Alijah Arenas, the Southern California basketball recruit who was involved in a fiery vehicle accident, is out of an induced coma, his family said in a statement Friday.
Emery engineering has Rashford and Aston Villa on the rise for FA Cup
Manager’s changeable lineups have pushed striker to usurp Ollie Watkins and likely lead the attack at Wembley
Unai Emery keeps his Aston Villa players on their toes. Sometimes he tells his squad the lineup the day before a game, on other occasions half an hour before they depart the team hotel for the stadium on a match day. Training tends to offer some clues but of late there have been surprises. Emery, a hugely emotional character, has been known to make impulsive, snap calls. Morgan Rogers, a rare mainstay and one of Villa’s trio of undroppables, recently described how his manager’s decision‑making can feel like flip‑of-the-coin stuff.
When the teamsheets are released an hour before kick-off at Wembley on Saturday, the eyeballs will jump towards the most intriguing selection dilemma: will Emery favour Marcus Rashford or Ollie Watkins?
Continue reading...NFL Draft: 3 favorite, 3 least favorite picks of Round 1
(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.)
Here’s a recap of the favorite and least favorite Round 1 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft from the latest "Yahoo Fantasy Forecast / Football 301" podcast, based on what Charles McDonald, Nate Tice and Matt Harmon discussed:
Favorite picks of Round 1
McDonald:Mason Graham, DT, Cleveland Browns
Loved how the Browns traded down, acquired extra draft capital from Jacksonville, and addressed a genuine roster need. There's a lot to like about the fit alongside Myles Garrett and Graham could bring significant pass rush ability.
Harmon:Armand Membou, OT, New York Jets
There's reason to be high on Membou’s aggressive play and tone-setting style. He can be a finishing piece for a Jets offensive line that’s been in rebuilding mode. There's potential for Membou and Olu Fashanu to be dynamic, young bookends and keys to a run-first Jets identity.
Tice:Mykel Williams, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers
The pairing of Williams with Nick Bosa was perfect — Bosa as the finesse rusher, Williams bringing power and run defense. It's an ideal selection for the Niners’ defensive needs and style.
James Gilbert via Getty Images
Least favorite picks of Round 1
Tice: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
None of the QBs in this draft class other than Cam Ward were first-round material. The Giants are in “win now or develop” limbo — stuck with veterans and now asking Dart to step into a questionable situation behind a shaky line.
McDonald:Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
Hampton is a fine player, but there's reason to question the value here for the Chargers, who still have glaring needs, especially on the interior offensive line. The Chargers aren’t good enough to justify using a premium pick on a running back and the move doesn’t make their offense materially better.
Harmon: Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
A first-round TE is a luxury pick for a team that has needs elsewhere and a questionable QB situation. Warren isn’t an urgent upgrade given the Colts’ receivers weren’t being maximized anyway, and his skills overlap with what the Colts already have on the roster.
To hear more NFL discussions, tune into "Football 301" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.
Carolina Hurricanes Have Golden Opportunity In Game 3
The Carolina Hurricanes have had a great start to their first-round series against the New Jersey Devils. After defeating the Devils 4-1 in Game 1, the Hurricanes followed that up with a 3-1 win in Game 2. With this, the Canes sport a notable 2-0 series lead over the Devils.
The Hurricanes will be looking to take advantage of the golden opportunity in front of them in Game 3. If the Hurricanes can defeat the Devils on the road, they would have a commanding 3-0 series lead and only be another step closer to moving on to the second round.
It is incredibly rare for NHL teams to come back from 3-0 deficits in the post-season, so it would be massive if the Hurricanes defeated the Devils in Game 3. Only four teams in NHL history have successfully overcome a 3-0 deficit: the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs, the 1975 New York Islanders, the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, and the 2014 Los Angeles Kings.
If the Hurricanes do not win Game 3, they would at least still have a 2-1 series lead. However, this would open the door for the Devils to potentially tie the series up at home in Game 4, so Game 3 carries great value for Carolina.
It will be very interesting to see if the Hurricanes can pick up a victory in Game 3 from here. If they take advantage of their massive opportunity and pick up a win, they would put a real stranglehold on the series.
