Guardians 6, Mariners 5
Good: Julio Rodríguez, +0.40 WPA
Bad: Andrés Muñoz, -0.47 WPA
Game Thread Comment of the Day
1-2: Chart
Will Smith talked his way into lineup, then won the game
LOS ANGELES — After catching the first two games of the opening series, Will Smith wasn’t even supposed to be in the lineup on Saturday, which was his 31st birthday and his bobblehead giveaway at Dodger Stadium.
“I didn’t have him in there tonight. He really wanted to be in there on his bobblehead night, and said he felt good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “It proved to be the right decision.”
“He’s always really good about letting us talk about stuff,” Smith said of Roberts. “I just kind of dropped the bobblehead card on him.”
Trailing by a run late, Smith fell behind 0-2 to Juan Morillo, but on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, the man born on 3/28 put the Dodgers up 3-2 in the 8th inning, in what proved to be the winning margin for the Dodgers, who are now 3-0 to open the season.
“We talked about a lot of our guys, but man, when you’re talking about big hits, clutch, Will is right at the top of the list as well,” Roberts said. “There’s just no panic in his at-bat.”
“I was sitting in here watching. Just came up clutch. His birthday and his bobblehead day” said starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who completed six innings Saturday. “What a magical night.”
“Everyone on our team I feel like could hit third in the lineup. It’s just All-Stars up and down,” said Freddie Freeman, who doubled home the Dodgers’ first run in the sixth inning, cutting the deficit to 2-1 at the time. “I think everybody wants that at-bat, and that’s the key to our lineup.”
“I don’t know [about being a clutch player], but I can definitely stay calm in those situations, not try to do too much, and stick to my approach that I’m looking for,” Smith said. “And whatever happens, happens.”
The bobblehead giveaway on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium commemorated Smith’s 11th-inning home run in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, the first extra-inning home run in Game 7 of a Fall Classic that proved to be the game-winner.
Along with the bobblehead, Smith’s wife Cara and his two young daughters Charlotte and Layton were part of pregame festivities. His two daughters adorably delivered ceremonial first pitches to Dalton Rushing (since Smith was warming up starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow). Then Cara said “It’s time for Dodger baseball,” followed by Charlotte saying the same.
“I thought Char crushed ‘It’s Time For Dodger Baseball.’ A little late, but she did really well,” Smith quipped.
After Smith started all three games against the Diamondbacks, the plan is for him to sit in Monday’s series opener against the Cleveland Guardians. Coupled with Sunday’s schedule off day, that’s potentially two full days off in a row for Smith before catching the final two games against Cleveland. The Dodgers are off on Thursday as well, when they will travel to Washington D.C. to play the Nationals.
Yankees pitching continues to impress in season-opening sweep of Giants
The Yankees pitching has been impressive through the first three games of the 2026 season, allowing just one run in their sweep of the San Francisco Giants.
In fact, New York started the year on a 20-inning scoreless streak, the longest in franchise history, per YES Network.
The first and only run allowed this season came in the bottom of the third inning of Saturday's 3-1 win. Overall, it's the fewest amount of runs the Yanks have ever allowed through three games.
On Saturday, Will Warren allowed one run on five hits and walked two over 4.1 IP (83 pitches), and then four relievers held the Giants scoreless to lock up the victory. After the game, manager Aaron Boone was honest about what he saw from Warren, but said he was still pleased with the end result.
"Just not as sharp with his command, thought the stuff was really good," Boone said. "They pressured him, especially in some two-strike situations where he had a chance to put them away... Just not as sharp with his command. And as a result, they drove his count up pretty good.
"But overall, still, got big outs when he needed to. One run into the fifth inning, set us up for a victory."
Warren agreed with Boone that his command was "a little wonky," blaming it on over excitement, but said he was proud of being able to fight through it.
"There was a lot of chaos there. I think the fact that I had a slow heartbeat early there in the first and minimized the damage there in whatever inning they scored was good," Warren said. "A lot of fight, a lot of grit. Overall attacking and getting outs any way we can."
After Warren's day was done, RHP Jake Bird came up big for the bullpen by tossing 1.2 scoreless innings to get through the sixth inning and record the first two outs of the seventh. Boone said he was impressed with the righty's two appearances in the series, especially coming in on Saturday after Rafael Devers led off the inning with a double.
"It was awesome," Boone said. "Again, I thought he finished spring training strong. Both outings here he's been really sharp. And today was huge, to roll through that part of the lineup. Not having Camilo [Doval] today, so you know you got to piece it together a little more. To get five big outs for us there and get the ball to Timmy [Hill] and let him do his thing, that was big."
Boone added that he "has a lot of faith" in David Bednar, who closed things down after issuing a leadoff walk and letting up a single in the bottom of the ninth inning. The veteran was able to strike out Harrison Bader and then force a game-ending double play. Warren was also impressed with both Bird and Bednar, expressing the team's trust in their bullpen early in the season.
"Yeah, I mean Jake Bird, that was huge right there," Warren said. "First-and-third no outs, you get the strikeout and then the double play, that was monster. Then you got Bednar to go shut the door. They've done a great job. We have a lot of trust in handing them the ball."
When asked about how an opening series like this helps the bullpen, Bird said it's great for the group's confidence.
"It's great," Bird said. "Anytime you throw up zeroes as a bullpen it's awesome. Everybody did a great job. It was really fun to watch from a spectators perspective too."
New York will look to continue its early pitching success when they take on the Mariners in Seattle on Monday for the first game of a three-game series.
Illinois was Brad Underwood's dream job. Now, he has it in the Final Four
Brad Underwood is a Kansas native who has spent much of his lengthy college basketball coaching career in the Great Plains, southeast and southwest.
His dream, though, was to one day find himself where he currently is — as the head coach of the Illinois men’s basketball program.
On Saturday, March 28, Underwood helped lead Illinois to a 71-59 victory against Iowa in the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, sending the Fighting Illini to their first Final Four since 2005.
After his team’s triumph, Underwood was asked about his career trajectory, which has taken him from the junior-college ranks to the lowest levels of Division I to, ultimately, the Big Ten. Specifically, he was asked about a comment he made more than a decade ago that Illinois was his dream job.
Despite having no obvious ties to the school – he didn’t attend it and had never coached there before he was hired by the Illini in 2017 – Underwood said it was.
“I'm going to get emotional, but I've been doing this 39 years, and you dream about this as a kid, and I dreamt about doing it at Illinois,” Underwood said in his post-game news conference. “Back in the day when my wife bought Tyler, who was maybe two, a Brian Cook jersey, and you knew what a special place this was. And it always has been, and there's been no other thing for me. This is my dream job, and it's very fulfilling to get where we're going.”
