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2 years ago

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7:05 AM ET

  • ESPN staff

With about three weeks left of the 2022-23 NHL regular season, there are three teams that have clinched a playoff spot and four that have been mathematically eliminated.

Those numbers will both increase in the days ahead, as it’s another jam-packed week on the schedule. But which games will have the most importance when it comes to the playoff races? Which team will ultimately win the West’s No. 1 seed? What about the wild cards?

Our reporters and analysts are here to debate those very questions.

What’s the biggest game of the week?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Nashville Predators vs. Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday (7 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+). The Penguins are trying to find ways to gain separation from the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference wild-card race, while the Predators are trying to gain ground to challenge for the wild card in the Western Conference. Both teams need points, and it’s what makes a game like this so potentially enticing.

Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: Tuesday’s Los Angeles Kings vs. Calgary Flames tilt (9 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) is a biggie for me. If the Flames can somehow beat the sizzling Kings — or even wrestle a single point out of the affair — that should set the tone for a successful wrapup to the regular season. Seven of Calgary’s remaining games feature non-playoff-bound opponents, with the eighth scheduled against the team they’re chasing for the second wild-card spot, in Winnipeg. Meanwhile, two points for L.A. could significantly narrow the gap between themselves and the Pacific-leading Knights. Fun stuff.

Arda Öcal, NHL host: I’m locked in on the Eastern Conference wild-card race, so any game involving the Penguins, Islanders and Panthers interests me greatly — especially this week. The Toronto Maple Leafs-Florida Panthers game Wednesday (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) might be the dagger for the Panthers if they falter — or could be the one that propels them back into better shape in the wild-card race.

Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: Edmonton Oilers vs. Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+/Hulu). A heavyweight tilt between two surging Pacific Division teams. Only a handful of points separate the Oilers from the Golden Knights; if Edmonton wants to potentially catch Vegas for the Pacific lead, this is a critical two points. If Vegas wants to add some insurance and ensure home ice to start the playoffs, Tuesday is a must-win game. You love to see it.

Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: The New Jersey Devils‘ game at the New York Islanders Monday night (7:30 p.m. ET, NHL Power Play on ESPN+) is an important one for both teams. The Devils have faint hopes of winning the Metro and avoiding a first-round smackdown against the New York Rangers. The Islanders currently have an 80% chance of making the playoffs in front of a fading Florida team — but they’re not in yet. These two haven’t seen each other since early December.

How will the wild-card races shake out?

Clark: In the East, the Islanders will get the WC1 while the Penguins get the WC2; out West, the Kraken get the WC1 and the Jets get the WC2. The challenge in predicting the Penguins is there’s no telling what will happen between them and the Panthers given that the margin is so tight.

Matiash: I’ve got the Islanders in the WC1 spot and the Panthers bumping the Penguins from the WC2 position in the East, with the Kraken settling in WC1 and Flames booting the Jets from playoff contention in snagging the WC2 out West. As mentioned, Calgary’s schedule down the stretch is too favorable to blow. Even for a team that has, in my view, made matters unnecessarily difficult for itself thus far.

Öcal: I’ve got the Penguins snagging the first wild card in the East, with the Isles holding off the Panthers for the second. Out West, the standings today will be the same as the standings on the final day, with the Kraken in WC1 and the Jets in WC2.

Shilton: Out East, it’ll be the Islanders in WC1 and the Panthers grabbing WC2 away from Pittsburgh. In the West, Seattle should hold on to WC1 and Winnipeg will stand pat in WC2. Which is too bad for the Jets, really. Their recent struggles created a missed opportunity to land a top-three position in the Central Division.

Wyshynski: I think the Penguins finish in the first wild card and the Panthers rally to secure the second wild card, with the Islanders on the outs. Florida has to take at least five points on this upcoming road swing before having four of their last five games in Sunrise, where they’re 21-12-4. In the West, the Kraken finish in the first wild card and the Jets snag the second. There’s basically the same percentage chance in favor of both happening at the moment.

Who will get the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference?

Clark: Either the Golden Knights or a team that is within six points of them. That’s not a flippant answer. It’s just that the West’s narrative this season has been that a team in first place one week could be in a wild-card spot a week later.

Matiash: Ahead of Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues, the Kings hadn’t lost in regulation since Feb. 26. I don’t see the wheels falling off now, not in light of how both Joonas Korpisalo and Pheonix Copley are pitching in dominating performances in goal. This justifiably confident squad will catch Vegas — arguably saddled with the more difficult concluding schedule — before all is said and done.

