標籤: Game

The two-time defending Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers are facing elimination and may not have the best player on earth.

Connor McDavid was absent from the Oilers’ morning skate at Rogers Arena ahead of Tuesday’s do-or-die Game 5 of the Western Conference first round against the Anaheim Ducks.

McDavid won the Art Ross Trophy for the sixth time in his 11-season NHL history this year and finished with 138 points. He’s been off to a slow start offensively in these Stanley Cup playoffs, but despite Edmonton’s two consecutive losses to Anaheim – 7-4 in Game 3 and the Ducks’ 4-3 overtime win over the Oilers on Sunday night, he has had consecutive multi-point games.

The Oilers have lost three straight to Anaheim since their 4–3 win in Game 1. The Oilers have not lost a Western Conference playoff series since 2023, when they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in six games in the Western Conference Second Round.

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Nils Lundqvist has become an unsung hero for the Dallas Stars this year.

But Dallas will need a win without the defenseman to take a 3-2 lead in the series against the rival Minnesota Wild.

The Stars ejected Lundqvist from Game 5 on Tuesday night after he skated into the face of Wild forward Michael McCarron.

Lundqvist has two points in the series, both assists, while his average time on ice is 16:45. He is playing on Dallas’ second pairing with Thomas Harley and is also killing penalties for Dallas.

Stars rule out Nils Lundqvist but ‘must watch’ him before series ends

Lundqvist did not need to go to the hospital with injuries to his face. But Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan confirmed he will not be available for the all-important game at American Airlines Center, although the Stars have him listed as day-to-day.

“You won’t see Nils in the game tomorrow,” Gulutzan told reporters on Monday. “We need to see that before the series ends.”

Lundqvist, whom Dallas acquired from the New York Rangers in September 2022, has been a regular on the Dallas blue line when healthy. He had 11 points this season and has skated in 16 Stanley Cup playoff games over the past three seasons – he missed the entire postseason last year due to shoulder surgery.

Tyler Myers is expected to replace Lundqvist with Harley on the Stars’ second pairing. The Houston-born, 6-8 defenseman has no points and is minus 3 while averaging 21:04 on ice over the course of four games.

Who will replace Nils Lundqvist in the Stars lineup?

Of course, the Stars will want to have Lundqvist ready for Game 5. But even with him out, they still have options.

Ilya Libushkin is the most likely player to be in the Dallas lineup against Minnesota. Libushkin played in 53 games with the Stars this season and was plus-1, plus he’s a veteran of 28 playoff games, including 14 games while filling in for Lundqvist in the playoffs a year ago.

But Alex Petrovic also suited up for 54 games and had 10 points for the Stars. Petrovic played in 17 postseason games for the Stars in 2025 and contributed one goal and one assist.

Both Libushkin and Petrovic are right shooting guards, so the decision depends on whether Gulutzan wants to go with the 6-5 Petrovic or the faster but equally bulky Libushkin.

Gulutzan is confident that no matter who he chooses, the game will not decline much.

“They all played well,” Gulutzan said. “That’s the beauty of our lineup, they all played well. That helps when you make your decision.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

After a 6-1 loss on Sunday, the Buffalo Sabers could be even stronger on Tuesday.

The Sabers have beaten the odds in their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins with a mix of momentum and growing injury concerns.

In Sunday’s decisive Game 4 victory, the Sabers recorded a dominant 6–1 victory.

However, the game came at a material cost. Forwards Tyson Kozak and Jason Zucker both left in the third period and did not return.

Head coach Lindy Ruff explained that the decision was precautionary. He said the team’s substantial lead allowed them to prioritize player health rather than pushing the injured duo back onto the ice.

“Just treat them and leave them in the dressing room, where the game was going on,” Ruff said after the game.

Additionally, forward Josh Norris missed his second consecutive game due to an undisclosed injury. Ruff confirmed that Norris remains day-to-day, a status that keeps him questionable for upcoming competitions.

current injury report

• Josh Norris, F (undeclared): Out April 21st. Missed Games 3 and 4 of the series; day to day.
• Sam Carrick, F (left wing): Out since March 31 after suffering an injury during a fight. Week-to-week and expected to miss the first round.

long term injuries

• Jiri Kulich, F (blood clot): Out November 1st. Originally projected to miss the season, he has resumed non-contact skating, but is still sidelined.
• Justin Danforth, F (lower body): Out since October 15 due to knee injury. Due to persistent pain after surgery, recovery is continued by skating intermittently.

These absences test the Sabres’ depth as they struggle for series control.

Despite some injuries, the Sabres’ resiliency has been surprising. They are relying on strong performance from goaltender Alex Lyons and emerging key contributors from rookie forward Noah Ostlund.

The series moved 3–1 in favor of the Sabers to Buffalo for Game 5. If home ice wasn’t enough to put the nail in Boston’s coffin, perhaps the return of Norris and avoiding the worst with Zucker and Kozak is.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Tampa Bay Lightning provided a stern test on Sunday night, coming back from two goals down to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 at the Bell Center and even their Eastern Conference First Round series at two-up.

Brandon Hagel’s second goal of the game with 4:53 remaining in regulation capped the comeback. Hagel was battling for position in front of Montreal goaltender Jacob Dobbs when Nikita Kucherov fired the puck on net from the right board near the top of the circle.

The shot hit him and hit the net, giving the Lightning their first lead of the night.

Hegel tied the game at 2-2 at 1:40 of the third period, winning inside position in front of the net and converting a cross-crease pass from Kucherov into a power-play goal.

Jake Guentzel’s goal in the final minute of the second period put Tampa Bay on the board, after which Montreal took a 2–0 lead on goals by Zachary Bolduc and Cole Caufield.

Andrei Vasilevskiy made 16 saves for his 69th career playoff win. Dobbs stopped 17 shots.

Teams get two days off before Game 5 at Benchmark International Arena on Wednesday night. The Lightning will try to win consecutive playoff games for the first time since the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, when they lost the first two games to the New York Rangers before winning the next four.

The Lightning had an early chance to take the lead when Montreal was called for fouling just 2:04 after an early face-off. They controlled the puck in the offensive zone for most of the two minutes, but Dobbs blocked a rocket from Darren Raddish and Canadiens defenseman Caden Guhle got his stick on Braden Point’s open shot from the slot.

Montreal did not get a shot on goal until Caufield tested Vasilevskiy at 6:20. But after Bolt took consecutive penalties, the Canadiens got six shots in a span of 3:48 – Max Crozier was called for high-sticking at 7:22 and Yanni Gourde was called for cross-checking at 9:10. Vasilevskiy was up to the challenge, blocking a shot by Game 3 hero Lane Hutson and denying Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkowski on a rebound.

The final nine minutes of the period contained hit penalties by the Canadiens (who finished the period with a 23–10 lead), but few testing shots on either goaltender. Montreal finished the period with a 9–6 lead in shots on goal, but the Lightning held them to just three at 5-on-5 and none at all in the final 8:04 of the period.

The first half of the second period was much the same. Tampa Bay did nothing on the early power play after Josh Anderson was sent off for boarding 41 seconds into the period and neither team produced much offense.

But the game changed shortly after intermission when the Canadiens finally opened the scoring.

Bolduc took a pass at the Tampa Bay blue line and cut to the net, with Reddish trying to stop him. As Bolduc approached the net, Vasilevskiy made a poke-check, but it hit the Canadiens forward and bounced into the net at 10:06, giving Montreal a 1–0 lead.

Guentzel took a bad slashing penalty at 12:24 for hitting Dobbs after a save, and the Canadiens took advantage of it at 13:29 thanks to smart play from their top line. Nick Suzuki controlled the puck in the left corner and Caufield, a 51-goal scorer during the regular season, went to the front of the net before deflecting a perfect pass past the helpless Vasilevskiy for the 2-0 lead.

But the Lightning appeared to get a jolt of energy when Crozier, playing his first game of the series, leveled Slafkowski at center ice with a brutal but clean hit just before the 18-minute mark.

Guentzel then responded with a power-play goal to put the Lightning on the board with 54 seconds remaining. With the teams playing 4-on-4, he moved the puck around the net, passed it to JJ Moser at the right point, raced in front of the net and converted a sensational pass by Moser for his first goal of the season, cutting the deficit to 2–1.

The Lightning didn’t produce much on the power play in the first two periods, but they were nearly flawless after Oliver Kapanen was called for high-sticking 51 seconds into the third. Tampa Bay worked the puck around the offensive zone before a Kucherov-to-Hagel combination tied the game.

Kucherov’s play on the winning goal surprised the Canadians. He caught a quick glimpse of Hegel heading to the front of the net and fired the puck on the goal, where he caught a piece of Hegel and headed it into the net for the win.

Key Takeaways After Lightning Even Series By Beating Canadiens 3-2

Hegel continues to score

Lightning has scored 11 goals in this series. Hegel has six of them, as his pair in the third period evened the best-of-7 series. Needless to say, Hegel leads all NHL players in postseason goals – no one else has more than four.

He also helped the Bolts make some history.

Hagel promoted the 10th multi-goal comeback playoff win in Lightning history, and their fourth on the road. It was his first appearance since defeating the New York Rangers 3–2 in Game 3 of the 2022 Eastern Finals. It was also the fourth consecutive comeback win in this series; Montreal and Tampa Bay are the first set of teams to combine to start a series with four consecutive wins since the St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets played five such games in the 2019 Western Conference First Round.

Crozier’s hit might have changed the series

The Lightning looked like they were headed home in an attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive one-upmanship in the Stanley Cup playoffs when Caufield’s goal gave the Canadiens their first two-goal lead of the series. The Bell Center crowd was roaring, the Canadians were flying and Bolt looked a little surprised.

Then Crozier, who hadn’t played for the Lightning in the postseason since 2024, stepped up — literally.

The 26-year-old, who played 35 games for Tampa Bay this season, finishing with a goal and 10 points, caught Slafkowski near the red line as he received a pass and flattened him with a clean but devastating hit.

The Canadian barked at Crozier but did not attempt to retaliate for the attack, which caused a fire under the lightning. The jolt of energy was palpable, and became more intense after Guentzel’s goal made the score 2–1 less than 90 seconds later.

“He makes a big play and comes back to the bench,” defenseman Ryan McDonagh said on the Scripps Sports postgame show.

the resident comes again

The Lightning trust Vasilevskiy to deliver when it matters most. he did the same in game 4

The “Big Cat” did not face many shots – Montreal attempted 48 but managed only 18. Following the Lightning playoff loss he improved to 16–0 with 16 saves in his last 16 games.

His biggest stop may have been the one he made on Ivan Demidov over the middle, though Montreal’s star rookie found a dead spot in defensive coverage and was alone in the slot.

This was a game the Lightning had to win – and Vasilevskiy made sure they did.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Montreal Canadiens host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday night, looking to clinch their first-round series.

Legendary defenseman Serge Savard followed in the footsteps of his longtime teammate Yvan Cournoyer and turned the ball around at the Bell Center on Friday evening.

Here we go🍿

📺: Watch Lightning vs. Canadiens Game 4 on Sportsnet pic.twitter.com/TicpwHnAhj

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 26 April 2026

It was another tight contest between two evenly matched teams, with the Lightning ultimately emerging with a 3–2 victory, tying the series at two games apiece in the process.

Let’s look at the highlights!

All eyes on Dobbs

Unlike previous games, the Lightning quickly created several high-danger scoring chances, forcing Canadiens netminder Jacob Dobbs to make some tough saves in the first period.

The rookie netminder was far from calm, but that’s par for the course when discussing Dobbs’ playing style, which is clearly chaotic good. What matters most is that he responded well to the Lightning’s increased scoring opportunities.

Solid work by Jacob Dobbs in his G4 debut. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/vL481zlDoN

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 26 April 2026

make your own luck

Even though the Canadiens trailed in the first period, they did a great job of capitalizing on their first high-danger scoring opportunity of the game, which occurred midway through the second frame.

It was Zachary Bolduc who opened the scoring, and although the goal could be described as relatively fluke, as it bounced off him before it even reached the back of the net, good things happen when you run the slot.

Alexandre Texier and Caden Guhle both provided excellent assists in the scoring game.

Zachary Bolduc gives #GoHabsGo 1-0 lead! Assists Guhle and Texier. pic.twitter.com/kyBd9JMIFc

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 April 2026

the monkey dug a ditch

Even though Cole Caufield scored 51 goals during the regular season, you can be sure he was uncomfortable not scoring a goal in three playoff games, as evidenced by his celebration after the power play goal at the end of the second period.

Few players around the NHL enjoy playing hockey as much as Caufield, but that’s because he’s only happy when he’s scoring. Fortunately, few players around the NHL score as much as Caufield.

His first goal in the series was also the first time the Canadiens managed to establish a two-goal lead against the Lightning.

The chemistry between Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki was on full display for this goal. #GoHabsGo Up 2-0. pic.twitter.com/RA8eadUmdF

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 April 2026

insult to injury

A big, clean bodycheck by Maxwell Crozier on Juraj Slafkowski derailed what was otherwise an excellent period for the Canadiens. The heavy blow forced the 22-year-old Slovak to retreat to the locker room in the final minutes of the second frame.

The Lightning scored their first goal of the game shortly thereafter when veteran Jake Guentzel scored his goal of the series, but thankfully Slafkowski eventually returned to the ice for the third period.

Crozier absolutely leveled Juraj Slafkowski. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/79f5sbYLDI

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 27 April 2026

lightning strikes twice

With Oliver Kapanen in the box for a questionable high-sticking penalty, the Lightning tied the game, although it must be said that the Habs made life much easier for their opponents.

Regardless of whether the call was legitimate or not, talented players like Nikita Kucherov and Brandon Hagel will always make you pay if you give them too much time in the offensive zone.

Expensive penalty: Hegel scores on the power play! pic.twitter.com/EcfVNjDn2G

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 27 April 2026

luck changes

The Canadians were ready to take advantage of the change in momentum after an impressive 5-on-3 penalty kill, but the surge that had given the Habs the opening goal of the game came back to haunt them when Hagel scored his second goal of the match-up.

This gave the Lightning a 3-2 lead with a little less than five minutes remaining in the third period.

Women give destiny, women take away destiny.

Brandon Hagel scored his second of the match and the score was 3 vs 2 at the end of the third period… pic.twitter.com/hWGoJErIsT

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 27 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Wednesday when they face the Lightning in Tampa Bay. Puck drop has not been scheduled yet.

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

The New York Knicks made a tremendous comeback on Saturday night. They defeated the Atlanta Hawks 114–98 to tie the first-round playoff series 2–2.

After losing two games in a row, New York was focused, physical and determined when it came out of the locker room. Here are three things we discovered after Game 4.

The Knicks always need a wakeup call

This team seems to play its best basketball when its back is against the wall. After losses in Games 2 and 3, including a blowout 109–108 loss where they blew a late lead, the Knicks came to Atlanta with something to prove. And he did exactly that.

With a jump ball at tip-off, New York set the tone. They led in every quarter, ran sharp offensive sets and defended with alacrity. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with a postseason triple-double (20 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists), and OG Anunoby exploded for 22 points.

Knicks’ true character – tough, deep and disciplined – was revealed in the moment he felt the pressure. This is quite reassuring, but at the same time, it is also a little worrying as we head towards a winner-takes-all series.

Mickle Bridge requires less than 20 minutes

We all know Mikal Bridges just isn’t producing when it comes to the biggest moments of the playoffs. After a scoreless performance with a shocking minus-26, the Knicks reduced their time on the floor in Game 4.

Although he scored a few times in the first half, his defensive mistakes and offensive struggles put him at risk in crunch time.

Mike Brown needs to accept the truth. In one trade, Bridges was the reason the Knicks had to give up five first-round picks; However, in the playoffs, performance matters, not loyalty.

Limiting their playing time to under 20 minutes allows the Knicks to keep their most effective and reliable players on the field in the final minutes, while also getting some benefits from their length and defense in controlled doses.​

Kat needs to be the main guy, not Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson is the heart of this team, but this game tells a clear story: They turned the ball over six times. Meanwhile, Kat was an absolute monster. He scored, counter-attacked and planned attacks all night long.

When the Knicks run the post and play through Towns in the mid-range, they look like a completely different team. The Knicks are at their best when the Cats are dominating and Game 4 proved that again.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The Dallas Stars were one shot away from sending the rival Minnesota Wild to the brink of elimination.

Instead the Western Conference First Round would return to American Airlines Center tied at two games apiece after Matthew Boldy scored at 19:31 of the first OT, giving the Wild a 3–2 victory at Grand Casino Arena.

Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen scored once each, and goaltender Jake Oettinger made 40 saves for the Stars.

Dallas did what it needed to by reclaiming home-ice advantage with its double-overtime win in Game 3. But he blew two one-goal leads, and so allowed a great chance to take a 3-1 lead by allowing Marcus Foligno’s goal with just 5:20 remaining in regulation.

Game 5 is Tuesday at Dallas at 7 p.m.

