Gehrig Normand transferring from Michigan State basketball to Santa Clara. The native of North Richland, Texas, has 3 years of eligibility remaining.
Leicester 0-1 Liverpool: Premier League – Foxes relegated – as it happened
Leicester are heading back to the Championship thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s winnner
Ian Copestake emails: “All this talk of one-sidedness makes it feel like Liverpool are playing Wimbledon again in a certain fina of yore.. It also shows that people follow narratives rather than watch games as playing bottom feeders is exactly the sort of opponent Liverpool struggle against. You’ve been warned.”
I’ve watched enough Leicester this season …
Continue reading...Edmonton Oilers vs LA Kings Round 4 Betting Guide: Best Bets, Strategies and Future Options
Breaking down the best value bets, futures to take and strategies to look out for ahead of the first round matchup between the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings
The Oilers and Kings battle for the fourth straight time in the first round. Edmonton has claimed all three series so far with LA desperately looking to get out of the shadow of their big brother. It's been a long time coming as the Oilers hold an all-time 36-18 playoff record with six straight series wins over the Kings dating back to 1989.
Things will most likely get heated after last year's first round matchup saw one game reach 92 penalty minutes as a flurry of brawls broke out in the third period after the Oilers went up 6-1 in Game three. LA looks like they'll have the best chance yet to get over the Edmonton hump after finishing with four more points and securing home ice advantage that could go far for a Kings team that has the best home record in the NHL at 31-6-4 through 41 games.
It should make for a thrilling series with some of the best players in the world on display like Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Anze Kopitar. It should make for must-see tv and a series of games that any hockey fan won't want to miss. We want to add to your viewing enjoyment by providing a couple betting options that should enhance the viewing experience as you win some money along the way.
All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.
LA Kings +1.5 (-178)
Edmonton has been plagued by injuries down the final stretch of the season with a 14-13-1 record over their last 28 games which places them behind the likes of the Sabres, Utah Hockey Club and Flames during that span. It's not great to enter the postseason playing worse than some non-playoff teams but the Oilers did manage to win seven of their last ten games with McDavid and Draisaitl battling injuries.
More NHL: Predicting Which Wild Card Team Can Upset Top Divisional Seed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Edmonton will also be without forward Evander Kane and possibly Zach Hyman, who is day-to-day with their biggest loss being key blueliner Mattias Ekholm. The Kings certainly don't have the same level of high-end talent that the Oilers have but LA has been playing as a cohesive unit for most of the season with almost no injuries.
The Kings have also handled the Oilers through their season series with a 3-1-0 record, a 12 to four goal ratio and netminder Darcy Kuemper earning back-to-back shutouts in the final two matchups. This series should feature many under games like most LA Kings games are and it should keep them in this series to the very end.
Betting Strategies: Rely On Elite Goaltending
Under bets have been a regular for us and the Kings as they secured the second-best goals against average this season at 2.48 that improves to 1.98 when playing at home. This should keep almost every one of these games low-scoring with four of their last six Kings-Oilers matchups totalling under six goals.
I expect Kuemper to play the biggest role in this after going on a tear through his final 16 starts of the season with a league-best 13-3-0 record, a 1.27 goals against average and a .946 save percentage. The last time Kuemper was in the postseason was the 2022 Playoffs, where he helped lift the Colorado Avalanche to a Stanley Cup with a 10-4-0 record and a 2.57 goals against average. He should be a difference maker for this team but also don't count out the goaltender in the opposing crease.
Many Oiler fans having been doubting Stuart Skinner once again after finishing with a 2.81 goals against average but a .896 save percentage this season. If the Edmonton native can dial back in to what he accomplished last postseason, we should see almost all these games go under as Skinner finished with a 14-9 record and a 2.45 goals against average.
More NHL: Blues Enter Stanley Cup Playoffs As Dark Horse Contender
Rangers Reportedly Finding Out If There's A Chance Of Prying Mike Sullivan Away From Pittsburgh
The New York Rangers may already have a top coaching candidate in mind with Peter Laviolette officially out of the picture.
While Rangers president and general manager Chris Drury said he’s open to hiring a first-time head coach if the fit is right, he reportedly prefers someone with experience according to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.
Pittsburgh Penguins coach Mike Sullivan has already emerged as a potential target for Drury.
