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Highlights: Spurs ride Wembanyama, team effort to take 3-2 lead over Timberwovles

May 12, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) dunks ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) and forward Jaden McDaniels (3) during the first half of game five of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Coming off a tough loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves this past Sunday, the Spurs returned to the Frost Bank Center for Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals. With the series tied at 2-2, the winner of this game would dramatically increase their chances of winning the series. After having an early ejection in Game 4, Victor Wembanyama returned in a big way. He scored 16 points in six minutes to start, and finished the first quarter with 18. The Spurs led by 15, but Minnesota cut the lead to four heading into the second quarter. After a low-scoring quarter by both teams, the Spurs took a 12-point lead into halftime. Early in the third, Minnesota quickly cut the deficit and tied the game at 61 apiece. From that point on, the Spurs pressed on the accelerator. They embarked on an 18-6 run and took an 18-point lead into the fourth. The Wolves chipped away bit by bit, but only got within 11 points before the Spurs put them away for good. The Spurs ultimately won 126-97.

Victor Wembanyama led the way with 27 points (9-16 FG, 7-9 FT), 17 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks. After being ejected for elbowing Naz Reid in Game 4, Wemby was a man on a mission in Game 5. After setting the tone by having an explosive first quarter, Wemby got others involved and continued to dominate the glass. Wemby also became the third-youngest player in NBA history to drop 25+points, 15+rebounds, and 5+assists in a playoff game (Magic Johnson and Luka Doncic were younger). Ever since the rough offensive performance in Game 1, Wemby has been dominant in Games 2, 3, and 5 by averaging 28.3 points per game, 15.6 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, with 59% shooting from the field. It is safe to say, Minnesota has not figured out how to answer the Alien’s invasion on the court.

CAUTION: UFO APPROACHING. Wemby’s first quarter highlight reel consisted of putbacks, lob slams, threes, and putting Rudy Gobert in a blender!

When in doubt, pass it out! Wemby gets doubled and drops it off to a wide-open Carter Bryant, who then swishes the three!

REJECTED! Wemby and Julian Champagnie pull off a combo block on Gobert!

Impossible to box out! Wemby gets the tip-in through contact for the and-one!

Made you look! Wemby fakes out Gobert and finds an open Champagnie under the basket for two! Gobert was lost and kept spinning!

Keldon Johnson came alive for the first time in this series with 21 points (8-11 FG, 4-5 FT), two rebounds, two steals, and a block. After struggling from the field all series, KJ finally had his best playoff game. He was an extra boost for the offense, especially when Wemby was not on the court. He was also active on defense, racking up three stocks. The 6MOTY is the heart and soul of this team, and he showed out in front of the Spurs faithful.

CLEANUP ON AISLE 3! KJ slams home the missed three with a putback jam!

NOT IN HIS HOUSE! KJ steps up in a big way by blocking Gobert’s dunk attempt, and it results in a turnover!

HEART AND SOUL! This bucket embodies KJ to a tee. Fighting for position inside, finishing, and celebrating in front of the home crowd!

Two-way play! KJ picks up the loose ball on one end, and finishes with a layup on the other end!

De’Aaron Fox dropped 18 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Fox, dealing with ankle soreness, powered through and provided early scoring. He also dished out several dimes and had an impact on offense throughout the game. Fox has caught a bit of flak this postseason despite having solid games throughout the series. Nonetheless, he continues to do whatever the team requires of him, and having several other star guards, plus one of the league’s greatest players, makes his job a bit easier.

RONDO FAKE! Fox gets Gobert in the air and spins away for the floater!

FOX LOB! Fox drives into the paint and finds an open Wemby, who slams down the alley-oop finish!

Stephon Castle dropped 17 points (8-11 FG), six assists, four rebounds, two steals, and a block. Steph came alive in the second half, providing a spark when the game was deadlocked at 61 apiece. He played determined to get the cup by any means necessary, and played with a swagger that allowed the Spurs to build their lead. Whether he is playing alongside Fox, Dylan Harper, or as the lead guard, Steph has shown that he will make a play on either side of the floor. The 21-year-old continues to be a special two-way player for the silver and black.

FASTBREAK AND-ONE! Steph runs downhill and finishes through contact for the floater and-one!

Blow-by! Steph blows by Terrence Shannon Jr. for the slam dunk!

Spin cycle! Steph puts the moves on Anthony Edwards, including a spin move, and finishes off the glass!

WE HAVE LIFTOFF! Steph spins out of a possible double team, drives in, hopsteps, and launches for a two-handed jam!

THE GAMBLER! Steph intercepts the pass from Edwards and slams it home on the other end!

Dylan Harper dropped 12 points (5-10 FG), 10 rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. Dylan once again played like a seasoned veteran in another playoff game. His handles and finishing at the rim are so elite that it has many Spurs fans and NBA fans wondering how it’s possible that this will be the worst version of him? He also became the youngest guard ever to record multiple double-doubles in the playoffs, passing Derrick Rose. The rookie has become the Spurs’ secret weapon in these playoffs and seems to have no issue playing his game, regardless of his matchup.

BIG GUARD THINGS! Dylan snatches the offensive board and finishes back at the rim over Julius Randle!

HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT! On the fastbreak, Dylan goes behind the back not once, but twice on Ayo Dosunmu for the breakaway slam!

Another look with slo-mo on the behind-the-back moves! Also, Manu Ginobili approves!

All in all, this was a much-needed win to tilt the series back in the Spurs’ favor. They held multiple double-digit leads throughout the game that were evaporated, but they took care of business from the middle of the third quarter till the end of the game. Wemby definitely played like he owed his team this game, and the supporting cast also stepped up when needed. Honorable mentions: Devin Vassell dropped 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a block. CB also played lockdown defense on Edwards that forced an 8-second violation. This team has ultimate confidence for Game 6. The question is, will they take care of business with a two-day rest?

