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Good morning! Be like Mikal Bridges today.
Pulse Power Rankings: They’re all good series, but …
Don’t get me wrong: This is a wonderful time of year. But if you happen to, say, like the extremely popular sports of hockey and basketball, it can be a lot to ingest, especially as both sports conduct the early rounds of their postseasons simultaneously.
Thus, the Pulse braintrust decided we should rank the ongoing second-round series for your clarity, and to provide certain bulletin-board fodder for whichever team we politely diss.
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Full disclosure: Last night’s results forced me to shuffle these rankings a couple of times. And I should reiterate that these are all good series. We’re going from bottom to top here:
8. NHL: Hurricanes vs. Capitals
Current status: 0-0
Consider this a placeholder, because while it will be fun watching Alexander Ovechkin continue his playoff march, Carolina is actually favored to win the Stanley Cup, per our projections. This may not be a tight series.
7. NHL: Oilers vs. Golden Knights
Current status: 0-0
Call me crazy, but after poring over odds and simply watching the games, I’m not sure I trust either of these teams to win the Stanley Cup, which makes this series slightly less interesting. There’s plenty to celebrate, with stars galore on the ice. But still, I need a little higher stakes to make my top five.
6. NBA: Pacers vs. Cavaliers
Current status: Indiana up 1-0
I agonized over this because Game 1 was a mildly stunning upset. I still think Cleveland is the better team, but if the battered and bruised Cavs falter here, I’m not sure we’ll be overwhelmed by the result. Thus, you get fifth spot.
5. NBA: Warriors vs. Timberwolves
Current status: 0-0
A placeholder due to pure hype. Steph Curry vs. Anthony Edwards. Draymond Green and Rudy Gobert facing off again. The starpower alone merits a top-five slot. We’ll see how it shakes out tonight.
4. NBA: Thunder vs. Nuggets
Current status: Denver up 1-0
This was supposed to be at No. 8. A tired Nuggets team trudges into the home arena of the NBA’s best unit and fights valiantly before giving in. Easy to imagine, right? We saw it for much of last night until Oklahoma City collapsed and let Nikola Jokić, Thunder legend Russell Westbrook and Aaron Gordon nullify any momentum that existed in the building. What a game.
AARON GORDON NAILS A GAME-WINNING THREE TO STEAL GAME 1 FOR THE NUGGETS 🔥
🎥 @NBApic.twitter.com/qpR3xpxV4r
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 6, 2025
3. NHL: Stars vs. Jets
Current status: 0-0
The Jets came 1.6 seconds away from an absolute choke in the first round, and instead left with one of the best playoff finishes we’ve ever seen. Their reward? Dallas, who won a seven-game series, too, and are likely the NHL’s deepest team. Winner here has a great shot at the Cup.
2. NBA: Knicks vs. Celtics
Current status: New York up 1-0
Coming into last night, I had this series slotted at No. 7 or No. 8. I thought Boston was too deep and too talented to let a top-heavy Knicks team do anything. New York went on the road in Game 1 and literally stole a win via the best performance of the NBA playoffs thus far. They have a blueprint. And just look at the last play:
MIKAL BRIDGES STEAL TO SEAL GAME 1 FOR THE KNICKS!!
20-POINT COMEBACK COMPLETE ✅ pic.twitter.com/us3Nq0Dykx
— NBA (@NBA) May 6, 2025
1. NHL: Panthers vs. Maple Leafs
Current status: Toronto up 1-0
This series has everything so far: the defending champions, the team whose title drought is a thing of legend and even some nasty stakes surfacing in Game 1, in which Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz went to the hospital for evaluation after a nasty forearm from Panthers center Sam Bennett. (Suspension coming?) The Leafs also withstood a four-goal barrage by Florida in the third period last night and still won.
A final note: These are subject to change, because I make the rules around here. Let’s move on:
News to Know
Ravens release Tucker
Justin Tucker’s time in Baltimore is done, the team announced yesterday, ending what was once a legendary tenure. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta maintained this was a “football decision,” but the timing is telling after 16 Baltimore massage therapists accused Tucker of misconduct earlier this year. The NFL is still investigating the claims. Jeff Zreibec has a must-read column on the “embarrassing, inevitable end” to this era.
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Michigan plans to suspend Moore
Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore will miss two games this upcoming football season, a source confirmed to The Athletic, for allegedly deleting text messages to disgraced staffer Connor Stalions. Curiously, Moore will coach the first two games of the season, including a big matchup against Oklahoma, before sitting out matchups against Central Michigan and Nebraska. Read our full report.
More news
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Things You Need to See: Fashionable and sporty
Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images
We are versatile here at The Pulse, and I wouldn’t dare ignore athletes getting gussied up at the Met Gala last night. I thought F1 driver Lewis Hamilton above looked snazzy.
