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Deadspin | Mammoth return home with season on line vs. resilient Golden Knights Apr 29, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) skates around Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first overtime period of game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images After their second consecutive 5-4 overtime loss on Wednesday, you might expect the Utah Mammoth to be a little demoralized heading into Game 6 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights. But the mood around the Mammoth was surprisingly upbeat heading back to Salt Lake City for their must-win matchup with the Pacific Division champions. “We’re a confident group,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “We believe in one another and in our team, and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home, play in front of our fans. If you’re not fired up for that, then you’ve got something wrong with you.” The Mammoth lost on a Shea Theodore overtime goal in their last game on home ice on Monday, blowing a 4-3 third-period lead in the process. As painful as that was, Wednesday’s 5-4 double-overtime loss had to be even more of a gut punch. The Golden Knights tied it with a 6-on-5 goal from Pavel Dorofeyev with 52.7 seconds left, then won it on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal 5:28 into the second overtime. “We’re right there,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “We knew it would be a fight. It is what it is. We want to go back to Salt Lake for Game 6 in front of our fans, and we’ll give it our all and we’ll work from there. But I think we’re really confident in what we can achieve out there. “I like the fight in our guys. I like our execution. Now it comes down to one game.” “Go win one at home. I think that’s our focus,” Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse added. “… We have to win. We’ve got to step up and do it on our home ice. We’ve got incredible fans back home, and we’re excited to get going again.” It won’t be easy. Vegas has a strong veteran group that won the 2023 Stanley Cup and has excelled at finding ways to win games when trailing late in contests. The Golden Knights led the NHL in the regular season with 108 goals in the third period, and they’ve rallied in the third period in each of their three wins in the series. “It’s something that we’ve prided ourselves on all season,” center Jack Eichel said. “So much credit to guys in the locker room. There’s a calmness and a confidence within our group.” There have been 29 teams in NHL history that have trailed in the third period of each of the first five games of a playoff series. This year’s Golden Knights are the first such team to lead the series through five games, per Opta. “You need to have that come from within the room,” Vegas coach John Tortorella added. “We’ve seen it through five games. You can tell they never feel like they’re out of it.” History would appear to be on the Golden Knights’ side after Wednesday’s dramatic come-from-behind win. In its nine-year history, Vegas has won all eight of its series where it won Game 5. Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mammoth #return #home #season #line #resilient #Golden #Knights

Deadspin | Mammoth return home with season on line vs. resilient Golden Knights
Deadspin | Mammoth return home with season on line vs. resilient Golden Knights Apr 29, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) skates around Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first overtime period of game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images After their second consecutive 5-4 overtime loss on Wednesday, you might expect the Utah Mammoth to be a little demoralized heading into Game 6 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights. But the mood around the Mammoth was surprisingly upbeat heading back to Salt Lake City for their must-win matchup with the Pacific Division champions. “We’re a confident group,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “We believe in one another and in our team, and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home, play in front of our fans. If you’re not fired up for that, then you’ve got something wrong with you.” The Mammoth lost on a Shea Theodore overtime goal in their last game on home ice on Monday, blowing a 4-3 third-period lead in the process. As painful as that was, Wednesday’s 5-4 double-overtime loss had to be even more of a gut punch. The Golden Knights tied it with a 6-on-5 goal from Pavel Dorofeyev with 52.7 seconds left, then won it on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal 5:28 into the second overtime. “We’re right there,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “We knew it would be a fight. It is what it is. We want to go back to Salt Lake for Game 6 in front of our fans, and we’ll give it our all and we’ll work from there. But I think we’re really confident in what we can achieve out there. “I like the fight in our guys. I like our execution. Now it comes down to one game.” “Go win one at home. I think that’s our focus,” Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse added. “… We have to win. We’ve got to step up and do it on our home ice. We’ve got incredible fans back home, and we’re excited to get going again.” It won’t be easy. Vegas has a strong veteran group that won the 2023 Stanley Cup and has excelled at finding ways to win games when trailing late in contests. The Golden Knights led the NHL in the regular season with 108 goals in the third period, and they’ve rallied in the third period in each of their three wins in the series. “It’s something that we’ve prided ourselves on all season,” center Jack Eichel said. “So much credit to guys in the locker room. There’s a calmness and a confidence within our group.” There have been 29 teams in NHL history that have trailed in the third period of each of the first five games of a playoff series. This year’s Golden Knights are the first such team to lead the series through five games, per Opta. “You need to have that come from within the room,” Vegas coach John Tortorella added. “We’ve seen it through five games. You can tell they never feel like they’re out of it.” History would appear to be on the Golden Knights’ side after Wednesday’s dramatic come-from-behind win. In its nine-year history, Vegas has won all eight of its series where it won Game 5. Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mammoth #return #home #season #line #resilient #Golden #KnightsApr 29, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) skates around Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first overtime period of game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

