The news going into the Buffalo Sabres contest against the Columbus Blue Jackets was concerning, as head coach Lindy Ruff indicated that veteran goalie Alex Lyon pulled a muscle in New York City on Wednesday and would be out at least a week with a lower-body injury. The injury meant that rookie Colten Ellis would be making his first start in over two months, but the youngster stepped up with a 37-save performance in a 5-0 victory to earn his first career shutout and the Sabres a key two points in their race to win the Atlantic Division.
"(Ellis is) the ultimate competitor. He's doing all a lot of extra skates with our extra players. Every time he steps in the net in practice, he's trying to make sure he doesn't get scored against," Ruff said after the game. "(He is the) first guy to the rink a lot of times, almost every day. I think that's part of routine that leads a lot of great habits."
The 25-year-old was claimed off of waivers in October and has remained as the third goalie behind Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Lyon all year, but has been needed to step in as both veterans have been injured for stretches this season, and has posted a very respectable 8-4-1 record in 13 starts. Ellis has served as the backup for both veterans on most nights, and did get into a game last weekend after Lyon allowed three goals in less than six minutes.
"When I put him in in Washington, a little bit of a different situation, he didn't feel that comfortable. But I think knowing that he was going to play and preparing to play really helped him out." Ruff said. "Halfway through the first period, it just looked like he just had himself in a great place."
After taking the lead in the first on a Peyton Krebs goal, the Sabres seemed to be holding on for dear life, with Columbus outshooting them 14-4 in the second, but Josh Doan’s first of two goals midway through the third period seemed to open the floodgates, as Buffalo scored four goals to pull away. The win was critical for the Sabres in their quest for home-ice advantage in the first round.
According to Moneypuck.com, after the Montreal Canadiens beat Tampa Bay 2-1 at the Bell Centre on Thursday, Buffalo has a 73.7% chance of winning the division, and a 95.4% chance of having home-ice advantage in the first round. Both the Habs and Lightning have a game in hand, but the Canadiens is two points behind the Sabres, and Tampa Bay is four points back.
Buffalo and the entire NHL have the day off on Friday, but the Sabres next game is not until Monday in Chicago against the Blackhawks and finish the regular season against the Dallas Stars at home next Wednesday.
The Buffalo Sabres 2024 Draft may be the only group that former GM Kevyn Adams selected that will yield NHL prospects outside of the first round. Top pick Konsta Helenius is thriving in his second pro season in Rochester, second-rounder Adam Kleber won with Team USA at the World Junior in 2025 and is a big, righty blueliner, and third-rounder Brodie Ziemer was one of the best scorers in the NCAA last season, netting 23 goals as a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, but two more '24 picks will have a chance to add an NCAA Championship to their resumes.
Fourth-rounder Luke Osburn and seventh-rounder Vasily Zelenov and the Wisconsin Badgers will take on Denver U. in the Final on Saturday. Osburn won the USHL defenseman of the year in 2025 with Youngstown, surprisingly made Team USA's World Junior squad last December, and posted 21 points with Wisconsin as a freshman. Zelenov played his youth hockey in Austria, played one season in Green Bay of the USHL, and had 18 points in his freshman season with the Badgers.
Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser has been selected as his team’s nominee for the 2026 King Clancy Memorial Trophy. The award is given to the player that “best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Boeser, who has been with the Canucks since being drafted in 2015, signed a seven-year extension with the team during the 2025 off-season and is one of only four players who have spent more than five seasons with the team. Last night, he took sole possession of eighth all-time in franchise history in points scored by a Canuck with 479.
The award is voted on by a panel featuring NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman as well as former winners of both the King Clancy Trophy and the NHL Foundation Player Award. A $25,000 donation will be given to the winner’s charity of choice.
Throughout history, three members of the Canucks have won this award: Trevor Linden (1997), Henrik Sedin (2016, 2018), and Daniel Sedin (2018.)
Apr 2, 2026; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Vancouver Canucks forward Brock Boeser (6) shoots the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the first period at Grand Casino Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
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The NHL unveiled their 2025-26 King Clancy Trophy nominees on Friday, with veteran defenseman Colton Parayko selected for the St. Louis Blues.
The King Clancy Trophy goes “to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution in his community.”
Each team nominated a player who best fit the criteria.
A committee including NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, former winners of the King Clancy Trophy and past winners of the former NHL Foundation Player Award will consider a nominee’s inspiration, involvement and positive impact on their community. They will then take a vote to determine the winner.
Whoever gets the most votes wins not only the award but also a $25,000 donation to a charity or charities of their choice. The winner can even choose to have his team receive a grant of up to $20,000 from the NHL to help organize an activation supporting his humanitarian cause.
Kelly Chase in 1997-98 is the only Blues player to win this award.
In a press release, the Blues outline Parayko's work in the St. Louis community.
“Since arriving in St. Louis in 2015, Parayko has built a reputation that extends far beyond his play on the blue line. He remains a familiar face at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House, while also supporting a wide range of charitable efforts both locally and in his home province of Alberta.
In 2021, Parayko expanded his commitment to giving back by launching Project 55, a foundation focused on supporting hospitalized children and their families. The initiative provides both financial assistance and emotional support, and over the past several years has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help families navigating difficult circumstances.
Project 55 also creates memorable experiences designed to lift spirits during challenging times. Throughout the season, Parayko hosts patients and their families at Blues home games at Enterprise Center, offering an all-inclusive experience that includes game tickets, team gear, and a postgame meet-and-greet.”
In addition to the 32-year-old’s off-ice work, he’s posted three goals and 17 points in 73 games this season, claimed a silver medal with Team Canada at the Olympics, and will reach 800 career NHL games if he plays in each of the Blues’ remaining games.
