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Deadspin | Wild, riding 6-game win streak, finish road back-to-back at Utah

Deadspin | Wild, riding 6-game win streak, finish road back-to-back at Utah

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Feb 26, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) skates with the puck towards an open net in the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

The Utah Mammoth will look to play with more pace in their game when they oppose the Minnesota Wild on Friday night in Salt Lake City.

Utah opened its post-Olympic-break portion of the schedule with a 4-2 home loss against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday.

Dylan Guenther scored twice and Karel Vejmelka made 22 saves for Utah, which had won back-to-back games prior to the break.

“We played a good team, but I didn’t like our grind. I didn’t like our physicality,” Utah coach Andre Tourigny said. “I thought we didn’t have the pace we should have in our zone and on the forecheck. I don’t think we were the fastest team tonight, and that’s what makes us special. We need to realize that and be much better next game.”

Mammoth forward Logan Cooley returned to the lineup after missing 28 games with a lower-body injury, and he chipped in an assist in the loss.

“It’s good to be back out there with the guys,” Cooley said. “It’s no fun sitting in the stands watching them. It kind of felt like a long journey. There was a lot of hard work that went into it. … It felt good to be back.”

Captain Clayton Keller paces Utah with 38 assists and 55 points in 58 games, while Guenther has a team-leading 27 tallies in 56 games.

The Mammoth, who sit fourth in the Central Division, hold the top Western Conference wild-card spot. They are 11-4-1 in their past 16 games and 17-9-2 on home ice this season.

“You haven’t played for a while, so you want to make nice plays,” Guenther said of the Wednesday loss. “You don’t really have your A-game yet, so just playing your B-game solid, and I thought we did that better in the third (period).”

The Friday game will be the second of three meetings between the Mammoth and Wild. Utah upended Minnesota 6-2 on Oct. 25 in Saint Paul, Minn.

The Wild travel to Utah for the second game of a back-to-back set following a 5-2 win over the Avalanche on Thursday in Denver.

“I thought the guys did a good job preparing, whether they were at the Olympics or not at the Olympics,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “I thought everyone came together as a group and played well. Now we got another big one (on Friday) against Utah. I think to get a win was obviously nice and important for us, and now we can build from there.”

Matt Boldy scored twice and added two assists, Joel Eriksson Ek netted a pair and Mats Zucccarello added the other for the Wild, who have won six straight and are 9-1-1 over their past 11.

Kirill Kaprizov chipped in a pair of assists as the Wild improved to 18-8-3 on the road while moving into second place in the Central Division.

Filip Gustavsson made 44 saves before being replaced late in the third period after vomiting in the goal crease. Jesper Wallstedt took over and allowed one goal on two shots in 1:04 of relief.

Wallstedt, the likely starter on Friday, is 14-5-4 with a .913 save percentage and a 2.76 goals-against average in 24 games (23 starts) this season. He has never opposed Utah in his career.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Julio Rodriguez, Mariners rally from 5-run deficit to walk off Astros Apr 11, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodríguez (44) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images J.P. Crawford’s walk-off single with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning capped the Seattle Mariners’ rally from a five-run deficit in an 8-7 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday night. Julio Rodriguez doubled and homered, his first two extra-base hits of the season, and Cal Raleigh also went deep for the Mariners and drove in three runs. Astros reliever Bryan Abreu (0-2) struck out Luke Raley leading off the ninth, then walked the bases loaded. Crawford, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lined a 0-2 fastball to left field to plate the decisive run. Mariners closer Andres Munoz (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory. The Mariners jumped out to an early lead. Crawford, batting leadoff for a second straight night with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, drew a walk and Raleigh lined the next pitch into the right-field seats. Rodriguez followed by grounding a double down the third-base line. With one out, Randy Arozarena hit a 102-mph liner back up the middle. Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. raised his glove in a defensive motion and caught the ball, starting an inning-ending double play. The Astros took the lead in the second, loading the bases on singles by Jose Altuve and Cam Smith sandwiched around a walk to Joey Loperfido. Luis Castillo caught Yainer Diaz looking at a called third strike, courtesy of an ABS challenge, for the second out. Former Mariner Taylor Trammell came through with a bases-clearing double off the wall in left-center field in his first at-bat of the season to make it 3-2. The Astros scored three more runs in the third. Yordan Alvarez led off with a homer to right-center. With two outs, Carlos Correa lined a single to center and Loperfido doubled down the right-field line before Smith capped a 13-pitch at-bat by lining a two-run single to center. Houston tallied again in the fourth. Trammell and Jeremy Pena led off with singles and, an out later, Isaac Paredes grounded a run-scoring single to left, ending Castillo’s night. Castillo lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. The right-hander walked one and fanned three. McCullers retired 12 consecutive batters starting with his first-inning escape before running into trouble in the fifth. With one out, Cole Young singled, Dominic Canzone doubled and Leo Rivas walked, loading the bases. Crawford lined a two-run single to center, chasing McCullers. Reliever Steven Okert got Raleigh to hit a broken-bat liner to left, deep enough for a sacrifice fly. Rodriguez then hammered a 1-2 fastball 426 feet over the wall in straightaway center field, tying the score at 7. McCullers was charged with six runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The righty walked two and struck out four. Pena, the Astros’ shortstop, left in the middle of the fourth inning with what the team called right posterior knee tightness. He was replaced by Nick Allen. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Julio #Rodriguez #Mariners #rally #5run #deficit #walk #AstrosApr 11, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodríguez (44) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

