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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

10-minute-quarters-3-2-fix (1)

Live Event

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Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON- MAY 14 - Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) and Toronto Maple Leafs center David Kampf (64) battle in the snow in first period action as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 14, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs oplay the  Florida Panthers in game five in the second round of the NHL Stanley Cup play-offs

Toronto Once Again Wins The Stanley Cup Of Angst

DALLAS, TX - MAY 13: Dallas Stars center Mikael Granlund (64) scores a goal for a hat trick during game 4 of round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets on May 13, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 13 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Jets at Stars

Mikael Granlund Takes Jets Downapeg

DALLAS, TX - MAY 11: Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) tries to block a shot during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Winnipeg Jets on May 11, 2025 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: MAY 11 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†2nd Round Jets at Stars

Rulebook Aficionados: Let’s Ride

-b9trzb

Lauren Theisen

Reilly Smith #19 of the Vegas Golden Knights scores a late goal against Stuart Skinner #74

Vegas Golden Knights v Edmonton Oilers – Game Three

Leon, No!

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 08: &lt;&gt; of Game Two of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 8, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Vegas Golden Knights – Game Two

It Only Takes A Second

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Ray Ratto

Mikal Bridges celebrates after making a three-point basket against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs.

New York Knicks v Boston Celtics – Game One

The Knicks And Maple Leafs Are Refusing To Stick To The Script

WINNIPEG, CANADA - MAY 7: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his second period goal against the Winnipeg Jets with teammates at the bench in Game One of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on May 7, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dallas Stars v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

On His Third Team Of The Season, Mikko Rantanen Is Second To None

Leon Draisaitl #29 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrates with teammates after a goal

Edmonton Oilers v Vegas Golden Knights – Game One

Leon Draisaitl Makes Everything Easier

TORONTO, ON - MAY 5 - Referee Chris Rooney (5) blows the play dead as Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz (41) lays on the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. May 5, 2025. Steve Russell/Toronto Star

Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in the first game of their second round series of the NHL Stanley Cup Play-offs

It Wouldn’t Be A Panthers Postseason Without A Cheap Shot By Sam Bennett

Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets stands on the ice in front of the Whiteout crowd prior to puck drop

St. Louis Blues v Winnipeg Jets – Game Seven

Connor Hellebuyck Earned A Reprieve

WINNIPEG, CANADA - MAY 4: Winnipeg Jets players salute the fans following a 4-3 double overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on May 4, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

They’ll Talk About That One In Winnipeg Forever

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - MAY 01: in the third period of Game Six of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xcel Energy Center on May 01, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Ellen Schmidt/Getty Images)

Vegas Golden Knights v Minnesota Wild – Game Six

Wild Fans, This Is Just Your Life Now

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 29: John Tavares #91, Max Domi #11 and Scott Laughton #24 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warm-up before Game Five of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Ottawa Senators at the Scotiabank Arena on April 29, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ottawa Senators v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Five

Do Not Say The Leafs Could Blow This Series. Don’t Even Think It!

Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates after scoring a goal

Washington Capitals v Montreal Canadiens – Series Game Four

There’s Nothing Like The Sound Of A Goal In Montreal

ST. LOUIS, MO - APRIL 24: Connor Hellebuyck #37 of the Winnipeg Jets gives up a goal to the St. Louis Blues in the first period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 24, 2025 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/NHLI via Getty Images)

Winnipeg Jets v St Louis Blues – Game Three

The Jets Have A Connor Hellebuyck Problem, And The Only Solution Is More Connor Hellebuyck

EDMONTON, CANADA - APRIL 27: Corey Perry #90 and Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers celebrate an overtime goal by Leon Draisaitl #29 to win the game against the Los Angeles Kings during Game Four of the First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on April 27, 2025, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Andy Devlin/NHLI via Getty Images)

Los Angeles Kings v Edmonton Oilers – Game Four

The Kings Are Wearing Out

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 24: Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates scoring a goal during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild on April 24th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: APR 24 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†First Round Golden Knights at Wild

Vegas Can’t Answer The Call Of The Wild

OTTAWA, CANADA - APRIL 24: Ridly Greig #71 of the Ottawa Senators battles for puck possession during a faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 24, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Ottawa Senators – Game Three

The Leafs Are In Uncharted Territory

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores a goal against Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in the second period during Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez /NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings – Game One

The Oilers Are Getting Carved Up Like A Moist And Tender Turkey

Los Angeles, CA - April 21:Kings Warren Foegele, #37, jumps out of the way of a shot by Kings Phillip Danault, #24, to score past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in the final seconds of the third period in Game 1 of the first-round series at Cypto.com Arena on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Kings beat Oilers 6-5 in game one of first round of NHL Playoffs

It Rocks When A Hockey Game Is Funny

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 19: Winnipeg Jets players celebrate on the ice following a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game One of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on April 19, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)

St. Louis Blues v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

That’s About As Hot As It Gets In Winnipeg

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 23: Winnipeg Jets fans cheer on their team as they get set to face off against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Two of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre on April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by David Lipnowski/Getty Images)

Colorado Avalanche v Winnipeg Jets – Game Two

The Stanley Cup’s Got To Return To Canada Sometime, Right?

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15:-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets surrounded by teammates after an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center on April 15, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Luke Schmidt/NHLI via Getty Images)

Anaheim Ducks v Minnesota Wild

One Last Nice Moment For Marc-Andre Fleury, Who Deserves Them All

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Mark Messier, Namesake And Sole Voter Of Mark Messier Leadership Award Presented By Mark Messier, Knows How To Fix The Rangers: Mark Messier

OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 29: Gavin McKenna #9 of Team Canada skates in the first period against Team Germany of the Group A match during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Team Canada defeated Team Germany 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

NHL