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Untameable darts crowds tell us about the future of sport – and maybe society too | Jonathan Liew

Booing and flashpoints are commonplace in a sport further along on a journey that others are taking to varying degrees

Let me tell you the moment I realised Boris Johnson was fucked. It was late 2021 and there had been some talk about parties in Downing Street during Covid, but in these febrile siloed times, when the entirety of human existence has blurred into a single personalised scrolling feed, who even knows what constitutes “the news” any more? Who knows what fragments of reality ever emerge from Westminster’s furiously spinning vortex of unintelligible jargon: prorogue, backstop, Aukus, Slapps? What is a Morgan McSweeney and what time does it start?

But then came the magical night, a few days before Christmas, when the darts crowd turned. As Florian Hempel swept to a routine first-round win against Martin Schindler (bit of an upset, to be honest, but you never write off Flo at the Palace), Alexandra Palace rocked to strains of “Boris is a cunt”. Fans held up signs reading “Work Event”, drew pictures of cheese and wine and gleefully held them up to the cameras. And you realise, with a piercing we’ve-lost-Cronkite clarity: oh wow, he’s fucked.

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Aaron Gordon 3-pointer caps 19-6 closing Denver run to steal Game 1 in Oklahoma City 121-119

In a span of less than five minutes Monday night, the "Oklahoma City isn't ready for this" crowd got all the ammunition it needed.

The Thunder led most of the night by double-digits, by 13 at one point in the fourth quarter and by 11 with 4:31 left after a Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 3-pointer. All OKC needed was its league-best defense to do its job and it would have another home playoff win. Then Denver went on a 19-6 run to close the game, capped off by another Aaron Gordon clutch moment, this one a game-winning 3-pointer.

That combined with a 42-point, 22-rebound night from Nikola Jokic earned a resilient Denver Nuggets team a 121-119 road win and a 1-0 lead in this Western Conference Semi-Final series. Game 2 is Wednesday night in Oklahoma City.

This is a heartbreaking loss for the Thunder, who were up by double-digits most of the night but could not close it out.

"We're gonna find out what we're made of," Gilgeous-Alexander said after the loss. He finished the night with 33 points on 12-of-26 shooting.

If Oklahoma City wants to know why it lost, or if Denver wants to know why it won, there are two key things (in addition to Jokic being the best player on the court):

1) Offensive rebounds. Denver had 21 of them, leading to 27 second-chance points. Gordon had seven of those rebounds.

2) Missed free throws. Oklahoma City was 20-of-28 from the line, and no two misses were as critical as Chet Holmgren's two with 9.5 seconds left in the game and the Thunder up one.

Holmgren's teammates rightly pointed out this game was not lost in the last 15 seconds; this was a night of mistakes by the Thunder that left the door open just enough for Aaron Gordon to come barging through and get the win.

Gordon finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds for Denver, while Jamal Murray added 21 points and six assists. For the Thunder, after SGA's 33, there was 20 off the bench from Alex Caruso, who also had five steals and played a fantastic game. Jalen Williams has to be better, 16 points on 5-of-20 shooting is not good enough.

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Edmonton Oilers vs Vegas Golden Knights Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Vegas Golden Knights face defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers in rematch of their 2023 playoff series

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Get ready for a rematch that might be even nastier the second time around. The Oilers and Golden Knights clash again after a six-game slugfest back in 2023 that saw Vegas eliminate Edmonton en route to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. This time, both sides look loaded for another run, with superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl trying to write a different ending.

The Golden Knights haven’t missed a beat as they are once again a powerhouse contender after finishing a top the Central division. Vegas forward Jack Eichel has elevated his game, captain Mark Stone is back healthy, and their blue line remains among the league’s most lethal. 

Edmonton, meanwhile, just dismantled Los Angeles in six after winning four straight games and boasts the NHL’s second-best power play — a weapon that took them to the Stanley Cup final last June. These teams don’t like each other, and the stakes are even higher now. Don’t be surprised if this one goes the distance — and gets ugly along the way.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

More NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options

Brandon Saad 2+ Series Goals (+155)

The Blues bought out the 32-year-old veteran forward as he wanted to go to a contender. Saad has been known as a playoff performer throughout his career with 27 goals and 30 assists for 57 points in 109 postseason games. He reached the mountain top in 2015 when he won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks and would like to add another to his trophy case. 

