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New York Rangers Recall Defenseman Matthew Robertson From Hartford Wolf Pack

© Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers announced they have recalled defenseman Matthew Robertson from their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack. 

Robertson recorded one goal and 24 assists in 60 games with Hartford this season. 

The 24-year-old has been a key cog on the Hartford blue line for four seasons, totalling 11 goals and 80 points in 250 career AHL games. 

A second round pick of the Rangers in 2019, Robertson was a highly touted prospect who was never able to crack the Rangers roster despite being recalled multiple times. 

The Edmonton, Alta., native will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season. 

The Rangers were officially eliminated from NHL playoff contention yesterday and the Wolf Pack are going to miss the Calder Cup Playoffs, allowing Robertson to gain some experience and make his NHL debut in a low stakes environment. 

Check out The Hockey News' New York Rangers site for more updates on the team. 

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GAME PREVIEW: Senators Host Flyers In Sunday Afternoon Showdown

The Ottawa Senators host the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon in their 80th game of the season. As of Saturday night, the Sens are pretty much locked in as the Eastern Conference’s first Wild Card playoff qualifier. 

Mar 11, 2025: Senators center Tim Stützle (18) collides with Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) during the second period. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images).

After the Montreal Canadiens’ 1-0 overtime loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, the best the Habs can do is tie Ottawa in the final standings, but they can't catch the Senators in regulation wins, which is the first tiebreaker. The Sens can still catch the Panthers for third place, but they'd need to win their last three while Florida wins their last two in regulation.

So, beyond continuing good habits and playing the right way, the Senators have nothing to play for in their final three games. But for winger Nick Cousins, it’s about getting back up to speed. He’s expected to play on Sunday for the first time since his knee injury in January.

The two clubs have split the season series so far. The Flyers took the first meeting, earning a 5–4 overtime win in November. The Senators rebounded with a 5–2 victory in Philadelphia last month. 

The Senators won a feisty 5-2 contest at home on Friday night against the Montreal Canadiens. Shane Pinto scored twice and cracked the 20 goal mark for the second time in his career. Pinto, Ridly Greig, and Michael Amadio, have been fantastic of late on both sides of the puck.

The Sens home record is 25–11–2, and everybody's working for the weekends. They're on a run of 14–2-1 on Saturdays and Sundays. 

The Flyers are enjoying the so-called new coach bump. With a 4–3 shootout win over the New York Islanders on Saturday, they’re 5-1 since the firing of John Tortorella. Brad Shaw has been running the bench in the interim and making a good first impression on GM Daniel Briere. Notably, as a player, Shaw remains the only person to have ever captained both the Ottawa 67s and the Ottawa Senators.

Former Habs first-rounder Ryan Poehling is suddenly playing out of his mind with 13 points in his last 10 games, including 9 since the coaching change.

With the Senators all but clinched as the Wild Card 1 team, they will play the winner of the Atlantic Division and that will now be either Toronto or Tampa Bay. If the Leafs beat Carolina on Sunday night and Tampa loses to Buffalo, we’ll officially have our first Battle of Ontario playoff series in 21 years.

Sunday’s faceoff with the Flyers is at 1 pm.

- Brady Tkachuk: 'I Don’t Think I’d Ever Miss An Opportunity To Play In The Playoffs
- The Five Core Ottawa Senator Players Most Ready To Finally Experience Playoffs
- David Perron Chosen As Ottawa Senators 2025 Masterton Trophy Nominee
- CLINCHED: Ottawa Senators Officially Clinch First Playoff Spot In Eight Years
- From Another November Struggle To The Verge Of The Stanley Cup Playoffs
- Former Ottawa Senators Assistant GM Ray Shero Passes Away At Age 62

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What to know as Celtics prepare for first round of playoffs

What to know as Celtics prepare for first round of playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With the regular season in the books, the Boston Celtics will sit back and await their opponent for the first round of the NBA playoffs.

The C’s wrapped up their 2024-25 campaign with a 61-21 record after securing a 93-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. They went 64-18 during their 2024 NBA championship season.

