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Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) claims 2nd NAIA championship in 3 years with 76-71 win over Langston (Okla.)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Phil Horton scored 18 points, Jailen Anderson added 16 and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) beat Langston (Okla.) 76-71 on Tuesday night for its second NAIA championship in three seasons.

Top-seeded Freed-Hardeman (35-1) won its 32nd straight game to secure the program's first Red Banner since 2024 — also against Langston.

Horton gave Freed-Hardeman a 71-61 lead with 2:37 left before Langston battled back.

Langston freshman Jaden Williams converted a three-point play, following an offensive rebound, with 14.5 seconds left to pull within 74-71. After a timeout, Freed-Hardeman ran off some time before Lane Lauderbaugh was fouled and made two free throws to seal it.

DJ McIntyre had 14 points for Freed-Hardeman. Anderson scored 10 of his points at the free-throw line to help Freed-Hardeman go 23 for 26.

Orlando Thomas scored 20 points and Antonio Lewis added 10 for No. 4 seed Langston (29-8), which was battling for the Red Banner for the second time in three years. The Lions shot 51% from the field despite going 4 of 14 from 3-point range.

Rico Sain made a putback shot just before the halftime buzzer to give Freed-Hardeman a 33-30 lead at the break. Horton led his team with 10 first-half points.

Tajahri Cave gave Langston its last lead at 53-52 with 9:54 left.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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Knicks 121, Pelicans 116: “Mitch and Zion talkin food I know it”

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 24: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks receives the Bob Lanier Community Assist Award before the game against the New Orleans Pelicans on March 24, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. 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 Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images

Two teams with palindromic records squared off at Madison Square Garden tonight. One team sits three slots down from the top of their conference, while the other is five up from the bottom of theirs. The distance between the clubs is misleading, though. With Zion Williamson sporting the physique of a Marvel hero, Dejounte Murray finally back from injury, and Jordan Poole riding the pine, the Pelicans (25-48) are a much more dangerous team than their statistics suggest. After the home team piled on a 14-point first-half lead, tonight’s contest swung back and forth and stayed close until late in the final frame. Thanks to Captain Clutch dropping 15 in the fourth, the Knicks (48*-25) escaped the Birds, 121-116, and extended their win streak to seven. Good times in Gotham!

With two Knicks turnovers in the first three minutes, the game got off to a choppy start. The Pels took an early lead. Zion Williamson (22 PTS) drew multiple defenders on the offensive end and did a good job of harassing Jalen Brunson (32 PTS, 7 AST) on at least one possession. Dejounte Murray (7 PTS, 12 AST), playing just his 11th game back since returning from a torn Achilles tendon, did an adequate job guarding Brunson, too. NOLA might have the league’s 24th-ranked defense, but they’re ninth for steals, and the Knicks seemed surprised by their aggression.

Early on, OG Anunoby (21 PTS, 3 STL, 5-13 3PT) drove New York’s offense with an array of scores (a threeball, a dunk, free throws). New Orleans did a slightly better job of spreading the love, though, with Saddiq Bey (18 PTS) and Herbert Jones (13 PTS, 6 AST) combining for 11 of their 16-14 lead midway through the frame.

Around the 5:30 mark, coach Mike Brown subbed in Jordan Clarkson (10 PTS, 5 AST) and Mitchell Robinson (11 PTS, 8 RBS) for Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns (your NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for February). In a little over a minute, the trusty reserves connected for an alley-oop and grabbed three boards between them, helping to give New York its first lead of the game. Soon after, Clarkson jumped the passing lane for a pick-six, then tossed another alley-oop to Mitch. With three pointers from Brunson and Anunoby, the Knicks completed a 20-point turnaround to take a 42-28 lead into the second quarter.

Our heroes fell prey to overconfidence, missing seven shots and turning the ball over thrice while rookie Jeremiah Fears (21 PTS, 2 STL, 20 MIN) sparked a 21-6 run for the Birds. Jones and Karlo Matković (12 PTS) helped, too. New York didn’t get a bucket until Mikal Bridges (14 PTS, 7 AST) hit an 11-footer at the 6:41 mark. The Knicks fell behind but reclaimed a slim lead when Anunoby drilled his fourth three-pointer of the half with five minutes to go.

Bridges stepped out of the shadows for a pair of big buckets and an assist to lead a rally that gave the Knicks a seven-point lead with 40 seconds left. Then Murray grabbed a Towns (21 PTS, 14 RBS) miss and dished an alley-oop to Trey Murphy that cut the half-time score to 66-60.

Despite their awful start to Q2, the Knicks were in control at intermission because they’d been cleaner, more efficient, and better on the glass. They shot 57% overall and 53% (10-of-19) from downtown, and had a 21-15 rebounding edge. Their defense could have been better, as evidenced by New Orleans making 51% from the field and 47% from yard and committing just four turnovers. Anunoby led the first-half scoring with 18, and Jones logged 11 for the guests.

James Borrego’s club came out of halftime with a mandate to better incorporate Williamson and Murphy. Leading a rally that reclaimed the lead, Zion was a bull with frequent drives and trips to the line. Trey added eight points in the period, including a pair of deep threes, and Murray steered the ship, distributing dimes and initiating action.

For the Knicks, Towns kept things steady inside, scoring (putback dunk, hook shot, layup, free throw) and cleaning the glass. Anunoby and Mikal Bridges hit big threes, and Brunson was active but inefficient with several misses. Josh Hart (10 PTS, 8 RBS) did his usual dirty work (rebounds, a mid-range jumper). But if the Knicks planned to win, the battles would be fought at the rim. Fittingly, an alley-oop toss from Brunson to Robinson gave our heroes a one-point lead at the quarter’s conclusion.

Perhaps sensing that more length was needed, Coach Brown fielded Mohamed Diawara to start the fourth quarter. His driving finger-roll past three defenders was the first bucket of the period, and the rookie found Towns on the next possession for a three-pointer. I cannot wait to watch this kid develop.

With the Knicks holding onto a four-point lead, rookie Derik Queen violated Hart’s landing space on a three-point shot. Josh missed it, but the foul preserved his streak of nine-straight makes, and he canned the three freebies. No lead was safe tonight, though. Back-to-back buckets by Jones and Fears cut the differential to three with plenty of time remaining. Fears, an Oklahoma alum and the seventh pick in the draft, showed a lot of promise off the bench. NOLA might have something there.