Brad Underwood on making his first Final Four:
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 29, 2026
"I'm gonna get emotional, but I've been doing this 39 years. You dream about this as a kid. I dreamt about doing it at Illinois, when my wife bought Tyler, who was maybe 2, a Brian Cook jersey. It's always been a special place.… pic.twitter.com/2xAOJntPLN
Though much of his coaching career has taken place away from the Land of Lincoln, Underwood had experience in the state. For 11 years, from 1992-2003, he was an assistant coach at Western Illinois, about 140 miles west of Illinois’ campus in Champaign, Illinois. The Illini were an NCAA tournament regular for much of that time under Lou Henson, Lon Kruger and Bill Self, opening Underwood’s eyes to the program’s potential.
The experience of watching that from across the state stayed with him. When he was hired as the head coach at Stephen F. Austin in Texas in 2013, he was asked by his secretary to name his dream job. He told her Illinois, which she wrote down on a card, dated and mailed to Underwood when he accepted the position with the Illini four years later.
Though he inherited a program that had gone four-consecutive years without an NCAA tournament appearance, Underwood has restored the Illini to national prominence. Even before it punched its ticket to the Final Four on Saturday, Illinois was in the tournament for the sixth year in a row and advanced as far as the Elite Eight in 2024.
As Underwood will quickly note, he had a lot of helping getting the Illini there, from his coaching staff to the school’s athletic administration.
“I don't want to sound arrogant – I've never doubted us getting to a Final Four would happen,” Underwood said. “I have thought we have had other teams capable. But I also know how doggone hard it is to do it. For that, I just say thank you.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Illinois was Brad Underwood's dream job. Now, he has it in the Final Four
Game Recap: Suns throttle Jazz, 134-109
The Suns came into this game off some much-needed rest and took care of business against the Jazz in a much-needed win. Jalen Green and Devin Booker took command in this one, combining for 57 points and dominating throughout. The Suns’ rookies also had a great showing, as Rasheer Fleming and Khaman Malauch both made big impacts on both ends as well. Overall, the Suns came together and pulled this one out, dominating the weak Jazz frontcourt and scoring all over the interior.
The Jazz are unfortunately tanking and not doing great this year. This certainly showed in this one, as even though some players tried to keep them in offensively, the defense was not stopping anything.
Game Flow
First Half
In the first quarter, it got off to a rough start as the Jazz matched the Suns in scoring. Jalen Green, as he does best, started this one on a hot note, bringing some life to the Valley and keeping the fans alive. This would then translate and trickle down the roster as the Suns became involved. Devin Booker started going inside and attacking alongside Green. Then Grayson Allen and Rasheer Fleming started nailing some threes.
The Suns saw a lead of up to 20 and seemed to take command early in a must-win game. After losing six of their last seven, a much-needed bounce back against a weak Western Conference team is needed to shift momentum heading to the playoffs. The Suns understood that and took advantage of this by leading 39-21 after one.
The second quarter was a lot like the first as the Suns continued to dominate against the Jazz. Green and Booker continued to attack and score in the paint. With the Jazz having seven players out and top-tier frontcourt players absent, it was feast time for Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach down low.
The Jazz are tanking, and it’s clear as day. Even with players out, the reserves are just chucking up shots and playing little to no defense. This has allowed the Suns to lead 73-45 at the half and to close this one early. Jalen Green and Devin Booker have 34 of the team’s points and continue to show that they can torch weak defenses. If Phoenix can continue this onslaught into the second half, it will only mean an early night for the starters.
Second Half
Did the Jazz even come to play the second half? You could definitely question that, as Phoenix once again just massacred the Jazz defense. Green and Booker were trading baskets, both attacking the lane and making some tough finishes. The Suns have 91 points, and the game is not even halfway through the third, and the Jazz cannot match the Suns’ offense. Every shot, they continue to make the Suns answer tight back as Booker continues to bring the intensity.
This game seems unfair, and with these injuries and the situation the Jazz are in compared to Phoenix. Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh are trying their best to keep Utah in it offensively, but it just does not seem to be enough. Just an absolute tear kept on continuing from Phoenix, as even Maluach had a nice alley oop finish. The Suns, whose biggest lead has been 34, now head into the fourth up 110-83.
The Jazz got off to a hot start here in the fourth with Svi Mykhaholiuk getting hot, with Ace Bailey trying to heat up as well. That being said, the Suns were feeding Ighodaro once again, and he continued to feast inside on the weak Jazz interior defense. Grayson Allen also had a big game off the bench, hitting some big threes and attacking the lane.
This one was over before the second half, even if the Jazz did try to come back in the fourth. The rookies and young guns go to take the floor, and in this game, every rookie scored a point once Kobe Brea made a three-pointer as well. The Suns ended up taking down the Jazz 134-109.
Up Next
The Suns begin a four-game road trip on Monday, as they play another team simply trying to get to the finish line in the Memphis Grizzlies.
Red Wings Pay Price For Slow Start, Lose 5-3 As Flyers Hold Off Late Charge
On Friday evening, the Detroit Red Wings got off to the start that they needed against the Buffalo Sabres with three first-period goals.
24 hours later on home ice against the Philadelphia Flyers, it was back to the familiar, sluggish start that had doomed them earlier in the week against the Ottawa Senators.
The Flyers not only scored on their first shot of the game, but built a 4–0 lead by the early third period, then held off a furious late push from the Red Wings to secure a 5–3 win and hand Detroit another damaging setback.
Tonight's final.
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 29, 2026
In Pittsburgh on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/X8gM3XvoPg
Had the Red Wings won, they could have leapfrogged the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost earlier on Saturday to the San Jose Sharks, for the second Wild Card position. Instead, they remain tied at 86 points and are still on the outside looking in at the playoff picture.
Flyers forward Owen Tippett registered a hat trick for the Flyers, the third of his career. He opened the scoring on a first-period breakaway, beating Red Wings goaltender John Gibson through the five-hole.
In the second period, he increased Philadelphia's lead to 2-0 when his shot from the face-off circle squeaked through the pads of Gibson. Noah Cates made it 3-0 soon afterward on the power-play, jamming home a loose puck at the side of the net past a sprawling Gibson.
For the second time in three games, the Red Wings had a would-be goal disallowed because of being offside. This time, a goal from Moritz Seider was taken away after replays showed Alex DeBrincat entered the offensive zone a step too early.
While the Red Wings successfully challenged a would-be Flyers goal early in the third period for offside, Tippett completed the hat trick, a goal that not only chased Gibson from the net but would also eventually prove to be the game-winner.