Boston enters the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Cavaliers earned the No. 1 seed with a 65-17 record.

As the No. 2 seed, the Celtics will begin their playoff run against the No. 7 seed in the East. More on their potential first-round opponent and when the first round is scheduled to begin below:

Who will the Celtics play in Round 1?

The No. 2 seed Celtics will meet either the Orlando Magic or the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. The Magic and Hawks will compete for the No. 7 seed on Tuesday.

Boston went 1-2 against both teams during the regular season.

When is the NBA play-in tournament?

  • The play-in tourney begins Tuesday, April 15 with the No. 8 and No. 7 seeds in both conferences facing off.
  • The No. 10 and No. 9 seeds in each conference will play against one another on Wednesday, April 16.
  • The winner of the East 10/9 matchup will face the loser of the East 8/7 game on Friday, April 18.
  • The winner of the West 10/9 matchup will face the loser of the West 8/7 game on Friday, April 18.

When will the first round begin?

The Celtics’ Game 1 showdown vs. the Magic or Hawks at TD Garden will take place on either April 19 or 20. The tip-off time is TBD.

Will Jaylen Brown play for Celtics in first round?

Jaylen Brown has been bothered by a knee issue in recent weeks, but it doesn’t sound like it will keep the Celtics star from suiting up when the playoffs start. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla said Sunday he is “100 percent” confident Brown will be ready to go:

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What we learned as Warriors seal play-in fate with OT loss to Clippers

What we learned as Warriors seal play-in fate with OT loss to Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming Note: Tune into “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Warriors Postgame Live.”

BOX SCORE

SAN FRANCISCO – Game 82 of the 2024-25 NBA regular season wasn’t exactly a win or go home for the Warriors, but it certainly had a playoff feel Sunday at Chase Center. 

Win, and the Warriors were guaranteed the No. 6 NBA playoff seed and a first-round matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Lose, and the Warriors dropped to the No. 7 seed, hosting an NBA play-in tournament game on their home court. 

The drama. The suspense. Sports were at their finest, and the Warriors were outlasted 124-119 in an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Jimmy Butler played nearly flawless basketball for the Warriors (30 points, nine assists, 12-of-20 shooting). Steph Curry, fighting off a right thumb injury, started off extremely slow but scored 21 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Brandin Podziemski was a team-high plus-14, giving Golden State 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Curry also had a season-high eight turnovers.

On the other side, Kawhi Leonard (33 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, 13-of-19 shooting), James Harden (38 points, seven rebounds and 10 assists) and Ivica Zubac (22 points, 17 rebounds) were sensational.

While Zubac hauled in 17 rebounds of his own, the Warriors only grabbed 25 as a team. Podziemski had seven rebounds, but the rest of Golden State’s starters had seven. The Clippers finished with 17 more rebounds than the Warriors, and eight more second-chance points.

Here are three takeaways from a wild final game of the regular season.

Steph’s Late Surge

With his right thumb padded and wrapped in athletic tape, Curry wasn’t going let another injury concern deter him from playing the regular-season finale. Whether it was pain, discomfort or something else, Curry was off early on. He scored five points in the first quarter, but had three bad turnovers and already was whistled for two fouls. 

The Warriors then went on a 22-9 run without him before he came back during the second quarter. Curry scored eight points in the second quarter, bringing him to 13, but he was a minus-15 in 15 first-half minutes. 

As Butler continued to carry the Warriors, Curry only scored two points in the third quarter and was down to a minus-16 entering the fourth. The Warriors trailed by one point going into the fourth, needing any extra juice Curry could muster to give them a final jolt. He entered with nine minutes left and the Warriors down by four points. 

Curry hit a deep three with a little under eight minutes remaining to cut the deficit to four points. A fire was lit. Curry exploded for an absurd 18 points in the fourth quarter, putting on a cinematic show for all to enjoy.

Butler vs. Leonard

They stood shoulder-to-shoulder at center court for the opening tipoff. Not all eyes gravitated to Butler and Leonard, but the two players completely change the outlook of their respective teams. The Warriors had lost all three of their previous games against the Clippers this season, though none included either player. 

