The Colorado Avalanche forced a Game 7 on Thursday against the Dallas Stars. For center Nathan MacKinnon, he was transparent about the game.
“Super lucky,” MacKinnon said via ESPN. “Hopefully, we get more of those on Saturday.”
MacKinnon is referring to the 10:56 mark in the third period. The puck bounced off the shoulder of a Dallas player and went in. From that moment, the game swung in Colorado’s favor.
Not to mention, the Avalanche had their backs against the wall. They were down 3-2 in the series before Game 6. However, the Colorado faithful came unglued during Thursday’s game.
Also, guys like Gabriel Landeskog were giving hope to the fanbase. After missing nearly two years with injuries, he scored his first playoff goal since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.
Either way, MacKinnon has put the team on his back. He leads the NHL in total goals scored in the playoffs thus far with six. Half of those goals came on a power play, showing his effectiveness on a mismatch.
He’s put the team on his back as they force a Game 7.
Although the Avalanche has guys like Landeskog and Cale Makar, MacKinnon is the top option. After all, he led the NHL in total assists, surpassing guys like Connor McDavid.
He was way more of a facilitator in 2024-25 than in then seasons prior. However, once the playoffs came around, MacKinnon stepped up as a goal-scorer.
Plus, MacKinnon tied Avalanche legend Joe Sakic for a franchise record. The record? Most total points in franchise history. Considering that he is 29, there is plenty more time for him to break records.
Still, the main prerogative would be securing another Stanley Cup Final trophy. Colorado squeaked into the playoffs against a tough Dallas team following a fickle season.
As mentioned earlier, Landeskog came back, which automatically boosts their front line.
At the end of the day, the Avalanche and Stars Game 7 could be true cinema. With Mikko Rantanen playing against his former team, Landeskog’s return, and MacKinnon’s dominance, anything can happen.
Either way, the Colorado center will do whatever he needs to do to secure the series win and move on to the next round. If they were to win, they will play the winner of the Winnipeg Jets and St Louis Blues series.
Round 2 can provide some more cinema. If the Avalanche advance, their Stanley Cup experience could be a major proponent in lasting success during the playoffs.
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Nick Suzuki is one of many NHLers to get married this NHL off-season, and it appears plenty of Montreal Canadiens had their fun at the massive event. As usual, the NHL off-season in 2025 has been full of wedding fun, with Matthew Tkachuk's chaotic night chronicled online as he finally married his long-term partner in previous weeks. Over this past weekend, it was Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki's turn, with the pair tying the knot in Montreal, a place that his partner Caitlin had nothing but great things to say about. 'I think the city in the summer is something super special. We really enjoy the food scene, the restaurants and the concerts. We try to make the most of everything here in the summer. I don't know, I just think the city has so much to offer. We're super lucky to call it home. It really feels like home to both of us, so we're happy to be here all summer.' Montreal Canadiens Captain Nick Suzuki Ties The Knot With Longtime Girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald Unsurprisingly, the event appeared to be plenty of fun, with posts online of star winger Patrik Laine showcasing just how much fun he and everyone in attendance had celebrating their captain. It wasn't just Laine however, as a post from B/R Open Ice also showed off a Cole Caufield cameo, with everyone in attendance clearly enjoying themselves at a massive event. The fun that was had shows just how loved Suzuki is in Montreal, with so many people turning up to celebrate their friend, teammate and captain, and with the Canadiens having a great off-season and pushing towards another Stanley Cup Playoffs run, it's safe to say that the vibes are good in Montreal.
