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NEW YORK — Looking to help Francisco Lindor out of his early funk, New York Mets fans gave him the Trea Turner treatment.

Cheers instead of catcalls. Warm ovations rather than angry boos. And the star shortstop was certainly appreciative.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all, but it definitely felt good. It felt good to be able to come home and feel the love of the fans,” Lindor said Friday night following New York’s 6-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

“It fills my heart, for sure. So I appreciate everybody that came out and showed some love — not only for me, but for my teammates as well.”

With Lindor off to a dreadful start at the plate this season, Mets fans followed the lead of their rival brethren in Philadelphia — where notoriously nasty Phillies fans banded together online last summer in support of a slumping Turner.

They came to the ballpark and, rather than continuing to target him with boos, they cheered their new shortstop with the $300 million contract, giving him out-of-the-ordinary standing ovations for a full weekend in early August.

It worked. Turner soon got hot and turned his season around, helping the Phillies reach Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. He expressed his appreciation with a thank-you message to fans splashed on 12 digital billboards in the greater Philadelphia area.

“I think that was extremely cool, extremely special. I’m sure he loved it,” Lindor said.

With the Mets on the road last weekend, a fan suggested on social media that New Yorkers do the same for Lindor — and team owner Steve Cohen said he loved the idea.

“It worked in Philly with Turner. Positivity goes a long way,” Cohen posted on the platform X.

So before each of Lindor’s at-bats Friday, fans in the scattered crowd of 18,822 on a blustery night at Citi Field gave him an ovation.

Lindor, who is batting .111 with two RBIs in the third season of a $341 million, 10-year contract, was aware that might happen.

“Of course,” he said. “It’s in my face every time I open social media. So yeah, I saw Steve’s tweet, I saw a couple people’s tweet. At the end of the day, people can do whatever they want to do, and it was something that I wasn’t really expecting. I knew it was something out there. When it happened, when I walked up, and every at-bat, it felt really good. This is home. So, I love playing here. I love playing in front of the fans here.

“At the end of the day, I try to put up a show day in and day out for them.”

Maybe the vocal support made a difference, too.

Lindor drew a leadoff walk in the fourth inning, then singled sharply in the middle of a rally and scored in the fifth. He was retired on a hard-hit grounder in the seventh and finished 1-for-3.

New York won for the sixth time in eight games after opening 0-5.

“Everybody that came out, thank you for the love for sure. It doesn’t go unnoticed,” Lindor said.

Cohen was happy to see the response, too.

“Thank You Mets fans for your positivity tonight. I know the players felt it,” he posted on X.

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

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Johnson, 2-time Cup winner with Lightning, retires

Tyler Johnson has announced his retirement after playing 13 NHL seasons and winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Johnson called it a career in a lengthy message posted on social media Monday. Johnson had battled injuries in recent years and is set to turn 35 on July 29.

“As a short kid from a small town, I saw my chances of playing in the NHL as very slim,” Johnson wrote on Instagram. “But my family — my parents, Ken and Debbie, and my grandparents — believed in me when doubt clouded my mind. Their unwavering faith turned that dream into reality.”

Listed at 5-foot-8 and 191 pounds, Johnson won at just about ever level, capturing the Western Hockey League and Memorial Cup championships in 2008 with his hometown Spokane Chiefs and the Calder Cup championship with Norfolk of the American Hockey League in 2012.

The NHL brought more success, as he skated in 863 regular-season and playoff games since debuting in the league in 2013, putting up 498 points. Johnson was part of the Lightning’s core when they reached the final in 2015 and helped them hoist the Cup back to back in 2020 and ’21.

Johnson finished with Chicago, playing three seasons with the Blackhawks, and Boston, signing with the Bruins early last season following his training camp tryout.

“After a lifetime devoted to hockey, I’m ready for what’s next,” Johnson said. “This moment is bittersweet, but I leave the game with no regrets.”

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‘Gritty’ McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

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'Gritty' McBain secures 5-year deal from Mammoth

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Mammoth re-signed center Jack McBain to a five-year contract worth $21.25 million on Monday.

McBain will count $4.25 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season, which was announced a little more than 24 hours since the team elected salary arbitration with the restricted free agent forward.

“He is a big, strong, physical player who competes hard on a nightly basis and brings a gritty toughness to our group,” general manager Bill Armstrong said. “Jack is an important part of the championship-caliber team we are building, and we look forward to having him back on our roster for the foreseeable future.”

McBain, 25, is coming off setting a career high with 27 points and playing all 82 games. He was one of six players to skate in every game of the organization’s first season in Salt Lake City.

“Jack’s versatility as a player, his care for his teammates and his demonstrated willingness to do whatever it takes to win, are all critical elements to our future team success,” president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said.

McBain has 82 points in 241 games with the franchise, which moved to Utah from Arizona. Since debuting in April 2022, he ranks third in the league with 832 hits.

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‘Workhorse’ York nets five-year deal from Flyers

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'Workhorse' York nets five-year deal from Flyers

Cam York and the Philadelphia Flyers agreed to terms Monday on a five-year contract worth $25.75 million, with re-signing the restricted free agent defenseman completing perhaps the team’s last important piece of offseason business.

York, 25, will count $5.15 million against the salary cap through the 2029-30 NHL season. That price could turn out to be a bargain with the upper limit rising from $88 million this past season to $113.5 million by 2027-28.

“Cam has been a workhorse for our team over the last few seasons,” general manager Danny Briere said. “We’re excited by his development and look forward to his continued growth and emergence as a young leader within our group.”

The Flyers are trying to shift from rebuilding to contending, and York was the final player on the roster without a contract. They acquired Trevor Zegras in a trade from Anaheim last month and signed fellow center Christian Dvorak and backup goaltender Dan Vladar on the first day of free agency.

York, the 14th pick in the 2019 draft, has skated nearly 21 minutes a game so far in his pro career, all with Philadelphia. He has 77 points in 235 games for the Flyers, who have not made the playoffs since 2020.

“I believe in this team, and I love the direction we are heading,” York said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue this journey and build something special together.”

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