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Islanders Gameday News: Some changes for DeBoer DeBut

Two guys getting new chances. | NHLI via Getty Images

The final four-game homestretch begins tonight for the chief combatants in the Eastern Conference lower-seeds playoff race. With 78 games down, the Islanders (89 pts.) host the Leafs, the Blue Jackets (90 pts.) visit the Sabres, the Senators (92 pts.) host the Panthers, and the Flyers (92 pts.) are in Detroit (89 pts.).

Technically, the Washington Capitals are also in this picture, winning last night to match the Islanders at 89 points but with one fewer game to go.

For the Islanders, whether this season sees playoffs or not, tonight is a significant one due to Pete DeBoer’s debut as their head coach.

And he has some changes in store, it seems: Mathew Barzal will be back at center and Max Shabanov will get a real chance. And in alignment with what I assumed but did not see when he was acquired, Brayden Schenn will skate on the wing, though you wonder if he’ll take more of the faceoffs than Barzal.

First Islanders Goal picks go here.

Islanders News

  • Quotes and rationale from DeBoer on his lineup and line choices, with heavy existing-staff input. [THN]
  • DeBoer brings a sense of urgency to these final four games, that was somehow missing from the preceding ones. [Newsday | Post]
  • DeBoer was optimistic Tony DeAngelo would return tonight, not a sentiment you always hear. [Post]
  • That would put DeAngelo back on a pair with Adam Pelech. [Isles]
  • Previewing tonight: It will be regular season game 1,262 for DeBoer as an NHL head coach. [Isles]

Elsewhere

  • The Leafs hobble in with three more injuries: Anthony Stolarz, Brandon Carlo and Dakota Joshua were all hurt Wednesday and will not suit up tonight. The Isles will face Artur Akhtyamov in net, making his first NHL start. [Sportsnet]
  • The durability of Stolarz, signed to a contract extension by Brad Treliving that hasn’t even kicked in yet, is a major concern for the Leafs. [Sportsnet]
  • Welp, James Hagens has signed with the Bruins, may make his debut Saturday. [NHL]
  • Ron Francis will leave the Kraken, which he currently serves as president. The founding GM of the franchise, has he delivered or is this an overdue “thoughtful transition?” [NHL | TSN]
  • Looking at some of this summer’s top draft prospects and their NHL comparables. [NHL]
  • Here are all the Masterton nominees. [Sportsnet]
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Pens Points: Devil in the Details

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 08: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins directs a puck wide of Jake Allen #34 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period of a NHL game at Prudential Center on November 8, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images) | Getty Images

A win tonight against the New Jersey Devils and the Pittsburgh Penguins will qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2022. There are other clinching scenarios for the Penguins should they not be able to defeat the Devils later this evening, but if they can take care of business themselves in Newark, there won’t be any need to rely on help from other teams. On top of locking down a playoff spot, a victory tonight also aides the Penguins in keeping a tight grip on that second spot in the Metro division which guarantees them home ice advantage in the first round.

Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

Pens Points…

Nominees for the Masterson Trophy were announced on Wednesday and Anthony Mantha was chosen to represent the Penguins for the 2025-26 season. Coming off a major knee injury, Mantha signed with the Penguins in the offseason and rebounded to post career highs across the board. [Penguins]

When Mantha tore his ACL early in the 2024-25 season, there were real questions about how much of a future he had in the game of hockey. Turns out, his hockey future is still bright after his reemergence with the Penguins has proven he still has a lot left to give on the ice. [PPG]

Some good news in the injury department for the Penguins as it was announced on Wednesday that goaltender Stuart Skinner will travel with the team to New Jersey following a successful practice session as he works his way back from taking an errant puck to the face over the weekend that forced him out Sunday. [Trib Live]

Before the season started, Pensburgh ran an article asking if the Penguins making the playoffs or finishing in last place was a bigger surprise to come from this season. We believed a lot was going to need to break the Penguins way for a playoff appearance, but lo and behold, that’s how the season played out. [Pensburgh]

After a small bump in the road, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have returned to their winning ways, having stacked six straight victories with a weekend sweep of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as they enter the final five games of the AHL season still comfortably in second place. [Pensburgh]

Sticking with the Baby Pens, there will be some fresh faces on the roster the next time they take the ice. Promising prospect Mikhail Ilyin has made his way over from the KHL and will join WBS along with 2025 draftees Quinn Beauchesne and Ryan Miller. [The Hockey News]

NHL News and Notes…

Alex Ovechkin let it be known on Wednesday that he will discuss his NHL future with his family following the season, meaning this weekend could be the final time Ovechkin not only plays in Pittsburgh, but it could also be the final chapter of his rivalry with Sidney Crosby. [NHL]

The Boston Bruins and 2025 first round pick James Hagens agreed to a three-year entry level contract that is set to begin right away. Hagens played six games with the Providence Bruins in the AHL after signing a tryout deal following the conclusion of his collegiate season with Boston College. [NHL]

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Max Verstappen’s F1 future in further doubt with race engineer to leave Red Bull

  • Gianpiero Lambiase set to join McLaren after 2027 season

  • Verstappen has worked with Lambiase since 2016

Max Verstappen’s engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is to leave Red Bull to join McLaren in a shock move that throws further doubt on the four-time world champion’s future in Formula One.

Lambiase has worked with Verstappen since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016 and has been at his side through the driver’s four titles, with the pair forging a close bond. Their radio interactions during races have been closely followed in what has been an enormously successful professional and personal relationship, sharing great joy and some blunt exchanges.

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How long can the Yankees keep their series-winning streak alive?

