FORT WORTH, Texas — Noah Gragson opened the NASCAR Xfinity playoffs by becoming the first driver in 39 years to win four races in a row, going to Victory Lane at Texas Motor Speedway on Saturday after being just in front of a massive wreck that took out three playoff contenders.
“What a way to start off the playoffs on a high note,” Gragson said. “Just very excited, and very confident right now.”
The victory for Gragson in the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports locked up the first spot in the round of eight, with two more races to determine the other seven drivers that will advance with him. The Xfinity playoffs begin with 12 drivers, instead of 16 like the Cup Series, so its postseason is one round shorter.
The top six finishers were all playoff contenders with Austin Hill the runner-up in his Chevy and a spot ahead of Ty Gibbs, who came back from the back of the field after after having to start there because of unapproved adjustments on the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Stage two winner AJ Allmendinger, Riley Herbst and JR Motorsports driver Josh Berry rounded out the top six.
Sam Ard is the only other series driver to win four consecutive races. He did it in 1983, the second year of the NASCAR’s second-level circuit, while winning five of the last six races in the season that he had 10 wins overall.
It was the seventh win for Gragson, who had already had the single-season record for most wins by a JR Motorsports driver. He has 12 career victories, and next year is moving into the No. 42 for Petty GMS in the Cup Series.
“The wins are cool, but really for me it’s the memories we’re making with the people,” Gragson said. “It’s kind of sad it’s coming to an end. I love everybody over there. … Good time to be making memories.”
Gragson was out in front on a restart with 84 laps left, and it was virtually four-wide coming out of Turn 1 into the corner, with Sheldon Creed low on the inside of the leader, and his JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier and John Hunter Nemechek on the outside.
Nemechek, the winner at Texas last fall but not in playoff contention, got loose and collected Allgaier to start a chain-reaction wreck. Defending Xfinity champion Daniel Hemric, the stage one winner, and polesitter Brandon Jones were the other playoff drivers that got caught up in the fracas.
“I was three-wide at the top being able to be in the race and I think we ended up four-wide at one point which doesn’t really work aero-wide in the pack,” Nemechek said. “I thought we were going to have a shot to win the race and repeat from last year. It didn’t work out.”
Jones felt Nemechek, his teammate at Joe Gibbs Racing, may have pushed too hard there.
“Nothing to fault him there for, but probably a little early to be going that far,” Jones said. “It is what it is.”
Gragson led a race-high 85 of the 200 laps at the 1 1/2-mile track. Nemechek was in front 60 laps, and Allmendinger 34.
Allmendinger is second in the playoff standings, 47 points behind Gragson. Gibbs, Hill, Berry, Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Ryan Sieg round out the top eight. Herbst, Hemric, Jones and Jeremy Clements are outside the top eight.
Brad Marchand immediately reclaims the lead for Boston
Brad Marchand gives the Bruins a 3-2 lead late in the third period after the Maple Leafs tied it up.
Game 1: BOS 5, TOR 1 | Recap Game 2: TOR 3, BOS 2 | Recap | Replay Game 3: BOS 4, TOR 2 | Recap | Replay Game 4: BOS @ TOR | April 27, 8 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: TOR @ BOS | April 30, 7 p.m. (ESPN) | Preview Game 6: BOS @ TOR | May 2* | Preview Game 7: TOR @ BOS | May 4* | Preview
Sebastian Aho scores to restore the Hurricanes’ two-goal lead vs. the Islanders.
Game 1: CAR 3, NYI 1 | Recap Game 2: CAR 5, NYI 3 | Recap | Replay Game 3: CAR 3, NYI 2 | Recap | Replay Game 4: CAR @ NYI | April 27, 2 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: NYI @ CAR | April 30, 7:30 p.m. (TBS)* | Preview Game 6: CAR @ NYI | May 2* | Preview Game 7: NYI @ CAR | May 4* | Preview
Central Division
Regular-season records:
Stars: 52-21-9, 113 points Golden Knights: 45-29-8, 98 points
Noah Hanifin puts Knights on top before third period
Noah Hanifin scoops the puck and makes a nice shot to give the Knights a 2-1 lead heading into the third period versus the Stars.
