Thursday night in Seattle the Kraken met the LasVegas Golden Knights. The teams had met twice before this season; Seattle came out victorious in both. The Kraken maintained that winning record, eking out a 4-3 shootout win.
The game started out rough. Mark Stone had Vegas ahead 2-0 by a minute into the second period. The Kraken had some good chances, but could not get anything past Adin Hill. Finally, almost eighteen minutes into the second period Jared McCann capitalized on a power play opportunity and the Kraken were on the board.
April 9th: Highlights Courtesy of Seattle Kraken
In the third period Vegas scored again and the Kraken found themselves in a two-goal deficit for the second time. Berkly Catton took advantage of an out-of-position Adin Hill and with a lucky bounce scored his seventh of the season. Suddenly, the Kraken only needed a single goal to even the score.
Where else could the missing point come from but Bobby McMann? With a nearly point-per-game average since joining the Kraken just after the trade deadline, McMann has been a consistent feature on the Seattle scoreboard. On a pass from Jordan Eberle out of the corner, McMann hurled the puck over Hill’s right shoulder to tie the game.
Overtime was scoreless and the game moved on to the shootout. Mitch Marner managed to get one past Joey Daccord, but it was the first and last for Vegas. On the Kraken’s next turn, Matty Beniers deked, fooling Hill who dived left while Beniers slid the puck in on his right side. Daccord and Hill went stop-for-stop until the Kraken sent out rookie Berkly Catton.
Hoping his lucky bounce would portend good fortune in the shoot out, and it did. Catton put the Kraken up 2-1 in the shootout, and Vegas got one more opportunity to stay in the game. Pavel Dorofeyev gave is his best wrist shot, but Daccord was ready for him. The Kraken emerged victorious.
April 9th: Joey Daccord celebrates the Kraken win in the background as Pavel Dorofeyev laments. Photo by Candace Kludt | The Hockey News
Currently, the Golden Knights hold the second seed in the Pacific Division standings, just one point behind the Anaheim Ducks in first. The Kraken, on the other hand, are eight points out of a wildcard spot with only four games remaining. While not technically mathematically eliminated yet, the likelihood of any kind playoff run for Seattle is virtually nonexistent.
The Philadelphia Flyers had an opportunity to virtually nail down a place in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday night, but they instead came up painfully short. Fortunately, after receiving some help, they're still alive.
Before the game began, MoneyPuck assessed that the Flyers' playoff odds would soar to 66.6% with a regulation win over the Detroit Red Wings, and crash to 21.2% with a regulation loss.
Ultimately, the final result was a crushing 6-3 defeat, but the Flyers got a helping hand from the Buffalo Sabres.
Because Buffalo was able to dismantle the Columbus Blue Jackets 3-0 on Thursday night and stop them from gaining any ground on the Flyers, Philadelphia's playoff odds now sit at a more modest 45.6% in MoneyPuck's eyes.
For the sake of comparison, the New York Islanders, who defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs in regulation Thursday night, are close behind at 36.5%, while the Blue Jackets and Red Wings are at 14.6% and 5.8%, respectively.
This is all to say that the Flyers are still the favorites to make the playoffs via third place in the Metropolitan Division, but any room for error has been erased with the Islanders' win.
Because the Flyers have a one-point advantage over the Islanders (92 points to 91), they will need to match or do better than New York over the final three games of the season; the Flyers don't hold any tiebreakers.
Rookie forward Porter Martone collected his second-career two-point night, scoring a tap-in from point-blank range on the power play and adding an assist with Christian Dvorak redirecting his long-range slapper in the first period.
Thursday night's game was largely lost on special teams, where the Flyers were an abysmal 1/6 on the power play and an even worse 1/4 on the penalty kill.
The Red Wings pulled away in the second period, with power play goals from Moritz Seider and Dylan Larkin giving them 2-1 and 3-1 leads, respectively, before Larkin added a shorthanded goal minutes later.
All three goals to put the Red Wings up 4-1 in the second period were scored in a span of 4:24 and resulted in Dan Vladar being pulled from the game.
Suffice to say, the Flyers are staring at another must-win game Saturday, when they face the surging Winnipeg Jets in Winnipeg.
The Jets are winners of three straight and are 7-2-1 in their last 10, suddenly sitting three points out of a playoff spot with four games to play.
Mar 8, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; San Antonio Spurs guard Jordan McLaughlin (0) dribbles in the second half against the Houston Rockets at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images | Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images
Jordan McLaughlin came to the Spurs as part of the trade that put De’Aaron Fox in a Spurs jersey. The Silver & Black lost Tre Jones, Zach Collins, and Sidy Cissoko, but gained a clutch starting point guard to pair with Victor Wembanyama while offering a veteran presence to the young squad.
