The Boston Bruins have not yet secured a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and a lackluster weekend that included a regulation loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning and an overtime defeat to the Philadelphia Flyers didn’t do much to help their cause.
However, their chances of achieving that feat over the next week still remain pretty high.
HockeyStats’ model gives the Bruins a 98 percent chance of reaching the postseason. MoneyPuck’s model gives the Bruins a 98 percent chance, too.
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Four games remain on the Bruins’ regular season schedule, and none of them can be described as “easy”.
The Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes host the B’s on Tuesday. The Bruins play the Tampa Bay Lightning at home Saturday, before finishing up against a desperate Columbus Blue Jackets on the road Sunday and then hosting the New Jersey Devils next Tuesday.
Here’s what the wild card standings look like. It’s still mathematically possible for the Bruins to finish as a top-three team in the Atlantic Division, but the chances of that scenario unfolding are extremely small.
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The B’s have a good cushion over the teams outside the wild card spots, and they hold the regulation wins tiebreaker over the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets.
It would take a pretty significant collapse by the Bruins, plus other teams getting red hot, for Boston to miss the playoffs.
One thing that has helped the Bruins of late is the other teams around them haven’t played great over the last week or so. The Islanders have lost four straight games and fired head coach Patrick Roy on Sunday. The Red Wings have lost six of their last 10 games and the Blue Jackets are on a six-game losing streak.
The Bruins have lost three straight games, and a lackluster offense is largely to blame for those poor results. The No. 1 concern with the Bruins coming into the season was whether they could score enough goals to be competitive. But in a surprising twist, the offense has largely been a huge positive for this team all season, including the power play. The Bruins entered the Olympic break ranked sixth in goals scored per game and third in power-play percentage.
But since the Olympic break, the B’s rank 20th in goals scored per game and 26th in power-play percentage. This downturn offensively was expected to some degree. The B’s have ranked near the top of the league in goals scored above expected all season. Several players on the team have had career-high (or close to it) shooting percentages.
Morgan Geekie has scored a career-high 34 goals this season, which leads the team, but he hasn’t found the back of the net in 17 consecutive games. His last goal was March 5.
The analytics suggested the B’s would regress a bit offensively, and we might be seeing that unfold right now.
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This scoring regression might have come too late to derail the Bruins’ chances of reaching the playoffs, but it could hurt them significantly in the first round.
The most likely Round 1 matchup for the B’s is the Hurricanes, per HockeyStats.
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Carolina has allowed the fewest shot attempts, the fewest shots on goal, the third-fewest scoring chances and the 12th-fewest high-danger chances at 5-on-5 this season, per Natural Stat Trick. The Hurricanes are very structured defensively, they’re well coached and they’re disciplined (fewest penalties taken among East teams in a playoff spot).
Add it all up, and that’s a pretty unfavorable matchup for a team like the Bruins that’s really struggling to score.
Goaltending is often the deciding factor in the playoffs, and Bruins netminder Jeremy Swayman arguably has been the best player at his position this season. That gives the B’s a huge advantage over a lot of teams. But great goaltending only goes so far. You have to be able to score goals and take advantage of the opponent’s mistakes with a good power play.
That’s why the Bruins’ latest scoring woes are a concern. If it doesn’t get fixed, their playoff run (assuming they make it) could be pretty short.
The competition to nail down a playoff berth is intense, so much that two NHL teams have fired their coaches down the stretch.
Bruce Cassidy was the first to go, with the third-place Vegas Golden Knights replacing the 2023 Stanley Cup winner with John Tortorella on March 29 with eight games to go. That followed a 1-4-2 slide that since has been turned down around.
Then the New York Islanders made their bid for a coaching change bump on Sunday, April 5, with four games left. Patrick Roy is out and veteran Peter DeBoer is in following a four-game losing streak. The Islanders were in third place at the time of the announcement but dropped below the playoff line on the same day. DeBoer, who took the Dallas Stars to the last three Western Conference finals, makes his Islanders debut on Thursday, April 9.
Here are the latest USA TODAY NHL power rankings with 10 days left in the regular season:
NHL power rankings
All statistics and standings information are through April 5. Figure in parentheses is the change from the most recent power rankings two weeks ago.
1. Colorado Avalanche (0)
Defenseman Brent Burns has played in 1,001 consecutive games, just the second NHL player to reach an ironman streak of 1,000 games. The recordholder is Phil Kessel (1,064).
2. Tampa Bay Lightning (+4)
The Lightning lead the Atlantic Division heading into the week after a 7-1-2 run. They face the second-place Sabres on Monday, April 6 and third-place Canadiens on April 9.
3. Carolina Hurricanes (0)
The Hurricanes are in position to clinch a division title for the first time since 2023. They missed an opportunity to do so on April 5 and their next chance is on Wednesday, April 7.
4. Dallas Stars (-2)
The Stars are trending toward playing the Wild in the first round, but their hold on home-ice advantage has shrunk because of a 2-5-2 slide. They play Minnesota, which is two points back, on April 9.
5. Buffalo Sabres (-1)
The Sabres have ended their 14-season playoff drought, a league record. The team started surging after changing general managers but have gone through a 2-3-2 mini-slump heading into their April 6 game against the Lightning.
6. Montreal Canadiens (+1)
The Canadiens' eight-game winning streak came to an end when they were shut out by the Devils. Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki combined for 31 points during the streak.
7. Minnesota Wild (-2)
Kirill Kaprizov has hit the 40-goal mark for the fourth time in the last five seasons and added a hat trick on April 5. Matt Boldy also has 40 goals for the first time in his career.
8. Pittsburgh Penguins (+1)
The Penguins have pulled closer to ending a three-season playoff drought after they outscored the Panthers 14-6 in a weekend sweep.
9. Boston Bruins (-2)
David Pastrnak needs three points to record his fourth consecutive 100-point season.
10. Ottawa Senators (+5)
Brady Tkachuk scored twice in an April 5 win against Carolina as the Senators held onto the second wild-card spot in the East. Two days earlier, he was fined $2,500 for slashing an opponent from the bench.
11. Philadelphia Flyers (+5)
Victories against the Islanders and Bruins allowed the Flyers to jump from out of a playoff position to third in the Metropolitan Division. Porter Martone scored his first NHL goal in overtime to seal the win against Boston.
