ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MARCH 14: Kevin Porter Jr. #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives to the basket during the second quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on March 14, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s quite possible we’ve seen the last of Kevin Porter Jr. in 2025–26. Prior to today’s game against the San Antonio Spurs, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said that he would be “surprised” if KPJ played again this season. The news was initially reported by Eric Nehm of The Athletic.
It’s been an injury-riddled season for KPJ, as he’s only been able to suit up for 38 games. This latest injury is right knee synovitis in the same knee he had meniscus surgery on in October, which caused him to miss four weeks. According to the Cleveland Clinic, synovitis is swelling of the synovial membrane that lines some joints in the leg. Porter has missed nine of the last 12 games with this latest ailment, last playing on March 17. When he has suited up, KPJ has put up some of the best numbers of his career since his last season in Houston, averaging 17.4 PPG, 7.4 APG, 5.2 RPG, and a shooting line of .465/.322/.878.
Milwaukee sits nine games back of the Heat for 10th in the East, and with a loss today, the Bucks will officially be eliminated from playoff contention. It’s likely the team will play this injury with more caution than the others. So, unfortunately for Porter, he’ll likely have to wait until next season to beat Bam Adebayo’s 83-point single-game scoring mark.
That shifts Porter’s focus to the off-season, and it’s not guaranteed that KPJ returns to Milwaukee. Porter holds a $5.4m player option for 2026–27, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines it. If he opts out, the Bucks will have his Bird rights and access to the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $15.1m, giving Milwaukee the chance to give KPJ a raise themselves.
ELMONT, NEW YORK - MARCH 28: The New York Islanders celebrate after a second period goal against the Florida Panthers at UBS Arena on March 28, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
A sluggish first period where the Islanders gave up two goals in an afternoon game? I wouldn’t blame you if you turned your TV off after Matthew Tkachuk put the puck in the toy department with a between-the-legs shot.
But… you would have missed a five-goal comeback win, led by Brayden Schenn’s three points and Matthew Schaefer’s record-tying two assists. Schaefer now has 19 points in his last 18 games, and has a few more games to claim the Islanders record for himself and chase the NHL rookie defenseman goal record, too.
The Islanders put up 40 shots on Daniil Tarasov, and Ilya Sorokin turned away 19 of 21 shots in another solid win for him as he made some big saves to help the Islanders keep their second period momentum, especially.
The fourth line was super involved as well, with Marc Gatcomb’s and Casey Cizikas’ goals bookending the second period comeback. It was nice to see a big statement win as the playoff race continues be volatile; the Islanders are now (temporarily, at least) in second place in the Metro Division. The other afternoon game with Eastern Conference playoff implications went the Islanders’ way as well, with Tampa beating Ottawa in regulation.
Kyle MacLean had a great chance in front after a loose puck came to him right in front of the net, but Mike Benning blocked the shot.
Ilya Sorokin made a big save on Carter Verhaege, and Emil Heineman rang the bar on a shot from the crease.
Matthew Tkachuk left the zone early and got behind the defense, taking advantage of an Adam Boqvist turnover to make it 1-0 Panthers.
Then, Matthew Schaefer stopped him from getting a second after he beat Sorokin, but Ondrej Palat pushed it right into Tkachuk’s path, and he went between his legs to make it 2-0.
Casey Cizikas appeared to get one back for the Islanders, but the whistle blew before he could push the loose puck into the net.
With a few minutes left in the period, the Islanders then headed to the power play after MacLean was high sticked by Nolan Foote, but the Panthers had the best look, with Sorokin needing to stop Eetu Luostarinen’s shorthanded chance.
Second Period
Daniil Tarasov stopped a Brayden Schenn chance in front, and Ondrej Palat drew a penalty, though nothing good from the Islanders came out of it.
Shortly after the PP expired, Sorokin had to make a big stop on Noah Gregor right in front.
But then, Marc Gatcomb took a seemingly harmless shot that trickled past Tarasov to cut the Panthers’ lead in half.
