Ronald Nored will be returning to Butler as the head coach of the men’s basketball program, vice president and director of athletics Grant Leiendecker announced Wednesday.
Nored succeeds coach Thad Matta, who announced his retirement last week after leading Butler for the past four seasons, all of which the Bulldogs finished with losing records in Big East conference play. Matta will stay on board at the school as special assistant to the president and athletic director.
Nored graduated from Butler in 2012, helping the Bulldogs to back-to-back NCAA national championship games as the team’s starting point guard under coach Brad Stevens. He leads the program in games played (143) and postseason games played (16).
Nored brings experience coaching in various capacities for several NBA franchises, including the Hawks, Pacers, Hornets and Celtics. He was also the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets’ G-League team, the Long Island Nets, from 2016-18.
He most recently served as a Hawks assistant coach over the past three seasons.
“The term ‘dream job’ doesn’t do justice to how I feel about the opportunity to lead the Butler program,” Nored said in a statement. “Butler is an incredibly special place. As a player, I poured blood, sweat and tears into this program. No one appreciates both the responsibility and the potential that comes with this position more than me.”
Leiendecker describes Nored as “the absolute best leader to spearhead the future of Butler basketball.”
The Bulldogs finished the 2025-26 season with a 16-16 record following a 91-81 loss to Providence in the Big East Tournament on March 11.
“There is incredible momentum at Butler right now," Nored said, "and I can’t wait to hit the ground running as we elevate Butler to new heights.”
Connor McDavid hit a massive double milestone on Tuesday night, scoring twice in the Edmonton Oilers’ 5-2 road win over the Utah Mammoth.
His second-period goal -- an incredible showing of hand-eye coordination on a nice breakaway finish on a feed from Mattias Ekholm and Evan Bouchard -- was his 400th NHL career goal. His empty-netter with eight seconds left in the third period became his 1,200th career point.
He reached 1,200 points in just 784 games — making him the third-fastest player in NHL history to hit that mark, behind only Wayne Gretzky (504 games) and Mario Lemieux (593 games). He’s now the 115th player all-time (and 15th active) to reach 400 goals, and the fifth in Oilers franchise history.
2025-26 Season So Far (72 GP)
40 goals (tied for top-4 in the NHL)
78 assists (2nd in the NHL)
118 points (2nd in the NHL)
+10, 34 PIM, 261 shots
One game. Two big milestones.
Congratulations to Connor McDavid, who is now the proud owner of 400 (plus one) NHL goals and 1,200 NHL points. pic.twitter.com/Cl1v197d6m
McDavid has now hit the 40-goal mark in five of his 11 NHL seasons. Even though he still sees himself primarily as a playmaker (needing just one more assist to reach 800 career helpers), he’s been lethal finishing chances this year. The only better season he's had was in 2022-23, when Leon Draisaitl bet he couldn't get 50. McDavid went on to score 64 that season.
This season, coming in, he said he wanted to shoot more. It took several games for him to live up to that promise -- and some drilling from the media with questions about why he wasn't -- before a flip switched. Once it did, he went on a tear.
He remains a treat to watch, and the number of milestones he'll rack up over the course of his career continues to amaze.
Oilers Beat the Mammoth For a Different Reason
However, despite the highlights that McDavid reached two milestones, the game against the Utah Mammoth will be remembered for a different reason. Yes, the Oilers' captain showed off his trademark speed, skill, and clutch timing in a big Western Conference matchup. No, that's not why the Oilers won the game.
For starters, Jack Roslovic scored two, and Matt Savoie scored shorthanded. Evan Bouchard finished the night with three assists. Getting help from others was essential.
But the really big difference was their all-around defensive effort. It was the key to the victory. Edmonton played the game as though it were a postseason matchup. They were physical, and they were staunch defensively. The Oilers limited the Mammoth to three shots in the first period and 18 shots overall. With a fragile Tristan Jarry in net, the Oilers never allowed the Mammoth to really test their netminder.
The question now will be what the Oilers do next.
Do the Oilers Go Back to Jarry?
Head coach Kris Knoblauch has a tendency to shuffle the lines. It will be intriguing to see if he keeps them as is. He's also got a decision to make in goal. Jarry was fine, but was he good enough that he earned a second-straight start? It's been Connor Ingram in goal a lot lately. Jarry needs the chance to find his game and if he gets hot, giving him starts would be wise. However, the Oilers were so good at limiting chances on Tuesday that it's difficult to know if Jarry really had it. Not much was asked of him.