While the inclusion of McLaughlin may have had the appearance of balancing salaries or rosters, the Spiurs saw something in McLaughlin that led to signing him for an additional year over the past summer.
After the summer acquisition of Dylan Harper, it looked as though minutes for Jordan McLaughlin may never materialize, but the guard who turned 30 yesterday has shown what being ready is all about.
Any time J-Mac (as he is affectionately known by his teammates) is called into action, he is ready.
As Jacob Douglas pointed out regarding McLaughlin’s contributions to Wednesday night’s game:
“McLaughlin is just solid. He came in and did his job for 9 minutes, playing pesky perimeter defense, taking care of the ball, and playing within the flow of the offense. He’s about all the Spurs could ask for in a fourth guard.”
He may not get many minutes, but what he does with them keeps the Spurs machine grinding away. Without Stephon Castle on Wednesday. Dylan Harper got his third start of the season. And this left room to rotate McLaughlin in off the bench.
Afterward, Carter Bryant, who shined in his 25 minutes, gave credit to his teammates and a special shout to McLaughlin.
“J-Mac has been a big part of that for me. He’s been like, ‘Just trust your work, understand your time is going to come. Keep being confident in yourself’…We have a lot of guys that when their name is called upon, they do a great job. Like J-Mac does a lot of stuff. Every time he gets an opportunity to play, I admire J-Mac so much because he doesn’t get the opportunity to play too much. But every time he goes in he’s steady. He’s constant…he’s very detailed…you never see him get high or low whether he’s have a great game or a terrible game, by his body language you can never tell. So I respect him a lot and I look up to him for sure. ”
As the Spurs go into the playoffs, minutes can become even more scarce at the end of the bench. While staying healthy is paramount for the marquee players, staying ready is the key to McLaughlin’s role.
Happy belated birthday, J-Mac. Thanks for all you do and here’s to staying ready and willing when your number is called. May there be many opportunities.
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Mar 3, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) drives to the basket against New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) during the second half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
The Raptors have one more road game, and one more home contest before the season is over, both against the two New York teams. The bad news: they’ve got to play the 52-win Knicks in Madison Square Garden, a must-win game to keep any type of breathing room between them at the Play-In. The good news? Their last game is against a Nets squad that’s near the bottom of the Eastern Conference, having lost 7 of their last 10 games. But, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The Knicks have dominated the Toronto Raptors in an embarrassing fashion this season. And the season before that. And the season before that. It’s been since 2023 that the Raptors have picked up a win against the Knicks, and the Raptors will be hard pressed to snap that streak to end this season. New York is playing with essentially their entire roster intact, and are cruising after a win against the Celtics last night where both Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart at more than 25 points.
Both the Raptors and Knicks are playing back-to-backs, so there’ll be no fresh legs for anyone on the court today. While New York has clinched a playoff spot, the Cavaliers are right behind them, nipping at their heels, and the Celtics, should they drop these next two games, could theoretically fall in the standings and give the Knicks the second seed in the Conference. Culturally, the Knicks seem likely to put the pedal to the metal to preserve their spot, so a high energy game is likely here.
The Knicks’ depth is something that the Raptors need to be able to manage. Toronto has been able to contain New York’s twin stars in Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, but expending too much energy on those two leaves the Raptors open to big scoring games from OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, or Josh Hart. The Raptors can put out excellent defensive lineups, but the Knicks are a team where anyone can be a hero and ruin an opponent’s night.
The magic of point-Scottie seems to be over with for now, as Barnes hasn’t hit 10 assists in his last four games after a magical playmaking run, all-the-while taking a step back from scoring. Barnes has been middling this season against New York, posting below season-average statlines against the Knicks. Brandon Ingram, coming off a big game against the Heat, needs to do his best to continue his streak against New York’s stifling defence. Ingram has hit more than thirty points against the Knicks twice this season, and completing a trifecta might be the best chance the Raptors have to take down New York this late in the season. With Immanuel Quickley still shaking off the cobwebs as he returns back from an injury, the Raptors can use every point they can muster against a New York team that’s held them under 100 points in three out of four contests this season.
The best thing for the Raptors to do is to do what they do best: play smothering defence from the 1 to the 5, force an off-night for Knicks stars while not giving up open shots to the rest of the squad, and allow Barnes to get involved as a primary facilitator while trusting Brandon Ingram to put the ball through the hoop.