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 04: Manager, Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees looks on during batting practice before the game against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on April 4, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images

We’re three weeks into the season now, and the Yankees are off to a hot start at 8-3. They swept their opening series, won the next two dropping individual games, and have the chance to win another with the series finale against the A’s today. The AL East was looking asleep at the wheel for the first few weeks while the Yankees charged to the top, but some of them are starting to wake up and are getting back to .500.

While it’s a little early to predict the Yankees’ placement in the division at the end of the year off of just a handful of series, their current form is more than enough to look at the rest of the schedule and try to predict how they’ll be looking when April turns to May. The team has series with the Rays, Angels, Royals, Red Sox, Astros, and Rangers to close out the month, teams that range from middling to good in the early going. There’s a total of 20 games left in April including today’s finale, and a slim 2.5 game lead to hopefully expand on. How long can the Yankees keep their series winning streak alive, and where will they stand when the calendar flips?

Off the bat, the Yankees face a tough task in wrapping up this last game with the Athletics. The bats have been a bit could outside of Tuesday’s big eighth inning in this series, matching the weather in the city lately, but perhaps a getaway day game shakes that up. Then there’s an awkward one-series road trip to Tampa breaking up this homestand from another one, a perfect stumbling block if ever one could be designed. The Angels enter town for a four-game set, notoriously difficult to outright win, but a split for our purposes wouldn’t end the streak so if they make it to that point then there’s good odds it stays alive four more days. The Royals are no slouches, but they’ve only won a single series against the Twins thus far and don’t seem like a team that’s clicking yet — a perfect team to catch early in the year.

Realistically, the streak probably ends by the time the Yankees head back out on the road for a real trip, but if it’s alive then it’ll really get tested at the end of the month. The Red Sox may have started this season out poorly, but they found a bounceback opportunity against a strong Brewers team to win their first series — and frankly, regardless of how good either team is Yankees-Red Sox always manages to be a challenging matchup. Houston’s taken a stumble recently, but they’re also a nemesis that would love to get in the Yankees’ way, and Yordan Alvarez is back to mashing anything close to the zone. The Rangers represent the team with the best record at the moment of any opponent the Yankees will face this month, standing at 7-5 atop the AL West, and their pitching is good enough to compete in any series they enter.

The majority of these series are ones the Yankees should win, and that’ll set themselves up nicely to maintain their hold on the division lead. They’ve been given an early cushion thanks to their rivals starting off cold, and have a couple of them directly in their path to close out April too. I think if they can handle the Athletics today they’ve got a runway to keep the series streak going for a while, with Boston or Houston the most likely to ruin the fun. How long do you think the Yankees can keep the good times rolling?

Today on the site, Peter starts us off with the Sequence of the Week featuring Brent Headrick showing up with a solid showcase of pitch tunneling. Sam recaps the rest of the relevant AL action from Wednesday, as some of the Yankees’ rivals managed to get back on their feet. Jeff wishes a happy birthday to a fan favorite around these parts in David Robertson, and Michael gives us another minor league preview covering the Single-A teams in Hudson Valley and Tampa. After the game, Estevão discusses the upcoming roster shakeup as Luis Gil is set to rejoin the team and complete the five-man rotation while the likely cut candidate in Cade Winquest never managed to make it on the field.

Today’s Matchup

New York Yankees vs. Athletics

Time: 1:35 p.m. EST

Video: YES Network, NBCSCA

Venue: Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY

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Jaylen Brown has taken his leadership to the next level

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 05: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics steps on to the court during introductions prior to a game against the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on April 05, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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. (Photo by Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images) | Getty Images

In a tightly contested game, Jaylen Brown led the Boston Celtics to a victory over the surging Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night. Charlotte led for most of the game, but Boston finally managed to break through at the end of the third quarter, and they didn’t look back from there, securing a 113-102 win. The win marked the Celtics’ 17th double-digit comeback win of the season, tied for 2nd-most in the NBA.

Brown ended the night leading the team in points and rebounds at 35 and 9 respectively, tacking on 3 assists as well. He was a big force in Boston’s third quarter surge, scoring or assisting on 13 of the team’s 22 points in the final 7 minutes of the quarter. The other 9 points came from a flurry of threes by Baylor Scheierman and Payton Pritchard, capped off by Jaylen scoring 4 points in 34 seconds to give send the Celtics into the fourth quarter with a 3-point lead.

Just a few days ago, Bill Chisholm, owner of the Celtics, had some high praise for Jaylen in an interview with The Boston Globe which felt very applicable to Boston’s win over the Hornets. “He’s always been incredible… The leadership stuff has really been impressive,” he said, adding, “when we’re struggling in a game, you can just see it. He’s like ‘OK, this is enough. Enough of this screwing around.’ And he puts his head down and gets to the rim and gets a really high-quality shot.”

Chisholm also mentioned seeing little interactions between Jaylen and the other guys on the team, with Brown supporting and encouraging them. Those interactions extend beyond the court as well. As many fans know, JB has started to stream on Twitch, and often times he breaks down game film, giving insight into different plays and reads.

After the Celtics took down the Toronto Raptors, Jaylen invited Jordan Walsh onto his stream. Brown looked like a man coaching up his little brother, seeing Walsh’s potential, and trying to instill confidence in him while still poking fun and joking around.

“[You] had a great year… Celtics legends are born during the playoffs… are you ready for the smoke?” Brown asked Walsh.

“For sure, I’ve been waiting for this one,” Walsh replied. “This time I get a chance to impact the game.”

