Amid the Mets' eight-game losing streak that has featured not just poor offense but mental mistakes, president of baseball operations David Stearns was asked on Friday whether he agreed with the notion that there should be more scrutiny on manager Carlos Mendoza.
"No. I think Mendy is doing a really good job," Stearns told reporters before the Mets opened a series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. "I think he's putting our players in position to succeed. He's enormously consistent. So, no, I don't agree with that."
Asked how Mendoza was putting players in position to succeed, Stearns elaborated.
"I think both in terms of how he's managing in the clubhouse, how he's getting guys to the right pockets -- whether it's matchups out of the bullpen, the right matchups in games," Stearns explained. "I think he's doing a good job."
Mendoza, who is in his third year as manager, has a 179-164 career record at the helm of the Mets.
In his first season in 2024, Mendoza oversaw a team that finished 89-73 and made a run to Game 6 of the NLCS.
In 2025, with the Mets' pitching staff largely ineffective in the second half of the season, New York tumbled all the way out of a playoff spot while finishing 83-79.
Stearns hired Mendoza in November of 2023, shortly after his stint leading the front office began.
Mendoza is in the final guaranteed season of a three-year contract. The Mets hold a club option on Mendoza for the 2027 season.
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 31: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics dribbles the ball as Tyrese Maxey #0 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense during the game during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup on October 31, 2025 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 2025 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
For approximately the billionth time in franchise history, the Sixers will be taking on the Boston Celtics in a playoff series. Philadelphia has the chance to beat their rival in the postseason for the first time since 1983. They’re 0-for-3 in the Joel Embiid era.
It’s safe to say the deck is stacked against them now. Not only are they the seventh seed in the East, but the chances of Embiid playing at all in the series are slim as he recovers from an appendectomy.
It’s been a while since these teams have seen each other — they’ve only met once since November. As Embiid’s status would indicate, both teams have gone through very different phases throughout the season as they’ve dealt with injuries and suspensions.
So I recruited some help to preview this series. I asked Noa Dalzell of CelticsBlog some questions to figure out what this series could look like for both teams. Celtics coverage is a hard thing to sell here, but Noa does a great job covering them for CelticsBlog and CLNS as well as covering the entire WNBA for SBNation.
LB:Both of these teams have gone through different identities over the season, especially since they’ve last played each other. How does that impact how you view this series?
ND: The Celtics were a completely different team when the two teams previously faced off. For one, they didn’t have Jayson Tatum — they’re obviously more dangerous with him back in the lineup, and he’s so central to everything they do. Three of the first four matchups were also in the first two months of the season, when both teams were coming into their own.
The Celtics started the year as a .500 team but have really settled into their identity of being the harder-playing team that also really limits rim attempts. Neemias Queta has also gotten a lot better. So, I almost look at the first three games in the series as a wash.
LB:What’s the difference in how the Celtics matchup with an Embiid-less Sixers team vs. one with him in the lineup?
ND: Well, Joel Embiid definitely makes the 76ers better! I think about when the two teams faced off last, on March 1. Queta was dominant with a career-high 27 points, battling Andre Drummond in the post. Embiid would have been a bigger challenge for Queta to deal with, and I think in his absence, Queta becomes one of the Celtics’ most important threats.
LB:How much of a chance do you give the Sixers in this series, given Embiid’s status? What is their path to winning games in this series?
ND: It starts with Tyrese Maxey and Paul George, the two players who have been there before. They’re the vets, and they’re both great talents — the kinds of players that don’t grow on trees. There’s also the question of how VJ Edgecombe fares in his first postseason — he’s impressed me a lot, but it’s a tall task to ask a rookie to be a major contributor in the postseason, and he’ll have to be.
Most of the burden falls on those three with the Celtics, but I think Kelly Oubre and Quentin Grimes are underrated X-factors. I’d be surprised if the 76ers advance, but I’ve seen crazier things happen in basketball.
LB:Paul George was not available for any of the four matchups in the regular season. How does his availability change the matchups and how do you think the Celtics deal with that?
ND: I think that’s a key difference! He’s Philadelphia’s best wing, and he’s relatively fresh going into the postseason. Whether it’s helping contain Tatum or Brown or providing a boost on the offensive end, he immediately makes Philadelphia far more formidable.
LB: To those who haven’t watched Jayson Tatum as closely since he’s returned, what are your expectations for him and what do you think he’ll look like in this series?
ND: Not too dissimilar from how he’s looked in years past. He’s been more of a facilitator, and he’s rebounding more than ever before, but he’s basically the same Jayson Tatum, in my view. We haven’t seen him go through as many stretches of offensive explosion, and Jaylen Brown is the Celtics’ primary scoring option right now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Tatum has some quintessential Tatum games in these playoffs. The Celtics are 11-1 when both Tatum and Brown are fully available this year.
LB: You’re on record saying that Jordan Walsh could be the X-Factor in this series. Is there any Sixer you could see being an X-Factor as well?