J.P. Crawford’s walk-off single with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning capped the Seattle Mariners’ rally from a five-run deficit in an 8-7 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday night.

Julio Rodriguez doubled and homered, his first two extra-base hits of the season, and Cal Raleigh also went deep for the Mariners and drove in three runs.

Astros reliever Bryan Abreu (0-2) struck out Luke Raley leading off the ninth, then walked the bases loaded. Crawford, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lined a 0-2 fastball to left field to plate the decisive run.

Mariners closer Andres Munoz (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory.

The Mariners jumped out to an early lead. Crawford, batting leadoff for a second straight night with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, drew a walk and Raleigh lined the next pitch into the right-field seats. Rodriguez followed by grounding a double down the third-base line.

With one out, Randy Arozarena hit a 102-mph liner back up the middle. Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. raised his glove in a defensive motion and caught the ball, starting an inning-ending double play.

The Astros took the lead in the second, loading the bases on singles by Jose Altuve and Cam Smith sandwiched around a walk to Joey Loperfido.

Luis Castillo caught Yainer Diaz looking at a called third strike, courtesy of an ABS challenge, for the second out. Former Mariner Taylor Trammell came through with a bases-clearing double off the wall in left-center field in his first at-bat of the season to make it 3-2.


The Astros scored three more runs in the third. Yordan Alvarez led off with a homer to right-center. With two outs, Carlos Correa lined a single to center and Loperfido doubled down the right-field line before Smith capped a 13-pitch at-bat by lining a two-run single to center.

Houston tallied again in the fourth. Trammell and Jeremy Pena led off with singles and, an out later, Isaac Paredes grounded a run-scoring single to left, ending Castillo’s night.

Castillo lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. The right-hander walked one and fanned three.

McCullers retired 12 consecutive batters starting with his first-inning escape before running into trouble in the fifth.

With one out, Cole Young singled, Dominic Canzone doubled and Leo Rivas walked, loading the bases. Crawford lined a two-run single to center, chasing McCullers.

Reliever Steven Okert got Raleigh to hit a broken-bat liner to left, deep enough for a sacrifice fly. Rodriguez then hammered a 1-2 fastball 426 feet over the wall in straightaway center field, tying the score at 7.

McCullers was charged with six runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The righty walked two and struck out four.

