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Deadspin | NASCAR notebook: Denny Hamlin hasn’t forgotten Chase Elliott’s Kansas win Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Chase Elliott (9) celebrates his win at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images KANSAS CITY, Kan. — No doubt a bettor brave enough to take Chase Elliott with one lap left in overtime in last year’s Sept 28 race at Kansas Speedway could have gotten long odds. Elliott took the white flag in fifth place, behind the Toyotas of Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell. Wallace pulled out to a lead of a half-car-length, with Hamlin in pursuit. Hamlin steered his No. 11 Camry to the inside of Wallace’s car and forced Wallace wide through the final two corners. That allowed Elliott to dive to the inside of both Toyotas and steal the win for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. “It certainly played a factor, kind of in the manufacturer battle as well, right?,” Hamlin said on Saturday before NASCAR Cup Series practice for Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I mean, you go from winning one to now your competition actually won. “There were definitely a lot of negatives to the way that race ended, but it certainly was I just, I feel like, I was trying to go for it, certainly, and used a little bit too much aggression, for sure, in Turn 3. “But overall, you’re going to have that in racing. When you have teammates, manufacturer guys that you all share information with, we’re going to always be right around each other. So sometimes those racing incidents happen in one out of 20 times.” Hamlin heads the list of winners at Kansas with four victories, but he’s shocked at his recent failures to find Victory Lane. “For the last six years, if someone else wins a Kansas race, I’m just trying to figure out how we didn’t win, because we’re always just so fast here,” Hamlin said. “We found 10 to 12 different ways to not win here, and I thought I saw the stat this week that there has only been. … I think (Kyle) Larson’s been the only repeat winner here in the last 11 races, and it was like, the fact that we haven’t is just criminal. So, hopefully we can change that.” Now a NASCAR Cup winner, Ty Gibbs wants to make racing more physical At age 23, Ty Gibbs is feeling his oats after his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and he’d like to make the sport tougher and more physical. “I think we should rip all the cool suits out of everyone’s cars and make it a more physical sport,” Gibbs said on Saturday. “I think that would be very entertaining and bring out more emotion, obviously… “I think no cool suits — rip ‘em all out. I think, honestly, people would be pumped with that, ‘cause half the time they break on everybody and make it worse. I think we should rip all of it out, make it more physical.” When cool suits are working properly, they compensate for high temperatures in a car’s cockpit. When they malfunction, however, the water flowing inside the suit can overheat and add to a driver’s discomfort. Some drivers, such as Gibbs’ teammate Denny Hamlin, choose not to use cool suits at all. Erik Jones: New LEGACY president should have significant impact The new president of LEGACY Motor Club isn’t just an administrator, as driver Erik Jones made clear on Saturday at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday’s AdventHealth 400. With a background as chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing and as vice president of engineering and R&D (as well as global sales and marketing) at automotive industry supplier Multimatic, Michael Guttilla brings a broad-ranging skill set to LEGACY. “I didn’t know him beforehand, but I had a chance to sit down and spend some time with him in the last week and a half,” Jones said on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. “I think he’s a super impressive guy. His resume’s really strong, and he’s done a lot of things, in motorsports and in manufacturing and production cars. “He has a pretty broad range of skills, and I think he has a lot of managerial skills. I think the role he’s in is great, obviously, but I think he can bring a lot to the table and a sense of understanding the engineering side as well. I don’t think he’s a guy that is just well-versed in business, but I think he’s well versed in competition and performance. “I’m excited to have him. We’ve been kind of waiting to fill that role and find the right guy, and that’s been a role that wasn’t just randomly filled when Michael became available. It was something that’s been in the works, and we’ve been trying to find the right fit for a while. I was excited to do that, excited to have him, and see what he can bring. It’s still super early. It’s been a couple of weeks, but I really, I think his influence is already starting to be felt a bit.” Female drivers make a statement in ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Gio Ruggiero won Saturday’s Tide 150 ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway, but there were significant stories that unfolded behind him. Three of the four female drivers in the field finished in the top 10, with Lanie Buice running fifth, followed by Jade Avedisian in seventh and Dystany Spurlock in 10th. Avedisian was competing on a 1.5-mile intermediate speedway for the first time. The fourth female driver in the race, Isabella Robusto, a former Kansas pole winner, was running just outside the top 10 when the engine in Cleetus McFarland’s car blew and spread oil on the track. Robusto slid through the fluid, slammed into the outside wall and fell out of the race. Daniel Dye finished second in his first race since his reinstatement from a suspension for inappropriate comments directed at IndyCar driver David Malukas. –By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media. #Deadspin #NASCAR #notebook #Denny #Hamlin #hasnt #forgotten #Chase #Elliotts #Kansas #win

