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NBA Survey: Canis Pulsus Vol. 48 – Final Report Cards & Predictions

We’re about 24 hours away from game one! Before the Minnesota Timberwolves begin on their postseason quest, let’s review their performance throughout the 82-game regular season. We had 42 voters chime in on their player grades as well as what they think will happen in the playoffs in…

Canis Pulsus Vol. 48 – Final Report Card & Playoff Predictions

(Note: Canis Pulsus Vol. 48 data was collected through 4/15)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 5: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves smiles after the game against the Charlotte Hornets on April 5, 2026 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Anthony Edwards

A- (47.6%)

Quarter 1: A- (47.1%)
Semester 1: A (40.3%)
Quarter 3: A- (34%)

Ant finishes the season with an A- grade, right around where he was all season. It feels like while Edwards leveled up in certain areas of his game, while there’s still some glaring holes in other areas. Worst of all, this was the most amount of games he’s missed in a season. He missed 21 games with a good chunk of those coming near the end of the season. As they say, the Wolves will only go as far as Ant can take them.

Full voting results:

Julius Randle

B (33.3% each)

Quarter 1: B+ (38.2%)
Semester 1: A / B+ (31.9% each)
Quarter 3: B (28%)

If you had to plot Julius Randle’s effectiveness throughout the season, it would look like a damn seismograph. High peaks early, immediately turning into low valleys, spiking up and down the rest of the way. Randle almost got the Andrew Wiggins “The Best Ability to Availability” award had he not been shut down for the final three games of the season for rest. His Hyde and Jekyll tendencies will be a huge factor in the postseason.

Full voting results:

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 25: Jaden McDaniels #3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the Houston Rockets in the third quarter at Target Center on March 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 110-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Jaden McDaniels

B+ (34.1% each)

Quarter 1: A- / B+ (35.3%)
Semester 1: A / A- (31% each)
Quarter 3: A- (34%)

It felt like Jaden was having a career-best season, especially early on. Despite some regression later in the year, Slim still finished with career-highs in scoring, shooting, and playmaking. The consistency must improve if he truly wants to emerge as that long-term second star next to Ant that many are hoping for. Perhaps most importantly, his mental game must keep improving. We had a fair share of “Jaden getting lost in the game” due the return of foul issues or other shenanigans.

Full voting results:

Rudy Gobert

B+ (31%)

Quarter 1: B+ (35.3%)
Semester 1: A (33.3%)
Quarter 3: A (28%)

Rudy finished the season as the league-leader in field goal percentage. He was fairly consistent and reliable as that “floor raiser” the Wolves have become used to. Gobert will surely end up on another All-Defensive team after a solid season. Opponents keep trying him in isolation situations, and they keep failing. Rudy did struggle at the charity stripe this season though, reverting to his first sub-60% season in 10 years.

Full voting results:

Donte DiVincenzo

B (35.7%)

Quarter 1: B (35.3%)
Semester 1: B (34.7%)
Quarter 3: B+ (36%)

The real Mr. 82 has been solidly “good” all season. Sometimes great, sometimes not so much, but for the most part, consistent. Donte saw a spike in playing time this season, averaging a career-high 30.4 minutes per game. He launched and sank more three-pointers than he did in his first season with Minnesota, but the efficiency has ticked down at all three levels. No matter how his stroke is feeling, the Big Ragu always is going to put his body on the line and make the hustle plays.

Full voting results:

DALLAS, TEXAS – MARCH 30: Ayo Dosunmu #13 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the third quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on March 30, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ayo Dosunmu

A (42.9%)

Quarter 3: B+ (28%)

Ayo received the highest grade of any player and it’s much deserved. In just 26 games with the Wolves, Dosunmu notched 14.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on elite shooting splits (.521/.414/.925). He has simply been amazing and will hopefully be a part of the Timberwolves organization for a long, long time. He’s truly one of the biggest X-factors for Minnesota in their postseason run.

Full voting results:

Naz Reid

B(50%)

Quarter 1: B- (35.3%)
Semester 1: B (40.8%)
Quarter 3: B+ (34%)

What a rollercoaster of a season it’s been for Naz. It began with a really tough start to the season on the heels of a heart-breaking family tragedy. He eventually found his form as the year progressed, but has been dealing with a bevy of injuries recently. Naz is trying to get right before the postseason starts because he will play a big role in Minnesota’s success.

Full voting results:

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 2: Kyle Anderson #12 of the Minnesota Timberwolves handles the ball during the game against the Detroit Pistons on April 2, 2026 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Kyle Anderson

B+ (31.7%)

The Wolves welcomed back their Chinese-Jamaican King! SlowMo has been deployed early and often by Coach Finch. After playing just 24 of 57 possible games this season between Utah and Memphis, Anderson played in 19 of 21 possible games with Minnesota. He’s picked up almost exactly where he left off on the defensive end of the court. You can bet he’s going to see the court during the postseason.

Full voting results:

Mike Conley

C- (28.6%)

Quarter 1: C (29.4%)
Semester 1: C- (23.9%)
Quarter 3: C (30.6%)

Minnesota Mike played in 46 of the Wolves first 60 games, which included a 2-3 week vacation during the NBA trade deadline. Then he essentially received 12 straight healthy scratches after that. Conley has since found opportunities on the court amid Minnesota’s injury spell, and he has taken advantage of those opportunities. Most importantly, he’s hit 45.2% of his three-pointers after shooting just 31.1% earlier in the season. Can he have one more magic (Mike) moment in the playoffs?

