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The 2023-24 NHL regular season concludes April 18, with the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning April 20.

But before we get there, there are some races with runway remaining, including for two spots in the Eastern Conference bracket, and for the Presidents’ Trophy and No. 1 overall seed.

So to help dissect those situations — and help us locate the key matchups remaining on the calendar — we’ve gathered a roundtable of NHL analysts to serve up takes on the biggest questions right now.

What game will you be watching most closely in the final two weeks?

Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporter: Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers on April 16. One could argue that watching any Caps, Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins or New York Islanders game will be worth it over the final two weeks. Caps-Flyers has a chance to be compelling because it could determine which team gets into the playoffs on the final day of the regular season. But that’s assuming the races for the final Metropolitan Division and/or Eastern Conference wild-card spots haven’t been decided yet.

Victoria Matiash, NHL analyst: If the stars align perfectly, the tilt between the Penguins and Islanders on April 17 could serve as a playoff ticket for the winner and a knockout blow for the loser. Fun stuff. And it appears entirely possible, depending on how the Detroit Red Wings, Capitals and Flyers also manage before then.

Arda Öcal, NHL broadcaster: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Florida Panthers on April 16, because that’s likely a first-round matchup preview and I’m a fan of maximum bedlam in regular-season meetings between teams facing off in the postseason. Give me all the chaos in that one.

Kristen Shilton, NHL reporter: How about the game I hope to be watching most closely, and that’s Penguins-Islanders on April 17. It might be perfect chaos: the last day of the East’s regular season, with two Metro Division rivals still battling it out for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Penguins and Isles have been written off too many times to count this season. It’s only fitting they’re pitted against each other with their playoff hopes on the line. That’s tremendous theater.

Greg Wyshynski, NHL reporter: The Red Wings travel to face the Penguins on April 11. Granted, by that time, we might have a really clear picture on whether the Wings belong in the playoff conversation. But if they are, I love this test for a burgeoning contender on the road against a Penguins team that has clearly heated up down the stretch. If Detroit does make the playoff cut — and thus doesn’t fumble its spot away — it’s going to be with two points in a game like this.


Who’s going to take the East’s second wild-card spot?

Clark: I have to go with the Islanders or Penguins. They’ve certainly looked like the two most consistent teams in that particular race of late. Even then, the hard part about making any predictions involving the final East wild-card spot is everything about those teams has been unpredictable.

Matiash: While perhaps in rare company — at least outside of Michigan — I think the Red Wings pull this off. They’re essentially healthy, including captain Dylan Larkin, and goalie Alex Lyon is looking like his better self again. Plus, there’s a lot of belief in that room. I also smell a star turn from Patrick Kane in the season’s waning days. In grand scope, the Flyers and Capitals seem to be running out of gas, the Islanders’ face a tough closing schedule, while Pittsburgh is playing well enough to secure third in the Metro Division.

Öcal: Nobody. It will end up in a five-way tie, and the top seed in the East will just get a bye to the second round. Just kidding! At least that’s what it seems like should happen. It’s pretty chaotic, but if the Penguins do take it, Sidney Crosby deserves Hart Trophy votes. If it’s the Flyers, same thing with John Tortorella for the Jack Adams.

Shilton: It has to be Pittsburgh. And that’s purely because of Sidney Crosby. It would be foolish to bet against him after how the Pens’ captain has dragged them to this stage and continues to nightly put their playoff hopes proverbially on his back. Granted, it won’t be easy and there are other terrific contenders, but it truly seems like Crosby will not be denied an opportunity.

Wyshynski: Give me the Penguins finishing third in the Metro and the Red Wings finding a way to take the final wild card. I’m a bit nervous for the Islanders with the New York Rangers twice on their schedule and then a game against the Devils. Late in the season as it is, and with those teams clearly in different head spaces as the playoffs arrive, local rivalry games are always unpredictable in spots like these. I could see that last game against Pittsburgh as an elimination game for the Islanders. They currently have a tiebreaker problem on the rest of the East contenders.


Who wins the Presidents’ Trophy?

Clark: I’ll take the Dallas Stars, allowing that the Boston Bruins or Rangers also have good chances. It’s hard to really predict one team over the other because of the schedules. Three of the Stars’ final four games are against teams that are out of contention for a playoff spot. As for the Bruins and Rangers, they each have three games against teams that are either playing for seeding or trying to get into the playoffs.