I also sought a second opinion, and Hannah Vanbiber voted for Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’ look:
Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty Images
What to Watch
📺 NHL: Hurricanes at Capitals
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
See above. Still a good series!
📺 NBA: Warriors at Timberwolves
9:30 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
One note we didn’t mention above: If Buddy Hield is on, the Dubs have a great chance to advance.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Randall Cunningham was one of the most talented players the NFL has ever seen. But he spent so much time scrambling — on and off the field. As Zak Keefer writes in a banger story today, he’s finally found peace.
George Karl, a coaching legend with controversy in his past, struggles to find peace as his health fails. Jason Quick went to Denver and came away with a great story. Karl’s quotes are worth reading alone.
Why is Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving Liverpool, the newest Premier League champ that happens to be his boyhood club? James Pearce and Mario Cortegana have the inside story.
Elsewhere, who is going to win the Champion’s League? The Totally Football picks are in. Watch here.
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I loved this story: In a time of analyzing every small detail of the game, new Nationals slugger James Wood lives by one simple maxim — smoke every ball. It’s working.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Caitlin Clark’s return to Iowa.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Once again, our story on Carli Lloyd’s Hall of Fame speech.
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Top photo: John E. Sokolowski / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Auch Klopp spielt eine Rolle – Millionen-Bedrohung für PSG
Kaum zu glauben: Das letzte Mal, dass es in Paris ein Fußball-Derby in der höchsten Spielklasse gab, war am 25. Februar 1990. Damals trafen in der Division 1, wie die Ligue 1 bis 2002 noch hieß, Paris Saint-Germain und Racing Paris im Prinzenpark aufeinander. Das kleine Racing, bei dem von 1986 bis 1987 sogar der spätere Weltmeister Pierre Littbarski (65) ein kurzes Gastspiel gab (34 Spiele, 4 Tore), siegte 2:1, stieg am Saisonende aber in die 2. Liga ab und ist aktuell nur noch fünftklassig.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Seitdem gab es neben PSG keinen zweiten Pariser Klub mehr im französischen Fußball-Oberhaus. Bis jetzt! Am vergangenen Freitag sicherte sich der FC Paris dank eines 1:1 gegen FC Martigues vorzeitig den Aufstieg in die Ligue 1. Zum ersten Mal in diesem Jahrhundert hat PSG also wieder Konkurrenz in der Stadt. Und die hat einiges […]
Notre Dame, Clemson announce 12-game football series as part of adjusted ACC schedule
Notre Dame football has a new rival, although it’s one that’s been building for the past decade.On Tuesday, Notre Dame and Clemson announced a 12-game home-and-home series beginning in 2027 and running through the 2038 season. Considering the two schools were already scheduled to play five times during that window, the announcement means seven additional games between the Irish and Tigers, which represents a scheduling counterweight for both programs as the Big Ten and SEC discuss an intra-conference scheduling agreement and the SEC considers moving to a nine-game conference schedule.AdvertisementThose potential changes in the 12-team College Football Playoff world meant Notre Dame and Clemson prioritized more marquee matchups, or at least a re-imagination of how the ACC’s five-game agreement with Notre Dame was adjudicated. The Clemson games will all count toward the five-games-per-year average for Notre Dame with the ACC, […]
2015 noch Lachnummer – Das Geheimnis hinter der Dominanz von McLaren
Wer in dieser Saison ins Fahrerlager der Formel 1 kommt, läuft als Erstes am Motorhome von McLaren vorbei. Die Anordnung orientiert sich an der Konstrukteurs-WM des letzten Jahres – der Gewinner steht ganz vorne.Daran wird sich wohl auch 2026 nichts ändern. Zu dominant sind die Engländer aktuell unterwegs. Am Sonntag gewann Oscar Piastri (24) in Miami vor seinem Team-Kollegen Lando Norris (25). Es war der fünfte Sieg der „Papayas“ (Farbe der Autos wie die der Frucht) im sechsten Rennen.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Da war nicht immer so. Nach den acht Konstrukteurs-Titeln bis 1998 und dem letzten Fahrer-Titel 2008 (Hamilton) folgte der gnadenlose Absturz. 2015 landete McLaren auf dem vorletzten Platz der Teams, nur noch unterboten von Pleite-Rennstall Marussia. Tiefpunkt war ein verzweifelter Motorentausch beim Rennen in Belgien, der den beiden Fahrern Alonso und Button eine Strafe von 105 (!) Startplätzen einbrachte. Zwei […]
