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The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live: Reacting To Jets' Game 1 Win Over Blues

Mark Scheifele and his teammates celebrate a goal on April 19. (Terrence Lee-Imagn Images)

Welcome to the first show of The Hockey News Playoff Frenzy Live, streaming nightly during the NHL's Stanley Cup playoffs.

After the big game of the night, our experts go live to react to the match that was, break down the key moments and storylines, provide updates on the rest of the night's NHL slate and read your opinions.

Playoff Frenzy Live - April 19, 2025 | The Hockey NewsPlayoff Frenzy Live - April 19, 2025 | The Hockey NewsWelcome to Playoff Frenzy Live by The Hockey News presented by STIX.com, where we give our live reactions and break down the latest news to all the biggest g...

On tonight's show, Emma Lingan and Michael Augello look at the Winnipeg Jets' comeback victory against the St. Louis Blues in the first game of the playoffs.

Will the shaky start for both goaltenders cause any issues later in the series? How did the battle of the Schenn brothers go down? What's something to follow in the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche series?

Check out the show right now and share your opinions in the live chat and in our comment section.

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Golden Knights Sticking With Lines That Have Worked

Vegas Golden Knights center Tomas Hertl (48) and right wing Mark Stone (61) and center Jack Eichel (9) celebrates a power play goal scored by Stone against the Dallas Stars during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights flamed out in the first round of the playoffs last year to the Dallas Stars in large part due to HC Bruce Cassidy’s inability to find the best lines. The blame can’t all be put on him as the Golden Knights were ravaged with injuries and did not have enough time to build chemistry among linemates. 

This season, however, is different. No long-term major injuries have leaked into the playoffs, and Cassidy feels comfortable with what he’s seen from his players. 

Heading into a series against a Minnesota Wild team that ranks 15th in goals allowed per game despite an abundance of injuries, Cassidy will go with what’s brought them success throughout the 2024-25 regular season. 

“Karlsson, Olofsson and Smith have been very good since Karly’s comeback, and we got Smitty through trade, so we don’t have to mess around," said Cassidy. "We’ve got Hertl, Dorofeyev and Saad; they’ve been very good together. Hertl missed a few weeks, but in general, they’ve been healthy. So it’s just Jack and Stoney, and then is it Barbie or Howden." 

"Then we got Roy, Kolesar and Pearson, and we have to decide that, but in general, we’re going to revert back to those lines we had earlier because guys have moved around. I think the positive side to losing guys to injury is that you get to look at guys in a more advanced role, so that can come in handy down the road. That's how we’re going to approach it to start and see how it turns out."

Jack Eichel, Mark Stone and Ivan Barbashev have been a mainstay on the top line, recording 462:00 of ice time together.

Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev lead the team in goals and have been complemented nicely by Brandon Saad, who they signed as a free agent after he was cut by the St. Louis Blues. 

Victor Olofsson, who was not known for his defensive game with the Buffalo Sabres, has blossomed this season on that side of the puck and has become the perfect final piece to the formidable duo of William Karlsson and Reilly Smith. 

Smith And Karlsson’s Penalty Killing Pose Additional Offensive Threats For Golden KnightsSmith And Karlsson’s Penalty Killing Pose Additional Offensive Threats For Golden KnightsWilliam Karlsson and Reilly Smith are the Vegas Golden Knights franchise leaders in shorthanded goals and points, and after being reunited at the deadline, they are showing just how dangerous and effective they can be on the penalty kill.

At the moment, Cassidy is unsure about who will be playing on the fourth line. One player out of Nicolas Roy, Brett Howden, Keegan Kolsear and Tanner Pearson will be held out of the Game 1 lineup despite being more than deserving of playing. 

The phrase "it’s a good problem to have" gets thrown around a lot in hockey, mostly when referring to having a plethora of depth options, and no team embodies it more than the Golden Knights. 

With several lineup options to choose from, Cassidy can benefit from being able to switch things quickly when it’s not going the Golden Knights' way and have the trust in his players that they can rely on the chemistry they’ve previously shown. 

The Golden Knights may be the odds-on favourite, but a team rostering Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi, Joel Erickson-Ek, Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber will not roll over and let the Golden Knights breeze by. 

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

Storylines Abound When In Opening Round Series Between Golden Knights And Wild, Including Several Head-To-Head MatchupsStorylines Abound When In Opening Round Series Between Golden Knights And Wild, Including Several Head-To-Head MatchupsLAS VEGAS -- There are storylines aplenty across every NHL Playoff series, and will be as we get closer to the Stanley Cup Final. Which Golden Knights Players Have Contract Implications Heading Into The PlayoffsWhich Golden Knights Players Have Contract Implications Heading Into The PlayoffsThe Vegas Golden Knights are heading into the playoffs with an abundance of confidence, winning the Pacific Division and ranking second in the Western Conference. Although most of the team is under contract beyond this season, some are not, and that could bode well for the Golden Knights. 
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Knicks take over in fourth quarter, pull out 123-112 Game 1 win over Pistons

The Knicks pulled out a huge 123-112 win over the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their first round matchup on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Here are some takeaways...

