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Canadiens & Sabres Are Proof That Patience Is Required For Blackhawks Rebuild

The Chicago Blackhawks haven’t made the playoffs in a non-COVID year in a long time. However, the rebuild, as it is known today, didn’t begin until 2022. No team with the accomplished version of Patrick Kane or Jonathan Toews on it was truly rebuilding. 

It wasn’t until they started moving off all their top players that the rebuild was in motion. The two franchise icons, along with players like Alex DeBrincat, Brandon Hagel, Kirby Dach, and Seth Jones, amongst others, were all traded away for assets that help build towards the future. 

Across the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026 is proof that the Blackhawks can take their rebuild to new heights. On Monday night, two teams that are out of a long rebuild will face off in a winner-take-all game seven. This match will decide whether the Buffalo Sabres or Montreal Canadiens will meet the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final. 

For Buffalo, they haven’t been in the postseason since 2011, but their current success stems only from the rebuild that mostly began after they traded Jack Eichel. Their disagreements over how to handle his injury forced him out, which in turn forced them to change their organizational plans. 

Buffalo made some big-time additions to their lineup over the year via trade and free agency, like Tage Thompson, Alex Tuch, Josh Doan, Bowen Byram, and Ryan McLeod. 

There were also a couple of number one picks to bolster their roster in Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, who are two very different defensemen that bring an element of the game that the team needs. Other top-ten picks like Zach Benson and Jack Quinn make a difference as well. 

On the Montreal side of things, they had a similar path when it comes to the roster. Juraj Slafkovsky was the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, one year after Buffalo selected Power first. Other first-round talents like Cole Caufield and Ivan Demidov play a key role in their prolific play. 

Montreal has also made big trades for players like Kirby Dach, Noah Dobson, and Philip Danault, amongst others, who help them win. Even their captain, Nick Suzuki, was acquired via a trade before he became a star NHL player, and now he's one of their main catalysts. Like Buffalo, all of this talent acquisition was the result of a strong rebuild. 

When it comes to coaching, the two sides couldn't have taken a more opposite approach. The Sabres brought back their old coach and franchise icon, Lindy Ruff, while the Montreal Canadiens hired former NHL superstar Marty St. Louis. 

With Jeff Blashill, the Blackhawks have a strong-minded coach leading the way who takes a calculated approach to his handling of the team. 

In terms of the roster, you can see the similarities between these two game seven clubs and the Blackhawks. With Connor Bedard, Anton Frondell, Frank Nazar, Oliver Moore, Artyom Levshunov, and Sam Rinzel, amongst others, all developing, they could become a winning core as they gain experience.

There is also a 4th overall pick coming into the mix this summer, which could add another contributing piece if they select and develop wisely. 

For each of these teams, Buffalo and Montreal, it clicked at different rates. For Montreal, there was a slow and steady climb. For Buffalo, it went from being horrible to elite in the middle of the 2025-26 season. 

The Blackhawks seem to be emulating the former after an 11-point improvement this year. As long as they keep adding talent, developing it, and making smart hockey moves to supplement their roster, they will have a turnaround like this eventually.

Game seven between Montreal and Buffalo can be seen on ESPN at 6:30 PM CT. 

Buffalo Sabres - Montreal Canadiens Game 7 Preview: Lineups, Stats, How To WatchBuffalo Sabres - Montreal Canadiens Game 7 Preview: Lineups, Stats, How To WatchStanley Cup Playoffs - Eastern Conference Semi-Final Canadiens Must Put The Pedal To The MetalCanadiens Must Put The Pedal To The MetalThe Montreal Canadiens and the Buffalo Sabres will face off for the last time in these playoffs in a do-or-die Game 7 in Buffalo at 7:30 PM.
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Crawfish Boil: Pena & Meyers Returning? Altuve to IL, Brown Return Mid-June & More

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 11: Jeremy Peña #3 of the Houston Astros looks on during batting practice prior to the game between the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Connor Jalbert/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

The latest news on the Houston Astros and from around MLB:

Jeremy Pena is looking forward to re-joining the Astros:

Jake Meyers said he is ready to get back:

Meanwhile, Jose Altuve is IL bound:

While no two players or two injuries are identical, Brian McTaggart did give a reasonable case for how long Altuve may be out:

The Astros don’t expect Hunter Brown back until mid-June:

Braden Shewmake, who stands to be the primary replacement for Jose Altuve, had a solid week last week vs. Mariners & Rangers:

What’s wrong with Cam Smith? Astros hitting coach Vic Rodriguez thinks he knows (maybe with an assist from Jose Altuve):

Brice Matthews flashed some leather yesterday:

It has only taken the Phillies 23 days to get from 10 games under to a winning record. Here’s how it happened:

The Padres just swept the Mariners and are neck and neck with the Dodgers in the NL West:

Bo Bichette signed a massive deal this offseason. He’s had a tough start, but wants to live up to his deal:

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Report: Survey indicates NBA players don’t want a trade to Wizards

Apr 5, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Washington Wizards forward Anthony Davis (23) talks with forward Leaky Black (14) during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images | Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The Washington Wizards have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. They recently acquired Trae Young and Anthony Davis who will be around a young core that features Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly and the No. 1 pick. But let’s say that the Wizards are a team that players do NOT want to get traded to. In fact, when polled about the No. 1 team they wish they would NOT go to, the Wizards ranked No. 2. The Memphis Grizzlies were the runaway … winners with 35.8 percent of the vote of a 120 player survey.

