May 11, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals players Kyler Murray (left) and Hollywood Brown look on during the first half of game six of the 2023 NBA playoffs between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Minnesota Vikings fans are not opposed to a high-profile quarterback joining the roster this offseason — but they do not want Kyler Murray via trade. We polled Vikings-themed social media last week, and the group resoundingly denounced a Murray trade.
The numbers suggest Vikings fans don’t want the trade price tag, and Murray’s contract structure adds another layer to the hesitation.
Murray could be gettable for the right price. Just don’t tell that to purple fans. They don’t want him.
Advertisement
Poll Results Show Clear Pushback on Kyler Murray
Vikings loyalists take a stand on Murray to Minnesota.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray participates in offseason minicamp drills at the team facility in Tempe, showing early-career command and preparation on Jun 11, 2019, as Arizona continued installing its offensive system. The session reflected Murray’s developmental phase, balancing athleticism with timing and structure ahead of his first NFL season. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
81% Say No Thanks to Murray
Because Vikings are so unenthusiastic about the prospect of Murray becoming a Viking on social media, we decided to gather some numbers.
In short, the fan base wants nothing to do with Murray. Here’s the poll result:
Advertisement
Would you trade a 2nd-Rounder to ARI for Kyler Murray if you were the new Vikings general manager?
Approximately 1,400 people voted in the poll, an unscientific process. A reasonable guess would’ve been that the folks were split on the idea of trading a 2nd-Rounder for Murray. No cigar. Nearly four-fifths of Vikings fans said “no thanks.”
A Shocking Poll Result
Poll respondents are treating Murray like a non-starter. An actual non-starter. One might expect the 81%-19% poll result if the question were: “Do you think Max Brosmer could eventually turn into a franchise quarterback?”
Advertisement
Instead, this is Kyler Murray at hand — the guy drafted by the Cardinals in 2019 with the first overall pick. In recent seasons, with former high-round quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold totally and unmistakably reclaiming their careers, Murray doesn’t feel that far off from a reclamation story — if reclamation applies to him in the first place.
Yet, the poll proves purple faithful simply do not want him. He is not the fix for the Vikings, they say.
An Attitude Problem?
So, what’s behind the anti-Murray stance? It’s certainly not the completion percentage. Murray is the fifth-most accurate quarterback in NFL history. In the past, head coach Kevin O’Connell has described his preferred quarterback model as one who starts from a baseline of passing accuracy. That’s Murray. There is no better fit as an accurate passer this offseason who’s available to the Vikings. He fits that particular O’Connell criteria.
Advertisement
On the other hand, Murray’s reputation — fair or unfair — is a bit sullied by folks who insist he prefers video games to football, doesn’t really like the sport, and doesn’t study enough. In fact, four years ago, the Cardinals’ brass built a “study clause” into Murray’s contract extension.
ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss explained in the summer of 2022, “Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s recently signed contract extension includes an addendum that requires him to study film for four hours per week during the season to stay in compliance with the new deal.”
“The clause is labeled ‘independent study addendum.’ A source who has seen the contract confirmed to ESPN that the addendum first reported by NFL Network is in the contract.”
The strange contractual nugget spread like wildfire for its bizarre stipulation, and Arizona later removed the clause.
Advertisement
Weinfuss continued, “The addendum also states that Murray will not get credit if he’s not studying or watching the material while it plays on his tablet or if he’s doing something that can distract him or draw his attention elsewhere while the material is playing, such as playing video games, watching TV or browsing the internet. Failure to meet the addendum’s requirements will mean Murray will “be deemed to be in default” of his contract, per the wording in the agreement.”
“The addendum kicks in this season and lasts through 2028, which is when the Cardinals can pick up a club option.”