Full voting results:

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – MARCH 25: Bones Hyland #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates against the Houston Rockets in the third quarter at Target Center on March 25, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Rockets 110-108 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Bones Hyland

B (29.3%)

Quarter 1: Incomplete
Semester 1: B+ (30%)
Quarter 3: B / B- (26.5% each)

Bones has been a revelation for the Wolves this year. Not quite as consistent or versatile as the other half of Twin Turbos, Hyland has provided much-needed bench scoring amid Naz Reid’s struggles. He’s having the most efficient season scoring the ball and is a spark plug that galvanizes both his teammates and fans. The Skelly Celly has also taken a grip around all of Minnesota.

Full voting results:

Jaylen Clark

C (23.8%)

Quarter 1: B+ (21.2%)
Semester 1: B- (31.9%)
Quarter 3: C (22%)

There were a lot of high hopes for Clark County’s role this year. The defensive hole that Nickeil Alexander-Walker left behind was one that many thought Clark could step into, and despite some early season success, has found himself in a bit of a doghouse. Finch has only played Jaylen in 14 of the team’s final 22 games, and under 10 minutes in half of those games. The infamous stat of the Wolves record when Clark plays 15 minutes of more concludes at 20-5, for now.

Full voting results:

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 12: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 reacts as Joe Ingles #7 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Target Center on April 12, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Pelicans 132-126. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Terrence Shannon Jr.

B (24.4%)

Quarter 1: C+ (26.5%)
Semester 1: Incomplete
Quarter 3: Incomplete

TJ Shannon, similar to Clark, was expected to have a significant role with the Wolves this season. Unfortunately, he floundered early. He received just a C+ grade for the Quarter 1 Progress Report, then went missing in action due to a nagging foot injury for the next two quarters of the season. Shannon finished with a bang in this final quarter. Well, more like his final three games, where he averaged 27.3 points on 55.6% shooting from the floor. TJ sunk 3.3 threes and 7.3 free throws during that stretch, just a glimpse of his full potential.

Full voting results:

Joan Beringer

B (26.2%)

Quarter 1: Incomplete
Semester 1: B+ (30%)
Quarter 3: B (22%)

The 19-year-old Frenchman appeared in 40 regular season games, but just double-digit minutes in seven of those games. Finch has been very selective with how he’s deployed the rookie much to the fans chagrin. There’s been enough flashes to be optimistic about his near-term and long-term future. Joan dominated by averaging a double-double in 11 G League games with Iowa, so hopefully we can see him continue next season with Minnesota.

Full voting results:

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – APRIL 2026: Minnesota Timberwolves forward Joe Ingles (7) basket in the second quarter at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans, final regular season game. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images

Joe Ingles

A+ (33.3%)

Quarter 1: Incomplete
Semester 1: Incomplete
Quarter 3: Incomplete

Joe Ingles played basketball! Well, 5.7 minutes in 27 games may not seem like much, that’s actually more than the 19 games he appeared in a season ago. Joe is always bringing the good vibes and as the kids say, “Unc still got it!” In his only non-garbage time game of the season, Ingles posted 15 points, 6 boards, and 10 assists against the Pelicans in game 82! A+ for Joe.

Full voting results:

Rocco Zikarsky / Julian Phillips/ Enrique Freeman / Zyon Pullin

Incomplete

The three two-way players and Julian Phillips each had strong seasons and performances with the Iowa Wolves, helping them end their 11-year playoff drought. They didn’t have any true opportunities to play a meaningful role with the Timberwolves, but if you want to hear more about their seasons, check out my Iowa Wolves coverage.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – APRIL 07: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on April 07, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Coaching staff

B (38.1%)

Quarter 1: B (29.4%)
Semester 1: B+ (33.8%)
Quarter 3: B+ (30%)

Every year, we hear the “Fire Finch” chants. Every year, he proves how silly that would’ve been. This hasn’t been a banner regular season for Chris Finch, but is it all his fault? There’s fervent voices on both sides of this argument, but he has notched the same record with the Wolves as he did last season. There’s been considerably more injuries and roster losses, though many still thought Minnesota should’ve taken a step forward.

Full voting results:

Front office

A (28.6%)

Quarter 1: B (29.4%)
Semester 1: A- (31.9%)
Quarter 3: A (28.6%)

The front office did a great job at the trade deadline and putting together the Twin Turbos. Hindsight always makes it easy to nitpick though. Choosing Naz over NAW. Choosing Rob Dillingham. But in the meantime, the Wolves still have a lot of value on their roster and have the opportunity to keep the core together long-term this summer. There may be a lot of changes in the offseason, but Tim Connelly has done well once again.