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Mason Appleton scored his first goal in 32 games at 13:43, followed by Alex DeBrincat's 37th of the season at 15:10. With goaltender Cam Talbot on the bench for a sixth attacker, Lucas Raymond fired a shot past Flyers goalie Dan Vladar from the face-off circle just 1:04 later.
The fans who hadn’t already headed for the exits were on their feet, cheering loudly and urging the Red Wings to tie the game.
Unfortunately, the comeback bid was halted after Flyers team captain Sean Couturier hit the open net; Tippett picked up his fourth point of the night with an assist.
Gibson made 17 saves before being pulled for Talbot, who stopped all four shots he faced. Meanwhile, Vladar made 30 saves.
Time is running out for the Red Wings, who have nine games remaining on the schedule and will face the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday.
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David Mirkovic celebrates Illinois' Final Four berth with Texas accessory
HOUSTON — The Illinois men’s basketball team was in the airport in Champaign, Illinois, preparing to board a flight to Houston for the NCAA Tournament regional, when Illini freshman forward David Mirkovic made a prescient purchase.
Mirkovic’s teammate, Keaton Wagler, sent him a link to an artificially generated photo of Mirkovic wearing a black cowboy hat. It was meant as a joke, but Mirkovic found a similar looking hat on Amazon and ordered it for $34. It was delivered to the Illini’s hotel in Houston on Friday, the day before Illinois played Iowa in the Elite Eight.
Mirkovic only intended to wear the hat if the Illini won. They did, 71-59, and after the team celebrated in the locker room by spraying each other with water guns – a program tradition that began two years ago in the NCAA Tournament – Mirkovic proudly donned his new headwear.
Asked if he felt like a cowboy, the Montenegro native paused and replied, “I don’t know. What does it mean, being a cowboy?”
He paused and reconsidered: “Yeah, why not. We’re in Texas.”
Mirkovic scored nine points and had a team-high 12 rebounds in Illinois’ Elite Eight win, coming just one point shy of his second consecutive double-double. He was still named to the South Regional All-Tournament team and his performance helped Illinois advance to the Final Four, where it will play either Duke or Connecticut.
None of Mirkovic’s Illini teammates joined him in buying cowboy hats, but he retained hope that he could start a new NCAA Tournament tradition.
“Maybe for next season,” he said, smiling.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Illinois' David Mirkovic celebrates Final Four with new accessory
Kings open critical homestand with loss to Utah that rattles their playoff hopes
There is bad news and good news to report on the Kings’ push for a fifth straight playoff berth.
First, the bad.
With a chance to move into a playoff position Saturday, the Kings came out flat and were routed 6-2 by the Utah Mammoth at Crypto.com Arena, leaving them a point out of postseason position.
It was the Kings' most one-sided loss in more than a month, not exactly the way it wanted to start its final sprint to the postseason. And that left coach D.J. Smith with more questions than answers with nine games left in the season.
“We were not sharp in any facet of the game. It's not good enough,” said Smith, after Utah scored two goals on the power play and three in transition.
“We're going to ask ourselves why. Why we weren't ready. What didn't we do? The excuses really don't matter. We’ve got to be way better than we were tonight.”
Read more:Darcy Kuemper and Kings shut out last-place Canucks for much-needed win
But wait, it gets worse.
Saturday’s game was also the first of a seven-game homestand, matching the Kings’ longest in 15 years. But that’s not the advantage it would appear to be since only the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers have been worse at home than the Kings this season.
“I don't know what it is,” Smith said. “Last year we couldn't lose here. Right now, we don't lose very much on the road. That's in your head. People say it's luck. You make your own luck.
“We didn't come ready to play today. And whether it's our building or the road or wherever we played this game, that isn't good enough.”
The Kings are also bucking history since 18 of their losses have come in either overtime or a shootout. Just one team — the 2012 Florida Panthers — have lost that many games after regulation and made the playoffs since the shootout was adopted 21 years ago.
If the Kings had won just half those overtime games, they’d be a point back of the Pacific Division-leading Ducks. Instead, they appear to be going backward at the worst possible time, dropping seven of their last 10 games and nine of 14 since Smith replaced Jim Hiller behind the bench.
And suddenly there’s traffic in their rear-view mirror, with four teams bunched no more than three points behind them in the Western Conference standings.
Despite all that, the Kings took the ice against Utah with a chance to control their own playoff destiny, only to play with little urgency, falling behind for good 2½ minutes after the opening faceoff on the first of two goals by fourth-line winger Alexander Kerfoot.
Kerfoot entered with three goals on the season and nearly doubled that in two periods against the Kings. For a team with everything to play for, the Kings looked distracted and disinterested.
“I don't know what it was,” defenseman Drew Doughty said. “There's no excuses for the way we performed.”
Now for the good news — and there is some.
Despite the loss, the Kings are still just a point out of the second wild-card berth — with two of their final six regular-season home games coming against Nashville, the team that currently owns that final playoff berth. Win those two, and the Kings are back in the driver’s seat.
“We're still in the thick of things,” said captain Anze Kopitar, whose career ends when the Kings’ season does. “We're not out by any means. But we're going to have to play much better.”
Added Doughty: “Take it one [game] at a time and win every one.”
A wild-card is no longer the Kings’ only — or even clearest — path to the postseason, however. The Vegas Golden Knights, the team directly ahead of the Kings in the Pacific Division standings, have lost six of their last 10, whittling their lead to four points over the Kings in the battle for the division’s third and final postseason berth.
Read more:Slumping Kings lose in shootout to Flames
Pass them and the Kings will likely face the Edmonton Oilers — again — in the first round of the playoffs. The opportunities are there for the taking. But the Kings need to play like they want them.
“We've got three days to figure it out, and then we've got nine games [left],” Smith said. “We're going to turn the page and find a way to be better for the next one. It's got to be a playoff mentality.
“You can't dwell on it. You’ve got to move on. But you’ve got to get better and you have to learn from why we lost the way we lost tonight."
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Braves News: Opening Day history, Sean Murphy injury update, more
Well the Braves are 2-0, on a breezy complete victory on Opening Day and an epic walk-off grand-slam on Saturday. Before the walk-off, it was reassuring to see Reynaldo Lopez’ velocity back up in the mid-90s and his stuff generally looking good. I remain highly skeptical of his durability, but he looked the part of a solid starter on Saturday. On the offensive side, the bats were a little quieter on Saturday than on Friday, but they got some key contributions from new members of the team, such as Mike Yastrzemski and, of course, Dominic Smith, while also getting production from their incumbent contributors. This has been about everything you could ask for from two games for the Braves.
