Deadspin | Ducks, Wild meet as both teams tweak playoff roster mix Apr 13, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein (41) defends against Minnesota Wild center Michael McCarron (47) in the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images It would be hard to blame the Anaheim Ducks if they come out a little sluggish Tuesday. They might have been too excited to sleep the previous night. Anaheim (42-32-6, 90 points) clinched its first playoff berth in eight years during an off day Monday, thanks to the San Jose Sharks’ win over the Nashville Predators. But before heading to the postseason, the Ducks have two more games left in the regular season, starting with Tuesday’s tilt against the Minnesota Wild (45-24-12, 102 points) in Saint Paul, Minn. Like Anaheim, Minnesota knows it is playoff bound. The Wild are locked into the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference’s Central Division, and they will face the No. 2 seed Dallas Stars. Tuesday marks the regular-season finale for the Wild, and the outcome will have zero effect on their playoff series starting in Dallas. At least, that is true in terms of the win-loss outcome. Players’ individual performances in Tuesday’s game could mean a lot in the finale and help coach John Hynes determine who will skate and which lines they will be part of during the playoff opener. “There’s a lot at stake for some guys,” Hynes said. Veteran forward Michael McCarron said he and his teammates needed to play with urgency. “We’re trying to build something in our locker room to go win a Stanley Cup, and we’ve got to bring it every single night,” McCarron said. “We’ve got to find the cohesion in our group to go on a long run, and it starts with these games, especially down the stretch.” Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville also may use his team’s last couple games of the regular season as an opportunity for players to make final arguments for why they belong on the ice in the postseason instead of watching the game as healthy scratches. One player Quenneville does not need to analyze further is forward Cutter Gauthier, who turned 22 years old in January and has scored 40 goals this season. Gauthier said it meant a lot to reach 40 goals but he had other objectives in mind. “It’s a huge milestone and something I’m very proud of,” Gauthier said. “I couldn’t have done it without all my linemates and teammates. It was fun to get that, but that’s not why I’m playing hockey. I’m playing hockey to win games and eventually win a Stanley Cup.” The Wild could start either Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt in net. Gustavsson is 28-15-6 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage, and Wallstedt is 17-9-6 with a 2.63 GAA and a .915 save percentage. Gustavsson is 6-1-0 with a 1.87 GAA and a .935 save percentage in eight career games against Anaheim. Wallstedt has a shutout victory in his only career game against the Ducks. Anaheim’s options in net include Lukas Dostal and Ville Husso. Dostal is 30-19-4 with a 3.10 GAA and an .889 save percentage, and Husso is 9-8-2 with a 3.21 GAA and an .887 save percentage. In seven games against Minnesota, Dostal is 1-4-1 with a 3.33 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Husso is 6-0-0 with a 2.43 GAA and a .923 save percentage in six matchups. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Ducks #Wild #meet #teams #tweak #playoff #roster #mix

Deadspin | Ducks, Wild meet as both teams tweak playoff roster mix
Apr 13, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein (41) defends against Minnesota Wild center Michael McCarron (47) in the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

It would be hard to blame the Anaheim Ducks if they come out a little sluggish Tuesday.

They might have been too excited to sleep the previous night.

Anaheim (42-32-6, 90 points) clinched its first playoff berth in eight years during an off day Monday, thanks to the San Jose Sharks’ win over the Nashville Predators. But before heading to the postseason, the Ducks have two more games left in the regular season, starting with Tuesday’s tilt against the Minnesota Wild (45-24-12, 102 points) in Saint Paul, Minn.

Like Anaheim, Minnesota knows it is playoff bound. The Wild are locked into the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference’s Central Division, and they will face the No. 2 seed Dallas Stars.

Tuesday marks the regular-season finale for the Wild, and the outcome will have zero effect on their playoff series starting in Dallas.

At least, that is true in terms of the win-loss outcome. Players’ individual performances in Tuesday’s game could mean a lot in the finale and help coach John Hynes determine who will skate and which lines they will be part of during the playoff opener.

“There’s a lot at stake for some guys,” Hynes said.

Veteran forward Michael McCarron said he and his teammates needed to play with urgency.

“We’re trying to build something in our locker room to go win a Stanley Cup, and we’ve got to bring it every single night,” McCarron said. “We’ve got to find the cohesion in our group to go on a long run, and it starts with these games, especially down the stretch.”

Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville also may use his team’s last couple games of the regular season as an opportunity for players to make final arguments for why they belong on the ice in the postseason instead of watching the game as healthy scratches.

One player Quenneville does not need to analyze further is forward Cutter Gauthier, who turned 22 years old in January and has scored 40 goals this season. Gauthier said it meant a lot to reach 40 goals but he had other objectives in mind.

“It’s a huge milestone and something I’m very proud of,” Gauthier said. “I couldn’t have done it without all my linemates and teammates. It was fun to get that, but that’s not why I’m playing hockey. I’m playing hockey to win games and eventually win a Stanley Cup.”

