Thursday afternoon, 4:30 PM Pacific, the Las Vegas Raiders find out who they’re playing and when. The league office has already spoiled the suspense on the degree of difficulty.

It is a cruel word.

Why is the Raiders schedule not doing their rebuild any favors?

According to the NFL’s own math, only six teams fared worse. The Raiders’ opponents scored a combined .529 last season, putting them at the seventh-toughest strength of schedule in the league for 2026. Nine of those opponents played in January. The AFC West gives you Kansas City, Denver and the Chargers twice each, and that’s before the calendar ends with Buffalo, New England, the Rams, Seattle and San Francisco thrown in for good measure.

No one in the national media is hiding what they think will happen next.

Just Blog Baby came out this week with an article arguing that anyone expecting the Silver and Black to crash the playoff party in 2026 will be heartbroken. The site acknowledged that the offseason raised the floor, then quickly pointed out that a high floor doesn’t mean much when the ceiling is Patrick Mahomes’s twice a year.

Warren Sharp’s take on Sharp Football Analysis went down a different path altogether. They abandoned the traditional method of using the previous year’s record and instead built their rankings around Vegas win totals, which factors in roster changes between February and now. Sharp’s model has the Raiders projected at 5.5-wins, meaning bookmakers see an upgrade but no contenders just yet.

RELATED: Raiders rookie minicamp 2026: Fernando Mendoza already looks like a boy

Choose a methodology, choose your pain.

The AFC West is what should keep Raider fans up at night. Las Vegas has not seen a playoff game since the 2021 Wild Card weekend in Cincinnati. Kansas City had a disappointing year and the Chiefs don’t last long, everyone in football knows that by now. Denver won the division outright. The Chargers also moved into the bracket. Six divisional games, each one of them against a team that had played meaningful football on New Year’s Day.

The home slate doesn’t get any easier when you leave the division. Allegiant Stadium will host Buffalo, the Rams and Seattle in addition to the AFC West Gauntlet, which includes six of eight home games against teams expected to finish above .500.

Clint Kubiak is promoting without excuses, and that’s admirable, but the schedule doesn’t care about the messaging. Tyler Linderbaum is real. It’s realistic to buy out Fernando Mendoza for a year for Kirk Cousins ​​to learn. The four defensive backs drafted by the front office are real and they’re probably going to play. All of those things could be true and Las Vegas could still come out of this thing 6-11 depending on who is on the other side most weeks.

The national media have decided that the playoffs are business for 2027. The program begins on Thursday and we find out if there is any reasonable argument to the contrary.

Scott Gulbransen, a quintessential expert in the field of sports journalism, serves as an editor, nfl , mlb , Formula 1…More about Scott Gulbransen

The Montreal Canadiens are coming off two key wins against the Buffalo Sabres, giving them a 2-1 advantage in the second round series in the process.

Game 3 was particularly encouraging, as both the first line and depth players made offensive contributions, leading to an impressive 6–2 win that will certainly motivate the entire team. If the Canadiens can rely on their entire team to generate offence, they will be very difficult to stop.

Although the skaters don’t always move in the same direction during the playoffs, rookie netminder Jacob Dobbs has been the epitome of consistency, a truly remarkable feat considering his lack of experience.

Dobe Statistics – 5v5

The first thing we should note is that he has significantly improved his save percentage. His 5v5 save percentage during the regular season was .914, while he is currently sitting at .930.

Interestingly, the biggest improvement came when facing medium danger shots. In fact, Dobbs is actually saving low-danger and high-danger shots, but the improvement in medium shots offsets the slight decline in other situations.

Once we dig a little deeper, it becomes clear that the Dobbs are playing a less chaotic brand of hockey in the playoffs.

This may seem counterintuitive, as he is essentially the goaltending version of Husky, who is eager to take the walk or run as often as possible, but the numbers show he is doing a good job of controlling the game. He’s allowing fewer rebounds, and he’s freezing the puck more often.

And finally, his better-than-expected save percentage has improved, as well as his saves average/above 60 on goals.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

There was an interesting segment on Sportsnet during Sunday’s game that focused on Dobbs’ extracurricular activities.

In particular, they were not sure it was a good idea to react to the team’s fourth goal of the game, which occurred on a power play that arose after Beck Malensteen raced the young goaltender at full speed.

Dobbs immediately thanked the Buffalo bench for the power play and the resulting goal.

“We’ve learned a lot about Dobbs in this playoffs.”@kbieksa3 Jacob Dobbes’ sentiments are discussed in #Stanley Cup Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ClvG90G27b

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) 11 May 2026

And while I respect the opinions presented, they ignore the reality of the situation.

Dobbs will always be heavily invested in every single game.

He will react emotionally, which may confuse some people, but the numbers tell us that his style of play has been incredibly efficient.

Attempting to change what it is in its original form would not only be a mistake, but would also jeopardize its excellent results.

Dobbs is putting up the best stats of his career because he harnesses that feeling, and the Montreal Canadiens are better for it.

This has been the driving force behind their encouraging playoff run.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via money puck, 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

Now that the Montreal Canadiens have ousted the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the 2026 NHL playoffs, it’s time to take a look at some of the top performers from the series.

jacob dobbs reign supreme

Of course, by asking Habs fans to name their most valuable players of the first round, we were really asking them for submissions to establish the team’s second-most important player.

who was your #GoHabsGo First-round MVP, Canadiens fans? pic.twitter.com/qXE1Gw08vQ

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 4 May 2026

Simply put, Jacob Dobbs was clearly the team’s MVP, as evidenced by the fact that he stopped 181 of 196 shots sent his way, good for a .923 save percentage, well above his regular-season save percentage of .901. It’s also worth noting that he faced 80 high-danger scoring chances, which is a testament to his ability to make a big save when the Canadiens needed it most.

Dobbs may have less experience than most NHL goaltenders, but he gave the Canadiens the confidence they needed to contend for long periods in which the Lightning dominated, which equates to a veteran presence in net.

so far, so good #GoHabsGo Netminder Jacob Dobbes. pic.twitter.com/GCfv2QoExN

– Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) 3 May 2026

Montreal Canadiens Best of the Rest

With six points in seven games, not only did Lane Hutson co-lead the Canadiens in scoring with Nick Suzuki, but he also reminded us that he’s not done setting the tone for his NHL career yet.

We already knew he was a dominant presence in the regular season, but it quickly became clear that he had even more to offer in the playoffs.

When it comes to Montreal’s battle fleet, Hutson is a rising tide that lifts all ships.

Everyone will say Dobbs but I’m picking Hutson. He’s a rock star on defense, he changes games if you look at his minutes.

– Turniptruck 🍁 (@Turnipforthewin) 4 May 2026

Given that the Habs lacked much of a sustained attack at 5v5 from their first line, they relied on a range of players to complement their offensive contributions.

You would be hard-pressed to find a particular depth forward who excelled, as there were several excellent options, including power forward Josh Anderson. He scored the first two goals of the series at 5v5, and his physical play set the tone against an incredibly attractive Lightning lineup.

3 stars
⭐️bed
⭐️⭐️hatson
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Anderson
HM: Texier, Danault, Zekaj

– Bianca OJ (@OdigeBianca) 4 May 2026

Habs fans were also quite pointed to the excellent play of the third line, who was actually used as a second line or possibly fourth line at various times in the series. Regardless, the play of Alexandre Texier, Kirby Dach and Zachary Bolduc was key to overcoming the lack of attack from the first line.

As far as defensemen not named Hutson go, Canadiens fans raved about Arbor Zekaj, and although he did not dress for Game 7, it’s fair to say he performed very well in his limited usage against Tampa Bay.

With Szekaj on the ice, the Habs controlled 57% of the shots at 5v5, a significant feat when we remember the Canadiens were ahead by a large margin (316-260). Full marks to Jaden Struble, who served as Zekaj’s defensive partner for much of the series, as he also produced elite numbers on the third pairing.

There was one member of the organization who did not score a single goal, or provide an assist. He could not manage to score even a single hit.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

And yet, Habs fans wanted to make sure head coach Martin Saint-Louis received recognition for the first-round win.

Martin St. Louis Dobbs is second

– Howard Warner (@HowardBWarner) 4 May 2026

You could argue that he coached John Cooper, one of the most respected coaches in the NHL, but more importantly, he used timeouts wisely, managed his lineups well, and wasn’t afraid to make significant changes when the team faced adversity.

In many ways, the series victory was St. Louis’ coming-out party.

He’s no longer a coach learning the ropes in the NHL. He sets out to write the next chapter of Montreal’s glorious history.

Unless otherwise noted, all Montreal Canadiens statistics are all positions. Through the natural state trick.

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 and Atlanta Hawks are tied 2-2 in the first round. If New York finds a way to advance, the Boston Celtics could wait in the second round, and the debate is already beginning on what the Knicks need to do.

On the First Take X account, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith made his position clear. The seven-game series loss to Boston in the semifinals should not be used as a reason to gut the roster or fire the coach.

“If the New York Knicks go, and they lose in the semi-finals in a 7-game series against the Boston Celtics, I don’t think there’s any reason to say, ‘The coach has to go. These players have to go.'”

But Stephen A didn’t stop at defending the Knicks. He emphasized why Boston deserves such an honor in the first place. Tatum is recovering from sports. Brown is playing like an MVP candidate. And the difference between this Celtics team and the team that beat New York last year is real.

“If we’re being honest, there’s no shame in losing to the Boston Celtics despite the fact that you beat Boston last year. If Jayson Tatum is healthy, which he looks better and better, and Jalen Brown is an MVP candidate, the Boston Celtics are no joke. The Boston Celtics are capable of winning the chip.”

Stephen A. Why Smith thinks the Celtics are still a championship threat in 2026

It’s not just Tatum and Brown. Stephen A went through the entire roster, coaching staff and front office and explained why Boston is built differently, and the first thing he pointed out was how many ways this team can hurt you.

“In a lot of people’s eyes they live and die with the three. But the thing that has to amaze us is that we have to run, and I don’t forget to mention the Peyton Pritchetts of the world and the Derek Whites of the world and what they bring to the table, and Joey Mazzola and Sam Cassell, and those brothers and how exceptionally well they coach.”

Then she gave her flowers to Brad Stevens.

“But the thing that amazes me about Boston, I can’t forget to mention Brad Stevens, who knows what he’s doing as an executive, who is inheritor of the work that the great Nanny Engel did in Boston. He deserves a lot of credit.”

Then came the part that redefines everything. Tatum and Brown are not veterans retiring. They are still climbing.

“Jalen Brown is on the verge of going to his seventh conference finals. Jayson Tatum is on the verge of going to his sixth conference finals. And did you know that neither of them are 30 years old yet? Think about it. Neither of them are 30 years old.”

“None of them are like, you know, it’s like we’ve forgotten that all these brothers are still young. They’re not some age. We look at them and we’re amazed when KD is healthy, KD is 37. We’re looking at Steph Curry, 37, 38. We’re looking at LeBron James, 41. Jalen Brown and Jayson Tatum are not 30 years old. “Actually, they’re not 29.”

This brought him back to where he started.

“So I’m looking at them. I feel like, if the New York Knicks go and they lose in the semi-finals to the Boston Celtics in a seven-game series, I don’t think there’s any reason to say the coach has to go. These players have to go, blah, blah, blah.”

The Knicks defeated Boston last year, but Tatum was lost in Game 4 with an Achilles injury. He is now back and healthy. Losing to this version of the Celtics in seven games would not be a failure for New York. This would mean that they would be playing on a team that is built to win championships.

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

The first-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning is tied at one game each, giving the Habs a perfect opportunity to regain the lead as the series now shifts back to the Bell Centre.

