Illustration highlighting the best Angels and Dodgers player of the past 25 years. Clockwise from top left: Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen, Francisco Rodriguez, Troy Glaus and Jered Weaver. (Associated Press and Getty Images photos/photo illustration by Tim Hubbard/Los Angeles Times)
This is the golden age of baseball in Southern California. The Angels heralded its dawn.
In 2002, the Angels won the World Series, the first of six postseason appearances within eight years. The Dodgers had played pretty good ball for more than a century, but they never had done that.
Angel Stadium was the place to be. The rally monkey was all the rage. The team nurtured a wave of young talent to surround Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero. In 2009, the final year of that run, the Angels drafted future Hall of Famer Mike Trout. In 2011, for the first and only time, the Angels sold more tickets than the Dodgers.
Neither the Angels nor the Dodgers made the playoffs in 2010, 2011, or 2012. Since then, the Dodgers have made 13 consecutive postseason appearances, with three World Series championships to show for it. The Angels have made one, and they did not win a game.
Never — and this includes the Dodgers’ time in bankruptcy court — have the fates of the two Los Angeles franchises been so disparate. In 2026, the Dodgers could win their third consecutive World Series championship, and the Angels could finish in last place for the third consecutive year.
At a time major league owners would like you to believe market size equals destiny, the team with baseball’s longest postseason drought plays in the second-largest market in North America.
Today, however, we come not to bemoan the bad times but celebrate the good times, for the Angels and Dodgers.
The century is a quarter old. So here are our quarter-century teams for both the Angels and Dodgers, based solely on performances for those teams. In a few places, we included a deserving player at a secondary position, if his primary position was fully stocked. Let us know where we got it right, and where we didn’t.
And, while you’re there, you’ll see the story of our golden age in a nutshell. Of the 22 players on the Dodgers’ first and second teams, 11 were on at least one of the World Series championship teams this decade. Of the 22 players on the Angels’ first and second teams, only four played for the Angels this decade.
One was Shohei Ohtani, the first-team designated hitter for both teams.
*We considered how long someone played for the Dodgers or Angels during this century, as well as how well someone played, but we’re making an exception here for two reasons: one, left field has not been a position of strength and depth for the Dodgers; and, two: Manny Ramirez’s two-month “Mannywood” run after the Dodgers traded for him in 2008 was simply astonishing: He played 53 games and drove in 53 runs, batting .396 with 17 home runs and a 1.232 OPS. In the playoffs, he batted .520 in eight games, hitting four home runs and driving in 10 runs, with a 1.747 OPS. The two-month “Mannywood” run was good for 3.5 WAR — the same WAR Freddie Freeman delivered over the entire 2025 season. (And, yes, in May of the following year, Ramirez was suspended for violating baseball’s drug policy.)
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DENVER, CO - MAY 21: The sun sets behind the scoreboard at the stadium as the Colorado Rockies bat against the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth inning at Coors Field on May 21, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In their team by team season preview series each year Effectively Wild asks “what would constitute a success for <insert team> this year?”
While winning the World Series would be seen as a success for any team, most are not in a position where that would be plausible. For those teams, some other benchmark, if met, would still have to be considered an overall good outcome.
On the surface I think this is a sensible answer. Given the state of the organization last season, however, I don’t think major league wins are the most important factor in the long-term health of the club. That, I believe, depends mainly on the following:
An influx of new talent: While the Rockies likely have more talent than is currently obvious (due to poor development practices), it would be hard to argue that they have enough in house to be able to field a contending team.
Most of that is hard to measure from an outside perspective. We’ll have a chance to do our own assessment of the new talent they bring in over the course of the season, but we are likely never going to know how the Rockies use of tech or development plans compare to other organizations in more than vague terms.
If we can’t directly know to what degree these goals have been achieved, we need to look to a downstream indicator of if/how those things have changed.
This brings us to:
Farm System Ranking
Coming into the 2026 season, here’s where the Rockies farm ranks among public prospect evaluators:
Given their poor major league performance for the past half decade, the Rockies have had every opportunity to rank highly on these lists. Regardless of how much you value the analysis of any one of those evaluators, the consensus among them being that the Rockies are — at best — a bottom-third team when it comes to prospect talent is damning.
These poor rankings indicate that the Rockies either haven’t selected talented players or developed them particularly well, both of which have been hampered by their lack of technological infrastructure. You see where I’m going with this.
If the factors for a successful 2026 season posited in the into are improved that should be seen in their farm system being ranked more favorably moving forward.
The good news is, the 2026 Rockies will continue to have plenty of opportunities to test this:
Trade Candidates: The new front office held off on selling low on most of the major league players they inherited this offseason. They will almost certainly enter the trade deadline as clear sellers with close to an entire roster of potentially tradable players.
Existing Raw Tools: The farm system is already littered with players with big raw tools hampered by question marks as to whether they will actually be able to access them (Ethan Holliday, Brody Brecht, Robert Calaz, Jackson Cox, etc.).
This should be a perfect confluence of needs and means. The big question is how quickly they can execute on improvements to the organization.
Conclusion
All that said, my pitch for what would constitute a successful season for the 2026 Colorado Rockies is this:
A consensus top 15 farm system in the league next offseason.
That may seem steep, but given the number of favorable opportunities available, it is plausible. If the Rockies can do that, 2026 will be a resounding success in my book regardless of how many losses the major league team ends up with.
What about you? Is there some other metric or benchmark that you’ll be using to measure the season? Let us know in the comments.
While most of the league will have played their first game of the season today, the Rockies will need to wait until tomorrow. Thomas Harding and Christina De Nicola offer up a very full breakdown of everything you’ll want to know heading into Rockies Opening day game.
Kevin Henry talks to Jake McCarthy about how he’s transitioned after being traded to the Rockies this offseason. It’s a wide ranging piece going over the parallels he sees between his career and the recent Rockies teams. The real draw, however, is an anecdote McCarthy shares about how early this spring he would drive through the Diamondbacks side of camp at 6:30 in the morning and “lay on the horn” to get a response out of his old teammates.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - MARCH 23: Luis Rengifo #13 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts in front of Elly de la Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds after hitting a double in the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds during the exhibition game at American Family Field on March 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The long offseason is officially over, as regular season baseball begins later today when the Brewers battle the White Sox in Milwaukee. If you’ve been tuned out during the winter, we’re here to get you up to speed on the Brewers’ offseason moves, the roster, the farm system, and the coaching staff. But first, let’s start with a look at what’s happened in and around American Family Field and the Brewers’ broadcasting situation.
