標籤: Postseason

With a decisive win over the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, the Carolina Hurricanes punched their ticket to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – becoming the first team to do so this postseason, although they were followed by the Colorado Avalanche the very next day.

There was a lot to like in their first-round series, but of course, there were also some things they will have to contend with in the second round against the Pittsburgh Penguins or Philadelphia Flyers – two teams with whom the Hurricanes certainly spent time in their respective season series.

A round of three storms is a positive one

Goaltending has become specialized

Throughout the regular season, the goaltending performance in the playoffs was the biggest question due to Pyotr Kochetkov’s injury, Frederik Andersen’s cold streak, and newcomer Brandon Bussey playing in only his first NHL season. However, those concerns have been allayed – at least in the first round. Over the course of four games, Andersson allowed only five goals on 110 shots, giving him a 1.10 goals-against average. Additionally, he also recorded a satisfactory save percentage of .955.

In round one, Anderson was everything the Hurricanes needed, and more.

“This can’t be underestimated,” head coach Rod Brind’Amour said at the end of the series. “Especially when you consider how well the other guy (Linus Ullmark) was playing out there. Like, it was a goalie matchup. They were going to make saves for saves. And we needed that, right? Otherwise, this thing could have looked a lot different.

“This is probably the best hockey he’s played for us since he was a Hurricane.”

Logan Stankoven’s line has been incredible

Anyone who watched even a single game of the Hurricanes’ first-round series will tell you that the Hurricanes’ second line has been spectacular – after all, they scored the first goal in every single game, and then some. However, it was more than the goals scored in the net that made the line great.

During the entire first period, the assembled second line was not on the ice for a single goal. They were defensively strong and responsible in their play, taking only three penalties combined.

Taylor Hall said of Logan Stankoven, who leads the team in postseason goals after four seasons, “We weren’t for a goal against all series, and he’s our centerman.” “He’s a low-level guy that’s putting in the work. So, it’s not just the goals. You know, it’s a 200-foot game that he and our line have done very well.”

The defense has been phenomenal

Storm protection cannot be underestimated. Throughout the series, Carolina led the league in time on the penalty kill with 35:53. In Game 3, he allowed no shots during a five-on-three loss, and in Game 4, he held the Senators scoreless during a three-and-five loss. Despite giving up so many power play opportunities, the Hurricanes only allowed one power play goal, leading to a penalty kill percentage of 95.2 – second best leaguewide behind only the Boston Bruins, who remain immaculately shorthanded.

This was particularly impressive due to the Senators’ effectiveness on the power play throughout the season, where they ranked eighth in power play percentage with a 24.0% success rate.

Overall, the Hurricanes’ six defensemen combined for a total plus/minus of +11, as the offense outscored the Senators 11–5.

three storms round one negative

an unholy amount of gifts

While the Hurricanes’ overall defense was very good, the team struggled mightily to retain the puck – though this was less noticeable due to the Senators’ sloppiness in terms of possession. After this season, both teams are tied for the most gifts in the entire league with 75.

For context, the Bruins are second with only 68, and the Avalanche are third with only 61.

too much punishment

During their first-round series, the Hurricanes took 26 penalties, 10 of which were due to lack of discipline with their forwards; Always annoying stick violations (including tripping).

Additionally, 16 of their penalties were in their last two games, while four of those opportunities gave the Senators the aforementioned five-on-three advantage.

If not for the efficiency of the Hurricanes’ penalty killers, their time in the box could have been costly.

There’s a lot left in the power play

To be fair, when it comes to the playoffs, the importance of the power play takes a back seat in favor of the penalty kill. However, this does not make it unimportant.

In their four matches against the Senators, the Hurricanes only managed to score two goals with the man advantage. What was particularly worrisome about this was that the Senators’ regular-season record ranked 29th leaguewide on the penalty kill, with an atrocious penalty kill percentage of 75.7.

While it can’t be denied that the Senators’ defense played very well, the power play remains a concern in the second period.

In conclusion, the next series will definitely bring more elements. Whether or not the Hurricanes can overcome that mountain probably lies most in their ability to adapt while still playing their brand of hockey.

