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What we learned as Warriors' defense fuels gritty win over Knicks

What we learned as Warriors' defense fuels gritty win over Knicks  originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Warriors on Saturday night at Chase Center extended their win streak to seven consecutive games, beating the New York Knicks, 97-94, making more history along the way. 

Steve Kerr now has 558 career regular-season wins as the Warriors’ head coach, giving him one more than Hall of Famer and franchise icon Al Attles. 

Steph Curry scored a game-high 28 points, and added seven rebounds and five assists. The spotlight always belongs to Curry. Moses Moody in this win deserves an equal amount of praise. 

Moody was a plus-12, scoring 18 huge points and draining four 3-pointers, each one feeling more timely than the other. 

The Warriors’ largest lead was nine points. The Knicks’ largest lead was five points. This came down to the last man standing as the Warriors outlasted every punch the Knicks threw their way.

Here are three takeaways from yet another impressive Warriors win.

Draymond, KAT Claw All Game

The matchup to watch was between a Swiss Army Knife who plays point-center and a 7-footer who lives behind the 3-point line. Basketball wasn’t the main reason everybody was locked into watching Draymond Green and Karl-Anthony Towns. Controversy was. 

Towns missed the Knicks’ game against the Warriors at Madison Square Garden on March 4, to which Green on his podcast joked the All-Star center was ducking Butler, his former teammate in Minnesota. The real reason Towns didn’t play was to attend the funeral of a longtime family friend. 

Trash talk began shortly after the opening tip. Towns got Green to jump on pump fake, drove past him and threw down a dunk. When Green one minute later went through Towns for a contested layup, the volume was turned up. The same can be said about Green’s reaction to his first three of the night.

Green’s defensive genius was on display in the second quarter while guarding Towns behind the 3-point line. Towns, dribbling between his legs, tried to lull Green. But right when Towns gathered to get in a shooting motion, Green got right up on him, knocking the ball off Towns and out of bounds. 

All four quarters felt like a heavyweight fight, especially between two big men who are polar opposites. Towns dropped 29 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but Green hit him with Curry’s signature Night Night celebration after driving past him for a layup with 25 seconds remaining in the game.

Another New Starting Lineup

Quinten Post as a rookie already has given Golden State more than the Warriors ever could have asked for this season. The fact is, despite all the winning, the Warriors’ starting lineup hasn’t been working as Brandin Podziemski continues to nurse his lower back soreness. 

The five-man lineup of Curry, Butler, Green, Post and Moses Moody had played four games together going into Saturday night for a total of 32 minutes. They produced a minus-21.9 net rating with a 95.8 offensive rating and a 117.6 defensive rating. Steve Kerr had seen enough, at least for one game, so he opted to use his 36th different starting lineup this season. 

In came Gui Santos for Post. Even with Santos’ first 3-point attempt getting blocked, he showed why he’s the perfect glue guy and fits multiple lineups. 

Kerr’s newest starting five played the first four-plus minutes of the game together, spending five minutes and 25 seconds on the floor as a group in the first half. Through two quarters, they outscored the Knicks 12-11. Santos in 25 minutes had five points and seven rebounds. As a group, the starting five played 12 minutes and 19 seconds together, outscoring the Knicks by one point, 25-24.

Every Detail Matters

Both the Warriors and Knicks have star powers. Big names on the court, and fan bases full of celebrities. A game between two contenders came down to every small detail mattering. 

The Warriors in their previous five games averaged more than 16 turnovers, which resulted in an average of nearly 20 points for the opposition. In their win against the Knicks, the Warriors are two fewer turnovers. As the Warriors totaled 11 turnovers that resulted in eight points for the Knicks, Golden State turned New York’s 13 turnovers into 19 points. 

Though the Knicks had four more rebounds, 10 more points in the paint and eight more second-chance points, the Warriors won the battle of assists, 3-pointers, free throws, steals and fastbreak points. 

Their bench also outscored the Knicks 26-4.

Strong screens. Better box outs. Crisp passes and disrupting the lanes defensively. That’s how the Warriors will beat teams chasing a title like the Knicks, as well as their next two opponents in the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks.

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Kerr becomes winningest head coach in Warriors history

Kerr becomes winningest head coach in Warriors history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steve Kerr stands on top in the Warriors’ record book.