Full voting results:

MINNEAPOLIS, MN. – APRIL 2026 Kevin Garnett acknowledges the crowd at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Behind Garnett is his daughter Kavalli. The Hall of Fame forward and all-time franchise leader in nearly every major statistical category walked into the arena after player introductions, receiving a roar from the crowd and patting his heart with his hand. Garnett, who had a falling out with previous owner Glen Taylor after his career was over, reached an agreement last year with the team to serve as an ambassador. His No. 21 jersey will be retired at a later date. Minnesota Timberwolves vs. New Orleans Pelicans, final regular season game. (Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) | Star Tribune via Getty Images

Ownership

A (26.8% each)

Quarter 1: B (26.5%)
Semester 1: A (31.9%)
Quarter 3: A / B+ (20% each)

Wolves fans finally got to enjoy the return of Kevin Garnett at Target Center. It was a beautiful night of basketball with a ton of highlights from the young guys and good vibes all around. Ownership has done their part to make fans enjoy the overall experience this season, but they may need to consider how to get them in the seats with the decline of attendance and rising prices.

Full voting results:

What will be the result of the round one Denver Nuggets matchup?

Wolves in 7 (28.6%)

The result is not too surprising with just 59.5% of voters going with the Timberwolves. There was a dueling pair of 21.4% of votes for Wolves in 6 and Nuggets in 6. Either way, fans are expecting a long and drawn out series between two teams who are 14-14 against each other in all-time postseason games.

Full voting results:

The key for the Timberwolves to defeat the Nuggets is…

Defense and limiting Jamal Murray

More than half the responses included locking in on the defensive end and limiting the non-Jokić players, particularly Jamal Murray. In his four regular season matchups against Minnesota this year, Murray averaged 31.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. That’s pretty good. The Wolves cannot simply rely on one of two players to slow him down though, as it will be a total team effort.

My hot take from the Wolves-Nuggets series is…

No ice packs will be harmed this time around

In case you forgot, Jamal Murray threw objects onto the court from the bench during a live play that could’ve severely injured players, yet received nothing but a fine.

I was glad to see there was a voter who felt certain that this wouldn’t be the case this time. Some other interesting answers included:

  • Jokic will not get a triple double
  • TJ Shannon will provide solid bench scoring
  • Jaden McDaniels will average more than 20 points per game
  • Ayo will be too much for Denver to handle
  • Kyle Anderson will have a triple-double
  • Jamal Murray crashes out
  • Chris Finch will get out coached again and his seat will be burning hot
  • Core vs non-core for next season will become obvious
DENVER, COLORADO – MARCH 1: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Minnesota Timberwolves celebrates the win against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 1, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the regular season over, my feelings on the direction of the Timberwolves are…

Slightly optimistic (61.9%)

Preseason: Very optimistic (63.3%)
Quarter 1: Slightly optimistic (61.8%)
Semester 1: Very optimistic (70.8%)
Quarter 3: Slightly optimistic (54%)

There’s reason to not be overly optimistic considering the difficult task Minnesota has ahead of them. This iteration of the Wolves hasn’t stormed the league, but anything is possible in the playoffs. Will Ant, Jaden, and Naz be at close to full health? Will a fully rested Julius pay dividends? How about the debut of playoff Ayo and Twin Turbos)? There’s plenty of questions ahead.

Full voting results:

The Minnesota Timberwolves finish the season with a 3.19 GPA, just a slight dip from their 3.26 third quarter grades. That’s still an improvement from the 3.05 they finished with last season! Thank you to all who have participated.

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Guardians News and Notes: Let’s Do That Again

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 16: Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Parker Messick (77) stands on the mound after pitching eighth no-hit innings to start the ninth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Guardians on April 16, 2026, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Guardians got a big opening series win vs. The Orioles last night, featuring fans getting excited about Parker Messick and worried about Cade Smith.

Here’s Zack Meisel’s recap of the no-hit bid from Messick. He extolled Austin Hedges’ work behind the plate:

Stephen Vogt talked a little about Cade’s struggles:

Paul Hoynes has news about pranks Stephen Vogt has played on Orioles’ manager Craig Albernaz.

AROUND MLB:

The Tigers beat the Royals and the White Sox lost.

Mike Trout became the first visiting player in the history of Yankee stadium to homer in four straight games.

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Who will win Stanley Cup? 2026 NHL playoff predictions, bracket and picks

The 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs are wide open after the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers missed the postseason.

There are plenty of recent Stanley Cup winners in the field, such as the Vegas Golden Knights (2023), Colorado Avalanche (2022) and Tampa Bay Lightning (2020, 2021).

And there are teams that are back in the hunt after long absences, such as the Buffalo Sabres, Anaheim Ducks, Utah Mammoth, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins.

So who survives the four-round grind and gets to skate around the ice with the Stanley Cup in June? USA TODAY's Mike Brehm, Jace Evans and Kevin Skiver make their predictions:

NHL playoff schedule: Dates, TV, streaming for first-round games

Mike Brehm, USA TODAY

Stanley Cup Final: Colorado Avalanche vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup winner: Colorado Avalanche

Playoff MVP: Nathan MacKinnon

Yes, I know that the Presidents' Trophy winner rarely wins the Stanley Cup, but this Avalanche team is deep and has run the gauntlet before. The same applies to the Lightning. Both teams are coached by Stanley Cup winners who know how to push the right buttons. The Avalanche will prevail again in a rematch of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final.