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

The Carolina Hurricanes are in the playoffs after having one of their best seasons on record, scoring 113 points this season, finishing atop the Eastern Conference for the first time in franchise history, and scoring their most goals in team history. But at the same time, one biggest question remains every year…

Is goal setting good enough?

Hurricanes goaltending follows a different formula

The Hurricanes’ overall goals-save percentage is .880, slightly lower than the league average of .889, and well below the typical standard of .900. Currently, they are the league’s seventh-worst in this metric throughout the regular season.

Normally, those numbers would seem bad. However, that statistic works very differently in Carolina’s case.

Throughout the entire regular season, the Hurricanes took the fewest shots against leaguewide. When fewer shots are faced, a goal taken takes a larger share of the percentage, resulting in a lower number.

Notably, the Hurricanes had the sixth-best goals against average in the regular season.

Ultimately, at the end of the day, statistics are just numbers, and not performance history. Always write the Future. The playoffs are a completely different beast from the regular season.

For example, in the 2005–06 season, Cam Ward posted the sixth-worst save percentage and third-worst goals-against average in the entire league. However, by the end of the playoffs, the rookie netminder not only had the fourth-best save percentage of the postseason and the second-best goals-against average, but he also won the Conn Smythe Trophy, cementing him as MVP of the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Versatility is an asset

An often overlooked aspect about the Hurricanes’ tandem is the difference in playing styles between Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussy.

Anderson’s style is situational, he uses his size to create space for oncoming shooters. He is accurate with the glove and remains composed and composed throughout the game.

Meanwhile, Bussi is adept at the standard butterfly style with a hint of athletic style. Although he is roughly the same size as Anderson, he focuses on speed and instincts rather than technique.

Having a pair of similar goaltenders with disparate styles gives the Hurricanes an advantage when facing teams. If one style does not work against an opponent, there is another style to use.

Carolina has a potential ace in the hole

The Hurricanes may have another option in net — one that uses both comfort and excitement as a weapon.

Carolina’s most dynamic and unpredictable goalkeeper, Pyotr Kochetkov, missed almost the entire season due to injury and subsequent surgery to repair it. However, after a brief conditioning stint with the Chicago Wolves, he was recalled and initially elected to concentrate on the crease in the final game of the season, before a roster issue made it impossible.

Kochetkov also has a distinct style that sets him apart from others – ranging from calm and steady to frantic, acrobatic and even physically being able to flip a switch to stop however possible. He brings an element of controlled (well, mostly controlled) chaos that often catches shooters off guard.

At this time, it is still uncertain whether he will join the postseason, but if he does, the Hurricanes will have three NHL-level goaltenders ready – a rarity on any team, and especially in the playoffs.

While the Hurricanes have often been cited in the past for not having what it takes in net for playoff hockey, their current, unusual setup could challenge that narrative in the upcoming postseason.

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

Veteran play-by-play announcer Joe Buck has revealed that he turned down the opportunity to call MLB postseason games from ESPN last fall.

Longtime broadcaster, who joined the network in 2022 primarily as the voice of The decision was revealed during a recent appearance at Sports Media with Richard Dietsch podcast.

ESPN, which previously had a major rights package including playoff baseball before renegotiating a lighter slate of regular season games, approached Buck for season-opening duties.

However, the scheduling proved incompatible with his NFL commitments.

“As you and I sit here right now on April 10, I don’t even know who got to the postseason,” Buck said. “I assume ESPN has a game, maybe they don’t… Well, there you go – NBC has the wild card, so I’m not going to do that.”

He added, “It was on the discussion table last year if it was something I wanted to do.” “When ESPN played its games early on, it was poorly timed.”

Joe Buck reveals he’s stopped calling MLB postseason games for ESPN https://t.co/0Ldz8NT5Lg

– Awful Announcement (@awfulaannouncement) 13 April 2026

Joe Buck says he turned down ESPN’s offer to call MLB postseason games

The 56-year-old, who has won a record 24 World Series during his career, said he no longer feels the need to pursue that chapter of his broadcasting career.

Buck added, “And believe me, I’m the luckiest man in the world; I wrote a book about it, that I got to do any of it.” “But I feel like it’s really a chapter in my life, it’s an itch that doesn’t need to be scratched anymore. I’ve done all that.”