Given that both games required extra time, it is safe to say that the series has been tightly contested, although there are some numbers worth noting as the Habs prepare to host the Bolts.

In this article, we will discuss the game of forward lines, while also keeping in mind that we are working with very limited sample sizes at 5v5.

canadiens vs lightning team stats

The first thing we have to acknowledge is that the numbers behind the first two games are odd. Well, maybe “odd” isn’t the right word, but they’re clearly based on limited data.

Such is life when analyzing in the playoffs.

With this in mind, built-in numbers were developed to get a better idea of ​​how a team—or individual—is performing in this scenario: limited data.

As always, we will discuss four different statistics. The first is Corsi For (CF%), which I often label as ‘shot share’ because it’s so descriptive, but in this case I’ve used the abbreviated version for ease of viewing. We’ll also discuss Montreal’s share of high-danger scoring chances (HDCF%), their expected goal share (xGF%), and actual goal share (GF%) at 5v5.

Through two games, the Lightning have outscored the Habs by a considerable margin, a fact that will be reflected when evaluating the forward lines. The Canadians have managed to control only 39.7% of the shots (66-100), which can only be called worrying.

The Habs have also only managed to score two goals at 5v5, both of which were provided by fourth-line forward Josh Anderson. Overall, the Lightning haven’t lit the lamp as well at 5v5, but they have scored twice as many goals as the Habs.

As far as expected goals go, they represent a very encouraging split for Montreal. The Canadians have gained a considerable advantage and have controlled approximately 54% of the expected targets.

One reason behind the discrepancy in expected goals and shot share is that the Canadiens have done an excellent job of controlling high-danger chances, shooting 72% (18-7). This isn’t just a huge positive, it’s a complete reversal of Montreal’s fortunes with high-quality scoring opportunities. Traditionally, the Habs struggle to generate many quality scoring chances regardless of their opponents.

Canadiens forward lines at 5v5

The biggest issue facing the Habs is clearly their lack of goals at 5v5. If the Canadiens are to have success in this series, the first line in particular needs to start scoring at 5v5.

You could argue that the second and third lines also need to provide some semblance of offense, but the onus is on the team’s best forward to move the ball at 5v5. Fortunately, they are doing a good job at controlling the chances, but the volume is not enough to compensate for their lack of shooting luck.

For the most part, whenever head coach Martin St-Louis puts the first line on the ice, John Cooper immediately counters with a Brandon Hagel, Anthony Cirelli and Jake Guentzel line, which has outscored the Habs 3-0 at 5v5.

Additionally, only one line has managed to control 50% of the shots, which is another team-wide concern. This is reduced by the overall share of high-quality scoring chances, which is reflected in expected goals.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Unfortunately for the Habs, shot quantity is very important when it comes to winning a series. Although they have the edge in quality, a greater volume of shots will be necessary if they want to start scoring more goals at 5v5.

If the Canadiens can manage to put a few more pucks on net, the rest of the numbers suggest they will hold a significant advantage in the remaining games of the series, perhaps enough to pick up a win against a more experienced opponent.

To do that, they’ll have to rely on their first line to resume the dominance they showed on a nightly basis during the regular season, while also getting a little help from St. Louis, who will now have their last change as the series returns to the Bell Center.

Keeping Tampa Bay’s top line devoid of their own top players is probably the best path to success.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5 via Natural Stat Trick.

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 Sirens defeated the Toronto Sceptres 1-0 in a tense overtime contest Tuesday night — but there was no reason to celebrate. By failing to win in regulation, New York was eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season.

Siren is the only member of the PWHL’s Inaugural Six to not appear in the postseason in the league’s three-year history. New York finished in last place in its first two seasons.

Alison Simpson scored the game-winner with a wrist shot between the circles at 2:42 of overtime, just minutes after sealing New York’s playoff fate in disappointing fashion.

This was the only goal scored by either side. The Sirens took a 33-21 lead in shots, but Sceptres goaltender Regan Kirk kept New York off the board in regulation, making 32 saves in 62:42 en route to Second Star honors. Kyle Osborne stopped all 20 shots he faced to earn his fourth shutout of the season.

The Sirens needed six points in their final two games to have a chance to challenge Toronto and Ottawa charge for the No. 4 seed. They improved to 36 points (9-3-3-14) with their third overtime win of 2025-26, but the 40-point mark is now out of reach with one game remaining.

It was New York’s first road win since January 6, snapping an eight-game losing streak. The Sirens have the second-worst road points percentage at .214.

The Scepters remain in fifth place with 38 points (10-1-6-12), one point behind fourth-placed Charge. Ottawa can clinch a postseason berth with a regulation win over Boston Fleet on Wednesday.

“I think we showed a lot of confidence today, not even late in the game, but right from the drop of the puck,” Sirens captain Micah Zandi-Hart said after the game. “I think you saw the energy we came out with – we wanted to win. You look at the shot total, we were getting a lot of good chances. We didn’t get the ball going our way, but we had a lot of confidence right from the start.”

New York outshot Toronto 8–1 midway through the first period and opened the scoring at 14:29 when Maja Nylen Persson beat Kirk Blocker’s side with a point shot on the power play. The officials immediately dismissed this and ruled that Sarah Fillear had interfered with Kirk outside the crease.

The Sirens failed to convert four power plays, and when the Cubs broke into a 3-on-1 shorthanded rush against Osborn, they nearly surrendered their fourth jailbreak goal in three games.

With the third period still scoreless, Sirens coach Greg Fargo pulled Osborn at 18:40, but New York had only two shots on goal at 6-on-5.

Fargo said, “We knew going into the situation – if we were tied, we would have had to pull the goalie. We would have liked to get him out a little quicker.” “We had a hard time creating possession in the offensive zone there. It took us a while to get him out of the net, but I thought we did a pretty good job of getting him out.”

Toronto gained momentum from Maddie Wheeler’s tripping penalty at 11:11 of the third minute, leading to a forecheck that prevented New York from pulling its goalie with more time on the clock.

Even with their playoff hopes officially dashed, the intensity of the siren did not diminish in overtime.

“We wanted to win. We’re all competitors,” Fillier said after the game. “When there’s a chance to win the game, and it doesn’t matter what’s at stake, you want to win.”

Casey O’Brien collected the rebound from a field shot and fed the trailing Simpson, whose wrist shot went through Kirk’s five-hole. Fillier extended her points streak to three games and led all skaters with seven shots.

He refused to take solace in victory.

“Not really. We knew what was at stake. We knew we needed a regulation win,” Fillion said after the game. “It’s nice to be rewarded in overtime, but it’s too late for us.”

Montreal Victoire’s late lead – led by a natural hat trick from Hayley Scamurra in just 2:44 – fell short. Vancouver won 4–3 in regulation.

In a single night, the New York Sirens were eliminated from the race for the playoffs and the #1 overall pick. Ouch.

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 22 April 2026

New York can accumulate draft points when it visits Boston Fleet on Saturday. However, the No. 1 overall pick is off the table after the Vancouver GoldenEyes defeated the Montreal Victoire 4-3 in regulation on Tuesday.

Key takeaways after Cubs dash Sirens’ playoff hopes in overtime

Ciaran regrets missed opportunities: ‘We had a lot of chances’

The Sirens couldn’t get ahead against Kirk in regulation, although they certainly had plenty of chances.

“We just needed a bounce to really get our way,” Fargo said. “From the moment the puck dropped, I liked our game. I thought we got a lot of the puck first. We established a good forecheck and really caught on to them right away. It was O-zone time. We had some opportunities.”

Denisa Krisova got free on a second-period breakaway but lost the puck in the final seconds. Later in the frame, Fillier nearly went in alone after picking off Sceptres defender Renata Fast at the blue line, but Fast quickly recovered and put away the chance. In the third, a turnover created a 2-on-0 for Fillier and Wheeler, but Kirk swept it aside.

Jaime Bourbonnais had a golden opportunity to give the Sirens a 1-0 lead when she found the open net on Anne Cherkovsky’s one-timer feed in the final seconds of her fourth power play. Instead, he misfired, sending the puck harmlessly into the corner.

“We had a lot of chances,” Philier lamented. “I had a lot of chances on my stick, just to finish something early. I thought we had a lot of good chances the whole game, and I think we deserved better.”

Toronto withstood a strong New York attack behind a stellar outing from Kirk in net.

“Our process tonight was really good,” Fargo insisted. “Definitely needed the bounce, but they also deserve some credit for keeping us off the board.”

Despite ‘disappointing finish’, New York excited to pursue 2025-26 campaign

The Sirens were in a playoff position by the end of March, but were unable to survive an inconsistent second half.

Unfortunately for New York, the lows outweighed the highs. The Sirens went 2-3-0-8 in 13 games after the Olympic break and struggled mightily on the road. Long-term injuries to top scorers Kristina Kaltunkova and Taylor Girard, as well as Osborne’s uneven play, contributed to a poor second half.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” said Zandi-Hart, nearing the end of her third season as New York’s captain. “This is not where we want to be.”

After a 2025 offseason that saw an influx of young talent, New York set its sights on making the playoffs. It fell short of that goal, although optimism remains in the locker room.

“This season, especially, we were a brand new team. We had a lot of new players. We had a lot of injuries. We had a lot of new players coming into the mix,” Zandi-Hart explained. “For me personally, it’s disappointing to not help the team reach the playoffs for the first time as captain, but I’m really proud of this specific team and what we were able to accomplish at the end of the season.”

The Sirens lost nine out of 10 games (1–0–2–7) from January 20 to March 28, but still managed to get back into playoff contention thanks to inspired play from Fillier. A 5-1 loss to the Charge on Saturday dealt a major blow to their playoff chances, but there was still a narrow path for New York to the postseason entering Tuesday’s game.

“We’re proud of our group,” Fillier said afterward. “We believed we were going to go into it – and we played like we believed.”

In theory, a promising rookie class led by Kaltunkova, O’Brien and Wheeler should generate optimism for the future. But an impending extension – the exact details are still unknown – could make it difficult for New York to mount a promising campaign.

Gold Plan Update: Sirens fighting for No. 2 overall pick

New York is officially out of the race for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 PWHL Draft, but there is still a lot to play for heading into the regular season finale against Boston.

University of Wisconsin star Caroline Harvey is considered the top prize this summer after leading all skaters in plus-minus at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. But with fellow Wisconsin defender Laila Edwards and University of Minnesota forward Abby Murphy also heading up a deep draft class, any top three selection could give the Sirens an instant star.

The No. 2 overall pick would theoretically give New York the choice of Edwards or Murphy — a particularly beneficial luxury for a team that desperately needs an elite playmaker on its backend. Of course, landing that pick won’t be easy.

To top it off – the Sirens may still get the #2 pick in the PWHL draft, but the odds are against them.

Seattle already has 1 draft point and 2 games left.

If you are a supporter of anarchy, here is my favorite scenario:
Seattle lost twice in OT and the Sirens won in regulation. Both… https://t.co/gieUYIIkJ3

– Lou Orlando (@SweetLouuuu) 22 April 2026

The Seattle Torrents are in second place in the Gold Plan standings with one draft point and two games remaining. The GoldenEyes are in first place with three points and locked up the tiebreaker over New York with a regulation win on Tuesday. The Cubs could also potentially be in the running if Wednesday falls out of the playoff race.

If Seattle goes higher than three draft points the Sirens will be out of the running for the No. 2 overall pick.

Lou Orlando is an alumnus of Fordham University, where he covered the New York Rangers for three seasons… More about Lou Orlando

The Montreal Canadiens walked onto the ice before the start of their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with little opportunity to do so further.