One strategy change was to have Bridges bring the ball up the court and let Brunson conserve some energy. The coach’s adjustment yielded dividends, with Brunson scoring the Knicks next six points. Still, they had no answer for the 19-year-old Fears, as the young dynamo scored five points, stole the ball from Bridges, and fired an assist to Bey on a breakaway. Two-point game with four-and-a-half left.

After Captain Clutch added two more buckets, Bey hit free throws, and Hart and Zion cancelled each other out, the score was 115-111 with 1:41 to go. With every point counting, Jones mouthed off to the ref over a foul on Brunson and gifted the Knicks a technical. Brunson cashed in the three-bies for a seven-point advantage.

A Zion and-one, a missed Hart free-throw, and a Murphy layup made it a three-point game with 17 seconds left. Borrego’s bunch stopped the clock with a take foul on Brunson. He made both to seal the win.

Quoth foiegrastyle, “Mitch and Zion talkin food I know it.” I can only imagine the sundy and sordid topics about which those two cowboys might have been conversing. Someone please pitch Hula a Zion-Mitch reality show that follows them on cross-country excursions. That’s an Emmy-award-winning idea, right there.

Up Next

New York has nine games left before the playoffs. They visit Charlotte (yeah, yeah, I double-checked) on Thursday. Safe travels, Knickerbockers.

Box Score

* Should be one more, but NBA Cups double as dunce caps.

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Yankees head into season with high hopes — and high pressure

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows A smiling Aaron Boone looks on during the Yankees' 8-3 win over the Cubs in their spring training finale on March 24, 2026, Image 2 shows Aaron Judge is all smiles during the Yankees spring training loss to the Cubs on March 23, 2026
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MESA, Ariz. — The time on the baseball calendar when the Yankees are truly judged is still seven months away.

But under mounting pressure and expectations with another season gone by without a trip to the Canyon of Heroes, the Yankees will once again take what they hope is their first step toward that Wednesday with Opening Day against the Giants.

Entering the franchise’s 17th season since it last won a championship, the Yankees feel as good about this roster — and the depth behind it, especially with significant pieces nearing returns from the injured list — as they have in years.

Of course, Aaron Boone felt that way about the group he took into the postseason last year and that October run only made it to Game 4 of the ALDS, when they took a final punch from the Blue Jays.

Now they begin again, searching for a different ending, with 162 games to play to buy their ticket back to the dance.

“October is a long way away,” Boone said Tuesday morning at Sloan Park before the Yankees wrapped up their spring schedule against the Cubs. “Obviously, we want to get there and play in it and be the last team, but there’s just so many things you got to go through as a team to give yourself a chance to be in that position. 

“It’s San Francisco Giants right now and opening on the West Coast and trying to get off to a good start in the overreaction week of the season, whether we start off good, bad [or] indifferent.”

There is pressure on Boone, entering his ninth season on the job, to finally have something to show for all the winning the Yankees have done in the regular season under his watch.

A smiling Aaron Boone looks on during the Yankees’ 8-3 win over the Cubs in their spring training finale on March 24, 2026. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

There is pressure on Aaron Judge, the back-to-back AL MVP who has accomplished just about everything in this game besides capturing the one thing that defines the Yankees’ greats: championships.

And there is pressure on Brian Cashman, entering his 29th season as general manager (and again the final year of his contract), to concoct the right mix of talent to add another World Series title to his resume. 

There is little they can do about those legacies right now. But at least entering the regular season, the Yankees have put themselves in a strong position to take another swing.

“Look, I caution that it’s only camp, but we’ve had a hell of a camp,” Boone said. “We’ve had a lot of the answers we were hoping to get, knock on wood a lot of really good health and a lot of guys that are on their way back, trending in a really good direction with their rehab. I feel like the young players that are going to be future cores of this, maybe sooner rather than later, really showed well. And I feel like we’re going to have competition brewing for opportunities throughout the year because of our depth right now. 

“But that’s camp, nobody cares about camp 10 days from now into the season and rolling. It’s about the 162 now and we’re excited to get after it.”

One of the ultimate wild cards that could change the fortunes of the Yankees’ season — and alter the run-it-back narrative that followed them throughout the offseason — took the mound again Tuesday at Sloan Park, taking the next step toward a potential May return.

Aaron Judge is all smiles during the Yankees spring training loss to the Cubs on March 23, 2026. AP

Gerrit Cole, after that 26-pitch outing, was asked about his club entering the season and immediately reached for a bat in the bag next to him so he could knock on the wooden barrel.

“Remarkably healthy spring,” said Cole, who has looked sharp in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. “That’s really encouraging. I think the balance of the roster is good. I liked it last year. The depth of the roster is good, especially starting pitching, especially position player depth. I’m sure some of the length guys, the bridge guys bolstering the bullpen at some point. All-around looks really promising. 

“At the same time, every year, it’s so early, whatever’s on paper, you put yourself in a good position to have championship aspirations. That’s the blessing of playing for the Yankees, but at the end of the day, you got to play. You got to execute. So we’ll see where it takes us. But as far as what we can do right now, everybody’s healthy, everybody’s feeling good, and that’s a great place to start.”

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Anton Frondell Impresses In NHL Debut, Blackhawks Win 4-3

The Chicago Blackhawks had a lot of hype and excitement surrounding their Tuesday night matchup against the New York Islanders. The reason for that was the pending NHL debut of their top prospect, Anton Frondell. 

Due to the morning skate, we knew that Frondell would start on the first line and top power play unit. His play in the SHL (and World Junior Championships) earned him a reputation that warrants that type of respect.

Head coach Jeff Blashill started that top line against the Islanders, and Connor Bedard let Anton Frondell take the opening face-off. His NHL career was officially underway from that moment on. 

The first shift of the game didn't go as anyone wanted, however, as the Islanders scored right away. Matthew Schaefer, who went first overall two picks before Frondell in the 2025 NHL Draft, took a shot that was deflected in by Anders Lee. 

