Connect with us

Published

4 years ago

on

7:00 AM ET

Exactly one month from today, Major League Baseball’s 2021 regular season will come to a close.

When it does, which of the current contenders will be headed to the playoffs? Which teams will be on the outside looking in? Will the San Francisco Giants edge the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, or vice versa? Who will be the favorites to reach the Fall Classic? How will the MVP and Cy Young award races shape up? What will Shohei Ohtani‘s final batting and pitching lines look like at the end of the two-way star’s historic year for the Los Angeles Angels?

And what other surprises might await us down the stretch?

To get a sense of what the final month of the regular season might bring, we convened a panel of 17 ESPN baseball experts to answer some of the game’s biggest questions, covering September and beyond. We also asked them to justify their answers — particularly those who went against the grain.

Below, you’ll find our picks for the postseason, the major awards and more, including a few out-on-a-limb answers and some bold predictions about what’s next.

Which team currently in or very close to the playoff field is most likely to miss out?

Reds: 8
Red Sox: 5
Padres: 2
A’s: 1
Yankees: 1

So we’re not sold on the Reds, eh? None of the teams that would currently make the playoffs are really floundering. The Reds are probably the closest to a team playing over its head, while the Padres are the one team in striking distance that has fallen short of expectations. Cincinnati may hold on, and the field grows more crowded by the day, but San Diego has more talent than the Reds, Cardinals or Phillies. — Bradford Doolittle

Nor the Red Sox? Let me just say: I still think the Red Sox make the postseason. But if there’s anything likely at this point to completely derail a team, it’s a COVID-19 outbreak that turns over a third of the roster, and that’s exactly what the Red Sox are dealing with right now. They’ve weathered it reasonably well so far, but they’ve still got series against the Rays and White Sox over the next 10 days, and with Oakland just one game back in the loss column and Toronto ever lurking and dangerous, the Red Sox have work to do if they want to send Chris Sale to the mound in the AL wild-card game. — Jeff Passan

Who will finish the regular season with more wins: the Giants or the Dodgers — and how many W’s for each?

Dodgers: 11 (High: 105; Low: 99; Average: 102)

Giants: 6 (High: 105; Low: 98; Average: 101)

Why the Dodgers? While San Francisco is without a doubt the biggest surprise team in the majors this year, it will feel like a heartbreak when the Giants finish second — because they’re going to wind up with 102 or 103 regular-season victories and get stuck playing a one-game wild-card in the postseason. A great year of progress will all come down to those nine innings. The Dodgers, building on the momentum they have gathered since the trade for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, will finish with 105 victories. They may not be one of the best teams of all time, which seemed possible in April, but they’ve got the best shot of any team since the Yankees clubs of 1996-2000 to go back-to-back. — Buster Olney

Why the Giants? While some of the Giants’ September schedule is tough, as they’ll take on the Padres and Dodgers in the division, about half their games are against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Rockies. The Giants aren’t one of these highly volatile teams with huge swings at home or on the road or against plus and minus .500 teams. They’re solid in all areas. There’s no reason to think they’ll slow down in the final month after playing great baseball for so long. They may get beat out by the Dodgers but it’ll be because Los Angeles is just that good. The Giants will keep proving they are as well. — Jesse Rogers

You voted for a season-ending tiebreaker. Paint us a picture. The great NL race between the surprising Giants and star-laden Dodgers goes down to the wire — and ends in a tie, both teams with 103 wins. So we get the third Giants-Dodgers tiebreaker in history, following 1951 (“The Giants win the pennant!”) and 1962 (the Giants won that one as well, with four runs in the top of the ninth in Game 3 when it was a best-of-three). The Dodgers go with Walker Buehler and he clinches the Cy Young Award with a 4-0 shutout win, relegating the Giants to the wild card. — David Schoenfield

Who will be the No. 1 seed in the AL?

Rays 14
Astros 2
White Sox 1

What makes the Rays so dominant? The Rays are the best-run organization in baseball from rookie ball through the major leagues. Their secret, among many, is that everyone plays, everyone contributes. Their 25th man is better than anyone else’s 25th man. Their 20th through 25th men are better than any other team’s 20th through 25th. The Yankees won 13 games in a row in August, and lost ground to the Rays, making the Yankees the fourth team in history to do that in any month, the first since the 1965 Giants. — Tim Kurkjian

Yet you chose the Astros. Why? It’s as simple as the schedule: The Astros’ remaining slate is a little easier than the Rays’ — those being my top two candidates — and when the two teams link up for three in the final week, with home field probably on the line, the games will be played in Houston. Plus, the Astros are a better — and healthier — team today than the one we’ve seen the past month-plus, with Alex Bregman and Jose Urquidy now back (or close to it, with the latter). — Tristan Cockcroft

And you were the one person who chose the White Sox. Why Chicago? Six of Chicago’s last nine series will come against teams that don’t have anything to play for in this final month (two against the Tigers and one each against the Royals, Angels, Rangers and Indians). The Rays, residing at the top of a fiercely competitive division, still have to play the Blue Jays (twice), Yankees, Red Sox and Astros. It’s a massive gap to make up, I know, but the White Sox have the talent to get scorching hot when they want. — Alden Gonzalez

The 2021 World Series matchup will be … ?