Finally, here are the full game highlights.

The Spurs look to move on to the WCF with a Game 6 win this Friday at 8:30 P.M. (CST) on Prime Video.

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On This Date: Carter Verhaeghe Scores OT Winner, Giving Panthers First Playoff Series Victory In 26 Years

It was a long, long time coming.

On this day in 2022, the Florida Panthers did something they had not accomplished in nearly 30 years.

They won a playoff series.

The early days of the Panthers franchise were pretty solid.

They were the most successful expansion team (at the time) following their inaugural season in 1993-94 and went to the Stanley Cup Final during only their third year of existence.

After that, however, things started going downhill.

Florida reached the playoffs in 1997, losing to the New York Rangers in five games, and then again in 2000, getting swept out of the first round by the New Jersey Devils.

Then came what Panthers fans like to refer to as the dark ages.

Florida went 12 seasons without reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs, finally qualifying for the big dance during a fun 2011-12 season that again ended with a first-round defeat at the hands of the Devils. At least this time the Panthers pushed the series to an exhilarating seventh game on home ice.

But alas, Florida has still not won a playoff series since the ’96 conference finals.

Another opportunity came during 2016, but again the Cats were ousted in the first round, this time in six games by the New York Islanders (Trocheck was tripped). Three of Florida’s four defeats in that series came during overtime, with the final two losses happening in double OT.

A 2019 COVID bubble postseason appearance ended in a four-game loss to the Islanders in what was a best-of-5 qualifying round, and then the following year Florida was knocked out in six games by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Then came the 2021-22 season.

That year, the Panthers were firing on all cylinders.

The high-flying Cats led the NHL in goals, were the league’s best team on home ice and won the franchise’s first Presidents’ Trophy.

Surely, this was the year that they would finally end their streak of postseason futility.

Even after a surprising loss in Game 1 to the Washington Capitals, Florida still felt good about their team and their chances.

Those good vibes started to dissipate after the Panthers were trounced 6-1 in Game 3, again falling behind in the best-of-7 series.

That’s when Carter Verhaeghe decided to take matters into his own hands.

Verhaeghe scored twice in Florida’s comeback Game 4 victory, including the overtime winner, sending the series back to Sunrise knotted at two.

Game 5 started out disastrous for the Panthers, falling behind 3-0 by the 3:38 mark of the second period.

Then, Verhaeghe happened again.

He scored Florida’s first goal less than three minutes after the Capitals went up by three, then assisted on goals by Patric Hornqvist and Sam Reinhart, sending the game into the second intermission all tied up.

Verhaeghe finished off an odd-man rush with Panthers captain Sasha Barkov to give Florida their first lead of Game 5 early in the second period, then assisted on a third period tally by Claude Giroux to seal the deal.

For those not keeping track, that’s four goals and seven points in two games for Verhaeghe.

And no, he still wasn’t done there.

The series shifted back to DC for Game 6, with Florida having an opportunity to win their first playoff series in 26 years.

Once again, the Panthers would need to come from behind, trailing 1-0 during the second period and 2-1 early in the third.

Giroux tied the game about midway through the period, with Verhaeghe picking up an assist, and Florida actually led a late lead after a goal by Barkov with just over five minutes to go.

T.J. Oshie’s sixth goal of the series tied the score at three with 1:03 to go, sending the game to overtime.

That’s where Verhaeghe gave the Panthers franchise its biggest postseason moment in decades.

Just two minutes and 46 seconds into the overtime session and with Florida cycling in the Caps’ zone, Verhaeghe came flying down the slot and accepted a pass out of the corner from Giroux.

Verhaeghe took the pass off his skate, directing the puck toward his stick blade, and in one motion sent a backhand shot that went over Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov and into the net.

Wow.

They actually did it.

Looking back from current time in 2026, that game and that series feels like it happened so long ago.

While the Panthers didn’t make much of a run after beating the Caps, losing to Tampa Bay in a four-game sweep in round two, Florida got a taste of what it took to find success in the playoffs.

Panthers General Manager Bill Zito made some major moves that summer, trading for Matthew Tkachuk and hiring Paul Maurice as the team’s next head coach, changing the squad from a chance-trading, end-to-end rush team to a gritty, forechecking, defensively frustrating group that has been a nightmare for opponents to face during the postseason.

Three Stanley Cup Final appearances and two championships later, it would seem that Zito pushed the correct buttons.

Still, looking back at the series against the Capitals and Verhaeghe’s amazing few games, it’s nice to take a moment and remember how good that felt.

Little did we know, the Panthers were just getting started.

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Photo catpion: May 13, 2022; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Florida Panthers center Carter Verhaeghe (23) scores the game-winning goal on Washington Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov (30) in overtime in game six of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena. The Panthers won the series 4-2. (Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

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Islanders' Matthew Schaefer is the unanimous Calder Trophy choice as NHL rookie of the year

NEW YORK (AP) — Matthew Schaefer of the New York Islanders is the unanimous winner of the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year.

The league surprised him with the award Wednesday.

Schaefer, the No. 1 pick in the draft, was the Calder front-runner from just about the time he made his debut on opening night at Pittsburgh. He scored 23 goals to tie Brian Leetch’s record for the most by a rookie defenseman and finished with 59 points.

The 18-year-old became the face of the Islanders franchise and helped them make a playoff push before falling short in the final couple of weeks of the regular season. He received all 198 first-place Calder votes.