Jace Evans, USA TODAY

Stanley Cup Final: Montreal Canadiens vs. Edmonton Oilers

Stanley Cup winner: Edmonton Oilers

Playoff MVP: Connor McDavid

Canada, rejoice! Your drought will end! Or, I think it will, anyways. Yes, I am putting a lot of faith in the Connor Ingram (or Tristan Jarry!) Experience in net, but I am also putting my faith in Connor McDavid, the best player in the NHL. He just wrapped up his sixth scoring title and has led the playoffs in scoring three of the past four seasons. He's a proven postseason performer in the prime of his career. You could say the same for Leon Draisaitl, assuming he's on the verge of a return. The biggest factor for Edmonton, though, might be its potential postseason path — the Pacific Division road is the smoothest, on paper.

Kevin Skiver, USA TODAY

Stanley Cup Final: Dallas Stars vs Tampa Bay Lightning

Stanley Cup winner: Dallas Stars

Playoff MVP: Mikko Rantanen

The Stars have been knocking on the door in the playoffs for a while, but something in the West has continued to hold them back. This year, they harness that experience and get over the hump to win the Stanley Cup, overcoming a Lightning team with a wealth of experience itself.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NHL playoff predictions 2026: Who wins Stanley Cup? Conn Smythe?

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Opinion: A Goal Is A Goal – The Race To The Rocket Richard Trophy

Since Montreal Canadiens’ sniper Cole Caufield climbed up the goal scorer list to eventually come short of catching up to Colorado Avalanche ace Nathan MacKinnon, who currently has 53 goals with one game to play, there have been a lot of comments about the nature of the Rocket Richard Trophy winner-to-be’s goals. Many have lamented the fact that the leading scorer has eight empty-netters to his name this season, while Caufield has none.

If empty netters were removed from the equation, the Habs’ leading goal scorer would be first in the league with 51 goals, followed by MacKinnon with 45 goals, and a pair of Dallas Stars forwards, Jason Robertson and Wyatt Johnston, who both have 44 goals.

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While that’s an interesting stat, it just doesn’t matter. The Rocket Richard trophy was created to reward the league’s top scorer, the player who got the puck across the goal line the most times. Whichever way you look at it, that’s the way it’s defined in the NHL, and there had never been chatter about taking empty netters out of the equation before this season.

Whichever way you score a goal, it’s a goal, and it counts, as long as it’s in the game. The same cannot be said about the shootout, but that’s a whole different animal since it’s not during an actual game, but rather in what amounts to a one-on-one duel.

While an argument can be made about empty netters being easier to score, the same could probably be said about overtime goals, which are scored while playing three-on-three, which some would say is not proper hockey. Caufield leads the league in overtime goals this season with five, while MacKinnon has only one.

It’s easy to understand the Canadiens’ fanbase’s disappointment with the fact that Caufield was ultimately unable to win the Trophy that commemorates the career of one of the biggest names in Habs’ history, but the American is still young and in the early stages of his career. He’s 25 years old and has only played 368 NHL games so far; there are plenty more to come, and he won’t forget how to score goals. Patience, Canadiens’ fans, Caufield will be in the conversation for that trophy for years to come, and something tells me it’s only a matter of time before he captures it.

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Flyers' Travis Sanheim Deserves Credit for This Insane Stat

The Philadelphia Flyers made the Stanley Cup playoffs largely through hard work and discipline, and one veteran leader took the discipline part literally.

Going back to the Olympic break, the Flyers have been one of the least disciplined teams in the NHL with one of the least effective penalty kills, and special teams would have cost them a playoff spot if they didn't tread carefully.

According to Natural Stat Trick, the Flyers gave up 19 goals on the penalty kill over their last 26 games of the season, which is the fourth-most in the NHL dating back to Feb. 22.

Travis Sanheim, a penalty kill mainstay and the Flyers' No. 1 defenseman, went the entire final 26 games of the season without taking a single penalty.

That streak led to him playing 79:33 shorthanded, 16 minutes more than the next-closest player, Cam York, who played 63:25.

Flyers' Porter Martone Explains Viral Hat PhotoFlyers' Porter Martone Explains Viral Hat PhotoBy now, you may have seen the photo, now effectively a meme, of <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> rookie Porter Martone rocking a suit and large fedora. According to Martone, there is a story behind it all.

Over the course of the full season, Sanheim allowed 7.98 goals against per 60 minutes while shorthanded, while Rasmus Ristolainen (8.14), York (9.13), Emil Andrae (15.67), and Jamie Drysdale (15.98) were all more porous to varying degrees.

With that math in mind, we can only imagine how much worse the Flyers' penalty kill would have been without Sanheim.

In addition to keeping Andrae and Drysdale off the ice for special teams purposes, Sanheim's play had an impact on the overall lineup, too.

Much to the chagrin of Flyers fans, head coach Rick Tocchet had a penchant for substituting Andrae out with veteran Noah Juulsen specifically to utilize the latter on the penalty kill when needed.

But, from Feb. 22 to Game 82, Andrae led all Flyers defensemen in Corsi per 60 (53.6), Corsi percentage (52.08%), expected goals percentage (57.15%), scoring chance percentage (53.88%), and high-danger Corsi percentage (59.34%) at 5-on-5.

Matvei Michkov Was Clutch When Flyers Needed Him MostMatvei Michkov Was Clutch When Flyers Needed Him MostAfter becoming an afterthought, Flyers star Matvei Michkov stole back the spotlight and took his team to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

So, because Sanheim simply stayed out of the box and played hard for the final 26 games, a ripple effect occurred that benefitted the entire Flyers team.

