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BAN vs NZ: New Zealand beats Bangladesh by 26 runs in first ODI  New Zealand’s fast bowlers overcame scorching heat to produce a clinical performance, guiding the side to a 26-run victory against Bangladesh in the opening game of the three-match ODI series on Friday.The pace trio of Blair Tickner, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke shared eight wickets to play a crucial role in bowling out Bangladesh for 221 in 48.3 overs.Electing to bat first, New Zealand posted a challenging 247-8 on a slow wicket, riding a patient 68 from opener Henry Nicholls and a brisk 59 from Dean Foxcfort.After the early departure of Nick Kelly, Nicholls added 73 runs with Will Young (30) to steady the innings, defying a superb spell by pacer Shoriful Islam.Shoriful, who was playing his first ODI since December 2024 after replacing the injured Mustafizur Rahman, claimed 2-27 in 10 overs.ALSO READ | Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha considering break from T20 format to focus on 2027 ODI World CupNew Zealand’s three-pronged pace attack then unsettled the Bangladesh batters.Tickner ended with 4-40, claiming all four wickets in his last four overs. Smith produced the initial blow, dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive deliveries before wrapping up the Bangladesh innings with the wicket of Towhid Hridoy to finish on 3-45.After a shaky start that saw it slump to 21-2, Bangladesh regrouped through Saif Hasan and Liton Das, whose 93 runs kept the side firmly on course.But O’Rourke broke through with the wicket of Saif, who made a team-best 57 after surviving on 1. Foxfort got rid of Liton for 46, but Hridoy and Afif resisted. They combined for a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help the side claw back into the contest.Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox sent back Afif for 27 to break the partnership, leaving Hridoy to dig deep. Tickner, who was bit erratic in his first spell, came back strongly to clean up the tail.Published on Apr 17, 2026  #BAN #Zealand #beats #Bangladesh #runs #ODI

BAN vs NZ: New Zealand beats Bangladesh by 26 runs in first ODI

New Zealand’s fast bowlers overcame scorching heat to produce a clinical performance, guiding the side to a 26-run victory against Bangladesh in the opening game of the three-match ODI series on Friday.

The pace trio of Blair Tickner, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke shared eight wickets to play a crucial role in bowling out Bangladesh for 221 in 48.3 overs.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand posted a challenging 247-8 on a slow wicket, riding a patient 68 from opener Henry Nicholls and a brisk 59 from Dean Foxcfort.

After the early departure of Nick Kelly, Nicholls added 73 runs with Will Young (30) to steady the innings, defying a superb spell by pacer Shoriful Islam.

Shoriful, who was playing his first ODI since December 2024 after replacing the injured Mustafizur Rahman, claimed 2-27 in 10 overs.

ALSO READ | Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha considering break from T20 format to focus on 2027 ODI World Cup

New Zealand’s three-pronged pace attack then unsettled the Bangladesh batters.

Tickner ended with 4-40, claiming all four wickets in his last four overs. Smith produced the initial blow, dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive deliveries before wrapping up the Bangladesh innings with the wicket of Towhid Hridoy to finish on 3-45.

After a shaky start that saw it slump to 21-2, Bangladesh regrouped through Saif Hasan and Liton Das, whose 93 runs kept the side firmly on course.

But O’Rourke broke through with the wicket of Saif, who made a team-best 57 after surviving on 1. Foxfort got rid of Liton for 46, but Hridoy and Afif resisted. They combined for a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help the side claw back into the contest.

Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox sent back Afif for 27 to break the partnership, leaving Hridoy to dig deep. Tickner, who was bit erratic in his first spell, came back strongly to clean up the tail.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#BAN #Zealand #beats #Bangladesh #runs #ODI

New Zealand’s fast bowlers overcame scorching heat to produce a clinical performance, guiding the side to a 26-run victory against Bangladesh in the opening game of the three-match ODI series on Friday.

The pace trio of Blair Tickner, Nathan Smith and Will O’Rourke shared eight wickets to play a crucial role in bowling out Bangladesh for 221 in 48.3 overs.

