Posts

Posted on

Three takeaways: Some Panthers earn praise after loss in Tampa, Cats ready to focus on playoffs

Apr 15, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Evan Rodrigues (17) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh (43) and Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) attempt to defend during the third period at Amalie Arena. (Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images)

The regular season is over for the Florida Panthers.

For the sixth straight season, that only means its time for the real fun to begin.

Florida closed out their regular season schedule on Tuesday night, dropping Game 82 to the Tampa Bay Lightning by a final score of 5-1.

While yes, it was a preview of the upcoming Stanley Cup Playoff series between the Cats and Bolts, the game was far from an example of what those games will look like.

The Panthers knew they were locked into third place in the Atlantic Division and had nothing to play for in terms of playoff positioning, so Florida rested several of their regular players, including Sasha Barkov, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell and Gus Forsling.

They’ll look much different when they line up for Game 1 at Amalie Arena.

Let’s get to Tuesday’s takeaways:

NO MORE CRAZY SCHEDULE

With the end of the regular season comes Florida never having to deal with that insane schedule ever again.

Well, hopefully not.

Now that it’s playoff time, schedules will calm down into a much more traditional and predictable layout.

Sure, there will be the random extra day off or back-to-back, but for the most part, it’ll be at least one day between games, sometimes two, due to travel, elimination games or scheduling conflicts.

While the Panthers didn’t look particularly good during Tuesday’s game in Tampa, their schedule and depleted roster had a hand in that.

At least for the start of the playoffs, neither of those should be an issue.

“That’s an example of what nine games in 15 days does,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “I’m learning for the first time. I’ve gone about 27 seasons and I’ve never seen that schedule before.”

SOME THINGS TO LIKE

The game may have been an overall stinker, but that’ll happen when you fall behind 3-0 in the first period and never trim the deficit smaller.

Nobody was making excuses after the game, but this was one of those nights where Tampa was sharp, they were aggressive and they were getting many of the bounces, which often happens to the team deserving of such grace from the hockey gods.

Still, leaving it to Maurice to pull some positives from the effort.

‘Carter Verhaeghe looks like he's back, I loved Roddy’s (Evan Rodrigues) game tonight, I thought he was going,” Maurice said. “I thought the (penalty) kill was good when it had to be at times. We got out and I don't think we lost any more players, which is a nice change for us.”

PUMPED FOR THE POSTSEASON

Now it’s time to shift the mentality to a seven-game series. Win four before they do.

Over the past several seasons, the Panthers have earned their stripes and learned the ins and outs of how to win during the playoffs.

As has been the case in each of the past two years, Florida’s postseason roster looks quite different than it did a year ago.

The Panthers feel they’ve never had a deeper roster, and if they can get everyone healthy sometime during round one, it will be fun to see just what this group is capable of.

You better believe they’re all chomping at the bit to get going.

“I think they're excited about the start,” Maurice said. “I think we had a real learning experience this year, going through the grind of a regular season after last year, and lost some guys for big chunks of time, so it was a grinder for us, but there was lots to learn, and they stuck together and were cheering for each other, and now we're at the part of the year that everybody's really excited about.”

LATEST STORIES FROM THE HOCKEY NEWS - FLORIDA

Panthers end regular season with 5-1 defeat in Tampa Bay

Locked into third place, Panthers close out regular season in Tampa against potential first round opponent

Three takeaways: Not the prettiest of games, Kulikov solid in return from injury

Panthers allow Rangers to score four straight goals, lose 5-3 in final home game of regular season

'He's not that far off': Paul Maurice provides update on Matthew Tkachuk as playoffs near

Posted on

Francisco Lindor says fielding error is to blame for latest Mets loss: 'It's unacceptable'

Tuesday night's matchup between the Mets and the Twins was tightly contested. Both offenses were unable to push across runs, one mistake could tip the scales in the other team's favor, and that's what happened in the third inning.

After Tylor Megill allowed two baserunners to reach with one out, the big right-hander got DaShawn Keirsey Jr. to pop out on a bunt attempt and was a batter away from getting out of the inning unscathed. Ty France hit a soft grounder to Francisco Lindor, but the sure-handed infielder botted the ball and allowed a run to score on the error.

Carlos Correa would follow with an RBI single and gave the Twins a 2-1 lead.

"It happens, that’s baseball. He’ll get over there, he’s too good of a player," manager Carlos Mendoza said of Lindor's error after the game. "They’re human, they’re going to make mistakes. I’ll take my chances with him every time."

"Today my eyes got a little blurry because of the weather but it’s unacceptable. What’s happening right now is unacceptable," Lindor explained. "I gotta be better. It's not to the standards the Mets have, it's definitely not to the standard I have for myself. It's been two games already that cost the team. Gotta get better for sure."