Saad is still a decent source of points for an older player as he finished the season with 14 points through 29 games since joining Vegas. The Pittsburgh native will get more meaningful minutes on the Golden Knights second line and should produce offence at some point while playing with an elite player in Tomas Hertl as his centre. 

He has yet to score this postseason and rides a six-game goal drought that is bound to end. We can count on at least one goal as the sportsbooks have Saad at -300 odds to get one goal, which means we'd only need one more to cash this bet. The Oilers allowed 24 goals through the first round and Saad should take advantage. 

More NHL: New Leak Reveals Utah Hockey Club New Team Name

Mark Stone - Series Leading Scorer (+1100)

Edmonton's Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the clear two favourites for this bet but we again look to exploit a bleeding defence like the Oilers. Vegas is without their top scorer in Pavel Dorofeyev and will need someone else to step up like their top playoff performer over the last seven postseasons in captain Mark Stone. 

With 34 goals and 34 assists for 68 points over his last 81 games, Stone is top 11 in postseason scoring and has yet to pop off for a big series with four points in the first round.

I think we can expect an over point-per-game series out of Stone and should put him in the conversation for the points leader of this series. He will continue playing on a line with Jack Eichel, who finished with the sixth-most assists in the NHL this season at 66 and recorded four more in the first round. 

*IF HEALTHY* Pavel Dorofeyev 2+ Series Goals (-105) 

The Golden Knights leading scorer this season was a breakout star in Dorofeyev. The 24-year-old Russian star has emerged as a top-end talent, netting 35 goals along with 17 assists for 52 points in a full-82 game season. Dorofeyev continued his success with a goal in the first round versus a strong defensive team in Minnesota before being sidelined with an undisclosed injury and missing game six. 

More NHL: Where Will Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet Go Next? 

It's a bit of a risk since the extent of the injury is still unknown, but if he's able to return for Game one, this bet looks solid. He'll have plenty of scoring opportunities playing on the second line alongside Hertl and Saad, and he'll also see time on the top power play unit with Eichel. As mentioned before, the Oilers defence is bleeding with no clear starter and the Golden Knights top scorer will more than likely take advantage.

More Hockey: Top NHL Prospect Expected to Join Michigan Wolverines Next Season

Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights – Series Schedule:

  • Game 1: Tuesday, May 6 – Edmonton at Vegas
  • Game 2: Thursday, May 8 – Edmonton at Vegas
  • Game 3: Saturday, May 10 – Vegas at Edmonton
  • Game 4: Monday, May 12 – Vegas at Edmonton
  • Game 5: Wednesday, May 14 – Edmonton at Vegas
  • Game 6: Friday, May 16 – Vegas at Edmonton
  • Game 7: Sunday, May 18 – Edmonton at Vegas
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Francisco Lindor, Francisco Alvarez's ‘unreal’ caught stealing helps Mets close out win over Diamondbacks

Francisco Lindor and Francisco Alvarez had their hands all over the Mets’ series opening victory in Arizona on Monday night. 

With the Mets leading by just one run in the top of the seventh, Alvarez led off the inning by busting it down the line to reach on an infield single -- he then hustled his way into scoring position on a Tyrone Taylor double. 

A few pitches later, Lindor demolished a three-run homer into the seats in right-center to provide New York with some insurance. 

And it certainly was needed, as Dedniel Núñez entered in the eighth and struggled in his season debut -- walking the bases loaded before being pulled for Reed Garrett, who allowed all three runners to score but limited the damage. 

Edwin Diaz then came on in the ninth looking to close out a one-run ballgame. 

The star closer allowed speedster Alex Thomas to reach on an infield single leading off the inning -- and he immediately looked to advance his way into scoring position, but the Francisco duo had other plans. 

Alvarez unleaded an absolute strike to Lindor, who made a tremendous short-hop pick and somehow nipped Thomas’ left shoe with the tag -- eliminating the baserunner after a review for a massive first out of the inning. 

“Just unreal,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Not an easy one overall. For Alvy not giving up after the runner gets a huge jump and for him just to finish the play, and then Lindor not only picking the baseball but sticking his nose in and applying the tag there -- pretty unbelievable.”

