After registering an assist in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final, and increasing his NHL-leading point total for the postseason, Mitch Marner continues to make his case as a Conn Smythe candidate.
Marner's assist on Pavel Dorofeyev's second-period goal, which gave the Vegas Golden Knights a 2-0 lead at the time, upped the forward's postseason tally to 19 points.
And as the Golden Knights stole home ice with their 4-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche, and moved seven wins away from their second Stanley Cup title in four years, Marner continued to solidify his chances.
That said, after limiting the Avalanche to two goals in an arena where they averaged 4.4 goals in their previous five home playoff games, Knights goaltender Carter Hart has entered the conversation.
At BetMGM sports book, Marner is currently +650 to win the Conn Smythe award, with teammates Pavel Dorofeyev (+1600) and Jack Eichel (+2000) next in line.
Hart, though, might be pure value right now, sitting at +3000, meaning a $100 wager would return $3,000 if Hart were to win the award.
After the Knights were arguably outplayed for much of the first period Wednesday night, it was Hart who kept them in the game until Dylan Coghlan and Dorofeyev gave them a 2-0 lead late in the second period.
"We know they’re a team that likes to put pucks to the net and ... we did a good job of getting in lanes and sacrificing the body and just battling to find pucks," Hart said. "I thought we came out really good in the first period. We know this is a hard building to play in, and it was huge for us to just get rolling and just to start off the right way and then just build off that."
Through Wednesday, Hart leads all postseason netminders with nine wins. And among all goalies who have played in at least four games during the playoffs, he ranks fourth with a save percentage of .920 and sixth with a 2.35 goals-against average.
It shouldn't come as any surprise that he's been one of the best Knights on the ice nearly every playoff game, as he returned from an injury and closed the regular season with a 6-0-0 run behind a .930 save percentage while allowing 1.7 goals per game.
He's held opponents to two or fewer goals in eight of his 13 playoff games, and in two of the four games that four pucks got past him, his team won by identical scores of 5-4 in overtime.
"Carter Hart is a hell of a goalie," coach John Tortorella said. "He was great in Philly for me. We’ve got two good ones here. Adin Hill has kind of been put off to the side a little bit, but that’s a guy who just won a Stanley Cup a couple of years ago.
"I just think (Hart) has grown so strong mentally. I don’t think much bothers him. He is just zeroed in, and he’s going to have to be because we have a little bit of work to do here."
PHOTO CAPTION
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) makes a save during the second period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena.
The Montreal Canadiens did not have a morning skate today ahead of their 8:00 PM game against the Carolina Hurricanes. However, as is often the case, the healthy scratches took to the ice after the Canes’ practice. TVA Sports’ Felix Seguin was at the arena and reported that there was a new face in that healthy scratch squad: Arber Xhekaj. The gritty defenseman skated alongside Jacob Fowler, Samuel Montembeault, Patrik Laine, Brendan Gallagher, and Joe Veleno.
That seems to indicate that Xhekaj, who played just 1:52 in Game 7 against the Buffalo Sabres, will make way for Jayden Struble tonight as the Habs kick off their third-round duel against the Hurricanes, as we suggested in our pre-game article. The Canes don’t play as physically as the Sabres do, so the move makes sense. That’s not to say the Canadiens shouldn’t bring some physicality themselves. Expect Josh Anderson, Samuel Bolduc, Kaiden Guhle and Struble to be ready to make the game uncomfortable for the opponents with some big hits.
Furthermore, against a rested Carolina team, Martin St-Louis will no doubt want to spread the workload among his defensemen better. Not that Xhekaj cannot play, but Struble has proven to be a viable option alongside Lane Hutson in the past. Given how much ice time the sophomore defenseman will have, it makes sense to have another blueliner he’s used to play with in the lineup.
That doesn’t mean we won’t see Xhekaj in this third round; if there are some extracurricular activities, he’ll be ready to jump back in if called upon. Because of Noah Dobson’s injury, Xhekaj and Struble have both seen a fair amount of action in these playoffs. The former was dressed for all but one of the games (Game 7 against the Lightning), and the latter was dressed for the entirety of the first-round but was sidelined in the second round.
As for the other reservists, Joe Veleno had played six games, Brendan Gallagher three (all in the first-round), and Patrik Laine wasn’t called upon, just like Samuel Montembeault.
MIAMI (AP) — League One Volleyball is bringing an expansion franchise to Miami for its third season, boosting the women's professional volleyball league to 10 teams for its upcoming third season.
