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NHL playoffs Concern-o-Meter: Favored Oilers, Lightning on the brink of elimination
Everything is amped up in the Stanley Cup playoffs — excitement, tension, concern and, most of all, drama.That is even more true with five teams pushed to the brink of elimination. Those teams no longer have the luxury of brushing off a loss and reloading for the next game. One mistake could mark the end of the season.So how worried should these teams be? It’s time to dust off the Concern-o-Meter™.Advertisement
How the Cubs are scoring more runs by swinging less
The Chicago Cubs rank third in the majors in runs per game. They’re doing it without a dominant slugger. And they’re doing it in somewhat of an unusual manner, swinging at the fewest strikes of any club.That’s right, the Cubs entered Thursday last in swing rate inside the zone, and third from the bottom in overall swing percentage. And no, it’s not simply the Alex Bregman Effect, even though “swing less” is pretty much the third baseman’s personal credo.Advertisement
Scouting notes on Gerrit Cole, Franklin Arias, Ronny Cruz, Marco Luciano and more
My planned trip to Somerset for their doubleheader with Portland, which would have gotten me 14 innings of both Franklin Arias and George Lombard Jr. — the top prospects for the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, respectively — didn’t quite pan out, as the Yankees promoted Lombard to Triple A on Tuesday night. It is the second year in a row Lombard moved up within 24 hours of when I was scheduled to see him, and I take that personally. I went anyway, getting two games of Arias, a rehab start f...
Vikings draft-pick confidential: What I've heard from college coaches and staffers
Every year, when the dust settles in the days following the NFL Draft, college coaches and personnel staffers tend to have thoughts.They know the draft prospects as well as anyone. They have also watched the entire scouting cycle, aware of the narratives, the interest and the best fits.So, to add further perspective on the players the Minnesota Vikings selected, we thought it would be worth reaching out to many of these people to get their perspectives. Here is what we heard about each of the Vi...
How did the 'pillow fight' Pacific Division get this hard for the Edmonton Oilers?
In late March, Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid said, “A lot of teams are fortunate to play in this division. It’s a bit of a pillow fight right now.” He was correct; the division title was a three-way futility fight well into the final two weeks of the regular season.McDavid’s words land a little differently now. The Pacific was a farce in 2025-26, with the Oilers finishing in second place. If the team is unable to get past the Anaheim Ducks, does that make the Oilers one of the softest t...
Mets' long list of woes includes three starters who've hit the skids
NEW YORK — For three important New York Mets pitchers, the nightmarish second half of 2025 has yet to end.An offense that returned to its slumber in Wednesday night’s 14-2 loss to the Washington Nationals remains the Mets’ biggest problem in the present. However, the pronounced and persistent struggles of David Peterson, Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga are a major issue for New York.Advertisement
Bills post-NFL Draft depth chart: Where are they still missing pieces?
The 2026 NFL Draft is done, and the Buffalo Bills head into spring workouts with most of their depth chart filled in. There will be some additions over the next few months, but the team they have now is essentially the one they’ll have this season.Here is how the team looks heading into offseason workouts in May.*Denotes an undrafted free agent who agreed to terms to join the 90-man roster, according to a league source.Advertisement
Leah Williamson: Arsenal defender signs new contract after Lioness' injury-hit season
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Crystal Palace peaking at perfect time as Oliver Glasner eyes parting gift
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'Really sad': Mauricio Pochettino issues Tottenham relegation verdict
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Mikel Arteta triple tactics gamble pays off to leave Arsenal in driving seat against Atletico
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Release Hardik Pandya: Mumbai Indians told to reset after 3 mellow years in IPL
Release Hardik Pandya Mumbai Indians told to reset after mellow years in IPL
Rise in caesarean section births in Gaza brings danger and infection risks
Caesarean Awareness Month is marked in April. Conditions in Gaza can lead to risks for mothers who undergo the procedure
Cade Cavalli is everything the Nats need, now and in the future
NEW YORK — At the end of a wet, chilly night at Citi Field, Cade Cavalli pointed to his catcher. Or maybe he was pointing at the strike zone. After throwing his final 24 pitches for strikes, he probably should have also pointed at the strike zone.“He had 24 strikes in a row?” manager Blake Butera asked.Yes, he did.“I did not know that,” Cavalli said.Sure, but he sensed that something was going right.Advertisement
'Difficult to accept' - Pochettino's sadness for relegation-threatened Spurs
Mauricio Pochettino has said he feels "really sad" watching his former club Tottenham stuck in a fight against relegation from the Premier League.Pochettino guided Spurs to a second-placed finish in the league in 2016-17 and reached the Champions League final in 2019 during a five-year spell in north London.
Fresh trouble for Riyan Parag? RR captain escapes ban, but women's group seeks probe
Fresh trouble for Riyan Parag RR captain escapes ban but womens group seeks probe
Compiling a tennis win streak is one of the hardest things in the sport. Jannik Sinner knows
MADRID — As in so many other chapters of the modern tennis record books, the standard-bearer for win streaks is a familiar one: Martina Navratilova.In 1984, Navratilova won 74 consecutive matches. Hana Mandlíková beat her at the Virginia Slims of California Oakland tournament in January. No one else did until that November, when Helena Suková upset her from a set down in the semifinals of the Australian Open.Advertisement
Former England defender Young to retire aged 40
Former England defender Young to retire aged 40Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Young has won league titles in England and ItalyPublished6 minutes agoFormer England defender Ashley Young has announced he is retiring from playing at the age of 40.Young started out at Watford before going on to play for Aston Villa, Manchester United, Inter Milan, Aston Villa and Everton.He ends his career at Ipswich Town, having joined the Portman Road club on a one-year-deal in July 2025 after being rele...
'Ridiculous' OG Anunoby has been Knicks' steady hand and Hawks' disruptor
ATLANTA — Two obligations come after you receive an NBA awards vote. First, you must educate yourself. Second, whether you want it or not, you have to get educated.As the regular-season’s finale approaches, your phone lights up with text messages or calls from agents, publicists, executives and coaches, who hope to sway you into voting for their guy. Most adopt the same strategy: Advocate in the most extreme way they can while remaining on the spectrum of reason. They use statistical, anecdotal...
As MLB bullpens keep evolving, is the sport devaluing the save stat?
In 2008, Francisco Rodríguez saved 62 games, setting an MLB record. That was the high water mark for the save, a statistic that had only been around for about 30 years at that point.Things have changed. That season, 139 pitchers recorded a save, as teams generally tabbed one pitcher as their closer and stuck with it until a change was obviously needed. In 2025, 212 pitchers earned a save. It seems everyone is getting saves now, and the notion of having a single closer for each team is less preva...