New York's lead lasted for just over half a period, however, and that was it. Nick Lardis tied it at 12:46 of the first. After Frank Nazar and Tyler Bertuzzi failed to convert a 2-0 breakaway, the former found Lardis in the slot for the goal. 

At 18:06, a special hockey moment took place, as Anton Frondell earned his first career NHL point with an assist on an Ilya Mikheyev goal. Frondell made a solid defensive play, used Connor Bedard as a decoy, and sprung Mikheyev, who didn't miss his chance.

Bedard grabbed that puck and kept it for Frondell to keep as a memory forever. It's a moment that he'll never forget, but it also put his incredible skills that he has on display. 

Before the period ended, Tyler Bertuzzi scored his 29th of the season to give the Blackhawks a 3-1 lead. He did what he does best and made good work of his net-front presence to jam the puck home. 

That score held through the first period, and the Blackhawks scored the only goal of the second period. Nick Lardis, who was already working on a two-point night, won a puck battle on a strong forecheck, fed Frank Nazar, and watched the puck go in the net. 

This play probably should have been icing on the Blackhawks, but Lardis's hustle forced the linesman to make a bad non-call. He made his own luck on the play with his effort, and Nazar was the beneficiary. Putting them together on the second line appears to be a Jeff Blashill masterclass. 

With a 4-1 lead for the Blackhawks entering the final frame, things got a little scary for them. The Islanders scored twice to make it 4-3, and they had a power play with under two minutes left and the goalie on the bench. 

Arvid Soderblom stood tall in the final moments of the match, and he was incredible again all game. After facing 49 shots in the loss on Friday against the Colorado Avalanche, he faced 47 on this night against the Islanders. He made 44 saves on those 47 shots to preserve the win. 

Hanging onto late leads has been a sore spot for the Chicago Blackhawks this season, but they prevailed in this one. This young group will have opportunities to play spoiler as the season winds down, and they did that to the Islanders, who are trying to lock down a postseason berth. 

More On Anton Frondell

In addition to his first career NHL point, Frondell had two blocks, two shots, one hit, and 0 giveaways in 15:43 of ice time. He broke up plays, generated offense, and improved the overall makeup of the forward group right away. It won't be long before he is one of the most impactful forwards on the entire team. 

Watch Every Chicago Goal

What’s Next For The Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks will be back in action again on Thursday night when they take on the Philadelphia Flyers in game two of their four-game road trip. Anton Frondell made his NHL debut in Tuesday night's game, and Sacha Boisvert will make his in Thursday night's game. 

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2025 Bluebird Banter Top 40 Blue Jays Prospects: 33-36

Moving into the middle of the list we have three pitchers drafted early on the second day, along with a wild card you could not profile more differently..

28. Micah Bucknam, RHP, age 22 (DOB: 8/26/2003), grade: 35, 2025: college junior

A double Blue Jays’ draftee, Bucknam first went IN the 16th round out of high school in British Columbia before signing last summer as the 4th rounder out of Dallas Baptist. In between he didn’t pitch a whole lot, accumulating under 20 innings at Louisiana State in 2023-24. before transferring to DBU. Slotted into their rotation, he made 13 starts, most notably striking out 80 in 62.1 innings with less standout 4.62 ERA (and 5.78 RA/9).

But what made him an early pick was the promising assortment of pitches rather than the track record. That starts with a sharp mid-80s swing-and-miss slider, as well as a low-80s power curve. Both have plus potential, and he hits the mid-90s on his fastball. The drawback is its straightness, and resulting tendency to get hit. His change-up lags significantly behind as a work in progress.

There are some similarities here to Juaron Watts-Brown, their third rounder in 2023 traded away at the deadline this summer in terms of two plus breaking balls, a straight mid-90s fastball, big strikeout numbers with pedestrian run prevention results. JWB moved up as a starter with solid results, but ultimately didn’t really take developmental steps to project beyond a (significant) relief role. Bucknam might be a bit more tabula rosa, and it will bear watching to see if the Jays can get a little more out of him for a rotation future. If not, there’s a very viable fallback as a potentially higher end bullpen arm.

27. Spencer Miles, RHP, age 25 (DOB: 7/26/2000), grade: 35, 2025: Giants system

Plucked in December’s Rule 5 draft, Miles is down to the wire in terms of sticking with the Jays after an impressive Spring. Selected in 2022’s 4th round out of Missouri, a succession of injuries prevented him from pitching more than a handful of professional innings over the ensuing three years. A good run in the Arizona Fal League caught the Jays’ attention.

As we’ve seen this Spring, Miles hits the mid-90s with his fastball, with a couple breaking balls. Neither stood out as huge sign-and-miss weapons, but both were effective as he struck out 11 in 9.2 innings. If he sticks in the Jays organization, he profiles as a potential middle relief option, and maybe a little more if he can achieve the higher end velocity he’s touched and sharpen the secondaries.

26. Juan Caricote, C, age 17 (DOB: 11/5/2008), grade: 35, 2025: unsigned

And we’re into the pure lottery ticket portion of the program. Signed in January out of Venezuela, Caricote received a bonus just under $2-million as the centrepiece of the most recent international class. That he was Baseball America’s 17th rated IFA while being outside MLB.com’s top 50 speaks to the inherent variability of this demographic. Adding to that teenage catchers being the highest risk demographic in terms of defensive projection, and it makes for an extreme risk profile.

Obviously, a $2-million bonus indicates there’s plenty to like as well, but we’ll see how it looks when he actually gets into organized games. Realistically, the new information coming in over the next year will be too limited to fundamentally change the outlook, but in two years he could be an afterthought. A cautionary tale here is Juan Meza, a *checks notes* Venezuelan catcher signed for about $2-million in 2022. Debuting at#24 on that year’s list, four years later, he’s yet to get off the complex and has struggled to exceed the Arencibia line offensively.

25. T.J. Brock, RHP, age 26 (DOB: 8/10/1999), grade: 35, 2025: 19th

A pure short-relief profile, Brock spent his first two years in the Blue Jays system carving up lower level hitters to the tune of a 35%+ strikeout rate thanks to plus raw stuff in the form of two major league calibre pitches albeit with more rudimentary control. His fastball is pure gas, a straight four seamer that sits in the mid-90s touching a tick or two higher into the upper 90s. When it’s working, his slider is a hellacious wipeout weapon that piles up swing-and-misses. Not infrequently however, it doesn’t have the shape and gets hangy, with AA hitters had started to exploit at the end of 2023.

