SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 12: Kristian Robinson #62 of the Arizona Diamondbacks runs to first base during a Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 12, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Diamondbacks News
Soroka Sharp Against Sox Michael Soroka looked to be in mid-season form in his final spring outing. The bounce back candidate had a strong outing against the lowly White Sox as he made his case for a place in the rotation.
Diamondbacks Game Pushed Back At this point, it is mostly a reminder that all mid-day Cactus League games have been rescheduled due to the continuing heat wave hammering the Valley.
Gallen Discusses Final Start of Spring Zac Gallen’s Friday start was the last outing he will have before the games start to count. The next time he takes the bump will be against Yoshinobu Yamamoto and the Dodgers in the season opener.
As Opening Day Looms Bullpen, Closer Questions Remain It is hard not to believe that this winter’s drastic jump in the cost of pitching did not play a major factor in the roster that Mike Hazen wound up with. Paul Sewald continues to make fans nervous.
Eduardo Rodriguez Returns Eduardo Rodriguez has returned from the Diamondbacks after leading his home nation of Venezuela to the WBC crown.
Other Baseball News
Padres Select Walker Buehler The former Dodgers ace has managed to earn himself another chance to see if there is anything left in the tank after multiple Tommy John surgeries.
Marcelo Mayer Named Red Sox Starting Second Baseman In what has been pretty much a foregone conclusion for a few weeks now, Marcelo Mayer has been named by the Red Sox as their Opening Day starter at second base.
Andrew Painter Makes Phillies’ Rotation The 6’7” right-handed Painter will break camp as a member of the Philadelphia rotation. The young man turns 24 on 10 April.
Brandon Carlo is one of the best shot blockers in the NHL, ranking 29th among all defensemen in shot blocks per 60 minutes.
My Maple Leafs vs. Senators predictions expect Carlo to put his body on the line early and often against a team sitting 6th in attempts over their past 10.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, March 21.
Maple Leafs vs Senators prediction
Maple Leafs vs Senators best bet: Brandon Carlo Over 1.5 blocked shots (-130)
Brandon Carlo has generated blocked shots very efficiently on the road. He’s blocked at least two pucks in 14 of his last 19 away games (74%), averaging 2.3 blocks during that span.
The Unders came against Philadelphia, Vancouver, Seattle, Florida, and Utah – mostly slower pace, lower volume offenses.
The Ottawa Senators rank just outside the Top-10 in shot attempts generated this season and 6th over their last 10 games. There will be plenty of block opportunities for a minute-muncher like Carlo.
Maple Leafs vs Senators same-game parlay
Tim Stutzle has been very productive against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams, averaging 3.6 shots on goal and clearing 2.5 shots in 76% of his games following a day of rest. With every point crucial, the Senators will rely heavily on their star center.
Toronto Maple Leafs games have featured an average of 5.51 goals without Auston Matthews in the lineup. Meanwhile, we’ve seen an average of 5.2 goals over the past 10 Senators games. There isn’t much recipe for fireworks here.
Maple Leafs vs Senators SGP
Brandon Carlo Over 1.5 blocked shots
Tim Stutzle Over 2.5 shots
Under 6.5
Maple Leafs vs Senators odds
Moneyline: Maple Leafs +210 | Senators -260
Puck Line: Maple Leafs +1.5 (-115) | Senators -1.5 (-105)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+120) | Under 6.5 (-140)
Maple Leafs vs Senators trend
The Ottawa Senators have hit the Game Total Under in 10 of their last 15 games. Find more NHL betting trends for Maple Leafs vs. Senators.
How to watch Maple Leafs vs Senators
Location
Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa, ON
Date
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
CBC, SNO
Maple Leafs vs Senators latest injuries
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.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have made a move, as they have signed goaltender Gabriel D'Aigle to a three-year entry-level contract.
D'Aigle was selected by the Penguins with the 84th overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. This was after the 6-foot-4 goaltender had a 16-33-2 record and a .883 save percentage in 55 games with the Victoriaville Tigres of the QMJHL in 2024-25.
In 39 games this season with Victoriaville, D'Aigle has a 14-21-3 record, a .908 save percentage, and a 3.58 goals-against average.
