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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

Enter Our Raffle To Win A Visit And Home-Cooked Meal From Drew Magary

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tip jar sweepstakes

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Barry Petchesky

TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Auston Matthews

Montreal Canadiens v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game Seven

So What The Hell Do The Leafs Do Now?

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 29: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #15 of the Montreal Canadiens celebrates his goal during overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Six of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 29, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens are the first NHL Canadian team to host 2,500 fans since the COVID-19 pandemic. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens – Game Six

Leafs Fans, You Have Permission To Panic

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Lauren Theisen

Vegas Golden Knights v Minnesota Wild – Game Six

Abolish The Penalty For Losing A Replay Challenge

Pittsburgh Penguins v New York Islanders – Game Six

JARRRR-EEEEEE. JARRRRRR-EEEEEE. JARRRR-EEEEEE.

Nashville Predators v Carolina Hurricanes – Game Five

Marty Necas’s Beautiful Wraparound Saved The Hurricanes

MONTREAL, QC - MAY 24: Alex Galchenyuk #12 of the Toronto Maple Leafs checks Joel Armia #40 of the Montreal Canadiens during the third period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on May 24, 2021 in Montreal, Canada. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Montreal Canadiens – Game Three

This Was The Alex Galchenyuk That Was Hoped For

New York Islanders v Pittsburgh Penguins – Game Five

Tristan Jarry’s Boner Was One For The Ages

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Ray Ratto

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - MAY 23: Connor McDavid #97 and Jesse Puljujarvi #13 of the Edmonton Oilers react after the Jets tied up Game Three of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Winnipeg Jets on May 23, 2021 at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jason Halstead/Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Winnipeg Jets – Game Three

New Disappointments, Same Old Oilers

TORONTO, ON - MAY 20: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs appears to suffer a significant injury against the Montreal Canadiens in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 20, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Tavares

Montreal Canadiens v Toronto Maple Leafs – Game One

That Was About As Sour A Start To A Cup Run As You Could Envision

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David Roth

Russell Westbrook contemplates the void, and The Distraction logo.

Washington Wizards v Boston Celtics – Play-In Tournament

Podcasts

A Hater’s Guide To Every Postseason, With Lauren Theisen And Albert Burneko

The Colorado Avalanche celebrate a goal by Nathan MacKinnon

St Louis Blues v Colorado Avalanche – Game Two

Can Anybody Handle The Almighty Avalanche?

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Maitreyi Anantharaman

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‘The Hockey Sweater’ Is All You Need To Know About Leafs-Habs

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Brad Marchand #63 of the Boston Bruins celebrates his game winning goal in overtime against the Washington Capitals in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC.The Boston Bruins defeated the Washington Capitals 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Boston Bruins v Washington Capitals – Game Two

Give Me Multiple Overtimes Or Don’t Even Bother

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 17: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals skates during warm ups before the game against the Boston Bruins in Game Two of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

This Isn’t Quite The Alex Ovechkin I Remember

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Imagine What The Islanders Are Capable Of

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - MAY 16: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning scores on the powerplay at 14:51 of the second period against Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers in Game One of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the BB&amp;T Center on May 16, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 5-4. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Tampa Bay Lightning v Florida Panthers – Game One

Nikita Kucherov Makes The Lightning Go

Eugene Melnyk, cast here as Thurston Howell III in a remake of Gilligan's Island.

Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk Sues Yacht Captain After Nightmare Christmas Vomit Cruise

Washington Capitals v New York Rangers

Wilson Versus Marchand Is The First Course These Stanley Cup Playoffs Deserve

Colorado Avalanche v Vegas Golden Knights

It Sure Looks Like Marc-André Fleury Will Get Another Shot At Postseason Glory

Montreal Canadiens v Toronto Maple Leafs

Start The Damn Playoffs Already!

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 26: Jack Eichel #9 of the Buffalo Sabres celebrates after scoring on the New York Rangers during the second period at KeyBank Center on January 26 , 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)

New York Rangers v Buffalo Sabres

Jack Eichel Sounds Done With This Shit

<a href="http://www.ddavisla.com">David Davis</a> is the author of Wheels of Courage: How Paralyzed Veterans from World War Invented Wheelchair Sports, Fought for Disability Rights, and Inspired a Nation. A <a href="https://sidewinderfilms.org/films/waterman">documentary</a> based on his previous book, Waterman: The Life and Times of Duke Kahanamoku, airs on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/video/waterman-duke-ambassador-of-aloha-ot83gi/">PBS’s American Masters series</a> on May 10.

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David Davis

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Hockey’s Cold War Was The Summit Of Two Photographers’ Careers

DALLAS, TEXAS - MARCH 04: John Tortorella, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third period at American Airlines Center on March 04, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jackets v Dallas Stars

John Tortorella Doesn’t Know How To Be Any Other Way

Michal Kempny #6 of the Washington Capitals looks on in a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre on January 31, 2020 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

NHL