- The Garden was rocking and the Knicks responded with a strong start on both ends of the floor. New York did a good job suffocating Cade Cunningham defensively, and three of their starting five found the bottom of the basket to open an early advantage.

- Landry Shamet was the first man off the bench, subbing in after Josh Hart picked up two early fouls.

- OG Anunoby's offensive surge continued in the first quarter, knocking down five shots including a pair of threes for 12 points. New York limited Cunningham to just two points but his teammates stepped up and made baskets around him, evening things up at 27.

New York-native Tobias Harris had nine points and Malik Beasley drilled a pair of threes off the bench.

- Karl-Anthony Towns was held scoreless in the first, but he led the way for the second unit early in the second. The big man knocked down his first three field goals of the quarter and a technical free throw for defensive three seconds, to help the Knicks jump back in front.

- With Hart picking up his third foul early in the quarter, Towns received minutes alongside Mitchell Robinson, who provided a nice spark with a monster putback jam. The duo struggled defensively, though, as KAT lost Harris at times and the Pistons were able to keep things within shouting distance.

- Anunoby continued leading the way for New York with 19 first-half points, but Harris was just as good as he knocked down 7-of-10 from the field to lead all scorers with 22 points, making it a three-point game heading into the break.

- Former Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. stepped up for Detroit coming out of the break, helping them open the quarter on a 7-0 run to jump back in front. The Pistons continued finding different ways to get to the basket and they opened their largest lead of the game -- before the Knicks came storming back.

- The rest of the quarter was back and forth, but back-to-back blocks from Dennis Schröder and Isaiah Stewart resulted in a five-point swing towards the Pistons, and suddenly the Knicks found themselves trailing by eight heading into the fourth.

- Desperate for a spark, Towns started the quarter knocking down back-to-back baskets. The Knicks used that to help push them back in front, regaining all of the momentum with an incredible 21-0 run, which helped them reopen a double-digit advantage.

Detroit was able to close the gap, but big buckets down the stretch helped the Knicks close out the Game 1 victory.

- Brunson led all scorers with 34 points on 12-of-27 shooting while dishing eight assists. Anunoby and Towns both finished with 23 points, Cameron Payne knocked down three threes and contributed 14 points off the bench (11 in the fourth), while Robinson had six points and six boards.

Bridges sat the entire fourth quarter and was a non-factor, finishing with just six points.

- New York did a really good job on Cunningham, holding him to just 21 points but he had 12 assists. Big man Jalen Duren was limited to just seven points and six boards. Harris stepped up with 25 points, Beasley had 20 points, and Hardaway Jr. had 19.

Game MVP: OG Anunoby

Anunoby was tremendous on both ends of the court, helping New York grab a Game 1 victory.

Highlights

Whats next

The Knicks and Pistons meet in Game 2 of the series on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

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Jets Battle Back for 5-3 Win in Game 1 vs. Blues

Photo by Scott Stroh 

The vibes were high, the crowd was loud, the colour was white.

And the home team got the win. 

Entering the game with an NHL-best 116 points in 82 games, the Winnipeg Jets came out and took the first game of the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by a 5-3 final over the eighth-seed St. Louis Blues.

The Saturday night affair was the first scheduled game of the playoffs for any team, and it most certainly did not disappoint.

Kyle Connor scored the winner with just 1:36 remaining off a cross-ice pass from Mark Scheifele, while Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 14 of the 17 shots he faced for his first win of the playoffs. 

A chaotic first period saw four total goals scored, two per team. 

It was an up and down first period for trade deadline acquisition Luke Schenn. He was in the box to see the Blues score the game's opening goal, on a play that left Robert Thomas all alone in the high slot. He didn't miss, and beat Connor Hellebuyck just 39 seconds into the interference minor.

After Scheifele scored a power play goal just moments into a Jake Neighbours slashing call, Schenn set Jaret Anderson-Dolan up for a deflection, leading to Winnipeg's 2-1 lead. His long-range point shot was tipped by both Morgan Barron and Anderson-Dolan, bouncing past Jordan Binnington and into the Blues' net.

But then, Schenn was victimized on a bad bounce later in the period. He blocked a point shot but couldn't corral his rebound. It landed directly on the stick of Oskar Sundqvist, who quickly buried up high, past Hellebuyck, making it 2-2 before the period came to a close.

But before the clock his zeros, Neal Pionk found himself in the box for yet another suspicious call. All three of the first period penalties were questionable at best.

Again, the Blues struck, getting their second of the game shortly into the second. It was Jordan Kyrou who put a perfectly-placed wrist shot through traffic and into the net, making it 3-2 just 1:13 into the middle stanza. 

Kyrou's goal was the difference in the period, with St. Louis holding onto a 3-2 lead through 40 minutes of play. Winnipeg outshot the visitors 10-6 in the frame, pulling ahead to a 17-15 lead entering the third period.

Winnipeg tied things up on a gritty goal from first-line fill-in Alex Iafallo midway through the third. A power move from Scheifele behind the net saw Iafallo grab the puck in close and beat Binnington five-hole. 

Then, with just 1:36 remaining, Connor blasted his first of the postseason into the net - a goal that proved to be the game-winner. Once again, it was Scheifele who picked up the primary assist, helping the Jets to the 4-3 advantage. 