Electing to bat first, New Zealand posted a challenging 247-8 on a slow wicket, riding a patient 68 from opener Henry Nicholls and a brisk 59 from Dean Foxcfort.

After the early departure of Nick Kelly, Nicholls added 73 runs with Will Young (30) to steady the innings, defying a superb spell by pacer Shoriful Islam.

Shoriful, who was playing his first ODI since December 2024 after replacing the injured Mustafizur Rahman, claimed 2-27 in 10 overs.

ALSO READ | Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha considering break from T20 format to focus on 2027 ODI World Cup

New Zealand’s three-pronged pace attack then unsettled the Bangladesh batters.

Tickner ended with 4-40, claiming all four wickets in his last four overs. Smith produced the initial blow, dismissing Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto in consecutive deliveries before wrapping up the Bangladesh innings with the wicket of Towhid Hridoy to finish on 3-45.

After a shaky start that saw it slump to 21-2, Bangladesh regrouped through Saif Hasan and Liton Das, whose 93 runs kept the side firmly on course.

But O’Rourke broke through with the wicket of Saif, who made a team-best 57 after surviving on 1. Foxfort got rid of Liton for 46, but Hridoy and Afif resisted. They combined for a 52-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help the side claw back into the contest.

Left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox sent back Afif for 27 to break the partnership, leaving Hridoy to dig deep. Tickner, who was bit erratic in his first spell, came back strongly to clean up the tail.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

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#BAN #Zealand #beats #Bangladesh #runs #ODI

