ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Ian Happ extended his on-base streak to 29 games with an RBI single in the first inning that put Chicago ahead to stay, and the Cubs beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Friday night for their second 10-game winning streak this season.
Chicago (27-12) has won 20 of its last 23 games, with three consecutive losses separating those long win streaks. It's the first time since 1935 the Cubs have two 10-game winning streaks in a season. The only time they had more was in 1906 with four.
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Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws to the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter runs the bases while scoring from second base on a pinch hit by teammate Justin Foscue during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Carson Kelly (15) near home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers second baseman Ezequiel Duran scores on a single by teammate Ian Happ during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers were the previous major league team with two 10-game winning streaks within the first 39 games of a season, according to Sportradar. They did it in their first 24 games.
Ben Brown and three Chicago relievers combined to hold Texas to two hits. Brown threw four hitless innings in his first start this season after 12 relief appearances. He struck out three and walked one.
Javier Assad (3-1) got the win, allowing one hit over 3 2/3 scoreless innings.
Happ drew a leadoff walk in the third and scored on Seiya Suzuki's seventh homer, a two-run shot that made it 3-0. Michael Busch added a three-run double in the seventh.
Happ's on-base streak is the longest by a Cubs player since 2012, when Bryan LaHair reached safely in 30 consecutive games. The only longer active streak in the majors is 31 games for Nick Kurtz of the Athletics.
Texas didn't get a hit until pinch-hitter Justin Foscue's RBI single in the fifth made it 3-1. The Rangers have lost eight of their last 11 games.
Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (1-4) gave up three runs and four hits with three walks while throwing 87 pitches over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three.
Edward Cabrera (3-0, 3.27 ERA) pitches for the Cubs and Jack Leiter (1-3, 5.45) goes for the Rangers on Saturday night. Leiter is 0-3 with a 6.67 ERA in his last five starts.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws to the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ben Brown throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers' Evan Carter runs the bases while scoring from second base on a pinch hit by teammate Justin Foscue during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Carson Kelly (15) near home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Texas Rangers second baseman Ezequiel Duran scores on a single by teammate Ian Happ during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, May 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Alex Newhook had two goals, again providing Montreal with some much-needed secondary scoring, and the Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 on Friday night to even their second-round playoff series at one game apiece.
Mike Matheson, Alexandre Carrier and Nick Suzuki, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Canadiens. Rookie goalie Jakub Dobes made 27 saves, and Montreal extended its trend of alternating wins and losses after doing so in a seven-game first-round series win over Tampa Bay.
Montreal advanced to the second round on Newhook's game-winner 11:07 into the third period of a 2-1 series-clinching win on Sunday. Meantime, the Canadiens' top offensive threats continue to struggle. Cole Caufield extended his point drought to five games, while Juraj Slafkovsky has one assist in his past eight outings.
“I think as a group we knew we needed a big effort tonight, a bounce-back, a bounce-forward game,” said Newhook, who gave the team a pregame boost with an energetic reading of the starting lineup. “When you get the lineup read you just try to supply some energy there early and just try and carry that into the game.”
Zach Benson scored for Buffalo, but Alex Lyon allowed four goals on 27 shots. He previously allowed seven goals in six-plus appearances since replacing Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who was was pulled after two periods in a 4-2 loss to Boston in Game 2 of their first-round series.
The series shifts to Montreal for Game 3 on Sunday night.
It’ll be the Canadiens' first trip home after being on the road since traveling to Tampa Bay last weekend. The team stayed in Florida for two days before flying directly to Buffalo on Tuesday.
The Sabres dropped to 2-3 at home this postseason, but they won all three games — including the Game 6 series clincher — at Boston.
After falling behind 2-0 in the first period of Game 1, Montreal flipped the script.
Peyton Krebs’ turnover in Buffalo’s zone led to Newhook scoring at 1:36 by sneaking a shot under Lyon’s blocker arm. Matheson scored 2:51 later by floating in a shot from the left point that beat Lyon over his right shoulder.
“Awful game. Not acceptable,” Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin said. “They wanted to compete the first 10 (minutes), and then that’s what kind of set the tone for the whole game. It’s hard to come back, especially in the playoffs, when an opponent is up two. So, can’t happen.”
Dobes said the difference between Games 1 and 2 was the Canadiens' ability to adjust to a much faster opponent in Buffalo after a grueling, tight-checking series against the defensive-minded Lightning.
“You play Game 7, I feel like we didn’t have much chance to prepare and kind of settle everything together and reset our minds,” he said. “I feel like we adjusted today really well. And yeah, I feel we catch a breath in the series. And I feel that we are ready to play our hockey and compete against the team for the rest of the series.”
Buffalo’s power play came up empty on five chances after going 2 for 3 in Game 1. The Sabres have converted just three of 32 power-play opportunities this postseason.
Newhook’s second goal, scored 4:47 into the second period, came four seconds after the Sabres' power play failed to register a shot with Carrier off for hooking.
Carrier’s goal 3:54 into the third was emblematic of Buffalo's evening. With the Sabres buzzing the Montreal net, Tage Thompson kept the puck in at the right point only to lose his balance and spin down to the ice. Carrier picked up the loose puck and scored to put Montreal up 4-1.
Benson whiffed on a tip-in chance two minutes later. In the first period, Buffalo’s Alex Tuch had the puck roll off his stick while attempting a shot breaking up the right wing, and Jack Quinn shot over the top of the net after being set up alone in the slot.
“Trying to chase the game, try and force plays that aren’t there, and just wasn’t executing,” Thompson said. “I think everything I touched turned into disaster tonight. So, tough one. Got to be better. It’s as simple as just flush that one, move on.”
Thompson then gave a blunt response when asked if he was playing with an injury by saying: “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Montréal Canadiens right wing Zachary Bolduc (76) and Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) battle for the puck during the first period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Friday, May 8, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres left wing Jason Zucker is tripped during the first period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) watches the puck during the first period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Montreal Canadiens center Alex Newhook (15) puts the puck past Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon (34) during the second period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series Friday, May 8, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Montreal Canadiens center Alex Newhook (15) celebrates his goal with defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) during the second period in Game 2 of a second-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres Friday, May 8, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
