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FIDE Candidates 2026 Standings: Vaishali sits second, Sindarov extends lead after Round 7 India’s R. Vaishali jumped in the standings to sit sole second after beating China’s Tan Zhongyi in the seventh round of the FIDE Women’s Candidates in Cyprus on Sunday.Meanwhile in the Open section, young Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov extended his sole lead with a draw with Netherlands’ Anish Giri. Standings – After Round 7 Open 1. Javokhir Sindarov – 6 2. Fabiano Caruana – 4.5 3. Anish Giri – 3.5 4. R. Praggnanandhaa – 3.5 5. Wei Yi – 3 6. Matthias Bluebaum – 3 7. Hikaru Nakamura – 2.5 8. Andrey Esipenko – 2 Women’s 1. Anna Muzychuk – 4.5 2. R. Vaishali – 4 3. Zhu Jiner – 3.5 4. Aleksandra Goryachkina – 3.5 5. Kateryna Lagno – 3.5 6. Divya Deshmukh – 3.5 7. Bibisara Assaubayeva – 3 8. Tan Zhongyi – 2.5 Published on Apr 04, 2026 #FIDE #Candidates #Standings #Vaishali #sits #Sindarov #extends #lead

FIDE Candidates 2026 Standings: Vaishali sits second, Sindarov extends lead after Round 7

India’s R. Vaishali jumped in the standings to sit sole second after beating China’s Tan Zhongyi in the seventh round of the FIDE Women’s Candidates in Cyprus on Sunday.

Meanwhile in the Open section, young Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov extended his sole lead with a draw with Netherlands’ Anish Giri.

Standings – After Round 7
Open

1. Javokhir Sindarov – 6

2. Fabiano Caruana – 4.5

3. Anish Giri – 3.5

4. R. Praggnanandhaa – 3.5

5. Wei Yi – 3

6. Matthias Bluebaum – 3

7. Hikaru Nakamura – 2.5

8. Andrey Esipenko – 2

Women’s

1. Anna Muzychuk – 4.5

2. R. Vaishali – 4

3. Zhu Jiner – 3.5

4. Aleksandra Goryachkina – 3.5

5. Kateryna Lagno – 3.5

6. Divya Deshmukh – 3.5

7. Bibisara Assaubayeva – 3

8. Tan Zhongyi – 2.5

Published on Apr 04, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Standings #Vaishali #sits #Sindarov #extends #lead

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India’s R. Vaishali jumped in the standings to sit sole second after beating China’s Tan Zhongyi in the seventh round of the FIDE Women’s Candidates in Cyprus on Sunday.

Meanwhile in the Open section, young Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov extended his sole lead with a draw with Netherlands’ Anish Giri.

Standings – After Round 7
Open

1. Javokhir Sindarov – 6

2. Fabiano Caruana – 4.5

3. Anish Giri – 3.5

4. R. Praggnanandhaa – 3.5

5. Wei Yi – 3

6. Matthias Bluebaum – 3

7. Hikaru Nakamura – 2.5

8. Andrey Esipenko – 2

Women’s

1. Anna Muzychuk – 4.5

2. R. Vaishali – 4

3. Zhu Jiner – 3.5

4. Aleksandra Goryachkina – 3.5

5. Kateryna Lagno – 3.5

6. Divya Deshmukh – 3.5

7. Bibisara Assaubayeva – 3

8. Tan Zhongyi – 2.5

Published on Apr 04, 2026

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#FIDE #Candidates #Standings #Vaishali #sits #Sindarov #extends #lead