Recent Hurricanes News
Hurricanes' Taylor Hall Continues To Be Great AdditionThe Carolina Hurricanes acquired Taylor Hall from the Chicago Blackhawks back in late January. The 33-year-old forward had been the subject of trade rumors during the season because of his pending unrestricted free agent status and the Blackhawks being out of the playoff race early. Thus, the Hurricanes brought him in, and it's a move that continues to benefit them.
Former Hurricanes Forward Has Big Game With New TeamFormer Carolina Hurricanes forward Warren Foegele signed a three-year, $10.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings this past off-season. This was after the 29-year-old winger posted 20 goals and 41 points in 82 games with the Edmonton Oilers in 2023-24.
Carolina Hurricanes 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs HubThe Carolina Hurricanes have made a seventh consecutive playoff berth and will be taking on the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Tatum returns from wrist injury for Game 3 vs. Magic; Holiday out
Tatum returns from wrist injury for Game 3 vs. Magic; Holiday out originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Jayson Tatum missed the first playoff game of his eight-year NBA career on Wednesday. He wasn’t about to miss his second.
The Celtics star is officially active for Friday’s Game 3 against the Orlando Magic after sitting out Game 2 due to a bone bruise in his right wrist. Jaylen Brown (right knee) is active as well despite being listed as questionable, while Jrue Holiday (right hamstring strain) has been ruled out.
Tatum’s return is a bit of a surprise, as he was listed as doubtful to play in Game 3 as of Friday morning. Tatum was upgraded to questionable Friday afternoon and was seen going through his normal warmup routine before Friday’s game.
Tatum suffered his wrist injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 1 when he landed on his right wrist after a hard foul by Magic guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Tatum remained in the game, then received an MRI on his wrist immediately after the 103-86 win.
While Tatum said his wrist felt “all right” following Game 1, he was listed as doubtful to play in Wednesday’s Game 2 and was downgraded to out just before tip-off. The Celtics won anyway, 109-100, thanks to Jaylen Brown’s 36-point effort.
According to head coach Joe Mazzulla, Tatum did “everything he could possibly do up until the last moment” to try to play in Game 2. Mazzulla sounded optimistic that Tatum would return to action soon, telling 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak & Bertrand on Thursday that “there will definitely be a chance” Tatum plays in Game 3.
Boston has gone 9-2 with a +10.5 scoring differential without Tatum this season, but the Celtics will definitely benefit from his return to the lineup versus a Magic team that boasts the NBA’s No. 1 scoring defense and allowed just 103.5 points per game at home this season, easily the lowest in the league.
Holiday has been excellent on both ends of the floor in this series, so fellow guards Derrick White and Payton Pritchard will have to step up in his absence.
Tip-off at Kia Center in Orlando is set for 7 p.m. ET on Friday, with NBC Sports Boston’s coverage beginning at 6 p.m. ET with Celtics Pregame Live.
Skinner Scratched For Edmonton In Pivotal Game 3
The Edmonton Oilers face the prospect of going down 3-0 after allowing 12 goals in losses to the Los Angeles Kings, but for a pivotal Game 3 on Friday at home, head coach Kris Knoblauch’s only lineup change will be between the pipes, as backup Calvin Pickard will make the start in place of Stuart Skinner.
Knoblauch is shaking up his line combinations and defensive pairings, such as moving Leon Draisaitl to the wing to play alongside Connor McDavid, but is not subbing in any different forwards or blueliners, which means that former Buffalo Sabre Jeff Skinner will be a healthy scratch for the second straight game. Skinner went -2 in Game 1 and had an assist in the 6-5 loss, but was taken out of the lineup in place of another ex-Sabre Evander Kane. The 32-year-old signed to a one-year, $3 million deal with Edmonton after the Sabres bought him out last June and scored 16 goals this season.
Other Sabres Stories
Questions Yet To Be Answered If Adams Will Remain As Sabres GM
Is Peterka In Prime Position For Big Payday?
Sabres Ownership Ranked Worst In NHL By Survey In The Athletic
Here is how some former Sabres did in the playoffs on Thursday:
Sam Reinhart (FLA) 0G, 1A, +2, 22:45 TOI, 1 SOG
Dmitri Kulikov (FLA) 17:00 TOI, 4 Hits
Evan Rodrigues (FLA) 11:26 TOI, 2 SOG
Zemgus Girgensons (TB) 9:42 TOI, 1 SOG
Florida takes a 2-0 lead with a 2-0 shutout in Tampa in Game 2. The game was highlighted by former Sabres draft pick Brandon Hagel getting a major and game misconduct for a hit on Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov. Hagel will have a hearing with the NHL's Department of Player Safety. Barkov's status for Game 3 is undetermined.