ND: I think it’s Paul George. He’s obviously dealt with a litany of health issues, and was sidelined for the 25-game suspension, but somewhere in there is a former All-Star and MVP candidate, and if that comes out at the right time, Philadelphia becomes far more dangerous
Could Angels owner Arte Moreno get $4 billion if he put the team up for sale without a resolution to the long-running ballpark stalemate in Anaheim? (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)
I’d heard Arte Moreno had told people recently that he thought the Angels could command $4 billion. He might sell the team. He might not. But the figure seemed ambitious, since no major league team ever had sold for even $3 billion.
Until Friday, that is, when the Wall Street Journal first reported the San Diego Padres were about to be sold for $3.9 billion.
The new owners: a group led by Jose Feliciano of Santa Monica-based Clearlake Capital, which manages more than $90 billion in assets, and his wife, Kwanza Jones. In 2022, Feliciano and Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly led the investment group that bought Chelsea of the Premier League for $5.2 billion.
The new money should enable the Padres to build upon the legacy of late owner Peter Seidler, who simply disregarded the fact that San Diego ranks as one of the smallest media markets in the major leagues. He spent to win, and the Padres have made the playoffs four times in the past six years — after making the playoffs five times in their first 51 years.
The fans rewarded him, packing Petco Park. As of Friday, the Padres had the second-best record and second-highest attendance in the major leagues. The Dodgers, of course, had the best record and the highest attendance.
The party most immediately interested in the Padres’ sale price? The players’ union, since Commissioner Rob Manfred has cited sluggish appreciation in sale prices as one reason to pursue cost controls on player salaries, whether through a salary cap or some other restriction. In recent years, the owners of the Angels, Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals all have put their teams on the market without completing a sale.
But Moreno should be interested, too. He turns 80 this summer.
The comparison with the Padres only goes so far. In San Diego, in a city without a team in the NFL, NBA or NHL, the Padres are virtually unchallenged for dollars from fans and corporate sponsors.
And, in San Diego, the Padres play in Southern California’s best ballpark, one the team has turned into a year-round events center, with major concerts in the stadium itself and smaller ones within a delightful park beyond center field.
Could Moreno get $4 billion without a resolution to the long-running ballpark stalemate in Anaheim? It sounds borderline insane to consider that the only available team in America’s second-largest market might not be worth as much as the team that just sold in America’s 30th-largest market.
In Anaheim, however, two deals that would have anchored the Angels there for decades collapsed, and the 60-year-old stadium is in serious need of renovation or replacement. A buyer likely would have to account for the billion-dollar cost of a new ballpark and might ask for a credit against the purchase price, effectively lowering how much profit Moreno could make on the sale.
Any potential buyer should be keeping a close eye on a bill slowly winding its way through the state legislature this year. That bill, if enacted into law, would give the city the ability to loosen development restrictions on the stadium property for a team owner willing to call the team the Anaheim Angels.
Still, even without that legal assist, there should be no shortage of parties interested in acquiring two rarely available assets in one transaction: an MLB team in the Los Angeles market, and a 150-acre site perfect for the mixed-use development coveted by owners in every sport these days.
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob, who once worked as a peanut vendor at Angel Stadium, lost out in the Padres’ bidding and could take another run at the Angels.
Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who lost out in the Dodgers’ bidding in 2012, surrounded the Rams’ Inglewood stadium and Woodland Hills training site with major development and could consider replicating those successes in Anaheim.
Ducks owner Henry Samueli has denied interest in the Angels, but he could consider extending and complementing his OC Vibe development across the 57 Freeway — and his hockey team already wears the Anaheim name.
That assumes, of course, that Moreno opts to sell. He enjoys owning a team and, in a season in which the Angels are one-half game out of first place entering Friday in what appears to be a weak American League West, there is no hurry.
It is considered more likely that Moreno waits until after a new collective bargaining agreement is reached next year to determine whether to sell. All I can tell you for sure Friday is what one baseball official texted me when I asked for reaction to the Padres’ sale: “Great news for the Angels.”
The Chicago Blackhawks finished the season 29-39-14, which was good for 72 points. Their 31st-place finish makes it four years in a row that they finished in the bottom three, and they will pick in the top four for the same number of years.
Kyle Davidson received a contract extension, which will give him security ahead of the rebuild's next step. Now, it's all about taking the opportunity to use their incredible farm system to put together a winner.
This could end up being the most important summer of the entire project. There are many young players in the organization, and not all of them can be on the NHL roster full-time going forward. Trades and signings must be a part of it.
There is no limit to how many moves a team can make during the off-season, but some are more important than others. These five decisions stick out as the top priorities:
Make a wise decision with their lottery pick
The Chicago Blackhawks are going to pick in the top four. If they're picking fourth, that means that multiple teams below them won lotteries, which is unlikely. Regardless of where they land, however, they have to make a smart decision.
Most believe that Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg will be the first two forwards taken, while Chase Reid and Keaton Verhoeff will be the first two defensemen off the board. Regardless of who the Blackhawks take, they must get them on the best possible development path.
Extend Connor Bedard to a multi-year deal
Connor Bedard is the franchise centerpiece. The Blackhawks were handed a gift when they won the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery, and he has rewarded them by putting in the work to develop into an elite player. There is still even more room for growth, which is what's most impressive about him.