Additional NHL Playoff Analysis

Canadiens vs. Lightning Playoff Primer – Head-to-Head at 5v5

Canadiens Vs. electrical special teams

Canadiens vs Lightning

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Round One Playoff Series Schedule

• Game One, 5:45 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 19, Benchmark International Arena.
• Game Two, 7 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 21, Benchmark International Arena.
• Game Three, 7 p.m. ET, Friday, April 24, Bell Center
• Game Four, 7 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 26, Bell Center.
• Game Five, Time TBD, Wednesday, April 29, Benchmark International Arena.
• Game Six, Time TBD, Friday, May 1, Bell Center
• Game Seven, Time TBD, Sunday, May 3, Benchmark International Arena.

You’ll notice that they have not yet revealed the exact start date for Games Five, Six and Seven (if necessary). There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to renting out arenas, and it seems like the logistics aren’t fully understood by the NHL yet.

Montreal Canadiens playoff lineup

The Montreal Canadiens lineup was very similar to the one that was introduced earlier in the week, although it should be noted that Caden Guhle ran with Lane Hutson, not Alexander Carrier.

Things could change, but as of now, it appears the Canadiens will enter the NHL playoffs with players like Brendan Gallagher, Joe Velano and Adam Engstrom, and David Rickenbacker watching the game from the press box as healthy scratches.

It’s also quite obvious that losing defenseman Noah Dobson will make matters more difficult for the Canadiens, but they are far from the only team dealing with life without one of their best blueliners.

Here are the trios and duos in training:

Caulfield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
texier-newhook-demidov
Anderson-Danault-Evans
bolduc-kapanen-dach

matheson-guhle
hutson-carrier
Struble-Xhekaj
reinbacher-angstrom

Note that Velano, Gallagher and Laine only completed one lap during… pic.twitter.com/BSu1DZt2JM

– Patrick Guillet (@PatGuillet) 17 April 2026

Tampa Bay Lightning playoff lineup

Former Norris Trophy winner Victor Hedman will miss Sunday’s series opener, and is unlikely to attend a hockey game in the near future.

starting line combination
Gonçalves-Point-Kucherov
Hegel-Cirelli-Guentzel
Girgenson-Gourde-Paul
perry-bjorkstrand-sabourin-james

Moser-Radish
McDonagh-Cernak
D’Estous-Lillebourg
carlisle-crozier

Vasilevsky
johansson

– Lightning Insider (@Erik_Erlendsson) 17 April 2026

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 NHL has officially released the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoff schedule for the first round, detailing all matchups, game dates and start times as teams begin their quest toward the championship.

The opening round includes best-of-seven series in both conferences, featuring high-stakes matchups between division winners and wild-card teams.

Eastern Conference First-Round Matchups

The Eastern Conference First Round features eight teams in best-of-seven series, with the higher-seeded teams gaining home advantage in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.

Below are the complete Eastern Conference matchups for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including schedule and broadcast details for the first round.

Boston Bruins vs. Buffalo Sabers

Series Format: Best-of-seven | 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round

• Game 1: April 19, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET) – Buffalo – ESPN
• Game 2: April 21, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET) – Buffalo – ESPN
• Game 3: April 23, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET) – Boston – TNT
• Game 4: April 26, 2026 (2:00 p.m. ET) – Boston – TNT
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 28, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Buffalo – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): May 1, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Boston – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 3, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Buffalo – TBD

Boston’s experience meets Buffalo’s rising core in a physical Atlantic Division series that tests both depth and composure.

Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

• Game 1: April 19, 2026 (5:45 PM ET) – Tampa Bay – TNT
• Game 2: April 21, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET) — Tampa Bay — ESPN2
• Game 3: April 24, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET) – Montreal – TNT
• Game 4: April 26, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET) – Montreal – ESPN
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 29, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Tampa Bay – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): May 1, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Montreal – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 3, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Tampa Bay – TBD

Tampa Bay’s playoff-tested roster faces a Montreal team looking to build on its postseason momentum in a rematch-style Atlantic showdown.

Ottawa Senators vs. Carolina Hurricanes

• Game 1: April 18, 2026 (3:00 PM ET) – Carolina – ESPN
• Game 2: April 20, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET) – Carolina – ESPN2
• Game 3: April 23, 2026 (7:30 p.m. ET) – Ottawa – TBS
• Game 4: April 25, 2026 (3:00 PM ET) – Ottawa – TBS
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 27, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Carolina – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): April 30, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Ottawa – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 2, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Carolina – TBD

Carolina’s structured, defensive style meets Ottawa’s young, fast-rising core in a series built on speed and discipline.

Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

• Game 1: April 18, 2026 (8:00 PM ET) — Pittsburgh — ESPN
• Game 2: April 20, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET) – Pittsburgh – ESPN
• Game 3: April 22, 2026 (7:00 p.m. ET) – Philadelphia – TNT
• Game 4: April 25, 2026 (8:00 PM ET) – Philadelphia – TBS
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 27, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Pittsburgh – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): April 29, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Philadelphia – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 2, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Pittsburgh – TBD

A renewed Pennsylvania rivalry adds intensity to a matchup defined by history, physicality and playoff experience.

The winners advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Western Conference First-Round Matchups

The Western Conference First Round features eight teams in best-of-seven series, with the higher-seeded teams gaining home advantage in Games 1, 2, 5, and 7.

Below are the complete Western Conference matchups for the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche

• Game 1: April 19, 2026 (3:00 PM ET) – Colorado – TNT
• Game 2: April 21, 2026 (10:00 p.m. ET) – Colorado – ESPN
• Game 3: April 23, 2026 (10:00 p.m. ET) – Los Angeles – TNT
• Game 4: April 26, 2026 (4:30 PM ET) – Los Angeles – TNT
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 29, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Colorado – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): May 1, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Los Angeles – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 3, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Colorado – TBD

A pace-driven Avalanche attack meets a defensively structured Kings roster in a classic contrast of styles.

Minnesota Wild vs. Dallas Stars

• Game 1: April 18, 2026 (5:30 p.m. ET) – Dallas – ESPN
• Game 2: April 20, 2026 (9:30 PM ET) – Dallas – ESPN
• Game 3: April 22, 2026 (9:30 PM ET) – Minnesota – TNT
• Game 4: April 25, 2026 (5:30 p.m. ET) – Minnesota – TBS
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 28, 2026 (12 p.m. ET) – Dallas – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): April 30, 2026 (1 p.m. ET) – Minnesota – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 2, 2026 (1 p.m. ET) – Dallas – TBD

Dallas’ balanced scoring and experience contrasts Minnesota’s disciplined defensive structure and goaltending prowess.

Utah Mammoth vs. Vegas Golden Knights

• Game 1: April 19, 2026 (10:00 p.m. ET) – Las Vegas – ESPN
• Game 2: April 21, 2026 (9:30 p.m. ET) — Las Vegas — ESPN2
• Game 3: April 24, 2026 (9:30 PM ET) – Utah – TBS
• Game 4: April 27, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Utah – ESPN
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 29, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Las Vegas – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): May 1, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Utah – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 3, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Las Vegas – TBD

Vegas’ playoff-tested core faces a Utah team that makes its inaugural postseason appearance under pressure.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers

• Game 1: April 20, 2026 (10:00 p.m. ET) – Edmonton – ESPN2
• Game 2: April 22, 2026 (10:00 p.m. ET) – Edmonton – TBS
• Game 3: April 24, 2026 (10:00 p.m. ET) – Anaheim – TNT
• Game 4: April 26, 2026 (9:30 PM ET) – Anaheim – ESPN
• Game 5 (if necessary): April 28, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Edmonton – TBD
• Game 6 (if necessary): April 30, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Anaheim – TBD
• Game 7 (if necessary): May 2, 2026 (TBD PM ET) – Edmonton – TBD

Edmonton’s high-powered attack tests Anaheim’s young roster and defensive structure.

nhl playoff format reminder

The Stanley Cup Playoffs consist of a 16-team bracket consisting of four best-of-seven rounds culminating in the Stanley Cup Finals.

What’s next in the NHL?

The winners advanced to the Conference Semifinals as the race for the Stanley Cup continued.

READ MORE: NHL Games Today – Full Schedule, Start Times & Matchups

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

The Washington Capitals’ AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, clinched a spot in the Calder Cup playoffs. They did so on Wednesday with a dominant 5-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ilya Protas and Clay Stevenson all returned after being called up by the Capitals. He helped Hershey clinch a playoff berth for the sixth consecutive season and first under head coach Derek King.

Miroshnichenko recorded his 13th goal of the season on the power play with one assist, while Protas finished with two assists. Protas has 64 points in 67 games, which leads all AHL rookies and is sixth in the league. Meanwhile, Miroshnichenko now has 100 career AHL points.

Stevenson started in net a day after stopping 27 of 28 shots to help the Capitals defeat Columbus. He played even better with 32 saves on 33 shots in the Bears’ win.

Corey Schueneman and Matt Strome, Dylan’s younger brother, also contributed goals for Hershey. Then, in the third period, Alexander Suzdalev and Sam Bitton both recorded empty-netters to seal the victory.

Unfortunately, Bogdan Trineyev suffered an upper body injury in the second period and did not return. It’s bad enough that the Bears were already missing some key players in the lineup.

With the win, Hershey improved to 31–30–6–3 and is currently in fifth place in the Atlantic Division. They have two games left to decide who their first round opponent will be.

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

This week’s focus is on the NBA Play-In Tournament, with matchups that will determine who will face the No. 1 and No. 2 seeded teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences. However, our NBA playoff predictions are focusing on the first round only.

Let’s take a look at some of our early bold predictions for the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Houston Rockets take on Los Angeles Lakers

Any excitement for the first-round playoff series between the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers quickly vanished following injuries to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. With all due respect to the second-best player in NBA history, 41-year-old LeBron James can no longer carry a team. James is the only healthy Lakers player averaging double-digit shots per game this season and we certainly don’t see Deandre Ayton making strides in the playoffs. Additionally, Houston finished the season by winning 10 of its last 14 games, with two of those losses coming by a total of 16 points to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Rockets are better defensively, have more depth, and match up perfectly with this version of the Lakers. LeBron’s tenure in Los Angeles ended in the first round.

RELATED: NBA Play-In Tournament Predictions

Anthony Edwards kills Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets

We look at Anthony Edwards like Patrick Mahomes in the early rounds of the NBA playoffs – it’s not wise to pick against him. The Minnesota Timberwolves superstar has averaged 27.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.4 steals per game over the last three postseasons, shooting 37.2 percent from the perimeter. Although Edwards has a 21-21 career postseason record, Edwards now has an opportunity to defeat the best NBA player of all time in Nikola Jokic. We’re confident Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will take this series, but Edwards’ clutch performance propels Minnesota to give the No. 9 seed a knockout over the No. 3 seed in a winner-take-all Game 7 in Denver.

Dyson Daniels has 30-point game, Knicks pull off gentleman sweep

We wanted to make some bold NBA playoff predictions for the first round, so why not a 30-burger for Dyson Daniels? He scored 25-plus points only twice this season and has never had a 30-point game in his career. However, the New York Knicks are going to give him some wide-open threes in this series, and Daniels has shot 36.7 percent from the perimeter in his last 16 games. We’re saying he’s going to have a hot night in Atlanta, hitting three three-pointers for the first time in over a year (April 2, 2025). This would be one of the reasons Atlanta would win a game in this series, with New York sweeping the Gentlemen.

Donovan Mitchell scored 30+ in every game

Most likely, we will see RJ Barrett matched up against Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell. This does not bode well for the Toronto Raptors. Mitchell has averaged 29.6 points per game over the past two postseasons with Cleveland, and he averaged just 23.8 ppg in last year’s first-round series against the Miami Heat. While Toronto has enough talent to take this series to six games, Mitchell will drop over 30 points in every game and obliterate the Raptors like a meteor.

