Stanley Cup playoff watch: The stakes in play for Wednesday’s games
With a combination of results on Tuesday, the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues clinched the two wild-card spots in the Western Conference, eliminating the Calgary Flames from postseason contention.
On the other side of the continent, the Columbus Blue Jackets won in regulation against the Philadelphia Flyers, keeping their slim chances intact. Will Wednesday see the clinching of team No. 16 in the playoff field, or will Thursday’s games be the determinant?
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
This is the most important game of the night by a considerable margin. With a win of any variety, or a loss in overtime/shootout, the Canadiens clinch the second Eastern wild-card spot. The only thing that keeps the Blue Jackets’ hopes intact is a regulation loss for Montreal. It’s unclear what type of roster the Habs will face from the Canes, as the latter have been locked into the No. 2 in the Metro for a while now.
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets
7 p.m. (ESPN+)
The Ducks will finish no lower than ninth in the draft lottery order — they enter this game with 79 points, and the teams lower than them have 82 or more. But a loss here followed by wins Thursday by the Penguins and Sabres could get them as high as seventh. The Jets recently locked up the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s top regular-season team (and No. 1 seed for as long as they last in the playoffs).
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils
7:30 p.m. (TNT)
The Wings are currently 12th in the draft lottery order, with 83 points and 29 regulation wins, and can move up as high as 10th (if the Islanders win Thursday, and they lose their next two games). Like the Hurricanes, the Devils have been locked in to their playoff position for a while now, and it is Carolina against whom they match up in Round 1.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators
8 p.m. (ESPN+)
Two teams at opposite ends of the Central Division, and neither can make a move based on the results of this game; the Stars will open the playoffs in the No. 2 spot in the Central against the No. 3-seeded Colorado Avalanche, while the Predators are locked in to the No. 3 position in the draft lottery order.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks
10 p.m. (TNT)
And here are a pair of Pacific Division teams whose results tonight will not change the standings. The Golden Knights clinched the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division recently, and the Canucks are locked in as the No. 15 team in the draft lottery order.
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks
10:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
… and here’s another pair of Pacific teams that are already locked in as well. San Jose has been in the No. 1 spot in the draft lottery order for quite some time, a position they clinched recently. Meanwhile, the Oilers will be the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division bracket, taking on the No. 2-seeded Los Angeles Kings in Round 1.
Note: Playoff chances are via Stathletes.
Jump ahead:
Current playoff matchups
Today’s schedule
Yesterday’s scores
Expanded standings
Race for No. 1 pick
Current playoff matchups
Eastern Conference
A1 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. WC1 Ottawa Senators
A2 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. A3 Florida Panthers
M1 Washington Capitals vs. WC2 Montreal Canadiens
M2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3 New Jersey Devils
Western Conference
C1 Winnipeg Jets vs. WC2 St. Louis Blues
C2 Dallas Stars vs. C3 Colorado Avalanche
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC1 Minnesota Wild
P2 Los Angeles Kings vs. P3 Edmonton Oilers
Wednesday’s games
Note: All times ET. All games not on TNT or NHL Network are available to stream on ESPN+ (local blackout restrictions apply).
Carolina Hurricanes at Montreal Canadiens, 7 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks at Winnipeg Jets, 7 p.m.
Detroit Red Wings at New Jersey Devils, 7:30 p.m. (TNT)
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators, 8 p.m.
Vegas Golden Knights at Vancouver Canucks, 10 p.m. (TNT)
Edmonton Oilers at San Jose Sharks, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
New Jersey Devils 5, Boston Bruins 4 (OT)
Toronto Maple Leafs 4, Buffalo Sabres 0
Chicago Blackhawks 4, Ottawa Senators 3 (OT)
Columbus Blue Jackets 3, Philadelphia Flyers 0
Tampa Bay Lightning 5, Florida Panthers 1
Washington Capitals 3, New York Islanders 1
St. Louis Blues 6, Utah Hockey Club 1
Minnesota Wild 3, Anaheim Ducks 2 (OT)
Calgary Flames 5, Vegas Golden Knights 4 (SO)
Los Angeles Kings 6, Seattle Kraken 5
Expanded standings
Atlantic Division
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 107.3
Next game: vs. DET (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: A2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 103.3
Next game: @ NYR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 98
Regulation wins: 37
Playoff position: A3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 98
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 95
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 96.2
Next game: vs. CAR (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 90.1
Next game: vs. CAR (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 89.6%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 2
Points pace: 85.1
Next game: @ NJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 78.0
Next game: vs. PHI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 76
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Metro Division
Points: 111
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: M1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 112.4
Next game: @ PIT (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 42
Playoff position: M2
Games left: 2
Points pace: 101.5
Next game: @ MTL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 91
Regulation wins: 36
Playoff position: M3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 92.1
Next game: vs. DET (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 88.1
Next game: vs. NYI (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 10.4%
Tragic number: 1
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 84.0
Next game: vs. TB (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 83.0
Next game: @ CBJ (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 79.0
Next game: vs. WSH (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 77.0
Next game: @ BUF (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Central Division
Points: 114
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: C1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 115.4
Next game: vs. ANA (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 106
Regulation wins: 41
Playoff position: C2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 107.3
Next game: @ NSH (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 102
Regulation wins: 40
Playoff position: C3
Games left: 0
Points pace: 102
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 97
Regulation wins: 33
Playoff position: WC1
Games left: 0
Points pace: 97
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 96
Regulation wins: 32
Playoff position: WC2
Games left: 0
Points pace: 96
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 89
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 66.8
Next game: vs. DAL (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 61
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Pacific Division
Points: 108
Regulation wins: 45
Playoff position: P1
Games left: 1
Points pace: 109.3
Next game: @ VAN (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 105
Regulation wins: 43
Playoff position: P3
Games left: 1
Points pace: 106.3
Next game: vs. CGY (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 99
Regulation wins: 35
Playoff position: P2
Games left: 1
Points pace: 100.2
Next game: @ SJ (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 100%
Tragic number: N/A
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 30
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 95.2
Next game: LA (Thursday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 91.1
Next game: vs. VGK (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 80.0
Next game: @ WPG (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 0
Points pace: 76
Next game: N/A
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Playoff position: N/A
Games left: 1
Points pace: 52.6
Next game: vs. EDM (Wednesday)
Playoff chances: 0%
Tragic number: E
Note: A “p” means that the team has clinched the Presidents’ Trophy as the top team in the regular season. A “z” means that the team has clinched the top record in the conference. A “y” means that the team has clinched the division title. An “x” means that the team has clinched a playoff berth. An “e” means that the team has been eliminated from playoff contention.
