Breaking down how the Bruins have been so dominant — and how long it can last
The Boston Bruins are having a special sort of season.
It’s a season with historic potential. And one that’s way off-script.
The Bruins weren’t supposed to be a powerhouse, with an NHL-leading 83 points and jaw-dropping 39-7-5 record. Boston didn’t figure to be so dominant, sitting second overall in goals (3.73) and first in goals-against (2.12) with the league’s best penalty kill (85.8%) and a top-five power play (25.1%) through 51 games.
No, Boston was predicted to be in trouble.
Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy would miss the start of the season following hip and shoulder surgery, respectively. Patrice Bergeron‘s future was in question, with talk he might retire. The team as a whole was aging. And after a first-round playoff loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, it was hard to say in what direction the Bruins were headed.
Straight to the top, it turned out.
The Bruins have been high-stepping their way through the competition to reach unprecedented heights.
Boston set a league mark right out of the gate with the most home wins to start a season (14 straight) and became the first club to win 16 of its opening 18 games since the 1929-30 Bruins. When Boston beat Montreal on Jan. 24, it became the fastest team to collect 80 points, doing so in just 47 games.
The 1976-77 Canadiens hold the record for most points in a season at 132. Can Boston top that? Anything — and everything — feels possible.
The Bruins have been so consistent, they didn’t suffer back-to-back losses until game No. 49, going 0-2-1 before rebounding with a win prior to their All-Star break and bye week.
Speaking of All-Stars, Boston has them in spades (and not just David Pastrnak and Linus Ullmark, who were voted to be part of the league’s annual festivities earlier this month). This team’s talent runs deep — something that’s new this season.
What has made the Bruins so good? Can their success be sustained through the second half? And do they have what it takes to win the Stanley Cup?
We’re breaking down all things Bruins before Boston resumes its schedule Saturday in a meeting with Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC and the ESPN App).
How the Bruins were built
Marchand’s red-rimmed eyes spoke volumes. His emotionally hushed voice did the rest.
It was eight months ago when the Bruins’ top-line winger met the media following Boston’s 3-2 loss to Carolina in Game 7 of their opening-round playoff series. Marchand was still processing the crushing defeat — and the uncertainty that lay ahead for Bergeron and the rest of the team — when he spoke frankly about the Bruins’ window beginning to close.
“You only get a few opportunities like these throughout your career, where you have a legit chance at going far,” Marchand said. “And we thought we had that this year. It hurts.”
That postseason exodus launched a summer of speculation about the club’s future and endlessly circuitous debates that arrived back at the same question: Had the Bruins’ era as a perennial Stanley Cup contender come to an end?
Last May, it was easy to say yes.
Today? Not so much.
Boston didn’t need a rebuild to become the NHL’s best team. The Bruins just had to strategically enhance a foundation that was already firm.
Marchand and McAvoy would resurface in due time from their rehabilitations. Until then, Boston had superstar Pastrnak to lead the way for presumably another standout season — the last of his current contract — and he has excelled well past expectations with 38 goals and 72 points through 51 games.
Jake DeBrusk was back as well, trade request forgotten and two-year extension in hand, to contribute 30 points in 36 games before fracturing a fibula in the Winter Classic. (He should be back in the next week or so.) Taylor Hall remains a top-six stalwart, good for 20-plus goals. (He entered the break with 15.)
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Charlie McAvoy focused on Stanley Cup, not Presidents’ Trophy
Charlie McAvoy joins Scott Van Pelt to talk about the Bruins’ impressive record.
The Bruins had previously upgraded their back end, trading with Anaheim for Hampus Lindholm in March, and finalizing an eight-year, $52 million extension to lock him up long term. In goal, the Bruins transitioned last season from a recently retired Tuukka Rask to the full-time, one-two punch of Ullmark (who signed a four-year, $20 million free agent contract in July 2021) and Jeremy Swayman (whom the Bruins’ drafted 111th overall in 2017).
Boston had good bones, regardless of the outcome against Carolina. But it was fair to wonder if time was running out. Bergeron’s fate was still to be determined by late last spring. So general manager Don Sweeney got to work on other things.
The first domino to fall came behind the bench when Sweeney fired coach Bruce Cassidy on June 6. Cassidy had held the position since February 2017, a span of 399 games, and posted a 245-108-46 record, six consecutive playoff appearances and a run to the 2019 Stanley Cup Final.
Sweeney replaced Cassidy on July 3 with Jim Montgomery, giving the veteran coach his first head role since being let go by Dallas in December 2019 for unprofessional conduct. Montgomery subsequently revealed he sought counseling for alcohol abuse and checked in to an in-patient residential program.
Sweeney then turned his attention to the roster. He targeted depth upfront in a July 13 trade that sent Erik Haula to the New Jersey Devils for Pavel Zacha. The versatile Zacha was a seamless fit, playing at center or on either wing, on every line and any situation. His 11 goals and 35 points already are approaching career highs. And Zacha is sticking around with the Bruins, who inked him to a four-year, $19 million contract in January.
The same day Boston grabbed Zacha, Sweeney added forward A.J. Greer on a two-year, $1.525 million deal. The 26-year-old has been a valuable bottom-six presence in his best pro season with five goals and nine points in 36 games.
It was a good start. But Boston would soon add bigger building blocks.
On Aug. 8, the Bruins announced Bergeron would return on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. The 37-year-old hasn’t missed a beat in his 19th season, emerging as the runaway Selke Trophy favorite (again) and putting up strong numbers (38 points).
The same day Boston signed Bergeron, David Krejci, who spent the 2021-22 season playing in his native Czech Republic, made his NHL comeback official on a one-year, $1 million contract. As expected, Krejci has anchored Boston’s second line with a rotating crop of wingers and generated impressive results (42 points in 46 games).
All that incoming depth meant players already in the fold — such as Trent Frederic — had to step up or risk being left behind. The Bruins’ first-round pick in 2016 had underwhelmed in previous seasons. Under Montgomery, Frederic has thrived in a bottom-six spot and already has produced career-best totals with 10 goals (all at 5-on-5) and 19 points in 48 games.
Frederic’s breakout season was a long time coming. It’s also one of many Boston has enjoyed all at once.
Lindholm has been a revelation, from filling in for McAvoy early on to garnering Norris Trophy buzz for his continued excellence. In what’s shaping up to be the best season of his career (with 33 points in 51 games), he has brought an added dimension to Boston’s blue line that complements the top pairing of McAvoy and Matt Grzelcyk.
And then there’s Ullmark.
Boston’s goaltender is having the season of his life, leading the NHL in wins (26), save percentage (.937) and goals-against average (1.90). Ullmark has called the success “overwhelming” while pointedly avoiding potential complacency to ensure it keeps going. That has helped make him arguably the most dominant No. 1 netminder in the league. And Swayman has been solid behind Ullmark at 12-3-4 with a .914 SV%.
Frankly, it’s hard to find any gaps in Boston’s current roster construction. Montgomery has brought a fresh voice and perspective that has rejuvenated Bruins old and new. Multiple players are producing at levels they haven’t touched in past seasons. It’s everything Boston could ask for.