Read More: 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds, Date

Play-in teams are swept

We would like to thank all the teams participating in the NBA Play-In Tournament for playing. By the time the first round rolls around, we’ll see just how wide the gap is between the best NBA teams and the teams that are in the playoff race this season. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics will all win in the first round, which will be easily decided. It’s more likely that the Detroit Pistons lose a game, but we’re going to bet on Cade Cunningham and company to pull off a clean sweep in Round 1.

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 Vegas Golden Knights enter Saturday with a long-awaited opportunity to make the playoffs after a season that has included many ups and downs. After moving on from head coach Bruce Cassidy and making a move at the trade deadline, the Golden Knights now find themselves within reach of the postseason, a situation that once seemed uncertain.

This opportunity came against the NHL’s top team, the Colorado Avalanche. The Golden Knights can secure their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in one of two ways, which we’ll get into shortly.

For a team that has endured ups and downs in a tumultuous campaign, the stakes are clear. Take care of business and the Golden Knights have arrived. Let’s look at those two options.

1. Victory and the Golden Knights have arrived

Of course, the easiest path forward for the Golden Knights is a win over the Avalanche, although that’s easier said than done. A win would all but secure their playoff spot, eliminating the need to rely on help elsewhere and providing a jolt of momentum heading into the final stages.

Avalanching is a difficult task. They are 8-2-0 in their last 10 games and have already secured the President’s Trophy, which is awarded annually to the team with the league’s best regular season record.

For the Golden Knights, the match also marks the end of a four-game road trip in which they have gone 2-0-1, extending their point streak to seven games. In keeping with their postseason fortunes, the Golden Knights come off playing some of their most consistent hockey of the season.

2. Loss to the Nashville Predators or Winnipeg Jets

If the Golden Knights fall to the Avalanche, their playoff hopes can still be secured with the right results during the league.

If either the Nashville Predators or Winnipeg Jets lose, the Golden Knights will clinch a postseason berth. In that scenario, they would maintain enough separation in the standings to secure their spot, regardless of their own result.

Although returning to the playoffs is not the preferred path, it would still serve the primary purpose of extending the season.

Puck drop in Denver is at 5:00pm PST.

Cooper Krigbaum is a beat reporter covering the Vegas Golden Knights for Vegas Hockey Now on SportsNut. He also told about Cooper Krigbaum

The Detroit Red Wings need to start winning games. After losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators, Detroit is one point out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs with 11 games remaining in the regular season. Despite scoring 84 points through 71 games, the Red Wings need more.

Last season, the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference was earned by the Montreal Canadiens. The organization scored 91 points in 82 games, leading the Stanley Cup playoffs by double digits. The Eastern Conference is on fire during the 2025-26 NHL season, and Detroit has to join the party.

The Red Wings have a record of 3-5-2 in their last 10 games. If Detroit repeats this over the next 11 games, it will finish with around 92–94 points, which likely won’t be enough to make the Stanley Cup playoffs. So, what challenges do the Red Wings face over the next 11 games?

Honestly, the schedule is in Detroit’s favor, but they need to take advantage of the time ahead.

Detroit Red Wings playoff outlook, remaining schedule in 2026

The Red Wings have the 10th toughest remaining schedule in the NHL, with six of their 11 games against teams outside the playoffs. Detroit has not fared well in games against the Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning; However, other bubble teams have much worse schedules.

As of Thursday, March 26, the New York Islanders, Columbus Blue Jackets, Bruins and Senators have the top-4 toughest remaining schedules in the NHL. Ironically, all four teams are battling the Red Wings for the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. This is a great situation for Detroit.

Despite the 10th-toughest schedule, the Red Wings have a favorable draw with other teams. Boston is scheduled to play the Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota, Columbus and Tampa Bay twice. Meanwhile, New York has to play Dallas, Buffalo, Montreal, Ottawa and Carolina twice.

Ottawa also has a tough schedule with Carolina, Buffalo, Minnesota, New York and Tampa Bay. Ultimately, Columbus was assigned to Buffalo, Detroit, Carolina twice, Boston twice, and Montreal twice. Needless to say, the Red Wings have a more realistic path to the Stanley Cup playoffs than other teams in the Eastern Conference.

If the Red Wings can win two of their remaining three games against the Philadelphia Flyers, they will be in a great position to advance. However, Detroit will have to take advantage of their games against the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers and New Jersey Devils.

As of now, MoneyPak has the Red Wings having a 42.4% chance of making the Stanley Cup playoffs; However, their chances seem high. Detroit should be able to control its own destiny unless other teams end up on scorched earth to end the season.

If the Red Wings want to end a nine-year playoff drought, they will have to earn it in the next 11 games.

READ MORE: Detroit Red Wings almost got a different defenseman at the trade deadline

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

Anything is gravy for the Los Angeles Clippers at this point in the season; Whatever they accomplish from here will already be such a huge win when taking into account where they have to start the 2025-26 NBA season. This Clippers team started the season losing 21 of their first 27 games, and looked like a complete bust. But then Kawhi Leonard turned in arguably his most impressive self to date and saved the Clippers from deep.

At the time of writing, the Clippers’ record is 36-36, meaning they have won 30 of their last 45 games. This is a team that cannot be underestimated, as LA has been stopped in its tracks by not making the slightest of roster changes before the trade deadline.

Now, the Clippers have faced a difficult situation recently. But they still went 9-5 in the month of March and managed to reach the eighth seed in the Western Conference – a scenario that would seem absurd to any fan of the team if this news had been delivered in mid-December.

But with everything going well for the Clippers, especially considering where they are coming from, some fans will be anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, this is the Clippers franchise; There may have been some good moments in the team’s history, but bad luck somehow gets in the way of the franchise.

Ultimately, this is the scenario that any Clippers fan would dread as the start of the postseason and play-in tournament approaches.

Clippers’ nightmare scenario: Kawhi Leonard gets hurt before play-ins

As mentioned earlier, the fact that the Clippers have managed to rise from the dead in this way is already a huge win for the franchise. Never mind that the Clippers would blow up another first-round pick in the middle of the first round, the Oklahoma City Thunder. The fact that they have a chance to not accept a lottery pick is already a big win.

The Paul George business already has sunk costs. He invested a lot of resources on a team that had two to three years of competition experience and in the end, injury problems became too much for the team to overcome.

It would be a cruel twist of the knife if somehow, injury problems become the thing that prevents the Clippers from exceeding their lofty expectations once again.

Leonard, in particular, is the healthiest he has been in years. Last season there were signs that the 34-year-old star was in decline and that his career was on the decline. He had some memorable outbursts in the playoffs, but no longer appears to have the superstar ability to carry teams.

But Leonard’s knees look healthier than ever; In fact, it has been his ankles that have been giving him the most problems all season. For someone who has struggled with chronic knee problems, Leonard’s health has been quite a gift. It would be a shame if Leonard, knock on wood, somehow re-aggravates his knee problems that will keep him out of playing a tournament game or two for the Clippers.

Leonard’s injury problems in the playoffs are well documented. He tore his ACL in 2021, when it looked like the Clippers had the best chance to win the title. In 2023, George tore his meniscus after battling tooth and nail against the Phoenix Suns in the first round amid injury. And then in 2024, when the Clippers got a new lease of life with James Harden, Leonard was a strong player in his own right and was a non-factor in a six-game series loss against the Dallas Mavericks.

If Leonard suffers a serious injury, nothing could go wrong for the Clippers. This is the scenario that would cause the sky to fall outside the Intuit Dome and would put quite a spin on what has been a fun rollercoaster of a season for LA.

Clippers’ nightmare matchup scenario: LA slips to 10th, faces Stephen Curry-led Warriors

As far as matchups go, the Clippers should remain firmly entrenched within the seven to 10 range in the Western Conference postseason picture. They are 7.5 games behind the sixth-place Houston Rockets in the win-loss column at the time of writing, which is impossible to accomplish with 12 games remaining in the season.

The Clippers can still reach the seventh spot, giving them homecourt advantage in 7/8 play-in games. It’s suited for LA; They are 20-15 at home, and if they lose, they have another chance to make the playoffs in another home game against the winner of the 9/10 matchup.

However, the Clippers are closer to falling to 10th place than reaching seventh place. They are 3.5 games behind the Phoenix Suns, while they are just two games ahead of the struggling Golden State Warriors. There’s a chance the Clippers still move up to the 10th seed, especially as they have three games remaining against the Dubs (one) and ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers (two).

LA will want to avoid slipping to tenth place, as they will be forced to fight for their postseason lives on the road against one of two teams with a winning record at home. The Clippers are just 16-21 away from the Intuit Dome, which is far from the worst, but it’s not the most promising either.

What will be even more disappointing will be that the Clippers will be playing against a Warriors team in the 9/10 play-in game as Stephen Curry returns from injury. Now, there is nothing concrete yet about when Curry will be able to return.

But the Dubs are hopeful he can play before the season ends. And Curry, given how battle-tested he is, is not someone the Clippers want to face in a do-or-die situation on the road.

The 2025-26 season isn’t even remotely going as planned for the Golden State Warriors. After the 2025 NBA Playoffs gave the franchise hope that if they could get everyone healthy in time for the playoffs, they could compete with the best, the Warriors’ injury problems have worsened this season.

Jimmy Butler tore his ACL, sending Stephen Curry’s co-star to recover – largely destroying the Warriors’ title hopes. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis, who has been missing regular time due to illness. Moses Moody has suffered a nasty knee injury which is sure to keep him out for a while. And now, even Curry is battling persistent knee troubles, which has cast such a huge cloud of uncertainty over the team.

Still, as the old saying goes, it’s not over until it’s over. The Warriors are still in the postseason picture, and unless they are eliminated, there is a chance they can make things difficult for at least the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

At this point, qualifying for the playoffs in any capacity is already a huge win. This season is long lost for the Dubs, and there is no way they can force Curry to return before his body is ready.

That said, this is the Warriors’ dream seeding and matchup scenario heading into the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Warriors dream scenario: Earn the eighth seed, Stephen Curry gets healthy

At the time of writing, the Warriors have a record of 34–38, as their difficult month of March (they went 3–9 in the calendar month) has caused their decline in the Western Conference standings. They find life extremely difficult without Curry, as they don’t have enough fire and star power to survive in a loaded conference without their best player, making life easier for the rest of the roster.

Now, discussing the shortcomings of the roster is not the subject of this article. But to summarize, the Warriors have a roster full of role players and support players that can’t increase their production as much when their best player is gone, leading to a lot of inconsistencies from game to game.

And Curry’s return doesn’t seem imminent; While the Warriors are insisting he is on track with his recovery, he was not able to participate in 5-on-5 scrimmages over the weekend, while the team initially hoped he would. This knee injury may be more serious than the Dubs have indicated, although that shouldn’t be a surprise considering Curry is 38 years old.

But unless Curry is sidelined for the rest of the season, the Warriors hope they can keep things competitive in the play-in tournament picture. If Curry is ultimately ruled out of the play-in tournament game, it is safe to say that the Dubs will not be favored in any way in any games against other potential play-in teams in the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.

However, if Curry returns, it changes the equation drastically in the Warriors’ favor. Curry is a big-game player who has gone through every battle imaginable during his NBA career, and there is no way he should be fazed in a game. There will be concerns about his form when he returns from injury, but he has performed brilliantly in the past after returning from a long absence.

Curry will get the Warriors offense humming once again; Without running around the court to create space, the Dubs’ offense becomes stagnant and inefficient and overly reliant on making difficult shots. With Curry’s return, his teammates have reduced responsibilities, and they can move back into more comfortable supporting roles, restoring balance to the team.