People have criticized Brown for streaming after games, saying that it shows a lack of focus, and that he’s not “locked in.” The results show something very different, though. Jaylen is playing some of his best basketball lately and has been lifting his teammates up with him. He’s shown off a greater attention to detail, and we get to hear more of what goes on in his mind as he approaches the games.

Just a month ago, JB was ejected in the first half of a matchup with the San Antonio Spurs after voicing his displeasure with the lack of foul calls. He didn’t let it go after the ejection either, taking to Twitter and Twitch to get it off his chest. Prior to that ejection, Jaylen was averaging 7 FTA per game. Since that point, he’s gotten his average up to 10.4 FTA per game, the fourth highest rate in the league. He increased his efficiency too, raising his freethrow percentage from 78% to 84.8%.  

Brown knew he was going to have extra responsibility on his shoulders this year, and at every stage of the season, he’s adjusted his game to put the team in the best possible position to succeed. That’s including supporting his teammates on and off the court. He always has praise for his guys, and even opposing teams. He takes the time to understand and appreciate the game around him to better understand how to approach it.

JB compared the Hornets to a younger version of the Celtics, praising their ability to shoot the ball, along with their “fearlessness.” He knows that Charlotte could be a potential first-round playoff matchup, and took note of their intensity in the game. “Give credit to Charlotte,” Brown said. “They came out trying to blow up screens. They came out playing with a different intensity level than we did to start the game.”

Even in a complimentary response like this, you get insight into what he sees and feels over the course of a game. JB recognized that the Hornets were playing at a higher level, and the team adjusted to match their energy. Walsh, who was coming off of some high praise in his appearance on Jaylen’s stream, was probably the biggest catalyst for Boston’s shift, no doubt empowered by JB’s words of encouragement.

Small gestures go a long way, and it’s been clear since the beginning of the season that Jaylen has been locked in, and making every effort to lead the Celtics in the right direction. In an MVP-caliber season of career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists, this leadership is maybe Brown’s biggest edge in the MVP race. While he’s certainly deserving, and surely wants the recognition, there’s nothing that he and the team want more than another deep playoff run, hopefully capped off with another Larry O’Brien to bring back to Boston.

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Draymond isn't excited about play-in, doesn't believe tournament works anymore

Draymond isn't excited about play-in, doesn't believe tournament works anymore originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Draymond Green isn’t champing at the bit about the NBA Play-In Tournament.

Still, it’s a slim chance of keeping the Warriors’ playoff hopes alive.

“It’s not exciting. It’s not,” Green told reporters after Golden State’s win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday. “But you know, I’m a competitor. Going into the game, I’m going to do all I can to win. But it’s not that exciting.”

The Warriors, locked in as the Western Conference’s No. 10 seed, will face either the Trail Blazers in Portland or the Clippers in Los Angeles on Wednesday in a do-or-die game between the ninth and 10th seeds.

If they win, the play-in experience doesn’t end there.

Should Golden State defeat either Portland or Los Angeles, it will go on to face the loser of the play-in game between the seventh and eighth seeds — which will be on the road against either the Trail Blazers, Clippers or Phoenix Suns.

“You go on the road in a game that you need to win, as a competitor, you’re going to rise to the challenge,” Green said. “But I’m not going to sleep tomorrow night like, ‘Man, we got this play-in next week. Got to get my rest.’ It ain’t that exciting.”

The winner of that second play-in game will advance to a first-round best-of-seven playoff series against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

But Green, who made five consecutive NBA Finals appearances from 2014 to 2019, and won four titles in eight years, isn’t enthused by the structure.

The play-in officially was adopted as a full-time part of the NBA playoff picture in 2022, but with the recent rise in tanking across the league, Green believes the tournament has lost its purpose.

“I think it worked initially. And now, to have a team stuck in 10th, it ain’t working. We could’ve lost our last 15 games and been stuck at 10th, it ain’t working. But it works for a little bit. If you could be stuck in 10th and lose the last 15 games of your season, it ain’t working. I think the play-in was made for teams to not tank. I think that’s the part that everyone forgets.

“The play-in came about to make teams maybe through 12 or 13 [seed] keep going. They ain’t keep going. They slowed down. Then they hit the brakes. I saw a team tonight foul Seth Curry with three minutes to go in the game for no reason — in the penalty. It ain’t working.”

This will be the third consecutive play-in appearance for Golden State. In the 2023-24 season, the Warriors were eliminated in a win-or-go-home game against the Kings. The following year, they made it out of the play-in to advance to the Western Conference semifinals where they lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Third time’s a charm? We’ll have to wait and see.

But perhaps Green’s frustration with the tournament will prompt the team to avoid it altogether moving forward.

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Yankees news: Rosario draws praise after career day

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 03: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees hits a single in the eighth inning during the home opener at Yankee Stadium on April 03, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. The New York Yankees defeated the Miami Marlins 8-2. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

AM New York | Ashley Cando: Amed Rosario’s two-homer day Tuesday was a validation of the organization’s belief in his ability to impact a team with championship aspirations. “We brought Rosie back because not only is he a really good player, but he is a tremendous teammate,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said of the journeyman, who signed a one-year, $2 million deal this offseason to run it back with the team that acquired him at last year’s trade deadline. “He sets an amazing example for everyone. I’m happy for him to just get it done.” Although expected to play primarily against lefties, Rosario has started the past two days against righties in a potential harbinger of an expanded role. “Although I’m not playing every day, I try not to let that affect me mentally,” he said of embracing his role as a part-timer. “Over the years, I’ve been able to create a routine to help me do my job.”

