Thursday night in Seattle the Kraken met the LasVegas Golden Knights. The teams had met twice before this season; Seattle came out victorious in both. The Kraken maintained that winning record, eking out a 4-3 shootout win.
The game started out rough. Mark Stone had Vegas ahead 2-0 by a minute into the second period. The Kraken had some good chances, but could not get anything past Adin Hill. Finally, almost eighteen minutes into the second period Jared McCann capitalized on a power play opportunity and the Kraken were on the board.
April 9th: Highlights Courtesy of Seattle Kraken
In the third period Vegas scored again and the Kraken found themselves in a two-goal deficit for the second time. Berkly Catton took advantage of an out-of-position Adin Hill and with a lucky bounce scored his seventh of the season. Suddenly, the Kraken only needed a single goal to even the score.
Where else could the missing point come from but Bobby McMann? With a nearly point-per-game average since joining the Kraken just after the trade deadline, McMann has been a consistent feature on the Seattle scoreboard. On a pass from Jordan Eberle out of the corner, McMann hurled the puck over Hill’s right shoulder to tie the game.
Overtime was scoreless and the game moved on to the shootout. Mitch Marner managed to get one past Joey Daccord, but it was the first and last for Vegas. On the Kraken’s next turn, Matty Beniers deked, fooling Hill who dived left while Beniers slid the puck in on his right side. Daccord and Hill went stop-for-stop until the Kraken sent out rookie Berkly Catton.
Hoping his lucky bounce would portend good fortune in the shoot out, and it did. Catton put the Kraken up 2-1 in the shootout, and Vegas got one more opportunity to stay in the game. Pavel Dorofeyev gave is his best wrist shot, but Daccord was ready for him. The Kraken emerged victorious.
April 9th: Joey Daccord celebrates the Kraken win in the background as Pavel Dorofeyev laments. Photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News
Currently, the Golden Knights hold the second seed in the Pacific Division standings, just one point behind the Anaheim Ducks in first. The Kraken, on the other hand, are eight points out of a wildcard spot with only four games remaining. While not technically mathematically eliminated yet, the likelihood of any kind playoff run for Seattle is virtually nonexistent.
The Philadelphia Flyers had an opportunity to virtually nail down a place in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday night, but they instead came up painfully short. Fortunately, after receiving some help, they're still alive.
Before the game began, MoneyPuck assessed that the Flyers' playoff odds would soar to 66.6% with a regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings, and crash to 21.2% with a regulation loss.
Ultimately, the final result was a crushing 6-3 defeat, but the Flyers got a helping hand from the Buffalo Sabres.
Because Buffalo was able to dismantle the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Thursday night and stop them from gaining any ground on the Flyers, Philadelphia's playoff odds now sit at a more modest 45.6% in MoneyPuck's eyes.
For the sake of comparison, the New York Islanders, who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation Thursday night, are close behind at 36.5%, while the Blue Jackets and Red Wings are at 14.6% and 5.8%, respectively.
This is all to say that the Flyers are still the favorites to make the playoffs via third place in the Metropolitan Division, but any room for error has been erased with the Islanders' win.
Because the Flyers have a one-point advantage over the Islanders (92 points to 91), they will need to match or do better than New York over the final three games of the season; the Flyers don't hold any tiebreakers.
Rookie forward Porter Martone collected his second-career two-point night, scoring a tap-in from point-blank range on the power play and adding an assist with Christian Dvorak redirecting his long-range slapper in the first period.
Thursday night's game was largely lost on special teams, where the Flyers were an abysmal 1/6 on the power play and an even worse 1/4 on the penalty kill.
The Red Wings pulled away in the second period, with power play goals from Moritz Seider and Dylan Larkin giving them 2-1 and 3-1 leads, respectively, before Larkin added a shorthanded goal minutes later.
All three goals to put the Red Wings up 4-1 in the second period were scored in a span of 4:24 and resulted in Dan Vladar being pulled from the game.
Suffice to say, the Flyers are staring at another must-win game Saturday, when they face the surging Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg.
The Jets are winners of three straight and are 7-2-1 in their last 10, suddenly sitting three points out of a playoff spot with four games to play.