You can read more about it here by Sam Amick, Josh Robbins and Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Despite the Wizards’ front office trying to rebuild the team from the ground up, it’s clear that Monumental Basketball President Michael Winger and Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins have work to do. Here are some hypothetical reasons why players wouldn’t want to be traded to the Wizards:

  • The Wizards have a losing culture (until I hope the 2026-27 season) — Washington hasn’t won 50 games since 1978-79. They have gone through their worst three year losing stretch since Winger came to town. Even if the tear down WAS intentional, the end result is a team that loses and loses. We’re optimistic that that changes next season. But given the last few years, it’s harder to argue that Washington doesn’t have a losing culture.
  • A player who gets traded to the Wizards is likely a stepping stone for someone or something else — Since Winger took over, there have been some notable players in Wizards uniforms like Jonas Valanciunas or CJ McCullom. But they were traded out when a pick became available. If you’re an existing NBA player and you get traded, you want to feel valued by the team who acquires you. Given Washington’s tank-at-all-costs philosophy over the last three years, if you’re a veteran or even a player in his mid 20s who gets traded to Washington, you already have a feeling that you’re only playing here for a few weeks to a season before Dawkins trades you again for something else. Players, even role players, want to feel valued for more than as a tuture trade chip.
  • Political environment of DC — Well, there is always the perception that D.C. is about political drama.

Now, look. Do I honestly think that the Washington area is undesirable to live in or work in? No. But there are costs to the strategy the Wizards took since Winger and Dawkins took over. And here’s an excerpt of the Amick/Robbins/Vardon article on that:

The Wizards finishing second [in this survey] is not a surprise. The team has not won 50 games in a season or reached the Eastern Conference finals since 1978-79. Its 17-65 record as it tanked this season likely perpetuated the losing-franchise narrative.

Washington’s current front office has attempted to change perceptions over the last three years, investing heavily in basketball-operations staffing and franchise infrastructure and overseeing a long-overdue renovation of Capital One Arena, beginning with the home and visitors’ locker rooms.

Anthony Davis, who was traded to the Wizards in February, said during a news conference last month that outside views of the franchise are inaccurate.

“I can personally say now it’s not what people think or what people make it seem,” Davis said. “Yes, the losing is part of it, so people kind of tie that with the organization. But the organization within itself is totally different from what people think they’re seeing.”

Hopefully, the Wizards will be a team players want to play for (or get traded to) in the not-too-distant future.

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What The Blueshirts, Islanders And Devils Have In Common

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

As Met Area fans enjoy the thrilling playoff matches, it also must give each and every one of us pause to reflect on this question:

Can any of you recall a hockey springtime like this one when the Rangers,  Islanders and Devils all were out of the postseason before it ever began?

It's weird because say – just for the sake of argument – that the Blueshirts did make it. 

At least Devils and Isles fans would have some emotional involvement – rooting for the Rangers TO LOSE!

But even that little bit of joy has been removed. Which means that we root for either Buffalo or Montreal in this do-or-die game tonight in Sabreland.

The Mave picks the Sabres to win at home and I'll be rooting hard for Lindy Ruff's amazing sextet.

After that we have more classic hockey ahead, starting Wednesday.

Who do you pick between the Avalanche and Vegas on Wednesday; and I grant you that that's a tough one to call which means that it looms as a gem of all gems.

The Maven imagines that Isles fans will support the Avs because of Brock Nelson.

I'm pulling for Vegas because of John Tortorella and – get this – the formerly much-maligned but now heroic. Mitch Marner.

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Monday Morning Minnesota: The “Austin Martin Leadoff Experiement” Edition

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. - APRIL 2026: Minnesota Twins center fielder Austin Martin (16) scores on a triple hit by catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) in the first inning of an MLB interleague game between the Minnesota Twins and the Cincinnati Reds Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn. Twins' third base coach is Ramon Borrego. (Photo by Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images

The Twins had a 3-3 week (stop me if you’ve heard this before), taking a 2-1 series against the Marlins, which included an incredible Bailey Ober “Maddux”, and then dropping two games to the Brewers during “Rivalry Weekend” in the MLB. We might have seen the last of Matt Wallner in a Twins uniform after he was sent down to Triple-A, and Simeon Woods-Richardson’s scheduled start today is getting skipped in favor of a bullpen game, so things are slowly changing in the Twins dugout. With Byron Buxton’s absence in the last few games due to an injury, Austin Martin has batted leadoff for the last four games with mixed results. A three-game series against the equally hapless Houston Astros and a weekend series in Fenway await the Twins this week.

The Past Week on Twinkie Town:

  • Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
  • We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
  • Game threads and recaps are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we experience the season together.
  • Zach Koenig evaluates Ryan Jeffers’ place among catchers in Twins history.

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

In the World of Baseball:

  • The Rays have increased their lead to 3.0 games over the Yankees. The Guardians and White Sox are a game apart in the AL Central competition, while the A’s have a one-game lead in the AL West over the Rangers.
  • Atlanta has also increased their gap over the Cubs and Dodgers to 3.0 games.
  • The Mets broke a 96-game losing streak in games where they trailed after eight innings after rookie Carson Benge hit a walk-off single in the 10th to lead the Mets over the Yankees.
  • In one of the more interesting baseball plays this week, Double-A Biloxi gave up an inside-the-park home run after right fielder Damon Keith landed on top of the ball and got it stuck in the outfield grass.

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Bobby Witt Jr. is scorching. Why can’t the Royals turn it into wins?

A couple years ago, the Kansas City Royals were in the playoffs as a wild card and won a round. With Bobby Witt Jr. signed to a lengthy contract, their future looked pretty interesting.

Then the Royals slid back in 2025 — but only slightly, to 82 wins. This year’s start is more concerning.

Witt remains an MVP-caliber player. In fact, he’s hit .395 with four homers over his last 10 games. Problem is, Kansas City lost seven of them. With the AL Central looking as winnable as ever, the Royals still can’t get any traction. They’re tied with Detroit for last place. That’s a crisis for the Tigers, with Tarik Skubal due to hit free agency after this season, but Kansas City has its own problems.

It’s mostly the offense, which right now is Witt and a lot of mediocrity. Vinnie Pasquantino is batting .202. Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone have been OK, but neither is having a major breakout and the jury remains out on whether those two — age 22 and 23 — will provide what Kansas City needs alongside Witt over the next several years. Maikel Garcia only has three homers in 200 plate appearances.

Meanwhile, veteran Salvador Perez is batting .205.

The pitching has been a little better, but after spending over a month alternating good outings and bad ones, Cole Ragans left the game on May 6 with elbow soreness and ended up on the injured list.