For Lindor, we’ve grown accustomed to seeing him come through with these types of heroics. 

But for the youngster Alvarez, it was a massive play at a massive time -- and Lindor was sure to give him credit, immediately pointing to him after he put together the fastest pop time on a throw to 2B in his career (H/T Sarah Langs).

“He’s been working at that for a while now,” Lindor said. “Him and [Glenn] Sherlock and [Luis] Torrens have been putting in the work and emphasizing the throws to be in that area. He wanted it -- you can tell he wanted to throw him out and I love that. 

“Defense wins ballgames. Defensive is a good way to be in the playoffs, so stuff like this gets me very excited.” 

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New York steals (Mikal Bridges literally) Game 1 from Boston in overtime thriller

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, were you happy with your team's shot selection in Game 1?

“For the most part," he answered.

That explains a lot of this game. Boston followed Mazzulla's blueprint and launched 60 3-pointers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final matchup with New York, missing 45 (an NBA record) and hitting just 15 of them, or 25%. Boston shooters missed a lot of open ones, but overall they also took a lot of difficult, contested ones, as well as tough shots in the paint.

"Some of them felt good, some of them felt like we maybe forced the issue," Jaylen Brown said. "Definitely our rhythm and our timing was a little bit off. We got a lot of great looks, but there may be some truth to that. We've got to look at the film and see what happened in that second half."

The Celtics had success early with matchup hunting — Jayson Tatum going after Karl-Anthony Towns, getting the big man in foul trouble — and led by as many as 20 in the third quarter. Then Boston's shooting dried up.

The Knicks were the definition of resilient and, with a 20-6 run in the second half of the third quarter, stormed back to make it a game. Jalen Brunson was doing his own matchup hunting, going at Al Horford, and it worked.

The game went to overtime, and what sealed it more than anything was Mikal Bridges' defense.

The result was a 108-105 New York win that has the Knicks up 1-0 on the road and left Celtics faithful stunned and confused.

Boston, as it had at points during the season, stuck with what wasn't working and didn't shift enough to getting buckets in the paint, or even good looks from the midrage (the Celtics were 2-6 on shots outside the paint but inside the arc). Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson just kept making plays on his way to 29 points, and OG Anunoby matched him bucket for bucket.

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Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor launch homers as Mets hang on for 5-4 win over Diamondbacks

The Mets defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Monday at Chase Field.

Here are some takeaways...

- Diamondbacks starter Ryne Nelson walked Juan Soto on four pitches during each of his first two at-bats. Pete Alonso wasn't able to make him pay for it his first time up, grounding into an inning-ending double play, but he did strike in the fourth, demolishing a 425 foot no-doubt two-run homer.

Alonso lined a ringing single a few innings later, as he put together another multi-hit showing. The big man is now hitting an incredible .349 with nine homers, 33 RBI, and a 1.143 OPS on the season. Soto walked twice and scorched a double ahead of Alonso's knock in the seventh, not missing a homer by much.

- Corbin Carroll's leadoff long ball was one of three hits Griffin Canning allowed on his fastball over the first two innings as he struggled a bit in the early going. He did well to limit the damage to just the one run, and then settled in nicely, putting together a 1-2-3 third with a pair of strikeouts.

Canning picked up another punch out in the fourth as he worked around a one out single while pitching with the lead for the first time. He had to work around two out trouble in the fifth, as back-to-back singles pushed a man into scoring position, but was able to get Ketel Marte to roll over to second.

The right-hander walked Pavin Smith on five pitches leading off the sixth, bringing his night to an end. Huascar Brazoban entered behind him and quickly generated a double play ball to close Canning's line with just the one run on one walk and six hits while striking out six.

Canning has now allowed one run or less in five of his seven outings -- getting him down to a 2.50 ERA on the season. He also became the first Mets starting pitcher since Zack Wheeler in 2018 to win five consecutive starts.

- Francisco Lindor helped give the Mets some breathing room in the top of the seventh, crushing a three-run homer inches away from the pool in right-center. He now has hits in each of his last four games and is batting .291 with seven home runs and 22 RBI out of the leadoff spot.

- That proved to be a huge knock for the Mets, as Dedniel Núñez got the ball in the eighth and struggled mightily in his season debut. He walked all three batters he faced, before being pulled for Reed Garrett, who allowed all three runners to score on a single and a double -- but was able to keep a one run advantage.

