Deadspin | Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets hold off 76ers Apr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped the host Houston Rockets fend off the hard-charging Philadelphia 76ers 113-102 on Thursday. The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes. The 76ers (43-37) shaved a 28-point third-quarter deficit to 107-102 when VJ Edgecombe followed a pair of missed free throws by Durant with a short jumper with 1:36 left to play. But Durant nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession to settle the game for the Rockets (51-29) once and for all. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points apiece for Houston while Tari Eason added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Alperen Sengun (12) and Josh Okogie (10) combined for 22 rebounds. The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 23 points while Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Andre Drummond grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. The 76ers have dropped five of six games. Eason sank a 3-pointer with 2:44 remaining in the third that pushed the Rockets to a 96-68 lead. But the 76ers, behind reserve Quentin Grimes (20 points), engineered a stunning rally in the fourth, starting with a 16-0 run that included the Rockets going scoreless for over five minutes. After turning a 9-0 spurt into a 17-10 lead, Houston added a 13-3 blitz capped by a Thompson dunk that pushed the margin to 33-20. The 76ers committed three turnovers during the second Houston run and had six total in the opening period that the Rockets converted into 12 points. The Rockets entered the second with a 35-26 advantage and continued to extend that margin. Reed Sheppard sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a Durant field goal that lifted Houston to a 65-47 lead with 3:47 left in the half, and the Rockets opened a 23-point cushion before Maxey caught fire. Maxey, held scoreless in the first quarter, tallied 15 points in the second, including the final eight for the 76ers in the half. His consecutive 3s down the stretch cut the deficit to 73-56 at halftime. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #scores #Rockets #hold #76ers

Deadspin | Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets hold off 76ers
Deadspin | Kevin Durant scores 29 as Rockets hold off 76ers Apr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped the host Houston Rockets fend off the hard-charging Philadelphia 76ers 113-102 on Thursday. The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes. The 76ers (43-37) shaved a 28-point third-quarter deficit to 107-102 when VJ Edgecombe followed a pair of missed free throws by Durant with a short jumper with 1:36 left to play. But Durant nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession to settle the game for the Rockets (51-29) once and for all. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points apiece for Houston while Tari Eason added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Alperen Sengun (12) and Josh Okogie (10) combined for 22 rebounds. The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 23 points while Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Andre Drummond grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds. The 76ers have dropped five of six games. Eason sank a 3-pointer with 2:44 remaining in the third that pushed the Rockets to a 96-68 lead. But the 76ers, behind reserve Quentin Grimes (20 points), engineered a stunning rally in the fourth, starting with a 16-0 run that included the Rockets going scoreless for over five minutes. After turning a 9-0 spurt into a 17-10 lead, Houston added a 13-3 blitz capped by a Thompson dunk that pushed the margin to 33-20. The 76ers committed three turnovers during the second Houston run and had six total in the opening period that the Rockets converted into 12 points. The Rockets entered the second with a 35-26 advantage and continued to extend that margin. Reed Sheppard sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a Durant field goal that lifted Houston to a 65-47 lead with 3:47 left in the half, and the Rockets opened a 23-point cushion before Maxey caught fire. Maxey, held scoreless in the first quarter, tallied 15 points in the second, including the final eight for the 76ers in the half. His consecutive 3s down the stretch cut the deficit to 73-56 at halftime. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #scores #Rockets #hold #76ersApr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped the host Houston Rockets fend off the hard-charging Philadelphia 76ers 113-102 on Thursday.

The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes. The 76ers (43-37) shaved a 28-point third-quarter deficit to 107-102 when VJ Edgecombe followed a pair of missed free throws by Durant with a short jumper with 1:36 left to play.

But Durant nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession to settle the game for the Rockets (51-29) once and for all.

Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points apiece for Houston while Tari Eason added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Alperen Sengun (12) and Josh Okogie (10) combined for 22 rebounds.

The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 23 points while Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Andre Drummond grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.


The 76ers have dropped five of six games.

Eason sank a 3-pointer with 2:44 remaining in the third that pushed the Rockets to a 96-68 lead. But the 76ers, behind reserve Quentin Grimes (20 points), engineered a stunning rally in the fourth, starting with a 16-0 run that included the Rockets going scoreless for over five minutes.