Montreal’s Ivan Demidov was second and Anaheim’s Bennett Sennecke third in voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

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Sharks Sign Carson Wetsch to Entry-Level Contract

The San Jose Sharks were on a tight deadline to sign forward Carson Wetsch to an entry-level contract, as his rights were set to expire on June 1, but Mike Grier was able to get it done. 

The captain of the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League, Wetsch is preparing to participate in this year's Memorial Cup but he had to file some paperwork before the tournament kicked off later this month.

As the Sharks' third round draft pick in 2024, Wetsch had the opportunity to re-enter the NHL Entry Draft this June if he didn't reach an agreement with the Sharks. Instead, the 20-year-old winger opted to sign and will remain a member of the Sharks organization. 

Wetsch's offensive production took a major step forward this season, his first in Kelowna. He registered a career-high 72 points in 65 games while scoring 22 goals, which, ironically, was his lowest total since his first season in the WHL.

Known for his physical style of play and getting toward the net to create scoring chances from the dirty areas of the ice, Wetsch projects to be an effective bottom-six forward at the NHL level whenever his time comes. As a 20 year old, Wetsch will most likely join the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda, next season where he could potentially fill a top-six role if needed. 

Wetsch's Kelowna Rockets qualified for the 2026 Memorial Cup as the host team for this year's event, which will start on May 21st. Currently, the only other team that has locked in a place in the Memorial Cup are the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, who won their league title on Tuesday night. 

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High Strikeout Pitchers in the System

AMARILLO, TX - MAY 06: Josh Grosz #30 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches during the game between the Wichita Wind Surge and the Amarillo Sod Poodles at Hodgetown on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by Elisa Chavez/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)

Last week, in the space of fewer than 24 hours, Jake McCarthy hit a grand slam and drove in five runs as the Rockies beat the Mets 6-2, and Alek Thomas was designated for assignment. In the short-sightedness of many fans (no judgment; I’m in this category sometimes as well) this meant that we had traded away the wrong outfielder.

It’s impossible to know that, because we do not know what the return for Thomas would have been, but it’s also important to note that while results are the only thing that makes a difference in wins and losses, Thomas was fantastically unlucky at the plate this year. All of his expected stats exceeded the results, some by a substantial margin. His xwOBAcon (this takes into account quality of contact and also sounds delicious) exceeded his wOBA by an astounding 110 points. His barrels, launch angles, and hard hit rates were improved on last season. McCarthy, meanwhile, has one of the lowest hard hit rates in the game, although he has also improved his launch angles. But his xwOBAcon is .385 while Thomas’s is .359, a difference not entirely attributable to playing in Coors Field, but which is certainly helped by that. Thomas is also the superior defender. The Diamondbacks designated Thomas for assignment just as much because of roster crunch as because of performance; given his improved launch angles, they surely hope he clears waivers and can go to Reno. If he does not and he suddenly starts hitting above replacement level for another team, it’s not that they suddenly fixed him so much as it is the fixes the Diamondbacks already gave him having better luck.

But anyway, this isn’t about which light hitting outfielder the Diamondbacks should have traded. It is about the overlooked player the Diamondbacks got for McCarthy.

Josh Grosz was an 11th round selection of the Yankees in 2023, five picks after the Mariners drafted Brandyn Garcia. With the Diamondbacks’ own pick of Casey Anderson, he is the third member of the 11th round in 2023 in the organization. (That 2023 draft is looking pretty solid this year. Anderson seems to be finding his feet as a reliever in AA, Philip Abner has already reached the major leagues, and Tommy Troy and LuJames Groover are both knocking on the door. Caden Grice is finally healthy, and Jack Hurley looked to be turning things around at AAA.) These are just interesting facts that have no bearing on the discussion, which is the return for McCarthy.

Grosz starred at East Carolina, a “mid-major” school but one with a top-level (but extremely snake bitten) baseball program. They hold the record for most NCAA tournament appearances without ever making to Omaha, and only two teams are even halfway to their 35: South Alabama (alma mater of Turner Ward, Matt Peacock, and some guy named Luis Gonzalez) with 28, and Stetson. He entered the starting rotation in 2022 and started the game that looked to break the schneid. He gave up two runs (one earned) and the Pirates built a 7-2 lead in the seventh inning. But Texas came back to win and dominated the following day. He was a regular in a rotation that included Trey Yesavage in 2023, with mixed results. (East Carolina has produced some excellent pitching in recent years. In addition to Yesavage, Carson Whisenhunt and Gavin Williams both starred in Greenville post-COVID.)

He signed with the Yankees and got good results, performing well enough to get a spot start in AA. He was even better in 2025, but struggled after being traded to the Rockies in the Ryan McMahon deal. He was a bit unlucky; his xFIP- was 100, indicating that he would have been expected to get average results rather than the poor results he got.

The raw numbers of a 4.12 ERA and a 1.322 WHIP at Amarillo make it look like his luck has turned. That’s not accurate. Jose Cabrera leads the Soddies in WHIP at 0.862. His xFIP- is 75. Jonatan Bernal leads the Soddies in ERA at 1.32. His xFIP- is 63. Grosz’s xFIP- of 55 is closer to Kade Anderson’s than Cabrera’s. Kade Anderson was in line to be the top pick in the draft last year and has an ERA of 0.60 and a WHIP of 0.667 as a starting pitcher in the Texas League. His xFIP- is 46. (Lower numbers are better for minus stats, while higher numbers are better for plus stats, but the meaning is basically the same, with 100 average.) Grosz is allowing a .395 BABIP, which is substantially above his career numbers and is certain to come down. (All statistics are through Sunday, May 10.)

Since it’s not luck, how has he improved so much? It basically comes down to two stats which xFIP absolutely loves. He’s striking out more batters and getting more ground balls. And not by a small margin. He’s faced enough batters for his strikeout rate to mean something, and he’s striking out 40% of the batters he faces. In addition to the strikeout rate, he’s getting more than twice as many ground balls as fly balls.