AL
White Sox 7
Astros 5
Rays 4
Yankees 1

NL
Dodgers 12
Giants 3
Brewers 2

Dodgers-White Sox was our most-picked matchup. Why will these two teams meet in October? The Dodgers are the best team in baseball. The White Sox might not be the best team in their own league, and they’re six games back of the best record, but here’s what they do have. Luis Robert, healthy and awesome. Yasmani Grandal, healthy and awesome. Perhaps the deepest lineup in the league. Carlos Rodon, Lucas Giolito, Lance Lynn and Dylan Cease. And a fearsome bullpen, which has been pretty rough, truthfully, in the second half but is calibrated for playoff excellence. Explaining why the Dodgers is like explaining why cookies. Just because, OK? The White Sox, on the other hand, might ultimately not be the best, but they look the part more than any of their AL contemporaries. — Passan

Our runners-up in each league were the Astros and Giants. You picked both. What makes you think they’re the teams to beat? The Giants have been consistently excellent. Their offense remains a constant threat for the long ball, yet their pitching keeps the ball in the ballpark. They get the quick score, but make opponents work for every run. The Astros have been a run-differential machine, outscoring opponents through a high-powered offense that got healthier with the return of Alex Bregman. Their pitching has been effective with a mix of young arms coming into their own, excellent defense and strong additions in the bullpen at the trade deadline. These are undoubtedly two of the best teams in baseball, and there is no clear favorite over either of them in their respective leagues. The Astros have shown they can get smoking hot; no reason they can’t do the same in the postseason. — Doug Glanville

You cast the lone vote for the Yankees — and one of just two for the Brewers. Tell us why. When your preseason pick is still alive, despite some ups and downs, now is not the time to abandon it. The Yankees fixed their lineup at the trade deadline and have a sneaky-effective starting staff. If Aroldis Chapman has one good month in him, watch out: The men in pinstripes will pull off an upset or two and still be standing for the Fall Classic. On the other side, how can you not like the Brewers? They have everything a team needs to go all the way — a solid offense, three top starters and a good bullpen led by lefty Josh Hader. On top of everything, they have dominated the powerhouse NL West all season, compiling a 23-9 record against the division including a 12-6 mark against the Dodgers, Giants and Padres so far. Milwaukee should be one of the favorites in the NL. — Rogers

The 2021 AL and NL MVPs will be … ?

AL
Shohei Ohtani 17

NL
Fernando Tatis Jr. 13
Bryce Harper 2
Freddie Freeman 1
Trea Turner 1

How great has Ohtani been? The most futile task in sports is defining Shohei Ohtani’s season. Comparisons no longer work, since there are no longer any reputable comparisons. The stat-facts that begin, “Shohei Ohtani became the first player in 103 years to do something that nobody will ever do again,” have long ago lapsed into parody. Adjectives — astonishing, incredible, unprecedented — are true but unhelpful. He is not just a pitcher who hits, or a hitter who pitches; he is among the top four or five most proficient people in the world at both. He has consistently thrown the ball faster than anybody in baseball while consistently hitting the ball harder and farther than anybody in baseball. It is, in a word, indescribable. — Tim Keown

Why vote for Harper — and not Tatis? Tatis, who seems to lack his typically infectious energy since making the temporary move to the outfield, could be another shoulder subluxation away from his season coming to an abrupt end. Harper doesn’t have those concerns. And he has been scorching hot at the plate, batting .332/.448/.668 since the start of July. There’s no reason for that not to carry over into what will be a critical September for his Phillies. — Gonzalez

And the Cy Youngs will go to … ?