Does the Bruins’ success to this point mean the building is done? Will Sweeney add before the NHL’s March 3 trade deadline? Can he risk messing with an incomparable team chemistry? Or would the Bruins come to regret standing pat while others improve?
Only time will tell. — Kristen Shilton
What the numbers say
The Boston Bruins’ dominance can be quantified. No matter if it’s through traditional stats or advanced analytics, they all tell the same story: The Bruins are on another level this season.
“If there’s a performance-based metric, they’re right near the very top of it without fail,” said Dimitri Filipovic, an analytics analyst who hosts “The Hockey PDOcast” on Sportsnet. “Whether it’s specifically during 5-on-5 play or across all situations, no one concedes fewer goals against than they do. But they also score goals themselves at the second-highest rate in both game states. The same trends apply to special teams.”
Entering Thursday night’s action, the Bruins had a goal differential of plus-81. That was 37 goals better than the second-best team in the NHL in that category, the Dallas Stars at plus-44.
The Bruins’ defense is the catalyst for that. Boston has given up 111 goals in 51 games, which was 24 fewer than the New Jersey Devils. Their 2.12 goals-against per game leads the NHL; if that holds, it will make the Bruins the best defensive team in nine seasons, at a time when goal scoring continues to increase in the NHL year over year.
Boston has caught that offensive wave too. Its 3.73 goals per game ranks second in the NHL to a team with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. If that average holds, this would be the highest-scoring Bruins team since the 1992-93 edition (3.95 goals per game) that saw center Adam Oates amass 142 points.
The Bruins were a middling offensive team last season, ranking 15th in goals per game (3.09). So what changed?
According to Stathletes, the Bruins have altered their system slightly in the attacking zone. Last season at 5-on-5, only 23% of their shot attempts came off weakside passes; this season, it’s at 29.3%, as they are attempting and completing more cross-ice passes in the offensive zone.
Another change, per Stathletes: The Bruins are using their one-timers more. Last season, they averaged 8.0 one-timer shot attempts per game; this season, that number has climbed to 13.2.
“They attack the middle of the ice with regularity,” Filipovic said. “They have one of the very best goal scorers in the league. They also get contributions from pretty much everyone. They can create a healthy supply of chances from a variety of sources, whether it be off the rush, following a cycle sequence or creating a turnover with their forecheck. It’s a well-oiled machine right now to say the least.”
On special teams, it’s more of the same. The Bruins have the fifth-best power play in the NHL (25.1%) and the No. 1 penalty kill (85.8%). Pastrnak (28 points) and Marchand (23 points) have provided the biggest spark with the man advantage, but McAvoy has been great in his second season as the primary point man (16 points in 38 games), and is on track to set a career high in power-play efficiency.
But the leap from last season’s 15th-ranked power play (21.2%) to this season’s success is also a tribute to Boston’s renewed depth. Lindholm has chipped in nine points. Krejci has 10 points. One NHL veteran said the simple function of having three right-handed centers in Bergeron, Krejci and Charlie Coyle makes their power play more effective. “They don’t have to spend that extra split-second to make a play. The angles are already there on the power play,” he said.
As for the penalty kill … hey, it’s what the Patrice Bergeron Boston Bruins do. Since Bergeron entered the NHL in 2003-04, the Bruins are tied with the St. Louis Blues for the best penalty kill over that 1,455-game stretch at 83.1%.
They’re just as dominant at even strength. The Bruins lead all teams with a .945 EV save percentage and are third behind the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks in shooting percentage (7.7%).
As good as their goaltending numbers are, it’s the Bruins’ 5-on-5 defense that has the analytics community dumbstruck.
“Honestly, I suspect the public numbers are underrating them a bit defensively,” Filipovic said.
He notes there are some disparities in “goals saved above expected” by Ullmark on sites such as Evolving Hockey (25.1), Sportlogiq (14.1) and Money Puck (19.2). Filipovic thinks the Bruins’ goaltending probably nets out on the lower end of that scale, based on everything else the numbers tell us about their defense, including where they give up shots.
Micah Blake McCurdy of Hockey Viz creates shot heat maps for every team. The Bruins’ show them as getting great goaltending, but also creating a great defensive environment for the netminders to thrive in.
“They basically choke off everything around the net and through the middle of the ice,” Filipovic said, while wanting to take nothing away from Ullmark’s season. “Even when you occasionally break through that shell and get into a good spot to shoot from, they’re so quick to contest with active sticks in lanes that the quality of the shot itself has largely been neutralized. It’s about as good of a defensive environment as you can get to play in as a goalie.”
The Bruins are a hard team to score against. They’re a team that can score at will. There’s a reason they’re a Stanley Cup favorite — just ask their opponents. — Greg Wyshynski
What opposing players, coaches say
With what he has accomplished in his career, Sidney Crosby doesn’t impress easily. But even the Pittsburgh Penguins captain couldn’t help but call the Bruins “amazing” when asked about Boston’s dominance this season.
“To see the league as tight as it is, and to see what they’re doing, is even more impressive,” Crosby said. “It’s just their depth at every position, and obviously the leadership core they have there goes a long way too. It’s a combination of all of those things and staying healthy. They deserve a lot of credit. It’s not easy what they’re doing.”
The last team to make it look this easy was the 2018-19 Tampa Bay Lightning. That Lightning team was in position for a while to challenge the regular-season wins and points records, finishing with 62 wins (to match the 1995-96 Red Wings) and 128 points (four shy of the 1976-77 Canadiens).
“They’re clearly the best team in the league,” Lightning coach Jon Cooper said of the Bruins. “The thing that stands out for me is that they don’t beat themselves. I think you can probably look at the other 31 teams around the league and there are times when you stumble over your own toes and beat yourselves. I would say that’s one thing Boston doesn’t do. That’s why they’re miles ahead of everyone else.”
The players we spoke with seem to be in awe of what the Bruins have accomplished, marveling at their machine-like efficiency.
“They show why they’ve been at the top of the league all year,” Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said. “They’re an elite hockey team. You have to be dialed in to every little detail. They defend well, their goalie is having a great year and you have to work for your offense.”
As New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba put it: “They don’t cheat the game. They’re a good team and play a good game.”
One of the common themes in opponents’ praise is the way the Bruins remain confident in what they do through success and adversity.
“They don’t change their game if they’re down or up. They play the same way for a full 60 minutes and that’s been consistent for them,” Lightning forward Corey Perry said.
“We played them last year in the playoffs when I was in Carolina, and that was a battle,” said defenseman Ian Cole, a teammate of Perry. “I think what makes them even more successful this year is their willingness and ability to stick to their game.
“They play this patient but aggressive defensive game where they can create a ton of turnovers, transition pucks and use their skill and go score. They’ve done that better than any team in the league thus far and they’re the best team in our league because of it. It’s a standard that everyone in the league tries to emulate.”
But emulating the Bruins is easier said than done. It’s not just the way they play, but it’s who is playing.