Adam Lowry got the insurance marker, banking a missed Mason Appleton dump in into the empty net, sealing the deal on a Game 1 victory. 

Some minor fisticuffs ensued, but it was the Jets that came out on top 5-3. 

Game 2 goes on Monday night, with the Jets and Blues facing off at 6:30 PM central time. The game will be aired live on Sportsnet. 

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Devin Williams implodes in ninth inning as Yankees fall to Rays in extras, 10-8

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe tied the score with a two-run single in a four-run ninth inning off Devin Williams, Jonathan Aranda hit a two-run homer in the 10th and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 10-8 Saturday to stop New York’s five-game winning streak.

Williams, an All-Star closer acquired from Milwaukee during the offseason, has a 9.00 ERA and has allowed runs in four of nine appearances. He has walked seven in eight innings.

Given an 8-4 lead, Williams allowed José Caballero’s one-out single on a chopper as third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera made a high throw, then walked No. 9 batter Ben Rortvedt. Chandler Simpson hit an RBI double to left for his first big league hit, Yandy Díaz hit a run-scoring infield single and Lowe singled to left.

After New York wasted runners at the corners with no outs in the 10th against Edwin Uceta (1-1), Aranda led off the bottom half against Yoendrys Gómez with his fourth homer, stopping the Rays’ four-game losing streak.

New York went 6 for 15 with runners in scoring position.

On a foul popup that ended the Yankees’ fifth, Aranda collided with Rortvedt and was on the grass with training staff before walking off on his own power.

Aaron Judge had three hits and three RBIs, and Trent Grisham homered for the Yankees.

Yankees designated hitter Ben Rice left with a bruised left elbow after getting hit by an 88.2 mph slider from Manuel Rodríguez in the fourth inning. X-rays were negative.

Rays starter Shane Baz allowed five runs, his most since July 10, 2022, in 3 1/3 innings. Yankees starter Carlos Carrasco threw just 35 of 78 pitches for strikes and gave up four runs in four innings.

Key moment

With the bases loaded and no out in the first, Paul Goldschmidt grounded sharply to Caballero at shortstop, who started a double play by throwing the ball between his legs to force Austin Wells at second.

Key stat

Simpson was 1 for 5 in his major league debut.

Up next

Yankees LHP Max Fried (3-0, 1.88 ERA) and Rays RHP Ryan Pepiot (1-2, 4.91) start Sunday’s series finale.

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'Locked in' Pete Alonso helping Mets play 'great ball'

At no point last season did Pete Alonso ever look as good as he's looked at the plate to start his 2025 campaign for the Mets.

After another 2-for-4 day, including a double, home run and two RBI in New York's 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, the first baseman is "locked in" offensively right now.

In fact, Alonso said this is the best he's felt at the plate since his junior year of college -- even better than his rookie season in 2019 where he set the rookie home run record with 53 long balls.

"From a consistency aspect, yes," he said, talking about feeling better this year compared to his rookie year. "I mean, I know in 2019 I hit a lot of homers, obviously [I] had a phenomenal year that year, but from a consistency aspect and controlling the zone I definitely feel better [now]."

Alonso's production in the middle of the Mets' lineup since the start of the year has helped carry them to a 14-7 record as other players such as Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto are just now starting to find their groove offensively.

In 21 games, Alonso is batting .356 (26-for-73) with a 1.220 OPS and has six home runs, nine doubles and a triple to go along with 23 RBI.

"He’s locked in. He’s got conviction, he’s got a plan and he’s executing it," said manager Carlos Mendoza. "I don’t think we saw this version last year, maybe towards the end and definitely in the playoffs, but I think right now he’s got conviction, he’s dictating at-bats, he’s ready for his pitches, he’s not missing them and he’s taking his walks when they don’t want to pitch to him. He’s a dangerous hitter."

Following a down season in 2024 that just so happened to be Alonso's walk year which led to him and New York agreeing to a two-year, $54 million late in the offseason -- much less than what Alonso was expecting -- the Mets must be thrilled with the offensive output they're seeing from their first baseman.

Always a threat to go deep, even last year when he hit 34 home runs, Alonso would still strike out a lot and his batting average and on-base percentage were never the highest as a career .251 hitter. However, this season he's striking out less, walking more and not missing when pitcher's make mistakes.

"I think my mechanics are super clean," he said. "I’m able to hold those and carry those pitch to pitch, at-bat to at-bat."

Alonso also credits "having a great gameplan" which includes "staying aggressive in [his] zone" for the start to his season.

But with another great Citi Field crowd on hand, with 42,339 in attendance on Saturday, Alonso isn't discounting the effect the fans have had on the team, who is 8-1 at home, as well

"Obviously having sellout crowds is awesome and I feel like having a jam-packed stadium like this it’s almost like having a 10th guy out there. It’s honestly awesome," Alonso said.

"It’s a good feeling knowing that the ballpark is going to be packed and the fanbase is going to be right behind you," Mendoza added. "Not only are we feeling it, the other team is feeling it… It’s an environment that people probably don’t want to come over here and that’s what you want. That’s why they’re the best fans."

