Published
1 year agoon
By
admin740
The Nitecore EDC27 is a superb EDC flashlight, with a host of modern features that will change the EDC flashlight game for you.
EDC is a fascinating concept, especially when mind-surfing the idea with a prepper or survivalists mindset. If you surf Instagram and the great online web for the term EDC dump, youll find myriad self-congratulatory cellphone pics of what people deem necessary to carry with them every day. For the ones of you who are on the internet for the first time, EDC is an acronym for Every Day Carry, or the kit that one has on their person every day.
These EDC dump pictures always draw my attention for a bit; while there are certainly those EDC pistol hipsters who took out a second mortgage to impress others with the shiny, barely-used gear they get to post online for posterity, there are also those who have thought the concept through, and have genuinely useful gear in a well-sorted package. Usually, some will have multiple gearsets for their perceived needs in different day-to-day situations. Two fantastic every day carry items: a Nitecore EDC27 and a Benchmade Adamas
Well-sorted, quality gear is always the name of the game I strive to win or at least get a participation ribbon in anyway. One bit of EDC gear I learned a long time ago to always have on my person is a dependable, high quality flashlight this accompanies a solid folding knife and a lighter as my minimum out-the-door payload.
Table of Contents Toggle EDC Flashlights from a Survivalists PerspectiveThe EDC Flashlight Revolution Enter the Nitecore EDC27The Nitecore EDC27 and Its FeaturesSimple ControlsThe Rest of the DetailsThe Nitecore EDC27 in ActionHow Has the Nitecore EDC27 Held Up? EDC Flashlights from a Survivalists Perspective
I always have a small-to-smallish sized flashlight on my person when I head out the door, and a larger, more robust tactical flashlight in a pack or in my truck nearby. While my tried and true Streamlight Microstream is the usual companion, its tiny rechargeable AAA battery really doesnt have the capacity to handle long-term illumination events without needing a replacement battery or recharge session.
Theres no free cake; its delightful slim profile is great for EDC but small packaging means small battery means small runtime. To that end, I usually have an extra battery taped to the light or a powerbank I can use to charge the light if needed. Since there is no charge indicator, I am hampered by only being able to guess at the available charge after using it a few times over a couple of days. And once you have an EDC light, it gets used a LOT.
EDC flashlights have always proven to be a guessing game for me and Im assuming you as well. Do I keep carrying a small flashlight with minimited output and capacity, knowing it is unobtrusive and fulfills almost all daily light requirements yet knowing that if there was a dedicated disaster with a grid-down situation, Id better have a better option or a plan B in the illumination world ready to roll nearby.
So there it is carry a small flashlight with low(er) output and low runtime and low profile for convenience, or be dragged down by carrying a more powerful, longer-lasting flashlight and dealing with its specialized batteries and larger dimensions? Aye, theres the rub.
Or, rather, aye, that WAS the rub. The EDC Flashlight Revolution Enter the Nitecore EDC27
At SHOT Show 2023, I saw a lot of flashlights. So many that indeed, they ran together in blurred black barrels in my memory and almost none of them stood out. However, one truly did, and I saw it at the Nitecore booth.
The lovely ladies at the SHOT Nitecore booth saw me scanning their very innovative selections mostly I was looking at their new big power banks which looked great, but after talking to me and asking me what interested me in the flashlight world, they steered me over to the flashlight area and handed me a game changer of a flashlight. Sale Nitecore EDC27 3000 Lumen Flat EDC Flashlight, USB-C Rechargeable High Performance Slim Compact Pocket Light with Digital Display and LumenTac Case SUPER BRIGHT FLASHLIGHT- The Nitecore EDC27 is a high performance EDC flashlight capable of a 3000 lumen max and a max beam throw of 240 yards.ULTRA SLIM EDC FLASHLIGHT – Designed to easily carry in pocket, the EDC27 is only half inch thick flat shape with a strong clip $89.95 Buy on Amazon
The Nitecore EDC27 they slid into my palms was so drastically different that it stuck in my mind, and I didnt really have any time to really look at it and appreciate all it had to offer. I exchanged cards with the NItecore crew and touched base with them via email several weeks later. You too can get a Nitecore EDC27 delivered to your door!