Here are the takeaways from Game 4:

Jason Robertson and the Stars’ power play stay red hot

Dallas entered the game Saturday on a special-teams burner, and its PK didn’t allow a single goal and its man-advantage remained very hot.

Both of Dallas’ goals came on the power play, with Robertson scoring his second man-up goal and Heiskanen scoring his first goal of the series.

“Our power play has been good,” Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan said after the game.

The Stars’ power play is now 8 of 19 (42.1%) in four games and second only to the Anaheim Ducks among all teams. The Ducks have 11 less PP than the Stars due to one less game.

Dallas has scored four consecutive goals on the power play. The Stars have found success moving the puck down high and then taking advantage of diagonal passes and beating Jesper Wallstad on sharp-angle shots – which is what Robertson, Heiskanen and Matt Duchene did on their own goals.

Robertson has now scored in every game of the series and is the only one of the three Star players with multiple PPG in the series. At this point the Stars need to figure out how to score at even strength, as they only have three goals at 5-on-5.

“We just couldn’t get any puck luck,” Gulutzan said. “We just have to start over to finish something.”

Jake Oettinger almost saved the stars

Oettinger has lost Stars games in the past, but their goalie wasn’t the reason for their loss on Saturday.

In Game 4 the Wild finished with a 3.84 expected goals against and outscored the Stars 24–17 in the third period and overtime. Foligno’s goal came from a rebound, where the Minnesota forward got over Oettinger and deposited the puck into the empty cage. Brock Faber’s goal was a shot worth watching.

Oettinger’s numbers in the series may not look impressive, but he has been excellent since Dallas’ 6-1 loss in Game 1. The Stars’ franchise goalie has a 1.38 all-situation goals-against average and a .924 save percentage over his last three games and could use some extra support from his teammates.

“I thought he made some massive saves,” Gulutzan said. “You need it this time of year, and he gave it to us.”

Oettinger made 10-belle saves after 10-belle saves throughout OT – Minnesota could only beat him when Boldy tried to kick the puck for a disallowed goal. But Boldy then redirected Jared Spurgeon’s shot from the point.

The Wild, Stars series deserves to be equal

Game 1 was lopsided, but the series went as we all expected.

The last two games have gone to overtime, including a double-OT affair in Game 3. The investigation is strict. The atmosphere is noisy. Both teams are highly-skilled. This series should be tied at two points after four matches.

It’s easier said than done, but Stars fans should try to enjoy the ride of Stanley Cup playoff hockey. This series seems destined to go seven games, and even Gulutzan has acknowledged that.

“There are a lot of guys playing good hockey in this series,” Gulutzan said. “It’s just two good hockey teams.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

In the first half of Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators, the Carolina Hurricanes lost their rookie defenceman, Alexander Nikishin, to injury, which soon led to a line brawl and increased physicality during the rest of the match. Although information was minimal, head coach Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media about him after the game.

Alexander Nikishin was injured in the second period in Game 4 against the Ottawa Senators

With 15:29 left on the second period clock, Alexander Nikishin hit the ice hard.

Senators defenseman Tyler Kleven took a hard hit on him – a hit that snapped Nikishin’s head back and knocked him off his feet. Shortly thereafter, Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho converged on Kleven as others on the ice found someone to feud with.

As soon as Kleven was hit with a major penalty and reviewed, head athletic trainer Doug Bennett rushed onto the ice to tend to Nikishin. He managed to stand on his own strength, but as he went to skate, he fell and was caught by Bennett and Seth Jarvis. Soon after, Shayne Gostisbeer skated over and helped Jarvis off the ice.

After review, Cleven’s five-minute major penalty was voided, leaving only Jordan Spence to receive a minor penalty for roughing against Gostisbehere, and Svechnikov receiving two minor penalties against Cleven for roughing, giving the Senators a power play.

Words from head coach Rod Brind’Amour regarding Alexander Nikishin’s injury after the game

“Nikishin, I don’t know, I can’t tell you,” Brind’Amour told the media. “It’s clearly a concussion there. Or certainly seemed like one.”

“So, I don’t have any definite information on that.”

Nikishin previously suffered an injury in the KHL in January 2025 as captain of SKA St. Petersburg. He was cleared to return to play a week later.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

There were punches thrown and blood flowing, but at the end of the day, the line of handshakes unfolded like it was the most gentlemanly match of the afternoon – as it always is, as it always should be.

As for the Carolina Hurricanes, they greeted the handshake line with smiles as they were about to come out on top with a 4-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. It was only the second time in franchise history that the Hurricanes swept a team in a four-game series, and the first time that they did not hold a lead in any of the games played.

As the game began, the Hurricanes were without one of their best playmakers in Nikolaj Ehlers, who was ruled out with a lower body injury shortly before the game began. With an open spot in the lineup, the Hurricanes chose to employ their grinder and bruiser, Nicolas Deslauriers. Due to his fourth-line placement and frequent use of special teams, he logged only six shifts in 3:09 – but the time he played was very noticeable. He was second in most hits throughout the game with a total of four hits, and managed to block one shot and have one shot on goal in his short time on the ice.

Tyler Kleven’s hit on Alexander Nikishin led to a heated argument throughout the game.

As the game remained scoreless early in the second period, Tyler Kleven laid down a big hit on Alexander Nikishin – a hit that served as the first domino of a long line of heated exchanges throughout the game, but sadly ended Nikishin’s own match.

The Hurricanes on the ice immediately stood up for their teammate, and by the time the puck was dropped again, the Hurricanes were shorthanded. Cleven’s hit was reviewed, but he was not awarded a penalty.

Carolina accumulated a total of 22 penalty minutes throughout the game, giving the Senators nine power plays, including three five-on-three opportunities.

Hurricanes’ secondary scorers, defense come up big again

A little over 15 minutes into the second period, the first goal of the game came from Public Enemy Number One in Ottawa, Ontario, when Taylor Hall found the back of the net. Throughout the game, he was booed from the crowd whenever he touched the puck due to his controversial hit on Jake Sanderson in Game 3, which put the Senators’ top-pairing defenseman in concussion protocol, essentially ending his postseason.

Hall has accounted for each of the Hurricanes’ game-opening goals so far in the postseason.

A few minutes later, Drake Batherson evened the score on the power play.

At 9:10 of the third period, the Hurricanes once again got help from Logan Stankoven, who put the puck in the back of the net on the power play to give Carolina the lead. In doing so, he became the first player in franchise history to start the postseason with a four-game goal streak.

The lead held for the rest of the game, with Sebastian Aho scoring his first empty-netter goal of the game (yes, his first), followed soon after by Dylan Cozens scoring a claw-back goal to bring the game within a goal again, Aho then scored his second empty-netter goal and a 4–2 win.

The defense and penalty killer were excellent throughout the series, and really shined in the Hurricanes’ two games north of the border. In this aspect Saturday was an even bigger story than Thursday, and Jacob Slavin was representing it with great effort. Of the full 13:21 time on the penalty kill, Slavin played an astonishing 10:14. Overall, he played 26:22 and led all Hurricanes skaters in ice time.

storm game notes

The Hurricanes are the first team in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs to punch their ticket to the second round.

In all four games, the Hurricanes never trailed the Senators. They were the first team to do so in a first-round series since the Detroit Red Wings in 2009.

Despite ranking first for most penalties taken (26) so far in the postseason, the Hurricanes allowed only one power play goal in their entire series against the Senators. With a penalty kill percentage of 95.2, only the Boston Bruins have a better penalty kill (100%) due to penalty volume (also 26).

With the conclusion of Carolina’s first-round series, FanDuel Sports Network will no longer be the broadcast home of the Hurricanes, as they will officially cease operations after all first-round games are completed.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

Things are looking pretty bad for the New York Knicks right now. They currently trail the series against the Atlanta Hawks 2-1 and will play again at State Farm Arena for Game 4 on Saturday.

They really need to win this game if they want to keep the series going. If they lose another game then it will be very difficult for them to make a comeback in the series.

The series has unfolded completely differently than anyone in New York had expected. The Knicks won Game 1 but lost Games 2 and 3 by a combined two points, with both losses decided by the final possession.

In Game 3, the Hawks again answered in the fourth quarter, with CJ McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga scoring points. New York had 18 turnovers and made only 28.6% of their shots from three-point range.

A 3-1 series loss against the Hawks would be a disaster for a team built to go deep. Mike Brown knows this. This is what every Knicks fan is watching. Here are three bold predictions for Game 4.

Prediction 1: Jalen Brunson scores over 25 and plays like himself again

Brunson has scored 26, 29 and 28 points in back-to-back games in this series, so the points have clearly been up. But unfortunately, he has also been responsible for every misstep of late. In Game 3, not only did he miss a three-pointer in the air with 16 seconds remaining, but he turned the ball over on the last play as the Knicks were unable to even attempt a shot.

This is a game where Brunson needs to look like himself from start to finish, not just in detail. Playoff Brunson is a different player. Last year, before the Knicks took on the Pacers, he was one of the best closers in the league, and there’s no reason why that player couldn’t show up in Game 4.

Brunson drops at least 25 and makes the right play when the game is on the line.

Prediction 2: Mikal Bridges struggles again and sees fewer minutes

Bridges had no points in Game 3, going 0-for-3 with one rebound and two assists in 21 minutes. In four-quarter periods in Games 2 and 3, they had zero field goals and six total turnovers.

Mike Brown took him out in the third quarter and kept him on the bench for most of the second half.

Miles McBride got 31 minutes while Bridges only got 21 minutes, and the Knicks were clearly more effective with that smaller lineup. Since Bridges is having trouble in this matchup, it’s hard to imagine Brown falling back on him in heavy moments when McBride is giving him more on the floor.

Prediction: Bridges plays less than 25 minutes again, and McBride handles the bulk of those extra possessions.

Prediction 3: Karl-Anthony Towns posts a double-double and stays on the floor

Towns had 21 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3, and he was certainly the best big man on the floor all night. The issue is that the Knicks are finding it difficult to utilize him in the most important moments; In fact, the final play went to Brunson.

As a small team, the Hawks and Towns demonstrated very clearly what this mismatch will look like when it comes to offense.

The Browns should keep Towns on the court for a full 40 minutes instead of just longer, because with the production from both Towns and Brunson, New York is a completely different team.

If these three things happen, the Knicks may very well win.

Prediction: Towns gets at least 22 points and 11 rebounds, and New York wins 110-102 to tie the series 2-2.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

Ime Udoka’s comments following the Houston Rockets’ loss in Game 3 of the series against the Los Angeles Lakers fueled recent speculation that the team could trade young star Alpern Sengun this summer.

The Rockets’ 2025-26 campaign is on the verge of a stunning finish. They entered the year with serious NBA Finals expectations after acquiring future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant. But Houston finished fifth in the conference. Still, they were fortunate in a first-round playoff matchup against a Lakers team without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

However, after a bad loss on Friday night, where they blew a huge lead in the final minute of regulation, the Rockets advanced to Game 4 on Sunday by a 3–0 margin. After the loss, Houston head coach Ime Udoka was asked about their Game 3 collapse, and his opinion was surprising.

“Terrible mistakes. I don’t know whether you want to say young or scared of the moment,” Udoka said in his post-game press conference.

His comments were honest but also very interesting, as they seem to confirm why Alpern Sengun could be on the trade block this summer.

Did Ime Udoka confirm why Alperen Sengun will be traded?

On Friday, The Athletic’s William Guillory explained why the next few games were so important for Sengun’s future in Houston. After being a major part of the team’s rebirth in 2024–25, they had a poor performance late in the regular season and were even worse in the playoffs.

Guillory wrote, “The Rockets were expecting much better than this. More specifically, they were expecting a lot more from Sengun at this point in the season, especially after last year’s playoff run helped solidify the 23-year-old as one of the pillars of the franchise.”

“It’s no exaggeration to say that Sengun has been one of the biggest disappointments in this year’s playoffs – not just in Houston, but among all postseason teams.”

While the two-time All-Star played much better in Game 3, posting 33 points, 16 rebounds, and was +10 when he was on the floor, he couldn’t carry his team across the finish line in a very winnable game at home. It added to his reputation that he couldn’t do it under a bright spotlight for a franchise with championship aspirations.

The team was willing to give up Jalen Green despite notable development in order to trade Durant, with Guillory speculating that Sengun could easily be added to a winning proposal in a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Donovan Mitchell in the offseason.

While Udoka didn’t specifically call out Seungun, he was one of the guys who was scared at the moment, and that doesn’t bode well for his long-term prospects in H-Town.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy did everything he could to lead the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Montreal Canadiens in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round series on Friday night at the Bell Centre. This was not enough.

Vasilevskiy denied three Montreal breakaways in regulation, but he never saw Montreal defenseman Len Hutson’s slap shot from the right point as it passed multiple bodies and into the net 2:08 into overtime to give the Canadiens a 3–2 win and a 2–1 lead in the best-of-7 series.

Alexandre Texier, who opened the scoring early in the first period, flicked a shot back to Hutson, and the 2025 Calder Trophy winner produced a rocket that found its way through a half-dozen bodies and into the net.

Brayden Point and Brandon Hagel scored for the Lightning. Hagel’s goal early in the second period put Tampa Bay ahead 2–1, but Kirby Dach put the Canadiens even at 12:43. Vasilevskiy finished with 26 saves on 29 shots; Montreal rookie Jacob Dobbs faced only 17 shots and stopped 15.

This was the third consecutive overtime game in the series, the first for the Lightning since entering the NHL in 1992. The Canadiens had not gone to OT in three straight playoff games since Games 2, 3 and 4 of the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals – they won all three en route to their most recent championship. It was the first time that an NHL playoff series began with three straight overtime games since the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals did so in 2021.

The teams split OT wins in Games 1 and 2 at Benchmark International Arena, with the Canadiens winning 4–3 in the opener and Tampa Bay taking the series with a 3–2 win in Game 2. The Lightning have not won consecutive playoff games since the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers.

They will try to even the series on Sunday night in Montreal.

The sellout crowd of 20,962 was roaring from the moment Canadiens legend Yvan Cournoyer took the torch to lead Montreal onto the ice. This became even more intense when his heroes gained a quick lead.

Zach Bolduc moved the puck to the right circle and saw that Texier was late in the middle, with no Lightning defender there to pick him up. Bolduc fed a pass onto Texier’s stick for a perfect shot from the slot that took the top corner past Vasilevskiy’s glove at 4:53, giving Montreal the lead 1–0.

But this lead did not last long. Dobbs was called for fouling Yanni Gourde, and the Lightning capitalized at 7:42 when Point found space in the slot, took a pass from Jake Guentzel and one-timed it into the net for a 1–1 tie.

The Lightning got another power play 30 seconds after the goal when Dach was called for tripping but produced very little power. Montreal had a good chance after Nikita Kucherov took an unnecessary tripping penalty at 12:23, and the Lightning again failed to convert after Mike Matheson took a hooking penalty at 19:11.

Tampa Bay dominated the game for the first few minutes of the second period and led 2–1 at the 4:47 mark. Hagel picked up a pass from Jake Evans in the neutral zone, raced to the left circle and surprised Dobbs with a quick shot that beat him on the short side for his fourth goal of the series.

Vasilevsky maintained the lead just over a minute later by stopping Montreal rookie Ivan Demidov on a breakaway. Demidov, who led all NHL rookies with 62 points during the regular season, gave the Lightning their fourth power play at 9:59 when he carelessly high-sticked Ryan McDonagh, but Tampa Bay could not take advantage.

This set the stage for the Canadiens to even the score. Vasilevskiy blocked Dach from the slot, but the puck went along the right board. Dach tracked him down and fired through the maze of bodies; Vasilevskiy never saw the puck, which deflected off McDonagh and into the net at 12:43, making the score 2–2.

Tampa Bay spent most of the remaining period killing penalties. Hegel was called for holding a stick at 14:05, Emil Lilleberg was sent for hooking at 16:14 and Darren Raddish was called for a high-sticking minor at 19:29.

Montreal outshot the Bolts 13–7 in the middle period, and Tampa Bay did not have a single shot on goal until the final 13:25.

Vasilevskiy was the biggest reason the Lightning forced overtime despite being outshot 21-11 in the final two periods, including 8-4 in the third when he faced two more breakaways.

Cole Caufield, the 51-goal scorer during the regular season, came in alone at 3:29, but Vasilevskiy came out to challenge him, but was unsuccessful. Josh Anderson took a breakaway pass coming out of the penalty box midway through the period, but Vasilevskiy did not fake the pass and made a wrist save from his close range.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Bolts applied little pressure on Dobbs and had only three high-danger scoring chances over the course of 60 minutes. Hutson’s game-winner came on the only shot in overtime.

Key takeaways after Canadiens top Lightning in OT to win Game 3

wasting a precious gem

The Lightning couldn’t have asked for anything more from their future Hall of Fame goaltender. They did everything but stand on their heads as Hegel’s goal put them ahead 2–1, despite managing all five shots on goal.

