How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - APRIL 11: Logan Webb #62 of the San Francisco Giants throws a pitch in the fifth inning during a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on April 11, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/IOS/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game road series against the Washington Nationals this afternoon.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be right-hander Logan Webb, who enters today’s game with a 5.25 ERA, 3.20 FIP, with 21 strikeouts to nine walks in 24 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 6-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, in which he allowed four runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

He’ll be facing off against Nationals right-hander Zack Littell, who enters today’s game with a 4.20 ERA, 7.16 FIP, with 10 strikeouts to five walks in 15 innings pitched. His last start was in the Nationals’ 8-6 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, in which he allowed three runs on six hits with three strikeouts in five innings.

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Game #20

Who: San Francisco Giants vs. Washington Nationals

Where: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.

When: 3:45 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Game Thread: Hello, old friend

PITTSBURGH, PA - APRIL 14: Brandon Lowe #5 of the Pittsburgh Pirates rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning during the game between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Go Rays!

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Washington Nationals vs San Francisco Giants Game Thread

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 14: Gus Varland #47 of the Washington Nationals reacts after his team's 5-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 14, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After a great 5-2 road trip, the Washington Nationals come back home looking to keep the good times rolling. It has been a small sample, but this team has been much better on the road so far. At home, they are just 1-5. The Nats will look to add a second home win tonight.

Blake Butera has shuffled up his lineup a bit. Daylen Lile will be in the 6 spot, the lowest he has been this season. Butera told me this was strictly a matchup based move. After getting hit in the hand yesterday, Jacob Young is not in the lineup, but Butera said he was available off the bench. Joey Wiemer will be in center instead. Jose Tena will be at DH today and Keibert Ruiz will be behind the dish. The dependable Zack Littell will be on the mound.

The Giants offense has not been great so far this year, which has Tony Vitello searching for answers. His top 3 hitters have been reasonably effective, but Rafael Devers has been off to a slow start. The Giants picked up Daniel Susac in the Rule 5 draft, and he has earned more reps behind the plate with his red hot start. Logan Webb has been one of the steadiest and most underrated arms in the league. He will be on the mound tonight.

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Game Info:

Stadium: Nationals Park

Time: 6:45 PM EST

TV: Nationals.TV and Fox 5 WTTG

Radio: 106.7 The Fan

The Nationals have been playing solid baseball so far, but that has mainly been the case on the road. It would be nice to give the home fans a taste of Butera ball. The Giants are struggling right now, but they have solid talent and cannot be taken lightly. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats!

Cubs 12, Mets 4: Home runs by Moises Ballesteros, Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ lead to a blowout

The Mets came to Wrigley Field riding an eight-game losing streak in which they had been outscored 44-12.

Those sorts of things are usually ripe for the losing streak team to break it, especially with the wind blowing out at the ol’ ballyard.

Not in this one. The Mets looked like a team in disarray and now have a nine-game losing streak in which they have been outscored 56-16 after the Cubs demolished them 12-4 on a warm, windy April afternoon.

The Cubs wasted no time getting the bats going after Edward Cabrera threw a scoreless first. With one out, Michael Busch walked and Alex Bregman singled him to third. Ian Happ struck out, but this bloop single by Seiya Suzuki made it 1-0 Cubs [VIDEO].

That 1-0 lead quickly became 4-0 courtesy of Moisés Ballesteros [VIDEO].

About the four-run first, from BCB’s JohnW53:

The Cubs’ four runs in the first inning equal their total in the first in their previous 18 games. That had been their fewest in any inning. They began today having scored six each in the second and fourth.

The Mets made it 4-3 off Cabrera in the second with four hits in the inning, and it could have been more if not for this terrific throw from Pete Crow-Armstrong [VIDEO].

The Cubs got two of those runs back in the bottom of the second on another homer. With one out, Dansby Swanson walked and Nico Hoerner put one in the bleachers [VIDEO].

That was Nico’s third of the year. Last year he hit his third home run on June 28, in the Cubs’ 79th game.

Cabrera had an easy third and fourth thanks to two double plays, one of those a strikeout-throwout DP by Carson Kelly [VIDEO].

The Cubs then extended the lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth. Swanson singled with one out and Hoerner and Busch also singled, loading the bases. Bregman hit a sharp line drive right to Francisco Lindor at short for the second out, and then this happened [VIDEO].

