Brooks oddly blames Draymond for play that injured Butler in Game 2

Brooks oddly blames Draymond for play that injured Butler in Game 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Jimmy Butler’s status for the Warriors is threatened after suffering a deep glute muscle contusion against the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference playoffs.

And Dillon Brooks believes Draymond Green partly is to blame.

The Rockets forward, who, like Green, never shies away from speaking his mind, responded to the recent narrative circulating the NBA world of his teammate Amen Thompson being a dirty player. Thompson undercut Butler as he was in the air fighting for a rebound before suffering a hard fall in Wednesday’s game.

“Nah. I think the dirty player is Draymond, giving [Thompson] a little push,” Brooks said Friday (h/t Chancellor Johnson). “That’s what regular basketball players do. Jimmy flew in the air for a rebound and, you know, stuff happens. Amen’s not a dirty player, he has nothing to do with being a dirty player.

“We’re not worried about that. We’re on to the next game and we hope Jimmy can get better.”

The “push” Brooks might be referring to was Green trying to box out Thompson, who fought through the contact and plunged under Butler.

Butler was on the floor for several moments before getting up, shooting two free throws and remaining in the game for a few possessions before ultimately exiting and heading for the locker room.

The play since has led many spectators to believe it was a dirty play from Thompson in an already physical series.

But Brooks defended his young teammate, who’s been a defensive standout since coming into the league last season.

The latest on Butler’s status came from ESPN’s Shams Charania on Thursday night, who reported that Butler was diagnosed with a deep glute muscle contusion but avoided any fracture or structural damage, adding that his status for Saturday’s Game 3 is in “serious jeopardy.”

It’s safe to say the Warriors are less focused on playing the blame game and just hoping their star forward can get fully healthy as they look to take a 2-1 series lead on their home floor.

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Pair of Former Ducks Defensemen Come up Big in Game 3

Apr 24, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the Winnipeg Jets during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The list of former Ducks making an impact in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs continues to grow.

Cam Fowler had five points and Simon Benoit scored the overtime winner as both players aided their teams in Game 3 of their respective series.

Since being traded to the St. Louis Blues on Dec. 14, Fowler has 36 points in 51 games. His nine goals put him just shy of his career-high (11) set in 2016-17. It’s fair to say he would have set new career-highs in scoring if he had spent the entire season with the Blues.

Playing in the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, Fowler is averaging over two points per game through three games and set a new Blues record for points in a postseason game with his five-point performance in Game 3.

Per NHL PR, Fowler became the ninth defenseman in NHL history to post at least seven points through their first three games of the postseason. He also became the eighth different defenseman to post five points in a single playoff game.

Courtesy of NHL Public Relations

Fowler has looked like a completely different player since leaving Anaheim. Playing in a system which suits his strengths alongside a steady presence in Colton Parayko has allowed him to flourish. There’s no question that his impact played a key part in the Blues’ journey to a playoff berth this season.

It’s been two seasons since Benoit was a Duck, becoming an unrestricted free agent after not being tendered a qualifying offer. 

After signing a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs in Aug. 2023, Benoit’s physical nature and no-nonsense style of play endeared him to the Leafs and their fans.

Benoit was rewarded with a three-year contract extension in Mar. 2024 and has entrenched himself on the Leafs’ third defensive pair.

Apr 24, 2025; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit (2) speaks to the media following the team win in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Not known very much for his offensive ability, Benoit was the Game 3 hero, scoring just 1:19 into overtime and giving the Leafs a 3-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators. He also provided the primary assist on Max Domi’s overtime winner in Game 2.

Benoit’s journey to the NHL is one of perseverance after he went undrafted and signed a one-year with the San Diego Gulls in the AHL in 2018 after attending Ducks development camp the previous summer. He earned an entry-level contract (ELC) with the Ducks in Mar. 2019 and played in 137 games over parts of three seasons.

His time with the Ducks was during some of the franchise’s worst seasons and it’s clear that a system change and playing for a much better team has benefited the 26-year-old Québécois greatly. 

With Anthony Stolarz and Frederik Andersen holding things down for their teams in net, there’s now almost enough player to make a pair of 3-on-3 teams up of former Ducks making an impact in this season’s playoffs.

Kings' Quinton Byfield Shows The Value Of NHL Teams Being Patient With A Slow-Burning Youngster

Quinton Byfield (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)

Quinton Byfield has been a beast in the first two games of the Los Angeles Kings' first-round series against the Edmonton Oilers.

He has played large, made space for himself and been rewarded for his robust play with two crucial goals against Edmonton.

In doing so, he's rewarding the Kings for their patience in developing him into an NHL player that seems headed for stardom. It wasn't pretty at times, and it wasn't easy, but Byfield has figured it out with the help of the organization and is developing into the No. 1-caliber center the Kings envisioned when they took him second overall in 2020.