There was a mixed reaction from fans on this news on social media.

“I wish he had the same mentality for football,” one fan wrote, possibly hinting that he hopes that changes. He Bend down too.

“Thank God,” said another. “The man is unbearable.”

Still, others consider Buck’s contributions to MLB irreplaceable.

“This really hurts my soul. I understand where Joe is coming from, but still,” one person lamented.

Another reacted to the news: “Shame. He was loved by the fans in baseball.”

Over the years, Joe Buck has been the voice behind some of sports’ most memorable moments, from World Series games to Super Bowls.

However, this high-profile position also made him the target of criticism, which intensified with the advent of social media. Countless memes emerge every year about fans buying expensive playoff tickets so they can avoid hearing the Bucks.

And while she found the whole affair annoying, she also took it to heart. Although he suggests ignoring comments on social media to other people in his field, Joe admits he hasn’t always heeded his own advice. Mainly because he was a leading figure during the rise of internet trolls.

“Always, I was the only guy playing national baseball during the social media era, and I got my socks off. And it exhausted me,” Buck said in an interview. michael’s show. “I can sit here and say, ‘Oh, that thing didn’t bother me.’ It upset me.”

“If you’re a human being who cares about what other people think and do, and you try to be a good person and you try to do a good job, and then you read how worthless you are or ‘You’re lucky you had a famous dad’ and ‘You hate my team’ and all that other stuff,” he lamented.

Kylie Kelce, on her husband Jason Kelce’s late night flop, they call it late nightDiscussed the reasons behind Philadelphia fans’ dislike of Joe Buck.

“I was raised in a household where I was taught to dislike Joe Buck,” he said.

“My dad taught me this,” Kylie continued. “I recognized very well the pattern in which it always seemed [Buck] Was cheering for the other team.”

When the former Eagles center asked if he had any specific examples of the Bucks being biased, he replied, “Absolutely not.”

Buck is the son of famous sportscaster Jack Buck.

Rusty Weis is a lifelong fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dallas Cowboys and Xavier Musketeers. He has been writing professionally… More about Rusty Weiss

In a sudden turn of events, Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov has been assigned to the Chicago Wolves for a conditioning stint following season-ending hip surgery following the NHL’s Christmas break.

With the Grand Rapids returning to play Friday against the Griffins, it puts a new potential element into the Hurricanes’ goaltending for the postseason.

Under the current CBA, LTIR conditioning loans to the AHL can last a maximum of three games and/or six days, although an additional two games can be requested if needed.

On Sunday, Kochetkov returned to the ice with the Hurricanes, participating in partial drills and taking shots from his teammates. It wasn’t a perfect practice, but it was ‘a step in the right direction’, as head coach Rod Brind’Amour said.

The Hurricanes netminder expressed his feelings about returning to the ice, saying that he had a difficult time during the recovery process, but he was very happy to be able to be with the team and participate in practices.

After it was announced that he would not participate in the remainder of the season, it was speculated that he would not be seen on the ice until the following September. However, in January, his agent first predicted a quick return, mentioning that he could be available for the playoffs if his recovery went well.

Pyotr Kochetkov could be a game-changer for the Hurricanes in the playoffs

This season, Kochetkov has played only eight games in the NHL. However, six of those games were wins, including one shutout. Meanwhile, Frederik Anderson has played 34 matches and Brandon Bussy has played 37 matches.

If the Hurricanes can reacquire Kochetkov for the postseason, they will have three NHL-level goaltenders, one of whom has been notably rested due to a lack of ice time this season. It will be an advantage for the Hurricanes that no other Stanley Cup contending team is going to the playoffs.

Additionally, playing style versatility is another boon for the Hurricanes.

Kochetkov utilizes a highly athletic, acrobatic style with the ability to switch between a calm, careful approach and a frantic, completely reactionary response with the speed of a back-and-forth. The unpredictable (and even physical) nature of his style catches skaters off guard.

Anderson, meanwhile, plays a quiet position-up style that uses size and technique to take up space from oncoming shooters. He also has a particularly strong glove hand to help when the normally slow positioning method might fail.