“The guy that I believe that Drury is targeting No. 1 on his list is not technically available, that would be Mike Sullivan, the two-time Stanley Cup winning coach from the Pittsburgh Penguins,” Mercogliano said. “He has two years remaining on his deal with Pittsburgh and said to the media in Pittsburgh on Friday that he plans on continuing to coach the Penguins.
“I’ve heard that there could be some wiggle room there. I know the Rangers are waiting to find out if there is any chance of prying him away. I do believe Drury thinks highly of Sullivan. They have connections through USA Hockey.”
Pittsburgh’s struggles over the past couple of seasons have led to some rumblings about Sullivan’s future with the team and his potential departure.
However, when addressing the media after the season on Friday, Sullivan made clear that he intends to remain with the Penguins.
“My intentions are to be the head coach moving forward,” Sullivan said.
Things could obviously change and words are just words, but given Sullivan’s contract situation and his recent statements, prying him away from his current situation may be difficult.
Mark Williams outlasts Wu Yize to make World Snooker Championship last 16
- Welshman comes from behind for 10-8 victory
- Xiao Guodong completes 10-4 win over Matthew Selt
Mark Williams was forced to dredge up every inch of his Crucible experience to sink rising Chinese star Wu Yize 10-8 and book his place in the last 16 of the World Snooker Championship for the 22nd time in his career.
Williams, who turned 50 last month, delivered two near-faultless final frames to hold off his opponent, who had missed a golden chance to seize a 9-7 advantage when he missed a frame-ball red with the rest.
Continue reading...What are the largest NBA playoff wins? Where Thunder's 51-point margin ranks
What are the largest NBA playoff wins? Where Thunder's 51-point margin ranks originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Oklahoma City Thunder brought the boom.
Boasting a league-best 68-14 regular-season record, top-seeded Oklahoma opened its NBA playoff run with a whopping 131-80 Game 1 win over the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies.
Six Thunder players eclipsed double-digit points, with Aaron Wiggins recording 21 off the bench for welcome output. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only the team’s fourth-leading scorer on the day with 15 points.
It marked the largest Game 1 margin in NBA history, but how did it fare compared to playoff history? Let’s take a look:
What is the largest NBA playoff win?
Two games hold a tie for the largest NBA playoff win. Most recently in the 2009 playoffs, the Denver Nuggets crushed the New Orleans Hornets 121-63 for a 58-point win, as did the Minneapolis Lakers in their 1956 133-75 result over the St. Louis Hawks.
Denver’s win came in the first round, while Minneapolis’ was in the semifinals, though the formats differed.
What are the largest NBA playoff wins in NBA history?
Oklahoma City’s 51-point margin over Memphis is top-five worthy. Here’s a list of the 50-plus-point margins in NBA playoff history:
- 58 points: Minneapolis Lakers 133, St. Louis Hawks 75 (1956 Western Division semifinals)
- 58 points: Denver Nuggets 121, New Orleans Hornets 63 (2009 Western Conference first round)
- 56 points: Los Angeles Lakers 126, Golden State Warriors 70 (1973 Western Conference Finals)
- 54 points: Chicago Bulls 120, Milwaukee Bucks 66 (2015 Eastern Conference first round)
- 51 points: Oklahoma City Thunder 131, Memphis Grizzlies 80 (2025 Western Conference first round)
- 50 points: Milwaukee Bucks 136, San Francisco Warriors 86 (1971 Western Conference semifinals)
What are the largest NBA playoff wins? Where Thunder's 51-point margin ranks
What are the largest NBA playoff wins? Where Thunder's 51-point margin ranks originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Oklahoma City Thunder brought the boom.
Boasting a league-best 68-14 regular-season record, top-seeded Oklahoma opened its NBA playoff run with a whopping 131-80 Game 1 win over the No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies.
Six Thunder players eclipsed double-digit points, with Aaron Wiggins recording 21 off the bench for welcome output. MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only the team’s fourth-leading scorer on the day with 15 points.
It marked the largest Game 1 margin in NBA history, but how did it fare compared to playoff history? Let’s take a look:
What is the largest NBA playoff win?
Two games hold a tie for the largest NBA playoff win. Most recently in the 2009 playoffs, the Denver Nuggets crushed the New Orleans Hornets 121-63 for a 58-point win, as did the Minneapolis Lakers in their 1956 133-75 result over the St. Louis Hawks.
Denver’s win came in the first round, while Minneapolis’ was in the semifinals, though the formats differed.