The league made the announcement on Thursday, adding that it will also introduce an Eastern and Western Conference format for the 2026-27 season.
Miami will join the league's Eastern Conference, along with Atlanta, Madison, Minnesota and Nebraska. The Western Conference will include Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, Salt Lake and San Francisco.
The league said the goal of the new format is to create new regional rivalries and more competition for fans and athletes.
“Expanding to Miami marks an exciting next chapter for the league as we continue building a truly national platform for professional volleyball," said commissioner Sandra Idehen in a statement. "Miami’s passion for sports, global influence, and deeply rooted volleyball community make it an ideal home for our newest team. With the addition of LOVB Miami and the launch of our Eastern and Western Conferences, we’re creating even more opportunities for regional rivalries, marquee matchups, and unforgettable fan experiences throughout the season.”
League One Volleyball, branded as LOVB and pronounced “LOVE,” launched in January 2025 after securing more than $100 million in funding from private equity and individuals, including Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn and NBA star Kevin Durant.
It has expanded since debuting with six teams and is among numerous recently launched women's leagues hoping to capitalize on rapid growth in popularity and investment in women's sports.
The NHL and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on Thursday announced their entry into a memorandum of understanding to protect the integrity of trading markets involving the league.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a formal, non-binding document that details the objectives and responsibilities of at least two parties.
Key Takeaways
The arrangement mirrors one the CFTC signed with the MLB in March.
The NHL was the first professional American sports league to partner with prediction platforms.
NHL data will be shared with the CFTC, which will help watch for insider trading
With the agreement in place, the NHL will work with the CFTC to help regulate prediction markets featuring NHL players, matches, and future events. In return, the CFTC — a federal agency in charge of regulating licensed prediction platforms — will use information and resources provided by the NHL to keep a watchful eye over customers' trades and to crack down on suspicious behavior.
The CFTC and the NHL also appointed representatives who will regularly communicate to collaborate on ideas related to the integrity of markets in hockey and related events. They will also share confidential information and maintain open lines of communication.
Additionally, the NHL has internal protections and integrity partners who help combat nefarious forms of sports betting and prediction trading.
The NHL was an early adopter of prediction platforms. Its deals with Kalshi and Polymarket, which were finalized last October, were the first between a professional American sports league and prediction operators.
“Integrity has always been and remains paramount to the NHL and fundamental to the trust our fans and partners place in our game,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement.
“Our agreement with the CFTC enhances the comprehensive integrity monitoring systems already in place and strengthens our ability to identify, deter, and address potential risks. This MOU reflects a shared commitment to transparency, oversight and protecting the integrity of the game.”
Although the MOU is non-binding, it establishes a deeper connection between the CFTC and one of the most popular sports leagues in America. This comes two months after the MLB signed the first MOU with the CFTC related to prediction market integrity.
Fighting against insider trading
The rapid growth in the popularity of prediction platforms has raised real concerns about the possibility of insider trading. An infamous example of that came when a U.S. soldier involved in the capture of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro won more than $400,000 on Polymarket by predicting the event would happen shortly before embarking on the mission.
While the NHL already had employees and agencies responsible for identifying possible cases of insider trading, the new collaboration will strengthen its protection against these events.
“I’m proud the CFTC and NHL have officially signed an MOU, furthering the agency’s commitment to improve data sharing between professional sports leagues and the Commission,” said CFTC chairman Michael S. Selig.
“This agreement is another step toward safeguarding the integrity of sports and protecting market participants in prediction markets from insider trading, fraud, and other abuses. I applaud NHL Commissioner Bettman for collaborating with the CFTC and taking a leading role in protecting the integrity of professional hockey in our markets.”
While prediction platforms are experiencing a similar catapult into the mainstream as the sports betting boom that occurred after federal legalization in 2018, they should now be more equipped to identify and stop illicit behavior.
Taking the necessary steps
As NHL partners, Kalshi and Polymarket had already given the trading information access to the league’s data distributor and its betting integrity agency, IC360.
In other prediction market news, a new report from gambling research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming estimated that Kalshi generated $1.3 billion in NHL trading volume during the year that ended at the start of May. That represented 2.8% of its American sports trading volume, just behind the MLB (3.2%).
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 23: Catcher David Fry #6 and Tyler Freeman #2 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrate a 4-1 win against the Boston Red Sox at Progressive Field on April 23, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Stephen Vogt is a great manager, but we need to see some adjustment in how he uses David Fry.