As for Bussey, his approach focuses more on the traditional butterfly style with a focus on strong proficiency in fundamentals with occasional athletic play. His play is a happy medium between Kochetkov and Andersen.

If the Hurricanes can reacquire a strong and confident Kochetkov, it could make a huge difference through the playoffs.

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

MIAMI – The Miami Heat lost 121-117 to the Orlando Magic for the fifth time this season on Saturday night, pushing them back in the Eastern Conference standings, with the team looking to avoid the play-in tournament. Since this is the right time for the Heat with the return of Norman Powell and Tyler Herro from injury, Adebayo will talk about the upcoming program.

Miami has finished in the play-in tournament the past three seasons, meaning they have finished anywhere between the seventh and 10th seeds, competing with other teams for the final two playoff spots in the East. The team has four weeks left in the regular season to solidify a spot in the postseason, but these next six games will undoubtedly be a “gauntlet,” as Adebayo said.

Bam Adebayo is taking advantage of two off days as he and the Heat have had a grueling schedule recently: #HeatNation pic.twitter.com/nReVZySlR0

– Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) 15 March 2026

Looking at the next six games, it includes four teams with winning records, except for the Charlotte Hornets, who they will face on Tuesday, who are 34-34 but have been one of the hottest teams in the league recently, going 18-6 in their last 25 games.

After hosting the Los Angeles Lakers (42-25) on Thursday, Miami will travel to face the Houston Rockets (41-25) on Saturday to close out the week. The following week, the San Antonio Spurs (49–18) came to Miami, the team concluded the week with two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers (41–27).

Where the heat had to be endured on Saturday, it will have to be changed

While the Heat are focused on Adebayo scoring a historic 83 points, as well as continuing a seven-game winning streak prior to the Magic’s loss, the team is now focused on impressing in the toughest stretch of the season. Apart from the offensive side of the ball, it all starts with the defense for the team, which was a disappointing aspect on Saturday.

Orlando came out and scored 41 points in the first quarter, shooting nearly 70 percent from the field, and while Miami got close at the end after being down by 22 points, it was too late. At any rate, Miami looks to bounce back against the Hornets on Tuesday as they are 38-30, leaving them in seventh place in the East.

Who will make the MLB playoffs in 2026? Another Major League Baseball season is just around the corner, with first pitches and Opening Day tipping off in 2026. With the roster largely set, it’s time to speculate more on what we might see in baseball this year.

Before Opening Day, let’s take a look at our MLB playoff predictions for this season. We’ll start with round-by-round predictions for the American League, then the National League, followed by the World Series.

AL Wild Card Round: (4) Baltimore Orioles vs. (5) New York Yankees, (3) Seattle Mariners vs. (6) Boston Red Sox

We’re looking at three teams from the American League East making it to the MLB Playoffs this season, which will see them face off in October. The Baltimore Orioles should bounce back nicely after a disappointing 2025 campaign heading into the offseason. We think the New York Yankees will get off to a slow start as their starting rotation overcomes injuries, but they will find form by the summer. In a winner-take-all game, New York advanced with a road win at Camden Yards.

Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox will face the challenge of defeating the AL West champions. This will be an excellent series, with both AL clubs boasting excellent postseason rotations and great pitching depth to pair with it. However, the Seattle Mariners boast a superior lineup and timely hitting sending them to the American League Division Series.

• Prediction: Mariners and Yankees move on

RELATED: MLB Predictions 2026, Projected Win-Loss Records for All 30 Clubs

American League Division Series: (2) Toronto Blue Jays vs. (3) Seattle Mariners, (1) Detroit Tigers vs. (5) New York Yankees

We think we’ll get a rematch of the 2025 American League Championship Series, just one round before the MLB postseason. The Toronto Blue Jays strengthened their pitching staff after the previous season’s loss in the World Series, while Seattle responded to their Game 7 loss in Toronto by acquiring Brendan Donovan. While sequels are almost never as good as the originals, the Mariners vs. Blue Jays matchup in the ALDS will be close. However, this time, Seattle’s postseason rotation is healthy and proves to be a difference maker.