We had a few very cordial emails back and forth, and soon a new Nitecore EDC27 was in my mailbox. In the weeks after I left SHOT, Id kind of forgotten what the EDC27 was about. Just a moment with the sleek EDC27 in my hands and it all came rushing back: the EDC27 is an absolute game changer of an every day carry flashlight.
Lets dig into what makes the Nitecore EDC27 well worth your consideration. The Nitecore EDC27 and Its Features
Two features of the Nitecore EDC27 fly in the face of standard flashlight convention. The first feature one appreciates while holding an EDC27 is the size and shape. Where most tactical or EDC flashlights are round in the body to accommodate tubular batteries, the EDC27 is wider and flat on its sides, with a fixed internal battery with a capacity of 1,700 mAh.
The main portion of the EDC27s PVD titanium-coated body is just over a half-inch in thickness (0.56), making it substantially less substantial than most tactical flashlights, which routinely run 1-1 ? thick bodies to accommodate chonky CR123 or 18650 batteries. Palm-sized and powerful.
My handy Stanley tape measure says the EDC27 is a shade over 1 ? wide, and about 5 5/16 long from the two tail-mounted button controls out back to the impact-resistant lens that protects two Luminus SST40 LED emitters out front. The rear end of the flashlight does get thicker out back, about ? thick when you take into account the very sturdy removable pocket clip and the extra bulk required for the real-time OLED Display. The flattened profile of the Nitecore EDC27 helps the light in its intended duty
Yep, I said display, which brings us to the second game-changing feature of the Nitecore EDC27: it has a display built into the side the wide flat body of the light makes a perfect location. At roughly 1/2 wide x 1/4 tall, youre not going to be watching the Bruins game on this little display. However, the display provides you all the knowledge required to keep you up to date on the performance of your Nitecore EDC27.
Perhaps the greatest addition to an EDC flashlight since the pocket clip, the OLED display of the Nitecore EDC27 keeps you absolutely updated on your flashlight. While you cant select between the functions via a dedicated switch, as you use the features of the EDC27 the screen instantly updates.
The tiny screen will provide the following information: lock status, output level status, battery charge level via both a small picture of a battery (very much like a cellphone) as well as the available voltage of the battery. As you switch between the output settings, it will also let you know the output level displayed in lumens, as well as the total runtime left in the flashlight at the current output setting. The EDC27s display screen provides lots info, including current charge level of the batteries.
A simple display device provides an incredible amount of information about your flashlight; before you walk out the door for the ay (or eternity) you can know if your battery needs a top-off or if it has sufficient juice left in its cell to keep you running for your day.
Absolute genius! As you flip through Nitecores website, youll notice that several of their flashlights are starting to boast these displays; I predict as time goes on youll see this feature crop up on new designs of flashlights everywhere; its that good. Simple Controls
Aside from the OLED screen revelation, the other favorite feature of mine is the Nitecore EDC27s controls. Many tactical/EDC flashlights bestow upon its users a multitude of switches, tail caps, buttons, multiple taps, and bezel twists to provide a lights various features.
Long ago I gave up on ever buying lights with multiple control locations for a light that can be used with gloves on and/or in high stress situations, one location and utter simplicity is the name of the game for me. A quick tap of the taller button changes the EDC27s output levels, and the screen informs you of the currently selected level.
Nitecore must have been reading my mind, for they offer two buttons both located on the tailcap. The main button, which protrudes out of the body about an eighth of an inch, provides the user with the main functionality of switching the power on and off, as well as the output selection.
With the light off, a full push down turns the light on and off at the last remembered output setting. A half-push of the button (there is a noticeable hitch in the buttons movement) cycles the output levels 15, 65, 200, and 1,000 lumens.
The second, flush-mounted button is a bit larger, and provides the specialty options: If the light is off, a full push will activate the dizzying 3,000 lumen strobe. A half-push will activate the Turbo 3,000 lumen mode.
You must keep holding the button down to keep this output level running and the screen shows a bar-type timer when it runs all the way out, the light automatically throttles back output to the 1,000 lumen level in an effort to preserve battery life and combat heat buildup.