Apr 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images | Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Sigh. The Devils dropped a 5-2 loss to the Penguins Thursday night. [Devils NHL]
“…It would stand to reason that teams with front office openings would want to emulate the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. There would be curiosity as to how the sausage is made over there. Which is why it’s no surprise, according to league sources, that both the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs have asked and received permission from the Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta, whose name has been all the rage of late, especially in the Toronto market. As head of analytics for the Cup champs, his background fits a big part of the profile for both the Devils and Leafs.” [The Athletic ($)]
“The search is still in its early stages, and the structure of the front office could change if they split the titles of president of hockey operations and general manager. With that, let’s look at some very early potential candidates that the Devils may interview over the next few weeks to replace Tom Fitzgerald.” [Devils on the Rush]
Luke’s season is over:
#NEWS: The New Jersey Devils have shut down D Luke Hughes to undergo a procedure and get a head start on rehab for the off-season. pic.twitter.com/YeZJcVMo1j
“Alex Ovechkin will wait until the offseason to decide whether this will be his final season in the NHL, the Washington Capitals captain said in an interview posted by the team on social media.” [NHL.com]
Ron Francis is out in Seattle:
The #SeaKraken announced today that Ron Francis will be stepping down from his role as President of Hockey Operations at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
“Who is the best all-around defenseman in the NHL? There are a lot of contenders for that title this year. Unlike last year, there isn’t one favorite running away with the honors. This is the deepest Norris Trophy field in years, with a special group of defensemen performing with MVP-caliber play.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
After playing an emotionless game against the Florida Panthers, the Montreal Canadiens were hosting a potential first-round opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Thursday night at the Bell Centre. Given the high stakes in that matchup, it was clear that both teams would bring their A-game and neither would disappoint.
With that kind of opposition, the Habs couldn’t afford a slow start, and they knew it. Joe Veleno was back in the lineup after battling the flu, taking over from Zachary Bolduc. As for Kaiden Guhle, who skated alone ahead of the morning skate, he remained out, just like healthy scratch Brendan Gallagher.
After using Alex Newhook at the center of the second line on Tuesday, Martin St-Louis had him playing wing on the third line alongside Phillip Danault and Kirby Dach, while Oliver Kapanen took his spot back in the middle with Alexandre Texier on one side and Ivan Demidov on the other. As for Veleno, he landed on the fourth line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson.
Overall, the new combination worked pretty well in the first frame; they all had plenty of energy and grit on the ice, dominating in shots 8-3, and they hit the post behind Andrei Vasilevskiy twice. Of course, the four-minute power play they received early on helped them build some momentum and kept the Lightning out of their zone, but still, only giving the Bolts three shots in 20 minutes is quite a feat.
History Was Made
For the 13th time in franchise history, a Hab scored 50 goals in a season. After failing to find twine in his last three games, Cole Caufield beat Vasilevsky for the first goal of the game, becoming just the seventh Canadiens player to score 50 in a season. Unsurprisingly, the Bell Centre absolutely erupted, and the atmosphere became even more electric. Fittingly, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky got the assists on the history-making goal. Speaking to the media after the game, the man of the hour said he couldn’t have drawn it any better.
The great Pierre Houde 🐐 calling Cole Caufield’s 50th Habs goal of the season tonight at the Bell Centre pic.twitter.com/bkYX0a5OBv
Asked how he felt being the first American-born player to hit 50 goals with the Canadiens, he replied:
Honestly, it’s hard not to follow. You see it kind of everywhere, not going to lie, was pretty stressed out the past couple of days, but that’s what makes this place so special, and that’s why it’s kind of so cool for me, and my teammates, coaches and family to take this in and enjoy it. Honestly, it felt like it would never come there for a couple of days; in those three games, it felt like it would never come. I’m just glad it’s over with now, and we can get back to work. We still have a couple of big games left.
- Caufield on his accomplishment
It was easy to see how relieved the sniper was to score that 50th goal finally, and when it was put to him that he could finally move on, he instantly replied, “You guys too!” making everyone in the room chuckle.
His best answer, though, was without a doubt when he was asked about how much Martin St-Louis has helped him over the course of his young NHL career:
Obviously, I don’t know if there is a guy I should thank more or give more respect to. I think when he came in, he gave me not only an opportunity but definitely some confidence, and he taught me how to play the game the right way to create more and get the puck more in better spots. He always says he’s not going to teach me how to score, but I think deep down, he knows he did. To work with a guy like that, I think everybody on our team has benefited a lot from him, and our whole staff has been outstanding, a lot of thanks to him, but you know, everybody deserves a little piece of that.