Elsewhere in the AL, it will be a rematch of the 2012 American League Championship Series. The real test will be how successful the Yankees lineup can be against the Detroit Tigers rotation. Aaron Judge and Max Fried will be responsible for New York winning two games in each series, but it will be the Tigers who will punch their ticket to the ALCS under the leadership of Tarik Skubal and Riley Green.

• Prediction: Mariners beat Blue Jays in four games, Tigers beat Yankees in five games

RELATED: Best MLB players by position 2026, top 11 spots

ALCS: (3) Seattle Mariners vs. (1) Detroit Tigers

The American League’s dominance comes to the fore in the battle between the Tigers and Mariners in the ALCS. We saw this matchup last October, when Seattle had home-field advantage and won a winner-take-all Game 5 in the 15th inning. It’s going to the ALCS at seven. Skubal would lead Detroit to two wins, but he would only be available out of the bullpen for that crucial Game 7 at home. Led by a stellar performance on the mound by veteran Brian Woo and a home run by Julio Rodriguez off Friar Valdez, the Mariners are headed to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

• Prediction: Mariners win over Tigers in seven games

RELATED: Best MLB Rotation 2026

NL Wild Card Round: (4) Atlanta Braves vs. (5) Arizona Diamondbacks, (3) Chicago Cubs vs. (6) Philadelphia Phillies

We’ve got two National League teams that missed the MLB playoffs last year and are facing off in the Wild Card games this season. The Arizona Diamondbacks arrive here on the strength of a lineup of Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte, while improved defense provides a little more stability overall. However, in a do-or-die game at Truist Park, it would be the bats of Drake Baldwin and Mike Yastrzemski that would help the Atlanta Braves reach the National League Division Series.

Perfect for playoff baseball, this will be a must-see matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies that should draw big ratings. We would see Christopher Sanchez outpoint Matthew Boyd in a pitcher’s duel, with Jhoan Duran giving up a two-run lead in the ninth at Wrigley Field to put Philadelphia ahead.

RELATED: Best MLB Lineups 2026

National League Division Series: (2) New York Mets vs. (4) Atlanta Braves, (1) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (6) Philadelphia Phillies

Maybe there’s some wishing here with the hope that we get these two matchups in the National League Division Series. The most talked about matchup will be for the Braves against the New York Mets, a battle for bragging rights between the two NL East rivals. Atlanta has gotten to this point thanks to a great lineup with timely hitting, but the magic is gone at Citi Field. Nolan McLean delivers a pitching masterclass in a crucial game, with Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor both going deep in the series to send the Mets to the NLCS.

So far, we’ve seen the Phillies face off against the Los Angeles Dodgers a few times in October. Philadelphia can at least make things interesting with a playoff rotation of Sanchez, Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo and Andrew Painter. This will not be enough. The Phillies’ lineup has gone cold again in a crucial playoff series, vacated by Yoshinobu Yamamoto and struggling against Tyler Glasnow as the Dodgers move back to the NLCS.

• Prediction: Dodgers in four games, Mets in four games

RELATED: MLB Awards Predictions 2026

National League Championship Series: (2) New York Mets vs. (1) Los Angeles Dodgers

The best teams that money can buy are vying for the National League pennant. To the delight of MLB and its TV partners, the series will also include two of the largest media markets in the country. Unfortunately for Mets owner Steve Cohen, the Dodgers have greater pitching depth and a much deeper lineup than New York. This is the kind of series that many around baseball can point to as proof that MLB needs the salary cap, with a super team with a $400 million payroll beating a super team with a $360 million roster. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker led the Dodgers back to the World Series.

READ MORE: Worst MLB contracts 2026, worst contracts at each position

World Series 2026: Dodgers win the World Series

The Dodgers would become only the third franchise in MLB history – joining the Yankees (three times) and the Oakland Athletics (1972–74) – to become World Series champions three times. Los Angeles needs to go all-in in 2026 as the salary cap is approaching and the Fall Classic will be under threat of a lockout. Ohtani would further his legacy as one of the greatest players of all-time by winning the World Series MVP for the first time in his career.

Read More: MLB Power Rankings 2026, evaluating all 30 teams

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