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(Game 6) Wild Vs Golden Knights: Game Preview, Line Combinations

Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild is back in action tonight for Game 6 against the Vegas Golden Knights. It is a win or go home situation for the Wild as they look to force a Game 7 back in Vegas with a win tonight. 

The Wild are not expected to make any changes tonight. Head coach John Hynes said this morning that Filip Gustavsson should start tonight. He left Game 5 after the second period with an illness. 

We won't know the lines until warmups but the Wild are expected to roll out the same lineup tonight as Game 5. 

For the Golden Knights, Pavel Dorofeyev will miss tonight's game. Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy said this morning that Dorofeyev is listed as day-to-day. 

Victor Olofsson will come in and replace Dorofeyev in the lineup. He played in the first three games of the series until the Golden Knights decided to play Tanner Pearson for the last two games. He assisted on the Game 5 overtime winner.

Here are tonight's projected lines (subject to change). 

Wild Projected Lines

Kirill Kaprizov - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy

Marcus Foligno - Ryan Hartman - Mats Zuccarello

Marcus Johansson - Freddy Gaudreau - Gustav Nyquist

Yakov Trenin - Marco Rossi - Justin Brazeau

Defense:

Jonas Brodin - Brock Faber

Jake Middleton - Jared Spurgeon

Jon Merrill - Zach Bogosian

Starting Goaltender: Filip Gustavsson

Scratched: Declan Chisholm, Devin Shore, Jesper Wallstedt, Liam Ohgren, Vinnie Hinostroza, Zeev Buium.

Injured: None

Black Aces:Hunter Haight, Cameron Crotty, Carson Lambos, Travis Boyd, Brendan Gaunce, Samuel Hlavaj, and Ben Jones. 

Golden Knights Projected Lines

William Karlsson - Jack Eichel - Mark Stone

Brandon Saad - Tomas Hertl - Victor Olofsson

Ivan Barbashev - Nicolas Roy - Reilly Smith

Tanner Pearson - Brett Howden - Keegan Kolesar

Defense:

Brayden McNabb – Shea Theodore

Nicolas Hague - Alex Pietrangelo

Noah Hanifin - Zach Whitecloud

Starting Goaltender: Adin Hill

Scratched: Alexander Holtz, Ben Hutton, Ilya Samsonov, Kaedan Korczak, Cole Schwindt. 

Injured: Pavel Dorofeyev

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

Wild Related News

Wild's Filip Gustavsson Expected To Start In Goal For Game 6Wild's Filip Gustavsson Expected To Start In Goal For Game 6ST. PAUL, Minn - There was some concern when Filip Gustavsson left Game 5 after the second period with an illness and then to not return to the bench for the rest of the game.  Golden Knights Face Wild For Game 6 Tonight Without Their Top Goal ScorerGolden Knights Face Wild For Game 6 Tonight Without Their Top Goal ScorerST. PAUL, Minn - The Vegas Golden Knights will be without its top goal scorer from the regular season. Head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed this morning that Pavel Dorofeyev will not play tonight. 
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Signing Evolving Young Star Defenseman Must Be Priority For Sabres This Summer

Bowen Byram (Timothy T. Ludwig, USA TODAY Sports)

The Buffalo Sabres have clear goals in this off-season, including being a better defensive team. But one of the biggest tasks for the Sabres has to be getting a key defenseman locked up under contract for as long as possible.

We’re speaking, of course, of young defenseman and pending RFA Bowen Byram. The 23-year-old is coming off a season in which he set personal-bests in assists (31) and points (38), and Sabres GM Kevyn Adams cannot afford to let Byram get away.

It’s definitely going to be costly to get Byram’s signature on a contract extension. He’s been making $3.85-million for the past three seasons, and a healthy raise will put him in the area of $6-to-$8-million per season. But while that amount of money will carry with it a certain degree of sticker shock for Sabres fans, what’s the alternative here – letting Byram walk away? That would hurt Buffalo more than figuring out how to keep him in a Sabres uniform.

You have to know there will be teams prepared to pay Byram that amount. And considering that the NHL’s salary cap ceiling will rise exponentially in the next few seasons, giving Byram a major raise won’t hurt as much as it would in a flat-cap situation. Most teams are paying quite a bit to keep their top-four defensemen happy, and Byram is definitely a top-four talent on the back end.

For that reason, Adams has to do whatever it takes to keep Byram in the fold. If the Sabres are going to finally take that next competitive step and get into the playoffs next season, they need to have Byram’s dynamic performance working for them. Buffalo ownership can’t let a million dollars here or there be the reason why Byram chooses to play elsewhere, and signs an offer sheet with a different team that drives up his asking price even higher than it’s already projected to go. He’s still not close to his prime, so investing in him now makes a lot of sense.