- Caufield on how Martin St-Louis has helped him
When Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton hired Martin St-Louis, the GM said it was important to have a coach who could match the identity they wanted to give their version of the Canadiens and getting Martin St-Louis on board was a masterstroke from them in hindsight. The undersized Hall of Fame was just the right man to lead this young team through adversity, but also a perfect teacher for a player like Caufield.
Reflecting on the fact that he slid all the way down to 15 in the draft back in 2019, the sniper said he wouldn’t want it any other way and that he was fortunate enough to go to the right place and go to the right team. He added, “Who knows where I would be on a different team? I’m just thankful for everything this city has offered and kind of the journey we’ve been on ever since I got here.”
Caufield was also asked if he was glad to have accomplished the feat wearing number 13, a number he chose to honour Johnny Gaudreau after his tragic death, and visibly moved, he explained:
Every time I get to put on my jersey and my helmet, it’s weird to think about, but it’s an opportunity to represent him and remember him. It’s a special thing to kind of do that, I guess he’s behind me, and he’s looking down on us, everybody that he knew he made a better person, so I can’t obviously give him a hug right now, but I wish I could.
- Caufield on Johnny Gaudreau and his number swap
Furthermore, it was the 30th time Caufield put the Canadiens in front of the season, allowing him to move past Pavel Bure at 2nd overall for most go-ahead goals in a season. While some believed that playing a depleted Florida Panthers side the other night was the perfect occasion for the American to notch his 50th finally, it wasn’t surprising that he did it in a game with high stakes and against a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens had to elevate their games to overcome such a formidable foe.
In the process, they needed to play the game the right way, which was always going to be the way Caufield could finally accomplish the milestone. That’s what allowed him to score the other 49 goals he had on the season. The prolific sniper doesn’t really do meaningless goals; he scores when his team most needs goals. It was the 30th time he put the Canadiens in front this year, allowing him to move past Pavel Bure at 2nd overall for most go-ahead goals in a season.
Rising To The Challenge
As for the coach, he was pleased with the way his team responded to the very physical brand of hockey the Lightning played. In such a tight game, the players had to fight for every inch on the ice, and while they pushed back, they stayed within the rules. They didn’t fall into the trap set by the experienced Bolts, aside from Arber Xhekaj, who was tricked into taking a penalty by Corey Perry, something the coach said the veteran has been doing for 20 years.
While there weren’t many goals scored in the game, the Bell Centre crowd was treated to playoff-like hockey and seeing the Habs win a 2-1 game against Tampa Bay, which has been a perennial contender for years in this league, was encouraging ahead of the spring dance. While Jakub Dobes only saw 18 shots, he had to make several big saves, protecting his team’s lead right up until the 58th minute when the Lightning managed to tie up the game at six on five. That equalizer could have been deflating for the Canadiens, but they rolled up their sleeves and went right back to work, getting the game-winning goal just 47 seconds later.
With that win, the Canadiens overtook the Lightning in the standings, and they’ve put themselves in the right position to earn home ice advantage in the first round. With 104 points and three games to go, the Habs are in control of their own fate with a game in hand on the Buffalo Sabres. The Canadiens will play their final home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, then play the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers on the road to wrap up the season.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 09: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate the win in the game against the New Jersey Devils on April 9, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night, capitalizing on quick-strike offense and pulling away in the third period against a New Jersey team already thinking about summer plans. The win officially gave Pittsburgh a playoff berth for the first time in four years. Additionally, with the Philadelphia Flyers’ loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, Pittsburgh has clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. [Recap]
Thursday’s win was a sort of microcosm of the season. The Penguins defied all expectations thanks to strong performances from core veterans like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, along with key contributions from newer players. [KDKA]
Those interested in learning more about tickets for the first two home playoff games can do so here. Tickets officially go on sale at noon ET. [Penguins]
So long, Sergei. We hardly knew ye. The Penguins reassigned rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov to their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL affiliate on Thursday after Stuart Skinner was given the green light to play. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied the NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman, continuing a historic debut season that has seen him break several league and franchise marks. [TSN]
Seattle Kraken co-owner Tod Leiweke acknowledged the team’s disappointing 2025-26 season and said significant changes are needed after falling short of expectations as the team teeters on the brink of playoff elimination. [Sportsnet]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 07: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics prays before a game against the Charlotte Hornets the TD Garden on April 07, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK CITY — Jayson Tatum made the choice to not bite his tongue a long time ago.