NASCAR announces it will rotate the site of its championship races after Homestead hosts in 2026
NASCAR’s season finale could be on the move again after the 2026 season.The sanctioning body confirmed on Tuesday that the 2026 championship weekend for the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series would return to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time since 2019.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSince then, the winner-take-all finales have been held at Phoenix International Raceway. The one-mile track will again be the site of the 2025 finale before it moves to Miami.However, Miami could be a one-year site for the title race. In its release, NASCAR said that title weekends “will move to a new rotating model as part of a fan-centric effort to ensure that the season’s exciting conclusion is shared amongst NASCAR’s marquee venues and key markets.”The rotating title site idea is obviously nothing new. The Super Bowl, Final Four and College Football Playoff national title game are held […]
Muller define segunda prateleira do Brasileirão: “Palmeiras e Flamengo estão à frente”
Flamengo e Palmeiras, em jogo no Maracanã (Cesar Greco/Palmeiras) Muller acredita que, de forma fixa, apenas Flamengo e Palmeiras devem se manter no G-4 do Brasileirão. Embora o Rubro-Negro tenha sido derrotado pelo Cruzeiro, o ex-jogador não quis mudar o discurso sobre os dois principais favoritos ao título. Neste cenário, Cruzeiro, Red Bull Bragantino, Bahia e Internacional foram projetados na “segunda prateleira” dos clubes que vão buscar uma vaga direta na Libertadores. “Não é uma derrota que abale o Flamengo. Essa gangorra das primeiras colocações vai ficar aí. Cruzeiro, Bragantino, Bahia, que vem subindo bastante, Internacional, que é um time bom. Esses times vão ficar trocando (posições) em segundo, terceiro e quarto lugar.”, disse Muller, no programa Gazeta Esportiva. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O Palmeiras e o Flamengo estão muito à frente.”, acrescentou. Corinthians pode lutar pelo G-4? Muller elogia Dorival Júnior […]
Věřím, že čas rány zahojí. Ostravský Frydrych o vztahu s Klimentem a desetizápasovém trestu
Od disciplinární komise dostal za vyloučení v semifinále MOL Cupu (Olomouc zvítězila 3:2) distanc na deset zápasů. „Nezbývá mi než trest respektovat, i když spodní hranice byla osm zápasů. Věřím, že se Honza vrátí na hřiště co nejdřív,“ podotkl Frydrych.Opora Baníku i kvůli nepříjemnému momentu z duelu s Olomoucí prožívá jedno z nejtěžších období kariéry. „Začalo už na začátku roku, kdy se mi přihodily nešťastné události v osobním životě. Fotbal mě držel nad vodou, pomáhal mi. Teď se stala nešťastná záležitost s faulem. Nechtěl jsem Honzu zranit, snažil jsem se jen vypíchnout míč na dlouhou nohu. Souboj bohužel dopadl tak, jak dopadl. Viděl jsem ho mnohokrát, až jsem s tím musel brzdit. Jinak bych se v tom pořád utápěl,“ uvedl Frydrych, kterému se v hlavě honí myšlenky, jak bude vypadat jeho návrat.„Přemýšlel jsem, jaké bude se vrátit. Nebyl jsem za zákeřného hráče, budu si ale muset dávat ze začátku pozor. Pak […]
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Auch Klopp spielt eine Rolle – Millionen-Bedrohung für PSG
Kaum zu glauben: Das letzte Mal, dass es in Paris ein Fußball-Derby in der höchsten Spielklasse gab, war am 25. Februar 1990. Damals trafen in der Division 1, wie die Ligue 1 bis 2002 noch hieß, Paris Saint-Germain und Racing Paris im Prinzenpark aufeinander. Das kleine Racing, bei dem von 1986 bis 1987 sogar der spätere Weltmeister Pierre Littbarski (65) ein kurzes Gastspiel gab (34 Spiele, 4 Tore), siegte 2:1, stieg am Saisonende aber in die 2. Liga ab und ist aktuell nur noch fünftklassig.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Seitdem gab es neben PSG keinen zweiten Pariser Klub mehr im französischen Fußball-Oberhaus. Bis jetzt! Am vergangenen Freitag sicherte sich der FC Paris dank eines 1:1 gegen FC Martigues vorzeitig den Aufstieg in die Ligue 1. Zum ersten Mal in diesem Jahrhundert hat PSG also wieder Konkurrenz in der Stadt. Und die hat einiges […]
Notre Dame, Clemson announce 12-game football series as part of adjusted ACC schedule