New York hopes to keep the good times rolling as it looks to go for the series sweep on Sunday before starting a three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

"Just wanna keep playing well," Alonso said. "The team is absolutely playing great ball, we’re playing as a unit."

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Inside The Numbers: Penguins' Record In Season Finales

Marc-Andre Fleury and Sidney Crosby Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins just finished their 57th season with a 34-36-12 record, missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the third consecutive campaign.

Despite the ups and downs of the 82-game schedule, the Penguins finished the year on a positive note, defeating the top team in the Eastern Conference, the Washington Capitals, by a 5-2 score on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

The victory in the season finale extended their record in the final game of the regular season to 30-23-2-2. Meanwhile, thanks to a plus-3 goal differential in that game, the club closed the gap in this statistical category, now just minus-1 in season finales, scoring 197 goals and giving up 198. 

Moreover, after being winless in their last two season finales, the Penguins earned their 12th win of the Sidney Crosby era, which began in the 2005-06 season. Ultimately, under his guidance, Pittsburgh has had its best run in the final regular-season games. 

Let's dive into the numbers. 

In the Beginning (1967-1984)

The Penguins won their first two season finales, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers in 1968 (5-1) and 1969 (2-1). They suffered their first loss to the Minnesota North Stars (5-1) in 1970, followed by their first tie in 1971 against the St. Louis Blues (1-1).

During this time, Pittsburgh compiled four two-year win streaks: 1968-69, followed by 1972-73 and 1981-82, with their best run occurring from 1976 to 1978, when they won three straight. 

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing Season25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing SeasonWin or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.

On the other hand, they also experienced three consecutive streaks of back-to-back losses, in 1970-71, 1974-75, and 1983-84. Meanwhile, during the nine seasons the Penguins qualified for the playoffs, they finished the regular season with a record of 5-4 in those years.

Overall, in the first 17 seasons, Pittsburgh was 9-7-1 in season finales, outscored by opponents 64-54.

Lemieux & Jagr Era (1985-2004)

During one of arguably the greatest eras in franchise history, the Penguins didn't have as much success when Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr were winning scoring titles and Stanley Cups. 

As expected, after having the NHL's worst record in 1983-84, the Penguins lost Lemieux's first season finale in 1985 to the Capitals, 7-3.

Mario Lemieux - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

However, the club responded by winning their next four final regular season games from 1986 to 1989, including three in overtime against the New York Rangers (1986), Detroit Red Wings (1987), and Hartford Whalers (1989).

After a few years of success, they dropped three straight finales from 1990 to 1992, including back-to-back years when they would go on to win the Stanley Cup in 1991 and 1992. 

Meanwhile, 1993 featured the only tie of the era, as the Penguins battled the New Jersey Devils to a 6-6 tie to end the 1992-93 season, a year in which the franchise established an NHL record with 17 consecutive victories. One year later, in 1994, the team recorded its first shutout in a season finale, blanking the Ottawa Senators 4-0.

The losses continued into the late 1990s, as the Penguins lost their final regular-season games in 1995, 1996, and 1997, before experiencing a winning streak in 1998 and 1999. This was followed by alternating wins and losses until they suffered back-to-back defeats in 2002 and 2003. 

Penguins Achieved A Historic Goal Scoring Milestone in 2024-25, First Time In Crosby's CareerPenguins Achieved A Historic Goal Scoring Milestone in 2024-25, First Time In Crosby's CareerThe Pittsburgh Penguins are no strangers to scoring, having employed some of the game's greatest snipers like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Mark Recchi, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin.

While Lemieux and Jagr wore black and gold, an era stretching from 1984 to 2004, the Penguins finished 9-10-1 in the season finales, going 0-2 in years they would capture the Stanley Cup. Once again, they were outscored during this time, 85-71, and had a 5-6-1 record in years they qualified for the postseason.

Sidney Crosby Era (2006-Present)

The Penguins won the 2005 NHL Draft Lottery and selected Crosby with the top pick. During his first season, Pittsburgh lost its season finale 5-3 to the Toronto Maple Leafs. But that loss would end up being one of the few for Crosby and the Penguins in the past 20 seasons. 

Besides alternating wins and losses to begin the Crosby era, the Penguins would go on to establish a franchise record with five consecutive season finale wins from 2009 to 2013, thanks to victories over the Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders, Atlanta Thrashers, Flyers, and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Sidney Crosby - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Only once during Crosby's tenure have the Penguins lost consecutive season finales, which occurred in both Stanley Cup title years, 2016 (Flyers) and 2017 (Rangers). 

Meanwhile, the club won another three straight games from 2020 to 2022 before losing in overtime to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 and then to the Islanders in 2024. 

The 2025 season finale victory against the Capitals improved the Penguins' record under Crosby to 12-6-2.

Despite the 2008 club becoming the only one in franchise history to be shut out in a season finale, the 2015, 2018, and 2021 teams recorded shutouts in the final game of the season. Overall, the goal differential during Crosby's tenure is positive at 67-49.

Considering Pittsburgh advanced to the Stanley Cup playoffs from 2007 to 2022, their record in season finales during those seasons was 11-4-1, while they were just 1-2-1 in years they didn't qualify. 