AL
Gerrit Cole 12
Lance Lynn 3
Robbie Ray 2

NL
Walker Buehler 12
Corbin Burnes 2
Zack Wheeler 2
Josh Hader 1

It’s Cole and Buehler by a mile. What gives them such a huge edge? This is really just a case of consistency meeting expectation, for both pitchers. To start the season, Cole and Jacob deGrom were the consensus best pitchers in the game. Cole started like a house on fire, fell off some after the new sticky-stuff enforcement (but not all that much, really) and has since resumed his place atop the pecking order. Buehler was probably more like the fourth- or fifth-best NL pitcher going into the season (by perception). Then deGrom got hurt, Clayton Kershaw got hurt, etc. Buehler has been the only elite NL hurler to exceed expectation over the course of the full season. Because Cole and Buehler are doing what they were supposed to do, there’s no reason to think it won’t continue to the end of the season. So they have become no-brainer Cy Young picks in their respective leagues. — Doolittle

Buehler? Buehler? Sorry, friends, but you biffed the NL Cy Young voting. What if I told you there’s a pitcher who leads all qualified starters in strikeouts per nine, ranks third in walks per nine and leads in homers per nine with a number nearly twice as good as the next guy? He is the Cy Young winner, right? Of course he is, which is why the choice of the Dodgers’ Walker Buehler over Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes is just wrong. The AL isn’t cut-and-dried, either, with Robbie Ray and Lance Lynn at least in Gerrit Cole’s neighborhood. But overlooking Burnes is silly. Buehler has been undeniable: an MLB-best 2.05 ERA, 176 innings pitched (ranking second overall), great peripherals. A vote for Buehler is understandable. It’s just not the right choice when Burnes is punching out 12.24 per nine, walking 1.68 in the same time period and allowing only five home runs in 139 innings. This much is for sure: The winner of the NL Cy Young almost certainly will have a last name that starts with B-U. — Passan

Why Josh Hader? I am getting more and more reluctant to give this award to a “starter.” The ability to win a game is so much more heavily dependent on the right matchups in the bullpen. Even the best starters do not complete games or even enter the seventh inning, let alone the ninth. That might not be their fault, but someone like Lance Lynn, who has had a great year, averages less than six innings per start. If Craig Kimbrel had the kind of year he is having but had been in the American League all season, he would deserve a lot of votes — just as someone like Ryan Pressly is worth considering. But as we know, there is a lot of baseball left and relievers’ numbers can implode with one bad outing. — Glanville

This has been the Year of Shohei Ohtani. What will be his final batting and pitching lines?

Average batting line: 49 HR, 107 RBIs, .262 BA

Average pitching line: 10-2, 159 SO, 3.07 ERA

As a group, we have Ohtani finishing just shy of 50 homers. You were the high vote — at 51. Why? Ohtani would need nine homers in September to get to 51, something he has done in two of the five months so far this season — in June, when he hit 13 homers, and in July, when he hit nine. August was Ohtani’s worst month at the plate — he slashed just .202/.345/.404 — but given that the Angels won’t be making the playoffs, all that’s left for September (and the first few days of October) is putting the cherry on top of his magical season. — Joon Lee

Looks like Mike Trout was right. Ohtani will finish with 50 homers, and 10 victories — which means that Trout’s preseason prediction of 30-plus homers and 10-plus wins for Ohtani will be right on. It’s been a frustrating, injury-plagued season for Trout, but he saw before anybody how extraordinary Ohtani’s season would be. — Olney

Ohtani … for Cy Young? Ohtani will get MVP votes and Cy Young votes. And I think he stays at his current pace. He has been amazingly consistent considering the many roles he is playing. That alone is amazing. My first full season as an everyday starter, I completely collapsed in September. It is hard enough to be an everyday player, let alone at this level in more than one major role. — Glanville

Make one bold prediction about the final stretch

In the American League …

The Yankees will win the AL East. — Marly Rivera

The Red Sox have appeared to be in deep trouble multiple times this year, and each time, mainly because of manager Alex Cora, they pull out of it and start winning again. The Yankees looked like they were going to run away with the first wild-card spot, then became the first team since the 1994 Royals to lose three in a row directly after winning 13 in a row. These teams are headed for a tie at the end of the regular season for the first wild-card spot. Then we will get Gerrit Cole against Chris Sale in a winner-take-all game. It can’t get much better than that. — Kurkjian

In the National League …

Atlanta has me believing. The Braves will double their lead in the division and win it by eight or more games, something that was inconceivable a month or so ago. — Rogers

The San Diego Padres will find their way and climb their way back to the playoffs. This is the first major obstacle that the Tatis-era Padres face, given the expectations placed on the team. This Padres core has the potential to be one of the defining teams of this era of baseball, but talent can take you only so far, especially in a sport with so many games. This squad clearly has the talent to go far in the postseason, but these Padres will need to overcome some obstacles and gain some experience under their belt to establish themselves as a serious postseason force. — Lee

