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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.

Defector

Lauren Theisen

When Greatness Isn’t Good Enough

They Just Let Anyone Score In Seattle

The Sebastian Aho Power Rankings: Game 5

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: The New Jersey Devils celebrate a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers in Game Four of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 24, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Rangers Should Have Traded For A Proven Playoff Scorer

Connor McDavid congratulates Leon Draisaitl

The Oilers Bailed Themselves Out Of Loser Jail

Maitreyi Anantharaman

Florida Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad (5) dumps Boston Bruins left wing Taylor Hall (71) during Game 2 of an Eastern Conference First Round playoff contest between the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers on April 19, 2023, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Panthers Are No Fun For The Bruins

Shayne Gostisbehere leaps onto the back of an Islanders player

The Hurricanes Won Themselves Some Wiggle Room

The Leafs Must Empty Their Minds Of Game 1

Zach Hyman and Connor McDavid have a discussion

Nobody Screws Themselves Faster Than The Oilers

Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils and Jakub Zboril #67 of the Boston Bruins fight

NHL Playoff Series, Ranked By Comedic Potential

Sabres Complete Phase One Of “Operation: Stay Alive”

Tage Thompson pounds gloves with his teammates on the bench

The Sabres Still Have Their Dream

Mark Scheifele and Mikael Backlund fight as their teams scrum

The Flames Might Actually Want To Keep Playing

Tyler Bertuzzi leaps to avoid a shot on Juuse Saros

Juuse Saros Holds The Keys To The Last Playoff Spot Out West

Kelsey McKinney

Ryan Reaves takes a sniff of smelling salts

Hockey Man In Need Of Third, Just-Smelliest Enough Salt

Sidney Crosby Calms The Waters

The Devils Are Stealing Every Puck That Isn’t Nailed Down

Nobody Scores In Minnesota

The Caps Have Ovi Left To Play For

The Red Wings Say “Maybe Next Year”

Mathieu Joseph has words with David Perron

The Sens Made The Red Wings Wear Their Asses As Hats

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 16: of the San Jose Sharks against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on February 16, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/NHLI via Getty Images)

The East Is Going To Be A Brawl

Justin Ellis

Linus Ullmark #35 of the Boston Bruins is congratulated by teammate Brandon Carlo #25 after scoring a goalie goal during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena February 25, 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)