Sabres Facing An Off-Season Of ChangeSabres Facing An Off-Season Of ChangeThe Buffalo Sabres, at their season-ending press availability, were all singing from the same hymn book, and the song was Bruce Hornsby’s “Gonna Be Some Changes Made”. The questions that will be utmost in the minds of a frustrated fanbase will be what kind of changes, and in the end, will those changes have the desired effect of ending the club’s 14-year playoff drought. 

Byram isn’t a lockdown defensive specialist, but he is a savvy offense-minded D-man whose skill set would be highly-valued by many teams. The Sabres landed a solid talent when they acquired him from the Colorado Avalanche, and now their job is to keep him around for the foreseeable future.

And if they don’t, Sabres management will be rightfully ripped for letting an above-average asset get away.

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Phillies fail to finish sweep, give Nationals 3 unearned runs in series finale

Phillies fail to finish sweep, give Nationals 3 unearned runs in series finale  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies’ defensive lapses were costly Thursday night as they searched for a sweep over the Nationals. 

Washington took the series finale, winning a 4-2 game at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are 17-14 entering a three-game series vs. the Diamondbacks that begins Friday night in Philadelphia. 

Taijuan Walker was charged with four runs over 5 2/3 innings, but only one was earned. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked three. 

Nationals rookie Brad Lord registered his first MLB win by tossing five innings of two-run ball.

Walker recorded the game’s first out with a tremendous defensive play. He chased down a CJ Abrams chopper and then flipped the ball to Bryce Harper with his glove right before tumbling to the infield dirt. 

On the mound, Walker threw strikes on 15 of his first 28 pitches. He walked a batter in each of the first two innings but steered clear of any damage. 

Walker pitched with effective variety through five innings and his control improved. The Nationals ground out three times in the fourth, including a hard Josh Bell one-hopper that Harper picked. 

Lord matched Walker’s scoreless work with four tidy innings, but the Phillies broke the ice in the fifth. Max Kepler lined an opposite-field double with one out and Alec Bohm’s base hit to right-center drove him in. 

The Phillies’ lead was short-lived. 

Following an Abrams leadoff double, James Wood’s shot up the middle deflected off of Walker’s thigh. He moved a bit gingerly after grabbing the ball and throwing out Wood but stayed in the game. Washington then tied the contest up with a Nathaniel Lowe RBI single and pulled ahead when a Keibert Ruiz grounder scooted under Harper’s glove. Lowe scored and Ruiz sprinted to third base. The Nats went up 3-1 on a Luis Garcia Jr. single. 

Rafael Marchan caught Walker and J.T. Realmuto sat. Marchan was 0 for 4 in his first start since April 20 and had two defensive miscues in the sixth inning — first a passed ball, then a low throw to second base that skidded into center field and gave the Nationals a fourth run. 

The Phillies got one back in the sixth, though they couldn’t capitalize on opportunities to add more.

Nick Castellanos’ grounder rocketed off of reliever Jose Ferrer’s calf and ballooned high into the air. The ball eventually descended to Ferrer, but Castellanos legged out an infield RBI hit. That put runners at the corners with one out, but Kepler struck out looking and Bohm waved at a low 3-2 changeup. 

The Phillies’ bullpen did its job — Orion Kerkering, Joe Ross and Carlos Hernandez all had clean outings — but a comeback wasn’t in the cards. Castellanos grounded into an eighth-inning double play. Johan Rojas tripled with two outs in the ninth but Marchan then lined out to center.

Suarez gearing up for debut 

Ranger Suarez is ready to roll for his season debut Sunday vs. the Diamondbacks. He said pregame that his back stiffness hasn’t been an issue since spring training.

“The rehab went great and everything’s going according to plan,” Suarez said.

The lefty is optimistic he’ll be able to stay healthy the rest of the season. 

“I wish I could tell you, but I don’t really have an answer for what’s caused so many injuries in the past,” he said. “But we’re working twice as hard this year. We’re training every day, working really hard every day, and I’m feeling great physically. So I’m hoping, with the extra effort we’re putting in … that it’s going to help it.”

Suarez threw 78 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

“We can probably up that a little bit, but he won’t be full (on Sunday),” Thomson said. 

The Phillies now have their rotation mapped out through next Tuesday. Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Suarez will pitch the D-Backs series and Zack Wheeler will open a road series against the Rays. Whether or not he sticks in the rotation, Walker will certainly be part of the picture moving forward. 