The Nitecore EDC27 also offers two excellent lockout modes to ensure the light wont accidentally activate while being carried in your pocket. Lockout one still allows you to activate the strobe and turbo functions if needed, while the second lockout completely deactivates the buttons and the light is not accessible to use without going through the unlock procedure. Its a slick setup and welcome in an EDC light. The Rest of the Details
The Nitecore EDC 27s list of features after the above are relatively standard fare EDC light additions: a sturdy (and detachable) stainless steel belt/pack/webbing clip, IPX4 water resistance rating and 1m impact resistance, lanyard loop (part of the clip), covered and sealed USB-C charging port, and sturdy casing with ample knurling for traction in wet, muddy, or bloody circumstances. Runtime levels are also handily displayed.
The advertised runtime of the light at its various output levels is as follows, all assuming a full battery charge, used only at that level: 15 Lumens/55 Candela:37 hours65 Lumens/270 Candela:11 hours200 Lumens/840 Candela:3 hours, 45 minutes1,000 Lumens/4,340 Candela:1 hour, 45 minutes3,000 Lumens/12,200 Candelanot listed, personally but timed at 10 seconds before throttling back output
I timed the 1,000 Lumen output setting from a full charge and got 1 hour, 34 minutes, for what its worth. The small-ish 1,700 mAh battery (3,000 mAh and up is starting to be standard for tactical lights with 18650 batteries) limits overall life but if you can live with keeping your luminescent levels low, it has a very useful lifetime and remember, you can check at the tap of a button how much juice you have left remaining. The Nitecore EDC27s 200 lumen output at 75 yards distance
The Nitecore EDC27 is advertised as having a 220 meter throw distance at the full 3,000 lumen setting. At a local 200 yard sandpit test, I can say that you CAN illuminate at that range, but the lights wide, flood-type beam isnt going to do you any favors in the target identification department its meant to be more of a local area light, which it is very good at. The 3,000 lumen turbo mode certainly brightens things up. The Nitecore EDC27 in Action
Nitecore was generous enough to let me have the EDC27 for an extended period of time before I wrote this review, so that I could use the light as my primary carry light and really dig in to its usefulness. Heres my review after four months of EDC carry with the Nitecore EDC27.
From the moment you grab the light for the first time, you really notice and appreciate the lights wide, flat profile. The light orients itself in your hand naturally in the flesh between your palm and the second knuckle, and its texture and design characteristics means it stays there with no issues, even when wet.
The flattened design lends itself very well to an EDC front-pocket carry the method I primarily used. Going from a diminutive Streamlight Microstream to this larger light definitely took some getting used to, but since it is no thicker than the Streamlight the transition was easy. The real issue I had with the light for every day carry was the length.
[amazon box =B07DLZXZV1?
The light itself took up a lot of real estate deep in the pocket and printed when sitting, which is really no big deal. However, the light rides high and sits out of the pocket a solid inch. The buttons are fully exposed and easily bumped on so the lock feature was handy and a good idea.
However, when you have to unlock the light just to use a low power setting, the process can be a bit tedious though it doesnt take long. Sometimes you dont need a strobe or 3,000 lumens just to pick your dropped car keys up off the ground on a dark night. The business end of the Nitecore EDC27.
However, in chatting with the Nitecore rep, I was assured that they are introducing out a shorter version of the Nitecore EDC27, which I would absolutely relish hopefully the pocket clip mounting location can be moved a bit to allow lower, more protected carry.
The Nitecore EDC27 certainly attracted its fair share of attention, mostly good but some bad. I was in an art museum and a security guard stopped me because he thought it was a folding knife in my pocket, when weapons werent allowed in the building. Once I showed it to the officer I was obviously cleared, but just know its a possibility going in; people arent used to seeing wide, flat lights.
My flashlight nerd buddies loved the EDC27, especially the flat profile and the control setup and the minimal amount of hassle to actuate the light. A state trooper friend enjoyed the traction of the flat design, and noted it was a perfect shape, size, and design to allow for kubaton-style wrist holds.
It was a thought that hadnt occurred to me, but hes absolutely right. The light isnt, in my opinion, a tactical or defensive light, with no crenellations or protected lenses for bezel strikes but used properly in a manner that protects the lens, its stainless steel construction and carbon fiber interior chassis are certainly up for a little rough-n-tumble time.
As I stated before, the beam generated from the two LED emitters is focused for a large, wide area of illumination. There are no appreciable hot spots, just a well-designed flood beam that is excellent for close-in duty. Walking my dogs down an abandoned railroad trail at night, the EDC27 provides more than enough light at its 200 lumen setting to keep the area around you well lit.