Caitlin Clark is expected to sit out for a fourth straight game on Sunday when the Indiana Fever take on the Chicago Sky in a much-awaited rivalry matchup. The 23-year-old is still dealing with a reaggravated groin strain and has no timetable to return. The rest of her Fever teammates have had to step up in her absence. There is, perhaps, no other player who has taken a bigger role on the offensive end amid Clark’s injury spell than three-time All-Star Kelsey Mitchell. Mitchell, however, struggled with her shot in Thursday’s win against the Las Vegas Aces. The 5-foot-8 guard shot the ball poorly in the first three quarters, going just 4-of-19 from the field for 12 points. Mitchell caught fire in the fourth, though. She went 4-of-5 in the final frame for nine points, finishing with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-24 shooting. This is exactly why head coach Stephanie White remains completely confident in Mitchell’s scoring ability. The veteran coach has made it clear that she has given Mitchell the green light to shoot the rock. “The biggest thing with Kelsey is just telling her, ‘Let it fly.’ It’s going to go,” White said after Thursday’s win against Las Vegas. "... Keep shooting it from outside. She made some big ones when we needed them.” Kelsey Mitchell Has Stepped up Amid Clark's Injury Mitchell has answered the call for the Fever of late. In the three games Clark has been sidelined, Mitchell has put up averages of 22.0 points on 42.9% shooting. She also knocked down 2.7 triples during that stretch on a 34.8% clip. The 29-year-old veteran will need to keep her foot on the gas on Sunday as the Fever try to take down the Sky at United Center. With Clark watching from the bench, the Fever will rely on Mitchell’s scoring against Chicago as they look to improve on their 13-12 record. The Fever and Sky meet at 3 p.m. ET Sunday on ABC.
Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
The 2025 WNBA season has been nothing short of electric. From Angel Reese’s rebounding clinic, to Paige Bueckers igniting Dallas’ playoff hopes to Caitlin Clark struggling to stay healthy - the league has never seen this kind of consistent national buzz. But while the league’s biggest names continue to dominate the spotlight, a different kind of superstar is quietly putting together one of the best all-around seasons we’ve seen in recent years. Meet Napheesa Collier. Or better yet, recognize her. The Minnesota Lynx forward is leading her team the best record in the league — currently 22–5 after Sunday night's loss to the Atlanta Dream. She’s not doing it with flashy dunks or viral moments. She’s doing it with pure dominance. And yet, somehow, Collier is flying under the radar in the MVP conversation. Let’s talk about the numbers. Collier is first in the WNBA in points per game (23.5), fourth in blocks (1.6), fifth in steals (1.8) and fifth in field- goal percentage (52.1). If you play fantasy basketball, you already know she’s been the most valuable player all season — ranked No. 1 overall in standard fantasy formats. She's doing everything: scoring, defending, facilitating, leading. And most importantly? She’s winning. The Lynx don’t have the bright lights of New York or Los Angeles. They don’t have a viral media machine like Indiana’s. They just have one of the most efficient, hard-working and complete rosters in the league — led by a player who does it all, night in and night out. While debates rage on about Clark, Reese and Bueckers, Collier is stacking wins and stats that should have her at the top of the MVP shortlist. It’s not just her numbers — it’s her impact. When Collier is on the court, the Lynx look like a machine. She stretches defenses, protects the rim and plays with the type of poise you expect from a Finals MVP — not just a regular season standout. The Lynx as a team currently rank first in both offensive and defensive efficiency. And she’s doing this while mentoring younger players and shouldering the leadership role for one of the most balanced teams in the league. If you asked her, she’d probably credit her teammates first. But there’s no denying what’s happening here. This is her team. And right now, this league might be hers too. So why isn’t Collier getting more love? It’s the same old story: media market, rookie hype and headline-chasing. That’s not a knock on any of the young stars dominating the WNBA narrative this season — they’re earning every bit of that attention. But it’s also time to look past the marketing and recognize what we’re witnessing on the court. This is what greatness looks like. And if Collier were playing in a bigger market or had the benefit of a viral campaign, we’d be talking about her as a lock for MVP. Instead, she’s just quietly dominating everyone — and letting her play do the talking. In a season defined by flash, Collier is all substance. And if the WNBA season ended today, there’s a real case that she’d be the most deserving name on the MVP trophy – her first ever. So here’s the real question fans should be asking: Is Collier the best player in the WNBA right now? Maybe the better question is: How could she not be?
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