Bedard is a restricted free agent and is in need of a contract extension. He was wise to wait through this year to get it done, because he's proven that he's worth an eight-figure number for a very long time. He will get that.
Although this is a no-brainer, there is always a worry about how long it takes to get done. The Blackhawks must learn from cases like Jeremy Swayman or Luke Hughes, as missing training camp can hinder seasons. The earlier this deal gets done, the better it will be for the team and the player.
Add a high-end top-six forward with NHL experience
The Blackhawks have a lot of great young forwards. A lot of them have the skills necessary to play in the top six. They also have Tyler Bertuzzi, who scored 32 goals, which led the team. This was a career year for Bertuzzi, so they need to add another good top-six forward to the group.
There are going to be some snipers available via a trade (and possibly free agency), and there are some who have had their name out there, but it remains to be seen if they'll actually be moved.
If the Blackhawks want a chance at winning more next season, a high-end talent to play with Bedard is a must. This will also push other guys down the lineup, which can be beneficial to other centers like Anton Frondell or Frank Nazar.
Add a veteran to the defense
The Blackhawks were without Matt Grzelcyk for the last month of the season, which made 24-year-old Alex Vlasic their elder statesman on the blue line.
It might be wise to add another veteran to play with this youth-filled group. Artyom Levshunov, Wyatt Kaiser, and Sam Rinzel could all use another mentor in the room to help them when things get tough.
The Blackhawks may also draft a young defenseman, depending on where things fall, which would make a veteran useful as well. There isn't going to be a world-beater available, but a steady second-pair guy would go a long way.
Be smart with Ilya Mikheyev's pending free agency
The Blackhawks traded Nick Foligno, Connor Murphy, and Jason Dickinson at the deadline. All three of those pending UFAs are going to the playoffs, but it left a leadership hole on the team.
It also left Ily Mikheyev behind as a pending UFA. The Blackhawks tried to get him extended before the deadline, but to no avail. Over the summer, it would be in their best interest to revisit those conversations.
If Mikheyev is willing to sign a two-year deal at a good number, the Blackhawks should not hesitate. Even an overpriced one-year deal would be better than nothing. Mikheyev is one of the best penalty-killing forwards in the NHL, and he does everything you'd expect a bottom-six forward to do on a nightly basis.
Mikheyev, who is a wizard defensively, is also good for 15-20 goals a season with absolutely no power play time. A guy like that is hard to let go of, especially when he's one of your only players with significant NHL experience.
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Our NBA player prop projections are locked in for tonight’s must-watch Play-In Tournament showdown between the veteran Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns, with the model flagging several high-value opportunities.
By breaking down the data and stacking it up against current market lines, we’ve identified where the strongest edges lie.
If you’re building out your card, here are the model’s top NBA picks for Friday, April 17.
Warriors vs Suns computer picks for April 17
Warriors
Suns
Curry u26.5 points -105
Booker u27.5 points -120
Green o6.5 rebounds +115
Green o3.5 assists +130
Melton u1.5 threes -160
Brooks o1.5 threes -170
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Warriors computer picks
Stephen Curry Under 26.5 points (-105)
Projection: 24.0 points
The Golden State Warriors have struggled offensively over their last 25 games, ranking as the fourth-lowest scoring team in the league during that span.
That inefficiency is likely to be amplified against the Phoenix Suns, a team that has played at the slowest home pace in the NBA over the same stretch, potentially shrinking the overall number of possessions.
For an aging Warriors core, that sets up a difficult environment where every bucket will be hard-earned. As a result, much of the offensive burden is expected to fall on Steph Curry, but given the Suns' formula, it will still be tough for the veteran point guard to eclipse this lofty total.
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Draymond Green Over 6.5 rebounds (+115)
Projection: 6.8 rebounds
The Warriors have been one of the league’s most effective road rebounding units, ranking fourth in offensive boards over their last 15 away games (13.5 per contest).
That trend opens up an added opportunity for Draymond Green to make an impact on the glass and create extra possessions for Golden State.
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De'Anthony Melton Under 1.5 threes (-160)
Projection: 1.4 threes
The Warriors have been one of the least efficient perimeter shooting teams in the league over their last 20 games, ranking 7th-worst in three-point efficiency during that stretch.
That kind of profile doesn’t create an ideal environment for perimeter role players to get into rhythm, which could further limit opportunities for De'Anthony Melton from deep.
Melton has already finished Under 1.5 threes in six of his last 10 games, and with limited spacing and a potentially slower, more controlled game script, that trend is positioned to continue tonight.
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Suns computer picks
Devin Booker Under 27.5 points (-120)
Projection: 27.08 points
From a scoring standpoint, the Phoenix Suns have averaged just 112.0 points per game at home, ranking second-lowest in the league this season.
That kind of offensive limitation puts added pressure on Devin Booker to carry the scoring load, and leaning on that outcome becomes a risky path if Phoenix wants to keep its playoff hopes alive.
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Jalen Green Over 3.5 assists (+130)
Projection: 3.6 assists
Jalen Green has cleared the 3.5-assist line in four of his last 10 games, a trend that reflects how his role has gradually expanded beyond pure scoring into more on-ball creation.