The Brewers will tie the Giants with 100 wins and earn the NL’s No. 1 seed. Everyone’s talking about the exciting NL West race, but the Brewers boast three legit aces, the best one-two bullpen tandem and an emerging offense, especially after Christian Yelich hit .313 in August. Perhaps his power returns soon, too. This is a dangerous team, with an appealing September schedule, and definitely a World Series contender. — Eric Karabell

The Mets discourse gets even more dismal. I sent in that prediction before the Zack Scott DWI, marking the “thumbs down” circus as the spot from where I thought things would get worse — and they already have. The Mets are down to a single-digit percentage chance of making the playoffs and now there is widespread and well-founded concern about literally every single part of the organization. The Mets have two first-round draft picks next summer, but this group just oversaw the worst draft-related disaster in recent memory. The Mets should be competitive next year, but I don’t see them taking a step forward until at least 2023, unless drastic (and successful) changes are made. The changes part is looking more likely by the day, but the successful part is still an open question. — Kiley McDaniel

In both leagues …

The Phillies rally past the Braves to win the NL East and end the longest playoff drought in the NL and, in even more improbable fashion, the Mariners rally past the A’s and Red Sox to win the second wild card and end the longest playoff drought in the majors (since 2001). Since the Reds will also make the playoffs, the new longest playoff drought will belong to the Tigers and Angels, who last made it in 2014. — Schoenfield

As for individual players …

Logan Webb will become known far and wide. Webb has allowed two or fewer runs in 14 consecutive starts. He is proof that a sinker-slider guy who doesn’t rely on spin rate and the high fastball can still dominate major league hitters. He throws a “heavy ball” — “Like catching a shot put,” Giants catcher Curt Casali says — and his wipeout slider is becoming one of the best pitches in the game. One huge reason the Giants have been able to remain the best team in baseball: Second-half Webb has been first-half Kevin Gausman. Right now, he is the guy to start a wild-card game or the first game of a series. If you don’t know him, you will soon. Hitters already do. — Keown

The Royals’ Salvador Perez will not only blow by Johnny Bench’s record for homers by a primary catcher in a season, but he’ll also break Jorge Soler‘s Royals record (48) and become the first backstop to go deep 50 times. — Doolittle

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will win the American League’s Triple Crown. Maybe that isn’t such a crazy thought, because as we closed on August, Vlad Jr. led the AL in runs, hits, on-base percentage, total bases and OPS+. His biggest challenge will be leading the AL in RBIs, given Jose Abreu‘s lead. But remember: Vlad Jr. has a bunch of games left against the Orioles, and White Sox manager Tony La Russa will be customizing Abreu’s workload to prepare him for October. — Olney

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Sports

Stanley Cup playoff watch: Your guide to NHL’s 11-game Showdown Saturday

Published

2 hours ago

on

April 12, 2025

By

Stanley Cup playoff watch: Your guide to NHL's 11-game Showdown Saturday

The NHL has reached Showdown Saturday, with less than a week to go in the season — and exactly one week before the start of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs!

The identity of 12 of the 16 playoff clubs is known, but final seeding remains up for grabs, along with the race for the Presidents’ Trophy as the No. 1 overall seed and positioning in the draft lottery order.

There are 11 games on the schedule throughout the day. Here’s what is at stake in each matchup:

New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Islanders are close to being eliminated and the Flyers have been out of the mix for some time now, but there are draft lottery implications here. The Flyers begin the day in the No. 5 spot — tied in points with the Boston Bruins, one ahead of the Kraken — while the Isles are 10th, two ahead of the Detroit Red Wings and one behind the Anaheim Ducks.

Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets
12:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)

Alex Ovechkin‘s goal-record chase is complete, but watching him down the stretch will be fun as he looks to bolster that record even further. The Caps begin the day having clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but three points behind the Jets for the Presidents’ Trophy. The Blue Jackets are six points behind the Canadiens in the race for the final wild-card spot and 13th in the draft lottery order.

New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes
3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)

Speaking of the Presidents’ Trophy, last season’s winners are on their last leg of the playoff hunt and are six points behind the Canadiens for wild card No. 2 in the East. They will need to win out (and get A LOT of help) to qualify for the playoffs. On the other side, the Hurricanes are locked in at the No. 2 spot in the Metro Division and will host their first-round series against the New Jersey Devils.

Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings
4 p.m. (ESPN+)

It’s impossible for the Avalanche to win their division, and they’ll most likely finish third in the Central. The Kings still have a shot at the Pacific Division title, but it’s more likely they’ll stick in the No. 2 slot. What do both teams have in common? Both are finishing strong, and will make for tough outs this postseason. This game could be a preview of the Western Conference finals.

Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers
6 p.m. (ESPN+)

It’s going to be another spring outside of the playoffs for the Sabres, although a recent 8-2-0 run does inspire some hope for the future. They sit in the No. 7 spot in the draft lottery order as play begins Saturday. The Panthers remain in the hunt for the Atlantic Division title, two points behind the Lightning and four behind the Maple Leafs.

Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs
7 p.m. (ESPN+)

Playoff hockey is (very likely) returning to la belle province! The Canadiens are six points ahead of the Blue Jackets, Red Wings and Rangers, with a magic number of three. As for their rivals from Toronto, the Leafs are fending off the hard-charging Lightning and Panthers to retain the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Division. Toronto enters this game with a two-point cushion over Tampa Bay, and four over Florida.

Winnipeg Jets at Chicago Blackhawks
7 p.m. (NHL Network)

Two teams at different ends of the standings table square off here. The Jets hold a three-point lead over the Capitals for the NHL’s No. 1 overall seed heading into the playoffs — and a six-point lead over the Stars for the Central’s No. 1 seed (yes, they still haven’t clinched the division). A win here clinches the division and bolsters their hold on the Presidents’ Trophy.

The Blackhawks will finish no worse than No. 2 in the draft lottery order, as they can finish with no more than 62 points, and the Predators already have 66. Will they reach No. 1? The Sharks are five ahead (at 51), with four games remaining. This could come down to the wire.

Utah Hockey Club at Dallas Stars
8 p.m. (ESPN+)

The first season of hockey in Utah resulted in the Hockey Club sticking around in the playoff race until the penultimate week, which is better than what a team called the Arizona Coyotes did with a very similar group of players last season. The UHC is No. 14 in the draft lotto order, four points back of the Blue Jackets and Rangers. As noted above, the Stars can still catch the Jets for the Central’s No. 1 seed, although they’d need to win out and have the Jets lose the rest of their games.

Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. (ESPN+)

The Wild looked wobbly for a stretch there in March, but the return of Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek has them back on track. They begin play on Saturday as the West’s No. 1 wild card, with a three-point edge on the Flames. Vancouver went from Pacific Division champs in 2023-24 to out of the playoffs entirely in 2024-25, and currently they sit 15th in the draft lotto order, two points behind the UHC.

Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights
10 p.m. (ESPN+)

One of the original Golden Misfits, Jonathan Marchessault won the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP the year the Knights won the Stanley Cup. This will be his first game back in Vegas wearing a different team’s uniform, so while this game won’t have much of an impact on the standings, it’s notable for that reunion!

The Preds are locked in at the No. 3 spot in the draft lottery order, while the Knights lock up a division title with a regulation win.

St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken
10 p.m. (ESPN+)

A recent two-game skid for the Blues might have increased the amount of hope in Calgary, but Jordan Binnington & Co. hold a three-point advantage over the Flames for the final Western wild card heading into this one. Seattle begins play sixth in the draft lottery order, a point back of Philly and Boston.

With the regular season ending April 17, we’ll help you track it all with the NHL playoff watch. As we traverse the final stretch, we’ll provide details on all the playoff races, along with the teams jockeying for position in the 2025 NHL draft lottery.

Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.

Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick

Current playoff matchups

Eastern Conference

A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils

Western Conference

C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers

Saturday’s games

Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).

New York Islanders at Philadelphia Flyers, 12:30 p.m.
Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets, 12:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes, 3 p.m. (ABC/ESPN+)
Colorado Avalanche at Los Angeles Kings, 4 p.m.
Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers, 6 p.m.
Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs, 7 p.m.
Winnipeg Jets at Chicago Blackhawks, 7 p.m. (NHL Network)
Utah Hockey Club at Dallas Stars, 8 p.m.
Minnesota Wild at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m.
Nashville Predators at Vegas Golden Knights, 10 p.m.
St. Louis Blues at Seattle Kraken, 10 p.m.