“He’s on the club, absolutely,” Thomson said. “He’s pitched very well.”

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Phillies fail to finish sweep, give Nationals 3 unearned runs in series finale

Phillies fail to finish sweep, give Nationals 3 unearned runs in series finale  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Phillies’ defensive lapses were costly Thursday night as they searched for a sweep over the Nationals. 

Washington took the series finale, winning a 4-2 game at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies are 17-14 entering a three-game series vs. the Diamondbacks that begins Friday night in Philadelphia. 

Taijuan Walker was charged with four runs over 5 2/3 innings, but only one was earned. He allowed four hits, struck out two and walked three. 

Nationals rookie Brad Lord registered his first MLB win by tossing five innings of two-run ball.

Walker recorded the game’s first out with a tremendous defensive play. He chased down a CJ Abrams chopper and then flipped the ball to Bryce Harper with his glove right before tumbling to the infield dirt. 

On the mound, Walker threw strikes on 15 of his first 28 pitches. He walked a batter in each of the first two innings but steered clear of any damage. 

Walker pitched with effective variety through five innings and his control improved. The Nationals grounded out three times in the fourth, including a hard Josh Bell one-hopper that Harper picked. 

Lord matched Walker’s scoreless work with four tidy innings, but the Phillies broke the ice in the fifth. Max Kepler lined an opposite-field double with one out and Alec Bohm’s base hit to right-center drove him in. 

The Phillies’ lead was short-lived. 

Following an Abrams leadoff double, James Wood’s shot up the middle deflected off of Walker’s thigh. He moved a bit gingerly after grabbing the ball and throwing out Wood but stayed in the game. Washington then tied the contest up with a Nathaniel Lowe RBI single and pulled ahead when a Keibert Ruiz grounder scooted under Harper’s glove. Lowe scored and Ruiz sprinted to third base. The Nats went up 3-1 on a Luis Garcia Jr. single. 

Rafael Marchan caught Walker and J.T. Realmuto sat. Marchan was 0 for 4 in his first start since April 20 and had two defensive miscues in the sixth inning — first a passed ball, then a low throw to second base that skidded into center field and gave the Nationals a fourth run. 

The Phillies got one back in the sixth, though they couldn’t capitalize on opportunities to add more.

Nick Castellanos’ grounder rocketed off of reliever Jose Ferrer’s leg and ballooned high into the air. The ball eventually descended to Ferrer, but Castellanos legged out an infield RBI hit. That put runners at the corners with one out. Kepler then struck out looking and Bohm waved at a low 3-2 changeup. 

The Phillies’ bullpen did its job — Orion Kerkering, Joe Ross and Carlos Hernandez all had clean outings — but a comeback wasn’t in the cards.

Castellanos grounded into an eighth-inning double play. In risky style, Johan Rojas tripled with two outs in the ninth. A replay review confirmed he was safe at third.

“It’s something I’ll be talking to him about tomorrow,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “It was a little too close for me.”

Marchan then swung at the first pitch and lined out to center for the night’s final out.

Suarez gearing up for debut 

Ranger Suarez is ready to roll for his season debut Sunday vs. the Diamondbacks. He said pregame that his back stiffness hasn’t been an issue since spring training.

“The rehab went great and everything’s going according to plan,” Suarez said.

The lefty is optimistic he’ll be able to stay healthy the rest of the season. 

“I wish I could tell you, but I don’t really have an answer for what’s caused so many injuries in the past,” he said. “But we’re working twice as hard this year. We’re training every day, working really hard every day, and I’m feeling great physically. So I’m hoping, with the extra effort we’re putting in … that it’s going to help it.”

Suarez threw 78 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

“We can probably up that a little bit, but he won’t be full (on Sunday),” Thomson said. 

The Phillies now have their rotation mapped out through next Tuesday. Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Suarez will pitch the D-Backs series, and Zack Wheeler will then open a road series against the Rays. Whether or not he sticks in the rotation, Walker will certainly be part of the picture moving forward. 

“He pitched so well,” Thomson said. “He mixed his pitches. For the most part, he got ahead of hitters and attacked the zone. He’s kept us in games and I trust him.”

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What we learned as Giants waste solid Verlander start in loss to Rockies

What we learned as Giants waste solid Verlander start in loss to Rockies originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO — Just swept by a division rival? Here’s a four-game series against the worst team in baseball.

The Giants (19-13) could not have asked for a better matchup as they looked to get back on track and avoid their first three-game losing streak of the 2025 MLB season.

However, they didn’t take advantage of it.