What are the largest NBA playoff wins in NBA history?
Oklahoma City’s 51-point margin over Memphis is top-five worthy. Here’s a list of the 50-plus-point margins in NBA playoff history:
- 58 points: Minneapolis Lakers 133, St. Louis Hawks 75 (1956 Western Division semifinals)
- 58 points: Denver Nuggets 121, New Orleans Hornets 63 (2009 Western Conference first round)
- 56 points: Los Angeles Lakers 126, Golden State Warriors 70 (1973 Western Conference Finals)
- 54 points: Chicago Bulls 120, Milwaukee Bucks 66 (2015 Eastern Conference first round)
- 51 points: Oklahoma City Thunder 131, Memphis Grizzlies 80 (2025 Western Conference first round)
- 50 points: Milwaukee Bucks 136, San Francisco Warriors 86 (1971 Western Conference semifinals)
Senators Finally Return to Stanley Cup Playoffs Sunday Night For Battle of Ontario Reboot
For the record, the Ottawa Senators' rebuild lasted 2,878 days—that’s 412 weeks, or 7 years, 10 months, and 5 days. Along the way, some moments may have signalled the end, but calling the rebuild officially over always felt subjective.
On Sunday night in Toronto, as the Senators hit the ice to end the NHL’s third-longest active playoff drought, there’s no room for debate: the rebuild is finally, truly over. This is a better team. Better coaching. Better management. Better ownership.
Better everything.
Now the question becomes: Are they better than the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Based on the regular season standings, no. Toronto finished with 52 wins to Ottawa’s 45 and ended up 11 points ahead in the standings. Eleven. Numerologists among the Ottawa fanbase will have a field day with that one.
Assistant coach Daniel Alfredsson and head coach Travis Green are the only remaining bridges to the playoff wars of Ontario from a quarter-century ago. If history matters—and it probably doesn’t—it’s this: the Senators won all three games against Toronto in the regular season.
Sure, it doesn’t count for anything now. But it gives the Sens a little boost of confidence heading into a series where this young core has no reason to believe they can’t beat Toronto.
Since the start of March, following the Four Nations Face-Off, these two teams have been among the NHL’s hottest. And both are expected to be fully healthy for Game 1. Beyond the natural geographical rivalry, history adds some heat. Leafs fans are desperate to see a team that’s won one playoff series in 20 years take another step—and maybe, finally, end a 58-year Stanley Cup drought.
Senators fans, on the other hand, would love nothing more than to get revenge for the franchise’s 0-for-4 playoff record against Toronto and shut up the blue-and-white invasion that floods their building every time the Leafs come to town.
Game 1 Lineup Watch
At Ottawa’s game-day skate, the biggest surprise was seeing Matthew Highmore slotting in on the fourth line at left wing, with agitator Nick Cousins skating as the extra. Unless Cousins has had an injury setback, seeing him in the press box for Game 1 would definitely raise eyebrows.
Projected Senators Lineup:
Interestingly, while Ottawa might leave a Florida Panthers Cup winner out of the lineup, Toronto will lean heavily on two of them.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson returns for Game 1 after missing the final three games of the season with an upper-body injury. And 6'6", 240-pound Anthony Stolarz will make his first NHL playoff start at 31 years old.
And he could be a serious problem for Ottawa.
Stolarz went 21-8-3 this season with a 2.14 GAA and a .926 save percentage. Even scarier? He ended the season on an 8-0-0 tear, posting a 1.37 GAA, a .950 save percentage, and three shutouts.
But again, regular-season numbers just don’t matter anymore.
Projected Maple Leafs Lineup:
Forwards:
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Domi – Tavares – Nylander
McMann – Holmberg – Robertson
Lorentz – Laughton – Järnkrok
Defense:
Rielly – Carlo
McCabe – Tanev
Ekman-Larsson – Benoit
Goalies:
Stolarz
Woll
Series Schedule:
Game 1: Sunday, April 20 – 7:00 PM ET
Game 2: Tuesday, April 22 – 7:30 PM ET
Game 3: Thursday, April 24 – 7:00 PM ET
Game 4: Saturday, April 26 – 7:00 PM ET
If necessary:
Game 5: Tuesday, April 29 – Time TBD
Game 6: Thursday, May 1 – Time TBD
Game 7: Saturday, May 3 – Time TBD
Who Canucks Fans Should Cheer For During The 2024–25 Playoffs
The 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs have started, this time without an appearance from the Vancouver Canucks. Despite the Canucks not making the postseason, there are still many teams and individual players that fans can cheer for. Here’s a list of who Canucks fans should cheer for during this season’s playoffs.
Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:
Abbotsford Canucks Finish Historic 2024-25 Season As Second Seed In The Pacific Division
Nate Schmidt and Jonah Gadjovich
Two former Canucks now on the Florida Panthers, Nate Schmidt and Jonah Gadjovich are two players who Canucks fans could root for throughout the playoffs. Schmidt was traded to the Canucks during the 2020 off-season and played 54 games with Vancouver before requesting a trade elsewhere. He ended up with the Winnipeg Jets for three seasons before moving on to Florida. This season, he had five goals and 14 assists in 78 games played.
Gadjovich was drafted by the Canucks in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft and remained with the organization until 2021. He played one game for Vancouver. Last season, he won the Stanley Cup as a member of the Panthers organization.
Anthony Beauvillier
Another former Canuck with a limited sample size in Vancouver, Anthony Beauvillier and the Washington Capitals are on a quest to win the franchise their second Stanley Cup. Beauvillier was acquired by the Canucks in the 2023 Bo Horvat trade. He played 55 games with the team before being traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in November of the same year. In his time with Vancouver, he scored 11 goals and 17 assists.
Jalen Chatfield and Spencer Martin
The Carolina Hurricanes will also be entering the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with two former Canucks. Jalen Chatfield, now a lineup regular with the Hurricanes, played 18 games with Vancouver and spent four seasons with the Canucks organization. In his time with Vancouver, he potted three assists. He had 18 points in 78 games played this season and averaged nearly 20 minutes a night with Carolina.
Spencer Martin was a rock for the Canucks when they needed him to be. He faced 218 shots in his first six NHL games with the Canucks and didn’t let in more than two goals in each game. In his second NHL game, he faced 50 shots and carried his team to overtime. He left the Canucks organization after being claimed off waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets in September 2023. Another interesting tidbit about him is that Martin and Gadjovich are in-laws.
Jacob Markström
Most Canucks fans know of Jacob Markström and his time with Vancouver. Acquired as part of the trade that sent Roberto Luongo back to the Panthers, Markström spent seven seasons as a member of the Canucks before he signed with the Calgary Flames in 2020. He made his mark on the Canucks organization in the 2019–20 season, backstopping his team to multiple wins despite facing 1420 shots in 43 games played. Markström is now entering his third career playoff run, this time with the New Jersey Devils.
The Ottawa Senators
Who doesn’t love a feel-good postseason story? The Ottawa Senators will play in their first playoff game since their Conference Finals loss in 2017. Not only do they sport a talented crop of young players, their roster also features some former Canucks. Senators Head Coach Travis Green spent almost five seasons with Vancouver, helping the team to their Bubble Playoff run in 2020. Also behind the Senators’ bench are former Canucks Assistant Coaches Nolan Baumgartner (2017–2021) and Mike Yeo (2022–2024).
Also on the Senators are former Canucks Adam Gaudette, Travis Hamonic, Matthew Highmore, and Zack MacEwen. Gaudette was drafted by the Canucks in 2015 and spent three full seasons with Vancouver. Hamonic, a two-year member of the Canucks, spent a good chunk of his playing time with current Canucks Captain Quinn Hughes. Highmore was with the Canucks organization from the 2020–21 season to the 2021–22 season, putting up 17 points in 64 games. Ironically enough, he and Gaudette were traded for one-another in 2021. MacEwen, who played 55 games for Vancouver, is most remembered for standing up for Nils Höglander after he was tossed around by current Canuck Derek Forbort in 2021.
Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson
This may be a polarizing take. An original member of the 2011 Stanley Cup-contending team, Chris Tanev should be an easy pick for who Canucks fans should cheer for in the playoffs. However, Tanev also plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that many fans are opposed to cheering for. The toothy veteran spent a decade with the Canucks before joining Markström and signing with the Flames in 2020. This is his first season with the Leafs, a team that he signed a six-year contract with in 2024.
Oliver Ekman-Larsson is the other former Canuck on the Leafs that Canucks fans could cheer for. He wasn’t the most popular player during his tenure on the team, as most people will remember him for his contract that is still impacting Vancouver to this day. However, he did experience a rebound with the Panthers last season and has been a steady defender for his current price.
