標籤: factor

We continue our series preview ahead of the first round matchup between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning.

We know that the team that wins the battle at 5v5 will have a good chance of emerging victorious in the series. Additionally, the organization that features the best special teams will have a significant advantage in securing victory.

In addition to those important elements, let’s take a look at some X-factors that will impact the series between the Canadiens and Lightning.

top line players

It’s no secret that Canadians will live and die by the first line’s ability to generate sustainable levels of crime. The Lightning are well aware of this, which means Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkowski and Cole Caufield will likely have to face Tampa Bay’s top shutdown line of Gourde, Pontus Holmberg and Zemgus Girgensons.

When playing together, that line has controlled approximately 54.5% of shots, as well as 55.7% of expected goals at 5v5. In an admittedly limited sample size of just 30 minutes versus the Habs, they have actually controlled over 70% of the shots and 90% of the expected goals.

In a short series, matchups will play a key role, and it seems the most important matchup for the Canadiens will involve Tampa’s excellent shutdown trio versus their elite top line. Or perhaps more accurately, finding ways to strip their top line of the Lightning’s best defensive players.

On the other side of the coin, this may seem like the most obvious advice in the history of hockey, but the Canadiens would do well to help their chances by keeping a close eye on Nikita Kucherov.

The elite skater finished the year with 130 points, which was second overall in the NHL, behind only Connor McDavid (138 points). The second most productive Lightning player was Jake Guentzel, who finished the season with 88 points. This represents a 42-point discrepancy, significantly greater than the 13-point difference between the Canadiens’ top point producer (Suzuki, 101 points) and last forward (Caufield, 88 points).

It’s very easy to suggest that shutting down Kucherov is important for the Habs, especially when neither team has yet figured out how to accomplish this lofty goal, but the fact is that the Canadiens will want to keep an eye on Kucherov’s every move throughout the series.

In 42 career games against the Habs, Kucherov has scored 20 goals and added 29 assists.

Freshman Goaltenders

It is incredibly rare to see two rookie netminders tasked with protecting the net in a playoff series. First-year skaters are slightly more common, as it is much easier to convince a coach to enter the playoffs with a few rookie players than a pair of rookie netminders.

The Canadiens will have to rely on either Jacob Dobbs or Jacob Fowler to steal the show, although there’s still an outside chance, albeit slim, that we’ll see veteran netminder Samuel Montebault in the mix.

the gamble was thrown.

This could be seen as an obvious negative given Dobbs and Fowler’s lack of NHL experience, but the Montreal Canadiens aren’t your favorite club. While first-year players playing a significant role isn’t more common than in other NHL cities, it’s part of the path to success in Montreal.

In the long run, this could be the beginning of a trend in the NHL where goaltending results completely usurp experience as the most important factor driving usage in the playoffs.

rookie effect

Fowler and Dobbs aren’t the only newbies expected to play a role in the series. Ivan Demidov and Oliver Kapanen are expected to take over on the second line, once again lending credence to the theory that head coach Martin Saint-Louis does a great job trusting his young players in key roles.

On top of Demidov Kapanen, there are Adam Engstrom and David Rickenbacker on the blue line, two rookies who could play with greater frequency if injuries occur, or if Noah Dobson’s thumb injury doesn’t heal before more games are added to the docket.

To give you an idea of ​​how both teams like to rely on different age groups, Tampa Bay’s top-scoring rookie center is Dominic James, who has seven goals and eight assists in 43 games.

Montreal, on the other hand, has the league’s top-scoring rookie in Demidov (62 points), not to mention the rookie with the third-most goals in Kapanen (22 points).

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

Danny Rohl could be without Rangers’ Youssef Chermiti next season as PSV Eindhoven look to lure him away from Ibrox.

The striker graduated from Sporting’s youth system and left them for Everton in 2023. He played 295 minutes in 24 matches over two seasons with the Premier League team.

