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Celtics vs. Hornets player grades: Tatum takeover leads to buzzkill in Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 29: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 29, 2026 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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 Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Without Derrick White and Jaylen Brown, Boston went into the Spectrum Center and beat Charlotte 114-99 in Jayson Tatum’s first 30-plus game of the year and 28 points from Payton Pritchard.

The Celtics got crushed by the Hornets just three weeks ago 118-89 at TD Garden and had won seven of their last nine games, but strong contributions from role players up and down the rotation was too much for the Hornets to overcome on the second night of a back-to-back. They’ll play each other again on April 7th back in Boston in what could be a first round preview.

With two weeks to go, the Celtics have clinched a spot in the playoffs and been a steady +600 at our friends at FanDuel to raise Banner 19 and the favorite to rep the Eastern Conference in the 2026 NBA Finals.

Jayson Tatum

30 minutes, 32 points (5-10 from 3, 3-5 from the free throw line, 12-23 from the field), 5 rebounds, 8 assists, one block, +15

Maybe it was because the game was so close to Durham where he played his college ball or maybe he’s starting to feel more like himself at Game #11, but Jayson Tatum looked really like Jayson Tatum against the Hornets.

The three-point shot was going down (hitting half of his ten three-point attempts), but more importantly, his drives were more aggressive, getting to the cup and the free throw line. He became the youngest Celtic ever to hit 14,000 points.

Grade: A+

Sam Hauser

33 minutes, 7 points (2-4 from 3, 1-2 from the free throw line, 2-4 from the field), 3 rebounds, +13

It was another game that felt like Hauser was just out there. He made half of his four attempts from behind the arc and was a +13 playing mostly with the starters.

Grade: B

Neemias Queta

28 minutes, 17 points (0-1 from 3, 1-2 from the free throw line, 8-13 from the field), 8 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, +13

It always seems like when one of the Jays has it going, Queta is going to have a good game, too. It’s that symbiotic relationship between superstar and active big. Whenever the defense collapsed on Tatum or Pritchard, Queta either got the dish in the dunker spot or grabbed the offensive rebound for a putback.

Grade: A

Jordan Walsh

33 minutes, 3 points (0-4 from 3, 1-1 from the free throw line, 1-7 from the field), 7 rebounds, 2 assists, one steal, +14

As LaMelo Ball’s primary cover, Walsh put the clamps on him as a starter. Ball missed his first five shots of the game — he scored his first points in transition cross-matched against Pritchard. Ball would get it going in the second half and finish with 19, but Walsh’s work early cut off the head of the snake and allowed Boston to get out to an early double-digit lead and never look back.

In addition to his individual defense, Walsh got his hands on a lot of loose balls and deflected even more in Boston’s favor.

Grade: A

Payton Pritchard

37 minutes, 28 points (2-6 from 3, 6-6 from the free throw line, 10-18 from the field), 6 rebounds, 6 assists, one steal, 2 turnovers, +12

With Brown and White both out, Pritchard started for just the second time since being regulated back to the bench since the Celtics swapped Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic. He didn’t disappoint. Eight of his buckets came in the mid-range

Grade: A

Baylor Scheierman

28 minutes, 14 points (3-7 from 3, 3-4 from the free throw line, 4-11 from the field), one rebound, 3 assists, 2 turnovers, +6

Scheierman broke into the rotation playing solid defense and hitting his threes, but over the last few weeks, we’re getting a little more of the Baylor Showmanship that got us excited at the end of last season. I mean, look at this:

He had the most points off the bench (14) on a night when they were sorely needed with two starters out with injuries.

Grade: A-

Luka Garza

13 minutes, 2 points (1-1 from the field), one rebounds, +8

The Hornets are primarily a perimeter team, so Garza played just 13 minutes in Charlotte for a +8 stint. No complaints.

Grade: C

Hugo Gonzalez

12 minutes, 3 points (1-2 from 3, 1-2 from the field), 3 rebounds, one steal, -12

Gonzalez’s minutes are on the decline since the start of March. He’s played in every game and has injected that infectious energy that sometimes seems to swing the momentum in Boston’s favor when they need it. He took a couple of cracks at LaMelo and made a three-pointer.

Grade: C

Ron Harper Jr.

14 minutes, 7 points (1-1 from 3, 3-3 from the field), 3 rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, +10

Dude just floats around the court and finds ways to score. Before spraining his right ankle and leaving the game for the locker room, he bridged the first and second quarter hitting all three of his shots in a variety of ways: cutting backdoor on a screen, driving in semi-transition, and leaking out and canning a 3. He’s been a valuable contributor on his two-way deal and hopefully, he’ll sign with the big club this summer.

Grade: A

Charles Bassey, Jon Tonje, Amari Williams, Max Shulga

Mop up duty for the Maine crew.

Inactive: Jaylen Brown, Derrick White

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Fantasy Basketball Schedule Tips: Best Waiver Wire Adds, Starts for this Week

With the fantasy basketball playoffs on the horizon, every roster decision counts. This week's schedule sets up beautifully for managers willing to work the waiver wire, with 18 teams logging four games and key streaming opportunities emerging on light game days. The Cavaliers, Rockets, Suns and Wizards all boast favorable matchup slates, offering plenty of upside for both core starters and speculative adds. Whether you're chasing points, threes, rebounds or steals, the matchup data points to several players primed to deliver monster stat lines. Here's everything you need to know to maximize your lineup for the week of April 4.

