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Deadspin | Tarik Skubal fans 10 in 6 innings as Tigers take down Red Sox  Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;  Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images   Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.  Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.  Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.  Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.  Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.  The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.  Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.   Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.  The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.  In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.  Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.  Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #fans #innings #Tigers #Red #Sox

Deadspin | Tarik Skubal fans 10 in 6 innings as Tigers take down Red Sox
Deadspin | Tarik Skubal fans 10 in 6 innings as Tigers take down Red Sox  Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA;  Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images   Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.  Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.  Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.  Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.  Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.  The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.  Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.   Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.  The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.  In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.  Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.  Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #fans #innings #Tigers #Red #SoxApr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.

Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.

Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.

Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.

The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.


Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.

Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.

The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.

In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.

Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.

Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tarik #Skubal #fans #innings #Tigers #Red #Sox

Apr 18, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Tarik Skubal pitched six dominant innings and Kerry Carpenter highlighted his multi-hit game with a home run, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday afternoon.

Skubal (3-2) struck out 10, twice fanning the side, while allowing just one run on four hits en route to the win.

Carpenter (2-for-3, two RBI) and Kevin McGonigle (2-for-5, RBI, run) led the offense for Detroit, which broke a nine-game road losing streak.

Tyler Holton and Kenley Jansen teamed up in relief as Boston was limited to five hits. Jansen notched his fifth save.

Brayan Bello (1-2) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings. He fanned four, while throwing 84 pitches.

The Tigers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning while forcing Bello to throw 35 pitches. After McGonigle lined a leadoff single to right, another base knock by Colt Keith and a walk to Riley Greene loaded the bases.

Bello fanned Spencer Torkelson, but another free pass to Carpenter forced home Detroit’s opening run.

Bello retired the next eight men he faced, including a strikeout to begin the fourth, before the visitors marked the scoreboard again on Carpenter’s towering homer into the right-center field bullpen. After two more baserunners continued the line, Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly and another McGonigle single extended the Detroit lead.

The four runs proved to be enough support for Skubal, who retired the Red Sox in order the first time through the lineup and allowed just one baserunner before Boston got on the board in the fifth.

In the hosts’ run-scoring inning, a Wilyer Abreu single and Ceddanne Rafaela double set the table in the inning, but Connor Wong’s double play ball plating a run was all of the offense Skubal would allow.

Back-to-back hits by Roman Anthony and Andruw Monestario to begin the sixth gave Boston an opportunity to break into its deficit further, but Skubal escaped trouble with two strikeouts of the next three batters.

Skubal fanned the side in the second and fourth innings. Boston’s Willson Contreras and Trevor Story each struck out three times in the game.

–Field Level Media

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साध्वी सैल ने जीता मिस इंडिया 2026 का खिताब, महाराष्ट्र की राजनंदिनी फर्स्ट और यूपी की अद्वैता बनी सेकंड रनरअप

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Deadspin | WTA roundup: Elena Rybakina continues sizzling start to 2026 <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-900/28470152.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28470152.jpg" alt="Syndication: Desert Sun" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Elena Rybakina waves to the crowd after advancing to the quarterfinals after Sonay Kartal retired from their match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Wednesday, March 11, 2026.<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Top-seeded Elena Rybakina continued her outstanding 2026 campaign by overwhelming sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, will face No. 7 seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in Sunday’s final. Muchova pulled off a mild upset with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over No. 4 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Rybakina, who won the 2026 Australian Open and reached the finals at Indian Wells, exchanged breaks with Andreeva before winning four of five points on the Russian’s serve to capture the first set. She cruised in the second set, winning a combined 21 of 25 points on her first serves and Andreeva’s second service offerings.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The deciding set between Muchova and Svitolina looked to be going the distance, but the Czech won the final eight points of the match — four on her opponent’s serve in the ninth game — to set up the fourth all-time meeting with Rybakina. Muchova has won two of three prior matches, including a quarterfinal victory in January at Brisbane.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>Rouen Metropolitan Open</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine cruised past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-0 to reach the finals in Rouen, France.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Kostyuk will take on teenage qualifier and countrywoman Veronika Podrez. She advanced in a walkover prior to her scheduled match against Romania’s Sonia Cirstea, who withdrew due to a leg injury.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Kostyuk, who will be trying to win her second WTA title and first since a 2023 championship in Austin, Texas, fended off all four break points in the match against the 38-year old German. Maria could not contain Kostyuk’s power, dropping 32 of 43 (74.4%) service points.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Podrez, 19, advanced to the semifinals with wins over Sloane Stephens, No. 7 seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy and Great Britain’s Katie Boulter.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-10"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #WTA #roundup #Elena #Rybakina #continues #sizzling #start

Racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six others were ​injured on Saturday after an accident at the ADAC ‌24h Nuerburgring qualifiers that four-time Formula One ​champion Max Verstappen was due to ⁠compete in.