Good news on David Fry! He appears to be a solid major league hitter. He has a 112 wRC+ this season and a 110 wRC+ for his career.
Bad news on Guardians’ catchers! The Guards have two amazing defensive catchers who cannot hit a lick – Hedges has a career 51 wRC+ and Bailey has a career 71 wRC+.
Good news! David Fry can play catcher, so he can be put in a catcher position to allow the team not to endure a Patrick Bailey or Austin Hedges at-bat with the game on the line.
Bad news! Stephen Vogt seems to have too much confidence in Bailey and Hedges as hitters (mistake!) and/or not enough confidence in David Fry as a catcher (he may be right!) to optimally employ this strategy. Notably, he can pinch-hit for Bailey or Hedges in the 7th or 8th and then get whichever defensive savant he wants in the game in the 9th to relieve Fry to reduce any defensive risks.
Last night, in the bottom of the fifth last night, Tuesday, May 20th, with right-hander Kyle Finnegan on the mound, Stephen Vogt pinch-hit Travis Bazzana for David Fry, who was in right-field at the time. I am really not sure why he did this, as Finnegan was clearly at the end of his appearance and Tigers’ manager AJ Hinch was likely to bring a lefty in to face a left-handed hitter, as he proceeded to do. Mostly, the issue with this move was the Fry was now unavailable to move to catcher if a pinch-hitter was needed for Patrick Bailey later in the game. This is not an isolated incident, nor is choosing to start David Fry at DH where moving him to catcher requires the team to lose the DH-spot.
Consequently, the worst possible outcome occurred later in the game. Needing one run to tie the game, Patrick Bailey took the most important at-bat of the game for the Guardians with only Petey Halpin and Austin Hedges available on the bench to bat for him. Bailey got the groundball to tie the game, but not without significant travail. Now, Bazzana did single ahead of Bailey’s at-bat to give the team the chance to tie the game, so maybe Vogt wins on this gambit. Yet, it doesn’t change the fact that Vogt and the team need to be clear on this strategem – if at all possible, Fry needs to be kept available to be used in the catcher spot so that Austin Hedges and Patrick Bailey do not have the fate of any game resting on their bats unless absolutely necessary.
Stop being confident in Bailey and Hedges to hit with the game on the line. There is AMPLE evidence that neither should be trusted to hit. Optimize David Fry’s presence on this roster by leveraging him into catcher at-bats late in close games. Please and thank you.
Two of the key contributors for their teams in Game 1 — Spurs rookie guard Dylan Harper and Thunder star Jalen Williams — both could not finish Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals due to what appears to be hamstring injuries. Both are set to undergo an MRI, reports Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright of ESPN. The status for both in Game 3 — and the rest of the series — remains in question.
Williams missed six Thunder playoff games — two against the Suns and the entire Lakers series — with a left hamstring strain, and that was the leg again getting treatment. After a 26-point, seven-rebound performance in Game 1, Williams played just seven minutes in Game 2 before leaving the game, getting treatment on the bench for a while before going back to the locker room and being ruled out for the night.
It's been an injury-plagued season for Williams, who made an All-NBA team a season ago and was a critical part of Oklahoma City's title run, but played in just 33 games this season due to recovery from wrist surgery and then a right hamstring strain. Harper, the Spurs rookie, had a breakout Game 1 starting in place of the injured De'Aaron Fox (ankle): 24 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and seven steals. However, he left the game in the third quarter of Game 2 not to return, with what appeared to be a right hamstring injury.
Harper’s absence as a ball-handler, alongside Fox missing both games this series due to ongoing ankle soreness after rolling it in the last series against Minnesota, has put a lot of pressure on Stephon Castle as the primary ball-handler and shot-creator against an elite defensive team in Oklahoma City. The result is that Castle has 20 turnovers through the two games of this Western Conference Finals. "They turn you over," Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said of the Thunder after Game 2. "So when you're down some of your primary creators and initiators, it causes a little bit of an extra strain, whether that's who to play, what to play, what to run, etc. It's tough fully loaded against these guys."
We should have official word on Harper and Williams as we move closer to the tip-off of Game 3, on Friday night in San Antonio (tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET, a game you can catch on NBC or stream on Peacock).
However, it seems unlikely either Harper or Williams would play in Game 3, and their status for the rest of the series may be up in the air.