The Wild could start either Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt in net. Gustavsson is 28-15-6 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage, and Wallstedt is 17-9-6 with a 2.63 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

Gustavsson is 6-1-0 with a 1.87 GAA and a .935 save percentage in eight career games against Anaheim. Wallstedt has a shutout victory in his only career game against the Ducks.

Anaheim’s options in net include Lukas Dostal and Ville Husso. Dostal is 30-19-4 with a 3.10 GAA and an .889 save percentage, and Husso is 9-8-2 with a 3.21 GAA and an .887 save percentage.

In seven games against Minnesota, Dostal is 1-4-1 with a 3.33 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Husso is 6-0-0 with a 2.43 GAA and a .923 save percentage in six matchups.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ducks #Wild #meet #teams #tweak #playoff #roster #mix

Sports news April 14, 2026

Apr 13, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Blues defenseman Theo Lindstein (41) defends against Minnesota Wild center Michael McCarron (47) in the third period at Enterprise Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

It would be hard to blame the Anaheim Ducks if they come out a little sluggish Tuesday.

They might have been too excited to sleep the previous night.

Anaheim (42-32-6, 90 points) clinched its first playoff berth in eight years during an off day Monday, thanks to the San Jose Sharks’ win over the Nashville Predators. But before heading to the postseason, the Ducks have two more games left in the regular season, starting with Tuesday’s tilt against the Minnesota Wild (45-24-12, 102 points) in Saint Paul, Minn.

Like Anaheim, Minnesota knows it is playoff bound. The Wild are locked into the No. 3 spot in the Western Conference’s Central Division, and they will face the No. 2 seed Dallas Stars.

Tuesday marks the regular-season finale for the Wild, and the outcome will have zero effect on their playoff series starting in Dallas.

At least, that is true in terms of the win-loss outcome. Players’ individual performances in Tuesday’s game could mean a lot in the finale and help coach John Hynes determine who will skate and which lines they will be part of during the playoff opener.

“There’s a lot at stake for some guys,” Hynes said.

Veteran forward Michael McCarron said he and his teammates needed to play with urgency.

“We’re trying to build something in our locker room to go win a Stanley Cup, and we’ve got to bring it every single night,” McCarron said. “We’ve got to find the cohesion in our group to go on a long run, and it starts with these games, especially down the stretch.”

Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville also may use his team’s last couple games of the regular season as an opportunity for players to make final arguments for why they belong on the ice in the postseason instead of watching the game as healthy scratches.

One player Quenneville does not need to analyze further is forward Cutter Gauthier, who turned 22 years old in January and has scored 40 goals this season. Gauthier said it meant a lot to reach 40 goals but he had other objectives in mind.

“It’s a huge milestone and something I’m very proud of,” Gauthier said. “I couldn’t have done it without all my linemates and teammates. It was fun to get that, but that’s not why I’m playing hockey. I’m playing hockey to win games and eventually win a Stanley Cup.”

The Wild could start either Filip Gustavsson or Jesper Wallstedt in net. Gustavsson is 28-15-6 with a 2.69 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage, and Wallstedt is 17-9-6 with a 2.63 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

Gustavsson is 6-1-0 with a 1.87 GAA and a .935 save percentage in eight career games against Anaheim. Wallstedt has a shutout victory in his only career game against the Ducks.

Anaheim’s options in net include Lukas Dostal and Ville Husso. Dostal is 30-19-4 with a 3.10 GAA and an .889 save percentage, and Husso is 9-8-2 with a 3.21 GAA and an .887 save percentage.

In seven games against Minnesota, Dostal is 1-4-1 with a 3.33 GAA and a .907 save percentage. Husso is 6-0-0 with a 2.43 GAA and a .923 save percentage in six matchups.

-Field Level Media

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Matt Crocker quits as US football federation sporting director just 2 months before World Cup <div id="content-body-70862267" itemprop="articleBody">Matt Crocker quit as sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) on Tuesday, just two months ahead of the World Cup, to take a new job in Saudi Arabia.The USSF said Crocker was leaving to pursue an unidentified international football opportunity, and a person familiar with the decision, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because Crocker’s new job was not announced, said he will work in Saudi Arabia. His hiring by Saudis was first reported by Fox.Crocker’s departure was a surprise, given the U.S. is co-host of the World Cup starting June 11 and the contract of men’s coach Mauricio Pochettino ends after the tournament. The USSF next month will open its 200-acre, 17-field training centre and office complex in Fayetteville, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb.Dan Helfrich, hired as the U.S. federation’s chief operating officer in November, “will provide executive oversight and support across the federation’s sporting operations,” the USSF said in a statement. Helfrich will work with assistant sporting director Oguchi Onyewu — a former national team defender — and Tracey Kevins, head of development for the women’s youth national team.Crocker, 51, was hired by the USSF in April 2023 after serving as Southampton’s director of football since February 2020.Crocker oversaw the decisions to rehire Gregg Berhalter as men’s coach in June 2023, to fire Berhalter in July 2024 after first-round elimination at the Copa America and to hire Pochettino that September.He also made the recommendation to hire Emma Hayes as women’s national team coach starting in the spring of 2024. Hayes led the women’s team to the Olympic gold medal.Published on Apr 14, 2026</div> #Matt #Crocker #quits #football #federation #sporting #director #months #World #Cup