“They’re one of the really well-built teams,” Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki said. “They’ve got a lot of veteran guys that play the right way. They play their system perfectly. You can’t make any mistakes. You have to make as much opportunity for yourself as you can. They play so well together as five-man units out there on the ice that there’s not much room.”
Perry believes the ascension of Ullmark to Vezina Trophy contender is another critical factor.
“He is having a tremendous year. You have to get those garbage goals and make sure you put them away,” Perry said. “That’s a [testament] to what the Bruins have got. He’s put it all together.”
Others pointed to the arrival of Montgomery.
“I mean, they’ve had a fairly good run before he got there,” one NHL veteran said, noting that the Bruins have only missed the playoffs twice in the past 15 seasons. “But sometimes when you bring a new coach in, it gets everyone’s attention a little bit. Not to say the other guy was doing a bad job, but everyone gets reenergized and refocused.”
Cooper noted that even with a new voice behind the bench, the Bruins are still doing some of the same things they did in the past.
“They still play the exact same D-zone that they played before,” he said. “But I know the new coach is a hell of a coach — what he’s done in junior, what he’s done in college. Am I surprised the team is having the success they’re having? I’m not.” — Shilton and Wyshynksi
Why Boston will win the Stanley Cup
Let’s begin by addressing the elephant in the room:
The Bruins have, at this moment, the NHL’s best record. That puts them on track to earn the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s top regular-season team. Only two clubs in the salary-cap era — the 2007-08 Red Wings and 2012-13 Blackhawks — have won both a Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup. Only eight teams have ever accomplished the feat. And, most shockingly, only one of the past nine Presidents’ Trophy winners has advanced past the second round of the postseason.
So history wouldn’t be on Boston’s side if it were to finish atop the standings. And yet, so much about these Bruins has already defied the odds and puzzled pundits. Who’s to say Boston can’t overcome any so-called curse associated with dominating for 82 games?
The Bruins steamrolling their way through (almost) all comers is no accident. They are that good. Collecting the 16 playoff victories required to hoist a Cup is never easy. All things being equal (and with an intact, healthy lineup), Boston has the ability to do it.
Here’s why.
The Bruins are no longer a one-line show. In the past, Boston was guilty of being top-heavy and that held them back in the postseason, when depth is at a premium. Sweeney has made moves to correct that, and — perhaps more critically — invested in a coach unafraid of change.
Montgomery makes adjustments where his predecessors relied on staying the course. Boston had leaned on the dominant top unit of Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak to its own detriment; even three exceptional players can’t always perform like a cheat code.
Boston’s new coach seems to get that, and appreciates how this season’s Bruins can ebb and flow over 60 minutes. When Montgomery pivoted from the standard Bergeron line to linking Pastrnak with Zacha and Krejci in a recent game against the Maple Leafs, it sparked a commanding performance from the aptly nicknamed Czech line, including two goals by Zacha. Montgomery said afterward it was the trio’s creativity that made it effective. But he seems to know when and how to push the right buttons.
There’s a trust and buy-in from the Bruins to Montgomery’s system that allowed them to start this season counter to how they finished last season. During the Carolina series, the Bruins struggled on the road, failed to recover when they fell behind and lacked the kind of spark that ultimately propelled the Hurricanes forward. This season, Boston has rallied with the best of them and is tied for the fewest losses (five) when trailing after two periods. There’s no panic. The Bruins don’t try to be something they aren’t. What they are is more than enough.
Then there are elements that are impossible to quantify. Boston wants to win one more Cup for Bergeron. Marchand said as much after the Bruins’ ouster last spring. The stars have aligned to this point and put the team in prime position to deliver.
And even if you can’t measure heart, you can put weight behind statistics. This isn’t a smoke-and-mirrors situation, where the Bruins’ success in one aspect of the game hides their deficiencies somewhere else. Boston is elite in every offensive, defensive and special teams category. (And did we mention the goaltending?) No sleight of hand, no pulling the wool over your eyes. The figures speak for themselves.
The Bruins were bitter after last season. They’ve turned that into something sweet. Sometimes the easiest, most obvious answer actually is the right one. The Bruins can win the Stanley Cup this season. That’s the only outcome that can — and should — satisfy them. — Shilton
Why Boston won’t win the Stanley Cup
It was April 16, 2019. Lightning coach Jon Cooper had just witnessed his team — statistically one of the best in the history of NHL regular seasons — get swept by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first round of the playoffs.
The Jackets had been playing a playoff game every night just to make the cut. The Lightning had been on cruise control for the better part of two months.
“When you have the amount of points we had, it’s a blessing and a curse, in a way. You don’t play any meaningful hockey for a long time. Then all of a sudden, you have to ramp it up. It’s not an excuse. It’s reality,” Cooper said after Game 4. “That’s how it goes: You have a historic regular season, and we had a historic playoff.”
The Bruins are having one of those seasons. Barring a significant collapse, they’re likely to win both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference in a walk. There have been more stories about Bergeron’s load management down the stretch than any threat to the Bruins’ place in the standings.
So that’s the first concern: that they’ll stroll across the finish line in first place and face some wild-card team that has streaked into the postseason with belief in their game and a hot goaltender. The Lightning can be a cautionary tale for the Bruins’ veteran leaders to share with the group. But the Stanley Cup playoffs are defined by upsets. Boston knows this.
But even if a team catches the Bruins slightly flat-footed, there’s still that whole “finding a way to dismantle a hockey machine” thing.
Let’s begin with the premise that stopping the Boston offense will be easier than penetrating its defense. One area of focus would be the way the Bruins use their defensemen on offense, which is a major change under Montgomery.
The Bruins are eighth in scoring chances per game from defensemen as a team this season (15.1), which is up from 12th last season (13.9), according to ESPN Stats & Information. They’re seventh in total points from defensemen this season (118) after finishing 25th last season. Lindholm got the green light to create early in the season, which led to his offensive breakout. That was Montgomery.
It’s no secret that the Stanley Cup playoffs are where “little things” aren’t whistled as often as they are in the previous 82 games. Some light interference to slow down those blueliners could impact the Boston offense.
If there’s a weakness for the Bruins’ defense, it might be defending opponents off the rush. According to Stathletes, the Bruins give up more scoring chances off the rush than the NHL average per game. The trick is that their goaltenders are both very good against the rush — in the top 10 in goals saved above expected in those situations.
It’s what the Bruins do after those initial shot attempts that separates them from the pack: They allow the second-fewest shot attempts against following a rebound. Their zone coverage after a rush attempt is suffocating.
In other words, teams can enter the zone but the Bruins are controlling what happens after that initial shot attempt. Even the high-danger chances they surrender are defended well. Obviously step one to breaking through that defense is to increase zone time and get high-danger chances that are unencumbered. Again, easier said than done.
There’s no easy path to beating this team. But there’s also no easy path to the Stanley Cup. They’ll be tested. They’ll be pushed. But if the Bruins follow this regular season with a postseason that ends with a Stanley Cup skate around the rink, they could go down as one of the most dominant teams in the history of not only the NHL but all of pro sports. — Wyshynski
The 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs have reached the point where every night could end in season-ending heartbreak for a team. On Wednesday, it happened for two teams, the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning. On Thursday, that could happen for four teams.
