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NHL Playoffs: Which Western Teams Will Come Out From 2-2 Ties As Winners?

Brayden Schenn and Adam Lowry (Jeff Le-Imagn Images)

Heading into the NHL’s 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, we knew there would be brutal battles right from the start of the first round. For the most part, that’s what’s happened. 

In the Western Conference, all four first-round series were tied at two games apiece after Sunday’s games.

With that in mind, let’s look at where the momentum in each of the first-round series is at the moment and whether that’s changed this writer’s pre-playoff predictions. Remember, what follows are educated guesses. You may disagree with some or many of our picks, but that’s the beauty of predictions – there’s rarely consensus, and that’s what makes things so compelling.

Winnipeg Jets (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (WC2)

Where’s The Momentum? In St. Louis’ favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Jets Winning In Six Games? Yes

What’s Our Prediction Now? Blues in seven games 

Why? The Jets narrowly won both games at home to start the series. But the Blues stormed back convincingly, winning Game 3 by a 7-2 score, then pulling even by beating the Jets 5-1 on Sunday. Outscoring Winnipeg by a 12-3 combined score does not bode well for star Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who now has a 4.24 GAA and .817 SP.

In our initial prediction, we believed the Blues would win a couple of games, but they’ve already done that, and the momentum has swung in their direction. Home-ice advantage still favors the Jets, but we’re now of the opinion St. Louis can win a game in Winnipeg, either in Game 5 or Game 7. And if the Blues win in St. Louis, the series will end in the Blues’ favor.

That would spell big moves this summer for the Jets, who will be at a competitive crossroads. But unfortunately for Winnipeg, the Blues can physically dominate the Jets at crucial times, so we're switching up our pick for this series and going with St. Louis in seven games.

Why The NHL's Three Vezina Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinWhy The NHL's Three Vezina Trophy Finalists Each Deserve To WinThe NHL revealed the final three goaltenders who can win the Vezina Trophy. 

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC1)

Where’s The Momentum? In Vegas’ favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Golden Knights Winning In Five Games? Yes

What’s Our Prediction Now? Golden Knights in six games

Why? We’re owning our cynicism about the Wild, but we have to give them their due – Minnesota stunned Vegas with 5-2 victories in Games 2 and 3, momentarily stealing home-ice advantage from the Golden Knights, which won Game 1. However, the resilient Knights edged out the Wild in a 4-3 overtime win in Game 4 to even things up.

Obviously, our pick of Vegas in five games must be adjusted, but we’ve seen enough from the Golden Knights to double down on them. They’ve hung on to home-ice advantage without high-impact performances from stars Mark Stone and Jack Eichel, and we don’t believe the Wild will be able to hold that dynamic duo down much longer. 

Vegas has taken Minnesota’s best blow and still managed to keep a series win well within its reach. The Golden Knights should and can win Game 5 to put the Wild on the brink of elimination, and we foresee Vegas winning Game 6 as well to send Minnesota home for the summer. The Knights’ depth separates them from the Wild, and that’s why we’re still comfortable picking Vegas to win this showdown. It’ll just take a couple more games for the Golden Knights to get it done.

Post-Trade Check-In: How Rantanen, Necas And Stankoven Are Faring With New Teams As Playoffs Heat UpPost-Trade Check-In: How Rantanen, Necas And Stankoven Are Faring With New Teams As Playoffs Heat UpThe fallout from the NHL’s biggest blockbuster trade of the past season continues to be seen, as all the main players involved in the trade tree – Dallas Stars right winger Mikko Rantanen, Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven, and Colorado Avalanche left winger Martin Necas – all continue to be active in their team’s Stanley Cup playoff action. 

Dallas Stars (C2) vs. Colorado Avalanche (C3)

Where’s The Momentum? In Colorado’s favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Avalanche Winning In Seven Games? No

What’s Our Prediction Now? Avalanche in seven games

Why? For a while there, the Stars had the Avalanche in a vulnerable position. After Colorado won Game 1 by a 5-1 score, Dallas pushed back by winning 4-3 and 2-1. Despite being behind the Stars, that still tracks for our initial prediction of an Avs series win in seven games.

After Colorado’s 4-0 blanking of Dallas in Game 4 – a game in which the Avalanche outshot the Stars 48-23 – it’s clear the Avs now have the momentum. The Avalanche have already shown they can win on the road in this series, and we expect they’ll win two of the next three games to eliminate the Stars.

