PHILADELPHIA, PA — You just never know what celebrities will show up for March Madness, even in a first-round matchup that tips off at 10:30 p.m. local time.
For Friday's fourth and final game at Xfinity Mobile Arena between the 2-seed Connecticut Huskies and the 15-seed Furman Paladins, the celebrity guest is comedian and actor Bill Murray.
The "Ghostbusters" and "Groundhog Day" star was shown on the jumbotron before tip-off of the and got the arena to erupt out of fandom and cheer. ... Or it could have been the fact that the original 10 p.m. ET tip-off that was delayed by the end of UCLA-UCF was finally setting up.
Bill Murray is here @XMobileArena to watch UConn-Furman.
His son, Luke, is an assistant coach on Dan Hurley’s staff. Murray has been a regular at UConn #MarchMadness games over the years. pic.twitter.com/wF6b0WdRuz
The Huskies, chasing their third national championship in the last four years, are looking to become the first 2-seed to be upset in the NCAA Tournament this season. UConn leads Furman 40-36 at halftime with Tarris Reed Jr. leading the way with 19 points and 16 rebounds.
Why is Bill Murray at UConn-Furman March Madness game?
Though he is a basketball fan, Murray is in the City of Brotherly Love to support his son, Luke Murray, who is an associate head coach on the Huskies' coaching staff.
This isn't the first time that Murray has attended a Huskies game in the NCAA Tournament, as he was in attendance for UConn's back-to-back national championship runs in 2022-23 and 2023-24 on top of other postseason games.
Luke Murray is in his fifth season on the UConn bench. Before taking the Huskies assistant job in 2021, he was an assistant at both Xavier and Louisville under now the College of Charleston coach Chris Mack. He is in his ninth season on Hurley's staff across three different stops.
Is Bill Murray a UConn basketball fan?
You could say so by extension of the fact that his son is a member of Dan Hurley's coaching staff. He may be more of a Luke Murray fan.
Where is Bill Murray from?
Bill Murray grew up in Evanston, Illinois and was a fan of the Illini as a child. He moved to New York City in 1974 where he paired up with John Belushi on The National Lampoon Radio Hour — a comedy radio show that was created, produced and written by staff from National Lampoon magazine — before landing a spot on NBC's "Saturday Night Live." He attended Regis University in Denver but dropped out before graduating.
PHOENIX, AZ - MARCH 03: Jacob Misiorowski #32 os the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the game between the Team Great Britain and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Fields of Phoenix on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Sydni Griffin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Brewers announced prior to Friday night’s game that Jacob Misiorowski will be the Crew’s Opening Day starter against the Chicago White Sox. With that spot secured, Misiorowski got five “ups” in his final spring training tune-up before the regular season.
Because of re-entry rules, Misiorowski ends up with 4.1 IP, allowing four hits and four runs with three strikeouts on a blistering hot day in Arizona. He topped out at 100.1 MPH on his fastball and generated 14 swings and misses.
Logan Henderson ended up following Misiorowski and threw two scoreless innings while striking out three.
Offensively, the Brewers got WBC champions Jackson Chourio and William Contreras back in the lineup and they wasted no time making an impact. Chourio led off the game with a double and Contreras smacked a 446 foot home run in the 3rd inning. Jake Bauers followed Contreras’ homer with one of his own, which is his fifth of the spring. Both homers were off Zac Gallen.
Sal Frelick went 3-for-3 on the night with a double and 3 RBIs. In the 4th inning, 9-hole hitter Freddy Zamora led off with a home run that tied the game at 6, his first homer of the spring. In the 5th, Bauers and Frelick hit back-to-back doubles to give the Brewers a 7-6 lead.
In the 8th inning, Jose Nova came in for the Brewers to relieve Henderson and allowed a 2 RBI double to Jakey Josepha to give the Diamondbacks an 8-7 lead over the Crew. Milwaukee had no answer in the 9th inning and didn’t get a single baserunner after the 5th inning.
The Brewers will be back in action on Saturday against the Padres with Robert Gasser scheduled to start.
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass the ball as Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic plays defense during the game on February 24, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Lakers (45-25) aim to extend their winning streak with a victory over the Magic (38-31) on Saturday.
When the Lakers last faced the Magic in February, they were in the midst of a slump where it seemed like their season was falling apart.
Fast forward to a month later, the purple and gold have completely turned things around and are now in the midst of their longest winning streak of the season.
A lot of this has to do with Luka Dončić’s MVP surge as of late, the team coming into form and each player accepting their role. We’re currently seeing the best version of this Lakers team.
Orlando is currently on a three-game losing streak and determined to get back in the win column and stay afloat in the playoff race.