Braves News
A few Braves achieved some various historical feats on Opening Day, including Ozzie Albies, Chris Sale, and Austin Riley.
Sean Murphy is participating in all baseball activities and may start his rehap assignment soon, per Mark Bowman.
Dominic Smith walked things off in game #2 on Saturday with an epic grand-slam, completing a comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the ninth inning.
MLB News
The Brewers called up top catching prospect Jeferson Quero to make his MLB debut, sending Andrew Vaughn to the IL.
Houston Rockets vs. New Orleans Pelicans
Tonight, the Houston Rockets return to the scene of their second-biggest collapse of the season. Until their demoralizing loss in Minnesota, I figured the New Orleans game in December would stand alone. Of course, this team has surprised me over and over again with ways to frustrate us.
I was at the Smoothie King Center on December 18. I was visiting my brother and the Rockets just so happened to be in town. Houston led by 22 at halftime and 25 early in the second half. The Rockets even held a 16-point lead heading into the final frame. However, turnovers and poor defensive effort would rear their ugly heads. New Orleans scored 38 points in the third quarter and 36 more in the fourth. Houston missed nine free throws, and all of them came from players 6-10 and taller. More than one miss was an airball. The New Orleans crowd, which had had nothing to cheer about for 30 minutes, roared to life for the final 18 minutes of regulation and all of overtime.
I could tell you about how Saddiq Bey had the kind of game that can get players paid a lot of money in free agency. Or how Derik Queen talked trash all night and backed it up. I could talk about how Kevin Durant didn’t miss a shot in the first quarter and dominated until New Orleans sent a second defender at him, which led to six turnovers. Or how Amen Thompson went 11-14 and made some clutch plays to give the Rockets a fighting chance in the fourth.
None of it matters, though. It was the beginning of a disturbing trend for the Rockets that still hasn’t resolved. Houston still struggles defensively. They still turn the ball over a ton. They have found a few answers for the double team, but it’s still mostly a winning strategy against Durant, who is on pace to turn the ball over more times than in any season since turning 25. They still miss free throws. And they continue to struggle in fourth quarters despite bringing in one of the best closers in NBA history.
The other two matchups against New Orleans have been tight affairs, too. In January, the Rockets rode a monster night from Jabari Smith Jr. to win a game where they never really put the Pelicans away. And last week, Houston needed some boneheaded mistakes down the stretch from New Orleans to walk away with the win after blowing a 7-point lead with under four minutes to go. You were shocked, I know.
The Pelicans have cooled off a bit since that game, where they came into Toyota Center on a hot streak. They won their next three but have dropped four straight against four of the top five teams in the East. They’re returning home after a long week on the road against good teams. They’ll be looking for a bounce back.
And in case in needs to be restated, the Pelicans do not own their 2026 first round draft pick. So unlike Memphis, who was happy to let Houston run away with the game in the fourth quarter, New Orleans is here to play spoiler and decide if this core has what it takes to keep them around for another year. And the early returns are that this team is definitely going to be a tougher out next season, especially if they stay healthy.
Tip-off
6pm CT
How To Watch
Space City Home Network
Injury Report
Rockets
Steven Adams: OUT
Fred VanVleet: OUT
Pelicans
Dejounte Muray: GTD
Trey Murphy III: GTD
Bryce McGowens: GTD
The Line (as of this post)
N/A
Check here for updates
Looking ahead because we can
Tuesday night back in Houston against the New York Knicks
Takeaways: Penalties Costly As Penguins Lose Key Game In Regulation To Dallas Stars
The upcoming interdivisional matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders on Monday was always going to be a big one, as the two teams are jousting for playoff positioning in the Metropolitan Division standings.
And, after Saturday's game versus the Dallas Stars - and the Islanders' tilt against the Florida Panthers - that game looms even larger.
The Penguins lost in regulation to the Stars, 6-3, in a game that was much closer than the score or the shot totals indicate. The loss kept them at 88 points, but they were leapfrogged by the Islanders for second place in the Metro after the Isles scored four unanswered goals in the second period against Florida and came away with the 5-2 regulation win.
Of course, every game is big at this time of year when you're trying to make the playoffs. But the Penguins are well aware of how big Monday's game is now, as the Penguins sit one point back of the Isles with a game in hand and just one point ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who lost in regulation to the San Jose Sharks Saturday.
"I think if we're not getting up for that one, I think there's something wrong," Bryan Rust said. "I think we all know what's on the line there. I think it's going to be a fun, playoff-type game, and I think we've got to go there and be ready."
This one started out well for the Penguins, who were dominating possession early on in this game. They jumped out to an 1-0 lead a little more than two minutes into the game courtesy of a power play goal from Anthony Mantha, who deflected an Erik Karlsson shot from the point.
A PPG FOR PGH TO GET US STARTED! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/TjUYbtO33E
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 28, 2026
But, after that goal - and after some sustained five-on-five pressure, as the Stars didn't register their first shot on goal until after the midway point of the period - the Penguins started to run into some costly penalty trouble, and the back-and-forth started.
They were able to kill off a few penalties - including 37 seconds of a five-on-three opportunity - before closing out the first period. But the Stars cashed in five-on-five two minutes into the second period when Justin Hryckowian got one past Stuart Skinner to tie the game.
However, Erik Karlsson responded just 48 seconds later in the form of a top-shelf wrister from the slot - his ninth goal and 23rd point in 15 games during the month of March, which is second in the league only to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (26 points) - to give the Penguins back the lead at 2-1.
"EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES TURNS TO GOLD!"
— NHL (@NHL) March 28, 2026
Erik Karlsson has 23 points in 15 games this month! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gst42hOvH4
That's NINE multi-point games in the month of March for Erik Karlsson 🤯
— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) March 28, 2026
Karlsson is the sixth defenseman in NHL history to record nine multi-point games in a single month, joining Bobby Orr (10 in Dec. 1974 & 9 in March 1973), Cale Makar (9 in Nov. 2023), Paul Coffey (9 in Jan.… pic.twitter.com/Jm3syOQ7gQ
And that's when things started to go downhill. Parker Wotherspoon took a tripping penalty less than six minutes into the middle frame, and Jason Robertson scored his 40th goal of the season on the ensuing man advantage to knot things back up at 2-2. And just a couple of minutes after Robertson's goal, Elmer Soderblom took a high-sticking penalty to send the Penguins back to the PK.
Once again, Dallas - who has the second-ranked power play in the league - took advantage. Mikko Rantanen - playing in his first game since being injured during the Olympics - put home a one-timer from the right circle to give Dallas its first lead - a lead they wouldn't surrender.