Deadspin | NASCAR notebook: Denny Hamlin hasn’t forgotten Chase Elliott’s Kansas win
Deadspin | NASCAR notebook: Denny Hamlin hasn’t forgotten Chase Elliott’s Kansas win Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Chase Elliott (9) celebrates his win at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images KANSAS CITY, Kan. — No doubt a bettor brave enough to take Chase Elliott with one lap left in overtime in last year’s Sept 28 race at Kansas Speedway could have gotten long odds. Elliott took the white flag in fifth place, behind the Toyotas of Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell. Wallace pulled out to a lead of a half-car-length, with Hamlin in pursuit. Hamlin steered his No. 11 Camry to the inside of Wallace’s car and forced Wallace wide through the final two corners. That allowed Elliott to dive to the inside of both Toyotas and steal the win for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet. “It certainly played a factor, kind of in the manufacturer battle as well, right?,” Hamlin said on Saturday before NASCAR Cup Series practice for Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I mean, you go from winning one to now your competition actually won. “There were definitely a lot of negatives to the way that race ended, but it certainly was I just, I feel like, I was trying to go for it, certainly, and used a little bit too much aggression, for sure, in Turn 3. “But overall, you’re going to have that in racing. When you have teammates, manufacturer guys that you all share information with, we’re going to always be right around each other. So sometimes those racing incidents happen in one out of 20 times.” Hamlin heads the list of winners at Kansas with four victories, but he’s shocked at his recent failures to find Victory Lane. “For the last six years, if someone else wins a Kansas race, I’m just trying to figure out how we didn’t win, because we’re always just so fast here,” Hamlin said. “We found 10 to 12 different ways to not win here, and I thought I saw the stat this week that there has only been. … I think (Kyle) Larson’s been the only repeat winner here in the last 11 races, and it was like, the fact that we haven’t is just criminal. So, hopefully we can change that.” Now a NASCAR Cup winner, Ty Gibbs wants to make racing more physical At age 23, Ty Gibbs is feeling his oats after his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and he’d like to make the sport tougher and more physical. “I think we should rip all the cool suits out of everyone’s cars and make it a more physical sport,” Gibbs said on Saturday. “I think that would be very entertaining and bring out more emotion, obviously… “I think no cool suits — rip ‘em all out. I think, honestly, people would be pumped with that, ‘cause half the time they break on everybody and make it worse. I think we should rip all of it out, make it more physical.” When cool suits are working properly, they compensate for high temperatures in a car’s cockpit. When they malfunction, however, the water flowing inside the suit can overheat and add to a driver’s discomfort. Some drivers, such as Gibbs’ teammate Denny Hamlin, choose not to use cool suits at all. Erik Jones: New LEGACY president should have significant impact The new president of LEGACY Motor Club isn’t just an administrator, as driver Erik Jones made clear on Saturday at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday’s AdventHealth 400. With a background as chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing and as vice president of engineering and R&D (as well as global sales and marketing) at automotive industry supplier Multimatic, Michael Guttilla brings a broad-ranging skill set to LEGACY. “I didn’t know him beforehand, but I had a chance to sit down and spend some time with him in the last week and a half,” Jones said on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. “I think he’s a super impressive guy. His resume’s really strong, and he’s done a lot of things, in motorsports and in manufacturing and production cars. “He has a pretty broad range of skills, and I think he has a lot of managerial skills. I think the role he’s in is great, obviously, but I think he can bring a lot to the table and a sense of understanding the engineering side as well. I don’t think he’s a guy that is just well-versed in business, but I think he’s well versed in competition and performance. “I’m excited to have him. We’ve been kind of waiting to fill that role and find the right guy, and that’s been a role that wasn’t just randomly filled when Michael became available. It was something that’s been in the works, and we’ve been trying to find the right fit for a while. I was excited to do that, excited to have him, and see what he can bring. It’s still super early. It’s been a couple of weeks, but I really, I think his influence is already starting to be felt a bit.” Female drivers make a statement in ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Gio Ruggiero won Saturday’s Tide 150 ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway, but there were significant stories that unfolded behind him. Three of the four female drivers in the field finished in the top 10, with Lanie Buice running fifth, followed by Jade Avedisian in seventh and Dystany Spurlock in 10th. Avedisian was competing on a 1.5-mile intermediate speedway for the first time. The fourth female driver in the race, Isabella Robusto, a former Kansas pole winner, was running just outside the top 10 when the engine in Cleetus McFarland’s car blew and spread oil on the track. Robusto slid through the fluid, slammed into the outside wall and fell out of the race. Daniel Dye finished second in his first race since his reinstatement from a suspension for inappropriate comments directed at IndyCar driver David Malukas. –By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media. #Deadspin #NASCAR #notebook #Denny #Hamlin #hasnt #forgotten #Chase #Elliotts #Kansas #winSep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Chase Elliott (9) celebrates his win at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — No doubt a bettor brave enough to take Chase Elliott with one lap left in overtime in last year’s Sept 28 race at Kansas Speedway could have gotten long odds.