The Winnipeg Jets
Another Canadian team with ties to Vancouver, the Winnipeg Jets are a team Canucks fans could root for while feeling relatively safe in their choice. While Winnipeg has a history of not performing in the playoffs, they have one of the NHL’s best goaltenders in Connor Hellebuyck. They have been the strongest Canadian team during the regular season, finishing the season with 116 points and collecting the President’s Trophy (although, this in itself may be a bad omen). As well, the Jets recently acquired former Canuck fan-favourite Luke Schenn, who will be on the hunt for the third Stanley Cup of his career. Schenn joined the Canucks twice throughout his career — by trade in 2019 and by free-agency in 2021.
The Montréal Canadiens
The Montréal Canadiens are this season’s personification of an underdog team. Squeaking into the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, the Canadiens beat out a number of mid-tier teams to clinch their playoff spot. They are propelled by a youthful core that Canucks fans don’t see enough in one season to have a rivalry with. Another plus to cheering for them is that Canucks Ring of Honour member, Alex Burrows, is still part of their organization. A Canadiens Stanley Cup win would be Burrows’ first.
Troy Stetcher
Rooting for the man once known as Tony Stretcher is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the former four-year Canuck would win his first Stanley Cup — on the other hand, the Edmonton Oilers would also win. Given the fact that the Oilers knocked the Canucks out of the playoffs last season, it may not be as joyous to cheer for Stetcher as it would be for other teams.
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.
Kings' DeMar DeRozan involved in altercation at restaurant, situation being investigated by authorities
Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan was filmed in an altercation at a Southern California restaurant on Friday night, and there is an ongoing investigation into the incident by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The incident took place at the Yume Sushi restaurant in Calabasas, California. Video of the fight was posted to TMZ, where DeRozan can be seen going after a man's legs while this other man is on the ground, then when he gets up the man demands his phone back. Other people in the restaurant are trying to separate the two, with a woman telling DeRozan it's "not worth it."
From the TMZ report:
An eyewitness tells TMZ the altercation blew up after the man in the shorts shoved a phone with a bright light in DeMar's face ... which the basketball player then knocked out of his hand.
This is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The man who approached DeRozan posted a video from his phone of the incident on social media, as described by Jason Alexander of the Sacramento Bee.
X user KISSMAYOO tweeted: “I just Get Attacked & Body Slapped By DeMar DeRozan.” The accompanying video shows the man filming himself with his phone as he approaches DeRozan from behind and then abruptly points the camera at DeRozan. DeRozan can be heard saying “Come on, man, don’t walk up on me,” before the scuffle ensues. The video then cuts to the man filming himself as he is transported to a hospital by ambulance after a paramedic asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to drive yourself?” The man ends the video with two images promoting a book.
DeRozan, 35, averaged 22.2 points and 4.4 assists a game in his first season with the Kings after a sign-and-trade brought him back to his native California.
POSTGAME: Mackenzie Blackwood Puts on Goaltending Clinic in Avalanche Win Over the Stars in Game One
To cap off the first day of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Colorado Avalanche put up five goals to the Dallas Stars' one to take Game 1 in their first-round series against the Dallas Stars.
The Stars have had little luck in their seven past series openers, going 0-8 as of Saturday night. Even the end of their regular season looked bleak, with seven straight losses leading up to Saturday's game. Despite those statistics, Stars Head Coach Pete DeBoer said during his postgame availability that Saturday's loss was "probably the best game we've played in three or four weeks." This was evident, as through the first and most of the second period, the Stars looked like the better team. The Avalanche looked sluggish to start, capitalized by a lackluster 5-on-3 opportunity in the first period that only yielded three shots on goal.
It seems that killing off that opportunity sparked a hefty amount of motivation for the Stars, which started to slowly dwindle as the Avalanche got strange bounces from Artturi Lehkonen and Nathan MacKinnon that both resulted in goals to put them ahead 2-0 going into the third period.
Artturi Lehkonen's playoff magic has been activated 🪄#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferentpic.twitter.com/8Er7hPYWdu
— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 20, 2025
Roope Hintz got the Stars on the board just under seven minutes into the third period, a late power-play goal scored as he tipped a shot ripped by Thomas Harley from the blue line.
From there, the floodgates opened for the Avalanche, and they managed to put three more past Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger before the final buzzer sounded.