After their second consecutive 5-4 overtime loss on Wednesday, you might expect the Utah Mammoth to be a little demoralized heading into Game 6 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

But the mood around the Mammoth was surprisingly upbeat heading back to Salt Lake City for their must-win matchup with the Pacific Division champions.

“We’re a confident group,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “We believe in one another and in our team, and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home, play in front of our fans. If you’re not fired up for that, then you’ve got something wrong with you.”

The Mammoth lost on a Shea Theodore overtime goal in their last game on home ice on Monday, blowing a 4-3 third-period lead in the process.

As painful as that was, Wednesday’s 5-4 double-overtime loss had to be even more of a gut punch. The Golden Knights tied it with a 6-on-5 goal from Pavel Dorofeyev with 52.7 seconds left, then won it on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal 5:28 into the second overtime.

“We’re right there,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “We knew it would be a fight. It is what it is. We want to go back to Salt Lake for Game 6 in front of our fans, and we’ll give it our all and we’ll work from there. But I think we’re really confident in what we can achieve out there.

“I like the fight in our guys. I like our execution. Now it comes down to one game.”


“Go win one at home. I think that’s our focus,” Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse added. “… We have to win. We’ve got to step up and do it on our home ice. We’ve got incredible fans back home, and we’re excited to get going again.”

It won’t be easy. Vegas has a strong veteran group that won the 2023 Stanley Cup and has excelled at finding ways to win games when trailing late in contests.

The Golden Knights led the NHL in the regular season with 108 goals in the third period, and they’ve rallied in the third period in each of their three wins in the series.

“It’s something that we’ve prided ourselves on all season,” center Jack Eichel said. “So much credit to guys in the locker room. There’s a calmness and a confidence within our group.”

There have been 29 teams in NHL history that have trailed in the third period of each of the first five games of a playoff series. This year’s Golden Knights are the first such team to lead the series through five games, per Opta.

“You need to have that come from within the room,” Vegas coach John Tortorella added. “We’ve seen it through five games. You can tell they never feel like they’re out of it.”

History would appear to be on the Golden Knights’ side after Wednesday’s dramatic come-from-behind win. In its nine-year history, Vegas has won all eight of its series where it won Game 5.

Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mammoth #return #home #season #line #resilient #Golden #Knights

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Apr 29, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yamamoto (56) skates around Vegas Golden Knights right wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the first overtime period of game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

After their second consecutive 5-4 overtime loss on Wednesday, you might expect the Utah Mammoth to be a little demoralized heading into Game 6 of their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series with the Vegas Golden Knights.

But the mood around the Mammoth was surprisingly upbeat heading back to Salt Lake City for their must-win matchup with the Pacific Division champions.

“We’re a confident group,” Utah captain Clayton Keller said. “We believe in one another and in our team, and I think these are the most fun games to be a part of. Down 3-2, we get to go home, play in front of our fans. If you’re not fired up for that, then you’ve got something wrong with you.”

The Mammoth lost on a Shea Theodore overtime goal in their last game on home ice on Monday, blowing a 4-3 third-period lead in the process.

As painful as that was, Wednesday’s 5-4 double-overtime loss had to be even more of a gut punch. The Golden Knights tied it with a 6-on-5 goal from Pavel Dorofeyev with 52.7 seconds left, then won it on Brett Howden’s short-handed goal 5:28 into the second overtime.

