Sports
Penguins look to ride momentum, stave off elimination in Game 6
Apr 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) and Philadelphia Flyers left wing Noah Cates (27) take a third period face-off in game five of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The momentum in the first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins has officially shifted to the west.
The Penguins have won two straight games with their season on the line and will look to continue their rally against their intrastate rivals Wednesday when they skate with the Flyers in a pivotal Game 6.
Philadelphia appeared to be in control of the series after winning the first three games by a combined score of 11-4. However, a 4-2 defeat in Game 4 gave Pittsburgh life – and the Penguins followed up that performance with a 3-2 triumph in Game 5 on Monday.
“The first three games we kind of got into the same slow game, scrum it out every time,” said Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang, who has scored the game-winning goals in each of the last two contests. “Obviously, the playoffs are a different energy, but Games 4 and 5, we’re playing with pace, and that’s what we did all year. … We’re a team that won by playing fast.”
Letang’s fluky game-winner in Game 5 was a shot that fluttered past Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar, hit off the end boards and ricocheted back into the crease, where it got lost in Vladar’s skates and trickled over the goal line.
Elmer Soderblom and Connor Dewar also scored for the Penguins, while Sidney Crosby had two assists and Arturs Silovs made 18 saves.
“I thought the last couple games we’ve found our stride a bit,” Crosby said. “So, we should feel good about that. I think with any series, though, you’ve got to get better with every game, and there’s still things we can do better.”
Only four teams in NHL history have blown a 3-0 series lead by losing the final four games. The Flyers obviously don’t want to join that list, but they’re staying focused and confident for now.
“We’ve got to regroup, get ready for the next one and find that desperation,” said Philadelphia defenseman Travis Sanheim, who scored one of the team’s two goals. “I think going home, in our building, we’re still in a good spot.”
The Flyers received a boost in Game 5 from Alex Bump, who scored a goal in his first career playoff contest, and fellow rookie Denver Barkey, who played with energy and poise on his 21st birthday.
“The young guys were good,” Philadelphia coach Rick Tocchet said. “We’ve got to get some (veteran) guys (going), though — they’ve got to step it up. They’ve got to play with more pace, shorter shifts. … We’ve got to come up with some stuff here.”
Vladar has not looked 100% since injuring his right arm in Game 3. He finished with 18 saves in Monday’s setback.
He’ll likely need to be sturdier in net if the Flyers are going to win a playoff series for the first time since 2020. Meanwhile, the Penguins have not advanced in the postseason since defeating Philadelphia in the first round in 2018.
If there is a Game 7, it will take place Saturday evening in Pittsburgh. But for now, the teams remain focused on delivering their best efforts in Game 6.
“There’s no way that group’s going to go away,” Tocchet said. “No chance.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Exiled Trevor Bauer wishes he never signed with Dodgers
Jun 18, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Five years after he last threw a pitch in the major leagues, former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and 10-year veteran Trevor Bauer continues to blame others for his inability to find a roster spot within an organization.
In an interview this week on the YouTube channel “La casa de los Dodgers,” Bauer expressed regret over signing a three-year, $102-million deal with his hometown club. The 35-year-old right-hander currently is pitching for the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in Mexico City.
“I wish I had never played for them,” Bauer said in the interview. “… The front-office people, I wish them nothing but the worst because they treated me like s–t and I just don’t appreciate it. I don’t think you should treat a human being like that.”
During his first season with the Dodgers in 2021, Bauer was accused of sexual assault from two separate encounters with the same woman. The Pasadena (Calif.) Police Department confirmed the allegations.
After an investigation, charges were never filed, with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office saying there was a lack of evidence. The Dodgers still elected to part ways with the Los Angeles-area native after the process continued into April of 2022. The investigation uncovered disturbing details about the relationship between Bauer and his accuser.
The incident followed a pattern of Bauer being combative on social media, as well as political views and opinions on political figures.
The 2020 National League Cy Young Award winner, as a member of the Cincinnati Reds, Bauer said he had the support of Dodgers teammate Mookie Betts and that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts offered emotional support on one occasion. He offered criticism of Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior.
Since his last pitch in the majors, Bauer has played in Japan and Mexico and had seven starts earlier this season with the independent Long Island Ducks. The Ducks transferred Bauer’s contract to the Diablos Rojos in June.
In the interview, Bauer said that signing with the Dodgers “was really cool for me,” after he grew up rooting for the club. But he said the Dodgers’ clubhouse atmosphere “wasn’t as good as some other places I’ve been.”
He insists that he still is good enough to compete at the game’s highest level.
“I’d love to be back in the big leagues at some point, but it is pretty obvious at this point that the league will never allow that to happen,” Bauer said. “I think what they are doing is illegal and I just don’t want to waste my time and energy and money and everything suing them because I don’t think that is good for baseball.”
Bauer went 83-69 with a 3.79 ERA in 222 games (212 starts) with four teams from 2012-21.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Pirates acquire RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
May 27, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Camilo Doval (75) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images The Pittsburgh Pirates are acquiring right-handed reliever Camilo Doval from the New York Yankees in exchange for two prospects, ESPN reported Saturday.
Doval, 29, is 3-1 with one save and a 4.54 ERA in 44 appearances out of the New York bullpen this season.
The Yankees acquired the former All-Star closer in a deal with the San Francisco Giants at last year’s trade deadline.
Doval is 29-20 with 109 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 341 career games (no starts) with the Giants (2021-25) and Yankees.
According to Cuba-based BeisbolFR.com, the Yankees will receive catcher Omar Alfonzo and outfielder Luis Cruz in the deal. Both were playing for the Pirates’ Dominican Summer League affiliate.
The MLB trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. ET.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Spirit, MOUZ reach BLAST Bounty Summer grand final
A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home.
Jordan Woodruff
Team Spirit and MOUZ will meet in Sunday’s best-of-five grand final at the BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 tournament in Attard, Malta.
Team Spirit outlasted FaZe Clan 2-1 and MOUZ rallied past Astralis to win by the same score in Saturday’s semifinals of the Counter-Strike 2 competition.
The eight teams reached the bracket-style finals advanced from a pool of 32 clubs in a closed qualifier. Of the $740,000 prize pool, $410,000 was awarded to participants in the closed qualifier. The champion will also earn three BLAST Frequent Flyer Tokens, while the other seven teams will collect one.
Team Spirit sandwiched a 13-6 win on Dust II and a 13-11 victory on Anubis around a 13-9 loss to FaZe Clan on Cache. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov of Russia led Team Spirit with 49 kills and a 1.24 match rating.
After Astralis opened with a 13-6 win on Ancient, MOUZ responded with back-to-back 13-9 triumphs on Mirage and Dust II. Adam “torzsi” Torzsas of Hungary paced MOUZ with 54 kills and a 1.29 match rating.
BLAST Bounty Summer 2026 prize pool (player prize, team share)
1. TBD
2. TBD
3-4. FaZe Clan ($28,125, $40,000), Astralis ($28,125, $40,000)
5-8. Team Liquid ($41,250, $40,000); 3DMAX ($21,250, $40,000); The MongolZ ($11,250, $40,000); paiN Gaming ($11,250, $40,000)
–Field Level Media
Exiled Trevor Bauer wishes he never signed with Dodgers
Report: Pirates acquire RHP Camilo Doval from Yankees