So fans should expect the Magic to fight hard in this one. They’re still waiting on Franz Wagner to get healthy, but that doesn’t mean they can’t beat the Lakers.
It was Paolo Banchero who led the Magic against the Lakers last time. LA had no answer for his 36 points. It’ll be interesting to see how this improved defense contains Banchero and other offensive threats like Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr., if he suits up.
It’ll also be fascinating to see how the Magic come up with a game plan to not only contain Dončić but also Austin Reaves and LeBron James.
In their last meeting, the Lakers disappointingly allowed 15 second-chance points and 58 points in the paint to the Magic. They also lost the rebounding battle 47-39. Orlando is not a good 3-point shooting team, which is why they combat that with their presence inside the paint. The Lakers must be more impactful inside the paint if they want to win this one.
Let’s see if the Lakers can make it nine in a row against the Magic on Saturday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Maxi Kleber (lumbar back strain) is out, while Austin Reaves is questionable.
As for the Magic, Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain), Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) and Anthony Black (lateral abdominal) are out. Moreover, Wendell Carter Jr. (left rib contusion) is questionable.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 18: Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of the Los Angeles Dodgers flips a baseball in the air prior to a Spring Training game against the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch on March 18, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was sharp in his final spring tuneup, and the Dodgers had their full complement of regulars in the lineup for the first time all spring in a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night at Camelback Ranch.
There’s a very good chance the Dodgers lineup on Friday will also be their lineup next Thursday on opening day, including Yamamoto on the mound. The only question is whether the right-handed Miguel Rojas would start against Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, though perhaps the cachet of the season-saving Game 7 home run and playing his final opening day would outweigh any platoon disadvantage for one night.
Rojas for his part drove in the first run on Friday, jumping on a first-pitch cutter for a double down the left field line to score Teoscar Hernández, who has reached base 23 times in 48 plate appearances this spring for a .479 on-base percentage.
The Padres had a split squad on Friday, and their lineup at Camelback Ranch was not as representative of their season plans, and Yamamoto carved through them like a hot knife through butter, with seven strikeouts in 11 batters in the first three innings.
Yamamoto finished with five scoreless innings and 68 pitches, 44 for strikes (64.7 percent), allowing only three singles and a walk. He’s the first Dodgers pitcher to complete five innings this spring.
Freddie Freeman on Friday had a single in his three-at-bats, bringing his Cactus League tally to 40 plate appearances, all of them at Camelback Ranch, pretty much right on schedule for his roughly 47 planned PA this spring.
Nice to WBC you again
Yamamoto wasn’t the only Dodger on Friday to make his game return from the World Baseball Classic.
Though Shohei Ohtani pitched on Wednesday afternoon, Friday was his first time back in the lineup since returning, and just his second Cactus League game this spring. He was hitless in three at-bats, with two strikeouts.
Will Smith started in his first game back since catching Tuesday night’s championship game for Team USA. Smith caught six innings on Friday and was 1-for-3 at the plate with a double.
Edwin Díaz pitched for the first time since last Saturday for Puerto Rico. On Friday he got two quick outs then allowed a single and two-run home run, his first runs allowed in six games this spring, counting both Cactus League play and the WBC.
Up next
One more day in Arizona for the Dodgers, who host the Athletics on Saturday (11:05 a.m., SportsNet LA) at Camelback, with Emmet Sheehan on the mound. Also on Saturday, Dodgers prospects will face White Sox prospects in the spring breakout on the very same field (6:05 p.m.; MLB Network, Amazon). It will be fun to see which prospects play in both games.
Mar 20, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Alexander Nikishin (21) celebrates after scoring the winning goal in overtime against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
For the second game in a row, a defenseman won the game for the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime, this time by rookie Alexander Nikishin, who notched his 10th goal of the season just 41 seconds into the extra period.
The Canes started off their road trip with a tight, 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
Brandon Bussi was the happiest to congratulate Nikishin as he got back into the win column, bringing his record to 26-6-1 for the season.
The Leafs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period but Jordan Staal tipped in a shot to tie the score during a powerplay early in the second.
Later in the second period, Eric Robinson was awarded a rare penalty shot and the fourth liner made no mistake.
His score gave the Hurricanes a short-lived, 2-1 lead because just a minute later, John Tavares muscled past Jaccob Slavin to the front of the net and he was able to slip the puck under Bussi to tie the score.
A couple of minutes after this the Canes took the lead again, this time on K’Andre Miller’s first career shorthanded goal.
Miller made a nice steal near center ice and took the puck in alone then lit the lamp on a slick move which faked out goalie, Joseph Woll.
