The Vancouver Canucks (21-43-8) continue their road trip on Monday as they visit the Vegas Golden Knights. Both teams have struggled as of late and have combined for just five wins over their last 20 games. Based on the standings, Monday is a must-win for Vegas as they are dangerously close to the playoff bar.
Monday will feature a debut from the Golden Knights side as John Tortorella will be behind the bench for the first time. Vegas announced on Sunday that they had fired Bruce Cassidy and replaced him with Tortorella. Earlier this year, Tortorella helped Team USA win Gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics and brings over 1,500 games of experience behind the bench.
Shifting to the Canucks, all the focus remains on whether they can sort out their second-period issues. Vancouver is the only team that has allowed over 100 goals against in the second, as they enter Monday's game with 103 against in 72 games. At this stage of the season, the team needs to show some level of progress, which could be as simple as not allowing a goal in the middle frame against the Golden Knights.
Players To Watch:
Evander Kane:
Monday will feature a milestone moment for Evander Kane as he skates in his 1,000th career regular-season game. In 999 career games, the 34-year-old has 338 goals along with 647 points. As for this season, Kane has played 69 games and recorded 30 points.
Mitch Marner:
All eyes will be on Mitch Marner and how he responds to Tortorella taking over as coach. The 28-year-old has not lived up to expectations in his first year with Vegas, but he does sit second on the team with 71 points in 73 games. The question now is, can Tortorella help Marner unlock another level, or will personalities clash over the next few weeks?
Feb 4, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) keeps the puck away from Vancouver Canucks defenseman Tom Willander (5) during the third period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Vancouver Canucks (21–43–8):
Points:
Elias Pettersson: 15–30–45
Filip Hronek: 8–33–41
Brock Boeser: 17–21–38
Jake DeBrusk: 16–18–34
Linus Karlsson: 13–18–31
Goaltenders:
Thatcher Demko: 8–10–1
Kevin Lankinen: 8–25–5
Nikita Tolopilo: 5–7–2
Jiří Patera: 0–1–0
Vegas Golden Knights (32–26–16):
Points:
Jack Eichel: 25-53-78
Mitch Marner: 20-51-71
Mark Stone: 23-41-64
Pavel Dorofeyev: 34-26-60
Tomas Hertl: 24-30-54
Goaltenders:
Akira Schmid: 16-10-6
Adin Hill: 9-9-5
Carter Hart: 5-3-3
Carl Lindbom: 2-4-2
Game Information:
Start time: 7:00 pm PT
Venue: T-Mobile Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 650
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The torrid stretch of play Luka Dončić has been on during March will cool down, at least for one night, when the Los Angeles Lakers host the Washington Wizards on Monday.
Lakers guard Luka Dončić during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles. William Liang-Imagn Images
Dončić averaged 36.5 points (49.3% shooting, 39% on 3-pointers), 8.1 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.3 steals during the Lakers’ 14–2 stretch going back to Feb. 28 before the league announced on Saturday that he’d be suspended for Monday’s game.
He’s the reigning Western Conference player of the week, receiving the honor back-to-back weeks.
“He’s disappointed,” coach JJ Redick said after Sunday’s practice. “He wants to be there for his teammates, and again, I’ve talked about this all year, he plays. He’s not a guy that takes games off. He can be banged up and he’s gonna play. He was like that when I was his teammate in Dallas.”
With the way the Lakers have leaned on Dončić, their game plan against the Wizards will have to look different.
More time for Austin Reaves to be the primary ball handler with Dončić out.
Possibly more playing time for Bronny James, Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber, with starting guard Marcus Smart and Adou Thiero both being “day-to-day,” in addition to Dončić’s absence.
Smart has missed the last three games because of a right ankle contusion, while Thiero has been sidelined for the last couple of days because of left knee soreness.
“For [Monday], we’ve gotten some great contributions from guys that haven’t necessarily been in, like the nine-man rotation when we’ve been fully healthy,” Redick said. “Bronny’s had some good moments. Vando’s had some good moments, Maxi’s had some good moments. But we’re gonna need everybody.”
Austin Reaves drives to the basket against the Detroit Pistons, March 23 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NBAE via Getty Images
Jersey swap
When Reaves conducted his post-practice media availability, he had centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes by his side.
But Reaves was wearing Ayton’s practice jersey. And Ayton was wearing Reaves’.
Hayes was wearing second-year wing Dalton Knecht’s jersey during a practice nobody wore their own number.
“We all just traded,” Hayes explained. “Dalton, I saw he was still wearing his jersey, so I gave him Vando’s. I had Vando’s jersey on, we traded. Everyone had on a different jersey.”
Reaves and Dončić do what looks like a pinky swear during a time-out against the Chicago Bulls at Crypto.com Arena. Getty ImagesLakers coach JJ Redick during a play stoppage against the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. David Reginek-Imagn Images
Golf time
Reaves joked that Redick needed to quickly finish his post-practice availability so Reaves could go so he wouldn’t be late for his tee time.
Golf has quickly become one of the frequently-discussed topics among Lakers, a significant amount of the team playing.
“It’s funny, because when I first got in the NBA, there were a lot of guys that golfed and then nobody golfed for a long time,” Redick said. “And then post-bubble [in 2020], guys started getting back into it, and it became more common. For our team, we have 3–5 guys, at least three, that this time last year, have never played golf before: Bronny, Luka, LeBron, kind of Dalton, I think Jaxson started to work on his game.
“It’s a good team-bonding thing. For our team in LA, I talked about this in a press conference recently, it’s really hard in LA to bond. You live in Manhattan Beach, you live in Calabasas, you live in Westside, whatever. You’re hours, sometimes, away from your teammates. So finding tee times, being with each other for four hours where you can shoot the proverbial S-H-I-whatever and not have to be in a high pressure moment or on a team bus and kind of be away from the facility, I think it’s great.
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 24: Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns attempts a three-point shot during the final seconds of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on March 24, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Nuggets defeated the Suns 125-123. 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
As Week 23 comes to a close, you take a step back and ask what did we learn about the Phoenix Suns? And the answer is not something new. It is more of a reinforcement of what has already been there all season. This team competes.
Even during that 1–6 stretch, the effort never disappeared. The pressure was there, the identity was there, the foundation of what we call Suns basketball was still present. What was missing was the ability to close. Late in games, the execution slipped, and when you are missing key pieces due to injury, that margin becomes even thinner. It is hard to finish when the other side has its full arsenal, and you do not.
