The Buffalo Sabres overcame a late two-goal deficit to defeat the Boston Bruins 4-3 on Sunday night, securing their first NHL playoff victory in 15 years.
Mattias Samuelsson struck with just over three minutes remaining to cap a stunning third-period comeback for the Atlantic Division champions.
The dramatic Game 1 victory marked the franchise’s first post-season win since a 1-0 triumph over the Philadelphia Flyers in April 2011.
Thompson ignites late resurgence
Trailing 2-0 after Elias Lindholm scored early in the final frame, the hosts finally found a spark through their leading regular-season scorer.
Tage Thompson netted a wraparound backhander with under eight minutes left, before firing a low shot inside the far post to level the contest 3:42 later.
With the home crowd electrified, Jack Quinn recovered a loose puck deep in the offensive zone and fed Samuelsson, who snapped a high shot into the net just 52 seconds after the equaliser.
Bruins collapse despite strong regular season
Alex Tuch sealed the historic win by converting into an empty net with 72 seconds remaining, rendering David Pastrnak’s last-gasp strike a mere consolation.
The late collapse was uncharacteristic for the seventh-seeded visitors, who boasted a formidable 33-2-4 record when leading after two periods during the regular campaign.
Despite the defeat, Pastrnak’s three-point performance moved him past Cam Neely and Wayne Cashman into ninth place on Boston’s all-time playoff scoring list.
Buffalo will look to double their series advantage when they host Game 2 on Tuesday night.
Juraj Slafkovsky scored a historic overtime hat-trick as the Montreal Canadiens stunned the heavily favoured Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3 in game one of their first-round play-off series.
The 22-year-old fired a slap shot past goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy 82 seconds into the extra period to secure the victory at Benchmark International Arena.
Remarkably, all three of his goals came on the power-play.
In doing so, the Slovakian forward became the youngest player in NHL history to record a hat-trick in a post-season opener, surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s 1983 benchmark.
He is also the first player to ever score three power-play goals in a play-off game where one served as the overtime winner.
Canadiens exploit Lightning’s home struggles
Tampa Bay entered the match as firm favourites to progress, having reached three consecutive Stanley Cup finals between 2020 and 2022.
However, the Florida franchise have now lost eight of their past nine home play-off fixtures.
Brandon Hagel scored twice for the hosts, while Darren Raddysh was also on target in a tightly contested affair.
At the other end of the ice, rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes made 20 saves to keep the Canadiens firmly in the contest.
Josh Anderson also found the net for the visitors, who are seeking their first play-off series victory since losing the 2021 final to the Lightning.
‘We still have to focus’
Montreal head coach Martin St. Louis, a Lightning icon during his playing days, crucially called a timeout just before the decisive overtime goal.
Captain Nick Suzuki explained the pause was merely to give the skaters a brief rest rather than to alter their tactical approach.
Despite his record-breaking performance, the 2022 number one overall draft pick remained grounded about his achievement.
“I kind of saw some open space there, I decided to shoot it, and thankfully, it went in,” Slafkovsky said.
“We’re all happy. But, yeah, we still have to focus.”
“We have a game in two days.”
The second game of the best-of-seven series takes place in Tampa on Tuesday.
Paolo Banchero scored 23 points to lead the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic to a shock 112-101 victory over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series on Sunday.
The surprise road win in Michigan extends the longest home playoff losing streak in NBA history, with Detroit having now dropped 11 consecutive postseason games on their own court since 2008.
Cade Cunningham poured in a playoff career-high 39 points for the hosts, but received minimal offensive support beyond 17 points from veteran forward Tobias Harris.
Magic capitalise on early Detroit rust
Having secured their postseason berth via a dominant play-in victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, the Florida franchise arrived with evident momentum.
They surged to an 18-5 lead midway through the opening quarter, suffocating a rested Detroit outfit that managed just one successful field goal from their first six attempts.
Despite a brief rally from the top seeds to pull within two points, a combined 20-point first-quarter effort from Banchero and Jalen Suggs ensured Orlando maintained a 35-27 advantage.
The visitors eventually took a narrow 55-51 lead into the half-time interval.
Wagner seals shock series opener
Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was forced into an early second-half timeout after his side conceded eight of the first nine points following the restart.
A resilient 13-2 run from the home side eventually tied the contest at 65 apiece, capped off by a crucial three-pointer from their star guard Cunningham.
However, Banchero immediately responded with a contested jumper, sparking a decisive sequence that restored a double-digit cushion for the underdogs heading into the fourth quarter.