Friday’s scoreboard

Ottawa Senators 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
Detroit Red Wings 4, Tampa Bay Lightning 3 (OT)
Pittsburgh Penguins 4, New Jersey Devils 2
Edmonton Oilers 4, San Jose Sharks 2
Calgary Flames 4, Minnesota Wild 2

Expanded standings

Atlantic Division

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 105.1
Next game: vs. MTL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 98
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 101.7
Next game: vs. BUF (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 96
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 99.7
Next game: vs. BUF (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 92
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 95.5
Next game: vs. PHI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 90.3
Next game: @ TOR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 98.3%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: vs. DAL (Monday)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 1

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 79.9
Next game: @ FLA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 74.8
Next game: @ PIT (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Metro Division

Points: 109
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 4
Points pace: 114.6
Next game: @ CBJ (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 4
Points pace: 102.0
Next game: vs. NYR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 89
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 3
Points pace: 92.4
Next game: vs. NYI (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 85.2
Next game: vs. WSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.4%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 84.1
Next game: @ CAR (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.1%
Tragic number: 1

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 83.1
Next game: @ PHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0.9%
Tragic number: 1

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 80.0
Next game: vs. BOS (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 4
Points pace: 76.7
Next game: vs. NYI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Central Division

Points: 112
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 116.3
Next game: @ CHI (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 110.0
Next game: vs. UTA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 100
Regulation wins: 39
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 2
Points pace: 102.5
Next game: @ LA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 2
Points pace: 95.3
Next game: @ VAN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 97.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 93
Regulation wins: 31
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 95.3
Next game: @ SEA (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 94.7%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 88.2
Next game: @ DAL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 68.5
Next game: @ VGK (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 58.1
Next game: vs. WPG (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Pacific Division

Points: 105
Regulation wins: 44
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 3
Points pace: 109.0
Next game: vs. NSH (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 99
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 4
Points pace: 104.1
Next game: vs. COL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 97
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 3
Points pace: 100.7
Next game: @ WPG (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 99.9%
Tragic number: N/A

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 93.4
Next game: vs. SJ (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 7.5%
Tragic number: 3

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 90.3
Next game: vs. MIN (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 81.0
Next game: vs. COL (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 75.9
Next game: vs. STL (Saturday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 3
Points pace: 52.9
Next game: @ CGY (Sunday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E

Note: A “z” means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A “y” means that the team has clinched the division title. An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Race for the No. 1 pick

The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.

Points: 51
Regulation wins: 14

Points: 56
Regulation wins: 20

Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 25

Points: 73
Regulation wins: 21

Points: 74
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23

Points: 78
Regulation wins: 24

Points: 79
Regulation wins: 27

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 29

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 33

Points: 81
Regulation wins: 26

Points: 85
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 87
Regulation wins: 28

Points: 90
Regulation wins: 29

Continue Reading

Sports

Men’s Frozen Four: How Western Michigan, Boston University could win title

Published

2 hours ago

on

April 12, 2025

By

Men's Frozen Four: How Western Michigan, Boston University could win title

Apr 11, 2025, 12:50 AM ET

The 2025 men’s Frozen Four is down to two teams: NCHC champion Western Michigan Broncos and the Boston University Terriers of Hockey East.

In Thursday’s first semifinal, reigning national champion Denver’s bid to defend its title fell short, as the Pioneers were beaten by Western Michigan 3-2 in double overtime. The Broncos, who are in the Frozen Four for the first time, also beat Denver in double overtime in the NCHC championship game. The teams split two meetings in the regular season.

For BU, the third time was the charm as the Terriers beat Penn State 3-1 to advance to the title game after losing in the national semifinals the last two years.

The Broncos and Terriers will play for the national title at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be on ESPN2, and streaming on ESPN+.

Western Michigan is the only one of the top four overall seeds to make the Frozen Four, marking the first time since 2011 that only one of the top four seeds has made it this far. Boston College, Michigan State and Maine all were eliminated in regional play.

In terms of NHL talent, a combined 38 players have been drafted from the Frozen Four teams. BU leads the way with 14, Denver has 13, Western Michigan eight and Penn State three.

Below is a look at what needs to go right for each team to win the national title, with insight from ESPN college hockey analysts Colby Cohen and Andrew Raycroft, as well as players to watch and key statistics from ESPN research.

Western Michigan (33-7-1)

How the Broncos got here: Western Michigan dominated Denver over the first 40 minutes, holding a 2-0 lead and 32-8 shot advantage after two periods. The defending national champs wouldn’t go down without a fight, however, as the Pioneers controlled the third period and tied the game 2-2 with 2:39 to play in regulation. After a scoreless overtime, the Broncos struck 26 seconds into double OT, with Owen Michaels roofing his second goal of the game to win it.

Regional recap: The top seed in the Fargo Regional, Western Michigan needed double overtime to beat Minnesota State 2-1, advancing on Grant Slukynsky’s goal, then beat UMass 2-1, erasing a 1-0 deficit with power-play goals by Liam Valente and Tim Washe on the same five-minute major penalty. The Broncos then had to kill off a five-minute major of their own to fend off the Minutemen.