That reality carried into the conversation this week, especially after the loss to the Denver Nuggets. Devin Booker had a clean look from three late, a wide-open shot that would have flipped the outcome. He missed it, and that moment lit the fuse on a familiar debate. Why does it always end in isolation? Why does the ball always find Booker? Why is he the one taking that shot?
It is an interesting conversation, and it always seems to surface when the shot does not fall. There is a push from some to see more movement, more sharing, a search for the next pass and the next open look, regardless of who ends up taking it. The idea sounds clean. The execution is not always that simple.
In that moment, the Suns created a clean look for their best player. Booker was open, the shot was there, and those are the situations you live with. The debate lingers because of the result, but the process itself was sound. And that is where it becomes a little puzzling, because sometimes the difference between the right play and the wrong outcome is nothing more than a made shot.
Let me start here. Isolation is part of basketball. It always has been, and it always will be. When games get tight, when you hit those final possessions, offenses across the league slow down, become more deliberate, and the ball finds one player. That is not a Suns thing, that is a basketball thing. We all love the flow. The ball whipping around, transition opening up shooters, sets unfolding the way they are drawn up. That is the beauty of the game over 48 minutes. But late in games, it becomes about control. It becomes about putting the ball in the hands of your best player and living with the result.
For the Phoenix Suns, that player is Devin Booker.
You can debate where he sits among the league’s elite, you can stack numbers, you can build arguments on both sides, but the reality inside that locker room and on that floor is clear. He is the guy. He is paid like it, he plays like it, and he has earned that responsibility over time. That is not about forcing shots because of a contract, it is about trusting the player who has carried that load night after night.
Does it always work? No. But the objective in those moments is simple. Get your best player a clean look and give him a chance to win the game. And when you do that, when the process is right, you live with the outcome, make or miss.
"Great shot. Probably won't get one that good at the end of a game."
Devin Booker as he missed a late 3 for the win in Phoenix Suns 125-123 loss Tuesday night to Denver Nuggets. #Sunspic.twitter.com/Ak2xTTmvm0
What gets lost in all of this is the simple truth that games like Denver only matter because Devin Booker is on the floor. He is the reason you are in that moment to begin with. He is the one carrying possessions, bending defenses, creating something out of nothing when things stall. Without him, this team drifts. We have seen it. There is no direction, no steady hand guiding it. So when it comes down to that final shot, it should not feel complicated. The same player who got you there should have the chance to finish it. He earned that. Through the work, through the production, through the responsibility he has taken on all season. You live with the result, but you do not take the opportunity out of his hands.
Yes, other Suns’ players have hit big shots this season, and that is what good teams do. It is a sign of depth, a sign of trust, a sign that multiple guys are capable when the moment arrives. But it is always interesting how the conversation shifts when Devin Booker misses. The immediate reaction becomes that someone else should have taken it, that the ball should have moved one more time, that there was a better option waiting somewhere else. It turns into the ‘disease of what if’, a loop that never really ends.
“But Booker is only shooting 26.1% from deep in clutch situations.” True. And Grayson Allen is at 22.2%, Collin Gillespie is at 31.3%, Jalen Green is at (hides eyes with hands) 14.3%, and Royce O’Neale is at 33.3%. Every player on the Suns regresses in those situations, which is a greater conversation to be had in my opinion.
There is a comfort for some in imagining a different outcome. If the ball swings to Grayson Allen and he misses, it feels easier to accept. You shrug it off, say it was a bonus opportunity, and move on. But that same scenario would spark the opposite reaction from others, the question of why Booker did not take it. That is the catch. There is no version of it that satisfies everyone.
The reality is simple. Booker is the best player on the Phoenix Suns, and the offense should be geared toward getting him the best look possible in those moments. Defenses know it, they load up for it, they try to take it away. And still, that is where the ball is supposed to go. That is how this works across the league. Nikola Jokic gets that shot for Denver. Victor Wembanyama gets that shot for San Antonio. They convert, and it reinforces the idea. When they miss, the noise is there too.
There are levels to this. Booker sits within that hierarchy, even if he is not at the very top tier occupied by generational players. But for Phoenix, he is the guy. He is the one everything runs through, the one who carries the weight of those moments. This team goes as far as he takes it, and we have seen both sides of that this season.
Sometimes he delivers, like he did against Oklahoma City. Sometimes the shot does not fall, like it did against Denver. That is the nature of it. No one is perfect in those situations. Nobody is batting 1.000. And at the end of the day, if the Suns are going to live with anyone taking that shot, it should be Devin Booker.
Week 23 Record: 1-1
vs. Denver Nuggets, L, 125-123
Possession Differential: +2.1
Turnover Differential: -6
Offensive Rebounding Differential: -4
The Phoenix Suns did a stellar job competing against a team that, quite simply, is better than them right now. They stayed in it, they pushed, they gave themselves a real chance. And you cannot help but wonder how it looks if they are whole, if the full roster is available, if the margins shift even slightly. Maybe the outcome does too.
vs. Utah Jazz, W, 134-109
Possession Differential: +0.9
Turnover Differential: -2
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +10
Yeah, it’s only the Utah Jazz. But it felt good. It felt right. Watching the Phoenix Suns play that kind of basketball again, connected, sharp, purposeful, moving the ball, defending with intent, it reminded you what this team can look like when it all clicks.
Inside the Possession Game
Weekly Possession Differential: +3.0
Weekly Turnover Differential: -8
Offensive Rebounding Differential: +6
Year-to-Date Over/Under .500: +8
And now, the graph that I soon will no longer have to make…
Week 24 Preview
Week 24 arrives, and with it comes April basketball. You can feel the end of the regular season getting close now, as the runway is shortening. Four games on the schedule, all on the road, and all sitting there as winnable if the Suns handle their business.
It starts with a back-to-back. Monday brings the Memphis Grizzlies, a group that has shifted its focus and is playing out the string. That is one you have to take care of. No messing around, no letting it linger.
The next night, the Suns head to face the Orlando Magic, a team that has found some life. Phoenix needed double overtime to get past them after the break, a 113–110 win fueled by 27 points from Grayson Allen, and you know this one will have a similar feel. Competitive, physical, the kind of game that tests your legs on the second night of a back-to-back.