At the Celtics’ shootaround on Thursday morning, when he was asked about the emotions of playing at Madison Square Garden for the very first time since his injury, the Celtics star opted to be completely candid.
“Nervousness, anxiousness,” he said. “All the things you’d probably expect.”
On paper, Thursday’s game was just another regular season game between two Eastern Conference foes. Entering the match-up, the Celtics had won four straight games, and held a three-game lead over the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference.
But, in reality, Thursday night held extra weight, marking a return to the place where Tatum’s long, lonely rehab journey began. Inside the walls of MSG was a moment in time in which everything changed: the night Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon almost eleven months ago.
“The lowest point of my life was here,” Tatum said.
Tatum remembers hearing a pop. He remembers his career — and the Celtics’ future — flashing before his eyes. And, he remembers thinking that it all could be over, that he might never be the same again.
“One day I felt like Superman, and then the next day I felt like the smallest man on Earth,” Tatum said on the Pivot Podcast in January. “It’s been a struggle.”
Since that fateful day, Tatum has cleared plenty of milestones. He returned to 5-on-5 action in January, and practiced with the Maine Celtics for the first time in February. He made his national stage, NBA debut on March 6th, and was named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week just a few weeks after that.
To an observer, it appeared Tatum’s greatest challenges were in the rearview mirror. He was not only back, but he was playing some elite basketball.
Still, another major hurdle loomed: a return to Madison Square Garden. While he could have delayed that eventual emotional confrontation, he didn’t want to kick the can down the road and opted to lace up while his co-star, Jaylen Brown, sat.
Earlier in the week, Brown admitted he hadn’t considered Thursday’s game could carry extra emotion, but offered his support: “Mentally, it could possibly be something — but that’s what your teammates are there for. We got his back.”
For Tatum, it was very heavy. Moments before tip-off, he made his way over to the exact spot on the court where his leg gave out on him and took a deep breath.
“It was a lot,” Tatum said. “Especially in the beginning. It took me a while to calm down.”
But, in this return to New York City, he had the support of more than just his teammates.
Pregame, Knicks head coach Mike Brown expressed how happy he was to see Tatum back in action.
“Seeing him back on the court should bring joy to anybody,” Brown said.
When Tatum’s name was announced as part of the Celtics starting lineup introductions, the MSG crowd — which had been rauceoulsy booing every Celtics player — erupted in cheers.
“That means a lot, obviously,” Tatum said. “I appreciated that.”
Jayson Tatum got applause when he was introduced here at MSG
A notable shift from the boos the rest of the roster got
Tatum wanted to play a great game and for the Celtics to walk away with a win. Neither of those things happened; the Celtics fell to the Knicks 112-106, and Tatum shot just 7-22 from the field and turned the ball over 6 times (though he did also finish with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists).
But even the most fiery competitor in him could admit that the final score and stat line were not the most important thing in the world.
“I just kind of wanted to walk off the floor on my own two feet,” he said.
That he did. After the final buzzer sounded, Tatum hugged nearly every player and coach on the Knicks, a moment that was representative of what the last couple of weeks of action have looked like.
“Since I’ve returned, the reception that I’ve gotten from players, coaches I’ve never even spoken to, GMs has been great,” Tatum said.
Tatum could have minimized the significance of Thursday’s game and chosen not to share with the public the emotions he was battling. He could have simply brushed aside the questions, calling Thursday night just another game.
But, he opted not to do that.
Surrounded by reporters in the visiting locker room after the loss, Tatum was completely honest.
“It was a big moment, a big hurdle for me,” he said. “I was nervous and anxious to come back here.”
Why choose to do that?
From the beginning, he made the choice to be completely authentic about his struggles, about the doubts he faced, about the mental aspect of the recovery.
“The nature of this business is [that] there’s millions of eyes on us all the time. And when I went down, millions of people were watching,” he said. “And so, it’s a lot of people that have paid attention to this journey. I’ve been candid about it from the beginning, that, hopefully, my experience and the way I approached and attacked this has inspired somebody out there that is not necessarily going through an injury, but maybe a tough time. And hopefully, they can witness or see what I’ve tried to accomplish — and appreciate and be inspired by that.”
Asked Jayson Tatum why he’s chosen to be so vulnerable throughout this process (i.e sharing how difficult it was for him to play at MSG today) when he could have brushed it off:
“The nature of this business is there's millions of eyes on us all the time. And when I went down,… pic.twitter.com/Cisk6GI7Iw
That approach has earned the praise of his head coach, Joe Mazzulla.