D'Aigle is an interesting prospect in the Penguins' system. The potential for him to become a solid goaltender at the NHL level later down the road is there, and it will be intriguing to see how the 19-year-old performs from here.
Feb 6, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Sam Malinski (70) against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images | Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Sam Malinski has been nothing short of outstanding this season, quietly graduating from a fringe seventh defenseman to a bona fide NHL defenseman. Yet beyond that quiet rise, he has emerged as one of Colorado’s most dependable and impactful players in the biggest games since the puck first dropped on the 2025-26 regular season in October.
I like the trend of Sam Malinski having his best performances in the most important contests. #GoAvsGo
Malinski’s remarkable arrival has been widely chronicled across the Avalanche media landscape, and the story is vividly told through both basic and advanced statistics. He leads all NHL defensemen (minimum 500 minutes played) in on-ice goals percentage at 68.2%, while ranking 30th among blueliners in shots on goal. He has already tallied 30 points from the back end — obliterating his previous career high in just his third NHL season. His ceiling continues to climb, and it feels entirely reasonable to dream that one day he could line up alongside Cale Makar, or at the very least become a steadfast fixture in the top-four group.
One of the key ingredients in Malinski’s ascent has been the four-year deal he signed in January — a heartfelt commitment from the Avalanche and a well-deserved tribute to his relentless hard work and steady development.
“So, just really excited and happy to get it done with kind of earlier rather than later. … Any time you’re playing in this business, you don’t really have that stability in knowing where you’re going to play and where you’re going to live each year. Now that I’m kind of signed to a little bit of term, it’s really nice to have that stability.”
Speaking of stability, that very quality is precisely what has made Malinski worthy of a $19 million contract. He has found it in Colorado, and Avalanche management has clearly found it in him.
“I knew right away. I love Colorado. I love all the guys on this team. The way the coaching staff has treated me, management, and just everyone in Colorado. I’ve had nothing but good experiences here. I always knew I wanted to stay here.” Malinski told the Denver Gazette.
Sam has pointed to hard work and accumulated experience when asked how he has elevated his game and discovered this new level of success, “We all come here and try to get better, just a little bit better every day. I’ve just gained so much more confidence from the experience I’ve gotten throughout the 150 games. Just growing a ton as far as poise with the puck and the way I defend, too,” he told Colleen Flynn in an article with Mile High Sports.
Whatever Sam has been doing, it’s clearly working — and it was on display against Dallas in Colorado’s OT loss earlier in the week. Despite the outcome, his usage spoke volumes: Bednar has deep trust in him and believes in his offensive gifts, as evidenced by icing him during the 3-on-3 overtime period.
Sam Malinski just made a sick play to get the puck off the wall and into a scoring position. The #Avs then made two great passes to get the NHL's leading goal scorer a shot from point blank range.
Jake Oettinger robbed him. It's hard to score goals in this league sometimes.
Now, as the playoffs draw near, the tantalizing question remains: how will this rising star show up when the lights burn brightest? He appears to be a player who rises to the occasion — and this season, he will receive more playoff opportunities than ever before.
Let us know what you think of Sam Malinski’s play this season!
Most ardent Senators fans could easily quote their team's position in the NHL wild card standings without even looking.
That's because most fans have been engaged in, since at least the end of the Olympic break, the time-honoured tradition of scoreboard watching.
Those same ardent fans also know that the Sens have gone 7-2-2 in that timeframe yet they've barely put a dent in closing the wild card gap.
Part of the reason for this is the dreaded three-point games, where the overtime winner gets two points, and the loser gets one. It's the foundation for some teams being in a playoff spot. Except for teams like Tampa Bay, which have only lost in overtime or a shootout four times all season, the majority of teams are relying on these “loser points," and it's almost impossible to make the playoffs without them.
In addition to scoreboard watching, Senators fans are also watching opponents' games live, and the Boston Bruins OT loss to the Montreal Canadiens on St. Paddy’s Day gave rise to the need for a solution.
In watching this game, it was hard not to notice how each team played a very passive game where each wanted to win. But they didn't play with a “risk vs reward” approach because there was no incentive to do so. Making sure their respective teams got at least one point was more important than getting two in regulation.
