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Coach Jim Montgomery, whose Boston Bruins had the most successful regular season of any team in NHL history, was announced as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award on Friday night.

The other finalists helped orchestrate two of the greatest year-over-year turnarounds in NHL history: Dave Hakstol of the Seattle Kraken and Lindy Ruff of the New Jersey Devils.

The Jack Adams Award is presented annually by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association to “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success.”

Montgomery was hired last summer by the Bruins to replace Bruce Cassidy. It was his first head-coaching job after being fired by the Dallas Stars in December 2019 for “unprofessional conduct inconsistent with the core values and beliefs” of the team. One month later, in January 2020, Montgomery announced that he was checking into rehab for alcohol abuse.

Montgomery led the Bruins to remarkable regular-season success, setting new NHL records for wins (65) and points (135) in a single season. They tied the NHL record for road wins (31) and set franchise records for road and home wins (34) in a season. They were the best defensive team in the NHL (2.12) and its second-best offensive team (3.67).

Alas, the Bruins’ regular-season success didn’t extend to the Stanley Cup playoffs, as they lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers in seven games.

The voting for the Jack Adams was completed before the playoffs began.

Ruff led the Devils to the second greatest year-over-year improvement in NHL history. New Jersey finished with 112 points in the standings, 49 points more than their total from 2021-22. That trailed only the San Jose Sharks, who improved by 58 points from 1992-93 to 1993-94.

New Jersey set new franchise records for points and wins (52). The Devils had a minus-59 goal differential last season; this season, they had a plus-65 goal differential. All of this success came after fans in New Jersey were chanting for Ruff’s firing amid a slow start to the season.

Hakstol, the first coach in Kraken history, led Seattle to a 40-point improvement over its inaugural season, and the team’s first playoff berth. The Kraken were the fourth-highest-scoring team in the NHL (3.52 goals per game). They went from a minus-69 goal differential to a plus-33 goal differential this season.

The winner will be revealed live during the 2023 NHL Awards at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Monday, June 26.

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Follow live: Cubs aim to force Game 5 vs. Brewers

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Dodgers advance to NLCS after Kerkering’s error

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Dodgers advance to NLCS after Kerkering's error

LOS ANGELES — Orion Kerkering made a wild throw past home instead of tossing to first after mishandling Andy Pages‘ bases-loaded comebacker with two outs in the 11th inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 Thursday to win their NL Division Series 3-1.

Kerkering hung his head and put hands on knees after his throw sailed past catcher J.T. Realmuto as pinch-runner Hyeseong Kim crossed the plate, advancing the Dodgers to the NL Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs or Milwaukee.

Realmuto had pointed to first when the broken-bat, two-hopper hit off Kerkering’s glove and rolled just in front of the mound.

Kerkering picked up the ball and in one motion made a sidearm throw, 46 feet from the plate. The ball sailed up the third-base line, past Realmuto’s outstretched mitt, and fans in the crowd of 50,563 at Dodger Stadium erupted after spending the final three innings on their feet.

“It’s brutal,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s one of those things that it’s a PFP, a pitcher’s fielding practice. He’s done it a thousand times. And right there he was so focused, I’m sure, on just getting the hitter and just sort of forgot the outs and the situation.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson wrapped an arm around Kerkering when the distraught reliever reached the dugout.

“He just got caught up in the moment a little bit,” Thomson said. “I feel for him because he’s putting it all on his shoulders.”

This was the second postseason series to end on a walk-off error, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. A wild relay throw by Texas second baseman Rougned Odor on a potential double-play grounder allowed Josh Donaldson to score and give Toronto a 7-6, 10-inning win and a three-game sweep of their 2016 AL Division Series.

Los Angeles ended a postseason series with a walk-off win for the third time after Bill Russell’s single against the Phillies in Game 4 of the 1978 NLCS and Chris Taylor‘s homer in the 2021 NL wild card game.

Nick Castellanos‘ RBI double in the seventh off Emmet Sheehan had put the Phillies ahead but Jhoan Duran walked Mookie Betts with the bases loaded in the bottom half, forcing in the tying run.

Tommy Edman singled off Jesús Luzardo with one out in the 11th and took third on Max Muncy‘s two-out single that eluded diving shortstop Trea Turner.

Kerkering walked Enrique Hernández, loading the bases. Pages, in a 1-for-23 postseason slide, hit what appeared to be a routine grounder, the type every pitcher practices gloving from spring training on.

Philadelphia, wearing its powder blue throwback uniforms on the road for the second straight day, was knocked out in the Division Series for the third straight season while the defending World Series champion Dodgers reached the LCS for the eighth time in 13 years.

Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki, averaging 99.5 mph his his fastball, threw three innings of hitless relief, combining with Tyler Glasnow, Sheehan and winner Alex Vesia on a four-hitter.

Glasnow allowed two hits and three walks in six innings with eight of the 12 strikeouts by Dodgers pitchers.

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QB Mateer probable to play for OU against Texas

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QB Mateer probable to play for OU against Texas

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer was upgraded to probable Thursday on the SEC availability report, a signal he’s set to attempt to play against Texas on Saturday, just 17 days after surgery on a broken bone in his throwing hand.

Mateer’s push to return Saturday has continued this week, with sources telling ESPN that he has practiced and progressed enough to be in position to attempt to play. Sources told ESPN earlier Thursday that Mateer was on track to attempt to play Saturday.

The ambiguity over Mateer’s ability to play is expected to extend until kickoff, as sources told ESPN that Mateer’s pain level and ability to grip the ball will be watched closely.

A return to the field against Texas would be in line with the most aggressive timelines of a potential comeback.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said Monday that he assumed Mateer wouldn’t be available. OU listed Mateer as questionable on the first SEC availability report Wednesday, and Venables has remained evasive on Mateer’s availability.

Mateer emerged as a Heisman favorite in the first month of the season. He injured the hand in the first quarter of a 24-17 win over Auburn on Sept. 20. He played the rest of the game and threw for 271 yards.

He has missed just one game since surgery Sept. 24, as OU had a bye and blew out Kent State 44-0. Michael Hawkins Jr. started in the Kent game and threw three touchdown passes.

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