And it's a good reminder that a slow burn with a young NHL player can have some wonderful results.

Today's video column has more.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

On This Day In Penguins Playoff History: April 25

Paul Coffey and Mario Lemieux - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive season. Despite their recent lack of success, the franchise has appeared in the playoffs 37 times and won five championships.

Our newest series will take a look back at how the Penguins performed on specific days leading up to the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Today, April 25, Pittsburgh has compiled a 7-3 record in ten games on this date.

  • 1989 - Game 5 Win vs. Philadelphia Flyers (10-7)
  • 1991 - Game 5 Win vs. Washington Capitals (4-1)
  • 1992 - Game 4 Loss vs. Washington Capitals (7-2)
  • 1993 - Game 4 Loss vs. New Jersey Devils (4-1)
  • 1994 - Game 5 Win vs. Washington Capitals (3-2)
  • 1998 - Game 2 Win vs. Montreal Canadiens (4-1)
  • 1999 - Game 3 Win vs. New Jersey Devils (4-2)
  • 2008 - Game 1 Win vs. New York Rangers (5-4)
  • 2009 - Game 6 Win vs. Philadelphia Flyers (5-3)
  • 2011 - Game 6 Loss vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (4-2)

Notable Penguins Performances On This Day

April 25, 1989 - Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux establishes a franchise record with eight points, thanks to five goals and three assists, in a wild 10-7 win over the Flyers. Additionally, Paul Coffey had four assists with 11 Pittsburgh skaters collecting a point.

 

Your Guide To Ex-Penguins In The 2025 NHL PlayoffsYour Guide To Ex-Penguins In The 2025 NHL PlayoffsThe Pittsburgh Penguins may not be participating in the Stanley Cup playoffs this season.

Rod Buskas led the team with 17 penalty minutes, while Philadelphia netminders Ron Hextall (10) and Ken Wregget (14) combined for 24 of their team's 84 penalty minutes. 

April 25, 1993 - Jaromir Jagr establishes a career-high for penalty minutes in a playoff game, registering 15 minutes in a 4-1 loss to the Devils. 

April 25, 1998 - Stu Barnes, a 30-goal scorer with the Penguins, scores two goals in a Penguins 4-1 win over the Canadiens, his only two-goal playoff performance during his tenure with Pittsburgh. Overall, he finished his career with four playoff two-goal games. 

April 25, 1999 - Martin Straka records his only career playoff hat trick in a 4-2 win over the Devils. Interestingly, five of his seven hat tricks occurred while he was skating in Pittsburgh. 

Penguins' Crosby Continues To Pace NHL In Top 10 Scoring Finishes During Salary Cap EraPenguins' Crosby Continues To Pace NHL In Top 10 Scoring Finishes During Salary Cap EraPittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby just finished his ninth 90-point campaign in the NHL, finishing as the league's 10th highest scorer, the 13th time he's accomplished that feat in 20 seasons. 

Meanwhile, Scott Niedermeyer had 12 penalty minutes in this game, the only time in his Hall of Fame career he'd get called for more than six minutes in 202 playoff games. 

April 25, 2009 - Sidney Crosby tallies two goals in a 5-3 win over the Flyers, marking only the third occasion (at the time) that the captain would have a multi-goal playoff game. As of 2025, Crosby has three playoff hat tricks and seven two-goal games. 

Wild Take A 2-1 Series Lead After A 5-2 Win Over Vegas

Apr 24, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) and teammates celebrate a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period in game three of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images.

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild walked away with a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead. 

But so far, the Wild have stung together three very good games. Game 1 the Wild played great but lost after a great night fron Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill.

In Game 2 the Wild poured it on Hill and in Game 3 on Thursday night, the Wild chased Hill out of the crease after two periods.

Kirill Kaprizov got the Wild on the board first after he circled around the net on the power play before firing home a shot from the point. It was Zeev Buium's first NHL point and it came on the power play. 

Marco Rossi scored three minutes later to give the Wild a 2-0 lead. Rossi went to the slot after Justin Brazeau and Yakov Trenin got in on the forecheck and did some dirty work. 

"It was a good forecheck," Rossi said on the goal. "Our coach was saying for the game, how we have to forecheck to go with it. It was a great pass by Braz to Trenny and Trenny made a really good pass for me. My shot got deflected from the D."

One of the stories coming in the playoffs was how the Wild decided to put Rossi on the fourth line. The 23-year-old center played in all 82 games for the second straight year and was one of their most important players. 

Rossi doesn't seem to let the decision affect him. 

"Sure. You know, it's the playoffs. I couldn't care less about anything. We wanna win as a team, and it doesn't matter where the coach puts me, you wanna be the best out there and try to help a team to win."

Alex Pietrangelo got Vegas on the board not long after but Matt Boldy was able to hustle out an icing in the second period and make one heck of a play on Noah Hanifin to force a turnover. 