Butler kicked into get-into-the-playoffs mode right away, scoring 10 first-quarter points. Only two of those points were from the free-throw line, where Butler has lived since joining the Warriors at the NBA trade deadline. He went 4-of-6 shooting and even threw down two dunks. 

Butler and Leonard undoubtedly were the two best players on the floor. Each looked spry and determined to bring their team a victory. Butler was up to 13 points and seven assists by halftime, but Leonard was even better. In 21 minutes, Leonard was a plus-12 with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting and had four rebounds and four assists. 

Leonard had 25 points going into the fourth quarter, and Butler was at 24. Butler opened the quarter nailing a turnaround jumper, but was outscored 8-6 by Leonard between the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Kuminga Plan

Is there one? In this game, with so many implications, Jonathan Kuminga was an afterthought. He started the game staying loose on the stationary bike, and then watched the rest from the bench.

Buddy Hield was the first player off the bench, something that isn’t new or out of the ordinary. But the next player coach Steve Kerr usually points to is Kuminga to replace Butler. It wasn’t. Gary Payton II checked in as Butler took a seat. 

Kerr has said recently the three-man combination of Draymond Green, Butler and Kuminga doesn’t work, and the numbers show he’s right. They’ve spent 38 minutes on the floor together over three games and have a minus-24.9 net rating with a 97.5 offensive rating and 122.4 defensive rating. The Warriors coach also said after Golden State’s win in Portland on Friday night that the team’s offense has lacked flow and rhythm the past few weeks. 

That just so happens to coincide with Kuminga’s return from a badly sprained ankle. Kuminga’s athleticism is second to none on the Warriors. His impact was loud and obvious when the Warriors beat the Lakers 10 days ago, scoring an efficient 18 points off the bench with nine rebounds, four assists and a blocked shot. 

Kuminga theoretically raises the Warriors’ ceiling. Kerr doesn’t care about hypotheticals, only winning basketball on that particular day.

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NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason

NBA playoff bracket set for 2025: Here all the matchups entering the postseason originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

After a grueling regular season, it’s time to crown a champion.

The 2024-25 NBA regular season concluded on Sunday after nearly six months of non-stop action.

The upcoming playoffs will feature all of the best teams from across the league, including the defending champion Boston Celtics and 68-win Oklahoma City Thunder.

How do the seeds stack up in each conference? Who will compete in the Play-In Tournament? And what is the bracket looking like? Here’s everything to know entering the postseason:

When do the NBA playoffs start?

The 2025 NBA playoffs tip off on Saturday, April 19, with Game 1 of four first-round series’ being held.

The remaining four series will play Game 1 on Sunday, April 20.

What are the NBA playoff matchups and seeds?

The top six seeds in each conference are locked into the playoffs, which means matchups for four of the eight first-round series are set. The bottom two seeds in each conference will be determined in the Play-In Tournament.

Here are the seeds and matchups for both conferences:

EAST

  • No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks/No. 9 Chicago Bulls/No. 10 Miami Heat
  • No. 2 Boston Celtics vs. No. 7 Orlando Magic/No. 8 Atlanta Hawks
  • No. 3 New York Knicks vs. No. 6 Detroit Pistons
  • No. 4 Indiana Pacers vs. No. 5 Milwaukee Bucks

WEST

Who is in the NBA Play-In Tournament?

The Play-In Tournament will feature the seventh through 10th seeds in each conference.

The No. 7 seeds will face the No. 8 seeds, with the winners moving to the first-round against the No. 2 seeds. The losers will face the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 games, with the winners of those games moving on to face the No. 1 seeds. Here’s the Play-In Tournament matchups:

EAST

  • Game 1: No. 8 Atlanta Hawks at No. 7 Orlando Magic (Tuesday, April 15)
  • Game 2: No. 10 Miami Heat at No. 9 Chicago Bulls (Wednesday, April 16)
  • Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)

WEST

  • Game 1: No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies at No. 7 Golden State Warriors (Tuesday, April 15)
  • Game 2: No. 10 Dallas Mavericks at No. 9 Sacramento Kings (Wednesday, April 16)
  • Game 3: Winner of Game 2 at Loser of Game 1 (Friday, April 18)

How to watch the NBA playoffs and NBA Finals

The NBA playoffs will air on ESPN, ABC, TNT and NBA TV. The exact partners for each series and game are still to be determined.