The EDC27 also was aces while working on a transmission under my car its flat profile meant the light wasnt rolling away anywhere, and the knurling on the sides of the body provided adequate grip when my hands were covered in transmission fluid. How Has the Nitecore EDC27 Held Up?
After several months of serious EDC use, I can say that the Nitecore EDC27 has earned my respect. I am very hard on gear that comes with me everywhere I dont baby functional tools and the EDC27 has plenty of scratches andscuffs but still comes up swinging. The light has been dropped in water, dropped down stairs by my 9-year-old boy, dragged across asphalt while I was underneath cars, left on a hot stove accidentally, and it has been a camping light on a couple trip occasions.
The Nitecore EDC27 has stood up to the abuse and has earned my respect. So much so that I misplaced my old Streamlight Microstream my previous standard against which I hold all EDC flashlights and I dont even care. The Nitecore EDC 27 is a winner.
Ill be looking on Nitecores website to keep an eye open for a smaller version of the EDC27, but for me, this light is now my go-to flashlight. Its innovative design features, blended with an excellent ruggedness mean that I dont need to compromise on the EDC light choice. I can grab the Nitecore EDC27 and be confident that almost all my bases are covered in the hand-held flashlight world, and that truly means a lot to me.
A Nitecore EDC27 retails for about $90 USD, and I will tell you without hyperbole that this light is worth every penny. Get you one. If you dont like it Ill buy it off you.
Nowhow do I get a pressure switch and mount it to an AR?

You may like
Sports
The secret to Corey Perry’s continued playoff success at age 40
Published
5 mins agoon
May 25, 2025By
admin
-
Ryan S. ClarkMay 25, 2025, 07:30 AM ET
Close- Ryan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.
DALLAS — Imagine having a career that’s so strong that you’re not even aware that your next goal further enhances your Hall of Fame résumé.
That’s Corey Perry at the moment — and here’s why. His five goals during the 2025 playoffs have placed him in a tie for the second-most goals among the Edmonton Oilers. It further reinforces the narrative that the Oilers might be the deepest of the four remaining teams in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
It does something else too. Although each of his five goals has come with its own sense of significance, Perry’s next playoff goal will be even more special, because he’ll be tied with the legendary Jean Béliveau for the most postseason goals by a player in their age-39 season, according to QuantHockey.
“I think it’s just a love for the game. That’s why I want to play the game for as long as I can,” Perry said. “Once this game passes you by, it’s over, it’s done. There’s no coming back and I’ll move onto something else. That’s why what I want to do is play hockey, have fun and just be part of something.”
Postseasons create champions, challengers — and those who wish they could be either one. They create nostalgia for those who have won a title and are seeking another, and yearning for those who have yet to lift a Stanley Cup.
This particular postseason has provided Perry with the opportunity to grab one more before he eventually calls it a career. He is one of just 30 players that is part of the Triple Gold Club: winning a Stanley Cup, an Olympic Gold medal and the IIHF Men’s World Championship.
While this is still technically his age-39 season, he did turn 40 back on May 16. That makes him the second-oldest player still remaining in the playoffs, behind Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brent Burns.
Perry made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2005. He scored his first career goal five days later against the Oilers. He has since gone on to score 447 more, register more than 900 points and added a Hart Trophy as regular-season MVP, in a career that is either the same age or older than current young NHL stars such as Connor Bedard, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith.
The notion that Perry’s career is now old enough to play in the NHL adds to the discussion about how and why he is able to perform at such a high level at a time in which more teams are trying to get younger.
“He’s been around so long that he understands that you need to find a role,” Oilers defenseman Troy Stecher said. “He won a Hart Trophy when he was in Anaheim, and he was the best player in the league then. Anyone coming here understands that [Connor McDavid] and [Leon Draisaitl] are probably going to get the majority of power-play time and offensive draws.
“I think with being the player he is and being around for so long, he’s done such a good job of finding a role and excelling in that role. Not just accepting it, but thriving in it.”
OPTIONS ARE EVERYTHING in the postseason. Possessing as many of them as possible enhances a team’s chances of winning.
Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch explained that the veteran winger provides the team with additional line combinations because of his versatility. He can be used on the fourth line or the top line, which is a prime example of how the Oilers have tapped into their depth to reach consecutive conference finals.
That’s when something else becomes clear: Playing Perry alongside Draisaitl and McDavid gives the Oilers three Hart Trophy winners on a single line.
It’s a distinction that no other active lineup in the NHL can claim.
“Throughout the playoffs, we’ve moved him around the lineup with Leon and Connor or just with Leon or with [Mattias] Janmark,” Knoblauch said. “Whatever position he’s been in, whether it’s the first or fourth line, he’s been able to give us quality minutes.”
0:20
Corey Perry gives Oilers 2-0 lead with his second goal
Corey Perry scores his second goal of the first period to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead over the Golden Knights.
A player doesn’t get to be an eight-time 30-goal scorer without talent for finishing scoring chances. At 30 years old, he had 34 goals in 82 games in the 2015-16 season, but he scored a combined 36 goals in the next two seasons — which signaled that he might need to reconfigure how he gets those goals going forward.
Perry started to operate more in a bottom-six role in which he was asked to provide more secondary and tertiary goals than that of a primary scorer. A sign that he was gaining comfort in that new role was when he reached double figures twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2021-22 and 2022-23).
It’s why the Oilers acquired him last season as they sought to add more depth in their eventual run to the Stanley Cup final with the idea he could return in 2024-25.
QuantHockey’s data shows that there have been 136 players who have had an age-39 season in NHL history. Perry’s 19 goals this season is the same amount that Jaromir Jagr scored in his age-39 campaign in 2011-12. Perry played 81 games this season, which ties him for 10th place with Brett Hull (2003-04).
Of the 27 players who have scored more goals in their age-39 season than Perry, 12 scored more than nine power-play goals. In Perry’s case, he did the majority of his work away from the power play, with 13 of them coming in 5-on-5 play. Perry is tied with Patrick Marleau and Gary Roberts, as they all had four goals with the extra-skater advantage.
“He’s reliable because he’s smart. He can read the play,” Knoblauch said. “Obviously, the speed isn’t there like other players. But he thinks at it so much better than others. One [thing] Corey is really good at is scoring goals. This year being pretty much in a fourth-line role to score 19 goals. I’m not sure how many he had on the power play in the regular season, but it was very low. For him to do that in his role says a lot.”
STARTING HIS CAREER with the Anaheim Ducks gave Perry the platform to become one of the best players of his generation, win a Stanley Cup and become someone whom Oilers teammate Evander Kane said is a future Hall of Famer.
It also gave him a front-row seat to study how future Hall of Famers such as Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Teemu Selanne prolonged their careers.
Niedermayer played until he was 36. Pronger made it to 37, whereas Selanne became one of 12 players in NHL history to play until he was 43.
“When you’re 22 years old, you’re sitting back and just watching. You don’t really do any of it but you might do some of it,” Perry said. “But when you see them do it everyday and continue to do it and when you get to a certain age, you’ve got to put in the work. If you don’t, these young guys coming in are bigger, faster and stronger, and you’ve got to keep up and do it at a high level.”
Every generation of players has its life cycle. Perry was part of the famed 2003 NHL draft class that gave the league future stars such as Patrice Bergeron, Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Getzlaf, Joe Pavelski, Zach Parise, Brent Seabrook, Eric Staal, Ryan Suter and Burns.
At one point, each of those aforementioned players were franchise cornerstones, and many won Stanley Cups. For the reverence they earned, they also understood what came with aging in a way previous generations didn’t quite encounter in the same way.
The group entered the NHL at a time in which younger players didn’t receive the most minutes, nor were they paid the most money. It’s a complete contrast to the contemporary landscape in which teams place a premium on younger players being trusted in key roles early, which then translates to signing bigger contracts.
A byproduct of that shift was that it heightened the expectations for players of a certain age to meet a physical threshold by placing a premium on body maintenance. It’s why many of them were able to play beyond age 35 by taking on various roles on their respective teams — and not necessarily on the top line or pairing.
Even then, there are limits. Parise and Pavelski retired at the end of last season not having won a Stanley Cup. Fleury, who won three Cups, announced his retirement this season. Burns, Perry and Suter are still active. So what’s the secret?