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Apr 9, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Anaheim Ducks defenseman John Carlson (74) reacts after being selected as the first star of the night against the San Jose Sharks Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
ANAHEIM, Calif. — John Carlson played 1,156 regular-season games and 137 more Stanley Cup playoff contests in his 17 NHL seasons before he finally got his first hat trick.
The steady defenseman would never list a three-goal game as a true aspiration, but Carlson was still thrilled to do it — particularly because it came in a vital victory for his new team’s playoff aspirations.
The 36-year-old Carlson said he literally couldn’t remember his last pre-NHL hat trick after he fired three goals past the San Jose Sharks during the Ducks’ 6-1 win, which snapped a six-game losing streak and greatly improved Anaheim’s chances of ending its seven-year postseason drought.
“I’ve seen a lot (of hat tricks) in my day, and always was a little bit jealous,” Carlson said with a grin.
Indeed, Carlson witnessed plenty of multigoal barrages during his long tenure with the Washington Capitals. That’ll happen when you play nearly 17 seasons alongside the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history: Alex Ovechkin has 34 career hat tricks, including 26 since Carlson’s debut with the Caps as a teenager in late 2009.
But Carlson has been a steady contributor on both ends of the ice throughout his NHL career, and he had been a major factor for his new team in Anaheim even before his third goal sealed a big win. His shot sent a shower of hats onto the Honda Center ice with 5:57 to play in celebration of only the fourth hat trick by a defenseman in Ducks history, and the first since 2018.
“It was great,” Carlson said. “I’ve obviously always wanted one. I think it was a good game to do it in, a home game. The crowd was great tonight from puck drop, and I think we just kept feeding on that and played a really good game.”
Carlson became the third defenseman in NHL history to record a hat trick after his 36th birthday, joining Mathieu Schneider and Nicklas Lidstrom, who was 40 years old when he accomplished the feat on Dec. 15, 2010. Only Lidstrom (1,442) played more games among NHL defensemen than Carlson before getting that inaugural trick.
Carlson has 12 points in 13 games since joining the Ducks, who acquired him at the trade deadline to shore up the back end on one of the league’s worst defensive teams. Carlson has overcome the first jersey change of his NHL career and the midseason disruption of his family’s life to fit in well on the West Coast, providing much-needed veteran poise while improving the Ducks’ mediocre power play, which produced his two third-period goals.
“He comes in and he’s an amazing player,” said center Leo Carlsson, who opened the scoring with an impressive drive to the net for his 28th goal. “Great person, too. He helps us a lot, so nothing but amazing things to say about him.”
After his hat trick, Carlson has 14 goals this season between Washington and Anaheim, three off his career high from the 2021-22 season.
Carlson got his first goal against the Sharks in the first period on a 97.47 mph slap shot — the hardest shot that resulted in a goal for the Ducks all season long.
He scored two more power-play goals 3 1/2 minutes apart in the third period, both on heavy shots. Anaheim’s power play had been 1 for 15 over the previous four games, dropping to 25th in the league.
“I thought he’s got the presence to shoot from the top,” coach Joel Quenneville said. “He’s got good play recognition, and the power play needed that.”
Two days after the Ducks were booed off the ice by their home fans during a 5-0 loss to Nashville, they dominated the rival Sharks — another young, hungry team with playoff aspirations.
Anaheim’s victory left it in third place in the Pacific Division with 89 points, but just one behind Edmonton up in first place, where the Ducks had been for a full month before dropping back in the past week.
With just three games left, Carlson is confident the Ducks can pick up enough points to get him to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the 15th time in a career that included a championship in 2018.
“Building that mentality, reaching back for a picture or a memory of (good) starts, those things are all good to have at this point in the year,” Carlson said.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) looks on against the Florida Panthers during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
Mark Alberti/Mark Alberti-Imagn Images
NEWARK, N.J. — For the first time in four years, it soon will be a great day for playoff hockey in Pittsburgh.
The Penguins clinched a playoff spot by beating New Jersey, ending their postseason drought that lasted three seasons. They had made 16 postseason appearances in a row before that, last missing in Sidney Crosby’s rookie year in 2005-06, with that stretch including three Stanley Cup titles.
“That’s why you play — that’s the best time of year,” Crosby said. “I know how hard it is. I think I understand that. We had some tough ones where it came down to the last day and didn’t get in, and you don’t ever know. But I thought right from camp, we’ve had those intentions and had that belief.”
It was an up-and-down season that included an eight-game skid in December and a pair of six-game winning streaks later in the winter. Far from assured a place in the field in late March when the Eastern Conference race was a crowded mess, they’ve won five of six games since March 30 to get in.
“A couple weeks ago (we realized) it’s really in our hands (because we) play a lot of the teams in it,” defenseman Connor Clifton said. “We figured it was going to work itself out, and first and foremost it’s about us and getting points and we’ve done that, so it’s been good.”
It also has been a surprise. Pittsburgh was a 6-1 long shot to qualify before the puck dropped on opening night, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. This looked like one last kick at it together for an aging core of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, who at 20 seasons together are the longest-tenured trio of teammates in North American professional sports.
Instead, new coach Dan Muse has made general manager Kyle Dubas look brilliant for hiring him from relative anonymity: five years as an assistant under Peter Laviolette with Nashville and the New York Rangers. Succeeding two-time Cup-winner Mike Sullivan was not an easy task, but Muse aced the test in his first chance to run an NHL bench.
“He’s been great: Calm there behind the bench, and he’s just a really personable guy, easy to talk to away from the rink,” forward Justin Brazeau said. “Any time you create that atmosphere in here, it’s not too tense or anything like that. I think guys are just willing to go out there and play free.”