The Mets have some definite holes in their defense and it showed there. Meanwhile, the Cubs were getting some slick defense from Hoerner. This one ended the fifth [VIDEO].

This leaping catch by Nico was the second out in the sixth [VIDEO].

Hoerner was 3-for-5, his third three-hit game in his last eight. Between that and the great defense, if he keeps this up he might be NL Player of the Week, or even Player of the Month for April. He’s just been outstanding.

Cabrera finished up with six innings, allowing eight hits and three runs. Not a great outing, but good enough with the offense the Cubs provided. Riley Martin, who I am liking better and better with each outing, threw a scoreless seventh which included Kelly getting this ball call overturned for a strikeout [VIDEO].

Then the Cubs blew the game open in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Suzuki doubled and scored on this double by Matt Shaw [VIDEO].

Shaw advanced to third on a single by Kelly, and scored on this wild pitch [VIDEO].

PCA walked to load the bases, and Swanson scored Kelly with this sac fly to make it 10-3 [VIDEO].

Jacob Webb allowed the Mets a run on four hits in the top of the eighth, and the Cubs did that one better in the bottom of the inning. Busch led off with a single and one out later, Happ launched this towering home run to Waveland [VIDEO].

Check out the height and distance on that one! [VIDEO].

Hoby Milner entered to throw the ninth and allowed a leadoff single, but one out later ended the game on this double play [VIDEO].

A note from John on the Cubs’ three straight 10+ run games:

The Cubs had last scored at least 10 runs in three consecutive games Sept. 13-15, 2019, when they crushed the Pirates at home, 17-8, 14-1 and 16-6, setting a franchise record for total runs in a three-game series. This is the Cubs’ ninth three-game double-digit streak since 1901. Their record is five in a row, June 1-6, 1930.

And about the Cubs’ three wins in a row:

The Cubs’ previous three-game winning streak was the final three games of last season, when they swept the Cardinals at Wrigley Field, 12-1, 7-3 and 2-0.

Their last four-game streak was Sept. 14-17, when they beat the Rays at home, 4-3, then swept at Pittsburgh, 4-0, 4-1 and 8-4.

This is the sort of offense I think we will see more of from this team — some long-sequence innings, some home runs, taking advantage of the other team’s errors.

Unfortunately, there was bad news that broke just before the first pitch today, the Cubs announcing that Daniel Palencia was going on the 15-day IL with an oblique strain. Here’s how that happened (Bluesky link):

At this writing the Cubs have not announced who’s being called up to replace Palencia on the active roster. There aren’t a whole lot of choices, to be honest. As always, we await developments.

More on the game from Craig Counsell [VIDEO].

The Cubs will go for four straight wins Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The weather will be much colder with the wind likely blowing in, which could be good news for Jameson Taillon, who will start for the Cubs. Old NL Central friend Freddy Peralta goes for the Mets. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network (and MLB Network outside the Cubs and Mets market territories).

Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies Game Thread: April 17

The Atlanta Braves have not lost any of their first six series of the season, the last team in the majors who can make that claim.

They’re atop the NL East at 12-7 and are now taking aim at the two-time defending division champions in the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series which begins Friday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Atlanta turns to Martín Pérez (0-1, 3.14 ERA) on the mound against Philadelphia right-hander Taijuan Walker (1-2, 7.36 ERA) for the series opener.

Let’s see if the timing to take on the Phillies (who have lost three straight series) is as good as it looks for the Braves.

Game Notes

Preview

Lineup

How to watch Warriors vs. Suns, Play-In Tournament Round 2

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 18: Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts to a three-point shot against Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on December 18, 2025 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Golden State Warriors will determine the fate of their season Friday night as they face the Phoenix Suns in the second round of the Play-In Tournament. Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM PT in Phoenix and can be watched on Prime Video.

Previously with the Warriors:

The Warriors kept their season alive on Wednesday night with a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Los Angeles led for most of the game, but Golden State never let it get out of reach as they responded to every run to stay within striking distance.

Trailing by six entering the fourth quarter, the Warriors flipped the game behind a huge stretch from Al Horford, who knocked down four straight threes to swing the momentum in Golden State’s favor.

When it mattered most, the Warriors turned to their stars to close it out. Steph Curry delivered with a clutch three-pointer as part of his 35-point night to give Golden State the lead. Draymond Green, meanwhile, came up with several key defensive stops, including two big steals in the game’s final moments to seal the victory.