Apr 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images | Luther Schlaifer-Imagn Images
Here are your links for today:
Devils Links
Sigh. The Devils dropped a 5-2 loss to the Penguins Thursday night. [Devils NHL]
“…It would stand to reason that teams with front office openings would want to emulate the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. There would be curiosity as to how the sausage is made over there. Which is why it’s no surprise, according to league sources, that both the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs have asked and received permission from the Panthers to speak with assistant general manager Sunny Mehta, whose name has been all the rage of late, especially in the Toronto market. As head of analytics for the Cup champs, his background fits a big part of the profile for both the Devils and Leafs.” [The Athletic ($)]
“The search is still in its early stages, and the structure of the front office could change if they split the titles of president of hockey operations and general manager. With that, let’s look at some very early potential candidates that the Devils may interview over the next few weeks to replace Tom Fitzgerald.” [Devils on the Rush]
Luke’s season is over:
#NEWS: The New Jersey Devils have shut down D Luke Hughes to undergo a procedure and get a head start on rehab for the off-season. pic.twitter.com/YeZJcVMo1j
“Alex Ovechkin will wait until the offseason to decide whether this will be his final season in the NHL, the Washington Capitals captain said in an interview posted by the team on social media.” [NHL.com]
Ron Francis is out in Seattle:
The #SeaKraken announced today that Ron Francis will be stepping down from his role as President of Hockey Operations at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
“Who is the best all-around defenseman in the NHL? There are a lot of contenders for that title this year. Unlike last year, there isn’t one favorite running away with the honors. This is the deepest Norris Trophy field in years, with a special group of defensemen performing with MVP-caliber play.” [The Athletic ($)]
Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.
After playing an emotionless game against the Florida Panthers, the Montreal Canadiens were hosting a potential first-round opponent, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Thursday night at the Bell Centre. Given the high stakes in that matchup, it was clear that both teams would bring their A-game and neither would disappoint.
With that kind of opposition, the Habs couldn’t afford a slow start, and they knew it. Joe Veleno was back in the lineup after battling the flu, taking over from Zachary Bolduc. As for Kaiden Guhle, who skated alone ahead of the morning skate, he remained out, just like healthy scratch Brendan Gallagher.
After using Alex Newhook at the center of the second line on Tuesday, Martin St-Louis had him playing wing on the third line alongside Phillip Danault and Kirby Dach, while Oliver Kapanen took his spot back in the middle with Alexandre Texier on one side and Ivan Demidov on the other. As for Veleno, he landed on the fourth line with Jake Evans and Josh Anderson.
Overall, the new combination worked pretty well in the first frame; they all had plenty of energy and grit on the ice, dominating in shots 8-3, and they hit the post behind Andrei Vasilevskiy twice. Of course, the four-minute power play they received early on helped them build some momentum and kept the Lightning out of their zone, but still, only giving the Bolts three shots in 20 minutes is quite a feat.
History Was Made
For the 13th time in franchise history, a Hab scored 50 goals in a season. After failing to find twine in his last three games, Cole Caufield beat Vasilevsky for the first goal of the game, becoming just the seventh Canadiens player to score 50 in a season. Unsurprisingly, the Bell Centre absolutely erupted, and the atmosphere became even more electric. Fittingly, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky got the assists on the history-making goal. Speaking to the media after the game, the man of the hour said he couldn’t have drawn it any better.
The great Pierre Houde 🐐 calling Cole Caufield’s 50th Habs goal of the season tonight at the Bell Centre pic.twitter.com/bkYX0a5OBv
Asked how he felt being the first American-born player to hit 50 goals with the Canadiens, he replied:
Honestly, it’s hard not to follow. You see it kind of everywhere, not going to lie, was pretty stressed out the past couple of days, but that’s what makes this place so special, and that’s why it’s kind of so cool for me, and my teammates, coaches and family to take this in and enjoy it. Honestly, it felt like it would never come there for a couple of days; in those three games, it felt like it would never come. I’m just glad it’s over with now, and we can get back to work. We still have a couple of big games left.
- Caufield on his accomplishment
It was easy to see how relieved the sniper was to score that 50th goal finally, and when it was put to him that he could finally move on, he instantly replied, “You guys too!” making everyone in the room chuckle.
His best answer, though, was without a doubt when he was asked about how much Martin St-Louis has helped him over the course of his young NHL career:
Obviously, I don’t know if there is a guy I should thank more or give more respect to. I think when he came in, he gave me not only an opportunity but definitely some confidence, and he taught me how to play the game the right way to create more and get the puck more in better spots. He always says he’s not going to teach me how to score, but I think deep down, he knows he did. To work with a guy like that, I think everybody on our team has benefited a lot from him, and our whole staff has been outstanding, a lot of thanks to him, but you know, everybody deserves a little piece of that.