Thursday night begins with the Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche and Los Angeles Kings facing a 3-2 deficit. On the flip side, the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers could all punch their tickets to the second round by earning one more victory.
How will it all shake out?
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Wednesday’s games and the Three Stars of Wednesday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Toronto Maple Leafs at Ottawa Senators
Game 6 (TOR leads 3-2) | 7 p.m. ET | TBS
With their loss in Game 5, the Maple Leafs are now 1-14 in potential series-clinching games over the past 20 years — the lone win was Game 6 of the 2023 first round against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Senators’ stars have shown up this postseason. Brady Tkachuk has points in each of the past four games, including a goal and two assists in Game 5. Tim Stutzle also had a goal and two assists, and he has points in six of eight games against Toronto this season (regular season and playoffs combined).
Linus Ullmark made 29 saves for his first career playoff shutout, and this was Ottawa’s second-largest shutout win in franchise playoff history (the Senators won 5-0 against the Maple Leafs in 2002).
The Maple Leafs need to get their power play revved up again. They have gone 0-for-7 in the past two games, compared to 5-for-9 in the first three.
While the Leafs’ offense dried up in past postseasons, the Core Four (Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares) is helping make sure that’s not the case in 2025. The quartet leads the team in scoring, and all four are at or above a point-per-game pace.
Vegas Golden Knights at Minnesota Wild
Game 6 (VGK leads 3-2) | 7:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
The winners of Game 5 in best-of-seven series tied 2-2 have gone on to win the series 79% of the time, a trend to which the Golden Knights would like to add.
Mark Stone continues to climb the Golden Knights’ career leaderboard. His goal in Game 5 gives him 33 in his playoff career with Vegas, three shy of Jonathan Marchessault‘s franchise record.
On the other hand, Jack Eichel needs to recapture his regular-season aura. Through five games, he has just three assists after leading the Golden Knights in scoring in the regular season with 94 points.
Prior to his regular-season injury, Kirill Kaprizov was among the leaders for the Hart Trophy as league MVP. He has been on a heater this postseason, with nine points (five goals, four assists) through five games. That’s the most points through five games to start a postseason in Wild franchise history.
Marc-Andre Fleury — who entered Game 5 when Filip Gustavsson left due to illness — has now appeared in the playoffs in 18 different seasons, breaking a tie with Martin Brodeur and Patrick Roy for the most such seasons in NHL history.
Dallas Stars at Colorado Avalanche
Game 6 (DAL leads 3-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | TBS
The Stars have a 21-3 series record when leading 3-2 in a best-of-seven series, while the Avalanche have a 2-15 series record when trailing 3-2 in a best-of-seven series.
Wyatt Johnston‘s goal nine seconds into Game 5 is tied for the fifth-fastest goal to start a game in Stanley Cup playoff history. Johnston leads the Stars in scoring this postseason, with five points (two goals, three assists) through five games.
Mikko Rantanen had a goal and two assists in Game 5, and he became the seventh player in NHL history to score a playoff goal against a team with which he scored 100 or more postseason points.
With a goal and an assist in Game 5, Nathan MacKinnon registered the 35th multipoint game of his postseason career, third most in Avalanche/Nordiques history.
Cale Makar has been very quiet by his standards, with just two assists through five games. Prior to this postseason, he had scored 80 points in 72 career postseason games, including 29 in 20 games en route to the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 2022.
Los Angeles Kings at Edmonton Oilers
Game 6 (EDM leads 3-2) | 10 p.m. ET | ESPN
The Oilers have a 14-1 series record when leading a best-of-seven 3-2, while the Kings have a 5-9 series record when behind by the same margin.
Edmonton is the third team in Stanley Cup playoff history with three straight comeback wins after facing a 2-0 series deficit, joining the Golden Knights in 2021 and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.
The three players tied for the playoff scoring lead are in this series: Edmonton’s Connor McDavid (two goals, eight assists) and Leon Draisaitl (three goals, seven assists) and L.A.’s Adrian Kempe (four goals, six assists).
The switch to Calvin Pickard was a smart one for the Oilers; he has the ninth-best save percentage (.904) this postseason, compared to Stuart Skinner (last, at .810).
Anze Kopitar has 26 playoff goals, tied with Jeff Carter and Dave Taylor for the third most in franchise playoff history, behind Wayne Gretzky (29) and Luc Robitaille (41).
Arda’s three stars from Wednesday night
Thompson made 28 saves and allowed only one goal to backstop the Caps to a 4-1 win and a 4-1 series win, Washington’s first series victory since winning the Cup in 2018.
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Caps fans love Logan Thompson’s save late in the 3rd
Logan Thompson makes a crucial save for the Capitals to secure their 3-1 lead over the Canadiens.
He had a four-point night, including the insurance goal in the third period, to propel the Cats to capture the Battle of Florida, with a 6-3 final in Game 5 and a 4-1 series win, eliminating Tampa Bay.
Connor had a goal and two assists as Winnipeg keeps the home-team-wins-every-game trend alive in this series, as the Jets defeated the Blues 5-3 to take a 3-2 series lead. With his second game with three or more points this postseason, he became the third player in Thrashers/Jets 2.0 postseason history with multiple games with three-plus points in a single postseason, joining Blake Wheeler (three in 2018) and Paul Stastny (two in 2018).
Wednesday’s scores
Washington Capitals 4, Montreal Canadiens 1
WSH wins series 4-1, plays CAR in next round
Although a Canadiens win in Game 3 meant there would not be a sweep in the series, the Capitals made sure to get the job done before a trip back to Montreal. Alex Ovechkin started the scoring in the first period, joined by Jakob Chychrun in that frame and Tom Wilson in the second. Emil Heineman scored in the third to bring the score to 3-1, but Montreal got no closer before Brandon Duhaime‘s empty-net goal to seal the deal. Full recap.
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Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals: Game Highlights
Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals: Game Highlights
Florida Panthers 6, Tampa Bay Lightning 3
FLA wins series 4-1, plays winner of TOR-OTT
Both teams came out strong in the first period, with Lightning goals by Gage Goncalves and Nick Paul and Panthers goals from Carter Verhaeghe and Anton Lundell. The tide turned in the second, with the Panthers taking a 4-3 lead on goals by Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett, with the Bolts scoring one off the stick of Jake Guentzel. In the third, it was all about the Panthers’ defensive system refusing any efforts from Tampa Bay, while Eetu Luostarinen scored off a patient feed from Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart added an empty-netter. Full recap.
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Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Game Highlights
Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning: Game Highlights
Winnipeg Jets 5, St. Louis Blues 3
WPG leads 3-2 | Game 6 Friday
The scoring began quickly, as Kyle Connor netted a goal for Winnipeg 1:23 in, and Nathan Walker answered for the Blues at 3:42. Winnipeg carried a 2-1 edge into the second thanks to Nino Niederreiter‘s first of the postseason. After Jimmy Snuggerud tied it with his second career playoff goal, Dylan DeMelo and Vladislav Namestnikov netted goals to put Winnipeg up 4-2. The score would remain the same until Adam Lowry‘s empty-netter made it 5-2; Walker would add a goal with less than a minute left to pull the game back within two, but that was it. Full recap.
