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Canadiens Surging Forward Just Keeps Getting Better

The Montreal Canadiens picked up a 6-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 3. With this, the Canadiens now have a 2-1 series lead over the Sabres. 

Alex Newhook was certainly a significant reason for the Canadiens' Game 3 victory over the Sabres. This is because the Habs forward scored two goals in the matchup. 

With this strong performance, Newhook now has five goals and six points in 10 playoff games so far this spring. Yet, more notably, he has four goals over his last two games alone. With this, the 25-year-old forward is playing some excellent hockey at the perfect time for Montreal. 

Newhook's strong start to the post-season comes after he had a solid 2025-26 regular-season. While Newhook was limited to only 42 games this season, he had 13 goals and 25 points. This is after he had 26 points for the Canadiens last season, but in 82 games.

With all of this, it is clear that Newhook is continuing to hit a new level with the Canadiens. It has been a successful campaign for the 2019 first-round pick, and it will be intriguing to see how he builds on it as the playoffs continue from here. 

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Carlos Rodón returns to a very different Yankees rotation

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón throws during the first inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, May 10, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

While the Yankees didn’t get the result they wanted, falling in a one-run game against the Brewers, it was encouraging seeing Carlos Rodón back on a big league mound, regardless of the outcome. Rusty, as to be expected for someone coming from such a lengthy absence, Rodón battled himself on top of a dangerous Milwaukee lineup and held his own through plenty of traffic. The pitcher we have so often seen deliver worse results than the quality of his outings would indicate, due to untimely home runs, more than held his own by keeping the ball in the yard. Rodón covered 4.1 innings, allowing more runs (3) than hits (2) as the Yankees took a 4-3 loss in a quiet day offensively.

Highlighting just how inefficient Rodón was, following a trend we’ve seen in his rehab outings, the left-hander walked the leadoff batter in three of his first four innings—the cardinal sin for a pitcher to do it once, much less in more than half of his innings. It wasn’t just the lack of long balls that prevented this from being a blow-up, as he only allowed a pair of hits. Velocity-wise, Rodón sat at 95.7 mph on his four-seam fastball, but it should be noted that the number drastically decreased from the 97.0 mph in the first to the 94.5 mph he showed in his final inning. In fact, the root of those walks came from poorly located fastballs that the Brewers kept laying off with a zone rate of 32 percent, well below league average and Rodón’s average as well.

Assessing the bigger picture moving forward, this could be the beginning of a new era for Rodón with the Yankees—the rotation he returns to is one far different from the one he left behind. Not even in the wildest dreams of most fans could you have imagined what has transpired with the likes of Cam Schllitler and Will Warren, particularly the former establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the sport. Even if you’re still cautious about the promising signs Warren has exhibited in 2026, we’ve always known the raw tools for a great pitcher were there, so it’s difficult not to be at least a tad excited.

Evidently, it’s natural that Rodón will carry a lot of pressure on him to deliver in the most crucial moments, regardless of how the rotation shapes up around him, but we’re well off the role he was brought on to fulfill a few years ago, and that can only be a good thing. This is a rotation that’s at or near the top of the leaderboards in many categories, with none other than Gerrit Cole on his way back as well. The production has been so outstanding that one could even make the argument for a move to a six-man rotation based on merit once Cole is back, because it’s hard to justify booting Ryan Weathers from a starting role.

Focusing on Rodón, it’s not even a question of pressure or hierarchy but an acknowledgment that he has his work cut out for him to regain his previous standing on this staff. Last season was the closest we’ve seen to the best version of Rodón, and maybe that’s the best he can do at this stage in his career. Either way, the inconsistencies of his first two seasons won’t cut it, and unlike in the past, the Yankees have alternatives, all thanks to an outstanding development system.

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MLB Power Rankings: Rays take charge in the AL East, Tigers tumble after Tarik Skubal injury

Featured in this week’s MLB Power Rankings, the Rays are surprising everyone, Elmo is a good luck charm for the Phillies, J.J. Wetherholt and Bobby Witt Jr. turn on the afterburners, and the Orioles have the best giveaways.

As a reminder, this article is a combination of current performance and long-term outlook.

Let’s get started!

Note: Rankings are from the morning of Monday, May 11

Check out Eric Samulski’s SP streamers for this week!

1) Atlanta Braves

Last week 1

A tough week for the Braves organization as we lost both Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. Like most people in the U.S. in the 1990s, I got to watch a ton of Braves games because of their presence on TBS. What stuck out to me as a kid was how much Cox was willing to go to bat for his players. It’s one of those things that is hard to fully quantify, but it surely had an impact. Often times it was a call Cox disagreed with, but there was some strategy behind it too. I’m confident that his 162 ejections is one of those records that will never be topped.

2) Chicago Cubs ⬆️

Last week: 4

The Cubs cooled off this weekend against the Rangers, but they now have two 10-game winning streaks this season. Keep in mind that no other team has even one 10-game winning streak this season. It’s clear the Cubs are here to stay, but starting pitching remains an area of concern after Matthew Boyd suffered a meniscus tear while “sitting down to play with his kids.” As a 40-something dad, I have never felt more seen.

3) Tampa Bay Rays ⬆️

Last week: 5

The Rays finally saw their winning streak come to an end on Friday, but Nick Martinez got them back in the win column on Sunday with another fantastic start. Martinez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all eight of his starts this season and holds a stingy 1.70 ERA. Back at The Trop, this franchise just keeps finding a way.

4) Los Angeles Dodgers ⬇️

Last week 3

Winning the Cy Young Award is pretty much the only thing Shohei Ohtani hasn’t done at this point. How much longer can we say that? While Ohtani isn’t posting otherworldly numbers with the bat this season, he’s been nearly untouchable on the mound. He’s boasting a 0.97 ERA through six starts with 42 strikeouts and just nine walks through 37 innings. How fun would it be to see Paul Skenes and Ohtani duking it out for the award down the stretch?

5) New York Yankees ⬇️

Last week: 2

The Yankees got swept by the Brewers over the weekend and have now lost four out of five to fall out of first place in the AL East. Carlos Rodón was shaky in his season debut on Sunday, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks across 4 1/3 innings. The good news is that the Orioles are up next.

6) Milwaukee Brewers ⬆️

Last week: 12

A big statement for the Brewers over the weekend, as they swept the Yankees capped off by Brice Turang’s walk-off two-run homer on Sunday.

