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By Marc Lawrence
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Weekend, June 14-15 |
Thursday’s disastrous collapse by the Panthers in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals could have significant consequences.
The Oilers became the first road team to rally from a three-goal deficit in a Cup Final game since the Canadiens did against the Seattle 106 years ago (1919).
And going into Thursday, teams were a perfect 37-0 when leading a Cup Final game by three or more goals in the first period. That record now stands at 37-1, thanks to the Panthers' blown 3-0 lead.
Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner was replaced after the first period by journeyman backup Calvin Pickard, whose acrobatic saves set the stage for the comeback.
After staving off the Panthers in relief Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals,
Pickard will likely be between the pipes moving forward. He holds a career playoff record at 7-0.
Try not to overindulge in the U.S. Open, Stanley Cup Playoffs, College World Series, and FIFA Club World Cup championships this weekend. Or tearing into the 2025 Playbook Football Preview Guide magazine PDF version (see more below).
Happy Father’s Day!
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ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
To Win or Not to Win
Count ‘em. It’s 70 days from this Saturday until Saturday, August 23 – their first official day of the 2025 college football season.
Here are the official ESPN FPI rankings of the 2025 Top 20 teams prior to the start of the season...
| Top teams by 2025 FPI National Championship odds |
| Rank Team |
Conf |
FPI |
PROJ. WINS |
| 1. Texas |
SEC |
28.5 |
10.4 |
| 2. Georgia |
SEC |
26.6 |
10.1 |
| 3. Ohio State |
Big Ten |
23.8 |
10.4 |
| 4. Alabama |
SEC |
24.2 |
9.6 |
| 5. Penn State |
Big Ten |
21.5 |
10.2 |
| 6. Oregon |
Big Ten |
20.5 |
10.0 |
| 7. Clemson |
ACC |
17.3 |
9.7 |
| 8. Miami Fl |
ACC |
17.5 |
9.7 |
| 9. Notre Dame |
IND |
18.1 |
9.3 |
| 10. Tennessee |
SEC |
17.4 |
8.7 |
| 11. Texas A&M |
SEC |
17.9 |
8.1 |
| 12. LSU |
SEC |
17.1 |
7.9 |
| 13. Ole Miss |
SEC |
15.9 |
8.3 |
| 14. Auburn |
SEC |
14.8 |
7.5 |
| 15. Michigan |
Big Ten |
14.6 |
8.4 |
| 16. S. Carolina |
SEC |
14.7 |
7.3 |
| 17. Oklahoma |
SEC |
14.6 |
6.9 |
| 18. SMU |
ACC |
12.1 |
8.5 |
| 19. Florida |
SEC |
14.3 |
6.4 |
| 20. Kansas State |
Big 12 |
10.8 |
8.6 |
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BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW
You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
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If the NHL Playoffs aren’t the best sports viewing then you’re not watching this year’s Stanley Cup Finals.
Three of the first four games of this final have gone to overtime, which has only happened four times before.
We've also seen the two latest tying goals in Cup Final history over the past week: In Game 2, it was Edmonton's Corey Perry (17.8 seconds left). In Game 4, it was Florida's Sam Reinhart (19.5 seconds).
It was likely to be expected when the Panthers edged the Oilers, 2-1, in seven games in the Finals in Florida last season.
The Panthers overcame the immense pressure that came with blowing a 3-0 series lead and dodged a bullet by not becoming the answer to an unenviable trivia question.
The Oilers were attempting to become the second team in league history, and first since the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, to rally back from a 3-0 deficit in the Final to win the Stanley Cup.
You just know we’ve got a lot of action remaining in the final three games of this series. |
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GRINDING OUT THE PROFITS
3 x 3 x 3
This capsule is from the 2025 Playbook
Football Preview Guide magazine.
On sale July 15:
Meet the Oligarchs
The NFL’s 2025 oligarchy—Eagles, Chiefs, Ravens, Lions, Bills—rule the roost, separated by a mere point in ESPN’s FPI. On a neutral field, no one’s favored by more than a tick. What binds them? Explosive offenses. Forget “defense wins championships” when it comes to this elite fivesome—today’s game rewards steady firepower. The top five teams boast the FPI’s best offenses, with QBs driving the bus. Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, 2023 MVP and 2024 near-miss, powers the Ravens’ 25 wins over two seasons. With their core intact and sharp coaching, Vegas can’t quit on the Ravens. Head coach John Harbaugh’s road wizardry (74–49–8 ATS) fuels their edge. But their 2025 schedule’s a wild ride: three straight home games (Weeks 5–8), a three-game road swing, then three more at M&T Bank Stadium through Week 14. Remember, the Ravens were 12-0 ITS (In The Stats) in games versus playoff teams last season, for a net of +126 yards per game.
GET YOUR COPY EARLY.
ORDER TODAY!
Or you can download a PDF of this year’s
Playbook Preview Guide magazine
Instantly right here...
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TRENDING TODAY
FIFA Club World Cup
The inaugural 32-team FIFA Club World Cup starts this weekend and nobody knows quite what to expect.
The low-profile annual seven-team format is being replaced by a 32-team contest every four years. The two English clubs involved are Chelsea and Manchester City, based on their performances in the Champions League over the past four seasons.
Lionel Messi will be featured with Inter Miami, and there is an outside chance that his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo could also play in the tournament. Ronaldo’s future at Saudi Pro-League side Al-Nassr, who have not qualified, is increasingly uncertain raising the possibility of signing up for a team represented in the Club World Cup.
The 2025 tournament starts on Sunday, June 14, with a match between Inter Miami and Al Ahly. The final is a month later, on July 13.
The competition shares the same format as the men’s and women’s World Cup competitions. The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, who will play each other in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each group will then go through to the knockout stages. The final will take place on July 13, but unlike the World Cups, there will be no third-place play-off.
Past winners
2000: Corinthians – Beat Vasco de Gama (0-0, won on penalties)
2006: Sao Paulo – Beat Liverpool 1-0
2007: Internacional – Beat Barcelona 1-0
2008: AC Milan – Beat Boca Juniors 4-2
2009: Manchester United – Beat LDU Quito 1-0
2010: Barcelona – Beat Estudiantes 2-1 (AET)
2011: Inter Milan – Beat TP Mazembe 3-0
2012: Barcelona – Beat Santos 4-0
2013: Corinthians – Beat Chelsea 1-0
2014: Bayern Munich – Beat Raja Casablanca 2-0
2015: Real Madrid – Beat San Lorenzo 2-0
2016: Barcelona – Beat River Plate 3-0
2017: Real Madrid – Beat Kashima Antlers 4-2 (AET)
2018: Real Madrid – Beat Gremio 1-0
2019: Real Madrid – Beat Al-Ain 4-1
2020: Liverpool – Beat Flamengo 1-0 (AET)
2021: Bayern Munich – Beat UANL Tigres 1-0
2022: Chelsea – Beat Palmeiras 2-1 (AET)
2023: Real Madrid – Beat Al-Hilal 5-3
2024: Manchester City — Beat Fluminense 4-0
Click here to read more on the 2025 Fifa Club World Club.
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ASK MARC
Joey G from Cooper City, FL wants to know – Are we looking at another Sandy Koufax in the making in Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal? When was the last back-to-back Cy Young winner?
Marc Says: Skubal, the reigning AL Cy Young winner, is 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA and he threw yet another gem on Thursday to further pad his lead atop the 2025 race. In his last 12 starts, he has 101 strikeouts and 5 walks. Think about that. Koufax’s best walk-to-strikeout season was in 1965, with 382 strikeouts and 71 walks, resulting in a K/BB ratio of 5.38. Skubal’s current ratio is 20.20. The starting MLB pitcher with the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in a single season is Clayton Kershaw, who in 2016 struck out 172 batters while walking only 11 in 149 innings, achieving a K/BB ratio of 15.64. Yes, Skubal is flirting with history, but there is still a long season ahead. The last Cy Young winner over consecutive seasons was Jacob DeGrom for the NY Nets in 2018 and 2019. The last American League Cy Young winner over consecutive seasons was Roger Clemens for the Boston Red Sox in 1986 and 1987. |
QUOTE OF THE DAY
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"Sometimes, the smallest things take up
the most room in your heart."
- A.A. Milne |
STAT OF THE DAY
$9.13M |
The differential between LSU ($9.99M) and Murray State (858K),
two the eight remaining finalists in the College World Series,
in their 2023-2024 Baseball Budget.
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SONG OF THE WEEKEND
How Playbook Football Preview Guide magazine clients
felt after learning
this year’s edition was at the
printer this week:
This song peaked at No. 9 on the
Billboard Hot 100 this week
in June 1985.
Click Here To Listen
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