Gustav Forsling went to the box for tripping Barzal, and Schaefer set up Simon Holmström to make it 3-2 on the power play. That was Schaefer’s second assist of the game, which gave him 56 points on the season, tying him with Stefan Persson for franchise rookie scoring lead for a defenseman.
Sorokin stopped a Mackie Samoskevich breakaway with some help from Adam Pelech, and then the Islanders had some dangerous chances, before Anders Lee set up Emil Heineman, who ripped it past Tarasov to make it 4-2. Schenn had the secondary assist on that goal, picking up his first 3-point game as an Islander.
Pelech was still in the room to start the third, apparently due to a skate issue that needed to be fixed, but he came back about midway through the third.
Foote hit the post after beating Sorokin early in the third, and Sorokin made another save on Forsling, but the Islanders were largely in control for the third.
Tarasov was pulled with a little over 5 minutes left, and Carson Soucy knocked Luostarinen down, giving the Panthers a power play. Samoskevich put it off the crossbar, and Ekblad’s shot was saved by Sorokin. Ekblad also hit the crossbar again as the power play expired.
The Isles were under some pressure with the Panthers net empty, but held on to the 5-2 lead, claiming a big two points in the playoff race.
Up Next
Next, the Islanders will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at UBS Arena. Games against the Penguins always have intensity, but given the playoff race stakes, this one could be one of the biggest games of the season as a potential first-round matchup preview.
DETROIT (AP) — Catherine Dubois scored twice in a three-goal third period to rally the Montreal Victoire to a 3-1 victory over the New York Sirens on Saturday in a Takeover Tour stop at Little Caesars Arena.
Montreal (12-4-2-5) pulled within two points of the front-running Boston Fleet with three weeks left in the regular season.
New York (8-0-3-12) took a 1-0 lead when Casey O'Brien was in the right spot to knock in a rebound on a shot by Jaime Bourbonnais that goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens blocked but couldn't corral at 9:09.
Bourbonnais notched her ninth assist and Anne Cherkowski collected her sixth O'Brien's sixth goal of the season.
Dubois pulled Montreal even 1:54 into the third period and gave the Victoire a 2-1 lead less than five minutes later with her fourth goal of the campaign. Natálie Mlýnková earned her fifth assist on Dubois’ first netter. Shiann Darkangelo and Kaitlin Willoughby both notched their third assists on the go-ahead score.
Laura Stacey scored for the sixth time this season, adding an insurance goal at 7:29. Kati Tabin tallied her ninth assist and Hayley Scamurra collected her eighth.
Desbiens had 23 saves for Montreal.
Kayle Osborne stopped 26 shots in goal for New York.
Montreal outshot New York 29-24 after the Sirens had an 11-2 advantage in the first period.
New York had not shut out an opponent through the first two periods since Jan. 6 in a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Sceptres.
Up next
New York: Hosts the Minnesota Frost on Wednesday.
Montreal: Hosts the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Wednesday.
SARASOTA, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a spring training game at Ed Smith Stadium on March 11, 2026 in Sarasota, Florida. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Orioles off day stayed busy with the team agreeing on a contract extension with Shane Baz, who’s yet to pitch for the team and isn’t pitching today either. Apparently the whole 26-man roster turned out for the press conference. That’s fun. That kind of stuff creates good vibes. The good vibes will be heavily quashed if the team is not able to follow up on all of that by picking up a win here tonight.
Orioles lineup
Taylor Ward – LF
Gunnar Henderson – SS
Pete Alonso – 1B
Adley Rutschman – C
Samuel Basallo – DH
Dylan Beavers – RF
Coby Mayo – 3B
Colton Cowser – CF
Jeremiah Jackson – 2B
Tyler O’Neill and Blaze Alexander are on the bench after their Opening Day starts, with Beavers and Jackson getting action in this game instead. Kyle Bradish is the starting pitcher for game #2.