“It’s the off-ice work. It’s dietary. It’s everything,” Perry said. “It’s just about doing those different things that you can to keep your body in the best shape.”
0:46
Corey Perry tips in power-play goal for the Oilers
Corey Perry gets the Oilers on the board with a power-play goal in the second period.
Kane, who turns 34 in August, said that as someone on the back half of his career, he’s starting to understand that age is just a number. But, there are advantages to having older players in a dressing room because of their range of experiences.
Over the past two years, the Oilers have been the oldest team in the NHL. Elite Prospects lists them as having an average age of 30, while last season’s team averaged 29.2 years. Possessing that much experience has fed into a blueprint in which 11 of the players that the Oilers dressed in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals have more than 70 games of playoff experience.
Four Oilers — Darnell Nurse, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Draisaitl and McDavid — have combined to appear in 342 playoff games. Perry has 227 games of postseason experience.
Another detail that the 6-foot-3 and 205-pound Perry provides to the Oilers is size. The Oilers are the fifth-tallest and fifth-heaviest team in the NHL. The team that was tallest and heaviest this season was the Vegas Golden Knights — a club that the Oilers beat in five games in order to advance to the Western Conference finals.
“With Pears, he’s been really good and really good in front of the net,” Kane said. “He’s been scoring some big, key goals at key moments for us which is obviously huge. He’s a guy that’s going to be in the Hall of Fame someday, right? He’s been a superstar player in the league for some time.
“When you have that type of pedigree and you’ve been in the league that long, you understand how to play the game and when you have different skill sets, not just one, you’re able to contribute in different ways and he’s able to do that.”
Sports
Stars-Oilers Game 3 preview: Which team wins this pivotal showdown?
Published
5 mins agoon
May 25, 2025By
admin
We’ve got a series, folks! The Edmonton Oilers rallied back from a 6-3 loss in Game 1 in dominant fashion, winning Game 2 over the Dallas Stars 3-0.
That sets up a pivotal Game 3 in the Western Conference finals Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+), as both teams look to gain an edge.
Here are notes on the matchup from ESPN Research, as well as betting intel from ESPN BET:
More from Game 2: Recap | Grades
Matchup notes
Dallas Stars at Edmonton Oilers
Game 3 | 3 p.m. ET | ABC/ESPN+
With the series tied 1-1, the series winner odds on ESPN BET have flipped: The Oilers are now -140 favorites (previously +160), and the Stars are +120 (previously -190). The Oilers’ Cup winner odds are now +200 (+350 after Game 1), while the Stars’ are now +325 (+200 after Game 1). Connor McDavid (+300) has the second-shortest odds to win the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP. Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky tops that table at +250.
The Oilers are 9-2 in their past 11 games this postseason after beginning the playoffs 0-2 and have run their record to 3-2 in Games 2 of a conference finals/Stanley Cup semifinals after losing the series opener. The other wins were in 1987 and 1991.
The Stars were shut out for the fourth time this postseason. No team has ever been shut out four times prior to reaching the Stanley Cup Final. The most was three, done by the 1950 Detroit Red Wings, 1997 Red Wings, 2012 New Jersey Devils … and 2020 Stars.
By blanking the Stars in Game 2, Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner recorded a shutout in his first three wins of a postseason, the ninth goaltender to pull off that feat. The previous eight: Marty Turco in (2007, Stars), Nikolai Khabibulin (2004, Tampa Bay Lightning), Ed Belfour (2004, Toronto Maple Leafs), Patrick Lalime (2002, Ottawa Senators), Brent Johnson (2002, St. Louis Blues), Martin Brodeur (1995, Devils), Turk Broda (1950, Maple Leafs), Dave Kerr (1940, New York Rangers)
Leon Draisaitl and McDavid are the fourth set of teammates in the past 25 years with 20 points in consecutive postseasons, joining Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins, 2008-09), Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel (Penguins, 2017-18) as well as Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point (Lightning, 2020-2021). The Penguins won the Cup in two of those seasons (2009, 2017), while the Lightning won in both 2020 and 2021.
Edmonton defenseman Evan Bouchard registered his 23rd career multipoint playoff game, all in the last four seasons. This is the most in a four-postseason span by a defenseman in Stanley Cup playoffs history — the old record was 22, by current Oilers assistant coach Paul Coffey.