American Family Field
The Brewers made a few big changes to the stadium this offseason, including a “complete reimagining” of the Glove Playground on the field level in right field. The playground’s new activities include “Race to First,” a “Skee-Ball-style Sausage Race,” and “Rob a Home Run.” They’ve also refreshed some of the returning attractions, including “Bring the Heat,” “Strike Zone,” and “Batter Up!”
Another major change, which isn’t expected to be completed until June, is the UW Credit Union Plaza. The plaza, located beyond the outfield walls near the pedestrian bridge over State 175/Brewers Boulevard, will include a six-hole mini golf course, the Joie Play Yard (a cow-themed play space), a beer garden, and a performance stage, which will host pregame activities, theme-night celebrations, and live music. Food trucks and other vendors will also be present for select games. A second phase to the project is expected to be completed next year, featuring fixed concessions and additional attractions. The plaza is free to visit, including on gamedays.
Other changes in the stadium include the new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system on the field (learn more here) and an expansion to MLB’s Go-Ahead Entry. Introduced at American Family Field last year, Go-Ahead Entry (which uses facial authentication to recognize your tickets) will be available at the Home Plate West, Home Plate East, Third Base, and UW Credit Union Plaza gates in 2026. Learn more here.
I did a full rundown on the new food options earlier in March, but the highlights include a new Fair Foods stand featuring Wisconsin State Fair favorites, an expansion to the 3rd Street Market Hall Annex in right field, an expansion to The Alley Food Truck Park in left field, and new concession items across the stadium. Learn more here.
Lastly, the Brewers are offering another loaded lineup of promotions, giveaways, and theme nights. For more information on giveaways, click here. For more information on theme nights, click here.
Getting to (and from) American Family Field
Let’s talk about the traffic around the stadium. Unless you haven’t driven since the end of the postseason, you probably already know about the major construction on I-94 around the stadium. I-94 eastbound between 70th Street and General Mitchell Boulevard, which currently features a bottleneck from four lanes to two lanes, will return to three lanes to begin the season, though the long-term lane closure will return by late summer. The I-94 eastbound exit ramp and westbound entrance ramp to General Mitchell Boulevard will also reopen.
The bad news is that an I-94 westbound lane between the Stadium Interchange and 70th Street will remain closed long-term, meaning there are only two lanes in this section as you exit the stadium. Another lane closure between 35th Street and 25th Street is scheduled to last through late 2026. To help ease gameday traffic commutes, the Wisconsin DOT launched an interactive website, linked here. Fans can also find the site at brewers.com/traffic, through QR codes at the stadium, and via the MLB Ballpark app.
Brewers TV & MLB TV
After being in limbo for much of the offseason (again), the Brewers announced a new partnership Major League Baseball to produce and distribute games for the 2026 season. While there are still a few unknowns — namely, the lack of cable channels in Wisconsin — you can now purchase a subscription for Brewers TV and/or MLB TV here. The Brewers TV package is $99.99 for the season or $19.99 per month, while an MLB TV & Brewers TV package is $199.99 for the season or $39.99 per month. The Brewers will also air 10 regular season games on over-the-air stations across Wisconsin, along with at least two Apple TV appearances.
More information about cable stations is expected to be announced on or around Opening Day, per the Brewers. We’ll communicate that information as soon as we have it, so stay tuned!
Offseason Moves
The Brewers’ offseason once again featured a major arm being traded away. This time, it was Freddy Peralta, who was sent to the New York Mets along with Tobias Myers. Other key losses include Shelby Miller (signed with Cubs), Jordan Montgomery (signed with Rangers), Connor Thomas (signed with Braves), Jose Quintana (signed with Rockies), Rhys Hoskins (signed with Guardians), Danny Jansen (signed with Rangers), Caleb Durbin (traded to Red Sox), Andruw Monasterio (traded to Red Sox), Anthony Seigler (traded to Red Sox), Nick Mears (traded to Royals), and Isaac Collins (traded to Royals).
In the additions department, the Brewers added Sammy Peralta (waivers from Angels), Ángel Zerpa (trade with Royals), Jett Williams (trade with Mets), Brandon Sproat (trade with Mets), Kyle Harrison (trade with Red Sox), Shane Drohan (trade with Mets), Jake Woodford (trade with Rays), Akil Baddoo (signed), Gary Sánchez (signed), and Luis Rengifo (signed).
The Crew additionally signed Reese McGuire to a minor league deal, though he was released and signed with the White Sox.
Roster
The Brewers officially announced their Opening Day roster on Wednesday. Here’s what it looks like:
Catchers (2): William Contreras & Gary Sánchez
Infielders (6): Jake Bauers, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Luis Rengifo, Brice Turang, & Andrew Vaughn
Outfielders (5): Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Brandon Lockridge, Garrett Mitchell, & Christian Yelich
Starting Pitchers (5): Kyle Harrison, Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, Brandon Sproat, and Brandon Woodruff
Relief Pitchers (8): Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby, DL Hall, Jared Koenig, Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Jake Woodford, and Ángel Zerpa
Injured List (5): Akil Baddoo, Steward Berroa, Quinn Priester, Craig Yoho, Rob Zastryzny
Milwaukee’s top prospect is Dominican infielder Jesús Made, generally regarded as a top-five prospect league-wide. Made’s rapid ascension has so far mirrored the rise of Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio, who made his major league debut just after his 20th birthday. Made won’t turn 19 until May, but he’s already in Double-A and just hit .310 in major league spring training. Expect to see him in a Brewers uniform sometime next season.
Aside from Made, the Brewers have a few other infield prospects who scouts think will become impactful players in the big leagues. A couple of those prospects have a shot at contributing this season, including the newly acquired Jett Williams (No. 3). Williams, a versatile defender with impressive pop for his size (5’7”), will start the season in Triple-A but should have a chance to prove himself in Milwaukee this season — whether at third base or elsewhere.
Andrew Fischer (No. 6) was the Brewers’ first round pick in 2025, which normally means he wouldn’t have a shot at making his big league debut this year. However, Fischer was always considered a more developed hitter than the average college draftee and has impressed in both pro ball and in his time with Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic. With third base still something of a question mark, it’s not out of the question that he could debut before the year is out.