Without injured superstar defenseman Miro Heiskanen and left winger Jason Robertson, Dallas doesn’t have the horses to close out a deeper, stronger Avs squad. Colorado flexed its muscles in Game 4, and nothing we’ve seen in the first four games has changed our mind about the winner of this series. Until further notice, the road to the Western Conference final goes through Denver. And Dallas will be the Avalanche’s first of many victims.

Oilers' Evan Bouchard Joins Rare Company With Clutch PerformancesOilers' Evan Bouchard Joins Rare Company With Clutch PerformancesWhen you put Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard in the playoff spotlight, he can put up points from the blueline like not many others.

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. Edmonton Oilers (P3)

Where’s The Momentum? In Edmonton’s favor

Does That Change Our Prediction Of Kings Winning In Six Games? Yes

What’s Our Prediction Now? Kings in seven games

Why? The Kings scored a ton against the Oilers in this series’ first two games, posting six goals against Edmonton in each of Games 1 and 2. But the Kings weren’t exactly a defensive menace, as they surrendered a combined seven goals in those first two games. And the Oilers pounded the Kings by a 7-4 score in Game 3 before tying the series on Sunday. 

In Games 3 and 4, Edmonton had to overcome multiple Kings leads, and that earned last year’s Stanley Cup finalists more respect in our eyes. That said, we did expect the Oilers to win a couple of games in our first prediction, so we’re not seeing anything that’s a gigantic surprise. 

Yes, the momentum is in Edmonton’s favor, and we expect Edmonton to win another game, but the Kings still have home-ice advantage. That strong play at home is likely to be the difference, but it may take seven games for L.A. to send Edmonton packing. That’s a credit to the Oilers, but we remain a skeptical of Edmonton’s lineup, especially with key defenseman Mattias Ekholm out of action. The Kings remain our pick to win here, even if it takes one additional game to eliminate the Oilers.

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Dodgers place Tyler Glasnow on injured list unsure on when he might return

LOS ANGELES, CA. APRIL 27, 2025 - Tyler Glasnow during warmups before the second inning.
Tyler Glasnow warms up before the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Glasnow left before the start of the inning because of shoulder discomfort. (Robert Hanashiro / For The Times)

Less than a month ago, Tyler Glasnow couldn’t have sounded more confident.

After tossing five shutout innings in his season debut against the Atlanta Braves on March 31, the oft-injured 31-year-old Dodgers pitcher believed he had finally unlocked the secret to better health.

That night, the 6-foot-8 right-hander said his mechanics felt “really synched up;” following offseason changes to the spine angle, release point and thought process behind his long-limbed delivery.

He spoke highly of the tweaks he had made in his offseason training regimen — including, notably, the elimination of heavy balls from his winter throwing program — and took his encouraging early results as a sign they’d “really been working."

Read more:Tyler Glasnow exits with shoulder discomfort in Dodgers' win: 'Extremely frustrating'

Most of all, Glasnow described pitching with “athletic and free” mechanics on the mound; having seemingly found the kind of comfortable delivery that has so often eluded him over an injury-plagued 10-year career.

“My body just feels a lot better,” Glasnow said. “It's moving more fluid.”

Less than a month later, those quotes ring hollow.

On Monday, Glasnow was placed on the injured list with what the team called shoulder inflammation — shelving the pitcher for the foreseeable future after he left a start on Sunday after just one inning with what he described as a  “grabbing” sensation in his shoulder.

There was no immediate timeline for how long Glasnow (who has had at least one IL stint every year since 2019, save the pandemic-shortened 2020 season) might be out.

There was no set plan yet for what his recovery will look like, either, with both the pitcher and the team going back to the drawing board to figure out how to keep him healthy.

“I think we’re all just — as Tyler said — very frustrated,” manager Dave Roberts said, “and trying to get to the bottom of it.”

Indeed, the most frustrating element of Glasnow’s injury setback is that it might be rooted in the health-conscious changes he made over the winter.

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers against the Chicago Cubs on April 13.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers against the Chicago Cubs on April 13. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2021, then sustaining a season-ending elbow tendinitis injury last year, Glasnow looked to revamp his delivery. He felt his old mechanics — in particular, a habit of letting his front side fly too far open on each pitch — was putting stress on his long-troubled elbow.

At first, Glasnow’s new throw seemed to be the fix.