Baseball field, engraving, United States of America, 19th century. | De Agostini via Getty Images
On May 21, 1880, a strange thing happened in upstate New York. While playing at Riverside Park in Albany, Lip Pike — playing for the National Association team in Albany in between stints at the professional/semi-professional level — hit a fly ball over the fence in right field and into the nearby river. Outfielder Lon Knight, playing for the visiting Worcester Ruby Legs, hopped in a boat to chase the ball — because, despite the fact that the ball went over the wall, it was still technically a live ball!
These days, when the ball goes over the fence, it is out of play, and depending on whether it gets there on the fly or on a bounce determines whether it’s a home run or a ground-rule double (yes, it’s officially called an automatic double, but, well, old habits die hard). However—like everything in baseball—this rule wasn’t written down on golden tablets handed to Abner Doubleday/Alexander Cartwright/whichever semi-mythological figure you consider to be the founder of baseball, but one that evolved throughout the history of the game. Unfortunately, the Baseball Almanac’s list of rules changes does not give us an exact moment that this rule was created, but we can surmise that it came into existence prior to the National League’s creation in 1876, as on May 2nd of that year, Chicago White Stockings second baseman Ross Barnes hit the first home run in what would become Major League history. But even then, its story was not so simple.
If you have followed my history-of-early-baseball posts over the past few years, you already know that 19th-century baseball was organized very differently than the baseball of today. Rather than a centralized league imposing a particular ruleset, the home team determined the particular rule set the game was played under, with convention dictating the most basic rules, up until the creation of the NL. Indeed, even after the Senior Circuit came into existence, the home teams still had quite a bit of say in how the game was played, as the NL office in its early years focused less on the product on the field and more on bullying other leagues out of existence to ensure a monopoly over the sport (but that’s a story for another day).
We see hints of this still today, where individual ballparks have rules to determine home run/ground rule double/foul ball when the ball hits a catwalk, or gets stuck in the ivy, or any other random thing occurs that is unique to that ballpark. But in the 1800s, even fundamental rules, such as what happened when a ball went over the fence, depended on where the game was played.
Did Lon Knight actually grab a boat and chase down a ball in the river in order to get the ball and try to make a play? In truth, it sounds a bit ridiculous. How slow must the batter have been where hopping the fence, heading into a boat, and setting sail on the river seemed a perfectly reasonable solution? It’s not for nothing that the SABR biography of Knight says “there is undoubtedly some fictitious element to the story.” Since the teams had a limited amount of balls back in those days, it seems more likely to me that Knight hopped in the river not to continue the play, but to continue the game, and that over time, the story grew in its telling. What this story does reinforce, though, is the fact that these rules depended by and large on the ballpark; if a ball over the fence was always a home run, after all, this story could not have come into existence in the version described.
Naturally, some teams took advantage of this. In the early 1880s, the Chicago White Stockings played on a field with short fences (some sources place them less than 200 feet from home plate), and according to convention at the time, batted balls hit over a fence that was less than 250 feet were treated as doubles, not home runs. According to SABR, however, in 1884, Chicago changed their own ground rule so that everything that went over the fence was considered a homer, not a double, resulting in a season in which Ned Williamson hit 27 home runs, a record that would stand until Babe Ruth’s 29-homer season in 1920.
In time, to stop shenanigans such as this, rules surrounding batted balls hit over the fence were ultimately standardized. Originally, in addition to all fly balls that went over the wall being considered home runs, all balls that bounced just once before going over fell into this category, neatly paralleling the fact that, up until 1864 for fair balls and 1883 for foul balls, batted balls caught on one bounce were considered an out; only in 1931 was this rule changed, and the modern-day ground-rule double brought into existence. As such, these days, shenanigans about long fly balls are limited to non-professional games, such as your local little leagues or bar softball games — or, apparently, the Saarikenttä in Finland.
It's a small slate Thursday, and things have been at their coldest around here of late. It's time to ask sweet Baby Jesus to bless these four-baggers and MLB player props. I don't always look for help, but today it's needed, and one game is getting a lot of attention.
In addition to doubling up on the Rockies-Diamondbacks clash, I'm looking at slugging catcher Shea Langeliers to grab his 13th long ball of the season when he steps in against Jose Soriano and the wobbly Los Angeles Angels bullpen.
These are my favorite MLB home run predictions for Thursday, May 21.
First, it’s a small slate, but Goodman just saw E-Rod in his last start and did rope a 101-mph single off him. The Colorado Rockies also put nine balls in play at 95+ mph against the lefty in that series. Goodman posted a .969 OPS during it as well, including a homer off Merrill Kelly. The right-handed bat also owns the fastest swing on the team over the last two weeks at 75 mph.