"Those guys bring it every night, whether the puck is going in or not. Their work ethic on the ice is - they’re the hardest workers and the most skilled players," Brock Faber said on Kaprizov and Boldy. "When you got two guys who have both of those traits, they’re hard to stop and we’re hard to beat. Definitely fun to watch those two."

Kaprizov and the Wild made it a 4-1 game with two seconds left in the second period after Ryan Hartman fired a shot on the net that hit Kaprizov and went in. 

Hartman got the puck on the boards before he looked up at the clock and fired a shot on the net. 

"Yeah, I mean, the fans were yelling ‘shoot’ as usual, and you could never really trust how much time is left because it seems they're yelling with 20 seconds left in the period," Hartman said. "Thought I'd give a check, because obviously I didn't want to shoot it after the whistle and I wasn't sure how much time was left. Just trying to throw it. Kirill made a good play there, standing off that far post."

Reilly Smith was able to score on a shorthanded 2-on-1 with William Karlsson to make it a 4-2 game. 

It got interesting after that because the Wild took two huge penalties to put Vegas on the power play in a two-goal game. 

The Wild were able to kill it off. 

"Well, number one, your goalie is your best penalty killer," Wild head coach John Hynes said. "And they did, our penalty kill, did a great job. They had some looks, and he came up with some big saves. I think the attention to detail is really strong. I think the guys that are out there are doing a good job. They're working as a four-man unit. And when you get good goaltending on the penalty kill, number one and number two, you have strong discipline and details of what you need to do and guys are on their assignments, that usually helps."

Filip Gustavsson finished with nine saves on the penalty kill and kept the Wild in the game without allowing Vegas to get back in. 

"Oh, he played great," Kaprizov said on Gustavsson. "He played all season, great. But, especially tonight at the end. So many huge saves."

With the win, the Wild are now out in front with a 2-1 series lead. Which is a norm as of late for Minnesota. 

In 2022 the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Blues and in 2023, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars. 

They lost both of those in six games. 

The hope is the Wild can put that behind them. Game 4 is Saturday at 3:00. 

Orioles at Tigers prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 25

Its Friday, April 25 and the Orioles (10-14) are in Detroit to take on the Tigers (15-10).

Brandon Young is slated to take the mound for Baltimore against Casey Mize for Detroit.

The Orioles nipped the Washington Nationals on Thursday, 2-1. Cade Povich and three Baltimore relievers allowed one run on just five hits. The Tigers were last in action Wednesday when they shutout the Padres, 6-0. Reese Olson allowed just two hits over 7.1 innings.


Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Orioles at Tigers

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 6:40PM EST
  • Site: Comerica Park
  • City: Detroit, MI
  • Network/Streaming: MASN2, FDSNDT, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Orioles at the Tigers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Orioles (+106), Tigers (-126)
  • Spread:  Tigers -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Orioles at Tigers

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Brandon Young vs. Casey Mize
    • Orioles: Brandon Young (0-0, 6.75 ERA)
      Last outing: 4IP, 3ER, 7H, 3BB, 3Ks
    • Tigers: Casey Mize (3-1, 2.22 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. Kansas City - 7IP, 1ER, 4H, 1BB, 3Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Orioles at Tigers

  • The Tigers have won 4 of their last 5 games against AL East teams
  • Each of the Orioles' last 4 road games with the Tigers have stayed under the Total
  • The Orioles have failed to cover the Run Line in their last 4 games and in 5 of their last 6.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Orioles and the Tigers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Orioles and the Tigers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Detroit Tigers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Baltimore Orioles at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Red Sox at Guardians prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, trends, and stats for April 25

Its Friday, April 25 and the Red Sox (14-13) are in Cleveland to take on the Guardians (14-10).

Tanner Houck is slated to take the mound for Boston against Ben Lively for Cleveland.

The Red Sox lost Thursday to Seattle, 4-3. Alex Bregman cracked his fifth home run of the season in the loss. Cleveland lost to the Yankees Wednesday but did take two of three from New York earlier this week.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Red Sox at Guardians

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:10PM EST
  • Site: Progressive Field
  • City: Cleveland, OH
  • Network/Streaming: Apple TV+

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Red Sox at the Guardians

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Red Sox (-110), Guardians (-110)
  • Spread:  Guardians 1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Red Sox at Guardians

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Tanner Houck vs. Ben Lively
    • Red Sox: Tanner Houck (0-2, 7.66 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/20 vs. White Sox - 6IP, 2ER, 3H, 2BB, 7Ks
    • Guardians: Ben Lively (1-2, 3.86 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 at Pittsburgh - 5.1IP, 0ER, 4H, 1BB, 3Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Red Sox at Guardians

  • The Guardians are 12-12 on the Run Line this season
  • The Red Sox are 13-14 on the Run Line this season
  • The Guardians are 7-3 on the Run Line in their last 10 games with a rest advantage

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Guardians

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Red Sox and the Guardians:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Cleveland Guardians on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Cleveland Guardians at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Pirates at Dodgers Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 25

Its a Paul Skenes Friday as the Pittsburgh Pirates (10-16) open a series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers (16-9).