Dallas's fourth goal came just a minute and a half later, but not without some controversy. Stars' defenseman Lian Bichsel took Karlsson's stick out of his hand near the goal line, tossed it aside, and made his way to the point as Karlsson was screaming at the official for missing the call. Bichsel took a feed from Mavrik Bourque and one-timed it into the net behind Skinner, drawing the wrath of Karlsson in the aftermath, and made it 4-2.
Bichsel GRABBED Karlsson's stick, dropped it and then ripped home a goal 😭🚨
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 28, 2026
EK65 was FURIOUS 🤬 pic.twitter.com/uhH7VwhoKg
But, the Penguins got a little bit of momentum off of a Jamie Benn holding penalty in the first half of the third period, and they were rewarded when Elmer Soderblom shot a puck toward the net from the right wall, and it hit Noel Acciari on the way in for Acciari's 10th of the season to make it 4-3.
KEEP IT UP 😤 pic.twitter.com/PrRSkFTva2
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 28, 2026
With Pittsburgh beginning to push a bit with three and a half minutes to go, head coach Dan Muse decided to pull Skinner a bit early, which ended up backfiring. Bourque scored an empty-netter shortly after, and he added a second one two minutes later to give Dallas the 6-2 win.
"I thought we had an opportunity, we were in-zone, and we had it," Muse said. "I know I didn't have the timeout, but still felt like we wanted to make sure we had time to operate and time to get in there."
Penguins' ECHL Affiliate Clinches Spot In Kelly Cup PlayoffsThe Wheeling Nailers are officially going back to the Kelly Cup Playoffs.Here are some brief thoughts and takeaways from this one:
- The Penguins have seen several calls, and fairly obvious ones, go against them in recent games.
The non-call on Bichsel ahead of Dallas's fourth goal was the most egregious, I think, that I've seen all season long. And it is up there with the most egregious calls/non-calls I've seen throughout the league this season.
Referee Michael Markovic was standing right there and saw the entire thing unfold. On a hot mic - which included Karlsson screaming all the air out of his lungs - he appeared to confirm that he saw the play happen.
Erik Karlsson was visibly frustrated that there was no penalty called after Lian Bichsel took his stick and scored. pic.twitter.com/qIzoQqY9TD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 28, 2026
You cannot grab an opposing player's stick, let alone force it from their hands and throw it away from them. It's in the rule book. Yet, it happened, and Bichsel's goal ended up being the game-winner.
"We saw what happened," Karlsson said about the play in the post-game. "I don't think it does me any good, or us any good, by standing here and having excuses or pointing fingers. We all watched the same game."
In his post-game presser, Muse was asked if officiating - whether goaltender interference or penalty calls and non-calls - is something that the Penguins will just have to overcome to make the playoffs, and if it's just something he's "numb to."
"Yeah, we've got refocus in on what we can control," Muse said. "I don't think anybody's going to walk out of today feeling good about our game. Like, we've got to be better. Again, it's all of us - myself included - but the things that we have zero control over, we're not going to waste our time on that.
"We're going to focus in on our game and what we can do to, right now, it's going to be tomorrow [to] prepare for going to New York."
Is Erik Karlsson The Best Player In Hockey Right Now? He Just Might Be. The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the playoff fight of their lives while enduring the league's most difficult schedule - and they have been led by red-hot defenseman Erik Karlsson in the absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.- Although it felt like the Penguins had more than 12 shots in this game - 24 were blocked by Dallas - it simply was not enough. They mustered exactly four shots on goal per period.
Honestly, the Penguins carried most of the play at five-on-five in this one. It was a matter of not being able to generate enough offense when given the opportunity.
"Being in the box a lot didn't help," Rust said. "Against a team like that who plays hard defensively, I think we passed up too many opportunities to shoot. And, when we did shoot, I think they did a really good job of getting in shooting lanes where we either shot wide or got our shots blocked.
"And, I guess, moving forward against a lot of really good teams, we're going to, hopefully, be playing playoff hockey... that's what you've got to do because there's not going to be a lot of space."
Matthew Schaefer Ties Islanders Rookie Defenseman Points Record in 5-2 WinSchaefer etched his name in Islanders history, matching a rookie defenseman scoring record. His two assists fueled a crucial victory, highlighting his impact.- Even if calls didn't swing in their favor Saturday, the Penguins' penalty kill is a legitimate problem right now.
The unit has now surrendered a goal on seven of the last 15 opportunities against. It's clear that the team is missing Blake Lizotte - as he is their best penalty-killer, and the Penguins went into a funk the last time Lizotte was injured, too - but they have to find a way to get back to basics. Right now, they're giving PPs too much time and space, and they're not getting in enough lanes to shut down opportunities. There are also too many cases of failed clearing attempts in a general sense.
I do think the PK will find its footing again, but it has to happen fast - and it has to happen without Lizotte, who isn't even scheduled to be reevaluated until the final week of the regular season.
Also, the Penguins can't keep going back to the box like they did against Dallas. It disrupted what they had going at five-on-five, and given the struggles of their penalty kill at the moment, they need to play a more disciplined brand of hockey.
- It was interesting to see how Muse played with the lines on Saturday. In the third period, he came out with entirely different combinations than he started the game with, and for the first time, Ben Kindel got a look as the first-line center.
He had Kindel centering Rickard Rakell and Rust, Tommy Novak centering Anthony Mantha and Egor Chinakhov (who had a rare off-night), Connor Dewar centering Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty, and Noel Acciari in the middle of Elmer Soderblom and Justin Brazeau.
Kindel helped generate some opportunity, and I thought he played a pretty good game overall. He started on a "kid line" with Koivunen and McGroarty - and they had some opportunities earlier in the game - but those two didn't generate too much in this one.
Penguins Have Important Move To Make With Breakout ForwardThe Penguins have a clear move to make with this forward. - Speaking of Novak and Brazeau, they have gone ice-cold for the Penguins.
Both have just one point in their last 10 games and none in their last six, which - in a vacuum - may not be so much an issue if the Penguins had Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in their lineup. But, they don't, and they desperately need depth scoring.
And they aren't getting it, period. Mantha, Chinakhov, Karlsson, Rakell, Crosby, and Rust have accounted for 16 out of the Penguins' last 18 goals. And Crosby, Rust, and Mantha only have one each.
So, essentially, the Penguins are pretty heavily relying on scoring from three people right now, and that is not going to be enough if they expect to make the playoffs. Novak has been the team's second-line center for the better part of the second half, and if he is to stay in that post, he needs to produce. And Brazeau, honestly, could be fighting Soderblom for a spot in the lineup once everyone is healthy, should his drought continue.