For the 23rd consecutive season dating back to 2003, the NBA Finals will be broadcasted on ABC.

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Troy transfer forward Fields discusses his West Virginia choice

Troy transfer forward Jackson Fields entered the transfer portal looking for the right fit. Fields, 6-foot-8, 210-pounds, committed to the Mountaineers in large part because of the culture that new head coach Ross Hodge is bringing over from his time at North Texas. Fields was able to cultivate a strong relationship with both Hodge and his coaching staff led by assistant Mike Randle by being on multiple calls with them to discuss his fit in the program.

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Warriors vs. Grizzlies NBA play-in set after Golden State's loss to LA Clippers

Warriors vs. Grizzlies NBA play-in set after Golden State's loss to LA Clippers originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Programming Note: Tune into “Warriors Pregame Live” at 6 p.m. PT on Tuesday on NBC Sports Bay Area before the Warriors and Grizzlies tip-off. Immediately after the final buzzer, tune back in for “Warriors Postgame Live.”

The Warriors didn’t take care of business Sunday, and now they will have to deal with the NBA play-in tournament again.

Golden State’s crushing season-finale 124-119 overtime loss to the LA Clippers at Chase Center means the Warriors will host the Memphis Grizzlies in the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game at 7 p.m. PT on Tuesday night.

Steph Curry led the way with 36 points and Jimmy Butler finished with 30, but that wasn’t enough to overcome big performances from Clippers stars James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Ivica Zubac.

The winner of the Warriors-Grizzlies game will advance to take on the No. 2-seeded Houston Rockets in the first round.

The loser of the Golden State-Memphis game will host the winner of the No. 9 vs. No. 10 game between the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks on Friday.

Steph Curry and Co. won three of the four regular-season matchups against the Grizzlies, with the most recent coming April 1 in Memphis, thanks to a 52-point eruption from the two-time NBA MVP.

The Warriors and Grizzlies previously met in the 2021 play-in tournament, with Memphis winning the elimination game to end Golden State’s season.

Golden State, winless in three prior play-in games, is hoping for a different result this time.

Games between the Warriors and Grizzlies always are intense, and Tuesday’s showdown should be no different.

Download and follow the Dubs Talk Podcast

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2025 NFL Draft: Are Titans a bad fit for Cam Ward?

(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)

Schwab is optimistic about Ward's future, predicting he will be really good, potentially a first-tier quarterback. In contrast, Fitz believes the Titans might ruin Ward due to organizational instability, predicting that he will face a difficult career with the Titans.

Fitz argues that the Titans are a bad fit for Ward because he believes the organization does not provide a stable environment for developing quarterbacks. Fitz shares concerns about the Titans' franchise management, noting that the revolving door of coaches and general managers creates instability. He also points out that head coach Brian Callahan took over a team with low expectations last year and the Titans ended up being the worst team in football, not due to injuries but due to poor talent, coaching and game management.

Fitz is worried that without consistent leadership and a strong supporting cast, Ward will struggle to succeed or develop into his potential. He fears that within a few years, Ward will be stuck dealing with multiple offensive languages and systems, which could hinder his growth as a quarterback. 

Essentially, Fitz foresees that Ward may be set up to fail due to the Titans' organizational issues.

Fitz predicts that four quarterbacks will be taken in the first round, including a surprise pick of Jalen Milroe. In contrast, Schwab predicts only two QBs will be drafted in the first round, and that Shedeur Sanders might slip to Round 2.

While Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan is often considered the next receiver off the board, Schwab believes Texas' Matthew Golden will be picked before him due to his speed and game-breaking ability.

Schwab suggests a surprising pick of Jeanty by the Dallas Cowboys, and the excitement it could bring, despite the Raiders and Bears being favorites.

