Bruins win Game 1

Jeremy Swayman made 35 saves, getting some help from the post to stop a point-blank Auston Matthews shot on Saturday night as the Boston Bruins beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-1 in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.

Jake DeBrusk scored two power-play goals, and Bruins rookie Jonny Beecher scored on his first postseason shot on goal. Brandon Carlo added a goal about a minute after Matthews, who led the NHL with 69 goals this season, caught Swayman away from the crease but banged the puck off the near goalpost.

Yankee fans BOO Judge

 

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge acknowledged Saturday that he'd boo himself if he were a fan as his early season slump continued on his promotional bobblehead day.

"Oh, I've heard worse, and I'd probably be doing the same thing in their situation," Judge said after an 0-for-4 performance with four strikeouts that resulted in boos in a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium, according to SNY.

Nylander OUT for Game 1

 

The Toronto Maple Leafs are without star winger William Nylander for Game 1 against the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.

The 27-year-old experienced some discomfort when he woke up Thursday, one day after the Leafs' final regular-season game, reports TSN's Chris Johnston.

Nylander didn't attend Friday's practice or Saturday's optional morning skate.

He skated in all 82 games for Toronto this campaign, registering 40 goals and a career-high 98 points. He represented the Maple Leafs at the 2024 All-Star Game in February for the first time in his career.

Hurricanes take Game 1

 

Nothing came easily for the Carolina Hurricanes to start the NHL playoffs.

Stefan Noesen scored the go-ahead goal early in the third while Frederik Andersen had a huge night in net to help the Hurricanes push past the New York Islanders 3-1 on Saturday to open their first-round series.

Chapman suspended 2 games

 

Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Aroldis Chapman received a two-game suspension and was fined an undisclosed amount for inappropriate actions during a game against the New York Mets on Monday, the league announced Thursday.

Chapman is permitted to appeal the suspension, which is scheduled to begin Friday.

The 36-year-old was ejected in the eighth inning of Monday's game after saying something to home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso.

Will Crosby retire as Penguin?

 

In case there was any doubt, Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas wants captain Sidney Crosby to be a Penguin for life. 

"The intention has always been clear," the executive toldreporters Friday. "I think he should finish his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. How long that is? I'm not going to put any limits on Sidney Crosby. He's capable of great things and is still performing at an extraordinarily high level."

Crosby has one season remaining on his 12-year, $104.4-million contract and is eligible to sign a new extension July 1.

Rockies being investigated

 

The Colorado Rockies are being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and United Airlines after video surfaced of an unauthorized person sitting in the cockpit during a recent team charter, according to Alison Sider of the Wall Street Journal.

During the Rockies' flight from Denver to Toronto on April 10, a person not part of the crew was recorded pretending to control the plane and giving a thumbs-up while sitting in the captain's chair as the plane was clearly in the air, sources told Sider. The video was posted to both social media and YouTube earlier in the week but has since been deleted.

Coyotes say farewell to Arizona

 

The Arizona Coyotes went out on a high note, prevailing 5-2 over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday in what turned out to be the final game of this iteration of the franchise.

The crowd at Mullett Arena in Tempe cheered throughout the final minute, and the Coyotes broadcasters went silent for roughly the final 20 seconds.

Kucherov 100 assist season

 

Tampa Bay Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov became the fifth player in NHL history and the second this year to notch 100 assists in a single season Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kucherov entered the contest with 99 helpers and hit the century mark with an assist on Brayden Point's power-play goal.

Matthews shoots for 70 goals

 

Auston Matthews failed to score his 70th goal in the Toronto Maple Leafs' regular-season finale Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning, but it wasn't for a lack of effort.

The soon-to-be three-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy winner tallied a staggering nine scoring chances and 12 shots on 16 attempts in the contest. His best chance came when he rung one off the crossbar in the second period.