If Curry comes back for the Warriors in the next week or so, it’s even better for the Warriors. This gives them a better chance of avoiding the dreaded 9/10 play-in tournament games. The Dubs’ play-in history isn’t very encouraging, so it’s important to give themselves a better chance of reaching the playoffs by giving them two chances to qualify instead of just one.

The Dubs are just two games behind the Clippers for eighth place in the conference, and that’s a deficit they can make up with 10 games remaining in the season.

The game against the Suns is very winnable at the moment; Injury problems have also hit the Suns badly, with Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams, who were key players for the team, currently on the mend. The Suns have been playing below .500 basketball in the month of March, and the Warriors can certainly give them a run for their money – especially with Curry back.

The blueprint for the Warriors to make the playoffs in this dream scenario is clear: They must earn the eighth seed (very possible with four games remaining against the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings, and a key matchup against the Clippers), defeat the Suns, and have a tough contest against the inexperienced San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Now, the Warriors will be heavy underdogs in the playoff series against the Spurs. But Golden State is currently winning the season series against San Antonio (2-1). The caveat is that the Dubs had won these two wins before Butler’s season-ending injury. Still, this suggests he may remain with the Spurs in some capacity.

The potential playoff series against the Spurs also feels like a passing of the torch moment. As anyone may remember, a young, improved Warriors team led by Curry faced the Spurs in the 2013 NBA Playoffs and were defeated in a six-game first round playoff series.

Now, it’s the turn of the young, rising Spurs to face a more experienced team that is at the end of its competitive phase – which could be a fitting bookend to the true end of this Warriors dynasty.

This season has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise for the Boston Celtics, but as fans and pundits gear up for the NBA Playoffs in the final stretch of the regular season, it’s fair to wonder if their luck could worsen due to seeding effects.

Currently, Boston’s 47–24 record would keep them as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, they would have faced a play-in team in the first round of the tournament. While there is no doubt that they will be able to overtake their opening opponent, the Celtics’ real nightmare could come in the second round if they fall in the standings.

As good as the New York Knicks are, the team that resides in Massachusetts should fear the most from the Detroit Pistons.

With the return of Jayson Tatum, the team is still learning how to play with each other and finding ways to integrate the veteran back into the fold. As a result, it would be less advantageous for them to fall to the No. 4 seed and face a team that boasts one of the league’s best defenses and thrives on a physical offensive style that likes to generate contact.

The Celtics’ recent 102-92 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves featured a similar dynamic. Despite being without Anthony Edwards, the T-Wolves outscored the opponent 26–15 in the final quarter and earned an effort-driven victory, limiting Setlex’s 3-point shooting in the process.

“So tonight was not an example of what we’ve been doing all season,” Jaylen Brown told Jay King of The Athletic. “We’ve been a hard-playing team, we’ve rebounded aggressively, and we’ve matched the level of physicality. I think Minnesota overcame that tonight. But it’s a good wake-up call. We get back into it, we look at it, learn from it and move forward.”

The Celtics should avoid a second-round showdown with the Pistons.

Detroit is without point guard Cade Cunningham due to a collapsed lung, but they hope to have him back once the playoffs begin. Through the first 71 games of their season, the Pistons have posted the association’s second-best defensive rating, while also attempting the second-most free throws per game.

Players like Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren are willing to play at a high level of physicality. It is not known how comfortable Tatum will be in such a matchup, or whether the Celtics have created enough consistency with him to compete against the team with the East’s best record.

If the Cleveland Cavaliers were to leapfrog Boston and claim the second or third seed, the second-round pick could theoretically force a meeting between the Celtics and Pistons. It may not be likely, but it could cut his season short.

The Knicks are a better matchup, regardless of home-court advantage

New York is clearly a contender and could be a threat to defeat Boston in the series for the second year in a row. But it can be argued that this year’s Celtics group is more balanced, assuming Tatum remains available. Even if the Knicks end up with home-court advantage in a potential second-round showdown, their style of play may be more manageable for Boston to deal with.

Like the Celtics, New York attempts 3-pointers at a high clip and boasts defensive strengths that primarily concern the opposing wing rather than centers. Both teams will likely play a close series, but Boston may have a solid chance to advance.

The Celtics have already dashed many expectations, but the wrong draw could end the franchise’s quest for a 19th championship.

The Denver Nuggets have been a Western Conference powerhouse for years. They have made the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons, and they won the NBA championship in 2023. They have also made the Conference Finals and are one of the most consistent teams in the league in head coach David Adelman’s first full season as the team’s bench boss.
He has a cast of stars capable of stepping up and dominating the playoffs, but the Nuggets haven’t played at that level during the regular season.

Denver has 10 games remaining in the season and are tied for fourth place with the Minnesota Timberwolves. While there was no reason to think Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon would lead the Nuggets past the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular season and clinch the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, they certainly have the talent and all-around game to take the No. 2 seed. However, he has been ignored by the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers. As a result, they are left fighting for homecourt advantage against the Timberwolves.

It’s important for the Nuggets to earn home-court advantage

If there is no change in the standings, the Nuggets and Timberwolves will meet in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Based on their records and the way each team has played this season, the Denver-Minnesota series has all the makings of a seven-game battle.

This may be the best thing for the Nuggets, as Jokic will be forced to focus on the business at hand. He is a dynamic leader and has been with the Nuggets throughout his illustrious 11-year career. Joker is a fantastic all-around center, but he is also an avid race horse owner and may be distracted by the biggest races because he loves that sport so much.

The battle between the Nuggets and Timberwolves will feature Jokic battling against Julius Randle, and there will almost certainly be a battle of attrition between those two big men as they fight for key rebounds and position below the boards. Jokic is the better player and will likely get the edge, but he will need Murray to get the job done against Anthony Edwards. Murray is certainly a dynamic player and the challenge of facing Edwards will probably be his best effort, but in the end Edwards will have the upper hand.

Jokic and Murray have impressive numbers

Jokic is averaging 28.0 points, 12.6 rebounds, 10.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. With 25.1 points and 7.1 assists per game, Murray is clearly a sensational partner on offense. Edwards is averaging 29.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the Timberwolves, while Randle is scoring 21.0 points and bringing in 6.8 rebounds per game.

That’s why finishing fourth and gaining home-court advantage is important for the Nuggets. If they slip ahead and Minnesota gets the lead, it will be a nightmare for the Nuggets.

The Nuggets may also fall behind the Rockets and slip to sixth place

The Nuggets had just a half-game lead over the sixth-place Houston Rockets heading into Wednesday’s schedule. If the Rockets surpass the Nuggets and Denver moves up to sixth, a showdown with the red-hot Los Angeles Lakers will follow. The Lakers have won nine of their last 10 games and slowing down Luka Doncic will clearly be a top priority for the Nuggets defense. Doncic is averaging 33.4 points per game and is connecting on 47.4 percent of his shots.

Austin Reaves and LeBron James are key cogs in the Lakers’ offense as they average 23.5 and 21.0 points per game, respectively. The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season and will be a tough matchup for the Nuggets. It won’t just be about Jokic and Murray if the Nuggets make it past the first round.

They will need a lot of production from Gordon, Peyton Watson and Tim Hardaway Jr. if they want to overtake the Lakers. Gordon is contributing 16.6 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, while Watson and Hardaway are averaging 14.9 and 13.8 points, respectively.

Falling to sixth place and meeting the Lakers may be another nightmare for the Nuggets.

It almost certainly can’t get any worse for the Nuggets. They have a four-game lead over the seventh-place Phoenix Suns, and that’s something Jokic and company want to avoid. Finishing seventh means participation in the Western Conference Play-in Tournament, and if they win the first play-in game it would almost mean a loss for the Spurs.

The rested No. 7 seed would have to meet the rested No. 2 seed in the first round, and that would be a nightmare for the Nuggets. It is very unlikely that luck will favor the team, but it is within the realm of possibility.

With only 10 games remaining before the playoffs, the New York Knicks look ready to take on the challenge of advancing to the NBA Finals. New York has won six consecutive games. And their top-five offensive and defensive ratings are a testament to their success, with both trending in recent times. Additionally, many of the Knicks’ critics, who as recently as last week were warning about their poor road trip to the NBA Finals, were silenced when Cade Cunningham of the Detroit Pistons suffered an untimely concussion.

While the Knicks themselves are unlikely to be focused on other teams’ roster developments, those around the team have likely turned their attention to advantageous matchups in the playoffs.

How the Knicks should approach the Eastern Conference playoff brackets

Ultimately, no Eastern Conference foe is that scary for New York at the moment. The Knicks have played well against most of the top teams except the Pistons. But if they had to choose, it’s probably the Boston Celtics at least Desirable match. Granted, New York is 2-1 against Boston this season (without Jayson Tatum). And the Celtics are still figuring out how to play with Tatum in their lineup. But Tatum is unlikely to continue shooting so poorly (38.5% from the floor and 29.3% on 3-pointers, both career lows). And Boston probably has the biggest lead of any other Eastern Conference contender.

However, the Knicks’ path to the NBA Finals appears to be easier now than it was a week ago. And the Knicks’ previous nightmare matchup has likely shifted into their dream scenario. Detroit suddenly looks a lot more attractive without Cunningham. Still, the Pistons are a hard-nosed, gritty team. They still have several talented and athletic defenders. And if Cunningham is out they’ll probably want to make the game even more physical.

It’s important to note that there is no guarantee that Cunningham will miss any games in the second round. And the second round is the earliest the Knicks could possibly face the Pistons. But given Cunningham’s potential limitations due to a lack of conditioning, as well as the options in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Pistons suddenly look like their best second-round matchup.

And while it’s a long shot that New York will face Detroit in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, it is possible. The Pistons are five games ahead of the Celtics with 11 games remaining.

Which Eastern Conference rival offers a dream first-round matchup?

Before turning their attention to the second round, the Knicks must deal with a first-round opponent. Considering the odds, New York should probably prefer to face the Atlanta Hawks. Agreed, this is probably the best team of the group. But many other teams are performing poorly for various other reasons.

The Philadelphia 76ers have the highest ceiling—and the lowest floor. They can and probably will be a mediocre team at best. But the chances of Paul George returning to his old form are slim, however slim, as is the possibility of Joel Embiid returning from injury. And if it works, the 76ers might be a little too dangerous for comfort.

The Orlando Magic offer the same ruthless toughness that makes Detroit an ineffective matchup, albeit with much less cohesion. The Miami Heat and head coach Erik Spoelstra have historically been very good at playing in the postseason. And the Charlotte Hornets are just too young, talented and free for any team want Even to face.

So, in an ideal world, the Knicks would remain in the third seed, Atlanta would remain in the sixth seed, and Detroit would drop to the second seed. And while that path may be incredibly unlikely, the silver lining is that a healthy Pistons team is the only Eastern Conference foe the Knicks have to handle this year. And it appears Detroit is unlikely to return to full strength.

So, minus the Pistons from the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference, the Knicks have a very clear path through the East. And while it’s incredibly important that the Knicks avoid losing anyone, it’s also possible to think that if they stay locked in that no one can beat them in the East. Still, New York should expect its dream matchups to make life easier.

Cam Thomas’ stock has fallen off a cliff, and the Milwaukee Bucks decided to remove the 24-year-old guard from the roster, ahead of Monday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers. After waiving Thomas, the Bucks converted Pete Nance’s contract to a standard contract.

There’s no doubt that Thomas, who averaged 24 points per game two seasons ago, is a fantastic one-on-one scorer. But a lot of doubts have arisen over the years regarding their ability to function within a winning ecosystem. And the Bucks’ decision to cut him when they weren’t in a competitive position is telling of how Thomas is currently viewed.