Andrae, despite playing 69 minutes less at 5-on-5 than every other Flyers regular on defense, was one of their most effective, and he may not have gotten the opportunity if the disciplinary issues and lackluster penalty kill had gotten any worse.

In such an event, it would have been very easy to tempt Tocchet into turning to a trusted veteran when the stakes were highest.

Instead, Tocchet and the Flyers regularly iced their best lineup and reaped the rewards, culminating in their first playoff berth since 2020.

Sanheim, while not overly vocal, did his job as a respected leader on this team and led the defense by example.

The results followed, and now the Flyers get to compete for a Stanley Cup.

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Orioles news: The O’s almost made the wrong kind of history

CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 16: Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles reacts after striking out swinging during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on April 16, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Good morning, Camden Chatters.

Remember four days ago, when the Orioles were in first place? It was fun while it lasted. The momentum arrow has swung decisively downward since then, with the O’s suffering three straight losses to drop back under .500 for the season.

Last night in Cleveland, the Orioles didn’t just lose. They nearly ended up a patsy for their opponent’s bid for the history books. Guardians rookie Parker Messick, making just his 11th major league start, kept the O’s hitless into the ninth inning. The Birds were on the brink of being no-hit for the first time since Hisashi Iwakuma in August 2015. Messick is having a sensational year in the early goings, but the Orioles’ performance last night didn’t make fans feel much better about the erratic O’s offense thus far. John Beers recapped all the action, of which there wasn’t much.

If there’s room for positivity, it should be noted that the Birds put up a heck of a fight in that ninth inning. Leody Taveras broke up the no-no with a leadoff single, and three other Orioles strung together hits after him, plating a pair of runs as the Guardians were forced to turn to their closer, Cade Smith. In fact the O’s might well have tied the game if not for a game-ending diving stop at second base by Juan Brito that robbed Samuel Basallo of a hit. What a comeback that would have been. I suppose the Orioles already used up their “no hits for eight innings followed by an incredible game-winning rally in the ninth” magic on Yoshinobu Yamamoto last year. You can’t expect lightning to strike twice.

Perhaps that ninth-inning eruption can serve as a spark plug for the O’s offense to put up some runs for the rest of this series. At least they won’t have to worry about facing Parker Messick again (not until the O’s host the Guardians in September, anyway). Whatever it takes, it’s time to start stringing some Ws together. The Orioles have been hovering around mediocrity for a while now. If they’re planning to take a step forward, any chance they can do it soon?

Links

Albernaz’s gift upon return to Cleveland? An office of kid-sized furniture, decor – MLB.com

Guardians skipper Stephen Vogt arranged a welcome-home prank for his BFF Craig Albernaz that poked fun at his diminutive stature. As someone who is the same height as Albernaz, I must object. I only sometimes use kid-sized furniture.

Orioles recall Foster and trade McDermott – School of Roch

It’s been a steep fall for Chayce McDermott, one of the Orioles’ top pitching prospects a couple of years ago who’s now being shipped off for a DSL lottery ticket. Knowing the Dodgers, they’ll of course transform McDermott into an elite reliever.

After pitching for 7 MLB clubs, will RHP Rico Garcia find a home in the O’s bullpen? – Steve Melewski

Watching Rico Garcia pitch this year, you’d never believe that six teams gave up on him, including the Orioles themselves four years ago. Let’s ride this wave however long it lasts.

Should Orioles sign Lucas Giolito? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com

Might as well. By the time he’s ready to pitch in a month, at least eight more O’s pitchers will have gotten injured.

Orioles break up no-hitter against Parker Messick but can’t complete comeback in loss to Guardians – The Baltimore Banner

A bit of advice for the Orioles offense: next time, maybe start getting hits before the ninth inning?

Orioles birthdays and history

Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Three former Orioles were born on this day: right-hander Logan Gillaspie (29), third baseman Craig Worthington (61), and catcher Dave Huppert (69).

On this date in 1965, in a game at Fenway Park, O’s starter Robin Roberts was knocked out of the game after just two innings, giving up five runs. He was replaced by a 19-year-old right-hander who’d signed with the Orioles as an amateur free agent the previous August. The youngster issued a pair of walks and threw a wild pitch but made it through two scoreless innings in his major league debut. His name was Jim Palmer, and one legendary, 19-year career later, he joined Roberts in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

And on this day in 1993, the Orioles somehow ended up with three runners at third base at the same time. With the bags full, Mike Devereaux hit a sinking liner to center that was trapped by the Angels’ Chad Curtis. Jeff Tackett, thinking the ball was caught, headed back to third base, while Brady Anderson jogged from second to third and Chito Martinez motored all the way over from first to third. The Angels tagged the three runners and easily completed a double play. (The only reason it wasn’t a triple play is because there was already one out.)

Random Orioles game of the day

On April 17, 1959, the Orioles beat the visiting Washington Senators, 4-3, at Memorial Stadium. O’s starter Milt Pappas went the distance, holding the Senators to three runs. The Birds trailed 3-1 in the sixth before Jim Finigan’s two-run single knotted the score, and the O’s took the lead in the eighth when Washington walked the bases loaded to set up a Gene Woodling sacrifice fly. A 22-year-old Brooks Robinson did not start but came in as a defensive replacement in the ninth.