Stars winger Mikko Rantanen failed to score a goal for the fifth consecutive game after scoring nine in a previous six-game span this postseason. The five-game goalless drought is Rantanen’s second-longest streak in his tenure with Dallas, behind a seven-game streak from March 14-26. Rantanen has one goal in seven games vs. the Oilers this season (two with Colorado, one with Carolina, four with Dallas).
Heading into Game 3, Miro Heiskanen has 13 career multipoint games in the playoffs, tied with Sergei Zubov for the most by a defenseman in North Stars/Stars franchise history.
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger is climbing the leaderboard for playoff wins by a U.S.-born netminder. His 32 are tied for fourth with Jon Casey and Frank Brimsek, behind Tom Barrasso (61), Jonathan Quick (49) and Mike Richter (41).
Scoring leaders
GP: 13 | G: 6 | A: 14
GP: 15 | G: 9 | A: 11
Sports
Which NL powerhouse has the edge? Sizing up 7 games in 14 days between the Dodgers and Mets
Published
5 mins agoon
May 25, 2025By
admin
-
Jorge Castillo
CloseJorge Castillo
ESPN Staff Writer
- ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.
-
Alden Gonzalez
CloseAlden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writer
- ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.
May 23, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets are about to see a whole lot of each other.
The defending World Series champions and the team they beat to win the National League pennant last fall play three games this weekend at Citi Field and four games at Dodger Stadium starting June 2. For those of you scoring at home, that’s seven matchups in a span of 14 days.
Both teams enter Friday’s opener in back-and-forth battles for first place in their respective divisions. How will their head-to-head play dictate the state of the NL East and West? Will they clash again come October? And who has the edge — both for now and if/when they cross paths in the playoffs?
ESPN MLB writers Jorge Castillo (based in New York) and Alden Gonzalez (based in Los Angeles) answer a few key questions about the Mets and Dodgers.
What has stood out most to you about each team’s strong start to the season?
Castillo: The starting rotation was identified as the Mets’ weakness before the season, especially after Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas sustained injuries during spring training. That has not been the case so far. Instead, the Mets own the best rotation ERA in the majors with a quintet of Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning toeing the rubber. The group has stumbled recently, and its innings total ranks in the bottom half of the majors. But the collective performance has allowed the Mets to overcome slow starts from various position players — most notably, Juan Soto.
Gonzalez: The emergence of three young players in particular: Dalton Rushing, Hyeseong Kim and Andy Pages. Rushing, the team’s most promising prospect outside of Roki Sasaki, torched Triple-A and prompted the Dodgers to cut ties with their longtime backup catcher, Austin Barnes. Kim, signed out of South Korea last offseason, did the same, then performed so well in the majors the Dodgers swallowed the remaining $13 million or so in Chris Taylor’s contract. Pages, meanwhile, went from being uncertain if he’d crack the Opening Day roster to establishing himself as an everyday player.
Their success underscores what has made the Dodgers the Dodgers: No matter how bloated their payroll, how poor their draft position or how often they trade prospects for veterans, they always seem to have that next wave coming.
Despite all the positives so far, what is your biggest concern about each team?
Castillo: Regression seems inevitable for the Mets’ starting rotation (unless it’s going to maintain an ERA under 3 all season). Add that to the recent bullpen injuries — namely losing A.J. Minter for the season — and the defense’s troubles, and run prevention could become a bigger issue for the Mets as the season progresses. Defensive lapses were apparent during last weekend’s Subway Series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, when Mark Vientos made two errors that cost runs and Pete Alonso’s errant throw allowed the go-ahead run to score in the finale. Francisco Lindor, a perennial Gold Glove contender, hasn’t been himself at shortstop, and the corner outfield spots are below average. It’s a recipe that would call for more offense.
Gonzalez: When the Dodgers concluded their fourth homestand of the season earlier this week, 14 pitchers resided on their injured list — seven in the rotation, seven in the bullpen. Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Sasaki are all nursing shoulder injuries with nebulous timetables, severely compromising the rotation and forcing the bullpen to lead the majors in innings. That bullpen, meanwhile, is without four critical high-leverage options in Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates, leaving Dodgers manager Dave Roberts with few, if any, trusted right-handed options to hold leads late. Dodgers pitchers continue to get hurt at an alarming rate. And not even this team can overcome that rate of injury.