Center Ben Kindel, picked 11th in the draft last year, made the team at 18. Defenseman Erik Karlsson thrived at 35. Crosby was a point-a-game player for a 21st consecutive season, even if it was interrupted by the injury that knocked him out of the Olympics.
“It takes everybody,” Crosby said. “Everybody has had a part in this. Obviously it’s a team game, but especially with this group: With the injuries and all the different guys in and out, everybody’s contributed to us getting there.”
Muse, like Crosby, saw evidence in training camp that this was a playoff-caliber team.
“I just saw the competitive nature of the group,” Muse said. “There’s ebbs and flows in every season, but I think this group has just continued to grow. Enjoy it for a little bit, a minute, and then it’s just continuing that preparation. It’s a big step for the group. I’m really proud of these guys, happy for these guys, the staff, everybody involved. The players have done a great job with it throughout the year. We talked about earning things at the beginning of the year. This group earned it.”
The threat of the Play-In Tournament is fueling the Orlando Magic in their final games of the NBA season.
Orlando is a half-game back of the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference — the cutoff to avoid the Play-In — and gets a gift from the schedule gods by facing the lowly Chicago Bulls tonight.
With all hands on deck, my Magic vs. Bulls predictions expect plenty of points from the visiting team.
Our NBA picks like Jalen Suggs to shred a patchwork Chicago backcourt and top his scoring prop on Friday, April 10.
Magic vs Bulls prediction
Magic vs Bulls best bet: Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points (-112)
Orlando Magic point guard Jalen Suggs hasn’t been as aggressive a scorer recently, and that’s trimmed his points prop for Friday.
He’s attempted just six and nine field goals in the past two outings, making four shots in each contest, and finishing with 11 and 12 points. That’s a notable decline in usage considering he was averaging almost 12 attempts over the past month.
Suggs' scoring total for tonight takes a tick down to 13.5 O/U after being set at 14.5 for the past couple of weeks. He can snap out of that slumber in the Windy City tonight.
The Chicago Bulls rank 23rd in defensive rating over the last 10 contests, allowing more than 127 points per game in that span. More than 70 of those points are coming from opposing guards.
Chicago is down to eight healthy bodies, and many of those guys are D-League callups. On top of that lack of talent, the Bulls are playing the second of back-to-back games after prevailing in Washington on Thursday.
Before this lull in offensive activity, Suggs was averaging around 14 points per outing. His player projections for Friday expect at least one better from the Gonzaga product, with his scoring forecast ranging from 15.2 to 16.1 points.
My number comes out to 15.6 points, which should have the Over 13.5 prop priced around -155 instead of this modest -112 juice.
Magic vs Bulls same-game parlay
The Bulls picked up a rare win in D.C. last night, setting up a letdown spot back home. Chicago is tired and down to eight healthy bodies while the Magic are going all out to avoid the Play-In Tournament, as they chase the No. 6 seed.
Paolo Banchero will also have a big night against this thin Chicago interior. The Bulls are getting completely bullied in the paint, and Banchero is projected for 24+ points in this must-win matchup. He’s averaged 27.5 ppg against Chicago this season.
Magic vs Bulls SGP
Magic -15
Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Sleight of Hand
Suggs and Banchero will pile up the points and round up rebounds against a shorthanded Bulls squad that's sucking wind.
Both Orlando stars are projected to top their points and rebounding totals tonight.
Magic vs Bulls SGP
Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
Paolo Banchero Over 8.5 rebounds
Jalen Suggs Over 13.5 points
Jalen Suggs Over 3.5 rebounds
Magic vs Bulls odds
Spread: Magic -15 (-110) | Bulls +15 (-110)
Moneyline: Magic -1000 | Bulls +650
Over/Under: Over 243 (-110) | Under 243 (-110)
Magic vs Bulls betting trend to know
Orlando has gone Over the total in 23 of its last 35 games (+9.80 Units / 25% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Magic vs. Bulls.
How to watch Magic vs Bulls
Location
United Center, Chicago, IL
Date
Friday, April 10, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN Florida, CHSN
Magic vs Bulls latest injuries
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While identifying good value, especially later in drafts, can win a fantasy league, a draft pick bombing can sabotage a season. Below are some of the most disappointing players in fantasy basketball this season, including two on the same team. And we start with a player whose future appears to be up in the air.
While Giannis has dealt with injuries in the past, he appeared in at least 61 games in each of his first 12 seasons. Unfortunately, lower-body injuries limited him to 36 games in 2025-26, and the production dipped when he was on the floor. Antetokounmpo's averages of 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game certainly look good on paper.
However, only in steals did his per-game production not decrease when compared to his 2024-25 numbers. And that doesn't take into consideration the constant scrutiny regarding his future in Milwaukee. Given the Yahoo! ADP of 6.2, this was a terribly disappointing season for those who invested a first-round pick in Antetokounmpo.
F/C Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
Given how things played out in Sacramento after last season's trade deadline, Sabonis entering the 2025-26 campaign with a top-20 ADP felt off. Sure enough, the logjam of ball-dominant options did the center no favors before a torn meniscus ended his season in early February. Sabonis played in 19 games this season, averaging 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.9 steals in just under 30 minutes. The only major statistical category in which his production did not decrease was steals, and few fantasy managers roster Sabonis expecting reliable production in that category.
C Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks
After a career year with the Pacers in 2022-23, Turner's production dipped in each of the two seasons that followed. There was hope that a move to Milwaukee would boost the center's value, with the Bucks tabbing him to replace Brook Lopez as the starting center. Unfortunately, Turner's first season in Milwaukee was a struggle, with the center averaging 11.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.6 blocks and 2.4 three-pointers in 26.9 minutes per game.
