Bowl season: What you need to know about all 42 games
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ESPN staff
The most magical time of the year is finally here. It’s bowl season.
The 2022 season of bowls, featuring 43 games, kicks off Friday with Miami (Ohio) facing UAB in the Home Lenders Bahamas Bowl on Friday and lasts all the way to Jan. 9 when college football will claim a national champion at SoFi Stadium in the College Football Playoff National Championship game.
Our writers gathered together to break down every single bowl game ahead of all the action on the field.
College Football Playoff
Dec. 31
CFP semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia) | Tickets
Jalen Carter is finishing strong — and reminding everyone why scouts claimed he was the most talented player on last year’s star-studded Georgia defense. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive lineman was injured for most of the first half of the season. But he worked his way back and is making a case to be the first non-quarterback taken in next year’s draft. During the last five games, he has 23 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 14 quarterback hurries. — Alex Scarborough
CFP semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl: Michigan Wolverines vs. TCU Horned Frogs
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona) | Tickets
This year’s David-Goliath match up is TCU, from a 10,000-student private school that last won a national title in 1938, against Michigan, with 45,000 students and boasting one of the most storied programs in college football history. It’s Sonny Dykes in Year 1 with the Horned Frogs against Jim Harbaugh, the former Bo Schembechler quarterback who returned from the NFL to restore the Wolverines to glory. Can TCU withstand Michigan’s Big Ten strength? Can Michigan keep up with TCU’s Texas speed? The Horned Frogs will have a well-rested Heisman runner-up in Max Duggan, who took punishment all year, while Michigan’s Heisman contender, running back Blake Corum will miss the game with a knee injury. TCU’s quick-strike offense will face a major challenge against a Michigan D that allows just 13.4 points and 85.2 rushing yards per game. Cincinnati held strong against Alabama last year in the semifinal, but never threatened to win the game. Can this year’s Cinderella continue its improbable run and make history? — Dave Wilson
Bowls
Dec. 16
Hometown Lenders Bahamas Bowl: Miami (Ohio) Redhawks vs. UAB Blazers
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
Chase Brown, Blake Corum and Bijan Robinson deserve accolades for the seasons they put together, but how UAB’s DeWayne McBride didn’t make the cut as a Doak Walker Award finalist this season is puzzling. All he did was lead the FBS in rushing yards (1,713) — and he hit that mark in one fewer game than Brown, Corum and Robinson. Among the top 10 rushers this season, McBride’s 7.35 yards per rush was the best by nearly a yard. Against a Miami (Ohio) defense that gives up an average of 135.8 rushing yards per game, McBride should pad his totals. — Scarborough
Duluth Trading Cure Bowl: Troy Trojans vs. UTSA Roadrunners
Exploria Stadium (Orlando, Florida) | Tickets
Two programs on a heater collide in Orlando, each on a 10-game winning streak. UTSA has one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses. Frank Harris is sixth in the FBS with 3,865 passing yards and completing 71.1% of his throws, and WR Zakhari Franklin‘s 14 TDs rank third nationally. Troy, meanwhile, has the eighth-best scoring defense in the FBS, allowing just 17.5 points per game and 4.7 yards per play — ninth best in the country. — Wilson
Dec. 17
Wasabi Fenway Bowl: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Louisville Cardinals
Fenway Park (Boston, Massachusetts) | Tickets
It’s the Scott Satterfield Bowl … without really being the Scott Satterfield Bowl. The now former Louisville head coach agreed to be Luke Fickell’s replacement at Cincinnati, where the team’s last game as a non-Big 12 member will be in the Fenway Bowl. Former Cardinals star and Super Bowl MVP with the New England Patriots Deion Branch will be coaching Louisville, while Kerry Coombs will lead Cincinnati. The game will likely be a low-scoring affair, featuring two of the nation’s best linebackers in Cincinnati’s Ivan Pace Jr. and Louisville’s Yasir Abdullah. — Harry Lyles Jr.
Cricket Celebration Bowl: Jackson State Tigers vs. NC Central Eagles
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Georgia) | Tickets
Obviously Deion Sanders’ departure as Jackson State’s head coach is dominating the Celebration Bowl headlines, but there are a couple of other interesting storylines to follow here. First, you’ve got the QBs: JSU’s Shedeur Sanders and NCCU’s Davius Richard have combined for 5,889 passing yards, 60 touchdown passes and 18 rushing TDs and won their respective conferences’ offensive player of the year awards. Then you’ve got the redemption angle: JSU underachieved and got thumped by SC State in its only Celebration Bowl appearance (2021), and NCCU has had to wait six years for a chance to avenge a one-point heartbreaker to Grambling State in the 2016 game. — Bill Connelly
New Mexico Bowl: BYU Cougars vs. SMU Mustangs
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico) | Tickets
BYU and SMU meet for the first time since the 1980 Holiday Bowl, known as the “Miracle Bowl” after BYU came back from 20 points down with four minutes left to win 46-45. Both teams are trying to recapture past glory, with BYU trying to build to its Big 12 entrance and SMU trying to win its first bowl game since 2012 as it continues piling up new players in the transfer portal. SMU QB Tanner Mordecai is just one touchdown pass shy of tying the school record (71) for his career but will be without receiver Rashee Rice (1,355 yards this year), who’ll sit out with an injured toe before heading to the NFL. BYU’s star QB Jaren Hall is also unlikely to play with an ankle injury after throwing 31 TD passes this year. — Dave Wilson
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel: Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Washington State Cougars
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) | Tickets
Wazzu hasn’t won a bowl game since 2018, and if there’s a player that will help them break that streak, it’s quarterback Cameron Ward. After transferring from Incarnate Word to Pullman last offseason, Ward totaled just over 3,000 passing yards and 23 touchdowns this season. It wasn’t quite the output the sophomore had at Incarnate Word, but the good news for the Cougars is Ward has at least one more year in Pullman. This game will likely be a battle of quarterbacks between Ward and Jake Haener, who is a great story and player in his own right and led the Bulldogs to another 9-4 season, including a Mountain West title. If Haener doesn’t opt out, prepare for a shootout. — Paolo Uggetti
LendingTree Bowl: Southern Miss Golden Eagles vs. Rice Owls
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama) | Tickets
Frank Gore Jr. is making a name for himself while following in the footsteps of his famous father. Gore Jr. a sophomore, ended the year for Southern Miss (6-6) with a career-high 199 yards in a win over UL Monroe. He’ll be looking to build on that effort and head into the offseason on a high note as the Golden Eagles meet Rice (5-7). Southern Mississippi’s running game (122.6 YPG) will aim to move the ball against a Rice defense that allowed 166.8 rush yards per contest. — Blake Baumgartner
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl: Oregon State Beavers vs. Florida Gators
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas, Nevada) | Tickets
Oregon State is going for its first 10-win season since 2006 after a surprising season, one that earned coach Jonathan Smith a new six-year contract. While the Beavers should be close to full strength, the opposite is true for Florida, which will be without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, All-American guard O’Cyrus Torrence and a host of other players who have either decided to opt out of the game or enter the transfer portal. Jack Miller III is expected to make his first career start for the Gators at quarterback after Jalen Kitna was dismissed from the team. Miller threw only 14 career passes at his previous stop, Ohio State. — Andrea Adelson