After turning a 9-0 spurt into a 17-10 lead, Houston added a 13-3 blitz capped by a Thompson dunk that pushed the margin to 33-20. The 76ers committed three turnovers during the second Houston run and had six total in the opening period that the Rockets converted into 12 points.

The Rockets entered the second with a 35-26 advantage and continued to extend that margin. Reed Sheppard sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a Durant field goal that lifted Houston to a 65-47 lead with 3:47 left in the half, and the Rockets opened a 23-point cushion before Maxey caught fire.

Maxey, held scoreless in the first quarter, tallied 15 points in the second, including the final eight for the 76ers in the half. His consecutive 3s down the stretch cut the deficit to 73-56 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kevin #Durant #scores #Rockets #hold #76ers

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Apr 9, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) shoots against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped the host Houston Rockets fend off the hard-charging Philadelphia 76ers 113-102 on Thursday.

The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes. The 76ers (43-37) shaved a 28-point third-quarter deficit to 107-102 when VJ Edgecombe followed a pair of missed free throws by Durant with a short jumper with 1:36 left to play.

But Durant nailed a 3-pointer on the next possession to settle the game for the Rockets (51-29) once and for all.

Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points apiece for Houston while Tari Eason added 15 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Alperen Sengun (12) and Josh Okogie (10) combined for 22 rebounds.

The 76ers played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced the 76ers with 23 points while Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and a game-high eight assists. Andre Drummond grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.

The 76ers have dropped five of six games.

Eason sank a 3-pointer with 2:44 remaining in the third that pushed the Rockets to a 96-68 lead. But the 76ers, behind reserve Quentin Grimes (20 points), engineered a stunning rally in the fourth, starting with a 16-0 run that included the Rockets going scoreless for over five minutes.

After turning a 9-0 spurt into a 17-10 lead, Houston added a 13-3 blitz capped by a Thompson dunk that pushed the margin to 33-20. The 76ers committed three turnovers during the second Houston run and had six total in the opening period that the Rockets converted into 12 points.

The Rockets entered the second with a 35-26 advantage and continued to extend that margin. Reed Sheppard sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around a Durant field goal that lifted Houston to a 65-47 lead with 3:47 left in the half, and the Rockets opened a 23-point cushion before Maxey caught fire.

Maxey, held scoreless in the first quarter, tallied 15 points in the second, including the final eight for the 76ers in the half. His consecutive 3s down the stretch cut the deficit to 73-56 at halftime.

–Field Level Media

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Asian Boxing Championships 2026: Vishvanath Suresh wins gold as India finishes campaign with 16 medals <div id="content-body-70846450" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Vishvanath Suresh defeated Daichi Iwai of Japan in convincing fashion to win gold in men’s 50kg category as India finished its campaign at the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with 16 medals.</p><p>Vishvanath beat Japan’s Iwai with a 5-0 scoreline, becoming the only Indian man to clinch gold at this edition of the continental event.</p><p>Sachin Siwach lost 2-3 to Orazbek Assylkulov of Kazakhstan, the reigning world champion, in men’s 60kg final.</p><div class="inline_embed article-block-item"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PURE GLORY! 🥇🇮🇳</p><p>​Vishvanath Suresh secures the top spot on the podium! With a dominant 5:0 victory over Japan’s Daichi Iwai, he is your new Asian Champion in the 50kg category. <a href="https://t.co/KL5865GevZ">pic.twitter.com/KL5865GevZ</a></p>— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) <a href="https://twitter.com/BFI_official/status/2042482510530297915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2026</a></blockquote></div><p>Four other Indian men – Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Akash (75kg), Lokesh (85kg) and Narender (+90kg) – settled for bronze.</p><p>In the women’s competition, all 10 Indian boxers finished with a medal. Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) bagged gold; Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Alfiya Pathan (+80kg) took silver; and Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) and Pooja Rani (80kg) clinched bronze.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 10, 2026</p></div><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> #Asian #Boxing #Championships #Vishvanath #Suresh #wins #gold #India #finishes #campaign #medals