The Canes held the lead until 13:50 into the third period when William Nylander skated through two Carolina players to beat Bussi and make it 3-3.
The game eventually went to overtime where the Canes got the game-winner.
The Canes outshot the Leafs, 36-26. The Leafs also blocked 21 shots.
Next up, they travel to Pittsburgh where they will battle the Penguins once again, this time on Sunday afternoon.
PHOENIX –– The Dodgers finally had their full team back in camp on Friday.
Which meant, after most of their biggest stars were away for the World Baseball Classic the last month, they were able to preview their likely opening day lineup for the first time this spring.
In a 4-3 win against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch, the two-time defending champions showcased the full firepower of their $400 million roster.
Which meant, after most of their biggest stars were away for the World Baseball Classic the last month, they were able to preview their likely opening day lineup for the first time this spring. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The team’s batting order boasted a combined six MVP awards, 33 All-Star appearances, 19 Silver Sluggers and eight Gold Gloves –– with Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith rejoining Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and the club’s other superstar hitters after their WBC absences.
The starting pitcher was Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP, a 2025 Cy Young award finalist, and the team’s 2026 opening day starter –– making his first Cactus League appearance since rejoining camp earlier this week.
“We’ll see,” manager Dave Roberts joked when asked if he’d fill out the lineup card the same way for next Thursday’s season-opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “It’s some good players.”
The only real change Roberts might contemplate for opening day is who plays at second base. On Friday, it was Miguel Rojas. But the team could opt for a left-handed hitter in that spot against projected Arizona starter Zac Gallen.
Dodgers Opening Day pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who also pitched this spring for Team Japan in the WBC, tuned up for MLB’s regular season Friday. Getty Images
For now, the Dodgers haven’t decided which left-handed-hitting second baseman will make the team in that spot as they prepare to break camp Saturday. Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland remain the final two candidates. Roberts said a decision would come by this weekend.
“It’s one of those things that you could argue both sides of either decision, as far as Alex or Hyeseong,” Roberts said. “I just don’t think it’s clear-cut.”
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Roberts noted that the team hasn’t seen Kim much this spring, after he was also away at the WBC. Freeland, however, failed to take advantage of Kim’s absence, hitting just .108 in the Cactus League despite taking “great at-bats,” in Roberts’ opinion.
“There’s just deeper conversations that are going to be had,” Roberts continued.
Not that the final choice, of course, will change much about the overall starpower of the team.
Shohei Ohtani returns to the Dodgers lineup after competing in the World Baseball Classic. Getty Images
Yama-mojo: In his final spring tune-up, Yamamoto already looked like he was in midseason form. In five scoreless innings against the Padres on Friday, the Dodgers’ opening day starter struck out seven batters, walked just one and scattered three singles. Several times, he appeared to be nodding to himself in approval, as he got 14 whiffs with his six-pitch mix.
“He came out with a purpose,” Roberts said. “Everything was good and very efficient. Pretty effortlessly got through five.”
Will returns: Will Smith marked his return to Dodgers camp with an extra-base hit, leading off the fourth inning with a double. It was a good sign for the catcher, who went only 3-for-13 in the WBC with one double and one RBI –– but still raved about the experience after his second career appearance in the tournament.
“Those games were a lot of fun,” Smith said. “You’re playing for your country. There’s a lot of passion going into it. There’s a lot of excitement. The crowds are awesome. So definitely grateful for those experiences.”
Smith’s only wish: That Team USA would’ve won, having fallen short in the final for the second-consecutive tournament.
“It still stings right now,” Smith said. “But luckily we get our rings in a couple days from the World Series last year, so I think that’ll change my mind.”
The Dodgers wrap up their time in Arizona on Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against the Athletics. AP
Pick to click: In recent years, Dave Roberts has named an annual “pick to click” before the season. Sometimes it has worked (Teoscar Hernández in 2024). Other times, not so much (Michael Conforto a season ago). This year, he opted for Andy Pages, predicting the third-year outfielder to take another step coming off his 27-homer campaign a year ago, and once again praising his mature approach to this spring’s camp.
“He was a young player a few years ago that didn’t like the weight room, really didn’t work with intent,” Roberts said. “But now offensively, defensively, he’s very consistent and on par with our superstar players. And on top of that, he’s learned to be a better hitter, a major-league hitter, and not just a slugger.”
Up next: The Dodgers wrap up their time in Arizona on Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against the Athletics. Emmet Sheehan will start, but few other big-league regulars are expected to play.
After a really great performance against the Dallas Stars that still ended up with a 2-1 loss in the shootouts, the Avalanche need a bounce back to snap their three-game losing streak, and there's no better team than the Chicago Blackhawks.