The upward trajectory has stalled out the last couple years. Brock missed most of the 2024 season, and in the few appearances he had mid-season in New Hampshire he didn’t look right. He still piled up the strikeouts, but it usually an involved struggle and his slider in particular seemed off, a couple times even looking more like a back-up change-up. He came back for a good run in the AFL and was a Fall-Star, but had Tommy John and missed 2025.

Accordingly the outlook is largely the same as last year, with a little more risk in seeing what Brock looks like when he’s back on the mound. Brock has the stuff where if it clicked he could be a high-leverage monster anchoring the back of the bullpen (think Jordan Romano). More likely, the control much less command is toward the minimum viability threshold where he’s a tantalizing but ultimately frustrating up/down guy (think Zach Pop).

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Paul George takes ownership for 25-game PED suspension: ‘I’m no superhero’

New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges defends against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George in the first half at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York, Saturday, January 3, 2026.
New York Knicks guard Mikal Bridges defends against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George in the first half at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, New York, Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Paul George spent Tuesday issuing a mea culpa for his “poorly timed decision” that led to a 25-game ban for violating the terms of the NBA’s anti-drug program in late January.

The 76ers star did not go into detail about the failed drug test or the banned substance that he took that led to the suspension, describing it as “more on the personal side.” 

“At the moment, I didn’t know exactly the repercussions,” George said.

“Obviously, being a pro athlete takes a toll on you, and my body wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and the expectation to perform because of my body not being where it needed to be,” George said. “Obviously, I’m going to have an expectation for myself, and that’s what led to the poor decision at the time. But, again, I’ve said it throughout my career dealing with mental health, I’m no superhero. I’m a human, and I made a mistake in that moment.”

The nine-time All-Star will rejoin the Sixers lineup on Wednesday night when they face the Bulls, marking the first time he’s suited up for Philadelphia since Jan. 29 in a game against the Kings. 

The Sixers forward was allowed to practice and work out with the team, but he was unable to attend games, both on the road or at home, which he described as “tough.” 

Paul George drives on Miles McBride during the 76ers’ win over the Knicks on Jan. 3, 2026 at the Garden. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

George was averaging 16 points and coming off one of his best efforts of the year, around the time he was suspended, after he had 32 points in a win over the Bucks. 

“We’d been playing good basketball. So there was some devastation, just of the momentum that was being built,” George said of his initial reaction to the suspension. 

George entered this season coming off an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee over the summer, and he sat out for the first 12 games of the year. 

The 25-game suspension helped his body heal, and he told reporters he was feeling great.

Paul George drives on Mikal Bridgers during the 76ers’ road win over the Knicks on Jan. 3, 2026. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

His return now comes with 10 games left in the season and the Sixers sitting in seventh in the Eastern Conference. 

“We’re in the driver’s seat to close out these last 10 games,” George said. “Obviously, that’s the goal, is to try to get the best seeding possible and get ourselves out of the play-in situation, so that’s what I’m gearing for, is to take these last 10 games and use them as playoff games, have that mindset going into them, that these are must-wins to solidify a great seed. We’re still in a good position right now.”

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Carter Yakemchuk scores in NHL debut as streaking Senators top Red Wings

DETROIT (AP) — Carter Yakemchuk scored a second-period goal and also had an assist in his NHL debut as the streaking Ottawa Senators edged the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Yakemchuk, the No. 7 overall pick of the 2024 draft, had been playing for the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators. He was called up earlier in the day with defensemen Thomas Chabot, Dennis Gilbert, Nick Jensen, Jake Sanderson and Lassi Thomson sidelined by injuries.

Yakemchuk, a 20-year-old defenseman from Alberta, had 10 goals in 50 games with Belleville.

Brady Tkachuk scored his 20th goal of the season for the Senators, who have won four straight and nine of their last 11 games. Lars Eller scored the other goal for the Senators. Linus Ullmark made 32 saves as the Senators continued their late push for an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

MAPLE LEAFS 4, BRUINS 2

BOSTON (AP) — Matthew Knies scored a pair of goals and Toronto snapped a three-game losing streak with a victory over Boston.

Max Domi and William Nylander also scored for the Maple Leafs and John Tavares had three assists as Toronto outshot Boston 35-20 and avoided a three-game season sweep in the Original Six rivalry. Anthony Stolarz finished with 18 saves.

Elias Lindholm and Charlie McAvoy scored for Boston, which still holds the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Jeremy Swayman had 31 saves for the Bruins, who lost at home for just the second time in their last 16 games.

CANADIENS 5, HURRICANES 2

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his 44th goal of the season and Jakub Dobes made 41 saves as Montreal held off Carolina.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov had a goal and an assist each, and Oliver Kapanen also scored as Montreal erased a two-goal deficit for its second consecutive win.

Jake Evans buried an empty-net goal with 1 minute left in regulation and Caufield added an assist for a two-point night.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored for Eastern Conference-leading Carolina, which lost for the first time in four games.

PANTHERS 5, KRAKEN 4, SO

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Florida gave up a three-goal, third-period lead but recovered for a shootout win over Seattle on Vinnie Hinostroza’s goal.

The Panthers led 4-1 on Noah Gregor’s goal with 7:39 to play, but Seattle’s Matty Beniers, Jordan Eberle and Bobby McMann scored in a span of 2:21 to force overtime. Eberle and McMann scored just 14 seconds apart.

Seattle, which has lost eight of 10, has not won since beating the Panthers 6-2 at home on March 15.

Nolan Foote, Eetu Luostarinen and Carter Verhaeghe also scored for the Panthers with Sergei Bobrovsky making 22 saves.

Ryker Evans also scored a third-period goal for Seattle and Joey Daccord had 20 saves.

BLACKHAWKS 4, ISLANDERS 3

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Anton Frondell had an assist in his NHL debut, Nick Lardis and Frank Nazar each had a goal and an assist and Chicago defeated the New York.

Ilya Mikheyev and Tyler Bertuzzi also had goals for the Blackhawks, who scored four straight goals and snapped a two-game skid. Arvid Soderblom made 44 saves.