When asked how he felt about his game, "Just doing my thing and trying to grow with every period and every shot." He gave most of the credit to his teammates, who he said were awesome. "They played awesome, but I think it started from the very beginning. They were doing everything in their power, they were blocking shots, they're getting pucks deep, and I think when we're playing with that kind of urgency, it helps, and it was a great game."
"Overall, I thought it was a good game on our part," said Knoblauch. "I think we managed the ups and downs."
To begin one of their final road trips of the season, the Anaheim Ducks headed to British Columbia to take on the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL’s 32nd-ranked team.
The Ducks were coming off one of the more entertaining games of the 2025-26 season on Sunday, when they defeated the Buffalo Sabres 6-5 in overtime. The Ducks were looking to extend their Pacific Division lead over the Edmonton Oilers and extend their winning streak to three games.
The Canucks entered this game as the NHL’s bottom team by a sizable 15-point margin and the runaway leader to enter May’s NHL Draft Lottery with the best odds to win the #1 overall pick. They had lost three of their last four games coming into this one.
Radko Gudas re-entered the Ducks lineup in this game after serving his five-game suspension for kneeing Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews on March 12. As a result, and after a few subpar performances, Olen Zellweger observed this game from the press box as a healthy scratch.
Here’s how the Ducks lined up in this game:
Kreider-Carlsson-Terry
Killorn-Granlund-Sennecke
Viel-Poehling-Gauthier
McTavish-Washe-Harkins
LaCombe-Trouba
Mintyukov-Carlson
Moore-Gudas
Lukas Dostal got his 48th start of the season in this game and stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced. In the Vancouver crease stood Kevin Lankanen, who saved 29 of 33.
Game Notes
This game is yet another where the Ducks have embraced their track meet style, where they exchange chances, with the confidence that they can outscore their problems, outchance their opponents, and outfinish. Jansen Harkens sustained an upper-body injury early in this game, after just three shifts, and Beckett Sennecke didn’t see the ice for the final 17:38 of this game due to a poor turnover.
This game was relatively even in shots on goal (26-24) and shot attempts at 5v5 (49-49), but the Canucks got the majority of the quality chances, winning the expected goals battle 3.6-3.19.
Breakouts: The Ducks had struggles advancing pucks beyond their defensive blueline against Vancouver’s relatively passive forecheck. The Canucks’ defensemen were calculated with their pinches, and F2 challenged against set breakouts, causing multiple turnovers at the Ducks’ blue that they then turned into quick odd-man counters with forwards flying up ice.
John Carlson: Carlson’s dynamism isn’t what it may have once been, but his efficient movements in transition, lane reading, and clever manipulation of defensive structures led to his high point total in this game and created several chances. He’s gained enough reps throughout his career to understand exactly how much pressure he can apply deep in the offensive zone before needing to retreat and switch back toward the blueline.
Mason McTavish: McTavish is still earning his way back into a more prominent role on this team heading down the stretch. In this game, with traditional winger responsibilities, he was careful with pucks, pressured pucks in every zone, and was a part of a few extended cycle sequences. He capitalized with his quick release, earning himself a game-winning tally, but in a game where Sennecke didn’t see much ice in the third period, and Harkins sustained an injury early, one would like to see McTavish grab more of his shifts by the horns, driving play, winning battles in small areas, and generating chances.
Beckett Sennecke: Sennecke’s confidence and ability have, in turn, given the Ducks coaching staff confidence in him to outproduce his mistakes, learn from them, and avoid repeating them in the future. He made a poor decision on the rush in overtime that led to a game-ending goal against the Philadelphia Flyers a week prior to this game, and he made a similar, yet less dangerous mistake that led to a tying goal early in the third.
It was a rookie mistake made by a rookie forward that could have found its way to a trailing Killorn, who could have gotten off a high-danger shot. However, it wasn’t the most optimal read, as the far side defenseman had activated, so if that pass didn’t connect, it would likely go the other way on an odd-man rush, as it did.
One hopes he’s earned enough of the coaching staff’s trust and impacts plays positively more often than not, that this won’t lead to a decrease in role or healthy scratch. The Ducks will likely need the instant offense he can provide on a shift-by-shift basis.