Would the league, and not just the Ottawa Senators, not benefit from adopting the 3-2-1-0 scoring system that is used in the World Championships, World Juniors, Olympics, and the PWHL?
- 3 points for regulation win - 2 points for OT/SO win - 1 point for OT/SO loss - 0 points for regulation loss
Here are a few reasons that the board of governors might want to at least table the discussion, if they haven’t already.
1) Rewards Regulation Winners
Selfishly, this would benefit this year’s version of the Senators as they are ahead of most of their division and conference foes in this tie-breaking stat.
That said, teams that push the envelope are more exciting. Why not reward that?
It also stands to reason that the better teams will succeed more often in the endeavour for the extra point.
2) Keep teams in the hunt longer
In a world which is increasingly dominated by analytics, what would this to do in-game decision making if there was an extra point to be had?
If you were a team on the outside looking in and seemingly out of the race, wouldn't it be easier to bridge the gap?
If you're chasing a team that would be happy to play for the minimum point and then shoot for the extra point, but your team had a chance to take three points, wouldn't teams and their fans want them to go for that in regulation?
Imagine pulling your goalie late in a tie game because two points isn’t going to cut it. Yes, you might lose and get nothing. You also might gain three points instead of one.
Risk vs Reward is a big part of analytics.
3) Television Ratings
Games like the Montreal/Boston clash mentioned earlier are not unique. It is not uncommon for games that are tied in the third period to remain so.
The third period should be the most exciting period of a close game. If teams are going for it more in the first and second periods because there is more time to make up a gap or deficit, then the third period becomes the pre-cursor to the overtime period where teams open up again.
It was this style of play in the former OT format that gave rise to the loser point in the first place as even overtime periods weren’t exciting.
If the league is looking for people to stay up a bit later or watch games where their favourite teams aren’t playing, they need to give them a reason.
4) Health and Safety
Overtime games are great for the fans. They also take a toll on the players. And not just any players, the star players. Reducing the number of overtime games by having more exciting third periods and ending games in regulation could have long-term benefits to teams and their players.
Granted, three on three is not the most physically taxing part of the game. But it's still extra time, playing at high pace, with dead legs and tanks almost empty.
There is always a tipping point.
This would not be an easy decision to make and it would likely require testing the outcome in the AHL and ECHL to see if there's any benefit.
The number of three-point games has been noticed. The way teams play in the last half of the third period has been noticed.
If the NHL can adopt a loser’s point, they can certainly adopt a winner’s point as well.
Pat Maguire The Hockey News
This article was originally published at The Hockey News. For more Senators news, analysis, and features, visit the Ottawa Senators site at The Hockey News.
Moritz Seider is having a spectacular offensive season, and yet he’s found a way to ramp things up a notch without Dylan Larkin in the lineup.
My Bruins vs. Red Wings predictions expect Seider to get plenty of shots off in a high-stakes matchup against a poor shot suppression team.
Let’s take a closer look at my NHL picks for Saturday, March 21.
Bruins vs Red Wings prediction
Bruins vs Red Wings best bet: Moritz Seider Over 2.5 shots (+140)
Moritz Seider has seen his volume skyrocket without Detroit Red Wings teammate Dylan Larkin. Seider has averaged 3.7 shots on goal and 7.3 attempts per game, well above his season averages of 2.2 shots and 4.9 attempts.
He’s in a great spot to build on those outputs against the Boston Bruins. They rank 27th in shots allowed to Seider’s primary shooting zone (the right point) and 28th over the last 10 games.
This game also has massive playoff implications. Seider is likely heading for 25+ minutes, and he has cleared 2.5 shots in four of the last five he’s seen that usage.
Bruins vs Red Wings same-game parlay
Ben Chiarot has blocked multiple shots in six consecutive games. He’s done so in 72% of his appearances against Top-16 shot generation teams, and the Bruins fit that criteria.
Much like Seider, Charlie McAvoy will see heavy usage as the No. 1 defenseman in a game carrying such weight. He has blocked multiple shots in 69% of road games and 83% against teams ranking in the Top-16 in shots.