It is imperative to note what I am not saying here. I am not saying that Josh Grosz is a future ace, or even a guaranteed future rotation piece. Strikeout rate is the only statistic that is really meaningful at this point, and players with strikeout rates like his tend to already be or eventually become relievers. I am not even saying that Josh Grosz would have success in the big leagues. But I do think he’s cracked the code to be a successful pitcher at Amarillo and Reno, if he can keep it up. Strike out batters, make the others hit the ball on the ground, and you can get good results, even at Hodgetown.

Grosz isn’t getting quite as many whiffs as one might like, but he’s still quite good in that department. He’s getting swinging strikes on 14.2% of pitches. For context, Seth Hernandez has the highest rate in the minors at 25%, Rio Britton has the highest rate in the organization at 18.1% (which is in the top-20 across the minors), Mason Miller has the highest in the majors at 26.5% (minimum 10 innings pitched) and Juan Morillo has the best in the organization at 16.1%. One would expect that to drop moving up levels, but it doesn’t always; Morillo is getting more whiffs in the big leagues than he did at AA.

Grosz’s ceiling is mid-rotation starter, and will most likely wind up as a reliever. We’ll likely never know if he would have been the return for a theoretical Thomas trade, but there’s a very good chance that the Diamondbacks wind up on the better side of the McCarthy trade in the end.

Here are the other pitchers who have faced 70 batters and struck out more than 30%. Sanchez and Aracena are the only other ones starting some of the time, and Aracena has also appeared in relief. 

It’s interesting that none of these were signed as highly regarded prospects. The Diamondbacks signed Mercado last year after he went undrafted out of Oregon in 2024; he initially didn’t find any takers among the thirty big league organizations and signed with Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League. Rio Britton also attended Oregon once upon a time, but transferred to NC State and went undrafted. The Diamondbacks pounced quickly in his case and signed him in 2023. Aracena may be a prospect now, but he signed for just $70,000, while Sanchez and Santana do not have listed signing bonuses, meaning that they were almost certainly below $50,000. While there have been plenty of complaints (including from me) about the organizational failures in pitching development, there are a few success stories as well, but mostly on the bullpen side.

Jose Cabrera may be having the best season of any of the pitching prospects thus far, but he just missed the 30% cut. Brian Curley and Chung-Hsiang Huang are two starting prospects who have done well to keep walks down while striking people out in the 25-30% range. And pitchers in the complex haven’t faced enough batters yet to form any judgment. Dean Livingston had a solid debut, and Modesto Vargas can be added to the list of potential future bullpen arms who can reach triple digits, but it’ll be at least a few weeks before much more can be said.

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JR Ritchie looks for series win against Cubs in game two

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 04: Jr. Ritchie #60 of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the second inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on May 04, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves pulled off a win against the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs in yesterday’s matchup and are now looking at rookie JR Ritchie to continue their winning streak to capture an early series win.

Ritchie, who’s boasting a 3.63 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, didn’t appear in his usual rotation during the Los Angeles Dodgers series. His last start was against the Seattle Mariners, where he walked six batters during his stint. He remarked in an interview that he was going to study film to see what specific things were wrong with his approach to correct for his next outing.

Well, now the time has come for him to put his studying to the test. Already an impressive young flame-thrower, getting his fourth start on the mound with a veteran-heavy team behind him to hold down the offense, should lead to an entertaining showdown against the split-finger master and the Cubs.

Speaking of which, Shota Imanaga, holding a 2.28 ERA with a 4-2 record so far this year, is out to lead the team to their comeback of the night. Coming off a dominant win against the Reds on May 7 ( 6 IP/ 6 H/ 1 ER/ 3 BB/ 10 K), Imanaga will want to capitalize on the Braves’ lack of offensive power (despite their game one win) from the night before, and get ahead of them early to set the tone for the Cubs.

Two of the top MLB teams are looking to come out with their own versions of success. The Braves are finding ways to win, even through downsides, clinching the MLB-best once again. The Cubs…they want to put an end to their streak.

It’s all going down tonight at Truist at 7:15 p.m. EDT.

Game Info

Game Time: Wednesday, May 13th, 7:15 pm EDT

Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA.

Watch: BravesVision

Radio/Audio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan

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Islanders Matthew Schaefer Wins Calder Trophy

New York Islanders forward Matthew Schaefer has won the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year:

Per the release:

“Schaefer is the sixth Islander to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, joining Mat Barzal (2018), Bryan Berard (1997), Mike Bossy (1978), Bryan Trottier (1976), and Denis Potvin (1974). He is also the 13th first-overall pick to be awarded the Calder and just the fourth defenseman to do so, joining Aaron Ekblad (2015), Berard and Potvin. Notably, three of those four defensemen played for the Islanders. Schaefer is the eighth player to win the award in their 18-year-old season. At 18 years, 223 days on the final day of the regular season, Schaefer is the youngest Calder Trophy winner in NHL history.

Schaefer had a record-breaking rookie campaign in which he registered 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) over 82 games. He tied Brian Leetch’s record for the most goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season. Schaefer also set NHL records for the most points by an 18-year-old defenseman, average time on ice by an 18-year-old skater (24:41) and the most overtime points (4) by a teenage defenseman. He added another notable milestone on March 24, logging 31:59 of ice time, the most in a single game by any NHL teenager since the statistic began being tracked.

Among his historic accomplishments, Schaefer became the youngest defenseman in NHL history to reach both 20 goals and 50 points in a season. He is the first rookie defenseman to lead his draft class to the 20-goal mark and is one of just four rookie defenders ever to reach that milestone. Schaefer is also the youngest player in league history to score an overtime goal and the youngest blueliner to record a power-play goal, game-winning goal, multi-goal game and to have a point in his NHL debut. 