Öcal: Minnesota makes a run and somehow catches and exceeds Vegas by one point to take the conference. It has played nearly the most one-goal games in the NHL this season, which means it is always battling and rarely out of a game. These two teams also have a home-and-home coming up, which could be a massive eight-point swing with two regulation wins for either.

Shilton: Predicting anything about the Western Conference has been a fool’s errand — so what’s a little more chaos? The Kings haven’t earned nearly enough praise for their terrific season. And it’s the Kings who have the best chance of catching — and passing — Vegas to be crowned Western champs.

Wyshynski: The Dallas Stars look at all of those games between the Knights, Wild and Kings, and they proclaim “let them fight.” Dallas has the Arizona Coyotes, Chicago Blackhawks, Predators, Detroit Red Wings and two against the Blues left on their docket. Even if they give Jake Oettinger a rest, these are winnable games. It’ll take a small fade from Vegas, but it’s doable.

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Buckeyes open as big favorites vs. Fighting Irish

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2 hours ago

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January 11, 2025

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Buckeyes open as big favorites vs. Fighting Irish

  • Doug Greenberg, ESPNJan 11, 2025, 12:09 AM ET

Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T, per ESPN BET odds.

If that line holds, it would be tied for the second-largest spread in a CFP national championship game and the fourth largest in the CFP/BCS era. Georgia was -13.5 against TCU in the 2022 national championship, while Alabama showed -9.5 against none other than Ohio State to decide the 2020 campaign. Both favorites covered the spread in blowout fashion, combining for a cover margin of 63.

Notre Dame is 12-3 against the spread this season, tied with Arizona State (12-2) and Marshall (12-1) for the most covers in the nation. The Irish are 7-0 ATS against ranked teams and 2-0 ATS as underdogs, with both covers going down as outright victories, including their win over Penn State (-1.5) in the CFP national semifinal.

However, Notre Dame was also on the losing end of the largest outright upset of the college football season when it fell as a 28.5-point favorite to Northern Illinois.

Ohio State is 9-6 against the spread and has been a favorite in every game it has played this season; it has covered the favorite spread in every CFP game thus far, including in its semifinal win against Texas when it covered -6 with overwhelming public support.

The Buckeyes also have been an extremely popular pick in the futures market all season. At BetMGM as of Friday morning, OSU had garnered a leading 28.2% of money and 16.8% of bets to win the national title, checking in as the sportsbook’s greatest liability.

Ohio State opened at +700 to win it all this season and is now -350 with just one game to play.

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Sawyer’s scoop-and-score leads OSU to CFP final

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January 11, 2025

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Sawyer's scoop-and-score leads OSU to CFP final

  • ESPN News Services

Jan 10, 2025, 11:22 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Texas — Quinshon Judkins ran for two touchdowns before Jack Sawyer forced a fumble by his former roommate that he returned 83 yards for a clinching TD as Ohio State beat Texas 28-14 in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night to advance to a shot for their sixth national title.

Led by Judkins and Sawyer, the Buckeyes (13-2) posted the semifinal victory in the same stadium where 10 years ago they were champions in the debut of the College Football Playoff as a four-team format. Now they have the opportunity to be the winner again in the debut of the expanded 12-team field.

Ohio State plays Orange Bowl champion Notre Dame in Atlanta on Jan. 20. It could be quite a finish for the Buckeyes after they lost to rival Michigan on Nov. 30. Ohio State opened as a 9.5-point favorite over the Irish, per ESPN BET.

“About a month ago, a lot of people counted us out. And these guys went to work, this team, these leaders, the captains, the staff,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “Everybody in the building believed. And because of that, I believe we won the game in the fourth quarter.”

Sawyer got to Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers on a fourth-and-goal from the 8, knocking the ball loose and scooping it up before lumbering all the way to the other end. It was the longest fumble return in CFP history.

Ewers and Sawyer were roommates in Columbus, Ohio, for the one semester the quarterback was there before transferring home to Texas and helping lead the Longhorns (13-3) to consecutive CFP semifinals. But next season will be their 20th since winning their last national title with Vince Young in 2005.

Texas had gotten to the 1, helped by two pass-interference penalties in the end zone before Quintrevion Wisner was stopped for a 7-yard loss.

Judkins had a 1-yard touchdown for a 21-14 lead with 7:02 left. That score came four plays after quarterback Will Howard converted fourth-and-2 from the Texas 34 with a stumbling 18-yard run that was almost a score.