If the Warriors successfully limit Green’s scoring lanes, Phoenix will likely need him to respond as a playmaker rather than just a scorer.
In a high-pressure setting, that often translates to a higher assist ceiling. Plus, if Green stays involved as a secondary facilitator — especially in pick-and-roll and transition opportunities — he has a realistic path to pushing past 3.5 assists again tonight.
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Dillon Brooks Over 1.5 threes (-170)
Projection: 2.2 threes
Against the Warriors, the matchup sets up well for perimeter volume, as opposing starting power forwards have attempted the fourth-most threes in the league over the last 10 games (5.7 per contest).
That kind of defensive profile creates room for Dillon Brooks to stay active from beyond the arc and find consistent looks from deep.
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How to watch Warriors vs Suns tonight
Location
Mortgage Matchup Center, Phoenix, AZ
Date
Friday, April 17, 2026
Tip-off
10:00 p.m. ET
TV
Prime Video
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Mind Over Chatter - Feb. 27 2026 - Vol. 73 Issue 3 - Jared Clinton
THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH talking a bit of trash. In fact, there was a time when Sebastian Cossa thrived on it.
In August 2021, now-Utah Mammoth winger and then-Cossa’s Edmonton Oil Kings teammate Dylan Guenther was asked about the netminder’s smack-talking proclivities. Guenther told reporters Cossa had “no mercy.”
But when Cossa is pressed about that penchant for verbal sparring, he only laughs before offering that that was then and this is now.
At the ripe old age of 23, Cossa insists he’s a changed man. “Some guys would chirp me, and I’d chirp them back,” he said. “That fuels me a little more and would make me a little more dialled at that point. But over the last two years, I’ve realized I don’t really need that as much. Let the players take care of that and then just worry about myself at this point.”
Credit where it’s due: it’s commendable Cossa has become comfortable enough in his own skin – and, as importantly, with his own game – that he has been able to stash the chirping in his back pocket. Truth be told, coming to the realization he no longer really needs that element to his game puts Cossa clear of many a beer-leaguer who somehow feels the need to heckle opponents at an 11 p.m. ice time. Perhaps that’s the maturity to which Cossa is referring when he mentions he’s been called “an old soul.”
For Cossa, though, growing up quickly has always been a part of his story. His life and his on-ice career have been on the fast track since the time he was 13.
While his hockey card lists Hamilton, Ont., as his hometown, Cossa makes clear he hails from Fort McMurray, Alta. And while oil and the money that flows along with it are plentiful in ‘Fort Mac,’ elite-level hockey teams are not. The options for a talented young player to take the step to AAA hockey were limited. So when he was only 13, he had to decide whether to stay close to home or pack his things to pursue his dreams.
Ultimately, Cossa chose to hit the road. Leaving his family behind, he billeted in Fort Saskatchewan, a stone’s throw from Edmonton, in order to play high-level hockey. By 14, he was a second-round choice of Edmonton in the WHL’s bantam draft. By 16, he was the Oil Kings’ starting keeper. And just one year later, he was drafted 15th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. Since then, no goaltender has been selected higher.
From there, Cossa has only continued on his upward trajectory. His first full professional season was spent with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, followed by a full campaign with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, which led to Cossa getting his first, albeit brief, taste of the NHL in 2024-25. “Life’s moved a little bit quicker for me,” he said. “But I couldn’t have asked for anything else. It definitely has helped me mature.”
Given his steady and persistent rise, it might stand to reason that patience isn’t Cossa’s strong suit. After all, his career has thus far been defined by what’s next, not what’s present. So when his pathway to regular NHL duty was blocked after the franchise swung a deal in the summer for veteran keeper John Gibson, it was natural to wonder how he would react.
But he showed maturity with his understanding of his place in the Red Wings’ pecking order. “You do want to be there at the NHL level, but sometimes, you need to look in the mirror and see what you can continue to improve and also understand the situation as well,” he said, later adding that it would be hard to argue he should be in the NHL with how well Gibson and backup Cam Talbot have been playing.
Many of the things Cossa has worked on improving this season have been the mental, not physical, aspects of the game. Standing 6-foot-7, Cossa casts a shadow over the blue paint, and size has always been one of his most evident attributes. He’s also far more athletic for a goalie of his stature than one might expect. Knowing how to properly use those raw tools, though, is what separates top keepers from the pack. “For me, it’s a lot of positional stuff – depth-related, when to take ice and when to maybe take a little bit less,” he said. “Something for me is my hands, for sure. When my hands are on and dialled, there’s not a lot of spots to get beat for me.”
The way Cossa says that, too – that when he’s on, he’ll back himself to stop just about anything – has an air of self-assuredness that some would say borders on cockiness. But that matter-of-factness is self-belief that Cossa feels he builds through his work ethic. “We’ve got a really good system here with me and my goalie coach (Roope Koistinen) putting in a lot of work but being smart with it,” Cossa said. “I’m going into games feeling confident because I’ve put in the work during the week, and, at that point, it’s just going out there and playing.”
