Athletics pitcher Aaron Civale will get the start tonight at home against the Chicago White Sox. | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
The Athletics are back at it this evening at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento as they begin a three-game series against the American League Central rivals, the Chicago White Sox. The 6-13 White Sox are currently sitting in last place in the AL Central while the A’s are 10-9 and are tied for first place with the Texas Rangers
Aaron Civale, the 30-year-old righty will get the start for the A’s tonight. He’s currently 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in his first season with the Athletics. He’ll go up against 29-year-old righty Davis Martin for the White Sox. Martin is 2-1 with a 2.50 ERA in three starts for Chicago, while tossing 15 strikeouts in 18 innings of work.
Martin will go up against this lineup for the homestanding Athletics:
Gerrit Cole completed his first rehab start in Friday's Double-A game between the Yankees' Somerset Patriots and the Philadelphia Phillies' Reading Fightin Phils.
New York's ace RHP threw 44 pitches (36 strikes), allowed three runs on as many hits (one home run) while striking out three and walking one in 4.1 IP.
Still working with an overhead windup, Cole (Tommy John surgery recovery) delivered a perfect first inning with a strikeout sandwiched between two groundouts.
A perfect first inning for Gerrit Cole in Somerset!
Cole's plan is to "just recover the next couple days and see when the next turn is," he said.
"Early, it was just fastballs for strikes," Cole said of his approach. "As many, heart of the plate -- as many as we can go, just start repping that out. The second inning, I tried to kind of move it a little more. But I paid the price for that, just not being sharp. And then after that, my fastball location was really high. So, I came through the lineup a second time and tried some off-speed and had a good run of lefties so work some changeups, get some curveballs for Strike 1, curveball for Strike 1 to a right-hander. So, probably the only thing I didn't really accomplish was really kind of moving the four-seam as well as I know I can. But it looked really good from a metrics standpoint, and we were in the zone a lot, which was probably the main goal."
In spring training, Cole made two starts, totaling 2.2 IP, but this was different, he said.
"No, no nerves," Cole said of his first rehab start. "But even in the spring training games, you know can get rolled. So, if you need to get two innings, they'll figure out a way to make you get two innings. And that's not the case when you do this. ... At some point, you've got to collect outs. It's nice to go out there and throw a bunch of fastballs and fill the zone up. But if it doesn't go your way, you've got to figure out how to keep going. So, that is just a little extra level compared to spring training. And that not only presses you in terms of your pitches but in terms of all your other defensive aspects, whether it be picks or backing up or covering, etcetera."
Cole's last non-spring start for the Yankees was Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angles Dodgers, but he has not thought about his rehab's finish line.
"It's exciting, yeah, it's exciting," Cole said. "But I'm not looking farther than really what I've got to do the next couple days. Looking too far ahead and thinking about that would kind of take me out what I need to do right now, which is focus on one day at a time -- which, when you're in the thick of it in the big leagues, is what you've got to do. So, in that sense, I'm just trying to get back in the swing of things and do that process and not really focus on where I am in terms of the rehab or how close it is to the end."
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 15: Freddy Fermin #42 of the San Diego Padres walks to the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners at Petco Park on April 15, 2026 in San Diego, California. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) | Getty Images
San Diego Padres (13-6) at Los Angeles Angels (10-10), April 17, 2026, 6:38 p.m. PST
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Apr 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) throws to the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images | Brad Mills-Imagn Images
The Dodgers (14-4) open a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies (7-12) starting Friday night at in Denver.
Tyler Glasnow (1-0, 4.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) makes his first career start at Coors Field in the series opener. Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 2.16 ERA, 0.78 WHIP) will counter for Colorado.
With their season-ending loss to the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Mortgage Matchup Center, the Warriors now shift their focus to an offseason full of questions.
Perhaps the biggest of them is the potential return of coach Steve Kerr, whose contract has now expired.
Kerr, who has won four titles as Golden State’s coach, has offered little insight into whether or not he would like to remain in his current role.
His postgame comments Friday didn’t provide much more of a hint, but it appears a decision should come fairly soon.
