Latest news with #GameSeven
Edmonton Journal
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Who has the edge between Edmonton and Dallas in the Western Conference Final and why: 9 Things
Article content Article content With Dallas eliminating Winnipeg in Game Six Saturday night, the rematch is set in stone. What will the keys be to the Oilers repeating last year's triumph, and taking a second consecutive shot at Lord Stanley's mug?? That and more in this edition of… 9 Things 9. Corey Perry turned forty on Friday. It speaks to the player's ensuring skill, grit, and commitment when you consider he has scored twenty-four goals this year. Gordie Howe scored twenty-five in the 1968-69. Article content 8. Roster depth has been a common, positive theme for Edmonton in this postseason. Kasperi Kapanen's OT winner in Game Five made him the thirteenth Oilers forward to score. Will that number climb before these playoffs are done? 7. Still on depth, if you check the game sheet from Game Five look at the TOI in the overtime period. Every player touched the ice in extra time. Every. Single. Player. That is a master class in coaching: Trusting each guy at the most critical time in the most important period of the year (to date). 6. You can point to many differences in the Oilers' performance from the regular season to these playoffs. One of the biggest has been Evander Kane. He is a big game player with a unique set of skills. Some wanted to trade Kane this season. Not me. Who else does what he does, and when? 5. Two Oilers prospects are going to the Memorial Cup. Sam O'Reilly finished the OHL playoffs with twenty-two points in seventeen games for the London Knights. William Nicholl's performance in comparison was muted, eight in seventeen matches. O'Reilly was the Edmonton Oilers ' first round pick in 2024 (thirty-second overall). Nicholl was a seventh rounder. Article content 4. A few folks questioned me after a comment that I made in advance of the Vegas series. I said that the Oilers were a faster team than the Golden Knights, even though Vegas did play 'quick.' Over the final two games of the series Edmonton out chanced the Golden Knights off the rush to the tune of 22-6. This is from a Vegas team correctly applauded for its transition play out of their own end and how effectively they romp through the neutral zone. 3. Connor McDavid 's prickly answer to a perfectly fair question after Game Five raised a few eyebrows. But I think it goes back to the same source as many things we have seen in Connor's game and approach this season: The Game Seven loss to Florida last Spring. Unless you have been in a comparable situation, it might be difficult to understand what kind of a mark a defeat like that leaves. The fire to win burns even hotter. Article content Article content 2. Going into the Stanley Cup Playoffs perhaps the biggest question the Oilers must answer was whether their goaltending would stand up. Well, after a shaky start in the L.A. series both goalies have been excellent since. Calvin Pickard is on a six-game win streak. Stuart Skinner has back-to-back shutouts. In the Vegas series, the Edmonton netminders had the better Goals Saved Above Expectation in all four victories. Heading into the Western Conference Final, the healthier Skinner is the natural selection to start Game One. But as the series progresses, the team must feel great about both guys. Oilers-Stars series starts Wednesday, May 21st in Dallas. Game One will be an 8pm Eastern Time start, as will Game Two on May 23 rd. The scene will shift to Edmonton for Game Three, with a head-scratching 3pm start. Then, the balance of the games will also be 8 EST. As we surely all know by now, we have seen this movie before. And last time it ended well for Oilers fans. But these are two slightly different teams from the previous encounter. What will the differences be that may propel one club past the other. Let us break that down now: Article content Goaltending. I have just been through the Oilers' situation. Once Calvin Pickard is healthy, Edmonton has two hot hands they can go to. Jake Oettinger is one of the best keepers in the league. He is completely capable of stealing a series. Even those wearing the most Oilers-coloured of glasses would certainly admit that Dallas probably has an edge in the net. But…Edmonton has won consecutive series where that was also said about them. And they defeated Oettinger last year. So, I do not think it is quite the advantage some may. Team Defence. The Dallas Stars had the fifth best defensive squad in the NHL this past regular season. On paper they look like a tough matchup in that respect. But…along the way to the Western Conference Final, the Oilers beat both Los Angeles and Vegas, the sixth and third best defensive squads, respectively. So, like in Goal I do not think team defence is the difference maker for Dallas that some may assume that it is. Containing the Oilers will not be easy. In fact, with a little extra rest and ample motivation, I might suggest it is a tall order. Article content The Blueline. Dallas has some terrific