Even before his season debut, he said repeatedly in spring training that he felt healthier physically and more freed up mentality, hopeful he could pitch a full season for the first time in his career.

“I feel really comfortable with what I worked on,” he said. “I’ve kind of changed a ton of stuff.”

Just five starts into the season, however, things had changed.

And as Glasnow theorized Sunday, his new throw might be an unintended culprit.

“Anytime you change something [you've] done for a long time to try to prevent an injury, I think it's just other things are taking over,” Glasnow said Sunday. “There's more stress on one part, and then I compensate doing something else. I don't even know what it is or what's going on. I'm just trying to figure out, like, why it is that something new seems to be happening.”

Read more:The Dodgers didn't just help Tyler Glasnow get healthy, they helped him get better

That’s why, as Glasnow hit the injured list Monday, Roberts wasn’t sure how his recovery process would look.

There is no structural damage in Glasnow’s shoulder. The team didn’t even feel like an MRI was necessary, with Glasnow reporting only shoulder discomfort and “overall body soreness” when he arrived at the ballpark.

Instead, Glasnow is out because — despite his early optimism — his new delivery was not allowing him to pitch pain-free.

“My position is, when you have somebody that is complaining about things, certainly a pitcher, you're very cautious to prevent against any type of injury,” Roberts said.

Exactly when Glasnow will be back is another question, with Roberts saying his absence could “be a tricky one as far as timeline” as he works through a new round of changes to his delivery.

“In spring training, he felt good with the new delivery, until he didn't,” Roberts said. “So I just really can't speak to that."

Roberts added: “For me, if we're going to do this, then let's make sure that we have everything taken care of, as far as the mechanics, the physical part of it. So when we do get him back, then we can just move forward without looking back.”

Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers in the first inning against the Braves on March 31.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow delivers in the first inning against the Braves on March 31. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

For now, the Dodgers are looking ahead with uncertainty when it comes to the rest of their pitching staff.

Tony Gonsolin (out since the end of spring training with a back injury) will return to the rotation Wednesday. Ben Casparius (a rookie swingman in the bullpen) could be stretched out to handle a starter’s workload.

But Blake Snell remains out with his own bout of shoulder inflammation (he recently received a pain-reducing injection, Roberts said, and does not have a timeline to begin a throwing program). Clayton Kershaw is still three weeks away from being eligible to return from the 60-day injured list. And Shohei Ohtani isn’t expected back on the mound until at least the midway point of the season.

It leaves the Dodgers with currently just four healthy starters (Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Dustin May and Gonsolin once he is activated Wednesday) as they approach a grueling portion of their schedule (starting Friday, they will play 19 games in 20 days).

“Honestly, I just really don’t know how it’s going to play out in the next week to 10 days,” Roberts said of the team’s upcoming pitching plans, which could include spot starters from the minor leagues and/or a reliance upon pre-designated bullpen games (which will be their plan Tuesday). 

“Pitching,” he added, “is certainly volatile.”

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

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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Astros' Altuve asks to move out of leadoff spot to have more time to get back from left field

HOUSTON — Jose Altuve asked manager Joe Espada to move him out of the leadoff spot and into the second hole for the Houston Astros.

The reason? He wanted more time to get to the dugout from left field.

Altuve is playing left for the first time in his career after spending his first 14 MLB seasons at second base.

“I just need like 10 more seconds,” he said.

The 34-year-old Altuve made the transition to the outfield this season after the trade of Kyle Tucker and the departure of Alex Bregman shook up Houston’s lineup.

Jeremy Peña was in the leadoff spot for Monday night’s game against Detroit. Altuve didn’t suggest that Peña take his leadoff spot.

“I just told Joe that maybe he can hit me second some games at some point and he did it today,” Altuve said. “I just need like that little extra time to come from left field, and he decided to put Jeremy (there).”

Peña entered Monday hitting .255 with three homers and 11 RBIs. He hit first in Sunday’s 7-3 win over Kansas City - with Altuve getting a day off - and had two hits and three RBIs.

Along with giving him a little extra time to get ready to bat, Altuve thinks the athletic Peña batting leadoff could give a boost to a lineup that has struggled at times this season.

“Jeremy is one of those guys that has been playing really good for our team,” Altuve said. “He’s taking really good at-bats. He’s very explosive and dynamic on the bases, so when he gets on base a lot of things can happen. Maybe I can bunt him over so Yordan (Alvarez) can drive him in.”

