NBA/NHL playoffs open thread

We should acknowledge a major event yesterday — Mike Trout being present for a playoff elimination game in Anaheim:

ANAHEIM STRIKES FIRST 🚨

Mike Trout is on his FEET 🔥pic.twitter.com/xAlkPpWLoZ— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) May 1, 2026

THE ANAHEIM DUCKS HAVE DEFEATED THE OILERS IN 6 GAMES 😱 pic.twitter.com/yLOK7PMhfN— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 1, 2026

This, of course, brings together two storylines — the two most egregious management fumbles in 21st century major non-Mexican North American sports:

If you’re a championship-or-bust person, I guess you could still make a case for the Oilers — hockey is much more of a strongest-link game than baseball, and unless Ovechkin counts (and IMO he’s a tier below the Orr/Gretzky/Lemieux/Crosby/McDavid level) there’s no precedent for a player of McDavid’s caliber not winning a championship in his 20s, let alone a generational superstar paired with another one of the five best players of his era, both on ridiculously team-friendly contracts. But I agree with Gretz that the back-to-back finals runs are significant achievements, and while it’s one thing not to win championships with two players of Trout and Ohtani’s caliber in your lineup, it’s quite another not to be able to assemble a .500 team. I’ve seen some people mention LeBron’s first run with the Cavs, but 1)all due respect to Irving but he’s no Ohtani or Draisaitl and 2)the franchise did eventually win with James, so I think they’re out of the discussion. I think the Angels are the very worst.

I hope tonight’s NHL games will result in the Montreal/Buffalo second round all decent people deserve. W/r to the NBA, how huge an upset is it if the Pistons finish choking? Can the Rockets do what has never been done in the Association? I have no idea, but you may wish to discuss this.