Organisers said Miettinen, who was 66 years old, died after a crash that stopped the race after about ‌half an hour of the scheduled four hours. All the other drivers were ‌taken to hospital with injuries that were ‌not ⁠life-threatening.

Red Bull F1 driver Verstappen, sharing a ⁠Mercedes AMG GT3 sportscar with Austrian Lucas Auer, was not on track at the time.

Racing Driver dies in car crash ahead of Nuerburgring race featuring Max Verstappen  Racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six others were ​injured on Saturday after an accident at the ADAC ‌24h Nuerburgring qualifiers that four-time Formula One ​champion Max Verstappen was due to ⁠compete in.Organisers said Miettinen, who was 66 years old, died after a crash that stopped the race after about ‌half an hour of the scheduled four hours. All the other drivers were ‌taken to hospital with injuries that were ‌not ⁠life-threatening.Red Bull F1 driver Verstappen, sharing a ⁠Mercedes AMG GT3 sportscar with Austrian Lucas Auer, was not on track at the time.“During the first race of ​the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring ‌Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race,” Nuerburgring officials said in a statement.“Despite the immediate ‌arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics ​were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had ⁠been extracted from the vehicle. The driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation ‌proved unsuccessful.”Organisers said the race would not resume on Saturday and a minute’s silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday.Verstappen said on Instagram that he was shocked by what had happened.“Motorsport is something we all love ‌but in times like this it is a reminder ​of how dangerous it can be,” he posted. “Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha’s family ⁠and loved ones.”The Nuerburgring’s historic and fearsome Nordschleife, known ⁠as the ‘Green Hell’ when it hosted Formula One in the 1960s and 70s, is a ‌20.8 km (12.9 miles) loop in the Eifel region of Germany. It was first opened in ​1927.Published on Apr 19, 2026  #Racing #Driver #dies #car #crash #ahead #Nuerburgring #race #featuring #Max #Verstappen

“During the first race of ​the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring ‌Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race,” Nuerburgring officials said in a statement.

“Despite the immediate ‌arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics ​were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had ⁠been extracted from the vehicle. The driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation ‌proved unsuccessful.”

Organisers said the race would not resume on Saturday and a minute’s silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday.

Verstappen said on Instagram that he was shocked by what had happened.

“Motorsport is something we all love ‌but in times like this it is a reminder ​of how dangerous it can be,” he posted. “Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha’s family ⁠and loved ones.”

The Nuerburgring’s historic and fearsome Nordschleife, known ⁠as the ‘Green Hell’ when it hosted Formula One in the 1960s and 70s, is a ‌20.8 km (12.9 miles) loop in the Eifel region of Germany. It was first opened in ​1927.

Published on Apr 19, 2026

#Racing #Driver #dies #car #crash #ahead #Nuerburgring #race #featuring #Max #Verstappen">Racing Driver dies in car crash ahead of Nuerburgring race featuring Max Verstappen  Racing driver Juha Miettinen died and six others were ​injured on Saturday after an accident at the ADAC ‌24h Nuerburgring qualifiers that four-time Formula One ​champion Max Verstappen was due to ⁠compete in.Organisers said Miettinen, who was 66 years old, died after a crash that stopped the race after about ‌half an hour of the scheduled four hours. All the other drivers were ‌taken to hospital with injuries that were ‌not ⁠life-threatening.Red Bull F1 driver Verstappen, sharing a ⁠Mercedes AMG GT3 sportscar with Austrian Lucas Auer, was not on track at the time.“During the first race of ​the ADAC 24h Nuerburgring ‌Qualifiers, a serious accident involving seven competitors occurred in the early stages of the race,” Nuerburgring officials said in a statement.“Despite the immediate ‌arrival of emergency services, the emergency medics ​were unable to save the driver involved, Juha Miettinen (BMW 325i, #121), after he had ⁠been extracted from the vehicle. The driver died at the Medical Centre after all attempts at resuscitation ‌proved unsuccessful.”Organisers said the race would not resume on Saturday and a minute’s silence would be held during the grid formation on Sunday.Verstappen said on Instagram that he was shocked by what had happened.“Motorsport is something we all love ‌but in times like this it is a reminder ​of how dangerous it can be,” he posted. “Sending my heartfelt condolences to Juha’s family ⁠and loved ones.”The Nuerburgring’s historic and fearsome Nordschleife, known ⁠as the ‘Green Hell’ when it hosted Formula One in the 1960s and 70s, is a ‌20.8 km (12.9 miles) loop in the Eifel region of Germany. It was first opened in ​1927.Published on Apr 19, 2026  #Racing #Driver #dies #car #crash #ahead #Nuerburgring #race #featuring #Max #Verstappen