Altuve is a nine-time All-Star. The 2017 AL MVP is hitting .274 with three homers and nine RBIs this season.

Espada said he and Altuve often share different ideas about the team and that they had been talking about this as a possibility for a while before he made the move.

“He’s always looking for ways to get everyone involved and he’s playing left field, comes in, maybe give him a little bit more time to get ready between at-bats, just a lot of things that went into this decision," Espada said. "He’s been around, he knows himself better than anyone else here, so hopefully this could create some opportunities for everyone here and we can score some runs.”

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Brandon Nimmo ties Mets record with 9 RBIs in 19-5 rout of Nationals

WASHINGTON — Brandon Nimmo hit a grand slam and matched a franchise record with nine RBIs, helping the New York Mets pound Washington Nationals 19-5 on Monday.

Nimmo also hit a three-run drive in his seventh career multihomer game. The 32-year-old outfielder had four hits and scored four times after beginning the day with a .192 batting average.

New York earned a split of the four-game series. The Mets have won nine of 11 overall to improve to a major league-best 20-9.

Jeff McNeil and Mark Vientos also homered for New York, which finished with 21 hits. Vientos connected for a three-run drive against Washington infielder Amed Rosario in the ninth.

James Wood and Nathaniel Lowe homered for Washington in the eighth.

The Mets had a 3-0 lead when Colin Poche replaced Nationals starter Trevor Williams (1-3) with two on in the sixth. Nimmo greeted the left-hander by ripping a 2-0 fastball deep to right-center.

An inning later, the Mets had the bases loaded when Nimmo sent Cole Henry’s fastball into the right-field seats for his second career grand slam.

Nimmo added a two-run double in the eighth to tie the franchise record for RBIs set by Carlos Delgado in the first game of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees on June 27, 2008.

McNeil, who made his season debut Friday after missing 25 games with a right oblique strain, hit the first pitch of the fifth deep to right for his first home run of the year.

Griffin Canning (4-1) pitched five innings of four-hit ball for New York. He has won four consecutive starts for the first time in his six-season career.

José Ureña earned his first save of the season. He allowed five runs in three innings in his Mets debut.

Williams yielded five runs in a season-high 5 1/3 innings.

Nimmo’s sixth-inning shot broke open the game. It was his first homer since April 12.

Nimmo was mired in a 7-for-47 (.149) slump with no extra-base hits in his previous 12 games before Monday.

New York left-hander David Peterson (1-1, 3.29 ERA) starts Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series against Arizona.

Lefty MacKenzie Gore (2-3, 3.34 ERA) starts Tuesday as Washington opens a three-game series at Philadelphia.

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Bruised Jimmy Butler guts through pain, lifts Warriors past Rockets in Game 4

Bruised Jimmy Butler guts through pain, lifts Warriors past Rockets in Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – When a desperation heave by Houston’s Fred VanVleet, who couldn’t miss most of the night, went awry at the buzzer, the Warriors rejoiced with celebratory roars, high-fives and flying chest bumps.

Most of the Warriors, that is. Not Jimmy Butler III, who secured this 109-106 Game 4 victory Monday night by scoring Golden State’s final seven points and grabbing the most majestic and essential rebound of the series.

Nobody dared slam into Butler because everyone inside Chase Center knew that would be the most foolish moment on a night when foolishness was splattered all over the floor.

Butler was limited to understated satisfaction – with the tiniest trickle of a grin while limping triumphantly off the court – for a good reason. He’d spent part of his terrific second half clutching that bruised pelvis that kept him out of Game 3 and didn’t receive medical clearance until about an hour before tipoff.

“We had to have him,” coach Steve Kerr said. “If this were the regular season, he’d probably miss another week or two. But it’s the playoffs. He’s Jimmy Butler, so . . . this is what he does.”

Butler’s final few minutes were straight from the fantasies of everyone in the Warriors’ orbit, from CEO Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy, who acquired Butler in February at a steep financial cost, to every player, coach, marketing associate and card-carrying member of Dub Nation.

A driving layup to give the Warriors a 104-101 lead with 2:12 remaining. Three free throws to give them a 107-106 lead with 58.7 seconds remaining. And The Rebound, a soaring snag that led to a foul that sent Butler to the line for the game-clinching free throws with four seconds left.

“First three quarters he couldn’t move,” Draymond Green said of Butler. “Yet he never complained. He stuck with it. I think what was most important, when the time was right, everybody on our side looked to get him the ball. When you get him the ball, he made great things happen for himself or for others. It was huge.