Thursday sends them to Charlotte against the Charlotte Hornets, a team they have already beaten once, but one that can still sting if you lose focus. They play loose, they play free, and that can create problems if you are not locked in. Then it wraps on Easter Sunday in Chicago against the Chicago Bulls, a chance to clean up a loss that did not sit well earlier this month. That one carries a little extra edge, a little extra motivation.
Four games, all on the road, all right there for the taking. This is where you sharpen things, where you build rhythm, where you make sure you are ready for what comes next.
65% of voters called the 1-1 record for the Suns this past week. A little bit harder to predict in Week 24. How do you think the team will do?
PITTSBURGH, PA - FEBRUARY 2: Evgeni Malkin #71 tall with Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game against the Ottawa Senators at PPG PAINTS Arena on February 2, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
The Penguins could be getting a big boost ahead of their pivotal game against the New York Islanders that has heavy playoff implications.
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, who each missed Saturday’s game against the Dallas Stars with injuries, returned to practice yesterday and Crosby will be traveling with the team for tonight’s game. Malkin’s status to travel is unknown.
Both players were full participants in practice and were in their usual spots in the lineup, but it’s unclear whether or not either are expected to play against the Islanders.
#LetsGoPens lines and D-pairs with Crosby/Malkin, and without Rust/Acciari:
“Obviously, it’s very encouraging,” Erik Karlsson said. “Whether they play or not, I don’t know. They’re out there grinding away and trying to keep up the speed and staying in it for when they are ready to return.”
Crosby returned from his injury suffered during the Olympics and played five games for the Penguins before leaving the team’s game against Ottawa last week with a lower-body injury, missing Saturday’s game against Dallas.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are tied with the Penguins with 88 points and sit in the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot.
According to MoneyPuck, the Penguins have a 70.7% chance of making the playoffs and with just nine games remaining in the regular season, a win would be a big boost to those chances.
MoneyPuck has the Penguins’ playoff chance jump to 83.3% with a regulation win. A regulation loss would have the Penguins’ chances fall to 57%.
DENVER, COLORADO - MARCH 28: Logan O'Connor #25 of the Colorado Avalanche smiles with teammates prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at Ball Arena on March 28, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Colorado Avalanche News
Logan O’Connor returns to Avalanche lineup without participating in a conditioning stint — or a 5-on-5 practice. [Denver Gazette]
Jets praise MacKinnon after witnessing dominance: ‘He’s absolutely fantastic’. [TSN]
Sidney Crosby applauds Brent Burns nearing major milestone with Avalanche. [Sports Illustrated]
Colorado teen who survived shark attack walks runway at Avalanche charity event. [KDVR]
Golden Knights fire Bruce Cassidy, hire John Tortorella. [ESPN]
‘They’re not NHL championship caliber players’: Legendary Oiler with hard truth about Edmonton’s skill level. [The Edmonton Journal]
Ottawa Senators playoff hopes struck by Lightning. [Ottawa Sun]
If the NHL playoffs started today: Projecting all 8 matchups and analyzing the teams. [NY Times]
Bill Riley, first African Nova Scotian to play in NHL, remembered as inspiration. [CBC]
Jagr, not officially retired, says professional hockey career likely complete. Legendary NHL forward, 54, played past 9 seasons with Kladno in native Czechia. [NHL]
41-year-old seals first PGA Tour win since 2019 US Open
Brain lesion derailed American’s career
Gary Woodland won the Houston Open on Sunday, a moment that seemed improbable 30 months ago when he had brain surgery, and even two weeks ago when he opened up about his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder.
He closed with a three-under 67 to win by five shots over Nicolai Hojgaard. The gallery chanted Woodland’s name before falling silent so he could roll in the winning putt.
Stop me if you've heard this before - The Columbus Blue Jackets blew a 3-goal third-period lead.
Boone Jenner (11), Mason Marchment (18), and Charlie Coyle (18-PPG) scored the goals for Columbus, while Jet Greaves stopped 35 of 38 Bruins shots, including 3 of 5 on the power play, in a stunning 4-3 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins on Sunday night.
The Bruins looked shellshocked after the CBJ scored three first-period goals, but after that, it was all Bruins. And when I say it was all Bruins, that's actually an understatement. The Bruins absolutely dominated every aspect of the second, third, and overtime periods. Columbus had 12 shots in the first period, but after that, they combined for 12 total shots over the next 45 minutes.
The good news is that they didn't let David Pastrnak beat them. The bad news is that Pavel Zacha torched the Blue Jackets for two power-play goals, an assist, and five shots on goal. It was his goal with 11 seconds left to tie the game that sank Columbus. That goal tied the game, but it felt like the game-winner if we are being honest.
What has happened to the Columbus Blue Jackets?
Rick Bowness said after the game, "I thought we got very selfish with the puck. Some of these guys have a lot to learn about how to play in this league at this time of year. It gets harder and harder and harder, and we're going to keep reminding them and reminding them every day how hard it is to win at this time of the year. There's a lot there to be learned from some of these guys, and they better damn well start listening."
He went on, "We'll move on. We'll get them ready for Tuesday. We had a great game against Carolina last game. We'll address what needs to be addressed."
Team Notes
The Blue Jackets have earned points in 13 of their last 14 home games (9-1-4) as well as in 17 of their 19 contests played at Nationwide Arena in 2026 (12-2-5).
The Blue Jackets scored first for the 45th time this season (30-8-7) and for the 26th time at Nationwide Arena (17-5-3).
Columbus fell for just the second time in the shootout this season (6-2).
The Jackets skated in front of their third-straight and 12th sellout crowd of the season tonight.
Final Stats
cbj app
Player Stats & Notes
Boone Jenner scored his 11th goal, had 5 shots, and had 4 PIMs. He played in his 800th career NHL game (210-207-416). The franchise leader in games played, he now sits three goals shy of tying Cam Atkinson (213) for the second-most in club history. Jenner has now posted 10-4-14 in 25 career games against Boston, with 3-3-6 in his past eight overall.
Mason Marchment scored his 18th goal and picked up his 20th assist. He notched his sixth multi-point game as a Blue Jacket with his goal and assist tonight (14-11-25 in 32 GP). He ranks second on the team in goals since making his debut with the club on Dec. 20, 2025. He has now tallied 3-6-9 in 10 career matchups against the Bruins, with four-straight multi-point performances against the club (2-6-8).
Charlie Coyle scored his 18th goal. He is now tied for the second-most points in a campaign in his 14-year NHL career (82 GP with Minnesota in 2016-17).