Pena, the Astros’ shortstop, left in the middle of the fourth inning with what the team called right posterior knee tightness. He was replaced by Nick Allen.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Julio #Rodriguez #Mariners #rally #5run #deficit #walk #Astros">Deadspin | Julio Rodriguez, Mariners rally from 5-run deficit to walk off Astros Apr 11, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodríguez (44) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images J.P. Crawford’s walk-off single with one out and the bases loaded in the ninth inning capped the Seattle Mariners’ rally from a five-run deficit in an 8-7 victory against the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday night. Julio Rodriguez doubled and homered, his first two extra-base hits of the season, and Cal Raleigh also went deep for the Mariners and drove in three runs. Astros reliever Bryan Abreu (0-2) struck out Luke Raley leading off the ninth, then walked the bases loaded. Crawford, who went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lined a 0-2 fastball to left field to plate the decisive run. Mariners closer Andres Munoz (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the victory. The Mariners jumped out to an early lead. Crawford, batting leadoff for a second straight night with Brendan Donovan out with an illness, drew a walk and Raleigh lined the next pitch into the right-field seats. Rodriguez followed by grounding a double down the third-base line. With one out, Randy Arozarena hit a 102-mph liner back up the middle. Pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. raised his glove in a defensive motion and caught the ball, starting an inning-ending double play. The Astros took the lead in the second, loading the bases on singles by Jose Altuve and Cam Smith sandwiched around a walk to Joey Loperfido. Luis Castillo caught Yainer Diaz looking at a called third strike, courtesy of an ABS challenge, for the second out. Former Mariner Taylor Trammell came through with a bases-clearing double off the wall in left-center field in his first at-bat of the season to make it 3-2. The Astros scored three more runs in the third. Yordan Alvarez led off with a homer to right-center. With two outs, Carlos Correa lined a single to center and Loperfido doubled down the right-field line before Smith capped a 13-pitch at-bat by lining a two-run single to center. Houston tallied again in the fourth. Trammell and Jeremy Pena led off with singles and, an out later, Isaac Paredes grounded a run-scoring single to left, ending Castillo’s night. Castillo lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits. The right-hander walked one and fanned three. McCullers retired 12 consecutive batters starting with his first-inning escape before running into trouble in the fifth. With one out, Cole Young singled, Dominic Canzone doubled and Leo Rivas walked, loading the bases. Crawford lined a two-run single to center, chasing McCullers. Reliever Steven Okert got Raleigh to hit a broken-bat liner to left, deep enough for a sacrifice fly. Rodriguez then hammered a 1-2 fastball 426 feet over the wall in straightaway center field, tying the score at 7. McCullers was charged with six runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. The righty walked two and struck out four. Pena, the Astros’ shortstop, left in the middle of the fourth inning with what the team called right posterior knee tightness. He was replaced by Nick Allen. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Julio #Rodriguez #Mariners #rally #5run #deficit #walk #Astros

Chennai Super Kings opener Sanju Samson said he went back to the basics after three batting failures as he set up his side’s 23-run win over Delhi Capitals with an unbeaten hundred in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Chennai on Saturday.

Samson made 6, 7 and 9 in CSK’s three losses in a row in IPL 2026, before his 56-ball unbeaten 115, studded with 15 fours and four sixes, gave the home side its first win of the season.

“I failed a lot. Failing a lot tells you how to come back. Mentally, you think if you need to go hard or change the gameplan. You need to bring your body and mind to basics,” Samson said at the post-match presentation.

“Basics are to get in a mentally different zone. We need to come back to timing the ball and watching it come out nicely from the bowler’s hand. Very happy things have come (out) nicely today.”

He said it was not easy to join a new franchise—from RR to CSK this season—but the team environment has made it easy for him.

“Really means a lot. The trust they (CSK franchise) showed in me, it was a very responsible feeling that I needed to put in a show and say we are still in the tournament,” said Samson.

“Not easy to start off at a different franchise b,ut it never felt like it. It was like coming to a second home. We just had a meeting of 50 seconds today (despite three losses)—that connects with the kind of person I am.”

On his 113-run partnership with youngster Ayush Mhatre (59), he said, “Very important to have a great partnership. It never looked like he (Mhatre) was coming out of U-19—he was so calculative. Shows the character he has.”

On his hundred celebration, Samson said, “That was for (Stephen) Fleming. I know how hard it can get, leading a franchise for years. Just wanted to dedicate this (innings) to Fleming.”

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said the team felt good to finally get the win.

“Great performance. We had been batting well. To post 200-210, when the wicket is on the slower side, we were showing good signs. One of those knocks where Sanju took on the opposition, played a magnificent knock. Ayush also. But today was about the bowling. Taking wickets, bowling aggressive lengths. We do not have that X-factor in the bowling, but we have been discussing on how to be more effective and more proactive. In the last few games, we were almost there. Some big overs cost us.

“Bowling-wise, we were on the mark (tonight). We were set back in the PowerPlay, but we came back after it.”

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said the fielding was the difference in the match.