Justin Verlander, in search of his first win with San Francisco, toed the rubber against Colorado Rockies (6-25) lefty Kyle Freeland (ND, 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K), and came close to notching that elusive first victory before a late-game bullpen collapse helped extend San Francisco’s losing streak to three games.

Here are three observations from the Giants’ 4-3 loss to the Rockies:

Unc Still Got It

Ownage was a theme early on Thursday night, and it started with the man on the mound for the Orange and Black.

Verlander (ND, 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, BB, 4 K) was 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 39 2/3 innings pitched in six career starts against Colorado before Thursday’s outing.

While his 2025 season, on the surface, has been a bit of a mixed bag thus far, the 42-year-old has been rather unlucky at times. Verlander’s expected ERA (xERA) prior to Thursday’s start was 3.90, nearly a full run lower than what his initial ERA (4.70) was.

This was the third consecutive start Verlander surrendered two or fewer runs in at least six innings of work, and it’s clear the future Hall of Famer has turned a corner and is pitching like the consistent innings-eater the Giants hoped he could be.

Verlander departed with one out in the top of the seventh, and walked off the field to a well-deserved standing ovation before his bullpen blew an opportunity in the top of the eighth for him to secure his first win with the Giants.

Heating Up At The Right Time?

It was a very slow start to the season for Willy Adames, but there are signs of life.

The veteran shortstop is batting .304/.414/.478 with one home run, four RBI and five walks over his last seven games and looks much more confident at the plate.

San Francisco still managed to start the season off strong despite Adames’ early struggles, and if the player with the largest contract in franchise history is turning things around, as evidenced by a 2-for-4 night at the plate on Thursday, it should bode very well for the Giants’ middling offense.

The same can be said for Heliot Ramos, who, similarly to Adames, had been struggling, but is batting .318/.444/.591 with two homers in his last seven games, including a 112.8-mph rocket off his bat in the top of the first that gave the Giants an early lead.

Streak Snapped

It’s no secret the Giants have the Rockies’ number in recent years. And that’s putting it lightly.

Since the beginning of the 2021 season, San Francisco is 27-6 against Colorado at Oracle Park and had won 12 consecutive home games against its division opponent before Thursday’s loss.

The 27-6 record against the Rockies also is the best home record by any team against a division opponent since 2021.

Despite the series-opening loss, beating up on the lowly Rockies should continue to be a theme this season.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

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

Apr 28, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Anton Lundell (15) and Tampa Bay Lightning center Brayden Point (21) face off during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena. (Rich Storry-Imagn Images)

There are very few negatives that come with advancing past the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Actually, this may be the only one.

Once teams move to round two, their respective local game broadcasts go away. The only networks that can broadcast past the first round are the national rightsholders.

That means Game 5 in Tampa Bay was the last game that Florida Panthers play-by-play voice Steve Goldstein and analyst Randy Moller will be calling this season.

That’s the bad news.

But don’t fret, because there is some good news.

While there won’t be any more games to call for the Panthers’ local Scripps Sports broadcast team, fans will still be able to get playoff info and analysis from the crew before every single playoff game.

Starting with Game 1 of the second round, Scripps will be offering a full 30 minute pregame show that the entire Panthers’ crew, which includes Goldstein, Moller, Katie Engelson, Jessica Blaylock and Ed Jovanovski, will be a part of.

Additionally, each show will have coverage both in studio and on site for every game, home and away.

For those who crave the local flavor during the most important games the Panthers will play, this news should come as music to your ears.

We’ll find out soon enough who Florida will be facing in the second round, either Toronto or Ottawa, but either way, Goldie and his gang will be there to cover it, every step of the way.

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Looking for a sleeper RB for your dynasty league? Well, the Cowboys drafted him

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Every fantasy football summer, there’s a running back whose name lingers in the later rounds, only for savvy managers to snatch him up and ride a surprising wave of production. In this year’s dynasty rookie drafts, that name should be Jaydon Blue.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

After listening to Matt Harmon and Nate Tice break down the rookie class on the latest Yahoo Fantasy Forecast, it’s crystal clear: Blue checks every sleeper box. Here’s why making him a priority in your dynasty drafts might be the move that wins your league.

Subscribe to Yahoo Fantasy Forecast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

Unlike many Day 3 running backs who flash speed, Blue isn’t just a home run hitter. As Nate Tice noted, “He ran a sub-4.4. He’s 195 pounds. Usually, those guys bounce all their runs … [but] he runs between the tackles.”