Days with fewer than six games

These are dates to target players for streaming options from the following teams: 

Saturday, April 4: WAS at MIA, SAS at DEN, DET at PHI

Teams with more than three games this week

Make sure to activate players and target weekly pickups from the following teams:

Celtics (4), Hornets (4), Bulls (4), Cavaliers (4), Mavericks (4), Pistons (4), Rockets (4), Lakers (4), Grizzlies (4), Bucks (4), Timberwolves (4), Magic (4), 76ers (4), Suns (4), Spurs (4), Raptors (4), Jazz (4), Wizards (4)

Teams with fewer than three games this week

Consider looking for streaming options if your roster includes players from these teams:

Nuggets (2), Trail Blazers (2)

Top teams to target based on favorable matchups

Cavaliers at Jazz, at Lakers, at Warriors, vs. Pacers

The Cavs enter the week with a 7-3 record in their last 10 games, including a win in their most recent outing. They have a great opportunity to build momentum on the right track as they open with a matchup against the Jazz, who  give up the league's most points per game, along with the most three-pointers per game. With Max Strus expected to be sidelined for the contest, Keon Ellis and Sam Merrill are in line for more action and should thrive from long range. Up next, the Cavs take on the Lakers, who give up the league's third-most points and fourth-most free throws per game to opposing small forwards. This is a matchup primed for Strus to work his way back into rhythm, as he is likely to be ready for the second leg of a back-to-back. Moving ahead, the Cavs face the Warriors, who give up the league's seventh-most points and sixth-most three-pointers per game, along with the third-highest field-goal percentage to opposing point guards. This should be ideal grounds for James Harden to come up with a major stat line, while Dennis Schroder, who has delivered well in a limited backup role, can also step up to make his mark against a former squad. Finally, the Cavs encounter the Pacers, who give up the league's fifth-most points per game, third-highest field-goal percentage and the most points in the paint. They also give up the league's third-most rebounds per game. The frontcourt duo of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should help their side claim control in this one, while Thomas Bryant, who is averaging 15.0 minutes per game over the last 10, could also shine. 

Rockets vs. Knicks, vs. Bucks, vs. Jazz, at Warriors

The Rockets are just 5-5 in their last 10 games but enter the week on a two-game win streak. They begin with a challenge against the Knicks but should find the edge, as the Knicks give up the league's 10th-most three-pointers per game, which favors the leading talent of Kevin Durant, as well as Reed Sheppard, who has taken on a starting role and is averaging 3.0 made threes per outing over five games. Up next, the Rockets meet with the Bucks, who give up the league's second-most three-pointers per game and third-highest three-point shooting percentage, another great chance for the aforementioned two to lead the charge. From there, the Rockets clash with the struggling Jazz, who give up the league's third-highest field-goal percentage, including the fourth-highest three-point shooting percentage. They also give up the second-most free throws per game, which means guys like Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith, who do well to get to the foul line are likely to pad their stats. Lastly, the Rockets take on the Warriors, who give up the league's seventh-highest field-goal percentage and the fourth-most turnovers per game. They also give up the second-most rebounds per game to opposing centers. The Rockets have four players averaging more than 1.0 steal per game, including Sheppard, Thompson, Sengun and Tari Eason, who will all have a great chance to boost their numbers on the defensive end. 

Suns at Grizzlies, at Magic, at Hornets, at Bulls

The Suns are 4-6 in their last 10 games but are coming off a win and have a good opportunity to build some positive momentum down the final stretch of the season. They commence their week against the shorthanded Grizzlies, who give up the league's eighth-most points in the paint and fifth-most three-pointers per game. The Grizzlies also give up the third-most offensive rebounds, fifth-most total rebounds and eighth-most turnovers per game. This provides a perfect chance for Oso Ighodaro to continue to build on his improved play, as he is averaging 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals over the last six games. Up next, the Suns clash with the Magic, who give up the league's seventh-highest field-goal percentage and sixth-most free throws per game, signifying that Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and Jalen Green, who are among their team leaders in free throws per game, are likely to pad their stats. From there, the Suns take on the Hornets, who give up the league's seventh-most turnovers per game, along with the fourth-highest field-goal percentage and fifth-most threes per game to opposing power forwards. This is a perfect chance for Royce O'Neale to stand out, as he averages 2.8 three-pointers and 1.1 steals per game. Finally, the Suns close the week against the Bulls, who give up the league's fourth-most points per game, sixth-most three-pointers and fourth-most points in the paint.

Wizards at Lakers, vs. 76ers, at Heat, at Nets 

The Wizards are well beyond playoff contention and have lost nine of their last 10 games. Nonetheless, they look ahead towards continued opportunity to develop the younger talent on their roster and begin the week with a matchup against the Lakers, who give up the league's fifth-highest field-goal percentage, including the highest field-goal percentage to opposing power forwards. This should be the perfect chance for Will Riley to keep up his strong play, as he is averaging 14.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists over the last 10 games. Next, the Wizards take on the 76ers, who give up the league's eighth-most free throws per game, along with the fourth-most offensive rebounds per game, suggesting Bilal Coulibaly and Justin Champagnie as likely candidates to boost their stats. Moving ahead, the Wizards meet with the Heat, who give up the league's ninth-most points per game and the ninth-most points in the paint. Big men, Alex Sarr and Tristan Vukcevic should stand out in that one. Finally, a bout with the Nets, who give up the league's highest field-goal percentage and the seventh-most points in the paint, along with the third-most turnovers per game. This matchup also favors the five already-mentioned players.