It was an eventful weekend in Milwaukee, as fellow NBC Sports colleague CC Sabathia was inducted into the Brewers’ Wall of Honor in recognition of his incredible run with the club in 2008. Calling CC my colleague never gets old.

7) San Diego Padres ⬇️

Last week: 6

While Fernando Tatís Jr. is still searching for his first home run of the season, his bat came up big on Sunday. After breaking his own bat, Nick Castellanos used Tatís’ bat to deliver a game-tying homer with the Padres down to their final strike.

Tatís is now up to 167 plate appearances without a home run this season.

8) Pittsburgh Pirates ⬇️

Last week: 7

Would you believe it, Paul Skenes is still Paul Skenes. He has a 1.31 ERA since his clunker of an Opening Day start.

9) St. Louis Cardinals ⬆️

Last week: 10

On one hand, this is an embarrassing moment for Fernando Tatís Jr., but it’s also a lot of fun to watch.

Wetherholt circled the bases in just 15.2 seconds, which is very fast, but if you keep reading this article, you’ll find that someone else got him beat this weekend.

10) Athletics ⬆️

Last week: 13

Nick Kurtz drew a walk on Sunday against the Orioles to stretch his on-base streak to 34 games. That’s the longest on-base streak for an A’s player since Nick Swisher reached safely in 36 straight games 20 years ago.

11) Cleveland Guardians

Last week: 11

The Guardians pulled off a fascinating trade with the Giants, acquiring Gold Glove catcher Patrick Bailey for left-handed pitcher Matt Wilkinson and the 29th overall pick in July’s MLB Draft. Bailey is widely regarded as one of, if not the best, defensive catcher in all of baseball, but he holds a weak .224/.281/.328 batting line over 384 major league games. Not sure what backup catcher Austin Hedges had to say about the move, but I can imagine it was probably something like, “Hey, I’m literally right here.”

12) Cincinnati Reds ⬇️

Last week: 8

The Reds lost eight in a row before winning the final two games of their series against the Astros over the weekend. Cincinnati’s starters rank 24th in MLB with a 4.61 ERA, but Chase Burns has been magnificent. He tossed six innings of one-run ball on Saturday, lowering his ERA to 2.11 ERA on the year.

13) Philadelphia Phillies ⬆️

Last week: 17

Alec Bohm hadn’t hit a home run since Opening Day and found himself on the bench for back-to-back games, but he broke out with a pair of homers on Saturday while driving in four runs. If Bohm had it his way, Elmo would be in the broadcast booth for every game.

The Phillies are now 10-3 under Don Mattingly as they continue to move up the rankings. I have a feeling they aren't done climbing.

14) Texas Rangers ⬆️

Last week: 16

Credit to the Rangers, who stopped the Cubs’ 10-game winning streak and shut out their potent offense in back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday. Is Jacob Latz the most underrated pitcher in baseball at the moment? It sure feels like it. The southpaw has allowed just two runs and five hits over 20 2/3 innings this season. He’s a big reason why the Rangers have had the best bullpen in the majors so far.

15) Kansas City Royals ⬆️

Last week: 21

The funnest moment of the weekend was easily Bobby Witt Jr.’s inside-the-park home run against the Tigers. Please enjoy.

Witt rounded the bases in a blazing 14.13 seconds. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, that’s the fourth-fastest home-to-home time in the Statcast Era.

16) Seattle Mariners ⬇️

Last week: 14

One step forward, one step back. The Mariners took two out of three from the red-hot Braves to begin the week before dropping two out of three to the White Sox over the weekend. Cal Raleigh is in the midst of the longest hitless streak of his career. He’s hitting just .161 through 38 games. Perhaps a matchup against the Astros to begin the week, a team they have dominated lately, will get Raleigh and the M’s going.

17) Detroit Tigers ⬇️

Last week: 9

The Tigers lost five in a row before besting the Royals on Sunday Night Baseball on Peacock and NBCSN. Tarik Skubal is reportedly aiming to return sometime in June, but it’s could be rough in the interim while they try to hold down the fort with all of these injuries. Also, that sort of turnaround for Skubal would be pretty much unheard of in baseball.

18) Chicago White Sox ⬆️

Last week: 25

Munetaka Murakami’s home run-hitting prowess has been one of the biggest stories of the 2026 season so far, but Colson Montgomery and Miguel Vargas are also doing their part on the power front. The White Sox are the only team who has three players with at least nine home runs.

19) Toronto Blue Jays ⬇️

Last week: 18

Fresh off returning from an ankle sprain, Addison Barger unleashed this 101.2 mph laser from right field on Saturday.

Absolutely insane. Unfortunately, he woke up on Sunday with some elbow soreness and was sent for an MRI.

UPDATE: Barger was placed on the injured list Monday. That's just not fair.

20) Arizona Diamondbacks ⬇️

Last week: 15

It’s been rough lately, but the Diamondbacks have won back-to-back games for the first time since April 17-18. Top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt has made his presence felt with the bat and the glove in the early going.

21) Miami Marlins ⬇️

Last week: 19

It took until Xavier Edwards’ 278th major league game for him to hit his first homer against a right-handed pitcher. That was on Friday against the Nationals. And because of course he did, he homered against a right-hander on Saturday as well.

22) Washington Nationals ⬆️

Last week: 23

C.J. Abrams begins the week tied with Atlanta's Matt Olson for the MLB lead with 36 RBI. He’s already up to nine homers, which puts him on pace to easily pass his career-high of 20 homers from 2024. His barrel rate is on the rise and he’s showing much more patience as the Nationals’ regular cleanup hitter.

23) Boston Red Sox ⬆️

Last week: 26

Even with Sunday’s loss to the Rays, the Red Sox have won four out of their last six games. Roman Anthony could return later this week after he went down with a wrist injury last Monday.

24) Baltimore Orioles ⬇️

Last week: 20

On Friday, the Orioles drew their largest crowd since Opening Day. And let’s be honest, the team on the field was sort of secondary. The fans came out in droves and waited in absurdly long lines for this Tupac bobblehead. And I have to admit, it’s pretty awesome.

The Orioles are leading the league in cool giveaways. I’m currently plotting a way to get a Turnstile jersey on July 10th.