According to Keith Smith of Spotrac, considering the timing of Thomas’ waiver, he will no longer be eligible to play in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. That’s because the Bucks waived the explosive scoring guard after the March 1 playoff eligibility waiver deadline. If an NBA team registers interest in him he is eligible to sign with an NBA team.

One would think that a team with nothing to lose could turn the odds in their favor. But both the teams with losing records, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks, left him, due to which a big crisis loomed in his career path.

Where does Cam Thomas go from here after being waived by the Bucks?

Thomas may function best in a system where his worst habits are reined in and his strengths are maximized. He’s a great shot-maker, and he can set up balls in a pinch. If there’s any team that can get the best out of Cam Thomas, it’s the Miami Heat.

The Heat rarely play on-ball screens, so they rely on creating space through quick movements and one-on-one play. And in Miami, Thomas will be forced to learn how to play defense and team basketball. Perhaps going there will revive his career.

It may be hard to remember now, but the Golden State Warriors once had high expectations for the 2025-26 season. Their 2025 NBA playoff run ended in the second round, but that was mostly due to Stephen Curry’s hamstring injury, which the Dubs did not force him to return prematurely.

However, the Warriors’ injury problems went from bad to worse this season. In fact, his injury situation has been straight up one of his nightmares. First, an errant pass from Brandin Podziemski caused Jimmy Butler to go down with a torn ACL. And now, Curry is dealing with persistent knee problems that are unlikely to go away, considering he is already 38 years old.

The Dubs then complicated matters by acquiring Kristaps Porzingis, a man who is battling a chronic illness, and veteran big man Al Horford is also sidelined. Same goes for Moses Moody.

As a result, the Warriors have fallen off a cliff, and are now the 10th-place team in the Western Conference with a 33-36 record. This isn’t at all what the Dubs imagined their 2025-26 season would look like, and given the uncertainty surrounding Curry’s injury status, there doesn’t appear to be much hope available for the team as far as their competitive dreams this year go.

The Warriors will be hoping to make the most of Curry’s final comeback and at least qualify for the playoffs. However, things can always go from bad to worse in the NBA.

Warriors’ nightmare scenario: Finish 10th, lose 9/10 play-in games

If there’s a silver lining to the Warriors’ current situation, it’s that they’ll have to try and lose on purpose so they’re completely out of the play-in tournament picture. The Dubs are only 13 games into the season, and they are 8.5 games ahead of the 11th-place Memphis Grizzlies in the win-loss column.

Not only is this an insurmountable loss for the Grizzlies, but Memphis also has no incentive to do so given that they have embarked on a major rebuild.

However, it only provides cool comfort. They have gone just 2-8 in their last 10 games. They’re putting together a ragtag group on a nightly basis, and they’re playing in the background most nights. Curry is close to returning, but there is no specific timeline yet for when he will be back.

Another good news is that the rest of the Dubs’ schedule isn’t too difficult. According to Tankathon, they have the 22nd toughest schedule left, with only six of their last 13 games coming against teams above .500. However, the Los Angeles Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers, both the teams they are battling for in the battle for the eighth seed, somehow have easier schedules.

Combined with this and Curry’s absence, it is difficult to support the Warriors as a favorite for the eighth or ninth seed. The Clippers have faced another tough stretch (at least it feels like they have), and Benedict Mathurin will be sidelined indefinitely, but they have Kawhi Leonard and Darius Garland healthy. Meanwhile, the Blazers have Deni Avdija leading the way, as he has played in all of their last six games.

Getting the 10th seed would be a nightmare for the Warriors. For starters, it will force them to play their 9/10 play-in games on the road. This season, the Warriors have a 14–21 record away from Chase Center (compared to 19–15 at home). Facing a must-win situation without the support of the home crowd doesn’t sound very attractive.

Of course, the Warriors have the advantage of experience compared to the Blazers, and once Curry returns, they can definitely go head-to-head with the Clippers. The Warriors have gone a combined 2-5 against those two teams this season.

So in short, they are facing the teams they have struggled against this year, in a do-or-die situation, with the potential to do so on the road. And if they ultimately win those 9/10 games, they will have to win one more game, once again on the road, to book a first-round matchup against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Still, it’s much more attractive than the nightmare scenario, which is that they’ll be eliminated from the postseason without a single win to their name. It’s just a sign that the end of an era for the Warriors is truly here, as if it hasn’t already arrived.

The Miami Heat are finally ready to close the book on the Terry Rozier era. After a season defined more by legit headlines than highlights, Miami is expected to waive the veteran guard before the NBA playoffs begin. The move is intended to clear a roster spot for the postseason, allowing Pat Riley and the front office to add depth or convert a two-way contract once the regular season ends.

Terry Rozier has not played a single minute for the Heat this season. His absence began after October 1. 23 arrests related to federal investigation of illegal gambling. While he remained on the roster as a potential trade chip, his expiring $26.6 million contract found no taker before the February deadline. With the team now holding a 38–31 record and fighting for position in the crowded Eastern Conference, Miami has decided it is time to move on.

The veteran guard must clear waivers before the regular season ends on April 12, meaning the Heat will likely make the move official by April 9. Last season, Rozier averaged 10.6 points and 2.6 assists in 64 games for Miami, but his production dropped significantly after a trade to the Charlotte Hornets.

In his absence, players like Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have carried the load. Herro is currently averaging 21.4 points per game, while Adebayo has been a force in the paint with 20.0 points and nearly 10 rebounds a night. The Heat recently lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in a hard-fought game, highlighting the need for a final, cohesive roster to advance to the play-in or playoff rounds.

Waiver of Rozier potentially opens up a seat for contributors like Pelle Larsson or Keishad Johnson to join the standard roster. While the gambling case continues in court, the Heat have focused on the court, opting for playoff flexibility rather than a roster spot that has been unused for months.

This is the fourth year of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ competitive journey with Donovan Mitchell in town, and they have yet to advance beyond the second round of the NBA playoffs. But if there was ever a year for the Cavs to reach the playoffs, it was in 2026, when they made the aggressive move of acquiring 36-year-old veteran James Harden in exchange for the original member of their main four, Darius Garland, who is only 26 years old.

The trade for Harden signaled the Cavs’ intent to accelerate their competitive timeline, gunning for dominance in a wide-open Eastern Conference playoff picture. Harden has given the Cavs a higher floor than Garland, and he has at least had more playoff success than anyone on the roster, giving them another battle-tested player to try and get over the hump.

But in the playoffs, many times the matchups play a huge role in determining a team’s chances of advancing to the championship. The Cavs unfortunately ran into the red-hot Indiana Pacers last year, lost to the more physically imposing New York Knicks in a first-round matchup in 2023, and then ran into the eventual champion Boston Celtics in 2024.

However, it seems like the Cavs are in a lucky position this time, just in case they enter the postseason at full strength.

Here is the playoff seeding scenario the Cavs should expect with less than a month to go before the playoffs begin.

The Cavs finished fourth, drew with the Magic in the first round, and faced the Pistons in the second round.

Currently, the Cavs are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings, as they are currently behind the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. They suffered a slow start to the 2025–26 season, which prompted them to remodel the team during the trade deadline, bringing in Harden and turning De’Andre Hunter and Lonzo Ball into viable playoff rotation pieces in Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis.

This slow start caused many fans to be nervous at the start of the campaign, but perhaps this is what enabled them to make a deep playoff run in the first place.

The Cavs should be favored in any first-round matchup, regardless of which team comes up against them. The Toronto Raptors could make things worse, but not before Cleveland moved on with Harden and Jarrett Allen. Nonetheless, they don’t want to tempt fate against Toronto, a team that has won three games against them this season.

Cleveland handled Miami last year, but the Heat have a much better lineup this year, and they have been playing great basketball in recent weeks, finding their stride with less than a month to go before the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers would be an ideal matchup, but given their injury problems, they don’t have enough firepower to climb up to fifth place.

The Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets may be good matchups for the Cavs, but playoff battles against teams that have nothing to lose are never fun for teams that are feeling a sense of urgency in their competitive timeline.

This makes the matchup against the Magic ideal for the Cavs.

Orlando doesn’t have the depth to match up with Cleveland, and they’re missing some key guys at the moment – ​​Franz Wagner and Anthony Black are dealing with nagging injuries. He could return in time for the playoffs, but it’s unclear exactly how well he’ll be able to play, given how long his absence has been.

To that end, facing the Magic seems like the most ideal first-round matchup for the Cavs. Being a playoff team the last few years, the Magic have posed such a serious threat to the Cavs that Cleveland will not let their guard down, and at least on paper, they should not have enough resources to overcome the Cavs in a seven-game series.

If they ultimately beat the Magic, they are also avoiding a potential second-round matchup against either the Celtics or Knicks, two of the three teams that sent them home in the playoffs the last three seasons. This should at least set them up for an easy matchup against the Detroit Pistons on paper.

The Pistons have established themselves as a legitimate contending team this season, but their playoff potential has yet to be tested. Last year, they were still “happy to be there” on the playoff team, but this year, they are the favorites: Do they have the mentality to fight off teams that may be gunning for their heads as prey?

There are also some ways to better prepare for the Pistons matchup from a Cavs perspective. Bringing in Harden gives them one less defensive liability; While he isn’t the best defender, his lateral agility isn’t the best either. But he has more size than Garland and is much better suited to integrate into a more tenacious team defensive gameplan.

The Pistons are also relying on a few players who will dare to make open shots from the perimeter. Their best perimeter defender, Aussie Thompson, has significant shortcomings on offense. He has questionable secondary shot-making; Dennis Jenkins’ purple patch appears to be over, Marcus Sasser is a target on defense, and Caris LeVert is like a box of chocolates.

If the Cavs can slow down Cade Cunningham, it’s going to be a question of who the Pistons will run to on offense. Jalen Duren has been great all year, but Cleveland has an Allen-Evan Mobley duo that has made life difficult for him, to say the least. Tobias Harris is not a respectable playoff performer.

Scoring in the halfcourt becomes more important in the playoffs, and unlike the Knicks and Celtics – the Pistons have significant question marks on that end.

That doesn’t mean the Pistons will be an easy matchup at all. They can also suffocate the Cavs with defense and physicality, which has been their calling card this season. But in the playoffs, there are hardly any easy matches. However, the matchups are easier than others, and the Pistons certainly look more beatable in a postseason setting than other contenders in the East.

The Cavs–Pistons season series is also tied 2–2, which suggests the teams are closer to each other in ability than in the standings.

Detroit Pistons forward/center Isaiah Stewart recently suffered a Grade 1 left calf strain and will miss some time, the team announced Tuesday morning. Stewart is undergoing treatment and will miss at least the Pistons’ next four games.

Preparations are on to re-evaluate them in a week.

This means the Pistons will be without their defensive tackles on Tuesday and Thursday against the Washington Wizards, on Friday at home against the Golden State Warriors and on Monday, February 23 at home against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The good news for the Pistons is that it is not a significant injury, and Stewart should be able to return after resting and receiving treatment for a week or two, assuming he doesn’t suffer any setbacks in his recovery. Stewart is also the only key Pistons player to place himself on the injury report, leaving the team with options to replace his production.

However, the Pistons only have a 3.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics for the 1-seed in the Eastern Conference.

The race for the top spot in the East has suddenly become a major topic of discussion, with the Celtics adding back Jayson Tatum and winning seven of their last 10 games. On the other end, the Pistons have struggled recently, going just 3-5 in their last eight games, including a 119-108 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

With back-to-back games against the tanking Wizards, Detroit has a clear path to two wins in a row to try to steady the ship.

Unfortunately for the Pistons, this is an injury that has been bothering Stewart for quite some time. The big man has battled a calf issue all season, and head coach JB Bickerstaff recently alluded to it following his team’s loss on Sunday.