Dylan Cozens (OTT) +1, 15:44 TOI, 3 SOG
Jake McCabe (TOR), 21:48 TOI, 1 SOG
The Maple Leafs took a commanding 3-0 lead over Ottawa in the Battle of Ontario with a 3-2 OT victory in Ottawa on Thursday when Simon Benoit's shot beat former Sabre Linus Ullmark.
Marcus Foligno (MIN) 1G, +1, 13:34 TOI, 4 SOG
Marcus Johansson (MIN) -1, 11:09 TOI
Zach Bogosian (MIN) 1 A, +1, 11:57 TOI
Jack Eichel (VGK) -2, 24:44 TOI, 3 SOG
Victor Olofsson (VGK) 10:37 TOI
Brayden McNabb (VGK) -1, 17:05 TOI
Minnesota takes a 2-1 lead in their series with Vegas with a 5-2 win, as Kirill Kaprizov scores a pair and Buffalo native Marcus Foligno scores his second goal of the playoffs.
Follow Michael on X, Instagram, and Bluesky @MikeInBuffalo
Buchnevich Enters Blues Playoff Record Book
ST. LOUIS -- Brett Hull is known as the greatest goal scorer in St. Louis Blues history.
But even 'The Golden Brett' was never able to accomplish a feat that Pavel Buchnevich pulled off for the Blues on Thursday in a 7-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round.
Hull had 27 hat tricks in his Blues career, but shockingly, none of them came in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Buchnevich became the first Blue since Vladimir Tarasenko on May 5, 2022 in a 5-2 win against the Minnesota Wild to record a hat trick.
It was the franchise's 18th all-time.
Buchnevich, who had only one playoff goal for the Blues in 22 previous playoff games, scored his first two goals in the first 3:11 of the game, then completed the hat trick to give the Blues a 4-1 lead in the third period, helping them get back into the series, which Winnipeg leads 2-1.
When Buchnevich curled in a backhand into am empty cage, the hats reigned down.
Throw those hats #stlblues ... pic.twitter.com/jgFbp02HAt
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 25, 2025
"I didn’t really look at it," Buchnevich said. "'Tommer' kind of tried to calm me down and we just stand and watch and be ready for the next shift. I don’t really pay attention."
St. Louis goal!
— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) April 25, 2025
Scored by Pavel Buchnevich with 14:36 remaining in the 3rd period.
Assisted by Robert Thomas.
St. Louis: 4
Winnipeg: 1#WPGvsSTL#stlblues#GoJetsGopic.twitter.com/h6ZIIbWqX4
It was the first Blues home hat trick since Jaden Schwartz did it, also against the Jets in a 3-2 win in Game 6 of the first round on April 20, 2019.
"It’s amazing. 'Buchy' is a heart-and-soul guy," Blues defenseman Cam Fowler said. "He’s a huge part of our team, a huge part of our locker room, a huge part of why we were able to get a win tonight. A special night for him. It’s not something that comes around very often to get the chance to score three goals in a playoff game. I know he’ll tell you the team getting the win means more to him as well and that’s the mindset that we have to have, but it was a special night for him and he should enjoy it."
Blues center Robert Thomas, who assisted on the hat trick goal, said, "We had to step up. Their top players were contributing, and they were a big reason for us going down 2-0 and 'Buchy' stepped up right away, came out flying, and made some great plays and got us off to a great start. So he deserves a lot of credit.
"He provides a lot for our team, and he was the spark tonight that really got us going. So he was awesome all night.
"We were frustrated with the way we played the first two games, and wanted to respond and he did a great job."
Prior to Game 3, Buchnevich had just one shot on goal through the first two games and Blues fans were quick to jump out and complain about his lack of offensive production.
"I thought 'Buchy' has been good in the first two games, especially defensively," Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. "But offensively, I thought there was more in his game, and I thought he brought that tonight."
When the Blues talked about getting more opportunities at the net front, Buchnevich was front and center.