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Every NHL Playoff team ranked by their Stanley Cup chances <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Then there were … 16. Expanded playoff formats across all sports makes that sound far less dramatic, but The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us. It has been an incredible season of hockey with young players establishing themselves as the superstars of the future, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/1104402/usa-hockey-gold-medal-celebration-kash-patel-donald-trump">stunning trades that took us aback</a>, and an Olympic break which was absolutely devoid of any political drama whatsoever.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The field is now set with 13 teams from the USA and three from Canada trying to capture the most difficult prize in team sports. This year everything is up in the air with the Florida Panthers crashing to earth, meaning we <em>will</em> see a new team hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup. Let’s look at the full field and rank them from the most-likely to win it all, to the least.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 1: Colorado Avalanche</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The President’s Trophy (awarded to the No. 1 regular-season team) has been a serious jinx when it comes to winning the biggest prize in the sport. You have to go back to 2013 to find the last time a team won both the President’s and the Stanley Cup — but I’m not going to let superstition get in the way with this pick.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Colorado Avalanche are a phenomenal team. Finishing with 54 wins and 116 points they’d have an even more dominant record if not for a late-second injury to Cale Makar that has sidelined him while this team waited for the playoffs to start. Anchored by Nathan McKinnon, the best player in hockey, the Avs have so much high-end talent on their roster that they seem primed for the playoffs.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It’s very difficult to find a discernible weakness here, with Colorado finishing the season with a preposterous +97 goal differential. At this point the only thing stopping them from going all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals appears to be if Makar’s injury lingers, but it shouldn’t — and they are absolutely the favorites to do it all.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 2: Carolina Hurricanes</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Nobody else in the NHL approaches hockey the same way as the Carolina Hurricanes, which is both their biggest blessing and their worst curse. Coach Rod Brind’Amour’s brand of hockey puts a premium on even, multi-line play without an emphasis on star players. It’s for this reason that superstars often choose to avoid the Canes in free agency, but this team found its missing piece with Nikolaj Ehlers, who moved past a slow start to the season to become the most consistent player on the team.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Boasting SIX 50-point players this season is something few in the league can claim, including the mighty Avs. Carolina is incredibly deep, attacks from seemingly anywhere, but as a result, also lacks the top-end star power often needed to carry a team to the cup. Couple that with incredibly shaky goaltending and we’re left with a very, very good team that’s unquestionably the best in the East — but lacks that x-factor who can put everyone on their back and carry the team in tough game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.499644" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTEyNTA="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="2806" data-pswp-width="4208" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="BUFFALO, NEW YORK - APRIL 15: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on April 15, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270986524.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">BUFFALO, NEW YORK – APRIL 15: Mikko Rantanen #96 of the Dallas Stars skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Buffalo Sabres on April 15, 2026 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images)</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">NHLI via Getty Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The biggest knock on the Stars is that they play in the same conference as the Avalanche. There’s no question Dallas had a great season by finishing with another 100+ point season, but it’s impossible to look at this team and feel just a little bit let down.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Mikko Rantanen has been very good, but a far cry from the 55-goal monster he was in Colorado, scoring netting just 22 on the year. He’s made up for that with his passing, where Wyatt Johnson has been the biggest goal-scoring benefactor, but a lack of solid center play outside of Johnson really makes this team stand out from the field.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Having good center play is absolutely critical in the playoffs, and it’s for this reason that the Stars lag just a little behind. Relying too much on their wings to push the tempo of the game hasn’t been a recipe for success, and it feels like this team is just one puck distributor away from being able to cement themselves as Stanley Cup favorites.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 4: Tampa Bay Lightning</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Lightning are more or less the same team they’ve been for several years now. For whatever reason the organization just keeps running it back and trying again, without a lot of adjustments being made to their core. This is fine with the caliber of players Tampa has in Nikita Kucherov, Jake Guentzel, Matthew Hagel, and Andrei Vasilevskiy in net — but beyond those guys the team falls off a cliff.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">We’re left with a team in the East that has a higher top-end than some of its competitors, but much weaker depth. That’s more or less the rub on the Lightning and why they fall to 4th in our rankings.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It’s really, really fun to see the Sabres back in the NHL Playoffs for the first time since 2011 and the team has all the trappings of a unit that can continue to build of this season. The core issue is that they’re too young and too inexperienced to be considered high-level contenders quite yet. Playoff hockey might as well be a completely different sport, which tends to chew up teams that aren’t ready for the tactical grind.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It was extremely tempting to put the Sabres above the Lightning considering regular season success, but I think Tampa and Carolina both have the ability to reach down and find a gear the Sabres are still lacking.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Wild would be higher on this list if not for the division they play in. They have a lot of top-end talent with Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, and Quinn Hughes — but too often this team relies on stellar netminding to eke out games.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It’s going to be very difficult to grind out games hovering around the league average in goals-for and goals-against when you have to go through the Stars and Avalanche to make it to the cup. This was a big, necessary step forward for the Wild to get off the treadmill from being an easy Wild Card out, but they still lack some line depth to really make a deep run.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The good news is they have a stellar prospect pool coming up, it’s just a touch too early for them.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 7: Montreal Canadiens</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It’s wonderful that the Canadiens are back in the playoffs. There’s just something special about the Bell Centre being full for playoff hockey, and having another original six legend back in the hunt just makes it all feel more special.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So, with all due respect to Montreal, they’re not ready yet. I’m giving them an outside chance because they are better than several Eastern Conference teams on this list, with a penchant for rising to the occasion, but they’re also average in a lot of key areas like power play, penalty kill, and goals against.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This makes the Habs a little one-dimensional. They have five core players, with the third and fourth lines being a major liability. That makes the Canadiens a team to watch in the future, but not quite yet.