Skenes will be opposed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers lost two, one-run games in Chicago against the Cubs earlier this week. Teoscar Hernandez was a force on offense for LA going 5-13 (.385) with 1HR and 5 RBIs.

The Pirates lost yesterday to the Angels, 4-3 but did take two of three from the Halos. Oneil Cruz went 6-16 (.375) in the series.

In four starts this season, Paul Skenes has gone at least six innings in each start. In three of the four he has given up a total of three earned runs. The flamethrower has struck out 23 opposing hitters in 26 innings.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Pirates at Dodgers

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 10:10PM EST
  • Site: Dodger Stadium
  • City: Los Angeles, CA
  • Network/Streaming: SNP, SNLA, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Pirates at the Dodgers

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Pirates (+180), Dodgers (-215)
  • Spread:  Dodgers -1.5
  • Total: 7.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Pirates at Dodgers

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Paul Skenes vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto
    • Pirates: Paul Skenes (2-2, 2.87 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. Cleveland - 7IP, 2ER, 6H, 1BB, 4Ks
    • Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 0.93 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/18 at Texas - 7IP, 0ER, 5H, 0BB, 10Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Pirates at Dodgers

  • The Dodgers have won 5 straight home games against the Pirates
  • The Under is 4-1 in the Pirates' last 5 games against National League teams
  • The Dodgers are 4-1 on the Run Line in their last 5 games with a rest advantage

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Pirates and the Dodgers

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Pirates and the Dodgers:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Los Angeles Dodgers on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Pittsburgh Pirates at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 7.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Mets at Nationals prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends, and stats for April 25

Its Friday, April 25 and the Mets (18-7) are in Washington to open a series against the Nationals (11-14).

Kodai Senga is slated to take the mound for New York against Jake Irvin for Washington.

The Mets come to Washington fresh off an undefeated seven-game homestand. Francisco Lindor has hits in four straight (10-17) and in 11 of his last 12 games (20-51). The Nationals lost yesterday at home to Baltimore, 2-1 but did take two of three in the series.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Mets at Nationals

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 6:45PM EST
  • Site: Nationals Park
  • City: Washington, DC
  • Network/Streaming: SNY, MASN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Mets at the Nationals

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Mets (-186), Nationals (+156)
  • Spread:  Mets -1.5
  • Total: 9.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Mets at Nationals

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Kodai Senga vs. Jake Irvin
    • Mets: Kodai Senga (3-1, 0.79 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. St. Louis - 5.2IP, 0ER, 3H, 2BB, 4Ks
    • Nationals: Jake Irvin (2-0, 3.68 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/20 at Colorado - 6.1IP, 2ER, 3H, 0BB, 9Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Mets at Nationals

  • The Mets have won 3 straight against NL East teams
  • The Over is 4-1 in the Nationals' last 5 games against NL East teams
  • With a rest advantage over their opponents the Mets have covered the Run Line in 3 straight games
  • Juan Soto has 6 hits in his last 22ABs

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Mets and the Nationals

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Mets and the Nationals:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Mets on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Washington Nationals at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 9.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Blue Jays at Yankees Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 25

Its Friday, April 25 and the Blue Jays (12-13) are in Bronx to begin a series against the Yankees (15-10).

José Berríos is slated to take the mound for Toronto against Carlos Carrasco for New York.

The Yankees return home following a seven-game road trip. The Bronx Bombers went 4-3 for the week. Aaron Judge picked up hits in six of the seven games going 12-28 (.429) for the trip.

The Blue Jays Have lost five in a row including the last three in Houston. Toronto scored all of two runs in the three-game set against the Astros.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Blue Jays at Yankees

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 7:05PM EST
  • Site: Yankee Stadium
  • City: Bronx, NY
  • Network/Streaming: SN1, YES, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Blue Jays at the Yankees

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Blue Jays (+115), Yankees (-137)
  • Spread:  Yankees -1.5
  • Total: 10.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Blue Jays at Yankees

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: José Berríos vs. Carlos Carrasco
    • Blue Jays: José Berríos (1-1, 5.02 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. Seattle - 6IP, 3ER, 4H, 4BB, 3Ks
    • Yankees: Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 6.53 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 @ Tampa Bay - 4IP, 4ER, 6H, 2BB, 1K

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Blue Jays at Yankees

  • The Blue Jays have lost their last 5 and failed to cover the Run Line in each
  • The Under has cashed in the Blue Jays' last 3 games
  • Vlad Guerrero Jr. was 1-12 in the 3-game series in Houston
  • Antony Volpe is 4-27 (.148) in his last 7 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for tonight’s game between the Blue Jays and the Yankees

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Blue Jays and the Yankees:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the New York Yankees on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Toronto Blue Jays at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the under on the Game Total of 10.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

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  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
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  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

Phillies at Cubs Prediction: Odds, expert picks, starting pitchers, betting trends and stats for April 25

Its Friday, April 25 and the Phillies (13-12) are in Chicago to take on the Cubs (16-10).