The Ducks will next head to Alberta to take on former teammate Ryan Strome and the Calgary Flames on Thursday.
It was one of the biggest opportunities of the 2025-26 NHL Season for the Detroit Red Wings to prove that this year would be different than seasons past.
They faced a fatigued Ottawa Senators team that had not only played the night before but was also missing its top two defensemen, instead dressing a pair of rookies in their first NHL contests.
Instead, it was the Senators who jumped out to a 3-0 lead, eventually holding on for a 3-2 victory at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday evening to leapfrog Detroit in the standings by a point.
Ottawa now occupies the second Wild Card postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, while Detroit's margin of error continues to shrink.
The latest missed opportunity by the Red Wings had their dressing room in a frustrated mood, according to team captain Dylan Larkin, who returned to the lineup after a seven-game absence.
"The room is mad, the guys are mad. That was a big game for our hockey team," Larkin said in the dressing room afterward. "And unfortunately, for how well we played against those guys all year and this one tonight, it kind of wipes away our record against those guys.
That was a big game, but we're going into Buffalo on Friday night. We have to pick ourselves back up, and that's mental toughness."
For the second straight game, the Red Wings appeared to take a 1–0 lead, only to have the goal wiped out—just as it was in their loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night.
This time, instead of the clock expiring by just 0.2 seconds, replays showed that Detroit had entered the zone an inch offside.
Rather than taking a 1–0 lead, Detroit was soon penalized and ultimately fell behind 1–0 on a power-play goal by Brady Tkachuk.
But according to head coach Todd McLellan, there was no use in crying over spilled milk.
“There are rules in play for certain reasons, we ran out of time the other night against Boston, and we were clearly offside on the entry," he said. "If the linesman picked that up and made the right call, we wouldn’t even be talking about the goal that didn’t count. That’s why the rules are there.”
The Red Wings had earned victories in each of their three games against the Senators leading up to their final contest of the season.
However, the Senators continued to frustrate Detroit in March, in matchups with significant playoff implications.
As has been the case over the past two seasons, the Red Wings have now seen their playoff cushion completely vanish.
Defenseman Moritz Seider admitted that Detroit's level of urgency likely wasn’t where it needed to be in the first half of the contest, while adding that it’s up to the group to find a solution.
“Obviously, we've been in that situation before,” Seider said. “We know how much it can stink, we'd better come up with an answer for that. It's all on us right now.”
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It was the Ottawa Senators' biggest game of the season, and while they've been on a fantastic run, everything seemed to be working against them as they prepared for the Red Wings in Detroit on Tuesday night.
They were in game two of a back-to-back with travel, playing the night before with four defensemen. They had five defensemen out with injury, including their best two, Jake Sanderson and Thomas Chabot.
They had two kids on D making their NHL debuts against a well-rested Detroit team, which enjoyed home ice and last change to try to capitalize on the potential mistakes of the first-timers. The Wings were 3-0 against the Sens this season and needed this one to return to a playoff position.
And just before the game, they learned that Dylan Larkin, the Wings captain who always gives the Senators fits, would be ready to return from injury.
It seemed like a magnificent recipe for disaster, complete with a chef's kiss, until the Senators reminded us all why we play the games. They marched right into Detroit and handed the Red Wings a 3-2 loss, moving into a playoff spot for the first time in almost four months.
And it was one of the kids, who were described in Detroit as liabilities, who helped lead the way.
Carter Yakemchuk, the Senators' top prospect, had a goal and an assist in his NHL debut. He had a large contingent of family and friends who hustled from Alberta to Michigan once the 20-year-old got the call.
“This was a really special night,” Yakemchuk told the media afterward. “It was awesome to be a part of this win.”
While he and Brady Tkachuk helped set the table with a goal and an assist, it was Linus Ullmark who helped preserve the victory. The Wings battled back from a 3-0 deficit and pressed hard in the late going, but Ullmark stepped up big to preserve the win, stopping 32 shots (.941).
Things didn't start so well when former Senator Alex DeBrincat appeared to give Detroit a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Senators took it off the board with a successful offside challenge. Less than two minutes later, Brady Tkachuk's 20th goal of the season gave the Senators a 1-0 lead.
The very sudden two-goal swing marked a heavy shift in mindset for both teams.
The Senators then opened up a 3-0 lead on two quick goals midway through the second period, on precision shots from Yakemchuk and Lars Eller.