Other Brewers infield prospects who you probably won’t see in a Brewers uniform this season include Luis Peña and Cooper Pratt. Peña (No. 2) is a toolsy, high ceiling prospect who still needs some more development but has a superstar ceiling. Pratt (No. 4) could probably play shortstop for Milwaukee on Opening Day, but his exit velocities and numbers at the plate aren’t MLB-level yet.
The other strength of the Brewers’ farm system right now is its pitching depth. Brandon Sproat (No. 5) will be in the rotation to open the season. Logan Henderson (No. 7), Robert Gasser (No. 17), and Shane Drohan (No. 25) will start the season in the minors, but each should get some time with the Brewers this year. Henderson and Gasser have already accrued big-league service time and will be ready when called upon. Drohan, acquired in the trade that sent Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox, hasn’t made his major league debut yet but put up a 2.27 ERA last season in 12 appearances (11 starts) with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate. You might also see Coleman Crow (No. 27), Craig Yoho (No. 29), Carlos Rodriguez, and Tate Kuehner in the big leagues, too.
Another prospect who will almost certainly make his debut with the Brewers in 2026 is catcher Jeferson Quero. Formerly a top 50 prospect in all of baseball, Quero tore his labrum after just one at-bat in 2024. His arm, his calling card as a prospect, hasn’t looked the same since. Labrum injuries are complicated and often take a long time to heal; however, there’s a chance his arm will never be what it was. Quero is set to open the year in Triple-A, but after Milwaukee cut Reese McGuire earlier this week, he’s firmly established as the organization’s No. 3 catcher behind William Contreras and Gary Sánchez. If either player lands on the injured list (or if Sánchez struggles), Quero would most likely be the next man up.
Coaching Staff
The majority of Milwaukee’s coaching staff is once again returning in 2026, with Pat Murphy still at the helm after winning his second consecutive NL Manager of the Year Award. In terms of new coaches, four join the team this year: Spencer Allen (first base coach), Guillermo Martinez (hitting coach), Juan Sandoval (assistant pitching coach), and Daniel Vogelbach (hitting coach). Four other coaches have changed roles: Jim Henderson (previously assistant pitching coach, now pitching coordinator), Jason Lane (previously third base coach, now offense and strategy coordinator), Eric Thiesen (previously hitting coach, now lead hitting coach), and Matt Erickson (previously infield coach, now third base coach (though he’ll also continue to lead infield instruction)).
Returning staff from 2025 include field coordinator Néstor Corredor (fourth season), pitching coach Chris Hook (eighth season), and bullpen coach Charlie Greene (third season). Al LeBoeuf, formerly lead hitting coach, and Julio Borbón, formerly first base coach, will transition to expanded roles in the organization and assist in efforts across baseball operations with a focus on player development and scouting. Daniel de Mondesert will transition from assistant coach to game preparation specialist. Rickie Weeks, who served as the Brewers associate manager each of the last two seasons, will transition to special assistant – baseball operations and domestic/international scouting.
Lastly, Christian Correa will return for his third season as a bullpen catcher, while Ty Duvall will join him for his first season in that role.
Season Outlook
Depending on who you ask, you could get a very different outlook on the 2026 season in Milwaukee. They made a few key trades, bolstering their young roster with more prospects while losing a key veteran in Freddy Peralta. Around them, the rest of the NL Central had mixed results this offseason, as the Cardinals completely tore it down while the Reds, Pirates, and Cubs all made efforts to improve. The Cubs lost Kyle Tucker but added Alex Bregman, while the Pirates added a few key offensive pieces as they look to provide some backing for their pitching staff headed by Paul Skenes. The Reds mostly held pat, but they did bring back old friend Eugenio Suárez.
Coming off a 97-win season after most picked the Cubs to win the division (again), I’d say the Brewers are just fine with being doubted. We’ll see what the season turns into, but another playoff appearance very well could be in the cards.
The Braves had the best record in Grapefruit League action, but historically that has had little bearing on how the regular season will go.
The Marlins signed veteran outfielder Austin Slater to a one-year deal to complete their roster.
Phillies owner John Middleton defended the decision to rename a stadium bar that had honored beloved broadcaster Harry Kalas. It is now named for an energy drink company after the naming rights were sold.
The Nationals surprisingly named Miles Mikolas as their number two starter behind Cade Cavalli, who will start Opening Day.
Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday will start the season on the IL to give him more time to rehab after suffering a broken hamate bone in his hand.
It's the first time they'll face Dallas since Nov. 18, when Stars forward Mikko Rantanen ended Alexander Romanov's season in the dying seconds of the third of what ended as a 3-2 win for Long Island.
Rantanen failed to control himself as he pursued a puck on the forecheck. His skate clinked with Scott Mayfield's, then Rantanen shoved Romanov at full speed from behind straight into the boards.
Mikko Rantanen was assessed a 5-minute major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct for this hit on Alexander Romanov. pic.twitter.com/VPP6ldnQc8
Rantanen faced no supplemental discipline from the NHL for that hit, but within the next week, Rantanen had gotten himself into two more highly dangerous plays that resulted in a fine and another ejection.
The Islanders did not get a chance to make Rantanen answer for his play that hurt Romanov that night, and they won't get a chance to on Thursday, either.
Rantanen suffered an injury while playing for Team Finland at the Olympics and has yet to play for Dallas since the Olympic Break ended.
Rantanen joined the team for their upcoming four-game road trip in full-contact mode, but Dallas has already ruled him out for Thursday's game against the Islanders.
Stars GM Jim Nill says Mikko Rantanen will join the team full-time for practice going forward and will travel with the team during the upcoming 4-game road trip. The hope is for Rantanen to return to play by the last two games of the trip.
As a result, the Islanders will not see the Finnish superstar until next season.
The Islanders haven't truly been able to fill the role that Romanov left behind. During his absence, the Islanders have tried five internal options before general manager Mathieu Darche acquired Carson Soucy from the New York Rangers in exchange for the New Jersey Devils' 2026 third-round selection.
We'll see if the Islanders can qualify for the postseason and if Romanov can get back by then, because he's surely been missed.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - NOVEMBER 08: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics high-fives Neemias Queta #88 after scoring against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at the TD Garden on November 08, 2024 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
After missing an abundance of practice time and 63 games on the court, the connection between Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta looks like it hasn’t been affected.
Following his return from injury, Tatum offered insight into the conversations he and Queta shared.