That last part is crucial. So many undersized backs get pigeonholed into gadget or outside-only roles, but Blue presses the hole, sets up blockers and runs with vision and patience. Tice likened his style to Dolphins star De’Von Achane, noting, “He can do the real running back stuff — run between the tackles, has vision, sets up his blockers, runs with tempo.” There’s more than just “track speed” here; there’s legitimate, translatable football skill.

Let’s be real: the Dallas Cowboys’ RB room is ripe for the taking. As both hosts discussed, Blue’s only real competition right now is Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders — both players whose best days may be behind them.

“Javonte Williams is on the roster. Miles Sanders is on the roster. He’s [Blue] better than that. He’s a better running back than those guys, even if he’s smaller,” Tice said. Unless Dallas pulls off a surprise signing, there’s nobody on the roster who profiles as an obvious roadblock. And as Harmon pointed out, when you add in Dallas’ physical, mauling offensive line, Blue’s skill set could be maximized right away.

The Cowboys always build with their run game in mind. Nate Tice explained, “With this offensive line, they’re always going to run it. Dak [Prescott] wants to always have running be part of the offensive system.” Blue’s inside running prowess and ability to catch passes align perfectly with Dallas’ offensive DNA — a critical factor overlooked in rookie drafts.

And don’t forget the “Texas bump.” As Tice put it, the fact that Blue is a local product only helps his chances at getting opportunities and winning over the coaching staff.

Even as a fifth-round pick, Blue has the clearest runway among late-round rookie RBs. The hosts were quick to hammer home value: “How is he not going to see the field when we’re talking about Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders?” Harmon asked. The Cowboys will inevitably need fresh legs, and Blue could see meaningful carries from the jump.

Harmon summed up the excitement with: “He could outkick that Day 3 draft capital.” In the second round of their dynasty rookie mock on the latest Fantasy Football Forecast, Blue stood out for how easily he could surge up the depth chart and surprise the league, much like Isiah Pacheco did or past late-round breakouts.

In dynasty startups and rookie-only drafts, targeting Blue in the second or third rounds is a chance to capitalize on uncertainty and opportunistic roster construction. He’s not just a “sleeper” because he’s a real-life fifth-round pick — he’s a sleeper because he’s got NFL talent, an immediate path to touches and a coaching staff invested in his success.

If you want a running back who could shatter expectations and pay off big-time as the season unfolds, Jaydon Blue is your guy. Let your league-mates chase the obvious names. You’ll be the one with a future Cowboys starter before they know what hit them.

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Juan Soto homers twice, but Mets fall to Diamondbacks, 4-2

The Mets fell to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon by a score of 4-2, losing their first home series of the season.

Here are the key takeaways...

-Kodai Senga looked great early, punching out three D-backs in the first couple of innings. But he dealt with a lot of traffic on the base paths in the third and fourth. While the righty was able to escape a bases-loaded jam in the third, striking out Pavin Smith to end the threat, he couldn’t repeat that Houdini act in the fourth, as Alek Thomas delivered an RBI single to center.

Things could have gotten worse in the inning, but Brandon Nimmo made a terrific leaping catch at the wall, robbing Corbin Carroll of extra bases and likely three RBI.

With his pitch count at 87 (50 strikes), Senga’s day ended after 4.0 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out six and walking three. His ERA rose slightly to 1.38, but Senga was clearly a little bit off during this outing.

-Genesis Cabrera, making his Mets debut, got the call in the fifth inning, but he walked a hitter and allowed Josh Naylor to hit a double off the very top of the wall, as it hit the orange line and stayed in play. Max Kranick came in to clean up the mess, allowing a sac fly to Eugenio Suarez to make it a 2-0 game.

Kranick continues to give the Mets needed outs, though he did allow a solo shot to Geraldo Perdomo in the seventh. Still, the right-hander turned in a solid 2.2 innings.

-Arizona starter Zac Gallen came into Thursday’s game struggling, pitching to a 5.57 ERA which is far from the norm for him, considering that twice he’s finished top five in NL Cy Young voting.

But the Cy Young candidate version of Gallen returned on Thursday, as he handled the Mets’ lineup with relative ease. Gallen allowed a Pete Alonso groundball single in the first, and then a whole lot of nothing, until the sixth…

-With one out and nobody on, Juan Soto blasted a solo home run to left field, his first home run as a Met at Citi Field and his first home run in general since April 15. Soto's fourth homer of the season was the first he's hit in 16 home games this season.

But he wasn't finished just yet.

Facing Kevin Ginkel in the eighth, Soto once again displayed his seemingly effortless power to the opposite field, hitting his second homer of the day to once again cut the Arizona lead to one run. The Mets would later put two runners in scoring position with one out, but the potential tying and go-ahead runs were left stranded, as Mark Vientos and Nimmo went down on strikes.