The Royals can afford to be patient — to a point. Witt’s contract actually could go all the way through 2037 if both sides pick up various options. But he has player options beginning with the 2031 season, meaning he could actually become a free agent then.

Right now, Kansas City only has three prospects ranked in Baseball Pipeline’s top 100. All are outside the top 50 and all are in Class A at the moment. So the pressure is on players like Caglianone and Jensen to step up. That’s the easiest path for the Royals to get better.

Walk this way

The Milwaukee Brewers are dead last in the majors in home runs, yet they rank sixth with 4.95 runs per game. How are they pulling that off? Well, clutch hitting is part of it. Milwaukee is fourth in baseball in batting average with runners in scoring position, hitting .281. And the Brewers are fourth in steals with 49.

Another big factor is walks. Milwaukee ranks fourth in bases on balls and third in on-base percentage. It’s unusual for a team that’s shown such little power to have such a high walk rate, but the Brewers are doing it. Their 7-1 win over San Diego was a good example. Milwaukee drew seven walks — including four in a row in the first inning — but didn’t hit any homers.

Trivia time

The Brewers are one of five teams in the majors with more steals (49) than home runs (30). Who are the others?

Performance of the week

Philadelphia’s Christopher Sánchez went the distance, striking out 13 in a 6-0 win over Pittsburgh. His now has a scoreless streak of 29 2/3 innings.

Sánchez was the third pitcher to throw a shutout this year. Minnesota’s Bailey Ober did it earlier in the week, and Miami’s Sandy Alcantara did it April 1.

Comeback of the week

The Mets had a big one against the Yankees, but Philadelphia’s was even more impressive in Pittsburgh. The Phillies trailed 6-0 in the fourth and 8-3 in the seventh. They still were down 8-5 in the ninth when Kyle Schwarber — who already had homered twice — drew a bases-loaded walk with one out. Then Bryce Harper’s drive off the top of the wall tied the game.

Philadelphia scored three times in the 10th and won 11-9. Pittsburgh’s win probability was 97.9% in the seventh, according to Baseball Savant.

Trivia answer

Cleveland (51 steals and 50 homers), Tampa Bay (51-38). Miami (57-36) and Boston (35-33).

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Monday Bantering: Jays Notes

May 16, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) hits a single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Jays start a four-game series with the Yankees at Yankee Stadium tonight.

Tonight it is Patrick Corbin (1-1, 3,93) vs. Ryan Weathers (2-2, 3.00).

Tuesday: Dylan Cease (3-1, 2.41) vs. Will Warren (5-1, 3.42).

Wednesday: Trey Yesavage (1-1, 1.40) vs. Cam Schlittler (6-1, 1.35)

Thursday: Bullpen Day, likely with Spencer Myles (1-0, 2.55) doing the bulk of the work vs. Carlos Rodón (0-1, 5.63).

As much as it has been all doom and gloom around the Jays, they are only one game back from the last Wild Card spot. On May 18th last year they were 22-24, three games out of the Wild Card spot. So there is hope, but they better start hitting soon. I’ve been in New York when the Jays were swept in a four-game series, it isn’t much fun.

Kazuma Okamoto, after a really hot stretch, has two hits in his last five games (.111/.227/.167) and is .225/.319/.375 in his last 11. I said, yesterday, that maybe he should move up in the batter’s box again.

Vladimir Guerrero is .136/.231/.273 in his last six games and .143/.229/.214 in his last 12. As much as the home run was great to see, we really need him to start hitting.

Ernie Clement is .158/.200/.158 in his last 6 and .256/.267/.326 in his last 12. And he seems to be taking his hitting issues out to second base. Fangraphs has him at a -5 Outs Above Average (last year he was a +5 at second base) and he’s made 4 errors.

Davis Schneider is .182/.308/.182 over his last six games. His playing time has dropped with his batting average below a buck fifty this year.

George Springer is .100/.182/.100 in his last five. I’d say it was his toe but he wasn’t hitting all that much better before that. His bat speed is still good, but he seems to be popping everything up.

And, even with the two home run game Andrés Giménez isn’t hitting a lot, .200/.238/.550 (slugging is good because of the homers) in his last six and .179/.195/.359 in his last 12.

Myles Straw is .143/.250/.143 in his last five, but that’s limited playing time.

Brandon Valenzuela is .167/.333/.167 in his last six games.

On the good side:

Daulton Varsho is one of the few who is hitting, .310/.383/.476 over his last 12 games.

Jesús Sánchez is also hitting .429/.400/.500 in his last 6 and .290/.324/.419 in his last 12.

Yohendrick Pinango is hitting .227/.292/.409 in his last six and .286/.324/.429 in his last 10. Not quite what he was doing when he first came up, but not bad.

Shi Davidi has a nice profile on Pinango on the Sportsnet page. Yohendrick’s father was killed when he was a young boy and he has a tattoo on his arm of his father with fu en cielo, yo en la tierra, un solo comazon written underneath. You are in heaven, I’m on earth, one heart.

His father played profession basketball.

Pinango also said:

“I had in my mind that this year I was going to be in the big-leagues – I wasn’t expecting to be here this soon,” said Pinango. “But my goal was to be here at some point this year.”

The lips on his neck? “When you are young, you do things”. I’d imagine alcohol was involved.

Dan Bellino had a bad day yesterday, but the teams didn’t do any better on the challenges:

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Zegras, fresh off career year, would love to be with Flyers for ‘long time'

Zegras, fresh off career year, would love to be with Flyers for ‘long time' originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

As Trevor Zegras screamed to the boisterous crowd at Xfinity Mobile Arena, you could see the enjoyment on his face.

He had just sent the building into a frenzy, tying Game 3 of the Flyers’ first-round series against the Penguins.

The 25-year-old was experiencing something he had not yet experienced in his NHL career.

Playoff hockey.

And that feeling was the punctuation on his career resurgence in Year 1 with the Flyers.

“To find that passion for winning and success as a team was big,” Zegras said last Tuesday at his end-of-the-season press conference. “I think I had lost a little bit of that, the drive and the passion to win and be a really good team. We definitely had, in my opinion, a great, successful season.”

