Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

The New York Islanders confirmed early reports, announcing Mathieu Darche as the team's general manager Friday. "Mathieu is the perfect choice to lead our hockey operations," Islanders operating partner John Collins said. "He will be given every resource available to put the Islanders first-in-class on the ice, with our business initiatives, and in the community." Darche, 48, has served as the director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning over the past six seasons. The Lightning qualified for the playoffs in each year of that stretch, including capturing consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2020 and 2021 and appearing in the Finals in 2022. Tabbed general manager and executive vice president, Darche will replace Lou Lamoriello, who left the Islanders last month after seven seasons. "I am truly honored by the opportunity to be the New York Islanders general manager and executive vice president," Darche said. "I'd like to thank Scott Malkin, Jon Ledecky, John Collins, and the entire ownership group for entrusting me with the hockey operations of this great franchise." Lamoriello, 82, was hired in 2018 as New York's president of hockey operations. He is a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee in the builders category (2009). A native of St. Laurent, Quebec, Darche is a former player, having competed in 250 regular-season NHL games and 18 playoff games, scoring 72 regular-season points (30 goals) over nine seasons for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, Lightning, and Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders missed the playoffs in 2024-25 after posting a 35-35-12 record. New York, however, landed the top overall pick of the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft earlier this month, despite having the 10th-best chance of winning the lottery at 3.5 percent. "With the Islanders owning the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and preparing to welcome the Olympic sendoff at UBS Arena next season, there is much to which our franchise, our players, and our passionate fans can look forward," Collins said. --Field Level Media

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager

Islanders name Mathieu Darche new general manager The New York Islanders confirmed early reports, announcing Mathieu Darche as the team'...

Read More

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2

DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon lined a two-run double off the top of the centerfield wall, Tanner Gordon got his first major league win and the scuffling Colorado Rockies stopped a five-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the AL East-leading New York Yankees on Friday night. In front of a sellout crowd at Coors Field, the Rockies improved to 9-42, the most losses through 51 games since 1901. Colorado, which has yet to win a series this season, is 2-9 since Warren Schaeffer replaced Bud Black as manager. Aaron Judge hit his 17th homer of the season, a solo shot in the fifth of his first regular season game at Coors Field. He finished 2 for 4 and raised his major league-leading average to .398. Gordon (1-1), a 27-year-old right-hander who entered with a 5.68 ERA, allowed two runs and five hits in six innings before turning it over to the bullpen. After Jake Bird threw a perfect seventh, Seth Halvorsen worked his way out of trouble in the eighth by getting Judge to hit into a double play and striking out Ben Rice. Zach Agnos pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth for his third save. New York went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and its last 14 batters failed to get a hit. The Yankees had won six of their previous seven games. Clarke Schmidt (1-2) was cruising along until the fifth and had a 2-1 lead when he allowed two-out singles by Ezequiel Tovar and Hunter Goodman. He was taken out for Tim Hill, who surrendered the two-run double to McMahon. Some of the loudest cheers of the night were for Judge and Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, who delivered a strike while throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Key moment The Yankees hit into two double plays, including a nifty turn by second baseman Adael Amador in the fourth. Key stat The Rockies are 2-2 this season while wearing their vibrant City Connect uniforms. Up next Yankees lefty Max Fried (6-0, 1.29 ERA) can tie Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt (7-3) for the major league lead in wins Saturday. Colorado will throw lefty Kyle Freeland (0-6, 5.68). ___ More AP baseball:https://apnews.com/MLB

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2

McMahon hits 2-run double, Gordon picks up 1st win as scuffling Rockies beat Yankees 3-2 DENVER (AP) — Ryan McMahon lined a two-run double o...