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Bernie’s Dugout Open Thread: 4/17-4/23

Sep 10, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; General view of the helmet used by the Milwaukee Brewers before the start of the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images | Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Greetings, Brew Crew Ball community. The Brewers had a rough week, as they were swept by the Nationals and battled with the reigning AL Champion Toronto Blue Jays this week. They’re now back on the road, as they’ll head to Miami and Detroit this week.

Feel free to use this thread to chat about (almost) anything you want: video games, food, movies, non-baseball sports, the Brewers, you name it. As long as it’s appropriate and is allowed by our moderators, it’s fair game here.

You know the drill.

This is now an open thread:

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Phillies News: Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, Power Rankings

Apr 15, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper (42) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs in the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Things are a bit tense in the Phillies fanbase. A series victory against the Braves would do a lot to remedy that. A series loss against them would do a lot to make things tenser.

It’s a three game series, so those are the only two options.

Onto the links.

Phillies news

Andrew Painter has made a good impression so far.

So has Justin Crawford. But could he make an even better one?

It’s been 90 years of Phillies broadcasts on the radio.

The Inquirer surveys the Phillies’ start. ($)

MLB news

The Giants and Reds cleared the benches as their series ended.

Power rankings! Get your power rankings here!

It’s early, but here’s a look at how everyone’s handling the new ABS world.

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Chicago Cubs history unpacked, April 17

Free of charge for the discerning reader.Happy birthday toCap Ansonand a mighty host of others, plus more baseball stories, such as the first pro game, Jackie’s first hit, Sam Snead’s big hit, Mickey LOVED Washington, and the debuts of Clemente, Aparicio, Drysdale and Frank Robinson.

Today in baseball history:

Cubs Birthdays:Roberto Peña, Bob Osborn, Morrie Schick, Scott Perry, Tom Needham, Mike Jacob. Also notable: Cap Anson* HOF

Today in history:

  • 858 – Benedict III’s reign as Catholic Pope ends with his death.
  • 1492 – Christopher Columbus signs a contract with Spanish monarchs King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I to find the “Indies” with the stated goal of converting people to Catholicism. This promises him 10% of all riches found and the governorship of any lands encountered.
  • 1853 – US Marine Hospital at Presidio, San Francisco forms.
  • 1860 – Champion of England Tom Sayers and American John Heenan fight a brutal 2-hour, 27-minute draw that ends only after police stop the fight near Farnborough in England, acknowledged as the first world title bout.
  • 1875 – Modern snooker is invented by Sir Neville Chamberlain, a bored British officer in Jabalpur, India.
  • 1969 – Sirhan Sirhan is convicted of assassinating US Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
  • 1993 – Two Los Angeles police officers convicted in federal court of violating Rodney King‘s civil rights and sentenced to prison, while two others are acquitted, leading to the L. A. Riots. When the riots ended six days later, 63 people had been killed, 2,383 had been injured, more than 12,000 had been arrested, and estimates of property damage were over $1 billion.
  • 2015 – American jazz composer and saxophonist John Coltrane is awarded a posthumous Special Citation by the Pulitzer Prize board.
  • 2015 – Marianne Winkler finds “message in a bottle” on the shore of the German island of Amrum; it had been dropped in the North Sea by British marine scientist George Parker Bidder on November 30th, 1906, making its length of time spent adrift 108 years, 138 days

*pictured.

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Astros vs. Cardinals Series Preview with Matt Pauley KMOX

KMOX’s pre/post-game host Matt Pauley sets the stage for us for the Astros upcoming weekend series vs. St. Louis.   

Q:  Is Jordan Walker now the face of the franchise?

A:  Interesting question.  I’m not sure I’d say he’s the face just yet, but his start to the season has been spectacular.   

He was literally one of the worst hitters in baseball the last couple of years, and I’d heard from fans and they were ready to move on from him, but now seeing what he’s doing, it’s unexpected.  Some felt even coming out of spring training that he should’ve been optioned to AAA Memphis.    

On Monday night, he hit his 8th home run in the first 16 games of this season.  The only Cardinals players to accomplish that feat in team history are Stan Musial, Mark McGwire, Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols.  He’s in rare air.   

Q:  Did you think J.J. Wetherholt would be this strong defensively?   

A:  No, I didn’t.  His reputation is being an incredible hitter, so to see what he’s doing, especially going to his left, he’s getting just about everything which has been a surprise.   

Q:  One of the worst words in sports is “rebuild”.  Are the Cardinals fully immersed in that process?

A:  This is the first true rebuild year.  Prior, they were trying to serve two masters.  Last year didn’t work.   

This is the first time in a while that there’s been clear intention of what they’re doing.  It doesn’t mean they won’t be competitive.  I know in talking to you, you lived through it in Houston 15 years ago.  That was a complete and total tear down.

Q:  Who will we see in this weekend series for the Cardinals’ starters taking the mound?

A:  It will be a mix of Kyle Leahy, who actually throws six different pitches.  He has a nice repertoire as someone coming from the bullpen originally.  