The other game Lindor is talking about occurred back on April 1, when he made two errors, one allowing the Marlins to score two unearned runs, which proved to be the difference.

Now, his two runs weren't the difference in Tuesday's 6-3 loss, but on a day when the Mets offense -- outside of Pete Alonso and Juan Soto -- could not do any damage against starter Bailey Ober and the rest of the Minnesota pitching, they proved large.

Lindor was asked about the weather affecting his eyes -- potentially significant considering Lindor has had issues with dry eyes in the past -- but the Gold Glove shortstop said it wasn't the reason he missed the ball. And he feels bad for Megill who he said executed his pitches to get out of the jam in the third.

"I have to finish the play for [Megill]," Lindor said. "Ultimately, it’s a game of execution. Today they played the game cleaner than us, that’s why they came out on top."

Lindor had just 12 errors all of last season. So far this year, he has four. The NL MVP runner-up didn't have a reason for his defensive performance so far this year but knows how important it is for him to figure it out.

"I’m going to have to get better," he said. "I have to finish the plays for the boys. I have to execute."

Posted on

Three Takeaways from the Calgary-Vegas Game (April 15)

Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) guards his net against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Thursday, April 15, 2025 in Calgary. (Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

The Calgary Flames beat the Vegas Golden Knight 5-4 after a shootout, but if you’ve been following the news, you know that is not the bigger news.

Despite the win, Calgary was eliminated from playoff contention thanks to a win by St. Louis in their final game against Utah, and Minnesota forcing overtime against Anaheim and getting one point to qualify for the post-season.

But its only fair to critique this game, as the team put on a fight (and won) despite knowing in the second intermission they had been knocked out of the playoff race.

Here are my three takeaways from the game:

1)     A whole lot of scrappiness in the third despite bad news

For a team that had just realized they were no longer in the running for the Stanley Cup, this Calgary bunch looked quite feisty. After entering the third period down 3-1 with the man-advantage, Nazem Kadri scored 32 seconds in, before Mikael Backlund put the puck back in the net after another 32 seconds, tying the game. This team may have not made it into the playoffs, but they have a lot of fight in them.

2)        Special Teams

Calgary was 2-for-2 on the man-advantage. Now, this was a welcome surprise to see. This was the first time the Flames had scored two power play goals since their Feb 5 home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

With their penalty kill being 2-for-2, they are now 19-for-20 (95%), since March 26, the best in the league since then.

3)      Shot-blockers

In regulation, despite sitting out some of their top offensive weapons, Vegas outshot Calgary 42-28. That put goalie Dustin Wolf in for a long night, and that’s not even taking the overtime shootout into account.

But it would’ve been made worst had the Flames players not blocked 19 of the Knights’ shots. Defenseman Joel Hanley came out on top with four blocks.  Fellow defenseman MacKenzie Weegar and forward Blake Coleman had three each.

Calgary’s final regular season game will be against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday at 7:30 MT/9:30 ET.

Posted on

From the Pocket: love and optimism turns to despair as Melbourne reach end of an era

Want to get this in your inbox every Wednesday afternoon? Sign up for the AFL newsletter here.

Earlier this year, Melbourne invited several dozen journalists and broadcasters to a breakfast in the MCC committee room. The club felt they had botched their messaging in recent years and were keen to shift the narrative. They spoke about “cleansing” and “trauma”. They locked down a new theme for the year: “Love. Play. Celebrate.” “Soul-searching was prioritised over Sherrins,” News Corp said.

At that point in the pre-season, there were grounds for optimism. There were still 16 premiership players on the list, several champions who seemed certain to leave had stayed, and some excellent young players were coming through. Despite losing to GWS Giants in round one, they gave every indication that they were a team for the long haul. They were clearly emotionally invested, their team defence was solid and they blooded five debutants, all of whom looked capable. The Giants, semi-finallists in 2024, played outstanding football in the final term but were arguably fortunate to pinch it.

This is an extract from Guardian Australia’s free weekly AFL email, From the Pocket. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions

Continue reading...
Posted on

Patience at the plate and slick defense help Dodgers continue Jackie Robinson Day dominance

Los Angeles Dodgers' Will Smith celebrates his three-run home run in the dugout during the third inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in Los Angeles, Tuesday, April 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
Will Smith celebrates his three-run home run in the third inning. (Kyusung Gong / Associated Press)

Two sloppy tendencies — one involving gloves, the other bats — repeatedly cost the Dodgers during a slipshod 10-game stretch that followed their 8-0 start to the season: Uncharacteristic defensive miscues and an inability to lay off pitches out of the strike zone.