The familiarity factor usually isn’t priced in, which gives this HR prop more expected value with a fair price around +380. The lefty starter has also pitched above both his career fly-ball and HR/FB rates, so some long-ball regression could finally be on the way.
With colder weather rolling in and pitcher-friendly winds showing up around the league, a controlled hitting environment may be the best place to hunt dingers on a small-slate Thursday.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DBACKS.TV, Rockies.TV
Home run pick: Corbin Carroll (+445)
The Diamondbacks have a great hitting matchup today as the Rockies are rolling with call-up Zach Agnos, who hasn’t started a game this year and will hand things off early to a Colorado bullpen that owns the second-worst ERA over the last two weeks and ranks 28th in HR/FB rate over that stretch.
Corbin Carroll got the day off yesterday, but before that, he had ripped triples in back-to-back games and, three games ago, launched a pair of home runs against the Rockies and this bullpen.
It’s also nice to get a Top-10 bat sitting right at +EV with a fair price around +360. Over the last two weeks, Carroll ranks eighth in BlastContact, third in slugging, and second in ISO. On this small slate, he projects as the third-most likely player to go deep behind only Aaron Judge and Mike Trout.
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: DBACKS.TV, Rockies.TV
Home run pick: Shea Langeliers (+350)
Jose Soriano has fallen out of form, allowing 15 runs over his last 22 innings. The command is wavering, the double-digit strikeouts are no longer showing up, and Shea Langeliers has been a major problem for him.
The BlastContact darling has already taken Soriano deep twice in 11 at-bats while posting a 1.765 OPS in the matchup. He hasn’t had the best series so far, but getting plunked twice yesterday could provide some added motivation for a hitter sitting on 12 home runs and batting .322. Only four players have a higher slugging percentage than Langeliers this season.
The Los Angeles Angels bullpen is also capable of cashing this HR prop. It owns the second-worst ERA on the season, and that mark has been even uglier over the last two weeks (6.60). It’s extremely fly-ball heavy, and its HR/FB rate also sits in the Bottom 3 in baseball.
Time: 9:38 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC Sports California, ABTV
Josh Inglis' 2026 Transparency Record
HR picks: 13-83, -15.94 units
Today’s HR parlay
Hunter Goodman
Bet Now +10600
Corbin Carroll
Shea Langeliers
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The New York Mets, ranked fifth in the NL East with a 21-28 record, face the Washington Nationals, who are third in the NL East with a 25-25 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with the Mets at -115 and the Nationals at -105. Starting pitchers are David Peterson for the Mets, with a 5.40 ERA, and Cade Cavalli for the Nationals, with a 4.05 ERA.
How to watch New York Mets vs Washington Nationals
It's a condensed schedule on a Thursday getaway day, but our expert MLB picks have still found a quartet of prices showing strong value at Polymarket.
See why our baseball experts love the Braves, Jays, and A's to come out victorious tonight... as well as the Mets and Nats going through the motions this afternoon.
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Josh Inglis' expert pick: Mets/Nationals Under 8.5
Price: 54¢ (-117) at Polymarket
Let’s hammer the getaway Under with the New York Mets heading to Miami on Friday and the Washington Nationals traveling to Atlanta tonight. The weather is working in the Under’s favor as well, with 10-mph winds blowing in, 60-degree temperatures, and some projected rain in the mix. Neither team is likely eager to grind through a getaway-day game, and we could see some quick at-bats with both clubs having all of their high-leverage bullpen arms available. THE BAT also backs the Under with a fair price of -153 and just 7.56 projected runs.
Jon Metler's expert pick: Blue Jays moneyline
Price: 43¢ (+133) at Polymarket
Braydon Fisher will open for the Toronto Blue Jays, with Spencer Miles expected to handle the bulk of the innings afterward. At 43 cents, I’m more than willing to back Toronto against the New York Yankees, as I make the Blue Jays closer to 49-cent (+104) underdogs tonight. Toronto is expected to roll out a lineup featuring eight right-handed bats against Carlos Rodón, who has yet to look sharp since returning from injury, sporting a 5.63 ERA through his first two starts and still likely on a restricted pitch count. His fastball-slider combination has historically been vulnerable to right-handed power, and that issue becomes even more concerning when he isn’t at his best. The top of Toronto’s lineup, led by George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is also very familiar with Rodón, giving the Blue Jays another edge offensively.