12. Utah Mammoth (+1)
The Mammoth are trending toward finishing in the first wild-card spot in the West. If they do, they would go through the weaker Pacific Division in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
13. Edmonton Oilers (+6)
The Oilers have gone 5-3 without injured No. 2 scorer Leon Draisaitl to move into the Pacific Division lead. Connor McDavid has 12 points in that stretch.
The Ducks have lost four in a row as Edmonton passed them for the Pacific Division lead on a tiebreaker. They remain in good position to end a seven-season playoff drought.
16. Vegas Golden Knights (+2)
The Golden Knights have won three in a row under coach John Tortorella after the firing of Bruce Cassidy. That includes a 5-1 win against the Oilers that pulled Vegas within a point of the Pacific Division lead.
17. New York Islanders (-6)
The Islanders dropped from third in the Metropolitan Division to out of a playoff position on April 5. New coach Peter DeBoer has four games to try to get the team into the postseason.
18. Detroit Red Wings (-4)
The Red Wings enter the week only two points out of a playoff spot but have lost six of their last eight games. They are trying to end a nine-season postseason drought, which is the NHL's longest after the Sabres clinched a playoff spot.
19. Washington Capitals (-2)
The Capitals were in position to potentially move into a playoff position on April 5 before they were crushed 8-1 by the Rangers.
20. Nashville Predators (0)
The Predators moved into the second wild-card spot in the West after beating the Kings and Sharks in recent games. They face those teams once each down the stretch, including the Kings on April 6.
21. New Jersey Devils (0)
Jacob Markstrom picked up his first shutout of the season to end the Canadiens' eight-game winning streak.
22. Los Angeles Kings (0)
The Kings will try to move into the second wild-card spot with a win against the Predators on April 6. The team has gone 7-5-5 under interim coach D.J. Smith.
23. San Jose Sharks (0)
The Sharks followed a six-game losing streak with a four-game winning streak to move into the second wild-card spot, but they dropped out after a loss to the Predators.
24. St. Louis Blues (+4)
The Blues have pulled within three points of a playoff spot with a 6-1-1 run. Robert Thomas has 12 points in that span, including his first career hat trick.
25. Winnipeg Jets (+1)
Olympic hero and reigning MVP Connor Hellebuyck is still looking for his first shutout of the season after getting a league-best eight last season.
The Kraken were in a playoff spot heading into the Olympics, but have gone 5-11-2 since to drop six points back.
29. New York Rangers (+1)
The Rangers have been eliminated from the playoffs but have won five of their last six games.
30. Calgary Flames (-1)
The Flames were crushed 9-2 by the Avalanche and lost 6-3 to the Golden Knights, then played spoiler with a win against the Ducks.
31. Chicago Blackhawks (0)
Connor Bedard, the No. 1 overall pick in 2023, has set career highs with 30 goals and 71 points despite missing 12 games with a shoulder injury.
32. Vancouver Canucks (0)
The Canucks have clinched 32nd overall in the NHL, giving them the best draft lottery odds. They have an 18.5% chance of winning outright and 25.5% odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick. Being last didn't help last year when the Islanders won the lottery with 3.5% odds.
Apr 5, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; San Diego Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth (9) tags Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) out during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | Eric Canha-Imagn Images
This isn’t a cop-out blog. I truly feel this way.
I could sit here and give you fancy-dancy analysis, couldn’t I? I have done that before and I will do so again. I don’t think a 2-7 Red Sox start calls for that type of article, though.
I’ve also done this crashout before. Dan Secatore, my fearless leader, has OK’d this before. I feel like I can only pull this move out every few years. Maybe to the uninitiated this type of prose is seen as juvenile, but I feel like I might be speaking for the masses here.
The only other time I’ve done so: August 2023. Not a good year for the Red Sox, perhaps, but I dunno what 2023 me was complaining about. Seems like we were on a relatively good run after the All-Star break up until one bad week. I can’t say for sure what made me snap on that day.
Maybe I was stressed leading up to my wedding day? That’s the only thing I can imagine, in hindsight, that was hindering my judgement.
Well, as a firmly married man right now, my mind is clear. I can feel comfortable with playing this card. I don’t get the chance to play it often—and the fact that I’m playing it in early April is awful for all of us—but it feels right to do so.
I’m playing the AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA card.
CAN OUR NINE FIGURE PITCHER GET THROUGH FIVE INNINGS IN AN OK STATE? IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH????? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABASEBAALLFUCKINGSUCKSAAAAAAAAAAAAAA GOD FUCKING DAMNIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFUCKAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
I EVEN TRIED GETTING MY DOG TO TYPE ON THE KEYBOARD JUST NOW BUT HE WONT EVEN GIVE THIS TEAM THE TIME OF DAY. HE IS RIGHT TO DO SO. FUCK. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa.
IF A DOG DOESN’T EVEN WANNA AIR HIS FRUSTRATIONS THEN IS THIS TEAM EVEN WORTH THE TIME OF DAY JESUS CHRIST.
REALLY ANNOYING FUCKING TEAM. FUCK. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAasdf(my beloved wife stole some blanket from me, so that typo stays in, anyways) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAa
STUPID MISTAKES ON THE DIAMOND. HOW MANY OF THEM DO WE HAVE TO SIT THROUGH. AT WHAT POINT DO WE START ASKING TOUGH QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS DRIVING THE SHIP. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY BRAIN DEAD WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDAMENTALS COMING OUT OF SPRING TRAINING. FUCK. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
I AM NOT ONE TO CALL EVERYTHING A WRAP IN EARLY APRIL BUT JESUS CHRIST THIS TEAM IS GIVING ME ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NOTHING TO MAKE ME THINK OTHER WISE. THE STARTING PITCHING ISN’T STEPPING UP. THE BULLPEN IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH. THE OFFENSE LOOKS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, AIMLESS.