Both were solved early and emphatically in a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers improved to 17-4 on Jackie Robinson Day, the April 15 tradition since 2004 that celebrates and honors the anniversary of the Dodgers' Black Hall of Fame infielder breaking the color barrier in 1947.

"This is an emotional day for me," said the Dodgers' Dave Roberts, who along with the Angels' Ron Washington are the only Black managers in major league baseball.

"People that have certainly never seen Jackie Robinson, just hear some stories, are trying to live in a way that he lived. And that's something that is so powerful for me."

Because the Dodgers didn't chase errant pitches, they chased Rockies starter Ryan Feltner in only 2 2/3 innings after he walked six and threw 81 pitches, leading to one run in the second inning and four in the third.

Read more:Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has strong words for Dodgers on importance of Jackie Robinson Day

Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman walked, then jogged home when Will Smith crushed a first-pitch sinker over the left-field wall in the third. Smith continued his hot start — his .482 on-base percentage entering the game was the best in baseball — with his second homer of the season.

Tommy Edman doubled with two out in the third — one of his four hits — and scored after Max Muncy walked on Chris Taylor's single to extend the lead to 5-0. One more walk, this one to Andy Pages, and Rockies manager Bud Black had seen enough, lifting Feltner, who in September had pitched six scoreless innings against the Dodgers.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers made outstanding defensive plays that helped strand runners in each of the first four innings and enabled spot starter Landon Knack to navigate 4 1/3 innings in 65 pitches, including 41 strikes.

With a runner on second and none out in the second inning, second baseman Edman knocked down a hot smash from Mickey Moniak, scooped up the ball and threw him out by a whisker. Then with two out, shortstop Mookie Betts made a slick backhand play deep in the hole and retired Jacob Stallings on a one-hop throw to first.

Read more:Hernández: Dodgers' celebration of Jackie Robinson Day rings hollow in wake of White House visit

With a runner on second and none out in the third inning, center fielder Taylor made a diving catch on a line drive directly in front of him, and Knack again stranded the runner. The Rockies scored two runs in the fourth on a two-out double by Jacob Stallings and Knack exited after retiring the first batter in the fifth, having reached a predetermined pitch count.

The win was the Dodgers' second in a row over the Rockies, which could be expected. Colorado is 3-14, including 1-10 on the road. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are 13-6, including 9-2 at home, and have won 32 of their last 42 games against the Rockies.

Teoscar Hernández sat out a second game in a row because of illness, but Roberts said the slugging outfielder would return to the lineup Wednesday.

Miller time to arrive early

Bobby Miller will start for the Dodgers on Wednesday, his first big league appearance since September, when he was so ineffective he was deemed unusable during the postseason.

Miller gave up 17 earned runs in 11.1 innings over three September starts, capping a perplexing and injury-riddled sophomore season. In 56 innings he posted an 8.52 ERA, the worst in baseball among pitchers who logged more than 50 innings.

Read more:Man used Jackie Robinson contracts to steal millions from investors. Then he fled to Russia seeking asylum

It was a precipitous fall from the lofty expectations the Dodgers developed after Miller’s rookie season in 2023 when he went 11-4 in 124.1 innings, posting a perfectly acceptable ERA of 3.76 in 22 starts and looking every bit a mainstay of the rotation for years to come.

The former first-round draft pick out of Louisville appears to have returned to form at triple-A Oklahoma City this season, posting a 2.25 ERA while giving up only six hits in 12 innings over three appearances.

When he was demoted in September, Miller vowed to return to the Dodgers with a vengeance.

“There is no doubt in my mind, whenever that may be, I’m going to be back better than I ever have,” he said.

He’ll get his first chance at fulfilling that promise against the Rockies.

Sign up for more Dodgers news with Dodgers Dugout. Delivered at the start of each series.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posted on

Mets Notes: Tylor Megill's tough start, Justin Hagenman to pitch Wednesday

Following the Mets' disappointing 6-3 loss to the Twins on Tuesday night, manager Carlos Mendoza and players spoke about the game and other topics...

Tylor Megill's start against Twins

Megill was on the mound for Tuesday's game and was a victim of some tough luck. After scattering Twins hits for the first two innings, Minnesota would get on the board in the third thanks to a Francisco Lindor error.

He would allow two more runs and eventually take his second loss of the season, with an odd stat line that doesn't necessarily tell the story of his start.

"Hard time getting ahead, strike one, deep counts, foul balls. Only a couple of balls were hit hard…just didn’t get ahead the way we wanted to," Mendoza said of Megill's performance after the game. "Gave us five [innings] and yea..."