It was a dominant performance all around: production on the power play, even strength, and 100% on the penalty kill secured the two points and the first team to secure a playoff spot.
Period 1:
It was a great start for the Avalanche, keeping the Hawks on their heels and creating most of the chances early on. A lot of close shots within the crease, nothing too far out. Getting bodies in front of the net to try and get the eyes of Soderblom and slap in the rebounds, but he has been doing a good enough job getting enough on these shots to keep them out.
The Hawks' best chance came from an early breakaway opportunity by Andre Burakovsky, but Mackenzie Blackwood did a great job on the read and the shot and saved it. It's Martin Necas who opens the scoring as he rockets a shot just past the hash marks from a great play from Valeri Nichushkin. It's a forehand-backhand pass to Necas as the shot hits Soderblom's shoulder and bounces in, 1-0.
Dominic Toninato is called for slashing, and the Avalanche capitalize on their first power play of the game as Brock Nelson redirects Makar's slap pass just past the blue line, and hits the top shelf and in, making it 2-0. Jack Drury is called for hooking, but the Avalanche kill off their first penalty kill of the game, ending the period 1-0, and shots 19-5 in the Avalanche’s favour by the end of the first period.
Period 2:
It was another good start to the period for the Avalanche, who continued their pace and forced the Hawks to adjust. The Hawks capitalize on a defensive break as Ryan Greene finds Wyatt Kaisder behind the defense and beats Blackwood five-hole to make it 2-1.
Brock Nelson is called for hooking, but the Avalanche kills off the second penalty kill of the night. Despite another strong period, just keeping the Hawks to six shots on goal in the period, Soderblom is keeping them in the game, despite coming into the game with a .876 SV%, but stopping 32 of the 34 shots he has seen
Period 3:
Ryan Donato is called for tripping, and the Avalanche capitalizes on their power play opportunity once again. Necas finds Nathan MacKinnon right in front of the net, who quickly sends a backhand pass to Nazem Kadri near the right hash marks and blasts it in to make it 3-1.
Sam Rinzel is called for a delay of game as he sends the puck over the glass in his own zone, but the Avalanche can’t go three straight on the power play. Though it's going to be Valeri Nichushkin capitalizing on MacKinnon stealing a bobbling puck from Levshunov and quickly shoveling it off Nichushkin to make it 4-1.
Levshunov, not too long after, takes a high-sticking penalty, just two minutes. Still, the Avalanche can’t convert on this power play either. Blackwood with another breakaway save, this time on Levshunov.
The Avalanche hold on with the 4-1 lead and secure the victory over the Blackhawks, securing their 100th point and becoming the first team to lock in a playoff spot. Also, with their 100th point this season, it is the fifth consecutive season with a 100+ point season, which set a franchise record.
The Avalanche are back in action on Sunday, March 22, against the Washington Capitals.
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Luis Pena throws to first in a double-play drill during spring training workouts Sunday, February 15, 2026, at American Family Fields of Phoenix in Phoenix, Arizona. | Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Milwaukee Brewers’ top prospects prevailed in their first Spring Breakout game on Friday evening, as they beat the Seattle Mariners’ prospects by a 7-3 final behind a big homer and a solid day from the bullpen.
With Bishop Letson on the mound, the Mariners got out to a quick lead in the first. Jonny Farmelo started the game with a single before a pair of groundouts — including an impressive play from Cooper Pratt at short — pushed him over to third. With two outs, Lazaro Montes hit a soft tapper in front of the plate, but Letson was unable to field it cleanly, and Montes reached with an RBI single, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead.
Against Ryan Sloan, the Brewers’ top prospects failed to get anything going in the first, as Jett Williams struck out, Jesús Made popped out, and Luis Peña grounded out.
Letson stayed in for the second, inducing a flyout before giving up a single and a walk. That marked the end of his day, as Brian Fitzpatrick took over. Fitzpatrick walked the next batter to load the bases with one out, but he got a 4-6-3 double play from Farmelo to escape the jam.
Milwaukee went down in order again in the second, and Bryce Meccage entered for Fitzpatrick in the third. After recording a lineout and a strikeout, Meccage gave up a single, a stolen base, and a walk to put runners at first and second. He wouldn’t allow any runs across, though, as Luke Stevenson flew out to end the threat.
The Brewers continued to struggle against Sloan in the third, going down in order for the third straight inning to begin the game.
In the fourth, the Mariners once again threatened on offense. Yorger Bautista hit a one-out triple, but he was cut down at the plate on a 4-2 fielder’s choice one batter later. After a wild pitch by Meccage, he once again got out of the inning unscathed with a strikeout.