Penguins' Head Coach Sullivan One Of Three Coaches To Accomplish This Historic FeatPenguins' Head Coach Sullivan One Of Three Coaches To Accomplish This Historic FeatPittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan is only the 15th head coach in NHL history to win 400 games with a single franchise. Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman is the only person to achieve this feat with two clubs. 

Finally, the Penguins played in the Stanley Cup Final in 2008, 2009, 2016, and 2017. During those campaigns, they wrapped the regular season with a loss, a win, a loss, and a loss. Surprisingly, when Pittsburgh plays in the Final, they are 1-5 in season finales. 

Penguins Records vs. Opponents in Season Finales

  • Atlanta Flames (1974) 0-1-0 -- 6 GF - 3 GA
  • Atlanta Thrashers (2011) 1-0-0 -- 5 GA - 2 GA
  • Boston Bruins (1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002) 1-4-0 -- 15 GF - 25 GA
  • Buffalo Sabres (1980, 1990, 2015, 2021) 2-2-0 -- 6 GF - 12 GA - 2 SO
  • Carolina Hurricanes & Hartford Whalers (1981, 1988, 2001, 2013) 4-0-0 -- 23 GF - 13 GA
  • Columbus Blue Jackets (2022, 2023) 1-0-0-1 -- 7 GF - 6 GA
  • Cleveland Barons (1978) 1-0-0 -- 3 GF - 2 GA
  • Detroit Red Wings (1976, 1977, 1987) 3-0-0 -- 14 GF - 11 GA
  • Florida Panthers (1995) 0-1-0 -- 3 GF - 4 GA
  • Minnesota North Stars (1970) 0-1-0 -- 1 GF - 5 GA
  • Montreal Canadiens (2009) 1-0-0 -- 3 GF - 1 GA
  • New Jersey Devils (1983, 1993, 2020) 1-1-1 -- 14 GF - 13 GA
  • New York Islanders (1982, 1984, 2010, 2024) 2-2-0 -- 18 GF - 14 GA
  • New York Rangers (1986, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2007, 2017, 2019) 3-3-0-1 -- 18 GF - 26 GA
  • Ottawa Senators (1994, 2014, 2018) 2-1-0 -- 10 GF - 3 GA - 2 SO
  • Philadelphia Flyers (1968, 1969, 1973, 1989, 2008, 2012, 2016) 5-2-0 -- 23 GF - 18 GA
  • St. Louis Blues (1971, 1972) 1-0-1 -- 7 GF - 3 GA
  • Toronto Maple Leafs (2006) 0-1-0 -- 3 GF - 5 GA
  • Washington Capitals (1975, 1979, 1985, 2003, 2004, 2025) 2-4-0 -- 21 GF - 30 GA
Top 10 Winningest Goalies In Penguins History Ft. Greg MillenTop 10 Winningest Goalies In Penguins History Ft. Greg MillenAccording to records available at NHL.com, there have been 71 goalies to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins, 60 of whom have registered a victory. 
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Westbrook fuels Nuggets' comeback to edge Clippers 112-110 in OT in teams' NBA playoff opener

DENVER (AP) Russell Westbrook, whose late-game follies hung over the Denver Nuggets as they navigated the stunning dismissals of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth on the eve of the playoffs, came up clutch against his former team in crunch time Saturday.

“That's who he is,” Nikola Jokic said after watching Westbrook hit an uncontested corner 3-pointer to give Denver a two-point lead late in regulation and then knocking the inbounds pass away from - and off of - James Harden with 9.6 seconds left in overtime to help seal Denver's 112-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

“I just know that (inbounds) play,” from being there the previous two seasons, Westbrook said.

Westbrook had plenty to do with L.A.'s whopping 20 turnovers, including an uncharacteristic seven from Kawhi Leonard.

“Russ is Russ,” interim coach David Adelman said after improving to 4-0. “Defensively, he's absolutely incredible. He was playing free safety out there. I thought a lot of the reasons why the turnovers happened, even if it wasn't him forcing it, (was) just the way he was roaming around and impacting the game.

“And then offensively ... he attacked," Adelman said. “We maybe could have pulled it out and executed. But that's what Russ does. I don't think he's going to change after 17 years. If he sees somebody in front of him 1-on-1, he's going to attack. And then he made an enormous 3.”

Jokic scored 29 points and finished one rebound shy of a triple-double. Aaron Gordon added 25 points and Jamal Murray 21 as the Nuggets overcame a 15-point first-half deficit to power past the hottest team entering the playoffs.

The No. 5 seed Clippers' loss was their first since March 30 at Cleveland. They rolled into the playoffs having won 18 of 21, including their last eight.

“If you turn over 20 times against the team that is No. 1 in offensive transition, then you’re gonna lose the game,” lamented Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.

Harden led the Clippers with 32 points. Leonard added 22 and Ivica Zubac had 21.

Leonard shrugged off the loss, saying the team’s mood was “still good. Just Game 1. You know, Denver’s a good team, especially at home. Still got Game 2.”

That’s Monday night at Ball Arena.

Adelman said the key to the late comeback was actually when Denver closed the second quarter on a 13-2 run to pull to 53-49 at halftime.