- Edwin Diaz was helped out by a massive caught stealing from Lindor and Francisco Alvarez to secure the save.

Game MVP: Francisco Lindor

Lindor's massive three-run homer ended up being the difference in the victory.

Highlights

Whats next

David Peterson (2-1, 3.06 ERA) takes the ball against Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.93 ERA) as the Mets and D-backs continue this three-game set on Tuesday at 9:40 p.m.

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Report: Stolarz hospitalized, Leafs' coach feels Bennett 'elbow to the head' was 'clear as day'

May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) grabs his head after a collission with Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (not pictured) during the second period in game one of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

As is often the case when it comes to Florida Panthers and playoff games, much of the talk after Monday’s Game 1 against the Toronto Maple Leafs was about a controversial hit.

Sometimes, it’s the Panthers player who gets hit.

This time, it was Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz leaving the game about ten minutes about taking a Sam Bennett forearm to the head.

The hit itself came as Bennett drove to the net with the puck, as his body moved into the goal crease and came into contact with Stolarz’s head.

While Bennett doesn’t appear to extend his arm or use any additional force, his momentum was enough to cause Stolarz to go down, clearly impacted by the hit.

Officials immediately whistled play dead, but no penalty was called on the play, and Stolarz remained in the game for about two minutes of game time.

At the next timeout, Stolarz skated over to the Leafs bench and threw up into it. After that, Joseph Woll came into the game.

It has since been reported by TSN’s Chris Johnson that Stolarz was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher and to a local area hospital for further evaluation.

Speaking after the game, Toronto Head Coach Craig Berube made it clear how he felt about the play.

“Elbow to the head,” Berube said. “Clear as day.”

Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice was also asked about the hit.

“The referee was standing right there when it happened,” Maurice said. “You will do your thing, the league will do its thing, and I’ll coach the next game, hopefully.”

One thing that is worth noting is that Stolarz took a shot directly to the head during the first period, one that traveled with enough force to pop both lower straps off his helmet.

The NHL Department of Player Safety looks at every play that could potentially lead to further discipline, so it’s safe to say that they’ll be taking a close look at this one.

We should find out in relatively short order if they feel this play warrants any further action.

While each head coach clearly had a different opinion on what happened, one thing that both could agree on is that they hope Stolarz turns out to be fine and is back on the ice in short order.

“We’re hopeful for Anthony and his health,” said Maurice. “We love that guy, and we hope he gets better real fast.”

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'Elbow To The Head. Clear As Day': Will Sam Bennett Be Suspended For His Hit On Leafs' Anthony Stolarz?

Anthony Stolarz and Sam Bennett (John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images)

We'll find out very soon whether or not the NHL will impose supplemental discipline on Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers.

On Monday, Bennett elbowed Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz in the head in Game 1 of their second-round series. Stolarz left the game to be evaluated and did not return.

The NHL will look at it from every angle possible, but again, you're talking about Sam Bennett here. Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube is adamant Bennett knew exactly what he was doing.

"Elbow to the head," Berube said after Game 1. "Clear as day."

The incident comes two years and one day after Bennett knocked Matthew Knies of the Maple Leafs out with a concussion when he body slammed him to the ice. Like the Bennett elbow on Stolarz, there was no penalty called on the play.

Today's post-game video column goes more into what happened, so take a look and let us know what you think.

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.

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Highly Coveted Coach Officially Out Of Running For Penguins' Job

Apr 9, 2022; Boston, MA, USA; Denver Pioneers head coach David Carle talks with his team during a timeout during the third period of the 2022 Frozen Four college ice hockey national championship game against the Minnesota State Mavericks at TD Garden. (Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)

After the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with former head coach Mike Sullivan last week, Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas gave some hints as to the type of coach they might be looking for to replace him.

Unfortunately, it appears that one big name has been taken off the board.

On Monday, coach David Carle and the University of Denver Pioneers reached a multi-year contract extension that will keep him in Denver for the foreseeable future. This extension was reached despite Carle having conversations with and interest from multiple NHL organizations with coaching vacancies.