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Deadspin | Michigan heavy favorite to complete dominant title run vs. UConn <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28663413.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28663413.jpg" alt="NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Semifinal-Michigan at Arizona" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines center Aday Mara (15) high fives forward Yaxel Lendeborg (23) during the second half in a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>UConn has won two of the past three national championships but will enter Monday night’s title game against Michigan as a heavy underdog.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>That’s because the top-seeded Wolverines have blitzed through their first five games of the NCAA Tournament, winning by an average of 21.6 points. That includes an 18-point dismantling of fellow No. 1 seed Arizona on Saturday night in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>UConn, the No. 2 seed in the East, followed a dramatic upset of No. 1 Duke in the Elite Eight with a systematic breakdown of No. 3 seed Illinois. Still, the Huskies will enter Monday night as the underdog for their third consecutive game.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Michigan was a consensus 7.0-point favorite across major sportsbooks on Sunday, with the Wolverines seeking to become the first Big Ten team to win the national title since the 1999-2000 season.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The line was sitting at 6.5 points at both BetMGM and DraftKings, where the line opened at 7.5. The total points line at 144.5 at both books. At DraftKings, the shortest odds on the winning margin was Michigan to win by 3-6 points at +425, followed by a Wolverines victory by 10-13 points at +450. UConn’s shortest odds for a victory were 3-6 points at +800.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Wolverines are the 10th Big Ten team to reach the final in a season that began this century, but the most recent team to cut down the nets remains Michigan State in 1999-2000. Michigan looking to complete a turnaround that saw the program stumble to an 8-24 finish just two years ago.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>UConn is in the final for the third time in four years, but will go up against a Michigan team that already is the first in history to score at least 90 points five times in a single NCAA Tournament. </p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>“We know it’s just one more, so we’re going to try to get it,” Michigan’s Aday Mara said after Saturday’s beat down of Arizona.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Huskies certainly have recent history on their site, and coach Dan Hurley will enter Monday night with a 350-179 career coaching record along with that pair of national titles. No program has won three in a four-year span since the 1972-75 UCLA Bruins.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>UConn has 18 wins this season in which it has held its opponent under 40 percent shooting, and the Huskies held Illinois to 33.9% shooting from three-point range on Saturdya.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>“We’re a group of fighters. It’s not appealing to everyone,” Hurley said. “I’m sure there’s some people in here that it’s off-putting for. But we are a group of fighters. We are incredibly tough. We’ve got incredible will. We go into these games, we’re ready for battle. </p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>“Again, for us it’s not a game that we’re just kind of running around in uniforms throwing the ball around, hoping it goes in. That’s not what we’re doing out there. We’re fighting. It’s a life-and-death struggle for us to get to Monday night for the opportunity to win a championship, and then just to be able to prolong this season with each other and to make the people of Connecticut proud, to make the university proud and all the former great players.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Michigan #heavy #favorite #complete #dominant #title #run #UConn