“My plan is to take a little time, I don’t know,” Kerr told reporters. “Take a week or two and eventually sit down and talk with [owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy]. We’ve always had a great partnership and collaboration and just see where they are and I’ll tell them where I am, and we’ll talk about what’s next for the Warriors, what the plan is this offseason. And we will come to a collaborative decision on what’s next.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching, but I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date. There’s a run that happens. When the run ends, it’s sometimes it’s time for new blood and new ideas and all that. If that’s the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry and coach [Draymond Green] and the whole group. So, it may still go on. It may not. I don’t know at this point. But we all need to step away a little bit and reconvene.”
Steve Kerr shares his plans for the future with his contract set to expire at the end of the season pic.twitter.com/IXM0NnKunl
It sounds as though it will be a collaborative decision as to whether or not Kerr returns, based on his words. Kerr, who will be 61 by the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, has been Golden State’s coach since 2014.
He did rule out one thing, though, when asked about walking away from Curry: coaching another NBA team.
“That’s part of the equation, right? I mean, I don’t want to walk away from Steph,” Kerr said. “I’m definitely not going and coaching somewhere else next year in the NBA. I would never walk away from Steph, but all the stuff has to be aligned and right. So, those are all discussions that we’ll have.
“That’s what I said from the beginning of the season. I felt great coming into this year. I thought we had a real chance. With Jimmy [Butler] and Moses [Moody] going down, obviously it took us off track. But we have to account for all that stuff. This is just a pheromonal organization, and Joe is a great owner, and Mike is a wonderful GM, and I’m lucky to work with them. Like I said, we’ll all put our heads together in the next couple weeks.”
Near the end of Friday’s loss in the play-in tournament, Kerr shared an emotional moment with Curry and Green, when he stated he’s unsure “what’s going to happen next.” It was a vivid image that indicated Warriors fans already might have seen the last of that historic trio together in action.
J.B. Bickerstaff, who orchestrated a dramatic turnaround in Detroit from a 14-win team a couple of seasons ago to the No. 1 seed in the East this past season, has been voted Coach of the Year by his peers.
Bickerstaff won the Michael H. Goldberg Coach of the Year for 2025-26 from the National Basketball Coaches Association.
"I'm extremely honored to receive this recognition from my coaching peers," Bickerstaff said in a statement accepting the awards. "None of this is possible without the many people I've been blessed with along my journey, beginning with my dad, who has always been my inspiration for wanting to get into this profession, and my family for their love and support. I also owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to all the coaches I've worked with and learned from throughout my career."
Detroit went 60-22 this season to grab the No. 1 seed in the East, despite Cade Cunningham missing 11 games late in the season with a collapsed lung. The Pistons got there thanks to the second-best defense in the league this season.
It should be noted that this award is different than the NBA's official Coach of the Year award (voted on by select members of the media), but because this one comes from other coaches, it is maybe more meaningful for the winners. This coach's award is also a bellwether for the NBA's official award, with seven of the last nine winners picking up both COY honors.
After a short adjustment period, Porter Martone was one of the best players for the Philadelphia Flyers during their playoff push, and head coach Rick Tocchet quickly took notice.
Martone, 19, scored only one point--an assist--in his first three NHL games, though he did fire off 15 shots on goal. The 2025 No. 6 overall pick was due for positive offensive scoring regression, and it was all up from there.
The prized Flyers prospect scored all four of his first NHL goals and added another five assists in the final six games of the season, and during that six-game point streak, the Flyers went 5-1-0, securing their first playoff berth since 2020.
Suffice to say, Martone has impressed Tocchet early on.
"He's just a hockey player, right? Yeah, he's got some things to improve on or whatever, and he's really worked on his skating. You can tell he's improved over the year. He knocks pucks down, he goes to the dirty areas, he's got a hell of a shot. He's got a hell of a hockey IQ," Tocchet said of Martone on the NHL Network's "NHL Now" segment.