defenders. A healthy Miro Heiskanen is a major factor. Esa Lindell is a splendid blueliner and one of the most underrated D-men in the league. We saw in the international tournament this past winter how terrific of a young defenceman Thomas Harley us. And will Cody Ceci, a guy I found that far too many Oilers faithful took for granted while he was in Edmonton is a solid presence. Dallas has the quickest, most skilled D-corps that the Oilers have faced so far. Can Mattias Ekholm return and make a difference? Advantage: Dallas. Team Offence. Dallas finished ahead of Edmonton in overall team offence in 2024-25 (the Stars were fifth, the Oilers ninth). But I see Edmonton with the best high-end offensive skill. Mikko Rantanen is a tremendous player but until he outplays Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, I will argue that he is a quarter-rung below them both. Edmonton has been getting impressive depth contributions as I have detailed earlier in this article. and in terms of team speed the Oilers are quicker, second in the league to the Avalanche. Article content Physicality. I give the Oilers the edge here. When is the last time we have been able to say that? Neither club was especially physical in the regular season. Neither even finished in the top twenty-five in terms hits. But the arrival of Evander Kane and Trent Frederic on the scene has been impactful. Edmonton has edge on all four lines. Coaching. Two great coaches. One with loads of experience. One with relatively little. Pete Deboer has a career .585 winning percentage. Kris Knoblauch, in a much smaller sample, is at .659. But Knoblauch will only be an underdog in his role so much longer. And he won this same matchup last spring. Tie. Intangibles. This is a tougher call. Dallas will have an axe to grind. Edmonton beat the Stars last year. There is a score to settle. But Dallas did not lose in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. I believe there is a deeper, even more acute purpose in Edmonton's side. Latest National Stories
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jayson Tatum isn't Superman: Why the Celtics star struggles in clutch moments
Jayson Tatum is trying to play the hero. This is the hook of a new national TV ad spot that debuted this week promoting the upcoming blockbuster 'Superman' movie in which Tatum, playing himself in the commercial, decides to answer the call. As the story goes, Superman is taking the day off and the world is in peril searching for who's going to sub in and replace The Man of Steel. The big payoff in the ad shows a suited Tatum going full Clark Kent, peeling back his button down shirt and revealing a Superman jersey underneath. In this fictional tale, Tatum steps up and saves the day. These sorts of commercials take months of planning. An army of staff members behind big brands, high-powered studios and in-demand athletes have to weave a 30-second fairytale for the movie-going masses and strategically time it during the NBA playoffs. There was no way to know how poorly this ad would land amid Tatum's real-life profession as the struggling star of the Boston Celtics, down 0-2 in the East semifinals thanks, in part, to Tatum's inability to step up. Tatum wants you to believe he is the hero. But in reality, his hero-ball tendencies are backfiring on the national stage in a big way right now. Tatum and the Celtics have blown back-to-back 20-point leads at home while Tatum has melted down in crunchtime, most acutely in Game 2's game-ending turnover. Unfortunately, Tatum's hero-ball obsession isn't anything new. Throughout his career, Tatum hasn't been shy about how he has idolized Kobe Bryant, the godfather of hero ball, who was known for taking on double- and triple-teams in clutch moments and hitting the impossible shot. For Bryant, it was a reputation — if not mythology — that was built more on volume than efficiency. Too often, Tatum has tried to emulate that superhero quality, and has come up empty. In that way, though, Tatum's Bryant hero-ball act is painfully accurate. And the 27-year-old needs to ditch the Superman impression before he washes the Celtics out of the playoffs. No doubt Tatum is certified. He is an NBA champion, a six-time All-Star and on the verge of becoming a five-time All-NBA member. Though Jaylen Brown won last year's Finals MVP, Tatum did earn the 2021-22 Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. When he held that trophy after his terrific performance in a Game 7 win over the Miami Heat in 2022, a purple sweatband gripped his left arm with the number '24' inscribed in gold. He wore the accessory throughout the game as a tribute, he said, to the late Bryant. 'Game Seven,' Tatum said at the postgame ceremony at center court. 