Kirill Marchenko recorded his 35th and 36th assists and had one shot. He posted his fifth multi-assist, and 11th multi-point performance of the season to reach the 60-point plateau for the second consecutive campaign (31-43-74 in 2024-25). He has now notched points in three of his past four games against Boston (2-4-6) with 3-4-7 in 10 overall career matchups.
Ivan Provorov tallied his 21st assist.
Conor Garland got his 21st assist. He now has 7 points in his 13 games as a Blue Jacket.
Team Stats
The Jackets went 1/2.
The Columbus PK gave up two power plays goals on four Bruins man advantages.
Columbus won 45.8% of the faceoffs - 27/59
The Blue Jackets had 23 hits and 24 blocks.
Next Up For Columbus: The Blue Jackets are home for the final game of a three-game homestand to face the Carolina Hurricanes.
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The New York Islanders enter Monday night's matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins with a 42-27-5 record, good for 89 points and the second seed in the Metropolitan Division.
The Islanders sit just one point ahead of Pittsburgh and three points clear of the Ottawa Senators, the first team currently outside the playoff picture.
CoreNHL’s most probable Eastern Conference playoff matchups, following the conclusion of all games played on 3/29/2026: pic.twitter.com/cGyH9yjhjw
As things stand entering Monday's slate, the Islanders control their own fate.
All eight of the Islanders' remaining games come against Eastern Conference opponents, with six against teams realistically competing for a playoff spot and four against Metropolitan Division opponents, including Monday's tilt with Pittsburgh and two against the Carolina Hurricanes.
To make things more difficult, just six points separate fifth place from 11th in the Eastern Conference, setting the stage for one of the tightest playoff races in recent memory.
For the Islanders, the playoffs are by no means a lock, but if they do get in, the path starts to take shape.
According to CoreNHL, New York has an 82.3% chance of making the playoffs, up slightly following the Boston Bruins' three-goal comeback against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.
The Islanders' odds rank fifth in the Eastern Conference and second in the Metropolitan Division.
Despite two remaining games against the division-leading Hurricanes offering the chance to tighten Carolina's nine-point lead in the standings, the Islanders have just an 0.1% chance to win the division, making first-round home ice an unlikely outcome.
As for potential playoff matchups, there is a 49.7% chance the Islanders face the Penguins in Round 1.
The two teams have split their season series so far, with Monday night being the deciding factor. The Islanders fell 5-4 in their season opener on October 9 before responding with a 5-4 win on February 3.
The Islanders have a 17.5% chance of facing the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team they have gone 3-1-0 against this season with a plus-1 goal differential.
Other potential opponents include the Washington Capitals (6.5%), Philadelphia Flyers (3.7%), Carolina Hurricanes (2.9%), Tampa Bay Lightning (1.4%), and Buffalo Sabres (0.5%). The odds of facing the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, or Detroit Red Wings all sit below 0.1%.
Washington’s two remaining games against Pittsburgh, along with one against Columbus, present a more favorable opportunity to gain ground in the Metropolitan Division than most teams chasing a top-three seed.
CoreNHL projects the Islanders with a 47.4% chance to reach Round 2, a 14% chance to make the Eastern Conference Final, a 5% chance to reach the Stanley Cup Final, and a 1.4% chance to win the Stanley Cup.
While low, that Stanley Cup probability ranks second among Metropolitan Division teams, behind Carolina at 17.6%.
A regulation win over Pittsburgh on Monday could boost the Islanders' playoff odds by more than six percentage points, but a regulation loss could drop them to around 60%, depending on other results around the conference.
Puck drop between the Islanders and Penguins is set for 7:00 PM EST at UBS Arena.
The Boston Bruins had themselves a very productive weekend with back-to-back wins against quality opponents that have significantly boosted their odds of reaching the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Bruins defeated the Minnesota Wild 6-3 at TD Garden on Saturday and then erased a 3-0 third-period deficit to beat the Columbus Blue Jackets in a shootout on the road Sunday.
Let’s dive in to a few takeaways from these important victories for the Bruins.
Playoff odds rocket higher
The Bruins’ chances of reaching the playoffs stood at 70 percent, per MoneyPuck’s model, about a half hour before puck drop of Saturday’s game against the Wild.
After two straight wins, those odds are now up to 90.9 percent with Boston having eight games remaining.
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The Bruins could still make the playoffs as a top-three team in the Atlantic Division. They trail the third-place Canadiens by only two points but also have one more game played than Montreal.
The most likely path to the playoffs is via the wild card. Boston enters Friday in the East’s first wild card spot with a four-point lead over the Columbus Blue Jackets and a six-point edge on the Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators. Both the Red Wings and Senators have a game in hand on the Bruins.
The B’s have the fourth-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon, but they are now on pace for about 100 points.
Pavel Zacha could reach 30 goals
Pavel Zacha might have one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NHL. The veteran forward has a $4.75 million salary cap hit on a deal that doesn’t expire until after the 2026-27 campaign.
He is outperforming that contract this season with a career-high 28 goals, which ranks third-most on the team. He needs one more point to hit 60 for the first time in his career. Zacha has been especially hot lately with 13 goals in his last 13 games, including the tying tally with 11 seconds left in the third period of Sunday’s win over the Blue Jackets. He also scored a power-play goal and picked up an assist versus the Blue Jackets in a three-point outing.
There are 31 line combos in the league that have played 275-plus minutes this season, and the Arvidsson-Zacha-Mittelstadt trio has the fourth-best goals scored percentage of that group. The Bruins are scoring 70.6 percent of all goals (38 for, 16 against) when that trio is on the ice, per MoneyPuck.
If the Bruins make the playoffs, this line needs to maintain that level of success (or close to it) for the team to potentially win a round.
Viktor Arvidsson addition paying big dividends
Making trades is what Bruins general manager Don Sweeney does best, and giving up a 2027 fifth-rounder to acquire Viktor Arvidsson from the Edmonton Oilers last summer has been a stroke of genius.
Arvidsson scored the shootout winner Sunday, and he also tallied an assist on all three of Boston’s goals.
Arvidsson has 47 points in 62 games, which is 20 more than he had in 67 games for the Oilers last season. His 3.04 points per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 is fourth-highest among all players who have played 700-plus minutes, per Natural Stat Trick. Two of the three players ahead of him — Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon — are former Hart Trophy winners.