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St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets: Game Highlights
St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets: Game Highlights
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Kristen Shilton
TORONTO — Anthony Stolarz came into this season with less NHL playoff experience than the average episode length of a prestige drama show.
Now the Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender is writing his own script — starring the Edison, New Jersey, native as the steady, reliable netminder Toronto has been desperately seeking through one failed postseason run after another. The Leafs have a Stanley Cup drought going back to 1967.
And — spoiler alert! — Stolarz could have a potential hit on his hands in the Leafs’ first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators. All Toronto needs is one more win — featuring a top-notch performance from Stolarz. It’s for him to stand and deliver.
Flash back to one year ago, and Stolarz was backing up Sergei Bobrovsky in Florida. He made his lone playoff appearance in Game 4 of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final against Edmonton, replacing Bobrovsky after the Panthers had fallen into a 5-1 hole.
That became Stolarz’s playoff résumé — less than 35 minutes of cleanup duty in an 8-1 defeat. Bobrovsky returned for Game 5 and backstopped Florida to its first Cup win.
Stolarz rightly drank in the victory with his teammates. But would champagne from hockey’s holy grail have tasted sweeter to Stolarz if he’d had more opportunity to help earn it? He’s hoping to find out.
Florida let Stolarz explore free agency in the summer, and Toronto stepped in with a two-year, $5 million contract. The Leafs, who had moved on from Ilya Samsonov, needed a veteran to play in tandem with up-and-comer Joseph Woll and believed Stolarz, 31, could fill the role. To that point he’d never been a true starter — his busiest season had been in 2021-22 with the Anaheim Ducks, appearing in 28 games with a .917 save percentage and 2.67 goals-against average.
Stolarz might have grown used to being second on the call sheet. Going to Toronto gave him a chance at top billing. And Stolarz hasn’t taken the investment for granted.
He was sensational from the start, compiling a regular-season record of 21-8-3 with a .926 SV% and 2.14 GAA. Stolarz’s impact on the Leafs was further reflected by his absence — the netminder missed 23 games following a December knee surgery and Toronto produced a 13-10 record. The Leafs were 20-7-2 after Stolarz’s return. Coincidence? Unlikely.
That’s not to say Woll didn’t pull his weight alongside — and without — Stolarz. The 26-year-old was 27-14-1 in the regular season with a .909 SV% and 2.73 GAA. But when it came time for Toronto coach Craig Berube to choose a playoff starter, it seemed like a no-brainer to tap Stolarz.
“He has experience in the playoffs,” Berube said. “He didn’t start [games], but he has experience of being there and seeing it. He’s been around for quite some time now. He’s played extremely well this year, and so he’s ready to go.”
Even that feels like an understatement. Stolarz has stood tall — with all of his 6-foot-6, 243-pound frame — in what could become the most successful postseason run Toronto has enjoyed in decades. If anyone can play their part to keep it going, it’s him. And what awaits Toronto on the other side would be more than just a second-round bout, but one against Bobrovsky and the Panthers — where Stolarz can flaunt his now-leading man status.
COUNTLESS INTERNET MEMES have been launched featuring the Maple Leafs’ backlog of disappointing postseasons. Goaltending wasn’t entirely responsible for all of the Leafs’ floundering, but — especially lately — it hasn’t been a real boost, either.
The Leafs have flamed out in six first-round playoff series since 2016-17. The losses have come with impressive variety — from blown multigame leads to stomach-churning Game 7 overtime defeats — and through it all there’s been some lingering question of what a difference timely goaltending could have made.
Because that’s the key: It’s not just how many saves a goalie can accumulate but when they occur. That has been Stolarz’s calling card — that his dependability, not perfection, is a virtue.
Consider Toronto’s recent postseason history:
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In the 2021-22 playoffs, Jack Campbell had a marvelous regular season (.914 SV%, 2.64 GAA) and then stumbled in the playoffs (3-4, .897 SV% and 3.15 GAA). Toronto lost in the first round to Tampa Bay.
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In 2022-23, Samsonov was terrific in the regular season (.919 SV%, 2.33 GAA) but turned increasingly mediocre in the playoffs (4-4 record, .898 SV% and 3.13 GAA). Woll made three starts that postseason, going 1-2 with a .915 SV% and 2.43 GAA. Toronto lost in the second round to Florida.
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The Leafs’ most painful playoff chapter between the pipes might have been last season. Samsonov’s poor play contributed to Toronto’s 3-1 series deficit against Boston in the first round. Woll took over and salvaged the series with two sensational performances that forced Game 7. He then suffered an injury and couldn’t start in that deciding tilt. Toronto had no choice but to go back to Samsonov, who failed to shut the door in a 2-1 overtime loss. Samsonov finished the playoffs 1-4, with an .896 SV% and 3.01 GAA.
Stolarz has already backstopped the Leafs to a pair of overtime victories in this year’s first-round series against the Senators (although Ottawa managed just one OT shot on goal combined in those losses) and appears generally unruffled no matter the stakes.
He’s also a beacon of consistency: Toronto’s Game 3 win in extra time marked Stolarz’s 11th straight win going back to March 20. That stretch included shutouts in three of his past four starts.
That streak ended in Game 4. Ottawa’s desperation to stay alive in the series won out over the Leafs’ limp efforts in overtime — Toronto couldn’t capitalize on a four-minute power play, and later, after the Leafs failed to clear the zone, Jake Sanderson sent a shot sailing over Stolarz’s shoulder to give the Senators a 4-3 victory. Stolarz ended the night with an .810 SV%, his lowest of the season.
“I picked up [Sanderson’s shot] a little late. Tried to get there and fight through the screen,” Stolarz said after the defeat. “I thought we played a hell of a game. [The loss] boils down to making one more save on my end. But I like where our game is at; keep doing what we’re doing.”
Game 5 was slightly better for Stolarz — if worse overall for the Leafs. Toronto’s once dominant offense went ice cold as Senators’ goaltender Linus Ullmark turned in a 29-save shutout to lead Ottawa to a 4-0 victory and force a Game 6 on Thursday. Stolarz allowed two goals — one shorthanded, for the second consecutive game — on 17 shots to finish with an .882 SV%. He’s now 3-2 in the postseason, with an. 899 SV% and 2.25 GAA.
A pair of lackluster showings can’t snowball for Stolarz though if the Leafs expect to see Ottawa out of their first playoff appearance since 2017.
“We like our game, we’re doing a lot of good things,” Stolarz said after Game 5. “It’s always the toughest game to win, the fourth one. But if you had told us before the series we’d be up 3-2 going back to their place, that’s a position we’d take.”
Stolarz — who confirmed he “felt fine” despite a heavy workload in the series with three consecutive overtimes under his belt — learned a thing or two on the Panthers’ Cup run as well.