I actually think it might make sense to keep Rakell as first-line center right now, along with Rust and Chinakhov, as that line had been pretty lethal when put together a few times. But I'd have Kindel center a second line with Mantha and, perhaps, McGroarty, and allow Novak to find his game again in a third-line center role.
But, there are no easy lineup decisions - especially at center - when the team is as depleted down the middle as this one is. So, this is probably going to continue to be a situation where Muse will throw everything at the wall just to see what sticks.
Crosby, Malkin Out; Penguins Call On McGroarty Ahead Of Saturday Matchup Against Dallas StarsThe Pittsburgh Penguins will be without superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin against the Dallas Stars and turn to their young guns for reinforcement.- Luckily for the Penguins, the Blue Jacket and Detroit Red Wings both lost in regulation. Since the Isles won earlier, had both of those teams won in regulation, the Penguins would have been pushed out a playoff spot.
Again, the game on Monday against New York is massive. It's probably the biggest game the Penguins have played in a couple of years, and then, they have to turn around and play another big game against the Red Wings on Tuesday.
Not every game is a must-win, and this one against Dallas was not. However, if there are two "must-win" games in the final nine games of the regular season for the Penguins, it's these two.
So, buckle up, folks. These next two games are going to be playoff-style hockey with the involvement of three desperate teams.
NHL Rebuild Review: What Kyle Dubas Has Done For The Penguins Is IncredibleKyle Dubas left the Toronto Maple Leafs and took on a complex challenge with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Over the past three years, he's restocked the prospect pool and succeeded with reclamation projects. Check out this deep dive for more.Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
Will Smith’s late home run lifts Dodgers to season-opening sweep
The Dodgers have shown one thing in their opening three games of the season.
They have no problem erasing early deficits.
For a third-straight night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Dodgers found themselves in a two-run hole at the start of the game.
But for a third-straight night, they managed to rally behind strong pitching and timely offense, riding Will Smith’s go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth to a 3-2, sweep-clinching win.
Smith’s big swing almost felt kismet, coming on a night he celebrated both his 31st birthday and a bobblehead giveaway commemorating his game-winning, Game 7 World Series home run last year.
For much of the night, though, it seemed doubtful such late-inning heroics were coming for the Dodgers –– whose star-studded lineup was once again held in check until the end.
Though Tyler Glasnow pitched well in his season debut –– allowing just two runs in six innings, while striking out six batters and retiring 10 of his final 11 –– Arizona left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez was better.
In five-plus strong frames, he limited the Dodgers to just a single unearned run; when Freddie Freeman doubled home Kyle Tucker in the sixth following an error to begin the inning.
After that, the Dodgers (3-0) struggled to crack the Dbacks bullpen, making six-straight outs before Mookie Betts drew a walk with two outs in the eighth.
That, however, cracked the door just enough, with Smith sending an elevated 98 mph heater from Juan Morillo sailing out to straightaway center field in the next at-bat.
“You’re going to hear this word a lot: Grinding,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Just really trying to grind at-bats and wait for these guys to make a mistake and not get yourself out. That’s what we did. That’s what we’ll do.”
Added Glasnow: “There is no opponent lead that is safe.”
What it means
The Dodgers aren’t hitting on all cylinders yet. But they’re doing just enough, with several little moments helping swing Saturday’s game.
There was Tucker robbing a home run in front of the short fence down the right-field corner in the sixth; then using his speed to set up Freeman’s RBI double in the sixth by beating out a play at first and stealing second to get into scoring position.
There was Betts’ walk that set the stage for Smith’s winning blast, a four-pitch free pass that erased the frustration of his 0-for-3 night up to then.
And in the end, there was closer Edwin Díaz, emerging for his second save in as many nights to the playing of a live trumpet performance. That completed three spotless innings of work from the bullpen on the night, and ran the group’s scoreless streak to 11 2/3 innings overall to start the season.
Who’s hot
Entering Saturday, Freeman didn’t have a hit yet –– despite nothing but hard-hit balls in his first two games (literally, each one had an exit velocity of at least 90 mph).
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That changed in a hurry, however, with the first baseman singling his first two times up before getting the Dodgers on the board with his sixth-inning RBI double.
That double, which came on a scorching ground ball just inside the third-base line, was the 548th of Freeman’s career, tying him with Alex Rodriguez for 33rd-most all-time.
Alas, the slugger ended the night 3-for-4 after watching another fly ball die at the warning track, already the fifth time that happened this season. Still, he finally has some results to go along with what looks to be an in-sync swing.
Who’s not
It’s only a matter of time before Shohei Ohtani gets going.
But one series in, the four-time MVP has yet to really shine.
Ohtani has been on base plenty, already collecting four walks (including two free passes Saturday) and a hit-by-pitch. However, he hasn’t had a hit since a leadoff single Thursday, and missed multiple chances to help start a rally earlier in Saturday’s game, falling to 0-for-his-last-7 with a double-play in the fifth inning and a groundout to first to lead off the eighth.
“I think that they’re obviously pitching him very careful, and there’s some pitches that he’s swung at that he’s just missing,” Roberts said. “They were trying to crowd him a lot this series. But I honestly think Shohei’s fine. As long as he’s taking his walks, he’ll slug. He’ll get his slug.”
Up next
Thanks to the strange quirks of MLB’s staggered Opening Week schedule, the Dodgers will get a rare day off on Sunday, before hosting the Cleveland Guardians for a three-game series beginning Monday night. Roki Sasaki will start in that game, trying to reverse the fortunes of his disastrous spring training.
From overlooked to overjoyed, Keaton Wagler leads Illinois to Final Four
HOUSTON – Keaton Wagler’s eyes flirted with the rim and his feet appeared to follow suit. The Illinois freshman guard dribbled past the 3-point line and suddenly spun to his left, sending his defender stumbling backward as if propelled by an invisible force.
Iowa guard Isaia Howard scrambled to his feet, but by then Wagler was launching a stepback 3-pointer that gave Illinois a second-half lead.
That misdirection is part of Wagler’s magic: Just when you think you know what to expect, he shapeshifts.
For the entire second half of Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game, Wagler traded buckets with Iowa star Bennett Stirtz — the Hawkeyes’ well-traveled veteran leader and the Illini’s star freshman, both players who were once undervalued during their basketball careers, delivering for their teams in an Elite Eight throwdown.
In the end, Wagler won the duel. Behind his 25 points, Illinois downed Iowa, 71-59, and advanced to the program’s first Final Four in 21 years. Wagler was named the South Region’s Most Outstanding Player.