Neil Parker's expert pick: Braves moneyline
Price: 57¢ (-133) at Polymarket
Atlanta Braves starter Spencer Strider has allowed a single run on just four hits, while holding opposing hitters to a pedestrian 27.3% hard-hit rate, across his past two starts, and I’m anticipating him keeping the good times rolling against a ho-hum Miami Marlins lineup. The Marlins rank 19th in wOBA against right-handed arms, and Miami also ranks 20th in both overall ISO and xwOBA over the past two weeks. Of course, Atlanta has been a force at the dish all season and sits second in both runs per game and wOBA against righties.
Joe Osborne's expert pick: A's moneyline
Price: 51¢ (-104) at Polymarket
This is a great number on the Athletics tonight vs. an Angels team that has lost eight of its last nine games, with the offense bordering on embarrassing. Jose Soriano is crashing back to earth, allowing 12 earned runs and 24 baserunners across his three May starts, while Luis Severino’s numbers remain respectable outside of Sacramento, where he owns a 3.57 ERA. The biggest edge comes offensively, with the A's ranking fourth in OPS over the last two weeks... and the Angels sitting at 27th. LA’s bullpen has also been a disgrace, ranking 29th in both ERA and FIP during that span.
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.
The Toronto Blue Jays, ranked third in the AL East with a 22-27 record, face the New York Yankees, who are second in the AL East with a 30-20 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -150 moneyline compared to the Toronto Blue Jays' +125. Starting pitchers are Braydon Fisher for Toronto, with a 3.08 ERA, and Carlos Rodón for New York, with a 5.63 ERA.
How to watch Toronto Blue Jays vs New York Yankees
May 20, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Paul Sewald (38) celebrates with catcher Adrian del Castillo (25) after beating the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images | Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Dominic Smith is the 6th Braves player in the divisional era (1969) with an over-the-wall HR AND either an inside-the-park or Little League HR (non-HR PA scored on) in the same game, joining:
7/27/93 Fred McGriff (ITP) 7/18/86 Andres Thomas 5/1/79 Gary Matthews Sr. (ITP) 6/26/77… pic.twitter.com/JAuLeGCKHt
Turns out, babies are as soft and delicate as they look. Babies may have more bones than the average fully-grown human, but they definitely won’t be doing any stunts anytime soon. Babies are born with a cartilaginous structure in their knees that will eventually develop into kneecaps by the time they are four years old.
The smallest ocean is the Arctic ocean.
It is also the shallowest and the coldest ocean among the world’s five ocean basins. The Arctic ocean is about 1.5 times the size of the United States.
A double rainbow is a mirror image of the first rainbow.
A double rainbow forms when a raindrop has two reflections where one reflection will be at an angle of 42 degrees. However, the sun’s reflection may also cause a second image off the back of the raindrop.
Spencer Strider only made his season debut at the beginning of this month, but he's been lights out. The right-hander owns a 2.45 ERA through three starts, and he's struck out 18 hitters in 14 2/3 innings of work. While Strider finished with just four Ks last time out, he cashed the Over in his two other appearances, and both were on the road.
The Miami Marlins are 12th in team strikeouts, and they're averaging 9.67 punchouts over their previous three contests. Strider hasn't faced many of these Marlins hitters before, but his swing-and-miss stuff is evident right now. He'll rack up the Ks in the series finale here.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: BravesVision, Marlins.TV
Ronald Acuna Jr. Over 0.5 runs (-106)
Ronald Acuna Jr. just returned from injury, and he's made an immediate impact for the Atlanta Braves. The slugger has four runs across his last two games, and he's hit the Over in runs scored in four straight. Acuna had two walks and a hit in the series opener against the Fish, and he registered another base knock on Wednesday.
The Venezuelan will be licking his chops ahead of tonight's matchup, too. He'll face Sandy Alcantara, against whom he's hitting .342 (13-for-38) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and two RBI. He's also drawn eight walks vs. Alcantara, and the Braves are hitting .270 with RISP.
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Braves.Vision, Marlins.TV
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Over 0.5 RBI (+187)
The Toronto Blue Jays take on the New York Yankees again tonight, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be biting at the bit to step up to the plate. Carlos Rodon takes the hill, and Guerrero is 11-for-18 lifetime against the lefty with seven RBI. He's driven in a run in each of the first two games of this series as well.
The slugger's last three RBI have all been on the road, where he's notched 13 of his 22 RBIs on the year. Rodon has had serious trouble getting Guerrero out, and it's common knowledge that the 27-year-old typically swings it well against the Bronx Bombers overall.
Time: 7:05 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Sportsnet, YES
Quinn Allen's 2026 Transparency Record
Prop picks: 34-62, +3.65 units
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.