Elliott took the white flag in fifth place, behind the Toyotas of Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell. Wallace pulled out to a lead of a half-car-length, with Hamlin in pursuit.

Hamlin steered his No. 11 Camry to the inside of Wallace’s car and forced Wallace wide through the final two corners. That allowed Elliott to dive to the inside of both Toyotas and steal the win for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet.

“It certainly played a factor, kind of in the manufacturer battle as well, right?,” Hamlin said on Saturday before NASCAR Cup Series practice for Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I mean, you go from winning one to now your competition actually won.

“There were definitely a lot of negatives to the way that race ended, but it certainly was I just, I feel like, I was trying to go for it, certainly, and used a little bit too much aggression, for sure, in Turn 3.

“But overall, you’re going to have that in racing. When you have teammates, manufacturer guys that you all share information with, we’re going to always be right around each other. So sometimes those racing incidents happen in one out of 20 times.”

Hamlin heads the list of winners at Kansas with four victories, but he’s shocked at his recent failures to find Victory Lane.

“For the last six years, if someone else wins a Kansas race, I’m just trying to figure out how we didn’t win, because we’re always just so fast here,” Hamlin said.

“We found 10 to 12 different ways to not win here, and I thought I saw the stat this week that there has only been. … I think (Kyle) Larson’s been the only repeat winner here in the last 11 races, and it was like, the fact that we haven’t is just criminal. So, hopefully we can change that.”

Now a NASCAR Cup winner, Ty Gibbs wants to make racing more physical

At age 23, Ty Gibbs is feeling his oats after his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and he’d like to make the sport tougher and more physical.

“I think we should rip all the cool suits out of everyone’s cars and make it a more physical sport,” Gibbs said on Saturday. “I think that would be very entertaining and bring out more emotion, obviously…

“I think no cool suits — rip ‘em all out. I think, honestly, people would be pumped with that, ‘cause half the time they break on everybody and make it worse. I think we should rip all of it out, make it more physical.”

When cool suits are working properly, they compensate for high temperatures in a car’s cockpit. When they malfunction, however, the water flowing inside the suit can overheat and add to a driver’s discomfort.


Some drivers, such as Gibbs’ teammate Denny Hamlin, choose not to use cool suits at all.

Erik Jones: New LEGACY president should have significant impact

The new president of LEGACY Motor Club isn’t just an administrator, as driver Erik Jones made clear on Saturday at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday’s AdventHealth 400.

With a background as chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing and as vice president of engineering and R&D (as well as global sales and marketing) at automotive industry supplier Multimatic, Michael Guttilla brings a broad-ranging skill set to LEGACY.

“I didn’t know him beforehand, but I had a chance to sit down and spend some time with him in the last week and a half,” Jones said on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. “I think he’s a super impressive guy. His resume’s really strong, and he’s done a lot of things, in motorsports and in manufacturing and production cars.

“He has a pretty broad range of skills, and I think he has a lot of managerial skills. I think the role he’s in is great, obviously, but I think he can bring a lot to the table and a sense of understanding the engineering side as well. I don’t think he’s a guy that is just well-versed in business, but I think he’s well versed in competition and performance.

“I’m excited to have him. We’ve been kind of waiting to fill that role and find the right guy, and that’s been a role that wasn’t just randomly filled when Michael became available. It was something that’s been in the works, and we’ve been trying to find the right fit for a while. I was excited to do that, excited to have him, and see what he can bring. It’s still super early. It’s been a couple of weeks, but I really, I think his influence is already starting to be felt a bit.”

Female drivers make a statement in ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas

Gio Ruggiero won Saturday’s Tide 150 ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway, but there were significant stories that unfolded behind him.

Three of the four female drivers in the field finished in the top 10, with Lanie Buice running fifth, followed by Jade Avedisian in seventh and Dystany Spurlock in 10th. Avedisian was competing on a 1.5-mile intermediate speedway for the first time.

The fourth female driver in the race, Isabella Robusto, a former Kansas pole winner, was running just outside the top 10 when the engine in Cleetus McFarland’s car blew and spread oil on the track.

Robusto slid through the fluid, slammed into the outside wall and fell out of the race.

Daniel Dye finished second in his first race since his reinstatement from a suspension for inappropriate comments directed at IndyCar driver David Malukas.