“I think one of his greatest strengths is just his vulnerability and openness and his understanding,” Mazzulla said pregame, acknowledging that he knew the game would bring about a ton of emotion.
“But I think once the game started, he kind of got into a game flow,” said the Celtics head coach as he reflected on the loss.
Tatum never looks for moral victories. He’s rarely cheerful after losses.
But, the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s contest were unique.
“Today was important for me, especially when I made the decision to come back and then made the decision to play today,” he said. “I’m glad I did. I feel a lot better today, even after the loss.”
Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts after hitting a three pointer during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images | Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Baylor Scheierman’s sixth 3-pointer against the New York Knicks on Thursday night brought the entire Boston Celtics bench to its feet. Jordan Walsh did the sharpshooter’s signature thumbs-up celebration, and Luka Garza bunny-hopped with excitement, watching him conquer Madison Square Garden.
Scheierman’s step-back three over Karl-Anthony Towns gave the Celtics a 104-103 lead with 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. To re-energize his team, he decided to bring back the celebration he debuted nearly six weeks ago against the Philadelphia 76ers. It sparked a thrilling final few minutes of regulation, but Boston ultimately fell 112-106, losing the regular-season series to New York (1-3).
The ability to remain prepared to deliver an impact at any moment is something Scheierman takes pride in.
“For me, every time my name’s called, I try to go out there and just play to the best of my ability,” Scheierman told reporters, per CLNS Media. “And that’s really all I can control. Obviously, I’d like to be out there, but at the end of the day, it’s not my decision. So every chance I get, I just try to make the most of it.”
Boston ruled Jaylen Brown out with left Achilles tendinitis hours before tip-off, adding weight on everyone’s shoulders to produce in his absence. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla bumped Walsh up into the starting lineup, while Scheierman played alongside Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vučević in the second rotation. Unconcerned with his role and focused on contributing, Scheierman scored a season-high 20 points — matching a career high he set last season against the Brooklyn Nets.
Scheierman shot a nearly-perfect 6-for-7 from beyond the arc and grabbed four rebounds. Four of those makes were to either go ahead or extend Boston’s lead over New York. Teammates spotted Scheierman’s high motor and eagerness to shoot, so they kept feeding him.
Derrick White assisted Scheierman to break an 83-83 tie in the fourth quarter, and Pritchard found him again more than seven minutes later to give the Celtics a 101-99 lead. Whenever a teammate attacked the basket, they knew once they looked up, Scheierman would be right there on the perimeter, hands ready, waiting to fire.
Scheierman’s six made 3-pointers also tied a career-high.
“I just have a lot of confidence in myself that I belong on the court, and my teammates trust me,” Scheierman said. “When I’m open, they find me, and I just knock it down.”
Scheierman is among a group of backups unaware when their number will be called. Walsh, Luka Garza, Hugo González, and Ron Harper Jr. are in that same boat. Before games, they’re the first out of the locker room and on the floor, working with the coaching staff by running drills and examining film. Last year, Scheierman logged 23 minutes over four appearances in the playoffs. He didn’t get a chance to do much, going scoreless twice and attempting 10 shots the entire postseason, but that uncertainty doesn’t rattle Scheierman.
Even though rotations typically shrink once the playoffs begin, Scheierman isn’t concerned about his role. He’s averaged 18 minutes per game, the most among the Walsh, Garza, González, and Harper group, and Mazzulla has followed through on his promise to shake up the rotations when the team needs a jolt. At Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, Scheierman didn’t start, but still delivered his most impactful performance of the season.
It’s hard to imagine Scheierman’s 3-point barrage goes overlooked, especially since the Knicks could cross paths with the Celtics in Round 2. Losing three times in the regular-season series should bolster the confidence in New York’s locker room and motivate Boston.
“I wish we could’ve won at the end of the day,” he said. “Obviously, it was a lot of fun to do that, but we lost, so it kind of just is what it is.”
The Celtics need a win on Friday night over the New Orleans Pelicans to lock in the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. New York delayed that, but if both teams advance out of the first round, a second-round series would send Boston back to Madison Square Garden for a best-of-seven. Scheierman is ready to embrace that challenge.
“Obviously, every time we face each other, it’s a great environment, a great atmosphere,” Scheierman said, thinking about a possible Celtics-Knicks playoff rematch. “That’s something you grow up wanting to be a part of. So if it happens, I’m sure it’ll be a great series.”