“We’re right there,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “We knew it would be a fight. It is what it is. We want to go back to Salt Lake for Game 6 in front of our fans, and we’ll give it our all and we’ll work from there. But I think we’re really confident in what we can achieve out there.

“I like the fight in our guys. I like our execution. Now it comes down to one game.”

“Go win one at home. I think that’s our focus,” Mammoth forward Lawson Crouse added. “… We have to win. We’ve got to step up and do it on our home ice. We’ve got incredible fans back home, and we’re excited to get going again.”

It won’t be easy. Vegas has a strong veteran group that won the 2023 Stanley Cup and has excelled at finding ways to win games when trailing late in contests.

The Golden Knights led the NHL in the regular season with 108 goals in the third period, and they’ve rallied in the third period in each of their three wins in the series.

“It’s something that we’ve prided ourselves on all season,” center Jack Eichel said. “So much credit to guys in the locker room. There’s a calmness and a confidence within our group.”

There have been 29 teams in NHL history that have trailed in the third period of each of the first five games of a playoff series. This year’s Golden Knights are the first such team to lead the series through five games, per Opta.

“You need to have that come from within the room,” Vegas coach John Tortorella added. “We’ve seen it through five games. You can tell they never feel like they’re out of it.”

History would appear to be on the Golden Knights’ side after Wednesday’s dramatic come-from-behind win. In its nine-year history, Vegas has won all eight of its series where it won Game 5.

Game 7, if needed, is scheduled for Sunday in Las Vegas.

–Field Level Media

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Aaron Rodgers announced on Wednesday that this season will be his final year in the NFL.

Rodgers, who turns 43 in December, just inked a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are wandering the quarterback desert without a true long-term plan.

And that’s only part of what makes Rodgers’ retirement announcement feel somewhat unlikely. He’s entering his 22nd season in the NFL, meaning that he’s been in the league half as long as he’s been alive.

A retirement announcement seems expected. He’s going to be 43, he’s played for two decades and has made over $400 million in NFL contracts and bonuses. But Rodgers feasts on attention. Over the last few seasons, his free agency decisions have been long, drawn out processes. But the NFL gives Rodgers that attention that he might not be able to find elsewhere.

There’s nothing left for Rodgers to accomplish on the field. He’s one of the all-time greats, especially in this generation of quarterbacks. But off the field, stepping away from being an NFL player will dim some of the limelight that Rodgers seemingly desperately craves.

Of course, he could become a television analyst or podcast personality. He’s already had standing segments on the “Pat McAfee Show” that received tremendous ratings. But they delivered big ratings because Rodgers was an active player who wasn’t shy about voicing his hesitations about conspiracy theories including his hesitancy to accept the COVID-19 vaccination to play in the NFL.

Without the status of an active NFL player, Rodgers’ whole shtick turns into just another random ex-athlete with bizarre takes and beliefs. There are plenty of other ex-athletes doing this already. Rodgers being an active player is what made his schtick so unique.

There’s been no shortage of controversies surrounding Rodgers over the last few seasons. At one point, he was a mysterious figure that had a falling out with his parents. In recent years, we’ve seen him show dishonesty to the media surrounding his COVID-19 vaccination status and yearly threats to retire from the NFL in order to host “Jeopardy!”.

The league will have a void without Rodgers in it. Love him or hate him, he’s a polarizing figure that won’t be the same once he retires, even if he maintains an active voice in football conversation. The NFL has plenty of weird players, and even a few weird quarterbacks, but none of them have the allure and intrigue that Rodgers was able to manufacture over the last two decades.

Maybe the retirement announcement was another exaggeration. This time next year, maybe he’s signing another one-year contract with a Pittsburgh team stuck in neutral. But if it is the end, what a crazy ride it has been.