“I think my favorite play was the last rebound. I looked up, I thought it was (Jonathan) Kuminga out there flying. It was Jimmy.”

Jimmy with the pelvic bruise. Jimmy, whose discomfort was obvious. Jimmy, who, no matter his pain, couldn’t stomach the idea of missing another playoff game.

Butler ignored his pain and chased that rebound with the conviction of a man who would not be denied. Didn’t matter that his barrier was Houston’s massive Steven Adams, four inches taller, 35 pounds heavier, one of the best offensive rebounders in the league.

Green had forced a miss from Alperen Şengun, and an offensive rebound with 6.4 seconds remaining would have meant another shot for the Rockets, who trailed 107-106.

“I saw that I wasn’t battling with Adams the last play, so I was able to go up there and be a semi-athlete,” Butler said. “But I wanted the rebound. I told Dray, if you get a stop, I will get the rebound. He got the stop, and I got the rebound.”

Butler scored a team-high 27 points, 23 of which came after halftime and 14 of which came in the fourth quarter – representing most of Golden State’s 27 points – during which he played all 12 minutes.

“I thought it was winning time,” Butler said. “Doing certain things that the team needed me to do to go out there and help win finally. I started moving a little bit better.”

Butler acknowledged that he received extra motivation from the verbal volleys from Houston’s Dillon Brooks. The two sparred most of the night, barking at each other and bumping with each other. That’s typical of Brooks, but it backfired, putting the Rockets one game away from elimination.

“No, we’re not having fun,” Butler said. “Give me this: I don’t like Dillon Brooks. We’re never having fun. I’m a fierce competitor. He’s a fierce competitor. There ain’t nothing fun about that.”

The fun came at the final buzzer. Butler enjoyed it, but not nearly as rambunctiously as his teammates.

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Draymond keeps emotions in check to make Warriors' Game 4-winning play

Draymond keeps emotions in check to make Warriors' Game 4-winning play originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – With five personal fouls including a Flagrant 1, not to mention yet another technical, Warriors forward Draymond Green had no intentions of slowing down his aggressive nature on defense or doing anything to alter his style on Monday night at Chase Center.

The only real issue for the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year was to avoid picking up a silly foul, which was a serious reality during a game when fouls were given out like candy.

In Green’s mind, it was well worth the risk of picking up his sixth and final foul rather than alter his game because of the situation.

“Just not pick up a cheap one, but I’m never going to be one of the guys that just because you got five [fouls] you don’t defend,” Green said after the Warriors’ 109-106 Game 4 win over the Houston Rockets. “I feel very confident in my defensive ability to defend without fouling. In that situation, you have to make sure your fundamentals are clean. That’s what I try to do.”

Green kept his emotions and fouls in check long enough to make the winning play of the game.

With the Dubs clinging to a 107-106 lead and the final seconds ticking away in the fourth quarter, Rockets center Alperen Şengün got the ball above the arc and tried to drive toward the left side of the key, looking for a go-ahead bucket. Instead, he got below the free-throw line and bumped into Green, who forced the former first-round draft pick into a rushed hook shot that missed the mark with 4 seconds left to play.

Houston had another chance to tie the game a few seconds later when Fred VanVleet missed a 3-point attempt, allowing Golden State to take a very comfortable 3-1 lead in the first-round NBA playoff series.

“He knows we must have Draymond on the floor in order to win,” Jimmy Butler said. “The amount of poise he has when everything he does, it’s always blown out of proportion. To stay so calm, to come out there [and] get stops … a special human being. That’s why he’s the hustle man of the year. Remember that.”

Green indeed was selected as the 2024-25 NBA Hustle Award winner, though he had been making a serious case – on the court and in the media – to win his second DPOY Award.

When that didn’t happen, Green reacted just like he did when he was in foul trouble against the Rockets. No reason to make a big fuss. Just keep it pushing.

“Draymond always walks the line, he always teeters on that line. He’s an emotional force, a physical force and he just can’t cross the line. He knows that,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “He’s done a great job of playing through the frustrations. This is a tough series for him. The way the game is being played, they’ve kind of taken the ball out of his hands a little it. He’s done a really good job of dealing with the frustration and competing. The last two games his fourth-quarter defense keyed everything.

“He’s the best defender I’ve ever seen in my life. He rises to the occasion. On top of being a great defender, he’s an incredible competitor.” 