The Golden State coach now has the most wins in franchise history, earning his 558th victory with the team’s 97-94 triumph over the New York Knicks on Saturday night at Chase Center.

Kerr came into the game tied with Warriors legend Al Attles at 557 franchise wins.

Immediately after the record-setting win, Kerr spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Kerith Burke on the Chase Center court, and in typical fashion, he had a tongue-in-cheek beginning to his answer about the accomplishment.

“It’s amazing to do this without any talent at all. I’ve just had to coach up these guys,” Kerr said jokingly. “Are you kidding me? To be able to coach Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, I mean, we’ve been blessed with such incredible rosters the entire 11 years. And more than anything, this is a reflection of the entire organizational strength, stability, the collaboration we all share, the players, coaches, management, ownership. We have an incredible collection of people and the record is just a reflection of that.”

Kerr’s 558 career wins place him 29th all-time among NBA coaches. His mentor, Gregg Popovich, holds the record with 1,415 wins.

Appointed by Warriors CEO Joe Lacob, Kerr’s head coaching career began with Golden State in May 2014, succeeding Mark Jackson. 

In the 2014-15 NBA season, Kerr and the Warriors won 67 games, becoming NBA champions after defeating superstar LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Kerr, a five-time NBA champion as a player, brought a winning culture to the Warriors from the moment he arrived in the Bay. Along with a franchise-record 558 franchise victories, the 59-year-old has won 91 playoff games and four NBA titles at the helm.

Outside of the 2019-2020 season, the Warriors have finished every season above .500 under Kerr, who also led Golden State to an NBA-record 73 wins during the 2015-16 season.

As it stands, Golden State can benefit from all of Kerr’s coaching expertise as it looks to punch a playoff ticket.

The Warriors currently sit at xx-xx and are the No. x seed, x games back of the Houston Rockets for the No. 5 seed in the Western Conference with x regular-season contests remaining.

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Checking In On Eight NHL Players Moved At Or Before The 2025 Trade Deadline

Mikko Rantanen (Terrence Lee-Imagn Images)

It’s been a week since the NHL’s trade deadline has passed, and in most cases of traded players, we’ve seen a decent sample size to judge how well or poorly they might be doing with their new team.

Let’s focus on eight traded players and examine their performance after the deadline:

Mikko Rantanen, RW, Dallas Stars

As the biggest name moved at the deadline, Rantanen had major pressure right off the hop in his time as a Star. And in his first three games with Dallas, Rantanen has looked comfortable and productive, posting two goals and three points while averaging 19:50 of ice time – nearly the exact same amount of minutes (19:49) he had with Carolina. 

Rantanen is going to be crucial to the Stars’ Stanley Cup playoff hopes, so it’s encouraging to see him hit the ground running with Dallas and contributing right away. He’s going to be the Stars’ highest-paid player next season, and at the moment, he’s showing why Dallas GM Jim Nill made a long-term commitment to him.

Dylan Cozens, C, Ottawa Senators

As the centerpiece of Ottawa’s trade that sent center Josh Norris to Buffalo, Cozens has been in the spotlight immediately – and he’s delivered exactly as Sens management had hoped, generating one point in each of his first four games with the Senators. And most impressively, Cozens has produced that offense while averaging just 15:34 per-game. 

That total is nearly two minutes less per game than the 17:13 Cozens was averaging as a Sabre, so Ottawa fans have to be impressed with him thus far. If the Sens are going to make the playoffs, Cozens will have to have a major impact – and he’s under contract for another five seasons after this year – so it’s a huge relief for Senators fans to see him doing so well immediately after the trade.

Brock Nelson, C, Colorado Avalanche

Nelson was one of the highest-profile players on the trade block, and the Avalanche gave up quite a bit of talent and draft capital to the New York Islanders to get him. But after four games in a Colorado uniform, Nelson is still looking for his first goal, and he has just one assist in that span. Clearly, the Avs are looking for more out of Nelson. 

However, on an Avalanche team that is far deeper than Nelson’s former Isles team, Nelson is averaging just 17:15 of ice time – more than two minutes fewer than the 19:21 he was averaging on Long Island. Colorado coach Jared Bednar is going to be patient with Nelson, but as the Avs battle to continue climbing up the Central Division, Bednar is going to go with the hot hand when he’s handing out minutes. Thus, Nelson has to make the most of his opportunities, or continue being utilized less than he was with the Islanders.