Zegras never made the playoffs in parts of five seasons with the Ducks. He came to the Flyers in a trade last June after two injury-riddled, disappointing seasons. The change of scenery did wonders.

In a contract year, Zegras answered Rick Tocchet’s challenge with a career season of 26 goals and 67 points. He had five multi-goal games after having none the season prior with Anaheim.

“The one thing with Trevor I love is you can give it to him,” Tocchet said earlier this month. “It has been like that all year. Doesn’t pout, takes it. … He’s the last guy I’m worried about. He’s a very coachable kid.”

When Christian Dvorak signed a five-year extension with the Flyers in January, Zegras mentioned how he’d like to stay. He has a chance to sign long term with the Flyers this offseason.

“Personally, I would love that, I would love to be here for a long time,” Zegras said. “I hope that that would happen over the next couple of months or whatever the timeframe would be. I love playing here, I love the fans, I love the group that we have. That would be something I’d be excited for.”

Zegras is a restricted free agent coming off a three-year, $17.25 million deal ($5.75 million cap hit). Jamie Drysdale is also due a new contract as a restricted free agent. Dan Vladar has one more year left on his deal, but he’ll be eligible to sign an extension starting July 1.

“Negotiating contracts is a process, it takes time,” Danny Briere said last Thursday at his end-of-the-season press conference. “I don’t negotiate in public. But there’s not an order. When it can get done, it gets done. It all depends on sometimes the synergy. Sometimes you make ground faster with one than the other, things change along the way. It depends on the traction.

“I have nothing really that worries me at this point to say we’re not going to see those guys come back. I have no worries at this point in that regard. Hopefully it keeps going in that direction and we get them done later this summer.”

Zegras led the Flyers with six points in the playoffs. He had two goals and four assists in 10 games. He was one of 13 players on the Flyers to appear in their first postseason. The Flyers beat the Penguins in six games before being swept by the Hurricanes.

“Excited for what’s ahead with this team,” Zegras said. “Such a good learning experience for myself and a lot of the other young guys that had never played a playoff game, kind of what it’s like to play a series, win a series, have a series against a team that maybe you shouldn’t beat. Know what to expect now. I think it’ll be good moving forward.”

The big question facing Zegras will be his position next season. Can he be a full-time center? Tocchet had Zegras on the wing earlier in the season to build his confidence, but the head coach moved him back to center as the Flyers made their playoff push.

“I’m fine with playing both,” Zegras said. “I liked playing in the middle down the stretch just because there’s a little bit more space and you can kind of pick and choose where you want to go a little bit more. I think playing center in the playoffs was a good experience for me just in terms of how different it was, how hard the battles are and all that type of stuff. But I thought it was good.”

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Avs' Nicolas Roy puts Vegas friendships on hold as he meets his old team in conference finals

DENVER — Nicolas Roy still has his place in Las Vegas. He still has plenty of friends on the Golden Knights. He still has those cherished memories, too, from helping them win a Stanley Cup title three years ago.

Roy, who was traded from Vegas to Toronto last summer as part of the Mitch Marner deal, landed in Colorado two months ago — through another deal — and now is facing his former team.

At stake, a spot in the Stanley Cup Final. So, yeah, those friendships developed over six seasons in Vegas are on pause.

“Just how it goes,” Roy said as the Avalanche get set to host Vegas in Game 1 of the Western Conference final. “The excitement’s already pretty high.”

Off to Toronto

Roy was caught off guard by the deal that sent him to Toronto and brought Marner to Vegas. Marner has been a big contributor for the Golden Knights in the playoffs, with a team-leading 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) through playoff series wins over Utah and Anaheim.

“As a player, you expect (a trade like this) more at the deadline than right there in the middle of the summer,” said Roy, who’s renting out his Vegas place to a member of the Golden Knights. “But again, you never know. It’s part of the business. It can happen at any given day. I just got surprised a little by it.”

Roy played in 59 games for the Maple Leafs with five goals and 15 assists, before going on the move again. The Avalanche picked him up on March 5 for draft picks.

It hasn’t taken long for Roy to settle in with Colorado. He’s been a steady contributor through the opening two rounds of the playoffs, with three goals and three assists.

“All the other guys here made it so easy from the first day,” the 29-year-old Roy said. “The coaches did a good job with me, of letting me know how to play the system. The guys talk to me a lot on the ice as well.”

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar knew what they were getting in Roy — a skilled veteran player with plenty of poise. Bednar and the staff studied film of Roy from his Vegas days and his stint in Toronto, just to brush up on his skillset. Roy had three goals and eight assists when the Knights won the Stanley Cup in 2023.

“We tried to figure out how we would deploy him, and could we get him back to playing as well or better than he did in Vegas. Because he was a highly effective player for them,” Bednar said. “The one thing that I’ve been impressed with is his patience with the puck. He never throws the puck away. ... He’s got a lot of patience for a guy with the production that he has.”

Roy’s already come up big for the Avalanche, scoring his second career playoff OT winner in Game 2 during a first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings.

“I’m in a great situation right now,” said Roy, a fourth-round pick by Carolina in 2015 who played in seven games over two seasons with the Hurricanes before being traded to Vegas in 2019. “Just trying to keep doing my best.”

Helpful hints

Need a scouting report on the Golden Knights? Roy’s your forward to ask.

Sure, the Vegas coach may be different — John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy — but the system is virtually the same. Roy’s still friends with everyone from captain Mark Stone to Jack Eichel to linemate Keegan Kolesar.

“Obviously, I know their system and I know a little bit their player tendencies, as they know mine,” Roy said. “I don’t think it’s a big advantage. The game is just so fast, you don’t want to overthink, you just want to play your game.”

He recalled the time his Vegas team rallied to beat the Avalanche in the second round of the 2021 playoffs. The Golden Knights trailed 2-0 in the series before winning four straight to advance.

This time, he’s on the other bench.

“It’s going to be some really good hockey,” Roy said. “It’s going to be a good series.”

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How much are Knicks-Cavs Eastern Conference Finals tickets at MSG?