Twins lineup
Kody Clemens – 1B
Byron Buxton – CF
Luke Keaschall – 2B
Matt Wallner – RF
Josh Bell – DH
Ryan Jeffers – C
Trevor Larnach – LF
Royce Lewis – 3B
Brooks Lee – SS
Taj Bradley is the Twins starting pitcher. He wasn’t very good last year, so it would really be nice to see the Orioles offense wake up for the season.
**
What are you expecting from the team tonight? Is there anything you’d like to see?
With the stakes rising each day as the regular season barrels toward its end, this game qualified as one the Islanders needed.
The Panthers were just one of two opponents remaining that are truly out of the postseason race. Everyone else still had something to play for.
For 20 minutes, the Islanders failed to match the occasion. They trailed against a backup goaltender. And then their best offensive period of the season saved them.
The Islanders erupted for five goals during the second — with contributions from just about everyone — and cruised to a 5-2 win to climb into second place in the Metropolitan Division.
Matthew Schaefer handles the puck during the first period of the Islanders’ 5-2 win over the Panthers at UBS Arena on March 28, 2026. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
It marked their most goals in a period this season, fueled by their most shots on goal (24) in a period this season. Brayden Schenn (one goal, two assists) had his most productive game since joining the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer tied Stefan Persson (1977-78) for most points by a rookie defenseman in a season with two assists, giving him 56. The fourth line continued its strong play with Marc Gatcomb and Casey Cizikas both scoring.
Brayden Schenn (one goal, two assists) had his most productive game since joining the Islanders. Matthew Schaefer tied Stefan Persson (1977-78) for most points by a rookie defenseman in a season with two assists, giving him 56. The fourth line continued its strong play with Marc Gatcomb and Casey Cizikas both scoring.
“What I love about that period is when we made it a 3-2 game, we kept going at them,” head coach Patrick Roy said. “We didn’t lay off. We kept going and we score that fourth one and that fifth one. That’s the killer instinct that sometimes you like to have on your team.”
It was the type of win that flashes depth, the type of top-to-bottom contributions teams vying to do damage in the postseason need. Ten different Islanders skaters finished with a point.
Amid a rocky stretch, the Islanders will now enter a critical showdown with the Penguins on Monday with some momentum.
That wasn’t always a guarantee, though. By the time the horn sounded at the end of the opening period, they trailed by two goals, with Matthew Tkachuk accounting for both. On the first, the Panthers star sneaked behind Adam Boqvist. This was something Roy said the Islanders knew could happen going into the match. The Islanders defenseman made a pass to keep the puck in the offensive zone, and Tkachuk ended up with a breakaway, flipping the puck past Ilya Sorokin just over eight minutes into the game.
Brayden Schenn (10) celebrates his goal with teammates Matthew Schaefer (48) and Calum Ritchie (64) during the Islanders’ win over the Panthers. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
Then, around six minutes later, Ondrej Palat and Scott Mayfield collided in the defensive zone, and Tkachuk gained possession with a clear lane to Sorokin. He dragged the puck between his legs and sent a nifty shot into the net.
But everything shifted in the second. The Islanders dominated with 24 shots.
The Panthers only managed five — and never maintained consistent possession. At the 5:28 mark, Gatcomb cut through center ice and veered down the right side for a shot that managed to dribble past Daniil Tarasov.
Just under seven minutes later, Calum Ritchie hit Schenn driving to the net, and their trade-deadline acquisition flipped a puck in for his third goal since joining the Islanders. Simon Holmstrom followed on the power play, with Schaefer picking up his record-tying assist. Emil Heineman and Cizikas capped the scoring.
The Islanders’ message between periods? Don’t wait for the third period like they did in Tuesday’s loss to the Blackhawks, Schenn said, when their comeback attempt was too late to matter.
“You have to turn it on right now,” Schenn said of the message. “Come in and put pucks on net and get bodies there. [The Panthers are] obviously missing bodies, but they’re still gonna play the right way over there, and you have to play them hard and play the right way. And we did that, we got rewarded.”