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray crosses the goal line during a first-half scoring run at State Farm Stadium, capturing a decisive moment on Nov 27, 2022, against the Los Angeles Chargers. The play highlighted Murray’s dual-threat impact, combining mobility and instincts to pressure defenses in high-leverage red-zone situations. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Murray has all the physical tools — besides height; he’s 5’10” — to succeed as a long-term QB1 for the Vikings. But the team’s fan base is evidently spooked by video games and study clauses. It’s the only thing that explains the 81% disapproval response.
Note, as well, that injuries have been an issue in the past, perhaps contributing to the pause.
The Other Realistic Trade Options
Advertisement
Let’s say the Vikings prefer a quarterback trade this offseason — but not Murray. The list might look like this:
A free agent like Malik Willis from the Green Bay Packers could also move the needle.
But don’t float Murray to Vikings fans. About 80% of the group is flat-out not interested despite the fact that Murray will turn 29 in August and has delivered 153 total touchdowns in 87 career games.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray stands on the field before kickoff at State Farm Stadium, framed during pregame routines on Dec 15, 2019, as Arizona prepared to face Cleveland. The moment reflects Murray’s early NFL tenure, marked by rapid adjustment to tempo, visibility, and leadership expectations. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Pundits estimate a trade would cost the Vikings or another suitor the equivalent of a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick, as mentioned in the poll.
Since the start of 2019, Murray has a better EPA+CPOE than Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence, Mac Jones, and Daniel Jones — who are all expected to start in 2026 for their respective teams.
Noble Yeats, the former Grand National winner, has died after a bout of colic aged 11.
The horse created history in 2022 by pulling off one of the greatest upsets in Grand National history to clinch victory as a 50-1 outsider.
Noble Yeats was connected with amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, with that famous ride around Aintree the last of his career.
“He gave us one of the great days of our lives and fulfilled our dreams,” said Waley-Cohen, who added that “his ability outstripped his looks,” having “grown into a great champion.”
Noble Yeats, without Waley-Cohen now, made two further appearances at the National, finishing fourth behind Corach Rambler in 2023 and then out of contention behind I Am Maximus in 2024.
Advertisement
Harry Cobden riding Noble Yeats at Cheltenham (Getty)
“He was brilliant for us and was one of those special horses,” Waley-Cohen said, with the horse winning seven of his 24 races and earning more than £750,000 in prize-money.
Noble Yeats, trained by Emmet Mullins, also won the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024 under Harry Cobden, and made his last appearance in 2024 in the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown, pulling up before the decision was made to retire due to arthritis.
Owner Robert Waley-Cohen, who had purchased Noble Yeats just two months before victory in the greatest race of them all, described the “grim moment” after Noble Yeats’ health took a turn for the worse.
He said: “He looked very uncomfortable on Wednesday, so the vet came out and everybody was up all night treating him and hoping he would pull through, but unfortunately he went the other way.
(PA)
“He was living the life of a retired horse in the field with [2011 Gold Cup winner] Long Run and [2011 Grand National runner-up] Oscar Time.”
He added: “He was enormous fun at the National and afterwards. The memories of the National are unbelievable – you could not have a better day. It’s the dream of a lifetime to win the National, and to win it with your son made it even more special.”
Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta heaped praise on star batter Prabhsimran Singh while commenting on a social media post on Saturday. A user shared the inspiring journey of the PBKS opener, and co-owner Preity could not stop herself from reacting to it. She lauded Prabhsimran’s behaviour while also revealing that his mother cooks and brings food to the hotel for the entire team every Indian Premier League season. The player has been a part of the PBKS squad since IPL 2019. He was initially bought for Rs 4.80 crore. The wicketkeeper-batter currently earns Rs 4 crore per season from the franchise.
“He is also soft spoken, well behaved and extremely sweet. His mom makes food and brings it to the hotel ( Best Kadi Chawal & Bhartha among other things ) for the entire team every IPL. I never heard him complain or come late when he sat on the bench. Watching him shine fills me up with so much joy cuz nothing is more rewarding than to see a good guy win. Sorry I couldn’t help commenting on ur write up as it popped up in my timeline (sic),” wrote Preity Zinta, reacting to the post on Prabhsimran.