-Manager Carlos Mendoza made a questionable decision in the ninth inning, allowing Reed Garrett, who pitched a scoreless eighth, to go back out for the ninth in lieu of Edwin Diaz, who was warmed up and ready to go with Arizona holding a 3-2 lead coming into the inning. Garrett allowed a solo homer to Tim Tawa, and while it was the first earned run he's allowed all season, it came in a huge spot as Arizona doubled their lead and took the momentum right back.

Who was the game MVP?

Gallen, who went 6.0 innings, allowing just one earned run on two hits, striking out eight and walking three.

Highlights

Upcoming schedule

The Mets hit the road for a Friday night showdown with the St. Louis Cardinals to start a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. on SNY.

RHP Clay Holmes (3-1, 2.64 ERA) gets the start for New York and will pitch opposite RHP Sonny Gray (3-0, 3.60 ERA).

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Crosby And Bedard Left Off Canada’s Initial World Championship Roster: Who Made The Cut?

Connor Bedard and Sidney Crosby (Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images)

On Thursday, Hockey Canada announced the first 15 players to represent Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, which begins on May 9. While there is talent on the roster, many have been left off the team, whether that’s by the players’ choice or management’s.

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is Canada's GM for this tournament. He’s joined by a selection committee of four NHL executives, including Dennis Bonvie, Jason Spezza, Andrew Cogliano and Gregory Campbell, who have assisted Dubas in evaluating and selecting players for the roster.

Some big names who didn’t qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs are not listed on the roster, like Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard and Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos, among others.

Since this isn’t the full team, there is the possibility that these players haven’t made up their minds on participating, but the reality is that they are not on the team currently.

However, for those who are on the team, there are plenty of players who could be on the bubble of making Canada’s Olympic team for February 2026. 

Philadelphia Flyers right winger Travis Konecny and defenseman Travis Sanheim both made the 4 Nations Face-Off roster, but will be challenging for Olympic roster spots again. Joining Team Canada for the World Championship helps their case.

Other defensemen, including the New York Islanders’ Noah Dobson, Calgary Flames’ MacKenzie Weegar and Seattle Kraken’s Brandon Montour, also boost their odds to play in the Olympics by participating in this tournament. 

Additionally, youngsters Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, along with Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnston of the Columbus Blue Jackets, have also put themselves on the map with an opportunity to represent their country.

In terms of goaltending, Canada has listed Dylan Garand, who hasn’t played a game in the NHL. The 22-year-old netminder plays for the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, the affiliate club of the New York Rangers.

However, with the Montreal Canadiens recently being eliminated from the playoffs, there’s a chance that Samuel Montembeault suits up for Canada at this tournament.

Here are the 15 players selected for the 2025 World Championship:

Forwards:

Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

Will Cuylle, New York Rangers

Adam Fantilli, Columbus Blue Jackets

Tyson Foerster, Philadelphia Flyers

Barrett Hayton, Utah HC

Bo Horvat, New York Islanders

Kent Johnston, Columbus Blue Jackets

Travis Konecny, Philadelphia Flyers

Ryan O’Reilly, Nashville Predators

Defense:

Noah Dobson, New York Islanders

Ryker Evans, Seattle Kraken

Brandon Montour, Seattle Kraken

Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers

MacKenzie Weegar, Calgary Flames

Goaltenders:

Dylan Garand, Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL)

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Wild's Filip Gustavsson Expected To Start In Goal For Game 6

Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL, Minn - There was some concern when Filip Gustavsson left Game 5 after the second period with an illness and then to not return to the bench for the rest of the game. 

On Wednesday, Wild head coach John Hynes said that all signs point to Gustavsson being ready to start Game 6. He said he was feeling a lot better. Hynes said Thursday morning that it still seems the same way. 

Gustavsson, 26, is 2-1-1 with a 2.63 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage in five games this playoffs. He went 31-19-6 during the regular season with a 2.56 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage with the Wild.

He is expected to start tonight in a win or go home game for the Wild. 

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Could We See Some Lineup Changes For The Wild In Game 6?Could We See Some Lineup Changes For The Wild In Game 6?ST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild held an optional skate this morning ahead of its Game 6 matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights. Golden Knights Face Wild For Game 6 Tonight Without Their Top Goal ScorerGolden Knights Face Wild For Game 6 Tonight Without Their Top Goal ScorerST. PAUL, Minn - The Vegas Golden Knights will be without its top goal scorer from the regular season. Head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed this morning that Pavel Dorofeyev will not play tonight.  Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury Sets NHL Playoff Goaltending RecordWild's Marc-Andre Fleury Sets NHL Playoff Goaltending RecordIn a 2-1 game after the second period in Game 5, Marc-Andre Fleury led the Wild on the ice for the third period. 
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Five Of The NHL's Best Defensive Defensemen In 2024-25

Chris Tanev (Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images)

The three finalists for the NHL’s Norris Trophy are more than capable in their own end.

The Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar, Vancouver Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski have developed into fantastic all-around defenseman. But their recognition as the NHL's top defensemen of the year are are centered around their ability to produce offense from the back end.

Makar, Werenski and Hughes finished the regular season as the top three scorers among defensemen in the NHL. The Avalanche, Blue Jackets and Canucks also all heavily outscored their opponents with their star defenseman on the ice at 5-on-5, according to naturalstatrick.com.

Despite that, the NHL’s best defensemen at keeping the puck out of their net sometimes get overlooked and do not receive the praise they deserve. 

Here are five of the NHL’s best defensive defensemen this season. Advanced stats are according to Natural Stat Trick unless otherwise noted.

Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers

Forsling has become more of a household name after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, but his ability to shut down his opponent's top players is evident each night.

In 80 games this season, the 28-year-old scored 11 goals and 31 points, averaging 22:57 of ice time. While his offence from the back end was appreciated, his 89 blocked shots and just 16 penalty minutes are the true indicators of where his value lies for the Panthers. 

Taking a deeper look at his game, it shows how much better the Panthers were with him on the ice. They had a 56.32-percent share of shot attempts, outscored their opponents 66-48 and dominated the high-danger chance share and scoring chance share at 5-on-5 with Forsling on the ice.

Jonas Brodin, Minnesota Wild

When Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek sustained long-term injuries, the Minnesota Wild went through a difficult stretch of games. What kept them afloat was their ability to keep the puck out of their net, highlighted by Brodin's play.

The 31-year-old Swede played just 50 games this season due to multiple injury absences but blocked 104 shots while averaging 22:57 of ice time. His return to the lineup in late March came at an important time, helping Brock Faber regain his footing and propelling the Wild to the playoffs despite a late push from the Calgary Flames.

At 5-on-5, the Wild outscored and outshot their opponents with Brodin on the ice. Brodin has not received the same appreciation as Kaprizov and Eriksson-Ek, but if you ask the players on the Wild roster, they will tell you how vital he is to their success. 

Why The NHL's Three Norris Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinWhy The NHL's Three Norris Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinThe NHL revealed the three finalists for the Norris Trophy, which goes "to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position."

Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes

Slavin has been known for his defensive game for quite some time now, but it became undisputed when he put his game on full notice at the 4 Nations Face-Off. 

His skating and tremendous stick work make him so difficult to beat in 1-on-1 situations. He reads the game extremely well, and it's why the Hurricanes held 56.44 percent of the expected goals with Slavin on the ice at 5-on-5.

In 80 games, Slavin blocked 136 shots and took just eight penalty minutes, while also adding six goals and 27 points offensively.

The Hurricanes have an identity of limiting chances against them that they stay true to no matter what, and Slavin personifies it. With Slavin at 5-on-5, the Hurricanes held 57.87 of the Corsi-for share, 56.83 percent of the high-danger chances and 57.38 percent of the scoring chances. 

Chris Tanev, Toronto Maple Leafs

Tanev is by far the oldest player on this list, but at 35 years old, he still managed to block 189 shots in 75 games, ranking sixth in the NHL. Pairing with Jake McCabe, the pair routinely served as the shut-down defenders for Craig Berube, and the Toronto Maple Leafs reaped the benefits.

The Maple Leafs outscored their opponents 55-34 for a goals-for share of 61.80 percent at 5-on-5 when Tanev was on the ice, the fourth-highest among defensemen to play at least 250 minutes. Tanev also limited opponents to 170 high-danger chances despite starting 279 of his shifts in the defensive zone. 

The Maple Leafs put a lot of faith into Tanev that he could continue to play at this level, signing him to a six-year contract. After one season, he showed that he was worth every penny.

NHL Awards Poll: Predicting The Winners Of The Hart, Vezina, Norris And MoreNHL Awards Poll: Predicting The Winners Of The Hart, Vezina, Norris And MoreWhen playoff season rolls around in the NHL, it also signals award season for the league's best players and staff.

Dylan Samberg, Winnipeg Jets

When Samberg was out with a broken foot, the Winnipeg Jets went through their worst stretch of the season. When he returned, they immediately went back to their winning ways, in large part due to how calming a presence the 26-year-old is on the blueline.