“Me and Neemi had a little talk during the game,” he said. “We were just like, ‘man, this is our first day really playing together.’” While the two logged 385 minutes together last season, there is still, as he noted, “some things we got to work on.”
And if Tatum’s first game back against the Dallas Mavericks was any indication of a starting point, there is ample reason for excitement about what lies ahead.
The most common action for this tandem features Queta setting an on-ball screen, creating scoring opportunities for Tatum. As I noted before this season, Queta utilizes his body exceptionally well in these situations.
At his best he’s leveraging his full frame with a low, wide base to effectively shield on-ball defenders.
Even in situations where Tatum doesn’t convert, you can see just how much space he has to work with thanks to Queta.
Tatum even praised Queta, saying he has “really turned into an excellent screener” following the Celtics’ 111–100 win over the Washington Wizards.
That same game also marked Queta’s second-highest scoring output of the season, as he poured in 24 points on 11-of-13 shooting, with Tatum’s precise passing playing a key role in setting him up.
Since Tatum’s return, he has nine assists to Queta which is tied for the most to a teammate with Derrick White. Tatum’s passing variety and pass placement adds another layer to an already really good offense. These skills have already enhanced Queta’s opportunities as a scorer.
Coach Joe Mazzulla was also asked what he has seen from the duo following the win over the Wizards. He pointed to Queta’s growth, noting that his “ability as a connector, his ability to set screens, his ability to get guys open, his ability to read the floor in transition and create those two-on-ones early in the shot clock is something that he’s gotten better at. And with JT back, it just takes it to another level.”
The Celtics bigs have thrived setting those early offense screens this year which consist of “Flare” screens, “Veer” screens, and “Wide” action screens. I went very deep into detailing each of these screens in my Luka Garza spotlight.
When it pertains to Queta and Tatum though, the Flare screen has dominated their early offense connection.
A Flare screen is an off-ball screen set in between the passer and the recipient.
Queta has been able to set these really effectively giving Tatum room to score, attack, and pass to others.
Tatum also has the ability to set those Flare screens and allow Queta to pass.
Looking more into Queta’s passing, he has had his fair share of dimes to Tatum as well.
Queta’s screening and improved ability as a handoff passer also allows him to be compatible in “Blind Pig” actions.
Here’s a detailed look at what Blind Pig is and how it works for the Celtics.
Another area where Queta has thrived since Tatum’s return is passing from the short roll. After the Celtics’ 120–99 win over the Golden State Warriors, Tatum continued to sing Queta’s praises, saying, “He’s really turned into a guy that we can trust throwing the ball in the seam, finishing at the rim and finding the open man. It’s just been really cool to see his development over the last few years.”
“He’s exceeded expectations.”
We really see both parties work together in these situations as they can create advantages for one another and do a great job capitalizing on it.
Here Queta sets the screen on Stephon Castle, getting him off Tatum. That gets Tatum going downhill at Luke Kornet, who is Queta’s defender, opening the pocket for the pass. Dylan. Harper, younger brother of Celtics guard Ron Harper Jr., was also attracted to the Tatum drive. So, when the pass goes to the short roll and hits Queta, he spots Baylor Scheierman drifting to the corner away from Harper getting the Celtics an open look.
Here Queta creates an advantage for Tatum with a pin-down screen, and the attention Tatum gets afterwards opens the short roll to Queta.
Queta was asked about his chemistry with Tatum in the pick-and-roll in a postgame interview and said, “Yeah, it’s been getting better. I’ve been figuring out how to get him open looks, how to get him space to attack certain mismatches and it’s a work in progress and I feel like we’re trending in the right direction.”
Tatum added that this connection has continued to grow because of the constant communication between the two. They “talk it out during the game, timeouts, after the game and as we get more reps, we’ll get more comfortable just knowing where each other is supposed to be.”
Following the Celtics most recent 119–109 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, Tatum spoke highly of his developing connection with Queta again, noting that their connection is “just growing each game.” He went on to praise Queta’s instincts and approach, adding, “Neemi’s a very smart player. He has a great feel for the game, he’s coachable, he listens, and he cares more than anything.”
Jayson Tatum has assisted Neemias Queta more than any teammate since returning.
Asked him about his chemistry with Queta:
“It’s growing each game. Neemi is great player. He has great feel for the game. He’s coachable, he listens, and he cares more than anything.” pic.twitter.com/AUd1jLVEOT
The evolving chemistry between Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta is more than just impressive; it’s a glimpse of the Celtics’ offensive potential when precision passing meets smart, physical play. From seamless on-ball screens to short-roll connections, Queta’s growth as a scorer and facilitator, combined with Tatum’s vision and scoring, is already adding to the team’s dynamic.
And if this is only the beginning, the rest of the league better take notice.
Montréal Canadiens - 39-21-10 - 88 Points - 6-3-1 in the last 10 - Won 2 - 3rd in the Atlantic
Columbus Blue Jackets - 38-22-11 - 87 Points - 6-1-3 in the last 10 - Won 1 - 2nd in the Metro
Team Notes Per CBJ PR
The Blue Jackets won for the fifth time in the last six games with a 3-2 victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday.
The club has earned points in 24 of its last 27 contests (20-3-4, 44 pts) to lead the league in wins (tied), points, points pct. (.815) and goals-against per game (2.44) as well as posting the fewest regulation losses since Jan. 11. They also rank seventh-T in penalty kill pct. (81.4) and eighth in goals-for per game (3.59).
CBJ are also 9-2-1 in 12 road contests since Jan. 11, ranking second in the league in points pct. (.792) and third in goals against per game (2.17) and penalty kill pct. (87.1) as well as fifth in power play pct. (30.4).
Columbus has allowed two goals or less in seven of the last eight games since Mar. 10 (1.75 GA/GP, 2nd).
The Blue Jackets have 11 games remaining in the regular season with seven against teams currently holding a playoff spot, and all 11 contests against teams within seven points of a playoff spot.
Player Notes Per CBJ PR
Adam Fantilli has registered points in seven out of the last eight games (3-6-9) and 13 of the last 16 contests (8-10-18). He sits two points (21-32-53, 71 GP) from setting a single-season career high.
Jet Greaves has earned points in 14 of his last 15 starts since Jan. 11 (12-1-2, 2.24 GAA, .915 SV% in 16 GP), while G Elvis Merzlikins has recorded points in 10 of his past 12 starts over that span (8-2-2, 2.50 GAA in 13 GP).
