Winnipeg's Logan Stanley and Brandon Tanev Miss Cut at NHLPA Face-Off
Look, Ma! No NHL Division Winners In The Conference Finals. What Went Wrong?
For the first time since 2020-21, there will be nary a regular-season division winner in the NHL's Eastern and Western Conference finals. So let's take a moment to remember the Winnipeg Jets, Washington Capitals, Vegas Golden Knights and Toronto Maple Leafs.
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36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Can Small-Market NBA Finals Teams Punch Above Their Weight in the Ratings?
In the world of TV markets and sports ratings, the expression 'Bigger is better' usually applies. Yet after a pretty thrilling round of playoffs, the NBA Finals — a showdown between teams representing two of the smallest cities in the league — will put that assumption to the test. Tipping off Thursday, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder both bring young superstars to the party, including recently anointed league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But they also hail from Indianapolis and Oklahoma City, which rank No. 25 and 47, respectively, out of the more than 200 individually measured designated market areas (or DMAs) in the U.S., placing them among the bottom seven of the NBA's 30 teams. (Top-ranked New York, whose Knicks were just bounced from the playoffs, boasts a pair of franchises, as does No. 2 market Los Angeles.) Historically, major sporting events benefit from having larger-market teams squaring off, cashing in on the rooting interest in the home cities to boost the most recent examples, last year's World Series, pitting the New York Yankees against the L.A. Dodgers, delivered an average 15.8 million viewers, per Nielsen, Major League Baseball's most-watched Fall Classic since 2017, despite running only five games. That marked a 67% increase over 2023, the lowest-rated World Series ever, in which the Texas Rangers (considered part of the No. 4 Dallas-Fort Worth DMA) defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks (a.k.a. Phoenix, No. 12). Last year's NBA Finals, with the Boston Celtics edging the Dallas Mavericks, averaged 11.3 million viewers on ABC/ESPN, the league's worst performance since 2021. After a slow start, though, the NBA rebounded thanks to a slew of midseason trades, finishing just below overall regular-season results for the previous year. So are there any potential rays of hope for this year's matchup? one equalizer for any sports championship determined by a series (in the NBA and MLB's cases, a best-of-seven format) is for the contests to be competitive, with the series coming down to a Game 7 to determine the winner. Heading into the Finals, the playoffs have also put up solid results, up 3% overall, although that comes with a disclaimer: The Eastern Conference finals, featuring the Knicks, were up 10%, while the Western Conference (Oklahoma City vs. Minnesota) declined. Beyond the NBA and its TV partners (a roster that will shift, incidentally, with NBC taking a major package of games next season), several other entertainment players have a vested interest in the series, given that the NBA playoffs provide a platform to reach male viewers, especially, promoting blockbusters like 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' and 'Superman' heading into the summer movie season. Obviously, the interested parties can't make the host cities any bigger, but they can root for the series to be longer — and decided in the closing moments — in a way that might help a size-challenged Finals, to borrow from another sport, punch above its weight. Netflix's campy five-episode series 'Sirens' maintained its spot as Netflix's most-watched English-language show of the week with 18.2 million views during the week of May 26, up 9% from the 16.7 million it logged in its first four days on the platform last week. Meanwhile, buzzy U.K. crime series 'Adolescence,' which first debuted in March, finally surpassed 'Stranger Things 4' on Netflix's all-time most-popular TV English-language list, with 'Adolescence' standing in the No. 2 spot with 141.2 million views to date — behind just 'Wednesday' — while 'Stranger Things 4' ranks third with 140.7 million views. It's worth noting that viewers for 'Stranger Things 4' are likely to surge again ahead of the new season of 'Stranger Things' releasing this fall, as could views for 'Adolescence' given its potential Emmys buzz. The 2025 American Music Awards tacked on a considerable amount of delayed viewers to its original May 26 telecast, growing to reach over 10 million unique viewers across its CBS premiere, as well as encores on MTV, CMT and BET. After bringing in an initial live-plus-same-day viewership of 4.86 million, the Jennifer Lopez-hosted awards scored 5.2 million viewers after seven days of viewing, ranking as the show's biggest audience since 2019 and a 38% uptick from its last live telecast in 2022. Monday's finale of 'La Casa de los Famosos All-Stars' boosted Telemundo to rank as the most-watched primetime broadcast network, regardless of language, in the key demo among adults 18-49 as the network scored 559,000 viewers in that age bracket, according to Nielsen. The news comes as Telemundo celebrates its 14th consecutive week as the No. 1 most-watched Spanish-language broadcast network in weekday primetime among total viewers, as well as its third consecutive week winning the 18-49 demo. The post Can Small-Market NBA Finals Teams Punch Above Their Weight in the Ratings? appeared first on TheWrap.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Here are some things to know about new Bruins coach Marco Sturm