"Don’t think it was terrible. Threw a lot of strikes, got a lot of groundballs. Got out of traffic early tonight," Megill said assessing his start. "Trying to get groundballs, keep runners close. Thought I did a really good job of that."

Megill echoed his skipper that he couldn't keep his pitch count down thanks to being unable to get Twins hitters out, despite feeling he continued to attack the batters. The big right-hander said the Twins put together good at-bats especially later in the game, which doomed any opportunity of going more than five innings.

Although he didn't walk a batter, Megill gave up four runs (two earned) on eight hits but could only strike out three batters.

Overall, Megill felt his start was productive despite the results. The lack of walks was brought up and Megill said he'd take that sort of performance every time.

"Nothing crazy, rather get singled to death," Megill said. "Not like it’s damage, I’ll live with that all day."

This is Megill's second consecutive loss and his ERA rose to 1.40, which is qualified for eight-best in the majors so far this season.

Justin Hagenman call-up

With the news that Griffin Canning would miss his Wednesday start due to illness, the question of which pitcher would be called up to take his spot. Mendoza finally made the decision known after the game, and the 28-year-old right-hander is getting the call. However, the team isn't sure what Hagenman's role will be.

"The question now is if we’re going with an opener or we’ll give him the start," Mendoza said.

When asked if Hagenman will be the long-man on Wednesday no matter what, Mendoza kept it coy and simply said the right-hander will be active.

Hangenman has made three appearances (two starts) with Triple-A Syracuse this year. He's allowed eight earned runs on 15 hits and four walks over 10.1 innings pitched.

Feb 25, 2025; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) throws a baseball into the stands after the second inning against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches.
Feb 25, 2025; West Palm Beach, Florida, USA; New York Mets shortstop Luisangel Acuna (2) throws a baseball into the stands after the second inning against the Houston Astros at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches. / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Luisangel Acuña an option in center?

With Jose Siri about to miss significant time with a fractured leg, the Mets have some question marks in their outfield.

While Tyrone Taylor will likely play center field the most in Siri's absence, how will the Mets rotate their other outfielders? Mendoza spoke about the situation prior to Tuesday's game.

"Tyrone, very comfortable with him playing center," Mendoza said of his center field options. "[Brandon] Nimmo, Acuña if we have to."

Mendoza was asked if Acuña is good in centerfield and the Mets skipper said the organization believes in the youngster's abilities.

"The reports we got last year was he covers a lot of ground, we know the speed but routes and all that," he explained. "I remember talking with Dick Scott, our Triple-A manager, and how he was impressed not just at short/second but in the outfield too."

Now, Mendoza wouldn't go as far as to start him there any time soon, but are preparing for it if they have to. Acuña

"If we get there, I’m comfortable," Mendoza said. "In the meantime, we’re good with Tyrone."

Posted on

‘I love this man for saving my life’: Michael Watson’s unbreakable bond with Peter Hamlyn

The neurosurgeon saved the boxer’s life in 1991 and since then the pair have become close friends

“This man is my hero,” Michael Watson says simply as he turns to Peter Hamlyn, the neurosurgeon who saved his life and carried out seven operations on the stricken boxer’s brain in the aftermath of his fight against Chris Eubank in September 1991. “We are like family, me and Peter, and we have unusual banter. Peter says I’m a little bit dark to be family.”

Watson chuckles at his friend’s quip but, having interviewed Watson multiple times before and after the fateful bout that pushed him close to death, and having spent the morning with Hamlyn, I sense an essential truth. The brain surgeon and the boxer share a deeply compassionate intent to help each other.

Continue reading...
Posted on

Utah HC Inaugural Season Comes to an End Against Playoff Bound St. Louis Blues

Apr 15, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Utah Hockey Club center Alexander Kerfoot (15) controls the puck from St. Louis Blues right wing Jimmy Snuggerud (21) during the first period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images

All things come to an end.

Sometimes it isn't pretty, like Utah HC’s 6-1 season-ending loss to the St. Louis Blues, who clinched a playoff spot with the win.

But for Utah, the end of this season is only the beginning of many more to come. Instead of lingering on the disappointment of missing the playoffs, Utah is in a position where it can look ahead with optimism.

There’s just something about Utah defensemen’s homecomings that result in Utah losses.

This time, it was Robert Bortuzzo’s turn to fall short in his return to the St. Louis Blues—a team he was a part of for over 10 seasons, winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2019. Rumors that this might have been the final game of his 14-year NHL career only made his appearance more sentimental.

But it was the playoff implications for the Blues that ultimately overshadowed Bortuzzo’s return, leading to a dominant win.