He is also soft spoken, well behaved and extremely sweet. His mom makes food and brings it to the hotel ( Best Kadi Chawal & Bhartha among other things ) for the entire team every IPL I never heard him complain or come late when he sat on the bench. Watching him shine fills me…
Table-toppers Punjab Kings will bank on their strong batting to continue their winning run against a struggling Lucknow Super Giants, who are sweating over skipper Rishabh Pant‘s injury, in their IPL 2026 match in Mullanpur on Sunday.
PBKS, the only unbeaten side so far, have looked ominous this season with four wins from five matches, with one game against Kolkata Knight Riders washed out. The Shreyas Iyer-led side boasts a healthy net run rate of +1.067, thanks to their strong batting displays that have powered clinical chases.
The Kings have won nine of their last 11 matches while chasing since the 2025 season, underlining their dominance, and it was also seen in their recent win over Mumbai Indians. It will take something special from LSG to halt the home team’s momentum.
Advertisement
Lucknow, currently seventh in the points table, are reeling from back-to-back losses, and Pant’s elbow injury in the previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru has further dented their campaign.
(With PTI Inputs)
Featured Video Of The Day
Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash
“It was about the three points but lessons need to be learned,” former Wales striker Gwennan Harries told Match of the Day Wales.
Wilkinson’s side had overwhelmed Albania in a 4-0 win in Wrexham four days earlier, when the hosts’ only frustration was that they did not score more goals.
But the return fixture had a very different look, with Wales struggling for fluency in possession as Albania sat deep but carried a threat on the counter-attack.
“At the minute, we’re probably not seeing Wales at their best and we’ve struggled at times to break down teams who sit back,” said another ex-Wales striker Helen Ward on BBC Radio Wales.
Advertisement
“That’s where a Jess Fishlock can do something magic.
“We don’t have her anymore, so someone else is going to have to take that responsibility.”
The one goal Wales did manage was as scrappy as their performance, Roberts bundling home from a Lily Woodham cross with Albania claiming the ball had gone in off the veteran defender’s arm.
There were other opportunities for Wales, Mared Griffiths coming close on a couple of occasions and Ingle shooting straight at Albania keeper Rajmonda Spahiu having seen an earlier effort ruled out for offside.
Advertisement
Had one or two of those chances been converted, the evening would have had a different feel.
As it was, there was tension in the air right up until the final whistle, with Safia Middleton-Patel making a late save from Fortesa Berisha having earlier seen Ilarja Zarka’s drive rattle the bar.
“I thought Albania were really good,” said Ingle. “They blocked up, made it hard for us.
“They defended really well and they nearly punished us on a few transition attacks, so we were quite lucky at times.”
Tony Bellew has considered whether Oleksandr Usyk, who dealt him an eighth-round stoppage defeat in 2018, can be beaten by heavyweight prodigy Moses Itauma.
Having become a three-time, two-division undisputed champion, there is little more the Ukrainian can achieve to further cement his greatness in the sport.
He has, after all, beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois on two occasions, respectively, and therefore solidified himself as the greatest heavyweight of this era.
Advertisement
The only way he can go one step further, it seems, is by making his mark on the next generation, which many predict will be dominated by Itauma.
But while the dynamic southpaw has expressed an interest in facing the heavyweight king, Usyk is understandably less eager to present him with this opportunity.
Advertisement
Instead, the 39-year-old is gearing up to face Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23, defending his WBC world title at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.
Even if his next opponent happened to be Itauma, though, former world champion Bellew has told Seconds Out that he doubts Usyk would be defeated.
“He’s beaten everybody in front of him – there’s nothing more he can do.
“He’s entitled to what he’s doing in this next fight [against Verhoeven] and he’s earned the right to call the shots. He’s the boss.
Charley Hull caught the people’s attention with her picture on social media. She shared a snap with Welsh professional golfer Mark Mouland on her Instagram story.