Game 1: VGK 4, DAL 3 | Recap | Replay Game 2: VGK 3, DAL 1 | Recap | Replay Game 3: DAL @ VGK | April 27, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 4: DAL @ VGK | April 29 (ESPN) | Preview Game 5: VGK @ DAL | May 1* | Preview Game 6: DAL @ VGK | May 3* | Preview Game 7: VGK @ DAL | May 5* | Preview
Game 1: WPG 7, COL 6 | Recap | Replay Game 2: COL 5, WPG 2 | Recap | Replay Game 3: WPG @ COL | April 26, 10 p.m. (TNT) | Preview Game 4: WPG @ COL | April 28, 2:30 p.m. (TNT) | Preview Game 5: COL @ WPG | April 30 | Preview Game 6: WPG @ COL | May 2* | Preview Game 7: COL @ WPG | May 4* | Preview
Colton Sissons finishes the rebound for Predators’ 3rd goal
Nashville extends their lead to 3-0 over the Canucks thanks to this Colton Sissons goal.
Game 1: VAN 4, NSH 2 | Recap | Replay Game 2: NSH 4, VAN 1 | Recap | Replay Game 3: VAN @ NSH | April 26, 7:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 4: VAN @ NSH | April 28, 5 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: NSH @ VAN | April 30, 10 p.m. | Preview Game 6: VAN @ NSH | May 3* | Preview Game 7: NSH @ VAN | May 5* | Preview
Anze Kopitar finds the back of the net early in overtime to lift the Kings to a Game 2 win over the Oilers.
Game 1: EDM 7, LA 4 | Recap | Replay Game 2: LA 5, EDM 4 (OT) | Recap Game 3: EDM @ LA | April 26, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 4: EDM @ LA | April 28, 10:30 p.m. (TBS) | Preview Game 5: LA @ EDM | May 1 | Preview Game 6: EDM @ LA | May 3* | Preview Game 7: LA @ EDM | May 5* | Preview
Kristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.
William Nylander is closing in on his debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against Boston on Saturday.
The Leafs trail the Bruins 2-1 in the best-of-seven.
Friday, the winger spoke with reporters for the first time since being sidelined by an undisclosed injury two weeks ago. The mystery ailment has held Nylander out of Toronto’s lineup for the first three postseason tilts against Boston and he’s been diligently working to get back in.
Nylander was a full participant in the Leafs’ practice on Friday, skating on a regular line with Pontus Holmberg and Calle Jarnkrok and taking reps on Toronto’s first power play unit. Both are signs that Toronto is preparing to have Nylander for Saturday’s game.
“We’ll see,” Nylander surmised of his potential availability. “I don’t know [for sure].”
Coach Sheldon Keefe remained optimistic Nylander was finally ready to go after an engaging practice session.
“He looked great to me on the ice,” said Keefe. “In terms of his status, we’ll have to determine that [on Saturday].”
Details of Nylander’s injury have been strictly guarded by the Leafs so far. Nylander followed suit when asked to confirm media reports he’s been dealing with migraines.
“That’s just personal, so I’m not going to get into that,” he said.
Nylander wasn’t worried either about stepping back into a series that’s been in full swing for a week either, citing there was “nothing” difficult ahead for him in a potential return on Saturday.
“I’ve been skating and everything; I’m fine,” said Nylander. “It is what it is. There’s nothing to really stress about. You can’t force yourself back into the game, so I’ll be ready when I’m ready.”
Toronto could use a boost like Nylander coming back heading into Game 4. He was a 40-goal scorer in the regular season with an impressive playoff resume (having collected 40 points in 50 previous postseason outings). Adding an offensive weapon like that to the mix can help the Leafs solve their scoring issues. Toronto’s managed six goals in the first three games against Boston and their misfiring power play is 1-for-11.
Having Nylander as an option makes the Leafs immediately more dangerous at both 5-on-5 and special teams. That’s paramount for Toronto’s hopes of tying the series again before it goes back to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday.
The Bruins have been changing things up in their crease throughout the playoffs to date, rotating between Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark as they did with good success in the regular season.
Boston coach Jim Montgomery wouldn’t confirm his Game 4 goaltender after Swayman backstopped the Bruins to wins in Game 1 and Game 3, but there’s a chance it’ll be Linus Ullmark getting the call despite Boston falling in his last Game 2 start.
“We’re following the plan we had in place,” said Montgomery, while confirming the decision has already been made.