It wasn’t as if the Blues didn’t celebrate Bortuzzo, as he did receive a standing ovation from the St. Louis faithful.

But the Blues looked incredibly hungry and motivated to control their own fate and clinch a playoff spot.

Early on, they capitalized on poor positioning during an odd-man rush, as both defensemen—Ian Cole and Michael Kesselring—were caught playing high in the offensive zone.

With only Logan Cooley back on defense, a simple swipe at the puck was all Jimmy Snuggerud needed to kick off the breakaway. Ultimately, Brayden Schenn would score on the rebound of Snuggerud's shot.

The Blues once again showed plenty of energy and focus, scoring their next goal after a series of decisive passes led to a wide-open chance for Pavel Buchnevich.

But that wouldn’t be the end of the Blues’ success in the first period, as they scored two more power-play goals to take a 4–0 lead to end the period. 

With strong defense stifling Utah’s offense, the deficit proved far too much to overcome. Utah’s only goal came from Clayton Keller on its first power play of the second period, briefly cutting into the lead.

Despite a much better second period from Utah, the Blues entered the third having made the proper adjustments to get back to their game plan. They limited the power-play opportunities Utah had in the second and recreated both the offensive and defensive success they showed in the first, scoring two more goals to secure the win.

It is an unfortunate trend: Utah has now lost its last three games when a defenseman returned to face his former team on the road.

In Mikhail Sergachev’s return to Tampa for the first time since being traded, the Lightning handed Utah its worst loss in franchise history, winning 8–0.

The very next game, Kevin Stenlund also came up short on his homecoming night against the Florida Panthers. Utah did play much better as it managed to force overtime in that game, despite struggling to generate offense or create quality scoring chances. Still, the game would end in a 2-1 for Utah. 

But whether or not this marks the end of Bortuzzo’s career, it had to feel good to get a start—his first since Jan. 2 against Calgary—against a team he shares so many memories with. 

And if it truly is his last game, there couldn't be a better way to end his career than in St. Louis. 

Despite ending on a losing note, the inaugural season for Utah was an improvement in every way.

On the ice, the team earned 89 points in the standings, surpassing the performance of last year's squad when they were still playing as the Arizona Coyotes. The development of young stars like Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther also helped team captain Clayton Keller set new career highs in both assists and points. 

Not only that, but the stadium improved, with the Delta Center now serving as its official home, rather than a temporary relocation. The practice facility, once completed, will be considered one of the best in the NHL, as announced with the completion of its construction.

While the team’s move from Arizona to Utah was a significant change, it’s hard to ignore the benefits that the change in scenery under new owners Ryan and Ashley Smith has brought.

Vejmelka Caps Off Strong Season With Goalie Of The Week HonorsVejmelka Caps Off Strong Season With Goalie Of The Week HonorsThe NHL has announced their top goalies of the week, and to no one’s surprise, Utah Hockey Club’s Karel Vejmelka has been named as one of them.

The season may have ended without a postseason trip for Utah, but it served as a great building block and transition year. The team is sure to improve with more time and talent joining in the future.

Still, Utah surely would have wanted to take home a win against the team that stole its playoff berth.

But with Utah general manager Bill Armstrong having success with both the draft and his recent trades, Utah fans should be excited for what the offseason has to offer and how it will ultimately improve the team ahead of next season.

Utah's Keller & Schmaltz Set Career-Highs Against PredatorsUtah's Keller & Schmaltz Set Career-Highs Against PredatorsLast night, in Utah Hockey Club's 7-2 win over the Nashville Predators, a few new career-highs were set. Both Clayton Keller and Nick Schmaltz reached new personal bests in points.
Posted on

Jets to Face Blues in First Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

Photo by James Carey Lauder

The Presidents' Trophy-winning Winnipeg Jets have finally determined their opponent for the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Thanks to a commanding 6-1 win over Utah on Tuesday night, the St. Louis Blues will be travelling to Manitoba's capital for the opening round, best-of-seven series.

With the win, St. Louis eliminated the Calgary Flames from playoff contention and cemented a matchup between the second-place Vegas Golden Knights and the Minnesota Wild in the process.

Despite their final playoff seed positioning, the Blues (43-30-8) are no pushover, as they have gone 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and only recently had their 12-game winning streak snapped (in Winnipeg last week).

Having clinched the trophy for being first in the league, Winnipeg (55-24-4) has had to wait longer than most clubs to begin its plan of attack against its previously unknown opponent.

The other aspect of the opening round matchup is that of the dates of the seven games.