She shared the throwback picture on her social media story on Saturday and tagged the golfer in the caption. They posed at the Nailcote Hall Cromwell Course. Hull wore a pink top and black shorts for the outing.
Thanks for the submission!
Advertisement
Charley Hull shares throwback snap with Welsh golf veteran
Away from the field, Charley Hull is enjoying a good time. Her last outing was at the Aramco Championship, where she carded four rounds of 70, 78, 75, and 70. She settled with a score of 5 over in a tie for 15th position.
On April 6, she shared a slew of a few pictures of her outing from the Aramco Championship. She posted the snaps with a sweet caption. She wrote:
Advertisement
“What happens in Vegas… 😏 Fun week at Aramco Championship, nice T15 finish and memories made at Cirque du Soleil 🤸🎪 Next stop, Augusta”
In the post, she added snaps of her playing golf, and also of the outing she enjoyed in Las Vegas.
Charley Hull offers a glimpse of her practice session
Although Charley Hull is not playing in any official tournament this week, she made sure to practice her game. She offered a glimpse of her practice session on her Instagram account on Friday. She shared the post along with a sweet caption.
“It’s always great to be back playing & practising where I grew up as a little girl playing. I love this grass driving range. I really do have the best memories on it as a kid with my Dad & Kevin growing up. Very wholesome. ⛳️ Very impressed with the condition of Kettering golf club for this time of year,” she wrote.
For her outing, Hull wore a black T-shirt and matching pants.
She started her campaign this season on the LPGA Tour at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She carded three rounds of 70, 71, and 74 to settle in T17 place.
Advertisement
She then played at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, which wrapped up with its finale on February 26. She carded four rounds of 72, 67, 74, and 69 to settle with a score of 6 under. She was tied for 10th place in the event.
This season on the LPGA Tour, Hull also played at the Ford Championship, where she played two rounds of 71 and 70. She, however, struggled with her game and missed the cut.
Meanwhile, in the last season, she played in 16 tournaments and made the cut in 14 of them. She recorded four finishes in the top 10 and won the Kroger Queen City Championship.
Steve Nicol has named who he thinks is likely to be the next Liverpool manager if FSG were to sack Arne Slot, along with citing an alternative candidate he’d welcome in the job.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY
The Dutchman has come under ever-intensifying scrutiny during a wretched season at Anfield, with Danny Murphy calling for a change in the dugout, and several names have already been mentioned as potential successors.
Nicol was asked on ESPN FC whether he’d persevere with Slot or hire either of the aforementioned Spaniards at Liverpool for next season.
He answered: “I like Iraola. I like the way his Bournemouth play the game. Under normal circumstances I would’ve said Alonso, but he absolutely bombed at Real Madrid and you have to take that into consideration.
Advertisement
Advertisement
“However, if Arne Slot is not going to be there at the start of the season, I don’t see how FSG don’t go with Alonso. I’m going to go Alonso I think, ultimately.
“If something happened with Alonso and he didn’t want it, or they weren’t keen with what happened at Real Madrid, I’d have absolutely no problem with Andoni Iraola next season.”
Do Liverpool stick with Slot, or make a move for Alonso or Iraola?
If Liverpool are on the lookout for a new manager over the summer, Alonso would appear to be the outstanding candidate, given his existing connection with the Reds from his playing days and his exceptional work in winning an unbeaten German double with Bayer Leverkusen two years ago.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Nicol mentioned the 44-year-old’s brief and unhappy stint at Real Madrid earlier this season, but that owes more to the hideously demanding circumstances of working at the Bernabeu than any major failings on the Spaniard’s part.
Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trust
Iraola is also marking himself out as a legitimate candidate for a job at an ‘elite’ club with his work at Bournemouth, who as of Sunday morning sit just four points off the Champions League positions in the Premier League, a remarkable feat given how their budget compares to other top-flight outfits.
Furthermore, as football data writer Thom Harris outlined for The Athletic, the Cherries boss is renowned for an aggressive, high-pressing tactical approach which is reminiscent of what Jurgen Klopp implemented with huge success at Liverpool.