"We were playing Carolina the other night. Their PK's really good. It's a pressure PK where they just fly out everywhere. We practiced it in the morning, we talked about 'Hey, you gotta be ready'. If you look at the tying goal, he knew. He beat pressure, he knew where [Trevor Zegras] was, he threw it, great pass, and we end up getting the goal.
"That's his hockey IQ. Him taking the information that day and applying it in a pressure situation. So, for a 19-year-old, gotta give him a lot of credit."
The stakes were high for Martone, Tocchet, and the Flyers on Monday night; it was a win-and-in situation against a Carolina Hurricanes team resting several of their top players.
Of course, it wasn't an easy game, and the Flyers went down 2-0 early, but Matvei Michkov started the comeback, and then Martone and Trevor Zegras combined to tie the game.
A pivotal moment, too, as the Flyers required a shootout to seal the deal and reach the postseason.
Now, just imagine the next level Martone can hit for the Flyers once he gains more NHL experience and comes into a season fresh.
DETROIT, MI - APRIL 5: Kyle Leahy #62 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning at Comerica Park on April 5, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The St. Louis Cardinals will continue their strong start to the 2026 season by opening a series in Houston versus the Astros Friday night. Kyle Leahy is scheduled to make the start for the Cardinals. He’s 1-2 with a 5.14 ERA. Peter Lambert will start Friday night for the Astros. 7:15pm central is scheduled to be the first pitch at Daikin Park.
Boston, MA - April 10: Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, Payton Pritchard, Nikola Vuevi and Jaylen Brown head to the bench for a timeout in the first quarter. The Celtics played the New Orleans Pelicans at TD Garden on April 10, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are set to meet for the 23rd time in the NBA playoffs on Sunday, reigniting one of the league’s most historic rivalries. To coach Joe Mazzulla, this Sixers team in particular presents a challenge for the C’s.
“Philly’s a great team, as you saw throughout the season, and to get to this point with all the injuries that they’ve had and to be where they are now, it’s gonna be a tough test for us,” Mazzulla told reporters at Friday’s practice, per CLNS Media. “We gotta be ready for it.”
To secure a playoff spot, the Sixers overcame the challenge of turning a shorthanded roster into a contender. Both Joel Embiid and Paul George played less than half of the regular season, forcing coach Nick Nurse to adapt. Guard Tyrese Maxey inherited the No. 1 role, averaging a career-high 28.3 points across 70 starts, while rookie V.J. Edgecombe averaged 16 points on 43.8 percent shooting in 75 starts.
Obviously, playing without two of your top three players isn’t ideal. However, as Mazzulla explained, the Sixers managed to find a silver lining in what many would consider a throwaway season.
“With those guys out throughout the season, their role players have been able to develop into big-time roles,” Mazzulla said. “With the way (Kelly) Oubre’s playing, (Andre) Drummond has been playing, (Adem) Bona has gotten better and better, (Quentin) Grimes off the bench — so I think they’re a very, very well-balanced team. I think they’re playing some of their best basketball as they get healthier and healthier, and obviously they’re a well-coached team.”
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 1, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Philadelphia snuck into the play-in tournament and defeated the Orlando Magic on Wednesday without Embiid, who underwent emergency surgery last week after being diagnosed with appendicitis.
For the time being, there isn’t a definitive timetable for Embiid’s return. Nurse announced Friday that Embiid is officially ruled out for Game 1 against the Celtics and didn’t address whether a return at any point throughout the series is still in play.
Drummond, in his 14th season, came off the bench and notched a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double in 31 minutes during Philadelphia’s play-in victory. He and Bona combined for six blocks against Orlando, helping fill the void of Embiid’s absence in a way the Celtics will have to account for in Round 1.
“Those other guys have developed to impact winning, and they’re a well-balanced team because of that,“ Mazulla added.
It’s a similar situation to what Boston dealt with, playing its first 62 games without Jayson Tatum. The Sixers went 21–23 without Embiid, but the ups and downs allowed others to figure out what Nurse would need from them in order to succeed. Nurse admitted after their win over the Magic that the process “wasn’t pretty,” but it was still enough to get the Sixers to this point and give themselves a chance.