With a concert scheduled for Canada Life Centre on Saturday, and concerts at Enterprise Center the following Friday and Saturday, the most likely plan of attack will be games on Sunday and Tuesday in Winnipeg, followed by Thursday and Sunday in St. Louis, before the series shifts back to Winnipeg for Game 5, and St. Louis for Game 6 and Winnipeg again for Game 7 - all of which will only occur if needed. 

Unless the concerts featuring Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Winnipeg), Brooks and Dunn (St. Louis) and Katt Williams (St. Louis) are rescheduled, this proposed series schedule would be the most likely scenario.

However, with Winnipeg wrapping up its season on Wednesday, and the Blues now having completed their 2024-25 campaign, the league would be interested in teams done playing before Thursday the option of starting the postseason on Saturday. 

So at this point, all options do remain on the table. 

Head to head this season, Winnipeg holds a 3-1-0 advantage over St. Louis, with a 3.37 goals-for per game up against a 3.01 goals-for from the Blues. Winnipeg allows just 2.33 goals against, while St. Louis gives up on average 2.84 goals a game. The Jets have the best power play, while St. Louis' is ranked No. 18. 

Adding some additional fire to the fold is that of the battle between the Schenn brothers. Blues captain Brayden will take on his older brother Luke, who was added at the trade deadline by Winnipeg. The two have already joked about cutting off all lines of communication should this matchup arise. 

Details on the schedule are expected to come as early as Wednesday. 

Posted on

With fielding under microscope, Yankees' Jasson Dominguez bat comes up big

While much of the pregame chatter about Jasson Dominguez centered around his fielding, it was the young outfielder’s bat that made all the noise in the Yankees’ 4-2 win over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night in The Bronx.

Rather than the ball finding him in left, it was the moment that found Dominguez. After singling in each of his first two trips to the plate, the opportunity to deliver the big hit in the clutch fell to him with the bases loaded and two down in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Yanks trailing by one.

"Really important moment in the game," Dominguez said. "I thought about just trying to get a good pitch, something out over the plate and get a good swing at it."

After taking a good slider for a strike from left-hander Angel Zerpa, Dominguez took a ball and fouled off another slider against the Royals reliever. Dominguez then got a 96 mph fastball up and on the inside corner and turned on it for a bases-clearing double to give the Yankees a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

“Just glad that he could get some results there in a big spot, obviously,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He never seems panicked or rushed, and that’s one of the things that you always liked about him. So you know the situation’s not too big for him.”

Dominguez entered the night with just one hit in 20 at-bats against lefties so far this year. "I've been having a little bit of struggle lately from the right side, but lately I feel like I've done some improvement."

The manager said the big knock can boost his confidence, but “as much as anything, it’s an experience thing for him.”

“He hasn’t had a lot of right-handed at-bats,” Boone said. “I think over time that will improve, and I think he’ll be productive from that side.”

At the plate, he finished 3-for-3 (with three RBI) on balls that were hit 95.1, 100.5, and 106.4 mph.

Of course, for the second straight night, Dominguez came out of the game with the Yanks ahead. But on Tuesday night, circumstances were a bit different as Boone said the young left fielder “lost his contacts” while running the bases on his three-run double in the previous half inning. Dominguez wasn't sure what happened but believes it occurred when he knocked his helmet into his face on his backswing.

And, sometimes, for a manager, fortune shines on you. Even if the defensive switch was made out of necessity – Dominguez not being able to see as opposed to not being trusted in later innings – the addition of Trent Grisham in center (moving Cody Bellinger over to left) paid off big time.

After Max Fried issued a leadoff walk, MJ Melendez, who homered in the third, smoked an 0-1 sinker (108.6 mph off the bat) to center field.

Fortunately, Grisham got a great jump on the ball and was able to track it down for an over-the-shoulder catch and a 396-foot out to preserve the 4-2 lead rather than allowing a potential RBI triple.

It is likely that had Dominguez not lost his contacts, he would have remained in the game – he was 3-for-3, after all, and before the game, Boone said he was comfortable keeping the 22-year-old in to play left field rather than use a defensive replacement to help protect a lead.

“It’s just kinda how I’ve wanted to do it and breaking him in and in understanding our roster and some of the strengths of our roster,” the manager said in talking about his late-game decisions before first pitch. “I think JD is gonna turn into a really, really good one out there and I think he’s getting there day after day and we’re seeing [it].”

Boone added that he’s seen “over the last month, back-end of spring training into the early part of this year, [his] route efficiency, reacting properly to the ball is all improving.”

“I have no issue with him being out there now,” the manager continued. “It’s just on the days I got Trent Grisham sitting over there with [Bellinger]. I’m gonna take advantage of our roster and try and bring [Dominguez] along in the best way possible. But excited with the way he keeps moving the needle.”