Frisco Bowl: Boise State Broncos vs. North Texas Mean Green
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas) | Tickets
Boise State (9-4) is a win away from its first 10-win season since 2019. The Broncos’ offense (29.1 PPG) faces a North Texas (7-6) defense that gives up 460 yards a game, and junior running back George Holani (1,133 yards, 10 TDs) will look to exploit that. The Mean Green hired Washington State offensive coordinator Eric Morris as head coach on Dec. 13 following Seth Littrell’s dismissal after seven seasons. North Texas junior quarterback Austin Aune‘s (3,309 yards) 32 TDs were eighth in FBS, but he will be tasked with moving the ball against a tough Boise State pass defense (160.7) that’s ranked fourth best in the FBS. — Baumgartner
Dec. 19
Myrtle Beach Bowl: UConn Huskies vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina) | Tickets
Jim Mora’s resurrection of UConn has been one of the season’s better stories — from 1-11 to bowl eligibility. It’s truly been a team effort in Storrs as they’ve found ways to win. The Huskies (6-6) haven’t been bowling since 2015 and last won a bowl game in 2009. They now face a Marshall team that beat Notre Dame in South Bend back in September. The Thundering Herd (8-4) bring a stingy defense (16.2 PPG) and a stout running back (senior Khalan Laborn; 1,423 yards, 16 TDs) to the party. — Baumgartner
Dec. 20
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl: San Jose State Spartans vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho) | Tickets
San Jose State (7-4) prefers to move the ball through the air (263.9 YPG) more than on the ground (92.5 YPG). Whether the Spartans are successful in beating Eastern Michigan (8-4) may depend on the ability of senior Kairee Robinson (696 yards, 10 TDs) to find holes against a defense that surrenders 158.1 rush yards a game. Eagles senior running back Samson Evans (1,084 yards, 13 TDs) goes opposite a Spartan run defense (122.1 YPG) that’ll provide a stiff push. Eastern Michigan’s only previous bowl win came in 1987 against San Jose State (California Bowl). — Baumgartner
RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl: Toledo Rockets vs. Liberty Flames
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida) | Tickets
It’s a much different Liberty team that will play in the Boca Raton Bowl than the one that beat BYU and Arkansas in back-to-back games in late October and early November. Gone is coach Hugh Freeze, who left Nov. 29 to take the Auburn job. As speculation swirled that he might be leaving, the Flames faltered down the stretch and lost their last three games, including a 49-14 beatdown at home to New Mexico State in the finale. Josh Aldridge will serve as interim coach for the Flames, who will go up against a Toledo team that won the MAC championship thanks to a strong running game (236 yards). Liberty struggled to stop the run in each of its last three losses. — Chris Low
Dec. 21
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. South Alabama Jaguars
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana) | Tickets
He didn’t make the cut as one of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year finalists, but South Alabama’s Kane Wommack certainly stood out during his second year on the job. The 35-year-old led the Jaguars to 10 regular-season wins — their most since South Alabama became an FBS program in 2012, and a far cry from 2019, when the team finished 2-10. A former defensive coordinator, Wommack has helped put together a defense that gave up the third fewest yards per game in the Sun Belt (304.5). — Scarborough
Dec. 22
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl: Air Force Falcons vs. Baylor Bears
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas) | Tickets
These two haven’t met since 1977, and have just three times in history (Baylor has won all three). Air Force running back Brad Roberts is third among FBS running backs in total yards (1,612) and has 15 TDs. The Falcons led the FBS with 330 rushing yards per game, which will test Baylor, a team that ranked 44th and allowed 137.6 rushing yards per game. The Bears will also be replacing defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who was dismissed after the regular season. Air Force is trying to complete its second straight 10-win season since 1997-98 while Baylor is seeking to avoid its second losing season in three years. Richard Reese has become a breakout star for the Bears, already rushing for a school freshman record 962 yards, and will force the Falcons defense to make plays. — Wilson
Dec. 23
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs. Houston Cougars
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana) | Tickets
Michael Desormeaux’s first year replacing Billy Napier at Louisiana resulted in the school’s fifth consecutive bowl game, where it will be going up against a Houston team that was picked to win the American Athletic Conference in the preseason. The Cougars won five of their last seven games, with quarterback Clayton Tune having thrown for over 2,600 yards, 28 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in that span. He’ll be the player to watch in this one. — Lyles Jr.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: Missouri Tigers vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida) | Tickets
On paper, it’s difficult to find a more even matchup, but how much might end-of-season momentum matter in a bowl game? The answer will dictate the advantages in the land of Gasparilla Pirate Fest: Missouri won four of its last six games to rally to 6-6, while Wake Forest lost four of five to slump to 7-5. Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook averaged 238 passing yards and 105 rushing yards over his last three games as the Tigers’ offense found its footing, but Mizzou has been hit harder than Wake by early transfer portal entry, and QB Sam Hartman appears to be sticking around for at least one more game in a Demon Deacons uniform. — Connelly
Dec. 24
EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders vs. San Diego State Aztecs
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu, Hawai’i) | Tickets
There might not be a single 2022 bowl with a wider array of realistic potential outcomes than this one. Middle Tennessee blew out Miami but got blown out by a bad Louisiana Tech team. All of the Blue Raiders’ seven wins came by double digits, as did all of their five losses. SDSU still has one of the best defenses in the Group of Five and still has one of its worst offenses, too. The Aztecs have won four games by at least 16 and lost three by at least 18. Name the result — a 49-16 MTSU win? a 20-0 SDSU win? — and it could absolutely happen. What more could you possibly want to distract you from family festivities on Christmas Eve? — Connelly
Dec. 26
Quick Lane Bowl: Bowling Green Falcons vs. New Mexico State Aggies
Ford Field (Detroit, Michigan) | Tickets
New Mexico State (6-6) rebounded in its first year under Jerry Kill after combining to win just seven games in the last four years. The Aggies haven’t been to a bowl game since 2017. The running game may dictate things. Bowling Green (6-6) had trouble running it (100.8 YPG) and trouble stopping the run (163 YPG) this season. New Mexico State’s sophomore running backs, Star Thomas (477 yards, five TDs) and Jamoni Jones (368 yards, six TDs), have an opportunity to break out in the bowl game. — Baumgartner
Dec. 27
Camellia Bowl: Buffalo Bulls vs. Georgia Southern Eagles
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama) | Tickets
Georgia Southern (former Buffalo) quarterback Kyle Vantrease is the player to watch in this game. Vantrease started 25 games for Buffalo over five years before ultimately making the move to Statesboro. In 2022, Vantrease completed over 61% of his passes for 3,895 yards, 25 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Clay Helton has helped him get the most out of his talent this season, and Vantrease will certainly be hoping to do his best against his former team. — Lyles Jr.