German international Franz Wagner then took control in the final period, scoring 11 of his 19 total points alongside 17-point contributions from Wendell Carter and Desmond Bane to safely navigate the visitors to the final buzzer.
The Pistons, who have not advanced past the first round in 18 years, will attempt to level the series when they host Game 2 on Wednesday evening.
Jon Rahm has capped off a turbulent week for LIV Golf by securing a dominant six-shot victory at Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City.
The Spanish star closed with an impressive seven-under-par 64 on Sunday to claim his second individual title of the current campaign.
Having failed to register a tournament victory during his debut season despite winning the overall points title, the former Masters champion left no room for doubt this time around.
He established early control by making a birdie on the reachable par-four second hole before holing out for a spectacular eagle on the third.
Bouncing back from Masters disappointment
This commanding bogey-free performance follows a frustrating period for the two-time major winner, who could only manage a tie for 38th at Augusta National last week.
“If you would have told me last week on Thursday afternoon that I’d be winning by a six-shot margin this week, I would not have believed you because of how bad I played.”
“Hell of an effort,” he added.
The individual triumph also propelled his Legion XIII squad to their first collective team victory of the year.
Off-course turbulence and DeChambeau withdrawal
The tournament concluded a chaotic few days for the Saudi-funded breakaway league amid swirling rumours regarding its long-term financial stability.
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil recently distributed a memo to staff offering assurances that funding was guaranteed through the end of the calendar year.
On-course logistics were also impacted by a power outage on Tuesday and a two-hour streaming blackout during the opening round.
The drama intensified when American star Bryson DeChambeau was forced to abandon his pursuit of a historic third consecutive LIV victory.
Puig strengthens major championship prospects
Trailing by 16 shots before the final round, the reigning US Open champion withdrew citing a wrist problem he did not wish to aggravate.
“I experienced some discomfort in my wrist during yesterday’s round and have decided to withdraw from the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City to prevent further injury,” DeChambeau posted on social media.
The powerful American now hopes to recover in time for the upcoming Virginia event, which begins just a week prior to the US PGA Championship.
Meanwhile, fellow Spaniard David Puig capitalised on the opportunity by carding a closing 66 to secure second place behind his compatriot.
The runner-up finish earns Puig valuable world ranking points, all but guaranteeing his spot in next month’s US PGA Championship field.
Victor Wembanyama has joined former winners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic as a finalist for this season’s NBA Most Valuable Player award.
Jokic made history this year by becoming the first player to lead the league in both total assists and rebounds.
The Denver Nuggets centre averaged a remarkable triple-double across the campaign while scoring 27.7 points per game.
Meanwhile, reigning MVP Gilgeous-Alexander posted 31.1 points and 6.6 assists on 55% shooting for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Wembanyama dominates defensive categories
The San Antonio Spurs standout is also the overwhelming favourite to secure the Defensive Player of the Year honour.
The towering Frenchman led the NBA in blocked shots per game for a third consecutive season.
He is joined on the defensive ballot by Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson.
Award eligibility and the 65-game rule
Gilgeous-Alexander is additionally nominated for the Clutch Player of the Year prize alongside Jamal Murray and Anthony Edwards.
Edwards features on the clutch ballot despite falling short of the league’s 65-game minimum requirement for standard award eligibility.
The Minnesota Timberwolves guard remains eligible for this specific accolade because the nominees are selected directly by head coaches.
Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham also missed the 65-game threshold but successfully appealed under the “extraordinary circumstances” clause to remain on All-NBA ballots.
Rising stars and coaching recognitions
Jalen Duren, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Deni Avdija are the final three contenders for the Most Improved Player award.
Portland’s Avdija earned his first All-Star appearance this year while averaging 24.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists.
The Rookie of the Year race will be contested by highly-rated prospects Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel and V.J. Edgecombe.
On the touchline, J.B. Bickerstaff, Mitch Johnson and Joe Mazzulla have been shortlisted for Coach of the Year.
The NBA will begin announcing the official winners prior to evening tip-offs throughout the coming week.
Defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder and the Boston Celtics have both secured dominant home victories to open their respective NBA playoff campaigns.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points as the top-seeded Thunder routed the Phoenix Suns 119-84 in the Western Conference.
The reigning league MVP did the bulk of his damage from the foul line, hitting 15 of his 17 free throws before resting for the entire fourth quarter.
Jalen Williams contributed 22 points and Chet Holmgren added 16 to help the hosts take early control of the series.
Holmgren sparks early surge
Phoenix initially took a 5-0 lead as the home side started slowly following a week off.
However, the momentum shifted when Dillon Brooks was called for a flagrant foul after catching Holmgren in the face during the first quarter.