- Caufield on how Martin St-Louis has helped him
When Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton hired Martin St-Louis, the GM said it was important to have a coach who could match the identity they wanted to give their version of the Canadiens and getting Martin St-Louis on board was a masterstroke from them in hindsight. The undersized Hall of Fame was just the right man to lead this young team through adversity, but also a perfect teacher for a player like Caufield.
Reflecting on the fact that he slid all the way down to 15 in the draft back in 2019, the sniper said he wouldn’t want it any other way and that he was fortunate enough to go to the right place and go to the right team. He added, “Who knows where I would be on a different team? I’m just thankful for everything this city has offered and kind of the journey we’ve been on ever since I got here.”
Caufield was also asked if he was glad to have accomplished the feat wearing number 13, a number he chose to honour Johnny Gaudreau after his tragic death, and visibly moved, he explained:
Every time I get to put on my jersey and my helmet, it’s weird to think about, but it’s an opportunity to represent him and remember him. It’s a special thing to kind of do that, I guess he’s behind me, and he’s looking down on us, everybody that he knew he made a better person, so I can’t obviously give him a hug right now, but I wish I could.
- Caufield on Johnny Gaudreau and his number swap
Furthermore, it was the 30th time Caufield put the Canadiens in front of the season, allowing him to move past Pavel Bure at 2nd overall for most go-ahead goals in a season. While some believed that playing a depleted Florida Panthers side the other night was the perfect occasion for the American to notch his 50th finally, it wasn’t surprising that he did it in a game with high stakes and against a team like the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Canadiens had to elevate their games to overcome such a formidable foe.
In the process, they needed to play the game the right way, which was always going to be the way Caufield could finally accomplish the milestone. That’s what allowed him to score the other 49 goals he had on the season. The prolific sniper doesn’t really do meaningless goals; he scores when his team most needs goals. It was the 30th time he put the Canadiens in front this year, allowing him to move past Pavel Bure at 2nd overall for most go-ahead goals in a season.
Rising To The Challenge
As for the coach, he was pleased with the way his team responded to the very physical brand of hockey the Lightning played. In such a tight game, the players had to fight for every inch on the ice, and while they pushed back, they stayed within the rules. They didn’t fall into the trap set by the experienced Bolts, aside from Arber Xhekaj, who was tricked into taking a penalty by Corey Perry, something the coach said the veteran has been doing for 20 years.
While there weren’t many goals scored in the game, the Bell Centre crowd was treated to playoff-like hockey and seeing the Habs win a 2-1 game against Tampa Bay, which has been a perennial contender for years in this league, was encouraging ahead of the spring dance. While Jakub Dobes only saw 18 shots, he had to make several big saves, protecting his team’s lead right up until the 58th minute when the Lightning managed to tie up the game at six on five. That equalizer could have been deflating for the Canadiens, but they rolled up their sleeves and went right back to work, getting the game-winning goal just 47 seconds later.
With that win, the Canadiens overtook the Lightning in the standings, and they’ve put themselves in the right position to earn home ice advantage in the first round. With 104 points and three games to go, the Habs are in control of their own fate with a game in hand on the Buffalo Sabres. The Canadiens will play their final home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday, then play the New York Islanders and the Philadelphia Flyers on the road to wrap up the season.
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 09: Stuart Skinner #74 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate the win in the game against the New Jersey Devils on April 9, 2026 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Here are your Pens Points for this Friday morning…
The Pittsburgh Penguins beat the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night, capitalizing on quick-strike offense and pulling away in the third period against a New Jersey team already thinking about summer plans. The win officially gave Pittsburgh a playoff berth for the first time in four years. Additionally, with the Philadelphia Flyers’ loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday night, Pittsburgh has clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. [Recap]
Thursday’s win was a sort of microcosm of the season. The Penguins defied all expectations thanks to strong performances from core veterans like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, along with key contributions from newer players. [KDKA]
Those interested in learning more about tickets for the first two home playoff games can do so here. Tickets officially go on sale at noon ET. [Penguins]
So long, Sergei. We hardly knew ye. The Penguins reassigned rookie goaltender Sergei Murashov to their Wilkes-Barre/Scranton AHL affiliate on Thursday after Stuart Skinner was given the green light to play. [Trib Live]
News and notes from around the NHL…
New York Islanders rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer tied the NHL record for most goals by a rookie defenseman, continuing a historic debut season that has seen him break several league and franchise marks. [TSN]
Seattle Kraken co-owner Tod Leiweke acknowledged the team’s disappointing 2025-26 season and said significant changes are needed after falling short of expectations as the team teeters on the brink of playoff elimination. [Sportsnet]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 07: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics prays before a game against the Charlotte Hornets the TD Garden on April 07, 2026 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. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images) | Getty Images
NEW YORK CITY — Jayson Tatum made the choice to not bite his tongue a long time ago.