Yakemchuk showed great poise on his goal, especially for a rookie. He accepted a D-to-D pass from Artem Zub, and instead of blasting it as soon as he could, he saw that no one was coming out to challenge him. So, he calmly took the extra ten feet of real estate available before ripping a snapshot past Gibson.
Eller's goal came from some fine board work from Tkachuk. As he corralled the puck, he laid a reverse check on his defender to buy time and find Eller in a perfect shooting position in the slot. Eller made no mistake, giving the Sens a 3-0 advantage.
And despite the late charge by the Wings after goals by Dominik Shine and Dylan Larkin, they couldn't find the equalizer.
Since January 25, the Senators' record is now 15-3-2, which is starting to move into Hamburglar Run territory, when the team finished 20-3-3 to make the 2015 playoffs. They now hold Wild Card position 2, tied with the Islanders in points at 85 points, but the Isles have played one more game.
Ottawa actually got quite a bit of help from the Tuesday out-of-town scoreboard for a change, led by a favour from the Toronto Maple Leafs, of all teams. They defeated the Boston Bruins 4-2. The Islanders lost to Chicago 4-2, and Pittsburgh fell to Colorado 6-2.
Tuesday scores that didn't favour the Senators include Montreal taking down Carolina and Columbus defeating the Flyers.
NHL.com
On Wednesday night, the Sens will pick up a game in hand on the Bruins, who have a back-to-back of their own, facing the Sabres in Buffalo. Joonas Korpisalo, who the Senators are still paying, starts for Boston. It would be nice if the Sens got something for their money.
Then on Thursday, it's another crucial battle* with the Senators hosting Pittsburgh.
* Spoiler: they're all crucial battles now.
The Senators deserve major credit for forcing their way back into the playoff race with 11 games left. Getting there was tough. Staying there will be tougher, especially with the injuries.
But after that gutsy effort in Detroit, it’s hard to bet against them.
Rick Bowness has turned the Columbus Blue Jackets into a wagon since he took over for the fired Dean Evason.
Since he took over prior to the January 13th game against the Calgary Flames, the CBJ are 19-3-4. Prior to Bowness coming to Columbus, the Blue Jackets had 19 wins all season. Columbus has 19 wins in 26 games since he took over. They're currently playing at a 132-point pace over an 82-game stretch.
When Bowness took over, the CBJ were 28th in the NHL and floundering. Today, they're currently 8th in the NHL and second in the Metro Division. Where would they be had they not blown all those third-period leads?
Prior to Bowness arriving in Columbus, the CBJ were giving up 3.40goals per game. Since he took over, they're only giving up 2.46.
They're also scoring 3.61 goals per game, up from 2.91 goals per game prior to him getting hired.
When Don Waddell fired Dean Evason, the Jackets responded by immediately beating the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. When Elvis Merzlikins was interviewed after the Canucks win, he was asked what sparked the team. His response was simple: "New Coach!" You can't get blunter than that.
So, does Bowness deserve to win? He will only coach 37 regular-season games.
Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres is going to have something to say about the Jack Adams Award, that's for sure.
Since December 9th, the Sabres have been hands down the best team in the NHL and have vaulted themselves from the basement of the Eastern Conference in December, to leading the Atlantic Division. Starting in December, the Sabres rattled off 10-straight wins before being knocked off at Nationwide Arena by the aforementioned Blue Jackets. But that loss didn't get to them.
After going 11-3-0 in December, they backed it up with a 10-4-1 January, a 4-1-1 February, and are 9-1-1 so far in March.
After they fired former CBJ OG Kevyn Adams and promoted Former CBJ GM Jarmo Kekäläinen to lead the team, the Sabres and Lindy Ruff blasted off and can't seem to be stopped.
Buffalo hasn't made the playoffs in 15 years, and weren't expected to do much this year either, but they somehow turned themselves into legitimate Stanley Cup heavyweights.
In my opinion, it's Lindy Ruff's award, and I don't think it'll be particularly close either. What Rick Bowness has done has been nothing short of spectacular, but the CBJ were expected to push for the playoffs this year, while the Sabres were expected to finish near the bottom of the Atlantic, per usual.
It's an interesting debate and will be sure to rage on as both teams push for a playoff spot.
Next Up: The Blue Jackets travel to Montreal to play the Canadiens on Thursday night.