Notre Dame football has a new rival, although it’s one that’s been building for the past decade.On Tuesday, Notre Dame and Clemson announced a 12-game home-and-home series beginning in 2027 and running through the 2038 season. Considering the two schools were already scheduled to play five times during that window, the announcement means seven additional games between the Irish and Tigers, which represents a scheduling counterweight for both programs as the Big Ten and SEC discuss an intra-conference scheduling agreement and the SEC considers moving to a nine-game conference schedule.AdvertisementThose potential changes in the 12-team College Football Playoff world meant Notre Dame and Clemson prioritized more marquee matchups, or at least a re-imagination of how the ACC’s five-game agreement with Notre Dame was adjudicated. The Clemson games will all count toward the five-games-per-year average for Notre Dame with the ACC, […]
2015 noch Lachnummer – Das Geheimnis hinter der Dominanz von McLaren
Wer in dieser Saison ins Fahrerlager der Formel 1 kommt, läuft als Erstes am Motorhome von McLaren vorbei. Die Anordnung orientiert sich an der Konstrukteurs-WM des letzten Jahres – der Gewinner steht ganz vorne.Daran wird sich wohl auch 2026 nichts ändern. Zu dominant sind die Engländer aktuell unterwegs. Am Sonntag gewann Oscar Piastri (24) in Miami vor seinem Team-Kollegen Lando Norris (25). Es war der fünfte Sieg der „Papayas“ (Farbe der Autos wie die der Frucht) im sechsten Rennen.Lesen Sie auch<!-->[-->Da war nicht immer so. Nach den acht Konstrukteurs-Titeln bis 1998 und dem letzten Fahrer-Titel 2008 (Hamilton) folgte der gnadenlose Absturz. 2015 landete McLaren auf dem vorletzten Platz der Teams, nur noch unterboten von Pleite-Rennstall Marussia. Tiefpunkt war ein verzweifelter Motorentausch beim Rennen in Belgien, der den beiden Fahrern Alonso und Button eine Strafe von 105 (!) Startplätzen einbrachte. Zwei […]
NASCAR announces it will rotate the site of its championship races after Homestead hosts in 2026
NASCAR’s season finale could be on the move again after the 2026 season.The sanctioning body confirmed on Tuesday that the 2026 championship weekend for the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series would return to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time since 2019.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSince then, the winner-take-all finales have been held at Phoenix International Raceway. The one-mile track will again be the site of the 2025 finale before it moves to Miami.However, Miami could be a one-year site for the title race. In its release, NASCAR said that title weekends “will move to a new rotating model as part of a fan-centric effort to ensure that the season’s exciting conclusion is shared amongst NASCAR’s marquee venues and key markets.”The rotating title site idea is obviously nothing new. The Super Bowl, Final Four and College Football Playoff national title game are held […]
Muller define segunda prateleira do Brasileirão: “Palmeiras e Flamengo estão à frente”
Flamengo e Palmeiras, em jogo no Maracanã (Cesar Greco/Palmeiras) Muller acredita que, de forma fixa, apenas Flamengo e Palmeiras devem se manter no G-4 do Brasileirão. Embora o Rubro-Negro tenha sido derrotado pelo Cruzeiro, o ex-jogador não quis mudar o discurso sobre os dois principais favoritos ao título. Neste cenário, Cruzeiro, Red Bull Bragantino, Bahia e Internacional foram projetados na “segunda prateleira” dos clubes que vão buscar uma vaga direta na Libertadores. “Não é uma derrota que abale o Flamengo. Essa gangorra das primeiras colocações vai ficar aí. Cruzeiro, Bragantino, Bahia, que vem subindo bastante, Internacional, que é um time bom. Esses times vão ficar trocando (posições) em segundo, terceiro e quarto lugar.”, disse Muller, no programa Gazeta Esportiva. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “O Palmeiras e o Flamengo estão muito à frente.”, acrescentou. Corinthians pode lutar pelo G-4? Muller elogia Dorival Júnior […]
Věřím, že čas rány zahojí. Ostravský Frydrych o vztahu s Klimentem a desetizápasovém trestu
Od disciplinární komise dostal za vyloučení v semifinále MOL Cupu (Olomouc zvítězila 3:2) distanc na deset zápasů. „Nezbývá mi než trest respektovat, i když spodní hranice byla osm zápasů. Věřím, že se Honza vrátí na hřiště co nejdřív,“ podotkl Frydrych.Opora Baníku i kvůli nepříjemnému momentu z duelu s Olomoucí prožívá jedno z nejtěžších období kariéry. „Začalo už na začátku roku, kdy se mi přihodily nešťastné události v osobním životě. Fotbal mě držel nad vodou, pomáhal mi. Teď se stala nešťastná záležitost s faulem. Nechtěl jsem Honzu zranit, snažil jsem se jen vypíchnout míč na dlouhou nohu. Souboj bohužel dopadl tak, jak dopadl. Viděl jsem ho mnohokrát, až jsem s tím musel brzdit. Jinak bych se v tom pořád utápěl,“ uvedl Frydrych, kterému se v hlavě honí myšlenky, jak bude vypadat jeho návrat.„Přemýšlel jsem, jaké bude se vrátit. Nebyl jsem za zákeřného hráče, budu si ale muset dávat ze začátku pozor. Pak […]
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