Numbers to know: Western Michigan is playing for the national championship in its first trip to the Frozen Four. Excluding the first NCAA men’s hockey tournament in 1948, only three teams have won the national title in their Frozen Four debut: Denver in 1958, Cornell in 1967 and Lake Superior State in 1988. … The Broncos, who have a team-record 33 wins, are on a nine-game winning streak, the longest active streak in the nation. … Western Michigan is among the most balanced teams in the country, averaging 3.95 goals per game (second only to Denver’s 4.00), while allowing just 2.05 goals per game, fourth fewest in the nation. … Broncos goaltender Hampton Slukynsky entered the Frozen Four having allowed just two goals in 147:14 for a 0.82 goals-against average, the best among all tournament goalies. He then held Denver to two goals over 80:34 in WMU’s semifinal win.

How Western Michigan can win the national title

Forward depth delivers: There is not much of a drop-off from the first line to the fourth line for the Broncos. They will need to roll over the four lines to try to wear their opponent down, beginning with the Pioneers.

Hampton Slukynsky stands on his head: The freshman goaltender stopped 28 of 29 shots in both games in Fargo, then had 20 saves against Denver, holding on during the Pios’ third-period push before keeping them off the board in overtime. The Los Angeles Kings draft pick has a 18-5-1 record and will have to be at his best for Western Michigan to hoist the trophy.

Player to watch: Liam Valente. The Swedish winger factored in on three of his team’s four goals in Fargo. He has an absolute rocket for a shot and will need to find ways to get it off. — Andrew Raycroft

play

0:46

Cole Eiserman doubles Terriers’ lead

Cole Eiserman scores to give Boston University a 2-0 lead over Penn State.

Boston University (24-13-2)

How the Terriers got here: After BU and Penn State felt each other out in the first period, the Terriers took control in the second. Jack Hughes got BU on the board at 1:35, taking advantage of a miscue by Nittany Lions goalie Arsenii Sergeev and poking home a loose puck. Midway through the period, Cole Hutson and Cole Eiserman broke free for a 2-on-1 break, with Hutson setting up Eiserman for a pretty goal to make it 2-0. Penn State came out strong in the third period, scoring at 2:12 to cut BU’s lead in half, but Mikhail Yegorov (32 saves) held the fort, with Jack Harvey sealing the win with an empty-netter.

Regional recap: The No. 2 seed in the Toledo Regional, BU blitzed Ohio State with six unanswered goals en route to an 8-3 win, then secured its third straight trip to the Frozen Four on Quinn Hutson’s goal 6:25 into overtime, edging No. 4 seed Cornell 3-2. Freshman Mikhail Yegorov made 37 saves for the Terriers in his 16th career game.

Numbers to know: BU’s win over Penn State was its 50th in NCAA tournament play, making the Terriers the fifth program to reach that mark, joining Minnesota (62), Michigan (59), North Dakota (53) and Boston College (53). … BU coach Jay Pandolfo is a combined 10-0 in NCAA regional games as a head coach and player, resulting in seven trips to the Frozen Four. Pandolfo is the third Division I men’s hockey coach to reach the Frozen Four in each of his first three seasons, joining Doug Woog (Minnesota) and Dave Hakstol (North Dakota). … Despite their recent success, the Terriers haven’t reached the national title game since 2015. This is BU’s 12th championship game appearance, tied for third most all time. … Brothers Quinn and Cole Hutson are BU’s top two scorers this season (Quinn 50 points, Cole 47), with Cole the points leader in NCAA tournament play with seven. Cole’s 33 assists are tied for the most by a BU freshman over the last 10 seasons with his brother Lane, who had 33 in 2022-23.

How BU can win the national title

Create off the rush: BU is a dynamic offensive team that loves to make plays on the rush. The Terriers are fast and get going quickly in transition, and they’ve had a lot of success in the tournament creating off the rush.

Take care of the house: BU has not been known for its defense, but against Cornell, the Terriers buckled down around their net and limited second and third chances. Goalie Mikhail Yegorov typically will stop the first one, so if BU takes care of its own end, it has a great chance to play for a championship.