Bruins vs Red Wings SGP
Moritz Seider Over 2.5 shots
Ben Chiarot Over 1.5 blocked shots
Charlie McAvoy Over 1.5 blocked shots
Bruins vs Red Wings odds
Moneyline: Bruins +100 | Red Wings -120
Puck Line: Bruins +1.5 (-240) | Red Wings -1.5 (+195)
Over/Under: Over 5.5 (-130) | Under 5.5 (-110)
Bruins vs Red Wings trend
Moritz Seider has registered 3+ shots in six of his last eight games. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Red Wings.
How to watch Bruins vs Red Wings
Location
Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Date
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Puck drop
8:00 p.m. ET
TV
ABC
Bruins vs Red Wings latest injuries
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.
No, not because his team was handed the second-largest defeat in NCAA Tournament history at the hands of No. 1 Florida on Friday, March 20. Rather, it was a moment near the end of the game that made Diallo's reaction go viral.
With under two minutes left in the game, Florida redshirt freshman Olivier Rioux entered the game with the Gators ahead by 62 points. With the Panthers on offense, Diallo — who is listed at 6-8 on the PVAM roster — stood next to the 7-9 center for Florida and could not believe how tall the tallest player in NCAA basketball history was.
With his appearance in Friday's game, Rioux became the tallest player to ever appear in an NCAA Tournament game. Of course, setting records is nothing new for Rioux, who was 7-7 when he was 16, making him the Guinness World Record holder for the world's tallest teenager.
On Nov. 6, 2025, Rioux entered Florida's game against North Florida to become the tallest player to ever play in an NCAA basketball game, beating out Manut Bol, who was 7-7 and played at Division II Bridgeport.
Fifteen days later, Rioux became the tallest player to ever score a point when he made a free throw against Merrimack. On Dec. 17, he made a dunk to become the tallest player to ever score a basket.
He finished the game with two points on 1-of-3 shooting to go along with two offensive rebounds and an assist. He hardly had to get off the floor to complete his dunk for his lone score.
After earning a No. 9 seed in March Madness, the Billikens not only won their first tournament game since 2014, but also did it in style. Saint Louis led No. 8 Georgia wire-to-wire in a 102-77 drubbing, leading by as many as 40 points at one time.
Now, the Billikens are tasked with taking on No. 1 Michigan at 12:15 p.m. ET Saturday, March 21, from the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, with a chance to advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1957.
But that may still leave college basketball fans unfamiliar with the program asking, "What exactly is a Billiken?" Here's the history of Saint Louis' nickname for its athletic programs ahead of the second round matchup with Michigan in the NCAA Tournament:
What is a Billiken?
According to the Saint Louis University website, the Billiken was a national sensation in the 1900s. The mythical creature was used as the face of items produced, such as dolls, marshmallow candies, belt buckles, and other items.
The Billiken represents "things as they ought to be." According to legends, "To buy a Billiken gives the purchaser luck, but to have one given to you is better luck."
Florence Pretz — a Missouri art teacher and illustrator — is credited with the creation of the figure. In 1908, she patented her "design for an image" of the Billiken while working at Kansas City’s Manual Training School.
The belief is that Pretz found the name in a Bliss Carman poem and bestowed it upon her creation.
"I concluded if there is a chance that we shape our own lives, and my clay was mine to fashion as I would, I might as well make an image, which embodied hope and happiness to sort of live up to," Pretz said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Why is Saint Louis named the Billikens?
The school website is unsure of when the Billiken first became associated with the university. However, the mascot brings a sense of community to campus.
"Saint Louis University’s unique mascot brings more than team spirit. The Billiken is a mythical figure representing “things as they ought to be” — on campus and wherever he’s found.
According to one story, John Bender — a law student and the coach of the 1910 football team — resembled the good-luck symbol. Legend has it that a cartoonist drew a caricature of Bender and placed it in the window of the local drugstore.
After that, the team became known as the "Bender's Billikens." The rest is legend.
Of course, that's not the only origin story. Another version of the story says that local drugstore owner Billy Gunn was the one who linked the Billiken to SLU. According to a 1946 obituary, "Coach Bender walked into Mr. Gunn's drugstore one afternoon and was greeted by the proprietor with: 'Bender, you're a real Billiken!'