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Deadspin | Jo Adell, Angels look to add to Mariners sluggers’ frustrations Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) reacts after making a catch against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell is known for his power bat but put on a show for the ages with his glove in the middle game of the three-game series with the visiting Seattle Mariners. Adell performed three home run robberies in a single game on Saturday and will look to help the Angels win the series when they close the set against the Mariners on Sunday at Anaheim, Calif. Zach Neto hit his 10th career leadoff homer for the game’s lone run. The 1-0 victory came one night after neither team scored in the first nine innings before Seattle notched a 3-1 win in 10 innings. But Saturday night was the “Jo Show,” where a right fielder sometimes chided for his defensive shortcomings put on one of the best outfielder performances of all time. Adell robbed Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth and J.P. Crawford in the ninth with stellar grabs as the Angels collected just their second victory in the past seven games. “After the first one, the second one was kind of similar, I didn’t know if I was having deja vu,” Adell said. “Sometimes you have to help on the other side of the ball and I’m glad I did my part.” The third robbery prevented Seattle from tying the game in the ninth. Crawford hit a shot off Jordan Romano that was destined to land in the right-field seats. Instead, Adell landed in the seats as he spectacularly leaped to catch the ball and fell over the short wall. His glove emerged and he stood up in the stands and displayed he had caught the ball. “He disappears and he comes up with his glove up,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “… This guy works as hard as anybody I’ve ever been around.” Mariners manager Dan Wilson played 14 seasons (1992-2005) in the majors and was stunned by what he witnessed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen three in one ballgame before,” Wilson said. “It’s frustrating when you feel like you put a good swing on a ball like that and you drive it like our guys did and you don’t end up with anything to show for it.” Adell’s theft on Raleigh kept last season’s American League MVP runner-up homerless through nine games. He hit 60 last season. “You just tip the cap,” Raleigh said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy rob two homers in a game, much less three. So it’s just one of those things where baseball can amaze you night in and night out. You can see something you’ve never seen before.” The Mariners will send right-hander Luis Castillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound Sunday for his second start of the season. Castillo, 33, tossed six shutout innings against the visiting New York Yankees last Monday. He gave up three hits and two walks and struck out seven in a game Seattle eventually won 2-1. Castillo is 5-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels. He is 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five outings at Angel Stadium. Adell has two homers in seven at-bats against Castillo, while Mike Trout (2-for-14, seven strikeouts) and Logan O’Hoppe (0-for-11) have struggled. Right-hander Ryan Johnson (0-1, 16.20) will be making his second career start for Los Angeles. He was torched in his first for six runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings by the Cubs on Monday. Chicago won 7-2. Johnson, 23, made one relief appearance against Seattle last season and gave up one run and three hits in one inning. Seattle third baseman Brendan Donovan (groin) sat out Saturday. He was hurt Friday and an MRI exam came back clean. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Adell #Angels #add #Mariners #sluggers #frustrationsApr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) reacts after making a catch against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell is known for his power bat but put on a show for the ages with his glove in the middle game of the three-game series with the visiting Seattle Mariners.

Adell performed three home run robberies in a single game on Saturday and will look to help the Angels win the series when they close the set against the Mariners on Sunday at Anaheim, Calif.

Zach Neto hit his 10th career leadoff homer for the game’s lone run. The 1-0 victory came one night after neither team scored in the first nine innings before Seattle notched a 3-1 win in 10 innings.

But Saturday night was the “Jo Show,” where a right fielder sometimes chided for his defensive shortcomings put on one of the best outfielder performances of all time.

Adell robbed Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth and J.P. Crawford in the ninth with stellar grabs as the Angels collected just their second victory in the past seven games.

“After the first one, the second one was kind of similar, I didn’t know if I was having deja vu,” Adell said. “Sometimes you have to help on the other side of the ball and I’m glad I did my part.”

The third robbery prevented Seattle from tying the game in the ninth. Crawford hit a shot off Jordan Romano that was destined to land in the right-field seats.

Instead, Adell landed in the seats as he spectacularly leaped to catch the ball and fell over the short wall. His glove emerged and he stood up in the stands and displayed he had caught the ball.

“He disappears and he comes up with his glove up,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “… This guy works as hard as anybody I’ve ever been around.”

Mariners manager Dan Wilson played 14 seasons (1992-2005) in the majors and was stunned by what he witnessed.


“I don’t think I’ve ever seen three in one ballgame before,” Wilson said. “It’s frustrating when you feel like you put a good swing on a ball like that and you drive it like our guys did and you don’t end up with anything to show for it.”

Adell’s theft on Raleigh kept last season’s American League MVP runner-up homerless through nine games. He hit 60 last season.

“You just tip the cap,” Raleigh said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy rob two homers in a game, much less three. So it’s just one of those things where baseball can amaze you night in and night out. You can see something you’ve never seen before.”

The Mariners will send right-hander Luis Castillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound Sunday for his second start of the season.

Castillo, 33, tossed six shutout innings against the visiting New York Yankees last Monday. He gave up three hits and two walks and struck out seven in a game Seattle eventually won 2-1.

Castillo is 5-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels. He is 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five outings at Angel Stadium.

Adell has two homers in seven at-bats against Castillo, while Mike Trout (2-for-14, seven strikeouts) and Logan O’Hoppe (0-for-11) have struggled.

