The Cleveland Cavaliers head into Game 3 with a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors as the series shifts to Toronto. The pressure is on the Raptors now, and that usually leads to changes in minutes, shot volume, and who actually has the ball.
This is usually the point in a series where roles start to shift, and if you nail your Cavaliers vs. Raptors predictions, there’s value before the market fully adjusts.
Cavaliers vs Raptors computer picks for Game 3
Cavaliers
Raptors
Mitchell u27.5 points -110
Barrett o3.5 assists +131
Allen o7.5 rebounds +110
Barnes o17.5 points -105
Mobley o15.5 points -125
Quickley o11.5 points -105
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Cavaliers Game 3 computer picks
Donovan Mitchell Under 27.5 points (-110)
Projection: 24.02 points
Donovan Mitchell has carried the scoring load through two games, but this is a different spot on the road. If Toronto tightens up defensively and forces the ball out of his hands more, this number starts to look a bit high.
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Jarrett Allen Over 7.5 rebounds (+110)
Projection: 8.51 rebounds
Jarrett Allen has been active on the glass all series, and the minutes are there for him to clear this number. At plus money, you’re getting a strong role with a favorable matchup.
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Even Mobley Over 15.5 points (-125)
Projection: 17.83 points
Evan Mobley is starting to find his spots offensively, and Cleveland has leaned on him more as the series has gone on. If that continues, this number is a little short.
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Raptors Game 3 computer picks
RJ Barrett Over 3.5 assists (+131)
Projection: 3.95 assists
RJ Barrett is going to have the ball a lot more with Toronto trying to settle into a better offense at home. Cleveland has been comfortable loading up on drives, which opens up kick-out chances if Barrett makes the right reads. He does not need a huge jump here, just a few more possessions running through him.
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Scottie Barnes Over 17.5 points (-105)
Projection: 20.04 points
Scottie Barnes is the one guy Toronto can lean on to create his own offense, and in a 2-0 hole, that usually means more shots and more touches. He has been involved across the board, but this feels like a spot where he looks to score first. If the game stays competitive, the volume should be there.
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Immanuel Quickley Over 11.5 points (-105)
Projection: 12.46 points
Immanuel Quickley is one of the few Raptors who can generate points without the offense needing to be perfect. He is not shy about getting shots up, especially from deep, and Toronto needs that right now. If his minutes stay steady, he has a clear path to get into the mid-teens.
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How to watch Cavaliers vs Raptors Game 3
Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Date
Friday, April 23, 2026
Tip-off
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The National farm system is flush with hitting talent, especially in the middle infield. Names like Ronny Cruz, Yeremy Cabrera, and Devin Fitz-Gerald have gotten off to hot starts to begin the 2026 campaign, making pushes to be on top 100 prospect lists soon. One area that the Nationals’ farm system is lacking, however, is on the pitching side, as with their top 2 arms, Jarlin Susana and Travis Sykora, injured, there is no real firepower on the way to help rescue a Nationals pitching staff that is currently getting hammered at the big league level.
Outside of the trade deadline, where we can expect Paul Toboni to be shopping a multitude of Nationals players for prospect packages, the quickest way to restock the farm system with quality arms is the MLB Draft, where the Nats will have the 11th overall pick and $12.3 million in bonus pool money to work with. Let’s take a look at some of the pitching options they have in the first few rounds to add to their system and, hopefully, work their way through the minors quickly.
Flukey is making his return from injury this weekend for the Chanticleers, his first since week one back in February. Flukey was extremely efficient in 2025 thanks to his strong fastball-slider combination, with a blossoming curveball as well. How he looks down the stretch will determine if teams are comfortable taking him in the top end of the first round, but I firmly believe Flukey could be at least the Nationals two-starter one day with proper development.
Carlon joined the Sun Devils rotation in 2026, and his stuff looks sharper than ever, walking 3% less hitters and striking out 1% more than as a reliever in 2025. The heater usually sits mid-to-high 90s, but has been up to triple digits this season, pairing well with his elite slider, plus curveball, and good changeup. If the velocity holds as a starter, Carlon could be in play as an underslot pick for the Nationals who still has the potential to be a two-starter or higher in the big leagues eventually.
The stuff is explosive, and he’s finally broken through on the results side, with a mid-3s ERA and FIP under 3. The walks are still a problem, but he’s showing the ability to succeed despite them. The fastball sits mid-90s, running up to 99 MPH, and his mid-80s slider is as sharp as they come. If the Nationals coaching staff could help him control his stuff, he could be one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in all of baseball.
Riojas’ strikeout stuff has exploded in his junior season at Texas, raising his strikerout rate by 18% from 2025 to 2026. He throws a mid-90s fastball which generates plenty of swing-and-miss, and he has 5 secondary offerings he’ll mix in as well, with the curveball and changeup being the ones which stand out the most. Riojas doesn’t have the “stuff” of some of the other arms in this range, but his wide pitch mix and control make him a solid bet to be a solid big league pitcher one day.
Kuhns has all the traits of a future top-of-the-line arm, but hasn’t quite put them all together at Tennessee just yet. Throws a mid-90s fastball with unique flat movement, a sharp slider, and a changeup that generates plenty of swing-and-miss. Under the old Nationals regime, Kuhns would’ve been a player who never put it all together, but under the new coaching staff, Kuhns is the kind of pitcher they can turn into something special.
Dietz is a 6’6 lefty who has been a weapon for the Razorbacks in 2026, throwing mid-90s with his fastball and working a low-80s slider off it. 2026 is his only full collegiate season, so the sample size is small, but if the Nationals believe in the stuff, he could immediately become one of the nastier arms in the Nationals farm system.
Mendes has mowed down ACC lineups this season with his strong 3-pitch mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup. He sits in the low-90s with the heater, but has gotten it up to 96, suggesting there is a chance for a velocity jump in pro ball. Mendes knows how to pitch, and could be a solid backend starter in the big leagues, with a chance for more if he gains velocity or more pitches.
Dudan made his collegiate debut as a starter in 2026 and has been very successful for the Wolfpack, thanks to his heater, which has been up to 99 MPH, and a devastating slider. He has also added a sinker to his arsenal to keep hitters off his fastball, and a cutter which offers another look from the slider. Dudan’s combination of stuff and performance make him as good a bet as you can find in the third round, with his limited track record being the only thing preventing him from going higher.
Sdao’s stuff hasn’t translated to SEC success quite yet, but it’s a strong bet to translate to pro ball with proper development. He can hold mid-90s on his fastball deep into outings, and has a mid-80s sweeping slider that generates plenty of chase. At 6’3” 170, there is room to grow into his frame and add more velocity to his game as well. Sdao has first or second round grade stuff, but could be a steal for a team like the Nats at the beginning of the third round due to his performance struggles.
Apr 22, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images | Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Prior to Thursday’s game against the Cubs, the Phillies announced that Taijuan Walker was released.
Prior to today’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies recalled RHP Nolan Hoffman from triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room on the 26-man roster, RHP Alan Rangel was optioned to Lehigh Valley following last night’s game. Additionally, RHP Taijuan Walker was released.
Walker pitched Wednesday night’s game behind Kyle Backhus, allowing five runs, four of them earned, in only four innings. It was not all of his fault; Justin Crawford dropped a shallow flyball that eventually led to a run. But it was clear the Phillies could no longer justify keeping Taijuan Walker on the roster in any capacity.
Walked signed with the Phillies back in December of 2022 for four years, $ 72 million. In that span, he made 89 appearances, 71 of them as a starter, and had an ERA of 5.12 in 402.2 innings with 1.1 fWAR.
Also, welcome back, Nolan Hoffman. Does anyone remember him striking out Cal Raleigh last year?
Nearly 5,000 men's college basketball players entered the transfer portal this window (4,949 to be exact).
Believe it or not, that's actually down from last season's number of 5,428, which was a five-year high from all three NCAA levels — Division I, II, III.
Per transfer portal data reviewed by USA TODAY Sports this week after the women's and men's windows closed, April 20 and 21, respectively, the overall number of transfers is down, but movement in Power Four conferences increased.
A year after 477 players entered the men’s basketball portal from P-4 programs, that figured climbed this week to 480; the women’s P-4 numbers jumped 10% from 305 to 336.
The ACC led the way in men's and women's basketball with 232 entrants, with the Big 12 close behind at 213.
Among the Power conferences on the men’s side, the numbers were the following:
The women’s side saw total portal entrants down, year over year, from 2,801 to 2,570.
Here's the P-4 breakdown for the women this year:
ACC: 94
Big 12: 86
SEC: 80
Big Ten: 76
No league appeared to be hit any harder, per team, than men’s basketball in the Southern Conference. The 10-team league saw a total of 82 men’s portal entrants this month. It had 76 one year ago.
Broken down further, SoCon teams like The Citadel had 19 players combined enter into the past two basketball portal cycles, while VMI added 18.
Here’s a look at total portal entrants across the past five seasons for both men’s and women’s college basketball:
How many men's college basketball players entered transfer portal? NCAA portal numbers:
2025-26: 4,939 (2,605 D-I)
2024-25: 5,438 (2,754 D-I)
2023-24: 4,343 (2,146 D-I)
2022-23: 3,663 (1,843 D-I)
2021-22: 3,355 (1,788 D-I)
How many women's college basketball players entered transfer portal? NCAA portal numbers:
The electric Manchester City forward on his dribbling skills, who is City’s quickest player and the potential for a domestic treble
Pace, aggression and quicksilver trickery: Jérémy Doku is the nightmare for opposition defences who breaks games open for Manchester City. In Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, Southampton’s task will be to try to contain the Belgium winger who has raised his game this season.
The Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, believes that Doku can be “unstoppable” and Arsenal’s Cristhian Mosquera discovered precisely this in City’s seismic 2-1 win in the Premier League on Sunday, the right-back booked for persistently fouling him at the Etihad Stadium. Yet the 23-year-old is not content. The ambition is to add goals to the sparkling skill set he believes will elevate him above Vinícius Júnior as the world’s best wide forward.
The Philadelphia Phillies have had the most disappointing start to a season this side of Queens, and somebody was going to pay the price.
First up: Starting pitcher Taijuan Walker.
The Phillies released Walker on Thursday, April 23 and will eat the remainder of his $18 million salary this season, a logical move given his 9.13 ERA in five appearances and the impending return of ace Zack Wheeler.
Walker, 33, signed a four-year, $72 million contract before the 2023 season and had flashes of decent perforance over his four very inconsistent seasons in Philly. In his four starts this season, he gave up seven runs twice and four runs on another occasion, and was already slotted to be the long man in the bullpen.
Now, with Wheeler set to make his season debut Saturday after an extended recovery from August thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, there was no room at all for Walker.
The club recalled right-handed pitcher Nolan Hoffman to add to the back of the bullpen.
The Phillies are off to an 8-16 start, now tied with the New York Mets at the bottom of the NL East. The club has suffered from lack of production from the bottom half of its lineup, and jettisoning Walker won't solve the pitching woes: Jesus Luzardo, signed to a five-year, $135 million extension last month, has a 6.91 ERA in five starts, the Phillies losing four of them.
SAN FRANCISCO — Shohei Ohtani’s career-best 53-game on-base streak ended on a night he pitched six scoreless innings.
It’s something only Ohtani could achieve, but the two-way superstar could be having games like that a little bit less often.
“I’m focused, as a leadoff hitter, to get on base. As long as I feel good overall, the result will follow,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “It hasn’t been the case (lately).”
Before the loss to San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made it clear he’s committed to Ohtani’s health and keeping him fresh to perform both on the mound and at the plate for the long haul.
And that may look different by the day or week, depending how Ohtani is feeling.
“I’ll always let the manager make that final decision and I’m always going to be prepared when I’m starting that I’m hitting,” Ohtani said. “But if it makes sense as a team to occasionally put a guy in as a DH or hit later that’s fine as well. I wouldn’t want to same more aside from that.”
For some games, that could mean Ohtani pitches but doesn’t bat as the designated hitter — and Roberts plans to keep his options open.
Ohtani was solid on the mound again for the Dodgers in a 3-0 loss to the Giants, allowing no earned runs for the third time in four starts this season. A week earlier, Ohtani was held out of the lineup while pitching for the first time since 2021 because he was still sore from getting hit by a pitch.
Ohtani batted in his customary leadoff spot and went 0 for 4 with a strikeout, hitting a fly ball to left in his last at-bat. That ended an on-base streak that matched Shawn Green for the second-longest in Dodgers history. Duke Snider owns the team record at 58 games from May 13-July 11, 1954. Ohtani’s streak was the longest in the majors since Orlando Cabrera reached base in 63 straight from April 25-July 6, 2006.
“The season’s not over, and I could start another streak and that would be great,” Ohtani said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
The 31-year-old Ohtani saw his batting average drop from .271 to .258. He has allowed one earned run over 24 innings for an ERA of 0.38 and a 2-0 record, surrendering 15 hits with 25 strikeouts and six walks.
“I think if you look at the overall numbers it’s certainly something. I still feel really good about putting his name in the lineup,” Roberts said. “I know the last start I chose not to have him hit and just pitch. I am open to it. We’ll see. It’s something that we’ve certainly flagged, and also you have to look at what’s the option. In years past or last year, you’ve got to kind of weigh, who’s a different option?”
Catcher Dalton Rushing has become a capable fill-in at DH. He’s hitting .414 with seven homers and 13 RBIs.
The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers have dropped four of five. They lost 3-1 in the series opener at rival San Francisco.
Roberts had yet to decide whether Ohtani would play the series finale. He said beforehand he had no qualms about giving Ohtani five at-bats on a day he’s pitching but would consider moving him down in the batting order if that makes sense.
“I think everything should be on the table,” Roberts said.
The NHL playoffs have been better than advertised, and I’ve got a trio of NHL player props to cover all three games on the ice for Thursday, April 23.
My favorite NHL picks for tonight are the saves props for Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman and Carolina Hurricanes starter Frederik Andersen.
Best NHL player prop bets today
Player
Swayman Over 25.5 saves
-130
Andersen Over 22.5 saves
-130
Laferriere Under 0.5 points
-115
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Our best NHL player props for Thursday, April 23
Take a look at our best bets and expert analysis below.
Prop #1: Jeremy Swayman Over 25.5 saves
-130 at BET99
The move to TD Garden won’t be enough to prevent the Buffalo Sabres from piling up shots again in Game 3. Buffalo has recorded a postseason-high 36.5 shots per 60 minutes with a rock-solid 55.2% Corsi For percentage (CF%) at 5-on-5.
Boston Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman has been up to the task, too. He’s posted a .931 SV% with 2.03 goals saved above expected (GSAx) in Round 1, and the strong play has legs, with Swayman also posting a .920 SV% with 14.21 GSAx across his final 16 regular-season starts.
Ottawa averaged 2.4 more shots per game at the Canadian Tire Centre, and the Sens climbed to a third-ranked 53.9% CF% at 5-on-5 on home ice compared to a 51.7% mark on the highway.
Of course, Andersen has been excellent between the pipes with a .967 SV% and 5.87 GSAx during the series. Best of all, there’s enough room for Andersen’s numbers to take a hit in Game 3 without threatening this Over.
He’s been primarily matched up against Colorado Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar at 5-on-5, and when he’s not jumping the boards against them, it’s against Colorado's No. 2 line and defense pair.
Simply put, Laferriere is a supporting scorer tasked with the toughest defensive assignments, as evidenced by his 39.5% CF% and 39.0% expected goals percentage (xG%) at 5-on-5 to start the series.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Apr 20, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Dan Vladar (80) defends the net against a wrap around attempt by Pittsburgh Penguins center Blake Lizotte (46) during the first period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Charles LeClaire/Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA — Dan Vladar skated away behind the net, hunched over as he gripped his right arm in pain after the Penguins crashed into him in the crease.
For a few frightful moments, nothing else mattered for the Flyers.
Not the 2-0 first-round series lead. Not the 3-1 Game 3 lead in the third period in front of 19,937 full-throated and orange-coated Flyers fans.
Because without Vladar, voted the Bobby Clarke team MVP and journeyman turned Olympian, the Flyers would be in a world of hurt.
They still could be in trouble yet this NHL playoffs.
Buoyed by cheers of “Vladdy! Vladdy!” he shook off his injury much in the same way Vladar has turned away the Penguins with relative ease through the first three game of this Eastern Conference series.
Vladar can get a few extra days off to rest whatever ails him if the Flyers build off their 5-2 win in Game 3 and complete the sweep in Philadelphia. He did not talk to the media after the game because he was receiving treatment.
“He’s been our best player all year,” defenseman Nick Seeler said. “And he was great tonight.”
Vladar followed his first shutout of the season (with 27 saves) in Game 2 with another stellar outing and 28 saves in Game 3.
Yet, the potential of injury looms ahead of a possible sweep.
Vladar didn’t use his right arm in the celebration line — and the Flyers had plenty of celebrate in their first home playoff win since 2016 — leaving his Game 4 status in doubt.
“He’s banged up,” Flyers coach Rick Tocchet said. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow. I don’t know at this moment how bad it is.”
That could be a glimmer of good news for the Penguins. A two-time NHL MVP and three-time Stanley Cup champion, Sidney Crosby has yet to score a goal in the series.
The Flyers could turn to backup Samuel Ersson, who had a solid finish to an otherwise injury-plagued and inconsistent season. The Flyers have the luxury of a 3-0 lead and two full days off before they have to make a decision on playing Vladar, who won 29 games with a 2.42 goals-against-average this season.
Vladar was one of three goalies chosen to play for Czechia at the Milan Cortina Olympics. In his first season with the Flyers, he settled one of the more unsettled positions for the franchise since Hall of Famer Bernie Parent backstopped consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 1974 and 1975.
It sure seemed like the old days of the Broad Street Bullies for the Flyers.
Flyers fans dressed in orange and started the party long before faceoff and sparked the energy ahead of their first home playoff game in eight years. The Flyers steamrolled through the first three games against their long-time nemesis in Crosby and the Penguins.
Oh, and they scrapped a bit like those old Flyers, throwing down with the Penguins that led to the comical sight of 11 players crammed into the penalty box.
Gritty, the googly-eyed mascot making his postseason debut, at one point launched a stuffed penguin from the upper level down to the pricey seats. Flyers fans stomped on the animal and nearly destroyed it before security scurried the souvenir away from the rambunctious crowd.
The poor toy seemingly got off easier than the real Penguins.
Stuart Skinner, who played a crucial role in consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances with Edmonton, has been the anti-Vladar with a 3.08 goals-against average and a .873 save percentage through three games.
Could the Penguins turn to Arturs Silovs in Game 4?
Probably not. Yet, Skinner — who heard derisive “Skinner! Skinner” chants that echoed long after Rasmus Ristolainen made it 2-1 — said he believed the Penguins could still rally to win the series.
Skinner was on the Oilers team down 3-0 that forced a Game 7 in 2024 against the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.
“I feel like when you go down 3-0, what really helped me in my experience was it kind of just frees you up,” Skinner said. “You don’t really have anything to lose. And we’re in a spot where we don’t have anything to lose, and they do. If we catch them a couple times, just talking about momentum, you can change momentum and when that happens, things can go in your favor.”
Should the Flyers play without Vladar, that could be the break the Penguins need to get back into the series.
Trevor Zegras, Ristolainen and Seeler scored three goals against Skinner on four shots in the second period — proof the Flyers have the offensive arsenal to win without Vladar, if needed.
“The hardest one is the next one,” Tocchet said. “Back to business tomorrow.”
One guy who would have details: Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg. Someone who knows Clippers owner Steve Ballmer.
A letter filed last week, before Sanberg's sentencing on wire fraud charges, stated that Sanberg cooperated with the NBA and its investigators — the law firm of Wachtell Lipton — a story uncovered by Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Sanberg is about to be sentenced in a federal fraud case tied to his running of Aspiration, a now-bankrupt green bank company. From Holmes at ESPN.
David Anders, the Wachtell Lipton attorney leading the NBA's investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league's salary cap to compensate Kawhi Leonard, said Sanberg sat for two in-person interviews and provided documents and, via his lawyers, "information that was relevant to our investigation," according to an April 17 letter to judge Stephen V. Wilson of the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California.
"In all our dealings with Mr. Sanberg, both directly and through his counsel, he provided information that was consistent with our review of contemporaneous documents and other evidence," Anders wrote. "Mr. Sanberg's cooperation substantially assisted our investigation, including our ability to develop a more complete understanding of key events. At no time during our dealings with Mr. Sanberg and his counsel did they seek, nor did we make, any promises in exchange for his cooperation."
What Sanberg told investigators is not known.
However, the growing sense in league circles has been that the NBA's investigators had found something that more directly connects Ballmer and the Clippers to the charges that it used a $28 million "no-show" endorsement deal with Aspiration to funnel money to Leonard off the official NBA salary cap. With that, heavy punishments could be forthcoming. Those penalties could include a suspension of Ballmer, the loss of multiple draft picks, and a massive fine. While there has been speculation about the possible voiding of the final year of Leonard's contract, that remains more in question as it may not really be much of a punishment for anyone (the Clippers would just fine with his salary off the books as they try to rebuild, and Leonard would just sign a new large contract with another team).
In a five-page letter to the judge that was obtained by ESPN, an attorney for Ballmer said the Clippers owner lost his entire $60 million investment in Aspiration, which declared bankruptcy in 2025, and has faced "immeasurable" harm to his reputation. The Clippers also lost "virtually all of the $300 million sponsorship payments, and more than $20 million held in escrow for additional carbon offset purchases, which were never made and the money not returned," according to the letter, which a source with knowledge of the situation said had been filed in court.
Ballmer also was named in a lawsuit filed by 11 other former Aspiration investors who said the company defrauded them.
Silver has said there is no timeline for when Wachtell will complete its investigation and present its findings to the league.
When the report is complete, Silver alone does not get to decide the next steps under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. When those findings are given to the league, Silver has to decide whether there is enough evidence to bring the case to a neutral arbitrator (appointed and approved by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association). That arbitrator then would review the case and decide whether to grant Silver the authority to punish the Clippers and Leonard, or say there is not enough evidence to do so.
Apr 21, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) and Buffalo Sabres center Josh Norris (9) look for the puck during the second period in game two of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig/Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
BOSTON — The Sabres haven’t been able to push the Bruins around on the ice.
What’s worse, Buffalo hasn’t been able to take advantage of their power plays when Boston pushes back.
The Sabres are 0-for-9 with a man advantage in the first two games of the playoff series against the Bruins, which is tied 1-1 as it shifts to Boston for Game 3. That’s after finishing the season without scoring on their last 22 power plays over the final seven games.
“It’s always a concern, for sure,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, who last celebrated a power-play goal in March. “I think we’ll have to tweak some things.”
The Sabres came into the series offended by a comment that Bruins coach Marco Sturm made about being the bigger and stronger team. Neither team backed down in Game 2, when they had several fights and a combined 94 penalty minutes.
“It’s a seven-game series so you see those guys all the time and there’s game inside the game, obviously,” Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov said. “Emotions are really high, everybody wants to win, everybody is competitive on the ice, so sometimes you just ended up in the scrums and the fights like that.”
Buffalo Sabres at Boston Bruins
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Thursday, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)
Series: Tied 1-1.
Ruff wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a goalie change after Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was pulled 16 seconds into the third period in Game 2 after his fourth goal of the game — one of them on a lofted dump-in from center ice. Alex Lyon stopped all seven shots he faced the rest of the way.
The two goalies shared the starting role this season, but Luukkonen won the No. 1 job by closing the season 12-2-1; Lyon was out the final week with an unspecified lower-body injury. Lyon went 20-10-4 for the season.
Ruff refused to blame Luukkonen’s spotty play for the Game 2 loss by saying “we win together, we lose together.”
But he also said: ”(Lyon) may play next game.”
Slow starts have also been an issue. The Sabres have fallen behind in both games — 2-0 in the first one, and 4-0 in the second, failing to score in each until the final eight minutes of the third period. They came back to win 4-3 in Game 1 but rallied too late while losing 4-2 in Game 2.
“It’s been two games. It’s nothing to freak out about, and we know that,” Sabres forward Zach Benson said. “And we know we’ve got to be better, and we will be.”
Carolina Hurricanes at Ottawa Senators
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET (TBS)
Series: Hurricanes lead 2-0.
The Hurricanes have pushed through two tough home wins as the Eastern Conference’s top seed, the second being a double-overtime win that saw Carolina have an apparent winning score waved off in the first overtime because of an offsides review.
But two areas stood out for the Senators: the goaltending by Linus Ullmark, and their clear advantage in faceoffs.
Ottawa was No. 2 in the regular season in faceoff percentage (54.5%) while Carolina was 16th (50.1%). But the Senators have won 60.7% of faceoffs (82 of 135) through two games, including 9 of 14 in Game 1 when on the penalty kill -- a hit for a Hurricanes team that likes to get possession, maintain the puck in the offensive zone and pressure opponents.
“Obviously our percentage isn’t great,” said Carolina’s Logan Stankoven, who has scored in each game so far but went just 6 of 17 on faceoffs in Game 2. “I’ve got to try and keep winning as many draws and stay in the battle as much as possible. They have a lot of different guys that can take faceoffs ... righty, lefty, so they usually try and put out guys that can win it on their strong side.”
The Senators appear close to getting back defenseman Tyler Kleven, who hasn’t played since taking a puck to the face against Buffalo in early April. He’s been skating and coach Travis Green didn’t rule out the possibility he might play.
That would be a boost for the Senators, who saw top-pairing defenseman Artem Zub leave Game 1 with an unspecified injury and miss Game 2. Green told reporters that Zub still has yet to skate since the injury to leave the Senators thinner on the blue line, which led to big ice-time totals for Jake Sanderson (43:06) and Thomas Chabot (40:50) in Game 2.
“I feel like our group, we were a bounce away from it being tied coming back here,” forward Drake Batherson said.
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Thursday, 10 p.m. ET (TNT)
Series: Avalanche lead 2-0.
The Los Angeles Kings wouldn’t change much about the way they’re playing against the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche.
Except, of course, a few more goals.
Sure, they’re down 2-0 in the series, but their physical, clog-up-the-neutral-zone style has slowed down the highest scoring team in the league. Colorado won both games 2-1, including Game 2 in overtime.
“Play the same way we’re playing, just a little harder,” Kings forward Trevor Moore said. “Just try to take the positives and get to LA and play a good game.”
Los Angeles went 5-1-1 at home down the stretch of the regular season.
“We’re right there playing well, fighting, fighting hard,” goaltender Anton Forsberg said. “Just (have) to stick with it and turn this around.”
Colorado was a league-best 29-7-5 on the road in the regular season.
“I feel like we’re doing a lot of good things,” Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon said. “Everyone’s been really good so far.”
Somewhere between the first and second period of Game 2, an Edmonton Oilers fan looked down at their fully cooked rotisserie chicken, looked up at the ice, and made a decision.
The play stopped while the officials convened and the chicken sat there.
Nobody has confirmed why it happened. The working theory, and it is just a theory, is that the chicken was meant to represent a cooked duck, as in the Anaheim Ducks are cooked, please go home. But that is speculation, and it may be giving this person too much credit. It is entirely possible they were just hungry, and things escalated. We don't know. We may never know. Some things are better left unexplained.
What we do know is that the Ducks scored shortly after the delay, which means the chicken jinxed the wrong team. If this was a statement, Anaheim responded to it. A poultry-based curse, completely self-inflicted, at a Stanley Cup playoff game, in front of 18,000 people.
It also opens up a conversation that hockey has never quite had properly, namely the debate over the greatest things ever thrown onto an NHL ice surface. The chicken did not invent this tradition; it merely joined a very specific and deeply unhinged lineage.
The octopus remains the gold standard. Detroit Red Wings fans have been throwing them since 1952, back when the eight tentacles represented the eight wins needed to claim the Cup. It became so institutionalized that the Joe Louis Arena eventually employed a dedicated person whose job—whose only job during playoff games—was to skate out and retrieve dead octopuses off the ice. That man should have a wing named after him somewhere.
Then there's the rat. Scott Mellanby killed a rat in the Panthers' locker room before a game in 1995, then scored two goals, and Florida fans immediately decided this meant they should throw plastic rats onto the ice every time their team scored. It got so out of hand during their 1996 playoff run that the NHL had to pass a rule against it because the stoppages were becoming unmanageable.
The league sat down and wrote something into the rulebook because of a plastic rat.
The waffle needs to be acknowledged even though there is nothing to say about it beyond the fact that it happened. Toronto Maple Leafs fans threw waffles onto the ice in 2011 to protest the team's performance. Not a symbol, or a prop, but just regular breakfast waffles, in quiet defeat.
The rotisserie chicken ranks somewhere in the middle of all this, not because it lacks ambition but because the logistics are pretty impressive and deserve their own moment of recognition. Someone bought this chicken and got it past Rogers Place security. Held onto it through an entire period of playoff hockey. And then threw it. T
That is a sequence of events that required planning, patience, and a bag that arena security apparently did not look at closely enough, which is a separate issue somebody at Rogers Place should probably be looking into.
The Ducks scored after the delay. The chicken did nothing except stop a playoff game and become the only story anyone wanted to talk about afterward, which, depending on your perspective, means it worked perfectly or not at all.
No official word on whether the fan was removed. The chicken was not available for comment.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been insistent on making this series very physical, especially after Montreal Canadiens forward Josh Anderson ran free in Game 1, dishing out hits left, right, and center. Coach Jon Sabourin elected to insert Scott Sabourin in his lineup for Game 2, and it came quite close to being costly.
It’s obvious that Sabourin was told to get into Anderson’s head. He spent the game chasing after him and even extended a fighting invitation at the very start of the game, which the Canadiens’ winger rightfully declined. With two minutes left in the game, Cooper put Sabourin on the ice, and he blindsided Anderson with a hard hit in the lower back, getting a two-minute penalty. That power play came quite close to giving Montreal the win when Lane Hutson hit the post, but it didn’t. The fact that Tampa survived that gave them even more momentum, and the Canadiens were nowhere to be seen in overtime.
Speaking to the media after the game, Cooper said this about Sabourin:
The team plays bigger when he’s in the lineup. He’s exceptional on the bench, and for 58 minutes, he stayed within the limits. But I can’t control everything.
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That’s true, the coach can’t control everything, but he can certainly control who’s on the ice and when. Putting Sabourin on the ice in the dying minute was quite a gamble, and the Lightning nearly got burned, but they didn’t. It will be interesting to see whether Cooper has learned from this or will keep Sabourin in the lineup for Game 3.
The experienced bench boss also added this for good measure:
Somebody's got to be the villain, I guess. We're OK with it. The guys play hard. They're a determined group. When there's obstacles in their way, they'll try and get through it any way possible. If it's fighting their way through it, then so be it. That's what happens. But it's served us well.
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Clearly, the days of the Bolts being all about the skills are over, and while they did win Game 2, they came close to losing it because the Canadiens rose above. It was quite something to see both Brandon Hagel and Corey Perry scream at the Canadiens from the penalty box while not one of the Habs in the box even looked at them.
Playing a physical game could work for Tampa, but going full-on intimidation mode and bully mode won’t serve them well. The Canadiens may be young and inexperienced, but they are disciplined and know they can let the Lightning hurt themselves with that kind of stuff.
NEW YORK - APRIL 28, 2012: Andruw Jones #25 of the New York Yankees bats during a game against the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2012 in New York, New York. (Photo by SPX/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Yankees were a powerhouse team of the late 1990’s and the early 2000s, powered by some of the game’s best players of all time. However, they weren’t the only team consistently vying for a World Series championship. The Atlanta Braves were the National League’s elite squad: from the 1991 season to the 2000 season, they finished with a win total under 90 only once and over 100 four times, including three straight seasons in 1997, ‘98, and ‘99.
New York and Atlanta continuously found themselves in the biggest moments, including seven combined appearances in the World Series in the 1990s. And when the Yankees played them in 1996 and 1999, they would see a name on the roster that would not just end up as one in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but also one that would be familiar way down the road: Andruw Jones.
Andruw Rudolf Jones Born: April 23, 1977 (Willemstad, Curacao) Yankees Tenure: 2011-2012
Jones’ first taste of Major League baseball came at a young age. In 1993, at the age of 16, he signed as a free agent with the Braves organization, and in 1995, Jones was named the minor league player of the year. Following an outstanding year at the minor league level, Jones was called up to the major leagues and played 31 games in 1996.
In the postseason, though, Jones made his presence felt. He hit two home runs in his first two at-bats of the 1996 World Series. Jones became the youngest player ever to homer in the World Series at 19-years-old, breaking Mickey Mantle’s record of 20 years, 362 days. Jones joined Gene Tenace as the only other player to hit home runs in his first two World Series at-bats.
Jones finished the 1996 postseason with a slashline of .345/.486/.690 for a wRC+ of 210. And after that performance, he became an everyday outfielder for the club. In 153 games played during his rookie season, Jones posted just-below-average hitting numbers playing in right field, garnering a 3.7 fWAR with a slashline of .231/.329/.416. He ended up finishing fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
In 1997, Jones began his full-fledged tear. He finished his first of multiple 7.0+ fWAR seasons and played full-time in the demanding center field position. With some stellar defense (a major theme in Jones’ entire career), he won his first Gold Glove Award and also had his first season above the average mark of wRC+ and OPS+. And from then on, Jones’ career was truly off and running, establishing himself as one of the premier outfielders in the game for a long time to come.
For the rest of his time in Atlanta (1999-2007), Jones was a key piece in some excellent seasons. He posted a slashline of .265/.346/.502 for an OPS of .848, and he won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards for his work in the outfield. He finished in the top 15 of MVP voting in 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2006, with top-10 finishes in 2000 and 2005. That 2005 season was the best year of his tenured career — Jones walked away as the major league leader in home runs with 51, along with being the National League’s RBI leader. He won the Silver Slugger Award for his work at the plate (his only Silver Slugger of his career), and finished second in NL MVP voting, losing a narrow race to then-St. Louis Cardinal Albert Pujols, who finished the year batting .330 with an OPS over 1.000 and sending 41 baseballs over the outfield fences.
Before the 2008 season, the Braves announced that they would not be bringing the 30-year-old Jones back to the team. So, after the news broke, he signed a two-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But after Atlanta, the situation was dire, as Jones showed up to his first spring training with Los Angeles not in baseball shape. And in 75 games with the Dodgers, Jones hit .158 with only three home runs and 14 RBI. Jones also dealt with injuries throughout the year, which was a first for his career. And as a result, after the season, Jones, having voiced his opinion that Dodgers fans had not given him a fair chance from the get-go, said he did not want to return and reached an agreement with the club to be released.