It’ll be interesting to see if he re-signs in Boston when his contract expires after the season, but for now, he’s one of the Bruins’ most important forwards.
Jeremy Swayman making Vezina Trophy case
Swayman started both games this weekend. It was the third time in his career he made starts on back-to-back days. Even though these two performances wouldn’t rank among his best of the season, he still made plenty of clutch stops to give the B’s a chance to win.
No goaltender has played better than Swayman over the last 20 games. During that span he ranks No. 1 with 19 goals saved above expected.
Swayman, for the whole season, ranks No. 3 in goals saved above expected and No. 3 in wins above replacement. These stats are even more impressive when you consider the Bruins have been a bottom-third team in defense for a lot of the season. He’s not getting a ton of help in front of him, and yet the 27-year-old netminder is still playing at an elite level.
New York Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin is the favorite to win the Vezina Trophy. He would be a deserving winner. But if the Bruins make the playoffs, it would be a huge mistake if Swayman is not voted one of the three finalists for the award.
He’s the No. 1 reason why Boston has a strong chance to return to the postseason.
Feb 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Asa Newell (14) shoots against the Utah Jazz in the second quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Hawks have surged to a 16-3 record since the All-Star break and 12 straight wins in a row at home. That streak will be put to test tonight against the Boston Celtics as they look to salvage a 2-2 season split against the rivals up north.
But elsewhere, there are other positive developments. Let’s quickly go through the status of the draft picks for the Hawks in the 2026 NBA Draft
In essence, the Hawks gained the right to choose whichever 2026 first-round pick between the Pelicans and the Bucks was more favorable to them. While at the time it seemed unlikely that the Pelicans would find their way into the muddled West playoffs, it seemed very possible that Giannis Antetokounmpo could nearly singlehandedly drag the Bucks into the East playoffs.
Well, with his injury issues this season plus a surprisingly competitive Eastern Conference in 2025-26, the fortune gods have smiled upon the Hawks.
On Tuesday, the Knicks dealt the Pelicans a loss which officially eliminated them from the postseason. And then on Saturday, the Spurs body slammed the Bucks out of the postseason as well. Those two events today (just about) means that both the Pelicans and Bucks will finish out of the playoffs with two of the ten worst records in the league — delivering two solid chances for the Hawks to strike it rich in the lottery.
As of Sunday morning, the Pelicans tentatively owned the seventh worst record and the Bucks the 10th worst record (with no real path beyond winning out to pass the Warriors in 11th). That equates to just over a 40% chance of jumping into the top four on lottery day, May 10.
This could give the Hawks an elite talent from one of the most loaded draft classes in recent memory. Pretty good if you ask me.
Other picks that involve the Hawks
The Hawks dealt first-round pick swap rights to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the package to acquire Dejounte Murray back in 2022. If the Hawks make the playoffs (either outright or through the Play-In Tournament), then logically the Spurs can’t get any higher than the 15th overall pick. With the Hawks currently in the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, that would mean the 19th overall pick for the Spurs.
The least favorable pick swapped with the Spurs (who have the second-best record in the league) was later flipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the De’Andre Hunter deal. That means, the Hawks get the most favorable between the outcome of the Spurs swap and the Cavaliers’ first-round pick.
As of Sunday morning, the Cavs’ record would give the Hawks the 23rd overall pick — and there’s virtually no chance of them falling into the lottery given the high chance they qualify for the playoffs with a top six record in the East.
The good news: the Hawks also acquired a 2026 second-round pick during the 2025 draft week in trading for Kristaps Porzingis by sending out Terance Mann and Georges Niang (something that cost them the 22nd overall pick in last year’s draft — Drake Powell of the Nets).
The bad news: it’s a complicated pick swap that will see the Hawks get the least favorable of a bunch of teams and the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are surprisingly quite good this season, so this pick will end up being one of the final ones in the entire draft (right now 57th overall).
MILWAUKEE, WI - MARCH 28: Luke Kornet #7 of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a three point basket during the game against the Milwaukee Bucks on March 28, 2026 at Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images). | NBAE via Getty Images
On Saturday, the Spurs had an afternoon matinee against the Milwaukee Bucks. The game was significant for both teams. For the Silver & Black in locked in the second seed. Unfortunately for the Bucks, it sealed their fate by fully eliminating any postseason options.
As the Spurs plan their postseason strategies, they are sure to have some tricks up their sleeve. One of those could involve activating Luke Kornet from beyond the arc.
Once upon a time, Kornet was known for his three-point prowess. Part of the big man’s journey, which he documented in his blog, divulged his insecurity with his NBA career and reinventing himself as a role player while giving up the three-point shot.
Often times, Kornet receives the ball on the outside the three-point line and holds, waiting for Castle or Fox or Harper to take the hand off. Rarely does Kornet dribble excessively or push his way to the basket the way, say, Keldon does.
As the Spurs postseason became a reality, I hypothesized on adjustments that could be utilized in the postseason catching their opponents off guard. Think Pop changing the starting line up in the 2014 NBA Finals by adding Boris Diaw and having Tiago Splitter come off the bench. It gave the Spurs a boost and disrupted the Heat’s rhythm.
With that in mind, the idea of having Kornet take threes forces defenders to cover him further out. And if he can hit a couple of threes at key moments, then there is a shift in momentum or the possibility for a cutting player to receive a lob in the paint for a close range shot.
Alas, Kornet had only three attempts from beyond the arc in his last season in Boston, one in the Celtics championship season.
But after his attempt in Milwaukee, Sean Elliott stated that he had seen Kornet shooting threes in the pregame warm up. That was new to his routine and something to be observed in the days and (hopefully) weeks to come.
As I was researching Kornet’s three-point shooting history, I noticed he hadn’t been credited with the attempt on Saturday. I confirmed with Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News that the shot came after the third quarter buzzer engaged and therefore did not count.
Keep your eyes peeled for opportunities for Kornet to roll back the clock on his three-point game.