Anders Lee, Simon Holmstrom and Calum Ritchie scored for the Islanders, who lost for the third time in four games. David Rittich allowed three goals on 12 shots before being replaced by Ilya Sorokin, who made 11 saves.

BLUE JACKETS 3, FLYERS 2

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zach Werenski continued his torrid scoring pace with a goal and an assist as Columbus defeated Philadelphia.

Columbus scored a pair of goals 1:44 apart to start the second period. The Blue Jackets outshot the Flyers 6-0 in the opening three minutes of the period.

Mathieu Olivier scored the first goal 44 seconds into the second period, taking a pass from Werenski on a 3-on-2 rush and snapping a shot over the glove of Philadelphia goalie Dan Vladar to tie the score 1-1.

On his next shift, Werenski came out of the corner and worked his way into the high slot. He took a pass from Damon Severson and beat Vladar with a snapshot.

Werenski now has 77 points this season, second-most among NHL defensemen.

AVALANCHE 6, PENGUINS 2

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Martin Necas scored twice, Nathan MacKinnon poured in his NHL-leading 46th goal and the Colorado breezed past the Pittsburgh.

Necas, Sam Malinski and Parker Kelly scored within a 1:55 span late in the first period to break it open as the Avalanche atoned for one-sided loss to the Penguins last week in Denver by returning the favor in Pittsburgh. Cale Makar picked up the assist on Necas’ first goal, boosting his career point total to 499. Ross Colton scored an empty-netter late.

Scott Wedgewood stopped 27 shots for the NHL-leading Avalanche, who have won the first three games of a four-game road swing that finishes up in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Egor Chinakov and Rickard Rakell scored for Pittsburgh. Kris Letang picked up the secondary assist to become the 21st defenseman in league history to reach the 800 career points when he picked up a secondary assist on Chinakov’s career-high 17th goal of the season.

LIGHTNING 6, WILD 3

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Erik Cernak scored a tiebreaking goal with 2:53 left in the third period Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson misplayed a carom off the end boards and Tampa Bay beat the Wild.

Cernak scored his second of the season after Charle-EdouardD’Astous’ pass traveled the length of the ice and bounced off the end boards toward Gustavsson, who failed to control the puck with his glove. The puck went between Gustavsson’s legs into the crease and Cernak pounced, sending it into the open net.

Tampa Bay rallied from a two-goal deficit, scoring three goals in the second period and five unanswered overall over the second and the third to win for the fourth time in five games and fifth time in seven.

Darren Raddysh had a goal and two assists, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel also scored, and Pontus Holmberg added an empty-netter in the final half-minute. Andrei Vasilevskiy made 20 saves to win his fourth straight start. Guentzel’s goal was his 32nd of the season and the 300th for his career.

Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist, and Mats Zuccarello and Brock Faber also scored for the Wild, who have lost five of their last seven games. Gustavsson stopped 19 of the 23 shots that he faced.

BLUES 3, CAPITALS 0

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jimmy Snuggerud and Otto Stenberg scored, Joel Hofer made 21 saves and St. Louis beat Washington.

Jordan Kyrou scored his team-leading 17th goal into an empty net with 41 seconds remaining to seal the win for Hofer, who earned his sixth shutout of the season and the eighth of his career.

St. Louis, which has won two in a row, has gone 9-2-2 since returning from the Olympic break.

Logan Thompson made 24 saves for Washington, which had not lost in regulation in its previous five games.

PREDATORS 6, SHARKS 3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Filip Forsberg scored a goal and assisted on two others to lead Nashville to a victory over San Jose in a matchup of teams headed in opposite directions in the standings.

Matthew Wood, Roman Josi, Luke Evangelista, Brady Skjei and Steven Stamkos also scored and Juuse Saros made 27 saves for Nashville, winners of a season-high five consecutive games. Jonathan Marchessault had three assists.

Will Smith scored two goals, Adam Gaudette had one and Alex Nedeljkovic made 13 saves for the Sharks, who lost their fifth straight game.

DEVILS 6, STARS 4

DALLAS (AP) — Jack Hughes scored twice in New Jersey’s four-goal first period, and the Devils handed Dallas consecutive losses in regulation for the first time in two months.

Jesper Bratt and Connor Brown also had goals as the Devils put four of their first five shots past Jake Oettinger to end the Dallas goalie’s career-best point streak at 14 games. Oettinger was pulled after the first period.

Wyatt Johnston had two goals to reach 40 for the first time in his career, and Jason Robertson scored his 39th for Dallas, which hadn’t lost two in a row in regulation since dropping three straight from Jan. 13-18.

JETS 4, GOLDEN KNIGHTS 1

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Mark Scheifele had a goal and two assists — and a rare fighting major in the second period — to lead the Winnipeg to a victory over Vegas.

Kyle Connor, Alex Iafallo and Cole Perfetti also scored for Winnipeg, which snapped a five-game home skid against Vegas.

Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves to snap his six-game winless streak against the Golden Knights.

Colton Sissons scored the lone goal on the power play for Vegas. Adin Hill stopped 17 shots.

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Jalen Brunson scores 15 in fourth as Knicks win seventh straight, 121-116, over Pelicans

Jalen Brunson scored 15 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Knicks earned a seventh straight win, 121-116, beating back a good effort from the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. 

Brunson was the closer after entering with just over seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Knicks (47-25) had used a tremendous first quarter to build a double-digit lead, but over the remaining three quarters, they nearly tossed it away with stretches of cold shooting.

Brunson had some help with six teammates in double-figures, led by OG Anunoby pouring in 21 on 7-for-16 shooting (5-for-13 from three) with four rebounds, four assists, three steals and was a plus-17 in 40 minutes. Off the bench, New York got a big boost from Jordan Clarkson, 10 points and five assists for a plus-11 in 21 minutes, and Mitchell Robinson, 11 points and eight rebounds (four offensive) for a plus-11 in 21 minutes. 

Here are the takeaways...

- Anunoby knocked down his first bucket (a corner three) and kept at it in the first, for seven early points. Brunson made it a 4-for-7 from behind the arc by the Knicks with a three over Zion Williamson to put New York ahead 22-21 with 5:04 to play in the first. 