'Everybody knows how much he means to me. My idol. My favorite player. Just to have something to show him in the biggest game of my career so far. And it worked out.' It worked then, but not lately. In this series so far, Tatum has been a mess in the clutch, perhaps hampered by a sore wrist that sidelined him for a game in the first round. Beyond the game-ending turnover on Wednesday night, Tatum is 1-for-7 on field-goal attempts in clutch situations — the official designation when the game is within five points in the final five minutes. The one made basket in that tally came in the open court when he slalomed past the Knicks' defense and soared for a thunderous dunk. Everything else has been clanked jumpers. In the Game 1 collapse, Tatum missed all five of his clutch shots, all jumpers with an average shot distance of 23.4 feet away from the basket. When Game 2 spiraled out of control for the Celtics, with the team having missed 10 straight field-goal attempts, Tatum decided, of all things, to put his head down and go iso on All-Defensive veteran OG Anunoby. The 6-foot-8 wing got downhill, put his left shoulder into Anunoby's chest on the right block and came to a halt with his back to the basket. Everyone in the gym knew what was coming next. Tatum shook right and then spun around for a fadeaway 11-footer on the baseline, something straight out of the Kobe playbook. Anunoby read it the whole way and blanketed the shot with his outstretched hand. It rimmed out. Unlike the game-ending play, at least he got the shot off. The problem with hero ball is that it's predictable and therefore easily defended. But that's part of the allure. The lower the odds, the greater the glory if the shot goes in. Tatum seemed to shed that selfish strategy in the regular season when he averaged a career-high 7.1 assists per 36 minutes of clutch time. In the postseason, though, it has plummeted to 1.9. In 19 minutes of close-and-late action, he has just one assist along with 2-of-10 shooting in those high-pressure moments. Some might chalk it up to a small sample size, but this is a continuation of a larger trend. Despite winning the title last season, Tatum has an ineffective track record in crunchtime that has only persisted. Over the last four postseasons, including the terrific 2022 East finals run, Tatum is now shooting 35.8 percent from the floor in playoff clutch situations and a ghastly 6-of-22 (27.3 percent) from beyond the arc, according to tracking. Here's how that stacks up among his star peers. Tatum's effective field goal percentage, which is weighted for the added value of 3-pointers, sits at 41.5 percent in these close-and-late circumstances in the playoffs which is the lowest among 12 players with at least 30 clutch shot attempts over that span. Want to expand the sample size to include the regular season? Unfortunately for Celtics fans, it tells the same story. Tatum's effective field goal percentage remains at 41.1 percent in the larger subset. Among high-volume scorers with at least 250 clutch shot attempts since 2021-22, Tatum's effective field goal percentage ranks 19th out of 20 players. Only Fred VanVleet (40.9 percent) has been worse. Anyone with two eyes watching this series can see that the 3-point column is the most troubling. Get a mismatch on Karl-Anthony Towns? Pull-up 3-ball. Have the 6-2 Brunson on ice skates at the top of the key? Step-back beyond the arc. Mitchell Robinson dancing 25 feet away from the rim? Don't attack, just let it fly. The Celtic is shooting 20.8 percent on clutch 3-pointers (25 of 120) over the last four seasons, an ineptitude that is only outdone in this star group by Jimmy Butler and his 20.7 percent. The big difference? Tatum has shot 120 3-pointers while Butler has taken only 58. One knows he shouldn't be taking so many at that conversion rate. Nonetheless, Tatum has continued to shoot with impunity. It may be a byproduct of Joe Mazzulla's 3-point-heavy system that pushes the math beyond anything we've seen in the NBA. In Game 1, the Celtics set postseason records with both 60 3-point attempts and 45 missed 3-pointers. In Game 2, the Celtics dialed it back a bit, making just 10-of-40 attempts. Tatum missed two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, one an airball and the other an acceptable corner 3 with no one within two zip codes. He missed it anyway. We heard a lot about Tatum's revamped jump shot ahead of the season. After a postseason struggle from beyond the arc and a personally disappointing Olympics run, Tatum told reporters that he worked in the offseason with his trainer Drew Hanlen on tightening his 3-point shot mechanics. Hanlen said he focused on 'retooling' Tatum's jumper and tried to find consistency on his balance, ball path and release point especially on contested shots. After a hot season debut in which he made 8 of 11 from distance, Tatum registered a career-low 3-point field goal percentage (34.3). In the postseason, it has shriveled to 32.1 percent. Tatum has to find a way to get into the lane more and finish with strength. In this series, he has shot 5 of 7 in the restricted area, making 71.4 percent of his shots near the rim. Good things happen when he pursues the cup. But outside that zone, Tatum in this series is shooting 7 of 35, including 1 of 8 in the midrange and 5 of 20 from beyond the arc. Too often, he's settling for those looks rather than pressuring a Knicks defense that lacks elite rim protection. In clutch moments, his inefficient tendencies fester beyond reproach. Tatum isn't the only player who deserves scrutiny for the team going down 0-2 in the series to the rival Knicks. Mazzulla and the defense haven't figured out how to slow down Brunson in the biggest moments. The team-wide turnovers and overall shot selection are problems. Kristaps Porziņģis has barely played due to an illness. But the heartbreaking collapses in Boston have exposed Tatum's long-standing struggles in crunchtime. Despite the national ad campaign running in the background, Tatum doesn't have to play hero and try to do it all by himself. The sooner he realizes that, the better the Celtics' chances of surviving this series.