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The latest on Roki Sasaki: Can his fastball be fixed?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

If you’ve been paying attention to the Dodgers this season — or the baseball sphere in general — you’ve probably heard plenty about Roki Sasaki. The hyped Japanese phenom was supposed to be one of the most exciting new pitchers in MLB. 

But here we are a few weeks in, and the "Baseball Bar-B-Cast" hosts, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman, are asking a question Dodgers fans might be afraid to say out loud: Why has Sasaki looked … not great?

Let’s break down what Mintz and Shusterman discussed on their latest episode, because their take is one you don’t want to miss if you’re eager to see Sasaki become L.A.’s next ace — or if you’re feeling some early season anxiety.

First, let’s start with the good. As Shusterman points out, “The splitter is still one of the best pitches in the world.” That’s not hyperbole. It bails Sasaki out of jams and makes big leaguers look downright silly. That's why the hype around the young phenom didn’t seem overblown when he made the leap from NPB.

Also, the Dodgers' season is going swimmingly so far, even with some pitching struggles.

But the fastball … yikes, it needs help

Here’s where things get dicey. The fastball just isn’t playing. “He is getting no whiffs on it whatsoever,” Shusterman says. “He’s not throwing it hard enough to just blow it past guys. 96 [mph] is not fast enough to just live in the zone in the big leagues, especially when it doesn’t have plus life and your command isn’t very good.” What's more, that’s not something that can be fixed with a simple grip tweak or extra bullpen session.

For now, Sasaki can survive, especially against weaker lineups like the Pirates'. He went deeper in his most recent outing Saturday against Pittsburgh — an improvement, to be sure. But the “puzzle” (as Mintz calls it) is figuring out how to make his fastball not just playable but a weapon. The hosts draw a parallel to the pre-draft skepticism about Paul Skenes’ fastball, although Skenes was throwing harder, and his command was significantly sharper.

The Dodgers have the tools — and the need

Mintz and Shusterman both put their faith in the Dodgers’ pitch design machine. “I trust the Dodgers people to figure that out as much as I trust anybody," Mintz says. 

This is L.A., after all — a club famous for turning project arms into All-Stars. And, as Shusterman notes, with other Dodgers arms dealing with injuries, “every Sasaki start just has more importance because it’s not like, oh, whatever, he's the sixth starter … Now it becomes more important for him to figure it out."

What’s the lesson here? For Sasaki, the “fastball shape” problem is real, and it will take more than blind optimism to sort out. “If Roki was on the Rockies, if he was Rocky Sasaki, I would be like … he’s cooked. Like, he has no chance to ever figure it out,” Mintz jokes. But on the Dodgers? Hope remains.

He isn’t a bust (far from it). But the version of Sasaki we all dreamed about will require a bit more patience, a lot of coaching and maybe a little bit of the Dodgers’ legendary pitching magic. For now, each start remains an audition of sorts for how this experiment will turn out.

Is Roki Sasaki the Dodgers’ next ace? Or a project? Or a puzzle? For now, maybe a little bit of all three. But with some faith in Sasaki's splitter and the Dodgers' pitching development apparatus, it’s going to be a blast to watch this story unfold.

For more on the Dodgers and other baseball debates, tune in to "Baseball-Bar-B-Cast" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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Former Wild Goaltender Named Vezina Trophy Finalist

Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-Imagn Images.

The NHL announced the three finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy today. The trophy is awarded to the goaltender adjudged to be the best at his position.

Former Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper was named one of the three finalists. 

Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Andrei Vasilevskiy of the Tampa Bay Lightning are the other two.

Kuemper, 34, went 31-11-7 with the Los Angeles Kings this year with a 2.02 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He ranked second in the NHL in both goals-against average and save percentage. 

The 6-foot-5 goaltender was originally drafted by the Wild in 2009. He played in five seasons for the Wild where he went 41-34-14 in 89 games. He had a 2.60 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in his Wild career. 

Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' Minnesota Wild page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.