What to watch for tonight:

The Warriors’ season hangs in the balance Friday night, and the biggest question for them will be health. Kristaps Porzingis is the primary concern after scoring 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting against the Clippers, as he’s now listed as questionable with ankle soreness.

Another storyline to monitor is the matchup with Suns forward Dillon Brooks. Golden State has plenty of history with Brooks, and he’s already made it clear he’s looking forward to the matchup against the Warriors’ stars.

With both teams fighting to keep their seasons alive, tonight’s game is expected to be physical. For the Warriors, the key will be maintaining their composure and avoiding any emotional letdown after Wednesday’s win. Golden State went 3-1 against Phoenix during the regular season, so if they can match the urgency and focus they showed against the Clippers, they should be able to punch their ticket to the postseason.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!! 

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Gui Santos, Draymond Green, Kristaps Porzingis

Suns: Devin Booker, Jalen Green, Jordan Goodwin, Dillon Brooks, Mark Williams

How to watch Play-In Tournament Round 2

Who: Golden State Warriors (1 – 0) vs. Phoenix Suns (0 – 1)

When: Friday, April 17th, at 7:00 p.m. PT

Where: PHX Arena — Phoenix, Arizona

TV and Streaming: Prime Video (available on fuboTV)

Here’s how to watch Warriors vs. Suns in NBA Play-In Tournament for free

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Stephen Curry in a white Golden State Warriors jersey with his hands on his hips, Image 2 shows CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - APRIL 05: Oso Ighodaro #11 of the Phoenix Suns dribbles the ball against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on April 05, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Jayden Mack/Getty Images)

The final game of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament is here with a “win to get in” matchup between the No. 10 Golden State Warriors and the No. 7 Phoenix Suns for the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed.

Despite creating an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter against Portland, the Suns let their lead, the win and the No. 7 seed slip away. A Suns loss today could lead to a first for the Play-In tournament — since this format was introduced in 2021, a No. 7 seed has never dropped two consecutive games to fall out of the bracket entirely.

The Warriors advanced into today’s game with a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers in which they erased a 13-point fourth quarter deficit and didn’t lead at all in the second half until an Al Horford 3-pointer with 2:12 left in the game.

Warriors vs. Suns: what to know
  • What: NBA Play-In Tournament
  • When: April 17, 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET
  • Where: Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix, Arizona)
  • Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)

The winner of tonight’s matchup officially becomes the Western Conference’s No. 8 seed and will face the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs, tipping off Sunday, April 19.

Warriors vs. Suns start time:

Tonight’s (April 17) Warriors vs. Suns play-in game tips off at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

How to watch Warriors vs. Suns for free:

The NBA Play-In Tournament, including tonight’s Warriors vs. Suns matchup, is streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.

If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.

PRIME VIDEO PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS

All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.

NBA Playoffs key dates:

  • April 14-17: NBA Play-In Tournament
  • April 18: NBA Playoffs First Round begins
  • June 3: Game 1 of the NBA Finals

Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.


Kings Regular Season Awards: MVP, Most Improved, and More

The 2025-26 season was an incredibly up-and-down ride of the Los Angeles Kings, but somehow, for the fifth straight year they are headed to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

There have been several major storylines that came out of Los Angele this season. from Anze Kopitar's farewell tour and Adrian Kempe's contract negotiations to the arrival of Artemi Panarin and a record breaking 20 overtime losses. It has certainly been a season Kings fans will remember for a long time.

To wrap up the regular season, we figured that it would be a good idea to hand out some awards for the Kings top performers this year.

*Note: The Kings shared their own team awards on X (formerly known as twitter) Ours were picked in advance and had no intention on copying the team

Most Valuable Player: Adrian Kempe

Honorable Mentions: Quinton Byfield, Kevin Fiala

After entering the season in the midst of contract extension drama, Adrian Kempe eventually signed a monster eight-year extension worth $85M ($10.625M) putting the drama in the rear view mirror.

Kempe appeared in all but one of the Kings 82 games, scoring 36 goals along with 37 assists for 73 points. This is the 29-year-old's 4th career 30+ goal season, as well as his 3rd straight season with 70+ points. 

Like always, the Swedish sniper came up clutch when it mattered most with his team-leading eight game winning goals. Four of which came in 3-on-3 overtime which was good for second in the NHL behind just Cole Caufield's five total OT game winners.