Turner's rebounding average was the lowest of his NBA career, and his scoring average was the lowest since his rookie season. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and 74.4 percent from the foul line, the former percentage being a career low. While one can point to his per-game value and argue that Turner was still a top-100 player, this was an underwhelming campaign, especially with rebounding struggles contributing to the decrease in playing time.
G Jordan Poole, New Orleans Pelicans
With Dejounte Murray unavailable to begin the season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, there were fantasy managers who believed that Poole's production would not take too big of a hit with the move from Washington to New Orleans. To say that he failed to live up to his Yahoo! ADP of 71.3 (per Hashtag Basketball) would be an understatement.
A quad injury in early November sidelined him for over a month, and Poole would fall out of the Pelicans' rotation entirely in late January. He would get some run after the All-Star break, but the DNP-CD's restarted in early March. Poole has appeared in 38 games this season, averaging 13.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.6 steals and 2.5 three-pointers, shooting 37.3 percent from the field and 87.2 percent from the foul line. A player who entered the season with top-75 expectations will finish ranked well outside of the top-200, regardless of league format.
C Deandre Ayton, Los Angeles Lakers
After averaging a double-double in each of his first seven NBA seasons, Ayton appeared well-positioned to do the same in his first season with the Lakers. Sure, a lineup with Luka Dončić, LeBron James and Austin Reaves means that Ayton's scoring output would take a hit. Based on his Yahoo! ADP of 66.5, many fantasy managers bet on the 7-footer doing enough as a rebounder, finisher and shot-blocker to provide solid value.
Unfortunately, Ayton failed to come through for most fantasy managers. With two games remaining in the regular season, he has averaged 12.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.9 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game. The good news is that Ayton shot a career-high 67.2 percent from the field, but that wasn't enough to salvage what has been an underwhelming fantasy season.
G/F Cam Thomas, Free Agent
Even with his limited production outside of the points category, it felt like Thomas was capable of using the 2025-26 season as a springboard into unrestricted free agency next summer. It didn't happen. Hamstring issues did Thomas no favors, as an injury in early November sidelined him until after Christmas. With his minutes limited, Thomas' production took a hit, and the Nets waived him after the trade deadline.
Milwaukee picked him up, and Thomas scored 34 points in his second game with the team. That would be the high point of his time with the Bucks, who waived the one-dimensional guard on March 23. Whether it's category leagues or points leagues, Thomas' fantasy value this season was poor. With a Yahoo! ADP of 83.9, fantasy managers who drafted him did not take too big of a hit. However, few expected Thomas to be out of the league entirely.
The Atlanta Hawks can lock down a playoff berth with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs will be locked into the East’s No. 4 seed if they lose to the Hawks or the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors.
How to watch Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Atlanta Hawks
Coaches: Will Bolt (7th season, 196-133-1) & Mark Wasikowski (7th season, 317-197)
TV/Stream: All games on B1G+
Radio: All Nebraska games on Huskers Radio Network, Huskers.com, Huskers App
After a tough first 3 weeks of a non-conference schedule, Nebraska has rolled through the easier part of its schedule. Prior to the mid-week game against an impressive Kansas team, only a single game against a hot veteran pitcher stopping them from winning 22 in a row. In baseball, it doesn’t matter what level you are playing, that streak is still impressive (just ask the Back to Back Big Ten Champion teams that struggled in the midweek against South Dakota State and Omaha). Now the team gets to find out if the momentum will carry them against the two best teams remaining on its weekend schedule and secure a top 4 seed AND potentially a home regional.
Oregon rolled through the early part of its schedule, with only a slip up against an average UC Irvine team, and a loss in the baseball version of the Civil War to Oregon State. Since a trip to UC Santa Barbara, the offense which had been mashing the ball (it still leads the Big Ten in home runs and total bases) has stalled a bit. They’ve averaged just 3 runs per game in their last 8 games, which included two mid week losses to Portland sandwiched around the team’s first weekend series loss at Michigan.
It’s hard to imagine a whole team has gone cold for an extended period of time. Then again, Nebraska fans only have to look to last season (sorry for the PTSD) to see how a good offensive team can just go ice cold for a couple stretches. Is the past couple weeks just a blip for the Ducks and they just need some home cooking to regain their power? Or can Nebraska’s strong pitching staff capitalize on their recent woes?
Game 1: RHP Ty Horn (1-1, 4.70 ERA) vs. RHP Will Sanford (4-1, 2.54 ERA)
Game 2: RHP Carson Jasa (6-1, 3.64 ERA) vs. RHP Collin Clarke (5-2, 2.72 ERA)
Game 3: RHP Cooper Katskee (5-0, 2.79 ERA) vs. RHP Cal Scolari (4-0, 2.81 ERA)
For the first time really all season, Ty Horn struggled mightily, and to the point he couldn’t get an out in the 4th inning. His pitches, which have lived at the bottom of the strike zone, just didn’t seem to have a lot of downward bite to them against a substandard Penn State offense. 3 doubles and 2 home runs took advantage of the elevated Horn pitches. Horn always seems to dig deep and be at his best against top competition, and bounces back big time the week after a rough start.
The Carson Jasa experience continues for the Huskers. He set a career high with 11 strikeouts against Penn State. Other than the disasterous Auburn start, he’s struck out at least 8 batters in each start. He is up to 66 strikeouts in 42 innings over his 8 starts. Joba Chamberlain and Shane Komine are the only Husker pitchers with more than 65 strikeouts over their first 8 starts in a season.