The Islanders rolled in the second period in their win over the Panthers. Heather Khalifa for the NY Post
There will certainly be tougher tests awaiting the Islanders as they try to sneak into the playoff field. A pair of upcoming back-to-backs — against the Penguins and Sabres, against the Flyers and Hurricanes — will challenge everything from goaltending plans to whether this burst of offense is sustainable.
But the reality facing the Islanders after the opening frame Saturday was dire. And they made sure it didn’t devolve into a loss that could haunt them three weeks from now.
“Gats threw it on net there, got a bounce,” Schenn said, “and then I think we obviously took the game over from there.”
Players are not covering the distances of old – they are not being lazy but adapting to demands of an arduous campaign
There is nothing English football admires more than honest endeavour, which is perhaps a consequence of the league’s origins in the industrial cities of the north and Midlands. “He put in a shift.” “She did her job.” “He gave his all.” The language of football is the language of the pit or the factory floor.
All top-level players these days are supremely skilled, but still we demand that they be exhausted by the final whistle, legs leaden with effort, hair soaked with sweat. Which was why it seemed to cause such consternation when Alan Shearer mentioned on Match of the Day last Saturday that Chelsea have run less than their opponents in every Premier League game they have played this season.
NORTH PORT, FLORIDA - MARCH 24: Mike Yastrzemski #18 of the Atlanta Braves celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays during a Grapefruit League spring training game at CoolToday Park on March 24, 2026 in North Port, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
After a 6-0 thumping of the Royals in the season opener, the Braves will deploy their perhaps more-standard, righty-pitcher-facing lineup in Game Two. This means Mike Yastrzemski takes over in left field and the five spot, while Dominic Smith slots in at DH, hitting eighth.
The cast of characters for the Royals is pretty similar to what you saw yesterday, except that Kyle Isbel and Jac Caglianone are now patrolling the outfield in lieu of Starling Marte and Lane Thomas, who drew Opening Day starts due to the Braves starting a southpaw in Chris Sale.
So, both teams are basically swapping two spots, but otherwise doing battle with the same pawns (or rooks or queens or what have you, as the case may be).
As far as matchups go, let’s get to it.
Though Michael Wacha’s been around forever, this Braves lineup only has 44 collective PAs across six batters against him, and only Ozzie Albies and Yastrzemski have double digits on that front, with 11 and 10, respectively. Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Mauricio Dubon have all hit Wacha well in a tiny sample, while Albies and his buddy Ronald Acuña Jr. have not (also in a tiny sample).
The Royals lineup has a similar-ish level of familiarity with Reynaldo Lopez (42 PAs), with more than half of those courtesy of Salvador Perez, who spent a long time facing off against Lopez in the AL Central. Perez has a .380 xwOBA off the right-hander, but just a .290 wOBA. No one else really has enough PAs to be worth mentioning:
(Original Caption) 10/22/1975-Boston, MA: After hitting in the twelfth inning, Boston's Carlton Fisk gestures at the flying ball, directing its path to a home run and a 7-6 win over Cincinnati. In the background, a Reds player watches the path of the soaring ball.
Sonny Gray returns to Great American Ball Park to face his former team as the Cincinnati Reds play host to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against Ace Bailey #19 of the Utah Jazz during the first half of the Emirates NBA Cup game at Mortgage Matchup Center on October 31, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Jazz 118-96. 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 Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Who: Phoenix Suns (40-33) vs. Utah Jazz (21-53)
When: 7:00pm Arizona Time
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Watch: Arizona’s Family 3TV, Arizona’s Family Sports, NBA TV
Listen: ESPN 620 / S: KSUN
This will be the third and final meeting between the Suns and Jazz this year. The season series stands at 1-1 after an October in which they met twice.
The Suns come into this one as winners of just one of their last seven games. It is worth noting, however, that half of those six losses came in one-possession games.
It could be worse for Phoenix. The Utah Jazz come into tonight’s game as the winners of just three of their last nineteen, including a loss to Jokic and the Nuggets last night.