–By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

#Deadspin #NASCAR #notebook #Denny #Hamlin #hasnt #forgotten #Chase #Elliotts #Kansas #win

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Sep 28, 2025; Kansas City, Kansas, USA; Chase Elliott (9) celebrates his win at the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Race at Kansas Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — No doubt a bettor brave enough to take Chase Elliott with one lap left in overtime in last year’s Sept 28 race at Kansas Speedway could have gotten long odds.

Elliott took the white flag in fifth place, behind the Toyotas of Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell. Wallace pulled out to a lead of a half-car-length, with Hamlin in pursuit.

Hamlin steered his No. 11 Camry to the inside of Wallace’s car and forced Wallace wide through the final two corners. That allowed Elliott to dive to the inside of both Toyotas and steal the win for Hendrick Motorsports and Chevrolet.

“It certainly played a factor, kind of in the manufacturer battle as well, right?,” Hamlin said on Saturday before NASCAR Cup Series practice for Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I mean, you go from winning one to now your competition actually won.

“There were definitely a lot of negatives to the way that race ended, but it certainly was I just, I feel like, I was trying to go for it, certainly, and used a little bit too much aggression, for sure, in Turn 3.

“But overall, you’re going to have that in racing. When you have teammates, manufacturer guys that you all share information with, we’re going to always be right around each other. So sometimes those racing incidents happen in one out of 20 times.”

Hamlin heads the list of winners at Kansas with four victories, but he’s shocked at his recent failures to find Victory Lane.

“For the last six years, if someone else wins a Kansas race, I’m just trying to figure out how we didn’t win, because we’re always just so fast here,” Hamlin said.

“We found 10 to 12 different ways to not win here, and I thought I saw the stat this week that there has only been. … I think (Kyle) Larson’s been the only repeat winner here in the last 11 races, and it was like, the fact that we haven’t is just criminal. So, hopefully we can change that.”

Now a NASCAR Cup winner, Ty Gibbs wants to make racing more physical

At age 23, Ty Gibbs is feeling his oats after his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory, and he’d like to make the sport tougher and more physical.

“I think we should rip all the cool suits out of everyone’s cars and make it a more physical sport,” Gibbs said on Saturday. “I think that would be very entertaining and bring out more emotion, obviously…

“I think no cool suits — rip ‘em all out. I think, honestly, people would be pumped with that, ‘cause half the time they break on everybody and make it worse. I think we should rip all of it out, make it more physical.”

When cool suits are working properly, they compensate for high temperatures in a car’s cockpit. When they malfunction, however, the water flowing inside the suit can overheat and add to a driver’s discomfort.

Some drivers, such as Gibbs’ teammate Denny Hamlin, choose not to use cool suits at all.

Erik Jones: New LEGACY president should have significant impact

The new president of LEGACY Motor Club isn’t just an administrator, as driver Erik Jones made clear on Saturday at Kansas Speedway, site of Sunday’s AdventHealth 400.

With a background as chief operating officer at Joe Gibbs Racing and as vice president of engineering and R&D (as well as global sales and marketing) at automotive industry supplier Multimatic, Michael Guttilla brings a broad-ranging skill set to LEGACY.

“I didn’t know him beforehand, but I had a chance to sit down and spend some time with him in the last week and a half,” Jones said on Saturday at Kansas Speedway. “I think he’s a super impressive guy. His resume’s really strong, and he’s done a lot of things, in motorsports and in manufacturing and production cars.

“He has a pretty broad range of skills, and I think he has a lot of managerial skills. I think the role he’s in is great, obviously, but I think he can bring a lot to the table and a sense of understanding the engineering side as well. I don’t think he’s a guy that is just well-versed in business, but I think he’s well versed in competition and performance.

“I’m excited to have him. We’ve been kind of waiting to fill that role and find the right guy, and that’s been a role that wasn’t just randomly filled when Michael became available. It was something that’s been in the works, and we’ve been trying to find the right fit for a while. I was excited to do that, excited to have him, and see what he can bring. It’s still super early. It’s been a couple of weeks, but I really, I think his influence is already starting to be felt a bit.”

Female drivers make a statement in ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas

Gio Ruggiero won Saturday’s Tide 150 ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway, but there were significant stories that unfolded behind him.

Three of the four female drivers in the field finished in the top 10, with Lanie Buice running fifth, followed by Jade Avedisian in seventh and Dystany Spurlock in 10th. Avedisian was competing on a 1.5-mile intermediate speedway for the first time.

The fourth female driver in the race, Isabella Robusto, a former Kansas pole winner, was running just outside the top 10 when the engine in Cleetus McFarland’s car blew and spread oil on the track.

Robusto slid through the fluid, slammed into the outside wall and fell out of the race.