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Deadspin | High scorer Liv McGill transferring from Florida to Oklahoma State Florida guard Liv McGill (23) shoots past Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, February 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Former Florida guard Liv McGill, one of the most highly-touted players in the women’s college basketball transfer portal, committed to Oklahoma State on Tuesday. McGill put up 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 31 starts for the Gators in her sophomore season. She played an SEC-best 37.2 minutes per game, also averaging 5.3 turnovers. McGill was a first-team All-SEC selection. In 68 career games (all starts) over two seasons, she has put up 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. CBS Sports rated McGill the No. 2 overall player in the portal, behind only Iowa State star Audi Crooks. ESPN rated McGill No. 4. “Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball,” Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt said in a statement. “She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim. Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor. “… She is a leader and I believe she has the talent and heart to take our program to heights it has not reached before.” Oklahoma State went 24-10 last season and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Florida, 18-15 a year ago, did not make the NCAA Tournament in McGill’s two seasons. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #High #scorer #Liv #McGill #transferring #Florida #Oklahoma #StateFlorida guard Liv McGill (23) shoots past Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, February 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Former Florida guard Liv McGill, one of the most highly-touted players in the women’s college basketball transfer portal, committed to Oklahoma State on Tuesday.

McGill put up 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 31 starts for the Gators in her sophomore season. She played an SEC-best 37.2 minutes per game, also averaging 5.3 turnovers.

McGill was a first-team All-SEC selection. In 68 career games (all starts) over two seasons, she has put up 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.


CBS Sports rated McGill the No. 2 overall player in the portal, behind only Iowa State star Audi Crooks. ESPN rated McGill No. 4.

“Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball,” Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt said in a statement. “She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim. Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor.

“… She is a leader and I believe she has the talent and heart to take our program to heights it has not reached before.”

Oklahoma State went 24-10 last season and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Florida, 18-15 a year ago, did not make the NCAA Tournament in McGill’s two seasons.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #High #scorer #Liv #McGill #transferring #Florida #Oklahoma #State">Deadspin | High scorer Liv McGill transferring from Florida to Oklahoma State Florida guard Liv McGill (23) shoots past Mississippi forward Christeen Iwuala (12) during the first half of an NCAA women’s basketball game at Steven C. O’Connell Center Exactek arena in Gainesville, FL on Thursday, February 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] Former Florida guard Liv McGill, one of the most highly-touted players in the women’s college basketball transfer portal, committed to Oklahoma State on Tuesday. McGill put up 22.5 points, 6.3 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game in 31 starts for the Gators in her sophomore season. She played an SEC-best 37.2 minutes per game, also averaging 5.3 turnovers. McGill was a first-team All-SEC selection. In 68 career games (all starts) over two seasons, she has put up 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. CBS Sports rated McGill the No. 2 overall player in the portal, behind only Iowa State star Audi Crooks. ESPN rated McGill No. 4. “Liv is arguably the most exciting player to watch in all of college basketball,” Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt said in a statement. “She has elite quickness and an unbelievable finishing package around the rim. Liv can score at all three levels, but she is so much more. She has great court vision and can deliver a pass on a dime. Her speed and athleticism allow her to jump passing lanes on the other end of the floor. “… She is a leader and I believe she has the talent and heart to take our program to heights it has not reached before.” Oklahoma State went 24-10 last season and lost to eventual champion UCLA in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Florida, 18-15 a year ago, did not make the NCAA Tournament in McGill’s two seasons. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #High #scorer #Liv #McGill #transferring #Florida #Oklahoma #State

Declan Rice left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with another injury worry on the eve of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Sporting Lisbon after missing the club’s open training session Tuesday.

Rice withdrew from England’s recent international against Japan but returned for Arsenal’s match against Sporting in Lisbon last week. He was also the stand-in captain for the table-topping Gunners’ shock defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.

ALSO READ: UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid

But the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.

Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.

Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.

Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.

It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash">UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Rice misses training to add to Arsenal injury concerns ahead of Sporting clash Declan Rice left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with another injury worry on the eve of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Sporting Lisbon after missing the club’s open training session Tuesday.Rice withdrew from England’s recent international against Japan but returned for Arsenal’s match against Sporting in Lisbon last week. He was also the stand-in captain for the table-topping Gunners’ shock defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.ALSO READ: UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico MadridBut the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.Published on Apr 14, 2026 #UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash

UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid

But the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.

Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.

Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.

Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.

It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash">UEFA Champions League 2025-26: Rice misses training to add to Arsenal injury concerns ahead of Sporting clash

Declan Rice left Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta with another injury worry on the eve of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Sporting Lisbon after missing the club’s open training session Tuesday.

Rice withdrew from England’s recent international against Japan but returned for Arsenal’s match against Sporting in Lisbon last week. He was also the stand-in captain for the table-topping Gunners’ shock defeat by Bournemouth in the Premier League last weekend.

ALSO READ: UEFA rejects Barcelona handball complaint ahead of Champions League second leg quarterfinal against Atletico Madrid

But the 27-year-old midfielder was not involved at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, also missing the session.

Saka has been sidelined from Arsenal’s last three matches, while captain Odegaard, in and out of the team through injury this season, was not fit enough for Arsenal’s loss against Bournemouth last weekend.

Timber, one of Arsenal’s best players this season, last featured in a 2-0 win against Everton a month ago.

Arsenal heads into Wednesday’s fixture at the Emirates with a slender 1-0 lead from last week’s opening leg against Sporting secured by Kai Havertz’s late goal.

It will be aiming to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth which allowed Manchester City to cut its advantage at the top of the table to six points. Arsenal travels to the Etihad to face Pep Guardiola’s side on Sunday.

Published on Apr 14, 2026

#UEFA #Champions #League #Rice #misses #training #add #Arsenal #injury #concerns #ahead #Sporting #clash
Deadspin | Hurricanes complete playoff prep against Islanders Apr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images For most of the past several months, the regular-season finale between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders looked as if it would be a potential playoff preview. However, while the Hurricanes will be in tune-up mode on Tuesday, the Islanders will be wondering where a previously successful season went wrong as they prepare for an uncertain spring and summer. The Hurricanes and Islanders will close out their regular-season schedules on Tuesday when Carolina faces New York in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Elmont, N.Y. The Hurricanes will be completing a back-to-back road set after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the shootout Monday night. The Islanders were off Monday after their costly late-season skid continued Sunday, when they were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points) needed to win their final two games and have the Flyers lose their final two to have any chance of getting the third and final playoff berth from the division. However, getting eliminated on the ice served as a stark reminder of the scope of the collapse for the Islanders, who were in third place in the Metropolitan for most of the previous four months before going 4-9-0 since March 19. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired head coach Patrick Roy on April 5. The Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in Peter DeBoer’s debut on Thursday, but New York then fell 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday before being blanked into the third period on Sunday. “I feel for them,” DeBoer said Sunday night. “They put in 81 games here and seven months. So that’s a lot of blood, sweat and work that went into that. And when the lights go out on a season, it’s never easy after you put in that kind of time.” The hard part may be coming for Darche and the Islanders, who found a franchise cornerstone in rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer (23 goals and 59 points). But New York has four defenseman 30 or older, and Darche needs to decide the fate of captain Anders Lee, who is 35 and headed for free agency. The short-term focus is much different for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who won the Metropolitan Division and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by collecting a point for the shootout loss on Monday. Carolina will oppose the second wild card — either the Boston Bruins or the Senators — in the first round of the postseason this weekend. “That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.” Carolina is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, breaking the franchise record set by the then-Hartford Whalers from 1986 through 1992. But the Hurricanes have yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Final during their current run, They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019, losing to the Bruins, and fell in the East to the Florida Panthers in both 2023 and 2025. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis — their first-, second- and fourth-leading scorers — on Monday along with captain Jordan Staal and top defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Hurricanes #complete #playoff #prep #IslandersApr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

For most of the past several months, the regular-season finale between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders looked as if it would be a potential playoff preview.

However, while the Hurricanes will be in tune-up mode on Tuesday, the Islanders will be wondering where a previously successful season went wrong as they prepare for an uncertain spring and summer.

The Hurricanes and Islanders will close out their regular-season schedules on Tuesday when Carolina faces New York in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Elmont, N.Y.

The Hurricanes will be completing a back-to-back road set after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the shootout Monday night. The Islanders were off Monday after their costly late-season skid continued Sunday, when they were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens.

The Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points) needed to win their final two games and have the Flyers lose their final two to have any chance of getting the third and final playoff berth from the division.

However, getting eliminated on the ice served as a stark reminder of the scope of the collapse for the Islanders, who were in third place in the Metropolitan for most of the previous four months before going 4-9-0 since March 19.

First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired head coach Patrick Roy on April 5. The Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in Peter DeBoer’s debut on Thursday, but New York then fell 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday before being blanked into the third period on Sunday.


“I feel for them,” DeBoer said Sunday night. “They put in 81 games here and seven months. So that’s a lot of blood, sweat and work that went into that. And when the lights go out on a season, it’s never easy after you put in that kind of time.”

The hard part may be coming for Darche and the Islanders, who found a franchise cornerstone in rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer (23 goals and 59 points). But New York has four defenseman 30 or older, and Darche needs to decide the fate of captain Anders Lee, who is 35 and headed for free agency.

The short-term focus is much different for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who won the Metropolitan Division and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by collecting a point for the shootout loss on Monday.

Carolina will oppose the second wild card — either the Boston Bruins or the Senators — in the first round of the postseason this weekend.

“That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.”

Carolina is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, breaking the franchise record set by the then-Hartford Whalers from 1986 through 1992. But the Hurricanes have yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Final during their current run, They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019, losing to the Bruins, and fell in the East to the Florida Panthers in both 2023 and 2025.

With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis — their first-, second- and fourth-leading scorers — on Monday along with captain Jordan Staal and top defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Hurricanes #complete #playoff #prep #Islanders">Deadspin | Hurricanes complete playoff prep against Islanders Apr 13, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jalen Chatfield (5) in action against the Philadelphia Flyers in the third period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images For most of the past several months, the regular-season finale between the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders looked as if it would be a potential playoff preview. However, while the Hurricanes will be in tune-up mode on Tuesday, the Islanders will be wondering where a previously successful season went wrong as they prepare for an uncertain spring and summer. The Hurricanes and Islanders will close out their regular-season schedules on Tuesday when Carolina faces New York in a battle of Metropolitan Division rivals in Elmont, N.Y. The Hurricanes will be completing a back-to-back road set after falling to the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the shootout Monday night. The Islanders were off Monday after their costly late-season skid continued Sunday, when they were eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-1 loss to the visiting Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders (43-33-5, 91 points) needed to win their final two games and have the Flyers lose their final two to have any chance of getting the third and final playoff berth from the division. However, getting eliminated on the ice served as a stark reminder of the scope of the collapse for the Islanders, who were in third place in the Metropolitan for most of the previous four months before going 4-9-0 since March 19. First-year general manager Mathieu Darche fired head coach Patrick Roy on April 5. The Islanders beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-3 in Peter DeBoer’s debut on Thursday, but New York then fell 3-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday before being blanked into the third period on Sunday. “I feel for them,” DeBoer said Sunday night. “They put in 81 games here and seven months. So that’s a lot of blood, sweat and work that went into that. And when the lights go out on a season, it’s never easy after you put in that kind of time.” The hard part may be coming for Darche and the Islanders, who found a franchise cornerstone in rookie defenseman Matthew Schaefer (23 goals and 59 points). But New York has four defenseman 30 or older, and Darche needs to decide the fate of captain Anders Lee, who is 35 and headed for free agency. The short-term focus is much different for the Hurricanes (52-22-7, 111 points), who won the Metropolitan Division and clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference by collecting a point for the shootout loss on Monday. Carolina will oppose the second wild card — either the Boston Bruins or the Senators — in the first round of the postseason this weekend. “That’s a huge accomplishment,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It says you had a real good year and you came to play every night. You can’t luck into that.” Carolina is in the playoffs for the eighth straight season, breaking the franchise record set by the then-Hartford Whalers from 1986 through 1992. But the Hurricanes have yet to appear in the Stanley Cup Final during their current run, They reached the Eastern Conference finals in 2019, losing to the Bruins, and fell in the East to the Florida Panthers in both 2023 and 2025. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hurricanes scratched Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov and Seth Jarvis — their first-, second- and fourth-leading scorers — on Monday along with captain Jordan Staal and top defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Jaccob Slavin. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Hurricanes #complete #playoff #prep #Islanders

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