Right-hander Ryan Johnson (0-1, 16.20) will be making his second career start for Los Angeles. He was torched in his first for six runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings by the Cubs on Monday. Chicago won 7-2.

Johnson, 23, made one relief appearance against Seattle last season and gave up one run and three hits in one inning.

Seattle third baseman Brendan Donovan (groin) sat out Saturday. He was hurt Friday and an MRI exam came back clean.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Adell #Angels #add #Mariners #sluggers #frustrations">Deadspin | Jo Adell, Angels look to add to Mariners sluggers’ frustrations Apr 4, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) reacts after making a catch against the Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell is known for his power bat but put on a show for the ages with his glove in the middle game of the three-game series with the visiting Seattle Mariners. Adell performed three home run robberies in a single game on Saturday and will look to help the Angels win the series when they close the set against the Mariners on Sunday at Anaheim, Calif. Zach Neto hit his 10th career leadoff homer for the game’s lone run. The 1-0 victory came one night after neither team scored in the first nine innings before Seattle notched a 3-1 win in 10 innings. But Saturday night was the “Jo Show,” where a right fielder sometimes chided for his defensive shortcomings put on one of the best outfielder performances of all time. Adell robbed Cal Raleigh in the first inning, Josh Naylor in the eighth and J.P. Crawford in the ninth with stellar grabs as the Angels collected just their second victory in the past seven games. “After the first one, the second one was kind of similar, I didn’t know if I was having deja vu,” Adell said. “Sometimes you have to help on the other side of the ball and I’m glad I did my part.” The third robbery prevented Seattle from tying the game in the ninth. Crawford hit a shot off Jordan Romano that was destined to land in the right-field seats. Instead, Adell landed in the seats as he spectacularly leaped to catch the ball and fell over the short wall. His glove emerged and he stood up in the stands and displayed he had caught the ball. “He disappears and he comes up with his glove up,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. “… This guy works as hard as anybody I’ve ever been around.” Mariners manager Dan Wilson played 14 seasons (1992-2005) in the majors and was stunned by what he witnessed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen three in one ballgame before,” Wilson said. “It’s frustrating when you feel like you put a good swing on a ball like that and you drive it like our guys did and you don’t end up with anything to show for it.” Adell’s theft on Raleigh kept last season’s American League MVP runner-up homerless through nine games. He hit 60 last season. “You just tip the cap,” Raleigh said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a guy rob two homers in a game, much less three. So it’s just one of those things where baseball can amaze you night in and night out. You can see something you’ve never seen before.” The Mariners will send right-hander Luis Castillo (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound Sunday for his second start of the season. Castillo, 33, tossed six shutout innings against the visiting New York Yankees last Monday. He gave up three hits and two walks and struck out seven in a game Seattle eventually won 2-1. Castillo is 5-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 11 career starts against the Angels. He is 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five outings at Angel Stadium. Adell has two homers in seven at-bats against Castillo, while Mike Trout (2-for-14, seven strikeouts) and Logan O’Hoppe (0-for-11) have struggled. Right-hander Ryan Johnson (0-1, 16.20) will be making his second career start for Los Angeles. He was torched in his first for six runs and seven hits over 3 1/3 innings by the Cubs on Monday. Chicago won 7-2. Johnson, 23, made one relief appearance against Seattle last season and gave up one run and three hits in one inning. Seattle third baseman Brendan Donovan (groin) sat out Saturday. He was hurt Friday and an MRI exam came back clean. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Adell #Angels #add #Mariners #sluggers #frustrations

#Praggnanandhaa #Caruana #Highlights #FIDE #Chess #Candidates #recap">Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana Highlights: FIDE Chess Candidates 2026 Round 7 recap India’s R. Praggnanandhaa drew with USA’s Fabiano Caruana in the seventh round of the Open section at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus on Sunday.In the previous round, Praggnanandhaa had drawn with USA’s Hikaru Nakamura.Praggnanandhaa vs Caruana HighlightsWhere to watch Candidates 2026 live?Candidates 2026 will be streamed LIVE on FIDE’s YouTube channel.Published on Apr 05, 2026 #Praggnanandhaa #Caruana #Highlights #FIDE #Chess #Candidates #recap