Dach’s tying goal came after “Vesey” made a big stop on him – and as was the case with Hutson’s game-winner, No. 88 never saw the shot due to the series of bodies in front of him.

Tampa Bay did almost nothing offensively after the first five minutes of the second period and only the play of Vasilevskiy gave them a chance to win.

Hagel and linemates need help

The Lightning scored eight goals in the first three games of this series. Hagel has four of them, assisted on the fifth and has been on the ice for all eight. For good measure, he also became the first player in Lightning history to get a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal/assist/fighting major) in Game 2.

His goal in Game 3 was an unassisted gem, ending with a spectacular shot that completely caught Dobbs by surprise.

Hegel and his teammates, Guentzel (five points, all assists) and Nikita Kucherov (four points; one goal, three assists) each had 14 points. The other three in a row combined have three (point goal and two assists) by Anthony Cirelli in Game 2. This is not a formula for playoff success.

too much punishment

The Lightning’s penalty-killers could use the day off before Sunday’s game.

Tampa Bay did a great job of shutting down all four Montreal power plays in Game 3, including three in a span of just over five minutes in the second period. They limited the Canadiens to five shots on goal during four shutouts and were generally successful in keeping Montreal out. This was a huge change from earlier in the series, when the Lightning surrendered four power-play goals on the Canadiens’ first six opportunities.

But eight minutes of power-play time for the Canadiens meant Tampa Bay had to keep top offensive players like Kucherov on the bench. He played only 41 seconds over the course of 9:59 spanning the second and third periods – most of which Tampa Bay played down a man. Not having your top players in tie games is no way to be successful, especially in the playoffs.

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Toronto Raptors picked up an impressive and convincing win in Game 3 of their first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The home team led 47–23 in the second half and won 126–104. They are now trailing 2-1 in the series.

However, the team received some bad news on the injury front on Friday, as they learned they will be without point guard Immanuel Quickley for the remainder of the series, no matter how long it takes.

Quickley has apparently suffered a setback in his rehab with a right hamstring injury and will remain on the sidelines indefinitely.

The 26-year-old player averaged 16.4 points per game in 70 contests this season. He had a career-high 5.9 assists, while also adding 4.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He shot 37.4% from three-point range.

Quickley will miss the entire first round series

The speedy guard’s presence was missed in the first two matches of the series. In Game 3, however, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett exploded for 33 points apiece, while rookie Collin Murray-Boyles came off the bench with 22 points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes.

Backup point Jamal Sheed will continue to see starter’s minutes in Quickley’s absence. After playing an average of 22 minutes per night during the regular season, Shead has played 32 minutes per contest in the first three games of the series.

Additionally, players like Ja’Kobe Walter (27.2 mpg) and Jamison Battle will see an increase in usage. After playing only three minutes total in the first two games, Battle broke out in Game 3 by finishing four three-pointers in clutch minutes to help ice the game for the Raptors. They will need both of them to continue to pick up the slack for Quickley, especially shooting from beyond the arc. Sheed has hit 6 of 12 three-pointers in the series, while Battle is now 4 of 5.

The only way Quickley gets a chance to play again this season is if the Raptors pull off a massive upset of the Cavs and advance to the second round.

The Montreal Canadiens (1-1) face the Tampa Bay Lightning (1-1) in Game 3 on Friday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 pm ET.

With the series returning to Montreal, the Habs will have a great opportunity to regain home ice advantage with a little help from their friends at the Bell Centre. Of course, you have to win four games to win the series, but whenever an underdog manages to take a 2-1 lead in a first-round series, its chances of emerging victorious increase significantly.

And while some may get the impression that the Lightning have been the much better team in the first two games of the series, the numbers suggest a very interesting division.

The Lightning did a great job controlling shots, but the Canadiens dominated high-danger scoring opportunities by a score of 18-7 at 5v5.

If the Canadiens can continue to focus on hockey while ignoring the consistently slick hockey that Tampa Bay has to offer, they should be in good shape, all things considered.

They will also need their first line to wake up and start producing at 5v5, which will be facilitated by keeping Nick Suzuki and Co. away from Brandon Hagel’s line.

As far as defensemen, the third pairing of Jaden Struble and Arbor Zekaj have provided excellent hockey in the playoffs, while the top four have struggled to find their rhythm. Reuniting Lane Hutson and Mike Matheson, while pairing Alexander Carrier with Caden Guhle, may be the best way forward for the Canadiens and Individuals, as they have shown they can put up encouraging statistics with recommended partners in the past.

As for Zekaj, he’s excited to bring the fun back to Montreal, especially given the physical nature of the series.

“I’ll be honest,” he explained. “For physical guys like Anderson, Struble and me, the energy of the playoff crowd in Montreal is a big plus. I woke up this morning with a smile. The entire province has been locked down. It’s going to be an incredible night!”

Arbor Xhekaj:

“I’ll be honest. For physical guys like Anderson, Struble and me, the energy of the crowd in the playoffs in Montreal is a big plus. I woke up this morning with a smile. The whole province is on fire. It’s going to be an incredible evening.”

– Anthony Martineau (@Antho_Martineau) 24 April 2026

Possible Lineup Changes

Neither team will announce any major changes until puck drop, but the Canadiens had some relatively interesting news at practice.

Several players were missing, including Juraj Slafkowski, Alex Newhook and Josh Anderson.

Here it is! Playoff hockey at the Bell Center.

Not everyone is skating today – Newhook, Struble, Slafkovsky, Anderson, Dach are some of the names absent. #hubs pic.twitter.com/B3yChjTDd8

– Kenzie Lalonde (@KenzieTSN) 24 April 2026

Most are expected to play on Friday night, but there’s a chance we could see a new face in the lineup, with Velano serving as Montreal’s most likely back-up plan.

Patrik Laine is still listed as injured, and he won’t be available for the Habs, but there’s a chance we could see veteran Brendan Gallagher back in with a few changes. His aggressive style of play will fit well into this series, as long as he manages to keep his emotions in control when dealing with Lightning’s constant provocations.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alexandre Texier – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov

Zachary Bolduc-Oliver Kapanen-Kirby Dach

Jake Evans – Philip Danault – Josh Anderson

Mike Matheson – Alexander Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Jaden Struble – Arbor Zekaj

jacob dobbs

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lineup

Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Nikita Kucherov

Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Gage Goncalves

Zemgus Girgenson – Yanni Gourde – Nick Paul

Corey Perry – Oliver Bjorkstrand – Scott Sabourin

JJ Moser – Darren Raddish

Ryan McDonagh – Eric Cernak

Declan Carlyle – Emil Lilliberg

Andrei Vasilevsky

How to watch Hubs Vs. bolt

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday, April 24, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

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

On Thursday, in a penalty-filled game, the Carolina Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead in the round one series against the Ottawa Senators with a 2-1 win in Game 3.

Since the puck dropped in Canada’s capital for the first time this postseason, the Hurricanes haven’t let off the gas despite two good games on their home floor. They started things off quickly, as Logan Stankoven found the back of the net just five minutes into the game, while Linus Ullmark had only three shots on net.

The other two goals came in the second period. The first came after an accidental nullification of offsides off the stick of Drake Batherson, as Jordan Martinook moved the puck back into the defensive zone, effectively tying the game. The second – the game-winning goal – came off the stick of Jackson Blake, after Taylor Hall’s effort for the secondary assist, and an incredibly deceptive pass from defenseman K’Andre Miller for the primary assist, while Stankoven created chaos in front of Ullmark’s net – screening him with his own teammates.

However, the story of the night did not lie only in crime. The Hurricanes defense was excellent throughout the game.

In the second period, the Hurricanes took five penalties, and they killed every one of them. Midway through the frame, they trailed five-on-three and, surprisingly, did not allow a single shot.

Jacob Slavin led all players on the ice with four blocks throughout the game, while Sean Walker had three blocks.

Both teams finished the game with accurate penalty kills.

storm notes

In the second period, Taylor Hall drew a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head of Jake Sanderson. The Senators’ top-pairing defenseman pitched two more innings and later left the game.

In the third period, Brady Tkachuk took a dirty hit on Jordan Martinuk, causing him to bounce his elbow while skating at the blue line. The play resulted in a major penalty review, but it was ultimately reduced to a minor two-minute penalty for interference.

All three games of the first-round series between the Hurricanes and Senators started with a goal by Logan Stankoven and an assist by Hall.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Dallas Stars were looking at a 2–1 series hole until their star-studded special teams took over.

Despite being outshot (61-60) and outscored (6-3) at 5-on-5, the Stars’ power play has been extremely hot in this series and scored three times in their 4-3, double-OT win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 on Wednesday in St. Paul, Minn.

Wyatt Johnson scored the game-winner on the power play at 12:10 of the second extra session. The Stars have won two consecutive matches and now lead the best-of-7 series 2-1.

Game 4 takes place Saturday at 4:30 pm CT in St. Paul.

stars power play is on

Dallas PP picks up where it left off in the regular season.

The Stars ranked second in the NHL during the regular season in power-play efficiency (28.6%), trailing only the historically great Edmonton Oilers (30.6). But where the Oilers’ man-advantage has faltered through two games, the Stars’ development is thriving.

Dallas is 6 of 17 (35.3%) on the power play in its series and has scored multiple man-up goals in each of its last two wins. Johnson and teammate Matt Duchene have a pair of power-play goals in the series and superstar wing Jason Robertson also scored on the power play in Game 1.

“When you get opportunities, it’s important to take them,” Johnson said. “Nice to have him [in double OT]. “I was just trying to move forward and do whatever I can to help.”

Duchene’s man-up goal gave Dallas the lead for good in a 4–2 win over Minnesota in Game 2, but his power-play marker in Game 3 set the stage for Johnston’s heroics.

The Stars trailed 3–2 in the final seconds of the third period on a PP after Bobby Brink tipped Radek Faksa at 8:27. Dallas had failed on three consecutive second period power plays which gave the Wild enough momentum to take the lead late in the second period.

“This is the time of year you’ve got to stick with it. You can’t get frustrated,” Stars coach Glenn Gulutzan said. “We are playing against an elite team and elite class [penalty] Killer. The swings are going to go in that direction. It is not going to be an easy journey.”

It was Dallas’ only PP in the third period or first overtime – meanwhile, the Wild had five man-advantages in that period. But Duchesne got a sharp-angle shot past Minnesota goalie Jesper Wallstad on a great cross-slot pass from Mikko Rantanen, tying the game.

“Quite important,” said Duchene of the power-play contribution. “We were just living with it. This team, I’ve talked about how balanced we are, and it feels even more calm than in years past, just how patient and in the moment we are.”

Stars penalty kill has also been very good

Special teams can be a big X-factor in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

A strong or shaky power play can turn the momentum of a game or series, especially if a result starts snowballing.

So even though the Stars have given Minnesota 15 man-advantages in the series, and been shorthanded seven times in Game 3, after going 2 of 4 in Game 1 they have answered the bell by shutting down 10 of the Wild’s last 11 power plays.

“Our special teams have been excellent,” Gulutzan said.

Additionally, the Stars PK faced three potentially game-changing situations after Duchene tied the game. Rantanen first went to the penalty box for tripping at 12:30 of the third period, then forwards Sam Steele and Jamie Benn were each cited in overtime, but Dallas did not even allow a shot against Jake Oettinger on the OT power play.

“I had my head down, looking out of one eye and was just like, ‘Oh my God, let us deal with this,'” Duchesne said. “They were incredible. We knew after getting those two we needed to move forward [power plays] In [double] OT.”

Of course, the Wild paid a hefty price to acquire defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season so he could join Kirill Kaprizov (19 ppg), Matt Boldy (30 power-play points) and Joel Eriksson-Ek (16 ppg). Minnesota finished third in the league in power plays (25.2%), but have been indifferent in their last two losses.

“They’ve got some great players. It’s a talented power play,” Gulutzan said. “I thought our guys did a really good job.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Sure, LeBron James has turned back the clock in the first two games of the LA Lakers’ opening-round series with the Houston Rockets. But the Lakers’ playoff destiny still hinges on whether Luka Doncic can return and make an impact.

Doncic was ruled out of the remainder of the regular season and playoffs with a Grade 2 hamstring strain on April 2. This is an injury that usually takes four to six weeks to heal. At this point we’re three weeks out. However, great news for the Lakers on Thursday. Doncic was seen going through some light shooting drills at the practice site.

The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Boston Celtics 111-97 in Game 2 of their first-round series on Tuesday night. And even more surprising is the fact that they did it without Joel Embiid.

Even better news for the Sixers is that Embiid actually participated in practice on Thursday, indicating that the big man’s return could be in time to help Philly make life uncomfortable for Boston.

Head coach Nick Nurse told the media that Embiid wants to play and they definitely want him to play. But the coach did not give us any specific deadline to return.

“I think we’ll probably know a lot by the end of today as to where he’s at. … He wants to play, and we want him to play. I don’t know how close we are to that at this point, but I think there’s some progress being made.”

He said the seven-time All-Star participated in “parts” of practice Thursday, the day before Game 3.

Embiid participates in practice for the first time since emergency appendectomy

Embiid is recovering from an emergency appendectomy on April 9. This is his first return to the court with his teammates in two weeks since then.

Of course, keeping the Big Fella healthy and on the court throughout his career has always been a challenge. This season, he only managed to play 38 games in the regular season, after playing only 19 games last year and 39 games two seasons ago. But when he’s on the court, he can still dominate. This year, in those limited games, he averaged 26.9 points, although his rebounding dropped to just 7.7 per game, the lowest of his career.

The Sixers are now back in Philly and will look to hold serve at home to put the heavily favored Celtics on their heels. Having a near-healthy Embiid in the lineup (the best they can hope for), to go along with a red-hot backcourt of VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey (30 and 29 points, respectively, in Game 2), will really do wonders for the team’s chances of being a real threat to the Celtics.

Game 3 is scheduled for Friday night, with Game 4 on Sunday.

Joshua Norris can’t seem to catch a break. The Buffalo Sabers will be without their starting center for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Boston Bruins on Thursday night.

Head coach Lindy Ruff confirmed that Norris is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury after not feeling well after Game 2. The 26-year-old veteran did not suffer any major injuries in the last competition, but illness has ruled him out for at least one game.

This is certainly a significant short-term setback for Buffalo – especially after losing to the Bruins in Game 2 which allowed Boston to tie the series 1-1.

Norris, in his first playoff action, was a reliable contributor in the opening two games. He averaged over 16 minutes on the ice, recorded six hits, won 53.1% of faceoffs, and helped the Sabers control 61.1% of shot attempts at 5-on-5 with him on the ice.

During the regular season, he scored 34 points in 44 games despite missing time due to upper body problems, providing valuable secondary scoring and depth from a third-line role.

Fortunately, the return of rookie Noah Ostlund is giving the Sabers a timely boost. The morning line rush showed the 2022 first-round pick slotting directly into Norris’ place as the third-line center, with presumably familiar wingers next to him.

Ostlund, set to make his Stanley Cup playoff debut, had been sidelined since March 25 with an upper-body injury against Boston – nearly a month on the shelf – but seemed ready to contribute after a solid rookie campaign in which he scored 11 goals and 27 points in 60 games.

While Ostlund brings skill, hockey sense and two-way ability, there are some concerns. Deployed primarily on the wing during the season, he has struggled on faceoffs (31.5% win rate) and is a smaller, less physical player (5’11”, 180 pounds), which has been a tough series. Buffalo has already thrown 83 hits through two games, highlighting the physical disadvantage.

The Sabers would ideally like to see both players healthy, but Ostlund’s entry provides depth and youth as they try to storm back into the series. Game 3 in Boston could depend on how effectively the third line performs without Norris’ experience and how Ostlund handles the increased responsibility in a high-risk environment.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

On Thursday, the Carolina Hurricanes will play their first away game of the Stanley Cup Playoffs as they drop the puck north of the border against the Ottawa Senators.

The game is scheduled for 7:30 pm EDT.

In the previous game, the Hurricanes won over the Senators, but not without a heavy helping of drama. They got the lead in the first period, and then got another goal in the second period as an extension of the penalty kill, but soon after, the Senators tied the game before a scoreless third period of overtime.

Then, the game-winning goal came for Mark Jankowski as there was a delayed penalty in the Hurricanes’ favor.

…Except it didn’t count.

The entry was reviewed for offsides, and they declared that Jordan Staal did not have control of the puck.

Still, the storm’ ‘Rockstar’ Jordan Martinook played the hero in the second overtime as he got the game-winner… and the Hurricanes even changed their victory song for him.

You can read all about it here!

in the crease

For the Hurricanes, it’s a bit of a big question as to who they’ll put in net for Thursday’s game. Frederik Andersen has been great in the series, but after spending nearly five entire frames on the ice in the Hurricanes’ last game, there’s a chance they’ll opt to play Brandon Bussy.