At the Celtics’ shootaround on Thursday morning, when he was asked about the emotions of playing at Madison Square Garden for the very first time since his injury, the Celtics star opted to be completely candid.
“Nervousness, anxiousness,” he said. “All the things you’d probably expect.”
On paper, Thursday’s game was just another regular season game between two Eastern Conference foes. Entering the match-up, the Celtics had won four straight games, and held a three-game lead over the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference.
But, in reality, Thursday night held extra weight, marking a return to the place where Tatum’s long, lonely rehab journey began. Inside the walls of MSG was a moment in time in which everything changed: the night Tatum ruptured his Achilles tendon almost eleven months ago.
“The lowest point of my life was here,” Tatum said.
Tatum remembers hearing a pop. He remembers his career — and the Celtics’ future — flashing before his eyes. And, he remembers thinking that it all could be over, that he might never be the same again.
“One day I felt like Superman, and then the next day I felt like the smallest man on Earth,” Tatum said on the Pivot Podcast in January. “It’s been a struggle.”
Since that fateful day, Tatum has cleared plenty of milestones. He returned to 5-on-5 action in January, and practiced with the Maine Celtics for the first time in February. He made his national stage, NBA debut on March 6th, and was named the Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week just a few weeks after that.
To an observer, it appeared Tatum’s greatest challenges were in the rearview mirror. He was not only back, but he was playing some elite basketball.
Still, another major hurdle loomed: a return to Madison Square Garden. While he could have delayed that eventual emotional confrontation, he didn’t want to kick the can down the road and opted to lace up while his co-star, Jaylen Brown, sat.
Earlier in the week, Brown admitted he hadn’t considered Thursday’s game could carry extra emotion, but offered his support: “Mentally, it could possibly be something — but that’s what your teammates are there for. We got his back.”
For Tatum, it was very heavy. Moments before tip-off, he made his way over to the exact spot on the court where his leg gave out on him and took a deep breath.
“It was a lot,” Tatum said. “Especially in the beginning. It took me a while to calm down.”
But, in this return to New York City, he had the support of more than just his teammates.
Pregame, Knicks head coach Mike Brown expressed how happy he was to see Tatum back in action.
“Seeing him back on the court should bring joy to anybody,” Brown said.
When Tatum’s name was announced as part of the Celtics starting lineup introductions, the MSG crowd — which had been rauceoulsy booing every Celtics player — erupted in cheers.
“That means a lot, obviously,” Tatum said. “I appreciated that.”
Jayson Tatum got applause when he was introduced here at MSG
A notable shift from the boos the rest of the roster got
Tatum wanted to play a great game and for the Celtics to walk away with a win. Neither of those things happened; the Celtics fell to the Knicks 112-106, and Tatum shot just 7-22 from the field and turned the ball over 6 times (though he did also finish with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists).
But even the most fiery competitor in him could admit that the final score and stat line were not the most important thing in the world.
“I just kind of wanted to walk off the floor on my own two feet,” he said.
That he did. After the final buzzer sounded, Tatum hugged nearly every player and coach on the Knicks, a moment that was representative of what the last couple of weeks of action have looked like.
“Since I’ve returned, the reception that I’ve gotten from players, coaches I’ve never even spoken to, GMs has been great,” Tatum said.
Tatum could have minimized the significance of Thursday’s game and chosen not to share with the public the emotions he was battling. He could have simply brushed aside the questions, calling Thursday night just another game.
But, he opted not to do that.
Surrounded by reporters in the visiting locker room after the loss, Tatum was completely honest.
“It was a big moment, a big hurdle for me,” he said. “I was nervous and anxious to come back here.”
Why choose to do that?
From the beginning, he made the choice to be completely authentic about his struggles, about the doubts he faced, about the mental aspect of the recovery.
“The nature of this business is [that] there’s millions of eyes on us all the time. And when I went down, millions of people were watching,” he said. “And so, it’s a lot of people that have paid attention to this journey. I’ve been candid about it from the beginning, that, hopefully, my experience and the way I approached and attacked this has inspired somebody out there that is not necessarily going through an injury, but maybe a tough time. And hopefully, they can witness or see what I’ve tried to accomplish — and appreciate and be inspired by that.”
Asked Jayson Tatum why he’s chosen to be so vulnerable throughout this process (i.e sharing how difficult it was for him to play at MSG today) when he could have brushed it off:
“The nature of this business is there's millions of eyes on us all the time. And when I went down,… pic.twitter.com/Cisk6GI7Iw
That approach has earned the praise of his head coach, Joe Mazzulla.