With Kopitar retiring, Kempe has done a great job preparing to be the face of the franchise when the future Hall-of-Famer hangs up the skates.

Best Defenseman and Most Improved: Brandt Clarke

Best Defenseman Honorable Mentions: Joel Edmundson, Drew Doughty

Most Improved Honorable Mentions: Taylor Ward, Anton Forsberg

Brandt Clarke deserves a tremendous amount of credit for his play this season. The 23-year-old entered the season under a large amount of pressure as he was expected to take his play to another level.

For the first time in his young career, Clarke appeared in all 82 games while scoring eight goals and 32 assists for 40 points, reaching career highs in all three statistics. His +11 rating was also a positive note as he is on a team that doesn't score a lot of goals.

Of his 40 points, 13 of them came on the power play which is positive in two ways. One, that he has shown he can succeed as a quarterback on the power play, and the other is that he doesn't solely rely on it as a source of production. 

Kings fans should be very excited for Brandt Clarke's continued progress as the former 8th overall pick will continue to get better.

How Do The Los Angeles Kings Match Up Against The Colorado Avalanche?How Do The Los Angeles Kings Match Up Against The Colorado Avalanche?The Los Angeles Kings clinched a playoff berth, but are currently in line to face the NHL's best team, the Colorado Avalanche. How can the Kings match up against the Presidents' Trophy winners?

Best Addition: Artemi Panarin

Honorable Mentions: Scott Laughton, Anton Forsberg

Entering the season, if you were to tell a Kings fan that Artemi Panarin would be leading them to a playoff berth, they likely would have called you crazy. But here we are.

After he was acquired in February, Panarin came in and produced exactly how he was expected. As an over point-per-game player, the 'Breadman' found chemistry with Kempe and Kopitar. 

In 26 games as a member of the Kings, the 34-year-old scored nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points. His goal scoring could improve but for a team that hasn't had a point-per-game player since Kevin Fiala in 2023, there are no complaints here.

Not only will Panarin be exciting to watch in the postseason, but it will be intriguing to see the numbers he can put up in his first full season in L.A. in 2026-27.

Most Underrated Player: Anton Forsberg

When the Kings signed Forsberg last summer they brought him in to be a solid backup to Darcy Kuemper, but he has proved to be much more than that.

As the season went on and Kuemper dealt with multiple injuries, Forsberg stepped in and kept the Kings afloat. He even played some of the best hockey of his career down the stretch as he was one of, if not the biggest reason that Kings clawed their way into the postseason.

In 31 starts and 36 appearances this season, the 33-year-old netminder went 16-12-5 while posting a 2.57 GAA and .910 SV%. He also tied a career high with three shutouts. Forsberg ranked 18th among all goaltenders with a 9.4 GSAx (Goals Saved Above Expected) on the year.

The Swedish veteran may be an option to start in net for game one against the Colorado Avalanche due to his recent play.

Image

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Mets noncommital on Kodai Senga making next scheduled start

After another bad outing by Kodai Senga on Friday, manager Carlos Mendoza was hesitant to commit that the right-hander would make his next start for the Mets.

Senga went just 3.1 innings against the Chicago Cubs, allowing six earned runs on six hits, including two home runs, and three walks in an eventual 12-4 loss. In his last start against the Athletics at Citi Field, Senga lasted 2.1 innings, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits and two home runs in a game New York lost 11-6.

"He didn’t execute and they made him pay," Mendoza said.

Prior to his struggles which come on the heels of a rough end to his 2025 season, Senga got off to a good start, allowing four earned runs and striking out 16 over 11.2 innings in his first two outings. He also had an impressive spring training and looked like he was back to being the ace-caliber pitcher he was for the Mets in 2023 and the first half of 2025.

"Started off pretty good the first couple of outings," Mendoza said. "Coming out of spring training we saw a different guy, but then the last two I think the intent hasn’t been there. We saw the velo at the beginning and now it’s more like feeling for the strike zone, more like pitchability -- trying to mix cutters, sweepers as opposed to going right after people which is what we saw in spring training and the first two outings."

Now New York will need to make a decision on Senga whose next turn in the rotation would likely be April 23 against the Minnesota Twins. However, the Mets have an off day before then that they can use to their benefit.