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl: Utah State Aggies vs. Memphis Tigers
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas, Texas) | Tickets
It was a rollercoaster of a season for Memphis, who started off 4-1, before ultimately finishing the year 6-6. Seth Henigan didn’t take quite the leap the Tigers had hoped he would after a standout 2021 season, but it’s understandable given the weapons lost (like Calvin Austin III). Regardless, you should still expect to see flashes of greatness from Henigan, who has tons of potential. Utah State, on the other hand, started 1-3, and lost quarterback Logan Bonner for the season after their loss to UNLV. Since then, Cooper Legas has been running things at quarterback, where the Aggies have been 5-3 since. Expect to see some fight from two teams who had challenging seasons. — Lyles Jr.
TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina Pirates vs. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Protective Life Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama) | Tickets
This battle of the Carolinas features a pair of teams that overcame some tough losses to finish with winning records. East Carolina (7-5) had won four of five games, but lost 42-3 to Houston on the road in the next to last game of the regular season. Running back Keaton Mitchell is ECU’s go-to guy on offense and piled up 300 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the 49-46 win over Temple to close the regular season. Coastal Carolina will be led by interim coach Chad Staggs, who’s filling in for Jamey Chadwell, who left to take the Liberty head job. The Chanticleers (9-3) lost in the Sun Belt championship game to Troy after losing 47-7 to James Madison the week before. The health of Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall and his status will be key in this game. — Low
Guaranteed Rate Bowl: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Chase Field (Phoenix, Arizona) | Tickets
The only thing certain for this matchup is uncertainty. Both teams’ veteran starting quarterbacks — Spencer Sanders at Oklahoma State and Graham Mertz at Wisconsin — have entered the transfer portal. The Badgers’ two backups, Chase Wolf and Myles Burkett, have attempted a combined 11 passes this season. True freshman Garret Rangel started two games for the Cowboys this season filling in for the injured Sanders, a four-year starter. New Badgers coach Luke Fickell said he will act as head coach for the game alongside six of the assistants who have been with the team this year. — Wilson
Dec. 28
Military Bowl Presented by Peraton: Duke Blue Devils vs. UCF Knights
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland) | Tickets
While UCF quarterback John Rhys Plumlee might be the more well-known dual-threat QB in this game, nobody should sleep on Duke quarterback Riley Leonard — a huge reason why the Blue Devils are in a bowl game for the first time since 2018. Leonard threw for 2,794 yards, 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions, while adding 636 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Plumlee was banged up for the last month of the season, so this game will be his opportunity to showcase his best — especially since he announced he will return for 2023. — Adelson
AutoZone Liberty Bowl: Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee) | Tickets
Two 6-6 teams, two teams that feel very differently about that record. For Kansas, this is a step on the climb, a chance to beat an SEC opponent for the first time since beating Vanderbilt in 1985 (of course, it hasn’t played an SEC member since 1988). For Arkansas, it marks the end of a disappointing season against one of the toughest schedules in the country, losing four of its six games by a total of nine points. The Hogs’ All-American linebacker, Drew Sanders, is not playing and Arkansas just lost defensive coordinator Barry Odom, who became the new head coach at UNLV. Star linebacker Bumper Pool is out with injury and leading receiver Jadon Haselwood is also bypassing the game after declaring for the draft. — Wilson
San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl: Oregon Ducks vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Petco Park (San Diego, California) | Tickets
Both the Ducks and the Tar Heels had opportunities this season to emerge as fringe playoff contenders. Both got off to 8-1 starts before faltering late in the season and ending up here. It’s partly why the Holiday Bowl matchup between them feels fitting. The tone of this game will shift if quarterback Bo Nix decides to return to school for another season. Meanwhile, UNC has a rising Drake Maye on their side. Should Nix run it back for one more year, not only will this game look a lot different given that Oregon will have new offensive coordinator Will Stein, but the Ducks will be looking forward to building on the offensive foundation Nix and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham (now the head coach at Arizona State) built this past season. — Uggetti
TaxAct Texas Bowl: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Ole Miss Rebels
NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas) | Tickets
These two teams, both of whom finished 7-5, were going in opposite directions when the regular season concluded. Ole Miss was trying to navigate through a wave of coaching drama surrounding Lane Kiffin. Was he going to Auburn or was he staying? He wound up staying and signing a new contract that will pay him $9 million per year, but the Rebels lost four of their last five games. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, played their way into the postseason by winning their last three games, capped by a thrilling 51-48 win against Oklahoma in overtime. Texas Tech had a tough schedule and played six teams nationally ranked at the time of the game. One of the key matchups in this game will be sensational freshman Quinshon Judkins and that Ole Miss running game against a Texas Tech defense that finished 90th nationally against the run (166.4 yards per game). — Low
Dec. 29
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse Orange vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
Yankee Stadium (New York, New York) | Tickets
This game is an enigma because neither team has been easy to predict all season. Few schools were as confounding in 2022 as Minnesota, which statistically speaking had one of the nation’s top defenses, a solid offense and a top-20 ranking in both ESPN’s FPI and SP+. On the field, however, that all added up to just an 8-4 record, and none of those eight wins came against an opponent who finished the regular season better than 6-6. Meanwhile, Syracuse opened the year 6-0 and nearly got a win at No. 7 Clemson before succumbing to the Tigers’ backup QB in the fourth quarter. After that, the Orange looked like a shell of a team, dropping five straight before a win over Boston College in the regular-season finale. Syracuse also lost both coordinators since the season ended. So, who exactly will show up here? The Minnesota that the deep-dive stats loved or the one that mustered just 10 points in a loss to Iowa? The Syracuse that started off the season 6-0 or the one that stumbled to the finish and then waved goodbye to two essential assistant coaches? It’s anyone’s guess. — David M. Hale
Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Florida State Seminoles
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida) | Tickets
This has to qualify as a dream matchup for the Cheez-It Bowl organizers — two storied programs, with fan bases that love to travel. The excitement is on a different level for Florida State and understandably so. The Seminoles are in their first bowl game since 2019, and their fans from across the state can easily get to Orlando. With quarterback Jordan Travis already announcing he will be back for 2023, and All-ACC players Jammie Robinson and Jared Verse saying they will play in the bowl game, this is a game the team itself is geared up to play in, as they have a chance to win 10 games for the first time since 2016. — Adelson
Valero Alamo Bowl: Texas Longhorns vs. Washington Huskies
Alamodome (San Antonio, Texas) | Tickets
Outside the New Year Six bowls, the Alamo Bowl matchup between these two teams might be one of the best on the slate. The matchup between Quinn Ewers and Michael Penix Jr. alone will be worth the price of admission, and both programs will be looking to prove they are headed in the right direction. The Longhorns had their usual up-and-down campaign but ended on a two-game winning streak and a promising look ahead to next season. The Huskies, meanwhile, were turned around from a 4-8 team to a Pac-12 contender overnight by new head coach Kalen DeBoer and the addition of Penix Jr. Both teams should be intriguing heading into next season and it should make for an entertaining high-scoring affair in San Antonio. — Uggetti
Dec. 30
Duke’s Mayo Bowl: NC State Wolfpack vs. Maryland Terrapins
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina) | Tickets