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860,000 Britons played padel at least once last year
It was once seen as a quirky upstart or continental fad. But padel now has nearly a million players across the UK after participation levels more than doubled in 2025.
According to LTA figures seen by the Guardian, 860,000 Britons played padel at least once last year – up from 400,000 in 2024 and 129,000 in 2023 – as the racket sport’s dizzying rise continued.
The Detroit Red Wings suffered a deflating 3–2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night, a result that carried significant implications in the tightly contested wild card race.
With the victory, Ottawa surged past multiple competitors and claimed the second wild card position previously held by the New York Islanders. New York, despite slipping, still remains just ahead of Detroit in the standings, adding further pressure on a Red Wings squad that has struggled to maintain its footing in recent weeks.
Detroit’s recent skid has been a major concern as since late January, the team has posted a disappointing 6-9-3 record over its last 18 games, a stretch that has seen its once promising playoff outlook steadily deteriorate. Earlier in the season, optimism surrounded the Red Wings’ postseason chances. According to MoneyPuck, their playoff odds sat near 80 percent heading into the Olympic break and peaked at 83.2 percent on February 28.
Playoff chances after the Pens-Rangers afternoon game. Playoff chances will update on the website several times per day for the rest of the season https://t.co/RbnckCLHNPpic.twitter.com/6FITuAS7yc
However, that confidence has since eroded as the Red Wings now find themselves with just a 45.8 per cent chance of making the playoffs, trailing closely behind the Islanders at 46.6 per cent. Meanwhile, the Boston Bruins have created some separation at 64.3 percent, and Ottawa’s recent surge has propelled them to a commanding 76.1 percent, leapfrogging the entire pack.
The road ahead offers little relief for Detroit with their remaining schedule appearing stacked with high caliber opponents, including the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tampa Bay Lightning, all games that carry must-win weight as the regular season winds down.
Despite the bleak trend, the situation is not yet beyond repair. A strong run in the coming games could quickly stabilize Detroit’s playoff chances and push them back into contention. But with time running short and competition intensifying, the margin for error has all but disappeared.
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The Denver Nuggets hope to avoid a season series loss when they host the Dallas Mavericks tonight at Ball Arena.
Nikola Jokic is one of the best playmaking bigs the NBA has ever seen, and my Mavericks vs. Nuggets predictions expect a big night of dishing for the Denver legend.
Mavericks vs Nuggets best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists (-115)
Nikola Jokic does not chase assists. They come from how the Denver Nuggets run their offense, with the ball in his hands at the elbow or in the post on most possessions.
From there, he reads the defense. If defenders stay home, he scores. If they help, he passes to the open man.
The Dallas Mavericks are a team that will send help. They do not have a reliable one-on-one defender to handle Jokic in the paint, so extra defenders will come once he establishes position.
That creates passing lanes and open shots for Denver’s perimeter players.
Our NBA player prop projections model notes that the Nuggets have played at the eighth-quickest pace-of-play in the league over the last 10 games, while the Mavericks have played at the third-speediest tempo over the last five.
This should lead to increased plays for Denver, and more possessions lead to more chances for Jokic to create assists without forcing the action.
His production in this area is steady. He's averaging 10.5 assists per game along with 17.7 potential assists, which shows how often he is creating scoring chances for teammates.
Recent form supports the play as well. Jokic has recorded at least 11 assists in seven of his last nine games.
His assist total should soar against a Dallas defense that leaks like a sieve, ranking third-worst in assists allowed per game to centers this season.
Mavericks vs Nuggets same-game parlay
Without Aaron Gordon, there’s more pressure on Denver’s secondary scorers like Christian Braun and Cam Johnson to finish plays, and they have.
Braun should see 30+ minutes, and has scored 13 or more points in four of his previous five games.
Johnson should see more scoring opportunities with Gordon likely out. He’s scored at least 13 points in seven of his previous eight contests.
Mavericks vs Nuggets SGP
Nikola Jokic Over 10.5 assists
Christian Braun Over 12.5 points
Cam Johnson Over 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Mile high total
Cooper Flagg is the Mavericks' offense, and has scored 21+ points in four of his last six.
March has been kind to Tim Hardaway Jr. He’s averaging 13 ppg during March, while Peyton Watson missed Tuesday night’s clash with Phoenix but has scored 11 points or more in eight of his last nine.