That being said, Anderson had the starter’s crease during practice on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Senators will likely run it back with Linus Ullmark for the first game in their home barn. Like Anderson, Ullmark has also had an amazing series. Additionally, he has received strong support from his glove hand, which was inconsistent at first – getting into rhythm with it at the right time.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

protect

Jacob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Shawn Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

goaltender

Frederick Anderson / Brandon Bussey

Expected Ottawa Senators Lines

Brady Tkachuk – Tim Stutzle – Drake Batherson

Ridley Gregg – Dylan Cozens – Claude Giroux

Warren Foegele – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio

Nick Cousins ​​- Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

protect

Jake Sanderson – Nicholas Matinpalo

Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence

Dennis Gilbert – Lassie Thomson

goaltender

Linus Ullmark / James Reimer

storm game notes

Jordan Martinook scored the first overtime game-winning goal of his NHL playoff career in Monday night’s double overtime win.

Martinook’s goals were assisted by Nikolaj Ehlers and K’Andre Miller – both of whom were his first points of the postseason in a Hurricanes sweater.

The Hurricanes’ second line has been dominant throughout the series, with Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake leading the team with three points each. Interestingly, Sebastian Aho’s goal in Game 2 was the first goal that did not involve the second line in the series.

The Hurricanes are the first team in NHL history to advance 2–0 in their first playoff series after six consecutive seasons.

how to see

TV: TBS, HBO Max, FDSNO, SN, CBC, TVAS
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Buffalo Sabers weren’t about to fool the Boston Bruins twice.

The Sabers stunned the Bruins with four third period goals to steal Game 1 of the series between the Atlantic Division foes.

However, Boston got its revenge in Game 2, scoring three goals in the middle frame, and another quick goal early in the third on Tuesday night, resulting in a 4–2 Bruins victory that tied the series with Buffalo.

Sabers goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen blamed himself.

“It’s my fault,” Luukkonen said. “There is no way around it.”

Trailing 1-0 on the backend of the second period, the Bruins’ Morgan Geikie delivered a backhanded clear lob from center ice to the Sabres’ zone. A favorable layup went Boston’s way, Luukkonen calmly dodged it to give the Bruins a 2–0 lead.

That’s when the game started to spiral for the Sabres.

Tage Thompson took an interference penalty shortly thereafter, leading to Pavel Zacha’s first goal of the series on the power play and a 3–0 lead for Boston.

“It’s a bad bounce, but there’s no way to avoid it. It can’t go in,” Luukkonen said. “I kind of read a bad read about it, but that’s about it. I was trying to get to it before it flipped, but when you start questioning yourself and doing things like that, you get bad bounces. It’s unfortunate, but you’ve got to play through it.”

Well, Luukkonen missed only 16 seconds of the third period, allowing Viktor Arvidsson to score his second goal of the night to make the game 4–0. Sabers head coach Lindy Ruff immediately pulled him for Alex Lyons.

And as Luukkonen said, he clearly questioned himself.

Ruff turned to Alex Lyons for the remainder of the third period and suddenly Buffalo’s confidence was restored.

The Lyon side made his job easy as he only saw seven shots and made seven saves.

That’s because Buffalo played most of the final frame in the offensive zone, outscoring Jeremy Swayman on 20 shots in the third period and scoring twice on the sticks of Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs.

In fact, Ruff even said that Game 3 could go to Lyon instead of Luukkonen.

“I think if you look at the year and the way it unfolded and how successful we were when we were rotating goaltenders, and then Alex [Lyon] Got injured, so he missed a few games, but just felt there might be a chance we would need him,” Ruff said. “Could play the next game, but just give him a period of playing time, because he hasn’t played in a while.”

This is where inexperience could hurt them for the Sabres.

Buffalo began the 2025–26 season quite inconsistently, but proceeded to win the Atlantic Division through December for the rest of the season.

However, this is the first time in 14 seasons that the Sabers have been back to the playoffs. Most of the roster, including Luukkonen, had never held the position before.

Luukkonen and Lyon split the load for the surging Sabers this season. However, it is ideal to hopefully make a run with a goaltender in the postseason

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

las vegas- Lady luck was not on Vegas’ side as the Utah Mammoth (1-1) defeated the Vegas Golden Knights (1-1) 3-2 to tie the first-round series at one on Tuesday at T-Mobile Arena. Both teams took advantage of their opponent’s mistakes, but both teams also took advantage of some puck luck. In Game 2, it was Utah that had a little more luck on its side, otherwise it was a fairly evenly played game.

In an eventful first round, Lady Puck Luck was on the side of both teams. With Utah’s Logan Cooley held for interference, the Vegas power play began to work. Mark Stone (2) gained control of the puck low and attempted a cross-crease pass to teammate Tomas Hertl. However, instead of the puck reaching Hertl, it deflected off the skate of Utah defenseman Mikhail Sergachev and into the net at 11:42 of the first. It was Stone’s 12th career power play goal in the postseason, the most in Vegas franchise history, and his 43rd postseason goal overall.

Utah got a bit of a run of luck when they tied the game at one each. With 3:01 left in the first, McKenzie Weegar (1) took a shot from the point that bounced off Vegas defenseman Noah Hanifin, then off the stick of netminder Carter Hart, then off the right shin pad of Vegas defenseman Rasmus Andersen once again and past an unmarked Hart.

A total of eight penalties were called in the first period, five against Utah and three on Vegas. To no one’s surprise, five of the eight penalties in the first period were for roughing. The penalty box parade will continue to start the second period. At 2:27 of the second frame, Nick Dowd was whistled for tripping and the Utah power play went back to work. This power play was notable, not because of the Utah goal, but because of four Vegas blocked shots during the penalty kill, two of which seriously fouled Hanifin and Jeremy Lazaun, respectively. While both players were hobbled on the bench, they were both able to continue the game after some recovery time. Vegas would kill all four Utah penalties in the game.

Unsuccessful attempts by both teams resulted in the next two goals of the game. Four seconds after Utah killed another Vegas power play, the Mammoth took that momentum and then took their first lead of the night. Mitch Marner attempted to clear the puck from under his own goal line, but Utah defenseman Kyler Yamamoto was able to thwart the clearing attempt with his right glove and then completed a backhand, cross-ice pass to Dylan Guenther (1), who was positioned at the top of the left circle. He then fired a one-time blast that sent Hart high up to his stick-side. The goal came at 14:56 of the second minute, giving Utah a 2-1 lead. However, this gain will be short-lived.

Just 1:02 later, Ivan Barbashev (2) deflected a Sergachev pass attempt at center ice and then skated in a one-on-three, but somehow managed to dance past all three Utah players like the Bellagio fountain and then backhand over the glove of Utah netminder Karel Vejmelka to tie the game at two and that’s how the score stood until the second intermission.

The goaltenders took center stage in the third period, as both teams gave the opposing netminders a tough run, but each played brilliantly. However, late in the third, Utah was able to solve Hart for the third time through sheer tenacity. Guenther took a shot at Hart, then got his rebound and fired it off the post. As Guenther looked up to the sky in disbelief, his teammate Logan Cooley (2) swooped in and intercepted the rebound off the post and pushed it past Hart to put Utah ahead 3-2 with exactly six minutes left in regulation. With the goal, Cooley became the youngest American-born player to score in the first two playoff games of his career.

Vegas pulled Hart for an extra attacker and put some pressure on him late, but could not get the equalizer. Utah’s win is considered their first in franchise history as they were considered an expansion franchise after relocating to Utah from Arizona the previous season. While this was the first playoff win for Utah, it was the first regulation loss for Vegas under coach John Tortorella. Vegas was 8-0-1 since Tortorella became the new bench boss on March 30.

The series will now change venues to Salt Lake City’s Delta Center for Games 3 and 4. Game 3 will take place on Friday night and will be Utah’s inaugural home playoff game.

notes

• The final shots on goal were 29–21 in favor of Utah.
• The Hites defeated Utah 33–31.
• Blocked shots also led to a 17–15 win in Utah’s favor.
• The faceoff winning percentage was split equally at 50%.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have leveled their Eastern Conference first round series against the Montreal Canadiens after a 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 at Benchmark International Arena on Tuesday night.

Defenseman JJ Moser’s first career playoff goal sealed a one-point win in the series, with the next two games scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Bell Center in Montreal. The goal also ended Tampa Bay’s seven-game playoff losing streak in overtime games.

The Lightning dominated the extra period, defeating Montreal 8–0, before Anthony Cirelli scored on a pass in the offensive zone to the right of goalie Jacob Dobbs. Moser got the puck near the left point, worked his way around the right circle and fired through a screen. As the puck hit the back of the net at 12:48, the sellout crowd of 19,092 erupted and the series was tied.

Brandon Hagel and Nikita Kucherov scored the other goals for the Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy bounced back from an average performance in Game 1 with 25 saves.

Lane Hutson scored a power-play goal in the first period and Josh Anderson scored late in the second period to put Montreal ahead 2–1. Dobbs made 31 saves.

The win at home was a relief for the Lightning, who were 1-10 in their last 11 playoff games in their own building. They lost to the Florida Panthers three times in the first round in each of the last two seasons before losing to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2023. The last time Tampa Bay went beyond Round 1 was in 2022, when they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the finals while trying to win their third consecutive championship.

Lightning even series with OT win against Canadiens in Game 2

The Canadiens had the better of the game early on, holding the Lightning without a shot for more than eight minutes after an early face-off. But Bolt converted his first shot into the opening goal.

Hagel circled into the high slot and shot, but his shot hit a body and landed on the left board. He followed it up and fired again – but this time, the shot went through a screen and past Dobbs at 8:20 to put the Lightning up 1–0.

Tampa Bay got its first power play of the game at 10:11 when Montreal’s Arbor Zekaj got an extra minor after a clash with Yanni Gourde. But it was the Canadiens who almost scored; Vasilevskiy intercepted Jake Evans on a 2-on-1 break and the rebound bounced off the feet of Alex Newhook, who was alone but couldn’t get his stick on the puck.

Then it was the turn to fill the penalty box. A major scrum behind the Montreal net erupted on the Canadiens power play when referees Frederic L’Ecuyer and Graham Skilliter called out 11 minors – Lightning forward Corey Perry received an additional one.

Montreal made it 4-for-6 with an extra man in the series, when Hutson’s straight-up slapper from inside the blue line hit Lightning defenseman Eric Cernak and went past Vasilevskiy at 16:11.

The Canadiens could not score on their next power play after a cross-checking call against Nick Paul at 17:49 and the period ended even at 1–1.

Hegel and the Canadiens’ Game 1 hero Juraj Slafkowski dropped the gloves at 5:14 of the second period and earned the first fighting major of the series, with Hegel downing the much larger Montreal forward to end the fight.

The goaltenders exchanged clutch saves with just over six minutes remaining in the period, but the Canadiens began to get the better of the game and took the lead with 1:24 remaining in the period. Anderson, who had scored the opening goal in Game 1, arrived in front of the net and converted the pass to Philippe Danault, who won the puck battle behind the net. Anderson found position between two defenders and beat Vasilevskiy to give Montreal a 2–1 lead.

The Bolts equalized about five minutes into the third period when Moser beat Dobbs but hit the post. They got a power-play opportunity shortly after when Montreal’s Ivan Demidov was called for tripping but did not apply much pressure.

But Kucherov electrified the crowd when he took the carom of Cirelli’s blocked shot, swung into the back of the net and fired the puck inside the right post at 12:33 to tie the game at 2–2. It was the star forward’s first playoff goal in 17 games.

The Lightning had to survive one more threat to get overtime. After Scott Sabourin’s unnecessary interference penalty with 2:15 left in regulation gave Montreal a late power play, Hutson slapped a straight shot with less than a minute remaining that went off Vasilevskiy’s hand before hitting the post.

Dobbs was brilliant in overtime but had no chance for Moser’s game-winner.

Highlights after Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in OT

stars come for bolt

As the third period wore on and the Lightning trailed by a goal, you could have eased the tension with a knife. It wasn’t nice to think about going 0-2 in Montreal, especially after two more home losses.

But then some of Bolt’s stars saved the situation.

Kucherov had gone 16 playoff games without a goal since Game 1 of the 2023 first round against Toronto – before the game was tied. The NHL’s No. 2 scorer during the regular season looked like a giant eagle as he swooped in to grab the blocked shot, fly around the net and deposit the puck into the wide-open net because Dobbs couldn’t move from right to left in time.

Then it was Vasilevsky’s turn. After Sabourin’s penalty he made two big stops on Hutson to give the Canadiens a late power play to preserve the tie.

A “Gordie Howe” for Hegel.

This is the 18th time the Lightning are appearing in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but Hagel became the first player in franchise history to achieve a Gordie Howe hat trick (goal/assist/fighting major) in a postseason game.

The first period goal was his third in the first two games, and he got a secondary assist on Kucherov’s goal. There is nothing surprising in any of this.

This is the main theme of the fight which was out of the ordinary. Hagel only had two fighting majors during the regular season, despite playing on the NHL’s most fighting team – the Lightning led the NHL with 43 majors. He was also watching Slafkowski gain about 40 pounds. Despite this, he landed a punch, knocking out the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft before officials stopped the fight.

bang, bang

The series has only featured Hegel-Slafkowski fighting majors during the first two games, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot of physicality.

There were 77 hits in Game 2 (43 for Montreal, 34 for the Lightning). This comes after 86 hits in Game 1 (44-42 lead for the Bolts). Tuesday’s game also saw 23 penalties, including two fights and 14 minor ones for roughing.

Lightning coach John Cooper said his team was stepped up physically after recent seasons, and said this was due to the development of players like Sabourin, who is known for his physical play.

“These are two proud teams,” Cooper said. “You have to do what you have to do to move forward. No matter how we do it, we’re going to do it.”

Jon Krieger covered his first New York Rangers game (against the California Golden Seals) in November 1975 and it… More about Jon Krieger

The Buffalo Sabers swept the Boston Bruins in their victory in Game One. However, B could not be caught sleeping twice.

The Bruins earned a 4-2 win over the Sabers at KeyBank Center on Tuesday night, tying the best-of-seven series at 1-1 on the evening. After being held scoreless in the first period, Boston scored three goals in the second and another in the third before a late push by Buffalo.

Victor Arvidsson opened the scoring with a backhand shot at 4:54 of the second period, assisted by Jonathan Espirot and Casey Mittelstaedt. Morgan Geikie made it 2-0 on a backhand assist from David Pastrnak and Sean Kuraly at 16:29 of the second. Pavel Zacha scored a power-play goal at 18:10 (assists: Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy) to give Boston a 3–0 lead in the third.

Arvidsson scored his second goal just 16 seconds into the third period – on assists from Espirot and McEvoy – increasing the lead to 4–0.

Sabers coach Lindy Ruff opted to pull goaltender Ukko Pekka Luukkonen after surrendering four goals after 40:16 of the game. Alex Lyon manned the Buffalo net for the remainder of the tilt, and made seven saves on seven shots in relief.

The Sabers responded late, with Bowen Byram and Peyton Krebs scoring in the final frame to make the score 4–2. A flurry of harsh penalties and misconducts occurred in the third, including a fight between Mark Kastelic and Logan Stanley, which increased the tension.

sabers pulled

Final shots were Boston 26, Buffalo 21. Jeremy Swayman got the win in net for Boston with strong play after the first period, while Buffalo’s goaltenders faced heavy pressure. Boston went 1 of 6 on the power play; Buffalo was 0 for 5.

The Bruins’ timely scoring and defensive structure in the first 40 minutes proved decisive, although Buffalo showed late fight. Game three moves to Boston on Thursday.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The Montreal Canadiens face the Tampa Bay Lightning in game two on Tuesday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

The Habs emerged victorious in the first game of the series between these two talented teams, with young star Juraj Slafkowski serving as the hero. Not only did he score three goals, all three of which occurred during the power play, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime, shortly after head coach Martin Saint-Louis called a time-out to maximize the potential impact of the power play.

Beyond Slafkowski, it should also be noted that the Canadiens held a significant edge in high-danger scoring chances at 5v5 to the extent of 8-1.

Special teams will always play a big role in a short playoff series, and ideally the Habs will improve their shot share, but if they can maintain 88% control of high-quality scoring chances the rest of the game, they’ll be in great position.

Lineup Changes

The Habs are not expected to make any changes to the lineup, but the same can’t be said for the Lightning.

Defenseman Charles-Edouard D’Estous, who goes out of his way to play a particularly physical brand of hockey any time he faces the Habs, is unavailable due to a clean hit that knocked him out of Game One. As a result, Declan Carlyle will be included in the lineup again.

Carlile was the player who chased down Josh Anderson in the previous match, before Anderson proceeded to deliver a five-piece combination to his over-eager opponent.

“I immediately regret this decision!” – Carlyle after chasing Anderson to fight. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/bCbRjR1nRA

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 10 April 2026

Lightning head coach John Cooper will also add another adventurous player to the mix, depth forward Scott Sabourin. He may not be much of a forward when it comes to playing hockey, but he’s certainly one of the few players in the league who will offer heavyweight match-ups.