Deadspin | Experienced Lightning face young Canadiens in first round  Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) vies for position with Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images   The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances.  Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla.  Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.  Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers.  In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.   Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic.  The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers.  “Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.”  A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer.  The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain.  While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild.   Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.  The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters.  Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches.  Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals.  The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance.  Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark.  Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago.  “We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years.  “There’s no intimidation.”  Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Experienced #Lightning #face #young #CanadiensApr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) vies for position with Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances.

Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla.

Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers.

In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic.

The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers.

“Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.”

A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer.

The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain.


While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild.

Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.

The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters.

Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches.

Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals.

The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance.

Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark.

Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago.

“We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years.

“There’s no intimidation.”

Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Experienced #Lightning #face #young #Canadiens">Deadspin | Experienced Lightning face young Canadiens in first round  Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak (81) vies for position with Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky (20) during the second period at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images   The Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning will meet in the postseason for the first time since 2021 and this matchup will come under much different circumstances.  Game 1 in the first-round series is set for Sunday at Tampa, Fla.  Holding the Atlantic Division’s second spot, the Lightning clinched home-ice advantage Tuesday night when the third-place Canadiens lost 4-2 in their regular-season finale against the Philadelphia Flyers.  Tampa Bay right winger Nikita Kucherov produced 130 points (44 goals, 86 assists) in 76 games, falling eight short of Art Ross Trophy winner Connor McDavid, who produced 138 points while playing in all 82 matches for the Edmonton Oilers.  In a season that may produce a second Vezina Trophy, goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy went 39-15-4 to lead the NHL in wins. He had a 2.31 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.   Jon Cooper’s Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2020 and 2021, the latter in the Finals over the Canadiens when conference alignment was ditched in an adjusted playoff format because of the pandemic.  The Lightning’s title run was interrupted by three straight Cup appearances and two championships by the archrival Florida Panthers.  “Everybody’s looking for something new, right? For somebody new to win or somebody new to come along,” Cooper said. “But what’s wrong with the team that wants to sit there and maybe throw (the word) ‘dynasty’ around. That’s what we’re looking at.”  A pending unrestricted free agent, defenseman Darren Raddysh had a breakout year running the power play, producing a career-best 22 goals, a franchise record, to go with 48 assists that will lead to a hefty contract in the summer.  The availability of defenseman Victor Hedman, who has not played since March 19, is uncertain.  While Tampa Bay has played in six conference finals and made four trips to the Final under Cooper, coach Martin St. Louis will send out a group of youthful Canadiens that represent early success from a rebuild.   Montreal suits up the NHL’s youngest club with an average just shy of 26 years old, ahead of the Chicago Blackhawks and Buffalo Sabres.  The first-round matchup is a classic one of veteran core players versus talented youngsters.  Cole Caufield, 25, produced 51 goals in 81 games, while 22-year-old Juraj Slafkovsky, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, had 30 tallies and 73 points in 82 matches.  Star defenseman Lane Hutson, also 22, had 12 goals and 66 assists as one of 11 Canadiens to reach double figures in goals.  The squad’s 26-year-old captain from London, Ontario, Nick Suzuki had a career year in becoming the fifth Montreal player to register 100 points, posting 29 goals and 72 helpers en route to a second straight playoff appearance.  Guy Lafleur, Peter Mahovlich, Steve Shutt and most recently Mats Naslund in 1986 hit the century mark.  Suzuki, who played against the Lightning in the 2021 Final, said the Habs have grown since losing in five games to the Washington Capitals a year ago.  “We’ve built our game throughout the whole season, learning different things, individually and as a team,” said Suzuki, who missed Wednesday’s practice to attend the birth of his daughter, Maya. “We’re in a much better spot that we were last year in the playoffs. We’ve matched up well against (the Lightning) the last couple of years.  “There’s no intimidation.”  Montreal went 2-1-1 against Tampa Bay including two victories in the campaign’s final nine games.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Experienced #Lightning #face #young #Canadiens

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