Andre Pallante last year really struggled.  He’s added a changeup but struggled against Boston recently.  You’ll also see Matthew Liberatore,  who is the leader of the rotation.  He was the opening day starter.  They believe he can be the guy to lead this staff.   

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Game 20 Preview: Tigers head to Boston for a 4-game weekend series

The Detroit Tigers are on a roll after a perfect 6-0 homestand that erased a five-game losing streak and put them over the .500 mark for the first time since late March. Next up on the agenda are the Boston Red Sox, who will host the Motor City Kitties for a four-game series at Fenway Park starting on Friday night.

The BoSox got off to a slow start to the 2026 campaign, dropping five straight after their season-opening win at the Cincinnati Reds, but have since earned series wins over the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals. Boston enters the weekend coming off a series loss at the Minnesota Twins, but it did prevent a sweep with a win on Wednesday’s finale.

Opening things up on the mound for the Olde English D is right-hander Casey Mize, whose trademark splitter appears to be finally reaching its long-awaited potential. Opposite him is lefty Ranger Suarez, who has had modest success so far this season.

Make note that Friday night’s tilt will be broadcast on AppleTV, while Monday’s matchup starts at an eye-rubbingly early 11:10 a.m. ET.

Detroit Tigers (10-9) vs. Boston Red Sox (7-11)

Time (ET): 7:15 p.m.
Place: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
SB Nation Site:Over the Monster
Media: AppleTV,Tigers Radio Network

Game 20: RHP Casey Mize (1-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. LHP Ranger Suarez (1-1, 5.02 ERA)

PlayerGIPK%BB%GB%FIPfWAR
Mize316.025.48.534.03.660.3
Suarez314.118.38.345.54.480.2

MIZE

SUAREZ

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DitD & Open Post – 4/17/26: Sunny Edition

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 18: Assistant General Manager, Head of Analytics Sunny Mehta for the Florida Panthers poses for his official headshot for the 2024-2025 NHL season on September 18, 2024 at the Baptist Health IcePlex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

We have a new GM:

“The biggest takeaway from the New Jersey Devils‘ exit interviews is the one that didn’t happen. Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton ‘politely declined’ to interview with the media, remaining in hiding after his agent went public this winter with displeasure over a healthy scratch.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that this is the most crucial offseason the organization has had in years. They have to get the front office structure right, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. There are quite a few big decisions ahead for the next GM, and that should lead to an offseason of intrigue in the Garden State.” [Devils on the Rush]

Hockey Links

Stanley Cup Playoffs matchups and schedules right here: [Bleacher Report] [Daily Faceoff]

“…We have spent the past few weeks canvassing many of the top player agents in hockey for their thoughts on key big-picture questions from around the league. In all, The Athletic polled more than 20 agents, who combine to represent hundreds of NHL player contracts worth billions of dollars, on nine key questions facing the league and its future.” [The Athletic ($)]

“Auston Matthews avoided playing fortune teller when addressing his career moving forward long-term with the Maple Leafs. Toronto’s captain met with the media Thursday following the Leafs’ final regular-season game the night before, a loss to Ottawa that signaled the end of a lost season for Toronto. Matthews wasn’t in the lineup — he has been sidelined by a torn MCL since mid-March — but with the Leafs heading into a transitional phase after missing their first postseason since 2016-17, Matthews was noncommittal on what lies ahead for him in Toronto.” [ESPN]

“Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin said he’s ‘pretty sure’ that Tuesday’s season finale at Columbus won’t be his last game, as the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer contemplates retirement.” [ESPN]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Open Thread: The Portland Trail Blazers have yet to face Victor Wembanyama

Apr 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) cheers his teammates from the bench during the first half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

This season, the Spurs played the Portland Trail Blazers three times landing with a 2-1 edge over Rip City. In each of those three games, Victor Wembanyama sat out with an injury or injury management.

On November 26th, the Spurs played in Portland. Wemby was sitting out the fifth of twelve games while nursing a left calf strain.

On January 3rd, Wembanyama was sitting out his second game as a result of hyperextended left knee obtained during the New Year’s Eve matchup against the New York Knicks.

And then as the season was winding down, Victor once again sat out on April 8th with a left rib contusion after colliding with Paul George two days prior.

Portland, coming off a game-ending upset in Phoenix, secured the 7th seed and now face the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

While the Spurs didn’t have much trouble with the Trail Blazers in those three games, there are some logistical considerations.

For one, Portland’s head coach is Tiago Splitter. Splitter won the 2014 NBA title with the Silver & Black, the run of which included a gentleman’s sweep of the Trail Blazers. He knows the Spurs playbook and was an adept big man, so counter strategizing will be something to watch.

With Donovan Clingan as their starting center and Robert Williams III as back up, Wemby will have his hands full on the boards as well as physically in the paint.

Portland also features Sidy Cissoko and Blake Wesley. While neither is expected to be an X-factor, never put it past a competitve player to motivate against their former team.

Over the years, the Spurs and Trail Blazers have met four times in the posteseason. The Trail Blazers got the best of the Spurs in 1990, but the Spurs have been victorious in the latter three, two of which (1999 and 2014) led to successful title runs.

Tiago Splitter was asked if he thought Manu and Boris Diaw were rooting for the Spurs or for him as he leads the Trail Blazers.