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 8: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are all but locked into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with the New York Knicks win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday evening. For the Cavs to move up, they’d have to win both of their last two games, while New York would have to lose their final two games. As it stands, it seems like the Cavs will be in the fourth seed, which would likely give them an easier path through the Eastern Conference.
Because they’re basically locked into their preferred spot, there’s little downside in trying to keep momentum going with what they hope is another positive showing against the Atlanta Hawks — a possible first-round opponent.
This game means something for the Hawks. They’ve fallen to the sixth spot in the standings and could drop further if they were to lose this one as well.
The Cavs deployed several matchup-specific schemes against the Hawks on Wednesday. This included aggressively cheating off of Atlanta’s average to below-average three-point shooters and using James Harden to guard their opposing center. It’ll be interesting to see how both teams adjust to Wednesday’s game.
Anything bought from the links helps support Fear the Sword. You can also shop all of Homage’s Cavs gear HERE. The link to the 2016 championship shirt HERE.
Cavs injury report: Donovan Mitchell – OUT (ankle), Jarrett Allen – OUT (knee), Sam Merrill – OUT (hamstring), Jaylon Tyson – QUESTIONABLE (toe), Thomas Bryant – OUT (calf)
Hawks injury report: RayJ Dennis – QUESTIONABLE (G League), Keshon Gilbert – QUESTIONABLE (G League), Jock Landale – OUT (ankle)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Washington Capitals (40-30-9, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-22-16, in the Metropolitan Division)
Pittsburgh; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins aim to keep a three-game win streak alive when they host the Washington Capitals.
Pittsburgh is 41-22-16 overall and 13-2-9 against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are 41-6-9 when scoring at least three goals.
Washington is 40-30-9 overall with a 14-7-2 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Capitals have a 16-7-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Penguins won 5-3 in the last meeting. Sidney Crosby led the Penguins with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Rust has scored 29 goals with 36 assists for the Penguins. Rickard Rakell has 10 goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
Alexander Ovechkin has 31 goals and 30 assists for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard has scored four goals with three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 6-4-0, averaging 4.4 goals, 7.7 assists, four penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
Capitals: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.3 assists, 4.8 penalties and 14.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Penguins: Filip Hallander: out (leg), Blake Lizotte: out (upper-body), Connor Dewar: day to day (lower body), Caleb Jones: out for season (shoulder).
Capitals: Charlie Lindgren: day to day (upper body).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Vegas Golden Knights (36-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (52-16-10, in the Central Division)
Denver; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Colorado Avalanche after Mark Stone scored two goals in the Golden Knights' 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken.
Colorado is 52-16-10 overall and 25-9-5 at home. The Avalanche have an 18-2-5 record in games they score at least one power-play goal.
Vegas has an 18-14-8 record in road games and a 36-26-17 record overall. The Golden Knights have given up 237 goals while scoring 251 for a +14 scoring differential.
The teams match up Saturday for the third time this season. The Avalanche won 6-5 in a shootout in the previous matchup. Martin Necas led the Avalanche with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Necas has 38 goals and 59 assists for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has seven goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Jack Eichel has 25 goals and 58 assists for the Golden Knights. Stone has scored five goals with two assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 7-3-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Golden Knights: 5-2-3, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.4 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Nazem Kadri: out (finger), Cale Makar: out (upper body).
Golden Knights: William Karlsson: out (lower body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
St. Louis Blues (33-33-12, in the Central Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (28-37-14, in the Central Division)
Chicago; Saturday, 5 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks host the St. Louis Blues after Anton Frondell scored two goals in the Blackhawks' 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Chicago has a 28-37-14 record overall and an 11-7-7 record in Central Division games. The Blackhawks have a 9-13-6 record in games they have more penalties than their opponent.
St. Louis is 7-16-0 against the Central Division and 33-33-12 overall. The Blues have a 26-10-5 record when scoring three or more goals.
Saturday's game is the fourth time these teams meet this season. The Blackhawks won the last matchup 7-3.
TOP PERFORMERS: Frank Nazar has 15 goals and 26 assists for the Blackhawks. Nick Lardis has four goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Robert Thomas has 22 goals and 36 assists for the Blues. Dylan Holloway has scored five goals with nine assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 2-6-2, averaging 2.3 goals, four assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.9 goals per game.
Blues: 6-3-1, averaging three goals, 5.3 assists, 3.1 penalties and 7.3 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.