After three perfect innings from Sloan, the Mariners replaced him with Kade Anderson. Anderson was much more to Milwaukee’s liking, as Williams doubled and Made brought him home with a single one batter later, tying it up at 1-1. Peña lined out, Made stole second, and Pratt reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners with one out. Unfortunately, Milwaukee was unable to take the lead, as Pratt was caught stealing and Jeferson Quero struck out to end the inning.
Jett Williams and Jesús Made combine for our first run
Seattle retook the lead in the fifth with some help from Milwaukee’s defense, as Michael Arroyo singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Williams. He moved over to third on a groundout before coming around to score on a single from Montes, his second RBI of the afternoon. Meccage induced a double play one batter later, but the score was now 2-1 Seattle.
After a leadoff walk by Luis Lara in the fifth, Josh Adamczewski struck out. A passed ball moved Lara to second, and Brock Wilken followed with a walk of his own to put two runners on with one out. A bad-luck liner off the bat of Braylon Payne (it left the bat at 108.1 mph!) turned into an unassisted double play, though, as first baseman Luis Suisbel caught it and stepped on first to end the inning.
Will Childers took over for Meccage in the sixth inning with the deficit at 2-1, working a perfect 1-2-3 frame with a pair of flyouts and a groundout. In the bottom of the inning, the Mariners replaced their entire defense, and Anderson proceeded to allow each of the first four batters to reach, as Williams and Made both walked before Peña slugged a big three-run homer to right center, flipping the scoreboard to 4-2 Milwaukee. Pratt followed with a walk, and that marked the end of Anderson’s day.
Charlie Beilenson replaced Anderson and didn’t fare much better. He started with a strikeout of Quero, but he then allowed a pair of singles to Lara and Adamczewski to load the bases for Wilken. Wilken went down looking, but Payne followed with a walk to make it 5-2 before Williams popped out to end the inning.
Jaron DeBerry replaced Childers in the seventh for the Brewers, and Milwaukee also substituted a good chunk of the defense. After Aiden Taurek led off the inning with a single, DeBerry induced a double play and a strikeout to end the frame.
Mason Peters took the bump for Seattle in the seventh and, after recording a pair of outs to start the frame, he hit Brady Ebel with a pitch before walking a pair to load the bases. Unfortunately, Adamczewski struck out, and the bases were left loaded.
DeBerry worked around a single and a wild pitch in the eighth, and the Crew tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning with a trio of doubles by Eric Bitonti, Andrew Fischer, and Daniel Dickinson.
With a 7-2 lead, Ryan Birchard took the ninth inning, and he allowed a solo homer to Bautista but nothing else, as the game ultimately ended on a successful challenge by Brewer catcher Darrien Miller, who got an 0-2 pitch overturned from ball one to strike three.
It was a solid day all around for the prospects, as Milwaukee scored seven runs on nine hits while the pitching staff scattered three runs and 10 hits. No player finished with more than two hits for the Brewers, though five of the nine hits were of the extra-base variety, including four doubles and Peña’s homer.
On the mound, Meccage lasted the longest, spanning three frames with one unearned run allowed on four hits and a walk while striking out a pair. Childers got the win with his scoreless inning, while DeBerry went two scoreless with three strikeouts.
Bryce Meccage (@MLBPipeline’s No. 21 Brewers prospect) threw three innings in the Spring Breakout game without allowing an earned run.
He talked about adding strength, his New Jersey roots (including a hospital visit with Frank Cairone) and more during a chat before the game. pic.twitter.com/kXGokfMfDJ
The Brewers’ prospects will take on the A’s prospects in their second and final Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon at Hohokam Stadium. First pitch in that one is slated for 3:05 p.m. CT.
The Chicago Blackhawks had their second leg of a back-to-back on Friday night. After a narrow 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night, they returned home to take on the Colorado Avalanche.
Consecutive days with games against two of the top five teams in the NHL is never an easy stretch, but it’s a good measuring stick for the young Blackhawks.
Before the game began, Jeff Blashill announced that Andrew Mangiapane and Louis Crevier would be out with short-term injuries that they suffered in St. Paul against the Wild.
Wearing their black alternate sweaters for the last time in 2025-26, the Blackhawks started Arvid Soderblom in net for the first time since Spencer Knight’s illness ended.
In the first period, the Blackhawks were caved in by the Avalanche. Colorado outshot Chicago 20-5 and took a 2-0 lead into intermission thanks to goals by Marty Necas and Brock Nelson.
At that point, it started to seem like it was going to be a tough night for the Blackhawks against the team that's been at the top of the NHL standings all season.