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Mar 28, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) battle during the third period at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images | James Guillory-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Devils scored two goals in 19 seconds to give themselves a third-period lead and then held on to claim a 5-3 win over the Blackhawks on Sunday. [Devils NHL]
A familiar result against the Hurricanes as of late: Three second-period Carolina goals pushed the Hurricanes to a 5-2 win over the Devils on Saturday. [Devils NHL]
“Markstrom ranks 52nd in save percentage (.884), 46th in goals-against average (3.09) and 55th in goals-saved above average (minus-13.02) among goalies with at least 1,000 minutes played this season. Couple that with the Devils’ 27th-ranked offense, and it’s easy to see why the Devils are 11 points out of a playoff spot with 10 games left.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]
“The Devils’ prospect pool is middling to say the least, recently placing 22nd in The Athletic’s ongoing pipeline rankings. The reality is, the Devils’ blue-chip prospects have either graduated to full-time NHLers (Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec) or have floundered a bit since being drafted (Anton Silayev). Outside of a couple of truly projectable talents, the Devils don’t really have a whole lot to offer at any particular position. Most prospects have concluded their seasons at this point, with the exception of a couple of players whose seasons have progressed into the playoffs and the Utica Comets’ players.” [Infernal Access ($)]
Hockey Links
Vegas makes a coaching change out of the blue:
The Vegas Golden Knights have relieved Bruce Cassidy of his duties as head coach.
A look at the league’s most disappointing players this season: [The Athletic ($)]
“Alex Ovechkin has not given any indication yet of his NHL future, while Anze Kopitar is retiring, and Jaromir Jagr said he is likely not playing pro hockey again. They could make the 2029 Hockey Hall of Fame class very memorable.” [The Hockey News]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
ELMONT, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 03: Ryan Shea #5 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck against Matthew Schaefer #48 of the New York Islanders during the third period at UBS Arena on February 03, 2026 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Steven Ryan/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (36-21-16, 88 points, 3rd place Metropolitan Division) @ New York Islanders (42-27-5, 89 points, 2nd place Metropolitan Division)
When: 7:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and MSGSN, nationally broadcast on NHL Network
Pens’ Path Ahead: Another big one tomorrow back in the ’Burgh against the Red Wings. The games keep coming in quick succession with a trip to Tampa on tap for Thursday night, then a return to Pittsburgh next weekend for two games against the same opponent (Florida Panthers) on both Saturday and Sunday. After that is a three-day break in the schedule to recharge, regroup and get ready for the four final games of the regular season.
Opponent Track: The Islanders have been looking to stay hot, and they have won two in a row (including a 5-2 victory over Florida on Saturday). Then again, they’ve given up seven goals in a loss to Montreal and been defeated in regulation by Chicago recently, so who knows what to expect from a team all over the map. NYI won a 1-0 playoff-like game against Columbus last week, they’ll certainly be in that type of desperation mode for today’s big game.
Season Series: There were only three regular season PIT/NYI games this season, an issue that will be solved next season by moving to an 84-game schedule and allowing all division rivals to play four times in the years to follow. Pittsburgh is 1-0-1 against the Islanders so far this year, beating them 4-3 in regulation on NYI’s opening night and then the Pens dropped a 5-4 OT decision on Feb 3 to the Isles that featured two third period blown leads by Pittsburgh. Today is the final game, though it could be a preview of a first round playoff matchup.
Hidden Stat: Per Pens PR, Rickard Rakell has points in his last five of his last six visits to Long Island (5G-4A).
Getting to know the Islanders
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Anders Lee – Bo Horvat – Emil Heineman
Calum Ritchie – Brayden Schenn – Mat Barzal
Ondrej Palat – J.G. Pageau – Simon Holmstrom
Kyle MacLean – Casey Cizikas – Marc Gatcomb
DEFENSEMEN
Matthew Schaefer / Ryan Pulock
Adam Pelech / Carson Soucy
Scott Mayfield / Adam Boqvist
Goalies: Ilya Sorokin and David Rittich
Potential scratches: Maxim Shabanov, Anthony Duclair, Isaiah George
Injured Reserve: Tony DeAngelo, Kyle Palmieri, Pierre Engvall, Alexander Romanov, Semyon Varlamov
Schaefer played his first career game against the Pens, and it was one of those moments from the very beginning where you knew you were seeing a special player. His talent and skill was undeniable from the start, which will be leading to the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year (and he’s got a good case to be a unanimous first place vote).
I found Mathieu Darche’s deadline moves to be fairly uneven. Add a rental in Soucy for a third round pick? OK, you can see how that could be needed and help out while not breaking the bank. Add Palat (who is under contract next season at a $6.0m cap hit) for only a third and sixth coming back? That doesn’t seem like a good price to take on a bad player/contract, though they did clear out the dead weight of Max Tsyplakov and his $2.5m cap hit for next season. Trade a first+third (although being Colorado’s first, it could be very, very late) for 34-year old Brayden Schenn and his $6.5m cap hit through 2027-28? Woof. Darche was a finalist for the Penguin job before Kyle Dubas was fired in Toronto, it’s always interesting to see how his career will go. Overall, Darche has done some good things, while having the incredible draft lottery luck. Could be worse though we’ll see how much these deadline adds actually help considering he’s added players on the wrong side of 30 that have fairly decent future cap commitments.
One Darche move that does look promising was getting Calum Ritchie to the Island in the Brock Nelson trade. Ritchie is a pretty solid NHL player in only his draft+3 season and has a lot of upside to grow into. Other than someone like Barzal it’s been a while since the Isles have developed a talented, young scoring forward (though I guess Simon Holmostrom going on his second-straight 20 goal season might have something to say about that).
Heineman with a 21-9 goal/assist split might be on his way for a Cy Young this season.
Key Matchup: They could also call the sport ‘goalie’ just as easily
Goaltending is an essential part of hockey and no team gets better goalie inputs than the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin has not yet won a Vezina trophy in his career for goaltender of the year (he did finish second back in 2023-24), this just might be the year to change that. His value to the team is basically immeasurable. On the whole, the Islanders might not be a playoff-quality team, except for the fact that they’re in the race anyways in large part due to the superb effort of their goalie. This team (with their 30th ranked power play and 23rd best 5v5 offense) would be heading for the draft lottery if not for Sorokin serving as the rising tide to raise their ship.
Major playoff implications
Tonight is not quite a true ‘must win’ situation for the Penguins or Islanders, but it’s getting mighty close to that territory. A result tonight in regulation would do wonders in the models for the winner’s chances and deal a major blow to whomever losses. An overtime game kicks the can down the road a bit more for the loser, and would be most unwelcome news for the folks in Columbus, Ottawa and Detroit to see the possibility of a three-point game.