Probable Starters
Now, if you are like me, you see this Utah Jazz starting lineup and are a bit confused. Ace Bailey is playing center? Didn’t he get drafted as a wing? Well, my friends, the Utah Jazz are once again committing to the most horrendous of tanks. They are rolling out nothing but guards and wings in their starting lineup, so I just listed them from 1-5 based on height. Ace Bailey is the tallest of these five at 6’9”.
Injury Report
Suns
Grayson Allen – QUESTIONABLE (Knee)
Haywood Highsmith – OUT (Knee)
Dillon Brooks – OUT (Hand)
Mark Williams – OUT (Foot)
Amir Coffey – OUT (Ankle)
Jazz
Isaiah Collier – OUT (Hamstring)
Keyonte George – OUT (Hamstring)
Jaren Jackson Jr. – OUT (Knee)
Walker Kessler – OUT (Shoulder)
Lauri Markkanen – OUT (Hip)
Jusuf Nurkic – OUT (Nose)
What to Watch For
This shouldn’t be close. The Jazz are coming off the second night of a back-to-back and the Suns have mostly done well in taking care of business this season against poor teams. The Suns will be bigger and have both the rest and talent advantage.
I am hoping for a big lead early and some extended run for Maluach, Fleming, and Dunn throughout the game. With the season winding down towards the playoffs and the Valley Suns season conclusion, we are quickly approaching a point where these guys are going to get their minutes slashed. The only one that I think Coach Ott may keep in his playoff rotation is Fleming, as he seems to be the one of the three that Ott trusts the most.
Key to a Suns Win
While tonight shouldn’t be close, it has the potential to be a trap game. The Jazz have beaten good teams this year, such as Detroit and San Antonio. Utah is surprisingly 9th in the NBA in points scored. Of course, that number is boosted by the first two-thirds of the season when their players were actually playing. As a counterpoint, even with their best players playing for most of the year, the Jazz have given up more points than any other team in the NBA this season.
The Jazz are young and small tonight. If the Suns can crash the glass with effort, this should be an obvious win.
Prediction
I think the Suns will get out to a big lead early tonight, and I think Oso Ighodaro will have a big game. He is coming off of a battle with Jokic in which he put up 15 points and 6 rebounds on good efficiency. After matching up against the Joker, playing against anyone else has to feel like bowling with guardrails.
NEW YORK (AP) — Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Matthew Schaefer tied the rookie defenseman franchise scoring record and the New York Islanders rallied to beat the two-time defending champion Florida Panthers 5-2 on Saturday and keep pace in a competitive Eastern Conference playoff race.
Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline, scored the tying goal in the second period after U.S. Olympic gold medal-winner Matthew Tkachuk put Florida up 2-0 through 14 minutes. Fourth-liner Marc Gatcomb started the comeback and later assisted on Casey Cizikas’ goal that made it 5-2.
Schaefer with a pair of assists matched Stefan Persson from 1977-78 at 56 points. His next goal will tie Schaefer with Brian Leetch for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.
Ilya Sorokin allowed only the two goals from Tkachuk and stopped the other 17 shots he faced. Swedes Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won two in a row since losing three of their previous four.
The injury-ravaged Panthers moved a step closer to getting eliminated from playoff contention. They’re without forwards Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett, Sam Reinhart, Anton Lundell, Evan Rodrigues and A.J. Greer and have not had captain Aleksander Barkov all season after he tore ligaments in his right knee during training camp.
Up next
Panthers: Visit the Rangers on Sunday.
Islanders: Host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Monday night.
Schenn, acquired at the trade deadline, scored the tying goal in the second period after U.S. Olympic gold medal-winner Matthew Tkachuk put Florida up 2-0 through 14 minutes. Fourth-liner Marc Gatcomb started the comeback and later assisted on Casey Cizikas’ goal that made it 5-2.
Schaefer with a pair of assists matched Stefan Persson from 1977-78 at 56 points. His next goal will tie Schaefer with Brian Leetch for the most by a rookie defenseman in NHL history.