Devon Toews buried a back-door goal off a long pass from Josh Manson, #42's first point since returning from an injury that's kept him out of the lineup since March 14th. Oettinger was pulled, and MacKinnon capitalized with an empty-net goal with just over 3 minutes remaining in regulation. Charlie Coyle punctuated the 5-1 win with a snap right in front of Oettinger that started with Parker Kelly winning a board battle and finding Jack Drury, who eventually found Coyle in front of the net.
Goaltending Won Out
Mackenzie Blackwood has been in the NHL since the 2018-19 season when he debuted with the New Jersey Devils. Despite many years of experience, he has not played a single playoff game - that is, until Saturday night.
With that said, he didn't miss a beat.
Blackwood put on a Vezina Trophy-worthy performance on Saturday, the only goal allowed being a deflection that not many other goaltenders would have been able to stop even with a stick, which Blackwood was without when the puck got past him.
A recap of Mackenzie Blackwood's first playoff appearance 🧱#GoAvsGo | #BuiltDifferentpic.twitter.com/sH6aUpEp0Z
— x - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 20, 2025
Coach Bednar reiterated on Altitude Sports Radio on Wednesday that, while he thinks goaltender Scott Wedgewood has played extremely well lately, Blackwood is their starter. With multiple chances created by Dallas in the first 40 minutes, the Thunder Bay, Ontario native proved exactly why he deserves the role. His performance earned him the player-chosen big hat in the locker room postgame.
With that said, and despite the three-goal onslaught in the third period, Oettinger also showed why he commands as much respect as he does in the league through the first 40 minutes of the game.
Excellent puck tracking here by Oettinger following this puck through traffic and off his body.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) April 20, 2025
Look at how locked in his eyes are on the puck following both shots, and how quickly he gets reset for the next shot. pic.twitter.com/FPOz8kGIYQ
Both goaltenders forced their opposition to create more challenging opportunities, whether it was a greasy goal like Lehkonen's, a deflection like Hintz's, or making the right pass at the right time like Manson to Toews.
Ross Colton Left During the Third
The Colorado Avalanche went into Saturday's game with five healthy scratches - or five options, as Head Coach Jared Bednar alluded to following morning skate.
One of those options may be stepping up in Monday's Game 2 as forward Ross Colton left Saturday's game in the third period with a lower-body injury. Coach Bednar said further updates can be expected on Sunday.
Forward scratches include Jimmy Vesey, Miles Wood, and captain Gabriel Landeskog, who made his return to professional hockey on April 11th in a game with the Colorado Eagles (Avalanche AHL affiliate).
Matt Stienburg was also called up from the Eagles, per the playing roster posted on the NHL media site. Stienburg earned a 2-game suspension early in the regular season after a dangerous hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Erik Cernak. He served the first game on Saturday, so he will not be an option until after Game 2 on Monday.
What's Next?
The Avalanche look to continue their push in Dallas as they gear up for Game 2 on Monday, April 21st at 7:30 pm MT/8:30 pm CT.
Games 3 and 4 will be played at Ball Arena in Denver on Wednesday, April 23rd, and Saturday, April 26th.
2024-25 NBA award finalists revealed: MVP, Coach of the Year, more
2024-25 NBA award finalists revealed: MVP, Coach of the Year, more originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
It’s now reasonable to think that Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo finished third in this season’s balloting for the NBA MVP award.
The NBA released the three finalists for its major trophies on Sunday night, with Antetokounmpo on the MVP list alongside Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the runaway frontrunners for the award.
Jokic was last season’s MVP and is bidding for his fourth MVP award in the last five years. Gilgeous-Alexander, the NBA’s scoring champion this season and the leader of a Thunder team that won 68 games while setting a league record for scoring margin, is seeking his first MVP trophy.
They were considered such big favorites that BetMGM Sportsbook didn’t even offer realistic odds toward the end of the regular season on anyone else winning. Gilgeous-Alexander was the favorite, Jokic was the second choice and nobody else had odds shorter than 500-1.
Given that All-NBA voting now essentially mirrors MVP voting, being an MVP finalist basically guarantees an All-NBA first-team nod. It’ll be the ninth appearance on that team for Antetokounmpo, the seventh for Jokic and the third for Gilgeous-Alexander.
Last year’s MVP finalists were Jokic, Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic — then of Dallas, now of the Los Angeles Lakers.