Advertisement
Advertisement
For the time being, the debate as to who takes over in the dugout would appear to be moot, with David Ornstein reporting in recent days that FSG intend to keep faith in Slot even if the Reds fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Should that stance change and they decide to dismiss the 47-year-old, though, either Alonso or Iraola would appear to be solid options (unless they’re hired by other clubs in the meantime).
LeBron James is battling time in more ways than one. His 23-year defiance of Father Time is well-chronicled, and the undefeated conqueror of all athletes seemingly struck a blow at the four-time NBA MVP this week with rumors of a possible retirement growing louder.
But there’s a more immediate battle playing out concurrently. James and his Los Angeles Lakers almost certainly cannot advance deep in the postseason in their current state. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves recovering from injuries, James is the lone star left standing in Los Angeles, and just asking him to beat the Houston Rockets four times singlehandedly is a bridge too far — even with Kevin Durant dealing with a knee injury.
James, right now, is fighting for time. He’s doing everything in his power to keep the Lakers alive long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Whether or not they can do so remains to be seen. The Grade 2 hamstring strain keeping Dončić out typically requires more than a month of recovery. Reaves, sidelined with a Grade 2 oblique strain, is on a 4-to-6 week timetable. Eventually, without the two of them by his side, James, 41, will lose this micro battle to Father Time. He is not his 2018 self. He cannot reasonably be expected to will his teams through entire postseasons in his 40s.
But every game he wins, starting with Saturday’s Game 1 107-98 upset, is another few days he’s bought for Dončić and Reaves and another few percentage points of likelihood that they might be able to make it back onto the court in time to offer some support. A championship run — as James has made so clear he’s wanted all year — just isn’t in the cards. But a respectable showing, a chance to sneer at Father Time one more time, is a possibility James is still very much fighting for.
Advertisement
We figured he’d do so in the way that he used to, that his path to staving off the metaphorical reaper here meant turning back the clock. In his last three regular-season games before the throwaway season finale, James averaged 28 points on just shy of 13 assists and eight rebounds per game. He took 18.3 shots per game, just shy of his playoff averages in both his eight-year Lakers stint and four-year Miami Heat run. Though no longer the unstoppable force of nature he was at his peak, James appeared ready to uncork a vintage postseason performance. When asked what the Lakers needed out of him with Dončić and Reaves sidelined, he responded, simply, “everything.“
His Game 1 performance against Houston was marvelous. It wasn’t “everything.” He finished the night with 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a block, and led the Lakers with an on-court point-differential of plus-11. He was spectacular, but he was measured. He took only 15 shots. Since joining the Lakers, he has taken 15 or fewer shots in just two other playoff games decided by single digits. His defensive lift was relatively light.
The Lakers hid him on Jabari Smith Jr., knowing that he rarely attempts to create his own shots, and Houston’s laughably bland offense did the rest to keep James relatively fresh. He switched and made plays when he needed to, but the key here is that he didn’t need to do all that much.
His teammates and coaches did their parts, of course, but more than anything, it’s a testament to the degree of control James is still able to exert over games mentally. He knew exactly how to ration his energy, when to push and when to react. Of those 13 assists, just three came with James as a pick-and-roll ball handler. His only true layup came as a transition trailer in the final minute. Otherwise, he was backing down smaller players in the post and making jumpers. There weren’t many hard drives to the basket. He didn’t even make a free throw. He spent the bulk of the game operating with his back to the basket, reading the floor and making the right play.
Advertisement
Can he still scale into “everything” LeBron? The regular season data is inconclusive. Those three great games in April came against terrible teams. He’d happily settled into a quieter role when the Lakers were healthy and thriving in March. We’re probably going to find out how far he can take this as the series progresses. The Rockets didn’t have Durant in this game. None of their remaining players had especially good games. There will be adjustments. There will presumably eventually be Durant. Realistically, the Lakers are probably going to need at least one “everything” game from James to win this series, or at least last long enough to potentially get Dončić or Reaves back.