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(4-28-25) Minnesota Wild Practice Update: Eriksson Ek, Ohgren, Johansson, Merrill(4-28-25) Minnesota Wild Practice Update: Eriksson Ek, Ohgren, Johansson, MerrillST. PAUL, Minn - The Minnesota Wild practiced on Monday morning before going to Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday. Here are a few notes. Wild Drop Game 4 With A 4-3 Overtime Loss To VegasWild Drop Game 4 With A 4-3 Overtime Loss To VegasST. PAUL - For the fifth time in franchise history, the Minnesota Wild have failed to turn a 2-1 series lead into a 3-1 series lead. In 2022, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the St. Louis Blues. In 2023, the Wild had a 2-1 series lead over the Dallas Stars. 
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Jimmy Butler proclaims his joy is back after Warriors' Game 4 win over Rockets

Jimmy Butler proclaims his joy is back after Warriors' Game 4 win over Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Nearly four months ago, as a member of the Miami Heat, Jimmy Butler admitted he had lost his joy and couldn’t get it back while in South Beach.

But on Monday night, Butler declared that his joy is back.

After helping the Warriors win a thrilling Game 4 over the Houston Rockets, Butler spoke to TNT’s Allie LaForce about his monster performance.

“It means the world,” Butler said after Golden State’s 109-106 win. “I’ll die for these guys. For real. It’s so fun. I got my joy back, as some would say. But more than anything, it’s always good to win.”

Butler missed most of Game 2 and all of Game 3 due to a left pelvic contusion, but he returned with a vengeance Monday night, scoring 27 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 12 of 12 from the free throw line in 40 minutes.

The entire Warriors-Rockets series has been chippy but Game 4 featured several altercations, one of which got Butler going.

“Somebody said something to me,” Butler told LaForce. “That’s all it takes, somebody to say something to me gets me going every single time.”

The Warriors needed Butler’s gutsy effort in Game 4, and they’ll need more of the same when they try to close out the Rockets on Wednesday night in Houston.

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Brandon Nimmo's historic day helps Mets rout Nationals, 19-5, for MLB-leading 20th win

The Mets (20-9) poured it on against the Washington Nationals in a 19-5 rout on Monday to secure a split of the four-game series.

Here are the takeaways...

-What started out as a bit of a snoozer offensively turned into a total laugher as New York put up 19 runs on 21 hits, scoring 17 runs in the last five innings and putting a hurt on Washington's bullpen that entered the game dead last in most pitching categories.

-Brandon Nimmo had the best day at the plate of his career to break out of a month-long slump with two home runs, a double and nine RBI, finishing 4-for-6.

His first home run came in the sixth inning after reliever Colin Poche entered the game for Trevor Williams, the former Met who pitched well against his old team. With two on and one out, Nimmo sent a 2-0 four-seamer by the lefty 410 feet to center field for a three-run homer to put New York up 6-0.

The second of Nimmo's two blasts came just an inning later. Now facing Cole Henry with the bases loaded and one out, Nimmo wasted no time and pounced on the first pitch, which he gave a ride to right center field for a grand slam. The outfielder had a chance for a second grand slam in the eighth inning but settled for a two-run double to tie the franchise record with nine RBI in one game.

Nimmo's historic day raised his batting average to .218 and his OPS to .679. He's now tied with Pete Alonso for most home runs on the team with six and catapulted to second on the team in RBI with 21.

-New York's offense didn't stop there, though, as Jeff McNeil also had a big day at the plate. He finished 2-for-5 with a home run, a triple and three RBI. The home run, McNeil's first of the season, came in the fifth inning and gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.

-Taking advantage of the Nationals sending out position player Amed Rosario to pitch the ninth inning, Mark Vientos hit his third home run of the season, a three-run shot, and went 2-for-4 with two walks, three RBI and four runs scored. The third baseman had a great series in our nation's capital, going 7-for-16 over the four games to raise his average to .219.

-Other notable offensive performances on the day were Alonso (2-for-5, a walk, three runs scored, RBI), Jesse Winker (2-for-4, four runs scored, two walks, RBI), Luisangel Acuña (3-for-6, RBI), Francisco Alvarez (2-for-5, walk, RBI) and Juan Soto (2-for-4) before getting subbed off in the seventh inning and New York up big.

In fact, every player who got in the game had at least one hit except leadoff man Francisco Lindor who finished 0-for-3 but was hit twice.

-The Mets went 10-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

-Griffin Canning, an afterthought after the offensive onslaught that ensued after he left, pitched five scoreless innings to lower his ERA to 2.61.

-Jose Ureña made his Mets and season debut to get the final nine outs, but it was a struggle for the right-hander who allowed five runs (all in the eighth) on seven hits, including two home runs, and a walk. He struck out three and earned a save in name only.

-New York became the first team in MLB to reach 20 wins on the season.

