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PASTR-’NASTY’ GOAL NOT ENOUGH,
PANTHERS FORCE GAME 7
Friday, April 28: The Panthers have forced the Bruins into an all-or-nothing Game 7 after a 7-5 victory Friday night in Sunrise, Florida.
The Panther led 3-2 entering the third period, but the two teams combined for 7 goals in the final 20 minutes, with the Bruins scoring three in the first 10:22 to take a 5-4 lead. But Matthew Tkachuk tied it just 27 seconds later on the power play and Eetu Luostarinen scored the game-winner at 14:22 after Brandon Montour made a nice play to prevent a Bruins zone clearance.
🙌 THERE WILL BE A GAME 7 IN BOSTON 🙌
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2023
The @FlaPanthers would not go away quietly in Game 6, and shortly after the teams traded third period goals, Eetu Luostarinen RIPS home the eventual game winner! #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/8HsayvGv6H
David Pastrnak had two power-play goals, the first setting the internet ablaze — a stunning shot to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period.
🤯 DAVID PASTRNAK BETWEEN-THE-LEGS GOAL 🤯
— NHL (@NHL) April 29, 2023
🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT ➡️ https://t.co/LaJpv7c3yx #NHLonTNT
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet ➡️ https://t.co/uEVY6yXLpz pic.twitter.com/1LcMw2aSwF
He’ll need more of that magic to send Boston to the second round. Game 7 is Sunday.
My take: The Bs had this series all but won after Game 4, but Florida gutted out that OT win in Game 5 and now has pushed it to a one-and-done elimination game. The Bruins set all kinds of records this season with all-time points in a season and home wins among them. Will they channel that into a decisive win or suffer the Presidents' Trophy curse? — Bob
• The Hurricanes eliminated the Islanders with a 2-1 overtime win Friday night in Elmont, N.Y., with Paul Stastny scoring from a sharp angle to end it six minutes into the extra period, following an Islanders turnover:
STASTNY PLAYS OT HERO TO CLINCH THE SERIES! 🦸
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2023
Paul Stastny nets the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner for the Hurricanes to beat the Islanders and advance to the Second Round! pic.twitter.com/Gn3oHboRed
My take: I know how Penguins fans get when the Islanders lose in the playoffs, so I'll end this take now so you can continue your celebrations. — Bob
LIONS STUN FANS WITH
FIRST-ROUND SELECTIONS
Thursday, April 27: The Lions did several teams a favor Thursday night during the first round of the NFL Draft, making two dubious choices after trading down from sixth to twelfth to accumulate some early second-round draft capital. With players like Christian Gonzalez, Calijah Kancey, Nolan Smith and Bryan Bresee available to bolster their defense and all of the top receivers — Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Jordan Addison and e — still on the board with Detroit losing three to gambling suspensions last week, the team drafted … running back Jahmyr Gibbs out of Alabama, adding him to a running backs room which already included D’Andre Swift and David Montgomery.
Detroit media challenged general manager Brad Holmes about the selection, particularly as it relates to Swift, and his answer was telling: "Yeah, I mean, D'Andre, he's still on our roster. He's still part of our team. He's still under contract with us. He's a dynamic football player. So, this hasn't really changed the math there yet, but, you know, it is early."
Detroit, though, still had another first-round pick at No. 18 and with all the receivers still sitting there, plus all the defenders previously mentioned, except Gonzalez, the Lions took … Iowa inside linebacker Jack Campbell. Campbell has a lot of NCAA awards hardware and is very tall, nearly 6-foot-5, but most had him ranked as a late-second/early third-round pick.
My take: Each team has their board, but do the math Detroit. Each of those players could have been selected in the second round. It’s not the players, each likely to have decent NFL careers, it’s the value when they were drafted. All the other players still available to them at each pick are all gone now. They could have had two of them, plus Campbell and Gibbs. Bizarre. — Bob
BOWNESS UNLEASHES ON JETS
AFTER ELIMINATION BY VEGAS
Thursday, April 27: The Golden Knights are advancing to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after easily defeating the Jets, 4-1, Thursday night, winning the series four games to one, and Jets head coach Rick Bowness was livid with his team in the postgame press conference.