The second period was somewhat of a different story. The Blackhawks came out and looked like an entirely different team for a while.
After a handful of golden opportunities for the Hawks early in the middle frame, Wyatt Kaiser split the defense, accepted a pass from Ryan Greene, and scored to get his team on the board.
Following the goal, the Blackhawks started to look more like their first-period selves. In the second period, the Avalanche outshot them 15-6.
That's a 35-11 advantage through 40 minutes. Without Arvid Soderblom, they would not have been within one goal at that point.
In the third period, the Avalanche were awarded a power play within the first minute. Nazem Kadri, their last acquisition ahead of the trade deadline, made it 3-1 with the man-advantage. At 11:26 of the third, for good measure, Valeri Nichushkin made it 4-1 in favor of the Avalanche.
The 4-1 score would hold as the final of Colorado. The final shot count was 49-20 Colorado, which is not a recipe for victory from Chicago's perspective.
The Blackhawks relinquished two power-play goals to the Avalanche in the loss. They will wake up on Saturday outside of first place in the penalty kill rankings for the first time in months.
Colorado came in with the 29th ranked power play percentage (despite all of their firepower), but they made easy work of the Blackhawks' PK. It has been more of a struggle to kill penalties since trading Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Connor Murphy.
In the win, Colorado became the first team in the NHL to reach 100 points in the standings. That was also good enough to make them the first team to clinch a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It's been a good month for the Blackhawks with all things considered, but games like this show how much more development is needed for them to be a legitimate playoff threat.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Logan Thompson made 30 saves, losing his shutout bid with just 43 seconds remaining, and the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Friday night.
Ryan Leonard scored midway through the first period, and Aliaksei Protas added an empty-netter with 1:43 remaining.
Jesper Bratt scored for the Devils, extending his point streak with three goals and four assists over his last seven games. Jake Allen stopped 26 shots.
It was the third meeting between the teams and the first that didn’t require extra time. The Devils beat the Capitals in a 3-2 shootout win on Nov. 15, but lost 4-3 in overtime on Dec. 27. Thompson and Allen covered the net in all three games. They will conclude their season series on April 2 in Newark.
HURRICANES 4, MAPLE LEAFS 3, OT
TORONTO (AP) — Alexander Nikishin scored 41 seconds into overtime to give the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina a victory over Toronto.
Nikishin fired a shot beyond goalie Joseph Woll’s blocker.
Eric Robinson scored on a penalty shot for Carolina, K’Andre Miller and Jordan Staal also had goals, and Brandon Bussi made 23 saves. Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho each had two assists.
John Tavares, William Nylander and Dakota Joshua scored for Toronto. Woll stopped 32 shots, and Matias Maccelli had two assists.
AVALANCHE 4, BLACKHAWKS 1
CHICAGO (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had three assists in Colorado’s victory over Chicago, helping the Avalanche become the first NHL team to clinch a playoff spot this season.
Martin Necas had a goal and two assists for Colorado, which had lost four of five. Nazem Kadri, Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin also scored.
The league-leading Avalanche (45-13-10) moved four points ahead of idle Dallas for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Wyatt Kaiser scored for Chicago (26-31-12), and Arvid Soderblom stopped 45 shots.
FLAMES 4, PANTHERS 1
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Dustin Wolf made 24 saves, Victor Olofsson scored his first goal for Calgary and the Flames beat Florida for their second straight victory.
Olofsson came over from Colorado at the trade deadline in the deal that sent Nazem Kadri back to the Avalanche.
Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost and Matt Coronato also scored for Calgary, each moving into a tie with Blake Coleman for the team lead with 16.
A.J. Greer scored for two-time defending champion Florida. Daniil Tarasov made 32 saves in losing for sixth time in his last seven starts.
DUCKS 4, MAMMOTH 1
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Alex Killorn broke a tie off a scramble at 9:09 of the second period, Lukas Dostal stopped 29 shots and Anaheim beat Utah to pad their Pacific Division lead.
After the puck was cleared off the goal line behind goalie Vitek Vanecek, the Ducks’ Sennecke ended up with it on the left side and slipped a pass to Killorn for a shot before Vanecek was set. Killorn also had two assists.
Ryan Poehling, Cutter Gauthier and Mikael Granlund also scored to help the Ducks — playing without suspended defenseman Radko Gudas — rebound from a 3-2 overtime loss to Philadelphia on Wednesday night at home. They moved three points ahead of Edmonton in the division.
Gudas served the fourth game of a five-game suspension for kneeing Auston Matthews in a loss at Toronto on March 12. Matthews tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season.