Read More

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY

NEW YORK — TheIndiana Pacersare going home with a commanding2-0 leadin theNBA'sEastern Conference finals after again silencing the Madison Square Garden crowd with a114-109victory over theNew York Knickson Friday. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 39 points as all five Indiana starters scored in double figures. The Knicks will try to come back from an 0-2 deficit to make it to the Finals. These very Pacers pulled off the trick last season against the Knicks in the semifinal round and won Game 7 in New York to advance to the Eastern Conference finals. Game 3 is in Indianapolison Sunday (8 p.m. ET, TNT). MORE:2025 All-NBA team: MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić headline first squad MORE:Celebs at Knicks vs. Pacers: Russell Wilson, Ciara at Game 2. See stars at Madison Square Garden The Pacers' power forward came out strong, scoring 23 points in the first half to handle the early scoring load as Indiana took an early 10-point lead. He finished with 39 points (15-of-23 FG, 3-of-5 3-point FG) and carried the team for the majority of the game until the rest of the starters picked it up in the second half. Siakam, who helped lead theToronto Raptorsto the 2019 NBA championship, set a playoff career high. Tyrese Haliburton, who only scored two points in the first half, finished with 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. MORE:Story behind Ben Sheppard's mustache: Pacers guard says, 'I feel like it's part of me now' Just like the world championBoston Celticsdid in the semifinals, this time it was the Knicks' opportunity to squander the first two games at home and find themselves having to win four of the next five games to advance to their first NBA Finals since 1999. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the reserves couldn't keep the game close, and Jalen Brunson, who had 36 points and 11 assists, couldn't bring the Knicks back. The Pacers' ability to get to the paint almost at will hurt the Knicks, especially in the fourth quarter. Indiana took advantage of New York's smaller guards, and when they weren't scoring with uncontested layups or getting fouled, the Pacers' outside shooters capitalized. The do-everything guard for the Knicks was a non-factor, getting into foul trouble early and never finding his groove. He finished with six points on 2-of-3 shooting and six rebounds in 29 minutes of action. The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff high; Josh Hart, defense AWOL

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY

Pascal Siakam smokes Knicks for playoff-high 39; Josh Hart, interior defense AWOL for NY NEW YORK — TheIndiana Pacersare going home with a c...

Read More

De Bruyne might be needed to keep Conte at Serie A champion Napoli

De Bruyne might be needed to keep Conte at Serie A champion Napoli

ROME (AP) — It's no secret thatAntonio Contewas extremely disappointed when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia left Napoli for Paris Saint-Germain in January. So it might take a big acquisition likeKevin De Bruyneto keep the demanding coach at freshly crownedSerie A champion. De Bruyne is at the top of Napoli's wish list. But there are no guarantees that the midfielder, who is leaving Manchester City after a decade, will land with the southern club. At Napoli, De Bruyne could reunite with Belgium teammate Romelu Lukaku. And follow in the footsteps of former Napoli great Dries Mertens, another Belgium teammate. "He's a strong player that we like. But we're not the only ones following him," Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna said hours before Napoli sealed its fourth Italian league title on Friday. It also remains to be seen what type of impact the potential arrival of De Bruyne would have on fellow midfielder Scott McTominay. McTominay was Napoli's breakout star this season and scored a spectacular opening goal in the 2-0 win over Cagliari that secured the title. Conte was widely credited with restoring Napoli to success this season following the Partenopei's 10th-place finish a year ago under three different coaches. But he has always enjoyed the challenge of building a team into a champion, whereas duplicating a previous season's success has been less appealing. So it was unsurprising that Conte was inconclusive when he was asked just before the trophy ceremony if he would stay on at the southern squad. "Let's enjoy the title for now. I have a good relationship with the president," Conte said, referring to Aurelio De Laurentiis. "We had the chance to get to know each other this season. We are two winners. We might be winners in different ways, but we are both winners." Conte has two more seasons remaining on his contract but might be interested in returning to Juventus if the struggling Bianconeri have an opening as expected. "Never say never," De Laurentiis said. "Coaches have their own character that must be respected and in my view you should never oblige them under iron-clad contracts. Napoli is Napoli, it deserves respect. If he wants to put himself at the disposal of the club the way he has done this season, then we say, 'Welcome.' we are ready to follow him like a great leader." "Next year, I would be very pleased if he made his mark in the Champions League," De Laurentiis added. Wherever he coaches, Conte will want to have a say in the market moves. While he was taken aback when Kvaratskhelia — one of the standouts of Napoli's 2023 title team — left midseason, in the end it was McTominay and Lukaku — the two players who Conte wanted most when he arrived at Napoli — who secured the latest title. McTominay was named the Italian league's player of the season after leaving boyhood club Manchester United, while Lukaku scored 14 goals and provided a league-best 10 assists. Both scored against Cagliari. De Bruyne, who turns 34 next month, will soon be out of contract at City and has announced that he is leaving the club that he helped win 16 major trophies during a period of unprecedented dominance. ___ AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

De Bruyne might be needed to keep Conte at Serie A champion Napoli

De Bruyne might be needed to keep Conte at Serie A champion Napoli ROME (AP) — It's no secret thatAntonio Contewas extremely disappointe...

Read More

Pacers fend off Knicks, go home up 2-0 in East finals

Pacers fend off Knicks, go home up 2-0 in East finals

Pascal Siakam is a three-time All-Star who has carried an underrated label throughout most of his nine-year NBA career. Rest assured that Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle doesn't view him that way. The team-first Siakam's scoring is what was coveted Friday night and he didn't disappoint as the Pacers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals. Siakam scored a playoff career-best 39 points and Indiana picked up its second straight road triumph in the series by outclassing the New York Knicks 114-109 on Friday night. Game 3 is Sunday night at Indianapolis. Siakam made 15 of 23 field-goal attempts to set the tone for Indiana's sixth consecutive playoff road victory. Myles Turner had 16 points and Tyrese Haliburton added 14 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the fourth-seeded Pacers. "I just came out aggressive," Siakam said. "At the end of the day, we're a team. It doesn't matter who scores. That's what I love so much about this team is we don't care who scores. We just want to win the game. "I got it going early and the guys did a good job of finding me. Another night, it will be somebody else. That's what makes us special." Siakam has averaged more than 20 points in six straight seasons, the last 1 1/2 campaigns coming with the Pacers. He won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and Carlisle views him as a vital cog in Indiana's attempt to win one of its own. "He's a veteran who has been in these situations multiple times," Carlisle said. "He understands the importance of patience and being disciplined and understanding the NBA playoffs are a process. "He never forces it. When we get in a bind late in the shot clock, he can get a shot up to the rim and most of the time it goes in." Jalen Brunson scored 36 points to set a Knicks postseason record of 19 30-point outings. He made five 3-pointers and added 11 assists. Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges each had 20 points and seven rebounds for third-seeded New York. The Knicks trailed by 10 before ripping off nine straight late points. Anunoby made two free throws and Brunson added five straight points to cut Indiana's lead to 110-107 with 1:06 remaining. Josh Hart scored on a layup with 14.7 seconds left to bring New York within one. Aaron Nesmith was fouled without any time coming off the clock and made both free throws to put the Pacers ahead by three. Brunson missed a long 3-pointer with just over eight seconds left before Turner made both free throws to give Indiana the final five-point margin with 4.2 seconds to go. "We had a chance to tie the ballgame," New York coach Tom Thibodeau said. "It was a hard-fought game. Both games came down to the last play." Indiana rallied from a 14-point deficit with under three minutes remaining in regulation in Game 1 and eventually won 138-135 in overtime. Though the Knicks now face two games at Indianapolis, New York forward Mikal Bridges knows it takes four victories for a team to win the series. "Just take it one game at a time," Bridges said. "I know it is 2-0 but it is still a long series. We just have to find different ways to advance." Ben Sheppard and Siakam knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to cap an 11-2 run as Indiana broke a tie and took a 94-85 advantage with 9:17 remaining in the game. New York was within 103-99 before Haliburton drained a trey and Siakam made two free throws to give the Pacers a nine-point lead with 3:23 to play. A short time later, Haliburton threaded a pass to a wide-open Siakam for a layup to make it 110-100 with 2:45 left. That hoop allowed Siakam to pass his previous playoff career high of 37 points. The Pacers shot 51.8 percent from the field, including 13 of 30 from 3-point range. Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard had 12 points apiece and T.J. McConnell scored 10. OG Anunoby added 16 points for New York, which made 47.6 percent of its shots and was 11 of 32 from behind the arc. Siakam scored Indiana's first 11 points and had 16 in the opening quarter but New York put together a 17-5 quarter-ending push to take a 26-24 edge. New York led 52-49 at the break behind Brunson's 17 points. Siakam had 23 in the half for the Pacers. Siakam's basket with 28.7 seconds left in the third quarter put Indiana ahead by two before Brunson tied the score at 81 on a short basket with 2.5 seconds remaining. --Field Level Media

byNicholas Miller

in

May 24, 2025

Pacers fend off Knicks, go home up 2-0 in East finals

Pacers fend off Knicks, go home up 2-0 in East finals Pascal Siakam is a three-time All-Star who has carried an underrated label throughout ...

Read More