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Playoffs

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Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic hockey knockout stage opens with four qualifiers
sports10 days ago

Milano Cortina 2026: Olympic hockey knockout stage opens with four qualifiers

With the preliminaries complete, Milano Cortina 2026’s men’s hockey moves to a single‑elimination playoff, with top seeds Canada, the United States, Slovakia, and Finland earning byes to the quarterfinals. Tuesday’s four qualifying games pit No. 5 Switzerland vs No. 12 Italy, No. 6 Germany vs No. 11 France, No. 7 Sweden vs No. 10 Latvia, and No. 8 Czechia vs No. 9 Denmark, each featuring NHL players and key stat-storylines as teams chase the gold on Feb. 22.

via NHL.com|
#hockey#milano-cortina-2026#nhl
Capitals Rally Past Islanders 4-1 at Home, Boosting Playoff Hopes
sports23 days ago

Capitals Rally Past Islanders 4-1 at Home, Boosting Playoff Hopes

The Washington Capitals defeated the New York Islanders 4-1 at Capital One Arena, overturning a first-period deficit with a quick second-period burst (two goals in 31 seconds, including one from Martin Fehervary), then Nic Dowd added a third and John Carlson iced it with an empty-netter. Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin was sharp, but Washington’s ongoing power-play struggles limited their scoring. Fehervary celebrated the win just two days after his daughter Anna's birth, Dowd played in his 500th Capitals game, and the Caps move to Philadelphia next to face the Flyers as they push for the playoffs.

via RMNB|
#capitals#hockey#islanders
Dream First-Round Showdowns to Watch in the NHL
sports23 days ago

Dream First-Round Showdowns to Watch in the NHL

As the NHL season nears the Olympic break, the piece previews five potential first-round matchups (Isles vs. Penguins; Sharks or Ducks vs. Avalanche; Panthers vs. Lightning; Sabres vs. Red Wings; Wild vs. Stars) and ranks the Cup contenders—Colorado, Tampa Bay, Carolina, Dallas, and Minnesota—while noting Buffalo and Columbus surges after coaching changes and the shifting bottom of the standings heading toward April.

via The New York Times|
#first-round#hockey#nhl
Real Madrid Faces Playoff Route to Champions League Knockout Stage
sports27 days ago

Real Madrid Faces Playoff Route to Champions League Knockout Stage

Real Madrid, after finishing ninth in the Champions League group phase, must enter the playoff round to reach the Round of 16; their playoff second leg will be at the Bernabéu, with Benfica or Bodø/Glimt as possible opponents. If they advance, a Round of 16 clash could be against Sporting Lisbon or Manchester City, and the UEFA knockout draw is scheduled for February 27.

via Managing Madrid|
#benfica-or-bodoglimt#bernabeu#champions-league
DVOA Showdown: Rested Seahawks Edge Rams in NFC Championship Preview
nfl1 month ago

DVOA Showdown: Rested Seahawks Edge Rams in NFC Championship Preview

FTN’s DVOA preview projects a tight NFC Championship between the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, pitting Seattle’s historically high post-season DVOA and recent 41–6 win over San Francisco against a Rams squad that has flashed big plays but shown playoff volatility. The key matchups include Seattle’s passing attack against LA’s pass defense, the Seahawks’ injury-hit offense (Charbonnet out) with Kenneth Walker III carrying the ground game, and the Rams’ chaos-creating pass rush that’s forced mistakes from Sam Darnold in the past. Seattle’s dime-heavy defense and frequent use of 13-personnel aim to curb big plays, while Seattle’s special teams hold a meaningful edge. The piece leans Seattle to win a close game, though a Stafford–McVay surge or a late Rams stop could flip the outcome.

via FTN (For The Numbers)|
#dvoa#nfc-championship#nfl
Patriots Brace for Stidham-Led Broncos Attack in AFC Championship
sports1 month ago

Patriots Brace for Stidham-Led Broncos Attack in AFC Championship

The Patriots’ defense is preparing to face Jarrett Stidham in the AFC Championship with limited recent film available. They’ll study what tape exists and lean on intel from Josh McDaniels, while adjusting their game plan as Stidham, who has about 400 regular-season snaps, is deemed capable and potentially unpredictable. New England won’t underestimate him as they pursue a Super Bowl berth.

via Pats Pulpit|
#afc-championship#broncos#patriots
Stidham Set for First Playoff Start as Broncos Host Patriots
sports1 month ago

Stidham Set for First Playoff Start as Broncos Host Patriots

Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham, stepping in for a playoff start for the first time in over two years, faces a daunting matchup against the Patriots as New England’s defense has allowed only 19 points in the first two playoff rounds. Ex-Patriots QB Scott Zolak warns Stidham must handle complex presnap and post-snap reads, and the physicality of game conditions, while the Patriots press Denver’s receivers to force big throws.

via NESN|
#broncos#nfl#patriots
sports1 month ago

Heyward Reflects on Tomlin's Shock Steelers Exit

Cam Heyward described Mike Tomlin's decision to resign after 19 seasons as the Steelers' head coach as shocking, praising his football genius and leadership while acknowledging the team's playoff shortcomings; Heyward noted Tomlin could pursue TV or consulting, and he himself remains undecided about 2026 as the franchise moves forward with GM Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II.

via Steelers Depot|
#cam-heyward#mike-tomlin#nfl
Rams’ Stafford steers crew into Seahawks challenge in NFC title
nfl1 month ago

Rams’ Stafford steers crew into Seahawks challenge in NFC title

Stafford says Seattle’s defense is the toughest test the Rams have faced all year as Los Angeles heads to the NFC Championship to face the No.1 offense vs. the No.1 defense; the matchup, set in a raucous Seattle environment, rekindles a historic trend: since 1990, the top-scoring offense is 0-4 against the top defense in conference championship or Super Bowl games, and LA must navigate a defense that has played in waves under Mike Macdonald while Stafford tries to sustain a high-powered attack after a Week 16 near-mall meltdown.

via NFL.com|
#los-angeles-rams#matthew-stafford#nfc-championship
Thunder Top Power Rankings as NBA Midseason Title Race Reshapes
sports1 month ago

Thunder Top Power Rankings as NBA Midseason Title Race Reshapes

At the NBA season's halfway mark, the author updates power rankings from 1 to 30 by championship odds, with the Oklahoma City Thunder atop a field that also includes the Nuggets, Spurs, and Timberwolves as true contenders; a bottom 'Tankers' tier features the Pelicans, Pacers, Nets, Wizards, Kings, Jazz, Mavericks, and Hornets, while a mid tier covers solid playoff teams with limited title chances and a separate 'Puncher’s chance' group led by Celtics, Rockets, Knicks, and Pistons chasing a Finals run; the piece also notes upcoming trade deadline implications and draft lottery stakes that could reshape the league.

via SB Nation|
#basketball#midseason#nba