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Explaining the NHL's controversial Stanley Cup playoff format
At long last, after 1,312 games of regular-season hockey, the Stanley Cup playoffs are here.If you’re not caught up on the matchups, there are a lot of excellent ones — although who is playing who can get a bit confusing given the format. Let’s run through the eight series quickly, and we can explain how we got here afterward.In the Eastern Conference, the two teams with the fewest points (98), the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, will, naturally, play one another. The Carolina Hurri...
Which NHL playoff teams might have an edge because of goalie play?
Minnesota Wild coach John Hynes shocked many by announcing on Friday that he would start rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt in Game 1 of the first-round series against the Dallas Stars on Saturday.It’s a bold move to play Wallstedt, who will make his playoff debut, over Filip Gustavsson, who has been entrenched as Minnesota’s starter for years. It carries risk, but it also makes sense — not just because Wallstedt has outperformed Gustavsson down the stretch, but because his specific strengths as...
How Sabres' Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen went from written off to No. 1 goalie for playoffs
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Three years ago, the Buffalo Sabres were making a desperate push for a playoff spot. They had four goalies on their roster after signing Devon Levi out of college late in the season, and in six of the Sabres’ final seven games, it was Levi who got the net. Veteran Craig Anderson played the other game in what would be his final NHL season.Advertisement
NHL playoffs 'going to be so valuable' for Martone, Michkov and Flyers' young core
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Flyers were very much a team in transition during Erik Johnson’s brief stint with the club. The veteran defenseman, added late in the 2023-24 season and retained on a one-year deal in 2024-25 before he was ultimately dealt to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline, added some needed depth to an inexperienced blue line.Advertisement
Bruins and 'The Clog': How the 1-2-2 neutral-zone system could swing the series
BOSTON — The Boston Bruins call it The Clog. Their 1-2-2 neutral-zone system is designed to squeeze the air out of the opposition’s rush game.They have had 82 opportunities to practice it for the perfect opportunity.The Buffalo Sabres are excellent off the rush. Rasmus Dahlin, Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch excel at bombing into the offensive zone and raining pucks on net. According to Clear Sight Analytics, the Sabres finished No. 9 in expected high-danger goals per 60 minutes of five-on-five play...
Hurricanes-Senators beat writer breakdown: Know your NHL playoff enemy
RALEIGH, N.C. — It is almost like looking in a mirror.The Carolina Hurricanes and Ottawa Senators will open the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs with a Saturday afternoon matchup in Raleigh. And both teams are well aware of the similarities between them.They’re the two stingiest teams thanks to their suffocating defensive styles, limiting chances against. Their expected goals and high-danger chance percentages are comparable. Both teams have stars at the top of their lineups. And while both teams will...
Mario Andretti: Let me tell you why I don’t respect mediocrity
Mario Andretti, 86, is one of the best American drivers of all time. He is one of only two Americans to win the drivers’ championship in Formula 1. He also won the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.I despise mediocrity. Or I don’t respect it. Let’s put it that way.You know why? Because it is so convenient.Advertisement
New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks: Playoff history, TV schedule for conference rivals
The New York Knicks step into the arena with newfound NBA Finals aspirations. The Atlanta Hawks swoop in off an ambitious trade deadline and a white-hot closing stretch. They tangle together for one of the first round’s most intriguing matchups. In prior iterations, this rivalry gave us wrestling-style heel turns and midcourt dice rolls.Advertisement
Which current F1 drivers have tried other races?
Lots of drivers in F1’s history have raced in other categories, but we decided to take a look at what other motorsport activities the current crop have tried their hand at.
NHL 2025-26 Stanley Cup playoff chances and projected standings
Welcome to our 2025-26 NHL projections where you will find each team’s projected point total, probability of advancing to and through the playoffs, and chances of winning the Stanley Cup. The projections are based on 50,000 simulations of the remainder of the season which factors in each team’s projected strength, current health and strength of schedule. All projections are rounded to the nearest whole number. You can read more about the model at the bottom of the page. The projections will be u...
NBA playoff predictions 2026: First-round winners, OKC’s biggest threat and title pick
Which team is best positioned to challenge an Oklahoma City Thunder repeat? And in the end, will the defending champions be the last team standing?With the playoffs starting Saturday, The Athletic posed those questions to its NBA staff and solicited their choices for how the first round will shake out.Advertisement
NHL execs reveal Stanley Cup tiers: How every playoff team really stacks up
This is one of the most unique crops of Stanley Cup playoff teams we’ve seen in recent memory.The Eastern Conference is wide-open with the Florida Panthers out of the picture. You have the perennial contenders in Carolina and Tampa Bay, the new kids on the block in Buffalo and Montreal, a couple of dark horses, and even legacy teams such as the Penguins and Bruins that defied all expectations by making the dance.Advertisement
One bold prediction for every NHL team in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
The Vegas Golden Knights will make a coaching change in the middle of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.The Buffalo Sabres will reach the Eastern Conference final.The Minnesota Wild advance past the first round for the first time since 2015.Those were among the responses The Athletic got this week when it asked its hockey staff for bold predictions for the postseason.Here are some prognostications from writers, with puck drop on playoff hockey just hours away.{"bracketTitle":"bracket-tool_H71mvBAYXZ...
Golden State Warriors eliminated as Suns stifle Curry to clinch No 8 seed
Suns hold Curry to 17 in play-in eliminationGreen drops 36 to send Phoenix into playoffsMagic rout Hornets to book Pistons matchupJalen Green scored 36 points, Devin Booker added 20 and the Phoenix Suns locked down Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, winning 111-96 in the NBA’s play-in tournament Friday night.The Suns took the No 8 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and will face the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday in Game 1. The Warriors’ season is over. Con...
New York Yankees' Ryan McMahon, 'sick and tired' of struggles, finally delivers
NEW YORK — Before Friday’s game, manager Aaron Boone made it clear that Ryan McMahon’s playing time would be limited over the next six games, citing a slate of opposing left-handers. Yet, even with the Kansas City Royals starting Michael Wacha, McMahon remained out of the lineup because the right-handed pitcher has reverse splits.Advertisement
Warriors' Kerr after playoff exit: These jobs all have an expiration date
Golden State Warriors' coach Steve Kerr is contemplating his future as the four-time NBA champion coach suggested there is a chance he might not be back with the club next season after their season ended on Friday night.
Ashish Nehra like a football coach, keeps everyone united in GT: Harbhajan Singh
Ashish Nehra like a football coach keeps everyone united in GT Harbhajan Singh
2026 Stanley Cup odds: Avalanche enter postseason favored ahead of Lightning, Hurricanes
The Colorado Avalanche were the NHL’s best team during the regular season, going nearly wire-to-wire at the top of the standings on their way to their second Presidents’ Trophy in the past six seasons.The big question now becomes whether or not they can end the Presidents’ Trophy curse, and become the first team since the 2012-13 Chicago Blackhawks to win the Presidents’ Trophy and Stanley Cup in the same season.Advertisement
Rashid Khan welcomes baby boy Azlan after Gujarat Titans' win vs KKR in IPL 2026
Rashid Khan welcomes baby boy Azlan after Gujarat Titans win vs KKR in IPL
Starmer faces TWO judgment days to save his job: Prime Minister will face MPs over Mandelson scandal on Monday before sacked Foreign Office boss sticks the knife in on Tuesday
Starmer faces TWO judgment days to save his job: Prime Minister will face MPs over Mandelson scandal on Monday before sacked Foreign Office boss sticks the knife in on TuesdayBy ELIZABETH IVENS Published: 10:11, 18 April 2026 | Updated: 10:16, 18 April 2026 e-mail View comments