“It felt like one of those games where you’re just slowly crawling uphill,” Adelman said.

And Westbrook was leading the way, coming up big despite missing 12 of 17 shots overall.

“A lot of people put a lot of emphasis on missing so many shots,” Westbrook said. “But in the playoffs, all you need to do is just win the game. I don't give a damn about how many shots you miss, make. Just make winning basketball plays defensively, offensively.”

And he did just that.

---

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

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Mets’ Paul Blackburn throws two innings in first rehab start with Brooklyn Cyclones

Mets right-hander Paul Blackburn began a rehab assignment on Saturday night. 

Blackburn took the mound for the Brooklyn Cyclones and he was handed an early lead but gave it right back -- as the second batter he faced crushed a solo homer deep to left-center. 

He issued a walk following that, but got a lineout double play to end the inning. 

The veteran allowed another walk and a hit in the bottom of the second, but was helped out by a caught stealing and a ground out to help him end his first rehab appearance without any further damage. 

Overall, he allowed one run on two hits while walking two and threw 38 pitches. 

Blackburn landed on the injured list after dealing with right knee inflammation late in camp.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said it’s still too early to tell exactly what his role will be when he returns to the big-league club, but they are planning on stretching him out to around 75 pitches to keep the door open on him joining the rotation. 

Blackburn pitched to a 5.68 ERA over five spring training outings.

He has just four appearances in his career out of the bullpen, all with the Athletics.

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Clippers lose Game 1 to Nuggets in overtime

DENVER, CO - APRIL 19: Russell Westbrook #4 of the Denver Nuggets celebrates during the game against the LA Clippers during Round One Game One of the 2025 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2025 at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)
Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook lets out a yell during the overtime win against the Clippers on Saturday in Denver. (Jamie Schwaberow/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Clippers dropped a 112-110 overtime game to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday at Ball Arena to open the playoffs.

They are down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series because Russell Westbrook was as a menace against his former team and supplied the Nuggets with the energy and big plays they needed to get the win.

Westbrook’s last big play was knocking the ball off of James Harden’s hand with 9.6 seconds left in the overtime.

Nikola Jokic made two free throws for a 112-107 lead with 6.5 seconds remaining that sealed the victory.

We’re in good shape,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “We just got to do what we’re supposed to do and what we talked about. We can’t turn the ball over 20 times…We just got to be better with our execution. I think defensively understanding what we’re doing and then offensively understanding how we want to attack them.”

Jokic finished with 29 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds.

Read more:Clippers' Kawhi Leonard still has 'love' for the game of basketball

Harden led the Clippers with 32 points and 11 assists.

Westbrook had 15 points, including two big threes, and eight rebounds and two steals.

The Clippers turned the ball over 20 times.

Jokic not only picked up his fourth foul by getting a double-foul with Ben Simmons in the fourth, he was also hit with a technical foul with 6:41 left.

Jokic felt he was struck in the face by Derrick Jones Jr., knocking him to the court. But no foul was called, drawing the ire of Jokic toward an official who issued the technical foul in a game that was getting tense and tighter as it went along.

Then with 1:27 left and the Nuggets leading by one, Jokic got an offensive rebound and was fouled but he missed both free throws, leaving the Clippers down 95-94.

The Clippers took advantage when Ivica Zubac scored on a goaltending call on Aaron Gordon, giving the Clippers a 96-95 lead with 1:11 left.

But the Clippers turned the ball over after Kawhi Leonard had it bounce off his hip with 33.5 seconds left and the Clippers still up by one.

The Nuggets called a timeout to call an important play after the Clippers’ challenge was unsuccessful.

Jokic, unafraid to make the right pass, and Westbrook, unafraid to take the big shot, combined to make the play. Jokic hit Westbrook in the corner for a three-pointer and a 98-96 Nuggets lead with 23.4 seconds left.

But Harden drove inside for a floater to tie the score at 98-98 with 18.7 seconds left.

That left the ball in Denver’s hands for the final shot.

But the Clippers played great defense and eventually Westbrook intended to put up the ball but could not get off a shot, sending the game into OT tied 98-98.

Harden picked up his fourth foul with 9 minutes and 10 seconds left in the third quarter, but played all 12 minutes in the quarter. Harden didn’t pick up another one before it was over.

Along the way in this game, Harden established himself as one of the NBA’s playoff greats.

He has scored (3,796) career points in the postseason, pushing him past John Havlicek for sole possession of 14th place on the NBA’s all-time playoff points list. Harden has (1,072) assists in the postseason, pushing him past Larry Bird for sole possession of eighth place on the all-time playoff assists list.

When Harden picked up his second foul with 4:55 left in the first quarter, the Clippers had a decision to make. They left him in the game and he immediately attacked with three consecutive drives to the basket — one turning into a three-point play — resulting in an early 12-point lead for the Clippers.

Harden didn’t waver in his play, staying aggressive the rest of the way in playing all 12 minutes in the first, finishing it off with a three-pointer at the buzzer that gave him 15 points on six-for-11 shooting.

Harden’s play seemed to ignite the Clippers, as they built a 15-point lead in the second quarter.