New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson (L) and Cleveland Cavaliers phenom Donovan Mitchell are meeting in the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.

The New York Knicks finally know what’s what.

Starting Tuesday, May 19, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns and co. will go toe-to-toe with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden’s Cleveland Cavaliers in the long-awaited 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.

Home games are Madison Square Garden are scheduled to go down at:

Game 1Tuesday, May 19
8 p.m.

Game 2Thursday, May 21
8 p.m.

Game 5Wednesday, May 27
8 p.m.

Game 7Sunday, May 31
8 p.m.

If you’d like to catch a game at MSG, last-minute tickets are available for all four potential Big Apple contests.

At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one game was $510 including fees on SeatGeek.

Other games start anywhere from $557 to $1,194 including fees.

New York comes into this series rather well-rested. Mike Brown’s club wrapped their Semifinals sweep of the 76ers on Sunday, May 10, nine days before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

As a bonus, they’ll be getting star power forward OG Anunoby back from a mild right hamstring strain injury that he suffered in game 2 against the Sixers.

Meanwhile, Mitchell, Harden, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley had to tough out a seven-game series against the No. 1-ranked Detroit Pistons before finishing them off with a decisive 125-94 Game 7 victory.

“Yeah it’s great I get to play at home…doesn’t matter.” NYC native Donovan Mitchell said in a press conference after the game.

“We gotta be locked in and ready to go…they’re a tough team. We’re excited.”

Adding intrigue to this high-stakes series is Knicks Head Coach Mike Brown’s history with Cleveland. The 56-year-old Columbus native coached Cleveland from 2005-10 and ’13-14, leading the team to their first Finals appearance in 2007.

Now, he’s hoping to do the same for New York who haven’t gotten to the Big Dance since 1999 where they lost to the Spurs (just like the Cavs in ’07).

“I don’t look at it like [there’s pressure],” Brown said. “I literally do this to try to compete to try to win a championship. That’s what my focus is throughout the course of the year.”

“People can talk about Mike Brown, but it’s my job to ignore the noise. It’s easy to do that because the pressure that I put on myself and the team puts on itself to be great or try to be the best team in the league.”

While we don’t know how this series will turn out, we do know the Garden will be electric.

We’ll see you there.

New York Knicks playoff home game tickets

A complete calendar, including all announced Knicks Eastern Conference Finals home game dates and the best prices on tickets, can be found here:

New York Knicks home game datesTicket prices
start at
Game 1
Tuesday, May 19		$557(including fees)
Game 2
Thursday, May 21		$510(including fees)
Game 5
Wednesday, May 27
(if necessary)		$809(including fees)
Game 7
Sunday, May 31
(if necessary)		$1,194(including fees)

Cleveland Cavaliers playoff home game tickets

All Cavs Rocket Arena playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.

Cleveland Cavaliers home game datesTicket prices
start at
Game 3
Saturday, May 23		N/A
Game 4
Monday, May 25		N/A
Game 6
Friday, May 29(if necessary)		N/A

How to watch the Knicks and Cavs on TV

Fans hoping to catch Brown’s ballers on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on MSG, ABC, ESPN, TNT, Prime Video, NBC, and NBA TV.

Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.

If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.

About Knicks-Cavs

Over the course of the 2025-26 campaign, the Knicks and Cavs met three times.

In the first game of the season way back on Oct. 22, New York won 119-111 behind OG Anunoby’s 24 points and Jalen Brunson’s 23.

The Knicks came out on top again in their second showdown, which took place on Christmas Day. This one was a bit of a nail-biter with leads varying wildly. Cleveland was up 38-23 at the end of the first quarter but by halftime, New York had regained the lead. By the end of regulation, Brunson had led the club to a 126-124 victory.

Cleveland notched their sole win against the orange and blue when they took down the Knicks 109-94 on Feb. 24. Donovan Mitchell dropped 23 points, grabbed five boards, recorded assists and notched three steals.

As for this series, Yahoo! Sports predicts “Knicks in six.”

2026 NBA playoff schedule

Been meaning to see how the postseason has shaken out?

Check out the NBA’s 2026 playoff bracket here.

Huge concerts at MSG in 2026

Not sure what to do once the final buzzer sounds on the 2025-26 NBA season?

MSG has you covered.

The legendary venue has booked a number of exciting acts to entertain audiences all summer long.

Here are just five of our favorites you won’t want to miss live.

• Bon Jovi (July 7-9, 12, 14, 16, 19, 21, 23, 26)

• Earth, Wind, and Fire with Lionel Richie (July 11)

• Phish (July 22, 24, 25, 27, 29)

• RUSH (July 28, 30, Aug. 1, 3)

• J. Cole (Aug. 2, 4)

Want to see who else is Big Apple-bound? Check out this list of all the upcoming events at Madison Square Garden to find the show for you.

Why you should trust ‘Post Wanted’ by the New York Post

This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.

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Topsy-turvy Sabres-Canadiens 2nd-round playoff series to be decided with Game 7 at Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Sabres coach Lindy Ruff’s bid to relinquish home-ice advantage has fallen on deaf ears. Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis, meantime, was busy citing physics in looking forward.

Odd as it might sound, the comments were befitting of a logic-defying, momentum-elusive NHL second-round playoff series that comes down to Game 7 at Buffalo — as much as Ruff would’ve welcomed a change of venue.

“It didn’t get switched,” Ruff said with a chuckle, referring to Buffalo’s 2-4 home record this postseason. “But we’re looking forward to giving our fans our best game.”

As for Montreal, St. Louis turned to science in explaining why he prefers having the Canadiens “bounce forward” as opposed to bounce back following an 8-3 loss in Game 6 at home.

“I just feel bounce back, you come back to where you were,” St. Louis said. “Bounce forward, you’re actually further than where you were. Physics.”

Hurricanes waiting in the wings

Einstein aside, someone’s going to advance, with the well-rested Carolina Hurricanes awaiting who they’ll host in opening the Eastern Conference finals. Carolina swept both its series, and has been off since a 3-2 overtime win over Philadelphia on May 9.