Samberg played in 60 games this season, blocking 120 shots and adding six goals and 20 points. His work on the penalty kill was greatly appreciated by the Jets, but his 5-on-5 dominance may have been the more important factor to the Jets’ success.

Listed at 6-foot-4, Samberg moves very well for a player of his size and uses his reach to break up transition and cycle opportunities. The Jets outscored their opponents 57-36 and had the advantage in Corsi, Fenwick, high-danger chances, shots on goal and scoring chances with Samberg on the ice.

He ranked fourth on the Jets in ice time, averaging 21:08, in large part because of the lack of power-play time. He’s developed into a true shutdown defenseman at just 26 years of age.

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Tottenham 3-1 Bodø/Glimt: Europa League semi-final, first leg – as it happened

Spurs produced a (fairly) authoritative performance to earn a two-goal first-leg advantage against Bodø/Glimt

“If any Spurs fans are thinking of heading to north Norway to sample the atmosphere for the second leg (I assume tickets are long gone), I can confirm that the (12-hour) train journey north from Bergen is absolutely stunning, the highlight of an interrail trip to the arctic circle last year,” writes Stuart Jenkinson, as the referee orchestrates the pre-match coin toss. “Every other house/ apartment was sporting a Bodo/glimt flag, as was the local peak, but unfortunately no home games in the short time we were there.”

The players have joined them, and they’re on their way out! One end of the ground is displaying the Spurs club motto by means of holding up black and white plastic sheeting. Flags wave everywhere. One corner is very, very yellow.

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Athletic Bilbao 0-3 Manchester United: Europa League semi-final, first leg – as it happened

Manchester United have one foot in the final after a commanding display against 10-man Bilbao

3 min: … but nothing comes of it, Ruiz De Galarreta attempting a shot from distance that bounces apologetically through to Onana.

2 min: Bilbao on the front foot quickly. Nico Williams makes good down the left and looks for his brother Inaki at the far stick. Dorgu is forced to turn it behind for the first corner of the game.

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Diamondbacks place Justin Martinez on 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation

NEW YORK — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed reliever Justin Martinez on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation after after his velocity dipped while he failed to record an out against the New York Mets.

To replace Martinez, the Diamondbacks recalled left-hander José Castillo from Triple-A Reno. Left-handed reliever A.J. Puk (left elbow inflammation) was moved to the 60-day injured list.

Martinez entered with a three-run lead in the ninth inning, but allowed Tyrone Taylor’s homer before walking Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. Ryan Thompson got the final three outs in the 4-3 win.

Martinez’s fastball was clocked between 95 and 96 mph — down a couple of mph from his previous appearances against the Atlanta Braves and down 5 mph from his peak velocity last season.

Martinez, who flew back to Arizona to undergo an MRI, battled right shoulder fatigue during the back half of April.

“It was clear last night, we were all watching the same thing — his stuff was down,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said before the series finale against the Mets. “We’re going to find out what’s going on with his shoulder. He feels strongly there’s nothing wrong, but we felt like, at the very least, we give him a little bit of a blow, get him healthy, get him back to full speed. That’s the most important thing.”

Lovullo said he didn’t know who would step in as the closer for the Diamondbacks. Martinez and Puk have combined for seven of Arizona’s nine saves this season.

“We miss A.J. and we’re going to miss ‘J-Mart’ — but they’re going to heal and they’re going to come back and help us win games,” Lovullo said. “In the meantime, everybody’s going to hold down the fort, keep their seats warm — hold down the fort and help us win baseball games.”

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Things Are Reportedly Getting Close And Trending Toward Mike Sullivan Becoming The Rangers' Coach

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers appear very close to hiring their next head coach. 

According to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today, nothing has been confirmed or announced yet, but it sounds like things are getting close and very much trending toward Mike Sullivan becoming the 38th head coach in franchise history.

Earlier this week, The Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with Sullivan after spending ten seasons with the organization.

The Rangers fired Peter Laviolette following a lackluster 2024-25 season where the Blueshirts missed the playoffs. 

Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury has direct ties to Sullivan and has reportedly been intrigued with hiring the Stanley Cup-winning coach for years. 

Multiple NHL insiders have reported that Drury waited to see if Sullivan would leave the Penguins in 2021 before going ahead and hiring Gerard Gallant. 

Now, Sullivan is available and the stars perfectly align for him to make his way to The Big Apple. 

Since parting ways with the Penguins on Monday, there have been rumblings linking Sullivan to the Rangers and they have only continued to pick up steam. 

It only seems like a matter of time before Sullivan is the Rangers’ head coach.