Unfortunately for Sabourin, the last time he faced the Habs he was unceremoniously ejected by defenseman Arbor Czekaj, with the Habs defenseman immediately calling an assistant from the Lightning medical staff to evaluate the fallen gladiator.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alexandre Texier – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov

Zachary Bolduc-Oliver Kapanen-Kirby Dach

Jake Evans – Philip Danault – Josh Anderson

Mike Matheson – Alexander Carrier

Caden Guhle – Lane Hutson

Jaden Struble – Arbor Zekaj

jacob dobbs

Tampa Bay Lightning Projected Lineup

Brandon Hagel – Anthony Cirelli – Nikita Kucherov

Jake Guentzel – Brayden Point – Gage Goncalves

Zemgus Girgenson – Yanni Gourde – Nick Paul

Corey Perry – Oliver Bjorkstrand – Scott Sabourin

JJ Moser – Darren Raddish

Ryan McDonagh – Eric Cernak

Declan Carlyle – Emil Lilliberg

Andrei Vasilevsky

How to watch Hubs Vs. bolt

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, will be broadcast on CBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

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

It’s not every night you watch double overtime… and see the game-winning goal put away… and fill with joy when you hear Nickelback play, but for the Carolina Hurricanes and their fans, Monday night was the night they defeated the Ottawa Senators 3-2 in a heated contest.

In the first period, the second line – which had been the dominant line in Game 1 – struck first as Logan Stankoven, with assists from both his linemates, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake, beat Linus Ullmark through the five-hole.

It wasn’t until the second period that more scoring occurred, starting with Sebastian Aho’s spectacular tip-in goal about eight minutes in, with the only assist from Jordan Staal, just seconds after concluding a successful penalty kill.

However, it didn’t take long for the Senators to pull back, as Drake Batherson gave Ottawa its first goal of the series when he provided a rebound off his own intercepted pass to Claude Giroux.

Soon, Dylan Cozens tied the game with a five-hole goal on Frederick Anderson with assists from Ridley Gregg and Jake Sanderson – the latter of whom intercepted a pass from Logan Stankoven.

There was a flurry of crickets on the scoresheet in the third period, although there was notable pushback from the Senators, who outscored the Hurricanes 8–5 in the frame.

After overtime, chances were there on both ends of the ice, but the Hurricanes got lucky late in the frame… or so they thought.

Controversial offside call wipes out Hurricanes overtime game-winner

With just over three minutes remaining, Staal crossed the blue line and passed to Jordan Martinook, who drew a hooking penalty on Warren Foegele as he prepared to launch the puck on net. Anderson made a strong run to the bench after the extra attacker hit the ice for a delayed penalty, and with 2:42 left in the period, Mark Jankowski put it past Ullmark, which was immediately followed by a celebration by the team and fans.

However, this was followed by an official league review. The referees eventually declared after some discussion that the play was offside, ruling that Staal did not have control of the puck when crossing the blueline, and ruled out a goal that Jankowski had scored.

In addition, the referee also announced that Martinook would take a penalty shot instead of a power play.

Intelligently and humorously, Hurricane’s DJ starts blasting rockstar by Nickelback, whom Martinook has often cited as his favorite band, to try and energize him for the shot. However, the twine was never found in the shot.

The game soon went into a second overtime, and with 13:53 remaining, Martinook sealed the deal with a 3–2 victory – the first overtime game-winning goal of his 12-season career. As they celebrated the victory and walked off the ice, their signature victory song, all I do Is Win Not played by DJ Khaled, and instead, he started yelling rockstar For goalscorers.

storm notes

Throughout the game, the Hurricanes managed their minutes remarkably well, with no skater exceeding 35 minutes of ice-time. The Senators were not so lucky, with three defensemen exceeding that number, one of whom, Sanderson, played over 43 minutes.

The gift was a big issue for Storm. Despite having only two more than the Senators, both goals against them came from them. Additionally, sloppy puck management in the offensive zone led to a few more chances than desirable.

The Nickelback connection to Martinook goes a little deeper than just being a favorite band. During their ‘Get Rollin’ tour, they stopped at Coastal Credit Union Music Park in Walnut Creek, Raleigh, on September 14, 2023, where Martinook performed rockstar On stage with him.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Montreal Canadiens emerged victorious in their Game One matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the back of a hat-trick effort from forward Juraj Slafkowski.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that all three of their goals came on the powerplay, a situation that will be very difficult to replicate going forward.

Canadiens vs Lightning at 5v5

The Lightning have an excellent penalty kill, shutting down 82.6% of their opponents’ man advantages during the regular season, third best in the NHL.

With this in mind, it is important to evaluate how teams performed at 5v5 to better understand how the series will progress. While special teams will play a significant role in some games, hockey is mostly played at even strength.

In that vein, the Lightning controlled 54.8% of shots (34-28) on Sunday night, which isn’t particularly surprising as they do a better job of controlling shots than the Canadiens, however, when we filter the results further, it becomes clear that the Habs were far better on high-danger shots.

The Canadiens held an 8-1 advantage in high-danger shots at 5v5, a flat-out dominant share of one of the most important statistical categories in hockey.

As we all know, not all shots are created equal. While a team that outshoots its opponents generally has a better chance of winning, that advantage diminishes when the opponent does a better job of creating high-quality shooting opportunities.

The Canadiens took many of their shots from the slot, while the Lightning were largely kept to the perimeter.

To put a nice point on his excellence in high-danger opportunities, Slafkowski made three times more high-quality shots than the entire Lightning lineup.

In an ideal world, you want your team to control both the quantity and quality of shots. However, in a short series, just focusing on quality could be enough to ensure four wins.

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

Game 1 gave the New York Knicks a strong early lead in the series, but it also showed that Atlanta could remain in the battle down the stretch. Jalen Brunson started off with sharp scoring, Karl-Anthony Towns took over after halftime, and New York held off the Hawks’ last-ditch effort for a 113–102 victory.

The focus now turns to Madison Square Garden for Game 2 on Monday night, and the Hawks will need a sharp response if they are to avoid a 2-0 loss. Atlanta was competitive for a long time in Game 1, and regular season meetings show that this matchup always looks closer than the scoreboard suggests.

Jalen Brunson exceeds 25 points again

Brunson looks to be the safest scoring bet in this series. He had already scored 28 points in Game 1, and the Knicks relied on him before Towns took over. The big reason to expect another big night is matchup history: Against Atlanta in the regular season, Brunson averaged 29.3 points and 7.8 assists, a sign that the Hawks have struggled to keep him from dictating the pace.

New York’s offense often runs on its ability to create in the half court, and with the series still being tight, the Knicks are likely to keep the ball in their hands when the game slows down.

Karl-Anthony Towns posts double-double

The city is the second biggest problem facing Atlanta. He finished Game 1 with 25 points, and 19 of them came after halftime, showing how dangerous he can be once he gets set. The best part of this prediction is the rebounding angle: Towns has the size and usage to stack the boards, and he averaged 13.5 rebounds in the two regular season meetings against Atlanta, while scoring 28.5 points per game.

This type of production makes a double-double very realistic, especially if the Hawks focus too much on Brunson and leave Towns space to work inside and on the glass.

Hawks fight hard, but lose

Atlanta should not be expected to roll over. The Hawks went 20–6 after the All-Star break to clinch the No. 6 seed, and in Game 1 they got 26 points from CJ McCollum and 23 points from Jalen Johnson to close the gap briefly in the fourth quarter.

That said, New York has already shown it can answer every Hawks run, and the Knicks were also 30-10 at home this season. Game 2 should be more competitive than the final score suggests, but the Knicks still have the deep late-game lead and cleaner star power. Expect Atlanta to make it uncomfortable, then come back short again.

final predictions: Knicks 118, Hawks 112

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

On Monday, the Carolina Hurricanes will face the Ottawa Senators in Raleigh for Game 2 of a Round One duel.

The game is scheduled for 7:30 pm EDT.

In Game 1, the Hurricanes made a statement with a shutout win – outworking, outhitting, and outshooting the Senators on aggregate. The highlight of the game was not only the excellent work of Frederik Andersen, but also the scoring of the second line secondary, who scored both of the Hurricanes’ goals.

However, for the Senators, they spent half of the game without top-pairing defenseman Artem Zab. Early in the second period, he took a big hit on Seth Jarvis and did not play for the rest of the frame, then was absent from the bench for the third frame. His status for Game 2 remains unclear.

You can read all about the game here!

in the crease

More likely is that both Frederik Andersen and Linus Ullmark will start for their respective teams.

Anderson made a case for the Game 2 start, not only getting the shutout, but also making several big saves throughout the match. He was fast.

Additionally, Ullmark also performed remarkably well. He made 27 saves on 29 shots (16 of those shots were high-danger scoring chances), giving him a satisfactory .931 save percentage.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

protect

Jacob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Shawn Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

goaltender

Frederick Anderson / Brandon Bussey

Expected Ottawa Senators Lines

Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridley Gregg

Nick Cousins ​​- Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

protect

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zab

Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence

Dennis Gilbert – Nicholas Matinpalo

goaltender

Linus Ullmark / James Reimer

storm game notes

With Andersen’s Game 1 shutout – the sixth of his NHL playoff career – he is tied for third in terms of most postseason shutouts among active goaltenders, behind only Jonathan Quick and Andrei Vasilevskiy. Additionally, he took sole possession of the second-most postseason shutouts in franchise history with his third on the team, trailing only Cam Ward with four.

After Monday, the Hurricanes will not play again until Thursday.

how to see

TV: ESPN2, FDSNSO, SNE, SNO, SNP, CBC, TVAS
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Montreal Canadiens were in Florida on Sunday facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game One of their first-round series.

Juraj Slafkowski played hero for the Habs, scoring three goals to win 4–3 and take a 1–0 series lead.

Let’s look at the highlights!

veteran presence

Even though the Canadiens have one of the youngest teams in the league, it was a veteran player who carried the ball. 31-year-old Josh Anderson scored after great work on the forecheck by defenseman Alexandre Carrier to force a turnover.

Josh Anderson made the score 1-0 #GoHabsGo!

Great work by Alexandre Carrier on the forecheck. pic.twitter.com/fawCq7DZE9

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 April 2026

To add to Anderson’s praise, he was one of the few players who started the game with a lot of energy and consistently offered an honest effort in every innings.

Referee Charles-Edouard d’Estous is reviewing this hit by Josh Anderson. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/5M9UbxK2jD

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 19 April 2026

lost focus

The Canadiens appeared to take a 2–0 lead, but Anderson’s second goal of the game was disallowed when he was found to have bounced the shot high off the stick.

This shifted the momentum to Tampa Bay’s corner, with the home team taking a 2–1 lead on goals by Darren Raddish and Brandon Hagel less than a minute into the second period.

2 goals in 29 seconds and Hagel gives Tampa the lead 🤯🫨 pic.twitter.com/IfUKMGlfPT

– Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) 19 April 2026

power in sports

One of the few advantages heading into the series was Montreal’s ability to generate a lot of powerplay goals with very few opportunities, making Juraj Slafkowski’s powerplay goal in the second period more important than most late-period markers. Rookie Ivan Demidov provided excellent assists in the game.

Not only did the Habs tie the game in the final minutes of that period, but they also installed one of their most important team-wide offensive weapons in the process.

What a goal from Schlaff, what a pass from Demidov! 💎 pic.twitter.com/ok817KtmAM

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) 19 April 2026

Second

Slafkowski thought the scoring was so good that he scored it twice, his second goal of the game also coming on the power play. This gave the Canadiens a 3-2 lead with a little more than 15 minutes remaining in the third period.

It was a good reminder that the Canadiens will need their veteran and young players running in the same direction if they are to have success in the NHL playoffs.

Juraj Slafkowski delivers another powerplay #GoHabsGo 3-2 lead!! pic.twitter.com/yWdTRfoXOZ

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 20 April 2026

first overall hat trick

The Lightning tied the game in the third period, forcing overtime, a situation that would normally favor the Habs as they are dominant in 3v3 scenarios.

However, this is the playoffs, and overtime is played at 5v5, reducing Montreal’s advantage.

Luckily for head coach Martin Saint-Louis, who used the perfect timeout moments beforehand, Slafkowski completed his hat trick, securing a 1–0 series lead for the Habs in the process.

Hat trick hero!

Juraj Slafkowski won the game #GoHabsGo With his third goal.

Great job by MSL with the timeouts! pic.twitter.com/ZT5fYUwmDE

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 20 April 2026

The Montreal Canadiens will be back in action on Tuesday facing the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 2 of their first-round series. Puck drop is scheduled for 7pm ET.

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

If there was a textbook way to set the tone for a series, this was the way to do it.

In sixty minutes, the Carolina Hurricanes rang the bell, leading the way with scoring from deep, putting up hits when needed (and even when it didn’t), and earning a shutout in Game 1 of the first round against the Ottawa Senators, as they won 2–0.

Captains Jordan Staal and Brady Tkachuk battle in the opening draw

As soon as the puck dropped, captains Brady Tkachuk and Jordan Staal took off their gloves and began attacking each other.

“I saw some guys out there talking about the draw,” Logan Stankoven said of the moment after the game. “I can’t remember who was furthest down there, but they weren’t really ready to line up for puck drop, so I thought maybe something was going on, and sure… great way to get the crowd involved, and I thought ‘Jordo’ did a great job.”

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour confirmed that he did not see anything between them before puck drop, and did not expect a fight.

To be honest, this moment was less surprising in relation to Tkachuk, but certainly in relation to Staal, who is not known as a fighter.

Both entered the box after three seconds and were given five minutes to fight.

Secondary scoring propels Hurricanes to victory

Ultimately, it wasn’t until the second period before someone came on the board. With a nifty puck flip from the blue line in the crowded area, Alexander Nikishin’s playmaking move immediately found the stick of Taylor Hall, who passed it to Jackson Blake, who then passed it to Stankoven, who sent a wrister past Linus Ullmark – the netminder was getting a piece of it, but not enough to stop it. Nikishin didn’t get any points for it, but he got the game going with the game-winning goal.

In the third frame, the Senators lost their top-pairing defenseman, Artem Zub, who was absent from the bench when the game began.

Early in the period, Drake Batherson tried to put the puck in on the power play, but Frederik Andersen’s glove managed to catch it. Due to the spot where it was covered by the glove, it was called a goal on the ice, and was immediately reviewed to see if it had crossed the goal line. After a few moments, it is removed from the board after it has been proven that it has not been crossed.

Shortly thereafter, the Hurricanes’ second-row trio struck again as Ullmark was left with the puck loose in the crease. There was a momentary chaos as he tried to move the puck over the goal line and eventually, he did. The goal was initially awarded to Stankoven, but after a few minutes it was changed to Hall.

The senators tried to keep the pressure on the stormtroopers, but ultimately did not succeed. Carolina outshot them 57–39, outshot them 29–22 and outshot them 35–23 in all situations. Ottawa led in the faceoff dot with 56.4% of draws, but the Hurricanes managed to keep it from going much further.

storm notes

This marked the first time in Stanley Cup playoff history that the Hurricanes faced the Senators.

In early November, Staal became involved in a fight in defense of Jalen Chatfield, who took an illegal check to the head during a game against the Minnesota Wild. It was the first time in nine seasons that he was in a fight.

With his sixth career NHL postseason shutout, Anderson is tied for third-most postseason shutouts among active goaltenders, behind only Jonathan Quick and Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

We’re finally there: the postseason. The Carolina Hurricanes will face the Ottawa Senators at home in Raleigh, officially kicking off the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the first game on the NHL’s schedule.

The game is scheduled for 3:00 PM EDT.

During the regular season, the Hurricanes had one of their best seasons ever, reaching second place in franchise history in both wins and points, scoring the most goals in team history, and topping the Eastern Conference for the first time.

Meanwhile, the Senators struggled through the extremely brutal Atlantic Division, and just managed to clinch their spot in the postseason last Saturday, doing so with a win over the New York Islanders, as the Detroit Red Wings lost to the New Jersey Devils.

I recently did an in-depth analysis with several comparisons and statistics between these two teams in a playoff primer. You can read all about it here!

in the crease

During the Hurricanes’ two latest practices, Frederik Andersen had the starter’s crease in both. However, after practice on Friday, head coach Rod Brind’Amour was tight-lipped on who would get the Game 1 start, citing that he had not yet spoken to goaltending coach Paul Schoenfelder.

This season, Frederik Andersen has a 16-14-5 record with a .874 save percentage with a goals-against average of 3.05. Additionally, Brandon Bussey has a .894 save percentage and a 2.47 goals-against average en route to a 31-6-2 record.

Meanwhile, Linus Ullmark has been the number one man in Ottawa since being acquired in the 2024 offseason. It is almost certain he will start against the Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon. This season, he has a 28-12-8 record with a 2.73 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. Additionally, James Reimer will likely serve as their backup goaltender after posting an .885 save percentage and a 2.42 goals-against average en route to a 7-4-2 record.