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Fantasy Hockey Waiver Wire: Category targets who will provide upside for your championship run

Fantasy hockey managers looking to tinker with their rosters will benefit from zeroing in on specific categories. Whether you are looking for long-term fits, short-term options or championship additions, there should be a plethora of potential pickups to help your squads. 

Let's get into this week's suggestions for your consideration.

Snuggerud started to heat up before the Olympic break, collecting three goals, 13 shots on net and nine points in six games. He remains red-hot offensively in March, supplying seven goals, 15 points, 42 shots and 14 hits in 13 appearances. Snuggerud fits in nicely on the top line with Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway. All three players possess plenty of fantasy value down the stretch. The Blues play four times on the road this week. 

Granlund's four-game point streak ended in Saturday's 4-2 loss to Edmonton, but he has netted seven goals on 15 shots in his past five contests. He has lit the lamp four times with the man advantage during that stretch. The 34-year-old forward has been streaky this season, however, his versatility and Anaheim's busy four-game schedule make him an intriguing pickup option for this week. 

Kane has compiled four goals and nine assists in his last 11 outings. He has three helpers on the power play, 36 shots on net and eight hits over that span. He is clicking with Alex DeBrincat, who is the only Detroit player who has more points than Kane in March. The 37-year-old Kane is doing his part despite the team's struggles down the stretch. He is a solid offensive option ahead of a four-game week for Detroit. 

McMann is proving to be a savvy pickup for Seattle ahead of the trade deadline, plus he is still widely available in Yahoo leagues. He has tallied seven goals and four assists in eight games since being acquired from the Maple Leafs. During that period, McMann has four multipoint performances, 23 shots on target and 17 hits. He has three goals on 10 shots and two assists during a three-game point streak. The Kraken have three games scheduled for this week. 

Since being acquired from Columbus at the end of December, Chinakhov has been great for both Pittsburgh and fantasy managers. He has racked up 14 goals, 26 points, 87 shots on net, 19 blocked shots and 20 hits in 35 games with his new team. Following the Olympic break, he has averaged 17:00 of ice time per outing, while notching six goals and eight assists in 17 matches. Chinakhov has become a valuable member of the team's top six, and he possesses plenty of upside with the Penguins set to play a league-high five times this week. 

Lee has reached the scoresheet in four of the last five games, registering one goal, three helpers and nine shots on net. He has three blocked shots and four hits over that time. Hot and cold offensively in March, Lee has improved since moving to the top line alongside Bo Horvat. Going into a four-game week for the Islanders, the 35-year-old Lee has plenty of offensive potential. 

Despite winning five of his eight appearances since returning from the Olympics, where he represented Latvia, Silovs has been up and down statistically. His lack of consistency brings some risk to the table, but Pittsburgh's five-game schedule, which includes two back-to-backs, will likely ensure that volume and opportunity won't be an issue. Silovs could also benefit from Stuart Skinner's recent struggles in the battle for playing time. The Penguins' weekend home set against the injury-plagued, struggling Panthers should make him a popular spot-starter option. 

Fowler has seemingly taken over the No. 2 spot behind Jakub Dobes in the Montreal crease down the stretch. Sam Montembeault hasn't appeared in a game since March 6, while Fowler has started four of the last 10 games. The 21-year-old Fowler has gone 3-1-0 during that span while posting a 2.52 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. Montreal plays four times this week, including a back-to-back against New Jersey over the weekend.  

Savoie has amassed four goals on 22 shots and two assists in his past eight outings. He has a shorthanded goal and two game-winners during that span. Savoie has a pair of three-game point streaks in March, including a goal in each of his last three contests. He is a versatile player for Edmonton and fantasy managers this campaign while playing in all situations and at all three forward positions. Due to the absence of Leon Draisaitl, who is out for the remainder of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, Savoie occupies a spot on the top power-play unit. Savoie also skates alongside Connor McDavid at even strength. The Oilers play three times on home ice this week. 

Chernyshov has accounted for five goals, 14 points, 32 shots on target, six blocked shots and 11 hits in 19 appearances with the Sharks this season. Since returning from a concussion, he has netted two goals on five shots while providing an assist and two hits in three games. His fantasy value received a boost with him skating alongside Macklin Celebrini at even strength. The 20-year-old Chernyshov could make for a solid under-the-radar addition during a four-game week for San Jose. 

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Game Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs. Chicago Bulls

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - NOVEMBER 10: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots the ball over Isaac Okoro #35 of the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on November 10, 2025 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 Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There are only two weeks left in the regular season. The playoff contenders are using the final stretch to jockey for position and secure home court, while the league’s bottom dwellers shut things down and look to improve their lottery odds. Monday night’s contest between the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls will be a matchup between teams in each of those categories.

The Bulls have officially been eliminated from playoff contention and are dealing with several injuries. They’ll be without big men Zach Collins and Jalen Smith, and ball-handlers Jaden Ivey and Anfernee Simons against the Spurs. Chicago is still feisty, though. They have solid young players like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.