THE SEASON STARTED ALREADY, GUYS. I CAN TRY TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR OFFENSIVE OUTPUT (I still think we can get on base a lot) AND OUR PITCHING (please just don’t hang as many cookies with two strikes!!!! I feel like half of the damage this season has come with two strikes!!!!) AND YOU WILL BE OK. GROW THE FUCK UP, THOUGH!!!!! GROW UP!!!!!! DON’T LEAVE ALL OF YOUR SCORING TO ONE FUCKING INNING. JESUS!!!!!!!!!!! GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!! BE BASEBALL PLAYERS!!!!!!!!!!!! THE SEASON STARTED!!!!!! YOU ARE A TEAM A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT STOCK IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GROW UP!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Song of the Week: “Somebody Kill Me Please” by Adam Sandler
The Cure is great, in his defense.
One more for the road, because I might as well: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
"The Isles replaced a coach who won 97 games for them with a coach who has 97 playoff wins."
Those were the fine words of New York Islanders statistician Eric Hornick, who dropped that line in Monday morning's 'The Skinny' after Pete DeBoer was hired to replace Patrick Roy.
#TheSkinny on the Coaching Change and Playoff Chase has some numbers on the new coach, the old coach, and the #isles spot in the standings.https://t.co/DfqPx2EoAR NYI will spend at least four days out of a playoff spot; the question now is can Pete DeBoer get them back into one.
DeBoer has an impeccable track record as an NHL coach.
Over his 17 seasons behind an NHL bench -- this latest hiring means 18 straight seasons as an NHL head coach -- DeBoer has made the playoffs 10 times.
After only making the playoffs once in his first five seasons behind the bench -- he fell to the Los Angeles Kings in the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals -- he's made the playoffs in nine of the last 11 seasons -- he didn't make it through the 2019-20 season with the San Jose Sharks before they cut bait.
DeBoer's teams have all won at least one round in his last seven playoff appearances, the latest being the Dallas Stars in 2025, who fell in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals.
So, to sum things up, DeBoer has coached in the playoffs 10 times. He's made it past the first round nine times, the second round eight times, and has fallen in the finals twice.
The question, with four games to go, is whether he can get the Islanders to the playoffs with the odds against them.
The heavyweight from Dagestan now lives in Canada and describes Saturday’s opponent as the ‘professor’ of boxing
“This guy is the professor,” Arslanbek Makhmudov says of Tyson Fury as he looks forward politely to their fight on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. There is none of the usual bluster and malice of heavyweight boxing as the huge Russian from Dagestan shows considerable respect for the former world champion who is making yet another comeback to the ring.
“Tyson Fury is the professor of mind and boxing,” Makhmudov continues in his functional but effective English. “A lot of boxing is mental and he is a master. But boxing is also spiritual. I am going to be strong, spiritual and smart. You can say this is a war between mental and spiritual and we’ll see who is more successful. Inshallah it is spiritual.”
Apr 5, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) celebrates with team mates in the dugout after scoring against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Last Week’s Results
Monday: Rays 3, Brewers 2
Tuesday: Brewers 6, Rays 2
Wednesday: Brewers 8, Rays 2
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: Postponed (Rescheduled to Saturday doubleheader)
Saturday, Game 1: Brewers 5, Royals 2
Saturday, Game 2: Royals 8, Brewers 2
Sunday: Brewers 8, Royals 5
Division Standings
Brewers: 7-2
Pirates: 6-3
Reds: 6-3
Cardinals: 5-4
Cubs: 4-5
Last Week
Brewers: 4-2
Pirates: 5-1
Reds: 4-2
Cardinals: 3-3
Cubs: 3-3
Top Pitching Performance of the Week
Kyle Harrison got off to a great start in a Brewer uniform. Over two starts against the Rays and Royals, Harrison spanned 10 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out a team-high 14 batters.
There was no clear hitting performance this week, as seven different players had four-plus hits this week, but none had more than six. Even so, Garrett Mitchell had a huge day on Saturday across Milwaukee’s doubleheader, but specifically in game one. In the 5-2 victory, Mitchell went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, and all five RBIs, a career-high for him. He added another RBI in the night game for a three-hit, six-RBI day in total. He finished the week with five hits, including four extra-base hits, driving in eight.
The busy news day of the week came on Monday. First, the Brewers acquired outfielder Luis Matos from the Giants, sending cash considerations the other way after he was designated for assignment. To make space on the 40-man roster, left-hander Sammy Peralta was designated for assignment by Milwaukee, while Jeferson Quero, who made his MLB debut on Sunday, was optioned to Triple-A Nashville to make space on the active roster. Peralta was claimed by the Rockies on Saturday.
Later in the afternoon, Milwaukee’s No. 4 prospect, shortstop Cooper Pratt, reportedly agreed to an eight-year, $50.75 million extension with a pair of options that could keep him in the organization through 2035. After the extension was officially announced on Friday, Pratt was added to the 40-man roster. Outfielder Steward Berroa was designated for assignment as the corresponding move, while Pratt will remain in Triple-A Nashville for the time being.
Lastly, RHP Logan Henderson was recalled as the team’s 27th man for Saturday’s doubleheader, making the start (2 IP, 2 ER, 3 K) before being sent back to Nashville after the game.
On Deck
Monday: @ Red Sox (5:45 p.m.)
Tuesday: @ Red Sox (5:45 p.m.)
Wednesday: @ Red Sox (12:35 p.m.)
Thursday: Off Day
Friday: vs. Nationals (6:40 p.m.) — Wisconsin First Friday
Saturday: vs. Nationals (6:10 p.m.) — Miz Trading Card Bobblehead Giveaway
Sunday: vs. Nationals (1:10 p.m.) — Wiffle Ball Set Giveaway (Kids)
Targeted after Italy’s failure and for his dive in the Derby d’Italia, Alessandro Bastoni returned to form against Roma
Italy were too afraid to play a World Cup qualifying playoff at San Siro, hosting their semi-final against Northern Ireland in Bergamo instead. Gennaro Gattuso explained it as a choice to protect his players, noting that the nation’s biggest football stadium was home to two rival clubs – Milan and Internazionale – and suggesting this dynamic might lead fans there to turn more quickly on players who struggled.
Instead, on Sunday, it was San Siro that offered comfort to one who has become the scapegoat for yet another collective failure. Italy made it past Northern Ireland only to lose to Bosnia on penalties in Zenica. Alessandro Bastoni’s first-half red card, at a time when his country were winning 1-0, was a pivotal moment in the game and perhaps his entire career.
The Chicago Blackhawks selected Kevin Korchinski with the 7th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. He was their first pick of three in the first round, as Frank Nazar and Sam Rinzel were selected later on the same night. All three are on Chicago’s roster and playing every game.