</p></div><div class="duet--article--block-placement jgpyd51 jgpyd50 duet--article--article-body-component"><div style="position:relative"><div class="_1nfb3k4j"><div class=""><div style="background-image:none" class="duet--media--content-warning _1i91r6b0"><div class="duet--article--image-gallery-image _1eezmj00" style="aspect-ratio:1.494253" id="c2IyOmltYWdlOjExMTEyNTE="><a class="_1eezmj01" href="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" data-pswp-height="2610" data-pswp-width="3900" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img alt="BOSTON, MA - APRIL 14: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins tries to shoot on the break during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils on April 14, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)" data-chromatic="ignore" loading="lazy" decoding="async" data-nimg="fill" class="w91vxg0" style="position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent;background-size:cover;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat;background-image:url("data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' %3E%3Cfilter id='b' color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3CfeColorMatrix values='1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 100 -1' result='s'/%3E%3CfeFlood x='0' y='0' width='100%25' height='100%25'/%3E%3CfeComposite operator='out' in='s'/%3E%3CfeComposite in2='SourceGraphic'/%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur stdDeviation='20'/%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage width='100%25' height='100%25' x='0' y='0' preserveAspectRatio='none' style='filter: url(%23b);' href='data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mN8+R8AAtcB6oaHtZcAAAAASUVORK5CYII='/%3E%3C/svg%3E")" sizes="(max-width: 639px) 100vw, (max-width: 1023px) 50vw, 700px" srcset="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=256 256w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=376 376w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=384 384w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=415 415w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=480 480w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=540 540w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=640 640w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=750 750w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=828 828w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1080 1080w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1200 1200w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1440 1440w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=1920 1920w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2048 2048w, https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400 2400w" src="https://platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2270880361.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C0%2C100%2C100&w=2400"/></a></div></div></div><p><figcaption class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl5a">BOSTON, MA – APRIL 14: David Pastrnak #88 of the Boston Bruins tries to shoot on the break during a game between the Boston Bruins and the New Jersey Devils on April 14, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)</figcaption> <cite class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup ls9zuh2 rzoxl55">Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</cite></p></div></div></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Lack of wing strength (aside from David Pastrňák) is a major weakness for the Bruins who lack those reliable 2nd and 3rd scoring options. In order to win in these playoffs they need stellar play from the defense, and the centers to win their individual battles — which is certainly possible for a game of two, but not in a seven-game series.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Leading up to the playoffs the Bruins lost three straight games to Eastern Conference playoff teams. They were competitive in each game, but it did underscore the weaknesses of this roster, which is still a few pieces away. Another case of it just being a touch too soon, the Bruins have a really strong prospect pool coming down the pipeline.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 9: Las Vegas Golden Knights</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">It isn’t often you see a team fire its coach less than a month before the playoffs when they’re still in the hunt, but making the switch to John Tortorella was a bold move that had huge results down the stretch. The Knights went 7-0-1 with Tortorella as head coach, finally finding the gear that Vegas has been missing this season.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Goal scoring has been the big issue for this team throughout the season, with scoring being down across the board from a year ago. In 2024-25 the Vegas was 5th in the NHL in goals scored, but that fell to 14th this season. This was compounded by also allowing more goals than a year ago, making this just a much weaker team in general. Tortorella could work his magic, but this team is starting to show its age a little.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Utah have been another feel-good story this year with the Mammoth having expansion team success and making the playoffs in just their second season. A team that loves to grind out games with strong forechecking and reliable defense, the team ranked 10th in the NHL this season in both goals allowed and goals scored.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Just making it this far is a major accomplishment. There’s also a very real chance they could win an opening series against the Golden Knights, who are substantially weaker this season than in year’s past. The issue is that eventually the Pacific Division has to face the Central, which is where the Avs, Stars, and Wild are located.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 11: Pittsburgh Penguins</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">You have to be a die-hard Pens hater not to like the romance of Sidney Crosby getting another shot at playoff hockey, which could be one of the last in his career. This is an old team that leans far too much on Crosby to still make things happen at age 38, without enough youth support behind him.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This has more or less been the story of the Penguins for the last several years, as they’ve struggled to build out their roster in a way that can compete consistently. An emotionally-charged opening series against the Flyers will likely lead to the winner facing Carolina in the second round, and it’s near-impossible to see them making it past the Canes.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Senators found their way into the playoffs as the final wild card in the east and boast a deep roster with a varied attack. The problem putting them any higher is twofold: Firstly, they have substantial goaltending issues that have plagued the team this season, and secondly, they face the Hurricanes in the opening round.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Oilers are the same team they’ve been for years now. Connor McDavid is arguably the best player in hockey, Leon Draisaitl is a monster, and Evan Bouchard is one of the best offensive blueliners in the game. This team is a mess defensively, and it’s been for a while now. Ranking 25th in goals allowed, Edmonton has to overwhelm on the offensive end to win. With this playoff field it’s just not going to work.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 14: Philadelphia Flyers</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So much about the Flyers doesn’t make sense. They’re below the league average in goals scored and allowed, their goaltending is inconsistent, and there’s a lot to love about this team — but just not yet. The future is so bright in Philly with Trevor Zegras and Matvei Michkov, but the playoffs are often determined by veteran talent that can even out a roster and bring much-needed stability. That’s something the Flyers lack right now, and it’s tough to see them making a deep run.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This was a building block season for the Ducks that achieved its goals. One of the youngest teams in hockey, there was huge growth from Anaheim’s stars who are in their early 20s, showing incredible promise for the future. This team doesn’t have what it takes to hang in the playoffs hight not, but wait a few years, and with some smart moves this will be a potential Stanley Cup winning team.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p><h4 class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup">No. 16: Los Angeles Kings</h4></p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The Kings are in because the depth of the west is incredibly weak. I know that sounds harsh, but with a -22 goal differential this season and a roster lacking impact players means they’re going to be eaten alive by the Avalanche in the opening round. It is what it is.</p></div></div> #NHL #Playoff #team #ranked #Stanley #Cup #chances