“No team is going to lay over,” he said. “[The Senators] have come out hard. It’s a little adversity for us. [The team] is making my job easy, it’s just fighting to make that one save.”
Those who know Stolarz best would expect no lesser response.
“He’s a gamer,” said Leafs winger Max Domi, who played with Stolarz on the OHL’s London Knights as they battled to consecutive Memorial Cup appearances in 2013 and 2014. “Unbelievable teammate.”
STOLARZ DOES MORE to look out for the Leafs than just turn pucks aside. In the emotionally charged Battle of Ontario, Stolarz has used his imposing frame to keep the Senators from controlling his crease. Ottawa established a physical, net-front presence from the get-go, and Toronto has had to adjust accordingly. And when Senators forward Ridly Greig got in Stolarz’s face during Game 2, Stolarz required no invitation to push back — literally — at Greig, earning himself a roughing penalty.
There were no regrets from the goaltender.
“I’ve taken quite a few penalties in my day,” he said after the game. “Caught up in the heat of the battle. It is what it is.”
Stolarz’s teammates appreciate his enthusiasm and the way it drives his success guarding the cage.
“He’s just a competitor,” defenseman Brandon Carlo said. “There was that moment there where he and Greig got bodied up, but [Stolarz] is so focused on the present moment, and I love that. His compete level is just there the whole game, and I think that’s all you’re seeing is a ferocious competitor.”
That has spelled bad news for the Senators, as Stolarz has continuously stymied Ottawa’s offensive efforts. That could have been what drew the Senators’ Nick Cousins to get playful with Stolarz during warmups before Game 3, with the forward flipping a puck across the center ice line at Stolarz. The two had been teammates before — with Philadelphia in 2016-17 and last season with the Cup-winning Panthers — but the NHL didn’t see it as friendly fire. The league fined the Senators $25,000 and Cousins’ $2,083.33 for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”
Stolarz was hardly thrown off his game.
“I didn’t even notice, to be honest with you,” the goalie said. “I know [Cousins], played with him for a number of years. I’m sure he didn’t mean any malicious intent by it.”
Stolarz was open to toning down his own physicality, under the right circumstances. He followed up with officials before Game 3 about the Greig incident and delivered a clear message — “watch my back, and I’ll behave.”
The way Stolarz executes at his best, it’s tough taking your eyes off him. But he can be his own toughest critic. He shouldered responsibility for not tracking that Sanderson winner and closing the Senators out. And it wasn’t the first goal he’d lamented letting in. When Toronto led Ottawa 2-1 midway through the third period of Game 3, Stolarz allowed a wrister from Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa’s first shot of the frame, to go top shelf. That teed up an overtime session — though it lasted only 19 seconds before Simon Benoit called game.
The happy outcome didn’t dissolve Stolarz’s frustration about the Tkachuk score.
“Tough one for me to give up,” he said. “But that’s the great thing about playoff hockey, you’ve got 19 other guys there to help pick you up, and I knew after that I’d be dialed and the next shot I’d be ready for.”
Perhaps that’s one of Stolarz’s superpowers, too. He can shake off a bad goal or a bad game easier than others. The only time all season Stolarz lost consecutive starts was during a five-game skid through March. He followed that up with the 11-game win streak.
“He’s been outstanding all year,” defenseman Morgan Rielly said. “As teammates, we have to do what we can to support him and make his life a little bit easier. He’s been outstanding all year, and playoffs have been no different.”
BERUBE KNEW THAT Stolarz wanted to be more than a career backup.
His time with Stolarz goes all the way back to Philadelphia, when the fresh-faced goaltender was finally entering the Flyers’ lineup after nearly three seasons in the American Hockey League. Berube — then the Flyers’ coach — sensed Stolarz, a second-round draft pick (No. 45 overall) in 2012, was eager to get rolling in the NHL. And Stolarz clearly never gave up on his goal of being a No. 1.
Here’s what NHL is looking at from last night. “Friend of Bieksa” Nick Cousins shoots puck at Stolarz. NHL not crazy about pre-game stuff…also clamped down on funny Scheifele/Hofer standoff in Blues/Jets series pic.twitter.com/ZF08AZwdO4
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 25, 2025
“He came in this year wanting to be a starter,” Berube said. “He’s been excellent all year. It took him a bit of time to establish himself again, but he’s doing the job for us right now.”
As long as that remains true, the Leafs can reasonably believe their postseason fortunes will turn, too. It wouldn’t be just because of Stolarz, of course. But for the Leafs, it’s nice to know he’s there.
And loving every minute of being a leading man — at last.
“It’s fun. I go out there and I enjoy what I do. I enjoy the game,” Stolarz said. “[We’re] all striving for the same goal. You want to go out there with a smile on your face and enjoy it.
“At the end of the day, it’s intense, heat of the battle. This is what you live for. This is playoff hockey.”
A new week brings … shocker! Yet another No. 1 team atop our list.
The National League continues to dominate MLB as well as our power rankings, with seven of the top 10 clubs residing in the Senior Circuit. Meanwhile, the American League is represented by two East teams and a red-hot Central squad.
As we enter May, it’s time to start taking what we’ve seen — for better or worse — a little more seriously as the sample size continues to grow. How do we make sense of all these first month performances?