Two former ACC rivals will get together with the winner getting a giant vat of mayonnaise dumped on them. What’s not to like here? NC State and Maryland have a long — and occasionally colorful — history but have not faced off since the Terrapins left the ACC for the Big Ten in 2014. Maryland struggled down the stretch this season, dropping three of its last four games. The Terps didn’t beat a bowl-eligible Big Ten team, but there remains a big question about how much gas is left in the tank for an NC State team beset by injuries in 2022. The Wolfpack had four different starting QBs win games this year, but lost two different starters to injury at the position and relied heavily on a defense that was among the ACC’s best. The matchup between Maryland’s talented QB, Taulia Tagovailoa, and a dominant NC State linebacking corps led by Drake Thomas should go a long way in determining who will finish the season with a win. — Hale
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl: UCLA Bruins vs. Pitt Panthers
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas) | Tickets
For the second straight year, Pitt will play its bowl game without its starting QB. Last year, Kenny Pickett opted out of the Peach Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. This year, Kedon Slovis hit the transfer portal. Against Michigan State last season, Pickett’s loss — as well as backup Nick Patti in the fourth quarter — proved Pitt’s downfall, but this is a much different Panthers team. Rather than rely on their QB, the Panthers have routinely been a run-first offense, led by star tailback Israel Abanikanda, who finished with 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground. That should make for an interesting matchup against UCLA’s defense, which ranked second in the Pac-12 in yards per rush allowed this season, but gave up 565 yards and seven TDs on the ground in its three losses. — Hale
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
TIAA Bank Field (Jacksonville, Florida) | Tickets
South Carolina’s Shane Beamer did one of the best coaching jobs in college football this season. The Gamecocks (8-4) suffered some serious beatdowns (48-7 to Georgia and 38-6 to Florida), but got back up off the ground to finish the season with back-to-back wins over top-10 teams Tennessee and Clemson. Notre Dame, in its first season under Marcus Freeman, also finished 8-4. But much like the Gamecocks, the Irish played their best football down the stretch. Their only loss in their last six games was on the road to USC to close the regular season. Both teams will be without talented players. South Carolina tight end/running back Jaheim Bell entered the transfer portal. Notre Dame All-America tight end Michael Mayer and linebacker and career sacks leader Isaiah Foskey opted out to prepare for the NFL draft. — Low
Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. Wyoming Cowboys
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona) | Tickets
Both the Bobcats and Cowboys stumbled late in the regular season — Ohio lost star quarterback Kurtis Rourke to injury, then lost the MAC championship to Toledo; Wyoming won four straight to move to 7-3 but lost a shot at a division title with a home loss to Boise State, then got thumped by Fresno State. This is definitely a “Who wants it more?” bowl, but the matchup of Ohio’s run game against Wyoming’s run defense could still be a delight, and both of these teams tend to deliver in the postseason: They’re both riding three-game bowl win streaks. — Connelly
Capital One Orange Bowl: Clemson Tigers vs. Tennessee Volunteers
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida) | Tickets
The ultimate battle of orange should undoubtedly take place in the Orange Bowl. This will also be a battle of quarterbacks who didn’t open the 2022 season as the starter. True freshman Cade Klubnik will make his first career start for Clemson. He came off the bench to replace DJ Uiagalelei in the season-ending loss to South Carolina. Uiagalelei then announced he was entering the transfer portal. Joe Milton III will be the starter for Tennessee after Hendon Hooker, the SEC’s Offensive Player of the Year, suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the loss to South Carolina. Milton, who has an incredibly strong arm, started in the regular-season finale against Vanderbilt. He also started the first two games of the 2021 season before being replaced by Hooker. The ACC champion Tigers are trying to win 12 games or more for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. The Vols are trying to win 11 games for the first time since 2001. — Low
Dec. 31
TransPerfect Music City Bowl: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee) | Tickets
Who gets a chance to play quarterback for Iowa before former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara comes in next year? Fifth-year senior Spencer Petras‘ shoulder injury and junior Alex Padilla entering the transfer portal has the Hawkeyes (7-5) scrambling. Iowa’s defense (277.9 YPG, 14.4 PPG), led by senior linebacker Jack Campbell (115 tackles, two interceptions), will go up against a Wildcats’ offense (336.3 YPG, 22.1 PPG) that ranked last in the SEC and will be without senior quarterback Will Levis. Kentucky (7-5) has a defense that isn’t a slouch either as it ranked second in the SEC in passing (173.4) and points (19.1). — Baumgartner
Allstate Sugar Bowl: Kansas State Wildcats vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana) | Tickets
Will the Wildcats mix it up with a two-quarterback system against Alabama? Will Howard will be the starter, that much seems sure. Ever since he came in for an injured Adrian Martinez against Baylor, he’s been terrific. Kansas State is 4-0 and won a Big 12 championship as Howard threw a combined nine touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for two scores during that time. But Martinez is healthy enough that he nearly appeared in the Big 12 title game. With an extended layoff, he could be called upon as a change-of-pace back against a tough Alabama defense. — Scarborough
Jan. 2
ReliaQuest Bowl: Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida) | Tickets
Illinois junior running back Chase Brown (1,643 yards, 10 TDs) needs 54 yards to eclipse Mikel Leshoure’s single-season school record. The Fighting Illini (8-4) have been a force on defense (12.3 PPG) all year but will have to deal with Mississippi State’s potent offense that averaged 314.3 passing yards per game. Junior quarterback Will Rogers (3,713 yards, 34 TDs) had a great year for the Bulldogs (8-4) but will need to find a way to solve the fifth-best pass defense (165.4 YPG) in FBS. — Baumgartner
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl: LSU Tigers vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida) | Tickets
Nine wins is already more than many LSU fans could have hoped for, especially after a sloppy loss to Florida State in the season-opener. Brian Kelly was able to turn things around, beat Alabama and get all the way to the SEC championship in his first season in Baton Rouge. But after an inexplicable loss at Texas A&M to end the regular season and a 20-point loss to Georgia in the SEC title game, LSU needs to get a bad taste out of its mouth. The Tigers also need quarterback Jayden Daniels to get healthy again, the passing game to make strides and the defense to bounce back — in particular the front seven vs. the run — to feel better about the team’s chances heading into next season. It needs a win. — Scarborough
Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: USC Trojans vs. Tulane Green Wave
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) | Tickets
All eyes may still be on Heisman winner Caleb Williams once the Trojans suit up to play the Cotton Bowl, but the player to watch may be running back Raleek Brown. A five-star prospect who had flashes of serious speed and agility this season in limited carries could be fully deployed in this game. A lot will likely change on USC’s roster between now and next season, but Brown’s role will only grow. The Green Wave won’t make it easy for Lincoln Riley and Co., though. Tulane will be hoping to close out their storybook 11-2 season with a statement win over a program that, as Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen pointed out last week in Las Vegas, has “no business going up against financially.” On the field come Jan. 2, the two will be able to face off as equals. — Uggetti
Rose Bowl Game: Utah Utes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California) | Tickets
Utah made a resounding statement with its rout of USC for the Pac-12 title. Back in the Rose Bowl for a second straight year, the Utes (10-3) have unfinished business after losing to Ohio State. Junior quarterback Cam Rising (2,939 yards, 25 TDs) leads Utah’s offense against a Penn State defense (317.9 YPG) that was seventh in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions (10-2) only lost to Michigan and Ohio State. Their revived running game behind freshmen Nicholas Singleton (941 yards, 10 TDs) and Kaytron Allen (830 yards, nine TDs) tangles with the Pac-12’s best run defense (107 YPG). — Baumgartner
Mike Sullivan, who led the Pittsburgh Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, is out as the team’s head coach, it was announced Monday.