Following an inefficient shooting night in Illinois’ Sweet 16 win over Houston, in which Wagler shot 4-of-14 from the floor but grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds, he transformed back into a scoring machine down the stretch against Iowa.
Illinois outscored Iowa in the second half 43-27 and held the Hawkeyes scoreless for the final two minutes, with Wagler scoring 14 points in the second half alone.
“Once he finds his rhythm, it’s like a flow state,” said Illinois assistant coach Tyler Underwood. “You can always tell when he’s starting to get into it. It takes him a little bit of time but he just has a unique ability to be in the present moment and be able to live with mistakes and live with the outcome because he knows he’s loved, and he knows how hard he works.”
The telltale signs Wagler is about to go off, according to Underwood: Wagler starts patting the ball, getting to his left-to-right crossover, spinning around defenders. Everything he does becomes a little peppier, injected with an intangible yet immediately identifiable swag.
“It just feels like the game is slowing down for me,” Wagler said. “Just everything’s going right, every pass, getting to the rim, finishing, all that stuff.”
The game’s second half, then, must have felt to him like an eternity. As the last few seconds melted away, Wagler dribbled out the clock and raised one hand to beckon cheers from the crowd. That moment was his to savor alone, and then he wasn’t alone any longer. When the sound of an air horn punctuated Wagler’s lifelong dream, he was wrapped in a bear hug by Illinois forward Ben Humrichous and then swarmed by elated teammates.
After the net was cut and a team photo snapped, Wagler weaved through the confetti-strewn court and finally reached the people he sought.
He embraced his mom, Jennifer, first. Then came his dad, Logan, older brother Landon and older sister Brooklyn. Finally, Keaton looked up and saw Victor Williams, his AAU basketball coach with VWBA Elite. Williams and Wagler’s family nurtured Keaton’s skill as well as his ambition.
“I know that they know that this is my dream,” Wagler said. “Every since I was a little kid I’ve always talked about this. To be in this position, to have them here and we’re going to the Final Four, it just means the world.”
His parents, who met while playing basketball at a community college in Kansas, knew their youngest son truly loved the game when he was in first grade and played on a team of third graders but was not dissuaded by being the youngest or one of the smallest.
“He couldn’t hardly get the ball up to the hoop, but he could do everything else,” Logan Wagler said. “I knew he would amount to something. I didn’t know it would lead him here, though.”
Neither did Illinois coach Brad Underwood and his staff. It was Underwood’s son, Tyler, an Illini assistant coach, who first identified Wagler as a prospect out of Shawnee, Kansas. Wagler had won two state championships with Shawnee Mission Northwest High School and was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025, but according to Tyler Underwood some power-conference programs had reservations about Wagler’s smaller physique.
The first time Brad Underwood went to see Wagler play in person was after Illinois had already signed him. Wagler had scored 36 points in a game the night before, but with Underwood present he scored just two points. Nevertheless, Underwood was ecstatic when he left the gym and called his son.
“I said, ‘We just got an incredible talent,’” Brad Underwood recalled. “They blitzed him, they got it out of his hand, he made every right play, he was not selfish, he was not a pig, he wasn't trying to force things. He just let the game come to him. Very, very mature as a senior in high school when you're the guy. And he just played the game, and so I felt great about it. Did I know a 178-pound kid coming in was going to be this? I didn't.”
When Wagler arrived at Illinois, he added 25 pounds of weight and worked on getting stronger. He was in the starting lineup right away but mostly in an off-ball role, with senior guard Kylan Boswell assuming the lion’s share of ball handling responsibilities.
In mid-January, Boswell broke his hand and was sidelined for several weeks. On Jan. 24, Wagler’s breakout game was a 46-point outburst that led Illinois to a road win at No. 4 Purdue — a Big Ten freshman scoring record with a school-record nine 3-pointers. That performance solidified Wagler’s self-confidence.
“The ascension happened so fast, and I think he showed himself, ‘I can do this,’” Underwood said. “And I think his teammates wanted that out of him. Like, I don’t think he gets here without his teammates’ encouragement.”
Illinois forward Zvonimir Ivisic, who transferred into the program this season from Arkansas, said his first impression of Wagler was of a player who was overlooked — and who let that fuel him.
“We all know what Keat’s capable of,” Ivisic said. “I was amazed. I didn’t hear a lot about him before, but when I see his playing style, how he handles the ball, how he handles himself, I was like, why a lot of people don’t talk about him enough? Everybody underestimated him. He’s a special player.”
Illinois forward David Mirkovic said that whether it’s a preseason scrimmage or a high-stakes NCAA Tournament game with a Final Four trip on the line, Wagler loves to compete.
“Keat looks like he enjoys every type of game,” Illinois forward David Mirkovic said. “Every type of basketball, every style. He just really whatever pass and challenge they offer him he always plays really good. He always adapts, adjusts to anything that’s in front of him. He’s such a big guy, really, most important player to us. When he adjusts like that we all follow him.”
Wagler relishes being called upon to deliver in big moments, but he won’t ever boast or describe himself with superlatives.
On Stirtz, he said, “He’s a really good player. We knew we had our hands full with him, so I just try to go out there and do what I do every game and if it’s for me to score the ball, then I’ll look to score the ball. But if I need to pass it, then do that. And tonight was more scoring so I just tried to do that.”
Wagler walked back to the locker room clutching his NCAA nameplate, which he said he intends to frame. As soon as he walked through the wooden double doors to the locker room, hands reached out from all sides to clap him on the back and offer handshakes. Wagler accepted and acknowledged each gesture with a nod or a high-five, all the while never breaking his stride.
He’s back to being just another kid with a basketball and a dream, until the next game, when he will become whatever Illinois needs him to be.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Keaton Wagler was unheralded recruit. Now, he has Illinois in Final Four
Will Smith hits go-ahead homer on his birthday
It’s not about how you start it; it’s about how you finish it. Following in the script of Friday’s win, this time with even more drama, the Dodgers waited to take command of the game for the first time in the bottom of the eighth inning. Diamondbacks reliever Juan Morillo came in on the highest possible leverage spot, trying to protect a 2-1 lead with the top of the order up. Morillo retired Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Tucker and appeared in line to survive this gauntlet, but Mookie Betts and Will Smith had other plans. Betts walked on four pitches, and Morillo fed Smith one too many high fastballs until Smith caught the timing of one and knocked it out of the park for a go-ahead two-run bomb.
The birthday boy decided the game felt a tad too cliché, but you won’t hear anyone complaining in the home crowd. Smith, who hit 12 of his 17 home runs last season at Dodger Stadium, already has two in his home park in 2026.