Expected Carolina Hurricane Lines

Andrei Svechnikov – Sebastian Aho – Seth Jarvis

Taylor Hall – Logan Stankoven – Jackson Blake

Nikolaj – Ehlers – Jordan Staal – Jordan Martinook

William Carrier – Mark Jankowski – Eric Robinson

protect

Jacob Slavin – Jalen Chatfield

K’Andre Miller – Shawn Walker

Shayne Gostisbehere – Alexander Nikishin

goaltender

Frederick Anderson / Brandon Bussey

Expected Ottawa Senators Lines

Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridley Gregg

Nick Cousins ​​- Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

protect

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zab

Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence

Dennis Gilbert – Nicholas Matinpalo

goaltender

Linus Ullmark / James Reimer

special teams

Carolina Hurricanes power play: 24.9% (4th)
Carolina Hurricanes Penalty Kill: 80.5% (11th)

Ottawa Senators Power Play: 24.0% (8th)
Ottawa Senators Penalty Kill: 75.7% (29th)

storm game notes

The Hurricanes may get help for the postseason from another goaltender in Pyotr Kochetkov, who missed most of the season with an injury that required surgery. After a conditioning stint with the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, he was recalled and initially selected in his 82nd game, but was ultimately held due to a roster issue.

The Wolves are also headed to the playoffs soon after finishing second in the AHL’s Central Division.

This will be the first time since 2006 that the Hurricanes will face a Canadian team in the postseason. Then, it was the Edmonton Oilers, whom they defeated in the Stanley Cup Finals.

how to see

TV: ESPN, FDSNO, SN, Omni, TVAS
Radio: 99.9 The Fan

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

As the New York Knicks prepare to host the Atlanta Hawks in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at Madison Square Garden, expectations are high for the third-seeded New York team.

After reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Knicks are hungry for a championship run. With a 2-1 lead in the season series and home-court advantage in their favor, here are three predictions for Saturday’s playoff opener.

Jalen Brunson delivers another 25+ point performance

Jalen Brunson has been nothing short of sensational against Atlanta this season, and that trend will continue in Game 1. The All-Star guard averaged 29.3 points in three regular season meetings, including a stellar 30-point, 13-assist performance in an April 6 win over the Giants.

Brunson’s ability to exploit Atlanta’s perimeter defense while planning an offense makes him unstoppable in high-leverage situations. Expect him to strike early, set the tone at MSG, and finish with at least 27 points and 8 assists.

The playoff spotlight brings out the best in Brunson, and he’ll remind everyone why he’s one of the league’s best performers.

Knicks defense stifles Hawks’ young core

The Knicks’ defensive trio of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart will make life miserable for Atlanta’s offensive threats. Jalen Johnson, who leads the Hawks in points, rebounds and assists, will struggle to find a rhythm against this stifling defense.

New York ranks seventh in defensive rating this season, and their playoff intensity will be on full display. Look for the Knicks to hold Atlanta under 105 points while forcing 13+ turnovers.

Jonathan Kuminga and CJ McCollum may get the momentum, but a collective defensive effort will neutralize the Hawks’ offense. Karl-Anthony Towns will dominate the glass with 12+ rebounds, controlling possessions and limiting second chance opportunities.

Bench provides winning edge

While the starters grab the headlines, the Knicks’ bench will be the difference maker in a tough playoff battle. Miles McBride, Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson will combine for 25+ points and provide vital energy when the starters are rested.

McBride’s three-point shooting and defensive tenacity would drive momentum in the second quarter, while Robinson’s rim protection would erase mistakes. The depth that coach Mike Brown has developed throughout the season becomes a weapon in the playoffs, and Atlanta doesn’t have the bench firepower to match.

Final prediction: Knicks 112, Hawks 103.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

The game between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders had some ups and downs… but most of them happened before the puck even dropped at UBS Arena.

On Monday, the Hurricanes recalled two players from the Chicago Wolves, Felix Unger Sorum – who was Chicago’s leading scorer, and Pyotr Kochetkov – the goaltender projected to miss the remainder of the season.

Then, on the morning of the game, defensemen Joel Nystrom and Ronan Seely were recalled.

Roster dilemma leads to emergency backup goaltender assignment

Two hours before the game, head coach Rod Brind’Amour spoke to the media and confirmed that all three skaters – and Kochetkov – would play against the Islanders. However, a monkey wrench was thrown into that plan less than an hour before puck drop.

Kochetkov was pulled from the ice shortly after warmups began, as it was then announced that he would not be able to start due to roster technicalities. Furthermore, the problem came with an additional issue, as Frederik Andersen was unavailable to play.

Thus, Long Island native Brandon Bussey took the crease for the second consecutive night. The emergency backup goaltender was 28-year-old Thomas Sullivan, who played seven games for nearby Stony Brook University between the ACHA’s 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, and previously warmed the bench as an emergency goaltender for the Washington Capitals in a game against the Islanders during the 2022–23 season.

game highlights

Early in the first period, Nikolaj Ehlers scored the Hurricanes’ first goal of the game, with the primary assist coming from Unger Sörum, making his second-inning of his NHL career. It was a good frame for the 20-year-old forward, who also hit the post on a shot from the right face-off circle. You could see he was enjoying the occasion too.

“It’s been really fun,” he said during the first intermission. “I’ve just been smiling all day, and just waiting for this moment, so it’s been really fun.”

To make the moment even more special for the young winger, he was joined in the stands by his family, who had traveled from Norway and Sweden.

“This is very special,” he said. “They’ve helped me a lot on my journey so far, and I have a lot to thank them for. So, it’s been really fun to have them visit here.”

In the second period, the Islanders went to work during a delayed penalty, with Bo Horvat finding the back of the net to hold the Hurricanes to 54 seconds, tying the game and scoring the 300th NHL goal of his career in the process. Additionally, the second assist came from Victor Eklund, younger brother of San Jose Sharks top-six forward William Eklund, in his NHL debut.

In the third period, Mark Jankowski scored the go-ahead goal with just over five minutes remaining in regulation. This proved to be the game-winner, as neither team was able to score after the Islanders pulled their goaltender.

A rare occurrence, the Hurricanes fell behind 29–21, but ultimately won 2–1.

storm notes

No clear explanation was ever given regarding the roster issue other than a ‘roster technicality’. After the trade deadline, teams do not have a roster limit and are limited only by salary cap rules. Thus, the impression is created that this was merely a matter of paperwork.

With the Boston Bruins clinching the top Eastern Conference wild card with a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils, the Hurricanes are scheduled to face the Ottawa Senators in the first round of the playoffs.

Scoring their 113th point with the win over the Islanders, the Hurricanes finished second in the entire league, guaranteeing home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs over the top-place Colorado Avalanche.

During the third period, William Carrier took a blow to the face while on the bench. He left the game after some time.

Not only was Felix Unger Sorum’s family present during the game, but Ronan Seely’s father as well as Brandon Bussey’s family were also confirmed to be in attendance.

On Tuesday, it was the first time since April 13, 2023 that the Hurricanes finished the regular season with a win, when they defeated the Florida Panthers 6–4.

Nikolaj Ehlers was the only player to skate in all 82 games for the Hurricanes this season.

Rachel Barkley is a beat writer covering the Carolina Hurricanes for Carolina Hockey Now on SportsNote. Painting Stories…More About Rachel Barclay

The Washington Capitals (43-30-9) finished the 2025-26 season on a high note. They got their fourth straight win by defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets (40-30-12) 2-1 on Tuesday.

More importantly, this could be the final NHL game for Alex Ovechkin. The Capitals captain received a final ovation from the crowd at Nationwide Arena.

It’s a full circle moment for Ovechkin, who made his debut against Columbus in October 2005. The 40-year-old recorded an assist in the Capitals’ win in the season series (4-0-0) against the Blue Jackets.

“We try to win,” Ovechkin said. “We’re trying to finish the season on a good note and I hope this isn’t my last game. I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’ll see.”

The first goal came early in the middle frame when Boone Jenner scored for Columbus. However, Anthony Beauvillier responded with the tying goal in the same period.

Then, in the third, Jacob Chykrun came up with the game-winner on the power play. Clay Stevenson was also strong in net, making 27 saves.

The season has already ended, with the Capitals sitting in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with 95 points.

capitals analysis

All eyes were once again on Ovechkin as he suited up for the Capitals for possibly the last time. Although he is still undecided, the 40-year-old received plenty of cheers from the crowd in Columbus.

Many Capitals fans traveled as far as Ohio to see The Great 8 once again. As on Sunday, many in the stands chanted “one more year” and “Ovi”.

Ovechkin looked impressive on the ice as he recorded a secondary assist on Chirkrun’s goal. He led the team with four shots, 12 attempts and two hits during 18:24 ice time.

Winning Tuesday’s game was no longer necessary, so many players got a chance to shine. Stevenson started in net and looked strong, stopping 27 of 28 shots.

The Capitals finally responded, after Jenner scored 27 seconds into the middle frame. Trevor van Riemsdyk found Beauvillier on a breakaway as he beat Jett Greaves to make the score 1–1.

In the third, the Capitals played a key power play, as Ovechkin once again made his presence felt. He allowed Chirkrun to get a shot past Greaves for the go-ahead goal. The 28-year-old finished the season with 26 goals, the most among NHL defencemen.

With secondary assistance, Ovechkin finished his 21st season with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games. This marked the first time since 2017–18 that The Great 8 appeared in all 82 games.

capitals report card

Team: B+

The Capitals went on to finish the season with four consecutive wins. If the team was not troubled by injuries and inconsistencies, they could have reached the playoffs.

Alex Ovechkin: A

Ovechkin made quite an impact in his swan song. He finished the 2025–26 season with 64 points (32 goals, 32 assists).

Clay Stevenson: A

Stevenson had a solid effort stopping 27 of 28 shots against Columbus. The 27-year-old got the start over Logan Thompson and the injured Charlie Lindgren.

Anthony Beauvillier: A

Beauvillier fueled the Capitals’ offense with the game-tying goal in the second period. He finished the season with a season-high 15 points.

Jacob Chykrun:A

Chicrun recorded the game-winner to help the team finish strong. He finished with 26 goals, the most among NHL blueliners this season.

Harry Lichtman is an award-winning journalist who covers the Washington Capitals for SportsNut. He also contributes to the sites… More about Harry Lichtman

The Montreal Canadiens (48-23-10) will face the Philadelphia Flyers (42-27-12) on Tuesday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

This will be the final game of the regular season for both teams, and considering that the Habs and Flyers have already qualified for the playoffs, some regular players may be missing from the lineup.

Josh Anderson, Mike Matheson and Phillip Danault could see the game as healthy scratches to give them some rest before springtime hockey begins. As for Caden Guhle, he did not practice, but head coach Martin St-Louis said he will be available for Tuesday’s game.

Matheson, Danault, Anderson all put in some extra work this morning.
Might watch instead of play tonight, but we’ll see…

– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) 14 April 2026

We do know that netminder Jacob Dobbs will start for the Canadiens, giving the rookie netminder a chance to earn his 30th win. As things stand, Dobbs’ record is 29-9-4, including a 2.75 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage.

This will also be the 43rd game that Dobbs has appeared in, meaning he has been in over half of Montreal’s games, a huge feat for him when we consider the team has had three different netminders this season.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Lineup

Cole Coffield – Nick Suzuki – Juraj Slafkowski

Alexandre Texier – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov

Oliver Kapanen – Zachary Bolduc – Kirby Dach

Jake Evans – Philip Danault – Josh Anderson

Mike Matheson – Caden Guhle*

Jaden Struble – Lane Hutson

Arbor Zekaj – David Rickenbacker

jacob dobbs

Philadelphia Flyers Projected Lineup

Tyson Foster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett

Travis Konecny ​​- Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone

Denver Barkey – Noah Cates – Matvei Mitchkov

Luke Glendening – Shawn Couturier – Garnet Hathaway

Travis Sanheim – Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York – Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seiler – Emile Andre

and vlader

How to watch Hubs Vs. those who fly

Montreal Canadiens vs. Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 will be broadcast on TSN2 and RDS. A quick recap with highlights will be available on SportsNote once the final whistle blows.

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

The 2025-26 NBA regular season has concluded, which brings us to the play-in tournament field, which was largely determined before the 82nd game of the season. Now that the matchups have been determined, it’s time to predict how the matchups will unfold.

Let’s take a look at our 2026 NBA Play-in Tournament predictions.

(8) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (7) Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns went 2–1 with a +7 point differential in their head-to-head meetings against the Portland Trail Blazers during the regular season. However, it is worth noting that Devin Booker did not play in either of the two February matches and Deni Avdija only played 1 minute in both contests.

A key in this matchup will be what Phoenix gets from Devin Booker. He scored more than 30 points in 24 regular season games, but when this happened the Suns posted only a .500 record. Portland’s physicality could also pose a real problem for Phoenix, especially since several of its key players are unsuccessful. In a tight game, we’re picking the Trail Blazers to surprise on the road.

• Prediction: Portland Trail Blazers 121, Phoenix Suns 118

Read More: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds, Date

(10) Golden State Warriors vs. (9) Los Angeles Clippers

The NBA play-in tournament battle between Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard, it’s a recipe for greatness. Since it is an elimination game, the stakes are even higher, with the loser’s season ending and the winner fighting for the No. 8 seed against the loser of the first play-in game.

Generally, it isn’t wise to pick against Curry and the Golden State Warriors in such a big game. However, what Kawhi Leonard has done for the Los Angeles Clippers recently is absurd. Over his final 35 games, Leonard averaged 27.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, while shooting 37.4 percent from the perimeter and 51.1 percent from the field. Let’s also remember that he has averaged 27.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game in the playoffs since 2015. Since Golden State is not well-equipped to stop Los Angeles where it is weakest, Leonard can single-handedly win this game.

• Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers 114, Golden State Warriors 108

(10) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (7) Phoenix Suns

It’s worth looking back at the changes the Clippers have made this season. On December 18, the team lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder by 21 points and fell to 6–21. They finished the season by winning 36 of their last 55 games, a .655 winning percentage that puts them in the same company as the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks. Leonard has been similarly impressive. It would continue on the road in Phoenix, where he would defeat Devin Booker and the Suns to clinch the Clippers’ spot as the No. 8 seed.

• Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers 110, Phoenix Suns 103

(8) Orlando Magic vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers will be without Joel Embiid in this one, which certainly makes this matchup against the Orlando Magic more interesting. That said, Philadelphia has home-court advantage and it’s not like Tyrese Maxey (28.3 ppg and 6.6 apg) isn’t capable of leading the 76ers to victory. That neither of these teams is all that dominant is shown by the fact that the 76ers (18-33) and Magic (23-30) both had very poor records against winning teams. What Orlando brings to the table is more experience playing in close games, and this team finished their season winning five of their last six. We’re seeing this momentum continue on Wednesday, with Desmond Benn, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero putting on a scoring clinic for Maxi.

• Prediction: Orlando Magic 110, Philadelphia 76ers 105

(10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Charlotte Hornets

Many did not expect the Charlotte Hornets to be the No. 9 seed in the NBA Play-In Tournament this year, but Brandon Miller’s big improvements along with the great play of rookie Kenn Knueppel have them now on the cusp of making the first round. As for the Miami Heat, they cooled off with a 3-10 record before picking up two cheap wins to end the regular season. We see Miami having plenty of scoring threats to handle, which will give Charlotte fans the experience of seeing the Hornets win a playoff game on home turf.

• Prediction: Charlotte Hornets 122, Miami Heat 115

(9) Charlotte Hornets vs. (7) Philadelphia 76ers

LaMelo Ball will get his moment in the NBA Play-In Tournament with a strong performance to send the Hornets into a first-round matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Tyrese Maxey will do everything he can for Philadelphia, combining for over 70 points in these two games. That wouldn’t be enough, Embiid’s appendectomy would prove to be the reason the 76ers would suffer another early playoff exit.

• Prediction: Charlotte Hornets 114, Philadelphia 76ers 110

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The biggest story surrounding the Tennessee Volunteers football team this spring has centered on the quarterback battle to determine who will be the starter in Week 1. Although it has taken months to make a decision, others have recently emerged.

In his annual article highlighting notable performances from the Spring Games, Pete Nakos of On3.com, left tackle Javin Gordon and cornerback Kyon Lee both made the list.

RELATED: ESPN analyst offers insight on Volunteers QB battle

The 5-foot-10 Gordon spent his freshman season with the Tulane Green Wave and finished 2025 with 516 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns on 128 carries. He then entered the college football transfer portal this offseason, and committed to Tennessee to serve as a complementary member behind DeSean Bishop next season.

With the departures of star Thomas and Peyton Lewis, Josh Heupel and the Volunteers coaching staff are looking for who can fill secondary roles in the backfield behind Bishop. For Gordon and Deuce Morris, this could be a meaningful role as Thomas finished with 100 carries last year and Lewis had 74 touches.