Deadspin | Rangers ride momentum of late rally into opener vs. Mariners    Apr 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images   Winning on getaway day sure beats the alternative.  The Texas Rangers know that feeling after scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Thursday to beat the Athletics 9-6 in West Sacramento, Calif.  The Rangers practically glided to Seattle, where they’ll meet their American League West rival, the Mariners, in a three-game series beginning Friday night.  It appeared the Rangers were going to lose Thursday after Nick Kurtz’s wind-aided double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning fell in front of left fielder Wyatt Langford, clearing the bases and giving the A’s a one-run lead.  But the Rangers rallied in the ninth, with Joc Pederson’s RBI single and Ezequiel Duran’s two-run single as the key blows.  “I just think that they played nine innings no matter what,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “They play hard, and it doesn’t matter what the score is. There’s always a fighting chance. I’m just proud of these guys. They just never give up. It was pretty demoralizing, how that was going. It could have been a demoralizing flight, quite honestly. That’s not easy to do, so this is a much happier flight, for sure.”  Josh Jung, who went 3-for-5 with a double, homer and two RBIs, credited Langford, who took out his frustration between the eighth and ninth innings by lobbing some water jugs around the visiting dugout.  “He kind of did it for all of us, probably,” Jung said. “We were frustrated, but then we’re just laughing. It’s like one jug goes, and then the next goes, too.”  The Rangers and A’s split their four-game series to remain tied atop the AL West.  The Mariners, meanwhile, were swept in a three-game series in San Diego, losing 5-2 Thursday to drop to 1-8 on the road and into a tie with Houston in the division cellar. The Mariners also were swept in a three-game series early last week in Texas vs. the Rangers, having been outscored 8-3.   “We just need to continue to set the table,” Mariners star Julio Rodríguez said. “Somebody’s gonna eat at some point.”  Seattle is starving for its Nos. 2-4 hitters — Cal Raleigh, Rodriguez and Josh Naylor — to break out of their early season slumps. The trio has combined for a .162 batting average with five home runs and 24 RBIs.  “We play a really hard game. Sometimes we’re not gonna come through there. Sometimes you’re gonna come through,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like if you play good baseball you can win at home, on the road, everywhere.”  The series opener will feature a pair of ace right-handers in the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.87 ERA) and the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (1-2, 4.18).  DeGrom got his first victory of the season Sunday at the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed one run on four hits over six innings, with three walks and nine strikeouts, in a 5-2 decision.  In his start previous to that, on April 6, he got a no-decision in a 2-1 victory against the Mariners. The only hit he allowed over five innings was a solo homer by Raleigh.  In eight career starts against Seattle, deGrom is 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA.  Gilbert is 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 career starts against Texas. He took the loss in that April 6 matchup with deGrom despite giving up just two runs in six innings.  Gilbert also is coming off his first victory of the season, defeating visiting Houston 6-1 Sunday when he allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Rangers #ride #momentum #late #rally #opener #MarinersApr 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Winning on getaway day sure beats the alternative.