Ilya Sorokin allowed only the two goals from Tkachuk and stopped the other 17 shots he faced. Swedes Simon Holmstrom and Emil Heineman also scored for the Islanders, who have won two in a row since losing three of their previous four.
BENGALURU, India (AP) — Star batter Virat Kohli hit 69 not out off 38 balls, including five sixes and five fours, as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by six wickets in the Indian Premier League season-opener on Saturday.
Devdutt Padikkal smashed a 26-ball 61, with four sixes and seven fours, as Bengaluru raced to 203-4 in 15.4 overs with 26 deliveries to spare.
Earlier, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy picked up 3-22 in four overs on his IPL debut as Hyderabad finished with 201-9 in 20 overs. Stand-in skipper Ishan Kishan hit 80 off 38 balls, including five sixes, with Aniket Verma adding an 18-ball 43.
Chasing a par score at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru lost Phil Salt cheaply – out caught for eight.
But impact substitute Padikkal lived up to his role as he raced to 50 off 21 balls. He put on 101 runs off 45 deliveries with Kohli as Bengaluru set a hectic pace in its chase – 76-1 in powerplay and 100 off just 8.1 overs.
Padikkal was caught in the 9th over, but skipper Rajat Patidar didn’t let the momentum slip. He smashed 31 off 12 balls and put on 53 off 22 with Kohli for the third wicket.
Sunrisers’ impact player David Payne struck twice in the 13th over – Patidar and Jitesh Sharma (0) were caught off consecutive deliveries.
But Kohli paced the chase well and Bengaluru was never in serious trouble.
Kohli brought up his 64th IPL half-century off 33 balls to the delight of a packed home ground and then raced to the finish, hitting 18 off Harshal Patel’s four deliveries in the 16th over.
Tim David hit 16 not out off 10 balls, sharing a 40-run unbeaten stand with Kohli off 19 balls.
Hyderabad struggles
Put into bat, Hyderabad’s top order struggled against Duffy’s disciplined bowling. Big hitting openers Abhishek Sharma (7) and Travis Head (11) fell cheaply, while Nitish Reddy was out caught for 1.
Hyderabad was 29-3 in 4.2 overs, when Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen came to the rescue with 97 off 53 for the fourth wicket.
Kishan continued his T20 World Cup form to rescue his side, hitting five sixes and eight fours in his 27-ball 50.
Klaasen made 31 off 22, and looked good for more. He was adjudged caught at midwicket off Romario Shepherd. Phil Salt’s catch was reviewed by the third umpire and Klaasen was not pleased with the decision.
Salt pulled another one-handed stunner at the deep point fence – already a contender for catch of the season – as he dived to the right to dismiss Kishan in the 16th over.
With Hyderabad running out of batting, Aniket Verma (43) smacked four sixes and three fours in 18 balls to take his side past the 200 mark.
But it never looked enough against a raging Bengaluru batting side.
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: The sneakers worn by Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Dylan Garand may be auditioning to be the New York Rangers’ backup goaltender for the 2026-27 season.
With Jonathan Quick banged up with an upper-body injury, the Rangers called up Dylan Garand from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League last week.
Despite previously being called up on a couple of occasions, Garand hadn’t played in an NHL game.
With the Rangers well out of the playoff picture, the team was more inclined to give Garand a look, and he has run with his opportunity.
In two games, Garand has posted a 1.44 goals against average and a .954 save percentage, while earning his first NHL win on Friday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
“I thought he looked really solid in there, and that's the second game in a row I felt that way so,” Mike Sullivan said of Garand. “It's two really good starts for him and I'm happy for him because I know how hard he's worked to get to this point. It's great for our team, it's great for our organization... The feeling I've gotten behind the bench in the two starts that he's had is that he's completely in control and he has good composure in there.”
Going into next season, it’s unclear if Jonathan Quick will retire, and even if he does return to play another year at 40 years old going on 41 years old, it remains to be seen if the Rangers are open to re-signing the pending unrestricted free agent.