"I don’t really know how to describe it," Buchnevich said. "Just a crazy, emotional start. We throw the puck at the net, we got the rebound and when you score the first goal, the game opens up and we got the second one right away. It’s a little bit easier to play with the lead, so we’ve got to score first and it’ll be easier to play."
L.A.’s Plan Is Working — And It’s Breaking the Oilers
The Los Angeles Kings aren’t just competing with the Edmonton Oilers. They’re beating them, outplaying them, and out-grinding a team that’s been handed Western Conference heavyweight treatment for years.
And they’re doing it with the swagger of a team that’s sick of being the little brother.
This dominance is evident in the last two games at home, where the Kings have a 2-0 lead over the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 NHL Playoffs — and they're doing so with swagger, grit, and no fear. Here's why L.A. seems destined to flip the script.
Let’s explore the biggest takeaways on how the Kings have looked so good to start their playoff series against the team that many thought was superior to them.
Big-Time Performances from Its Supporting Cast
Veterans like Anze Kopitar, Phillip Danault, and their young stars, Adrian Kempe, Kevin Fiala, Adrian Kuzmenko, and Quinton Byfield, have all played clutch and done their roles to win.
Kempe was a monster in Game 2 with two goals, two assists, and eight shots on goal, with 4 points. He also leads the playoffs thus far with the most points scored with seven.
Who will have the most points by the end of the first round? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/OmXGJDF0bo
— BarDown (@BarDown) April 24, 2025
The clutchest player for the Kings, you could argue, has been Danault, who was huge in Game 1 with his two goals, including the game-winning goal with just under 44 seconds left to stop the Oilers' late comeback after trailing 4-0 and tying the game at 5.
Even though game 1 was almost a choke job by the Kings, they remained focused and committed to closing out the game, which is precisely what they did, showing no fear or worry.
Almost everyone who is supposed to show up and play big has done so in this series, but it seems in these last two games, it’s been someone different who’s stepped up big to help the Kings win.
As I mentioned earlier, Kopitar is one of the primary reasons why the Kings are currently leading 2-0. At the age of 37, he is still playing at a high level and is one of the biggest reasons why the Kings have looked so good. Kopitar is also one of the top point leaders in the playoffs, tied for second, two points behind Kempe with five points.
It’s gotten so bad that the Oilers' goaltender, Stuart Skinner, an excellent goaltender, may be benched in favor of Calvin Pickard in Game 3 to improve their defense and make an adjustment to stay alive.
Mind Games: L.A. is in Edmonton's Head
When Adrian Kempe provides two goals and two assists in a statement win, he doesn't even crack a smile, because this isn't an upset.
This is business as usual. The Kings went into the series not just hoping to hang in there, but to take command — and they've done precisely that.
From the opening shift, Los Angeles has dictated the pace. They're not reacting to McDavid's bursts of speed — they're taking away lanes, forcing him wide, and finishing every check.
Whenever Edmonton tries to create a momentum-swinging highlight-reel rush, the Kings counter with a grinding forecheck, clever stick work, and a crushing hit in the corners.
It's not just physical — it's psychological. The Kings are provoking Edmonton into rage, causing them to take revenge penalties and sloppy giveaways. Evander Kane and Darnell Nurse were visibly frustrated in Game 2, jawing at officials, throwing late hits, and overcommitting on the transition game. That's not the Oilers playing optimally — that's the Kings getting them out of sync and into a street brawl they're not built to fight.
The @LAKings have earned a 2-0 lead in their First Round series and have scored 12 goals through their first two games of a postseason for the second time in franchise history (also 12 GF in 1982).#NHLStats: https://t.co/iZWkgtp8Copic.twitter.com/Rti9zDVhzQ
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 24, 2025
Body language behind the Oilers' bench: McDavid's head in hands, Draisaitl pacing back and forth, players at attention, tongues hanging, with stunned silence. There is bafflement. Desperation. A sense that this is not headed anywhere anyone in Edmonton had thought.
The Los Angeles team seems loose instead. Focused. Calm. They recognize this playbook, but have finally arrived at the correct conclusion.
Home Ice, Real Loud: Crypto Is a Fortress
It’s the first time the Kings have home-ice advantage since 2016, and it’s paying off in the most significant way.