Twice in the regular season, Nurse’s Sixers beat Mazzulla’s Celtics across four meetings. Philadelphia was without Embiid in two of those games and did not have George in any of them.
The Celtics have the upper hand in having not played since their regular-season finale this past Sunday. Their starters, all of whom sat out, haven’t played since last Friday. With plenty of time to rest and prepare, Mazzulla is focused on making sure Boston begins its postseason run the right way.
“Game 1s of any series are always important,” Mazzulla said. “You want to get off to a great start. You want to have your game plan right. You want to have your sub-pattern right. You want to be able to execute. You want to make sure all the things you’ve been working on all week are there.
“At the same time, every series takes on a life of its own. So we want to be at our best by Game 1, but we also want to be in the mind frame of however long it takes, we’re gonna sit in this. We’re playing against a great team, so whatever we have to do, we have to be ready to do it.”
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 04: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros hits an rbi single scoring Jeremy Peña #3 against the Athletics in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on April 04, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Houston Astros (8-12) will open a three-game series with their former division rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals (10-8), tonight at Daikin Park.
RHP Peter Lambert (season debut), selected from Triple A today, will make his first regular season appearance for the Astros tonight opposite the Cardinals and starter RHP Kyle Leahy (1-2, 5.14 ERA).
TONIGHT’S STARTER: RHP Peter Lambert joined the Astros via free agency this offseason after pitching last year for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in the NPB, posting a 3.98 ERA (55ER/124.1IP) with 111 strikeouts in 23 appearances in Japan.
This season, Lambert made his case by getting off to a strong start at Triple A Sugar Land, where he posted a 1.84 ERA (3ER/14.2IP) in three games (two starts), while also impressing at Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invite (1-1, 2.92 ERA, 4ER/12.1IP). A former Rockie, Lambert has 74 career MLB appearances, including 35 starts.
HOME-COOKIN’: Tonight is the fourth game of a six-game homestand for the Astros, in which they’ll host a pair of NL opponents in the Rockies (2-1) and Cardinals. The Astros have been great at home in 2026, going 7-3, including a seven-game winning streak, which was snapped last night.
VS. THE CARDS: This series is a matchup of former division rivals, who spent 19 seasons together in the NL Central from 1994-2012.
Overall, the two teams have played each other 722 times, with the Astros going 336-384.
These teams also have postseason history, with the Astros going 7-6 vs. the Cards in the playoffs. The two clubs faced off in back-to-back NLCS in 2004-05 with St. Louis taking the ‘04 NLCS in seven games and Houston winning the ‘05 NLCS in six games.
TODAY’S ROSTER MOVES: The Astros have selected RHP Peter Lambert (#38) to the Major League roster today. He takes the roster spot of RHP Christian Roa, who was optioned to Triple A Sugar Land after last night’s game.
In a corresponding move, the Astros transferred LHP Josh Hader to the 60-day IL.
EXTRA! EXTRA!:2B Jose Altuve recorded his 750th career extra-base hit last night with his 461st career double. He also has 32 triples and 257 home runs, all coming as an Astro. Only Craig Biggio (1,014) and Jeff Bagwell (969) have more extra-base hits than Altuve in franchise history.
GETTING ON :IF Isaac Paredes has an active on-base streak of 13 games, which ties as the longest active streak in the AL. During the run, which dates back to March 28, Paredes has posted a .375 OBP.
ON THE MEND: OF Zach Dezenzo (right elbow sprain) will begin a rehab assignment with Double A Corpus Christi tonight. Additionally, LHP Bennett Sousa (left oblique strain) is scheduled to make another rehab appearance at Corpus Christi tonight.
FAITH & FAMILY NIGHT: Tonight is Faith and Family Night at the ballpark. After the final out, fans are encouraged to stay for special postgame testimonials featuring Spencer Arrighetti, Carlos Correa and Shay Whitcomb.
Friday Night Fireworks presented by ConocoPhillips, will also be part of Faith and Family Night, as they will feature the musical theme Faith and Family.