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Mikko Rantanen with a Goal vs. Winnipeg Jets
Oettinger Dazzled In Final Moments Of Game Seven The Dallas Stars pulled off the incredible in the latter moments of Game Seven, and overcame a two goal deficit to the mighty Avalanche to take the series. The main headline of the Game Seven finale was the incredible hat-trick by forward Mikko Rantanen to send his former team packing. What many will forget or have not realized, is that the hero in the final minutes was goaltender Jake Oettinger. 1:10 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Red Wings Trade Candidates In Search of a Summer of "Substantial Upgrades"
May 4, 2025; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets left wing Kyle Connor (81) warms up before a game against the St. Louis Blues in game seven of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre. (James Carey Lauder, Imagn Images) The Detroit Red Wings need to get better. The timeline and markers of that process are up for some debate, but the simple assertion holds. Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. At his end-of-season press conference, general manager Steve Yzerman spoke to Detroit's willingness to part with prospects and picks in a trade or dole out the requisite free agent salary to acquire top talent, but he also spoke to the challenge of getting that done. 'When you say 'make substantial upgrades,' it's easier said than done," Yzerman answered, in response to a question about the urgency for improvement created by the success of rebuilding division rivals in Ottawa and Montreal. "Yeah, we're gonna continue to try to get better, to try to keep pace with these teams and not only them, there's no guarantee that Florida and Toronto and Tampa are going anywhere from at the top. It's just imperative that we continue to strive to get better and figure out ways to improve our team and bring better players that make us a better team.' What follows is a list of three potential Red Wings trade targets. The theme is "substantial upgrades," with a specific eye toward forwards that could make an immediate impact in Detroit's top six. While I won't necessarily try to put a precise name on the return necessary to acquire them in a fluid market, suffice it to say that none will come cheaply. Trending Red Wings Stories Could Red Wings Be a Fit for Michigan State Star Isaac Howard? Can Tarasenko Bounce Back from Lowly First Year in Detroit? Three Highlights from Steve Yzerman and Todd McLellan's End of Season Press Availability Griffins in Deep Hole Early in Calder Cup Playoffs Griffins in Deep Hole Early in Calder Cup Playoffs At his end-of-season presser, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman proclaimed that, in the absence of an NHL playoff run, the AHL Calder Cup playoffs would serve as another important proving ground for some of the team's top prospects with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Two games into that run, the Griffins already find themselves on the brink of elimination. Kyle Connor As a native of Shelby Township and University of Michigan alumnus, Connor is certainly a name familiar to Red Wings fans. As of this writing, Connor is fresh off a three-point Game Seven to help spark the Winnipeg Jets to a come-from-behind 4–3 overtime win over the St. Louis Blues, with a second round date with the Dallas Stars set to get going Wednesday night. Because of Winnipeg's status as a contender, Connor is perhaps the hardest player on this list to pry loose. However, it's also not inconceivable that he could be moved this summer, depending on how the rest of their postseason shakes out. The 28-year-old is signed to a deal with a $7,142,857 cap hit through the end of the '25-26 season with a 10-team no trade list. The Jets always have to be concerned about free agent retention, so with Connor's deal running down, they may deal him to avoid losing him for free via free agency next summer. Presumably, the no-trade clause wouldn't be a big deal when it comes to bringing Connor back to his home state, but there's certainly no guarantee Winnipeg would want to make the move. As far as what Detroit could acquire in Connor, he's coming off a season with 41 goals (32 of them at five-on-five), 56 assists, and 97 points (the latter two career highs). That offense could be a serious boost to the