“We started well, but after the PowerPlay, we lost quick wickets, and that broke the momentum. The fielding was the difference in the match. Wickets falling in clusters made it tough to regain momentum. Batters did a decent job, but overall, our fielding was a let-down. Want to credit the bowlers, to keep them to that score, despite them having set batters on a good wicket. A couple of dropped catches, had we taken them, it might have been different. Pitch did not change. It was a little more difficult for them (with the dew in the second innings) but they bowled pretty well,” he noted.

Published on Apr 12, 2026

#IPL #bring #body #mind #basics #Sanju #Samson #maiden #century #CSK">IPL 2026: ‘You need to bring your body and mind to basics,’ says Sanju Samson after maiden century for CSK Chennai Super Kings opener Sanju Samson said he went back to the basics after three batting failures as he set up his side’s 23-run win over Delhi Capitals with an unbeaten hundred in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Chennai on Saturday.Samson made 6, 7 and 9 in CSK’s three losses in a row in IPL 2026, before his 56-ball unbeaten 115, studded with 15 fours and four sixes, gave the home side its first win of the season.“I failed a lot. Failing a lot tells you how to come back. Mentally, you think if you need to go hard or change the gameplan. You need to bring your body and mind to basics,” Samson said at the post-match presentation.“Basics are to get in a mentally different zone. We need to come back to timing the ball and watching it come out nicely from the bowler’s hand. Very happy things have come (out) nicely today.”He said it was not easy to join a new franchise—from RR to CSK this season—but the team environment has made it easy for him.“Really means a lot. The trust they (CSK franchise) showed in me, it was a very responsible feeling that I needed to put in a show and say we are still in the tournament,” said Samson.“Not easy to start off at a different franchise b,ut it never felt like it. It was like coming to a second home. We just had a meeting of 50 seconds today (despite three losses)—that connects with the kind of person I am.”On his 113-run partnership with youngster Ayush Mhatre (59), he said, “Very important to have a great partnership. It never looked like he (Mhatre) was coming out of U-19—he was so calculative. Shows the character he has.”On his hundred celebration, Samson said, “That was for (Stephen) Fleming. I know how hard it can get, leading a franchise for years. Just wanted to dedicate this (innings) to Fleming.”Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said the team felt good to finally get the win.“Great performance. We had been batting well. To post 200-210, when the wicket is on the slower side, we were showing good signs. One of those knocks where Sanju took on the opposition, played a magnificent knock. Ayush also. But today was about the bowling. Taking wickets, bowling aggressive lengths. We do not have that X-factor in the bowling, but we have been discussing on how to be more effective and more proactive. In the last few games, we were almost there. Some big overs cost us.“Bowling-wise, we were on the mark (tonight). We were set back in the PowerPlay, but we came back after it.”Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel said the fielding was the difference in the match.“We started well, but after the PowerPlay, we lost quick wickets, and that broke the momentum. The fielding was the difference in the match. Wickets falling in clusters made it tough to regain momentum. Batters did a decent job, but overall, our fielding was a let-down. Want to credit the bowlers, to keep them to that score, despite them having set batters on a good wicket. A couple of dropped catches, had we taken them, it might have been different. Pitch did not change. It was a little more difficult for them (with the dew in the second innings) but they bowled pretty well,” he noted.Published on Apr 12, 2026 #IPL #bring #body #mind #basics #Sanju #Samson #maiden #century #CSK

Deadspin | Team Liquid 1st team to 2-0 at LCS Spring YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. Team Liquid moved to the top of the standings with a win over Shopify Rebellion as Week 2 of the regular season of the LCS Spring event began Saturday. Team Liquid won 2-0 in a battle of 1-0 teams, while LYON beat Dignitas 2-1 in the other match of the day. Eight teams will compete in best-of-three matches in the round-robin regular season before advancing to the playoffs of the League of Legends event, which will be contested in best-of-five matches in a double-elimination format. The top two teams will qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational. Liquid completed its sweep with a pair of wins on blue in 25 and 38 minutes. Brandon “Josedeodo” Villegas of Argentina and Ru-han “Morgan” Park of South Korea took home MVP honors in the triumph. Dignitas won the opener of its match in 33 minutes before LYON roared back with a 36-minute victory on red followed by a 30-minute clincher on blue. American/Indian competitor Niship “Dhokla” Doshi and Jonah “Isles” Rosario of Australia were MVPs for the two LYON victories, and American Lawrence “Exyu” Xu was MVP of Dignitas’ opening victory. Week 2 concludes Sunday with FlyQuest facing Disguised and Sentinels taking on Cloud9. Regular season standings (Win-loss total, map differential) 1. Team Liquid, 2-0, 4-1 T2 Cloud9, 1-0, 2-1 T2. Disguised, 1-0, 2-1 T4. Shopify Rebellion, 1-1, 2-2 T4. Lyon, 1-1, 3-3 T6. FlyQuest, 0-1, 1-2 T6. Sentinels, 0-1, 1-2 8. Dignitas, 0-2, 1-4 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Team #Liquid #1st #team #LCS #SpringYMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year.