Fitz boldly predicts that the Steelers will find themselves needing to draft a quarterback due to uncertainties with Aaron Rodgers, potentially leading them to reach in the draft.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into Inside Coverage on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.

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NHL Betting Roundup: Demidov and Nikishin To Make Debut, Landeskog Return

NHL Bets to look at following recent news like Hurricanes and Habs getting top prospects, Avalanche to get back Gabe Landeskog

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The NHL season is almost over with few games mattering as the playoff picture takes shape and makes great values, harder to find than ever. As we anxiously await the start of the postseason, there is some news around the league that we can look to and find a potential play within the story.

All betting lines are from FanDuel Sportsbook and are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict so please gamble responsibly.

Top Prospect Alexander Nikishin joins the Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes have hit a rough patch recently with four straight losses but fans shouldn't worry as they've called for backup. Carolina will get their 2020 third-round pick into the lineup for the first time and the 23-year-old defenceman should make an impact. Over the last three seasons in the KHL, Nikishin has flourished into a must-see talent with impressive offence from the backend that totalled 45 goals and 112 assists for 157 through 193 games.

The 6-foot-4 blueliner has also proven to be a difference-maker when it counts, playing with physicality that should translate to the Stanley Cup playoffs, while also adding subtle offence with 12 points over his last 25 KHL playoff games.

Alexander Nikishin has a lethal one-timer #hockey #boom #carolinahurricanesAlexander Nikishin has a lethal one-timer #hockey #boom #carolinahurricanesundefined

Carolina has the second-highest odds to win the East at +330 and once Nikishin makes his impact felt, I predict they will be rolling through their final four games and will drop their odds closer to the top ranked Panthers, who sit with +310 odds.

The Hurricanes bring a wealth of playoff experience, having won a playoff series in each of the past six seasons and securing multiple series victories in two of those years.

Carolina to beat the injury-plagued Devils at -250 is a free win but we would also suggest an early shot at an Eastern Conference championship as the Capitals may be out of gas after helping captain Alex Ovechkin break the all-time goal record plus the Atlantic teams like the Panthers, Bolts and Maple Leafs may feed on each other before making the Conference Finals. Don't wait on the Canes as Nikishin will make sure they look like nothing but Stanley Cup favourites.

Habs Get Russian Superstar Ivan Demidov Early, Expected to Maker Debut Monday Versus Chicago

The Habs have been blazing hot with a 14-5-5 record since the Four Nations break. They've managed to leapfrog several contenders and put themselves in the last Eastern Wild Card spot. Montreal is set up for a first round matchup versus the top seed in the East with the Washington Capitals.

Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal �� (via KHL_eng/X)Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)Canadiens top prospect Ivan Demidov terminated his KHL deal & signed with Montreal 👀 (via KHL_eng/X)✔️ Subscribe to ESPN+ https://plus.espn.com/✔️ Get the E...

This could set up for a massive series back in Russia as Ovechkin will line up against the next big Russian star in Montreal's Ivan Demidov, who is joining the team to finish off the season. The 19-year-old winger was the Habs' first round pick this past year, where he was selected fifth overall. He went back to play in Russia's KHL for SKA St. Petersburg, where he recorded almost 50 points in 65 games.

Some experts are calling him the best prospect out of Russia since Ovechkin himself and would make the first round series between Montreal and Washington must-see tv. Demidov's role hasn't been lined out just yet but if he makes his debut Monday, he should be able to take advantage and get on the scoresheet at least once against a Blackhawks defence, that has the second-worst goals against average at 3.57 this season.

Whatever the odds are for a Demidov point, I would suggest taking it as he should have an explosive NHL debut.

Avalanche Captain Gabriel Landeskog On Verge of NHL Return after Long Battle with Injuries

The Aves haven't had their captain in the lineup since winning the Stanley Cup in 2022 and since they've struggled without his leadership with one playoff series win over the last two seasons.

Landeskog, 32, has finally returned to the ice this past week after being sidelined for nearly three years with a severe knee injury that require multiple surgeries to repair it.