Taijuan Walker is slated to take the mound for Philadelphia against Colin Rea for Chicago.

The Cubs have won four in a row including the last two against the Dodgers. Chicago scored 18 runs in those two games against Los Angeles. Pete Crow-Armstrong belted a couple home runs and drove in seven runs in the two games.

The Phillies arrive in Wrigley having lost three straight to the Mets in New York. Alec Bohm was not the reason the Phillies failed to take any of the three games. The third baseman was 6-12 in the series.

Lets dive into the matchup and find a sweat or two.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.

Game details & how to watch Phillies at Cubs

  • Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
  • Time: 2:20PM EST
  • Site: Wrigley Field
  • City: Chicago, IL
  • Network/Streaming: NBCSP, MARQ, MLBN

Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.

Odds for the Phillies at the Cubs

The latest odds as of Friday:

  • Moneyline: Phillies (+113), Cubs (-134)
  • Spread:  Cubs -1.5
  • Total: 8.0 runs

Probable starting pitchers for Phillies at Cubs

  • Pitching matchup for April 25, 2025: Taijuan Walker vs. Colin Rea
    • Phillies: Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.29 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/19 vs. Miami - 4IP, 1ER, 1H, 3BB, 2Ks
    • Cubs: Colin Rea (0-0, 1.32 ERA)
      Last outing: 4/18 vs. Arizona - 4.2IP, 1ER, 5H, 0BB, 5Ks

Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!

Top betting trends & insights to know ahead of Phillies at Cubs

  • The Cubs have won 6 of their last 8 games at home, while the Phillies have lost 4 straight
  • Each of the Phillies' last 3 games at Wrigley Field have gone over the Total
  • The Phillies have failed to cover the Run Line in 4 of their last 5 games

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Expert picks & predictions for today’s game between the Phillies and the Cubs

Rotoworld Best Bet

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday's game between the Phillies and the Cubs:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Chicago Cubs on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Philadelphia Phillies at +1.5.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the over on the Game Total of 8.0.

Want even more MLB best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert MLB Predictions page from NBC

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

  • Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
  • Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
  • Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
  • Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

'Be a banshee': How the Lakers cultivated a winning spirit

Los Angeles, CA, Tuesday, April 22, 2025 - Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) charges into Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent in game two of the NBA first playoff round at Crypto.com Arena. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
Lakers reserve guard Gabe Vincent tries to take a charge from Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo as LeBron James gives chase during Game 2 of their playoff series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Jordan Goodwin had done everything right by losing more than 20 pounds, dropping more than 10 percent of body fat, sleeping better, eating right and putting basketball ahead of all the trappings the NBA can offer.

He’d joined the Lakers in training camp on a non-guaranteed deal, a hamstring injury costing him a chance earn a spot on the roster. He’d bounced from Washington to Phoenix to Memphis in the early stages of his NBA career, but was now without consistent work. The Lakers had hopes for him — that he could be the kind of player critical to the culture JJ Redick and his coaching staff wanted to emulate by doing all the little things, by putting the team first and by making life hell for the other team whenever he took the court with his relentless effort.

Goodwin recovered from a hamstring injury while with the Lakers’ G League team and waited for his chance to get back into the NBA. On Feb. 7, he signed a two-way contract, making him eligible for the main roster. And then he got the formal assignment.

“Be a banshee,” Redick said.

A banshee?

Goodwin wasn’t sure if he should be offended or feel complimented.

Reserve guard Jordan Goodwin claps in celebration after the Lakers scored during a recent game.
Reserve guard Jordan Goodwin is among the reserves who drew praise this season for their "banshee" style of all-out play. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

“I had to look it up after he told me,” Goodwin said.

After one game, Redick was convinced that he’d found one, gushing as he described a possession Goodwin won for the Lakers by giving multiple efforts on the offensive glass.

“That's just, that play embodies who he is,” Redick said. “And then he's ripping his mask off and throwing it on the sideline twice. I mean, he's a banshee.

“He's a banshee, that's why we like him."

Months later as Redick walked toward his car parked near the loading dock at Crypto.com Arena, he thought about the things it would take for his team to advance out of the first-round of the playoffs. The Lakers had just beaten Minnesota 94-85 in Game 2 by winning loose balls, taking charges, fighting through screens and literally, in the case of Rui Hachimura, leaving blood on the court and in the hallways outside the team locker room.