It’s anyone’s guess who they’ll face based on a series that has so far favored the road team, involved 20 of the 45 goals scored in the first period, featured a carousel of in-game goalie shuffles, and rewarded Buffalo for not practicing after not skating in the days leading to Game 6.

Game 6's outcome, perhaps, best captured the topsy-turvy essence with Montreal jumping to a 3-1 lead by the 10:14 mark of the first period, before giving up seven straight goals. The opposite happened in Game 5, in which the Sabres led 3-2 by the 10:15 mark of the first period, before losing 6-3 in Buffalo.

Ruff is so focused on making Game 7 feel like a road outing, he’s considered the Sabres spend the night before in a Buffalo hotel.

“I don’t know the answer. I can try to make one up,” Ruff said of his team’s 5-1 road record.

The Canadiens are drawing upon replicating their first-round series win over the Lightning. After a 1-0 loss at home in Game 6, the Canadiens followed with a 2-1 series-clinching win at Tampa Bay.

“It’s disappointing to have this effort on home ice. We can’t let that be our last game,” captain Nick Suzuki said of dropping to 2-4 at Montreal. “We’ve been in this situation already, so we have experience, and we just got to win one game.”

Relative playoff newcomers

Montreal and Buffalo are the two youngest teams by average age still in contention, and both relative recent playoff newcomers. The Sabres are in the postseason for the first time in 15 years, while the Canadiens are making their fourth appearance in nine years.

Montreal has the Game 7 experience edge by virtue of beating Tampa Bay. Buffalo’s lineup features just eight players who have appeared in a Game 7.

They include forward Alex Tuch, who previously went 2-1 in seventh games during his four-year tenure with Vegas. The loss stands out most, given how the Golden Knights allowed four third-period power-play goals in an 5-4 overtime loss to San Jose in a 2019 first-round series.

“I’m going to try to give some of my wisdom, but at the same time, I don’t want to talk too much about my past experiences or what could go right or what can go wrong,” Tuch said.

“I’ve said it a hundred times, you got to go out there and just play hockey,” he added. “I think we’re the better team. I think we’re going to come out and compete hard, and that’s all we can control.”

Overall, the Sabres are 1-6 in Game 7, with their only series victory coming in a 1997 first-round matchup over Ottawa. Montreal is 16-9, tied for the NHL lead with Boston in Game 7 wins.

Goaltending is a question, with Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen expected to start after being pulled in Game 5. In Game 6, he stopped all 18 shots in taking over after Alex Lyon allowed three goals on four shots.

Jakub Dobes is Montreal’s expected starter. The rookie was yanked after allowing six goals on 33 shots in Game 6.

“Every loss is hard to sleep on, but in playoffs, it’s really after midnight you move on,” Canadiens veteran forward Phillip Danault said. “I know we’re young, but there’s no excuses. We know how we can play and we know how good we can be.”

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White Sox vs Mariners Prediction, Picks & Odds for Today's MLB Game

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The Chicago White Sox visit the Seattle Mariners for a midweek series with momentum on their side.

After winning two out of three over the first-place Cubs, the Sox have won their last three series and five of the last six. Meanwhile, the Mariners have lost three in a row and six of the last nine.

That’s why my White Sox vs. Mariners predictions and MLB picks call for a Chicago road win.

Who will win White Sox vs Mariners today: White Sox (+150)

The Chicago White Sox have won seven of eight and are three games better than the Seattle Mariners. While they’re on the road and starting a less experienced pitcher, this is still a lopsided underdog price.

Chicago has scored 5+ runs in the last six games and eight of the last nine, averaging 6.2 runs per game over that stretch, which includes scoring 16 in three games against Seattle.

Seattle starter Bryan Woo’s fastball hasn’t been as effective as it was last season, while Chicago rookie Noah Schultz has better hit and homer per nine rates this season.

Covers COVERS INTEL: Bryan Woo has lost about 40 revolutions of spin on both his four-seamer and sinker, and batters have noticed. They’re hitting more than 50 points higher against each pitch, while swinging and missing far less often.

White Sox vs Mariners Over/Under pick: Over 7.5 (-106)

The Mariners have plated four or fewer in seven of the last nine, and J.P. Crawford left Sunday’s game after getting hit by a pitch. Seattle called up top prospect Colt Emerson, who had an .816 OPS in Triple-A and should add power to the left side of the infield.

Seattle scored 12 runs against Chicago earlier this month and could put up some runs against Schultz, who struggles with control. He’s walking more than six batters per nine, which could be trouble against a Mariners lineup that ranks third in the AL in walks drawn.  

Shawn Krest's 2026 Transparency Record
  • ML/RL bets: 13-18, -4.33 units
  • Over/Under bets: 18-17, -0.51 units

White Sox vs Mariners odds

  • Moneyline: White Sox +150 | Mariners -165
  • Run line: White Sox +1.5 (-160) | Mariners -1.5 (+135)
  • Over/Under: Over 7.5 (-106) | Under 7.5 (-118)

White Sox vs Mariners trend

The White Sox have cashed the moneyline in 17 of their last 25 games for +10.75 units and a 41% ROI. Find more MLB betting trends for White Sox vs. Mariners.

How to watch White Sox vs Mariners and game info

LocationT-Mobile Park, Seattle, WA
DateMonday, May 18, 2026
First pitch9:40 p.m. ET
TVCHSN, Mariners.TV
White Sox starting pitcherNoah Schultz
(2-2, 4.91 ERA)
Mariners starting pitcherBryan Woo
(3-2, 3.91 ERA)

White Sox vs Mariners latest injuries

White Sox vs Mariners weather

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

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Mets star Francisco Lindor could return in June: report

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor hasn't played since injuring his calf on April 22 and hasn't yet resumed baseball activities, but it's possible he will be able to return in June.

Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported on Monday that there's "hope" that Lindor "may be back in about a month," adding that the Mets aren't putting a timetable on things.

Lindor underwent a follow-up MRI last week that showed healing. 