25) Minnesota Twins ⬇️

Last week: 22

While the Twins have fallen a bit from their early-season perch, you certainly can’t blame Byron Buxton. He’s connected for 13 homers in his last 24 games.

26) Houston Astros ⬇️

Last week: 24

The injuries keep coming for the Astros. This time it’s Carlos Correa, who felt a pop in his ankle while taking batting practice last week. Turns out he tore a tendon in the ankle and will miss the rest of the season. Call me crazy here, but it’s beginning to feel like this just isn’t the Astros’ year.

27) San Francisco Giants ⬆️

Last week: 30

The Giants are missing their ace Logan Webb due to right knee bursitis, but at least Rafael Devers’ bat is starting to perk up. He homered in back-to-back games last week and is hitting .333 (10-for-30) so far in May. This team has been hurting for offense, which is one reason behind the Patrick Bailey trade, but Devers simply finding his groove would go a long way to getting them back on track.

28) New York Mets ⬇️

Last week: 27

On their nine-game roadtrip, the Mets took two out of three from both the Angels and the Rockies before losing two out of three to the Diamondbacks while scoring just five runs in 28 innings. Juan Soto and Bo Bichette went a combined 0-for-20 in the series. With the Mets’ depth being tested, it’s very difficult to win if those guys aren’t hitting.

29) Colorado Rockies

Last week: 29

Hunter Goodman broke out with 31 homers last season and he’s backed that up by launching 10 homers through 37 games so far this season. Oddly, he’s been much better on the road (.283 average, eight homers, .946 OPS) than Coors Field (.197, two homers, .656 OPS) so far.

30) Los Angeles Angels ⬇️

Last week: 28

You might have missed this past Friday, but Alek Manoah pitched in his first major league game since May 29, 2024. That’s a span of 709 days for the former Blue Jays right-hander. He pitched a clean inning with a strikeout against his former team as he tries to revitalize his career.

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Thunder vs Lakers Computer Picks: Our Best Player Prop Projections for Game 4

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are one win away from joining the New York Knicks in the conference finals, with the Los Angeles Lakers down 3-0.

We've checked our model and found the top NBA player prop projections to help you make your NBA picks.

Hungry for more? Check out our complete Thunder vs. Lakers predictions for May 11!

Thunder vs Lakers computer picks for Game 4

Thunder ThunderLakers Lakers
Dort o6.5 points
+100		Ayton o9.5 points
+102
Mitchell u16.5 points
-105		Reaves u5.5 assists
+120
Hartenstein o8.5 points
-105		Kennard o9.5 points
+100

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Thunder Game 4 computer picks

Luguentz Dort Over 6.5 points (+100)

Projection: 8.33 points

This is a five-star play according to our model, showing a 25.73% EV edge. Lu Dort is always ready to take a couple of threes if the Oklahoma City Thunder's offense calls for it, and he shoots the long ball at a 37% clip.

He scored 10 points in Game 3, and projections call for a similar Game 4.

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Ajay Mitchell Under 16.5 points (-105)

Projection: 14.71 points

Ajay Mitchell has been shredding the Los Angeles Lakers, but our model believes this is two points too high. With OKC sitting as a 12-point favorite, Mitchell might not see as much floor time as normal.

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Isaiah Hartenstein Over 8.5 points (-105)

Projection: 9.60 points

The Lakers have no answer for Isaiah Hartenstein. The big man has scored 10+ points in back-to-back games, and our model calls for him to approach that total again.

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Lakers Game 4 computer picks

Deandre Ayton Over 8.5 points (+102)

Projection: 10.65 points

Deandre Ayton looks horrendous out there, but he's still scored 10 points in two of three games against OKC. The Thunder are more than happy with letting him shoot, and he'll get his tonight.

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Austin Reaves Under 5.5 assists (+120)

Projection: 5.28 assists

Austin Reaves is a stupendous playmaker, but the Lakers need him to score more than ever. He'll do all he can to help keep L.A. alive, and more shots will result in fewer assists.

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Luke Kennard Over 8.5 points (+100)

Projection: 10.06 points

Luke Kennard is one of the best pure shooters in the NBA. He's scored 10+ points in two straight, and it looks like he's found a rhythm again. Nine points are easily obtainable for the guard.

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How to watch Thunder vs Lakers Game 4

LocationCrypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
Tip-off10:30 p.m. ET
TVPrime

Not intended for use in MA.
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Sabres Show Lack Of Discipline And Defensive Awareness In Game Three Loss


The Buffalo Sabres are facing their first true crisis since the middle of December, when they turned their season around and became one of the biggest surprises of the NHL season. After a one-sided 5-1 loss in Game 2 on Friday, the Eastern Conference Semi-Final with the Montreal Canadiens shifted to the Bell Centre. The Sabres entered the contest undefeated on the road, winning all three games in their series win over the Boston Bruins, but that perfect record may have had more to do with the quality of their opposition.

The Canadiens responded after allowing a Tage Thompson goal 53 seconds into the game, tying the game before the end of the first and scoring three times in the middle frame in a 6-2 victory over the Sabres on Sunday night. Similar to the loss in Game 2, Buffalo’s worst performers were their core players, as Thompson, Alex Tuch, and Rasmus Dahlin were all -2 on the night, while the Habs got a pair of tallies from their power play and significant contributions from depth forwards Alex Newhook, Zach Bolduc, and Kirby Dach.

“Montreal’s a good team, they made us pay for our mistakes.” Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. “I said before this started, they beat a hell of a team. They are a hell of a team. Don’t take them for granted. If we don’t realize it now, we’re never going to realize it.”

 Other Sabres Stories

Canadiens Sluggish In Game 1 Loss 

Apparent from nearly the outset was the Sabres inability to limit scoring chances. Goalie Alex Lyon was peppered with 29 shots over the first two periods, and in spite of playing well, could not make up for some lax Buffalo defensive play, such as Thompson and Tuch lagging behind and allowing Bolduc to close in on the goal that increased the Montreal lead to 3-1. 

The Sabres were also unable to maintain a level of composure, which is something they displayed against the Bruins and in Game 1. After a scrum late in the first period in which Habs forward Zach Bolduc fell on top of Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, Sabres forward Beck Malenstyn’s response left little room for doubt, as he plowed into Montreal goalie Jakub Dobes at nearly full speed. Malenstyn’s minor led to Juraj Slafkvoský’s goal to make it 4-1. 