San Antonio knows the Bulls’ spoiler ability all too well. It took a 32-19 fourth quarter for the Spurs to secure a 121-117 win against Chicago earlier this season. San Antonio’s eight-game winning streak has been defined by blowouts started by early leads. The Spurs will need a good start to bury the Bulls as they look to gain ground on the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference.

San Antonio Spurs (56-18) vs. Chicago Bulls (29-45)

March 30th, 2026 | 7 PM CT

Watch: Peacock | Listen: WOAI (1200 AM)

Spurs Injuries: Harrison Ingram – Out (G League), David Jones Garcia – Out (G League), Emanuel Miller – Out (G League)

Bulls Injuries: Zach Collins – Out (toe), Noa Essengue – Out (shoulder), Jaden Ivey – Out (knee), Mac McClung – Out (G League), Nick Richards – Questionable (elbow), Anfernee Simons – Out (hand), Jalen Smith – Out (calf), Guerschon Yabusele – Questionable (ankle)

What to watch for:

Containing ball handlers

If there is one thing Chicago has, it’s a plethora of guards who can handle the rock. Giddey is one of the league’s best point forwards, Colin Sexton has added a necessary veteran presence, Rob Dillingham has shown flashes, and Spurs fans will be familiar with the game of Tre Jones. With all of their ball handlers, the Bulls match up with the Spurs surprisingly well on the perimeter. Chicago’s best bet to contend with the Spurs is to utilize all its ball handlers to shift the defense and create easy looks.

Owning the interior

With Nick Richards listed as questionable for Monday night’s game, the Bulls’ tallest player could be 6-10 forward Leonard Miller. In case you forgot, the Spurs have a fairly talented 7-foot-4 big man named Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio should dominate the paint against the smaller Bulls. As Wembanyama chases the MVP, the Spurs could force-feed the big man inside for easy buckets against a weaker Chicago front line.

Stephon Castle stays hot

Stephon Castle had his fourth triple-double of the season in the team’s last win against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Sophomore has been playing some fantastic basketball down the stretch, averaging 16.6 points, 7.7 assists, and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 48.8% from the field and 40% from three. He’ll have the opportunity to go off again against the Bulls, who give up the third-most points per game in the NBA.

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Happy Birthday to Warriors legend Rick Barry

Former Golden State Warriors forward Rick Barry lifts the 1974-1975 NBA Championship trophy during a ceremony commemorating the team during the first half of the NBA Cup against the Portland Trail Blazers in San Francisco, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Last weekend on March 28th, Richard Francis Dennis Barry III turned 82. Just another date passing for a player who took the Golden State Warriors to the top of the mountain top and set a standard for excellence for the franchise.

Rick Barry is still the only player in basketball history to lead the NCAA, the ABA, and the NBA in scoring. Different leagues, different rules, different versions of the sport trying to figure themselves out. But they couldn’t figure out how to stop Barry.

Some younger fans might only know him for that awkward moment when the crowd rained boos on Joe Lacob after the Monta Ellis trade, and Barry grabbed the mic to tell everyone to knock it off.

But his time in the Bay will always come back to 1975 with that title team that for forty years stood as the only championship Golden State could brag about. That team was not supposed to win anything. Definitely not a sweep over Washington. The Warriors had Barry and a group that trusted him enough to follow wherever he led them:

The Warriors were a team that was not even expected to make the playoffs at the beginning of the season. After the 1974 season, in which they had a modest record of 44 – 38, they gave away 3 of their 5 leading scorers and got just one promising young player in return. The Warriors traded their 2nd leading scorer, Cazzie Russell, for a future draft pick. Even more startling, no shocking, is that the Warriors traded their future Hall of Fame center, Nate Thurmond, who had been 8th in the 1974 MVP voting and had been named to the 2nd team All-NBA Defensive squad. 

Barry controlled the entire series, averaging 29.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, dictating pace, space, and outcomes. By the time it was over, Barry had turned one of the least likely championship runs in franchise history into something that felt inevitable.

That part matters more than it gets talked about. Before Steph Curry turned impossible shots into routine moments, Barry was doing something just as disorienting in a different way. He made a team that didn’t look like a champion play like one because he refused to let the game settle anywhere he didn’t control.

Zoom out, and the resume keeps stacking. Nine First-Team All-League selections across the NBA and ABA. A Finals career scoring average of 36.3 points per game that still sits at the top of the record books. A free throw stroke that looked like it belonged at a family barbecue and quietly became one of the most efficient weapons the game has ever seen.

So you end up with this strange gap between impact and recognition, where one of the most dominant players the Warriors have ever had still feels like he exists just outside the center of the story. Maybe that’s just part of it. Some players get celebrated easily over time, while others make you wrestle with them a little before you understand what you’re looking at. Dub Nation is looking at a top 50 and top 75 all time NBA player.

Happy birthday, Rick!

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Oklahoma City looks for 60th win this season in matchup with Detroit

Detroit Pistons (54-20, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (59-16, first in the Western Conference)

Oklahoma City; Monday, 9:30 p.m. EDT

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Thunder -13.5; over/under is 219.5

BOTTOM LINE: Oklahoma City will aim for its 60th victory of the season when the Thunder play the Detroit Pistons.