Sullivan was the longest-tenured coach in Penguins history after just completing his 10th season. The 57-year-old, who also coached Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, was under contract in Pittsburgh through 2026-27.
In a statement, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas said the decision was “the best course forward for all involved” as Pittsburgh navigates a transitional period.
“On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Dubas said. “Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved.”
The Penguins have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons as Dubas works to retool the team into a contender while Crosby is still competing at a high level. Crosby just completed his 20th straight season in which he posted a point-per-game scoring pace, and he was voted by his peers in the NHLPA as the league’s most complete player. The captain is under contract through next season on a two-year extension he signed prior to the 2024-25 season.
Sullivan was elevated to Penguins head coach in 2015 after leading the organization’s AHL team in Wilkes-Barre. With 409 wins in Pittsburgh, he leaves as the Penguins’ all-time wins leader.
With Sullivan’s departure, there are now seven head-coaching vacancies in the NHL. The Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken and New York Rangers are also searching for new coaches right now. According to sources, Sullivan has been atop the Rangers’ wish list.
Sources also said Sullivan is keen on coaching again next season and will be a top candidate for several of the vacancies. Sullivan worked as an assistant coach with the Rangers and as both an assistant and head coach with the Bruins earlier in his career.
Home teams are on a tear in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, going 21-10 thus far. Will that trend continue Monday?
The early matchup is Game 4 of the Battle of Florida, and the festivities have become heated; Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel was given a major penalty for his hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2, and subsequently suspended for Game 3. In that game, Matthew Tkachuk leveled a hard hit on Jake Guentzel but did not receive the same punishment. What will transpire in Game 4?
In the nightcap, the clash of West titans continues, as the Colorado Avalanche look to keep the momentum going after their 4-0 victory over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday.
Read on for game previews with statistical insights from ESPN Research, recaps of what went down in Sunday’s games, and the Three Stars of Sunday Night from Arda Öcal.
Matchup notes
Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers
Game 4 (FLA leads 2-1) | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Teams that hold a 2-1 series lead have gone on to win the best-of-seven matchup 69% of the time in Stanley Cup playoff history. The Panthers have won two out of three best-of-seven series when holding a 2-1 lead, and the Lightning are 6-7 all time when trailing 2-1.
Jake Guentzel had three points (goal, two assists) in Game 3, and his 40 career playoff goals are third most among active U.S.-born players, trailing Patrick Kane (53) and Chris Kreider (48).
With his win in Game 3, Andrei Vasilevskiy now has 67 for his postseason career, second most among active goaltenders (behind Marc-Andre Fleury, who has 92), and one behind Andy Moog for 11th on the all-time list.
Matthew Tkachuk scored his third goal of the series in Game 3, and became the third player in franchise history with 20 career playoffs goals (Carter Verhaeghe 26, Sam Reinhart 22); he is also the third Panther to record 50 playoff points for the club (Aleksander Barkov 62, Verhaeghe 54).
Aaron Ekblad‘s return from suspension didn’t go so well. According to Stathletes, Ekblad and Gustav Forsling played 10:50 together at 5-on-5, and the Lightning scored three goals while they were on the ice.
Colorado Avalanche at Dallas Stars
Game 5 (series tied 2-2) | 9:30 p.m. ET | ESPN
With the series tied 2-2, history is on the Stars’ side: Colorado is 11-12 when a series is tied 2-2. Dallas has gone 18-14 in the same scenario.
Nathan MacKinnon is up to 52 career playoff goals, which is six away from tying Peter Forsberg for second in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history; Joe Sakic is first with 84.
Gabriel Landeskog made his return to the ice in Game 3 for the first time since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final, and scored a goal in Game 4, the 28th playoff goal of his career.
Mikko Rantanen (formerly of the Avs, now of the Stars) has only one point (an assist) through four games, but it’s not for a lack of trying; he has 12 shots on goal, which is second most on the team this postseason (Roope Hintz has 13).
Stars goalie Jake Oettinger was pulled in Game 4, just the fourth time in 49 career playoff starts he has played 40 minutes or less. Since 2022, Oettinger has the second-most postseason wins (25), behind Sergei Bobrovsky (34).
Arda’s three stars from Sunday night
Svechnikov potted a hat trick to lift the Canes to a 5-2 win against the Devils in Newark, giving them a 3-1 series lead. Svechnikov is the only Hurricanes/Whalers player in franchise history (45 seasons, 205 playoff games) with a hat trick in the playoffs (he now has two).
His two goals in the third period tied the game at 3, setting the stage for the Oilers to win in OT and tie up the series. Bouchard is now the fourth defenseman to have back-to-back multigoal games in Stanley Cup playoff history.
After two points over the first three games of the series, Neighbors scored a goal and added two assists as the Blues emphatically tied the series with a 5-1 victory in Game 4.