Seth Jones, D, Florida Panthers

Jones was the most notable defenseman available before the deadline, and he happily joined the defending Stanley Cup-champion Panthers. But in five games, he’s put up only one assist, which is far less productive than the 20 assists and 27 points he had in 42 games with Chicago this season.

Jones’ minutes are down slightly with Florida, as he’s averaging 23:57 of ice time, a reduction of 33 seconds-per-game from the 24:30 he was averaging with the Blackhawks. But Jones has otherwise been solid with the Panthers – and a godsend of sorts with Florida blueliner Aaron Ekblad serving a 20-game suspension. Jones can continue to be a big minute-muncher, and when Ekblad returns in the playoffs, Jones will give the Panthers even more-impressive blueline depth.

Brandon Carlo, D, Toronto Maple Leafs

Carlo wasn’t acquired by the Maple Leafs from Boston to post all kinds of points, so his point total of zero as a Leaf isn’t a surprise or disappointment. But Carlo has struggled a bit from a positional-defense standpoint in Toronto, and Leafs coach Craig Berube has cut down Carlo’s minutes. For example, in his first game as a Leaf, Carlo had 22:04 of ice time, in his second game, he had 19:58 of ice time and in his most recent game, Carlo had 17:34 of ice time.

That reduction in minutes isn’t a punishment from Berube. Rather, it has to do with the return to action of veteran Leafs blueliner Chris Tanev. And now, Carlo – who is being paired with D-man Morgan Rielly – can settle in with the knowledge he doesn’t have to be on the ice nearly as much as he was in Tanev’s absence. For that reason, we’re expecting Carlo’s performance to be better from this point on.

Oliver Bjorkstrand, RW, Tampa Bay Lightning

When the Lightning landed Bjorkstrand along with center Yanni Gourde from Seattle, the Bolts weren’t relying on Bjorkstrand to be a difference-maker. Rather, Bjorkstrand was brought in as veteran depth. And at this early point in his Lightning career, Bjorkstrand is still trying to hit his stride, as he has produced only one goal and one point in four games. 

Some of that lack of production can be attributed to Bjorkstrand’s considerable reduction in minutes. In Seattle, he was averaging 15:28, but in Tampa Bay, he’s averaging only 14:17. But if the Bolts encounter injuries or slumps from their top-six forwards group, Bjorkstrand’s opportunities could increase. And if he contributes a clutch goal or two in the post-season, the assets the Lightning gave up for him will be worth it.

Brandon Tanev, LW, Winnipeg Jets

Tanev wasn’t acquired by the Jets from Seattle to be anything more than a complementary component, so Winnipeg fans shouldn’t be alarmed to see him averaging only 10:42 of ice time in his first four games with the Jets post-deadline. Winnipeg has one of the deepest collections of forwards in the league, so Tanev will probably get more games like the one he had March 11, when he was on the ice for only 9:44.

Tanev’s role as a fourth-line depth forward is only going to change if the Jets have injuries. Otherwise, he’s going to be asked to play sound defense and occasionally contribute a goal or an assist here or there on the fourth line. It took him four games to register a point in his second go-around with the Jets, and that average of .25 points-per-game is probably going to remain the same for Tanev the rest of the way this season.

Cody Glass, C, New Jersey Devils

The injury-ravaged Devils need help on offense wherever they can get it, and picking up Glass from the Pittsburgh Penguins is looking like a savvy move from New Jersey GM Tom Fitzgerald. Glass has posted a goal and three points in three games as a Devil, and he’s doing it while averaging just 14:25 of ice time.

In 51 games as a Penguin this year, Glass had only four goals and 15 points, so he’s off to a far better start in New Jersey. And Devils coach Sheldon Keefe is utilizing Glass a full minute more per game – 14:25, which is an improvement on the 13:25 he averaged in Pittsburgh. Glass doesn’t have to be anything other than a bottom-six contributor – and even then, if he does nothing other than play on the fourth line, Glass will be a success if he continues to chip in a decent amount of offense.

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Jasson Dominguez drives in two runs as Yankees and Rays play to tie

Jasson Dominguez tripled and drove in two runs as the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays played to a 7-7 tie in spring training action in Port Charlotte, Fla.

Here are the takeaways...

- Will Warren, looking to lock down the fifth spot in the Yanks’ rotation, was greeted with a rocket up the middle for a hit on the first pitch he threw in the bottom of the first. The righty escaped with no damage, grabbing a strikeout looking in the process.