"Now we’re moving to the phase of the strength part, moving to the weight room before he starts his running progression," manager Carlos Mendoza said about Lindor last Thursday. "Positive sign, we’ve just gotta let it heal."

There has been a bit of mystery surrounding Lindor's injury, with the team not disclosing the grade of the calf strain and not giving an estimate regarding his timeline.

By all indications, though, there is nothing going on beyond a calf injury that is simply more serious than the kind of strain Juan Soto was able to return from in roughly three weeks. 

After starting the season in an offensive funk, Lindor was heating up at the plate before getting hurt, hitting .286 in 14 games between April 7 and 22.

The injury to Lindor is the most important one the Mets are dealing with, but their lineup is also without three other regulars -- Francisco Alvarez, Jorge Polanco, and Luis Robert Jr.

Alvarez is recovering from meniscus surgery, while Robert's back is not improving. As far as Polanco, he was been running and hitting as he works his way back from an Achilles issue that he will likely have to play through.

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Chicago Cubs update: Alex Bregman, Ben Brown, Jacob Webb

The Cubs just completed a 3-6 road trip. They were outscored 41-33 and those numbers are only that “good” because the first game of the trip was a 7-1 win over the Rangers.

After that they were shut out twice and had some bullpen failures.

Hopefully, some home cooking this week will help them get back on track. Even with the bad week, going 2-4 in Atlanta and on the South Side, the Cubs still lead the NL Central by 1.5 games.

Here’s who was hot and not for the Cubs over the past week.

Three up

Alex Bregman’s bat is heating up

Bregman is on an eight-game hitting streak. Over the six games in Atlanta and against the White Sox, Bregman batted .385/.429/.538 (10-for-26) with a double, a home run, three RBI and six runs scored. Now that the weather is getting warmer, hopefully Bregman’s power will return. He has hit just four home runs in 46 games so far this year.

Ben Brown seems to have taken to being a starter

After no-hitting the Rangers for four innings, Brown continued his good pitching with four one-hit innings against the Braves on Thursday. He struck out seven [VIDEO].

In addition, he has an improved pitch mix [VIDEO].

Maybe this starting pitcher thing will work out for him after all.

Jacob Webb has become a member of the Circle of Trust

Webb had a rough start to his 2026 season but over the week, threw 3.1 scoreless innings vs. the Braves and White Sox, allowing one hit and striking out five of the 12 batters he faced.

For the month of May: Seven appearances covering nine innings, 1.00 ERA, 0.667 WHIP, two walks, 11 strikeouts.

Craig Counsell could use some reliable relievers and Webb appears to be one of them now.

Tip o’ the cap to Michael Conforto for his home run Sunday that tied the game in the ninth, even though the Cubs lost the game.

Three down

Phil Maton, ugh

Maton started poorly and went on the IL in early April with a 13.50 ERA.

On his return he allowed two runs to the Padres in his first game back, then had a few scoreless outings. But this past week he allowed two runs to the Braves in a single inning, then had trouble getting outs against the White Sox. Result for the week: 2.2 innings, 16.88 ERA, 2.626 WHIP, two home runs allowed.

For the season: 9.49 ERA, 1.784 WHIP, three home runs in 12.1 innings.

And he’s under contract for next year, too. This looks like a bad mistake by Jed Hoyer.

Dansby Swanson’s bat has vanished

Swanson was in such a bad slump that Counsell gave him Saturday off. In the other five games: 2-for-17 with six strikeouts. He’s now batting .192/.302/.351 for the season with 38 strikeouts in 151 at-bats.

He does continue to play good defense, though. Here’s a slick play he made in Atlanta last Thursday [VIDEO].

Colin Rea got rocked

In two starts over the week against the Braves and White Sox, Rea threw nine innings and allowed nine runs (9.00 ERA), 13 hits and two walks (1.667 WHIP) and served up a pair of home runs.

Rea was good as a fill-in starter last year and for most of April this year, but these last two starts are concerning.

A note about Moisés Ballesteros, who was 1-for-11 with three strikeouts and didn’t play in the last two games vs. the White Sox: In his last 14 games since April 28, Ballesteros is 3-for-46 (.065) with 11 strikeouts. It might be time for him to spend a few weeks at Triple-A Iowa to get regular at-bats.

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Monday Stat Party: Deb-Ewing in style

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 14: A.J. Ewing #9 of the New York Mets celebrates with teammate Carson Benge #3 after hitting a home run in the third inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, May 14, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by Phebe Grosser/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Welcome back to Monday Stat Party, a weekly series showcasing some of the most curious and nostalgia-inducing statistical developments from the past week of Mets baseball. What unites each entry is the sense of intrigue which they aim to spark, and the unbridled love of the game’s anomalies from which they arise. Without further ado, let the stat party begin.

TUESDAY

A.J. Ewing became the second Met this year, along with Carson Benge, to reach base three times in their MLB debut. It’s the first time the Mets have had two such debuts in the same season in franchise history. 

The 2026 Mets also became the first team in history to have multiple players reach base three times, record an RBI, and record a stolen base in their major league debut. 

Ewing became the first Met to walk three times and triple in one game since Brandon Nimmo, the Mets’ previous No. 9, on May 26, 2023, at Coors Field. Ewing also became the first Met to do it at Citi Field and the second player overall along with the Phillies’ César Hernández on September 22, 2016—a game you might remember. 

The Mets scored 10 runs against the Tigers in Queens for the second time. The first came on June 22, 2010, when another player made their major league debut with a little less success than Ewing. Tigers reliever Jay Sborz hit the first two batters he faced and allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning, marking his first and only major league appearance. But thirteen years later, his brother Josh closed out the 2023 World Series.

Freddy Peralta generated 11 whiffs on his fastball, the most on a Mets pitcher’s fastball since Tylor Megill against the Rays on June 14, 2025.

WEDNESDAY

Carson Benge became the first Mets rookie to record a walk-off RBI since Patrick Mazeika, who did so twice within his first week in the Majors on a pair of fielder’s choices in May 2021. Benge became the first Mets rookie to record a walk-off hit since Travis Taijeron off future Met A.J. Minter on September 26, 2017. It was the last of Taijeron’s nine hits in the big leagues.