Mason Marchment notched 1-1-2, including the third period game winner on Tuesday and has totaled 13-10-23 in 29 contests with the Blue Jackets.
Mathieu Olivier has posted 3-1-4 in the past five games and ranks seventh in the NHL in goals since Jan. 28 (11 in 20 GP).
Damon Severson collected two assists at Philadelphia and has registered 3-7-10 in 13 games in March.
Zach Werenski has recorded multiple points in three of the last four games (1-7-8) and tied Artemi Panarin's single-season club record with his 25th multi-point effort on Tuesday (1-1-2). He has notched 21-56-77 in 64 games in 2025-26 to lead NHL blueliners in points-per-game (1.20), multi-point efforts and shots on goal (225) and sit second in points and third in goals.
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 20.1% - 17th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 77.9% - 22nd in the NHL
Goals For - 225 - 13th in the NHL
Goals Against - 216 - 18th in the NHL
CanadiensStats
Power Play - 25.0% - 3rd in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 76.3% - 25th in the NHL
Goals For - 247 - 5th in the NHL
Goals Against - 225 - 25th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheCanadiens
Columbus is 22-17-1-5 all-time, and 10-10-1-3 on the road vs. Montréal.
Columbus has recorded points in three-straight meetings overall (2-0-1) and 12 of the last 17 dating back to Mar. 28, 2019 (9-5-3).
The club has collected points in five of last eight games at Montreal (3-3-2) but the Canadiens have won the last four home games in the series (CBJ; 0-3-1).
Each of the last three games have been decided by a single goal. Prior to that, 7-of-8 were decided by multiple goals.
The winning team has scored four-plus goals in 11 of the past 15 games since Nov. 19, 2019 (including SO goals).
The teams have combined for six or more goals in four-straight meetings and nine of the past 11.
CBJ have scored a power play goal in two-straight games of the series (2-of-5; 40.0 pct.).
The teams have combined for 60 shots or less in six of the past nine meetings (58.2 avg.).
Who To Watch For TheCanadiens
Cole Caufield leads the Habs with 44 goals.
Captain Nick Suzuki leads the team with 62 assists and 86 points.
Jakub Dobeš is 23-8-4 with a SV% of .896.
Jacob Folwer is 6-5-2 with a SV% of .899.
CBJ Player Notes vsCanadiens
Charlie Coyle has 9 goals 21 points in 29 games against Montréal.
Zach Werenski has 18 career points in 22 games against the Habs
Boone Jenner has 13 points in 25 games against the Canadiens.
Injured Reserve
Brendan Smith - Lower Body - Missed 33 Games IR - Out for the rest of the regular season.
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 179
How to Watch & Listen: Tonight's game will be on FanDuel Sports Network. The radio broadcast will be on 97.1 The Fan, with Bob McElligott behind the mic doing the play-by-play.
* Simulcasted on CW Columbus, WUAB in Cleveland, WXIX in Cincinnati, WZCD in Dayton, WQCW in Charleston/Huntington, WV, WKYT in Lexington, KY and WAVE in Louisville, KY
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BOSTON, MA - MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react during the game after the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have been together for nine NBA seasons. They have played 610 regular season games, 121 playoff games, 11 NBA Finals games, and of course, won the 2024 NBA championship together in 2024.
With all of this success, some people will still tell you with a straight face that they aren’t the best duo in the NBA right now — that is blasphemy. While only playing 9 games together this season, we have seen the chemistry build back up and this win against the Oklahoma City Thunder was the catalyst for me to say they have reclaimed their title as best duo in the NBA.
Jaylen Brown finished with his 33rd 30+ point game of the season with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals on 9-17 shooting and 12-14 from free throw line. Jayson Tatum had another double-double, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block while shooting 5-12 from the field and 3-6 from three.
I asked Brown in the postgame press conference his thoughts on playing alongside Tatum when both of them are dominating on the floor together. He said: “I felt like that was a great, encouraging game for JT, like high level intensity, physical team, and it felt like that was a step in the right direction. We still encourage them to get back to that level of aggression that we know and are used to. But I think today was a great game, and making the right plays, making the right reads, being physical and being Jayson Tatum, and I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
I asked Jaylen Brown what it was like Jayson Tatum running alongside him and having a big game with him.
“I think that game was awesome. I thought the intensity level of that game was very high. Felt like a playoff game. The crowd was into the game. I felt like that was a great,… pic.twitter.com/z9vBk4VjrS
If we’re talking chemistry, nothing was more apparent than this play at the 5:34 mark of the second quarter. All five players on the Thunder defense were watching Tatum in the right corner and he was still able to make an incredible pass to Brown who knocked down the three over a late Luguentz Dort contest.
When it came to the Jays contributing to the team together, we can look at the 11-0 run that Boston went on late in the second quarter. In this short burst, both Brown and Tatum were able to use their gravity to find wide open shooters for three and give the Celtics their first lead of the night with 1:15 left in the first half.
The best part about have two Top 10 players in the NBA is that at any given time they can takeover a game and we saw that the Thunder had no answer when it came to stopping the Jays.
Jayson Tatum went first, dominating the first half with 12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block on 4-7 shooting from the field and 2-4 from three. The second quarter specifically might have been the best he looked all season on both sides of the ball.
On offense, Tatum looked more aggressive in this quarter than in almost any other we have seen so far since he has come back. The threes he was able to make after going one-on-one with the defender and the drive he had against Chet Holmgren were great signs. His passing ability also looked sharp after some tough turnovers in the first quarter.
On defense, Tatum was active in the passing lanes, finishing with two steals on some poor offensive execution from the Thunder. I would say his block was the most impressive, coming out of no where to send back a shot from Dort. After the Celtics scored only 20 points in the first quarter, Tatum’s play led to Boston outscoring OKC 29-22 in the second quarter.
After Tatum set the stage in the first half, Jaylen Brown took the baton in the second half. Brown finished the second half with 24 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds on 6-7 shooting from the field and 12-14 from the free throw line.
Brown scored 14 points in the third quarter alone and did a great job of getting to the free throw line, taking 9 attempts. He affected the game with his scoring and facilitating as well. Brown just bullied any defender that was in his way to the basket with none better coming when he put three Thunder players on a poster.
His passing was huge when it came to kicking out to his open teammate after the defense decided to collapse and focus on him. Brown’s play led to the Celtics outscoring the Thunder 39-30 in the third quarter.