Who is one x-factor who could make or break each team’s season?
Castillo: Soto, by most standards, is not having a bad season at the plate. Many players would gladly take an OPS over .800. But he signed a $765 million contract to be one of the best hitters in the sport, and he’s been far from one of those. If Soto can unlock his usual form, and there’s nothing in his track record to suggest he won’t, the Mets’ lineup becomes a different animal. Soto, at his best, makes hitters around him better. He works pitchers. He shuffles and he swaggers. The Mets haven’t seen that version yet. The body language isn’t quite right and the production isn’t there. That’ll need to change for them to become legitimate pennant contenders in a loaded National League.
Gonzalez: Shohei Ohtani has been just as much an offensive force as he was last year, when he became the first full-time designated hitter to collect an MVP Award. But there’s a whole other half waiting to be unlocked. Ohtani is going through his pitching progression slowly. At this point it doesn’t seem as if he’ll join the rotation until sometime in July at the earliest — 22 months after his second UCL repair. The Dodgers backed him off his progression ahead of the season opener, they say, in hopes of not wearing him out and providing him with the best chance of being a factor in October. If he looks anything like he did on the mound from 2021 to 2023, he will be.
Who has tougher competition to win their division: The Mets in the NL East or the Dodgers in the NL West?
Castillo: The NL West has more playoff contenders (four to three), but the quality of competition in the NL East is better. The Philadelphia Phillies, the defending division champs, arguably have the best starting rotation in the majors with an experienced lineup that has been through it all. And the Atlanta Braves are back on track, reaching .500 after their ugly 0-7 start to the season, without much contribution from their two best players. Spencer Strider, activated from the injured list this week, has made only two starts. Ronald Acuna Jr. hasn’t played in a game yet. All three teams are real October threats.
Gonzalez: It’s the NL West, because that fourth legitimate playoff contender could end up making a big difference in a tight race. The Mets still have a combined 16 games remaining against the rebuilding Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins. The Dodgers can only beat up on the Colorado Rockies, who they’ll face 10 more times. And while the Phillies are great and the Braves are more dangerous than their record indicates, one can make a case for the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants all being just as good, if not better. Of even more relevance is what the Dodgers will face in the ensuing weeks — 26 straight games against teams with a winning record, with the last 10 coming against division rivals.
These teams play seven times in the next 14 days. Give us your prediction for the series and the stars.
Castillo: This is shaping up to be a battle between a struggling pitching staff (Dodgers) and a struggling offense (Mets). Let’s go with Dodgers 4, Mets 3, because the Dodgers have one more home game. The Dodgers’ big three of Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman will power them to a season series victory.
Gonzalez: Betts got off to a slow start offensively, but he recently unlocked something in his swing and has started to round back into form of late. He’ll put his imprint on these matchups, but the Mets will win most of the games for a simple reason: On days when Yoshinobu Yamamoto does not pitch, the Dodgers don’t really know what they’ll get from their starting pitchers.
Which pitching rotation will be better come October: The Dodgers’ star-studded but oft-injured group or the Mets’ currently producing but lesser-known starters?
Castillo: It’s not even Memorial Day. These rotations could look completely different come October. But, for now, I’ll take the Dodgers. They’re bound to have at least a few of those star pitchers healthy for the postseason. If not, something went terribly, terribly wrong.
Gonzalez: The Dodgers’ priority this offseason wasn’t Soto. It was Snell. They chased him early and lavished him with $182 million because they knew pairing Snell with Glasnow and Yamamoto would give them a devastating trio for October. If those three are available then, I’m taking the Dodgers. But there’s no telling if that will be the case.
If these teams earn a rematch of the 2024 NLCS this October, who are you taking and why?
Castillo: Assuming health, the Dodgers because they’re better in every department.
Gonzalez: The Mets played the Dodgers tough last year, then signed the new Ted Williams. The Dodgers beat them despite a shorthanded rotation, then added arguably the two most coveted starting pitchers in Snell and Sasaki. Now the Mets and Dodgers are separated by one game, with near-identical run differentials. More than four months of the regular season remain. I plead the Fifth.
Trending
-
Sports3 years ago
‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year ago
Story injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years ago
Game 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years ago
MLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years ago
Japan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years ago
Game-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years ago
Bank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway