The Sportsletter - 🚨 Record Wreckers

BY JEFF YODER

MAY 4, 2023 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning,

Historic moments in soccer and baseball join today’s playoff recaps. And here I thought a Wednesday in May might snooze on sports. Think again, buddy. We’re full steam ahead towards a weekend that features the Kentucky Derby and UFC 288.

Letter Rip!

PREMIER LEAGUE

Haaland Is Him

Photo:Lexy Ilsley / Getty Images

Manchester City's Erling Haaland Scores 35th Goal to Break Premier League Single-Season Record... With 5 Matches Left

Erling Haaland’s historic season hit another milestone on Wednesday, and there are still five games left for Manchester City. Haaland scored a counter-attacking chip-shot in the 70th minute of City’s 3-0 win over West Ham. It was a win that launched City back above Arsenal for the top spot in the Premier League, and it launched Haaland into the record books with his 35th goal of the season. The 22-year-old Norwegian striker is in his debut EPL season since transferring from Borussia Dortmund last year, and he could flirt with 40 goals by season's end.

All-Time EPL Single-Season Records

1. Erling Haaland: 35 Goals (2022-23)

2. Alan Shearer: 34 Goals (1994-95)

3. Andrew Cole: 34 Goals (1993-94)

4. Mohamed Salah: 32 Goals (2017-18)

5. Cristiano Ronaldo: 31 Goals (2008-08)

*12 Players have scored 30 or more goals in a single season. Both Shearer and Cole scored 34 during the Premier League's 42-match format (modern era: 38 matches).

Watch: Haaland Makes History as City Shut Out West Ham (3-0)

Haaland also tied Thierry Henry’s record for most goals scored at home in a single season (22). He also has 51 total goals this year across all competitions. History and Haaland go hand in hand. And City is now back in control of the EPL table with an additional match left on the schedule. As the kids say -- "I'm Him." If anyone "is him" right now, it's Haaland.

EPL Title Race

1. Manchester City: 79 points (25-4-4) -- 5 Left

2. Arsenal: 78 points (24-6-4) -- 4 Left

Additional Storylines

Insider: Haaland Didn’t Just Break EPL Scoring Record, He’s Destroying It

Sporting News: Haaland Passes Shearer, Cole for All-Time Premier League Goals Record

MLB

The Ohtani Odyssey

Photo: Dilip Vishwanat / Getty Images

Shoehei Ohtani Ties Career-High With 13 Ks as Angels 2-Way Star Joins 500-K, 100-HR Club

The Angels are 17-14 on the season, but they’re now 5-0 when Shohei Ohtani pitches. Baseball’s beloved two-way star was as sensational as ever on Wednesday en route to another piece of Babe Ruth-like history. Ohtani fanned 13 batters to tie his career-high in a 6-4 win over the Cardinals. He also hit the 500-strikeout milestone, joining Babe Ruth as the only players in baseball history with 500 Ks and 100 home runs. It seems like every time Ohtani takes the stage, history gets made.

Watch: Ohtani Throws 13 Ks, Joins Ruth on 500-100 Club

MLB Quick-Hitters

Muncy Mashes Walk-Off Slam: The Dodgers and Phillies were all knotted at 6-6 in the bottom of the 9th before Max Muncy hit a walk-off grand slam to remember. Dodgers win (10-6).

Trevino Ends Yankees Drought: The Yankees ended a four-game skid thanks to Jose Trevino’s pinch-hit walk-off single to beat the Guardians in extras (4-3, 10 innings).

NBA PLAYOFFS

Boston Bites Back

Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images

Celtics Use 3rd-Quarter Explosion to Crush 76ers in Game 2 (121-87), Even Series 1-1

The newly anointed MVP returned to the court for the 76ers in Game 2, but the Celtics weren’t about to let the series get away. Boston bounced back with a vengeance last night to even the series (1-1) after pounding the Sixers by 34. The title favorites outscored Philly 35-16 in the third quarter. Boston knocked down 20 3s (20-for-51) in typical Celtics fashion — living and dying by the 3-ball — while Philadelphia went just 6-for-30. No 76ers player scored more than 16 points. Jayson Tatum scored just seven points for the Cs (1-for-7), but Jaylen Brown (25) and Malcolm Brogdon (23) carried the load. Brogdon (six 3s) hit as many deep balls as Philly’s entire team. Just as we were about to sound the alarm for the Celtics, they quickly looked like the title favorites once again.

Watch: Celtics def. 76ers (121-87) | Series Tied (1-1)

NBA Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 2: Lakers at Warriors (9:00 pm ET) | LAL Leads (1-0)

Additional Storylines

ESPN: 76ers’ Joel Embiid Starts Game 2 But Scores Only 15 in Blowout Loss

USA Today: Embiid Makes Minimal Impact in Return as Celtics Rout 76ers

NHL PLAYOFFS

Golden Goals

Photo: Zak Krill / Getty Images

Game 1s: Draisaitl Scores 4 for Oilers, But Golden Knights Too Strong; Hurricanes Shut Down Devils

Another four-goal night in a losing effort? Just one day after Joe Pavelski scored four in a loss for the Stars, Leon Draisaitl lit the lamp four times for the Oilers, but the Golden Knights were too much. Vegas had an answer every time Edmonton pulled the scoreline close, including two goals in 50 seconds during a frenetic 3rd period tat featured five goals. Jack Eichel rifled a full-ice empty-netter to seal the deal in the final minute. Out East, the Hurricanes handed the Devils a devastating Game 1 defeated that was never in doubt, and New Jersey has a tall task ahead to survive Carolina. Next up, Game 2s.

Fun Fact: The only other time there was two four-goal games on back-to-back nights in the NHL Playoffs was 1988.

Conference Semifinal Highlights

Gm 1: Hurricanes def. Devils (5-1) | CAR Leads (1-0)

Gm 1: Golden Knights def. Oilers (6-4) | VGK Leads (1-0)

Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket

Tonight’s Schedule

Gm 2: Panthers at Maple Leafs (7:00 pm ET) | FLA Leads (1-0)

Gm 2: Kraken at Stars (9:30 pm ET) | SEA Leads (1-0)

Additional Storylines

FOX: Hurricanes Sail to Easy Win Against Devils in Game 1 of 2nd Round

SportsNet: Golden Knights Take Down Oilers Despite Draisaitl’s Dominant Performance

THE STORYLINES

⛳️ The Match Is Back

This year's edition of Capital One's The Match for the first time ever will pit stars from the NBA's and NFL's reigning dynasties against one another. Teammates from each of the defending champs in the NBA and NFL go head-to-head. (Bleacher Report)

⚾️ Bryce Harper’s Remarkable Return

178 days after his last major-league game and 160 days since going under the knife for Tommy John surgery, Bryce Harper unleashed a violent hack on the first pitch he saw of the 2023 season Tuesday night.  (FOX Sports)

🏈 Top Questions After NFL Draft

And now that we’re on the other side of the NFL Draft, let’s get to some mail. Albert Breer opens the mailbag to talk Texans, Eagles, Lions, Dalvin Cook, DeAndre Hopkins, Anthony Richardson and more. (Sports Illustrated)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Jets & WR Randall Cobb Agree to Deal Reuniting Him With Aaron Rodgers (CBS Sports)
• Lionel Messi Reportedly Leaving PSG at End of Season (B/R)
• U.S. Olympic Champion Sprinter Tori Bowie Dies at 32 (ESPN)
• Suns’ Chris Paul Expected to Miss Games 3-5 With Groin Injury (Yahoo! Sports)
• Two Horses From Same Barn Collapse, Die at Churchill Downs (USA Today)
• Fan Arrested for Shining Laser at Chelsea-Arsenal Match (SI)

📊 READER POLL

Question of the Day

Oh, Canada! We’re waiting… There hasn’t been a Canadian winner of the Stanley Cup in 30 years (Canadiens, 1993). Canadian-based teams previously won 40 out of 66 Stanley Cups since the NHL began (1927-1993) before the recent 30-year drought. With the Bruins, Avalanche and Rangers suffering early exits in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the path is open. We’re wondering if this is finally the year, but both teams trail 1-0 in the second round.

Which remaining Canadian team do you think has the best chance to end the Stanley Cup drought? (click to vote)

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