St. Louis Post-Dispatch sportswriter William O'Connor was present when this exchange happened and first used "Billiken" in print when talking about the football team. Eventually, the nickname spread to all the athletic teams.
Other uses of the Billiken in popular culture
While Saint Louis is the only school to use the Billiken as a mascot, it can still be found in different places. Eskimos in Alaska render Billiken carvings as good luck charms, while a wooden statue of a Billiken sits in Tsutenkaku Tower for visitors to rub its feet for good luck.
In Chicago's South Side, the school year starts with the annual Bud Billiken Parade.
Saint Louis' mascot?
The mascot for Saint Louis athletics is simply known as "The Billiken." It has taken on the form of the mythical figure created by Pretz, while donning a blue shirt with the SLU initials on it.
Outside of the university’s basketball arena — Chaifetz Arena — sits the "Golden Billiken," where fans entering the game, or students preparing for final exams, rub its belly for good luck.
Fans will surely be rubbing its belly ahead of the game on Saturday against Michigan.
On the bench: Robert Guillaume (actor, “Sports Night”)
Director of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, Gunn also wrote and directed the 2025 version of “Superman”… The one-armed man in “The Fugitive”, Katsulas was also known for his role in sci-fi shows “Babylon 5” and “Star Trek: The Next Generation”… Ed Harris portrayed Kranz in “Apollo 13”, which told the story of how Kranz led Misson Control’s efforts to return the crew home safely after a failed mission. He also led the Apollo 11 mission, the first lunar landing with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.,, A comic book writer and editor, O’Neil is known for his work with Green Lantern and Batman. O’Neil’s version of Batman was darker and the inspiration for Christopher Nolan’s version in his Batman films… McBride was a two-time All-American soccer player at SLU and played 96 times for the U.S. national team, including at three World Cups, and scored 30 goals for USMNT.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 20: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets reacts after a three point basket in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center on March 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Rockets came into this one in need of a get-right after too ugly losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, and get right they did, leading for the vast majority of the game, shooting 52 percent from the field, 47 percent from deep and holding the Hawks to 41 percent shooting on their way to a 117-95 victory.
The Rockets had a balanced attack for once, with all five starters finishing in double figures, led by Kevin Durant’s 25 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steal and 2 blocks to go along with 9-for-15 shooting and 3-for-5 from deep. He also had zero turnovers.
Jabari Smith Jr. had another strong game and has been one of the few Rockets playing relatively well in recent weeks. He had 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals while shooting 7-for-14 from the field and 3-for-8 from deep.
Houston also got a neat triple-double from Alperen Sengun, who finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists, while Amen Thompson had 14 points and so did Reed Sheppard, who also shot 4-for-7 from deep.
The Hawks were led by Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who finished with 21, and CJ McCollum, who had 17.
The Rockets move to 42-27 on the year and sit in fourth place just barely in the Western Conference, where they are bunched up with the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. They will be back in action again tonight, when they take on the Miami Heat at the Toyota Center at 7pm CST.
Jets vs Penguins best bet: Mark Scheifele Over 0.5 assists (-125)
Mark Scheifele leads the Winnipeg Jets in basically every major offensive category, including assists. He’s tallied 52 of them, and in March, the veteran has nine helpers.
Scheifele has cashed the Over in three of his last five appearances, and he’s collected 20 of his assists on the road across 32 games. Most notably, he already made his presence felt against the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier in the campaign, handing out two helpers.
Pittsburgh also just allowed six goals in its last game. Scheifele will help Winnipeg make some noise here.
Jets vs Penguins same-game parlay
Kyle Connor is one of the best players in the NHL, and he’s lived up to the hype this season after signing a massive contract extension in the offseason. The Team USA gold medalist has 78 points in total, including 31 goals and 47 assists.
He’s cashed the Over in points in four of his last five outings, and Connor even had three points on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators. He’s compiled 32 points in 32 road contests this season as well, scoring twice against the Pens already.