UCL 2025-26 — Bayern in driving seat but wounded Real Madrid could be dangerous, says Manuel Neuer <div id="content-body-70862164" itemprop="articleBody">Treble-chasing Bayern Munich is in control of its Champions League quarterfinal tie against Real Madrid after a 2-1 first-leg win but the Spanish giant, ‌struggling for form, could prove dangerous with its backs to the wall, Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer ⁠said on Tuesday.The Bavarians host Real in the return leg on Wednesday, hoping to book a semifinal spot to go along ‌with their German Cup semifinal place and a 12-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga.Real, ‌out of Spain’s Copa del Rey and second ‌in ⁠La Liga, nine points behind Barcelona, has only ⁠one realistic shot at a trophy.“Yes, it is a big chance for Real to improve things,” Neuer told a press conference. “It is a really difficult period for a ‌club like Real at the moment. We have experienced it ourselves in the past. When you are with your back to the wall you can move mountains,” Neuer ‌said.But the Spaniards will be facing a Bayern team in stellar form. On Saturday it set a new Bundesliga all-time goal record, with ⁠its 5-0 demolition of St Pauli, to take its season tally to 105 goals with five games still remaining. The ‌previous best mark was 101 goals in the 1971-72 campaign.“We are in a flow right now. We are still in all competitions and it’s in our own hands,” Neuer said. “We are sitting in the driver’s seat.”Bayern can potentially secure the league title as early as this ‌weekend if Borussia Dortmund slips up on Saturday against Hoffenheim. It also faces Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup semifinal on April 22.“We won the first match but ⁠there is only one goal difference,” the 40-year-old Neuer said. “We ⁠know the fight we have to deliver. But we have that one goal advantage.”“Our motivation is sky ‌high so the starting point is good but we cannot overestimate it. We have experienced how Real can hit back but we are confident,” he said.Published on Apr 14, 2026</div> #UCL #Bayern #driving #seat #wounded #Real #Madrid #dangerous #Manuel #Neuer

World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.

The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.

“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.

“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”

Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.

He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.

Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.

Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.

Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.

“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.

“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.

“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.

“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”

All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.

Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.

Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.

Published on Aug 02, 2026

#AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters">

Auger-Aliassime playing for hometown pride at Montreal Masters World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.Published on Aug 02, 2026 #AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters

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World number four Felix Auger-Aliassime will be playing for local pride when the ATP Montreal Masters begins on Sunday in his hometown.
The Canadian returns as second seed to a tournament he attended frequently as a budding young player, when he used to watch and study his sporting idols up close in training between matches.
“There were several times when I didn’t have a ticket, so I would watch all the training sessions,” he said on Saturday at the event, where he is seeded behind Roland Garros winner and Wimbledon runner-up Alexander Zverev.
“I learned even more things during training since they (fans) have the chance to be very, very close to the players.”
Auger-Aliassime recently split with his longtime coach of 10 years, Frederic Fontang, after losing a frustrating Wimbledon five-set quarterfinal to Novak Djokovic.
He will have the bulk of the crowd support at an event which is missing major stars including top-ranked Jannik Sinner, who opted not to play in the wake of his Wimbledon triumph to send tournament organisers into crisis mode.
Joining the Italian on the sidelines with less than a month to go before the US Open begins are the 39-year-old Djokovic and Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, still testing and healing the right wrist injury which has kept him off court since mid-April.
Auger-Aliassime’s best performance at the Canadian event was a quarterfinal four years ago. Last year he lost in the second round.
Despite the hometown support, Auger-Aliassime said he will aim to stick to his usual routines and focus solely on his game.
“Already, my expectations or hopes are at the same level as the public’s. So already, there is no gap at that level,” he said.
“I have my work to do, I have my preparation, I have my routines, so all that doesn’t change.
“I try to change as few things as possible, even if I’m playing in Montreal. Yes, I’m a bit more in-demand obviously than at other tournaments, but I try to keep my routines.
“The brain is used to having its routines. And that helps to program oneself well or to prepare well for the tournament.”
All 28 seeds in the 128-strong field receive first-round byes, with Auger-Aliassime set for the second round against the winner from France’s Luca van Assche and a qualifier.
Top seed Zverev reached the Canadian semifinal in Toronto a year ago.
Australian Alex de Minaur takes the third seeding ahead of Daniil Mdevedev while defending champion Ben Shelton is seeded fifth.
Published on Aug 02, 2026

#AugerAliassime #playing #hometown #pride #Montreal #Masters">Auger-Aliassime playing for hometown pride at Montreal Masters