Matiash: The Rangers will be hard to catch, even if they give some key players a game or two off. There’s no chance they roll over against the Islanders — whom they play twice in their final four games — while a slated matchup with the fumbling Flyers also appears favorable. Maybe the Rangers lose to the Ottawa Senators to close out the regular season April 15? But with five days off (minimum) before New York’s potential playoff opener, there’s no reason not to wrap up with a bang.

Öcal: Let’s go with the Bruins for the second straight season, but it seems like it won’t be a repeat of their shocking first-round exit this time around. Maybe there will be less pressure than having the best regular season of all time, and that will set them up for a solid playoff run.

Shilton: The Rangers have an inside track. Dallas will give them a run, though, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Stars get — and stay — ahead of New York down the stretch. That said, the Rangers have been more consistent throughout the season, and that’s why I’d give them an edge. However, these races can also be impacted by who’s resting who in the final weeks, as well, especially once playoff seeding is settled. It’ll be curious to see if teams at the top keep pushing for the Presidents’ Trophy or focus on rest and recovery.

Wyshynski: The Rangers take it. They were projected for 114 points entering Sunday’s action and have a number of winnable games down the stretch. I do think it could be close with the Stars in the end, but the Rangers hold a good lead in points and have tiebreaker advantages.


The most impressive team right now is ___________.

Clark: The Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t the most impressive but are the most dangerous right now. It has been that way since late February. They’ve won games in commanding fashion and have been able to win close contests, too. Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos have been dangerous, while Nikita Kucherov is playing like someone who could win his second Hart Trophy. Meanwhile, this has been the most consistent Andrei Vasilevskiy has looked all season. It’s starting to look like the Lightning could hurt someone’s feelings in the playoffs.

Matiash: How ’bout them Stars? Unparalleled scoring depth — exemplified by eight players with 20 goals and counting — disciplined defense and a starting netminder who’s playing his best when it matters most. Then there’s that 13-3-0 record since Feb. 29. Pete DeBoer’s crew is quietly scary.

Öcal: The Islanders are on a four-game win streak, just like the Pens. The Pens seem like the direct answer to this question, but I will note that the Isles have the opportunity to go on a run to end the season, which would make them the most impressive team.

Shilton: It has to be Pittsburgh. Putting a pin in the Crosby of it all, the Penguins have gotten excellent goaltending from backup Alex Nedeljkovic, their depth scoring has come alive at last, the veterans are thriving, and there’s a clear sense of belief in the entire squad that they belong in the playoffs. And, Pittsburgh is resilient. Just look at their win Saturday against Tampa Bay. The old Penguins might have allowed that blown lead to end in defeat. Instead, they stayed on a good Lightning team and came away with two points. That’s impressive.

Wyshynski: The Penguins are winning games, but the Stars are playing more impressive hockey down the stretch. They have the league’s second-best points percentage in the past two weeks, and the NHL’s best expected goals percentage in that span. Few teams boast their depth at forward. Now that Jake Oettinger has returned to form, the Stars are a downright scary team in the Western Conference.

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Buffs coach: Stars ‘should be going 1-2’ in draft

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Buffs coach: Stars 'should be going 1-2' in draft

BOULDER, Colo. — For the horde of NFL talent evaluators and some bleachers full of fans, Colorado coach Deion Sanders said Friday that they all got to see the top two players available in this year’s NFL draft.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter were among the 16 Colorado players who took part in the school’s showcase event for scouts, coaches and personnel executives from every NFL team. And Deion Sanders said the two marquee players confirmed what he has known for a long time.

“It’s tremendous,” Sanders said. “… They should be going 1-2 [in the draft], that’s the way I feel about it. They are the two best players in this draft. … The surest bets in this draft are those two young men, and I didn’t stutter or stammer when I said that.”

Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Hunter took part in most of the position drills or physical testing, but Sanders had a throwing session for just under an hour and Hunter was one of the wide receivers who participated. Neither player worked out at the scouting combine earlier this year, so it was the first time Sanders had thrown in such a setting since the end of the season. He showed some full seven-step drops and play-action from the shotgun and under center.

“I think I did pretty good, to my expectations,” said Sanders, who set the career FBS accuracy mark in his two years at Colorado (71.8%) to go with his 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns last season. “I know I did the best in college football right now, for sure.”