Realistically, the odds of either returning are slim, making this particular round of his bout with Father Time a likely loss (the Lakers are still +185 underdogs at DraftKings even after winning Game 1). The “everything” games are, at best, meant to be a rare treat at this stage. If blemishing that undefeated record means consistently playing like a 25-year-old into his 40s, well, James is probably going to lose on that front as well. We’re talking about someone who once averaged a 33-point triple-double in the NBA Finals. That was never going to remain eternally sustainable.
But Game 1 against Houston is a reminder that James has come as close as feasibly possible to at least forcing a draw against a previously unbeaten foe. He will eventually age out of playing in the NBA. Though based on what we’re seeing now and the rumors of the past week, that will likely happen several years after he actually retires. As long as he does decide to keep playing, though, he has achieved a level of mastery over the mental component of the sport that makes him, in a sense, immune to the ravages of time.
James is not physically the same player he once was. Yet there doesn’t seem to be a realistic degree of physical decline capable of rendering James anything less than, at the very least, a winning basketball player. He’ll be able to make the passes he made on Saturday until he’s 50. He doesn’t need a burst to bully smaller defenders in the post. His understanding of how to manipulate and ultimately undo opposing defensive principles, not just as a passer but as a conductor of possessions, is eternal.
Advertisement
James may not be a superstar forever. He may not have access to those “everything” types of games much longer. But what he did against the Rockets was timeless.
PITTSBURGH — The hostilities were renewed before the teams even took the ice.
An hour before the puck dropped on Game 1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers’ first-round rivalry revival Saturday night, the fans started streaming into PPG Paints Arena, packing the stands with black-and-gold sweaters of every vintage. A few minutes in, a minor commotion broke out. A lone orange Flyers jersey punctured the golden throng in the lower bowl.
The dissenter was serenaded with boos, the jeers crescendoing into a chorus, a wave of ill will that rippled from the fans in the immediate vicinity out to the rest of the section, the rest of the bowl, the rest of the rink. A reminder that there remains no love lost between these two franchises. The Flyers admirer stood with his arms raised, unfazed, absorbing it all.
Then his club took the ice, came out of the gates flying, and did the same — battering and pummelling their way to a 3-2 series-opening victory as the hometown fans rained down their discontent.
Advertisement
“They make it hard,” Penguins head coach Dan Muse said as the dust settled on his club’s Game 1 loss.
It wasn’t just the early physicality that got his squad off their game — the Flyers laid the body 17 times in the opening frame — it was the speed, too. The visitors’ ability to pounce on any moment of disconnection and funnel play the other way.
“That’s part of their game — they’ve been doing that for a while,” he continued. “I think we got away from things that worked. Part of that is intensity — everything’s ramped up here in the playoffs. But they’ve been playing that way now for a while, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Give them credit — they came in, they executed their game plan. We need to be better in terms of executing ours.
“We’ve just got to be better in general.”
Advertisement
Much was made in the lead-up to this series opener of the hefty disparity in experience. On one side: a few vets in orange, and a crew of bright-eyed first-timers. On the other, a pack of future Hall of Famers. Ten minutes into this one, it became clear that imbalance would matter little, the Flyers’ few seasoned veterans making their presence known from the jump.
“The Penguins had two or three really good hits, the crowd was going, and (Sean Couturier) went out on that shift and he got somebody,” Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said of his captain’s first time over the boards. “I think it helps settle our bench down, and the young guys, when your captain does that. He answered the bell.”
So too did defender Travis Sanheim, who did a little bit of everything Saturday night — throwing the body, leading the stymying of Pittsburgh’s prolific offence, and scoring a filthy third-period go-ahead goal that saw him dance around Elmer Soderblom, carry the puck into the slot, and whip it past Stuart Skinner’s glove.