That didn’t stop Rangers from bringing him to Ibrox for £8million [€9.2m] In September, when Rohl’s predecessor, Martin Russell, was in charge.

The striker has been playing regularly for Rangers and has been showcasing his qualities this season.

His Scottish Premiership statistics are as follows:

• Appearances: 23
• Start: 14
• Total minutes: 1,388
• Minutes per game: 60
• Target: 9
• Help: 2

His performance on behalf of Rohl did not go unnoticed in the winter market. In January, Sports Witness broadcast news Fenerbahçe offered, but the deal never took shape.

Club maintains interest in Rangers man

PSV Eindhoven have now stepped forward to attempt to sign Youssef Chermiti in the summer window.

is according to eindhovens dagbladThe local newspaper of the Dutch club, covering the latest.

The Eredivisie side are pursuing the Rangers player along with other unnamed clubs. ED reports PSV discovered or were offered a number of players in the last window.

The 21-year-old was on their agenda in January and PSV will likely continue to keep an eye on him until the next window. Feyenoord also have him on their radar for 2025.

At the moment, the Dutch club do not have much interest in the Rangers player, which means signing him is not their priority.

The Portugal U21 international’s stance on a potential summer transfer to PSV has not been made clear in the report. Should he decide to leave Ibrox after this season, Rangers will have a decision to make.

ED says Rangers’ fee demand is a ‘crucial factor’ if Chermiti pushes for transfer. There is no mention of a figure, but it would certainly be in the double digits, meaning €10 million or more.

Contract, price and agent information

Youssef Charmiti’s contract at Ibrox will expire in 2030 transfer market He is worth €9 million

British agency ICM is managing Stellar Rangers Man.

🇵🇹Rangers scouting in Porto

⭐️ We take a look at who shined in front of scouts, and which options are realistic…https://t.co/1l45ZjvLtf #rangersfc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 17 March 2026

Portsmouth’s decision on Gustavo Caballero is gradually becoming more complicated. The winger’s position is now shaped by club performances, international recognition and rising market expectations.

The 24-year-old joined Portsmouth on loan from Santos earlier this season. The deal already included a clear path to a permanent transfer.

As explained in detail earlierIf Caballero reaches a set number of league appearances, the Championship side can trigger a buyout clause.

That position is considered achievable, and the structure gives Portsmouth some control. If activated, the clause would pay them approximately £4.25 million (€5 million) for 80% of the player’s rights. The remaining percentage is kept elsewhere.

Since arriving in England, Caballero has begun to settle in. He has made 10 Championship appearances, scoring once against Millwall – and is increasingly being used on the left wing. His minutes have increased continuously. This reflects the confidence of the coaching staff as he adapts to the physical demands of the league.

Off the pitch, the winger has also spoken positively about his debut. In a recent interview with Paraguayan radioHe described English football as intense and competitive, while emphasizing his focus on earning minutes and adapting tactically.

That progress has not gone unnoticed internationally. Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro Caballero has already been highlighted As a player on their radar, his development since leaving Santos was praised and his renewed consistency in England was pointed to as a major factor.

World Cup factor puts pressure on decision

The situation with Gustavo Caballero is now taking on another layer. This could have a direct impact on the long-term plans of Portsmouth.

according to Latest reports in BrazilSantos is actively monitoring its development with a view to future sales. The expectation internally is that the value of the Caballero may increase in the coming months. This is especially true due to his increasing involvement with the Paraguay national team.

He was recently called up and featured briefly in a friendly, and there is belief that he could be part of the squad for the 2026 World Cup. This prospect represents a clear market dynamic.

Santos is not planning to reinstate the player to their team. Instead, they are presenting him as a potential sale, hoping that international performances – coupled with his time in England – will increase his value ahead of the next transfer window.

What does this mean for Portsmouth

Gustavo Caballero’s trajectory puts Portsmouth in a favorable but time-sensitive position.