“You have to be smart. We took five O-zone penalties. Our discipline for that wasn't good enough. You let them operate five-on-four." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "We ended up with a broken stick penalty killing, goal-against. And you give them that much time, they're going to get opportunities.”

The Sabres did not hold a scheduled practice on Tuesday, and possibly could make some lineup tweaks for Game 4. Veteran center Sam Carrick was cold-cocked by Montreal's Arber Xhekaj at the end of Game 3, while defenseman Logan Stanley could be replaced after an ill-advised pass on Bolduc's goal. 

 

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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The Wizards are smart to keep all options open at No. 1

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - JANUARY 31: Forward AJ Dybantsa #3 of the BYU Cougars controls the ball as he is defended by guard Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Allen Fieldhouse on January 31, 2026 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Washington Wizards were one lottery ball away from landing Zion Williamson in 2019 and Cooper Flagg in 2025. In 2023, Washington held six of the possible 11 remaining numbers in the draft lottery before narrowly missing out on the No. 1 pick, which became Victor Wembanyama.

But the franchise many called “cursed” after its several near misses in the lottery finally got its glorious moment on Sunday afternoon when NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum revealed the Wizards had won the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

So, after all those years awaiting the top pick to select the franchise’s next star, surely they wouldn’t consider trading down, right!? Well, it’s not as simple as that.

It should come as no surprise to Wizards fans that Michael Winger, the team’s President of Basketball Operations, told TheSteinLine’s Jake Fischer that the Wizards ”will at least consider trading down.“

Washington is keeping all of its options open, as it should, in a draft deprived of a sure-fire No. 1 pick. The 2026 draft class lacks a Wemby or a Williamson that everyone knows is going first overall and every executive understands would be impossible to trade for.

While AJ Dybantsa is viewed by most as the favorite to be selected by Washington, it’s not a lock. Darryn Peterson, and even Cameron Boozer, have drawn buzz as potential candidates to go No. 1. Just look at how certain draft boards differ.

ESPN and The Ringer pinned Dybantsa as their top prospect, while DraftExpress has Peterson going No. 1.

In a draft that lacks a clear top choice, Washington would be smart to keep it’s hand close to its chest. Why openly admit your preference between Dybantsa and Peterson? Why say there’s a clear No. 1 choice? Why give rival teams any information regarding your draft strategy?

There’s no reason to do any of those things, which is why Winger said Washington will consider trading down.

Winger means this in the same way he means there’s several prospects Washington will consider with the top choice. Maybe they internally view Dybantsa as miles ahead of Peterson and Boozer. Maybe they don’t.

But why offer that information to the Utah Jazz, or other teams, who could offer a lucrative trade package for the top pick?

If Utah truly wants Dybantsa — the two have several connections spanning from the 6-foot-9 forward’s playing days at Utah Prep and BYU to the many Jazz games he attended last season — they’ll have to pay a premium price. And they know that.

The Wizards will do their homework. They’ll bring Dybantsa and Peterson in for private workouts, meetings and physical tests. Just as they’ll do for prospects like Boozer, Caleb Wilson and more. And Washington’s brass — comprised of Winger, general manager Will Dawkins, senior vice president of player personnel Travis Schlenk and others — will determine its top prospect.

If the Wizards believe Dybantsa is the obvious choice at No. 1, they can simply select him and move forward with a generational talent as the face of their franchise. Should they believe Peterson is on the same level, if not a step better, than Dybantsa, they can milk Utah for several key assets while still selecting their preferred prospect at No. 2.

Bottom line: Washington is in a terrific spot. They can draft the best player in the class, or they can trade down, pick up an additional first-round pick and maybe more, and still leave with a generational talent they likely believe is better than whoever goes No. 1.

Will Washington trade the top pick? I think it’s unlikely. But they’d be dumb to not keep their phones open to at least here Utah’s offer.

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The Lakers aren’t giving up on the series yet despite being on brink of sweep

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Round Two Game Three of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

In the first round, it was the Lakers who were up 3-0 over the Rockets, looking to complete a sweep. Now, in the second round, they are on the other side, looking to avoid going out in four games against the Thunder.

So far, the odds don’t look so good. Not only have the Lakers lost all three games, but they have been blown out in each. Oklahoma City has an average margin of victory of 19.6 points and a net rating of +20, which is the best in the second round.

Add in the fact that the Lakers lost all four games against the Thunder in the regular season and will have to play Game 4 without Luka Dončić, and it’s hard to find any sort of optimism. So, it’s no surprise that FanDuel’s odds have the Thunder ending this series in a sweep as they are currently -560 favorites.

Still, for the Lakers, it’s not over till it’s over.

“You just come and compete,” Austin Reaves said after Game 3. “It’s a bunch of guys in this locker room that are competitors. Basically, the message after the game was we’re going to come in here Monday and we’re going to win. Obviously, the situation sucks, but that doesn’t give us the license to quit.

“We got to come in here and compete. We owe the organization that. We owe each other that. We owe our fans that. So, we’re going to come here Monday and play as hard as we can.”

The Lakers might not have found the recipe for success, but it hasn’t been due to a lack of trying.

Lakers head coach JJ Redick has made defensive adjustments, has found success limiting Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s scoring and has gone to players who were out of the rotation, like Maxi Kleber and Adou Thiero.

However, it hasn’t turned a loss into a win, since the Thunder just have too many playable guys who can step up and perform.

“Typically, if you can poke holes at a team in a playoff series, there’s a good chance they might have like a temporary solution or can sort of adjust maybe a little bit,” Redick said. “This team in-game, because of their personnel, can just adjust like that. They need shooters on the floor? Great. They need multiple wing defenders on the floor? Great. They need two bigs on the floor? Great. They’re a terrific basketball team. I said that before the series. I’ve been very impressed with them. I still think we can beat them. But we got to be better.”

To the Lakers’ credit, there has been no sign of quitting from this team. Redick can be seen coaching every night like it’s Game 7.

Marcus Smart’s defending SGA hard, Reaves keeps trying to attack the paint and generate offense and LeBron James is playing well over 30 minutes per game at 41 years old.

The room for error that the Lakers have is slim to none. OKC is the defending champion and hasn’t lost a playoff game yet. Clearly, beating them isn’t easy and to do so will take a complete performance.