“I think one of his greatest strengths is just his vulnerability and openness and his understanding,” Mazzulla said pregame, acknowledging that he knew the game would bring about a ton of emotion.
“But I think once the game started, he kind of got into a game flow,” said the Celtics head coach as he reflected on the loss.
Tatum never looks for moral victories. He’s rarely cheerful after losses.
But, the circumstances surrounding Thursday’s contest were unique.
“Today was important for me, especially when I made the decision to come back and then made the decision to play today,” he said. “I’m glad I did. I feel a lot better today, even after the loss.”
Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts after hitting a three pointer during the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images | Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Baylor Scheierman’s sixth 3-pointer against the New York Knicks on Thursday night brought the entire Boston Celtics bench to its feet. Jordan Walsh did the sharpshooter’s signature thumbs-up celebration, and Luka Garza bunny-hopped with excitement, watching him conquer Madison Square Garden.
Scheierman’s step-back three over Karl-Anthony Towns gave the Celtics a 104-103 lead with 2:19 remaining in the fourth quarter. To re-energize his team, he decided to bring back the celebration he debuted nearly six weeks ago against the Philadelphia 76ers. It sparked a thrilling final few minutes of regulation, but Boston ultimately fell 112-106, losing the regular-season series to New York (1-3).
The ability to remain prepared to deliver an impact at any moment is something Scheierman takes pride in.
“For me, every time my name’s called, I try to go out there and just play to the best of my ability,” Scheierman told reporters, per CLNS Media. “And that’s really all I can control. Obviously, I’d like to be out there, but at the end of the day, it’s not my decision. So every chance I get, I just try to make the most of it.”
Boston ruled Jaylen Brown out with left Achilles tendinitis hours before tip-off, adding weight on everyone’s shoulders to produce in his absence. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla bumped Walsh up into the starting lineup, while Scheierman played alongside Payton Pritchard and Nikola Vučević in the second rotation. Unconcerned with his role and focused on contributing, Scheierman scored a season-high 20 points — matching a career high he set last season against the Brooklyn Nets.
Scheierman shot a nearly-perfect 6-for-7 from beyond the arc and grabbed four rebounds. Four of those makes were to either go ahead or extend Boston’s lead over New York. Teammates spotted Scheierman’s high motor and eagerness to shoot, so they kept feeding him.
Derrick White assisted Scheierman to break an 83-83 tie in the fourth quarter, and Pritchard found him again more than seven minutes later to give the Celtics a 101-99 lead. Whenever a teammate attacked the basket, they knew once they looked up, Scheierman would be right there on the perimeter, hands ready, waiting to fire.
Scheierman’s six made 3-pointers also tied a career-high.
“I just have a lot of confidence in myself that I belong on the court, and my teammates trust me,” Scheierman said. “When I’m open, they find me, and I just knock it down.”
Scheierman is among a group of backups unaware when their number will be called. Walsh, Luka Garza, Hugo González, and Ron Harper Jr. are in that same boat. Before games, they’re the first out of the locker room and on the floor, working with the coaching staff by running drills and examining film. Last year, Scheierman logged 23 minutes over four appearances in the playoffs. He didn’t get a chance to do much, going scoreless twice and attempting 10 shots the entire postseason, but that uncertainty doesn’t rattle Scheierman.
Even though rotations typically shrink once the playoffs begin, Scheierman isn’t concerned about his role. He’s averaged 18 minutes per game, the most among the Walsh, Garza, González, and Harper group, and Mazzulla has followed through on his promise to shake up the rotations when the team needs a jolt. At Madison Square Garden on Thursday night, Scheierman didn’t start, but still delivered his most impactful performance of the season.
It’s hard to imagine Scheierman’s 3-point barrage goes overlooked, especially since the Knicks could cross paths with the Celtics in Round 2. Losing three times in the regular-season series should bolster the confidence in New York’s locker room and motivate Boston.
“I wish we could’ve won at the end of the day,” he said. “Obviously, it was a lot of fun to do that, but we lost, so it kind of just is what it is.”
The Celtics need a win on Friday night over the New Orleans Pelicans to lock in the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. New York delayed that, but if both teams advance out of the first round, a second-round series would send Boston back to Madison Square Garden for a best-of-seven. Scheierman is ready to embrace that challenge.
“Obviously, every time we face each other, it’s a great environment, a great atmosphere,” Scheierman said, thinking about a possible Celtics-Knicks playoff rematch. “That’s something you grow up wanting to be a part of. So if it happens, I’m sure it’ll be a great series.”