As is his custom, Cooper Katskee gave up 2 runs early, then cruised through a season best 7 innings. Michael Anderson got 2 home runs off of him, but really nothing else of consequence came from the Nittany Lions offense against the senior. It was a real luxury to have him go so deep to help make up for the short outing by Horn. The staff has a good balance of different types of starting pitchers that can all potentially get deep into games. It’s been a while since a Husker team could say that.
After a freshman season in which he started and you saw glimpses of greatness, Will Sanford has taken the Friday night baton and run with it. He’s pitched almost the exact same innings (39) as last season, and has dropped his walks from 39 to 23 and increased his strikeouts from 42 to 51. Like Ty Horn, he is coming off his worst start of the season, giving up 6 runs in 2.2 innings at Michigan. He hasn’t really struggled like that at all this year. How will he bounce back?
When Saturday starter Collin Clarke is on, he really has a ton of movement on each one of his pitches. Really looks like Koty Frank (shoutout Frank Koty!) when he was stalking the mound for the Huskers. He eats up innings, having gone 6 innings in all but 2 starts so far, and doesn’t waste pitches. He will be in the zone on nearly every throw. He can get in hitters heads to, he is very demonstrative on the mound. If you can watch the video on the tweet below, he has something to say after nearly every strike thrown.
Collin Clarke (rhp, @OregonBaseball). Very impressive; pitched with an edge. Ended 4-of-6 innings with a punchout. Missed bats with whole arsenal.
The highest ceiling may be Sunday starter Cal Scolari. As a redshirt freshman at San Diego last season (Man, I hate those guys!) he was the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year. He has 46 strikeouts in just 32 innings. He and Katskee are both undefeated on the year. The series may come down to who gets their first blemish on the year.
Scouting Report
On offense, the Ducks looked to a pair of All-Conference juniors to help replace all the production lost off of last year’s team that belted a conference leading 115 home runs. The two middle infielders who had big time seasons a year ago, have gone in different directions in 2026.
Second baseman and leadoff man Ryan Clooney is taking his game to another level, he is batting .359 and already has as many extra base hits as he did all of 2025. He has 33 runs scored and has 28 RBIs, which is outstanding for a leadoff batter. Cooney is also he biggest threat the Ducks have on the base paths, stealing 11 out 13 bases on the year. His partner, short stop Maddox Moloney is going through his worst season in Eugene. His batting average is down almost 80 points from a season ago to just .235. After hitting 8 doubles and 15 home runs last year, he is at 6 and 5 respectively this season. As D1Baseball’s Burke Granger shows, he has lost the ability to hit the off-speed pitch, batting .225 lower on sliders than last year and .144 lower on change-ups.
Maddox Molony (SS, @OregonBaseball). Struggling after OPSing .969 w/ 15 HR in '25. Disparity vs off-speed year-over-year.
One Duck that has been good his whole career, but really exploded this season is third baseman Drew Smith. He really worked on his swing in the offseason and it seems his batting average speed has really taken off. He is leading the team in batting at .386, home runs, with 10, and RBIs, at 38. His OPS is third in the conference behind Penn State’s Michael Anderson (Sorry for bringing him up again.) and UCLA’s Will Gasparino (Who you will find near the top of nearly every offensive category.). Oh, and by the way he is probably the best defensive third baseman in the Big Ten.
— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) April 3, 2026
One player who has been slumping recently but is capable of changing the outcome of a series with the power in his bat is Dominic Hellman. Listed at 6’6” and 281 lbs, the senior hit 13 home runs in his first healthy season last year, and despite his recent lack of success still has 7 doubles and 8 home runs on the season, including hitting 4 home runs in an earlier series against Northwestern.
One freshman to keep track of, that may be the next great Oregon player is right fielder Angel Laya. Their top recruit is batting .296, but is second on the team in home runs with 9. He also has 25 runs scored and 28 RBIs.
Oregon has the best bullpen Nebraska has seen in a while. The staff as a whole is 2nd in the nation in WHIP at 1.13. Closer Devin Bell transferred in from D-II Western Oregon. He was the closer there as a freshman and sophomore, before becoming an All-American starter as a junior. He has 7 saves this season, an ERA of 4.26, 11 strikeouts and 5 walks in 12.2 innings.
The guy the Ducks go get to get them out of a jam is sophomore Tanner Bradley. After not seeing the field much as a freshman, with only 4 appearances, he is leading the team with 15 this year. And it’s not hard to see why. In his 25.1 innings, he has struck out 41 batters and walked 8. His 1.42 ERA leads the regular on the team as well.
The other regular out of the pen is former top ranked pitcher out of the state of Nebraska Michael Meckna. The Elkhorn South grad is second on the team with 14 appearances, and has struck out 18 in 17.1 innings.
The Ducks are an elite defensive team, fielding at 98.1% on the season, good enough for 4th in the Big Ten currently, behind Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.
Series History
This is the first regular season matchup between the Huskers and Ducks. You may remember their only previous meeting, a 7-3 Nebraska win over the top seeded Oregon team in that horrible pool play structure.
On Deck
This is the Huskers’ first weekend series where both teams are ranked since 2015. When #17 Maryland swept #18 Nebraska in College Park, MD.
Former Oregon Duck Mac Moyer is leading the Big Ten in both batting average (.406) and hits (52). He is 3rd in on base % (.500) behind Iowa’s Miles Risley, and former Husker and current Purdue Boilermaker Aaron Manias.
The NU pitching staff is holding opponents to a .215 batting average against, currently besting the previous low this century of .227 in 2005.
New uniforms, new roster moves — but are the Royals finding answers on the field?