Red Wings' push, though it's worth pointing out he wouldn't have much to offer when it comes to the team's desire to get harder to play against. Filip Forsberg The Nashville Predators are coming off an unmitigated disaster of a season: massive free agent spending generating hype the team's results immediately failed to live up to. The 30-year-old Forsberg is signed through 2029-30 at $8.5 million against the cap, and he has a full no move clause. So, why might Nashville deal him? Well, after this season's disaster, Barry Trotz and co will presumably be considering a lot of options heading into the summer. At least one of those likely includes getting younger with some version of a re-tool, and Detroit could potentially entice the Preds with some talent that has either just broken onto the NHL stage or might be ready to imminently. Forsberg is a star with term left on his deal, so he won't come cheap, and the no move means the Wings would also have to win him over. He scored 31 goals and 76 points a year ago, a step back from the 48 and 94 he deposited a season prior. If Detroit can arrive at the right price, he is a creative skilled scorer, whose attacking flair comes in service of a power game driving pucks to dangerous areas. It wouldn't be an easy deal to pull off, but it could be one that pays serious dividends for the Red Wings. Mika Zibanejad The New York Rangers are in the midst of a public organizational crisis that puts some petty commentary about trade deadline plans to shame as offseason drama. Zibanejad—28 years old, signed to an $8.5 million cap hit through 29-30. The Rangers obviously have eyes on a shake-up, and Zibanejad is one of the veterans whose name has been dragged through the mud by fans and media alike. He has a full no movement clause, but New York has been merciless in pushing back against that negotiated contractural right to ship Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba out of town under broadly similar circumstances. The risk with acquiring Zibanejad is that the counting stats suggest he may be entering a decline or perhaps that the heights of his mid-20s were anomalous. He posted 91 points in '22-23, only to follow it up with 72, then 62 in the last two seasons. However, Zibanejad would hardly be the first player to benefit from a change in scenery, and nothing about the working environment of the Rangers over the last two years seems pleasant. New York also has a history of parting with prominent players for relatively cheap if they can clear cap space in the process. Zibanejad could help the Wings at center or on the wings, bringing a scoring touch and 200-foot presence to the top six. However, it wouldn't be an easy deal to pull off, and to be a benefit, it would require Zibanejad to revert to form he hasn't shone all that often recently. For those reasons, this is probably the biggest long shot of our list. Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
Global News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
ANALYSIS: Jets answered the bell in high-stakes Game 7
The first-ever NHL Game Seven to be played in Winnipeg was going to have one of two endings. And there was not going to be an 'in between' when remembering that historic happening in the years to come. I'm going to be fully transparent here. Story continues below advertisement I had two versions of this commentary prepared. Let's just say this version will be far more complimentary after the Jets made last night a celebration of 'New Life' in every possible sense of the word. That in itself is a snapshot of what was at stake for this franchise in a highly charged atmosphere last night at Canada Life Centre. By improving their 2.0 record in Game Sevens to 2-0 with what will be an unforgettable night in Winnipeg, the indictments of a team that couldn't get out of its own way, to get out of the first round, have been laid to rest. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Especially when the 2025 edition went into the playoffs as the number one seed. Also noteworthy, Winnipeg managed to win without Mark Scheifele, ending a string of seven consecutive defeats when their number-one centre was unable to answer the playoff call of duty. Story continues below advertisement Connor Hellebuyck took a gigantic stride in removing the label of playoff enigma that has been attached to a probable three-time Vezina Trophy winner and possible first-time MVP. A huge amount of credit is due to a team staring down the barrel of another long, painful, remorsefully reflective summer — and not blinking. Those playoff calluses hardened and didn't turn into a deep emotional scar. Instead, the Jets answered the bell by rescuing a game from the ashes. They walked the walk instead of just talking the talk of previous postseasons. It's not going to get any easier in Round Two against Mikko Rantanen, Jake Oettinger, and the healing, not reeling, Dallas Stars. But that's a narrative we can thankfully put on ice until tomorrow so that this team and its fans can soak in what was arguably the Winnipeg Jets' finest hour … and then some.