The current agreement gives them a set price and a controllable trigger through appearances. However, external factors are now forming around the player. Increased visibility with Paraguay and the prospect of a World Cup could push his valuation above the current trend.

For Portsmouth, this creates an obvious incentive. Securing a player ahead of that potential growth would represent a controlled investment in a growing asset. He is already adapting to the Championship.

Additionally, the club would like more evidence on the pitch. Caballero is still early in its optimization, and although the signs are positive, sustainability will likely determine whether the segment is active or not.

Therefore, the coming weeks will bring additional load. Each appearance not only brings him closer to the trigger point, but also increases the possibility that Portsmouth may need to take action before the wider market.

The Charlotte Hornets may not be quite there, but they have arrived as a winless team in the Eastern Conference. Since the beginning of the 2026 calendar year, the Hornets have posted the fifth-best record in the NBA at 27–12. Their strong performance this year continued on Tuesday, as they swept the Sacramento Kings and demolished them with a 134-90 victory.

Making the jump from bad to good isn’t as easy as the Hornets are making it out to be. But under the tutelage of head coach Charles Lee, they are doing just that. They have made a habit of winning and never let their foot off the gas pedal – which explains their historic average margin of victory this season.

After the game, Lee explained what makes Why the Hornets are so good and why they are so dominant whenever they are on victory lane.

“Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful,” Lee said via HornetsReddit.

🎙️ Charles Lee: “Every play is meaningful, every possession is meaningful.”

“To see that group compete at the end of the game and see the way they communicated… it shows, from up and down the roster, the level of commitment, everybody’s ‘care factor’ is really high.” pic.twitter.com/Dy8yijDNQE

– r/CharlotteHornets (@HornetsReddit) 25 March 2026

The Hornets enjoy embarrassing other teams, and this killer mentality of theirs bodes well for their chances of making the jump from good to great in the coming years.

The entire Hornets roster has been purchased

The Hornets have been one of the best teams in the NBA over the past few months, and it’s no coincidence. Lee’s team is playing for each other every single game, and the team is humming as a result.

Charlotte has one of the best starting five players in the association (LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate), and their bench team consists of Ryan Kalkbrenner, Coby White, Zion James, Josh Green and Grant Williams, who are playing their roles in the team.

James Borrego has no interest in spinning a story about what the New Orleans Pelicans have done after the NBA All-Star break. The math of the playoff picture is the same, but the coach says what’s going on inside the Big Easy’s locker room is very real. Zion Williamson and Dejounte Murray may be playing their best basketball ever, but this turnaround has nothing to do with clipboard-based schemes.

The turnaround has been largely driven by a starting unit that has quickly found its rhythm with an All-Star point guard in the mix. This is obvious and cannot be overstated. How well they fit together is being overlooked at a time when most teams would be planning for the summer holidays.

“Yeah, you know, that group has played well together,” Borrego began. “That settles us with the herb handling, you got Murph out there, Saddiq and Z have a two-man game going on.”

Murray sets up buckets for Williamson, Trey Murphy III and Saddiq Bey while Herb Jones does a little bit of everything. It certainly seems like a recipe for success, although it will have to wait until next year. Unfortunately, it’s too late for the Pelicans to make postseason noise. Still, despite having very slim chances of catching the Golden State Warriors for the final NBA Play-in Tournament spot, the Pelicans continue to play with pride.

Borrego stressed, “I would say more than anything, there’s just a caring factor, an urgency and a belief.” “There’s a ‘this is all that matters’ mentality right now. Like we want to do something. We want to be competitive. We want to grow. We want to get better. We’re taking pride every day in our film sessions, practices, shootarounds, games and our overall mentality of finishing strong and being a team moving in the right direction. And more than anything, it’s a group effort. Everyone bought in, in the same direction.”