But the Clippers got sloppy with the basketball as the quarter continued, turning it over eight times in the second, leading to the Nuggets trimming L.A.’s lead to 53-49 at the half.

By the end of the third quarter, the game was still close.

But the Clippers still had the lead at 75-72.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Mets’ Mark Vientos day-to-day with groin discomfort, 'not concerned at all'

Mets 3B Mark Vientos left Saturday afternoon’s 3-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals early due to groin discomfort and is considered day-to-day.

Manager Carlos Mendoza spoke after the game and said his third baseman "felt it" after he made a leaping grab on a line drive to start the fourth inning.

"I think it was the batter right after that play, there was a foul ball that he reacted towards the baseball and he felt something," the skipper said.

After testing the 25-year-old following his departure, the team's level of concern is "low-level" and will wait and see how he feels on Sunday.

Nevertheless, Vientos said he feels good and is "almost positive" the injury is more of a cramp than anything else.

"Not concerned at all," he said. "I think it’s just I didn’t drink enough water, made that play and then just felt like a little tweak, but I think I’m good."

The injury comes after Vientos had hit a home run in two straight games and was showing signs of pulling himself out of an early slog offensively.

"[It's] frustrating because it’s something that I can control which is drinking water and staying hydrated, but I’m grateful it’s not too bad," Vientos said.

Vientos was replaced by Brett Baty in the field in the top of the fifth inning and he immediately made an impact -- throwing Thomas Saggese out at the plate attempting to score on a grounder to third. 

Vientos finished the day 0-for-2 with a groundout and a popout. Baty went 0-for-1 with a walk.

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10 NHL Superstars Who Have Never Won A Stanley Cup

Carey Price (Eric Bolte-Imagn Images)

By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News Intern

Winning the Stanley Cup is the ultimate goal for every NHL player, a symbol of perseverance, skill and, yes, a bit of luck. Yet, despite incredible careers filled with jaw-dropping plays, record-breaking stats and Hall of Fame inductions, some of the greatest players in hockey history never had the chance to lift Lord Stanley’s coveted prize.

Whether due to bad timing, unlucky playoff runs, or simply playing for teams that fell short, these legends have left an undeniable mark on the game without ever experiencing championship glory.

Here’s a look at 10 of the best players to never win a Stanley Cup.

Jarome Iginla

Iginla can lay claim to being the best player to ever wear a Calgary Flames sweater. In 1,554 NHL games, the vast majority with Calgary, he put up an impressive 625 goals and 1,300 points.

Iginla also won several individual awards, including a Ted Lindsay Award, Art Ross Trophy, King Clancy Memorial Trophy, Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award and two Rocket Richard Trophies. The closest he ever came to winning it all was in 2004, when the Flames fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games in the Cup final. 

Marcel Dionne

Dionne remains one of the NHL’s most prolific scorers of all time. In 1,348 games, he produced 731 goals and 1,771 points.

Dionne did most of his damage with the Los Angeles Kings, where he blossomed as a star in the 1970s, winning two Pearson (now Lindsay) Awards, a Lester Patrick Trophy, two Lady Byng Trophies and an Art Ross Trophy. Despite not winning a Stanley Cup, Dionne ranks sixth all-time in NHL points.

Peter Stastny

Scoring 109 points in your rookie year is almost unthinkable, but not for Stastny, who won the Calder Trophy in the 1980-81 season. Over his career, Stastny put up 450 goals and 1,239 points in 977 games.

He's a European hockey icon, as he was one of the best European players to step on the ice in the NHL. He scored a lot of goals but never made the Stanley Cup final. 

Henrik Lundqvist

The first goalie on the list is Lundqvist. He led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup final in 2014, losing in five games to the Kings, but that didn't stop him from having a remarkable career.

He’s ranked sixth all-time in goalie wins with 459, posting a career .918 save percentage and 2.43 goals-against average. Not to mention, he won a Vezina Trophy along with a gold medal with Sweden at the 2006 Olympics. Lundqvist also holds the record for most wins as a European-born and trained goalie. 

Pavel Bure

One of the most electrifying players of all time cracks the list, as Bure never won the Stanley Cup, which is hard to believe. In 702 games, he scored 437 goals and 779 points. Bure also scored 60 goals in back-to-back seasons in his second and third years in the NHL.

In 1994, Bure and the Vancouver Canucks pushed their luck to the Cup final, but lost to the Rangers in seven games. It was Bure’s first and only appearance in the Cup final. 

Dale Hawerchuk

Hawerchuk won the Calder Trophy as his only award, but don’t let that fool you. In 1,188 games, Hawerchuk scored 518 goals and 1,409 points. In his career, Hawerchuk also had seven 40-plus goal seasons.

If he were on a better team – his Winnipeg Jets kept running into Wayne Gretzky’s 1980s Edmonton Oilers – maybe he would have won a Stanley Cup.

Eric Lindros

Drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1991, Lindros was heralded as ‘The Next One’ when he arrived in the NHL, as he was expected to be a superstar. Playing most of his career for the Philadelphia Flyers, in 760 games, he put up 865 points, including 372 goals. In just his third year, he won the Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy, putting up 70 points in 46 games.