Apr 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) looks on against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period during game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
There is only one former Ohio State Buckeye left in the NHL Playoffs.
Montreal goaltender Jakub Dobeš has played a major role in the Canadiens advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals after outlasting both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Buffalo Sabres in seven game series in the first two rounds.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Sam Montembeault was the top goaltender for Montreal after starting 60 games last season, earning 31 wins and posting a 2.82 goals against average in the regular season. Montembeault didn’t live up to expectations over the first two months of the season, allowing 41 goals in the 13 games he appeared in.
Eventually Montreal would turn to Dobeš, who is still considered a rookie after starting 15 games during the regular season last year, and two games in the playoffs. The former Buckeye impressed in December and January, going 10-2-1 over those two months.
By the time Montreal and the rest of the NHL took some time off in February to break for the Olympics, it was clear Dobeš was the top goalie for the Canadiens.
Once the teams reconvened after the Olympics concluded, Dobeš picked up right where he left off, going 7-3 in March, with a 2.21 goals against average during the month. By the time the regular season ended in middle of April, Montreal was three points shy of tying the Buffalo Sabres for the Atlantic Division title, settling for third place in the division after tying the Tampa Bay Lightning with 106 points.
With the odd NHL Playoff format which pits the second and third place teams in each division against each other, the Lightning and Canadiens squared off in the first round of the playoffs. Had the NHL adopted a normal format which gave the division winners the top two seeds and then seeded the rest of the eight teams in the conference in order of most points, Montreal would have been the fourth seed and playing Boston in the first round.
Tampa Bay and Montreal put on a classic seven-game series, with the teams alternating wins and each game being decided by one goal. The first three games of the series went to overtime, with Dobeš and the Canadiens taking two of those three contests.
With the series tied 2-2, Dobeš stood on his head in Tampa, saving 38 of the 40 shots he faced as Montreal took a 3-2 lead in the series with a 3-2 victory in regulation.
The Canadiens had a chance to send end the series in Montreal in Game 6 but Tampa Bay wouldn’t allow that to happen despite an outstanding performance from Dobeš. The game went to overtime scoreless before the Lightning would find a winner halfway through the first overtime period. Dobeš did all he could to keep his team in the game, registering 32 saves.
Going up against veteran Andrei Vasilevskiy, Dobeš held his own in a pressure-packed Game 7 in Tampa. The Lightning peppered Dobeš with shots but the rookie was up to the task, making 28 saves in the 29 shots he faced in the 2-1 to give the Canadiens the series win.
During the seven games, Dobeš stopped 181 of the 196 shots against him. Despite being just a rookie, it became obvious that pressure wasn’t going to get the best of Dobeš.
With the win over Tampa Bay, Montreal advanced to the Conference Semifinals to battle the Buffalo Sabres, who won the Atlantic Division after not making the playoffs in over a decade. If there was a feel-good story in the NHL Playoffs this year, it was the Sabres.
Along with playing a team who many were rooting for, Montreal was the only team from Canada left in this year’s playoffs, as the country to the north hasn’t won a Stanley Cup in over 30 years.
After a back-and-forth series with Tampa Bay, the series with Buffalo was more of a roller coaster with bigger peaks and valleys. After the Sabres took the first game, Montreal responded with big wins in the second and third games of the series, where Dobeš would stop 54 of the 57 shots he faced.
The Canadiens would eventually go up 3-1 in the series before Buffalo would go on to win two of the next three games, including an 8-3 victory in Game 6, which would see Dobeš pulled in the third period after allowing six goals.
Many goaltenders might have trouble rebounding for Game 7 after such a poor performance in the previous game, but Dobeš was the reason Montreal was able to end Buffalo’s Cinderella run. The Canadiens went up 2-0 in the game before the Sabres tied the game in the third period.
For the rest of the third period and early in the first overtime period it felt like it was only a matter of time before Buffalo won the game and the series but Dobeš kept stopping pucks and was able to keep his team in the game before Alex Newhook scored the series winner.
Now Montreal will take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who were the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 113 points. Unlike Montreal, who has played the maximum of 14 games through the first two rounds of the playoffs, the Hurricanes have swept both Ottawa and Philadelphia.
The two teams have met twice in the playoffs since Carolina moved from Hartford. The Hurricanes won both of those series with the most recent being in the Conference Quarterfinals in 2006.
Should Montreal be able to move past Carolina, it would mark the first Stanley Cup Final for the Canadiens since the 2020-21 season, where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche in the bubble.