Posted on

Penguins Nominate Forward Kevin Hayes For King Clancy Memorial Trophy

Apr 8, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Kevin Hayes (13) reacts after being named first star of the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at PPG Paints Arena. (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Penguins nominated forward Kevin Hayes for the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, an award given annually to the NHL player “who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”

Hayes, 32, is well-known for his personality on and off the ice, as his peers also just voted him most likely to have a career in broadcasting for the annual NHL Players Association (NHLPA) Players Poll. But his humanitarian efforts are really what distinguish him.

After each home game this season, his initiative, "Hayes' Heroes," recognizes a first responder and their family. For each game in Pittsburgh, Hayes purchases tickets for a first responder and their family, and he meets them after the game. 

The initiative began during his playing days with the New York Rangers, when he honored families affected by the 9/11 attacks. He carried the program over to Philadelphia, then St. Louis, and now Pittsburgh, and first responders as a whole have become a focus.

If Hayes would win the Clancy trophy, $25,000 would be awarded to a charity of Hayes' choice. Every NHL team announced a nominee on Tuesday, and a winner will be chosen by a selection committee that includes former winners of the trophy.

No Penguins' player has ever won the award.

Sidney Crosby Named 'Most Complete Player' For Sixth Consecutive Season In NHLPA Player PollSidney Crosby Named 'Most Complete Player' For Sixth Consecutive Season In NHLPA Player PollFor the sixth consecutive season, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has earned a prestigious honor from his NHL peers.

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!     

Posted on

Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury Gets The Call In OT For Final Regular-Season NHL Game

Marc-Andre Fleury's Wild teammates congratulate him after the team beat the Anaheim Ducks in overtime Tuesday night. (Matt Blewett-Imagn Images)

The Minnesota Wild got the point they needed to clinch a playoff spot, so they made a switch in goal.

With the score tied at 2-2 against the Anaheim Ducks after regulation, the Wild pulled goaltender Filip Gustavsson to give Marc-Andre Fleury the final regular-season action of his NHL career.

The 40-year-old from Sorel, Que., announced last April this season would be his last. He stopped all five shots he faced in 4:42 of overtime action before Matt Boldy received a pass from Marcus Johansson in the slot and fired the puck past Ducks goalie Lukas Dostal for the OT-winner.

Fleury's teammates swarmed him to celebrate win No. 575 in Game No. 1,051 of his 21-season career. 

Afterward, Ducks players lined up to shake Fleury's hand with fans giving a standing ovation and Coldplay's Viva La Vida playing over the speakers.

'Flower' then saluted the crowd and fist-bumped his teammates as chants of "Fleury, Fleury, Fleury" emerged.

Fleury has played and won the second-most regular-season games of any goaltender in NHL history, trailing only Hockey Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur in both categories. His 76 shutouts are tied for 10th all-time, and he has a career 575-339-2-95 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.

He won the Stanley Cup three times with the Pittsburgh Penguins and also won the Vezina Trophy and the William M. Jennings Trophy with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020-21. He's the Wild's nominee for this year's Masterton Trophy as well.

Minnesota just needed one point to clinch a playoff spot. With the extra point, the team finished in the first wild-card place in the Western Conference and will face Fleury's former team, the Golden Knights, in the first round. 

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.

Posted on

Calgary Flames Eliminated from Playoff Contention After Win by St. Louis, Point by Minnesota

(Photo: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images)

It's unfortunately set in stone: the Calgary Flames will not be part of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It became official when St. Louis beat Utah 6-1 during the second intermission of the Flames' own game with the Vegas Golden Knights. 

Earlier, Minnesota took the other wild-card spot by getting a point after forcing overtime in the final minute of their game against Anaheim.

The Flames season was highlighted by the coming of rookie goaltender Dustin Wolf, who is in the running for the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. Other young stars that made an impact include Connor Zary and Matt Coronato.

Calgary still has one more regular season game left. It is a Thursday away encounter against the Los Angeles Kings. Considering the elimination, another highly touted prospect, Zayne Parekh, could make his debut in that game.

Posted on

Anthony, Magic claim 7th seed with 120-95 win over Hawks in Play-In Tournament

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Cole Anthony came off the bench with 26 points and six assists to lead the Orlando Magic to a 120-95 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night in the first game of the Play-In Tournament.

Paolo Banchero had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Magic, and Wendell Carter Jr. added 19 points and seven rebounds. Anthony Black scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting off the bench in the Magic’s first appearance in a play-in game.

Earning the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed after a 41-41 regular season, the Magic will start their first-round playoff series at Boston on Sunday. Orlando split its four games against the defending NBA champs this season, but the Celtics rested their top six players in a loss at Orlando last week.