Our expert panel has combined to rank every team based on what we’ve seen and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Buster Olney to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Record: 21-10
Previous ranking: 3
The pitching continues to be nothing short of remarkable, coming at a time when the Mets have been without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, and closer Edwin Diaz has been shaky. The Mets’ pitching staff has the best ERA but they’re also dominating in underlying metrics, as well — the lowest home run rate (by far), second-highest ground ball rate, third-highest strikeout rate and fourth-best rate of stranding baserunners. Only one team has allowed fewer stolen bases. — Olney
Record: 21-10
Previous ranking: 1
Shohei Ohtani turned on the first pitch he saw from Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara on Tuesday night and launched it 114 mph for a leadoff homer. It marked his first time going deep in 13 days. Mookie Betts, the man who hits behind him, has scuffled for most of that stretch. Max Muncy, meanwhile, went 106 plate appearances before finally connecting on his first home run Wednesday. The Dodgers’ offense is still rounding into form, an even bigger concern when coupled with the shoulder injuries that recently hit Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. But the team has nonetheless won 21 of its first 31 games. — Gonzalez
Record: 18-13
Previous ranking: 4
The Yankees have consistently built strong bullpens over the past decade, and so there is a natural recognition within the organization that more (and better) will be needed from this group as the season progresses. Devin Williams struggled so badly that he made the decision to remove him from the closer role easy for the coaching staff, and for now he’ll try to recover in a middle relief role. Jonathan Loaisiga will soon return, and the team’s hope is that the eventual return of Luis Gil to the rotation next month will ease the stress on a bullpen that’s generated a lot of innings (116 ⅓, seventh most in the majors). — Olney
Record: 19-11
Previous ranking: 2
A Padres offense without Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth received a welcomed sight in the form of Xander Bogaerts on Tuesday. The shortstop entered with his OPS at just .663, then homered for the first time this season and added an RBI single as his team beat the red-hot Giants and snapped a four-game losing streak. Bogaerts is coming off an underwhelming 2024 season that saw him slash just .264/.307/.381. He is in the third year of an 11-year, $280 million contract that was widely viewed as a gross overpay. The Padres could desperately use a bounce-back year from him. — Gonzalez
Record: 18-13
Previous ranking: 7
The Cubs’ offense came back to Earth over the weekend in a series loss to the Phillies, prompting manager Craig Counsell to make lineup changes. Moving up was catcher Carson Kelly, while shortstop Dansby Swanson dropped. He began the week hitting .170 with runners on-base with a whopping 4.75 strikeout-to-walk ratio. It landed him in the 8-hole, where there will be less pressure as the top and middle of the Cubs’ order continue to get on base at a solid clip. Counsell’s decision looked smart as Kelly clobbered a home run in his first game batting cleanup. — Rogers
Record: 19-12
Previous ranking: 5
The Giants wrapped up a 5-2 homestand against the Brewers and Rangers last week with back-to-back walk-off victories. The first was delivered by Patrick Bailey, who went into that game batting just .159. The second came courtesy of a little league home run, when Heliot Ramos‘ slow roller was followed by errant throws from the opposing pitcher and first baseman. With that, the Giants improved to 19-10. It’s early still but in their first year under new president of baseball operations Buster Posey, they seem to have an air of magic about them. — Gonzalez
Record: 19-12
Previous ranking: 9
The Tigers avoided a sweep against the Astros on Wednesday thanks in large part to a grand slam by none other than Javier Baez, who took advantage of Houston’s short left-field dimensions to notch his first home run this season. Baez’s contract has been an albatross, but he has been a solid hitter this season, carrying a .296/.337/.407 slash line through the end of April. The Tigers came into the year in search of right-handed power alongside newcomer Gleyber Torres. Getting production out of Baez and a rejuvenated Spencer Torkelson (.241/.359/.537 slash line) has been huge. — Gonzalez
Record: 17-13
Previous ranking: 8
It is remarkable how closely these 2025 Phillies resemble the Tigers teams that David Dombrowski built when he was with Detroit. The Phillies have an elite rotation, just as those Detroit teams did (Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, et al), and Philadelphia has a lineup packed with sluggers, like the Tigers had Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Prince Fielder. And these Phillies also have bullpen concerns, just as those Tigers did. At some point, the Phillies will need more relief depth, whether it comes from a starter moved to the bullpen, an internal promotion or a trade. — Olney
Record: 16-14
Previous ranking: 6
Some concern has popped up around D-backs closer Justin Martinez lately. The explosive right-hander had been experiencing a bout of shoulder fatigue that kept him out of some recent games, then saw his fastball velocity drop over his last couple outings. Martinez told MLB.com his arm “doesn’t bother me anymore” and chalked up his velocity dip to shoulder-strengthening exercises he had been taking part in. The D-backs got Kevin Ginkel, one of their more important high-leverage relievers, back from the injured list Tuesday. But Martinez’s health will be important to monitor moving forward — especially with A.J. Puk out for an indefinite time while dealing with elbow inflammation. — Gonzalez
Record: 17-15
Previous ranking: 11
Boston has a good problem developing in Triple-A, where star prospects Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer are thriving. Mayer has four doubles and seven homers in his first 24 games, and Anthony is dominating the strike zone, with 21 walks and 22 strikeouts on top of his 1.004 OPS. The front office has clear alternatives in the event of injuries or lack of performance at the big league level, as well as valued trade options — maybe not these two prospects, but marketable big leaguers, like Wilyer Abreu — for the July trade deadline. — Olney
Record: 18-12
Previous ranking: 16
Slowly but surely, the Mariners passed every AL West team recently on their way to first place this week as they’ve won their last seven series in a row. Seattle has finally started hitting — it ranked fourth in OPS last week (April 22-29), tied for the second-most home runs (10). Jorge Polanco went off, hitting five of the 10 while driving in 12. He was 9-for-16 over that time frame and is proving to be a good pickup for a hitting-starved team. — Rogers
Record: 16-14
Previous ranking: 14
Quick, which pitcher leads the league in Baseball-Reference WAR? If you guessed Hunter Brown, you know your baseball. Brown is helping the Astros inch their way toward first place in the division as he’s been dominant through six starts this year, including his latest — a nine-strikeout performance against the Royals on Sunday. He’s given up just 24 hits in 37 innings while issuing a miniscule seven walks to 40 K’s. It’s exactly what Houston has needed as it continues to figure out its new-look offense. Brown showed signs of it last year, but he’s emerging as a true No.1 starter. — Rogers
Record: 14-16
Previous ranking: 15
If the Braves overcome that brutal 0-7 start and make the playoffs, the narrative of their season will have to mention three emerging players — shortstop Nick Allen, acquired in a minor offseason trade with Oakland; right fielder Eli White, who has gone from bench player to regular as the Braves await the return of Ronald Acuna Jr.; and Alex Verdugo, who spent the offseason waiting for a deal before signing with Atlanta for $1.5 million. That trio has spurred the recent turnaround. — Olney
Record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 18
Have the Reds turned the corner or did a series sweep in Colorado just pad some stats? Time will tell, but the confidence boost for the offense must have some meaning. Seemingly everyone in the lineup hit at Coors Field, which celebrated its 30th anniversary Saturday — though it was the Reds who celebrated that night when newcomer Austin Hays blasted two home runs. That came one night after Cincinnati totaled 13 hits in an 8-7 win. Overall, the Reds scored 22 runs in the three games against Colorado and then came home and beat the Cardinals. Nice week. — Rogers
Record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 10
The Rangers continue to have all sorts of problems scoring runs, especially now that Corey Seager is on the shelf. They rank in the bottom five in the majors in average runs per game — and that includes a 15-run outburst against the A’s on Tuesday. That came after six straight games of scoring fewer than four runs. Texas won a few of those contests thanks to its pitching staff but outside of Wyatt Langford and Josh Smith, the Rangers simply aren’t getting enough production at the plate. Marcus Semien heads the list of players who are struggling. — Rogers
