Footer Legal

Header - Categories

Header Menu

The last good website.

Topics

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

Defector

Barry Petchesky

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 02: Alexander Nikishin #21 of the Carolina Hurricanes pressures Cole Smith #22 of the Vegas Golden Knights at the boards during the third period of Game One of the Stanley Cup Final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes at Lenovo Center on June 02, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Vegas Squeezed The Canes And Got The Juice

Ray Ratto

Claude Lemieux carries the torch in the opening ceremony of Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Montreal Canadiens and the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre on May 25, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The Tragedy Of Appreciating SOBs Too Late

MONTREAL, CANADA - MAY 27: Joe Veleno #90, Jakub Dobes #75, and Mike Matheson #8 of the Montreal Canadiens look on from the bench during the third period in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes at Bell Centre on May 27, 2026 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Canadiens Have A Weird Fetish For Not Shooting The Puck And They’re Making It Everybody’s Problem

Lauren Theisen

Colorado Avalanche players react after a 2-1 loss against the Vegas Golden Knights

That Was Embarrassing

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 26: Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrates after defeating the Colorado Avalanche 2-1in Game Four of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 26, 2026 at T-Mobile Arena on May 26, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

Vegas Is Built For Springtime

Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a goal past Jakub Dobes

Close Isn’t Good Enough For The Canadiens

The Avalanche’s Season Hinges On Cale Makar’s Busted Shoulder

Nikolaj Ehlers #27 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates the overtime winning goal in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Nikolaj Ehlers Rewrote The Hurricanes’ Old Script

What If The Canadiens Are Just This Good?

Mitch Marner #93 of the Vegas Golden Knights looks on during warmups ahead of Game One of the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado.

Mitch Marner Needed To Get Out Of Toronto

DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 20: Carter Hart #79 of the Vegas Golden Knights allows a goal from Valeri Nichushkin #13 of the Colorado Avalanche during the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

I’m So Sick Of The Golden Knights

Jakub Dobes #75 of the Montreal Canadiens is congratulated by Alexandre Carrier #45 of the Montreal Canadiens

Jakub Dobes Is Growing Up

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MAY 18: Alex Newhook #15 of the Montréal Canadiens celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during overtime in Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center on May 18, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Joe Hrycych/Getty Images)

The Canadiens Must Be Blessed

DENVER, CO - MAY 13: The Colorado Avalanche celebrate defenseman Brett Kulak (27) of the Colorado Avalanche's overtime goal on goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) of the Minnesota Wild during overtime of Game 5 of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo. (Photo by Timothy Hurst/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

Who’s Stopping These Avs?

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

The Montreal Crowd Claimed A Victory

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - CIRCA 1990: The Rocky statue stands atop the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1990. The statue of fictional character Rocky Balboa, as portrayed by actor Sylvester Stallone, was created for and used in the Rocky III movie. It was later located outside the Spectrum at the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. In 1990, it was temporarily moved to the top of the museum steps, which feature prominently in the original Rocky film, for the filming of Rocky V. In 2006, the statue was moved to a grassy area at street level on museum grounds. (Photo by James Drake/Getty Images)

Philadelphia Continues To Innovate In The Field Of Losing

David Roth

Gritty the mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers skates onto the ice prior to an NHL game against the Dallas Stars at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on March 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Podcasts

Gritty Is Beside Himself, With Lauren Theisen

Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche smiles during warmups ahead of Round Two Game Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Minnesota Wild.

The Colorado Avalanche Don’t Need Luck

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - MAY 05: Detailed view of the draft board is shown following the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery at the NHL Network Studio on May 5, 2026 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Leafs Fell Ass-Backward Into Gavin McKenna

Taylor Hall #71 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal

Could This Finally Be The Hurricanes’ Year?

John Chayka speaks to media at a press conference he was announced as General Manager and Mats Sundin is introduced as Senior Executive Advisor of Hockey Operations of the Toronto Maple Leafs .

NHL