It was the fewest points the Lakers had scored in a playoff win since 1991 — a real celebration of the banshee stuff the coaches had been preaching for months.

“It's the only way we're going to win,” he told The Times.

“Banshee” had become shorthand around the Lakers in Redick’s first season for the kind of attitude he wanted his team to have. It’s the name of the group chat Redick has with assistants Greg St. Jean, Beau Levesque, Ty Abbott and video coordinator Michael Wexler.

Lakers coach JJ Redick has a stern look on his face as forward Rui Hachimura walks across the court.
Lakers coach JJ Redick, an intense player during his NBA career, has helped foster the "banshee" style of play in his first season with the storied franchise. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

It was something St. Jean and Wexler used with their Phoenix co-workers as a catch-all scouting term for the type of player all coaches love, the kind who don’t care about anything other than winning and understanding the ugly stuff you have to do on the court to get that done.

The Lakers began the season by successfully getting Max Christie to fully buy in to the role. When Christie struggled early in the season, he was the first player to publicly get the “be a banshee” instructions. Redick has used the term to describe the Lakers’ video coordinators, to rave about Portland’s Toumani Camara’s defense and the impact of Jarred Vanderbilt’s return from injury.

And in speaking to his team, he brought visual aides.

In Gaelic lore, a “banshee” is a female spirit whose scream warns of impending death. In the Halo video games, it’s a combat aircraft. In the “Avatar” universe, it’s a type of mountain dragon. In "Star Wars," it’s kind of a flying scorpion.

After using the term in news conferences, meetings and conversations around the Lakers’ facility all season, Redick and the coaches finally decided to define to the team in a meeting.

“We had slides!” Redick said, almost bragging.

Luka Doncic, who was in that meeting, remembered thinking that he’d never before heard the word outside of the very TV-MA Cinemax show “Banshee. (“Good show,” Doncic said.) LeBron James had never heard a coach describe players that way and didn’t think much of it.

Yet for the Lakers’ role players, that ethos give a uniform vision for the style and effort in which they should play. The Lakers wanted this to be a defining characteristic all season. Swapping D’Angelo Russell’s on-ball skills for Dorian Finney-Smith’s intangibles and off-ball play started the transformation. Getting Vanderbilt healthy bolstered it. Adding Goodwin and two-way center Trey Jemison III cemented it.

Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith, left, watches the ball fly out of bounds after Minnesota's Naz Reid lost possession of it
Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith forces Timbewolves center Naz Reid to lose possession of the ball during Game 2 of their playoff series. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“I heard it in film one day, knew what it was from like folklore, but when he said it, the timing, it made sense,” Jemison said. “Being aggressive. Being a loud talker. I loved it. It makes me feel like I'm bringing value. Encouraging. Yelling. I'm always going to yell.”

And now that the Lakers are in a full-on fight with Minnesota in the playoffs, James, Doncic and Austin Reaves have played with that level of force, particularly in Game 2 when the Lakers’ defense and toughness defined the series-tying win.

“I think it's the importance of having Doe and Goodie and guys that are naturally like that," Redick said Tuesday of Finney-Smith and Goodwin. "And it goes back to a conversation we had as a team around the first Brooklyn game [in mid-January] and I talked about leadership and how everyone can lead in their own way. Banshee culture has to be pervasive for it to work. It can't just be one guy. So you need guys that are going to lead on that and everyone else follows.”

Maybe the Lakers have been able to make this all a part of their identity because it’s always been a part of Redick’s identity.

“That's why everybody hated him when he was at Duke. … For sure you remember how feisty he was,” James said.

Redick might not have been wrestling rebounds away like Goodwin or putting his chest into scorers like Vanderbilt and Finney-Smith, but he was constantly moving, consistently energetic and continually leaning and embracing the little things during the heights of his NBA career. After retiring, he didn’t stop feeding into being a basketball sicko — his words — or a full-on basketball psycho — his and his peers’ words.

Whatever the task in front of him, at the very least, Redick would fight for it.

After the Lakers won one of their ugliest playoff games in years Tuesday, James scoffed a little bit when asked about one of Redick’s on-court outbursts during Game 2. The four-lettered freak-outs, he said, aren’t that surprising from his coach. It’s just a sign of the seriousness and intensity he’s brought to the job.

And that he’s helped give to the team.

“We finally embodied the spirit and the demeanor of our head coach. That's just how he is,” James told The Times. “He's not about the bull---, about the sugar-coating. He understands. We've got to be tough. Like, we might not shoot the ball well every game, we might not do this or do that, whatever the case might be, but we've got to be … tough.”