“It’s a great opportunity to play against the best team in the league, and they’re the champs still until somebody beats 'em,” said Magic coach Jamahl Mosley. “What they present is a lot of challenges, and we have to try to find a way to figure that out.”

Trae Young led the Hawks with 28 points and six assists before getting two technical fouls and an automatic ejection with 4:47 left in the game.

“I thought we did a good job on Paolo and Franz (Wagner),” said Hawks coach Quin Snyder, “and they had some other players who really stepped up and made plays.”

The Hawks, who have reached the playoffs through the play-in route in two of the last three seasons, will play at home Friday night for the eighth spot against the winner of Wednesday night’s game at Chicago between the Bulls and the Miami Heat.

Banchero and Black produced most of the offense and the Hawks scored just two points in the final 6 minutes of the first quarter, and the Magic led by as many as 22 late in the first half.

The Hawks cut the gap to three and had a chance to tied the game when they turned it over with 2:36 left in the third quarter.

“They went on their own run and we weathered the storm. We didn’t let them back in the game from that point on,” Anthony said. “We got stops, we pushed the pace and we held a really good offensive team to 90 points.”

Anthony, who averaged 9.4 points in an injury-plagued season, made 10-of-17 shots including 4 -of-9 3-pointers.

---

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Posted on

'It's Going To Be A Blood Bath': Maple Leafs Are Ready For Senators In First Round Of Playoffs After Clinching Atlantic Division

Toronto has clinched the division title for the first time since the 1999-00 season.

Apr 15, 2025; Buffalo, New York, USA; The Toronto Maple Leafs celebrate a win over the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

With a 4-0 win on Tuesday against the Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic division title, their first divisional title since 2000.

The Maple Leafs secured the North division crown in 2021 during the COVID-19 season, but this was clearly different. With a fresh head coach who implemented new systems, Toronto found a way to stand ahead of the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

"I think it's a goal that you set out at the end of the year to claim that. It's a good step for our group," Auston Matthews, who scored his 400th career goal, said on Tuesday.

"Obviously, a lot of work to be done, but a good little checkmark for us."

Toronto's division-clinching win now sets up one of the most anticipated playoff matchups this year: the Battle of Ontario.

The Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators haven't battled in the playoffs since 2004, when Toronto eliminated them in seven games. Since then, the Maple Leafs have won just one playoff series (against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023) but are looking to strike again.

"Yeah, I'm excited. Bring it on," Steven Lorentz said before reminiscing about the Battle of Ontario as a child.

"It's exciting for the fans, obviously. There's a lot of passion in both organizations. But I grew up watching this series when I was a kid a few times, so I've got fond memories and to be able to play in it now is just special, and I'm looking forward to it."

His favorite memory against the Senators in the playoffs?

"I remember the two back-to-back goals, the one five-hole on [Patrick Lalime]. Joe Nieuwendyk, if I remember correctly. But yeah, I just remember being a little kid, having a mini stick net right in front of the TV, and in the TV timeout, I'd fire the ball in the net," Lorentz said.

"Now, to be able to do this, I still feel like I'm that eight-year-old kid watching on TV, but I get to sit on the bench with the big boys and put my effort in out there."

Nieuwendyk gets two soft goals against LalimeNieuwendyk gets two soft goals against LalimeWatch as Joe Niewendyk scores two identical soft goals back-to-back against Patrick Lalime in the game clincher against Ottawa in the 2004 playoffs.---------...

It'll be Lorentz's first playoff series wearing blue and white, but Matthews and Mitch Marner have had their fair share of battles in the postseason. They've played the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, and Tampa Bay Lightning, to name a few, but never the Senators.

"Yeah, it'll be cool. I mean, it's been a long time. Obviously, they're a good young team. They're hungry," Matthew said.

"They've taken steps as well, so I think it's going to be great. It's going to be fun. It's good for hockey. Obviously, it's going to be intense, so I think we're looking forward to it."

Anthony Stolarz, who secured his third shutout in the last eight games, has played the Senators twice this season. The Maple Leafs have lost both times, but Stolarz has put together a .908 save percentage in that span.

After Toronto's win against Buffalo, Stolarz sits first in the NHL with a .926 save percentage. While it remains uncertain who gets Game 1 against Ottawa, Stolarz will be ready if he gets the nod.

"It'll be fun for sure. I think they're a hungry team. They haven't made the playoffs in a couple years here," Stolarz said. "We feel good about our game and it's going to be a blood bath; it's going to be a little bit of a war, so we'll be ready."

Toronto has one final game — against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday — before the playoff fun begins.

Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.