Bowness held nothing back, saying he was "so disappointed and disgusted right now. ... No pushback, but it's the same crap we saw in February. ... As soon as we were challenging for first place and as teams started coming after us, we had no pushback. This series we had no pushback. Their better players were so much better than ours, it's not even close."
On when his frustration with the team began: "It started in January and February," and when asked about hsi star players, he repeated "no pushback, there's got to be pushback. There has to be pride."
Top-seeded Vegas got two goals from Chandler Stevenson, and Mark Stone had a three-point night with a goal and two assists — all four Vegas goals were scored in close on Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who starred in the Game 1 win but struggled as Vegas took the next four. The Golden Knights systematically broke down the Jets stingy defense, one of the league’s best in the regular season, to score 19 goals in the series.
Vegas now awaits the winner of the Oilers-Kings series. Edmonton’s leading, three games to two, with Game 6 in Los Angeles Friday night.
My take: No pushback. Sound familiar, Penguins fans? Not from the star players, but overall, and the general sluggishness at the start of games? In the end, this result is not really a surprise, but it wasn't much of a series after the highly competitive Game 1. Seemed like the Jets completely deflated after Vegas took Game 3 in overtime. Winnipeg is a better team on paper than on the ice and goaltending is still an issue, particularly in the postseason. One thing is certain, though: The next round should be a great one whether it’s Oilers or Kings. — Bob
ULLMARK MAKES MAJOR GAFFE,
COSTS BRUINS IN OVERTIME
Wednesday, April 26: I now personally consider playoff goalie-gaffes as competition for the Jarry Award. Linus Ullmark is under consideration with a brilliant "Jarry” in overtime to cost the Bruins a chance to eliminate the Panthers:
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!? 🤫
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 27, 2023
Matthew Tkachuk keeps the @FlaPanthers season alive thanks to his @SUBWAYCanada OT winner! pic.twitter.com/3eR30WDLqV
Postgame, Ullmark sweetened the pot by saying he would have to look at video "to see what I could have done better" and that "you need the mind of a goldfish."
My take: Speaks for itself, right? — Bob
KRAKEN ONE WIN FROM
ELIMINATING CHAMPS
Wednesday, April 26: The Kraken lost top scorer Jared McCann to injury Monday night, but his replacement helped Seattle to a 3-2 win Wednesday night over Colorado to give the Kraken a 3-2 series lead heading home for Game 6 on Friday.
Tye Kartye made his NHL debut in place of McCann and scored a go-ahead goal in the second period, putting the Kraken up 2-1:
TYE KARTYE'S FIRST NHL GOAL GIVES THE KRAKEN A 2-1 LEAD 🦑 pic.twitter.com/1edNBUPWT5
— ESPN (@espn) April 27, 2023
Former Penguin Evan Rodrigues scored a pinball goal to make things interesting at 16:23 of the third period, but the Avalanche couldn’t pot the tying tally. Colorado, the defending champions, are the No. 2-overall seed in the Western Conference and now must win out against the Kraken, making their first NHL playoff appearance in their second year of existence as the top wild-card team. Seattle looks to continue shocking the NHL after a 40-point improvement in 2022-23.
My take: The Kraken have it rolling right now, but the Avs have the experience. Seattle’s played all season as if they have nothing to lose, and if they can stay loose with that attitude, they could shock the league. This is what makes the NHL playoffs must-watch every year. — Bob
GIANNIS UNHAPPY WITH
QUESTION ON ‘FAILURE’
Wednesday, April 26: All-NBA Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo gave a spirited answer when Eric Nehm of the Athletic asked him if the season was a failure after top-seed Milwaukee was eliminated in overtime Wednesday night by the No. 8 Heat.
Giannis was clearly flustered before his answer got a bit personal with Nehm and a bit philosophical in his explanation:
“Oh my god, … you asked me the same question last year, Eric. Do you get a promotion every year? … So, every year you work is a failure, yes or no? No. Every year you work is to work toward … a goal — to get a promotion, to take care of your family … to take care of your parents. To work toward your goal is not a failure, it’s steps toward success.”