Race for the No. 1 pick
The NHL uses a draft lottery to determine the order of the first round, so the team that finishes in last place is not guaranteed the No. 1 selection. As of 2021, a team can move up a maximum of 10 spots if it wins the lottery, so only 11 teams are eligible for the No. 1 pick. More details on the process are here. Matthew Schaefer, a defenseman for the OHL’s Erie Otters, is No. 1 on the draft board.
Points: 52
Regulation wins: 14
Points: 61
Regulation wins: 20
Points: 66
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 26
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 76
Regulation wins: 21
Points: 77
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 78
Regulation wins: 23
Points: 79
Regulation wins: 24
Points: 82
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 34
Points: 83
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 87
Regulation wins: 29
Points: 89
Regulation wins: 30
Points: 90
Regulation wins: 28
Points: 94
Regulation wins: 30
-
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — Roki Sasaki, finally ramping up after spending the past three months on the injured list, said Tuesday he had “no pain” in his right shoulder and expressed confidence in his ability to regain fastball velocity, which began to tail off before he was shut down.
“I feel better about being able to throw harder, especially because I’m completely pain free,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “With that being said, I do have to just face live hitters and see how my mechanics, you know, hold. Just being consistent; being able to do that consistently.”
Sasaki is scheduled to pitch three simulated innings at Dodger Stadium over the weekend before going on a rehab assignment. The Dodgers will stretch Sasaki back out as a starting pitcher. How he eventually fits in, though, remains to be seen.
The Dodgers’ rotation is currently full, with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow back healthy, Shohei Ohtani stretched out to at least four innings, and Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Emmet Sheehan making up the other three spots of a six-man rotation.
Asked if he could eventually see Sasaki occupying a bullpen spot, specifically in October, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said: “I’m going to hold on that one. I do know we’re going to take the 13 best pitchers. I’ve been a part of many postseason rosters, so we’re going to take the 13 best pitchers. If Roki is a part of that in some capacity, then that would be great. And if he’s not, then he won’t be.”
Before that is even entertained, Sasaki simply has to perform better.
The 23-year-old right-hander arrived in the major leagues after being one of the most hyped pitchers to come out of Japan, armed with a triple-digit fastball and a mind-bending splitter. But evaluators throughout the industry also acknowledged he still needed more seasoning. That wound up being the case early, even more so than many anticipated.
Through his first eight starts, before landing on the IL with what the Dodgers described as a shoulder impingement, Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA and failed to complete six innings on seven occasions. In a stretch of 34⅓ innings, he walked almost as many batters (22) as he struck out (24). The four-seam fastball, which often lacked command, fell into the mid-90s over his last handful of outings. Often, the splitter functioned as his only legitimate major league pitch.
Sasaki acknowledged that “American hitters have a different approach at the plate compared to Japanese hitters.”
“I can’t really attack the same way that I used to in Japan,” he added.
With that in mind, Sasaki has begun to experiment with a two-seam fastball, a pitch that runs in on opposing right-handed hitters and is designed to generate early contact, ideally ground balls. The hope is that it eventually functions as a second fastball to pair with his splitter and slider.
The focus at this point, though, is on nailing down the mechanics of his delivery so that his shoulder no longer becomes an issue. Sasaki said he now has “a better understanding a second time through on where the pain came from and how to make sure that the pain doesn’t come back.” His mechanics are “not 100 percent right now,” Sasaki added, “but I think it’s in the right direction.”
When he returns, Sasaki will have to prove he belongs.
“My every intention is to get back on the major league mound and pitch again,” he said. “With that being said, you know … I do need to fight for the opportunity, too. I don’t think that I’ll just be given the opportunity right away.”
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike