NEW YORK (AP) — Jason Zucker scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves, and the Buffalo Sabres rallied to beat the New York Rangers 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Zucker slid his 24th goal past Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin at 7:14 after teammate Alex Tuch had tied the contest with his 31st at 5:50 of the third.
Zach Benson scored twice and Ryan McLeod added a goal for the Sabres, who will participate in the postseason for the first time since 2010-11.
The Sabres won their 48th game in a dramatic turnaround from last year, when they had 79 points and missed the playoffs for a 14th straight season. Buffalo is 22-6-3 in its last 31 games, including a league-best 16 wins and 34 points since the Olympic break.
Alexis Lafreniere scored twice and Adam Fox also scored for the Rangers in their home finale. Shesterkin had 22 saves.
New York finished with five wins in a seven-game homestand but just 14 wins in 41 home games overall.
McLeod opened the scoring at 4:40 of the first. Benson then beat Shesterkin at 8:58.
Lafreniere answered on the power play at 19:21, then scored his second of the night and 24th this season at 2:57 of the middle period.
Fox put the Rangers ahead at 14:44 of the second before the Sabres rallied.
Benson completed the scoring with his 12th goal into an empty net at 18:44.
The Rangers will miss the playoffs for a second straight season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 when they had 114 points and 55 wins, including 30 at home.
Buffalo, under Lindy Ruff who also coached the team when they reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, has 104 points — two more than Tampa Bay and Montreal in the Atlantic Division.
Up Next
Rangers: Visiting Dallas Stars on Saturday to start season-ending three-game trip.
Sabres: Hosting Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday night.
During this past off-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed defenseman Parker Wotherspoon to a two-year, $2 million contract. This was after the left-shot defenseman had one goal, seven points, and a minus-10 rating in 55 games with the Boston Bruins during the 2024-25 season.
When the Penguins signed Wotherspoon, the expectation was that he would be a depth defenseman for them. Instead, the 6-foot-1 blueliner has been having a breakout year with the Penguins and has emerged as one of their most important defenseman in the process.
Wotherspoon has been excellent for the Penguins this season, and the truth is in his stats. In 78 games this season with Pittsburgh, he has set new career highs with three goals, 26 assists, 29 points, and 160 blocks. With numbers like these, he has been a major pickup for the Penguins.
Due to how well he has played, Wotherspoon has found a home on the Penguins' top pairing with Erik Karlsson this season. He has also become a key part of their penalty kill.
With all of this, there is no question that Wotherspoon has turned out to be quite the gem for the Penguins and has been a notable reason for their major turnaround this season.
Apr 8, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates in the third quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | David Richard-Imagn Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Atlanta Hawks in a potential playoff preview. Let’s go over today’s winners and losers.
WINNER – Cross-Matching
The Cavs started this game by throwing a wicked curveball at the Hawks. Rather than matching up by position, Cleveland elected to stick James Harden on Atlanta’s center, Onyeka Okongwu.
What does this do?
Well, it allows Jarrett Allen to bump down and defend Dyson Daniels, a non-shooting threat who the Cavs are willing to ignore on the perimeter. That makes it possible for Allen to patrol the paint, while Harden just has to use his bulky, 6’5” frame to avoid being dog food.
Okongwu scored 18 points, but wasn’t able to take advantage of Harden defending him. Harden more than held his own in those individual minutes, and Okongwu isn’t a skilled enough scorer to justify the offense catering to him any more than it did tonight.
We’ve seen other teams implement this same strategy. The New York Knicks love to use Josh Hart in this role. Similarly, the Oklahoma City Thunder do the same with Lu Dort or Alex Caruso. Now… it goes without saying that James Harden is nowhere near as good a defender as any of those guys. But the game plan is implemented all the same.
Playing 5-on-4 defensively is a huge advantage. Allen was able to ignore Daniels and contain nearly all drives to the basket. That led to a ton of short-mid-range shots from Atlanta. That’s the type of stuff Cleveland will be glad to concede in the playoffs. It helped make the difference in closing time when the Hawks settled for tough middies.
All that’s left is to make sure you don’t get burned on the perimeter. Outside of a brutal second quarter, I thought the Cavs did a good job of running Atlanta off the line and funneling them to the bigs.
WINNER – Donovan Mitchell
You can trust Donovan Mitchell to show up on the big stage. This wasn’t a playoff game, but it’s clear that Mitchell understood the possible implications.
Mitchell was on fire from the start. He made quick work of the Hawks’ defense, especially when drawing a favorable matchup, like when CJ McCollum or Corey Kispert had the unfortunate fate of defending him. Mitchell’s on-ball brilliance was on full display, with some ridiculously difficult shots appearing routine for him.
We’ve seen heroic performances from Mitchell before. But it’s worth noting that he scored in bunches tonight without ever makign it feel like it was him versus the world. Cleveland still took a balanced approach to their offense, with Mitchell expertly filling in when the time called for it.
By the end of the night, Mitchell had 31 points on 12-19 shooting. That’s elite.
LOSER – One Big Lineups
The Hawks are rolling. And should they draw the Cavs in round one, they’d be a formidable opponent capable of doing serious damage.
Tonight, their biggest advantage came in the second unit.
Atlanta’s bench outscored Cleveland 37-28. Most of that happened in the first half, with the Hawks’ bench shooting 11-13 from the floor while the Cavs shot just 3-10.
Jonathan Kuminga was largely responsible for this disparity. He scored 24 points all on his own, putting the Hawks in front with his huge second quarter. The results were diminishing, as Cleveland’s defensive game plan of leaving non-shooters open and packing the paint eventually won out.
Kuminga is a good barometer for this matchup. The Cavs have tipped their hand and shown that they’ll live with him trying to win games in the mid-range. If he can keep scoring in bunches like he did tonight, then he’ll pose a real problem to Cleveland.
I wouldn’t be overly concerned.
What I would worry about is Cleveland’s defensive integrity when only one big man is on the floor, specifically, when Mobley or Allen are anchoring any lineup that doesn’t also feature Dean Wade. The Cavs’ lack of size was truly exposed in those minutes.
This is where their second unit is most vulnerable. Especially when the Cavs are frequently running lineups of four guards and just one big. I don’t foresee them fixing this issue; rather, it’s a weakness that they simply have to overcome.
WINNER – Double Big Lineups (Plus Dean Wade)
The Cavs bench might be undersized. But let me tell you, the frontcourt featuring Wade, Mobley, and Allen dominated this game.
Atlanta has plenty of length on the wing. Much more than Cleveland. However, wings and one undersized center in Okongwu are all the Hawks have in their frontcourt. That should be BBQ chicken for Mobley and Allen. On Wednesday night, it was exactly that.
Mobley was immediately impactful. He bruised the Hawks in the paint all night, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds while no one from Atlanta had enough size to bother him. If Mobley plays with this much aggression — you can expect a quick series for the Hawks.
Allen wasn’t as overbearing. He’s still working through some knee discomfort that will likely linger into the postseason. Yet, Allen posed enough of a threat to earn 11 free throw attempts. Atlanta was forced to foul him multiple times after Allen used his size for deep-seals in the paint. The healthier Allen gets, the more of an issue this will be for the Hawks.
To tie this into our previous section, the only concern is what happens when Allen and Mobley are not on the court together. Cleveland only outscored the Hawks 52-50 in the paint. They also barely edged them out 47-43 in the rebounding category. The bulk of that happened when only one big was on the floor. Again, it’s an uphill battle they’ll just have to fight.
Apr 8, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Joe Boyle (36) throws a pitch against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Through four innings, this was an enjoyable game.
Joe Boyle and Colin Rea took two different approaches attacking hitters as each limited the other side to just one run. Boyle made an early mistake missing his location on a putaway sweeper that Nico Hoerner converted into a leadoff home run, but then Boyle quickly rebounded to retire the next batter and then execute that first sequence to Alex Bregman. Boyle did not miss that time and got the well-disciplined veteran on a check swing to strike out. Boyle, for the next three innings, went on to show more growth as he looked to distance himself from his days of wildness mixing in his new sinker and improved sweeper while aggressively attacking the strike zone.
Then, the 5th inning happened and the rather enjoyable game evolved into another cavalcade of self-inflicted problems to completely change the tone of the game.
The fifth inning opened with Boyle being a bit wild inside with his first two pitches before finding the zone again until Carson Kelly tried to pull a Derek Jeter and milk a hit-by-pitch on a ball which clearly hit the knob of the bat. The Rays successfully challenged the play, but Kelly took what felt like a commercial break to redress with his acoutrements. The long delay between pitches may have gotten to Boyle as he missed high on the next pitch and then hung another slider which resulted in a leadoff double to Kelly. The next at bat was a five-pitch walk to Ballesteros with only one of the pitches in the zone which was followed by a similar at bat to Dansby Swanson that loaded the bases with no outs. Those three runners would quickly come around to score on the next pitch that Michael Conforto drove off the centerfield fence with some extra help from the Rays poor defensive execution:
The Rays were charged with two throwing errors on the play, but charging Fraley with a throwing error was questionable in the moment and I’m still not sure how that is an error on him as Taylor Walls did not exactly make himself big for a cutoff throw and the throw scooted by him. The throw at least ended up close to second base, but then Jonathan Aranda doubled down on the miscue throwing wildly by Hunter Feduccia at home in an attempt to nab Dansby Swanson trying to score. Boyle would be allowed to stay in and he retired Matt Shaw in an eight-pitch at bat before Nico Hoerner took a 99-mph fastball off the outer half the other way down the line for a double. Five pitches later, an infield dribbler by Michael Busch was thrown down into the Rays’ bullpen by Feduccia for the third throwing error of the contest leading to the fifth run of the inning and Boyle’s departure after 34 pitches that frame.
Jesse Scholtens would come in to finish the contest and looked as good as Boyle did the first four innings. The Rays offense disappeared in the middle of the game as Colin Rea, Hoby Milner, and Ben Brown retired 12 straight until an 8th inning single by Aranda, a wild pitch by Brown, and a single by Fraley brough in a late run in the 8th. Chandler Simpson got on in the 9th and promptly stole second, but inexplicably tried stealing third with no outs and was thrown out on a perfect peg and tag by the duo of Kelly and Bregman.
Tonight was the third time this month the Rays have committed at least three errors in a contest and the 5th time in their past 25 contests dating back to the late September weekend when they did so in consecutive games against Boston. That is simply unacceptable for any team, let alone one who plans on relying upon pitching and defense to keep them in games.
Losses heading into an off-day always feel doubly painful, and things do not get easier this weekend with the Yankees coming to town with the front of their rotation ready for battle.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 10: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns defends Cooper Flagg #32 of the Dallas Mavericks at Mortgage Matchup Center on February 10, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. 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 Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (25-54) stay on the road on Wednesday night, this time playing the Phoenix Suns (43-36). Dallas played Tuesday night against the Clippers and couldn’t rally back after getting down huge early in the contest. The Suns enter the game having lost last night to the Houston Rockets.
Here are the main things you need to know:
WHO: Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns
WHAT: Second night of a back-to-back
WHERE: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
WHEN: 9:00 pm CST
HOW: KFAA Channel 29, MavsTV streaming, NBA League Pass
The injury report for the Mavericks reads like the end of a back trip playing Oregon Trail. Let’s start with who’s on the report but going to play: Moussa Cisse, Cooper Flagg, Tyler Smith, and John Poulakidas. Up next, since it’s so close to game time, we know who all is out: Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Caleb Martin, Klay Thompson, PJ Washington, and Brandon Williams. That’s rough.
The Suns will be without Grayson Allen, Haywood Highsmith, and Mark Williams, all due to injury management
While the Suns are fairly locked in to the 7th spot in the West and the top of the play-in tournament bracket, a win tonight would lock them in heading into the final games of the regular season. After getting whupped by the Rockets last night, they might be playing for a bit of pride.
Be sure to chime in with your predictions in the comments!
Consider joining Josh and me on Pod Maverick live after the game on YouTube, we should start LATE. Thanks so much for spending time with us here at Mavs Moneyball. Let’s go Mavs!
It was one of the best games Ron Cey ever played in his MLB career.
And looking back more than 50 years later, he had Davey Lopes partially to thank.
Entering Game 2 of the 1974 National League Championship Series, Cey can still remember struggling to find a feel for his swing.
Former Dodgers (from left) Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey formed one of MLB’s best infields. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
“I was kinda sluggish and just felt like I didn’t have a lot of energy,” Cey recalled in a phone conversation with The California Post. “I mentioned to Davey, ‘I just don’t feel quick. I don’t feel like I’m getting to the zone very well with bat speed and everything.’”
“Back then, I had like a 34/35-ounce Louisville Slugger (bat) I was swinging,” Cey said. “So he reaches over and gives me one of his bats, which were a lot smaller. It felt like a toothpick.”
At first, Cey was hesitant.
“Well, this is almost too small,” the eventual six-time All-Star slugger told his speedy, contact-hitting, four-time All-Star teammate.
Lopes, however, was persistent.
“Just try it out,” he countered. “I’m pretty sure you’ll see a difference.”
Lo and behold, Cey proceeded to go 4 for 5 with two doubles and a homer –– keying an NLCS victory that helped those ‘74 Dodgers reach the World Series.
“I should have done that long before, but I was too stubborn,” said Cey, who switched to a lighter bat model for the rest of his career. “And he changed my mind.”
That was one of the many memories that came flooding back for Cey on Wednesday, after learning Lopes had died at the age of 80 following several years of declining health.
To the rest of the baseball world, Lopes will be remembered for his lengthy list of accomplishments: 1,671 hits, 614 RBI and (most notably) 557 steals over a 16-year playing career that also included one Gold Glove at second base and a 1981 World Series title.
But to those who played with him during a storied decade-long run with the Dodgers, Lopes’ legacy will transcend just his stats.
“He was the catalyst,” Steve Garvey, the 10-time All-Star and 1974 MVP winner, told The California Post in the wake of Lopes’ death. “He was a quiet leader.”
Former Dodgers second baseman Davey Lopes, who died Wednesday, was part of one of MLB’s greatest infields. Getty Images
Lopes, Cey, Garvey and Bill Russell, of course, will forever share the closest historical link –– serving as the Dodgers’ starting infield for an MLB-record 8 ½ consecutive seasons from 1973 to their World Series title in 1981.
“When it’s all said and done,” Garvey said, “you could argue it’s the greatest infield in history.”
And it wouldn’t have been the same without Lopes, the undersized second baseman who set the table as the team’s leadoff hitter and menaced opposing teams with his speed on the basepaths.
“He controlled the game at times with his base-stealing capabilities,” Cey said. “He wreaked havoc on defenses … His contributions were immense.”
For all of Lopes’ on-field accolades, however, Cey spent just as much time Wednesday reminiscing on their lifelong friendship away from it.
Lopes racked up 1,671 hits, 614 RBI and 557 steals over a 16-year playing career that also included one Gold Glove at second base and a 1981 World Series title. MediaNews Group via Getty Images
They originally met during spring training in 1969, as just a couple young prospects playing a game of pool at the team’s old Vero Beach, Florida, training facility. They remained close for more than half a century to follow, seeing each other in recent years at alumni camps and autograph signings.
As teammates with the Dodgers, Cey joked how “you’d see more of them guys than you do your own family.”
During the 8 ½ years the infield quartet was together, they took pride in a longevity that still hasn’t been matched.
“I think we probably made Tommy Lasorda’s and Walter Alston’s days a lot easier as manager,” Cey said. “Because we played every single day … We were the glue.”
During that time, they helped the Dodgers win four NL pennants, nearly 800 regular-season games and a long-sought championship in 1981.
But while triumphs will long be remembered, so too will the little moments like before that NLCS game in 1974.
“It was real special for all of us to be a part of that, to carve out our own little history and tradition,” Cey said. “We have a unique spot in Dodger history.”
As well as in each others’ lives.
California Post baseball columnist Dylan Hernandez contributed to this report.
The Senators made an interesting move on Wednesday morning, sending defenseman Carter Yakemchuk down to the minors.
Yakemchuk, Ottawa’s seventh overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, was up with the big club for four games before suffering an apparent concussion last Tuesday against the Florida Panthers. In his NHL debut on March 24, Yakemchuk made an immediate impression, recording a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
The call-up was never really part of the original plan for this season. It was born out of necessity, if not emergency, with Ottawa’s blue line decimated by injuries.
Now, with Jake Sanderson back and Dennis Gilbert nearing a return, the Senators needed to create roster space. Yakemchuk becomes the odd man out.
It’s certainly a defensible decision. The last thing Ottawa wants is for its top prospect to be dropped right into the middle of a ferocious playoff race where every mistake is magnified ten times over.
But he is a seventh overall pick who's now in his second season since being drafted. It would be one thing if he were losing his spot to established NHL players. But the Sens are content to roll with Cam Crotty and Lassi Thomson, who have 31 career NHL games between them. Those players don't have Yakemchuk's skill, but they do play it safe, which is all Travis Green wants out of his 5-6-7 guys right now.
Now cleared after his concussion, Yakemchuk can be assigned to Belleville, where he’ll help the B-Sens close out their final five games of the season. Belleville sits eight points out of a playoff spot with five to play, so this will be more about development than helping in a late push.
His time is coming. It's just not now.
Thomas on Track: Chabot’s Return Gaining Steam
Meanwhile, Thomas Chabot took another step toward returning to the lineup.
The injured left-shot defenceman surprised many by skating Tuesday for the first time since suffering a forearm injury just over two weeks ago. He wore a non-contact jersey at that session, but on Wednesday morning, he was in a regular white jersey during an optional skate.
If you didn’t know any better, you wouldn’t have guessed he was coming off an injury. Chabot was moving well, handling the puck cleanly, making crisp passes, and even getting involved in some net-front battle work.
The next key step will be Thursday’s game-day skate ahead of Ottawa’s matchup with Florida. If he’s a full participant there, his return could be right around the corner.
Belleville Signs Wheat Kings Star
Down in Belleville, the B-Sens have signed forward Luke Mistelbacher to an amateur tryout for the remainder of the AHL season.
The 20-year-old put up a team-leading 88 points this season with the Brandon Wheat Kings and added four points in four playoff games. Prior to that, he spent three seasons with the Swift Current Broncos, where he totalled 205 points in 257 games.
With Belleville’s playoff hopes all but gone, it's a chance to give a fine junior player a quick audition at the pro level and see what they might have.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
CLEVELAND, OHIO - APRIL 08: CJ McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks drives to the basket around Sam Merrill #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter at Rocket Arena on April 08, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Atlanta Hawks were in Cleveland on Wednesday evening to face the Cavaliers. This is a matchup that has the potential to be a first-round playoff series, as the Cavaliers are more than certain going to be locked into the No.3 or No. 4 seed. As for the Hawks, all they have to do is win one of their remaining games and they’re locked into the top-six, and can finish as either the No. 5 or No. 6 seed.
These teams haven’t seen each other since earlier in the season, and both look completely different. The Cavaliers came into this matchup with everyone available, while the Hawks were still without Jock Landale.
Onyeka Okongwu got the Hawks on the board with a dunk, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker tied the game with a three-pointer.
It was a back-and-forth contest between both teams in the second quarter, and there were several lead changes throughout the period. The Hawks were finally the team to break the game open, and they got a few shots to go in, while defending the Cavs well on the other end.
The Hawks grew a lead as much as 11 points, and they were able to find a rhythm down the stretch of the second. The Cavs did knock down a few shots in the end, but the Hawks still went into halftime with a 67-60 lead.
The Cavs kept their momentum going from the end of the first half, and cut down their deficit early in the third. Okongwu did his best to cut out some of that momentum.
It wasn’t enough, as Donovan Mitchell continued to attack, and the Hawks didn’t have much of an answer for him. James Harden started to get going, and the Cavs grabbed back the lead.
The Hawks played from behind most of the quarter, but didn’t let the game get out of hand early. As the quarter progressed, they did start to lose focus, which led to the Cavs extending their lead to double digits. Kuminga tried to keep the Hawks in it with this three-pointer.
The Hawks had several chances to tie the game or take the lead, but they were not able to capitalize. Meanwhile, the Cavs kept making their way to the free-throw line, and they were able to seal the deal.
Alexander-Walker finished with 25 points, Kuminga 24 finished with 24 points, and Okongwu with 18 points.
The Hawks will be back in action on Friday against the Cavs.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 08: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks tries to drive around Ausar Thompson #9 of the Detroit Pistons during the first half at Little Caesars Arena on April 08, 2026 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Detroit Pistons knew that they would need reinforcements for this one, so a bunch of folks returned from injury to ensure victory agains the undermanned Milwaukee Bucks, 137-111. Jericho Sims notched his first career triple-double while Ryan Rollins scored a team-high 23. Detroit spread the wealth, with Jalen Duren atop their scorers with 21.
AJ Green started this one on fire, draining three threes in the frame. That earned the Bucks an early lead, but Duren and the Pistons would soon regain it. Sims was his usual menacing self on the boards and in the paint, while Daniss Jenkins dished out about an assist per minute in his limited time for Detroit. Despite some relatively strong play from Ousmane Dieng, Milwaukee finished the quarter down 34-28.
The Pistons extended their lead in the second. AJG was subbed out after two quick fouls brought his total to three, taking out his hot hand. A trend of Detroit racking up points off turnovers continued, with Ron Holland II cashing in twice. The Bucks (and specifically Rollins) would not go quietly into the night though, as they uncorked a 14-2 run to get within four of the home team. But the Pistons quickly regained a double-digit lead. Duncan Robinson then exploded for three threes and then some, as the Bucks ended up down 75-57 at the half.
Detroit came out of intermission on fire, headed by Cade Cunningham hitting shots inside and out. The Bucks were hitting shots; they just weren’t preventing them. Eventually they were able to regain the halftime deficit, highlighted by three threes from Taurean Prince. But Detroit would score the last 10 points on their way to a 112-86 lead after three.
Yet again, it was a strong start to the quarter for the Pistons, headlined by Duren bully ball down low. Things stayed south for the Bucks, but I’ll give a shoutout to Cormac Ryan, who had a nice game and nice eyebrows. I suppose Andre Jackson Jr. was the white flag in this one, coming in midway through the frame. But fret not! Jericho Sims triple-double watch brought garbage time to life… until he got it pretty easily with plenty of time left in the game, lol. Then the real white flags checked in and brought this one to a close.
Stat That Stood Out
The fast-break different was 32-2 (!). The Pistons were moving and grooving in transition, especially in the first half. The Bucks… were not.
With the regular season at its end come April 16, some teams on the outskirts of the playoffs are already prepping for their offseason while others are still fighting for their Stanley Cup hopes.
In the Western Conference, the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings are chasing a wild card spot, hoping to overtake the Nashville Predators, who sit in the second and final wild card spot.
It will come down to the final regular-season games.
Through 77 games, the Kings are 32-26-19 (83 points). The Sharks are right under them; through 76 games, they have a 37-32-7 record (81 points).
San Jose has a Wednesday night game against the Edmonton Oilers. That's important for many reasons.
If Edmonton loses in regulation, it will fall to second in the division, getting leaped by the Golden Knights. As for San Jose, its wild card hopes will still be alive and well.
The Sharks have won five of their previous six games, including a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday, April 6. Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith have contributed to the team's success in major ways.
They are the key components to a productive young core that needs to keep it up in their remaining six games, which includes meetings with the Anaheim Ducks and a last-place Vancouver Canucks team. To conclude the season, the Sharks face the Predators in a huge matchup and the Blackhawks again, then the Winnipeg Jets.
But with the Kings still narrowly ahead, it'll be a tough task for San Jose, a team that hasn't had a postseason appearance since 2019.
Almost time for a final answer on where the Sixers will wind up at the end of this regular season.
With three games left, below are the Eastern Conference standings from fifth through 10th. The top six avoid the play-in tournament.
5. Hawks 45-35
6. Raptors 44-35
7. Magic 44-36
8. Sixers 43-36
9. Hornets 43-37
10. Heat 41-38
And here’s a rundown of the Sixers’ potential seeding scenarios:
If Sixers go 3-0
To finish at 46-36, the Sixers first need to beat the 50-win Rockets on Thursday night in Houston. Then they must handle business against the Pacers and Bucks, two teams out of the East playoff picture.
To come out ahead of the Raptors in a two-way tie situation, the Sixers would only need Toronto to lose at least one of its last three games. The Sixers would win a two-way tiebreaker over the Raptors because they have the superior record vs. opponents in the Atlantic division.
In order to rise to fifth in the East, the Sixers would require the following results:
Hawks go 0-2, losing to the Cavs and Heat
Raptors go 2-1 or worse against the Heat, Knicks and Nets
No other team around the Sixers’ region of the standings could catch them. The Magic could reach 46 wins by ending 2-0 against the Bulls and Celtics, but the Sixers won the regular-season series over Orlando.
If Sixers go 2-1
If they lose in Houston and/or trip up against the Pacers and Bucks, the Sixers would need more factors to break their way to avoid the play-in.
At 45-37, the Sixers would be guaranteed to finish below Atlanta. Even if the Hawks ended 0-2, they’d be above the Sixers because they swept the regular-season series.
So, to be sixth at the end of the season, the 45-37 Sixers would at a minimum need:
Raptors go 1-2 or 0-3
Magic go 1-1 or 0-2
The potential tiebreakers with three or four teams at 45-37 get convoluted, to the point that it seemingly might matter which of their three games the Sixers lost (to the Western Conference’s Rockets or East’s Pacers or Bucks). For now, suffice it to say that they’d be scoreboard watching and hoping several dominoes fell in their favor.
The Hornets could throw themselves into the 45-37 mix by beating the Pistons and Knicks. If only the Sixers and Charlotte are 45-37, the Sixers would have the edge. They earned a comeback win over the Hornets on March 28 to take that season series.
If Sixers go 1-2
Two losses in their last three games would obviously leave the Sixers with poor odds of a top-six finish.
At 44-38, here’s the only way that could happen:
Raptors go 0-3
Magic go 0-2
Hornets go 1-1 or 0-2
In that world, the Sixers, Raptors, Magic and Hornets would all be 44-38 (with Charlotte going 1-1).
To illustrate the tiebreaker complexities that could ensue: The first tiebreaker in these scenarios is an automatic win for a division leader, but none of the teams would meet that criteria. Next up is the best winning percentage in all games among the tied teams. By our count, the Sixers went 6-4 overall against Toronto, Orlando and Charlotte. Both the Raptors and Hornets would be just behind them with a 6-5 record in their games against the other teams.
Again, this is a very improbable hypothetical on many fronts. The Sixers being a play-in team is by far the most likely outcome with a 1-2 finish. As laid out above, the odds of that also appear quite high with a 2-1 finish.
If Sixers go 0-3
Should the Sixers essentially collapse down the stretch and end at 43-39, they’ll be between eighth and 10th.
Even after David Peterson allowed five runs in the first two innings of Wednesday afternoon’s 7-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, it would be fair to say the New York Mets starting rotation has largely inspired confidence this season.
Only five teams’ rotations have struck out more batters, and two of them have played a full game more than the Mets had as of late Wednesday evening. Nolan McLean has looked ace-ready. Kodai Senga has pitched with more power than he did in 2025. Freddy Peralta has yet to be at his best, and he has still been very good.
But if cracks are going to spread – and when it comes to major league starting pitching, they almost always do – Wednesday offered a glimpse into where they might find room.
After allowing a run on two hits in the first, Peterson was vexed with small ball and pummeled with hits in a four-run second inning before retiring 11 of the last 12 batters he faced. Inconsistency, not total ineffectiveness, has been his undoing: Since he worked in and out of traffic through 5.1 scoreless innings in his first start of the year, Peterson has allowed 10 runs over 9.1 innings in his last two, scattering 15 hits and four walks. His ERA is 6.14.
Two mediocre starts seem like far too small a sample to dislodge a pitcher who was an All-Star in the first half of last season, though Peterson did struggle in the second half. His manager confirmed as much after the game, when asked if he was considering making a change in the rotation.
“As I’m sitting here right now, no,” Mendoza said.
Exactly why Peterson is pitching less effectively seems to be a subject of debate. Mendoza suggested that Peterson was struggling to execute his pitches inside to right-handed hitters, leaving pitches meant to land on his glove side out over the plate.
“When he’s going well,” Mendoza said. “The two-seam comes in, the slider down and in to righties. And like I said, right now, he’s having a hard time.”
Peterson, meanwhile, admitted that while he did require mechanical adjustments after that troublesome second inning, he thought pitch selection, rather than execution, was his problem.
“I don’t think I’ve had a problem executing the pitch,” Peterson said. “I don’t think we’ve gone there enough. I think we’ve relied on the sinker and change-up too much and allowed hitters to sit over the plate. In my eyes, it’s more about usage than it is execution.”
Apr 2, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson (23) throws a pitch against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Oracle Park. / Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Whatever the issue, Peterson seems likely to get plenty of time to address it. For one thing, none of his potential rotation replacements are currently applying pressure. As recently as spring training, the Mets rotation looked sturdy – maybe even deep. But in the weeks since, a series of worrying developments – none of them remotely catastrophic – have nonetheless whittled at its edges.
Sean Manaea’s velocity still hasn’t come back, and he is trying to rediscover his best stuff in the bullpen while also keeping his pitch counts high enough to start. He allowed two runs on five hits (unaided by a few defensive miscues) in four innings following Peterson on Wednesday, the second straight time he has followed his fellow lefty into a game.
He said he felt better, that his secondary stuff felt sharper than it had in his last outing – the product, in part, of working on leaning over less so he can rotate through his delivery more easily.
“I thought he was aggressive. The way he was moving on the mound, threw with his delivery,” Mendoza said. “I thought he was good.”
Mendoza initially suggested they would consider reincorporating Manaea into the rotation after a few turns through the rotation. But Wednesday, Mendoza said they will stick with the five starters they have used so far instead.
“It’s just where we’re at right now with this turn, where everyone is at and how they’re bouncing back,” Mendoza said. “I think that’s the bottom line. We wanted to be flexible. We wanted to leave it open just to make sure that [if] somebody comes in and says, ‘Hey man, I might need an extra day,’ then you can always make an adjustment. That was the whole idea coming out of camp.”
Some of the Mets' less convenient would-be rotation options are not knocking forcefully at this exact moment, either. Christian Scott, who looked like an obvious first call-up after a strong spring training, allowed six earned runs in 3.1 innings in his first outing for Triple-A Syracuse. Jonah Tong walked three and allowed four runs in 1.2 innings in his second Syracuse outing, though of course, their samples are minuscule, too.
Two or three starts do not make a season. The question Peterson will now answer is whether they will become a problem.
Zach Eflin #24 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Zach Eflin’s season is over before it ever really got going.
Eflin, 32, underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery, the Orioles announced Wednesday, after he made just one start for the ballclub this season.
The right-hander threw just 3 ⅔ innings when he took the mound on March 31 against the Rangers before exiting the game with right elbow discomfort.
He was placed on the 15-day injured list shortly after and underwent an MRI. He then flew to Texas to get a second opinion on imaging from Dr. Keith Meister, who ultimately ended up performing the procedure.
Zach Eflin of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the third inning against the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. Getty Images
“I feel for Zach,” manager Craig Albernaz told reporters last week, according to the Baltimore Banner. “The whole coaching staff, the whole team, you just feel for him. Heart hurts for him. You never want to see anything happen to any player, especially someone like Zach.”
It’s a tough break for Eflin, who saw his 2025 season hindered by three separate stints on the IL and didn’t pitch again after July 28.
He underwent back surgery in August.
Eflin has spent parts of three seasons with the Orioles after arriving in Baltimore in 2024 via a trade with the Rays.
This offseason, the Orioles re-signed Eflin to a one-year contract worth a guaranteed $10 million, which also included a mutual option for 2027.
Eflin has spent 11 years in the major leagues, spending the first seven in MLB with the Phillies.
He spent part of two seasons in Tampa.
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Zach Eflin delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Baltimore. AP
During his time with the Orioles, Eflin has posted an 11-7 record with a 4.42 ERA and 104 strikeouts.
He had a 5.93 ERA in 14 starts during the 2025 season.
The Orioles are 6-6 and second in the American League East after winning three straight games against the White Sox.
After an unexpected coaching change, a week of high-intensity practices and an unwelcome result elsewhere in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, the Islanders are ready to return to the ice — and fight for their postseason lives.
The Isles — following a 6-2 Senators thrashing over the Lightning — are three points off the second and final wild-card spot entering Thursday’s pivotal clash against the Maple Leafs.
And one of the team’s longest-tenured players knows exactly what’s required in that matchup against Toronto — the Isles’ first game since they lost to the Hurricanes on Saturday.
“It’s got to be all energy ahead,” defenseman Ryan Pulock told The Post. “I think as much as you make changes, it’s still just a game. And we need to bring that energy. We’re at home, there’s no excuses there. You need every guy on board, finding a little extra.”
On the third day of what new head coach Pete DeBoer has dubbed his “late-season training camp” — following his hiring over the weekend with just four regular-season games remaining — there was an urgency during the session at Northwell Health Ice Center.
Ilya Sorokin shone with some impressive glove work in net, DeBoer continued to feed his players instructions from a whiteboard and the coach was once again pleased with the buy-in from his new group.
“I feel like they’re optimistic,” DeBoer said of his players. “I feel a real good energy out there. The feedback’s been good, the conversations have been good. I think we all know the situation we’re in, but the mindset of the group is really good.
Veteran defenseman Ryan Pulock said the Islanders have to play with full energy down the stretch to make the playoffs. NHLI via Getty Images
“I think they’re sick of my late-season training camp. I think they’re done with it. And I’ll be honest, I’ve never run a training camp in April. So I think we’re all ready to play some games.”
But with their playoff predicament — Hockey Reference gives the Isles just a 22.1 percent chance of making the postseason after a poor 3-7 stretch — there was little time for them to brood.
“When you first find out, there is some sadness,” Pulock said. “I think you build relationships with people, and you work together for a while, and when you hear that, it sucks for a minute.
New Islanders head coach Pete DeBoer talks with the media on April 6, 2026. Howie Kussoy / NY Post
“And then you can sit on it for a minute, and you get ready, you look forward, and you get excited about what’s ahead.”
Roy’s successor has also been heartened by the response he’s seen from his new players.
“I think anytime a coach loses his job, if you’ve got good character like we have in that room, they feel bad about it,” DeBoer said. “And I think they’re looking to respond in the right way and handle this the right way.”
The Islanders may have to sweep their upcoming slate against the Leafs, Senators, Canadiens and Hurricanes — and get help elsewhere, too — to sneak into the postseason.
But following a late-season slump and this week’s rare mini-break, the first order of business is clear: Beat Toronto.
“It’s a little sprint here, where we know our backs [are] against the wall,” Pulock said, “and it’s [an] exciting time to just try to win one hockey game.”
Chris Drury made sweeping changes to the player personnel and scouting departments when he was named president and general manager of the Rangers just under five years ago.
Since then, there haven’t been many significant adjustments.
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The Rangers brought back Kevin Maxwell in the same director of pro scouting role he held for 11 seasons in New York, adding director of player personnel to his title, the team announced Wednesday before their final home game of the 2025-26 season.
It’s not exactly a brand-new voice, considering Maxwell worked for the Rangers for 14 seasons from 2008-09 to 2021-22. But Maxwell is an experienced (re)addition to a Blueshirts front office that can use an alternative perspective as they head into a pivotal offseason.
With over 30 years in an NHL front office/scouting department, Maxwell is tasked with helping guide this Rangers retool in the right direction. The Rangers need to get more out of their organizationally grown prospects, but also must improve on their free agent/trade/waiver targets.
That’s not to say there hasn’t been any success on that front. Vladislav Gavrikov has been a home run free-agent signing so far. Deadline acquisitions Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano and Niko Mikkola have all gone on to establish themselves with their respective teams.
There have also been some colossal swings and misses. Signing Patrick Nemeth to a three-year deal was questionable in July 2021 and just plain awful now upon reflection. So were the one-year deals for Ryan Carpenter (2022), Nick Bonino (2023) and Tyler Pitlick (2023).
When Drury first joined the Rangers front office as director of player development in 2015, Maxwell had already been with the organization for seven seasons. He began as a pro scout in 2008-09 before working his way up to director of professional scouting in 2011-12.
Kevin Maxwell of the St. Louis Blues arrives for the game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on November 23, 2024. Getty Images
Maxwell most recently worked for the Blues, serving as a pro scout and general manager of the team’s AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds, for the past four seasons.
Working alongside John Lilley — the Rangers director of amateur scouting and player personnel since Drury came in — once again, Maxwell will return to overseeing the pro side of player personnel, just like he did when Lilley was first hired in 2021.
Lilley will continue to be in charge of the amateur side.
Rangers held their rookie training camp Thursday, September 12, 2024 at Madison Square Garden Training Center. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Since Lilley’s first draft in 2021, the Rangers have had seven picks make their NHL debut with the team. Five players came up this season alone, a majority of whom only got looks amid the organization’s struggles and retooling announcement.
Two — Brennan Othmann (No. 16 overall in 2021) and Victor Mancini (No. 159 overall in 2022) — have been traded away.
The Rangers have 11 picks in this year’s draft, which is the most they’ve had since they made 13 selections in 2004.
Jed Ortmeyer has served as the organization’s director of player development since 2017-18. Jamie Herrington started with the club as an amateur scout in 2016-17 before becoming director of NCAA scouting in 2021-22.
The trio of Garth Joy (director of player personnel and director of pro scouting), Andrew Schneider (director of North American amateur scouting) and Ari Vuori (director of European scouting) all started during the 2022-23 season.
While Tanner Glass began his post-playing career as a development coach for the Rangers in 2019-20, the 42-year-old became an assistant director of player development in 2020-21.
The Rangers then added Marc Staal as a development assistant last season.
When Drury spoke after trading Artemi Panarin to the Kings before the Olympic break, the 49-year-old fielded questions about the direction of his retool. Asked by The Post if he had plans to make changes to scouting and development, the 49-year-old expressed how important those two departments are.
“The draft and development, organizations need to make good draft picks, obviously, and they need those draft picks to develop and get to the big club and impact the lineup,” Drury said at the time. “Again, those are two important parts of the organization, along with scouting and a number of other departments that we’re always looking at and seeing if we can tweak things, seeing what we can learn from other organizations that have gone through this before, and always looking for ways in both those departments to be better.”