A panel of writers and broadcasters who cover the NBA voted on the awards last week. The NBA will announce the winners of the various awards, along with the All-NBA and All-rookie teams, over the coming weeks.
Coach of the year
Finalists: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland; J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit; Ime Udoka, Houston.
This is how good a race this was: Mark Daigneault, who won last year, led Oklahoma City to a 68-win season and didn’t get into the top three.
Atkinson led the Cavaliers to a 64-win season, the best in the Eastern Conference. He was announced Saturday as the winner of the National Basketball Coaches Association’s coach of the year award, a separate trophy from the NBA honors.
Bickerstaff, in his first year with the Pistons, and Udoka took their teams to the playoffs, and the Rockets got the No. 2 seed in the West.
Last year: Daigneault won, with Minnesota’s Chris Finch and Orlando’s Jamahl Mosley the other finalists.
Rookie of the year
Finalists: Stephon Castle, San Antonio; Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta; Jaylen Wells, Memphis.
Castle — the No. 4 pick in last year’s draft — could be the second consecutive NBA Rookie of the Year from San Antonio, after Victor Wembanyama was the unanimous winner last season.
Risacher and Wells were the No. 3 and No. 4 rookie scorers this season behind Castle. A notable omission: Washington’s Alex Sarr, who averaged 13 points this season.
Last year: Wembanyama won, with Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren and Charlotte’s Brandon Miller the other finalists.
Sixth man of the year
Finalists: Malik Beasley, Detroit; Ty Jerome, Cleveland; Payton Pritchard, Boston.
Pritchard is the overwhelming favorite, though voters clearly took note of what Beasley did off the Pistons’ bench — making more than 300 3-pointers — and Jerome was particularly steady for the Cavs all season.
Last year: Minnesota’s Naz Reid won, with Sacramento’s Malik Monk and Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis the other finalists.
Most Improved Player
Finalists: Cade Cunningham, Detroit; Dyson Daniels, Atlanta; Ivica Zubac, Los Angeles Clippers.
Cunningham led Detroit’s wild turnaround year — a 28-game losing streak last season, the No. 6 seed this season — and should be an All-NBA selection as well. Daniels and Zubac both had exceptionally good seasons, particularly on the defensive end.
Last year: Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey won, with Houston’s Alperen Sengun and Chicago’s Coby White the other finalists.
Defensive player of the year
Finalists: Dyson Daniels, Atlanta; Draymond Green, Golden State; Evan Mobley, Cleveland.
Daniels was a steals machine, Mobley has the gift of being able to defend the rim with physicality but not foul, and Green is seeking his second award after winning it in 2016-17.
Minnesota’s Rudy Gobert remains on four DPOY awards, tied with Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace as winners of the most. Wembanyama — who won the blocked-shots title this season — probably would have won this award in a runaway had he not been sidelined since the All-Star break with deep vein thrombosis in one of his shoulders.
Last year: Gobert won, with Miami’s Bam Adebayo and Wembanyama the other finalists.
Clutch player of the year
Finalists: Jalen Brunson, New York; Anthony Edwards, Minnesota; Nikola Jokic, Denver.
Can’t go wrong here. Edwards had 157 points in clutch time this season, Brunson had 150 and Jokic had 140.
Last year: Golden State’s Stephen Curry won, with DeMar DeRozan — then of Chicago, now of Sacramento — and Gilgeous-Alexander the other finalists.
Verlander's first Giants win spoiled in walk-off loss to Angels
Verlander's first Giants win spoiled in walk-off loss to Angels originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Justin Verlander nearly inched closer to the 300-win milestone he’s chasing in the twilight of his MLB career.
The 42-year-old was in line for his first Giants win on Sunday against the Angels before San Francisco closer Ryan Walker surrendered four earned runs in the bottom of the ninth inning, sealing Los Angeles’ 5-4 walk-off victory.
Verlander has a long way to go to reach the exclusive milestone and is trying to prove he still has Father Time on his side. Sunday’s impressive outing was a small piece of evidence that he just might.
The veteran righty tossed six innings of one-run ball with two walks and six strikeouts on 98 pitches. Outside of a 33-pitch bottom of the fourth inning, Verlander was excellent.
“I felt better about it,” Verlander told reporters after the game, which he left with a 3-1 lead. “I feel like I’ve been turning in the right direction, and it was nice to give us a better chance to win today.”