In this episode of the Royals Rundown Podcast, hosts Jacob Milham and Jeremy “Hokius” Greco break down the latest developments surrounding the Kansas City Royals, from recent roster transactions to ongoing performance concerns. The discussion covers the return of Eli Morgan, bullpen adjustments, and what recent moves signal about the team’s strategy as the season unfolds.
A key focus is the Royals’ continued struggles with runners in scoring position, diving into whether the issue is mechanical, mental, or simply variance —and what it means for the team’s offensive ceiling moving forward. The duo also evaluates bullpen reliability and identifies potential bright spots emerging from recent performances.
Off the field, the conversation shifts to the highly anticipated Royals City Connect uniforms, with a detailed breakdown of the design, symbolism, and fan reception. Jacob and Jeremy also draft their favorite City Connect uniforms from this year’s release, comparing Kansas City’s look to standout designs from teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves.
To wrap things up, the episode previews the upcoming Royals vs. White Sox series, highlighting key matchups, pitching outlooks, and what Kansas City needs to do to gain momentum. Blending analysis, culture, and fan-focused discussion, this episode keeps Royals fans informed and engaged as the season progresses.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 4: Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches in the fourth inning during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 4, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
A few days ago, I was looking up Jesús Luzardo on Baseball Savant, as one does. Due to a typo, though, I accidentally searched for “Jesús Lizardo”. I expected to be redirected to Luzardo’s page. Instead, though, I was brought to a page on the very real Jesus Lizardo, a catcher who was in the Pirates organization last year. After I got over my crushing disappointment that Lizardo isn’t a version of Luzardo from an alternate universe in which everyone is a reptile (Crocodile Sánchez and Aaron Anole-a round out the Reptillian Phillie rotation), I got to thinking: does every Phillie have a similar-name Doppelgänger out there? And so, I now present to you, the Phillies All-Doppelgänger team. They mostly didn’t play the right positions, and they may not have had star careers (or even major-league careers at all), but they sort of sound like our Phillies.
Pitcher: Jesus Lizardo
Lizardo played with Pittsburgh’s Dominican Summer League squads in 2024 and 2025. Given that he slashed a career .331/.244/.575, it seems unlikely that we will ever see the dream of a Luzardo/Lizardo battery in the bigs. Oh well.
Catcher: JT Riddle
Our BCIB is the only player in major league history with the name Realmuto. The only player to ever reach the bigs with a vaguely similar surname is Richard Realf, a pitcher who played for one season with Cleveland in 1901 (and who went by the name Dick Braggins, which you could do in 1901 without drawing laughs). Instead, we’ll go with Realmuto’s initial-buddy JT Riddle (no periods after the J and T, unlike Realmuto). Riddle played in parts of six seasons with Miami, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Cincinnati. He didn’t pose much of a riddle for opposing pitchers, posting a career OPS of .616.
First Base: Bryan Harper
In 2011, the Washington Nationals drafted B. Harper, who played at Las Vegas High School, then the College of Southern Nevada. “But wait!”, you’re saying. “Bryce was drafted in 2010!”. Yes, he was. 2008’s B. Harper was Bryan, Bryce’s brother. A southpaw reliever, Bryan played in the Nationals organization from 2011 to 2019. He also has the distinction of being drafted by the same club twice, having been a Washington pick in 2008, too. That being the case, and being the older brother, he came first— Bryce is actually his doppelgänger.
Second Base: Bob Stotts
“Stott the presses,”, the assembled Stotts cried in 2022, “one of our own has made the show!” A number of Stotts had played pro baseball, starting with John Stott in 1892, but none had made it to the bigs until Bryson. The closest name match among them was Bob Stotts, who had a single pro season with the Dodgers organization, playing for the Sooner State League’s Seminole Ironmen, and the Southwest International League’s marvelously named Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings.
Shortstop: Trey Turner
In 2017, the Washington Nationals decided one Trea Turner wasn’t enough. See, they already had Trea Turner at shortstop. But the 10th round of the 2017 draft offered them the opportunity to draft another one. Sure, he wasn’t quite the same— he was a pitcher, for one thing, and for another, he spelled his name with a y. Between the Trea/ys Turner and the Harper brothers, the 2010s Nationals seemed to be going for some sort of strategy involving confusing the other team as to who they were actually facing. Abbott and Costello would’ve been proud.
Third Base: Alec Byrd
Only one Bohm has ever made the bigs. But there have been a quartet of other Alec Bs in pro baseball. The closest name match among them is Alec Byrd, a reliever who came out of Florida State and played three seasons with the Rockies and Reds organizations.
Left Field: Brandon Moss
And, at long last, we actually have a doppelgänger at the right position. And the right team, too! Brandon Moss played over a decade in the bigs, starting with the BoSox, but eventually making his way to the Phillies for the 2011 season (though he appeared in only five games). His best year came in Oakland, where he was named to the 2014 AL All-Star team.
Center Field: Jim Crawford
A lefty pitcher, Jim Crawford played two seasons with Houston and three with Detroit from 1973-1978. He went by the nickname of Catfish. Crawfish seems like it would’ve been the more appropriate ichthyology-based nickname, plus he wouldn’t have had to share it with the more famous Hunter.
Right Field: Adonis García
Only one player in professional baseball history has had the name Adolis, and he’s a Phillie. But Adonis García, who played parts of three seasons with Atlanta from 2015-2017, is just one letter away.
Closer: Jhonny Duran
He was indeed a pitcher, and his name sounds an awful lot like our flamethrowing Durantula. But Jhonny didn’t have quite the same stuff as Jhoan, and made it only as far as the Rangers’ Dominican Summer League team.