All signs point to high scoring.
Denver is 12-4 to the Over on zero days' rest. Dallas has allowed 130 or more points in four of its last six games, while all three head-to-head meetings this season have eclipsed the total.
Mavericks vs Nuggets SGP
Over 245.5
Cooper Flagg Over 20.5 points
Tim Hardaway Jr. Over 12.5 points
Peyton Watson Over 10.5 points
Mavericks vs Nuggets odds
Spread: Mavericks +14.5 | Nuggets -14.5
Moneyline: Mavericks +523 | Nuggets -730
Over/Under: Over 245.5 | Under 245.5
Mavericks vs Nuggets betting trend to know
The Over is 3-0 in their three previous meetings this season. Find more NBA betting trends for Mavericks vs. Nuggets.
How to watch Mavericks vs Nuggets
Location
Ball Arena, Denver, CO
Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
KFAA, ALT
Mavericks vs Nuggets latest injuries
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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 22: Frederik Andersen #31 of the Carolina Hurricanes makes a save in front of Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 22, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The NHL playoff race is reaching it’s peak this year, no where more than in the competitive and tight Eastern Conference. While the West is something of a pillow fight in the Pacific and a turtle race in general (Nashville is on a statistical pace for 89 points and currently holding a playoff spot), the East is a much more unforgiving place to be. The Islanders and Red Wings are currently on pace for 97 points and find themselves below the playoff line as of this morning.
Here’s the standings as of today.
It’s tough times in Detroit, the Red Wings are just 5-6-2 since play resumed after the Olympics and now in serious trouble with their playoff outlook. While Detroit’s season pace may be for 97 points, that is dropping by the game with their recent results in shambles. Ottawa, boasting a 10-2-2 record since the break, have now pulled ahead of Detroit.
It’s a similar story in the Metropolitan Division, where a run by the Columbus Blue Jackets (9-2-4) have overtaken the Penguins and Islanders in the standings as of this morning with 11 games to play, 10 for NYI.
Further down the line, any spoiler hopes for a last gasp run by Philadelphia and Washington took major hits with regulation losses last night. The four point swing in the Flyers/Blue Jackets game last night could have meant just a three point separation had the Flyers won last night. Instead, they lost and now are seven points behind Columbus and five points behind the playoff line, dealing a serious blow to any far-flung playoff hopes.
The Penguins have been in a mode of hanging on lately, their 17 games in March is an NHL high and presented a monumental challenge. They’ve had to do much of it without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They have had some great moments lately – like an OT comeback win over Boston and a great performance against Colorado mixed in with some ugly defeats to Carolina, Vegas and the Avalanche. Monday’s upcoming game against NYI is looming absolutely massive for the potential fortunes of both teams.
Most of the models remain fairly bullish on Pittsburgh, in part due to the remaining schedule. The Pens have gotten through much of their toughest games (though Ottawa and Dallas are on the horizon) and now statistically have the 20th easiest strength of schedule based on points% of remaining opponents. Less than 10 days ago, Pittsburgh had the No. 1 toughest remaining schedule, which speaks to how many quality opponents they’ve dealt with recently – four of the Pens’ last five games have been played against Carolina or Colorado who make up two of the top three teams in the league. Pittsburgh negotiated that to a 1-2-1 record and soon will finish off the season with six games against non-playoff opponents (two against Florida and Washington, New Jersey and St. Louis).
On the other hand, the toughest remaining schedules in the whole league belong to: NYI, BOS, CBJ and OTT, direct competitors for the Penguins. Schedule strength only accounts for so much and is no guarantee of success, both NYI and Boston lost last night in what should have been games they needed results against Chicago and Toronto, respectively. Teams still have to play the games and get the results, though it’s preferable to have an easier path it also doesn’t bring any promises.
In that outlook, there’s some reason for optimism, the Pens have made it through the absolute toughest part of their schedule and found a way to pick up a few points and remain slightly above the fray. Soon they need to take advantage of what remains. That won’t be immediate with the upcoming games of playing in Ottawa and hosting Dallas in the coming days will present big challenges but relief could be coming after that.
Ultimately and easily enough for the Penguins, if they stay ahead of NYI AND Detroit then the Pens will make the playoffs. Should Columbus cool off a little and the Pens slip by them, it becomes an even easier proposition. Pittsburgh (with 29 regulation wins compared to 27 for Detroit and 26 for the Islanders) also figure to hold that tiebreaker over both clubs below them, so it could presumably even be more favorable since those teams actually have to gain more points in the standings to pass the Pens.