CBS Sports | RotoWire Staff: Anthony Volpe could begin a rehab assignment as soon as next week, Aaron Boone told the press Wednesday. The Yankees shortstop has been working his way back from offseason surgery to repair a shoulder labrum tear at extended spring training. Given the length of his layoff, Volpe would likely need a relatively long rehab stint, making him unlikely to return before May. José Caballero has manned short in his absence, though an anemic start at the place has done little to create competition for the starting job upon Volpe’s return.

Sports Collectors Digest | Larry Canale: Ben Rice’s emergence as a middle-of-the-order bat has been a boon to more than just the Yankees. A 2025 Topps baseball card featuring his signature and the “MLB Debut” patch from the jersey he wore during his debut the year prior sold for $68,989 on eBay last month. And, while that astonishing price is an outlier, other cards featuring the first baseman have sold in the thousands due to a nexus of his current status and unheralded prospect status heading into last year.

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Open Thread: Manu Ginobili, Tiago Splitter, and Boris Diaw reunite

Feb. 24, 2013; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter (22) , center Boris Diaw (33) and guard Manu Ginobili (20) congratulate each other as they walk off the court in the second half against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Spurs defeated the Suns 97-87. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-Imagn Images

Last Monday, the Spurs showcased 2014 Spurs NBA Champion Boris Diaw at the Frost Bank Center during their matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. He treated the crowd to a reenactment of his now iconic photo.

On Wednesday night, the Portland Trail Blazers came to town, bringing back former players Sidy Cissoko, Blake Wesley, and head coach Tiago Splitter, another member of the Spurs 2014 NBA Championship.

The night before, both Diaw and Splitter met up with 4x NBA Champion and Spurs legend Manu Ginobili for dinner at a local restaurant.

During Splitter’s pregame presser, Splitter shared about the reunion.

“It was great. Seeing my friends and talk a little bit about life, and basketball, get an update on what they are doing. You know, we’re good friends. Of course — many, many battles together.”

Splitter added that Boris picked up the check “because I took the one before that…and it was a French restaurant.”

The three have been great friends for many years. At the time the Spurs won that 2014 title, they were often a quartet with Patty Mills. The response to the post was such that Ginobili added a comment, “For those asking @Patty_Mills didn’t join us since the guy is hooping in Spain. Too far! #NoMoreFrogging”

With so many teammates coming over the years, it is special to see how these guys have continued to seek one another out.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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Warriors still waiting for a real glimpse at their highest on-court priority

Warriors still waiting for a real glimpse at their highest on-court priority originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Roughly an hour before tipoff Tuesday night, the Warriors realized they would be deprived of watching a performance that in the final week of this unsatisfying NBA season matters more than winning.

They will be deprived of it again Thursday night.

The two-man game between Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porziņģis, the team’s highest on-court priority, was unavailable against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday will not face the Lakers on Thursday.

Porziņģis was listed as questionable Tuesday afternoon and later declared out with right knee soreness. He was back on the injury report Wednesday afternoon, this time listed as out with an illness. On that same report, Curry was listed as questionable.

Injuries, aches and illnesses continue to undermine Golden State’s season.

After hoping to evaluate the Curry-Porziņģis synergy for at least four games, the Warriors now will have no more than two, assuming both are available Friday at the Sacramento Kings. The short runway limits evaluation to imagination rather than reality.

This matters because Curry and Porziņģis, together, project to have the most influence on Golden State’s offense in the NBA play-in tournament and, perhaps, the playoffs. The mind’s eye sees fantastic basketball, but nothing would confirm the truth better than seeing these two together against a defense.

Curry and Porziņģis have talked about the importance of sharing minutes, as has coach Steve Kerr, who late Tuesday night remained hopeful.

“I don’t think it’s anything serious,” Kerr said of Porziņģis’ being scratched.  “We’ll know in the next day or two.”

Kerr and the Warriors were bitten once again by the KP Experience. He is questionable until he steps onto the court, so it is wise to always brace for the possibility.

The Warriors, 10th in the Western Conference, will open the play-in tournament on the road next Tuesday or Wednesday to face either the Portland Trail Blazers or the Los Angeles Clippers. They’ve lost three of four to the Trail Blazers this season and two of three to the Clippers. A fourth game against LA comes Sunday in the regular-season finale.

Golden State’s next two games are the home finale Thursday night, followed by a late-night bus trip to Sacramento to confront the Kings on Friday before a late-night flight to LA.

The Warriors hope to see Curry and Porziņģis on Friday and Sunday. Two late-season games build some level of chemistry rarely is sufficient.

Curry and Porziņģis shared the court for the first time on Sunday, posting a plus-2 in two three-minute stints in a loss to Houston. They almost certainly would have spent more time together down the stretch, but Porziņģis fouled out early in the fourth quarter.

Those six minutes didn’t offer much to assess. Porziņģis seemed out of sorts throughout, perhaps affected by his foul trouble. 

Aside from Curry, all the key healthy players on the roster have shared the floor with Porziņģis. Al Horford, who is expected to return this week, doesn’t need additional minutes with KP. Neither does Draymond Green, De’Anthony Melton, Brandon Podziemski, Gary Payton II or Gui Santos.

It’s Curry who matters most. He and Porziņģis are the two guys most likely to bedevil an opposing defense with Curry’s movement and KP using his 7-foot-3 height to scan the floor and create out of the post. This could in some ways mimic the Curry-Butler dynamic – with the bonus of Porziņģis’ ability to space the floor.

Or so one would think.