Bickerstaff said of Stewart, “It’s something he’s dealing with. It’s getting worse.” “He gutted it out in the last game and I think you could see he was favoring it late… It’s something we’ll take our time with.”

Although Detroit announced that Stewart will be reevaluated in a week, it is fair to assume they will keep him out longer to ensure he is 100 percent before the playoffs and the end of the regular season. After all, he is instrumental in the team’s defensive identity.

Without Stewart, Paul Reed, Ron Holland II, and Javonte Green will all have increased roles off the bench. Reed has now moved into the role of backup big man behind Jalen Duren in Stewart’s absence.

In 55 games this season, Stewart has averaged 10.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, while shooting 54.1 percent from the floor. Only he and Wizards big man Alex Sarr have recorded at least 90 blocks this season while playing less than 1,300 minutes.

The Detroit Pistons are currently leading the Eastern Conference standings for most of the season behind the elite play of All-NBA talent Cade Cunningham. They’re on a revenge tour after being eliminated in the first round by the New York Knicks last May, looking like the most dominant team in the East as the NBA playoffs approach.

With 15 games remaining in their regular season schedule and a 3.5-game lead over the Boston Celtics, six of those games come against sub-.500 teams as the Pistons hope to retain their No. 1 seed through the end of the year. This would ultimately pit them against the No. 8 seed in the East following the conclusion of the play-in tournament.

As things stand, potential first-round opponents for the Pistons include the Heat, 76ers, Hornets and Hawks, with teams like the Bucks and Bulls watching from the outside. Let’s take a look at best-case matchup scenarios for the Detroit Pistons for the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Pistons’ 2026 NBA Playoffs – Dream Scenario

If the Pistons hope to avoid the New York Knicks in the playoffs once again, they are right where they need to be with the No. 1 seed and on the other side of the bracket. If the season ended today, the Pistons would face the winners of No. 9 Atlanta Hawks vs. No. 10 Charlotte Hornets and No. 7 Miami Heat vs. No. 8 Philadelphia 76ers.

Between the Hornets and Hawks, the Pistons have held a perfect record against both teams in five meetings. They would face each team once more before the season ended and two of those five games would be won by double digits. While the Hornets have certainly gained some strength during this second half of the season, the games between Atlanta and Detroit were much closer in nature as the Hawks have a more consistent front court and defensive effort.

The Pistons have gone 3-0 against the Philadelphia 76ers this season, so they should meet in the first round, especially with Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid sitting due to injury. The Miami Heat are actually the only team out of the four possible play-in selections to beat Detroit, most recently doing so on their home field in March. This will likely be Detroit’s last choice as an opponent for the first round pending any changes in the current standings.

Detroit’s path to the NBA Finals

Unless the Knicks fall in the standings before the end of the season, the Pistons will face the winner of the No. 4 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. the No. 5 Orlando Magic. The Pistons would face the Magic once again before the end of the season, leading the season series 2–1, earning both wins by double-digit margins. While the Magic have wins over them, Detroit is a much deeper team and could ultimately stifle Paolo Banchero’s production with their big men during a seven-game series.

The Cavaliers have been one of the Pistons’ biggest opponents this season, finishing their season series at 2–2, stealing a game by a double-digit margin on the road in Detroit early in the season. The Cavs also won the latest meeting during this past part of the season, so Detroit would benefit greatly from Orlando upsetting Cleveland and have a much easier matchup in the quarterfinals.

From there, the Pistons could face a team like the No. 2 Boston Celtics, No. 3 New York Knicks, or No. 6 Toronto Raptors if they are able to pull off an upset. Obviously, facing the lowest possible seed would benefit the Pistons the most, but eventually the time will come when they will have to defeat their biggest rival.

The Pistons are a combined 6-1 against the Knicks and Celtics this season, and are largely confident in their ability to win a seven-game series against any Eastern Conference opponent this season. They have gone 32-11 overall and 18-5 at home against Eastern Conference teams this season, so if the Pistons are able to clinch this No. 1 seed and continue their dominance in the NBA Playoffs, they should be the favorite to emerge in the NBA Finals.

There has been significant improvement from the Portland Trail Blazers. After missing the playoffs in each of the last four seasons with a number of brutal results – including a 21-61 mark in 2023-24 – the Blazers have played quite well this season. They are on track to return to the playoffs, even if they currently sit in 10th place in the Western Conference.

That’s good enough to put them in the play-in portion of the NBA Playoffs. After defeating the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, their record is 33-36 and that is enough to give them a 9 game lead over the Memphis Grizzlies. It seems pretty safe that their position inside the playoff structure is secure.

The question is whether the Blazers can improve their position, because their chances of finishing in the top eight once the Western Conference playoffs start are quite good.

The play-in portion of the tournament begins with the No. 7 seed hosting the No. 8 seed. The winner of that game is in the playoff structure as the seventh seed. That would mean a potential showdown with the No. 2 seed San Antonio Spurs.

The No. 9 and 10 teams will play on the home court of the No. 9 seed and the team that loses that game will be eliminated. The winner goes on the road to face the loser of 7-8 games. The winner of that game earns the No. 8 spot. That team will play against the top-seeded and defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Although this seems like an impossible matchup, it’s certainly better than missing the playoffs or getting swept in the play-in games.

The No. 8 spot would be an ideal spot for the Blazers

The Blazers are a half-game behind the No. 9 seed Golden State Warriors and 2.0 games behind the eighth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. He can improve his position to reach number 8 and this seems to be the best position for him. The Phoenix Suns are in 7th place with a 39-29 record, and they appear to be out of reach.

The Blazers have played the first two games of a five-game road trip. Before beating the Nets, they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers and will play at Indiana on Wednesday night. This should be a winnable game as the Pacers are in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 15-53 record.

However, the final two games of the trip are against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. Both of those experienced teams are tied for the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference with 41-27 records. The Trail Blazers are 1-1 against the Nuggets and 0-2 against the Timberwolves.

If they can survive the end of the road trip, the Blazers will return home for four games against the Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Mavericks and Washington Wizards. All of those games are winnable, but a 3-1 homestand could be enough to help head coach Tiago Splitter’s team climb into the playoff structure.

Tiago Splitter has kept the team together as interim coach

Splitter has been the interim coach of the Blazers since the early part of the season, when Chauncey Billups was relieved of his duties after federal charges related to the illegal gambling investigation were filed against him.

The team could have fallen apart when their head coach left the team in such an unceremonious manner, but the splitter has kept the Trail Blazers together.

The Blazers have relied on forward Denny Avdija, guard Shaddon Sharp, forward Jerami Grant and veteran guard Jrue Holiday.

Avdija is their best scorer, averaging 24.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game. The native of Tel Aviv, Israel clearly has good offensive skills and plays consistently hard on defense. Sharp is averaging 21.4 points per game, but he is out with a calf strain and the Blazers will have to compete without him for the foreseeable future.

Grant is averaging 18.8 points per game and is connecting on 50.9 percent of his shots from the field. Holiday is averaging 16.4 points and 6.2 assists per game, but it is his leadership and ability to stay calm in key moments that has helped the Blazers improve this season.

Holiday is a true professional who is one of the most underrated players in the league. He is a two-time All-Star and a six-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive Team. He was a key member of the Milwaukee Bucks when they won the NBA Championship in 2021 and he reprized his role when he helped the Boston Celtics win their 19th title in 2024.

His ability to play his best game in the most important situations can help the Blazers rise in the standings and then compete effectively in the postseason.

While the outcome of playoff basketball will be determined by skill, depth and experience, the right seeding can work wonders, especially for a team that may need to take some breaks to reach the NBA Finals.

The Los Angeles Lakers are coming off one of their most impressive wins of the season. All-Star Luka Doncic drained a game-winner with just 0.5 seconds on the clock in a 127-125 overtime win over Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Saturday, giving the Lakers a win over a group that many view as a true contender.

After the game, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised his team’s current chemistry, but kept his focus on the bigger picture.

“Is ‘coalesces’ a word? Is it the right word? To come together? To gel together?”. Redick asked the media after the win. “I think it feels like we’re coming together pretty well right now. Still a long way to go, still a long way to go, but definitely optimistic.”

Regardless of where the team starts netting, the Lakers would love to secure the No. 3 seed ahead of the NBA Playoffs. This result could provide them with a manageable early matchup and delay a meeting with arguably the league’s most dangerous juggernaut.

Lakers should shoot for Timberwolves in first-round matchup

If the regular season ended today, the Lakers would face the Timberwolves in the first round of the postseason. While it’s possible the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, or even the Phoenix Suns could finish sixth in the Western Conference, seeing the Timberwolves finish in that spot would be Los Angeles’ dream scenario.

The Lakers went 3-0 against Minnesota this season and won two of those games with the team from La La Land winning by more than 10 points. From a statistical standpoint, there is reason to believe that their offense will pose a real challenge for the Timberwolves.

While the T-Wolves are a more effective team from behind the arc, Los Angeles boasts a better offensive rating as well as the NBA’s best free throw attempt rate. Even if shots aren’t falling, the Lakers will find their way to the charity stripe and add points.

Despite elite talent like Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, Nazi Reed and Donte DiVincenzo, LeBron James, Austin Reeves and Doncic should be able to dominate the Timberwolves in the seven-game series, even if their weak 3-point shooting remains an issue.

Third seed will delay playoff date with Thunder

Redick and the Lakers might not want to get too ahead of themselves, but if they were to win a first-round matchup as the third seed in the West, they would not have to face the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

Los Angeles has lost two games against the Thunder so far this season, and while the teams are set to play twice more before the tournament begins, the reality remains the same. If any team has to play the Thunder this postseason, they would likely prefer to do so in the later stages of the bracket. With the Western Conference Finals approaching, attrition could be a real factor for a team that also played late last season.

As the third seed, the Lakers’ likely second-round opponent will be the San Antonio Spurs, whom they have also struggled against this year. But the matchup with Victor Wembanyama is also more enjoyable than the matchup against Oklahoma City.

With 15 games remaining in the regular season, the Lakers appear to be finding their way. They have won eight of their last nine games, and after their thrilling win on Saturday, they are well aware of how important it will be to finish the season playing their best basketball.

“Obviously it’s a good win for us,” James told Khobi Price of the California Post. “but after [Saturday]We proceeded to a six-game roadie. We have to be prepared for this and it starts with Houston. In this league, it’s great to enjoy that moment, but when the next moment comes you have to move on.”

Have the Denver Nuggets been disappointing so far in the 2025-26 season? It’s a question many are raising now and then as they battle for a spot in the Western Conference. A large portion of NBA fans believed that they were the second-best team in the NBA after their offseason maneuvers, but they have yet to find the level of consistency that makes them worthy of such praise.

Whatever the case, the Nuggets stand as one of the most dangerous teams heading into the postseason for a simple reason: They have Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray running the show. If they get a clean bill of health in the playoffs, the Nuggets are going to be one of the toughest matchups, as they are a legitimately competitive team that could make it at any time.

But in the playoffs, luck may play a role. The matchup also matters, and the same applies for the Nuggets – a team that currently sits in fifth place in the West standings with a 41-27 record.

That said, in a month’s time, when the 2026 NBA Playoffs begin, this is what the Nuggets should expect in terms of seeding.

Nuggets avoid 4th/5th seed, postpone potential Thunder matchup until WCF

Some people think that the regular season doesn’t matter much and the real games start during the playoffs. This is not the case; Homecourt advantage can play a big role in the postseason, and taking care of business in the regular season can yield favorable matchups.

But if the Nuggets have learned anything from last year’s playoffs, it’s that the matchup against the Thunder may be the best one for the Conference Finals.