The Hamilton, Ontario native led all rookies in average time on ice, power-play goals (8), and shots on goal (222), while tying for first in goals and overtime goals (2). He ranked second in power-play points (18), third in assists and points, tied for third in game-winning goals (4) and fifth in plus/minus rating (+13). Among NHL defensemen, Schaefer finished second in goals and shots on goal, tied for second in power-play goals and ranked ninth in takeaways (38). He led the Islanders in TOI, plus/minus rating and power-play goals, tied for the team lead in overtime goals and ranked second in goals, assists and points. 

Schaefer led all NHL defensemen with 38 penalties drawn and was second overall behind Connor McDavid (56). His drawn penalties were the most by a rookie defenseman since P.K. Subban (40) in 2010-11.

Within the Islanders’ record books, Schaefer set franchise highs for the most goals, points, power-play goals, overtime goals and game-winning goals by a rookie defenseman in a single season. He became the fifth rookie – and third rookie defenseman – in franchise history to appear in all 82 games and was one of four Islanders skaters to play a full schedule this season. His 23 goals were the sixth-most in a single campaign by an Islanders blueliner and the most since Hall-of-Famer Denis Potvin in 1981-82, while his plus/minus rating was also the best by an Islanders rookie defenseman since the 1992-93 season. 

Schaefer earned league recognition by being named “First Star” for the period ending March 1 after posting five points (4G, 1A) and a +5 rating over three games. He was also selected “Rookie of the Month” for October after recording eight points (3G, 5A) in 11 games, highlighted by a six-game point streak to open his career.

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Canadiens vs Sabres Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 5

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The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres square off in a pivotal Game 5 at KeyBank Center on Thursday, May 13.

My Canadiens vs. Sabres predictions and NHL picks lean toward a high-scoring contest in Buffalo.

  • UPDATE: Added who will win prediction & goal scorer pick.

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5 prediction

Who will win Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5?

Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres received a huge goaltending boost from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen to take Game 4, and I fully expect bounces to start going their way on home ice in Game 5. Buffalo has generated 17.77 expected goals at the KeyBank Center across five home games and only scored 12 times, after all.

Canadiens vs Sabres best bet: Over 5.5 (-125)

The Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres scored six or more goals in the first three games of Round 2, and I’m anticipating the increased workload continuing to catch up with Habs No. 1 Jakub Dobes.

He’s started 12 consecutive games dating back to the regular season, and his previous high was four straight starts. Dobes sporting a ho-hum .895 SV% in Round 2 after posting a .923 mark in the opening round reinforces the mileage is taking a toll.

Additionally, Sabres starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen posted a .909 SV% with 0.311 goals saved above expected (GSAx) per 60 minutes during the regular season, so I’m anticipating his play to also dip after turning away 28 of 30 shots with 1.62 GSAx in Game 4.

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5 same-game parlay

Montreal turning to Jake Evans between Ivan Demidov and Alex Newhook has paid off, with the trio pacing the Habs in Corsi For percentage and expected goals at 5-on-5 — combining for 12 points in the series. Demidov and Newhook have also both individually marked the scoresheet in three of the four Round 2 games.

Canadiens vs Sabres SGP

  • Over 5.5
  • Ivan Demidov Over 0.5 points
  • Alex Newhook Over 0.5 points

Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5 goal scorer pick

Alex Tuch (+195)

Buffalo winger Alex Tuch was dangerous again in Game 4 without finding the back of the net, and he’s now up to 2.06 expected goals, six high-danger scoring chances and 15 shots without a goal in the series. The back-to-back 30-goals scorer skates with the top line and No. 1 power-play unit, too, so the opportunities will continue to present themselves for Tuch to finally cash in.

Canadiens vs Sabres odds for Game 5

  • Moneyline: Montreal -105 | Buffalo -115
  • Puck Line: Montreal +1.5 (-250) | Buffalo -1.5 (+205)
  • Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-125) | Under 5.5 (+105)

Canadiens vs Sabres trend

The Buffalo Sabres have covered the puck line in 10 of their last 15 games (+7.55 Units / 33% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Sabres.

How to watch Canadiens vs Sabres Game 5

LocationKeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
DateThursday, May 14, 2026
Puck drop7:00 p.m. ET
TVSportsnet, TNT

Canadiens vs Sabres latest injuries

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Barstool’s Dave Portnoy obliterates LeBron James’ Lakers legacy in 4-word putdown

When it comes down to choosing how the GOAT of basketball is, the debate between Michael Jordan and LeBron James comes down to a matter of preference.

Do you prefer winning championships? Or do you prefer longevity?

It appears that Dave Portnoy has made his stance known.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, LeBron James returned the Lakers to glory when Los Angeles won the 2020 NBA title by defeating the Miami Heat 4-2. USA TODAY Sports

Following comments made by Nick Wright, sportscaster and personality for Fox Sports 1, the Barstool Sports President responded to Wright by absolutely annihilating James’ legacy with the Lakers.

“I’ve never been the biggest Lebron fan but anybody saying his career as a Laker so far hasn’t been a major flop is doing a disservice to LeBron. Obviously we’re not counting the micky mouse And 1 Bubble tournament as a real title. So we’re judging him on just his ability to make the playoffs for a cup of coffee? To never be a real threat?” Portnoy said on Twitter.

The most damning thing Portnoy said was blasting James’ 2020 NBA title alongside Anthony Davis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the resumption of the NBA season at the Disney Resort in Florida where everyone was sheltered, James and Davis led the Lakers to a title over the Miami Heat by winning 4-2, a series in which James averaged 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists.

Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy took to social media on Tuesday to blast LeBron James’ legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers.
EMMY PARK
Barstool Sports President Dave Portnoy took to social media on Tuesday to blast LeBron James’ legacy with the Los Angeles Lakers.

However, Portnoy didn’t stop there.

“Meanwhile MJ and Russell were winning titles at his age not just being cannon fodder for their opponents. So out of respect for LeBron and his legacy I refuse to describe his time in LA as anything other than a complete and utter failure. After all this was his longest consecutive tenure with any team and he didn’t win a title. He’s basically Clyde Drexler or Karl Malone Great players in their own right that never won.”

Calling James’ legacy in Los Angeles as a “complete and utter failure” is a hot take.

After missing the postseason in his first season, James led the Lakers to the playoffs in six of the next seven seasons. They were eliminated three times in the first round, lost in the Western Conference finals to the Nuggets (who would later win the title that season), won the title in 2020 and fell this season in the Western Conference semifinals.

Again, Portnoy didn’t stop there.

He finished his rant when said, “LeBron doesn’t even make the roster of all time Laker greats. It’s an insult to his legacy and the legacy of a top 5 player of all time to say his tenure in LA was successful. Although I suppose if he truly was a top 5 all time player would have probably won in LA right? Hmm. Tough to wrap my brain around it.”

Portnoy’s blasting of James comes on the heels of Wright saying that James’ legacy in Los Angeles is certified and can’t be deemed anything other than successful.

James and Michael Jordan are the consensus top two basketball players to ever live, and it’s a matter of preference for who people believe the true GOAT is. Getty Images

“LeBron the record is 8 years with the Lakers, 7 trips to the playoffs. 2 seasons where they made a conference finals and 1 championship. And you’re going to have folks today earnestly genuinely try to argue that LeBron Lakers tenure was a failure. To which I would simply say or ask and don’t even add I’m not even asking you to add any age related qualifiers to it. Has Giannis 13 year Bucks career been a failure? Because in those 13 years, Giannis has 1 trip to the finals, 1 championship, and 1 trip to another conference finals and that’s the exact same thing as Bron in his 8 with the Lakers.”

James remains undecided about his future with sources telling the California Post that retirement remains an option. However, most believe that he will not retire — not after playing at such an elite level in the postseason and dragging his undermanned Lakers squad to a series victory over the Rockets in the first round.

Whether James elects to return to Los Angeles or not is up for debate. But it’s hard to challeneg the legacy of him as a Laker after he’s spent 8 seasons in Hollywood, his longest single-tenure with any team throughout his career.

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Report: Allen Graves reveals conversations with LSU, Duke about potential transfer over NBA Draft

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Former Santa Clara forward Allen Graves revealed he had conversations with LSU and Duke and will still consider transferring, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Borzello also reported Kentucky reached out to Graves’ agents to gauge interest, but LSU and Duke are the top two.

However, Graves is still in the NBA Draft process at this time. According to Borzello, Graves would prefer to stay in the NBA Draft if he’s going to be a first round selection.

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Why Zach Neto, not Mike Trout, is the Angels player Red Sox should pursue

Why Zach Neto, not Mike Trout, is the Angels player Red Sox should pursue originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox should consider acquiring a right-handed slugger from the Los Angeles Angels, but it isn’t Mike Trout.

Michael Felger of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger & Mazz sparked the Trout-to-Boston rumors on Tuesday, citing a “loose” source that told him “don’t be surprised” if the Red Sox end up with the three-time MVP.

“They think he’s a better leader than (Alex) Bregman and will hit a bunch of home runs at Fenway Park,” Felger relayed from his supposed source. “And L.A. likes (Jarren) Duran and (Brayan) Bello.”

The chances of such a deal are slim to none. Trout’s contract, which pays him $37.1 million per year through 2030, includes a full no-trade clause. While he could choose to waive it, the 34-year-old has been incredibly loyal to the Angels. It’s unlikely he suddenly opts to leave L.A., especially for a last-place Boston club at this stage of his 16-year MLB career.

If Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow calls Angels general manager Perry Minasian about a potential trade, shortstop Zach Neto makes more sense.

Almost a decade younger than Trout at 25 years old, Neto is coming off back-to-back seasons with a 5.1 bWAR. The 2022 first-round draft pick notched 23 homers with a .761 OPS in 2024 and 26 homers with a .791 OPS in 2025.

Boston’s lackluster lineup desperately needs that kind of pop, particularly from the right side. Neto has also been a solid defender for most of his four MLB seasons, though he has had some uncharacteristic mental miscues this year.

It’s been an odd season all around for Neto, who entered the campaign as one of MLB Network’s top 10 shortstops and widely considered one of the league’s most underrated talents. Through 43 games, he’s slashing .216/.322/.386 with six homers, 18 RBI, and 62 strikeouts. He leads all American League shortstops with six errors.

None of that should dissuade Boston from pursuing Neto, who’s under team control through 2029. He may benefit from a change of scenery, because as bad as the Red Sox have been so far this season (17-24), the Angels have been even worse (16-28). They haven’t had a winning season since 2015.

Neto offers far more upside than current Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story, whose early-season struggles have once again sparked DFA debates. The 33-year-old has offered zero value at the plate so far in 2026, and his defense has rapidly declined over the last three years.

According to Sean McAdam of MassLive.com, the Red Sox inquired about Neto during the offseason, but the Angels set a “very high bar” when it came to the return. Perhaps his recent struggles, and what appears to be another lost season for L.A., will bring down the cost. If it’s true that the Angels are eyeing Duran and Bello, that’s a good place to start.

Neto wouldn’t solve all of Boston’s problems this season, but he’s an exciting young talent who would give Sox fans something to be excited about long-term. Breslow should be operating like his job is on the line, and a big splash for Neto is the kind of move that could buy him more time.