Robinson made an immediate impact with three points, three rebounds (one offensive), and a block in his first 100 seconds of game time in the first. Clarkson then picked up the baton with four points, two rebounds, two assists, and a steal in his first 3:38 of time. The bench duo then combined for a Clarkson-to-Robinson alley-oop in the middle of what would be a 15-0 Knicks run to close the quarter for a 42-28 lead with Anunoby knocking down a three at the buzzer (on a fourth Clarkson assist).

New York shot 15-for-21 (71.4 percent) in the first and held New Orleans to 11-for-25 (44 percent). Anunoby led them with 13 and Brunson had 10 with three of the team's 10 assists.

- Remember that big run to close the first? The exact opposite came about in the second as the Pelicans scored the first six points, as the Knicks missed their first five shots from the floor. Mike Brown had seen enough, asking for time, three minutes in after a turnover led to a Pelicans fastbreak and an 11-2 run.

The stretch featured some rough moments, like Karl-Anthony Towns missing a pair of shots by the cup, and then he was whistled for two fouls in 14 seconds, and the Pelicans had the lead down to one. A Karlo Matković three gave New Orleans the lead at 46-44, capping an 18-2 run in the quarter's first five minutes. 

Miles Bridges made the Knicks' first field goal in the quarter after seven straight misses. And a Josh Hart bucket and Anunoby three – both off Robinson offensive rebounds – put New York back ahead by two and forced another New Orleans timeout with five to play in the half. Robinson had seven points and six boards in 13 first-half minutes.

Anunoby's two-handed slam (on a good find from Bridges) gave him 18 points in the half and the Knicks 18 assists on 24 made buckets. The lead at halftime was back to 66-60, thanks to a couple of Bridges threes in the quarter's final two minutes.

Towns had a strange half, going 3-for-9 from the floor for 11 points with four rebounds, but was a minus-12 in 13 minutes. Only Jose Alvarado,a minus-13 in five minutes against his former team, was worse. Brunson, meanwhile, was a plus-19 in 19 minutes

- After six-straight from the Pellicans to start the third, a Towns putback slam, a Bridges corner three, and an Anunoby three stemmed the tide. But a 7-0 Pelicans spurt tied the game with 6:30 to play in the quarter as the Knicks opened 4-for-12 from the floor with the Pelicans connecting on 6 of 10.

Clarkson and Robinson entered just past the midway point with the Knicks up a pair and in need of a spark, but the Pelicans grabbed a three-point lead with a 12-2 run. The spark game as the Knicks shot 8-for-13 from the floor after their bad start, but even with Brunson adding two late assists – first finding a cutting Clarkson and then an alley-oop to Robinson – to give him six in the game, New York held just a 93-92 lead to take to the fourth. 

- The Knicks opened the fourth unlike the other periods: Anunoby steal (his third), a Mohamed Diawara finger roll, and a Towns three for a six-point lead to force a Pelicans timeout. Up four, the Knicks got a gift when Derik Queen was called for a flagrant foul on a reckless closeout, and after Hart made all three from the line. But New York, 1-for-7 from the floor, after that New Orleans timeout, had to call for time when the visitors cut the lead to three with 7:25 to play.

Out of the Brown timeout, Brunson entered and connected on a step-back jumper, and a few possessions later, a fadeaway from 16 feet to give him 21 in the game. But the Pelicans, as they’d done since the first, wouldn’t go down quietly. Jeremiah Fears, who came into the game averaging 13 points a night, added two baskets to give him 21 for the game on 9-for-12 shooting. The rookie then grabbed a steal, leading to a layup and a Knicks timeout with just over four to play, and the lead was down to two.

Brunson responded with back-to-back buckets to give him 10 straight points and forced a Pels timeout. With Towns sitting since the 7:25 mark in the period, Anunoby was the tallest man on the court along with Brunson, Hart, Clarkson, and Bridges down the stretch to match up with a small-ball New Orleans lineup.

After a Brunson assist and three at the line, including one on a technical free throw, for a seven-point lead with 71 seconds to go, the visitors responded again and the lead was three with 16 seconds to play.

Brunson made no mess of the final moments with two from the line, to give him 15 in the quarter to seal it. 

- Bridges finished with 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting (4-for-10 from three) with seven assists and two rebounds, and was a minus-9 in 37 minutes. 

Towns finished with 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting (2-for-6 from three) with 14 rebounds (three offensive) but was a minus-11 in 24 minutes. 

Hart had 10 points on 3-for-8 shooting with eight rebounds and three assists and was a minus-14 in 38 minutes. 

Diawara had just the one bucket, but was a plus-15 in his 11-minute cameo.

New York shot 51.8 percent (44-for-85) for the game, including 39.4 percent (13-for-33) from three. New Orleans shot 51.1 percent (45-for-88) and 44.1 percent (15-for-34) from three. Williamson led the visitors with 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting (6-for-8 from the line) with four rebounds, two assists, and was a plus-15 in 34 minutes. No other Pelican was more than a plus-1.

Game MVP: Jalen Brunson, of course

When he entered in the fourth, you just knew he would be the focus, and yet, he couldn't be stopped. He finished with 32 points on 11-for-19 shooting (2-for-4 from deep) with seven assists and was a plus-16 in 39 minutes.

Highlights

What's next

The Knicks look to extend their winning streak to eight games when they head to Charlotte to take on the Hornets. Tip is set for Thursday at 7 p.m.

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Caufield scores his 44th and Dobes makes 41 saves to lead Canadiens past Hurricanes 5-2

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored his 44th goal of the season and Jakub Dobes made 41 saves as the Montreal Canadiens held off the Carolina Hurricanes for a 5-2 win on Tuesday night.

Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov had a goal and an assist each, and Oliver Kapanen also scored as Montreal erased a two-goal deficit for its second consecutive win.

Jake Evans buried an empty-net goal with 1 minute left in regulation and Caufield added an assist for a two-point night.

Nikolaj Ehlers and Jordan Staal scored for Eastern Conference-leading Carolina, which lost for the first time in four games.

Frederik Andersen stopped 14 shots.

The Canadiens sit third in the Atlantic Division with 88 points. The New York Islanders, who lost on Tuesday and are the top team outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture, trailed by three points.