Before the Dodgers could find a way to take the lead in this game, they had to survive for a rather lengthy period despite very little offense, and that went through Tyler Glasnow. For all the control a pitcher has on the mound, his performance and the perception of it can be subject to what those around him will and won’t accomplish. Glasnow delivered, by all accounts, a rather productive game. Through six innings, the Dodgers starter allowed only five baserunners, two of whom came around to score; he struck out eight and walked only one. Glasnow did his part, and still, he most likely left the game with a bitter taste that wasn’t erased until that eighth inning, having trailed from start to finish, only because his offense couldn’t do anything behind him.
Moving to the other half of this pitching match-up, it doesn’t really work that way, but if it did, one might be inclined to argue that Eduardo Rodríguez was due for a good performance at Dodger Stadium—the southpaw had previously known a great struggle when pitching at this ballpark. Rodríguez, who came into this game boasting a 1-3 record in four starts away against the Dodgers, allowing a total of 12 runs in 19 innings, had his best performance at Chavez Ravine.
Kyle Tucker is a terrific player, but Rodríguez sort of showed the blueprint, not that it is a particularly easy one, for left-handers facing this current version of the Dodger lineup. Step one, don’t let Shohei Ohtani beat you—Rodríguez walked him in two out of their three duels—and step two, find a way to take care of business against Tucker. Rodríguez got Tucker the two times he followed an Ohtani walk, and in his third at-bat, the Dodgers’ right fielder reached following an error, thus prompting an end to Rodríguez’s outing. It is the first week of the season, but even with that in mind, Torey Lovullo was quite conservative, removing Rodríguez on 79 pitches after an error allowed Tucker to reach base to lead off the sixth. Sure, the righty-righty matchup against Mookie Betts made sense with Jonathan Loáisiga up next, and Freddie Freeman had been responsible for half of the Dodgers’ four hits up to that point, but Rodríguez had more left in the tank. It turns out that Freeman’s success was about him being Freeman, much more than anything related to Rodríguez. Loáisiga did his job against Betts, but Tucker would eventually score on a Freeman double, his third hit of the game. That run to cut the deficit to 2-1 at the time meant that Smith’s two-run blast could decide the game and not just give the Dodgers new life.
Ultimately, that early hook to Rodríguez meant that the Diamondbacks needed 12 outs from their bullpen to close out this game, and those were a few too many despite all of the Dodgers’ struggles.
While we are on the subject of birthdays, let’s consider Smith’s Homer a special gift to Eric Stephen. True Blue LA’s longtime Managing Editor and fellow birthday boy.
Game particulars
- Home run— Will Smith (2)
- WP— Will Klein (1-0): 1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, 1 strikeout
- LP— Juan Morillo (0-1): 0.2 IP, 1 hit, 2 earned run, 1 walk, 0 strikeouts
- SV— Edwin Diaz (2): 1 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts
Up next
It’s a rare off-day at home for the reigning champs, as they don’t return to action until Monday night, when the Cleveland Guardians roll into town. Roki Sasaki will face Parker Messick; start time at 7:10 p.m (PT).
Kings Hit New Low In Blowout Loss To Mammoth
After beginning their crucial seven-game homestand tonight against the Utah Mammoth (38-30-6), the Los Angeles Kings (29-25-18) were very disappointing as they were run out of their building by the road team on Saturday, 6-2.
Utah jumped out to a fast start in the first period, holding a commanding 2-0 lead, before the Kings scored their first goal of the game to cut the deficit to one. Center Logan Cooley led the Mammoth to a big start, scoring a pair of goals plus a power play goal to give Utah a 3-1 lead to end the first period.
Final from Los Angeles. #GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/DI4vEr8v6l
— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 29, 2026
LA was still in it, but played a terrible first period and followed that up with an even worse second period, giving up two goals, trailing 5-1 after 40 minutes on ice. The Mammoth set the tone with its shotmaking and speed from the start to take this game from the Kings.
The result was that nothing was going right for LA. It was one of those games where they couldn't get anything going, and Utah was bullying them for much of the night.
Utah opened the game scoring a pair of goals, led by Logan Cooley and Alexander Kerfoot, who both ended the night with two goals, driving Utah's offense in the dominant win.
However, Los Angeles responded just over a minute later with Anze Kopitar redirecting the shot from Adrian Kempe to put it through the net. The crowd erupted, and new life entered the ice, looking like the Kings would build on that momentum.
LAK Goal - Kop-i-tip!
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 29, 2026
Kings stop the bleeding with a massive goal by the captain. Kempe shot, Kopitar redirect, 2-1.
But the road team responded again, with Cooley scoring his second goal in the period after a magnificent play to score the goal while falling down, to put Utah back up by two.
It was the first time in almost a week that Los Angeles allowed multiple goals in the first period, and it was also against the Mammoth on March 22, when they lost 4-3 in overtime.
Neither team could score early in the second period until Utah scored two goals in a span of four minutes at the 3:43 minute mark to take a 5-1 lead, led by Kerfoot scoring his second goal of the game after a failed defensive read by Drew Doughty.
LA was very bad in this period, despite outshooting the visiting team 8-4; they were being outplayed by miles in this game. The defense and goaltending were so bad that Darcy Kuemper was benched for Anton Forsberg to begin the third period.
The Kings did not know how to defend Utah's fast-break rushes or the power play, which the Mammoth finished 2/3 on, while Los Angeles was 0/2.
Adrian Kempe scored five minutes into the final period to give Los Angeles some momentum, finishing with a multi-point game. Clearly, he was the biggest bright side for the Kings, but it wasn't enough to stage a comeback after going down big early on.
LAK Goal - Kempe on the board 4:34 into the third period. Center point, through traffic, multi-point game for him. Kings within 5-2.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) March 29, 2026
Utah closed the night by securing an empty-net goal to take an impressive road win, 6-2. With the loss, the Kings now lose the tiebreaker over the Mammoth, having lost twice in their three meetings this season.
Aside from Kopitar and Kempe, who scored the only two goals for Los Angeles, no other Kings were much of a factor offensively. With the defense already being an issue, the offensive struggles made it difficult for the team to stay in this game.
The Mammoth blew the game on the backs of their Cooley and Kerfoot, who combined for four goals and four points, to run the Kings off their home ice.
Key Stats
Kempe had a very good game, recording two points and one goal, while Kopitar notched one goal. The only good news for Los Angeles is that both Nashville and Seattle lost today, so the Kings still have a point lead over the Kraken and are one point behind the Predators for the final playoff spot.
The Kings' next matchup will be against the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday at 6:00 PM PT.
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