“I think Sanny set the tone,” Tocchet said post-game. “In these playoff games, you have to play uncomfortable. You’ve got to do some stuff that you normally do not do. … I don’t know how many minutes he played tonight, like a ton of minutes. And to play physical, that’s hard. And then try to supply offence, kill penalties — it’s a tough night, and he really led the physicality for us.
Advertisement
“And, obviously, hell of a goal.”
The problem for the home side was that Philly’s young guns were no less impactful. Defender Jamie Drysdale opened the scoring midway through the second period, finishing off a sequence spurred by Trevor Zegras.
And the eventual game winner, wired home in the dying minutes of the game, came off the stick of 19-year-old Porter Martone — who’s potted five big-league goals already after joining the squad only three weeks ago.
“It was pretty cool,” the teenager said of his first taste of playoff hockey. “You know, skating out for warmups — I’ve never seen an arena fully sold out. We really built off the energy there. … I think we were all pretty excited going into this game. Being able to play in the playoffs. For me, it’s my 10th NHL game. It’s pretty special.”
Advertisement
The 2025 sixth-overall pick took some time to find his legs in Game 1, before ripping a wrister from the right circle to clinch a 1-0 series lead for his club. For his coach, it’s that ability to rise to the moment even when it all seems to be going off the rails that makes Martone’s potential clear.
“That’s maturity,” Tocchet said. “I explained to the players — there’s going to be some games you don’t have it. For 30, 40 minutes. You know, he was trying to figure out the pace, he had a couple turnovers. He knew it. And then he just gets a goal like that.
“I mean, it’s hard to find guys like that. In the playoffs, you’ve just got to stick with it, and you could have that big moment.”
Tocchet’s former club finds itself still waiting for its moment. Entering Game 1 as the presumptive favourite — one of the most dangerous offensive squads in the league, led by some of the most lethal scorers the game has ever seen — the Penguins found themselves largely unable to break through Saturday night, lacking the flowing, seamless sequences that have defined their offensive success this season.
Advertisement
“We’ve just got to be better. We’ve just got to be better in all areas, to be honest with you,” captain Sidney Crosby said from the Penguins locker room post-game. “Execution, just being a little bit more connected. We just have to be better.”
Continually getting caught up in chippy, physical battles egged on by the visitors didn’t help Pittsburgh’s cause, either.
“We need to play our game,” said Evgeni Malkin, who scored Pittsburgh’s first of the night, beating Dan Vladar five-hole in the middle frame to tie the game. “I think we lost control a little bit in the second period. We started fighting — this is what they want. … We know it’s Philly, we know it’s playoffs, we know it’s coming. I like to play physical, I like hard games. But after whistle, we need to just go away, and play smart.
“It’s the only way. Because they love a greasy game. You know, after whistle, they come and cross-check. But we know it’s coming. We just, everybody, should be a little smarter.”
Advertisement
“That’s going to be part of a series,” added Crosby. “I think we’ve got to stay out of it a little bit more, and trust that when they do it, and they try to stir it up, that they’re going to get penalized for it. That’s more something I think they’re looking to do. We’ve got to stay out of it and trust that they’ll be undisciplined.”
The night could’ve gone much worse for the home side if not for the play of netminder Stuart Skinner, who stymied the Flyers on four breakaways or partial breakaways over the course of the tilt. Still, the two-time Cup finalist’s heroics weren’t enough to salvage this one, the Penguins managing only 17 shots of their own against Skinner’s counterpart. So, the focus shifts to Monday’s Game 2, and a chance to even the series before the battle shifts to Philadelphia.
“You don’t win the series in Game 1,” said veteran Erik Karlsson. “We know that we’ve got a lot better in here. We’ve got to focus on ourselves and find a way to get back to what made us successful throughout the year. It’s the same game out there — a little bit more intensity maybe, but still the same game. And we know how it’s played. We’ve just got to get back to that.”
On the other side of the aisle, the Flyers eye Game 2 looking for more of the same. More of what they brought to Game 1, more of what they’ve been bringing for a while now.