If there's one advantage that's tipping this series, it's not necessarily tactics or execution — it's geography. The Kings have turned Crypto.com Arena into a postseason pressure cooker, and Edmonton is catching every hit.
L.A. went an NHL-record 31-6-4 at home throughout the regular season, and all that confidence obviously carried over into the playoffs. Not only is the building loud, but it's also relentless. The energy has been dynamite from the opening face-off to the final whistle, and the Kings are surfing this tidal wave.
With each of their performances, Adrian Kempe (2-2=4) and Anze Kopitar (1-3=4) are the first set of @LAKings teammates to each record four points in the same playoff game since Game 2 of the 1992 Division Semifinals when Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey did so in a Kings 8-5 victory… pic.twitter.com/iftCCKaFas
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) April 24, 2025
This isn't about noise — it's about confidence. The Kings feel at home, playing faster, cleaner, and more physical in front of their crowd. They're winning battles, tilting the ice, and keeping Edmonton on its heels. It's no accident that the Kings' best special teams work and scoring depth have come alive in Los Angeles.
With or without Jimmy Butler, Warriors must fight fire with fire against Rockets
With or without Jimmy Butler, Warriors must fight fire with fire against Rockets originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO – If there are wagons in the Bay Area, the Warriors must find as many as possible by Saturday afternoon.
For the sake of the Warriors’ NBA postseason aspirations – beginning Saturday, with Game 3 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the robust and rugged Houston Rockets – circling those wagons is the way to protect Stephen Curry and lighten the load on a compromised Jimmy Butler III.
Butler is listed as questionable with a pelvis and deep gluteal muscle contusion, but coach Steve Kerr is “relatively optimistic” that he will play. Even if he does, it’s unreasonable to expect he will approach the 45 minutes he averaged in his last two full games.
“Everybody’s got to be ready, depending on what happens, whether, you know, Jimmy plays or not,” Kerr said Friday.
This was after the team went through video review and a light practice that did not include Butler, but surely highlighted the harsh physicality the Rockets delivered in tying the series 1-1 with their Game 2 victory Wednesday in Houston.
“They played with more urgency,” Kerr said. “They played a playoff game (and) we played a regular-season game. That was the main issue for us. Our lack of physicality defensively was really apparent.”
Rookie center Quinten Post described it as “frustrating” to watch video of Houston’s clutching and pushing and holding, with Curry subjected to it as a matter of routine.
“You see it out there, like, especially with 30 (Curry),” Post told NBC Sports Bay Area. “I think they tell their staff before the game. They probably talked about it. They probably made a rule, like, if you’re guarding him, or he’s close to you, you touch him, you grab him, you pull him.”
Curry finished with a team-high 20 points in Game 2 but clearly bore the full weight of Golden State’s offense once Butler left late in the first quarter. Curry managed 15 of those points, on 4-of-11 shooting from the field, including 3-of-6 from distance over the final three quarters. In 18 second-half minutes, he managed nine points on 2-of-7 shooting (1-of-4) from deep, but was 4-of-4 from the line.
With Amen Thompson leading the way, the Rockets in Game 2 made it clear they were willing to sacrifice attention toward other Warriors to devote more energy toward Curry. That likely won’t change – and certainly won’t if Butler is limited or unavailable.
“You have to try to counter it however you can,” Kerr said. “Whether it’s running a certain action or changing a tactic, whatever it is you’ve got to adjust to the way the game is called. What jumped out about the film from the other night was the way they were and just our lack of physicality. It was a typical response from a home team down 1-0.”
Regardless of Butler’s status, Curry can expect more of the same intensified coverage. Which means others will have to fill the void for the Warriors to prevail.
“Everybody’s going to step up and play a better role when (Butler) is not out there,” Brandin Podziemski said. “Obviously, it helps that we’re at home. With role players makes it easier for them. The crowd’s fighting with them. I think everybody’s going to step up and play better. It’s the first home playoff game for many of us.
“The intensity that they had coming out in Game 2, I think we’re going to have that same kind of fire coming out for Game 3.
By splitting the two games in Houston, the Warriors seized home-court advantage. If the best-of-seven series goes six or seven games, three of them would be at Chase.
But if Golden State loses Game 3, home-court advantage moves back to the Rockets, who will have a 2-1 series lead.