Winnipeg has won four straight against Pittsburgh, outscoring them 15-6 across the last three meetings. While the Jets do have a record five games below .500 on the road, and the Pens are set to be in the playoffs, it’s hard to ignore Winnipeg’s recent success against them.
The Winnipeg Jets have hit the Game Total Under in 13 of their last 20 games (+6.45 Units / 29% ROI). Find more NHL betting trends for Jets vs. Penguins.
How to watch Jets vs Penguins
Location
PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
Date
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Puck drop
1:00 p.m. ET
TV
TSN3, SN-PIT
Jets vs Penguins latest injuries
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.
PEORIA, ARIZONA - MARCH 14: Logan Allen #26 of the Cleveland Guardians throws a warm up pitch during a Spring Training game against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Stadium on March 14, 2026 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Guardians gave up 20 runs to the Mariners last night. But it’s Spring Training so it doesn’t count. So there.
Logan Allen gave up 12 runs. I am always surprised when Allen doesn’t give up 12 runs, so nothing new here for me. Matt Festa got knocked around but hey it’s Arizona, it’s early, etc.
Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Wuilfredo Antunez hit homers. CJ Kayfus doubled.
The team designated Nolan Jones for assignment to Columbus. MLB’s rules are opaque but I think he will either be claimed by another team or have to accept the assignment to keep his $2M contract because he is short of five years of service time. That Columbus team will be crowded with Jones, Johnathan Rodriguez, Petey Halpin, Kahlil Watson, Juan Brito and even potentially Stuart Fairchild in the outfield mix… with options like Antunez not far behind. Makes you wonder if we might see some small trades prior to Opening Day.
I think CJ Kayfus takes Valera spot as a right field option and Angel Martinez secures the fourth outfielder spot. With Gaddis on the IL, the Opening Day roster has come into focus, and I do think Parker Messick will beat out Logan Allen for the fifth starter role.
Jim Rosenhaus spoke to Chris Antonetti, Daniel Schneemann and Angel Martinez on the latest Guardians Weekly podcast.
After losing a must-win game in regulation against the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, the Montreal Canadiens’ lead over the Wings and the Boston Bruins has disappeared. All three teams have 84 points, but the Habs remain in third place in the Atlantic Division since they have a game in hand. However, Detroit and Boston will face off tonight, meaning one of them will have two more points, and the other could have one as well, should the game not finish in regulation.
In other words, Montreal needs the two points, but Saturday night’s visitors do as well. The New York Islanders are currently ninth in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind the Wings and Bruins, meaning Patrick Roy’s men should be playing with desperation tonight. The team that wants it more will come out on top, and if the Canadiens can’t play with urgency in those circumstances, one can wonder when they will.
The Isles are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, while the Habs are 5-4-1 and both teams have lost their last game. New York has won the only game between the two sides this season, a 4-3 overtime win thanks to a Jean-Gabriel Pageau goal. Samuel Montembeault and Ilya Sorokin were in the net for their respective team.
Neither team has confirmed who will get the start in net, but given the importance of the tilt, it would be shocking if Roy didn’t elect to go with Sorokin. The Russian netminder has a 6-0-2 record against the Habs with a 1.83 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage, including a shutout. As for backup, David Rittich has a record of 2-3-1 with a 2.47 GAA and a .925 SV.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see who Martin St-Louis will give the nod to. Jakub Dobes started the last two games, and while he lost against Detroit, he played another great game, finishing the night with a .926 SV. Whoever St-Louis picks will be taking on the Islanders for the first time since Dobes and Jacob Fowler have never faced the Long Island outfit. Fowler last played on Sunday, in a 4-3 loss against the Anaheim Ducks. Given how well Dobes has done this week and the fact that he finds a way to win more often than not, the Czech netminder could get a third game in a row.
Brayden Schenn, who was acquired from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline in return for Jonathan Drouin, goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof, and two picks at the next draft (a first and a third-round), leads the Isles in points against the Habs with 31 in 33 games. Ondrej Palat is in second place with 24 points in 37 games, and Bo Horvat wraps up the top three with 23 points in 31 games. As for the aforementioned Pageau, he has 20 points in 37 duels, including three shorthanded goals and four game-winning ones.