After saying he didn’t want to make it personal with Nehm, the two-time league MVP continued, “Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships, the other nine years was a failure? That’s what you’re telling me? I’m asking you a question, yes or no? … So why are you asking me this question? It’s a wrong question. There’s no failure in sports. There’s good days, bad days, … some days it’s your turn, some days it’s not your turn, and that’s what sports is about. You don’t always win. … Someone else is going to win this year, that’s it. We’re going to come back next year, try to be better, try to build good habits … hopefully, we can win a championship.”
Giannis then apologized to Nehm because he didn’t want to make it personal, saying he asked him the same question last season and that he “wasn’t in the right mindset” to answer then.
My take: Well, Nehm has his answer. Giannis certainly was thorough in his response, so he shouldn’t get it next year in a similar circumstance. However, he’s wrong. Any season that doesn’t end in a championship is a failure on some level, even if it wasn’t a realistic goal. Teams can feel good about improvement, but Giannis sort of defeated his own point when in another part of the answer he denied that the 50 years between Bucks championships weren’t failures but steps toward success. Tomorrow, the Maple Leafs will adopt this philosophy as their own. — Bob
RODGERS SAYS GOODBYE TO
PACKERS TEAMMATES, FANS
Wednesday, April 26: Aaron Rodgers released a message Wednesday on Instagram, thanking Packers fans for their 18 years of support.
"I’m not sure it’s possible to fully express the gratitude that I have to the @packers, our incredible fans, the state of Wisconsin, the thousands of players that I crossed paths with, the incredible men and women who work for the organization, and the amazing people who I got to meet along the way, in one post with 10 pictures,” the message began, “but I hope you read this and feel my heart and soul, filled with love, joy, and peace about my time in green and gold.”
Continuing, he wrote, "I grew up in Green Bay, drafted at 21, fell in love with the game, met some lifelong friends, and take with me memories that will last a lifetime."I’m grateful to the late Ted Thompson for drafting me, for my head coaches, especially the 13 years with Mike McCarthy, and the last 4 with Matt LaFleur. I had some incredible men to work with in the QB room over the years including Tom [Clements], AVP [Alex VanPelt], Luke [Getsy], and Connor [Lewis]."
Rodgers then captioned a series of photos: “To my teammates, I love you all, and am thankful for the moments on and off the field that brought us close. I played with legends, I played with friends; thanks for believing in me and having my back always.”
Then a final message to Packers fans: "THANK YOU, you made every run out of the tunnel special, every home game magical, and it was my honor to be your QB. "This is not the end for us, I will see you again Green Bay, you’ll always have my heart."
My take: See you again? When? When he goes back to have his number retired? Overall, the message hit all the right notes, though he almost certainly left out intentionally GM Brian Gutekunst, who set the wheel in motion for Rodgers' once unfathomable exit from Green Bay, when he drafted his eventual replacement, Jordan Love, in the first round (26th overall) in the 2020 draft without consulting or informing Rodgers. The divorce seems best for all concerned. Who will be the better quarterback in 2023? Rodgers for the Jets or Love for the Pack? — Bob
MAKAR SUSPENDED FOR
VICIOUS HIT ON MCCANN
Tuesday, April 25: Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was suspended one game by the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety for a hit on Kraken forward and ex-Penguin Jared McCann during Monday night’s Game 4 of their first-round series. McCann was skating behind the net after the puck went out of play when Makar rocketed McCann into the boards:
Should Cale Makar be suspended for his hit on Jared McCann?#SeaKraken #GoAvsGo #NHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/XAfPvVvaNr
— NHL Trade Rumors (@nhltraderumours) April 25, 2023
McCann, Seattle’s leading scorer in the regular season, missed the rest of the game and has already been ruled out for Game 5, with the series tied 2-2.