Which is why the Warriors would need to play with the same force and attitude the Rockets carried in Game 2. Much of the video review on Friday was dedicated to promoting the need for more intensity.
And, also, the need for everyone to contribute. Butler’s availability will impact minutes for Jonathan Kuminga, who played 26 minutes in Game 2 – his first appearance since April 11 – simply because Butler was sidelined eight minutes into the game.
“A lot of guys came in and really performed well,” Kerr said. “Pat Spencer had a great, great game for us, and it’s great to see JK back out there finding his rhythm. We’ve got to just be ready for whatever we’re facing. And we believe we’ve got a lot of guys who can help us win the game.”
Wagons circled. Fight fire with fire. That seems to be the plan. It’s the entirely appropriate demeanor for a wounded team facing an opponent committed to confrontation.
Wild's Marcus Johansson Questionable For Game 4 With Injury
ST. PAUL - In the Minnesota Wild's 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday, forward Marcus Johansson left the game with an injury.
Johansson, 34, was hit hard by Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb in the third period. He slowly went to the bench and later missed the last 13 minutes of the game.
Wild head coach John Hynes did not have an update after the game and on Friday, Hynes said Johansson is still being evaluated and is listed as questionable for Game 4 on Saturday.
The Wild have forwards Vinnie Hinostroza and Devin Shore as healthy scratches skating with the team. Either of them could enter the lineup for Johansson if he can't play.
Or they have Liam Ohgren as a black ace, and he could enter the lineup.
Wild Take A 2-1 Series Lead After A 5-2 Win Over VegasST. PAUL - The Minnesota Wild walked away with a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.
Windsor Spitfires Forwards Liam Greentree, Ilya Protas, and AJ Spellacy Recalled To AHL
Windsor Spitfires forwards Liam Greentree, AJ Spellacy, and Ilya Protas are headed to the AHL after the Spitfires were eliminated in the second round of the OHL playoffs.
Greentree will join the Ontario Reign, Spellacy the Rockford IceHogs, and Protas the two-time defending Calder Cup champion Hershey Bears.
Protas was second in OHL scoring and led the Spitfires in goals (50) and points (124) in 61 games this season before adding five goals and 20 assists in 12 playoff games.
A third round selection of the Capitals in 2024, Ilya is the younger brother of Washington forward Alexei Protas.
Spellacy notched 18 goals and 37 points in 62 games this season and three points in five playoff games before suffering an injury.
The 19-year-old was a third round selection of the Blackhawks in 2024.
Greentree recorded 49 goals and 119 points in 64 games this season, finishing third in OHL scoring. He had 14 goals and 24 points in 11 playoff games.
The captain of the Spitfires for the last two seasons, Greentree was selected 26th overall by the Kings in the 2024 draft.
Liam Greentree, AJ Spellacy and Ilya Protas have been called up for the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs!#WindsorSpitfirespic.twitter.com/NuK4th9wkh
— X - Windsor Spitfires (@SpitsHockey) April 25, 2025
The Reign are down 1-0 and the IceHogs are up 1-0 in their respective best-of-three first round matchups while the Bears have a bye into the Atlantic Division Semifinals.
It remains to be seen how much of an impact each player will have in the Calder Cup playoffs but given their great combination of size and skill it would not be surprising to see Greentree and Protas play meaningful minutes. Spellacy will be an interesting decision given the injury he dealt with throughout the OHL playoffs.
Check out The Hockey News' Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, and Chicago Blackhawks sites for more insight on each team.
Make sure you bookmark The Hockey News' AHL Page for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns and so much more.
Hard sell of Eubank Jr v Benn fails to disguise ugly fight loaded with danger and spite
Age, weight and whispers have raised doubts over who might triumph on Saturday but once the sound and fury fade we will be left with nothing to show for it
Ben Shalom and Eddie Hearn usually do not like each other but on Thursday evening, at the final press conference for the troubling bout between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, the promoters were almost breathless in their audacity and unity as they hailed a gift from the boxing heavens.
Shalom, Eubank Jr’s promoter, lauded “the biggest British boxing story ever”, “a monumental event” and “an unbelievable show” which has been “35 years in the making” as he suggested that Saturday night’s showdown completes the trilogy between two families – after the fighters’ fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, shared a couple of seismic bouts in the early 1990s. Hearn, who promotes Benn, spoke of “a fight for the generations … an iconic main event … an incredible time for boxing” and urged us to “remember this night … this is what it’s all about.”