Sunday’s loss ended a 10-day, three-city road trip for the Giants, who posted a 5-5 record against the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and the Angels. Manager Bob Melvin lauded Verlander for pitching well Sunday but acknowledged Walker experienced a rare bad outing, spoiling what could have sent San Francisco home on a happy flight after Sam Huff’s two-run homer and Willy Adames’ two-RBI day.
“Just a little off from the very beginning,” Melvin told reporters of Walker’s performance. “He gets the punch-out and now you feel pretty good about him getting out of the inning, but I think that’s the first runs he’s given up all year, so you’re going to have some bad days.
“Unfortunately it happened today.”
San Francisco (14-8) now heads back to Oracle Park for a seven-game homestand against the Milwaukee Brewers (12-10) and Texas Rangers (13-9).
Warriors' Draymond Green named 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist
Warriors' Draymond Green named 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalist originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Warriors forward Draymond Green is one of three finalists for the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Green is vying for his second career DPOY honor.
Atlanta Hawks wing Dyson Daniels and Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley join Green as DPOY finalists.
The announcement was made on TNT’s “Inside the NBA” pregame show on Sunday, ahead of the Cavaliers’ first-round playoff game against the Miami Heat.
Green averaged 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks while finishing with a 108.8 defensive rating in 68 games this season.
But Daniels averaged an NBA-leading 3.0 steals in 76 games, establishing himself as a defensive game-changer.
Mobley had his breakout season as the Cavs secured the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed. The fourth-year big man averaged 1.6 blocks and 0.9 steals in 71 games.
Green is aching for a second DPOY Award, and he recently spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Monte Poole and Kerith Burke about what winning it again would mean to him.
“It would mean the world to me; you know I pride myself on the defensive end,” Green told Poole and Burke on “Dubs Talk” in late March. “I think to be acknowledged as the best defender in this league is no small feat. It’s something that, I never pride myself on winning awards, but they never hurt the ego and they don’t hurt the pockets. But most importantly, even more so than that, I think all the hard work you put in to try and stay at an elite level, and to be recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year at 35, eight years after first doing it, it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort to have that type of longevity.”
At 35, Green knows he faces an uphill battle against the NBA’s younger talent, like Daniels and Mobley.
“To even be mentioned in that conversation, to me, is special,” Green told Poole and Burke. “Obviously, I want to win it, but it’s not something that’s totally in my control … When I started to see my name pop up in the conversation, I was like, ‘Wow, I really have a chance to do this.’
“And I came into this season, for the last couple years I’ve been kind of priding myself on that. Like, ‘I want to win another one. I want to win another one.’ But obviously you have to have success as a team and just to find that success, put myself in the conversation. At worst, I want to make [All-Defensive First Team] and if I can put myself in the conversation to be DPOY, I think that would be crazier than winning the first one.”
In addition to his one DPOY win, Green has seven top-10 finishes, and he’s hoping that number doesn’t climb to eight.
Golden Knights Looking For Game 1 Victory Over Wild
The Vegas Golden Knights begin their quest for their second Stanley Cup with a first-round battle against the Minnesota Wild.
The Golden Knights finished the season as the two seed in the Western Conference, while the Wild finished as the seventh seed. Despite that, the series is highly anticipated and will be increasingly difficult with the recent returns of Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jared Spurgeon.
Like the Wild, the Golden Knights step into the playoffs at full health, with depth aplenty. Jack Eichel recently returned from an upper-body injury, Alex Pietrangelo was able to nurse a lingering ailment, and Adin Hill was given ample rest.
Although HC Bruce Cassidy hasn't confirmed what his lineup will look like, he mentioned recently that he'd like to continue to use what's been successful in the regular season.
The Golden Knights projected lines:
Barbashev-Eichel-Stone
Saad-Hertl-Dorofeyev
Smith-Karlsson-Olofsson
Howden-Roy-Kolsear
Hanifin-Pietrangelo
McNabb-Theodore
Hague-Whitecloud
Hill
Samsonov
Extras: Pearson, Holtz, Schwindt, Rondbjerg, Korczak, Hutton and Schmid
The Golden Knights are statistically better offensively and defensively than the Wild and hold a large advantage on the power play. The Golden Knights ranked second on the power play during the regular season, and the Wild ranked 30th on the penalty kill. Special teams are important to playoff success and the Golden Knights hold the early advantage.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM PST at T-Mobile Arena.
Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favourites on Google News to never miss a story.