Interestingly enough, Pittsburgh plays NYI on Monday and then Detroit on Tuesday next week. Both of those games will present massive opportunities to deal blows to the opposition’s chances of being able to end up ahead of Pittsburgh by the end of the year. There still could be bigger games at the very end of the season for absolute ‘must win’ situations, but the upcoming games against NYI and DET are about as big as it gets for importance.
The Philadelphia 76ers welcome the Chicago Bulls to Xfinity Mobile Arena tonight as they look to bounce back from a tough loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
My Bulls vs. 76ers predictions are eyeing Philly to get back in the win column on its home court.
Read more in my NBA picks for Wednesday, March 25.
Bulls vs 76ers prediction
Bulls vs 76ers best bet: 76ers -6 (-110)
The Philadelphia 76ers are staying afloat despite being bitten by the injury bug. They’re in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with a 39-33 record, and will likely be in the Play-In Tournament.
Tyrese Maxey remains out, while Joel Embiid is a game-time decision due to an oblique injury. Paul George is also on track to return from a 25-game suspension.
Nonetheless, Philadelphia has still found ways to win without its stars. It's won four of its last six games, and Nick Nurse’s squad covered tonight’s spread in three of those. While the Sixers have lost both meetings with the Chicago Bulls this season, they were on the road and came from a time when Chicago was competitive.
The Sixers are 20-17 at home, and the Bulls are 11 games below .500 on the road. Philly has also covered the spread in two of its last three games at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Meanwhile, Chicago has lost three of their last four on the road, failing to cover the spread in each of those defeats.
Philadelphia will finally end its losing skid against the Bulls and strengthen its case for the Play-In. The return of both Embiid and PG will be huge.
Bulls vs 76ers same-game parlay
VJ Edgecombe has been a brilliant piece for the Sixers in 2025-26, averaging 16 points per game. He’s had even more of a run lately due to the absences, and the youngster has cashed the Over in three straight. Edgecombe just dropped 35 points on the Thunder.
He had 38 points last Thursday against the Kings, too, and he’s hit the Over in points in two of his last four at home.
He’s also cashed the Over in triples in two of his last three, and Edgecombe just went 7-for-15 from deep in the loss to Oklahoma City.
Bulls vs 76ers SGP
76ers -6
VJ Edgecombe Over 20.5 points
VJ Edgecombe Over 2.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: By George, he's still got it!
Nurse said George won’t require a ramp-up period, which means he should play decent minutes tonight. He’s averaging 2.3 makes from deep for a 38% clip this season at home, and in one meeting against the Bulls, PG was 4-for-9 from 3-point territory.
Dominick Barlow is averaging 8.0 PPG for the Sixers and 7.4 at home. He’s averaging 7.5 in March so far, and the big man has cashed the Over in points in five of his last eight appearances.
Bulls vs 76ers SGP
VJ Edgecombe Over 20.5 points
VJ Edgecombe Over 2.5 made threes
Paul George Over 2.5 made threes
Dominick Barlow Over 7.5 points
Bulls vs 76ers odds
Spread: Bulls +6 (-110) | 76ers -6 (-110)
Moneyline: Bulls +195 | 76ers -240
Over/Under: Over 239.5 (-110) | Under 239.5 (-110)
Bulls vs 76ers betting trend to know
The 76ers have covered the 4Q Spread in 10 of their last 12 games (+7.65 Units / 55% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Bulls vs. 76ers.
How to watch Bulls vs 76ers
Location
Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
CHSN, NBCSP
Bulls vs 76ers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 31: Erik Johnson, the former NHL defenseman and 2022 Stanley Cup champion for the Colorado Avalanche makes his on-air debut for the ESPN network. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Though Colorado Avalanche fans tried to forget everything about the 7-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Penguins last week (and a win last night helps ease tgat memory), one positive was the Erik Johnson experience between the benches. The former Avalanche defenseman is flourishing in his new television career which seems to be a natural fit.
Erik Johnson has found a new love in retirement, working as a color analyst at ESPN.
He’s also already really, really good at it.
"I think he’s a TV superstar waiting to happen.”