He wasn’t just known for his scoring, he was described as a beast on the ice with his physicality and strength. But injuries and controversy dogged his career, and his lone appearance in the Cup final came in 1997, when Detroit swept his Flyers.

Carey Price 

One of the greatest goalies to play but never hold Lord Stanley’s Cup is Price. He had an amazing career in Montreal, putting up 361 wins with a .917 save percentage and a 2.51 GAA.

The 2014-15 season was the best in his career, as he won the Vezina Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award, Jennings Trophy and, most impressively, the Hart Trophy. Winning the Hart made him one of just eight goalies to win the MVP. Price led his team through the 2020-21 playoffs, going all the way to the Cup final before losing to Tampa Bay in five games.

Joe Thornton

Thornton, the No. 1 overall pick by Boston in the 1997 NHL draft, is the only player to win the Hart and Art Ross Trophies during a season in which he was traded. That happened in 2005-06, when the Bruins dealt him to San Jose.

One of the best passers and playmakers of his era, Thornton led the Sharks to the Cup final in 2016, falling in six games to Pittsburgh. He finished his career with 430 goals and 1,539 points in 1,714 games.

Connor McDavid

Even though his career is not over, McDavid can stake the (rather ignominious) claim of being the greatest player of all-time to never win a Stanley Cup – at least, not yet. He’s only in his 10th season, but he’s the fourth-fastest player ever to reach 1,000 points, doing it in 659 games.

Out of all the players on this list, he has won the most awards, including five Art Ross Trophies, four Ted Lindsay Awards, one Rocket Richard Trophy and three Hart Trophies. He went to the Cup final last season, losing in Game 7 to Florida, but at least he was recognized with the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. McDavid is far from done and is looking to add a Stanley Cup to his already Hall of Fame career.

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Penguins Achieved A Historic Goal Scoring Milestone in 2024-25, First Time In Crosby's Career

Sidney Crosby, Bryan Rust, and Rickard Rakell - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Penguins are no strangers to scoring, having employed some of the game's greatest snipers like Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Joe Mullen, Mark Recchi, Sidney Crosby, and Evgeni Malkin.

In the 2024-25 season, the Penguins had three 30-goal scorers, led by Rickard Rakell (35), Sidney Crosby (33), and Bryan Rust (31). This season marked the first time in Crosby's 20-year career that he had two other teammates reach the 30-goal plateau. 

Moreover, the last time Pittsburgh had three players score 30 goals or more came in 2000-01 when Lemieux, Jagr, Alex Kovalev, and Robert Lang all reached the milestone.

How Special Was Penguins' Rust's First 30-Goal Season?How Special Was Penguins' Rust's First 30-Goal Season?On Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust finished his first 30-goal season of his career. By netting his 30th and 31st goals, he becomes the 39th player in franchise history to reach 30 goals in a single season while wearing a Penguins sweater. 

Of course, plenty of players have scored 30 goals in the salary cap era, but it was either just Crosby himself, or one other teammate like Jake Guentzel or Malkin. 

Here's a look at the Penguins players who recorded 30 goals or more since the 2005-06 season:

  • 2005-06: Crosby (39)
  • 2006-07: Crosby (36) & Malkin (33)
  • 2007-08: Malkin (47)
  • 2008-09: Malkin (35) & Crosby (33)
  • 2009-10: Crosby (51)
  • 2010-11: Crosby (32)
  • 2011-12: Malkin (50) & James Neal (40)
  • 2013-14: Crosby (36) & Chris Kunitz (35)
  • 2015-16: Crosby (36)
  • 2016-17: Crosby (44) & Malkin (33)
  • 2017-18: Malkin (42) & Phil Kessel (34)
  • 2018-19: Guentzel (40) & Crosby (35)
  • 2021-22: Guentzel (40) & Crosby (31)
  • 2022-23: Guentzel (36) & Crosby (33)
  • 2023-24: Crosby (42)
  • 2024-25: Rakell (35), Crosby (33), & Rust (31)

The franchise record for most 30-goal scorers in a single season first occurred in 1975-76, when Syl Apps (32), Vic Hadfield (30), Pierre Larouche (53), Lowell MacDonald (30), and Jean Pronovost (52) all scored at least 30 goals. 

Their place atop the charts remained unchallenged until Lemieux and Jagr led the attack during the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. During the club's second Stanley Cup-winning season in 1991-92, the Penguins matched the franchise record when Lemieux (44), Jagr (32), Mullen (42), Recchi (33), and Kevin Stevens (54) all tallied more than 30 goals.

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In the following campaign, which saw Pittsburgh establish an NHL record for 17 consecutive victories, Lemieux (69), Jagr (34), Mullen (33), Stevens (55), and Rick Tocchet (48) all had over 30 goals. 

Overall, the Penguins just wrapped up their 57th season and have had at least one player score 30 goals in 46 seasons, or 80.7% of their existence. Those totals break down as follows: five players (three seasons), four players (seven), three players (seven), two players (16), and one player (13). 

25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing Season25 Fascinating Facts About The NHL In 2005-06, The Last Time The Penguins Had A Losing SeasonWin or lose on Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-35-12) will have their first losing season since the 2005-06 campaign, when the club was 22-46-14.