Here are a few things to know about the new bench boss of the Bruins: He arrived in Boston in one of the biggest trades in franchise history On Nov. 30, 2005, the Bruins shipped center Joe Thornton to the Sharks for Sturm, Brad Stuart, and Wayne Primeau. It's safe to say the Sharks won that trade, although Thornton went on to play another 17 years, including 15 with the Sharks, and finished his career with 1,539 points (430 goals, 1,109 assists). Advertisement Stuart played in 103 games for the Bruins, and Primeau 101 before both were shipped to the Flames on Feb. 11, 2007, for Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up But Sturm, who at the time of the trade was in his eighth season in San Jose and was a first-round selection of the Sharks in 1996, stuck around for 302 games and was a vital contributor, posting 193 points (106 goals, 87 assists). He notched 23 goals and 20 assists in the 51 games he skated with the Bruins for the remainder of the 2005-06 season, establishing career highs in goals (29) and assists (30) when including his numbers with the Sharks at the beginning of the season. Advertisement He had some clutch goals with the Bruins Sturm had some memorable moments during his time in Boston. On April 19, 2008, he scored the winning goal late in Game 6 of a first-round series against the Canadiens, lifting the puck over a sprawled-out Carey Price with 2:37 remaining. The 5-4 win in front of the home crowd forced a Game 7 at Montreal, which the Canadiens won, 5-0. He posted two goals and two assists in the series, following up a 27-29—56 line in 80 regular-season games. Sturm was at it again the first time Boston hosted the Winter Classic, on Jan. 1, 2010. It was a low-scoring affair, with the Bruins and Flyers each mustering a single goal through three periods at Fenway Park. In overtime, Sturm posted up in front of the Philadelphia net and redirected Patrice Bergeron's pass past Flyers goalie Michael Leighton at 1:57 to give the Bruins It was the first time the home team prevailed in the Winter Classic, and the first one decided in overtime. (The Penguins defeated the Sabres in a shootout at Ralph Wilson Field in the inaugural edition, and the Red Wings beat the Blackhawks, 6-4, at Wrigley Field in 2009.) The following season, Sturm was traded to the Kings on Dec. 11, 2010, for future considerations. He played just two more seasons in the NHL, skating for the Kings, Capitals, Canucks, and Panthers for a total of 83 games. He coached Germany to a silver medal in the 2018 Olympics By the time Sturm's NHL career was over after the 2011-12 season, the native of Dingolfing, Germany, had appeared in 938 games, finishing with 242 goals and 245 assists. He leads German players in NHL games and ranks second for goals and points, behind Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl. Advertisement As a player, Sturm represented Germany in three Olympic Winter Games (1998, 2002, 2010), one World Cup of Hockey (2004), four IIHF World Championships (1997, 2001, 2004, 2008), and two IIHF World Junior Championships (1995, 1996). It was fitting then, that he broke into the coaching ranks in Germany, serving as coach and general manager for the national team from 2015-18, leading the squad to a silver medal in the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Related : While that tournament did not feature NHL players, defeating Sweden and Canada to reach the gold medal game was still stunning. The bid for gold fell just short when the Germans surrendered a tying goal late in regulation and went on to lose to a heavily favored Olympic Athletes from Russia squad in overtime. The team's performance was enough to He was a finalist for the San Jose job last offseason before the Follow Andrew Mahoney
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
How Mark Daigneault, OKC Thunder are managing another lengthy break during NBA Playoffs