"He brings out the best in everybody. That's why he's so good at it."https://t.co/N7PHGiYbsU
On that note, check out this video to go behind the scenes with Johnson and fellow former Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie as they discuss their recent retirement from the NHL and what’s next up for each of them.
Speaking of playing the Pittsburgh Penguins in that loss last week at Ball Arena, here is the tribute video for Sam Girard provided by the Avalanche.
As always, a look back at how the trade deadline helped shape the two best teams in hockey and their stretch run before the playoffs begin in April.
NEW for @TheAthletic, how the Avalanche and Stars approached the Central Division arms race before the deadline and the respect between GMs and organizations as both eye a Stanley Cup run ⤵️⤵️ https://t.co/ks1tKz30Um via @NYTimes
Charlie McAvoy is one of the best defensemen in the NHL, and he’s at the top of his game right now, ranking third among blueliners with 24 points over his last 20 games.
The Boston Bruins are putting all their eggs in his basket as they push for a playoff spot, which is why — even in a back-to-back — he's a priority target in my three NHL player props for tonight
img alt="Get a first bet encore up to $800 with the BET99 promo code COVERSNHL" width="100%" loading="lazy" src="https://img.covers.com/promo-articles/bet99nhlcreative2526.jpeg"Get a first bet encore up to $800 with BET99 bonus code COVERSNHL. (not available in Ontario)
Our best NHL player props for Wednesday, March 25
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 assists
-105 at BET99
Charlie McAvoy is on a torrid offensive run. He's piled up 24 points over his last 20 games, with 18 coming by way of assist.
He's playing a lot of minutes and serving as a driving force from the back end.
With the Bruins desperate for every point — especially after laying an egg against the Maple Leafs — they'll leave no stone unturned trying to get them. That means a ton of ice for McAvoy, back-to-back be damned.
He's excelled in those situations this season, assisting in six of the last seven while playing at least 24 minutes five times.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: TNT
Prop #2: Adam Fox Over 0.5 points
-115 at BET99
Adam Fox is one of the best offensive defensemen in the sport. Even in a down year for the New York Rangers, he’s still found a way to produce a point in 55% of his games, and 62% following a day of rest.
He's really ramped it up of late, finding the scoresheet in seven of his last nine contests — including against playoff-bound teams like Minnesota and Columbus.
Fox picked up a point in his last meeting with the Leafs and generated 5+ attempts in both games, indicating strong involvement in the offense.
He's produced 10 points over his last nine games while generating nearly a full attempt more than his season average. The Rangers have put more on his plate without Artemi Panarin, and he's responded well.
He's poised to find success tonight against the Maple Leafs, who rank dead-last in shots allowed and 29th in goals allowed this season.
Lafreniere has hit the scoresheet in five consecutive games vs. Bottom-12 teams in goals allowed, producing 10 points in total. That includes a three-point effort against the Leafs just a few weeks ago.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Tage Thompson is one of the best volume shooters in the sport, ranking seventh in shot attempts and eighth in shots on target.
My Bruins vs. Sabres predictions expect his shooting opportunities to be plentiful against a fatigued side that bleeds shots at the best of times.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Wednesday, March 25.
Bruins vs Sabres prediction
Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Tage Thompson Over 3.5 shots on goal (-105)
Tage Thompson is a Boston Bruins killer. He has recorded 4+ shots on goal in six consecutive games while averaging 6.16 per contest.
That includes two head-to-head meetings this season, which should come as no surprise given the Bruins rank 31st in shots allowed.
Thompson has also cleared 3.5 shots in eight of 11 home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. The three Unders came in multi-goal victories vs. teams 27th or lower in the standings, leaving no reason for Thompson to push.
With first place in the Eastern Conference within reach, the Buffalo Sabres will lean heavily on Thompson in this matchup.
Bruins vs Sabres same-game parlay
Josh Doan has produced an average of 2.5 shots and cleared his line in 10 of 11 home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams. He has fared particularly well against the Bruins this season, generating 6+ shot attempts in both meetings.
Josh Norris is riding shotgun with Doan on a strong third line and also skates on the top power play, making him a prime candidate to hit the scoresheet. He has done so in four of five games this season following two days of rest.
Josh Doan has registered multiple shots on goal in 10 consecutive games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.
How to watch Bruins vs Sabres
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
NESN, MSG-B
Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
McAvoy Over 0.5 assists
Fox Over 0.5 points