Daniel Dye finished second in his first race since his reinstatement from a suspension for inappropriate comments directed at IndyCar driver David Malukas.

–By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

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Deadspin | Experienced Lightning face young Canadiens in first round Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) vies for position with Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances. Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla. Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers. Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers. In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic. The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers. “Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.” A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer. The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain. While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild. Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres. The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters. Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches. Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals. The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance. Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark. Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago. “We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years. “There’s no intimidation.” Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Experienced #Lightning #face #young #CanadiensApr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) vies for position with Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances.

Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla.

Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers.

In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic.

The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers.

“Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.”

A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer.

The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain.


While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild.

Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.

The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters.

Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches.

Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals.

The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance.

Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark.

Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago.

“We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years.

“There’s no intimidation.”

Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Experienced #Lightning #face #young #Canadiens">Deadspin | Experienced Lightning face young Canadiens in first round Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) vies for position with Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances. Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla. Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers. Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers. In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic. The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers. “Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.” A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer. The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain. While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild. Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres. The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters. Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches. Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals. The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance. Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark. Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago. “We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years. “There’s no intimidation.” Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Experienced #Lightning #face #young #Canadiens

After 14 rounds of draining, exacting chess, and a final-round victory over former World Rapid and Blitz champion Kateryna Lagno to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026, Grandmaster R. Vaishali returned home in the early hours of Sunday.

Despite the odd hour and the restrictions in place owing to the Tamil Nadu Assembly election week, the welcome was relatively subdued, though around 50 students from Velammal were still at the airport to receive her.

Carrying placards with messages for the newly crowned challenger, they gathered to greet her, cut a cake and pose for photographs. Nearby stood Vaishali’s family. Her father, Rameshbabu, watched quietly from a corner, taking it all in, before Vaishali spotted him, rushed across and posed with her family and the winner’s medal.

Women’s Candidates winner R. Vaishali returns home to lukewarm welcome in Chennai After 14 rounds of draining, exacting chess, and a final-round victory over former World Rapid and Blitz champion Kateryna Lagno to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026, Grandmaster R. Vaishali returned home in the early hours of Sunday.Despite the odd hour and the restrictions in place owing to the Tamil Nadu Assembly election week, the welcome was relatively subdued, though around 50 students from Velammal were still at the airport to receive her.Carrying placards with messages for the newly crowned challenger, they gathered to greet her, cut a cake and pose for photographs. Nearby stood Vaishali’s family. Her father, Rameshbabu, watched quietly from a corner, taking it all in, before Vaishali spotted him, rushed across and posed with her family and the winner’s medal. The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, and Vaishali’s patience and resilience saw her finally lift the title in Cyprus. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, and Vaishali’s patience and resilience saw her finally lift the title in Cyprus. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath For Vaishali, the moment completion of a full circle.Back in 2013, as a 12-year-old, she had been in attendance when Viswanathan Anand faced Magnus Carlsen in Chennai for the World Championship title. More than a decade later, she now finds herself on the verge of that same stage.“It is a dream moment for me. I’m very happy. I’ve followed many World Championship matches, and now I’ll be playing one. I’m really looking forward to it,” Vaishali told Sportstar on her arrival in the city.The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, with multiple players still in contention deep into the tournament.Going into the final round, Vaishali needed to beat Lagno, while Bibisara Assaubayeva, who eventually finished second, had to either lose or draw against fellow Indian Divya Deshmukh. Divya held Bibisara, leaving Vaishali needing a win over Lagno to clinch the title that very day.“Before the tournament, we had worked on different openings, and we had narrowed it down to two that we thought could come up in the final round. As expected, one of them did, and thankfully it worked out,” said Grandmaster M. Pranesh, who travelled with Vaishali as a sparring partner.The opening was the Sicilian Dragon. Lagno gave up a pawn early to generate attacking chances against Vaishali’s king, but Vaishali defended precisely, stayed calm under pressure and gradually turned the position in her favour, using her bishop actively to keep Lagno’s queen under watch.“It was a very close tournament. It could have gone either way, and I won the last game, which was very crucial in that situation,” Vaishali said.Her path to the title had been anything but smooth. Vaishali began with four consecutive draws and then suffered a loss to Zhu Jiner in Round 5. When the two met again in Round 12, Vaishali went in with a one-point lead, only to lose once more. Yet that defeat, paradoxically, would come to be seen by her camp as a turning point rather than a setback.“The second loss was actually crucial,” said coach R.B. Ramesh. “She went into Round 12 with a one-point lead and then lost to Zhu, which brought them level. I told her to treat it as if she had drawn the game, because she was still in joint lead going into Round 13 against Tan Zhongyi. The idea was to take it positively and move on.”Almost everyone around Vaishali in Cyprus echoed that view. The loss to Zhu did not derail her campaign. If anything, it released some of the tension that had built up around the burden of leading and allowed her to reset for the final push.Now comes the biggest match of her career: a World Championship clash against reigning champion Ju Wenjun. The two met at last year’s Norway Chess Women, where their classical game ended in a draw before Vaishali won the Armageddon tiebreak, her first victory over Ju in any format. R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath “I have played only a few classical games against her, and I’m very excited to face her for the title next,” Vaishali said.For Ramesh and the team around her, the scale of what lies ahead is still sinking in. Planning, he said, will begin soon, with discussions around building a support team, identifying areas of improvement and deciding the structure of the training camp, likely from the first week of May.“It will be her first match on such a big stage, and even for all of us it will be a new experience,” Ramesh said. “We will take suggestions from experienced people around us, listen to feedback and then move forward from there.”Published on Apr 19, 2026 #Womens #Candidates #winner #Vaishali #returns #home #lukewarm #Chennai