As with his grasp of his place on the depth chart, Cossa is not so confident as to believe he is infallible. He offers a frank and honest assessment of his play, particularly his past two seasons in the AHL. The first, he said, was defined by a meek start and a strong finish. His sophomore year, however, he views as the opposite: dominant early, with an ill-timed drop-off come the playoffs. That’s led him to view the current campaign as an opportunity to prove he has the requisite consistency to make the NHL leap.
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 3, 2026
If that is his challenge to himself, the early returns have been favorable. When the AHL broke for its All-Star Game – at which Cossa represented the Central Division – he was tied for the league lead with 20 wins (in 26 games) and second in goals-against average (1.99) and save percentage (.928) among goaltenders to have played at least 900 minutes. On their merits alone, those are impressive numbers. But when taking into consideration the AHL-leading Griffins have a sizable target on their backs, meaning Cossa gets the opposition’s best on a nightly basis, his performance stands out even further.
Even still, Cossa won’t be caught lamenting that he hasn’t found his way back up to Detroit this season. He’s keen on taking advantage of the opportunity he has and not trying to waste his time or energy focusing on the opportunity he wants.
His journey may have started early, but Cossa understands this is a long haul. “I love Grand Rapids, the city, and I love the group we have here,” he said. “I’m having a lot of fun, which makes it easier going to the rink every day. If you weren’t very happy here or putting a lot of thought into that, the answer would be different. But for me, right now, I’m trying to stay where my feet are.”
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The battle for Pennsylvania bragging rights is officially on.
For the eighth time in the franchises’ storied histories, the Pittsburgh Penguins are going head-to-head with the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL Playoffs.
After wrapping the 2025-26 campaign with a 41-25-16 record and a second place finish in the Metropolitan Division, Sidney Crosby’s old guard club have home ice advantage over Travis Konecny’s youthful 43-27-12 squad in this first-round showdown.
Games 1 and 2 — along with Games 5 and 7 if necessary — at PPG Paints Arena are set for:
Game OneSaturday, April 18 8 p.m.
Game TwoMonday, April 20 7 p.m.
Game FiveMonday, April 27 TBD
Game SevenSaturday, May 2 TBD
If you’d like to witness these cutthroat clashes live, tickets are available for all four potential tilts in the Steel City as of today.
At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on seats for any one first round contest in Pittsburgh was $224 including fees on StubHub.
Prices start at $243 including fees for games in Philly.
And while that’s certainly pricey, it’s hard to put a dollar amount on catching these longtime foes — who split the four-game regular season series 2-2 — duking it out on the ice in the postseason, especially considering both have undergone recent playoff droughts.
Pittsburgh’s last trip to the postseason was in 2022; Philadelphia hasn’t advanced since 2020.
“Couldn’t have drawn it up any better. Battle of Pennsylvania, and it’s going to be a good one,” Flyers winger Owen Tippett said. “We’re excited.”
He’s not wrong; the majority of prognosticators are having trouble picking a winner for this neck-and-neck series. However, USA Today gives the Pens the edge, predicting they’ll win in six.
As for us, all we know for certain is that this “Legends vs. Kids” series should be a doozy.
Don’t miss this one live.
For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers 2026 First-Round NHL Playoff Series below.
Buffalo Sabres playoff home game tickets
A complete calendar including all announced Sabres home game dates and the best prices on tickets can be found here:
Buffalo Sabres home game dates
Ticket prices start at
Game One Saturday, April 18
$402(including fees)
Game Two Monday, April 20
$224(including fees)
Game Five Monday, April 27
$229(including fees)
Game Seven Saturday, May 2
$358(including fees)
Philadelphia Flyers playoff home game tickets
All Flyers playoff home game dates and the cheapest tickets available can be found below.
Philadelphia Flyers home game dates
StubHub prices start at
Game Three Wednesday, April 22
$255(including fees)
Game Four Saturday, April 25
$266(including fees)
Game Six Wednesday, April 29
$243(including fees)
How to watch the Penguins and Flyers on TV
Fans hoping to catch high-stakes showdowns on the tube can watch all first-round playoff games on ABC, ESPN and TNT.
Just make sure to review your local listings before tuning in.
If you don’t have cable, your best bet may be DIRECTV.
2026 NHL playoff schedule
Want to keep tabs on how the postseason is shaking out?
This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.
For the fourth consecutive season the Knicks are in the playoffs as they gear up for their first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks with Game 1 coming on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
It’s a new era for New York who endured years of mediocrity and inferiority in the not-so-distant past, but who has been able to rise again and consistently fight for its third ever NBA title and first since 1973.
After reaching the Conference Finals last year following two trips to the Conference Semi-finals in the two years prior, the Knicks have been right on the cusp of finally getting over the hump and reaching the NBA Finals.
On Saturday, their road to a possible championship will start once again and this group of players will get another chance to bring glory back to New York. Of course, this time around it will pose new challenges along the way.
One constant throughout the years, though, is the Knicks’ preparation for the playoffs. It’s something that, even with a new head coach at the helm, doesn’t change and is a much different process than getting ready for the regular season.