Matt Grzelcyk and Artyom Levshunov have been ruled out for the season, so Korchinski was called up and will continue playing a lot as long as he stays healthy. In this recent stint in the NHL, he has been wonderful.
On Saturday night against the Seattle Kraken, Korchinski had one of his best games as a pro. The Blackhawks won 4-2, and he was one of many players who played a key role in the victory.
For one, Korchinski had one point, a primary assist on Sacha Boisvert’s first career NHL goal. On the play, Korchinski joined the rush from the back end and sent it to the slot, where Boisvert found it and released it. It was an important play, as the goal stood up as the game-winner.
In addition to the assist, Korchinski was an impactful player in all three zones. He closed gaps, used his incredible skating to make plays on offense and defense, and looked every bit like the high-end puck mover that he was drafted to become.
Whether it was creating scoring chances, or anything positive in the offensive zone, or making it difficult for the opposition to get any momentum in their attack, Korchinski had an especially good performance against the Kraken. The advanced analytics show he was right there with Alex Vlasic and Sam Rinzel (Chicago's top pair in the game) in terms of overall impact.
"He's not over-complicating it," head coach Jeff Blashill said of Korchinski. "He's using his feet to beat pressure, but then he's moving the puck to the open people. When he does that and defends with his feet, he's been a really good player."
Korchinski's name wasn't completely removed from trade talks ahead of the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. They obviously never received a package worth parting with him for, and they may be thankful for that in the coming years.
Whenever a defenseman is still considered young, and Korchinski is 21 years old, or they've played less than 200 games in the NHL, Korchinski has 100 exactly, you can't make long-term judgments. It is the most difficult position to be elite at in the game, and it takes time for most of these prospects to take a step at the NHL level.
Not every high draft pick can be amazing right away like Rasmus Dahlin or Matthew Schaefer. Even Cale Makar, Zach Werenski, and Quinn Hughes needed development one way or another.
Korchinski may end up failing to be an impactful player regularly, but that should not be assumed just because things were difficult over the last few seasons. He has five more NHL games before 2025-26 is over to show why they may want to hang onto him.
If he plays as well as he has so far since this latest call-up, management will have some difficult decisions to make this summer with him being a pending RFA.
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After beating the New Jersey Devils in extremis at the Prudential Center on Saturday night, the Montreal Canadiens were hosting them on Sunday night at the Bell Centre. By the time the puck dropped, the Habs had clinched their playoff spot, thanks to the Detroit Red Wings losing to the Minnesota Wild earlier in the day. That didn’t mean the pressure was gone. Captain Nick Suzuki said earlier this week that the Habs wanted first place, not eighth place, and they are right in the mix for that in the Atlantic Division and in the Eastern Conference.
However, that’s not what the fans in attendance were thinking about. They all had one thing in mind: seeing Cole Caufield score his 50th of the season. There were even more number 13 jerseys out there, plenty of signs about the impending milestone, and someone had even bought nig inflatable 5-0 golden balloons. When the sniper was shown on the Jumbotron during the warm-up, the crowd erupted in applause, and when he had his first shift, they were all chanting his name. It’s a good thing that he doesn’t mind playing under pressure.
While the players have been adamant that they all think about the team first and foremost, for a second game in a row, it looked like they were desperately trying to get the puck to Caufield, and it wasn’t always because he was the best option or even open.
Of course, the team’s results have to come first, but it feels like the players want Caufield to reach 50, and the sooner he does, the better off the Canadiens will be. Asked about it, coach Martin St-Louis explained:
I think you can see that the guys are really looking for him out there. I think it does affect the continuity of certain plays. I have full confidence that he will score 50. We would have liked it to be tonight for many reasons, including moving on from it and giving that to the crowd. It would have been fine to give them that tonight. I went through it, it’s normal.
- St-Louis on his men and the Caufield 50-goal chase
Lack Of Shots
After 40 minutes, the Canadiens had a total of eight shots, four per period. That wasn’t going to allow Caufield, or anyone on the team, to score, for that matter. At least in the first frame, they had only four shots that reached the net, but they also had 15 more shot attempts that were blocked or missed. There was some urgency in their offensive game.
That wasn’t the case in the middle frame; on top of only testing Markstrom four times, they only had six attempts that didn’t reach him. On their one power play opportunity, they didn’t even get a shot on goal and allowed two odd-man rushes. When your goaltender is your best player on the penalty kill, it’s good news, but not so much when he is on the power play.
The Canadiens had a bit more jump in the final frame, and they got to spend a lot of time on the power play, but they couldn’t make anything of it.
Expect More Of The Same
Will the Canadiens change their approach now that they have clinched a playoff spot? That’s highly unlikely because they still have plenty to play for. When St-Louis was asked how it would affect the way he manages his bench and his lineup, he explained:
I don’t think it’s going to change much. We’re still in a place where we can win our division and get home-ice advantage. To lower your level and wait for the playoffs and then say right we need to kick it into gear now, it’s a trap you’ve got to be wary of. If guys are nursing ailments, that’s one thing. I’m proud of the guys, we’ve reached our goal, but now we have the opportunity not to be satisfied with doing that, we can go and get something even bigger.
The Canadiens' winning streak ended at eight triumphs in a row with a 3-0 loss to the Devils, but after enjoying a day off on Monday, they’ll put their working boots back on and keep on fighting for the best rank in the standings possible.
ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 30: Jonathan Kuminga #0 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 30, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
It’s been a little over a month since Jonathan Kuminga made his Atlanta Hawks debut, and while the team has been red-hot since the All-Star break, it’s been a bit of a mixed bag for the former Warrior as he acclimates to his new surroundings.
In 13 games for Atlanta (25 possible appearances*), Kuminga has put up respectable ‘per game’ averages of 11.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 21 minutes a night on a 59.7% True Shooting clip. Yet, given his sizable $24.3 million team option for next season, it’s far from a guarantee that he’ll be back in Atlanta in 2026-27, and I’m quite fascinated to see the level of production the team gets from him going forwards, particularly as the competition level rises in the postseason.
*Kuminga has been dealing with a balky left knee since he injured it against Dallas on January 22nd, and has played in four consecutive games for the Hawks just once since being acquired at the deadline.