Carle, 35, has a very good track record as a head coach in developmental leagues, as he has led Denver to two national championships and four Frozen Four appearances in his five full seasons at the helm. In 2024-25, Denver went 31-12-1 and opened the season on a 12-game winning streak.

He has also coached Team USA at the World Junior Championship for the past two years, leading the team to gold in this year's tournament.

With Carle out of the picture, the Penguins will likely still be seeking other similar candidates for their coaching vacancy. Dubas heavily leaned into player development when describing the type of coach they'd be seeking out in their "wide net" search.

"It'd be tough for me, personally, to go with somebody that has no record or real passion for development," Dubas said. "Those are becoming fewer and fewer in that brethren of coaching right now, so it will be a vital component, for sure."

He pointed to coaches with AHL, collegiate, and junior experience, which shows that the organization could potentially be prioritizing that developmental experience over a full-blown NHL coaching resume. 

'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike Sullivan'I Started To Think That It May Just Be Time': Takeaways From Kyle Dubas's Press Conference Regarding Departure Of Mike SullivanOn Monday, Pittsburgh Penguins’ president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas shook the hockey world when he announced that head coach Mike Sullivan would not be returning to coach the Penguins in 2025-26.

As of now, there are seven head coaching vacancies in the NHL, as Sullivan was already scooped up by the New York Rangers. The other teams without a bench boss at the moment are the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Phildelphia Flyers, and Seattle Kraken.

Dubas said the organization will spend the next month conducting interviews and plan to name a new head coach sometime in early June.

8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head Coach8 Possible Replacements For Mike Sullivan As Penguins Head CoachWith the shocking news that the Pittsburgh Penguins and longtime coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways, it comes as no surprise that one of the first talking points is who will be the one replace him.

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

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Report: Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz Being Evaluated In Hospital After Leaving Game 1 Vs. Panthers

May 5, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) and Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett (9) battle for position in front of the goal during the second period of the second round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The bad news regarding Anthony Stolarz continues.

According to TSN's Chris Johnston, the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender is being evaluated in hospital after leaving during the second period of their 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers in Game 1.

Just over five minutes into the game, Stolarz took a shot off the head from Sam Reinhart, which knocked off the goaltender's mask. Early in the second period, during a Florida power play, Sam Bennett's forearm collided with Stolarz's head, putting the goaltender to the ice.

The 31-year-old remained in the game until midway through, when it appeared he was throwing up on the bench. Joseph Woll came in for relief and stopped 17 of 20 shots for his first postseason win this year.

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettMaple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz Leaves Game 1 After Taking Elbow From Panthers’ Sam BennettThe Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltending situation took an unexpected turn in Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers, as Anthony Stolarz was forced to leave the game midway through the second period after appearing to take an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett.

"Elbow to the head, clearly. Clear as day," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game.

"I'm not sure why there's not a call on it, but I get it, they miss calls. But it's clearly a penalty."

Berube added that Stolarz was being evaluated. When asked whether the evaluation was inside the rink or the hospital, the head coach said, "Right now he's just being evaluated."

Knies’ Game-Winner Gives Maple Leafs 1-0 Series Lead Over PanthersKnies’ Game-Winner Gives Maple Leafs 1-0 Series Lead Over PanthersWith a 5-4 win on Monday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs take a 1-0 series lead over the Florida Panthers.

Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman followed up on Johnston's report, saying Stolarz was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Johnston also reported that the goaltender was taken out of Scotiabank Arena on a stretcher.

"Hopefully the league will handle it, take good care of it, and protect our players," Matthew Knies said following the game, before talking about Bennett's style of play.

"I know he's a hard player. I mean, I know you watch hockey too, so you guys see it. Especially at the 4 Nations, you see he's an intimidating player. He likes to use that, it helps him."

‘Trying To Help In Any Way I Can’: Maple Leafs Leaning On Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Former Panthers In Playoff Rematch Against Florida‘Trying To Help In Any Way I Can’: Maple Leafs Leaning On Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Former Panthers In Playoff Rematch Against FloridaThe Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice at Scotiabank Arena for an optional morning skate Monday morning ahead of Game 1 of their second-round series against the Florida Panthers – an enticing rematch amongst former teammates.

Woll said following the game that there wasn't much conversation with Stolarz before he left the game in the middle frame. It was the first time the 26-year-old saw game action since Apr. 17 against the Detroit Red Wings.