My take: Cheap shot, very cheap, and deserving of a suspension. The irony is that would be a pretty clean check on a play with the puck within reach. Maybe a boarding, but probably not in the playoffs. This is a big loss for the Kraken, who don't have the depth Colorado does to manage playing a playoff game without one of its top players and leaders. — Bob
RODGERS DEALT AS JETS,
PACKERS FINALIZE DEAL
Monday, April 24: Aaron Rodgers is finally a Jet. The Packers dealt the four-time MVP to New York with their 2023 first-round pick (no. 15) and their 2023 fifth-round pick in exchange for the Jets' first round pick (No. 13), their 2023 second-round pick (No. 42) and their 2023 sixth-round selection. If Rodgers plays 65 percent or more of the Jets' offensive snaps this season, the Packers will also receive New York's 2024 second-round pick.
This ends 18 years in Green Bay for Rodgers, who was selected 24th overall in 2005 out of Cal. Rodgers became one of the best quaterbacks in history after taking the reins from Brett Favre in 2008. In 15 seasons as a starter, Rogers has been to 10 Pro Bowls, been selected All-Pro four times and has thrown for 59,055 yards and 475 touchdowns, with just 105 interceptions. He also has 35 career rushing scores.
Though not yet confirmed, it is believed the Jets will pick up all of Rodgers' $15-million cap hit this season. Rodgers, 40, has an opt-out clause in 2024, but there are three seasons remaining on the contract if he does not, each at a cap hit between $32 and $51 million.
Rodgers was heavily rumored to be heading to the Jets, to the point that it was a deal with New York or no one. A deal needed to be done before Thursday's draft for it to make sense for both sides.
The 10-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro moves 2021 first-round pick Zach Wilson to the bench, but the franchise hopes Wilson can learn behind the championship-winning veteran.
My take: No one is surprised by this. The Packers are out from under his contract and barring any more moves at the position, will finally begin the Jordan Love era at Lambeau. The Jets are all-in now. They have a good defense and signed one of Radgers' favorite Green Bay targets, Allen Lazard, in free agency to team with Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis. With Breece Hall at running back, Rodgers should have the weapons needed to make the Jets contenders in a tight and competitive AFC East. The Patriots better get a big leap forward from Mac Jones or they will be left in the dust. — Bob
LAFFERTY GETS MAXIMUM FINE FOR
CROSSCHECK AGAINST LIGHTNING
Sunday, April 23: Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty was assessed the maximum fine allowed in the collective bargaining agreement Sunday – $3,108.11 – for cross-checking Lightning forward Ross Colton in the the face during the second period of Saturday’s overtime win:
Lafferty checks Colton up high and gets 2 minutes. Thoughts?🤔 pic.twitter.com/XPfYGRSIqY
— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) April 23, 2023
The former Penguin was assessed a roughing minor for it. The Leafs lead the series 2 games to 1.
My take: Roughing? I mean, sure, they called something, but a crosscheck to the head is roughing? No. It’s a crosscheck, and it’s a dangerous foul which deserves more than the ridiculous calculation of the fine assessed in such matters. As the boss says: Best game, worst league. -- Bob
JACKSON RIPS OAKLAND CITY
OFFICIALS FOR LOSING A’S
Sunday, April 23: Reggie Jackson is upset and the Hall of Fame outfielder was more than willing to criticize Oakland’s city officials for losing the Athletics, with the recent announcement the club has secured land in Las Vegas to build a new stadium and relocate.
According to a Sportico report, Jackson said, “You’re going to lose the team. The city, I thought, really needed to do something. … You lost the Warriors. You lost the Raiders. What the hell’s wrong with you? You can’t see that coming? The fans don’t deserve that. I blame the people running the deal. You’ve got to keep the team for the benefit of the city. They lost all three of them.”
The Athletics have been in Oakland since 1968 – 55 years – and have won four World Series championships, including three straight from 1972 to 1974, teams Jackson starred on.
The organization has been requesting a new stadium and long-term deal with the city since 2002. Renovations have been made three times, but Oakland-Alameda Coliseum was designed primarily for football and with the Raiders a primary tenant for much of that time, exclusive luxury boxes and other amenities best suited for baseball could not be built. A 2022 proposal by the city for a bay-side stadium was rejected outright after the city placed cost-prohibitive and revenue-reducing restrictions on the A’s if they agreed to its construction.
