And then there were four. Only the two best teams of each conference remain in contest for the Stanly Cup and the games pick off already on Friday. Both regular season conference winners were eliminated on the second round and we will have if not a surprise champion, at least a major underdog lifting the Stanley Cup in June. MORE: NHL live odds page Here is Accuscore’s prediction for the Western Conference Final:...
“Due to the concern about cross-border travel and, given the fluid nature of federal travel restrictions, effective on Monday, all games involving a Canadian-based team playing a U.S.-based team from Monday, Dec. 20 through the start of the holiday break on Dec. 23 will be postponed and rescheduled,” a statement from the players’ union read. Here are the affected games this week: Monday, December 20 Montreal at New York Islanders Anaheim at Edmonton...
But did your team do enough at the deadline to make that dream a reality? Or — if your favorite squad is on the other end of the spectrum — enough to fuel hopes for next season? This week’s power rankings focus on what key moves general managers made when it was crunch time (beginning Feb. 1) and how it could impact the home stretch. MORE: Last week’s power rankings...
According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, the league has taken significant steps this week to calm the tensions between both sides before Kassian’s suspension ends just in time for him to play in the next ‘Battle of Alberta’. LeBrun reported that NHL Department of Player Safety head George Parros and the league’s director of hockey operations, Colin Campbell, held separate phone calls with the general managers of both teams this week expressing the need for both sides to calm down ahead of the next game....
Contact Standoff Continues Between Leafs, Nylander Barely a week into the 2018-19 NHL season, William Nylander’s contract impasse with the Toronto Maple Leafs dominates the rumor mill. A restricted free agent completing an entry-level contract, Nylander has no leverage in negotiations with the Leafs other than withholding his services. On Saturday, Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported the 22-year-old still wants a long-term agreement. Kypreos’ colleague Chris Johnston said the Nylander camp initially sought a deal comparable to the $8....
Could Karlsson land in the Big Apple? When the San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Erik Karlsson from the Ottawa Senators last September, it was assumed they would sign him before his eligibility for unrestricted free agency on July 1. Immediately after acquiring the two-time Norris Trophy winner, Sharks general manager Doug Wilson indicated his club was comfortable with re-signing the 28-year-old to a long-term contract extension. To date, however, that deal has yet to materialize....
The former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman remains the best player still available on the open market. His status continues to be a topic of discussion among pundits during the dog days of summer. Last week, TSN’s Brian Hayes and Mike Johnston examined reasons why Gardiner is still unsigned. Hayes believes the 28-year-old would fill a top-four role on most teams. While Gardiner was hampered by a back injury last season, Hayes doubts it’s affecting his efforts to get a new contract....
Most teams that are sellers may wait until the deadline nears to shop their available assets in hopes of attracting better returns. Potential buyers, especially those in danger of sliding out of playoff contention, could aggressively pursue that talent throughout January. The 2010s: Crosby named NHL Athlete of the Decade | NHL All-Decade Team Here’s a look at several players who could be on the move well before the trade deadline....
The schedule, a 56-game condensed sprint to the Stanley Cup playoffs, was devised with the expectation that some games would have to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun: “The key word this season is ’nimble.’” The rise in cases in the United States and Canada was expected, unfortunately, to impact games. On Jan. 8, that expectation came to fruition after the Stars announced six players and two staff members tested positive for the coronavirus....
The Maple Leafs were the last team to clinch. They secured their first playoff berth in four years after beating the Penguins 5-3 on Saturday, eliminating the Lightning and Islanders in the process. MORE: NHL playoffs first-round schedule, dates, times, TV The NHL’s 2016-17 regular season ended Sunday; the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs will begin Wednesday, April 12. NHL standings: Eastern Conference y- clinched division title z- clinched conference p-clinched Presidents’ Trophy...
The announcement comes a day after the NBA indefinitely postponed its entire slate of games , with Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell reportedly testing positive for the virus. “In light of ongoing developments resulting from the coronavirus, and after consulting with medical experts and convening a conference call of the Board of Governors, the National Hockey League is announcing today that it will pause the 2019‑20 season beginning with tonight’s games,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement ....
Toronto was in the market for a bottom-six center, and reportedly had interested in Red Wings center Riley Sheahan. Boyle has 13 goals and nine assists in 54 games this season but more importantly is regarded around the league as a tough, defensive-minded center who is solid on faceoffs. Boyle has plenty of postseason experience that the Maple Leafs, the the second-youngest team in the NHL, can desperately use as well....
Tynan, 17, had tweeted out a thank you to his supporters just one day after undergoing surgery for injuries that IceDogs general manager Joey King told reporters were at one point considered life threatening. “Just wanted to say thanks to everyone for the kind words, truly they mean more than anyone can ever know,” Tynan wrote on Twitter on Friday. “An unfortunate situation, looking forward to recovering and coming back stronger and healthier than before....
You see, Garcia had just crushed a three-run moonshot to break a 0-0 deadlock between Nicaragua and Panama in the Little League World Series. And he just had to admire his work, flipping his bat to a height that would put Jose Bautista and Tim Anderson to shame. That wasn’t all for Garcia, though. As he rounded third base, he knew he had to add a little more panache to his home-run trot....
Foles’ awful play through four quarters of St. Louis’ 21-10 defeat in Green Bay on Sunday is the reason his team lost. His numbers (11 of 30, 141 yards, three sacks, four interceptions, one touchdown, 23.8 passer rating) were atrocious, and the eye test looked even worse. MORE: Eagles blow out Saints | St. Louis falls back to earth in Green Bay And this came on the rarest of days in Lambeau Field....
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Young showed off his playful nature with the guys on the court, breaking down his defender to hit a step-back jumper. He celebrated with a slow, sweeping 3-point celebration, which made it all that much better. Young was in NYC for Fashion Week, hanging out with notable NBA fan Jimmy Goldstein among others. Glad to see Swaggy is still a man of the people....
On Tuesday night, he made his season debut following a thumb injury that kept him out the Lakers’ first 10 games, and the team promptly won for just the second time all year. MORE: Kobe crosses 32,000 point threshold | NBA power rankings After the game, Young commented that his “swag rubbed off on everybody.” That’s confidence. But that’s not the end of it. During a postgame interview, he was asked about his shooting ability, and how it compared to some of the all-time greats....
Alexsandar Mitrovic’s second half brace caged the Super Eagles whose six-match unbeaten run came to a halt. Gernot Rohr made four alterations to the side that started against Poland with Ogenyi Onazi replacing Kelechi Iheanacho, with Chidozie Awaziem partnering William Troost-Ekong at the rear after Leon Balogun failed a late fitness test. After losing 2-1 to Morocco on Friday, the Europeans’ intention was to redeem their patchy World Cup build-up by defeating the three-time African champions....
Irving’s crossover dribble is one of the best in business, and in order to make sure the Kyrie 2 was able to help him pull it off as easily as possible, Nike introduced a curved bottom surface of the midsole and outsole, which is the first of its kind for a basketball sneaker. It’s meant to allow Irving to redistribute his weight and cut without “slapping his foot to the court,” which should help him remain as explosive as possible....