Howard was 24-of-33 passing for 289 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Ewers finished 23-of-39 for 283 yards with two TD passes to Jaydon Blue and an interception after getting the ball back one final time.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Colorado coaching great McCartney dies at 84

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January 11, 2025

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Colorado coaching great McCartney dies at 84

  • ESPN News Services

Jan 11, 2025, 12:10 AM ET

Bill McCartney, a three-time coach of the year in the Big Eight Conference who led the Colorado Buffaloes to their only national football title in 1990, has died. He was 84.

McCartney died Friday night “after a courageous journey with dementia,” according to a family statement.

“Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor and advocate for family, community and faith,” the family said in its statement. “As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.”

After playing college ball under Dan Devine at Missouri, McCartney started coaching high school football and basketball in Detroit. He then was hired onto the staff at Michigan, the only assistant ever plucked from the high school ranks by Bo Schembechler.

Schembechler chose wisely. As the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator during the 1980 season, McCartney earned Big Ten “Player” of the Week honors for the defensive scheme he devised to stop star Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann.

“When I was 7 years old, I knew I was going to be a coach,” McCartney told The Gazette in 2013. “My friends, other kids at that age were going to be president, businessmen, attorneys, firemen. Ever since I was a little kid, I imitated my coaches, critiqued them, always followed and studied them.”

In 1982, McCartney took over a Colorado program that was coming off three straight losing seasons with a combined record of 7-26. After three more struggling seasons, McCartney turned things around to go to bowl games in nine out of 10 seasons starting in 1985, when he switched over to a wishbone offense.

His 1989 team was 11-0 when it headed to the Orange Bowl, where Notre Dame dashed Colorado’s hopes of a perfect season. McCartney and the Buffaloes, however, would get their revenge the following season.

After getting off to an uninspiring 1-1-1 start in 1990, Colorado won its next nine games to earn a No. 1 ranking and a rematch with the Fighting Irish. This time the Buffaloes prevailed, 10-9, and grabbed a share of the national title atop the AP poll (Georgia Tech was tops in the coaches’ poll).

McCartney won numerous coach of the year honors in 1989, and he was also Big Eight Coach of the Year in 1985 and 1990. His teams went a combined 58-11-4 in his last six seasons before retiring (1989-94).

The Buffaloes finished in the AP Top 20 in each of those seasons, including No. 3 in McCartney’s final year, when the team went 11-1 behind a roster that included Kordell Stewart, Michael Westbrook and the late Rashaan Salaam. That season featured the “Miracle in Michigan,” with Westbrook hauling in a 64-yard TD catch from Stewart on a Hail Mary as time expired in a win at Michigan. Salaam also rushed for 2,055 yards to earn the Heisman Trophy.

McCartney also groomed the next wave of coaches, mentoring assistants such as Gary Barnett, Jim Caldwell, Ron Dickerson, Gerry DiNardo, Karl Dorrell, Jon Embree, Les Miles, Rick Neuheisel, Bob Simmons, Lou Tepper, Ron Vanderlinden and John Wristen.

“I was fortunate to be able to say goodbye to Coach in person last week,” Colorado athletic director Rick George, who worked under McCartney and was a longtime friend of his, said in a statement. “Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family and being a good husband, father and grandfather. He instilled discipline and accountability to all of us who worked and played under his leadership.

“The mark that he left on CU football and our athletic department will be hard to replicate.”

McCartney remains the winningest coach in Colorado history. He retired at age 54 with an overall record of 93-55-5 (.602) in 13 seasons, all with Colorado.

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013. His family announced in 2016 that McCartney had been diagnosed with late-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“Here’s what football does: It teaches a boy to be a man,” McCartney told USA Today in 2017. “You say, ‘How does it do that?’ Well, what if you line up across from a guy who’s bigger, stronger, faster and tougher than you are? What do you do? Do you stay and play? Or do you turn and run? That’s what football does. You’re always going to come up against somebody who’s better than you are.

“That’s what life is. Life is getting knocked down and getting back up and getting back in the game.”

In recent years, McCartney got to watch grandson Derek play defensive line at Colorado. Derek’s father, Shannon Clavelle, was a defensive lineman for Colorado from 1992-94 before playing a few seasons in the NFL. Derek’s brother, T.C. McCartney, was a quarterback at LSU and is the son of late Colorado quarterback Sal Aunese, who played for Bill McCartney in 1987 and ’88 before being diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1989 and dying six months later at 21.

Growing up, Derek McCartney used to go next door to his grandfather’s house to listen to his stories. He never tired of them.

When playing for Colorado, hardly a day would go by when someone wouldn’t ask Derek if he was somehow related to the coach.

“I like when that happens,” Derek said.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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