“It’s just even more detailed,” Mikal Bridges said. “It’s nice, you know you play 82 games, a different game every day, different city this and that, but what I always feel about the playoffs is it’s always nice just to lock in on one team and be able to just focus on them and focus on what we have to do – just like that chess match.”
So that’s what New York has been doing, locking in on Atlanta’s strengths and weaknesses and trying to figure out how they can neutralize and exploit the two over the course of a seven-game series.
“It’s really just knowing each other’s skills and making it a dog fight,” Bridges continued.
And while the playoffs are vastly different from the regular season in both scope and scale, that doesn’t mean the Knicks won’t look at their matchups with the Hawks this year to try and derive intel.
In three games between the two teams, New York took two out of three, winning both games in Atlanta, including one during the final week of the season, while the Hawks beat the Knicks at MSG.
New York will be sure to use that information the best it can. In fact, the game the Knicks won during the final week was a great preview of how the series could look and sound.
“I think it was nice that we played them,” Bridges said. “It felt like a playoff game as well, being in that arena with their fans and our fans and end of the season and two really good teams playing and battling.
“So it was actually great that we got to play them just to get that feel. So I do like and appreciate that and it was nice to have that.”
While playoff experience, which New York has plenty of, is certainly helpful, don’t expect the Knicks to lean too heavily on their recent playoff runs as a blueprint of how to do it again, or even what to do differently this time around to go further.
“I think we try not to look in the past in that sense of like what did we necessarily do wrong, we kind of focus more on like this is our challenge this year,” Miles McBride said. “We’re starting with Atlanta and they’re nothing like Detroit who we played last year so we have to figure out what we have to do to get this down in this series and it starts with the first game.
“We have to take it step by step, we can’t really pull from last year, we have to be in the moment now.”
The San Diego Padres (13-6) open their series with the Los Angeles Angels (10-10). The Padres have won eight in a row and 11 of their past 12. The Angels just split a four-game series with the New York Yankees in which Mike Trout homered in all four games. Starting pitchers are Matt Waldron for San Diego and José Soriano for Los Angeles.
How to watch San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Angels
Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 9:38 p.m. ET / 6:38 p.m. PT
Where: Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
TV Channels: FanDuel Sports Network West, Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health
The Buffalo Sabres have to wait until Sunday night to play their first postseason game in 15 years, and although the Sabres won the Atlantic Division and will be at home in front of an excited crowd at KeyBank Center, they will face a significant challenge in their division rival, the Boston Bruins. The Beantowners finished nine points behind the Sabres in the first Eastern Conference wildcard spot with 100 points, but have more playoff experience than Buffalo with the likes of David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, nd Jeremy Swayman.
The Sabres lost three of four matchups against Boston this season (3-1 in Boston on October 11, 4-3 in overtime at TD Garden on October 30, and 4-3 in overtime at KeyBank Center on March 25). Buffalo’s only win, 4-1, came at home on December 27. Bruins head coach Marco Sturm gave away a bit of his club’s gameplan on Friday before they embarked for Western New York, stating that they plan to be the big bad Bruins.
“We know how we have to play. We're excited. We are bigger, stronger, we are more physical.” Sturm said. “We just have to be smart. But, we're going to go after them. Whoever comes in first place, second….I don’t really care. We are going to play our game.”
The Bruins apparently are going to try to take a page out of the Tampa Bay Lightning playbook, who on their infamous visit in March, targeted Sabres team captain Rasmus Dahlin and defenseman Bowen Byram, but Buffalo effectively pushed back and won a wild 8-7 contest. Boston has a group of tough players, including former Sabre first-rounder Nikita Zadorov (152 penalty minutes), center Mark Kastelic (140 penalty minutes), and rugged winger Tann Jeannot, and is likely calculating that they can take some liberties against Buffalo because of its ineffective power-play (21st in the NHL at 19.5%).
Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff gave his club the day off after practicing on Thursday, and indicated that he does not expect to have center Sam Carrick for the series, but that rookie Noah Ostlund may play at some point. Goalie Alex Lyon may practice with the club on Saturday, after rookie Colten Ellis missed Thursday’s workout.
The NHL released the series schedule, with Game 1 on Sunday at 7:30 pm. Game 2 will be on Tuesday at 7:30 pm. The series shifts to TD Garden for Games 3 and 4, on Thursday at 7 pm and Sunday afternoon at 2 pm. If necessary, Game 5 will be on Tuesday, April 28 in Buffalo, Friday, May 1 at TD Garden, and Game 7 on Sunday, May 3rd. Games 5, 6, and 7 start times are to be determined.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 15: Ozzie Albies #1 celebrates with Dominic Smith #8 of the Atlanta Braves after a home run against the Miami Marlins in the second inning at Truist Park on April 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Brett Davis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Another right-handed starter on the mound means another start for Dominic Smith in the Braves lineup for Friday night’s opener of the road series against the Phillies.
Smith, who is still on a torrid start to his Braves tenure, will bat seventh and serve as the designated hitter with Philadelphia starting veteran Taijuan Walker on the hill. With five more RBIs in the Marlins series, Smith is up to 15 RBIs in as many games played early this season, batting .381 and OPSing 1.043 in 42 at-bats.