Needless to say, this is one that both teams have to have. Doesn’t get much better than that.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby* – Bryan Rust*
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Anthony Mantha
Rutger McGroarty – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari*
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs
Potential Scratches: Evgeni Malkin* (injured), Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves, Ville Koivunen
IR: Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both returned to practice yesterday, in good news. Crosby will travel with the team to NY, coach Dan Muse didn’t know (or wasn’t saying) it Malkin would be on the trip. Both Bryan Rust and Noel Acciari sat out practice yesterday on official maintenance days but they will also be traveling with the team to NY.
Malkin reportedly stayed on the ice for almost an hour after practice, which typically isn’t something that a player planning to play the next day would do. Combine that with the fact that Muse didn’t green light Malkin for travel unlike Crosby is what tips the balance to project him as out again for today. Perhaps if Malkin is feeling way better by today then something will change and get him back out there, for now it doesn’t look like the signs are pointing to Malkin playing tonight though.
The Penguins didn’t alternate goalies and used the same netminder in two consecutive games for the first time in over two months this weekend when Skinner played against Dallas. The gamble didn’t pay off much, being as the Pens got in penalty trouble and eventually fell behind the Stars and dropped a game in regulation. That makes for an interesting decision today, do they go back to Skinner? Or play Silovs in what could be the most important game of the year when Silovs has given up 24 goals over his last six appearances?
Crosby: ‘We’re going to leave it all out there’
Sidney Crosby: "It’s a pretty tested group, and it’s a big stretch here. Regardless of who’s in or who’s out, I know that we’re going to leave it all out there and give ourselves the best chance."
This is go time, the most exciting time of the year in hockey for so many teams competing for the same spots and trying to stake their claim to a playoff position.
After Saturday’s setback, Rust said the team’s next game against the Islanders will be an easy one to get up for, especially with the two clubs battling against each other for a playoff spot. That sentiment carried over to today.
“We know how much that means to us, playing against that team, and how important every point is,” Rickard Rakell said. “It’s truly like a playoff game.”
“They’re all important at this point,” Crosby said. “It’s a big race, a big stretch for us. As a player, these are the ones that you want to be in. These are big games.”
The Penguins knew how challenging their schedule would be in March, with 17 games in 31 days. Now, at the end of the month’s gauntlet, the Penguins have to keep digging deep to stay in the fight.
“I think you have to enjoy it. We have to embrace the situation that we’re in,” Karlsson said. “It’s a fantastic spot to be in. I think with the experience that we have in here, a lot of the guys have been through it before, but for the guys that haven’t, just don’t lose sight of how much fun it is to be playing in these types of games.”
Mar 29, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Boston Celtics forward/guard Jayson Tatum (0) reacts to the crowd after making a basket during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images | Brian Westerholt-Imagn Images
1. Jayson Tatum is Unbelievable
In his 11th game back from a torn Achilles, Jayson Tatum dropped a season-high 32 points with 8 assists, 5 rebounds and 0 turnovers on 12-23 shooting from the field and 5-10 from three. He also scored his 14,000th career NBA Point in this game, becoming the youngest player in Celtics history to reach this mark, passing Paul Pierce.
Tatum scored or assisted on the first 10 points of the game for the Celtics, setting the tone for what was going to be a big night.
He didn’t stop there, finishing with 20 points in the first half. Picking apart an elite Hornets defense with an arial assault from beyond the arc. Any concerns of his jump should be put aside with the he was able to get them off over some pretty great Charlotte contests.
The second half saw Tatum continue to hit some ridiculous shots coming from the midrange and driving to the basket. He went back to the old reliable to ice the game for the Celtics, hitting a three between the eyes of Miles Bridges to punctuate an incredible performance.
This game was the closest he has looked to the old Jayson Tatum. From the explosiveness, the playmaking, and the three point shooting, this was an all around great game. Tatum is averaging 20.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.0 minutes per game since his return which doesn’t even sound real. He really has lived up to the nickname as The Anomaly.
2. Hospital Celtics Supremacy
Something I didn’t mention about Jayson Tatum’s incredible performance was that he did it with both Jaylen Brown and Derrick White out with injury. Brown missed his second straight game with Left Achilles Tendinitis and White was out with a Right Knee Contusion.
The Hornets going into this game had been the best team in the NBA since the start of the New Year with a record of 28-13. In a more recent sample size, Charlotte was 7-3 in their most recent 10 games before facing Boston, with wins over the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and New York Knicks, three teams who have a better record than them in the Eastern Conference. Charlotte also dominated Boston in their most recent matchup, beating the Celtics 118-89 on March 4th in TD Garden.
The Celtics were looking for revenge and even without two of their starters, they were able to dominate the Hornets for pretty much the entire game, winning 114-99 in Charlotte. Boston is now 8-1 in games with Jaylen Brown out this year, showing how incredible they are when it comes to overcoming adversity.
3. Payton Pritchard Encore
In the Celtics win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Payton Pritchard had one of his best games of the season, leading Boston with 36 points and 7 rebounds on 12-23 shooting. He followed up this performance with another big game against the Hornets, finishing with 28 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on 10-18 shooting. He came up huge in this game when Tatum went to the bench as the primary scorer on the floor for the Celtics and Boston didn’t skip a beat.
Pritchard did most of his scoring from beyond the arc against Atlanta, finishing with 6 three pointers in that game. He only had 2 threes against Charlotte but did most of his damage in the paint and in the midrange.
It didn’t matter who the Hornets threw at him, Pritchard was going to get inside on his defender and rise up over them to make the basket. It was giving me shades of prime Steve Nash back in his MVP days with the Phoenix Suns with his ability to score over anybody.
This summer, Neemias Queta represented Portugal in Eurobasket and was essentially the number one option for them. In these games, he was a force inside with an array of back to the basket moves and play finishing that were able to work in international competition.
With the Celtics he isn’t necessarily replied upon when it comes to his ability to create offense but we saw a glimpse of that Eurobasket Queta in this game when he finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds on 8-13 shooting. This is really impressive considering Charlotte have some really good defensive big men in Moussa Diabate and Ryan Kalkbrenner.
Queta was great as a play finisher in this game against the Hornets, getting set up for a lot of great opportunities underneath the basket. There have been times this season where he has had a hard time when it comes to catching these passes, sometimes looking lost and just not putting the ball up. That was the opposite in this game, stepping up big time with the Celtics missing two of their top scorers.
One guy who got a big time opportunity with Brown and White out was Baylor Scheierman and he played a great game. In 28 minutes off the bench he finished with 14 points and 3 assists on 4-11 shooting from the field and 3-7 from three. He might have only made 4 shots but all of them came in some of the most ridiculous ways possible.