Advertisement
“We’ve been playing some big games for the last month, month and a half,” said Flyers captain Couturier after Saturday’s victory. “Meaningful games. Must-win games. You know, I think we’re up to the test.”
The Los Angeles Lakers shrugged off their injury worries to make a winning start to the NBA play-offs.
The 18-time champions were without key players Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and Maxi Kleber but 41-year-old LeBron James produced another fine display in a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks were the other winners on day one of the play-offs, while the Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic won the play-in tournament to book their places.
James controlled the floor while racking up 19 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds against a Houston side who lost key man Kevin Durant to injury just before play started.
Advertisement
“It’s just our play-off mentality,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
“You can’t worry about who’s in or out of the line-up. It’s our gameplan. It’s our standards. It’s how we play, and we’ve built towards that.
“I thought our guys just responded well and met the moment. That’s the biggest thing. You’ve got to meet the moment in every game, and we were able to do that.”
Luke Kennard continued to step up as a starter with a career play-off high 27 points as the Lakers took the opening game in the best-of-seven series.
Advertisement
Durant, 37, has a bruised knee and could return for game two on Tuesday night.
Shivam Dube was disappointed as he walked back after scoring 21 off 16 balls.
NEW DELHI: Is there something called black magic? Does black magic work? During the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings, a bizarre moment – described by fans as black magic – was caught on camera. A Sunrisers Hyderabad supporter holding a lemon appeared to perform a ritual that seemingly worked in the team’s favour.The incident occurred in the 17th over of Chennai Super Kings’ innings, with Shivam Dube at the crease and CSK at 154/7 while chasing 194. With Dube known for turning games around, SRH were desperate for his wicket.In a video that has gone viral, a fan in the stands is seen taking a lemon, rotating it a few times while muttering words, and then gesturing towards Dube, who was preparing to face a delivery from Sakib Hussain. Moments after the gesture, the left-hander was bowled. The entire stadium erupted in celebration.How Dube got dismissed:Sakib Hussain to Shivam Dube – BowledSakib bowled a fast, full delivery at middle stump and Dube missed it completely. The ball came quickly off the pitch and hurried him as he tried to flick it. He was late on the shot, and the ball may have brushed his pad before hitting the stumps. Dube’s feet did not move much, and he looked like he was expecting a slower ball. He was disappointed as he walked back after scoring 21 off 16 balls.Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated CSK by 10 runs to move to fourth place in the points table, also snapping CSK’s two-match winning streak.“Lovely. When you have a bunch of young bowlers and you know they’re executing their plans well. They’re coming up with their own plans as well and bowling as per the plan. So it’s very good to see, you know, there’s a lot of less pressure on the captain to set the field because they are ahead of the game anyway. So it was lovely to see them doing their job today,” SRH captain Ishan Kishan said after the match.“(were they 20 short?) Yeah, 100% I feel, Abhishek got out pretty early, but still, after scoring 60-odd runs, always when we have ended up scoring 220, 230. We’ve always seen there are…. from the first three batters, there’s one batsman is always scored big runs. So we were missing on that today, but especially with this team, with this batting line-up, I feel, yes, we were 20 runs short maybe,” he said.“(trusting his young bowlers) Yeah, actually looking at them in practice sessions, giving their best, trying to get better and better day by day. So you have to trust your bowlers. This is a bunch of bowlers we have at this point of time and I think they are very keen on doing well. So that is the time when you just give them the ball and let them do what they want to. (on the pitch) I think it was a pretty good wicket to bat on, to be very honest. That’s why I’m saying we were, I think, 30-40 runs short. But yeah, a lot to learn from this game as well. Looking at the shot selection, I think we could have done better. (on the points table) Nah, to be very honest, we’re not looking at the points table right now. I know it’s a very long tournament. We need to keep our head down, take a game day by day, just one match at a time and let’s see how it goes,” Ishan said.SRH will next face Delhi Capitals on April 21.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login