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New-look Lightning apply lessons learned from playoffs past in winning Game 2
TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida Panthers aren’t taking part in these Stanley Cup playoffs. Their impact is still being felt.To a man, the Tampa Bay Lightning were irritated in the manner in which they got pushed around last spring by their in-state rivals. That greatly impacted their collective mindset entering this season.Advertisement
Exploring Panthers' draft scenarios at 19: An Oregon playmaker? Another WR?
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Had the NFL world known about Bryce Young’s pre-draft throwing session with Tetairoa McMillan last year, it’s reasonable to suggest the Arizona receiver would have been a more popular pick for the Carolina Panthers in mock drafts.But the two kept the workout quiet until draft night, when McMillan disclosed it after the Panthers took him with the eighth pick. Young and McMillan returned to Golden West College in California this offseason and were joined by several other Panthers...
Lions NFL Draft analysis: Predicting what they will do in Round 1 and more
Predicting what GM Brad Holmes and the Detroit Lions do come draft time can be sort of a moot exercise. Each year, pundits take a look at the depth chart, attach the Lions to a prospect in that range based on the position he plays and file their mock draft without a second thought. And each year, Holmes and company reside in their office, chuckling over some of the names they’re linked to.It’s a tale as old as time, and with the draft kicking off Thursday, expect more of the same.Until then, her...
CJ McCollum's villain turn, Jonathan Kuminga's future and more Knicks-Hawks thoughts
Life comes at you fast, and nowhere does it come faster than in an NBA playoff series.Best-of-sevens can turn in an instant. One minute, it looks like the New York Knicks are cruising to a 2-0 series lead and leaving the Atlanta Hawks facing a must-win Game 3 at home. One sudden 11-0 run later, and the Hawks are coming home with the series tied and eyeing a realistic chance to advance by holding serve in Atlanta in Games 3, 4 and 6.Advertisement
Walt Weiss' job has changed in Atlanta. His personal approach with players hasn't
As Dansby Swanson recalls, the conversation took place in the spring of 2019, before he was fully established as a player.Walt Weiss, entering his second season as a coach with the Atlanta Braves, pulled the young shortstop aside for a pep talk.“Never stop being the winner you are,” Weiss said.The message, coming from a former shortstop and World Series champion, made a powerful impression on Swanson. Weiss not only saw beyond his early struggles as a hitter, but also grasped his intangible valu...
The New York Giants, with their first round picks in the 2026 NFL draft, select...
I don’t like to do 17 mock drafts so that I can point back to Mock 7.0 and claim I “nailed” the Giants’ first-round pick. I try to treat mock drafts like an NCAA Tournament bracket, where there is only one “sheet of integrity.”My Giants’ seven-round mock draft was published on Monday, so I’m locked into Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles with the fifth pick and Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson at No. 10. Naturally, within hours, there seemed to be an endless stream of reports that Styles...
Red Sox shut out for second time as offense flounders vs. Yankees: 'We were too aggressive'
BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox got solid pitching and strong defense but, once again, very little on offense, a theme that’s been all too common this season.Starter Connelly Early wasn’t as sharp as his first four starts, but the three runs allowed in 5 1/3 innings shouldn’t have been insurmountable.For the Red Sox on Tuesday, they were.Advertisement
Nick Suzuki feels his line must do more. The Canadiens can make that happen
TAMPA, Fla. — It was believed that for the Montreal Canadiens to win their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, just about everything had to go perfectly. There was little margin for error.A 3-2 overtime loss in Game 2 that evened the series 1-1 heading back to Montreal showed how slim that margin truly is.Advertisement
Marcus Smart, Lakers win the 'little fights' to take 2-0 lead over Rockets
LOS ANGELES — If this Lakers playoff run is truly just beginning, this was a defining moment. Two minutes into Game 2 Tuesday night, Marcus Smart pawed at Kevin Durant’s dribble, knocking it loose. Smart was first to the floor, stealing it away before sitting up and passing to LeBron James, who promptly drew a foul on Durant in transition.Advertisement
Steve Ott could be in line for NHL head coaching job after steering Springfield to playoffs
ST. LOUIS — It’s no secret that Steve Ott wants to be an NHL head coach in the not-too-distant future.The longtime St. Louis Blues assistant coach said so in January, when he accepted the team’s offer to take over AHL Springfield and help turn around the Thunderbirds’ season.Well, with the job Ott has done in the past three months, the organization could be searching for a new coach for its minor-league affiliate this offseason.Advertisement
What I'm hearing about the Eagles and NFL Draft with offense an early focus
With the NFL Draft one day away, here’s what I’ve heard about the Philadelphia Eagles’ draft plans and draft process from news conferences, conversations and going on 15 seasons around the franchise:1. Look for the Eagles to focus on addressing the offense early in the draft — and not necessarily with the 2026 offense in mind. General manager Howie Roseman has been candid about the Eagles’ desire to add more young, cost-controlled players on offense. They’ve been so defense-heavy in the early ro...