He stated that he was confident Manu was all in on the Spurs, but that he’d be better off asking Boris Diaw after a couple of glasses of wine.

Series kicks off Sunday night.

Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.

Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.

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PTH Roundtable: hardest Knicks matchup for the Hawks?

Mar 26, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) is restrained by center Mitchell Robinson (23) in the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

This is the third of a series of roundtable questions I’m asking the staff here at Peachtree Hoops about the Hawks as we approach the postseason. Today’s question: what’s the most difficult matchup that the Knicks pose for the Hawks?

Wes: Mitchell Robinson stands out to me, especially in the wake of the news that Jock Landale will be re-evaluated in two weeks from his ankle injury (effectively eliminating him from this series). He’s still arguably the best rebounder in the league (21 rebounds — eight offensive — in 38 minutes played against the Hawks this season), and his overall physicality and disruption (four blocks and four steals in those 38 minutes) has been tough for the Hawks and their thin front line to handle.

Jackson: Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT has feasted on the Hawks’ defense throughout his tenure with the Knicks, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he, not Jalen Brunson, was New York’s leading scorer in this series. Onyeka Okongwu brings nice defensive switchability for Atlanta, but his lack of size to contend with Towns and backup Mitchell Robinson around the basket could be a major Achilles heel for Atlanta in this matchup.

Malik: Mitchell Robinson without a doubt. The last time these two played, Robinson controlled the glass on both ends of the floor and the Hawks didn’t have an answer. It will be interesting to see if Jock Landale can return at some point during the series, or will Quin Snyder try to play Tony Bradley a few minutes to try to offset Robinson. 

Graham: Karl-Anthony Towns is the easy answer. He averaged 28.5 points on 63% shooting from the field to go with 13 rebounds; he just dominated this matchup and the Hawks have absolutely no good answer to contain him. And if they did manage to limit him, I have no doubt that you’d see Mitchell Robinson pick up the slack with the attention on KAT; and there’s no good answer for the Hawks for Robinson’s rebounding either – it’s just a fundamental flaw of the roster the Hawks have to find some way to limit (because I don’t think offensive rebounding/second chance scoring can be stopped in this series). Elsewhere, whoever Jalen Johnson’s matchup is, he has to win it convincingly in order for the Hawks to win this series. 

Hassan: Jalen Brunson is New York’s best player, Karl-Anthony Towns has given Atlanta problems in each of their four matchups this season, but I’m going to go with OG Anunoby, New York’s best defender and their third-banana on offensive end. Anunoby has averaged 18.3 points per game on 52.5% shooting from the field and 43.8% from deep in New York’s wins this season compared to just 13.4 points per game on 39.1% shooting from the field and 28.6% from three in their losses. Keeping him in check is going to be crucial for Atlanta to win this series. 

Jalen Johnson drew the Anunoby assignment during the regular season series against the Knicks – with Dyson Daniels guarding Jalen Brunson and Nickeil Alexander-Walker on Mikal Bridges – and held Anunoby to just 5-for-15 shooting when the two were matched up. Will this defense hold up in the postseason? 

All in all, I’m going into this series with the assumption that Brunson and KAT are going to get theirs every night, so the swing factor for Atlanta (in addition to winning the rebounding battle, as noted by my fellow writers) is going to be limiting the ‘other guys’ – and Anunoby is at the top of that list.

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It’s time for Jaylen Brown to claim his spot in the NBA pantheon

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics is introduced before the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Jaylen Brown just put together the best season of his career and it wasn’t particularly close. Averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game, Brown showed that not only can he be the number one option on a playoff team, but he can be the number one on a really good playoff team.

Now, Brown is ready to prove he can be the number one option on an NBA Finals team, maybe even a championship team.

The way he has scored the ball in bunches has been among one of the most fun things to watch on the Celtics this season. He had 35 games with 30+ points and seven 40+ point games this season, not to mention the 50 he scored against the Clippers in January.

From Day 1 of training camp, JB set the bar for this team and led them to 56 wins. Now, he has the opportunity to do it in the playoffs.

BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Neemias Queta #88 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrate during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

One of the things we forget about last year’s playoffs is Brown played through a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, which clearly has not bothered him this year.

He has become one of the top-10 players in the NBA this season and the moment has arrived to prove it in the playoffs.

The return of Jayson Tatum makes the Celtics good enough to win the Eastern Conference and Brown is ready to guide them to that goal. He is the offensive engine with his mid-range shots being a big boost to the team. He will take the toughest assignment on defense from time to time and set the tempo for the game that way.

All season the Celtics have gone as Jaylen Brown has gone and it has been going pretty well for Boston since the start of December. The road won’t be easy, the Celtics should win in the first round but beyond that waits the Knicks and then likely the Pistons or Cavaliers.

“Losing to the Knicks feels like death,” he said after losing to New York in the second round. “But I was taught that there’s life after death. So, we’ll get ready for whatever’s next.”

Whatever’s next has arrived. The NBA Playoffs are here and the Celtics have a real chance to make a run at the title. A lot of that depends on Jaylen Brown continuing his high play from the regular season which I have every expectation that he will do.

Jaylen Brown has emerged this season in a way that no one expected him to and has become one of the best players in the NBA. It is time for him to prove that he is just that and lead the Celtics on another deep playoff run.