After a frustrating, enigmatic four-and-a-half-year stint in Golden State largely defined by Kuminga’s dismal relationship with head coach, Steve Kerr, the former seventh overall pick was in need of a fresh start in Atlanta, aiming to make good on the sky-high potential that made him a top-10 draft pick.
Kuminga took a few weeks to recover from a bone bruise in his left knee after being traded to Atlanta, but once he was cleared for action, it looked like he’d been shot out of a cannon in his first three games in a Hawks uniform, going for 27, 17, and 20 points against Washington (twice) and Portland, shooting a combined 21-for-31 from the field (5-for-9 from three) over that stretch.
However, after missing the following three games with inflammation in his left knee, he’s struggled to make a consistent impact and has failed to reach the double-digit mark in five out of his last ten appearances.
One trend that’s beginning to emerge in Kuminga’s performances with the Hawks is that he’s generally struggled against Play-In/Playoff-caliber opponents relative to his performances against lottery-bound teams. As you can see in the table below, his numbers – particularly his scoring efficiency – drop across the board against higher caliber competition.
So where does this leave us? Which version of Kuminga can we trust? It’s a difficult question given the miniscule sample size (278 minutes) of him in a Hawks uniform, yet it’s a question Atlanta’s front office is certainly trying to answer as they prepare to decide on his team option for next season.
So without further ado, let’s go through a few critiques of Kuminga’s performance in Atlanta since the All-Star break.
Thrives In Transition
I’ll start with an obvious positive: Jonathan Kuminga is an elite athlete, even by NBA standards, and these athletic gifts lend themselves nicely to an Atlanta team that likes to spread its wings on offense, ranking fifth in pace and fourth in transition frequency on the season. Kuminga thrives in early shot clock situations where he can attack the defense with a head of steam – opportunities that came around less frequently when he was in Golden State earlier this season.
Check out this play from Wednesday’s win over Orlando. ‘JK’ is in attack mode just three seconds into the possession before Franz Wagner can get into his defensive stance, and he capitalizes for an easy two points plus the foul.
Against Boston, the Hawks force a turnover and are off to the races with a 3-on-2 advantage in transition. Kuminga receives the ball around half-court and a few seconds later he’s at the rim, dropping in a lay-up.
Against Portland, he muscles the 7’2”, 280-pound (!) Donovan Clingan out of the way, before finishing off the possession with a pretty reverse lay-in.
Per cleaningtheglass (CTG), the Hawks rank second in transition efficiency this season, scoring 1.34 points per play. With Kuminga shooting an impressive 20-for-32 (62.5%) in the first nine seconds of the shot clock, Atlanta’s transition efficiency improves to 1.39* point-per-play when he is in the game – underscoring his value in these early shot clock situations.
*92nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season (min. 100 possessions played)
The problem is that even for teams like the Hawks who like to run, the majority of the game is played in the halfcourt, where Kuminga has been quite inconsistent thus far.
Halfcourt Offense Is a Work In Progress
Tasked with providing a scoring punch off the pine for a defensive-minded Atlanta Hawks bench unit, it would have been rather pollyannaish to expect Kuminga to instantly mesh with his new teammates. That said, watching back a few of his misses on film, it’s clear that he needs to do a better job picking when to attack in the halfcourt.
From their recent game in Boston, Kuminga receives the ball on the wing and keeps his head down on his drive to the basket. There’s more than enough time on the shot-clock for Atlanta to get a cleaner look, and he has opportunities to pass to Zaccharie Risacher, Mo Gueye or the cutting Corey Kispert, but instead Kuminga opts to take it right at three Celtics defenders resulting in an empty possession for Atlanta.
Against Brooklyn on March 12th, Kuminga goes one-on-one against rookie forward, Danny Wolf, and either doesn’t recognize or doesn’t care that Jalen Johnson’s defender is coming over to help. Instead of kicking it out to the open Johnson, Kuminga tries to finish through contact, leading to a blocked shot and an easy transition bucket for Brooklyn.
Earlier in the quarter of the same Brooklyn game, Kuminga dominates the entire possession, taking 11 dribbles before failing to convert at the rim. Similar to the play above, he misses a wide-open Alexander-Walker in the corner before going up to shoot.
The clips above do a good job demonstrating why Kuminga is shooting just 24-for-41 (58.5%) at the rim for the Hawks – well below his career rim field goal percentage of 71%. He needs to slow down, process the defensive coverage, and do his best not to force things.
Still, that’s not to say Kuminga is a complete lost cause in these halfcourt situations. There have been signs of improvement lately.
This was a gorgeous and-one finish on Amari Williams from last week’s game against Boston.
Against Orlando, he puts his strength on display once again, taking it right at Da Silva before finishing at the rim.
Here, he recognizes he’s in a crowd, and instead of forcing up a tough mid-range attempt, kicks it out to Alexander-Walker for a triple from the top of the key. Yes!
Even when he doesn’t convert, the pressure Kuminga puts on the basket can be a positive for Atlanta – especially when he takes an opposing rebounder out of the equation, like on this possession against Detroit.
Additionally, Kuminga is a big help when it comes to generating free-throws for a Hawks team that ranks 25th in free-throw attempt rate on the season, drawing shooting fouls on 17.6% of his field goal attempts in Atlanta, a mark that ranks in the 94th percentile amongst forwards per cleaningtheglass.
Something I’d like to see the Hawks do more of is putting Kuminga in ‘obvious attack’ situations where he can use the same gifts in the halfcourt that make him such a lethal transition scorer.
In the play below, CJ McCollum has his drive walled off by Ausar Thompson and kicks it out to Kuminga on the opposite wing. The left side is completely cleared out for ‘JK’ – just check out how much space he has when he catches the ball – and Javonte Green (my guy!) has no chance sticking with Kuminga’s drive.
I’ve really enjoyed the possessions where Atlanta uses him as a roll-man, like on this play against Memphis. McCollum makes a great pass to the rolling Kuminga and it’s an easy slam for ‘JK’ – with GG Jackson torn between helping on Kuminga and sticking to Corey Kispert in the corner.