The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, and Vaishali’s patience and resilience saw her finally lift the title in Cyprus. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath

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The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, and Vaishali’s patience and resilience saw her finally lift the title in Cyprus. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath

For Vaishali, the moment completion of a full circle.

Back in 2013, as a 12-year-old, she had been in attendance when Viswanathan Anand faced Magnus Carlsen in Chennai for the World Championship title. More than a decade later, she now finds herself on the verge of that same stage.

“It is a dream moment for me. I’m very happy. I’ve followed many World Championship matches, and now I’ll be playing one. I’m really looking forward to it,” Vaishali told Sportstar on her arrival in the city.

The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, with multiple players still in contention deep into the tournament.

Going into the final round, Vaishali needed to beat Lagno, while Bibisara Assaubayeva, who eventually finished second, had to either lose or draw against fellow Indian Divya Deshmukh. Divya held Bibisara, leaving Vaishali needing a win over Lagno to clinch the title that very day.

“Before the tournament, we had worked on different openings, and we had narrowed it down to two that we thought could come up in the final round. As expected, one of them did, and thankfully it worked out,” said Grandmaster M. Pranesh, who travelled with Vaishali as a sparring partner.

The opening was the Sicilian Dragon. Lagno gave up a pawn early to generate attacking chances against Vaishali’s king, but Vaishali defended precisely, stayed calm under pressure and gradually turned the position in her favour, using her bishop actively to keep Lagno’s queen under watch.

“It was a very close tournament. It could have gone either way, and I won the last game, which was very crucial in that situation,” Vaishali said.

Her path to the title had been anything but smooth. Vaishali began with four consecutive draws and then suffered a loss to Zhu Jiner in Round 5. When the two met again in Round 12, Vaishali went in with a one-point lead, only to lose once more. Yet that defeat, paradoxically, would come to be seen by her camp as a turning point rather than a setback.

“The second loss was actually crucial,” said coach R.B. Ramesh. “She went into Round 12 with a one-point lead and then lost to Zhu, which brought them level. I told her to treat it as if she had drawn the game, because she was still in joint lead going into Round 13 against Tan Zhongyi. The idea was to take it positively and move on.”

Almost everyone around Vaishali in Cyprus echoed that view. The loss to Zhu did not derail her campaign. If anything, it released some of the tension that had built up around the burden of leading and allowed her to reset for the final push.

Now comes the biggest match of her career: a World Championship clash against reigning champion Ju Wenjun. The two met at last year’s Norway Chess Women, where their classical game ended in a draw before Vaishali won the Armageddon tiebreak, her first victory over Ju in any format.

R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun.

R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath

lightbox-info

R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath

“I have played only a few classical games against her, and I’m very excited to face her for the title next,” Vaishali said.

For Ramesh and the team around her, the scale of what lies ahead is still sinking in. Planning, he said, will begin soon, with discussions around building a support team, identifying areas of improvement and deciding the structure of the training camp, likely from the first week of May.

“It will be her first match on such a big stage, and even for all of us it will be a new experience,” Ramesh said. “We will take suggestions from experienced people around us, listen to feedback and then move forward from there.”