INJURIES: Blackhawks: Shea Weber: out for season (ankle), Artyom Levshunov: out for season (hand), Oliver Moore: out (lower body), Matt Grzelcyk: out for season (upper-body).
Blues: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 09: Baylor Scheierman #55 of the Boston Celtics reacts after scoring a three point basket during the third quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on April 09, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pamela Smith/Getty Images) | Getty Images
A lot has to happen to get a bucket in the NBA. The right screen creates just enough space to free up the ball. A pass has to be on the money for a player to get a shot off. And even if everything goes right, it’s still a make-or-miss league where a 50% success rate would be great.
So many things hurt the Celtics on Thursday night. Jayson Tatum would surely love to get those six turnovers back. Allowing the Knicks to hit 15-of-35 from behind the arc is tough to swallow. But in the end, it was two triples from Josh Hart on broken plays that did the Celtics in in the final two minutes.
The Celtics’ magic number to clinch the #2 seed remains at one with two games at TD Garden against the visiting Pelicans tomorrow and the Magic on Sunday. The Knicks host playoff hungry Toronto and Charlotte.
Boston’s championship odds have remained steady all month with our friends at FanDuel and are +550 to raise Banner 19 and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.
Jayson Tatum
40 minutes, 24 points (2-10 from 3, 8-10 from the free throw line, 7-22 from the field), 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 turnovers, one steal, one block -16
Against the Hornets on March 29th, Tatum put up arguably the highest scoring game of his comeback with 32 points, five rebounds, and eight assists with Brown sidelined. It was an often visceral reminder of his scoring prowess and just home much his size and speed is difficult to defend.
Even alongside Jaylen, Jayson has become more of an all-around contributor, nearly averaging a triple-double at 24-12-8 over the last four games. He was close again with 24-13-8, but six turnovers and an inefficient 2-or-10 from 3 contributed to his -16 plus/minus on the night.
Grade: B
Jordan Walsh
17 minutes, 5 points (1-2 from 3, 2-4 from the field), 2 rebounds, one assist, 5 turnovers, -9
After re-entering the rotation two weeks ago — including starting for the Jays like he did last night for Brown — Walsh has shown a knack for generating momentum-shifting plays with his rangy defense and ability to find offense in the nooks and crannies of opposing teams’ defenses.
Instead of Tommy Points and stocks, we need a new metric/nickname for plays that shouldn’t happen, but Walsh finds a way. Jordan Jolts? Celtics Sparks?
Grade: A-
Neemias Queta
24 minutes, 10 points (2-2 from the free throw line, 4-6 from the field), 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, -7
Queta is the living embodiment of “let the star player get his and shut down everybody else.” Over his last five games, he’s averaged 16.4 points on 75% shooting from the field.
With Tatum struggling a bit, Neemy didn’t get a lot of those easy buckets. Instead, he hit the offensive glass for two of his putback buckets and pulled down six total for the game.
Grade: B+
Sam Hauser
31 minutes, 6 points (2-6 from 3, 2-7 from the field), 2 rebounds, 3 assists, +1
With Scheierman dominating in the 4th quarter, Hauser didn’t get his usual run to close the game. When he was in the game, he used his shooting gravity to find teammates for three assists.
38 minutes, 8 points (0-6 from 3, 4-4 from the free throw line, 2-10 from the field), 3 rebounds, one assist, one steal, -3
So many unofficial end-of-season ballots have Derrick White as an All-Defense First Teamer — I’ve seen him on a few All-NBA lists, too.
Unfortunately, he’s having a Celtics career-worst shooting season and that’s really hurt his box scores. He’s still doing everything else on the floor, but the efficiency is way down in 2025-2026.
Grade: B-
Payton Pritchard
36 minutes, 23 points (3-8 from 3, 10-20 from the field), 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, +4
We joked in our CelticsBlog Slack that if Pritchard incorporated Jalen Brunson’s grift game, he’d probably get 4-8 points more from the free throw line. No matter, he carried Boston in the first half with fifteen points with many of his buckets coming at the rim and played more the playmaker after halftime with five assists.
24 minutes, 10 points (2-4 from 3, 4-7 from the field) 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnover, +1
Talk about a crash course. After missing fourteen games and virtually all of Tatum’s return, the prize of Boston’s trade deadline has had three games to generate chemistry and get his sea legs back before the playoffs start next week. His first two were duds relative to what we know Vooch can provide on a night-to-night basis. Against the Knicks, the learning curve is still on the upswing.