The last time Montreal made the Stanley Cup Final in a normal NHL season was at the end of the 1993-94 campaign when they beat the Los Angeles Kings in five games, marking the last time a team from Canada won the Stanley Cup.
With how fundamentally sound Carolina is on the ice, Dobeš is going to need to continue to display the incredible focus he has shown in the first two rounds. Despite his lack of his experience, Dobeš looks like a seasoned veteran between the pipes.
The Hurricanes are certainly to test the former Buckeye just as much mentally as they will physically. At least Dobeš can bring some confidence into the matchup, as he won all three of his starts against Carolina during the regular season.
The Eastern Conference Finals kick off tonight in Raleigh and the winner of the series will go on to play the winner of the Western Conference Finals between the Las Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche.
It’s finally game day for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Montreal Canadiens. The two teams couldn’t have had a more different road to the Eastern Conference Final. The Hurricanes swept both the Ottawa Senators and the Philadelphia Flyers; they didn’t even trail once against the Senators. Meanwhile, the Canadiens needed seven games to dismiss both the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Buffalo Sabres.
The Habs would do well to start strong tonight to take advantage of the fact that their opponents might be somewhat rusty after such an extended break. Carolina might need a bit of time to regain their synchronism. Meanwhile, the Canadiens are coming off an emotive Game 7 win and might still be riding that high.
Montreal couldn’t start strong in their series against the Sabres; they looked like they were still at the speed of the battle with the Bolts. This time around, though, they’re not going from a team that has a slower pace to a high-speed one. Buffalo played a fast game, and so does Carolina. What might help the Canadiens, however, is the fact that the Hurricanes' defense corps is not as offensive as the Sabres’ was.
The battle in net will be interesting. Frederik Anderson has had a great start to the playoffs; he’s 8-0 with a 1.12 goals-against average and a .950 save percentage. In 24 career games against Montreal, he has a 15-7-2 record with a 2.41 GAA and a .918 SV, but he has lost his last two games against the Canadiens this season, one by a score of 5-2 and the other by a score of 3-1.
Meanwhile, Jakub Dobes has been the Canadiens’ MVP so far in these playoffs. He’s 8-6 with a 2.52 GAA and a .910 SV. He was the goaltender who played all three regular-season games against Carolina this year and surrendered eight goals in those duels. The Czech netminder should see a lot of rubber in this series. Rod Brind’Amour’s team shoots often and from everywhere, but that’s not something that will worry the young netminder; he likes seeing a lot of action.
Up front, the Canadiens will need to be mindful of the Canes’ second line formed by Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. The trio has racked up 31 points in eight games so far. Their first line has been quieter; Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis have combined for just 11 points in eight games. Unlike the Canadiens’ top line, however, their differential isn’t that bad; they have a combined plus-two.
In the regular season, Aho had six points against Montreal, Svechnikov five and Nikolaj Ehlers four. The former Winnipeg Jets forward is currently skating on the Canes’ third line with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, which proves how much depth Carolina has up front.
As for the Habs, they are led by Lane Hutson, who has 14 points and Nick Suzuki, who has 13. Three players follow with nine points: Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. Most of the first line’s points have come on the power play, and at the risk of sounding like a broken record, Martin St-Louis will need more from his top guns at even-strength if the Canadiens are to go to the Stanley Cup Final. At the very least, if they don’t produce, they’ll need to tighten up defensively since they have a combined minus-20 rating.
During the regular season, Suzuki, Slafkovsky, Caufield and Ivan Demidov all put up five points in three games against Carolina. Both Caufield and Suzuki had three goals each, a contribution that would go a long way in this series.
Unsurprisingly, the Hurricanes will have a morning skate at 10:30 today, while the Canadiens will not take to the ice. St-Louis will therefore keep us guessing about his lineup. There’s no doubt that Dobes will be in the net, but will Oliver Kapanen still be dressed? Will Arber Xhekaj play in this series? Less physicality is expected in this series, and perhaps Jayden Struble would be better suited to this match-up.
The game is set for 8:00 PM, and you can catch it on HBO MAX, truTV, TNT, SN, TVAS, and CBC. Jean Hebert and Garrett Rank will be officiating, while Scott Cherrey and Jesse Marquis will be the linemen. Historically, the team that wins the first game of a best-of-seven series has won the series 68.2% of the time. When the home team wins the first game, they take the series 74.7% of the time, but as we’ve seen against Buffalo, there are exceptions to the rule.
Hunter Goodman
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