Some thought he may never play again but he prevailed despite all odds and is now at the AHL with the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning assignment to get the longtime Avalanche captain back up to speed. Colorado is slated for a first-round matchup with the Dallas Stars and should make for a stellar series between the third and fifth-best teams in the West.

The odds are dead even for the series with each team having -110 odds to advance to the second round but when Landeskog makes his return, it'll ignite a fire in the Avalanche locker room that many teams may not be able to handle. It may be wise to get in on them early as they have +500 odds to Western Conference and +850 odds to win the Cup. 

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Three takeaways: Strong nights for Gadjovich, Puljujarvi as Panthers win third straight

Apr 13, 2024; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers center Eetu Luostarinen (27) controls the puck against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (1) during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

The Florida Panthers sent their faithful followers home happy on Fan Appreciation Night.

Hosting the Buffalo Sabres and missing several key players, Florida showed up well and defeated the visitors 3-2 in a shootout.

It’s been a recurring theme of late for the Panthers to hold players out of the lineup as the team aims to have as healthy of a roster as possible when the postseason begins in about a week.

That hasn’t stopped the Cats from maintaining an overall strong level of play and, more recently, reeling off a few wins in a row.

On that note, let’s get to Saturday’s takeaways:

GOOD WITH WIN

It’s a strange time of the season.

Playoff-bound squads like Florida are prioritizing postseason health and preparedness over going all out for a few more regular season points in the standings.

On the other hand, there are also teams like Buffalo who may be peaking a bit too late, already eliminated from playoff contention but still trying to build some positivity for next season.

The Sabres certainly put up a strong fight on Saturday, but it’s nice for the Panthers that they’ve been able to pile up some points in addition to playing the game the right way.

“We are kind of winding up for the playoffs,” said Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice. “Buffalo was 8-2 coming into this game, they won eight of their last 10 games, and they’ve got lots of offense, so I liked how serious the guys were. It wasn't a masterpiece by any means, but they took their job seriously tonight. I like the professionalism.”

IMPACTFUL NIGHT FOR GADJO

Forward Jonah Gadjovich isn’t generally on the roster every game, and when he does suit up, his ice time is limited as a fourth line player.

That means when he does hear his number called, Gadjovich knows he needs to be consistent to his particular brand of hockey.

Lately, Gadjovich has tapped more frequently as the Panthers have been leaning more on their depth forwards over the past few weeks.

His average ice time has gone up from 7:22 per game in March to 10:34 in six April contests.

On Saturday, Gadjovich made sure to influence the game in his own way, first catching the attention of everyone on either team when he lit up Sabres forward Jiri Kulich with a crushing center ice hit.

Not long after, Buffalo forward Alex Tuch challenged Gadjovich to a fight looking for retribution for the hit, and it did not go well for Tuch.

That’s what Gadjo can do for the Cats. While he may not end up on the scoresheet but finds way to positively effect the game in Florida’s favor.

“Well first of all, he's a tank of a man,” said Maurice. “You run into him, you're going to feel it. He's been a very impactful player here for about a month with our injuries. He's kept the game in a peaceful manner a lot of nights, because he's pretty well respected in league.”

PULJUJARVI KEEPS IMPRESSING

Forward Jesse Puljujarvi is turning some heads during his first games in a Panthers sweater.

The former fourth overall pick was signed to an AHL PTO (pro tryout) contract by Florida’s American League affiliate in Charlotte back in early February.

He quickly acclimated himself to Florida’s physically aggressive, defensive systems and in less than a month, earned a two-way deal with the Panthers.

After being called up to the Cats last week, Puljujarvi has played three games with Florida and by all accounts, has fit in extremely well.

The 26-year-old picked up his first goal as a Panther on a sweet one-handed deflection Saturday, and over the three games, he has logged 11 shots and 23 hits while averaging over 13 minutes of ice time.

NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) on XNHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) on XJesse Puljujarvi - Florida Panthers (4)

“He’s a very interesting player,” said Maurice. “I think he's big, clearly he's not afraid to hit. He’s had a whole bunch of them, but not running around for it. He's playing the game, as well. There's some offensive instinct in him. We believe that there's an impactful player there.”