Asked after the throwing session whether he believed he was the best quarterback in the draft, Sanders said: “I feel like I’m the No. 1 quarterback, and that’s what I know. But at the end of the day, I’m not stuck on that because it’s about the situation, so whatever situation, whatever franchise believes in me, I’m excited to go. … I’m comfortable in any situation.”

Players Hunter, who did not speak to the media after the workout, and Sanders met with the Cleveland Browns contingent, including team co-owner Jimmy Haslam, on Thursday night in Boulder.

“They got me really full,” Sanders said. “I definitely needed to go to the sauna after that. … It was a good vibe.”

Said Deion Sanders said: “[I] spoke to the owner, truly delightful. He was engaging. … I think one of those guys is going to be there [at No. 2].”

Hunter, the No. 1 player on Mel Kiper Jr.’s Big Board, did not do any defensive drills Friday, but he ran a full assortment of routes.

Colorado safety Shilo Sanders, Shedeur’s brother, offered plenty of encouragement, shouting commentary and clapping after each throw, including “not a lot of quarterbacks can make that throw” after one deep completion.

The highly attended event — by NFL representatives as well as fans packing small bleachers — had a festive atmosphere. Deion Sanders named it the “We Ain’t Hard 2 Find Showcase,” complete with a large lighted “The Showcase” sign next to the drills.

Hunter, who has said he wants to play offense and defense in the NFL, won the Chuck Bednarik (top defensive player) and Fred Biletnikoff (top receiver) awards in addition to the Heisman. He said whether he will primarily be a wide receiver or a cornerback in the NFL depends “on the team that picks me.”

On Friday, Deion Sanders said “ain’t nobody like Travis.”

Hunter had 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver last season to go with 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups and 4 interceptions at cornerback. In the Buffaloes’ regular-season finale against Oklahoma State, he became the only FBS player in the past 25 years with three scrimmage touchdowns on offense and an interception in the same game, according to ESPN Research.

He played 1,380 total snaps in Colorado’s 12 regular-season games: 670 on offense, 686 on defense and 24 on special teams. He played 1,007 total snaps in 2023.

Shilo Sanders, who hoped to show teams more speed than expected, ran a 4.52 40-yard dash after he measured in at 5-foot-11⅞, 196 pounds. He did not participate in the jumps or bench press that opened the workout, citing a right shoulder injury.

With all NFL eyes on the Colorado campus to see Shedeur Sanders throw, one player who made the most of it was wide receiver Will Sheppard. Sheppard, who measured 6-2¼, 196 pounds, ran the 40 in 4.56 and 4.54 to go with a 40½-inch vertical jump and a 10-foot-11 broad jump.

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O’s Henderson off IL; will make ’25 debut vs. KC

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O's Henderson off IL; will make '25 debut vs. KC

Baltimore Orioles All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson was activated from the 10-day injured list and will make his season debut Friday night against the Kansas City Royals.

Henderson has been sidelined with a right intercostal strain and missed the first seven games of the big league campaign.

The 23-year-old Henderson will lead off and play shortstop against the host Royals.

Henderson was injured during a spring training game Feb. 27. He was fourth in American League MVP voting last season when he batted .281 and racked up career bests of 37 homers and 92 RBIs.

Henderson completed a five-game rehab stint at Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday. He batted .263 (5-for-19) with two homers and four RBIs and played four games at shortstop and one as the designated hitter. He did commit three errors.

“I think everybody’s looking forward to having Gunnar back on the team,” Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday. “The rehab went really, really well. I talked to him a couple days ago, he feels great swinging the bat. The timing came, especially the last few days. He just had to get out there and get some reps defensively and get some games in, and it all went well.”

Baltimore optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk to open up a roster spot. The 26-year-old was 0-for-4 with a run and RBI in two games this season.

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Life after OMG: Can 2025 Mets replicate their 2024 vibes?

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Life after OMG: Can 2025 Mets replicate their 2024 vibes?

When New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns attempted to assemble the best possible roster for the 2025 season this winter, the top priority was signing outfielder Juan Soto. Next was the need to replenish the starting rotation and bolster the bullpen. Then, days before pitchers and catchers reported for spring training, the lineup received one final significant reinforcement when first baseman Pete Alonso re-signed.

Acquiring a player with a singing career on the side didn’t make the cut.

“No, that is not on the list,” Stearns said with a smile.