They lost Kristaps Porzingis in the first half. They lost control of the ball 26 times. And they lost to the Pistons on Friday night, 115-101, for the ninth time in their past 11 games.
The Warriors’ Kristaps Porzingis left the game Friday against the host Pistons. NBAE via Getty Images
Both teams played without their best players after Cade Cunningham was diagnosed with a collapsed lung, but Jalen Duren led six Detroit scorers in double figures with 23 points.
The Warriors’ 26 turnovers set a season high and led to Golden State attempting nine fewer shots than the Pistons. De’Anthony Melton (14 points), LJ Cryer (3 of 5 from 3) and Brandin Podziemski (15 points) scored in bursts, but no Warriors player found the bottom of the net consistently enough to overcome their carelessness with the ball.
What it means
It’s looking more likely that the Warriors will have to travel for the 9-10 play-in game. Golden State’s last loss dropped it into 10th place behind the eighth-place Trail Blazers and ninth-place Clippers.
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There was never a point where the Warriors played anything resembling clean basketball, so they were done as soon as the opening tip, even though they built a lead as large as nine midway through the first half.
With all their absences, the Warriors had little margin for error against the top team in the Eastern Conference, and they committed a cacophony of them.
The Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski scored 15 points against the host Pistons on Friday. NBAE via Getty Images
MVP: Brandin Podziemski
All 11 Warriors who saw the floor committed at least one turnover, but Podziemski was only responsible for two despite acting as the primary ball handler for most of his minutes.
Stat of the game: 14
As their injuries piled up, the Warriors went 14 straight games with a different starting five each night. Steve Kerr was finally able to start the same lineup against Detroit as he did in Boston. Only the Grizzlies (16) have a longer streak in the NBA this season, while the last time the Warriors went 14 games in a row without the same starting five was in 2008-09.
It looks like Golden State will have to use another starting lineup Saturday against the Hawks after Porzingis left late in the first half with lower back soreness and did not return.
Up next
The Warriors face Jonathan Kuminga and the Hawks in the second half of a back-to-back on Saturday. Kuminga has missed 11 of 17 games since the Warriors traded him to Atlanta for Porzingis, but he is expected to be available against his former team.
Golden State is also set to provide an update on Steph Curry (knee), who missed his 20th consecutive game but has begun to increase his basketball activities.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are officially headed back to the Calder Cup Playoffs.
They needed a point against the Belleville Senators on Friday night to clinch a spot and got two, winning 2-1 in a shootout. Aidan McDonough scored in regulation for WBS before Avery Hayes scored the shootout winner.
Hayes had a really nice move in the shootout, going backhand, forehand, tucking the puck under the pad of the Senators' goaltender.
AVERY HAYES WITH A NASTY SHOOTOUT GOAL.
After getting stopped on two breakaways in OT, Hayes makes it count in the shootout.#WBSPens win in the shootout in Belleville to clinch their playoff spot with an !@InsideAHLHockeypic.twitter.com/AhjbCEjLcj
This was his first game back in WBS after the Penguins re-assigned him on Thursday. Hayes has played in 11 NHL games, recording two goals. Both goals came in his NHL debut on Feb. 5 against the Buffalo Sabres.
With the win, WBS is now 38-16-6-2 overall, good for 84 points. They're the second team to clinch a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, joining the Providence Bruins.
Giancarlo Stanton swings during the Yankees' March 19 spring training game.
Observations from Yankees spring training Friday:
Back in blank
David Bednar and Tim Hill made their returns from Team USA following the World Baseball Classic, each tossing a scoreless inning of relief.
Tech support
The scoreboard at Steinbrenner Field was not working through the first four innings, forcing public address announcer Paul Olden to give the count every few pitches.
It finally turned on in the fifth inning.
Caught my eye
Giancarlo Stanton played five innings in right field Friday, his first game action in the outfield this spring, and it was indicative of how well he is doing physically this camp.
Giancarlo Stanton swings during the Yankees’ March 19 spring training game. Imagn Images
While he likely won’t play much outfield during the regular season, the Yankees want to keep it in play in case they need to use someone else in the DH spot from time to time.
Saturday’s schedule
Cam Schlittler makes his final tuneup as the Yankees visit the Tigers for a 1:05 p.m. game at Joker Marchant Stadium.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Tyler Fay pitched Alabama's first nine-inning, complete-game no-hitter in 84 years, striking out 13 in a 6-0 victory over Florida on Friday night.
Fay retired the last 10 batters, getting Brendan Lawson to fly out to left to end the game. Fay, who had never pitched more than seven innings in college, threw a career-high 132 pitches, 85 for strikes.