He hit some big threes in the third quarter and seemed to get into the flow of the read-and-react offense in the fourth. It’s starting to click for the big man.
Grade: B+
Baylor Scheierman
30 minutes, 20 points (6-7 from 3, 7-8 from the field), 4 rebounds, -1
The 38% three-point shooter caught fire at MSG, hitting 6-of-7 from 3. Along with some solid defense on Brunson, it was a clutch 20-point performance for the Celtics highest riser on the bench.
17-year-old defeats in-form Australian 7-6(4), 7-5 in qualifier
Harriet Dart beats Kimberly Birrell 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne
Australia’s quest to win a place in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals is off to the worst possible start, losing both opening-day singles matches, with spearhead Talia Gibson falling to British teen Mika Stojsavljevic.
Gibson was expected to get the tie at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena off to a flying start on Friday, but she was a shock loser 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 against the lowly ranked 17-year-old.
BOTTOM LINE: Philadelphia heads into the matchup with Indiana as losers of three straight games.
The Pacers are 15-35 in conference matchups. Indiana is 9-41 against opponents with a winning record.
The 76ers have gone 25-25 against Eastern Conference opponents. Philadelphia ranks eighth in the league scoring 17.0 fast break points per game. Tyrese Maxey leads the 76ers averaging 5.5.
The Pacers' 13.3 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.1 fewer made shots on average than the 13.4 per game the 76ers give up. The 76ers' 46.2% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.7 percentage points lower than the Pacers have given up to their opponents (48.9%).
The teams play for the fourth time this season. In the last meeting on Feb. 25 the 76ers won 135-114 led by 32 points from Maxey, while Andrew Nembhard scored 23 points for the Pacers.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nembhard is averaging 16.9 points and 7.7 assists for the Pacers. Micah Potter is averaging 1.6 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Maxey is scoring 28.3 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the 76ers. Paul George is averaging 3.0 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pacers: 4-6, averaging 121.3 points, 41.1 rebounds, 34.8 assists, 6.7 steals and 3.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 121.9 points per game.
76ers: 5-5, averaging 117.8 points, 45.0 rebounds, 25.4 assists, 7.4 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 118.7 points.
INJURIES: Pacers: T.J. McConnell: out (hamstring), Kobe Brown: out (back), Johnny Furphy: out for season (knee), Andrew Nembhard: day to day (back), Ben Sheppard: out (hip), Ivica Zubac: out for season (rib), Pascal Siakam: out (back), Aaron Nesmith: day to day (neck), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles).
76ers: Johni Broome: out (knee), Joel Embiid: out (illness), Cameron Payne: out (hamstring).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
BOTTOM LINE: New Orleans visits the Boston Celtics after Jeremiah Fears scored 40 points in the Pelicans' 156-137 win over the Utah Jazz.
The Celtics have gone 28-11 in home games. Boston ranks seventh in the league with 12.6 offensive rebounds per game led by Neemias Queta averaging 3.0 offensive boards.
The Pelicans are 9-30 on the road. New Orleans has an 8-41 record against teams over .500.
The Celtics score 114.5 points per game, 5.1 fewer points than the 119.6 the Pelicans give up. The Pelicans average 11.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 fewer made shots on average than the 14.1 per game the Celtics allow.
The teams play for the second time this season. In the last matchup on Oct. 28 the Celtics won 122-90 led by 18 points from Payton Pritchard, while Jordan Poole scored 22 points for the Pelicans.
TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is averaging 16.6 points and 5.4 assists for the Celtics. Jayson Tatum is averaging 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.5 steals over the last 10 games.
Saddiq Bey is averaging 17.7 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Pelicans. Fears is averaging 17.9 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 115.0 points, 46.2 rebounds, 24.6 assists, 5.8 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Pelicans: 2-8, averaging 112.6 points, 41.0 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 9.2 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 46.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 119.7 points.
INJURIES: Celtics: Jaylen Brown: out (achilles).
Pelicans: Trey Murphy III: out (ankle), Zion Williamson: out (knee), Yves Missi: out (hand), Karlo Matkovic: day to day (back), Herbert Jones: day to day (rest), Saddiq Bey: day to day (rest), Dejounte Murray: out (hand), Bryce McGowens: out (toe).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Ron Francis To Step Down At End Of SeasonThe Kraken seek a new leader as Ron Francis departs, leaving a legacy of team building and a future in flux. 