Sunday’s scores
St. Louis Blues 5, Winnipeg Jets 1
Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Wednesday
Although he is the overwhelming favorite to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie in the regular season, Connor Hellebuyck is not having a great time this postseason. He was pulled in the third period of this loss after giving up five goals on 18 shots. Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor opened the scoring in this game, but the Blues charged back with five straight goals off the sticks of Jake Neighbours, Tyler Tucker, Brayden Schenn, Justin Faulk and Robert Thomas. The home team has won every game in this series. Will that continue in Game 5 in Winnipeg? Full recap.
0:51
Tyler Tucker puts the Blues ahead with a goal
Tyler Tucker scores in the second period to give the Blues a 2-1 lead over the Jets.
Carolina Hurricanes 5, New Jersey Devils 2
CAR leads 3-1 | Game 5 Tuesday
After the Canes went up 3-0, the Devils punched back with two second-period goals, and Carolina starting goalie Frederik Andersen was knocked out after a collision with New Jersey’s Timo Meier. However, that was as close as the Devils would get, as Brent Burns added a goal at 14:14 of the third, and Andrei Svechnikov finished off his hat trick with an empty-net goal to seal the deal. Full recap.
2:05
Andrei Svechnikov scores his second career playoff hat trick
Andrei Svechnikov lit the ice with his second career playoff hat trick in Game 4 vs. the Devils.
Washington Capitals 5, Montreal Canadiens 2
WSH leads 3-1 | Game 5 Wednesday
The Bell Centre was rocking again for this one. Washington’s Dylan Strome started the scoring at 1:25 of the second period, but the Canadiens answered back with two power-play goals (from Juraj Slafkovsky and Cole Caufield) to take the lead heading into the third. However, the Caps proved they were the better team, tying it 6:39 into the third, taking the lead 10 minutes later and then pumping in two empty-netters to put it out of reach. Full recap.
0:39
Andrew Mangiapane’s big-time goal gives Caps a lead in the 3rd period
Andrew Mangiapane notches a big-time goal to give the Capitals a lead late in the third period.
Edmonton Oilers 4, Los Angeles Kings 3 (OT)
Series tied 2-2 | Game 5 Tuesday
Another back-and-forth contest for these two teams. The Kings held a 3-1 lead heading into the third, thanks to goals from Trevor Moore, Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala. But the Oilers came back, thanks to a pair of goals by Evan Bouchard (both of which were assisted by Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid) to send the game to overtime. Draisaitl then scored the winner on the power play with just 1:42 left in the extra session. Full recap.
1:14
Leon Draisaitl’s OT winner evens the series for the Oilers
Leon Draisaitl nets the winning goal in overtime to give the Oilers a dramatic win over the Kings in Game 4.
Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs is hitting the nitty-gritty stage, as elimination games will be coming from all corners of North America this week.
The storylines are many, from goaltenders being pulled and trying to regain their form to heavy hits stirring emotions even more than they already were.
ESPN reporters Ryan S. Clark, Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski identified their top takeaways as all 16 teams remain alive — at least for the time being.
Read more:
Full schedule
Intel on all 16 teams
Top 50 players
Wyshynski’s bracket
Contender flaws
Are Connor Hellebuyck and the Jets in trouble … again?
Even with their Game 4 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Blues, the Winnipeg Jets are tied in their series as they look to get out of the first round for the first time in three seasons. But things aren’t trending well for Winnipeg as two-time Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck again received an early exit.
In Game 3, Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 25 shots before being pulled, then gave up five goals on 18 shots Sunday. Watching how Hellebuyck would respond to being pulled in Game 3 was clearly a point of interest.
Every Western Conference series has seen one goalie have an early departure. This started with Stuart Skinner being removed in Game 2 in the Oilers’ 6-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, while Thursday saw both Hellebuyck and Vegas’ Adin Hill get yanked in their team’s defeats. It happened again Saturday with the Stars relieving Jake Oettinger to start the third period in their 4-0 loss to the Avalanche.
Hellebuyck’s recent history with trying to bounce back from consecutive playoff defeats has been an issue. After he won the opening game in last year’s first-round series, he and the Jets lost four straight. The same thing happened in 2023 when they faced the Golden Knights. In 2021, Hellebuyck lost all four of his starts against the Montreal Canadiens.
The last time Hellebuyck snapped a two-game losing streak in the playoffs came in 2019, when he guided the Jets to wins in Games 3 and 4 against, you guessed it, the Blues, who would go on to win the Stanley Cup that season. Hellebuyck needs to show he can turn things around — in a hurry. — Clark
There’s been no better “salt in the wound” moment in the 2025 postseason than Blues fans chanting “WE WANT CONNOR!” after Hellebuyck was pulled from Game 4 in the third period, having given up five goals on 18 shots.
Superior trolling. Winnipeg fans would be proud.
Why wouldn’t they want Hellebuyck back in the crease? He’s just the seventh goalie in NHL history to allow four or more goals in six straight road playoff games, a streak that includes series losses to Vegas and Colorado. He became the second reigning Vezina Trophy winner ever to be pulled in consecutive playoff games, joining the Flyers’ Ron Hextall in the 1988 divisional series.
Hellebuyck has a .817 save percentage and a 4.24 goals-against average in four playoff games. Over his last three postseasons, Hellebuyck has a 4-10 record with an .866 save percentage and a 4.27 goals-against average.
Over his last three NHL regular seasons, Hellebuyck has 121 wins in 187 games with a .922 save percentage and a 2.29 goals-against average. That guy hasn’t even come close to showing up in the playoffs statistically.
Yet anyone that’s watched the Blues’ 16-goal parade against the Jets knows not all of this is Hellebuyck’s fault. “You watch the replays of the goals that went in and there are deflections, screens, pucks bouncing off us and in,” defenseman Luke Schenn said.
Screening Hellebuyck has been the path to success for teams in the playoffs. Around half of the Blues goals have come with traffic in front of him.
“If there’s people getting to the net, we’ve got to get them out of there before they get their screens. We’ve gotta box out earlier. There’s a lot of coverage stuff,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said.
Hellebuyck is a victim of his own domination. We expect the guy considered to be the best goalie in the world to be able to fight through screens and cover for defensive breakdowns.
Arniel was clear that he’s “100% confident” in Hellebuyck in the playoffs. “There are things that we have to do to help him and he knows he has to do things to help us,” he said.
But Arniel also said that if Winnipeg is going to win two out of the next three games, “our best players have to be better than their best players.” And there’s no question that Jordan Binnington has been the better goalie in this series than Hellebuyck.
On Monday, the NHL will announce the finalists for the 2024-25 Vezina Trophy, which Hellebuyck has won twice and will probably win again in June. It’s the award given annually to the best goalie in the regular season. Connor Hellebuyck is in real danger of having his career defined by what he’s failed to do after those initial 82 games. — Wyshynski
Ottawa has life — until Toronto proves it can close
1-12.
That’s the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ record in playoff elimination games going back to 2017.