Brown continued his big second half in the fourth quarter to close the game, scoring 10 points on 3-3 shooting. He attacked the basket with aggression and even gave Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a taste of his own medicine, drawing a foul on a pump fake and finished the midrange jumper with a smile. Boston finished the game dominating OKC in the fourth quarter, outscoring them 31-26.
You can go through the NBA right now and see a ton of great duos but none of them can compare to the level of Brown and Tatum when they are both at their best on the same night. This game against the Thunder showed that it doesn’t matter who the 1A or 1B is when it comes to talking about the Jays.
Instead, we saw both of them takeover the game to beat the number 1 team in the league who was riding a 12 game winning streak. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are the best duo in the NBA right now and the rest of the basketball world should be terrified that both of them are together again.
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 25: Jayson Tatum #0 and Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics react during the game after the game on March 25, 2026 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
In front of thousands of people, you have to craft a setlist that flows smoothly and effortlessly while maintaining the atmosphere, keeping the crowd engaged and vibing to the environment they crave.
The tough part is the perfection needed for it. You have to understand the moment while building the next one. One minor slip up can derail it all, killing the vibe and destroying all the work built toward that moment. You cannot afford it.
It’s quite the skill. Maybe that’s why Tommy Lloyd enjoys it.
“I can talk about that all day,” he said.
Leading Arizona in its quest of breaking its Final Four drought, Lloyd’s sidequest includes spinning it on the turntables in becoming a DJ.
He may not strike you as one you’d see mixing songs or making the beat drop, but Lloyd is quite the music lover. And this hobby he’s picked up has come with a masterful teacher, “one of the best DJs of all time” in Mix Master Mike.
“My sport is the art of turntables and hip hop. His sport is basketball. We just decided to collide into those two professions, and now we're here,” Mike told USA TODAY Sports. “It's just an amazing thing.”
It all starts with Lloyd being a big fan of the Beastie Boys, who toured with Mike, regarded as one of the greatest DJs to exist as a three-time world champion. Lloyd had seen him several times in-concert, and one day, decided he wanted to do more than listen to the music.
“He was just fascinated by the art. He's totally into music. He was, ‘yeah, I want to DJ with Mike,’” he said.
So, Mike invited him and his wife to his studio and decided to show Lloyd the ropes, which he said was “really cool to see them explain to you the process a little bit.” Since then, it’s been more than a DJ guru and student, but also a tight friendship between the two.
Mike also noticed how this fun side gig has helped Lloyd take his mind off the pressures of being a coach, a healthy balance when you can easily get consumed by work.
All the learning and training led to the Red-Blue Showcase ahead of the season. In addition to being the introduction of the 2025-26 season, afterward was an afterparty outside of the arena.
It was headlined by Mike, Shaquille O’Neal — aka DJ Diesel — and Lloyd.
Or, DJ Tomm-EE.
When he told the team about what he’d do, it seemed random. But also, not really.
“Honestly, kind of seems on brand,” said forward Tobe Awaka. “He's kind of a guy that likes to explore and do different things.”
So, how is DJ Tomm-EE?
“He did pretty good,” said guard Brayden Burries. “He got a little work to do, but he's pretty good.
“I think he's still growing,” Awaka said. “For a beginner, they were solid.”
“He’s getting a lot better,” Mike said. “He has an ear for music.”
So could you see Lloyd at EDC, the club or your next rave?
Don’t bet on it. Lloyd insists his DJ career is “more of a joke” than his next profession, but he may be selling himself short. Mike insists he’s better than he likely thinks he is. You just don’t show your team samples of your mixes for nothing.
Plus, there are plenty of parallels between DJing and coaching. Just like on the sidelines, Mike noted Lloyd doesn’t get rattled when he’s in the zone. Lloyd himself may not be serious, but Mike said he’ll teach him “as far as he wants to go,” fulfilling an actual dream for him.
“It's been a little bit of a — I guess — I don't know if a childhood fantasy, but probably a manhood fantasy for me that's come true,” Lloyd said. “It's been awesome to have that relationship.”
The relationship has allowed Mike to join the Wildcat family, DJing for them during ESPN’s “College GameDay” and joining in on this successful season. Mike also made arrangements with his schedule to make sure he’s in San Jose for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight, hoping to see Arizona make the Final Four for the first time since 2001.
It’s a stage the Wildcats have been at several times before, but have yet to break through. Maybe getting a world class DJ on your side could be the secret sauce.
Mike knows plenty about winning. He’s done it on the global stage. Now inspired and bought into Lloyd’s pursuit of excellence, he hopes he can see his good friend create the perfect setlist that trades dropping the bass for cutting down the nets.
“Me and coach are really tight with the music and just the sport of it. I mean, coming from a three-time world champion, a championship team needs a soundtrack, especially a victory soundtrack,” Mike said. “Whatever we have our sight on, we just don't stop until we win at it.”
The Chicago Blackhawks have not made the playoffs in a long time, but the rebuild, as it is known today, started when Kyle Davidson took over on a full-time basis. He tore it down to the studs and let drafting and developing take over as the main focus.
Davidson has made a handful of small free agent signings and trades to fill out the NHL roster, but players on entry-level deals have been his primary focus from the start. Stockpiling high-end draft picks has been a part of that process.
There have been four drafts since Davidson took over. In that time, he made eleven first-round picks. Remarkably, six of them are going to be in the lineup on Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Sacha Boisvert, the 18th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, is set to make his NHL debut. He signed with the Blackhawks after completing his 2025-26 season at Boston University. There were some work visa issues to work out, but he’s ready to go.
Boisvert’s debut comes one game after Anton Frondell made his against the New York Islanders on Tuesday. Frondell, the third overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, is the top prospect in the organization and one of the top five across the entire league.
Connor Bedard, Frank Nazar, Sam Rinzel, and Artyom Levshunov are the other four top round picks in the lineup. If Oliver Moore were not injured, he’d be in the mix as well, which would make it 7 out of 11 first-round picks by Davidson playing.
Kevin Korchinski, Marek Vanacker, Vaclav Nestrasil, and Mason West are the four first-rounders not playing in the NHL yet. The only one of them who is eligible right now is Kevin Korchinski, meaning that almost every first-round pick that Davidson has made from 2022-2024 (three drafts) is already contributing or about to contribute at the NHL level.
The jury is still out on Korchinski. He has dominated at times in the AHL but has yet to stick in the NHL when given opportunities. All of the things he does well are skills that Rinzel and Levshunov also do well, while being much more sound defensively.