The redshirt junior from Doniphan, Nebraska, issued a walk in the second inning and another in the sixth against the Gators (19-4, 3-1 SEC), who are ranked as high as No. 17. Fay came into the season as Alabama's No. 1 starter and entered the game with a 3-2 record and 5.43 ERA.
The Crimson Tide (16-7, 1-3) hadn't had a pitcher throw a complete-game, nine-inning no-hitter since Eddie Wocar did it at Mississippi on April 24, 1942.
Florida was no-hit for the first time since Jacksonville’s Tom McMillan did it in a seven-inning game June 1, 1963.
DETROIT (AP) — Jalen Duren scored 23 points as the Detroit Pistons beat the Golden State Warriors 115-101 on Friday night in a game missing two of the NBA’s biggest stars.
The Pistons beat the Warriors in the first matchup of the season between the teams on Jan. 30, but that was the last game Golden State’s Steph Curry (knee) has played this season. Now, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham (chest) has joined him for an extended absence.
Golden State’s injury situation got worse in the first half when Kristaps Porzingis left the game with lower back soreness.
Daniss Jenkins, starting for Cunningham, had 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Detroit, which has won six of its last seven games. Paul Reed added 15 points for the Pistons, who won despite shooting 23.8% (5 for 21) on 3-pointers.
Golden State, which has lost seven of eight, turned the ball over 26 times, leading to 32 Pistons points. Brandin Podziemski had 15 points to lead Golden State.
KNICKS 93, NETS 92
NEW YORK (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and New York outlasted the Brooklyn for their fourth consecutive victory.
Jalen Brunson scored 17 points and OG Anunoby finished with 16 for the Knicks, who trailed by 13 points in the first half, then blew a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Ben Saraf had a chance to win it for the Nets at the buzzer but missed a 45-footer.
The Knicks beat the Nets for the 14th straight time, the longest winning streak for either team in the local rivalry. The Nets’ last victory over the Knicks was on Jan. 28, 2023, shortly before trading Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Josh Minott scored 22 points and Ziaire Williams added 17 for the Nets, who have lost six straight games.
ROCKETS 117, HAWKS 95
HOUSTON (AP) — Kevin Durant scored 25 points, Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 and Houston snapped Atlanta’s 11-game winning streak.
Alperen Sengun had 15 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds for Houston, which was just 4-6 in its previous 10 games and was coming off back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta with 21 points, but the Hawks shot just 42% from the field and 26% (9 for 35) from 3-point range. Houston shot 51% overall and 47% (14 of 30) from deep.
CJ McCollum had 17 points and Zaccharie Risacher had 16 for Atlanta, which was riding its longest winning streak in over a decade that had positioned the team for a play-in berth.
The Rockets outrebounded the Hawks 51-37.
CELTICS 117, GRIZZLIES 112
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Luka Garza added a season-high 22 points and Boston used a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Memphis.
Payton Pritchard added 19 points for the Celtics, who have won four straight. The win kept Boston in second place in the East, 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Knicks who held on for a 93-92 victory over Brooklyn earlier Friday night.
Tyler Burton, who signed a 10-day contract with Memphis on March 12, led the Grizzlies with 23 points, a career-high. Ty Jerome added 16 points and seven assists. Javon Small and DeJon Jarreau finished with 13 points each.
TRAIL BLAZERS 108, TIMBERWOLVES 104
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jerami Grant made a 3-pointer with 22.2 seconds left and Portland escaped with a win over Minnesota.
After a timeout by the Trail Blazers, Grant took an inbound pass from Jrue Holiday and made his fourth 3 of the night from the right corner. Grant grabbed a defensive rebound at the other end and made two free throws to finish with 26 points in Portland’s third straight win.
Donovan Clingan scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double. Deni Avdija added 25 points and eight rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who moved into eighth place in the Western Conference. Holiday had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Rudy Gobert led short-handed Minnesota with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Ayo Dosunmu added 17 points and tied a career high with 10 rebounds.
Julius Randle added 19 points for the Timberwolves, but they lost for the first time in three games without All-Star guard Anthony Edwards, who remains out with right knee inflammation. Center Naz Reid, a top bench player, missed his second straight game with a right knee sprain.
NUGGETS 121, RAPTORS 115
DENVER (AP) — Jamal Murray scored 31 points, Nikola Jokic made a go-ahead jumper with 45 seconds left and Denver held on for a victory over Toronto.
Jokic finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 23 points and shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range and Aaron Gordon added 16 points for the Nuggets, who improved to 8-8 since the All-Star break.
Jakob Poeltl scored 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Raptors, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Brandon Ingram added 19 points and R.J. Barrett had 18.