#Aaron #Rodgers #Retiring #Walk #Deadspin.com">Aaron Rodgers Is Retiring, But Will He Actually Walk Away? | Deadspin.com Aaron Rodgers announced on Wednesday that this season will be his final year in the NFL.Rodgers, who turns 43 in December, just inked a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are wandering the quarterback desert without a true long-term plan.And that’s only part of what makes Rodgers’ retirement announcement feel somewhat unlikely. He’s entering his 22nd season in the NFL, meaning that he’s been in the league half as long as he’s been alive.A retirement announcement seems expected. He’s going to be 43, he’s played for two decades and has made over 0 million in NFL contracts and bonuses. But Rodgers feasts on attention. Over the last few seasons, his free agency decisions have been long, drawn out processes. But the NFL gives Rodgers that attention that he might not be able to find elsewhere.There’s nothing left for Rodgers to accomplish on the field. He’s one of the all-time greats, especially in this generation of quarterbacks. But off the field, stepping away from being an NFL player will dim some of the limelight that Rodgers seemingly desperately craves.Of course, he could become a television analyst or podcast personality. He’s already had standing segments on the “Pat McAfee Show” that received tremendous ratings. But they delivered big ratings because Rodgers was an active player who wasn’t shy about voicing his hesitations about conspiracy theories including his hesitancy to accept the COVID-19 vaccination to play in the NFL.Without the status of an active NFL player, Rodgers’ whole shtick turns into just another random ex-athlete with bizarre takes and beliefs. There are plenty of other ex-athletes doing this already. Rodgers being an active player is what made his schtick so unique.There’s been no shortage of controversies surrounding Rodgers over the last few seasons. At one point, he was a mysterious figure that had a falling out with his parents. In recent years, we’ve seen him show dishonesty to the media surrounding his COVID-19 vaccination status and yearly threats to retire from the NFL in order to host “Jeopardy!”.The league will have a void without Rodgers in it. Love him or hate him, he’s a polarizing figure that won’t be the same once he retires, even if he maintains an active voice in football conversation. The NFL has plenty of weird players, and even a few weird quarterbacks, but none of them have the allure and intrigue that Rodgers was able to manufacture over the last two decades.Maybe the retirement announcement was another exaggeration. This time next year, maybe he’s signing another one-year contract with a Pittsburgh team stuck in neutral. But if it is the end, what a crazy ride it has been. #Aaron #Rodgers #Retiring #Walk #Deadspin.com

received tremendous ratings. But they delivered big ratings because Rodgers was an active player who wasn’t shy about voicing his hesitations about conspiracy theories including his hesitancy to accept the COVID-19 vaccination to play in the NFL.

Without the status of an active NFL player, Rodgers’ whole shtick turns into just another random ex-athlete with bizarre takes and beliefs. There are plenty of other ex-athletes doing this already. Rodgers being an active player is what made his schtick so unique.

There’s been no shortage of controversies surrounding Rodgers over the last few seasons. At one point, he was a mysterious figure that had a falling out with his parents. In recent years, we’ve seen him show dishonesty to the media surrounding his COVID-19 vaccination status and yearly threats to retire from the NFL in order to host “Jeopardy!”.

The league will have a void without Rodgers in it. Love him or hate him, he’s a polarizing figure that won’t be the same once he retires, even if he maintains an active voice in football conversation. The NFL has plenty of weird players, and even a few weird quarterbacks, but none of them have the allure and intrigue that Rodgers was able to manufacture over the last two decades.

Maybe the retirement announcement was another exaggeration. This time next year, maybe he’s signing another one-year contract with a Pittsburgh team stuck in neutral. But if it is the end, what a crazy ride it has been.

#Aaron #Rodgers #Retiring #Walk #Deadspin.com">Aaron Rodgers Is Retiring, But Will He Actually Walk Away? | Deadspin.com

Aaron Rodgers announced on Wednesday that this season will be his final year in the NFL.

Rodgers, who turns 43 in December, just inked a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are wandering the quarterback desert without a true long-term plan.

And that’s only part of what makes Rodgers’ retirement announcement feel somewhat unlikely. He’s entering his 22nd season in the NFL, meaning that he’s been in the league half as long as he’s been alive.