Seeing it, however, is the only way to know how they would impact each other. It’s a given that Curry lifts the offensive potential of every teammate. That much was on display Tuesday with De’Anthony Melton.

After a miserable March, shooting 39 percent from the field, including 25 percent from deep, while Curry was sidelined, Melton’s offensive efficiency soared. He scored a team-high 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 4-of-6 beyond the arc. Yes, this was the Kings, but this was a reminder that Melton still is a weapon.

“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that he’s broken out here the last couple games,” Kerr said. “With Steph’s return there’s so much more focus on Steph, and that opens up the floor.”

Curry and Porziņģis understand this would apply to them. Theoretically. They’ve heard about the virtues of them playing off each other and would like to experience the rhythm.

Didn’t have a chance Tuesday night. Won’t have a chance Thursday night. Maybe Friday night. Anything but another postponement.

“We just prioritize health,” Kerr said. “The rhythm comes after that. We’ll do whatever we have to do to be healthy, and we’ll hope to find some rhythm from there.”

Health issues have torn the delicate fabric of Golden State’s season. There is no sign of it going away. Until it does, this team is but an abstract concept. 

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NHL Fines Ryan Strome After Overtime Cross-Check Sparks Heated Finish

Tempers finally spilled over Tuesday night in what had been a razor-tight battle between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars—and now the NHL is stepping in to clean up the fallout.

Tensions Finally Spill Over In Overtime

On Wednesday, the league announced that Flames forward Ryan Strome has been fined $5,000—the maximum allowed under the Collective Bargaining Agreement—for a cross-check delivered to Stars forward Jason Robertson in overtime.

The play unfolded just 45 seconds into the extra frame of Dallas’ eventual 4–3 win, a moment that quickly shifted the tone from tense to chaotic. Robertson, one of the Stars’ most dangerous offensive weapons, was forced to leave the game following the hit. Strome, meanwhile, was handed a double-minor for high-sticking on the play.

But the frustration didn’t come out of nowhere.

Earlier in the night, Strome was driven awkwardly into the boards from behind by Dallas defenseman Tyler Myers. The officials initially assessed Myers a five-minute major—a call that suggested serious concern—but after review, it was controversially wiped away entirely. No penalty. No further discipline. That sequence appeared to linger, simmering beneath the surface as the game wore on.

By the time overtime arrived, it felt like something was bound to give—and it did.

Strome, 32, has been a noticeable addition since arriving in Calgary at the trade deadline in March. In just 16 games with the Flames, he’s already produced five goals and six assists, quickly surpassing the nine points he recorded across 33 games earlier this season with the Anaheim Ducks. His impact has been immediate—but so, now, are the consequences.

For Calgary, it’s another frustrating chapter in a season that’s been defined as much by missed opportunities as it has been by moments like this—where emotion boils over and control slips away at the worst possible time.

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Thunder see off Clippers to seal Western top spot

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (left) and Cason Wallace (right) of the Oklahoma City Thunder shake hands
Oklahoma City Thunder have won at least 60 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in their history [Getty Images]

Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder clinched top spot in the Western Conference and home court advantage through the NBA play-offs with a 128-110 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The comfortable victory ensured the Thunder held off the San Antonio Spurs to secure the NBA's best regular-season record of 64-16 and claim the Western Conference's number one seed for the third consecutive season.

Thunder's Chet Holmgren led the way with 30 points and 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 20 points and 11 assists to extend his record for the most consecutive games with 20 or more points to 140.

The Clippers, who had won eight of their past nine matches, face a key trip to Portland Trail Blazers on Friday with the two sides battling for eighth place in the Western Conference.

The team that finishes in eighth will only require one win in the play-in tournament to advance to the play-offs, while the team finishing ninth will have to beat 10th seeds the Golden State Warriors and the loser of the seventh against eighth match to keep their season alive.

Elsewhere, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Trail Blazers 112-101 to extend their record in their past 20 games to 18-2. Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox starred with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists.

The Denver Nuggets won their 10th consecutive match to tighten their grip on third place in the Western Conference. Jamal Murray scored a team-high 26 points in the 136-119 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Atlanta Hawks failed to guarantee a play-off spot after losing 122-116 to the Cleveland Cavaliers but can still secure a top-six finish in the Eastern Conference with victory in one of their final two regular-season matches.

Eastern Conference top seeds Detroit Pistons demolished the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 while the Orlando Magic beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker scored 37 points in 37 minutes to lead his side to a 112-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

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Fantasy Baseball Closer Report: Riley O'Brien secures ninth-inning role in St. Louis

In this week's Closer Report, Riley O'Brien has solidified his status as the Cardinals' top ninth-inning option. The Rays look to be turning to Bryan Baker. And Ryan Walker tumbles down the rankings with some unexpected usage. We break it all down and more as we run through the latest closer rankings.

⚾️ Baseball is back! MLB returns to NBC and Peacock in 2026! In addition to becoming the exclusive home of Sunday Night Baseball, NBC Sports will broadcast MLB Sunday Leadoff, “Opening Day” and Labor Day primetime games, the first round of the MLB Draft, the entire Wild Card round of the postseason, and much more.

2026 Fantasy Baseball Closer Rankings

▶ Tier 1

Mason Miller - San Diego Padres
Edwin Díaz - Los Angeles Dodgers
Jhoan Duran - Philadelphia Phillies
Andrés Muñoz - Seattle Mariners
Cade Smith - Cleveland Guardians

Miller worked back-to-back save chances against the Red Sox over the weekend, striking out the side each time to convert a pair of saves. He then pitched the ninth on Wednesday with a six-run lead after the Padres added four in the top of the ninth, striking out two in a clean frame. Miller has faced 18 total batters so far and has struck out 13. This is complete domination. Meanwhile, Díaz locked down a save on Sunday, striking out one in a clean inning against the Nationals, then struck out the side on Tuesday against the Blue Jays for his fourth save.