Per cleaningtheglass, Atlanta is scoring 0.96 points-per-play in the halfcourt with Kuminga on the floor – slightly below their halfcourt efficiency on the season and a mark that ranks in just the 42nd percentile relative to other five-man lineups with at least 100 possessions played this season. I’m curious to see whether this number rises as Kuminga and his teammates develop a better understanding of each other’s games.
Impact On The Defensive Glass Has Been Elite
We’ve spent a lot of time talking about Kuminga’s scoring ability, but another area where he’s made a noticeable impact for Atlanta is on the glass. I discussed the Hawks substantial turnaround on the boards since the All-Star break in my last piece, and when he’s played, Kuminga has been a big part of this improvement – particularly on the defensive end.
Per pbpstats, Kuminga is personally snagging 18.3% of available defensive boards when he is on the floor for Atlanta – well above his career defensive rebounding percentage (DREB%) of 13% – and it’s encouraging to see that this has translated to the team-level as well, as Atlanta’s 77.9% defensive rebounding percentage with Kuminga on the floor ranks in the 99th percentile (!) relative to other five-man lineups this season per cleaningtheglass.
While it would be nice to see the Hawks turn more of these defensive rebounds into transition opportunities*, given that the defensive glass was a legitimate problem to start the season, Kuminga’s impact in this area deserves a ton of praise.
*per CTG, the Hawks are turning just 28.3% of their defensive boards into transition possessions with Kuminga on the floor – 44th percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season.
Is His Defensive Impact Sustainable?
Lastly, we need to talk about Kuminga’s impact on the defensive end – beyond the boards, of course. Per cleaningtheglass, the Hawks are posting an elite, 104.5 defensive rating with Kuminga on the floor, a mark that ranks in the 98th percentile relative to other five-man lineups this season.
While limiting their opponent’s second chance opportunities has certainly been a factor here, the Hawks are also forcing turnovers on 17% of their defensive possessions* and holding their opponents to an unfathomable 57.8% rim field goal percentage** with Kuminga on the floor – both of which are elite marks.
**99th percentile relative to other five-man lineups per CTG (for reference, San Antonio Spurs’ opponents are shooting 60.4% at the rim when Victor Wembanyama is in the game – albeit in a much larger sample size)
Kuminga has been a more active defender since joining the Hawks, posting more steals per 100 possessions in Atlanta (1.9) than he did in any season with the Warriors.
Against his former team, he picks off Poziemski’s skip pass to the corner, sparking an offensive possession that results in a Risacher triple.
Kuminga is also a legitimate deterrent around the hoop – as on display in these two plays from Atlanta’s win over Boston on March 30th.
Below, he does a good job sticking with Pritchard’s drive before forcing a miss.
Here, he and Okongwu cause Jaylen Brown to adjust mid-air on his drive to the hoop, resulting in another Boston miss.
Now, it has to be said that these defensive numbers are almost certainly inflated by the competition-level Kuminga has faced – with Atlanta playing lottery-bound opponents in six out of the 13 games he’s appeared in – but even so, you only play the teams on your schedule, and it’s been good to see Kuminga and the Hawks taking care of business on the defensive end.
Kuminga’s next opportunity to impress comes at home tonight against the New York Knicks (7-3 in their last ten games), who currently occupy the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference.
Each game provides another data point and I’ll be keeping an eye on his scoring efficiency against a Playoff-caliber opponent, as well as how the team performs on the glass when he is on the floor – with New York ranking sixth in offensive rebounding rate and third in defensive rebounding rate on the season
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 02: Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks falls while playing against Kevin McCullar Jr. #9 of the New York Knicks during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden on January 02, 2026 in New York City. 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 Ishika Samant/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Tonight, the Atlanta Hawks (45-33) host the Knicks (50*-28) at State Farm Arena. New York sits third in the Eastern Conference, having won two straight to improve to 7-3 in their last 10. The Knicks need to stay sharp in their last road game of the season, especially with the Cleveland Cavaliers on their heels. Atlanta, meanwhile, might be the league’s hottest team, riding a four-game win streak and sitting fifth in the East.
The season series is split 1-1. The teams last met on January 2 in New York, where the Hawks pulled off a 111-99 victory. Onyeka Okongwu and Nickeil Alexander-Walker both scored 23 points for the winners. On the home team’s side, Jalen Brunson racked up 24 points while Ariel Hukporti snared 16 boards.
Things are looking up in Atlanta now that they’ve parted ways with Trae. The Birds have won 18 of their last 20 games and are playing with confidence down the stretch. They score 118.6 points per game while allowing 115.9, mixing a mid-tier offense (14th in the league with a ninth-ranked defense. Quin Snyder’s boys play fast (fifth for pace) and move the ball, dishing a league-best 30.3 dimes per game. From the perimeter they shoot 37%, and they rate sixth for points per game, partially because their defense is sound (9.5 steals per game).
Jalen Johnson leads the team in scoring with 22.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, while Alexander-Walker has flourished in Georgia, averaging 20.6 points per game, taking eight three-pointers a game, and making 39% of them. At center, Onyeka Okongwu has averaged 15.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 71 games this season. Dyson Daniels, The Great Barrier Thief , puts up 11.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and two steals per game, and veteran CJ McCollum is averaging 18.7 points while shooting 37% from beyond the arc.
As of this writing, the only name on the injury report for either team is Jock Landale of the Hawks, out with an ankle issue.
Prediction
ESPN.com seems to think the Knicks will win, giving them a 57% edge. Color us a little less certain. The Knicks took the first meeting of the season, but it was a close 128-125, with the Hawks winning the second half by ten. New York needed a combined 70 points from KAT and Cap to squeeze the Peaches. In their second matchup, the orange and blue managed just 17 points in the second quarter and couldn’t break 52 points in a frustrating second half.
Since those two contests, the Hawks have found consistency and Snyder has this team humming as they fly toward the playoffs. Although the ’Bockers are blessed with more talent, they don’t always blend their assets in a victorious manner. Atlanta, however, has a weird alchemy and momentum that reminds me a little of the 2020-21 Knicks. Fitting, then, that those Knicks lost in the first round to the Hawks; and for as good as the current team out of Georgia is, I’m not convinced they’re ready to break past the first round. But all that starts in about two weeks. For tonight, look for the Knicks to fight hard for three quarters, then falter down the stretch, losing by three.