DALLAS, TEXAS - APRIL 03: Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks argues with referee Sean Corbin #33 on a foul call against Cooper Flagg in the second half against the Orlando Magic at American Airlines Center on April 03, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. 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 Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Hot green tea at the desk tonight, which either means I’m being responsible or the Coffee Almond Toffee finally caught up with me. Either way, the Dallas Mavericks (25-55) close out their last road game of the season Friday against the San Antonio Spurs (61-19), a team that has locked into the two-seed and is preparing for a deep playoff run. This is the fourth and final meeting between these clubs, and the previous three weren’t close — San Antonio won all of them by double digits. Meanwhile, Wednesday night in Phoenix, Jason Kidd pulled his starters with 4:37 left in a five-point game and closed with a lineup of Poulakidas, Tyler Smith, Cisse, Dwight Powell, and AJ Johnson. The tank, long an open secret, is now officially on the record.
Let’s scan the lines in search of value.
🏀 Fixture: Dallas Mavericks (25-55) @ San Antonio Spurs (61-19) 📍 Frost Bank Center — San Antonio, TX 🕖 7:00 PM CST, Friday, April 10, 2026 📺 KFAA Channel 29 / MavsTV / NBA League Pass
📊 DraftKings Snapshot (as of 12:15 AM CST) Spread: SAS -17.5 (-110) | DAL +17.5 (-110) Total: 236.5 (O -110 / U -110) Moneyline: SAS -1600 | DAL +900
📉 Game Side Lean: San Antonio -17.5
Kidd showed his hand Wednesday. With the lottery standings razor-thin — Dallas tied with Memphis for sixth-best odds, one game behind New Orleans — every loss matters, and Kidd has stopped pretending otherwise. The Spurs, even without Wembanyama (questionable with a rib contusion), are 61-19 and playing with playoff intensity. Stephon Castle is also questionable with a left foot issue, but San Antonio has depth to absorb that. Dallas is showing up with a depleted roster, a coaching staff that just publicly waved the white flag, and approximately zero motivation to cover a number. Lay the points.
🔮 Total Lean: Under 236.5
When a team is actively not trying to win, they tend to not score very much either. Dallas has already demonstrated a willingness to deploy lineups that couldn’t beat a good G League squad, and San Antonio — even in playoff prep mode — isn’t going to go out of its way to run up the score. The Spurs will control pace, manage their rotation with one eye on the postseason, and this game settles into something quiet and ugly. Under is the play.
🎯 Player Props We Like
De’Aaron Fox Over 14.5 Points (-122) If Castle sits with the foot soreness, Fox becomes San Antonio’s unquestioned offensive engine without a secondary playmaker to share the load. Even with Castle available, Fox has been the heartbeat of this Spurs offense all season — and Dallas’s backcourt defense, never a strength, has been further gutted by attrition. Against a team that just benched its starters in a close game to chase lottery odds, Fox should be operating in cruise control by the third quarter. The number is modest for a player of his caliber in this spot.
Cooper Flagg Over 24.5 Points (-113) Flagg is playing for something real right now — the Rookie of the Year award, a closing argument after a 51-point performance against Orlando that should have settled the debate but apparently hasn’t. He’s in that mode where every game feels like a statement, and statement games against bad defenses tend to produce numbers. San Antonio will be focused on their own playoff preparation, not on stopping a rookie on a bad team. Flagg gets his. This is his season to put an exclamation point on.
💡 Summary: San Antonio -17.5 against a team that stopped trying Wednesday night. Under 236.5 for a game that figures to be controlled and quiet. Fox feasting with Castle potentially out, Flagg closing his ROY case one bucket at a time. Four picks, one cup of green tea. Go Lottery Odds Go.
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 8: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Atlanta Hawks on April 8, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers are all but locked into the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with the New York Knicks win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday evening. For the Cavs to move up, they’d have to win both of their last two games, while New York would have to lose their final two games. As it stands, it seems like the Cavs will be in the fourth seed, which would likely give them an easier path through the Eastern Conference.
Because they’re basically locked into their preferred spot, there’s little downside in trying to keep momentum going with what they hope is another positive showing against the Atlanta Hawks — a possible first-round opponent.
This game means something for the Hawks. They’ve fallen to the sixth spot in the standings and could drop further if they were to lose this one as well.
The Cavs deployed several matchup-specific schemes against the Hawks on Wednesday. This included aggressively cheating off of Atlanta’s average to below-average three-point shooters and using James Harden to guard their opposing center. It’ll be interesting to see how both teams adjust to Wednesday’s game.