The lineup is carrying over from the Marlins series finale, with Mike Yastrzemski back in the lineup and Mauricio Dubon once again of Michael Harris II at the bottom of the order.
Walker, who is in his sixth straight season in the NL East with the Mets (2021-22) and Phillies (2023-26), is 3-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 11 games against the Braves in his career. He faced Atlanta twice last season, allowing no runs over a combined 6 2/3 innings.
The current Braves roster is 27-for-89 (.303) against Walker with three homers, six doubles, 18 strikeouts and 14 walks. Harris actually has two of those homers off Walker and is hitting .444 against him in his career. Matt Olson is hitting just .231 against him but does have three doubles. Smith is 2-for-3 (.667) against Walker, who he was teammates with in New York for two seasons.
With Atlanta starting a southpaw in Martín Pérez, Philadelphia is giving Brandon Marsh a rare night off, starting Otto Kemp in left field and placing him ninth in the lineup. Marsh has a team-high .290 batting average early this season and is among the team leaders with 11 RBIs this season.
Pérez, a first-time NL East pitcher this season, is 4-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 games against the Phillies over his career.
The current Phillies roster is 30-for-99 (.303) against Pérez with five doubles, two homers, 19 strikeouts and 13 walks. Bryson Stott, who is also not in the starting lineup, is 2-for-2 against him, while Alec Bohm is 8-of-17 (.471) with a homer and five RBIs. Trea Turner also has a homer and a .357 average against Pérez.
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We’re just one day away from the start of the NBA Playoffs, but before they can begin, there are still two No. 8 seed to be determined in the final round of the Play-In Tournament.
First up: the Eastern Conference matchup between the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets.
Charlotte is back in the playoff race for the first time in ten seasons. The Hornets won their first play-in game against the Miami Heat in a close 127-126 overtime thriller, where LaMelo Ball hit the game-winning layup with 4.7 seconds left in overtime.
Orlando is coming into today’s do-or-die matchup following a 109-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the Play-In Tournament.
Hornets vs. Magic: what to know
What: NBA Play-In Tournament
When: April 17, 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Kia Center (Orlando, Florida)
Streaming: Prime Video (try it free)
While the loser of tonight’s game’s playoff road ends here, the winner advances into the main playoff bracket and will be back in action on Sunday, April 19, against the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Hornets vs. Magic start time:
The Hornets vs. Magic game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET tonight, April 17, but pregame coverage on Prime Video will begin at 7 p.m.
How to watch Hornets vs. Magic for free:
The entire NBA Play-In Tournament, including Hornets vs. Magic, is streaming exclusively on Prime Video, so you’ll need an Amazon Prime subscription to watch the game.
If you aren’t a Prime Video subscriber yet, you can get started with a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial, including Prime perks like the Prime Video streaming service, free two-day shipping, exclusive deals, and more. After the free trial, Amazon Prime costs $14.99/month or $139/year.
PRIME VIDEO
PRIME FOR YOUNG ADULTS
All 18- to 24-year-olds, regardless of student status, are eligible for a discounted Prime for Young Adults membership as well, with age verification. After a six-month free trial, you’ll pay 50% off the standard Prime monthly price of $14.99/month — just $7.49/month — for up to six yearsand get all the perks.
This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.
Apr 13, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images | Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
After a disappointing .500 road trip, the Red Sox head home to host two tough opponents: the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees. First up are the Tigers. In their favor, the AL East is still close. Boston trails the Tampa Bay Rays by just 4.0 games. They are just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card. At 7-11 they’re tied with the Blue Jays for last place in the AL East. The 10-9 Tigers are in third place in the AL Central. This is a 4-game series including Patriots’ Day / Marathon Monday and the 11 AM start.
Casey Mize has started the season with two good outings (6.0 innings, 1 run and 5.2 innings, 1 run) and one clunker (4.1 innings, 5 runs). The bad start was in Minnesota against the Twins, who have just been raking some days. Ranger Suárez is coming off his best start of the season last time out against the Cardinals and will look to keep rolling. The 6K, 6.0 inning outing was much more like Sox fans expected out of the big offseason acquisition.
Saturday is a David vs. Goliath matchup as Tarik Skubal takes on Brayan Bello. Skubal has given up 6 earned runs on the season – 4 against the Twins in April 7th. Hopefully the Red Sox scouting department has a plan as they need all the wins they can get. The Sox did score 5 off the Detroit ace last May, so it can happen. The 5 runs allowed were Skubal’s season high. Like Suárez, Bello is coming of his best start of the short season. Just 2 runs (1 earned) in 6.2 innings was exactly what the doctor and Alex Cora ordered.
Sunday is the day everyone will be thinking about all weekend. Crochet Day. But first let’s start with his opponent: Framber Valdez. The Tigers added another top-of-the-rotation pitcher while taking Skubal to an arbitration hearing. And the former Astro has delivered. He’s made three starts of more than 6 innings with 1 earned run or less allowed. And one stat of 5.0 inning where he allowed 8 runs. To the Twins. In Minnesota. Seriously what is happening there? The Sox ace was rocked for 11 runs (10 earned) in 1.2 innings. It was like not other start in his life. And hopefully fades into memory.