Game Details
Who: New York Knicks (50*-28) at Atlanta Hawks (45-33) Date: Monday, April 6, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM ET Place: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA TV: MSG Follow: @ptknicksblog and bsky
* Should be one more, but the NBA Cup is too sexy for Milan, New York and Japan.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - OCTOBER 9 : Jacob Tobey and Sean Elliott smiles during the game between the Utah Jazz and San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas on October 9, 2024. 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 2024 NBAE (Photo by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Spurs have return home from a short three-game road trip. On Monday night, the Spurs host the Philadelphia 76ers in a game that is promoting Native American Heritage.
Spurs shooting guard Lindy Waters III representing Kiowa and Cherokee-American tribes and Jacob Tobey, Mashpee Wampanoag of Massachusetts, have teamed up with the Spurs to bring awareness through “Sacred Like Me.”
The evening is filled with special events including a land acknowledgement ceremony, grants, and in-game performances.
Spurs play-by-play announcer Jacob Tobey will perform the national anthem.
Tobey, now in his second year with the Spurs, has embraced San Antonio as his home. In addition to his full-time job, the Suffolk University alum enjoys performing as part of the local music scene.
He can often be seen throughout San Antonio with his guitar playing hit songs and fan favorites. Last march, he was asked to perform in Austin on the night off between games when the Spurs hosted two Rodeo Road Trip games in the state capital. The Spurs Jackals who made the trip to Austin cheered him on as part of the audience on that Friday evening.
He has some San Antonio shows in April. On the 11th, he’ll be performing at Elsewhere Too, a venue he’s returned to regularly. Later that week on the 16th he’ll be at Smash’d, another hot spot promoting Tobey’s passion.
I asked him how hard it was to book shows with the Spurs entering the playoffs. He admitted he had to plan strategically now that the postseason was imminent.
Tobey shared that finding the balance for writing and performing can be difficult with the demands of his dream career as play-by-play announcer, but venues work with him as the demand for his music grows within the scene. He plans on recording his original music during the offseason for an upcoming release.
If you are not a local patron, fear not, Tobey often livestreams a portion of his performances through his Instagram page.
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New Jersey Devil hockey player and Olympian Jack Hughes gets ready to throw the opening pitch before the home opener baseball game between the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, NY, Friday, April 3, 2026. | Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
The Devils rallied from a 3-0 hole in Saturday’s game against the Habs but came up short in the shootout. The Canadiens won, 4-3. [Devils NHL]
Then, Jacob Markstrom recorded his first shutout of the season as the Devils took a 3-0 win over the Habs in Montreal on Sunday. [Devils NHL]
If ownership realizes what’s going on in New Jersey and decides to make changes in the front office, what might they decide to do? [Devils on the Rush ($)]
Could Tom Fitzgerald land back in Nashville, where he was the first captain of the Predators? [New Jersey Hockey Now]
“Team USA Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes was so excited about throwing out a ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees’ home opener on Friday that he started practicing on March 24, before a Devils game in Dallas. ‘My trainer brought gloves and I threw like 50 pitches right before morning skate, and my shoulder was so sore,’ Hughes said. ‘I was like, ‘We’ve got to cool it.’’ This honor was a big deal for Hughes, who scored the golden goal in the USA’s 3-2 overtime win over Canada in the gold medal game on Feb. 22 in Milan.” [NJ.com]
Well if you were hoping for a reunion with Pete DeBoer, I have bad news:
#Isles News: New York Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President Mathieu Darche announced today that Patrick Roy has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities. Peter DeBoer has been named Head Coach of the New York Islanders.
“For the first time since 2011, the Buffalo Sabres are going to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Sabres ended a league-record 14-season playoff drought on Saturday afternoon when the Detroit Red Wings lost 4-1 to the New York Rangers.” [The Athletic ($)]
“As the 2025-26 hockey season winds down, these prospects have emerged and shown what they could have to offer — enough to possibly change the way their organization perceives them or solidify their future star status. Which prospect in each NHL team’s pipeline had the most promising season?” [The Athletic ($)]
“Pittsburgh Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are powering the Penguins’ playoff push, and rewriting NHL history with milestone performances. Can the dynamic duo carry the Pens to what could be a final deep playoff run in the Crosby/Malkin era?” [The Hockey News]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
1972 – For the first time in history, the major league season fails to open due to a general player strike. The strike, announced April 1, will erase 86 games from the major league schedule.
1973 – Yankee Ron Blomberg, facing Boston’s Luis Tiant, becomes the first official designated hitter in the major leagues. Blomberg walks with the bases loaded his first time up and winds up 1-for-3 in a 15-5 loss to the Red Sox.
1993 – In his National League debut‚ Cubs P Jose Guzman takes a perfect game into the eighth inning against Atlanta‚ finally settling for a one-hit‚ 1-0 victory. Otis Nixon’s single with two out in the ninth is the Braves’ only hit.
2013 – The Upton brothers, playing together for the Braves, stun the Cubs. With Atlanta trailing 5 – 4, B.J. Upton leads off the bottom of the ninth with a homer off Carlos Marmol, and two batters later, Justin Upton hits a walk-off blast to give the Braves a 6-5 win, his second long ball of the game. They are the first pair of brothers to homer in the same inning since Billy and Cal Ripken did so for Baltimore in 1996.
2014 – Texas P Yu Darvish becomes the fastest starting pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts when he fans David DeJesus and Wil Myers in the first inning of a 1-0 win against the Rays in his first start of the season. It took Yu only 401.2 innings to reach the total, beating Kerry Wood, who had needed 404.2 innings.
2017 – Cardinals C Yadier Molina loses a ball when it bounces in the dirt and then gets stuck to his chest protector, allowing Cubs PH Matt Szczur to reach base on a dropped third strike in the seventh inning while Molina is frantically looking around to find the disappeared spheroid. The bizarre play turns out to be instrumental, as Brett Cecil walks the next batter, Jon Jay, and Kyle Schwarber follows with a three-run homer and Chicago wins, 6-4.
2020 – Hall of FamerAl Kaline, who was signed by the Detroit Tigers out of high school, went straight to the majors, and collected 3000 hits during his lifelong association with the team, passes away at age 85. His death will start an unprecedented parade of passings by members of the Hall of the Fame over the rest of the year.
