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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

NYC: Come To Our WNBA Comedy Show On May 16

10-minute-quarters-3-2-fix (1)

Live Event

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Barry Petchesky

ST. PAUL, MN - APRIL 24: Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) celebrates scoring a goal during the second period in Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs between the Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild on April 24th, 2025, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. (Photo by Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

NHL: APR 24 Stanley Cup Playoffs¬†First Round Golden Knights at Wild

Vegas Can’t Answer The Call Of The Wild

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Ray Ratto

OTTAWA, CANADA - APRIL 24: Ridly Greig #71 of the Ottawa Senators battles for puck possession during a faceoff against Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second period of Game Three of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canadian Tire Centre on April 24, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by André Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Ottawa Senators – Game Three

The Leafs Are In Uncharted Territory

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 21: Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings scores a goal against Stuart Skinner #74 of the Edmonton Oilers in the second period during Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on April 21, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Nicole Vasquez /NHLI via Getty Images)

Edmonton Oilers v Los Angeles Kings – Game One

The Oilers Are Getting Carved Up Like A Moist And Tender Turkey

Los Angeles, CA - April 21:Kings Warren Foegele, #37, jumps out of the way of a shot by Kings Phillip Danault, #24, to score past Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner in the final seconds of the third period in Game 1 of the first-round series at Cypto.com Arena on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Kings defeated the Oilers 6-1. (Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

Kings beat Oilers 6-5 in game one of first round of NHL Playoffs

It Rocks When A Hockey Game Is Funny

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 19: Winnipeg Jets players celebrate on the ice following a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game One of Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canada Life Centre on April 19, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)

St. Louis Blues v Winnipeg Jets – Game One

That’s About As Hot As It Gets In Winnipeg

WINNIPEG, CANADA - APRIL 23: Winnipeg Jets fans cheer on their team as they get set to face off against the Colorado Avalanche in Game Two of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Canada Life Centre on April 23, 2024, in Winnipeg, Canada. (Photo by David Lipnowski/Getty Images)

Colorado Avalanche v Winnipeg Jets – Game Two

The Stanley Cup’s Got To Return To Canada Sometime, Right?

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - APRIL 15:-Andre Fleury #29 of the Minnesota Wild gets surrounded by teammates after an overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks at Xcel Energy Center on April 15, 2025 in St Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Luke Schmidt/NHLI via Getty Images)

Anaheim Ducks v Minnesota Wild

One Last Nice Moment For Marc-Andre Fleury, Who Deserves Them All

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Mark Messier, Namesake And Sole Voter Of Mark Messier Leadership Award Presented By Mark Messier, Knows How To Fix The Rangers: Mark Messier

OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 29: Gavin McKenna #9 of Team Canada skates in the first period against Team Germany of the Group A match during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on December 29, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Team Canada defeated Team Germany 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Canada v Germany: Group A – 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship

It’s Never Too Early To Get Ready For Gavin McKenna

Dave McKenna

ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 6: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates with Wayne Gretzky and Gary Bettman after scoring his 895th career goal, passing Gretzky for the all-time scoring record, during the second period of a game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on April 6, 2025 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/NHLI via Getty Images)

Washington Capitals v New York Islanders

I’m The Idiot Who Bet Against Ovechkin

DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 08: Victor Mancini #90 of the Vancouver Canucks is congratulated by his bench after scoring a goal during the third period against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on April 08, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Vancouver Canucks v Dallas Stars

Canucks Forget They’re The Canucks For One Historic Minute

Alex Ovechkin Scores

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Alex Ovechkin #8 of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring his 894th career NHL goal in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena on April 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. Ovechkin's goal ties him with Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goal scoring record. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Chicago Blackhawks v Washington Capitals

Ovechkin Skates Down Gretzky

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Lauren Theisen

Jordan Binnington #50 of the St. Louis Blues reacts after winning against the Detroit Red Wings

Detriot Red Wings v St Louis Blues

What The Heck Got Into The Blues?

Head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers John Tortorella reacts as he walks across the ice

Philadelphia Flyers v Montreal Canadiens

John Tortorella Wore Out His Welcome

Detroit Red Wings v Utah Hockey Club

Very Stupid Goals Help Slow Red Wings’ Spiral

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I’m Having Trouble Thinking Of A Funnier Goal

Dan MacKinnon of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after his teams 3-1 victory to win the Stanley Cup in 2016. This is not a photo of him after trading his son to the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations.

2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final – Game Six

Heartwarming: Hockey Executive Trades Son For Future Considerations

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 10: Simon Benoit #2 of the Toronto Maple Leafs fights against Michael Kesselring #7 of the Utah Hockey Club during the second period of a game on March 10, 2025 at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Toronto Maple Leafs v Utah Hockey Club

Was It Worth It?

Detroit Red Wings v Ottawa Senators

The Senators Are So Back

Mikko Rantanen celebrates his goal with teammates

Dallas Stars  v Vancouver Canucks

They Should Call Them The Dallas Even More Stars

Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals scores in overtime

Washington Capitals v New York Rangers

Alex Ovechkin Is Getting All The Help He Needs

ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 04: (EDITORS NOTE: This image was created using in-camera multiple exposure). The New York Islanders skate in warmups prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at UBS Arena on March 04, 2025 in Elmont, New York.

Winnipeg Jets v New York Islanders

I Love Watching Warm-Ups

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Kelsey McKinney

Philadelphia Flyers v St Louis Blues

This Is So Stupid

Please Do Not Lie To Me About Hockey Butts

Zack Ostapchuk #38 of the Ottawa Senators and Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings battle during a game

Ottawa Senators v Detroit Red Wings

A Quick And Dirty Guide To The Eastern Conference Wild Card