Game MVP: Brandon Nimmo

Nimmo matched his jersey number with nine RBI on the day, tying Carlos Delgado for the most RBI in a single game in Mets history.

Highlights

What's next

The Mets return to Citi Field to begin a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks starting on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. on SNY.

Two southpaws face off as David Peterson (1-1, 3.29 ERA) goes up against Eduardo Rodriguez (1-2, 4.40 ERA).

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Podz makes assured declaration after Warriors' Game 4 win vs. Rockets

Podz makes assured declaration after Warriors' Game 4 win vs. Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Big-time moments create big-time players. 

With a series lead on the line, Warriors second-year guard Brandin Podziemski leaned into the challenge, igniting Golden State’s thrilling 109-106 Game 4 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday night at Chase Center.

The 22-year-old registered a crucial 26 points that came on 9-of-18 shooting from the field, including 6 of 11 from beyond the arc, delivering one of his best performances to give the Warriors a 3-1 series lead over a feisty Rockets team.

But it wasn’t a coincidence; he knew he was ready for the big stage all along.

“I think it’s the work, and I know I’m built for this,” Podziemski told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike on “Warriors Postgame Live.”

“Good players in this league, they want the moment, and they don’t back away from it.”

In a game littered with physical and verbal exchanges and headlined by star wing Jimmy Butler’s return, Podziemski’s production made up for star Steph Curry’s 17-point game. 

In addition to his offensive finesse, Podziemski added five rebounds, five assists and two steals, while delivering crucial buckets in contentious moments. 

Although not perfect, Podziemski lived up to the moment.

“The two threes I missed at the end, I’m going to take those every time,” Podziemski added. “I’m built for this moment.

“I know what I put into this when nobody is watching. That’s how you build confidence. You got a lot of reps to prove it. And so, just by that, why doubt yourself?” 

On Monday night, Podziemski made it evident that as long as he doesn’t doubt his abilities, the Warriors’ postseason will continue marching forward.

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Practice Facilities And Penguins Coaches: An Update On The Canucks And Rick Tocchet’s Contract Negotiations

Mar 5, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan (LC) and assistant coach Rick Tocchet (RC) talk with referee Tim Peel (20) against the Buffalo Sabres during the first period at the PPG PAINTS Arena. The Penguins won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

As of 3:30 pm PT, the Vancouver Canucks have yet to extend Head Coach Rick Tocchet, nor has Tocchet’s camp provided any information on him signing with another team. While the two sides are still locked in a stalemate, this morning, reports have broken on why the Canucks and Tocchet have yet to work things out. 

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“I think we’re gonna know soon,” Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman said on Donnie & Dhali of whether Tocchet will stay with the Canucks or not. Previously, Friedman reported that a conclusion would be imminent following the end of the regular season. “I don’t know if it’s going to be today, but I had some people say to me this morning, ‘who knows?’”

Friedman also clarified that many hope the decision is made sometime this week. From what Vancouver has said in the past regarding Tocchet’s potential return, it seems as though they are still working hard at keeping him. Friedman noted that, “As of Friday, nobody had been given permission to talk to Tocchet.” Adding on that, today, TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported that other NHL teams have not reached out to Tocchet yet.  

“I think in Vancouver, part of it is contract, a practice facility, Quinn Hughes’ future, and team direction,” Friedman specified. 

If Tocchet were to depart from the Canucks, this would make them the fifth NHL team to have a vacancy at the position of Head Coach since the start of this off-season. Other teams that have recently parted ways with Coaches are the Anaheim Ducks (Greg Cronin), New York Rangers (Peter Laviolette), and Seattle Kraken (Dan Bylsma). Most notably, the Pittsburgh Penguins noted that they are parting ways with longtime Head Coach Mike Sullivan earlier today. Sullivan spent nearly a decade with the Penguins, coaching the team to two back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. 

It’s no secret that Canucks management is fond of bringing familiar players and staff back into their fold. Jim Rutherford, spent around seven years as the Penguins’ General Manager and has brought those he knows to Vancouver throughout his past three and a half years as President of Hockey Operations. Because of this, speculation has risen that Sullivan could end up with the Canucks. However, rumours have also circulated that Sullivan will stay on the east coast and find a new home with the Rangers or Boston Bruins instead. Previously, Tocchet had also been rumoured to be in the running for a job with New York. This has since cooled, as Friedman believes Tocchet’s two options boil down to Vancouver or the Philadelphia Flyers.  

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