That incident ignited a 12-2 run for Oklahoma City, capped by a spectacular buzzer-beating three-pointer from the young center to end the opening period.
Devin Booker top-scored for the visitors with 23 points, but the Suns struggled immensely on offense and shot just 34.9% from the field.
Tatum returns to inspire Boston
In the Eastern Conference, Jayson Tatum starred in his first playoff appearance since rupturing his Achilles tendon last season.
The returning forward registered 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to lead the second-seeded Boston Celtics to a 123-91 demolition of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Tatum had played just 17 games during the regular season following surgery last May, but he looked completely back to his best with a 21-point first-half display.
Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 26 points as Boston built a massive 35-point advantage without ever trailing in the contest.
“That was Celtics basketball. We’ve been the harder-playing team all year. That can’t change now that the playoffs have started.” – Jaylen Brown
Philadelphia struggled significantly without their injured talisman Joel Embiid, leaving Tyrese Maxey to carry the scoring burden with a team-high 21 points.
Tyler Reddick has become the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 to win five of the opening nine NASCAR Cup Series races after a thrilling overtime victory at Kansas Speedway.
The pole-sitter surged past Kyle Larson on the final lap to claim an extraordinary win following a late caution flag.
Chase Briscoe finished third, while 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin took fourth after leading prior to the late disruption.
Late drama sets up grandstand finish
The 267-lap contest had been entirely caution-free outside of mandatory stage breaks until Cody Ware spun out in the closing moments.
Hamlin had looked poised to take the chequered flag before the yellow flag flew just as the leaders were approaching the final circuit.
The subsequent pit stops saw the veteran narrowly beat his own driver back onto the track, choosing the inside line for the crucial restart.
Larson immediately dived low to snatch the lead as chaos erupted behind the front pair, with Christopher Bell making contact with both Hamlin and the eventual winner.
A historic milestone for 23XI Racing
As Larson appeared destined to end a 32-race victory drought, the No. 45 Toyota mounted a massive charge down the back straight.
The two frontrunners ran side-by-side out of the final corner before the 23XI Racing star edged ahead to cross the finish line.
“Just really blessed with the late caution. How about that. Was that nuts or what? I couldn’t believe it.”
Tyler Reddick
The dramatic result sparked wild celebrations on the pit wall, with NBA legend Michael Jordan pumping his fist as his driver took the chequered flag.
“This kid is on fire. I don’t know what to say. I don’t think I can cool him down. Me being here and being able to see all the wins, I am so happy for the team.”
Michael Jordan, 23XI Racing co-owner
Toyota dominance continues
The defending Kansas race winner, Larson, admitted he thought he could cruise to the finish line before ultimately settling for his third podium of the current campaign.
Bubba Wallace secured fifth place, meaning three of the top five finishers belonged to the impressive 23XI Racing stable.
The latest triumph means Toyota has now won seven of the first nine races this season, becoming the first manufacturer to achieve that feat since Chevrolet in 2007.
The NASCAR Cup Series next travels to Talladega Superspeedway for the tenth round of the calendar.
The Boston Celtics secured a commanding 123-91 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Taking full advantage of Joel Embiid’s injury absence, the hosts delivered a ruthless wire-to-wire masterclass at TD Garden.
The visiting side struggled immensely without their talismanic big man, converting a dismal four of 23 attempts from beyond the arc.
Conversely, the top seeds aggressively punished every mistake to generate a massive 22-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
Tatum shines in remarkable injury comeback
Jayson Tatum orchestrated the offense brilliantly with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in just 32 minutes of action.
The superstar forward’s dominant performance marks another major milestone in his impressive recovery from a torn Achilles tendon.
Having only made his season debut in early March, the returning talisman demonstrated supreme fitness as his squad pushed their advantage to a staggering 35 points.
“There were many days where I wasn’t even sure I was going to play this season, let alone get a chance to play today.”
Tatum remarked when questioned about his grueling 48-week rehabilitation journey.
He added that understanding the magnitude of the injury has made him incredibly grateful simply to participate in the post-season.
A historic rivalry heavily skewed
History weighs heavily on this current series, with the Massachusetts franchise having won all six playoff encounters against their division rivals since 1982.
Despite the offensive explosion, key figures within the locker room remain entirely focused on maintaining strict defensive discipline.
“Our offense can’t win us this series. I mean, our offense is important, but we got to make sure we guard.”
Jaylen Brown emphasised following the final buzzer.
The home side now possesses a vital opportunity in Tuesday’s Game 2 to push their historic adversaries into a deep, early hole.