April 3, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; The bat and helmet of Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp (27) on the grass during the spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
For the second game in a row, the Tulsa Drillers got to double digits in runs scored, this time needing every bit of it to take the 12-9 win over the Springfield Cardinals with some late game drama—one of three wins on Thursday from the Dodgers’ top four minor league teams.
Player of the day
As one would imagine with the amount of runs they’ve been scoring as of late, the Tulsa Drillers are getting outstanding production from their best players, and that starts with Kendall George at the top of the batting order. Getting the day off from the field, George was the DH and managed to reach base safely in four out of six plate appearances, responsible for a quarter of the runs that the Drillers scored.
Getting good pitches to hit, considering most pitchers didn’t want to have to deal with Josue De Paula behind him, George went 3 for 5 with a double and also walked once—the highlight of his performance was a go-ahead single in the ninth, then giving the Drillers a 10-9 lead.
A massive threat on the basepaths, George would also steal a base in that 10th inning, his fifth one this season, in which he has yet to be caught.
Triple-A Oklahoma City
River Ryan did his best to keep the Express off the scoreboard in a game in which he clearly didn’t have it, allowing eight hitters to reach safely in 4.1 innings of work with just two earned runs. However, the Comets ultimately fell on the losing end of a tightly contested affair, dropping it 6-5.
Both teams finished the game with the same 13 hits, but while walks weren’t that much of a problem for Ryan, every reliever who came out of the Comets’ bullpen suffered with them—the Comets’ relievers combined to put eight men on, while the opposing team only allowed three free passes.
One of the stars of these first few games of the minor league season, James Tibbs III struggled heavily, going 0 for 4 with a Golden Sombrero—one of the responsible parties for the Comets going 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position and not capitalizing on a four-hit game from leadoff bat Ryan Fitzgerald.
Double-A Tulsa
Ten walks and five stolen bases allowed, it wasn’t a favorable performance for Tulsa pitching, with starter Adam Serwinowski failing to complete two full innings. Still, in the end, their star hitters were too much for the Springfield Cardinals to handle, outhitting the opposition 15 to 7.
Interestingly, the bulk of that damage came on singles, 12 of the Drillers’ 15 hits to be exact—the exceptions being a couple of doubles from George and De Paula, and a two-run bomb from center fielder Harry Newell in the third inning.
One important note about this game is that, evidently, facing the switch-pitching effects of Jurrangelo Cijntje didn’t really affect the Drillers, with 11 men reaching in the three innings of work from the Cardinals’ starting pitcher.
High-A Great Lakes
Southpaw Sterling Patrick was one out short of earning the win, but that shouldn’t minimize a solid performance, allowing all of one hit in 4.2 innings of work against the Whitecaps with seven strikeouts. Unfortunately for Patrick, the walks proved to be a bit of an issue, allowing four of them, thus preventing a longer outing as the Loons won the game 5-2.
The big hit of the game for the Great Lakes came right in the first inning when Logan Wagner hit a two-run bomb. In fact, the Loons really didn’t need much offense after the opening frame, one in which they secured three of their total five hits in the game.
Class-A Ontario
Relentless attack with at least one run scored in each of the first five innings. That’s how the Tower Buzzers secured an 8-3 victory away from home. Luis Carias’ work out of the bullpen was also very important, covering 3.2 innings, as starter Brady Smith once again delivered a short start, a regular occurrence since he joined the Dodger organization last season.
Offensively, designated hitter Jaron Elkins was the standout performer, securing a four-hit game with three runs batted in, including a solo shot, one of three from the Tower Buzzers in the game—joined by Landyn Vidourek and Anson Aroz.
DENVER — Tyson Gross gave Calgary a moment to hold onto late Thursday night in Denver—even if the scoreboard didn’t fully reward it.
The hometown product broke through with his first NHL goal in the final minutes against the Colorado Avalanche, battling at the top of the crease and jamming home a loose puck after a point shot from Matvei Gridin. It was the kind of gritty, hard-earned tally young players dream about—scored not with flash, but with determination in the blue paint.
A Dream Realized—And Nearly Doubled
For Gross, the breakthrough was only part of the story.
Just a few shifts after his first career marker, he appeared to strike again. Stationed near the side of the net, Gross angled his stick perfectly and banked another puck across the goal line, momentarily sending the Flames bench into celebration. For a brief moment, it looked like a storybook night—two goals in quick succession in just his early NHL action.
Zach Whitecloud quick comments following morning skate.
But the jubilation didn’t last.
Following a coach’s challenge from Colorado, the play was ruled offside at the blue line, wiping away what would have been Gross’ second goal of the night. Instead of a multi-goal performance, he was left with a single tally—though one that still carried immense personal significance.
Despite the overturned goal, Gross’ impact was undeniable. In a game where Calgary struggled to generate sustained offense, his net-front presence and willingness to battle stood out.
“I thought he did a great job on his faceoffs,” Flames head coach Ryan Huska stated. “He did a really good job, especially in the third period, winning draws and then going right to the net. He has a presence in front, and he did a good job of banging—or whacking—a rebound in. We’re excited for him to score his first goal in the NHL.”
Even in a 3-1 loss—sealed late by an empty-net goal from Nathan MacKinnon—Gross delivered a glimpse of what could be more to come.
A Much Better Effort
Speaking with several Flames players prior to the game—including Zach Whitecloud and Morgan Frost—the message was clear: they wanted a far better showing than their March 30 loss, when they were routed 9-2 by this same Avalanche team.
While the lineup wasn’t identical—Nazem Kadri, who had been dealt back to Colorado at the deadline, was unavailable due to a broken finger—the response from Calgary was noticeably different.