Deadspin | Capitals look to keep climbing, visit rookie-fueled Rangers Apr 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) scores a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Suddenly the scoreboard is showing an abundance of favorable results for the Washington Capitals. A late season surge is also helping their cause and the Capitals attempt to keep gaining ground in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race Sunday night when they visit the New York Rangers. Washington (39-29-9, 87 points) trailed the Boston Bruins by six points for the final wild-card spot following a 3-1 loss in Boston on March 7. Since then, the Capitals are 8-3-2 in their past 13 games and are now one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the last wild-card spot with five games left. The Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings also have 88 points but have a game in hand on Washington. Columbus also has 88 points and has played the same number of games as the Capitals. The Capitals inched closer after earning a 6-2 victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. They are taking the ice in New York after Detroit hosts the Minnesota Wild and Philadelphia hosts the Bruins in Sunday afternoon games. Washington also will take the ice in New York two hours after Ottawa starts its home game with the Carolina Hurricanes. “We can only control what we do out there for 60 minutes and we’re just trying to do everything we can to stay alive and get ourselves in,” Washington forward Ryan Leonard said. On Saturday, the Capitals scored three goals in the opening period and Jakob Chychrun, Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael each finished with a goal and an assist. The Rangers lost two of three meetings with the Capitals earlier this season and are playing better of late. Following a six-game losing streak (0-5-1), New York is 4-1-0 in the first five contests of a seven-game homestand. New York has scored 19 goals over its last five games and aided the Capitals’ cause by cruising to a 4-1 win over Detroit on Saturday night. Rookie Gabe Perreault recorded his first career hat trick while first-year forward Jaroslav Chmelar also scored. The Rangers played five rookies Saturday and since March 2, New York’s first-year players have 17 goals and 38 points. “Means a lot,” said Perreault, who has 10 goals in 44 games this season after appearing in five games last season. “Teammates made some nice plays, so had a couple of easy ones tonight. But it definitely feels good to get the hat trick, but most importantly, get the win.” Perreault became just the fourth Rangers rookie in the past 30 years to score a hat trick, joining Chris Kreider (2013), Derek Stepan (2010) and Jan Hlavac (2000). “At the start, I was kind of fighting it the first couple of shifts, so I didn’t necessarily think I was going to finish like that, but once we started generating chances and I got that first one and that second, you’re obviously thinking about the third one,” Perreault said. “Lucky enough, I was able to get out there and get the third one.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Capitals #climbing #visit #rookiefueled #RangersApr 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) scores a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Suddenly the scoreboard is showing an abundance of favorable results for the Washington Capitals.

A late season surge is also helping their cause and the Capitals attempt to keep gaining ground in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race Sunday night when they visit the New York Rangers.

Washington (39-29-9, 87 points) trailed the Boston Bruins by six points for the final wild-card spot following a 3-1 loss in Boston on March 7. Since then, the Capitals are 8-3-2 in their past 13 games and are now one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the last wild-card spot with five games left.

The Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings also have 88 points but have a game in hand on Washington. Columbus also has 88 points and has played the same number of games as the Capitals.

The Capitals inched closer after earning a 6-2 victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. They are taking the ice in New York after Detroit hosts the Minnesota Wild and Philadelphia hosts the Bruins in Sunday afternoon games.

Washington also will take the ice in New York two hours after Ottawa starts its home game with the Carolina Hurricanes.

“We can only control what we do out there for 60 minutes and we’re just trying to do everything we can to stay alive and get ourselves in,” Washington forward Ryan Leonard said.