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Cavs injury report: Donovan Mitchell – OUT (ankle), Jarrett Allen – OUT (knee), Sam Merrill – OUT (hamstring), Jaylon Tyson – QUESTIONABLE (toe), Thomas Bryant – OUT (calf)
Hawks injury report: RayJ Dennis – QUESTIONABLE (G League), Keshon Gilbert – QUESTIONABLE (G League), Jock Landale – OUT (ankle)
Cavs expectedstarting lineup: James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Dean Wade, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Washington Capitals (40-30-9, in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (41-22-16, in the Metropolitan Division)
Pittsburgh; Saturday, 3 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Penguins aim to keep a three-game win streak alive when they host the Washington Capitals.
Pittsburgh is 41-22-16 overall and 13-2-9 against the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are 41-6-9 when scoring at least three goals.
Washington is 40-30-9 overall with a 14-7-2 record in Metropolitan Division games. The Capitals have a 16-7-1 record in games they have fewer penalties than their opponent.
Saturday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Penguins won 5-3 in the last meeting. Sidney Crosby led the Penguins with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Bryan Rust has scored 29 goals with 36 assists for the Penguins. Rickard Rakell has 10 goals and three assists over the past 10 games.
Alexander Ovechkin has 31 goals and 30 assists for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard has scored four goals with three assists over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 6-4-0, averaging 4.4 goals, 7.7 assists, four penalties and 9.2 penalty minutes while giving up 3.3 goals per game.
Capitals: 6-3-1, averaging 3.5 goals, 6.3 assists, 4.8 penalties and 14.3 penalty minutes while giving up 3.4 goals per game.
INJURIES: Penguins: Filip Hallander: out (leg), Blake Lizotte: out (upper-body), Connor Dewar: day to day (lower body), Caleb Jones: out for season (shoulder).
Capitals: Charlie Lindgren: day to day (upper body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Vegas Golden Knights (36-26-17, in the Pacific Division) vs. Colorado Avalanche (52-16-10, in the Central Division)
Denver; Saturday, 8 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Vegas Golden Knights visit the Colorado Avalanche after Mark Stone scored two goals in the Golden Knights' 4-3 shootout loss to the Seattle Kraken.
Colorado is 52-16-10 overall and 25-9-5 at home. The Avalanche have an 18-2-5 record in games they score at least one power-play goal.
Vegas has an 18-14-8 record in road games and a 36-26-17 record overall. The Golden Knights have given up 237 goals while scoring 251 for a +14 scoring differential.
The teams match up Saturday for the third time this season. The Avalanche won 6-5 in a shootout in the previous matchup. Martin Necas led the Avalanche with two goals.
TOP PERFORMERS: Necas has 38 goals and 59 assists for the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon has seven goals and five assists over the past 10 games.
Jack Eichel has 25 goals and 58 assists for the Golden Knights. Stone has scored five goals with two assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Avalanche: 7-3-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.5 penalties and 7.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.3 goals per game.
Golden Knights: 5-2-3, averaging 3.2 goals, 5.3 assists, 3.4 penalties and 8.1 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game.
INJURIES: Avalanche: Nazem Kadri: out (finger), Cale Makar: out (upper body).
Golden Knights: William Karlsson: out (lower body).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
St. Louis Blues (33-33-12, in the Central Division) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (28-37-14, in the Central Division)
Chicago; Saturday, 5 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Blackhawks host the St. Louis Blues after Anton Frondell scored two goals in the Blackhawks' 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
Chicago has a 28-37-14 record overall and an 11-7-7 record in Central Division games. The Blackhawks have a 9-13-6 record in games they have more penalties than their opponent.
St. Louis is 7-16-0 against the Central Division and 33-33-12 overall. The Blues have a 26-10-5 record when scoring three or more goals.
Saturday's game is the fourth time these teams meet this season. The Blackhawks won the last matchup 7-3.
TOP PERFORMERS: Frank Nazar has 15 goals and 26 assists for the Blackhawks. Nick Lardis has four goals and two assists over the last 10 games.
Robert Thomas has 22 goals and 36 assists for the Blues. Dylan Holloway has scored five goals with nine assists over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Blackhawks: 2-6-2, averaging 2.3 goals, four assists, 2.6 penalties and 5.5 penalty minutes while giving up 3.9 goals per game.
Blues: 6-3-1, averaging three goals, 5.3 assists, 3.1 penalties and 7.3 penalty minutes while giving up two goals per game.
INJURIES: Blackhawks: Shea Weber: out for season (ankle), Artyom Levshunov: out for season (hand), Oliver Moore: out (lower body), Matt Grzelcyk: out for season (upper-body).
Blues: None listed.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Ron Francis To Step Down At End Of SeasonThe Kraken seek a new leader as Ron Francis departs, leaving a legacy of team building and a future in flux. 