The Thunder have gone 31-7 in home games. Oklahoma City is ninth in the Western Conference with 49.3 points per game in the paint led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaging 12.5.

The Pistons are 25-11 on the road. Detroit ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 45.7 rebounds per game led by Jalen Duren averaging 10.6.

The Thunder make 48.2% of their shots from the field this season, which is 4.0 percentage points higher than the Pistons have allowed to their opponents (44.2%). The Pistons average 10.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.4 fewer made shots on average than the 14.3 per game the Thunder give up.

The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 124-116 in the last meeting on Feb. 26. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 29 points, and Jaylin Williams led the Thunder with 30 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 55.1% and averaging 31.4 points for the Thunder. Williams is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Tobias Harris is shooting 46.2% and averaging 13.4 points for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Thunder: 9-1, averaging 118.9 points, 45.3 rebounds, 25.3 assists, 8.8 steals and 5.5 blocks per game while shooting 48.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.

Pistons: 8-2, averaging 120.7 points, 44.9 rebounds, 31.4 assists, 10.1 steals and 5.8 blocks per game while shooting 51.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.6 points.

INJURIES: Thunder: Thomas Sorber: out for season (knee).

Pistons: Duncan Robinson: day to day (hip), Ausar Thompson: day to day (ankle), Jalen Duren: day to day (knee), Tobias Harris: day to day (hip), Cade Cunningham: out (lung), Isaiah Stewart: out (calf).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Rookie Adam Sykora providing ray of light for gloomy Rangers: ‘Hard not to like that guy’

Adam Sykora (38) of the New York Rangers celebrates his third period goal against the Florida Panthers.
Adam Sykora of the New York Rangers celebrates his first NHL goal against the Florida Panthers.

Three games into his NHL career, Adam Sykora doesn’t appear to have an “off” button. 

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The 21-year-old has been an absolute ray of sunshine in an otherwise dark and gloomy Rangers season from the moment he arrived in New York. A smile has yet to leave his face. He would burst if he didn’t express the abundance of gratitude that has filled him since earning this opportunity. 

More than that, Sykora has left his fingerprints on each of his first three games in more ways than one. 

“I don’t know if you guys can see it, but his energy is unmatched,” Conor Sheary said of Sykora. “He’s constantly up on his feet. He’s banging his stick. He’s just, I mean, with all these guys, but especially him, he just brings an energy that’s contagious. He’s fun to be around, fun to play with.”

Sykora scored his second goal in as many games in a 3-1 win over the Panthers on Sunday afternoon, tipping an Adam Fox shot past Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky for the 1-0 lead relatively early in the second period. 

Adam Sykora of the New York Rangers celebrates his first NHL goal against the Florida Panthers. Getty Images

It came not long after Sykora engaged in his “first-ever fight in my life” with the Panthers’ Luke Kunin. 

Based on Sykora’s goal celebration — jumping into the boards with an open-mouth smile — you would’ve thought it was his first. Though it’s possible the Slovak wing will never lose this level of enthusiasm. 

“I feel [my] confidence might go up a little bit just playing more with the puck and just kind of settle things down,” Sykora said. “I’m never going to change anything on my game. Just still play simple. Have a good stick on the forecheck. Play through people. Be alive on the bench. Those kinds of things I want to bring to this team, and I’ll try my best.”

Continuing to skate on the right wing of Vincent Trocheck and Will Cuylle, Sykora has racked up two goals on seven shots while averaging 12:31 of ice time per game so far. 

The production is welcome, but Sykora’s personality is one that has brought the Rangers lineup back to life. 

“It’s hard not to like that guy,” head coach Mike Sullivan said. “The energy that he exudes, I don’t think he’s ever had a bad day in his life. He’s a fun guy to be around, but his work ethic, his attitude, the energy he brings is contagious. He’s an easy guy to root for, I can tell you that.”

Noah Laba returned to the Rangers lineup for the first time since March 18, when the rookie was sidelined with a lower-body injury for five straight games. 

While centering the fourth line between Jonny Brodzinski and Jaroslav Chmelar, Laba assisted on Sykora’s goal in his 66th game of the season. 

Adam Sykora made his debut for the New York Rangers on March 25. NHLI via Getty Images

“I thought he was good,” Sullivan said. “The biggest thing that I think he adds to our lineup is size and speed. He’s pretty good in the faceoff circle. He can kill penalties, but he can skate. His north-south game is good. We played him today with [Chmelar] and Jonny Brodzinski. I thought that line was excellent all night long.” 

Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin stopped 26 of the 27 shots he faced in his 23rd win of the season Sunday afternoon against the Panthers. 

Juuso Parssinen was returned to Hartford on Saturday. The Finnish center was a healthy scratch in seven of the past eight games. 

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Penguins Notebook: Crosby, Malkin Return To Practice Ahead Of Monday's Massive Game On Long Island

The Pittsburgh Penguins got some reinforcements at practice on Sunday.

Both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin returned to practice after missing Saturday's game against the Dallas Stars. Crosby left during Thursday's game against the Ottawa Senators with a lower-body injury and didn't return.

Malkin has missed the last three games with a lower-body injury he suffered during last Sunday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes. He took a shot off his hand and was trying to shake it off for the rest of the game. He finished that contest before the Penguins announced that he was day-to-day. 