Ehlers opened the scoring on the power play 2:36 into the first period when Montreal defenseman Mike Matheson deflected his pass intended for Seth Jarvis into the Canadiens’ net. Staal doubled the lead at 7:09, beating Dobes glove side.

Kapanen tipped in Struble’s point shot at 12:11 to give the Canadiens some life before Montreal struck twice in the second period.

Caufield trails Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon by two goals for the league lead. No Canadien has led the NHL in goals since Guy Lafleur in 1977-78.

The Canadiens secured their 24th comeback win of the season, tying for the most in a single season in franchise history (1992-93, 1975-76).

Up next

Hurricanes: Host New Jersey on Saturday.

Canadiens: End a three-game homestand against Columbus on Thursday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

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Crammed Test cricket schedule risks leaving Australian summers unrecognisable | Geoff Lemon

Four matches in four weeks for the men’s team compromises the quality of the sport – and makes the Test season a contradiction in terms

This has long been on the way, and here it is. Test season, the centrepiece of Australia’s summer, will next time around consist of four matches played over four weekends, not starting until the second week of December and done a week into January. Cricket Australia will instead claim to have expanded the schedule to seven Tests, but their tropical excursion against Bangladesh is in August, and the pink-ball sideshow masquerading as the 150th anniversary Test will have half its overs in March darkness. Both are distant islands to the summer mainland. Unlike most cricket countries, Tests are still Australia’s most substantial earner and site of interest. Yet in a world of sports trying to claim more of the calendar, Australian administrators are in voluntary retreat.

Even as recent decades have squeezed the format into shorter series, while tour matches are euthanised and preparation is eroded as an outdated luxury, there still has to be time within a series itself. Two matches could run back to back, maybe three, but any longer and there has to be space built into the tour, gaps of a week or 10 days to offset the physical demand. Those pauses also gave the audience time for breath; they let players rest and storylines compound. Much of the rhythm of cricket is in waiting.

Continue reading...
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What Hubert Davis said after UNC basketball fired him

Hubert Davis won nearly 70% of his games as North Carolina head coach.

But that wasn't enough to keep him in the job at his alma mater.

Davis led the Tar Heels to the national championship game in his first season 2021-22 and back to the Sweet 16 in 2023-24. But UNC missed the tournament altogether in 2022-23 and was bounced in the first round the past two seasons, including blowing a 19-point lead to VCU in last week's first round.

At UNC, that's not good enough.

UNC basketball coach candidates: Who will replace Hubert Davis? Expect big names linked

The school announced a "change in leadership" on Tuesday, March 24. Davis went 124-54 in his five seasons in charge in Chapel Hill.

He released a statement Tuesday night after the news of his dismissal:

"Tonight, I was let go by the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. My desire was to continue to coach here. This opportunity has truly been such a blessing."

UNC says it will conduct a "national search" for its next head coach.

Expect the list of candidates to include some of basketball's biggest names as one of the sport's biggest brands looks for a reset.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hubert Davis fired: What former UNC coach said after news of dismissal

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UNC fires Hubert Davis: Reactions from college basketball world

North Carolina men's basketball coach Hubert Davis will not return next season, the school announced on Tuesday night.

Davis, 55, was fired by North Carolina, which called the move a "leadership change."

The decision comes nearly a week after the Tar Heels were upset in an overtime loss, 82-78, to VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The now-former UNC coach is set to be owed nearly $5.3 million, per his contract.

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Billy Donovan could walk away from coaching Bulls after trying season

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during an NBA game, Image 2 shows Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan talks with forward Jalen Smith (25) during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies

One NBA coach could be calling it quits after the season.

There is “growing momentum” that Bulls coach Billy Donovan could step away from the job when this season concludes, according to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.

Donovan, 60, is likely not done coaching, according to the report, but could just take a year off to evaluate what he wants to do next, with the Bulls struggling during a season in which he lost his father and mother-in-law in a matter of weeks. 

Chicago head coach Billy Donovan talks with forward Jalen Smith during the second half of the Bulls’ blowout win over the Grizzlies at United Center on March 16, 2026. Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Bulls have only made the playoffs one time during Donovan’s six seasons — a first-round exit in 2021-22. That season was the only time the team won more than 40 games with him. 

Donovan, who signed a multi-year contract extension in July 2025, hasn’t exactly been given the plethora of talent from general manager Arturas Karnisovas, who also could soon be on the hot seat as Donovan’s departure would eliminate one potential scapegoat, per the report.

The Bulls are sitting in 12th place in the East at  29-42, well behind the Nets, Wizards and Pacers in the tanking race. 

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during the second half of a game against the Thunder at United Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Some of Donovan’s top players during his Chicago tenure have been Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Tre Jones. All good players, but not exactly game-changing NBA talent in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

The team hasn’t picked higher than 11th in the draft the past five seasons, limiting its chance to add a true impact rookie.

It could be a situation that leads to Donovan walking away.

Donovan, who led Florida to back-to-back national championships at the NCAA level, has compiled a 467-401 record over 11 NBA seasons.

He won coach of the year in Oklahoma City in 2019-20 and led the Thunder to the Western Conference finals with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in his first season. 

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Blackhawks 4, Islanders 3: It’s a shame

Simon was dialed in, at least. | NHLI via Getty Images

With multiple teams pushing for a playoff spot they are letting slip away, the Islanders wasted a golden opportunity to keep pace against a bottom-five team that has nothing to play for but the pretense that next season will be better.

The Isles got out to a decent start and 1-0 lead in the first minute on Anders Lee’s 16th of the season, but the Chicago Blackhawks stormed back with three goals in a seven-minute span of the first, capitalizing on a Mat Barzal turnover to get on the board and then a contagious series of more turnovers and sloppy play.

A 3-1 deficit after 20 minutes is completely reversible against a “fragile” team — and Ilya Sorokin took over for David Rittich after that first period but the Isles were the ones to crumble after an obvious icing was not called. Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield acted like they’d never played together as they coughed up the puck behind the Isles net, Mayfield getting bodied off and then flailing away. The Blackhawks pounced, Frank Nazar converted and the lead was 4-1 just six minutes into the second period.