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Middlesbrough to train for playoff final in case Southampton are expelled over spygate

  • Boro to return to training on Friday after semi-final loss

  • Southampton analyst accused of spying on training

Middlesbrough are scheduled to return to training on Friday in order to be ready to contest a potential playoff final against Hull at Wembley on Saturday week.

Although Boro lost the semi-final to Southampton, they are pushing for the south-coast side to be expelled from the playoffs after William Salt, one of Tonda Eckert’s analysts, was allegedly caught spying on Kim Hellberg’s team at their Rockliffe Park base near Darlington last Thursday.

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Phillies vs Red Sox Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The misery continues for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, and the locals could be getting restless again tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies.

With last night’s win, Philadelphia improved to 8-3 in May, and my Phillies vs Red Sox predictions jump on the visitors here, even with Boston’s likely edge in the pitching matchup. 

Take a closer look at this clash with my free MLB picks for Wednesday, May 13.

Who will win Phillies vs Red Sox today: Phillies (+109)

After two early runs, it turned out to be a nail-biter for the Philadelphia Phillies in yesterday’s series opener, but they’ve now won seven of their last nine games.

Rookie Andrew Painter takes the ball tonight and, though he drags in an ugly 6.89 ERA, I see the Philly bats giving him enough run support to outlast the Boston Red Sox.

Kyle Schwarberhas now homered in five straight contests, and both Trea Turner and Alec Bohm have had success against Boston starter Sonny Gray.

With an out-of-sorts lineup, the Red Sox are 7-13 at Fenway this season, and I’m fading them tonight.

Covers COVERS INTEL: The Red Sox are 6-19 this year when they allow a home run, and the Phillies have mashed 50 dingers, ninth-most in the majors.

Phillies vs Red Sox Over/Under pick: Under 9 (-115)

It’s hard to take the Over here after watching these lineups flail away in clutch moments last night, so I’m grabbing the Under, which has been a winning ticket in three of the last four meetings between these teams.

Though I’m banking on the Phillies to get more traction at the plate tonight, the Red Sox have scored just four runs across their past three outings, and only three ballclubs have served up fewer runs this year than Boston.

For all of Painter’s bumpy spells, five of his seven starts have finished with a total below 9, and Gray looked sharp last week after shaking off a hamstring issue.

Tom Oldfield's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 3-6, +4.30 units
  • Over/Under bets: 7-2, +4.31 units

Phillies vs Red Sox odds

  • Moneyline: Phillies +109 | Red Sox -131
  • Run line: Phillies +1.5 (-186) | Red Sox -1.5 (+153)
  • Over/Under: Over 9 (-105) | Under 9 (-115)

Phillies vs Red Sox trend

The Under is 8-3-1 in Boston's last 12 games. Find more MLB betting trends for Phillies vs. Red Sox.

How to watch Phillies vs Red Sox and game info

LocationFenway Park, Boston, MA
DateWednesday, May 13, 2026
First pitch6:45 p.m. ET
TVNBC Sports Philadelphia, NESN
Phillies starting pitcherAndrew Painter
(1-4, 6.89 ERA)
Red Sox starting pitcherSonny Gray
(3-1, 3.54 ERA)

Phillies vs Red Sox latest injuries

Phillies vs Red Sox weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Avalanche Prospect Christian Humphreys Looks To Turns OHL Success Into NCAA Momentum

It's been said time and time again that the Colorado Avalanche prospect pool is pretty thin. Many scouting outlets rank the pool among the league's lowest, and it makes sense. Many, if not all, of the Avalanche's top prospects or high-round picks have been traded to help the current team compete for a Stanley Cup, which has resulted in them drafting in the later rounds and hoping to find a gem in the rough.

At the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the Avalanche made nine selections from rounds two to seven, the most since the 2007 Entry Draft. The sections are already showing some promise and have helped the team in some ways. Ilya Nabokov looks like the goalie of the future. Will Zellers was traded for Charlie Coyle, who was flipped for Gavin Brindley. Max Curran was a part of the massive trade for Nazem Kadri.

Though there was one prospect I wanted to keep an eye on, Christian Humphreys, out of the U.S. National U18 Team in the NTDP. What started as a rough initial step into the NCAA turned into a stepping stone into the OHL, and with a new look and growing confidence, his return to the NCAA and what he can truly bring to the Avalanche franchise.

First Steps Into The OHL

During his first season with the Kitchener Rangers, I had the opportunity to talk with him about his transition from the NCAA to the OHL, the mental toll it took on him, and any impacts it had on how he plays the game. It impacted him a ton, and it showed on the score sheet, with only one point in his first ten games. Add on less ice time; he knew that if he wanted to continue to grow as a player, he needed to do what was best for him, and that meant signing an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.

“Yeah, I mean obviously the deadline was a part of it…it’s hard whenever you’re a player, and you’re playing good hockey, and you’re not getting rewarded for it, it’s frustrating. And I think for me there’d be games where I’d play really well, and I’m still only getting eight minutes a night, and you’re kind of sitting there as a player, what more do I need to do? And obviously, a little bit in the season, I had talks with my family about it, and I was like, hey, maybe this isn’t the best option for me… , but I think just the opportunity when it presented itself, it was hard to say no.”
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The transfer showed immediately, in his first 14 games with the team, he already had four goals and 12 assists for 16 points. He applauds the work ethic and ease of transition his teammates showed when he was introduced into the lineup and worked on integrating his skills and talents into their system.