Player to watch: Cole Hutson. Cole is one of the most dynamic players in the sport of hockey, not just the NCAA. I have not seen a player since Cole’s brother Lane — BU alum, current member of the Montreal Canadiens and a favorite to win the Calder Trophy — have the poise and offensive instincts that Cole has. Big moments seem to be where Hutson shines brightest — the Beanpot, the gold medal game of World Juniors, the Toledo Regional and again against Penn State — so it will be exciting to see what he brings to the national title game. — Colby Cohen

Continue Reading

Sports

Landeskog eyes future after 1st game in 3 years

Published

2 hours ago

on

April 12, 2025

By

Landeskog eyes future after 1st game in 3 years

  • Associated Press

Apr 12, 2025, 01:37 AM ET

LOVELAND, Colo. — For the first time in 1,020 or so days, Gabriel Landeskog has some fresh game tape to examine. Game tape of him hitting players, taking hits, being called for a penalty and even putting someone in a headlock.

“A headlock,” he said with a grin Friday night, “wasn’t necessarily planned when I woke up this morning.”

His emotional journey back from a serious knee injury took center ice as he suited up in a professional game for the first time in nearly three years when he joined the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.

The longtime Colorado Avalanche captain is on loan to the Eagles as part of a minor league conditioning assignment. He participated in the morning skate Friday at Blue Arena, and was given the green light to make his Eagles debut against the Henderson Silver Knights.

He went through pregame drills — without his helmet so his blond hair was easy to spot — to cheers and was serenaded with chants of “Landy, Landy, Landy” just before puck drop. The fans cheered when he left the ice after his first shift, which lasted about 46 seconds, and again after he went to the penalty box, with his image shown on the big screen (he waved to the crowd).

He soaked in every moment over the course of an evening filled with checks, spills, a hooking penalty called on him and all the applause.

“I’m excited about what the future looks like for me,” Landeskog said after the Eagles’ 2-0 win in which he played just under 15 minutes.

Landeskog received praise from several Silver Knights players, including one who told him before a faceoff, “It’s great to have you back.”

“It’s what makes this game so great — you go out and put somebody in a headlock, and then the next faceoff, somebody says something nice to you,” Landeskog said. “It’s pretty cool. The support, even from players around the league, and obviously here as well, it means a lot.”

This was a pricey ticket, too (around $200). His just-unveiled Eagles No. 92 sweater was coveted as well, with fans waiting in a long line that snaked around the concourse for a chance to purchase one. His Avalanche jersey was a popular sight all over the venue.

Landeskog has been sidelined since he helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022 because of a knee injury and subsequent surgeries.

If all goes well with his Loveland stint, the 32-year-old gritty forward from Sweden could be activated for Game 1 of Colorado’s first-round playoff series. The Avalanche enter the postseason locked into the Central Division’s No. 3 seed and will open on the road.

“I have high expectations of myself. I’m also realistic in knowing what I’ve gone through, and how much time is missed,” said Landeskog, who has been nearly a point-a-game player in six playoff runs with the Avalanche. “I don’t want to look too far ahead. But I do know that I feel good today, hopefully I feel good tomorrow and we can keep working. I can keep practicing and we’ll see where it takes us.”

This was just another step along what’s been an arduous journey.

“I’m excited for him and his family,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Friday before the team left for its two-game trip to California to close out the regular season. “To finally get back on the ice in a game situation, I’m just thrilled for him.”

Some of his Avalanche teammates, such as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, made the roughly 50-mile trek north to Loveland in order to catch a glimpse of No. 92 in an Eagles sweater. MacKinnon and Makar were among several players skipping Colorado’s final trip to get some rest before the playoffs.

“He put a lot of work in, a lot of time,” defenseman Erik Johnson, a longtime friend of Landeskog, recently said. “It’s something he didn’t have to put his body through but wanted to for the team. To have him get this far in his recovery is exciting for us.”

Landeskog’s injury dates back to the 2020 “bubble” season when he was accidentally sliced above the knee by the skate of Makar in a playoff game against Dallas. Landeskog eventually underwent a cartilage transplant procedure on May 10, 2023, and has been on long-term injured reserve.

The procedure was similar to the one performed on Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball in March 2023. Ball returned to the court for a preseason game in October, which hinted at a possible timeline for Landeskog’s return.

Landeskog’s comeback has been the subject of a documentary series called “A Clean Sheet: Gabe Landeskog” that’s airing on TNT and TruTV.

“It felt a little bit surreal driving up here for morning skate,” Landeskog said. “[The game] couldn’t come fast enough. I was really excited. It’s an odd feeling when you’ve been looking forward to something for so long, and then all of a sudden you get to do it.”

As for the plan moving forward, Landeskog’s not fully sure. He might play again Saturday — if his knee feels up to it.

For now, he’s just appreciative of all the support.

“I never thought this was going to get to this point and get this big and get this much attention,” Landeskog said. “I was just trying to fight my way back, and here we are.

“It was a fun night. Now, I’m tired. I’m looking forward to sleep.”

Continue Reading

Trending