They have got to be banshees. And the Lakers all know exactly what that means.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Three Takeaways From Blues' 7-2 Win Against Jets In Game 3 Of Western Conference First Round

Oskar Sundqvist (second from right) and Pavel Buchnevich (back) of the St. Louis Blues got back into their best-of-7 Western Conference First Round series with a 7-2 win against Connor Hellebuyck (31), Josh Morrissey (44), Cole Perfetti (right) and the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday. (Jeff Curry-Imagn Images)

ST. LOUIS – Judging by the thunderous, boisterous St. Louis Blues crowd in attendance for Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, one could hardly tell the home side was down two games in the series.

The Jets took Games 1 and 2 at home and held serve. The Blues knew they had to do the same.

Boy, did they ever get off to the start they wanted and did so in convincing fashion.

And they were led by their best players.

Pavel Buchnevich scored his first NHL playoff hat trick and had an assist, Cam Fowler set a Blues franchise record for most points by a defenseman with five (one goal, four assists) and Robert Thomas had four assists, who chased likely Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck in a 7-2 romp over the Jets before 18,096 at Enterprise Center to get themselves back in the series, now trailing the best-of-7 series 2-1.

This was a juggernaut performance that the Blues needed and sent a message to the Presidents’ Trophy winners that they won’t go down without a fight and in fact, they have every intention of winning the series despite losing the first two games on the road.

Colton Parayko, Jordan Kyrou and Alexey Toropchenko all scored goals, and Jordan Binnington made 16 saves, including what amounted to be a 10-bell save on Cole Perfetti midway through the second period of a 3-0 game that needed video review.

The Blues, who will host Game 4 on Sunday at noon (FDSNMW, MAX, truTV, SN, TVAS, CBC, ESPN 101.1-FM) looking to even the series, scored three more power-play goals to give them six in the series, but they scored four times at even-strength, which netted them just one goal by Oskar Sundqvist in the first two games.

And on top of it, the Blues have now won 13 straight games on home ice dating back to the regular season. They’ve made this a place that visiting teams don’t want to play in.

Without wasting any more time, let’s get into Thursday’s Three Takeaways:

* A thunderous start – The Blues came into the game wanting and needing to implement a few adjustments to the game.

They wanted to get to the net more with purpose and make life difficult in front of Connor Hellebuyck (check); they wanted to play north hockey (check); they wanted to get sustained zone time (check); and they wanted to incorporate their defensemen into the offensive zone (check).

And in the first 10 minutes of that hockey game, the Blues fed off the emotion of the crowd and for the third straight game, they came out with with fire and played really well in the first period.

But this was different. This was put a hammerlock down on a game and not make it a chess match over the final 40 minutes, like it was at Canada Life Centre.

“I think it was just trying to get away from 1-and-done hockey,” Fowler said. “Hellebuyck was seeing a lot of shots there in Winnipeg, he can control the rebound and the way that they play, they have five guys in front of the net, they’re able to clear the rebounds and come out the other end there. We just wanted to make life a little bit harder with traffic and more pucks directed at the net and our guys did a great job of establishing the forecheck and letting us play a little more time in the offensive zone that helped us out quite a bit.”

Blues coach Jim Montgomery noticed this, Thursday, wasn’t just setting the tone for 20 minutes, but the way they did things, carried forward through the rest of the game, despite the Jets elevating their game in the second period and needing an incredible Binnington save on Cole Perfetti at the 10:05 mark of the period that preserved a 3-0 lead.

“I just thought that the attitude we had … we started the other two games really well, and what I liked was the fierce, competitive nature in our attitude for 60 minutes,” Montgomery said. “The start was incredible. We were aggressive, we did the things we wanted to do to make sure that we were going to get more scoring chances, and we did get more scoring chances.”

There was no East-West hockey, not against this team. This was a North mindset with a purpose.

“They've been playing well at 5-on-5 defense and not giving us much,” Thomas said of the Jets. “And we changed a couple things, and were able to find success early, and we just got to look to keep on going with that, as well as keep looking for adjustments to try and keep on finding success.”

* Blues best players rose to the occasion – In Games 1 and 2, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, Winnipeg’s best players, were the best players when it mattered most in helping their team win the first two games.

The Blues needed their top-end guys to be not only their best players, but the best players in the game itself.

They didn’t waste time when Buchnevich, who came into the game with one playoff goal in 22 career games, went to the net 48 seconds into the game and made it 1-0. He tried making a play with a puck through the slot area that Fowler corralled and in turn, he makes a quick play off the wall to the net where Jimmy Snuggerud is. He got a piece of it but Buchnevich collects the loose puck, kicks the puck to his stick before poking it past Hellebuyck in a sign of things to come.

“I know Faksy, Walks and Torpo [Radek Faksa, Nathan Walker and Alexey Toropchenko] had a great (first) shift, physical, the crowd got going, really loud and we just followed them,” Buchnevich said. “On second shift we got (a) turnover, I shot, missed the net and you know, ‘CF’ hit the net and I got the rebound and the crowd got nuts and the emotions get even more and we keep going.”