Duran is up to four saves after converting two more this week. He's been outstanding so far, giving up one earned run while striking out seven batters with no walks over 5 2/3. Muñoz also hasn't issued a walk across four innings of work while collecting seven strikeouts. He is, however, still searching for his first save opportunity. They will undoubtedly come.

Smith has worked through the most trouble among this top tier. After pitching a clean inning in his first appearance, he had allowed at least one hit in each of his next five outings. He got back on track with two strikeouts in a perfect frame on Tuesday before falling in line for a win against the Royals. There's nothing in the profile to suggest any cause for concern despite the crooked 6.43 ERA in the early going.

▶ Tier 2

Devin Williams - New York Mets
Daniel Palencia - Chicago Cubs
David Bednar - New York Yankees
Aroldis Chapman - Boston Red Sox
Ryan Helsley - Baltimore Orioles

So far, so good for Williams. He's made five scoreless appearances with a 7/2 K/BB ratio while converting a pair of saves. In Chicago, Palencia got on the board with his first save on Sunday against the Guardians. He's scattered three hits with no walks and three strikeouts over three innings of work.

Bednar gave up a run against the Marlins on Saturday before holding on for the save with two strikeouts. He then pitched a clean inning with one strikeout on Tuesday against the Athletics for his fifth save. And coming in with the game tied in the ninth on Wednesday, he surrendered a run on two hits while striking out two to take the loss.

Chapman picked up a save against the Padres on Friday, striking out one batter in a scoreless inning. He then surrendered a run and took the loss on Saturday before bouncing back with his third save of the season on Tuesday against the Brewers on just six pitches. The 38-year-old right-hander has just three strikeouts over five innings. It's likely just early-season noise as he's generated an excellent whiff rate.

▶ Tier 3

Jeff Hoffman - Toronto Blue Jays
Raisel Iglesias - Atlanta Braves
Trevor Megill - Milwaukee Brewers
Pete Fairbanks - Miami Marlins
Riley O'Brien - St. Louis Cardinals
Emilio Pagán - Cincinnati Reds
Kenley Jansen - Detroit Tigers
Seranthony Domínguez - Chicago White Sox
Jordan Romano - Los Angeles Angels
Paul Sewald - Arizona Diamondbacks

Hoffman has done a great job at missing bats so far, collecting 15 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings of work. He was charged with a loss and a blown save on Friday against the White Sox, though both runs allowed were unearned. He then surrendered a run against the Dodgers on Tuesday, striking out two in an inning of work before bouncing back with his second save of the season on Wednesday. All of the strikeouts early on are certainly a good sign for the 33-year-old right-hander.

Iglesias converted his first two saves of the season this week, including a five-out save against the Angels on Tuesday. He's pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with a 5/0 K/BB ratio. Behind Iglesias, Robert Suarez has pitched six innings with no runs and seven strikeouts, recording two holds and a win.

In Milwaukee, Megill converted a pair of saves this week as he continues to work as the Brewers' primary closer. He's up to three on the season. Meanwhile, Abner Uribe has pitched exclusively in the seventh and eighth innings.

Fairbanks made one appearance this week, starting Sunday's contest against the Yankees as the opener to make an early departure for the birth of his child. He surrendered three runs in the outing, but has otherwise been solid as the Marlins' closer with two saves. Fairbanks will likely return on Thursday.

O'Brien makes a jump in the rankings as he's solidifying his role as the Cardinals' closer. The 31-year-old right-hander has been outstanding, tossing 6 1/3 scoreless frames with a 7/0 K/BB ratio, generating whiffs and ground balls for a great closer profile. O'Brien is up to three saves after picking up one in extra innings on Tuesday against the Nationals.

Pagán recovered nicely this week. He's made four scoreless appearances since giving up four runs against the Pirates on April 1, picking up three straight saves and earning a win. That four-run outing came on the road, where he's likely to be a bit more volatile, followed by his last four appearances on the road.

No save chances for Jansen and the Tigers this week. He made one appearance, recording the final out against the Cardinals on Saturday. Jansen has made just three appearances all season, giving up one run with five strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings.

Domíguez worked the final four outs against the Blue Jays on Friday, falling in line for a win. He then worked around two baserunners on Saturday before closing out the game for his first save of the season. Grant Taylor was considered one of the better closers-in-waiting coming into the year. He made three straight appearances as the team's opener. That kind of usage won't put him in line for any holds or saves.

Romano has paid off the late-round and waiver wire speculation. He locked down two more saves for the Angels this week, giving him four with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings. The 32-year-old right-hander has pitched well enough to probably warrant a long look in the closer role, even when Kirby Yates returns from the injured list. This, of course, also hinges on Romano staying healthy.

Sewald had an up-and-down week, taking two losses and converting one save. It was an encouraging sign when his velocity came in at 92 mph to start the season. And he has the trust of manager Torey Lovullo. The velocity has fluctuated across Sewald's outings, becoming much more hittable when he's at 90 mph. Still, a 7/0 K/BB ratio across 4 1/3 innings will get the job done; it just might come with volatility.