THURSDAY

The Mets hit five home runs in a game for the first time since August 29, 2025, during Jonah Tong’s debut against the Marlins at Citi Field. The Mets also hit all five home runs at 104+ mph, marking just the third time in the Statcast era (since 2015) they’ve hit five homers with that high an exit velocity. The other times were April 6, 2019 (against the Nationals at Citi Field) and September 5, 2023 (against the Nationals in Washington). Patrick Corbin started both games, giving up three of the 104+ mph homers in each one.

Juan Soto hit his 250th career home run to become the 10th-youngest player to reach that total behind. In alphabetical order, only these players did it at a younger age: Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Ken Griffey Jr., Andruw Jones, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Mathews, Mel Ott, Albert Pujols, and Alex Rodriguez. Of that group, none came close to Soto’s total of 911 walks at the time of their 250th homer, and only three (Griffey, Jones, Rodriguez) surpassed his 96 stolen bases.

Carson Benge became the first Mets rookie with three consecutive multi-hit games since Pete Alonso from September 16-18, 2019.

A.J. Ewing became the second Met to score a run in each of his first three major league games. Benny Ayala was the first to do it in 1974.

Nolan McLean received the win for the first time since April 3 in San Francisco. In his previous six starts, he had totaled 35 innings and allowed just 11 earned runs while receiving no wins. The last Mets pitcher to have a six-game stretch with that many innings pitched, that few earned runs allowed, and no wins was Steven Matz, and the last right-hander to do it was Jacob deGrom. Both Matz and deGrom accomplished the unlucky feat in 2018.

The Mets earned their first series sweep since August 25-27, 2025, against the Phillies at Citi Field, a series which also concluded with a McLean win (though the series MVP was arguably SNY’s parabolic microphones).

FRIDAY

Juan Soto became the eighth player to homer for both the Mets and Yankees in the Subway Series, joining Robin Ventura, Tony Clark, Miguel Cairo, Gary Sheffield, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Beltrán, and Robinson Canó.

Cam Schlittler generated 17 whiffs on fastballs against the Mets. The last pitcher to generate that many fastball whiffs in a single game against the Mets was Saturday night’s starter, Carlos Rodón, on April 20, 2022, as a member of the Giants.

With 1.2 scoreless innings, Austin Warren became just the fifth Met with an ERA below 0.75 and 15+ strikeouts through nine appearances to begin a season. The others are Tug McGraw (1971, 1972), Armando Benítez (1999), Jacob deGrom (2021), and Reed Garrett (2024). It’s worth noting that all these pitchers were relievers, who maintained their minuscule ERA over 25 IP or fewer — except for deGrom, who had a 0.62 ERA through 58 IP after nine starts in 2021.

SATURDAY

Carson Benge became the first Mets rookie with 10 hits in a five-game span since Pete Alonso from August 15-20, 2019.

SUNDAY

A.J. Ewing became just the fourth player in baseball history with multiple three-walk performances in their first six career games, joining: Bobby Estalella (1935), Earle Brucker (1937), and Jim Gilliam (1953).

Ewing also became the fifth Met to reach base 12 times in their first six career games, joining: Mike Vail, Kazuo Matsui, Mike Jacobs, and Daniel Murphy. Ewing and Matsui are the only two players in Mets history to walk seven times in their first six career games.

The Mets have won 14 of their last 19 games at Citi Field against the Yankees, dating back to June 10, 2018. 

The Mets earned their 11th walk-off win against the Yankees, and their first since Brandon Nimmo’s double off Nick Ramirez on June 14, 2023.

Tyrone Taylor’s three-run, game-tying homer had a 48.3% WPA (Win Probability Added), the second-most of any Mets plate appearance this year behind Luis Robert’s walk-off homer on March 28 (48.7% WPA). No other Mets plate appearance has yielded greater than 33.9% WPA.

Taylor’s homer was also the Mets’ first game-tying homer when down to their final out since Francisco Alvarez took Andrew Chafin deep with the Mets down 1-0 in Arizona on July 5, 2023. Alvarez also had the Mets’ prior homer of that variety against Jason Adam and the Rays on May 17, 2023 — exactly three years before Taylor’s blast.

Taylor’s homer was also the Mets’ first game-tying homer by an outfielder when down to their final out or final two outs since Michael Conforto took Kyle Barraclough deep on September 13, 2018. Soon after Taylor’s blast on Sunday, Conforto hit an eerily similar three-run, game-tying homer in the ninth inning for the Cubs against the White Sox. It was Conforto’s first game-tying homer with his team down to their final out or final two outs since that September afternoon almost eight years ago.

Carson Benge became the first Met to record two walk-off RBI within five days since Patrick Mazeika, who did it on May 7, 2021, and May 11, 2021. It’s only fitting that Benge’s second walk-off came on a fielder’s choice, Mazeika’s patented play.

Benge also became one of two Mets to deliver a walk-off RBI against the Yankees at age 23 or younger. The other was David Wright, who did so in another 7-6 game almost exactly 20 years earlier on May 19, 2006, when he was just 33 days older than Benge.

The Mets overcame a deficit of three or more runs in the 9th inning to win against the Yankees for the first time in Subway Series history. The largest 9th-inning comeback by either side came when the Yankees scored four runs in the ninth to beat the Mets on…May 20, 2006 — the day after Wright’s walk-off.

The Mets won a game while trailing after eight innings for the first time since Game 3 of the 2024 Wild Card Series, when Pete Alonso hit a homer off Sunday’s winning pitcher, Devin Willams. The winless streak in those situations had reached 96 games, including regular season and postseason.

Miscellaneous Mets stat of the week:
Ron Swoboda is baseball’s all-time leader in walk-off walks with four. All four came with the Mets between 1966 and 1970:

April 17, 1966 vs. ATL (facing Billy O’Dell)
July 9, 1967 vs. ATL (facing Claude Raymond)
June 1, 1969 vs. SF (facing Joe Gibbon)
July 7, 1970 vs. STL (facing Sal Campisi)