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3 observations after Sixers close out dismal 2024-25 season with loss to Bulls

3 observations after Sixers close out dismal 2024-25 season with loss to Bulls  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The Sixers’ 2024-25 season is history. They won’t want to relive much of it. 

The team closed out its schedule Sunday afternoon at Wells Fargo Center with a 122-102 loss to the Bulls. 

At 24-58, the Sixers’ record was by their worst since the 2015-16 season. 

Lonnie Walker IV scored 31 points in the season finale, tying his career high

The injury-plagued Sixers’ eight available players included Isaiah Mobley, who signed Sunday morning. The 6-foot-8 power forward averaged 17.4 points and 7.9 rebounds this season for the Delaware Blue Coats in the G League. He posted six points, five assists and four rebounds against the Bulls.

Here are observations on Game No. 82:

More positives from Bona

The Sixers’ starting lineup had just one member of their opening-night roster: Rookie Adem Bona. He was joined by two trade acquisitions (Quentin Grimes and Jared Butler), a February signing from Lithuania (Walker), and a 10-day contract player (Marcus Bagley). 

In keeping with a late-season theme, Bona’s early work against Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic was a bright spot.

A left-handed Bona tip-in gave him six points in the first six minutes. The rookie finished the season with multiple offensive rebounds in 13 consecutive appearances. 

Bona beat Vucevic in the post with a nifty step-through layup a few minutes later. He’s continued to be efficient and self-aware, but Bona’s offensive comfort zone has clearly expanded this year thanks to in-game reps and ample behind-the-scenes work.

Consistent late-season regulars 

In addition to Bona, several Sixers became consistent contributors at the end of the season.

Grimes had an off day, shooting just 3 for 14 from the field, but was often brilliant. He posted 26.6 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in March. 

Walker drilled two early three-pointers and went 8 for 15 beyond the arc on the afternoon. He wrapped up the season with five straight double-figure scoring games and averaged 22.8 points during that stretch. Walker’s runner late in the second quarter put the Sixers up 54-45. 

Butler (19 points, five assists) also produced steadily over the Sixers’ last couple of weeks. He’s gained familiarity with his teammates, developed pick-and-roll chemistry with Bona and picked his spots to score. 

Coming off of a 20-point, 10-rebound game Friday vs. the Hawks, Bagley was again sharp as a cutter and on the glass in a 10-point, 15 rebound performance. He picked up four steals and a block in the first half, too.

Almost all about the injuries

The Bulls rested starters Kevin Huerter, Coby White, Vucevic and Matas Buzelis for the second half.

Of course, the perpetually undermanned Sixers had no such luxuries. Chicago started the second half well and gradually pulled away.

In our view, a large chunk of the Sixers’ 58 losses can legitimately be chalked up to injuries. 

That doesn’t mean, health permitting, the Sixers were undoubtedly destined for greatness. They had a variety of flaws unrelated to injuries, such as leaning too heavily on older players and remaining a poor defensive rebounding team. However, no team hit by the Sixers’ volume of injuries would have thrived. 

There are ways the Sixers can be better equipped for injury woes. As president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said in February, the team aimed to get younger at the trade deadline. Still, in order to dramatically bounce back from a hellacious season, the Sixers surely need Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey to have much better health. 

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Report: West Virginia lands Troy transfer forward Fields

West Virginia has landed Troy transfer forward transfer Jackson Fields. The news was reported by Jeff Goodman of Fieldof68 and WVSports.com has confirmed the commitment. Fields, 6-foot-8, 210-pounds, entered the transfer portal March 24 and received interest from a number of schools prior to picking the Mountaineers.

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Carlos Alcaraz storms back against injured Musetti to win Monte Carlo Masters

  • Spanish second seed wins 3-6, 6-1, 6-0
  • Musetti suffers leg injury in final set

Carlos Alcaraz stormed back to a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory against an ailing Lorenzo Musetti to win the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco.

The second-seeded Spaniard claimed his sixth ATP Masters 1000 title and first since Indian Wells in March 2024. It was the 18th career title for the four-time grand slam winner, who turns 22 next month.

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