Here's what the practice lines looked like on Sunday:

Forwards

Mantha-Crosby-Rakell

Chinakhov-Novak-Malkin

McGroarty-Kindel-Brazeau

Soderblom-Dewar-Koivunen

Defensive pairs

Wotherspoon-Karlsson

Girard-Letang

Shea-Clifton

Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates up ice with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates up ice with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

- Ryan Graves and Ilya Solovyov were skating on a fourth pair with Jack St. Ivany. Bryan Rust and Noel Acciari missed practice due to maintenance days. Both players got a little banged up during Sunday's game.  

- Crosby and Malkin took contact during practice, but their status for Monday's game against the New York Islanders remains uncertain. Crosby traveled with the team to Long Island on Sunday, but nobody knows for sure if Malkin did yet. He stayed on the ice for a bit after practice ended. 

- If the Penguins can get both Crosby and Malkin back for Monday's game, it would go a long way towards their chances of securing two points. Heck, even if it's only Crosby who returns, it would be huge. This is a good team when healthy, but they've been banged up so much throughout the season that we haven't been able to see them at full strength for long stretches. 

Takeaways: Penalties Costly As Penguins Lose Key Game In Regulation To Dallas StarsTakeaways: Penalties Costly As Penguins Lose Key Game In Regulation To Dallas StarsThe Pittsburgh Penguins remain in a playoff spot by the skin of their teeth after a regulation loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

- I'm going to say this in Monday's preview, but I'll say it here first: The game against the Islanders will be the Penguins' biggest game in two years. They're in the fight for their lives to make the playoffs, and a win would vault them into second place in the Metropolitan Division. It's one of their last divisional games of the season, and it comes with so much on the line. The Islanders are one point ahead of them going into this contest. 

- I'd like to see Justin Brazeau get going down the stretch. I know his hot start to the season wasn't sustainable, but he has scored only two goals in his last 21 games and hasn't scored since Mar. 1 against the Vegas Golden Knights. A big goal or two would go a long way for his confidence and the team as the Penguins try to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

- The Eastern Conference standings have gotten even tighter heading into this week. The Penguins are only one point up on the Columbus Blue Jackets and two points up on the Philadelphia Flyers. This is going to be an insane finish to the season before the playoffs start the weekend of Apr. 18. 

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Blackhawks Let Late Lead Slip Away, Lose 5-3 To Devils

The Chicago Blackhawks have had a rough go on their East Coast road trip. They earned a win over the New York Islanders on Tuesday, but they would not say that they played particularly well. They found a way to hang onto their built-up lead, but their play was a sign of things to come. 

The back-to-back on Thursday and Friday against the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers was a disaster for Chicago. They lost both by a combined score of 11-2. 

This game went a little differently. The Blackhawks played well to open the game. They looked like the team that had a day off, while the Devils looked like they played one night prior (loss to the Carolina Hurricanes). 

Early on, New Jersey goalie Jake Allen gave the puck away to Anton Frondell behind the net, and he found Ilya Mikheyev, who scored one of the easiest goals he'll ever score to make it 1-0. 

The Devils tied it just after the halfway point of the first period, as Connor Brown tipped in a Luke Hughes shot. Just under two minutes later, however, Frank Nazar regained the lead for the Blackhawks with his 13th goal of the season. That 2-1 score held through the first intermission. 

In the second period, the Devils severely outplayed the Blackhawks. New Jersey outshot Chicago 16-5, but thanks to Spencer Knight, only one goal was scored. Simon Nemec's game-tying goal made it 2-2. 

The final frame was a back-and-forth affair. Penalties had something to do with that, as the Blackhawks took a 3-2 lead with a two-man advantage. Frank Nazar completed a pretty passing play with him, Connor Bedard, and Anton Frondell for his second of the game. 

At that point, it looked like the Blackhawks were going to skate away with a win. Sometimes, coming up with that extra goal to reward a goalie is needed for the dressing room. 

That would not be the case in this one, as Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils took over from there. Working with one assist already, Hughes set up a snipe by Dougie Hamilton to tie things up at 3. His cross-ice feed gave Hamilton all the room he needed to challenge Knight's far side. 

Just 19 seconds later, Jack Hughes scored a goal of his own to give the Devils a 4-3 lead. To seal the deal, he threw one into an empty net to seal a 5-3 Devils win. 

In yet another game in which the Blackhawks gave up 40 shots, Spencer Knight kept them in it with 35 saves. Both Chicago goalies have been excellent, but the young defense in front of them is living up to their age and inexperience. 

Three young forwards presented a positive for the Blackhawks in this game. For one, Connor Bedard's 68th point set a new career high. He would have blown past that a while ago if he had never hurt his shoulder, but he has 8 games to build on that and go into next year ready to take another step. 

Frank Nazar's first career multi-goal game set and extended a new career high in goals. When he's going strong, the Blackhawks are a stronger team in all three zones and on special teams, and he's been going strong for the last couple of weeks. 

Anton Frondell had two assists in this game. It was his first career multi-point game, and he now has four points in four games played. He possesses a big shot, but he is still searching for his first goal to go with four assists. Based on his play, it won't be long before he finds that goal. 