The Texas Rangers know that feeling after scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Thursday to beat the Athletics 9-6 in West Sacramento, Calif.

The Rangers practically glided to Seattle, where they’ll meet their American League West rival, the Mariners, in a three-game series beginning Friday night.

It appeared the Rangers were going to lose Thursday after Nick Kurtz’s wind-aided double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning fell in front of left fielder Wyatt Langford, clearing the bases and giving the A’s a one-run lead.

But the Rangers rallied in the ninth, with Joc Pederson’s RBI single and Ezequiel Duran’s two-run single as the key blows.

“I just think that they played nine innings no matter what,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “They play hard, and it doesn’t matter what the score is. There’s always a fighting chance. I’m just proud of these guys. They just never give up. It was pretty demoralizing, how that was going. It could have been a demoralizing flight, quite honestly. That’s not easy to do, so this is a much happier flight, for sure.”

Josh Jung, who went 3-for-5 with a double, homer and two RBIs, credited Langford, who took out his frustration between the eighth and ninth innings by lobbing some water jugs around the visiting dugout.

“He kind of did it for all of us, probably,” Jung said. “We were frustrated, but then we’re just laughing. It’s like one jug goes, and then the next goes, too.”

The Rangers and A’s split their four-game series to remain tied atop the AL West.


The Mariners, meanwhile, were swept in a three-game series in San Diego, losing 5-2 Thursday to drop to 1-8 on the road and into a tie with Houston in the division cellar. The Mariners also were swept in a three-game series early last week in Texas vs. the Rangers, having been outscored 8-3.

“We just need to continue to set the table,” Mariners star Julio Rodríguez said. “Somebody’s gonna eat at some point.”

Seattle is starving for its Nos. 2-4 hitters — Cal Raleigh, Rodriguez and Josh Naylor — to break out of their early season slumps. The trio has combined for a .162 batting average with five home runs and 24 RBIs.

“We play a really hard game. Sometimes we’re not gonna come through there. Sometimes you’re gonna come through,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like if you play good baseball you can win at home, on the road, everywhere.”

The series opener will feature a pair of ace right-handers in the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.87 ERA) and the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (1-2, 4.18).

DeGrom got his first victory of the season Sunday at the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed one run on four hits over six innings, with three walks and nine strikeouts, in a 5-2 decision.

In his start previous to that, on April 6, he got a no-decision in a 2-1 victory against the Mariners. The only hit he allowed over five innings was a solo homer by Raleigh.

In eight career starts against Seattle, deGrom is 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA.

Gilbert is 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 career starts against Texas. He took the loss in that April 6 matchup with deGrom despite giving up just two runs in six innings.

Gilbert also is coming off his first victory of the season, defeating visiting Houston 6-1 Sunday when he allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Rangers #ride #momentum #late #rally #opener #Mariners">Deadspin | Rangers ride momentum of late rally into opener vs. Mariners    Apr 16, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Athletics during the ninth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images   Winning on getaway day sure beats the alternative.  The Texas Rangers know that feeling after scoring four runs in the ninth inning on Thursday to beat the Athletics 9-6 in West Sacramento, Calif.  The Rangers practically glided to Seattle, where they’ll meet their American League West rival, the Mariners, in a three-game series beginning Friday night.  It appeared the Rangers were going to lose Thursday after Nick Kurtz’s wind-aided double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning fell in front of left fielder Wyatt Langford, clearing the bases and giving the A’s a one-run lead.  But the Rangers rallied in the ninth, with Joc Pederson’s RBI single and Ezequiel Duran’s two-run single as the key blows.  “I just think that they played nine innings no matter what,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “They play hard, and it doesn’t matter what the score is. There’s always a fighting chance. I’m just proud of these guys. They just never give up. It was pretty demoralizing, how that was going. It could have been a demoralizing flight, quite honestly. That’s not easy to do, so this is a much happier flight, for sure.”  Josh Jung, who went 3-for-5 with a double, homer and two RBIs, credited Langford, who took out his frustration between the eighth and ninth innings by lobbing some water jugs around the visiting dugout.  “He kind of did it for all of us, probably,” Jung said. “We were frustrated, but then we’re just laughing. It’s like one jug goes, and then the next goes, too.”  The Rangers and A’s split their four-game series to remain tied atop the AL West.  The Mariners, meanwhile, were swept in a three-game series in San Diego, losing 5-2 Thursday to drop to 1-8 on the road and into a tie with Houston in the division cellar. The Mariners also were swept in a three-game series early last week in Texas vs. the Rangers, having been outscored 8-3.   “We just need to continue to set the table,” Mariners star Julio Rodríguez said. “Somebody’s gonna eat at some point.”  Seattle is starving for its Nos. 2-4 hitters — Cal Raleigh, Rodriguez and Josh Naylor — to break out of their early season slumps. The trio has combined for a .162 batting average with five home runs and 24 RBIs.  “We play a really hard game. Sometimes we’re not gonna come through there. Sometimes you’re gonna come through,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like if you play good baseball you can win at home, on the road, everywhere.”  The series opener will feature a pair of ace right-handers in the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.87 ERA) and the Mariners’ Logan Gilbert (1-2, 4.18).  DeGrom got his first victory of the season Sunday at the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed one run on four hits over six innings, with three walks and nine strikeouts, in a 5-2 decision.  In his start previous to that, on April 6, he got a no-decision in a 2-1 victory against the Mariners. The only hit he allowed over five innings was a solo homer by Raleigh.  In eight career starts against Seattle, deGrom is 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA.  Gilbert is 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 career starts against Texas. He took the loss in that April 6 matchup with deGrom despite giving up just two runs in six innings.  Gilbert also is coming off his first victory of the season, defeating visiting Houston 6-1 Sunday when he allowed one run on four hits over seven innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Rangers #ride #momentum #late #rally #opener #Mariners