Team Liquid moved to the top of the standings with a win over Shopify Rebellion as Week 2 of the regular season of the LCS Spring event began Saturday.

Team Liquid won 2-0 in a battle of 1-0 teams, while LYON beat Dignitas 2-1 in the other match of the day.

Eight teams will compete in best-of-three matches in the round-robin regular season before advancing to the playoffs of the League of Legends event, which will be contested in best-of-five matches in a double-elimination format. The top two teams will qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational.

Liquid completed its sweep with a pair of wins on blue in 25 and 38 minutes. Brandon “Josedeodo” Villegas of Argentina and Ru-han “Morgan” Park of South Korea took home MVP honors in the triumph.

Dignitas won the opener of its match in 33 minutes before LYON roared back with a 36-minute victory on red followed by a 30-minute clincher on blue. American/Indian competitor Niship “Dhokla” Doshi and Jonah “Isles” Rosario of Australia were MVPs for the two LYON victories, and American Lawrence “Exyu” Xu was MVP of Dignitas’ opening victory.

Week 2 concludes Sunday with FlyQuest facing Disguised and Sentinels taking on Cloud9.

Regular season standings (Win-loss total, map differential)


1. Team Liquid, 2-0, 4-1

T2 Cloud9, 1-0, 2-1

T2. Disguised, 1-0, 2-1

T4. Shopify Rebellion, 1-1, 2-2

T4. Lyon, 1-1, 3-3

T6. FlyQuest, 0-1, 1-2

T6. Sentinels, 0-1, 1-2

8. Dignitas, 0-2, 1-4


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Team #Liquid #1st #team #LCS #Spring">Deadspin | Team Liquid 1st team to 2-0 at LCS Spring YMCA member Austin Manengu works the keyboard as he plays a game of Fortnite during the unveiling of the new gaming lab at the Maplewood Family YMCA in Rochester Thursday, June 20, 2024. YMCA of Greater Rochester in partnership with Metro Sports & Entertainment Group will open two gaming labs for youth and teens this year. Team Liquid moved to the top of the standings with a win over Shopify Rebellion as Week 2 of the regular season of the LCS Spring event began Saturday. Team Liquid won 2-0 in a battle of 1-0 teams, while LYON beat Dignitas 2-1 in the other match of the day. Eight teams will compete in best-of-three matches in the round-robin regular season before advancing to the playoffs of the League of Legends event, which will be contested in best-of-five matches in a double-elimination format. The top two teams will qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational. Liquid completed its sweep with a pair of wins on blue in 25 and 38 minutes. Brandon “Josedeodo” Villegas of Argentina and Ru-han “Morgan” Park of South Korea took home MVP honors in the triumph. Dignitas won the opener of its match in 33 minutes before LYON roared back with a 36-minute victory on red followed by a 30-minute clincher on blue. American/Indian competitor Niship “Dhokla” Doshi and Jonah “Isles” Rosario of Australia were MVPs for the two LYON victories, and American Lawrence “Exyu” Xu was MVP of Dignitas’ opening victory. Week 2 concludes Sunday with FlyQuest facing Disguised and Sentinels taking on Cloud9. Regular season standings (Win-loss total, map differential) 1. Team Liquid, 2-0, 4-1 T2 Cloud9, 1-0, 2-1 T2. Disguised, 1-0, 2-1 T4. Shopify Rebellion, 1-1, 2-2 T4. Lyon, 1-1, 3-3 T6. FlyQuest, 0-1, 1-2 T6. Sentinels, 0-1, 1-2 8. Dignitas, 0-2, 1-4 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Team #Liquid #1st #team #LCS #Spring

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