▶ Tier 4

Bryan Baker - Tampa Bay Rays
Lucas Erceg - Kansas City Royals
Ryan Walker - San Francisco Giants
Dennis Santana/Gregory Soto - Pittsburgh Pirates
Bryan Abreu - Houston Astros

It seemed as though the Rays were holding Baker out of games to save him for a ninth-inning situation. Sure enough, he got two ninth-inning appearances this week, pitching in a tie game against the Twins on Sunday to fall in line for a win before converting his first save against the Cubs on Monday. Griffin Jax's struggles aside, Jax's usage never suggested that the closer role, or a significant share of it, was his to lose. As well as Baker is pitching, he's a great pickup for fantasy managers looking for a shot at saves from a relatively skilled reliever.

In Kansas City, Erceg gave up two runs in a non-save situation against the Brewers on Sunday, then bounced back with a clean inning against the Guardians on Monday for his third save of the season. He hasn't pitched particularly well enough to feel confident he'll hold the closer role all season, but take the saves while they're there.

Walker's usage has taken an unexpected turn early on. In last week's edition, I highlighted Keaton Winn and Caleb Kilian as possible save specs behind Walker after he was used in the sixth inning. Walker made another appearance before the ninth inning this week, pitching the seventh and eighth with a four-run lead against the Phillies on Tuesday. Winn pitched the ninth in a non-save situation. The Giants haven't had many save situations, so it warrants monitoring, but this may end up more of a committee under first-year manager Tony Vitello.

The Pirates seem to be going with a full matchup-based committee. Soto converted his first save last Friday against the Orioles with a clean inning of work, with Santana pitching the eighth. Santana got the ninth the next day with the game tied and fell in line for a win. Soto has been the more impressive of the two, striking out 13 batters over 7 1/3 innings.

Abreu is still here only by the fact that the Astros continue to give him ninth-inning looks, though that may not be far off if his struggles continue. He's yet to pitch a scoreless inning this season, giving up at least one run in all five appearances for a 19.64 ERA. Bryan King would be the next reliever to speculate on for saves until Josh Hader returns, likely sometime next month.

▶ Tier 5

Jakob Junis/Cole Winn - Texas Rangers
Cole Sands/Taylor Rogers/Justin Topa - Minnesota Twins
Victor Vodnik - Colorado Rockies
Clayton Beeter/Cole Henry - Washington Nationals
Hogan Harris/Mark Leiter Jr./Justin Sterner - Athletics

The Rangers recorded three saves this week, none by Robert García or Chris Martin. It was Junis who stepped in for back-to-back saves before Winn picked up his first on Wednesday against the Mariners. Neither reliever has much strikeout upside and isn't worth chasing in such a fluid situation, outside of the deepest of leagues. The same can be said in Minnesota, where Cody Laweryson, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk each recorded a save.

Relievers on the rise/Stash candidates

Hunter Bigge (RHP) - Tampa Bay Rays

Hunter Bigge could be working his way up the leverage ladder in Tampa Bay. He recorded the final two outs in the seventh before pitching a clean eighth on Monday against the Cubs, with Bryan Baker taking over for a save in the ninth. Bigge probably has some of the best stuff in the Rays' bullpen. He had an excellent spring, striking out 12 over seven innings. The 27-year-old pitched just 15 innings last season after he suffered an unfortunate injury when he was struck in the face by a foul ball.

Antonio Senzatela (RHP) - Colorado Rockies

I can't believe I'm going here, but Antonio Senzatela has actually been good out of the bullpen for the Rockies. He helped put the Astros away on Tuesday with 2 2/3 perfect frames to come away with a save. The 31-year-old right-hander has now pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings on the season with a 9/1 K/BB ratio. Senzatela has fully shifted to a relief role this season, and it's brought with it a significant rise in his fastball velocity. It hasn't necessarily translated to more whiffs yet, but he is getting batters to chase outside of the zone at a far higher rate while showing excellent control. There's nothing to act on yet for fantasy purposes, but he's someone to keep an eye on if he starts working shorter, one-inning stints in high-leverage.

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The Calgary Flames’ Collapse Was Inevitable

The end finally came into focus Tuesday night for the Calgary Flames—not with a bang, but with the kind of quiet inevitability that has followed them all season.

A 4–3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars, paired with a dominant 5–0 win by the Nashville Predators over the Anaheim Ducks, officially slammed the door on Calgary’s playoff hopes. They join the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks as the Western Conference teams sent packing early.

On paper, the numbers tell a bleak but unsurprising story: seventh in the Pacific Division, 30th overall, and a 32-36-9 record through 77 games. But this season was never just about the standings—it was about a franchise caught in the middle of something bigger, and frankly, deeper than one bad year.

What Went Wrong for the Flames?

This wasn’t a collapse—it was a continuation.

The Flames entered the year already trending toward a reset. Trade rumors surrounding core pieces like Rasmus Andersson and Nazem Kadri surfaced early, and by midseason, management leaned fully into that direction. Andersson was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights, while Kadri—along with MacKenzie Weegar—was moved at the deadline, with Kadri returning to the Colorado Avalanche and Weegar landing with the Utah Mammoth.

Those moves made sense long-term. In the short term, they stripped down an already thin roster.

But even before the sell-off, the problems were obvious—especially offensively.

Calgary spent much of the year struggling to generate consistent scoring. Early in the season, they were averaging just 2.17 goals per game—worse than even a slumping New York Rangers squad that had its own issues finishing chances. The Flames have since improved marginally to 2.57 goals per game, but that still ranks near the bottom of the league.

Even more telling? Four players are tied for the team lead with just 41 points—and one of them is Kadri, who was traded back to the Avalanche more than a month ago.

And if you zoom out, the roots of this go back even further—to a franchise-altering move that simply hasn’t aged well.