They did keep going, and Buchnevich got going again, making it 2-0 at 3:11 when he scored the first of three power-play goals on the night, redirecting a high-slot pass by Thomas past Hellebuyck.

It’s another example of being at or near the net, something that was visibly absent in the first two games.

“I don’t really know how to describe it,” Buchnevich said. ‘Just a crazy, emotional start. We throw the puck at the net, we got the rebound and when you score the first goal the game opens up and we got the second one right away. It’s a little bit easier to play with the lead, so we’ve got to score first and it’ll be easier to play.”

Fowler made it 3-0 at 15:51 on a play that was a perfect example of what the defensemen were looking to do: filter into the offensive zone and be a force there.

Fowler was able to do that with the puck behind his whole net, starting the play moving it to the left to Colton Parayko, who found Buchnevich in the neutral zone. He in turn found Thomas, all the while Fowler was skating with a purpose in the middle of the ice down the slot before Thomas found him, and he quickly snapped a shot high glove (sound familiar?) on Hellebuyck.

“We had talked a little bit about our ‘D’ trying to use our skating ability to our advantage,” Fowler said. “The play kind of developed there and I kind of saw that we had full control on the wall and I just felt like I could jump in and try and contribute to the rush a little bit and ‘Tommer’ made a great play and I just tried to get it off as quick as I could and happy to see it go in. It was more about just the mindset of our ‘D’ trying to use our legs and skate. I saw the opportunity and just tried to jump in, but like I said, ‘Tommer’ made that whole thing possible. It was a heck of a play by him.

“It wasn’t a set play or anything, no. I wanted to try and be more of a factor with my legs and push them back a little bit. I just saw that we had full control and it was nothing more than just seeing a lane to the net and trying to jump through it as fast as I could.”

Leading 4-1, Jordan Kyrou, who scored in Game 1, got into the scoring again with his second power-play goal of the series, again using Brayden Schenn as a screen and beating Hellebuyck high glove at 7:56 of the third period and put the game out of reach – if it wasn’t already – at 5-1.

And then Toropchenko, following the blueprint of what the Blues wanted to go driving the net, did just that and redirecting a Jake Neighbours pass from the slot at 10:32 of the third to make it 6-1 that chased Hellebuyck from the game in favor of Eric Comrie.

And Parayko, getting some power-play time, bombed away a power-play goal at 16:17 for the 7-2 final.

So as far as best players being best players, the Blues received 15 points (six goals, nine assists) from Fowler, Thomas, Buchnevich, Kyrou and Parayko.

Fowler's five points set the franchise record for points by a defenseman, besting Brian Benning, who had four points (all assists) against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 11, 1987.

And Buchnevich's hat trick is the first in the playoffs since Vladimir Tarasenko in 2022 against the Minnesota Wild and first at home since Jaden Schwartz had one in 2019 in the clinching Game 6 of the first round against the Jets.

* Blues checked with purpose – The first 10 minutes was also a perfect example of not only playing North hockey but having a checking aspect.

The Blues had 63 hits in the game, a franchise record in a playoff game, and some might look at that and say they were chasing hits.

That’s farthest from the truth.

Jake Neighbours became the second Blue (Brayden Schenn in Game 1) with nine hits in a game, and Nathan Walker had seven.

There are those that say when you’re hitting, it means you don’t have the puck. The Blues were hitting and winning the puck, so they were timing their hits that helped them get the puck.

Take Buchnevich’s hat trick goal for example. When the puck is played behind the net, Thomas recognizes that there’s a goalie there that doesn’t handle the puck like theirs and there’s a chance to disrupt zone exits with a forecheck. Thomas was able to take advantage of a nonchalant Hellebuyck, stripping it from the goalie, and Buchnevich was the F2 in and took advantage of the pressure and curled to backhand the puck in the net at 5:24 of the third period that made it 4-1. It came 52 seconds after Winnipeg got some life on a David Gustafsson goal at 4:32 to make it 3-1.

“I thought ‘Buchy’ has been good in the first two games, especially defensively,” Montgomery said. “But offensively, I thought there was more in his game, and I thought he brought that tonight. Not only him, but that line and our power play.”

“It’s amazing,” Fowler said. “’Buchy’ is a heart-and-soul guy. He’s a huge part of our team, a huge part of our locker room, a huge part of why we were able to get a win tonight. A special night for him. It’s not something that comes around very often to get the chance to score three goals in a playoff game. I know he’ll tell you the team getting the win means more to him as well and that’s the mindset that we have to have, but it was a special night for him and he should enjoy it.”

Now the Blues have to carry this momentum into Sunday’s game. The Jets will make their adjustments, the Blues will have to counter. But if they can keep this blueprint moving forward, there will be more success throughout the series.