“Well, obviously, everything,” LeBron said of what will be needed in Game 4. “Everything and more to beat a team like this. We’ll have to be at our best on Monday.”

Winning four straight games after losing the first three in a best-of-seven is daunting. It’s never been done before. Someone will eventually do it.

The Lakers will attempt to be that first team, and it starts on Monday with Game 4.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.

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Game 4 Was Classic Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 10: Naz Reid #11, Anthony Edwards #5, Ayo Dosunmu #13 and Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs during Round Two Game Four of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on May 10, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images


Game 4 was a must-win for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

That was true coming into the night with the Wolves down 2-1 in the series, and certainly became true after Victor Wembanyama launched an elbow at the neck of Naz Reid and ejected the San Antonio Spurs’ best player from the game with a Flagrant Two foul.

When Wembanyama exited the game with 8:39 left in the second quarter, the opportunity for Minnesota was obvious. With the other team’s best player out for the rest of the game, the Wolves’ path to winning Game 4 became a lot cleaner and, to put it bluntly, easier.

The Timberwolves showcased why in the next few possessions. Without Wembanyama’s rim protection, the Wolves went straight to the rim for layups and took what was a two-point lead when Wemby went out to a nine-point lead within a few minutes.

What happened from there was classic Minnesota Timberwolves basketball in the worst and best way.

The Wolves stopped attacking the paint or getting many good looks on offense. Their ball pressure relaxed, which allowed the Spurs to get to their preferred spots on the floor, and at times, Minnesota mentally lost track of the game, including more than once allowing the Spurs to get a fastbreak bucket following a made basket on the other side of the floor.

As has consistently happened during this era of Timberwolves basketball, instead of stomping out any chance for the Spurs to come back, the Wolves let their foot off the gas. They appeared to play down to the level of their opponent, despite that team being of high quality even without their best player.

“I thought we let our mind slip more than anything else,” Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch said after the game. “I felt like we lost our way a little bit and then gave them life. We never expected them to just go away.”

The Timberwolves only won the second quarter minutes following Wemby’s ejection by two points, which put their lead at four points heading into the third quarter, which allowed the Spurs during the halftime break to reset their rotations and their strategy for the rest of the game.

The start of the second half didn’t go much better for Minnesota. They missed 13 of their first 17 shots, while the Spurs made nine of their last 11 shots to win the third quarter 28-20.

The San Antonio lead grew to eight points, and with less than eight minutes left in the game, a nervous energy began to take hold inside the arena. While that feeling of anxiety has been absent from this Timberwolves postseason run, it is certainly an emotion that Target Center crowds have become well acquainted with going back years and decades.

The difference with this Timberwolves team is that they have Anthony Edwards. With the season on the line, Edwards scored 16 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter to drag a lifeless Timberwolves offense back into the lead.

“Today is Mother’s Day, so I just wanted to win for my mom,” Edwards said of his late mother, whom he lost in 2015 when he was in eighth grade. “I couldn’t lose this game for her.”

Edwards did exactly that. He did not allow the Timberwolves to lose this game while playing 40 minutes for the second straight game. With offense stuck in the mud and the Spurs throwing constant double-teams at the Timberwolves’ superstar, Edwards did just enough to get the Wolves over the finish line.

In the same way that the Wolves often play down to the perceived level of their opponent, Edwards and the Timberwolves responded when their back was up against the wall. Despite having numerous poor stretches of play, when the game mattered most, the Wolves made enough winning plays to get the job done.

It was an ugly win for the Timberwolves in Game 4, but the manner in which they got the win doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the series is tied 2-2 with a set of three games left to determine who advances to the Western Conference Finals.

“Now it’s just take it one game at a time, trying to figure out how to get a win,” Edwards said about the rest of this series. “That’s the only thing that’s on my mind right now, trying to figure out how to get a win.”

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Avalanche vs Wild Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight's NHL Playoffs Game 4

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Cale Makar has already cemented himself as one of the most productive playoff blueliners in NHL history, recording 90 points across just 86 postseason games.

After a frustrating showing in Game 3, tonight’s Avalanche vs. Wild predictions set up as a prime bounce-back spot for Colorado’s star defenseman to make an impact offensively.

Let’s break down my NHL picks for Monday, May 11.

  • UPDATE: Added a prediction for who will win. 

Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 prediction

Who will win Avalanche vs Wild Game 4?

Avalanche: The Colorado Avalanche tend to respond very quickly following losses. While they definitely weren’t good enough in Game 3, they still managed to generate 4.39 expected goals and a whole batch of chances. That they’ve done that every single game bodes well for their outlook in Game 4 and the series.

Avalanche vs Wild best bet: Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists (-155)

Cale Makar is always lauded for his ability to control the game from the back end and have his hand in everything — and it’s true.

The superstar Colorado Avalanche defenseman has picked up a point in at least 57% of the on-ice goals in four consecutive seasons, and never below 52%.

So far in these playoffs? We’re talking 35%. The Avalanche are piling up the goals, chances, and shots with Makar out there, and he’s driving a lot of it. He just isn’t getting many points.

Given how many touches he gets every single night, and the kind of minutes he plays, that is bound to change.

Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 same-game parlay

Martin Necas has recorded three shots on goal in each game this series, and his attempt volume has progressively increased each game. Necas has Makar behind him a lot at 5-on-5, and the latter facilitates a lot on the power play, making the two highly correlated.

Going the other way, it’s hard not to get excited about Mats Zuccarello. He has averaged 2.7 shots on 5.0 attempts in this series and recorded multiple shots in 11 of the past 13 games against the Avalanche. They pay a ton of respect to Kirill Kaprizov, which opens things up for Zuccarello.

Avalanche vs Wild SGP

  • Cale Makar Over 0.5 assists
  • Martin Necas anytime goal
  • Mats Zuccarello Over 1.5 shots on goal

Avalanche vs Wild Game 4 goal scorer pick

Nazem Kadri (+295)

Nazem Kadri has recorded 15 shots on goal through three games, tying him for first among all players in the series. He is getting a lot of looks around the net, and his presence on the top power-play unit makes him a very strong value at this price.