Record: 17-13
Previous ranking: 12
Steven Kwan flirted with a .400 batting average into June last year. This year, his early-season surge has been predicated largely on power. His slugging percentage sits at .466, 70 points higher than his career mark heading into 2025. An April surge, though, is nothing new. Lots of major league hitters struggle out of the gate, but Kwan has a career .323/.397/.427 slash line through the season’s first full month. “I think it being the start of the year helps a lot,” Kwan told MLB.com. “All your prep takes just a little longer, in a good way. You’re very intentional.” — Gonzalez
Record: 14-16
Previous ranking: 19
Chandler Simpson made peace long ago with the reality that he is at his best when he gets on base and runs like hell, rather than getting swept up in the collective effort of his generation to put the ball in the air. One number will largely define his career: on-base percentage. And so far, so good — he has a .349 OBP in his first days in the big leagues, with five strikeouts to three walks. He’s hit a total of two home runs since he started college — i.e., in over 2,000 plate appearances. That’s a good thing … for him. — Olney
Record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 13
The Brewers’ rotation is quietly starting to come together. It is up to eighth in starter’s ERA — that’s one spot higher than the first-place Cubs — and just got Tobias Myers back from an oblique strain. With Quinn Priester pitching well in the back end and the long-awaited return of Brandon Woodruff nearing, Milwaukee’s arrow is pointing up. The Brewers haven’t had as tough of a schedule as the Cubs, but until playing the White Sox this week, it’s still been pretty gnarly. Milwaukee has played 23 games against plus-.500 teams — third most in the NL behind the Cubs and Giants. — Rogers
Record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 21
The Royals sat at 8-14 on April 19. Since then they have won eight of nine games to stay relevant in the AL Central. And though their offense continues to be a problem — they’ve hit the fewest home runs in the majors this year, with their outfield combining for just four — their pitching has been a strength. The Royals’ staff has posted a 2.14 ERA since April 20. Four of their starters — Michael Lorenzen, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha and Kris Bubic — have combined for a 1.66 ERA since then. — Gonzalez
20. Athletics
Record: 16-15
Previous ranking: 24
JP Sears continues to take steps forward, emerging as a top starter for the Athletics. His ERA has dropped each year he’s been with the A’s as he sports a nifty 2.94 mark after six outings, including a one-run performance against Texas on Monday. He tied a season high with seven strikeouts in that game, a number he’s reached in half his starts. Sears is doing it with some nasty breaking stuff, including a slider/sweeper combo that has stymied hitters. He’s even getting some back luck on those pitches, as his expected numbers on them are lower than his actual ones. — Rogers
Record: 13-18
Previous ranking: 26
There’s no better antidote to early season struggles than a light schedule. Give the Twins credit, though — they took advantage of it. They hosted the White Sox and Angels for six games last week and won five of them, including holding the Angels to just one run in 18 innings on Saturday and Sunday. Seven of those innings were pitched by Joe Ryan, who was coming off a rough outing against the Braves but now has a 3.18 ERA through his first six starts. David Festa, meanwhile, has allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings this season. And Chris Paddack has been much better, posting a 2.25 ERA in his last four starts. The rotation beyond Pablo Lopez is seemingly solidifying. — Gonzalez
Record: 14-16
Previous ranking: 17
Toronto plays its home games in a ballpark that fosters home runs, and the team’s big offseason acquisition was Anthony Santander, who hit more home runs last season than anyone not named Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani. It is shocking, then, to see Toronto’s lack of power early in this season: Incredibly, the Blue Jays have just four more total home runs (19) than the Yankees have hit in the first inning (15). Santander has just four this year, with a shockingly low slugging percentage of .316, while Bo Bichette is still looking for his first home run. The Jays are 26th place in runs scored. Not good. — Olney
Record: 12-18
Previous ranking: 20
Under general manager Mike Elias, Baltimore has worked from the same playbook as the Astros and Cubs a dozen years ago: tanking, followed by the drafting of elite position players, followed by some success at the big league level. Where the Orioles’ path diverged from those models, however, is in spending on pitching. The Cubs invested $155 million in Jon Lester, for example, and the Astros traded for the pricey Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. What the O’s are doing now — struggling — is not a manager problem; it’s about a miserly ownership and front office. — Olney
Record: 14-17
Previous ranking: 22
Lars Nootbaar is on his way to a career season. It’s still early but the signs are good, beginning with a strikeout-to-walk ratio that’s less than 1.00. That’s easily the best of his career as is his overall 17.9% walk percentage. It’s all added up to a .400 OBP and .800-plus OPS. The Cardinals are using this season to figure out who they want as part of their future and the 27-year-old is showing them — at least through the first month — that he should be included in that conversation. — Rogers
Record: 13-18
Previous ranking: 27
Some of the expected teams leading up to the trade deadline aren’t perceived by rival executives to have much in the way of valued options, but the Nationals could be popular among scouts, with Nathaniel Lowe (who has six homers and a respectable .786 OPS), Alex Call (strong OBP) and closer Kyle Finnegan. According to Fangraphs, the Nationals’ chances for making the playoffs stand at 1% — and general manager Mike Rizzo has a reputation built on his decisiveness. — Olney
Record: 12-17
Previous ranking: 23
There were plenty of mediocre performances on the mound for the Angels this past week as no starter gave up less than three runs in an outing while the bullpen had its issues as well. Tyler Anderson and Jack Kochanowicz each pitched a quality start, but in between, Jose Soriano, Kyle Hendricks and Yusei Kikuchi all struggled. Reliever Carl Edwards Jr.’s return to the majors didn’t go smoothly, nor did an outing by Victor Mederos. Only Ryan Johnson pitched well out of the pen. It’s added up to a staff ERA closer to 5.00 than 4.00 and a ranking in the bottom five of the AL. — Rogers
Record: 12-18
Previous ranking: 25
The assumption going into spring training was that Sandy Alcantara would eventually become the most coveted starting pitcher in the trade market, as he works in his first full season after an elbow reconstruction. But there is no getting around this reality: Alcantara is really struggling, with an 8.31 ERA following his truncated outing in Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night. His strikeout rate is a shockingly low 6.58 per nine innings. His changeup has devolved from one of the most devastating pitches to a problem. Right now, he has no trade value. — Olney
Record: 12-19
Previous ranking: 28
Paul Skenes went into the belly of the beast and took care of business Friday, shutting down the Dodgers in Los Angeles with a gem of a performance. He pitched into the seventh inning, giving up five hits — three to No. 9 hitter Andy Pages — while striking out nine without issuing a free pass. Skenes threw fastballs for 38% of his pitches, with an even split between his splitter, curve and sweeper. It was masterful and lowered his ERA to 2.39. The shining light of the Pirates continues to do just that: shine. — Rogers
Record: 7-23
Previous ranking: 29
Through the first 30 games of their 121-loss season in 2024, the White Sox were 6-24. Through their first 30 games of 2025, the White Sox are … 7-23. And though the lack of progress from even the worst of campaigns has been incredibly exasperating on the South Side of Chicago, White Sox general manager Chris Getz preached patience in a recent session with the local media. “It is frustrating when we don’t win ballgames,” he said, “but we’ve got greater hopes of bringing this together. And we know it’s going to take time, but we’re all confident it’s going to happen.” — Gonzalez
Record: 5-25
Previous ranking: 30
German Marquez was charged with seven earned runs in 5⅓ innings against the Braves on Tuesday, and the Rockies lost for the eighth consecutive time. It marked their second such losing streak in 17 games, a 1-16 run that stands as the worst stretch in franchise history. Their overall record by that point was 4-25, tied with the 2003 Tigers and the 1988 Orioles for the worst 29-game start since 1900. The former team ultimately lost 119 games that season. Given the overall strength of this year’s NL West, it isn’t hard to foresee the 2025 Rockies doing even worse. — Gonzalez
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