“Yeah, I think for me the biggest part is they’re just letting me be who I am. Obviously, the second I got here, the guys were phenomenal. I mean I can’t really put into words how great they were and the second I stepped in the locker room, they’re so happy to have me and the culture here is, you can’t really describe it. I mean all the guys are so close, and we have such a special group this year and I think just playing wise, even talking to coaches, they’re just letting me play…I just stepped in here, and they’re like, obviously on the defensive side we’re going to teach you some pointers and stuff, and it’s great. And whenever I get in the offensive side, they’re just letting me be who I am, so I can’t really thank them enough.”
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Humphreys finished the season with 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points, helping the Rangers finish second in the Midwest Division, second in the Western Conference, and into the playoffs. Despite a strong run against the Flint Firebirds and upsetting the Windsor Spitfires, they would be swept by the eventual OHL champions, the London Knights. He would finish with three goals and seven assists for 10 points in 13 playoff games.

Elevating His Game And Then Some

This past season for Humphreys and the Rangers was one to remember for both him and the team. Finishing with 27 goals and 58 assists (fifth most in the OHL) for 85 points (10th most in the OHL), he helped the Rangers not only finish first in the Midwest Division but first in the Western Conference, missing out first in the league by five points to the Brantford Bulldogs.

He, along with Jack Pridham (Blackhawks), Cameron Reid (Predators), Sam O'Reilly (Lightning), and Luca Romano (Islanders), were a few NHL prospects to help lead this team into the playoffs, and they did not disappoint.

The Rangers went on a tear against anyone who came in infront of their path towards the finals, beating the Saginaw Spirit, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and the Windsor Spitfires, all in five games, leading to their eventual championship matchup against the Barrie Colts, who just pulled off a massive upset against the Brantford Bulldogs in seven games.

That didn't stop the Rangers from continuing their warpath and eventually sweeping the Colts to secure the OHL Championship, their fifth in franchise history. Humphreys finished with nine goals and 13 assists for 22 points, including the game-winning goal to secure the OHL championship. He finished in points only behind Dylan Edwards (25) and playoff MVP O'Reilly, who had 28.

Humphreys and Kitchener will now represent the OHL in the Memorial Cup, which begins in Kelowna on May 22. 

Take Two In The NCAA

With the season over and a championship under his name, its time to return back where it all started, the NCAA. It was announced that he has commitment to join the University of Minnesota next season.

Minnesota Lands Commitment From OHL Playmaker and Avalanche Draft Pick.Minnesota Lands Commitment From OHL Playmaker and Avalanche Draft Pick.An Avalanche draft pick and OHL assist leader, commits to the University of Minnesota, igniting Gophers' future offensive power.

Now the Gophers had a pretty disappointing past season, finishing with a record of 11-21-3, their most losses in a season since the 1997-98 season. Though this could be good for Humphreys, he can help anchor a team that had a rough last season and be a driving force to help them bounce back into the playoffs.

He's joining a group that includes Mace'o Phillips (Flames 2025 3rd round draft pick), Tanner Henricks (Blue Jackets 2024 4th round pick), Tarin Smith (Ducks 2024 3rd round pick), and potentially many more talented prospects.

It's hard to tell what a prospect can really do for your organization. You want to see what they did in the minors carry over into the NHL and help your team win, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. It's "easier" for first- and second-round picks, but expecting a seventh-round pick to slot into an NHL lineup and help produce is a lot to ask.

Humphreys is only 20, so there is still quite some time to grow and develop his skills but this past season with the Rangers really turned some heads and showed what talent is really has. If he can continue that in the NCAA with Minnesota, I hope that can lead to him signing his ELC and continuing to grow as a player in the AHL and one day in the NHL.

Chris MacFarland Named 2025-26 General Manager Of The Year FinalistChris MacFarland Named 2025-26 General Manager Of The Year FinalistChris MacFarland has been named a finalist for the 2025-26 General Manager of the Year for the first time in his career
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Ex-Yankee bust Alex Verdugo’s career in jeopardy after brutal injury development

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Alex Verdugo of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting an RBI single, Image 2 shows Atlanta Braves outfielder Alex Verdugo flies out during the 4th inning
Verdugo

Alex Verdugo’s hopes of returning to MLB just took a massive hit at a time when it’s uncertain if he still is worthy of a major-league roster spot.

Verdugo, on a minor-league deal with the Padres, is set to undergo season-ending surgery after suffering a shoulder injury and has been released by the team, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

The 29-year-old will have not played a major-league game in roughly 20 months when the 2027 season — if there’s no lockout — begins.

Alex Verdugo during his tenure with the Yankees. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Verdugo signed with the Padres in March after a disappointing 2025 season with the Braves, in which he appeared in 56 games and posted a career .585 OPS.

No team signed him after the Braves released him in July with a slashline of .239/.296/.289 and a -0.3 bWAR, failing to homer in 213 plate appearances.

The Padres took a shot on him in spring training to add depth but he did not break camp with the team, and did not appear in any minor-league games with the team.

It’s unclear if the lack of minors game is tied to the potential shoulder issues.

It’s fair to wonder about his MLB future now since teams have essentially not deemed him worthy of a roster spot for the majority of the 2025 and ’26 seasons.

Verdugo with the Braves in 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Verdugo’s career has trended in the wrong direction since the Red Sox traded the former second-round pick to the Yankees before the 2024 season.

He posted a .761 OPS in four seasons with the Red Sox, but tallied a .647 mark with the Yankees.

Verdugo started hot with the Bronx Bombers before enduring a brutal second half while hitting .233, his lowest mark for any full season.

Although the Yankees played him 149 times that season and throughout the playoffs, he signed just a one-year, $1.5 million deal with the Braves in March 2025.

Verdugo began his career with the Dodgers before being traded to Boston in the Mookie Betts swap, and is a career .270/.326/.406 hitter in 856 games.