It’s an unflattering figure, just like the Leafs’ 0-1 record in this series in attempting to close out the Ottawa Senators.
There’s that old cliché that the final win of a series is the toughest to get. The Leafs have spent almost a decade proving that’s true. And Toronto certainly had its chances to sweep the Senators into summer mode in Game 4 on Saturday night. The Leafs had a four-minute power play in overtime, albeit without John Tavares available after he exited earlier to be assessed for a possible injury.
Still.
Toronto was 5-for-9 with the extra man in the first three games of the series; the Leafs were 0-for-4 on the power play in Game 4. They gave up a shorthanded goal to Shane Pinto in the first period to boot. Not ideal.
1:07
Jake Sanderson sends Ottawa fans into a frenzy with Game 4 OT winner
Jake Sanderson celebrates with his teammates after netting the game-winning goal in overtime for the Senators vs. the Maple Leafs.
Now, Ottawa is due ample credit for how it persevered to earn an overtime victory. The Senators went up 2-0 in the first period, only to see that lead evaporate by the second. David Perron put Ottawa up again and the Leafs tied it to force the extra frame. The Senators could have shrunk in the face of that daunting four-minute power play (with or without Tavares) and instead they stood tall. And Jake Sanderson‘s goal gave Ottawa the chance to play on.
Have the scales tipped in Ottawa’s favor? The Senators have nothing to lose here; they have the luxury of playing loose. Toronto is saddled with expectations born of too many prior postseason disappointments. But this Leafs team is built differently, right? And so Toronto can’t — or won’t — let one demoralizing defeat turn into two, will it? — Shilton
Maybe don’t challenge, coaches?
In the regular season, coaches who challenged scoring plays for interference won more than they lost, with a 56% success rate on 126 challenges. Which means the risk — getting a delay of game penalty if they’re wrong — was worth it.
That’s an acceptable risk in an 82-game season. But in a seven-game playoff series, you’ve got to be sure — and so far in the 2025 postseason, coaches would have been better off not challenging.
The first challenge was a somewhat desperate one from Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch in Game 1 against the Kings. Defenseman Jake Walman was ruled to have shot the puck over the glass for a delay of game penalty. He was convinced that wasn’t the case, and the Oilers — trailing 5-3 at that point in the third period — backed up Walman by challenging the call. It was ruled there was “no conclusive evidence” that the puck went off the glass “after a thorough examination of all available replays.”
So Edmonton got a delay of game on top of a delay of game, although Los Angeles couldn’t convert on the ensuing 5-on-3 power play.
The other coaches weren’t as lucky. Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper unsuccessfully challenged goalie interference on Nate Schmidt‘s goal that gave Florida a 3-1 lead in Game 1. The league ruled Eetu Luostarinen was making a play on the loose puck in the crease before Schmidt’s goal, which by rule isn’t interference. The Lightning were given a delay of game penalty. Matthew Tkachuk scored 14 seconds into the ensuing power play to make it 4-1 and put the game out of reach.
But the most ill-conceived challenge of the playoffs was from Kings coach Jim Hiller in Game 3 against Edmonton, seeking to overturn an Evander Kane goal that made it 4-4 at 13:18 of the third period. I’m still trying to figure out what they saw that inspired the challenge, and why the Kings would gamble with giving Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl a chance to break the tie by handing them a power play — which they did, when Draisaitl assisted on Evan Bouchard‘s eventual game winner.
“We got a good look at it. We took plenty of time. We felt it was goalie interference, so we challenged it. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose on those. Tonight we lost, and it cost us big time. No other way around it,” Hiller said, stating the obvious.
So far in the playoffs, the cost has outweighed the benefit. — Wyshynski
Are the Golden Knights about to turn the corner?
Being a franchise in a championship window that already has produced a title is naturally going to spark a conversation about what can be done to win a second. For the Vegas Golden Knights? The whole has been greater than the sum of their parts, not that the parts themselves are to be taken lightly.
The Golden Knights won a Stanley Cup in 2023 by receiving contributions throughout their lineup. That’s exactly what happened Saturday in their 4-3 overtime win that was the difference between them being tied at 2-2 versus facing a consecutive first-round exit with an elimination game on home ice.
Look at how Vegas was able to win. Shea Theodore scored the opener on the power play with Nicolas Roy also scoring a power-play goal that tied it at 2-2. Adin Hill made the necessary saves that allowed the Golden Knights to navigate overtime before Ivan Barbashev scored the winning goal. All three goals were from players who hadn’t scored in the first three games of the series, while Hill rebounded from allowing four goals on 21 shots in Game 4.
Everything Barbashev, Hill, Roy and Theodore did speaks to how the Golden Knights can tap into their depth. Could Game 5 lead to similar results for star Jack Eichel and captain Mark Stone? Both players, who were held to no points entering Game 3, were also pointless in Game 4 but showed signs of promise considering they combined for 10 shots on goal. That’s the same number of shots they had in the first three games combined. — Clark
No love lost in the Battle of Florida
Of course it all starts with Matthew Tkachuk.
Florida’s feistiest forward already was giving Tampa Bay fits in their first-round series with three goals in the first three games. Then came another crushing blow — literally — when Tkachuk smacked Bolts forward Jake Guentzel at center ice and earned a game misconduct as Florida fell 5-1 in Game 3.
0:59
Fracas ensues after Tkachuk’s late hit, Cirelli’s empty-netter
Matthew Tkachuk gets a five-minute major for a late hit prior to Anthony Cirelli’s empty-net goal.
Naturally, debate ensued over whether Tkachuk deserved supplemental discipline for the hit — Guentzel was in the process of passing the puck and had released it when Tkachuk made contact. There will be no suspension for Tkachuk — and how that decision will sit with the Lightning, well, we will find out in Game 4 on Monday night.
Players on both sides exchanged pleasantries following Tkachuk’s hit on Guentzel, and it was clear the physical ante was upped in more ways than one. The Lightning played a statement game Saturday, scoring five unanswered goals to get themselves back in the series. Now we can only wonder how the bad blood will seep into the rest of it.
Discipline is key in a long playoff run; it’s even more critical for Tampa Bay given the Panthers’ strong power play (30%) so far in the postseason. The Lightning getting that win and now being further bonded by the way Tkachuk leveled their leading playoff goal scorer adds new layers of intrigue to what lies ahead in this bout of Atlantic Division rivals. — Shilton
Everyone loves Tom Wilson (except those that hate him)
After their Game 4 win, Washington Capitals goalie Logan Thompson was asked how important teammate Tom Wilson was to the team’s success. Wilson was seated next to Thompson, who turned and grinned widely at the hulking forward.
“No need to make his head any bigger,” said Thompson, who then proceeded to further inflate it.