On Saturday, the Capitals scored three goals in the opening period and Jakob Chychrun, Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael each finished with a goal and an assist.

The Rangers lost two of three meetings with the Capitals earlier this season and are playing better of late. Following a six-game losing streak (0-5-1), New York is 4-1-0 in the first five contests of a seven-game homestand.

New York has scored 19 goals over its last five games and aided the Capitals’ cause by cruising to a 4-1 win over Detroit on Saturday night.

Rookie Gabe Perreault recorded his first career hat trick while first-year forward Jaroslav Chmelar also scored. The Rangers played five rookies Saturday and since March 2, New York’s first-year players have 17 goals and 38 points.

“Means a lot,” said Perreault, who has 10 goals in 44 games this season after appearing in five games last season. “Teammates made some nice plays, so had a couple of easy ones tonight. But it definitely feels good to get the hat trick, but most importantly, get the win.”

Perreault became just the fourth Rangers rookie in the past 30 years to score a hat trick, joining Chris Kreider (2013), Derek Stepan (2010) and Jan Hlavac (2000).

“At the start, I was kind of fighting it the first couple of shifts, so I didn’t necessarily think I was going to finish like that, but once we started generating chances and I got that first one and that second, you’re obviously thinking about the third one,” Perreault said. “Lucky enough, I was able to get out there and get the third one.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Capitals #climbing #visit #rookiefueled #Rangers">Deadspin | Capitals look to keep climbing, visit rookie-fueled Rangers Apr 4, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) scores a goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the third period at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images Suddenly the scoreboard is showing an abundance of favorable results for the Washington Capitals. A late season surge is also helping their cause and the Capitals attempt to keep gaining ground in a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race Sunday night when they visit the New York Rangers. Washington (39-29-9, 87 points) trailed the Boston Bruins by six points for the final wild-card spot following a 3-1 loss in Boston on March 7. Since then, the Capitals are 8-3-2 in their past 13 games and are now one point behind the Ottawa Senators for the last wild-card spot with five games left. The Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings also have 88 points but have a game in hand on Washington. Columbus also has 88 points and has played the same number of games as the Capitals. The Capitals inched closer after earning a 6-2 victory over the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. They are taking the ice in New York after Detroit hosts the Minnesota Wild and Philadelphia hosts the Bruins in Sunday afternoon games. Washington also will take the ice in New York two hours after Ottawa starts its home game with the Carolina Hurricanes. “We can only control what we do out there for 60 minutes and we’re just trying to do everything we can to stay alive and get ourselves in,” Washington forward Ryan Leonard said. On Saturday, the Capitals scored three goals in the opening period and Jakob Chychrun, Aliaksei Protas and Connor McMichael each finished with a goal and an assist. The Rangers lost two of three meetings with the Capitals earlier this season and are playing better of late. Following a six-game losing streak (0-5-1), New York is 4-1-0 in the first five contests of a seven-game homestand. New York has scored 19 goals over its last five games and aided the Capitals’ cause by cruising to a 4-1 win over Detroit on Saturday night. Rookie Gabe Perreault recorded his first career hat trick while first-year forward Jaroslav Chmelar also scored. The Rangers played five rookies Saturday and since March 2, New York’s first-year players have 17 goals and 38 points. “Means a lot,” said Perreault, who has 10 goals in 44 games this season after appearing in five games last season. “Teammates made some nice plays, so had a couple of easy ones tonight. But it definitely feels good to get the hat trick, but most importantly, get the win.” Perreault became just the fourth Rangers rookie in the past 30 years to score a hat trick, joining Chris Kreider (2013), Derek Stepan (2010) and Jan Hlavac (2000). “At the start, I was kind of fighting it the first couple of shifts, so I didn’t necessarily think I was going to finish like that, but once we started generating chances and I got that first one and that second, you’re obviously thinking about the third one,” Perreault said. “Lucky enough, I was able to get out there and get the third one.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Capitals #climbing #visit #rookiefueled #Rangers

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