"I think it's kind of a mix of concern for him and you don't want to see him not feeling well or whatever was going on," Woll said. "At the same time, I'm getting prepared to play, so kind of a mix of that."

Stolarz has started every single playoff game for the Maple Leafs, winning four of six games against the Senators with a .901 save percentage. He missed nearly two months from mid-December to mid-February after having knee surgery.

Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Explains Why Anthony Stolarz Will Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks For A Procedure On His KneeMaple Leafs GM Brad Treliving Explains Why Anthony Stolarz Will Miss Roughly 4-6 Weeks For A Procedure On His KneeAn MRI of Stolarz' knee revealed a "loose body" in his knee.

The netminder finished the regular season with a .926 save percentage through 34 games, the best total in the NHL. 

"He's been our rock for the whole year. I can't say enough about him," Chris Tanev said on Monday night. "That's all I'm really going to say about it, and Joe did a great job coming in. That's not an easy thing to do, so you got to give him a ton of props for doing that."

The Maple Leafs have an optional practice on Tuesday morning, and we will likely get another update on Stolarz then.

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.

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Knicks come from 20 down, beat Celtics 108-105 in OT as Bridges' steal preserves Game 1 win

BOSTON — The Knicks grew accustomed to facing big deficits against the Celtics this season.

New York faced another one to open its Eastern Conference semifinal matchup against the defending NBA champions. This time, the Knicks found a way to overcome it.

Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 29 points before Mikal Bridges stole the ball from Jaylen Brown with a second left in overtime, and the Knicks stunned Boston 108-105 in Game 1 of their series on Monday night.

Karl-Anthony Towns added 14 points and 13 rebounds for New York, which lost all four games against its longtime rival during the regular season and trailed by 20 points in the second half of this game.

“We told each other just keep believing. Just keep fighting and sticking together, and keep chipping away. There wasn’t going to be a 20-point shot," Brunson said.

Jayson Tatum and Brown both had 23 points for the Celtics, who had an NBA playoff-record 45 missed 3-pointers to blow a game they appeared to have in control. Derrick White added 19 points and 11 rebounds.

“In those spots where they have momentum, we can’t just fire up 3s," Brown said. "I felt like we just settled in the second half a lot.”

Jrue Holiday returned to the starting lineup after a strained right hamstring caused him to miss the final three games of Boston’s first-round series against Orlando. He finished with 16 points in 39 minutes, but center Kristaps Porzingis played only 13 minutes and didn’t return after halftime because of an illness.

Game 2 is Wednesday night.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said missing Porzingis impacted the Celtics' approach.

“Obviously it impacts the game with his ability on both ends of the floor,“ Mazzulla said. ”It's no excuse. We had plenty of opportunities. ... Hopefully he's ready for Game 2."

The Knicks struck first in OT, taking a 106-100 edge via a three-point play by Anunoby, followed by 3-pointer by Bridges.

Brown connected on a 3-pointer from the wing with just over a minute left - his only make in 10 attempts behind the arc - to cut it to 108-105.

It stayed that way when Josh Hart misfired on a deep 3. Tatum missed a jumper, but the Celtics were able to retrieve the rebound. After a foul on Towns, Boston called timeout with 3 seconds showing on the clock.

But Bridges ripped the inbounds pass away from Brown to preserve the win.

The Celtics finished 15 for 60 on 3-pointers. Of the 49 shots the Celtics took in the second half and OT, 37 were 3-pointers. They connected on only 10 of them.

Boston led 75-55 midway through the third quarter but New York cut it to 84-75 entering the final period, thanks to a 20-9 run.

The Knicks kept it going, scoring the first eight points of the fourth quarter. They eventually tied it at 86 on a steal and dunk by Anunoby.

Three ties and three lead changes later, New York led 97-95 when the Celtics pushed the ball ahead and swung it to White for a corner 3-pointer to put Boston back in front with 2:15 left. A 3 by Anunoby put New York in front by two, but it was answered on the other end by Holiday's layup to tie it again.

The Knicks had a great look to win it in regulation after Brunson got a give-and-go pass from Towns, but missed a short bank shot that was rebounded by Boston. The Celtics called timeout with 0.6 seconds remaining but Tatum missed a lunging jumper at the buzzer.