774 – Charles the Great (Charlemagne) confirmed the gift to the Pope of the territories belonging to Ravenna made by his father Pepin the Short at Quiercy-sur-Loire in 753.
1652 – Cape Colony, the 1st European settlement in South Africa, established by Dutch East India Company under Jan van Riebeeck.
1772 – Catherine the Great Empress of Russia, ends tax on men with beards, enacted by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698. (There is probably no truth to the rumor that this was then handed down to the New York Yankees.)
1889 – George Eastman begins selling his Kodak flexible rolled film for the first time.
1896 – First modern Summer Olympic Games open in Athens, Greece; American athlete James Connolly becomes first modern Olympic champion when he wins triple jump (then two hops and a jump); later third in long jump, second in high jump.
1909 – North Pole reached by Americans Robert Peary & Matthew Henson.
1930 – Hostess Twinkies invented by bakery executive James Dewar.
1938 – Teflon invented by Roy J. Plunkett.
1974 – 200,000 attend rock concert “California Jam” at the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario, California; line-up includes Earth, Wind & Fire; Black Sabbath; Deep Purple; and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (this was simulcast on WDAI 94.7 FM. I know because I was listening and watching.)
1987 – Los Angeles Dodgers GM Al Campanis appears on TV program ABC News: Nightline saying Blacks may not be equipped to be in baseball management, sparking a racial controversy.
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) looks on from the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! It was not a happy weekend for the Orioles, who limped out of Pittsburgh after being swept. That was after losing two out of three to the Rangers, making them losers of five of their last six. It’s not really how any of us imagined the season starting.
Yesterday’s game was particularly painful. Chris Bassitt pitched his second clunker in as many tries and exited after six runs allowed in just two innings. He may have stayed in longer if he hadn’t been hit in the leg by a 112 mph line drive, certainly. The offense had eight hits, but just two runs. Poor Samuel Basallo struck out four times. You can get all of the grisly details in Paul Folkemer’s game recap.
Last night, I was reading the comments in the game recap and in the game thread, and it got me thinking about letting a sports team make you totally miserable. Because if you read the comments, it seems that people are miserable and very angry. I get it. I have watched more bad baseball in my life than I have good, and I have been a very invested and very online fan for most of it. It’s so easy to let what happens out there affect your mood.
No doubt many of you remember the 2010 season. Nobody expected the Orioles to be good that year, but also nobody expected them to start the year 2-16. Back in those olden days I was running Camden Chat before the current site manager, Mark, took over. He’s much better at it than I ever was, by the way. Sometimes my game recaps wouldn’t go up until like midnight because I got busy watching reruns of The Golden Girls or something.
I was so deep into the Orioles in 2010 that the 2-16 stretch of baseball made me entirely miserable. I turned on the game every night. I watched Ty Wigginton and César Izturis and Corey Patterson stink up the basepaths. I watched Kevin Millwood give up a billion runs and Jake Arrieta underperform. I was deep into it. I could tell you everything about those teams. And I hated it. I hated the Orioles. And they weren’t even supposed to be good!
Not long after that 2-16 stretch (maybe around 7-18 or so), I realized I needed to stop being so miserable about the Orioles. Why was I letting myself get angry? What was the point? There had to be something redeeming about being a fan of a bad baseball team. Otherwise, why do it?
I think the answer to what is redeeming is different for everyone. For me, there is community in baseball fandom. Does it suck to watch the Orioles lose and struggle? Of course it does. But we’re all doing it together. Just like we’re all doing it together when the Orioles play well and hit a bunch of dingers and have a lot of fun. Camden Chat has always been a place where the community matters and where people get together during a game to be happy or mad or whatever the situation calls for.
Also, for me, I find some meaning in the players themselves. A lot of internet commenters are quick to call players “garbage” or ascribe some motivations (or lack thereof) to players, and it makes me uncomfortable. Those people will say they are just being fans, and I guess that is true. But how can you really be a fan of a team if you hate all the players? If you think they are all lazy or arrogant or stupid? When your first instinct is to trash them?
I’m not saying I don’t have a lot of emotions about the Orioles. I have never been so high as I was after game two of the 2014 ALDS. I’m dying to feel that again. And I felt incredibly sad about leaving Camden Yards after the 2024 Wild Card series. But I don’t think you get to either of those places by spending six months being aggressive and angry. It’s deeper than that.
I just wrote a lot of words that don’t have much to do with the team the Orioles are fielding right now, so thanks for indulging me. But it does have to do with the nature of being an Orioles fan, and if they truly prompt you to be angry and mean, maybe that’s something to examine. Or if you only want to shout into the void when things are going poorly but don’t want to celebrate when they’re not, why is that?
Anyway. The Orioles start a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox tonight at Guaranteed Rate Field. The starting pitcher is TBD but it’s expected to be a bullpen game kicked off by Albert Suárez. Not exactly what we hoped for in game 10 of the season, but here we are.
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have just one Orioles birthday buddy. Danny Clyburn was born on this day in 1974. Clyburn was an outfielder who appeared in two games with the Orioles in 1997 and 11 games in 1998. His only other MLB experience came with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. Clyburn was tragically shot and killed in an argument with a neighbor in 2012.
On this day in 1973, the Orioles defeated the Brewers on Opening Day by a score of 10-0. Brooks Robinson hit two home runs. Don Baylor had a home run and three doubles. And Dave McNally allowed just three hits.
In 1992, the Orioles played their first game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and defeated Cleveland, 2-0. Rick Sutcliffe pitched a complete game, five-hitter. Chris Hoiles and Billy Ripken had RBIs for the Orioles.
In 1997, the Orioles lost their first game of the season after starting 4-0. Mike Mussina allowed seven runs in just four innings, his worst start of the year.
In 2009, the Orioles celebrated Opening Day with a 10-5 victory over the Yankees. Jeremy Guthrie earned the win with the classic QS (6 IP, 3 ER). Brian Roberts and Adam Jones each had three hits as the 1-2 batters in the lineup. Roberts hit the first of his 56 doubles of the season and Jones hit the first of 19 home runs.
And one year ago today, the Orioles lost to the Royals, 4-1. Cade Povich allowed all four runs, but just one was earned thanks to an error by centerfielder Jorge Mateo. The Orioles scored their only run when Ryan Mountcastle reached on an E9 and came in to score on a passed ball.