A Blockbuster Trade That Backfired Badly

When the Flames traded Matthew Tkachuk, part of the urgency came from the reality that he didn’t want to stay in Calgary long-term. In return, they acquired Jonathan Huberdeau, who was coming off a monster season—30 goals, 85 assists, 115 points—and looked like a cornerstone piece.

Instead, Calgary is locked in what could arguably be considered the worst contract in the NHL at this point. At the very least, it's a bona fide contender for a top two finish. 

Huberdeau signed an eight-year, $84 million extension shortly after arriving—$10.5 million annually in a hard-cap league. Four years in, he hasn’t come close to replicating his Florida production. This season, he managed just 25 points in 50 games (10 goals, 15 assists), a steep drop-off that’s impossible to ignore.

In a league built around cap efficiency, that kind of contract doesn’t just hurt—it echoes through the entire lineup. When that much money is tied up in underperformance, something else inevitably gives.

To put it bluntly: when you’ve got the NHL version of Anthony Rendon eating up cap space, the ripple effects are unavoidable.

This isn’t about one player being solely responsible—but it is about how one contract can quietly limit flexibility, depth, and ultimately competitiveness.

What’s Next

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Flames are positioned to reshape their future—if they get it right.

They currently hold the third-best odds heading into the draft lottery on May 5, with a chance to land a franchise-changing talent. And in a draft class headlined by names like Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg, and Keaton Verhoeff, the opportunity is there to find a true centerpiece.

Calgary also owns Vegas’ first-round pick and holds four second-round selections, giving them volume as well as upside. This isn’t just one swing—it’s multiple chances to accelerate a rebuild.

Beyond the draft, the organization will turn its attention to a growing prospect pool. Players like Jonathan Castagna, Samuel Honzek, Zayne Parekh, and Matvei Gridin represent the next wave, and development will be everything.

The timeline also aligns with a bigger organizational milestone: the opening of Scotia Place in 2027–28. The expectation isn’t just to be better by then—it’s to be relevant again.

There’s no sugarcoating a season like this. But for the Flames, this wasn’t about falling short—it was about arriving exactly where the trajectory was always pointing.

Now comes the hard part: turning all of this into something that actually works.

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Cleveland plays Atlanta on 4-game win streak

Cleveland Cavaliers (51-29, fourth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Atlanta Hawks (45-35, fifth in the Eastern Conference)

Atlanta; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland looks to keep its four-game win streak intact when the Cavaliers take on Atlanta.

The Hawks have gone 26-24 against Eastern Conference teams. Atlanta scores 118.4 points while outscoring opponents by 2.5 points per game.

The Cavaliers have gone 32-18 against Eastern Conference opponents. Cleveland ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference shooting 36.0% from 3-point range.

The Hawks average 118.4 points per game, 3.1 more points than the 115.3 the Cavaliers give up. The Cavaliers average 14.4 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.5 more made shots on average than the 12.9 per game the Hawks give up.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Cavaliers won 122-116 in the last meeting on April 8. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the Hawks with 25 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Johnson is averaging 22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists for the Hawks. Alexander-Walker is averaging 24.2 points over the last 10 games.

Mitchell is averaging 27.9 points, 5.7 assists and 1.5 steals for the Cavaliers. James Harden is averaging 17.9 points and 7.1 assists over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawks: 7-3, averaging 123.1 points, 43.8 rebounds, 29.0 assists, 9.4 steals and 4.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 110.8 points per game.

Cavaliers: 8-2, averaging 123.3 points, 44.5 rebounds, 28.5 assists, 7.3 steals and 3.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.6 points.

INJURIES: Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).

Cavaliers: Jaylon Tyson: out (toe), Thomas Bryant: out (calf).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Antonio takes home win streak into matchup with Dallas

Dallas Mavericks (25-55, 13th in the Western Conference) vs. San Antonio Spurs (61-19, second in the Western Conference)

San Antonio; Friday, 8 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: San Antonio hosts Dallas trying to prolong its six-game home winning streak.

The Spurs are 35-15 in Western Conference games. San Antonio ranks sixth in the NBA allowing only 111.2 points per game while holding opponents to 45.0% shooting.

The Mavericks are 4-11 against opponents in the Southwest Division. Dallas ranks fifth in the league scoring 52.9 points per game in the paint led by Cooper Flagg averaging 11.3.

The Spurs average 119.6 points per game, 0.3 more points than the 119.3 the Mavericks allow. The Mavericks are shooting 46.5% from the field, 1.5% higher than the 45.0% the Spurs' opponents have shot this season.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Spurs won the last matchup 138-125 on Feb. 7, with Stephon Castle scoring 40 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: De'Aaron Fox is scoring 18.5 points per game with 3.8 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the Spurs. Keldon Johnson is averaging 15.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 48.4% over the last 10 games.

Max Christie is scoring 12.2 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Mavericks. John Poulakidas is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Spurs: 9-1, averaging 125.5 points, 50.4 rebounds, 32.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 50.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.8 points per game.

Mavericks: 2-8, averaging 116.1 points, 43.1 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 125.1 points.

INJURIES: Spurs: David Jones Garcia: out for season (ankle), Stephon Castle: out (knee), Victor Wembanyama: out (rib).

Mavericks: P.J. Washington: out (elbow), Dereck Lively II: out for season (foot), Daniel Gafford: out (shoulder), Caleb Martin: out (foot), Brandon Williams: out (illness), Kyrie Irving: out for season (knee), Naji Marshall: out (hip), Klay Thompson: out (rest).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.