As for the Canadiens, Brendan Gallagher has the most points with 19 in 32 games, followed by captain Nick Suzuki, who has 16 points in just 15 games and is on a five-game points streak right now, just like Juraj Slafkovsky. Mike Matheson comes in third place with 15 points in 31 games. It’s worth mentioning that Cole Caufield has 10 points in 10 games and is currently on a four-game point streak.
The Islanders have won six of the last 10 duels between the two teams, including the last two. The Canadiens’ last win over the Isles came in March 2024.
The last time the two teams met, Matthew Schaefer showed just why he is the Calder Trophy favourite. The rookie blueliner trails Ivan Demidov and Becket Sennecke by two points in the rookie scoring race; he has 50, while they are both on 52. Demidov and fellow rookie Oliver Kapanen have been somewhat quiet of late, and they appear to be missing Slafkovsky on their line.
Montreal will hold a morning skate at 10:30, and we’ll know then if St-Louis is making changes to the lineup. The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM, and you can catch it on TVAS, CITY, SNE, and MSGSN. Chris Rooney and Peter MacDougall are set to officiate, while Matt MacPherson and Ryan Daisy will be the linemen.
Feb 22, 2026; Fort Myers, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox infielder Caleb Durbin (17) is congratulated by infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) after he scored during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at JetBlue Park at Fenway South. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
At this point each season, everything is fresh and new, and nearly anything seems possible. For the Red Sox infield, the mystery of what the season holds is even more intriguing because the Red Sox have an almost completely new-look infield.
For the most part, the players are new to each other and to Fenway: Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa (bench), and Andruw Monasterio (bench) are all new to the Sox. All but Kiner-Falefa have arrived from the National League. Durbin and Marcelo Mayer, the starting third and second basemen, are still new-ish to MLB, with both returning for just their second year in the big leagues. Mayer, in particular, is an unknown quantity since his first season was cut short by injury.
Trevor Story holds a special place in the infield; at this point, he’s the only infielder who returned from the 2025 team and is not on the IL or in the minors. As such, he’s the anchor, though even he brings some question marks with him related to health and age.
What are these infielders capable of, individually and as a group? With as many unknowns as there are, it would be foolish to make predictions but there are certainly goals.
Stabilize the Infield Defense
This is foundational goal and must be considered a bare minimum for the season. Veterans Story and Contreras will lead the way here, facilitating the transition out of the chaos of recent seasons.
The organization’s new focus on defense will be stabilizing in its own right because it’s given the front office a mission. By signing a number of glove-first utility players, the team should be able to significantly reduce the errors that have plagued them for too long, and shut the revolving door on the procession of Quad-A players who were needed due to poor roster construction and lack of depth.
Stay (or Get) Healthy
This might be considered a stretch goal, as injuries are a way of life in professional sports and the Red Sox have had their share recently.
Romy González and Triston Casas could be contributors this season but they begin the season on the IL, recovering from their respective surgeries (shoulder and knee). Brendan Rodgers, who wasn’t likely to make the MLB roster anyway, is likely out for the season due to surgery.
With Story and Mayer, who have been defined in many ways by their injuries in recent years, fingers are crossed. For Mayer especially, finishing the year on the field—something he hasn’t done since 2021, the year he was drafted—is crucial. He has never played more than 100 games in a season as a professional and needs to prove what he’s capable of. He will surely want to shut down the speculation, which only reignited when he experienced “soreness” late in spring training.
Unlike recent years, there is a versatile bench to draw from—to allow Alex Cora to execute his matchups, to keep starters fresh, and to step in when infield injuries arise.
Manufacture Enough Runs to Quiet the Talk About the Missing Power Bat
This is absolutely a stretch goal.
This task doesn’t fall only to the infield, of course, but since first and third base are typically seen as power-hitting positions, the battle lines are drawn. Contreras has amassed 172 HRs in his career, though never more than 24 in a season. His bat is one of the strongest on the entire team, not only among infielders, which speaks to the lack of overall power. There are other ways to score runs, of course, but in working to create those opportunities throughout the batting order, they find themselves operating outside of the long-time Red Sox identity. Contreras has decent power and hits to the gaps. His goal is to hit close to 20 homers and consistently drive in runners with doubles off the wall, or other well-placed hits.