RELATED: Volunteers trending for flip top recruit from SEC rival

Lee was another addition to the college football transfer portal for Tennessee. He is quickly emerging as a standout player on the perimeter, who can excel in coverage and is willing to drop his shoulder and deliver big hits.

Lee’s emergence is especially important to Volunteers defensive coordinator William Inge, who needs a quality No. 2 option at cornerback opposite second-year freshman Ty Redmond.

RELATED: Tennessee Volunteers confident they can flip 5-star recruit

For now, it has yet to be determined who will be the Volunteers’ starting quarterback this season, and no decision will be made any time after the spring game. What matters for Tennessee right now is that they have two very good cornerbacks and much-needed depth for the 2026 season.

Matt Johnson is the senior NFL and college football editor for Sportsknot. His work including the weekly NFL and college… More about Matt Johnson

The New Jersey Devils (41-36-3, 85 points) will conclude their 2025-26 home game against the Ottawa Senators (43-27-10, 96 points) on Sunday night at the Prudential Centre.

The Senators will make their first trip to Newark a day after clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Ottawa has won four consecutive games and currently holds the No. 1 Eastern Conference wild-card spot due to a regulation-win tiebreaker against the Boston Bruins.

The Devils won in Detroit on Saturday afternoon and eliminated the Red Wings from playoff contention. New Jersey is 7-4-1 in its last 12 home games but has lost two in a row at the Prudential Center.

What to know vs senator

• The Devils are 20-17-3 at the Prudential Center this season
• Defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler has a team-best three-game point streak (0 goals, 3 assists) entering Sunday’s game
• Devils goaltender Nico Dawes will make his third career start on Sunday against the Senators. He’s 1-1 with a .882 save% and 3.00 GAA in his last two
• Jack Hughes leads the team with 17 goals and 41 points at the Prudential Center, despite missing 11 home games due to injury.
• The Senators qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2012–13.
• Ottawa forward Claude Giroux has 16 goals and 63 points in 74 career games against the Devils
• Goalie Linus Ullmark is 1-1 with a .915 save% against the Devils this season
• Senators coach Travis Green coached the Devils for 21 games in 2023–24 and compiled an 8–12–1 record after replacing Lindy Ruff.

2025-26 vs. Senators

12/9/25: W 4-3 Canadian Tire Center

1/31/26: L4-1 Canadian Tire Center

4/12/26: 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs senators

All-time record: 65-36-5-7

All-time home record: 32-19-2-2

All-time road record: 33-17-3-5

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Mark McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

Dennis Cholowski – Jonathan Kovacevic

goalkeeper

nico doves

jake allen

Projected Senator Lineup*

Ahead

Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridley Gregg

Nick Cousins ​​- Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

defenseman

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zab

Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence

Lassie Thomson – Nicholas Matinpalo

goalkeeper

James Reimer

Linus Ullmark

How to watch the Devils game — (7:00 p.m. ET)

Watch: MSGSN2/ESPN+

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Tuesday, April 14, BOS 7:00 PM ET

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The New Jersey Devils (40-35-3, 83 points) will try to prevent the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-22-16) from making the Stanley Cup playoffs when the Metropolitan Division rivals face off at the Prudential Center on Thursday.

The Devils fell out of playoff contention with a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at the Rock on Tuesday. Still, New Jersey is 12-6-1 in their last 19 games.

The Penguins are 5-2 in their last seven games and have been dominant on offense. Pittsburgh has 36 goals in that span and has never scored fewer than three goals in any game.

Here’s what could turn out to be a high-scoring affair in Newark on Thursday.

What to Know vs Penguins

• The Devils are 1-2 against Pittsburgh this season and have gone 9-3 in their last three games.
• Devils forward Cody Glass will enter Thursday’s game on a two-game goal streak and has three goals heading into the April 4 game
• Jake Allen is 1-1 with a .921 save% and 2.40 goals against average against the Penguins this season.
• Sidney Crosby has 99 points (42 goals, 57 assists) in 91 career games against the Devils
• Erik Karlsson has 29 points in his last 21 games, the most of any NHL defenseman over that span.
• Penguins center Rickard Rakell has the NHL’s longest active point streak (eight games) and has 13 points in that span.

2025-26 vs penguins

11/8/25: SOW 2-1 Prudential Center

1/8/26: L 4-1 PPG Paints Arena

2/26/26: L 4-1 PPG Paints Arena

4/9/26: 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs penguins

All-time record: 131-113-17-6

All-time home record: 70-49-13-3

All-time road record: 61-64-4-3

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Mark McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goalkeeper

jacob markstrom

jake allen

Projected Penguins Lineup*

Ahead

Igor Chinakov-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Tommy Novak – Ricard Raquel – Evgeni Malkin

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

defenseman

Parker Wotherspoon – Rasmus Ristolainen

Samuel Girard – Kris Letang

Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton

goalkeeper

artur silov

sergei murashov

How to watch the Devils game – (7:30 p.m. ET)

Watch: MSGN/ESPN+

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Saturday, April 11, 5:00 pm ET

Sunday, April 12 vs. OTT, 7:00 PM ET

Tuesday, April 14, BOS 7:00 PM ET

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The New Jersey Devils (40-34-3, 83 points) will try to bolster their slim Stanley Cup playoff hopes when they host the Philadelphia Flyers (39-26-12, 90 points) on Tuesday.

The Devils are 8-3-1 in their last 12 games at home and 4-0-1 in their last five games at the Prudential Center. They are within seven points of the Flyers for the final playoff spot with only four games left.

The Flyers are extremely bullish and have moved up to third place in the Metropolitan Division. They are 14-6-1 since the Olympic break and 9-1 in their last 10 road games.

Here’s what to expect from Tuesday’s huge game at the Rock.

What to Know vs Flyers

• The Devils are 0-2 against the Flyers and have gone 11-6 against them this season.
• Captain Nico Hischier has 12 points in the Devils’ last 10 games and has four points (2 goals, 2 assists) against the Flyers this year.
• Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom has a .930 save%, 2.17 GAA and one shutout in 14 career games against the Flyers.
• Jack Hughes has 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in the Devils’ last 20 games and has 17 points in 11 home games since the Olympic break.
• The Flyers have 10 players scoring at least 10 goals this season, including Owen Tippett’s 28 goals.
• Porter Martone scored his first NHL goal in overtime in Philadelphia’s 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
• Goalie Dan Vladar is 2-0-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .910 save% against the Devils this season
• Matvei Michkov has scored four goals in six games against the Devils and has 11 goals and 27 points in 38 road games this year.

2025-26 vs flyers

11/22/25: L6-3 Xfinity Mobile Arena

11/29/25: L5-3 Prudential Center

4/7/26: 7:30 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs flyers

All-time record: 126-121-18-9

All-time home record: 77-47-8-5

All-time road record: 49-74-10-4

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Mark McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goalkeeper

jacob markstrom

jake allen

Projected Flyers Lineup*

Ahead

Tyson Foster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett

Travis Konecny ​​- Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone

Alex Bump – Noah Cates – Matvei Mitchkov

Shawn Couturier – Luke Glendening – Carl Grundstrom

defenseman

Travis Sanheim- Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York – Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seiler – Emile Andre

goalkeeper

and vlader

samuel irson

How to watch the Devils game – (7:30 p.m. ET)

Watch: ESPN+/Hulu

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Thu, Apr 9 vs PIT 7:00 PM ET

Saturday, April 11, 5:00 pm ET

Sunday, April 12 vs. OTT, 7:00 PM ET

Tuesday, April 14, BOS 7:00 PM ET

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The Los Angeles Rams have been busy since the NFL offseason began last month, and executives from rival teams have been fans of how they’ve adapted to their latest creation for a Super Bowl run.

After falling a bit short of reaching the Big Game earlier this year, the LA Rams brain trust is motivated to finish the story in 2026. And why not? They will bring back most of last year’s roster, including reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford.

However, they must improve if they want to overcome division rivals and defending league champions, the Seattle Seahawks. They did so immediately when they made a blockbuster trade for Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Trent McDuffie. He also added teammate Jaylen Watson in free agency. His aggressiveness has earned the praise of a rival executive.

“It doesn’t make any difference to me,” the executive said. “If you still think you’re in the window and you have Matt Stafford coming back, you’ve got to do everything you can to try to win it one more time. They still have a first-round pick.”

Exec praises visionary thinking of Los Angeles Rams contract for Trent McDuffie

Additionally, pairing McDuffie with Watson in L.A. especially after working well together in Kansas City drew praise from another NFL decision-maker.

“Corner is a position where even the top guys are hard to be consistent year after year, but I like how aggressive they were,” the executive said. “Their biggest need by far was to have more size in the secondary, to be more competitive. You’re pairing McDuffie with Watson so they can come together, communicate well together, build rapport.”

While some NFL evaluators questioned the LA Rams’ decision to make McDuffie the highest-paid corner in the league ($31 million annual average), another executive felt the price tag was a smart piece of forward thinking and not a bad overpay.

“I know they gave McDuffie a lot of money. But teams that accept where the cap is going and can adjust the percentages rather than have sticker shock are ahead of the game,” that executive said. “They realize that $30 million is going to be (more palatable) because other people will get paid.”

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

Brazilian wing-back Wesley has been one of AS Roma’s best players this season, attracting the attention of Tottenham and others. Even if the Italian side put up a wall, Spurs could get a discount on the deal.

The 22-year-old joined the Giallorossi for €25m last summer. This has proven to be a bit of a bargain, as Wesley fits perfectly into Gian Piero Gasperini’s system.

He has played 34 times in all competitions and contributed six goals. Apart from playing as a right wing-back, he has often been the first choice on the left.

This has made him a candidate to play at the World Cup with Brazil, having played regularly since arriving in Rome. Also, he is attracting the attention of many clubs.

Tottenham are among those interested in a transfer.

Roma are putting up barriers

sports witness Manchester City’s interest in Wesley has been covered before asromalive Please provide some more information.

The outlet says Tottenham are tracking the Brazil international, with Liverpool and Arsenal also in the running.

Roma are believed to have placed a price-tag of €60 million on the transfer, suggesting an unwillingness to sell him. This has led to the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City considering other targets but the same is not true for Spurs.

The price seems a bit inflated, as previous reports suggested a €50m valuation. This perhaps indicates that Roma are not in a strong negotiating position and a deal could be done for less than €60m.

Big transfer need could help Tottenham

As things stand, the Giallorossi are outside the top four in Serie A. They have always had issues with Financial Fair Play, having previously signed a settlement agreement with UEFA regarding this.

If they miss out on Europe, they will be desperate for a big sale. It could come in any number of forms, but if Tottenham offer around €50m, or perhaps €5m or even less, Roma will be tempted.

This may prove to be enough for him and his FFP fight. Furthermore, this amount is usually significant for Serie A clubs due to the obvious financial discrepancy between England and Italy.

So if Roberto De Zerbi’s side are serious about Wesley, he would fit perfectly into the Italian’s high-intensity system.

MLB umpire CB Buckner was injured during the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers game on Wednesday afternoon. In the second inning, an errant tip from Nick Fortes’ bat hit Buckner in the mask. The umpire fell to the ground and was late attended to by medical trainers.

The Brewers’ starting pitcher Jakub Misiorowski threw a 100 mph fastball, and Fortes sent it into Buckner’s mask on a direct hit. Chad Fairchild took over behind the plate in Buckner’s place. Thankfully, the 63-year-old eventually walked off the field and into the clubhouse.

It has been a difficult start to the 2026 MLB season for Buckner, who has been the subject of criticism due to his ball-strike calls. Buckner, who has been an MLB umpire since the 1996 season, has one of the worst results in MLB’s new ABS challenge system. In fact, six of the eight challenges against Buckner were overturned during the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds game.

Most notably, Buckner was in the news for his call during the Rays-Brewers game on Tuesday night. Buckner was serving as the first-base umpire when he threw out Jake Bauers on an infield single for not touching the bag in the sixth inning.

Replays clearly showed Bauer touching the top of the bag and the call was overturned. Rays manager Kevin Cash and Brewers manager Pat Murphy were smiling during the delay. It was a shocking call, but the Brewers were able to right the wrong with a challenge.

Buckner hasn’t been in the headlines for the right reasons to start 2026; However, his health is the top priority after suffering a facial injury on Wednesday. Hopefully, Buckner escaped serious injury.

READ MORE: One week into the season, who remains an MLB free agent?

Austin Konensky is a sports writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and college football. His work…More about Austin Konensky

The New Jersey Devils have dominated their cross-Hudson-rivals the New York Rangers over the past two seasons.

But the Rangers finally struck back Tuesday, both literally and figuratively.

The Rangers dominated from the start of the game, then Igor Shesterkin dealt a blow to both Jacob Markstrom and the Devils by setting up a much-discussed goalie fight at MSG and winning the game 4–1.

The Devils lost for the second time in three games, with both losses coming against a Metropolitan Division opponent. Their sad number, where they will be eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention, is six.

devils were flat in msg

The Rangers have been one of the worst teams at home all season, and the Devils have skated circles around them the past two seasons.

But in a game the Devils needed to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, they were unprepared to play. New Jersey gave up nine high-danger chances in the first period and scored two goals, including JT Miller’s power-play goal, his second goal at the Garden all season.

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said, “I thought they were really good tonight, and we weren’t nearly as good.” “Defensively, we weren’t as strong when it came time to defend.”

Devils captain Nico Hischier echoed Keefe’s sentiments.

“They played more tenaciously,” Hischier said. “They wanted it more, and they worked harder. … We couldn’t find a way.”

Markstrom made five saves in the first-period and stopped just 18 shots in the game. But the Devils got just eight high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 and surrendered 20 in all situations in the game.

“We have made life really difficult [Markstrom]Even when we didn’t need to,” Keefe said. “We’ve got to play better defense, and we’ve got to find ways to execute on offense.”

Jacob Markstrom tried to shock his team by fighting Igor Shesterkin

The much-publicized goaltender battle between Markstrom and Shesterkin will be talked about for years to come. Rangers members applauded their goalkeeper for fending off Markstrom’s challenge. But the Devils goalie explained why it was time for him to take on the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner.

“I felt like I needed to do something,” Markstrom said. “It’s disappointing to give up four goals, and you want to get involved, you want to do something. As a goalkeeper, that’s not really my job.

“We’re down 4-1, and I was just trying to get a spark or something.”

Keefe recognized Markstrom’s effort in trying to wake up his club by skating onto the rink and challenging Shesterkin to drop his gear, even though he took the brunt of Shesterkin’s punches.

“It shows what a competitor he is,” Keefe said. “At a moment like this, where we are in the season, it takes a lot of courage, but it also shows that you are a competitor to skate on the rink without hesitation and go and do that, then put your stuff back out and go out and shoot a penalty, that’s a pretty extraordinary thing to do.

“I thought he’s a guy who has struggled throughout the game. If anything, a fight like this should send a message to the group about how much they’re invested in [Markstrom] And we need the rest of the group at all times.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The Vancouver Canucks lost 4-2 to the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on Monday night, spoiling Evander Kane’s 1,000th NHL game.

They gave up their second lead before the third period was over. Shea Theodore and Reilly Smith scored 1:17 late in the second. Cole Smith added an empty-netter to complete the scoring.

According to NHL.com, this was John Tortorella’s debut behind the Vegas bench since Bruce Cassidy was fired on Sunday, and the Golden Knights were in desperate need of some change.

Vegas had lost three in a row and six of seven, yet found enough life to rally after falling behind 1-0 and 2-1.

ESPN reported that the win kept the Golden Knights in third place in the Pacific, just one point behind Edmonton.

Canucks had some bite

I’ve seen enough Canucks losses this season to know this was a little different. Its bite was more. The team played with more edge and urgency than in most games since the Olympic break, even if by the end the result looked familiar. The effort was definitely better.

At 12:19 of the first period, Kane gave Vancouver a 1–0 lead on a clean backhand finish after being sent in by Jake DeBrusk on a 2-on-1. It was a nice moment.

After Vegas tied it on a Rasmus Andersen goal at 7:48 of the second, Brock Boeser responded by deflecting Filip Hronek’s point shot past Adin Hill on the power play at 12:17.

For a while, it looked like the Canucks might continue this for that period. He didn’t.

Then came the period which changed everything. Ivan Barbashev won the race for the puck and found him alone in the slot, after which Theodore made it 2–2 at 17:17, and Reilly Smith put Vegas ahead at 18:34 on a one-timer from the right circle.

The Golden Knights improved their play after the opening period, and the shot-attempt differential told the story better than the scoreboard for a long time, 67-33 in favor of Vegas. Kevin Lankinen had to be sharp to keep the Canucks close.

lessons learned

Adam Foote later said that Vancouver did not pull away, and Sportsnet quoted him as saying that the Canucks weathered the toughness of Vegas and competed all night.