Jack Flaherty gets the early start on Monday. Flaherty wasn’t a victim of the Twins, allowing just 1 run in 5.2 innings. But the Tigers lost his start anyway 3-1. Last time out against the Royals he went 6.0 innings allowing just 1 runs and striking out 7. Sonny Gray had a rough debut and then looked like the #2 for two starts before getting knocked around by the Twins. We almost can’t blame him for that one. Let’s hope this is another start where he’s on track.
Recently extended super-prospect Kevin McGonigle is hitting .313/.421/.484.
Dillon Dingler and Kerry Carpenter lead the club with 3 homers each.
Spencer Torkelson is hitting just .196/.369/.235 but has 13 walks!
Old friend Kenley Jansen is the closer and has picked up 4 saves already.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday, April 17: Casey Mize (3.94 ERA / 3.66 FIP) vs. Ranger (5.02 ERA / 4.48 FIP)
Saturday, April 18: Tarik Skubal (2.22 ERA / 2.42 FIP) vs. Brayan Bello (6.14 ERA / 3.87 FIP)
Sunday, April 19: Framber Valdez (3.75 ERA / 3.07 FIP) vs. Garrett Crochet (7.58 ERA / 4.63 FIP)
Monday, April 20: Jack Flaherty (4.05 ERA / 4.26 FIP) vs. Sonny Gray (4.43 ERA / 4.73 FIP)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 09: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers stands for the national anthem before their game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on April 09, 2026 in San Francisco, California. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
With the playoffs set to begin, LeBron James once again finds himself in a familiar role, trying to lead his team to postseason success.
One aspect that is new and unfamiliar, however, is his contract status with his team whenever the year concludes. LeBron is entering the final year of his deal with the Lakers and has made it clear he has no idea what’s next regarding his basketball life.
The options for James are known. He can either return to the Lakers, join another team, or retire.
So far, James hasn’t hinted at favoring any option over the other, but according to a recent article by Dan Woike of The Athletic, one thing he has no interest in is a farewell tour.
“The notion that James would want a farewell tour — long cited as evidence that this season was not his last — is false, those sources said, with several sources even hearing that directly from James himself.”
A year-long retirement tour would raise the media frenzy surrounding LeBron to an all-time high. And that’s saying a lot for a player who has been the most covered in the NBA.
Perhaps James has no interest in being gifted rocking chairs, making speeches, or having every road trip be a going-away party.
After 23 seasons, more than any other NBA player has ever had, maybe LeBron wants his decision to be private, and when he’s done, he’ll just walk away.
We’ll see what LeBron does next, but Lakers fans shouldn’t think this can’t be the end, since he isn’t currently on a retirement tour. All we know is that we don’t know anything, and everyone should relish the games we have left with LeBron.
While it’s unclear when things will end for LeBron and whether it’s here in Los Angeles or elsewhere, what is clear is that the end is looming.
Sixteen teams will compete for what's often said to be the hardest trophy to win in professional sports, but only one can be crowned NHL champion in June.
Our hockey experts will deliver their NHL Playoffs best bets and NHL picks every day from now until the Stanley Cup is presented.
NHL Playoffs best bets for Thursday, April 23
Game
Best bet
Odds
BUF vs. BOS
BUF ML
+100
COL vs. LAK
COL ML
-155
Odds courtesy of Kalshi.
Thursday, April 23
Sabres vs Bruins Game 3 prediction
7:00 p.m. ET, TNT.
Best bet: Sabres moneyline (+100 at Kalshi)
The Sabres have controlled 56.9% of the expected goal share through two games, third among playoff teams. The two in front of them — Philadelphia and Colorado — both jumped up to 2-0 series leads. I trust Buffalo’s depth over Boston’s, and that advantage should show up as the series progresses.
Colorado has driven the play and been the more dangerous team with a 56.2 CF% and 59.3 xGF% at five-on-five, and the Avs have limited the Kings to just two goals, 5.69 expected goals, and 20 high-danger scoring chances through two games.
The NHL is a betting buffet — the key is picking the right market for your edge.
Futures: Not only can you bet on the team you think will win it all in the Stanley Cup odds, but you can also wager on Conn Smythe odds. The latter trophy is awarded to the player judged to be the best performer in the postseason, not just in the Stanley Cup Final
Game lines: The spread, moneyline, and total are the bread-and-butter once the playoffs begin. As the postseason rolls on and teams become more risk-averse, lines will get tighter and totals will drop, so bettors can take advantage of swings throughout series one way or the other.
Props: NHL player props will still be going strong all the way until a potential Game 7 of the Cup Final. The most popular markets include anytime goalscorer, player points, assists, shots on goal, and goalie saves.
Same-game parlays: SGPs can be fun, but value varies. Compare the parlay payout to betting legs individually, and prioritize lines you’d play on their own.
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Warriors
Suns
BUF vs. 
BOS
COL vs. 
LAK