Vanacker just finished a regular season campaign in the OHL that saw him lead the league in goal scoring. After some AHL seasoning, he has an NHL future.
Vaclav Nestrasil just won a Silver Medal at the World Juniors and was strong in his freshman season at UMass. Another year of college will do him good.
As for Mason West, he completed his goal of winning a high school state football championship. He is now with the Fargo Force of the USHL and will play for Michigan State next year.
Most of the first round picks being hits with the potential for there to be more on the way makes the Blackhawks a dangerous organization going forward. High-end talent put in the proper position is a key to winning the Stanley Cup.
The Blackhawks will have another top 5-10 pick in the NHL draft this June. They are hoping that this is the last one that they have for a while, because it will mean that they have started winning.
Whether the first-round pick from the Florida Panthers comes in 2026 or 2027 remains to be seen. They also have the first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2027, but that could also become a 2028 pick, depending on Edmonton’s finish next year.
Every single one of these first-round players is unlikely to dress for the Blackhawks for any sustained period. Some will not make it, some will be traded, but they are all valuable to Davidson right now.
Their future depends on wise choices for their development from this day forward, with six of them already in the NHL lineup.
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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - MARCH 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs is surrounded by teammates after he scored the game-winning basket against the Phoenix Suns at Frost Bank Center on March 19, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Last night in Memphis Victor Wembanyama tallied seven more blocks. That is his most blocks in game this season since tallying 9 in their October 24th overtime win against the New Orleans Pelicans, the second game of their season.
With a grand total of 610 blocks, Wemby elevates to 230th all-time moving past Jamaal Magloire, Armen Gilliam, and Nic Claxton.
Two nights prior in Miami, Wemby recorded his fourth game this season with 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 blocks. That’s the most by any player in a single season since Tim Duncan had five in 2001-02.
But Victor isn’t limited only to comparisons to Tim Duncan. Miami is also where Wemby landed on his 4000th career point and 600th career block in the early moments of the second quarter. Those milestone elicited another Spurs legend.
Only David Robinson and Victor Wembanyama have scored 4000 points and accumulated 600 blocks in their first 175 games.
Throughout this stat-stacking run of games, Wemby has been making a case for his MVP campaign. He’s not shy about demanding what he feels is rightfully his, and the MVP is one of the them.
Spurs have a couple of days off before wrapping up this road stint in Milwaukee on Saturday afternoon.
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BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: The Boston Bruins celebrate after winning an NHL game in overtime against the Buffalo Sabres on March 25, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bjorn Franke/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Former Sabre Casey Mittelstadt tied the game late in the third period and Pavel Zacha scored just 38 seconds into overtime to give the Bruins a 4-3 win over the Sabres in Buffalo.
Zacha’s goal, his 24th of the season, capped a back-and-forth game and gave the B’s a much needed win after a disappointing effort against Toronto on Tuesday.
David Pastrnak and Viktor Arvidsson scored the other goals for the Bruins, while Pastrnak also added two assists.
Joonas Korpisalo made 22 saves in the win.
After a slow start to the first period for both teams, Pastrnak got the scoring started 11 minutes in off of a great pass from Fraser Minten. 1-0 Bruins.
Mittelstadt spent the majority of his NHL career in Buffalo, so it was fitting that his big, game-tying goal came in a milestone game: last night’s was the 500th of his NHL career.
We all remember the earlier days of the season, when penalties seemed to sink the Bruins on a nightly basis, and that was nearly the case again tonight. Buffalo went 2-for-3 on the man advantage, and two of those three penalties were tripping calls.
It’s probably silly to harp on Lohrei at this point, but that really was a brutal sequence in the third period. Mistakes/giveaways happen, but to compound it with a cross-checking penalty just can’t happen.
The Bruins deserve a lot of credit for sticking with it after Zucker’s go-ahead goal. Playing your second game in two night’s in a hostile building isn’t easy regardless, and it would have been relatively easy to pack it in after giving up two goals in 30 seconds in the third period.
Pastrnak is up to 3G-6A-9PTS totals in his last five games, as he continues to shoulder the load for the Bruins. His assist on Zacha’s goal was his 60th of the season. That’s two off of his career high of 63, which he has reached for the past two seasons.
To make Wednesday night even bright, the Maple Leafs won again last night, so it was an all-around good night for the Bruins.
The B’s will now enjoy a rarity this season (aside from the Olympic break): three consecutive days without a game, as they’re off until hosting Minnesota on Saturday night.
OTTAWA, CANADA - DECEMBER 18: Rickard Rakell #67 of the Pittsburgh Penguins battles for position against Artem Zub #2 of the Ottawa Senators in front of goalie Linus Ullmark #35 during the second period on December 18, 2025 at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tim Austen/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
Who:Pittsburgh Penguins (35-20-16, 86 points, 3rd place Metropolitan Division) @ Ottawa Seantors (38-24-9, 85 points, 5th place Atlantic Division)
When: 7:00 p.m. eastern
How to Watch: Locally broadcast on Sportsnet Pittsburgh, TSN5 and RDS2 up in Canada, streaming on ESPN+
Pens’ Path Ahead: The games keep on coming, the Pens head back to Pittsburgh to face Dallas on Saturday (clock the unusual 5:00pm eastern start). Then next week comes a pair of massive games against the Islanders on Monday on the road, followed by a home game against Detroit on Tuesday.
Opponent Track: Hot opponent alert! The Sens have won four-straight games, six of their last seven and eight of their last 10. Ottawa defeated Detroit 3-2 on Tuesday night in their most recent game, a huge victory to propel them above the Red Wings in the standings.
Season Series: Ottawa is 2-0 against Pittsburgh this year, winning 4-0 back on December 18th and then 3-2 in regulation in Steel City back on February 2nd.
Hidden Stat: The Pens have lost nine out of their last 11 games against Ottawa (2-5-4) since the start of the 2022-23 season. Pittsburgh is also 1-5-3 since March 2023 and lost their last five games (0-1-4) on the road in Ottawa.
