Projecting the X factors, tactics and key matchups that will swing Rangers-Panthers
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Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
The NHL’s conference finals have arrived, and if you asked around in September, the four teams remaining were some of the most likely answers to the question, “Who will win the Stanley Cup?”
We didn’t get here the way many would have imagined, though. In the East, there can be no debate that the Florida Panthers and New York Rangers are the best teams, and were the best teams over the course of the season.
The West, however, was a little more surprising. The Dallas Stars battled the Colorado Avalanche and Winnipeg Jets all season for the No. 1 spot in the West, with all three teams having spells at the top. The Edmonton Oilers had times during the season when they were wholly unconvincing as playoff threats, including a dismal start that saw them nine points out of a playoff spot in November, leading to the dismissal of coach Jay Woodcroft.
In our series previews, we look at specific areas: key points of difference in the series, the X factor, which team my model favors and the reasons why, along with a projection on the series result.
The model is a neural network that accounts for player strength, offensive, defensive and special teams performance, goaltending, matchup ratings and rest. As the model ingests data, it improves, with the heaviest weights on recent play. The model allows for players to be added and removed, with their impact on the game results measured.
Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, one day after a right oblique strain forced him out his start against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Wicks left the 3-0 loss in the second inning, walking off the field accompanied by a trainer after giving up a two-out single to Dylan Carlson.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Saturday’s game against the Cardinals that the team was still awaiting some test results on Wicks.
Wicks gave up two hits and struck out two in his first start and second appearance since returning from a strained left forearm. He was sidelined for six weeks.
The Cubs recalled right-hander Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Thompson is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in nine relief appearances with the Cubs this year.
The 24-year-old Wicks is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA in seven games (six starts) with Chicago this season. He was a first-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft out of Kansas State.
With Wicks and Ben Brown sidelined by injuries, Kyle Hendricks likely will return to the rotation. The 34-year-old Hendricks has pitched 8⅔ scoreless innings across three relief appearances this month, but he is 0-4 with a 10.57 ERA in seven starts this season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
The Baltimore Orioles have placed right-hander Kyle Bradish on the15-day injured list with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament.
Bradish left Friday night’s start against the Philadelphia Phillies after five innings and 74 pitches, complaining about his elbow. He missed the first month of the season with a sprained UCL and rehabbed the injury instead of undergoing surgery.
Since returning, Bradish has gone 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in eight starts. Bradish broke out last season, going 12-7 while posting the third-best ERA in the American League (2.83).
The Orioles (45-24) have already lost starting pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells to season-ending UCL injuries.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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