Sportsnet also pointed to growing pains on the blue line, and one example was hard to ignore when Elias Pettersson Jr. misplayed a two-on-one, leading to Theodore’s goal. Young defenders sometimes learn by burning but it’s still sad to see it happen in real time.

The Canucks pressed in the third, but did not have enough success. Hill finished with 22 saves, Cole Smith hit an empty net at 18:50, and Vancouver lost its sixth consecutive game.

The stat that stands out is that Lankinen made 30 saves. He gave the Canucks a chance that was much more time than the skaters before him deserved.

Mitchell Robinson has always been known for cryptic, hard-to-decode social media posts that leave fans reading between the lines. But after the New York Knicks’ 114-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on March 27, it seemed like Robinson completely flipped the script, and gave an answer so honest and self-aware that the entire Knicks fanbase didn’t see it coming.

After the game, a disappointed fan wrote to Robinson on Snapchat: “Y’all played like crap today, man.” Robinson responded without hesitation: “We did, but basketball won’t be a great night every night.”

Michelle Robinson holds up a mirror for the ny knicks

Snapchat certainly wasn’t the only social media platform where Robinson openly expressed his feelings. Right after the Knicks fan TV clip of Robinson instructing teammate Ariel Huckporty on rebounding before the game. He left a comment on the same post after the game.

Robinson wrote: “Until we change our mentality, it doesn’t matter; we’re not doing anything remarkable – keep that nonsense up, including me.”

a defeat that affected the situation

It was certainly not a tiring game. In fact, a Knicks win over Charlotte would have moved New York into second place in the Eastern Conference, a seeding that offers a lot of playoff advantage.

However, they allowed a Hornets team to dominate the first half 65–55, before going on a meaningless run late in the third quarter to put them behind 94–76. The Knicks’ record is currently 48–26, which is third in the East, but their playoff position has not been decided.

A monster test awaits against the Thunder

There is no time to be disappointed. The Knicks head to Paycom Center to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. The Thunder are on top of the Western Conference with a 58-16 record and are very formidable with a 30-6 home record this season.

However, if Robinson’s honest comments do indeed indicate a real change in attitude, then Knicks supporters should be prepared to see him deliver an extraordinary rebounding show, completely controlling the zone, consistently blocking every missed shot for the Thunder, and clearly demonstrating why a focused Mitchell Robinson is without a doubt one of the league’s most powerful big men.

Jayesh Pagar is currently pursuing Sports Journalism from London School of Journalism and has four years of experience… More about Jayesh Pagar

LOS ANGELES – Lakers star Luka Doncic will serve a one-game suspension for Monday’s game against the Washington Wizards after receiving his 16th technical during Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.

Doncic and Nets guard Ziaire Williams received a double technical with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter. As Williams stepped into his personal space, Doncic lightly patted her back. After this Williams slapped Doncic on the chin.

Doncic immediately took issue with the call, but it’s unclear whether the NBA will overturn his technical. The NBA had already granted Doncic this courtesy after he exchanged words with Orlando Magic center Goga Bitadze during Saturday’s game. Afterwards, Doncic told reporters that Bitadze made lewd comments about his family, an allegation that Bitadze denied to ESPN and the Orlando Sentinel. After this, the Lakers appealed against this decision to the NBA.

NBA Insider for Sportsknot. Former NBA writer for NBA.com and USA TODAY, Warriors writer for The Mercury News, Lakers… More about Mark Medina

Sunderland striker Brian Brobby is not hiding from his ambitions this summer. He wants to become the Netherlands’ first-choice striker at the World Cup.

Back at the KNVB complex in Zeist for the international break this week, the Sunderland striker admitted he did He has his eyes on the prize of NRC.

The “goal” is clear, become a regular for the Netherlands this year and in the years to come.

“That would be great. I’ve been working hard on it too. So hopefully it works out.” He said.

His return to the national team comes at a crucial moment, with the World Cup just a few months away. After a difficult season at Ajax, he was out of the picture. But his move to Sunderland has re-ignited the fire.

With six goals this season, including the winner in the derby against Newcastle, the striker has come back strongly for Ronald Koeman.

Analyst behind the resurgence

However, Brian Brobby’s return to form is not just about confidence. Since last summer, he has been working with Rotterdam-based expert Patrick Vorst.

The Sunderland striker was introduced to him by Netherlands teammate Denzel Dumfries. His surprising conclusion after analyzing Brobby’s game was to take him out of physical duels.

He helped the Sunderland striker restructure his game by focusing on scanning, orientation and receiving the ball while on the move.

“Defenders are getting smarter and think he’s going to be on them all the time,” Worst explains.

“So, they keep their distance. By doing that, they put Brobby in a kind of doubt: Where is he really?

“That’s the first thing we started working on. What should he do if he doesn’t get into a physical duel? To that end, they started focusing on getting away quickly.

“He almost always gets away and keeps his pace. That means he’s hard to stop.”

Opta data supports this. Brobbey’s ground duels per match have dropped from 7.8 at Ajax to 5.2 at Sunderland, a 33% decrease.

“Patrick shows me how to scan players, how to make runs into space and how to receive the ball,” Brobbie added. Less conflict also means more fitness, Something that did not go unnoticed in the Netherlands.

Faster speed and better position = greater danger

Another big change is the positioning of Sunderland’s players in the box. According to Vorst’s data, Brobbie often stood directly in front of defenders. From this his activities could be estimated.

Now, he is encouraged to move away from the ball, stay hidden and get into space whenever possible. Ideally this happens in front of the goal. Watch his winner against Newcastle, and such training is evident.

“With crosses from the flank, he often stood in front of the opponent, so they kept him in their field of vision,” Add worst.

“So, the defender could see every movement Brian made and could react to it. Brian always had a tendency to run towards the ball.”

According to him, the trick for Brobby is to stay away from the ball often in promising situations to stay out of his marker’s field of vision.

“And then at the right moment, when he makes eye contact with his partner, he has to step in front of his man,” He concluded.

The result appears to be a striker who looks faster, fitter and far more dangerous than Ajax.

His goal now is clear, to become the Netherlands’ first-choice striker. For the first time in a long time, it’s actually within reach. And the Sunderland striker probably has Worst to thank.

🇩🇿 Sunderland | Anis Hadj Moussa and Yassine Titraoui

➡️Premier League club looking for pairing
💶 Offers may comehttps://t.co/QrjW8lP3Gd #safc

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 11 March 2026

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers got back into the win column with an easy win over the Indiana Pacers. Luka Doncic once again led the way for Los Angeles, scoring 43 points on an efficient shooting night from the field to end a historic road trip.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark was in attendance at the game and brought a camera with her to the game.

After the competition, Clark took to Twitter to share some candid photos He got to know LeBron James during the game.

King👑…shot by me pic.twitter.com/AbcVqVR8lo

– Caitlin Clark (@CaitlinClark22) 26 March 2026

Apparently, in addition to his skills on the basketball court, photography is also one of the many talents that Clark possesses. Clark is hoping to have a much healthier 2026 WNBA season than she did suffering from fever in 2025.

Meanwhile, with this win, the Lakers were able to overcome their recent tough road defeat at the hands of the Detroit Pistons and end their road trip on a high note. It was a very successful offensive outing in the East for the Lakers, who had recently ridden a nine-game winning streak, with James enjoying one of the most efficient scoring stretches of his career during the hot streak.

However, the head of the snake for Los Angeles remains Doncic, who has put up Herculean stat lines every night for the Lakers this entire season, and has worked his way into MVP conversations as a result.

The Lakers will now return home for an easier stretch of the schedule, starting with a Friday night tilt against the tanking Brooklyn Nets. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 10:30 pm ET from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

The New Jersey Devils (36-32-2, 74 points) head to Music City to take on the Nashville Predators (34-28-9, 77 points) and are feeling pretty good about themselves after defeating the second-place Dallas Stars earlier this week.

After a season of tough disappointments, the Devils finally look like the team we expected in 2025-26. Too bad it’s too little, too late.

Meanwhile, the Predators themselves are playing well, winners of five consecutive games and desperate to hold on to the second wild card spot in the West.

There is a lot at stake for Nashville, while there is nothing at stake for New Jersey.

Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup.

What to Know vs Predators

— The Devils and Nashville concluded their 2025–26 regular season series when the Devils won 3–2 overtime against the Preds at the Rock on January 29, 2026.

-Nico Hischier recorded an overtime goal in the first matchup against Nashville this season, while Dougie Hamilton and Jesper Bratt also found the net in the contest.

-Goaltender Jacob Markstrom recorded 27 saves on 29 shots in the overtime win.

-The Devils have a 2-3-0 record in Nashville since 2019-20, but the team has won its last two road contests in the Music City since 2023-24.

2025-26 vs hunters

1/29/26 W 3-2 Prudential Center

3/26/26 8:00 PM ET Bridgestone Arena

devil vs hunter

All-time record: 19-13-0-8

All-time home record: 7-8-0-5

All-time road record: 12-5-0-3

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Arseny Gritsyuk – Cody Glass – Lenny Haminaho

Paul Couture – Nick Bjugstad – Maxim Tsyplyakov

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goaltender

jacob markstrom

jake allen

*Lineup is subject to change

Current Injuries: Jack McEwen (upper body, out for the season)

2025-26 Total man-games lost: 295

Projected Predators Lineup*Forward

Steven Stamkos – Ryan O’Reilly – Luke Evangelista

Filip Forsberg – Matthew Wood – Jonathan Marchessault

Cole Smith – Eric Haula – Tyson Jost

Reed Schaefer – Fedor Svechkov – Joakim Kemel

defenseman

Brady Skye – Roman Josie

Nicholas Hague – Adam Wilsby

Nick Perbix – Ryan Uffko

goaltender

hair in saros

Justus Annunen

*Lineup is subject to change

How to watch the Devils game – 7:00 pm ET

Watch: msgsn 2

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Thu, Mar 26 at 8:00pm NSH
Saturday, March 28 CAR 5:00 PM
Sunday, March 29 vs CHI 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 31st at NYR 7:00 PMET

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

BOSTON – As a reigning MVP who is often nicknamed the “free-throw merchant,” Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander credits Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown’s frequent trips to the charity stripe. Brown led the Celtics to a 119–109 victory against the Thunder, ending the defending champions’ 12-game winning streak.

Brown shot 12 of 31 from the free-throw line, making all but two of his 14 attempts. After the game, Gilgeous-Alexander gave Brown his flowers and credited him with giving him a pair of flowers Dominant performance in both the meetings Against the Thunder.

Gilgeous-Alexander said, “They did a really good job of getting to the free-throw line, especially against us. I think it’s 14 twice. So, 28 free throws in two games? Great job.” “The best players in the history of the game go to the free-throw line. It’s part of the game and statistically the most effective way to score points.”

SGA on Jaylen Brown’s approach vs. the Thunder: “He’s done a really good job of getting to the free-throw line, especially against us. I think it’s 14 twice.

So 28 free throws in two games? Very good work. The best players in the history of the game go to the free-throw line.… pic.twitter.com/OVlyEfKFsQ

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 26 March 2026

In a 104–102 loss to the Thunder on March 12, Jaylen Brown went 13 of 14 from the free-throw line, before he and the Celtics avenged that loss in a 10-point win on Thursday. Scoring 12 of his 31 points from the line, Jaylen led Boston to an impressive two-point victory at the TD Garden.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander admits Thunder ‘failed’ against Celtics

Thunder All-Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander saw his team suffer setbacks amid multiple injuries throughout the regular season, he knows what to expect against the Celtics — a stellar effort. Gilgeous-Alexander description A lively playoff-type atmosphere At TD Garden.

Gilgeous-Alexander said, “Every time you play the Boston Celtics, you get that playoff feel. No matter what day it is. No matter who’s there. They’re very well-coached. They have really good players.” “This is one of the premier organizations to play in the league, and they bring it every night. It doesn’t matter who is there.

“[They] There is a culture. They check all the boxes, and that’s why they’ve been successful over the years. It’s a game where you see where you really are, and they test you. Tonight we were tested; We did not pass it.”

SGA on playing at TD Garden: “Every time you play the Boston Celtics, you get that playoff feeling. It doesn’t matter what day it is. It doesn’t matter who’s there.

They are very well trained. They have really good players… It’s a game where you see where you really are and they test you. We got… pic.twitter.com/9BG0gRrqXa

-Joshua Peacock (@Joe_Sway) 26 March 2026

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 33 points, eight assists and two steals in Thursday’s loss to the Celtics.

On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Lakers will take the field to conclude their East Coast trip with a game against the Indiana Pacers. Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura’s injury reports for this contest list Hachimura as questionable and Smart as questionable. Here’s everything we know about Smart and Hachimura’s injuries and their game status on Wednesday against the Pacers.

Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura playing against Pacers

For the game against the Pacers, Marcus Smart is listed as questionable due to a right ankle injury. Hachimura has been named questionable with right calf soreness. Both Smart and Hachimura missed the Lakers’ last game, a loss against the Detroit Pistons that snapped the team’s nine-game winning streak. The Lakers also include Edou Thirou on the injury report, who is questionable due to knee soreness.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have several players listed on the injury report, with Andrew Nembhard, Pascal Siakam, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith all listed as probable with various ailments. Meanwhile, Ivica Zubac will be out of the lineup with a rib fracture.

In theory, a game against the league’s worst Pacers should give Los Angeles a good chance at a comeback, although if all of Indiana’s prospects end up playing, it’s the same core that made it to the NBA Finals last year, except, of course, the injured Tyrese Haliburton.

The Pacers recently suffered an upset on the road against the Orlando Magic, so this is definitely not a game the Lakers will want to take lightly.

Los Angeles currently sits comfortably in third place in the Western Conference and will look to end their current road trip on a high note before returning to the Crypto.com Arena this weekend.

Rising WWE superstar Oba Femi was among the thousands in attendance for the New York Knicks’ seventh consecutive win, who visited Madison Square Garden ahead of Monday Night Raw on March 30.

Femi attended the Knicks’ game against the New Orleans Pelicans in style by wearing a blue shirt that matched New York’s uniform. Photos of Femi were shared on Madison Square Garden’s social media accounts, in which he is holding the Knicks’ WWE-style championship belt and a custom jersey with his name on it.

ruler x garden 🧡💙

Catch @WWE On March 30, Monday Night Raw! pic.twitter.com/9dbJUCAayt

– MSG (@TheGarden) 25 March 2026

This is a big step for Femi. Obviously, WWE sees a lot of potential in him and him promoting the company like this shows their confidence in him.

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar are likely to face off when WWE RAW Knicks visits Madison Square Garden.

Currently, Femi is locked in a high-profile feud with Brock Lesnar leading up to WrestleMania 42. More likely, they will both be on the upcoming episode of Raw at the Garden on March 30.

Although it is unlikely that they will have a match, it is expected that they will have a physical relationship once again. Femi has performed better than Lesnar in his last two matches. Therefore, the “Beast Incarnate” is likely to return to Fami at least once before WrestleMania 42 begins on Saturday, April 18.

Femi was a major force in WWE’s developmental brand NXT. He won the NXT North American Championship once and the NXT Championship twice.

He was such a dominant champion that he left the NXT Championship after winning it for the second time. Femi never lost it, but rather gave it up.

Shortly after, he joined the WWE main roster before competing in the 2026 Royal Rumble. Lesnar eliminated him, which started their feud. Now, his first big fight on the main roster is against Lesnar, which is a big achievement for him.

Jose Alvarado faced his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, for the first time on Tuesday night since being traded to the New York Knicks at the deadline nearly two months ago. Alvarado was a beloved member of the locker room and was a bundle of energy whenever he was on the court, and when the two teams met on Tuesday it was clear that he remains great friends with several people in the opposing locker room.

Before the Knicks’ 121-116 win, Alvarado go and meet People he became friends with during his time with Pelican. The Knicks guard hugged the Pelicans’ commentary duo of Joel Meyers and Antonio Daniels, exchanged some encouraging words with Dejounte Murray, and flirted with Trey Murphy III, as caught on camera via the Pelicans Film Room on X (formerly Twitter).

Jose Alvarado hugging his former teammates this morning pic.twitter.com/PMd9kTjviy

– Pelican Film Room (@PelsFilmRoom) 24 March 2026

The Pelicans may ultimately not want to lose Alvarado, but given his plight during the 2025-26 season, they had to get whatever assets they could for someone who could leave in free agency at the end of the season.

With the Knicks, Alvarado once again gets a chance to compete in the playoffs, although Pelicans fans feel a strange tug in their hearts every time they see him traded to another team.

Jose Alvarado will play big playoff minutes for the Knicks

The Knicks have been interested in bringing in Alvarado for some time, and Miles McBride’s injury has further encouraged them to acquire the beloved Pelicans guard via trade.

Alvarado has his place in the playoff rotation for being a defensive pest, and he doesn’t shy away from the moment. They also have a tendency to be forceful to some extent. The Knicks will need to make open shots in the playoffs to justify giving him minutes.