The lineup has appeared in balanced production. Over the past 15 games, the Pelicans have ranked among the more efficient offensive teams in the league, relying on Williamson’s interior scoring, Murphy’s perimeter gravitas and Murray’s shot creation to produce consistent looks. Bey’s versatility and Not on Herb’s defensive factors complete a unit that now plays with clear distinction and purpose.

the pelicans are playing to win

Borrego, for his part, doesn’t think much about where the race began.

“Obviously, staying healthy helps,” the interim head coach acknowledged. “I’m not going to get caught up in that. By getting Dejounte back, we now have depth, size and physicality on our defense.”

Murray’s return has reestablished the structure at both ends. Offensively, the 29-year-old has given the Pelicans another primary initiator, reducing the burden on Williamson while improving late-game execution. Defensively, his length along with Jones has helped the Pelicans gain a disruptive edge that was inconsistent under Willie Green. Still, Borrego was quick to dismiss the idea that the team’s recent form is entirely linked to health.

“Overall, it’s been a mentality of taking care of each other and playing,” Borrego explained. “I think we’ve had that going for us for quite some time now. It didn’t happen overnight or in the last six to ten games. I guess we’ve been top five in clutch games all year. I think we’ve probably been top five in clutch games all year. We’ve been putting ourselves back, even when we were losing games, we said put ourselves in these situations to win games. Keep fighting. Keep hitting the rock.”

Over the last 15 games, the Pelicans are in the top 10 in scoring (119.4), field goal percentage (48.3%), turnovers (15.5), and free-throw attempts (28.8). It took a few months, but the nuances of Borrego’s game plan are starting to become second nature.

How does he feel about working for months to keep this season from being ruined?

Borrego insisted, “This is what has led us to this moment. We didn’t flip a switch and turn it on.” “We’ve been working on it for months, and it’s finally starting to turn around. But it’s been an overall commitment to working every day, getting better and playing for each other. I think that’s been the biggest factor there.”

This is going to be a big factor in the front office’s head coach decision coming soon. It must be said how much Williamson and Murray are investing in the ideas.

The Orlando Magic have struggled with inconsistency all season, and it all starts with the leadership of Paolo Banchero. Banchero has moments where he looks like a millionaire and he’s figuring out how to be a superstar in the association, but there are also some nights where some of his bad habits come to the fore. That’s what happened in Sunday night’s 106-92 loss to the East-leading Detroit Pistons.

Banchero had 24 points on only 10 field-goal attempts, so he got to the foul line a lot, which is a testament to how aggressive he was in getting to the basket. However, the Magic Stars were more careless than aggressive in some of their plays. They turned the ball over nine times, which is a straight-up death sentence against a Pistons team that tries to physically overwhelm any opponent that comes their way.

after the game, banchero is owned As for some of his missteps, he expressed his frustration at playing below the standards set for himself.

“I thought we had a lot of turnovers. You know, I had a lot of turnovers. Yeah, we gave them a lot of chances. I think it was some bad passes. I was trying to pass it to my teammates when maybe I should have just shot it,” Banchero said, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

“Some of them – a trip, a repeated call, just a bad night. Last game, I had no turnovers. This game, I had nine. So, very frustrating.”

“I thought we had too many turnovers. You know, I had too many turnovers,” #magical Forward Paolo Banchero accounted for Orlando’s 19 turnovers, of which he committed nine.

He added: “Last game, I didn’t have any turnovers. This game, I had nine. So, very disappointing.”

Full Comments: pic.twitter.com/1zmk0zybnc

-Jason Beede (@therealBeede) 2 March 2026

Magical battle for position in the east

If the season ended today, the Magic would once again be fighting for their lives in the play-in tournament. This will be the second consecutive season they have struggled to qualify for the playoffs, and it’s a bit disappointing considering how they went out and acquired Desmond Bane in a blockbuster.

Franz Wagner’s injury hasn’t helped, but overall, the Magic have fallen short of expectations this season with a 31-28 record.