TONIGHT’S SPECIAL GUESTS:SS Jeremy Peña will host students from Raul C. Martinez Elementary School tonight for Peña’s Pals.
In its fourth year, Pena’s Pals was developed by Jeremy in partnership with the Astros Foundation. The program celebrates kids and their development in academics, character building and making healthy choices.
THIS WEEKEND’S GIVEAWAYS: Tonight, 10,000 fans will receive a Carlos Correa City Connect Jersey, presented by Houston Methodist.
Tomorrow, 10,000 fans will receive an Astros Ice Cream Bucket Hat, presented by Texas Bay Credit Union.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, April 17, 7:10 p.m. CST
Location: Daikin Park, Houston, TX
TV: Space City Home Network
Streaming: SCHN+
Radio: KBME 790 AM & 94.5 FM HD2; KTRH 740 AM; TUDN 102.9 FM HD2 (Spanish)
Coach Umaga calls for more support for union in Samoa and Tonga
Super Rugby club’s future in grave doubt beyond this season
All Blacks great and Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga fears the region’s talent will gravitate to league and derail the Tongan and Samoan Test sides without a Super Rugby presence.
Apr 10, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (11) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images | Denis Poroy-Imagn Images
The Colorado Rockies (7–12) return home after a rough 1–6 road trip, salvaging the finale in Houston with a gutty, arguably career-best outing from Chase Dollander (5.1 IP, 0 R, 9 K).
They now return to Coors Field after stops in San Diego and Houston — only to be greeted by a much different environment. Frigid temperatures are expected at first pitch after snow moved through the area earlier in the day, adding another variable to tonight’s game.
It’s been a familiar early-season formula for the Rox:
A rotation that’s struggled to provide length (and is dealing with injuries)
A bullpen that’s been excellent — but is starting to feel the workload
An offense that shows flashes, but hasn’t found consistency
Now comes the real test.
We know what the Los Angeles Dodgers are. A behemoth — the behemoth.
The early-season numbers just confirm what everyone expected. It was never really a question of whether this team would be great — it’s a question of how great. 116 wins? Another title? Something even more absurd? It’s not out of the realm.
They arrive at 14–4 with the best record in baseball, leading MLB in AVG/OBP/SLG and producing runs at one of the highest rates in the league. Their pitching staff has been just as strong, with a top-five rotation and a top-10 bullpen ERA.
And, as usual, expect plenty of Dodger Blue in the stands.
Taking the mound for Colorado is Tomoyuki Sugano (1-0, 2.16 ERA, 12 K/16.2 IP). Sugano has been one of the early bright spots in the rotation, posting strong surface results while leaning on his trademark command and deep pitch mix. A true control artist to start the year, he attacks hitters with a mix of fastballs, cutters, splitters, and breaking stuff — keeping batters off balance rather than overpowering them.
His start was pushed back a day, which could help a taxed staff, but tonight’s matchup presents a real challenge. Sugano has done well limiting damage so far, but with a contact-oriented profile and a Dodgers lineup that punishes mistakes top to bottom, his margin for error at Coors Field is thin.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will counter with Tyler Glasnow (1–0, 4.00 ERA, 22 K in 18 IP). Glasnow pairs elite swing-and-miss stuff (31% strikeout rate) with solid command, featuring a devastating mix of upper-90s fastballs and a heavy curveball. When he’s on, he can dominate any lineup.
Cold weather can affect a pitcher’s feel on the ball — making grip a little less reliable and slightly muting pitch movement, especially on breaking balls — but even with those variables, Glasnow still can miss bats at a level few pitchers can match. If the Rockies are going to have success, they’ll need to stay disciplined, work counts, and capitalize on the few mistakes he might make.
For Colorado, the path to staying competitive is pretty clear:
Sugano needs to provide real length to protect a taxed bullpen
The offense has to be pesky — work counts, take pitches, avoid chasing
And Coors Field needs to play like an advantage
Because if this turns into a depth game, the Dodgers have the obvious edge.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I love you guys to death. Thank you,” Kerr told them, as he put his arms around the two players with whom he won four NBA championships over 12 seasons.