Top seed Alexander Zverev battled back from a set down to beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo on Friday and book a spot in the semifinals of the Munich ATP tournament.

The three-time Munich champion won 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 and will take on Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Saturday for a place in the final.

Zverev burst out of the blocks and served for a 5-1 lead in the opening set but appeared to suddenly lose his rhythm, winning just one more game as Cerundolo powered back to take the opening set.

As the second set began, and with the support of the home crowd, the 28-year-old found his form as swiftly as he had lost it, bouncing back to win the final two sets while dropping just two games.

“Even in the first set when I was up 4-1, he started playing unbelievable. He started returning unbelievable,” Zverev said.

“My first-serve percentage was very high, and he started returning a foot in front of the baseline. So there was nothing I could do, to be honest,” he added.

The German came into Friday’s match holding a 4-3 career advantage over the fifth-seeded Cerundolo but had never previously beaten the Argentine in three matches on clay.

“Definitely happy to get the win today against Francisco, for the first time on clay,” Zverev said on court after the win.

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Zverev, whose most recent title came in Munich a year ago, is chasing a record fourth triumph at the tournament, having also won in 2017 and 2018.

On the other side of the draw, American second seed Ben Shelton overcame Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to keep hopes of a 2025 Munich final rematch with Zverev alive.

Shelton, the world number six, won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will take on either Denis Shapovalov or Alex Molcan in the semifinals.

The American has never won a clay court tournament, having lost in straight sets to Zverev in Munich a year ago. Earlier, Cobolli was the first to book a spot in the final four after he defeated Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2.