Whether it was a floater that touched the sky with the shot clock running down or hitting pull up threes from 30+ feet, Baylor Scheierman hit some big shots for the Celtics when they needed them most in some cases. He played some huge minutes for Boston in this game and his ability to make a positive impact on the game was big when it came to stabilizing the rotations.
Anytime Ron Harper Jr gets a chance to play big minutes for the Celtics it always feels like he makes a big impact. He did that against the Hornets where he only played 14 minutes but had 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, and 1 steal on 3-3 shooting and a +10. Harper Jr left the game midway through the second quarter with an ankle sprain but before that it looked like he was going to have another big game.
Overall though I just enjoy watching Ron Harper Jr get a chance to play with the Celtics rotation. Grinding his way through Maine and being able to make a legit impact in sparse minutes isn’t something a lot of NBA players can do. I will be very happy if he ends up with a standard contract with Boston so he can play in the playoffs because he has earned it.
For the first time since January 1st, Jordan Walsh was in the starting lineup for the Boston Celtics. It looked like he was rewarded for his performance against the Atlanta Hawks where he played 27 minutes off the bench and had 5 points and 3 blocks. Against Charlotte, he had another solid game, finishing with 3 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in 34 minutes and a +14.
Although he shot 1-7, his impact was felt the most with his defense on LaMelo Ball. Walsh made Ball work for everything on offense, being a big part in him finishing with only 19 points on 7-19 shooting and 4 turnovers. His constant pressure forced LaMelo into some tough shots and made him miss some pretty good looking three point attempts.
With Brown being out day-to-day, I hope we continue to get to see Jordan Walsh get minutes and get to see him play his hounding defense.
A big reason as to why the Celtics were able to win this game despite the talent disparity was their ability to shoot the lights out against the Hornets. Boston finished shooting 42-83 (51%) from the field and 14-34 (41%) from three point range. In contrast, the Celtics held the Hornets to 36-83 shooting from the field (43%) and 12-43 (28%) from beyond the arc.
Charlotte’s poor shooting night could be explained by the face they were on the second half of a back to back but that discredits the great defense that Boston played. They held Kon Knueppel and LaMelo Ball to a combined 12-32 shooting, slowing down the main cogs in the Hornets high powered offensive machine.
Celtics Shot Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
9. Won the Turnover Battle
Boston’s defense is most effective when they can generate turnovers while limiting them on offense. In this game, the Celtics forced 11 turnovers on the Hornets while only allowing 5. Boston finished with 6 steals and 11 points off of the turnovers they generated from Charlotte.
They were super aggressive in the passing lanes, putting pressure on the Hornets’ ball handlers to force their steals. A very impressive performance against a top 5 team in offensive rating this season.
At the beginning of the season it looked like this season for the Boston Celtics was supposed to be what they call a “gap year.” Some people saw the losses the team had plus Jayson Tatum coming back late in the season and just expected the Celtics to take the year off. Well, if 50 wins for the 5th straight season and clinching a playoff spot as the second seed in the Eastern Conference is considered a “gap year,” this has to be the best one in NBA history right?
I predicted Boston to finish with around 45 wins this year and a top 4 seed in the East but I don’t know how many people even thought they were going to finish that high after the 0-3 start to the season. It really is a testament to the culture that Boston has cultivated to be able to always be competitive no matter the roster. There really is nothing better than being a fan of the Boston Celtics.
As expected, Jakub Dobes was back in the net for the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday afternoon as they took on the Carolina Hurricanes in the second game of their back-to-back. However, someone who wasn’t back was Josh Anderson, who must still have been affected by the illness, which made him leave Saturday’s game. With Alexandre Texier still in Montreal, nursing a lower-body injury, Martin St-Louis opted to insert Arber Xhekaj in the lineup as a fourth liner.
Patrik Laine is travelling with the team, and while he is technically still on IR, he’s been a full participant in practice for the last two months. In the run-up to the trade deadline, he hoped to be traded, and in his wife’s blog on deadline day, she said they were happy to stay in Montreal if it meant Laine could get to play. In one episode of the Basu and Godin notebook, Arpon Basu and Marc-Antoine Godin spoke about the big Finn’s predicament and said they believed the Canadiens had agreed to keep him on injured reserve rather than have him be a healthy scratch again.
Whatever the case may be, though, the fact that the coach opted to use Xhekaj in a position he had never played before, with the stakes so high, just tells us everything we need to know.
A Copy-Paste from Tuesday
Just like in Tuesday’s game, the Hurricanes took the Canadiens’ zone by storm in the first period. There were only eight minutes left in the first when Montreal finally got its first shot on goal through Zachary Bolduc, and had it not been for Dobes, the Habs would have been trailing by much more than one goal.
He stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced, and while Carolina does shoot from everywhere on the ice, the netminder still has to make those saves, and he made them. While he may not look as calm or as in control in his net as Carey Price once was, but he does ooze confidence, and that’s great for the team.
All through the game, he was there and making the big saves, only surrendering that one goal in the first frame.
A Career-High For Suzuki
Despite the Hurricanes dominating puck possession, shots, and the physical side of the game with more hits, the Canes still found themselves trailing 3-1 after the second frame. In that period, the Habs scored three unanswered goal and Nick Suzuki took part in each of them, scoring two and assisting on Cole Caufield’s 46th of the season.
That gave the captain 91 points on the season, two more than he had in 82 games last season. At 26 years old, the centerman just keeps improving year after year, and it doesn’t even look like we’ve seen the best of him yet. After all, both of his linemates are younger and still improving as players; the better they get, the more successful the captain will be.
For the first time since 2017, the Canadiens won a fifth consecutive game in regulation. Given the fact that regulation wins are a tie breaker if there’s a tie in points at the end of the season, this is huge. Montreal now has 30 regulation wins, the same number as the Boston Bruins. The Habs remain two points ahead of Boston, four points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and eight points ahead of the ninth-place Ottawa Senators.
With that win, the Canadiens stay four points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning, who also won on Sunday, and as luck would have it, they are their next opponents on Tuesday. Last season, when the stakes were this high and the Canadiens needed a point to qualify for the playoffs, they struggled to get it as if the pressure was too much to handle. This year, with the pressure just as high, they have a five-game winning streak, which says a lot about this young team's progress.