Getting to know the Senators
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux
Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridly Greig
Nick Cousins – Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio
Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund
DEFENSEMEN
Tyler Kleven / Artem Zub
Nicolas Matinpalo / Jordan Spence
Jorian Donovan / Carter Yakemchuk
Goalies: Linus Ullmark and James Reimer
Potential scratches: Thomas Chabot (injured), Kurtis MacDermid, Stephen Halliday, Lassi Thomson, Dennis Gilbert
Injured Reserve: Jake Sanderson, Nick Jensen
Ottawa’s recent run has been all the more impressive considering the injuries they’re dealing with on the blueline. USA Olympian Sanderson has been out since March 7th (he’s expected back next week). Chabot just went down with injury over the weekend. It looks bare bones on paper with an assortment of names but they’ve been making it work.
As a result of the injuries, 21-year old Jorian Donovan and 20-year old Carter Yakemchuk both made their NHL debuts last game. Donovan, a fifth round pick in 2023, is the son of former Penguin (and Senator) Shean Donovan. Yakemchuk was the seventh overall pick in 2024, scoring a goal and adding an assist to have a part in two of the three goals the Senators scored on Tuesday.
Foegele (4G+1A in his last six games) has found some scoring touch lately. He doesn’t get paid by the hour, averaging only 11:25 per game in this stretch but has been able to step up and chip in key goals for the team.
Goaltending has been a major issue for Ottawa and huge reason that they underperformed in the first half of the season. That led the club to add 38-year old James Reimer as a free agent in a desperation move to patch things up. Results are mixed (that 2.32 GAA will sure take care of business) and he’s been a moderate upgrade over Leevi Merilainen who couldn’t keep the puck out of the net this season.
Ullmark has been all over the place but is starting to get the arrow pointed in the right direction. He’s 9-2-2 with a .902 save% and 2.31 GAA since the turn of the calendar year, compared to being 14-8-5 with a .881 save% and 2.95 GAA in the 2025 portion of the 2025-26 season. Even more recently, Ullmark has a .908% and 2.20 GAA in his last six outings. Nothing dominant but certainly an improvement from the start of the year and the Sens are finding ways to keep the goals against down.
Claude Giroux will keep on annoying the Penguins until he retires. Giroux has 12 points (2G+10A) in eight career games against Pittsburgh as a member of the Senators, including the go-ahead goal with 5:08 to play in the third period last game.
Tim Stutzle usually confounds the Pens as well (three points in the first two meetings this season) but by his standards he’s been quiet lately with just three points (2G+1A) in his last seven games.
Key Matchup: A strong test for the Penguin defense
The Senators have been a solid team process-wise, they generate a lot of shot attempts, which helps on the other end where they are also No. 1 in the league in xGA due to staying out of their own end and keeping puck control. They also have shown an ability to finish well on all these shots and have a decent power play.
Ottawa is 10-2-2 since the Olympic break, outscoring their opponents on aggregate by a 48-32 margin. The split between shots per game (6th in NHL at a 30.9 average) to shots allowed (2nd in NHL at 22.1) is very impressive.
On the other side, the Penguins have had their share of significant struggles at limiting the opposition recently. Coach Dan Muse summed up the issues after the 6-2 loss to Colorado:
“The quality is too high,” Muse said of opposing scoring chances lately. “It’s just too loud.”
“It’s not chances where it’s to the outside,” Muse said. “It’s plays into the slot. Guys are open there. Some of them are odd-man rushes, whether it’s a breakaway, or some of the other ones that we’re giving. We’ve got to do a better job there in terms of cleaning that up.”
That better job is going to have to start tonight against a very capable opponent who plays in an uptempo style that has given them fits in recent matchups.
And now for the Pens
Projected lines
FORWARDS
Rickard Rakell – Sidney Crosby – Bryan Rust
Egor Chinakhov – Tommy Novak – Anthony Mantha*
Ville Koivunen – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau
Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari
DEFENSEMEN
Parker Wotherspoon / Erik Karlsson
Sam Girard / Kris Letang
Ryan Shea / Connor Clifton
Goalies: Stuart Skinner and Arturs Silovs
Potential Scratches: Evgeni Malkin (injured), Ilya Solovyov, Blake Lizotte (injured), Kevin Hayes, Ryan Graves
IR: Filip Hallander, Jack St. Ivany
No sign of Malkin on the ice for the Pens at practice yesterday, which afterwards Muse confirmed Malkin won’t travel with the team on their quick trip to Ottawa. Even worse Mantha was out with a day-to-day injury, but will at least be with the team and seemingly have a chance to play today.
Mantha’s performance bonus adds an additional $250,000 for every 10-games played. He hasn’t missed a game all season so far. He could only miss two games over the course of the year to still pick up the full bonus money by getting to 80 total games, so here’s betting whatever injury he has will be one that he won’t let keep him out of the lineup for too long, or if it does you know it will be painful in more ways than one if Mantha has to be out for three games over the rest of the season. Whether or not that first absence will happen tonight remains to be seen, Kevin Hayes took Mantha’s spot in practice yesterday in perhaps a hopeful sign that lines weren’t disrupted for early plans to adjust.
In the FWIW category, Pens PR points out that Stuart Skinner has a 6-1-0 record in seven games played against Ottawa and he has a .903 save percentage and 2.71 goals against average.
Also, somewhat interestingly, Erik Karlsson has no goals and only seven points in 15 career games against the Ottawa franchise where he played from 2009-18.
Crosby nearing 1,100 assists
Sidney Crosby has 1,098 career assists and figures to become the third fastest player via games played to get to the 1,100 mark once he gets two more helpers. There’s more history is soon to come, with 1,751 points Crosby enters the night four points behind Steve Yzerman’s 1,755. Yzerman currently sits seventh place in all-time league scoring and sixth place Marcel Dionne (1,771) isn’t too far ahead either.
Mar 22, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) skates up ice with the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Evgeni Malkin will not be in the lineup tonight when the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Ottawa Senators.
The veteran Penguins center will miss his second straight game with an upper-body injury after head coach Dan Muse said that Malkin wouldn’t be traveling with the team to face Ottawa.
Dan Muse said Anthony Mantha will travel with the #LetsGoPens for their one-game trip to Ottawa. Evgeni Malkin will not.
The injury was considered ‘day-to-day’ earlier in the week and the specific nature of his injury hasn’t been divulged by the team.
Malkin returned to the lineup earlier this month, scoring two goals and three assists in four games after being suspended for five games for slashing Rasmus Dahlin during a game against the Buffalo Sabres.
The Penguins will take the ice tonight in Ottawa with playoff implications at stake.
Heading into tonight’s game, the Penguins sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 86 points and the Senators sit in the Eastern Conference’s second wild card spot with 85 points.