Cincinnati Bengals big board: Expected draft targets for Round 2, Round 3 and Day 3
The Cincinnati Bengals don’t have a top-10 pick in this week’s NFL Draft, but they do have an uncomfortably long list of needs.The top of the priority list remains finding a cornerback, flexibility to play nickel being a plus, as well as a linebacker to offer competition to Barrett Carter and depth in general.Advertisement
Women's college basketball transfer portal winners and losers: Audi Crooks, Iowa, Texas
The portal has officially closed and most of the big-name players have landed at their new programs.With all that player movement, teams are now coming into focus and the landscape has certainly changed for the 2026-27 season. Top-10 teams are no longer top anything. And some teams that were entirely outside of Top 25 projections appear to have burst onto the scene as contenders who could make deep March runs next season.With all that movement, here’s a look at the winners and losers of the 2026...
Should NHL players have to fight after delivering a clean hit?
DALLAS — Connor Murphy’s stick was wedged in Joel Eriksson Ek’s armpit as they battled for a puck in the corner during a game at Chicago’s United Center in November, and a couple of good yanks didn’t do anything to dislodge it. So Murphy gave the Minnesota Wild center a shove to free himself.Eriksson Ek fell awkwardly into the boards, his face meeting the wall. The shove itself was pretty innocuous, but the result — and the sheer sound of the collision — made it seem worse. Almost immediately, M...
VJ Edgecombe, mature beyond his years, plays a leading role in huge Sixers win
BOSTON — If you talk to VJ Edgecombe, or watch him communicate with his teammates or coaches, you can see a slight hint of the 20-year-old he is. Sometimes his eyes light up if someone says something funny. Sometimes he cracks a grin that reminds how recently he was a teenager. Watching him converse with Paul George makes it easy to picture a little brother looking up to his older sibling.Advertisement
Jeremy Swayman is showing why Bruins have a definite edge over Sabres in net
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Sabres were flying at the start of Game 2. This was expected.The Sabres had the momentum after a come-from-behind Game 1 win. Josh Allen tore the roof off KeyBank Center when the Buffalo Bills quarterback destroyed a can of beer before puck drop.This was different from Game 1. The Sabres were bringing tons of speed and getting quality looks, not just a high number of shots. By the first TV timeout, the Sabres had a 7-3 shot advantage.The Bruins were in trouble. But th...
Buffalo Bills need NFL Draft magic from Brandon Beane to fill roster's pressing needs
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The spring weather was typically absurd for Western New York. The cherry blossoms here at Forest Lawn Cemetery bloomed about three days earlier, and by Saturday, the temperature reached 80 for the first time all year.By Sunday afternoon, 37 degrees under charcoal skies. A hard rain pounded the winding asphalt path between the historic graveyard’s Mirror Lake and Scajaquada Creek. Then 20 minutes of intense sunshine until darkness prevailed again. The rain turned to graupel, white...
Sabres' goalie question isn't their only issue after Game 2 loss to Bruins
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen stood in front of his locker and took the blame head-on. What else could the Buffalo Sabres goalie do?The Sabres were already losing 1-0 to the Bruins in the second period when Morgan Geekie flipped a backhand from center ice that was intended to be a dump in. He put the puck toward Luukkonen, and it bounced and went right over Luukkonen’s glove. With 3:31 left in the second period, the Sabres were suddenly down 2-0.“That’s my fault,” Luukkonen said. “There’s...
The Suns know what must be done to compete against OKC, but the task is daunting
OKLAHOMA CITY — About a mile from the Paycom Center, where the Phoenix Suns practiced Tuesday morning, not far from statues of Mickey Mantle and Jim Thorpe, lies the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.The museum honors the best from the 46th state, which includes Mantle, Johnny Bench and college basketball coach Bill Self. It also recognizes Suns’ Ring of Honor member Alvan Adams, who was inducted into the Hall in 1995. Adams attended high school about 10 miles away and starred at the University...
Byron Buxton's homer wakes up Twins offense, helps send Mets to 12th straight loss
NEW YORK — For 15 batters Tuesday night, the Minnesota Twins had no chance against the team with baseball’s worst record, a group amid its lousiest stretch in more than two decades.Then Byron Buxton woke up the Twins with a thunderous bolt and ensured a little more rain was headed Gotham’s way.Bit by bit, the Twins clawed their way back to extend the New York Mets’ misery with a 5-3 comeback victory in front of 32,798 at Citi Field. Luke Keaschall delivered the tying and go-ahead RBI singles, an...