Whatever New York decides to do, though, it's in a tough spot either way with its right-hander who is known to be fastidious with his craft and can harp on his mechanics, often to a fault, while sometimes also being overcritical of himself.

"It’s hard to figure it out, especially with him," Mendoza said. "But the number one thing is his health and he's healthy... I think he's gotta go back to trusting his pitches in the strike zone. He's gotta be able to compete in the strike zone, that's what it comes down to. If you get behind hitters at this level, they're gonna make you pay."

When asked about what's been the biggest difference for him during his last two starts, Senga agreed with his skipper.

"Not getting ahead, not getting first pitch strikes, getting into hitter's counts," he said.

Yet, despite the results, Senga believes he's "not all that far off" from where he needs to be.

"A lot of this stuff is the pitches just not being as strong near the hitter or near the catcher at home plate and I'm not being able to deceive them as much," he said. "... I just need to go out there and perform."

Brett Baty owns ‘terrible’ play on both sides of ball following Mets' loss to Cubs

“We’ve improved defensively,” David Stearns said pregame Friday. 

“We have not been perfect, but overall, I can’t point at our defense and say that our defense has been a problem.” 

Just a few hours later, the Mets’ defense was a problem. 

With Huascar Brazoban attempting to keep the Cubs at bay in a three-run game in the bottom of the fourth, Brett Baty booted a potential double-play ball to load the bases. 

While it was ruled a hit, leaving the bat at 97 mph, it's a play he feels he should've made. 

And the miscue ended up costing the Mets two batters later, as Brazoban got the next man to lineout then appeared to escape the jam, but Baty botched another should be routine grounder off his glove to prolong the inning. 

A strikeout ended the threat, but Chicago stretched the lead to four with some help from the miscues. 

“I’ve gotta make both of them, simple as that,” Baty said postgame. “I feel like I make those plays 10 times out of 10, I gotta make them -- I don’t care that the first one is a hit, the play should be made.”

New York, of course, went on to be blown out by Chicago as they suffered their ninth consecutive loss

This continues what’s been a tough stretch for Baty on both sides of the ball. 

The 26-year-old was tremendous at second and third last season, but with Marcus Semien and Bo Bichette in town, he's struggled to find his footing in his transition to first and right field. 

He also hasn't been able to carryover his breakout at the plate thus far, as his 0-for-2 on the afternoon pushed his team-worst streak to 20 consecutive hitless at-bats. 

Baty is now hitting .197 on the season, and "terrible" is how he described his play. 

“I need to get back to my approach,” he said. “Swing at strikes, hitting the ball hard all over, and play defense better than I did today because I was terrible -- it’s a long season but it sucks right now for sure, just gotta keep going.”

Crosby most likely to become head coach, Nylander most fashionable according to NHLPA poll

TORONTO (AP) — Sidney Crosby is seen by his peers as the NHL player most likely to become a head coach, according to the National Hockey League Players’ Association’s annual player poll released Friday.

The 38-year-old Pittsburgh Penguins captain topped the category with 10.3% of the vote, followed by Minnesota’s Nick Foligno at 5% and Detroit’s David Perron, Toronto’s John Tavares and Calgary’s Ryan Strome at 2.6% or lower.

The 11th annual poll surveyed 348 players anonymously from all 32 teams during the first half of the season.

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon was named the player with the most intense training regimen at 20.7%, followed by Edmonton’s Connor McDavid at 5.5% and Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang at 4%.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander led a pair of off-ice categories, ranking first as the most fashionable player at 32.9% and for the best social media presence at 17.4%.

Nylander also featured among the league’s best nicknames with “Willy Styles,” but trailed Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak, whose “Pasta” nickname topped the list at 13.5%. Other notable entries included Detroit’s Patrick Kane (“Showtime”) and Nashville’s Ryan O’Reilly (“Factor”).

Florida’s Aleksander Barkov topped forwards who could also excel as defensemen at 18%, while Colorado’s Cale Makar led defensemen who could also excel as forwards at 36.3%.

St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was voted the league’s best puck handler at 22.4%, ahead of the New York Rangers’ Igor Shesterkin at 14%.

Utah Mammoth captain Clayton Keller was named the league’s best golfer at 15.9%, while Montreal’s Bell Centre was voted to have the league’s best ice at 46.8%. Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena topped the list for best visiting dressing room.