My take: Everything Jackson said is 100-percent correct. The city will soon have lost all of its major-league sports franchises. Life will go on, but not without some of the city’s lifeblood. And, because the city has not done well in retaining those franchises, often being hostile to their success, they are not a future expansion city. What a shame. -- Bob
COLE TOSSES MORE SCORELESS FRAMES
FOR HISTORIC START TO SEASON
Saturday, April 22: The last Gerrit Cole post got lost somehow, but no matter, the Yankees ace pitched more shutout ball Saturday over 5.2 innings to decrease his ERA and WHIP to identical 0.79 averages.
These numbers, combined with a 4-0 record and 36 strikeouts over 34 innings-pitched through five starts, make this the second best start to a season in the modern era, considering all those categories combined (Roger Clemens, 1991). Cole has yielded just three earned runs in those five starts.
The Yankees did eventually win the game, 3-2, over the Blue Jays on a DJ LeMahieu walkoff single.
My take: Thanks, Gerrit, for having my back. Got to officially post this without really having to change the gist of the original. Just dominance and an unreal start for him. He’s already at 1.6 WAR and we’re still in April. -- Bob
TERAVAINEN OUT INDEFINITELY
FOR CANES AFTER SURGERY
Saturday, April 22: The Hurricanes will be without forward Teumo Teravainen indefinitely after he had surgery to repair a broken hand suffered on a slash by Jean-Gabriel Pageau in Game 2 of their playoff series Wednesday, a 4-3 overtime win.
Pageau slashing Teravainen and breaking his hand with no call 😳🤔pic.twitter.com/uPCorSdv6w
— Matthew (@epiclol) April 20, 2023
Carolina head coach Rod Brind'Amour said the team will continue to monitor Teravainen’s progress, but his official status is week-to-week. He was also upset that there was no penalty call on the slash, but Pageau disagreed with Brind'Amour's interpretation of the play, saying Friday "that play happens a lot. ... You don't want to see anyone injured ... I wish him a speedy recovery. But it was not in my intention. I didn’t even know I caught him there. It’s a play that happens a lot. I clear a puck on the penalty kill and the same play happens. It’s just unfortunate.”
The Hurricanes lead the series, 2-1. Game 4 is Sunday.
My take: Welcome to the NHL playoffs, where nothing short of decapitation is shoulder-shrugged by on-ice officials. That, of course, was a textbook slash. It was not, however, malicious in any way and it was unfortunate that Pageau caught him in a bad spot above the cuff of the glove. There’s irony, too, as Brind’Amour was one of the great agitators in the playoffs with stick fouls. Karma. -- Bob
REYNOLDS, MCELHENNEY INVESTMENT
EARNS PROMOTION FOR WREXHAM
Saturday, April 22: Film and television stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are movin’ on up. Owners of Wrexham AFC, maybe the most popular football club among general television viewers outside of the fictional AFC Richmond on “Ted Lasso,” the notable celebrities saw their investment reach the next level Saturday when their club beat Boreham Wood, 3-1, to win the English National League on points and earn automatic promotion into the English Football League 2, the fourth level of professional football in England and Wales. It’s been 20 years since Wrexham have been promoted to that level.
Reynolds and McElhenney purchased the Welsh club in 2020, to much fanfare and with many questioning their motives. However, the two committed to improving the club and working toward promotion after decades of middling results in the ENL. The creation of the show “Wrexham,” a docu-series which airs on FX and Hulu, raised the club’s profile, helped generate new fans and bankrolled the acquisition of better players.
The challenge now will be staying in the 24-club EFL2 against tougher competition. The bottom two on points will be demoted to the ENL. To gain another promotion, Wrexham will have to finish top 3, or win a four-team playoff for a fourth spot, which would launch them into EFL1. Any other spot in the table keeps them in EFL2.
My take: This isn’t Earth-shattering news, but it’s very difficult to earn promotion in the English football system, and this is a good story for this northern Welsh community near Liverpool, England. The series itself is well done and Reynolds and McElhenney have worked in earnest to make this happen. Well done, all. -- Bob