Continue reading...Mets activate Francisco Alvarez from the IL
The Mets activated catcher Francisco Alvarez from the IL ahead of Friday's series-opener with the Nationals in Washington, D.C., adding a jolt to their roster.
To make room for Alvarez, catcher Hayden Senger -- who filled in admirably as Luis Torrens' backup during Alvarez's absence -- was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse.
New York will also have Jeff McNeil available on Friday after activating him from the IL on Thursday night.
Brett Baty was sent to Triple-A in the corresponding move for McNeil.
Both Alvarez and McNeil are in the starting lineup on Friday.
Asked earlier this week whether Alvarez would be the starting catcher upon his return, David Stearns did not give a clear yes or no. So the playing time situation between Alvarez and Torrens bears watching.
Regarding McNeil, he's returning at a time when Luisangel Acuña is starting to put his stamp on things at the plate. Acuña has a 111 OPS+ this season, and is hitting .361/.425/.472 over his last 40 plate appearances.
So it stands to reason that Acuña and McNeil will split time at second base.
McNeil also got some time in center field while on his rehab assignment, so it's possible he'll get some burn there in addition to second base and the corner outfield. Carlos Mendoza recently said he's also comfortable using Acuña in center.
3 trends to watch as Knicks-Pistons first-round playoff series continues
After a 118-116 win on Thursday night, the New York Knicks took a 2-1 lead in their first round series against the Detroit Pistons. Much has happened in this series, including a 21-0 run, ravenous crowds, and three competitive games.
Let’s look at some trends that have played out in the first few contests.
One-two punch
After a quiet 10 points in Game 2, Karl-Anthony Towns rebounded with 31 points and eight boards in Thursday night’s victory. Jalen Brunson continued to manufacture points, scoring at least 30 for a third consecutive contest.
Having two stars that draw so much attention on the offensive end is a luxury. But the Knicks have to find a balance to make sure both stars are featured in the offense. The first two games of the series saw Brunson attempt 27 shots each night. In Game 3, he had 20 field goal attempts.
When Brunson and Towns are on the floor together, the Knicks have been at their best. In 95 minutes together, the duo is outscoring the Pistons by 7.8 points per 100 possessions according to PBP Stats. Both players draw so much attention and their defenders have refused to help off them, opening up one-on-one opportunities for the Knicks’ role players.
If both stars are involved in the offense, the Knicks should continue to thrive.
A net negative
Game 3 saw Mikal Bridges have his best individual performance with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in 39 minutes. Though Bridges’ raw numbers in the series (15.7 points and 4.7 rebounds) look good enough, the on-off data is troubling. In 106 minutes with Bridges on the floor, the Knicks are a negative 8.9 points per 100 possessions.
It’s a small sample size of only three games, but it does reinforce that Bridges has been inconsistent in the postseason so far. Before the series, I wrote that Bridges would be New York’s X-factor for the first round. He hasn’t been the two-way role player that the Knicks had hoped for.
And it’s made the series a bit more challenging as New York heavily relies on Bridges. Even though Cameron Payne was a catalyst in the Knicks’ Game 1 comeback, New York’s bench has averaged just 13.0 points in the playoffs, so there aren’t many options the Knicks can go to if Bridges struggles.
Plus-minus isn’t everything when evaluating players. Bridges had a strong performance in Game 3 and was a minus-four. But it should be a number to watch for as the playoffs progress.
Possession game
Over the past few years, the Knicks have relied on rebounding to secure wins. Specifically, offensive rebounding was a central reason for the club getting out of the first round the last two years.
This season, the Knicks are not a dominant rebounding team, but they are solid. During the regular season, the Knicks were 12th in defensive rebound rate and ninth in offensive rebound percentage.
The Pistons have exposed some weaknesses for the Knicks on the glass. In the first three games, Detroit has 34 offensive rebounds versus 24 for the Knicks. Pistons center Jalen Duren has caused havoc on the offensive glass, collecting 12 offensive rebounds in the series so far. Despite the Knicks losing the edge on the offensive glass, they have been able to make up for it in other areas. The Pistons have made 15 more turnovers than the Knicks.
We’ll see if any of these trends continue the rest of the first round.
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