Brunson said Monday's win was a good start, but hardly a roadmap to win this series.

“I don’t think there is a blueprint per se," Brunson said. "But as long as we stick together, anything is possible.”

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Knicks find ways to 'keep fighting, sticking together' for resilient Game 1 win over Celtics

The Knicks had gone 0-4 against the Boston Celtics in the regular season and allowed star Jayson Tatum to average 33.5 points per game against them. Things appeared to be heading in the same direction on Monday night in the third quarter of Game 1 as the Celtics grew their lead to 20 points.

But this Knicks team wasn't going to give up and just let the defending NBA champs roll to victory -- they also knew it was going to take time.

"We told each other to just keep believing, keep fighting, sticking together, and keep chipping away,” Jalen Brunson said after the 108-105 Game 1 win. “Wasn’t just going to be a 20-point shot where we could come back, keep chipping away possession by possession. Find a way to keep getting stops and making plays offensively as well."

That's exactly what they did. New York outscored Boston 30-23 in the third quarter and 25-16 in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

Brunson, who finished with 29 points and five three-pointers, had a look to win the game in regulation but his floater was a bit too strong. While the outcome wasn't what he was looking for (that would've been a repeat of his Game 6 game-winner over the Detroit Pistons last Thursday), the point guard got support from his teammates and was able to lock in for OT.

"I feel like we still had momentum at that point,” Brunson said. “Obviously it wasn’t the result that we wanted. But we had another five minutes to compete, and we went out there as a team and did that. Just thankful I had my teammates. Yeah, overtime I wasn’t at my best and my teammates had my back and I’m thankful for that."

Brunson didn't score in overtime, but OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges stepped up to get the job done. The Knicks outscored the Celtics 8-5 in OT to pull off the upset. Anunoby also scored 29 points, including 12 in the third quarter, as the Knicks have now won five straight when he scores 25+ points.

“I felt like I had it going early,” Anunoby said. “Just trying to hunt for shots, get out in transition and run. Just be aggressive and make the right play, whether it’s passing it or shooting it.”

Head coach Tom Thibodeau credited the Knicks' mental toughness for pulling off the comeback win, but made it clear they have to flush it out before Game 2 on Wednesday night.

"The important thing for us is to understand what it is, its one win. And then understand we have to reset and get ready for Game 2," Thibodeau said.

“This team has fought all year, it’s been a pretty good road team,” Thibodeau added. “We’ve had to endure some things with guys out. I think over time that helps you. You build up your mental toughness and understanding how important that is. Like I said, it’s one game. There’s a lot of emotional highs and lows in a playoff, but no matter what happens you have to keep moving forward.”

Brunson reiterated that mindset, saying the team can't get ahead of themselves after the Game 1 win and need to approach Game 2 the same way.

“Tonight, we’ll all go back and eat dinner together,” Brunson said. “Wake up tomorrow and it’s a brand-new day. Game 2 is 0-0. Gotta go out there and do the same thing, that’s our mindset. We got to flush it as quick as possible."

The captain is confident the team can stay together and remain resilient with their 1-0 lead in the series.

“What’s most important is that we’re out there together and we’re going to fight for each other every possession," Brunson said. "No matter how the game starts or finishes, we’re going to be there together. I think that’s how we want it too. We just want to stick together through all the nonsense, through all the BS that goes on. Good and bad we’re going to be together.”

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Astros place Yordan Alvarez on injured list with inflammation in his right hand

MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is going on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right hand.

The issue had caused the three-time All-Star to miss the last two games of the Astros’ weekend series with the Chicago White Sox. The move, announced before the Astros' Monday night game at Milwaukee, is retroactive to Saturday.

Houston recalled catcher César Salazar from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.

Alvarez, 27, has batted .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games this season. That follows a 2024 season in which he batted. 308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBIs in 147 games while earning a third straight All-Star Game selection and finishing ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player voting.

He has posted an OPS of at least .959 each of the past three seasons and ranked fourth in the AL in that category last year.

Salazar, 26, was hitting .197 with a .305 on-base percentage, two homers and seven RBIs in 21 games for Sugar Land. He hit .320 with a .387 on-base percentage, no homers and eight RBIs in 12 games with Houston last year.