After grabbing another strikeout looking in a 1-2-3 inning, a single, fielder’s choice, and two-out single gave the Rays a run off him in the third. He bounced back, adding another strikeout as he retired the side in order in the fourth but back-to-back singles to start the fifth ended his afternoon.

His final line: 4.0 innings, five hits, three runs, and four strikeouts.

- Dominguez fell behind 0-2 and got caught looking at a two-seam fastball on the inside corner his first time up. The left fielder laced a stand-up triple to the gap in right-center on the first pitch he saw his second at-bat to score the Yanks’ second run. He knocked in another run with a single to left in the fifth, scoring Ismael Munguia, who singled and stole second to start the inning.

The promising youngster finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with two RBI and is now slashing .256/.293/.462 on the spring.

- Austin Wells went down swinging on a high breaking pitch from Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen to lead off the game and went down swinging again in the fifth. But between those chances he grabbed the Yanks’ fourth bloop single of the afternoon to start the third inning. He finished 1-for-3.

- Pablo Reyes punched a one-out single into shallow center, just getting the looper over the outstretched arm of Brandon Lowe up the middle, before coming around to score on Ronaldo Hernández’s sacrifice fly to center. He singled again in the sixth, past a diving shortstop. 

After going 2-for-4 he is now slashing .400/.515/.440 for the spring.

- Jorbit Vivas clubbed a single to shallow right for a single to cover the corners in the second. He cracked his second hit with a run-scoring single smashed past the first baseman in the sixth. The third baseman jumped all over a breaking pitch and lined a ball that hit off the right fielder’s glove on the warning track for a double.  

Vivas finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and a strikeout.

- After entering for Wells late in the game, Ben Rice got an infield hit off the pitcher and then stole second base after getting a big jump in the seventh. He walked and came all the way around to score from first on a ninth-inning double by Parks Harber.

- Dom Smith flew out to right his first at-bat and did the same in the third inning, but this time netted an RBI on a sac fly. He tapped into a 4-6-3 double play and struck out looking to finish the day 0-for-3 with an RBI.

- Oswaldo Cabrera went down swinging on three pitches to start the second and chased a pitch up and out of the zone in the third to go down on strikes. He walked to start the sixth and was lifted for a pinch-runner.

- Geoff Hartlieb, a 31-year-old righty with MLB experience, came in with two runners on in the fifth and walked the first guy he faced. Signed this offseason on a minor league deal, Hartlieb got a 6-4-3 double play, but a walk, single, and double down the first baseline saw the score tied. A four-pitch walk to re-load the bases chased Hartlieb. Minor leaguer Huey Morrill played fireman to nail down a strikeout for the final out.

- Carlos Rodon, the day after he was named the Opening Day starter, was set to make the start Saturday, but manager Aaron Boone opted for the left-hander to work in a more controlled environment of a live batting practice in Tampa.

Highlights

What’s next

The Yankees split up to play a pair of 1:05 p.m. games on Sunday, staying in Port Charlotte to face these same Rays and in Tampa against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

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How The NHL's Tie-Breaking Procedure Works Ahead Of The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Mar 12, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames goaltender Dustin Wolf (32) reacts as Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (40) scores a goal during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

With a month left in the 2024-25 season, NHL fans will likely be checking the standings multiple times daily. This could lead to confusion and questions about why certain teams are ranked where they are. With this in mind, here is a look at the NHL's tie-breaking procedure for deciding seeding and which teams make the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:

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In the case that two teams have the same amount of points at the end of the year, the NHL has created a list of seven tie-breakers. The list must be followed in order to determine playoff seeding and participation. Below are the seven tie-breakers for this season. 

  1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
  2. The greater number of games won, excluding games won in Overtime or by Shootout (i.e., 'Regulation Wins'). This figure is reflected in the RW column.
  3. The greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout. This figure is reflected in the ROW column.
  4. The greater number of games won by the Club in any manner (i.e., 'Total Wins'). This figure is reflected in the W column.
  5. The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs. For the purpose of determining standing for two or more Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the 'odd game') shall not be included. When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any 'odd games') shall be used to determine standing.
  6. The greater differential between goals for and against (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the DIFF column.
  7. The greater number of goals scored (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the GF column.