This game was an improvement over the first three on the road trip, despite the loss. They played better and competed much harder. Spencer Knight masked some mistakes, but this is all a part of their process. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will be back in action again on Tuesday night when they will be back at the United Center to take on Jonathan Toews and the Winnipeg Jets. 

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Shesterkin makes 27 saves in Rangers' victory over Panthers

NEW YORK (AP) — Adam Sykora broke a scoreless tie early in the third period and Igor Shesterkin made 26 saves and the New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1 on Sunday.

Sykora, a rookie who was a second-round pick in 2022, scored his second goal of the season at 5:10, tipping Adam Fox’s shot past Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

Conor Sheary then scored his fifth of the season — on a short-handed breakaway — at 11:14 before Fox added an empty-netter at 16:06.

Sykora also scored in the Rangers’ 6-1 win against Chicago on Friday. The Rangers are just 11-18-7 at home this season.

Florida’s Mackie Samoskevich scored with 40.2 seconds left to end Shesterkin’s shutout bid.

LIGHTNING 3, PREDATORS 2

NASHVILLE (AP) — Jake Guentzel had a goal and two assists while Corey Perry broke a third-period tie to give Tampa Bay a victory against Nashville to move into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Brandon Hagel also scored for the Lightning, who improved to 6-0-2 in the past eight games. Guentzel has scored in four consecutive games.

Jonas Johansson finished with 29 saves.

Joakim Kemell and Filip Forsberg scored for the Predators who hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference despite three consecutive losses. Justus Annunen finished with 25 saves.

CANADIENS 3, HURRICANES 1

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nick Suzuki scored two goals and had an assist to lead Montreal to a win over Carolina.

Suzuki fueled a three-goal second period for the Canadiens, who have won five straight and won all three regular-season games against the Eastern Conference-leading Hurricanes.

Cole Caufield added a goal and assist for Montreal and goalie Jakub Dobes made 34 saves in his third win of the season over the Hurricanes.

Andrei Svechnikov scored for the Hurricanes, and Frederik Andersen stopped 15 shots.

BRUINS 4, BLUE JACKETS 3, SO

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Viktor Arvidsson scored the decisive goal in the shootout and had three assists in the third period as Boston rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to defeat Columbus.

It is the ninth time in franchise history the Bruins have posted a three-goal, third-period comeback, and the first since March 13, 2018, when they defeated Carolina 6-4.

Fraser Minten also scored in the shootout for the Bruins, who have won three straight and five of six. The victory also kept Boston in the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 92 points.

Pavel Zacha had two power-play goals — including the tying score with 11 seconds remaining — and an assist while Charlie McAvoy had a goal and an assist. Jeremy Swayman stopped 21 shots.

DEVILS 5, BLACKHAWKS 3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes scored 19 seconds apart late in the third period and Jake Allen made 28 saves as New Jersey rallied to defeat Chicago.

With New Jersey trailing 3-2, Hamilton scored at 14:32 before Hughes scored at 14:51 to put the home team ahead and electrify the Prudential Center crowd. Hughes — who also had two assists — added his 22nd goal of the season into an empty net with 31 seconds left.

Connor Brown and Simon Nemec also scored for New Jersey, which has won six of its last eight games.

With the Blackhawks on a 5-on-3 advantage, Frank Nazar rifled a pass from Connor Bedard past Allen at 10:51 of the third for his second goal of the night. Ilya Mikheyev also scored for Chicago, which ended its four-game trip with a third-straight loss after resounding defeats to the Flyers and Rangers.

FLYERS 2, STARS 1, OT

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Trevor Zegras wristed a sharp-angle shot past Casey DeSmith with 1:33 remaining in overtime, leading hard-charging Philadelphia to a victory over slumping Dallas.

Travis Konecny scored in regulation for the Flyers, who are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games. With 86 points, they pulled within two of both Columbus — which is in the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference — and Pittsburgh — which is in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Samuel Ersson made 17 saves.

Rookie Arttu Hyry, playing his sixth game since being recalled from Dallas’ AHL affiliate, scored the lone goal for the Stars, who are in second place in the Central Division but have lost five of their last six. DeSmith finished with 28 saves.

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Jack Hughes scores twice as Devils rally past Blackhawks 5-3

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes scored 19 seconds apart late in the third period and Jake Allen made 28 saves as the New Jersey Devils rallied to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Sunday night.

With New Jersey trailing 3-2, Hamilton scored at 14:32 before Hughes scored at 14:51 to put the home team ahead and electrify the Prudential Center crowd. Hughes — who also had two assists — added his 22nd goal of the season into an empty net with 31 seconds left.

Connor Brown and Simon Nemec also scored for New Jersey, which has won six of its last eight games.

With the Blackhawks on a 5-on-3 advantage, Frank Nazar rifled a pass from Connor Bedard past Allen at 10:51 of the third for his second goal of the night. Ilya Mikheyev also scored for Chicago, which ended its four-game trip with a third-straight loss after resounding defeats to the Flyers and Rangers.

Mikheyev started the scoring with his 15th goal at 4:19 of the first.

Brown tied it with his 15th goal at 11:15.

Nazar put the visitors ahead 2-1 at 13:11 of the first. A first-round pick by Chicago in 2022, Nazar was one of 11 players on the Blackhawks roster on Sunday age 23 or younger.