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Womens #Candidates #winner #Vaishali #returns #home #lukewarm #Chennai">Women’s Candidates winner R. Vaishali returns home to lukewarm welcome in Chennai After 14 rounds of draining, exacting chess, and a final-round victory over former World Rapid and Blitz champion Kateryna Lagno to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026, Grandmaster R. Vaishali returned home in the early hours of Sunday.Despite the odd hour and the restrictions in place owing to the Tamil Nadu Assembly election week, the welcome was relatively subdued, though around 50 students from Velammal were still at the airport to receive her.Carrying placards with messages for the newly crowned challenger, they gathered to greet her, cut a cake and pose for photographs. Nearby stood Vaishali’s family. Her father, Rameshbabu, watched quietly from a corner, taking it all in, before Vaishali spotted him, rushed across and posed with her family and the winner’s medal. The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, and Vaishali’s patience and resilience saw her finally lift the title in Cyprus. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, and Vaishali’s patience and resilience saw her finally lift the title in Cyprus. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath For Vaishali, the moment completion of a full circle.Back in 2013, as a 12-year-old, she had been in attendance when Viswanathan Anand faced Magnus Carlsen in Chennai for the World Championship title. More than a decade later, she now finds herself on the verge of that same stage.“It is a dream moment for me. I’m very happy. I’ve followed many World Championship matches, and now I’ll be playing one. I’m really looking forward to it,” Vaishali told Sportstar on her arrival in the city.The Women’s Candidates remained open almost until the very end, with multiple players still in contention deep into the tournament.Going into the final round, Vaishali needed to beat Lagno, while Bibisara Assaubayeva, who eventually finished second, had to either lose or draw against fellow Indian Divya Deshmukh. Divya held Bibisara, leaving Vaishali needing a win over Lagno to clinch the title that very day.“Before the tournament, we had worked on different openings, and we had narrowed it down to two that we thought could come up in the final round. As expected, one of them did, and thankfully it worked out,” said Grandmaster M. Pranesh, who travelled with Vaishali as a sparring partner.The opening was the Sicilian Dragon. Lagno gave up a pawn early to generate attacking chances against Vaishali’s king, but Vaishali defended precisely, stayed calm under pressure and gradually turned the position in her favour, using her bishop actively to keep Lagno’s queen under watch.“It was a very close tournament. It could have gone either way, and I won the last game, which was very crucial in that situation,” Vaishali said.Her path to the title had been anything but smooth. Vaishali began with four consecutive draws and then suffered a loss to Zhu Jiner in Round 5. When the two met again in Round 12, Vaishali went in with a one-point lead, only to lose once more. Yet that defeat, paradoxically, would come to be seen by her camp as a turning point rather than a setback.“The second loss was actually crucial,” said coach R.B. Ramesh. “She went into Round 12 with a one-point lead and then lost to Zhu, which brought them level. I told her to treat it as if she had drawn the game, because she was still in joint lead going into Round 13 against Tan Zhongyi. The idea was to take it positively and move on.”Almost everyone around Vaishali in Cyprus echoed that view. The loss to Zhu did not derail her campaign. If anything, it released some of the tension that had built up around the burden of leading and allowed her to reset for the final push.Now comes the biggest match of her career: a World Championship clash against reigning champion Ju Wenjun. The two met at last year’s Norway Chess Women, where their classical game ended in a draw before Vaishali won the Armageddon tiebreak, her first victory over Ju in any format. R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath R. Vaishali’s challenges will only go steeper from here, for her next big match is against reigning world champion Ju Wenjun. | Photo Credit: M. Srinath “I have played only a few classical games against her, and I’m very excited to face her for the title next,” Vaishali said.For Ramesh and the team around her, the scale of what lies ahead is still sinking in. Planning, he said, will begin soon, with discussions around building a support team, identifying areas of improvement and deciding the structure of the training camp, likely from the first week of May.“It will be her first match on such a big stage, and even for all of us it will be a new experience,” Ramesh said. “We will take suggestions from experienced people around us, listen to feedback and then move forward from there.”Published on Apr 19, 2026 #Womens #Candidates #winner #Vaishali #returns #home #lukewarm #Chennai

Deadspin | Donovan Mitchell nets 32 as Cavaliers overpower Raptors Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points and James Harden added 22 points and 10 assists, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-113 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series Saturday. Max Strus had 24 points off the bench and Evan Mobley scored 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight playoff games over the Raptors. Game 2 is Monday in Cleveland, where Toronto is 0-8 all-time in the postseason. Mitchell extended his league-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in a series opener to nine straight, two more than Michael Jordan had on two occasions. The Cavaliers’ largest lead was 100-76 early in the fourth quarter on a Sam Merrill 3-pointer. RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points and seven assists for the fifth-seeded Raptors. Brandon Ingram added 17 points and Jamal Shead had 17 points in his playoff debut, starting for injured guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain). Harden became the fifth player in NBA history to appear in a playoff game in 17 seasons, joining Karl Malone, John Stockton, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd. He also moved past Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird into 13th place in playoff points with 3,917. Strus made back-to-back 3-pointers and followed with a layup in transition, giving the Cavaliers a commanding 82-60 lead midway through the third. Mitchell recorded 11 points in the period, which saw Toronto held to five made field goals. Cleveland held a 61-54 advantage at the half, fueled by Harden’s 15 points and six assists and Mitchell’s 13 points and four assists. The Raptors had four players in double figures with Ingram scoring 13 points and Barnes, Barrett and Shead with 11 apiece. Mitchell had eight points and a pair of assists in the first quarter, including a strip of Shead that he turned into a Strus’ layup at the buzzer and a 35-31 Cavaliers lead. Ingram and Barnes scored nine apiece. Both teams shot the ball well, but the Cavs buried 16 of 32 from 3-point range. They also enjoyed a significant advantage at 52-36 for points in the pain. Cavaliers backup center Thomas Bryant (left calf strain) was inactive and has not played since April 5. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Donovan #Mitchell #nets #Cavaliers #overpower #RaptorsApr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points and James Harden added 22 points and 10 assists, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-113 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series Saturday.