To understand this better, we will use the second Wild Card situation in the Western Conference. As of the morning of March 15, 2025, the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks were tied with 71 points. Both teams have played 65 games and secured 30 total wins on the season. 

In this scenario, the Flames currently have the advantage over the Canucks, thanks to rule number two. While the two teams have the same amount of wins, the Flames have one more regulation win (24) compared to the Canucks (23). That would mean that if the postseason started today, Calgary would claim the final Wild Card spot over Vancouver in the tie-breaking procedure. 

Based on the way the season is trending, it is very likely that a tie-breaking procedure needs to be used. In fact, the same situation happened last season, with the Washington Capitals claiming the final Wild Card spot over the Detroit Red Wings thanks to a tie-breaker. While who makes the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs is still a mystery, one certain thing is that fans will be checking the standing page constantly until the end of the regular season. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. 

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Pacers vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 15

It’s Saturday, March 15, and the Indiana Pacers (37-28) and Milwaukee Bucks (37-28) are all set to square off from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The Pacers are currently 16-18 on the road with a point differential of 1, while the Bucks have a 6-4 record in their last ten games at home. Milwaukee is 2-1 in the season series but Indiana won the most recent matchup on Tuesday thanks to Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning four-point play.

Milwaukee is 8-4 since the All-Star break but 1-3 over the past four games. Indiana has won two straight but is 2-3 over the past five games.

We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.

Listen to the Rotoworld Basketball Show for the latest fantasy player news, waiver claims, roster advice and more from our experts all season long. Click here or download it wherever you get your podcasts.

Game details & how to watch Pacers vs. Bucks live today

  • Date: Saturday, March 15, 2025
  • Time: 8:00PM EST
  • Site: Fiserv Forum
  • City: Milwaukee, WI
  • Network/Streaming:

Never miss a second of the action and stay up to date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day NBA schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game.

Game odds for Pacers vs. Bucks

The latest odds as of Saturday:

  • Odds: Pacers (+154), Bucks (-185)
  • Spread:  Bucks -4.5
  • Over/Under: 236 points

That gives the Pacers an implied team point total of 117.11, and the Bucks 119.46.

Want to know which sportsbook is offering the best lines for every game on the NBA calendar? Check out the NBC Sports’ Live Odds tool to get all the latest updated info from DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM & more!

Expert picks & predictions for Saturday’s Pacers vs. Bucks game

NBC Sports Bet Best Bet

Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports) likes the Bucks to cover:

"These teams just met on Tuesday and the Pacers won on a miracle four-point play. This is an easy handicap. It's Bucks or pass for me. The loser of the previous meeting during the same week often covers or wins the second matchup and the Bucks have plenty of motivation."

Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.

Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.

Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s Pacers & Bucks game:

  • Moneyline: NBC Sports Bet is recommending a play on the Milwaukee Bucks on the Moneyline.
  • Spread: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play ATS on the Indiana Pacers at +4.
  • Total: NBC Sports Bet is leaning towards a play on the under on the Game Total of 236.

Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions pagefrom NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!

Important stats, trends & insights to know ahead of Pacers vs. Bucks on Saturday

  • The Bucks have won four of their last five home games against teams with winning records
  • The under is 4-1 in the Bucks' last five matchups against divisional opponents
  • The Bucks have covered the spread in four of their last five games against teams with winning records
  • The Bucks have won and covered the handicap in four of their last five home games against teams with winning records and they can make the most of a scheduling advantage here, with the Pacers having played a tough game against the 76ers last night.

If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!

Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:

- Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)

- Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)

- Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)

- Brad Thomas (@MrBradThomas)

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Five Potential NHL Playoff Matchups That We’d Love To See

Brayden Point and Aleksander Barkov (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

By Anthony Carbone, The Hockey News Intern

The NHL playoffs are where rivalries ignite, underdogs rise up and legends are made. Every post-season delivers its unforgettable battles, but some matchups have the potential to steal the spotlight before the puck even drops. Imagine high-octane superstars clashing, old foes revisiting past grudges or an upstart team trying to topple a dynasty. As the regular season winds down, the standings hint at some electrifying possibilities.

From classic showdowns to fresh new storylines, here are five potential first-round NHL playoff matchups that could set the hockey world ablaze and keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars

The first matchup to consider would be between two Western Conference juggernauts, the Avalanche and the Stars. Superstars across both lineups would see Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas take on the likes of Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz, leading to an entertaining matchup.