Avalanche vs Wild odds for Game 4

  • Moneyline: Avalanche -135 | Wild +115
  • Puck Line: Avalanche -1.5 (+175) | Wild +1.5 (-215)
  • Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+100) | Under 6.5 (-120)

Avalanche vs Wild trend

The Colorado Avalanche have hit the Moneyline in 19 of their last 25 away games (+10.45 Units / 27% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Avalanche vs. Wild.

How to watch Avalanche vs Wild Game 4

LocationGrand Casino Arena, St. Paul, MN
DateMonday, May 11, 2026
Puck drop8:00 p.m. ET
TVESPN, Sportsnet

Avalanche vs Wild 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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Report: Celtics pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo trade before deadline

The Celtics joined the Lakers, Knicks, Cavaliers and Timberwolves in pursuing Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA trade deadline in February, according to Shams Charania. ESPN also indicated that disappointing postseason finishes for some of those teams — Boston the only one eliminated already — could dictate pursuits this summer.

The Bucks will listen to Antetokounmpo offers ahead of the NBA Draft next month, opening the offseason’s biggest blockbuster early after Milwaukee co-owner Jimmy Haslam expressed a desire last week to resolve Antetokounmpo’s future before then. Charania added that the Bucks, who can offer Antetokounmpo a four-year, $275 million extension in October, continue to leave the door open to Antetokounmpo remaining with the Bucks.

That could lead to a maddening summer of indecision and posturing meant to improve offers. Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee’s similar assessment of interest ahead of the deadline fielded no offers that intrigued the franchise to move on, and Antetokounmpo’s own stated interest in leaving the team emerged tepidly. There is hope, ahead of his extension date, that such a deadline could spur action.

Charania’s reporting, connecting the Celtics to Antetokounmpo, followed Sam Amick’s that stretched back before Boston’s elimination in the first round and indicated that sources around the league expected the Celtics to make a run at Antetokounmpo. Such a move won’t happen without a significant roster overhaul that could include one of their superstars — Antetokounmpo makes $58.5 million next season, Tatum earns the same, and Brown comes in slightly below them at $57.1 million.

The Celtics’ relatively small assortment of draft picks and challenging salary-matching rules would almost certainly call for additional teams to become involved. Chris Mannix recently reported that Boston and the Hawks, Brown’s hometown team in Atlanta, briefly discussed a Brown deal last summer that the Hawks balked at over Brown’s salary.

Antetokounmpo, 32 in December, saw his averages drop across the board to 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game on 62.4% shooting, an improvement alongside his three-point shooting (33.3%) at low volume. He appeared in only 36 games due to a calf ailment that Antetokounmpo and the team reportedly disagreed about his ability to return from late in the season. Another calf injury in 2024 cost him the ability to appear in the Bucks’ first round loss to Indiana, and he missed two games in 2023 while the Heat upset Milwaukee in three games. His Bucks’ tenure over that stretch also became marked by roster overhauls and coaching changes that made the team worse since his last healthy postseason push in 2022, when the Celtics defeated him in seven games.

Still, Antetokounmpo ranks among the 4-5 best players in the league when healthy, making seven straight All-NBA First Teams prior to this season. He led the NBA in player efficiency rating this year, and provides the rim-threatening, defensive impact at the center position that Brad Stevens desired in his end-of-season press conference. A move would come with excruciating sacrifices, though, whether several years of draft picks, Brown or Tatum, or the entirety of the roster’s significant depth. Antetokounmpo has some say in his destination as well, long connected to New York City and complimentary of Joe Mazzulla, unprompted, in an interview late this season.

He can become an unrestricted free agent next summer by declining his $62.8 million team option. Giannis’ brothers Thanasis, an impending free agent, and Alex Antetokounmpo, who played on a two-way last year, have also joined him on the Bucks’ roster.

“My general feeling watching us play in each of the last two playoffs, in the second round against New York and even against Orlando in the first round, was we had a hard time generating really good looks on that first shot,” Stevens said last week. “We’ve got to figure out a way to do better in that. One of the things we’ve got to figure out is how to have more impact at the rim, and I think we do need to add to our team to do that.”

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Mookie back as Dodgers host Giants

Another Monday, another post wondering when the Dodgers offense will find itself.

After grinding out three runs in a win against Chris Sale, he who had only allowed that many in his last four starts combined, they only mustered exactly two runs in the last two games of the series with the Braves. Both runs came off two-run shots – in Saturday’s game, that came in the bottom of the ninth inning, and in Sunday’s, the bottom of the eighth.

But finally, some good news. Mookie Betts, who has been out for the past five weeks with a strained right oblique, is expected to be back in the lineup on Monday.

One man alone can’t fix all of the team’s offense woes, but he could be the spark they need.

Before his injury, Betts was batting third in the lineup. There has been some shuffling while he was away, with Will Smith moving to the third spot, and Kyle Tucker moving down to the cleanup spot. Having Mookie bat second gives the Dodgers batters from alternating sides of the plate atop the lineup, or they could rework it so they stack the righties atop the lineup against right-handed pitchers.

Since Mookie only got two games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, he is expected to play Monday and Tuesday with a planned off day on Wednesday. The Dodgers are once again finding themselves in the middle of a 13-game streak with no off days, so they will need to manage Betts’ workload within those parameters.

Alex Freeland was optioned in the corresponding move.

The Giants are in town for a four-game set. On Monday, they will send Trevor McDonald to the mound. The right-hander has only appeared in one game so far this season, last Monday against the Padres where he threw seven innings of one run ball, allowing only two hits and no walks, while striking out eight. He was originally in there as a spot starter, but the Giants just placed Logan Webb on the IL so McDonald will take his rotation spot.

For their part, the Dodgers will send Roki Sasaki to the mound. Sasaki was previously supposed to start in Saturday’s game against the Braves but was pushed back for Blake Snell’s return to the rotation. So far this season, Sasaki is 1-3 with a 5.97 ERA. In his last outing against the St. Louis Cardinals, he gave up three early runs but then settled down to complete six full innings, at one point retiring 10 straight batters.

The Giants offense is one of the worst in all of baseball, and Sasaki has historically pitched better at home than on the road. If there ever was a time for the Dodgers to right themselves, it’s at home against their rivals with one of their best hitters returning to the lineup.