Max Strus had 24 points off the bench and Evan Mobley scored 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight playoff games over the Raptors. Game 2 is Monday in Cleveland, where Toronto is 0-8 all-time in the postseason.

Mitchell extended his league-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in a series opener to nine straight, two more than Michael Jordan had on two occasions. The Cavaliers’ largest lead was 100-76 early in the fourth quarter on a Sam Merrill 3-pointer.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points and seven assists for the fifth-seeded Raptors. Brandon Ingram added 17 points and Jamal Shead had 17 points in his playoff debut, starting for injured guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain).

Harden became the fifth player in NBA history to appear in a playoff game in 17 seasons, joining Karl Malone, John Stockton, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd. He also moved past Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird into 13th place in playoff points with 3,917.


Strus made back-to-back 3-pointers and followed with a layup in transition, giving the Cavaliers a commanding 82-60 lead midway through the third. Mitchell recorded 11 points in the period, which saw Toronto held to five made field goals.

Cleveland held a 61-54 advantage at the half, fueled by Harden’s 15 points and six assists and Mitchell’s 13 points and four assists. The Raptors had four players in double figures with Ingram scoring 13 points and Barnes, Barrett and Shead with 11 apiece.

Mitchell had eight points and a pair of assists in the first quarter, including a strip of Shead that he turned into a Strus’ layup at the buzzer and a 35-31 Cavaliers lead. Ingram and Barnes scored nine apiece.

Both teams shot the ball well, but the Cavs buried 16 of 32 from 3-point range. They also enjoyed a significant advantage at 52-36 for points in the pain.

Cavaliers backup center Thomas Bryant (left calf strain) was inactive and has not played since April 5.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Donovan #Mitchell #nets #Cavaliers #overpower #Raptors">Deadspin | Donovan Mitchell nets 32 as Cavaliers overpower Raptors Apr 18, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points and James Harden added 22 points and 10 assists, powering the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-113 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first round series Saturday. Max Strus had 24 points off the bench and Evan Mobley scored 17 for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers, who have won 11 straight playoff games over the Raptors. Game 2 is Monday in Cleveland, where Toronto is 0-8 all-time in the postseason. Mitchell extended his league-record streak of scoring 30-plus points in a series opener to nine straight, two more than Michael Jordan had on two occasions. The Cavaliers’ largest lead was 100-76 early in the fourth quarter on a Sam Merrill 3-pointer. RJ Barrett scored 24 points and Scottie Barnes contributed 21 points and seven assists for the fifth-seeded Raptors. Brandon Ingram added 17 points and Jamal Shead had 17 points in his playoff debut, starting for injured guard Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring strain). Harden became the fifth player in NBA history to appear in a playoff game in 17 seasons, joining Karl Malone, John Stockton, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd. He also moved past Boston Celtics legend Larry Bird into 13th place in playoff points with 3,917. Strus made back-to-back 3-pointers and followed with a layup in transition, giving the Cavaliers a commanding 82-60 lead midway through the third. Mitchell recorded 11 points in the period, which saw Toronto held to five made field goals. Cleveland held a 61-54 advantage at the half, fueled by Harden’s 15 points and six assists and Mitchell’s 13 points and four assists. The Raptors had four players in double figures with Ingram scoring 13 points and Barnes, Barrett and Shead with 11 apiece. Mitchell had eight points and a pair of assists in the first quarter, including a strip of Shead that he turned into a Strus’ layup at the buzzer and a 35-31 Cavaliers lead. Ingram and Barnes scored nine apiece. Both teams shot the ball well, but the Cavs buried 16 of 32 from 3-point range. They also enjoyed a significant advantage at 52-36 for points in the pain. Cavaliers backup center Thomas Bryant (left calf strain) was inactive and has not played since April 5. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Donovan #Mitchell #nets #Cavaliers #overpower #Raptors

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