“He’s been huge for us. The heart and soul of this organization, right? When he’s making plays, big hits, we feed off that. Especially in our home rink, I think the whole building feeds off it. He’s a huge part of this team. We love him,” the goalie said, before expanding his arms to mimic Wilson’s head filling with praise.
Wilson deadpanned: “That’s it?”
Like Logan Thompson, there are many who love Tom Wilson. There are also legions of fans and opponents who loathe him for a history of injurious hits and other unsportsmanlike conduct. Montreal fans and players were not enamored with Wilson in Game 3 when he fought Josh Anderson in a brawl that spilled into the Capitals’ bench and then pretended to sob while calling out an unidentified Habs player as a whiner.
“Things escalated,” said Anderson after the game.
1:45
Canadiens-Caps brawl spills into the bench at end of 2nd period
The Canadiens and Capitals close the second period with a massive brawl in which Josh Anderson and Tom Wilson spar into the bench.
Wilson was more controlled in Game 4 — by his own admission, he wanted to stay out of the box to make a difference on the ice and didn’t take a penalty in the game. In the third period, his impact was felt quite literally: Wilson demolished Montreal defenseman Alexandre Carrier with a center-ice check moments before the Capitals controlled the puck and Brandon Duhaime scored to tie the game at 2-2 with 13:21 left in regulation.
“It’s been a physical series both ways. Getting hit. Giving hits,” said Wilson, who added an empty-netter in the 5-2 win. “It was a big hit. The boys were able to score right after. That’s the way that hockey goes.”
Wilson has played in the postseason for the Capitals since 2012-13. He’s experienced the high of the Stanley Cup championship in 2018 and the lows of postseason collapses. It’s to Washington’s credit that they haven’t given oxygen to a Montreal upset bid, thanks to their Game 1 OT win on an Alex Ovechkin goal and their third-period comeback in Game 4 that gave them a 3-1 series lead.
“It’s a group that’s had different guys step up throughout the year. I don’t think there’s any panic when we’re down a goal. We believe in ourselves,” Wilson said. “We got it done. It’s really fun to come to the rink.”
No one’s scarier when he’s having fun than Tom Wilson. — Wyshynski
More to Landeskog’s Game 4 performance than just his goal
Any questions about how Gabriel Landeskog would fit into a Colorado Avalanche lineup that has dramatically changed since he last played nearly three years ago have been answered at various times this postseason. But in a 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars in Game 4 on Saturday, he provided a clear reminder of what the Avs had been missing.
Landeskog scored 11 goals and 22 points in 20 games when he led Colorado to the third Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2022. His goal and assist in Game 4 against the Stars pushed his career totals to 28 goals and 69 points in 71 postseason contests.
Part of what has allowed Landeskog to consistently find success within the Avs’ setup — whether scoring himself or setting up his teammates — is how he positions himself on the ice, from working in the corners to gain possession to finding a way to get in the slot. Those traits played a role in his one-timer from the slot, off a feed from Brock Nelson, that gave the Avs a 3-0 lead.
Yet the sequence that might have best summed up what Landeskog provides came on Samuel Girard‘s goal that gave Colorado a 4-0 advantage. Landeskog, who received a secondary assist, gave the puck to Nelson, who then found Girard. As Girard was getting ready to shoot, Landeskog went to the net front and battled with 6-foot-7 Stars defenseman Lian Bichsel to gain position and screen goalie Casey DeSmith.
Landeskog’s presence not only helped the Avs knot the series as the scene shifts to Dallas, it is a key element that could push Colorado onward as the playoffs continue. — Clark
Goalie clinic turned to controversy in Hurricanes-Devils
New Jersey’s run might already be done if not for goalie Jacob Markstrom. Carolina could hardly be this commanding if not for netminder Frederik Andersen.
That’s been a significant storyline in the series so far, how two top-tier goaltenders have held their respective teams in balance. In Game 4 on Sunday things took a turn, though, when Andersen was bowled over in his crease by Timo Meier and had to exit the game, being replaced by young Pyotr Kochetkov.
There was no penalty called on the play that sent Andersen to the locker room. And to add insult to injury, Meier turned around and scored on the incoming Kochetkov to narrow the Hurricanes’ lead to 3-2. Ouch.
1:30
GK Frederik Andersen exits the game for the Hurricanes
Frederik Andersen exits the game after a collision, causing backup goalkeeper Pyotr Kochetkov to enter the game.
It’s no secret Andersen has had a rough go with injuries. He missed 39 games in the regular season following knee surgery and was finally appearing at full strength — and health — for the playoffs. Now his status is murky, and the Devils can take advantage — thanks in large part to the marvelous Markstrom.
New Jersey has had poor luck with its blueline health, playing without Brenden Dillon or Luke Hughes since Game 1 and losing Johnathan Kovacevic in Game 3, and it’s Markstrom who has made up for his club’s deficiencies. The veteran has stood tall against Carolina’s attack to give New Jersey every opportunity to take a lead — and hold it — but the Devils’ scoring woes (they had just five through the first three games) haven’t exactly supported Markstrom’s cause. No matter. The Devils goaltender has still produced an impressive .929 save percentage in the postseason, putting him just behind Andersen in that category atop the playoff leaderboard for starting goalies.
And Andersen has earned his place at the peak. He’s been rock solid for Carolina and closed the door on New Jersey time and again. Andersen’s heroics in Game 3 allowed the Hurricanes a chance to come back and win in double overtime. (His stop on Meier in the second period was particularly outstanding.)
The way these two have gone toe-to-toe is playoff goaltending at its best. We should be talking about who can sustain their excellence long enough to be the deciding factor in a series victory. Now it’s a question of who will be available for the Hurricanes going forward — Andersen or the upstart Kochetkov? The answer could have long-term implications for Carolina. — Shilton
Can the Oilers beat the curse of the Western Conference?
OK. Maybe “curse” is too strong a word in this case. However, being the team representing the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Final has come with its fair share of issues over the last few postseasons.
It started in 2020 when the Stars won the Western Conference playing in the Edmonton bubble. They lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning and failed to make the playoffs the following season. Of course, there was no Western Conference champion during the 2020-21 season because of the pandemic.
Fast-forward to 2022. The Avalanche won the West and the Stanley Cup. But a year later, they were eliminated in the first round. In 2023, the Golden Knights captured their first title only to get knocked out in the first round in 2024. Entering the weekend, the Oilers were trailing 2-1 in their series against the Kings after losing the first two games in Southern California.
The Kings-Oilers series has been bizarre beyond the fact this is the fourth straight time they’ve played in the first round. A last-minute goal in a 6-5 thriller in Game 1 was followed up by the Oilers giving up six goals for the second consecutive game in a 6-2 loss, which was followed by another high-scoring contest with the Oilers winning 7-4 in Game 3. It’s a safe bet something else bizarre could happen, like the Oilers either falling prey to the curse or breaking it. — Clark
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