving landscape for local media rights, we remain as confident as ever in the value of owning marquee professional sports franchises,” MSG Sports executive chairman and CEO Jim Dolan said in a statement.

MSG Sports attributes the income declines to a 16% increase in direct operating expenses, which jumped $43.3 million to $316.3 million during the third quarter. Besides contributing to net provisions related to league revenue sharing expenses, the Jalen Brunson-led Knicks paid a $33 million luxury tax bill and were responsible for higher team personnel compensation of $14.7 million, compared to the same period last year.

MSG Sports nonetheless offset the hit from the media rights reduction, along with lower food and beverage sales, with revenue related to ticket sales, suites, higher sponsorship fees and leaguewide distributions of increased national media rights fees. The Knicks and Rangers also played two fewer regular-season games combined compared with the same period last year.

After eliminating the Detroit Pistons on Thursday night, the third-seeded Knicks are set to face the No. 2 seed Celtics in Boston on Monday. The Celtics won all four matchups during the regular season. The Rangers, meanwhile, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Posted on

Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart voted as finalists for Frank J. Selke Trophy

Feb 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (16) celebrates with Panthers center Sam Reinhart (13) after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals in the second period at Capital One Arena. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

This season’s ballot for the Selke Trophy has a bit of Florida Panthers flavor.

On Friday, the NHL announced the three finalists for the 2025 Frank J. Selke Trophy.

Last year’s winner, Panthers Captain Sasha Barkov, was expected to be among them, and he is.

While Barkov may be the favorite to repeat in many people’s eyes, his greatest challenge may come from somebody he’s quite familiar with.

Panthers forward Sam Reinhart, who spent the majority of this season on Barkov’s right win, is also one of the three finalists.

It’s pretty remarkable that Florida has two of the absolute defensive forwards in the NHL on the same line, on the same power play and on the same penalty kill.

They are elite, and the only reason Reinhart isn’t discussed more as a top defensive player is because he plays directly next to Barkov.

Interestingly, the third finalist is also from the state of Florida. It’s Tampa Bay forward Anthony Cirelli.

Barkov is looking to become only the seventh player in NHL history to win the Selke in back-to-back years, potentially joining Bob Gainey, Guy Carbonneau, Jere Lehtinen, Rod Brind’Amour, Pavel Datsyuk and Patrice Bergeron.

In addition to winning the Selke Trophy last season, Barkov also took home the award in 2020-21.

For both Reinhart and Cirelli, this is their first time as an NHL Awards finalist.

The winners will be announced at the NHL Awards ceremony, which this season takes place in Los Angeles on June 27.

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers second round opponent is Toronto team full of familiar faces

Florida Panthers local Scripps Sports crew to offer full pregame coverage throughout Stanley Cup Playoffs

Three takeaways: Bobrovsky, Panthers shut down Tampa Bay when it counts to close out contentious series

Big night by Marchand line helps Panthers eliminate Lightning with 6-3 win in Game 5

Florida's ability to adapt has been key to their 3-1 series lead