Despite another loss, the Flames didn’t go quietly. They competed for every inch of the ice from the opening puck drop. Dustin Wolf, who was pulled in that previous meeting after allowing four goals on 16 shots in less than half a period, bounced back in a big way—stopping 38 of 40 shots and giving Calgary a chance throughout the night.
If the Flames can continue to bring this level of effort, while retooling, drafting well, and steadily improving their roster, this is a team that could become one to watch in the near future. There’s no shame in this performance—only signs of progress.
MINNEAPOLIS — Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows was sent to a hospital for overnight observation after he collided head-to-head with teammate Riley Greene as they converged for a fly ball.
Greene made the catch, and Meadows landed on his back in a daze, barely moving with his hands pointed up and blood appearing on his face. After a few minutes, Meadows was able to sit up. Medical personnel slowly helped him stand and move toward a cart that was waiting to take him away.
“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said after the game against Minnesota at Target Field. “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”
Meadows had a concussion, manager A.J. Hinch said after the Tigers lost 3-1 to the Twins and were swept in the four-game series. The collision caused Meadows to bite the inside of his mouth, which led to the bleeding.
“We’re going to get him checked out for everything, but this one worries me,” Hinch said.
Josh Bell led off the eighth inning for Minnesota with a shallow fly to left-center that Greene appeared to be calling for as he and Meadows ran toward the ball. Meadows tried slowing up and backing off at the last second. But his face appeared to slam against Greene’s head, sending both players tumbling to the grass.
“It’s a perfect tweener, and you have two guys who like to go and get it,” catcher Jake Rogers said. “It’s a scary thing.”
Meadows has started 11 of 13 games in center field for the Tigers this season. Matt Vierling made the other two starts. Meadows went 0 for 3 and is batting .250 with two extra-base hits.
The 26-year-old Meadows, who was a second-round draft pick by the Tigers in 2018, made his major league debut in 2023. He missed the first two months of last season with a nerve problem in his upper right arm. Then he missed more than a month with a shoulder injury and finished with a .215 average and a .621 OPS.
The NBA rings in the final weekend of the regular season in a big way. Tonight’s slate features all 30 teams in action – in one form or another.
Basketball bettors are going to miss days like this when the playoffs limit us to a handful of matchups and a barren odds board. For now, let’s make the most of a monster night in the Association.
With motivations mixed across the NBA, I’m going to stick to teams with something to play for Friday. Here are my best NBA prop picks and predictions for April 10.
The Atlanta Hawks are still trying to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, with the No. 5 seed within reach. A loss at Cleveland Wednesday was a set back but Atlanta gets another crack at the Cavs Friday.
With Cleveland pretty much parked in the No. 4 spot, the Cavaliers are sitting some starters, including center Jarrett Allen. That opens up the interior and has me looking to Onyeka Okongwu’s rebounding total.
Okongwu finished with only five boards Wednesday as both teams shot better than 47% from the field. The second of two straight matchups will see that shooting success dip, especially with key players out for Cleveland. That will prompt more rebounding chances.
What’s more, the Cavaliers opted to guard Okongwu with James Harden at times Wednesday and without Allen patrolling the paint, the Hawks 6-foot-10 forward can hit the offensive glass against smaller checks.
He’s averaged 7.5 rebounds on 12.8 rebounding chances over the past 23 games and grabbed eight or more rebounds in three of his last five games (two games with seven). Player projections range from 8.0 to 10+ boards tonight.
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
Prop #2: Mikal Bridges Over 12.5 points
-110 at bet365
Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, I’m never betting on Mikal Bridges again.
The New York Knicks small forward looked like he was going to make good on my Over 12.5 points prop bet for him against Boston last night. He started the game with a quick seven points and sat with 10 points early into the second half.
That’s where he would finish. Ouch.
New York is back in action tonight against Toronto with the Knicks trying to hold on to the No. 3 spot in the East. And I’m back on Bridges to top this same point total.
Bridges shot well before opting not to (he dished out six assists), finishing 4 for 4 with two triples last night. He’s hitting at a 53% clip over his last eight outings, putting up 13 or more points in six of those contests. Bridges has played well versus Toronto, scoring 11, 14, 15, and 30 points in four meetings this season.
Tonight’s projections paint the same picture they did yesterday, with Bridges forecasted for at least 14 points. I’ll bite. Again.
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where to watch: NBC, MSG, TSN, Peacock
Prop #3: Paolo Banchero Over 22.5 points
-110 at bet365
Just a couple weeks ago, Paolo Banchero was the hottest scorer in the land. The Orlando Magic small forward has cooled considerably since the start of April, putting up more than 20 points only twice in his last five games.
Luckily for him and the Magic, the Bulls are on deck Friday night. Orlando is fighting to get out of the Play-In Tournament, sitting half a game out of the No. 6 seed cutoff with two contests to go.
Chicago is one of the worst defenses and rolls out a patchwork rotation that is missing a ton of size inside. The 6-foot-10 Banchero can get to the rim for easy buckets against a Bulls interior allowing more than 58 points in the paint over the last 10 outings.
Scoring forecasts all sit north of this 22.5 O/U with most models at 24+ points Friday. Banchero has scored 24 and 31 points in his past two meetings with Chicago.
FYI: I also don’t hate his Over 8.5 rebounds (+100) with projections flirting with nine rebounds. Chicago is playing the second night of back-to-back games and lost center Guerschon Yabusele to an injury last night.
Time: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where to watch: Chicago Sports Network, FanDuel Sports Florida, WESH
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Raphielle Johnson
Onyeka Okongwu
Mikal Bridges
Paolo Banchero