Quick is having what many deem to be a down year, recording a 5-16-2 record, 3.18 goals against average, and .889 save percentage. Through the 13-game stretch Igor Shesterkin missed due to a lower-body injury from January to February, Quick, who took over the starting role, held a 1-8 record and .853 save percentage.
Given some of Quick’s struggles this season and his durability concerns at his age, it is not far-fetched to assume that Garand could take over the backup role under Igor Shesterkin moving into the future.
“I’m not really thinking about that too much,” Garand said. “I’m just trying to live in the present moment, and any opportunity I get try to go in there and give the guys a chance to win and do my job. I’m having a lot of fun right now.”
Mike Sullivan confirmed on Saturday that Quick still isn’t cleared to return to game action, but even when he is, the Rangers don’t appear to be in a rush to send Garand back down to the AHL.
Has the 23-year-old goaltender earned more NHL starts to close out the 2025-26 campaign?
“That would probably be a fair statement just based on his performance to this point,” Sullivan emphasized. “As this moves forward, when eventually we get a healthy Quickie back, I think [Chris Drury] and I will sit and probably have a conversation around it.”
It would be wise for Sullivan and the Rangers to keep Garand around for the remainder of the season to see what they have in the young goalie.
The best way to analyze if Garand is capable of taking over the backup role is to throw him into more NHL games, and with the Rangers already eliminated from playoff contention, there’s no reason not to allow Garand to showcase his skills at this level.
“We’ve put him in two games so far. I will sit and talk with Dru (Drury) about a game plan moving forward,” Sullivan said. “Right now, we've got two healthy goalies that we're going to utilize, Dylan's part of it.
“I think he’s played extremely well in the two games that he’s played, which is real encouraging from our standpoint. He's a good young goalie. As far as what happens moving forward, I think that's going to evolve in time, and we'll talk through that as we go.”
The Florida Panthers kicked off a quick weekend back-to-back with a matchup against the New York Islanders on Saturday afternoon.
Florida jumped out to a 2-0 lead but were overwhelmed by a motivated Islanders squad still fighting for a playoff spot, losing 5-2 at UBS Arena.
In what has seemed like a regular occurrence lately, Matthew Tkachuk was sprung on another breakaway, this one coming during the first half of the first period.
A Seth Jones clearing attempt after the Islanders were trying to set up shop in Florida’s zone found Tkachuk all alone in the neutral zone.
Tkachuk made a great move to his backhand before sending the puck over Ilya Sorokin’s glove and into the top of the net, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead at the 8:06 mark.
He wasn’t done there.
About six minutes later, Tkachuk drove with the puck through New York’s zone and toward Sorokin.
Just as he passed the top of the crease, Tkachuk put his stick between his legs and somehow shot the puck past Sorokin to give Florida a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders picked up their first goal of the game about five minutes into the second period when a shot by Marc Gatcomb deflected off the blade of Donovan Sebrango and past a frozen Daniil Tarasov.
New York then tied the game with just under eight minutes left in the middle frame when Brayden Schenn was sprung on a breakaway from the blue line in, beating Tarasov glove side to knot the score at two.
Just about three minutes after that, an Islanders power play goal by Simon Holmstrom give the home team their first lead of the afternoon. His long point shot found its way past a screened Tarasov with 5:08 remaining in the period.
They weren’t done there.
Moments after Mackie Samoskevich was stopped on a breakaway by Sorokin, Emil Heineman one-timed a nice pass by Anders Lee past Tarasov, doubling the Islanders’ lead with exactly three minutes on the clock.
Less than a minute later, Casey Cizikas found a loose puck in the Panthers crease after a Tarasov glove save and popped it over the sprawling goaltender, and just like that It was 5-2 Islanders.
The two teams meandered through a scoreless third period that saw Florida pull Tarasov with over five minutes to go and hit a couple goal posts while trying to shrink their deficit.
Photo caption: Mar 28, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) celebrates his goal against Florida Panthers goaltender Daniil Tarasov (40) during the second period at UBS Arena. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)