Nemec tied the contest 2-2 at 15:48 of the second with his 11th goal of the season, assisted by Dawson Mercer who was playing his 401st consecutive game to tie Travis Zajac for the franchise record.

Chicago will miss the postseason for the sixth-straight season.

Spencer Knight made 35 saves in defeat.

New Jersey is 10 points behind Columbus for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with nine games remaining.

Devils captain Nico Hischier played his 600th career game. The 27-year-old forward from Switzerland was the first overall pick by New Jersey in the 2017 draft.

Up next

Blackhawks: Host Winnipeg on Tuesday.

Devils: Visit Rangers on Tuesday.

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Luukkonen Looms Large In Sabres Shootout Win Over Seattle

The Buffalo Sabres appeared to be headed for another loss during on four-game homestand against the Seattle Kraken, falling behind 2-0  in the second period, but the goaltending of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and goals by Rasmus Dahlin and Peyton Krebs evened the score, and perfection from the Sabres goalie in the shootout earned the club a 3-2 victory on Saturday and kept Buffalo temporarily in top spot in the Atlantic Division. 

"I thought we got a heck of a night from our goaltender, because I thought defensively, we made some big mistakes. We put (Seattle) in a position to probably score four or five, but I thought UPL was really good for us." Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said after the game. "We gave them a breakaway at the start of the second period on really a nothing play. We gave another three-on-one; we already had a D pinched in. Those are the things that we hadn't been doing.”

The victory ended the Sabres three-game losing skid, their longest since early December, just prior to the firing of GM Kevyn Adams and the club’s 10-game winning streak. Overtime losses to Anaheim and Boston, and a regulation loss to Detroit on Friday, allowed the Tampa Bay Lightning to gain ground in the Atlantic race.  

Other Sabres Stories

Six Former Sabres Who Signed Elsewhere

Lindy Ruff - Jack Adams favorite?

The Lightning were without likely Hart Trophy finalist Nikita Kucherov (illness) on the weekend, but they were able to post home victories over Ottawa and Nashville. Tampa and Buffalo are tied with 98 points, but the Lightning have a game in hand and more ROW (regulation and overtime wins). The two clubs face each other at KeyBank Center on April 6, in the most anticipated game of the season after the melee-filled 8-7 Sabres victory earlier this month. 

In league news, former Sabres assistant and Rochester head coach John Tortorella is back amongst the employed, as the Vegas Golden Knights fired head coach Bruce Cassidy on Sunday. Tortorella was relieved of his duties in Philadelphia late last season and was working as an analyst for ESPN. The Golden Knights, who the Sabres shut out 2-0 on St. Patrick’s Day in Vegas, have struggled in spite of an excellent season from former Sabres captain Jack Eichel. They have fallen to third place in the Pacific and are just four points up in the Western Conference playoff race with just over two weeks to go in the regular season.

Follow Michael on X, Instagram @MikeInBuffalo

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Devils Forward Scores His First Goal Of The Season

New Jersey Devils forward Evgenii Dadonov recorded his first point of the season in the team's 72nd game. ​

With 23 seconds left in a 5-2 loss to the Hurricanes, Dadonov scored his first goal as a Devil, the team's second of the game. ​

Dadonov, 37, has battled injuries, playing only 20 games after joining the Devils as a free agent on July 1, 2025. ​Dadonov has signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the team.

​The Florida Panthers drafted Dadonov 71st overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.

​In his 13 years in the NHL, he has played a total of 637 games, tallying 362 points. He has played for the Florida Panthers, Dallas Stars, Ottawa Senators, Vegas Golden Knights, and Montreal Canadiens.

​Injuries, time on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR), healthy scratches, and waivers have limited Dadonov this season. ​

Sunday’s matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks had Dadonov in the projected lineup. ​The Devils have nine games remaining on their 2025-26 schedule. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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For action-packed issues, access to the entire magazine archive and a free issue, subscribe to The Hockey News at THN.com/free. Get the latest news and trending stories by subscribing to our newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com or creating your own post in our community forum.

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Nashville Predators Drop 3rd Straight Game In Road Loss To Lightning | Recap

The Nashville Predators struggled to hold off the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, falling 3-2 for their third straight loss. The stretch also opens up a six-game road trip.

Filip Forsberg had tied the game early in the third period, tipping in a shot from Fedor Svechkov, but the Lightning responded two minutes later with a tap-in from Corey Perry, which ended up being the game-winning goal.

Nashville had a better start, outshooting Tampa, 10-1, in the first period and went on the power play four times. However, the power play unit went 0-for-4 on the night. 

Joakim Kemell scored his first career NHL goal as he was taken down by Erik Cernak while driving to the net, and the puck deflected off Kemell into the net. It gave Nashville a 1-0 lead in the second period. 

Jake Gientzel scored to tie the game in the second and Brandon Hagle gave the Lightning their first lead of the game early in the third period. 

Justus Annunen made 25 saves on 28 shots, falling to 8-11-2 on the year. 

With none of the Predators' Wild Card competition playing on Sunday, they will remain in the final Wild Card spot with 77 points.

Nashville won't play again until Thursday, against the Kings in Los Angeles at 9:30 p.m. CST. LA, who trails the Predators by just 1 point, will play the Blues at home on Wednesday.