Playing on his favourite surface, the fourth seed won the opening set and cruised to a 5-1 lead in the second. He missed two match points on Kopriva’s serve before finishing it off in the following game.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Munich #Open #Zverev #fights #Cerundolo #reach #semifinal">Munich Open 2026: Zverev fights past Cerundolo to reach semifinal  Top seed Alexander Zverev battled back from a set down to beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo on Friday and book a spot in the semifinals of the Munich ATP tournament.The three-time Munich champion won 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 and will take on Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Saturday for a place in the final.Zverev burst out of the blocks and served for a 5-1 lead in the opening set but appeared to suddenly lose his rhythm, winning just one more game as Cerundolo powered back to take the opening set.As the second set began, and with the support of the home crowd, the 28-year-old found his form as swiftly as he had lost it, bouncing back to win the final two sets while dropping just two games.“Even in the first set when I was up 4-1, he started playing unbelievable. He started returning unbelievable,” Zverev said.“My first-serve percentage was very high, and he started returning a foot in front of the baseline. So there was nothing I could do, to be honest,” he added.The German came into Friday’s match holding a 4-3 career advantage over the fifth-seeded Cerundolo but had never previously beaten the Argentine in three matches on clay.“Definitely happy to get the win today against Francisco, for the first time on clay,” Zverev said on court after the win.ALSO READ | Barcelona Open 2026: Musetti beats Moutet, to face Fils quarterfinalZverev, whose most recent title came in Munich a year ago, is chasing a record fourth triumph at the tournament, having also won in 2017 and 2018.On the other side of the draw, American second seed Ben Shelton overcame Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to keep hopes of a 2025 Munich final rematch with Zverev alive.Shelton, the world number six, won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will take on either Denis Shapovalov or Alex Molcan in the semifinals.The American has never won a clay court tournament, having lost in straight sets to Zverev in Munich a year ago. Earlier, Cobolli was the first to book a spot in the final four after he defeated Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2.Playing on his favourite surface, the fourth seed won the opening set and cruised to a 5-1 lead in the second. He missed two match points on Kopriva’s serve before finishing it off in the following game.Published on Apr 17, 2026  #Munich #Open #Zverev #fights #Cerundolo #reach #semifinal

Barcelona Open 2026: Musetti beats Moutet, to face Fils quarterfinal

Zverev, whose most recent title came in Munich a year ago, is chasing a record fourth triumph at the tournament, having also won in 2017 and 2018.

On the other side of the draw, American second seed Ben Shelton overcame Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to keep hopes of a 2025 Munich final rematch with Zverev alive.

Shelton, the world number six, won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will take on either Denis Shapovalov or Alex Molcan in the semifinals.

The American has never won a clay court tournament, having lost in straight sets to Zverev in Munich a year ago. Earlier, Cobolli was the first to book a spot in the final four after he defeated Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2.

Playing on his favourite surface, the fourth seed won the opening set and cruised to a 5-1 lead in the second. He missed two match points on Kopriva’s serve before finishing it off in the following game.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Munich #Open #Zverev #fights #Cerundolo #reach #semifinal">Munich Open 2026: Zverev fights past Cerundolo to reach semifinal

Top seed Alexander Zverev battled back from a set down to beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo on Friday and book a spot in the semifinals of the Munich ATP tournament.

The three-time Munich champion won 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 and will take on Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Saturday for a place in the final.

Zverev burst out of the blocks and served for a 5-1 lead in the opening set but appeared to suddenly lose his rhythm, winning just one more game as Cerundolo powered back to take the opening set.

As the second set began, and with the support of the home crowd, the 28-year-old found his form as swiftly as he had lost it, bouncing back to win the final two sets while dropping just two games.

“Even in the first set when I was up 4-1, he started playing unbelievable. He started returning unbelievable,” Zverev said.

“My first-serve percentage was very high, and he started returning a foot in front of the baseline. So there was nothing I could do, to be honest,” he added.

The German came into Friday’s match holding a 4-3 career advantage over the fifth-seeded Cerundolo but had never previously beaten the Argentine in three matches on clay.

“Definitely happy to get the win today against Francisco, for the first time on clay,” Zverev said on court after the win.

ALSO READ | Barcelona Open 2026: Musetti beats Moutet, to face Fils quarterfinal

Zverev, whose most recent title came in Munich a year ago, is chasing a record fourth triumph at the tournament, having also won in 2017 and 2018.

On the other side of the draw, American second seed Ben Shelton overcame Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca to keep hopes of a 2025 Munich final rematch with Zverev alive.

Shelton, the world number six, won 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 and will take on either Denis Shapovalov or Alex Molcan in the semifinals.

The American has never won a clay court tournament, having lost in straight sets to Zverev in Munich a year ago. Earlier, Cobolli was the first to book a spot in the final four after he defeated Czech Vit Kopriva 6-3, 6-2.

Playing on his favourite surface, the fourth seed won the opening set and cruised to a 5-1 lead in the second. He missed two match points on Kopriva’s serve before finishing it off in the following game.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#Munich #Open #Zverev #fights #Cerundolo #reach #semifinal

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