MONDAY GAME INFO

  • Teams: Dodgers vs. Giants
  • Ballpark: Dodger Stadium
  • Time: 7:10 p.m.
  • TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)
  • Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)
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Dreiling named Texas League Player of the Week

FRISCO, TX - MARCH 31: Dylan Dreiling #8 of the Frisco RoughRiders poses for a photo during the Frisco RoughRiders photo day at Riders Field on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Dylan Dreiling, Frisco Roughriders outfielder, has been named the Texas League Player of the Week for the week of May 4 to May 10, it was announced today.

Dreiling, a lefthanded hitter who was taken in the second round of the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee, put up a .368/.520/1.000 slash line in 25 plate appearances over five games against the Northwester Arkansas Naturals, with four homers, six walks, and just one strikeout. For the season, he is slashing .300/.398/.511 in 108 plate appearances with 16 walks against 21 strikeouts.

Dreiling spent the 2025 season at high-A Hub City, where he slashed .226/.319/.381, then put up a .271/.364/.438 slash line in the Arizona Fall League. Although he was primarily a left fielder for Tennessee, Dreiling has primarily played center field as a professional.

Dreiling, who turned 23 last month, was the 65th overall pick in the 2024 draft, and the second player selected by the Rangers that year, behind only catcher Malcolm Moore.

Dreiling was also written up in today’s Monday Morning Ten Pack over at Baseball Prospectus.

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Mets Minor League Mailbag: How soon could we see Ryan Clifford in the big leagues?

The minor league season is in full swing.

Let's open up the mailbag to discuss some of the Mets' top prospects...

If Carson Benge is a good MLB center fielder, does it not make sense to give A.J. Ewing some shortstop reps? Lindor is 32 years old, even if he was healthy, he’d have 2-3 years max left at shortstop anyways. If Benge is above average in center field, it seems wasteful to put him in a corner. -- @will_nba_hater

This is a loaded question with a few factors to consider here. Benge projects as a long-term plus corner outfielder who can play center field, not a true center fielder. In the small sample size in the majors in 2026, Benge is negative-1 outs above average in center field, while being plus-1 in right field and plus-2 in left field.

Ewing has not played one inning of shortstop since he was at Springboro High School in Ohio in 2023. I have not heard from anyone in the organization that getting shortstop reps is on the radar. 

On the Lindor front, he is still a very good defensive shortstop. Will the day come that he eventually needs to slide somewhere else? History suggests yes, but that time does not appear to be even close to imminent, and Ewing is getting closer to a major league opportunity. He needs to be mostly preparing at the spot he will be playing when he reaches the big leagues.

The Mets also firmly believe that Ewing has all the tools to be an elite defensive center fielder. There is still some work to do with routes and jumps, and he’s already made strides this year there. That is something they believe will come with reps.

The best defensive setup from a projection standpoint is Ewing in center, Benge in a corner outfield spot and Lindor at shortstop. That could be three plus defensive players, two of whom are at premium positions. That is a good spot to be in.

A few reps at shortstop now for Ewing would likely have little bearing on potentially playing it a few years from now. If he reaches his potential defensively in center field, there won’t be any desire to play him anywhere else.

How soon do you think we could see Ryan Clifford in the majors given some of the recent injuries the team has had, and more power needed in the lineup? -- Reb Deud

The short answer is it is unlikely to be imminent or very soon. But you aren’t here for the short answer. 

On the season, Clifford is slashing .252/.327/.473 (.800 OPS) with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 37 games for Triple-A Syracuse.

The pros of Clifford fit exactly what Reb said. The power is real, with his exit velocities (max EV of 113.1 mph), barrel rate (14.3 percent), hard hit rate (57.1 percent) and even pull-side air percentage (17.7 percent) all line up with that of a prototypical left-handed slugger. It is easy to envision a 30-home run type of bat if he can make enough contact.

The question among evaluators is if he will be able to make enough contact to get there. Clifford made some strides in his approach from 2024 to 2025, decreasing his strikeout percentage from 29.6 percent to 25.6 percent. While that is still a little higher than they’d ideally like to see, it was progress, and it is accepted that swing-and-miss will be a part of Clifford’s game. 

Through the first month-plus of the 2026 season, Clifford’s strikeout rate has spiked to 36.1 percent. That is accompanied by a whiff percentage of 34.3 percent and, importantly, an in-zone contact rate of just 74.3 percent. 

Comparing Triple-A stats to major league stats are apples to oranges given the level of competition, but just to add some context, Clifford’s Triple-A strikeout rate would be the third-worst in the majors and his in-zone-contact rate would be the seventh-worst in the majors.

The Mets are hopeful that things are starting to turn for Clifford as the calendar flips to May. Thus far in nine games this month, he is slashing .333/.389/.606 (.995 OPS) with two home runs, including this 110 mph EV blast on Mother’s Day. His strikeout rate so far this month is 25 percent, which is in line with his number from 2025. Again, progress, but it needs to be displayed over a larger sample size. 

The general player development philosophy is to not call up a prospect until there is confidence that they are being put in position to succeed and not be forced back down to Triple-A in a couple of weeks.

However, given the injuries and performance of the big-league offense, there comes a point where something different has to be done, even if it goes against the general organizational philosophy. It is a tough balance between the immediate short-term need and the long-term vision. Is it worth risking stunting a prospect’s growth to try to add a spark to a struggling major league team? I see both sides of that argument.

The Mets currently have the worst record in baseball, and it falls largely on the backs of the offense that is both injured and underperforming. The three most notable injured players (Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr.) don’t have a known return to play timeline.

If Clifford can continue to build off his hot start to the month of May and the Mets season doesn’t start turning for the positive, I can see the conversation heating up as the calendar flips to June.

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The Carolina Hurricanes made history, but the Stanley Cup is a different story

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 09: Logan Stankoven #22 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates with Taylor Hall #71 and Sean Walker #26 after scoring a goal on Dan Vladar #80 of the Philadelphia Flyers during the third period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena on May 09, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Carolina Hurricanes are either the best team in hockey, or the biggest frauds in the Stanley Cup Playoffs — it all depends on who you ask. The Canes made history on Saturday night in Philadelphia with their eighth straight playoff win, and their second sweep in a row. It made them the first team in NHL history to sweep their first two series since the 1987 best-of-seven format began, the first team to start 8-0 in the playoffs since 1985, and only the fifth team in NHL history to start the playoffs 8-0.

Yet nobody can settle on whether this team is really a Stanley Cup favorite yet.