A retirement announcement seems expected. He’s going to be 43, he’s played for two decades and has made over $400 million in NFL contracts and bonuses. But Rodgers feasts on attention. Over the last few seasons, his free agency decisions have been long, drawn out processes. But the NFL gives Rodgers that attention that he might not be able to find elsewhere.

There’s nothing left for Rodgers to accomplish on the field. He’s one of the all-time greats, especially in this generation of quarterbacks. But off the field, stepping away from being an NFL player will dim some of the limelight that Rodgers seemingly desperately craves.

Of course, he could become a television analyst or podcast personality. He’s already had standing segments on the “Pat McAfee Show” that received tremendous ratings. But they delivered big ratings because Rodgers was an active player who wasn’t shy about voicing his hesitations about conspiracy theories including his hesitancy to accept the COVID-19 vaccination to play in the NFL.

Without the status of an active NFL player, Rodgers’ whole shtick turns into just another random ex-athlete with bizarre takes and beliefs. There are plenty of other ex-athletes doing this already. Rodgers being an active player is what made his schtick so unique.

There’s been no shortage of controversies surrounding Rodgers over the last few seasons. At one point, he was a mysterious figure that had a falling out with his parents. In recent years, we’ve seen him show dishonesty to the media surrounding his COVID-19 vaccination status and yearly threats to retire from the NFL in order to host “Jeopardy!”.

The league will have a void without Rodgers in it. Love him or hate him, he’s a polarizing figure that won’t be the same once he retires, even if he maintains an active voice in football conversation. The NFL has plenty of weird players, and even a few weird quarterbacks, but none of them have the allure and intrigue that Rodgers was able to manufacture over the last two decades.

Maybe the retirement announcement was another exaggeration. This time next year, maybe he’s signing another one-year contract with a Pittsburgh team stuck in neutral. But if it is the end, what a crazy ride it has been.

#Aaron #Rodgers #Retiring #Walk #Deadspin.com
#WNBA #players #waived #week #doesnt">3 WNBA players were waived this week, but it doesn’t mean that’s the end There are more roster spots in the WNBA than ever before — more than 200, to be exact.That’s in large part due to league expansion; with the addition of the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo this season, the league has a record 15 teams. And, alongside 12 standard roster spots, each team has two developmental player slots, as agreed upon in the latest CBA.Still, with an influx of overseas talent coming to the WNBA in addition to droves of elite college players, holding on to a roster spot remains difficult for those who are on the fringe. As such, even two weeks into the season, good players are getting waived every day.Since Monday, three players have been waived: Grace Vanslooten by the Seattle Storm, Ashten Prechtel by the Golden State Valkyries, and Aubrey Griffin by the New York Liberty. Vanslooter was a 2026 third-round pick after a standout career at Notre Dame. Prechtel was a 2023 third-round pick who won an NCAA championship with Stanford. And, Griffin was selected in the third round of the 2025 draft out of UConn.Before those three cuts, the Phoenix Mercury waived Anneli Maley and Peyton Williams, the Connecticut Sun waived Shey Peddy, and the Portland Fire waived Jordan Harrison.Sometimes, these cuts are expected: players signed hardship contracts in the wake of injuries and knew that their tenures would likely be temporary. Other times, cuts seemingly come out of left field; Kate Martin, who was waived by the Valkyries after training camp (and after being a rotation player for the team last season) is an example.And, getting cut isn’t always a death sentence. There’s a long list of players who were waived by a WNBA team, only to eventually blossom elsewhere. That list includes Veronica Burton, who was waived by the Dallas Wings two years ago before becoming an elite two-way point guard for the Valkyries last season. It also includes veteran players like Erica Wheeler and Alysha Clark, who were cut early in their careers. That didn’t stop either: Wheeler has played 11 seasons, and Clark has played 14. Both are some of the league’s most established vets.Players who get cut might look to go overseas in the meantime, or they might try to find a home elsewhere (Hailey Van Lith was recently cut by the Chicago Sky, and immediately joined the Connecticut Sun).For some, it’s the end of the road. For others, it’s just the beginning. #WNBA #players #waived #week #doesnt

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