Players also pointed to Houston as the preferred expansion market at 34.3%, followed by Quebec City at 16.9%, while 68.1% opposed a switch to white jerseys at home.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Game #20: Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLORIDA - MARCH 15, 2026: Ryan O'Hearn #29 of the Pittsburgh Pirates bats during the first inning of a spring training game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on March 15, 2026 in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, April 17, 2026, 6:45 p.m. ET

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Apple TV


The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to grab a win against the Tampa Bay Rays.


Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.

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BD community, this is your thread for today’s game against the Rays. Enjoy!

Canucks fire GM Patrik Allvin. Head of hockey ops Jim Rutherford keeps his job

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The Vancouver Canucks fired general manager Patrik Allvin on Friday after missing the playoffs for a third time in four seasons with him in the position.

President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford is keeping his job. Rutherford acknowledged he has to shoulder some of the blame for how the Canucks tumbled to the bottom of the NHL standings.

Allvin made his own decisions as GM, Rutherford said.

“He was in charge of most of the things in hockey, making the trades, deciding who was getting called up and down and working with the coach and all those things,” Rutherford said. “I take full responsibility for the season. I head up the hockey department. But I don’t make decisions for other people. And Patrik had the opportunity to make his own decisions.”

Allvin’s dismissal came a day after Vancouver ended its season with a 6-1 loss to the Oilers in Edmonton. The result punctuated a season where the Canucks finished last overall with a 25-49-8 record.

“It’s unfortunate. He’s a friend of mine. I think Patrik’s a great hockey guy,” Rutherford said. “But we felt it was time to make a change and let someone else sit in that chair, that GM’s chair, and make the decisions going forward.”

The Canucks will conduct a wide search for Allvin’s replacement, he added, and already have a “very good” candidate in Ryan Johnson, currently general manager of the American Hockey League’s Abbotsford Canucks and an assistant GM with the NHL club.

Vancouver’s next general manager will have a lot of responsibility, Rutherford said, including making a decision on whether Adam Foote will stay on as the team’s coach.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Panthers Assign Eight Players To The AHL

The Florida Panthers have assigned Marek Alscher, Mikulas Hovorka, Ludvig Jansson, Mike Benning, Tobias Bjornfot, and Wilmer Skoog to the Charlotte Checkers.

Additionally, Noah Gregor and Nolan Foote have cleared waivers and will be assigned to the AHL. 

Alscher, Hovorka, Jansson, Bjornfot, and Skoog were called up in April to join the Panthers while they dealt with injuries.

Alscher recorded three assists in four games while averaging 20:22 of ice time. The 22-year-old made a strong first impression. 

Jansson was called up at the same time as Alscher, and he recorded one assist in four games, averaging 17:16.

Hovorka was called up in three different instances, notching one assist in four games, averaging 14:55 of ice time. Skoog also earned his first call-up to the NHL, and he posted two assists in three games.

Bjornfot played 19 total games in the NHL this season, scoring two goals and four points. Bjornfot left a positive mark on the franchise, as he was more than serviceable when the Panthers needed him.

Panthers Place Noah Gregor, Nolan Foote On Waivers Ahead Of AHL PlayoffsPanthers Place Noah Gregor, Nolan Foote On Waivers Ahead Of AHL PlayoffsThe Florida Panthers are attempting to beef up their AHL roster, placing Noah Gregor and Nolan Foote on waivers for assignment to the Charlotte Checkers.

And finally, Benning looked like a real good player during his 18 NHL games. He was a strong puck mover, and as his minutes increased, Benning’s play only improved. He finished his first NHL stint with two goals and six points.

Each player will play a critical role for the Checkers as they look to avenge their Calder Cup finals loss last season. The Checkers are making their eighth consecutive playoff appearance and will begin their postseason run at Bojangles Coliseum on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. ET.


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Arsenal will not play for a draw in Manchester City face-off, insists Arteta

  • Arsenal coach sees trip to Etihad as ‘a big opportunity’

  • Bukayo Saka still unavailable with an achilles problem

Mikel Arteta will go all out for victory in Sunday’s Premier League title showdown at Manchester City and has not thought for “one second” about setting up for a draw.

Arsenal are six points clear of City, albeit they have played an extra game, and a stalemate could move them decisively towards the trophy they crave. According to Opta’s projections, Arsenal would have an 89% probability of winning the title if it finished all square at the Etihad Stadium.

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