A lot of factors go into the acrimony when discussing Carolina. There’s long-standing bitterness over southern hockey being a thing, especially following back-to-back years of the Florida Panthers hoisting the cup. There’s the fact that the team plays hockey in a manner that runs counter to everything we know about success in the modern NHL. Also, there’s simply a reality that the Canes have had a pretty easy path through the postseason thus far, facing two teams that were bad strategic mismatches for them.

What that doesn’t mean, however, is that either the Ottawa Senators or Philadelphia Flyers are “bad teams.” Finishing with 99 and 98 points on the season, respectively, the Sens and Flyers were better than the entire Western Conference Pacific Division, better than the Utah Mammoth who the Golden Knights beat in the first round, and just one win worse than the Bruins, who the Sabres bested in the opening round. Yet, it’s become cool to hate on the Hurricanes’ opponents thus far as a means to discredit Carolina as being a legitimate team — foisting them with criticism no other team in the field is left with.

It’s absolutely fair to say that both Ottawa and Philadelphia were thrown into a mismatch blender. Both teams thrived during the regular season when playing on clean ice, with open passing lanes and room to set up plays. This is what the Hurricanes excel at stopping, running brutal forechecks with gutsy defensive rotations that flip the formation to send defensemen up ice to hassle opposing defenseman on the puck, allowing the forwards to stay home.

One of the hallmarks of Carolina hockey is to forget the model of play that wins in the NHL, and instead change the game into Hurricanes hockey. They thrive in limiting the effectiveness of star players, making the game be about depth rather than top-line strength, then take over when their third and fourth lines are stronger than their opponents. There’s no coincidence that hockey fans were wondering why Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle disappeared in the Sens series, or why Trevor Zegras and Travis Konecny couldn’t make inroads in round two. This was the Canes’ doing, and it worked.

This past week Brady Tkachuk explained why it was near-impossible to deal with the Hurricanes’ defense in his series, and noticing that it was happening to the Flyers as well.

“Their D… they have the best sticks I’ve ever seen. It was crazy. Some of the plays you’d just be like ‘I can get this through,’ like Slav [Jaccob Slavin] has probably the best stick in the league. I had two Grade-A’s [scoring chances] and they hit his stick and up in the netting. I was like ‘how on earth is that not in the back of the net?’”

The length of the Carolina blueliners is causing massive problems for any team trying to play pretty, puck rotation hockey. Throughout the Flyers series we saw the Philly attack get decimated due to deflections from Slavin, K’Andre Miller, and Alexander Nikishin — with their pairings in Jalen Chatfield, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Sean Walker serving more as the more traditional net battlers. This layered defense has been impenetrable in the playoffs and has been offset with the Canes showing more fight and edge that they have previously.

So why is there so much doubt that this can carry over to the cup? There are three fair statements to make:

  1. The Hurricanes haven’t faced an elite, 90+ point player yet in the playoffs
  2. They’ve been so good defensively that it seems impossible to keep it up
  3. Carolina’s best players really haven’t turned up yet

Forgive the pun, but you can see the storm brewing for Carolina that this incredible run could go south quickly (another pun, sorry). Getting the better of Stützle or Konecny is one thing, but when that caliber of player changes to Nathan McKinnon, Martin Nečas, Nick Suzuki, or Kirill Kaprizov — can this same approach still work? Is there a break point to this defensive dominance where Carolina can be overwhelmed by star players, and if that happens can the Canes recover?

That is the real worry right now, and it’s fair to question what is happening with the Carolina top line. The heroes of the playoffs thus far for the Canes has been the Hall/Stankoven/Blake line two, which has been phenomenal — but there has been pronounced quietness from Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis on the top line, outside of a few glimmers of magic. We know that historically the NHL playoffs have been won through star power, even by teams like the Panthers who were bruising, but still leaned on Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, and Brad Marchand to drag them through.

If the Canes can’t get that top-line performance firing then there’s a chance they can’t assert their will on the game, which has a domino effect on the rest of the lines, thereby putting more pressure on the defense to bail the team out.

The biggest questions about the Hurricanes won’t get answered for some time, with Saturday being the earliest their next series can begin. Whether the Sabres or Canadiens come out of the Atlantic, either team will be the best opposition Carolina has faced, with more star power and deeper lines. If the Canes are able to keep up this dominance in the Eastern Conference Finals then we can really talk about their chances to beat the Avs or Wild in the West.

So are the Canes really cup favorites or pretenders? They’re both, and neither, and bizarrely somewhere in the middle. Carolina is a unique Rod Brind’Amour team that approaches hockey in a way no one else does, which means we can’t use the typical yardsticks to measure their potential. It’s all a big guessing game, but that’s what make these playoffs so much fun.

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Bucks “open for business” with Giannis Antetokounmpo trade

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 10: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum on April 10, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The ball is beginning to roll on the Milwaukee Bucks’ offseason, which could include moving on from Giannis Antetokounmpo. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks are listening to offers on a potential Antetokounmpo trade over the next several weeks:

“The Milwaukee Bucks are open for business on trade calls and offers for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo entering the NBA draft combine and over six weeks away from the draft, league and team sources told ESPN. There is expected to be a robust market for Antetokounmpo, and ownership and front-office officials expect to maintain their trade deadline asking price of a young blue-chip talent and/or a surplus of draft picks, sources said.“

This report doesn’t exactly tell us anything new about a possible Giannis trade, and Charania has said this type of thing many times before. But it could have other teams pandering between now and the NBA Draft, which is just over a month away on June 23–24. It would be wise for the Bucks to drum up as much interest as possible to create a bidding war between the teams that are interested in Antetokounmpo, which would allow the Bucks to get the best offer possible.

Teams like the Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers (since they own Milwaukee’s first-round picks from 2028–30) make the most sense out of the gate, but other teams could emerge as possible destinations for him. The main thing Antetokounmpo wants is a chance to win another championship, so teams that are a player away could be other options for him. If squads like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, and Denver Nuggets are willing to make a move, the Bucks should look to do business with them.

Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel discussed what teams would and wouldn’t make sense in a trade offer, but also adds this important caveat:

“Heading into the February trade deadline, team sources maintained to the Journal Sentinel that any potential deal for the star would require ‘everything’ in terms of young players and future draft assets. If the Bucks maintain such a firm stance on a big return, it might be more indicative of the team’s willingness to continue to retool around its star.“