Here they are again, waiting a week to try their hand at fate. No one has grown more accustomed to this gnawing period between series quite like the Oklahoma City Thunder. Three times this postseason this crew has had roughly a week before its next series began. This time feels different, though. Advertisement This is not the week it spent spinning in a swivel chair, waiting for which play-in opponent it would drop into the guillotine. These aren't quite like the days spent before the date with Denver. Since then, the Thunder has been emancipated from most questions of experience through its win over the Nuggets, and validated by its five-game thrashing of the Timberwolves. This week, OKC can reflect on the hurdles that have it four wins away from an NBA title. Pre-order book on Thunder's run to NBA Finals More: Who should OKC Thunder want to play in NBA Finals? Pros and cons of facing Pacers, Knicks Thunder coach Mark Daigneault yells to players in the first quarter during Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Timberwolves at Paycom Center on May 28. 'The most exciting thing about it is less about what exactly they're doing on the court,' coach Mark Daigneault said of his star trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams meeting the moment. 'It's really not much different from what they do. I mean, they're playing their game, but they're doing it on this stage, and every time you check those boxes and conquer those hurdles, so to speak, you get better and more confident or wiser if you fall short. So the experiences are what's best for all those guys.' Advertisement A year ago, this core drowned in ambition. It was the youngest No. 1 seed ever, a foul away from pushing the eventual Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks to a seventh game. But the well of confidence did not seem so full. Not when looking at the shots Williams and Holmgren passed on. When rewatching the way the team held up in crunch time situations. Things that've flipped this postseason. The inflection points are clear. A Game 4 win in Denver. A Game 7 win over the Nuggets that put them away. The Game 3 bludgeoning that the Thunder took from the Wolves, sniffing real urgency like smelling salts. The Game 4 win in Minnesota in a bout with videogame shotmaking, when the group's resilience was tested most. It might've been the Thunder's most prolific collective performance yet from its Big Three, with each of the trio making signature plays in a fourth quarter in which the Wolves dropped 41 points. That game helped them win the war. Advertisement 'That was an electric game that was going back and forth down the stretch, people making big plays on both ends,' Holmgren said of Game 4 of the West Finals. 'And it was really important for us to be able to do that and see what we can be in those moments. This year or going forward, we're going to be in situations like that again.' MUSSATTO: Thunder home-court advantage is real. Another reason why OKC is NBA Finals favorite. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) does a pushup after getting fouled during Game 5 of the NBA Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Credit Alex Caruso, a veteran and former champion who has inserted himself when necessary; he was as essential as any player not named SGA in the second round, doing everything from blowing up actions to denying Nikola Jokic. Or credit Isaiah Hartenstein, the bruiser last year's team never had, who's added lineup versatility and has set a tone physically. Advertisement Most of all, credit time. It gave Holmgren and Williams the chance to grow into themselves, which at the time of writing, seems like two potentially terrifying playoff performers at the premature ages of 23 & 24. There's a balance in emotions they've wedged themselves into, being able to be mature enough for these series yet carry boyish exuberance. 'You don't want to be so wise that you're overcautious,' Daigneault said Saturday. 'You don't want to be so confident that you're overconfident. You kind of have to hold those two things, the confidence and the urgency or the wisdom. You have to hold those things in balance.' The Thunder has time to do lots of thinking before Thursday's Game 1. Perhaps this squad will think about the games that launched it here. The situations it's conquered. It's not going into this week as blind as it thinks. During this layoff, the Thunder knows what it takes. Advertisement Joel Lorenzi covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joel? He can be reached at jlorenzi@ or on X/Twitter at @joelxlorenzi. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Joel's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at More: OKC Thunder might be 'idiots' but strength is their youth entering 2025 NBA Finals All times are Central Time (CT) Game 1: Indiana/New York at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 5 (ABC) Game 2: Indiana/New York at OKC | 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 8 (ABC) Game 3: OKC at Indiana/New York | 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 11 (ABC) Game 4: OKC at Indiana/New York | 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 13 (ABC) Game 5 (If necessary): Indiana/New York at OKC | 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 16 (ABC) Game 6 (If necessary): OKC at Indiana/New York | 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19 (ABC) Game 7 (If necessary): Indiana/New York at OKC | 7 p.m. Sunday, June 22 (ABC) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC Thunder again managing lengthy break in action during NBA Playoffs
