CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

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.

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.

Defector

Lauren Theisen

Steven Stamkos Won’t Let Go Of The Cup Without A Fight

Ray Ratto

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 of the Tampa Bay Lightning makes the save on Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Lightning Will Bow Out When They’re Good And Ready

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Andrei Vasilevskiy #88 and Zach Bogosian #24 of the Tampa Bay Lightning make a save against Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers during the third period in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on June 09, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Oh God, Ryan Strome, Oh No

This Dang Pat Maroon Is Still Winning

Kathryn Xu

The Avalanche Will Tolerate No Comeback

The Lightning Finally Struck

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - JUNE 04: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against Duncan Keith #2 of the Edmonton Oilers in the third period in Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on June 04, 2022 in Edmonton, Alberta. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

The Avs Took The Oilers’ Best Punch

The Rangers Played Fast And Free

We Should Make The Goalies Even Worse

ST LOUIS, MO - APRIL 22: Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues gets ready to play the Colorado Avalanche at Enterprise Center on April 22, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

God Told Jordan Binnington To Smite His Enemies With A Water Bottle

EDMONTON, AB - APRIL 09: Connor McDavid #97 of the Edmonton Oilers battles against Nathan MacKinnon #29 of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at Rogers Place on April 9, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

The West Is More Than MacKinnon Vs. McDavid, But That’s Plenty

Please Stop Interrupting The Hockey To Tell Me To Watch Hockey, I’m Already Watching Hockey

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 24: Max Domi #13 of the Carolina Hurricanes is checked by Jacob Trouba #8 of the New York Rangers during the first period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 24, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Jacob Trouba’s Big Hits Are Changing Games And Making Enemies

Blake Coleman kicks the puck past Mike Smith for a non-goal

I Never Want To Hear The Phrase “Distinct Kicking Motion” Ever Again So Help Me God

hats on the ice after Nathan MacKinnon scored his third goal

Spare A Thought For The Wasted Hats Of Colorado’s Game 5 Collapse

Mike Smith Pulled Himself Together

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 22: The Edmonton Oilers battle against the Calgary Flames during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 22, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

Rasmus Andersson Scored From HOW Far Away?

Maitreyi Anantharaman

It’s Time To Slander The Florida Panthers

Tom Ley

It’s Better To Be Good Than Angry

EDMONTON, AB - MAY 22: Evander Kane #91 of the Edmonton Oilers scores his third of the evening against goaltender Jacob Markstrom #25 of the Calgary Flames during the second period in Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on May 22, 2022 in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)

The Oilers Got What They Wanted

Nazem Kadri #91 of the Colorado Avalanche falls over goaltender Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues in the first period during Game Three of the Second Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Enterprise Center on May 21, 2022 in St Louis, Missouri.

Jordan Binnington Got Hurt And Threw A Water Bottle At Nazem Kadri

SUNRISE, FL - MAY 19: Ross Colton #79 of the Tampa Bay Lightning raises his stick after scoring the go ahead goal against Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the FLA Live Arena on May 19, 2022 in Sunrise, Florida. The Lightning defeated the Panthers 2-1. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ross Colton;Sergei Bobrovsky

The Lightning Feed Off Crushed Hopes And Dreams

TORONTO, ON - MAY 14: Nikita Kucherov #86 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 14, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ( Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty images) *** Local Caption *** Nikita Kucherov

Nikita Kucherov’s Skating At You With A Full Head Of Steam. What Do You Do?

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 09: Carter Verhaeghe #23 of the Florida Panthers celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Washington Capitals during overtime in Game Four of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on May 09, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Even The Panthers’ Schedule Gets No Respect

CALGARY, AB - MAY 15: The Calgary Flames celebrate after defeating the Dallas Stars during the overtime period of Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome on May 15, 2022 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames defeated the Stars 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)