The Isles squandered a full power play late in the second period to bring that three-goal deficit into the third. They eventually got going and made it close, but they couldn’t dig out of the hole, causing Thomas Hickey to lament at the post-horn cut to break, simply: “It’s a shame.” A shame that basically 10 minutes of brain farts wasted the opportunity, made worse and harder-to-overcome with an equally shameful brainfart following the blown icing non-call.

[NHL Gamecenter | Game Summary | Event Summary | Natural Stat Trick]

Adding to the fun: Tony DeAngelo was lost after the first period, status undeclared, but it looks like it’s not just a game. This comes after Ryan Pulock was out again, with enough concern there for the Isles to call up Isaiah George as an extra before the game.

Figure George to be needed next game, as will Adam Boqvist, who handled himself pretty well in 17:57.

Overall, there weren’t a lot of individual goats throughout the game; once the hole was dug, they did the right things to try to get themselves back in the game (including, of course, running Matthew Schaefer out there again and again, for a total of 31:59 of TOI and 14 attempted shots, 7 of which reached goal).

But the hole was too big, there wasn’t enough home karma and fortune to bail them out, and damn not only what a shame, but what a waste.

Up Next

This was the one they needed to bank. They’ve got a game every other night the rest of the week with the Stars, Panthers and Penguins, who are the first opponent in a back-to-back that concludes in Buffalo.

The Penguins (86 points) and Bruins (86) each lost tonight in regulation, and at least Ottawa (85) knocked off Detroit (85) in regulation, so that’s a few potential extra points taken out of the system. And Montreal climbed to 88 with a regulation win over Carolina. If the Isles fall short, we’re going to look back at tonight as one of the critical unforced errors that did them in.

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Islanders hurt playoff hopes with ugly loss to woeful Blackhawks

A dejected Adam Pelech looks on after the Islanders allowed a goal to Frank Nazar during the second period of their 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks on March 24, 2026 at UBS Arena.
A dejected Adam Pelech looks on after the Islanders allowed a goal to Frank Nazar during the second period of their 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks on March 24, 2026 at UBS Arena.

What, you thought this would be easy? Well, it seems the Islanders did too.

Is there another reason for their inexcusable mess of a performance on home ice Tuesday night? For why, in the late stages of a playoff race in which every game is a must-win, Mathew Barzal — benched earlier this season over a failure to back-check — stopped skating to watch as Tyler Bertuzzi and Frank Nazar went up the ice on a two-on-none? For the way the Islanders came undone from there?

Surely not.

The game ended 4-3 to the Blackhawks, whose urgency and intensity outstripped that of the Islanders until the last period, when a frantic attempt at a comeback came up a hair short. If the Isles’ loss in Ottawa was a bad night, and their loss in Montreal felt like a shock to the system, then this was something far worse.

This one should make them angry, and it should make their fans angry. If the Islanders go on to miss the playoffs — and they are below the cut-line again after the results rolled in Tuesday — this one will stick out like a sore thumb.

“We had some turnovers that ended up in our net and then you get a shot that goes off a body behind the goalie and it’s 3-1. Other than mistakes, it has nothing to do with our intensity or will to win,” captain Anders Lee said, understandably shielding his teammates. “We just messed up. That’s gonna happen. You saw that will the rest of the way tonight.”

Indeed, it was there over the last 20 minutes. Before that, though, the Islanders defended casually, and let momentum spiral against them.

After taking a lead inside a minute and dominating the first 10, Barzal turned the puck over and then failed to back-check, allowing Nick Lardis to follow a two-on-none rush and tie the game after Bertuzzi’s initial shot missed the net.

A dejected Adam Pelech looks on after the Islanders allowed a goal to Frank Nazar during the second period of their 4-3 loss to the Blackhawks on March 24, 2026 at UBS Arena. AP

“I feel like we play as a team, we win as a team,” coach Patrick Roy said, later adding he didn’t consider benching Barzal. “There’s mistakes in the game. It’s part of the game. The back-checking, for us, is important.”

Making matters even worse, Tony DeAngelo was hurt while back-checking on the same play, leaving the Islanders with five defenseman and without their top two right-handed defensemen, as Ryan Pulock missed a second straight game with a lower-body injury.

DeAngelo did not return, with the club citing a lower-body injury and Roy saying he would be evaluated Wednesday.

It took the Islanders until the third period, when goals from Simon Holmstrom and Cal Ritchie, along with an urgency level that finally looked appropriate, brought them within one and made for a close ending.

Indeed, the Islanders so nearly got away with it, getting a six-on-four power play with 27 seconds to go and coming within a starring, 44-save Arvid Soderblom performance of tying the game.

Not one bit, however, does that excuse everything that came before.

Simon Holmstrom celebrates after scoring a third period goal in the Islanders’ loss to the Blackhawks at UBS Arena. NHLI via Getty Images

The Blackhawks had scored two more times before the end of the first, chasing David Rittich, then added a fourth goal against Ilya Sorokin 6:02 into the second.

The missed icing call that preceded the eventual game-winning-goal from Nazar was as bad as it gets — so bad that Roy said the officials admitted to him they’d made a mistake — but the Islanders also needed to play to the whistle that never came.

With the noted exception of Matthew Schaefer, who recorded his 30th assist on Lee’s goal 49 seconds into the match and had a ridiculous 31:59 of ice, the defense corps served up a dog’s breakfast during the consequential stretch that spanned from 10 minutes into the first through the end of the second.

\Carson Soucy was on the ice for three goals against, Scott Mayfield for two while Adam Pelech committed a pair of penalties.

Adam Boqvist, for good measure, allowed Bertuzzi to beat him to a loose puck in the crease to make it 3-1 after Rittich — who stopped nine of 12 shots before being pulled after just one period — could not secure Alex Vlasic’s point shot.

“It’s fine that we were making mistakes, but I feel like we should have recovered from it,” Roy said. “We should have back-checked and tried to protect the netfront on that first goal. … I thought we were playing a really solid game, controlling the game, playing really well. A couple turnovers made the difference.”

Matthew Schaefer takes a hit and so did the Islanders’ playoff hopes after their loss to the Blackhawks at UBS Arena. Robert Sabo for New York Post

This is a playoff race in which no one seems to be beating themselves. If the Islanders end up being first to do so, they will be at the bottom of the pile, and they will deserve it.