Durbin (.256/.334/.387) is known for slapping singles, not for pop. He has speed and baserunning smarts, with 18 stolen bases in 2025. His part of this collective goal? Continue to get those hits, work walks, and turn on the speed to stretch some of those hits into another bag. Once he’s done that, the mission becomes swiping bases and racing home to score. He seems like a player who would find his groove in this hard-working, keep-the-pressure-on style of play.
Story rebuilt trust with Red Sox Nation and resurrected his career in 2025, as he hit 25 homers, drove in 96 runs, and stole a career-high 31 bases. At 33 and with his injury history, it’s unclear if he can maintain that pace, though he has spoken about managing his routines as a means of staying healthy and fresh. He will need to do just that and be a major offensive contributor, as he was last year.
Mayer has plenty of room to grow at the plate, slashing .228/.272/.402 with eight doubles, a triple and four home runs in 44 games. In the small sample size of 136 plate appearances over 44 games, he struck out 41 times (a rate of 30%) and walked eight times (a rate of 5%). Alex Cora has challenged him to improve his batting eye and plate approach, and in many ways, Mayer can only improve from here.
When González returns later in the season, he will hopefully be ready to do his share by mashing off the bench. Casas’ future in the infield or on the roster is unclear at this point, but if there’s any hope that he can resume the production he’s showed flashes of, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms.
Later this week, the infield will get the chance to prove itself in real games that matter. The foundation is there to build on, and the infield looks better, on paper at least, than any the Red Sox have rostered in several years.
Danny Welbeck and Yankuba Minteh were the stars of a deserved win for the Seagulls, as Liverpool once again stumbled in their pursuit of a Champions League spot
Arne Slot speaks frankly to TNT. “You cannot compare a home game, a Champions League night against Galatasaray, to Brighton away … but you have to take the positives … we know we face a different opponent today … we have to be even better to get a result here today … [Brighton] have good players … their manager is always able to come up with a very good game plan … his players are able to execute that plan … very intense … only play once a week … they can train on that game plan … it is important to have two very good goalkeepers and we have that … there is hardly any room for error any more … we have made quite a few errors this season … the main ones was dropping points in extra time … now we are in this situation … though I don’t think we have to win eight, we have to play every game as a final … get the most out of the game possible … let’s see what it is today.”
Mar 3, 2026; Goodyear, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) talks with coaches during the fourth inning of the game against he Cleveland Guardians at Goodyear Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Roki Sasaki has struggled with command this spring training, all while adding new pitches to his repertoire. The Dodgers have been exceedingly patient with the 24-year-old right-hander, insisting all spring that he will start the season in the starting rotation, rather than get optioned to the minors to continue his work in progress.
“There’s obviously a big gap between Triple-A and the big leagues,” Friedman said. “With certain really talented young players that we really believe in, we think that last mile of player development is generally better served at the major-league level.
“That said, even with our established guys it’s one of continued player development. Now for some guys, that’s more on the margins. For other guys there’s more involved. But we believe very strongly that he is going to be a very successful major-league starter. Just how quickly that comes to be is a fair question. Obviously we’re going to pour everything we can into making that happen sooner rather than later and we’ll go from there.”
I wouldn’t say our mindset is all that different. But obviously, when you’re in a moment in time with an incredibly talented roster, I think the mindset is, ‘Don’t sit back on your heels, be aggressive, and don’t be nonchalant about the opportunity that we have in front of us.’ And so it’s more the idea of pressing an advantage and being aggressive on that front.
Major League Baseball on Thursday announced that Polymarket is now the league’s official prediction market exchange, which is definitely a group of words that make complete sense together. Gabe Lacques at USA Today wrote about the potential pitfalls:
Manfred himself even has some control over the market.
The No. 2 search result after “2026 win totals” on Polymarket is “New MLB (collective bargaining agreement) by Dec. 1?” While Manfred has telegraphed a lockout by that date, the market believes there’s a 49% chance a deal will be struck between MLB and the players’ association by then.