“I appreciate you,” Green responded, shortly before he was ejected due to a verbal spat with Suns star Devin Booker.
Friday night could be the last time we see Kerr, Green and Curry together for an NBA game in their current roles.
Kerr, 60, just finished up the last season of his contract as Golden State’s coach, and his future is yet to be decided.
In his postgame presser, Kerr offered little more clarity, saying he’ll spend the next week or two reflecting before meeting with the Warriors’ ownership and front office to make a decision.
Steve Kerr on his coaching future with the Warriors: “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it. These jobs all have an expiration date.”
Meanwhile, Green has a player option for the 2026-27 NBA season, and Curry has one more year left on his contract.
If this is the last of this trio, it certainly wasn’t a storybook ending to their partnership. But it definitely is a union that will go down as one of the most influential in NBA history.
The Chicago Blackhawks had a lot of great playoff moments with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. During most of their true prime, they were a lock for a postseason berth every year.
In 2025-26, Kane plays for the Detroit Red Wings, and Jonathan Toews is with the Winnipeg Jets. Neither of them disappointingly made the playoffs, and they have uncertain futures in the NHL.
Kane just wrapped up his third season in Detroit. He scored 16 goals and had 41 assists for 57 points in 67 games played. The Red Wings held a playoff spot for most of the season, including a double-digit points cushion, but fell off in March.
Since leaving the Blackhawks, Kane has been signing one-year deals, making him a free agent once again this summer. He wants to go back to the Detroit Red Wings, but nothing is certain following a bad ending as they had.
“I’d love to be part of the solution that helps us get over the hump," Kane said in his locker clean-out media session. "I think there is mutual interest.”
Although Patrick Kane doesn't bring much on the defensive side of the puck, he is still a high-level playmaker who can skate on a line with anybody. He has especially good chemistry with another former Blackhawk, Alex DeBrincat.
If Kane goes back to the Red Wings, they will take another run at making the playoffs together. If they decide to go in a different direction, however, Kane may be looking for a new hockey residency. There is still a lot more hockey left in him, so it's fair to wonder what's truly next for his career.
As for Toews, he came back to the NHL after two seasons off. Winnipeg was coming off a President's Trophy season, so their missing the playoffs is pretty shocking.
After missing all of that time, Toews played in all 82 games, which is an incredible feat for someone in his shoes. He had 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in those 82 games.
It wasn't the offensive production he was looking for, but he was a solid two-way depth piece. Toews finished second in the NHL (by one percent) with a faceoff winning percentage of 62.1. He clearly still brings winning attributes to a team.
Now, will Toews retire after proving he can make a comeback, or does he want more? He has an even more uncertain NHL future than Kane.
"If I decide to play next year, I’d love to be a part of this group," Toews said in his exit presser. It sounds like it's Winnipeg or nothing, if he even decides to play.
Once these two former superstars retire, they will go to the Hall of Fame, have their numbers retired, and see statues of themselves at the United Center. For now, however, they have decisions to make as to their current hockey future in other markets.
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For the first time since 2011, the Buffalo Sabres are set to play postseason hockey. The Sabres kick off their first round series against the Boston Bruins on Sunday and will be looking to start the series by picking up a victory in Game 1.
When looking at the Sabres' roster, it is clear that as long as he has the crease, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonnen is the team's biggest X-factor.
The Sabres are going to need Luukkonen to be on his A-game during the playoffs, much like he was during the regular season. The 27-year-old goaltender was a major reason for the Sabres' turnaround this campaign, as he had a 22-9-3 record, a .910 save percentage, a 2.52 goals-against average, and one shutout.
With numbers like these, it is clear that Luukkonen has the potential to be a major difference-maker for the Sabres during the playoffs. If he can replicate his regular-season form during the postseason, the Sabres will be an incredibly tough team to beat.
It will be fascinating to see how Luukkonen performs during his first career postseason. The Sabres undoubtedly need him to be playing at his highest level.