Jones signed a one-year minor league deal with the Texas Rangers and was planning to be used sparingly, but an injury to Josh Hamilton put him in many more games than initially expected. In 82 games, he only hit .214, but he hit 17 home runs and registered 43 RBI for a perfectly average 100 OPS+.
After his single season in Texas in 2009, the Chicago White Sox came calling at Jones’ door before the 2010 season. He signed a one-year deal with them as well, and even though it wasn’t the same Andruw Jones everyone knew and loved, he showed up to training camp in shape and ready to roll. He played in the most games since 2007 (107) and smacked 19 home runs with 48 RBI with an OPS of .827 and an OPS+ of 120.
The final two seasons of Jones’ career were spent in The Bronx, signing a one-year deal initially and then re-signing for another season following the 2011 season. He was still a slightly above-average hitter for the Yankees (his most notable moment was likely smacking a home run over the left field wall in his first Yankees at-bat in 2011), and he played more than expected in 2012 due to an injury to then-center fielder Brett Gardner. His final single-season slashline of his major league career was .197/.294/.408 at 35-years-old.
Jones went and played baseball in Japan for two seasons before attempting to make a return to the majors in 2015 and 2016. However, after no team decided to take a flyer on the former elite center fielder, Jones retired from baseball. He has held a few high-profile positions in baseball, including, most recently, managing Team Netherlands for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And after waiting for nine years on the ballot, Jones was finally elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, receiving 78.4 percent of the vote.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 20: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives against Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks during game two of the Eastern Conference first round NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 20, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Knicks play the Hawks in Manhatlanta tonight, with flocks of New Yorkers expected to take over.
Don’t get it twisted—Knicks fans in town or not, the folks better get that dub and return home with a 2-2 balance at the very worst, or else.
Here’s the latest from around NYK world.
Mike Brown on if he's noticed anything the Hawks are doing differently to contain Jalen Brunson:
"We gotta keep trying to move him around. Give him different looks throughout the course of the game" pic.twitter.com/Ias0FLgJev
On the late-game execution in Game 2: “We didn’t execute well enough offensively. Starting with me, I didn’t mix it up enough offensively going down the stretch. And then we didn’t mix it up as well as we could have defensively. So there were a few things down the stretch we could’ve done better.”
On the never-ending playoff adjustments: “First of all, anything’s open to discussion offensively, defensively. Maybe changing this defensively. Maybe changing that offensively. I’m comfortable with all of our guys playing, no matter who the five is out there. But at the end of the day, just like offensively and defensively, I mean we changed both of those things halfway through the year. Anything can happen, and when you’re in the playoffs, everything should be on the table. But I do feel comfortable with what we’ve had.”
On responding to Game 2 on the road: “They hit us in the mouth the second half [of Game 2], not just the fourth quarter, but the second half, and we have to respond. And like I said, at the end of the day, I don’t know if there are many teams that have gone 16-0 on their run to a championship. So you’ve got to figure out how to win on the road if you expect to be who you want to be anyway.”
On facing adversity: “I don’t know how much of adversity it is. I guess it’s a little bit when you lose. When you lose, you tend to feel it. Like I said before, that’s why it’s good to go through it during the year so you can continue to have belief in the ability to bounce back because you’ve been there and done it. And it’s a little easier to handle when you lose. … So anytime you struggle, especially if you have a resilient group, it could be a good thing. Our group is resilient.”
On the Game 2 lineup struggles: “We weren’t good tonight. But we had opportunities where our starters were in and we were up eight to 10, and Atlanta closed it. So I wouldn’t say that specific lineup caused it.”
On officiating and physicality: “I’m still trying to figure out what’s a bump and what’s not a bump. You see a guy like CJ, he gets a drive and if you chest him, it’s a foul. And I even asked the officials about it — Jalen’s driving and he’s getting the same bump. Now, he’s not as light or as quick as CJ, so the speed might not be the same, but when he’s going, he’s getting hit and he’s getting knocked away from the bucket. So, trying to figure that out a little bit better is something I need to do. But I thought Jalen got to his spots. I thought he could have gotten to the free-throw line a couple more times that sometimes [he didn’t] throughout the course of the game, especially with how aggressive he is. But it is what it is.”
On Game 2 defensive breakdowns: “You gotta give Atlanta credit. We didn’t execute our defense the way that we could have. Or the way we should have, or the way that we have been doing throughout the first six quarters [of the series].”
On Towns’ aggressiveness: “KAT’s a great player. He’s got to impose his will on the game. If he was a young guy, I would need to say something to him. But as a veteran guy, I don’t need to tell him to be aggressive.”
Josh Hart had to put in his Chipotle order for the flight to Atlanta before beginning his availability pic.twitter.com/sYBMZSEVFg
On Brunson’s need to step up his defensive game himself: “We can talk to him. We can do those kinds of things, let him know where to force the ball. But at the end of the day, he has to take pride in it. Just knowing him, I’m sure watching the film, he was probably frustrated at some of the spots CJ was able to get to. … I know the kind of guy he is, the kind of character he is. He’ll be better defensively for us.”
On the team needing to help Brunson defensively: “Defensively, we need him to get stops. And we need to make sure we have his back and are talking to him when he’s on those isolations on CJ or whoever it is. We can talk to him. We can do those kinds of things to let him know where to force the ball or those kinds of things. But at the end of the day, he has to take pride in it. I think that’s just knowing him and watching the film, he was frustrated at some of those spots that CJ was able to get to and those kinds of things. I know the kind of guy he is and character he is and he’ll be better defensively for us.”
On the lack of physicality in Game 2: “I feel like we didn’t have that physicality that we did Game 1 and in the first half [of Game 2]. I think that was the biggest thing. When you lose that physicality, then you allow them to kinda move at their own pace, kinda dictate their offense instead of you dictating it. Just gotta make sure we’re physical, have attention to detail and focus for a full 48.”
On stayed playoff-focused: “That’s why being focused and having attention to detail is so big in the playoffs, because sometimes, it goes away from plays — and it just goes into schemes, it goes into personnel. You gotta be able to react on the fly. When you’re locked in, you have that attention to detail, you’re able to do that pretty seamlessly.”
Jalen Brunson
On succumbing to CJ McCollum: “He was in a great rhythm. I’ve got to disrupt it, make him play on his heels, make him react to me defensively. He was just in a rhythm.”
Mikal Bridges
On the need for helping Brunson defensively: “You’ve got four guys that [are] behind him, that [are] gonna help him. Just know [the] personnel, who we guard and how we guard them, and then do your best to stay in front. You’ve got help behind you.”
"It's not hostile, it's really not that serious. It's just a game. I don't play for Spike Lee's approval, I don't play for Knicks fans' approval, I don't play for anybody's approval. I play for my family, myself, and God."
On whether or not he liked the Brunson matchup: “What do you think? Yeah.”
On the Garden boos and the villain narrative: “It’s just fans booing you or cheering you on. It’s really not that serious. I think when you look at it that way, it’s just a game. It’s fun to compete at the highest level. It’s fun to be recognized by people, but I don’t play for Spike Lee’s approval. I don’t play for Knicks fans’ approval. I don’t play for anybody’s approval. I play for my family, myself and God, so it’s just a game, at the end of the day.”
"Happy for him, he shut that Knicks crowd up – he's going to do the same thing tomorrow night here"
On McCollum’s impact in Game 2: “Happy for him, he shut that Knicks crowd up.”
On what to expect from the Game 3 atmosphere in Atlanta: “Very, very loud. Obviously, you know, Knicks fans are gonna be there as well, but I know ATL faithful will be there as well. Excited for [Thursday] night.”
Iman Shumpert
On Mike Brown’s future if the Knicks fail in the playoffs: “It’s over with. I know how that sounds, but I’m just going off of the Knicks organization. It’s been over with for people who have been going in the proper direction all the time. It’s been going great for some players, and they had to leave. I just know that the organization puts pressure on itself every year, and then to be so close and to have a team that we all feel like should be successful in the playoffs, built for success in the playoffs … I could totally see it happening right away.”
“A lot of people have opinions, and I wasn't perfect — but I tried. I was trying, and I came ready. I came prepared.”
Stephon Marbury has answers for the Knicks and Jalen Brunson — on both sides of the ball.
On Mike Brown’s adjustments for Game 3: “It’s gonna come down to strategy with Mike Brown. It’s gonna come down to structure and strategy with Mike Brown — and I believe he’s going to make the adjustments.”
On Atlanta’s screening action: “You know that they’re running a high pick and roll. It’s really like a brush screen, just so you can switch. And it’s slow. Like, it’s like stand there, touch his body, drag him down. And now you’ve gotta switch. And it’s embarrassing if you don’t switch, ‘cause you on the court, on the island, by yourself in the NBA. So you standing there like, ‘Damn.’ I could literally walk real slow and just grab you like, ‘it’s time,’ and that’s the switch. Now, you’ve gotta stomp your feet, slap the ground, and just get ready every time.”
On defensive coverage adjustments: “Jalen will have to get over the screen on C.J.’s hip and push him downhill, then whoever’s man is creating the switch, they’ll stay in the help position to make C.J. pass the ball. Then, the wing man will cheat over to the middle, and the [Knicks’] corner man will have two men: [Atlanta’s] wing man and the corner man. If Jalen blitzes the screen, now if C.J. goes to drive and the help defender is in the blue position, Jalen can switch back to his man. He can switch to the other guy. And that’s how you kill it. Now we’re gonna watch, and we’re gonna see if they’re gonna make that adjustment. Because [Atlanta is] gonna run the same play. They’re gonna do it old-school and make us adjust.”
On Brunson’s need for adjustments: “I feel like Jalen Brunson has to play like Allen Iverson and John Stockton. He has to find the balance. I don’t think it’s a hard transition for him because he’s smart, and he’s astute, and because he’s smart and astute, he’s aware of what happened. Right now, this is the first four years of him being the man where he’s making decisions and he’s going on the court. He’s playing at the highest level and everything is in his hand. And he’s got all of the support. We are going to support him because we believe him and we trust him. We believe that. I believe that.”
On Towns’ need for demanding the ball more: “KAT’s not going to get plays drawn up in this system with Coach Brown. He has to assert himself. He has to demand — he has to demand the ball come his way, man. It’s different when you demand something. When you command it, now it’s like, ‘OK, that’s what we’re doing. We’re going there.’ When he puts his hand up and demands the ball, everybody knows to throw it.”
On what to expect from Brunson in Game 3: “What he takes from [Game 2] and how he grows from that night — that’s him. That’s going to be the truth and true honesty in the next game. It’s not about playing harder or scoring more or not missing any shots. That’s not it. It’s evaluating how they play him. How am I going to play defensively? Am I going to submit and say, look, this is where I need help at? Am I thinking about knowing that I have a weakness right now and now everyone sees it? Everybody in the gym knew it. The whole world sees I can’t defend C.J. McCollum, and I’m gonna have to guard him in the next game. How are we gonna prep? And how are you gonna prepare to play against him?”
On believing he’d dominate in the current NBA: “I try not to compare my era to this era or eras in the past. I know whatever era I played in, I’d be dominant. I was one of the big men who could shoot, but I didn’t shoot a lot of 3s. Michael [Jordan] and I always joke about – He’s like, ‘Man, but you can’t dribble.’ I said – ‘All I need is two dribbles. Two dribbles. That’s it. Two dribbles, I can get from the free-throw line to the hole. So, it doesn’t make a difference what era I’m in. I think I can still dominate.”
All my real hoopers know how impressive this really is 🤯
Cavaliers
Raptors
Swayman Over 25.5 saves
Andersen Over 22.5 saves
Laferriere Under 0.5 points