OKC remains the best team in the NBA, and they now have championship pedigree. There were questions last season whether he had what it takes to make it on the grand stage, but he has answered all those questions correctly and passed the test with flying colors.

While the Thunder dodging all the way to the Conference Finals guarantees nothing, the Nuggets can at least have more variables working in their favor the deeper they go into the postseason. Injury may occur. Fatigue may occur. And perhaps by the time the WCF moves on, if Denver makes it that far, they could be sure to have a more favorable matchup.

Last season, the Thunder were overwhelming the Grizzlies, making them a far more fresh team than the Nuggets, who were coming off a seven-game bloodbath against the Los Angeles Clippers. This year, taking care of business early and quickly could help protect the Nuggets deeper into the postseason, especially given the injury problems they have endured throughout the season.

At this point, the two-seed appears to be well out of reach for the Nuggets. So if anything, Denver would like to move up to third in the West, or if they fall, get the sixth seed instead.

It’s hard to tell what the most favorable 3-6 matchup will be for the Nuggets. If there’s one matchup to avoid it’s the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves eliminated the Nuggets in 2024, and they have the size and length to make life difficult for Denver. Considering the Nuggets’ poor defense (they have the 21st-ranked defense in the league), an early playoff matchup against Anthony Edwards may not be ideal.

The matchup against Houston Rockets seems to be the most favourable. Houston will have trouble creating offense in the postseason when halfcourt offenses become more prominent. Amen Thompson is a non-shooter. Reed Shepard is a shooter, but has significant defensive shortcomings.

The Rockets will also be missing Steven Adams for the rest of the season, so it’s not like Houston will be able to throttle Denver on the offensive glass.

Kevin Durant will have their work cut out for them. Alpern Sengun will be tested on defense, especially when he has to cover the Jokic-Murray two-man game. The Rockets’ role players (Tari Eason, Dorian Finney-Smith) are hit or miss from beyond the arc.

There are no easy matchups in the playoffs, but the matchup against the Rockets looks very winnable, at least on paper.

If the Nuggets get there, they will likely face a matchup against the San Antonio Spurs in the second round. Facing Victor Wembanyama in a playoff series doesn’t sound very appealing.

But in a conference where you have to go through a blender to survive, the matchup against the non-battle-tested Spurs at least seems more manageable than the second-round matchup against the defending champion Thunder.

It seems like many scouts and executives around the NBA aren’t too excited about the New York Knicks’ chances of reaching the NBA Finals this spring.

There is no doubt that the NY Knicks are one of the best teams in the NBA at the moment. They have the fifth-best record in the league (42-25) and are in the top 10 in scoring (117.2) and points (110.9). Additionally, they have won over elite teams in the West like the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets.

But that’s the regular season. The question on many NY Knicks fans’ minds is whether the inconsistent team can put everything together when it matters most in the playoffs. On Friday, SNY Knicks insider Ian Begley spoke with several NBA scouts and executives about how the team stacks up against other playoff teams in the East, and the reactions weren’t good.

Scouts and executives don’t like the NY Knicks’ chances against the East Elite this spring

First up, the Detroit Pistons. “(For the Knicks), how do you slow down (Cade) Cunningham? When he played at MSG (to start the second half of the season) he had his way against entire defenses, including (OG) Anunoby,” one scout said. New York lost the season series against Detroit 3–0 this season, often losing badly.

When it comes to the Boston Celtics, scouts and executives are leaning heavily on superstar Jayson Tatum following his return from rehabbing his torn ACL. He feels, despite being in second place in the Eastern Conference standings, Boston is now the team to beat this spring.

An executive told Begley, “Yes, there will be an adjustment period (from Tatum’s return), but they have won together in the past. I don’t think it will hurt them in any way.” “If Tatum gets his groove back, they’ll be the team to beat in the East. No disrespect to (the Knicks), but they’ve shown during the regular season that they’re the better team. If Tatum gets back to even 80 percent, that makes them obviously better.”

Another interesting opinion coming out of the report is that while the NY Knicks have the third-best record in the conference and will be favorites in the series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, there is a real possibility of an upset if they meet in the conference semi-finals.

“History says you don’t have to worry about (James) Harden in big playoff games, but he’s playing at a high level for them. I wouldn’t want to deal with (Harden and Donovan Mitchell) for seven games,” one scout said.

So when it comes to matchups against the three teams that will be the biggest threats in the conference, the game’s scouts and executives aren’t feeling confident about the NY Knicks’ chances in this year’s playoffs.

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

With only a month left in the regular season, it never seems too early to be discussing the NBA playoff picture. The Western Conference, as always, is very competitive, with a few teams clustered in the middle seeding behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs – with the Los Angeles Lakers jockeying for position against three other high-tier teams in the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Lakers have had to deal with a number of injury problems, and there have been stretches this season where they have not looked like a competitive team in any way. Be that as it may, at the time of writing, the Lakers have a record of 40-25, which puts them in fourth place in the West standings.

Last season, it looked like the Lakers had a manageable first-round matchup against the Timberwolves. Minnesota swallowed them whole in the glass. There is no such thing as an easy matchup in the West, but some potential matchups may be easier than others.

Ultimately, this is a first-round matchup the Lakers will want to avoid at all costs.

Lakers say no to another playoff showdown vs. Nuggets

The four aforementioned teams competing for position in the West are playing musical chairs, meaning that every win and every loss causes them to change their position in the standings. Realistically, the Lakers could face any of those three teams in the first round of the playoffs, with the Phoenix Suns within striking distance of those four teams – so they’re also emerging as a potential first-round matchup.

But among those teams, the Lakers would like to avoid a first-round matchup against Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets for obvious reasons.

The Nuggets faced the Lakers in the 2023 and 2024 NBA playoffs, and the purple and gold could not challenge Denver. They were keeping the game closed, but the story was all too familiar; Jokic would take over and hit ridiculous shots, and Jamal Murray would make things worse by hitting clutch shots of his own to put the Lakers away.

It’s hard to think that anything will be much different with Doncic still on the roster. Doncic provided the Lakers with a greater offensive level and ceiling than when Anthony Davis was on the team, but their defense is now even more helpless against Jokic without Bro.

This was very evident in their recent clash; The Lakers had to resort to fake defensive coverages to slow down Jokic, and it’s hard to see that working in a playoff setting where the Nuggets can gameplan for Marcus Smart coverages as well as Rui Hachimura matchups.

That series will be an offensive bloodbath, but suffice it to say that the Nuggets have a more explosive offense and a better superstar in Jokic. Deandre Ayton is not the answer, and never was. The Lakers can probably win at least a game or two in this playoff matchup, but in a seven-game series, their lack of size and defensive problems on the perimeter will make it impossible to win four against Denver.

Their aggressive defense against Jokic will force a lot of turnovers from the Lakers defense, and it doesn’t seem like the best idea at all to have a team with a backcourt of Doncic and Reeves have to cover a ton of ground on that end of the floor.

As far as other matchups, the Lakers can definitely handle the Rockets and Timberwolves, and they have the talent advantage over the Suns if it comes down to it.

Houston’s offense can be a clogged toilet at times, as they have to labor to take open shots, which will work in the Lakers’ favor as they have two explosive scoring guards in Doncic and Reaves. Houston doesn’t have as many offensive weapons as Denver, which will shorten the rotation for LA, making life easier.

He has the Timberwolves’ number this season; They swept the season series and learned a lot from their embarrassing first round loss last season. Ayton has been disappointing down the stretch this season, but he has helped tremendously in Timberwolves matchups where he was dominant against Rudy Gobert last year.

Seeing how Dillon Brooks makes LeBron James’ life miserable, the Suns could be a difficult matchup. Whatever the case, Doncic has beaten Devin Booker and the Suns in the past, and the Lakers should have the best player on the floor in that matchup.

Ultimately, the Nuggets are looking like the worst possible matchup for the Lakers, and L.A. will be begging the West standings to swing in their favor in a month’s time.

The Atlanta Hawks have had an up and down season. They were believed to be a promising team in the Eastern Conference, plagued by injuries to key stars from contenders around the conference. Additionally, their 2025 offseason moves made by general manager Onsi Saleh had fans and prognosticators alike interested in what the Hawks could become in this wide-open Eastern Conference. But with the Hawks facing a slump due to injuries and an unfortunate trade, fans are clamoring for a 2026 offseason, and the value of the Pelicans/Bucks pick swap is highly anticipated.

But it appears as if the Hawks have turned the corner. At the time of this writing, they are on a seven-game winning streak and are 8-2 in their last 10 games. They are just three games behind the Miami Heat, who are currently in the six-seed in the playoff standings, with Toronto and Philadelphia one and two games ahead of them, respectively.

The ideal seeding situation for the Hawks is to get the number six seed. It’s realistic, and they’ve been on a roll since the end of the All-Star break. Finishing sixth takes them out of the play-ins for the first time in months. The Hawks have been a mainstay in the play-ins over the past few seasons since making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2021, but they failed to make the playoffs last season after losing to the Miami Heat.

It would be a huge accomplishment for the Hawks to clinch the six-seed and put them in position to potentially pull an upset in the first round, which would garner fan support for the direction of the team. hawks nation was Disappointed Via Trae Young’s trade. But the preseason could help mend fans’ broken hearts

If the season ended today and the Hawks found a way to dethrone the No. 6 seed Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, they would face the New York Knicks. The Knicks have been a consistent team this season, even winning the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup. But out of the top six current teams, they arguably have the biggest weaknesses that the Hawks can exploit to pull off a big playoff-series win.

While Karl-Anthony Towns is a phenomenal player, he is often inconsistent. With how heavy the Hawks are, I believe they can compete well with the Knicks in a seven-game series. And while Trae Young, who saw his star rise following the Hawks’ five-game defeat of the Knicks in the 2021 playoffs, is no longer with the team, Jalen Johnson could prove to be a thorn in the Knicks’ side. Johnson’s propensity to drive to the basket and his explosiveness could be a good fit for the small-ball lineups that Mike Brown likes to employ, and I think there is no defender on the Knicks outside of OG Anunoby who can really stay one-on-one with him.

Should the Hawks find a way to defeat the Knicks in the first round in this scenario, they would then face the Boston Celtics. Now, the Hawks have seen the Celtics in the playoffs before, ultimately losing 4-2 in 2023. So far, the Hawks have split the season series with the Celtics, with the Celtics defeating them 132–106 on January 17 and the Hawks getting their revenge on January 28, 117–106. Now that the Hawks are hitting form, two matchups between the Hawks and Celtics in late March could be a preview of how the teams will match up in the playoffs.

Jayson Tatum is back in the lineup, but he’s still not quite 100%. While the Celtics were smart to get him back into the rotation ahead of their playoff run, it’s unknown if he’ll actually get back to his pre-Achilles playing style any time soon. While Jaylen Brown has emerged as a phenomenal player and is even in the running for NBA MVP, the Hawks can certainly match the Celtics’ superior three-point shooting ability with a mix of savvy defense and athleticism. While they likely won’t win a series against the Celtics, having a good matchup against them could be a good sign for Quin Snyder and Atlanta, giving them the building blocks for more success in an important offseason.

The Hawks certainly aren’t championship contenders, but they have a chance to pick up a small win that could help them reign among the top teams in the NBA over the next few seasons. But that scenario hinges on the Hawks climbing out of the play-in picture and officially securing one of the top six seeds in the East for the first time in five years.

2024-25 Season Stat Leaders (Mid-Season Trends)

• Top Goal Scorer: Emerging as a race between the league’s elite snipers.
• Most Assists: Playmakers are dominating the puck possession game.
• Highest Team Scoring: Offense-heavy teams are currently leading the standings.