Stearns’ decision not to re-sign Jose Iglesias, the infielder behind the mic for the viral 2024 Mets anthem “OMG,” was attributed to creating more roster flexibility. But it also hammered home a reality: The scrappy 2024 Mets, authors of a magical summer in Queens, are a thing of the past. The 2025 Mets, who will report to Citi Field for their home opener Friday, have much of the same core but also some prominent new faces — and the new, outsized expectations that come with falling two wins short of the World Series, then signing Soto to the richest contract in professional sports history.

But there’s a question surrounding this year’s team that you can’t put a price tag on: Can these Mets rekindle the magic — the vibes, the memes, the feel-good underdog story — that seemed to come out of nowhere to help carry them to Game 6 of the National League Championship Series last season?

“Last year the culture was created,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said. “It’s a matter of continuing it.”

For all the success Stearns has engineered — his small-market Milwaukee Brewers teams reached the postseason five times in eight seasons after he became the youngest general manager in history in 2015 — the 40-year-old Harvard grad, like the rest of his front office peers knows there’s no precise recipe for clubhouse chemistry. There is no culture projection system. No Vibes Above Replacement.

“Culture is very important,” Stearns said last weekend in the visiting dugout at Daikin Park before his club completed an opening-weekend series against the Houston Astros. “Culture is also very difficult to predict.”

Still, it seems the Mets’ 2024 season will be all but impossible to recreate.

There was Grimace, the purple McDonald’s blob who spontaneously became the franchise’s unofficial mascot after throwing out a first pitch in June. “OMG,” performed under Iglesias’ stage name, Candelita, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Latin Digital Songs chart, before a remix featuring Pitbull was released in October. Citi Field became a karaoke bar whenever Lindor stepped into the batter’s box with The Temptations’ “My Girl” as his walk-up song. Alonso unveiled a lucky pumpkin in October. They were gimmicks that might have felt forced if they hadn’t felt so right.

“I don’t know if what we did last year could be replicated because it was such a chaos-filled group,” Mets reliever Ryne Stanek said. “I don’t know if that’s replicable because there’s just too many things going on. I don’t know if that’s a sustainable model. But I think the expectation of winning is really important. I think establishing what we did last year and coming into this year where people are like, ‘Oh, no, that’s what we’re expecting to do,’ makes it different. It’s always a different vibe whenever you feel like you’re the hunter versus being the hunted.”

For the first two months last season, the Mets were terrible hunters. Lindor was relentlessly booed at Citi Field during another slow start. The bullpen got crushed. The losses piled up. The Mets began the season 0-5 and sunk to rock bottom on May 29 when reliever Jorge Lopez threw his glove into the stands during a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers that dropped the team to 22-33.

That night, the Mets held a players-only meeting. From there, perhaps coincidentally, everything changed. The Mets won the next day, and 67 of their final 107 games.

This year, to avoid an early malaise and to better incorporate new faces like Soto and Opening Day starter Clay Holmes, players made it a point to hold meetings during spring training to lay a strong foundation.

“At the end of the day, we know who we are and that’s the beauty of our club,” Alonso said. “Not just who we are talent-wise, but who each individual is as a man and a personality. For us, our major, major strength is our collective identity as a unit.”

Organizationally, the Mets are attempting a dual-track makeover: Becoming perennial World Series contenders while not taking themselves too seriously.

The commemorative purple Grimace seat installed at Citi Field in September — Section 302, Row 6, Seat 12 in right field — remains there as part of a two-year contract. Last week, the franchise announced it will feature a New York-city themed “Five Borough” race at every home game — with a different mascot competing to represent each borough. For a third straight season, USA Today readers voted Citi Field — home of the rainbow cookie egg roll, among many other innovative treats — as having the best ballpark food in baseball.

In the clubhouse, their identity is evolving.

“I’m very much in the camp that you can’t force things,” Mets starter Sean Manaea said. “I mean, you can, but you don’t really end up with good results. And if you wait for things to happen organically, then sometimes it can take too long. So, there’s like a nudging of sorts. It’s like, ‘Let’s kind of come up with something, but not force it.’ So there’s a fine balance there and you just got to wait and see what happens.”

Stearns believes it starts with what the Mets can control: bringing positive energy every day and fostering a family atmosphere. It’s hard to quantify, but vibes undoubtedly helped fuel the Mets’ 2024 success. It’ll be a tough act to follow.

“It’s fluid,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I like where guys are at as far as the team chemistry goes and things like that and the connections and the relationships. But it’ll continue to take some time. And winning helps, clearly.”

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