The Avs are looking to win another Stanley Cup this decade – having hoisted the NHL’s championship trophy in 2022 – as they attempt to get back to the final. Not to mention, this series would pit former Avalanche winger Mikko Rantanen against his former team as the newest member of the Stars.

Dallas has made it to the Western Conference final two years in a row, but his year, they want to take another step and compete for Lord Stanley’s Cup. This series will most likely happen if these two teams remain in second and third place in the Central Division, and with the way the standings look, a series between these two teams seems almost inevitable. With the amount of star power on both sides and their Stanley Cup windows open, these two teams are looking to do anything to win, and seeing them go against each other in Round 1 would make for a must-see series. 

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. New York Rangers 

Here's an Original Six matchup for the list, as a battle between the Leafs and Rangers would make for a great first-round series. With the NHL’s current playoff format, Toronto hasn’t played a Metropolitan Division opponent in a long time – and the last time the Leafs faced the Rangers in the playoffs was way back in 1962. If the Leafs can win the Atlantic Division and the Rangers line up in a wild-card spot, this matchup could spark a lot of interest. The ‘Core Four’ in Toronto going up against Rangers newcomer J.T. Miller and standout goaltender Igor Shesterkin? Yes, please.

Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators

The Battle of Ontario would be a compelling matchup in the first round of the playoffs. The Senators, looking to make the post-season for the first time since 2017, would love a shot at playing their division rival in the first round. The Leafs, looking to progress from the second round and go on a Cup run, would entertain a Battle of Ontario matchup.

The rich history between the two teams could result in a great series with great matchups between Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander going up against the likes of Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and goalie Linus Ullmark. The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was 2004, with the Leafs winning in seven games. 

Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames

From the Battle of Ontario to the Battle of Alberta. The rich legacy between Alberta’s two teams began in 1980 when the Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary, and the rest is history. Most recently, in the 2022 playoffs, the Oilers faced off against the Flames in a highly anticipated second-round matchup. The Oilers took that series in five games, and Connor McDavid was the hero in overtime of Game 5 in Calgary.

With the Oilers looking to make it back to the Cup final, a feisty Flames roster is looking to make the post-season for the first time since 2022. The Flames are leaning on rookie goalie Dustin Wolf to lead them into the playoffs. This series will likely happen if Edmonton can capture the top spot in the Pacific from Vegas and if Calgary remains in a wild-card position. If it does happen, it will certainly be electric.

Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Battle of the Sunshine State is the Florida showdown that NHL fans need. This rivalry has intensified over the past few seasons as these clubs have battled in the playoffs three times in the past four years. In 2021, the Lightning won the series 4-2. In 2022, they swept the Panthers 4-0. And last post-season, the Panthers won 4-1.

Every regular-season meeting between these two teams is always intense – in a game in December, Lightning superstar Nikita Kucherov hit Panthers pot-stirrer Matthew Tkachuk knee-on-knee, which did not sit well with Florida’s bench. The Panthers are looking to go back-to-back and win their second Stanley Cup in a row, while the Lightning are pushing for another Cup with their core players, after going back-to-back in 2020 and 2021.

This series will most likely happen if these two teams finish in the second and third spots in the Atlantic Division, which could happen if Toronto overtakes Florida again. Two Eastern Conference favorites that could potentially meet in the first round would make for must-watch playoff hockey.

Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.

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Dan Sheehan’s hat-trick sees off Italy and allows Ireland to celebrate legends

  • Italy 17-22 Ireland
  • Ireland recover from poor start to claim bonus-point win

The destiny of the title was out of Ireland’s hands but there was a point to prove – not to mention a handful of legendary careers in green to be celebrated. Thousands of Ireland supporters booked a St Patrick’s weekend sojourn to Rome hoping to see their tribe seal three consecutive titles. After a sobering defeat by France top spot looked out of reach: a bonus-point victory, to maximise their chances, would have to do. Mission accomplished thanks to a hat-trick of tries by the front-row dynamo Dan Sheehan.

But forget the points table, forget the performance: since Cian Healy, Conor Murray and Peter O’Mahony announced their decision to retire from international rugby at the end of this tournament, it would be an emotional day regardless. Healy’s international career began at Croke Park in 2009 and a 20-20 draw against Australia. All O’Mahony had to do, in the second half, was take his tracksuit off to prompt a deafening roar.

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